The Standard - 2015 December 15 - Tuesday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 306  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  TUESDAY : DECEMBER 15, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

700,000 flee homes as ‘Nona’ hits land

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LET’S SLAP IT OUT, MAR DARES RODY

By John Paolo Bencito and Rio N. Araja

LIBERAL Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II said Monday that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, his opponent for the presidency, could slap him in the face if he could prove his claim that Roxas never graduated from the Wharton School of Economics.

“Let’s have a slapping match,” a visibly irked Roxas challenged Duterte in Filipino. “If my Wharton degree is not real, you can slap me in the face and I won’t dodge it. But if the degree is real, then I’ll slap you.”

Responding to the remarks, Duterte called Roxas an “idiot” who deserved to be slapped for his poor performance in the wake of Typhoon “Yolanda” two years ago.

“If he gets mad at me, I’ll slap him,” Duterte said in Filipino. “I’ll slap that idiot if I chance upon him on the campaign trail.”

Duterte also urged people not to vote for Roxas because he could not handle stress.

“Will you make him your president?” he said.

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Dissenter in Poe case opts out of en banc

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

‘Then slap me!’ Administration presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II tells reporters at UP Diliman that he had urged Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to slap him after Duterte threatened to do so. JOHN PAOLO BENCITO

THE only elections commissioner who has voted in favor of Senator Grace Poe so far will inhibit himself from the en banc hearing of petitions seeking her disqualification from next year’s presidential race, a spokesman for the Commission on Elections said Monday.

In an interview, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez confirmed that Commissioner Christian Robert Lim would inhibit himself from the en banc hearing because the petitioner, Estrella Elamparo, used to be an associate in his law firm.

Last week, Lim had voted Next page

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‘Nona’ forces 700,000 to evacuate MORE than 700,000 people fled their homes in the Visayas amid threats of giant waves, floods and landslides as powerful Typhoon “Nona” (international name Melor) approached the country, officials said Monday.

Early Christmas. President Benigno Aquino III leads Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Quezon City and Education Department officials in gift-giving at the Quezon City Memorial Multi-Purpose Hall on Monday. MalaCañang Photo BurEau

Let’s...

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The word war between the two candidates erupted after Roxas said Davao’s reputation as a city that was safe from crime was “a myth.”

On his own radio talk show, Duterte said Roxas’ Wharton degree was a myth.

Roxas, a former investment banker in New York before entering politics, got his B.S. Economics degree from the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in 1979.

An official university archives web page lists him among the school’s notable alumni “who have served in notable positions in foreign governments,” along with the late Senator Raul Roco, who completed his Masters of Laws in the same university in 1975.

“I’d like to ask [him], you claim that you have graduated from the Wharton School of Economics, that is a myth,” Duterte said on his radio show. “You did not graduate from the Wharton School

Dissenter...

From A1

against the disqualification of Poe when the 1st Division he heads heard three separate petitions filed against Poe. Two other commissioners in the division, however, voted to disqualify her and cancelled her Certificate of Candidacy for the presidency.

Earlier, the 2nd Division heard Elamparo’s petition and voted unanimously to disqualify Poe as well on the basis of her residency and status as a natural-born citizen.

Poe has filed a motion for reconsideration to the Comelec en banc to reverse the 1st and 2nd Division decisions.

Jimenez said the Comelec en banc might consolidate all four petitions filed by Elamparo, former Senator Francisco Tatad; De La Salle University professor Antonio

of Economics, Mr. Roxas.

Your name is not on the list of those who graduated from the four- or five-year degree courses. Ask Wharton. Show me [a photo] of you wearing a toga at Wharton, with your mother at the graduation,” he added.

Roxas, who oversaw the Philippine National Police as Interior secretary before he resigned to campaign for the presidency, slammed Duterte’s autocratic tendencies.

“What’s wrong with Mayor Digong Duterte [is] he’s used to one-man rule… If he doesn’t get what he wants, or someone tells him the truth, he’ll just slap someone.”

Then addressing Duterte directly, he said: “You know Digong, I value you as a friend, I respected our friendship. But it’s good that we’ve seen your [true] character.”

Roxas insisted that the statistics he cited about crime in Davao were real, and chided Duterte for trying to cover up the true situation in his city.

“The statistics I mentioned came from the PNP. In fact, Mayor Digong is the chairman of the Regional Peace

and Order Council. Maybe he forgot that—he’s the one in charge of the peace and order situation in Davao region.

He’s the one who chooses the regional director and even the chief of police of Davao City.

“Those statistics came from the PNP and they are the ones who count the crimes from their own blotters. This is the truth—can’t he accept that?”

“Does this mean that if he becomes the President, if there’s something negative about him, he’ll just slap someone? Is that his kind of leadership? At least by now we already know who he really is.”

In a statement on Sunday, the Davao Police Regional Office refuted Roxas claims, saying that the crime index in the Davao region went down by 28.38 percent with 13,476 incidents recorded between January and August this year, compared with last year’s 18,936 for the same period.

Duterte ally former North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol scored Roxas as being two-faced.

“Just a few months ago when he was courting Duterte to agree to be his vice presidential running mate, he was singing praises… to the peaceful paradise that is Davao City,” Piñol said.

“Today, as Duterte stands as the major obstacle to his dream of becoming president, Roxas says that Davao’s claim to being one of the safest cities in the world is nothing but a myth.”

Roxas’ allies in Congress questioned Duterte’s claim that he had killed more than 1,000 criminals, and challenged him to name names.

“I don’t know if he killed 1,700 or one or two, to be very frank, maybe I haven’t heard a single complaint from any relative,” said House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. “Maybe it’s all image-making. I would like to dare our very brave mayor, name names.”

Another staunch Roxas supporter, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, dared Duterte to go to Caloocan and slap someone and see where that gets him. With Maricel V. Cruz

Contreras; and University of the East Law Dean Amado Valdez, as soon as they receive the motion for reconsideration from Poe’s camp.

It might also decide the two cases separately, he added.

“That’s really the call of the en banc,” he said.

The Comelec commissioners conducted a special en banc session Monday after failing to reach a decision on Wednesday.

On Monday, Comelec chairman Andres Bautista said that the commission en banc has yet to come up a decision about Poe’s case.

But in a radio interview, Bautista said they may release a partial list of candidates to be included from the official ballot for the election next year.

He said that from the original Dec. 15 deadline, the Comelec may release the final list of candidates in the first

week of January.

He also said there would be no decision on the Poe cases until Tuesday.

Bautista also said he has not voted on any of the Poe cases yet, because these were heard by the 1st and 2nd divisions.

Before setting up his own firm, Lim was with the Carpio Villaraza & Cruz Law Offices.

He was also one of the lawyers of the 2010 AquinoRoxas team, and some reports suggested that the Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II had pushed for Lim’s appointment to the Comelec.

Two weeks ago, Poe’s running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, said Elamparo had links to Roxas because she handled the case of Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, a friend of the LP standard bearer.

Escudero also said

Elamparo was also connected with a firm, which he said was used by Cruz when he filed a case against former associate Pancho Villaraza.

Elamparo denied the accusations, however, and said she did not know Cruz.

A top Liberal Party official Senate President Franklin Drilon urged the Comelec to quickly decide the pending disqualification cases against Poe and another presidential candidate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“Chairman Bautista should fulfill his patriotic duty and lead the Comelec in immediately providing a fair resolution to the petitions,” Drilon said.

The early resolution of the petitions at the Comelec would give the Supreme Court enough time to review the cases and render a final verdict, Drilon added. With Macon ramos-araneta

Nona brushed the northern tip of Samar early Monday, with winds gusting at 185 kilometers per hour, the state weather bureau said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages.

Upon making landfall, Nona swept through the towns of Batag, Laoang and Rawis, uprooting coconut trees and inundating low-lying areas, said Edgar Posadas, director of the Office of Civil Defense for Region VII. “The wind was very strong and was felt all over Samar and Biliran provinces. Coconut trees were felled, roofs were blown off and there has been reported flooding,” Posadas said.

Storm signal no. 3 was raised over Sorsogon; Masbate, including Ticao and Burias islands; Albay; Southern Quezon; Camarines Sur; Camarines Norte; Catanduanes; Marinduque; Romblon, and Northern Samar.

Signal no. 2 remained in effect over Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, the rest of Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Samar and Biliran.

Metro Manila; Bulacan; Bataan; Pampanga; Southern Zambales; Southern Aurora; Coron; Leyte; Northern Cebu, including Bantayan and Camotes islands; Aklan; Capiz; Northern Antique; Northern Negros Occidental, and Northern Iloilo were under signal no. 1.

The weather bureau warned of possible storm surges of up to four meters in coastal areas of Luzon and the Visayas.

Posadas said after hitting Northern Samar, Nona’s strong winds and rains were felt in Eastern Samar, prompting disaster workers to implement life-saving measures to prevent a repeat of the devastation left by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013.

“Nona’s strong winds even hit the OCD’s Operation Center in Catarman, Samar and there was zero visibility all over,” said Posadas.

Disaster officials said 161,014 families or 724,839 people were moved to higher ground in parts of Albay and Sorsogon in Region V, and Northern Samar in Region VIII, ahead of Nona’s arrival.

The pre-emptive evacuation started 7 p.m. Sunday in 112 barangays in Sorsogon with a total of 26,972 families or 134,870 people.

In Albay, a total of 133,905 families composed of 589,235 people were also moved to shelters.

Samar was among areas devastated in 2013 by Typhoon “Yolanda,” when giant waves wiped out entire communities, leaving 7,350 people dead or missing.

Authorities warned that Nona’s powerful winds had

the potential to whip up fourmeter high waves, blow off tin roofs and uproot trees while heavy rains within its 300-kilometer diameter could trigger floods and landslides.

Provincial and local government units in Eastern Visayas suspended classes at all levels.

In Albay province alone, almost 600,000 people were evacuated due to fears that heavy rains could cause mudslides on the slopes of nearby Mayon Volcano, according to the national disaster monitoring office.

Residents carrying bags of clothes and water jugs clambered onto army trucks in Albay’s Legazpi City, as authorities sounded an evacuation alarm, the French news agency AFP said. Huge waves crashed into the city’s deserted boulevard as palm trees swayed amid strong winds.

An additional 130,000 people were also evacuated in nearby Sorsogon. The latest typhoon is expected to cut across the country’s central heartlands in the early hours of Tuesday before heading out to the South China Sea in the west.

In Tacloban City, ground zero for Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ two years ago, classes were suspended as Nona slammed into the northern part of Eastern Visayas.

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez met with various department heads to discuss the city’s preparations.

At least 42 domestic flights were cancelled Monday because of the bad weather.

An advisory from the Manila International Airport Authority said these included Cebu Pacific flights to and from Tacloban, Manila and Legazpi City; Philippine Airlines (PAL Express) flights in Naga, Basco and Legazpi, and Zest Air flights in Manila and Tacloban.

Weather bureau officials said Nona made landfall over Batag Island, Northern Samar, at 11 a.m., then made its second landfall in Bulusan, Sorsogon at 5 p.m.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers an hour near its center, Nona had gusts of 185 kph. It was forecast to move west at 17 kph.

In Metro Manila, operations of the Pasig River Ferry System were suspended and billboard owners were told to roll up their tarpaulins to prevent road accidents.

The government had prepared more than 200,000 food packs and other emergency items ahead of the storm’s landfall, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman told DZMM radio. rio n. araja, Mel Caspe, Joel E. Zurbano, Sandy araneta, Francisco tuyay, ronald o. reyes, aFP

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Interior official injured in attack

Gone 11 years.

Independent presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe lights up a candle at the grave of her adoptive father Fernando Poe Jr. to mark the 11th death anniversary of the movie star at the North Cemetery in Manila. EY ACASIO

By Joel E. Zurbano and John Paolo Bencito THE regional chief of the Department of Interior and Local Government office in Southern Tagalog was critically injured after he was shot in front of his office in Calamba City Monday morning.

DILG Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento condemned the attack against Renato Brion and ordered the National Police to investigate the case and hunt down those responsible for what he described as an “atrocious act.”

“The DILG is deeply saddened by this violent act perpetrated against a loyal and dedicated public servant who is due to retire in the next few months after several years of committed service to the people,” the department said in a statement.

“Rest assured that the DILG will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators will be brought to justice. We would like to assure our countrymen that the DILG will not be fazed by this challenge and we shall continue to put the interests of our people on top of our priorities,” it added.

Brion is now recuperating at the Calamba Medical Center after he was shot as he was alighting his vehicle in front of his office at Calamba’s Barangay Parian around 7:30 a.m. The Calamba police are now conducting a dragnet operation to catch Brion’s attackers.

Brion, who hails from San Pablo City, was designated regional director of DILG of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas and Quezon last May 21. He was the DILGNational Capital Region chief prior to his assignment in Southern Tagalog.

Train firm official flees after court’s hold order

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz ONE of the principal suspects in the allegedly anomalous Metro Rail Transit maintenance deal has already fled the country, three days after the Sandiganbayan issued a hold departure order against former general manager Al Vitangcol and five others.

BI spokesperson Elaine Tan said Wilson de Vera, one of the five incorporators of the Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corp., left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for San Francisco, California in the United States last Dec. 7, 2015.

Also placed in the hold departure list were Arturo Soriano, Vi-

tangcol’s uncle-in-law; Marlo de la Cruz, Manolo Maralit, and Federico Remo, all incorporators of PH Trams.

Tan said the bureau only received a copy of the court order Monday morning. The court has also ordered the arrest of the respondents except for Vitangcol and De Vera who

had earlier posted bail worth P90,000 each.

The court said that Vitangcol and the five other accused allegedly conspired with each other to award the multi-million peso MRT-3 maintenance contract to the firm allegedly owned and managed by his uncle-in-law.

Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales said Vitangcol used his power and authority being “the MRT-3 general manager/ chief end-user, head of the negotiating team, member of the Bids and Awards Committee, all in one, to dictate the proponents invited for the preliminary negotiations of the maintenance services.”

“Vitangcol intentionally hid his affinitive relationship with Soriano, which would have automatically dis-

qualified PH Trams,” said Morales.

Meanwhile, Malacañang on Monday denied reports that the new light rail vehicles for the MRT had no engines.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. both forwarded messages from the Department of Transportation and Communications denying allegations that the agency was involved in fundraising for the Liberal Party.

“Here’s [DoTC] Sec. [Joseph Emilio] Abaya’s reply to questions on MRT trains: ‘The contract for the new 48 LRVs provides for complete operational trains. No one in his right mind will buy train bodies only, then have the engines procured separately’,” read the message.

Homeowners appeal to SC Stranded by ‘Nona.’

Passengers wait at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after the authorities cancelled 42 flights because of Typhoon Nona, which made landfall in southern Luzon on Monday.

ERIC APOLONIO

By Rey E. Requejo THOUSANDS of homeowners of two Globe Asiatique subdivisions in Pampanga have asked the Supreme Court to intervene and help immediately the cases involving the alleged housing anomaly against their developer that has put in peril the ownership of their homes.

In a four-page letter to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno on Monday, the homeowners’ associations of GA’s Xevera projects in Mabalacat and Bacolor appealed to the high court to look into their plight after losing, in effect, their appeal with the Pag-IBIG Fund.

According to them, it was Pag-IBIG itself that admitted to them that they “got caught in the middle of the lengthy court proceedings” in a letter sent early this month, prompting them to bring the matter to the SC. Through Rolando Santos, president of the Xevera Mabalacat Homeowners As-

sociation, the homeowners lamented that they have already suffered injuries because of the cases against the GA and its owner Delfin Lee. “It has been five years since the so-called ‘housing scam’ erupted in what we believed as a dream community for us and our families. Today, we continue to live in uncertainty and suffer the risk of being dispossessed of homes that we have bought with hardearned money,” the homeowners said.

“As buyers of homes, we simply relied on a government housing program that we believed was working to serve the interest of the poor. But it seems we were proved wrong.

And now we suffer for having placed our trust in the system,” they deplored.

Santos said they elevated their appeal to Sereno as suggested by Pag-IBIG Fund president Darlene Berberabe, who earlier rejected their plea to continue payment of their monthly dues for their housing loans with the state-run agency.

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Where she’s headed. A weatherman plots the direction of Typhoon ‘Nona’ at the weather bureau’s headquarters in Manila on Dec. 14. aFP (Story on a2)

‘Let Duterte run for president’ Binay: Many schools neglected THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay said Monday the schoolchildren in Northern Mindanao remain neglected as 23 public schools there with 3,081 students do not even have toilets.

“When toilets are nonexistent in schools, open defecation becomes a common practice, putting the students at risk for diarrhea and other diseases,” Binay’s spokesman Joey Salgado said.

He said Binay will ensure public school sanitation and health services nationwide, particularly in Northern Mindanao, once he is elected president in next year’s elections.

Salgado said Binay is disturbed by the Commission on Audit findings that there are no janitors or custodial workers in 180 public schools to keep the sanitation facilities clean.

“Hand-washing facilities” in 46 public schools cannot be used, water supply in 38 public schools is not sufficient, and there are “improper hygiene and poor sanitation practices” that expose students to sickness, Salgado said.

“These practices affect the health of the students and their ability to learn,” he said.

“Vice President Binay asks the [Education Department] to strictly follow the rules on sanitation and health services in public schools to ensure school children will stay healthy and well.

“To Vice President Binay, any government agency should never put the children’s health and safety at risk. Our children should be provided with an environment where they can learn well.”

The Audit Commission

has described as “weak and inconsistent” the implementation in Northern Mindanao of some rules and regulations on water and sanitation requirements in schools.

Salgado said the commission has noted that the Education Department’s mission is to improve the quality of basic education for all Filipinos, which includes providing sufficient water and sanitation facilities in all public schools. But the department has failed.

In 2010, the department reported that 135,487 public schools in the Philippines experienced water shortage and lacked sanitation facilities.

“Vice President Binay plans to identify all health concerns that can affect the quality of life of all Filipino school children and ensure these are addressed immediately,” Salgado said. Vito Barcelo

INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Grace Poe on Monday said she prays that, like her, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte should be allowed to run for president in next year’s elections.

“I hope that doesn’t happen. My prayer is he won’t be disqualified,” said Poe when sought for comment when told that Duterte could be disqualified from the presidential race.

“My prayer is that he will be given the chance to run because that is what we are fighting for. Whether he wins or not, we won’t know that until we put his name on the ballot,” she said.

Poe on Monday also said the life and ideals of her late father, the actor Fernando Poe Jr., continued to inspire her to serve those who have less in life so that they can have a better future.

“Ang buhay at simulain ni

FPJ ay ehemplo ng tapat na paglilingkod, na walang hinihinging kapalit,” Poe said on her father’s 11th death anniversary.

“Tahimik siyang tumulong sa maraming nangangailangan, kung kaya siguro marami pa ring nagmamahal sa kanya hanggang ngayon.”

Speaking before supporters at the Manila North Cemetery, Poe, the leading presidential contender, said her father did not just help people through emergency assistance in times of urgent need, he also provided people with jobs and livelihood support.

Meanwhile, Poe said she doesn’t want to say

she’s losing hope on the Comelec, where she is facing four disqualification charges over questions surrounding her citizenship and residency.

But she said she had faith in the Supreme Court, where her case will be ultimately be decided.

“That’s why we will focus our preparation there, the prayer that there will be justice at the Supreme Court,” Poe said.

Her running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, said Poe will not be vengeful if she wins the presidency despite the harassment she has been suffering.

Poe said her father was also slapped with a disqualification case when he ran for president in 2004.

FPJ lost to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but his camp claimed that Arroyo had cheated in the elections.

Macon Ramos-araneta

Empower LGUs, Marcos urges

Taping. Quezon City Police officials Edgardo Tinio and Benjamin Magalong leads the taping of

policemen’s guns to prevent them from firing them during the New Year celebrations. Lino SanToS

SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday told the people of Bacoor City in Cavite to choose a new set of national leaders next year who will tap local government units as partners in the delivery of basic services and in nation-building.

Marcos said many LGU officials are complaining that they are being given little or no role at all in the big-ticket projects of the national government that are being implemented in their areas of jurisdiction.

“In the past few years, many LGU officials have complained that the national government seems to take the attitude that it alone is capable of the task of delivering services to our citizens,” said Marcos, chairman of the Senate committee on local government and a three-term governor of Ilocos Norte.

He said such attitude is plainly wrong because local officials are the ones who know the needs of their locality and people.

He said many LGU officials are intelligent, hard-working and sincere in their desire to improve the lot of their constituents.

He cited Bacoor City which, he said, experienced rapid development under the leadership of Mayor Strike Revilla.

“The work of the LGUs is crucial to the growth of a vibrant economy for our towns and cities, the foundation of the economy of the entire country,” Marcos said.

“If you choose the right candidates, I believe that in the next Administration we will witness a significant shift in the national government’s attitude toward the LGUs, and we will see as well a marked improvement in the relationship between the local and national governments.

Before his speech, Marcos graced the flagraising ceremony at city hall on the invitation of Mayor Revilla and Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado Revilla.

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Feuding solons spark House tension

By Christine Herrera TWO lawmakers on Monday exchanged barbs and tension gripped the House hearing after one of them questioned the continued chairmanship of the powerful committee on appropriations although he has reportedly abandoned the ruling Liberal Party and defected to the camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

1BAP Rep. Silvestro Bello III questioned Davao City Rep. Isidro ungab why he remains the chairman when he has already changed allegiance by shifting support for Duterte and resigning from the ruling Liberal Party. ungab denied leaving the LP and insisted it was up to the house leadership to replace him as chairman. ungab had to suspend the committee hearing several times to stop Bello from badgering him.

“The gentleman is out of order,” ungab told Bello, who repeatedly argued he wanted to know why ungab continued to hold the position when he was no longer backing the presidential bid of the LP’s standard bearer former Interior and Local Governments Secretary Mar Roxas II. All major committees in the house are assigned to officers and members of the ruling party or allies of the administration belonging to the majority bloc, led by house Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., vice chairman of the Liberals.

Bello belongs to the minority bloc and is representing the minority during the hearing as Deputy Minority Leader.

The ungab panel was discussing several bills such as the Private-Public Property bill and the measure allowing the live coverage of the house proceedings, authored

by Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza and other members of the Independent Minority Bloc led by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is running for the Senate.

Voting 16-2, the panel approved the PPP bill and Atienza’s bill was also carried unanimously.

“It has been reported in the papers and television that the chairman of this committee [ungab] has jumped ship and joined the camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte,” Bello said. “I want to know if there is a semblance of truth to that.”

