The Standard - 2015 October 31 - Saturday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX  NO. 261  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  SATURDAY : OCTOBER 31, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Duterte tells party: Nothing changed

ROUND 1 TO MANILA United Nations asserts jurisdiction over PH case against China

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Philippines won the first round of its legal battle against China after the arbitration tribunal in The Hague declared that it had jurisdiction over the case.

In its Oct. 29 ruling, the Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously resolved the issue of jurisdiction over the case in favor of the Philippines, as it rejected China’s stand invoking its sovereignty. The Philippines welcomed the PCA ruling and immediately made preparations for the hearing of the case on its merits before the international tribunal.

Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, who represented the country before the PCA in July, said the tribunal’s ruling was a favorable action as it upheld the Philippines’ position on the issues of jurisdiction and admissibility. “The decision represents a significant step forward in the Philippines’ quest for a peaceful, impartial resolution of the disputes between the parties and the clarification of their rights under UNCLOS

[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas],” Hilbay said in a statement. “The elimination of preliminary objections to the exercise of the tribunal’s jurisdiction opens the way for the presentation of the merits of the Philippines’ substantive claims,” Hilbay added. The chief state lawyer believed that because of the ruling, the PCA would now proceed to Next page hear the case based on merits.

In memoriam. A man walks past the ﬂags at the People Power Monument on Edsa on Friday, which are intended to commemorate the fallen SAF 44 on All Saints’ Day. JANSEN ROMERO

Grace asks Martin: Why only now? By Macon Araneta PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Senator Grace Poe admitted she was disappointed that Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez was not included in her senatorial slate. In an interview after announcing her slate in the Partido

Galing at Puso or Team GP, Poe said she had not known of Romualdez when they were completing her senatorial lineup, but when she heard him speak, she found the three-term congressman “very intelligent.” “Sayang lang nga [It’s too bad],” she said. “I wanted to say

Bakit ngayon ka lang? (Why did we meet only now?)” She noted that Romualdez has been fighting for many of the things she too wanted, especially help for his constituents in Eastern Visayas who were devastated by Super Typhoon “Yolanda.” Next page

New PDAF case filed against Aquino

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Duterte tells his party: Nothing has changed By Joel E. Zurbano and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is standing pat on his decision not to run for President in the May 9, 2016 elections, his executive assistant said Friday. “Nothing has changed,” said Duterte’s executive assistant, Christopher Lawrence Go, after the presidential candidate of the PDPLaban, Martin Diño, withdrew and named the 70-year-old mayor as his replacement. Go said Duterte had nothing to do with Diño’s decision, and that Duterte’s “soul searching continues this All Soul’s Day.” Go also said advertisements showing Duterte with vice presidential candidate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano “came out of friendship” and not any political motives. PDP-Laban officials recently announced that Duterte would be the party’s substitute standard bearer if Diño withdraws or is disqualified by the Commission on Elections. The party passed two resolutions signed by all members in connection with the party’s nomination. The first resolution affirmed the party’s support for Diño while the other stated that should Diño decide to withdraw from

the race, the party was “compelling” Duterte to run as its substitute. Diño said he decided to withdraw his candidacy after the Comelec legal department recommended to the commission en banc to declare him a nuisance candidate. He said he felt insulted with that recommendation. “The qualification for a candidate to run is... you must be a Filipino citizen, 10 years resident, able to read and write… The election was not made only for the rich and wellknown,” said Diño. “You see, we elected a mechanic who became President, we have a farmer in the person of President (Diosdado) Macapagal and a housewife. The Comelec is my competition, so what will happen next?” he added. Diño denied that he filed a Certificate of Candidacy with the intention of withdrawing in Duterte’s favor. “You know me, I have been a member

of the PDP-Laban for a long time and as a VACC chairman, I am fighting for the welfare of victims of criminality. I have my advocacy,” he said. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Friday the poll body will study if Diño can nominate Duterte as a replacement despite an error in his COC for president, in which he wrote he was running for mayor of Pasay. Diño dismissed this as a clerical error. “We will study his case first… For now, his case is not clear cut. If he argued that he really intends to run for President, his case can be granted. But the problem is, he already withdrew his intent to run,” Jimenez said. This, he added, leaves in question his and the PDP-Laban’s right to choose a substitute candidate. A former Comelec commissioner, Gregorio Larrazabal, said if the Comelec declares Diño a nuisance candidate, the PDP-Laban would not be able to nominate anyone. “They can substitute, but the question now is if the substitution is valid,” Larrazabal said. “If the candidate is not qualified, the person who substitutes him is also not qualified.” He added that the Comelec law department needs to resolve Diño’s case before it can accept his decision to withdraw.

Registration center. Manila residents troop to the SM Mall on Arroceros Street to register for next year’s elections. MANNY PALMERO

Grace...

ability and leadership as a senatorial candidate who can contribute to improving the country. FromA1 “I am deeply humbled and honored for the good and kind words given to me by Senator Poe added that in completing her senatorial slate, she wanted to emphasize unification. Grace Poe,” Romualdez said. Poe, the presidential frontrunner in the Romualdez filed his candidacy as an independent, but he is seeking a Senate seat under most recent opinion surveys, also asked the United Nationalist Alliance whose standard public to support someone like Romualdez who hails from Eastern Visayas. bearer is Vice President Jejomar Binay. Romualdez said like Poe, his platform of On Friday, he thanked Poe for her “virtual endorsement” of his senatorial bid, and as- government is anchored on good governance, sured her that he would push for the return of accountability and transparency. “I am one with them in pushing transpar“malasakit” or compassion to public service. Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the ency and accountability in public service that Philippine Constitution Association, ex- will truly care and genuinely serve the poorest pressed gratitude to Poe for believing in his of the poor. Ibabalik po natin ang malasakit

sa serbisyo publiko. [Let’s bring back compassion to public service.] That is my commitment,” Romualdez said. On Friday, Romualdez visited the province of Aurora to distribute relief packs to thousands of families affected by Typhoon “Lando.” About 4,000 families from four towns of Aurora province were given sleeping mats, blankets, rice, canned goods, slippers, and medicine. Romualdez was accompanied by Aurora Gov. Gerry Noveras in distributing relief to Barangays Buhangin, Zabali, Gan-Gab all in Baler and Barangays Real and Ditumabo in San Luis, in Maria Aurora and Dipaculao towns.

Round... From A1 Members of the Philippine legal team are set to again fly to Hague in the Netherlands for another round of oral arguments, which have been tentatively set on Nov. 24 to 30. Based on previous cases, Hilbay said, the tribunal usually resolves cases six months after presentation on the merits. The Philippines filed the case against China before the arbitral tribunal in January 2013, challenging the legality of the latter’s nine-dash line claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas included in the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio earlier suggested that the country may seek relief from the PCA to stop the reclamation of China at the West Philippine Sea as a “provisional measure.” China has created about 2,000 acres of reclaimed land on seven reefs—Subi Reef, Gaven Reef, Mischief Reef, Johnson Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Chigua Reef and Calderon Reef. Reports say that from reclamation, it has transitioned into infrastructure development insisting that its activity is on their island and on their own waters. Carpio said only the Philippines can put up structures and artificial islands in the disputed reefs, particularly the Subi Reef, citing Article 60 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in an exclusive economic zone. The magistrate said China’s reclamation cannot be justified under the UNCLOS because its actions under Article 87 about Freedom of the high seas “only applies to international seas beyond EEZs (exclusive economic zones).” China has refused to participate in the proceedings or recognize the court’s jurisdiction. The disputed waters—claimed in part by Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Brunei—have also become the stage for a tussle for regional dominance between Beijing and Washington, the world’s two largest economic and military powers. Following a stand-off between Chinese ships and the weak Philippine Navy in 2012, China took control of a rich fishing ground called Scarborough Shoal that is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China has also undertaken giant reclamation activities, raising fears it will use artificial islands to build new military outposts close to the Philippines and other claimants. The tribunal—set up in 1899 to resolve international disputes between countries -stressed Thursday its ruling did not yet go to the heart of the merits of Manila’s case, which was first filed in 2013. A new hearing will now be held behind closed doors in The Hague, and a final ruling is not expected until next year. The tribunal agreed it would take up seven of the 15 submissions made by Manila, in particular whether Scarborough Shoal and low-tide areas like Mischief Reef can be considered islands, as China contends. It will also mull whether China has interfered with Philippine fishing activities at Scarborough Shoal. But it set aside seven more pointed claims, mainly accusing Beijing of acting unlawfully, to be considered at the next hearing on the actual merits of Manila’s case. In a July hearing in The Hague, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario warned the integrity of UN maritime laws was at stake. China’s behavior had become increasingly “aggressive” and negotiations had proved futile, Del Rosario said. But the court on Thursday also directed Manila to narrow the scope of its final request that it should order that “China shall desist from further unlawful claims and activities.” In Washington, a senior US defense official hailed the tribunal’s decision as victory for international law. “We of course welcome the decision of the panel. This demonstrates the relevance of international law to the territorial conflicts in the South China Sea,” the defense official said.With AFP, Sandy Araneta

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Lawyer asks SC to remove Binay A LAWYER has asked the Supreme Court to order the ouster of Vice President Jejomar Binay from his post as national president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and to declare his holding of such position unconstitutional. Jesus Nicardo Falcis III also asked the Court to stop Binay from further discharging his duties in the BSP in a 12-page petition. Falcis made his move even as Binay’s camp on Friday said he will give priority to poverty alleviation and help uplift the lives of the more than 11 million Filipinos who consider themselves poor. “The recent Social Weather Stations survey showed that 50 percent or around 11 million Filipinos consider themselves poor,” Binay spokesman Rico Quicho said. “It validates the vice president’s position that poverty is the moral issue that needs to be addressed by the next administration.” But Quicho said the BSP was not a government corporation, and that its officers were volunteers who were elected every year. More importantly, he said, Binay does not receive compensation as BSP chairman. Falcis had earlier filed a petition with the high court seeking to allow same-sex marriage in the country. He says Binay cannot hold another office apart from his elective post-under Section 13, Article VII of the Constitution. He invoked his “clear and unmistakable right to be protected” in filing the petition. “There is material and substantial invasion of such right… There is an urgent need for the writ to prevent irreparable injury to the applicant,” he said. “Petitioner submits that the continued holding by Binay of the office of the president of BSP concurrently with the office of the Vice President constitutes irreparable injury since the invasion of petitioner’s right cannot be adequately compensated in damages,” Falcis said. Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo

Ex-Tesda chief sues Aquino By Rio N. Araja FORMER Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Augusto Syjuco Jr. on Friday filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against President Benigno Aquino III for allegedly misusing the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the funds belonging to the Disbursement Acceleration Program. Syjuco, an independent presidential bet, also urged the Ombudsman to investigate not only Aquino but also Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. “This complaint for Investigation focuses on BS Aquino’s sins in the agricultural sector, which our poor farmers continue to bear in abject destitution and economic bondage,” Syjuco says in his sixpage complaint The other respondents in the complaint are Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Senate President Franklin Drilon and some John Does and Jane Does. Meanwhile, former TESDA chief Joel Villanueva on Friday defended the members of Aquino’s cabinet over the claims that some of them should be implicated in the alleged misuse of their PDAF. Syjuco said the Aquino administration was able to spend P220 billion representing the PDAF of several lawmakers and P157 billion in the Executive department’s DAP “As I have repeatedly said before, again and again, ad nauseam, Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, herein referred as BS Aquino for brevity, is the biggest and most prominent usurper of pork barrel,” the complaint says. Syjuco, a former Iloilo representative, cited several annual audit reports of the Commission on Audit on the use of the PDAF and DAP by different government agencies He says the Agriculture department “squandered” P14.4 billion in DAP and PDAF funds on questionable programs and projects.

Ibon: Roxas avoiding tax issue to get votes THE economic think tank Ibon Foundation on Friday criticized administration standardbearer Manuel Roxas II for downplaying the issue of income tax reform as a ploy to gain brownie points by its adherents rather than a campaign issue. “Actually, it’s a very political issue. Whether a politician genuinely believes or not, I’ll just brush aside the point,” Ibon executive director Jose Enrique Africa told The Standard. “The government, the executive, has the political levers to actually push it if they want to. If they’re not pushing it, that’s a matter of choice. “The biggest reason that

the government is not willing to reform the income tax system is that they’re taxing the rich, and they are both taxing the poor.” A party-list coalition also assailed Roxas for his continued opposition to the growing clamor to reduce the income taxes and claimed that he was already showing signs of “dictatorial tendencies” with seven months to go be-

fore the elections. Roxas, speaking before the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the lowering of income taxes should not be an electoral issue and must be discussed in a more sober time. However, the Sanlakas partylist said “Roxas’ statement gives a clear and frightening picture of what is to come if he is elected.” But Roxas claims that politicians are just taking advantage of the tax reform issue to gain popularity. He says while he supports the call for lowering the income tax, he also fears that pushing for tax reforms would affect government revenue. “I think that it’s an exagger-

ation. It’s just trying to create a straw man,” Roxas said. “It’s trying to avoid the reality that it’s taking a political stand. It’s clearly a stand, a bias for the rich, and a bias against the poor. The administration is scared for it to be politicized because they will be exposed as taking the wrong side.” Africa said there was an “absolute need for a progressive reform of the income tax system in our country.” “Our view is that the upper 10 percent of the population should pay for the large chunk of income taxes and the bottom 90 percent should pay for lower income taxes,” Africa said. John Paolo Ben-

cito and Sandy Araneta

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Leaders mourn solon’s passing

Early Undas. President Benigno S. Aquino III visits the tomb of his parents, former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon

Aquino, along with other member of the Aquino family at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City Thursday. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

Palace belittles airport bullet planting scandal By Sandy Araneta, Macon R. Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz MALACAÑANG downplayed on Friday the existence of a syndicate planting bullets in the luggage of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport even as lawmakers from both houses of Congress urged separate investigations into the matter. “We have to put this in the right context,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. “Thousands [of passengers] are using the airport terminals [each day] and only a few were found in possession of bullets. All of these incidents are being investigated based on law.” “And authorities recognize the human rights as well as legal rights of those [found] carrying [bullets],” Coloma said. But swelling complaints about security arrangements at the Naia

have led lawmakers, led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., to push for a congressional investigation of the matter. “The police can easily trace the movement of personal luggage and identify all who had access and chance to plant it,” Belmonte told The Standard in a text message, adding that these personnel should be removed along with the examiners. “In other countries, personal luggage are not even inspected,” Belmonte pointed out.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said security officials at the Naia have no business being at the front line in public service. “We should not tolerate these kinds of people committing illegal acts and victimizing innocent individuals, like an [overseas Filipino worker],” Albano said. In the Senate, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago called on her colleagues to investigate the scandal, citing an online petition signed by 12,000 Filipinos. Santiago filed Senate Resolution No. 1635 amid reports that airport security personnel are involved in an extortion scam wherein bullets are planted in the luggage of passengers, who are later asked huge amounts of cash under threat of being charged in court. “The reports highlight how corruption defeats the purpose of law enforcement. Second, they raise a legitimate question on the implementation of the law on the illegal

possession of ammunition. Finally, they underline inaction on the part of government,” the senator said. The media has so far reported six cases using the modus operandi. The latest victims are Gloria Ortinez, an OFW bound for Hong Kong, and Japanese national Kazunobu Sakamoto, who were both arrested on Oct. 25. Only Sakamoto was able to post bail for P80,000. “The perpetrators of the alleged scam are brazen, perhaps because they know they will not be punished. We must prove them wrong,” Santiago said in a response to the signature campaign on online petition platform Change.org. Santiago condemned how the extortion scam targets OFWs who see airports as their connection to home. “Wrongly accusing OFWs of a crime and forcing them to pay huge amounts of cash is not the way to repay those whom we call our modern-day heroes,” the senator said.

MALACAÑANG mourned on Friday the death of trade union leader and renowned legislator Ernesto “Boy” Herrera, who passed away Thursday at the age of 73. “We join the nation in mourning the death of former Senator Ernesto ‘Boy’ Herrera,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a text message to the Malacañang Press Corps. “He served the country with distinction as a legislator, trade union leader and as a human rights advocate, for which he also received international recognition,” Coloma said. Vice President Jejomar Binay remembered Herrera as a man who “led a life dedicated to the cause of the labor movement and the welfare of the common worker.” Binay said as a member of the Agrava commission, Herrera defied expectations by voting to prosecute Fabian Ver and ranking AFP officers for the murder of Ninoy Aquino. As a legislator, he made his mark as one of the first to speak against the drug menace and the complicity of men in uniform in the drug trade, Binay said. “Boy Herrera served the workers and the nation unselfishly and undeterred by his polio. He stands tall in the pantheon of great Filipinos,” Binay said. In a statement, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said: “We join our fellow Filipinos and his family in mourning his loss, especially those in our trade unions who have looked up to Boy’s leadership of many years.” Senate President Franklin Drilon described Herrera as a friend and colleague. “I join the whole nation in mourning the passing of a friend and an esteemed colleague, former Senator Ernesto ‘Boy’ Herrera,” Drilon said.

Carlos named MMDA chief PR ESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Friday announced the permanent appointment of law yer Emerson Carlos, formerly assistant general manager for operations, as the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority. The President said the appointment of Carlos was based on the recommendation of former MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino. “Yes, Attorney Carlos is our permanent MMDA chairman,” the President said in a media interview in Eastern Samar. Carlos replaced Tolentino who resigned last October 7, several days after his name was dragged into a controversy involving a lewd dance performance in a local Liberal Party event in Laguna. Tolentino also asked the LP leader-

ship not to include him in the ruling party’s senatorial ticket although he eventually filed his candidacy as independent senatorial candidate. President Aqu i no sa id t he new M MDA cha irma n w i l l be tasked to solve t he t ra f f ic congest ion i n Met ro Ma ni la pa r t icu la rly a long Edsa. “The holding capacity of Edsa is about 13,600 per hour and now it’s 18,000. So it’s worst along Edsa . Last night, I passed through Edsa and I felt the traffic being experienced by our people. Every time I went out of Malacañang, I took notice of the traffic roads,” Aquino said. Aquino said Carlos will also take full-time job in the country’s preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting from Nov. 17 to 20 this year.

Keeping ‘em sober. A passenger bus driver blows into a breathalyzer before embarking on a voyage to the provinces after four bus drivers, who were bound for Leyte and Bohol, were found to be positive for drugs. JANSEN ROMERO

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‘Palm oil caused lumad slays’ By Florante S. Solmerin ONE of the main reasons the military is pushing militiamen to terrorize indigenous people, locally called lumad, in Mindanao, is because local and foreign investors want to control tribal lands to be converted into palm oil plantations, a lawmaker asserted on Friday. “Surely, only big businessman, especially tycoons from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, will benefit in the expansion of palm oil plantations,” Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said to explain why the government is ignoring complaints of militarization in the guise of counter-insurgency operations. De Jesus also warned the government’s proposal to convert idle lands to palm oil plantations, possibly including the ancestral domain of indigenous peoples, poses a big threat not only to the well-being of lumad but also to the environment. Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje had earlier announced the government’s plan to convert some 8 million hectares of idle lands into palm oil plantations. “The rapid and massive encroachment of palm plantations in Mindanao is sure to duplicate the forest fire haze drift from Indonesia, and would also cause an escalation of killings and displacement of the indigenous peoples,” she warned. Even the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees mentioned the “extraction and agro-business” interests that are encroaching into ancestral domains, De Jesus said. “The lumad fleeing military terror in their ancestral domains are currently in Manila to get President Aquino to rein in his army and pull out land-grabbing corporate investors from their lands,” she said, referring to some 700 lumad who arrived in Manila on Monday. “Indigenous peoples in the island are being evicted in counter-insurgency campaigns by army battalions, to give access to multinational investors to mining and farmlands,” De Jesus said. Last year, De Jesus protested pronouncements from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to convert to plantations up to 1 million hectares of hinterlands in Mindanao that the agency insists are unused and unpopulated. She contested the DENR’s claim and said that lumad live and farm in these areas. Currently 50,000 hectares are already under cultivation. “Those are the lands of our lumad brothers. Now, they are being killed and their lands taken. But there is less basis to run after palm oil plantations because the world price has dropped because of the weakening economy of China, a major importer of palm oil,” De Jesus said. But the military insisted that the killings of lumad in Mindanao are actually part of a plan by the communist New People’s Army to execute “counter-revolutionaries” and blame the slays on the military.

Tribal thanksgiving. Students from Kalinga province perform a traditional harvest dance on Friday as part of a monthlong festival showcasing the indigenous traditions of the six provinces of the Cordillera Autonomous Region. DAVID CHAN

CoA finds illegal fund releases By Rio N. Araja EVEN after the Supreme Court ruled that the Aquino administration’s Priority Development Assistance Fund as unconstitutional, the Department of Budget and Management went on to release more than P67 million to finance lawmakers’ projects. According to a 2014 report of the Commission on Audit, the DBM released the P67 million after the high court issued a temporary restraining order on the fund releases in September 2013 and of that amount, P15 million was released after the SC ruled on November 19, 2013 that the PDAF was illegal. The DBM released notices of cash allowances, amounting to P67.266 million, to finance various projects of lawmakers despite a temporary restraining order issued by the SC on September 10, 2013, to stop the release of the PDAF funds until it resolved the issue on its constitutionality, GMA News Online reported Friday.

It said the DBM re-issued notices of cash allowance (NCAs) amounting to P15 million coming from the lawmakers’ PDAF, to replace NCAs that already lapsed prior to the SC’s ruling on the constitutionality of the PDAF system. The state audit body further noted that of the P67.266 million worth of NCAs, P15,000,784 were released after the SC finally ruled on November 19, 2013, that the use and existence of PDAF were unconstitutional. The COA said that the DBM with the help of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on December 31, 2013, sought a clarification from SC on the proper implementation of its ruling especially when it comes to NCAs that had already been released but the utilization within the given period has lapsed prior to the high tribunal’s decision in November 2013. State auditors, however, bared that the DBM had already proceeded on December 23, 2013, with the re-issuance of the lapsed NCAs even without waiting for the SC’s resolution on its motion for

clarification with a prayer to allow the re-issuance of the NCAs. “However, we noted that in December 2013, the DBM already issued NCAs of P15,000,784.00 to replace the NCAs previously issued that have lapsed. The said issuance of NCAs was made without the response/clarification yet from the SC,” the COA report read. On March 11, 2014, the SC denied the prayer of DBM for the re-issuance of lapsed NCAs “for lack of merit”. Based on the COA records, the money was released for supposed scholarship projects, assistance to indigent patients in hospitals and for the construction of an academic building at the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology. “The NCAs previously issued mentioned above…had already lapsed and in normal circumstances when government agencies needed to pay for their maturing obligation, a request from the DBM is made and DBM in return releases the NCA to the requesting Agency,” the COA report said.

End to media slays vowed SENATOR Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed to exert all efforts to end the senseless killings of media and the culture of impunity in the country. In his speech at the celebration of the National Press Club’s 63rd founding anniversary, Marcos noted that the Committee to Protect Journalists ranked the Philippines as the third most dangerous place in the world for journalists, next only to war-torn Iraq and Syria. Marcos, who is running for vice president in the 2016 election, believes the root of the problem lies in the fact that the role of media is largely misunderstood, that many people in power think they are untouchable, and the weaknesses in the pillars of our justice system. “Media is the special army among our citizenry, who, because of the nature of their profession, bring to light, speak and write those, which the gen-

eral public would not have the capacity or the time, or would not even have the guts, to know about, let alone speak or write about,” he said. On the other hand, Marcos said many of those in power mistakenly believe no one should dare to get in their way. What makes matters worse is that investigation, prosecution and trial of cases of media killings often drag on, and that some arrested suspects even manage to get special treatment inside jail. To address the problem, Marcos said there should be a constant effort to educate the people and public servants on the important role of media reminding likewise the people in power that even if unjustly accused they can take comfort in the “balm of a clear conscience.” “I know this for a fact. I myself, as an elected senator of the republic, cannot escape and not exempted from the criticism of our brave journalists.” Marcos said.

