The Standard - 2016 February 14 - Sunday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 367  3 Sections 24 Pages P18  SUNDAY : FEBRUARY 14, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

UPSETS GALORE AT PBA

B6

GLITCHES RUIN POLL TEST RUN

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

REJECTION of ballots and slow voting time were among the glitches the Commission on Elections uncovered as it held mock elections in 20 areas across the nation, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista reported Saturday.

Consequently, Bautista said the poll body may decide not to use the voterverified paper audit trail (VVPAT) feature of the vote counting machines which allows a voter to check his ballot before it is counted, but also slows down the voting process.

“We will not activate the tape receipt.

What I said before, there are more disadvantages than advantages,” Bautista said after he observed the mock elections in some places in Metro Manila.

But the poll chief said the Comelec

is still discussing whether to activate a feature where the voter can visually review their votes on the voting machine screen before these are electronically counted.

“But the problem in having a screen is the time and the privacy. People will be able to see [the casted votes],” Bautista said.

Bautista said the poll body initially estimated that it would take three to five minutes for most voters to complete their ballots and the mock poll showed that some

even casted their votes faster than three minutes.

But in one instance, at the Baseco Compound in Tondo, one voter took 11 minutes to cast his vote.

“We noticed that the first voter took close to 11 minutes to vote. That’s a little long,” Bautista said, noting, however, that others were much faster.

A more serious concern, Bautista said, was the rejection of ballots in some of the 40 polling precincts in 20 areas where the Next page mock elections were held.

ALL ABLOOM. A flower shop girl makes a pitch to a customer at Manila’s flower district near the Dangwa Station in Sampaloc while another female (inset) arranges flowers in Baguio City.

Flower prices in both places have zoomed ahead of Valentine’s Day. DANNY PATA

VOTERS REJECT PNOY VETO OF SSS BILL

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

POLL

MAJORITY of Filipinos want the government to increase the monthly pension of senior citizens despite claims from the government that the move could leave the Social Security System bankrupt, the recent The Standard Poll showed.

At least 58 percent of voters backed the measure passed by Congress seeking a P2,000 increase in SSS pension, which was eventually vetoed by President Benigno Aquino III. Opposition to Aquino’s veto was highest in the National Capital Region, where 68 percent of the survey respondents said the pension increase should

have pushed through. Only 21 percent of Metro Manila-based voters said they disagree with the pension hike for a net agreement of +35.

Across other geographic areas, the same sentiment was posted by majority of respondents in North/Central Luzon (61 percent), South Luzon/Bicol Next page

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news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

AQUINO’S CHINA POLICY HIT

By Vito Barcelo

THE dean of the Philippine Senate, Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, blamed President Benigno Aquino III for the country’s China crisis, saying Aquino failed to prepare the country when the situation worsened with the occupation of Panatag Shoal.

FEATURES OF AUTOMATION. Smartmatic Philippines general manager Elie Moreno explains to voters the features of the voting machines they have supplied the Commission on Elections during the mock elections in 40 precincts in 20 areas across the country. MANNY PALMERO

Glitches...

From A1

At the Ramon Magsaysay Elementary School, the voting machine rejected three ballots because an election inspector exceeded the space allocated for his signature At the Surallah Elementary School in Sultan Kudarat, a voting machine rejected a ballot six times, according to the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) which also monitored the mock election.

Voters...

From A1

(55 percent), Visayas (61 percent), and Mindanao (52 percent).

Majority of respondents from both urban (62 percent) and rural (56 percent) areas were also against the veto of the SSS pension increase measure, which members of the House of Representatives deliberately did not override before going on recess last week.

The survey, conducted by

Bautista said the poll body will investigate the incidents of ballot rejection, but it appeared connected to the errors that were found in the source code of the vote-counting machines.

Unfortunately, rejected ballots will not be replaced with another ballot because each one has a specific identification number.

In Kalibo, Aklan, the operation of the VCM was also affected by low power voltage and slow Internet connection.

But Bautista did not linger too much on the glitches and instead made a pitch for providing more convenient poll-

ing places, like in shopping malls.

“Now we see the difference between voting in a public school and inside a shopping mall. You can see that it’s more convenient,” Bautista said.

“We should use our new technology by using our modern-day convenience so, like what I’ve been saying, it will be a faster and more convenient voting experience,” Bautista said, noting that there was a low turnout of voters in some precincts.

Meanwhile, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said the Com-

elec still has time to find feasible solutions to address the glitches in the voting system.

“The Comelec has still 86 days to fix the software problems in the automated voting system that Filipino voters will use in May 9 elections,” Albano said.

“It is not yet too late for the poll body to do something to address these issues to strengthen the public’s trust and reaffirm its commitment that a no-election scenario won’t happen because we have credible, honest and accurate voting machines,” he added.

With Maricel V. Cruz

resident pollster Junie Laylo from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4 had 3,000 respondents—all of whom are registered voters with biometrics and who said they are sure to vote in next year’s elections—from 79 provinces across the country and the 17 cities in the NCR. It has a margin of error of +/1.8 percent nationwide.

Aquino earlier defended his decision to veto the measure that would have benefited 2.1 million senior pensioners, saying the government must exercise prudence.

“So we implement a proposal

that benefits only one group, and just say sorry to all the others? And after that, what do we say: come what may or let’s leave it up to Batman? That’s not right,” he said.

The President’s veto irked several labor groups, who accused him of being heartless and callous.

“Vetoing the P2,000 increase in SSS pension shows how inconsiderate and heartless the administration is,” said Julius Cainglet, assistant vice president of the Federation of Free Workers. “They bark about the Philippines’ unprecedented

growth and yet, they cannot put their money where their mouth is.”

The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said Aquino has no compassion for the retirees from the private sector.

“Some officials had salaries and bonuses that amounted to P4 to P5 million each for that year. Such is the irony of daang matuwid. The public must express its unequivocal rejection of this regime, through mass protests and through the ballot in May,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes.

“What is [our] preparation to protect ourselves? Nothing,” Enrile said during a news forum at the Annabel’s restaurant in Quezon City.

“Maybe we will not be begging America to save our asses [if we had prepared ourselves],” Enrile said, adding that the only reason we are beholden to America is because we have “no security cover against the regional hegemon, China.”

Back in 2012, Enrile criticized Aquino for not heeding the advice of knowledgeable diplomats on the China issue and instead employed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as a “back-channel negotiator” with Beijing.

Enrile later accused Trillanes of treason for supposedly working to push China’s interest over that of the Philippines to the dismay of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Trillanes later criticized the USeducated Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario for drawing the United States into the dispute.

But Enrile defended Del Rosario’s move on Saturday and said partnering with other countries, specifically the US, may be the only way the Philippines can protect its sovereignty at least for the moment.

“I agree [it would be good] to maintain and strengthen our alliance with the United States of America.

The United States of America is still the strongest, richest, and most secure and stable country in the world in this century,” he said.

Enrile noted that the Philippines also has strong bonds with member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but each country also has its own interests to protect in the protracted dispute in the South China Sea. “It is a [group] of countries with separate national interests. Do we profit by it? Economically, militarily, security-wise, or politically, do we benefit from Asean, I don’t know,” Enrile said.

But a ranking DFA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the China crisis should be understood in the larger issue of freedom of international navigation and commerce in the South China Sea. “The Philippines has taken all the legal aspects against Chinese incursion, that includes the filing of a case in the International tribunal,” the official said.

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

BINAY: I WILL HEAL DIVISIVENESS IN PH

By Vito Barcelo

WARM WELCOME. Vice President Jejomar Binay greets some of the thousands of voters in Rizal province who lined the street to see him.

VICE President Jejomar Binay vowed to heal the political divisiveness that has hindered the progress of the economy and caused poverty, hunger and unemployment.

The United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer urged his political opponents to stop the defamation, stop all lies, the personal attacks and the divisiveness but turn the topic to what the Filipino people really care about.

Binay and his running mate, Senator Gringo Honasan and UNA senatorial bets received a big welcome in Rizal where the group visited several barangays and mingled with the ordinary people.

Binay told a big crowd at Binangonan, Rizal, that everyone will get help from his administration should he win the presidential race.

In an assembly at the Anakpawis Court at Barangay San Andres, Binay vowed that his administration will intensify the fight against criminality, adding that he will appoint Honasan as crime czar.

Binay, member of Alpha Phi Omega, told the crowd that one

of his fraternity brothers, former Sto. Tomas Councilor Damasino Mabilangan Jr., was shot dead Friday morning while jogging.

Binay said the crime rate in the country continues to rise, but he vowed to contain this menace when Honasan becomes the anti-crime czar.

Honasan, on the other hand, said Binay will serve as a healing and unifying president.

In Angono, Binay called himself “a candidate of senior citizens” and narrated the services that the elderly in Makati enjoyed while he was still mayor of the city. He also pledged that under his presidency, he will replicate what he did in Makati nationwide.

In previous statements, Binay vowed to include senior citizens aged 60-64 in the expanded and improved Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Binay also stressed the need for a leader who has a good track record in management and care for others, especially the poor.

After Angono, Binay and his party proceeded to Binangonan. They are also scheduled to visit Morong, Sta. Cruz and Marikina.

SANTIAGO NAMES SENATE SLATE

By Vito Barcelo

THE tandem of Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. revealed on Saturday their senatorial lineup for the May 2016 elections.

Included in the slate are Senator Ralph Recto, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, migrant worker advocate Susan Ople, former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva, former military chief Dionisio Santiago, former Energy Secretary Jericho Petil-

la and actor and television host Edu Manzano.

The candidates are set to be introduced during the Youth for Miriam launch on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. Santiago and Marcos are expected to attend and address the group at 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Marcos paid a courtesy call to Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines

president Archbishop Socrates Villegas at the Archbishops’ Office in Dagupan City at the continuation of his “Unity Caravan” in Pangasinan today.

After the closed-door meeting with Villegas, Marcos said they did not talk about politics. “We talked about everything under the sun but not politics,” Marcos said.

Marcos also closed the issue on undergoing a DNA test to determine if he is related to Senator Grace Poe who is running for president, saying he was only joking when he told journalists that he was willing to take the test.

“Yes, but there is no point of taking the DNA test. I’m just kidding. It will not be of any help to

Poe,” Marcos said.

Earlier the lady senator’s DNA test with possible relatives in Guimaras proved negative. It was the second such negative test that was done not only to determine her parentage but also to settle the question on whether or not she is a natural born Filipino citizen.

On the fourth day of the campaign, Marcos went on the last leg of his 2-day sortie in the voterich province of Pangasinan, which he said is a crucial component of his bid to cement his hold on the “Solid North” as the launching pad in presenting his vision of national unity.

Marcos also squelched speculations that his family is support-

ing Poe who campaigned recently in his hometown province of Ilocos Norte and was accompanied by his sister, Governor Imee Marcos.

He said that as a presidential candidate Senator Poe and her rivals are expected to go around all the country’s provinces for their campaign, including in Ilocos Norte.

On the contrary, the senator reiterated his full support to Santiago.

“I am running together with Senator Miriam DefensorSantiago as my president. I am running with her for vice president. Tomorrow we will introduce our senatorial lineup,” Marcos said.

MAR REJECTS RODY’S BARB

By John Paolo Bencito LIGAO, Albay—Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II on Saturday dismissed the tirades of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and claimed he won’t resort to low blows and cheap gimmicks.

“I don’t have any time for that nonsense,” Roxas said in a chance interview after a campaign sortie at Ligao City Hall in Albay.

Roxas, who is on a two-day sortie in the Bicol region with his running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, said that he plans to improve Bicol’s connectivity with other parts of the country by fixing the Philippine National Railways and improving air and land facilities.

But LP spokesperson and Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo told The Standard said Duterte should seek to improve the country’s political discourse instead of entertaining his supposed penchant to peek at

other people’s private parts.

“He is becoming pathetic. The people deserve a serious discourse of what’s going to happen under their administration if he becomes president,” Quimbo said.

“Maybe he has a penchant for looking at men’s private parts, but he should keep that to himself considering that he’s running for the highest position in the land, someone who will lead 104 million Filipinos.”

Quimbo added that Duterte is slowly “self-destructing” with all the low blows he’s doing to other candidates, adding that voters will soon discern that he’s not fit to run the country.

“He offers great entertainment value and people will realize, you know what he offers is just that. We’re not here for laughs. We’re here for the welfare of the 104 million people. He makes good fantastic entertainment [but] we’re not here to elect a comedian.”

NOT ALL POLITICS. Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. emerges from the priory of the Dagupan Cathedral after meeting with Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas (center), president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Marcos was accompanied by former constitutional commissioner and Dagupan resident Raul Lambino (left).

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OPINION

EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

A5

THE WALLS THAT TALK

By Raul Arboleda

[ EDI TORI A L ]

‘LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE’ ‘LET the people decide’ is a lofty statement that purports to embody the essence of democracy.

This appears to be the sentiment of the people themselves given the current circumstances of survey frontrunner, presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe. In the latest The Standard Poll conducted by this newspaper’s resident pollster, Junie Laylo, 60 percent of respondents said Poe should still be allowed to run despite the pending cases against her before the Supreme Court.

She had elevated her cases to the high court, appealing decisions of the Commission on Elections disqualifying her because she was not a natural-born citizen and because she lacked the 10-year residency required of presidential candidates.

In fact, the Comelec said Poe had made material misrepresentations in her Certificate of Candidacy. This tells us so much more than “she is not qualified to run for the highest post in the land.”

Despite the pendency of the cases and the consequent doubts these cast on the senator’s political future, Poe maintains a strong lead in the surveys. And, as the numbers tell us, the people still want her to run—until she is expressly told she cannot.

The overused phrase is dangerous and superfluous at the same time.

Letting the people decide may be interpreted as mob rule, doing away with the need for established institutions like the Comelec, the Supreme Court and the Constitution itself. If we go by this logic of letting the people decide, then why else was the Comelec empowered to distinguish between legitimate and nuisance candidates in the first place? Why does the Supreme Court spend precious time and resources hearing oral arguments? Why does the Constitution identify requirements in the first place? Anybody who is interested should just have been allowed to run.

The truth is, the people have decided already, when they ratified the Constitution that defined not only the qualifications of presidential aspirants but also the mandate of the Comelec and the Supreme Court.

Senator Poe may or may not be declared eligible to run for the presidency. Whatever the decision, we hope it is arrived at through a fair and faithful appreciation of the law—not emotional appeal, and certainly not politics.

And then the people can really decide, not whether a candidate is qualified, but whether he or she would be the kind of leader they need.

CHASING MUSES

THE term “friend” is an equalizer.

It puts on the same category your immediate family, your partner, your relatives, your actual best friends and barkada, your dentist, your landlady, your schoolmates from high school you were never close to, your sixth-grade adviser, your colleagues, your boss, people you met once or twice and struck an interesting conversation with, your crush, your ex, and that fellow whom you’ve consigned to

ADELLE CHUA

the friend zone.

There are ways to group these “friends” and tailor what each group sees or can post on one’s wall, but who wants to go through all that trouble and think about who can see what every time you make a post? The assumption is, if it’s out there, it’s there for the world to see.

The word “share” also means more than uploading a photo, ranting against the traffic, expressing or posting a link to an article you found interesting.

Taken together, all these posts give our “friends” a pretty good picture of the kind of person that we are. And if they’d still like us to remain their “friend” or at least continue following us.

Much has been said about Facebook being other people’s window into our lives.

