The standard 20151010 saturday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX NO. 240 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 Saturday : OCtOBEr 10, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Poe expects more cases to be filed against her

MILF hand seen Rebel commander identified as one of Italian’s abductors By Francisco Tuyay and Florante S. Solmerin

A COMMANDER of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was identified Friday as among the 10 suspects who snatched Italian Rolando del Torchio in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte on Wednesday. A source who spoke on condition of anonymity identified Saher Muloc, leader of the Muloc group, and commander of the “provincial police force” of the 113th Base Command of the MILF, as among those who kidnapped Torchio at his Ur Choice Bistro Café at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Muloc, he source said, goes under the alias of “Commander Red Eye.” Torchio was kidnapped by 10 armed men, four of them posing as customers at his pizza parlor in Dipolog City. The source said Muloc remained an active MILF commander of the 113th Base Command though reports indicated he was expelled due to his supposed involveNext page ment in illegal activities.

Snatched. This undated photo received on Oct. 8 shows

Italian restaurant owner and former priest Rolando del Torchio in Dipolog. He was seized on Oct. 7 by gunmen who are believed members of a kidnap-for-ransom group. AFP

9 prisoners die as fire engulfs Leyte jail

Ombudsman dismisses Junjun Binay honesty over the construction of a Makati parking building. In a brief interview, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales THE Office of the Ombudsman said the order was “immediately on Friday ordered the dismissal effective. ” and perpetual disqualification “There were irregularities in from service of suspended Makati the services and contract for the City Mayor Erwin Jejomar Binay construction in several phases of Jr. for grave misconduct and dis-

By Rio N. Araja and Joel E. Zurbano

the parking building,” she told reporters. Apart from his disqualification, all of Binay’s benefits from government service are ordered forfeited. “We have promulgated our resolution. I ordered the dismissal of Mayor Binay for grave Next page

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Nine prisoners die as fire engulfs Leyte jail ward NINE prisoners were killed when fire ripped through the psychiatric ward of a jail on Leyte island, authorities said Friday, adding the facility was operating at more than double its capacity.

weak, old and [had] eye problems,” De Lima added, citing a Bureau of Corrections report on the incident. “Two inmates were farm workers who initially were already safe but went back inside to help other inmates,” she added. A tenth inmate remained unaccounted for, she said. The fire raged for nearly eight hours, gutting one prison building, and was finally Wardens as well as inmates scrambled to brought under control around midnight, save prisoners from their cells Thursday said Insp. Constantino Pedrosa, deputy as the blaze struck the maximum security police chief of Abuyog town where the section of the regional prison, the Justice prison was located. He said the facility was built for 500 Department said. Most of the dead were being held inmates, but held 1,256 men at the time in a special section for inmates with of the blaze, a common occurrence in the psychological issues or physical infirmities, country’s overcrowded prison system. He could not say how many were being Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said. “Five inmates were patients at the housed in the burnt-out building, which he psychiatric ward [and] two inmates were said was assigned to prisoners convicted of

murder and other serious crimes. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, Pedrosa said. The Abuyog Penal Colony is one of the seven operating units under the Bureau of Corrections. Other operating units include the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm. The bureau is an attached agency of the Justice Department. A spokesman for the bureau, Bobby Olaguer, said Assistant Director Martin Perfecto was already in Leyte to see the situation on the ground. Rey E. Requejo with AFP

Binay dismissed. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales announces the dismissal of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay from his post on Friday as a result of the issue on the Makati Science High School. Lino Santos

Ombudsman ... From A1 misconduct and dishonesty. What goes with it is perpetual disqualification from holding public office [and] forfeiture of retirement benefits,” she said. Despite the order’s execution, Binay, son of Vice President Jejomar Binay, may file a motion for reconsideration. When asked about Mayor Binay’s plan to seek a reelection, Morales declined to comment. “It’s up to the authorities if he files a COC [certificate of candidacy] and still be honored, that’s no longer my concern,” she said. In March, the Ombudsman ordered Binay suspended over allegations that the Makati City

Hall Building II was overpriced. A spokesman for the Binay camp said he can still run in the May 9, 2016 elections unless there is a final judgement in his case. “They want to prevent him [Mayor Binay] from running in the elections but they made a mistake. Mayor Junjun can run and will run in the next elections,” said Binay’s spokesman Joey Salgado. “Look Secretary Butch [Florencio] Abad, he is a member of Liberal Party and he has more than P72 billion involvement in connection with DAP [Disbursement Acceleration Program] but why they didn’t suspend him while [he was] under preliminary investigation,” he added.

“The Ombudsman is being obvious. They rushed the order because Monday is the start of the filing for the COCs for the 2016 elections,” he said. “We have not received a copy of the order. This is a dismissal by press release.” Binay’s camp maintains that the allegations against him and his father are baseless and politically motivated, and that the allegations of overpricing did not have a factual or leal basis. The Senate, led by opponents of the vice president, has conducted a protracted investigation into the Binays based on a complaint filed by two former village captains, Renato Bondal and Nicolas Enciso. Bondal, who ran but lost to Binay in the last elections, claimed

MILF...

From A1

Before Muloc was tagged, Waning Abdusalam, another MILF commander who was involved in a series of kidnappings in Mindanao, was said to have been behind Torchio’s abduction. An official police report said Saher Muloc along with his son Julmine were positively identified in the CCTV as among the 10 male abductors of Torchio. Julmine Muloc was reportedly involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs in Mindanao. The CCTV footage showed the armed men were in long pants, jackets, t-shirts and bull caps, and carried back packs and short firearms of different calibers. Investigators also revealed the owner of the Silver Metallic Mitsubishi versa van used in the abduction was Amante Bagain Sagario, a resident of L6 BB Katipunan Village, Taguig City. The vehicle was left abandoned by the kidnappers along Dipolog Boulevard, hours after the abduction. Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero said it was possible that Torchio has been passed to the Abu Sayyaf and taken to Sulu. Before Torchio was taken, two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina were abducted on Sept. 21. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the spate of kidnapping incidents involving foreigners would not affect the upcoming meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Coference (APEC), which will draw top officials from 21 countries in November. “As far as APEC is concerned... we can rightfully say that we are prepared for any eventuality and we have done all the things that should be done to prevent such activity to happen during the APEC,” Gazmin said. He added that the authorities were doing all they could to track the kidnappers and their victims down. “The special instruction is to focus their military operation in securing, saving and ensuring the safety of the kidnap victims,” Gazmin said. Guerrero said they will continue to launch “focused operations” based on information they received as to where the kidnap victims were reportedly located. He could not confirm where they were, however, saying no proof of life had yet been received.

the building is “the most expensive parking building in the entire country.” The office of the Ombudsman suspended Binay in May and he was replaced by his vice mayor, Romulo Peña Jr. Last year, the younger Binay exposed the plan of the opposition block to unseat him and members of the city council to pave the way for the designation of Peña, a Liberal Party member, as acting mayor. All incumbent councilors in Makati are party mates of Binay who ran in the 2013 midterm polls under the United Nationalist Alliance. Binay said that the Senate inquiry was unnecessary because the allegations have already been discredited as baseless by an intensive review made by

Commission on Audit in response to a request made by the complainants. The mayor also said the disputed building was not a parking building but an office building with parking floors. Thus, the description “Makati City Hall Parking Building” supposedly given by the contractor was a “misnomer” and should not be taken literally. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte urged the mayor to comply. “It is incumbent on all parties to abide by the decision and to avail of the legal remedies provided under law,” Valte said. Binay’s sister, Makati City Rep. Abigail Binay, said they will appeal the Ombudsman’s order. With Sandy Araneta

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Binay criticizes Aquino for his failure to solve big problems VICE President Jejomar Binay on Friday again slammed the Aquino administration for its failure to address the problem of poverty and unemployment and the continuing neglect of thousands of victims of natural disasters particularly the victims of Typhoon “Yolanda.” “They want to continue the present situation where poverty remains. Many are left starving and millions are without jobs,” Binay said during the Visayas-wide launching and oathtaking of new members of the United Nationalist Alliance. He said Senator Gringo Honasan was his possible running mate in the 2016 national elections, adding his UNA party now had “Bingo” or “Binay na Gringo Pa.” Binay also criticized the administration’s slow rehabilitation of the areas affected by the earthquake in Bohol and Yolanda in 2013. He slammed Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr. for releasing only P21 billion out of the P75-billion housing settlement budget. He said he was not surprised why the administration had a failing grade on the issues of poverty, wages, inflation and social services. He said whoever wins in the 2016 elections needs to lift the Philippines out of poverty, create jobs and improve the services to the people. Citing figures from Social Watch Philippines, Binay said there are still 130,000 families who remain homeless after becoming victims of calamities. He asked the Aquino administration why it has been very slow in releasing the funds allotted for the resettlement of calamity victims. “I was concerned to learn that funding shortfalls and political challenges, including inadequate cooperation between national and local governments, are delaying the processes toward achieving durable solutions,” Binay said. Binay’s spokesman Rico Quicho said former Interior Secretary Roxas had been telling people that he, the LP standard bearer, would continue the administration’s Daang Matuwid. “What are the specifics of this so-called Daang Matuwid?” Quicho said. “What does he plan to do with national concerns like the failure to complete the rehabilitation and recovery projects for the thousands of Yolanda victims? What about the victims of other calamities? What about the victims of the Zamboanga bombings?” Vito Barcelo

He’s running. Rep. Amado Bagatsing announced during a weekly forum in Manila on Friday that he will brawl with the other candidates for mayor of Manila next year. DANNY PATA

Mural. A boy and his mother walk past a mural of Pope Francis along Tramo Street in Pasay City on Friday, which was commissioned by the

National Commission for Culture and the Arts to artist Egay Fernandez. The NCCA also chose 10 artists from Cavite to paint in the open space in Tramo. DANNY PATA

Poe expects more cases to be filed against her THE camp of Senator Grace Poe on Friday said the plot to stop her presidential candidacy will not be confined to questioning her citizenship because they also expect the filing of disqualification cases against her once she files her certificate of candidacy next week. Poe’s counsel George Garcia said they were gearing up for an extended legal battle against an obvious attempt to exclude Poe’s name from the list of presidential candidates for the May 2016 elections. He said the disqualification case pending in the Senate Electoral Tribunal was just one of the hurdles that Poe needed to overcome. “The attacks against Senator Grace Poe won’t stop at the SET,” Garcia said. He said they expected another disqualification case once Poe files her cer-

tificate of candidacy. “Our reading is that in the end, what they want is to exclude the name of Senator Grace Poe in the ballot because if it’s included, that would really be a problem for our opponents,” Garcia said. In Cabanatuan City, Senator Francis Escudero, Poe’s running mate, exuded confidence that Poe will emerge victorious in the disqualification case filed against her, citing a Supreme Court ruling in 2004 that threw out a similar petition against Poe’s

adoptive father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Escudero noted that in 2004 the high court invoked the popular sovereignty clause when it dismissed a petition to disqualify the elder Poe in that year’s presidential elections. “The Supreme Court then said: ‘We can’t leave it to the unelected members of this Court to decide on the fate of Fernando Poe Jr. That is best left to the sovereign will of the people’,” Escudero quoted the high court’s decision. “They voted to dismiss the petition in the 2004 case. There is no reason why the same ruling should not apply now,” he said. Poe, the topnotcher in the 2013 senatorial race, is facing a disqualification case before the SET on the ground that, as a foundling, she is not a naturalborn Filipino and thus barred from sitting as a senator.

The 1987 Constitution provides that only natural-born Filipino citizens are qualified to run for president, vice president, senator or congressman. Poe, currently the front runner in various presidential preference surveys, is scheduled to file her certificate of candidacy next week alongside with Escudero. Garcia said they were looking forward to the SET resolving the disqualification case filed by defeated senatorial candidate Rizalito David by early November, as that would allow Poe to focus on the more important aspects of her campaign, particularly her platform of government. He said Poe may find it difficult to campaign if there was a pending question on her qualification to run for president. Rey E. Requejo and Ferdie G. Domingo

Bautista will go for reelection QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista said Friday he is backing out of the senatorial race next year because of his family’s disapproval and his constituents’ calls urging him to seek reelection. “It was all decided upon that I should go for reelection. I am running for Mayor of Quezon City,” Bautista told the ANC news channel. “It’s the Quezon City residents who actually want me to seek reelection. It’s like I would be abandoning them [if I ran for the Senate],” Bautista said.

He confirmed in another interview that he raised the idea of running for the Senate with President Benigno Aquino III. “I had an audience with the President last December and I intimated if I could be drafted as part of the Senatorial ticket of the LP, and he replied that I would be considered.” LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II welcomed Bautista’s decision. “If the family is the reason, that would be very hard of course,” Roxas said. “It would be very hard to enter a battle if your family is not whole or not united

with the decision.” Roxas and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, the LP’s vice presidential candidate, welcomed the party’s new members during their oathtaking at the party’s headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City. Those who were sworn in included outgoing Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, who is running for the Senate. In a statement sent to reporters Thursday night, the Liberal Party said it would be moving its supposed announcement of its senatorial lineup to Oct. 15 from Oct. 9. John Paolo Bencito

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Solon: DSWD to ‘hide’ poor in Nov.

Dengue outbreak.

Health officials visit dengue patients at San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila as several provinces in the country reported notable outbreaks of the seasonal tropical disease. DANNY PATA

By Maricel V. Cruz

DND seeks P2-b fund for paramilitary troops By Florante S. Solmerin THE Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines have asked Congress for a budget of more than P2 billion for paramilitary forces similar to the ones that have been accused of committing human rights abuses in Mindanao. “Despite the killings and terror committed by its paramilitary groups, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has the nerve to ask for more budget to fund them,” Cristina Palabay, chairperson of the human rights group Karapatan said Friday. “Straight from the horse’s mouth, the DND admitted there are more than 53,000 [Civilian

Armed Forces Geographical Unit] and paramilitary forces under its command. The DND also said during the budget hearing that more than half of the Cafgu or about 30,735 are in Mindanao,” she added. Ever since, operational budget and salaries of Cafgus and paramilitary forces has never been transparent in any military

financial report, if there is any, which has long been suspected to be one of sources of corruption in DND and AFP, she said. Palace also claimed the AFP has not been transparent in reporting the exact number of Cafgus, which supposedly includes the Magahat Bagani, which has been blamed for the evacuation of almost a thousand residents of Marihatag, Surigao del Sur last. “Bobby Tejero, the same gunman who killed Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo in Lianga, was seen by the residents approaching their community. He was in the company of the Special Forces unit of the Philippine Army led by Lt. Ralph Francisco. Evacuees also recounted to have seen

another paramilitary group led by Calpet Egua shortly before they left their community,” Palabay said. Another one is the Alamara, whose leader Lumansad Sibugan was sighted by parents, teachers and students who attended the Foundation Day celebration of the Salugpungan Ta ‘Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center in Talaingod, Davao del Norte on Sept. 28. “Sibugan was among the three ‘datus’ recently presented by the AFP to the media in Manila in an attempt to cover up the accountability of the Army in the Lianga massacre and in the abuses committed in Talaingod, Davao del Norte that led to the evacuation of Lumad,” Palabay said.

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development, headed by Secretary Corazon Soliman, is again planning to “hide the homeless” in resorts during the APEC Summit in November. This was revealed upon questioning by Kabataan Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon during the plenary deliberation for the proposed budget of the DSWD Thursday night. During the plenary session, Ridon asked the DSWD if the department will repeat its “vanishing act” against the homeless, referring to DSWD’s action on about 100 homeless who were taken off Roxas Boulevard and brought to Chateau Royal Batangas under DSWD’s “Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program” during Pope Francis’ five-day apostolic visit last January. MCCTP is the part of the government’s dole program, dubbed as the Conditional Cash Transfer Program, which includes programs for homeless street families, including itinerant indigenous families in urban areas. In response to Ridon, DSWD budget sponsor Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora said that DSWD cannot give any commitment that they will stop the controversial outings, as the same MCCTP is still being implemented. Zamora added that the activities involving homeless families have in fact not stopped even in the aftermath of the papal fiasco. “I take that to mean, then, that the DSWD will be repeating this deplorable vanishing act during the APEC Summit?” Ridon retorted.

PH in talks on int’l refugees SYDNEY—Australia said Friday it is in talks with the Philippines to send refugees there, but refused to confirm reports of a A$150-million (US$109 million) deal to expand its controversial resettlement policy. Under Australia’s hardline policy to stop asylum-seeker boats reaching its shores, those arriving by sea are denied resettlement in Australia, even if found to be genuine refugees. They are sent to much-criticized camps on the Pacific island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea and in recent months Australia has been seeking new countries to settle the refugees in. A front-page report in The Daily Telegraph said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had agreed the deal with her Philippines counterpart in New York and that it was awaiting sign-off by President Benigno Aquino III. “We have had bilateral discussions with other countries, including the Philippines at an officials level and ministerial

level over a number of months and the foreign minister obviously spoke with her counterpart in New York recently,” Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told reporters. “I am not going to publicly comment in relation to where some of the negotiations are at. I think we’re best to discuss those issues in private with those partners.” Canberra has already struck a deal with Cambodia to accept refugees in exchange for millions of dollars in aid over the next four years. Only four asylum-seekers have so far opted to take up the offer of a new life in impoverished Cambodia, while the deal itself has been condemned by rights groups. “We will continue the negotiations [with the Philippines] because there is good faith on both sides,” Dutton said. “If we can strike an agreement that is in the best interests of our country and from the Philippines’ perspective, their country, we will arrive at that point.” AFP

Dear Mr. or Mrs. President. Students of the Philippine Science High School write letters to the next President of the Philippines during an event of Philippine Postal Corp. at Quezon City on National Letter Writing Day. JANSEN ROMERO

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PH stays in Impunity Index By Sandy Araneta ALTHOUGH there is no state of war in the Philippines, the country among the nations with the worst records in terms of impunity against journalists, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said in its Global Impunity Index for 2015.

Lasting memorial.

Tombstone maker Leo Mortel, who has been making grave markers for more than 30 years, works on another tombstone at the Tugatog Cemetery in Malabon City. ANDREW RABULAN

Viet boat caught poaching By Francisco Tuyay SeVeN Vietnamese fishermen were arrested and their vessel impounded after they were caught poaching by a Philippine Navy gun boat off currimao, Ilocos Norte, the Navy said on Friday. Navy capt. albert Mogol, commander of Naval task Force 40, reported that the Vietnamese fishing vessel, with body number Db97135tS, was intercepted by navy gunboat PS-36 off currimao at about 4:06 p.m. thursday. Mogol said PS 36 was conducting search and rescue operations for 13 Filipino fishermen who went missing at the height of typhoon “Kabayan’’ last week when they discovered the Vietnamese vessel.

Mogol said PS-36 tried to radio the Vietnamese craft but instead of responding, it executed an evasive maneuvers prompting navy boat to pursue the vessel conducted a Visit, board, Search and Seizure (VbSS) procedure. During the VbSS, they found seven crewmen without pertinent documents and identification papers and upon inspection, discovered an undetermined number of marine products. local authorities in currimao town identified the Vietnamese crewmen as trian brioe bao, 34; Nho Xin, 39; Phan Gien Quoc, 38; Dang Quoc Hung, 41; le Van tho, 32 and two other minors. the crewmen were taken for physical and medical examination at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and

Medical center in batac, Ilocos Norte. the fishing vessel is currently anchored at the currimaro port. During an inventory of the fishing boat’s cargo, bureau of Fisheries and aquatic resources representatives, headed by olivia ledda, along with bureau of Immigration field officer Ferry Michael Pancho, found the vessel laden with various marine products, including manta rays, tuna and sharks’ fins. He said the crewmen will be turn over to the representatives of the bureau of Fisheries and aquatic resources, bureau of Immigration and Ilocos Norte Provincial committee for Illegal entrant with the assistance of coast Guard Station currimao for proper disposition.

but Malacañang said “the aquino administration has reformed the political structure that spawned the Maguindanao massacre upon which was based the impunity rating now assigned to the Philippines.” “However, the trial of about 100 suspects is still ongoing, thus the impunity rating of the country has not changed. Government continues to pursue suspects in other mediarelated crimes,” said communications Secretary Herminio coloma Jr. the Philippines moved down from its No. 3 rank from 2014 but remains the only country in the top five that is not in a state of large-scale armed conflict. “For this index, cPJ examined journalist murders that occurred between Sept. 1, 2005, and aug. 31, 2015, and that remain unsolved. only those nations with five or more unsolved cases are included on this index,” the cPJ said in its website. cPJ’s top 14 countries in terms of impunity against journalists are the following: Somalia, Iraq, Syria, the Philippines, South Sudan, Sri lanka, afghanistan, Mexico, Pakistan, russia, brazil, bangladesh, Nigeria and India. “at least 44 murders have taken place since September 2005 with complete impunity; seven have occurred under the current administration of President benigno aquino III,” the cPJ said. “Justice for the 32 media victims and 26 others slaughtered in the 2009 massacre in Maguindanao appears more elusive than ever. No one has yet been convicted of the crime and, after six years of protracted legal proceedings, the suspected mastermind has now died of natural causes,” it added. the 2013 conviction of the gunman who assassinated investigative journalist Gerardo ortega was a welcome advance, but the two former politicians accused of commissioning the crime have not yet stood trial. the index calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of the country’s population. the cPJ gave the Philippines an Impunity Index rating of 0.444 unsolved journalist murders per million inhabitants.

Taiwan marks 104 years IN celebratIoN of the 104th National Day of the republic of china, the taipei economic and cultural office in the Philippines held a reception on oct. 8 at the Grand ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay city. the event was hosted by Dr. Gary Song-Huann lin, representative of taiwan, and chairman amadeo Perez Jr., chairman of Manila economic and cultural office. In marking the outbreak of the Wuchang revolution on oct. 10, lin said the ideals of the taiwanese revolution to those of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose rizal who also envisioned a modern republic in which people can enjoy their liberty, democracy and freedom. lin proudly ref lected that it is never easy to realize the dreams of the revolutionaries including Dr. Sun Yat-sen, founding father of the

roc, but now roc on taiwan has actually realized the said dreams of being a free and democratic country. lin reported that taiwan is an economic and technology powerhouse with strong manufacturing high tech industry, global supply networks, and distribution facilities around the world. He emphasized that taiwan is an important source of investments and tourism for many countries including mainland china and in the asean region. lin said the australian Institute of economic and Peace has identified taiwan as one of the most livable places in the world because of its economic freedom, good quality education, effective public transport systems, beautiful scenic spots, friendly humanity environment and excellent national medical insurance.

Stronger than ever. Former President Fidel Ramos raises a toast to Taipei representative Song

Huann Lin during the 104th anniversary of the Wuchang Revolution that was led by Chinese patriot Sun Yat-sen and gave birth to Taiwan. Also in photo are Amadeo Perez, chairman of the Philippine cultural office in Taiwan and Madame Sophia Lin.

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Water firms say current supply levels to remain

Public warned against dubious Malaysia jobs

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

By Vito Barcelo

WATER concessionaires yesterday assured customers that the current water supply will be maintained until next week. West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. said in a statement that the seven-hour, off-peak water service interruptions (9 p.m. to 4 a.m.) that affect 56 percent of its customers this El Niño season will be maintained at current levels next week. According to Maynilad Water Supply Operations head, engineer Ronaldo Padua, the rains that Typhoon Kabayan dumped over Central Luzon last weekend increased surface runoff at the Ipo watershed, thus sustaining water elevation at the Ipo Dam days after the typhoon has passed. “Based on our latest simulation, the water runoff from Ipo watershed can still sustain our raw water requirements until next week,” Padua said. “Our customers can rest assured that there will be no changes to our existing service level yet despite the reduced supply allocation from Angat Dam,” Padua added. The National Water Resources Board earlier reduced the water allocation from Angat Dam for Metro Manila, as the current strong El Niño is projected to last until middle of next year. From last month’s 38 cubic meters per second, NWRB reduced allocation to 36 CMS this October. Maynilad has been implementing daily supply interruptions in an effort to preserve water elevation in Angat Dam, which is the main water supply source for Metro Manila. Water from the much smaller Ipo Dam has been augmenting the reduced allocation from Angat Dam. Ipo Dam is shared by Maynilad and East zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. Inc. As of Friday morning, Ipo Dam’s water level was at 99.75 meters while Angat Dam’s level was at 193.96 meters.

