The Standard - 2015 December 01 - Tuesday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX NO. 292 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 TUESday : dECEMBER 1, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Drilon: No LPs jumping ship yet

2 iraqis sPotteD Near cLash site By Francisco Tuyay

TWO Iraqi nationals whose mission in the country remained unknown were spotted in Central Mindanao but the military on Monday said the Ansar Khilafa Philippines that government troops were pursuing relentlessly had no direct links to the Islamic State and were known cattle rustlers.

The two Iraqis, an intelligence source said, were spotted by agents monitoring terrorist activities in the area where an Indonesian jihadist and seven others were killed in a firefight with Marines on Nov. 27 on the outskirts of Palembang town in Sultan Kudarat. “They [2 Iraqis] were seen adjacent to Palembang town last November 23 but could not be located their present location,”

said the source. The reported presence of the two Iraqis brings to 12 the number of suspected foreign terrorists in the country days before the bloody encounter with the AKP. The foreigners include three Syrians, spotted somewhere at the Cararao Complex in Lanao province, five Malaysians in Sulu Next page and two Indonesians.

Salute to Gat Andres Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada lays a wreath before the shrine of national hero Andres Bonifacio, a resident of Manila’s Tondo district, near Manila City Hall on the hero’s 152nd birth anniversary Monday. DANNY PATA

Lacierda twits FB survey win of Miriam

Duterte blasts Pope in bizarre speech PRESIDENTIAL candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was declared the standard bearer of the PDP Laban Monday, after boasting of killing criminals and even cursing the Pope for causing traffic in Metro Manila. In a rambling, obscenity-filled speech at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, Duterte said he would take a zero-tolerance approach to crime and

admitted personally killing criminals. “It’s true, I don’t deny that,” he said. Duterte bragged about killing a group of kidnappers and then burning their bodies during his time as mayor, but did not provide details. “I really finished them. This was a good killing,” he told a cheering crowd. The mayor even lashed out at Pope Francis, blaming him for causing

traffic jams in the capital of the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic nation when he visited in January. “Pope, you son of a -----, why don’t you go home,” he said. In a report earlier this year, Human Rights Watch said Duterte’s so-called “Davao Death Squad” had killed more than 1,000 people during his tenure as Next page mayor of the city.

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A2 2 Iraqis... From A1

Capt. Joan Petinglay, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said ground troops have launched massive search and destroy operations against the AKP, particu-

larly its leader Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, who had a standing warrant for his arrest. But Petinglay described the AKP as a “criminal group” with a record of cattle rustling. “So far, we do not have evidence to say that they are linked to ISIS or that they are a terrorist group,” Petinglay said in a phone interview. On Thursday, eight men, including Indonesian jihadist Sucipto Ibrahim Ali, were killed in a clash with the military and police who were out to serve arrest warrants against Mohammad Jaafar Sabiwang Maguid, alias Commander Tokboy, the alleged leader of the AKP who was able to escape. National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia said Sucipto, a member of the Jema’ah Islamiyah, has links with the Mujahideen Indonesia Timur, a terrorist group that has direct ties with ISIS. Petinglay said after the four-hour gunfight, government troops were able to recover ISIS flags, assorted high-powered firearms, and several identification cards of individuals believed to have been recruited by the AKP. Petinglay, however, insisted that AKP still cannot be labeled a terrorist group even as she confirmed its recruitment activities. “There is no confirmation yet that they are a terrorist group. Right now, we consider the AKP as a lawless group,” she added. At least four areas in Mindanao were being used by the jihadists as training camps, an intel-

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ligence source told The Standard. The training camps are located somewhere in the forested areas in Sarangani, Cararao in Lanao province, Barangay Tanum in Patikul, Sulu and Palembang in Sultan Kudarat, where student recruits are being trained for military operations. On Monday, the Palace denied reports that Filipinos were among those included in the most recent abductions by terrorist group Islamic State in war-torn Syria. “According to Ambassador Nestor Padalhin, our charge d’affairs in Syria, [the] report of ISIS abduction is not true. There are Filipinos apprehended because of expired Iqamas [or permits]. The embassy and legal counsel are assisting them to sort out the matter,” said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a text message to the Palace reporters. The Philippine government’s repatriation program on Filipinos working in Syria continues. Last month, 31 overseas Filipino workers from Syria returned to the Philippines. With the latest batch, the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria since the unrest started in 2011 is now at 5,668. ISIS has abducted 230 residents, including dozens of Christians, from a central Syrian town captured by the extremists on Sunday, a human rights activist said. Osama Edward, director of the Christian Assyrian Network for Human Rights in Syria, said that about 60 Christians were initially taken but that about half of them were released and had made it to nearby villages. Qaryatain lies in the middle of a triangle formed by the cities of Homs, Palmyra and Damascus. With Sandy araneta

Duterte... From A1

“It’s bad enough that the government has failed to end impunity for these killings or investigate Duterte and similar mayors—it’s doubly upsetting that he is exploiting this politically,” HRW’s Philippine representative Carlos Conde said in a statement. Duterte has served as mayor on and off since he was first elected in 1998.

Climate conference. French officials greet President Benigno Aquino III upon his arrival at Le Bourget Airport on Sunday for the climate conference in Paris. At right is Philippine Ambassador to France Maria Theresa Lazaro. MalaCañang Photo Bureau

Drilon: No LPs leaving Roxas for Duterte yet By Macon ramos-araneta and Sandy araneta

SENATE President and Liberal Party vice chairman Franklin Drilon debunked reports Monday that his party mates in Mindanao were jumping ship “by the truckloads” to the PDP-Laban to support the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 elections. “That’s not true. We got a letter from our party mates in Mindanao, denying the transfer,” Drilon said, even as he added there were a few defections. For instance, he said, they have received letters from Liberal Party members in Compostela Valley reaffirming their support for the party’s standard bearer Manuel Roxas II. Roxas on Monday said he was not bothered that some allies had decided to support Duterte and said there was no need for a loyalty check among Liberal Party members. In his radio show, Duterte said the defections reflect the strong political unity of Region 11. “It is a reflection of the situation there. Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur,

He is one of several candidates vying to succeed President Benigno Aquino III, whose single six-year term ends next year. At the PDP-Laban event Monday, Duterte also endorsed several candidates for mayor, including Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, boxer and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, ACT party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao; Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, former Senator Panfilo Lacson; former Rep. Miguel

Compostela Valley, Davao Occidental, Davao City used to be one big political unit... Region 11 used to be a part of Davao province, with its capital in Davao City, so it does not really surprise me,” Duterte said. In the Palace, a spokesman for President Benigno Aquino III said presidential candidates should present their platform of government, not sound bites designed to win votes. Although not naming anyone, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda was apparently referring to Duterte, who was proclaimed Sunday as the standard bearer for the PDP-Laban. Duterte, who initially said he was not interested in seeking a national post, filed his Certificate of Candidacy for president last week, substituting for Martin Diño, who backed out from the race. The tough-talking mayor said he had a change of heart after the Senate Electoral Tribunal voted to junk the disqualification case filed against Senator Grace Poe, who is also running for president, over her citizenship. “The responsibility of each candidate is to present their platform of government,” said Lacierda in a text message to the Palace reporters yesterday. “And the citizens should expect more than sound bites from the candidates,” Lacierda said. On Sunday, Duterte’s running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, defended

Zubiri; former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino; and overseas workers advocate Susan Tolentino, as part of his 12-person slate. “I am one with Mayor Duterte in pushing transparency and accountability in public service that truly cares and genuinely serves the poorest of the poor,” Romualdez said. On Sunday night, Duterte told reporters that the killing of some 1,000 criminals, many of them involved in the illegal

him from criticism of his human rights record. Cayetano’s statement came as Duterte promised to kill up to 100,000 criminals and stamp out criminality during his first 100 days if he is elected president, and create a lucrative market for funeral parlors nationwide. Responding to reporters who asked if summary executions of criminals would continue under his presidency, Duterte said: “Put up a funeral parlor— just not a high-end one.” Duterte told Manila-based reporters to go around his city at night and assured them no criminal would bother them—or they would pay the price. Cayetano on Sunday was responding to criticism from his opponent for the vice presidency, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo of the ruling Liberal Party, who said they were able to develop Naga City the same way Duterte improved Davao without the mayor’s brand of leadership. She warned that Duterte’s message of violence during the campaign would be dangerous. Duterte said just as Robredo disapproves of his leadership style, he feels the same toward her own leadership brand. “I do not also subscribe to the style of her leadership. She does not like me, I do not like her. So no problem,” Duterte said.

drug trade, made Davao the fourth safest city in the world. “Extrajudicial killings? I won’t exactly admit extrajudicial killings, but killings yes. Women, yes,” Duterte said. In May, Duterte admitted his links to the Davao Death Squad, which was allegedly responsible for the summary execution of up to 1,000 criminals in the city. He said he would kill “up to 100,000 criminals” if he is elected president. Duterte also admitted he

was a womanizer. “That’s correct. I have a wife. I have a second wife,” Duterte said in his speech Sunday. “I have two girlfriends. You want me for president? You need to know who I really am,” he said. Duterte said he would not give up his worldly pleasures because he is running for president. “That’s my happiness. If you don’t want me as president because I have four or five women, then vote for one of the other candidates,” he said.

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Aquino told: No politics, please ON the eve of a crucial climate change conference in Paris, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reminded President Benigno Aquino III, who is attending the 21st United Nations Conference of the Parties, that politics has no place in dealing with natural disasters.

Forum. Independent vice presidential candidate Francis Escudero greets Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo during the vice presidential forum at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, on Monday. Ey AcAsio

Santiago chided over Facebook survey A MALACAÑANG official ridiculed Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday for allegedly taking a Facebook poll survey seriously. “There is nothing in our election laws about FB elections,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a text message to reporters. His message had a smiley face drawn at the end, signifying he was laughing at Santiago’s statement. Santiago on Sunday said social media had led to an extraordinary change in the voting attitude among Filipinos because she had emerged as the netizens’ top choice for president in a Facebookbased poll.

“Social media is the key to winning the 2016 elections,” said Santiago who is running for president in 2016 under the People’s Reform Party. She said traditional politicians could always pay for advertisements or even pre-election surveys, but no amount of money could silence Filipinos on social media. The latest results of the survey on the Facebook page Pinoy History showed that 48.36 percent of the respondents wanted Santiago as president in 2016 despite the fact she is the only presidential aspirant who has yet to release campaign ads. The bets bombarding the media with ads tailed San-

tiago: Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, 42.35 percent; former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, 3.86 percent; Senator Grace Poe, 2.15 percent; and Vice President Jejomar Binay, 1.28 percent. The group behind the survey claims the results show “the real score of candidates in the upcoming presidential elections.” Since announcing her presidential bid in October, Santiago has not tapped the traditional media—radio, television or print—for ads in deference to election laws that limit the campaign period to Feb. 9 up to May 7. In the 2009 Peñera v. Commission on Elections case, the

Supreme Court ruled that the offense of premature campaigning has been decriminalized by R.A. 8436, or the New Poll Automation Law, as amended. To reject the Peñera doctrine, Santiago has filed Senate Bill 2445, or the AntiPremature Campaigning Bill, which seeks to prohibit candidates and even prospective candidates from campaigning a year before the elections. “A protracted campaign period corrupts elected officials because it allows them to spend more and more money for ads. They are bound to steal that money back when they are in office,” Santiago said. sandy Araneta

“I think the single most important lesson that we have to continue to remind ourselves is, politics has no place in the calamity area. We are talking about the lives of people. This is different,” Marcos said. Marcos said the country should have learned how to improve its capability to mitigate the effects of disasters brought about by climate change in the aftermath of Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda,’’ which killed more than 6,000 people and devastated Eastern Visayas in November 2013. “We know what those lessons are, the challenge is how to implement them,” Marcos said. “No matter what agreement will be reached in the Paris summit we can no longer ignore the reality that we will be facing stronger typhoons, massive flooding, landslides and other natural disasters as a result of climate change. The prudent thing to do now is step up our preparedness,” Marcos said. “We have to take a proactive approach. We are saying, this is what is going to happen. Let’s get ahead of it. COP21, which began in Paris Monday aims to unite some 150 nations for a single agreement tackling climate change by capping the rate of global warming at 2 degrees Celsius—compared to the current 2.5 to 3.76 degrees Celsius. Marcos urged local governments to adopt a preemptive evacuation system in disaster-prone areas at the onset of the typhoons and heavy rains while the national government should build and or clearly identify disaster-resilient evacuation centers.

Marcos said the government should also speed up the implementation of the law on the modernization of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and continue to tap the capability of the military in rescue and relief operations due to its expertise in logistics in the distribution of relief goods and materials to disasterstricken areas. Aquino arrived in Paris at 6:04 p.m. Sunday (1:04 a.m. Monday in Manila) for a two-day working visit highlighted by his participation in COP21. On Monday, President Aquino was to join over a hundred heads of state and government at the leaders’ event of COP21 to further discuss climate change mitigation proposals, hoping they would see each other eye to eye this time around. “This gathering in Paris is a good opportunity to move forward and reiterate the importance of unity on climate change,” President Aquino said in his departure statement. President Aquino will lead the Climate Vulnerable Forum on behalf of other developing countries most affected by frequent and intense natural disasters due to climate change. COP21 runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 amid heightened security across the French capital in the wake of the deadly Paris terrorist attacks that killed more than 100 people on Nov. 13. Apart from his speaking engagements, the President is also set to meet with French, Japanese, and Irish companies during his working visit. sandy Araneta

‘Govt ignoring the people’s needs’ VICE President Jejomar Binay criticized the government on Monday for allegedly not responding to the needs of the people despite the high poverty rates in the country. “The people can no longer afford a government that does not respond to the needs of the people,” Binay said during the 27th Pacific Insurance Conference in Makati City. “Given the high rates of poverty our skewed economy created, our people can no longer afford unresponsive government. We can no longer tolerate leaders afflicted with ‘analysis paralysis.’ We need leaders ready to accept innovation and embrace change.” Binay said that, in the face

of comprehensive and rapid change, private industry and public institutions must be in constant communication with their constituencies. “There is no room for insensitivity or aloofness in this world. Those who fail to understand the people they serve will fail, be they corporate service providers or political regimes,” Binay said. He said his years of service in the government had taught him that effective leadership required a willingness to constantly innovate the way things were done to serve the people better. “Leaders afraid of innovation will be bad leaders simply because they will fail to deliver effectively,” Binay said. He said there was a need

for the government to challenge the old ways of doing things in responding to the needs of the people. “Having served many years as a local executive, I know enough about how unresponsive bureaucracies can exasperate citizens and how responsive leadership must challenge the old ways of doing things,” Binay said. “Consumers themselves now invent the new products they need, while unresponsive bureaucracies have often stood against practical solutions. “For example, in the face of the serious deficiencies in our urban transit systems, the UV express service came into being—an improvisation demanded by the market. Vito Barcelo

Endorsement. Presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte endorses

senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez at the Century Park Hotel in Manila on Monday. VEr NoVENo

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Follow tribunal decision, Comelec prodded By Macon R. Araneta THE camp of presidential front-runner Senator Grace Poe expressed hope the Commission on Elections will defer to the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal that dismissed the disqualification case filed against her and declared her a natural-born Filipino. “We are hopeful the Comelec will defer to the SET ruling, which upheld the natural-born status of Senator Poe, in deciding the election offense case as well as the several petitions to disqualify her from the presidential race,” said Poe’s lawyer George Garcia. The Comelec is expected to come out with a resolution on the complaint filed by defeated senatorial candidate Rizalito David, alleging Poe of “material misrepresentation” in the Certificate of Candidacy she filed with the poll body when she ran for senator in 2013. Senator Vicente Sotto III, a member of SET, said they will meet on Dec. 3 to decide on the motion for reconsideration filed by David on its ruling that junked his petition to unseat Poe from the Senate. Sotto, along with Senators Bam Aquino, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar and Pia Cayetano, voted to throw out David’s quo warranto petition to remove Poe as senator. It was only Senator Nancy Binay who favored the disqualification of Poe. Her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, is running against Poe in the upcoming elections.

Saluting the Great Plebeian. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan leads in reciting the pledge of allegiance during rites celebrating the 152nd birth anniversary of national hero Andres Bonifacio, who is also called the Great Plebeian because of his common origin. ANDREW RABULAN

PNoy honors Bonifacio as workers slam elitists By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III joined the Filipino nation on Monday in commemorating the 152nd birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, the father of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, as thousands of workers rallied to protest the “reeking stench of Philippine society.” Aquino, who had left Sunday to attend the climate change conference in Paris, France, issued a statement on Monday paying homage to Bonifacio, a middle-class worker who founded the Katipunan that led the Philippine revolution against Spain. “More than a century after he led a revolution for independence, Bonifacio remains a vital source of inspiration for Filipinos. He has shown us how to rise above our cir-

cumstance and bring glory to our nation. May his example etch into our consciousness the responsibility we bear in advancing our country,” Aquino said. Aquino urged Filipinos to emulate the example of Bonifacio, expressing hope that they would also find in themselves the courage to bolster the country’s progress. But a few yards outside Malacañang Palace, thousands of workers called for the end of elite

rule and urged the poor to struggle against plunder of the nation. “There is no fitting occasion for ordinary wage-earners to highlight its discontent over the treachery of the ruling elite on the will and welfare of the Filipino majority—other than the 152nd birth anniversary of plebeian hero Andres Bonifacio,” said Bukluran ng Mangagawang Pilipino leader Leody de Guzman. “The political and economic systems need an overhaul. The stench of Philippine society is reeking. We have a backward capitalist economy under a rotten system of elite democracy,” De Guzman said. “Post-Edsa 1986 democracy is nothing but the oligopoly of the local elite that connives with foreign monopoly capital in their plunder of the local economy through neoliberal economics. From Cory Aquino to Noynoy Aquino, wealth and own-

ership was concentrated even more in the hands of the few,” said Sonny Melencio of the Partido Lakas ng Masa. This year’s Bonifacio Day rally is different from the past red-letter days, said Sanlakas secretary-general Aaron Pedrosa. “First, we intend to send a strong message to all national candidates that workers and the poor will be unforgiving in its criteria in choosing the candidates that they will support and vote for. They would likewise assail the candidates that pursue the same anti-labor and antipoor policies and programs pursued by the Aquino government,” Pedrosa said. Pedrosa said this is an indignation rally for the past five-and-ahalf years of unbearable hardship under Aquino caused by economic policies that favor transnational corporations.

Govt land reform hit anew By Rio N. Araja

Continuing the fight. Workers march on Taft Avenue in Manila en route to Mendiola Bridge where they protested the continuing ills of Philippine society. DANNY PATA

THE Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura again slammed the Aquino administration’s land reform program and cited the distribution of land the Hacienda Luisita, owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III, as a “sham.” “A closer look at the situation of the so-called beneficiaries will reveal that land distribution in Luisita under the Benigno S. Aquino regime has been a complete sham,” said UMA official Gi Estrada. “We urge concerned citizens to closely monitor developments in Hacienda Luisita and join us in keeping the public informed on the most recent through social media.” “We suppose that it is public

knowledge that Hacienda Luisita farmers are still fighting for genuine land reform and justice,” he said. “Concerned citizens [netizens], however, may not be fully aware that it has been years since the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision for total land distribution in Hacienda Luisita was made final and executory on April 24, 2011.” UMA slammed the Aquino administration for a private-public partnership project to build the Tarlac solar power plant in the disputed lands. Last March, PetroSolar, the private firm tasked to put up the project with the Department of Energy, is owned “the same Aquino business partners claiming ownership of the questioned lands,” Estrada said.

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House raises veterans’ pension By Maricel V. Cruz A pAnel in the House of Representatives has approved a proposal to increase the old age pension of Filipino military veterans to p10,000 per month from the present p5,000. The House committee on veterans affairs and welfare, chaired by Bataan rep. Herminia roman, author of House Bill 6230, said the enactment of the measure will enable the veterans to augment their resources so they may live decently and with dignity. House Bill 6230 seeks to amend Section 10 of republic Act 6948, as amended, otherwise known as “An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits of Military Veterans and Their dependents,” as amended, so that a veteran, who is at least 65 years old, shall be paid an old-age pension of P10,000 monthly for life, unless he is actually receiving a similar pension for the same consideration from other government funds. roman said the current monthly P5,000 pension enacted almost 21 years ago, is clearly not enough to meet the basic necessities of veterans for a decent living. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for the county. They invested blood, sweat and tears and in return, it is only fitting that we repay their service by taking care of them in their old age. They have dedicated their lives in the service of the country. They should be able to live out the rest of their days comfortably without worrying about their basic needs,” roman said. roman noted that veterans face a new challenge which is the hardships of old age along with meager resources that they must stretch in order to survive. roman said the old age pension raise is also a way to show the nation’s grateful appreciation of the veterans’ bravery, service and sacrifice. “We must recompense them in a manner more fitting to what they have given. By giving them due importance to what they have done in the past, we show citizens, especially the youth, what the nation values—the traits of heroism, love of country and patriotism,” roman said. At a congressional hearing prior to the approval of the measure, lawyer rolando Villaflor, chief of the legal affairs division of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and representative of defense Undersecretary and PVAO Administrator Ernesto Carolina said PVAO is in full support of the HB 6230. “The proposal to raise the old age pension of our veterans is not only urgent but it proceeds from a very compelling reason that it is based on justice, considering the steady decline in the number of our senior veterans due to advanced ages,” Villaflor said. Villaflor said the youngest veteran under this category is 84 years old while the oldest is aged 105. “As of June 2015, there are only about 12,730 senior veterans who stand to benefit from the proposed increase,” Villaflor added. He said the old age pension will require a funding of P1.9 billion in 2016, and will gradually diminish annually with a projected number of about 4,211 senior veterans in 2020 or the equivalent of P757.980 million. Villaflor said that as to post-World War 11 veterans, there are 27,137 of them as of this November. The corresponding amount of increase in their old-age pension to P10,000 will require P1,628 billion. For 2016, the funding requirement for the old age pension raise will be P1,832,820,000 then P1.8 billion for 2017, P1.9 billion for 2018, P2 billion for 2019 and P2.1 billion for 2020 according to him.