“The gentleman is out of order. I hate to discuss politics in here. This is not the right venue to talk about politics. I don’t discuss politics with rude people. The committee does not entertain rude questions,” ungab said as he banged the gavel to suspend the hearing for a few minutes. ungab neither confirmed nor denied reports that he was supporting Duterte’s presidential bid.

“Mr. chairman I’m asking a very valid question,” insisted Bello, who also hails from Davao and is supporting Duterte.

At present there is no order from the plenary where I was voted as chairman of the committee on appropriations. I hate to discuss politics here in the committee,” ungab said.

Addressing Bello and the panel, ungab said, “I did not resign from the LP. I was elected chairman of this committee by the house plenary. It is up to the plenary to replace me as chairman and elect a new one.”

“That is what I wanted to find out, Mr. Chairman. You are still the chairman. If it’s not true, fine,” Bello said. ungab has reportedly enlisted himself in the emerging bloc in the house of Representatives that will support Duterte’s bid to capture Malacañang this May.

A resident runs for safety past big waves spilling over a wall onto a coastal road in the Legazpi City in Albay on Dec. 14, 2015 as Typhoon ‘Melor’ (Nona) approaches the city. More than 700,000 people fled the central Philippines amid threats of giant waves, floods and landslides.

AFP (Story on A2)

‘Traffic woes lead to road rage cases’

By Maricel V. Cruz houSe Independent Bloc leader Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday egged on Transportation Secretary Joseph emilio Abaya to find a way to solve the worsening traffic in Metro Manila which has resulted in fatal road rage cases.

“This government especially DoTC Secretary Abaya had become so insensitive to what the public feels and experiences because of daily traffic jams that they could not care less whether motorists are already killing each other or not out of frustration” Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, said.

Romualdez, a senatorial candidate, made the statement in reac-

tion to reports that a delivery van driver was shot dead last Thursday in Pasig City in what was believed to be a road rage incident.

Police said Richard Tuazon was shot in the head and died while being rushed to a hospital by a gunman who fled on board his black Toyota Innova with license plates APA 9824.

Pasig City police chief Senior Supt. Jose hidalgo Jr. said the shooting happened shortly after Tuazon’s vehicle nearly hit the suspect’s car while they were both trying to wiggle out of a heavy traffic jam.

Romualdez also chided Abaya who earlier this year was quoted as saying that being stuck in traffic is not fatal by saying that “the latest fatal road rage incident was clear evidence that traffic kills.”

“Secretary Abaya and also Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman emerson Carlos do not deserve to stay a minute longer from their posts if they cannot solve this very serious [traffic] problem,” Romualdez said.

“While we can forgive them even if it has been said time and again that daily traffic gridlocks cost the country billions of pesos yearly in terms of productivity and lost opportunities, it is, however, totally unacceptable when lives are being lost as a result of these daily monstrous traffic jams” Romualdez said.

Romualdez pointed out the Aquino administration’s continuing neglect of the traffic problem was a clear case of lack of “malasakit” or genuine concern for the

Aquino administration on why these problems happen and the fact that officials like Abaya and Carlos are not lifting a finger to solve the problem also smacks of inefficiency and insensitivity.

“They are refusing to talk about the killing of Mr. Tuazon because they want the public to believe that it was just a simple case of homicide. I want to stress that I was not defending the gunman but the truth is the killing was triggered by the anger and frustration that built up on both the victim and the suspect because of the traffic that they were experiencing” Romualdez pointed out.

“This road rage incident should serve as a red flag for our authorities but it appears that they were taking the same for granted” Romualdez added.

MMDA stops road diggings

By Joel E. Zurbano

Farmers’ welfare. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is flanked by Bulacan Gov. Wilhemino Alvarado (right) and Butil party list Rep. Agapito Guanlao during the Butil Farmers Forum 2015 in Baliuag, Bulacan. They all expressed concern for the need of Bulacan farmers to be exempted from payment of irrigation fee. VEr NoVENo

The Metro Manila Development Authority on Monday started enforcing a moratorium on road repairs and diggings in Metro Manila to ease traffic and provide relief to commuters and motorists during the holiday season.

MMDA chairman emerson Carlos said his agency came up with a 15-day moratorium in coordination with the Department of Public Works and highways in anticipation of a monstrous traffic during the holidays because Filipinos are flocking to shopping malls and markets.

Vehicular traffic has been growing worse each day because of the more than 100 ongoing road projects in Metro Manila, most of them not due for completion this year.

Based on study, the MMDA foresees a 20-percent increase in traffic volume this Christmas season because of the influx of people and vehicles from Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Central Luzon.

The moratorium also covers concrete re-blocking projects and even repairs being conducted by utility companies on power and water lines.

Carlos said the Metro Manila Council, the agency’s policy-making body composed of the 17 local government units, passed the resolution for the moratorium. he, however, said there would be exemptions to the moratorium including government flagship projects like Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway project and the Skyway project 3 road works that do not obstruct or block vehicular traffic.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Senate ratifies budget; House won’t follow suit

By Macon Araneta and Maricel Cruz

THE Senate ratified on Monday the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed P3.002trillion national budget for 2016 but the House of Representatives failed to act on it despite the presence of quorum.

A total of 190 lawmakers in the House responded to the roll call.

House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales Jr. said the House will ratify it either Tuesday or Wednesday.

“The session days are not yet over,” Gonzales said.

The House devoted the Monday session on the discussion of the Palace-backed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Congress will go into recess starting December 19 for a Holiday break. It will resume session on January 19, 2016.

In the upper chamber, Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the committee on finance, expressed confidence that the President would be able to sign the proposed 2016 national budget before Christmas.

“We are confident that the President will be able to sign the proposed 2016 national budget into law before Christmas. In a way, this is our gift to the people as we have introduced allocations and provisions that will benefit those who most need government support,” Legarda said in a statement last week.

She said among the highlights of the budget was the strong support for quality education with the increased allocation for the Department of Education to support the implementation of the K-12 program, particularly for the construction of classrooms and hiring of additional teachers. The total budget of Deped is P411.905 billion under the bill.

She said all state universities

and colleges also recei ved additional funding for the “TulongDunong” program, academic buildings, provision of equipment and other needed facilities. She said the total budget of SUCs is P47 billion.

“For the first time, the national budget includes funding for the payment of the total administrative disability pension for surviving spouses of deceased World War II veterans and partial payment for TAD pension for living post-war veterans who are at least 80 years of age as of 2016,” she said.

Under the proposed 2016 national budget, P2.723 billion has been allocated for the payment of total administrative disability pension for surviving spouses of deceased World War II veterans.

The Senate also approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to protect depositors and creditors from financial ruin while keeping confidence in the banking system.

Senator Serge Osmeña, principal author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2976, noted that “deposi-

tors and creditors of closed banks have to bear the adverse consequences of bank closures. He said they experience significant loss of their hard-earned money and disruption of their business.”

Osmeña said the passage of the bill into law would reinforce the authorities of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation so it could better provide “safety nets” for the bank’s financial system.

Under the measure, PDIC would be able to assist banks in danger of closing while they are still operating and not after they have been close by the BangkoSentralngPilipinas.

Osmeña said PDIC would also be able to give depositors immediate access to their insured deposits upon closure of their banks and increase their chances of recovering uninsured deposits by elevating the status of the claims of uninsured depositors in the hierarchy of claims against the remaining assets of the banks under liquidation.

He said the bill would also allow PDIC to sell all the assets and assume the liabilities of a closed bank as a mode of liquidation without the need for court approval.

Against phaseout. Operators and drivers of public utility jeepneys hold a protest rally at the foot of Chino Roces Bridge near Malacañan Palace condemning the phaseout of PUJs as proposed by the Department of Transportation and Communications’ Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board. EY ACASIO

Diesel cheaper

by P1.45; gas down

by P0.60

By Alena S. Flores THE country’s oil firms reduced pump prices by as much as P1.45 per liter starting 6 p.m. Monday to reflect the movement in world oil prices.

Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Seaoil Philippines, Phoenix Petroleum, Unioil Philippines and Eastern Petroleum issued separate advisories of the price cut while other oil firms are expected to make their own announcements later.

Eastern Petroleum cut prices starting 6 p.m. Monday while other oil firms cut pump prices starting 12:01 a.m. Tuesday followed by other oil firms at 6 a.m.

Tuesday.

The price of diesel went down by P1.45 per liter, kerosene by P1.45 per liter and gasoline by P0.60 per liter.

Fernando Martinez, Eastern Petroleum chairman and chief executiveattributed the latest price cut in domestic pump prices to the continuous downward trend of prices in the world oil market.

“Analysts are expecting the price war to continue up to the end of next year, as Saudi Arabia would not be able to reduce output while Iran continues to increase its production,” Martinez said.

Phoenix Petroleum, for its part, said will decrease the prices of diesel by P1.45 per liter and gasoline by P0.60 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday “to reflect the continued decrease in the prices of petroleum products in the world market.”

The oil firms also lowered pump prices by P0.70 per liter for kerosene and P0.50 per liter for diesel last Dec. 8.

The Philippines imports bulk of its fuel requirements and is merely a “price taker” in the global oil market.

Support for INC leadership spurs unprecedented growth THE Iglesia ni Cristo has experienced “unprecedented growth” in the past six years under the leadership of Ka Eduardo Manalo, with just over 17 chapels built and renovated every month since he took over the reins of the homegrown Church in September 2009—the result of the outpouring of support from INC members “who continue to embrace our faith

and believe wholeheartedly in the Church’s evangelization efforts.”

This according to INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala, who on Monday said that 1,091 chapels in the Philippines have been dedicated under Manalo, who took over the leadership of the church after his father, Ka Eraño Manalo, passed away in August 2009. A significant number

of chapels have also been established abroad.

“These new chapels are a concrete manifestation of the support given by our members to the Church, which is at an all-time high,” said Zabala.

Among the provinces with new and renovated chapels are Bataan, Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao Del Sur,

Davao Oriental, Iloilo, Laguna, La Union, Leyte, Nueva Ecija, Negros Occidental, Palawan, Pangasinan, Rizal, Tarlac, and Zambales.

Chapels in Metro Manila have also been dedicated in several cities, including Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Pasig, Taguig, and Quezon City, According to the minister, all

INC members are free to give whatever they can to support efforts to strengthen the Church, “and seeing firsthand the results of their generosity and their sense of community is very encouraging for them; iba kasi talaga pag nakikita mo kung saan napupunta ang tulong mo (it’s a different feeling when you know where your support is going).”

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Displaced miners observe Human Rights Day

By Butch Gunio

Sight to behold. Two friends watch the sunset along Dominican Hill in Baguio City. DAVE LEPROZO

Police nab suspected ‘drug queen’ in Cebu

By Florante S. Solmerin

A SUSPECTED ‘drug queen’ responsible for the proliferation of illegal drugs in Cebu City was arrested during a buy-bust operation last Saturday, according to a report from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

CIDG Director Victor Deona identified the arrested suspect as Mary Ann Chee Ruta, 33, a resident of Juan Luna Avenue, Barangay Mabolo in Cebu City.

Police said P1.1 million worth of shabu was taken from Ruta’s possession.

Deona said Ruta was collared by agents of the CIDG regional

office and Anti-Illegal Drug Team of Cebu City Police Office at around 1 p.m. in Barangay Capitol Site.

Ruta first handed a mediumsize sachet containing shabu to a police poseur-buyer for P10,000.

She was immediately handcuffed after the transaction.

A further search yielded five medium and two large sachets containing shabu, with an estimated weight of 100 grams and a value amounting to P1,180,000.

Also confiscated from Ruta as evidence was the marked money, P4,000 cash, a cellular phone, a Postal and Philhealth IDs, and a black pouch.

“Ruta is affiliated with the ‘Jaguar Group’ involved in illegal drug trade operating in Cebu,” Deona said.

He said she has been charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Law) and temporarily detained at the custodial facility of CIDG-Cebu.

STA. CRUZ, Zambales—Joining the world in observing Human Rights Day, about 500 displaced mine workers belonging to Coalition of Mine Workers, Families and Communities and supporters gathered in front of Sta. Cruz town to air their sentiments on Thursday.

They called the attention of Sta. Cruz municipal officials and other agencies of the government like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure to protect the rights of everyone.

The coalition said they made the call amidst fear that the baseless allegations of some antimining groups would affect the impartiality of concerned government offices to the detriment of their own rights.

“We just want to be sure that the government will protect our right, if members of the anti-mining group have right, so us also who are legitimate residents of Sta. Cruz, we have right for livelihood and whatever benefits we can get from the industry,” the coalition said.

“We hope that it would be based on scientific study the decisions of the concerned government agencies in dealing with the mining issues,” the coalition added.

The mine workers are also calling to lift the suspension of the operation of two mining companies Eramen Minerals Inc. and LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. in Sta. Cruz.

The DENR Mine and Geosciences Bureau already lifted the suspension of Benguet Nickel Mines Inc. and Zambales Diversifies Metal Corp.

CMWFC is composed of mine workers in Sta. Cruz and nearby towns and their families adhering to responsible mining.

Senate committee backs renewable energy projects

By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—The Senate committee on energy supports individual and collective initiatives to shift from the use of traditional energy sources to renewable energy like solar, wind and hydro, the committee vice chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III said as he witnessed the installation of standalone solar-powered lamps near the Baguio Cathedral.

This is in order to contribute to overall efforts of both the government and the private sector to sustain and preserve the state of the en-

vironment in the country.

Guingona said the use of solar-powered lamps in Baguio should already jump-start the individual and collective efforts to entice the public to shift from traditional energy sources to renewable energy in order to enhance efforts to preserve and protect the environment.

“Every little step counts, that is why we need the individual and collective contribution of the populace to be able to achieve a bigger goal of converting the City of Baguio into the first solar power city in the country,” Guingona said.

Christmas is for children. Minxie Romualdez, daughter of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, distributes food packs and toys to pupils of the Lolita Daycare Center in Barangay Calanipawan, Tacloban City. VER NOVENO

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

OPINION [ EDI TORI A L ]

SLAPSTICK POLITICS

AT FIRST blush, it was entertaining to watch presidential candidates go at it with their incredible tales, biting commentary and verbal tussles. Mudslinging is fair game in any Philippine elections, and at least we won’t settle for something so dull.

And so we entertained ourselves with the pickup lines (mostly online) of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, the suspicious timing of the hearings against Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family, and the story of the abandoned baby—who turned out to be Senator Grace Poe—at the door of an Iloilo church. Even the inconsequential early campaigning of the Liberal Party bet, Manuel Roxas II, despite the full force of the administration machinery behind him, was in itself a sob story.

We were also treated to the will-he-or-won’the dance of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, which has concluded in his personal visit to the Commission on Elections after being substituted by the PDP-Laban for another candidate who had earlier filed his certificate.

The indecision has affected some people’s esteem of the mayor, and so he tried to make up for it by issuing bold statements that reeked of too much information about his personal life and his history of killing criminals. He even dared admit he cursed the Catholic pope when he found himself stuck in traffic during the papal visit in January.

Then again, nothing comes close to this week’s exchange between Duterte and Roxas who threatened to slap each other on the campaign trail.

We wish we were joking, or that this were satire, but no—Duterte said Roxas lied about obtaining a business degree at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Roxas fired back, saying he would let Duterte slap him if the latter could prove he misrepresented his education. But if he turned out to be right, Roxas said, then he would fly to Davao and slap the mayor at the airport.

Earlier, the two candidates also had an exchange about crime rates and the veracity of Duterte’s claims that Davao City was one of the safest places in the world.

We laugh at how stupid these people sound and how effortlessly they make fools of themselves.

You don’t need a business degree from an American business school or a reputation as a near-dictator to strip yourself of all respect due you.

Legitimate candidates talk about the details of their plans to make life easier for more of their constituents. Jokers talk dirty, ridicule their opponents and challenge them to fistfights or slapping matches.

In the end, despite our amusement, we realize this is a tragedy. These are people vying to lead us for the next six years. They will make the decisions that would improve or worsen our quality of life. They would speak on our behalf in front of the international community.

When we make our decision on May 9, we should ask ourselves this question: Can I in my right mind allow this person to take up my cause, to speak for me, to fight my battles?

They in no way involve slapping a person in the face.

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SLAP-HAPPY LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES

A FRIEND asks: Why is it no big deal when Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte promises to slap someone around, but when former Secretary Mar Roxas says the same thing, everyone goes crazy?

Well, that’s the difference between Duterte and Roxas right there. One of them comes across as real, while the other one almost always sounds fake.

Like him or hate him, there is an undeniable authenticity to the Davao City’s outrageous pronouncements. The administration presidential candidate, on the other hand, always appears to be acting out a script prepared by a not-so-bright committee.

Since he took his unique brand of politicking to the national stage, Duterte has been gaining adherents because he has an undeniable connection with the ordinary Filipino. Many pundits have likened Duterte to US tycoon Donald Trump, who has emerged as the leading Republican candi-

date in next year’s elections because of his audacious, soundbite-friendly statements, like his recent call to banish all Muslims.

Duterte shares with Trump a quotability that resonates with the people and makes them identify with him immediately. It is this emotional appeal, more than any of the mayor’s admittedly outlandish statements, that has made him skyrocket, Trump-like, in the pre-election polls.

As for slapping people around, the tough-guy mayor of Davao seems eminently more capable of doing that than the rich kid from Cubao. And if all those stories about Duterte killing people are true, I guess you should feel lucky that a slapping is all you end up getting, if you get him mad enough at you.

Which is not to say that Roxas is not capable of doing things in anger, as the staff of the exclusive WackWack golf club to which he belongs will be the first to tell you. But the truth of the matter is, Roxas always seems to be pretending to be the down-to-earth, spur-of-the-moment guy that he is not—and probably never will be.

If Mar is true to himself, he’s already won a victory —even if he still loses horribly in the coming election.

Thus, over the years, Roxas has been excoriated for his many attempts to be one with the little guy. The photographs of Roxas hoisting sacks of rice or garlic, of directing traffic in the rain, of falling off a motorcycle helmet-less and of hammering down a nail like the clueless, carpentry-challenged haciendero that he really is have made many conclude that this is a politician who will do anything to get your vote—and fail all the time

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while doing so.

If you took the trouble to watch that much-ridiculed music video “Fast Forward” extolling Roxas’ virtues and vision for the country, you would see right away that Mar is still trying too hard at this populist thing. That awkward “shoulder bump” of his with basketball star James Yap has got to be, to this basketball-crazy country, the lowest point of that video.

If Duterte is faking it, it certainly doesn’t show. In like manner, even if Roxas was genuinely angry when he challenged the mayor to a slapping match yesterday, it still comes off as fake.

Rich Wharton grads just don’t slap, except when they do it to offending household help, office staff or golf caddies. And if Roxas still harbors any hope of winning in May, he should abandon the fakery and play to his real strengths, such as they are. *** If Roxas wants to copy another rival, perhaps he should emulate Senator Grace Poe. Poe has never descended to Duterte’s level, no matter how many times the mayor has called her an “American President.”

Continued on A10

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

GOODBYE, MRS. LLAMANZARES TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

SANTA Banana, I can’t believe it!

Mitsubishi Motors keeps on denying more than 100 cases of “sudden unintended acceleration” of Montero Sport. Adding insult to injury (literally), Mitsubishi has come out with big advertisements in major newspapers extolling the amenities of the vehicle.

The controversy may have been investigated by the Department of Trade and Industry, but Mitsubishi continues to be in a state of denial, saying that only a reliable third party can put the row to rest.

But, my gulay, until then, people may be harmed, even killed!

‘Misrepresentation’ is lying in any language.

Isn’t it about time that Malacañang stepped into the picture? President Aquino should have all Montero Sport units be recalled. *** As I write this column to beat my deadline, the Comelec en banc has not yet made its final decision to cancel the Certificate of Candidacy of Mrs. Mary Grace Natividad Poe Llamanzares for president.

Logically, since no less than five Comelec commissioners (that’s more than the majority out of seven commissioners) had already disqualified Mrs. Llamanzares for “misrepresentation” (translated: lying) on her citizenship and residency issues, the Comelec en banc cannot do otherwise but also disqualify her.

Unless, of course, a miracle happens.

When the Comelec rules en banc, that’s supposed to be final and executory except if the respondent chooses to go to the Supreme Court to claim that the Comelec ruled “in excess of its jurisdiction and abuse of discretion,” which is a broad claim.

Thus, we go back to the Supreme Court for the final adjudication of Mrs. Llamanzares’ issue on residency and citizenship, according to the Constitution.

Considering the fact that the 15 members of the Supreme Court are all lawyers and know the fundamental law of the land, we can presume that their decision will be more or less like what the three associate justices of the Supreme Court said in their minority ruling at the Senate Electoral tribunal: that Mrs. Llamanzares lacked the 10-year residency requirement and that constitutionally speaking, she is not natural-born.

The three justices of the high court were Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, as chairman, and Associate Justices Arturo Brion and Teresita Leonardo de Castro as two of the nine-member SET. Mrs. Llamanzares and her lawyers may try to disqualify Justices Carpio, Brion and De Castro or may try to have them inhibited, but there’s nothing in law that the respondent can cite for their disqualification.

Thus, with three Supreme Court justices ruling that Mrs. Llamanzares had failed to prove her 10-year residency and her claim to be natural born, only five other justices more are needed to disqualify Mrs. Llamanzares.

There are, however, some questions that have to be answered. Will the name of Mrs. Llamanzares still be included as candidate for president in the ballot? I can almost predict that the Supreme Court cannot promulgate its decision before the printing of the ballot this coming January. If not, the name of Mrs. Llamanzares as presidential candidate

Slap-happy...From A8 Even Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, who is not known for holding in choice insults, has not challenged anyone to a slapping contest. Perhaps age or illness has slowed Santiago down—or perhaps she’s just laughing so hard

AFTER PARIS THE GUARDIAN gave a vivid description of what transpired in Paris over the weekend during the conclusion of the 21st Conference of Parties.

There was, first, an announcement that there was no opposition to the final draft of the agreement. A banging of the gavel. For a moment, silence, as though nobody believed what was happening. And then, jubilation: Cheering, crying, hugging, even high-fives among diplomats, negotiators, politicians, academics, civil society, media and everybody else in the hall.

The reason? A “landmark” 31page deal had been reached by the community of 195 nations. They all agreed to do something to cut carbon emissions so that the planet would not descend into worst-case scenarios brought about by climate change.

This was important because in previous climate change conferences, they merely “agreed to agree” at some later date, to do the same.

Science has told us that the world should not get warmer by more than 2 degrees Celsius—or else the consequences would be dire, and accelerated. Actually, 2 degrees is bad enough because what we have been seeing now, in terms of extreme weather patterns such as stronger, more frequent and erratic storms on one hand and drought and dry spells on the other, are all already that.