PROSPECTIVE overseas Filipino jobseekers are warned against dubious high paying-jobs in Malaysia being offered by a Malaysian-based recruitment agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. “The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur cautions Filipinos against falling victim to dubious job offerings with supposed high salaries in Miri and Bintulu in Malaysia’s Sarawak state,” the DFA said in a statement. “The embassy has received reports of Filipinos being re-

cruited for alleged well-paying jobs in Miri and Bintulu in Sarawak but ended up working in bars and restaurants as guest relations officers or waiters and were not paid proper salaries, and have no employment benefits while their passports are taken by employers,” Foreign

Affairs said. It also said that some of them end up in debt bondage, as they were asked to pay huge sums of money before they can get their passports back and be allowed to return home. The embassy also informed the Filipinos that foreigners who travel to Sarawak and other parts of Malaysia as tourists cannot work legally. “Those who wish to work in Malaysia will have to first secure their employment visas in their countries of origin before coming over. Otherwise, they may end up

being victimized by human traffickers,” the department said. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration advised overseas workers to secure employment visas before going overseas for work. The embassy also reminds Filipinos to be vigilant and not to deal with unlicensed individuals or any agencies that are not accredited by the POEA. The DFA has encouraged the public to verify job offers with the POEA in Manila or the Embassy’s Philippine Overseas Labor Office before making travel plans.

Dance for a cause. Students of Quirino Elementary School dance during a dengue awareness event at North Fairview Elementary School. JANSEN ROMERO

Ayala Bridge closure begins this weekend By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Friday announced the closure of Ayala Bridge in Manila starting this weekend for the road maintenance work to be conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways and its private partner. In its advisory, the MMDA said the full closure of Ayala Bridge for repair works, damper installation and concreting is scheduled beginning 10 p.m. of Oct. 9 to 5 a.m. Oct. 12; Oct. 16 to 19 (10 p.m.-5 a.m.), Oct. 23 to 26 (10 p.m.-5 a.m.), and Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 (10 p.m.-5 a.m.). On Oct. 15, the outer lane of the bridge for each direction will be open to light vehicles only. Areas to be affected by the bridge closure include major thoroughfares such as Que-

zon Boulevard, United Nations Avenue, Taft Avenue, Legarda Street, Quirino Avenue, Recto Avenue, Magsaysay Boulevard, and Roxas Boulevard. Motorists may take the following alternate routes: Going southbound toward Otis or President Quirino Avenue: From Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda Street and Lacson Avenue, use Nagtahan or Mabini Bridge, turn right at M. Guanzon Street, go straight toward UN Avenue and onward to destination. From P. Casal Street, turn right on Carlos Palanca Road going to McArthur Bridge and onward to destination. Going northbound: From Romualdez Street, turn left on Ayala Boulevard, right on Taft Avenue, and straight to Quezon or Jones Bridge onward to destination. DPWH Secretary Rogelio

Singson said they need to close the bridge in the next four weekends of October for the post-tensioning and damper installation works. He added that the bridge is expected to be fully opened to vehicles by Nov. 2, 2015 after the completion of post tensioning activities, a method of introducing internal forces or stress to the high strength steel or cables after the concrete placement. Singson noted that after the construction related activities on top of the bridge are completed, vehicular movement will be allowed as remaining works such as welding and sandblasting will be done under the bridge that will be completed on Dec. 23, 2015. The 139-lineal meter bridge with a total superstructure width of 25 was lifted by 70 centimeters for freeboard clearance of navigating vessels along Pasig River.

Free ride. Commuters are given a ride from Buendia-LRT station to Mall of Asia in a vehicle that can carry as many passengers as three UV Express vans can. This is a dry run conducted by the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas. EY ACASIO

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Customs officials, 3 others charged with smuggling By Vito Barcelo

Newlyweds. 57 couples get married during the Kasalan ng Bayan held at the Koronadal City park in celebration of the city’s 15 th charter

anniversary. AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN

‘Some suspects in Ampatuan killings to be convicted soon’ By Ali G. Macabalang

COTABATO CITY—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has assured the public that suspects in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre of 58 people in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, especially the main accused, will be convicted before the end of the Aquino administration. “I remain confident that before the end of the President’s term, there will be a few convictions,” De Lima said during a re-

cent television interview. De Lima, who was reportedly set to resign next week to file her candidacy for senator under the rul-

ing Liberal Party, was referring to principal suspects Andal “Datu Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. and his brother Zaldy, a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. She said the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 22 is expected to come out with a conviction before June 30, 2016 when President Benigno Aquino III steps down. The two Ampatuans are

sons of former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., also a principal suspect. The elder Ampatuan died of liver cancer while on detention last July 17. But the camp of Ampatuan, through lawyers from the Heffron Esguerra Dy De Jesus & Chico Law Offices, deplored De Lima’s pronouncement, describing in a statement her “anticipated conviction” as a conduct unbecoming. Media workers based

here, mostly sympathetic to 32 colleagues slain in the massacre, also aired negative reactions to De Lima’s pronouncement, the latest in a string of assurances for years. “Secretary De Lima has a penchant for assuring us of conviction in the massacre case trial since Day One. If conviction can be obtained, why time it only on the last days in office of President Aquino?” a broadcast reporter asked.

FIVE customs officials and three others linked to the foiled smuggle try of almost P50 million worth of highend luxury cars were charged with smuggling before the Department of Justice. Customs commissioner Alberto Lina said the eight, including the Customs officials tried to smuggle 14 units of luxury vehicles that entered the Port of Batangas in two batches last July 2015. Charged were BoC Port of Batangas acting assessor Eloisa Suarez, Customs operation officers Maricel Manguiat; Noralyn Asaria; Araceli Jasa; and Benjamin Manalo, all assigned at the Port of Batangas. The three others facing similar charges were identified as Rolando Cuevas, owner of Monacat Trading; Merlinda dela Cruz, manager of Monacat Trading, and customs broker Flaviano dela Cruz. In the charge sheet, Lina said that the three intentionally and fraudulently misdeclared correct values of the luxury vehicles. “The five Customs officials blindly processed the declaration on the import entries, thus directly and/or indirectly participated and in the foiled smuggling try,” Lina said. The shipments came from United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Japan were Ferrari 458 Speciale, 2015; a Mercedez Benz G63 AMG, 2015; Toyota Prado; Mc Laren MP4-12C OR 650S; Toyota Land Cruiser GXR Bullet Proof, 2015; Land Rover Defender 90; Land Rover Range Rove, 2015; Mecedes Benz CLK DTM AMG; 2 Toyota Land Cruiser GX V8 Sport, and 2 Mercedes Benz C63 AMG, all brand new. “We will not tolerate any Customs officials involved in graft and corruption. Anyone caught red-handed will face the consequence,” Lina said.

Three students drown while swimming in Zamboanga By Florante S. Solmerin

THREE students drowned and one remains missing even as 16 others survived after they were swept away by a sudden surge of water in Barangay Lubid, Aurora, Zamboanga, the regional police office said Thursday. The surge was caused by rainfall as the students, all from Aurora Pioneers Memorial College, were swimming. Police Officer Radzben Jul, staff of the Public Information Office of the Police Regional Office 9, said the incident happened at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The fatalities were identified as Pauline Bermejo, Luke Christian Besina and Princess Cadutdut.

“The Aurora Police Station and local government units and volunteer organizations are still in the area conducting search and rescue operation for one missing student identified as Daisy Margarrite Iway,” Jul said. Those who survived the incident were Fern Daga, Blayne Chester Daga, Kirk Geremy Albaño, Mark Ryan Flores, Jason Dolero, Andy Quismondo, Jan Mark Basinillo, Ethel Lubaton, Glyzza Villoria, Ashley Godinez, Almira Gabod, Jason Mejarez, Jude Andrie Ceniza, Daniel Zamora, Carl Sususco, and Mark Lester Tagalogon. The police said they were investigating if the 20 students had the permission from their school teachers or parents to go to the waterfalls in a secluded area that was located below a very steep ravine.

Young inventor. Paula Nicole Bataga, a high school student from the ARMM Regional Science High School in Parang, Maguindanao, demonstrates how a solar power bank works. OMAR MANGORSI

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

[ EDI TORI A L ]

ARROYO IN JAIL WE HAVE no issue with jailing the corrupt, and putting behind bars those who are accused of dipping their hands into the public coffers. We agree that public officials who commit these wrongs must be named and shamed. The money they take away from projects could generate jobs and build infrastructure that would help alleviate the plight of the poor and narrow the income gap in the country. We believe that the drive against corruption should not distinguish between high-ranking officials and lowly public employees, and among perpetrators from whatever side of the political fence. This is where we differ with the Aquino administration, which has a history of invoking the straight and narrow path and wielding the strong arm of justice—but only to those it perceives as its enemies. The first example that comes to mind is the much-reviled immediate predecessor of President Benigno Aquino III, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Mrs. Arroyo, 68 years old, is detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Hospital on charges of plunder of P366 million in “intelligence funds” of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Mrs. Arroyo has been frail because of her cervical spondylosis, This has caused her difficulty in swallowing food. Meanwhile, there has been no significant progress in the trial of her case. Earlier this month, a United Nations body, the UN High Commission on Human Rights Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, called for a reconsideration of Mr. Arroyo’s petition to file bail that had been denied by the First Division of the Sandiganbayan. The complaint was filed by a London based, Lebanese-born barrister, Aman Alamuddin Clooney. According to the UN body, the denial of Mrs. Arroyo’s bail plea showed that the Sandiganbayan failed to take into account her individual circumstances, consider measures alternative to pre-trial detention. There are also undue delays in the proceedings. Expectedly, administration officials dismissed the UN findings. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who is on her way out of her department to run for the Senate, and Palace spokesman Secretary Herminio Coloma, insisted that Mrs. Arroyo’s rights had not been violated and she had been afforded sufficient legal remedies. Mrs. Arroyo, whose final days in office were marred with scandal and calls for her ouster, has been the poster child for this administration’s so-called battle with evil. Unfortunately for Mrs. Arroyo, administration officials are treading the path not by building a strong case against her and ensuring swift trial, but by simply keeping her in jail. They mistake this for victory and righteousness. Who would not want to know whether or not plunder was committed? Who would not want closure on whether or not this former President indeed violated the trust placed on her by the people? The UN agency’s opinion would have of course no bearing on the case, which is the sole jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. What is happening to the case, and why is it not moving, especially now that we are down to the last few months of the Aquino administration? Is the President deliberately allowing Mrs. Arroyo to wither, unable to discharge her legislative duties and unable to find refuge in the company of her family? The call is not to let her go home, per se. The call is to present an airtight case and let the trial proceed at a decent pace.

BEWARE THE CHINESE TROJAN HORSE BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO PARLIAMENTARY visits, including media junkets, are meant to foster friendship and understanding. But visitors to China must be circumspect and wary they don’t fall under the spell of Beijing’s charm offensive. The delegation to China of 15 congresswomen led by Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia is the latest of goodwill visits

arranged by the Chinese Embassy in Manila. The value of these visits has to be questioned in light of our territorial dispute in the South China Sea with Beijing. The problem of what caused the rift in our relations with China is glossed over with polite language in keeping with protocol on such occasions. Views and speeches are exchanged between hosts and visitors but the problem that divides us will remain long after the visitors return home. Visitors should not be lulled into a false sense of security by China’s great wallpapering of

the threat it poses in the region. There are also domestic problems visitors to China do not see such as the stifled dissent in the restive Xinjiang province. These visits to China at the host state’s expense is part of Beijing’s PR blitz to soften its bully image in the international stage. After these arranged visits, particularly media junkets, the visitors return home gushing with reports of China’s booming economy, and progressive governance but hardly any mention of how our giant neighbor across the pond has taken over nearly the entire South China

Visitors to China must be circumspect and wary they don’t fall under the spell of Beijing’s charm offensive

Sea to the detriment of the region’s peace and stability. After the lavish lauriats and exchange of speeches, do the visits of these Philippine delegations change Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea.? Does it stop Chinese gunboats patrolling in Panatag and PagAsa from driving away Filipino fishermen of Zambales and Pangasinan (De Venecia’s province and constituency)? Does it deter Beijing from militarizing the South China Sea by reclaiming land and building garrisons with air strips and naval stations for its warships? Will it persuade China to accept a Hague arbitration tribunal jurisdiction and ruling on the Philippine case contesting the

sweeping Chinese claim of the South China Sea? Even US President Barack Obama, the leader of the world’s most powerful nation, could not sway China to back off on its bullying in the South China Sea. In his meeting with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, Obama raised the issue of freedom of navigation and the concerns of China’s smaller neighbors with overlapping claims to parts of the South China Sea. All Obama got from Xi was an assertive “the South China Sea is ours

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

since ancient times.” This, despite the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea giving countries with coastal lines a 200-mile exclusive economic zone. That’s how China, a signatory to UNCLOS, observes international laws. So to our visitors to China, beware of the Chinese bearing gifts and empty words extolling our long, friendly ties. Times have changed. The Chinese are good, friendly people but the cabal calling the shots in Beijing covets the oil, gas and mineral under the ocean floor to fuel its war machine and the

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vast fishing grounds to feed its people. But what about our own fisher folk who are being driven away by Chinese gunboats in Baja Masinloc and the West Philippine Sea? On matters of trade, China enjoys a $1.67-billion balance of trade in its favor. The Philippines exports total $8.03 billion while importing P9.7 billion worth of Chinese products—mostly manufactured goods, electronics, and heavy equipment, including the recent additional carriages for the ailing MetContinued on A11 ro Rail Transit.

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THE 2016 elections has turned quite interesting with Rep. Leni Robredo’s acceptance of the administration’s invitation to run as vice president to Mar Roxas. Remember that if we go by the numbers, Senator Grace Poe remains as the leading presidential candidate. The Philippines could possibly have two women occupying the two highest government positions—a first not only for the country, but as far as I know, for the world. This could be history in the making. There is no denying that Poe and Robredo can win the elections. Poe’s popularity cannot be questioned despite everything, including the kitchen sink, being thrown at her. Lately, she is also doing the right thing by going directly to the people, whose votes can bring her to Malacañang. Robredo’s numbers, on the other hand, are still low as of the last surveys. She, however, cannot be dismissed from the race because although a “latecomer”, she is also very popular especially among advocates of new politics. Outside of the administration’s sphere of influence, Robredo has another “base”—that of “workers”, those who volunteer out of principles and because of their advocacies. They will work hard for Robredo to win. This is because when contrasted with other vice presidential candidates, Robredo’s simplicity, low-key demeanor, and track record as a non-government public servant make her a good choice. She is seen as clean, with the kind of integrity that voters look for, and, authentically pro-poor. Both women are running with veteran politicians. Poe’s VP is Senator Chiz Escudero and Robredo is with Roxas. Going by the results of post-Martial Law elections, Filipino voters do not go for party slates. The Cory-Doy ticket was brought to the Palace via Edsa. Both former President Macapagal-Arroyo and her VP, Noli de Castro, won, but they were in an alliance, not under one party. All others came from different parties. Thus, it is very possible that the tandem that will emerge in 2016 will not come from the same slate. Both Poe and Robredo are seen as clean. There are no corruption allegations against them. They are not traditional politicians or trapos. Some pundits say they are “deodorizers” for the men they run with. Some expect their acceptability and popularity to rub off on Chiz and Mar. Fat chance, I say. Pro- Poe supporters are significantly wary of Escudero. Some say that their ambivalence towards Poe is caused by the suspicion that Chiz is “controlling” her. 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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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Visitors to China must be circumspect and wary they don’t fall under the spell of Beijing’s charm offensive

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

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A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

SIGNS NO POLL SURVEY CAN INTERPRET BACK BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN THERE are ominous signs that can never be translated nor reduced to statistics by these anomalous poll surveys, but are nonetheless indicative why our people are prone to decide matters of importance to them as if to anticipate the future. This column is not a fortune teller, but somehow is using our own logical deduction to allow us to read in between the lines how the candidate of this horrid administration, Manuel “Mar” Roxas, would fare in this coming presidential election.

The decision of Senator Bongbong Marcos has caught the hypocrites by surprise.

This early, there are telltale signs that Mar would have difficulty hurdling the odds against his candidacy. Notably, in all presidential elections, even in the land where we copied our bankrupt electoral system, once the party has nominated or chosen its presidential candidate, aspirants for the vice presidency gravitate around the man which the party has chosen as its standard bearer hoping they would be chosen as running mate. They all vouch they could bolster the chances of their presidential candidate. But in the case of Mar Roxas, it almost took him and the one who anointed him a month to select who will be his ideal running mate. Mar was encountering difficulty that he had to seek the help of Noynoy and other party stalwarts to make a wise decision. This, to me, is a sign of uncertainty about his chances of winning. Why shy away from the golden opportunity to run as running mate when deep in their heart they truly aspired for it? Rather, Mar himself and his handler in Malacañang,

had to scout, convince and cajole people to be his running mate. The decision to pick Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo was not a wise choice; it was a desperate one. If truly Robredo has the instinct that Roxas is likely to win, human nature plus ambition would have driven her not to wait for an invitation, but to offer herself insisting she has the qualities that could seal the victory for the LP. Surely, the poll surveys cannot put this premonition to statistics of what is in store for the Liberal Party, but that is exactly what happened. Bad omen are all falling one by one for the LP. From a charge of wholesale graft and corruption, it is leaders are accused of prurient behavior. Notably, the country’s political parties and their respective political brokers have systematically “boxed out” the presidential bid of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. They all would want to ingratiate themselves to their foreign brokers sensing it holds the key to their victory by the magic of hocus-PCOS or the computerization of our electoral system to a foreign contractor. Political kingpins and their mindconditioners, styling themselves as poll surveyors, know that there pervades today cynicism about the outcome of this coming electoral exercise. They entertain the thought that political parties in this country are owned by them, and the members merely treated as minions and are paid to clap for their fielded candidates. The democratic process of convention and nomination has all but been forgotten. Poll surveys would not admit the prognostications, for that would amount to confessing that what they have been dishing out to our people is fraudulent. Some say, there is much deeper reason why they pre-empted Bongbong Marcos as their standard bearer or why the party were he belongs purposely did not invite him. They fear the election of Marcos might reconfigure the country’s political and economic landscape. The country’s elite, their foreign brokers, the Church, whom they have reduced as acolytes, and with their mascot who continue to style themselves as progressives, all adhere to same “win-win” proposition, for after all, it is not revolution that they wage, but accommodation to a party that has given so

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

CARING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

YESTERDAY, Oct. 9, 2015, Senator Loren Legarda convened in the Senate the Philippine Summit of Conscience for the Climate. It was a wonderful and inspiring occasion. I was honored to be the first speaker of the summit, tasked with answering the question: Why do I care about climate change? I care about climate change, because I am, with my wife Titay, a father to three sons. I hope to have grandchildren too one day. It is imperative for me that I leave my children and grandchildren with a planet as good or even better than what we now have. I echo the words of Pope Francis in Laudato Si’: “Once we start to think about the kind of world we are leaving to future generations, we look at things differently; we realize that the world is a gift which we have freely received and must share with others... Intergenerational solidarity is not optional, but rather a basic question of justice, since the world we have received also belongs to those who will follow us.” I care about climate change because I am a Filipino. Climate change became personal to me when Haiyan/Yolanda hit our country; my late father was from Leyte, one branch of my extended family was nearly wiped out because of the storm surge with only two or three surviving out of 10. Likewise, I am from Cagayan de Oro where many relatives and

friends died in 2011, killed by the floods caused by Typhoon Washi/Sendong. During both events, I was in a Conference of the Parties of the climate change convention in Warsaw, Poland and in Durban, South Africa. Imagine how I felt during those times—forcing myself to focus on the work at hand for the Philippine delegation, distracted, immensely disturbed, both saddened and angered with what was happening back home. It is clear to me that the Philippines must also do its share to mitigate climate change. While adaptation should rightfully be our priority, we cannot be in high moral ground and call on other countries to mitigate if we ourselves continue to grow our emissions in an unrestrained manner. I have also always believed that mitigation actions are no regrets actions: they are good for our country, our economy, our people, and our future, In this regard, I was pleasantly, in fact happily surprised, with the Intentional Nationally Determined Contribution submitted by our government for the Paris negotiations at the end of the year. While details still have to be sorted out, any analysis of the INDC will tell you that it is ambitious and gamechanging. As my president in Ateneo de Manila and the number one scientist on climate change in the Philippines, Fr. Jett Villarin SJ, observed when I discussed the INDC with him:

“The only way this can be achieved is we changed fundamentally our economy, especially our energy and natural resources sectors.” That’s actually what the whole world needs to do and that is what Paris must deliver. I am proud that our country has committed to do that. I care about climate change because I am a Mindanawon, born and raised in that great island. Currently, I spend two days a week there to teach constitutional law and environmental law in Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro. I work on peace and lumad (indigenous peoples) issues. Mindanao is ground zero for climate change in the Philippines—it’s not just strong typhoons like Bopha/Pablo that destroys communities and devastates trees, crops and coasts, but its also drought that affects our energy, water security, and agriculture. Climate change will exacerbate social conflict in Mindanao. Already, the island has been riven with war and killings in Moro and lumad areas. Politics is the main reason but second to it is environmental injustice. Climate change will worsen that. I care about climate change because I am a human rights and environmental lawyer. I am from the “Martial Law baby” generation. I was inspired by the great human rights lawyers of this country, three of whom served in this Senate—Senators Lorenzo Tañada, Pepe Dio-

kno, and of course Joker Arroyo whom we are saying goodbye to these days. As a human rights lawyer, I chose to offer my services to indigenous peoples. It was my involvement with them that led me to environment law. I will never forget where I come from. I care about climate change because I care about people and planet, together, always together. This is why in the Philippines and in the global forums, I have always advocated the inclusion of human rights in any response to climate change. I care about climate change because I am a global citizen. As an academic and as an international lawyer, I have done many long and short-term stints abroad as an overseas Filipino worker and expatriate. I have lived in Europe and the United States for significant periods, one year in Europe, a total of 11 years in the United States. I have travelled to nearly 100 countries, more than half of the world, for work and pleasure. As a global citizen, I have seen how climate is changing our world. As a global citizen, I have seen how the poor are the ones most affected by climate change. It is the poorest countries that suffer first and most for a problem they did not create and contribute little to. And in all countries, it is the poorest sectors, communities and families that bear the costs of climate change even as their environmental footprint is the least. Continued on A11

much of taxpayers money to keep itself in power. Besides, they fear that Bongbong Marcos would break the wall that has caged us tight to the control of the oligarchy and the neocons; that Marcos running for President could compel them to reformulate their plan to commit massive fraud in this coming election. They were banking that all the presidential candidates would, more or less, have a proportionate ratio of the votes casts. That way, even if Roxas would lag behind, his foreign contractors would only have to cheat a lesser number of votes to tilt the figure in his favor. An overwhelming popularity could spoil the game plan. In fact, they have been encouraging as many kibitzers to run to enhance the chances of Roxas, and also to tell the world that democracy is not dead in this land of the hobos

where the only thing that is for free is their so-called right to vote. Fraudulent poll surveys are now working round the clock to remind gullible voters that Mar is catching up with the popularity of Vice President Jejomar Binay whom the yellow hypocrites have branded as a thief. If they could still pull down the rating of Binay, and possibly make it appear that Roxas is more popular now, it would be easy for them to manipulate the results to make Roxas win witho ut the people questioning how he did it. In fact, the administration is on Plan “B” anticipating their American quisling would be disqualified. Their devilish belief that every man has his own monetary equivalent has hit a snag much nobody believes that Grace Poe is a Filipino citizen; that any justice who will decide in her favor stands as the

most stupid Filipino specimen in this country, Thus, the decision of Senator Bongbong Marcos has caught the hypocrites by surprise because they thought they managed to impose a tight condone sanitaire to block his presidential bid. Rather, it opened the door for him to run for the vice presidency which made him the unbeatable candidate for the position. In fact, the announcement immediately caused the candidacy of Robredo to wobble even before they could project that propaganda why she could boast the candidacy of Mar. The three other vice presidential candidates like Senator Gregorio Honasan of UNO, Chiz Escudero of NPC, Alan Cayetano of the Nacionalista and Antonio Trillanes IV are seen as shoo-in candidates. Like Leni, the three are Bicolanos, and all they can present as their credibility is

their ambition. The decision of Bongbong Marcos to run for vice president, have made some of the presidential aspirants to change their mind. They have to make a sudden turnaround because they feel they have a better chance of winning with Bongbong Marcos as their running mate, which in all these years have a built-in loyal followers made up of the solid Ilocano, the Warays, and the urban poor beneficiaries of the welfare programs of Congresswoman Imelda Marcos. Through the social media, our enlightened people are now at crossroads in redefining the destiny this nation amidst the rumblings to break away from the oppressive US hegemony in hope of electing a leader who will focus more on the immediate problems of poverty, hunger and unemployment. (rpkapunan@gmail.com)

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A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

A DUTERTE-CAYETANO TANDEM?