Green concerns.

Environmentalists dramatize their protest at Mendiola Bridge and call on industrial nations as the biggest contributor of green gas emission to reduce it rapidly that causes global warming. DANNY PATA

Panel sought to put old law into action By Maricel V. Cruz PrESidENT Benigno Aquino iii has to appoint the three members of the National Privacy Commission in order to finally put into action the data Privacy law of 2012, a Palace ally in Congress said on Sunday. “We need the NPC—composed of a commissioner with the rank of Cabinet secretary and two deputy commissioners with the rank of undersecretary —in place to enforce the threeyear-old statute,” Pasig City rep. roman romulo said. Malacañang has to constitute first the NPC, which is tasked to draft and issue the implementing rules and regulations of the data Privacy law, to republic Act 10173, according to romulo.

“The NPC is supposed to administer and enforce the provisions of the data Privacy law, and monitor and ensure the country’s compliance with international data protection standards,” said romulo, one of the principal authors of the law and senatorial aspirant. romulo’s remarks came not long after the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines openly expressed concern over the delayed implementation of the data Privacy law. The JFCP is the coalition of American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, and Korean business groups in the country and the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies regional Headquarters inc.

The JFCP represents over 3,000 member-companies doing business in the Philippines, including some of the largest business process outsourcing firms that operate in the country. The data Privacy law requires all public and private entities, including BPO firms, to protect the confidentiality of personal information that they collect from clients and store in computer systems, in accordance with rigorous international privacy standards. “The law puts in check the possible misuse of personal facts, including identity theft; bolsters consumer confidence in electronic commerce; and boosts BPO activities that process a great deal of personal information,” romulo, a key backer of

the booming BPO sector, said. He said the law provides adequate safeguards against the potential mishandling of personal facts in outsourcing services, such as customer care and electronic data processing. “The BPO sector handles large customer or account master files. We have to assure the foreign clients of our BPO firms that we have definite, predictable and enforceable personal data privacy rules,” romulo said. The clients of BPO firms in the country include some of the world’s largest banks, insurers, stockbrokers, hotel chains, airlines, travel operators and newspaper publishers as well as providers of health, telecommunication, internet, and satellite or cable TV services.

Pump prices up by P0.45

His lifeline. A boy throws a fishing line in Manila Bay, one of the Philippines’ many

typhoon-vulnerable coasts, on Nov. 29, 2015. The Philippines is among countries pushing for a binding pact to cut greenhouse gas emissions at the United Nations summit in Paris this week. AFP

Oil prices went up by P0.45 per liter to reflect the movement in world oil prices. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Phoenix Petroleum announced their respective oil price hikes, which took effect 6 a.m. Tuesday. Other oil firms were expected to follow suit. The oil firms raised the price of gasoline by P0.45 per liter, diesel by P0.20 per liter and kerosene by P0.10 per liter. Phoenix said in its advisory that the higher pump prices was “due to the higher prices of refined petroleum products in the international market.” World oil prices were expected to go up amid expectations that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries led by Saudi Arabia would maintain high production target. last Nov. 24, the oil firms cut pump prices by as much as P0.80 per liter. They slashed the price of gasoline by P0.75 per liter, P0.50 per liter for diesel and P0.80 per liter for kerosene The previous week, the oil firms also cut pump prices by P0.40 per liter for gasoline, P0.35 for liter for diesel and P0.45 per liter for kerosene. Alena Mae S. Flores

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Travel ban vs ex-mayor upheld By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals has junked a petition of former Makati City Mayor Roberto Brillante who assailed an earlier ruling of a regional trial court denying his appeal for the lifting of the hold departure order imposed against him, in connection with the libel case of which he was convicted.

Signed, sealed, delivered. President Toshinori Terramoto (left) of Kegoya Shipyards turns over to Starlite chairman and chief executive

officer Alfonso G. Cusi all the ownership documents of the state-of-the-art brand-new roll-on, roll-off vessel. Starlite Pioneer was custombuilt in Japan and recently delivered to its owner, Starlite Shipping. It has a 750-passenger capacity and a bus capacity of 22 units. Full specs are as follows: LOA--66.5 meters; DWT—630 tons; and GRT—2,660 tons. The vessel was built at the dockyard near Hiroshima, Japan where the mighty Yamato took shape. When it starts sailing in December, Starlite Pioneer will stand out among the 70-odd refurbished RoRos operating in the Philippines, most of which were designed for the calmer waters of Japan where they had already been decommissioned after 20 years of service.

Iglesia sets up eco-farms for IPs IGLESIA Ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo led the inauguration of a new selfsustaining “eco-farming” community on Nov. 8, 2015 in Barangay Bakal, Paracale, Camarines Norte, a 100-hectare site developed by the INC, through the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, to assist members of the province’s indigenous Kabihug community. With 300 households, a garment factory, a fish-drying facility, a school and a chapel, the Paracale site is the 10th ecofarming area set up by the INC in various locations in Luzon,

Visayas and Mindanao. According to INC general auditor Glicerio Santos, “the INC wants to help both members and non-members fight poverty and maintain dignity in their lives, as we believe that spirituality goes hand in hand with a decent living.” The idea of creating livelihood and financial assistance projects was started in 1965 in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija under then-Executive Minister Eraño G. Manalo. The aim of the initiative at that time was to help laborers in Hacienda Luisita. “The message of the church has always been to give aid to the

needy, and that’s what we have been doing for four decades with our sustainable livelihood projects in these self-sustaining communities,” said Santos. In 1992, the INC established the Barangay Bagong Buhay site in response to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. The project benefited Aeta groups that were displaced by the calamity. “We have been addressing, in our own small way, the needs and concerns of our brothers and sisters in the lumad and indigenous peoples sector for several years. We shall continue

doing so as a church and as responsible Filipino citizens and members of the community,” Santos stressed. Bicol’s regional director of the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples, Evelyn Jacob, expressed gratitude for the INC’s efforts. “We thank the Iglesia Ni Cristo for their tremendous help to the Kabihugs in resettlement and in providing needed livelihood assistance,” said Jacob. “INC’s efforts included moral and spiritual nurturing as well, for which everyone is grateful,” added the NCIP director.

In a decision, the CA’s Special 11th Division through Associate Justice Pedro Corales denied the petition filed by Brillante questioning the orders of the Makati City Regional Trial Court, Branch 145, denying his Motion to Lift Hold Departure Order and his motion for reconsideration. The HDO was issued by the RTC against Brillante on June 15, 1992 after he was charged with five counts of libel initiated by then Makati City mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay. In 2004, the Supreme Court affirmed Brillante’s conviction and ordered him to pay moral damages to Binay and Francisco Baloloy in the amount of more than P500,000 with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency. In its Nov. 3, 2015 ruling, the appellate court dismissed Brillante’s petition and upheld the ruling of the lower court to deny his appeal for the lifting of HDO. “With Brillante’s failure to pay the pecuniary liabilities imposed upon him, the RTC acted within the ambit of law when it denied his motion to lift the HDO,” the CA stressed. “To countenance such refusal and simply allow Brillante to travel abroad would render nugatory the imposition of subsidiary penalty in case he fails to pay the fine imposed upon him,” the appellate court ruled. Associate Justices Sesinando Villon and Nina Antonio-Valenzuela concurred with the ruling.

Manila boosts anti-crime efforts using realty tax take By Joel E. Zurbano THE city government of Manila has enhanced the crime prevention efforts of the city’s 896 barangays by increasing their budget to P1.96 billion coming from real estate tax collection. Virgilio Eustaquio, head of the Manila Barangay Bureau, said the fund increase from P0.95 billion in 2014 to P1.96 billion this year financed the procurement and installation of closed-circuit television cameras, street lighting fixtures, and acquisition of patrol vehicles. The peacekeeping program in the community aimed to involve barangay officials, village watchmen, and other force multipliers in crime prevention, control and suppression in close co-

ordination with the police, he said. Eustaquio said the additional allotment is also intended to improve the delivery of public service, health benefits and other basic needs that the city’s smallest unit of government provides for the people. “On many occasions, barangay officials do not have to wait for funding from the city government since they have their own budgets to carry out their projects. That’s barangay empowerment,” Eustaquio said. In his 2015 State of the City Address, Mayor Joseph Estrada said that barangays’ aggregate share from real property tax collection from July 2014 to June 2015 increased by 100 percent compared to that

of the preceding year. “This is a huge gain for the 896 barangays of Manila, as their share from the real property tax collections from July 2014 to June 2015 hit P1.95 billion which is double of what they have received for the previous year at P0.95 billion. This meant higher budgets at the barangay level,” said Estrada. “We know that the lack of funds is a principal concern for any local government chief. If you do not have funds, you cannot implement any project. It is important that our barangays are fully equipped and ready since they are the frontliners and are the first to respond to emergency community concerns,” Estrada said.

Reindeer Park.

Promenaders enjoy the long weekend on Sunday at the Reindeer Park in front of McKinley Hill at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. EY ACASIO

TV talent’s mother shot dead THE mother of the latest addition to a noontime TV program “Showtime” was shot dead by still unidentified gunman in Caloocan City Sunday night. The victim, Ma. Teresa Hernandez Yap, 42, was the mother of Showtime’s “Pastillas Girl” Angelica. The victim was with another daughter and a niece at a

roadside eatery along Tagaytay Street, Barangay 127 in Caloocan around 8:30 p.m.when a man wearing denim pants, t-shirt, dark colored jacket and a cap shot her at close range, police said quoting witnesses. A CCTV footage showed that right after the shooting, the suspect fled onboard a motorcycle toward A. Bonifacio Street.

Investigators said that the victim’s relative said she received several death threats. Angelica urged police to dig deep into the killing. Mayor Oscar Malapitan in an interview during the 152nd birth anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio in Monumento said he would order a thorough investigation into the killing. Jun David

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DILG secretary to local school boards: Stop hiring casuals By Dexter A. See CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad —Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Cenen Sarmiento directed local chief executives nationwide to stop using their respective school board funds in the hiring of casual teachers since the government will fully invest in employing teachers in order to pave the way for the implementation of the controversial K to 12 basic education program that will ensure the competitiveness of graduates from Philippine schools in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Community. Sarmiento said that the education department will hire a total of 39,900 teachers before the end of the year and another 60,000 teachers next year. “Local governments can now use their respective school board funds for other better initiatives apart from hiring casual teachers. We have to ease the burden from the local governments because it is the obligation of the government to hire teachers,” Sarmiento stressed. Sarmiento also said school buildings and classrooms will be no longer a separate problem for municipal, city and provincial governments because the education department will be building more than 35,000 classrooms annually which will definitely help in reducing the congestions in urban centers when the K to 12 basic education program will be implemented. Sarmiento explained that in the hiring of the available teaching positions in the next two years, the localization policy will be implemented whereby a teacher who comes from the host community will be prioritized in the hiring in order to guarantee their availability at all times. At the same time, a teacher, who holds a temporary teaching position and teachers in the school where he or she comes from, will be the one to be prioritized for permanency over and above others, thus, the need for local governments to start recommending the casual teachers for hiring by the education department. The DILG official challenged local governments to use their respective school board funds for other concrete education projects.

Drying dilis. A man dries small fish under the scorching sun at Barangay Alacan in San Fabian, Pangasinan. CHRISTINE JUNIO

Police find sacks of rice dumped anew in Leyte By Ronald O. Reyes

TACLOBAN CITY—Police in Dagami, Leyte found an “unestimated volume” of rice on excavated ground in Barangay Macaalang, a village hit hard by Typhoon “Yolanda” in November 2013. A report from the local police office said the dumped goods bore the marks NFA and DSWD, which stand for two government agencies National Food Authority and Department of Social Welfare and Development. “Ocular conducted revealed

that, the manmade excavated rectangular hole is approximately 10 feet wide, 15 feet in length and 8 feet deep,” a report from Dagami police station online which was spread by netizens over the weekend. According to the local police, a concerned citizen alert-

ed them that “there was an on-going activity of disposing NFA rice on an excavated hole at Barangay Macaalang, Dagami, Leyte believed to be from DSWD” Friday afternoon (Nov. 27) last week. The local police and DSWD in the region said they are investigating the incident. The issue of dumped rice and relief goods being lost to spoilage continues to hound DSWD after typhoon Yolanda hit the region, with no less than the Commission on Audit calling its attention on its recent audit reports.

Meanwhile, fisherfolk in Tacloban City also called on the government to continue the clearing of Cancabato bay from debris and skeletal remains of the victims of typhoon Yolanda two years ago as another human skeletal parts believed to be that of a 25-yearold female and 60-year-old male were found in the said bay area last week. Another motor vehicle swept to the sea during Yolanda was also retrieved in the same area. On Nov. 8 this year, six skeletal remains were also retrieved in the coastal village of San Jose, this city.

Catholic charity reports gains in post-Yolanda rehabilitation By Mel Caspe TACLOBAN CITY—The Catholic Relief Services has listed its accomplishments one week before the closing of its recovery projects in this typhoon-ravaged city. CRS has been working in the city to help poor and vulnerable people overcome emergencies, earn a living through agriculture and gain access to affordable health care. It has assisted 3,119 families through provision of transitional shelter and help build four transitional relocation sites in the city.

The organization also initiated evacuation drills participated in by 4,000 residents. For mangrove reforestation, 5,000 square meters of mangroves have been planted in Anibong district. CRS also constructed seven community infrastructures and eight are still ongoing. Under the water and sanitation program, CRS constructed 1,083 household toilets, declogged 7,176 linear meters of village-level drainage, established 1,180 linear meters of household drainage. A total of 219 families restored access to

safe water. “The program during emergency situations pave the way for access to clean water and a functioning sanitation infrastructure that enables people to stay healthy while they cope during these stressful periods,” CRS said in a statement. Other assistance include 1,677 recovered documents through the Philippine Statistics Authority and 880 people trained in protection. CRS will conduct their final handover ceremony of their Typhoon Haiyan Recovery Program on Dec. 3 at the City Convention Center.

Ready for the big one. A fisherman in Dalahican, Lucena makes his fishing nets stronger so he can catch the big fish for the holidays. DIANA NOCHE

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OPINION

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OPINION

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

START OF PARIS CLIMATE TALKS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

BRAVADO AND BRAVERY

THE country celebrated the birth anniversary of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio on Monday. Bonifacio is often referred to as the brawn behind the upheaval that set the Philippines free from the clutches of Spain in 1896. Our mental picture of Bonifacio is a bolo-wielding man, dressed in peasant shirt and farmer pants, rallying ordinary people to take up arms against the colonial master. He led, for instance, the tearing of cedulas—an act of refusal to be counted as subjects. Courage is a virtue associated with him, because despite his humble roots, Bonifacio gathered up the bravery to challenge the status quo. He was not killed by the foreign enemy. When he died, there was no lastminute struggle to turn around and face his executioners and look them in the eye. Instead, Bonifacio was killed by fellow Filipinos who felt his presence was an inconvenience to the new order they were seeking to build. And so we celebrate his birth instead, deliberately shoving the manner of his death out of our common consciousness. Bravado is showing off that one is incapable of fear, often to make a good impression on others. It is fake—fear is a universal human sentiment. Courage, however, is pushing along despite fears, human weakness, and the knowledge that the fight ahead will not be easy. Courage is trying to effect lasting changes despite the odds. This election season, we see far too many examples of personalities claiming to be God’s gift to the people, saviors, knights, problem-solvers, heroes. They will project themselves as harbingers of a new era in Philippine history, where corruption, poverty, ineptitude and lawlessness would be a thing of the past. Many voters will believe their one-dimensional portrayal of themselves, just as the people believed previous leaders who promised many things and later failed us. We don’t need saviors in government. We need capable managers, level-headed individuals, passionate public servants who will create an environment conducive to growth and opportunities for mobility. We do not need someone calling attention to themselves as bastions of uprightness. We need leaders who will enable the people to do so much more with what they have. And then only history will judge whether they are heroes—or just one of the many who wanted to be. This is the more daunting task, because this is the real task. Only the courageous ones will be bold enough to shed pretenses, roll up their sleeves and face the work ahead.

ALAN GETS LUCKY LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES ACCORDING to one joke, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano will not even allow Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte go to the men’s room alone these days. That’s because Cayetano is so fearful that his supposed running mate will drop him if he allows Duterte to look around and see that he’s not there for even a minute.

Duterte, of course, has already come out in the open to declare that Cayetano is his vice presidential candidate. The maverick mayorturned-presidential candidate, however, qualified that his attachment to the senator is based on a sense of gratitude, or utang na loob. It was Cayetano, after all, who stuck by Duterte even after the mayor missed the Oct. 16 filing deadline for presidential candidates set by the Commission on Elections. And Cayetano it was

who even had posters put up all over Metro Manila with his face and the mayor’s together, as if they had already become a real—instead of just a prospective—team. But Duterte has also said that he owes a similar debt of gratitude to the late President Ferdinand Marcos that goes back to when the mayor’s father was governor of Davao province. And this is why, according to Duterte, he cannot stop people from pushing for a split ticket with him and another vice presidential

Perhaps Cayetano should buy Duterte a crash helmet, so he doesn’t bump his head and come to his senses.

candidate, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. This is just the sort of discourse from Duterte that has Cayetano climbing the walls. After all, Cayetano must know that he needs Duterte more than Duterte needs him—and that a DuterteMarcos tandem makes a lot more sense, politically, than a Duterte-Cayetano teamup. By leaving the door open to a partnership with Marcos, Duterte is wisely appealing to the senator’s loyal (and large) Ilocano voter base. And you don’t have to have calling cards declaring yourself as a political strate-

gist in order to see that Cayetano is the only one who will benefit if he teams up with Duterte. The other thing about Cayetano that Duterte must remember is that the senator decided to latch onto him because no other presidential candidate would take him seriously as a running mate. After all, many people still recall how Cayetano tried everything to get the attention of President Noynoy Aquino and his anointed candidate, Mar Roxas,

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in order to become the Liberal Party’s vice presidential bet. When it became clear to Cayetano that he was beginning to look like Carrie, the homely lass in the movie whom no one would ask out as a date to the prom, he decided to hitch his wagon to Duterte’s nonshooting (at the time) star. And, as luck would have it, Duterte decided that he was running, after all. It seems clear to me that Cayetano, like every other politician,

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is only for Cayetano. And the true test of his so-called loyalty to the Davao mayor may come when the going gets really tough—perhaps if Duterte keeps giving speeches like that surreal one he gave yesterday at Manila’s Century Park Hotel. In the meantime, Cayetano should really keep an eye on Duterte. Or, as the old Tagalog joke says, perhaps he should buy the mayor a crash helmet, so he doesn’t bump his head and come to his senses. Continued on A11

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THE Paris climate change summit began with a bang yesterday with more than a 100 heads of state converging here to deliver national statements urging action and collaboration on climate change. The conference venue is Le Bourget, the first airport of Paris built in 1919 and famous as the landing site for Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo transatlantic crossing in 1927. It was also at this airport, on 16 June 1961, that the Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev defected here. Currently, the Paris Air Show, the world’s oldest, takes place in Le Bourget. Because of its size, it was chosen as the venue for this meeting where 50,000 participants are expected. Among these are a couple of hundred of Filipinos, not just the official delegation but also many media people, scientists, activists, and youth delegates. In her opening speech, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, appealed to all of us who are here: “The eyes of the world have been on Paris over the past few weeks. Now, the eyes of the world are on you...We need predictable timeline, clear goals that respond to science and responds to the urgency of the matter. The world is looking to you, the world is counting on you.” Laurent Fabius, Foreign Minister of host France and incoming president of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, delivered a short welcome statement, promising three things to characterize their country’s leadership of this process: trust, transparency, and ambition. He committed to do everything to achieve compromise. As I write this, heads of state have begun their speeches, with President Aquino slated to speak Monday afternoon. He will also be convening a high-level event of the Climate Vulnerability Forum (CVF). I will write about his statement, one of the most awaited and likely to be very influential, and the CVF event in my next column. While national leaders are taking center stage on the first day, this meeting is not just about governments; it is also about the persistent spirit and the strong will displayed by citizen movements around the world, attributes that have helped create important changes in this process and have shaped the upcoming new climate agreement in more ways than one. Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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OPINION

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

START OF PARIS CLIMATE TALKS

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BRAVADO AND BRAVERY

Perhaps Cayetano should buy Duterte a crash helmet, so he doesn’t bump his head and come to his senses.

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FRAUD LOOMS TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

AFTER months of denial by Malacañang and the Armed Forces of the Philippines that there was “no credible threat to the Philippines” from foreign jihadists or the Islamic State now terrorizing many parts of the world, now comes a report from a government source privy to anti-terror operations that there are now at least four jihadist camps for ISIS recruits operating in Lanao province, Sulu, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. It’s difficult to comprehend why the Aquino administration continues to be in a state of denial that ISIS could not enter the Philippines and that there is “no credible threat” from them when people in the areas believe that terror groups like the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are already allied with the Middle East jihadists, even flying the ISIS flag.

Smartmatic’s PCOS machines have allowed many irregularities in the past.