The assumption is we do not bend our truths or embellish our realities. Yes, sometimes we talk

about how challenging we find our jobs or how proud we are of our children. But that’s people being happy about their lives and sharing it with those whom they consider their friends—yes, I ditched the quotation marks.

Sometimes, however, part of human nature is to raise other people’s esteem of us. Who does not want to be perceived in a good light? Sometimes perception is as important as reality.

But then some people go too far.

What do we do with those whom we know to exaggerate the facts of their lives so that their lives appear more prosperous, more successful, more stable, more charmed?

The natural impulse is to unfollow or unfriend them—

and then once in a while shake our heads at how desperate they are. That’s also human nature— staying away from the things that bring us stress or irritation.

What would be a cause for worry is when these people are family members we’ve known a long time, and their persistent desire to exaggerate or embellish their actual situation has been a pattern over the years. How do we help make them realize that they do not need to resort to these because we love them anyway?

Nobody’s life is perfect. There is a lot of happiness and love, but there is also sadness and anxiety and inconsistency and conflict and wrongdoing.

Real friends do not care that

you are not perfect; they care about whether you are real. And they will love you anyway.

••• I have to do a mea culpa here. I have been disappointing some readers and myself as well for my failure to write a column for several weeks already.

I could go on and on. I could say the past few weeks have been crazy, exhausting physically and psychologically. I could say I’ve had a lot on my mind. I could say I have had to attend to many things on all fronts.

I could say I have not been inspired

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

in a while.

But many other people have been busy and have not been inspired as well, and they have somehow managed to deliver.

The truth is there is no muse in what we do. Writers’ block is a luxury, one that people in this track I have chosen cannot afford. There will not be a lack of topics, people to talk to, opportunities to explore, points of view to assume.

One just has to step away from it all and drown out all the noise—and then many things will become clear.

I close with these lines from Rainer Maria Rilke to remind myself of and

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

celebrate my one true love: “There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write?”

Eight years ago, I started a blog called “A Resounding Yes.” I will get back to it soon, as well. adellechua@gmail.com

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Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

MEDELLIN, Colombia—I returned to my native city of Bogota recently for the first time in eight years. What struck me most was the graffiti that has sprouted on the walls of the city to such an extent that when you see a blank wall, you feel there’s something wrong.

At the moment, Colombia seems to be at the end of a complex five decade-old conflict that has killed 220,000 people, left tens of thousands missing and displaced six million. So the possibility that the conflict will finally end—that the government and FARC, the country’s main guerrilla force, may finally sign a peace deal—has raised immense hopes. These hopes have inspired the nation’s creative souls and the peace process is by far the most popular topic of Bogota’s street art.

As elsewhere, there is debate whether the graffiti constitutes art or vandalism. “The act of painting in the street is in and of itself a political act,” says Toxicomano, an artist known for drawing tortured faces and defiant slogans.

One thing is clear—the proliferation of the street art is partly thanks to Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla fighter who was elected and served as mayor from 2012 to 2015 and who encouraged this form of expression during his mandate. Today there are even tourist tours that have sprung up, showing visitors these outdoor frescoes.

I wanted to do a series of images on this street art and started by the most crime-ridden neighborhoods, in the center of the capital where the graffiti is really everywhere. My favorite photo is that of two doves with the slogan “peace is ours.”

Passersby seeing me snapping away in these neighborhoods, where prostitution, drug trafficking and other crime flourishes, helpfully warned me that “you’re going to get your camera stolen.” In the end, nothing happened.

There is also grafitti like this in Cali and in Medellin, Colombia’s second city where I am currently based. These cities were the ones the hardest hit by the war between the army, leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries as well as violence related to the drug trade. Cali today is considered as one of the world’s most dangerous cities.

The street art in Medellin is different from that in Bogota, which was relatively spared from the violence. It’s more raw here.

For example in the neighborhood of former drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, the paintings are of the dark days of the 1980s and 1990s when he was at the peak of his power. Some are of the “Operation Orion” by the police and army that killed him in 2002.

In these streets, which were often the scenes of battles, the street art speaks of the massacres, the fighting, the suffering that these walls had seen. But even here, you often find the word that has made us Colombians dream for so many years. The word is “peace,” which has become synonymous with a future that seems at last within our grasp. AFP Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S U N D AY, F E B R U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

A4

OPINION

EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

A5

THE WALLS THAT TALK

By Raul Arboleda

[ EDI TORI A L ]

‘LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE’ ‘LET the people decide’ is a lofty statement that purports to embody the essence of democracy.

This appears to be the sentiment of the people themselves given the current circumstances of survey frontrunner, presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe. In the latest The Standard Poll conducted by this newspaper’s resident pollster, Junie Laylo, 60 percent of respondents said Poe should still be allowed to run despite the pending cases against her before the Supreme Court.

She had elevated her cases to the high court, appealing decisions of the Commission on Elections disqualifying her because she was not a natural-born citizen and because she lacked the 10-year residency required of presidential candidates.

In fact, the Comelec said Poe had made material misrepresentations in her Certificate of Candidacy. This tells us so much more than “she is not qualified to run for the highest post in the land.”

Despite the pendency of the cases and the consequent doubts these cast on the senator’s political future, Poe maintains a strong lead in the surveys. And, as the numbers tell us, the people still want her to run—until she is expressly told she cannot.

The overused phrase is dangerous and superfluous at the same time.

Letting the people decide may be interpreted as mob rule, doing away with the need for established institutions like the Comelec, the Supreme Court and the Constitution itself. If we go by this logic of letting the people decide, then why else was the Comelec empowered to distinguish between legitimate and nuisance candidates in the first place? Why does the Supreme Court spend precious time and resources hearing oral arguments? Why does the Constitution identify requirements in the first place? Anybody who is interested should just have been allowed to run.

The truth is, the people have decided already, when they ratified the Constitution that defined not only the qualifications of presidential aspirants but also the mandate of the Comelec and the Supreme Court.

Senator Poe may or may not be declared eligible to run for the presidency. Whatever the decision, we hope it is arrived at through a fair and faithful appreciation of the law—not emotional appeal, and certainly not politics.

And then the people can really decide, not whether a candidate is qualified, but whether he or she would be the kind of leader they need.

CHASING MUSES

THE term “friend” is an equalizer.

It puts on the same category your immediate family, your partner, your relatives, your actual best friends and barkada, your dentist, your landlady, your schoolmates from high school you were never close to, your sixth-grade adviser, your colleagues, your boss, people you met once or twice and struck an interesting conversation with, your crush, your ex, and that fellow whom you’ve consigned to

ADELLE CHUA

the friend zone.

There are ways to group these “friends” and tailor what each group sees or can post on one’s wall, but who wants to go through all that trouble and think about who can see what every time you make a post? The assumption is, if it’s out there, it’s there for the world to see.

The word “share” also means more than uploading a photo, ranting against the traffic, expressing or posting a link to an article you found interesting.

Taken together, all these posts give our “friends” a pretty good picture of the kind of person that we are. And if they’d still like us to remain their “friend” or at least continue following us.

Much has been said about Facebook being other people’s window into our lives.

The assumption is we do not bend our truths or embellish our realities. Yes, sometimes we talk

about how challenging we find our jobs or how proud we are of our children. But that’s people being happy about their lives and sharing it with those whom they consider their friends—yes, I ditched the quotation marks.

Sometimes, however, part of human nature is to raise other people’s esteem of us. Who does not want to be perceived in a good light? Sometimes perception is as important as reality.

But then some people go too far.

What do we do with those whom we know to exaggerate the facts of their lives so that their lives appear more prosperous, more successful, more stable, more charmed?

The natural impulse is to unfollow or unfriend them—

and then once in a while shake our heads at how desperate they are. That’s also human nature— staying away from the things that bring us stress or irritation.

What would be a cause for worry is when these people are family members we’ve known a long time, and their persistent desire to exaggerate or embellish their actual situation has been a pattern over the years. How do we help make them realize that they do not need to resort to these because we love them anyway?

Nobody’s life is perfect. There is a lot of happiness and love, but there is also sadness and anxiety and inconsistency and conflict and wrongdoing.

Real friends do not care that

you are not perfect; they care about whether you are real. And they will love you anyway.

••• I have to do a mea culpa here. I have been disappointing some readers and myself as well for my failure to write a column for several weeks already.

I could go on and on. I could say the past few weeks have been crazy, exhausting physically and psychologically. I could say I’ve had a lot on my mind. I could say I have had to attend to many things on all fronts.

I could say I have not been inspired

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

in a while.

But many other people have been busy and have not been inspired as well, and they have somehow managed to deliver.

The truth is there is no muse in what we do. Writers’ block is a luxury, one that people in this track I have chosen cannot afford. There will not be a lack of topics, people to talk to, opportunities to explore, points of view to assume.

One just has to step away from it all and drown out all the noise—and then many things will become clear.

I close with these lines from Rainer Maria Rilke to remind myself of and

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

celebrate my one true love: “There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write?”

Eight years ago, I started a blog called “A Resounding Yes.” I will get back to it soon, as well. adellechua@gmail.com

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

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

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

MEDELLIN, Colombia—I returned to my native city of Bogota recently for the first time in eight years. What struck me most was the graffiti that has sprouted on the walls of the city to such an extent that when you see a blank wall, you feel there’s something wrong.

At the moment, Colombia seems to be at the end of a complex five decade-old conflict that has killed 220,000 people, left tens of thousands missing and displaced six million. So the possibility that the conflict will finally end—that the government and FARC, the country’s main guerrilla force, may finally sign a peace deal—has raised immense hopes. These hopes have inspired the nation’s creative souls and the peace process is by far the most popular topic of Bogota’s street art.

As elsewhere, there is debate whether the graffiti constitutes art or vandalism. “The act of painting in the street is in and of itself a political act,” says Toxicomano, an artist known for drawing tortured faces and defiant slogans.

One thing is clear—the proliferation of the street art is partly thanks to Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla fighter who was elected and served as mayor from 2012 to 2015 and who encouraged this form of expression during his mandate. Today there are even tourist tours that have sprung up, showing visitors these outdoor frescoes.

I wanted to do a series of images on this street art and started by the most crime-ridden neighborhoods, in the center of the capital where the graffiti is really everywhere. My favorite photo is that of two doves with the slogan “peace is ours.”

Passersby seeing me snapping away in these neighborhoods, where prostitution, drug trafficking and other crime flourishes, helpfully warned me that “you’re going to get your camera stolen.” In the end, nothing happened.

There is also grafitti like this in Cali and in Medellin, Colombia’s second city where I am currently based. These cities were the ones the hardest hit by the war between the army, leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries as well as violence related to the drug trade. Cali today is considered as one of the world’s most dangerous cities.

The street art in Medellin is different from that in Bogota, which was relatively spared from the violence. It’s more raw here.

For example in the neighborhood of former drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, the paintings are of the dark days of the 1980s and 1990s when he was at the peak of his power. Some are of the “Operation Orion” by the police and army that killed him in 2002.

In these streets, which were often the scenes of battles, the street art speaks of the massacres, the fighting, the suffering that these walls had seen. But even here, you often find the word that has made us Colombians dream for so many years. The word is “peace,” which has become synonymous with a future that seems at last within our grasp. AFP Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

WAITING FOR THE GATE TO OPEN

By Bulent Kilic BAB-AL Salama frontier post, Syria—These people, they know how to run. They’ve been running for the past five years and now it’s time to run again. So they’ve picked up and they’ve run. And now they’re just waiting for the gate to open.

It’s just crazy that this is still happening. Five years and it’s still happening. Five years that you have this war in Syria. And today you again have thousands of people massed on the border with Turkey.

This time, they’re fleeing the government and Russian offensive on Aleppo. Tens of thousands of people have come to the border with Turkey here and for now they’re massing near the official crossing, that gate out of their war-torn country.

Turkey, which already has some 2.5 million Syrian refugees on its soil, hasn’t yet opened the gate. Aid agencies have handed out tents and supplies and for the moment, all these people are just patiently waiting for the gate to open. But all that could all change in a moment.

Turning point I’ve been photographing this war for five years and right now it’s one of the critical points in this conflict. One of the critical points before came when the opposition took over the main road between Turkey and Aleppo.

And now the regime and the Russian forces are trying to take this road back. This is important, because it’s the main road to the people still inside Aleppo.

If the regime retakes it, you will have a huge exodus of people pouring out and coming here, to the gate. Hundreds of thousands will come. The opposition fighters, their families.

And if they come and if Tur-

Standing in line for tents.

Feb. 6, 2016. AFP key still won’t open the gate, they’ll just spread out along the border fence and push through, like they did before.

I was here in June, when you had Kurdish forces battling Islamic State jihadists for control of Tal Abyad village.

As the fighting raged, all of the sudden thousands of people appeared from behind a hill and swarmed toward the border fence and pushed through it. It all happened within a matter of minutes.

That’s exactly what will happen if more people arrive here and Turkey doesn’t open the gate. They’ll just push through.

To be sure, there is a difference between now and last June.

Last June, the people were literally running from a war that was raging a kilometer behind them.

Today, they’re fleeing fighting that for the moment a way’s away. The balance of power is changing and they have to run again.

But if thousands more come and if they don’t open the gate, they’ll go to the fence. And if thousands of them go to the fence, there’s nothing you can do. You can’t shoot them as they’re trying to climb over it.

Turkey will have no choice but to open the gate.

I guess you can say that for the moment, the refugees gathering here don’t have the same type of urgency. Or rather, there is urgency, but there isn’t the same edge. They all asked me “When are they going to open the gate? When are they going to open the gate?”

Gone is the laughter It’s super crowded on the Syrian side across the border right now. Just super crowded. People are coming on motorcycles, in cars, on foot.

These people who are gathering there today—they’re exhausted, they’re desperate, they’re sad. They are really sad.

Whenever I took pictures of refugees on the border before, there were always some who were joking and smiling. Not this time. This time they’re all just really, really sad.

You can’t imagine the conditions these people are living in right now. It’s crowded. The smell is something between a toilet and a garbage dump. One day when I was there it rained and the whole place turned into a giant mud puddle. The conditions are just really, really hard.

I’m sure many people are sick.

It’s just unhealthy.

The only ones who smile are the children. AFP

OBAMA SHOWS HOW NOT TO SELL A CARBON TAX

By Christopher Flavelle PRESIDENT Barack Obama’s proposal this week for a $10-a-barrel tax on oil, which has been overwhelmingly rejected by Republicans, could make it easier for the next president to pass a carbon tax—by demonstrating how not to go about it.

Obama made three mistakes. First, he targeted a single industry, and one that many Americans believe he doesn’t like. That plays into the understandable fear that governments will use climate policy to reward friends and hurt adversaries.

The better approach, politically and economically, is to treat all sources of emissions equally—to tax carbon dioxide, not a specific industry. That would not only neuter any sense that the government is picking favorites, but also spur fair competition between energy sources.

Second, Obama said he would use the money gained from the tax to fund things that disproportionately benefit

urban areas—mass transit, high-speed rail and (arguably) self-driving cars.

That amounts to a wealth transfer from rural areas to cities, and from red states to blue ones. Republicans have every right to oppose that; otherwise, they’d be ignoring the legitimate concern that their constituents would pay more to drive and get little in return.

Of course, any kind of carbon tax will disproportionately affect those who consume the most fossil fuel; that’s how you change behavior. But some sense of fairness can be created by, at a minimum, ensuring rural areas see the same per-capita benefit as cities do.

