The Standard - 2015 November10 - Tuesday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX NO. 271 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 tueSday : NOVeMBeR 10, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

LP ally hits Binay for calling out Roxas

JUSTICE RELEASES 12 ‘BALA’ SUSPECTS By Vito Barcelo

THE Justice Department has ordered the release of 12 people arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport with bullets in their luggage, citing the lack of probable cause.

Bullets to amulets. Unice Alejo of Baguio City shows off some bullets that, she said, had been turned into amulets and which they now sell for P150 each in Quiapo, Manila, for protection against witchcraft. Danny Pata

Dean files 4th case to disqualify Grace Poe

Pasay City Prosecutor Nolasco Fernandez Jr. ordered the release of the 12, who said they were victims of the “tanim bala” (bullet planting) extortion racket at the airport, and who were assisted by the Public Attorney’s Office during their inquest proceedings. An American missionary who said he was a victim of the same scheme said Monday he will file counter charges against airport security officials with evidence to prove that they planted the .22 caliber bullet inside his luggage. Lawyers of Lane Michael White, an American missionary who was detained six days in September after a bullet was found in his bag at the airport, said he had a video that would prove his innocence and establish the existence of a bulletplanting syndicate. The video was recorded by his stepmother, Eloisa Zoleta, showing two members of the Department of Transportation and Communications-Office for Transportation Security, Marvin Garcia and Maria Elma Cena, rummaging through White’s luggage with their bare hands after it had passed the first X-ray scan. A second scan showed the bullet. White insisted that he was a victim of the bullet scam and that he could prove that OTS personnel tried to extort P30,000 Next page from him.

China’s Xi coming, completes Apec cast By Sandy araneta and Vito Barcelo CHINESE President Xi Jinping will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting to be held from Nov. 17 to 19 in Manila, summit organizers and the Chinese foreign ministry said Monday.

At a press briefing at the Palace, the director-general of the Apec 2015 National Organizing Council, Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., confirmed the Chinese leader’s attendance and said preparations for the summit were now 97 percent complete. “What we are doing now is just finetuning all of the details that need to

be done.... We are prepared to receive 20 economic leaders from the various members of Apec plus one head of state of another country—well, specifically Columbia who will be attending a meeting with the leaders,” said Paynor. “The expectation is all of the leaders are coming until they officially say that they are not,” Paynor said. Next page

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Tacloban seawall plan criticized Justice... From A1

“They can lie to people but not to God. I stand by my statement. If my being jailed was needed to make the truth come out and save other people, then being in jail was worth it,” said White. White, a first-timer in the country who was supposed to be doing an outreach program for his church, is on provisional liberty after he posted bail following his arrest. His lawyer, Ernesto Arellano, said the video will be used as evidence in their plea for determination of probable cause to have the charges of illegal possession of ammunition against White dismissed. The Regional Trial Court Branch 119 allowed him to post bail and reduced the required amount from P80,000 to P40,000. White said he and his parents arrived in Manila Sept. 17 to look for a lot in Palawan province where they could build a church for their con-

gregation. But their connecting flight to Palawan was canceled, forcing them to book another flight at Terminal 4 the following day. With the widening scandal over the extortion scheme, four bag inspectors and X-ray screeners at the Naia were suspended following complaints that they extorted money from passengers by allegedly putting bullets in their luggage. The four, all personnel of the OTS, were suspended but were not charged. The OTS, which is under the DoTC, is responsible for the security of the transportation systems of the country, including civil aviation. Screening inspectors at Naia are directly accountable to the OTS rather than the Manila International Airport Authority. Two more arrests were made at the airport Monday, including a 71-yearold grandmother meeting a relative from Dubai at the lobby of the Naia Terminal 3. Police held Antonina Agustin

of Nueva Ecija for questioning for carrying live bullets that were detected by an X-ray scan. Agustin said the 9mm and .38 bullets found in her shoulder bag were given to her by her doctor years ago to protect her from sickness. A passenger bound for Bacolod was also held at Terminal 3 for carrying a cal .45 bullet that was detected at the initial X-ray scan. Police identified the passenger as Edina Sanchez, 35, who was carrying her newborn when stopped by OTS screeners who detected a bullet in her baby stroller. Also on Monday, an administration lawmaker condemned attempts by the Manila International Airport Authority to suppress media covering the airport in the wake of the tanim-bala scandal. Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said airport reporters were complaining about the decision of MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado to restrict airport reporters from accessing Naia Terminal 3 in what they saw

as a move to stop media from reporting about the extortion racket. Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, meanwhile, dismissed calls for Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to resign over the airport scandal and his failure to improve service on Metro Manila’s city trains. “It is counter-productive and foolish to remove Secretary Abaya from office. He is right now on top of major multi-billion peso infrastructure projects, like the new skyways to link the North and South Expressways to decongest Metro Manila traffic,” Albano said. “With about eight months before the Aquino government steps down next year, it is foolish and totally unproductive to seek the ouster or resignation of Secretary Abaya just to pander to the misguided [demands] of a few, especially politicians running for public office who are exploiting the issue for their own selfish ends,” Albano said. With Rey E. Requejo

China’s... From A1

Earlier, there was some doubt if Xi would attend, given the growing tension between China and the Philippines over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. Paynor said this year’s Apec meeting would discuss micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise about 95 percent of the Philippine economy. Other issues include taxation, and ensuring that free trade among member economies is upheld. Paynor said managing the movement of the Apec leaders was a challenge. “You can very well imagine that there will be 21 leaders crisscrossing the area from all the way from Makati and farther and the whole of Roxas Boulevard coming in to the meeting venue at the PICC. On top of that, you have the concluding Ministers Meeting, and there will be 42 foreign ministers and ministers responsible for the trade again crisscrossing the metropolitan area, plus their delegations that are supporting them,” he said. “So that’s where we are at this point. And we are doing timings of how long does it take from point A to B to C,” he said. A statement issued by the Chinese foreign ministry said: “At the invitation of President Benigno Aquino III of the Republic of the Philippines, President Xi Jinping will attend the 23rd Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Manila, the Philippines from November 17 to 19.” The Apec meeting will be held in Manila from Nov. 17 to 19. APEC’s member economies are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong-China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam, which account for 57 percent of global production and 46.5 percent of world trade. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lula del Rosario, chair of the Apec 2015 Senior Officials Meetings, said the South China Sea dispute would not be on the Apec agenda because it is a political issue, and because it is not common to all Apec members.

In honor of the dead. Volunteers and survivors of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ release lanterns in honor of the storm’s victims two years after it slammed into Eastern Visayas, killing more than 7,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. Ey AcAsIo At the same briefing Monday, Paynor said the P10 billion budget for Apec was not only for the summit this November, but for Apec expenses for the whole year. “That’s for the whole year of hosting and that is what we spent in Clark, what we spent in Tagaytay, in Cebu, and Bacolod,” Paynor said. “We have improved a lot of things… So I think that amount should not be taken out of context. It should be taken as an infusion of a particular amount of money that we suddenly had and then we put it into the economy. It kind of fuels the economy. So that is how we should look at it,” he said. On the other hand, Paynor said when the government planned the holidays, they consulted also the private sector. “When we formulated this policy, we worked closely with the private sector, with the business organizations. And so they told us that if possible the minimum number of days be considered and that’s the reason that earlier on, in order to give everyone enough time to make adjustments. The President had signed the proclamation that 18th and the 19th will be declared as holidays,” said Paynor. “So because private sector said ‘please no more holidays,’ then we said ‘okay, public sector, which is government, and

schools’ and that would have removed about half, if not two-thirds, of the traffic in the Metro Manila area. So that was the only palatable solution that we could find. So that’s how it is. And I hope everybody understands that this is the reason,” he said. Former President Fidel V. Ramos said the Philippines must be ready for all possible worst-case scenarios when Manila hosts the Apec Leaders’ Summit next week. Ramos’ statement came amid a scandal over an extortion syndicate in the airport where security personnel plant bullets in luggage to extort money from travelers. “This racket or fiasco or scam called tanim-bala where they plant a bullet in someone’s luggage that’s about to undergo inspection at the airport - that’s really bad. Number two, there are all kinds of protests in town... Then you have all sorts of militants that demonstrate in the streets for any kind of reason,” Ramos said in an interview over ABS-CBN. The Philippines hosted the Apec Summit in Subic in 1996 when Ramos was president. Ramos had suggested three years ago that the Apec 2015 be hosted in Clark, Pampanga, so that there would be no need for class suspensions, traffic disruptions and work holidays in Manila.

By christine F. Herrera

TACLOBAN CITY—The government is pushing to build a P48-billion, 27.3-kilometer seawall to protect this city from storm surges like the deadly ones brought by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” two years ago, but local officials and lawmakers said there were more urgent priorities that needed funding. “I am not against the seawall or tidal embankment project. Nor do I endorse it,” said Mayor Alfred Romualdez at a news conference at Patio Victoria. “We have come to call it the Great Wall of Tacloban.” The mayor said it was the city’s priority to provide its people with potable water. “The immediate need now is to move the people into safer ground. However, the first major problem in the relocation sites is water,” Romualdez said. “If you ask me which is more important, water or a wall? I would say definitely, it’s water,” he said. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez agreed, and said the Department of Public Works and Highways should complete its study before proceeding with the stretch steel and concrete seawall that will be four meters thick and four meters high. “The timing and priority could be the issue. Permanent housing facilities with adequate water and electricity are the more immediate needs,” the congressman said. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the national government fell far short of its target to build 250,000 permanent homes for Yolanda survivors, finishing only 17,000 two years after the storm that claimed more than 6,000 lives. The mayor said it would take only about P4 billion to put up a water facility in the north of the city. Residents now depend on water rations provided by the city government or they get their water from deep wells. Mayor Romualdez said he found it ironic that the government was pushing for relocating the residents from the 40-meter “no build zone” while assuring them that they would be protected by the seawall. “I foresee conflict that may arise in the future because of this sea wall, as families living in the coastal areas may refuse to transfer to relocation sites, thinking that they are now protected by the sea wall,” the mayor said. “Why do we have to spend billions of pesos for

the northern barangays if there was a plan all along to construct a seawall?” he added. Of the 27.3 kilometers under the project, 20.1 kms will be in Tacloban, 4.1 kms will cover Palo and 3.1 kms will be in Tanauan. Officials in Palo and Tanauan have already endorsed the project. The tidal embankment would be the first of its kind in the entire country with the Japan International Cooperation Agency providing the technical assistance. The allocation would be sourced from the DPWH’s annual general budget for the next six years, said DPWH Regional Director Rolando Asis. The project is expected to start in the last quarter of this year and be completed by 2020. Mayor Romualdez said there was insufficient data to show the seawall could protect the coastlines from storm surges, such as the ones measuring four to five meters during Yolanda. While the other mayors were supporting the seawall project, Romualdez said he could not make an intelligent decision until the DPWH can draw support from other national government agencies. “All stakeholders must be consulted. This early, the fisherfolk already fear they would be deprived of access to the sea, and thus have to find alternative livelihood,” he said. The mayor added that he needed assurances from the national government that enough funds would be allocated to the project before it could get his city’s approval. “Remember, I am a Romualdez and the President is an Aquino,” the mayor said, using the same words that former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II used in the immediate aftermath of Yolanda when he wanted him to turn over authority to the national government. “Unless they give me a letter stating in black and white that the seawall project has the full backing of the President, then it would not be easy for me to support it,” Romualdez said.

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Binay hit for blaming shelter woes on Roxas AN ALLY of the ruling Liberal Party on Monday slammed Vice President Jejomar Binay after he blamed former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II over the housing backlog for the victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda.” “The Yolanda housing was principally handled by the NHA [National Housing Authority]. It is the NHA and not the DILG that has the mandate for housing,” Akbayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, the spokesman of presidential candidate Roxas, said in a text message. “The funds handled by the DILG were transmitted directly to the LGUs [local government units]. P2 billion was released under [Secretary Roxas], with P400 million going to Tacloban City.” In his visit to Tacloban on Sunday, Binay said Roxas’ Interior Department had the “lion’s share” of the housing funds for the Yolanda victims. “It seems that the money [for Yolanda] were inserted to other departments like the DILG,” Binay said. Binay, who held the Housing portfolio under the Aquino administration until his resignation in 2011, claimed that the National Housing Authority, an attached agency under Binay’s Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, failed to meet its target of building 92,544 housing units for the Yolanda survivors because it didn’t receive enough funds from the government. ”I hope you understand that we’re not to blame at the NHA. We were working on the basis of the money given to us,” Binay told reporters in Tacloban City on Sunday. But Gutierrez said Binay was entirely liable for the housing backlog given his crucial post as housing czar. “It’s understandable that VP Binay would seek to distance himself from the issue and once again pin the blame on Secretary Mar [Roxas],” Gutierrez said. “But he was head of housing for five years, and he has to own up to that.” John Paolo Bencito

Awards for the best. President Benigno Aquino III presents the Dangal ng Bayan Award to Fire Officer II Trixie Dagame during the awarding rites for the 2015 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees in Malacañang. MAlAcAñAng Photo BureAu

Law school dean files 4th case to disqualify Grace THE dean of The University of the East’s College of Law on Monday filed a disqualification case against presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe, the fourth so far since she filed her candidacy for President. Amado Valdez questioned Poe’s status as a natural-born Filipino and urged the Commission on Elections to disqualify her. “The fact that respondent has to perform an overt act to re-acquire her citizenship by filing a petition... does not qualify her as a natural-born citizen...,” Valdez said. “Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship...” Another lawyer, and this one from the University of the Philippines’ College of Law, said Poe

could not be considered a naturalborn Filipino citizen under the 1935 and 1987 Constitutions. Francis Cantre said Poe could not claim being a natural-born Filipino unless she could prove that her parents, particularly her father, were Filipino citizens. “As a foundling born in the Philippines of unknown biological parents, Senator Poe’s citizenship status is not easy to determine,” Cantre said. Poe said she would face all her accusers in reply to Valdez’s comments. She said Valdez was entitled to

his opinions, but she hoped he would also focus on the issues confronting society. Valdez said that, in the language of Republic Act 9225, Poe was deemed as having “re-acquired Philippine citizenship” but “not natural-born citizenship.” “Then, there is the other indispensable constitutional requirement that no person may be elected President unless he or she is a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding the election,” Valdez said. He said Poe had indicated in her Certificate of Candidacy for Senator that her period of residency was only six years and six months to the May 2013 senatorial elections. “By her own admission, she will have resided in the Philippines for only nine years and nine months prior to the May 2016 presidential

elections,” Valdez said. He also cited three dates to start the count in Poe’s residency based on official records and as she had admitted. One was July 7, 2006, when she took her oath as a Filipino citizen; November 2006 as gleaned in her CoC for senator in the May 2013 elections; and Oct. 20, 2010 when she renounced her American citizenship. Valdez said the 10-year period of residency must be counted from Oct. 20, 2010, when Poe renounced her American citizenship. “Between July 7, 2006, and October 20, 2010, she owed dual allegiance to the Philippines and the United States of America, thus she is still ineligible to hold public office.” Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, rio n. Araja and Macon ramosAraneta

Romualdez challenges Dinky

Donation. A PNP chaplain sprinkles holy water on equipment donated by the United States and which will be used in preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting that will be held in Manila later this month. AFP

LEYTE Rep. and senatorial candidate Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday challenged the Department of Social Welfare and Development to come up with a detailed accounting of the funds from the Conditional Cash Transfer program or dole to the poor for the last four years. He made the call following a recent Social Weather Stations survey that showed more than three million families suffered involuntary hunger from July to September this year. “The CCT budget has been increasing over the past years, but the DSWD has not produced detailed records of disbursements to account for such funds,” Romualdez said. “Hunger still affects millions of Filipinos.” The SWS said the latest hunger rating of 15.7 percent was the highest for this year and three points higher than the 12.7 percent or 2.8 million affected families in the April to June

2015 rating. Romualdez said there had been no disclosures from Social Welfare on the details of the CCT funds disbursement. “What’s our assurance that the money is indeed being spent on the program alone and not on other things like preparations for the administration candidates’ campaigns for the elections?” Romualdez said. He pushed for a financial and performance audit of the Aquino administration on its poverty reduction programs to ensure that every single centavo was properly spent to ease the plight of the poor. The dole to the poor reached P29.2 billion in 2011, P39.4 billion in 2012, P44.3 billion in 2013, P62.6 billion in 2014 and P62.32 billion this year. “It is time the Aquino administration laid down its cards as far as its poverty alleviation programs are concerned,” Romualdez said.

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‘We deserve a better DoTC’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE people “deserve a better [Department of Transportation and Communications] secretary” Senator Grace Poe said on Monday after incumbent DoTC chief Joseph Emilio Abaya admitted people will have to wait until 2016 before they can see an improvement in the metro train service.

‘Lumad’ in the metro. Indigenous people from Mindanao, called lumad, picketed Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday to condemn the Aquino administration for its inaction on abuses allegedly committed against tribesmen in Mindanao. JANSEN ROMERO

3 soldiers in lumad rape arraigned By Florante S. Solmerin THE three soldiers accused of raping a 14-year-old lumad maiden pleaded not guilty in a general court-martial that was convened to hear their case for violation of Articles of War 97, the military announced Monday. The girl was among families of lumad that sought refuge inside a church in Davao City after they fled their homes because of militarization in their communities. Captain Rhyan Batchar, public affairs head of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, identified the accused as Private First Class Joffrey L. Galot, PFC Stanly B. Revil and PFC John E. Banilla. “In that xxxxxxx, a person subject to military law, while assigned with the 68th [Infantry Battalion], Second Infantry Division… stationed in the

province of Davao Del Norte, sometime in the period from June 20, 2015 to July 03, 2015, impelled with lustful desire, willfully and feloniously, by means of force, violence and intimidation did, then and there, have carnal knowledge with one Alias Jovie [not her real name], a 14-year-old girl, against her will and consent which conduct cause and bring discredit upon the military service to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. Contrary to military law,” the charge reads. The court-martial was led by by Lt. Col. Pepito B. Lolor and Major Rick Brian Luñeza with Major May C. Garingarao as acting as trial judge advocate/ prosecutor. The accused have Lt. Col. Joel R. Cabañero and Captain Bethoven A. Abuzo as counsel. “During the arraignment of the accused duly assisted by their military

defense counsels, they individually entered their not guilty plea,” Batchar said. The pre-trial had the prosecution’s first witness, the mother of the victim. Her testimony was terminated on the same day. This was followed by other prosecution witnesses such as First Lieutenant Eric Sumaliday, Corp. Richard Ladra, PFC Roland Pamposa, Police Officer 1 Princess Tenebro, and Barangay Chairman Pablo Tagnipes. “But all of them, their testimonies were dispensed due to the fact that the purposes of the testimony were already stipulated by the prosecution and the defense,” Batchar caid. On Nov. 07, Batchar said the prosecution filed its formal offer of documentary evidence in all of the three cases. The court-martial will resume at 9 a.m. of Nov. 9.

“Perhaps, Secretary Abaya is very intelligent, but I think we need not only that. We also need one who focuses on a project so that it will be delivered on time,” Poe told reporters after a hearing of the Senate subcommittee on public services which she chairs. “To say ‘we have to bear [with it] because it’ll only be a few months more’ is like saying it’s ok. Until now, the [new train sets] are not yet there, so it cannot be used. Until now, it takes three months to finish a [toilet] and [even more] to fix an escalator,” said Poe. Poe said other people may be able to hasten the process and quickly ease the suffering of the commuting public and Abaya failed to perform many duties as DoTC chief. Abaya, for his part, defended himself by saying the procurement law has been a challenge for the DoTC because they have to strictly follow the rules stated under the law. “[But] they should be proactive. We have questions that they cannot answer, like ones on the bidding. He [Abaya] said it is not in his committee. He should know everything. The deadlines, the delivery. They are asking each other the circumstances behind the delay,” Poe said. Last year, Abaya said the delivery of the 48 new MRT coaches worth P3.76 billion from China’s Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. will start in September this year. But Abaya said the schedule of arrival of the first new three coaches have been reset in January next year following an inspection of the manufacturing plant of the train coaches in Dalian, China last June. But Abaya turned down suggestions that he resign from the DoTC. “Again, serving in the government is a mere privilege which can be taken from him anytime. What is important is the privilege to serve the people is there, it continues to be a mere privilege for me,” he added. Senator Francis Escudero said Abaya should be fired from his position, citing the many issues that marred the DoTC like the poor Internet connection, and exorbitant mobile fees, bullet planting scam, horrible MRT, miserable airport facilities and delays of license plates, car stickers an drivers’ license cards.

Comelec: Mall voting legal By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Commission on Elections is confident on the legality of their mall-based voting initiative planned for the May 2016 polls amid persistent questions on whether the law allows such a practice. In a press briefing for the demonstration of the mall voting process at the Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said there are no legal hurdles for the commission to implement mall-based voting. “Our law department has come out already with a legal opinion on mall voting. We are not just trying to implement a statutory directive. We are actually trying to enforce a constitutional provision,” Bautista said. The Comelec earlier formed a technical working group to assess the legal and operational issues surrounding the mall voting initiative for the May 2016 polls and Bautista

noted how Article IX of the 1987 Constitution allows the poll body to determine the location of polling places. “Very confident,” Bautisa said when asked if they can withstand any possible legal questions on mall voting. Earlier, there have been questions as to whether the Comelec can tap malls to hold the elections citing provisions of the Omnibus Election Code, which provides that appropriate private buildings may be designated as polling places “in case there is no public school or other public building that can be used as polling places.” Aside from having the mandate to determine polling places, Bautista said they are trying to continuously improve the accessibility of polling precincts for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. He said this is in accordance with provisions of Republic Act No. 10366, which authorizes the Comelec to establish accessible polling places for PWDs and senior citizens.

Dressing down. Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, dressed down Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya for the problems hounding Metro Manila’s train system. LINO SANTOS

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Air Force soon to get 2 Korean trainer jets

Papal marker. Congresman Martin Romualdez arranges an image of Sto. Nino during the unveiling of the commemorative papal mass marker at the Tacloban City’s Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport. The event coincides with the second anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda’s onslaught which ravaged Tacloban, Leyte, Samar and other parts of Visayas. SONNY ESPIRITU

By Florante S. Solmerin The Philippine Air Force is set to take delivery of the first two of 12 Korean-made trainer jet fighters worth P18.9 billion it ordered from Korean Aerospace Inc. PAF spokesman Colonel enrico Canaya on Monday said the jets are not combat-ready and only capable of patrolling the country’s air space. PAF chief Lieutenant General Jeffrey Delgado experienced the test f light on Nov. 6, 2015 in South Korea. During the test flight, the two-seater jet was piloted by an officer of the Republic of Korea Air Force with Delgado at the rear seat as “co-pilot”. Canaya said the Philippine Air Force has prepared for the delivery of the jets that could bring back PAF into the air with “speed” after the decommissioning of the F5 several years ago.