In that encounter between the Armed Forces and Muslim terror groups on the outskirts of Palembang town, the military could not identify them as jihadists even though they were flying the ISIS flag. Obviously, this is upon orders from President Aquino who wants to show that the Philippines is still free from foreign jihadists. Just why President Aquino and the Armed Forces of the Philippines remain in a state of denial is the question. To what end? With this kind of mentality, I fear the worst can happen to the Philippines! *** While we, Filipinos, are focused this early in the campaign for the presidency, especially with the entry of Davao City May-

or Rodrigo Duterte in the race, we tend to forget lessons from past elections especially concerning the use of Smartmatic’s automated election system. Have we forgotten what happened in 2010 and 2013 where many irregularities were observed using the precinct count optical scan machines? All these years, I have been puzzled about the undying love of Comelec for Smartmatic that seems to corner all contracts for Philippine elections. This, despite the change in the commissioners. Former Chairman Sixto Brillantes has retired and now we have the current chairman, Andres Bautista, who I believe is a man of integrity and honesty. Despite everything, Smartmatic has again won the contract to electronically transmit election returns from the precinct level to the city/ municipal level and then to the provincial/regional level where the election results can be manipulated. Obviously, with so many “little Garcis” still operating at the Comelec, happy days are here again for election result manipulators. Election watchers and consumer groups are out to prevent cheating and other methods of election fraud. But they are warned that with the continued use of Smartmatic’s PCOS, and especially with it now handling election transmission of precinct results, they should be on guard against cheating and other kind of manipulation at the transmission phase. I have been told that a group of “Guardians” in the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been talking with other groups of the AFP to be on guard against election cheating. I have also been told that these groups have the capability of mounting a coup if the will of the people is frustrated in next year’s polls. *** While there are some of us who long for a strong leader and an action man to rid the country of criminality and corruption, and thus, see in Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the answer, there are also those among us who do not agree. He has the reputation of a man who allowed extra-judicial means just to make Davao City the most peaceful city in the Philippines. Take for instance,

THE UNTENABLE AND SHALLOW SET MAJORITY DECISION oriental features will also fail their law from Congress—and there is test. Since a substantial majority none. At best, the covenants merely of Filipinos have black eyes, their allow a foundling to acquire Philiparbitrary standard is problematic pine citizenship through a process because, as the senators obseved, no different from naturalization. Moreover, the international covPoe has brown eyes. Even one’s height is already a enants cited by the majority cannot THE Constitution is clear—only a questionable indicator. One’s height be considered binding pursuant to natural-born citizen of the Philip- or lack of it may depend not just on customary international law prepines is qualified to be a senator or one’s parents but also on one’s grand cisely because the practice of other president. In order to prevent any ancestors on either parent’s side. It states cannot bind the Philippines creative misreading of the phrase may also depend on whether or not in a matter that is purely domestic, “natural-born citizen,” the Consti- the person had sufficient nutrition such as determining who may or may not be considered citizens of tution goes out of its way to define during his or her juvenile years. Likewise, the majority opined the Philippines, especially its natuthe term. The language of the Constitution mandates that a foundling that some of the delegates who ral-born citizens. The majority said that Poe re-aclike Senator Grace Poe cannot be a wrote the 1935 Constitution, Manuel Roxas in particular, believed that quired her natural-born citizenship natural-born citizen. Unfortunately, five senators in foundlings can become natural- when she took the oath of allegiance the Senate Electoral Tribunal hear- born citizens, and that the reason to the Philippines. Once more, the majority is mising the disqualification case against why the 1935 Constitution is silent the senator believe otherwise. on foundlings is that foundlings taken. The Constitution imposes two conditions—a natural-born These senators constitute a slim 5-4 were too few at that time. The majority seems unaware that citizen is one who is a citizen of the majority in the nine-member SET. The three Supreme Court justices in the interpretation of the provi- Philippines at birth without havin the tribunal all voted against Poe. sions of the Constitution, what con- ing to perform any act to acquire Senator Nancy Binay sided with the trols is how the people who ratified or perfect his or her Philippine citithe Constitution understood its zenship. Poe fails to meet both conjustices. A reading of the majority deci- contents, and not the intention of ditions. First, Poe is not a citizen sion shows that it is both untenable the delegates who drafted it. Ac- of the Philippines at birth precisely cording to a fairly recent decision of because she is foundling. Second, and shallow. The majority ruled that despite the Supreme Court, it is the ratifi- her act of taking the oath of allePoe’s status as a foundling, it is pos- cation of the Constitution and not giance constitutes an act to perfect sible that her parents were Filipinos the drafting thereof which gave her Philippine citizenship. Citing a decision of the Supreme as indicated by her physical features life to the fundamental law. Since (her height is 5 feet, 2 inches, and the 1935 Constitution says nothing Court, the majority held that in case she has brown eyes, dark hair, a about foundlings, the Filipino peo- of doubt in the interpretation of the low nasal bridge, and an oval face) ple cannot be bound by any view provisions of the Constitution, the which are “consistent with the phys- of the delegates (regarding found- doubt should be resolved in favor ical features of the average Filipino” lings) which was not submitted to of the right of the people to chose their leaders. That view assumes, of —physical features which create a them for approval or disapproval. Be that as it may, the provisions course, that there is a doubt to bedisputable presumption that her parents are Filipinos, a presump- of the 1935 Constitution are imma- gin with. Truth to tell, there is no tion which the petitioner in the SET terial now. Since Poe ran for an of- doubt to speak of because the Confice governed by the 1987 Constitu- stitution is very clear on the matter. case failed to rebut. In other words, the majority tion, she is bound by its provisions, The Supreme Court has already opinion believes that physical fea- particularly the one on the defini- ruled that in the interpretation of law, “where no doubt exists, tures are sufficient indicators of tion of a natural-born citizen. the The majority also said that vari- none may be created.” citizenship. Finally, the majority opined that What is there to rebut? Since when ous treaties, read together with the are physical features indicators of Constitution, confirm that Poe is a the petitioner in the SET case has the burden of proving that Poe is discitizenship? Only the Nazis used that natural-born citizen. Again, the majority is mistaken. qualified. That’s nonsense. One who standard, particularly in their hunt for Treaties and international cove- seeks an office which the Constitution Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe. How competent are the senators nants cannot amend or modify any explicitly reserves to a distinct class of to determine what physical features provision of the Constitution. This citizens must show that he or she satare “consistent with the average includes the Constitution’s explicit isfies that requirement. If the majority Filipino?” Under their arbitrary definition of a natural-born citizen. view is to be believed, then candidates standard, a foundling with the Besides, the international covenants for public office need not submit any physical features of an Aeta or cited by the majority do not apply to documentation to the Commission an Igorot cannot be presumed Poe’s case because the Philippines is on Elections because, like Poe, they to be Filipinos. In the same not a signatory to those covenants, are presumed to be qualified for the vein, foundlings who have strong or because they require an enabling public office they seek.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

Duterte’s pledge that if he is elected, there will be some 100,000 criminals who will be found floating in Manila Bay and that the funeral business will be thriving. Despite the attempts of Duterte’s supporters to tone down his tough-talking stance against criminality, many still don’t feel comfortable with him. While there are many of us who see in the Aquino administration incompetence in dealing with corruption and crime and its lack of sensitivity to the poor, we are still wary of the direction to which Duterte can take the country. Duterte’s tough stance

can cut both ways. It can do good to his presidential bid; it can also do the opposite. *** Despite attempts of some who interpret the 5-4 decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal against the disqualification of Mrs. Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares as a victory for foundlings and abandoned children, I think all these form a legal/constitutional issue. Otherwise, why have a Constitution at all? As enunciated by the three members of the SET—Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio as chairman, with Associate Justices Arturo Briones and Tere-

sita Leonardo de Castro as members—a foundling cannot be presumed to be natural-born, only Filipino. In case of conflicting provisions, international laws cannot prevail over the Constitution because the former can only be considered as municipal laws. In other words, when the Constitution says that a candidate for the Senate should be natural born, that’s it. What I cannot understand is why Mrs. Llamanzares is reluctant to have a DNA test with Senator Bongbong Marcos, who is running for the vice presidency. Anyway, Marcos has said he was willing to do it and if they match,

“welcome to the family!” This would settle once and for all the rumors that Grace is the daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos and actress Rosemarie Sonora. Personally, I believe that as many Ilocanos do that Mrs. Llamanzares is really the daughter of Marcos, and not a foundling. There are many questions crying for answers. Why did the late movie icon Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces so conveniently adopt Mrs. Llamanzares? And most importantly, why is Mrs. Llamanzares reluctant to have a DNA test with Bongbong when it is for her own good?

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

PARIS AND ITS CLIMATE LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS By Titon Mitra AS WORLD leaders converge in Paris from 30 November to 11 December, the importance of arriving at an ambitious yet implementable agreement on climate change action has been graphically underlined by the fact that, based on UK Met Office data for 2015, for the first time, global mean temperature at the Earth’s surface will have reached 1°C above pre-industrial levels (data from January to September shows 2015 global mean temperature at 1.02 °C [±0.11°C] above pre-industrial levels). We are already experiencing the adverse impacts of a warming climate: 14 of the hottest summers since 2000, rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, increased droughts, and more erratic and destructive storms. Only those who choose to willfully ignore the ample scientific evidence available— and the disturbing news coverage we see regularly—can deny that climate change induced by human actions is happening and its consequences are indeed very dangerous. The Paris agreement will require compromise and importantly a recognition that

Start... From A9 One of these citizen movements is the REDD+ Safeguards Working Group (RSWG), a coalition of 42 nongovernment organizations from different countries. The Ateneo de Manila School of Government (ASoG) is a part of and anchors this coalition. From 2010 onwards, we have worked for the inclusion of REDD+ safeguards, or measures that minimize the potential negative effects of REDD+ (Reducing emissions through deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) on indigenous peoples, biodiversity and forest-dependent communities. REDD+ incentivizes developing countries for the sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest stocks, but we believe it should not be seen as just a mitigation measure as it has environmental and governance implications. For this past year and here in Paris, the RSWG is working on two issues: expanding the principle of a rights-based approach to other elements of the new climate agreement and making sure that the new climate change deal

the burden to take action will fall disproportionately between the developed and developing world. The key principle that has to be adopted with genuine commitment is that of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.” This means that each and every one of the 200 or so countries that will be present will have to commit to take actions, the scope and scale of which will differ according to their technical and financial capacities. The richer countries will need to take on a greater share of that burden and support the less developed ones. Over 150 countries have submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions—the actions they will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Philippines has committed to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent from 2020 to 2030 but conditional on financial aid and associated technical support being provided by developed countries. Based on today’s level of public and private investment and the stated climate mitigation actions, developing countries will need to bridge an annual fund-

will capture and reflect the value of ecosystems integrity. In our latest briefing paper “Ensuring the Right Climate Actions for Ecosystems and People,” we point out that actions taken to maintain or enhance ecosystem integrity and resilience will help countries “achieve their mitigation and adaptation objectives and to avoid ill-conceived climate responses that perversely undermine progress towards these objectives.” Equally important is our position that “respecting, protecting, promoting and fulfilling rights are fundamental to long-term success of climate actions.” The participation of vulnerable and marginalized groups in the development and implementation of mitigation and adaptation initiatives will help make them sustainable. We stress that human rights and ecosystems integrity complement each other as they provide a holistic approach to climate actions, one that will maximize social, environmental and economic benefits. Both are captured in Article 2.2 in the draft Paris agreement. “Thank-

EVERYMAN ing shortfall of as much as $2.5 trillion from 2015-2030. Even if these were secured, the reality is that the current combined mitigation actions will account for only 86 percent of green house gas emissions and still result in a temperature rise of 2.7°C. A below 2°C target—the minimum we should be striving for—will require considerably more in terms of funding and commitment. Climate change action indeed should not and need not be seen as a sunk cost but rather as an investment in the future and a catalyst for a new era of innovation. Current technologies available to us will not be sufficient. Governments will need to create the incentive structures through carbon pricing and greater subsidies to accelerate innovation and to create the breakthrough technologies. The private sector needs to see that these technologies will significantly add to their bottom line. Everyone will also need to commit to low-carbon lifestyles to set the market demand. This will require both a collective international and national vision of a below 2°C trajectory and a low carbon economy beneficial

fully, the Philippines is the champion for the inclusion of language on human rights in the current draft.” I am proud to say that our country is also responsible for language in the draft recognizing the importance of ensuring the integrity and resilience of natural ecosystems. More specifically, the RSWG is working so that Article 2.2 would mandate countries to ensure the protection of human rights “including those of indigenous peoples, gender equality and the full and equal participation of women” and also ensure “intergenerational equity and a just transition of the workforce that creates decent work and quality jobs and food security.” We also want to have ecosystems integrity and rights captured under the mitigation and adaptation sections. For the section on transparency, we believe that the Paris agreement must clearly state that countries have the obligation to provide accurate, transparent, complete, consistent and comparable information on the implementation of adaptation actions and steps taken to improve

to people and the planet. It should be understood that keeping global temperature rise to below 2°C of the average pre-industrial level may not be enough to avert dangerous consequences. But the 2°C gives us a target to focus upon, a rallying point to catalyze collective action. While we should continue to be hopeful for Paris, we should also prepare for the fact that we may not be able to move too far from the 86 percent of greenhouse gas emissions covered by the current INDCs. If that is all we achieve, it is nevertheless a good first step. It is a foundation that can be built upon by putting in place transparent and robust mechanisms for measuring, monitoring and reporting progress. We should reconvene every five years and adjust INDCs. The consequences of continuing increases in temperature hopefully will create the realization among leaders and their political constituencies to take much more ambitious action. UNDP has done what we can for now to accompany countries on the road to Paris. From formulating INDCs, Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions, National Adaptation Plans, climate finance readiness, policies

ecosystems integrity. Furthermore, it must be emphasized that the Paris agreement must disallow finance for actions that increase greenhouse gas emissions or those that compromise integrity and resilience of ecosystems and pose threats to communities and violate their rights. RSWG, working through countries like the Philippines, will maximize these two weeks of negotiations to make sure that the new agreement will recognize the existing obligations of countries to protect the integrity of natural ecosystems when they undertake actions and investments. We will also push for the development of a work program that will guide land use actions and the regular provision of information on how countries have considered the impacts of climate initiatives on ecosystems integrity. We will do our best to make sure the Paris agreement will guide countries on how to do it right— with ecosystems integrity and rights, we could never go wrong. Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

Alan... From A9

and legislation for low carbon futures and other programs, UNDP has helped over 130 developing countries access and deliver over $2.3 billion in mitigation and adaptation initiatives. UNDP has worked with vulnerable populations within countries, including women, girls, youth, indigenous people and remote communities to adapt and build their resilience to the inevitable consequences of climate change. Whatever the final outcomes of Paris, UNDP will continue to accompany countries as they work on their climate actions. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon delivered a very clear message recently. He said: “Success in Paris depends on you. Now is the time for common sense, compromise and consensus. It is time to look beyond national horizons and to put the common interest first. The people of the world—and generations to come—count on you to have the vision and courage to seize this historic moment.” For the sake of the world we will bequeath to our children, one hopes that Paris is listening. Titon Mitra is the country director of the United Nations Development Programme in the Philippines.

*** Someone should really remind Edwin Lacierda that it’s not his job to take potshots at presidential candidates not named Mar Roxas. And that, as Senator Chiz Escudero once noted, his job is spokesman of the President, not of the Liberal Party. Lacierda took a swipe yesterday at Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago for declaring that she had won a mock election staged by the owner of a Facebook page. “I don’t think there’s anything in our laws about Facebook elections,” Lacierda said with his characteristic smirk and snark. I think Lacierda would do a better job of moonlighting as Roxas’ flack if he took on the other candidates who are beating his boss (his other boss, I mean) to a pulp in most surveys. Roxas is already ahead of Miriam right now, though not by much. And if Roxas really knew what’s good for him, he’d ask Lacierda to stop speaking for him. Because Lacierda is such a bad spokesman, he may even single-handedly cause Santiago to overtake Roxas in some future poll. It seems that five years of acting as the mouthpiece for President Noynoy Aquino has made Lacierda into a clone of his boss (his official boss, of course). Lacierda has become a master of the putdown while avoiding any real engagement on issues—just like the sarcastic Aquino himself. Of course, Lacierda will probably keep belittling Santiago’s status as a social media phenomenon. But I’d like to see Roxas win something, somewhere—even if it’s “just” a Facebook election.

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Records fall in Batang Pinoy games National age-group taekwondo set Dec. 5, 6 AROUND 1,500 taekwondo practitioners are expected to see action in the 2015 MERALCO/MVP National Age Group (free sparring) and PLDT Home ULTERA (poomsae) championships on December 5-6 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. According to Organizing Committee Chairman Sung Chon Hong, the event highlights the progress of the sport here with entries coming from all over the country and also gives young campaigners, some only 4 years old, the chance to showcase their talents. “The participation of youngsters has enabled our organization to support the country’s grassroots program,” says Hong. Entries in the free sparring competition will be categorized into Novice and Advance with three divisions under each category —Juniors, Cadet and Gradeschool (male and female). Poomsae is open only to blackbelt students in the following events— Individual, Pair and Team. In poomsae, also known as forms, a participant follows a systematic time of movement in consecutive sequence against an imaginary opponent or multiple opponents. The movements use hands and feet and interconnected techniques like blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking. Constant training of poomsae will help improve flexibility and control in breathing, balance, power, eye focus and mental discipline. Martial art and sports enthusiasts are invited to watch the tournament, especially children who are interested to learn the sport. Competition starts at 9 a.m. on both days.

Free sparring campaigner Dumnille Valdez of Ruiz Fitness (left) delivers a head kick against Clarence Gabriel Aloton of Dyna Rock in a recent event.

Radcliffe: Doping slurs were ‘hell’ LONDON—Britain’s marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe says that she went through “12 months of hell” after her name was dragged into athletics’ doping scandal. Radcliffe, who retired after this year’s London Marathon, publicly denied cheating in September after a British parliamentary committee member made comments that appeared to implicate her in doping practices. World governing body the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) this week declared her “entirely innocent” and said the manner in which she had come to face accusations was “truly shocking”. “I have had to endure 12

months of hell,” Radcliffe, 41, told British newspaper The Mail on Sunday. “The children have been affected by it ... All the phone calls and the worry, all the ruined holidays because mum and dad are busy talking to lawyers. “I’ve never been in that position before where you haven’t done anything wrong, but people think you’re guilty. “I had letters from 10 separate people who had almost committed suicide because they were accused of something they didn’t do.” Radcliffe, a three-time London Marathon champion, also criticised the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and UK Antidoping for not defending her.

“I was very angry with WADA and UK Anti-doping about the way it was handled,” she said. “When the issue was brought up in the (parliamentary) select committee they had the perfect opportunity to say there had never been any question about any samples of British athletes. “Or, if they weren’t going to defend me, they should have invited me so I could defend myself. I can explain those (blood) readings, but no one invites me to these things. “You have to take the figures in context. You have to look at what was happening at the time. No-one did that. They looked at the figures and came to all the wrong conclusions.”

CEBU CITY—Veruel Verdadero of Dasmarinas City, Cavite smashed the standard in the boys’ 100-meter dash, one of 14 records broken Monday in the 2015 POC-PSC Batang Pinoy National Finals at the Cebu City Sports Complex here. Verdadero’s 11.40-second performance erased Cebu City’s Michael Lawrence Lopez’s 11.53 clocking in the Games for athletes below 16 years old and below set last year in Bacolod City. After resetting the mark at the expense of Joselito Hapitan of South Cotabato (11.53) and Jeremiah Cortez of Tagum City (11.54), the 14-year-old Verdadero scooped another gold with the Cavite squad in the 4x100m relay with a winning time of 42.20 seconds. Matching the feat of Verdadero was Gianelli Gatinga of Tagig City, who eclipsed the 5.18-meter leap of Negros Occidental’s Romerose Villanueva last year with a 5.30-meter effort in the girls’ long jump. High jumper Saira De Vera of Pangasinan duplicated their accomplishments by clearing 1.49 meters and breaking the existing standard of South Cotabato’s Judith Paquieroa (1.48m) also set in Bacolod. Other record-breaking achievements on the track were pulled off by Isabel Orqueriza of Negros Occidental (girls’ 400m), Samantha Limos of Cebu City (girls’ 100m), Tagig’s Marisol Amarga (girls’ 1500m) and Joselito Hapitan of South Cotabato (boys’ 400m).

Carl, Torres score in Tacloban netfest ANICA Cari romped off with a three-title win while Joshua Torres racked up two victories as the Baybay City bets stamped their class in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament at Tacloban City Tennis Club in Leyte yesterday. The top-seeded Cari, 14, overpowered her rivals in the girls’ 14- and 16-andunder finals, blanking Mia Gemida from Valencia and Nikki Daguman from Calbayog, respectively, before scoring a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ella Espina in the 18-U section where she was an unranked player. Torres, on the other hand, crushed Polo Corre from McArthur, 6-2, 6-2, to cop the boys’ 14-U title then

outclassed Cresente Ampon from Borongan, 6-0 6-0, in the 16-U finals of the fourday, Group 5 tournament presented by Technifibre and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez. “We thank Palawan Pawnshop for this tennis program which benefits the young players here in Tacloban not only in developing the sport but also in inspiring our youth,” said Judge Mario Melchor, president of the host TTC. Tacloban’s Michael Cuento trampled fellow unseeded Jemuel Baduria from Guiuan, 6-1, 6-0, to claim the boys’ 18-U plum while John Martin Darang from Salcedo stunned

top seed Franconer Nuñez from Baybay, 6-2, 6-2, to bag the 12-U diadem in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop. “The rash of upsets in the lower age group underscored the level playing field from among Tacloban’s leading and rising young players,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro as he reiterated the company’s continued support to Philippine youth tennis. Gemida atoned for her 14-U finals loss to Cari as she whipped Aeesha Bandalan, also from Baybay, 6-2, 6-2, to pocket the 12-U title while top seed Nicolas Ocat played true to form and beat fellow Ormoc City bet Corazon Lambonao, 4-1, 4-0, for the 10-unisex plum.

Joshua Torres (left) and Anica Cari, both from Baybay, display their trophies after dominating the PPS-PEPP tennis tournament in Tacloban.