According to reports, the main contention remained to be how much each country was willing to sacrifice in terms of emission cuts given the fact that other countries have more (or less) historical responsibility than they do, or have (or have not) attained a significant amount of economic development as they have.

The Philippine delegation pushed for an ambitious target of capping the warming not just to 2 degrees but 1.5.

They also framed the climate change issue as a human rights issue, arguing that the poor and the vulnerable have the right to be protected from the consequences of climate change. remains, but will be considered stray ballots if she is eventually disqualified. My gulay, this would in effect disenfranchise those who would vote for Grace Poe. This is why the Supreme Court should rule on the residency and citizenship issues of Mrs. Llamanzares for the presidency.

But, it would be interesting to know why Mrs. Llamanzares decided to run for the presidency in 2016, instead of just waiting for 2022 when her chances to be president are greater.

Now she is a neophyte senator with only three years experience in legislation, severely lacking experience in governance.

Who convinced her to run thinking that the over 20 million votes she got

observing the antics of Roxas and her other rivals that she hasn’t been able to lob some of those verbal bombs she’s famous for.

The sad truth about the DuterteRoxas hate-fest is that it has caused the level of political discourse in this country, which is not very high to begin with, to descend to new

CHASING HAPPY ADELLE CHUA This rings even more urgent as we realize they did not have a hand at all in the situation, that they did not benefit from development, and probably have no idea about the scientific and diplomatic terms used during the COP talks even as its impacts to them are real, immediate and life changing.

Time to bring out the champagne?

By all means. It’s been a tough two weeks, and an even more tougher 20 plus years. Everybody who worked towards this goal and who acknowledged that a measure of sacrifice has to be taken deserves recognition. Everybody who toiled and spent sleepless nights during the crucial stretch need to know we appreciate what they have done. *** Lest we think the work is over, however, let’s put a cap on the celebrations, as well.

The agreement has yet to be widely circulated, but at this point, we know as much: That the countries would set their own targets, that there would be regular reviews, that $100 billion would be given to poor countries to adapt to the effects of climate change, but also that the countries would not be legally bound to their commitments if they even make one at all.

These, among others, has led former Nasa scientist James Hannsen to brand the Paris talks “a fraud...a fake,” in another The Guardian article. “It’s just worthless words. There is no action, just promises. As long as fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuels out there, they will be continued to be burned.”

According to Hanssen, the only way to ensure success is to tax greenhouse gas emissions across the board.

He would go as far as calling these a “fee” instead of a “tax” because the

in 2013 would continue to be hers in 2016? Was it her running mate, Senator Chiz Escudero? He must have told her that since he is the frontrunner in poll surveys, he will surely win as vice president at the beck and call of the President if he is needed.

In effect, Chiz will be the one running the country if both he and Mrs. Llamanzares get elected.

For Mrs. Llamanzares to think that the 20 million votes she got in 2013 will continue to be with her in 2016 is naivete of the highest order. Running for the Senate and topping it is entirely different from running for the presidency.

Senator Loren Legarda knows this only too well since she ran for the vice

lows. And the fact that one of the protagonists is a supposedly wellbred, foreign-educated technocrat makes it all a little sadder.

I don’t know if Roxas thinks he can gain any votes from pretending to be a tough guy. After all, his previous attempts at populist posturing haven’t brought him

mention of taxes scares people off.

Alas, even “big green”—large environment groups he calls them—are not sold on the idea, according to him.

Hanssen first became famous in 1988 when, at a House committee hearing in the US, he talked about the then-unheard of term “greenhouse effect” where heat-trapped gases are released into the atmosphere and cause global warming with 99-percent certainty. His suggestion was to sharply reduce the burning of coal, oil and other fossil fuels that release carbon dioxide. He was once a celebrated scientist—now he is an environmental activist.

The work begins, too, according to Pope Francis, who commended the agreement but emphasized that its implementation would require “a concerted and generous commitment on the part of each one.”

Pope Francis referred to the environment/the planet as our common home in his recent encyclical, Laudato Si. He expressed his hope that the agreement will give special attention to the most vulnerable.

And indeed only conscientious implementation will do justice to the jubilation that took place this weekend in the city of lights. People were emotional then, exuberant even as they were exhausted. But soon they will return to their home countries, be reminded of their economic priorities, get confronted by their own realities and the concerns of the present. They will be back in their comfortable offices and expensive suits and will forget the stories of the poorest and most vulnerable.

The landmark deal will amount to nothing if all the good things remain on paper. Let’s give ourselves and the next generation something to really cheer. Let’s continue to watch how nations make climate commitments, and ensure they take these commitments to heart. adellechua@gmail.com

presidency twice and lost despite topping the senatorial race.

Oh, yes, another thing about Mrs. Llamanzares.

She filed CoC for the Senate in 2013 claiming that she was a resident of the Philippines for only six years and six months. She never corrected it, claiming it only as an honest mistake.

Santa Banana, it’s unbelievable for a person like Mrs. Llamanzares not to correct her CoC under oath since she’s intelligent enough. My gulay, the only reason I can guess is that she never thought of running for the presidency in 2016 when the Constitution requires 10 years’ residency in the Philippines.

Now, her ambition has gotten the better of her.

the mass appeal that he so desperately seeks.

But if I were Roxas, I’d stick to making claims about fathering the business process outsourcing industry and bringing down the cost of medicine. While these claims are probably as fantastic as his previous “epal” moves, at least

Again, Mrs. Llamanzares lied when she claimed she was a resident of the Philippines for 10 years and 11 months when she filed her CoC for president. The commissioners of the Second and First Division of the Comelec used “misrepresented.” My gulay, that’s lying in any language! *** This is a caveat for men and women at shopping malls here in Metro Manila or elsewhere.

Scammers who have been victimizing bank depositors are now using more sophisticated gadgets. All they have to do is place their gadgets on the bags of the women and on the back pockets of men especially when the elevators are crowded.

they’re in character.

What Roxas shouldn’t do is get down and dirty with Duterte, never mind if he could win in an actual slapping match with the mayor. If Mar is true to himself, he’s already won a victory—even if he still loses horribly in the coming election.

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA LAST Saturday, Dec. 12, after extending the climate change negotiations for a day, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, president of the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, entered the La Seine plenary hall of the Le Bourget conference center and addressed the thousands of us who were there: “I now invite the COP to adopt the decision entitled Paris Agreement outlined in the document. Looking out to the room I see that the reaction is positive, I see no objections. The Paris agreement is adopted.”

A standing ovation, pandemonium and jubilation followed the announcement. At the Philippine table, Secretaries Emmanuel de Guzman and Neric Acosta, and diplomat Angele Ponce and I embraced. For me, personally, it was a moment to relish having worked on climate change for 25 years now and on this particular negotiation process since 2009.

Minister Laurent is right: “With a small hammer you can achieve great things.” He also said: ”It’s rare in life to be able to move things forward at the planet level.” These are words of wisdom from a socialist politician who was once prime minister of France and still holds the distinction of being the youngest ever to hold that position.

Shortly after the announcement, Secretary De Guzman, vice chair of our Climate Change Commission and the head of the

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

A GOOD DAY IN PARIS Philippine delegation, took the floor and accepted on behalf of the Philippines the Paris Agreement. He acknowledges that the agreement is not perfect but it is acceptable: “We can build on it and make it better over time.

We must now focus on its implementation and on the compliance procedures and will engage in the process.”

Secretary De Guzman explained the context of our presence in Paris: “For each of the past four years, at this time when we come for annual climate meetings, as our Earth spins to another end and another beginning of her voyage around the sun, a powerful typhoon visited the Philippines, carving out an immense swathe of devastation, deprivation and death of many of our countrymen, persistently and rudely reminding us of the significance of our role and the urgency of mission in this Conference of the Parties.”

For our country, according to De Guzman, “climate change means sorrowful catalogues of casualty and fatality; the countless voices of the homeless and the grieving—their very tears and screams carried to us by the winds and waves that blew their homes away.” He eloquently pointed out how: “During moments of great violence and bereavement, “victim” is an inadequate word to capture the loss and damage visited upon us. Each body count has a name and an age—is workmate or lover, neighbor or friend, son

or daughter, father or mother.”

Secretary De Guzman then cited five reasons why the Paris Agreement is a step in the right direction for addressing climate change: First, the 1.5 goal has defined the global ambition for climate action. 1.5 can enable us to survive and thrive. As Chair of the Climate Vulnerability Forum, we were the strongest voice on this issue.

Second, the Agreement establishes human rights as its bedrock principle, including the rights of indigenous peoples, women, young people, and migrants, among others. For the first time, climate justice is recognized in an international legally binding agreement. We were the first to propose this link between human rights and climate change, helping put together a coalition of countries that insisted it be included.

Third, the Agreement ensures ecosystem integrity in climate actions, a very important principle. We were also the strongest advocate of this, a reminder that climate change is not just about carbon.

Fourth, the Agreement ensures support in finance, technology, and capacity building for all adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Our negotiations teams worked very hard to get the best deal possible under the circumstances.

Fifth, we succeeded in getting a Loss and Damage Article in the Agreement, an important

development for a country of many small islands. Our adaptation team provided the ideas that bridge various positions on this difficult issue.

The Paris Agreement actually echoes the message of Pope Francis in Laudato Si: “The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together, to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change. The Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan, or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home.”

Despite diversity and divergence, the countries and peoples of the world found common ground in Paris. As Secretary De Guzman pointed out: “Solidarity is not a stranger to Paris. When terrorists attacked this city last month, its people did not give in to baser instincts, nor were they defeated by fear. Instead, the people of Paris reached out to each other, her minorities included, and now, they have welcomed us all warmly with open hearts and arms.”

When I was conceptualizing the Philippine statement based on Secretary De Guzman’s instructions, I reached out to Ateneo de Manila English teacher Ramon Sunico who coincidentally had taught Secretary De Guzman and me in the 1980s.

Secretary De Guzman and I

wanted a good final speech and we thought enlisting our old teacher, one of the country’s top poets and writers, would be helpful.

After informing him that it was in Le Bourget where Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis in 1927 for the first successful trans-Atlantic flight, Professor Sunico unearthed a poignant story about the first airport of Paris.

In 1927, two weeks before Lindbergh, also called the Lone Eagle, landed in le Bourget, France’s own biplane, L’Oiseau Blanc (the White Bird) took off and then disappeared just as it approached the coast of North America.

The white bird today is associated with peace but a long time ago, lost in the mists of myth and lore, a white bird with a tree branch in its beak brought hope at the end of a global cataclysm, a great flood remembered in many epics and the holy writings of many cultures.

In Paris, last Saturday, each person there released white wings of hope before a future of rising waters and weeping winds.

Let us promise each other then that these birds will never disappear, that instead, we will follow them with our eyes, our hearts, our minds and above all our will, so they perch safely on the lands where our children play.

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

WHICH ONE IS MORE OBJECTIONABLE?

official is subsequently reelected by the people. Fortunately for Binay, the new doctrine was not UNDER the condonation doc- given retroactive effect.

The Commission on Elections trine, an elective official facing administrative charges is deemed has twice ruled that Senator Grace absolved of those charges upon Poe is disqualified from running his reelection. The doctrine pos- for president in the May 2016 its that when the voters reelected elections. According to the poll the official, they are deemed to body, Poe cannot run because she have forgiven any administrative is not a natural-born citizen of infractions earlier committed by the Philippines, and the Constihim. The condonation doctrine tution explicitly requires that the does not apply to criminal of- President of the Philippines must be a natural-born citizen. fenses.

Poe’s rabid supporters like Makati City Mayor Jun-jun Binay invoked the condona- Rex Gatchalian and Isko Moreno tion doctrine after the Ombuds- insist that Poe should be allowed man filed administrative charges to run because it is unfair to against him for anomalies he al- discriminate against foundlings. legedly committed during his They also insist that the voters previous term. When the case should be the ones to decide reached the Supreme Court, the if Poe should be president or Chief Justice expressed her dis- otherwise.

Their arguments have been dain for the condonation doctrine, and even scolded Binay’s repeatedly refuted in the past. lawyers for invoking it. A retired Enforcing the Constitution, Supreme Court Justice opined even if it means prohibiting a that the scolding was uncalled for. foundling like Poe from running In the end, the Supreme Court for president, is non-negotiable under a government of laws. abandoned the doctrine.

In other words, the reelection To those who insist that Poe of an official no longer absolves cannot be disqualified under that official of any administrative international law—put it first in cases pending against him. This the Constitution! If the voice of means that an elective official the people is important, and it is, who is found to have committed then the Constitution must be an administrative offense may be followed because it was ratified suspended from office, even if that by the voice of the people. In

fact, the Constitution begins with the phrase, “We the sovereign Filipino people ...”

What has Poe’s woes got to do with Mayor Binay? Well, Binay allegedly committed an infraction of administrative rules. In Poe’s case, however, to allow her to run for president is to allow a violation of the Constitution. Which one is more objectionable—allowing a mayor to remain in office despite his violation of an administrative regulation, or allowing someone to run for public office in violation of the Constitution?

Unlike administrative regulations, the Constitution enjoys the direct approval of the sovereign Filipino people. Considering that the Supreme Court has ruled that the voice of the sovereign Filipino people, acting through the ballot, cannot condone any violation of any administrative regulation committed by the candidate of their choice (like what happened to Mayor Binay in the elections of 2013), with more reason should it be postulated that the sovereign Filipino people, acting through the ballot, cannot condone a violation of the paramount law of the land.

Another public figure seeking the presidency is Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a nononsense figure who made his city, once the hotbed of crime and lawlessness, a showcase metropo-

lis of law and order. Although Duterte entered the presidential race at the last minute, he quickly became the top pick in the recent surveys conducted in both Metropolitan Manila (where he does not reside), and throughout the Philippines. So far, Duterte has a double-figure lead over Poe and another presidential candidate, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Actually, Duterte is a substitute candidate for president of the PDP-Laban Party, which earlier fielded a certain Martin Diño for the same office. After Diño withdrew from the race, the party replaced Diño with Duterte within the deadline allowed by law for the substitution of candidates who withdraw.

A famous election lawyer said that Diño filed a Certificate of Candidacy not for president but for a local government post, and that for this reason, Duterte cannot validly substitute for Diño as a presidential candidate.

Perhaps it is precisely because Duterte is leading in the surveys that some people obviously opposed to a Duterte presidency are asking the Comelec to disqualify the fiery mayor on the ground that there is a defect in his CoC. They argue that since Diño’s CoC is defective to begin with, the same is void, and a candidacy filed under a void CoC cannot be

the subject of a valid substitution.

Some of Duterte’s supporters maintain that the CoC issue against their candidate involves a mere clerical error which, like all clerical errors, can be corrected. For instance, if the entries in a usually indefeasable public document like a birth certificate are clearly erroneous and are proved to be so, then corrections are allowed by law. That principle ought to apply to Diño’s CoC. At the end of the day, it is substance, not form, which matters.

Since Diño filed his CoC within the deadline set for candidates for president, his intention to file a CoC for president, and not a local government post, may be established. It is also possible that Diño originally planned to run for a local government post and changed his mind at the last minute, but used the wrong CoC. Thus, if it is established that Diño made a clerical error in his CoC, then a correction is in order.

Poe’s disqualification, on the other hand, does not involve a mere clerical error. It is a violation of the Constitution which, aside from being beyond correction, is obviously more objectionable than either an infraction of an administrative rule as in the case of Mayor Binay, or a clerical error as in the case of Mayor Duterte.

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Donaldson shows class in 3-shot win CHONBURI—Jamie Donaldson played a masterful round to hold off a spirited challenge from Lee Westwood and Clement Sordet and clinch the Thai Golf Championship in style on Sunday.

Escalante loses close decision in title fight

By Ronnie Nathanielsz INTERNATIONAL Boxing Association super flyweight champion Bruno Escalante from Cebu, fighting out of Redwood City, California, lost a close if not questionable unanimous decision in a North American Boxing Federation title fight at the Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall in Robstown, Texas over the weekend..

George Vondracek of the Corpus Christi “Caller Times” reported that Kingsville’s undefeated Oscar Cantu, was “battered, cut and bloody,” but outlasted Escalante over 10 rounds on Sunday, bringing the NABF belt back to American soil for the first time since 2008.

Vondracek noted that the chiseled, 5’2” Escalante, who was five inches shorter than Cantu, “appeared to wrest the upper hand in Rounds 3 through 8, landing solid shots despite suffering the first cut of his career via a head-butt in the third round. The 5th and 7th rounds were particularly rough for Cantu, with Escalante peppering the gash above the right eye of his foe.”

In a post-fight interview, Cantu, who improved to 13-0 said: “I don’t back down from these fights. These fights make champions. I could pretty make fight through one eye pretty much. When I got that cut, I couldn’t see through my right eye.

PSA Forum tackles volleyball, karate BEACH volleyball and an array of sports will be up for discussion in today’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Volleyball star Gretchen Ho leads the guests’ list as she talks about the Beach Volleyball Republic Christmas Open set Dec. 18 to 20.

Joining her in the public sports program aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 are karatekas Alvin Parvinfar and KZ Santiago, who won gold medals for the country in the recent Turkey International Open, along with Jujeath ‘Bad Girl’ Nagaowa as she tackles her fight against champion Nao Ikeyama of Japan for the WBO female atomweight title on Dec. 19 in Colombia, Sri Lanka.

Others coming over in the session presented

by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. are Sparta’s owner Amanda Fernandez and Sparta’s Calisthenics Academy consultant and designer Ton Vergel de Dios to discuss the ‘Battle of the Bars,’ the biggest gathering of calisthenics practitioners in the country.

Scribe’s father dies ERIBERTO P. Talao Sr. of San Luis, Pampanga, father of Tempo sportswriter Tito Talao, passed away last Dec. 10 at the family residence in Merville, Subd., Tanza, Navotas, Metro Manila. He was 84, He is survived by his wife Esperanza, sons Tito and Vincent, in-laws and grandchildren.

Interment is today, Dec. 15, at the Manila North Cemetery.

Japanese fans extend their hands and take pictures of Spain’s FC Barcelona footballers upon their arrival at the Narita international airport in Narita, suburban Tokyo. FC Barcelona will play against Asian champion Guagzhou Evergrande of China at the semi-final of the Club World Cup in Yokohama on Dec. 17. AFP

Rock star welcome greets Barca NARITA—European champions Barcelona were greeted like rock stars on their arrival in Japan on Monday to contest the Club World Cup, looking bleary-eyed after a long flight from Spain.

Around 300 screaming fans greeted the Spanish giants trying to take pictures of superstars Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez as they swept through Narita airport at around 0800 local time dressed in blue team tracksuits.

Walking alongside Suarez, Messi smiled at fans as cameras flashed, while Neymar, who is an injury concern for the tournament favourites, sported a baseball cap, sunglasses and earphones.

Barcelona, bidding to become the first team to win the Club World Cup three times after lifting the trophy in 2009 and

2011, take on China’s Guangzhou Evergrande in the semifinals on Thursday.

But Barca coach Luis Enrique is sweating over the fitness of Neymar, who is struggling with a groin strain. The Brazilian has scored 16 times in 18 appearances this season, but Enrique could opt to rest him in Japan.

Barring an upset, Argentina’s River Plate will await the European champions in the final in Yokohama on December 20.

European teams have won the title seven times of the 11 years the competition has been played under the current seventeam format.

Meanwhile, Europe’s leading clubs will discover their opponents for the last 16 of the Champions League on Monday when the draw is made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.

Defending champions Bar-

celona, Bayern Munich and record 10-time winners Real Madrid are among the teams to enter the pot of top seeds consisting of the eight group winners from the previous round.

Last year’s beaten finalists Juventus, Premier League leaders Arsenal and reigning French champions Paris Saint-Germain headline the clubs in pot two, having finished as runners-up in the group phase.

Manchester City and 2012 European champions Chelsea both advanced as top seeds following final-day group victories, along with two-time finalists Atletico Madrid, Zenit Saint Petersburg and Wolfsburg, who reached the knockout phase for the first time after dumping out Manchester United to finish top of Group B. AFP

The Welsh Ryder Cup star shot a seven-under par 65 to finish three clear of England’s Westwood and Frenchman Sordet.

“It feels great to win this trophy and beat some of the best players in the world,” said Donaldson, who admitted he had not played that well this year.

“It all came together today, even though it was bit of a battle with the heat.”

Donaldson’s victory also meant he qualified for the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon, as did Westwood.

Also earning a trip to Troon were Sordet and the 16 year-old Thai, Phachara Khongwatmai, who soared up the leaderboard to clinch sole sixth place after shooting 66.

In joint fourth place, four shots back from the runners-up, were Spain’s Sergio Garcia and South Korea’s An Byeong-Hun, who had already earned exemptions to the Open.

Sharing seventh place was the trio of India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Martin Kaymer from Germany.

Opening up with three straight birdies, Donaldson quickly powered past overnight leader Sordet. The Welshman appeared to be in charge, but he had not totally shaken off his two playing partners who were right on his heels. AFP

Ravena, Teng bring dual power to FIBA 3x3 meet ON court rivals Kiefer Ravena of the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Jeron Teng of the De La Salle Green Archers team up in another rare opportunity, this time to represent the Philippines in the annual 2015 FIBA 3×3 All Stars exhibition game.

Ravena and Teng are all set to give their dual energy on court to try to bring home the bragging rights as FIBA 3x3 All Stars champion. The basketball exhibition game will be held in Doha, Qatar on Dec. 11.

Joining them are NCAA stars Bright Akhuetie of the Perpetual Help System Dalta Altas, and Ola Adeogun of the San Beda Red Lions.

Rallying behind the UAAP mythical duo is the country’s top lighting and technol-

ogy brand, Akari. Ravena and Teng are Akari’s brand ambassadors.

“We are truly proud of our Akari Dual Power endorsers, Kiefer and Jeron as they embark on another challenge together, this time in the international basketball arena,” said Russell Balbacal, Akari Lighting and Technology Corp. sports director. “Akari is behind them every step of the way as they make an attempt to win the title and bring pride to our country.”

FIBA 3×3 All Stars exhibition is an international basketball event which gathers the best players in the 3x3 Individual World Ranking from all over the world to battle it out on court for the grand total of $120,00 in prize money.

Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena (left) and La Salle’s Jeron Teng are representing the Philippines in the 2015 FIBA 3×3 All Stars exhibition game.

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Benilde grabs share of 2nd spot

Kevin Durant (left) of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate during the game against the Utah Jazz at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. AFP

PSA Golf Cup today at Villamor THE Philippine Sportswriters Association holds the PSA Golf Cup Tuesday at the Villamor Golf Club, with the 18-hole tournament also serving as part of the sportswriting fraternity’s annual fellowship. Tee off time is 7 a.m.