“Of course we’re excited because we will be having a new kind of jets with MAC 1.2 capability in our inventory. MAC 1.2 is faster than the speed of sound so that’s supersonic flight and we do not have that kind of aircraft in our inventory after the decommissioning of our F5. It’s the comeback of the supersonic age of the Air Force,” he said. As stipulated in the contract, KAI will complete the delivery of the 12 jets by 2017. Canaya said the first two jets will be delivered on a “touchdown” in Philippine soil. “They will refuel somewhere—I don’t know yet—before their final leg to touchdown in our airstrip,” he said. The addition of the trainer jet fighters will boost the country’s air domain patrol especially in the West Philippine Sea where some territories are contested by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

State workers’ pay hike pushed By Gabrielle Binaday and Macon Araneta AheAd of the presidential elections in May 2016, President Aquino has endorsed to Congress a bill that would mandate a P226-billion salary increase for state workers, Malacañang said on Monday. Certified by Aquino as a priority measure was the “Salary Standardization Law of 2015”, which proposes a P226-billion pay hike, spread over four years, for the national government’s 1.53-million civilian and uniformed employees. “The mandate is to determine the competitiveness of the government sec-

tor to the private sector,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad told reporters in a press briefing. Under the SSL of 2015, there will be four tranches which is composed of a salary increase, a mid-year 14th month pay and an enhanced performance-based bonus system. Abad said that at the end of the four tranches by

2019, the government pay, which is on the average at present is 55 percent of market rates will increase to 84 percent. he said the lowest salary grade, Salary grade 1, or equivalent to Utility workers, will be about 154 percent of the market, while the highest salary grade, Salary Grade 33, which is the president, will be about 70 percent of the market. The pay hike will cost the government P57.90 billion in 2016 after implementing a salary increase and 14th month pay; P54.39 billion in 2017; P65.97 billion in 2018; and P47.54 billion in 2019, according to the Budget, The first tranche will take effect on Jan. 1, 2016

and the subsequent three tranches every Jan. 1 thereafter until the final tranche in 2019. Abad said the budget requirement for the first tranche was already included in the P3.002-trillion budget bill for 2016. “The first increase is already included in GAA [General Appropriations Act]. We should be able to cover that [P57.906 billion] in the budget. The computation is based on the authorized positions, we also have to look into consideration [that] new positions is not exactly equal to actual filled positions. We also have to take into consideration possible increases in the

positions being offered,” he added The Senate reacted favorably to Aquino’s endorsement of the salary bill to the house of Representatives. “We will fast-track the passage of the Salary Standardization Law 2015 before the year is over. In this manner, all public employees can already expect to enjoy higher wages starting next year,” said Senate President Franklin Drilon. he promised that Senate will give the SSL 2015 “urgent legislative attention” alongside the proposed General Appropriations Bill, the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and other measures which the Senate and house of Representatives

had agreed to pass before the 2016 election campaign kicks off. Drilon said the proposed pay hike is “much-awaited and long overdue development” for the millions of government workers, who are paid much less compared to their counterparts in the private sector. “The new compensation package being sought will fix the glaring discrepancies in the pay schemes between the public and private sectors,” he added. The proposed SSL 2015, he said, will also solve the exodus of government workers, who leave their posts to seek greener pastures in the private sector and abroad.

2 law experts decry hostility vs INC TWO prominent legal experts on Monday expressed grave concern about the “general air of hostility” and “bigotry” against the Iglesia Ni Cristo, the leaders of which are facing court cases filed by disgruntled former members who have accused the church of harassment. The lawyers, in separate statements, also acknowledged the unique character of the Iglesia as a Filipino church. In a Facebook post, San Juan Rep. and house Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said that “the persistent persecution of the INC exposes the intention of the government to destroy all other institutions that can challenge its parlous grip on truth and morality.” Calling himself a practicing Catholic, the Minority Leader hinted that the religious fervor of INC members, while different from the country’s Catholic majority, should be respected, with the government making a firm stand on tolerance instead of persecution of the INC faithful. “What the Catholic Church was able to pull off—just once at edsa and never again— which is to say, a communion of action in ac-

cord with Christ’s teachings—the INC does every day in the lives of its adherents and in the role of the INC in politics,” said Zamora. “More than other Christians since the Puritans, the kapatid of the INC live Christian lives strictly by the book,” Zamora said. “So much so, that when we speak of freedom of religion as it pertains to the INC, it extends from their weekly service to every action they take individually or undertake in communion and community,” Zamora stressed. “And yet time and again,” the congressman warned, “as if determined to force the INC to order its faithful to vote its way rather than another, this government has persecuted the INC, on the basis of mere allegations of crimes attempted or committed. Last I heard, accusation is not proof; and persistence in malicious prosecution is not sincerity but itself a legal cause of action against the government.” Lawyer harry Roque, meanwhile, branded the public hostility against the INC “unfortunate,” expressing concern that the sentiments of non-Iglesia members “should not degenerate into outright bigotry and bias against what’s essentially a proud, homegrown and worldwide Filipino church.”

On the spot. Lawyer Miguel Oraa of the Office for Transportation Security is flanked by two senatorial bets lawyer Lorna Kapunan (left) and jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam during the Samahang Plaridel Kapihan sa Manila Hotel media forum with the topic on ‘TanimBala’ scandal that has placed the OTS on the spot. LINO SANTOS

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Witness counters Tuason claim By Rio N. Araja

A SenAte employee on Monday testified before the Sandiganbayan that she often saw Ruby tuason at the Senate building in Pasay City in 2008, during which she allegedly delivered the supposed kickbacks for Senator Jose “Jinggoy” estrada from his ‘pork barrel’ or Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Plea for a father. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada listens intently as Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of Malaysia’s former prime

minister Anwar Ibrahim, fields questions during a press conference at the Manila City Hall on Monday Nov. 9. Nurul arrived from the US where she asked leaders and friends of her father for the immediate release of detained Anwar Ibrahim. DANNY PATA

Edca, Junjun cases high on SC agenda By Rey E. Requejo

THE controversial Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the petition of dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. will be high on the agenda of the Supreme Court when it resumes its en banc session today. An insider disclosed that both cases have been included in the long list of cases that the justices will take up during the resumption of their full court session. The two main petitions against EDCA were filed in May last year by a group led by former Senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada and militant lawmakers led by Bayan Muna Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate. Two other similar petitions were filed by Kilusang Mayo Uno and

Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement and the family of slain transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in June and November last year, respectively. The EDCA case was heard by the high court in a series of oral arguments in November last year and had been lined up for resolution since December last year. Petitioners argued that EDCA violates provisions on national sovereignty, territorial integrity and interests, freedom from nuclear weapons and autonomy of local government units in the charter. They insisted that EDCA is a treaty—not merely an executive agreement as Palace has claimed —which needs concurrence of the Senate before it could be implemented. Solicitor General Florin Hil-

bay, as counsel for the state, asserted that the agreement is a valid executive agreement that could stand even without the concurrence of the Senate. Under the EDCA, the US will be allowed to build structures, store as well as preposition weapons, defense supplies and materiel, station troops, civilian personnel and defense contractors, transit and station vehicles, vessels, and aircraft for a period of 10 years. It was signed by officials of both countries hours before American President Barack Obama arrived in the country for his two-day state visit last April 28 and 29. Just like the case on EDCA, the petition filed by Ombudsman questioning orders of the Court of Appeals stopping its first preventive suspension order against Mayor Binay has also been sub-

mitted for resolution. In her petition last March, Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales assailed the temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction issued by the CA stopping her suspension order against Binay in connection to alleged anomaly in the Makati City Hall Building 2 project. The SC heard the case in oral arguments during summer session in Baguio City last April before four justices inhibited —Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Diosdado Peralta, Arturo Brion and Francis Jardeleza. The case involves the power of the CA to stop Ombudsman orders and the condonation doctrine, which condones administrative offenses previously committed by officials upon election.

During Estrada’s bail plea hearing, Jemma Saccuan, section chief of the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, told the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division that based on the review of the closed-circuit television footage in 2008, a person who looked like Tuason was spotted inside the Senate only for 12 days. Tuason was seen at the ground, fifth and sixth floors of the building, she said, adding there was no footage that showed she and Estrada were together. Tuason maintained she was Estrada’s bagman, and that she delivered commissions coming from pork barrel scam suspect Janet Lim Napoles for Estrada in 2008. Estrada’s lawyer, Alexis Abastillas-Suarez, said the testimony of Saccuan and the CCTV footage would only show that Tuason was lying in court. “The person resembling Ms. Ruby Tuason appeared not just on the floor where the office of Senator Estrada is located but she also went to different floors of the building. She was telling she was carrying a duffel bag. We will establish that she was not,” he said. She said a memorandum from Saccuan forwarded to Senate President Franklin Drilon would confirm that Tuason was not carrying any duffel bag when she was at the Senate. The testimony of Saccuan and the CCTV footages are “vital” pieces of evidence to clear Estrada from alleged commission of plunder and graft charges, Suarez said. The Office of the Ombudsman indicted Estrada, and filed plunder and 11 counts of graft against the senator, along with Napoles, alleged mastermind of the pork barrel fund scam, with the Fifth Division for allegedly receiving P183 million in kickbacks for allocating portions of his pork barrel fund from 2004 to 2012 to the fake non-government organizations engineered by Napoles. Meanwhile, Napoles filed a 26-page motion for reconsideration with the Third Division, asking for the reversal of its decision denying her bail plea. “The Honorable Court seriously erred in giving weight to the inconsistent and selfserving testimonies of the whistleblowers,” her motion read.

Witnesses’ lawyer tags 14 more pork scam operators By Francisco Tuyay

LAWyER Levito Baligod, legal counsel for at least two state witnesses in plunder and graft charges filed against lawmakers, has started filing cases against 14 Napoles-like operators of the scam involving pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund. At the launching of the Baligod for Senator Movement in Camp Aguinaldo Sunday night, Baligod disclosed that complaints have been filed against 14 people whom he described as having similar operations as that of scam suspect Janet Napoles. “In fact I started filing cases involving the other 14 operators. I have already named

them in the complaint at the Ombudsman,” Baligod said. Baligod declined to name the 14 operators. He said he was also convinced that more people in government and private sectors had dipped their hands in the controversial PDAF scam. “Just to give you a glimpse, Napoles is just one of about 15 people involved in the PDAF scam including private individuals,” Baligod said as he voiced dismay over the non-inclusion of about 82 NGOs, the 120 congressmen and 20 senators in the charge sheet, whom scam whistleblower Ben Hur Luy have exposed and linked to the fund scandal. Despite all the voluminous documents and the bulk of evi-

dence they have submitted with the Department of Justice in relation to pork scam, the course of the investigation slowed down, Baligod said. He expressed disgust over the matter and that he said prompted him to seek election for senator in 2016 “to continue my advocacy against corruption.” Baligod added: “That’s the reason I’m running because as a private citizen, I can do only so much.” Baligod also said that some P500 billion have been inserted in the 2014 government budget appropriation as part of the entire pork barrel system that politicians have messed up. The PDAF fund was just a pittance, he said.

Mall voting. Comelec chairman Andres Bautista checks the election mall mock setup at the Eastwood Mall in Quezon City, Nov. 9, 2015. The poll body wants to make use of certain malls as voting facilities in the 2016 presidential elections. (STORY ON A4) JANSEN ROMERO

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Soldiers take rebel base in Sarangani GENERAL SANTOS CITY— Army troopers over the weekend overran a base of the New People’s Army in a hinterland village in Malapatan town, Sarangani province, following a series of operations. Col. Ronald Villanueva, commanding officer of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, said Monday troops under the 73rd Infantry Battalion captured an NPA camp in Sitio Lamsalo, Barangay Upper Suyan in Malapatan town after an encounter at around 5 p.m. Sunday. He said the rebels were forced to abandon the area as a result of the offensives launched by their troops. “They [rebels] already withdrew towards the boundary of Davao Occidental but our troops are continuously pursuing them,” he said in an interview over radio station Brigada News FM. The 73IB launched the operations after troops under the Army’s 512th Engineering Brigade who were working on a school building project in Sitio Akbual in Upper Suyan were harassed by NPA rebels last Nov. 1. No one was hurt in the incident but it affected the implementation of the project, which is a donation from Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao. Villanueva said their troops initially clashed with a group of rebels as a portion of Upper Suyan last Nov. 5. He said the operation eventually led to the discovery of the NPA encampment in Sitio Lamasalo. The 73IB elements tried to enter the area last Friday, Nov. 6, but were hit by a landmine that killed one of them and injured five others, he said. On Saturday morning, a Huey helicopter ferrying troops and supplies crashed near the area after being hit by strong winds. The incident injured five 73IB troopers, and four Philippine Air Force pilots and crew members. The injured troops have been declared out of danger and are recuperating at a private hospital here. Villanueva said they will continue with their operations until they completely flush out the rebels from the area. “We’ve been tracking their movements and right now, they’re [rebels] near the Jose Abad Santos town [Davao Occidental] area,” he said. The official added that they have sent additional troops to the area to pursue the rebels and secure local communities.

Police nab ex-La Union village chief for estafa By Dexter A. See

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union—A former barangay captain in Agoo, La Union was arrested Monday in Barangay Rafael Reuda, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija for at least 60 cases of estafa and violation of the anti-bouncing checks law. Senior Superintendent Angelito Dumangeng, La Union police director, identified the suspect as Leonardo Camat,

former chairman of Barangay San Joaquin Sur, Agoo, La Union. Prior to his arrest, Camat was

Region 1’s No. 5 most wanted man. Camat was charged at the Agoo Regional Trial Court Branch 32 under Judge Ethelwolda Jaravata, and at the Municipal Trial Court of Agoo under Judge Rhea Gallego. Dumangeng said Camat, after he was charged in court, went into hiding for several years until he was spotted by agents in Nueva Ecija.

Camat was arrested by joint operatives of Provincial Intelligence Branch of La Union police, Agoo police station, Regional Intelligence Division, the 73rd Military Intelligence Company and San Jose City policemen. Camat was brought at the courts in Agoo for turnover to the proper detention facility. No bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

March in November. Thousands of Yolanda survivors from different parts of Region 8 cross the San Juanico Bridge, airing their grievances. MEL CASPE

Air traffic delays release of memorial sky lanterns By Christine Herrera TACLOBAN CITY—The release of some 4,000 sky lanterns to signal the end of the commemoration of Typhoon “Yolanda’s” second anniversary was marred by an hour-long delay due to air traffic congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday. Guests from Manila, diplomats from other countries, and Taclobanons who were grieving for their dead were right on time and had taken their position to light the sky lanterns for the sundown memorial at Sangyawan grounds near the city hall. The sundown memorial was scheduled at 9 p.m., when the last flight coming from Manila was expected to have already landed. On Sunday night, however, the last flight hit a snag due to

its late departure from Manila. At 9:45 p.m., the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines gave the clearance for the sky lanterns to fill up the skies by the Cancabato Bay. The announcement on the CAAP clearance prompted Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to quip: “See, it’s not only the airplanes that had to negotiate with the air traffic. The sky lanterns, too.” Romualdez was referring to his “scariest flight yet” last Oct. 19 when his airplane was forced to battle Typhoon “Lando” and hover over the dangerous Sierra Madre mountains for an hour at the height of the storm. CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio had admitted there was horrible air traffic congestion because the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

can only accommodate 40 flights—20 takeoffs, 20 touchdowns—per hour. The participants would not have minded the delay except the schedules for the past two days had been strictly observed and were consistently followed rain or shine starting as early as 5:30 a.m. Romualdez, a senatorial candidate, Mayor Alfred Romualdez and his wife Cristina, United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay, UNA senatorial candidates Alma Moreno, Jacel Kiram and Rey Langit, independent senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino, vice presidential candidates Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Gregorio Honasan joined the hour-long commemorative walk from the city hall to the Astrodome Memorial Ground.

At 7 a.m., a Holy Mass was held and a short program, led by the Madrigal Singers, followed before the unveiling of the marker. At 2 p.m., the Romualdezes led the unveiling of commemorative Papal Mass Marker at the airport followed by a Holy Mass at the Holy Cross Memorial Park and the blessing of the graves of Yolanda victims at 3 p.m. After the mass, a simultaneous lighting of 50,000 candles along the 32-kilometer stretch on the highway streets in Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo and Tacloban City was held at 5:30 p.m. Accompanied by his mother Julliette, Rep. Romualdez assisted the priest in blessing the candles from Tolosa until they arrived at the Sangyawan Grounds at exactly 9 p.m.

Silent prayer. Residents of Leyte light a candle for their dead during the commemoration of the second anniversary of Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ EY ACASIO

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

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OPINION

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

20 DAYS TO PARIS CLIMATE SUMMIT

[ EDI TORI A L ]

FRONT ACT IT’S not bad to put one’s best foot forward, especially when visitors come. It’s a distinctly Filipino trait. We take out the best china, the best cutlery, and let the children don their Sunday best. It’s also human nature to want to be perceived by others as living the ideal life. On social media, for instance, many people try to project themselves as intelligent, classy, or at least happy. Whether they are actually so is another story, of course. This administration’s preoccupation with hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to be held next week, however, is fast exceeding normal behavior. A few days ago we pointed out the attempts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to hide the homeless along the path of the Apec delegates. They were given P4,000, supposedly to rent places where they could participate in workshops to be conducted by the government. It just so happened that the workshops were scheduled on the day the world leaders would be in town. The perception-happy Aquino administration has also scheduled school and work holidays across Metro Manila on the week of the summit. This is likely to ensure the absence of nightmarish traffic jams that would embarrass the government—traffic jams that we, on ordinary days, have accepted as a way of life. The same is said of traffic in the air. Certain flights have been cancelled to give the impression that the skies are clear, even when on regular days, air travelers have to contend with the additional trouble. Throw in the scare about a bullet or two being found on a luggage. Class suspensions may give students a happy respite—whether or not it is actually good for them—but workers who earn their keep on a per-working day basis would be put at a gross disadvantage through no fault of their own. The world leaders are expected to come together to discuss how the lives of people in the region could be collectively improved. Metro Manila residents who must make sacrifices during the summit might suggest more honest governments, to start.

HOW NOT TO HOST APEC LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THINK about it for a minute: The only reason why Edsa from Shaw Boulevard to the Mall of Asia will be closed to all traffic for up to 30 minutes during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit is because one country’s delegation (yes, only one) will be billeted at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel. It’s bad enough that the government is basically lock-

ing down Metro Manila for the duration of the summit this month. But when it makes life difficult for everyone because it can’t even keep all the visiting delegations close to each other in Manila’s reclaimed area, you wonder if the host government is not just having another monumentally incompetent moment for all the world to see. Former President Fidel Ramos, host of the 1996 Apec summit in Subic, is right. If the Aquino administration had only agreed with his proposal to hold this year’s leaders’ meeting in some other place like Clark

Field in Pampanga, it would not have to go to such crazy lengths to host this year’s shindig. But Ramos is mistaken to suggest Clark as a venue to this administration. That’s because the government would have to build something in the former US base, which houses a worldclass runway and not much else —and building infrastructure, especially in the province of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, is simply not a priority. (It’s ironic, of course, that the summit’s plenary meetings will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center,

If the government feels it’s really important to host Apec, you’d think it would try to cushion the blow for its citizens, right?

which was built by that other President hated by the current government, the Marcos administration. But then again, I guess holding a summit in a Marcos-built building is preferable, to the present rulers, than actually putting up new facilities like those Ramos built 19 years ago in Subic Bay.) Of course, locking down an entire metropolis for Apec is nothing new. The Chinese did the same thing in Beijing last year—but the Chinese Communist Party is no stranger to taking such measures, which the citizens have no choice but to comply with. In Beijing, the Party closed all schools, government offices and

even factories for a month for Apec. Half of the city’s cars were banned from the streets, as well, something that, together with the factory closures, ensured that the skies were blue and the usually toxic Beijing air was vastly improved for the duration of the summit. City residents were “encouraged” to leave town and given travel discounts to do so—just like the Department of Social Welfare and Development is doing with Metro Manila’s homeless population. Couples seeking to marry

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or divorce were even told to postpone these events until after all the gweilo dignitaries had left. The Russians, who had hosted the summit the year before the Chinese, were more in tune with Ramos. Moscow decided to hold the Apec meeting on a secure island off the city of Vladivostok on the Pacific coast of Russia —but of course, the Russians, much like FVR, did not shirk from the task of building something that will remain after the summit.

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*** It is also worth mentioning that the Aquino administration, bless the cavity where it should have its heart, has one-upped the authoritarian Chinese by declaring the two days of the leaders’ summit “no work, no pay” holidays in Metro Manila. This means that, if you’re a daily-wage earner in Valenzuela, far, far away from the Apec leaders, you still can’t go to work and you most certainly will not get paid. Continued on A11

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

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LESS than three weeks remain before thousands of heads of state, government officials, official negotiators, scientists, activists, stakeholders like indigenous peoples, and ordinary people gather in Paris, France to participate in the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Among them will be a group of climate pilgrims that have been walking for weeks now from Rome, Italy where Pope Francis himself sent them off. These pilgrims are led by former climate change commissioner Yeb Saño joined among others by his brother AG and by one of my former students at the Ateneo School of Government Desiree Llanos Dee. Now in the border of Switzerland and France, I hope to welcome them personally when they arrive in Paris as the COP opens. The Nov. 30-Dec. 11, 2015 Paris Conference is an important global conference. It is expected to adopt a new agreement on climate change, one that would hopefully be ambitious, effective and fair. For the Philippines, our bold and able climate change delegation head Commissioner Manny de Guzman said, on the eve of a pre-COP meeting happening right now in Paris: “A human rights-based approach to climate actions is critical. It promotes consistency, policy coherence, accountability and transparency in climate change policies and actions.” As I have written before, President Aquino is now looked up to as a global leader on climate change having proposed an ambitious Intended Nationally Determined Contribution for the Philippines, a proposal that gives us high moral ground to ask other countries to take leadership on climate change mitigation and to provide support for us and other developing countries so we can implement fully both mitigation and adaptation programs. We still have to work out the details of our INDC but we have started on a right footing with what we submitted. I have only heard good things about it from fellow negotiators in many conversations I have had for the last month and a half. 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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ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

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OPINION

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

20 DAYS TO PARIS CLIMATE SUMMIT

[ EDI TORI A L ]

If the government feels it’s really important to host Apec, you’d think it would try to cushion the blow for its citizens, right?

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

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

ANCHORED ON LIES TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

THE Aquino administration has once more been caught lying about its efforts to provide relief and rehabilitation to thousands of Yolanda survivors two years after the typhoon laid to waste a bigger part of Eastern Visayas, particularly Tacloban City. I am reminded of one of my visits to London. At the backyard of Canterbury Church is a cemetery of VIPs, poets and celebrities. One of the epitaphs said: “Here lies a lawyer and lying still.”

And we say this President is honest?