IT’S the season when taxi drivers do not hesitate to tell their passengers who they want for President in 2016; when ambulant vendors openly express to their customers their candidate for President; when waiters readily reveal to restaurant patrons their choice for the highest office in the land. Many of them want Duterte—Rodrigo Duterte, the popular, no-nonsense Davao City Mayor known for his strict enforcement of laws and ordinances, as well as his own brand of instant justice often dispensed out in the open for everyone to witness. For these taxi drivers, ambulant vendors, and waiters, the strongman government Mayor Duterte is famous for may be the long-awaited solution to the corruption, incompetence, and pretentiousness of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III and his political minions in the controversy-ridden Liberal Party. These common folk are not by themselves in their sentiments. Many office workers and college students sincerely believe that the benevolent authoritarianism symbolized and represented by Duterte may be the only remedy against wayward government. They are all voters, and as far as these voters are concerned,

if law and order obtains in not investigation, Cayetano’s Duterte’s Davao City strong- supporters maintain that the hold, then it may likewise obtain electorate can at least find comthroughout the country when forting solace in the knowledge the mayor takes up residence in that the senator’s investigations Malacañang. Considering that have elicited and unearthed ironhand rule is often equat- vital information regarding ed with instant justice, their anomalies in high places in govpreference for Duterte may be ernment—information not othconsidered extremist, but then erwise available to the public extreme problems often de- under ordinary circumstances. mand extreme solutions. It is Mayor Duterte is publicly peralso an indication of how des- ceived as a scourge of political perate the people are for hon- evildoers, and a city leader who, est and efficient government. to put it mildly, solves problems Political observers believe in an unorthodox way. The that Mayor Duterte will run for mayor’s long experience in exPresident in the coming elec- ecutive leadership at the grasstions because popular senti- roots level gives him enough ment seems to be going his way. political ammunition against In the event of a Duterte those who grudgingly acknowlpresidential run, a touted vice edge his success at the local govpresidential running mate of ernment stratum, but belittle his the mayor is Senator Allan Peter competence at the national level. Cayetano, who has already an- According to the Cayetano nounced his bid for the second camp, this is where the senator highest office in the country un- comes in. Since Cayetano apder the banner of the Naciona- pears to have a penchant for exlista Party. Primarily because posing graft and corruption, this of his youth, Cayetano is one of penchant may be his binding tie the more industrious personali- to a Duterte presidential run— ties in the Senate, a reputation like Duterte, Cayetano is wagthat many of his colleagues can ing a war against scoundrels in only hope to aspire for. During government, but unlike Duterte, his tenure as a senator, Cayetano Cayetano fights his war in an was very visible in many inqui- orthodox way, that is, through ries in aid of legislation. While exposés in senate investigations. the primary task of a senator There is no doubt that is, admittedly, legislation and Duterte’s many years in govern-

History... From A9 As regards Robredo, as early as now, many of those I know who will vote for her have said that “Hanggang Robredo lang ako.” Thus, I think that Roxas and Escudero’s people should not depend too much on these women candidates for votes. While a Poe-Robredo win is possible, I have no illusion that achieving this will be easy. In fact there are many major obstacles facing such a tandem but this requires a separate article. I would, however, posit that Poe’s and Robredo’s candidacies offer other golden opportunities for women and our political agenda. In my dream, I see Poe and Robredo veering away from the “ulila” and “kawawa” image. I like Robredo’s statements saying that she is a different person from her late husband former DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, and that sympathy should not be enough basis to vote for her. Only a strong, confident woman can say that. I wish Senator Poe would stop using her father in her campaign. As rightly pointed out by people, the late FPJ has not done anything yet for her to con-

Caring... From A10 I care about climate change because I care about justice, and especially justice for the poor and excluded. Climate justice must be part of the Paris agreement, and not just among and between countries, but among and between peoples. As a global citizen, I am connected to social media and other technologies with

tinue. He just ran for President and did not have the chance to show his mettle as a public servant. Grace Poe should now show the people what she herself is capable of doing and not live in the shadow of FPJ. Poe and Robredo are both strong, empowered women. They should embrace this image and show the country that women are capable to occupy the highest offices of the land on their own merits. What I also like about these two candidates is the fact that they are both nontraditional. I see Poe, as someone who grew up in the United States, as exposed to more modern perspectives. I expect her to have progressive views on women’s rights. Robredo, on the other hand, as a lawyer, has been for many years involved in working with marginalized sectors. One cannot do as she did if she does not have solid rights-based principles. Poe and Robredo, albeit separately, should take pride in their being strong, modern Filipinas. Their candidacies offer a rare opportunity for women’s issues to be part of the national electoral discourse. There has never been a national elections where

thousands of people from all regions of the world. I have negotiated on climate change for 20 years and collaborate with hundreds all over the world to find ways forward. It is clear to me that solutions can be found, that with political will and courage, with leadership, the challenges of climate change can be overcome. We can adapt to what we are already sure to face, we can mitigate what we need to

ment service equip him with an almost natural capability of understanding and assessing the endless problems that confront government officials who are tasked with executive responsibilities—like that of a city mayor in the small scale, and that of the president in the large scale. Cayetano’s supporters believe that Duterte’s executive savvy may be complemented by Cayetano’s long experience both as a legislator and as a high-end sleuth in numerous, well-publicized investigations in the Senate. Campaign leaders from both the Duterte and Cayetano camps are quick to notice an advantage in a Duterte-Cayetano tieup. Duterte is from Mindanao, while Cayetano is from Luzon. If the old geographic political formula of fielding candidates from different island groups in the archipelago still works in these times of social media and on-line communication, their tandem is expected to bring in the votes. Age is also an important consideration in a presidential and vice presidential team. Solving the nation’s numerous problems effectively requires a thorough understanding of how older Filipinos think, and how the younger ones feel. While an individu-

women’s rights were at the core of presidential candidates’ platform. Women’s rights have always been at the margins. In my dream I see Poe and Robredo engaging other candidates on women’s rights for a change. After all, we speak here of the rights of half of the population. For women’s groups, the candidacies of these strong women is a golden opportunity to put forward solutions to women’s issues and problems. Organizations, despite political, even ideological differences can perhaps come together and agree on crucial programs for women that can be brought to the attention of these women candidates. Women’s groups should engage candidates armed with crucial agenda for women’s empowerment. An opportunity as rare as this may not come again in the next elections so we must grab this chance. The 2016 elections is not only exciting. It gives women and our right the opportunity to shine. It can make history for women’s political participation. bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on FaceBook

avoid the worst. I believe in global solidarity. If we, citizens of this world, go to Paris in December with courage in our hearts and imagination in our minds, we will overcome the climate challenge. Finally, I care about climate change because I believe in a Creator that gave us this world to care for. Like Pope Francis, I believe that the earth, indeed the whole

universe, speaks of God’s love and his boundless affection for us, with “soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God”. I care about climate change because I hear the call to be stewards of this earth and each other. Indeed, we must listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. I hear this call to a mission and I say yes. This is why I care about climate change.

al cannot be both young and old at the same time, a tandem can. Supporters of Cayetano assert that among the voters, the young ones can identify with the senator, while the once young have Duterte on their side. By the way, why are there candidates running for vice president but who do not have a presidential running mate? These candidates should read up on their history lessons. In the 1986 special elections, the political opposition party fielded Corazon Aquino and Salvador “Doy” Laurel for President and vice president, respectively. Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw, an erstwhile ally of Laurel, also ran for vice president and adopted Aquino as her presidential candidate. Since Aquino avoided Kalaw’s rallies, Kalaw campaigned by her lonesome (except in San Juan where then Mayor Joseph Estrada supported her). As expected, Kalaw was defeated. Perhaps, these candidates running for vice president without a presidential bet have good reason to believe that Senator Grace Poe will win as president, get proclaimed as such, and get unseated on the ground that she is not a natural-born citizen of the country. If that happens, the vice presidency becomes an express lane to the presidency.

Beware... From A9 Skycable billing all messed up This isn’t the first time I have had to deal with Skycable’s mess-up billing department. Last week, I got a text message from a collection agency that I have to settle a long overdue account for a disconnection service of broadband service. Yes, Skycable charges customers for disconnection when you move to another place that Sky can’t provide broadband service such as Ayala’s condominium properties. This is because Ayala is the broadband service provider of Tattoo which is only allowed in its condo buildings. So, okay, I paid the P1,000 plus disconnection charge which is a small price to pay otherwise Sky won’t install cable TV in my new place. I needed cable TV for the news reports to keep current my twice-aweek column in this newspaper. Although Ayala has Tattoo broadband, it does not have cable TV yet and so allows Skycable to operate in their condo sites. Lopez-owned Skycable insisted I pay the broadband disconnection charge before it can install Skycable in my new condo unit. Payment was made to the guy who disconnected the broadband. I asked for a receipt which he issued. But somehow as what sometimes happens in the course of moving residences, the receipt got lost in transit which was in a box the movers must have thought were trash. It is welcome news that Senator Serge Osmeña, who’s linked to the Lopezes through marriage, has proposed a bill to stop business establishments, including service providers, from harassing customers with unpaid or overdue bills. For the record, I still dutifully pay my monthly bill for Skycable TV which was why it came to my surprise that after more than six months I got this Skycable notice from its collection agency to settle my “long overdue account.”

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Darts tilt at Resorts World Manila THE Plaza inside Newport Mall turns into a canvass today and tomorrow for some of the country’s top darts players as they show their masterful work at Resorts World Manila’s high-stakes ‘DART ATTACK’ P300,000 Darts Tournament. Over 400 participants are expected to flock to RWM during the two-day competition for a chance at a slice of the P300,000 total prize pool. Considered an official National Darts Federation of the Philippines ranking event, RWM’s ‘Dart Attack’ follows the governing body’s rules and regulations. The competition is open to all RWM members. Non-members may sign up for free membership to join. Registration starts at

Practice session.

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi of Italy leaves the pit during a free practice session at the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi, Tochigi prefecture. AFP

9 a.m. today and 11 a.m. tomorrow. Players may join the Fix Triples Event for P1,000, the Classified Draw Four-Person Team Event for P350, and the Open Singles Event for P450. Participants can expect thrilling raffle prizes including gift certificates from Johnny Kahuku’s Hawaiian Shrimp House, Razor Dartboards used during the tournament, and plenty of exciting products from Carlo Rossi, Bacchus Energy Drink, and Chris Sports. Players can also earn a cool Php10,000 cash award for a 9-Darts Out in the Open Singles category sponsored by Robson Sportscraft. For inquiries about the Resorts World Manila’s Darts Tournament, contact 0917-8788311.

UP, Navy open V-League UNIVERSITY of the Philippines and Navy get the chance to showcase their wares ahead of the other fancied teams as they collide today in a lone match kicking off the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City. The Fighting Lady Maroons parade a young but talented crew spearheaded by Nicole Tiamzon and Kathy Bersola, who is raring to strut her stuff after being sidelined by an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury she suffered in the UAAP early this year. UP coach Jerry Yee is also using the tournament, presented by PLDT Home Ultera, to hone up his squad, particularly his rookie players - Maris Layug, Justine Dorog, Isa Molde and Diana Carlos - for the cutthroat UAAP volley wars starting February next year.

“We know our experience here in the Shakey’s V-League will help the team in the long haul,” said Yee, whose squad also saw action in the recent Collegiate Conference topped by National U. Others seeing action for the Diliman-based squad are Princess Gaiser, Aiesha Gannaban, Caryl Sandoval, Arrianne Ilustre, Jewel Lai, Marian Buitre, Sheena Chopitea, Mae Basarte and Rose Cailing. The match, to be aired live on GMA News TV Channel 11 starting at 12:45 pm, also

Game today (Saturday) 12:45 pm- Navy vs UP Games tomorrow (Sunday) 12:45 pm - Coast Guard vs PLDT 3 pm - Kia Forte vs Army

kicks off a volley weekend festival with two explosive games set up tomorrow, both also to be telecast live at 12:45 pm and 3 pm, according to the organizing Sports Vision. “We want to give the fans the best in women’s volleyball and GMA 7 is all out in its support by airing all the games live in the Reinforced Conference,” said Sports Vision president Ricky Palou. Reigning Open Conference champion PLDT Home Ultera and last year’s Reinforced runnerup Army open their title

drive against Coast Guard and newcomer KIA Forte tomorrow. The Ultra Fast Lady Spikers will be led again by Collegiate Conference and UAAP MVP Alyssa Valdez, last year’s Conference and Finals MVP Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, NCAA MVP Gretchel Soltones, Rubie de Leon, Jem Ferrer, Jannine Marciano, Cha Soriano, Gata Pantone and Suzanne Roces. Rachel Anne Daquis, Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Abi Maraño, meanwhile, will join Jovelyn Gonzaga, Mary Jean Balse, Tina Salak and Honey Royse Tubino in the Lady Troopers side seeking to end a string of runner-up finishes in the league backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Focus will also be on Kia, which is tipped to contend for the championship right on its first try on a team built around Angelie Tabaquero, Wenneth Eulalio and Chie Saet, formerly of Cagayan, and Fil-Am Alexa Micek with coach Oliver Almadro hoping to bring his winning act to the Shakey’s V-League after steering Ateneo to a historic title sweep of the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference. PLDT coach Roger Gorayeb and de Leon, meanwhile, try to complete a grand slam of sort after winning the season’s first two titles with the PLDT Home Ultera in the Open Conference and with National U squad in the recent Collegiate Conference.

China confirms status as bullies of basketball By Ronnie Nathanielsz (Conclusion) WHEN South Korea led China by some 20 points going into the final quarter, the referees got to work and assured China of victory. They did the same thing to the Iranian defending champions, who were virtually crying over what was being done to them. The referees tried their very best to help Japan beat the Philippines so China would have a chance to maul the Japanese, with whom they have a long and lingering animosity, more so after the Japanese government joined the Philippines in its efforts to try and stand up to the might of China in the West Philippine Sea. But no matter the odds, we came through in the endgame to beat Japan, which was a team that played a decent game and accepted their defeat with grace. We cannot understand how FIBA

can continue to tolerate these acts of unsportsmanlike behavior by the Chinese, which makes us wonder whether the bottom line is money, just like in FIFA, the corruptionhounded organization for international football. We gather that Fred Uytengsu’s son, who is always at the PBA games, was in China. This young man had every right to be there because Mr. Uytengsu went out of his way to release three players – Sonny Thoss, Dondon Hontiveros and Calvin Abueva, to the national team living up to the underlying philosophy of country above club or self . It was what SBP president Manny Pangilinan told us in a text message before the knockout game against Japan when he quoted what Heneral Luna said so simply but eloquently: “Bayan muna, hindi sarili.” Former Commissioner Chito Salud was also there despite the fact that he failed rather miserably to keep his promise to make sure

that Gilas Pilipinas would have the full backing of the PBA teams. Of course, Willy Marcial the head of the Media Bureau and special assistant to Salud was also there. What his role was, we will never know but we can surely guess. The presence of Commissioner Chito Narvasa and his deputy Ricky Santos was understandable because Chito is studying the FIBA brand of officiating, with a view to introducing this officiating philosophy in the PBA so our pro league players will get used to the rules and not commit the mistakes that are allowed in the PBA to the detriment of the national team in international tournaments. It was clear that coach Baldwin gave his heart and soul to the quest for an Olympic berth. He did a tremendous job motivating the players to go out and do their very best even as they played for each other and our country behind a strengthened bond of caring for one another.

Communications’ secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement issued by Malacanang, said: “Throughout the tournament, the Gilas Pilipinas showed their bravery and determination, and they faced all the trials. They refused to be daunted or frightened, and they kept up with the competition in every aspect of the game. They showed the unique, Filipino way of playing–heroic, intense, and full of heart–which is the reason why they earned the admiration and respect of the best teams in Asia. ” As Pangilinan pointed out: “This is a special team, comprising players who really love this country by serving it the best way they can.” MVP’s heart was filled along with the players and the coaching staff at the remarkable reception they received on arrival at the airport where they were embraced by a grateful nation for their hard-court gallantry. It’s obvious, the country loves Gilas!

Sta. Elena debuts as S Turf unfolds Games today (Saturday) 3 p.m. – Air Force vs IEM 5 p.m. – Navy vs Sta. Elena

STA. Elena Construction and Development Corp. hopes to make an impact right on its first crack in the Spikers’ Turf as it slugs it out with Navy even as Air Force collides with Instituto Estetico Manila at the start of the Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City today. Aces from former Champion Infinity squad make up the top realty and construction firm’s roster, including San Beda’s Sylvester Honrade, Perpetual Help’s Joven Camaganakan, St. Benilde’s Angelo Espiritu, La Salle’s Mark Lee, Michael Antonio and Al-Frazin Abdulwahab along with Rhenze Hu, Roland Tonquin, Anjo Banaga and Richard Gomez. But they will be up against a Navy squad also out to gain early momentum in the season-ending conference of the country’s premier men’s volley tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera and backed by Mikasa. The Reinforced Conference, featuring six teams, is the third tournament of the fledgling league, put up not only to help boost men’s volleyball but also to give these players a venue where they could showcase their talent and skills sideby-side with the highly successful Shakey’s V-League. PLDT Home Ultera beat Cagayan Valley to nail the first Spikers’ Turf in the Open Conference then Ateneo posted a record sweep of the Collegiate Conference last month.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Mickelson, Johnson lose hole ‘twice’ INCHEON— Confusion and controversy struck the Presidents Cup on Friday when Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson lost the seventh hole “twice” after being penalised in a baffling rules infringement.

Opponents of Pagara, Nietes in Main Event By Ronnie Nathanielsz THERE is a growing consensus that while World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, who is in terrific shape and punching with remarkable power may be too good for challenger and Mexican champion Juan “Pinky” Alejo, International Boxing Federation Intercontinental super bantamweight champion Prince Albert Pagara faces an acid test against William “Cherizo” Gonzalez of Nicaragua. The 34-year-old southpaw Gonzalez has an impressive record of 23 knockouts in 27 wins with 5 defeats. Gonzalez won the vacant World Boxing Association/ North American Boxing Organization title with a stunning seventh-round knockout of the highly fancied Cornelius Lock on May 9, 2014. Lock was dropped three times in an action-packed main event and although Lock buckled the knees of Gonzalez in the opening round with a counter left, the heavy-handed Nicaraguan soon turned aggressor and pushed the attack by digging the body and landing heavy hooks. Gonzalez, however, dropped a 12-round majority decision in an IBF title fight against Joseph Agbeko on Dec. 11, 2008. Fight fans will get a chance to size up the tough southpaw on this Saturday’s main event at 8:30 p.m. on Pinoy Box Office over Sky Cable with a replay at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. The top-rated weekly boxing show, presented by Viva Sports, will also give fans a chance to look at the intense training of Nietes, Prince Albert Pagara and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo and interviews with the fighters along with world No.2 ranked Jason Pagara who will also see action on the card.

Jason Day of Australia (right) shakes hands with his teammate Adam Scott of Australia after finishing their round on the 18th hole during the second round four-ball matches at the 2015 Presidents Cup at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, west of Seoul. AFP

Nisikori floors Cilic in Tokyo thriller TOKYO—Defending champion Kei Nishikori survived a war of attrition against Croatia’s Marin Cilic to reach the Japan Open semi-finals on Friday, winning a cliffhanger 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Top seed Stan Wawrinka overpowered American qualifier Austin Krajicek 6-3, 6-4 to join him in the last four, though the Swiss required less than an hour to take care of business on a sunny afternoon in Tokyo. Second seed Nishikori was greeted like a rock star by 12,000 screaming fans but Cilic, who beat Japan’s golden boy in last year’s US Open final, had failed to read the script and quickly seized the initiative with some thunderous hitting. Serving with such ferocity he knocked the racquet out of Nishikori’s hand, the sixth seed broke first with a thumping forehand drive to lead 4-2 before wrapping up the opening set with an ace down the centre. Bidding for his third Japan Open

in four years, Nishikori hung tough in the second set and, as cracks began to appear in Cilic’s armour, levelled with an acrobatic leaping backhand that his opponent could only dump into the net. Cilic’s game unravelled under the onslaught in the decider as Nishikori caught fire, breaking for 3-1 and closing out the quarter-final with an ace after two hours, 11 minutes. World number four Wawrinka’s path to the final was made easier when third seed Gilles Simon of France crashed out 6-3, 6-4 to Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller. Wawrinka made no mistakes as he powered past Krajicek in just 58 minutes, and the left-hander had no answer to the rapier-like ground strokes of the French Open champion. Wawrinka’s one-handed backhand—one of the most venomous shots in men’s tennis—did much of the damage and he closed out the match with a kicking serve which a

deflated Krajicek swatted wide and long. “I felt a bit more relaxed today and confident with my game,” said Wawrinka, who is chasing his fourth title of the year and the 11th of his career. “A one-hour match, it was the perfect day for me today.” Controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios, still looking for the first tournament victory of his fledgling career, was scheduled to play Frenchman Benoit Paire in Friday’s late match for the right to meet Nishikori in the semi-finals. In Beijing, Rafael Nadal fought back from a set down to beat hardhitting American Jack Sock and reach his first hardcourt semi-final in more than a year at the China Open on Friday. The Spanish great, scrapping to recover his form after a tough year, was frequently outgunned by Sock’s howitzer forehand but he dug deep to see off the world number 30, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. AFP

Southwoods takes 2-point lead

Lois Kaye Go’s even par pulled Cebu Country Club just two points behind defending champion Manila Southwoods on the second day of the PAL Ladies Interclub at the Marapara golf course in Bacolod.

BACOLOD CITY—Defending champion Manila Southwoods Masters took a slim two-point lead over Cebu Country Club Friday in the 10th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf team championships at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club. The Masters collected 278 points from its star-studded lineup, but will need another strong finish on Saturday to win its fifth straight championship. Sofia Chabon, 14, and Missy Legaspi, 13, led the defending champions with 52 points each while Abby Arevalo added 49. The

other scorers were Loralie Roberto 48, Kim Yong Mi 39 and Annika Guangko 38. “The course condition was hard today,” said captain Marie Claire Ong (30) who, together with Claudine Garcia (34), failed to count. CCC, which lost by a single point to Southwoods last year in Cebu City, drew a superb 54 points from Lois Kaye Go and 50 from Crystal Faith Neri to stay within two shots off the pace. The 16-year-old Go, who started in the back-nine, made back-to-back bogeys from the 15th hole, but

played the next 11 holes at two-under par. “I played pretty solid today,” said the 16-year-old Go. Neri, a new addition to CCC, had two birdies against four bogeys and a double bogey. “We’re very happy to hold Southwoods at bay. Frankly, we did not expect to stay in contention,” said CCC skipper Mary Kim Hong who contributed 48 points. The other CCC scorers were Junia Gabasa 45, Riko Nagai 42 and Ryoko Nagai 35. Failing to count were Menchit Martinez (28) and Josephine Siguan (27).