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Claveras vows strong return By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates with teammates after winning his tennis match against Belgium’s David Goffin to win the Davis Cup final between Belgium and Britain at Flanders Expo in Ghent. Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time in 79 years in Ghent on Sunday when Andy Murray defeated David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3, in the first of the reverse singles for an unbeatable 3-1 lead over Belgium. AFP

PCU whips Macway five PHILIPPINE Christian University outplayed Macway Travels, 91-82, Thursday night to claim the no. 1 spot in Group B and earn an outright semifinal slot in the 5th DELeague Basketball Tournament at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City. In the other game, former champion Sta. Lucia Land Inc. defeated Austen Morris Associates, 70-64, for its fourth straight victory. PCU Dolphins and Sta. Lucia Realtors finished tied for first place in Group B, with identical 4-1 records, but the top spot was given to the Dolphins, who defeated the Realtors, 97-91, in their season opener. Thus, PCU will advance to the semis and Sta. Lucia will have to go through the quarterfinal phase of the league supported by PSBank, Accel Sportswear, PCA-Marivalley, Angel’s Burger, Mckie’s Construction Equipment Sales and Rentals, Luyong Panciteria, Azucar Boulangerie and Patisserie, JAJ Quick Print Advertising, Mall Tile Experts Corporation, Jay Marcelo Tires, Polar Glass and Aluminum Supply and Mr. and Mrs. Dot Escalona. Group A leader Far Eastern UniversityNRMF will join PCU in the semis while winless teams Fly Dragons and Philippine National Police are already ousted from the tournament.

WORLD Boxing Council Asian Boxing Council light flyweight champion Richard Claveras is determined to continue his comeback following his stunning first-round knockout last April 11 at the hands of WBC world champion Pedro Guevara, who in turn lost the title to unheralded Japanese Yu Kimura by a split decision in Sendai, Japan on Sunday. The 26-year-old Claveras, who has an impressive record of 12 knockouts in 13 wins with 2 draws, suffered his only loss to Guevara, when he began aggressively with rights to the head of his foe, before the Mexican connected with an overhand right and a left hook to the body sending to the canvas for the full count. In his first comeback fight after the loss to Guevara, Claveras scored a unanimous 12-round decision over Benezer Alolod last July 11 and is determined to continue his comeback against rugged Jerry Tomogdon in the supporting main event of an exciting United Boxing International Promotions card at the Highway Hills Integrated School Gymnasiun iun Mandaluyong City on Wednesday.

Murray on top of world after Davis Cup triumph LONDON—British newspapers declared Andy Murray was on top of the world as they ecstatically hailed Great Britain’s Davis Cup victory. Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time in 79 years in Ghent on Sunday when Murray defeated David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 to take an unbeatable 3-1 lead over Belgium. Several newspapers focused on the contrast with decades of British underachievement in tennis. “British tennis, for so long the punchline to gags about national sporting ineptitude, has recovered its pride,” wrote Kevin Mitchell in the Guardian.

“It is some journey from laughing stock to No 1,” said the Times’ Matt Dickinson. The win over Goffin made Murray just the third player, after John McEnroe and Mats Wilander, to win all eight singles in the same calendar year since the Davis Cup World Group started in 1981. And it underpinned Murray’s place in tennis history following his headlinemaking wins in the 2012 US Open and Olympics, and

at Wimbledon the following year. “Murray now further aligns himself with the fellow greats of the modern game, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who have all won the premier team competition,” said the Daily Mail’s Mike Dickson. While much of the adulation focused on Murray, a few pundits were careful to heap praise on Britain’s Davis Cup team, which included Murray’s brother, Jamie. “Murray’s individual contribution has been immense, but he has headlined a team effort that has been five years in the making,” said the BBC’s tennis correspondent Russell Fuller.

“Strategy and team spirit have been expertly co-ordinated by captain Leon Smith, and many other players have won crucial points in the climb through the divisions,” he added. However, most pundits credited Murray with clinching the title. “As team triumphs go, this was about as individual as it gets. Andy Murray was on court to win the third and decisive point of the Davis Cup final this afternoon,” wrote the Telegraph’s Simon Briggs. The Times’s Dickinson said: “Soon there were six British players accepting their personal trophies, but it is Murray who has put Britain, improbably, on the summit of the tennis world.” AFP

Growee cage camp lures big cast RAIN or Shine Coach Yeng Guiao and Coach Randy Alcantara demonstrated the fundamentals of the most popular sport in the country before a huge assembly of children in the recent Growee Basketball Camp at Il Centro inside Sta. Lucia Mall. Guiao shared his wisdom and provided valuable basketball tips along with Alcantara, the camp director, in the clinic that made both the children and their parents upbeat and satisfied. ``It’s always a pleasure to share and impart my knowledge to these kids. These tips are important for the improvement of their game,’’said Guiao, a six-time champion coach in the Philippine Basketball Association. ``Thank you for having me here. Please watch and support my team.’’

UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo also graced the event and gave valuable tips that propelled him to stardom. “I love sharing my basketball knowledge with the kids. But to become a successful player, you should also study hard and listen to the advice of your parents “said Ravena, who got mobbed by the Growee camp participants. The Growee Basketball Camp was held in partnership with Trizach Events and Share D Ball headed by Alcantara, who announced that champions of the 3x3 tournament held Oct. 28 and Nov. 28 will dispute the title for the right to represent Growee Kids Sta. Lucia Mall in a major tournament this December.

Youthful participants of the Growee Basketball Camp are shown with coach Yeng Guiao.

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Perkins is no. 1 D-League PBA pick

JR Quiñahan splits the defense of Barangay Ginebra and scores inside in a PBA Philippine Cup game won by the Elasto Painters, 94-86, Sunday night.

Painters doing fine even without playmaker Lee By Jeric Lopez

RAIN or Shine’s depth is in full display as it finds itself in a very good spot even with a handicap. Although they are still playing without injured superstar Paul Lee, the Elasto Painters still managed to stay on top more than halfway the elimination round of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Currently tied at first place with Alaska and San Miguel at 6-1, Rain or Shine already has one foot in

the quarterfinals. Painters’ coach Yeng Guiao lauded his player’s collective effort as they are able to survive, even without Lee’s production. “We just play a little harder than usual,” said Guiao. “It’s a good place to be tied at first place. We just want to keep our momentum going now.” Guiao cited one huge factor why

Rain or Shine remains solid even with Lee still yet to hit the hardwood this season. “We’re able to fine tune our defense and that is really helping us. Our defense is really pesky. I really give credit to our guys.” The fiery coach also shared another secret on how he maximizes the talent of his team even without his go-to guy. “It’s just about matching a player’s personality and ability with the kind of system a team has. We’re blending well with each other,” said Guiao. There’s one Painter who isn’t

surprised at all with how his team is playing—Lee himself. “Hindi naman ako surprised at all sa nangyayari sa team ngayon. Lagi namang may nagse-step up para sa Rain or Shine kaya maganda nangyayari,” said Lee. Lee is expected to make his return from his knee injury either late in the elimination round, or early in the playoffs. Young guns like Jericho Cruz, along with rookies Maverick Ahamnisi and Don Trollano are joining hands to collectively fill Lee’s void.

PSA Forum tackles Samboy Bill, Obet darts tilt WHAT the Samboy Lim Bill is all about will be tackled in today’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate. Set to discuss the matter named after the for-

mer basketball great, who fell into a coma after suffering a heart attack in the middle of an exhibition game a year ago, are Philippine Heart Association Council chairman Francis Lavapie and member

Regidor Encabo. Pampanga 1st District Representative and Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao is the author of the Samboy Lim Bill otherwise known as House Bill 5891.

The other half of the session to be aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., will feature

the Gob. Obet Pagdanganan Cup darts tournament. Representing the meet in the 10:30 a.m. session are president Willy Uy and Edgardo Jose, vice president and chair of Rotary Community Corps.

UNLESS coach Caloy Garcia has a change of heart at the 11th hour, Jason Perkins will become the no. 1 pick overall in the 2015 PBA DLeague Rookie Draft. Racal/Keramix takes the first crack in the draft, scheduled at 2 p.m. this afternoon at the Metro Walk in Pasig City. Garcia said the team will acquire the 6’4” FilAmerican forward out of De La Salle with their first pick. “We need a big man,” offered Garcia, convinced Perkins perfectly fits the role. The second pick belongs to AMA Computer on-line education and coach Mark Herrera have expressed interest in local boy Alfonso Gotladera a 6’6” center from Ateneo. “We are on the look-out for a big man who could take the place of (Dexter) Maiquez and provide JR Taganas some help inside. Right now, our first option is Gotladera,” Herrera said. “But nothing is final yet. We’re also reviewing the credentials of some Fil-foreign players,” Herrera added. Avery Scherer, who led the Asean Basketball League in assists and steals last season, is the most notable among 22 Fil-foreign players, who are aiming to get into the PBA through its developmental league. Players who intends to join the PBA Draft must have played at least two conferences in the DLeague to be eligible. “My goal in life has always been to make the NBA and playing professionally in the Philippines is just one step closer,” the 29-year-old Scherer said in a recent interview. The 6’2” guard out of Shoreline Community College joined the 2010 NBA draft but went undrafted. The third pick belongs to Tanduay Light followed by Foundation Cup champion Café France and Wangs Basketball. UP-QRS/ Jam Liner, Mindanao Aguilas, National University and Phoenix Petrolium will determine the order of selection from sixth to ninth place via lottery.

Diaz completes GT title sweep SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Ivan Kailer “D’ Wonderboy” Diaz made history as he became the youngest and only rookie driver to have completed a championship sweep of the 2015 Yokohama Philippine Grand Touring Car Championships Series’ GT 100 category at the Batangas Racing Circuit recently. Using a 1995 Honda Hatchback with 88horsepower, tuned by Morris Miranda and Kenneth Bayani, and whose suspension was provided by Yellowspeed, the Bong Perez-coached Diaz came through with a perfect 360 points after sweeping all 12 of his GT100 races in the premier circuit-racing event. “This is a sweet triumph for me,” said Ivan, who plans to take

part in the faster GT150 division next season, a challenge he doesn’t shy away from. “I thank God for keeping me and my team safe. I would like to express my gratitude to my parents and to my sisters, especially to my baby sister Gabby for supporting me and giving me the encouragement, which helped me a lot to be motivated to reach the finish line.” Sports excellence runs in the Diaz family. Ivan’s mother Lennel was a professional bowling champion, while his father Lennel was a drag-racing champion. “I chose racing because I love speed, cars and the adrenaline pumping into your vein,” said Diaz, who is backed by MJCD Trading and Construction, Mohspeed, Bracing, Mitasu Oil, Yellowspeed,

Richmond Auto Parts Ltd., Carsunlimited, Jobs Connect, Jobs Finder, A1 Advertising, Kopirotu, Jengsports, Flowout Paint, Calibre Autorefinishing and Bullzkicks and Tapa King Cauayan, Isabela. The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Architecture student started racing at the age of 13, fueling his new-found love through go-kart racing with the help of Arvin Drueco and Coach Edgen Dy-liaco. But it was short lived because his low grades in school had his parents telling him to discontinue his new passion in order for him to concentrate on his studies. But after a year, to Ivan’s surprise, his dad, a two-time Golden Wheel Awardee for drag-racing, allowed him to pursue his need for speed

Ivan Diaz of Team MohSpeed leads the pace during the finals of the 2015 PTCC/PGTC held at Clark International Speedway. Inset shows Diaz (center) with his fellow podium finishers. RAMON BOADO

via his father’s former passion. “It was fun racing with the drag racers. That time, we met Coach Bong Perez who introduced us to circuit racing,” said Diaz, who also thanked his coach

Perez, his tuner-builder Miranda, tuner Bayani, the rest of Mohspeed and Bracing Crew, and his fellow GT 100 drivers Joginder Sin, Rhaffy Latorre, Edwin Rodriguez and Mikko David.

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Blaze Spikers set deciding Game 3 By Peter Atencio

DINDIN Santiago-Manabat scored a crucial point in the fourth set to tow the Petron Blaze Spikers past the Foton Tornadoes, 25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 26-24 (4-1) as the Blaze Spikers tied the series to a win apiece in the best-of-three finals in the 2015 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix last night at the Cuneta Astrodome. Santiago-Manabat blocked May Macatuno for a 25-24 lead, and a

miscue on the other end on Kathlee Messing’s placement shot sealed

the win for the Blaze Spikers, who arranged a win-or-go-home Game 2 at 1 p.m. on Saturday. “Na-penetrate namin and backcourt nila kaya nakalamang kami. Malakas din ang opensa nila,” said Blaze Spikers coach George Pascua. Rupia Inck Furtado led the Blaze Spikers with 25 points, 24 off spikes, including a placement shot that hit the center court to tie the match at 24-all. She had earlier scored three straight points to get Petron back

from a 19-22 deficit to a 22-all tie. Abigail Marano had 16, with her kill past Jaja Santiago and Angeli Araneta keeping the Blaze Spikers in the thick of the fight. The Tornadoes took Game 1, 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-22 behind Lindsay Stalzer’s all-around game. This time around, however, the Blaze Spikers kept their focus on Stalzer, who still managed 23 points, but was neutralized by Petron’s defense in the final set.

“We targeted Stalzer so she could not penetrate,” added Pascua. Stalzer had seven points in the third quarter, where she led the Tornadoes to a 16-10 advantage. Petron tied the score anew, 18-all on Messing’s out of bound spike. The Tornadoes, however, took the third set, 25-22, off Stalzer’s attacks. Pascua said it’s the championship experience of the team which will help Petron survive Game 3.

Bryant... From A16

Abby Marano of Petron is about to smash the ball back to the Foton side in Game 2 of the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix 2015 Women’s Volleyball Finals Monday. The Blaze Spikers stayed alive and won, 25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 26-24. ROMAN PROSPERO

My 5 cents’ worth of whatever ARMAN D. ARMERO

STEP BACK THE die is cast. On Wednesday, either the Far Eastern University Tamaraws or the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers will go home with the UAAP crown, somebody will be “uuwing luhaan,” in the words of King Tigers Kevin Ferrer, who vowed before Game 2 to extend the series into a Game 3. Ferrer made good on his vow and exploded for 29 points in UST’s series-tying 62-56 victory last Saturday. The Tamaraws earlier took Game 1, 75-64. The score is tied at 1-1. The battle is over, and the war begins. Now is also the time for armchair experts like me to give our

five-centavo’s worth of projections, predictions, opinions and whatever on which team will emerge victorious from the dust of the battle. Me? I’m picking the Tamaraws to win. No, I did not graduate from FEU. I am not close to any of the Tamaraws and as a sportswriter, I only have a professional relationship with coach Nash Racela. And so I am with UST coach Bong dela Cruz. My only association with FEU is with its hospital in Fairview, QC, where I was hospitalized twice. No, the hospital did not give me any discount. I think I have a more valid reasons to root for UST, because that’s where my youngest sister, Wena, graduated. I know she’ll be rooting for the Growling Tigers to win from

where she is now in Saudi Arabia with her husband Bobby. I also have sportswriter-friends who graduated from UST. So my opinion on this is free of any bias. I’m rooting for the Tams to win because I believe that they’re the more experienced team. They lost to the Tigers in Game 2, not because they were rattled, but because Ferrer decided to play several notches higher. Ferror is UST’s anchor, while Mac Belo is FEU’s main man. Both have great supporting cast. The Tams won Game 1 because they bullied the Tigers on the paint. The Tigers took Game 2 because of Ferrer’s desire, and the rest rode on it. Game 3 is about whose nerves are steadier, whose personnel, including the coach

and his staff, will not panic. It’s about which team truly plays as a team, rebounds as a team and defends as a team. Cancel out the fans, because I’m sure both the FEU and UST community will come full force tomorrow. Cancel out the hunger factor, because both teams are hungry enough. This will be about nerves, desire and heart. And I dare say that the Tamaraws have more in their tank in this regard. And their losing experience to National University Bulldogs is an added fuel to their desire to win. Now, if the Tigers prove me wrong, good for them. After all, did I just say that it’s only my five-centavos worth of whatever? For reactions, e-mail me at armero_23@yahoo.com

the child named for the Japanese beef seen on a menu and his father’s nickname as a player. The elder Bryant played from 1984 to 1991 in Italy, giving young Kobe a global worldview as he grew up dreaming of following his dad into the NBA. When his father retired as a player, the family moved back to the Philadelphia area and Kobe began his star turn at Lower Merion High School, where his jersey number 33 was retired. He decided at age 17 to jump directly from the prep ranks to the NBA, only the sixth player and first guard to make such a leap. Bryant was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft but they were picking for the Lakers in a deal made before the draft, center Vlade Divac going to Charlotte in exchange for Bryant. At 18, Bryant became at the time the youngest player or starter in an NBA game and the youngest winner of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. In 1998, he became the youngest NBA All-Star starter. In a 1999 campaign shortened by a labor dispute, Bryant started every game for the Lakers and signed a six-year deal worth $70 million. As the Michael Jordan era ended in Chicago, Bulls coach Phil Jackson wound up joining the Lakers and with sharpshooter Bryant joining dominating inside force Shaquille O’Neal, the Lakers captured three NBA crowns in a row from 20002002, returning the team to glory days unseen since 1988. In 2003, the Lakers returned to the finals but lost to Detroit. O’Neal was traded, Jackson departed and Bryant signed a long-term contract, the core of a team that would rebuild around him. Accused of rape Bryant, who married wife Vanessa in 2001, faced his darkest hour in 2003 when he was arrested in Colorado over a sexual assault complaint filed by a 19-year-old hotel employee where Bryant was staying ahead of knee surgery. Bryant was accused of rape. He admitted to adultery but said he did not commit rape, but that was enough to ruin his endorsement image. In 2004, the case was dropped after the accuser refused to testify in a trial and Bryant issued an apology saying he could understand how she might feel there was not consent. A separate civil suit was settled under terms kept private. AFP

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

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

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Kobe: It’s my final season

Bryant a legend despite his pain, controversy LOS ANGELES—Kobe Bryant became one of the greatest legends in the history of the NBA over two decades with the Los Angeles Lakers, fighting through pain and controversy to ensure his place among the sport’s icons. Bryant ranks third on the NBA all-time scoring list, trailing only leader Kareem AbdulJabbar and Karl Malone, and won NBA crowns with the Lakers in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010. When the 37-year-old guard, a member of US Olympic gold medal teams in 2008 and 2012, announced Sunday he would retire at the end of the season, it was the end to a saga that had become painful to watch. Slowed by age and numerous injuries, Bryant was struggling with a weak supporting cast on a Laker team he twice led to the glory of multiple NBA crowns, only to see it fade. Through 2003 rape accusations and insulting remarks that led to fines and apologies, Bryant has shrugged off controversy to become one of the world’s most popular NBA stars. Like father, like son Kobe Bean Bryant, the son of former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, was born in Philadelphia in 1978 while his father played for the 76ers, Continued on A15

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks at a post game press conference after the game against the Indiana Pacers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

LOS ANGELES—Kobe Bryant says he still loves competition, but admits that his body can no longer handle the rigors of professional basketball as he announced Sunday that this will be his final NBA season. “I had to come to terms with it,” said Bryant, speaking after the Lakers 107-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Los Angeles. “I had to accept the fact I didn’t want to do this anymore.” The 37-year-old five-time champion will retire as one of the greatest clutch players in history, and after spending his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. “I have known for awhile. I am very solid with this decision,” he said. “If I had a burning desire to play I would. “I don’t want to get too Zen like. But my mind always started drifting toward basketball and it doesn’t do that all the time anymore. To me that is the first indicator that this game isn’t something I can obsess over much longer.” Bryant, a member of two Olympic US gold medal

Murray on top of the world TURN TO A13

squads, has been nagged by injuries in recent campaigns and has struggled to find his form this season, as the Lakers are off to a miserable 2-14 start. Bryant said that despite the injuries, the never-ending rehabs and the habitual losing over the last few seasons, he is still enjoys getting out on the floor and going into battle. ‘Beauty in adversity’ “There is no sadness in this,” he said. “I had such great times. “I find beauty in adversity and not being able to play at the highest level. “I see beauty when I get up in the morning with pain because I know the hard work it took to get to this point.” Bryant has averaged 25.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists over 1,280 games. This season, with the Lak-

ers stripped of much of the supporting cast that usually bolsters him, Bryant was averaging 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists heading into Sunday’s game. Bryant also said it is sometimes frustrating not being able to make a cut, drive hard to the basket or keep his balance when chasing a loose ball like he used to when he was younger and healthier. “I worked so hard. Really, really hard to try not to play like crap,” he said. Bryant was introduced to a roaring ovation when the Sunday game began. Bryant said that he gave each spectator a “special message” printed on white paper with gold and black lettering that read, “My love to this city, this team and for each of you will never fade. Thank you for this incredible journey.” Before the game, Bryant crafted a goodbye poem to basketball which was posted on The Players’ Tribune website. In the poem he hearkened back to his boyhood days and dreams of playing in the National Bas-

ketball Association. “I wanted to speak to the game,” Bryant said. “Which is weird because I never spoke to the game. Once I decided to write from that perspective, the words just came.” He said that he left “no stone unturned” in the pursuit of basketball excellence. “My heart can take the pounding, My mind can handle the grind, But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye,” he wrote in his poem. “And that’s OK. I’m ready to let you go. I want you to know now, So we both can savor every moment we have left together. The good and the bad. We have given each other, All that we have.” Confided in Jordan Bryant got off to a slow start Sunday, missing his initial six shots before getting his first basket of the game over eight minutes into the first quarter. He finished with 13 points. Barring another injury, Bryant’s final game would be at home against Utah on April 13. The road portion of

Painters doing ﬁne even sans Paul Lee TURN TO A14

his farewell tour begins Tuesday at Philadelphia, his hometown, where the 0-18 76ers will be trying to avoid the worst start in NBA history. “So much of my game was developed in Philadelphia,” Bryant said. Bryant said he actually made up his mind in the offseason, and one of the first people he told was former Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan. “I asked him how did you know? How was it for you? “He said ‘just enjoy it. Don’t let anyone take that away from you’.” Bryant said one of the things he hopes to do after this season is to make films and documentaries like the one he recently made called “Kobe Bryant’s Muse.” “There are some things I am passionate about. I was born to play basketball. I had to really work to try and figure out what to do next. “I am a storyteller. I love putting pieces of a puzzle together. I didn’t know it until I made the Muse film. I have burning desires there.” AFP

TUESDAY: DECEMBER 1, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

PMFTC expands production By Gabrielle H. Binaday

Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp., the country’s largest cigarette manufacturer, plans to expand its newly-opened manufacturing facility in Mindanao, the company’s new chief executive said. PMFTC president Roman Militsyn said the expansion would cover the firm’s Claveria fresh leaf buying and curing facility in Misamis Oriental. Militysin said the newly opened manufacturing facility, which aimed to increase tobacco production over the next three years,

was “progressing quite well.” “The most important thing is to make the quality right and then we will get the quantity so overall, I would say we are quite happy in terms of the progress and we are looking forward for an expansion as well,” he said. The facility aims to achieve a

maximum capacity of 4 million kilograms annually before 2017, as part of the company’s longterm commitment in the Philippines. Militsyn said the company would also focus on product portfolio expansion, being the biggest player in the tobacco industry. “In principle, as you know we are the biggest player in the market. I think we have a quite solid and strong portfolio of our brands. The major focus will continue to be on how we can grow the portfolio of our brand,” Militsyn said. “We’ll continue to focus of course in our manufacturing fa-

cilities, as you know we have a manufacturing facility in Batangas also in Marikina. In terms of modernization of equipment, in terms of investment, in terms of our work force as well and etc. So more or less, these are the priorities,” he said. Militsyn said there were opportunities to improve cigar quality in the country. “I think there are opportunities to work on the modernization to work on technical improvements and as a result improve the quality. Tobacco market in the world is quite competitive so that’s why the quality price ratio plays a key role,” he said. “The focus of the industry is

to work on the quality and make competitive in terms of pricing so in principle I think there is an opportunity to work on that and make the Philippine tobacco industry even more competitive and even for the other markets as well,” he said. Militsyn said PMFTC planned to increase its current market share at 73 percent. “It’s difficult when you are already quite big to grow further but that’s the ambition of any company, to look for further opportunities to grow. That’s why we continue to focus on expanding our portfolio involving plants, packaging to further satisfy the customer needs,” he said.