This epitaph could well be given to the Aquino administration when a new one takes over in 2016. This, at the rate President Aquino insists on “Daan Matuwid” as the mantra of his anointed, Mar Roxas. That straight path could well be Mar’s road to perdition since it is anchored on lies, big lies! It was a lie when BS Aquino III rebuked then-Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s findings that the people around the President were administratively and criminally responsible for the killing of eight Hong Kong tour-

ists. To make matters worse, the President never apologized for it, acting like the big “hacendero” that he is, without empathy much less compassion for the relatives of the dead. When it was found that the President used the pork barrel system to have the controversial Reproductive Health Law enacted and that mongrel called the DAP or Disbursement Acceleration Program to impeach, convict and oust then Chief Justice Renato Corona, my gulay, again BS Aquino III was exposed to have lied through his teeth. Despite having the ultimate accountability and responsibility for the slaughter of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, BS Aquino III also refused to apologize. And people with the yellow streak in their veins call him honest? To me, that’s mental dishonesty of the worst kind. He asked his suspended (who ultimately was dismissed) BFF Police Chief Alan Purisima to head Oplan Exodus, even keeping thenInterior Secretary Mar Roxas out of the loop. Now, BS Aquino III is lying again and lying still. His lapdogs insist that they have already spent 51 percent of the donations and contributions for the relief and rehabilitation of Yolanda survivors. Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman also lied when she insisted that there are no more tents and bunk houses in Tacloban. Can we still trust this President? Malacañang has been challenged to account for the congressionally approved P180 billion for the

CHINA AND TAIWAN NEED A BORING SUMMIT all should take care to maintain that balance. THIS Saturday’s first-ever With exports driving 70 meeting between the leaders percent of Taiwan’s gross doof China and Taiwan signals, mestic product, increased on the face of it, a warming of trade has, until recently, relations. Unfortunately, it’s a sustained relatively healthy little more complicated than growth in Taiwan, and enthat. Both sides need to take couraged both countries care that their historic summit to avoid conflict. The DPP, isn’t too exciting, and doesn’t whose platform still includes set this delicate and poten- a clause calling for Taiwanese tially dangerous relationship independence, has moderated back. its stance. Its presidential canThe complication is politics. didate Tsai Ing-wen says she Taiwanese elections are com- seeks to maintain the status ing up in two months. Taiwan’s quo. President Ma Ying-jeou (who Yet the election will take place will leave office next year re- against a background of discongardless) is thinking about his tent. Trade has not enriched all place in history. Chinese Pres- Taiwanese. There’s a perception ident Xi Jinping may be more that the main beneficiaries have interested in suggesting to the been the wealthy businessmen island’s voters that the best —the “taishang”—who live and way to keep improving ties work in China. For the averwith the mainland is to sup- age citizen, wages are stagnant. port Ma’s Kuomintang Party Graduates complain of a lack of (KMT), rather than the oppo- good jobs, and high property sition Democratic Progressive prices have fueled resentment at Party, whose policy toward rising inequality. Thanks in part China is more cautious. to the recent slowdown in ChiThat’s fine, so long as the nese demand, the island’s gross status quo isn’t unsettled. The domestic product fell in the best feasible way forward for third quarter. China and Taiwan is more of Fewer than 10 percent of the formula that’s worked well Taiwanese favor reunificafor both: commerce plus ambition with China—and many guity about the island’s status. of these, only if the mainland During and after the meeting, first democratizes. Twice that Beijing, the KMT and the DPP number favor independence.

Bloomberg editorial

post-Yolanda rehabilitation. A good part of the money remain with the DWSD and Office of the Civil Defense trust accounts. *** Another lie is the attempt to hide from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit delegates next week the presence of street children in Metro Manila. He must think these world leaders and their staff are stupid. It’s just like what the government did when Pope Francis was here. If the President and the people around him believe they can fool all the people all the time, they are mistaken. In fact, they are only fooling themselves.

Come to think of it, why spend P10 billion simply to host a big event? Just to impress the leaders of the 21 countries? My gulay, President Ramos, way back in 1996 when the country hosted the first Apec summit in Subic, spent only a little over P500 million. *** An interesting thought came to mind as a result of Senator Bongbong Marcos’ reply when asked if he would consent to a DNA test to find out whether Senator Grace Poe and he were related. Marcos said, “Why not? And if the DNA test would match, I say welcome to the family.”

But the great majority of citizens want to maintain the current ambiguity. It’s in China’s and Taiwan’s interests to let that majority have its way, regardless of the election results. It’s also in their interests to avoid inflaming opinion, before and after the vote. Some fear that if Tsai wins the vote on Jan. 16, China may express its displeasure by throwing up new barriers to trade, or by redoubling its efforts to block Taiwan from joining regional free-trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It would be smart for Xi to say that won’t happen. In the event Tsai wins, she and Xi should use the four months before her inauguration to deepen private channels of communication and quietly air their differences. And Xi should leave open the possibility of a formal meeting later as well: Open, consistent contact would give Tsai reason to stick to her moderate position and rein in the pro-independence firebrands in her party, continue a steady pace of economic liberalization, and allow cross-strait ties to strengthen. It’s an untidy and unsatisfying prospect—but vastly better than the alternatives.

I was pretty close to some “Blue Ladies” during the Marcos dictatorship. There was indeed a rumor that one of the loves of Marcos was a Sampaguita star named Rosemarie Sonora, who was one of the most beautiful faces in movies at that time. And the rumor of a Marcos child outside of marriage persisted even after Martial Law. Despite claims and allegations that Grace was a foundling, which is now an issue on her citizenship, several questions come to mind, like why did Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces conveniently go to Iloilo to adopt the child, Grace? And most importantly, why

does the daughter of Rosemarie Sonora, now married to an American, refuse a DNA test? *** The “tanim bala” issue against the administration and particularly against Liberal Party candidate Mar Roxas won’t die down as easily as the Aquino administration would want it. Foreign media have already taken note of the issue, which is now scaring foreign tourists and especially overseas Filipino workers and “balikbayans” from coming to the Philippines. Japan has made a joke out of it. Most importantly, it’s another black mark on the image of the country.

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

ISSUES VS GRACE POE’S AMERICAN HUSBAND

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA NEIL Llamanzares, the husband of Senator Grace Poe, is an American citizen. Unlike Poe who allegedly renounced her American citizenship back in 2012, Mr. Llamanzares seems determined to retain his status as an alien. That may be his prerogative, but it is fraught with many legal consequences. What will happen if Poe survives the on-going legal challenges against her before the Commission on Elections and the Senate Electoral Tribunal, and gets elected President? That means that the first gentleman, Mr. Llamanzares, will be an American. It will also mean that an alien will be an official resident of Malacañang for an anticipated six years. A brief review of Philippine history is in order. Upon his assumption to office in 1935, Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon surprised American colonial authorities in the Philippine Islands by moving to Malacañang, which had been the official residence of the American governors-general in the previous years. It was a surprise because Quezon’s transfer to the Palace was not officially covered in the laws which paved the way for the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth. Quezon argued that since the Filipinos had a new leader in

lieu of the American governorgeneral, the new leader should live in Malacañang where past governors-general lived. Of course, Quezon’s statement also meant that all American tenants needed to vacate the Palace immediately. President Jose P. Laurel of the Japanese-sponsored Republic of the Philippines was more obstinate than Quezon. When the Philippines fell to Japanese invaders in 1942, Japanese troops replaced the American soldiers guarding Malacañang. Almost immediately after his assumption to office in 1943 and his transfer to Malacañang thereafter, Laurel ordered all Japanese sentries out of the Palace and replaced them with armed Filipino guards. Laurel said that the President of the Philippines should be guarded by Filipinos. The Japanese had to concede. Undoubtedly, Quezon and Laurel would be unsettled by the prospect of an alien taking up official residence in Malacañang at taxpayers’ expense—the expenses in operating Malacañang are paid by taxpayers. Since her husband is an American, how can Poe, assuming she wins as President, maintain a genuine pro-Filipino stand on vital national issues and concerns? Precisely because she has an American spouse, “President” Poe’s of-

20 days... From A9 While ministers and other top officials are meeting in Paris to discuss critical issues like ambition, equity and climate finance, in Manila, the Philippines is hosting meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a group of nations most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. We are currently the chair of this group that include Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Maldives, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Barbados, Kenya, Tuvalu, Bhutan, Kiribati, Rwanda, Vanuatu, Costa Rica, Madagascar, Saint Lucia, and Vietnam. In addition to the CVF, the Philippines has also taken a leadership role in initiating the establishment of the Vulnerable Twenty group of Ministers of Finance or V20. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima led this effort in Lima, Peru a month ago. He is one of the few finance ministers of the world who get it and who support innovative and ambitious efforts to address climate change. In addition to the V20, Purisima has been instrumental in making the Philippines a pioneer in carbon pricing. Hopefully, the President will go to Paris for a meeting of the heads of state those countries supporting carbon pricing, an event which precedes by a day the bigger Paris summit that will open COP 21 on Nov. 30, 2015. Budget Secretary Butch Abad has also been supportive of integrating climate change into our budgetary processes, introducing a climate tag-

ficial acts involving American interests will always be highly suspect. That will not be good for the Filipino people. It cannot be denied that the president’s spouse has considerable influence over the president. That was particularly true during the administrations of President Ferdinand Marcos and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Thus, if recent history is an indication, having an alien as the first gentleman is almost like electing an alien to the presidency. In that event, antiimperialist demonstrators in the country will have a heyday denouncing the Philippine government. It was reported in the news media that Poe disclosed that Mr. Llamanzares is willing to renounce his American citizenship if Poe wins as president in May 2016. Why should Llamanzares’ renouncement of his American citizenship be dependent on the victory of his wife? Is his American citizenship so precious to Llamanzares and his family that he will only renounce it when the political horizon in the Philippines is favorable to them? By making his possible renouncement dependent on the outcome of the elections, Mr. Llamanzares invites suspicion that if Poe fails in her presidential bid next year, the Llamanzares family will re-

ging initiative that is essential for better planning for mitigation and adaptation. And now, with longtime environmental and climate change champion Senator Loren Legarda heading the Finance Committee of the Senate, we are in a position to have a national budget that is able to respond more effectively to the challenge of climate change. In her welcome remarks to the CVF yesterday, Senator Legarda emphasized the urgency of the climate challenge, why urgent and aggressive climate action is necessary: “The signs are all around us. The numbers speak for themselves. It is no longer an issue of taking action, but rather of how much action we need to take.” Legarda described how Typhoon Lando/Koppu has affected more than three million people and cause damages to agriculture and infrastructure worth $235.8 million (P11 billion). This of course paled in comparison to Leyte two years ago when Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan devastated the Visayas. As she pointed out, we still have to fully recover from that storm where more than 6,000 individuals lost their lives. Legarda pointed out that the INDCs that have been submitted for Paris are inadequate. Indeed, she is right as the UNFCCC Secretariat has estimated that the INDCs, if implemented fully, would still result in a 2.7°C global warming by 2030. That is not acceptable. As the CVF has always pointed out, there is a need to limit warming to 1.5°C to be able to survive.

turn to the greener pastures of that happen, both husband and the United States for good. wife will be facing raps before According to Senator Poe, the Comelec. Mr. Llamanzares is “willing” to When Senator Poe renounce his American citizen- announced her run for the ship if she wins in May 2016. presidency last September at the This means that Mr. Llaman- alumni house of the University zares is not certain to renounce of the Philippines (UP) in his American citizenship even Diliman, Mr. Llamanzares was if his wife is elected president. reported to be among the crowd It also suggests that if Llaman- of supporters present. If this zares does renounce his alien is so, and if Mr. Llamanzares citizenship, it will be an accom- claims that he was there in his modation he will grant to the capacity as the spouse of the Filipino people. Good grief! senator, he may have a problem. It is very obvious that Grace Section 81 of the OEC does not Poe and her American husband make any distinction whether Neil Llamanzares want the best or not the alien is a spouse of a of both worlds—to stay in the candidate. His presence at the Philippines when the going is proclamation rally in UP may good, and to flee to the United be construed as both an indirect States (as a matter of right) when aid to his candidate wife, and the going gets bad. This smacks as participation in an election of manifest opportunism. campaign. Besides, where the Under Section 81 of the language of the law is clear, Omnibus Election Code, aliens and there is no ambiguity in are not allowed to directly or Section 81, there should be no indirectly aid any candidate, room for creative or ingenious or take part in any election interpretation. campaign. A violation of this It is disturbing enough that prohibition shall constitute an one of the leading contenders election offense, which carries for the highest office in the land penal sanctions. Accordingly, is not a natural-born citizen of while it may be the prerogative the Philippines and is disqualiof Mr. Llamanzares to retain his fied for the said office. AddAmerican citizenship, it is also ing to that disturbance is that the prerogative of public inter- her husband is an alien who est advocates to take legal action does not seem to think highly of against him in the event that he Philippine citizenship. Surely, is found to have violated the the Filipino people deserve foregoing prohibition. Should something better than this.

Senator Legarda points out how a study commissioned by the Climate Vulnerable Forum entitled Climate Vulnerability Monitor: A Guide to the Cold Calculus of a Hot Planet shows that “if the world goes business as usual, there will be 6 million deaths per year by 2030, close to 700,000 of which will be due to climate change.” Finally, Legarda frames the challenge of climate change correctly as a question of justice. She calls on the member nations in the Climate Vulnerable Forum to no longer take climate injustice sitting down. She argues that we are in high moral ground to demand action from everyone because our countries bear the costs of climate change even as we are the least emitters of carbon. As we go to Paris, however, blaming each other is not the right approach. Instead, we must call for global solidarity. Senator Legarda makes this appeal eloquently in her welcome remarks yesterday: “We live in only one planet and by now climate change should make countries, developed and developing, realize that moats, gates, massive barriers, borders are ephemeral, easily destroyed, and antiquated concepts. The truth is, there are no borders, we are all connected and we suffer the consequences of climate change together. This is not the time for restraint; this is not the time to wag the finger of indictment. This is the moment for collective and urgent climate action.” Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

How not... From A9 The Chinese, in contrast, called for a weeklong holiday in Beijing last year, as well. But they had the good sense to order that the workers got paid while they didn’t work. Now, I don’t think the Philippine government should demand that employers take the two-day hit because they had really nothing to do with the hosting of the summit. But if the Aquino administration thinks hosting Apec is so important, perhaps it should have subsidized the pay of the workers they are forcing to go on unpaid leave for two days. Only a haciendero like Aquino, who never worked a day in his charmed life, could approve of such an injustice—especially since so many workers in Metro Manila are contractual employees who don’t get paid if they don’t show up for work. I’m at such a loss for words here that I must borrow from Rep. Neri Colmenares: “It is so easy for the Aquino government—that has displayed extraordinary callousness and apathy towards the common people—to say that workers will not be receiving pay for two days or more during the Apec meeting,” Colmenares said. “The unfeeling government fails to see how the daily wage earners are already struggling to make ends meet with today’s wages and high cost of public goods and services.” The Filipino people were never asked if they wanted to host the Apec summit, after all—even if they’re footing the P7.9-billion bill for it already. But if the government feels it’s really important to do hosting chores, you’d think it would try to cushion the blow for its citizens, right? I don’t know about you. But I really can’t wait until the end of June next year, when this most insensitive, hypocritical and incompetent government steps down.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Djokovic vows more titles to come PA R I S — No v a k Djokovic says he has reached the peak of his career by taking a “holistic approach”, leaving nothing to chance.

PLDT stops Air Force, makes S Turf semifinals PLDT Home Ultera combined solid spiking with superb blocking as it grounded an erstwhile unbeaten Air Force, 2325, 25-21, 25-21, 25-14, to advance to the semifinal round of the Spikers’ Turf Season 1 Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan last night. The Ultra Fast Hitters scored three straight points off the block that help anchor their win in the pivotal third then went on to dominate the Airmen in the fourth and complete their come-from-behind victory in one hour and 35 minutes. PLDT thus closed out its elims stint with a 3-2 card as it joined its victim and idle Cignal, which finished with identical 4-1 slates, in the Final Four of the season-ending conference of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera. Mark Alfarara went on a spiking run and finished 20 kills and came through with five blocks while Kheeno Franco, Peter Torres, Henry Peca-a and Jay Galang combined for 32 points for the Ultra Fast Hitters, who finished with 10 blocks as against their rivals’ five. Rodolfo Labrador fired 17 points while Jeffry Malabanan and Ruben Inaudito each chipped in 11 hits for the Airmen. Cignal scored a 25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17 victory over Navy late Saturday to roll into the next phase of the tournament, backed by Mikasa and organized by Sports Vision, on Saturday.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after winning the final tennis match against Britain’s Andy Murray at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 indoor tennis tournament in Paris. AFP

Willett loosens Rory’s grip in Europe SHANGHAI—Rory McIlroy is facing a fight to retain his Race to Dubai title after a stunning finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai left Englishman Danny Willett breathing down his neck. Willett’s 10-under-par 62 on Sunday, the lowest round of the week in a world-class field, saw him charge up the leaderboard at Sheshan International Golf Club to finish three strokes behind winner Russell Knox of Scotland. It cut 2014 Race to Dubai champion McIlroy’s lead in the battle to be European number one to just 74,214 points, with Willett set to play one more event than the Northern Irishman. The English world number 26 can strike a potentially decisive blow later this week across Shanghai when he tees up in the $7 mil-

lion BMW Masters, which McIlroy is sitting out. There are more than a million points up for grabs for the winner at Lake Malaren when Willett tees up on Thursday, a week before the season finale in Dubai. McIlroy shot his best round of the week, a six-under 66, on Sunday, but needed a 35-foot birdie putt at the last to take a share of 11th place and keep his nose in front in the standings. Willett said his eyes are firmly fixed on stealing the Race to Dubai crown from the four-time major winner and current world number three. “This could be a very big result for me,” Willett told AFP after his final round at Sheshan. “With Rory not playing next week, I could gain a few more

points on him and give us a nice buzz going into the final week into Dubai.” A finish anywhere in the top 25 in the 78-man BMW Masters field this week will see the in-form Willett overtake the absent McIlroy. “I’ve been determined all year, ever since we got to number one the first week out (when Willett won the Nedbank Championship),” said Willett. “After the big win at the Nedbank, kept winning and pressing hard and we were able to post some really good numbers around the world.” Another victory this week for Willett would mean McIlroy would almost certainly have to win the closing DP Tour Championship in Dubai and hope Willett finishes outside the top five. AFP

The 28-year-old Serb put the finishing touches to one of the greatest years in tennis history on Sunday when he swept aside old rival Andy Murray 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the Paris Masters. The tournament was the final one of the ATP regular season and the victory etched his name in the record books. The first man to win three Grand Slam titles and six Masters Series titles in the same year, the first man to reach eight out of nine Masters Series finals and the first man to record 14 straight finals in the same year, all en route to a win-loss record of 78-5 -- the achievements are phenomenal. Djokovic, who is now firmly in the mix with Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the label of the greatest player ever, insists that on sheer talent alone he would never have hit such dizzy heights. “I think there are a few reasons why I have managed to reach my peak at this stage of my career this year,” he said after his defeat of Murray. “I think in terms of physical and mental ability, I have reached my peak experience-wise. “Of course I did go through certain periods that had more doubts and, you know, I wasn’t as successful. It all served as a great lesson, as a way to improve and to get better. So this season, everything got together. AFP

Betten, Duke top Safeguard Triathlon 5i50 SAM Betten and fellow Australian Dimity-Lee Duke bucked the heat and the elite field and ruled their respective divisions in the Safeguard for Men 5i50 Triathlon at Dauis and Panglao, Bohol yesterday. Betten flashed superb form in the 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run and clocked 2:01:03 to beat Michael Murphy, also from Down Under, for the coveted men’s plum in the season-ending endurance race sponsored by Safeguard for Men. Murphy turned in an equally impressive 2:03:48 clocking while Justin Granger timed 2:12:38 to complete the Aussies domination of the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., headed by president Wilfred Uytengsu, and which drew over 700 participants from all over. “I trained hard for this,” said the 27-year-old Betten, who picked up his second victory in the season

after topping the inaugural Regent 5i50 Triathlon in Subic Bay last June following his runner-up finish in the Ironman 70.3 in Cebu last year. “It was such a hot and tough race. The last three kilometers through was the hardest with the weather getting hotter and hotter. But I just kept on going and kept my focus on winning,” said Betten. The veteran Duke struggled in the early going in swim leg but went on to score an emphatic romp in the ladies side, leading from start to finish en route to a 2:13:30 clocking. Belinda Granger, also of Australia, came in second in 2:19:47 while local ace Monica Torres snatched third place honors with a 2:26:26 clocking. Backers of the event were 2GO Express as the official courier and logistics partner, venue hosts Bohol and The Bellevue Resort, the

Municipalities of Panglao and Dauis as bike course partners, Powerade, Wilkins Pure, Prudential Guarantee, Newton Running, TYR, Garmin, Rudy Project, David’s Salon, Intercare, Alaska, Shotz Nutrition, Smart and Bohol Bee Farm. Other supporters were the Department of Tourism-Central Visayas, hotel partners The Bellevue Resort and Bluewater Panglao, media partners The Philippine Star, TriLife, AsiaTri and FinisherPix and Marketing Partners Devant, Regent, Purefoods Sexy Chix, Motorace, Sante Barley and Prozza. For details, visit www.5i50philippines.com/safeguard. Follow us on www.facebook.com/Safeguard5i50, @safeguard5i50 on Instagram, and @ safeguard5i50 on Twitter for updates. Tag us at #safeguard5i50; #5i50bohol.

Aussies Australian Dimity-Lee Duke (left) and Sam Betten celebrate their victories in their respective sides in the Safeguard for Men 5i50 Triathlon at Dauis and Panglao, Bohol yesterday.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Lorenzo wins, Rossi cries foul

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo (C) Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa and Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez (R) ride during the MotoGP motorcycling race at the Valencia Grand Prix at Ricardo Tormo racetrack in Cheste, near Valencia. AFP

Philips Gold faces RC Cola, eyes semis Games Today (The Arena) 4 p.m. -- Foton vs Meralco 6 p.m. -- RC Cola-Air Force vs Philips Gold

WITH leaders Petron and Cignal safely in, Philips Gold will shoot for the elusive semifinal slot when the 2015 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix women’s volleyball tournament rolls back to The Arena in San Juan today. The Lady Slammers will clash with RC Cola-Air Force at 6 p.m. after the 4 p.m. collision between Foton and Meralco in this premier inter-club tournament presented by Asics and backed by Milo with Senoh, Mueller and Mikasa as technical partners and TV5 as official broadcaster. After punching their sixth win in eight games, the Blaze Spikers and the HD Spikers formally advanced to the next round, leaving the Lady Slammers, the Tornadoes and the Raiders racing for the last two semifinal seats.

Doping, corruption report set to rock track and field GENEVA—Athletics is braced to be rocked on Monday by a damning report into allegations of widespread doping and blackmail in a sport long-viewed as the flagship of the Olympic Games. Just 270 days out from the start of the 2016 Rio Olympics, an independent commission set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will release its findings into a scandal already viewed as more damaging than the corruption crisis engulfing world football governing body FIFA. “This is going to be a real game-changer for sport,” said the report’s co-author Richard McLaren. “You potentially have a bunch of old men who put a whole lot of extra money in their pockets

through extortion and bribes.” The commission, chaired by former WADA president and Canadian lawyer Dick Pound, will report on allegations of doping which were first aired in a German TV documentary in December 2014. That programme claimed Russian track and field was plagued by doping. The Sunday Times and the ARD channel also obtained a database belonging to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) which contained more than 12,000

Mahusay nets 3 wins in netfest REYNAN Mahusay enhanced a promising tennis career as he racked up three victories in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament, including in the premier boys’ 18-and-under division at the Dumalag Tennis Club in Dumalag, Capiz yesterday. The 14-year-old bet from St. Michael School in Pontevedra showed grace under pressure in the finals, pulling off a pair of thrilling tiebreakers against third seed Mart Fullo for a 7-6(5), 7-6(3) decision in the Group 3 tournament sponsored by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center and sanctioned by Philta headed by Paranaque City

VALENCIA—Jorge Lorenzo claimed his third MotoGP world title at the Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday amid acrimony and accusations of collusion from his vanquished Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi. Rossi went into the season-closing race seven points clear of Lorenzo, but the Italian legend was left with a Herculean task starting from the back of the grid as punishment for pushing Marc Marquez off his bike in Malaysia. Rossi surged dramatically through the pack to finish fourth but Lorenzo led from pole to flag, despite intense pressure from his Spanish compatriots, Honda duo Marquez and Dani Pedrosa. All eyes were on Marquez to see if he could overtake Lorenzo after his spat with Rossi who accused the two-time world champion of conspiring to help Lorenzo win the title. And after losing out on a 10th world title Rossi railed to Marca: “Incredible work by Honda eh? “I knew it would be like that and so it was in the end.” He accused Marquez of turning into “Lorenzo’s bodyguard”. AFP

Mayor Edwin Olivarez. Fullo stunned top seed Mark Crisosto, 6-7(7), 7-5, 105, in the Final Four. As third seed in the 16-U class, Mahusay swept his way past three rivals to face giantkiller Jondreve Jimenea in the finals with the former battling back from a set down to hack out a 1-6, 6-1, 10-7 victory. He earlier dominated Jimenea, 6-3, 6-0, to bag the 14-U plum. “Reynan has developed into one mean player by competing regularly in the Palawan Pawnshop circuit and his hard work has started to pay off,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castrol. “We hope to produce more young talents and inspire more players through our series of tournaments nationwide.”