The US pair stood on the seventh tee at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, Incheon, all square in their four-ball match against Aussie duo Adam Scott and Jason Day. But by the time they walked off the green they were two holes down -something that would seem impossible in match play golf. It turned out Mickelson had breached a little known match play rule which states you must play the entire round with the same brand and model of golf ball in fourballs and singles. “I used a firmer Callaway that would go a little bit longer and try to get there in two,” explained Mickelson. “Didn’t really think much about it. But I was talking with Jay (Haas, US captain), and I just thought, ‘Gosh, I’m going to ask. I’m sure it’s not an issue’. “Turned out it was an issue. Obviously as a player, you need to know that. You need to know the rules. “The weird thing was I’ve never heard of a match adjustment penalty. I just thought I pick up, put the right ball in play the next hole. But obviously that was not what happened.” Johnson made a par five, but Day won the hole for the International team with a birdie four. Mark Russell, vicepresident of rules and competition for the PGA Tour, told reporters why the unusual penalty had been imposed. “He breached the ‘OneBall Condition’,” said Russell. “In this situation, the penalty for breach of this condition is a onehole adjustment to the state of the match. “The USA side lost the seventh hole, making the International side one up. At this point, the adjustment penalty of one hole is applied, resulting in the International side being two up through seven holes.” In effect, the US ‘lost’ the hole twice. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

PBA to open sports café for fans By Jeric Lopez and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease. The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139) 001143

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF CHARLES STEWART LEE to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139. SCN CASE NO. 000 000603 x-------------------------- x

PETITION Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is CHARLES STEWART LEE , but I have also been known since childhood as CHARLES STEWART LI or I have been judicially authorized to use the alias name(s) CHARLES STEWART LI. 2. My present place of residence is 21-B OCEAN TOWER, ROXAS BLVD., MALATE City/Municipality of MANILA and all my former places of residence are Province of (please indicate periods of residence) 1990-1995-15B Escolta Twin Tower, Manila 1995-2004-21B Ocean Tower, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila 2004-2007-Blk 14 3/F Rm. B, Braemar Hillmansion, Breamar Hill Rd, Northpoint, Hongkong 2012-2015-21 B Ocean Tower, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila 3. I was born on DEC. 31, 1990 , in MANILA Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of Hongkong. 4. My father's name is Li Ching Chung (Bernabe Luna) and he was born on NOVEMBER 29, 1963, in CHINA. He is a citizen or subject of HONGKONG. My mother's name is CINDY SZE MEI NGAR and she was born on AUG. 4, 1967 in HONGKONG. She is a citizen or subject of HONGKONG. 5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is Company Pres./Marketing Director and from which I derive an average annual income of P1,455,688.00, inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances. My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A. (Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained: , (2) name of school: and (3) years graduated: ] who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship. SINGLE , I was married on N/A 6. My civil status is in N/A. My wife's/husband's name is N/A and she/he was born on N/A in N/A. She/he is a citizen or subject of N/A and presently resides N/A . 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have N/A child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows: Name N.A.

Date of Birth N.A.

Place of Birth Residence N.A.

N.A.

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality: Name of School

Place of School

Dates of Study

Uno Highschool

Manila

1997-2003

Uno Highschool De La Salle Univ.

Manila Manila

2003-2004 2014-2015

N.A.

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box): [x] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [x] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [x] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [x] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [x] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [x] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [x] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years

nition using a modernized set of LED screens for a better viewing pleasure for fans,’’ said Jayson So, president of Inewvation Philippines, the digital solutions partner of the PBA which provides the TV sets for the café. ‘’This is really exciting for the league and its fans. In addition, the PBA will also likely use the venue to conduct some of its meetings and press conferences aside from its office in Libis, Quezon City. Furthermore, past and present players are also set to drop by every now and then as the league aims for more fan interactions in the 41st season. The dishes that will be served out in the sports resto will reportedly be named after the moniker of PBA legends as well as current PBA stars.

Clearances: NBI, Police, Barangay, Regional Trial Court, Metropolitan Trial Court, Office of the City Prosecutor PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139. Dated at Makati City, Metro Manila, this 12th day of August 2015. CHARLES STEWART LEE Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: 21-B OCEAN TOWER, ROXAS BLVD., MALATE, MANILA Telephone Number: 0917-8007531

New league. Proponents of the newly formed Pilipinas Commercial Bas-

ketball League are shown linking their hands into the ball as a sign of unity. They are (from left) Jun Tiongco, Team Manager, EUROMED; Ronnie Dogillo, Cagayan Rising Suns’ Coach; Harlem Ruiz, Supremo, Lex Builders’ Team Manager; Nick Capapida, Racal Kama Motors’ Team Manager; Buddy Encarnado, PCBL Chairman; Horacio Lim, Jumbo Plastics’ Linoleum Team Manager and Budds Reyes, Foton Toplander Head Coach. LINO SANTOS

Valdez shines for Ateneo REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF CITY OF MAKATI) S.S.

)

I, CHARLES STEWART LEE of legal age and a resident of 21B Ocean Tower, Roxas Blvd, Manila, after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

Date of Enrollment N.A.

Prior to the start of the league’s 41st season, the PBA will open its own sports café on Oct. 15, a few days before the opening of the new season, at the Metrowalk Complex area in Pasig City. The first event in the PBA Café will the league’s appreciation night at 7 p.m. wherein all teams and officials are invited to share some cocktails in the grand opening on the said date. Taking the same concept as the NBA Café in SM Aura, the soon to open PBA Café will cater a sports bar setup wherein live games as well as replays will be broadcasted, featuring an innovated digital high-definition LED screens, in a restaurant set-up. ‘’The PBA games will be shown in high defi-

16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition:

Year One

11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality: Name and Place of School

14. My character witnesses are Michael Aguirre and Avelino M. Guzman, Jr. both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at Unit 10 EDSA Mansion, 670 Edsa, Pasay City and 14 Cut-Cot, Pulilan, Bulacan respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

Highest Grade Completed Elementary

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: Tagalog.

Name of Child

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to Hongkong of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

JUST like what the National Basketball Association has done, the Philippine Basketball Association is also set to open a café and sports bar of its own for its fans.

Initially, the league and its business partners were looking to put the café near the Smart Araneta Coliseum for it to be closer to the where the games are mostly played but space restrictions forced the move to Metrowalk instead. The season-opening Philippine Cup and the new season kicks off on Oct. 18 at the Big Dome, with a heavyweight match-up to open things up with perennial contenders Rain or Shine and Star going at it right away. Meanwhile, the strong only got a lot stronger as the alreadyloaded Talk ‘N Text acquired under-utilized swingman Dylan Ababou from Barako Bull in exchange for a future second-round pick. The former UAAP Most Valuable Player came back from a series of injuries and had a decent season for the Energy the past year. This will be the versatile forward’s third team in the PBA after stops in Barako Bull and Barangay Ginebra.

CHARLES STEWART LEE Name and Signature of Petitioner

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living. I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139. I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold (TS-OCT. 10/17/24, 2015)

ATENEO made an early statement on its women’s title bid, while defending champion University of Santo Tomas and last year’s runner-up De La Salle stumbled in the opening day of the UAAP Season 78 beach volleyball tournament yesterday at the Sands SM By The Bay. Buoyed by the pro-Lady Eagles’ crowd, Alyssa Valdez and Bea Tan survived a tough second set to beat University of the Philippines’ Arielle Estranero and Vina Alinas, 21-9, 2119, in the only morning session match that went to straight sets. The Tigresses and the Lady Spikers, however, fell by the wayside. UST’s Cherry Rondina and Rica Rivera bowed to Adamson University’s Mylene Paat and Jessica Galanza, 1621, 21-17, 13-15, while La Salle’s Cyd Demecillo and Kim Fajardo suffered a narrow 15-21, 21-17, 15-17 loss to Far Eastern University’s Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza. With Tan and Valdez delivering the

key hits, Ateneo broke from a 19-19 deadlock in the second frame to seal its first win. Valdez is simply focusing at the task at hand to nail the only crown that she is missing in her vast collegiate trophy collection -- beach volleyball. “I’m not aiming for anything. I have to play for my team,” said Valdez, who along with Tan are playing their final season on the sand court for the Lady Eagles. “It’s good to be back playing beach volleyball. Marami pa kaming errors but I’m glad we were able to get this good win,” she added. National University’s Roma Doromal and Jasmine Nabor, meanwhile, also needed three sets to defeat University of the East’s Angelica Dacaymat and Judith Abil, 20-22, 21-19, 15-5. In the men’s division, titleholder NU outlasted Adamson, 21-14, 19-21, 15-10, UST nipped FEU, 21-19, 13-21, 19-17, Ateneo tripped UP, 21-16, 21-18, and La Salle edged UE, 21-10, 19-21, 15-13.

S AT U R DAY : O C T O B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Pacman to give P.5m to Asian tourney champ By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The imports of the 2015 Philippine Superliga GP are shown during the tournament’s ofﬁcial launching. They are joined by (seated, from left) Pete Cayco of LVPI, PSL president Ramon Suzara and TV5’s Chot Reyes. ROMAN PROSPERO

All eyes on Blaze Spikers’ Brazil imports Inck, Adachi By Peter Atencio

FORMER Brazilian juniors’ national team stars Rupia Inck will back up Erica Adachi at the frontline when the Petron Lady Blaze Spikers start their campaign in the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix 2015 Volleyball Tournament on a bright note. Inck is a good outside hitter and will double up as an opposite hitter when the Blazers clash with the Cignal HD Spikers in their 1 p.m. opening match at the Alonte Sports Complex gymnasium in Binan, Laguna. Coach George Pascua took note of Inck s versatility and talked about the team s experience during yesterday s launch at the Viking s Buffet Restaurant at

the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. “So far, we’re good at practice. Rupia can be an outside hitter, then she can also play as an opposite,” said Pascua. The mainstays of the team are back again, with Adachi and Rupia getting support from local spikers Rachel Daquis, Abby Marano and Dindin Santiago-Manabat. Meralco, which will be ban-

nered by Liis Kullerkann and The 6 1 Inck was part of the Christina Alessi, takes on Foton Brazilian team which won the at 3 p.m. 2007 World Cup, while Adachi Cignal, which finished at the was around when Petron won the end of the standcrown last year. ings, last year, will Kullerkann is an Games Today (Alonte Sports Arena) have high-leaping outside hitter from American spikers 12 noon • Opening ceremonies Ohio University, and 1 p.m. • Petron vs Cignal Amanda Anderson is from Estonia. She 3 p.m. • Meralco vs Foton and Ariel Usher as saw action for the Esreinforcements. tonian national squad, Foton will play with Jaja San- which reached the third stage of the tiago and Fiola Ceballos joining FIVB world championships. their solid frontline, which is Alessi boasts of a colorful career, bannered by Angeli Araneta and while with Palm Beach Atlantic Patty Jane Orendain. University, bouncing back from an PSL president Ramon Tats injury to become an All-American Suzara said the league promises spiker in her senior year. to take the game to another level. Anderson is a 28-year-old midIf the last batch of imports dle blocker from Lino Lakes, Miwere impressive, this batch will be nessotta, and Usher is a 6’1 outside a lot more exciting, said Suzara. hitter from Hillsboro, Oregon.

BOXING icon Manny Pacquiao attended a dinner hosted by AIBA president Dr. ChingKuo Wu on Thursday night and promised to give light flyweight Rogen Ladon and welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial that he would give the two a P500,000 incentive should they win a gold medal and qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Brazil. Pacquiao then stunned the two young boxers when he informed them through ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson that he would provide an additional P5 million if they win a gold medal in Brazil next year. Pacquiao, who arrived to a tumultuous welcome at the fabulously modern Hamad Al Attiwa Arena in Doha said: “I want to help these boys because they are great.” He even joked that he will take over the fighters’ careers when they turn pro. ABAP president Ricky Vargas, in an early morning call while Pacquiao and party were awaiting their flight back to Manila (they left via Dubai at 3:45 a.m. Doha time), said: “We are so honored and appreciative that our boxing hero Manny Pacquiao took time out to show support for our boys. It’s no joke that he spent 26 hours on a plane then stayed for a hectic schedule in Doha for only 17 hours with hardly any sleep! Maraming salamat, Manny!” Ladon continues his campaign here in the quarterfinals (Round of 16) on Saturday versus Poland’s David Jagodzinski, who won over a Bulgarian on Thursday, while welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial, who TKOd Egyptian Said Mohamed in his initial foray here, faces Spain’s Youba Sissokho. Ladon, who now has 2 wins, will be assured of a bronze if he wins over the Polish boxer, but needs one more to snare a slot to the Olympic Games. Only the gold and silver winners in the light flyweight category will go to Rio. In Marcial’s division, three boxers will make it (the 2 bronze medalists will box off for the third slot.

Gilas dream lives on INSIDE SPORTS RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

THE eminent businessmansportsman Manny Pangilinan has once again demonstrated his class and his sense of integrity by announcing that he would relinquish his position as President of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas because the SBP Constitution prohibits his remaining at the helm after two terms. Not one to trifle with the rules and regulations of an organization he built from the debris of the former Basketball Association of the Philippines and elevated to a position of respect in the international basketball community, Pangilinan has com-

mitted to continue to support Gilas Pilipinas and all its programs with the same kind of enthusiasm that drove him over the past eight years. But for him to continue to support the Gilas program and to commit vast resources to the undertaking aimed at making the Philippines a genuine competitor in the international arena, he must get the wholehearted support of the basketball community, foremost of which is the Philippine Basketball Association. He—and indeed the national team—has been hurt in the past by the failure of some PBA team owners to set aside considerations of business rivalry and to realize that MVP does what he does, not for his personal glory but for a sport for which he has, like most Filipinos an unbridled passion and for our country in whom his faith

has been unwavering despite the ups and downs. We are aware that there are a few individuals with hidden agenda seeking to take control of the SBP, but we seriously doubt whether these individuals have the same desire or the ability to commit substantial resources to help our national team improve its standing internationally and to further strengthen our quest for a measure of greatness that is surely within our grasp as evidenced by the performance of Gilas Pilipinas which far exceeded the expectations of a nation and people who remarkably kept the faith and prayed fervently for success. Our FIBA Asia Championship run with a team that was undermined by men who should have committed themselves totally to a national undertaking once again regrettably showed

the ugly side of the Filipino in the process ignoring what the great nationalist Heneral Luna said: “Bayan muna hindi sarili,” or what two-time FIBA president the late Lito Puyat often remarked with conviction: “Para sa Bayan.” Thankfully, there are men like former PBA chairman Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, who responded to the call and released three of his best players, Sonny Thoss, Dondon Hontiveros and the redoubtable Calvin Abueva, who was prepared, at every turn, to become a hard-court warrior, unafraid of whoever confronted him. There was naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche, whose admirable attitude was the hallmark of a true Filipino and not a mercenary and of course Marc Pingris, whose commitment to Gilas and our country was shoved in the faces of those who sought in miserable

fashion to falsely blame him for not wanting to suit up. Pingris is a man after our own heart just like the incomparable Jayson Castro, point guard extraordinaire and a member of the Asian Mythical Team for the second time in a row. There was Ranidel de Ocampo, a veteran who was prepared whenever necessary to stand up for his teammates and the remarkable Terrence Romeo, the dream of every Juliet on earth, whose creative genius was likened to that of Allen Iverson and the ageless Asi Taulava, who was more Filipino than foreigner. And on and on it goes even as we must never forget the amazing head coach Tab Baldwin and his assistants Jong Uichico, Alex Compton and Norman Black. Baldwin was able to instill a remarkable sense of togetherness

and the philosophy of playing for one another and for the country no matter what sacrifices had to be made. As Manny Pangilinan so simply but eloquently pointed out: “This is a special team, comprising players who really want to be a part of Gilas and who truly love this country by serving it the best way they can.” Obviously, MVP, by far the most valuable person in Philippine sports not just basketball, was the inspiration for a performance of epic proportions. We can’t think of any single individual who has given so much and asked so little in return. To find a replacement with the same passion and a similar commitment we frankly believe is almost next to impossible but as long as he remains a staunch supporter, the Gilas dream will live on.

S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

NU starts hard climb Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay) 2 p.m. - UP vs AdU 4 p.m. - UE vs NU

THE National University Bulldogs still dream of a title-retention bid in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament. With the second round about to start, there is still hope for the Bulldogs. To get there, the Bulldogs will have to win every game, starting with their 4 p.m. encounter with the University of the East Warriors at the SM Mall of Asia Arena today. “Every game is crucial. We need every game we can get,” said Altamirano.The Red Warriors have lost their last four games, and head coach Derrick Pumaren said that they have been experiencing rough times. Earlier, Adamson (1-6) takes on University of the Philippines (2-5) at 2 p.m. This will be the second straight time the two teams face off, with the Maroons looking for ways to get back at the Falcons, who dealt them a 73-68 defeat just last week. Peter Atencio

Trapped. With

the lane clogged by defenders from the Golden State Warriors, Tim Frazier (10) of the Portland Trail Blazers looks to pass during a preseason game at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. AFP

Knights earn twice-to-beat edge By Peter Atencio

LETRAN vented its ire on Perpetual Help and hammered out a 93-64 victory yesterday to clinch a Final Four berth and a twice-to-beat advantage in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City. Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal unloaded 18 and 15 points, respectively, but the two had most of the damage in the first half when the

Knights put the Altas away to secure the former a place in the Top 2, alongside the San Beda Red Lions on 13-5 marks.

7 col x 10 cm

“We just came out aggressive,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo. The Knights will have a chance to avenge their 73-77 defeat to the Lions recently as the two collide on Tuesday at the MOA Arena for the top seeding. The Altas, in contrast, fell to their seventh defeat against 11 wins and out of the Final Four. Jose Rizal, Mapua and Arellano wound up tied for third to fifth spot, but the

How do you want your news served today? www.thestandard.com.ph

Bombers ended up with the highest quotient score of 20 and will book the third Final Four berth as the Cardinals (-1) and the Chiefs (-20) fight it out on Tuesday for the No. 4 slot. The winner of the MapuaArellano game will then face Jose Rizal on Thursday also at the MOA Arena for the No. 3 seeding. John Pontejos drilled in 23 points to lead the Heavy Bombers to a 91-69 smothering of the San Sebastian

Games Tuesday (The Arena, San Juan) 12 nn.- St. Benilde vs LPU (jrs) 2 p.m.- Mapua vs Arellano (srs) 4 p.m.- San Beda vs Letran (srs)

Stags, 91-69, and into their 12th win in 18 games at the end of the first round. The Mapua Cardinals moved into a share of the same record with the Heavy Bombers, with Allwell Oraeme firing 26 points and hauling down 15 rebounds in their 88-63 swamping of

the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals. In the junior action, the Mapua Red Robins drew double-digit outputs from three mainstays in their 9074 demolition of the EACICA Brigadiers. Sherwin Concepcion struck with 26 points while Jasper Salenga and Michael Enriquez gave 23 and 12 points to help Mapua formally earn the first stepladder semis berth with their 16-2 slate.

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 10, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

August exports tumbled 6.3% By Gabrielle H. Binaday

EXPORTS tumbled 6.3 percent in August from a year ago, as the fragile global economy led to lower demand for the country’s agriculture and mineral products, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show Friday.

This marked the fifth straight month of export contraction, following a 1.8-percent decline in July and June, 17.4-percent slide in May and 4.1-percent drop in April.

Data from PSA showed merchandise exports fell to $5.1 billion in August from $5.5 billion in the same month last year and $5.3 billion in July this year. This brought total exports in the first eight months to $41.13 billion, down by 4.4 percent from $39.34 billion a year ago. “The latest export performance mirrors the recent developments in the global economy: the slowing down of global trade, sluggish momentum in industrial production in major economies, and downward price pressure on commodities,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. “With the absence of fresh triggers to spur renewed demand from major advanced economies, the exports sector is

expected to remain constrained in the coming months,” Balisacan, who is also the director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority, said. Neda said all selected trade-oriented economies in East and Southeast Asia posted negative exports growth in August, except Vietnam. Standard Chartered economist Jeff Ng said sluggish global demand dragged down the exports growth. Exports to the United States fell 4 percent year-on-year, while shipments to Japan fell 1.6 percent. Exports to China slid 23.5 percent year-on-year. Ng said exports should improve soon as raw material and capital good imports posted good numbers lately.

PESO STRENGTHENS TO 45.87 DESPITE the weak exports, the peso strengthened to a new two-month high against the US dollar Friday, amid speculation the US Federal Reserve won’t be raising interest rates this year. The peso gained P0.24 to settle at 45.87 against the greenback Friday, its strongest level since closing at 45.755 on Aug. 10. Total volume turnover reached $1.049 billion Friday, higher than $936.7 million on Thursday. Nicholas Antonio Mapa, a research officer at the Bank of the Philippine Islands, said as financial markets anticipated a hike in 2016, “funds have flowed to emerging market countries [including the Philippines].” “And thus we are seeing rally in Asean currencies and stock markets,” Mapa said. Julito G. Rada

PSe comPoSite index Closing October 9, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

7,138.91 32.12

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing OCTOBER 9, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P45.870

46.20

47.00

HIGH P45.855 LOW P46.000 AVERAGE P45.926 VOLUME 1,049.200M

P417.00-P640.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.85-P43.35 Unleaded Gasoline P24.55-P28.00 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG

First Belmont Hotel. Megaworld formally opens its ﬁrst Belmont Hotel in the leisure and entertainment community of Resorts World Manila in Newport City. With 480 rooms catering to business travelers, Belmont Hotel Manila is conveniently located just across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 and features an all-day dining restaurant and a roof deck lounge and pool bar. Executives led by Belmont Hotel Manila general manager Lorenzo Tang, Megaworld ﬁrst vice president Kevin Tan, and Resorts World Manila president Kingson Sian, president hold the traditional lion dance eye-dotting ceremony to mark the opening of the hotel. Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Arnel Casanova watches the ceremony.

Ayala Land closing down InterContinental hotel soon

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, October 9, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.1250

Japan

Yen

0.008341

0.3847

Pound

1.535000

70.8019

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

5.9517

Switzerland

Franc

1.035411

47.7583

Canada

Dollar

0.768699

35.4562

Singapore

Dollar

0.712099

32.8456

Australia

Dollar

0.721397

33.2744

Bahrain

Dinar

2.650060

122.2340

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.3000

Brunei

Dollar

0.709572

32.7290

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.027785

1.2816

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.5582

Euro

1.127600

52.0106

Korea

Won

0.000865

0.0399

China

Yuan

0.157389

7.2596

India

Rupee

0.015390

0.7099

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.236239

10.8965

New Zealand

Dollar

0.662998

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030726

30.5808 1.4172 Source: PDS Bridge

By Jenniffer B. Austria AYALA Land Inc. will soon close down InterContinental Manila hotel in Makati to give way to a new commercial, mixed-use development at the entrance of the country’s financial district. Ayala Land said in a statement InterContinental Manila, which sits on a portion of the property that will be developed, will close soon as the hotel management contract between a unit of Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corp. and InterContinental Hotels Group ends on December 31, 2015. InterContinental Manila, designed by national artist Leandro

Locsin, is the longest operating international chain hotel in the Philippines. “We thank InterContinental Hotels Group for the long and fruitful partnership which spans 46 years. It was one of the first developments that helped to establish Makati as a premier central business district, and this legacy will be upheld by the continuous enhancement of Makati,” said Ayala Land vice president and head of operations for Makati Manny Blas. Blas said the planned new mixed-use development formed part of the Makati’s development plan, which also consists of the

redevelopment of McKinley Exchange, Ayala Triangle, City Gate and Circuit Makati. Ayala Land will transform entrance of Ayala Center Makati into a modern gateway, with a first-of-its-kind intermodal transport facility designed especially for the commuting public. “We deliberately planned the Ayala Center redevelopment in such a way that all of its property components are pulled together by an expansive, modern, and comfortable intermodal transport facility, which will ultimately ease traffic and pedestrian flow in the EDSA-Ayala area,” Blas said. “By constantly striving to

change the landscape and optimizing the use of space, we believe that the Makati CBD will remain competitive and continue to contribute significantly to the country’s economic development in the years to come,” he added. AHRC chief operating officer Michael Alexis Legaspi said all InterContinental Manila regular employees were informed of the closure and assured of ample support and assistance. “We express our deep appreciation to our hotel colleagues and assure them that we are looking after their welfare, and we will assist them in making the transition as smooth as possible,” Legaspi said.