PSe comPoSite index Closing November 27, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

6,927.07 136.18

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing NOVEMBER 27, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P47.145

46.20

47.00

HIGH P47.120 LOW P47.200 AVERAGE P47.168 VOLUME 470.500M

P487.00-P682.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.15-P42.40 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P25.03-P28.48 Diesel

Ford at Pueblo de Panay. Ford Iloilo under Fairway Automotive Ventures Inc. signs a partnership with Pueblo de Panay Inc., a real estate and property developer based in Roxas City, to put up the ﬁrst Ford branch in Northern Panay inside the Pueblo de Panay township development. Shown are (from left) Ford Iloilo sales consultant Warren John Salvilla, Pueblo de Panay vice president for marketing Hannibal Ong, Ford Western Visayas operations head Leo Villavert, Pueblo de Panay president Joachim Ong and Pueblo de Panay vice president for ﬁnance Hyacinth Viterbo.

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, November 27, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.0690

Japan

Yen

0.008157

0.3839

Pound

1.510100

71.0789

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129029

6.0733

Switzerland

Franc

0.977231

45.9973

Canada

Dollar

0.752445

35.4168

Singapore

Dollar

0.710328

33.4344

Australia

Dollar

0.722909

34.0266

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655478

124.9907

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266489

12.5434

Brunei

Dollar

0.707814

33.3161

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000073

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027972

1.3166

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

12.8159

Euro

1.061000

49.9402

Korea

Won

0.000871

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.156504

7.3665

India

Rupee

0.015024

0.7072

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.237135

11.1617

New Zealand

Dollar

0.656685

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030740

30.9095 1.4469 Source: PDS Bridge

PSE gets 15-day leeway to improve merger plan By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission has given the Philippine Stock Exchange 15 days to submit an improved and more detailed business plan for the operation of the fixed-income exchange with the acquisition of a majority stake in Philippine Dealing System & Holdings Corp. Sources said the corporate regulator sent a letter to the PSE on Friday, giving the exchange another chance to list concrete steps on how the acquisition would benefit the investing public

and companies planning to raise funds through the bond and equities markets. Sources also confirmed the PSE received a letter from SEC Friday, containing points of clarification regarding the transaction. Sources said once the PSE submitted a detailed business plan, the corporate regulator would act on the PSE’s planned acquisition within the next 60 days. Documents submitted by PSE to SEC on Oct. 7 and Nov. 23 did not provide detailed plans for the fixed income exchange but only contained specific plans for

PDS Holdings’ depository unit, Philippine Depository and Trust Corp., which was an area of interest for the PSE, according to sources. Sources said the government was very much interested in how the PSE would run the fixed- income exchange because the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp., a unit of PDS Holdings, handles trading of government and corporate securities. The 15-day additional time given to PSE to come up with concrete business plan would depend on whether the exchange as

well as the selling PDS Holdings shareholders still wanted to extend the closing of the deal. Based on the share purchase agreements earlier signed by PSE and several PDS Holdings shareholders, the transaction would be closed on or before Nov. 27, 2015. PSE sought SEC’s approval for an exemptive relief from a key provision of the Securities Regulation Code, to facilitate the buyout of PDS Holdings. Under the SRC, no single industry can own more than 20 percent of an exchange.

TUESDAY: DECEMBER 1, 2015

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

Excise tax collection jumps 22% to P105b By Gabrielle H. Binaday

EXCISE tax collection from tobacco and alcohol products climbed 22 percent in the first 10 months to P105.5 billion from P86.48 billion in the same period last year, the Bureau of Internal Revenue said Monday. BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said the agency’s collection topped the P87.8-billion target for the 10-month period. “Healthy figures tell us that we increasingly have more means to invest in our people, especially on universal healthcare,” she said. “This also makes 2015 on track to have the highest sin tax collections in history, with 2014 bringing in a total of P114 billion for its

full-year haul,” the agency said. Data showed “sin tax” collections in October reached reached P14.5 billion, up 80 percent P14.5 billion year-on-year. Tax take from alcohol products in October rose 12 percent to P3.7 billion, while cigarette products’ excise taxes jumped 126 percent to P10.9 billion. The sin tax law, or Republic Act No. 10351, restructured the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products, starting January 2013, with the goal of shifting to unitary taxation by 2017. It imposed annual adjustment on tobacco excise tax rates until 2017, when both lowpriced and premium brands will have a uniform tax rate of P30 per pack. The BIR said collections from cigarette products in January to October amounted to P72.2 billion, up 27 percent or P15.6 billion from the same period in 2014. Collections from alcohol products, on the other, reached P33.3 billion, expanding 12 percent or P3.5 billion from year-ago figures.

The BIR said incremental revenues from the sin tax reform reached P48.1 billion, with tobacco contributing P35.4 billion and alcohol adding P12.7 billion to make the amount exceed the target of P39.1 billion by 23 percent. This builds on the gains earned from the first two years of implementation, when sin taxes raked in P51.2 billion in 2013 and P50.2 billion in 2014, exceeding targets by 51 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Incremental revenues from sin tax reform amounted to P149.5 billion. Meanwhile, the volume of removals for cigarette packs increased by 6.55 percent to 3.2 billion packs. Fermented liquors increased 1.16 percent to 1.1 billion liters, while distilled spirits contracted 5.02 percent to 315 million proof liters. “Slim growth figures on volume reflect continued depression of consumption, in keeping with the reform’s health-oriented goals,” the Finance Department said.

Center of hope. EMC Corp., an information technology company, opens the first EMC Center of Hope at the National Housing Authority relocation site in Barangay Cabalawan, Tacloban City during the second year of recovery from typhoon Yolanda. Shown are (from left) Charles Ham, global disaster coordinator of Hope worldwide; Jun Velasco, executive director of Hope worldwide Philippines; Mary Ann Viloria, EMC Philippines marketing manager; Ronnie Latinazo, EMC Philippines country manager; Jason Yuvienco, EMC Philippines systems engineering manager; together with youth beneficiaries.

Manila airport study up in Q1—Jica By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Japan for International Cooperation Agency said it expects to complete the feasibility study for Manila’s new international gateway by early 2016. “The study will be finished early next year. After the study, we [will be] waiting for the decision of the government,” Jica chief representative Niwa Noriaki told reporters Friday. Jica’s pre-feasibility study earlier identified five locations for the new international airport, but Jica eventually trimmed the list to central Manila Bay and Sangley Point in Cavite. Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said building an international airport in Sangley Point would cost some $10 billion, while an airport in central Manila Bay would amount to $13 billion. The government wants to build a new international airport located 25 to 30 minutes away from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City, which is expected to reach its full capacity soon. Jica said Naia would hit overcapacity this year, with 37.78 million passengers. By 2040, passenger traffic would reach 101.49 million. Naia accommodated 31.88 million passengers in 2012, exceeding the 30 million yearly optimal capacity of the terminal. Its maximum handling capacity stands at 35 million passengers a year. San Miguel Corp., which used to operate Philippine Airlines, earlier proposed to build a new international airport at a reclaimed area along the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road for $10 billion. San Miguel returned the control of PAL to tycoon Lucio Tan. The proposed airport would have an international and domestic passenger handling capacity of 75 million passengers a year, with scalability to accommodate more than 100 million passengers.

Govt set to hold bidding of Quezon City transport hub in 2016 THE government will bid out the third integrated transport terminal in Metro Manila that will be built at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center compound in Quezon City next year, according to Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. “We are about to sign the MOA [memorandum of understanding] with DND [Department of National Defense]. I think this December,” Abaya said. The DND supervises the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, which in turns oversees the VMMC. Abaya said the Integrated Transport System -North Proj-

ect would be “a little bit more than the P4-billion South Terminal in terms of buses.” When asked about the timetable for the bidding, Abaya said: “It would be rolled out next year.” The government awarded the P4-billion South Integrated Terminal System in Taguig City under the public-private partnership program to Ayala Land Inc. in October. Ayala Land offered a lower annual grantor payment of P277.88 million for the project, compared to the P1 billion offered by Filinvest Land Inc. The annual grantor payment is a fee

to be paid by the government to the concessionaire. The site of the ITS South Project is right next to Arca South, where Ayala Land is developing an integrated mixed-use estate. About 4,000 buses and 160,000 passengers are expected to feed into the ITS South from the South Luzon Expressway every day. Construction will begin by May 2016. The project is expected to be completed and ready for operation by October 2017. The winning bidder will take care of the design, construction and operation and maintenance

of the terminal for a concession period of 35 years. The project covers the construction of a terminal within a 4.7-hectare lot along the FTI Compound in Taguig City. It will connect passengers coming from the south, specifically Batangas and Laguna provinces, to other public utility vehicles that are serving inner Metro Manila. The project also covers the construction of arrival and departure bays, public information systems, ticketing and baggage facilities and park-ride facilities. The Transportation Department also awarded the P3.27-

billion contract to build and operate a public transport terminal in Parañaque City to MWM Terminals, the consortium of Megawide Construction Corp. and WM Property Management Inc. The Megawide Group offered the lowest annual grantor payment of P100 million for the ITS Project southwest terminal. The project has a 35-year cooperation period. The terminal, set to be built along the Manila-Cavite Expressway, is designed to provide seamless transfers between different modes of transportation. Darwin G. Amojelar

TUESDAY: DECEMBER 1, 2015

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

DTI asks Mitsubishi to address concerns By Othel V. Campos

AlkanSSSya program. More than 114 registered and 305 potential members under four informal sector groups covered by the Social Security System’s Batasan Hills Branch, including golf caddies, tricycle drivers and operators, and job order and contractual workers are among the beneficiaries of the AlkanSSSya program at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Shown is Quezon City vice mayor Joy Belmonte (standing, ninth from left) with the ISG representatives during the turnover ceremony.

Villar retail firm adding 12 outlets By Jenniffer B. Austria

REAL estate billionaire and former senator Manuel Villar is expanding his retail business by opening 12 new outlets of home furnishing brand All Home in 2016. Villar said during the recent opening of All Home branch in Quezon City the company secured 12 new sites for All Home stores to end 2016 with a total of 20 outlets. Excluding inventories, each All Home store, with an average size of 9,000 square meters, would cost as much as P300 million to

build, he said. Villar said while most new outlets would be located in Metro Manila, All Home would also expand to other areas including Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Bulacan and Batangas. The company is also in the process of expanding two existing All Home outlets in San Fernando,

Pampanga and San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. “We hope to end 2016 with 20 stores,” Villar said. Villar earlier said he planned to list his retail business, once the store count reached 30 or 40 by 2018. Villar said the retail venture would complement the residential business under Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., as it offers home furnishings, appliances and furnitures to home buyers. Villar said competitors in the market were starting to notice and closely watch All Home’s aggressive expansion plan. “That is good because they are noticing

us,” he said. The newest All Home store in the four-story Vista Place, formerly called Wil Tower Mall, is located along Eugenio Lopez Drive in Quezon City. This is All Home’s first branch in Quezon City. Villar said the company decided to put an All Home branch in Quezon City because of the huge residential market and growing business community in the area. Launched in August of 2013, All Home is a one-stop shop for all home needs whether one is a homeowner, builder or contractor.

THE Trade Department on Monday asked Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. to resolve the latest car malfunction issue, as a matter of public concern based on the general premise of safety, and not on a case-to-case basis. “The challenge is [that] Mitsubishi is handling the complaint on a case-to-case basis. We do not agree with that on the safety aspect,” Trade Undersecretary for consumer protection group Victorio Dimagiba. Dimagiba, however, denied reports the Trade Department would immediately call back or recall the “defective product,” which in this case involved Mitsubishi Montero, which was reportedly suffering from sudden unintended acceleration. The Trade Department said while it had the authority to seize defective products immediately as stated in Article 10 of the Consumer Act, it said it would only issue a recall order, once an investigation was launched and results showed there was a need to do so. The consumer protection group called on concerned parties as well as industry experts to attend the first of a series of hearing on the case of sudden unintended acceleration against Mitsubishi on Dec. 2. “We don’t know what will happen next. We will see if we’ll get good technical knowledge and recommendation. There’s no order to recall yet, we have to investigate first,” said Dimagiba. The Consumer Act provides that “in the sound discretion of the department, it may declare a consumer product to be imminently injurious, unsafe or dangerous, and order is immediate recall, ban or seizure from public sale or distribution, in which case, the seller, distributor, manufacturer or producer thereof shall be afforded a hearing within 48 hours from such order.”

Giving Filipino farmers lower-cost irrigation I HAVE always believed firmly that an agrarian reform program will largely be ineffective in making successful farmers out of erstwhile tenants if they are unable to have access to a stable supply of lowcost irrigation water. The great majority of Filipino farmers are low-income folk. That fact, coupled with the relatively high cost of National Irrigation Administration water, has brought about the inadequately-irrigated or un-irrigated character of most Philippine farms. The vicious cycle of low productivity dragging down farm incomes is to a large extent responsible for the poor performance of Philippine agriculture, the persistent poverty of Filipino farmers and this country’s continuing inability to achieve the not-unachievable goal of rice self-sufficiency. Help is on the way.

In the same manner that Filipino chemist Aisha Mijeno—she of the Apec CEO Summit appearance with US President Barack Obama and Chinese billionaire Jack Ma—and her colleagues have found a simple, inexpensive and sustainable solution to the continuing absence of electricity in rural and upland communities, so Philippine Rice Research Institute is making progress in the development of a lower-cost irrigation method. First, a few words about the present, prevalent method of irrigating Philippine farms. The present method, called the drip-irrigation method, involves the delivery of water through a network of pipes consisting of a main pipe, lateral pipes, a sub-main and a manifold. The water is emitted through small outlets called drippers down to the soil. The

capillary principle does not come into play. Apart from its being too costly for the average Filipino farmer, the drip-irrigation method becomes problematic when it is used for irrigating soil below the surface. In general, it is not a cost-efficient irrigation method. The alternative method being developed by PRRI, a capillary-principle-based method, uses a water distribution system similar to that used by the drip-irrigation method. However, explains project researcher Ricardo Orge, the new method involves water flowing from the source towards the capillary pipes and, through gravity, going directly into the crop through a wick. The materials to be used for the new method don’t have to be conventional plastic pipes, which are expensive. They

can be less expensive pipes or even recycled materials. This is possible because the new method operates at close to atmospheric pressure. PRRI says that the new method is close to wide scale use. It believes that smallscale farmers will be the greatest beneficiaries of the new irrigation method. Considering that agriculture is the weakest sector of the Philippine economy and farmers are among the poorest members of Philippine society, that is welcome news indeed. One can only hope that the new method will be in wide use before the current El Niño phenomenon reaches its expected peak in the early months of 2016. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

B4 The coming mobile threat I TEND to take computer threat reports with a grain of salt because, let’s face it, the security companies that issue these reports have a vested interest in making us believe we need their products and services. For years, antivirus companies have been warning about Linux viruses but we have yet to encounter one in the wild that wreaks even a fraction of the damage ordinarily done by malicious software or malware on Windows every day. Still, as the late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir once said, even paranoids have real enemies. It is in this spirit that I read the latest security report from Kaspersky Lab that said the Philippines has experienced a rapid rise in detected malware infections. I was particularly interested in learning more about mobile attacks, since more and more people are accessing the Internet—and downloading apps and completing transactions— on their smart phones. Based on data from July to September this year, the country is now the 33rd most-attacked country in the world, Kaspersky said. The Philippines climbed 10 notches up from 43rd place among 213 countries during the second quarter of 2015. The global security report showed that 17 percent of Filipino users were infected by malicious programs detected by Kaspersky Lab products, two percentage points higher than the second quarter’s 15 percent. “Kaspersky Lab’s report revealed a rapid increase in number of malware infections against Filipino users during the third quarter of 2015,” said Jimmy Fong, channel sales director of Kaspersky Lab Southeast Asia. “From 43rd place to 33rd place in just three months, this shows that cyberattacks against the Philippines are accelerating at full speed. The Philippines may not be one of the top targets yet, but there is no doubt that cybercriminals are now noticing the country.” Unfortunately, the Kaspersky release offered no details about the types of attacks that were prevalent in the Philippines, or even if any of these were mobile. Globally, however, Kaspersky Lab mobile security products detected 323,374 new malicious mobile programs in the third quarter, a slight increase from the second quarter and a three-fold increase from the first. The number of malicious installation packages detected was 1,583,094, or 1.5 times more than in the previous quarter, Kaspersky said. Displaying advertisements to users is still the main method of making money from mobile threats, Kaspersky said. The number of programs displaying intrusive advertising on mobile devices continued to grow in the third quarter and accounted for more than half of all detected mobile objects. “We have also observed a growing number of programs that use advertising as the main monetization method while also using other methods from the virus writers’ arsenal. They often root the device of a victim and use superuser privileges, making it very difficult, if not impossible, to combat them. In Q3 2015, these Trojans accounted for more than half of the Top 20 most popular mobile malware,” the report said. Another threat comes from mobile bankers and spyware designed to steal personal information. Not even Apple’s walled garden is safe. “The recent appearance of malicious apps in the App Store has made it clear that, contrary to what many people believe, iOS is not immune to malware,” the Kaspersky report said. The malware, called ‘Xcodeghost’, infected dozens of apps, including WeChat, NetEase’s music download app, business card scanner CamCard and Didi Kuadi’s car-hailing app. The Chinese versions of Angry Birds 2 were also infected, it said. The Kaspersky report came on the heels of another, from the company Skycure, which found a growth in threats to enterprise and personal mobile devices. In its first Mobile Threat Intelligence Report, Skycure found that 41 percent of mobile devices are at a medium to high risk on the company’s risk scale, according to a report in SC Magazine UK. Nearly 2 percent of the high-risk devices have already been compromised, Skycure said, noting that most of these are incapable of fighting off threats. More than 52 percent of all devices don’t even have a simple passcode enabled, it added. The study also found that one in three Android devices is vulnerable to attacks and has an out-of-date operating system. Twenty-six percent of iOS devices also have out-of-date operating systems. “Threats to mobile devices are real and based on what we’re seeing in this report people aren’t doing enough to protect themselves,” Adi Sharabani, chief executive of Skycure, told SC Magazine UK. The statement could be seen as self-serving—but it might not be any less true. Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

PSALM finalizing sale of power barge By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. plans to conclude the sale of the last power barge by next year through a negotiated bidding with the lone bidder, its chief executive said over the weekend.. “PB [power barge] 104 is scheduled by early part of next year. It will be most probably for negotiated sale. We hope to dispose this asset by next year,” PSALM president Lourdes Alzona said. PSALM earlier sought the opinion of the Office of the Government Corporate Council if it could proceed with a negotiated sale of PB 104. “We hope to hear from them soon. There’s been three failed bids already,” Alzona said. PSALM declared a failed bidding on PB 104 in October 2013 after the two bidders did not meet the agency’s reserve requirement. SPC Island Power Corp. submitted a bid of P45.888 million

for PB 104 against Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp.’s P30-million offer. “There were only two bidders during the last bidding. But the letter of interest came from only one bidder. So, we are asking OGCC if we can enter into negotiation with them,” Alzona said. PB 104 is located at the Holcim Compound, Ilang, Davao City. PSALM, which manages the assets and liabilities of state-owned National Power Corp., earlier required the interested bidders to operate PB 104 in Mindanao for at least five years. The move to privatize PB 104 followed the successful turnover

of PB 101, 102 and 103 to TransAsia Oil and Energy Corp. early this year. PSALM signed an agreement with Trans-Asia to sell the three barges for P420 million. Trans-Asia won the bid after engaging in a negotiated procurement with PSALM following the decision of the higher bidder, SPC, to withdraw its offer. PBs 101, 102, 103 and 104 are nominal 32-megawatt bargemounted bunker-fired diesel generating power stations that consist of four identical HitachiSulzer diesel generator units rated at 8 MW each. Meanwhile, off-grid electricity supplier DMCI Power Corp. plans to construct a 4.42-megawatt diesel power plant in Brooke’s Point town south of Palawan. DMCI Power said in a statement electricity generated from the power plant would supply the power requirements of three towns—Brookes Point, Bataraza and Sofronio Española.