The Philippine Sports Commission is the event’s chief backer with Sen. Chiz Escudero, Meralco, San Miguel Corp., Joseph Tambunting and ICTSI as major sponsors.

Other backers of the tournament are athletics’ chief Popoy Juico, Nancy Pascual and Associates, Marvin Caparros, Pin High Golf’s Gary Sales, Bong Lopez, Sports Vision, Agustin & Sons Realty, Interconnect Systems, Inc., Bong del Rosario, Tony Arevalo, Callaway’s Raffy Mapua, National Golf Association of the Philippines, Eagle Ridge’s Raymund Bunquin, Bagobo Hotel Davao, TJ Benitez, Pablo Soon, Sta. Lucia, Freddie Mendoza and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Durant fires 31 points, lifts Thunder past Jazz, 104-98 LOS ANGELES—Kevin Durant scored 31 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a fifth straight NBA victory on Sunday, a 104-98 overtime triumph over the Utah Jazz.

Durant made 10 of his 17 attempts from the floor, handing out six assists and pulling down five rebounds.

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook added 25 points and 11 assists as Oklahoma City beat the Jazz for the second time in three days.

Durant, who scored just two points in the first half, knotted the score with a dunk with 14.6 seconds remaining.

The Jazz threw the ball away on the ensuing possession and it went to overtime, with the Thunder scoring eight straight points to put the game away.

Rodney Hood scored 23 points and Gordon Hayward added 22 for the Jazz, who saw 13 shots blocked by the Thunder -- including six blocks by Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka.

- Wade seals Heat win -

Hobe, Tamaraw in winner-take-all duel HOBE Bihon-Cars Unlimited foiled Far Eastern University-NRMF’s hopes of a sweep as the 2012 and 2013 league champion downed the Tamaraws, 72-57, Saturday night at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City to advance to a winner-take-all game today Tuesday for the 5th DELeague Basketball Tournament championship.

Hobe Bihon-Cars Unlimited started strong with a 22-14 lead and finished the game even stronger as it dominated FEU until the very end.

Rodrigue Ebondo topscored for Hobe Bihon-Cars Unlim-

ST. Benilde edged San Beda in a gripping, come-from-behind 24-26, 23-25, 25-12, 25-15, 15-10 victory yesterday to seize a share of second spot with defending champion Arellano University in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Jeanette Panaga played an allaround game as she led all hitters with 21 hits, 12 on kills, six on blocks and three on service aces as the Blazers improved to 4-1 (win-loss), just a game behind the unbeaten San Sebastian Lady Stags (5-0).

Janine Navarro and Ranya Musa provided the back up by scattering 19 and 17 points, respectively.

It was a dramatic win for St. Benilde, which needed to overhaul a two-set deficit in snatching the win.

“The girls showed character,” said St. Benilde coach Michael Carino.

In men’s play, the Blazers downed the Lions, 25-16, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, to likewise boost their stock.

San Beda prevented a humiliating sweep as its juniors’ team routed St. Benilde, 25-15, 25-14, 25-23.

ited with 21 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Laundry Sanjo, who contributed 20 points and 14 boards.

Far Eastern UniversityNRMF, on the other hand, was led by former PBA player Leo Avenido, with 12 markers.

The two teams will face off once again today (Tuesday) for the title.

The 5th DELeague is supported by Mayor Del De Guzman and sponsored by PSBank, Accel Sportswear, PCA -Marivalley, Fat Cousins, Angels Burger, Mckies Construction Equipment Sales and Rentals, Luyong Pancite-

ria, 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.

Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia Land Inc. beat Philippine Christian University, 82-75, in the battle for third place.

The league champion will receive a P200,000 cash prize and a championship trophy, while the first runner-up will get P100,000.

Tickets are available for only P10. Drop by www.sports29. com for game results.

In Miami, Dwyane Wade hit the game-winning jump shot with 21.9 seconds left as the Heat rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 100-97.

The Heat scored the game’s final 11 points, including Wade’s shot that hit the front rim and the backboard before falling.

Chris Bosh scored 22 points for the Heat, Gerald Green added 16 points, Luol Deng scored 15 and Wade produced 14 as Miami snapped a season-worst three-game losing streak.

Wade seemed an unlikely

savior for the Heat after connecting on just five of his first 14 shots.

But Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wasn’t surprised that he came up with the goods when it mattered.

“Dwyane is uncanny,” Spoelstra said. “He can play absolutely horrible stretches and all of sudden get to the last two minutes and have incredible confidence.” AFP - Knight bounces back Brandon Knight bounced back from his worst game of the season to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 108-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Leo Najorda of Far Eastern UniversityNRMF loses the ball as Jeff Sanders and Laundry Sanjo of Hobe BihonCars Unlimited peeks from his side, Saturday night, during the 5th DELeague Basketball tournament finals at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City.

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South African trainer pulls a gun, threatens PH manager

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

THE trainer of International Boxing Organization flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane has been accused of pulling out a gun and threatening Filipino boxing manager Ryan Gabriel, when he reportedly insisted on getting the purse of his ward – the challenger Renz Rosia as stipulated in the contract after the weigh-in.

The trainer Nick Durandt presented the purse, but insisted in paying it after the fight.

“The most shocking thing occurred. In front of the judges, Mr. Durandt flashed his gun at me and told me that if I don’t show up at the fight, he told me that I would know what will happen,

implying a threat. My boxer saw this, and lost his focus, and we all basically feared for our lives,” Gabriel, in a letter to IBO president Ed Levine, a copy of which was furnished this writer, wrote.

The Filipino boxing manager added: “I have been to several countries for fights and have

loved boxing for many years.

Never have I experienced such a brutal and barbaric act, and I am very saddened by these events.”

He expressed the hope that “there will be proper disciplinary action regarding this matter and that all boxers will feel safe no matter where they travel.”

Gabriel said the judges can attest to this, even as he disclosed that when referee/judge/ suprvisor Len Hunt “found out about these happenings, he was very concerned and ensured our safety up until we reached the airport. I thank him for his sincerity and assistance.”

Mthalane won by a ninthround TKO to retain his title and improve his record to 32-2 with 1 knockouts, while Rosia

dropped to 12-4, with 6 knockouts after the loss.

In another questionable decision, Gabriel said that after the weigh-in, the Commission “insisted on having Rosia’s blood drawn for an AIDS test. We do not oppose this, but I believe we should have been informed in advance and I would have conducted the test in Manila. This insistence by the boxing commission weakened my boxer.”

He added: “I am writing this letter to express my concern regarding the fight between my boxer Rosia and his opponent, current IBO flyweight champion Mthalane. I accept defeat in this fight. However, I would like to report what happened before the fight that should concern the IBO and the sport of boxing.

Cage winners. Members and coaches of De La Salle-Zobel pose after winning over De La Salle-Alabang in the Developmental Division of the 4th Interschool Basketball Tournament held recently at The Village Sports Club in Paranaque City. The members of the team are MVP winner Arthur Tupaz, Champ Arejola, Kieffer Alas, Alwyn Arboleda, Waki Espina, Santi Sauler, Dwayne Miranda, Tomy Lu, Rico Datu, Justin and Adrian Agustin and Quint Mantecon.

Seahorses, Griffins rout rivals Games Dec.16 9 a.m. CDSL vs Philsca 10:30 a.m. NCBA vs PATTS 12 nn St. Francis vs LPU-Alabang 1:30 p.m. AIMS vs PNTC

THE PATTS School of Aeronautics Seahorses and the Colegio de San Lorenzo Griffins continued to post resounding victories on Monday in the re-

Chess...

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Among those, who joined the tournament as top board players of some of the teams were Chess Olympians and grandmasters Joey Antonio, Jayson Gonzales, Darwin Laylo, Ronald Dableo and Woman International Master Janelle Mae Frayna.

sumption of the 8th Universities and Colleges of Luzon Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Marikina Sports Complex.

John Lymon Reed top-scored for the Sea Horses with 19 points as they toppled the Lyceum of Alabang Sharks, 84-76, for their second straight win, in a tie with the Griffins.

Dominic Formenta scored 14 points as the Griffins put away the Philippine Nautical and Technological College cagers, 82-54.

“The boys were eager to get ahead after their back-to-back losses in another tournament.

That’s why we had lapses early.

But they were able to find their form in the third period,” said PATTS’ coach Renzie Aranzaso.

The tournament offers a total cash prize of P1.5 million, put up by Sarangani congressman Pacquiao, with the top team receiving a whopping P400,000 and the top individual winner taking home P50,000.

Torre, along with co-organizers Aries Sacayanan, NM Roel Abelgas and Jun Panopio, led the opening

of the tournament, which kicked off with a simple ceremony, capped by the traditional ceremonial opening moves between WIM Janelle Mae Frayna and GenSan’s youngest player, 12-year old Jin Warrren Julon. The ceremony was also joined by the the GMs present along with some of the participating female players.

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“And then with what Rickie Fowler did this season, breaking through with three wins and Jason and myself it was exciting.”

McIlroy says he has learned a lesson from the football injury mishap and that he is energised by the challenge presented by such as Spieth and Day. But his current focus is very much on the Masters at Augusta National in April where he will attempt, for the second straight year, to become just the sixth man to win all four of golf’s majors.

“It’s always going to be there until I get to put a green jacket on my back,” he said.

“It’s obviously the first real goal of the year is to try and get ready for the Masters and be in as good a shape as possible going in there.

“But golf’s in a great place. Guys are playing better than ever it seems

Choice of Pacman opponent all about money THE choice of eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent for a tentative return to the ring on April 9, is apparently all about money.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told The Standard/boxingmirror.com that while “there is no rush to make a decision,” which has been postponed more than once, the two names that have figured prominently in the choice of an opponent are World Boxing Council welterweight silver champion Amir Khan and world champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley.

Undefeated Terrence Crawford, who has been pushed by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, is also being considered.

But Koncz said he isn’t quite keen to have Pacquiao face Crawford.

“It doesn’t matter who is going to be the best fight. It’s what the numbers determine and maximizes Manny’s return,” the longtime Pacquiao adviser said.

At the same time, Koncz added: “Amir is going to generate more than Bradley on pay-perview, but the question is, will he be reasonable in his purse.”

Earlier this year when Pacquiao visited London for a private dinner with Prince Harry, he and Koncz met with Khan and his people in a old boxing gym and agreed to face each other later this year.

But Pacquiao’s clash with undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. scuttled the Khan plans, as the Filipino and Mayweather engaged in the Fight of the Century last May 2.

In that fight, Pacquiao claimed he hurt his right shoulder in Round 4 and underwent surgery for a rotator cuff tear on May 5 in Los Angeles, from which he has reportedly recovered. Ronnie Nathanielsz

like, at least for me, the last couple of years.”

As for Woods, the 14-time major winner turns 40 on December 30 at a time when his very future in the game is up in the air.

Asked in early December if it was possible he may not play at all in 2016 as he recovers from two operations on his back in September and October, Woods replied: “You know, I’ve been asked this quite a bit lately and the answer is I don’t know, only because I really don’t, I really don’t.

“For my 20 years out here, I think I’ve achieved a lot, and if that’s all it entails, then I’ve had a pretty good run. But I’m hoping that’s not it.

“I’m hoping that I can get back out here and compete against these guys.

“But if that’s not the case anymore, then I’ll find other avenues, that being growing my foundation, golf course design or other projects I have going on right now that will certainly take up more of my time.”

T UE S DAY : DE CE M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Thompson a prized Kings’ catch

By Jeric Lopez

IF what transpired in its last game is an indication, Barangay Ginebra may be looking at a bright future.

In just the 10th game of his professional career in the Philippine Basketball Association, Scottie Thompson already proved his worth by flaunting Barangay Ginebra’s neversay-die mantra.

The talented rookie, the fifth overall pick in the draft, showed Barangay Ginebra and its fans what they have in him as he fearlessly spearheaded the Gin Kings’ scintillating comeback from a gigantic 22-point deficit in the second half to trip NLEX, 91-90, last Sunday in a pivotal clash.

Thompson scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth period as he quarterbacked and scored heavily for Ginebra in its comeback surge. More-

over, it was Thompson’s go-ahead two free throws in the dying seconds that lifted the Gin Kings to victory.

With what Thompson showed, along with his consistent contributions every game, Ginebra coach Tim Cone is convinced that his rookie will certainly be a legitimate force in the PBA. ‘’He (Thompson) just didn’t give up on that game, along with the other guys. I saw firsthand the never-say-die spirit and he led us,’’ said Cone.

The league’s winningest coach, who has handled a lot of superstars in his rich coaching career, knows he’s got a prized catch in the former NCAA Most Valuable Player.

‘’We know what he have in him.

He’s a prized possession for us and may very well be a good future for the team,’’ added Cone.

Despite Ginebra being a guardloaded team, Thompson is still managing to consistently get his minutes from Cone this season and has contributed one way or another.

Thompson helped Ginebra build its 6-4 mark with a game to go. With that huge win over the Road Warriors, the Gin Kings are in a good position to finish in the Top 6 and get a twice-to-bear advantage in the quarterfinals.

While Thompson’s play and Ginebra’s current stand are good news to the team and its fans, there’s also some bad news as well.

In the final possession of that much-talked about Ginebra win over NLEX, Thompson hurt his left shoulder and at the moment, the Gin Kings are holding their breath as their top

rookie is undergoing examinations to see the severity of the injury.

But according to Thompson himself, he is optimistic that the shoulder injury isn’t that serious. ‘’Natamaan and nabugbog lang siguro itong shoulder ko kasi wala naman akong narinig na nag-pop.

So hopefully, pahinga lang. Wait na lang tayo sa results ng MRI,’’ said Thompson.

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

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY CARAGA REGION Butuan City INVITATION TO BID FOR THE PROCUREMANT OF SECURITY SERVICES FOR NFA CARAGA REGION FOR CY 2016 The NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY (NFA), through its Corporate Operating Budget for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of TWELVE MILLION THREE HUNDRED NINETY THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHT & 60/100 (Php 12,390,708.60) being the APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT (ABC) to payments under the contract of security services for NFA Caraga Region for CY 2016 as follows: LOCATION / NFA PROVINCIAL OFFICE TO BE SERVICED

Asaphil board member Eufracio Dela Cruz (second from left) joins hands with (from left) DepEd representative Romulo Flora, tournament director Jun Veloso and Baguio City Sports Development officer Gaudencio Gonzales during yesterday’s opening of the Inter-Collegiate Men’s and Women’s Softball Championships put up by Asaphil and Cebuana Lhuillier in Baguio City.

San Miguel, Woodrose topple foes FANCIED San Miguel, Bulacan charged back to beat Valenzuela, 16-6, while Woodrose School ripped Tuguegarao City, 5-0, in the third day of action in the 2015 National Inter-Secondary Girls Softball Championships at the Sto. Niño Baseball Field in Marikina yesterday.

San Miguel struggled early with their offense and wavered in defense, yielding three runs in the first inning. It still trailed, 2-5, after three but countered in the next two frames behind Miracle Balogna and Georgete Fernandez, who keyed the team’s five-run binge in the fourth and a seven-run charge in the fifth while holding their rivals to just one run the rest of the way to fashion out the win.

Meanwhile, Asaphil (Ama-

teur Softball Association of the Philippines) and Cebuano Lhuillier kicked off the 2015 Inter-Collegiate Men’s and Women’s Softball Championships in Baguio City yesterday with 10 teams participating in each side with Indonesia spicing up the women’s action.

“The National intercollegiate tournament has been a source of outstanding talents for our national teams the past years. I expect it to continue to do so this year, which promises to be an exciting and competitive one with the presence of a foreign guest team. “said Asaphil president and Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier.

Like San Miguel, Woodrose groped for form early, scoring just one run after four innings

but pounced on Tuguegarao’s miscue in the fifth to score three runs before making another run in the seventh while shutting down their rivals all throughout with their solid defense.

It was Woodrose School’s third win against one loss to trail Manila City (4-1) and Sta. Maria, Bulacan (3-0) in Bracket B while Makati City continues to pace Bracket A with a 5-0 card followed by San Mateo and Miriam College with 4-0 and 3-1 cards, respectively.

The tournament, aimed at discovering and developing talents who could be trained for future national pool, stakes P25,000 to the champion with the second and third placers receiving P15,000 and P10,000, respectively.

NUMBER OF SECURITY GUARDS

REGULAR POSTING

SPECIAL EVENTS

Regional Office Butuan City

3

-

Agusan del Norte

12

-

Agusan del Sur

15

1

Surigao del Norte

23

12

Surigao del Sur

15

-

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT (ANNUAL)

Php 12,390,708.60

The scope of work, requirements and specifications of the Contracts include the provision and deployment of duly licensed security guards and firearms (including live ammunitions), vehicles and communication equipment and the design and implementation of security systems and procedures aimed at maximizing protection for NFA personnel, stakeholders and properties.

Bidders should have completed within the immediate last three years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder and the minimum qualification requirements are contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instructions to Bidders (ITB).

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/failed” criteria as specified in the implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. National Food A Complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders on December 15, 2015 – January 18, 2016 (working days only) from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable bidding fee of Php 25,000.00.

The NFA Caraga Region Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) will hold a Pre-bid conference on January 5, 2016 at 1:30 P.M. at 2nd Floor, Rudy Tiu VIII Bldg. J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bid must be delivered to the address below on or before January 18, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bid opening shall be on January 18, 2016 at 10:01 A.M. at 2nd Floor, Rudy Tiu VIII Bldg. J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representative who choose to attend.

The National Food Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Ms. Hyde Beth M. Pascual BAC Secretariat Head National Food Authority 2nd Floor Rudy Tiu Bldg. VIII J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City Tel No. (085) 815 3284 (085) 225 6701 Fax No. (085) 342 7898 (SGD) GIL B. IBARRA Assistant Regional Director and Chairperson, BAC

(TS-DEC. 15, 2015)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T ue s day : de c e m b e r 1 5 , 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

Jordan Spieth of the United States lines up his birdie putt on the third hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany. AFp

mcilroy

yeAr in golF

dAy

Big 3 back in golf; Tiger wilts PARIS—A watershed year in golf saw the emergence of a new “Big Three”, filling the vacuum left by the fast-fading Tiger Woods.

Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy ended the year on the world rankings podium, in that order, and their rivalry is set to shine brightly in the new year.

Spieth, at just 22, is the youngest of the three and, for much of the year gone by, he was the story.

He won the Masters for his first major title in April and followed up by taking the US Open two months later. He then set sail for St Andrews with talk of the never-before achieved calendar-year Grand Slam starting to dominate sporting pages.

He came agonisingly close to becoming just the second player, after Ben Hogan in 1953, to win the first three majors of the year, but a bogey at the 17th, the Road Hole, saw him miss out by one stroke on a three-man playoff won by Zach Johnson.

Spieth then lost the world number one spot he had taken from McIlroy in June to the then 27-year-old Australian Day, who won four tournaments from late July to midSeptember, including his first major at the PGA Championship.

durAnt cArries thunder pAst jAzz

The Texan though regained the number one spot with his win in the closing Tour Championship, clinching the FedEx Cup into the bargain.

McIlroy in contrast had a mixed bag of a year, failing to add to his haul of major titles which remains at four.

He only had himself to blame after being forced to miss the defence of his British Open crown because of an ankle ligament injury picked up during an impromptu football kickabout with friends.

But the 26-year-old from Northern Ireland finished the year strongly, a superb showing in Dubai in November giving him the DP World Tour Cham-

pionship title and the Race to Dubai European Tour crown.

Spieth says he fully expects himself to win at least one major championship in 2016, but he believes it might be too early to put himself and Day up on a pedestal with McIlroy.

“I think for Rory it’s a bit different because he’s been consistent for a number of years now,” he said.

“It’s still so early in my career so it’s hard for me to compare to others. But what an exciting year it was for golf, with so many young players playing so well.

“If Rory was healthy for the whole year he would have made a bigger impact than he was able to make in Turn to A14 a shorter season.

thompson A prized ginebrA cAtch

turn to A13 turn to A15

Chess team of Pacman’s brother wins THE younger upset the older as the team of Bobby Pacquiao, backstopped by the Aton brothers led by board 1 player Arnel Aton, stunned Pacman A, 2.5-1.5 despite the win by Board 1 player IM Rolando Nolte, at the start of the 2nd Manny Pacquiao Random Chess Championship at the SM Mall here.

The only other upset victory was posted by Jardin del Roca team from Davao. The Davaoenos, led by Cirilo Enopio at Board 1, shocked the Ronald Llavanes-led Pampanga A team, 2.5-1.5.

There were only two draws from the 37 board matches at the start of the tournament, which drew a record number of 74 teams or roughly 300 players who showed up yesterday.

“This only proves that in random chess, it would be difficult to draw a game, because everybody is given a chance to be creative and experiment on their moves,” said Torre, who heads the organizing Manny Pacquiao Chess Association. Turn to A14

TUESDAY: DECEMBER 15, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Peso plummets to 6-year low

By Julito G. Rada

THE peso fell to a new six-year low against the US dollar, losing P0.11 to close at 47.345 a dollar Monday, as the anticipated rate hike by the US Federal Reserve this week buoyed the greenback against most currencies.

This was the local currency’s weakest level since closing at 47.47 against the dollar on Oct. 28, 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis. The peso settled at 47.235 against the greenback Fri-

day.

Total volume turnover on Monday reached $514 million, higher than $486 million Friday.

“Actually, most of the re-

gional currencies were affected, except the Japanese yen.

Part of the dollar’s strength was the expected rate hike in the US this week,” Emilio Neri Jr., lead economist of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, said in a phone interview.

“Also, there was a risk-off sentiment because of this Third Avenue Fund which had a cheap redemption which apparently did not anticipate the interest rates hike by the Fed this month,” Neri said.

Neri, however, expressed opti-

mism there would be a relief for the peso after the Fed’s announcement on the rate hike decision on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).

“It makes sense for the peso to depreciate… The peso’s weakness is good for BPOs [business process outsourcing] sector and overseas Filipino workers….,” Neri said.

The peso breached the 47-adollar level on Nov. 9, closing at 47.16 from 46.935 a day earlier.

It further weakened to 47.26 a dollar on Nov. 10, as the im-

minent Fed lift-off strengthened the dollar against other currencies.

Nicholas Antonio Mapa, research officer of BPI, earlier said the strong dollar trend could be seen this month or until “any weak US data or comments from the Fed send the currency pair back lower.”

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo earlier said the exchange rate target of 43 to 46 a dollar remained doable this year, despite the volatilities in the global financial markets.