Third, Obama’s proposal ignores research that shows Republicans are more likely to support a carbon tax if the government returns the money gained. In a 2014 survey, researchers found that just 15 percent of Republicans supported, and 81 percent opposed, a carbon tax in the abstract. But if the revenue went

back to the public via rebate checks, support tripled, to 43 percent in favor (and 53 percent opposed).

The better approach, politically and economically, is to treat all sources of emissions equally—to tax carbon dioxide, not a specific industry.

The share of Republican respondents who would support a carbon tax rose a little more, to 51 percent, when they were told the revenue would be used for renewable-energy research. But that gets in the way of the political benefits of giving the money back to taxpayers. It lets proponents buy support, by creating the fiscal room

to lower or eliminate other taxes. It gets around conservatives’ general aversion to bigger government. And it appeals to the instincts of freemarket economists, who recognize the importance of putting a price on private activity that hurts the public.

There’s evidence that this approach could work. A group called the Partnership for Responsible Growth, which is pushing for a carbon tax coupled with lowering the corporate income tax, told me that members of Congress from both parties were open to the idea.

A similar proposal could become law in Washington state, helped by conservative support.

Obviously, any carbon tax—even a revenue-neutral one, which didn’t target a specific industry or transfer wealth from one group of Americans to another—would be enormously difficult to sell. But if candidates and their advisers treat this latest episode as reason not to try, they’re drawing the wrong lesson. Bloomberg

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NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

IF PRICE IS WRONG, DTI SHOULD SUE, SAYS ROMUALDEZ

By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Independent Bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Saturday asked the Department of Trade and Industry to go after owners of business establishments who do not comply with the specified Suggested Retail Prices of various products covered by existing laws and regulations as the agency’s way of showing “malasakit” (compassion) to Filipino consumers.

Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, said the DTI should be relentless in running after unscrupulous traders who might be taking advantage of the situation.

“The DTI should be relentless and always consistent on their monitoring as malasakit to our consumers.

They should apprehend traders who might be profiting from the situation,” said Romualdez, a three-term congressman who is running for the Senate under a platform anchored on compassionate governance.

Romualdez, a shared senatorial candidate of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who are both running for president and who has been endorsed by the 40-man Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc., said the DTI must consistently monitor the prices and immediately file charges against traders benefitting from unfair business practice.

“The government through DTI must find ways to justly and fairly reduce the prices of basic commodities at all times,” Romualdez said.

He said the DTI should check supermarkets, grocery stores, wet markets, and general merchandise stores to ensure their compliance with the specified SRPs for products classified under basic necessities and prime commodities of the Republic Act (RA) No. 7581 or the Price Act. “Monitoring the prices of products under basic necessities and prime commodities will help ensure that supermarkets are conforming to the current SRPs,” Romualdez said.

HAVE A HEART. Indigenous Peoples’ leaders of the Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Katribu) gather at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on pre-Valentine’s Day activity dubbed as ‘May Puso para sa Katribu?’ with a challenge to all candidates to have the heart to defend and uphold the IP’s rights. MANNY PALMERO

9-YR HUNT FOR RECRUITER ENDS IN ZAMBOANGA PIER THE nine-year chase for an alleged illegal recruiter came to an end this week in Zamboanga when authorities led by the Bureau of Immigration caught up with fugitive Bless Grace Hernandez-Ardona on Thursday while she was attempting to leave the country via the Zamboanga Pier.

Hernandez-Ardona is wanted by authorities in connection with cases filed against her for several cases of illegal recruitment as well as estafa. A warrant of arrest for her was issued on Dec. 19, 2007 by Regional Trial Court

Judge Jose A. Mendoza.

Caught before boarding a ship bound for Sendakan, Malaysia, Hernandez-Ardona was accompanied by several women when she was arrested by law enforcement officers composed

of members of the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime.

Authorities are now mulling over the filing of charges for human trafficking as Hernandez-Ardona was allegedly attempting to smuggle the women to Malaysia to work as hostesses.

Estafa is punishable by imprisonment of a minimum of six months to a maximum of 13 years, while illegal recruitment

is punishable by not less than 12 years up to lifetime imprisonment, if there are more than three victims.

If found guilty of human trafficking, Hernandez-Ardona could face lifetime imprisonment.

Estafa and illegal recruitment cases are bailable while human trafficking is a nonbailable offense.

Hernandez-Ardona is currently in the custody of local authorities, after which she will be brought to Manila to face the charges against her.

BICOL STUDENT’S DEATH BLAMED ON AQUINO’S DEFECTIVE POLICY

By Joel E. Zurbano

MARTIN ENDORSED. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin

Romualdez (right) is endorsed by Misamis Oriental Gov. Bambi Emano.

VER NOVENO

MILITANT groups on Saturday blamed the Aquino administration for the death of a graduating student of Central Bicol State University of Agriculture who committed suicide on Feb. 11 after losing his scholarship.

“The rotten education system in the country has claimed another life.

Once again, the Aquino government stripped all hopes from a student and pushed him into the depths of despair leading him to his death,” the League of Filipino Students said in a statement.

Last Thursday, Jessiven Lagatic, a 4th year graduating student of BS Agriculture in CBSUA in Pili, Camarines Sur, took his own life after losing his scholarship and was forced to pay his school fees amounting to P7,000.

The LFS stated that even though Lagatic was studying in a public university, his family cannot afford to pay his college education, prompting his guardians to apply for the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The government approved the application and Lagatic was able to get a scholarship worth P10,000 per semester which bankrolled his tuition, boarding house, books, and uniform.

But last year, CBSUA Office of Student Affairs and Services notified that he will no longer be listed as one of 4Ps scholar since he failed some of his subjects. Lagatic pleaded for consideration but his appeals were disregarded, prompting his family to pay for his tuition to be able to enroll in the second semester of the academic year.

“Lagatic is a student in a state uni-

versity but despite the supposed public character of his school, he still experienced difficulty paying for his education. It is revolting to see that even the state universities in our country do not provide the youth access to higher education,” the LFS said.

Lagatic’s suicide, according to LFS, is not the first time under the Aquino administration. It recalled the case of Kristel Tejada, a 1st year Behavioral Studies student from the University of the Philippines-Manila, who committed suicide in 2013.

ERRATUM

THE photo and caption story entitled “e-PASS RELOADED” that inadvertently came out on Page 7 in The Standard issue of Feb. 7, 2016 was already published last year. We regret the error.

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SUNDAY: FEBRUARY 14, 2016

NEWS editorial@thestandard.com.ph

KIDNAP RESURGENCE FEARED

By Francisco Tuyay

AN anti-kidnapping advocate sees the possible upsurge of kidnapping cases at the onset of the campaign period for the May 9, 2016 elections.

Teresita Ang See, founding chairman of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, said kidnap-for-ransom syndicates could possibly exploit the deployment of policemen stretched thin, securing and safeguarding candidates running for the upcoming elections.

“We are expecting the upsurge of kidnap cases even before the elections since the PNP is stretched thin as they [police]

are busy with some other things, one of which is the implementation of the election gun ban,” Ang See said at the sidelines of the celebration to mark the 4th anniversary of the PNP Antikidnapping Group at Camp Crame Friday.

For this reason, the MRPO appealed to candidates to employ civilian security to enable the PNP to concentrate to their mandate to protect and serve the people.

“Our appeal to them [candidates and politicians] since you have your own money, hire your own bodyguards and please do not deplete the ranks of the PNP,” Ang See said.

The Commission on Elections allows candidates, particularly those who are under threat, to have cops as their security escorts.

A candidate running for local positions is allowed two policemen as escorts, while those for national positions can have up to six policemen as security aides.

Ang See said that while the PNP is too preoccupied in securing a peaceful elections in May, organized criminal syndicates may take advantage of the

current situation to further their illegal operations.

Ang See commended the AKG under Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo for holding kidnappers at bay following a relentless campaign resulting in the dramatic drop in kidnapping cases with about 30 KFR groups neutralized.

“There’s a big improvement in the anti-kidnapping campaign, especially in the manhunt operations, they [PNP-AKG] have caught and neutralized most notorious KFR elements,” Ang See said.

The MRPO has monitored a spike in the reported kidnapping cases in early January 2016 that took place in Quezon City, Tarlac and Pampanga.

FLOWER CENTER. The road leading to the flower center on Dangwa in Sampaloc, Manila is jampacked with vehicles on Valentine’s Day eve.

DANNY PATA

VIZCONDE, ANTI-CRIME VOLUNTEER, DIES AT 77

By Joel E. Zurbano LAURO Vizconde, 77, whose wife and two children were killed inside their home in Parañaque City in June 1991, died Saturday after suffering from his fourth heart attack.

This was confirmed by Dante Jimenez, chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, a group co-founded by Vizconde.

“Ka Lauro Vizconde just joined his family and our God now,” said Jimenez, who is helping Vizconde in seeking justice for the death of his wife Estrelita, and daughters Carmela, 18, and sixyear-old Jennifer on June 30, 1991.

Lauro was in the United States when the massacre happened.

On Friday, Vizconde’s relatives rushed him to the UnihealthParañaque Hospital because of heart attack. He was confined with a life support system at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.

This is the fourth time that Vizconde suffered heart attack, according to Jimenez, adding that the decision of the Supreme Court to acquit all the accused in the murder have cause his health to deteriorate.

“His health was aggravated by the acquittal,” Jimenez said.

Among the suspects in the celebrated case was Hubert Webb, son of former Senator Freddie Webb, and scions of well-known personalities who were convicted by the Parañaque City regional trial court in 2000.

The High Court, however, overturned the RTC decision in 2010 and acquitted all of the convicts, who had been detained since 1995.

SAY IT WITH PAY HIKE, NOT FLOWERS, RECTO URGES PNOY SENATE President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto backed calls for President Benigno Aquino III to issue the executive order implementing the Congressapproved P57.9-billion fund for the first tranche of the pay hike for national government workers “before Valentine’s Day is over.”

“If he doesn’t have a date yet on Feb. 14, then perhaps he can schedule a quiet signing of the EO on SSL IV. It can be his way of showing his love to his fellow government workers. That’s better than flowers,” Recto said.

Recto was referring to the proposed Salary Standardization Law IV, which Congress failed to pass before it adjourned for the elections

last week, after talks between representatives of both chambers hit a snag on whether to include military retirees in the pay hike.

It was Recto’s fellow Liberal Party reelectionist Senate President Frank Drilon who urged Aquino to sign the EO on the first tranche of SSL IV on or before Valentine’s Day. But Recto said any order the chief executive will issue must contain “a provision protecting Magna Carta benefits,” a broad range of government workers presently enjoy.

“There should be a ‘non-diminution of benefits’ clause,” he said.

“Specifically, this provision must be included: ‘Nothing in this

Act shall be interpreted to reduce, diminish or alter benefits provided for in existing laws on Magna Carta benefits.’”

“Mr. President, that’s 22 words of saying ‘I love you’ to government workers,” Recto said.

According to Recto, such a clause is what government teachers, scientists, nurses, doctors and social workers want because it removes all ambiguities in the measure that can be interpreted as a pay cut.

Recto said he “takes comfort on the statement of Budget Secretary Butch Abad that the order coming from Malacañang explicitly states that Magna Carta benefits will not be removed.”

He recalled that when the proposed section on the non-diminution of Magna Carta benefits were sent by the Bicameral Conference Committee hammering out the final version of SSL IV to the Department of Budget and Management for comment, “the DBM fully agreed.”

“There already has been an accord among the parties—Senate, House, DBM—involved. I hope this will be reflected in the forthcoming Malacañang directive,” Recto said.

Magna Carta benefits, all enshrined by law, vary per sub-sector of the civil service.

Under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, teachers assigned in hardship stations shall

get a hazard pay equivalent to at least 25 percent of their monthly pay, among many privileges.

Republic Act 7305 grants public health workers “on call” pay, night-shift differential, subsistence allowance, remote assignment and hazard allowance, plus many more.

Government scientists and researchers are entitled to hazard pay, longevity pay, royalties from their invention as prescribed by RA 8439.

Magna Carta for Public Social Workers grants frontline Department of Social Welfare and Development personnel “on call, hazard, and overtime pay” plus subsistence and transportation allowance, to name just a few.

SUNDAY: FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Roderick T. dela Cruz EDITOR business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

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HOW A FORMER DISHWASHER PUT UP A DOZEN RESTAURANTS ALBERT Alavera washed dishes at a pizza shop as a university student in Manila in the early 1980s. Determined and hardworking, he climbed his way up over the next decade, from a service crewmember to a management position. After leaving the US pizza chain as the vice president for operations in the Philippines in the mid 1990s, he teamed up with a bakeshop operator in 1999 to form a restaurant company that now has more than a dozen stores and 800 people on its payroll.

Alavera, the managing director of Specialty Restaurants Inc., says the hardship he experienced in the early stage of his career in the food sector pushed him to work harder to achieve his dream.

“What I can say to new entrepreneurs is to give your best with what you’re doing and spend time and lots of hard work in pursuing your dreams. There may be hardships and failures but it’s part of the game. You won’t be a successful entrepreneur if you don’t experience failure. As they say it, when you’re down, there’s no way but up,” he says in an e-mail interview.

From his dishwashing experience in 1984, Alavera moved on to acquire new skills and earned a degree in Marketing Management from the University of the East.

He then took culinary courses in various parts of the globe. He studied in Singapore, New Orleans, Barcelona and London, honing his skills as a restaurateur and entrepreneur.

He also watched a lot of cooking shows, even before there were

24-hour culinary programs on cable television. “I’m an avid fan of cooking shows and get inspirations from the cooking tradition of American, Spanish, Italian, French and Filipino,” says Alavera, who is still single.

Specialty Restaurants Inc., which was established by Alavera and Quezon City-based entrepreneur Maria Teresa Santos Rodriguez in 1999, is the company behind successful Americanthemed restaurant chains Burgoo and Gumbo.

In 1995, Alavera went to the United States for a vacation with an aunt. It was in the US where he met Rodriguez, who was operating a small bakeshop in Kamuning, Quezon City. Sharing a common interest in New Orleans cuisine, the two talked about introducing American-themed restaurants in the Philippines—an idea that came true in April 1999 with the establishment of their first restaurant in Quezon City.

“My partnership with her [Rodriguez] as an industrial partner and managing director started

way back 1997 when I was in the United States vacationing with my aunt,” Alavera recalls.

The business partners decided to open their first restaurant along Tomas Morato extension in Quezon City, naming it Burgoo, after the American stew that originated in Kentucky in the 17th Century.

Burgoo Restaurant helped revive the dining scene in the Tomas Morato area.

The family restaurant focused on offering New Orleans cuisines, with strong attention to service, food quality, cleanliness and value-for-money. The chain also popularized the Care service, which means “customers are always recognized with extra-special attention.”

Rodriguez heads Specialty Restaurants Inc. as president and chief executive while Alavera serves as the managing director.

The company will celebrate its 17th year in business in March 2016. “We have close to 800 employees including management staff,” says Alavera.

Alavera describes Burgoo as a “casual dining restaurant that offers American food in a family oriented setting.”

Burgoo has nearly 70 menu items and 40 drink or beverage concoctions. Alavera says its best sellers are seafood Caesar supreme, supreme sampler, shrimps and ribs platter, seafood Jambalaya as well as stone baked pizzas, pasta, chicken, seafood and steaks.