Cravings head honored. The Cravings Group founder and president Susana Pascual-Guerrero (center) is honored with a medal by the prestigious Antonin Careme Society in recognition of her visionary leadership and legacy to create significant impacts on the society through world-class culinary education and ethical business practices. The first Filipino to be given this distinction, Guerrero is formally recognized as a member of the Antonin Careme Society Class of 2015 at Cliff House San Francisco in California on November 16, 2015. She was also recognized as the first certified culinary professional in the Philippines by the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Foreign funds stayed in early November By Julito G. Rada FOREIGN funds remained in the local capital markets in the first week of November after a less volatile trading in the local stock market. Latest data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that registered foreign portfolio investments posted a net inflow of $15.66 million from Nov. 2 to 6, higher than $4 million in about the same period last year. Total inflows for the week reached $341.13 million, down from $447 million on year, while gross outflows stood at $325 million, down from $443 million in the same period last year. Despite the positive number,

year-to-date net outflow since January stood at $344.73 million, a far cry from the target of $1.4 billion net inflow this year. Foreign portfolio investments are overseas funds that are temporarily invested in local stocks, government securities and money market. These are also called “hot money” because of the ease they are invested in and taken out of the local markets. Hot money in October posted a net inflow of $27.84 million, a reversal of the $179.9-million net outflow in the same month last year. It was also a turnaround from the $324-million net outflow in September this year. The October net inflow was the first since February this year, af-

ter seven consecutive months of net outflows starting March due to concerns on the possible liftoff of interest rates in the United States, the slowdown of the Chinese economy and profit taking. Net inflows of $592 million and $1.190 billion were recorded in January and February, respectively. But net outflows of $21.58 million, $31.14 million, $569.27 million, $521.99 million, $160 million, $542 million, and $323.98 million were posted from March to September, respectively. Total inflows in October reached $1.647 billion, lower than $1.751 billion a year ago, while gross outflows stood at $1.619 billion, significantly lower than the $1.930 billion in October 2014.

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

B5 Oil prices below $42 in Asian trading

A man walks past a share prices board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on November 30, 2015. Tokyo stocks retreated in a quiet session on November 30 morning as investors await key US jobs figures and a European Central Bank policy meeting later in the week. AFP

Shanghai volatile, Asian stocks tepid HONG KONG—Shanghai’s stock markets was hit by another wave of volatility Monday after suffering their heaviest losses since the summer rout, while most other Asian markets started an eventful week on the defensive. Chinese dealers were buoyed by hopes the International Monetary Fund will agree to a proposal from its executive board to include the Chinese yuan in its special drawing right (SDR) basket of elite currencies. But they remain on edge after Friday’s collapse, which was fueled by news that China’s biggest brokerages were being probed over suspected “rule violations” in the wake of the multi-trilliondollar stock market plunges. Agreement over the yuan’s inclusion, which is widely expected, would realize a long-held goal for Beijing of giving its unit international status, alongside the dollar, euro, pound and yen.

Inclusion would lead to mainland stocks becoming more accessible to foreigners, Hao Hong, Hong Kong-based equity strategist at Bocom International Holdings, wrote in a note on Monday. The yuan reversed morning losses to sit slightly higher against the dollar in late trade. Shanghai dived 5.5 percent and Shenzhen more than six percent Friday after brokerage giant Citi and Guosen said they were being investigated by officials, while Haitong halted trading in its shares. The losses were exacerbated by worse-than-expected profits for Chinese industrial giants and worries over the start of initial public offerings this week.

The drop rekindled painful memories of the sharp sell-off between June and August that saw Shanghai slump 40 percent and trillions wiped off valuations. Shares have since recovered about 25 percent. Brokerage equities plunged in Shanghai Monday again. “The brokerage sector is likely to continue experience some pressure,” Gerry Alfonso, a sales trader at Shenwan Hongyuan Group in Shanghai, told Bloomberg News. “Given the volatile environment, investors are likely to stay away from sectors that might be impacted by the manufacturing figure.” However, Shanghai’s benchmark index ended the day slightly higher, having swung between positive and negative all day, while Hong Kong was also marginally up in late trade. But Tokyo fell along with Sydney, while Seoul sank 1.8 percent.

“Concerns over slowing growth in China and some parts of global economy still persist and may last through the first half of 2016,” said Agus Yanuar, President Director at PT Samuel Aset Manajemen in Jakarta. Investors are keeping tabs on the release of a string of figures and meetings this week that could have market-moving effects across the globe. Among the key events are the release of manufacturing data from major economies, a European Central Bank policy meeting that could see further monetary easing and a US jobs report at the end of the week. Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen is also due to appear before Congress, with markets hoping for more guidance ahead of the central bank’s expected interest rate cut next month. The OPEC oil cartel is also due to start a crucial meeting to discuss output at the end of the week. AFP

SINGAPORE—Oil prices traded below $42 in Asia Monday ahead of an Opec meeting and the release of data on China’s important manufacturing sector later in the week. The market will be watching whether members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which meets on December 4, slash currently high output levels and ease a crude supply glut that has depressed prices for more than a year. Analysts said traders will also tune in to two key speeches by US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen this week for signs on the timing of a hike in US interest rates. November data on China’s industrial sector is released on Tuesday, with traders looking for clues on the health of the world’s top energy consumer. At around 0640 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in January was up two cents at $41.73 and Brent crude for January was trading 15 cents lower at $44.71 a barrel. “We expect the focus to return to the timing of the US interest rate rise, with two key speeches by Fed Chair, Janet Yellen, on Wednesday and Thursday,” Capital Economics said in a market commentary. Analysts expect Fed policymakers to raise interest rates during their December meeting, a move that will boost the dollar and make dollar-priced oil more expensive, denting demand and prices. OPEC’s Friday meeting is expected to focus on the global crude oversupply, the return of Iranian oil to the market after the lifting of western economic sanctions and whether the cartel will cut production to boost prices. “However, comments from key OPEC ministers still seem relatively sanguine. Also, it is not clear that even if OPEC did cut its production target, actual output would fall, given the cartel is already producing well above its current target,” Capital Economics said. Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Asia Pacific oil and gas practice at professional services firm EY, said the OPEC meeting would “draw attention on supply and demand in the next year.” AFP

Online shopping rivals stores on Black Friday—US survey

WASHINGTON—As many Americans bought online as they did in physical stores during the Thanksgiving weekend shopping splurge, the National Retail Federation said Sunday, highlighting a growing trend away from the traditional Black Friday consumer assault. The closely watched survey said that about 151 million people shopped either in stores and/or online over the long weekend in the United States,

when many consumers look to take advantage of promotions. That used to mean queuing up in the bracing cold late Thursday night after Thanksgiving into early Friday morning and―in some cases―literally fighting for the best offers. But the 2015 figures underline how American consumers are changing to get their holiday shopping fix―nearly 102 million shopped in stores and more than 103 million shopped

online this year. “We recognize the experience is much different than it used to be as just as many people want that unique, exclusive online deal as they do that in-store promotion,” NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay said in a statement. “It is clear that the age-old holiday tradition of heading out to stores with family and friends is now equally matched in the new tradition of looking

online for holiday savings opportunities.” The NRF found that 133.7 million people shopped during the holiday last year. Accurate comparisons cannot be made between this year and last because the poll by Prosper Insights & Analytics for the NRF used a different methodology than in 2014. A separate NRF survey found that more than 121 million shoppers, or about 49.5 percent

of consumers, plan to shop online on so-called Cyber Monday, which takes place on November 30 this year. That was down slightly from the 126.9 million who planned to participate last year. The average spending per person over the weekend reached $229.60. The NRF said last year that consumers spent an average $380.95, but again, that was using different methodology. AFP

TUESDAY: DECEMBER 1, 2015

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

IMF poised to include yuan WASHINGTON—The International Monetary Fund is expected to approve inclusion of China’s yuan in its SDR basket of elite currencies on Monday, rewarding Beijing’s strong pursuit of the global status.

be a ‘freely usable’ currency”—a key hurdle for SDR status. If accepted, the decision would not take effect before September 30, 2016, to allow users more time to prepare. The last time the SDR basket was modified was in 2000, when the euro replaced the German deutschemark and the French franc. The remaining question is the yuan’s weight in the basket. It could be 10 percent to 16 percent, but the lower estimate is more likely due to the Chinese currency’s limited convertibility. The basket composition is reviewed every five years. At the last rebalancing in 2010, the dollar accounted for 41.9 percent, the euro 37.4 percent, the pound 11.3 percent and the yen 9.4 percent. That weighting revision was

based on the value of the exports of goods and services by country or currency zone, and the amount of reserves denominated in the respective currencies held by other IMF members. The entry of the yuan is, above all, a major diplomatic success for Beijing, which will see its money graduate to the inner circle of the world’s most important currencies. The vote of the United States, the largest IMF stakeholder, will be closely watched, as will US political reactions. US officials have long accused China of keeping the yuan artificially low to gain a trade advantage, making its exports relatively cheaper. The US Treasury Department, in an October 19 report, said that the yuan “remains below its appropriate medium-term valuation.”

Paradoxically, China’s unexpected devaluation of the yuan last August received good marks from the IMF because it reinforced the currency’s movements with market forces and opened the door to future revaluation. Beijing on Wednesday announced an initial group of foreign central banks has been allowed to enter the Chinese currency market, which likely will promote further internationalization of the yuan in global trading. Credit rating firm Fitch says it does not expect the yuan’s inclusion in the IMF basket “to lead to a material shift in demand for renminbi assets globally in the short term.” However, it said, over time the emergence of the yuan as a global reserve currency could support China’s credit rating. AFP

The IMF executive board is scheduled to meet Monday to decide on the recommendation by staff experts earlier in November to include the yuan, also known as the renminbi, alongside the US dollar, euro, Japanese yen and British pound in the grouping. While not a freely traded currency, the SDR (special drawing right) is important as an international reserve asset, and because the IMF issues its crisis loans— crucial to struggling economies like Greece—valued in SDRs.

China, now the world’s secondlargest economy, asked last year for the yuan to be added to the grouping of world reserve currencies, but until recently it was considered too tightly controlled to qualify. It is extremely rare that the executive board, which represents the IMF’s 188 member nations, opposes the recommendation of its own experts. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said in mid-November that she supported the experts’ finding that the yuan had met the requirements to

By Mounir Souissi

Climate change threatens Tunisia olive farms

MORNAG, Tunisia—Tunisia’s 3,000-year history of olive farming is under threat with warnings that production is at risk of halving by 2030 because of the extremes of climate change, from floods to droughts. “Before it used to rain regularly and the harvest was good. Today, everything is different,” said 65-year-old olive farmer Amor Slama. This year at least, his country’s battered economy can count on record olive oil exports. But climate change can wreak havoc in the North African state, where only a few hundred kilometers separate the fertile lands on the shore from the first dunes of the Sahara desert. The Slama family has for generations cultivated tens of thousands of olive trees on 230 hectares (570 acres) in Mornag, south of Tunis, where the fields are parched in the summer and turn green in the springtime. “When I started olive farming 30 years ago, I never thought that one day I would have to water the trees,” Slama said. Extreme weather can add to the perils, with heavy rains inundating the land, sweeping away the earth and damaging trees. In the short term, Tunisia’s olive oil sector, which accounts for more than 40 percent of revenues from agricultural exports and five percent of total exports, has cause to celebrate. Official figures project a record output of 340,000 tons in 2015, with 312,000 tonnes for export, making Tunisia—for the first time—the world’s leading exporter of the prized product. In a rare spot of good news for an economy rattled by jihadist violence and political instability since Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, the sector has brought in almost one billion euros ($1.07 billion) this year, said Anis Rayani, an adviser at the agriculture ministry. Frequent droughts But farmer Slama remains pessimistic. “It’s been more than 20 years now that I’ve been noticing the impact of climate change, espe-

Women harvest olives in the village of Mornag, near the Tunisian capital Tunis. AFP

cially rising temperatures, on the crop,” he said. “From one year to the next, olive oil production can go from 300 tons to 30 tonnes.” Chokri Bayoudh of the agriculture ministry said olive crops have always been at the mercy of the elements. “But before we used to have severe drought one year out of five. Now it’s an average of two in five.” Climate change affects the entire olive oil sector that employs 390,000 of the country’s 560,000

agricultural workers and provides a source of revenue for one million Tunisians. As things stand, out of Tunisia’s 80 million olive trees, 80 percent are not irrigated and depend entirely on rainwater. Moreover, a high percentage of them are to be found in central and southern Tunisia which has the most arid soil. A joint study by the agriculture ministry and the German cooperation agency warns production could be cut in half by 2030, leav-

ing many farmers in ruin. “To water the trees we’ve had to spend a lot of money: digging a deep well and constructing basins to retain rainwater,” Slama said. “But with the drought the well water turned salty and then dried up,” said the farmer, whose basins on a land of cracked earth today stand empty. The ministry’s Bayoudh said Tunisia has been taking action to face the challenge of climate change. “We’ve started to implement a

plan to stabilize production within the next few years,” he said. Tunisian authorities are encouraging farmers to plant local species of olive trees that are more resistant to drought and plan themselves to plant up to five million in the north of the country where average rainfall is the highest. The 18-million-euro ($19-million) project has been officially launched and runs until 2020. “We have to adapt,” said Bayoudh. AFP

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

World leaders start climate-rescue talks LE BOURGET, France—World leaders launched a whirlwind day of talks in the French capital on Monday aimed at forging an elusive agreement to stave off calamitous global warming. The summit kicks off nearly a fortnight of talks intended to end two decades of international bickering with a pact that would limit emissions of the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change. About 150 world leaders, including from the United States, China, India and Russia, converged in a northern Paris venue bristling with security following this month’s terror attacks in the French capital. Scientists warn that, unless action is taken soon, mankind will endure ever-worsening catastrophic events, such as droughts that will lead to conflict and rising sea levels that will wipe out low-lying island nations. Negotiators have also vowed to forge an ambitious deal to honor the 130 people killed in the November 13 attacks that were claimed by the Islamic State group. “The fate of humanity is at stake in this conference. After the attacks in France, we have to deal with the urgent priorities and respond to the terrorist challenge but also act for the long term,” French President Francois Hollande said. In an interview with the French daily newspaper “20 minutes”, Hollande said leaders would meet in Paris “to reaffirm their solidarity with France” and to “assume their responsibilities in the face of the warming of the planet”. “History will judge the heads of state and government harshly if, in December 2015, they miss this opportunity.” Hollande arrived at the venue early Monday to welcome the leaders, first meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The summit is scheduled to open at 1000 am (0900 GMT). The Paris attacks appeared to have galvanized many world leaders in their determination to stand up to terrorism and push on with the climate struggle. US President Barack

Obama’s first act after touching down in Paris early on Monday was to visit the scene of the worst carnage at the Bataclan concert venue. The summit is “an opportunity to stand in

solidarity with our oldest ally... and reaffirm our commitment to protect our people and our way of life from terrorist threats,” Obama said in a Facebook post before flying to Paris. AFP

NOTICE OF MERGER Pursuant to the provision of Section 78 of the Corporation Code of the Philippines, Articles of Merger have been adopted and executed for the purpose of merging Beawmont Distributions, Inc.; Time Central Corporation; Crescendo Audio & Music Depot, Inc.; and Bijouterie Concepts, Inc. [the “Constituent Corporations”]. A Plan of Merger was approved by the affirmative vote of the stockholders owning or representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding capital stock of the Constituent Corporations at separate meetings held on October 9, 2015, duly called for the purpose in accordance with and in the manner prescribed in Sections 76 to 77 of the Corporation Code. This Notice is being published to comply with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with the filing of the Articles and Plan of Merger with the Commission. (TS-DEC. 1, 2015)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES PROVINCE OF BATANGAS MUNICIPALITY OF BAUAN Bids and Awards Committee Municipal Government of Bauan Bauan, Batangas Standard Form Number: SF-GOOD-05 Revised on: July 29, 2004

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID The Municipal Government of Bauan, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder contracts: PROJECT TITLE/ LOCATION Purchase of four (4) wheel tractor, movable power sprayer and organic fertilizer (Vermicast) to be used for Organic Farming funded by BUB Project at Bauan Batangas Purchase of furniture’s and fixtures to be used in the new Municipal Hall Building of Bauan, Batangas

Request for Expression of Interest REI No. 2015 - 02 For Formulation of Oriental Mindoro’s Comprehensive Area Development Plan 1. T h e P G O M t h r o u g h t h e F Y 2 015 S u p p l e m e n t a l B u d g e t N o . 3 (G e n e r a l Fu n d ) i n t e n d s t o a p p l y t h e s u m o f t h e C o n s u l t i n g S e r v i c e s f o r P h p1, 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 b e i n g t h e A B C t o p a y m e n t u n d e r t h e c o n t r a c t f o r t h e F o r m u l a t i o n o f O r i e n t a l M i n d o r o ’s C o m p r e h e n s i v e A r e a D e v e l o p m e n t P l a n , B i d s R e c e i v e d i n e x c e s s of ABC shall automatically rejected at bid opening. 2. The PGOM now calls the submission of eligibility documents for: Project: F o r m u l a t i o n o f O r i e n t a l M i n d o r o ’s C o m p r e h e n s i v e A r e a D e v e l o p m e n t P l a n L o c a t i o n: P r o v i n c i a l G o v e r n o r ’s O f f i c e , P r o v i n c i a l C a p i t o l C o m p l e x , C a m i l m i l , C a l a p a n C i t y, (O r. M i n d o r o) Objectives: The research objective is to have an overall thorough assessment of the factors a f f e c t i n g t h e s u s t a i n a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p r o v i n c e a n d /o r f o r a t t a i n i n g i t s v i s i o n . I t a i m s t o c o m p r e h e n s i v e l y g a t h e r t h e n e e d e d d a t a f r o m O r i e n t a l M i n d o r o ’s v a r i o u s g o v e r n m e n t u n i t s , a n d i t s v a r i o u s s t a ke h o l d e r s i n o r d e r t o o b j e c t i v e l y s u b s t a n t i a t e t h e said area development plan and to assess social enterprise project proposals. The assessment repor t is intended to be the reference document that will form the basis for the identif ic ation of priorit y industries and investments and ultimately the development of the comprehensive area development plan. A b r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e p r o j e c t r e q u i r e m e n t s i s a t t a c h e d a s A n n e x 1 - Te r m s o f R e f e r e n c e , P r o j e c t Background, Sc ope of Wor ks, and E xpected Output 1. 2.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

S chedule of B AC Pre - proc urement C onferenc e Adver tisement / Posting of IT B Ø Bulletin Board of the PGOM Ø PGOM Website- w w w.or mindoro.gov.ph Ø GEPS Website- w w w.philgeps.net Ø Newspaper of General Nationwide Circulation Receipt of Letter of Intent (LOI) and Eligibility Requirements Issuance of Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Deadline of Submission of Bids Opening of Bid in sealed envelope a).Eligibility Requirements and Technical Proposal b).Financial Proposal

S o urc e of Fun ding:

A ctivities: : N ovember 27,2015 at 2:0 0 pm at BAC O f f ic e : : : : : : : :

D ec ember D ec ember D ec ember D ec ember D ec ember D ec ember D ec ember D ec ember

01,2015- D ec ember 0 8, 2015 01,2015- D ec ember 0 8, 2015 01,2015- D ec ember 0 8, 2015 01,2015 0 4, 2015 07- D ec ember 23, 2015 11, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at BAC Office 23, 2015 at 9:3 0 a.m. at BAC Office

: :

D ec ember 23, 2015 at 10:00 am at BAC Office D ec ember 23, 2015 at 10:00 am at BAC Office

F Y 2 015 S up p l e m e nt al B u d g et N o. 3 (G e n e r al Fun d) Php 1, 2 0 0,0 0 0.0 0 To t a l Ph p 1, 2 0 0,0 0 0. 0 0

B I D D O CU M E NT FE E: Ph p 5 ,0 0 0. 0 0 3 . Inte re ste d c o nsult ant s must sub mit t h e ir e li gib ilit y d o c um e nt s n ot late r t han 10:0 0 A . M . o n D e c e m b e r 0 4 , 2 015 at t h e BAC O f f i c e , Pr ov i n c i a l Ca p i t o l C o m p l ex , Ca m i l m i l , Ca l a p a n Ci t y. A p p li c at i o n fo r e li gibilit y w ill b e evaluate d bas e d o n a n o n - di sc ret i o nar y “ pas s / f ail ” c r ite r i o n. The BAC shall draw up the shor t list of consultants from those who have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provision of R A 918 4 and its IRR. The shor t list shall consist of three (3) or more prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for the shor t listing are: A p p li c ab l e E x p e r i e nc e 3 0 p o int s Q uali f i c at i o n of p e r s o nne l w h o may b e as si g n e d to t h e j o b v i s - a -v i s ex te nt an d c o mp l ex it y of t h e un d e r t ak in g 5 0 p o int s Cur re nt Wo r k l o ad re lat i ve to c apac it y 2 0 p o int s To t a l 10 0 p o i n t s 4. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in R.A. 9184 5 . T h e p r o c ur ing e nt it y shall evaluate bi ds usin g Q ualit y - B as e d Evaluat i o n /S e l e c t i o n (Q B E /Q B S) p r o c e dure. T h e H i gh e st R ate d B i d w h o s e te c hni c al p r o p o s al must pas s t h e ma x imum te c hni c al re quire m e nt of s eve nt y f i ve p e rc e nt ( 75%) shall b e inv ite d fo r t h e o p e nin g of it s f inanc ial p r o p o s al an d n e g ot iat i o ns. T h e c r ite r ia an d r at ing syste m fo r t h e evaluat i o n of b i ds shall b e p r ov i d e d in t h e inst r uc t i o n to b i d d e r s. 6 . The c o n t r a c t s h a l l b e c o m p l e t e d w i t h i n (4) / m o n t h s . 7. The PGOM reserves the right to accept or reject bid to annul bidding process, and to reject all bids at anytime prior to contract award without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: MR. JULIO R. ICAL Head, BAC Secretariat Provincial Capitol, Camilmil, Calapan City Tel. (043) 286-7120 (043) 286-7447 ( T S - D E C . 1, 2 0 1 5 )

( S g d .) ENGR. ELMER V. DILAY Provincial Engineer BAC Chairman

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT

SOURCE OF FUND

MODE OF PURCHASE

BG-201542

Supply & Delivery

3,000,000.00

Trust Fund

Bidding

BG-201543

Supply & Delivery

5,000,000.00

General Fund

Bidding

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Evaluation of Bids, Post-qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The complete schedule of BAC activities is listed, as follows: 1. 2. 2. 3. 4. 5.