Kiana de Asis failed to match that three-win romp as the top La Carlota bet, who dominated the last three legs of the circuit presented by Technifibre, in Pontevedra, Panaad and San Carlos City, settled for victories in the 14and 16-U sections via 6-4, 7-5, and 6-1, 6-2, respectively, both over Tracy Llamas. But Llamas struck back in the centerpiece 18-U category, carving out a tough 7-5, 6-4, decision over De Asis, while top seed Avril Suace from Central Philippine U in Iloilo took the girls’ 12-U plum with a 7-6(3), 6-0 triumph over Marie Faeldonea, and Roxas City’s Angelo Mejia bagged the boys’ 12-U plum with a 0-6, 6-1, 14-12 victory over Marven Mosquera.

blood tests taken from around 5,000 athletes between 2001 to 2012. Allegations snowballed last week when the Mediapart news website claimed that Russian athletics chiefs and the sons of the former world body president Lamine Diack blackmailed athletes suspected of doping to let them keep competing. Mediapart said it has seen the report which will be made public on Monday. French police last Tuesday charged 82-year-old Diack with corruption over suspicions he took bribes worth over $1 million. Mediapart also said six Russian athletes, including top marathon runner Lilya Shobukhova, were the targets of blackmail attempts by Russian athletics federation officials. It quoted the WADA report as saying Shobukhova, who had her ban reduced after giving evidence

to IAAF investigators, handed over $569,000 between 2012 and 2014 to a Russian coach, Alexey Melnikov, who acted as an intermediary. The report added that Diack’s two sons, Pape Massata Diack and Khalil Diack, were alleged to have asked for $500,000 from Turkey’s 1500m women’s Olympic champion Asli Cakir Alptekin in November 2012, but she refused. Alptekin was suspended in April 2013 for abnormal blood samples and is now serving an eight-year ban and has been stripped of her London Olympics and European titles. Papa Massata Diack will face charges for various alleged breaches of the IAAF Code of Ethics. He will be joined by three others at a private hearing before a Panel of the Ethics Commission in London on December 16-18. AFP

Football for a Better Life.

Global FC ruled the finals of the U-10 category, beating Ateneo, 3-2, in the championship match of the 10leg, nationwide and year-round Football for A Better Life grassroots football development program held at the ASCOM field in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. The event was sponsored by Pru Life UK and organized by Spears Sports. Close to 9,000 kids were able to participate in the program.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Lady Bulldogs roll to 12th win DEFENDING champion National University moved two wins of clinching an outright Finals berth by dismantling Far Eastern University, 71-57, Sunday in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 78 women’s basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle gym. Shelley Gupilan scattered 18 of her 20 points from beyond the arc, while Trixie Antiquiera scored all of her 15 points from the three-point area as the Lady Bulldogs improved to 12-0, and have won 28 straight contests dating back from last year. De La Salle, meanwhile, extended its winning streak to 11, while snapping University of the Philippines’ four-game winning run with a 78-53 victory. Ara Abaca delivered a superb all-around performance with 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, while Camille Claro tossed in 15 points for the Lady Archers, who have already assured of the twice-to-beat bonus, either in the Final Four or stepladder semis format Jollina Go drilled in 16 of her 28 points in the first half as Ateneo hammered out a 66-62 decision over University of the East to bolster its semis hopes. Princess Cochico tallied 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as Adamson University snapped a eight-game losing streak with a 75-71 win over University of Santo Tomas. The Lady Eagles improved to 5-7 to tie the Lady Warriors and the Tigresses from third to fifth spots, while the Lady Falcons are not far behind at 4-8, joining the Lady Maroons in sixth place. The Lady Tamaraws are already out of the running with a 2-10 card.

Ceremonial move. National Chess Federation of the Philippines Director Atty. Edmundo Legaspi, representing NCFP Chairman and President Prospero Pichay, and tournament top seed Grandmaster Abijheet Gupta of India, perform the ceremonial moves signaling the start of the Philippine International Chess Championship at the Subic Peninsular Hotel, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Olongapo City yesterday. With them are (standing, from left) National Arbiter Roy Madayag, International Arbiter Gene Poliarco, NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales, Treasurer Red Dumuk, Subic Peninsular Hiotel Resident Manager Mad Augusto and Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre.

GlobalPort banking on Romeo’s heads-up play By Jeric Lopez

IN just his third season in the Philippine Basketball Association, Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort is already considered as one of e league’s finest players. And his Batang Pier head coach Pido Jarencio naturally agrees, saying the 23-year-old Romeo is a special player already. “Gifted and talented talaga ‘yung bata,’’ said Jarencio of Romeo. “’Yung desire niyang manalo makikita mo talaga sa kanya.’’ Aside from that, Jarencio added that the superstar’s continued

rise is no accident and that he isn’t surprised by what his prized ward is accomplishing in his career. “Makikita mo rin kasi sa kanya (Romeo) ’yung hard work niya. Pinaghihirapan niya talaga at masipag kaya lalo pa siyang gumagaling at nakakatulong sa amin,’’ said Jarencio. Jarencio said that Romeo is reaping the fruits of his successful

stint with Smart Gilas Pilipinas National team, which has turned his prized ward into a more mature, confident player. With the trio of Romeo, reigning Rookie of the Year Stanley Pringle and playmaker Joseph Yeo clicking, GlobalPort is currently meeting elevated expectations as it is having a good start in the Philippine Cup, where it holds a 2-1 card at the moment—good for third place. “The players are improved. Nakikita natin ‘yan. Si Terrence nagmature iyong game, tapos si Stanley very consistent for us. And then si Joseph binibigyan kami ng veteran presence kaya so far maganda ang

takbo,’’ said Jarencio. “Total team effort talaga kami.’’ Still, Jarencio doesn’t want any complacency from his team despite this promising start to the conference. The outspoken mentor said that his team is approaching things the right way. “We’re still in the process pa of making our chemistry better pa kaya hard work pa rin. May mission kami na one day at a time, na gawin naming ‘yung best talaga namin,’’ he said. This early, GlobalPort is already being considered as one of the dark horses of the tournament and Romeo’s play is a big factor.

Power Innovation nails 2nd victory POWER Innovation overcame Philippine Christian University, 70-67, Sunday night in the 5th DELeague Basketball Tournament at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City. Ronald Roy stepped up for the Innovators—sinking the game-winning free throws to give the Power Innovators their second win in three games. Roy top-scored for Power Innovation with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, while JR Ng Sang chipped in 16 points and 4 boards. “When I brought in the expros, medyo bumagal ‘yung phase ng game, bumilis naman ‘yung kalaban. So what I did was, ipinasok ko ‘yung mga youngsters ko to match

the youngsters of for Austen MorGames on Tuesday PCU,” said coach ris Association, (Marikina Sports Center) Francis Heslet of 7 p.m. • Fly Dragon Logistics vs which now has a Metro Pacific Toll Corporation Power Innovation 8:30 p.m. • Mindanao Aguilas vs 1-2 record in the Our Lady of Fatima University Philippines. league supported On the other by PSBank, Accel hand, the PCU-Dolphins ab- Sportswear, PCA—Marivalley, sorbed their first loss (2-1) in Angel’s Burger, Mckie’s Conthe tournament, negating the struction Equipment Sales and 26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 as- Rentals, Luyong Panciteria, sists of Von Tambeling and Azucar Boulangerie and PatisMike Ayonayon’s 20 points, 4 serie, JAJ Quick Print Adverrebounds. tising, Mall Tile Experts CorIn the other game, Aus- poration, Jay Marcelo Tires, ten Morris Association broke Polar Glass and Aluminum into the win column after Supply at Mr. and Mrs. Dot vanquishing the Philippine Escalona. National Police-Quick Print, Fly Dragon Logistics faces 86-71. Metro Pacific Toll CorporaJon Lasa finished with 22 tion today at 7 p.m., followed points and 6 rebounds, with by a game between Mindanao teammate RJ Deles contrib- Aguilas and Our Lady of Fatiuting 15 points, 6 rebounds ma University.

Austen Morris Assocation’s RJ Deles forces his way against the tight defense of Philippine National Police-Quick Print’s Gio Vergara in the 5th DELeague Basketball Tournament at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City. Austen Morris Association seized its first win, 86-71.

T UE S DAY : N O V E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pacquiao praised for generosity By Ronnie Nathanielsz

EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao ended his weeklong visit to the United Arab Emirates, which has been described as “most memorable for his ardent desire to fight in the UAE and for his extraordinary generosity.” The Chief Sports Writer of the Gulf Times, Euan Reedie, quoted Pacquiao who said he would name his opponent for his next and most likely last bout in December—with Britain’s Amir Khan the leading contender. “Pacquiao reiterated his keenness to fight in Dubai or Abu Dha-

bi, which was endorsed by members of his entourage,” Reedie also said. Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee Pacquiao, vice governor of Sarangani province, told Gulf News: “This is our first time here and we had a great time. Manny has held talks about fighting here and I think there is

a realistic chance it could happen.” Jinkee’s brother-in-law, Ed Palileo, reportedly agreed, saying that the boxing superstar had been offered “better compensation” to fight here than in the United States. He also asked inquired about a suitable venue for the fight should it take place in the UAE. Pacquiao was at the home of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to support Rahma, a new charitable cancer service in Abu Dhabi. Gulf Times reported that Pacquiao “patiently signed autographs and posed for selfies with thousands of fans at the venue ahead of Rah-

maYAS, a charity walk and cycle around the F1 circuit.” Pacquiao also presented the Rahma staff with a hugely generous $50,000 donation for the charity, which provides practical and psychological support for people diagnosed with cancer. He and some 2,000 participants, who paid Dh50 each to take part, raised a total of Dh250,000 for the charity. Praising Pacquiao’s charitable nature, his scuba-diving instructor Jong Jong said: “He’s nice, he’s good. He has a big heart. He’s a very generous person. He has a lot of love in his heart. He’s always giving money to people. He was in this place in

Sarangani, he was helping a lot of people there in hospital. He gave 500,000 pesos (Dh38,946) for their hospital bills.” Dr. Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi, chairman of the board of directors of Cancer Patient Care Society, said: “It was a fantastic day all round and we are delighted that so many people in the UAE came out to support us. We were especially delighted that Rahma’s patron, Manny Pacquiao, was here to take part in our first fundraiser. His presence was a huge draw, and his passion, determination, and healthy lifestyle were an inspiration to all those who took part today.”

Busy PSA Forum schedule today CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle makes a rare Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum appearance today when he serves as one of the special guests, along with Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia in the weekly forum at Shakey’s Malate. The Manila Archbishop will be in the 10:30 a.m. public sports program to talk about the I Run For Integrity 2015, which he discusses with Henry Schumacher, vice president of the organizing European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and officials of League of Cities from the Philippines, Siemens, and GMA 7. Garcia, on the other hand, is going to talk about the Spike for Peace Invitational beach volleyball tournament, together with PSC consultant on beach volleyball Eric Lecain. The MILO Best Center and upcoming events in the field of ice hockey and figure skating are likewise going to be featured in the session aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Beer, Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Representatives from Milo are coming in behalf of the BEST Center, ice hockey will be taken care of by Francois Gautier and Carl Montano, while the figure skating side will have Sofia Guidote and Jules Alpe.

Champs again. Players and team officials of Centro Escolar University display their trophy and medals after capping their undefeated season with a fifth straight senior basketball championship in the 46th Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association. CEU beat Rizal Technological University, 64-55, in Game 1 last Oct. 17 and 58-48 in Game 2 last Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. RTU took the senior volleyball and senior futsal titles. Also in photo are WNCAA officials Ma. Vivan Manila (standing, left) and Angelica dela Cruz (standing, second from right).

Apples and oranges ARMAN D. ARMERO

STEP BACK

MAYBE I’m a little slow, but I don’t just get it. I’m referring to the case surrounding Ateneo Blue Eagles’ center Chibueze Ikeh, who was recently arrested and detained on charges of violating Republic Act 9262, a law penalizing violence against women and their children. Or simply put, the Cameroonian was involved in what is commonly known as domestic violence against his supposed girlfriend, a Filipina. After spending a night in jail, Ikeh was released and was even fetched by Ateneo athletic director Emmanuel Fernandez. (Question: Who paid Ikeh’s P24,000 bail? Does an athletescholar has that ready amount on his pocket? Hmmm… maybe I’m in the wrong profession…)

When reporters asked Fernandez if the school will sanction Ikeh, the official said no, because Ikeh’s case was a “private matter.” Fernandez obviously made the statement in relation to an earlier incident involving another Ateneo player, John Apacible, who was caught (videotaped) drunkdriving some two weeks ago. A “public matter?” Apacible, a “bench” player, (bangko in the vernacular) was suspended from all UAAP activities for the rest of the second round. Apacible later apologized for the incident. Now, I may be accused of comparing apples and oranges (Apacible being the apple and Ikeh the orange), but I don’t think that the two cases are different or in Ikeh’s case a “private matter.” The phrase “double standards” even crossed my mind, and decided to park there. First, this “private matter” statement. Privacy is a tricky thing, even

so if you’re constantly in the limelight. You see, Ikeh plays for Ateneo, a member-team of the UAAP, the games of which are seen and watched by millions of televiewers three times a week. And when you’re on TV, you become a public figure, even if only for three months or so. Unlike Apacible (the apple), Ikeh (the orange) plays almost every Ateneo game. He isn’t a bench player. So maybe Ikeh isn’t a private figure at all, like most sports celebrities. So maybe “the violence against women” case wasn’t private at all. (In a later interview, Ikeh said he was innocent of the charges, but that’s for the courts to decide). Now, Apacible was caught drunkdriving and Ateneo threw the book on him. If it was any consolation, suspending Apacible won’t make a dent on Ateneo’s campaign, because the guy hardly sees action on the court. Most people haven’t heard of him until that unfortunate incident. But suspending Ikeh? That’s a no-no in the eyes of Ateneo officials, because Ikeh is a key player, a big no, a huge player who can make a difference in the game at any

given time. The team can’t afford to lose the guy even for one game. Okay, one more time. Apacible (the apple) was caught drunkdriving and was suspended. Ikeh (the orange) was charged with domestic violence, which is a far more serious offense, and wasn’t event slapped on the wrist. In contrast, Ateneo officials were caught holding hands with the Cameroonian, figuratively speaking. One more point. Shouldn’t Ikeh, an import, lead an exemplary behavior because he is precisely an import, a visitor in our foreigner-friendly land? Shouldn’t he respect the laws of our land, our citizens, our women and our culture? The burden, however, lies on the Ateneo management, because refusing to sanction Ikeh is tantamount to playing deaf to the injustice done to our own “kababayan,” a woman whose only mistake was to fall for his charms. I rest my case. And I’m out of here to eat some apples and oranges. For reactions, e-mail me at armero_23@yahoo.com.

Greg is best cager ALTHOUGH Barangay Ginebra was kept winless during the first one and a half weeks of the season, 6’11” Greg Slaughter continued his workmanlike approach to finally reward Tim Cone his first victory as coach of the Gin Kings. With Slaughter throwing his weight against Alaska’s defense, the 27-year-old former Ateneo standout finished with 27 points and 19 rebounds, helping Ginebra pull off a 93-92 squeaker in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup’s out-of-the-country match in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The stocky Slaughter’s scintillating performance earned him the Accel-PBA Press Corps. Player of the Week for the period of Nov. 3-8, besting the likes of GlobalPort’s Fil-Am guard Stanley Pringle, Blackwater’s Carlo Lastimosa and Star Hotshots’ Peter June Simon.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

A16

T U E S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS James, Love star in Cavs’ win

Cleveland coach David Blatt gives LeBron James a “high five” after the Cavaliers defeated the Pacers, 101-97. AFP

CLEVELAND—LeBron James, battling a sore left quadriceps, scored 29 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out four assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 101-97 for a sixth straight victory. James, who had said he would undergo round-the-clock treatment after taking a knee to the thigh in a game on Friday, didn’t disappoint, nor did teammate Kevin Love, whose 22 points included two key shots in the final minute. Love’s uncontested dunk with 8.2 seconds remaining sealed the game and his own best performance of the season. He also collected 19 rebounds, blocked three shots and handed out two assists. Love and James combined for 18 of the Cavaliers’ 27 points in the

fourth quarter. Paul George scored 32 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the Pacers, but a near four-minute scoreless spell late in the fourth ended Indiana’s hopes. In New York, the New York Knicks, aided by a late three-pointer from Langston Galloway, beat the Los Angeles Lakers 99-95 on Sunday to lend a bittersweet flavor to Kobe Bryant’s likely last game at Madison Square Garden. The 37-year-old Bryant, in his 20th and probably final season

7 col x 10 cm

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with the Lakers, says he doesn’t want the 2015-16 campaign to turn into a farewell tour. But he may not be able to prevent it, if the adoring reception he received from New York basketball fans is any indication. “It felt amazing,” said Bryant, who drew a roar almost every time he touched the ball. Bryant had received a similar welcome across town in Brooklyn two nights earlier, but the cheers resonated even more in Madison Square Garden, the storied Manhattan venue where Bryant played his first NBA All-Star Game in 1998 and where he scored a stunning 61 points against the Knicks on February 2, 2009. He entered the game with the highest scoring average at the Garden of any active player at 30.7

points per game in 15 games. “I remember coming in my first game here, not knowing what the hell to expect, what to do,” Bryant said. “To be here 20 years later and have that (cheering) happen feels amazing.” Although Bryant said he wasn’t certain that was his Madison Square Garden farewell, Lakers coach Byron Scott said this weekend he’d had his first real hint from the player that he wouldn’t return after his current contract expires at the end of the season. Scott told reporters in New York he had asked Bryant about something coming up next summer. “His answer was ‘This might be my last year,’” Scott said. The five-time NBA champion led the Lakers with 18 points on six-of-18 shooting.

Center Roy Hibbert added 18 points and nine rebounds and second-year guard Jordan Clarkson contributed 10 points. But a close game got away from the Lakers in late in the fourth quarter. Galloway drained a three-pointer with two minutes remaining for a two-point Knicks lead and the hosts never trailed again on the way to their first home win of the season. Forward Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with a game-high 24 points, 11 of them in the fourth quarter and also pulled down eight rebounds. After the game Bryant traded hugs and chats with some former Lakers colleagues, including excoach Phil Jackson, now the Knicks president, and former teammate Sasha Vujacic. AFP

TUESDAY: NOVEMBER 10, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Peso hits 6-year low of 47.16 PSe comPoSite index Closing November 9, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

7,070.19 48.01

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing NOVEMBER 9, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P47.160

46.20

47.00

HIGH P47.100 LOW P47.210 AVERAGE P47.154 VOLUME 720.400M

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

oPriceS il P

By Julito G. Rada

THE peso fell to a six-year low Monday, losing 0.5 percent to close at 47.16 against the US dollar, as the possibility of US Federal Reserve increasing interest rate before the end of the year boosted the greenback. Data showed the peso lost P0.22 from Friday’s closing of 46.935 against the greenback. It was the local currency’s weakest level since settling at 47.195 on Oct. 22, 2009. The peso also lost 5 percent since the start of the year. “[The peso’s decline was caused by the] very strong payrolls number [in the US] last Friday and thus the chances for a December Fed [interest rate] hike is pushed up to 68 percent from 50 percent,” Nicholas Antonio Mapa, research officer of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, said in an e-mailed statement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics

reported that non-farm payrolls in the US grew 271,000 in October, a significant improvement from the sluggish 153,000 in August and 137,000 in September. The Federal Reserve has been closely monitoring the jobs data, looking for signs on the strength of the US economy. Experts believed that the strong non-farm payrolls data could add pressure for an interest rates hike before the end of the year and boost the greenback against most currencies. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, however, said the weakness of the peso was unwarranted,

given surpluses in the current account and balance of payments. “How can one have a continuously depreciating currency when your balance of payments is in surplus, when your current account is in surplus?” Guinigundo told bond traders at a Nov. 7 conference in Cebu, south of Manila. “Negative sentiment brought about by offshore factors is more dominant than actual market fundamentals that should really support a stable currency,” he said. Emerging nations are grappling with an impending increase in US interest rates, which is complicating their monetary policy as central banks seek to support growth while guarding against capital outflows. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will probably hold its benchmark rate this week at 4 percent, according to a Bloomberg survey, extending a pause after raising borrowing costs in 2014. Market participants shouldn’t

be nervous about the availability of dollars or pesos “when the Federal Reserve finally lifts interest rates,” Guinigundo said. “There is so much liquidity in the system,” he said. Rising inflows from remittances and business process outsourcing contribute about $50 billion a year, Guinigundo said, helping boost reserves, which rose to a 22-month high in October. The balance of payments will likely meet a goal of a $2-billion surplus this year, he said. Money sent home from overseas Filipinos will probably meet targeted growth of 5 percent this year and next, the deputy governor said, with the funds increasing to $26.8 billion in 2016. Earnings from business process outsourcing or BPOs are forecast to rise between 15 percent and 25 percent a year with the annual value increasing to at least $25 billion next year, he said. With Bloomberg

today

P24.55-P28.00 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, November 9, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.9020

Japan

Yen

0.008120

0.3808

Pound

1.505100

70.5922

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129007

6.0507

Switzerland

Franc

0.994233

46.6315

Canada

Dollar

0.752615

35.2991

Singapore

Dollar

0.705219

33.0762

Australia

Dollar

0.703581

32.9994

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655337

124.5406 12.5072

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

Brunei

Dollar

0.702741

32.9600

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028220

1.3236

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

12.7715

Euro

1.074400

50.3915

Korea

Won

0.000867

0.0407

China

Yuan

0.157406

7.3827

India

Rupee

0.015122

0.7093

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.232180

10.8897

New Zealand

Dollar

0.650787

30.5232

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030590

1.4347 Source: PDS Bridge

A pedestrian looks at a share prices board in Tokyo on November 9, 2015. Tokyo shares jumped 2.14 percent on a weaker yen November 9 morning, after better-than-expected US jobs data last week bolstered the case for a December Federal Reserve interest rate hike. The forecast-busting surge in US jobs last month also sent the dollar surging against emerging market currencies Monday. AFP

Globe’s net income jumped 34% to P14.1b in nine months By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Monday net income surged 34 percent in the first nine months, bolstered by mobile and broadband businesses and the consolidation of financial results of recently acquired Bayan Telecommunications Inc. in the third quarter. Globe, which is controlled by Ayala Corp., said net income hit P14.14 billion in the January-September period, up from P10.53

billion it booked in the same period last year. Globe’s core profit, which excludes the impact of the nonrecurring items, one-time gains, foreign exchange and mark-tomarket charges, rose 10 percent to P12.71 billion in the nine-month period from P11.61 billion a year earlier. “We are pleased that Globe sustained the growth momentum for the first nine months of 2015, despite the renewed challenges in

the industry. We have maintained our aggressive stance as we continue fortifying our leadership in the digital space,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said. Globe posted consolidated service revenues of P83.4 billion in the first nine months, higher by 15 percent than P72.7 billion last year. The mobile business posted a 9 percent growth in revenues, reaching P63 billion in the first

nine months from P57.6 billion reported in the same period last year. Globe postpaid revenues increased 7 percent year-on-year while Globe prepaid posted solid growth of 8 percent. Globe’s mobile subscriber base reached 50.1 million as of endSeptember, up by 17 percent from 42.9 million a year ago, driven by record-level gross acquisitions. The robust performance of the mobile business was spear-

headed by mobile data services, sustaining the double-digit growth trajectory in the first three quarters. Mobile data service revenues jumped 48 percent to P15.1 billion in the January-September period from P10.2 billion reported a year ago. Globe’s total broadband service revenues stood at P12.4 billion as of the end-September, as total subscriber base reached nearly 4 million.