From the first store in Quezon City, Burgoo has spread across TURN TO B3

Specialty Restaurants Inc. managing director Albert Alavera

SUNDAY: FEBRUARY 14, 2016

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

Carmudi Philippines managing director Abhishek Mohan

CARMUDI EXECUTIVE

CONSIDERS PH HIS HOME

By Othel V. Campos

ABHISHEK Mohan, a 34-year-old Indian executive who studied at the Makati-based Asian Institute of Management, now considers the Philippines his home, where he takes a leadership post in a fast-growing online company.

Mohan is the new managing director of Carmudi Philippines, an online car classifieds platform, which thrives amid the double-digit growth of the local automotive market.

He says among the countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines offers the most relaxing environment, one of the reasons why he calls Manila his home. In fact, he has already visited Sagada in Mountain Province thrice.

“I can clearly see that it’s the other way around now—me staying in the Philippines and go on vacation to see my mother in India. I’m kind of settled here already,” he says.

Mohan spent 10 years of his school life at the Lawrence School, a British boarding school considered one of the best in India. After that, he attended St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai for a degree in Economics. He was 23 when he studied at AIM for graduate courses.

He accepted an offer to head Carmudi in the Philippines after working for several IT companies. “Carmudi, by far, is great. I walked right through the top automobile classifieds scene, and this much I found. This year we’re taking on more strategic directions. We will be largely moving into more and more activities that will bring buyers and sellers closer together,” he says.

Mohan says aside from being a buy-and-sell site for vehicles, Carmudi has become an important source of information for buying new cars. “In our site, they compare and research cars and pricing. We are a strong source of leads for new car purchases,” he says, adding that the company focuses on both used and new vehicles.

Before heading Carmudi, Mohan worked for the IPVG Group as vice president for strategy, incubation and start-up investments. He was also a project head of IP E-Game Ventures Inc. “In my last portfolio, I’m the head of all incubation and investments. We invest in a bunch of technology start-ups either listed or sole ownership. Then I moved on to head a Danish mobile security company. I moved on to a publicly listed Japanese technology company. Now I’m in Carmudi, but I’m also involved in the start-up investment scene in the Philippines.

I sit on the board of a couple of companies in technology and Internet scene,” he says.

He takes pride in working hard every day, a value he also expects from his 63 staff members. He spends a lot of time talking with colleagues from other markets for possible leads in automotive and even on insurance and financial trends.

Mohan says he usually rises 6 a.m. to read the papers and goes to work at 8 a.m. from San Miguel Village in Makati City, in anticipation of heavy traffic going to Carmudi office in Pasig City.

Tuesdays, not Monday, are the days when the staff meeting takes place at Carmudi. “During Mondays everybody has a weekend hangover. In Carmudi, we don’t evaluate how long you stayed in office as long as you get your work done. Like I said, we have very strong systems in place. We strongly focused on measurements that makes us, I guess, output-oriented,” Mohan says.

He sees himself as a facilitator. “Everything else, I prefer to facilitate rather than micro-manage because you tend to accomplish more. I’m okay to mentor and teach but what is important is to put a structure on the organization and be unemotional with decision making, so things are professional among us,” he says.

We’re not just any classifieds that let anybody posts anything. Our best effort is that we want to make sure that every time a buyer goes on the site, the information he sees is reliable.

Mohan, who is still single and an avid traveler, witnessed the most beautiful places in the Philippines. “My personal favorite is Sagada. It is one of the most calm places to go. The weather is cold and food is always fresh. Although the travel time takes me about 13 hours, I’ve been there thrice,” says Mohan who had actually been to tourist spots in Bohol, Boracay, Baguio, Bukidnon and Puerto Galera.

Carmudi sees tremendous growth for the automotive industry because of the growing business process outsourcing industry in the Philippines. Mohan says the life aspirations of those employed in the BPO sector will continue to drive the growth of the economy in general and that of the automotive sector in particular.

Mohan says given that the Philippines still has a low motorization rate, the opportunity for growth is enormous. “We also have a pretty young population and many would-be first-time buyers given the Philippines’ young demographics. We see that segment of business growing. This is really a great time to be in the Philippines, in every sense of the word,” he says.

Carmudi has expanded beyond Metro Manila to Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Davao. The expansion of an office in Davao is deemed crucial in time for the expected deluge of listings this year, he says.

Carmudi is considered the single, most popular go-to online platform for selling and buying used cars as well as new cars in the Philippines, he says. It brokers services to site users

who are either buying or selling cars online via the Carmudi website.

In 2015, listings in Carmudi reached 27,000 posts a month while revenues grew over 100 percent. Carmudi, which generates revenues from listing fees, is looking at increasing listings by 75 percent in 2016.

“This is a huge increase but we are optimistic that the market will catch up. Economic growth is certain to hit high despite the qualms of an election year and auto sales is continually on the rise several years in a row now. But like any auto classified, we’re looking at gaining critical mass before we start to monetize. And in as much as we want to release revenue figures, we’re holding this close to our chest,” says Mohan.

As an information provider, Carmudi is also looking at providing leads for the financial sector. The company generates about 20,000 to 25,000 financial leads a month.

“This is tremendous data for the financial and insurance sectors. We therefore see ourselves going in this direction,” Mohan says.

It is thus important for Carmudi to establish reliability, which according to Mohan, means the company maintains a strict quality assurance process before posting photos and details on the website.

He says quality assurance guys are always up early to check or verify details, photos and physically inspect the vehicles to make sure that everything is above board. “Our focus is that the site has more and should have more reliable information.

We haven’t grown the company at the risk of or the cost of security. We’re not just any classifieds that let anybody posts anything. Our best effort is that we want to make sure that every time a buyer goes on the site, the information he sees is reliable,” Mohan says.

He says the least they need is to encounter scam problems on the website. Among the issues that the company was able to filter and resolve are cars that don’t exist; people posting cars at ridiculously low price; and buyers asking for instant downpayment.

Mohan says the company tries to have all information on the website correct by doing regular clean-ups to allow buyers and sellers transact business much quicker.

Carmudi also started a corporate social responsibility exercise by sending three to four students to college. Mohan says the scholars also get to spend time at the company, familiarizing themselves with how the organization works and taking in important tips from Mohan himself.

Campaign for road safety is another endeavor the company is currently pursuing with car manufacturers and the Land Transportation Office.

He says Carmudi is thinking of better ways to drive home the importance of safety on the road especially for the upcoming Holy Week, a time when most metrobased people are leaving the city for a long drive to visit their provinces or go elsewhere for a temporary respite from urban living.

“We’ve 12,000 accidents in the Philippines every year. The idea is that if we have to ride the growth of the auto industry, it has to be responsible growth. We’re working with manufacturers, and the LTO to implement safe traffic. From an industry point of view, that’s what we want to give back,” says Mohan.

SUNDAY: FEBRUARY 14, 2016

B3

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

FILIPINO STUDENTS SHINE

IN TECHNOLOGY COMPETITION

Tes Portillo, the country human resources director of Schneider Electric Philippines

PUP students John Paul Santos and Christian Sta. Romana

FILIPINO students have found a venue to display their problem-solving skills and technology know-how at a global level.

A recent streak of big wins at an annual global competition that promotes energy-efficient cities makes executives of Schneider Electric confident that the Philippines will replicate the feat this year.

“Schneider Electric is always on the lookout for top, world-class talents,” Tes Portillo, the country human resources director of Schneider Electric Philippines says in a news briefing in Makati City. “The Philippines is rich in talents.”

Schneider Electric, a French energy management company, organizes the annual Go Green in the City, a global business case challenge focusing on innovative energy solutions for smart cities.

Filipino students have presented inspiring innovative solutions to produce energy, which garnered top awards in the international competition twice in the past three years.

Portillo says through the competition, Schneider Electric has discovered outstanding Filipino talents who presented innovations such as an electricity-generating water filter and power-generating road humps. The young inventors of these technologies are now working for the company, she says.

“Go Green in the City is the platform to do just that. It is a business case challenge venue, targeting business and engineering students which aims to generate innovative energy management solutions in order to create smart cities,” says Portillo.

Schneider Electric has recently

launched Go Green in the City 2016, which starts with a national competition.

Portillo says from Jan. 15 to April 15, business and engineering (Bachelor, Master’s or MBA) students from all over the country are welcomed to join the challenge.

Under the challenge, teams of two (one male and one female member) are encouraged to submit a case study illustrating their ideas for innovative energy management solutions in cities for one of the five basic business challenge topics.

Ateneo de Manila University students Alyssa Tricia Eloise Vintola and Lorenz Ray Payonga won the grand prize in the global competition in 2013 with their Oscillohump, a device that absorbs and stores energy generated from cars going through speedbumps.

Last year, John Paul Santos and Christian Sta. Romana of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines grabbed the third prize of the global competition with their Electrifilter project, which generates electricity as it cleanses waste water.

More than 12,800 students from 168 countries participated in the 2015 edition of Go Green in the City, which aims to educate young generations and build awareness about the need for smart energy management for sustainable cities.

Santos, who graduated last year, is now working for Schneider Electric along with Vintola and Payonga. Sta. Romana is still studying at PUP.

Santos says he developed the idea for Electrifilter as a student who is exposed daily to the smell of Pasig River. Sensing the need for water treatment, he and Sta. Romana though about a device that can cleanse waste water and produce electricity at the same time.

After winning the third prize in Paris last year, Santos joined Schneider Electric as an engineer while continuing to improve his invention, particularly the chemical reaction process that produces electricity.

“The youth are now more aware and involved with ecological and energy issues, so we know that most will have great ideas to address them,” says Claude Mazallon, Schneider Electric Philippines country president.

“Through [Go Green in the City], we want to give those ideas a

HOW... FROM B1

Metro Manila and Southern Luzon. “We have 13 branches all situated in Metro Manila and nearby provinces like Cavite and Laguna,” says Alavera.

Burgoo has recently opened a branch at the cinema level of Solenad 3 in Nuvali complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Burgoo outlets have undergone renovations to keep up with the evolving taste of the dinning public. The eclectic and New Yorkinspired designs—the trademark of Burgoo were created by interior designer Grace Milan of GMM Design.

Alavera says he is optimistic about Burgoo’s expansion. “We see 2016 as a better year compared to 2015,” he says, noting that sales in January 2016 spiked with a doubledigit growth over January 2015.

“Competition is high and so many international brands are coming, but we believe our brand will stand straight because we never take it lightly and we continuously offer new menu items and always improve guest satisfaction,” he says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

venue where they could be developed, and hopefully, realized.”

Winners of the national competition will participate in the regional challenge, competing with other Asian countries. The semi-finalist teams will have two months to work with a mentor from Schneider Electric in order to create a synopsis and a video presentation of their idea. The 12 best teams will be announced on July 15, 2016, and will go to Paris on Sept.19 to 22 to compete in the grand final.

“The winning team will travel the world, VIP-style, with Schneider Electric, visiting facilities, networking with employees and high-level management. They will also be offered jobs with Schneider Electric in their home countries,” the company says.

Schneider Electric is a global

specialist in energy management and automated systems, with 170,000 employees in more than 100 countries. Its services and products range from the simplest switches to the most complex operating systems, technologies, software and services.

Portillo says many Filipinos are employed by Schneider Electric not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. “In Schneider Electric, we have Filipinos in other parts of the globe as well. We also send people abroad for overseas assignment,” she says.

“We have a lot of talents all over the world. Clearly, overseas Filipino workers are all over the world. If we are only able to bring them back, the amount of knowledge they can bring back to their home country will be amazing,” she says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

B4

world

us, cuba sign deal resuMing regular flights

Syrian rebel fighters, a civilian and a rescue worker, carry the body of a victim following a reported Syrian regime air strike in a rebel-controlled area in the northern city of Aleppo, on February 8, 2016. Regime forces backed by intense Russian air strikes have closed in on Aleppo city in their most significant advance since Moscow intervened in September in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s government. AFP

AssAd vows to retAke syriA, fight terrorism President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to recapture the whole of syria and keep “fighting terrorism” while also negotiating an end to the war, as international pressure mounts for a ceasefire.

His defiant stance, in an exclusive interview with AFP released Friday, doused hopes of an imminent halt to hostilities that world powers are pushing to take effect within a week.

Assad said the main aim of a Russian-backed regime offensive in Aleppo province that has prompted tens of thousands of people to flee was to cut the rebels’ supply route from Turkey.

He said his government’s eventual goal was to retake all of the country, large swathes of which are

controlled by rebel forces or the islamic State (iS) jihadist group. “it makes no sense for us to say that we will give up any part,” he said in the interview conducted on Thursday in Damascus, before a plan for a nationwide “cessation of hostilities” in Syria was announced.

Assad said it would be possible to “put an end to this problem in less than a year” if opposition supply routes from Turkey, Jordan and iraq were severed.

But if not, he said, “the solution will take a long time and will incur

a heavy price”.

Assad said he saw a risk that Turkey and Saudi Arabia, key backers of the opposition, would intervene militarily in Syria.

World powers on Friday announced an ambitious plan to stop fighting in Syria within a week, but doubts have emerged over its viability, especially because it did not include iS or Al-Qaeda’s local branch.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said there were “no illusions” about the difficulty of implementing a nationwide “cessation of hostilities” as he announced the deal in Munich alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The US State Department also hit back at Assad’s claim he wants to retake the whole country, with

spokesman Mark Toner calling him “deluded if he thinks that there’s a military solution to the conflict”.

Moscow says its more than fourmonth-old bombing campaign in Syria targets iS and other “terrorists”, but critics accuse Russia of focusing on mainstream rebels.

Lavrov underlined that “terrorist organisations” such as iS and AlQaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front “do not fall under the truce, and we and the US-led coalition will keep fighting these structures”.

He also talked about “direct contacts between the Russian and US military” on the ground, where they back opposing sides, although the Pentagon said there were no plans for increased military cooperation. AFP

THe United States and cuba will sign a bilateral agreement Tuesday to restore regular flights between the two countries after more than half a century, the State Department said.

“While US law prohibits travel to cuba for tourist activities, this arrangement will facilitate authorized travel,” the State Department said Friday in a statement.

The United States announced plans to resume the flights in December, on the one-year anniversary of the start of reconciliation between Washington and Havana.

Under the new arrangement, airlines in the two countries can now strike deals in such areas as codesharing and aircraft leasing, the cuban embassy said at the time.

However, tourist travel still remains illegal because the trade embargo that the Americans slapped on cuba in 1960 after Fidel castro came to power in a communist revolution remains in effect.

The State Department said flights are expected to be re-established later this year and will “enhance traveler choices and strengthen people-to-people links between the two countries.”

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Assistant Secretary of State charles Rivkin will travel to Havana for the signing. commercial flights between cuba and the United States were cancelled 53 years ago but since the mid1970s authorized charter flights have been allowed under certain conditions.

The State Department said that the new arrangement “will continue to allow charter flight operations.” AFP

PoPe in Mexico after historic talks with russian Patriarch

A handout picture released by Vatican press office Osservatore Romano on February 13, 2016 shows Pope Francis (left) greeting Mexican children next to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto (center) upon his arrival at Benito Juarez international airport in Mexico City on February 12, 2016. AFP

Mexico greeted Pope Francis on Friday with mariachi music and throngs of catholic faithful lining the streets after he held historic talks with the head of the Russian orthodox church in cuba.

President enrique Pena Nieto welcomed Francis at the airport while a mariachi band played before he climbed into the Popemobile to wave at crowds across the capital of the world’s second largest catholic country.