ACTIVITIES Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Opening of Bids Bid Evaluation Post-Qualification Notice of Award

SCHEDULE December 02 - 16, 2015 December 03, 2015 December 16, 2015 December 17, 2015 December 18, 2015 December 22, 2015

The BAC will issue bidding documents only to bidders declared by the BAC to be eligible for the bidding upon payment of non-refundable amount to the Municipal Government Cashier. The Municipal Government of Bauan assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of Bauan reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to declare the bidding a failure, not to award the contract, to annul the bidding process, to waive any defects or informalities therein, without incurring any liabilities to the affected bidder(s) and to accept the proposal considered most advantageous to the Government. Approved by: (SGD) Dr. NOEL C. BAUTISTA BAC Chairman

(TS-NOV. 26 & DEC,.1, 2015)

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Invitation to Bid The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2015 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment for the following contract:

Ref. No.

Projects

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Duration (c.d.)

2015 -12156

Repair of Damaged Portion of Riprap, Road Pavement and Box Culvert, Northville 2B Resettlement Project, Brgy. Bagumbong, Caloocan City

6,448,239.25 NG Subsidy

180

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF ORIENTAL MINDORO BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

DESCRIPTION

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

Re publ i c of the Phi l i ppi nes Cam ilm il, Ca l apan C i ty 5200, Or i ental M i ndor o

PROJECT REF. NO.

Required PCAB License

At least Cat.“C” and “D” & Small “B” for Roads

Work Description

Repair of Riprap, Road Pavement and Box Culvert

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited project. Completion of the works is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed a single contract similar to the project costing at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. 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 non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/authorized official representatives or employees of the bidder who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific project, Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and upon Cash Payment of non-refundable fee of P6,500.00 at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting on December 1, 2015. The BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel/ Fax No. 928-8272. The NHA will hold a Pre-bid Conference on December 15, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. at the NCR Conference Room, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN ONLY to bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City not later than 9:00 a.m. on the date specified below. Schedule of Opening of Bid January 5, 2016

Ref. No. 2015-12-156

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and amount as stated in Bid Data Sheet (BDS). Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted. The NHA 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/s. (SGD) VICTOR C. BALBA Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City (TS-DEC. 1, 2015)

A16 B8 Myanmar’s leaders, Suu Kyi to hold talks

S AT U R DAY : N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 5 T U E S D AY : D E C E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 5

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T EED DIITTO OR R

sports@thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS WORLD

heading heading heading Pollution soars in China

YANGON—Myanmar’s top leaders will hold talks this week with opposition chief Lopez Aung San Suu Kyi, the By Jeric first since her party’s landmark election officials said Monday. break did Alaska wonders. ANsuccess, almost two-week Uncertainty surrounds the asdf asdf asdf asdf jkl; asdfk jlk; a;sldfja;ldjflakjdflk handover of power after Suu Kyi’s ajdlkfjadkljfklajflkdajflkdjflkjdaklfjdlkajflkd opposition National League for Democracy swept nearly 80 percent of the seats in the November 8 polls, theThe fairest elections for 25 Aces were back to years. their win- key for the victory. ning waysMyanmar’s and regained a share of “I thought we were solid defenUnder complex pofirst place as they an anticilitical system, theturned incumbent ar- sively,’’ said Compton, whose squad pated close parliament game into will a one-sided my-backed remain withstood Terrence Romeo’s 33-point affair, coasting easy January 123-104 outburst for GlobalPort. ‘’The guys in power untiltoatanleast rout ofa new GlobalPort in the 2015 Philwhile president is unlikely to did it all. Maganda ang ginawa ng mga ippine Basketball Association Phil- players. They moved the ball well and be sworn in until March. ippine Cup at the Smart Araneta played as a team. I like how we shared Suu Kyi last hasnight. requested “national the ball and how we defended.’’ Coliseum reconciliation” discussions with Eight Aces scored in double-figures, The other Aces in twin-digits the president and who armyhad chief to were Eric Menk with 12, Calvin led by Cyrus Baguio, a teamsmooth that transition. The call high 17 points, while Vic Manuel had Abueva with 11 and Jvee Casio with 16 markers. Chris Banchero, Sonny 10. until now had gone unanswered, Thoss andjitters. RJ Jazul each had 14 points Right from the get-go, the Aces sparking offBoth the bench. President Thein Sein and looked fresh and sharp as they raced Alaska,army after chief having its 3-0Min win to a huge 16-point lead, 20-14, after a powerful General streak Hlaing was snapped byagreed Ginebra, Aung have now to blistering start in the first 10 minutes vaulted back into the top in a tie of play. meet on Wednesday. with Suu San Kyi Miguel Beer at 4-1, while The juggernaut continued for Alas“Th e president will meet with GlobalPort saw its three-game win- ka as it held on to its double-digit lead Daw onsnapped December ” presning Suu streak and2nd, fell to 3-2. at the half, but GlobalPort was still in it idential spokesperson Zaw Htay Aces coach Alex Compton cred- Arrival. though asFrance’s the distance stood atFrancois a man- Hollande greets US President Barack President told without elaborating. AFP Obama ited AFP his team’s defense as the main ageable 10 60-50. aspoints, he arrives for the climate conference outside Paris. AFP

BEIJING—Northern China choked under some of the worst smog this year on Monday, with Beijing’s pollution soaring to 22 times healthy limits, triggering the city’s secondhighest air alert on the eve of global climate change talks. Thick haze blanketed cities across the country after President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris for the talks where China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, will be central to discussions. Concentration of PM2.5, tiny airborne particles that embed deeply in the lungs, reached over 560 micrograms per cubic metre in the capital, according to

the US embassy—well over the recommended maximum of 25 micrograms. Levels in several cities in neighboring Hebei province were also well above 500, official figures showed, more than twenty times the World Health Organization’s advised limit for daily exposure. “You can’t even see people standing directly in front of you,” wrote one disgruntled commuter on Chinese Twitter-equivalent Sina Weibo. “It feels like even the subway station is full of haze.” Several hundred freeway toll gates were forced to close in nearby Shandong province as visibility fell to less than 200 meters, the official Xinhua news agency said. Beijing issued an orange-level pollution alert over the weekend, the highest of the year, with residents advised to stay indoors and some industrial plants ordered shut. AFP

THE STANDARD THE STANDARD

2015 2015 VISIONARY VISIONARY

AWARDEES:

Awards Awards

RACHEL HARRISON (AUTISM AWARENESS AND EDUCATION) • WAYA ARAOS WIJANGCO (SPECIAL NEEDS CULINARY ARTS EDUCATION) • CHARIE VILLA (CITIZEN JOURNALISM) • JAAFAR KIMPA (MUSLIM RIGHTS)• CASIMIRO OLVIDA (WATERSHED PROTECTION) • SLIM’S FASHION & ARTS SCHOOL SANDY AWARDEES: HIGGINS AND MARK HIGGINS (FASHION EDUCATION) • LENORA CABILI (FASHION) • QUINTIN PASTRANA (READING AND LITERACY ADVANCEMENT)• RACHEL HARRISON (AUTISM AWARENESS AND EDUCATION) • WAYA ARAOS WIJANGCO (SPECIAL CULINARY ARTS EDUCATION) • CHARIE VILLA MAIKI ORETA (CHILDREN ADVOCACY) • HINDY TANTOCO (SUSTAINABLE LIVING) • ROBERTA DANSNEEDS THOMAS (ARTS AND CULTURE) • CRISTINA LIAMZON (CITIZEN JOURNALISM) • JAAFAR KIMPA CASIMIRO (WATERSHED PROTECTION) • SLIM’S FASHION & ARTSBACANI SCHOOL SANDY AND EDGARDO VALENZUELA, KEVIN LEE,(MUSLIM MA. INESRIGHTS)• FERNANDEZ, JOHN OLVIDA PAUL MAUNES (SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP) • XYZA CRUZ (YOUNG HIGGINS AND MARK HIGGINS (FASHION LENORA CABILI (FASHION) QUINTIN PASTRANA (READING AND LITERACY ADVANCEMENT)• VISIONARY FOR PHOTOGRAPHY) • AISAEDUCATION) MIJENO AND• RAPHAEL MIJENO (YOUNG•VISIONARY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY) • CHARLENE TAN MAIKI ORETA (CHILDREN ADVOCACY) • HINDY TANTOCO (SUSTAINABLE LIVING) • ROBERTA DANS THOMAS (ARTS AND CULTURE) • CRISTINA LIAMZON (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR COMMUNITY SHARED AGRICULTURE) • JASON BUENSALIDO (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR ARCHITECTURE) • CRISTALLE BELO AND EDGARDO VALENZUELA, LEE, MA. INES FERNANDEZ, JOHN PAUL MAUNES (SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP) • XYZA CRUZ BACANI (YOUNG HENARES (YOUNG VISIONARY KEVIN FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP) • ROLANDREI VIKTOR VARONA (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP) VISIONARY FOR PHOTOGRAPHY) • AISA MIJENO AND RAPHAEL MIJENO (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY) • CHARLENE TAN (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR COMMUNITY SHARED AGRICULTURE) • JASON BUENSALIDO (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR ARCHITECTURE) • CRISTALLE BELO HENARES (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP) • ROLANDREI VIKTOR VARONA (YOUNG VISIONARY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP) SPECIAL THANKS TO SPECIAL THANKS TO

TUESDAY : DECEM B ER 1, 2015

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

JOEY MEAD

SAM ADJANI

TRANSFORM: PROJECT HEADSHOT CLINIC’S 8TH WORLD AIDS DAY SERIES

roject Headshot Clinic is at it again, this time on its 8th campaign for the World AIDS Day series. Since 2007, Project Headshot Clinic has supported advocacy campaigns on HIV awareness, climate change, LGBT rights, youth empowerment as well as against tobacco companies. The HIV epidemic in the Philippines is worsening with the rapid increase in the number of new HIV cases in the country. As early as 2008, when the HIV epidemic started to expand, Project Headshot Clinic used social media and photography to call attention to the growing challenge of HIV. The first Project Headshot Clinic series on HIV started in 2008 when writer Wanggo Gallaga came out to photographer Niccolo Cosme about his HIV status. Gallaga, who had just been recently diagnosed at the time, was asked by Cosme if he wanted to collaborate and do the first ever Headshot Clinic series on HIV for World AIDS Day 2008. The collaboration has since become a yearly personal project along with the continued partnership with UNAIDS. This year, the theme is Transform – highlighting the need for positive change about society’s perception on HIV and AIDS through art collaborations and social media awareness. “The geometric shapes are a collaboration with art sculptor Royd Santiado and is aimed to look like pixels on the portraits,” shares Cosme, the founder of Project Headshot Clinic. “It symbolizes how the pixels that make up a digital photograph can mean nothing if advocacy is small; but small efforts joined together are needed to be appreciated as a bigger picture. We aim to normalize discussions on sexual health, HIV and AIDS with the help of social media and unique online campaigns such as HSC,” Cosme adds. The show aims to highlight the importance of collaboration, and that the transformation of society can be achieved through partnership and commitment. While government action and support are important, the actions of

PIA CAYETANO

ALEX MEDINA

FRANCIS LIBIRAN

individuals and their communities are essential for behavior change that can make a dent in the HIV epidemic. Social media is used to unite people, with HSC helping bring together individuals, communities, and government leaders in a transformative discussion on addressing the challenge of HIV. Some of the collaborators include actors Irma Adlawan, Anthony Falcon, Alex Medina, model and host Joey Mead, Marina Benipayo, award winning film director Pepe Diokno, paper sculptor Royd Santiago, to name a few.

CARLOS CELDRAN

LOURD RAMOS

“Transform” is Project Headshot Clinic’s 8th World AIDS Day series in partnership with UNAIDS and SHIP Foundation. This year’s exhibit will provide a new multimedia experience that merges photography, video and performance that will require a free mobile augmented reality app called “Ismartphoto.” The photos that will be showcased will transform into a video with the use of this free mobile app. Headshot Clinic TRANSFORM is also partnering with top designers Francis Libiran, Albert Andrada, Nat Manilag, John

BEA ROSE

Herrera and Norman San Diego for a oneof-a-kind fashion art installation. The exhibit is open to the public and will be launched on December 3, 7:00 p.m. at the Pineapple Lab, and will run through December 19. For more information, visit www. headshotclinic.com. Transform is made possible by 2GO Travel, Maldita, Mac cosmetics, Hooch, Persia Grill, Pineapple Lab and SneakClip.

TUESDAY : DECEM B ER 1, 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

BE LEGENDARY WITH JAMES BOND AND HEINEKEN BY EULA SEE

f you want to know how to keep calm, learn it best from Double O Seven. James Bond is no doubt one of the most iconic characters of all time. All Bond aficionados across all generations are constantly wowed by his legendary world filled with exceptional style, advanced technology, and challenging villains. This 2015, all of us were in for a treat as the latest Bond installment Spectre was shown in the Philippines. If you have been following Bond’s world, you would know that apart from chasing villains, he would always spare some time to chill with a Heineken in one hand. Surely, only those of premium quality appeal to Bond’s taste, from his choice of weapons to his preferred drink. Hosts and Heineken ambassadors Maxene Magalona and Anton del Rosario officially opened the screening night of Spectre at

SM Aura, Taguig, with 350 guests invited to celebrate this 17-year partnership. Heineken executives led by David Tulloch, country manager of Heineken Philippines, were on hand to witness how Filipinos welcomed the partnership for the first time in the Philippines. Celebrities who are self-confessed Bond fans such as basketball player Terrence Romeo, celebrity blogger Camille Co, hair stylist Jing Monis, DJ Natalia Moon, actress Karel Marquez, and many others were spotted during the event. Like Agent 007, all of them displayed legendary qualities and exceptional achievements in their own right. Since Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997, Heineken has been James Bond’s drink of choice for seven films. If anyone wants to drink like the legendary Double O Seven, just head to the nearest supermarket, convenience store or bar and grab an ice-cold Heineken.

DJ Natalia Moon, Kevin Lapana, and Jef Gaitan

Cassie Umali, Ali Peek, and Pia Boren

Azkals member Anton del Rosario, Heineken Philippines Country Manager David Tulloch, and actress Maxene Magalona

Azkals' James Younghusband with David Tulloch

Elmo Magalona during the Spectre Premiere

All guests were able to enjoy bottles of Heineken

T EC H TA L K

A new way to chat

hanks to technology, we are now able to reach people from virtually anywhere in the world and engage in conversations regardless of time and location. But in most cases, chatting with someone or a group of people on the Web means divulging some of your personal information. But human relationships online are not equal. There are mutual friends whom users are comfortable sharing their mobile numbers or profiles with, and then there are complete strangers. Mobile platform Kakao Talk provides a middle level of interaction with its Open Chat feature. Open Chat allows Kakao Talk users to chat with others at the click of a designated URL. This link can be shared on social media and other websites, and

any user can enter the chat room without providing their mobile phone number or Kakao Talk ID. According to Kakao talk officials, their users have continuously requested for “easier and more convenient ways to chat with new friends” and “ways to limit or control who [they] reveal [their] profiles to.” Open Chat was introduced to address these issues. To create an Open Chat, press the floating + button on the Chats tab and select “Open Chat.” The host can then input his or her chat identity and set up a chat room. The host can choose a type of chat (1:1 chat or group chat), select a background photo, and, once done, press “OK.” The Open Chat link will then be live and ready to go. Open Chat can accommodate

up to 500 users in a single chat room. The chat room’s host can designate the maximum number of users that can participate in any given Open Chat. The new feature is intended for those who are seeking fast and convenient ways of communication. People with the same interests can find and talk with each other, students can use the feature for group work, or it can also serve as an interactive comment section for news providers, bloggers and readers to discuss a topic without giving out personal details. “The real value of this feature is that it provides our users with privacy and control over their friends list, while connecting with other people,” remarked Kakao Philippines Corp. chief executive officer Paolo Pineda.

TUESDAY : DECEM B ER 1, 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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

EXHIBITS I Submit to The Wisdom of The Body Silverlens Galleries, Makati City Ongoing until December 19 Making art is almost akin to submitting or surrendering oneself to the forces of a collective entity, and this proposition is what six contemporary artists from Hong Kong want to emphasize in this group exhibit. Represented by Gallery EXIT, Nadim Abbas, Sheung Chi Kwan, Chun Hei Kong, Angela Su, Sarah Lai and Luke Ching, alongside Philippines’ Gary-Ross Pastrana and Cocoy Lumbao, present their versions of what shapes creative expression. Viewers are treated to a variety of artwork, from oil to video and metalwork to robotics. Abbas and Kwan showcase conceptual works, while Kong exhibits a series of drawings mounted on steel and metal plates. Lai explores the theme through oil paintings, Ching uses mixed media installations, and Su illustrates her message through slideshow videos. Submitted works by their Filipino counterparts, Pastrana and Lumbao, conclude the show. For inquiries about this ongoing exhibit, email info@ silverlensgalleries.com or call (02) 816-0044. Visit www. silverlensgalleries.com for more details.

Second Degree of Portrayal: Geloy Concepcion Silverlens Galleries, Makati City Ongoing until December 19 Always fascinated with the authentic character inside the mask, Geloy Concepcion’s first solo exhibition showcases eight colored portraits of professional performers and modern day fantasists in their varying degrees of dress and undress that reveal the human spirit behind the rented costumes. A documentary photographer and street artist, Concepcion unveils the real person behind each character people portray and wish to be known for. Clowns, cosplayers, street mimes, screen villains, forgotten drag queens and men in uniform reveal their second self, their true self, soul and story sans costumes and cosmetics.

CONCERTS Season’s Symphonies Ayala Museum, Makati City December 1, 10 and 17; 6:30 p.m.

For the third year of Ayala Museum and Ayala Land Premier’s annual fundraising holiday concert series, they bring together seasoned instrumentalists and choirs in the Philippines to perform Christmastime classics. Opening the series today is the Manila Symphony Orchestra. The UP Guitar Orchestra will delight the public with their rendition of Yuletide tunes on December 10. And on December 17, the Philippine Madrigal Singers will serenade the audience with holiday carols. The Christmas season concerts are an initiative to raise public awareness and support for Ayala Museum’s outreach programs, such as traveling exhibitions, public free days, and museum admissions to children from low-income families. Tickets are now available at the Ayala Museum ticket counter. Prices range from P300 to P500 or P1,200 (season pass). For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 759-8288 local 31 or email concerts@ayalamuseum.org

Poom Prommachart in Manila Little Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila December 2, 7:30

Send an email to info@silverlensgalleries.com or call (02) 816-0044 for inquiries on this exhibition. Visit www. silverlensgalleries for more details.

THEATER PLAYS Pinocchio Aliw Theater, Pasay City December 5, 8:00 p.m. and December 6, 3:00 p.m. Ballet Manila ushers in the Christmas season with its re-staging of the beloved children’s tale “Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi. This Osias Barroso production is the third offering in the company’s From Page to Stage 20th performance season. The story follows the life of the puppet Pinocchio, carved by Geppetto, which is brought to life by the Blue Fairy. The boy meets a true friend in Jiminy Cricket and together they hurdle challenges to outsmart the villains. Pinocchio would become a real boy if he promises to be brave, truthful and unselfish. But whenever he lies, his nose would grow. Ballet Manila co-artistic director Barroso, who was hailed as a “ballerina’s prince,” choreographs this production. Danseur Alvin Santos plays Pinocchio once again since its first staging in 2002. To further enhance the magical journey, Fil-Am singer Tippi dos Santos acts as the show’s storyteller. The whole family can head straight to the carnival fun rides after enjoying the show, as all “Pinocchio” ticket holders are entitled to free passes to Star City. For inquiries, call (02) 552-7502 or email info@balletmanila.com.ph

Following his first appearance as guest soloist at the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra season concert in April 2011, multi-awarded Thai pianist Poom Prommachart returns to Manila for a solo recital. Prommachart is set to perform Nikolai Medtner’s Improvisations, Op. 47 No. 2 and Frédéric Chopin’s Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31 and Etudes, Op. 25. Prommachart’s complete control and fantastic virtuosity place him in a class of his own. He has recently released a debut solo CD for Champs Hill Records in the UK, and is a regular performer in Europe and Asia. His repertoire includes over 30 concertos, and among the distinguished orchestras with which he has performed very recently are the London Musician Symphony Orchestra, Timisoara Philharmonic Orchestra, Eailing Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Serbia and Worthing Symphony Orchestra. For more details, ticket inquiries and reservations, call the CCP Box Office at (02) 832-3704.

TUESDAY : DECEM B ER 1, 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

LEICA STORE PHILIPPINES LAUNCHES NEW SL CAMERA AND FIRST GALLERY EXHIBIT

eica Store Philippines celebrated its first anniversary with the simultaneous launch of the new Leica SL camera and a new in-store photo gallery. “We believe that there’s more than meets the eye. There are stories and certain types of beauty that can only be recognized once they’re zoomed in or viewed from the lens – and it is what constantly drives Leica to innovate,” said Ivan Yao, managing director of Lucerne. “We are very happy to share this passion in photography with Filipinos and being in Manila for a year now is indeed a great milestone.”

CONTROL CONCEPT

The SL is a mirrorless system camera said to set new standards for speed, picture quality, and versatility. Its character is defined by “a control concept reduced to essentials, excellent handling, and extremely rugged resilience.” It’s also the first camera for professional photography with an electronic viewfinder that uses EyeRes technology that can brighten images in low or unfavorable light.