TUESDAY: NOVEMBER 10, 2015

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Monday, noveMber 9, 2015

52 Weeks

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 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 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 1.3 26 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 0.0670 2.31 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 390 156 0.710 0.510 10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.62 2.61 49.4 49 102.50 101.00 85.50 84.90 40.8 40.05 2.51 2.50 1.79 1.70 15.7 15.68 19.5 19.4 7.63 7.62 1.70 1.70 770.00 758.00 0.590 0.540 86.5 84.4 0.96 0.96 18.02 17.90 53.70 53.20 104.5 100 303 301 31.7 31.4 142.3 141.6 1554.00 1535.00 57.00 56.50 3.01 3.01 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp. 41.3 41.5 40.95 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 1.88 1.9 1.8 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.88 0.87 0.86 1.86 Alsons Cons. 1.57 1.58 1.55 7.92 Asiabest Group 11 11 10.7 15.32 Century Food 17.9 17.84 17.72 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 21.5 23 20.5 29.15 Concepcion 45.8 45.8 45 1.5 Crown Asia 2.45 2.45 2.38 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.64 1.67 1.62 10.72 Del Monte 10.06 10.18 10 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 9.430 9.430 9.29 9.04 Emperador 8.90 9.05 8.90 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.44 6.41 5.88 8.86 EEI 6.60 6.70 5.99 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.66 1.7 1.7 20.2 First Gen Corp. 24.2 24.85 23.6 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 69.6 69.85 98.7 13.86 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 11.70 11.80 11.70 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6.23 6.3 6.2 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.350 2.500 2.000 173 Jollibee Foods Corp. 207.40 207.40 205.20 LBC Express 11.72 12 11.5 34.1 Liberty Flour 37.90 43.00 43.00 2.3 LMG Chemicals 2.01 2.02 2 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.79 3.12 3.05 33 Macay Holdings 39.95 40.00 39.95 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.25 24.4 23.95 17.3 Maxs Group 23.95 24.05 21 5.88 Megawide 6.25 6.4 6.1 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 326.00 331.00 326.00 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.2 4.25 4.13 8.45 Petron Corporation 8.35 8.35 8.22 3 Phil H2O 3.8 4.18 3.6 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.94 11.94 11.94 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.70 3.00 3.50 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.05 2.04 2.01 1 Pryce Corp. À’ 2.42 2.42 2.38 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.13 4.13 4.12 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 134.5 135 133.5 4.1 SPC Power Corp. 4 4 3.4 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.25 2.53 2.34 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.150 0.154 0.149 1.02 TKC Steel Corp. 1.20 1.19 1.13 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.17 2.16 2.15 152 Universal Robina 206 206.4 205.6 0.640 Vitarich Corp. 0.69 0.69 0.67 10.02 Vivant Corp. 22.60 23.00 23.00 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.28 1.33 1.21 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. À’ 0.400 0.410 0.395 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 56.1500 57.0000 55.9000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 18.52 18.58 15.12 1.6 Anglo Holdings A 1.20 1.08 1.08 6.62 Anscor À’ 6.36 6.36 6.35 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.255 0.270 0.255 0.23 ATN Holdings B 0.250 0.27 0.265 634.5 Ayala Corp À’ 786.5 786 765 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.65 7.63 7.5 12.8 DMCI Holdings 13.10 13.20 12.62 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 4.22 4.24 4.23 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 3.80 3.77 3.76 837 GT Capital 1360 1360 1312 5.3 House of Inv. 5.75 5.73 5.61 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 73.50 74.75 73.00 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp. 7.65 7.6 7.1 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.78 0.78 0.75 12 LT Group 12.2 12.48 12.06 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings À’ 0.53 0.52 0.52 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.3 5.3 5.21 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 9.64 9.65 9.63 0.030 Pacifica À’ 0.0300 0.0320 0.0300 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.490 1.530 1.390 0.550 Prime Orion 1.960 1.970 1.930 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.83 2.71 2.41 59.3 San Miguel Corp À’ 49.80 50.00 49.10 1.5 Seafront À’ 2.69 2.69 2.69 751 SM Investments Inc. 869.00 880.00 864.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.20 1.19 1.19 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.84 0.82 0.77 170 Transgrid 188.00 161.00 161.00 80 Top Frontier 79.500 81.950 78.550 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3300 0.3350 0.3250 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.300 0.280 0.280 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.540 6.640 6.400 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.98 0.98 0.89 1.2 Araneta Prop À’ 1.150 1.180 1.110 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 36.650 36.600 35.550

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

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

SHARES 6,329,520 113,078,942 62,920,445 80,679,407 206,337,604 275,068,734 748,469,252

2.79 49.4 102.00 84.80 40 2.51 1.77 15.5 19.5 7.63 1.70 745.00 0.560 86.5 0.98 18.24 53.50 105 301 31.6 141.9 1525.00 57.00 3.01

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.61 49.35 102.00 85.00 40.45 2.50 1.70 15.68 19.4 7.62 1.70 770.00 0.540 86 0.96 18.02 53.20 100 303 31.4 142.1 1554.00 56.75 3.01

-6.45 -0.10 0.00 0.24 1.13 -0.40 -3.95 1.16 -0.51 -0.13 0.00 3.36 -3.57 -0.58 -2.04 -1.21 -0.56 -4.76 0.66 -0.63 0.14 1.90 -0.44 0.00

41,000 17,700 1,384,010 1,297,320 14,300 9,000 229,000 1,200 73,800 600 16,000 1,510 1,498,000 590,190 12,000 90,700 113,210 90 390 66,800 256,470 565 26,930 300,000

41.5 1.81 0.86 1.57 11 17.74 23 45.45 2.42 1.62 10.18 9.300 8.95 6.26 6.00 1.7 23.75 69 11.80 6.22 2.000 206.80 11.5 43.00 2 3.09 40.00 24 23.2 6.1 329.60 4.19 8.31 3.6 11.94 3.69 2.01 2.38 4.13 134.5 4 2.36 0.150 1.19 2.15 206.2 0.68 23.00 1.24

0.48 -3.72 -2.27 0.00 0.00 -0.89 6.98 -0.76 -1.22 -1.22 1.19 -1.38 0.56 -2.80 -9.09 2.41 -1.86 -0.86 0.85 -0.16 -14.89 -0.29 -1.88 13.46 -0.50 -18.47 0.13 -1.03 -3.13 -2.40 1.10 -0.24 -0.48 -5.26 0.00 -0.27 -1.95 -1.65 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.89 0.00 -0.83 -0.92 0.10 -1.45 1.77 -3.13

967,900 58,000 66,000 254,000 1,300 3,356,400 10,279,900 13,300 845,000 825,000 36,200 6,314,800 3,683,000 31,872,200 2,280,000 1,000 872,500 393,530 200 852,900 29,695,000 630,670 18,900 5,400 20,000 600 3,000 1,117,400 172,700 19,300 532,450 1,700,000 1,132,900 58,000 6,000 83,000 572,000 335,000 194,000 14,970 231,000 6,582,000 3,250,000 59,000 499,000 195,860 272,000 200 1,066,000

0.400 56.8000 18.58 1.08 6.35 0.270 0.270 768 7.57 13.12 4.23 3.76 1325 5.61 73.70 7.39 0.77 12.4 0.52 5.25 9.63 0.0300 1.490 1.930 2.7 49.70 2.69 867.50 1.19 0.77 161.00 79.100 0.3350 0.280

0.00 1.16 0.32 -10.00 -0.16 5.88 8.00 -2.35 -1.05 0.15 0.24 -1.05 -2.57 -2.43 0.27 -3.40 -1.28 1.64 -1.89 -0.94 -0.10 0.00 0.00 -1.53 -4.59 -0.20 0.00 -0.17 -0.83 -8.33 -14.36 -0.50 1.52 -6.67

80,000 688,350 1,297,100 10,000 17,600 4,450,000 130,000 101,930 2,084,700 1,300,900 5,000 16,000 92,330 350,300 1,093,700 4,765,700 259,000 2,479,600 300,000 7,706,800 1,544,800 31,600,000 19,000 756,000 20,000 167,100 29,000 120,650 14,000 235,000 20 17,220 490,000 510,000

6.580 0.89 1.180 35.850

0.61 -9.18 2.61 -2.18

878,200 8,017,000 165,000 2,942,500

774,795.00 29,543,111 60,691,681.00 97,075.00

-462,326.00 312,900.00 31,114,597.50 1,799,605.00 -950,690 8,854,569.00 278,950.00 1,140.00 -20,240,905.00

53,746,866.00 -6,212,500.00 154,305 -12,000.00 -66,420.00 5,508,602.00 -24,101,893.00 -37,284,046.00 -2,482,591.00 -5,173,430.00 -9,704,991.50 -1,180.00 3,926,540.00 174,200.00 23,909,022.00

39.95 14,960,885.00 86,312,008.00 870,800.00 668,176.00

4,080.00 721,300.00 -507,065.00 -609,680.00 31,400.00 509,550.00 13,385,970.00 -13,310.00 -11,217,295.50 4,560,430.00

-18,000,355.00 8,349,669.00 3,162,076.00 -16,809,145.00 683,773.00 15,510,070.00 -5,752,061.00 1,578,190.00 -19,295,275.00 -120,000.00 -39,200.00 -1,848,050.00 -78,010.00 -1,589,800.00 1,610.00 -886,388.50

52 Weeks

High Low 5.6 5.59 5.6 1.44 1.97 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

3.36 4.96 2.8 0.79 1.1 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 95.5 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 6.41 185 22.9 3486 2.28 46.05 90.1

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 4.8 830 1600 5.95 102.6 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 3.1 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 3 79 4.39 2748 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

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

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. I.C.T.S.I. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. 7.59 SSI Group 0.63 STI Holdings 5 Travellers 0.315 Waterfront Phils. 1.14 Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

70 553 120 515 8.21 1060

33 490 101.5 480 5.88 997

1047 84.8

1011 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

2,113,562.00 745,740.00

15 88 12.88

3.5 13.5 5.95

-15,917,660.00

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Makati Fin. Corp. IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

High

VALUE 386,271,069.529 1,251,596,755.09 631,200,019.00 506,984,846.335 795,113,420.47 82,549,278.96 3,728,753,956.889

FINANCIAL 1,577.46 (DOWN) 0.15 INDUSTRIAL 11,435.46 (DOWN) 41.97 HOLDING FIRMS 6,631.79 (DOWN) 33.18 PROPERTY 3,007.25 (DOWN) 50.77 SERVICES 1,595.08 (DOWN) 19.04 MINING & OIL 11,265.68 (DOWN) 172.90 PSEI 7,070.19 (DOWN0 48.01 All Shares Index 4,079.07 (DOWN) 24.40 Gainers: 50; Losers: 137; Unchanged: 33; Total: 220

3.44 5.1 5.83 0.6 0.95 0.127 0.480 20.7 0.890 1.23 1.75 1.28 4.65 0.084 0.2450 0.4900 8.4 29.90 1.5 3.09 21.80 0.73 8.18 1.000 5.790

3.46 3.42 3.43 5.07 5.07 5.07 5.85 5.85 5.85 0.6 0.59 0.59 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.124 0.122 0.122 0.485 0.480 0.485 20.7 20.4 20.5 0.880 0.880 0.880 1.22 1.17 1.20 1.75 1.69 1.70 1.28 1.28 1.28 4.67 4.52 4.53 0.084 0.077 0.079 0.2550 0.2550 0.2550 0.4250 0.3850 0.4250 8.41 8.4 8.4 29.85 28.90 29.05 1.5 1.48 1.5 3.09 3.09 3.09 21.75 21.55 21.70 0.75 0.72 0.72 8.18 8.18 8.18 1.020 0.940 0.950 5.800 5.660 5.680 SERVICES 8.45 8.48 8.35 8.4 67.1 67.1 65 65.85 1.09 1.11 1.1 1.1 0.580 0.570 0.560 0.570 11.2 11.3 11.2 11.3 27 26.5 26.5 26.5 5.79 5.79 5.62 5.63 0.0560 0.0570 0.0530 0.0530 3.5 3.58 3.52 3.55 88.95 88.9 87.75 88.3 5.95 6.00 5.90 5.90 955 910 910 910 2158 2180 2164 2170 7.42 7.32 7.21 7.22 71.2 71.2 69.65 69.9 0.011 0.011 0.010 0.010 0.177 0.181 0.175 0.176 1.4500 1.5000 1.4100 1.4100 9.02 9.02 8.96 9.00 4.20 4.45 4.11 4.43 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 2.30 2.19 2.00 2.19 30.00 30.00 29.95 29.95 0.630 0.590 0.560 0.560 2 2 1.99 2 3.57 3.84 3.57 3.78 0.280 0.280 0.270 0.280 0.830 0.840 0.760 0.760 4.55 4.55 4.55 4.55 100.50 105.00 100.80 100.80 20.25 20.30 19.40 20.30 2026.00 2020.00 1990.00 1997.00 1.080 1.100 1.060 1.100 35.15 35.15 34.30 34.75 74.45 75.20 72.60 72.95 6.40 6.45 6.20 6.23 5.05 5.10 4.88 4.88 0.49 0.49 0.48 0.48 4.35 4.35 4.32 4.35 0.335 0.335 0.310 0.325 3.900 4.100 3.980 4.100 MINING & OIL 0.0048 0.0048 0.0048 0.0048 2.15 2.14 2.12 2.12 5.85 5.90 5.40 5.49 0.212 0.230 0.220 0.220 0.74 0.74 0.71 0.72 0.67 0.66 0.65 0.65 8.80 8.80 7.78 8.40 0.83 0.84 0.80 0.81 0.305 0.310 0.300 0.310 0.190 0.190 0.188 0.189 0.205 0.202 0.201 0.201 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012 2.83 2.9 2.73 2.75 7.78 7.74 7.56 7.6 3.1 3.1 2.93 2.93 0.6100 0.5900 0.5900 0.5900 1.4400 1.4200 1.4200 1.4200 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 4.00 3.90 3.79 3.79 5.15 5.190 5.080 5.18 1.50 1.500 1.410 1.41 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 137.00 137.00 135.10 136.20 2.32 2.32 2.3 2.3 0.0080 0.0079 0.0078 0.0078 PREFERRED 67.5 67 65.2 65.35 525 513 513 513 120 116 116 116 520 519 519 519 7.15 7.2 7.12 7.12 1065 1065 1065 1065 1065 1068 1065 1065 1035 1040 1040 1040 83 83 81.75 83 79.1 79.1 79 79.1 79.5 79.1 79 79.1 80 80.1 80 80 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.950 2.960 2.890 2.890 SME 2.78 2.77 2.75 2.75 57.6 86.4 57.8 85.95 16.78 17.08 16.7 16.92 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.4 116.7 115.5 115.5

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

-0.29 -0.59 0.34 -1.67 0.00 -3.94 1.04 -0.97 -1.12 -2.44 -2.86 0.00 -2.58 -5.95 4.08 -13.27 0.00 -2.84 0.00 0.00 -0.46 -1.37 0.00 -5.00 -1.90

109,000 500 20,000 3,010,000 10,000 760,000 2,250,000 236,800 63,000 2,137,000 18,244,000 390,000 15,825,000 10,240,000 20,000 130,000 24,400 7,193,700 232,000 2,000 2,506,000 2,775,000 60,000 1,660,000 761,100

96,340.00

-0.59 -1.86 0.92 -1.72 0.89 -1.85 -2.76 -5.36 1.43 -0.73 -0.84 -4.71 0.56 -2.70 -1.83 -9.09 -0.56 -2.76 -0.22 5.48 0.00 -4.78 -0.17 -11.11 0.00 5.88 0.00 -8.43 0.00 0.30 0.25 -1.43 1.85 -1.14 -2.01 -2.66 -3.37 -2.04 0.00 -2.99 5.13

187,900 36,200 108,000 938,000 88,200 100 7,915,400 91,890,000 58,000 106,240 2,624,700 20 28,505 301,900 1,899,040 20,600,000 5,890,000 1,543,000 290,600 2,533,000 7,000 44,000 900 152,000 39,000 12,360,000 570,000 16,347,000 4,000 1,010 83,000 133,275 12,312,000 1,188,400 45,840 2,220,600 16,287,200 2,380,000 3,235,000 1,470,000 288,000

0.00 -1.40 -6.15 3.77 -2.70 -2.99 -4.55 -2.41 1.64 -0.53 -1.95 -9.09 0.00 -2.83 -2.31 -5.48 -3.28 -1.39 10.00 -5.25 0.58 -6.00 0.00 -0.58 -0.86 -2.50

117,000,000 55,000 358,400 40,000 555,000 680,000 56,600 10,429,000 560,000 4,040,000 1,200,000 29,000,000 700,000 425,000 3,186,400 357,000 2,000 50,000 80,800,000 68,000 427,500 813,000 21,800,000 269,690 191,000 2,000,000

-3.19 -2.29 -3.33 -0.19 -0.42 0.00 0.00 0.48 0.00 0.00 -0.50 0.00

33,150 20 10 600 32,100 545 430 700 23,020 2,900 25,680 101,110

-2.03

60,000

8,730.00

-1.08 49.22 0.83

30,000 105,580 3,916,400

40,427.00 8,369,200.00

-0.77

2,620

-546,930.00 -24,000.00 -280,405.00 -370,620.00 -8,741,210.00 -3,887,480.00 159,000.00 171,360.00 -40,279,690.00 1,500.00 -7,855,090.00 490,800.00 -571,074.00 -7,587.00 -110,920.00 -995,530.00 -26,890,404.00 91,800.00 -49,980.00 5,684,836.50 12,980,000.00 -26,339,530.00 -27,635,101.50 -5,000.00 28,000.00 -106,862.00 8,240.00

12,539,000.00 22,400.00 44,100.00 52,500.00 -35,847,890.00 -8,041,400.00 384,130.00 -1,093.00 -211,275.00 -39,943,333.00 -9,600.00 -7,212,240.00 -3,250.00

-142,721.00

911,360.00

-3,300.00 1,841,671.00 -177,750.00

-359,320.00 3,676,212.00 11,550.00 -272,580.00

-195,112.00

-142,380.00 8,811.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

IRipple E-Business Intl

85.95

49.22

Mabuhay Vinyl

3.09

Liberty Flour

43.00

13.46

Ionics Inc

2.000

-18.47 -14.89

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0110

10.00

Transgrid

161.00

-14.36

ATN Holdings B

0.270

8.00

Phil. Realty `A'

0.4250

-13.27

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

6.98

Manila Bulletin

0.560

-11.11

ATN Holdings A

0.270

5.88

Anglo Holdings A

1.08

-10.00

Melco Crown

3.78

5.88

A. Brown Co., Inc.

0.89

-9.18

Liberty Telecom

4.43

5.48

EEI

6.00

-9.09

Yehey

4.100

5.13

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.010

-9.09

Splash Corporation

2.36

4.89

Manila Mining `A'

0.0100

-9.09

TUESDAY: NOVEMBER 10, 2015

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

Stocks tumble; PLDT retreats

Next CFO of the Year. Today’s Chief Finance Officers are no longer just number crunchers, but serve as CEOs in waiting, according to the CFO Roundtable forum held at the Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Heights Campus. The forum is a prelude to the awarding of the 2015 ING FINEX CFO of the Year. Shown at the roundtable are (from left) Victor dela Dingco, founding chairman and liaison director of the ING FINEX CFO of the Year search; Eliseo Aurellado, Ateneo Graduate School of Business faculty head; Romeo Bachoco, AGSB professor and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Golden Dragon Properties Corp.; Jose Jerome Pascual, finance director and country controller at Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. and CFO of the Year 2014 Awardee; Jeffrey Lim, EVP of SM Prime Holdings Inc. and CFO of the Year 2013 Awardee; Jaime Ysmael, SVP and CFO of Ayala Land Inc. and ING FINEX CFO of the Year 2011 Awardee; and Edmundo Soriano, EVP, corporate banking group of BDO Unibank Inc. and overall chairman of the awards committee.

Ayala Land books P12.8-b net income By Jenniffer B. Austria

AYALA Land Inc., a major property developer, posted a net income of P12.8 billion in the first nine months of 2016, up 19 percent from P10.79 billion year-on-year, as the company accelerated growth through acquisitions and new project launches. Ayala Land said in a statement,consolidated revenues in the nine-month period reached P75.1 billion, up 10 percent from P68.3 billion on-year. “Our nine-month earnings affirm the consistent and balanced performance of our key business lines which we plan to expand at a steady pace,” Ayala Land president and chief executive Bernard Vincent Dy said. “Our priority is still the continuous development of our integrated mixed-use estates all over the country. Through the company’s

more established estates, such as Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Cebu Park District, and in recent years, Nuvali, we have seen these developments contribute positively to the local economy,” he said. Ayala Land launched three estates during the period, namely Cloverleaf in Quezon City, Capitol Central in Bacolod City and the 700-hectare Vermosa in Cavite province. The company in August won the contract to build and operate the Integrated Transport System South Terminal project adjacent to its fast-rising residential and business district— Arca South. The 35-year concession agreement for the infrastructure project includes the operation of commercial leasing facilities within the 5.57-hectare property. It also recently agreed to subscribe to 2.5 million common shares, or equivalent to a 51.6-percent interest, in Prime Orion Philippines Inc. upon completion of a due diligence. POPI operates the highly commercial Tutuban complex in Manila. “We try to invest in projects that benefit a larger population such as commercial complexes that are connected to public transport

systems, where there is opportunity to provide better access to their needs,” said Dy Meanwhile, Ayala Land reported that revenues from real estate amounted to P70.2 billion, sustained by the stable performance of the company’s property development, commercial leasing and services businesses. Revenues from the residential and office for sale segment reached P40 billion, up 10 percent on-year, driven by sustained bookings and project completion across all residential brands. Sales from shopping centers rose 12 percent to P9.2 billion on the increased increasing of Fairview Terraces and UP Town Center, as well as the higher occupancy and average rental rates of existing malls. Revenues from hotels and resorts reached P4.3 billion, up 7 percent from P4 billion onyear, due to improved revenue per available room performance of the company’s internationally branded hotels, its own Seda hotels and El Nido Resorts. The average occupancy rate of hotels stood at 74 percent, while that of resorts registered at 58 percent. The company has 2,324 rooms in its hotels and resorts portfolio.