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 10, 2015

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, OctOber 9, 2015

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59

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

2.67 69.45 109.00 83.60 41.35 2.45 1.24 15.5 19.9 8.00 1.90 0.610 84 0.96 19.20 24.00 51.80 108 300 30.25 142.2 1500.00 54.00

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 8.61 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 161 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

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

43.4 1.53 0.92 1.6 12 51.2 16.9 25.5 44 2.45 1.83 9.85 10.300 7.20 5.99 7.82 1.73 12.32 23.4 66.25 11.40 13.00 5.72 2.850 195.00 2.1 3.8 22.85 22.5 5.62 303.20 3.81 4.2 7.00 3.50 2.10 2.4 4.00 3 140 2.31 0.153 1.54 1.93 194.6 4.56 0.66 23.05 1.09

0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 0.66 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 6.55 0.0670 2.31 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 390 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 6.62 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 4.5 0.030 1.23 0.550 2.26 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 170 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

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

0.425 57.8000 17.14 6.70 0.250 775 7.15 12.50 3.1 0.270 1359 5.89 71.20 5.65 0.81 11.78 5.16 8.59 0.0360 1.260 1.960 2.83 50.00 2.85 878.00 1.21 0.66 220.00 92.000 0.3200 0.2200 0.234

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings

6.470 0.62 1.030 0.227 36.350 3.05 5.03

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

SHARES 18,049,942 171,004,701 241,181,668 345,465,331 131,050,528 1,103,086,559 2,014,483,073

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.67 2.56 69.45 66.2 109.00 107.00 83.95 83.00 41.4 41 2.45 2.45 1.24 1.24 15.8 15.6 20 19.64 8.00 7.80 1.85 1.69 0.660 0.600 85 83.2 0.96 0.93 19.50 18.50 25.60 25.60 54.20 51.50 108.1 108 299 293 30.9 30.3 145 143 1525.00 1510.00 55.50 53.50 INDUSTRIAL 43.55 43.15 1.53 1.53 0.96 0.9 1.68 1.56 12.9 11.62 51.2 51.2 16.9 16.82 25.75 24.2 42 41.55 2.45 2.38 2.74 1.83 10.2 9.7 10.400 10.28 7.75 7.20 6.19 5.99 7.87 7.80 1.82 1.73 12.4 11.78 24.15 23.4 67.8 67 11.98 10.64 13.00 13.00 6.15 5.66 2.860 2.600 198.00 195.50 2.1 2.09 3.5 3 23.05 22.85 22.5 21.65 5.69 5.53 303.20 300.40 3.93 3.93 4.39 4.2 7.35 7.07 3.59 3.50 2.18 2.07 2.4 2.29 4.02 3.98 3.2 2.85 140 139.8 2.66 2.25 0.155 0.149 1.50 1.38 1.96 1.93 197.1 194.1 4.77 4.56 0.68 0.67 23.05 23.00 1.32 1.14 HOLDING FIRMS 0.425 0.420 58.1000 57.2000 18.46 17.16 6.60 6.60 0.250 0.250 776.5 762 7.3 7.15 12.62 12.50 3.5 3.3 0.265 0.255 1377 1351 5.93 5.78 72.15 70.50 6 5.67 0.88 0.79 11.98 11.52 5.25 5.13 8.65 8.59 0.0370 0.0350 1.250 1.110 2.050 1.920 2.83 2.83 49.95 48.60 2.86 2.69 893.00 872.00 1.24 1.18 0.78 0.67 188.00 188.00 92.000 90.000 0.3500 0.3200 0.2180 0.2170 0.270 0.233 PROPERTY 6.460 6.430 0.74 0.63 1.150 1.110 0.240 0.229 37.600 36.400 3.06 3.03 5 5

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.6 69.45 108.50 83.50 41.1 2.45 1.24 15.6 19.64 8.00 1.84 0.630 83.85 0.96 18.50 25.60 54.20 108.1 296 30.45 144.2 1510.00 55.50

-2.62 0.00 -0.46 -0.12 -0.60 0.00 0.00 0.65 -1.31 0.00 -3.16 3.28 -0.18 0.00 -3.65 6.67 4.63 0.09 -1.33 0.66 1.41 0.67 2.78

92,000 20,050 670,300 111,420 248,700 2,000 35,000 49,500 253,300 2,300 399,000 8,015,000 4,054,860 13,000 841,800 2,300 293,970 4,380 330 142,100 510,550 175 8,790

43.5 1.53 0.9 1.67 12.2 51.2 16.82 25.1 42 2.39 2 10.2 10.300 7.50 6.10 7.85 1.82 12 23.4 67 11.70 13.00 5.98 2.660 197.40 2.1 3.05 23 22.5 5.53 301.20 3.93 4.34 7.10 3.55 2.12 2.35 4.01 3.1 140 2.3 0.149 1.38 1.93 195 4.77 0.68 23.00 1.28

0.23 0.00 -2.17 4.37 1.67 0.00 -0.47 -1.57 -4.55 -2.45 9.29 3.55 0.00 4.17 1.84 0.38 5.20 -2.60 0.00 1.13 2.63 0.00 4.55 -6.67 1.23 0.00 -19.74 0.66 0.00 -1.60 -0.66 3.15 3.33 1.43 1.43 0.95 -2.08 0.25 3.33 0.00 -0.43 -2.61 -10.39 0.00 0.21 4.61 3.03 -0.22 17.43

495,600 32,000 413,000 921,000 24,600 150 29,900 323,200 2,004,600 1,298,000 73,251,000 50,000 3,386,000 2,902,300 16,577,600 95,100 16,000 25,100 2,408,200 148,090 1,400 24,400 3,356,000 18,275,000 115,500 85,000 33,000 949,600 180,100 18,400 45,940 1,000 360,000 1,579,800 89,000 607,000 361,000 7,202,000 463,000 8,770 5,940,000 3,750,000 1,621,000 265,000 2,480,470 1,123,000 435,000 5,200 4,206,000

0.420 57.5000 18.46 6.60 0.250 775 7.23 12.60 3.5 0.260 1371 5.78 70.50 5.95 0.83 11.58 5.21 8.65 0.0370 1.250 1.940 2.83 49.95 2.86 879.00 1.22 0.75 188.00 90.600 0.3400 0.2170 0.250

-1.18 -0.52 7.70 -1.49 0.00 0.00 1.12 0.80 12.90 -3.70 0.88 -1.87 -0.98 5.31 2.47 -1.70 0.97 0.70 2.78 -0.79 -1.02 0.00 -0.10 0.35 0.11 0.83 13.64 -14.55 -1.52 6.25 -1.36 6.84

60,000 1,192,620 12,781,600 10,800 10,000 295,740 1,815,200 9,373,500 192,000 1,610,000 146,125 1,293,100 2,070,070 9,366,200 7,066,000 3,253,800 26,961,100 1,224,300 87,700,000 13,000 16,113,000 6,000 137,030 21,000 171,550 1,104,000 631,000 10 16,450 12,340,000 180,000 2,860,000

6.430 0.67 1.150 0.240 37.600 3.06 5

-0.62 8.06 11.65 5.73 3.44 0.33 -0.60

657,900 6,569,000 44,000 160,000 15,520,600 2,440,000 22,600

1,036,468.00 -9,283,132 -19,464,841.00

-3,385,186.00 34,000.00 -115,034,346.50 -214,140.00 2,281,321.00 -1,744,920 29,165,671.00

1,187,610.00

33,706.00 -4,809,000 -73,640.00 -23,980.00 -150,770.00 18,505,242.00 -31,380.00 -18,818,870.00 329,517.00 -10,394,695.00 488,457.50 -80,600.00 5,700,000.00 -1,481,450.00 3,714,044.00 -2,553,505.00 -96,231.00 2,109,020.00 610,920.00 2,958,726.00

167,440.00 -2,140.00 293,970.00 161,000.00 -2,900.00 122,870.00 154,872,123.00 501,480.00 82,500.00 1,528,468.00 115,127,236.00 -18,817,425.00 755,681.00 90,413,442.00 99,656,910.00 -1,692,890.00 -6,872,364.50 3,386,334.00 3,574,884.00 18,663,602.00 -18,500.00 106,420.00 -2,640,490.00 -73,613,330.00 14,640.00 1,880.00 -713,229.00 -101,900.00 -23,450.00 -1,005,471.00 69,100.00 290,438,700.00 -1,646,810.00

52 Weeks

High Low 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 7.67 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 1 15.2 0.62 1.040 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 4.8 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 0.650 6 0.335 0.37 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

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

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. 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. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Manila Bulletin Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL 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 12.8 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 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 6.5 5.11 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 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

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

70 553 525 8.21 12.28 111

33 490 500 5.88 6.5 101

1047 84.8

1011 75

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

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

15 88 12.88

3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Makati Fin. Corp. IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

High

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.65 0.62 0.63 1.01 0.94 0.94 1.08 1.07 1.07 0.116 0.100 0.112 0.435 0.430 0.430 20.25 19.9 19.98 1.020 0.920 0.930 1.42 1.15 1.17 1.79 1.73 1.78 1.29 1.28 1.28 4.8 4.68 4.75 0.086 0.085 0.085 7.8 7.68 7.7 29.00 28.60 29.00 1.63 1.59 1.6 3.19 3.18 3.18 21.80 21.35 21.65 0.73 0.7 0.73 8.17 7.76 8.17 1.750 1.290 1.300 5.230 5.120 5.180 SERVICES 7.76 8 7.7 7.75 62.6 63.4 62.6 63 1.08 1.15 1.1 1.1 0.580 0.640 0.580 0.600 11.86 11.24 11.24 11.24 27 30 27 29 5.95 6.08 5.82 5.95 0.0600 0.6000 0.0560 0.0570 3.8 3.88 3.72 3.8 85.4 85.75 84.35 84.6 10 9.82 9.82 9.82 5.39 5.60 5.40 5.49 2282 2306 2242 2242 6.53 6.58 6.56 6.56 1.24 1.21 1.21 1.21 77.3 78 76.95 77.7 11.9 11.86 11.86 11.86 0.011 0.011 0.010 0.010 0.180 0.180 0.178 0.180 1.4400 1.4800 1.4300 1.4400 2.2 2.15 2.11 2.15 8.59 8.60 8.35 8.36 3.86 4.06 3.85 3.98 0.600 0.620 0.600 0.620 3.9 3.9 3.74 3.88 0.300 0.320 0.300 0.320 0.530 0.630 0.520 0.570 4.78 4.58 4.58 4.58 2.88 2.89 2.89 2.89 88.00 97.00 96.95 97.00 18.90 18.92 18.88 18.92 2300.00 2338.00 2260.00 2260.00 0.560 0.580 0.570 0.580 1.090 1.090 1.060 1.080 32.30 32.80 32.50 32.65 76.20 75.30 72.50 75.00 6.60 7.05 6.57 7.03 5.80 5.96 5.68 5.70 0.46 0.47 0.46 0.47 1.55 1.5 1.42 1.5 3.45 3.54 3.43 3.51 0.360 0.370 0.355 0.360 3.490 3.680 3.470 3.650 MINING & OIL 0.0048 0.0049 0.0047 0.0048 2.16 2.35 2.15 2.15 4.72 4.90 4.80 4.89 10.80 10.58 9.00 10.58 0.188 0.189 0.189 0.189 6.9400 6.4900 5.6600 5.8000 5.9000 5.9 5.9 5.9000 0.73 0.73 0.72 0.72 0.65 0.68 0.64 0.65 8.26 8.60 8.10 8.36 0.91 0.94 0.91 0.93 0.290 0.290 0.285 0.290 0.181 0.187 0.180 0.183 0.199 0.199 0.199 0.199 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 1.95 2.03 1.91 1.99 6.71 6.96 6.68 6.87 2.76 2.88 2.72 2.77 0.6100 0.6000 0.5900 0.5900 1.3800 1.4000 1.3400 1.3600 0.0095 0.0097 0.0094 0.0094 3.87 4.03 3.89 3.89 4.86 4.960 4.850 4.96 1.39 1.390 1.360 1.37 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 139.70 140.00 138.20 139.80 2.4 2.44 2.35 2.4 PREFERRED 63 65 63.5 65 531 532 532 532 525 525 525 525 6.4 6.4 6.3 6.4 1.1 1.12 1.12 1.12 113 110 110 110 1140 1141 1141 1141 1030 1028 1028 1028 81.55 82.5 82 82 79 79 78.9 79 78.8 79 78.5 78.6 80 80.1 79.95 79.95 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.950 2.950 2.880 2.880 SME 3.2 3.22 3.2 3.22 64.5 68.05 64.5 64.5 15.02 15.48 15.02 15.34 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.2 117.1 116.1 117.1

3.28 4.44 7.00 10.89 1.18 -1.58 -1.06 -7.14 2.89 -1.54 1.28 0.00 -0.13 0.17 1.91 4.26 1.17 1.39 5.28 -13.33 0.19

12,109,000 11,000 3,000 32,890,000 330,000 769,900 54,120,000 74,002,000 17,044,000 113,000 22,813,000 870,000 391,200 4,705,100 208,000 4,000 9,248,100 1,731,000 600 83,010,000 4,448,600

-0.13 0.64 1.85 3.45 -5.23 7.41 0.00 -5.00 0.00 -0.94 -1.80 1.86 -1.75 0.46 -2.42 0.52 -0.34 -9.09 0.00 0.00 -2.27 -2.68 3.11 3.33 -0.51 6.67 7.55 -4.18 0.35 10.23 0.11 -1.74 3.57 -0.92 1.08 -1.57 6.52 -1.72 1.09 -3.23 1.74 0.00 4.58

135,200 38,450 61,000 10,294,000 1,000 2,400 6,567,900 52,030,000 120,000 948,220 8,000 1,527,800 57,505 52,000 2,000 1,963,340 1,400 900,000 3,480,000 1,144,000 29,000 60,600 1,158,000 223,000 3,700,000 260,000 11,545,000 1,000 8,000 530 105,100 94,190 569,000 5,192,000 1,693,300 900,110 12,614,000 3,967,700 5,030,000 40,000 850,000 150,000 674,000

0.00 -0.46 3.60 -2.04 0.53 -16.43 0.00 -1.37 0.00 1.21 2.20 0.00 1.10 0.00 0.00 2.05 2.38 0.36 -3.28 -1.45 -1.05 0.52 2.06 -1.44 0.00 0.07 0.00

558,000,000 50,000 -21,150.00 499,000 1,035,360.00 2,500 60,000 43,800 23,700 -139,830.00 170,000 810,000 188,300 -83,550.00 5,075,000 -1,654,640.00 370,000 12,670,000 30,000 25,000,000 385,000 8,649,000 8,228,218.00 679,000 80,000 155,000 14,000,000 49,000 180,000 14,550.00 181,000 -54,830.00 475,000,000 -343,800.00 502,600 -9,895,067.00 138,000 -47,400.00

3.17 0.19 0.00 0.00 1.82 -2.65 0.09 -0.19 0.55 0.00 -0.25 -0.06

201,030 60 130 2,099,100 50,000 14,000 5 150 40,390 57,500 156,770 251,800

-2.37

66,000

0.63 0.00 2.13

61,000 6,840 4,517,700

0.77

58,800

-1,172,850.00 -102,600.00 -2,081,888.00 -43,350.00 -3,552,180.00 331,940.00 1,054,140.00 850,210.00 -58,623,570.00 -203,750.00 42,289,710.00 -1,528,810.00 -2,296,470.00 11,755.00 -27,320.00 -13,373,626.00 -21,462,143.50 -55,103,560.00 -44,101,304.00

37,710.00 2,819,632.00 31,440.00 -1,895,870.00 -165,480.00

391,124.00 -115,103,010.00 634,180.00 7,265,170.00 12,367,484.50 -462,920.00 -2,748,578.00 -1,880,350.00 30,000.00 -404,400.00

5,469,933.00 -586,240.00

1,501,000.00

-32,250.50 18,153,674.00

T op L oSerS

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,590.06 (UP) 0.28 INDUSTRIAL 10,980.76 (UP) 65.47 HOLDING FIRMS 6,602.69 (UP) 30.17 PROPERTY 3,066.74 (UP) 61.30 SERVICES 1,700.07 (DOWN) 16.55 MINING & OIL 11,069.90 (UP) 92.60 PSEI 7,138.91 (UP) 32.12 All Shares Index 4,079.75 (UP) 16.35 Gainers: 108 Losers: 76; Unchanged: 35; Total: 219

0.61 0.90 1.00 0.101 0.425 20.3 0.940 1.26 1.73 1.30 4.69 0.085 7.71 28.95 1.57 3.05 21.40 0.72 7.76 1.500 5.170

T op g ainerS VALUE 746,425,917.58 1,267,526,430.20 1,824,547,284.1756 1,441,749,914.62 996,914,393.888 154,883,024.931 6,508,699,394.3936

Low

Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Vulcan Ind'l.

1.28

17.43

Mabuhay Vinyl

3.05

-19.74

South China Res. Inc.

0.75

13.64

Benguet Corp `A'

5.8000

-16.43

F&J Prince 'A'

3.5

12.90

Transgrid

188.00

-14.55

Araneta Prop `A'

1.150

11.65

Suntrust Home Dev. Inc.

1.300

-13.33

Crown Equities Inc.

0.112

10.89

TKC Steel Corp.

1.38

-10.39

Phil. Seven Corp.

97.00

10.23

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.010

-9.09

Da Vinci Capital

9.29

Global-Estate

1.17

-7.14

A. Brown Co., Inc.

0.67

8.06

Ionics Inc

2.660

-6.67

Alliance Global Inc.

18.46

7.70

Asian Terminals Inc.

11.24

-5.23

NOW Corp.

0.570

7.55

Boulevard Holdings

0.0570

-5.00

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 10, 2015

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

Bloomberry acquires P2-b Vertis North lot By Jenniffer B. Austria

SURESTE Properties Inc., the hotel and resort development arm of casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp., has acquired a 1.56-hectare lot at Vertis North in Quezon City for P1.97 billion. Bloomberry said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the lot was part of National Housing Authority’s share in the joint venture with property developer Ayala Land Inc. in the Vertis North project. “SPI proposes to develop the property into a mixed-use development in accordance with the Vertis North master plan, and

subject to required regulatory and local government approvals,” Bloomberry said. SPI paid a 20-percent down payment worth P395.48 million for the property. SPI said it would pay the 40 percent of the balance of P1.581 billion within 30 days from the issuance of the notice of award, and the remaining 40 percent

upon signing of the deed of absolute sale and submission of all documents to the Register of Deed for the transfer of the title to the buyer. The purchase will be funded by internally generated funds of SPI. Bloomberry said the property was subject of a bidding by the NHA on Aug 7. The bidding was declared a failed bidding as SPI emerged the only bidder. NHA held a rebidding on Aug 28, but it was also declared a failed auction because SPI turned up to be the only bidder again. “In the subsequent negotiation after the two failed biddings, SPI submitted its offer for the property which was then accepted

by the NHA as it satisfied the minimum bid price set by NHA,” Bloomberry said. SPI on Friday received the notice of award from NHA. Vertis North is a 45-hectare development situated between the main arteries of Edsa, North Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, and Quezon Avenue and is strategically located in an area considered as Metro Manila’s northern gateway. The property is being transformed as a mixed-use development with residential, shopping, retail, office and hotel components. Share price of Bloomberry on Friday closed higher by P0.04 to P5.99.

Young entrepreneurs. BPI Foundation, in collaboration with the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship and BPI Family Ka-Negosyo, awards young social entrepreneurs at the first ever BPI Sinag Pitch Day at the Alpha Tents in Makati City. Shown during the awarding ceremony are (from left) Ginbee Go, BPI head for retail loan; Jaime Agusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman and chief executive of Ayala Corp.; Leciel Ramos and Paul Andrew Orpiada of Karaw Craftventures; Fidelina Corcuera, executive director of BPI Foundation; Cezar Consing, BPI president; and lawyer Jaime Hofileña, vice president for social development of Ateneo de Manila University.

SEC clears initial public offering of Datem, Metro Group THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday approved the initial public offerings of construction company Datem Inc. and Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. of the Gaisano family with a combined total proceeds of P10.8 billion. Documents filed with the SEC showed the corporate regulator cleared the P6.17-billion maiden share offering of Metro Retail and the P4.65-billion share sale of Datem. Both companies will conduct the IPOs in November. Metro Retail will offer as many as 920 million shares with an over

allotment option of 92 million shares at P6.10 apiece. Proceeds from the offering will fund expansion of store network, logistics and distribution center and working capital. Metro Retail said it planned to open at least seven stores in 2016. It secured 10 more sites for stores that are expected to open in 2016 and 2017 while 30 sites remain under evaluation. The final offer price will be set on Oct. 9, while the offering period will be held on Nov. 2 to Nov. 6. Listing date is set on Nov. 12. BPI Capital Corp. and Deutsche

Bank are the lead underwriters for the offering. Meanwhile, Datem plans to sell up to 329 million shares, including 257.5 million primary shares, 28.61 million secondary shares and 42.91 million over allotment shares, at an offer price of up to P14.15 apiece. Proceeds from the IPO will be used to fund construction, real estate and water ventures. First Metro Investments Corp. and BPI Capital Corp are the lead underwriters for Datem’s IPO. Final offer price will be determined on Nov. 12 while offer period will be from Nov. 16

to Nov 24. Listing date was set on Nov. 27. Datem, incorporated in 1984, is primarily engaged in the construction business. The company recently ventured into real estate, particularly affordable housing projects, and supply and treatment of bulk water. Datem has housing projects in Angono, Cainta and Davao City and plans several projects in Bulacan, Iloilo, Laguna and Rizal. Datem Water has a 15-year bulk water contract with Metro Kalibo Water District. The company is also on the lookout for more contracts in major cities in the country.