“Francis, brother of the Mexican people!” the crowd chanted as an estimated 300,000 people braved the evening cold, holding up telephones to light his way.

But before beginning a five-day trip across violence-torn Mexican

regions, Francis stopped in cuba to mend a 1,000-year-old christian rift with Russian Patriarch Kirill.

“At last we meet. We are brothers,” said the 79-year-old pope, in white robes and a skullcap, as he met the white-bearded orthodox leader, 69, in black robes and a white headdress. “clearly, this meeting is God’s will.” it was the first meeting between the heads of the eastern and Western churches since the great schism of 1054, with the eastern church rejecting the authority of Rome.

“For nearly one thousand years, catholics and orthodox have been deprived of communion in the eucharist,” they said in a joint declara-

tion signed after they hugged and kissed at Havana’s airport.

“We are pained by the loss of unity, the outcome of human weakness and of sin,” they said.

“Mindful of the permanence of many obstacles, it is our hope that our meeting may contribute to the re–establishment of this unity willed by God.” Their meeting was driven by rising violence in recent years in the Middle east, where christian communities have suffered at the hands of extremists.

“We call upon the international community to act urgently in order to prevent the further expulsion of christians from the Middle east,” the religious leaders said. AFP

S U N D AY : f e b r U A r Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

B5

WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

rescuers find 100 bodies after quake RescueRs have found the bodies of more than 100 people killed after an apartment block in Taiwan collapsed during an earthquake one week ago, authorities said on saturday.

All of the reported residents of the Wei-kuan complex in the southern city of Tainan have been accounted for, according to the local government, as the search for survivors nears an end.

The death toll now stand at 116, with 114 of the victims

from Wei-kuan, according to Tainan government.

More than 280 people have been pulled from of the rubble of the 16-storey building since the 6.4-magnitude quake struck one week ago.

Wei-kuan was the only high-rise

in Tainan to crumble completely, prompting questions about the construction of the building, which was completed in 1994.

Prosecutors have taken the developer, Lin Ming-hui, and two of his associates into custody on charges of professional negligence resulting in death over the disaster.

Investigators found flaws in the construction, including a lack of steel reinforcement girders, according to a statement released by the court.

Pictures of the ruins showed tin cans and foam were used as fillers in the concrete and evidence has emerged that walls may have been knocked down that affected the structure of the building.

The Tainan city government won a court ruling Friday to freeze the equivalent of almost a million US dollars in assets belonging to Lin and three associates, to prevent anything being disposed of before claims can be made by the victims. AFP

a rescue worker (center) peers into a gap during the search and rescue operation at the Wei-Kuan complex which collapsed in the 6.4 magnitude earthquake, in the southern taiwanese city of tainan the developer of a taiwan apartment complex that collapsed during a strong earthquake was arrested, as rescuers reported hearing signs of life in the rubble where some 100 people are still trapped. AFP

US deployS more patriot miSSileS in S. Korea The United States has temporarily deployed an additional Patriot missile battery in South Korea following North Korea’s recent nuclear test and longrange rocket launch, US Forces Korea said Saturday.

The move came as the two allies plan to start detailed discussions on bringing in an advanced, high-altitude US missile defence system opposed by China as early as next week.

“This deployment is part of an emergency deployment readiness exercise conducted in response to recent North Korean provocations,” the US Forces Korea said in a press statement, referring to the temporary roll-out of a Patriot missile battery, which was flown from Fort Bliss, Texas this week. “exercises like this ensure we are always ready to defend against an attack from North Korea,” said Lieutenant General Thomas Vandal, commander of the US eighth Army.

The newly-deployed Patriot battery is conducting ballistic missile defence training with the eighth Army’s 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Osan Air Base, some 47 kilometres (30 miles) south of Seoul.

The brigade has its own two Patriot battalions. One Patriot battalion is reportedly composed of four batteries.

Just hours after North Korea launched a long-range rocket that both condemned as a disguised ballistic missile test, South Korea and the United States announced their intention to start discussions on deployment of the Terminal high Altitude Area Defence System (ThAAD).

The Pentagon has since stressed that it would like the system to be deployed in South Korea “as quickly as possible”. AFP

Six Un peaceKeeperS among 9 troopS Killed in mali attacKS SIx UN peacekeepers were killed and some 30 wounded on Friday when suspected Islamists attacked their base in northern Mali, officials said, while three Malian soldiers died in an ambush as jihadists intensify attacks in the restive region.

The six Guinean peacekeepers were killed in an early morning assault on a camp in the northeastern town of Kidal belonging to the United Nations’ MINUSMA, according to a Guinean source in the mission and a military source in Conakry.

Malian Islamist group Ansar Dine, responsible for several previous assaults, claimed the attack by a “Mauritanian jihadist” as “a message to the crusader aggressors and all those who support them” in a statement carried by a Mauritanian news agency.

The latest attacks highlighted the vulnerability of

Mali’s sprawling, arid north, where UN troops and Malian soldiers are struggling in their fight against jihadists who seized vast swathes of territory in 2012.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the “massive and complex” attack on the MINUSMA base, warning that targeting peacekeepers constituted a war crime and pledging to support the Malian government.

Suicide bombers drove a vehicle into the base between two rocket launches, then blew it up, the Guinean source in the UN mission said.

The raid coincided with a visit to northern Mali by the new chief of MINUSMA, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, who said the raid was an “odious and irresponsible act” that highlighted the “confusion in the ranks of the enemies of peace”.

Annadif was in Kidal a week after a peace pact eased ten-

sions in the town, where the arrival of members of a progovernment group early in February had upset the former rebels in the Coordination of Movements of the Azawad.

Azawad is the name the traditionally nomadic Tuareg people of the desert use for territory they regard as their homeland, straddling the southern Sahara and the Sahel.

In a separate attack, three Malian soldiers were killed and two others were wounded near the fabled city of Timbuktu, a Malian military source said.

“Three of our men died today between Timbuktu and Goundam when they were ambushed by jihadists,” a Malian officer told AFP. “Two others were wounded but their lives are not in danger.”

The defence ministry confirmed what it said was a “cowardly” strike. AFP

Un peacekeepers stand guard near the airport in timbuktu, central mali. mali’s fabled city of timbuktu on February 4 celebrated the recovery of its historic mausoleums, destroyed during an islamist takeover of northern mali in 2012 and rebuilt thanks to Un cultural agency UneSco. AFP

B6

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

SPORTS

REUEL VIDAL EDITOR

By Reuel Vidal

THE 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup was off to a shocking start with a spate of upsets launching the second conference.

The defending champion Talk N Text Tropang Texters, playing without an import, started the shockers by beating the import reinforced Blackwater Elite, 108-102, in the opening game of the conference.

Talk N Text import Ivan Johnson watched from the sidelines while serving out his one-game suspension.

Playing all-Filipino didn’t bother the Tropang Texters at all. They led early, survived a late comeback by Blackwater and went on to post the scrambling victory.

In the second game on opening day, the Meralco Bolts equalled their first conference win total with a victory over the Star Hotshots which were

sports@thestandard.com.ph

UPSETS GALORE LAUNCH EXCITING PBA CONFERENCE the only squad they beat in the Philippine Cup. The Bolts, which finished at the bottom last conference, leaned on last-minute replacement import Arinze Onuaku to propel them to victory.

Onuaku arrived less than 48 hours before tip-off but showed no signs of jetlag as imposed his will inside the paint. He tallied 25 points to go with 22 rebounds and three assists.

The Hotshots lost despite returning Denzel “Monster” Bowles who led the team to the championship in this conference in 2012.

Bowles didn’t do too badly against Onuaku but the big difference was local support. Meralco rookie guard Chris Newsome finished with 16 points, including

GlobalPort Batang Pier point guard Stanley Pringle (3) probes for a weakness against Mahindra Enforcers defender Mike Digregorio.

Star Hotshots star player James Yap (center) slips through the double-team of Meralco Bolts defenders Jared Dillinger (20) and Arinze Onuaku (5).

11 in the fourth period. His teammate Cliff Hodge tallied 12 markers and grabbed seven rebounds.

“I give credit to my local players who worked hard in the offseason to erase what happened last conference.

Everybody was focused on trying to get a good start this conference,” said Meralco Bolts coach Norman Black.

Meanwhile, Mahindra survived the 41-point explosion by Terrence Romeo to maul Philippine Cup semifinalist GlobalPort Batang Pier, 111-98.

In a battle of lackluster

imports the local crew of the Enforcers stepped up to negate Romeo’s explosive performance.

Nino Canaleta, who celebrated his birthday, torched the Batang Pier with 20 points in 14 minutes in the first half. LA Revilla, Mike DiGregorio, Karl Dehesa, and Mark Yee then picked up the cudgels for the Enforcers in the second half.

In a stark display of balanced scoring eight Enforcers scored in twin digits which proved more than enough to negate Romeo’s awesome performance.

“It was a total team effort.

We worked on our consistency in the offseason. Last conference, we kept on competing, but we couldn’t finish games. But now, we’ve worked on the little things,” said Enforcers coach Chito Victolero.

Enforcers import Augustus Gilchrist was a big disappointment with 10 points on 12 attempts from the field and seven rebounds despite soaking up 33 minutes of playing time. GlobalPort import Brian Williams was equally disappointing with 13 points despite playing 37 minutes.

The spate of upsets was capped by the NLEX Road

Warriors who stunned title contenders Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in overtime, 114112. NLEX got a big lift from import Al Thornton who exploded 50 points, including 10 in the extra period, to power his team to victory.

Thornton missed a jumper that could have won the game outright for the Road Warriors in regulation period. But he more than made up for it with double-digit scoring in extra time to power his team to victory.

“He bailed us out tonight.

We won this game because of Al Thornton,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.

JrNBA HEADS NORTH, HOLDS CLINIC IN DAGUPAN

By Homer Vidal THE JrNBA and JrWNBA presented by Alaska headed north and taught more 700 children during the two-day clinic at the Dagupan Astrodome last weekend.

Coach Jeff Christensen from the National Basketball Association led coaches from Alaska Basketball Power Camp as they taught young basketball hopefuls basic basketball skills.

They also taught STAR values namely: Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Positive Attitude and Respect. Skills training were taught in preparation for the Regional Selection Camp at the Benguet State University in Baguio on Feb. 20 and 21.

Through the proper nutrition and an active lifestyle, JrNBA and JrWNBA presented by Alaska continues to be an effective platform in

implementing Alaska Milk’s NUTRITION. ACTION. CHAMPION program that helps address the issue of overweight and undernourished children in the Philippines.

The program is a collaboration between Alaska Milk and the National Basketball Association. It aims to teach basketball nationwide and provide opportunities for those who want to pursue the sport as a vocation.

The program consists of four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip.

Other destinations for the skills clinics are Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Metro Manila, Puerto Princesa, Batangas, Catanduanes and Cavite.

The program will then hold Regional Selection Camps in Baguio,

Davao, Cebu and Metro Manila.

The top 50 boys and 24 girls from the Regional Selection Camps will advance to the National Training Camp in Manila April 22-24.

Ten JrNBA and five JrWNBA All-Stars will be named along with a coach for each squad. They will enjoy an overseas NBA experience trip together with fellow JrNBA AllStars from Southeast Asia. The 2015 JrNBA All-Stars traveled to China to watch the NBA Global Games in Shenzhen featuring the Charlotte Hornets and the L.A. Clippers.

Aspiring athletes may join Alaska’s sports programs. For general information about JrNBA and JrWNBA Philippines please visit www.playph.com; follow on twitter @PlayPH for more updates. Share your JrNBA and JrWNBA experience through the #JrNBAPH #JrWNBAPH.

Boys and girls basketball players form a semi-circle along the three-point line around Alaska Power Camp coach Eric Dela Cuesta. The JrNBA and JrWNBA presented by Alaska taught more 700 children during the twoday clinic at the Dagupan Astrodome last weekend.

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

SPORTS

ARMAN ARMERO EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Zach LaVine #8 of the USA Team is awarded the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge MVP during the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge as part after 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

LaVINE LEADS US VS WORLD IN RISING STAR CHALLENGE MINNESOTA forward Zach LaVine scored 30 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the United States to a 157-154 victory over the world team on Friday in the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge in Toronto.

LaVine was named Most Valuable Player of the contest featuring many of the NBA’s top rookies and second-year players, which launched the festivities of All-Star weekend.

Sunday’s All-Star Game will cap the action at Air Canada Centre, but before then LaVine will defend the title he won last year in Saturday’s Slam Dunk contest.

He limbered up for that event —in which he’ll hope to join Michael Jordan (1987-88), Jason Richardson (2002-03) and Nate Robinson (2009-10)

as the only back-to-back winners—by leading the squad of US-born rising stars against a World team featuring his Timberwolves teammate Andrew Wiggins of Canada, the Knicks’ Latvian rookie Kristaps Porzingis, and the Denver Nuggets’ Congolese guard Emmanuel Mudiay.

Both Porzingis and Mudiay scored 30 points in the game played in 20-minute halves.

Wiggins, last season’s Rookie of the Year, added 29 points for the World—to the delight of the Canadian crowd.

Trey Lyles (no, 41) of the World Team goes up for the dunk during the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge as part of the 2016 NBA All Star Weekend at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

It was the second straight year that the contest featured a USA v World format, rather than the old first-year v second-year showdown.

The talent and athleticism of the league’s young players was on full display with a bevy of dunks, but there was little in the way of defense to be seen.

LaVine admitted that he wanted to take it to Timberwolves teammate Wiggins in front of the Canadian’s home fans.

But he was already looking ahead to his Dunk title defense.

“I’m excited for tomorrow,” LaVine said. “I’m going to try to put on a show.”

Wiggins, who was named MVP after leading the World to the Rising Stars win in New York last year, said he didn’t mind that LaVine earned MVP honors this time around.

He was just happy to put on a show in Toronto.

“It felt great,” Wiggins said.

“I got to play in front of a lot of people I haven’t seen in a long time. My family and friends got to watch it. It’s great being back home and playing for my hometown.”

FILOMENO ‘BOY’ CODINERA: PH’S BELOVED BASEBALL HERO

By Eddie G. Alinea THE date, March 20, 1972.

The event—the 3rd Men’s World Softbll Championship at the Rodriguez Sports Center in the Municipality of Marikina, then still part of Rizal Province, Canada had just dethroned the United States as world champion and host Phlippines was battling Mexico for fourth place and although there was no medal at stake, a win, at least to the two combatants, was tantamount to winning the gold medal.

It was already at the lower half of the 10th inning when Filomeno “Boy” Codinera Jr. stepped on the plate opposite Mexican hurler Roberto Florencia, considered a legend in his country at that time.

The crowd of 32,000 that included President Ferdinand Marcos, was in suspense motion awaiting for what will happen. Florencia had earlier sent two of Codinera’s teammates to the showers.

Three other Filipino batters were still on board—Reynaldo “Baby” Manzanares, the even-

tual winning pitcher, Bino Sta. Maria and Francisto Vanta, who at the upper half of that same period, had tagged Florencia with a single each, filling the bases.

It was a full count situation, meaning the guy manning the mound had lured Codinera, called “Blaha” (as in bahala na, or “Minong”) to baseball and softball circle), to swing on three balls and two strikes in an attempt to “kill” him, too and extend the match to another inning.

The fans inside the stadium were up on their feet

throughout the more than ten minutes of psychological battle between Codinera, a policeman by profession for the “Manila’s Finest”.