Champion of the press. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and his cousin vice presidential candidate and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (not in picture) pledged to defend press freedom and act of incidents of media killings during the 63rd anniversary celebration of the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday. VER NOVENO

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Appeals court junks Binay plea on suspension order

President promotes NCR chief to police director

By Rey E. Requejo

By Joel E. Zurbano PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has approved the promotion of National Capital Region Police Office chief Joel Pagdilao to two-star rank or police director, a position equivalent to major general in the military. Pagdilao expressed his gratitude to the people who stood behind him, saying his promotion paves way for a greater responsibilities and challenges, of which he is committed and prepared to accept and undertake. “This promotion is yours, too. We will always be one in public service,” said Pagdilao, who also attributed his success and achievements to the support and cooperation of all NCRPO personnel. Pagdilao’s promotion came a week following the recommendation of the National Police Commission to the Office of the President to raise to one rank the position of six high ranking officials of the Philippine National Police. The Napolcom issued four separate resolutions recommending to President Aquino the promotions after PNP Dir. Gen. Ricardo Marquez certified that the police officials met all the requirements for promotion. Three months ago, Pagdilao took over the post as Metro Manila police director replacing Carmelo Valmoria who retired from the police service. Marquez tapped Pagdilao and reiterated his directive to intensify police visibility and the “Oplan Lambat Sibat” initiated by the Department of Interior and Local Government to deter crimes in Metro Manila. “More personnel on the ground, because first and foremost that is our job. Patroling is the foundation of Oplan Lambat-Sibat,” said Marquez.

SACKED Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. has suffered another legal setback after the Court of Appeals has ordered the dismissal of his petition assailing his second suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman, this time pertaining to the allegedly overpriced construction of the Makati Science High School building. The CA’s Special Ninth Division dismissed Binay’s petition for being

moot following an order from the anti-graft body ordering his dismissal

from service over a separate charge against him. The appellate court cited the Ombudsman order, which imposed on Binay the penalty of dismissal with perpetual disqualification from holding public office, as a supervening event in deciding to junk his petition. “This court takes judicial notice of the foregoing issuance which became the subject of extensive coverage in both print and broadcast media. In light of this supervening event,

we opined that whatever relief we grant to petitioner in this case, whether we will restrain, enjoin or nullify his preventive suspension, the same will no longer serve any practical value,” the CA ruled. The appellate court stressed that although Binay’s second preventive suspension has not prescribed, it has been deemed “overtaken, if not superseded, by the order of dismissal by Ombudsman (Conchita) Carpio-Morales.” “Petitioner, having been

dismissed from his post as Makati Mayor, will not be able to take it back regardless of how we resolve the validity of his preventive suspension in the present case,” the appellate court said. The second suspension order against Binay arose from charges of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct and dishonesty over alleged overprice in the said high school building by about P282 million.

Rush. A Quezon City resident, with her child and a pair of crutches, braves the queue for the second-to-the-last-day of biometrics registration. JANSEN ROMERO

Land transport board requires public vehicles to display hotline on bodies THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Friday made official its requirement to have public utility vehicles bear the Board’s hotline, 1342, on units’ bodies to minimize abuses of drivers. In a memorandum circular, the Board noted that all operators whose units are authorized by the LTFRB Central Office and the National Capital Region Office are directed to comply with the new required markings within 60 days. On the other hand, operators whose units are authorized by LTFRB Regional Offices should comply with the new required markings

within 90 days. LTFRB said that all PUV units will be required to bear the exact markings: “LTFRB 24/& Hotline: 1342 and Text/ Viber Hotlines: 0917-5501342, 0998-550-1342”. Markings of buses, trucks, and similar units should be three inches in height, one inch in width, 1/2 inch in thickness, colored red, white, or black, and located at the lower right side at the back and at both sides of the unit. On the other hand, markings of sedan vehicles, vans, and similar units should be three inches in height, one inch in width, 1/2 inch in thickness, colored green, and located at the rear windshield

(upper portion) and at both sides of the unit. As for jeepneys and similar units, markings should be three inches in height, one inch in width, 1/2 inch in thickness, colored black, and located at the rear end of both sides of the unit. Transportation Network Vehicle Service should have the marking displayed during a pre-arranged ride as prescribed with the requirements for sedans. All PUVs except TNVS (during a pre-arranged ride) is also required to indicate the maximum passenger capacity, which will be placed below the “LTFRB 24/7 Hotline: 1342” marking. PNA

Dry run. Manila Police and Metro Manila Development Authority block Manila streets Friday as dry run for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November. DANNY PATA

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NEWS

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Superbrands cites Marcos’ outstanding governorship GOV. Imee R. Marcos has been honored as one of the Outstanding Governorship Awardees of the Philippines for 2015. The award, conferred by the Superbrands Marketing International Inc., was received by the province’s Vice Gov. Angelo Marcos-Barba on behalf of Gov. Marcos during a ceremony held last Oct. 28, 2015 at The City Club, Alpha Land Building, Makati City. In his acceptance speech, Vice Gov. Marcos-Barba highlighted the various achievements of Gov. Marcos in transforming Ilocos Norte into a progressive and sustainable province since the beginning of her administration in 2010. “Under the leadership of Governor Marcos, Ilocos Norte is now one of the few provinces to achieve the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations Development Programme this year, successfully reducing the provincial poverty rate from 28 percent to 8.4 percent,” said Vice Gov. Marcos-Barba. Harry Tambuatco, president and CEO of SMI, said that “a thorough research about [the impact] of the achievement and projects [of the awardees] were done…and that’s how we have chosen them.” SMI credited Marcos for “ensuring the rapid and inclusive development of the province” by launching in 2010 the provincial vision of “Pasingkedan ti Kinatan-ok ni Ilocano: Together, we can make Ilocos Norte great again!” Ilocos Norte has been recognized by the International Organization for Standardization as the first full top-to-bottom ISO-certified province in the Philippines. Ilocos Norte was also cited as one of the 10 Galing Pook 2015 awardees for its flagship youth program “Sirib Express.” Marcos has said that the provincial government will remain committed in upholding the spirit of ‘timpuyog’ or unity as well as excellence in governance towards a bright and sustainable future for the province. “Now on its second year, the Outstanding Governorship Award is given to the governors who highly deserve it and we have embarked on this endeavor to acknowledge the efforts of our government officials for their extraordinary role in nation building,” added Tambuatco.

Parada Iloca-locana. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and actress Lilia Cuntapay don their Halloween costumes and wave to the crowd.

Bombers topple 2 grid towers in Marawi City By Froilan Gallardo and Francisco Tuyay

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Unidentified men bombed two towers of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines in Marawi City Thursday evening, isolating the electric supply generated from the Agus 1 and 2 hydro plants to the Mindanao grid. Beth Ladaga, NGCP regional communications officer in Mindanao, said towers 19 and 20 were toppled after an improvised bomb out of an 81-mm mortar explosive went off. The twin blasts caused a deficiency of 150 megawatts, caus-

ing an outage in several areas of the Mindanao grid, specifically Marawi City and key cities in the Lanao provinces. “Our technicians will start restoration work as soon as the area is secured by the army and police,” Ladaga said.

Lieutenant Virgilio Dorotan, a company commander from the Army 65th Infantry Battalion, said the soldiers and policemen only managed to enter and secure the area of the blast site in Barangay Patani in Marawi City at around 5 a.m. Friday. “We found the two towers toppled on their side but we have already secured the area for the NGCP repairmen to begin their work,” Dorotan said. He said they still have no idea who exploded the bombs; Army specialists are still in the blast site to check the evidence left. The village of Patani is located

one kilometer away from the Marawi-Iligan highway. The bombing came two days after the NGCP released a press statement complaining that an “uncooperative landowner” in Marawi City demanded money and refused entry to their repairmen. On Oct. 10, unidentified suspects blasted two towers in Barangay Batulawan and Barangay Dalengaoen in Pikit, North Cotabato. Investigators suspect that the Alkhobar terror unit of the Abu Sayyaf is connected to the blasts.

Yolanda survivors oppose P7.9-b storm surge wall By Ronald O. Reyes

TACLOBAN CITY—Survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in this city continue to assail the proposed P7.9-billion tide embankment project of the national government through the Department of Public Works and Highways and the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, saying it is a case of “misplaced priority.” The “storm surge wall” project which is said to start next year will span 27.3 kilometers from Tacloban City, Palo and Tanauan in Leyte, which were devastat-

ed when typhoon Yolanda swept the central Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013. “At a time when the government has hardly provided permanent resettlement to tens of thousands of internally displaced residents in Tacloban, two years after the tragedy, any development project that will attempt to displace Yolanda survivors again should squarely answer their question: why?” Marissa Cabaljao, a spokesperson of People Surge, a coalition of storm survivors in Eastern Visayas, said. She also asked how the project merited funding when the basic resettlement

issues still have to be settled squarely. According to Cabaljao, they opposed the project because the government should first “prioritize safe and humane settlement for Yolanda survivors; ensure Yolanda survivors’ access to basic social services, public utilities, and livelihood.” The three areas were badly devastated when typhoon Yolanda struck the central part of the country on Nov. 8, 2013, killing about 7,500. Amid protests, the government said there is no more stopping on the construction of tide embankment.

Flooded in death. Residents of San Simon, Pampanga, one of the towns hit hard by Typhoon ‘Lando,’ inspect the tombs of their loved ones for All Saints’ Day. AFP

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

‘TANIM BALA’ SHAMES US

[ EDI TORI A L ]

REAPING WHAT THEY PLANT WE THOUGHT the Ninoy Aquino International Airport could not get any more notorious, and that every development would be an improvement from its sorry state. It has been named the worst in the world. Roads leading to it are perpetually plagued with oppressive traffic jams. Flying, while it has become more affordable for Filipinos, has turned out to be a stressful experience for passengers not because of what happens when they are airborne but because of the glitches they encounter before they board or after they disembark. In this airport, the only law that seems to apply is Murphy’s—whatever could go wrong most likely will. We were mistaken. We overestimated the capacity and underestimated the shamelessness of the Transportation and Communications headed by Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and the Manila International Airport Authority headed by Mr. Angel Honrado to fix existing problems and prevent new ones from cropping up. Overseas Filipino workers, and local and foreign tourists, regular travelers and even foreign visitors are up in arms against what is now known as the laglag-bala scheme. Under this scheme, airport security officials plant bullets in the luggage of travellers. They would then arrest the owner of the bags and then extort money from them as they plead for their freedom and insist on their innocence. An overseas worker living in Hong Kong has started an online petition calling on Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor Santiago, both of whom are running for President, to investigate the matter. More Filipinos are due to come home for the Christmas season but many of them are wary lest they fall victim to the same cruel scheme. The scheme, too, puts the country in a bad light before the international community. Foreign tourists and investors, whom we painstakingly entice to come here through our “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign, would be disheartened and suspicious, like Filipinos —despite the fact that only a few unscrupulous airport officials are in it—were setting them up for a trap. We have had enough of our incompetent transport officials who, instead of shaping up or admitting their failure altogether, continue to mutter lame excuses for bungling their jobs. Some airport officers have been sacked, but should that be all? We are familiar with Abaya’s justifications, of course, of his failure to fix the public transport system—the situation of which is not fatal, he believes. As for Honrado, he should have long been gone from the job, period. There are now photos of travelers who have wrapped their luggage with tape to prevent airport officials from slipping bullets into the pockets. There are advisories from lawyers on how those accused of possessing bullets should conduct and defend themselves. There has been coverage in prominent international media organizations, like TIME Magazine and BBC. Yes, it has come to this. We share the nation’s outrage over this scheme and the desire to determine who these security officials who make us so insecure are. We would also call for the resignation of the officials under whose watch these things happen—if we did not know so well that the concept of delicadeza was alien to them.

WORLD’S WORST AIRPORT NOW MOST DANGEROUS BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO WE SHOULD no longer feel offended when Da Vinci Code and Inferno author Dan Brown aptly described Manila as the gates of hell. For a departing overseas Filipino worker it was unimagined nightmare when she was arrested for “posses-

sion” of a bullet in her handcarried bag. What possessed her to have a bullet in her bag is hard to explain. But the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has taken its notoriety to another level. From being the world’s worst airport, it has now become the most dangerous to pass through whether you’re entering or exiting. An American missionary departing at the Naia was also “found” with a bullet in his luggage. In another incident smell-

ing of a scam, a Japanese tourist Kazunobu Sakamoto, was also detained for possessing a bullet in his bag. Thea Austria de Guzman, a balikbayan resident of Los Angeles, was stopped by airport security allegedly for having a bullet in her suitcase and only allowed to leave after coughing up P500. Passenger baggage is pilfered; valuable items like wallets, including passports are stolen as they pass through the x-ray scanning machines. The “laglag

This is a most unconscionable and despicable crime committed against our hardworking overseas workers.

or tanim bala” modus operandi has actually been going on since 2012. A bullet is dropped or planted inside your bag making you subject to arrest. Unless of course, you pay up to spare yourself the grief of missing your flight and landing in jail. This was what happened recently to Gloria Ortinez, a Hong Kong domestic helper who was held at the Naia after being found with a bullet in her hand-carried bag. She spent two days in detention before being set free on bail after the fiscal doubted the story of the airport Transport Security Group which submitted a different bullet from the one “found” on her. This isn’t the first time security personnel pulled this “tanim

bala” caper on departing passengers. There are probably other OFWs who kept quiet after forking over money to avoid missing their flight and losing their jobs. This is a most unconscionable and despicable crime being committed against our hard-working OFWs. They suffer the loneliness of working abroad and even braving real bullets when caught in a civil war. But they are victimized at home by their own countrymen, targeted by the lowest kind of denizens who are given a

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badge, a uniform and authority for extortion. Why would anyone have a bullet in a hand-carried bag? Why not diamonds, other precious gems, if you’re a smuggler? Or a gun or a knife if someone plans to hijack a plane? It defies logic considering that a bullet will never pass through the metal detector, aside from being useless without a gun. To stop this scam, Manila International Airport Authority manager Jose Honrado should impose a body search of security personnel before they are

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posted to their assigned places. This is to make sure they don’t have any bullet in their pocket to plant on unsuspecting passengers. A tearful Gloria Ortinez said all she has known her whole life was work as a domestic helper to provide for her family. Because she won’t give bribe money to the airport police, she failed to make her flight to Hong Kong. She could now lose her job for not being able to report for work after a brief vacation to her hometown. Continued on A11

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“TANIM BALA” is further eroding people’s faith in this administration. If not immediately stopped, this can also make us lose face in the eyes of the world. Three cases that landed in the news in one week! These do not even include an earlier incident involving a young American missionary who now wants a reinvestigation of what happened to him. I wonder how many more were kept hushhush because victims chose to pay up to avoid more trouble. Not only is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport among the worst in the world in terms of facilities and services, it is also home to criminals in uniform ironically entrusted with the task of keeping the airport and the people there secure. What else can go wrong? I know that there are many ways to extort from travelers but I did not imagine that these scalawags would go this low. This is too much. This week, two of their victims were elderly women. One is in her mid-50s, an overseas Filipino worker who was off to another stint in Hong Kong, and the other, a 68-year-old who was on her way to Boracay. I am purposely omitting their names here because I believe they are victims, not criminals. Both were arrested because “authorities” “found” one bullet each from their hand-carried bags. Were they chosen because the perpetrators thought that they would not speak a word and just give in and pay because they are women and advanced in age? Imagine the stress, the pressure, and frustration the victims must have felt and still feel. Imagine how aggravated their families must be feeling. The OFW was on her way to work. With a case against her now, how is she going to leave the country and attend to this legal problem at the same time? If she loses her job, even if she is acquitted, (which I think will happen because the bullet she was accused of carrying was different from the one presented as evidence by Naia personnel) who will take care of her and her family’s needs? What about opportunity loss? And how do we expect the 68-yearold to face the case that is said to be filed against her? I hope she is healthy, but what if she has a health condition? The bullet that she is accused of illegally possessing is live. If nothing drastic happens, she will most probably be charged. I dread to think of how she will be able to handle the court battle. The other two reported cases involve foreigners—the American missionary and a Japanese tourist. Most definitely, 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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S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

‘TANIM BALA’ SHAMES US

[ EDI TORI A L ]

This is a most unconscionable and despicable crime committed against our hardworking overseas workers.

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Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

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

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A10

OPINION

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HIS DUTY IS TO SOLVE WHO KILLED HIS FATHER BACK BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN THE hypocrites led by this good-for-nothing administration should stop entertaining the thought that they are smarter than the rest of us by making that cheap gambit of demanding from vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. an apology for the alleged “atrocities” committed during the period of martial law. Maybe it is the easiest way to entrap him and divert the attention so the people will forget to ask them about the more than P10 trillion they squandered to buy the loyalty of political sycophants and former rebels-nowturned-professional mendicants.

He was never part of the solution.

Instead of them answering what they have accomplished, this pretending-to-be-honest administration thought it wise that if Bongbong will bite their ploy, he would now be answering questions from people who in truth have their pre-set judgment on him. Instead of him talking on issues people would want to hear and hope will help improve their lives, Bongbong will be tied down defending on something he did not commit. To begin with, nobody in his right mind would admit that President Marcos committed “atrocities,” as this administration would brazenly accuse him. Second, even if Bongbong would give in to their demand for an apology, there is nothing for him to apologize for because his father, Ferdinand Marcos, was never convicted of any crime, which logically, should serve as basis for an apology. In fact, an apology amounts to admitting an offense which the father did not commit, and worse, could no longer defend himself.

More than anything else, Ferdinand, during his lifetime, was not convicted of any crime. For one to insist an apology is to expose oneself as a psychopath. While nobody is denying that martial law was imposed, neither can anybody say its imposition was illegal and the resultant consequence for every act to contain the rebellion was a crime. It was upheld by the Supreme Court as constitutional and legal, and that the justices who were subsequently appointed by the holierthan-thou government of Cory Aquino did nothing to reverse that decision. On the contrary, it is this current President that violated the Constitution for signing into law R.A. No. 10368 granting reparation to the alleged human rights victims during the period of martial law. Many are wondering on what legal basis made PNoy and his confederates in Congress to decide in giving reparations when there was no conviction against Marcos, or any of the members of the Armed Forces and lawenforcing authorities for committing human rights violation during that period to logically impute command responsibility. It would be gratuitous for one to assume that President Marcos maltreated and manhandled them as what that psychopath judge in Hawaii did to grant reparation to the socalled anti-imperialists for their failed rebellion. Besides, even if Bongbong makes an apology, that will not result in the closure of the issue. They will continue to rant on the black propaganda for which they have become notorious. Rather, as head of state, it is the duty of PNoy to take the precedent in correcting mistakes, especially if it results to an injustice. As lawyers would demand, PNoy should provide a bill of particulars of what he wants to imply, much that it would be difficult to determine whether there is even logic to what he is saying. Moreover, even if the funds to be paid to these so-called progressive mendicants come from the confiscated assets of the Marcoses, they forgot that private funds, once turned over to the government, automatically become a public fund that cannot be appropriated to pay for imaginary damages.

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

GOING TO PARIS, A BONN STOPOVER

IT WAS not the first time we left the country to engage in the international climate change negotiations with a devastating typhoon on the horizon. As members of the Philippine delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change made their way to Bonn, Germany, Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) ravaged its way through Northern Luzon. In this city by the Rhine, headquarters of the UNFCCC, the parties to the convention met from October 19-23 for the final preparatory negotiations before the Paris Conference of the Parties where a new agreement on climate change is expected to be adopted. Considering the urgency of the situation and the limited amount of time left for discussions, last week’s process was agonizingly slow. In fact, it started in the wrong foot with developing countries upset that their concerns were not reflected in the negotiating text that was being proposed. Ambassador Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko of South Africa, chair of the Group of 77 and China, called attention to this at the opening session of last week’s negotiations. Composed of 134 developing countries, the group is the largest negotiating bloc in the UNFCCC, of which the Philippines is a member. Her apprehension went so far as to liken the situation to apartheid against devel-

oping countries, given that “we find ourselves in a position where in essence we are disenfranchised.” Ambassador Diseko’s remarks were effective in ensuring that the voice of developing countries would be heard. This included the Philippines. Led by Commissioner Manny de Guzman, our delegation worked hard to ensure that all our concerns would be reflected in the text, among these an approach to climate change action that would take into consideration human rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples, gender equality, food security and the integrity and resilience of ecosystems. Although relatively new to the Climate Change Commission (CCC), Commissioner de Guzman, assisted by Assistant Secretary Joy Goco of the CCC and Assistant Secretary Regina Ramos, showed solid leadership in guiding our smaller-than-usual delegation. Officials from the CCC, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Transportation and Communication advanced strongly our national interest in the negotiations. Among very competent and dedicated colleagues, I commend especially diplomat Elaine Laruan-Hernandez who was effective in advocating the linkage between human rights and climate change in Bonn, for me the most important and innovative

idea that the Philippines has introduced and has become the leading advocate of in these negotiations. Several of us from civil society and academe supported our government colleagues. Personally, I am proud to able to do this again, having assisted or led our negotiations at various points in the last 20 years. I am thankful also to Atty. Niner Guiao, my colleague at the Ateneo School of Government, who joined the delegation in Bonn and who helped research this column. We cannot rest as yet. As Commissioner De Guzman has pointed out, in a Facebook post, there are eight things we must bear in mind as we leave Bonn and prepare for Paris. First, we must realize that challenging work remains. “Through the justconcluded climate talks in Bonn, we could now glean the frame or skeleton of the Paris agreement, but much work remains to be done by the Parties to find common ground on many areas to flesh out this skeleton.” Second, there is a clamor for transparency in the negotiations, with the process needing to be more transparent and inclusive of observers. Third, we were “pleased to see human rights and other cross-cutting societal concerns referred to in the text, emerging in the preamble and the purpose of the draft agreement.” We hope that that these will be adopted in Paris. Fourth, together with

other developing countries, the Philippines expects the common but differentiated responsibility principle reflected in the operational parts of the agreement, including in mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, and capacity building. Fifth, action must begin now, with De Guzman observing that although Intended Nationally Determined Contributions submitted by the Parties show a commitment of countries to combat climate change, “the synthesis report of the UNFCCC Secretariat on the 154 INDCs submitted by countries representing about 86 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) reveals that these INDCs altogether are ineffective as they set the global warming beyond the 2C goal at 2.7C.” Sixth, we must set a limit of 1.5-Celsius increase in warming as our goal to survive, as “a 2C global warming target is inadequate in arresting the increasing trend of highly adverse impacts of climate change on many developing countries.” Commissioner De Guzman noted that the Climate Vulnerable Forum, which the Philippines currently chairs, advocated for this raising of ambition. That is why in Bonn, the Philippine delegation together with UNDP Geneva, launched the website for this CVF advocacy. Seventh, we must do more. According to De Guzman: “Clearly, it should not be business as usual. Continued on A11