Market rebounds; Alliance, ALI rise STOCKS rebounded Friday, amid a global equity rally as investors piled back into riskier assets on speculation the Federal Reserve won’t be raising interest rates until risks from outside the US subside. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 32 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,138.91. The index was still down 1.3 percent since the start of the year. The heavier index, representing all shares, also advanced 16 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,079.75 on a value turnover of P6.5 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 108 to 76, while 35 issues were unchanged. Da Vinci Capital Holdings Inc., a shell company formerly known as Mariwasa Siam Holdings Inc., emerged as the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it climbed 9.3 percent to P2. Alliance Global Group Inc., the holding company of tycoon Andrew Tan, jumped 7.7 percent to P18.46. Property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 3.4 percent to P37.60. Meanwhile, Asian stocks rose as about $2.46 trillion was added to the value of global stocks in the first four days of this week as emerging-market equities rebounded. An MSCI gauge of developing-economy stocks is set for its best week in almost four years as the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index heads toward a gain of more than 8 percent across five days. The ringgit and Indonesia’s rupiah both gained more than 6 percent since last Friday, sending the Bloomberg JP Morgan Asia Dollar Index toward a two-month high. Zinc surged as Glencore Plc said it would cut production. “This looks like a sustainable turnaround,” Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist in Sydney at CMC Markets, said by phone. “Investors have become less pessimistic. Things are definitely not in a strong economic environment but there is an expectation of further central bank support.” Asian equities pushed higher after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting suggested it could keep borrowing costs at record lows into next year. The gains across assets come after a painful July-September quarter that saw trillions wiped off global markets owing to worries about the state of China’s economy and an expected US interest rate hike. On Thursday, minutes from the Fed’s closely watched September policy board meeting showed some members were concerned about China’s struggles, the strong dollar and persistently low inflation. “Recent global and financial market developments might restrain economic activity somewhat as a result of the higher level of the dollar and possible effects of slower economic growth in China and in a number of emerging market and commodity producing economies,” the minutes said. With AFP, Bloomberg

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 10, 2015

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

IN BRIEF

LandBank raises P6b STATE-RUN Land Bank of the Philippines, the largest government-owned financial institution, recently raised P6 billion worth of long-term negotiable certificate of deposits to augment its long-term funding for development programs and lending activities. The bank said in a statement Friday the issue was the first tranche out of a P15-billion program earlier approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The issuance, the second for the bank this year, attracted a strong order book of over P7 billion. LandBank only awarded P6 billion to match its expansion plans and lending activities to mandated priority sectors. “The final size was twice the initial announced P3 billion issue at the start of the offer period. The strong demand helped LandBank price at the lowest end of its pricing guidance, or at 3.75 percent per annum for the instrument, which has a maturity of five and a half years, and will be issued on Oct. 9, 2015,” it said. LandBank president and chief executive Gilda Pico said the proceeds of the issuance “will make long-term funding available for the bank’s development programs and lending activities for its mandated and priority sectors.” Julito G. Rada

V20 to lose $400b FINANCE Secretary Cesar Purisima

said Friday the vulnerable 20 countries, or V20, are expected to incur economic losses of $400 billion by 2030 due to climate change. “In the absence of an effective global response, annual economic losses due to climate change are projected to exceed $400 billion by 2030 for the V20, with impacts far surpassing our local or regional capabilities,” Purisma said during the inaugural meet of the V20 in Lima, Peru. Finance ministers represented the 20 countries inclined to suffer the catastrophic effect of climate change during the meeting. The group, headed by the Philippines, committed to act collectively to “foster a signiﬁcant increase” of public and private ﬁnance for climate action from wide-ranging sources, including international, regional, and domestic mobilization. Gabrielle H. Binaday

New Acer products up ACER Philippines Inc., the country’s

leading brand in the personal computer segment, is putting more emphasis on gaming products and solutions in 2016 due to the growing demand from professional gamers and users needing high resolution graphics. Managing director Manuel Wong said the company would introduce a whole new line of powerful products from desktops, laptops, notebooks to gaming tablets, game phones and game projectors. “The gaming line we’re developing is not just for gamers but for power users like architects and animators. Our line will allow a better appreciation of the beneﬁts of enjoying better video quality,” he told reporters in an interview Friday. Acer will introduce some of the Predator gaming product line as early as the fourth quarter of 2015 and launch the entire line in 2016. Acer in 2016 will launch a gaming tablet, an 8-inch gadget that can play complicated games without lagging or hitting a snag, as well as the 6-inch game phone and the powerful game projector. Othel V. Campos

New tobacco prices THE National Tobacco Administration approved the new floor prices for tobacco for trading years 2016 and 2017. The NTA said the new prices for the three tobacco types—Virginia, Burley and Native—were approved during the biennial tobacco consultative conference held at its central office in Quezon City. For Virginia, the floor price per kilogram for the top grades increased around P2 to P4, bringing the prices to P81 for Grade AA, P79 for A, P77 for B, P75 for C, P68 for D, and P67 for E. The old prices were P78 for AA, P75 for A, P73 for B, P71 for C, P66 for D, and P65 for E. The NTA said prices for low grades remained at P59 for F1, P56 for F2, and P46 for reject. For Burley, the top-grade A rose by P7 bringing the price per kilo to P68 from the current P61. The floor prices for Grade B are now P65 and P56 for C, an increase of P6 and P3, from the current prices of 59 and P53, respectively. Prices for low grades were kept at P45 for D, P44 for E, P37 for F and P28 for reject. Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Monde Nissin loan. Monde Nissin Corp. acquires Quorn Foods Ltd. of UK for £550 million. Quorn is an international meat alternatives

business with market leading position in 15 countries. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. was one of the participating lenders, while First Metro Investment Corp. was an arranger for the acquisition debt financing facility. Shown at the signing ceremony are (from left) Metrobank senior vice president Mary Rose Tiamson, Metrobank senior vice president and head of corporate banking group Antonio Ocampo Jr., Monde Nissin chief financial officer Jesse Teo, First Metro executive vice president Justino Juan Ocampo and First Metro vice president Melissa Dimayuga.

PH factory output up 3.4% in August By Gabrielle H. Binaday

FACTORY output rebounded 3.4 percent in August this year on increased domestic demand, especially for automotive products, the National Economic and Development Authority said Friday. Data from the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries of the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the volume of production increased 3.7 percent, a big improvement from the performance in the past three months. The August figure, however, was slower than the 5.7-percent growth posted in the same month last year. “We must continuously drive domestic demand to offset the low global demand and strength-

en the link between the agriculture and manufacturing sectors to reduce the economy’s vulnerability to external supply shocks,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. The Value of Production Index slowed 4.6 percent, a reversal of the 4.5-percent growth in the same month last year. The manufacture of beverages led the growth in value of net sales, with a 19.1-percent expansion in August. Tobacco registered a double-

digit growth of 14.7 percent and 13.6 percent in both value and volume of net sales, respectively. Food manufacturing, the biggest contributor to the index, dropped 13.9 percent year-onyear following a decline in the production values of vegetable/ animal oils and fats, grain mill products, processed meat and fish, milk and dairy products. Wood posted a double-digit growth of 37.9 percent and 11.8 percent in volume and value of net sales. Meanwhile, non-metallic mineral products sustained their double-digit growth at 28.6 percent and 21.1 percent in volume and value of net sales due to the sustained demand for construction-related materials from both the private and public sector. Petroleum products, meanwhile, declined 25 percent in

value of net sales due to an oversupply in the global market. On a positive note, production is seen to increase by next year with the completion of a refinery master plan of a major company. On capital goods, production of fabricated metal products increased 22.3 percent and 24.2 percent in volume and value of net sales, respectively. However, net sales of basic metals contracted 28.1 percent in volume and 37.9 percent in value due to the decrease in production of nonferrous metals and an oversupply of basic metals globally. “We remain optimistic for the fourth quarter due to the expected boost in both production and sales of manufactured goods with the coming holiday season, campaign season for the 2016 elections, and the expansion of the BPO industry,” Balisacan said.

PAL ﬁres 117 employees; union ﬁles notice of strike By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Philippine Airlines Employees Association filed a notice of strike with the Department of Labor and Employment after Philippine Airlines terminated 117 employees “We ask for the understanding of the public but a strike is necessary to defend the working conditions of PAL workers as the company is illegally interfering and coercing employees in the exercise of their constitutional right to self-organization,” Palea president Gerry Rivera said. “Also the mass termination of more than 100 Palea members constitute another element of unfair labor practice,” he said. The union cited unfair labor practice as

basis for the strike. Palea under the law has 15 days before it can actually hold a strike. PAL on Sept. 2 sent notices of termination to 117 employees, almost all Palea members. The notice cited an alleged organizational restructuring which had rendered “several positions in the company redundant.” Rivera said there was no redundancy since the workers to be retrenched would be replaced by new employees from agencies. “The new round of layoffs is another wave of contractualization, changing regular unionized workers with contractual employees using agencies who will be paid less in wages and benefits,” Rivera said. He said PAL was laying off workers at a time when it was swimming in profits.

PAL’s parent firm, PAL Holdings Inc., recorded a consolidated total comprehensive income of P5.94 billion in the first half of the year, up 1,500 percent from just P362.4 million year-on-year. Total revenues in the first half rose 14 percent to P55.95 billion from P48.95 billion a year earlier. Revenues in the second quarter reached P28.09 billion, up 2.9 percent from P27.23 billion. “While the notice states that the termination shall be effective on November 9, most of the employees who were notified were dismissed immediately upon being served. They were no longer allowed to work, as soon as they had been given the notice. Contractual employees with security escorts were already on standby and immediately replaced the terminated employees,” Rivera said.

S at u r D aY : O C t O B E r 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

CESar BarriOquintO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Violent Muslims told: Leave Australia SYDNEY—The leader of the Sydney mosque attended by a 15-year-old who killed a police worker has called for an end to violent extremism, saying Friday that Muslims who reject Australian values should leave the country. Radicalized Farhad Jabar, who shot dead the 58-year-old last week while reportedly shouting religious slogans before dying in a gunbattle with police, was a regular at the mosque in the western multi-cultural Parramatta district. Mosque chairman Neil ElKadomi explained to reporters what he had told the faithful at morning prayers and ahead of a planned evening protest by right-wingers to close the building down. “I said you waited long time to come to this country. You should not abuse the privilege you are Australian, which is very important. “Get out. We do not need scumbags in the community. “We reject terrorism.” Kadomi said Muslim youth needed education, adding that Jabar was too young “to know what he was doing”. CCTV footage from Parramatta mosque reportedly shows Jabar meeting several men there on the day of the killing, although police have not confirmed this. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also advised people to leave if Australian values were “unpalatable”. “It is not compulsory to live in Australia,” he told a press conference urging Australians not to go down the path of violent extremism. “If you find Australian values, you know, unpalatable, then there’s a big wide world out there and people have got freedom of movement.” Turnbull, who met earlier in the day with figures from the Muslim community, asked his countrymen to “call out hatred” saying “violent extremism is a challenge to the most fundamental Australian values”. “The success of our society is founded on mutual respect and we have to recognize that people who preach hatred, preach extremism, are undermining the success of this extraordinary country,” he said. AFP

world Failed asylum seekers face quick deportation LUXEMBOURG—European Union nations agreed on Thursday to speed up the deportation of failed asylum seekers as they took a harder line toward tackling the bloc’s worst migration crisis since World War II.

On the catwalk.

A model walks the runway at the Anna Campbell NYBW Runway 2015 in New York City. AFP

Interior ministers endorsed a dedicated program to send back those they described as economic migrants who are largely from poor African nations and not refugees from conflict zones. After months of tensions over the more than 600,000 people who have flooded into Europe this year, Brussels is now taking a tougher stance by focusing on tightening border controls and reducing the incentive for people to come to the continent. “Those who do not require international protection must return to their countries of origin,” Luxembourg minister Jean Asselborn, whose country holds the EU presidency, told reporters after the talks. Europe has been seeking to clamp down on people smugglers in the Mediterranean, where more than 3,000 people have already died this year, or are missing feared drowned, while trying to make their way to Europe. European warships launched Operation Sophia this week to seize traffickers’ boats in international waters, and the UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on a draft resolution to authorize military action against smugglers. While the vote is not necessary for the EU to take action, the measure would authorize its navy to board ships for inspection, confiscate them and even dispose of vessels suspected of being used by migrant smugglers. Within the EU, the migration crisis is causing political problems in many countries where anti-immigration and euro-skeptic parties are on the rise, as well as divisions between the bloc’s 28 members. Tempers have flared over a scheme to relocate 160,000 people, which Brussels forced through despite stiff opposition from Eastern European nations, under which the first batch of refugees will be moved on Friday. EU officials on Thursday also held talks with ministers and officials from the neighboring Balkans countries, which have been on the front line of the influx on the bloc’s borders, as well as Syria’s neighbors Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. AFP

Satellite shows scale of planned North Korea parade SEOUL—Satellite imagery from North Korea shows it has amassed hundreds of trucks, armored vehicles, troops and horses for a massive military parade to mark Saturday’s 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party. The North traditionally marks major anniversaries with largescale shows of strength in a display of patriotic fervor and observers say this weekend’s spectacle could be

one of the biggest in history. Images obtained on Oct. 6 by the US-Korea Institute think tank at Johns Hopkins University show a sprawling training ground in Pyongyang featuring some 800 tents, 700 trucks and 200 armored vehicles ahead of Saturday’s spectacle. The reclusive communist state is pulling out all the stops for “what may be one of the largest military parades in North Korea’s his-

tory”, the group said on its closely watched 38 North website. The photos show troops moving around the grounds and mounted horses standing in formation. Tanks and drones can also be seen, along with large hangars that North 38 said could be housing rocket launchers or weaponry. “The ballistic missile launchers and long-range self-propelled guns that are the stars of North Korean

military parades are not identifiable, they may be under the large temporary shelter,” the website said. “Alternatively, they could arrive a day or two before the parade as sometimes has happened in the past.” The grounds are 1.5 square kilometer and include a replica of Kim Il Sung Square, named after North Korea’s founding father, where the actual parade will take place

Saturday, 38 North said. “Throughout the facility numerous groups of troops are seen assembling and moving in formation around the practice track, passing before the replica reviewing stand,” according to the site. North Korea has been primped and primed ahead of the lavish parade, with statues of former leaders erected throughout the country. AFP

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

CPIn-1/ CPIn-2

CPIAverage(n-1)

average CPI of year n minus 1, as published by the NSO

CPIAverage(n-2)

average CPI year n minus 2, as published by the NSO

Where:

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT (PSA) BETWEEN VISAYAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED (VECO) AND UNIFIED LEYTE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY, INCORPORATED (ULGEI)

Illustrative Example for the Determination of Adjusted Administration Fee with Base CPI of Average 2013:

Year n Previous Year Administration Fee, PhP/kWh ERC CASE NO.2015-155 RC

VISAYAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED (VECO) AND UNIFIED LEYTE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY, INCORPORATED (ULGEI), Applicants. x-----------------------x

138.1 134.0

138.1

Adjusted Administration Fee, PhP/kWh

0.3298

0.3396

January to December 2015

January to December 2016

Penalty. Any amount in the Billing Statement not paid by VECO on Payment Date shall bear interest, calculated at the Benchmark Rate plus three percent (3%) per annum from the date upon which such amount should have been paid to ULGEI;

17.

Termination Fee. In the event that the PSA is terminated due to: (a) the failure of either Party to make any payment due under the PSA and such failure shall continue for fifteen (15) days from due date; (b) the bankruptcy of either Party; (c) the breach of any of the material obligations under the PSA which is not cured within thirty (30) days; or (d) the termination of the Administration Agreement between the PSALM and ULGEI due to breach of the latter, or by convenience, by ULGEI, the defaulting party shall immediately pay to the non-defaulting party the Termination Fee;

The Applicants 1.

VECO is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at J. Panis St., Banilad, Cebu City. It is a distribution utility duly authorized to provide light and power distribution service in the Municipalities of San Fernando, Minglanilla, Consolacion and Lilo-an, and the Cities of Naga, Talisay, Cebu and Mandaue, all in the Province of Cebu (the Franchise Area) pursuant to its franchise under Republic Act No. 9339; ULGEI is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal address at One Corporate Center, Julia Vargas corner MERALCO Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City; 2.1

ULGEI, as a generation company, falls within the ambit of Sections 61 and 292 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001or the EPIRA;

2.2

While it is a co-applicant, it manifests that this joint application shall neither modify, diminish or constitute a waiver of its rights nor expand its obligations and responsibilities as a generation company under the EPIRA; and

2.3

It has joined in the application as a co-applicant, as required by the Commission;

Nature of the Application 3.

17.1 The Termination Fee is computed based on the following: P = Σ [ A j x ( 1+ i/12) -j] j= 1 Where: P=

Termination Fee

Aj=

The product of the Contract Energy for month j and the Basic Energy Charge prevailing prior to termination

Discount rate equivalent to the prevailing ninety-one (91)-day treasury bill rate as of the date of the early termination of the PSA

months 1 to n

Total number of months remaining under the PSA as of the date of the early termination of the said PSA

18.

Pursuant to Section 45(b) of the EPIRA and Rule 20 (B) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (the ERC Rules), the application is being submitted to the Commission for its due consideration and approval of their PSA executed on March 27, 2015

Previously, under the CSEE, NPC/PSALM supplied power to VECO from the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant (the ULGPP and/or the Power Plant) located in Ormoc and Kananga, Western Leyte. The PSALM however, initiated the selection and appointment of Independent Power Producer Administrators (IPPAs) for strips of energy output of the ULGPP in accordance with the EPIRA. It issued invitations to bid for the selection and appointment of IPPAs which shall manage and control the auctioned strips with each strip corresponding to the equivalent and associated energy of 1 MW of the ULGPP;

However, in a letter dated August 8, 2014, the PSALM informed VECO that it could not accommodate such request since the bulk power of the ULGPP was scheduled to be subsequently bid out. Instead, the PSALM advised VECO to consider negotiating its energy requirements with the winning bidder of the bulk energy, in case of successful privatization, or with the winning bidders of the strips of energy, which were scheduled for turn-over in November 2014;

In order to ensure sufficiency of supply in its Franchise Area with the expiration of its CSEE and the privatization of the ULGPP, VECO solicited offers from the winning bidders of the strips of energy of the ULGPP and received proposals from several parties, namely: Vivant Energy Corporation (VEC), Aboitiz Energy Solutions, Incorporated (AESI), Energy Development Corporation (EDC), Filinvest Development Corporation Utilities, Incorporated (FDCUI), Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation (TA-OIL), and ULGEI. VECO, after evaluation, accepted several proposals, one of which is from ULGEI; On March 27, 2015, they entered into a PSA, subject of the application, for the sale and delivery to VECO of the rights and obligations of ULGEI in the strips of energy, corresponding to 5 MW;

11.

On May 28, 2015, the parties entered into an Amended PSA (the Amended PSA) reflecting the rebasing of the United States (US) Price Index for Capital Equipment and US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Administration Agreement of the IPPs for the Strips of the Power Plant. All other terms and conditions of the original PSA were retained;

Letter of the PSALM to VECO dated August 8, 2014

The PSA dated March 27, 2015 between VECO and ULGEI The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Certificate of Registration of ULGEI

Articles of Incorporation of ULGEI

General Information Sheet (GIS) of ULGEI

Certificate of Effectivity

The Transmission Service Agreement (TSA) between the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) and VECO

Distribution Development Plan (DDP) of VECO

IPPA Agreement

Rate Impact Analysis

CD-ROM containing the softcopy of the Application and the Annexes

Rate Implication. An analysis was conducted to determine the impact of the implementation of the PSA on VECO’s generation costs, a copy of which is attached to the application as Annex “J”. The following table shows the expected rate impact in the event that VECO procures power from ULGEI under the PSA:

With Reduced PSALM

With ULGEI and no PSALM

Four (4)-month average

5.4086

5.7579

14.

Contract Energy. ULGEI shall supply and deliver Contract Energy, whether from the capacity of the Power Plant or other power plants owned or operated by any of its affiliates, the WESM or other administrator, to VECO to be delivered in accordance with Contract Energy Schedule 6 at the Delivery Point7 specified under the PSA. In case of Force Majeure affecting ULGEI, it shall be VECO’s obligation to secure back-up power from third parties, at no cost to ULGEI 8;

15.

Contract Price. VECO shall pay for Contract Energy which is the sum of the Generation Payment Rate and the Administration Fee where:

The Generation Payment Rate is PhP4.6629/kWh, subject to the movement of the following indices from the May 2013 base, for every billing month: a)

The PhP/USD exchange rate published by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)

the US Price Index for Capital Equipment, line 63 bb, International Financial Statistics (2010=100)

the US CPI, All items, line 64, International Financial Statistics (2010=100)

the CPI for the National Capital Region (NCR), All Items, (2006=100) as published by the National Statistics Office (NSO)

the Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Materials Component of the General Wholesale Price Index for the NCR (1998=100) as published by the NSO

Machinery and Transport Equipment component of the General Price Index for the NCR (1998=100) as published by the NSO

Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information ULGEI submits that Annex “I” is subject to certain confidentiality provisions contained therein, specifically, Clause 25;

21.

In view of the foregoing and pursuant to Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, ULGEI requests that the Commission treat Annex “I” and the information contained therein as confidential and not to be disclosed to persons other than the officers and staff of the Commission, as necessary;

22.

ULGEI submits one (1) copy of Annex “I” in a sealed envelope, with the said envelope and each page of the document stamped with the word “Confidential”;

23.

Thus, they pray, that the Commission:

Prayer a.

Issue an Order treating Annex “I” and the information contained therein as confidential, and directing their non-disclosure to persons other than the officers and staff of the Commission, as necessary, pursuant to Rule 4 of the ERC Rules as well as prescribing guidelines for the protection thereof; and

After hearing on the merits, approve with finality the PSA dated March 27, 2015, as amended, between VECO and ULGEI, including the rates and fees agreed upon therein.

The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on October 29, 2015 (Thursday) at two-thirty in the afternoon (2:30 P.M.) at the ERC Visayas Field Office, St. Mary’s Drive, Banilad, Cebu City. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired. All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicants conclude the presentation of their evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon. All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicants, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Likewise, any such person may examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the usual office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman, JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 28th day of September, 2015 at Pasig City. ATTY. ISABELO JOSEPH P. TOMAS II Director III rvm/VECO and ULGEI/PSA/2015-155 RC/nph 1

SECTION 6. Generation Sector. - Generation of electric power, a business affected with public interest, shall be competitive and open. Upon the effectivity of this Act, any new generation company shall, before it operates, secure from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) a certificate of compliance pursuant to the standards set forth in this Act, as well as health, safety and environmental clearances from the appropriate government agencies under existing laws. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, power generation shall not be considered a public utility operation. For this purpose, any person or entity engaged or which shall engage in power generation and supply of electricity shall not be required to secure a national franchise. Upon implementation of retail competition and open access, the prices charged by a generation company for the supply of electricity shall not be subject to regulation by the ERC except as otherwise provided in this Act. Pursuant to the objective of lowering electricity rates to end-users, sales of generated power by generation companies shall be value added tax zero-rated. The ERC shall, in determining the existence of market power abuse or anti-competitive behavior, require from generation companies the submission of their financial statements.

SECTION 29. Supply Sector. - The supply sector is a business affected with public interest. Except for distribution utilities and electric cooperatives with respect to their existing franchise areas, all suppliers of electricity to the contestable market shall require a license from the ERC. For this purpose, the ERC shall promulgate rules and regulations prescribing the qualifications of electricity suppliers which shall include, among other requirements, a demonstration of their technical capability, financial capability, and creditworthiness: Provided, That the ERC shall have authority to require electricity suppliers to furnish a bond or other evidence of the ability of a supplier to withstand market disturbances or other events that may increase the cost of providing service. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, supply of electricity to the contestable market shall not be considered a public utility operation. For this purpose, any person or entity which shall engage in the supply of electricity to the contestable market shall not be required to secure a national franchise. The prices to be charged by suppliers for the supply of electricity to the contestable market shall not be subject to regulation by the ERC. Electricity suppliers shall be subject to the rules and regulations concerning abuse of market power, cartelization, and other anti-competitive or discriminatory behavior to be promulgated by the ERC. In its billings to end-users, every supplier shall identify and segregate the components of its supplier’s charge, as defined herein.

March 27, 2015 as per Schedule 1.1 of the PSA Schedule 3.1 of the PSA Article 5 of the PSA Schedule 7.1 of the PSA Schedule 7.1.2 of the PSA Article 12.5 of the PSA

The Administration Fee is equivalent to PhP0.3200/kWh, subject to the annual escalation or de-escalation of the CPI from the base of the index average in 2013: a)

the CPI shall be the Philippine CPI, (2006=100) as published by the NSO, or its succeeding entity, for the year

Sample Computation: Administration Fee Escalation/De-Escalation Formula

CPI2015 rate

CPI2016 rate

CPI2017 rate

CPI2018 rate

CPI2019 rate

CPI2020 rate

CPI2021 rate

CPI2014

CPI2015

CPI2016

CPI2017

CPI2018

CPI2019

CPI2020

CPI2013

CPI2014

CPI2015

CPI2016

CPI2017

CPI2018

CPI2019

Adjusted Administration Feen = Administration Feen-1 * (A) Where:

4 5 6 7

Administration Feen-1 = Administration Fee for year n minus 1 (in Peso per kWh)

*Using Base Rate of ULGEI

20.