The final image is visible before pressing the shutter release button, allowing for optimum control over all decisive parameters for the final photo.

FADE INTO LIGHT

The gallery’s first of three planned exhibits is Fade Into Light, a travel photography series by Camera Club of the Philippines members AP Murillo and Raul Echivarre that explores the lives of fishermen who work together by using the long, narrow floating net known as daklis (purse seine) to collect fish from shallow waters. Murillo and Echivarre have been visiting Currimao, Ilocos Norte to photograph the collaborative practice since 2008. Photographs from the Fade Into Light exhibit are available for purchase through the Leica Gallery. Proceeds will help support education for the fishermen’s children through the Sitio Remedios Heritage Corporation, a non-profit organization that currently subsidizes the education of 25 barangay children. (Nine will graduate from college this year).

FINANCIAL GUYS MEET BENCAB

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Choir serenade guests during dinner

Foundation for Development Corporation’s Nina Nayar and Monetary Board member Juan de Zuniga, Jr.

Dorski Granada and Aneth Ng-Lim of Citi Philippines’ Corporate Affairs

Citi employees perform cultural dances

BSP’s Edna Villa and Fe de la Cruz

Citi Foundation’s Dorothy Stuehmke and Graham Macmillan flank colleagues Ria Vaidya from Citi India and Seher Syed from Citi Asia Pacific

inancial topics concerning Asia Pacific were discussed amid the rich cultural and artistic gems of the Philippines at the inaugural event of Asia Pacific Financial Inclusion Summit held in Manila recently. The Metropolitan Museum played host to the welcome dinner organized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Citi Philippines. BSP Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr., was joined by Citi Asia Pacific chairman Shengman Zhang and Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed in entertaining the guests, who were

all leaders in the region and in other parts of the globe, united in their cause to promote financial inclusion. Other VIPs present include BSP’s Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla, Jr. and head of Inclusive Finance Pia Roman-Tayag, Monetary Board Members Juan de Zuniga Jr., Alfredo Antonio, and Val Araneta; Commission on Filipinos Overseas chair Imelda Nicolas; Citi Asia’s Corporate Affairs head Richard Tesvich, Citizenship head Regina Seow and Government Affairs head Catherine Simmons; Citi Philippines’ Corporate Affairs director

Aneth Lim, Corporate Banking Risk head Arni Sangabriel and Public Sector head Dino Siason; Financial Times’ South Asia bureau chief Victor Mallet and Asia Pacific managing director Angela Mackay; and FDC executive governor Stephen Taylor. As the Met is currently hosting a retrospective exhibit of National Artist Benedicto “Bencab” Cabrera until February 2016, the guests dined surrounded by the creative works of the critically acclaimed, Baguio-based artist. A cultural dance performance by Citi Philippines employees and a musical recital by the BSP choir capped the Philippine-themed dinner. The Asia Pacific Financial Inclusion Summit gathered together 500 business, government and community stakeholders to participate in interactive and in-depth discussions around a variety of financial inclusion topics.

T UES DAY : DECEMBER 1, 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

A scene from Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour

fIlIpInos waItIng for Madonna’s ‘rebel Heart tour ‘

Pop Queen Madonna is holding a concert in Manila for the first time.

The Rebel Heart Tour set list spans all decades of Madonna’s iconic songs.

n barely three months, Filipino fans of the Queen of Pop will pay homage to their favorite icon at the most-anticipated Rebel Heart Tour scheduled Feb. 24 and 25, 2016 at the Mall of Asia Arena. There are few tickets left, and exciting perks await all ticket buyers. To all major credit card holders, here’s your chance to get closer to the Queen of Pop. Ticket buyers for Lower Box can now avail of SM Tickets special offer with zero percent interest for a six-month installment plan. This offer is valid only for over-the-counter purchases For inquiries, please call SM Tickets at (+632) 470-2222 or log on to smtickets.com. “Watch and Be Treated like Royalty” with a Stay-cation Package. You may now avail of the concert package for Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour in Manila worth P65, 000.00, which includes two Lower Box tickets for the February 25, 2016 show; overnight stay in a luxury room (good for two) at The Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila (double or king depending on room availability), breakfast for two at Spiral and free scheduled shuttle service from the hotel to the venue and back, after the concert. This offer is valid until Dec. 30. For inquiries, please call SM Tickets Special Hotline at (+632) 8632810 or log on to smtickets.com. The Rebel Heart Tour kicked off in Montreal on Sept. 9.

Here are detaIls of tHe preparatIons. - 2,500,000 Swarovski crystals adorn Madonna’s costumes,

2,150,400 LED Pixels light up the rear screens on the Rebel Heart stage, 140,000 pounds of lights, sound and video equipment are used on each night’s performance, moveable stage ramp used multiple times throughout the concert weighs 55,000 pounds, 10,000 number of hours go into the workmanship in creating costumes from Alessandro Michele for Gucci, Alexander Wang, Fausto Puglisi, Jeremy Scott for Moschino, Nicolas Jebran, MiuMiu, Prada and Swarovski, 1000 plus wardrobe pieces are required for all the performers onstage, 500 pair of shoes have been custom made, 200 plus pair of fishnets will be worn by Madonna by the time the Rebel Tour wraps, 180 is the number of people working and traveling on the Rebel Heart Tour, 121 days of rehearsal before the opening night of the tour in Montreal, 60 people make up the costume staff dressing, sewing and adjusting the costumes night after night, 25 string instruments are used during the show, 23 Songs are on the Rebel Heart Tour set list each night,

22 videos play on the rear screens during the concert, - 20 dancers dance nightly with the Material Girl, - 17 make-up brushes and 5 powder puffs will be used on her each night, - 13 drums will make up the drum-kit, - 7 bouncing sway poles extend over the audience during the performance, - 6 custom designed sets of lashes are used each night and - 4 static poles arise from the stage during the show. The Rebel Heart Tour continues throughout North America and UK/Europe before heading to Asia, New Zealand and Australia next year. “Madonna continues to be one of the most successful touring artists in history. Her shows are always legendary and we are thrilled to have her back on tour,” says Arthur Fogel, President - Global Touring and Chairman - Global Music. Experience hits after hits including “Material Girl”, “Like a Virgin,” “Holiday,” “Vogue” to name a few and smattering of new songs from Bitch I’m Madonna, Iconic, Living for Love, Ghosttown and Rebel Heart in a night you won’t forget. The RebelHeart Tour follows the release of Madonna’s critically acclaimed 13th studio album - Rebel Heart -by Interscope Records. Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour is brought to us by Live Nation Global Touring and MMI Live and presented by Globe.

T UES DAY : DECEMBER 1, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

MCA MUSiC ARtiStS bAg AWARDS

itoy Yonting, Sabrina, and Darren Espanto bagged multiple awards in recognition of their excellence in the music industry from different award ceremonies and categories. Mitoy Yonting, known for his excellent vocal chops and belting, won the Gawad Rajah Sulayman Award (Remarkable achievement as Filipino and as performing Artist) at Gawad Amerika Awards Night at the Celebrity Center, Hollywood, CA, on Nov 17. Gawad Amerika Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping and cultivating the talents of young Filipino-Americans. Awards are given to Filipinos who excel in their chosen careers. This is not only to honor their achievements but also to inspire the younger generation to excel in their respective chosen careers. Meanwhile, Sabrina, Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart also took home The Philippine Movie Press Club’s (PMPC) annual music award for the 7th PMPC Star Awards for Female Acoustic Artist of the

Year on Nov. 10 at KIA Theater, Cubao. And the biggest winner in this group is also the youngest. Singer and performer Darren Espanto bagged several award in two different events – two awards in the 7th PMPC Star Awards (Best Album Cover Concept and Design, and Best Pop Album of the Year for his debut album “Darren”). In the first ever PUSH Awards at Resorts World Manila on Nov. 10, Darren won awards for Pushgram Most Loved Newcomer, Pushlike Most Liked Newcomer, Pustweet Favorite Newcomer, and Awesome Song Cover. The results from Push Awards Night is produced from Push.com. ph, an entertainment website launched in September by ABS-CBN to poll and tally the popularity of celebrities and artists through likes, shares, etc. on their respective social media accounts. Push Awards aims to honor these artists and celebrities and their fans through this awards night. Mitoy has just released his new single “Pangakong Tapat” from his debut album HanggangWakas. Its music video is

now playing on top music channels and also on VEVO. Sabrina’s latest album I Love Acoustic 8 came out in August featuring the lead single “Thinking Out Loud”. She recently conquered Korea as the Philippine’s representative at the 2015 Asia Song Festival in Busan. Her duet with Indonesian artist Chilla Kiana for “Thinking Out Loud” is featured in the Indonesian version of the album and is now also playing on MYX. Darren is keeping himself busy with shows around the Philippines with his D Road Tour, which continues its leg on Dec. 6 in Tacloban, Dec. 12 in Baguio, and Dec. 19 at Robinsons Davao. Some dates may still be added in the future. For inquiries and bookings, contact Sammy Samaniego at (632) 9162504 local 107, (0920) 9682991, (0917) 8565174 or email sammy.samaniego@umusic.com. For more information about MCA Music artists, log on to www.facebook. com/mcamusic, Instagram- mca_music or Twitter- mcamusic.

Mitoy Yonting at Gawad Amerika Awards Night

Sabrina at 2015 Star Awards For Music

Darren Espanto at 2015 Star Awards For Music

Strengthening and improving mtrCB’S deputy SyStem

s 2015 comes to a close, the MTRCB has fortified its resolve to strengthen, rationalize and improve its system of appointing deputies to help monitor compliance with laws, rules, and regulations governing the film and television ratings and classification system. As of October 2015, around seventy percent (70%) of its deputies have already submitted reports. This does not count the other ways by which deputies and volunteers have assisted the MTRCB, e.g. participation in various seminars, workshops, and conferences for discerning viewership; consistent with the MTRCB’s vision of empowering the Filipino family as regards the media and en-

tertainment it sees. The MTRCB’s mandate is nationwide, and since it has only one (1) principal office in Metro Manila, with permanent employees of only around 50, the scope of its monitoring functions is daunting. Thus, the law creating MTRCB (Presidential Decree No. 1986) empowers the Board to appoint deputies. These deputies are not salaried employees of the government and the MTRCB simply relies on their spirit of service and volunteerism. The above notwithstanding, the Board in the past months has introduced improvements in the appointment of deputies from the public, including the prior sub-

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 41 42 43 44 47 48 49 50 53 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Attic end 6 Thorny stem 11 Earth, in combos 14 Artist — Neiman 15 Shocking 16 Wheel buy (2 wds.) 17 In a foul mood 18 Holds firm (2 wds.) 20 Salaam 21 Nessie’s hideout

23 24 26 28 30 31 32 33 36 37 38 39 40

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Half of Mr. Spock Does origami Japanese mat Caesar’s books Edmonton puckster Storm warning Coup d’— IRS form expert Lose heavily (3 wds.) Musician — Hayes Sooner than anon Fierce look — Dame Cloudy region Early anesthetic Ballpark figure

DOWN 1 Honey-tongued 2 Prefix for dynamic 3 Huskiest 4 Destiny 5 Grommets 6 Autumn pears 7 Baby — 8 Make — — double 9 Son of Val and Aleta 10 Cardinal 11 Regards with awe 12 Pass legislation 13 Vows 19 Gets the drift

mission of a letter of intent even before one is given an application form. In this way, the Board’s Committee on Deputization can make a more studied determination as to who can be appointed a deputy. The MTRCB recognizes the need for a more effective monitoring system. In fact, it still continues to receive deputy reports via email and even text messages, and this to a certain extent is still consolidated manually. Thus, aside from providing a facility for reporting in the agency’s website, the MTRCB early this year proposed to the national government as part of its Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) a Deputy Management Informa-

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

22 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 49 51 52 54 55 57

Byron work Tombstone deputy Bell tower sounds Writer Ayn — LL.D. holder Intuition Iditarod runners Wraps tightly Draw boundaries Economist — Smith Revealing dress Bellow Rope fiber 120 or 240 Hesitant, as speech Golfer’s shout — Maria Gluts Explorers Lewis and — Type in again Last box to check Raison d’ — Duffers’ goals Poker pair Diner sandwich Murmur of content Worthless coin

tion System. This system is meant to achieve effective management of all deputy-related transactions from data entry, generation and issuance of cards, the monitoring of monthly reports, and the cancellation of cards if warranted. The MTRCB is pleased to report that the Department of Budget and Management’s Medium Term Information and Communication Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI) Task Force recently approved the ISSP this November 2015. Aside from the many discerning viewership seminars participated in by its deputies with various sectors the past months, the MTRCB will be holding a Media

Literacy (including Updates on the Film and TV Rating System) seminar specifically for deputies this December 2015. On the administrative side, the MTRCB has been conducting adjudicatory hearings in regard to erring deputies and prosecuting cases involving alleged “fake” deputies. With the above, the MTRCB can confidently say that it has actually been working on the ancillary observations in the agency’s 2014 audit report. Mindful though of their spirit of service, the Board is grateful to those deputies who have unselfishly devoted their time and effort to promote an environment of authentic self-regulation in the film and television industries.

T UES DAY : DECEMBER 1, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

american PoP grouP tours asia Namesake, the American pop rock group from Atlanta, Georgia, USA, was in Asia with its explosive sounding new release Borders and Fences on Nov. 27. The release of their single “Worlds Away” follows on Dec. 11th in anticipation of the bands tour of Asia in 2016. Namesake’s driving sound and pop/rock instrumentals are the work of guitarists Brad Wagner and JT O’Neil. Will Crafton, the groups front man with a voice likened to a lion or as smooth as silk, says, “We drive the music with hot guitars from Brad and JT, while Seth (Van Dusen) fills the sound with a solid bass, and Kevin (Nordeste) keeps us going with drums that hammer their way throughout our music.” According to a spokesperson from Sanre Entertainment, representing the band, it is Namesakes dynamic sound that “singles itself out amongst pop groups world-wide.” “We never set out to deliberately create something new, different, or unique. We just play what we feel. We love music, that’s all that counts to us,” says Crafton. Imagen Records /Warner-ADA signed Namesake with that unique sound in mind. “The minute we heard them, we recognized that they were bringing something really new to the table,” said a spokesperson for Imagen Records. The love of music obviously pays off. The band is reaching a worldwide status. Two videos will follow the release of Borders and Fences and Worlds Away. “The “Worlds Away” video is going to come off controversial, a North Korean element of satire behind its theme,” a spokesperson for Imagen Records said. It seems to follow the tradition of the bands interest in having its

from c8

Namesake

own identity, and not necessarily a commercial one. “We don’t tell our clients how to be creative, we seek out the most talented clients and create an atmosphere for them to thrive,” Rene Walter, CEO of Sanre Entertainment remarked. “Their music and videos should be a vision of their attitudes as well as their personalities. Fun, controversial, whatever, we just help them keep it entertaining. Namesake, they’re fun. They’re incredibly entertaining. Listen to the music. Watch the video. You’ll see what we mean. Both Borders and Fences and Worlds Away can be purchased on most major online music providers. HHHHH Poe says gov’t not to abandon foundlings As her political opponents continued with the barrage of opinions about her lack of qualification to run for president, one thing is clear for Sen. Grace Poe: the government should not abandon those who had already been abandoned by their parents. Poe, who has kept silent on the attacks against her, said she re-

Grace Poe

mains committed to fight for the rights of foundlings to ensure that their status in life does not limit or hinder their dreams. “Ang isang batang inabandona ng kanyang mga magulang ay hindi rin dapat iabandona ng ating pamahalaan,” said Poe, an independent presidential candidate who has topped voters’ surveys. “It would be very sad to think that a person or a child will have

to endure the injustices and the cruel words that I’ve gone through in the past months,” she said. Despite her victory at the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), Poe has been assailed by political foes that insist that she is not a natural-born Filipino because she was a foundling whose biological parents could not be traced. Poe recently underwent DNA tests with two women, both de-

scendants of the people who found her abandoned at the Jaro Cathedral in 1968, but their DNAs did not match. There are three more DNA tests whose results are still pending. “I think it is also sad that a child who was abandoned or a person who does not know his parents should be compelled to present his parents when they had no choice but perhaps to abandon that child in the first place,” Poe said. While she vowed to respect the rule of law, the senator maintained that she would exercise her right as a Filipino to seek legal redress and fight the disqualification cases lodged against her so that other foundlings who may want to become public servants would not have to go through the hardships she is already confronting. “Every child found in this country should have a right to dream. If that child grows up with integrity, and if the child is honest and has a sincere desire to serve us, he should or she should be allowed to do so,” she said. From Edgardo and Sayong Militar, who found the baby that would later be Grace Poe at the church, it was passed on to Negros hacendera Tessie Ledesma, who later asked her friends, showbiz royalty Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) and Susan Roces, if they wanted the baby. Roces has said in previous interviews that she was initially hesitant as they were then newly married but FPJ fell in love with the baby. “Grace took her first steps in my husband’s company and her first word was papa,” Roces said in reports. “It was God’s will that she came into our lives; she adored her father like anything. Grace was God’s gift to us.”

Filipino beauty queens inspire people aCross nations

Pinay Beuty Queens

Psalmstre New Placenta endorser and Miss Earth Air 2012 Stephany Stefanowitz, Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago, and Olive-C alumna Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Datul joined forces at a charity concert on Nov. 20 dubbed Beauties and the Band at The Music Hall in Metrowalk, Ortigas, Pasig City. Both local party people and international tourists and visitors watched the show. The proceeds of the concert went to the Marian Rose World Mission, an international foundation that focuses on education and health-and-financial wellness of women and children all over the world. It is also committed to identify talents in local communities and provide opportunities to help such talents actualize their potentials. A week before the concert, Stephany, together with Psalmstre chief executive officer Jim Acosta, went to UAE, specifically in Dubai, and Jordan for a business expo and an appearance with the Filipino communities. The beauty queen was admired for her humility and dedication toward inspiring young women. “The real meaning of being a beauty queen is seen beyond the crown secured on her head or the fame she enjoys during her reign. She won the title because she is destined to serve the real purpose of winning, that is to inspire fellow women and touch the hearts of many people,” shared Stephany.

T UES DAY : DECEMBER 1, 2015

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Elmo magalona now a Kapamilya ISAH V. RED Last week, ABS-CBN presented Elmo Magalona as the network’s newest acquisition. Naturally, the members of the press familiar with Magalona prior to joining the Kapamilya network asked why he left GMA Network after five years as Kapuso. The young rapper/actor answered choosing his words carefully, “It was a decision my mother (Pia Arroyo Magalona) and I reached after a long process of thinking and weighing the pros and cons of moving or staying. I realized that I’d grow more as a performer with the Kapamilya network. Both my mother and I agreed.” The Kapamilya network welcomed Elmo with open arms and claiming him as their newest star. During the press conference, many among the members of the press were itching to ask if his former network did not make a counter offer when his contract expired and simply let him go. Was Elmo no longer an asset to the Kapuso network? But how come the Kapamilya network embraced him and even gave him a big soap opera in 2016? Elmo will star in a new soap along with another emerging star Janella Salvador. The newly minted Kapamilya will team up with Salvador for the first time in Born For You, which the guys behind Dreamscape, the team that will produce the series, anticipate to be another hit among Kapamilya followers. “We’re not sure yet if the soap will air on primetime or in the afternoon,” said Biboy Arboleda of Dreamscape. “We will let you know as soon as we are informed

of its time slot.” At the press conference, Janella and Elmo said that music would play a big part in Born For You, which will revolve around two people who are destined for each other. Their first impressions of each other as the latest Kapamilya love team that will thrill audiences next year were among those they shared with the press. “It’s cool that we come from a family of musicians. Janella is bubbly, very easy to work with, and very energetic that’s why I am really excited to work with her,” Elmo who is fresh from his contract signing with the Kapamilya network remarked. Meanwhile, Janella also shared the same sentiment with her new love team saying, “When I saw Elmo, I felt good because I will get to work with someone fresh since we haven’t worked before. I’m excited with the music angle in our teleserye because both our parents are musical people.” Dreamscape advertising and promotions manager Biboy Arboleda also said that it would be a busy Christmas for Janella and Elmo, as the two will undergo a series of workshops, scene studies, and bonding sessions in preparation for their teleserye. The Magalonas might just move to the Kapamilya from the Kapuso network. Maxene, Elmo’s elder sister, hopped over to the ABS-CBN lot ahead of him. The only Magalona on the Kapuso lot is Frank who is currently working on the re-imagining of Marimar. I will not be surprised if after the show’s end, he’d also jump over to the Mother Ignacia lot. HHHHH Jana, Sylvia of ningning win acting honorS Jana Agoncillo (Ningning) and Sylvia Sanchez (Mamay Pacing),

(L-R) Dreamscape business unit head Deo Endrinal, ABS-CBN free TV head Cory Vidanes, Elmo Magalona, ABSCBN chief operating officer Carlo Katigbak, Pia Magalona, and TV production head Laurenti Dyogi

Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona, the newest Kapamilya loveteam to star in a 2016 teleserye Born For You

Jana Agoncillo

Sylvia Sanchez

stars of the ABS-CBN top-rating tanghali serye Ningning, recently received acting nods from award-giving bodies for their stellar performances in ABS-CBN programs. Child actress Jana, who plays the titular role, won Best Child Actress in the 2015 Philippine Edition Network’s 4th Reader’s Choice Television. Jana bested other child stars in the annual online entertainment voting awards of the Philippine Edition Network. Jana’s co-star, actress Sylvia Sanchez also earned praises for her work in ABS-CBN’s The Trial and Be Careful With My Heart with the Most Outstanding Filipino Performer in Film and TV by the Gawad Amerika Awards in Hollywood, California. Weekday mornings are also constantly filled with good vibes because of Ningning. Ningning aims to promote the goodness and good values in everyday life among its viewers. For more information, visit the official Facebook account of Ningning (Facebook.com/Ningning). ➜ continued on c7

Elmo Magalona and Janella Salvador

Elmo Magalona is now a Kapamilya. He will star in a teleserye titled Born For You opposite Janella Salvador