Such is an abuse of power and authority. Everybody knows that the law is meant to bribe those mendicants to vote for their candidate in anticipation that Bongbong might gun for the presidency. Many soldiers and policemen are grumbling because they too suffered in carrying out their duty to defend the Republic against the violent rebellion waged by those ideological misguided rebelsnow-turned-mendicants. Many of them were killed, assassinated, maimed, captured and tortured, and PNoy did not even bother to recall their heroism. On the contrary, these mendicants, aside from being materially rewarded, were also allowed to build their own monument in honor for their alleged “fallen heroes.” A former rebel, who insists calling herself a human rights victim, has been appointed chairman of the Commission on Human Rights and is now

using said commission to distort our history, malign our soldiers, and justify the payment of compensation. The giving of reparations is the highest insult this ungrateful administration can do to our soldiers and policemen. We must not forget that the Communist Party of the Philippines, the National Democratic Front, its military arm, the New People’s Army, and various front organizations created the revolutionary situation to force Marcos to impose martial law. They even taunted his government to fight them. They committed serious crimes like their attempted arms landing in Isabela, the bombing of Plaza Miranda, the ambushes and assassinations of public officials and maliciously imputing those crimes to Marcos, and staged riots on the streets and universities to emphasize a breakdown of law and order. That Sison

and his co-conspirators should answer, if only to put that stormy chapter in our history in the right perspective. As the Bible says, “Whoever is without a sin among you should cast the first stone x x x.” These hypocrites are, in fact, contradicting themselves. For instance, PNoy used the word “atrocities” to denote that Marcos was very cruel and brutal, but refused to answer the simple question about the identity of the mastermind of the 1983 assassination of his father, Ninoy Aquino and that fall guy identified as Rolando Galman. He should have answered that, much that it is not only his duty to know the mastermind, being the son and now President, but most importantly in finding out whether it was Marcos who did it to resolve the issue once and for all against him as a human rights violator. Bongbong need not make any apology because

the facts would speak for themselves. As an old adage would put it, “nobody argues with facts,” or in Latin, “Contra factum non valet argumentum.” Marcos himself, while still in power, initiated an inquiry about the assassination, but they refused to cooperate, branding it as a sham. After his ouster, Mrs. Aquino, instead of using all the resources of the government, did not pursue the investigation fearing that once resolved, they could no longer capitalize on it to elicit funerary sympathy. Most dangerous is it might cause them embarrassment, knowing that the mastermind is probably whom they would not want to be identified at all costs. Thus, by evading to answer the question, it becomes clear that PNoy is the main cause of the problem, and is never a part of the solution. rpkapunan@gmail.com

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A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA MARTIN Diño, the original candidate for President of the PDPLaban political party, pulled a fast one over the Commission on Elections by withdrawing from the race to Malacañang. Diño’s withdrawal renders moot and academic the Comelec’s plan to declare him a nuisance candidate on the flimsy ground that as an ex-barangay official, Diño has no means of mounting a serious political campaign for the presidency. Observers say that Diño’s withdrawal is not an admission that he is a nuisance candidate as his critics allege. In 1986, Corazon Aquino, a housewife with no political experience, was not declared a nuisance candidate when she ran for President. Compared to Mrs. Aquino, at least Diño has political experience as an ex-barangay official. Like Mrs. Aquino who rode on the success of the UNIDO party of Assemblyman Salvador “Doy” Laurel, Diño is supported by PDP-Laban, a political party which has been around much longer than other parties like the United Nationalist Alliance and the Nationalist People’s Coalition. Although Diño does not possess the stature of the widow of Ninoy Aquino, he is not exactly a lesser known figure. Diño is the chairman of the Volunteers

‘Tanim bala’...From A9 “tanim bala” is not part of the world-renowned Filipino hospitality. Our good reputation as a people is being ruined because of this. Why do I believe that the accused are innocent? I have several theories. One, all of the cases involves bullets. Why not drugs, or guns? In three of the four, a single bullet is said to have been found in carry-on bags. Why bullets? Is it because they are tiny and can be very easily planted in bags? Why not a box of bullets? Why didn’t the accused have guns? If someone wants to do something criminal, what can a bullet without a gun do? As the Supreme Court Spokesperson Ted Te posted on Facebook, is there a conspiracy to smuggle bullets in the country, one bullet at a

Going...From A10 It is imperative that the global community double its current efforts in order to reduce the adverse socio-economic and environmental impact of climate change on developing countries like the Philippines.” Finally, we must innovate and cooperate. “These efforts should include strengthening domestic mitigation and adaptation action by all Parties; finding in-

DUTERTE MUST COME OUT IN THE OPEN Against Crime and Corruption, a group which seeks justice for victims of violent crimes, and which fights corruption in high public office. The VACC is wellknown in its own right, and Diño’s credentials negate his alleged status as a nuisance candidate. If the Comelec is desperate to get someone declared a nuisance candidate, it should go against Senator Grace Poe, who insists on running for President even though she is not a natural-born citizen of the Philippines—a requirement imposed by the Constitution on anybody seeking the presidency. If Poe remains in the presidential derby, her supporters may just end up wasting their votes on a candidate who, ultimately, will be unable to sit as president—a nuisance in every sense of the word. With Diño officially out of the presidential contest, PDP-Laban has officially designated Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as its substitute candidate for President. While this move is certainly good news to Duterte’s supporters and admirers, Duterte himself remains equivocal about the whole thing, although he once implied that he will abide by any decision his party makes on who is to run for President. Duterte also announced earlier that if God wants him to be Pres-

ident, then he will be President. As expected, Senator Allan Peter Cayetano is buoyed by this recent development. Although Cayetano is running for vice president without a presidential candidate, his camp has been very optimistic about a possible Duterte-Cayetano political tandem for the May 2016 polls. Bright prospects in this direction were seen when Duterte and Cayetano held a five-hour meeting in Duterte’s Mindanao turf last week, and when Duterte had Cayetano as his special guest on his television program. The recent nod the PDP-Laban gave to a Duterte presidential candidacy strengthens the prospects of a teamup between the city mayor and the senator. Adding to Cayetano’s good fortune is the public announcement from the Comelec that Duterte is allowed by law to run for President in lieu of Diño. This means that unlike Senator Poe, Duterte will not be dodging any disqualification raps from either his rivals or his possible critics. To say that Cayetano will be pleased to have Duterte as his presidential running mate is an understatement. After all, Cayetano has repeatedly stated in public that Duterte will be the best President the country could ever have. From the perspective

of the Cayetano camp, running with Duterte will complement Cayetano’s record as an industrious legislator. Duterte’s anticipated entry in the presidential race will undoubtedly alter the political scene for the four other presidential aspirants—Mar Roxas of the pro-administration Liberal Party; Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance; Senator Grace Poe (who is running supposedly as an independent); and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Roxas will see a Duterte candidacy as a further division of the anti-administration votes and construe this development in his favor. By way of converse, the camps of Binay and Santiago will view this as a possible reduction in the number of their supporters. Duterte’s bid may not hurt Poe because political pundits consider Poe as an administration ally, as seen in her promise to continue the political programs of President Benigno Aquino III in the event that she is elected President. Duterte appears to be the biggest gainer in all this. Voters uncomfortable with the allegations of plunder and graft against Binay, uncertain about the citizenship of Poe, and unsure about the health of Santiago, may opt for Roxas as the “least objectionable’

time? Is this not idiotic? Yet at least four people were arrested because of this. Two, it is fund-raising season. It could be for Christmas, or if this is a bigger operation, maybe for elections as pointed out by some. I, however, am inclined to believe that it is the former than the latter. There are many ways by which unscrupulous airport personnel scam travelers and this could be one of the new ones. They may be raising funds so they can celebrate the holidays. We should note that this is the time when a lot of our OFWs go home to be with their families during Christmas season. It is also a peak season for tourist arrivals. Three, if this is not borne out of negligence of authorities, it can also be that a group is trying to discredit this government. Thus, this could also be politically motivated, a well-

planned operation. The fact that these incidents happen a few weeks before the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation summit here make me suspicious. As earlier stated, “tanim bala” puts the country, not just this administration, to shame. The Apec event is of major proportions. Because these incidents have already been reported by international media, we can only guess what the international community is thinking as regards security in our lands. My friend Pinky Campiglio joked that US President Barack Obama should be told to have his bags clingwrapped to avoid any problem when he enters the country. Joking aside, this got me thinking. What if indeed this is a “shame government” operation? What if someone big is “caught” with illegal “stuff ” at the Naia? Is government thinking of this? I know that

there are different protocols for arriving dignitaries but if “tanim bala” is part of a bigger oplan, government should leave no stones unturned. Maybe I read too much about conspiracy theories. Maybe my imagination is running wild and getting the better of me. I hope this is the case. I would rather that “tanim bala” is merely a small-time operation of Naia personnel who just want a quick buck. Whatever the case maybe, President Aquino and his people should put a stop to this. Yes, I am calling on the President because the stakes are high. Do whatever is needed to be done to address this. There is no time to lose, or we lose our face.

novative solutions and creative strategies for adaptation and mitigation; and advancing international cooperation that facilitates efficient technology transfer and financial flows, particularly from developed to developing countries under the convention and the Paris agreement.” We have 29 days to go before Paris where 40,000 or more heads of state, officials, scientists, activists, and stakeholders like indigenous peo-

ples will converge. A group of pilgrims that has been marching from all over the world, including a contingent led by former CCC Commissioner Naderev Saño, are also expected to arrive in Paris to challenge us to have courage and adopt an ambitious and effective agreement. We hope President Aquino will attend as he is now seen as a world leader in climate change with our ambitious INDC that commits us to reduce by 70 per-

cent our otherwise anticipated business-as-usual increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and with the Philippines the leader of a coalition of developing and developing countries pushing for human rights. The countdown for Paris has begun. The country’s delegation is ready for the hard work ahead. We will not fail our people. We cannot afford to.

bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

of the four candidates. With Duterte in the fight, however, these voters may go for Duterte. In addition, there are supporters of Roxas, Binay, Poe, and Santiago who may, in the finish line, opt for the unorthodox way Duterte deals with criminal elements in Davao City, with the hope that Duterte’s brand of instant justice in his city may solve the unmitigated proliferation of crime in the rest of the country. If Duterte runs with Cayetano, supporters of the latter will add to that pool of voters supporting Duterte in his belated but nonetheless welcome bid for the presidency. The only problem left in the premises lies in the equivocal responses Duterte has been giving to the news media and the public. With 2016 just two months away, further inaction, or even complacency, on the part of Duterte will only make his already delayed presidential campaign more difficult in terms of organizing a nationwide network. Competent campaign strategists and generous campaign contributors need to know soonest if they have a Duterte to support for the presidency. Since time is running out, Duterte must act quickly. Duterte’s supporters deserve nothing short of his coming out in the open, ready to do battle against all odds.

World’s... From A9 Foreign envoys meddling? A group of foreign ambassadors and heads of missions in Manila came under fire from the Philippine Ambassadors Foundation Inc. for meddling in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. PAFI said that the foreign envoys group calling itself International Supporters for Peace in the Philippines broke time-honored diplomatic tradition of non-interference in the domestic affairs of the host country. By signing and issuing a joint statement on Oct. 15 to local and foreign media, “calling on all concerned to remain engaged in the peace process to give life to the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro and to the long term political, economic and social pillar that will bring peace dividend in the country as a whole,” the foreign envoys made a public judgmental call on a process that is still being deliberated by Philippine lawmakers, said PAFI. If I may add, the foreign envoys also made it appear that the Philippine government and its legislative branch had already disengaged from finding a just and enduring solution to the problem in Mindanao. PAFI, which is headed by former Ambassador Lauro Baja, said that while it appreciates the foreign envoys’ concern, they cannot meddle in the domestic and legislative process the proposed Bangsamoro law is undergoing. The Senate’s local government committee wants to ensure that all the stakeholders in the proposed Bangsamoro region, including the indigenous people, are included. This matter is sub judice, having been elevated to the Supreme Court even as Congress is still reviewing and ridding the BBL of its constitutional infirmities which the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government peace panel apparently failed to consider and which drew sharp criticism from the citizenry and Congress.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Legazpi to host ‘16 Palarong Pambansa By Peter Atencio

DeAndre Jordan (center) of the Los Angeles Clippers gets a hard tackle from Dirk Nowitzki (right) and Devin Harris of the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of their teams’ basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles California. AFP

LEGAZPI City in Albay has won the bid to host the 2016 Palarong Pambansa. The province won over Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, its only competitor for the annual national games. In a statement, Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro, FSC said the decision was made “after careful deliberation and tedious evaluation by officials of the Philippine Sports Commission.” Before announcing the results of the vote, Luistro, FSC, asked both provinces to continue supporting the agency’s sports development program. “Sana ipagpatuloy po ninyo ang inyong naka-atas na mga

Clippers down Mavs in Jordan grudge tiff NEW YORK—The Los Angeles Clippers won their NBA home opener on Thursday, downing the Dallas Mavericks 104-88 in a contest spiced by the contentious off-season contract waffling of center DeAndre Jordan. Jordan reneged on a verbal agreement to join the Mavericks as a free agent, opting instead to remain with the Clippers. Prior to tip-off, outspoken Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was dismissive of the Clippers, who have long played second-fiddle to the Lakers in Los Angeles. But it was the Clippers who were in control for most of the game against a Mavericks team missing Chandler Parsons, JaVale McGee, Wesley Matthews and Deron Williams. Williams suffered a left knee

contusion in Wednesday’s 11195 win over Phoenix while Matthews, who scored nine points on Wednesday, was held out because Mavericks officials didn’t want him playing two nights straight on his surgically repaired Achilles tendon. Blake Griffin scored 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, guard Jamal Crawford added 15 points off the bench and Los Angeles led by as many as 28 points in the sometimes prickly contest. Jordan and the Mavericks’ German star Dirk Nowitzki had a brief

altercation late in the first half after the two made contact under the Clippers basket. Players from both teams traded barbs before technical fouls were issued to Jordan, Griffin and Mavs guard Raymond Felton. The Mavericks then instituted a “hack-a-Jordan” strategy, fouling him on each of the Clippers’ next three possessions. He missed five of six attempts but Los Angeles still led 51-43 at halftime. “I thought he handled it well,” Griffin said of Jordan’s response to an emotional night. “He was excited for it—but we should be excited for every game.” - Knicks face tough climb The climb back to the top of the NBA is going to be long and steep for the New York Knicks. After a franchise-worst 17-65

campaign in 2014-15, the Knicks opened the season on Wednesday with a 122-97 victory over the Bucks in Milwaukee. But in front of their home fans at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, the Knicks were exposed in a 112-101 loss to the Atlanta Hawks—the team that finished with last season’s best regular-season record. The Hawks used their trademark balanced attack. Six players scored in double figures and Atlanta handed out a total of 26 assists on 42 made shots. Guard Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 23 points and eight assists. Center Al Horford added 21 points and shooting guard Kyle Korver contributed 15. Atlanta led by as many as 22 and were ahead by at least 11 throughout the fourth quarter. AFP

Sta. Lucia secures 2nd win FORMER champion Sta. Lucia Land ilas its second defeat, pulling off an gained its first win in two games af- 83-76 win in the other game. Byron Villarias top-scored for ter turning back Power Innovation Philippines Thursday night, 95-88, the Road Warriors with 18 points, in the fifth DELeague at the Mariki- while Raul Suyud had 11 points and 11 boards. na Sports Center, Marikina City . On the other hand, Choi Ignacio The Realtors used a 7-0 run sparked by Eluid “Eloy” Poligrantes’ two con- and Chris Concepcion made 17 and 15 points for Agilas, resecutive baskets to break spectively. away from a 40-all deadGames on Tuesday The league sponsored lock with 1:38 remain- (Marikina Sports Center) 7 p.m. Austen Morris by PSBank, Accel Sportsing before halftime. Associates vs Philippine wear, PCA – Marivalley, Poligrantes’ relentless Christian University Angel’s Burger, Mckie’s scoring continued in the 8:30 p.m. Flydragons second half with team- Logistics vs Far Eastern Construction EquipUniversity-NRMF ment Sales and Rentmates, former pros Gerry als, Luyong Panciteria, Esplana, Francis “Kiko” Adriano and Warren Ybanez stepping Azucar Boulangerie and Patisserie, JAJ Quick Print Advertising, Mall Tile Exup their game as well. The match concluded with Pol- perts Corporation, Jay Marcelo Tires, igrantes contributing 29 points, four Polar Glass and Aluminum Supply, rebounds, and four assists, with Vic- and Mr. and Mrs. Dot Escalona, will tor Jean chipping in 22 points for Sta. resume on Tuesday, with matches between Austen Morris Associates and Lucia. Kazim Mirza finished with 25 Philippine Christian University in the first game, and newcomer Flydragons points for Power Innovators. Meanwhile, Metro Pacific Toll Logistics versus Far Eastern UniversityCorporation handed Mindanao Ag- NRMF clashing in the second.

Byron Villarias of Metro Pacific Toll Corporation attempts a fast break against Mindanao Aguilas’ Chris Concepcion in the fifth DELeague Basketball Tournament eliminations at the Marikina Sports Center Basketball Covered Court. Metro Pacific Toll Corporation won, 83-76.

programa para sa sports sa inyong probinsiya at sana makasama pa po kayo ng DepEd at ng PSC doon sa iba pang sports events. Mayroon po tayong Batang Pinoy, Philippine National Games, at iba pang programa,” he said. The final choice was made based on voting results by the Palarong Pambansa Board, which was chaired by Luistro. “We have reviewed the recommendations from the regions and had our own deliberations. We went through billeting, facilities, your presentations, including readiness of our regions, as well as other considerations that are specific to 2016. Ang nanalo po with a very, very slim margin is Albay” Luistro said.

Army, UP eye V-League semifinal playoff Games today (Saturday) 12:45 p.m. – PLDT vs UP 3 p.m. – Coast Guard vs Kia Forte 5 p.m. – Navy vs Army

ARMY and University of the Philippines take on separate rivals today, both eyeing a third straight victory and a playoff for the last semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City. The Lady Troopers, who swept the Kia Forte and survived the PLDT Home Ultra Fast Hitters in five to share the lead with the Lady Maroons, clash with the resurgent Navy Lady Sailors in the main 5 p.m. match of the first triple-bill in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s. UP, enjoying top form with back-to-back wins over Navy and Coast Guard, battles PLDT Home Ultera in the 12:45 p.m. opener to be shown live on GMA News TV Channel 11. Kia Forte and Coast Guard clash in the 3 p.m. duel of winless teams with the winner staying in the semifinal hunt and the loser bowing out early in the tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera and backed by Mikasa and Accel. Former Adamson stalwart Shiela Pineda, Alexa Micek, National U mainstay Carmina Aganon, veteran campaigner Wenneth Eulalio, Alyssa Layug and setter Relea Sael hope to bounce back from a pair of shutout losses as they try to extend the newcomer Kia Forte’s season against the Lady Dolphins, down in the cellar with three 0-3 losses. The Lady Troopers, meanwhile, are expected to ride on their thrilling five-set escape over the PLDT Ultra Fast Hitters as they gun for win No. 3 against the Lady Sailors, who rebounded from their meltdown loss to the Lady Maroons with emphatic victories over the Dolphins and Kia Forte.

SAT URDAY : O CTO B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Mets confident of World Series fightback NEW YORK— Despite historic losses to Kansas City in the first two games of the World Series, the New York Mets come home confident they can swipe a championship from the Royals.

Federer makes Basel last 8 BASEL—Six-time champion Roger Federer defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber for the 11th time on Thursday with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win which booked a Swiss Indoors last-eight place. Top seed Federer, playing at the venue where he got his start in the game as a ballboy two decades ago, will Friday face Belgium’s David Goffin who he beat for the title in 2014. After defeating his German friend Kohlschreiber in 98 minutes with 13 aces and two breaks of serve, Federer was happy to escape with the win. “The support really made the difference for me tonight, especially at the end of the match,” said Federer. “The fans helped me a lot and probably drove him down a bit— thanks to everyone. “It’s always difficult against Philipp, he’s such a tough opponent. I may have beaten him a lot but it’s not been easy. “Today was another battle and I’m just relieved to get to the quarter-finals.” Federer, with five titles this season, won his 55th match of 2015 against nine losses. America’s Donald Young stunned South African fourth seed Kevin Anderson 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) to reach the quarters. Young, the world number 49, goes on to face 29th-ranked compatriot Jack Sock who withstood 14 aces from fellow American and sixth seed John Isner’s racquet in a 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 win. Sock earned his second win from six attempts against Isner as the 23-year-old claimed his 34th match of the season. AFP

SEAOIL karter Gabriel “Gabe” Tayao Cabrera, shown displaying the Philippine flag (inset), scoots home to a runner-up finish in the Asian Karting Open Championship at the Bira International Circuit in Thailand.

Tayao Cabrera stamps class in Thailand SEAOIL karter Gabriel “Gabe” Tayao Cabrera bucked the odds as he romped away with a respectable first runner-up finish at the recent Asian Karting Open Championship held at the Bira International Circuit in Thailand, making him highest-placed Filipino to achieve a podium finish in the series’ top class. The 15-year-old Makati Hope Christian School student was the youngest and only teenager in the series’ premier KZ Shifter Class comprising veteran karters. Hopes of a podium win initially seemed far-fetched especially since Tayao Cabrera was the only shifter driver, who came only a

day before the competition and had barely one day to familiarize himself with the new track. “Prior to a race, I did my homework by researching on the track layout and watch past races held at the venue where I will be racing. The limited time forced me to really focus on getting the race line and braking points right especially since it was only me and my mechanic Joesefilo Bariquit, who had to figure out the best set-up. It’s good training for me on how to handle pressure,” said Tayao Cabrera. A more immediate cause for concern was the fact that he was also the only driver using a 5-speed engine compared to his older rivals, who were all using

6-speed shifter engines. Tayao Cabrera did not disappoint his fans by proving his worth as the Philippines’ brightest karter to date. Despite driving a slower engine model, he still managed to consistently clock impressive times close to the pole sitter throughout the race. “My engine was way slower than the rest of the grid so my strategy was to execute a flawless race line. Making less errors made it possible for me to keep my hopes for a podium win alive,” said Gabe. The multi-titled karter is flying off again in a few days, this time to represent the country in the third leg of the X30 Challenge to be held at the KF1 Circuit in Singapore.

Arcilla, Joven dispute title

Johnny Arcilla returns to Fritz Verdad in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Pintaflores Festival Open Tennis Championship at the San Carlos City Tennis Club in Negros Occidental.

TOP seed Johnny Arcilla held off No. 4 Fritz Verdad’s fightback in the second set and carved out a 6-2, 6-4 victory yesterday to seal a showdown with doubles partner Ronard Joven for the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Pintaflores Festival Open Tennis Championship crown at the San Carlos City Tennis Club in Negros Occidental. Arcilla, the many-time PCA Open champion, used his power game to dominate Verdad in the opener then broke his rival once in the next to complete his third straight-set win in row and gain a crack at the crown in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and held in conjunction with the host city’s Pintaflores Festival celebrations. In contrast, the thirdranked Joven, 31, needed to fight back from a tight opening set setback and wore down giant-killer Leander

Lazaro, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3, in a grueling two-hour, 40-minute encounter in the other semifinal clash. It was a sorry loss for Lazaro, who subdued second seed Vicente Anasta in the quarters, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, in a match that lasted three hours. “It’s going to be a great title duel between these two talented players, who are basically familiar with each other’s game being doubles partners. But for sure, one will try to surprise the other, making their clash worth watching,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro. Arcilla and Joven dispute the title and the top P40,000 purse at 3 p.m. today (Saturday), capping the week-long event hosted by Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr. with Criston Carmona as organizer and backed by Vice Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson and Rep. Julio Ledesma.