I t was a no-win situation though for Florencia, who could have only given his team another lease in life by throwing a perfect pitch the Filipino batter could not be able to lay his bat on. A ball could have advanced Manzanares home and end the Mexican’s bid for a finish higher than fourth.

Florencia opted for a strike, a blinding fastball,

which Codinera hit, sending the ball soaring high and out of the stadium’s fence.

It landed in the waters of a nearby swimming pool.

It turned out to be a grandslam that saw Manzanares, Sta. Maria and Vanta crossing the plate one after another with Codinera following suit, jogging leisurely while enjoying the cheers of the crowd.

Codinera’ heroics handed the Philippines a 6-0 victory with the Blu Boys duplicating a similar fourth place finish which they fahioned out four years earlier in the tourna-

ment’s second edition held in Oklahoma.

Pandemonium broke loose as fans, led by Preident Marcos, Rizal Gov. Isidro Rodriguez, then president of organizing Amateur Softball Association-Philippines, spilled through the field, shouting, jumping and celebrating as if the Philippines had pocketed the crown.

“Sa tutoo lang, wala tayong talo sa situwasyon noon,” recalled Codinera, now bedridden due to several strokes that struck him the past few years.

B8

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

REiRA mAllARi EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

JOHN T. DIZON

Love

ON THe

track

By Randy Caluag

RACING pedigree is usually passed on from one generation to another.

The list of racing families is endless. From the Ramirezes to the Riveras and Bumgarners, motorsports is usually a family tradition practiced by the same familiar faces on the race track.

Even the new racers, the ones who are beginning to conquer the tracks and circuits, usually have a family member influencing him/her to feel the thrill of motorsports adventure behind the wheel, or on top of a twowheel racing machine.

But not John T. Dizon, nicknamed Love by his mother Meljorie.

“Nobody in my family ever raced so I guess my passion for speed is inborn,” said John, who began his love for cars and racing when he was a toddler.

“My mom won a kiddie one-seater car at a raffle draw from Duty Free Philippines, where I started to ride while my sisters pushed it because I was too small to drive it by myself.

As I grew, every time we went to a mall, I will surely bring home a new RC car because I will never leave the Toy Kingdom premises without it.

In fairness, I operated them well. I am also fond of playing at Timezone and people always watch the monitor I was playing with and were astounded to see a little boy trying hard to hold the steering wheel for his feet to reach the pedal,” explained Love.

This love for everything motorsports soon manifested itself into the race track as the Grade 8 student at Harrel Horne Integrated School in Bacoor, Cavite is already an accom-

plished karter despite his youth.

“I was the 2015 Round 8 & 9 KF Jr. Champion, the 2014 Rookie Karter of the year and the 2nd runner up in 2014 Formula SL Novice. With Gods’ grace I end up in the podium for all local races since I started racing in June of 2014 until December last year in spite of so much pressure during the heats due to inferior equipment,” said Love.

As a newbie coming out of nowhere, with no family background in motorsports and bringing home the Rookie of the Year award from the Golden Wheel in 2014, Love said he will continue to race under the KF Jr. Category both in local competitions and the Asian Karting Championships.

“I will practice also in shifter kart.

It’s faster and it can improve my driving skills. If opportunity permits, I will join some Asian races because I believe racing with more drivers with different level of skills and experience will give me a grasp of the how far I am behind them in skills or what should I do to competitively leave them behind. I have experienced it once in Malaysia and given the right equipment and practice I am confident I can perform better,” Love said.

And in order to perform better, Love said he plans to improve his “physique, my driving skills and most importantly exercise quick and precise mental alertness to address every given situation for my advantage during races. This will slowly establish myself as a fair and competitive driver, giving my competi-

Racing ace Joh “Love” Dizon

tors a meaningful and a worthwhile race.”

One hindrance though to Love’s passion is unlike other racers, who are financially well off, he relies on sponsors to keep his dream alive.

“I realize this is a sport of the elite and somehow influenced by power and commerce. But I will keep these as my motivation to improve myself.

Nonetheless, there are still people in the industry that extend help in different manners in my races. I am forever grateful to them and will always remember their kindness. I may not be able to repay them materially at the moment, but I pray for an abundant and continuous blessing for them and their families,”

Love said.

Even his goals in the future are related to his love for racing.

“I will pursue a course in Aircraft Engineering. I will use the knowledge I will learn from it in my racing career,” Love said. “I know many eyebrows will raise, but I foresee myself in five years racing in Formula 3 and in 10 years, I will be a World Champ in Formula 1. I am aware that I will be going through numerous trials and hardships to make my dream come true and I will keep myself ready to overcome them.”

Big dreams? Yes, but with a support cast dedicated to his craft, nothing is impossible.

“I want to thank the people whom

had played an enormous part in my journey. First is my family who gave me the chance to start racing and is continuously assisting me, my idol multi-awarded Champion Gabriel Cabrera, Ama Abby Tayao and Tita Karen Tayao, Coach Edgen Dy-Liacco, Kilton Motors and its management and staff, my mechanics who did everything in their capacity to improve my equipment, my teachers from Harrel Horne Integrated School, my sisters for their understanding and support, to my Father in heaven who provided my mom with the resources to finance my race expenses. Thank you also to Elica Ointment for keeping my skin asthma manageable during my races,” he said.

John “Love” Dizon (no. 45) takes the pole position at the turn during a recent karting competition. Right photo shows Dizon waving to the crowd after topping the race, while inset photo shows the young karting champion proudly holding his trophy.

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

S U NDAY L IF E

LIFE

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The sight of the boats with their colorful sails unfurled is nothing short of majestic

THE PUNTA FUEGO REGATTA 2016:

STRENGTH, SKILL, TEAMWORK AND HEART

BY BING PAREL PHOTOS BY STAR SABROSO

R

egatta. The word has a majestic ring to it, having been first used in the 1650s to describe a race between gondolas in the Grand Canal of Venice in Italy. Indeed, the sight of all these colorful boats – with their sails unfurled during the 2016 Punta Fuego Regatta at the Peninsula de Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas – has a regal quality to it, especially for someone like this writer who has never witnessed a boat race before. Hosted by Club Punta Fuego last January 30 and 31, the event proved to be a celebration of winning stories and challenging experiences that help explain why sailors keep trying their mettle year after year.

“We are a sailing community,” avers Club Punta Fuego general manager Mikel Arriet Arruiz, explaining that Punta Fuego is perhaps the only Club in the Philippines that has not only a golf course but an international full-service marina as well. Now on its 14th year, the Punta Fuego regatta has become one of the most anticipated sailing events in the country today, with boats from various sizes such as Hobie Cats, multihulls, keelboats and dinghies participating.

According to international race officer and Punta Fuego race committee chair Jerry Rollin (“I run everything that has to do with water”), preparations for the race is a shared responsibility between participants and the organizers – from the equipment to buoys, anchors and chains – but the responsibility of keeping the participants safe ultimately falls on his shoulder.

Asked if there are pre-qualifications for one to join the boat race – like being a member of Club Punta Fuego for instance, Rollin laughs. “No pre-qualifications. You own a boat, you can come,” he says. “Sailing is looked upon as an elitist sport by many people,” he continues, “but it is only elitist in the sense that somebody has to have the money to own the boat.” The rest of the crew – even for a Hobie that requires two people to sail, could come from the nearby village. One doesn’t need money to crew, he reiterates. In fact, a big challenge especially for bigger boats, say one that requires a crew of 10, is finding skilled and competent men and women who can serve as crew.

In the Philippines, the best time for sailing is from November to April because of the winds, which is why the regatta has Continued on C3

Club Punta Fuego general manager Mikel Arriet Arruiz

The azure blue waters of Punta Fuego make for a great backdrop

The winners and runners-up in all categories pose with their trophies for the traditional photo op

It’s not uncommon to see females crewing for the boats

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

A SECONDHAND EMOTION CAROTID ARTERY

“I

BY TATUM ANCHETA

’m getting married!” exclaims one of my friends during dinner as she flashed her shining-magic“I made it past 30”-engagement ring. That, and it made me the last single 30-something among my friends. “Oh,” I uttered with a sigh and a sound of resignation. “Another one bites the dust!” I wanted to sing to myself. “Malay mo ikaw na susunod,” my friend says, laughing. Umm… I think I have to find love first, try to keep it, then we will see what happens next.

It’s the love month and for days now I’ve been complaining about my social media feed. There’s just too many engagements and weddings, or maybe I’m at that age when everyone is coupling and it’s just stressful to see when you have just come out of and recovering from a long-term relationship. I’ve always wondered how people last long in relationships and what makes it work. I’ve been in the publication industry for almost 14 years and I’ve interviewed so many couples from all walks of life, and the ingredients are always – patience, understanding, giving, respect, and love. Well, that last bit has to be in the center, otherwise everything else can easily crumble.

For some reason, even if I’ve already been in long-term relationships, somehow it always seems hard to keep the other ingredients intact. Love can be there, but love surely is not enough. So what makes lasting relationships? What’s love got to do with it? And is love enough? I’ve asked a few people who have been in long-term relationships that most of us can only dream of, or imagine. Here’s what they have to say: “You both have to share some common values and principles. It also helps if you have something you both are passionate about,” shares James Bernardo, ECD of Havas Ortega. He has been in a relationship with his wife for 29 years, 22 years of it as a married couple. “There is really no recipe for it. I think a lot has to do with both genuinely

Relationship books authored by Maribel Sison Dionisio

caring for the wellbeing and happiness of the other,” he adds.

“I used to think that love is enough, but after 11 years, we’ve realized that it takes effort, too,” says Claire SeelinDiokno, makeup artist from Shu Uemura, in a relationship with her husband for 11 years. “Hearts have a funny way of forgetting how much you love the other person while picking up dirty socks off the floor. So far, though, it’s never giving up on each other. That and patience have been working for us and having fun together,” she adds.

“Love is not enough; respect strengthens relationships and a decent earning keeps it smooth sailing,” shares Jun de Leon, photographer extraordinaire and married for 19 years. “But then again, the solution to love is to love more. Lastly, learn the art of always saying yes to your wife.

Happy wife, happy husband,” he adds.

“Give-and-take is an important and vital set up. More so, being sensitive with how your partner feels about things like making decisions or as simple as how you

react,” shares Hazel Zaide delos Santos, entrepreneur, who has been married for 16-and-a-half years. “Relationships could be defined as a partnership, that through thick and thin, the couple would breeze through it together.”

“You have to be best friends, and basically, communication is important,” says Mafae Belasco, former Miss Philippines beauty queen and now CEO of Belasco Unlimited Skills Academy, in a relationship for 13 years with 11 years of it within marriage. “Being lovers is, of course, an amazing feeling but sharing your thoughts and experiences to your lover and trusting their opinions is special.”

They say it takes two to tango – it takes two people to work on the relationship and when one gives up, it is bound to fail. When do you say enough is enough? And how do you even begin to repair a relationship that has gone sour and on the brink of collapse?

“Even if the relationship seems to be beyond repair but the couple is willing to work at it, you do not have to let go. There are some problems that take time, that perseverance and maturity of the couple can return the love,” explains Maribel Sison Dionisio, a parenting and relationship expert for over 25 years and consultant at AMD Love Consultant for families and couples. As a relationship expert, she says it is her job to help “willing” couples work on their failing marriages. “We try all means to save the marriage before giving up. But if one is getting emotionally pained and hurt and be a wreck, then it may be time to pause and stop working at the relationship or to move on,” she adds.

“We listen to their stories and we encourage them not to consider breaking up,” explains Gracier Paungan Yu, founder and counselor of maximizingmarriage.com. “Our first goal is for them to become open again to each other and to remove the option to separate. We also teach them skills on how to better communicate and better resolve conflicts.”

But when do you say the fight is over and the best thing is to part ways? “There are some cases where they need to be separated for a while, if one of them is hurting the other. We are talking about physical or emotional abuse or extramarital affair. The offending partner needs to understand that his or her actions cannot be tolerated anymore,” explains Yu. “For those suffering from extramarital affairs, more work is needed. I know of relationships that recover from extramarital affairs. I still believe it can work out for as long as they are both willing to work on their relationship,” she adds.

Continued on C3

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

PUNTA FUEGO REGATTA From C1

traditionally been held in November. However, in the last several years, there has been “no wind,” explains Rollin, which is why they have moved the date for the race to January. A highlight of the regatta is the 14-nautical-mile race to Fortune Island that lies approximately 14 kilometers off the coast of Nasugbu.

In fact, the race to Fortune Island, which was originally scheduled on the first day (January 30), was moved to the second day because the winds were not strong enough, though they took the sailors to the wonderful azure blue waters of Loren Island, Twin Islands and Terrazas de Punta Fuego in Batangas.

The second day of the race was very eventful with the winds going a good 30 knots, and our group (which incudes our life photographer Star Sabroso, veteran watersports writer Barry Dawson and Fuego Hotels and Properties marketing and communications manager Ronie Marie Reyes with Ella Simo) followed the race participants a safe distance away.

As GM Mikel had warned us, the waves as we went closer to the island proved to be very challenging – with tactics and strategy coming into play. The experience certainly imbued us with newfound respect for the sailors especially those who competed in the Hobie 16 Masters Class. Manufactured in France by the Hobie Cat company, the boat has an asymmetrical banana-shaped hull with two sails called the mainsail and the jib, with two people skillfully manipulating the boat so it works with the wind, not against it, and go in the direction they want – whether to go zig or zag.

With the Hobie, there is an optimum weight and it is not so unusual to see bigger guy partnered with a more slightly built man (or woman!) to achieve that ideal weight, but balance is the key, not to mention the skill level and experience as well of the teammates in maneuvering to harness the force of the wind, pointing in a direction that would get them “as close to the wind as possible” to get that needed speed and change course as necessary without capsizing.

During the race, we saw a couple of Hobies that capsized, and it was rather fascinating – inspiring in fact – to see a pair trying to work together to bring the boat in an upright position. Aside from skill and teamwork, what was striking for us was the strength (one participant was using his partner’s chest as some sort of leverage to pull the sails up) and the heart displayed, the never-say-die attitude despite the huge waves that buffeted. And we should know, because we ourselves felt like race participants, drenched to our toes as “Manong Captain” navigated our motorized boat above the roiling waves.

“We can’t go near to help them,” Barry Dawson informs our group, “otherwise they get disqualified.” And so it was with great relief and jubilation (and applause, naturally) that we saw the capsized boat’s sails going upright after what looked to us as interminable minutes.

Filipinos have a natural aptitude for sailing, remarks Jerry Rollin. “As an international race officer, I go to Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong etc., and many of these boats all over Asia – practically in every port – are crewed

by Filipinos who started out in Manila and Punta Fuego and eventually developed their skill, eventually finding a profession where they look after sail boats,” shares Rollin.

While it is not so farfetched to have a Filipino emerging as a world boat racing champion, Rollin believes much still needs to be done to increase the number of participants to the sport. “It’s like a pyramid. In order to raise the top, you have to have a broad base and widen the bottom. You can’t have 10 people taking part on a sport and expect one of them to become global champions,” he opines.

The last day saw David Wheeler’s Freewheeler dominating the Cruising Class, putting behind Floy and its skipper Jack Po, and Tony Ang’s Mee Mee. An intense race also took place for the Hobie 16 Masters Class, with the tandem of Michael Ngu and Boyet Magsanay winning 1st place, with Maria VidoeiraHagedorn and Joe Hagedorn taking second place and and Monchu Garcia and Diego Garcia placing 3rd.