PSe comPoSite index Closing December 14, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

6,745.99 10.98

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing DECEMBER 14, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P47.345

46.20

CLOSE

47.00

HIGH P47.300 LOW P47.375 AVERAGE P47.339 VOLUME 514.000M

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

oPriceS il P today

P25.03-P28.48 Diesel

Leica anniversary. Leica Camera, the German camera and sport optics manufacturer with over 160 years of heritage, celebrates its first anniversary in Manila with ‘Fade Into Light’ exhibit, a travel photography series by Raul Echivarre (left) and AP Murillo (right). Coinciding with the event is the unveiling of the newest addition to Leica’s portfolio —the Leica SL. Joining Murillo and Echivarre during the unveiling are (from left) Lucerne managing director Ivan Yao, German Embassy deputy head of mission Michael Hasper and Leica Store Philippines general manager Edith Dychiao. The Leica Store is located at the lower ground floor of Greenbelt 5 in Makati City.

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, December 14, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.2290

Japan

Yen

0.008274

0.3908

UK

Pound

1.522500

71.9062

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129024

6.0937

Switzerland

Franc

1.017397

48.0506

Canada

Dollar

0.728173

34.3909

Singapore

Dollar

0.707965

33.4365

Australia

Dollar

0.721085

34.0561

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656184

125.4489

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266581

12.5904

Brunei

Dollar

0.705467

33.3185

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027732

1.3098

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

12.8605

Euro

Euro

1.099300

51.9188

Korea

Won

0.000842

0.0398

China

Yuan

0.154911

7.3163

India

Rupee

0.014902

0.7038

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233100

11.0091

New Zealand

Dollar

0.671817

31.7292

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030320

1.4320 Source: PDS Bridge

Shell dismantles oil depot in Pandacan, Manila

By Alena Mae S. Flores PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp. said it has fully dismantled its oil tanks in Pandacan, Manila to comply the Supreme Court’s ruling directing the transfer of the oil companies’ depot outside the city due to safety concerns.

Pilipinas Shell country chairman Ed Chua told reporters the company had fully complied with the high tribunal’s decision but had yet to decide on what to do with the dismantled area.

Shell, Petron Corp. and Chev-

ron Philippines jointly operate the Pandacan oil depot. All three companies have ceased their oil depot operations.

Shell said it also shut down its automated lube blending oil plant in Pandacan.

“We have to comply with the Supreme Court ruling. We will have to import lubricants,” Chua said earlier.

Shell lubricants account for about 20 percent of the company’s total business in the Philippines, he said.

Shell officials earlier assured that all its 14 oil tanks would be

dismantled at the Pandacan depot

by November.

“We are disappointed [by the court’s ruling], but this does not define our whole relationship with the government,” Chua said.

Chua said Shell would absorb any price difference arising from the transfer of its depot from Pandacan to Batangas, but downplayed any possible oil price hike arising from it.

“It’s still market forces,” he said.

The Supreme Court required Petron Corp., Chevron Corp. and Shell, or the so-called big 3 oil

companies, to remove the oil depot facilities in Pandacan, Manila, and not merely to cease operations by November.

Among the three oil firms, Shell initially resisted the Pandacan oil depot’s removal saying it would raise pump prices and create logistical problems.

“It is very challenging because we’re coming from Batangas,” Chua said.

Shell owns a 110,000-barrelper-day refinery in Batangas which was recently upgraded to allow the production of Euro 4-compliant fuels.

TUESDAY: DECEMBER 15, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Monday, deceMber 14, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 890 1.01 100 30.5 75 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124 47 5 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 9.66 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 1.44 1.48 0.201 0.69

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 46.1 45 100.20 97.90 83.00 81.50 38.1 37.8 2.50 2.45 1.30 1.24 15.1 14.9 18.2 18.04 1.8 1.65 700.00 700.00 0.510 0.490 78 76.35 16.40 16.30 22.50 22.50 51.65 50.50 290 290 33 32 138 134.8 1470.00 1435.00 57.00 56.80 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp.

40 39.45 38.4 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 4.9 4.88 4.6 1.86 Alsons Cons.

1.45 1.46 1.39 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.48 10.6 10.08 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 91.00 95.00 95.00 15.32 Century Food 16.78 16.8 16.6 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 21.35 21.3 20.25 29.15 Concepcion 44 45.7 44 1.5 Crown Asia 2.3 2.29 2.25 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.59 1.72 1.57 10.72 Del Monte 12.38 13.08 12.4 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 7.980 8.19 7.890 9.04 Emperador 9.00 9.27 8.88 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.70 5.80 5.47 8.86 EEI 5.20 5.22 5.01 20.2 First Gen Corp.

22 22 21.3 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 66.6 66.6 65.7 13.86 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 11.70 12.50 12.00 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 14.40 14.48 14.26 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.75 5.8 5.7 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.150 2.200 2.040 173 Jollibee Foods Corp.

209.00 209.00 204.00 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.9 24.95 24.5 17.3 Maxs Group 21.2 21 20.4 5.88 Megawide 5.65 5.96 5.51 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 318.00 318.00 315.00 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.69 3.79 3.61 8.45 Petron Corporation 7.02 7.12 6.99 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.50 11.50 11.50 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.76 3.76 3.70 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.65 1.61 1.60 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.26 2.25 2.2 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.01 4.01 3.95 1.65 Roxas and Co. 2.2 2.19 2.19 5.9 Roxas Holdings 4.6 5 5 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 126.1 126.1 126 4.1 SPC Power Corp.

3.7 3.5 3.35 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.54 2.5 2.38 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.144 0.150 0.142 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

1.09 1.07 1.07 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.18 2.17 2.15 152 Universal Robina 181 18.5 177.1 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.72 4.55 4.55 0.640 Vitarich Corp.

0.64 0.63 0.59 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.10 1.09 1.06 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.385 0.395 0.395 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 54.9000 56.3500 52.5000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 15.60 15.60 15.16 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.40 6.26 6.26 0.23 ATN Holdings B 0.232 0.232 0.228 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 725 735 721 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.78 8.2 7.7 12.8 DMCI Holdings 13.30 13.70 12.92 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.238 0.250 0.237 837 GT Capital 1223 1299 1215 5.3 House of Inv. 5.50 5.50 5.50 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 72.00 71.80 66.60 3 Keppel Holdings `A’ 5.5 5.99 5.99 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.03 7.02 6.8 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.7 0.72 0.69 12 LT Group 13.8 13.92 13.04 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.5 0.5 0.49 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.05 5.12 5.04 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 9.43 9.8 9.36 3 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.4 3.79 3 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0310 0.0310 0.0300 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.160 1.330 1.250 0.550 Prime Orion 1.810 1.820 1.790 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 46.55 46.55 44.50 1.5 Seafront `A’ 2.4 2.40 2.40 751 SM Investments Inc. 820.00 819.00 803.50 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.20 1.20 1.15 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.72 0.72 0.72 80 Top Frontier 74.000 74.900 71.000 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.2950 0.2900 0.2800 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.1950 0.2060 0.1950 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.260 0.260 0.240 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.990 6.980 6.500 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.83 0.86 0.82 1.2 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.070 1.060 1.060 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 35.500 34.850 33.800 3.36 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.04 3.03 2.99 0.79 Century Property 0.57 0.56 0.55 0.97 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.04 1.030 1.030 0.083 Crown Equities Inc. 0.121 0.121 0.120 0.415 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.455 0.455 0.455 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 625 0.225 78 17.8 58 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

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

SHARES 10,015,568 70,082,083 101,440,488 71,984,484 186,647,910 928,400,332 1,372,315,130

46.15 100.20 82.35 38.1 2.51 1.29 15 18.2 1.8 710.00 0.510 77.2 16.60 22.45 50.85 290 33 136.2 1480.00 57.00

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

46.1 98.00 83.00 38 2.50 1.30 15 18.04 1.8 700.00 0.490 77 16.34 22.50 50.50 290 32.6 138 1470.00 56.85

-0.11 -2.20 0.79 -0.26 -0.40 0.78 0.00 -0.88 0.00 -1.41 -3.92 -0.26 -1.57 0.22 -0.69 0.00 -1.21 1.32 -0.68 -0.26

4,800 3,386,030 2,743,910 22,500 16,000 87,000 16,700 11,000 9,000 50 425,000 2,118,000 256,800 1,000 791,930 190 4,600 71,550 115 49,380

39.1 4.77 1.4 10.48 95.00 16.6 20.5 44.5 2.29 1.7 12.42 8.190 9.00 5.80 5.02 22 66.1 12.48 14.26 5.75 2.160 206.00 24.75 20.75 5.81 316.80 3.7 7.12 11.50 3.72 1.60 2.21 3.97 2.19 5 126 3.35 2.47 0.142 1.07 2.17 179.8 4.55 0.61 1.06

-2.25 -2.65 -3.45 0.00 4.40 -1.07 -3.98 1.14 -0.43 6.92 0.32 2.63 0.00 1.75 -3.46 0.00 -0.75 6.67 -0.97 0.00 0.47 -1.44 -0.60 -2.12 2.83 -0.38 0.27 1.42 0.00 -1.06 -3.03 -2.21 -1.00 -0.45 8.70 -0.08 -9.46 -2.76 -1.39 -1.83 -0.46 -0.66 -3.60 -4.69 -3.64

2,337,500 524,000 277,000 5,500 100 77,600 428,700 18,000 191,000 6,357,000 531,000 10,766,700 191,300 12,794,400 251,300 2,052,900 121,260 1,523,400 100,100 318,400 4,261,000 783,740 5,521,600 624,600 3,093,800 155,840 128,000 650,300 5,000 34,000 574,000 293,000 2,655,000 1,000 2,000 44,350 16,000 670,000 2,800,000 1,000 901,000 1,785,740 20,000 244,000 63,000

0.395 56.3000 15.30 6.26 0.228 735 8.2 13.04 0.237 1299 5.50 71.80 5.99 6.8 0.7 13.9 0.49 5.08 9.79 3.79 0.0310 1.280 1.820 44.50 2.4 813.50 1.20 0.72 74.900 0.2800 0.1950 0.255

2.60 2.55 -1.92 -2.19 -1.72 1.38 5.40 -1.95 -0.42 6.21 0.00 -0.28 8.91 -3.27 0.00 0.72 -2.00 0.59 3.82 11.47 0.00 10.34 0.55 -4.40 0.00 -0.79 0.00 0.00 1.22 -5.08 0.00 -1.92

20,000 754,580 7,308,400 12,700 620,000 199,720 11,140,900 2,728,600 70,000 73,315 23,500 1,227,400 1,000 380,900 81,000 1,474,700 100,000 18,110,200 1,348,400 17,000 42,400,000 10,000 466,000 634,600 2 191,900 11,000 2,000 650 4,050,000 20,000 3,220,000

6.700 0.82 1.060 34.350 3.02 0.55 1.03 0.121 0.455

-4.15 -1.20 -0.93 -3.24 -0.66 -3.51 -0.96 0.00 0.00

131,000 2,519,000 32,000 7,633,200 4,287,000 2,946,000 25,000 540,000 740,000

138,140.00 -55,500,146 26,679,392.50

-77,500.00 -171,962.00 -35,000.00 -65,528,211.00 3,796,430.00 -1,350,827.50 -133,440 6,032,055.00 -29,400.00 -946,200.50 -70,362,705.00 149,830.00

123,032.00 -60,070.00 766,150 166,490.00 3,874,500.00 2,715,663.00 -1,178,078.00 -17,245,647.00 -157,840.00 -21,557,650.00 -948,116.00 -133,920.00 1,283,400.00 1,188,730.00 -112,559,108.00 2,491,390.00 2,310,595.00 312,448.00 -1,095,646.00 61,370.00 1,433,137.00 8,000.00 73,040.00 132,290.00 -10,000.00 -5,588,439.00 28,400.00 1,039,720.00 -160,281,711.00

-21,807,033.00 -83,088,118.00 25,954,765.00 56,795,137.00 -18,998,470.00 14,228,525.00 6,682,267.50 -517,758.00 -3,726,358.00 17,150.00 -10,437,067.00 -10,318.00

-3,620.00 -17,928,755.00 36,000.00 -56,824,270.00

28,500.00

263,628.00 132,880.00 -72,548,960.00 -909,190.00 -5,900.00 -4,550.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

Double Dragon Empire East Land Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 2.53 1 2.46 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 1.01 0.650 1.8 6

0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum

70 553 525 120 515 8.21 12.28 1060

33 490 500 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 997

1047 78.95 84.8

1011 74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

24.45 23.55 24.35 0.820 0.820 0.820 1.02 1.01 1.01 1.83 1.77 1.83 4.2 4.03 4.2 0.078 0.077 0.078 0.2500 0.2500 0.2500 0.4100 0.4050 0.4050 8.65 8.55 8.55 26.10 24.50 25.90 1.42 1.4 1.42 3.2 3.2 3.2 22.95 20.75 22.95 0.73 0.72 0.73 0.900 0.850 0.890 5.130 4.990 5.130 SERVICES 7.15 7.1 6.85 6.94 63.7 64 62.5 62.5 1.15 1.13 1.12 1.12 0.490 0.490 0.470 0.490 4.41 4.46 4.35 4.41 0.0430 0.0430 0.0420 0.0420 3.33 3.39 3.25 3.25 82.4 82.4 81.3 81.6 5.34 5.45 4.95 5.00 955 970 955 970 1790 1800 1750 1750 7.00 7.00 6.67 6.67 1.23 1.20 1.18 1.18 70.05 70 67.7 67.95 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.164 0.168 0.157 0.162 1.3800 1.4000 1.3800 1.4000 8.18 8.30 8.00 8.00 4.20 4.20 4.10 4.12 1.24 1.20 1.11 1.11 0.560 0.560 0.550 0.550 2 1.98 1.93 1.98 2.43 2.5 2.34 2.45 3.84 3.81 3.69 3.74 0.255 0.270 0.255 0.270 0.850 0.870 0.800 0.850 18.98 18.48 17.7 18.48 4.67 4.67 4.50 4.51 101.10 101.10 101.10 101.00 20.90 20.90 20.80 20.90 1972.00 1988.00 1970.00 1976.00 0.435 0.450 0.425 0.450 0.740 0.750 0.680 0.720 33.75 33.75 33.10 33.40 66.30 65.85 63.20 63.60 6.00 5.99 5.77 5.81 3.72 3.70 3.52 3.57 0.465 0.460 0.460 0.460 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51 3.69 3.74 3.63 3.68 0.330 0.335 0.320 0.320 4.200 4.200 4.050 4.200 MINING & OIL 0.0048 0.0049 0.0048 0.0048 1.85 1.82 1.82 1.82 4.18 4.20 4.18 4.18 5.5000 3.5 3.5 3.5000 5.7000 5.7 5.7 5.7000 0.64 0.62 0.58 0.58 0.62 0.6 0.59 0.59 7.32 7.60 7.30 7.30 0.72 0.72 0.69 0.7 0.280 0.290 0.275 0.280 0.189 0.189 0.185 0.189 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 2.02 2.03 2 2.01 6.4 6.4 6.2 6.2 2.7 2.82 2.55 2.75 1.2800 1.2700 1.2700 1.2700 0.0100 0.0110 0.0099 0.0100 0.0092 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 3.54 3.54 3.54 3.54 4.87 4.850 4.75 4.80 1.31 1.340 1.23 1.29 0.0120 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 135.00 134.80 131.10 133.30 2.18 2.18 2.14 2.15 PREFERRED 65 65 64.9 65 520 525 520 520 510 510.5 510.5 510.5 115.6 115.6 115.6 115.6 519 519 519 519 6.59 6.59 6.45 6.5 1.12 1.12 1.12 1.12 1050 1060 1050 1050 1075 1075 1065 1065 1023 1021 1020 1020 80.7 77 77 77 83 81 81 81 79.5 79.5 78.6 78.6 80.5 79.9 79.1 79.1 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.630 2.620 2.620 2.620 SME 3.45 3.5 3.3 3.47 2.7 2.75 2.57 2.57 3.64 3.69 3.26 3.28 15.1 15.2 14.5 14.9 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 110.1 110.1 108.5 109.9

-1.62 -1.20 -0.98 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.22 -1.38 0.58 0.71 -0.31 8.25 0.00 1.14 -0.39

738,700 6,000 2,700,000 3,290,000 20,287,000 1,110,000 40,000 200,000 115,500 7,570,700 119,000 3 7,662,800 785,000 469,000 8,023,900

4,380,345.00

-2.94 -1.88 -2.61 0.00 0.00 -2.33 -2.40 -0.97 -6.37 1.57 -2.23 -4.71 -4.07 -3.00 0.00 -1.22 1.45 -2.20 -1.90 -10.48 -1.79 -1.00 0.82 -2.60 5.88 0.00 -2.63 -3.43 -0.10 0.00 0.20 3.45 -2.70 -1.04 -4.07 -3.17 -4.03 -1.08 0.00 -0.27 -3.03 0.00

70,900 12,770 67,000 1,060,000 7,320,000 8,800,000 120,000 332,710 274,300 240 72,305 190,700 213,000 1,510,240 55,100,000 260,000 95,000 330,400 150,000 56,000 709,000 170,000 8,516,000 16,675,000 70,000 11,760,000 538,000 13,000 20 39,800 104,510 580,000 51,104,000 562,300 1,960,490 1,146,200 3,712,000 1,840,000 10,000 200,000 250,000 27,000

0.00 -1.62 0.00 -36.36 0.00 -9.38 -4.84 -0.27 -2.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.50 -3.13 1.85 -0.78 0.00 19.57 0.00 -1.44 -1.53 -8.33 -1.26 -1.38

232,000,000 -528,000.00 1,383,000 77,000 -133,800.00 100 3,500 1,275,000 58,000.00 690,000 3,500 18,088,000 70,810.00 400,000 2,580,000 3,540,000 521,400,000 26,000,000 345,000 118,000.00 5,184,500 1,515,136.00 242,000 20,000 102,400,000 3,000,000 5,000 -72,040.00 232,000 338,000 -7,740.00 9,000,000 109,260 -7,784,357.00 81,000

0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.00 -1.37 0.00 0.00 -0.93 -0.29 -4.58 -2.41 -1.13 -1.74

98,920 21,860 200 9,910 4,000 152,000 30,000 950 2,870 8,600 1,000 3,800 34,400 39,790

-0.38

1,000

0.58 -4.81 -9.89 -1.32

106,000 7,000 2,678,000 906,500

3,569,508.00

-0.18

46,740

-21,820.00

15,150.00 2,119,410.00 -47,079,320.00

128,250.00 -132,585,745.00 12,800.00 65,876,290.00 -784,349.00

-82,380.00 -16,321,143.00 -55,191,955.00 95,700.00 -28,783,710.50

-21,301.00 -82,200.00

-7,979,230.00 5,176,690.00 16,000.00 -91,800.00 -518,610.00 1,011.00 -60,525.00 -63,250,575.00 -7,640,310.00 2,217,325.00 -22,235,540.50 -3,636,840.00 759,000.00 73,000.00 -67,000.00

2,144,197.00

-319,030.00

12,784.00

-34,500.00

T op L oSerS

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,500.77 (down) 5.77 INDUSTRIAL 10,658.28 (down) 54.01 HOLDING FIRMS 6,359.13 (up) 38.91 PROPERTY 2,949.42 (up) 30.43 SERVICES 1,481.26 (down) 17.74 MINING & OIL 10,404.78 (down) 153.98 PSEI 6,745.99 (up) 10.98 All Shares Index 3,894.12 (down) 0.74 Gainers: 43; Losers: 121; Unchanged: 46; Total: 210

Close

24.75 0.830 1.02 1.83 4.2 0.078 0.2500 0.4100 8.67 25.75 1.41 3.21 21.20 0.73 0.880 5.150

T op g ainerS VALUE 781,890,301.40 1,245,163,195.575 1,001,390,961.30 796,339,214.33 1,042,937,190.85 75,804,162.72 4,971,465,699.675

Low

Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0110

19.57

Benguet Corp `A'

3.5000

-36.36

MJCI Investments Inc.

3.79

11.47

Lorenzo Shipping

1.11

-10.48

Prime Media Hldg

1.280

10.34

Italpinas

3.28

-9.89

Keppel Holdings `A'

5.99

8.91

SPC Power Corp.

3.35

-9.46

Roxas Holdings

5

8.70

Century Peak Metals Hldgs

0.58

-9.38

SM Prime Holdings

22.95

8.25

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.0110

-8.33

Da Vinci Capital

1.7

6.92

DFNN Inc.

5.00

-6.37

Ginebra San Miguel Inc.

12.48

6.67

Unioil Res. & Hldgs

0.2800

-5.08

GT Capital

1299

6.21

Coal Asia

0.59

-4.84

MG Holdings

0.270

5.88

Makati Fin. Corp.

2.57

-4.81

TUESDAY: DECEMBER 15, 2015

B3

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

Market advances; SM Prime up 8.2%

Inclusive business. Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. (left photo) speaks before government and private sector leaders from member-economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation on November 12, 2015 at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City. Cristobal said inclusive business helps in meeting the government’s development and poverty reduction goals.

Meralco starts work on Quezon coal plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SAN Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co., a unit of Manila Electric Co., has started construction of a 455-megawatt, coal-fired power plant in Mauban, Quezon province.

The company held groundbreaking ceremonies on Dec. 10 for the power facility that will provide the baseload supply needed to serve electricity consumers in Luzon.

The San Buenaventura project is a joint venture between Meralco PowerGen Corp., the power generation unit of Meralco, and New Growth BV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand.

“The SBPL plant will be one of the first facilities in the Philippines to utilize the supercritical boiler technology leading to higher efficiency and significant

reductions in carbon dioxide emissions in comparison to traditional boiler technology,” Egco president Chanin Chaonirattisai said in a disclosure to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

San Buenaventura, meanwhile, said in a statement it tapped the consortium of Daelim Industrial Co. Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corp. as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and received the notice to proceed on December 8.

The power plant is expected to start commercial operations by mid-2019.

Electricity generated by the plant will be sold to Meralco, the country’s largest distribution utility, under a 20-year power supply agreement approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission early this year.

San Buenaventura said the power plant would play a crucial role as electricity demand grew, especially in Luzon which accounts for about 70 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

The development of the project is part of the efforts of Meralco PowerGen and Egco Group to attain energy security.

It is also part of Meralco PowerGen’s goal to build a power generation portfolio of about 3,000 MW and significantly contribute to the growing demand for power.

San Buenaventura earlier signed an omnibus agreement with a consortium of reputable local banks to provide a P42.15-

billion loan for the project.