Kansas City won the longest opener in World Series history 5-4 in 14 innings and routed the Mets 7-1 in game two, New York managing only a playoff record low two hits. Now the Royals are halfway to their first crown since 1985 in Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven final entering game three Friday. “There’s a lot of confidence in the clubhouse. We’re down, but we’re not out,” Mets manager Terry Collins said Thursday. “We fought back so many times this year. This is just another challenge that we have to meet and so far we’ve met them all. “We’ve got to swing better. We know we’re better offensively. We’ve got to certainly get it going.” Teams with 2-0 Series leads win 79 percent of the time and have taken titles in 15 of the past 16 such situations, the exception being the New York Yankees over Atlanta in 1996. But no team has fallen behind 0-3 and won the World Series. Still, the Mets won their most recent World Series in 1986 rallying from 0-2 down and Kansas City was in an 0-2 hole before fighting back to win the crown 30 years ago. “It all goes back to confidence,” Collins said. “We can do this. We’ve done it. Now it’s a matter of going to the plate and getting some good balls to hit.” The Mets are 52-33 at home this season, including a 3-1 record in the playoffs. “Right now we can’t think about the hole that we’re in. We’ve got to concentrate on one at a time,” Mets captain David Wright said. “We’re playing in the World Series. We don’t need to be reminded that we’re a good team. They took care of their home field. We need to take care of ours.” Playing under National League rules at the Mets’ ballpark means pitchers will bat for the American League champion Royals while designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who had 22 home runs and batted in 106 runs this season, will be reduced to a pinch-hitting role or have to replace another fielder while seldom-batting pitchers must take their swings. AFP

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN INTERIM MAXIMUM ANNUAL REVENUE (iMAR) FOR CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2016 AND AN INTERIM NET PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE (iNPI) FOR CY 2015, WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP),

MAR2015 In PhP, Mn

45,287.24

137,846.18

144,914.53

69,522.46

73,252.28

Indicative Ave. PhP/kW

312.51

ASAI

Indicative Ave.PhP/kWh

0.6196

0.6182

CSI

Energy5 (GWh)

P/kWh lnc/(Dec)

(0.0014)

P/kWh % lnc/(Dec)

(0.23%)

ERC Case No. 2015-173 RC

7.1

The computation of the iMAR 2016 is an interim approach for determining the revenue of NGCP for the First Regulatory Year of the Fourth Regulatory Period (4th RP) pending the completion of NGCP’s reset process for the 4th RP. Thus, the same shall be subject to adjustment once the Commission issues the 4th RP Final Determination for NGCP;

Regulated Transmission Services. NGCP shall recover the iMAR 2016 through the following charges on Regulated Transmission Services: • Power Delivery Service Charge (PDS) • Metering Service Provider (MSP) Charge • System Operator (SO) Charge

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on October 2, 2015, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed an application for the approval of an Interim Maximum Annual Revenue (iMAR) for calendar year (CY) 2016 and an Interim Net Performance Incentive (iNPI) for CY 2015, with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority. In the said application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following: The Applicant

4. Article VII of the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR) provides that prior to each Regulatory Period, a Regulatory Reset Process shall be undertaken in respect of the price and control arrangements that are applicable for that Regulatory Period; 5. Pursuant to Article VII of the RTWR, series of public consultations on NGCP’s Issues Paper were held in the Cities of Davao, Cebu and Pasig on 7, 14 and 20 August 2014, respectively. Pending the completion of NGCP’s reset process for the Fourth Regulatory Period (4th RP), NGCP seeks for the approval of the following to be implemented in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao customer segments: a. iMAR 2016; and b. i N PI2015 -

6.1

Effective Rate2015 This is the average rate translation for the MAR 2015 based on the Order dated December 18, 2014 in ERC Case No. 2014155 RC and the demand for 20153 (Demand2015)’, Particulars

MAR 2015 , in PhPMn Demand 2015 , in MW-month Effective Rate2015, in PhP/kW-mo.

39,670

7,433

138/115 kV

26,741

5,010

69 kV

17,372

3,255

34.5/23 kV

10,032

1,880

13.8 kV and below

5,241

FIRM (PhP/kW-mo.)

NON-FIRM (P/kW/day)

15.82

0.5201

6.3

6.4

2011

2012

3 RP Unsmoothed 44,647.91 44,052.94 MAR

iMAR 2016, in PhPMn

2013

2014

2015

45,869.45

46,954.66

46,673.13

2013

2014

2015

2,502.53

2,561.74

2,546.38

Under

4,175.06 2,403.43

NEA

(292.02) (1,526.41) (1,489.17)

(1,699.20)

(1,628.57)

3,883.04 877.02

862.54

917.81

2 RP Adjustments nd

1,013.36

10.3 Basis of iNPI2015 . Using the basis of iNPI 2015 formula, NGCP arrived at PhP44,128.86 Mn: 2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Average

3rd RP Unsmoothed 44,647.91 44,052.94 45,869.45 46,954.66 46,673.13 45,639.62 MAR 2nd RP Adjustments 3,883.04 877.02 Total

1,013.36

862.54

917.81

1,510.75

40,764.87 43,175.92 44,856.09 46,092.12 45,755.32 44,128.86

10.4 With reference to the values provided below, NGCP proposes the iNPI 2015 of PhP1,029.76 Mn to be billed in CY2016:

137,846.18 312.51

SISI FOT SA

Visayas

Rating*

Bonus/ Penalty PhPMn

Bonus/ Rating* Penalty PhPMn

5.3710

93.02

108.37

2.9380 115.84

1.1440

79.43

0.2297

79.43

0.6600 105.91

99.4125

0.00

99.8296

43.69

99.732

17.4120

Visayas

Bonus/ Bonus/ Rating* Penalty Rating* Penalty PhPMn PhPMn

312.51

Mindanao

Bonus/ Penalty Rating* PhPMn

Luzon

144,914.53

17.91

345.16

The proposed iMAR20i6 and iNPI20i5 were designed and developed to determine fair and reasonable interim transmission rates that will serve the public interest and convenience, and signal the efficient utilization of transmission facilities that will ultimately redound to the best interest and benefit of the public;

Allegations in Support of the Application for Provisional Authority 13. NGCP restates the foregoing allegations insofar as they may be applicable; 14.

NGCP moves for the immediate issuance of a provisional authority pursuant to Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure to allow NGCP to timely implement the proposed iMAR20i6 and iNPI20i5. The immediate implementation is necessary to reduce, if not eliminate, the risk of under-recovery which is substantial to NGCP. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Ms. Ma. Cynthia Y. Manrique, attached to the application as Annex “B”; PRAYER

15.

NGCP prays for the Commission to:

a. Immediately issue an Order provisionally approving the collection of the iMAR 2016 in the amount of PhP45,287.24 Mn and the iNPI2015 of PhP1,029.76 Mn, and the SO and MSP Charges beginning the billing period of December 26, 2015 - January 25, 2016; and b. Approve, after notice and hearing, the authority to collect the iMAR 2016 in the amount of PhP45,287.24 Mn, the iNPI2015 of PhP1,029.76 Mn and the SO and MSP Charges. The Commission has set the said application for jurisdictional hearing, pre-trial conference, expository presentation and evidentiary hearing on the following dates and venues: TIME

VENUE

PARTICULARS

November 26, 2015 (Thursday)

Nine o’ clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Jurisdictional Hearing and Expository Presentation

January 27, 2016 (Wednesday)

Nine o’ clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

ERC Visayas Field Office, St. Mary’s Drive, Banilad, Cebu City

Expository Presentation

February 3, 2016 (Wednesday)

Nine o’ clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

ERC Mindanao Field Office, Mintrade Building, Monteverde Avenue corner Sales Street, Davao City

Expository Presentation

February 10, 2016 (Wednesday)

Nine o’ clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Pr e - t r i a l Conference and Ev i d e n t i a r y Hearing

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired. All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon. All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicant, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making a request with a copy 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, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 12th day of October, 2015 at Pasig City.

Mindanao

ATTY. FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN Executive Director III

Bonus/ Penalty PhPMn

Rating*

275.18

43.69

45,287.24

Indicative Rate. Using the forecast demand (in kW) and energy (in kWh) for 2016, the figures below show the indicative rates of the proposed iMAR 2016:

409.42

80.000 0

12.

10.2 2nd RP Adjustments. This refers to the 2nd RP under-recoveries and NEA which were considered as adjustments to the Unsmoothed MAR during the 3rd RP: 2012

43.69

Management Approval. The filing of the Application has been approved by NGCP’s management in its meeting held on September 17, 2015;

2011

80.0000

11.

10.1 3rd RP Unsmoothed MAR. NGCP used the Unsmoothed MAR for years 2011 to 2015 duly approved by the Commission in NGCP’s Final Determination for the 3rd RP:

Particulars

Forecast Demand2016, in MW-month

45.01

A copy of the 2015 NGCP's Proposed 2015 Net Performance Incentive is attached to the application as Annex "A";

Basis of iNPI2015 = Average [3rd RP Unsmoothed MAR less 2nd RP Adjustments]

Following the formula, NGCP computed the iMAR 2016 and arrived at the following values:

Effective Rate 2015 , in P/kW-month

80.0000

DATE

43,078.95

The values and the resulting Effective Rate2015 are as follows: Forecast Demand2016 - This is based on the historical power consumption profile and the planning data submissions of customers pursuant to the Philippine Grid Code (PGC);

132.39

Total

iNPI2015 - NGCP seeks the approval of the basis of the computation of the iNPI2015 as follows:

10.

Luzon

6.2

982 3,618

2016 SO Rates

6. Formula. NGCP computed the iMAR 2016 based on the following formula:

This is the same formula approved for NGCP’s predecessor, TRANSCO, in the computation of the Maximum Annual Revenue (MAR) for CY 2003 where the Commission used the approved unbundled tariff in ERC Case No. 2001-901 RC and the forecast demand for CY 2003;

500/230 kV

Note: Based on 3rd RP SKM unit cost according to voltage levels

Discussion

iMAR 2016 = Effective Rate 2015 X Forecast Demands

99.5830

Meter Only

Common Charge

Nature of the Application 3. This Application is filed pursuant to Section 19 of the EPIRA in relation to Paragraph (f), Section 43 of the same law in order to recover the reasonable costs necessary to provide transmission services, and essential to sustain its full operational strength;

Full

Bonus/ Penalty PhPMn

Rating*

Note:* performance of the Grid covering the periods September 2014 to August 2015

2016 MSP Rates, in PhP Per Voltage Level

Mindanao

8 ConA

MSP Charge and SO Charge. The MSP Charge and SO Charge, as provisionally approved by the Commission in ERC Case No. 2014-155 RC (MAR 2015), are adopted in the application:

9.1

1. NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner B.I.R. Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001” (EPIRA); 2. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 95111, NGCP was granted the franchise to operate, manage and maintain, and in connection therewith, to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high voltage back-bone system of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, system operations and other activities that are necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system2 and is authorized to charge its customers at the rates approved by the Commission;

The proposed iMAR 2016 is expected to translate to the same level of indicative rates in PhP/kW-month and a reduction in the equivalent indicative PhP/kWh due to the off-setting effect of the increase in demand with the increase in the revenue;

Visayas

Bonus/ Bonus/ Rating* Penalty Rating* Penalty PhPMn PhPMn

43,078.95

Demand 4 (MW-month)

Applicant. x------------------------------------x

Luzon

iMAR 2oi6

FLC

100.000

19.86

99.8603

0.00

99.993 4

VLC

99.9557

39.72

99.9690

0.00

99.995 0

15.48 46.34

----------------------------------------------------------1

2 3 4 5

A n A c t G r a n t i n g t h e N a t i o n a l G r i d C o r p o r a t i o n o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a Fr a n c h i s e t o En g a g e i n t h e B u s i n e s s o f C o nvey i n g o r Tr a n s m i t t i n g E l e c t r i c i t y T h r o u g h H i g h Vo l t a g e B a c k- b o n e S y s t e m o r I n t e r c o n n e c t e d Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e s , S u b s t a t i o n s a n d Re l a t e d Fa c i l i t i e s , a n d Fo r O t h e r Purposes Id, Section 1 A c t u a l d a t a f o r J a n u a r y t o J u l y 2 015 a n d Fo r e c a s t d a t a f o r A u g u s t t o D e c e m b e r 2 015 Fo r e c a s t a n d a c t u a l f o r M A R 2 015 , a n d f o r e c a s t f o r i M A R 2016 Fo r e c a s t a n d a c t u a l f o r M A R 2 015 , a n d f o r e c a s t f o r i M A R 2016 ( T S - O C T. 31 & N O V. 7, 2 015 )

S AT U R DAY : O C T O B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Bitoon wrests solo chess lead GRANDMASTER Richard Bitoon avenged his loss last year to Woman International Master Janelle Mae Frayna, scoring a 43-move victory over the 19-year-old Far Eastern University graduating student to grab the solo lead in the 2015 Battle of Grandmasters-National Chess Championship at the Philippine Sports Commission Athletes Dining Hall, RMSC, Vito Cruz, Manila. Standings after nine rounds (Open Division) Bitoon 12, Pascua, Antonio 10, Gomez, Docena, Turqueza, Laylo 8, Torre, Bersamina, Abelgas 7, Frayna 5. Standings after seven rounds (Women’s Division)—PerenaSecopito, Fronda, San Diego 9, B ernales8, Suede, Mendoza 7, Membrere, Enriquez, Lozano 6, Pineda 5. Frayna outplayed Bitoon in last year’s edition to finish a

strong fourth in the tournament, but failed to do the same in their Reversed Hedgehog match late Thursday. With the win, and with GM “Joey” Antonio drawing a bye in the ninth round, the unbeaten Bitoon shot into the solo lead with 12 points, two points ahead of Antonio and the 22-year-old Haridas Pascua. Pascua, a University of Baguio graduate, halved the point with

no. 2 seed GM Darwin Laylo, his second straight draw to tie Antonio at second to third places. Four players, led by top seed John Paul Gomez, trail behind with eight points each going into the last two rounds of the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by the PSC. Gomez drew with NM Roel Abelgas to slowly climb back into contention, and will next play Frayna in the 10th round still being played as of press time. Also with eight points are NM Jerad Docena, Fide Master Joseph Mari Turqueza and Laylo. GM Eugene Torre, IM Paulo Bersamina and Abelgas, who also drew their matches, have seven points, while Frayna stayed at the bottom with five. In the women’s side, defending champion Catherine Perena-

Secopito outwitted Arvie Lozano in a knight-rook endgame after 66 moves of a King’s Indian Attack to bounce back into contention. Secopito’s victory, coupled by the losses by erstwhile co-leaders WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego resulted in a three-way tie for the lead, with similar 9 points among Secopito, San Diego and Fronda. San Diego lost to last year’s runner-p WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales, while Fronda succumbed to the untitled Brena Mae Membrere. Bernales is now at solo third with eight points. Asian junior girls’ 2014 titlist Mikee Charlene Suede, meanwhile, defeated WFM Shanie Mae Mendoza to tie her victim at seven points, followed by Membrere, Karen Jean Enriquez and Lozano with six points each, and Judith Pineda with three.

Aces... From A16

all play in the second half for the victory. “Blackwater outplayed us in the first half, but we came out with fire in the second,’’ said Compton. “I thought our defense improved significantly in the second half and that really helped us a lot.’’ Following its lackluster first-half showing, where it found itself trailing, 41-48, at the half, Alaska gathered itself and took the pivotal third, where it outscored Blackwater, 28-18, to snatch the lead, 69-66, leading up to the payoff period. The Aces continued their surge in the fourth as they completed a huge16-6 blitz bridging the last two quarters to grab a 73-66 lead with 9:33 remaining after Tony Dela Cruz’s jumper. The Elite kept itself in the game with minor runs and even inched to within three, 78-81, with still 3:45 on Cortez’s basket. But the veteran Alaska squad held its ground and ended the game with a finishing 6-1 run to seal the win. Dela Cruz had a solid game of 11 points and four rebounds, while Javee Casio chipped in 10 points, three rebounds and four assists as those two, along with Banchero and Manuel, exchanged turns throughout in scoring for Alaska. JP Erram led Blackwater with 13 points and Reil Cervantes had 11 markers. For today, another doubleheader is in store as Talk ‘N Text, Mahindra, Barako Bull and Barangay Ginebra, which are all still winless, resume their campaigns in their bid to finally crack the winning column. The Tropang Texters take on the Enforcers at 3 p.m., followed by the tango between the Energy and the Gin Kings at 5:15 p.m. in the main game in the same venue. The scores: ALASKA 87—Banchero 13, Manuel 13, Dela Cruz 11, Casio 10, Abueva 7, Dela Rosa 7, Thoss 6, Hontiveros 5, Baclao 4, Baguio 4, Exciminiano 4, Jazul 2, Magat 1, Eman 0. BLACKWATER 79—Erram 13, Cervantes 11, Canada 10, Melano 10, Cortez 9, Reyes 7, Gamalinda 5, Ballesteros 4, Sena 4, Agovida 3, Golla 2, Lastimosa 1, Vosotros 0. Jayvee Casio of Alaska and Blackwater’s Mike Cortez watch as the ball goes out of bounds Quarters: 20-22, 41-48, 69-66, 87-79 in a PBA Philippine Cup game won by the Aces, 87-79, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Unbeaten Muguruza reaches WTA semis SINGAPORE—Spain’s Garbine Muguruza marched into the semis of the WTA Finals in Singapore on Friday after beating Czech Petra Kvitova 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to sweep her group. The world number three had to hang tough against Kvitova but she is now on course for a title clash with Maria Sharapova, who also won all three of her

group matches. “Petra is an amazing player, I think today she was doing great. I obviously was so nervous, she makes me play, really concentrate and I have to give my best, but I’m super happy of this ending,” Muguruza said. “You know to be here for me is a great pay-off after the whole year, and hopefully I can continue

winning and playing like this.” Kvitova’s fate is still in the balance and she needs fellow Czech Lucie Safarova to beat Angelique Kerber in straight sets in Friday’s second White Group match to reach the semifinals. Muguruza, at 22 the youngest player at the year-ending tournament, will play the ex-

perienced Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals. Sharapova, who is also unbeaten in Singapore and has looked revitalised after months out with injury, awaits the second-ranked player in White Group. Muguruza didn’t have it easy against two-time Wimbledon winner Kvitova and she had to dig deep in

a messy first encounter with the Czech. The two ended with a shared total of 15 service breaks after see-saw battles in the second and third sets. With five breaks in the final set alone, Muguruza grabbed the crucial break for 6-5 and it took her four match points before she closed it out with a lunging volley. AFP

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

La Salle sweeps tablenet crowns JUST like its women’s counterparts, De La Salle swept University of Santo Tomas in the Finals to capture its third straight men’s title Thursday in the UAAP table tennis tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Green Archers turned back the Growling Tigers, 3-1, in the opener before escaping with a narrow 3-2 decision in Game 2 to clinch their fifth crown overall. The success of its men’s team came after La Salle earlier took its second consecutive women’s tiara behind season MVP Ian Lariba and Rookie of the Year Emy Rose Dael. The Green Archers’ Walden Ledesma took his second men’s MVP award in three years, while his teammate Carlo Mateo bagged the top rookie honors. It was La Salle’s second straight double championship in the sport. The Junior Archers, meanwhile, also made a title sweep of the high school division. De La Salle-Zobel yesterday nipped National University, 3-2, to rule the boys’ section, with Elijah Yamson and Neo Angelo Laudato winning the MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively. The Junior Lady Archers earlier defeated University of the East in the championship series to become the first-ever girls’ division champion starring MVP Phoebe Jumamoy.

Knights... From A16 celebrated much too early late in regulation, as the Red Lions racked up six straight points to tie the count, 75-all, and Racal missed a trey attempt at the buzzer. Good thing Cebuano rookie Jomari Sollano was there to bail them out in overtime. Sollano made the biggest baskets of his career down the stretch to hand the Knights their first collegiate title in 10 years. The 6’4” Sollano, formerly of the University of Southern Philippines, scored four of six big points in the last 1:11 to help the Knights overcome a 79-82 deficit at the start of the extension. He finished with 19 points, including a trey in the final 32.6 seconds that vaulted the Knights on top for good, 83-82. Cruz, who was later named as Finals MVP, said the honor will boost his confidence as he officially joins the Star Hotshots in the PBA. Regarded as the heart and soul of the Knights, the pint-sized guard indeed showed a lot of heart and finished with 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists. “Sobrang laki ito sa kumpiyansa ko,” said Cruz. Still, he gave credit to his teammates for their composure after winning the game despite losing an eight-point lead in the final two minutes of regulation.

S AT U R DAY : O C T O B E R 3 1 , 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

Aces use big 2nd half to whip Elite Games today (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City) 3 p.m. • Talk ‘N Text vs. Mahindra 5:15 p.m. • Barako Bull vs. Barangay Ginebra

By Jeric Lopez IT TOOK a while, but Alaska still got its bearings going when it mattered to dodge an upset bullet from Blackwater in a hard-earned 87-79 decision for its second straight victory and a piece of the early lead in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup last night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Chris Banchero continued his stellar play, leading Alaska’s charge with a game-high 13 points, including 11 in the first half, while Vic Manuel had the same production, which he all scored in the second half, to go with seven rebounds for the Aces. Both did damage off the bench. With their 2-0 start, the Aces are now tied with Rain or Shine and NLEX at the top of the ladder, while the Elite dropped to the bottom with its 0-2 start. Alaska coach Alex Compton credited his team’s better over Continued on A15

Letran coach Aldin Ayo celebrates after steering the Knights to their first NCAA title in a decade. Inset shows Finals’ MVP Mark Cruz raising his trophies. LINO SANTOS, BROSI GONZALES

Knights slay ghost of 2013 NCAA finals

By Peter Atencio

KEVIN Racal and three other Letran mainstays have finally slain the ghost of 2013. Racal, one of the main men in the Knights’ title-clinching 8582 victory over the San Beda Red Lions in the deciding Game 3 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball finals held at the Mall of Asia Arena last Thursday, said their victory has all but erased the bitter memories of their loss to the same team in the finals of NCAA Season 89 back in 2013.