THE stock market slumped for the fourth straight day Monday, after a forecast-busting surge in US jobs last month. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 48.01 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,070.19 on a thin value turnover of P3.7 billion. Losers swamped gainers, 137 to 50, with 33 issues unchanged. The positive US labor data report also sent the dollar surging against emerging market currencies Monday, while more weak trade data out of China compounded fears about the struggling Asian economic giant. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the biggest telecommunications firm, slipped 1.4 percent to P1,997, while Robinsons Land Corp. of the Gokongwei Group tumbled 2.8 percent to P29.05. Energy Development Corp., the largest producer of steam energy, sank 2.8 percent to P6.26, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty declined 2.6 percent to P1,325. Conglomerate Ayala Corp. fell 2.4 percent to P768, while unit Ayala Land Inc. lost 2.2 percent to P35.85. Shanghai, meanwhile, was at an 11-week high on news China will restart initial public offerings this month, indicating authorities are becoming more confident in the market after a summer rout that wiped trillions off valuations. And Japan’s Nikkei rallied two percent—adding to a three-day winning run that has seen it hit a two-month high—as the yen retreated against the dollar. The chances of the Federal Reserve hiking US interest rates shot up after Friday’s employment report, fueling worries of a flight of capital from Asia to the United States as well as higher borrowing costs strangling investment. The US Labor Department said the world’s biggest economy created 271,000 net new jobs in October, almost twice as many as September, while the unemployment rate fell to a seven-and-ahalf year low of 5.0 percent. The figure easily outstripped expectations and tempered fears that a slowdown in the world economy, particularly in China, had spread to the US. With AFP

ABS-CBN registered profit of P1.89b in first 9 months of 2015 By Darwin G. Amojelar ABS-CBN Corp., the biggest media and entertainment company, said on Monday net income in the first nine months of the year rose 23 percent to P1.89 billion from P1.54 billion year-on-year on higher advertising and consumer sales. ABS-CBN’s consolidated revenues in the January-to-September period amounted to P27.8 billion, up 11 percent from last year’s

P25.06 billion. Advertising sales during the first nine months reached P15.30 billion, higher by 9.7 percent from last year’s P13.94 billion. Consumer sales, meanwhile, amounted to P12.53 billion in the nine-month period, up 12.7 percent from P11.12 billion last year. “Given our growth trajectory, we are likely to hit record revenues by year-end, and we should be in a strong position to build on this given that next year is an

election year,” the company’s chief financial officer Aldrin Cerrado said. “With one quarter to go, we are confident that we will succeed in meeting our earnings guidance of P2.4 billion for 2015,” he added. Group CFO and head of corporate services Ronaldo Valdueza said the company already sold over 800,000 ABS-CBN TVplus digital boxes. “The company expects to breach the one million mark by

year-end,” he said. Initially priced at P2,500 per box, the company brought the cost down to P1,999 through brand alliances with advertising partners. “This will soon have a positive impact on ratings and will create advertising opportunities in our four additional channels,” Valdueza said. Kantar Media said the top 10 programs in the first nine months of 2015 on free-to-air television

were all produced by ABS-CBN. The company is expected to further boost its audience share once it improves the reception of channel 2 in the Mega Manila area and Central Luzon. Star Cinema continued to dominate the local box office, generating close to P2 billion in ticket sales in the first nine months of 2015. Star Cinema’s 10th release for the year, “The Love Affair,” has become the group’s highest-grossing film shown overseas.

B4 Sterling Bank’s expansion.

Sterling Bank of Asia, one of the leading savings banks in the country, opens its newest branch in San Fernando, La Union, bringing the bank’s operating network nationwide to 42 branches. Shown during the branch opening are (from left) Sterling Bank vice president and area head Grego Cervantes Jr., branch sales associate Joy Rosario Cruz, quality assurance officer Elsa Gutierrez, branch head Romeo Fernandez, branch sales associate Marissa Sanchez, bank client Tomas Dumpit Jr., Sterling Bank president and chief executive Cecilio Paul San Pedro and executive vice president for retail Ralph Cadiz.

October car sales hit record By Othel V. Campos

VEHICLE sales jumped 28.7 percent to a record 28,667 units in October from 22,278 units sold a year ago, two industry groups said Monday. The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report sales in October also topped September’s record sales of 27,045 units by 5.9 percent. The latest figure brought total vehicle sales in the first 10 months to 234,951 units, or 22 percent higher than 192,005 units sold in the same period in 2014.

“The progress of the economy bodes well for the auto industry. More people can now purchase cars and with relative ease,” said Campi president Rommel Gutierrez. “With attractive financing options coupled with new model introductions to match customer needs, cars are definitely appealing to new buyers. We are confident to meet our forecast for 2015,” he said.

Gutierrez said given the 10-month tally, the industry expected to hit its sales target of 310,000 units for 2015. He said both passenger cars and commercial vehicles posted good performance in October. The passenger cars segment saw sales increase 25.2 percent in October to 11,235 units from 8,975 units in October 2014. Passenger cars are also known as sedans. Campi said constant marketing efforts and attractive financial options drove sales of the category, as new and refreshed models were introduced this year to help the market grow. Sales of commercial vehicles

grew 31 percent in October to 17,432 units from 13,303 units in the same month in 2014. Both Campi and TMA said sales were expected to peak in November and December, the usual months were most sales were generated in the past. Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. remained the market leader, with a 43.28-percent market share in October, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 19.07 percent. Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc.was third with 8.33-percent share, while Isuzu Philippines Corp. ranked fourth spot with 7.8 percent. Honda Cars Philippines Inc. held the fifth biggest market share with 6.83 percent.

PSALM wants clarification on Naga plant decision By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. is seeking clarification from the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel regarding the Supreme Court decision nullifying the sale of the Naga power plant complex. “We need to see the SC decision first before we can move on. Our sale was done in good faith based on legal opinion that the right to top was valid, so securing a clarification may be in order,” PSALM president Lourdes Alzona said. PSALM has yet to receive a copy of the Supreme Court’s decision which nullified the sale of the Naga power complex in Cebu to SPC Power Corp. The OGCC represents the agency in the case.

SPC senior vice president for legal affairs Maria Luz Caminero said the company had not yet received a copy of the decision. “However, on the assumption that the decision of the Supreme Court is what has been reported, SPC intends to file a motion for reconsideration thereof,” Caminero said. The Naga power complex consists of the 52.5-megawatt Cebu 1 and 56.8-MW Cebu 2 coalfired thermal power plants, and the 43.8-MW Cebu diesel power plant 1 composed of six 7.3-MW bunker-C fed power units. These power plants use a combination of coal, bunker C oil,and diesel as fuel. “For the record, the Department of Justice affirmed the legality of the ‘right to top’ the adjoining properties within the

NPPC accorded to the owner of the Naga Land-based gas turbine power plant in connection with the privatization of NPPC. The DoJ’s confirmation was made prior to the commencement of the NPPC sale process,” PSALM said. SPC, owner of the Naga landbased power plant, was granted the right to top the highest bid on the sale or lease of the properties within the vicinity of the Naga power facility. The right to top was provided in the land lease agreement executed among PSALM, National Power Corp. and SPC in 2009. The lease agreement was executed pursuant to the asset purchase agreement for the Naga LBGT power plant. Senator Sergio Osmeña III, however, filed a case with the SC

last year seeking to stop the sale of the Naga power plant complex in Cebu to SPC Power and nullify the stipulation in the lease agreement contrary to public policy. Therma Power Visayas Inc. of the Aboitiz Group, the highest bidder, asked PSALM to hold the turnover in abeyance pending the resolution of the case filed by Osmeña. The turnover of the facility to SPC, however, pushed through. The Supreme Court ruled the sale and the lease agreement executed by PSALM and SPC “are annulled and set aside.” PSALM conducted the bidding for the Naga power facility in March 2014, in which Therma Power emerged as the highest bidder with an offer of P1.09 billion. SPC offered the second highest bid of P859 million.

RCBC’s income rises 21% to P3.64b By Julito G. Rada RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp. said Monday unaudited consolidated net income increased 21 percent in the first nine months to P3.64 billion from P3.01 billion a year ago, on the strength of core businesses. RCBC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the ninemonth profit translated into an annualized return on equity of 9 percent, up from 8.56 percent a year ago, while return on assets improved to 1.1 percent from 0.95 percent as of end-September 2014. Third-quarter net income grew 11 percent to P1.11 billion from the P995 million a year earlier. “Loans and deposits continue to grow… The bank’s quarterly net interest income and fee income have been increasing, consistently from quarter to quarter this year despite the competitive environment,” RCBC president and chief executive Lorenzo Tan said in a statement. “Our core businesses are healthy and the numbers will speak for our performance,” Tan said. Core businesses continued to consolidate with net interest income reaching P11.46 billion in the January-September period.

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

BSP likely to maintain rates MacKeeper responds LAST week, I wrote about some unpleasant business I experienced with MacKeeper, a suite of Mac OS X utilities that I felt was being promoted in underhanded ways. Among these were “pop-under” ads and bogus virus warnings that brought my attention to the program in the first place. My column drew an almost immediate response from Jeremiah Fowler, the official in charge of communications at Kromtech, the company that bought MacKeeper from Zeobit in 2013. In the interest of fairness, I am printing parts of his letter and paraphrasing the rest of it for brevity. “We do not condone or endorse any form of ‘Scare Advertising’ and will suspend the account of any affiliate who uses these type of ads. We have even launched a campaign against ads like this and invite the public to report them to us,” Fowler said. He said the company does not and will never approve scare ads or fake scans claiming that a user’s Mac is infected with a virus and pushing the user to download or buy MacKeeper. He said they will also not claim to do things that MacKeeper cannot actually do (e.g. speed up Mac’s performance, fix system issues, etc.). Fowler also pointed to a Business Insider profile of the law firm, Edelson McGuire, which filed the class action suit against MacKeeper’s original developer, Zeobit. “Sadly, their business model is to file hundreds of lawsuits [that] companies can fight spending hundreds of thousands of dollars living under a cloud of a court case or they can pay money and settle,” Fowler said. The judge in the MacKeeper case, he said, pointed out that someone filing a claim “might be lucky to receive maybe $3” based on the $2 million settlement. “Love or hate MacKeeper, it is easy to see only the lawyer is the real winner in these cases,” Fowler said. To address various user concerns, he said, the company has taken action, including: • Decreasing the number of global ad impressions and the advertising channels they use. • Eliminating more than half of their sales affiliates and enacting a zero tolerance policy for those who abuse it. • Launching a no-scare ad campaign and creating a formal complaint process to identify ads that anyone finds misleading. • Changing the wording, tone, and descriptions of the scan results to be more open and transparent, and to better explain potential issues. • Undergoing an independent review of its business and practices by the OTA (Online Trust Alliance) to create and promote business practices and technologies to enhance online trust. • Working with TRUSTe to be certified and to ensure that the company’s privacy policy and EULA (end-user licensing agreement) comply the highest standards. “These are real changes that show we are serious about more than revenue. I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the conversation on this or any related subject,” Fowler said. “If you have any questions for MacKeeper’s CEO or myself we would be happy to answer honestly and openly about the software and service that MacKeeper provides to millions of customers around the world.” When I suggested they were not doing enough to stop the scare ads, Fowler replied: “I fully agree with you that scare advertising is unacceptable and we are doing everything we can to identify affiliates who use these tactics and terminate them. Our legal and compliance department approves every advertisement or landing page used by affiliates. Unfortunately, what we have caught several of the affiliates doing is presenting their own ‘Scare Landings’ and then using a series of redirects that bring the traffic to our approved landing pages (making it almost impossible to find out exactly which ones are using these methods). This is why we have reached out to the public to help us with screen shots and URLs so that we can identify unethical affiliates and end our relationship with them. Some critics say ‘Well just end your affiliate marketing’.. but the truth is that we have many good affiliates who follow the rules, use good judgement and do not try to game the system, but as you have seen first hand it only takes a few bad apples to ruin the bunch and our reputation in the process.” Fowler assured me that since 2012, all versions of MacKeeper leave nothing behind except a version identifier, and are “extremely easy to delete.” The new version, he added, has no alerts about cleaning or serious issues, only recommendations and notifications. Fowler said he could send me a copy to test—but given what has gone ahead, that’s something I will have to think about. Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

By Julito G. Rada

THE Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely keep the benchmark interest rates steady in its meeting on Thursday, amid the low-inflation environment, foreign banks said Monday. “Expect no rate changes from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas this week. Indeed, the BSP is likely to keep rates steady for some time,” DBS Bank of Singapore said in a report. J.P. Morgan Chase Bank said the Bangko Sentral might keep the policy rates steady for the ninth time since October 2014, due to the manageable inflation environment. It said the benign inflation gave room for Bangko Sentral to keep policy rates on hold. Bangko Sentral in its last meeting kept interest rates unchanged

at 4 percent for overnight borrowing and 6 percent for overnight lending as inflation reached a record low this year. Inflation stayed at 0.4 percent in October, bringing the first 10 months’ average to 1.5 percent, lower than the government’s official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year. “It will be interesting, though, to watch for cues from the central bank, given that inflation is set to miss the target by averaging circa 1.5 percent this year,” DBS said. “While some inflationary risks persist due to the El Niño effect,

CPI [consumer price index] inflation is likely to be in the lower half of the BSP official target next year as well. There is probably some room for monetary easing but the BSP is not in a hurry,” DBS said. Bangko Sentral would probably watch the US Federal Reserve, given the lingering uncertainties on the timing of its planned interest rates hike, it said. “Not that the BSP is extremely worried on this front, however, since external financing risks are very much manageable for the Philippines. Most importantly, as long as GDP growth momentum remains strong, there is no urgency to loosen policy at this juncture,” DBS said. The bank said focus would be on the third-quarter GDP data which would be released later this month. It said other than a slight disappointment on external demand, data were generally supportive of GDP growth in the economy.

EastWest’s insurance license. EastWest Insurance Brokerage Inc., the newly formed, whollyowned insurance brokerage subsidiary of EastWest Bank, receives from the Insurance Commission its insurance broker’s license for life and non-life insurance products. Shown is EastWest Bank chief operating officer and EWIB chairman Jose Emmanuel Hilado (right) receiving the original copy of the newly released broker’s license from Insurance Commission deputy commissioner for legal services Dennis Funa (center) as EWIB president Peter Roy Locsin witnesses the milestone.

Century Pacific’s profit climbs to P1.5b By Jenniffer B. Austria CENTURY Pacific Food Inc., the country’s largest canned food company, said Monday net income in the first nine months grew 22 percent to P1.5 billion from a year ago, boosted by strong domestic demand for branded food products. Century Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange total sales rose 13 percent in the January-September period to P17.27 billion from P15.17 billion recorded in the same period last year. The company said revenues from the branded food business increased 15 percent in the ninemonth period, on the back of better sales volumes across marine, meat and milk categories. Non-branded tuna export

business posted a slower sales growth of 5 percent in the same period. “The domestic branded business continued to be bolstered by effective sales and marketing programs. On the other hand, trading conditions were tough in the OEM global export tuna business,” Century Pacific chief finance officer Oscar Pobre said. Operating income in the ninemonth period rose 19 percent to P2.1 billion while operating income margins improved by 60 basis points versus the same period last year. “The operating margin for the branded business as a whole remained stable, while that of the non-branded business improved due to better sales mix,” said Pobre. Net income in third quarter

stood at P561.2 million, up 10.1 percent from P509.4 million a year ago, while gross revenues rose to P5.9 billion from P5.5 billion a year ago. Century Pacific announced last month the acquisition of an integrated coconut producer of high value organic-certified and conventional coconut products such as coconut water, virgin coconut oil and desiccated coconut. The purchase price of P4.5 billion is expected to be earnings per share accretive in 2016. Century Pacific is primarily engaged in the development, marketing and distribution of processed fish, meat, and dairy products. Its brands include Century Tuna, Argentina corned beef, 555 Sardines, Angel and Birch Tree.

TUESDAY: NOVEMBER 10, 2015

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

Jollibee spending P10.4b in ’16 By Jenniffer B. Austria

JOLLIBEE Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain in the country, said it will spend P10.4 billion in 2016 mainly to finance the rollout of more stores both here and abroad. Jollibee told the stock exchange it would earmark at least P7.5 billion from the programmed spending to fund new store investments and outlet renovations and allot the balance to finance commissary expansion. “For 2016, we plan to accelerate the expansion of our store network, opening even more stores than in 2015—in the Philippines and in all regions abroad,” said Jollibee chief executive Ernesto Tanmantiong. “We also plan to enter new countries such as Malaysia, Oman, Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom through our Jollibee brand and open more stores in countries where we already have presence such as Singapore, Vietnam and the United States,” he said.

“To achieve this strong business growth in 2016 and in the years ahead, we will continue to build our organization capability particularly in store network expansion, supply chain and information technology,” he added. Meanwhile, Jollibee reported net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company in the third quarter of the year rose 7.3 percent to P1.26 billion from P1.17 billion recorded year-on-year. Third quarter system-wide sales expanded 13.7 percent to P32.32 billion from P28.41 billion in 2014, driven by a 6.1-percent increase in store network and about 7.6 percent same store sales growth on a worldwide basis. Sales in the Philippines expanded 13.6 percent during the

quarter against a year ago, while total sales of foreign businesses increased 14.2 percent. Revenues from China grew 9.7 percent, while those of the United States and Southeast Asia and the Middle East jumped 19 percent by 25 percent, respectively. “Sales growth accelerated to 13.7 percent in the 3rd quarter compared with 8.9 percent in the first half of the year. We look forward to opening a total of at least 300 stores in 2015 on a worldwide basis, a milestone in JFC’s history,” Tanmantiong said. Net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company in the first nine months of the year increased 6.9 percent to P3.8 billion from P3.6 billion in 2014, while systemwide sales rose 10.5 percent to P94.47 billion from P85.47 billion a year ago. Jollibee, through its whollyowned subsidiary Bee Good! Inc., last month completed the acquisition of a 40-percent stake in USbased burger chain Smashburger for $99.47 million.

UPS donation. UPS human resources director for Asia Pacific Tanie Eio (second from left) and UPS human resources manager for the Philippines Art Senseng (leftmost), present a check for $30,000 Clean Air Asia deputy executive director Glynda Bathan-Baterina (fourth from right). With them (from left) are Clean Air Asia senior project coordinator Dang Espita, head of programs Kaye Patdu and environmental researcher Candy Tong (rightmost). Clean Air Asia is an international non-governmental organization thT leads the mission for better air quality and healthier, more livable cities in Asia.

Nickel Asia’s profit falls 68% to P2.49b By Anna Leah E. Gonzales NICKEL Asia Corp., the biggest nickel producer, said Monday net income in the first nine months of the year dropped 68 percent P2.49 billion from P7.98 billion year-on-year on lower prices of the metal. Nickel Asia said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the net income was net of an equity loss of P163.5 million from its 22.5-percent interest in Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp. and a 10-percent stake in Coral Bay Nickel Corp. due to lower nickel prices. The figure compares with the equity income of P614.6 million yearon-year.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, sank to P 5.92 billion from P14.12 billion a year ago. The total volume of nickel ore sold from the company’s four operating mines reached 15.96 million wet metric tons from 14.26 million WMT in the same period last year. The company attributed the higher shipment volumes to the increased exports to China. It also registered higher ore deliveries to the two HPAL plants during the period. Nickel Asia said despite the higher volume of shipments, revenues dropped to P13.11 billion

from P21.15 billion on-year after the price of nickel, like most other metals, started to decline since the start of the year. Nickel Asia said nickel prices on export sales averaged at $ 22.65 per wet metric ton from $46.85 per WMT on-year. “In spite of very low prices, our operations have remained profitable and our shipment volumes continue to grow,” said Nickel Asia president and chief executive Gerard Brimo. “It appears that prices may have already bottomed out and we now see some price support as a result of a gradual withdrawal of metal from LME warehouses,” Brimo added.

Remembering 1996 APEC IN THE early 1990s, not long after the founding of APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation), a decision was reached by the member-economies to annually select the host for the future meeting of the APEC Leaders two years before that event. APEC’s members are called ‘economies’ rather than ‘countries’ in order to get around China’s objection to the membership of Taiwan and then-British colony Hong Kong. At their 1994 meeting, the APEC Leaders, i.e., heads of states, decided that the Philippines would be the host for the 1996 Annual Meeting. It clearly was a great honor for the Philippines to be hosting the 1996 Summit so early in the organization’s life. President Fidel V. Ramos, who was into the fourth of the six years of his term, was absolutely elated that the APEC Leaders would be meeting in the Philippines during his presidency. Fidel Ramos had every reason to be very pleased for the roster of APEC Leaders includes the heads of state of the US, Russia, Japan, Australia, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand and Mexico. Next to the annual summit meeting of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the APEC Leaders meeting is the most prestigious and the most starstudded regional gathering in the world. Without a doubt the standout figures at the 1996 Leaders Meeting would be US President Bill Clinton, Russian President Oleg Medvedev and Chinese President Hu. Clinton would go on to win a second fouryear term in office. Medvedev would change places with Vladimir Putin. The premiers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand would thereafter become victims of the vagaries of domestic politics. Prime Minister Lee Kan Yew was a virtual fixture in Singaporean politics. No sooner was definitive word received of the Philippines’ having been chosen as the host of the 1996 Leaders Meeting than the machinery of the Ramos administration sprung into action. President FVR immediately appointed point-men for the key aspects of the forthcoming event, to wit, security, logistics, finance, trade and economics and coordination with the other APEC governments. The Cabinet members who were given point-man responsibilities were the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Interior and Local Government, Finance, Public Works and Highways and Trade and Industry and the Director-General of NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority). The security point-man was backstopped by Vice President Joseph Estrada, to whom FVR had given security-related responsibilities. Apart from security, the other principal concerns of the host of an APEC Leaders Meeting are physical facilities and showcasing. The host economy must provide first-class conference facilities and housing for the Leaders, their wives and the members of their delegation. It also must exploit every opportunity to showcase the nation’s progress and achievements not only in the realm of trade and economics but also in the realm of social development. Given the membership profile of APEC, no comparable opportunity exists for a country like the Philippines to place itself in a favorable light and to put its best foot forward. The tremendous construction job that had been done almost exactly two decades earlier for the joint annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank had put in place not only a worldclass conference venue—PICC (Philippine International Convention Center)—but also around a dozen five-star and four-star hotels offering a total of close to 6,000 rooms. Metro Manila was ready for another large international conference. Where to house the Leaders and their wives was the only physical infrastructure issue needing to be addressed. Since the Philippines wanted to showcase what it had accomplished in Subic, the US Naval Base that had been returned to this country in 1991, FVR and his advisers thought, why not house the Leaders in the Subic area? That is exactly what was done. Villas, not mere beachfront houses, were constructed for President Clinton and his fellow-heads of economies to reside in during their brief sojourn in this country. No expense was spared for the 21 Subic villas, which in time provided the backdrop for the end-of-conference photoop session in which the Leaders jointly waved to the assembled world media wearing identical shirts typical of the host economy. The Government has sold some of the villas; some are currently under lease. Besides Subic, Ramos administration showcased Cebu City, the nation’s second largest metropolis. The administration of President PNoy Aquino—he will be attending his last APEC Leaders Meeting—has been more ambitious. APEC Ministerial and Committee Meetings had been held in Legazpi City, Iloilo City and Boracay in addition to Cebu City. With less than two weeks to go before the start of the Leaders Meeting, the Philippines is ready. Everything that matters is in place. The Aquino officialdom has thoroughly studied all the past Leaders Meetings—including the 1996 event—and has learned the lessons, good and bad, from them. Will the Philippines’ second turn at APEC Summit hosting be crowned with success? That outcome must be the wish of every Filipino who wants his country to shine in the world. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

US-Israel in talks to thaw relations WASHINGTON—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Barack Obama in Washington on Monday [Tuesday in Manila] in a bid to thaw frosty personal ties, turn the page on the Iran nuclear deal and talk defense. The White House meeting, scheduled for 10:30 am (1530 GMT), will be closely watched in particular because it marks the first encounter by the two leaders since October 2014. Since then, Washington and other world powers had reached a landmark nuclear accord with Tehran in a move Israel strictly opposed. In the wake of that July agreement, the relationship between Netanyahu and Obama—who no longer bother to hide the extent of their differences—has only deteriorated further. Matters between the two have been tense for some time. And in March, Netanyahu, chief of the rightwing Likud Party, traveled to the US capital to court Republicans, Obama’s political opponents, and addressed Congress— much to the displeasure of the White House. Monday’s face-toface talks, which look to be more functional than warm in nature, are meant to heal the rift left by that episode and enable the reaffirmation of the unwavering nature of the security alliance between Washington and the Jewish state. The White House has sought to downplay personal feelings, with spokesman Josh Earnest saying they were “not nearly as important as their ability to work together to advance the national security interests of the two countries that they lead.” But the Israeli daily Maariv on Sunday likened the planned meeting to that of a “separated, bitter couple who, after many fights, is only there to make final financial arrangements before the divorce.” The main focus of the meeting will be on US defense aid to Israel in a bid to assuage the Jewish state over the security challenges it says it now faces due to the nuclear accord. AFP

Suu Kyi party on track to win YANGON—Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party said Monday it was on track to win over 70 percent of the seats in a historic Myanmar elections, a tally that could sweep it to power and end decades of military dominance. The National League for Democracy’s hopes of a decisive victory surged after early counting indicated a huge haul in the first polls the party has contested in 25 years. The ruling armybacked Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP said it was braced for a wipeout in the commercial capital Yangon, while several heavyweights including its chairman lost their seats.