A total of 10 boats maneuvered and worked their advantage through the water at the Hobie 16 Open Class category, but it was the National Team’s Joel Mejarito and Rubim Cruz Jr. who were in dominant form, winning all races that put them at the top, followed by Michael Ngu and Boyet Magsanay with 3rd placer Ridgely Balladares and Ricly Magsanay.

“Club Punta Fuego is very proud to have supported this year’s successful Punta Fuego Regatta, which featured both professional and amateur sailors in a first rate sailing destination, Punta Fuego Yacht Club,” remarked GM Mikel Arriet. It would have been a bigger race this year, but a pall of sadness hovered momentarily during the awarding ceremonies at the Punta Fuego Yacht Club when they recalled last year’s winner, British Robin Wyatt, who perished in October last year when he and his crew encountered a typhoon on the way to Subic from Hong Kong.

In any case, events like the Punta Fuego Regatta, plus the support from Club Punta Fuego, will hopefully bring us closer to that aspiration to see a Filipino emerging as a world class sailing champion as more regattas are held, and more participants take part in this challenging and exciting sport.

Race chairman Jerry Rollin (left) with Cruising Class champion David Wheeler (third from left) and his Freewheeler crew

The National Team’s Joel Mejarito and Rubim Cruz Jr. proudly display their trophy for the Hobie 16 Open Class Category, flanked by Jerry Rollin and Mikel Arriet Arruiz

An optimum weight is required for the Hobie, and it’s not unusual to see a big man partnered with a slightly built woman

Jerry Rollin with Maria Vidoeira-Hagedorn whose team up with Joe Hagedorn got them second place for the Hobie 16 Masters Class

International racing officer Jerry Rollin calls the shots in the water

Sailing as a sport requires preparation, teamwork, strength and determination to overcome challenging conditions. It is not for the faint of heart

A SECONDHAND EMOTION From C1

According to Dionisio, you have to look at red flags to assess if it is better to part ways. If friends and family are already affected by the relationship and they do not agree anymore because fights and frustrations are no longer good for the couple, then maybe it’s time to listen to them. She also suggests sitting down and discussing each other’s dreams and values. In a book she co-authored with her husband, Thinking of Marriage, she wrote a series of inventories for couples to see if they have similar values and if love for each other is really authentic.

“True love comes with time. An exclusive relationship of three years will test this love. That is needed for a happy marriage,” shares Dionisio. I usually call this the

third year hump, the year I never get past at, #stress.

Dionisio explains that the first year of the relationship is the romantic stage. Everyone is still wearing rose-colored glasses and still on cloud nine. Then on the second year comes the real person. “Hello? It’s me…” Oh, Adele. Is it the person you want? Is he or she a monster?

“There will be more conflicts due to differences, especially if you allow your true selves to surface,” shares Dionisio. “If at the end of the second year, with full awareness of your partner’s strengths and weaknesses, and you are still the best of friends and lovers, chances are your love for each other is authentic.”

This Valentine, if you’re with your love, make the most

of this day and the rest that follows. If you’re single, do not fret. As my friend said, “You know, someday, you are going to be more than enough for someone,” so today share this day with your family and friends. You do not need to be a couple to celebrate Valentine’s Day. For comments, and topic suggestions, you may email me at tatum@thestandard.com.ph.

For my crazy life’s adventures follow me at @tatumancheta on Instagram and Twitter.

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A unique but timeless collaboration – fashion show director Robby Carmona with Miss World Philippines 2015 First Princess Cassy Naidas wearing a piece from Albert Andrada’s La Prosperite Chinoise Collection, and Sofitel Philippine Plaza GM Adam Laker

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 14 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Albert Andrada takes a bow before a delighted crowd

@LIFEatStandard

A bejeweled gown by Albert Adrada

AN ODE TO PROSPERITY PHOTOS BY STAR SABROSO

#INTHEMOMENT

BY FRANCIS DE LEON

“Out with the old and in with the new” as the proverbial expression goes.

As global citizens of an ever-changing world, I would like to ponder on the common impression that we have an insatiable thirst for the new (hmm…?).

In business, we want new products, new campaigns, and new ways of reaching consumers. On life in general, we want new things that are on trend and new ways of connecting with people. The so-called “shiny object syndrome” is not just about being clearly distracted. I also would like to believe that it is the result of our general thinking that what is new – and seemingly unique – is better.

This is particularly evident in the world of fashion.

On the contrary, I would like to believe that it’s a totally different story when it comes to high fashion. Yes, they say that fashion is ever-evolving.

However, there is something about haute couture that is undoubtedly timeless. Well, that’s just my opinion.

To clarify, I am not a fashion expert

and I will leave it at that. Nevertheless, I will remain one who appreciates the value of beautiful things that transcend time.

Just recently, I was witness to a grandiose celebration to welcome the Year of the Fire Monkey through a fabulous Chinese New Year dinner and fashion show headlined by designer du jour Albert Andrada. He showcased a magnificent collection of bejeweled haute couture gowns while guests (this columnist included) indulged in an auspicious feast at the multi-awarded Spiral restaurant of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

For Albert’s sartorial presentation at Sofitel, he highlighted jewel-toned pieces inspired by his colorful travels around the world. His dazzling masterpieces were elegant, stunning, and beautifully handcrafted – a signature of Albert’s. Case in point, his designs made pageant history with his inspired interpretation of the Philippine national costume and evening gown as worn by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

Truly, he has established his mark as a high fashion designer fit for royalty.

The venue was the perfect backdrop for the awe-inspiring runway creations and culinary masterpieces. If the intent was to delight all the senses with this event, then, definitely, the organizers have done a “magnifique” job with the visual extravaganza of

Albert Andrada complemented by a bountiful feast by Spiral’s Chinese culinary artisan, Chef Michael Tai with his 10 Secrets to Happiness.

The latter’s gastronomic offerings that evening was a symbolic interpretation of prosperity, longevity, friends, faith and fortune.

For the culinary artist, these are his ingredients to achieving happiness for the Lunar New Year.

I must agree, after sampling some of my favorites: Slow-Cooked Abalone served with Money Bag and Supreme Sauce; Stuffed Sea Cucumber with Minced Pork “Szechuan Style”; Poached Dried Scallop Coated with Winter Melon in Dried Scallop Sauce; and heaps of Baked Lobster with Butter and Fried Garlic Hong Kong style.

Chef Tai’s cooking unquestionably elevated my spirit to a state of bliss.

Indeed, Albert Andrada and Sofitel’s unique collaboration was in perfect harmony like a beautiful lyric that inspires a renewed prosperity for a happy Chinese Lunar New Year.

To this columnist, it was simply timeless. Cheers!

Models pose in their elegant gowns

Albert Andrada was presented with a bouquet by GM Adam Laker and Alice Jenkins

For inquiries and reservations on Sofitel’s Spiral, please call +63 2 832 6988 or email H6308-fb12@sofitel.com.

Follow me on Twitter or Instagram @francis_deleon8 or email: deleon_ francis@yahoo.com.

GM Adam Laker introduces Spiral’s culinary team

The designer’s high profile clients in full support of his fashion show: Consul Agnes Huibonhua, Ching Cruz, Leo Espinosa, Ting Ting Cojuangco, and Consul Fortune Ledesma

Alice Jenkins, Rosan Cruz, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, and Sofitel’s Yasmine Hidalgo

One of Albert Andrada’s loyal clients, Tina Cuevas

Precy Belleza, Belinda Laker, and Yasmine Hidalgo

Sofitel’s director of Sales and Marketing Alice Jenkins with general manager Adam Laker

A partnership of creative geniuses: Albert Andrada with fashion show director Robby Carmona

Tessa Prieto-Valdes with Michael Cinco

The Chinese New Year feast at the Spiral

With Mithi Aquino-Thomas, Consul Mellie Ablaza and Czarina Ablaza-Syquia

Thematic ice fountain for prosperity

SuNDAY : F EbRuA RY 14, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED editor

isahred @ gmail.com

Cream Silk ladies (from left) Julie Anne San Jose, Coleen Garcia, Nadine Lustre, Heart Evangelista, Rachelle Ann Go and Yassi Pressman

Modern woMen

share new Year’s resolutions

T

West End star Rachelle Ann Go

he days of Maria Clara are gone. Filipinas todayare no longer demure and reticent. Theirs is a kind b of femininity marked with a fearless, go-getter attitude that’s ready to break the glass ceiling.

These Filipinas are constantly evolving, striving to become the best possible versions of themselves.

This year’s Cream Silk’s latest endorsers—among them Nadine Lustre, Coleen Garcia, Rachel Ann Go, and Yassi

Pressman--are the embodiment of amodern Filipina: They possess both the self-awareness and unshakable confidence to highlight their assets and control their vulnerabilities towards self-improvement.

The girls share their New Year’s resolutions with other women.

Nadine Lustre

1. Be more honest. I always ask myself, “Will the people like what I say?” We always think that we have to please everyone. But I’m trying veer away from that because I want to be my own person. I want to be more honest with everyone and not be afraid of being judged by anyone.

I’m trying to learn how to be okay with people judging me, because this is really me. If you don’t like it or you don’t agree with it, sorry—that’s me.

2. Straighten myself out. Last year was one of the craziest years of my life. I had lots of projects—We had OTWOL--and sobrang gulo ng utak ko. I was very down also because of some situations in my family. So now I’m just trying to free myself from all

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you’ve achieved something, because didn’t put it into words in the beginning. It’s good to list your goals down, then strive to achieve them.

So that every time you achieve them, you have something to make you realize that everything you went through was worth it, and it helped you grow as a person.

Rachel Ann Go

the sadness of last year and just try to be free, to enjoy life.

3. Take care of my health. I don’t eat properly; I don’t eat breakfast.

But I know that’s bad, so I want to eat right, eat healthy.

1. Never stop learning. I still attend voice classes in London even if I’m doing eight shows a week. I feel like I have to evolve also as a singer and as an actress, so it’s important to always keep on learning.

2. I’m going to start going to the gym. I need to take care of myself more because I’ve been living alone for two years. So I don’t really give time to myself and to my body, and I think I need to focus on that more. It’s going to be a tough season for me this year, so I need to take care of myself physically.

3. I’m going to start writing music again. I want to do original songs, an original album. Hopefully this year I’ll finish that!

Coleen Garcia

Yassi Pressman

1. Discipline. That’s something I decided on for this year because it’s something I need in order to make progress with everything that I’m doing—whether it’s working out or working in general. Just discipline in all aspects of my life.

2. Work on self-confidence. I want to put it in everything I do in my life. There was a time in my life when I really lacked it, and I was always a shy girl growing up, so this year it’s more of a coming-of-age for me: now that I’m becoming a woman, I’m already in my 20s, I want to live my life very confidently and be able to believe in myself.

3. To put perspective in my life: To plan ahead, to set goals. It’s hard for you to appreciate the things you’ve achieved in life if you don’t set goals, because then you don’t always realize

1. I want to be more fit and consistent. I have my times where I go to the gym regularly. I used to box three times a week--and then there would just be months that I didn’t go. I tried yoga last year and I enjoyed it and would go regularly— then I totally stopped. I want to be more consistent when it comes to taking care of my body. As much as I am confident in myself--there shouldn’t be a regular beautiful for anyone—there should always be room for improvement.

2. I want to be more adventurous this year. I want to climb a mountain. I’d like to go on random weekend trips or day trips and discover more places in the Philippines.

3. I want to spend some more time with my family.

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S unDAY : F EbRuA RY 14, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

LOvE BEaTs musIc fEsT

LoVE on HERo TV

LAST Friday, mallgoers sang, danced, and partied to the beat of their hearts in Love Beats, a pre-Valentine’s Day music festival at SM City Fairview, 5p.m. at the parking ground area.

Hale is an alternative rock band whose music Bands and music acts like Hale, Silent Sanctuary, Ebe genres vary from Alternative Rock, Post- grunge, Dancel, Never the Strangers and Meg Fernandez performed Pop Rock and Pinoy Rock. now on a major comeback to back with the most popular DJs in town. These in- back, its hit songs include “The Day You Said cluded Ace Ramos, Tom Taus, Jet Boado, Bad Kiss, Jennifer Goodnight” and “Kung Wala Ka” both from their self-titled album released on 2005.

Lee, Mc Jams, Mc Gino and McKhel The event was in partnership with Lyric, Pioneer DJ, Jagermeister Philippines, Rakista Radio, Philippineconcerts.com, Rave PH, Manila Concert Scene, Rave Manila and When in Manila.

IN the month of love, be an an- finds out what it’s like to be married ime fan. to a mermaid who’s a daughter of an Sometimes, there are those underwater gangster in My Bride is anime’ shows that touch the a Mermaid. hearts and make the audiene Otakus should also not miss feel all warm and out on Hero TV’s fuzzy inside. new offering, Space Otakus (anime brothers, which tells and Japanese culthe story of brothers ture fan in English) Mutta and Hibito can rejoice as Hero who dream of beTV brings back coming famous astitles that are both tronauts. The other familiar and new to new titles for Hero everyone without TV this month are scrimping on any of Aoharu Ride and the action, comedic Magic Kaito. moments, or even Old favorites likeromantic ones this Hero TV’s lineup of Captain Earth, Dragmonth of February. on Force, Kuroko No shows in February As the love month rolls, journey Basket, Eccentric Family, and Ixion once again with Mei Tachibana Saga also return to the channel to through the ins and outs of being, provide more action, laughter, and having, a relationship in Say and inspiring moments.

I Love You. Then there’s how to be For updates, visit www. friends with someone whose mem- facebook.com/myheronation ory lasts only a week in One Week and follow their Twitter, @myFriend. Or join Magasumi who HEROnation.

FEBRUARY 14, 2016 silent sanctuary uses classical instruments to create unique sounds for their audience. Formed back from 2001, it is best known for the hit song “Kundiman” Never the strangers is a Filipino band that performs alternative rock and pop rock music. Their hit song “Moving Closer” was used as a theme song for a toothpaste brand.

Poster of Love Beats music fest held at the parking grounds of SM City Fairview

Tom Tausis an international DJ, producer and artist who has become known in the Hollywood and Los Angeles club scene.

He has performed at some of the most prestigious venues and events in the uS West Coast, including the Playboy Mansion and Coachella’s “Music Loves Fashion”.

BadKiss.

Christina bartges a.k.a. DJ Miss badkiss is an open-format DJ who selects music depending on the theme of the night, the crowd, and the atmosphere of the venue.

ace Ramos is a 2 time winner of Wave 89.1fm Club DJ of The Year. He is currently the official DJ and brand ambassador to many brands like nike Philippines, Smart, Pioneer DJ Philippines, TDK Philippines, and TW Steel to name a few.

mc Gino is one of the resident DJs of Space Super Club and now is one of the up and coming elite DJs in the metro with his electro punk beats.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Musical key (2 wds.)

6 Look forward to 11 Fireman’s signal 16 Mold and mildew 21 Helmsley of hotels 22 High-IQ society 23 Bandleader Count — 24 More than lethargic 25 Bard’s forest 26 “No worries!” (2 wds.)

27 Japanese canine 28 Committee type (2 wds.)

29 Never, to Wolfgang 30 Musicians’ stints 32 Pester 34 Volt or watt 36 Bleachers shout 37 Slugger Jose —

39 40 41 42 43 44 46 49 50 51 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Bad-luck bringer Weather outlook Undersized Wield, as oars — lazuli Artist’s tool Kid who rode Diablo White-sale buy Hoppers R-month food “My Way” composer Meditation guides Depression Progressing (2 wds.)