The company last month held a ceremonial signing on the project funding, the biggest all peso project finance facility in the country to date.

The senior-term loan lenders are BDO Unibank Inc., China Banking Corp.; Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.; Philippine National Bank; and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

BDO Unibank-Trust and Investments Group served as the loan facility agent, while Metrobank-Trust Banking Group acted as collateral trustee.

Meanwhile, BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and First Metro Investment Corp. were appointed as joint bookrunners and joint issue coordinators. Along with Chinabank, PNB Capital and Investment Corp. and RCBC Capital Corp., they also acted as joint lead arrangers for the transaction.

THE stock market climbed Monday in last-minute bargain buying, defying the sell-off in the rest of the region and the plunge in world oil prices.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 10.98 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,745.99 on a value turnover of nearly P5 billion. Losers, however, overwhelmed gainers, 121 to 43, with 46 issues unchanged.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy rallied 8.2 percent to P22.95 on bargainhunting, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty surged 6.2 percent to P1,299.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, fell 2.2 percent to P98, while Ayala Land Inc., the second-largest property developer, tumbled 3.2 percent to P34.35.

Energy firms in Asia led another stock market sell-off Monday, but analysts said a fall in oil prices to seven-year lows was driven more by fears over demand and a supply glut than the Paris climate deal.

Tokyo’s Nikkei had shed 1.8 percent by the close, while Hong Kong was off 0.7 percent in the afternoon. Sydney slipped two percent by the close and Seoul gave up one percent.

All three main indexes on Wall Street had ended in the red Friday.

However, Shanghai surged 2.5 percent as traders welcomed surprisingly strong Chinese economic data at the weekend. Miners were also boosted by news that China’s aluminum smelters pledged Friday to halt new mills.

Crude has slumped more than 12 percent since the Opec oil producers’ group on December 4 opted against cutting its output levels, and there are warnings of further pain ahead as the global economy struggles.

Adding to the unease on trading floors is this week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting that is widely expected to see US interest rates raised for the first time since 2006. With AFP

Court asked to release assets from padlocked Uniwide mall A MALL tenant has asked the Parañaque Regional Trial Court Branch 274 to order a municipal trial court and its sheriff to immediately release an estimated P700 million worth of stock certificates, inventories and other assets illegally seized during last year’s unwarranted closure of Uniwide’s Coastal Mall Plaza.

Lawyer Salvador Hababag, who is president of New Global Bargain Inc., asked Parañaque RTC Branch 274 to order MTC Branch 78 presiding judge Ramsay Domingo Pichay, court sheriff Hildo Epres and officers of

Manila Bay Development Corp. to pay a combined P50 million in damages to New Global for the illegal seizure of the lessee-firm’s assets.

The assets, which include toys and kitchenware were seized during the padlocking of the Uniwide mall along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City on Oct. 29, 2014.

In his amended petition for Civil Case No. 15-334, Hababag told the court that the respondents should be charged and “held liable for theft or robbery and/or estafa and such other of-

fenses” for “taking and withholding our corporate documents and properties inside the Uniwide Coastal Mall through deceit and misrepresentation.”

“For depriving the company of its rights, ownership and possession of our documents and properties, Judge Pichay, Sheriff Epres and Jacinto Ng Sr. and George Chua of MBDC should be ordered to pay the company in the amount of P20,000,000; P10,000,000; and P20,000,000; respectively, as reasonable compensation and actual damages.”

Ng and Chua are the respec-

tive chairman and president of MBDC, which owns the 40-hectare Central Business District Center II where Uniwide Holdings Inc. leased a 10-hectare lot since 1996 for its Coastal Mall Plaza. New Global is one of Uniwide mall’s tenants.

In a separate civil case, Uniwide chairman Jimmy Gow assailed Epres for “prematurely, irregularly and unlawfully” conducting a “simulated and fraudulent” auction of Uniwide’s padlocked property last April 21, in disregard of the Nov. 5, 2014 stay order issued

by Parañaque RTC Branch 257 Judge Rolando How.” The mall was auctioned off by the MTC 78 sheriff in April in favor of MBDC, despite the previous ruling by RTC Branch 257 that even in case the dispute is finally settled in MBDC’s favor, Uniwide and its tenants should be given three months to remove their stocks and vacate the premises.

Gow said the mall’s Oct. 29 closure led to the unwarranted mass layoff of some 2,000 mall employees ahead of last year’s Christmas season.

B4

Moody’s keeps stable outlook

By Julito G. Rada

Debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service said it is keeping the stable outlook on its investment-grade Baa2 credit rating for the Philippines, given the country’s strong economic fundamentals that offset export weakness and capital outflows.

Moody’s also maintained the ratings of five other Asian countries including India (Baa3 positive), Indonesia (Baa3 stable), Malaysia (A3 positive), Singapore (Aaa stable) and Thailand (Baa1 stable).

Moody’s upgraded the Philip-

pines’ rating to Baa2 from Baa3 on Dec. 11, 2014 with a stable outlook. The Baa3 rating, meanwhile, was given on Oct. 3, 2013.

“Exchange rate pressures may persist in 2016 as China’s slowdown curbs export growth and US monetary policy tightening

weakens net capital inflows…

Nonetheless, we maintain stable or positive rating outlooks on the six above sovereigns,” it said in a report Monday.

“While export weakness and capital outflows are credit negative, currency flexibility combined with respective governments’ ongoing efforts to improve macroeconomic conditions offset these trends,” Moody’s said.

Moody’s said portfolio investments dominated both Malaysia and the Philippines’ international investment liability positions. In Malaysia’s case, recent portfolio flow movements have reflected uncertain-

ty around domestic political developments and global risk aversion toward emerging markets, particularly those with commodity exposure.

“On the other hand, capital outflows from the Philippines have been quite mild given its strong economic fundamentals and relatively stable policy outlook,” Moody’s said.

The debt watcher also said that aside from its impact on the exchange rate, capital outflows had knocked reserve levels in the Asean-5 excluding the Philippines.

“Reliance on international flows that can enter and exit rapidly can exacerbate a country’s

exposure to external pressures, particularly at times of global capital market uncertainty. It can also destabilize domestic economic and financial conditions,” it said.

Moody’s said earlier it was expecting a stable outlook for the Philippine banking system in the months ahead due to a resilient domestic economy.

However, Moody’s said lenders’ current strong capital levels were likely to decline slightly “as banks continue to grow their assets to tap demand from segments that had lacked access to credit, particularly the highyielding consumer segment.”

2 rural banks closed down

Cemex boat ambulance. Cemex Philippines Foundation turns over a fully equipped ‘bancambulansya’ or boat ambulance to the

municipality of Daanbantayan in northern Cebu. The hybrid vessel will be used for water search and rescue missions as well as to help community members during emergency situations. Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro (right) receives a flotation device from Paul Vincent Arcenas, vice president for strategic planning at Cemex Philippines, to symbolize the company’s donation of the boat ambulance.

Govt seeks duty-free access of travel goods to US

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippines has filed a petition before the US Trade Representative to allow the duty-free entry of travel goods such as luggage, bags and wallets to the United States under the Generalized System of Preferences.

Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. said the Philippines filed the petition as early as October 2015.

“We’re working very hard on that. That’s really important to

us,” Cristobal said in an interview.

He said the Philippines was hoping that the US government would approve the petition in 2016.

Cristobal said the inclusion of travel goods in the GSP, a preferential tariff system given by the US to its trade partners, would help the Philippine garments sector create thousands of jobs.

“They [garments exporters] said we have competitive advantage on these goods,” said Cris-

tobal.

Cristobal said the US government, for the first time, included travel goods in the list of products that would benefit under GSP. “For the first time it’s been listed but the collatilla is that only the US President can recommend its inclusion in the list,” he said.

The Trade Department said while the application process might take long, it was optimistic that the US government would accommodate the Philippine request.

Based on the GSP Update Act, the US government will allow the entry of certain travel goods such as luggage, bags, backpacks, wallets and purses with an outer surface of textiles, leather or plastic to apply for duty-free entry into the US. The Philippines is seen to benefit from the GSP Update Act, as it has a competitive travel goods industry, with several US-based companies having manufacturing operations in several Philippine economic zones.

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, placed two rural banks under the custody of state-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. on Dec. 10, because of the banks’ unsound financial condition.

The closed banks were the Penafrancia Rural Bank of Calabanga (Camarines Sur) Inc. and the La Union-based Rural Bank of Caba. This brought the total number of closed banks this year to 14, matching the total number recorded in 2014.

The circular from Bangko Sentral did not provide further details on the closed banks, such as the number of branches, owners, total deposit liabilities and total insured deposits.

Prior to Penafrancia and Caba rural banks, the board closed 12 ailing rural banks from Jan. 1 to Nov. 13.

These were the Pangasinanbased Rural Bank of Calasiao Inc., the Benguet-based Rural Bank of Buguias Inc., the Bukidnon-based Xavier-Punla Rural Bank Inc., the Batangasbased Farmers’ Rural Bank Inc., Rural Bank of Taysan (Batangas) Inc., the Surigaobased Siargao Bank (A Rural Bank), Rural Bank of Sta. Magdalena (Sorsogon), Community Rural Bank of Magsaysay (Davao del Sur) Inc.; the Surigao City-based Surigaonon Rural Banking Corp.; Rural Bank of Labrador (Pangasinan); Rural Bank of Magsingal (Ilocos Sur) Inc.; and the Alfonso, Cavite-based Community Bank (Rural Bank of Alfonso Inc.).

In 2014, 14 rural banks were placed by the Monetary Board under the custody of PDIC. Bangko Sentral said earlier it expected the number of closed banks in 2015 to be lower than last year’s, due to the extension of the Strengthening Program for Rural Banks Plus for another year. Julito G. Rada

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

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

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Revisiting Alfred THANKS to the Batman comic ca non—including the most recent Mr. Wong’s column will resume next week.

Gotham TV series, everyone associates the name Alfred with a loyal and tireless butler.

This is probably why Running with Crayons Ltd. called its nifty utility for the Mac by the same name.

I had used Alfred—the free version--some time ago, but stopped using it after several OS upgrades, mostly because the Mac’s built-in Spotlight did a terrific job of launching applications and finding stuff on my hard disk.

Out of curiosity, I became reacquainted with Alfred this week.

Alfred runs in the background, so it is always available through the bowler hat on the menu bar. The quicker way to summon Alfred, however, is with a hotkey, so that you don’t have to move from your keyboard to the mouse or trackpad to launch it.

While Spotlight uses Command+Space, Alfred uses Alt+Space.

Like Spotlight, Alfred is a capable applications launcher that makes it easy to start a program without going to the mouse. Just type the first few letters of the application you want to run and Alfred will fetch it for you. For instance, on my Mac, Alfred will suggest LibreOffice after I type the first two letters “l” and “i.” To run the program, I merely need to select it and hit Enter.

To find files on your Mac, type “find” and the first few letters of the file name. Alfred will show a list of files that match the search criteria. Select the one you like and hit Enter to reveal the file in Finder.

To open files, type “open” and the first few letters of the file name.

Alfred will again show a list of matching files and let you select the one you want, but this time, hitting Enter will open the file in its associated application. For example, on my Mac, choosing a DOC file will open it in LibreOffice, while selecting a KEY file will launch it in Keynote.

On other useful search modifier is to type “in” before the search term. This will search the content of files, such as text in a document, for your search term. To take a quick look at the document without opening it, highlight it and press Shift.

You can also use Alfred to search the Web by typing the keyword assigned to the search engine or website followed by your search term. Typing “google gotham” will launch your default browser and show the results page for your search term on Google. Alfred recognizes a long list of search engines and websites, including Bing, Yahoo, Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Rotten Tomatoes, but you can add your own custom searches as well.

These built-in web searches are time savers. Instead of launching your browser, typing in the URL of the site you need, then entering the search term, just let Alfred take care of all that. For example, to quickly find out how to jumpstart a car, you can type “youtube jumpstart a car” into Alfred’s search window.

In my line of work, I search Google News quite a bit, so I created a custom search in Alfred Preferences. This was the Search URL I used: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&authu ser=0&q={query} A custom search on Reddit can use this Search URL: http://www. reddit.com/search?q={query} Alfred also gives you easy access to a calculator. With Calculator enabled in its preferences—the default setting—Alfred will compute the results of any equation you type into the search window.

To look up a word in the Mac’s built-in dictionary, type “define” followed by the word into Alfred’s search window.

Of course, given the recent improvements in Apple’s Spotlight, some folks might skip Alfred altogether, even though the basic version is free. In fact, two months ago, opinion was split on Reddit on a thread called Alfred v. El Capitan Spotlight, is Alfred losing usefulness?

Some users said they had dropped Alfred altogether because Spotlight did most of what they used it for, while others swore by Alfred and pointed in particular to workflows—basically automated tasks that you call up using the program if you buy Powerpack to unlock more of its features.

The Alfred website includes an entire section on useful workflows—but you need to buy the Powerpack license first before using them. A single user license is ₤17. There is a workflow to convert that to Philippine pesos, but I wasn’t willing to pay more than P1,200 to find out how well it works. Besides, you could just as easily type in “google 17 pounds in Philippine pesos” into basic Alfred to get the answer you need.

I do like the free version, though, even though Spotlight seems to be catching up.

Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

30 years of SM North. SM City North Edsa, one of the most iconic shopping malls in the country, has been an epitome of how SM malls have transformed to meet the shifting needs and demands of consumers in a dynamic Philippine retail environment. Opened in November 1985, SM City North EDSA is SM Founder Henry Sy’s first shopping mall and now the largest in the Philippines. From a footprint of only 125,000 square meters on opening, SM’s very first mall has grown in size to almost 498,000 square meters, housing more stores, concepts and ideas in keeping with today’s consumer trends and preferences.

NFA plans to hike 2016 rice imports

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

STATE-RUN National Food Authority said Monday it may import an additional 400,000 metric tons of rice in the first half next year, on top of the 500,000 MT approved by the government, to augment domestic supply.

“The 400,000 metric tons is projected by the government. We may import the volume during the second quarter,” said NFA administrator Renan Dalisay.

Dalisay said the volume would be used as buffer stock for the lean season, or when the harvest was not enough to cover local demand.

“The NFA Council will tackle this next year,” Dalisay said, referring to an inter-agency body that discusses rice importation.

NFA said earlier it would import an additional 250,000 MT of rice this year and another 500,000 MT next year under a

government-to-government procurement arrangement to prepare for a prolonged El Niño dry spell.

The importation of 500,000 MT of rice was approved by the Food Security Committee to cover the projected production deficit in 2016. The shipment would be delivered early next year.

The Food Security Committee is headed by the National Economic and Development Authority. Its members are the Agriculture Department, Trade Department, Finance Department, Philippine Atmospheric

Geophysical and Astronomic Services Administration, Philippine Statistics Authority, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, National Irrigation Administration and NFA. NFA said the first shipment of 125,000 MT of rice arrived in November while another 125,000 MT would arrive before the end of the year.

It said for the approved 2016 imports of 500,000 MT, the first shipment of 175,000 MT would arrive by end of January, 175,000 MT by end of February and 150,000 MT by end of March next year.

“If ever, the total volume that will enter the country during the first semester is 900,000 metric tons,” Dalisay said.

The Agriculture Department earlier said rice harvest in 2015 would likely be lower than last year’s production, because of the effects of several typhoons and the El Niño dry spell.

BSP expected to keep interest rates

By Julito G. Rada HONGKONG and Shanghai Banking Corp. said Monday it expects Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to maintain the current policy rates in its meeting Thursday, as recent data suggest that current conditions are enough for growth.

“The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will hold its last monetary policy meeting of 2015 on Dec. 17. The decision is scheduled to be released at 4 p.m. HKT, only 13 hours after the long-awaited FOMC decision when both HSBC and the market expect the Fed to raise interest rates from the zero-bound,” HSBC

said in a report Monday.

“With such coincidental timing, the BSP is unsurprisingly constrained in terms of its course of action,” it said.

HSBC said there was a little need to tweak policy stance at this point. It said Bangko Sentral had clearly indicated that it was comfortable with its current stance and “we think it is unlikely to make any tweaks until the operational changes pencilled in for the second quarter of 2016 [interest rate corridor],” HSBC said.

It said activity and inflation data released over the past month suggested there was no need for policy changes, while liquidity

was more than sufficient to fuel growth.

Inflation accelerated in November to 1.1 percent from the recordlow of 0.4 percent in October. This brought the average inflation in the first 11 months to 1.4 percent, below the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year.

“As we mentioned last month, inflation likely troughed in October but will stay contained despite some upside risks to food CPI from El Niño. Indeed, food prices jolted 1.0 percent month-on-month in October. But the most recent leg down in oil prices should help keep a lid on things for the foreseeable future,” HSBC said.

TUESDAY: DECEMBER 15, 2015

B6

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

PDIS: P1-b agri funding to fail

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE government should review the program and implementing guidelines of the P1-billion Agriculture and Fisheries Financing Program, the state-run think tank Philippine Institute of Development Studies said Monday.

PIDS economists Ma. Piedad Geron and Gilberto Llanto said in a policy note the government should not go back to the old scheme that did not work out in micro-financing before.

“The foregoing remarks and

observations point to one thing: the government may be going back to an old approach that did not work—the past DCPs,” the authors said.

“As presently formulated, the program guidelines seem to res-

urrect some of the arrangements under the failed directed credit programs, or DCPs, of the past,” they added.

The P1-billion flexible credit facility aims to help over 1 million farmers and fisherfolk who were non-agrarian reform beneficiaries and engaged in priority commodities identified by the Department of Agriculture in the 20 poorest provinces.

It seeks to ensure the availability of financing for small farmers and fisherfolk and increase their access to loans from formal sources.

The AFFP’s aims to contrib-

ute to the attainment of inclusive growth by facilitating the financial inclusion of the marginalized sectors.

The participating government financing institutions are paid management fees for implementing the AFFP. PIDS said the GFIs in the current arrangement did not have the necessary stake and incentive to properly screen and evaluate prospective borrowers. The arrangement is similar to past failed credit program where the GFIs served as mere conduits of funds.

“Just like in past DCPs, this will lead to moral hazard problems

that may result in loan portfolio delinquencies and difficulties in sustaining the availability of credit funds,” the study said.

“There is a need for a better way to incentivize GFIs to implement the program in a sustainable way. They have to be made more accountable for the funds transferred to them by the government,” it added.

PIDS said the program design and guidelines of past DCPs resulted in low repayment rates, small number of program beneficiaries, unsustainable credit programs and huge fiscal costs on the part of the government.

Purisima urges PSE to link up with Asean

By Jenniffer B. Austria

AirAsia awards. The AirAsia group receives three prestigious recognitions at the World Travel Awards, winning the ‘World’s Leading Low

Cost Airline’ title for the third consecutive year and clinched the ‘World’s Leading Low Cost Airline Web site’ and ‘World’s Leading Low Cost Airline App’ titles for the first time. Shown at the awarding ceremony in Casablanca, Morocco are (starting third from left) Clarence Lee, AirAsia head of mobile; Graham Cooke, president and founder of World Travel Awards; Aireen Omar, chief executive of AirAsia Berhad; and Robin Low, AirAsia head of products.

Malampaya tax case going to arbitration?

THE oil and gas project in the Malampaya waters of the northwestern coast of Palawan is arguably the most felicitous piece of FDI (foreign direct investment) in this country. Initiated by subsidiaries of two of the world’s oil industry giants—Shell Exploration B.V. and Chevron Malampaya LLC, both with a 45 percent share—in the 1980s, the Malampaya project is the largest single piece of FDI the Philippines has received and, more important, it has placed this country among the ranks, however low, of the world’s oil and gas producers.

Unfortunately, this felicitous Malampaya picture is being marred by a dispute between the Philippine government and the consortium that owns the project. The dispute is about the taxes on the income earned by the consortium. The originator of the dispute was not the Bureau of Internal Revenue; it was CoA (Commission on Audit).

In two decisions that it handed down this year—on April 6 and May 11—CoA, after a recomputation, ordered DoE (Department of Energy) to collect additional taxes totaling P2.9 billion on the income earned by the consortium. Under the terms of the consortium agreement Philippine government, represented by PNOC Exploration Corp., receives 60 percent of the net proceeds from

sales of Malampaya oil and gas.

DoE appealed the CoA decisions, but the appeals were denied. That left the consortium with no recourse other than to bring the matter to the attention of the president of the Philippines.

In his letter to President Aquino, Royal Dutch Shell Co. Ltd. chief financial officer Simon Henry stated that CoA’s claim for additional income taxes covering the years 2002-2014 was erroneous and violative of the terms of Service Contract No. 38. The claimed taxes were deemed, under the said service contract, to have been paid by DoE out of the government share of the consortium’s net income, Henry said. “This is expressly provided for under Service Contract No. 38,” the Royal Dutch Shell CFO said.

Then came the bombshell.

Henry told President Aquino: “I want to let you know that in order to preserve our rights under Service Contract No. 38, Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) together with the other foreign investor in the consortium, intends to initiate international arbitration shortly.”

The last thing that Shell wanted was any kind of conflict with the Philippine government, Henry said. But, he said, “The scale and nature of (the present) challenge are

such that I believe we have no choice.”

This year Royal Dutch Shell celebrating its 100th year of operations in the Philippines.

The entire dispute appears to hinge upon the validity of the consortium’s claim that Service Contract No. 38 provides that the Philippine taxes on the consortium’s income are payable out of the Philippine government’s 60 percent share of that income. If the provision is clearly worded, nothing more need be said on the matter. If it is not, a determination by a third party will be needed.

Every effort needs to be exerted to bring about a fair and mutually acceptable resolution of the impasse between the Philippine government and the consortium. No one should be scared of arbitration proceedings, but word that the consortium has felt itself obliged to resort to arbitration is not going to do any good for the Philippines’ reputation as an FDI destination. The Shell folk are already talking about the sanctity of contracts; that kind of talk, suggestive as it is of the Philippines’ unreliability as a contracting party, can be very damaging.

CoA may win this battle with the Malampaya consortium. But did winning the battle and losing the war ever make sense?

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

FINANCE Secrtary Cesar Purisima urged the Philippine Stock Exchange to finally join the Asean trading link after several years of delay in order to boost the local capital markets.

Speaking during the general membership meeting of the Shareholders Association of the Philippines, Purisima said while there would be winners and losers in the planned Asean trading link, the integration was expected to encourage more people into invest in the stock market.

Purisima said some sectors, including the stockbrokers, feared they might lose their business once the PSE joined the Asean trading link.

“There is a pushback because there is fear because obviously there are people whose businesses depend on the exchange and there is competition abroad and they can lose some of the business they have,” Purisima said.