He can now move on to the next chapter of his basketball career. “Nawala na ang pagkasakit ng pagkatalo na iyon,” said Racal, who said he’s ready to join the practices of the Alaska Aces, who had picked him in the first round during the recent PBA Rookie Draft. Still, Racal couldn’t help but recall that fateful day in 2013,

when San Beda’s John Ludovice split his charities in the final 29.8 seconds, and Olaide Adeogun added two more from the line with only 1.7 seconds to go on the way to a 60-56 victory that gave the Red Lions their fourth straight crown at the Knights’ expense. In pocketing the title in 2013, San Beda also picked its 18th overall crown in men’s basketball, surpassing Letran as the winningest collegiate basketball team in the league. Racal, alongside Mark Cruz, McJour Luib and Rey Nambatac

PH karter stamps class in Thailand TURN TO A13

Clippers rip Mavs in Jordan grudge match TURN TO A12

were the members of that hardluck team. But before Game 3 last Thursday, Racal and company vowed to not to let the same thing happen all over again. “Inisip naming na ayaw na naming maulit ‘yun sa Game 3, na dalawang beses kaming natalo sa finals nu’ng Season 89 sa San Beda. ‘Pag natalo pa kami, wala na talaga,” said Racal. Racal and the rest of the Letran Knights made sure that this time, they will be the one to come on top. Still, the Knights may have Continued on A15

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 31, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Shell mulls over legal options By Alena Mae S. Flores

PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp. is reviewing its legal options after the Court of Tax Appeals ordered the oil refiner to pay excise taxes worth P3.5 billion on imports of raw gasoline materials between 2006 and 2009. “We will avail all legal remedies available to us,” Shell manufacturing communications and social performance manager Cesar Abaricia told reporters Friday. The CTA issued a decision modifying a previous resolution of its third division stopping the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs from collecting the excise taxes from Shell. Shell filed in 2009 a petition asking the court to nullify the payment demand of the BIR. The BIR at that time sought payment

of about P7 billion in excise and value added taxes for the importation of catalytic cracked gasoline and light catalytic cracked gasoline used as raw materials for gasoline from 2004 to 2009. Shell has repeatedly said the materials were not finished products and should not be slapped with an excise tax The company also

Moody’s sees factory output growing 3.9% By Julito G. Rada FACTORY production in September likely grew faster than the 3.7-percent expansion in August, Moody’s Analytics, a division of Moody’s Corp., said Friday. Moody’s said in a report it expected manufacturing in September to post a growth of 3.9 percent, higher than the 3.2-percent increase registered a year ago. The government is set to release the September manufacturing data on Nov. 6. “The Philippines’ industrial production likely improved in September from August’s 3.7 percent year-on-year gain, thanks to a lower base effect,” Moody’s said. The growth in manufacturing decelerated sharply in volume and value in September 2014, from double-digit rates a year earlier, as more than half of the 20 major sectors posted declines. The volume of production index managed to grow by just 3.2 percent year-on-year in September 2014, compared with a stronger 19-percent increase a year ago. Moody’s said despite the positive outlook for September, food production would continue to be challenged by the dry conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon, while export-facing industries such as electronics were under pressure from weak global demand, particularly from China. Manufacturing in August rebounded from a three-month decline, led by vigorous construction activity and high demand for automotive products. The volume of production index rose 3.7 percent in August, a big improvement from its performance in the past three months. However, it remained behind the 5.7-percent growth it posted in the same month last year. National Economic and Development Authority director-general Arsenio Balisacan earlier said the link between the agriculture and manufacturing sectors should be continuously strengthened to reduce the economy’s vulnerability to external supply shocks.

stressed it paid excise tax for the finished product made from CCG and LCCG. It claimed that paying excise tax on the raw material and finished product would result in double taxation Shell said that both CCG and LCCG must go through a refinement process before they can be sold locally as unleaded premium gasoline. Shell, a unit of Royal Dutch/ Shell Group, owns an oil refinery in the Philippines with a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day located in Batangas. The company’s oil operations in

the Philippines has been fraught with challenges in recent years, such as its tax issues and the removal of its operations from the Pandacan depot. Shell, however, said it would continue to invest in its operations in the country. It is nearing completion of its refinery upgrade and an oil depot in Mindanao. The company plans to conduct an initial public offering next year to comply with the directive of the Oil Deregulation Law of 2008. The company also raised concerns on the decision of the Commission on Audit imposing

P53.14 billion in taxes on the contractors of the Malampaya gas-topower project in northwest Palawan. Shell was also forced to shut down its oil depot in Pandacan to comply with a Supreme Court ruling directing the oil companies to move out of the Manila residential district. “We want to settle amicably. We are also looking at all the legal remedies and obviously, the consortium will go through the legal remedies,” Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. managing director Sebastian Quiniones earlier said.

Over P4-B disbursed via LANDBANK Mobile Loan Saver in less than a year

MOBILE SALARY LOAN UPTAKE REFLECTS INCREASING DIGITAL SHIFT IN PH

FILIPINOS are now ininclusion priorities in creasingly adoptrecent years.” ing mobile and digital The study cited certechnologies for salatain initiatives that have ry loan applications and contributed to the finandisbursements. This cial inclusion goals of changing behavior corthe BSP. Among these responds to the digital efforts are the “estabshift of consumers and lishment of microdeimproving confidence posit accounts,” “flexiin using digital financial ble regulatory approach services. for mobile financial “We’re seeing a services, which has positive shift to mofacilitated a range of bile and digital for bank-led and telco-led the consumer loan marproducts,” and “the apket as they provide proval of a general consumer protection convenience and easframework to safeguard ier access to financial consumers of financial services. Our successservices from abusive ful experience with the LANDBANK Mo- Land Bank of the Philippines and Smart e-Money, Inc. jointly launched the practices.” According to the bile Loan Saver in less LANDBANK Mobile Loan Saver at the Philippine International Convention study, 49 percent of Filthan a year is reflective of this progress and we Center in Pasay City last year. The Mobile Loan Saver is the country’s first ipinos have borrowed money across formal are seeing this accelerate mobile-based salary loan facility for government employees. and informal systems. in the coming months,” said Orlando B. Vea, president and CEO of Voyager Innovations, the However, only around 11 percent exclusively borrow from formal digital innovations arm of PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. credit channels. About 22 percent still rely on borrowing from in(Smart). Vea spoke at the recently held Asia Pacific Financial Inclu- formal sources such as family, friends or money lenders. Approximately 16 percent utillize both formal and informal sources of credit. sion Summit in Makati Shangri-la. What is striking is that more than half or about 53 percent of inforVoyager Innovations and the Land Bank of the Philippines reported that uptake for the LANDBANK Mobile Loan Saver, the mal borrowers have bank accounts and the World Bank study infers country’s first electronic salary loan program, has been steadily in- that the “prevalence of informal borrowing is driven both by ineligicreasing, with more than P4 billion disbursed to almost 28,000 gov- bility and lack of physical access.” “The LANDBANK Mobile Loan Saver addresses both barriernment employees since its commercial launch in January this year. To date, some 27,800 borrowers from more than 610 participating ers. Using the mobile phone, we are able to help expand the reach national government agencies, government owned and controlled of traditional banking services like salary loans to the grassroots, corporations, and local government units, have availed of the facil- with about 15 percent of the borrowers coming from 3rd to 6th ity. However, the current program does not include yet teachers, class municipalities all over the country. With the surge in volmilitary and police personnel. Average loan per borrower stood at ume especially leading towards the holiday season, we are expecting to end the year with over Php5.0 Billion in total loans approximately P144,000. “This program has started making a significant impact in the released through this digital facility,” said Lito Villanueva, Vice government’s efforts to promote electronic transactions for trans- President and Head of Fintech, Digital Inclusion, and Alliances parency, cost efficiency, security, affordability, accessibility, and at Voyager Innovations. Based on demographics, roughly 55 percent of the LANDconvenience. Leveraging on mobile technology is a must for any service oriented institution to have wider reach in providing broader BANK Mobile Loan Saver borrowers are from Metro Manila; financial access to its customers. We are extending this program to 22 percent from Luzon; 12 percent from Mindanao; and 11 percent the private employees early next year,” said Gilda E. Pico, president from Visayas. Through the service, government employees can easily apply and and CEO of LANDBANK. “The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) welcomes digital inno- inquire about their LANDBANK salary loan via mobile and get a vations that would further promote electronic transactions and this fast response regarding their loan approval. In barely a year, the LANDBANK Mobile Loan Saver has reis in accord with the government’s roadmap towards the realization of the National Retail Payments System and the National Strategy ceived five global awards and recognitions in 2015. These include for Financial Inclusion,” said BSP Deputy Governor Nestor A. Es- the Best Innovation in Retail Banking by the International Banker awarded at the London Stock Exchange, Best in Core Banking and penilla Jr. In the recently published “Enhancing Financial Capability and In- Best in Mobile Banking Initiative from the Asian Banking & Ficlusion in the Philippines - A Demand-side Assessment” from World nance in Singapore, Process Excellence in Loans Origination from Bank, the international institution acknowledged that “the Philip- the Retail Banking International also in Singapore, and Consumer pines has made positive progress towards achieving its financial First award by Meffys in London.

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 31, 2015

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, OctOber 30, 2015

52 Weeks

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 17 30.45 0.92 2.6 890 1.01 100 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 1.3 26 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 0.66 1455 76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.99 2.82 48.6 48 102.50 100.80 85.25 84.00 40.8 40 2.12 1.87 15.7 15.4 19.9 19.8 0.65 0.65 1.84 1.78 745.00 745.00 0.580 0.560 86.4 84.85 19.00 18.60 24.00 24.00 53.80 52.85 104 102 306 300.2 31.3 30.8 142.7 141.9 1555.00 1555.00 57.00 56.80 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp. 42.05 42 41.75 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 1.86 1.84 1.8 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.9 0.91 0.88 1.86 Alsons Cons. 1.6 1.58 1.56 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.8 10.8 10.4 15.32 Century Food 17.32 17.32 17.26 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 22.05 25 21 29.15 Concepcion 45.7 46.5 45.7 1.5 Crown Asia 2.48 2.56 2.43 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.74 1.75 1.63 10.72 Del Monte 10 11 9.9 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 10.000 10.000 9.63 9.04 Emperador 8.20 8.45 8.28 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.71 6.71 6.50 8.86 EEI 7.60 7.65 7.53 20.2 First Gen Corp. 25.5 25.5 25 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 71 71 70 13.86 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.00 11.92 11.70 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.64 14.20 13.90 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.96 5.99 5.94 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.330 2.430 2.240 173 Jollibee Foods Corp. 207.00 207.40 206.00 LBC Express 11.78 14.5 12.5 34.1 Liberty Flour 35.10 39.35 35.55 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.5 3.98 3.5 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.3 24 23.8 17.3 Maxs Group 24.3 24.3 23.65 5.88 Megawide 6.65 7.3 6.3 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 324.00 329.00 324.00 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.28 4.28 4.1 8.45 Petron Corporation 8.19 8.12 7.94 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.50 11.60 11.46 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.68 3.70 3.63 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.02 2.04 2.00 1 Pryce Corp. À’ 2.55 2.69 2.45 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.12 4.20 4.10 5.9 Roxas Holdings 5 5 5 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 137.5 139 137.5 4.1 SPC Power Corp. 3.8 4.09 3.8 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.15 2.18 2.1 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.158 0.160 0.154 1.02 TKC Steel Corp. 1.25 1.29 1.20 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.19 2.20 2.18 152 Universal Robina 199 203 199 0.640 Vitarich Corp. 0.67 0.68 0.66 10.02 Vivant Corp. 23.00 22.80 22.80 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.18 1.18 1.18 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. À’ 0.395 0.405 0.390 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 58.0000 57.2000 56.0000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 18.52 18.58 18.00 6.62 Anscor À’ 6.50 6.59 6.45 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.250 0.250 0.247 0.23 ATN Holdings B 0.250 0.25 0.250 634.5 Ayala Corp À’ 780 782.5 775 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.45 7.47 7.44 12.8 DMCI Holdings 12.38 12.44 12.34 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 3.8 3.8 3.8 1.15 F&J Prince ‘B’ 4.35 4 4 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 3.99 3.90 3.90 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.250 0.250 0.250 837 GT Capital 1344 1343 1314 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 72.90 73.00 71.40 3.43 Jolliville Holdings 3.92 3.9 3.9 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp. 6.92 6.81 6.66 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.82 0.84 0.78 12 LT Group 12.5 12.68 12.44 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.37 5.4 5.2 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 9.32 9.47 9.32 0.030 Pacifica À’ 0.0300 0.0310 0.0300 0.550 Prime Orion 1.920 1.930 1.900 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.82 2.82 2.8 59.3 San Miguel Corp À’ 50.35 50.75 48.00 1.5 Seafront À’ 2.92 2.85 2.69 751 SM Investments Inc. 871.50 883.50 871.50 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.20 1.20 1.19 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.76 0.78 0.75 80 Top Frontier 108.500 106.900 105.400 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3300 0.3400 0.3200 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.2390 0.2350 0.2250 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.310 0.325 0.300 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.654 6.550 6.480 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.70 0.76 0.70 1.2 Araneta Prop À’ 1.130 1.170 1.150 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 35.700 36.150 35.350 3.36 Belle Corp. À’ 3.45 3.48 3.43 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 12.02 19.6 0.74 1.02 625 0.225 78 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 Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

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

SHARES 11,112,577 93,458,241 128,021,473 866,398,671 137,231,776 371,427,546 1,609,761,984

2.89 48.65 101.90 85.20 40.25 1.84 15.4 19.92 0.65 1.79 760.00 0.570 85.4 19.00 24.00 54.00 104 300 31.7 142.7 1560.00 57.00

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.96 48.35 101.70 84.60 40 1.96 15.7 19.82 0.65 1.83 745.00 0.570 85.05 18.78 24.00 53.00 104 306 31.05 142.1 1555.00 57.00

2.42 -0.62 -0.20 -0.70 -0.62 6.52 1.95 -0.50 0.00 2.23 -1.97 0.00 -0.41 -1.16 0.00 -1.85 0.00 2.00 -2.05 -0.42 -0.32 0.00

6,000 73,900 3,508,870 1,185,130 76,400 2,409,000 9,300 32,600 20,000 39,000 70 334,000 1,334,600 88,700 35,000 53,970 3,030 2,060 261,300 581,700 100 145,140

42 1.84 0.9 1.58 10.6 17.3 24 46.5 2.54 1.64 11 9.750 8.30 6.64 7.53 25.3 70.65 11.70 14.20 5.94 2.270 206.00 12.9 35.55 3.5 23.8 24.3 7.3 325.00 4.2 8.10 11.60 3.70 2.04 2.46 4.11 5 138 4.09 2.1 0.157 1.27 2.20 200.6 0.67 22.80 1.18

-0.12 -1.08 0.00 -1.25 -1.85 -0.12 8.84 1.75 2.42 -5.75 10.00 -2.50 1.22 -1.04 -0.92 -0.78 -0.49 -2.50 4.11 -0.34 -2.58 -0.48 9.51 1.28 0.00 -2.06 0.00 9.77 0.31 -1.87 -1.10 0.87 0.54 0.99 -3.53 -0.24 0.00 0.36 7.63 -2.33 -0.63 1.60 0.46 0.80 0.00 -0.87 0.00

884,200 7,000 182,000 241,000 400 1,407,600 611,400 66,000 1,195,000 2,683,000 117,000 15,457,400 3,563,100 10,156,100 554,000 2,121,200 151,080 15,100 83,700 60,300 3,662,000 999,750 25,000 2,100 33,000 2,585,500 154,700 424,400 521,350 7,971,000 2,570,800 118,200 202,000 544,000 1,043,000 6,765,000 34,000 6,400 41,000 83,000 5,580,000 80,000 6,063,000 1,884,750 1,467,000 1,200 2,000

0.390 56.0000 18.24 6.50 0.247 0.250 780 7.45 12.40 3.8 4 3.90 0.250 1314 71.40 3.9 6.78 0.81 12.5 5.22 9.44 0.0300 1.930 2.82 48.00 2.69 875.00 1.19 0.78 105.400 0.3250 0.2350 0.320

-1.27 -3.45 -1.51 0.00 -1.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 -8.05 -2.26 0.00 -2.23 -2.06 -0.51 -2.02 -1.22 0.00 -2.79 1.29 0.00 0.52 0.00 -4.67 -7.88 0.40 -0.83 2.63 -2.86 -1.52 -1.67 3.23

1,110,000 2,051,940 5,110,500 6,600 440,000 50,000 544,530 905,300 6,406,700 8,000 10,000 10,000 730,000 143,290 1,308,580 17,000 2,404,500 511,000 4,871,000 30,143,200 2,158,900 60,100,000 562,000 109,000 314,010 39,000 321,780 300,000 63,000 14,670 2,320,000 630,000 450,000

6.500 0.75 1.170 35.850 3.46

-2.31 7.14 3.54 0.42 0.29

2,749,500 6,683,000 22,000 9,122,100 2,913,000

3,123,030.00 -38,719,502 15,964,962.00 126,150.00 17,704.00 37,250.00 17,908,038.00 835,200.00 -1,474,674.00 102,000.00 -5,186,045 32,025,633.00 77,750.00 -3,294,650.00

2,831,858.00 2,467,990 32,170.00 16,650.00 47,623,807.00 -4,744,433.00 -41,846,478.00 -2,314,812.00 -34,861,590.00 -4,509,324.00 341,880.00 178,300.00 -147,650.00 -91,684,922.00

-23,609,840.00 -8,760.00 -42,738,662.00 -19,500,230.00 1,344,058.00

17,500.00 -1,226,120.00 -876,624.00 -152,000.00

10,796,600.00 17,142,590.00

39,500.00 -42,377,042.00 965,608.00

175,716,940.00 5,180,545.00 -12,140,478.00

-76,028,735.00 -1,897,792.00 -3,207,629.00 14,385,370.00 -28,611,246.00 -100.00

-8,208,068.50 -61,625,695.00

52 Weeks

High Low 5.59 1.44 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

4.96 0.79 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 7.67 2720 8.41 119.5 7 12.5 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

1.97 35.2 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 4.8 1600 5.95 102.6 3.01 8.72 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9 0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

70 525 8.21 111

33 500 5.88 101

1047 84.8

1011 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ GMA Holdings Inc. 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

-677,773.00

-34,053,895.00 5,895,770.00

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

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp. 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

112,500.00 548,986.00 -139,140.00

Makati Fin. Corp. IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

High

VALUE 773,178,988.702 1,469,757,040.735 2,891,750,509.98 1,673,119,509.505 1,181,404,870.99 86,022,997.51 8,113,192,887.422

FINANCIAL 1,569/47 (down) 7.59 INDUSTRIAL 11,437.40 (down) 2.55 HOLDING FIRMS 6,5886.43 (down) 77.20 PROPERTY 3,023.37 (down) 2.23 SERVICES 1,727.08 (down) 24.61 MINING & OIL 11,434.74 (down) 177.33 PSEI 7,134.26 (down) 54.99 All Shares Index 4,119.28 (down) 24.11 Gainers: 62; Losers: 101; Unchanged: 49; Total: 212

5.08 0.6 0.124 0.510 20.5 0.900 0.161 1.13 1.74 1.29 4.8 0.088 0.2900 0.4500 8.42 30.25 1.52 21.70 0.77 8.18 1.010 5.570

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

5.16 5.08 5.08 0.61 0.59 0.61 0.125 0.123 0.125 0.510 0.485 0.485 20.85 20.4 20.85 0.900 0.890 0.900 0.183 0.171 0.180 1.15 1.12 1.12 1.74 1.72 1.74 1.30 1.28 1.30 4.82 4.69 4.69 0.091 0.088 0.091 0.2900 0.2900 0.2900 0.4500 0.4500 0.4500 8.45 8.4 8.42 30.90 30.20 30.60 1.53 1.51 1.52 22.40 21.60 21.60 0.79 0.75 0.75 8.18 8.18 8.18 1.050 0.990 0.990 5.570 5.520 5.570 SERVICES 8.2 8.32 8.15 8.2 65.15 65.6 65.25 65.6 0.570 0.580 0.550 0.570 11.3 11.26 11.24 11.26 26.5 27 27 27 6.20 6.20 6.11 6.15 0.0570 0.0590 0.0560 0.0560 3.58 3.62 3.58 3.62 86.4 89.2 86.9 89.2 6.10 6.08 6.00 6.04 2310 2298 2258 2280 7.37 7.42 7.30 7.40 84.3 83.9 81 82.5 4.70 4.70 4.70 4.70 11.42 11.4 11.4 11.4 0.183 0.184 0.181 0.183 1.3900 1.4000 1.3800 1.4000 2.28 2.2 2.19 2.19 8.92 8.90 8.75 8.85 3.54 4.25 3.63 3.90 1.19 1.15 1.15 1.15 0.620 0.610 0.610 0.610 2 2 1.99 1.99 3.82 3.83 3.66 3.68 0.295 0.290 0.280 0.280 0.880 0.920 0.850 0.860 102.00 100.20 100.10 100.20 20.15 20.15 19.60 20.15 2250.00 2270.00 2200.00 2200.00 0.570 0.570 0.560 0.570 1.140 1.140 1.130 1.140 35.95 36.05 35.90 36.00 77.15 77.10 76.90 76.90 6.32 6.59 6.31 3.40 5.47 5.47 5.25 5.31 0.47 0.47 0.47 0.47 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51 4.7 4.7 4.52 4.6 0.340 0.370 0.345 0.370 4.180 4.370 4.050 4.090 MINING & OIL 0.0049 0.0048 0.0048 0.0048 2.25 2.24 2.21 2.21 6.10 6.10 5.65 5.65 11.78 11.78 11.78 11.78 0.225 0.230 0.212 0.225 5.8200 5.86 5.86 5.8600 0.75 0.77 0.73 0.74 0.7 0.71 0.67 0.67 9.20 9.23 8.88 9.08 0.92 0.93 0.89 0.9 0.325 0.335 0.310 0.315 0.192 0.195 0.192 0.193 0.205 0.207 0.206 0.206 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 2.74 2.99 2.75 2.8 7.91 8.25 7.81 7.95 3.15 3.23 3.07 3.07 1.5400 1.5100 1.4900 1.5100 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 4.00 4.00 3.88 3.88 5.54 5.520 5.380 5.40 1.55 1.620 1.490 1.50 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 135.70 136.00 133.90 133.90 2.45 2.5 2.4 2.41 0.0085 0.0090 0.0085 0.0090 PREFERRED 66 68 67.25 67.6 525 525 525 525 7.11 7.15 7.15 7.15 112.7 109.5 109.5 109.5 1052 1090 1090 1090 1030 1030 1030 1030 82 82 82 82 79.05 79.2 79.1 79.2 78.5 78.55 78.5 78.5 80 80.1 79.95 80.1 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.000 2.980 2.910 2.980 SME 2.8 2.8 2.79 2.8 57.6 60 56.7 56.7 16 16.1 15.8 16 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.6 118.1 117 117

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

0.00 1.67 0.81 -4.90 1.71 0.00 11.80 -0.88 0.00 0.78 -2.29 3.41 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.16 0.00 -0.46 -2.60 0.00 -1.98 0.00

400 5,068,000 2,230,000 22,541,000 281,700 280,000 250,000 1,291,000 42,193,000 129,000 19,710,000 210,000 200,000 10,000 60,400 10,235,500 56,000 30,094,100 872,000 2,000 3,457,000 5,733,100

0.00 0.69 0.00 -0.35 1.89 -0.81 -1.75 1.12 3.24 -0.98 -1.30 0.41 -2.14 0.00 -0.18 0.00 0.72 -3.95 -0.78 10.17 -3.36 -1.61 -0.50 -3.66 -5.08 -2.27 -1.76 0.00 -2.22 0.00 0.00 0.14 -0.32 -46.20 -2.93 0.00 0.00 -2.13 8.82 -2.15

32,900 72,440 349,000 23,700 300 4,198,100 58,620,000 938,000 1,195,980 379,500 99,930 800,000 1,080,470 1,000 6,000 990,000 568,000 15,000 1,164,500 8,442,000 1,000 15,000 20,000 10,196,000 3,060,000 14,209,000 70 104,300 155,850 379,000 3,152,000 2,371,900 821,760 2,292,500 8,029,800 3,320,000 11,000 9,275,000 20,000 608,000

-2.04 -1.78 -7.38 0.00 0.00 0.69 -1.33 -4.29 -1.30 -2.17 -3.08 0.52 0.49 -9.09 0.00 2.19 0.51 -2.54 -1.95 0.00 10.00 -3.00 -2.53 -3.23 0.00 -1.33 -1.63 5.88

123,000,000 24,000 288,100 -580,093.00 100 160,000 4,240.00 300 -1,758.00 1,152,000 75,480.00 1,467,000 68,000.00 78,600 81,030.00 8,960,000 330,020.00 1,910,000 64,000.00 1,130,000 1,100,000 -103,000.00 113,600,000 28,500,000 1,118,000 -87,600.00 6,318,800 -12,535,855.00 480,000 6,140.00 134,000 30,200,000 6,000,000 26,000 550,100 -86,490.00 2,771,000 -325,220.00 28,000,000 42,550 953,372.00 354,000 83,210.00 14,000,000

2.42 0.00 0.56 -2.84 3.61 0.00 0.00 0.19 0.00 0.12

157,340 320 44,100 25,000 910 250 6,700 1,001,250 40,000 77,220

4,340,370.50

-0.67

7,000

5,820.00

0.00 -1.56 0.00

142,000 4,940 1,906,600

28,000.00

-0.51

58,160

117,000.00

-600,000.00 61,250.00 -2,712,205.00 -2,278,340.00 -39,660.00 -221,260.00 5,975,850.00

-1,794,310.00 -131,458,750.00 16,360.00 -1,067,760.00

-247,280.00 -9,795,944.00 35,900.00 56,044,877.00 53,489.00 44,395,660.00 34,375,760.00 -5,520.00 4,190.00 10,102,265.00 190,160.00

-8,149,840.00 70,000.00 639,040.00 931,903.00 -168,850,530.00 -222,740.00 72,541,700.00 39,200,626.00 -154,600.00 5,162,124.00 -822,500.00 -11,931,550.00

991,900.00

906,892.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Ever Gotesco

0.180

11.80

Manila Mining `A'

0.0100

-9.09

Liberty Telecom

3.90

10.17

F&J Prince 'B'

-8.05

Del Monte

10.00

Seafront `A'

2.69

-7.88

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0110

10.00

Atlas Cons. `A'

5.65

-7.38

Megawide

7.3

9.77

Da Vinci Capital

1.64

-5.75

LBC Express

12.9

9.51

MG Holdings

0.280

-5.08

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

8.84

Cyber Bay Corp.