Abstract of the PSA and Other Relevant Information

13.1 The obligation of ULGEI with respect to the sale and delivery of the Contract Energy shall commence, when and upon: (a) the execution of the Administration Agreement between ULGEI and the PSALM, with conformity of the NPC; (b) the turnover of the management and control of the strips to the IPPA; (c) all governmental authorizations which are required to have been obtained in connection with the execution, delivery and commencement of performance of the PSA shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect; (d) the receipt by both parties of the Commission’s approval; and (e) the representations and warranties of ULGEI contained in the PSA shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of Operations Effective Date5;

Average rate using the actual load profile of VECO from April to July 2014

In entering into the PSA, VECO considered the urgency of its supply requirements inasmuch as the CSEE has expired and could not be extended;

Term. The PSA shall take effect immediately from Effective Date3. The obligation of ULGEI to deliver Contract Energy and of VECO to purchase the same, shall commence on Operations Effective Date and shall remain in force and effect for seven (7) years after the Operations Effective Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the PSA 4;

Generation Rate*

Billing Period Note

Salient Features of the PSA. Their PSA contains the following salient terms and conditions: 13.

Amendment to the PSA dated May 28, 2015 between VECO and ULGEI

Particular

On December 26, 2014, the Independent Power Producer Administration (IPPA) Agreement (the Administration Agreement) between the PSALM and ULGEI became effective whereby the former transferred to the latter the management and control over strips of energy associated with 40 MW of the capacity of the ULGPP (the strips of energy);

10.

12.

19.

Document

A B-1

VECO previously sourced approximately 120 MW, or about thirty percent (30%), of its electricity requirements for distribution to its customers from the National Power Corporation (NPC) under a Contract for Supply of Electric Energy (CSEE) which was subsequently assigned to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM). The said CSEE expired on December 25, 2014 and was not extended;

On July 29, 2014, VECO submitted a letter-request to the PSALM requesting that the unawarded bulk power of the ULGPP be awarded pro-rata to all existing ULGPP off-takers, including VECO. Such an allocation will have at least maintained some portion of the supply being sourced by VECO from the PSALM;

In support of the application and in compliance with Rule 20(B) of the ERC Rules, they attached the following documents as annexes and made integral parts thereof:

Annex

Statement of the Facts 4.

142.2

16.

In the said application, VECO and ULGEI alleged, among others, that:

EDITOR S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

CPIn-2

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on August 24, 2015, Visayan Electric Company, Incorporated (VECO) and Unified Leyte Geothermal Energy, Incorporated (ULGEI) filed an application for approval of their Power Supply Agreement (PSA).

2016 0.3298

CPIn-1

Applicable to Billing Periods

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

2015 0.3200

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO

( T S - O C T. 10 /17, 2 015 )

Climate change funding unclear LIMA—The movers and shakers of the world economy are trying to close in on the magic number of $100 billion a year to fight climate change as they meet this week in Peru. But with the world well shy of that target,everyone seems to think the rest of the money should come from somewhere else. The global talks on fighting climate change have stumbled over the issue of getting money to the countries that are most vulnerable to global warming and often least responsible for causing it. Wealthy nations have pledged to come up with $100 billion a year by 2020, but with two months to go to clutch United Nations climate talks, a new report this week found the world is less than twothirds of the way there. French Finance Minister Michel Sapin, whose country will host the December talks, said Thursday that governments have given pretty much all they can, and called on institutions like the World Bank and European Investment Bank to step up. “That will be decisive, because they haven’t done a lot,” he told journalists on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings, which have gathered finance ministers and central bank chiefs from 188 countries. “If we want the Paris conference to be a success, the question of funding has to be nine-tenths settled, if not 100 percent,” said Sapin. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry also singled out the World Bank and company, saying: “The United States looks to the multilateral development banks to set ambitious targets for scaling up mitigation and adaptation finance” at the Peru meetings. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) calculated this week that wealthy countries came up with $61.8 billion in climate funding last year, including $23.1 billion in bilateral deals between countries, $20.4 billion from multilateral institutions and $16.7 billion from the private sector. But while development banks could indeed do more, governments should not be let off the hook, climate experts say. “Multilateral institutions can do more, but countries must also do more,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s point man on climate change, Under-Secretary General Janos Pasztor. International charity Oxfam’s climate policy expert Isabel Kreisler echoed that view, saying: “Both the multilateral banks and governments should pay more.” Responding to such appeals, the Inter-American Development Bank pledged Thursday to increase climate finance from about 14 percent of lending to between 25 and 30 percent by 2020. And the Asian Development Bank announced last month it would increase climate finance from $3 billion to $6 billion, directing 30 percent of its lending toward green projects. Pierre Moscovici, the European commissioner for economic and financial affairs, meanwhile said he would pile “positive pressure” on European Union members to rise to the occasion in Peru, particularly the 10 countries that have yet to make pledges on climate funding ahead of the Paris talks. AFP

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PROPERTY jdlacsamana@gmail.com

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

Just what the Doctor orDereD. Sure Seal has an “iwas crack” technology which makes the brand cost-effective because it does not crack so easily.

housing Backlog. CREBA called on real estate partners, allies and supporters join hands to address this crucial phase of national development.

CREBA CAlls foR housing foR EvERy filipino

t leak solutions for the rainy season Living in the Philippines, which goes through months of monsoon every year, means long days of rain. One of the measures we take to protect our home is to keep our roof free from debris, like stones, dirt, and fallen leaves, to protect it from leaks. But what to do when cracks and holes are there already?. The smartest, most convenient solution is to apply sealants . But can current sealants in the market do the job? Consumers have different standards of quality when it comes to sealants. Most people discover leaks only when they’ve started already. They have the idea that the quick drying variant is the most effective, but truth be told, it is not. The main reason: the

Begone leaks! Sure seal is a slow-curing sealant that is designed for various substrates as a tough sealing and bonding agent.

sealant that easily dries up and hardens like cement has a high tendency to crack because it becomes brittle. This is where Sure Seal’s “iwas crack” comes in handy. Sure Seal is an all purpose “elastomeric sealant”, which

has “iwas crack” technology. Sure Seal is a slow-curing sealant that is designed for various substrates as a sealing and bonding agent. In the cured state, it is transformed into a tough, rubber-like gasket which offers reasonable motion, contraction and expansion, of the connected elements without cracking, or losing adhesion. Unlike other brands and variants, you don’t have to worry that it will crack in time. Sure Seal takes pride of its “iwas crack” technology, which makes the brand cost-effective. Sure Seal elastomeric sealant comes in gallon, liter, 500ml, 250ml, and 82.5g pouch. It is available in all leading hardware and DIY stores nationwide.

tri-sector cooperation. Ayala Foundation and the Singapore Management University recently launched the Ayala Master of Tri-Sector Collaboration (MTSC) Scholarship “to inspire Filipino students enrolled in the MTSC program to greater heights of academic and practical excellence.” The launch was attended by Singapore Ambassador Kok Li Peng; Belgium Ambassador Roland van Remoortele; Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Ayala Corporation; SMU President professor Arnoud De Meyer; Ruel T. Maranan, Ayala Foundation President; and professor Ann Florini, academic director of the programme. The MTSC is an advanced degree program that focuses on partnership development and management. It empowers leaders from the private, public, and people sectors to work together to develop sustainable solutions to the world’s big problems. The scholarship is housed under the Ayala Foundation.

he vision of a home for every Filipino, an advocacy of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations, Inc. (CREBA), took center stage this week at the CREBA’s national convention held at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City from October 7 to 10. CREBA national president Noel Toti M. Cariño said support for this vision gained impetus over the last few days among lawmakers, government officials and the private sector. Cariño identified some of the industry players who added gravitas to discussions on the housing backlog at the convention, namely, Boysen Paint, Camella Homes, DMCI Homes, Pag-IBIG Fund, Primehomes, VV Soliven Group, Megaworld Corporation, Lamudi Philippines, United Coconut Planters Bank, Duraville Realty & Development, EC Gas (J&M Properties), E. Ganzon Inc., and Sta Lucia Land Inc. The event, which ends today, was a plethora of plenary and breakout sessions, fellowship nights, guided tours, business-matching activities, and presentations on market trends, product development technologies, government plans and policies, and emerging opportunities, all geared towards providing a home to every Filipino. “Ranged against that vision, however, is a 5.5-million housing

backlog that both the government and the industry have to surmount within the next 20 years,” CREBA national chairman Charlie A.V. Gorayeb said in his opening speech. “Overcoming such a deficit requires the industry to produce at least 500,000 housing units a year,” he said. “And to be able to implement it, CREBA has been seeking a comprehensive government policy reform program that will establish long-term and affordable funds for socialized and economic housing; affordable homes for employees in urban areas; lands for residential, commercial and industrial development; efficient local government housing regulations; and a fullfledged Department of Housing and Urban Development.” The 5-point agenda espoused by CREBA has been drafted into various bills to amend, rationalize, streamline and beef up existing laws on housing. “Putting this 5-point agenda on stream – from legislation to full implementation – demands the support and cooperation of various sectors as it also involves the proper and prudent use of resources of both the government and the business community,” Gorayeb said. “A major step in that direction is this CREBA national convention, where all the concerned sectors are gathered under one roof to pull their acts together,” Cariño said.

Defining the lanDscape. Philconstuct 2015 ends its successful four day run tomorrow at the SMX Convention Center and World Trade Center. The no. 1 construction show in the country showed its strength as it provided the best service and exposure to its exhibitors.With the ASEAN Economic Integration a few months away, the organizers of the event made sure the 2015 event was a truly global showcase featuring brands and buyers from all over the region. “We appreciate the support of our loyal sponsors and participants, and at the same time welcome new companies who became part of this event,” said Dan Abando, overall chairman for Philconstruct this year. Shown in the photo are members of the organizing committee (L-R): Delfin Wenceslao, PCA president; Jorge Consunji, PEECC chairman; Ronaldo Elepano, Jr., immediate past chairman of Philconstruct; and Abando.

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B8 eco city gAtewAy. Runners whoop it up at a Nuvali fun run. With the opening of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), the development could draw more investors from Manila, Cavite and nearby provinces, which will inevitably boost business activity.

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY

Nuvali leapfrogs to sustaiNed growth Big investment. Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) is spending P12.5 billion in the next five years to ramp up its residential, office and retail offerings in it largest master planned, mixed-use community in Laguna.

By Joel d. lAcsAmAnA

s a young suit working for a big company in Metro Manila, living in the city was an exhilarating ride : the fast-paced life, close proximity to commerce, leisure, and entertainment, and the everyday hustle and bustle. But as I married, raised a family, and grew older, it became a drag. More and more buildings sprouted like mushrooms around the Metro. And don’t get me started on the traffic (which is why some guys will never get my vote as Senator, or even as President). The malls are now more congested, and parks and patches of greenery are sparse – you feel claustrophobic all the time. Like me, more city folk are seeking alternatives to city living. Young cities in the south are offering a more laid back atmosphere with all the conveniences offered by a modern city. FlAgship development The south is no longer as provincial as city dwellers used to think.

Just like Fort Bonifacio used to be merely a military base, and is now a center for business, commerce, and entertainment, the scale of development is migrating south in a big way. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Ayala Land’s flagship development south of Manila, Nuvali, which has been transitioning to becoming CALABARZON’s regional growth center. Nuvai is a mixed-use development that straddles the cities of Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao and Calamba in Laguna. From 1,800 hectares six years ago, it has expanded to 2,290 hectares, making it Ayala Land’s largest estate development to date. Nuvali has grown in terms of residential and commercial developments since 2009. Today, the estate consists of 85,000 square meters of gross leasable areas for retail and office spaces, 150 hotel rooms, and has sold about 12,000 residential units. There are two business process outsourcing (BPO) buildings, an events center, a shopping center and two prestigious schools.

Approximately 50% of the whole development is dedicated to green and open spaces which feature a multi-functional lake, mountain bike and hiking trails, and a Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary. “Nuvali is an alternative for urban professionals seeking a sustainable way of life,” said John Estacio, Nuvali’s general manager. The opening of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), which directly links Nuvali to major CBDs Makati, Manila, and Cavite via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), will increase the real estate’s investment potential. Nuvali is accessible through five SLEX exits via Mamplasan, Sta. Rosa, Eton-Greenfield, Silangan and Canlubang. The completion of CALAX will open a direct transport channel from SLEX via the Mamplasan exit, which is just 8 kilometers from the development. QuAlity oF liFe “Nuvali is grounded on a sustainability philosophy prompted by the increasing manifestations of climate

change and development concerns in key urban areas,” said Estacio. Among its developments include a leisure shopping mall, Solenad, which recently completed its third wing. The complex offers an outdoor active lifestyle theme reflected through its walkways, bike lanes, an 800-square-meter activity park, an outdoor playground and pocket gardens. Its cinema wing, featuring four movie halls will open by November. Solenad has over 40,000 square meters of retail space, and when completed, will offer over 200 shopping, dining and entertainment options, making it the go-to leisure destination for residents in Laguna, Tagaytay, Batangas and Muntinlupa. S&R will open its branch in Nuvali by mid-November. Camp N, a multi-purpose outdoor and recreational facility similar to SandBox in Porac, will open by December. QualiMed Hospital is currently undergoing construction and will be open by the second quarter of 2016

The opening of Xavier School and Miriam College, raised Nuvali’s appeal as a nesting ground among upwardly-mobile professionals. Nuvali’s residential portfolio covers a range of lot-only, house-and-lot, and mid-rise condominium unit configurations spread in 21 living spaces across the estate. Full-nesters, couples, young families, and single professionals will find a dwelling to fit their lifestyle needs among the broad array of Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, Avida, and Amaia residential options ranging from P 1.8M to P20 M. Among the major CBDs in the country, Nuvali has the highest rate in land value appreciation, and has enjoyed an annual growth rate of 14% in the last seven years. Residential lot values have increased from P9,500 per square meter to P20,000 per square meter, while commercial space offerings rose from P20,000 per square meter to P40,000 per square meter.

drAwing A BeAd on mid-income housing. NorthPine Land, Inc. (NLI) recently paid a visit to the officials of Pag-IBIG Fund to present its recent and future community projects. “NorthPine Land is a big supporter of Pag-IBIG’s affordable housing program for Filipino workers,” said NLI chief finance officer, Ben Tatunay. NorthPine Land was founded in 1996 by Hongkong Land, San Miguel Properties, Inc., BDO, and Metrobank. Shown in photo (from left) are: Amytis Banaag, AVP for HRODA, sales training and corporate sales; Wilma E. Fernando, VP for corporate services; Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Atty. Darlene Berberabe; Ben Tatunay , VP for finance; Elmer Tugade, department manager; and Paul Lamagna, AVP for the technical management group.

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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 WRITER

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@LIFEatStandard

P OP CU LT U RE

LIFE

PWE- Earth

PSYCHEDELIC WARFARE WITH ARTU NEPOMUCENO BY BING PAREL PHOTOS BY RAMON RUIZ

t the loft of the newly launched Julian Ongpin Young Artists (JOYA) Gallery hung the works of young commercial photographer Artu Nepomuceno. Entitled “Psychedelic Warfare,” the series, curated by gallery owner Julian Ongpin, was Artu’s initial abstract offering – a “chronicled exploration of the phases of life lost and gained in a single process,” as he puts it. Creating the pieces took a while, says the 25-year-old AB Photography major from the College of St. Benilde, admitting that more than the process of photographing, what took him a long time was getting his subjects ready. “I probably went through a thousand images and more often than not I (would) get an image of nothing – completely blank. It was a hard process, and at times I felt like a sniper hunting for something until I eventually found it,” he narrates. “The first stage was creating the mixtures and that was frustrating

Artu Nepomuceno at JOYA

by itself because the colors are not always achievable,” he continues. Looking at the pieces, one is hit by the sensation that the colors are undulating, and that anytime the dots and lines would start moving away from the (pearl) photo paper from which they are printed and head straight for you. “That’s exactly what I want from my audience – to think deep and feel intensely, to have their own comprehension of the art and let it be a guiding hand to whatever implications they are going through at the moment,” he states. After all, Artu’s objective in creating the series is for the pieces to read like an open book where people can look at them, try to get their own understanding of the work and interpret it in their own way. “The reason why I call the series ‘Psychedelic Warfare’ was that for me, coming up with the pieces was like going on a journey of self discovery and self exploration as an artist, while the psychedelic part was born from what came of it – the burst of colors, the movement, the swirls. And immediately when I saw it all together in my computer, it hit me: ‘This is so psychedelic’!” Donning a baseball cap, sporting a necklace with the hippie peace symbol as a pendant, and wearing a wide smile on his face as he posed in front of one of his pieces, it’s easy to see why he was one of the two artists whose works were

Assessment

Tectonics

featured at the launch of JOYA – a new contemporary art gallery that is set on showcasing emerging international artists alongside a select stable of the country’s emerging and most inspired artistic talent. And artistic talent, indeed, runs through the veins of Artu – considering that his great grandfather was Jose Nepomuceno, acknowledged as the “Father of Philippine movies” having produced the first Filipino silent film entitled Dalagang Bukid – and grandfather Luis Nepomuceno who is also a well-respected director of famous Filipino movies such as Igorota and Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak (the first Filipino film to be shot in color by De Luxe). An uncle, Cobo Nepomuceno, is a hyperrealist

Carnal knowledge

painter, and he was also one of the reasons why the young man grew up appreciating art. “Both my grandfather and great grandfather started out as photographers,” Artu reveals, adding that he learned to love the industry of movie making without him even knowing it as he imbibed the stories about his great grandfather – helping him realize the kind of calling he had as a photographer. “After doing a year and a half as an events photographer, I realized that it was not something that I truly loved to do.” And so he took a gamble and invested his savings into an ice cream sandwich business called Louie-Luis, which served as a cash cow that helped him explore his craft and find his true love in

the art of photography – taking portraits and fashion, getting help from several people that made him become popular with commercial and private clients. “Fine art photography has always been something I daydreamed of getting into, but never felt ready for. In reflection to that, I believe my art is still confused but rich nonetheless in the passion and curiosity of it. I believe that my work is still an open book, and I enjoy observing my audience categorize it themselves. Like my journey as an artist, I leave the future very open to change and spontaneity, and I believe this translates into my work. So in simplest terms, I think my art is a journey through the confusion of purpose,” the young artist avers.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

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KIDS HAVE IT

Wyeth launches search for Filipino kid innovators

iming to spark curiosity in children and encourage their passion for science and innovation, Wyeth Nutrition launched a nationwide search for “kid innovators” during its National Kids’ Innovation Day held at The Mind Museum in Taguig City. The search is challenging children aged nine to 14 and from Grades 4 to 8 to submit an innovative science-related project that they produced, either alone or as a group of up to five members, whether in compliance with an academic requirement or as a personal initiative. “Sparking the spirit of innovation among our young generation can help propel our pursuit toward better lives for Filipino families,” Wyeth Nutrition president and general manager Joseph Eugene David remarked.

Young Filipino inventors

14-year-old Amin Hataman who invented biodegradable plastics made of coconut

The program not only seeks to recognize outstanding kid innovators and their achievements, but also aspires to celebrate their exciting journey towards innovation and encourage them to unleash their curiosity. Many young Filipino inventors have earned international distinction for their innovative work, among them Manila Science High School alumni Aliana Mae Arales and Jejomar Derecho who developed the Tri-Axis Accelerometer as Commercial Seismic Wave Sensor, bagging the gold in the 2014 International Youth Invention Exhibition Awards. Despite challenges, Justine Silvestre and Adrian dela Cruz of the Philippine Science High School came up with a winning project – the “Oxygen Plasma Surface

Modification of Polylactic Acid-Cellulose Acetate-Chitosan Nanocomposite Fiber” – which won the Best Overseas Project at the Mahidol Wittayanusorn School Science Fair in Thailand recently. On the other hand, the group of Jeanne Alexis Marasigan, Whinley Hasset Uy, Mari Christine Amon, Leira Mae Socito and Alexis Andrea Tamayo from Manila Science High School invented the Light Intensity Meter-Operated Automatic Gas Tank Valve Lock which won the gold in the 2014 International Youth Invention Exhibition Awards in Taiwan. Last year, 14-year-old Amin Hataman invented biodegradable plastics made of coconut which won for him the gold prize in the 2014 International Young Inventors

Olympiad in Georgia, and the bronze in the 2015 I-SWEEP Olympiad in Texas. Participating student/s shall submit (1) a written brief and (2) a simple video presentation on the project, with the endorsement of the Science Department Head of the school. The project must have been undertaken within the period of three years preceding the submission of entry. Submission shall be made via email to wyethnutritionkidinnovators@gmail.com on or before April 1, 2016. Only one entry per participant or group is allowed. The top three winning entries of the Search for the Wyeth Nutrition Kid Innovators shall each receive a cash prize of P100,000 and a trophy, along with a scienceand-technology showcase worth P100,000 for the partner school.

Trick or Treat with JCO Doughnuts

alloweeeeeeen! One of our favorite occasions is almost near the calendar and JCO gives us two reasons to celebrate – Nutty Dracula Donut and Trapped in a Web Donut. Get ready for a spooky Halloween by getting yourselves some treat with these calorieworthy doughnuts. Now available at all JCO branches, Nutty Dracula Donut – dark and strong like a vampire – is made with rich peanut butter on the inside and garnished with

dark chocolate and strawberry sauce on the outside, with hints of white chocolate on top. Trapped in a Web Donut, an iconic symbol for Halloween, is filled with Tiramisu Cream, and capped with a mix of Dark Chocolate and Chocolate Tiramisu. Taste these treats for P42 each, P252 for half a dozen, P380 for one dozen, and P592 for two dozens. Catch them at any JCO branch until November 2 and don’t forget to Instagram them using #HalloweenwWithJCO.

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COFFEE AND FUNKY TECHNOLOGY Digital Walker opens its first Pay-What-You-Want coffee shop

illennials have been dictating how our stores and surroundings should look. Most stores, shops, restaurants and hotels are turning into contemporary pop-art inspired interiors with a modern industrial vibe. Digital Walker, one of the hippest gadget shops in the country, started with this concept early in 2004, and to date they are innovating yet again by adding coffee and cakes to technological gadgets and introducing what might be a first of its kind in the Metro – Pay-What-You-Want coffee shop. A new twist to its hip concept store, the first branch of Digital Walker with Recession Coffee is now brewing in Eastwood Mall. A coffee lover's dream and a geek technocrat’s haven, not to mention a perfect ‘yuccie’ hangout place, this branch might just be getting the right kind of market. The coffee shop is in partnership with EDSA Beverage Design Group for the best coffee brew and the delectable

confectionery offerings are made by Chef Miko Aspiras of Scout’s Honor. Pay what… say what? Yes, pay what you want. You get to order a cup of house roasted beans from EDSA Beverage Design Group such as the Panama Carmen Estate, Ethiopia Sidamo Guji Suke Quto, and Kenya Wakulima and decide how much you think it is worth.

But of course, depending on what you pay, the funky store tags you with its humor and judges you by how much you put on the table. Pay P50 and you may be mistaken for “someone in between jobs,” but if you pay greater than P200, then you will receive a “marriage proposal” from the team, or perhaps make them water up (with tears).

Visit the first branch of Recession Coffee by Digital Walker from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the 3rd floor of Eastwood Mall, 1880 Eastwood Building, Eastwood Avenue, Eastwood City, Quezon City. For live updates, follow them on Instagram and Twitter with the handle @ digitalkwalkerph, or like them on Facebook at Digital Walker Store. Track them with hashtags #digitalwalker and #recessioncoffee.