The NLD shied away from an outright declaration of victory, with election officials due to release formal results later Monday. But party spokesman Win Htein told AFP that unofficial results showed the opposition was “on track to win more than 70 percent of seats around the country.” He did not specify how the calculation was made and if he thought the percentage would

translate into power under Myanmar’s complex political system. The NLD needs 67 percent of available parliamentary seats to enjoy a majority. That would be enough to overwhelm the USDP and their military allies who are gifted 25 percent of seats by a constitution scripted to ensure they still have a major stake in the future. Suu Kyi herself was more circumspect, but hinted at victory. “It is not the time to congratulate our candidates who we think have won the election,” she told supporters and journalists from the balcony of her party’s

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE INVITATION TO BID NO. GOODS-081-2015 The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the General Fund81 intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. Name of Project 1.

Yangon headquarters. But “people have an idea of the result even if I don’t say it,” she added. Election authorities were expected to hold a press conference at 4:00 pm (0930 GMT) that could see some partial results announced. They have said that preliminary figures

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

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

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

Supply & Delivery of Medicines for the use of Jose C. Payumo Jr. Memorial Hospital and Orani District Hospital

=P=3,408,264.00

seller at a market in central Yangon, who voted for the NLD. Even the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar declared the “dawn of a new era”, while USDP heavyweight Shwe Mann conceded on his Facebook page that he had lost his seat to his NLD challenger. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 58 MAKATI CITY PHILIPPINE INVESTMENT ONE (SPV-AMC), INC., (as substitute of FAR EAST BANK & TRUST CO.,

Plaintiff, -versusHERNANDEZ LEATHERGOODS, INC. Defendant x-------------------------------------------------------------x

CIVIL CASE NO. 98-717

NOTICE OF SALE ON EXECUTION OF REAL PROPERTY WHEREAS, by virtue of the Writ of Execution dated September 12, 2014 issued by this Court presided by HON. EUGENE C. PARAS, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 58, Makati City, In Civil Case No. 98-717, wherein Philippine Investment One (SPV-AMC), Inc. (as substitute of Far East Bank & Trust Company is the Plaintiff and Hernandez Leathergoods, Inc. is the defendant, for the recovery of the amount of Php8,132,592.40 as of July 13, 2015 based on the statement account issued by plaintiff in accordance with the decision dated January 31, 2003 issued in this case, levy was made by the undersigned SHERIFF, Mr. ANTONIO O. MENDOZA on July 29, 2015 through the Registry of Deeds of Manila City, on the rights, interests, and participation of defendant HERNANDEZ LEATHERGOODS, INC. in the real property more particularly described as follows; Transfer Certificate of Title No. 195208 A parcel of land (Lot 11-A-1 of the subdivision plan (LRC) Psd-343610, approved as nonsubdivision project, being a portion of Lot 11-A, (LRC) Psd-2800 47 L.R.C. Record No. 7680), situated in the District of Sampaloc, City of Manila, Island of Luzon. Bounded on the NE., points 2 to 3, by Lot 12, Block 8, Psd-24-816; on the SE. points 3 to 4, by Lor 11-F, (LRC) Psd-280047; on the SW. points 4 to 1, by Lot 11-A-2 0f the subdivision plan and the NW. points 1 to 2, by Calle Mindanao (Road Lot 6, Psd-24818). Beginning at a point marked “1” on plan, being S. 37 deg. 37È., 38È ., 2964.55 m. from CBN No. 37, City of Manila; thence N. 36 deg. 37È., 4.26 m. to point 2; thence S. 55 deg. 23È., 11 11.25 m. to point 3; thence S. 36 deg. 37`W., 4.28 m. to point 4; thence N. 55 deg. 23`W., 11.25 m. to point of beginning; containing an area of FORTY-EIGHT (48.00) SQUARE METERS, more or less. NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of said Writ of Execution and in accordance with Rule 39, Section 19, of the Rules of Court, the undersigned Sheriff will sell at public auction to the highest bidder, for Cash and in Philippine Currency, on November 25, 2015 at 10:00 o`clock in the morning, infront of Makati City Hall, City of Makati, the rights, interests and participation of defendant HERNANDEZ LEATHERGOODS, INC. in the above-described real property in order to satisfy the said Writ of Execution, together with interests, cost, sheriff`s fees and the expenses of sale. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date it shall be held on December 02, 2015 at the same time and place, without further notice. Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title and condition of the said property and the encumbrances thereon. City of Makati, October 05, 2015. (SGD) ANTONIO O. MENDOZA Deputy Sheriff (TS-OCT. 27, NOV. 3, 10, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG)

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Procurement. Delivery of goods is required on or before the maturity date stipulated on contract. Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

would be released within 48 hours of Sunday’s vote, and a full nationwide count in 10 days or so. On the streets of Yangon, NLD supporters were unequivocal about their party’s prospects. “I have no doubt about the results. I think everything is going to change,” said Yee Yee, 30, a spice

Region 3 Office Address : Telephone Nos. : Website :

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-2467 766-4839, 816--6808 niar03@yahoo.com

Telefax No.(044) 766-2467 TIN: 000-979-570-000

INVITATION to BID

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) - Region 3, through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites all interested Phil-GEPS registered Contractors to bids for the project, to wit:

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

NIAR3-2015-BULO-BANE-4

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a nonrefundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

Only those Letter of Intent with a company profile, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted.

500,000 and below More than 500,000 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25,000.00

More than 50 Million up to 500 Million More than 500 Million

50,000.00 75,000.00

Approved Budget for the Contract

The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on November 13, 2015 at 10:00 A.M at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered on or before November 26, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 and Bid Securing Declaration in standard form. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted. In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days. Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid 2. Eligibility Check 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents 4. Request for Clarification 5. Opening of Bids

Schedule November 06 – November 12, 2015 Refer to date of Opening of Bids November 06 – November 26, 2015 November 13, 2015 November 26, 2015

The Provincial Government of Bataan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph

(TS-NOV. 10, 2015)

Construction of Access Road and Irrigation Facilities of Bulo SRIP, DRT and San Miguel, Bulacan. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P6,643,314.00 with a contract duration of 180 calendar days.

Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last 3 years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction’s to Bidders. Issuance of Bid Documents: (Upon payment of non-refundable amount of P 10,000.00 each)

November 16, 2015 NIA - Region 3, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan

Pre-Bid Conference Submission of Bids: NIAR3-2015-BULO-BANE - 4

November 23,2015 -10:00 AM December 08,2015 -10:00 AM

Only those who have purchased bidding documents will be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders starting November 16, 2015 to December 07, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, except holidays, and December 08, 2015 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the bidding documents at the NIA - Region 3 Cashiering Section. Interested bidder must also present a notarized letter authorizing his/her representative to acquire the bidding documents duly signed by the general manager/owner, if sole proprietorship, or certified true copy of board resolution, if a corporation. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. Bidding is restricted to Filipino Citizens/Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships or Organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country with laws or regulations that grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino Citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 in the morning (PST) of December 08,2015. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Late Bids shall not be accepted. The opening of bids will be held on the same day December 08, 2015, Tuesday at 10:00 AM (PST) at the NIA Region 3 Office, Conference Room, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ Representatives who choose to attend the Bid Opening. All particulars relative to eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/ so evaluation of bids, post-qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Revised IRR. NIA-Region 3 assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, the NIA Region 3 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

(SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC CHAIRMAN

(SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO Chairman-BAC

(TS NOV. 10, 2015)

T U E S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Warnings as climate talks enter final stretch PARIS—Large swathes of New York and Shanghai could disappear under the waves and millions could be driven into poverty, fresh climate reports warned as ministers scrambled Monday for common ground weeks ahead of a crunch environmental summit. If global warming continues on its present trajectory of 4 C (7.2 F), rising sea levels will claim land inhabited by more than 600 million people, according to a survey by Climate Central, a US-based research group. Such a rise would hit China the hardest, with around 145 million people living in coastal areas that would be submerged, the report warned. Even if the Paris summit, which starts on November 30, succeeds in its goal of limiting temperature rises to 2 C, around 280 million people would find their homes underwater, forecast Climate Central. A separate World Bank study released late Sunday said there could be “more than 100 million additional people in poverty by 2030” if action was not taken to stem climate change. “The poor are more vulnerable to climate-related shocks than wealthier people,” said the report, urging “strong action” from leaders and diplomats at the Paris summit. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is hosting the meeting, issued his own dire warnings as ministers gathered in the French capital for eleventh-hour negotiations. “It is life on our planet itself which is at stake,” Fabius told journalists as ministers and climate envoys from 70 countries met for pre-summit talks to iron out tough political questions. With the key UN conference just three weeks away, Fabius also announced Russia’s President Vladimir Putin would attend the November 30 opening. Russia, a major oil producer, is seen as a deal-maker or -breaker in the years-long attempt to negotiate the world’s first truly universal pact to curb climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions. AFP

The exodus continues. A woman and her daughter wait along with other migrants and refugees to enter a registration camp after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border near Gevgelija on November 8, 2015. The flow of refugees and other migrants from Turkey to Greece is expected to continue at a rate of 5,000 daily this winter, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said. Three million migrants fleeing war and poverty are seen entering the EU by 2017 in a development likely to have a marginal positive impact on the economy, the European Commission said. AFP

China smog 50 times suggested maximums BEIJING—A swathe of China was blanketed with dangerous acrid smog Monday after levels of the most dangerous particulates reached around 50 times World Health Organization maximums, with energy use for heating blamed as winter sets in. Pictures showed smog so thick that buildings in Changchun, the capital of Jilin province in the northeast, were rendered invisible. One image showed a restaurant’s neon sign seemingly floating in mid-air above traffic, proclaiming in yellow: “Northeastern Dumpling King”. An image circulating online showed a man biking through snow in Shenyang, capital of the neighboring province of Liaoning, on Sunday wearing a vintage-look-

ing gas mask, and the official news agency Xinhua quoted a hospital official in the city saying that his respiratory ward had been overwhelmed, with all its beds full. Levels of PM2.5, the tiny airborne particles considered most harmful to health, reached 860 micrograms per cubic meter in Changchun, a city of around eight million, on Monday. The World Health Organization’s recommended maximum is a 24-hour average of 25 micrograms.

“Today’s haze is pretty severe and choking―when I walked out the door I thought someone’s house was on fire,” said one poster in Changchun on China’s Twitterlike Sina Weibo. The Changchun city government said on social media it was initiating a “level three” emergency response, telling schools to stop organizing outdoor activities, and reminding residents to stay indoors and “take health precautions”, without further specifications. China’s chronic pollution problem has been linked to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths, and has become a major source of popular discontent with the government. PM2.5 particulates can play a role in heart disease, stroke, and

lung ailments such as emphysema and cancer. Online commentators were furious. “If heating companies dare to buy cheap, low-quality coal and pollute the environment, they should be discovered and immediately shot,” said one poster. Overall levels of PM2.5 particulates reached 1,157 micrograms per cubic metre in Shenyang on Sunday, data from the city’s own environmental protection bureau showed. They peaked as high as 1,400 in parts of the city according to state broadcaster CCTV, with visibility less than 100 meters. The readings appear to be among the highest ever publicly recorded in China. AFP

Death toll in nightclub fire rises to 45

Calm at sea. This picture taken on October 25, 2015, shows fishing boats anchored near a beach at the Hau Loc district, in the central coastal province of Thanh Hoa, in Vietnam. AFP

BUCHAREST—Romania’s president appealed for protesters’ support on Sunday in reforming the country, as the death toll rose to 45 from a horrific nightclub fire that brought down the government. Klaus Iohannis was met with shouted slogans and whistles from demonstrators seeking “profound change” as he paid a visit to the capital’s University Square, the focal point of nearly a week of protests. “It is only together that we can make this change, neither you alone, nor I alone can do it,” Iohannis told the several hundred-strong crowd on the sixth consecutive

night of demonstrations. Thousands of Romanians have taken to the streets in mass antigovernment protests since the deadly October 30 blaze at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, which also left scores injured. Many viewed compromised safety standards at the club as emblematic of a wider problem with rampant corruption in one of the European Union’s poorest nations. Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who had been under pressure for weeks as he goes on trial on corruption charges, quit on Wednesday, saying it was right for top officials to take responsibility for the

tragedy. Among the latest victims of the fire to succumb to their injuries on Sunday was the drummer of a local hard rock group, who had been on stage when the inferno broke out and who was about to be transferred to a Swiss hospital for treatment. The plane carrying the musician turned back when he took a turn for the worst shortly after take-off. The group’s two guitarists died the day after the blaze while two others are still seriously hurt in hospital. Three other people—two young Romanians and a Turkish tourist— also died earlier Sunday. AFP

T U E S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

A RTS, CU LT U RE & T ECH

LIFE

Diageo Philippines general manager Jon Good and Sing Philippines artistic director Mark Anthony Carpio do the Plan W hand gesture with the Plan W Philippines 2015 scholars

PLAN W PHILIPPINES 2015 SCHOLARS’ ONE-NIGHT CONCERT IN PICC

fter completing the first stage of Diageo Philippines’ Plan W Philippines training program, 34 choral and conducting scholars under Sing Philippines recently held their first concert at the Philippine International Convention Center. Plan W is Diageo’s global community investment strategy, which aims to build thriving communities by empowering women and giving them opportunities to learn and develop skills to be able to influence society and uplift the economy. Being a musically inclined country, the Plan W program is focused on empowering Filipino women through music by honing them as choir conductors and vocal ensemble teachers. “Last month, we launched Plan W Philippines because we want women choir conductors and music teachers to have the skills and resources to build a better future for themselves and for their respective communities,” says Jon Good, general manager of Diageo Philippines. “I am happy to say that

Diageo Philippines corporate relations executive Ahmer Nurguerra, Diageo Skills and Empowerment manager Georgie Passalaris and Diageo Philippines Corporate Relations head Atty. Lope Manuel show the Plan W hand gesture

the program has empowered the 34 scholars by not only nurturing their soul and boosting their confidence, but also by giving them the economic opportunities that are only available when one has a formal music education.” The first 34 scholars of Plan W Philippines performed at the Philippine International Convention Center last October and shared their learnings from Plan W’s trainings through their gift of music. Most of the scholars who took part in the program had limited resources and were struggling to hone their skills. The country is filled with emerging talents and skills waiting to be sharpened, and with Sing Philippines’ help, the program provided female choir conductors and music teachers the proper training in organizing and nurturing choirs. The scholars underwent both immersion-type and experiencebased training, supported with practice through coaching, clinics, and demonstration. The 34 women under Plan W (aged 18 to 60 from 12 regions in the country) were already leading their own choirs but didn’t have enough funding to get the right training. These women were selected based on their leadership and musical potential. On October 24, the first stage of the training began and the scholars attended a seven-day, experiencebased immersion program that covered essential skills. The first stage covered musicality and musicianship, choral conducting, teaching techniques, people skills, and organizational management skills. The said topics covered the five core skills needed for the trainees to learn how to organize, lead, and develop vocal ensembles in their community and schools.

Plan W Philippines 2015 scholars perform under the baton of Sing Philippines artistic director Mark Anthony Carpio

A Plan W scholar conducts one of the performances during the Plan W Philippines 2015 recital

Diageo Philippines general manager Jon Good hands out completion certificates to Plan W scholars

Plan W Philippines scholars show the Plan W hand gesture

Sing Philippines artistic director Mark Carpio, UP College of Music keyboard professor Ena Marie Aldecoa, and theater actress and former Miss Saigon cast member Isay Alvarez facilitated the program. “This has a multiplier effect – from a few conductors, to many singers,” said Carpio. “The scholars will become the educators that will spark the love for singing to both the young and the old. Exposing singers to a choral experience develops in them a life-long passion for it. These passionately-engaged singers will, in turn, become future conductors and music teachers – sustaining the culture of singing that is at the heart of the country.” The one-night concert at PICC is the culmination part of the first stage of the program. The second stage of Plan W’s program will

start by sending the scholars back to their communities to share what they have learned from the training to their own singing groups. To provide guidance as the women work with their choirs in their respective localities, the program will be sending delegates to oversee the development of their scholars. The second stage will culminate in a local concert to showcase the outcome of the program to their community. “We at Diageo know that when women have access to learning and have an opportunity to pursue their passion, it creates a powerful ripple effect that positively impacts the society around them, builds thriving communities and progresses society,” said Georgie Passalaris, Diageo’s skills and empowerment manager for

Sustainable Development. To date, Plan W has empowered more than 115,000 women across 16 countries, impacting more than 575,000 people. Diageo brands include Johnnie Walker, Singleton, VAT69, J&B, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray, Gilbey’s and Guinness. The company has been granted the distinction of being the first beverage alcohol company to sign the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles globally. For more information about Diageo, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

TUESDAY : NOVEM B ER 10, 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

A NUTCRACKER CHRISTMAS The Philippine Ballet Theater presents a classic favorite

he “golden boy” of ballet, American Joseph Phillips, comes all the way from Russia to perform the role of the Nutcracker Prince in the Philippine Ballet Theater’s presentation of “The Nutcracker.” Partnering with the premier danseur are the homegrown ballerinas of PBT, Veronica Ylagan, Lobreza Pimentel and Regine Magbitang who will take on the roles of Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Phillips has won more gold medals than any American male dancer and is currently one of only two Americans in Russia as principal dancers. The State Primorsky Opera and Ballet Theatre where Joseph performs multiple roles has recently become a part of the Mariinsky Ballet Company. Acknowledged as one of the most popular ballets in the world, The Nutcracker Ballet story originated from “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” (German: Nussknacker und Mausekönig), a story written in 1816, by the German writer E. T. A. Hoffmann. In the story, young Marie Stahlbaum’s favorite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker,

Close to 100 dancers from leading area ballet schools and homegrown ballerinas of the Philippine Ballet Theater Veronica Ylagan, Lobreza Pimentel and Regine Magbitang perform in this classic German tale with American premier danseur Joseph Phillips as the Nutcracker Prince.

comes alive and, after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom of sweets populated by dolls. In 1892, the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov turned Alexander Dumas’ adaptation of the story into the

ballet The Nutcracker, which became one of Tchaikovsky’s most famous compositions. Close to 100 dancers participate in this wonderful German tale. The charming Mother Ginger scene with numerous petite ballerinas from leading area ballet schools will be included in the production this year. Artistic director Ronilo Jaynario restages the production.

Philippine Ballet Theatre, Inc. is a Resident Company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. To purchase tickets, contact CCP Box Office (02) 832-3704, Ticket World (02) 891-999 or PBT (02) 632-8848; 255 8076. For more information, contact Sylvia Lichauco de Leon 0920/801-6845; 0917/855-5652 or email sylvia.lichauco@pbt.ph.

Igan ng Pilipinas Foundation president Arnold Clavio led the ribbon cutting during the 'Anak' art exhibit for the benefit of poor children with life-threatening illnesses

IGAN’S HEART FOR ART

e is popularly known as a topnotch broadcaster, but many are not aware that Arnold “Igan” Clavio is also an artist. At the recent fundraising exhibit titled “Anak” which the Igan Ng Pilipinas Foundation, Inc. and Benavides Art Group held at the Robinsons Magnolia Lobby, Igan’s sketches were auctioned off at the opening night while his collection of photographs was available during the exhibit week from October 26 to November 1.

Clavio, who is also the founder and president of the Igan ng Pilipinas Foundation, led the ribbon cutting along with the Benavides Art Group and invited guests. The successful benefit art exhibit also served as Igan’s way of celebrating his 50th birthday, with the Foundation beneficiaries preparing sketches and poems as their gift for Igan. The works of the Benavides Art Group artists were a feast of colors

and composition in different genres. Cachero’s floral impersonations of the Madonna and child, De Guzman’s graphic interpretations of the caring mother, Delos Santos’ portrayal of life’s lessons, Garcia’s intimate visualization of the endearment of a mother to her child, Lumboy’s textured compositions of maternal love and Vicedo’s fauvist cubism of the child’s nurturing care of his mother were all a visual delight for the exhibit guests.

Proceeds from the exhibit will go to the programs and projects of Igan Ng Pilipinas Foundation, Inc. that aims to help poor children with lifethreatening diseases. The successful show was sponsored by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation PAGCOR, Robinson’s Magnolia, and the Waterfront Hotel and Casino with Ariel Javelosa Photography, the Business Mirror and The Standard as media partners.

TUESDAY : NOVEM B ER 10, 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

ARTS AND CULTURE ROUNDUP What’s on in theaters and galleries this week

EXHIBITS A CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT: Micaela Benedicto Silverlens Galleries, Makati City Ongoing until November 21

Defining Quirino Second Floor, Ayala Museum, Makati City Ongoing until November 28

Through repetition of patterns and objects and the presence of gaps in her wall sculptures, Micaela Benedicto, in her latest exhibition, explores the constitution of memory and its pre-disposed distortion or transformation within a given time or space. Each wall sculpture consists of layers of planes, in materials such as wire, sheet steel and Perspex broken down into repetitive components to form sets of porous screenlike fields. The construction of stationary pieces makes it possible to create subtle animation only visible to the eyes of a viewer in motion. The movement and added dimension depend on the way the viewer looks at the layered patterns following one another. For more details on this ongoing exhibit, visit www.silverlensgalleries.com

In celebration of the 125th Birthday of former president Elpidio Quirino last November 6, the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation, Inc., Filipinas Heritage Library and Ayala Museum stage a commemorative exhibition featuring the life and the journey of the teacher who became the sixth leader of the Philippines after the war. Designed to resemble a dictionary, the exhibit features words associated with Quirino gathered from the rich collection of papers and memorabilia of FHL and the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation. The exhibit also showcases a tribute wall of 125 portraits of the President, contributed by 125 artists, friends and family in honor of Quirino, a self-made man from humble beginnings whose legacy includes the Minimum Wage and 8-hour Work laws, Social Security

ELSEWHERE: Jonathan Ching Silverlens Galleries, Makati City Ongoing until November 21

BenCab in Two Movements Yuchengco Museum, Makati City Ongoing until January 16, 2016

In his solo show, visual artist Jonathan Ching presents his latest series of oil on canvas paintings that feature reshaped scenes from his imagination and recollection in a bid to find the elusive elsewhere. The images start from the simplest neighborhood scenes one may see through his wanderings, with the resulting artworks populated mostly by botanical elements and personal symbols from everyday encounters. The sense of searching and transit is further highlighted in Ching’s use of multiple panels. His triptychs create a succession of visual fragments through the use of montage and the impression of narrative sequence, drawing out a sense of continuity. As a whole, each piece in the collection memorializes fleeting and mundane

National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera has always been interested in movement and form, hence, as part of the year-long celebration of his 50 creative years as artist, Samsung Electronics and Yuchengco Museum present an interactive exhibit showcasing BenCab’s handpicked works of his collaborations with Chinese dancer San Lee and Polish choreographer Paulina Wycichowska. Through BenCab’s paintings featuring vigorous rhythmic brush strokes, flowing lines and spirited body movements, the audience gets a glimpse of the creative journey and connection between a painter and a dancer.

objects, recollections and encounters that challenge and invite viewers to seek dreams in his immediate surroundings and unexplored recesses of the imagination. For more information on this exhibit, visit www.silverlensgalleries.com

System and standardization of teacher’s salaries, among others. This exhibit is free and open to the public. For inquiries and group tour reservations, email asklibrarian@filipinaslibrary.org.ph or call 759 8288 local 36.