0.485

-4.90

Waterfront Phils.

0.370

8.82

San Miguel Corp `A'

48.00

-4.67

SPC Power Corp.

4.09

7.63

Coal Asia

0.67

-4.29

A. Brown Co., Inc.

0.75

7.14

Jackstones

2.19

-3.95

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 31, 2015

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

Semirara set to run bigger Calaca plant By Alena Mae S. Flores

SEMIRARA Mining & Power Corp. expects to start the full commercial operations of the 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant expansion in Calaca, Batangas in November, a top executive said Friday. Semirara Mining chairman and chief executive Isidro Consunji said the project, which involved two units of 150-MW capacity each, was undergoing testing and commissioning. “Both [are] under commissioning… Maybe in two weeks, [it will be fully operational],” Consunji said, when asked about the project update. Semirara Mining’s subsidiary

South Luzon Power Generation Corp. is developing the 300-MW coal plant expansion. The Consunji group owns the existing 600-MW coal-fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas which it acquired from the government in 2009. The plants have also undergone rehabilitation to ensure reliable delivery of power. “With the normalization of Sem-Calaca Power units 1

and 2 and completion of our power expansion project under Southwest Luzon, we expect both operating segments to deliver steady growth for the company,” Consunji said earlier. He said the company was optimistic about prospects for 2015 and onwards with the rehabilitation of the existing plant and the completion of the expansion project. “This year the 2 by 150 MW will start contributing revenue from the sale of power from new power supply agreements,” he said. Semirara Mining is on the lookout for a possible joint venture partner for another 350MW power plant in Calaca which would cost P22 billion. A new company would be created for the expansion,

although it was not clear if the new plant would be located on the same site as the existing 600-MW Calaca coal facility and the 300MW station nearing completion. Semirara engages in the exploration, development and mining of coal resources in the Philippines. The company holds interests in various coal resources located in Semirara Island, Caluya, Antique. Semirara said earlier it expected consolidated net income to reach P10 billion this year, on additional generating capacity from new power projects and increased utilization of current plants. The company said it expected an estimated income of P1 billion from the commercial operations of the 300-megawatt coal power plant expansion in Calaca.

BDO forum. BDO Unibank Inc. holds a ‘Smart Business Decisions’ forum in Clark, Pampanga for clients in the small and medium enterprise segment. Shown during the forum are (from left) BDO senior vice president for cash management Jaime Nasol, senior executive vice president for institutional banking group Walter Wassmer, executive vice president for transaction banking group Edwin Reyes and entrepreneurship guru Andy Ferreria.

SEC approves P242-m initial public offering of ItalPinas By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the P242-million initial public offering of green building developer Italpinas Development Corp. Documents filed with the SEC showed Italpinas would offer up to 57.662 million common shares, at a price of P4.20 apiece. Italpinas plans to use proceeds from the IPO to finance capital expenditures for the new projects, land banking, acquisitions and repayment of existing loans. The shares, representing 26 percent of the company’s total authorized capital stock, will be

listed under the SME board of the Philippine Stock Exchange. The offering period is set on Nov. 3 to Nov. 9, while the listing date is tentatively scheduled on Nov. 16. The company hired Unicapital Inc. as the underwriter for the maiden share sale. Italpinas, which was incorporated in 2009, has already completed the first tower of its first project, the twin-tower Primavera Residences in Cagayan de Oro City. The company said it planned to acquire land in Lipa, Batangas; Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; and Iloilo. It also commenced negotiations over prospective

sites in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Cagayan de Oro and Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Italpinas earlier said it planned to develop at least $200 million worth of sustainable projects in six years, which would range from mixed-use buildings to condotels, hotels, resorts and beach-mixed communities all over the country and in other Asean countries. Meanwhile, the SEC also approved the P2-billion preferred shares issuance of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. Under the plan, Phoenix Petroleum will issue 20 million preferred shares at an offer price of P100 per share to fund the construction of 80 retail stations

nationwide and development of storage facilities in Cebu and General Santos. The company tapped Penta Capital & Investments Corp., Multinational Investment Bancorporation and AB Capital and Investments Corp. as the joint lead underwriters for the offering. Phoenix Petroleum is primarily engaged in the business of trading refined petroleum products, lubricants and other chemical products, operation of oil depots and storage facilities and allied services. Its operations started in Southern Mindanao and expanded to Luzon and the Visayas.

Market slumps; CebuAir advances STOCKS fell for the third day, as the Federal Reserve signaled it may raise interest rates in December and Chinese corporate earnings disappointed. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, lost 54 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 7,134.26 on Friday. The gauge was also down 1.3 percent since the start of the year. The heavier index, representing all shares, dropped 24 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 4,119.28, on a value turnover of P8.1 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 101 to 62, while 49 issues were unchanged. Cebu Air Inc., operator of budget carrier Cebu Pacific, emerged as the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it climbed 3.2 percent to P89.20. Property developer Robinsons Land Corp. rose 1.2 percent to P30.60, while food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. added 0.8 percent to close at P200.60. Meanwhile, most Asian stocks also traded lower Friday, except for Japanese stocks. Japan’s central bank slashed its growth forecasts and put back an inflation timetable as the country’s economy stutters, but its decision to hold off any fresh stimulus sent the yen up and Tokyo stocks rallying. Economists had come to a broad consensus the Bank of Japan would lower its expectations for the world’s number three economy following a string of weak data, including on trade, manufacturing and investment. The decision not to further loosen monetary policy came after the European Central Bank indicated it could ramp up its own program in December while China last week slashed interest rates for a sixth time in a year. And on Wednesday the Federal Reserve suggested it would raise US interest rates, confounding expectations it would delay a move until the new year owing to a weak global outlook. The BoJ forecast growth to come in at 1.2 percent in the fiscal year to March 2016, down from an earlier 1.7 percent projection. It also expects to hit its 2 percent inflation target in the six months ending March 2017—about half a year later than previously expected. It said the revision was “due to the flattening of exports against the background of the slowdown in emerging economies and to the sluggishness in private consumption”. After more than two years of huge government spending and BoJ bond-buying stimulus— pushed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe—the Japanese economy is still unable to gain traction and inflation remains anaemic. The tepid readings have brought into question Abe’s growth blitz. With Bloomberg, AFP

SATURDAY: OCTOBER 31, 2015

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

IN BRIEF

Liquidity grows 8% LIQUIDITY, or the money supply in the ﬁnancial system, rose 8.5 percent in September to P7.829 trillion from P7.219 trillion a year ago due largely to the increasing demand for credit in the domestic economy, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday. The September expansion was slightly slower than the 9-percent growth in August. Domestic claims rose 12.4 percent in September from 13 percent in August. Credits to the private sector increased at a slightly slower pace relative to the previous month. Net public sector credit, meanwhile, increased 15.4 percent, faster than the 14.5-percent growth a month earlier. Net foreign assets in peso terms rose 6.9 percent in September from 7.9 percent a month ago. The Bangko Sentral’s NFA position continued to expand during the month on the back of robust foreign exchange inﬂows coming mainly from remittances from migrant Filipino workers and business process outsourcing receipts. Julito G. Rada

NG debt hits P5.9t THE national government’s outstanding debt increased to P5.94 trillion in the first nine months of the year on higher external borrowings, official data showed Friday. The national outstanding debt climbed 3.7 percent at end-September to P5.94 trillion from P5.72 trillion yearon-year. Latest data from the Bureau of Treasury showed national government debt on month-on-month rose 0.67 percent from P5.89 trillion. Domestic debt increased 3.29 percent to P3.88 trillion from P3.75 trillion in September 2014. This is also P27.146 billion higher than the end-August figure this year. Of the total domestic debt, P598 million were in the form of loans and the balance in debt securities. Foreign debt in the nine-month period rose 4.53 percent to P2.052 trillion from P1.963 trillion on year, consisting of P754 billion in loans and P1.29 trillion in debt securities. Earlier, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the Philippines was wellpositioned to absorb the impact of the peso’s decline, saying state debts were mostly in pesos. Gabrielle H. Binaday

Meralco eyes more electric cooperatives By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, plans to participate in the privatization of another electric cooperative next year, a ranking official said Friday. “We’re looking at distribution utilities in the provinces. Quite a number we’re looking. Maybe next year,” Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan told reporters. Meralco disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange in February it agreed to subscribe to the new shares to be issued by Comstech Integration Alliance Inc. The shares valued at P300 million are divided into three million shares with a par value

of P100 apiece. The shares represent 60 percent of the authorized capital stock of Comstech. Comstech was awarded a 20year contract to operate and manage Pampanga II Electric Cooperative Inc. in February last year. Meralco also serves as Comstech’s technical advisor. The contract calls for the investor-manager to settle Pelco II’s debts with the National Electrification Administration and power suppliers.

The entry of Meralco in Comstech allowed Pelco II to turn around its finances. It recently paid Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. the balance of a restructured obligation amounting to almost P1.1 billion . “Management is there already [in Pelco II]. So their starting to turn it around, investing slowly in capex,” Pangilinan said. Pleco II is the first electric cooperative to succeed under an investment and management contract, a program of the NEA. In October 2010, the PSALM board approved the restructuring of Pelco II’s unpaid power obligations. Pelco II serves seven towns and municipalities in Pampanga province—Mabalacat, Guagua, Lubao, Porac, Sta. Rita, Sasmuan

and Bacolor. Meralco is also pursuing the construction of more power plants. Talks between Meralco’s power generation unit Meralco PowerGen Corp. and Osaka Gas of Japan over the construction of a 1,500-megawatt liquefied natural gas integrated facility in Luzon. are progressing Yoshihiko Kimata, chairman’s representative of Osaka Gas Singapore Pte. Ltd., told reporters earlier the company and Meralco PowerGen “are communicating periodically.” Kimata said the joint feasibility study for the planned project was in progress. “It’s going on,” he said, although he did not provide a timeline for the implementation of the project.

DHL Express grows DHL Express has expanded its operation in the Philippines with the inauguration of a new service center facility in the southern part of Manila that can handle capacity requirements in ﬁve years. DHL Express Philippines country manager Nurhayati Abdullah told reporters the company had invested P79.2 million in a new DHL Express South Service Center in the Philippines to expand its network and cater to the growing logistics demand of businesses, particularly those based in Southern Luzon. “This facility was built to handle the capacity [of the company] four to ﬁve years, so as we expand our footprint and as we walk closer to our customers. This facility is focusing on helping customers especially in the economic zone area and in the anticipation of our growth,” Abdullah said. The facility is located in Las Piñas City, a gateway for many industries such as electronics, semiconductors and manufacturing. She said the new facility would serve 15 percent of its total volume in the Philippines. It will serve the needs of customers in Las Piñas, Pasay, and Parañaque, as well as the province of Cavite. Darwin G. Amojelar

Davao del Norte road THE Agriculture Department said Fri-

day around 100 hectares of cacao farm will be linked by the soon-to-be constructed farm-to-market road in Asuncion, Davao del Norte. The P78.8 million road is part of the Philippine Rural Development Project, which covers the rehabilitation and concreting of 7.8 kilometers access road in the villages of New Visayas and Binancian. PRDP is a special project of the Department of Agriculture and jointly funded by the World Bank, the national and local government units. PRDP national deputy project director Arnel De Mesa said the road rehabilitation was the second PRDP-funded project in Davao del Norte. The project will support a direct road inﬂuence area of 400 hectares planted with cacao, corn, banana, coconuts mango, durian and root crops. With around 2,000 farmers to beneﬁt the project, the road network connects the barangays of Kamansa, Sunlon, Buan and Binancian. Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Globe forum. Globe Enterprise Innovation Forum brings together thought leaders and speakers from all over the world to instill the importance of innovation in leading businesses and industries. At the 6th forum held at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel are (from left) Globe Telecom Inc. chief operating ofﬁcer Gil Genio, MIT Leadership Center executive director Hal Gregersen, Singtel Group Enterprise chief executive Bill Chang and Globe senior advisor for Enterprise and IT-Enabled Services Group Michael Frausing.

Energy okays Basic Energy-Trans-Asia joint venture BASIC Energy Corp. received the green light from the Energy Department on a farm-in agreement with Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. to jointly develop a geothermal service contract in Mabini, Batangas. Basic Energy said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange it obtained the go-signal early this week. The approved arrangement calls for a 75-25 equity and project cost participation between Basic Energy and Trans-Asia. Under the terms of the agree-

ment, Trans-Asia will shoulder a 25-percent undivided participating interest in the rights, interests, privileges, duties and obligations in and under geothermal service contract No. 8. Trans-Asia decided to share in the cost of the first exploration well committed under sub-phase 3 of the geothermal service contract after undertaking due diligence on the project, including geophysical work. This validated previous prospective estimates that the project could generate between 20 megawatts and 60

megawatts of energy. Basic Energy, as the operator of the service contract, plans to drill the first well by the second quarter of next year. Basic Energy early this year signed an agreement with FECD Energy Resources and Development Services to review and evaluate existing data and the geological and geochemical survey of its geothermal power projects. Basic said the data would come from the East Mankayan Geothermal Power Project, Mariveles Geothermal Power Project,

Iriga Geothermal Power Project and West Bulusan Geothermal Power Project Under the services agreement, FEDS will conduct the review and evaluation of existing data and the reconnaissance geological and geochemical field work of the power project areas to assess their technical viability. “The work is estimated to be completed in three months time. The results of the study will assist Basic in planning for the detailed surface exploration phase,” the company said.

s at u r D aY : O C t O B E r 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

CEsar BarriOquintO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Antarctic sanctuary is closer to reality SYDNEY—The creation of a vast marine sanctuary in Antarctica’s “Last Ocean” inched closer at international talks Friday as China for the first time backed the proposal, officials said, with Russia understood to be the last holdout. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources or CCAMLR has been meeting for almost two weeks, with two proposed marine protected areas designed to protect species such as whales and giant squid on the table among other issues. Ahead of the close of the meeting, officials said that China had indicated it could now endorse one of these reserves in the Ross Sea, which is known as the “Last Ocean” because it is considered the last intact marine ecosystem on Earth. “Up until now China has not been in favor of establishing this Marine Protected Area and through negotiation and discussion with them they have agreed to support the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area,” head of the US delegation Evan Bloom told AFP. “And that’s important because now only one country remains that isn’t supportive and so we’re closer. This is an important country to have gotten on board. So, for us, this is a pretty good result.” Both the Ross Sea proposal and an Australia-backed East Antarctic protected zone have been blocked four times so far at the annual CCAMLR meets, which require consensus from all 24 members countries and the European Union to progress. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully welcomed China’s support as a “major step”, saying the proposal was designed to balance scientific, environmental and fishing interests. The US and New Zealandbacked Ross Sea proposal was this year enlarged to more than 1.5 million square kilometers but with the overall no fishing zone slightly diminished, though still covering about 1.1 million square kilometers. “We also welcome Russia’s statement that it is open to working with members on the MPA ahead of the next CCAMLR meeting in 2016,” McCully said in a statement. AFP

world El Niño covers Chile’s arid desert in flowers COPIAPO, Chile—Here’s a softer side to the disruptive weather phenomenon known as El Niño: an enormous blanket of colorful flowers has carpeted Chile’s Atacama desert, the most arid in the world.

In attendance. Actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley attends amfAR’s Inspiration Gala Los Angeles at Milk Studios in Hollywood, California. AFP

The cyclical warming of the central Pacific may be causing droughts and floods in various parts of the world, but in the vast desert of northern Chile it has also caused a vibrant explosion of thousands of species of flowers with an intensity not seen in decades. Yellows, reds, purples and whites have covered the normally stark landscapes of the Atacama, where the temperatures top 40 degrees Celsius this time of year. From violet-and-white Chilean bell flowers, or “countryside sighs” (Nolana paradoxa), to red “lion claws” (Bomarea ovallei), to yellow Rhodophiala rhodolirion, they have filled the normally pale desert valleys with rivers of color. “This year has been particularly special, because the amount of rainfall has made this perhaps the most spectacular of the past 40 or 50 years,” said Raul Cespedes, a desert specialist at the University of Atacama. El Niño, which wreaks havoc on world weather patterns every two to seven years, has hit particularly hard this year, causing unusually heavy rainfall in the world’s driest desert. That has caused dormant flower bulbs and rhizomes underground stems that grow horizontally to germinate. “When you think of the desert, you think of total dryness, but there’s a latent ecosystem here just waiting for certain conditions to arise,” said Cespedes. The desert flowers are perhaps nature’s consolation for what has been a devastating year for Atacama. They first bloomed in March, after heavy rain that caught the region by surprise and caused massive floods that killed more than 30 people. They are now blooming for the second time this year, at the outset of the southern hemisphere summer. “This is a very unusual phenomenon. Because of the floods in March there was an exceptional winter bloom, which had never before been recorded... and then there was another bloom in spring,” said Daniel Diaz, director of the National Tourism Service for Atacama region. AFP “Two flowerings a year is very unusual in the most arid desert in the world, and that’s something we’ve been able to enjoy this spring, along with people from all over the world. There’s a lot of interest in seeing it,” he told AFP. AFP

40 killed as Syria govt rockets hit Damascus suburb BEIRUT—Forty people were killed on Friday when rockets fired by Syrian government forces crashed into a market in a rebel-held area outside Damascus, a monitor said. “There were 40 people killed and at least 100 wounded in the center of Douma,” a town in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of the Syrian capital, Rami Abdel Rahman,

head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. “There is still heavy fire now, with both rockets and mortars,” he said, adding that the toll was expected to rise as people were still being pulled out of damaged buildings. Rebel-held Douma lies in Eastern Ghouta, the largest opposition stronghold in Damascus province.

The region is regularly targeted by rocket fire, shelling, and aerial raids by government forces, and opposition groups there also fire rockets into the capital. On Thursday, government air strikes in Douma hit a market and a hospital, killing at least nine people, according to the Observatory. In August, 117 people were killed in a

single day of air strikes in Douma, causing a global outcry. Throughout Syria’s brutal war, both the government and opposition forces have been criticized by rights groups for indiscriminate fire on civilian areas. More than 250,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011. AFP

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Agrarian Reform REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE MARKET BASED AGRI-TECHNOLOGY AND AGRI-EXTENSION SERVICES (AES) BATCH 3 OF THE AGRARIAN REFORM CONNECTIVITY AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT SERVICES (ARCCESS) PROJECT 1. The Department of Agrarian Reform Regional Office Region II (DARRO-Region II), through the GAA 2014 appropriations intends to apply the sum of Php3,500,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Professional Services Providers (PSPs) for the Market-Based Agri-Technology andAgri-Extension Services –Batch 2 of the Agrarian Connectivity and Economic Support (ARCESS) Project. 2. The DARRO Region II now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for: Lot

Province

2-AES-A

CAGAYAN& ISABELA

2-AES-B

No. of SubProjects

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

2,10,000.00

Php3,500,000.00

N U E V A VIZCAYA& QUIRINO

TOTAL

Objective and Scope of the Contract

Php1, 400,000.00

To develop the capacity and scope of the Agrarian reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) in the identified provinces on agritechnogy and agri-extension which takes into account the needs and preferences of the market

3. Interested professional service providers must submit their eligibility documents on or before November 16, 2015 9:00 o’clock am at the office of the Office of the DARRO-BAC Secretariat, Regional Office II, Regional Government Center, Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion. The Eligibility Data Sheet shall be available at the address above on November 16,2015. The complete set of Bidding documents may be purchased at the BAC Secretariat Office.

The DARRO-BAC shall draw up the short list of PSPs from those who have submitted eligibility documents/expression of Interest and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provision of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act” and its Revised Implementing Rules And Regulations (IRR).

The criteria and rating system for short listing are:

A.Track record of professional service provider B. Qualification of the team C. Current workload and absorptive capacity

30% 50% 20%

4. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorship, partnership corporation, cooperatives or joint ventures with at least 60% interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 5. BAC-DARRO 02 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference onNovember 18, 2015 at 1:00 0’clock PM at the Tabones Hall, DARRO 02, Carig, Tuguegaro City, which will be open to all interested bidders. Submission of bidswill be on December 1, 2015, 9:00 0’clock AM and bid opening will follow immediately at the Tabones Hall, DARRO 02, Carig, Tuguegaro City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the abovementioned address. 6. The procuring entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedures. The Technical proposal shall carry a weight of seventy percent (70%) in the evaluation. Bids whose technical proposal passes the minimum technical requirement of fifty-three percent (53%) shall have financial proposals opened and evaluated. The rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the instruction to bidders. 7. The contract shall be completed withinsix months. 8. The DARRO-Region II reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidder or bidders. 9. For further information, refer to:

MS. MA. ANNETTE L. ROMANO Head, DARRO 02 BAC Secretariat DAR Regional Office, Carig Sur Tuguegarao City, Cagayan CP #: 09062263409

(SGD) ATTY. LEON B. LAGUNDI, JR. Chairman, Bids and Awards

(TS-OCT. 31, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Agrarian Reform

s at u r D aY : o c t o b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

WORLD

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Rivals Saudi, Iran join talks on Syria’s fate VIENNA—The major powers, including arch-rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia who back opposing sides in Syria, meet for the first time Friday in search of a political solution to the devastating war. Top diplomats from more than a dozen nations have gathered in Vienna to narrow differences over the fate of President Bashar al-Assad, who has defied Western demands to step down. In a sign of its growing diplomatic clout, Iran, a longtime sponsor of Assad’s regime, is joining the talks for the first time, months after striking a landmark nuclear deal with the world powers. “This meeting is very timely because it is the first time since the start of the Syrian conflict that all the major players are gathering,” French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said as he arrived for the talks. “We must fight more effectively against the terrorists” of the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliate, the Al-Nusra Front, he said. “Then it is necessary to organize the political transition,” Fabius added. “Mr Assad, who is responsible for a large part of the Syrian tragedy, cannot be considered the future of Syria.” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the talks a “sign of hope for Syria and the region” and an “important first step” toward finding a solution to the conflict. There was no talk of representatives of the Syrian regime or the opposition attending the discussions aimed at ending a four-year war that has claimed a quarter of a million lives. In Washington, which along with its Arab and Turkish allies backs Syrian rebels, officials had expressed a cautious hope that the players would agree the outline of a transition that would eventually see Assad step aside. Just ahead of the talks, 40 people were killed Friday when rockets fired by Syrian government forces crashed into a market in a rebel-held area outside Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. US Secretary of State John Kerry, while warning against expectations of an immediate solution, has described the talks as “the most promising opportunity for a political opening we have seen”.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (BDS) BATCH 3 OF THE AGRARIAN REFORM CONNECTIVITY AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT SERVICES (ARCCESS) PROJECt 1.