“But in our march towards a better Philippines and better stock market, there will be winners and losers but our goal is to ensure that there will be more winners than losers,” he said.

Purisima said he would like to see more Filipinos investing in the stock market, especially the middle class which has been gaining disposable income.

Only one percent of the total Philippine population is invested in the stock market compared with 33 percent in Singapore.

“I’d like to see more of our people engaged in investing in the stock market. Over the long term period, equity will always outperform fixed income and other asset classes. So it is but fair to give middle income and other sectors the opportunity to gain and have stake in the Philippine economy,” Purisima said.

The Asean Trading Link connects the stock markets of six Asean members and promotes them as a single asset class.

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Alibaba to pay $266m for Post HONG KONG— Chinese Internet giant Alibaba will pay US$266 million for Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, the newspaper said Monday, far higher than analysts’ estimates in a deal that has sparked fears the paper will lose its independent voice.

The business had been valued at half that amount, and some observers said the hefty price tag reflects Alibaba’s desire to control media in the semiautonomous territory.

The deal comes as concern over press freedom grows after attacks on journalists, reports of pressure on editorial staff from authorities and increasing self-censorship.

Alibaba “has agreed to purchase the media business of the [SCMP] Group for a cash consideration of HK$2,060,600,000”, the newspaper said in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The group also owns the Hong Kong editions of magazines Esquire, Elle, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar.

In a letter to the newspaper’s readers following the announcement of the sale, Alibaba executive vice chairman Joe Tsai vowed the SCMP would be “objective, accurate and fair”.

However, in an interview published on the paper’s website, Tsai accused the Western media of bias against China, saying that Alibaba would “see things differently”.

Francis Lun, chief executive of Hong Kong brokerage GEO Securities, said the inflated price handed to the paper’s Malaysian owner, tycoon Robert Kuok who bought a controlling stake in 1993, reflected a political motivation.

“If your purpose is trying to control the local media, it has its value. The actual economic benefit is doubtful,” Lun told AFP, echoing views that Ma’s close ties with Beijing will inevitably affect coverage and promote a Chinacentric view.

Analyst Jackson Wong agreed the sale was “very expensive” but said Ma had splashed out in order to capitalize on the SCMP brand and online presence as Alibaba extends its reach in the region where it is on a buying spree. AFP

B7

Dutch children get scary taste of the refugee life THE HAGUE—A hastily abandoned suitcase, an overturned wine glass and a radio blaring a warning “to leave now”. A unique museum is giving Dutch school kids a scarily real glimpse of life as a refugee.

In a school outing with a difference, teenagers Amy and Sona visited the museum in The Hague, opened in 2010 by the Dutch Red Cross to raise awareness of the work of organizations helping those fleeing war and poverty.

Only moments into their tour of Humanity House, the girls, both 16,

were issued with “a visa” allowing them to start their journey towards the security of zone B. And even though this was a staged trip, both had a few heart-stopping moments as they symbolically traced the steps of hundreds of thousands of people who leave their lives behind to make the perilous journey to Europe’s shores.

After setting off, “the trip becomes a journey into the unknown, where they have to confront several dangers and uncertainties,” said Lisette Mattaar, the museum’s director.

“They have to make difficult choices to reach a safe country.”

The museum, dubbed the only one of its kind in the world, welcomed some 30,000 visitors in 2014 com-

pared with 14,000 at the beginning.

But with migrants now arriving daily in Europe interest in the refugee issue and demand for tours has grown. But careful -- the experience is said to be so realistic, parents are warned it is not suitable for children under 10.

“School kids are bombarded with images and information about refugees, migration and asylum policies without often having all the right context,” said Audrey Mussoni, who speaks to the children after the tour.

“They hear a lot of figures, but don’t know how to put them into perspective, and none of this information is given a human face,” she added.

“With this trip, we hope to instill some empathy so they learn to think

about these issues for themselves.”

Running out of the first area set up as a house, the two girls found themselves in a labyrinth of dark corridors echoing with the sounds of barking dogs and the strident shouts of policemen.

A sign hanging on a door asked: “Choose! Your possessions or your life?”

Images of the horrors and woes of the refugees’ long march to Europe played across the walls, filmed by researchers among real people.

It’s always the little things that strike home the most, said Mattaar.

After filling out piles of paperwork in the hope that they may be one day reunited with their families, Amy and Sona arrived at the border area to be greeted by brusque guards. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Agriculture Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines www.philmech.gov.ph INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY OF LABOR AND MATERIALS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PHILMECH BIO-PROCESS ENGINEERING BUILDING 1. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) through its General Fund intends to apply the below specified sums, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) as indicated herein to payments under the contract for the Supply of Labor and Materials for the Design and Construction of PHilMech Bio-Process Engineering Building. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at Bid opening.

2. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization now invites bids from eligible contractors with PCAB License of Medium A for the following:

Homage. A Bangladeshi girl holds a national flag as people gather to pay homage at the Intellectual Martyrs Memorial in Dhaka on December 14, 2015. Thousands of Bangladeshis paid tribute to the memory of dozens of intellectuals who were systematically killed during the 1971 war that won the South Asian country its independence from Pakistan. AFP

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

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

The public is hereby notified that BAYANIHAN ADVISORY, INC., a corporation organized and existing under Philippine laws, with registered address at 38th Floor, The Discovery Centre, 25 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Centre, Pasig City, Philippines, will be DISSOLVED through shortening of corporate term in accordance with Section 120 of the Corporation Code. The corporation’s dissolution will take effect upon approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the amendment made on the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation to shorten its corporate term.

(TS-DEC. 15,22 & 29, 2015)

PRIME MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS Please be advised that PRIME MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. will hold its Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on 22 December 2015, 9:30 am at Room 201, The Metropolitan Club Inc., Estrella corner Amapola Sts., Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City,with the following agenda: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Call to Order Certification of Quorum Approval of Minutes of the previous meeting Approval of Management Report and Audited Financial Statements Ratification of Management’s Act Authority to enter into Management Agreement with RYM Business Management Corp.

7. Election of Directors 8. Appointment of External Auditor 9. Other Matters 10. Adjournment The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on the 08 December 2015 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting.

All proxies (which must be acknowledged before a notary public) must be submitted to the Corporate Secretary on or before 11 December 2015, 5:00 p.m. at the following address:

PROJECT SUPPLY OF LABOR AND MATERIALS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PHILMECH BIO-PROCESS ENGINEERING BUILDING

CONTRACT DURATION

PhP 25,247,709.49

240 CD

Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II Instruction to Bidders.

3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. 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.

4. Interested Bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of PhP 25,000, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB. The method of payment will be in cash. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective Bidder or his authorized representative. Only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarification.

6. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization will hold a Pre-Bid Conference open to all interested parties on December 22, 2015, 10:00am at Executive Lounge, PHilMech Main Office, CLSU Compound Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

7. Bids and eligibility requirements must be delivered on or before January 18, 2016, 10:00am at Executive Lounge, PHilMech Main Office, CLSU Compound Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid security in the form and amount stated in the Bid Data Sheet or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

8. Bid opening shall be on January 18, 2016, 10:00am at Executive Lounge, PHilMech Main Office, CLSU Compound Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend.All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bid documents.

9. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR POSTHARVEST DEVELOPMENT AND MECHANIZATION (Formerly BUREAU OF POSTHARVEST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION) Main Office :CLSU Cmpd., Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija Tel. No. (044) 4560287 / 4560213 FAX No. (044) 4560110 Liaison Office : 3F ATI Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City Tel. No. 9274019 / 9274029 FAX No. 9268159

Prime Media Holdings, Inc. c/o Ocampo and Manalo Law Firm 6th Flr. Pacific Star Building Makati Ave. cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City Attention: Monica Isabelle I. Villanueva Very truly yours, (SGD) DIANE MADELYN C. CHING Asst. Corporate Secretary

ABC

(TS-DEC. 2,8 & 15, 2015)

(TS-DEC. 15 & 18, 2015)

(SGD) RAUL R. PAZ BAC Chairman

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

B8 Bigger aid urged to fight rough weather SYDNEY—Droughts, erratic rain and frosts brought by a supercharged El Niño are severely affecting the Pacific, with Papua New Guinea worst hit, aid group Oxfam said in a report Monday.

Calling for an urgent increase in relief to save lives, the charity said 4.7 million people faced hunger, poverty and disease in the Pacific region as a result of the weather pattern.

“This is a crisis on a huge global scale,” the report, “Early Action on Super-charged El Niño Vital to Save Lives”, said.

“The current El Niño is one of the strongest ever measured, which means there will be more extreme weather conditions that will threaten people’s food security, lives and livelihoods.”

El Niño is the name given to a weather pattern associated with a sustained period of warming in the central and eastern tropical Pacific which can spark deadly and costly climate extremes.

Last month, the UN weather agency warned the phenomenon, triggered by a warming in sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, was the worst in more than 15 years.

Oxfam said climate change was super-charging the effects of El Niño and despite a landmark global climate pact reached in Paris on the weekend, much needed to be done rapidly to cut emissions.

It said the result of the current strong El Niño would likely be 40– 50 million people globally facing hunger, disease and water shortages in early 2016 as the slow onset crisis plays out.

The worst-affected places include Papua New Guinea in the Asia-Pacific as well as Ethiopia and Malawi in Africa and Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras in Latin America.

“Papua New Guinea has been severely affected, particularly in the Highlands, with widespread drought and frost affecting up to three million people and destroying crops and livestock,” it said.

“Drought has also affected Vanuatu, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga, damaging crops and water supplies.” AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Celebrated lawyer on trial amid scuffles BEIJING—One of China’s most celebrated human rights lawyers was tried Monday over online comments critical of the ruling Communist Party, as police scuffled with supporters and journalists outside the courthouse.

Present. Indian Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar attends the BIG Star Entertainment Awards 2015 ceremony in Mumbai on December 13, 2015. AFP

Pu Zhiqiang, who has represented labor camp victims and dissident artist Ai Weiwei, was detained a year and a half ago in a nationwide crackdown on dissent.

He faces a maximum of eight years in jail on charges of “inciting ethnic hatred” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, according to his lawyer Mo Shaoping.

In a trial that lasted less than four hours, another defense lawyer, Si Weijiang, said Beijing’s Number Two Intermediate People’s Court considered the evidence—seven posts Pu made on a microblog between 2011 and 2014.

No verdict was immediately issued.

In the comments, Pu said that China did not need Communist rule, writing: “Other than secrecy, cheating, passing the buck, delay, the hammer and sickle, what kinds of secrets of governance does this party have?”

He also condemned government policy in the mainly Muslim far western region of Xinjiang as “absurd” in the wake of a bloody knife attack blamed on separatists that killed 31 people at a train station in Kunming.

“Don’t be a conqueror or a plunderer,” he wrote.

“No matter whether your aggression is a preemptive measure or a responsive measure, it’s all aggression.

It’s all about making the other side your enemy.”

Dozens of supporters traveled from across the country, some for thousands of kilometers, to protest outside the courtroom.

Police repeatedly clashed with them, with officers and men in civilian dress—identified by “smiley face” stickers on their clothing—pushing them hundreds of meters away.

The crowd shouted “Pu Zhiqiang! Innocent!” before being broken up by police who said they had obstructed the pavement.

Authorities dragged at least three people away, an AFP reporter at the scene saw.

They pushed and shouted at senior US diplomat Dan Biers so forcefully as he tried to read a statement condemning the trial that the scrum around him had relocate multiple times. AFP

Teenager pleads guilty to terror charge SYDNEY—A Melbourne teenager alleged to have bomb-making materials pleaded guilty Monday to preparing for a terror act, reports said.

The 17-year-old told the Children’s Court he was “guilty” of one charge of engaging in an act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.

Two other less serious charges against the teen, who cannot be identified, were dropped and he did not apply for bail.

Earlier this year, court documents revealed that police had

seized a computer from the boy’s home when he was arrested in May. The computer contained encrypted documents entitled “Pressure Cooker Backpack Bomb with Switch Detonator” and “Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom”, the ABC said.

The national broadcaster said other items seized during the raid included a pressure cooker and lengths of steel pipes fitted with caps.

The teenager is due to face a directions hearing in a county court on Thursday.

In recent months, Australia’s government has shown increasing concern over home-grown extremism, raising the country’s terror alert level to high last year.

Last week five people, including a 15-year-old boy, were charged in Sydney over a terror plot targeting a government building.

And in October, a civilian police employee was shot in the head by another 15-year-old boy outside police headquarters in western Sydney. That teenager was killed in an exchange of gunfire with officers. AFP

Preparations. A security officer stands guard at Hollywood and Highland as preparations are being made for the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures And Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on December 13, 2015 in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. AFP

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

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

A RTS, CU LT U RE & T ECH

LIFE

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The artist's touch is evident in this chandelier

'Dream Lady'

RAMON ORLINA CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF ARTISTRY WITH ‘CLEAR IMPRESSIONS’

BY EULA SEE

T

he world-renowned Filipino artist Ramon Orlina has been impressing the world with his impeccable creations since he first ventured into the field of Fine Arts in 1975. Exuding unparalleled beauty, Orlina pieces are wonderfully carved gems capable of enthralling anyone with its charm.

To mark his 40th year as an artist, Orlina presents a wonderful spectacle of 23 masterpieces in his “Clear Impressions” exhibit at the Reflections Gallery in Museo Orlina, Tagaytay.

For four decades, Orlina has continually created striking and impactful works of art.

In his latest display, the pieces are made of clear optical glass, as opposed to his signature green and colored glass sculptures.

The intricacy required to come up with a piece is unimaginable. The transparent nature of glass requires Orlina to take at least 26 angles into consideration, as the piece needs to look flawless on all sides.

To quote renowned art critic Cid Reyes, “First, it is clear to see that the supreme beauty of these works reside(s) in the crystalline purity of the medium, which allows for no visual hindrances or distraction in the reflection and refraction of light.” Surely, the clarity of the material allows each piece to emanate different visual effects based on the environment.

With that said, it is a fantastic visual treat to behold some of Orlina’s glass sculptures are placed against beautiful paintings.

As you go around Museo Orlina, you will not just be greeted by glass sculptures, you will also get a deeper understanding of the artist based on his choice of medium and themes. The whole museum reflects his character, his journey, and the things he’s passionate about. Like his preferred material, Orlina is undeniably transparent in sharing the stories behind his works.

Apart from the obvious, Ramon Orlina is passionate about his family. He always talks about them with great pride in his voice. His love for his family can certainly be felt through his works. In fact, the

Orlina's works on exhibit are made of clear optical glass

Not many know that the sculptor also creates jewelry pieces

National Artist Benedicto Cabrera has turned Orlina's car into a masterpiece

famous “Ning Ning” series was created when his wife was breastfeeding. Hence, the sculptures were all centered on breasts.

Two sculptures his daughters made in collaboration with him were added to the “Clear Impressions” exhibit.

It is also known to many that Ramon Orlina is into cars. In the museum, you will see books about automotives and two vintage cars that were turned into art pieces by the national artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera in collaboration with Orlina.

The “Father of Philippine Glass Sculpture” has won many awards such as

TOFIL (The Outstanding Filipino) and has been the creator of many monumental works like the 10.32-meters high “Quattromondial” sculpture made for his alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas.

This holiday season, all art enthusiasts can enjoy the cold weather and get their fill of art when they visit Museo Orlina in Tagaytay City to witness Ramon Orlina’s 40-year journey as an artist.

The “Clear Impressions” exhibit will run until January 16, 2016. For inquiries, please contact Museo Orlina at (046) 413-2581 or mobile +63 906-4340862.

The artist beside one of his tallest sculptures

The writer with Ramon Orlina and wife Lay Ann

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

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

CloudFone, Spotify create industry-leading (breakthrough) partnership

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loudFone, one of the pioneering local mobile phone brands that is known for being the “Android for All,” is setting another milestone by partnering with Spotify, the world’s most popular music streaming service.

The alliance will give customers instant access to millions of songs and expertly curated playlists. “This partnership with Spotify will definitely change the game

SKYbroadband offers ultra high speed entertainment for P2,899 a month Looking for a perfect gift for your family this holiday season? The new SKYbroadband Plan 50Mbps is it, with an ultra high-speed internet plan bundled with SKYcable Dual Def 299 for only P2,899 a month!

The ultra high-speed will allow you to connect with your loved ones in an instant wherever they may be. You can also get updated about what is happening in the worlds of sports, music, news and entertainment anytime you want, aside from enjoying the entertainment provided by the plan’s cable TV bundle with 35 Standard Definition and six HD channels.

An extra perk is the free access to SKY On Demand and exclusive access to HBO GO for only P99 a month. SKY On Demand is

the new online video platform that allows users access to the biggest lineup of live TV channels, the latest episodes of popular local and foreign TV shows and hundreds of blockbuster movies.

For more information on how to subscribe, contact SKY through www.mysky.com.ph or their Customer Service hotlines at 02381-0000 for Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, and Rizal, 046-484-4701 for Cavite, 049534-1555 for Calamba, Binan and Sta. Rosa, Laguna, 02-520-8560 for San Pedro, Laguna, 044-693-5877 for Bulacan, 032421-1818 for Cebu, 082-305-5456 for Davao and 035-225-1010 for Dumaguete.

You can also reach SKY through its text hotline 23662.

by collaborating with industry leaders. This is the first time that Spotify partnered with a local brand, and we’re glad that it’s with CloudFone. We will continue to innovate and introduce trends and technologies that are within reach and will suit the needs of Filipino mobile phone users,” said the chief executive officer of CloudFone, Eric Yu. CloudFone proudly introduced several devices customized to enable users to enjoy the ultimate Spotify music experience that will allow more musicloving Filipinos to play their favorite tunes seamlessly streaming.

The three new Spotifyedition flagship devices from CloudFone are the CloudFone Thrill 500x, CloudFone Thrill 500x+ and CloudPad 702q, each customized with its own Spotify interface. These devices will let you listen to more streaming music with longer battery life and extra storage space that can pack all your favorite tracks. CloudFone is also giving away free exclusive headphones and green headphones specially made for Spotify.

For more about CloudFone and its lineup of digital devices, visit www. cloudfonemobile.com. Follow its Facebook page at CloudFone, or follow via @ cloudfone on Twitter or @cloudfonemobile for Instagram.

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

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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

EXHIBITS

WORKSHOPS

Louie Cordero: Other Influence MO Space, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Ongoing until December 27

In his latest solo exhibition, Filipino visual artist Louie Cordero, whose works often depict monsters from Filipino mythology, showcases paintings that fuse together – in materials and

Harana Sa Dapit Hapon Bulwagang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila December 16; 4:30 p.m. techniques – the realm of high and low art.

He used fiberglass as the surface and airbrush as the tool to mimic the sprayed-over layering used on a jeepney’s chassis. But most notable of his current series is his use of the frames as part of each painting, proving once again that imagination and consciousness are always extended.

Cordero presents familiar figures spurred into action and situations bordered by customized and ornamented frames – a move that “recontextualizes” painting. In his works, the border becomes an extension of the world within as it tries to encompass the message of the paintings it frames and express its own meaning, neither the frames uniquely presenting the message of the Malabon-based artist that influences we see around are the extension of a world that found its way inside every artwork.

For more information about this ongoing exhibit, visit mo-space.net

Christmas Wishes Finale Art File, Makati City Ongoing until January 4, 2016

Premier contemporary art gallery Finale Art ends the year with a group show featuring the work of 62 visual artists – including the gallery’s featured resident artists and young, up-andcoming talents. The pieces on display span a variety of medium, styles and techniques.

The participating artists in this year-end group show include Catalina Africa, Juan Alcazaren,

Amy Aragon, Felix Bacolor, Vic Balanon, Gino Bueza, Ringo Bunoan, Annie Cabigting, Valeria Cavestany, Jonathan Ching, Mariano Ching, Cheska Co, Lena Cobangbang, Louie Cordero, Nicole Coson, Mike Crisostomo, Leslie De Chavez, RM De Leon, Bembol Dela Cruz, Ranelle Dial, Carlo Gabuco, Lyra Garcellano, Nona Garcia, Paola Germar, Eugene Jarque, Geraldine Javier, Mark Justiniani, Taichi Kondo, Robert Langenegger, Romeo Lee, Joy Mallari, Pow Martinez, Keiye Miranda, Redd Nacpil, Raffy Napay, Poch Naval, Elaine Navas, Manuel Ocampo, Nikki Ocean, Jayson Oliveria, Kim Oliveros, Pardo De Leon, Garyross Pastrana, Michelle Perez, Ian Quirante, Kelly Ramos, Luis Santos, Mona Santos, Soler Santos, Yasmin Sison, Gerry Tan, Jay Ticar, Wire Tuazon, Mac Valdezco, Didit Van Der Linden, Tanya Villanueva, Alvin Villaruel, Liv Vinluan, Paulo Vinluan, Atsuko Yamagata, MM Yu, and Jeona Zoleta Visit www.finaleartfile.com to know more about this ongoing exhibit and the gallery’s future exhibits.

Re:View 2015 Gallery Indigo, BenCab Museum, Baguio City Ongoing until February 7, 2016 Thirty-eight established artists and emerging painters come together in a group show at the BenCab Museum. The Baguio museum caps the year with a showcase of artworks in a wide range of subject matters, diverse styles and varying techniques.

Joining National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera in the year-end group exhibit are Leonard Aguinaldo, Virgilio Aviado, Max Balatbat, Welbart Bartolome, Zean Cabangis, Marina Cruz, Melvin Culaba, Abi Dionisio, Alfredo Esquillo Jr., Mark Andy Garcia, Emmanuel Garibay, Kawayan de Guia,

Gregory Raymond Halili, Riel Hilario, Bree Jonson, Winner Jumalon, Mark Justiniani, Arturo Luz, Joy Mallari, Hadrian Mendoza, Jason Montinola, Raffy Napay, Vincent Navarro, Leeroy New, Ramon Orlina, Lynryd Paras, Azor Pazcoguin, Norberto Roldan, John Frank Sabado, Yao Sampana, Kim Jerome Santiago, Luis Santos, Soler Santos, Dexter Sy, Rodel Tapaya, Roger “Rishab” Ribon and Olan Ventura.

The BenCab Museum is located at Km. 6 Asin Road, Tuba, Metro Baguio. Call (074) 442-7165 or visit www.bencabmuseum.org for more details.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines and Tribung Pilipino Foundation headed by Danny Dolor present the seventh performance of Harana sa Dapit Hapon featuring the University of Santo Tomas Singers.