BESTO POTATO POPS UP IN THE METRO

eads up to students and officebound employees! The favorite Japanese potato chips, brought to the country by Jack ‘n Jill, makes its way around various pit stops in the metro to spread the crunch, the taste, and the #BestoPotato experience. Following its successful launch in March, the Jack ‘n Jill Calbee pop-up store has since made stops at the Alabang

Experience the besto potato offerings from Jack ‘n Jill Calbee as its pop-up store makes a stop in schools and offices in the metro.

Town Center, Glorietta, Bonifacio High Street, and in Eastwood City, among others. This time around, the popup store will visit several campuses to bring the #BestoPotato experience closer to everyone. Kicking-off in Greenhills Shopping Centre this November, the roving Jack ‘n Jill Calbee pop-up store will visit schools and malls

while an interactive sampling booth will make the rounds of selected gasoline stations and offices. “We want people to experience the besto potato goodness of Jack ‘n Jill Calbee,” says Calbee-Universal Robina Corporation (CURC) marketing manager Jenny Chang. “Through the pop-up stores, we want to bring the brand’s tasty offering closer to the market.” Jack ‘n Jill Calbee uses only the best potatoes produced under the Japanese standards of quality, putting fun in every crunch. This includes their Potato Chips – thin and crunchy potato snack in Wasabi, Classic Salted, or Cheddar and Sour Cream f lavors; Pizza Potato – pizza-f lavored potato ridges with melted cheese on top; and Jagabee Potato Fries – crispy fries available in Classic Salted, Garlic, and Cheese f lavors.

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The crowd of Tagaytay Art Beat music and visual arts festival

AN ART HIGH IN TAGAYTAY BY ISABELLE ROMUALDEZ PHOTOS BY GAB PILI

illennials packed the “Tagaytay Art Beat” music and visual arts festival held recently at the Museo Orlina in Tagaytay. Organized by Ning and Anna Orlina (daughters of well-renowned sculptor Ramon Orlina) and DocDef productions, I was fortunate enough to perform in an event that was staged to support budding local artists and independent music acts.

The author (vocalist and bassist of Fools & Foes) performing in Tagaytay Art Beat

Live mural painting

Despite my punctuality, I was pleased to see that the venue was already filled, especially because local art has not been as exposed as it should be. Walking around, I was able to observe works by young artists such as Archie Geotina, Ayka Go, Erica Ng, Ivana Tyler, Jason Sto. Domingo, Jessica de Leon, Ku Romillo, Lee Caces, Lyka Orhel, Miggy Antonio, Monica Castillo, Rae Toledo, and Tammy dela Fuente. Their creative works were made out of wood, paper, and 3D printing. Right upstairs, I was able to see the intricately made sculptures of Ramon Orlina for the very first time. Being a fan of his works, I just stood there in silence, overwhelmed by the beauty of local art. Everything was there; there were live mural paintings by the artists known as Cinos and Mr. S that event attendees were able to witness while enjoying the band performances in the open space area of the venue. Everywhere you go, whether to view the works of the budding

artists and Ramon Orlina’s or to grab a drink by the roof deck, you can hear the music. My fellow performers didn’t fail to impress and hype the crowd. The music was diverse enough for anyone to appreciate. From catchy folk tunes (by the Ransom Collective, Niki Colet, Paolo Mallari, Bullet Dumas, Reese Lansangan) to soul-foul jazz beats (Jensen and the Flips, Sud, Miles Experience, Banna Harbera, Anj Florenjo, Farewell Fairweather, Dayaw) to indie goodness (Autotelic, Fools & Foes, Tom’s Story, Austin), Tagaytay Art Beat proves that OPM is not dead. Many claim that OPM is not as refined or as catchy as foreign music, but that is only because it is not as exposed. Many of us today are still having that “Tagaytay Art Beat” hang over (as witnessed in social media) with reason. It was a one-of-akind eclectic experience of local art. It gave me, and many others, an “art high” you can experience with Philippine art.

Ramon Orlina

A NEW TWIST TO BARKADA BONDING

ny activity becomes fun when we do it with our closest friends. Hanging out is made more enjoyable when you can joke around with your buddies. Watching a movie turns into an entertaining affair when you can share crazy laughter or cry together or scare each other. Going on a road trip becomes memorable when the company is up for anything. And what best complements fun times with friends is a snack that is guaranteed to bring on the fun. Enter Jack ‘n Jill’s new Chippy Twisters – the corn chips with the same crunchy

goodness barkadas have loved for years but in a new twisted look. Chippy Twisters comes in two new exciting flavors: the Taco & Spice variant is perfect for those with a palate for snacks with a kick of spice, while its Cheese & Lemon is best for friends who crave for a unique flavor to tickle their taste buds. Don’t let the gang miss this limited offering from Jack ‘n Jill. For only P21.90 (suggested retail price), this go-to barkada treat is exclusively sold in Robinsons Supermarkets, SM Supermarkets, Puregold, Ministop and Family Mart for a limited time only.

Bring the fun to any barkada bonding with the new Chippy Twisters. Available in Taco & Spice and Cheese & Lemon variants.

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 10 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

Most outstandinG tV news station

MA once again cemented its stature as the no. 1 network in the industry as it earned not only the nods of television critics but the independent filmmakers’ as well. On Sept. 27, it was declared the Most Outstanding TV News Station in the 2nd Inding Indie Short Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal held at the Quezon City Hall. The Network’s flagship primetime newscast 24 Oras, headlined by Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez, and GMA News TV’s State of the Nation with Jessica Soho both took home the Most Outstanding TV News Program of the Year award. Wish Ko Lang!, the country’s pioneering wish-granting program hosted by Vicky Morales, won Best Public Service TV Program of the Year. Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman was cited Best Variety Show while German Moreno and John Nite were each voted Best TV Personality award. The Best TV Program of the Year citation went to Eat Bulaga,, the lon longest-running variety show in PhilipPhilip pine TV. Radio GMA dzBB’s Walang Siesta with Kuya Germs (German Moreno), meanwhile, was recognized as the Best Radio Program. GMA Artist Center talents Ken Chan, Kristoffer Martin, and Jake Vargas were each conferred with the Icon of the Year award. Alessandra de Rossi was awarded Aktres ng Dekada Mar for the short film Sitio Dolorosa by Marvin Gabas. Adolf Alix Jr.,., the director behind various Kapuso programs, won for himself the title “Pinakamahusay na Direktor ng Independent Films.” film Deliberated by independent filmInd makers, directors, and actors, the Inding Indie Short Film Festival is now on artist its second year showcasing “the artistry of underprivileged filmmakers” and recognizing the broadcast industry’s “contribution to strengthening media journalism” in the country.

Jake Vargas German Moreno Kristoffer Martin

Ken Chan

Jessica Soho

Alessandra de Rossi Vicky Morales

Maribel Verdú

SpaniSh aCtreSS at inStituto CervanteS’ pelíCula

panish film aficionados had the opportunity to meet and chat with Y tu mamá también actress Maribel Verdú, who presented Blancanieves and Felices 140 last night at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1after the 7 p.m. screening. One of the main actresses of contemporary Spanish cinema, Verdú began acting at 13, appearing in various commercials, then jumped to cinema. Her role in Amantes (1991) by Vicente Aranda marked a turning point in her screen career. Thereafter she has worked with some of the best Spanish directors: Fernando Trueba in the Oscar-awarded Belle Époque (1992); Bigas Luna in Huevos de Oro (1993); and Carlos Saura in Goya en Burdeos, amongst others. On the in-

ternational stage, her career hit a highpoint when she starred in Y tu mamá también (2001) by Alfonso Cuarón, followed by Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) by Guillermo del Toro. She also has worked for Francis Ford Coppola in Tetro (2009). Several times nominated for the Goya Awards -the most important prize in Spanish cinema-, she finally received one for her role in Siete mesas de billar francés (Seven Billiard Tables, 2007), and repeated with Blancanieves (2012). The Spanish Film Festival has traditionally been graced by the presence of foreign filmmakers. In this edition, aside from Verdú, other filmmakers will present their works. On Oct. 12, at 9:30 pm, Spanish journalist Ramón Vilaró will premiere in the Philippines

his film De aliados a masacrados (2014), a documentary about how the Filipino-Spanish population of Manila was decimated during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during the Second World War. On the following day,, the Czech filmmaker Lenka Kny will present her comedy Milagro en Praga (2013), and will have an open forum after the screening. The romantic comedy film is about two families, a Mexican family and a Czech family, who cross paths in Prague over the Christmas holidays. The screening is co-presented by the Embassy of Mexico and the Embassy of the Czech Republic. Until Oct.18, Película-Pelikula, the Spanish Film Festival, features the best of contemporary Spanish cinema at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas.

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 10 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

EaRLy ChRiStmaS With bEaUty qUEEnS

izza Hut, the world’s no.1 pizza chain, joined forces with Dairy Queen, the country’s favorite treat brand, in hosting the Binibining Pilipinas-led Queens Give Back outreach program in Visayas and Mindanao. The Philippine Pizza Inc. brands brought the spirit of Christmas early by hosting separate parties with the 2015 winners of Binibining Pilipinas for the children from the Community of Theresian Missionaries of Mary in Cagayan De Oro City and the beneficiaries of SOS Children’s Village in Cebu City. “We began Queens Give Back in Metro Manila last year by bringing our favorite beauty queens to hospital and school visits, where they could share a fun day with children in need of cheer,” shared Lorent Adrias, senior marketing manager for Philippine Pizza Inc. “This time we decided to take it further by reaching out to communities that have supported us in Visayas and Mindanao, specifically the hometowns of our Binibining Pilipinas winners, as our way of giving back after having a great year,” he added. It was an early Christmas treat indeed for the 100 children who saw their favorite Binibining Pilipinas winners, among them Ms. International Philippines 2015 Janicel Lubina and Ms. Intercontinental Philippines 2015 Christi McGarry, join in their fun and games. The Binibini Queens also distributed toys, notebooks, crayons and pencils as presents. Each

visit was capped by a storytelling session, led by Ms. Universe Philippines 2015 Pia Wurtzbach in her native Cagayan de Oro, and by Ms. Supranational Philippines 2015 Rogelie Catacutan in her birthplace of Cebu. The Binibining Pilipinas Queens themselves were not immune to the laughter and smiles of the children, with Rogelie Catacutan finding herself more excited to compete now that she had found the best support group in the children who wished them luck. “I miss Cebu a lot and I’m very grateful for (my hometown’s) support, so now it’s my turn to give back and share my blessings,” she said. “I’m thankful that Pizza Hut has given full support to this outreach program, which is important to me, and I’m also happy to share my hometown to my fellow Binibining Pilipinas winners.” It was particularly special for Pia Wurtzbach, whose hometown visit doubled as her birthday celebration: “I’ve been extremely blessed this year having won the crown that I’ve worked hard for, and that opened a lot of doors for me. When I won this title I became a part of the Philippine Pizza (Inc.) family, which allowed me to give back to my beloved hometown.” She happily added, “Seeing the kids smile and spending my day with them is the best birthday gift ever!” Learn more about the Queens Give Back outreach program by following Pizza Hut Philippines on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/pizzahutphilippines.

Marcia Gray Haden in a scene in the new series Code Black

OsCar winner in new mediCal drama

Ms. Universe Philippines 2015 Pia Wurtzbach assists beneficiaries from SOS Childrens’ Village in a thanksgiving party hosted by Pizza Hut Cebu City and Binibining Pilipinas

(L-R) Binibining Pilipinas 2015 winners Ms. Universe Philippines Pia Wurtzbatch, Ms. Intercontinental Philippines Christi McGarry, Ms. International Philippines Janicel Lubina and Ms. Supranational Philippines Rogelie Catacutan with SOS Children’s Village beneficiaries in Pizza Hut Cebu City

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 42

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Jacques, in song 6 Lie — (go to earth) 11 Periodical 14 Where Cardiff is 15 Eyes impolitely 16 Low-fat meat 17 Blue pottery of Holland 18 Europe-Asia divider 19 — kwon do

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Mount gems Click-on items Nightclub show At sea “I” trouble? Where Tripoli is Earl — Biggers Conjecture Noted groundhog Sufficient, in verse Mantra chants Lobby call

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Carvey of “Wayne’s World” Ransacks Cuba, to Castro Perfume bottles Guru Chart table Dank place Faulty Goes for a fly No gentleman Blew it — box Goat offspring Did footnotes Circumference Sneaky Curry favor Ill-tempered

DOWN 1 VCR button 2 “Norma —” 3 Architect’s wing 4 TKO official 5 Organic compounds 6 Question 7 Fairy-tale heavy 8 Tickled pink 9 Mousse alternative 10 Become inflexible 11 Ditto (2 wds.) 12 Freezer name

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Invitee Quick reminder Keeping time Yielded territory NASA rocket stage B, in chemistry Radio hosts’ medium Civil War prez Wheels of fortune? Part of MIT Lagoon Hurry-scurry Dome home Figure out Terhune collie Chimney dirt Creepy-crawly Naval officer Falls short Spam, maybe Lightheaded June honoree Tijuana Ms. Dandelion, to many Grande or Bravo Width of a cir. 1040 agcy. Homer-hitter Mel Your, old-style

Academy Award winner for Best Actress Marcia Gay Harden stars in Code Black, a new medical procedural drama inspired by Ryan McGarry’s critically acclaimed documentary of the same title. Every episode presents extraordinary medical cases in creative but very authentic perspectives. Events unfold in the nation’s busiest ER, where medical professionals are the heroes. In a perpetual race against time, they solve one medical case after the other using limited resources. This is far from your usual medical drama. Get ready to be hooked as it fires up adrenaline, intrigues the mind and ultimately compels the heart. Follow Leanne Royer (Harden), the gritty resident who leads her medical team through seemingly insurmountable odds. Completing the cast are Bonnie Sommerville, Raza Jaffrey, Luis Guzman, Melanie Kannokada Harry M. Ford, Benjamin Hollingsworth, and William Allen Young. The show airs every Wednesday, 8:50pm (same week as the US) on Sony Channel. Sony Channel is seen on SKYCable Channel 35, Cignal Digital TV Channel 60, Destiny Cable Channel 62, Cable Link Channel 39.

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 10 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

fans swaRM aRound ‘staRstRuck’ ultiMate final 14

C7 Love Spell

from c8

If the crowd in Malolos, Bulacan is an indication of the future of the StarStruck Ultimate 14, then these young men and women should brace for even bigger crowds in the future. They now have solid fan bases. On Oct. 4 as each of them appeared on stage at an events center in a mall in Malolos, the shrieks and screams of their fans are eardrum splitting, more so when each of them performed for them. As Starstruck’s “Kiligserye” series continues on its third installment, the kids of the Ultimate Final 14 face a more challenging test where they are asked to exhibit onscreen kilig through a romantic-comedy musical capsule. The episode highlighted the finale of the three-part series featuring the love stories of Joemarie Nielsen and Klea Pineda, Kevin Sagra and Princess Guevarra, and Avery Paraiso and Koreen Medina. Each musical capsule was filmed under the helm of Louie Ignacio. In The Door, Joemarie and Klea, collectively called JoLea, played childhood best friends secretly in love with each other. As they sang the song “Sa’yo” by Silent Sanctuary, the audience expected they’d break from the comfort of friendship In the story played out by Avery and Koreen, or AveReen, the dashing bachelor prepared a surprise serenade for Koreen to show how serious he is with his intentions for his former intern. They sang “Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal.” Kevin and Princess seemed destined for each other. After a rough first meeting as strangers under the rain, they went on their first date where they each discovered they both have broken hearts as they sang “Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin” by April Boy Regino. The episode ended with a new development that shook up the competition — the return of the Destinator. On the first week of Starstruck, it was the device that broke the news that they’d advance in the competition.

Joyce Ching and Ruru Madrid in Karelasyon

StarStruck airs Monday to Friday, right before 24-Oras on GMA7. HHHHH RuRu MadRid falls foR solenn Heussaff With the fast-approaching Halloween, Karelasyon shifts the focus on relationships challenged by mystery, the unknown, and even by terrifying events. Today GMA Artist Center talents Ruru Madrid and Joyce Ching play the roles of Nando and Mildred, a couple whose relationship was opposed not only by their families but by a curse as well. According to the elders in their small community, a young fisherman loses his life every few years in exchange for a bountiful harvest from the sea. A mermaid (portrayed by Solenn Heussaff) is believed to lure these young men to their death. With the curse’s imminent return, it seems that it’s Nando’s life the sea is after. How will Nando and Mildred deal with this problem? Will marriage bring them peace? Find out in this Saturday’s episode of Karelasyon that also features Pekto Nacua and Anita Linda with Carla Abellana as narrator. It airs right after Eat Bulaga on GMA 7. HHHHH Medical woRkeRs invited Doctors, nurses and health workers are invited to the

StarStruck Ultimate Final 14 in a mall in Malolos, Bulacan

Tagalog-dubbed SpaniSh Telenovela on beaM Channel 31

Solenn Heussaff in Karelasyon

29th Annual Convention on Oct 14-16, 2015 from 9am to 5pm with the theme entitled Yin and Yang in Cancer Treatment to be held at EDSA Shangrila Hotel,Mandaluyong City. This is an event of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO.) For details, call Erlyn (PSMO)secretariat at tel:72301-01 loc.5318 or (+632)7219326 or visit www.psmo.org.ph HHHHH it’s a tecHie woRld in GandanG Ricky Reyes As the world go techie we observe people indulging in modern and time-saving gadgets, appliances and devices. Watch the GMA News TV award-winning lifestyle show Gandang Ricky Reyes Todo Na Toh (GRR TNT) 9 a.m. today to see for yourself the hightech gadgets used by Atoy Llave, foremost car restorer. Atoy started tinkering with old and almost dilapidated au-

tomobiles as a hobby in his garage. Customers are attracted by his model cars. He has invested his earnings into a bigger and spacious car shop. He is now known as the “Master Restorer.” Many hairdressers try to copy “Hair Regold” but it is merely at Gandang Ricky Reyes Salons that this treatment is offered. Ricky Reyes demonstrates the modern techniques he uses in a make over like no other to a woman who sported dry, dull and unmanageable hair before. Reyes and the GRR TNT crew visit the elegant and palatial residences in Metro Manila. “It is quite true that different folks have different strokes as we hop from one mansion to the other. That is so based on the structure, color and decors of those houses,” says Reyes. GRR TNT is produced by ScriptoVision.

The classic telenovela hit Love Spell (Sortilegio) will air its maiden episode on Oct. 19, at 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. primetime on BEAM Channel 31 ( SkyCable Channel 72, Destiny Cable Channel 80, Cable Link Channel 82, and CableStar Channel 4), with catchup marathon on weekends. For lovers of the classic Spanish telenovela genre, this is a welcome alternative to the local and Korean standard drama fare seen in leading broadcasters’ offerings. Love Spell centers on the life of Alejandro who comes back home to find that he is married to Maria Jose, a poor and innocent girl he doesn’t even know. As he goes in search to discover the truth, he ends up falling deeply in love with Maria Jose. William Levy plays Alejandro, while Jacqueline Bracamontes plays Maria Jose. The telenovela’s synopsis, trailers, cast and character briefs as well as photos can be viewed in www.beam.com.ph. Love Spell is the latest classic title offering of BEAM Channel 31, replacing La Madrasta, the concluding episode of which will be on Oct.18. The Spanish telenovela trend in the Philippines started in 1994 but began dwindling in popularity about a decade-and-a-half later as Asian dramas took over. However, it continues to have following particularly among young-to-middle aged women. BEAM Channel 31 (www.beam.com. ph) is a free-to-air TV owned and operated by Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc. (BEAM), a subsidiary of Bethlehem Holdings, Inc., an investee of Globe Telecom’s Retirement Fund. BEAM started airing classic Spanish telenovelas in May this year with three maiden titles, classic hits La Madrasta (The Stepmother), Palabra de Mujer (A Woman’s Word), and Big Love (Llena de Amor). The free-to-air broadcaster changed its program line-up after significantly improving its analog broadcast facilities while starting the deployment of a brand new digital ISDB-T broadcast network in its service areas of NCR, Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Naga, Iloilo and Zamboanga.

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 10 : 2015

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Kapuso stars join MassKara Festival 2015 Lovi Poe

port,” says Oliver Amoroso, GMA’s Head for Regional Strategy and Business Development Division. HHHHH ISAH V. RED raining Ken Chan training to be a woMan The Kapuso stars can no longer wait In preparation for the biggest for the fun of the much-anticipated transformation on Philippine MassKara festival to officially begin. TV, Kapuso heartthrob and now They are excited to jump start the LGBT advocate Ken Chan has celebration coming to the City of been training under Jonas GafGaf Smiles earlier than the festival. fud,, the country’s most famous MassKara Festival officially beauty queen maker. starts on the third week of OctoThe GMA Artist Center star exber, yet Bacoleños will see colors in presses his gratitude for the overadvance with the Kapuso Network whelming support that the aftercelebrities visiting to be with their noon prime series Destiny Rose has fans in the Negros Occidental cap- been getting from its viewers. It reital on tomorrow and Monday. mains to be the daily trending topBeautiful Strangers stars Lovi Poe ic on social media, and it has also and Benjamin Alves are excited to taken over the ratings game. With personally meet and bond with the this kind of feedback, Ken feels Bacoleños in a Kapuso Mall Show committed to work harder and Sunday, 5 p.m. at SM City Bacolod give their supporters something Main Atrium. The award-winning more beautiful to look forward to. actress and the Kapuso heartthrob Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga “Nagpapasalamat are both eager to feel the warm wel- Kapusong nagpapa -trend at sunagpapa-trend come of Bacolod City. Rose musubaybay sa Destiny Rose. Joining Poe and Alves are the Para sa inyo itong ginagawa ko, stars of GMA afternoon prime ang mag-training training nang naka-high series Destiny Rose. Ken Chan heels, kasama ang beauty queen who plays the lead character Joey maker na si Sir Jonas. Sobrang naand Fabio Ide as his love interest kakatuwa kasi ‘di ba, nakahilera na Gabriel prepared special numbers ako sa mga beauty queens.” and lots of surprises for their fans. One of the things Ken observes The excitement continues with as he portrays a transgender is the another exciting mall show the fol- demeanor and the attitude that lowing day, Monday. Some of the comes with it. Despite the chalmembers of the cast of Buena Fa- lenge, the Destiny Rose actor mainmilia arrive for a meet-and-greet tains that he will do whatever it session. Asia’s Pop Sweetheart Julie takes to give justice to his role, out Anne San Jose with co-stars Julian of respect for the LGBT communiTrono and Jake Vargas perform ty. From the day he took the role, and play some fun games with the he has already learned a lot about Bacoleños 5 p.m. also at the SM transgenders and the difficulties they go through in life. City Bacolod Main Atrium. Ngayon, mas tumaas yung The massive display of colors “Ngayon, through dresses, large masks and tingin ko sa kanila and I believe headpieces make the MassKara na Destiny Rose ang magiging in in-festival the one of the most color- strument para sabihin sa mga taful festivals in the country. More ong pare-pareho lang tayong lahat. than these are the happy personali- Hindi biro ang mag-represent sa ties and beautiful smiles of the Ba- kanila and to give justice to that, coleños that make the event more kailangan ko pang pagbutihan. Isa meaningful. That is why the Kapu- sa mga mahirap gawin talaga ay so stars are more than willing to go yung paglakad, yung tindig and the extra mile just to be with their yung pagsuot ng heels. Sobrang masupporters from the City of Smiles. sakit sa paa pero kailangan, para “Every year, GMA Network is mabuo ko nang mas maganda si always happy to celebrate with Destiny Rose and I’m doing this for the Bacoleños for the MassKara you guys,” Ken concludes. festival. Bringing to you GMA’s Destiny Rose airs Monday to Afbiggest Kapuso stars is our way of Friday at 4:30 p.m. on GMA Af extending the Network’s gratitude ternoon Prime. ➜ Continued on C7 for Bacolod City’s unwavering sup-

Benjamin Alves

Julian Trono

Julie Anne San Jose

Fabio Ide