The Department of Agrarian Reform Regional Office Region II (DARRO-Region II), through the GAA 2014 appropriations intends to apply the sum of Php2,500,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Professional Services Providers (PSPs) for the Business Development Services –Batch 3 of the Agrarian Connectivity and Economic Support (ARCESS) Project.

The

DARRO Lot

Region

Province

now

calls

No. of SubProjects

for

the

submission

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

2-BDS-A

C A G A Y A N & ISABELA

Php1, 000,000.00

2-BDS-B

N U E V A V I Z C A Y A & QUIRINO

1,500,000.00

Php2,500,000.00

TOTAL

eligibility

documents

for:

Objective and Scope of the Contract To enable the participating Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) to become leaders in agrientrepreneurial ventures and transform the agrarian reform areas into viable agribusiness units

Interested professional service providers must submit their eligibility documents on or before November 16, 2015 9:00 o’clock am at the office of the Office of the DARRO-BAC Secretariat, Regional Office II, Regional Government Center, Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

The Eligibility Data Sheet shall be available at the address above on November 16,2015. The complete set of Bidding documents may be purchased at the BAC Secretariat Office.

The criteria and rating system for short listing are:

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorship, partnership corporation, cooperatives or joint ventures with at least 60% interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

BAC-DARRO 02 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference onNovember 18, 2015 at 1:00 0’clock PM at the Tabones Hall, DARRO 02, Carig, Tuguegaro City, which will be open to all interested bidders. Submission of bidswill be on December 1, 2015, 9:00 0’clock AM and bid opening will follow immediately at the Tabones Hall, DARRO 02, Carig, Tuguegaro City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the above-mentioned address.

The procuring entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedures. The Technical proposal shall carry a weight of seventy percent (70%) in the evaluation. Bids whose technical proposal passes the minimum technical requirement of fifty-three percent (53%) shall have financial proposals opened and evaluated. The rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the instruction to bidders.

The contract shall be completed withinsix months.

The DARRO-Region II reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, refer to:

A. Track record of professional service provider B. Qualification of the team C. Current workload and absorptive capacity

MS. MA. ANNETTE L. ROMANO Head, DARRO 02 BAC Secretariat DAR Regional Office, Carig Sur Tuguegarao City, Cagayan CP #: 09062263409

30% 50% 20%

(SGD) ATTY. LEON B. LAGUNDI, JR. Chairman, Bids and Awards

Meeting on Syria. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov chat before the talks with 17 nations, the European Union and United Nations at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna, Austria. Kerry and other leaders are in Vienna to discuss solutions to the conflict in Syria. AFP “Now it is the right time to bring Iran to the table,” Kerry said. Russia, which has waged a month of intense air strikes against Assad’s armed opponents, has also urged preparations for parliamentary and presidential elections in Syria. But the idea has been rejected by rebels who say a vote would be impossible in the current circumstances, with millions of Syrians displaced, cities standing in ruins and two-thirds of the country in the hands of jihadists and other armed groups. There are also doubts about whether Tehran and Moscow are ready to push Assad to step aside, particularly at a time when the Islamic State group is seeking to tighten its grip on swathes of the country for its self-proclaimed caliphate. Even so, mounting international concerns about the outpouring of Syrian refugees and the growing jihadist threat could set the scene for some kind of political compromise, experts say. “Overall, we have for the very first time around the table all the major actors and we have a situation of fatigue on the ground, so it could lead to a potential breakthrough,” said Karim Bitar, of the Paris-based Institute for International and Strategic Relations. AFP

S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

PROPERTY

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

jdlacsamana@gmail.com

investmentgraDe

NOMINATIONS FOR 2016 PHILIPPINES PROPERTY AWARDS UNDERWAY

Century Spire Offices was recently granted an accreditation by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), making the Grade A building even more attractive to investors doing business from Makati’s Central Business District. Century Spire is located in Century City, a growing residential and commercial district north of the CBD. It has an arresting architecture by acclaimed architect Daniel Libeskin, and amenities that range from a retail section, a food hall, a fine dining restaurant, an auditorium, and a grand office lobby designed by Armani/Casa.

ome April 7, 2016, the shape of the real estate industry in the Philippines, and how it has dramatically changed over the years, will hog the spotlight when the Philippines Property Awards announces a plethora of big winners in the fourth consecutive year that Ensign Media organized this event. The local property market has grown over the last 20 years as increasing demand for residential and commercial properties in the country became evident against the backdrop of the economic landscape. According to Moody’s Investors Service latest outlook report, the Philippines is enjoying a rare kind of economic resilience that is bound to trickle down to the real estate industry. To highlight this growth, the Philippines’ biggest real estate awards recently announced that it will begin accepting nominations from local developers and the general public on 29 November 2015. Property firms are free to enter as long as a third party nominates them. The announcement was made at a press conference this week at the Fairmont Makati, the official venue sponsor of the Philippines Property Awards 2016.

Hitting tHe sweet spot. Up-and-coming developer Ovialand, Inc. is pulling all the stops to ensure that its maiden project, Terrazza de Sto. Tomas, a sprawling 5.8 hectare property in Batangas province, is a success when it hits the ground running. The project offers three model units, Amore, single-detached, 99 sqm; Dolce (Shown in photo) duplex, 75 sqm; and Bacci Quad, 65-86 sqm. Each unit has its own mini garden and laid out in such a way that its residents feel an ambience of exclusivity.The gated community also shares a clubhouse, recreational court, and landscaped pocket gardens.

game CHanger. Bosch recently exhibited its latest innovations at the PhilConstruct Expo, the country’s biggest construction convention at the SMX Convention Hall. The German brand showcased a portfolio of power tools from Bosch Professional, Skil and Dremel lines, as well as CCTV cameras, intrusion devices, and fire detection, among other security systems. Two new innovations, the AVENAR 4000 Fire Detection System and the 360-view Panoramic Camera, to be officially launched in November, were unveiled. Bosch’s latest group of products, the contractors’ choice power tools range, was also on tap. The range was front-lined by drills and grinders such as the GBM 320, GBM 350, GSB 550, and the GSR 1080-2 LI, all made are made to achieve precise drilling, while the GSH 500 demolition hammer, GWS 060 angle grinder and GCO 200 cut off saw, were demonstrated to accomplish heavy-duty tasks. At the Bosch Booth were Gilas coach and Skil brand ambassador Coach Norman Black, and DIY handicraft expert and Dremel brand ambassador Sonny Limjap.

by joel D. laCsamana

Designs beyonD bounDaries. Global-Link Exhibitions Specialist Inc. and the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers(PIID) recently launched Interior& Design Manila (IDM) 2016. The exhibition and conference is scheduled on March 11 to 13, 2016, and will be held at the SMX Convention Center Manila, SM Mall of Asia Complex,Pasay City. At the press conference launching IDM 2016 were (from left to right): Jing Lagandaon, chief operating officer, Global Link Exhibitions specialists Inc.; Kathleen Obcemea, corporate secretary, Philippine Institute of Interior Designers; Arch. James Jao, national president, Philippine Institute of Interior Designers; Rose Ong, senior executive vice president; chief operating officer, Wilcon Depot; Eduardo Zuluaga, national president, Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines; Patrick Tan, chief executive officer, Global Link Exhibitions Specialists Inc. ; Reuben Cueto, vice president for marketing, Boysen; and Art Lucan, design and communication services manager.

tHe next “best Developer” is¼. . In the next six months, the judging panel in the Philippines will be looking for the next Ayala Land Inc, Shang Properties Realty Corp or SM Prime Holdings, all former winners of the Best Developer accolade.. These developers, along with all past winners in various categories of the Philippines Property Awards, have left their respective marks in the industry. Ayala Land claimed the Best Developer (South East Asia) title in 2014 during the South East Asia Property Awards grand finals held in Singapore. Next year, one outstanding developer from the Philippines could win that honour again. There will be 26 trophies to be given away at the awards ceremony next year. Categories are grouped into three main sections, namely Developer, Development and Design, covering the condominium, housing, hotel, office, retail, green and villa segments. “We’re not only holding a launch party for our 2016 event in the Philippines,” said Terry Blackburn, CEO of

Ensign Media, the publisher of Asia’s industry-leading monthly magazine, Property Report. “This is a showcase of our commitment to the country’s exciting real estate market, and to recognise and reward the most significant contributions to the sector from local developers.” HigHer trajeCtory patH The Philippines has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the region in recent years. With an average growth rate of 6.2% per year from 2010 to 2014—even reaching 7.1% in 2013—the economy is ostensibly travelling at a higher trajectory path. The average growth in the past five years was the highest in nearly four decades. These developments bode well for the local real estate industry, with the property market across all its sectors (including office, residential, logistics, retail, and hospitality segments) poised for continued growth. A key source of growth in the market is rapid urbanization and the accompanying rise of the residential sector. As of 2014, a little under half of the Philippine population lived in urban areas (48.6%), but this is projected to rise to 56.3% by 2030 and 66% by 2050. aDDitional awarD The second Property Report Congress was likewise launched at the press conference. Ensign Media plans to bring together the country’s industry leaders and experts for a Philippine-focused, all-day seminar and network event. Successful entries will be supervised by one of the world’s largest accounting firms, BDO International. Winners will be revealed at the black-tie awards gala at the Fairmont Makati. One additional award – chosen by the editors of Property Report – will be presented to the Real Estate Personality of Year whose influence and achievements resonates across the country. Past recipients are Antonino Aquino, President and CEO of Ayala Land; Dr. Andrew L. Tan, Chairman and Founder of Megaworld Corporation; and Ramon Fernando D. Rufino, Executive Vice-President of The Net Group, and incumbent chairman of the Philippine Green Building Council.

returning for a fourtH run. At the launch of the Philippine Property Awards 2016 were (from left to right) : Paul Ashburn (Co-managing partner of BDO), Terry Blackburn, (CEO of Ensign Media), Marie Grace Ofamen, (consultant of Hansgrohe), Eric Mangosing (board of judges representative), and Michael McCullough (managing director, KMC MAG Group).

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY

city, leisure market comparison. Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam reflect a bigger focus on resorts, while other markets see stronger urban demand.

top hotel groups. Louvre Hotels Group is the market leader with a total of 23 projects in Thailand and Indonesia. Banyan Tree has a broad geographical spread covering Thailand,Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam

ph Branded hotels, residences top p158 B mark

ilipino property developers are leading the charge in the burgeoning branded hotel residences sector, which recently topped the P749 billion level in the Southeast Asia real estate market. Local developers, in partnership with international hospitality brands, have contributed to the regional push with P158 billion in properties for sale. New research by Asia-based hospitality consulting group C9 Hotelworks, showed there are currently over 28,000 hotel branded residential units for sale across seven SEA nations represented by nearly 120 projects. In the Philippines the market-size is reflected in a supply of over 11,000 residential units. The top two loca-

Protecting your dream house For many people, building a house happens once in a lifetime. The term “dream house” has a deep meaning for them. It is a longterm investment, which is why first-time builders make sure the structure will last a long time. Sound planning, proper construction procedures, and using the best building materials are a must. But some people make the mistake of sacrificing quality for cost. They end up getting cheap alternatives, or get tricked into buying fake building materials. cheap vs. cost eFFicient When plywood, or fake fiber cement boards are used for interi-

tions in the country for hotel residences are Metro Manila, followed by Boracay. The average price per square meter for urban properties is P196,547 a square meter, while in resort destinations the number slightly decreases to P189,276. Brand dogma latches on A catalyst for this growth has been the increasing number of mixed use projects that contain hotel and real estate components. Hotel brands are being tapped to help engineer-pricing premiums for property sales, which in market-wide terms has equated to an upside of 26% in resort locations and 14% for urban products compared to independent projects. In Metro Manila the Shangri-La

Group has a long history of quality real estate driven developments. New projects such as the Raffles Residences and more recently Grand Hyatt Residences, have demonstrated strong sale pace and high-pricing points. Broader upscale and midscale offerings are now creating a wider presence such as the Citadines tie-up at CDD Millennium Ortigas and the investment driven yields from hotel rentals at Hotel 101 and Lancaster the Atrium. “The historic pattern of hotel and real estate marriages has moved away from the beach and leisure destinations and is gaining traction in urban offerings,” said Bill Barnett, managing director of C9. Barnett added that escalating land prices are driving developers

history repeating itselF? Century Properties has been a large proponent of this trend, embracing not only hotel brands with their recent Novotel Suites affiliation with the French hospitality group ACCOR, but also tapping into designer brands ranging from Trump, to Philippe Starck, Armani and even Paris Hilton.” The report highlights a refocus by global hotel chains to partner with property developers in hotel residence offerings. Key groups in the sector are Louvre, Singapore’s

Products like genuine HardieFlex® fiber cement boards by James Hardie do not need constant repairs or replacement (when installed and maintained correctly) since they are resistant to moisture damage, termites, impact, and rotting.

all in the Brand. This two-storey house at Ville De Soleil in Dasmarinas, Cavite uses genuine HardieFlex fiber cement boards.

or walls, ceilings, sidings, fascia, eaves, and flooring there can be recurring costs in terms of repair and replacements, as those products are less durable, and can

to embrace mixed-use projects in increasing numbers, and often add in commercial, sporting and tourism attractions as part of broader lifestyle offerings.

easily get damaged. But when the customer buys products that will last longer and perform better, he saves more in the long run.

harmFul vs health vs. environment-Friendly Another advantage of getting genuine fiber cement board is the benefit of using materials that will not pose a risk to people, or to the environment. Plywood and fake fiber cement boards usually have high volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or contain asbestos, which can harm a resident’s health, as well as the environment. Fake hardieFlex® vs. genuine hardieFlex® While people are already con-

Banyan Tree, Starwood, Shangri-La and Ritz-Carlton. Boutique chains such as Alila have also successfully gained profile with similar partnerships. A number of new projects coming into the Philippines include hotel brand alliances. One of them is AppleOne Properties signing with global Starwood group for a new Sheraton in Cebu. The mixed use development includes 182 condominium units with one, two and three bedroom types. Many of the projects contain both traditional accommodation elements and real estate components. Industry observers forecast that a large push into resort properties will occur in the next two to three years in the sector.

vinced about the advantages of using genuine HardieFlex®, there is still a chance they are not getting what they’re paying for, because there are imitation products in the market. James Hardie, maker of HardieFlex®, empowers its customers to avoid buying substandard building products. Its latest initiative involves educating the consumers on how to spot original HardieFlex® products, which the company made simple by incorporating two indicators. First,an original HardieFlex® has a back branding located at the back of each HardieFlex® sheet. The back branding indicates the product name, thickness, and batch number. Second, a green stripe located at the corner, left-side of each HardieFlex® sheet is a sure sign that it is a bona fide HardieFlex®

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

P OP CU LT U RE

LIFE

Circuit Makati

STAYCATIONS: MAKE IT MAKATI BY WEIZEL GULFAN

o plans for the long weekend? No problem. Makati makes it happen so that you don’t have to deal with the “Carmageddon,” turtling out of the city to get away from the corporate chaos only to get more stressed due to the traffic situation. What was once a poor excuse for those who couldn’t afford to escape has now become an equally fulfilling (at times more preferable) alternative for the holidays – the “staycation.” With five star hotels like Raffles, Fairmont Makati, InterContinental Manila and Holiday Inn & Suites Makati offering as much as 50 percent off on their premium rooms, wellness packages and breakfast buffets to cater to the growing number of staycationers, staying in when everyone else is going out has never been friendlier. What’s more, these luxury hotels are also offering a Circuit Makati Bundle that includes two Circuit Bazaar tickets, two Karl Edwards Bazaar tickets, two Solar Mad Fest tickets, and a food voucher for every Power Mac Center Spotlight ticket purchase.

Holiday Inn and Suites Makati Deluxe Room

WHAT TO DO IN CIRCUIT MAKATI

Rising in the outskirts of Makati is Circuit, an Ayala Land development where city lights meet street life. For the average millennial who wants to take advantage of being closely situated to the workplace but still have enough room in their lives for play, Circuit is strategically situated along South Avenue just 30 minutes from the Central Business District with access from the Sta. Ana road of Manila. In it is the Circuit Mall that offers a wide array of restaurant choices like Backyard. Owned by musician Rico Blanco, the restaurant is famous for savory grills, its tequila and beer bundles, and local artisan brands that are exclusive to the mall. Circuit has what wake boarding is to Nuvali – the go-kart. Think bump cars for adults minus the actual collision but still maintaining the thrill of the race. What

Mountain Dew Skate Park

The author taking a spin on the go-kart

CityKart Racing

PHOTO BY MAGIC LIWANAG

makes go-kart especially fun is that you can satiate your need for speed with a dozen other racers all at the same time without being crowded in the track for a couple of rounds of joyride. It is the ultimate after-office barkada trip to break away from the stress of the daily grind, and a perfect place to spend fun activities during the holidays. Another highlight of Circuit is the Spotlight Theater that stages plays like #No Filter – a series of monologues about Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation. The play depicts the current generation’s personal struggles on career, love, religion and life in general. Witty, melodramatic but curiously so-on-point, the stage drama is led by powerful performances

from eight cast members. Four of them are local celebrities making their debut on stage –Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Mikael Daez, Saab Magalona-Bacarro, and Lauren Young. The other cast members include veteran theater actor Khalil Kaimo along with other homegrown theater talents Cai Cortez, Sarah Facuri, and Micah Muñoz. Circuit Makati also boasts of the Globe Events Ground which can host 20,000 people, and is home to several pocket museums, a spacious skate park and is anticipated to house the next CCP of the Philippines. So, now is the time to prepare for your long weekend and holiday Makati staycation. From November to December 2015, MasterCard cardholders can avail of Raffles

and Fairmont Makati rooms at a 50 percent discount on best available rates on weekends, Friday to Sunday (except for the following black out dates: November 13-19, and Dec. 31). Spend your holiday lunch and dinner socials with one free buffet for every four diners at Spectrum. While savoring your staycation, indulge as well in some “me” time at the renowned Willow Stream Spa, with a 50 percent off promo on weekdays Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on all a la carte massage treatments. Availing of Makati staycation packages is easier through reservations, which can be made by logging on to www. makeitmakati.com, or by contacting the reservation desks of participating hotels.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCYTHER5 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

WE’RE OFFENDED BECAUSE... Spinning of f f rom last week’s edition of this column, “Political correctness extremism,” THE GIST we’re listing BY ED BIADO down the reasons the world is easily offended. We never used to be like this, you know. And here’s why.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO TMI ALL THE TIME.

Observation tells us that every opposition to the most mundane of things, like last week’s examples (music videos and live musical performances), happens on the Internet. It’s where we can be vocal and not suffer the consequences because what is Taylor Swift going to do? Hunt you down because of a silly tweet? You’ll notice that people who are not active on social media don’t care for such trivialities. They have more important things to do – like, you know, have an actual life. It’s these

people who are online all the time, who have access to too much information, who protest every single “offensive” thing. On the other hand, offline, NO ONE CARES.

WE ARE GETTING MORE MALICIOUS.

I have a suspicion that the people who are most easily offended have the sickest thoughts. They are able to read into something innocent because they’re already prejudiced. It’s a classic case of “it takes one to know one.” Simply put, someone who has an arsenal of racial bias would be able to spot the faintest of racial undertones. Even if there is no intention to offend, you can be called out by these political correctness warriors because their bias and prejudice makes them prone to interpret cues the only way they know how: negatively and maliciously. And instead of explaining and educating others on what makes a particular statement or action offensive, they immediately go on a tirade and shoot ad hominem attacks on the offender. Such hypocrisy, right?

WE OVERTHINK THINGS.

A May Time.com story has the headline, “‘Dad Bod’ Is a Sexist Atrocity.” Just wow. The writer rambles on and on about how the phenom relates to gender inequality and goes all life coach-y, asking, “Why not accept your body for what it is without comparing it to anyone else, male or female?” Easy, Chris Brown, can’t it just be a matter of preference? Do we really have to go Freudian on everything and believe that all our decisions are because of our “issues”? Sometimes, a dad bod is just a dad bod. Stop making “issues” happen, dude.

WE TAKE THINGS TOO PERSONALLY.

Remember Miley’s twerking era? Really, what does that have to do with you? How is it affecting your life that a young pop star is wearing pasties and humping a wrecking ball and sticking out her tongue 75 percent of the time? It doesn’t, right? So why the damn hell were you so caught up in her business?

WE ARE DRIVEN BY HERD MENTALITY.

No one wants to be left behind. FOMO, right? So we jump on all the Internet trends like we mean it. If an influencer is listing down the countless ways to #ReplaceMovieTitleWithFart, we simply have to as well. If a friend shares an inspirational video, we collectively ooh and aah at the wonder of it all; then share it so everyone we know can ooh and aah and share as well. If they’re bitching about something that offends them, we have to be offended, too. And share our opinions to the whole worldwide web. Then, one opinion reaches 200 people. About 10 will react. Then it’s 2,000. Before

you know it, two million people are angry and signing petitions on Change.org to cancel a show or demand an apology from a person who was probably misquoted.

WE ARE ENTITLED.

All told, it’s really because this generation is so entitled. We’re always right. Everybody else is wrong. If we’re right and they’re wrong, they should change. They should apologize. We believe in freedom of speech, in equality, in democracy – but only when these concepts are beneficial to us. There is no room for hate in this world, except for when we’re hating on someone whose beliefs don’t match ours. It’s our duty to put them in their place. Because again, we’re right and they’re wrong. We’re better than them, and we’re not afraid to express it. So to recap, we’re offended by the things that they say and do because we’re entitled, we’re selfish, we’re narcissists, and we’re selfrighteous. Those are the things that we are. And I find that offensive. Don’t you? Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

S AT U R D AY : O C T O B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

SECOND NBA STORE OPENS IN THE PHILIPPINES T he National Basketball Association (NBA) recently opened its biggest store outside of the United States. The second store after the Glorietta branch, the new store is located in Mega Fashion Hall in Manila. “The initial flagship NBA Store in Glorietta has established itself as the premier destination for NBA fanatics in the country and we could not be more excited to fuel their passion with the unveiling of our second store,” said Melvin Lloyd Lim, president and CEO, IATC (International Athletic Trading Company, Inc.). “By opening our doors in the heart of Metro Manila, we look forward to providing more fans access to a comprehensive assortment of NBA merchandise, bringing the authentic NBA shopping experience to Filipinos.” There’s only one NBA store in the US and opening another store in the Philippines signals that the first branch in Glorietta was a successful venture. Earlier this month, the flagship NBA Store in the Philippines received the 2015 Asia Sports Industry Gold Award for the “Best Sports Retail Campaign” in recognition of its industry leading standards. During the opening, fivetime NBA champion Ron Harper was present for the ribbon cutting and interacted with fans during the launch. The new NBA Store offers basketball enthusiasts authentic NBA merchandise and memorabilia. The shop opens with an extensive selection of NBA products from

@LIFEatStandard

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NBA PHILIPPINES' FACEBOOK PAGE

NBA store opening

Store racks

all 30 teams, including official jerseys, footwear, performance gear, lifestyle apparel, basketballs, toys and collectibles. Fans can also find hard-to-get autographed NBA memorabilia and will also appreciate a personalized jersey service. “We are thrilled to expand our footprint with the opening of the second NBA Store in

the Philippines,” said Carlo Singson, NBA Asia associate vice president and country manager for the Philippines. “IATC is the ideal partner in our efforts to outfit more Filipinos in their favorite NBA apparel and to offer the widest range of NBA merchandise in the Philippines.” The newly opened store carries products from brands like adidas, NIKE, Under

Armour, New Era, Panini, Spalding, Stance, 2K Sports, plus select NBA apparel exclusive to the store. Regular store hours of the NBA Store in Mega Fashion Hall are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For more information, follow their page on Facebook at NBA Philippines.