For more information on this interactive exhibit, call (02) 889-1234 or visit www. yuchengcomyseum.org

CONCERTS Opera vs. Broadway Ground Floor Lobby, Ayala Museum, Makati City November 10 It’s a night of musical face-off as beloved pieces from two of the most powerful genres, opera and Broadway, will be played by the Manila Symphony Orchestra. Led by conductor Arturo Molina, the MSO is all set to perform orchestral arrangements of popular songs played on stage. For the epic finale of Rush Hour 2015 season, surprise appearances from guest performers await the audience. Limited seats are available, seating is first come, first served. Tickets are priced from P300 to P1,000. To get the latest updates on the availability of tickets, call (02) 759-8288 local 31 or 35 or email concerts@ ayalamuseum.org

T U E S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

#WHAT NOW, 2015, oil on canvas 8 x 17 ft.

OF SALVAGED MEMORIES AND SALVAGED LIVES

SALVAGED MEMORIES, SALVAGED LIVES, 2014, oil on canvas 8 x 18.5 ft.

Randalf Dilla’s award-winning social commentary

ompelling, thought provoking, absorbing. These words only hint at the kind of thoughts and reactions that awardwinning Batanes artist Randalf Dilla’s works can evoke. In a ground breaking exhibition titled “Tyranny of Hindsight,” Hiraya Gallery, which recently celebrated its 35th year in the industry, launched the works of Dilla at the ArtistSpace of the Ayala Museum last November 5. The exhibit showcased two photo realistic murals – #WHAT NOW and Salvaged Memories, Salvaged Lives – which when combined span over a thousand square feet of canvas. Measuring 8 x 17 feet, #WHAT NOW is “a disturbing portrait of a country in a perpetual state of upheaval and turmoil, pathetically left behind by other Asian countries, while governed by grandstanding leaders. A side f rom it s h istor ic significance, Salvaged Memories, Salvaged Lives also won the Best Social Commentary Award in a worldwide contest sponsored by the Art Renewal Center in New

Jersey, United States. The ARC is the organization behind one of the world’s largest encyclopedic on line a r t references t hat archive the “known works of the greatest painters and sculptors in human history,” and which promotes the highest standards in classical realism. Dilla, a graduate of the Fine Arts program of the FEATI University, also received a special citation for “Most Ambitious Work” at the International 2013/2014 ARC Salon – an international art competition organized by the Art Renewal Center in New York City – with such recognitions setting a milestone in Philippine contemporary art through the works of the Batanes artist. “Tyranny of Hindsight” runs until November 19 and can be seen at ArtistSpace located at the Ground Level, Ayala Museum Annex, Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City. For more information on ArtistSpace, please contact Lorraine Datuin, gallery coordinator at (02) 759-8288 or email artistspace@ ayalafoundation.org.

DETAILS OF SALVAGED MEMORIES, SALVAGED LIVES: Political prisoners and men bound by barbed wires

Details showing rodent-like humans from #WHATNOW

T UES DAY : NOV EMBER 10, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

Monster of a Movie

D Victor Frankenstein monstrous creation

Daniel Radcliffe in Victor Frankenstein

James McAvoy plays radical scientist Victor Frankenstein in the science fiction horror

aniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy star in Victor Frankenstein, a dynamic and thrilling twist on a legendary tale. Radical scientist Victor Frankenstein (McAvoy) and his equally brilliant protégé Igor Strausman (Radcliffe) share a noble vision of aiding humanity through their groundbreaking research into immortality. But Victor’s experiments go too far, and his obsession has horrifying consequences. Only Igor can bring his friend back from the brink of madness and save him from his monstrous creation. Victor Frankenstein is a “Frankenstein” movie unlike any other. While inspired by Mary Shelley’s classic novel and the countless interpretations of that story, screenwriter Max Landis’ “regeneration” focuses on the relationship between Victor and his best friend and assistant Igor. In fact, it’s the first story to be told largely from Igor’s perspective. “It’s a love story between these two mean, really,” notes director Paul McGuigan. “Victor and Igor need each other; in fact, Victor needs Igor probably more than Igor needs Victor in his life.” Moreover, the film, though set in 1860, at the dawn of the Industrial Rev-

Pregnant Marian rivera in esquire’s Cover The November issue of the local edition of Esquire features mother-to-be Marian Rivera the cover and on editorial spread of the magazine. Taken two months prior to her due date, the cover photo captures the expectant mother’s immortal sultriness. Marian has played various roles on television and on the big screen. She has been a mermaid, a superhero, a wife, and a lover, but she has yet to play the most important and fulfilling role, being a mother. In this issue, Esquire delves deep into this newest phase in Marian’s life. Esquire’s November issue is now available on newsstands and in bookstores, convenience stores, and supermarkets nationwide. A digital edition of Esquire is also available for download on your mobile device through Apple Newsstand, Buqo, and Zinio. For more details, visit http:// www.esquiremagazine.ph/. For your daily dose of the Filipino Man at his Best, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/EsquirePh, and follow Esquire Philippines on Twitter @EsquirePh and on Instagram @esquireph.

olution, has a contemporary sensibility. “I don’t think of it as a period film,” says Radcliffe, “but as being completely modern. Victor and Igor have cutting-edge ideas; they’re the tip of the spear. They view science as being more than just observational. They believe it could be creative and re-shape the world. “I like the film’s irreverent tone and how it avoids being Victorian and ‘buttoned-up,’” Radcliffe continues. “Victor and Igor are forward thinking.” Adds McGuigan, “These two young men are changing the world.” Victor Frankenstein is also, notes McAvoy, a love letter to the myriad films featuring those characters and themes. “This film has many of the familiar elements you expect to see in a Frankenstein movie, but adds unexpected dimensions of character, relationships and entertainment.” “Max Landis has done nothing less than capture the zeitgeist of all the Frankenstein movies he’s watched,” says McGuigan. “He’s cherry-picked ideas and created his own ‘monster,’ so to speak.” McGuigan was especially drawn to Landis’ decision to tell the story through Igor’s eyes. That notion points to a key misperception about the character and his role in Frankenstein lore. Igor was

not a character in Mary Shelley’s book, nor did he appear in most of the subsequent film interpretations. Actor Dwight Frye’s hunchbacked lab assistant in James Whale’s Frankenstein (1931) is the main source for the “Igor” of public imagination, though the character he played was actually named Fritz. Most moviegoers know the character through Marty Feldman’s performance in Mel Brooks’ beloved comedy Young Frankenstein, though Feldman’s character insists on being called “Eye-gore.” A different kind of moniker mix-up accompanies Victor himself. Many people attribute that name to the monster, instead of its creator – the good doctor. “So we give the name ‘Frankenstein’ back to the scientist – to Victor Frankenstein,” says McGuigan. McAvoy relates that, “Whenever somebody asked me what I was doing at the moment (during production of Victor Frankenstein), I would say, I’m playing Frankenstein, and they’d reply, ‘You’re a little short to be playing the monster.’ And I’d correct them and say, ‘No, no, it’s the doctor.’ So, yeah, we’re giving the name back to Dr. Vic.” Victor Frankenstein opens Nov.25 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Marian Rivera allows herself to be captured by the photographic lenses with her baby bump. She is expected to give birth anytime now.

T UES DAY : NOV EMBER 10, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

MiSS REPUbLiC Of thE PhiLiPPinES iS baCk

fter almost four decades, a new Miss Republic of the Philippines has been chosen. Fermira Dianne Ramos bested 34 other candidates at the grand coronation at Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque on Wednesday night. Ramos, a 25-year-old, native of Zambales, was crowned by Joy Conde, the Miss RP titlist in 1976 and the country’s representative in the Miss World pageant, before the pageant bid goodbye. As Miss Republic of the Philippines 2015, Ramos won a four-year scholarship grant, one-year management contract and P100,000 in cash. Ramos, who competed in Miss Bikini Philippines 2011 and Miss Philippines Earth 2012, also won three special awards during the finals – Best in Terno, Miss

Megadata Corp. USA, and Miss Via Mare. She will begin her reign by going to different Filipino Communities abroad to promote the Philippines’ major tourists destinations. Milan Overseas Filipino community representative Beatrice Valente was named Miss Republic of the Philippines-International 2015. Valente, who competed in Miss Earth 2014 representing Italy, was named Miss Congeniality and will also join Ramos in promoting tourism abroad. Joselle Mariano of Cavite was named Miss Luzon. (First runner-up) and also took home five special awards including Best in Swimsuit, Miss Talent, Miss Pleasant Touch, Miss Astoria and Miss Halcyon. Sheila Marie Reyes of Valenzuela took the title as Miss Visayas (Second Runner up) and was

named Miss Photogenic and Miss Fisher Mall, while Kristie Rose Cequeňa of Sta. Rosa, Laguna went home with the Miss Mindanao crown (Third Runner up). Miss RP Organization CEO Lynette Padolina revived the original local franchise for the Miss World pageant, which was first staged in 1969 with Feliza Miro winning and before the Mutya ng Pilipinas quest took over in 1977. The Miss RP winner will not be competing in any international pageant but will tour extensively to help promote Philippine tourism, heritage, culture, and her chosen platform or advocacy. The new RP pageant is patterned after the Miss America scholarship pageant organization. The Miss RP 2015 pageant will be shown on Nov. 21 onGMA News TV.

Sheila Marie Reyes - Miss RP Visayas Christie Istie Cequeña - Miss RP Mindanao and Miss Republic of the Philippines International 2015 - Beatrice Valente of Milan, Italy

Winners of Miss Republic of the Philippines 2015 : Fermira Dianne Tumangan Ramos Miss Republic of the Philippines 2015 Joselle Sarte Mariano - Miss RP Luzon

– EtOn b. COnCEPCiOn

PhOtOS by JOy aRgUiL

What do We expeCt from axN aNd SoNy thiS moNth?

V gets even better with this exciting line-up of new and returning shows on AXN and Sony Channel this month. From co-creators and executive producers Tim Kring (Heroes) and Gideon Raff (Homeland), Dig is a high concept, archeological suspense thriller set in Jerusalem. The action event surrounds Peter Connelly, a legal attachè (FBI agent) who investigates crimes by and against U.S. citizens on foreign soil. The murder of a young American archeologist leads Peter down a dangerous path, as he unravels a vast and ancient conspiracy set against the backdrop of an archeological dig beneath the old city Dig’s premiered on Nov.1 Sunday with subsequent rerun 9:45pm from Nov. 14 onwards on AXN. The Voice Season 9 airs 7:50 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Performances rounds and results show start Nov. 17, Tuesday and Wednesday on AXN.

Through an unusual chain of events, Neil discovers his wife Grace has been seeing a male escort, then ends up becoming one himself, as both husband and wife try to answer the question “would you risk your marriage to save it?” in this exploration of modern love. Satisfaction airs weeknights at 9:45pm on Sony Channel. A countdown shows of world’s funniest videos in viral clips or home movies. Each episode features different theme, like “top 10 Reasons We Love The Outdoors” etc. World’ Funniest Video airs weeknights at 7 p.m. two episodes back to back on Sony Channel. AXN is seen on Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20. Sony Channel is seen on SKYCable Channel 35, Cignal Digital TV Channel 60, Destiny Cable Channel 62, Cable Link Channel 39.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 42 43 44 45 48 49 50 52 57 58 60 61 62 63 64 65 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Claptrap 5 Fleetwood — 8 Black as night 12 Bauxite giant 14 Caron musical 15 Silent-screen temptress 16 Ferret out 17 Zest for life 18 Actor Sharif 19 Rainy days, and then some

21 23 24 25 26 30 32 33 37 38 39 40

Milk protein Snake River loc. Dirty place Ave. crossers Fable Zahn or Abdul Not touching Took away from Ham-on-rye source Blender button Jane, to Tarzan “Cogito ergo sum” man

Fogg’s creator Guinness and Baldwin Tasty carbohydrates — -tac-toe Blonde shade Catch cold Festoons Crack in a glacier 1960s fashion Europe-Asia range A Peron Bean hulls City on the Truckee Monica of tennis In a frenzy Urban people-movers Aeneas founded it

DOWN 1 Salve 2 Fridge stick 3 Go over quickly 4 — d’oeuvre 5 Wire thicknesses 6 Turkish title 7 Belt 8 Nigerian people (var.) 9 Rats out 10 Deadly reptile

The Voice

Satisfaction

World's Funnies Videos

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015

11 13 14 20 22 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 36 38 41 42 44 45 46 47 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 59

Tall tales Sprinkle with oil Rowlands of “Gloria” Unmatched Auel heroine Gluts “Shane” player Dueling sword Guys’ partners Writer — Jong Dads, in Dijon High points Kind of uncle Dainty pastry Vulcan’s forge Ruby and Sandra Stress Astronaut — Shepard Faucets Shoo-fly — Busch Gardens city Common phrase High-rise unit Woody’s son Court disaster Pink-slips Swear to Round building Stalk Loosen, as a grip Aunt or bro.

Dig

T UES DAY : NOV EMBER 10, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

tweenS’ reunIon at Bea BInene’S deBut

t looked like a reunion of sorts for former GMA Network tween stars Alden Richards, Barbie Forteza, Joyce Ching, Kristoffer Martin, Derrick Monasterio, Joshua Dionisio, Louise delos Reyes, Krystal Reyes and Ken Chan at Bea Binene’s debut party recently. The now adult stars of the Kapuso network wasted no time in taking cameraphone photos of themselves. What surprised most of them was the appearance of Alden Richards whom they thought couldn’t make it because of his very hectic schedule these days. The actor now referred to as Pam-

From C8

basang Bae nearly stole the thunder from Bea Binene who was celebrating her 18th birthday at Maynila Ballroom of the Manila Hotel. The program had started yet everyone behind the celebration had no inkling if Richards would be arriving.. Bea thought her 18 roses would pass without Alden but she was stunned to hear the master of ceremonies called the actor’s name for her last dance. “Hindi ka na ma-reach,” Bea ribbed Alden while they were dancing to the song, “God Gave Me You”. Bea was already emotional as she didn’t expect Alden would be there on her birthday.

HHHHH From Banana SplIt to Banana Sundae Next Sunday afternoon, ABS-CBN changes its programming to accommodate a reformatted edition of its gag show formerly known as Banana Split. By that time it will be known as Banana Sundae. Making the show wilder and more fun-filled are the additions to the show including Jessy Mendiola and returning comedian Pokwang. The Banana Sundae cast has been making people laugh during their late night forays, most notably with mainstays Angelica Panganiban’s and Jason Gainza’s segments “Krissy TV” and “Ihaw na.” With a new timeslot and more quirky segments, Sunday viewers will definitely have a good laugh while still having their regular serving of wellloved portions like “Kantaranta,” “Baby Luv,” and “Make Me Rap.” The other mainstays of the show include John Prats, Ryan

Bang, Sunshine Garcia, Aiko Climaco, JC De Vera, Pooh, Jobert Austria, and Badji Mortiz. Bobot Mortiz is still directing the show with Linggit Tan-Marasigan as the executive-in-charge of production. HHHHH Same But dIFFerent After Levi Strauss had perfected the art of creating the perfect five-pocket blue jeans, he proceeded to make what would be the iconic denim Trucker Jacket. Through the decades, the Trucker Jacket has been worn sans sleeves, painted, with flower patches, embroidered, chopped, re-sewn and deconstructed. Guys and gals wore it. Cowboys and party girls wore it in different ways. The jacket became a symbol for just about anything the wearer wanted it to be. The Trucker has undergone subtle modifications, the most “drastic” being the addition of hand

Banana Sundae Cast

pockets in the 1980s. There have also been collaborations with other brands that have mildly tweaked the designs and fabrics but the core design has remained the same. Fans of the Levi’s Trucker Jacket will love the new Down Trucker Jacket for Men and Women, which has all the authentic details of the Original Trucker but with 100% goose down for maximum warmth. Imagine the look of a classic trucker jacket outside with warm insulation inside. This is perfect for traveling to colder countries this holiday season as the jacket can be compressed for easy packing. The Levi’s Down Trucker Jacket is made from 100 percent cotton (Midweight Denim) with down insulation inside the jacket. Other features include button front closure and button chest pockets. Just like the five- pocket jean, the Levi’s Trucker Jacket does the job and does it well. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Except if you’re making it perfect for the season.

Rockers love Levi's Trucker Denim jackets

Bea and Alden

LIFETIME pushes social boundaries to an all-new level in the docuseries which features families of opposing values living in each other’s homes to see if they can change one another’s views. Living with the Enemy premieres Nov. 14, and airs Saturdays at 8 p.m .

KitChen battle Continues

atch the most-followed cooking competition, thrilling hyper-reality TV, and fantastic program specials as Lifetime’s November line-up presents television events guaranteed to keep audiences glued to their seats. The kitchen battle continues to heat up as MasterChef Asia’s first season nears its sure-to- be-hrilling finale. All new episodes dominate this month,Thursdays at 9 p.m. as contestants take on

50 years of Singapore’s history in dessert, prepare a fashionable lunch, merge Asian flavors, and create a signature dish for a famous fine dining restaurant. Lifetime pushes social boundaries to an all-new level in the “docuseries” Living with the Enemy. The three-part special, premiering Nov. 14, and airing Saturdays at 8 p.m., is the entertaining, outrageous and daring experiment that features families of opposing values living in each

Explore the theories and relationships of the woman who continues to enthrall after years of her passingin Beyond the Headlines: Marilyn Monroe Specials starting Nov. 11, Wednesday at 9 p. m. and 10 p.m.

other’s homes to see if they can change one another’s views by exploring the fault lines of social cohesion in the United States. Views will be tested, beliefs challenged and patience pushed to the limit. By the end, each side will have made its point through a series of immersive situations – and hopefully, discover a greater understanding of one another. Beyond the Headlines: Marilyn Monroe Specials explores the theories and relationships of the

woman who continues to enthrall after years of her passing. Wednesday at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., the show investigates the various conspiracy theories surrounding the events that occurred on the night Marilyn Monroe died; and examines the numerous romantic relationships of America’s most celebrated sex symbol. New episodes of latest thriller Zoo airs 10 p.m. Thursdays. Based on the no.1 bestselling novel by James Patterson, the

series sees a wave of violent animal attacks against humans sweep the planet. A renegade American zoologist in Africa, a news reporter in Los Angeles intent on breaking the story and an off-kilter veterinarian race to unlock the mystery of the pandemic before there’s no place left for people to hide. Lifetime™ is available on SKYCable Ch 65; Cable Link Ch. 223; Dream Satellite Ch 28; Destiny Ch 44.

T UES DAY : NOV EMBER 10, 2015

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Concepcion with the founders and owners of Calayan Surgicentre – Drs. Manny and Pie Calayan

Sam ConCepCion

Not just a siNger, groomiNg eNdorser as well ISAH V. RED It did not come as a surprise when we heard Calayan Surgicentre signed a young popular actor to be its next endorser for its popular skin care and body sculpting services. And guess who this young actor is? It’s none other than Sam Concepcion, the singer we all saw grow up from a cute teenager who won in the Big Division of ABS-CBN’s Little Big Star in 2006 to a rock ‘n’ roll performer that he is now. Concepcion, now 23 (he was born on Oct. 17, 1992), has come to terms with the demands of show business, among which is to have a nice looking complexion and well-sculpted physique. On Oct. 30, Concepcion treated his fans to a concert called Samuel Lawrence and the Defenders of Dance at the SM SkyDome in SM North Edsa. Naturally, the Sam Concepcion fans and groupies were all there cheering and screaming for him. In an interview after the photo shoot in a studio in Makati, Concepcion said, “I am no longer the teenager you have known. I have grown older and I have to keep up with the demands of the business,” when asked why he accepted the offer of Drs. Manny and Pie Calayan to part of the growing roster of celebrity endorsers/ clients of the clinic. “I don’t have much time to spend in making my body look

Sam Concepcion is the new endorser of Calayan Surgicentre

good, and Calayan has this body sculpting service that I guess jives with my schedule.” Concepcion is in the new ABSCBN soap You’re My Home along

with Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, Jessy Mendiola, and JC de Vera. He is also promoting his album Infinite though released in August 2013 remains one of the

best-selling CDs both online and at music and video stores. Concepcion said that with Calayan Surgicentre he is hoping his fans will support him for the gradual transformation of his body. Initially, he will be treated to a series of skin care services that will improve his already fine-looking complexion and then the Calayans will do the body sculpting. Don’t be surprised if in the next months we would see Sam Concepcion’s nicely sculpted torso in magazines and editorial spreads. Considered a household name in the industry of cosmetic surgery, Calayan Surgicentre Corporation® is definitely on the right path in providing people top of the line services to boost one’s confidence and personality. Founders Manny and Pie Calayan believe that people could benefit from their years of training and experience in providing them with services that are geared toward opportunities for a better “you”. While Calayan Surgicentre Corporation® is owned and operated by Doctors Manny and Pie Calayan, is also supported by top of the line surgeons, dermatologists and other medical practitioners. It caters to people from both northern and southern parts of the Metro through its clinics in Timog and in Makati. Among the services that have become popular among its clients include the doublo ultra non-surgical facelift, melawhire glutathione drip, maxihair laser for hair loss and falling hair. The couple said that the clinic is expanding in 2016 by opening

two new branches one in Alabang and another in Baguio. “This makes our services accessible to more clients, from down south to up north,” Doc Manny said. Dr. Pie said, “All the services the clinic offers are guaranteed to be safe. Our technicians are well trained and most often, Manny and I personally attend to the cliennts. Calayan has more services other than those mentioned earlier, and these are derma and laser services, like vaser lipo, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. If you are not sure what procedure you want to avail, the clinic also offers free consultation until Nov. 15. And there’s an ongoing promotion on all the services. I guess it’s time for you to visit any of the two branches of Calayan Surgicentre. If you’re from the south you can go to the Makati Branch, Suite 1701 Medical Plaza Makati, Dela Rosa Street cor. Amorsolo Street,Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines; Phone: +63 (2) 845 0015 Mobile: +63 (917) 553 4108 | +63 (917) 821 4462 or Quezon City Branch. Unit 2C Torre Venezia Bldg.,Timog Avenue cor. Sct. Santiago Street, Quezon City, Philippines; Phone: +63 (2) 332 0970 Mobile: +63 (917) 8214463 Timog Avenue Corner Scout Santiago Street. Did I tell you the couple is also going to open a Calayan branch in Okayama, Japan next year? Oh well, Filipinos there don’t really have to fly back for the beauty services they have been used to when they’re in town. ➜ Continued on C7