Harana sa Dapit Hapon is an afternoon musicale featuring immortal kundimans, harana, balitaw, danza and unforgettable love songs by great Filipino composers. Noted classical singers and performers have been invited.

The event is free to the public. Senior citizens, students and the general audience are cordially invited.

For more details, contact the CCP at (02) 832-1125 loc. 1600 or (02) 832-2314.

PPO December Concert: Yoshikazu Fukumura Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila December 18; 8:00 p.m.

Leading the fourth season concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra is Japanese conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura. Japan’s famous maestro will conduct the program composed of Johannes Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, Gabriel Fauré’s Pelleas et Melisande Suite and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2 “Little Russian.”

Fukumura is the former music director of the Tokyo Ballet, Kyoto Municip a l Symphony, and Nagoya Philharmonic. He has also conducted the Japan Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, Yomiuri Japan Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, Gunma Symphony, Sapporo Symphony, Kyushu Symphony, and other well-acclaimed performances abroad, including Europe, Latin America and Asia. He was assigned as the first chief conductor of the ASEAN Symphony Orchestra and has been the Honorary Principal Guest Conductor of the Cuba National Symphony Orchestra since 1995.

For subscriptions and inquires about the concert, call the CCP Marketing Department at (02) 832-1125 loc. 1806 or the CCP Box Office at (02) 832-3704 or Ticketworld at (02) 891-9999.

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

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus made available with enhanced Globe Platinum Lifestyle Plans

A

new roster of offerings has been unveiled by Globe Telecom for its premium postpaid brand Globe Platinum, with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus made accessible to subscribers of its enhanced Platinum Lifestyle Plans.

Globe Platinum Lifestyle Plan 3799 customers can enjoy the iPhone 6s 16GB for free complete with a rich mobile data allocation of 15GB monthly, a built-in productivity pack for free use of Facebook, Viber, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail, unlimited texts to all networks and unlimited calls to Globe/TM, and a choice of a complimentary premium app (Spotify Premium, HOOQ, or NBA) until December 31.

Globe Platinum Lifestyle Plan 4999 subscribers meanwhile can avail of the iPhone 6s Plus 16GB or the iPhone 6s 64GB for free. Its All-Net or Roam offer also allows users to Surf More with an increased data allocation of 15GB on top of the extensive plan inclusions such as unlimited calls and texts to all networks or consumable roaming. The Platinum Lifestyle Plan 7999 comes with the iPhone 6s 128GB and iPhone 6s Plus 128GB powered with an Unlimited Data Roaming feature.

Customers also get access to exclusive Platinum perks and privileges such as Personal Relationship Managers, priority in Globe stores, and 24/7 concierge and dedicated hotline services.

The latest iPhones deliver first-class performance with the most advanced iOS 9, increased CPU and GPU performance for graphics-intensive games and apps and powerful new built-in apps. The 3D Touch allows users intuitive means of accessing features and content, as well as provide real-time

Customers can enjoy the iPhone 6s for FREE with Platinum Lifestyle Plan 3799.

feedback from the all-new Taptic Engine. The 12-megapixel iSight camera captures sharp, detailed photos, brilliant 4K videos, and introduces Live Photos.

Experience the Platinum lifestyle and get your own iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus with Globe Platinum by visiting the nearest Globe store, logging on to www.globe.com.ph/platinum or the Globe hotline at (02) 730-1888.

Customers can avail of the iPhone 6s 64GB or the iPhone 6s Plus 16GB for FREE with Platinum Lifestyle Plan 4999

T UES DAY : DECEMBER 15, 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Jessie J pays TribuTe To WhiTney housTon e by nickie Wang

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1 Jessie J singing an acoustic version of Whitey Houston's I Have Nothing 2 During the encore, Jessie J went back onstage donning a black see-through shirt, which she wore as a dress, with a print that says Manila at the front 3 The Flashlight singer performed some of her hits including Bang Bang, Domino and Price Tag 4 The pop singer gladly posed for some snaps right after she met with the local press phoTos by nickie Wang

nglish singer and songwriter Jessie J returned to Manila on Thursday and performed live at the jampacked Kia Theater in Quezon City.

The dynamic chanteuse enthralled and amused thousands of concertgoers with her hits, which she performed in rapid succession. She invoked more laughter in between breaks when she engaged the audience and asked them to put their phones back in their pockets.

“I don’t calculate my performance - I talk a lot, I sing, and I sing live. I try to engage the audience as much as I can. There are audiences that are very quiet and don’t want to be involved so I make them involved,” she told The Standard in an interview prior to the concert.

True enough, concertgoers sang along and immediately became willing to go wherever Jessie J wanted to take them – whether an instruction to throw their hands up in the air or simply repeat the verses in her songs.

One of the most applauded numbers of the night was her cover of Whitney Houston classic, “I Have Nothing.” The 27-yearold English singer sang an acoustic version of the power ballad culled from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (1993).

“She (Whitney Houston) is the reason why I am confident as a singer, you know…to have a big mouth while singing,” she quipped.

Ten years ago, the “Flashlight” singer auditioned for the girl band and “I Have Nothing” was her audition song. That’s the reason why she considers the late pop diva as her musical inspiration. And like Whitney, who was known for her power vocals, Jessie J also wanted to be remembered for her ability to sing.

“First and foremost, I don’t want to be remembered other than my voice. I’d like people to leave my show saying...Oh, she

loves singing!” she told the author.

The singer also wants to inspire people with her music. In a concert she staged in Manila last year, she read out a letter from a fan detailing how her music saved him from committing suicide.

“I started writing music because I am a complicated person, and I think I attract complicated people. And if I can help anybody kind of understand the feeling in their life that they don’t understand, it makes me I feel like I have the reason as to why I have do this (write songs),” Jessie J said.

Jessie J also told The Standard that she is not working on a new material at the moment. After her Manila concert she plans on taking a break.

“I’ve been releasing music nonstop. I am going to finish this year and then I am going be human - stay in one place, travel places and actually see them.”

“I haven’t had a break longer than two weeks for six years, I realize that I have been around for ages. I need to inspire myself. I cannot inspire others if I’m not inspired myself, we’ll I am not saying I am not inspired but I feel that I need to step back and refuel the love of music. No, I am not worked out it’s just feels like it’s the right time,” she explained.

In the same interview, the famous singer also commended Filipino music fans, who she considers as “hardcore.”

“I don’t come here as much as I do in America or in the UK or Germany. But I can remember how hardcore they (Filipino fans) are, how loud and devoted they are.

Coming back here is always like Christmas, it’s like a big event. Everyone makes you feel that they are very excited,” she beamed.

The Jessie J 2015 Manila concert was staged by Smart Communications as part of its Smart Life campaign. It’s a free show exclusive to loyal subscribers of the telco.

AlDub Forever At enChAnteD KingDom

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he story of love at Eat Bulaga’s Kalyeserye (“street series”) continues as the phenomenal love team known as Aldub- Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza (a.k.a Yaya Dub) spent a “kilig” date at Enchanted Kingdom (EK) on Dec. 5.

Alden and Maine were warmly welcomed by the beloved characters, Eldar, the Wizard and Princess Victoria (characters of EK) as they entered the gates of the iconic theme park and handed each one a limited edition EK cap to shield them from the sun as they go around and enjoy the Enchanted Kingdom.

According to Aldub followers, this date at EK had been long time request from Alden’s father who tweeted this not too long ago. And as it became a wish come true, Aldub fanatics came rushing to the park and witnessed the most awaited date.

The park guests went crazy and were not able to contain their excitement. The overwhelmed crowd was so much eager to witness and followed them as they both tried the different rides.

Alden and Maine enjoyed riding the iconic carousel at Victoria Park, bump cars, the EKstreme Tower and

AlDub with the lolas

Anchor’s Away at the Midway Boardwalk. While the two were enjoying the Ekstreme ride, Lola Tidora, Tinidora and Doktora the Explorer together with the kids from the barangay arrived at the park to join the two.

The famous AlDub love team and comedians Wally Bayola (Lola Nidora & Doctora), Jose Manalo (Lola Tinidora), and Paolo Ballesteros (Lola Tidora, and sometimes, Lola Isadora) received also a very special treat from EK’s Chairman and President Cesar Mamon and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Cynthia R. Mamon. Each of them received “EKsperience the Magic Card” which entitles them to get unlimited admission all year round that comes with special discounts & privileges on food, merchandise and exclusive deals from merchant partners.

As the said date went on viral on social media, Aldub fans are so thankful that Eldar, the Wizard granted the wish. EK has been true to its word to make this a magical date that will surely lives on forever!

Alden comforts Maine after an extreme ride at Enchanted Kingdom

T UES DAY : DECEMBER 15, 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Charice cutomizing her own Levi’s Trucker Jacket

‘Running Wild With BeaR gRylls speCial’

Bernadette Tabangcura; Levi’s Key Account Manager May Larga; Levi’s Asst. Training Manager and Charice at the Levi’s store in SM Dasmariñas

CELEbRItIES fLOCk tO LEVI’S® StORES

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t was a star-studded weekend at select Levi’s stores on Nov. 28 and 29, when the brand jump-started the most wonderful time of the year with Levi’s Tailor Shop, a fun affair that gave Levi’s lovers the chance to meet some of the country’s fashion-forward celebrities.

Happily getting their jeans fix were international singer Charice Pempengco who greeted her fans at SM Dasmariñas; socialite, columnist, and interior designer Tessa Prieto-Valdes, who hobnobbed with Levi’s fans at SM Megamall; menswear blogger AJ Dee at SM Mall of Asia; and Spongecola lead vocalist Yael Yuzon, who reached out to fans at SM North The Block.

On her Instagram account, Prieto-Valdes shared photos taken of her at the Levi’s Tailor Shop, saying that only her Levi’s family could make her wear jeans.

Meanwhile, Pempengco also posted on her

Instagram a photo of her newly customized pair of Levi’s boyfriend jeans that perfectly fit her.

At the Levi’s Tailor Shop, all Levi’s customers who had a P3,000 single receipt purchase—inclusive of any men’s bottoms, women’s bottoms, or trucker jacket—were entitled to a free customization of their Levi’s jeans.

And because Levi’s® wanted everyone to start early on their Christmas shopping last Nov 28 to 30, the brand likewise opened the season with a pre-holiday sale, where it offered 30-percent discounts on all regular-priced women’s bottoms and men’s tops at all SM Original Levi’s®stores and at SM Department Stores nationwide.

As Kaths Laudit, Levi’s Philippines marketing head, enthuses, “Levi’s gave its fans a very early Christmas gift—the pre-holiday sale—because they are very special to us.

Through Levi’s Tailor Shops, too, people got

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 42 44 45 46 50 52 53 54 55 57 58 59 60 61 62 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Polite address 5 Catcher’s glove 9 Cinema’s “Duke” 14 Water, in Tijuana 15 Project starter 16 Honey factories 17 In the paddock 19 Districts 20 Meyers of “Kate & Allie” 21 Appearance 22 Watch site

23 25 26 27 30 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 41

Zanier Did a tapestry Ames inst.

Pilot’s flap Treats an icy road Navigation hazards Yes, to Angus Sleeping Work at grammar Big Dipper bear Kind of scout Authentic Useful thing

Novice “A pox upon thee!”

Hawk “Gladiator” star — Crowe Exhilarating It may be free Bridal notice word Ernest or Julio Was a sign of Permit Hydrox rival One-horse town First American in orbit Urn homophone Nave neighbor

DOWN 1 Parrot 2 Greek marketplace 3 Mr. Goldfinger 4 Put a dent in 5 Environment 6 Slacker 7 New driver, maybe 8 A little bit 9 Piers 10 More open 11 Cousteau’s middle name 12 In good order 13 Lisper’s problem

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

18 22 24 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 37 38 40 41 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 55 56

Not quite right Orchid-loving sleuth Notorious pirate Actress Dianne — Hawk’s lair Dory need Big Board letters Marsupial pocket Just touch Kan. neighbor Came unglued Snack Piggy bank coin Employs Go to bed, say (2 wds.)

Usher’s beat “Venus” singer Steamboat inventor Harder to find Result (2 wds.)

Ogles Rocky projection Oates partner Fashion mag Golfer’s cry Muffle Poker winning Shaq’s org.

Spongecola vocalist Yael Yuzon surprises Levi's fans during the brand's pre-season sale last Nov. 28 at SM North The Block

the chance to have their perfect-fitting pairs of Levi’s jeans!”

And trust Levi’s to toss in some star power as a bonus treat. “Levi’s celebrities guests helped keep jeans lovers abreast of the latest trends by sharing tips for looking their best,” Laudit shares.

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific today announced it will be airing Running Wild With Bear Grylls featuring President Barack Obama.

This special, acquired from Electus International and Bear Grylls Ventures, features President Obama trekking through the Alaskan wilderness with Bear Grylls while on a visit to observe the effects of climate change on the area. It airs on Discovery Channel across Asia Pacific Dec.18 at 10 p.m. immediately after its premiere in the US on the evening of Dec.18.

Discovery Channel will also premiere the second season of Running Wild With Bear Grylls on Jan. 5 2016, at 9 p.m.

This season follows Bear Grylls as he takes Hollywood’s biggest celebrities – including stars such as Kate Winslet, Kate Hudson, Michelle Rodriguez, Ed Helms, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Michael B. Jordan, James Marsden and Drew Brees – on a one-on-one adventure that tests their survival skills and pushes their mental and physical boundaries. From the Nevada Desert to the Italian Alps to the Panama Jungle, Grylls and each celebrity push both their minds and bodies to the limit in these extreme environments to successfully complete their journey.

T UES DAY : DECEMBER 15, 2015

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

robin Padilla back as kaPamilya

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or a time, Robin Padilla was seen on TV5, hosting a talent show and starring with his siblings in a comedy. And then we heard nothing about his turn as Kapatid.

Recently, we were surprised when the ABS- Corporate Communications informed that Binoe (that’s how his close friends call him) has signed a two-year contract with ABS-CBN on Dec. 9.

We are glad the Kapamilya network welcomed him back. Also we are happy he chose where we think his stature and talent will be further boosted.

One of his upcoming projects is a father-and-child themed teleserye. “I am always excited. ABSCBN has always been progressive for it consistently offers new taste of shows,” Binoe shared. Robin Padilla’s manager Betchay Vidanes, ABS-CBN Free TV – Channel 2 and DTT Channels head Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN chief operating officer Carlo Katigbak, and TV Production head Laurenti Dyogi were all there to witness the contract signing.

Meanwhile, Binoe gave tips when courting a girl. He surprised the madlang people when he paid a visit to It’s Showtime and gave Tommy Esguerra some lessons on courtship the day he signed a twoyear contract with Kapamilya.

The action star shared some of his styles in approaching and talking to girls, which Tommy immediately tried with Miho Nishida. Aside from the madlang people, Robin surprised his wife Mariel Rodriguez who is currently a guest cohost in the noontime show.

HHHHH FPJ’s daughter hoPes For a little understanding It has been over a decade since

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Fernando Poe, Jr. passed. On All P1999 specially marked proDec. 14 it will exactly be 11 years. mo boxes, including Surf, Knorr, Yet, his influence on Senator Milo and Ang Probinsyano boxes, Grace Poe remains steadfast. can join the Todo Pamasko promo Grace referred to the film’s title by using the corresponding bunKahit Konting Pagtingin, a film dled ABS-CBN mobile SIM and FPJ starred with Megastar Sharon texting “JOIN<space>NAME, Cuneta while entreating Comelec ADDRESS” to 2131. second division to be a little kind As an added Christmas treat, to her in deciding the fate of her the mahiwagang black box is now candidacy in 2016. In the end, the available for only P1, 999. 00 makComelec second division canceled ing it the perfect holiday present her COC (Certificate of Candida- for your loved ones. Now more cy) for misrepresentation for not affordable, ABS-CBN TVplus ofbeing a natural born Filipino (as a fers a more enjoyable TV viewing foundling) and lacking in months experience with its free, exclusive to complete the 10-year residency channels that cater to every memrequirement to run for president. ber of the family.

“Alam mo para sa akin, palaDon’t miss the chance to win gi ko namang sinasabi, kung ano the promo prizes from ABS-CBN ang nararapat ay yun ang aming TVplus! Purchase your very own gagawin. Umaasa ako sa kata- ABS-CBN TVplus at accredited rungan, naniniwala ako malakas ABS-CBN TVplus sales agents, ang aming kaso,” said Grace on retail outlets, and dealers or order the day before the decision was with free delivery via 23661. handed down by the Comelec Digital signal transmission is second division. currently available in Metro MaHer case now rests in the Su- nila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bupreme Court as Comelec seems lacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, bent in disqualifying her. She said Tarlac, Pangasinan, Benguet, and the highest court in the Philippines Metro Cebu. ABS-CBN TVplus might be more understanding as it also offers exlusive channels Cinwas with her father in 2004. eMo, Yey, DZMM TeleRadyo, and “Dapat talaga lahat ng nagnanais Knowledge on top of ABS-CBN na tumakbo ay bigyan talaga ng pag- and ABS-CBN Sports + Action. kakataon sapagkat ang huli at dulo ABS-CBN TVplus or more popnaman niyan ay taumbayan ang ularly known as the mahiwagang dapat na magdesisyon,” said Grace. black box, is a digital box that deHHHHH tects, receives, and broadcasts availPerFect christmas giFt able digital signals on TV. It allows ABS-CBN TVplus’ newest ambas- Filipino families watch richer and sador and FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano clearer picture and sound at home star Coco Martin has great news to enhance their family bonding this Christmas: ABS-CBN TVplus and TV viewing experience. rewards its valued users with an For more information, visit exciting raffle promo where they the official website of ABS-CBN can win a Camella House and Lot TVplus (www.abs-cbntvplus.com) in the grand raffle draw and more and the official TVplus Facebook than 100 CloudFone smartphone page (www.facebook.com/ABunits in the weekly raffle.

SCBNTVPlus).

Action star Robin Padilla inks a two-year contract with the Kapamilya network

Mariel Rodriguez and Robin Padilla

Coco Martin is newest ABS-CBN TVplus ambassador

MTRCB, CHR uniTe To pRoMoTe HuMan RigHTs The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to intensify public awareness on the protection and promotion of human rights.

MTRCB Chairman Atty. Eugenio “Toto” Villareal along with CHR Chairman Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon, MTRCB Board Member Atty. Noel Del Prado, and CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit, led the MOA signing at the CHR office in Diliman, Quezon City on Dec. 9.

According to Villareal, the signing is but a confirmation of the

From left, MTRCB Chairpman Atty. Eugenio “Toto” Villareal along with CHR Chairman Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon, MTRCB Board Member Atty. Noel Del Prado, and CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit

cooperation that has already been going on between the two agencies. “First, for the past few years, in both its developmental activities like the Matalinong Panonood for the protection of the viewers, especially children and women, and in the adjudication and dispute resolutions that we do, we have already adopted what we

call a rights-based approach. And what greater ally we can have in this approach than the men and women of the Commission on Human Rights. Secondly, because of our developmental mandate, we would also like to bring to our stakeholders all our lessons in human rights as these apply to media and entertainment,” he said.

For his part, Gascon shared that as state institutions, both the CHR and the MTRCB have crucial roles to play in terms of building a society and a community of values.

“The MTRCB of course is the institution of government that ensures that whatever is produced, that impacts on our future, builds on, draws from, and strengthens a

humane, democratic, and peaceful society. The same also with CHR which is a constitutional body that promotes and protects human rights. We are excited about the prospect of cooperation that we might be able to develop between the CHR and the MTRCB as we continue to promote the values of a humane society,” he said.

Through the partnership, MTRCB and CHR seek to formulate integrated advocacy programs to promote human rights and to prevent violations by undertaking an information campaign on human rights of vulnerable groups particularly women, children, and individuals with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity.

Also present during the signing were MTRCB Executive Director Atty. Ann Marie Nemenzo, Board Members Atty. Jojo Salomon, Jackie Aquino-Gavino, and Gladys Reyes-Sommereux, together with CHR Commissioners Roberto Eugenio Cadiz and Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana.

T UES DAY : DECEMBER 15, 2015

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Ex-MMDA ChAirMAn is nEw filM inDustry ADvoCAtE ISAH V. RED Former MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino vowed to continue helping and reviving the Philippine film industry, which he said is severely affected by piracy and entry of foreign films.

Tolentino noted that the cost of filmmaking has rapidly increased making it cheaper to import foreign films than produce movies.

He said piracy has resulted in huge revenue losses for producers and filmmakers.

In 2013, the intellectual property office recorded a P7.5 billion cost of seized counterfeit films.

“I want to continue my advocacy in reviving our film industry by giving incentives (to film producers),” he said.

Under Tolentino, films that competed in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) experienced impressive gross earnings.

He also established the ongoing Cinefone or cell phone film festival for high school and college students nationwide. The festival showcases students’ works featuring three-minute films based on single theme such as environment protection, disaster preparedness and road safety.

Tolentino also supported indie films by establishing the New Wave section and student short film competition, and initiated the first MMFF animation category.

He also pushed for the first MMFF International filmfest involving various embassies.

In addition, Tolentino also started the nationwide lectures on filmmaking and short courses on film production for college students.

Tolentino is proposing the Film Development Act of 2016 that will provide government subsidies to local filmmakers who will compete in international filmfests. Winners will also receive rewards.

Local film producers will also be given tax incentives especially when they produce during summer months when foreign films dominate the nation’s screens.

“It’s really important to help our Filipino filmmakers and producers as a way of encouraging them to continue making movies,” he said.

Tolentino said under his proposed law, film industry employees and their immediate family members will be provided with health and medical and educational support.

Films that promote Filipino values, culture and history will be given funding and technology assistance and promotional support if these are shown abroad.

He said regional filmfests will be supported by local governments while anti-film piracy laws will be strengthened.

HHHHH lornA KApunAn Also vows support for filM inDustry Another senatorial aspirant, Lorna Kapunan, other wise known as lawyer for movie/TV celebrities having been the counsel of Coco Martin when Gabriela complained against his act in a fashion show as violating the rights of women and similarly Hayden Kho in the case filed against him by a female celebrity.

Kapunan said that while there have been laws all meant to help the industry, what she can do, she added, is to review these laws and then see what other laws can be passed to enhance the existing laws or those that are not implemented to help the local film industry. Like Tolentino, Kapunan said that piracy is the industry’s most perfidious enemy and must be ended totally. ➜ Continued on C7

Former MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino who is gunning for a seat in the senate in 2016 vows to help the middling local film industry, promising to pass bills that will help and protect the industry workers from undue competition from foreign films and stop film piracy altogether

Julia Barretto, Lorna Kapunan and Marjorie Barretto

Lorna Kapunan with superstar Nora Aunor