Keep the rain away with BOBSON’s premium holiday giveaway

apanese denim brand BOBSON is not about to let the rainy days get you down as it throws a limited edition holiday gift to accompany every purchase of its superiorly crafted jeans. Every single-receipt purchase of the brand’s regular items worth P3,500 entitles customers to one BOBSON premium umbrella. Big, bold and stylish, this awesome and timely giveaway is available until December 31. Customers can claim their items by presenting their receipts to the salesperson where the purchase was made. A maximum of five umbrellas can be claimed

per day, with the redemption period running until February 29, 2016. Head over to any BOBSON store nationwide to get your hands on this limited edition, premium holiday giveaway. Promo runs until December 31, 2015. PER DTIFTEB PERMIT NO. 12219 SERIES OF 2015. Visit BOBSON’s official Facebook page for updates: http:// www.facebook.com/BOBSONJapan or bobsobjapan. com for more information.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

There’s a lot of Frozen fun with this Princess Anna costume for girls and their furry friends. Complete the look with an Anna loot bag (sold separately)

Play the Superhero with this Iron Man Deluxe costume

Mystical Princess and Witch Loot scoop

Frozen’s Elsa costume for little royals and pets. Complete this regal look with an Elsa loot bag (sold separately)

The Super squad. Superman, Supergirl and Superman costumes for pets

It’s action time for little boys with this The Flash costume

A SPOOKY HALLOWEEN AT TOY KINGDOM

Rainbow Face Painting Kit for kids who want to play with colors this Halloween. This fun face painting kit includes a brush, a sponge and a step-by-step face painting guide

@LIFEatStandard

ho says Halloween is only for people? Kids and kids at heart will find All Hallow’s Eve eerily exciting and adorably pet-rifying as Toy Kingdom unfolds its Book of Spooks with chilling costumes not only for kids but also for their beloved pets! Ghoulish frights, creepy critters, warlock weapons, and masks for a monsterrific masquerade all add up to a haunting Halloween vibe. This is the time of year when everyone can live their fantasies and be anyone. Be an action hero and save the day – and night – with super pets. Play some of the big screen’s most popular heroes such as Superman and Supergirl; Batman, Batgirl, and Robin; or be Iron Man, Captain America, the Incredible Hulk, The Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman with the newest action filled accessories.

Indulge in a flight of fancy with Fairy Fandom and cast a magical spelll with a variety of colorful wings, magic wands and whimsical head gear with Toy Kingdom’s fairy costume sets. Cast your magical spell with a variety of colorful wings, skirts, wands and headgears. Every girl’s story book deam is to be a princess in their beloved Fairytale Favorites. Dress like your favorite Disney princesses like Frozen’s Anna and Snow Queen Elsa, Sofia the First, Rapunzel, Belle, Cinderella, Snow White and Ariel. And the best part is that pets also have matching costumes for Trick or Treat fun. And what is Halloween without the treats? At SM Toy Kingdom, have a fill of Halloween must haves and

create the best Trick or Treat ever with mystical loot bags and pumpkin pails, bootiful painting kits, face and body paints, and funky hair color sprays. If you’re into all things fright, check out the wide range of spooky finds: scary costumes of vampires, witches and monsters; spine chilling toys and décor, macabre masks, haunting hats and wizardly wigs. Toy Kingdom also invites kids to be part of ghoulish gatherings at its spooky Halloween events. There is Monster High’s Boo York, Boo York: A Monsterrific Musical at SM MOA Main Mall Atrium until 31; Nickelodeon’s Takotown Twisted Tales at SMX Hall 3 today at 2-6 p.m.; Cartoon Network’s Intergalactic Halloween at SM Megatrade Hall 1 at 11 a.m. The latest collections of Halloween treats are available at all Toy Kingdom Stores in most SM Supermalls and Toy Kingdom Express outlets in SM Stores. Visit www. toykingdom.ph. Also type ToyKingdomPH for more amazing updates at Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Creepy Pumpkin and Skull lanterns are Trick or Treat favorites

FUEL UP AT CALTEX FOR FREE PIZZA

otorists who fuel up at Caltex have a chance to enjoy a Greenwich Ultimate Overload Pizza for free. The mechanics are simple: every P1,000 single-receipt purchase of Caltex Gold with Techron, Caltex Silver with Techron, and Caltex Diesel with Techron D at participating Caltex stations earns one pizza stub. Collect three pizza stubs and exchange them for a Greenwich pizza coupon to avail of a free solo size Ultimate Overload Pizza from any Greenwich branch. Motorists can enjoy some of the best rewards programs everytime they fuel up at Caltex, which is already giving away 1.5 million airline miles plus a three percent rebate on HSBC transactions. Caltex patrons who like to keep a tight shopping budget can get points and discounts by using their

According to Peter Morris, country chairman of Chevron Philippines Inc., marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, “It’s all about our customers. When we say ‘enjoy the journey,’ we mean it. That’s why we are providing them several options to do this. So far they can select food, airline miles, rebates and shopping discounts, plus they get benefits that only Caltex with Techron can offer.” Caltex with Techron provides drivers with the five benefits of maximized power, improved fuel economy, lower emission, smoother drive and reliable performance.

Robinsons Rewards Card. Traveling foodies can use their Happyplus card with every fuel purchase at Caltex to

score Happypoints and get free food products at Jollibee, Greenwich, Red Ribbon and Chowking branches.

For the Have a Slice Day promo, customers can redeem their pizza with the coupons until March 31, 2016. Promo period runs until November 15, 2015. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 11309, Series of 2015. For more information go to www.caltex.com/ph or www.facebook.com/CaltexPhilippines.

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 3 1, 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Amy Perez sTrikes versus dengue-cAusing mosquiToes

Flashing picture-perfect smiles are Strike brand ambassadress Amy Perez-Castillo with ATC Healthcare CEO Derrick Wong, hosts Ogie Diaz and Tart Carlos.

ATC Healthcare marketing manager Louie Albert draws the winner of iPhone 6, assisted by hosts Ogie Diaz and Tart Carlos.

Strike brand ambassadress Amy Perez-Castillo and host Ogie Diaz

Strike brand ambassadress Amy Perez-Castillo with ATC Healthcare marketing manager Louie Albert and CEO Derrick Wong.

Strike brand ambassadress Amy Perez-Castillo gives us a warm smile as she poses with ATC Healthcare marketing manager Louie Albert and CEO Derrick Wong.

V and radio personality Amy Perez has been signed to promote ATC Healthcare’s Strike Multi-Insect Killer. Perez, during the launch at a Quezon City restaurant recently, said she has peace of mind whenever she uses the brand to kill mosquitoes and other insects that may be lurking in some dark corner of her house. “You, see I have children, and I don’t like the idea that anyone of them catches the disease from the insects, especially dengue from mosquitoes.”

Despite continuous studies for the treatment of dengue, the mosquito-borne disease remains incurable. Since the epidemic outbreak started in the Philippines and Thailand in the 1950s, 64 years later, the best discovery to address the deadly fever is still insufficient. While there is a vaccine that is formulated to prevent dengue, its efficacy is yet to be fully tested and neither is it available to the public. We are left with no other choice but to rely on prevention. However, just last year, a new type of dengue is discovered. This

means that the new strain is more capable of enduring the body’s mechanism, making it stronger and harder to cure. With all these threats coming despite the progress in finally developing the treatment, still, it does not erase the people’s apprehension in having the disease. While there is a vaccine that is formulated to prevent dengue, its efficacy is yet to be tested. We are left with no other choice but to fully protect ourselves from having this disease. After all, it’s a smart move and just like what they always say, prevention is al-

ways better than cure. One way to prevent dengue and other mosquito-related disease is through Strike Multi-Insect Killer. Strike is a fast-acting multi-insect killer that has a water-based formula which effectively kills mosquitoes and other insects. It has lower toxicity as compared to the leading brand, thus, it is safe for people, pets and plants. Strike is also environment-friendly unlike other oil-based insect killers and it contains no Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). It leaves to stain on the surfaces of your home and does not release disturbing odors.

‘We Bare Bears’ on Cartoon netWork In November, the highly anticipated bears from the latest original animated comedy series We Bare Bears will arrive in the Philippines, shortly after making impressive debuts in the US, Europe and Latin America. Created by Annie Award-winner Daniel Chong, We Bare Bears is an animated comedy about three brothers who are trying to fit in and make friends…which can be kind of hard when you’re a bear.

The lovable characters in We Bare Bears

Grizzly (Eric Edelstein), Panda (Bobby Moynihan) and Ice Bear (Demetri Martin) are considerably modern savvy: they are masters of the selfie, fans of the food truck, and are the next big internet stars,

or at least they think they are! Grizzly leads Panda and Ice Bear with endless optimism in everyday misadventures of finding food, goofing around and dealing with each other – as well as the

world around them. Through it all, these bears stick together and are very, very close. In fact, their favorite way to get around town is by “bearstack”, a unique formation that features Grizzly atop

Aside from the multi-insect killer spray, Strike also comes in other variants like Strike Coil Mosquito Repellent, Strike Mat, Strike Liquid Mosquito Electric Repellent and Strike Patch. For just an affordable price, reduce the risk of having dengue and other mosquito-related diseases with the help of Strike. Strike Multi-Insect Killer Spray is available at SRP P130.00 for 300ml can and SRP P246.00 for 600ml can. Strike is available at Savemore, SM Supermarkets, SM Hypermarkets, and other leading supermarkets nationwide.

Panda atop Ice Bear who does all of the heavy lifting (as only the highly talented Ice Bear can do). Along the way, the bears are joined by their best human friend Chloe (Charlyne Yi), a fame-flaunting Koala named Nom Nom (Patton Oswalt) and their neighbor Charlie (Jason Lee), a.k.a. Bigfoot. We Bare Bears was conceived as part of Cartoon Network Studios’ thriving and prolific shorts development program which also created the network’s latest hit animated series Steven Universe, Uncle Grandpa, Clarence and double Emmy®-winning Regular Show. We Bare Bears premieres on Nov. 16 at 6:15pm, continuing weekdays, only on Cartoon Network.

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 3 1, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Jay-R aLL SEt fOR ‘PRESS PLay’

rince of RnB Jay-R returns to the live concert circuit via his two-day weekend concert series dubbed PRESS PLAY at the Music Museum on Nov. 6 and 7. “It’s been years since my last concert,” he says. “I figure it’s about time to put together another show. I owe it to myself and all my supporters.” Judging from his eventful stint in the top-rating ABS-CBN reality/ talent show Your Face Sounds Familiar earlier this year, Jay-R seems to have multiplied his fan base. In hindsight, the accolades he reaped from his YFSF days clearly validate his worth and stature, not just as a singer and songwriter, but as a versatile musical chameleon who could adapt to the challenges of various musical genres. Jay-R exclaims, “Your Face Sounds Familiar really helped me to spread my music a lot more throughout the world. That’s always been my main goal to spread my

music across the globe as much as I can. And YFSF helped me do that.” Doesn’t he regret not being part of the show’s second season? He confesses, “I like being a spectator now. I believe in giving everyone a chance and now is the chance to shine, I’ve had my turn. Let them have theirs.” By now, his YFSF fans might be wondering: Will Jay-R be reprising his quick-change artistry by once again mimicking Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Pepe Smith and the other musical legends he once portrayed on the show? “No, unfortunately. The prosthetics and make-up for all that would just be too time- consuming,” he clarifies. And just what is the rationale behind Press Play anyway? “It’s titled as such because once you arrive at the Music Museum, all you have to do is press play, and you’ll hear all Jay-R songs the whole evening,” he elexplains. Joining Jay-R onstage are his

pily guesting on a lot of ABS shows lately. And I want to thank them for giving me that opportunity. Asked about his love life, the RnB Prince answers, “Love life is great! The most I love about it is that there’s no pressure. “Although I have a lot of work and can’t offer much quality time, she understands and doesn’t pres-

sure me to be with, talk or text her all the time. It’s a very mature relationship.” Jay-R is currently managed by ALV Talent Circuit. For ticket inquiries for “PRESS PLAY,” please call Music Museum (721-6726), Ticket World (8919999), or ALV Talent Circuit (6377016). Showtime is 8:30 p.m.

Parul Shah SettleS for 3rd runner-uP in MiSS Grand international 2015

Parul Shah

b. Pilipinas Tourism 2014 Parul Shah was named Third Runner up in the Miss Grand International 2015 pageant held Sunday night in Bangkok. Shah, a 27-year-old, half Filipino, half Indian, was also named best in national costume. Miss Dominican Republic Anea Garcia, a 20-year-old, 6-foot student of Legal Studies and Philosophy at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, bested nearly 80 contestants to win as Miss Grand International 2015. Miss Australia Claire Elizabeth Parker, a 24-year-old,

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ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 “Star Trek” speed 5 Dupes 10 Hooray for me! (hyph.) 14 Singer — Redding 15 Ryan or Tatum 16 Classical face 17 Pajama coverer 18 — nous 19 Sets 20 Happen next

special guests, Mica Javier, Dee Jay Poblete, Q-York and Kris Lawrence. Aside from being kept busy by his guestings on ABS-CBN shows, Jay-R also has his hands full with composing and arranging chores. He reveals, “I’m always producing other artists. I just finished some songs for Nyoy Volante, Melai Cantiveros, Rayver Cruz and Denise Laurel this month.” Will there be a new album soon? “Yes, I’m always making new music all the time. I’m working on a new album that I will release first quarter of next year. I’m very excited to put it out. I’m sure a lot of people will be surprised with what I’ve been cooking/’ he continues. Jay-R’s fans are still curious as to his current network affiliation. Because of his extensive exposure on ABS-CBN, many are assuming that he’ll be a Kapamilya talent soon. Are there any such plans? He says, “I don’t know yet. Hopefully. I’ve just been very hap-

Jay-R

Stagehand’s concern 24 House part 27 Dele canceler 28 Overindulged (hyph.) 32 Bwana, in India 35 Sunflower st. 36 Villain’s smile 38 Gas or clutch 40 No future — — 42 Regularly

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Comic Martha — Mall tenant Turnpike rumblers Sweetie-pie Rudely sarcastic Without holding back (2 wds.) Cartoon frames Siamese, now Mysterious Dragon constellation Footnote abbr. (2 wds.) Shaggy flower Thickening agent Cement component Minnesota town Geodesic — Henri’s aits Yankees’ Jeter Teamwork obstacles

DOWN 1 Had on 2 Nefertiti’s god 3 Leaf veins 4 Not real 5 “Ulalume” poet 6 “Raggedy” girl 7 Sprinkles 8 DEA agents

model and actor from Oatlands was first runner up while Miss India Vartika Singh, a 24-year-old graduate of Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master’s degree in Public Health, was second runner up. Miss Thailand Rattikorn Kunsom, a 22-year-old graduate at King Mongkut’s University of Technology was 4th Runner up. Shah’s third runner up finish matched that of Annelie Forbes who competed in the inaugural edition of the contest in 2013, considered as the golden year of Filipina beauty queens. Shah, a

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Icy downpours Side by side Confirm Actress Tyne — Capp and Gore Practically forever — tide Point — — return Scuba diving sites Poles along Dog breaths — rings Hinder Montana neighbor Cajun’s home Send money Let borrow Seeps Close by TV genie portrayer Caviar source Split to join Angry speech Garbo or Bergman Tel. or elec. Cite Roulette color In a tizzy Hunter’s garb Galena and bauxite Inventor — Whitney Compass pt. Talk, talk, talk

Nursing graduate at he University of Cordilleras, was originally intended to compete in the Miss Tourism Queen International pageant but became a frozen beauty when the pageant was cancelled. She thanked Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. Chairman Stella Marquez-Araneta for sending her to compete despite her age at 27. Marquez thanked Parul for making Filipinos proud and said that following Ann Colis’ win as Miss Globe 2015 in Canada, the Philippines is making news around the world. She urged her other three girls who are set to

compete, Pia Wurtzbach in Miss Universe, Rogelie Catacutan at Miss Supranational and Christi Lynn McGarry in Miss Intercontinental, to follow Parul and complete the winning circle. Parul was welcomed by her Bb. Pilipinas family, friends and supporters upon her return from Thailand. Brimming with pride, Parul said, “I felt the support of my fellow Filipinos in Thailand and here. I am so proud of where I stand today, and hopefully, this is not the end of the journey while a new chapter has opened for me.” – EtOn BOnifaCiO

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 3 1, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

louIse delos reyes welComed dennIs trIllo’s kIss

t’s Louise delos Reyes first time to have a kissing scenes with heartthrob Dennis Trillo. She said the scene was finished right away and didn’t have several takes for the director to get the shots he wanted. She admitted she was a bit nervous when she did the scene with Trillo. Now, we wonder how Barbie Forteza feels that Delos Reyes has the chance to kiss Trillo, his longtime crush. Forteza and Delos Reyes are the best of friends. HHHHH ChIz to ConvInCe In-laws to swIng from mIrIam to graCe Senator Chiz Escudero remains unfazed over the pronouncement of Cecile Ongpauco, his mother-in-law, that she would support Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and not his running mate. Chiz explained to members of the press after the mother of his wife Heart Evangelista attended the “meet and greet” event of Sen. Santiago at the UP on Oct. 26. Chiz knows how close his mother-in-law to Sen. Santiago, yet he is still confident he and Heart can convince Cecile to shift her support to Grace. “Friendships and relationships go beyond politics. While I respect the position of Heart’s mother, who is admittedly very close to Senator Miriam, it will not deter me and Heart from trying to convince her to support Senator Grace,” says Chiz on his Facebook account. Chiz seems to know how to endear to his mother in law. We must remember that for some time they weren’t talking. But now things are different. He also said that his friendship with Sen. Santiago wouldn’t be affected by this political exercise. HHHHH rICky reyes talks about savIng energy In GMA News TV’s Gandang Ricky Reyes Todo Na Toh (GRR TNT), 9 a.m. today, Ricky Reyes talks about how modern appliances and devices can help cut down electric bills. Reyes visits a factory that makes shoes, bags and accessories out of cloth swatches and throwaways. It is a proof that there is truth to the saying - may pera sa basura. Are you planning to build your first home and yet undecided on how to start? Reyes invites a noted architect-builder to explain the do’s and don’ts of home building. As the holiday season approaches GRR TNT starts its Nanay Ko ‘Yan challenge where two mothers are both given a budget of P500 and the one who can concoct more dishes than the other wins.

Ricky Reyes

from C8

HHHHH volante at hrC Catch Nyoy Volante in a special, onenight only intimate concert at Hard Rock Café 9:00 p.m. tonight. Fans and music lovers can look forward to an evening of beautiful music as Nyoy dishes out live a sampling of today’s hottest chart-toppers mixed with homegrown favorites, OPM classics, and party anthems as well as a selection of his greatest hits from his impressive catalogue of multi-platinum studio albums. Performing right after Nyoy’s set is show band Streetbeat. For more information and reservations call HRC at 893-4661. HHHHH PrICeless PIeCe of art Smart Infinity, Smart Communications’ premium postpaid brand, has been known to delight its members by combining exquisite lifestyle experiences within the mobile space. With the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 BenCab Limited Edition, Smart Infinity offers its members the unique opportunity to own a masterpiece at the palm of their hands. Through this offer, Infinity takes mobile lifestyle experience to a whole new level by merging the latest smartphone technology and contemporary art via incorporating the invaluable aesthetics of National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera. Now, Smart Infinity members can live the Smart Life with a timeless masterpiece on hand. “It doesn’t get any better than owning a BenCab masterpiece,” said Julie Carceller, head of Smart Infinity. “Brilliant art by an artist as gifted as BenCab should not only be confined in one’s home or inside the museum,” she added. Smart Infinity’s Limited Edition BenCab smartphone includes an exclusive Samsung Galaxy Note 5 with phone edition number engraved on its back, a BenCab commemorative art book, a BenCab designed protective hardcover, certificate of authenticity, BenCab’s digital wallpaper art and pre-installed Samsung Art Apps. This rich collection of BenCab works can easily resolve any art enthusiast’s fix for aesthetics every day. “We recently held an event with BenCab, who delicately crafted an on-the-spot masterpiece using the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, demonstrating the convergence of art and technology by digitally illustrating his Sabel-inspired creation. Merging technology and traditional art to fit a specific and elegant lifestyle definitely represents Smart Infinity’s vision for its member,” added Carceller. “We are very proud of this partnership. This exemplifies the Smart Life by empowering our subscribers’ passions with the power of digital lifestyle.” This once-in-a-lifetime offer is available via Smart Infinity’s Consumable LTE Plan 5000, which provides its subscribers with 400 texts, 4005 pesos worth of consumable credits and 30GB of monthly data allocation. And in the tradition of providing exclusive treats to its subscribers, Smart Infinity is also giving away free 10 thousand Lifestyle options or 13 thousand Mabuhay Miles upon subscribing of this exclusive offer. Aside from Consumable LTE Plan 5000, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 BenCab Limited Edition offer is also available in Smart Infinity’s Consumable LTE Plan 3500 and Consumable LTE Plan 8000. Own a piece of BenCab’s exclusive art works alongside the sleek and sought-after Samsung Galaxy Note 5 smartphone now. For more information, please call the Smart Infinity hotline 848-8806 or visit Smart Infinity’s website http://smart.com.ph/infinity.

Louise delos Reyes

Nyoy Volante

SAT URDAY : OCTOBER 3 1, 2015

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ The faCe of MiChaela is sarah What can’t Sarah Geronimo sell? She sells burgers, shampoo and ISAH V. RED conditioner, vitamin supplements, videoke system, and condominium units. Name it and Sarah can sell it. Now, another label has attached itself to Sarah Geronimo. After 10 fruitful years of growth, style, inspiration, and dedication for women, Goldnines International is proud to present its first ever brand endorser for Michaela bags, shoes, and umbrella; the pop star royalty Sarah Geronimo. “We chose Sarah Geronimo as our first celebrity endorser because of her admirable humility and royalty image that makes her rise above the rest. The masses are able to easily connect with her and patronize the things she endorses because they know that Sarah is a genuine person that supports only genuine brands,” said Julie Yeo, general manager. Michaela’s presence in all 103 major department stores in and out of Metro Manila is a testimony of its strength and leadership in the market today. Offering an even wider range of products from bags to footwear, umbrellas, pouches, and ladies’ accessories, the brand has matured to be a standard for Filipina fashion, quickly adapting to change, setting the trend, and emphasizing quality and durability in every design. In the year 2005 in the heart of Binondo Manila, Goldnines International Co., Ltd., the company behind Michaela opened its first boutique on Juan Luna Street offering its first line of lady’s bags designed to fit the Filipino women’s lifestyle. The well known active district paved the way for the company to be prosperous and fruitful allowing them now to expand their operations in the Visayas and Mindanao region. From its humble beginnings to being a well-known creator of lady’s bag in the market, the company has diversified its product line to cater to different groups. The birth of ABkD Bags, which caters to the fashionable teens, and AYLA Bags, its premium brand for sophisticated and classy young women enabled Goldnines to successfully carry out their mission of providing high quality and stylish products in the fashion industry. “We are looking forward to be the number one and most admired Ladies Fashion Brand. The world is getting smaller, we want every Filipino woman to dress in style, class, and experience unique designs weekly,” says Ralph Tan, Marketing Manager. T The future is bright indeed for Michaela with its planned stronger presence in major malls nationwide and with Sarah Geronimo as its brand ambassador. A decade of change has gone by; 10 years of fruitfulness thru relentless efforts of making a difference in the lives of Filipino women is just the beginning for them. There are many more years ahead and Michaela promises to hold strong to their promise of providing simple yet classy, eloquent yet humble, and graceful yet confident products to its most loyal customers. ➜ Continued on C7

Sarah Geronimo models Michaela's different bags