1051, to Terence Helicons Mass of clouds Dairy-case buy Jean- — Picard Sheet materials

66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 76 77 80 81 82 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 106 107 108 111 112 113 117 118 119 120 121 122 124 126 128 130 131 132 133

Glass ingredient Some CDs Lover of Aeneas Constitutionals Pie crust ingredient Hockey’s — Mikita Age on the vine Very, in Veracruz Shoe lifter (2 wds.)

By means of Slalom runs Palm locale Fertile soil Punch bowl activity Gloss target Toupees, slangily Has a cough Bridge ploys Skater Midori — Inoculants Lumber along — Banks, N.C. Paltry sum Barn bird (2 wds.)

Choir rendition Ethiopian monetary units Ms. Riefenstahl Biased Cornfield sight Actress — Berry Beam Second edition Dock foundation Cat or canary Keystone zanies Reveille opposite Spud Conscientious NASA excursion Mr. Saarinen Major artery Cat scanners?

Language suffix Insurance giant Succeeds in a coup Remove graphite Leering sort Makes an effort Boy band Harshness TNT part

mc Jams DJ Mc Jams is a member of the Manila Hypin group which has interest in the club scene.

He surely knows what the crowd wants and gives the beat that is perfect for the night for he has been circling around the metro for non-stop party and events. Today, Manila Hypin is known for their passion to spread the hype!

Jennifer Lee is a brand ambassador of Pioneer DJ Philippines and has never stopped making the crowd cheer with her Funk and Soul classic beats.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 134 Place for a pilot 135 Columbus’ home 136 Free play 137 Pert DOWN 1 Alps’ Mont — 2 Spanish carnival 3 Water-repellent wool 4 One, in Glasgow 5 Hybrid citrus 6 Baja pal 7 Licks, say 8 Reply to a ques.

9 Carbon 14 et al 10 Fooled (2 wds.)

11 Fluster 12 Area behind a dam 13 So far — — know 14 Ceremonial acts 15 Bully 16 Royal decree 17 Sturm — Drang 18 Indira’s father 19 Creak 20 Like dandruff 31 Steely, as nerves 33 Smallish batteries 35 Chants 38 Humane org.

39 Two-faced god 40 Harangue 41 Tijuana coin 43 Milan money, once 44 Flamingo color 45 Neophyte 46 Sleeps in a tent 47 Mooring site 48 Go rapidly 49 Grease jobs 50 Stoop down 52 Fall planting 53 Piano composition 54 Spy mission 56 Deep ditch 57 Weed, to some 58 Flair 60 Ankle bone 61 Yip 62 Kind of hygiene 65 Tags along 66 Made a remark

67 Object 68 Tunes in 70 Med. staffers 71 Aegean and Bering 72 Sidecar occupant 74 Hero’s tale 75 Grasp 76 Windmill blades 77 Yale of Yale 78 Suppress (2 wds.)

79 Amusing satire 80 Cast 82 British quart 83 JapaneseAmerican 84 Flashy signs 85 Astronaut’s garb (hyph.)

87 New draft 88 Mendicant’s shout 89 Rolls tightly 91 Mademoiselle’s silk 92 Ceremonial fire 93 Fuel tanker 96 Old salts 97 Herr’s abode 98 Majorca’s islands 99 A — — care!

101 Adopt 102 Bat swingers 103 Astro’s family 105 Lamour’s attire 106 — excellence 107 — a lid on it!

108 Romantic poet 109 In plain sight 110 Barbecue spot 112 Puccini opera 113 Name in tractors 114 Fedora fabrics 115 Web habitues 116 Painter — Neiman 118 Inch forward 119 Periodic table info (2 wds.)

120 Brandy bottle letters 123 Comstock Lode st.

125 Roget wd.

127 Way back when 129 — Scala of movies

‘Wagas’ Celebrates third anniversary GMA News TV’s Wagas continues to inspire viewers to believe in the power of true love as it celebrates its third anniversary through three big stories set in three of the most picturesque places in the Philippines—Ilocos, Bicol, and Kalinga.

Benjamin Alves and Alessandra de Rossi bring to life the love story of Laura and Jun in “The One Who Got Away” with the beautiful Bangui Windmills and historic Paoay Church in Ilocos as bqckdrop.

Laura is Jun’s first love but fate seems to have different plans for them as the two would go their separate ways. Years passed and their paths would once again cross. Laura and Jun will have to decide if they would continue from where they ended or if they would just accept that they are just people who happen to love each other at the wrong time.

The story is made more special as it was shot against the most historic and scenic spots in Ilocos Norte.

A love story as hot as the Bicola-

nolabuyo features Dennis Trillo and Sam Pinto. “Ang Turista at Probinsiyana” is the two-part episode set in the Bicol region and tells the story of Rome and Mhaycee who meet through their travels and eventually find themselves falling for each other. Yet as their relationship deepens, details from their past surface putting their love to a test. The story airs on Feb. 20 and 27.

Meanwhile, Whang Od is known to many as the country’s last mambabatok. Yet beyond her talent in making traditional Kalinga tattoos, Whang Od apparently holds a beautiful love story. On March 5 and 12, Whang Od, as played by Janine Gutierrez, will share this tale for the first time in Wagas’ episode “AngPag-ibigni Whang-Od”.

As part of its third anniversary celebration, Wagas is also holding a Director’s Cut Screening of all the episodes featuring Alden Richards at 7 p.m. today at Eton Centris in Quezon City.

S UNDAY : F EBRUA RY 14, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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COOLEST MUSICAL EXPERIENCE, WISH 107.5 MUSIC AWARDS, AIRS TODAY Relive the excitement that filled the Big Dome on Jan. 26 as the first Wish 107.5 Music Awards (WMA) will be telecast at 8:30 tonight on UNTV Life Channel, after A Song Of Praise (ASOP) Music Festival.

Be dazzled with the performances of Gerald Santos, The Voysing, Sassa Dagdag, JK Labajo, Jek Manuel, Beverly Caimen, Leah Patricio, Maki Ricafort, Daryl Ong, Jason Fernandez, Paolo Onesa, Brad Go, Marlo Mortel, Nyoy Volante, Morissette Amon and Darren Espanto.

Cheer once again with your favorite nominated

OPM artists in their winning moments on stage with their respective chosen charitable institutions as beneficiaries.

Aside from winners share triumph with chosen beneficiaries, WMA sets apart from other music awards for its recognition to fan groups and half of the nominee’s points was from online poll.

The other half was from the distinguished board of judges headed by Chairman Atom Henares of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) with MYX Channel Head Andre Allan Alvarez, renowned violinist John Lesaca, PARI President Alvin De Vera, Philippine

Coco Martin and Bela Padilla

Wish 107.5 Music Awards hosts Robi Domingo and Gretchen Ho

Ballet Theater President Sylvia Lichauco-De Leon, Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEED) President Isah V. Red, CCP President Prof.

Raul Sunico, Miss World Philippines National Di-

rector Cory Quirino and Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM) Chairman Mitch Valdez.

The first WMA was hosted by real-life partners Robi Domingo and Gretchen Ho.

Liza Soberano reprising her role as Agnes in Forever and More

LIZA AND ENRIQUE MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE IN FOREVER ONCE AGAIN Love wins this February for Lizquen fans.

Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil reprise their well-loved roles as Agnes and Xander in Forever and More, the first exclusive content offering on iWant TV this year via ABS-CBNmobile).

Before the TV debut of Liza and Enrique’s Dolce Amore tomorrow, Lizquen fans can relive and follow the love story of Agnes and Xander in Forever and More, the much-awaited retelling of the hit Forevermore series.

It shows Xander (Enrique) as

Xander (Enrique Gil) the rich brat in the mobile series available on iWant TV

a successful hotel magnate being interviewed for the Grande family’s biography.

As he shares his journey, he recalls his transformative experience in La Presa and

opens up about Agnes (Liza), his one great love.

With a 15 episode order, Forever and More will also showcase Agnes and Xander travelling down memory

lane to reminisce about the sweet memories and challenges that rocked their relationship and will finally unveil the current status of Agnes and Xander’s legendary love story.

Does forever really exist for Agnes and Xander? Find out and catch up with their relationship status in Forever and More.

To watch Forever and More, visit the iWant TV website (www.iwantv.com. ph) or go to the iWant TV mobile app and text IWANTV10 to 2135 using an ABSCBNmobile SIM.

RECORD-BREAKING RATING OF ‘FPJ’S ANG PROBINSYANO’

The primetime series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano continues to mark new records in national TV ratings as more viewers nationwide get hooked on the journey of the policemen Cardo (Coco Martin).

Almost half of the households in the country tuned in to the Kapamilya primetime series last Tuesday (Feb. 2) and the show hit yet another alltime high national TV rating of 46.7 percent, a solid 30 point-lead versus GMA 7’s Little Nanay with only 16.9 percent, according to data from Kantar Media.

The episode, which set the highest national TV rating for 2016, broke the record held by another Probinsyano episode last Monday (Feb 1) that registered a rating of 45.9 percent.

It also marked the end of Cardo’s mission, which forced him to transform into Paloma, a seductive lady who used her beauty to lure the members of the syndicate. The appeal of Paloma did not only entice her enemies, but also the show’s viewers. Paloma also became viral as photos of her circulated online, and her character easily became a household name.

With the success of his action-series, Coco Martin continues to live up to his title as the Philippine’s Primetime King. But Coco does not only reign on television, because Beauty and the Bestie is now the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time with a total earnings of P528 million, according to Star Cinema.

Now that his mission as Paloma ends, Cardo is set for another mission as a new character joins the series. Who playsis this new? Will he or she be an ally or an enemy?

Don’t miss the action-packed scenes in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, weeknights on ABS-CBN.

Coco Martin in the weeknight action drama FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano

Bela Padilla in an intense scene from the action drama

NICHOLAS SPARKS SPREADS LOVE ONCE MORE HE has kept the flame of love burning for millions of readers with his bestselling novels.

Nicholas Sparks has authored 18 books that feature male characters, which he calls “Joe Average” or “guys who build furniture, high school students, and soldiers”. Yet he makes them stand out because of how deeply they

fall in love and how strongly they express their feelings thru love letters, idyllic dates, and heroic deeds. Meanwhile, the female characters usually want to appear strong when deep inside they are really vulnerable. And when these women meet their own Joe Average, attraction, passion, and love are sure to spark.

This February, The Choice is the 11th Sparks movie to hit the big screen. It tells the story of new neighbors Gabby Holland and Travis Shaw who start off on the wrong foot, but manage to forge a friendship eventually. Gabby is preparing to settle down with her longtime boyfriend Ryan who

is a doctor, and Travis is holding on to his belief that having a girlfriend would cramp his easygoing lifestyle. But an irresistible attraction between them poses a challenge to their well-planned lives.

A love triangle that stars TV and stage actor Benjamin Walker, Australian charmer Teresa

Palmer, and Tom Welling, The Choicetraces the evolution of a love affair that is tested by life’s most defining events and poses the question: How far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

From Viva International Pictures and MVP Entertainment, The Choice opens in cinemas on Feb.17.

S UNDAY : F EBRUA RY 14, 2016

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Eugene “Uge” Domingo (left) and Divine Grace Aucina

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ ‘DEAR UGE,’

PHILIPPINE TV’S FIRST

COMEDY ANTHOLOGY, DEBUTS TODAY G

MA Netw o r k never fails to bring happier weekends to every Kapuso as it launches the first comedy anthology in the country with Dear Uge today after Sunday Pinasaya.

Hosted by no less than award-winning comedienne/actress Eugene Domingo, she says she is very thrilled about her latest show in the Kapuso Network. She is very happy and proud of the show’s concept. It’s oneof-a kind, amusing and will also bring “kilig” to Sunday afternoon TV viewers.

“I believe it’s pioneering, this type of

TV show. This time mas light ang topic and most definitely, funny side ng love ang ipapakita, so I think eto talaga yung pinakamasarap panoorin lalo na pag weekends kasi nagpapahinga ang mga tao. Perfect after Sunday Pinasaya, tuloy tuloy yung katatawanan sa GMA.” In Dear Uge, the stories, characters and plot twists will be entertaining. Even Eugene’s hosting and narration will be comical and have an identity of its own. In the show, she is Urbana Genoveva Esperanza, a ‘variety store’ owner who hosts a web show called Dear Uge. She will also have a charming sidekick played by Divine Grace Aucina, a theater actress from PETA. Making this show unique and exciting are Eugene’s cameo roles in each episode.

Aside from the talented cast in lead roles, she will play various interesting characters that will have home viewers

ISAH V. RED laughing out loud with her comedic antics and hilarious performances.

“Habang may binabasa akongsulat, lumalabas din ako sa kwento, taking up different roles ever y week. Ito rin yung unang unang nagustuhan ko sa concept, meron din akong iba’tibang characters ever y episode, and I’ll be able to act with different actors na gustong-gusto ko, and also different directors in ver y light, nakakaaliw na episodes. Kaya I’m ver y, ver y excited,” adds Eugene.

Prepare to laugh and fall in love with the heart-warming and funny stories in Dear Uge beginning today after Sunday Pinasaya on GMA 7.

****

‘HE SAID, SHE SAID’ AT 19 EAST

C

atch RJ DelaFuente and Julianne Tarroja in a special Valentine concert tonight (Sunday, 8:30 p.m.) at 19 East, in Sucat, Paranaque, titled He Said, She Said.

RJ started singing in special concerts and events in California as a special guest in shows of Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera, and Brian McKnight.

He was a contestant in American Idol season 10 and made it past the competition’s early rounds singing before judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson, and Steve Tyler.

He was Celebrity Chronicle’s Most Promising Male Performer in 2011 and he was part of the first season of The Voice Of The Philippines as one of the finalists under “Team Lea.” RJ signed a co-management contract with Viva Entertainment and Manila Genesis

and was part of Gary Valenciano’s Gary V Presents… concert series.

He also headlined the #setlist bar tour opposite Monique Lualhati and Katrina Velarde.

This year, he recorded Nonoy Zuniga’s “Never Say Goodbye,” as part of the official soundtrack of TV-5’s Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap.

Julianne on the other hand, has been in the music industry since 2007 as she consistently shared her story through the songs she performed in the Philippines and Asia. Pegged as an inspirational artist who speaks to the youth and women of her generation, she inspires through her testimony of beauty, hope, and courage.

Her breakthrough single “Tulak Ng Bibig,” broke all records when it was first released in 2008 winning for her Best Female Recording and Best New Female Artist in the 2008 Awit Awards. She went on

to win third slot of the 2013 Philpop tilt with Sittias well as the Best World Music award in the 2014 Awit Awards. Her collaboration with Quest and Gab Valenciano for the song “Digmaan,” earned her the Best Collaboration Song at the 2015 Myx Awards.

Julianne recently released her second album, Ashes To Beauty, composed of original songs that speak to every woman’s heart.

He Said, She Said marks the very first mainstream collaboration between RJ and Julianne and the show offers the personal views and opinions of the two talented artists on love and relationships through a sampling of chart-topping love songs, anthemic “hugot” ballads, and homegrown favorites.

Opening the show is singersong writer Josh Buizon with his pop-alternative band Over October.

Music artists RJ Dela Fuente and Julianne Tarroja in a Valentine concert