The Standard - 2016 March 7 - Monday

VOL. XXX NO. 26 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONday : MaRCH 7, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

LP buying votes, say Digong, Binay

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cLosER THAN EVER Poe still ahead, but Duterte now 2nd in latest poll

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

THE presidential race just got even tighter as Senator Grace Poe, who remained the frontrunner, lost three percentage points while Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte became the biggest gainer with four percentage points more, the latest The Standard Poll conducted from Feb. 24 to March 1 showed.

Misuari endorses Davao’s Duterte

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With the survey’s national margin of error of +/- 1.8 percent, three presidential aspirants were statistically tied for first place—Poe with 26 percent (down from 29 percent in January), Duterte with 24 percent (up from 20 percent), and Vice President Jejomar Binay with 23 percent (up from 22 percent).

Administration standard bearer Manuel Roxas II came in close

second at 22 percent while Senator Miriam Santiago trailed behind with only 2 percent.

“With Poe getting slight declines in vote share, Duterte gaining some points, and Binay and Roxas maintaining their vote support—the presidential race has become tighter,” said Junie Laylo, The Standard’s resident pollster.

“The campaign effect is kick-

ing in and the race is expected to be very fluid given the upcoming debates and increased sorties of candidates,” Laylo added.

Poe, who is still waiting for the Supreme Court to resolve her petition to overturn the decision of the Commission on Elections disqualifying her from the presidential race, welcomed the result of the survey.

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Voters want bets to keep dole program

By Sandy Araneta MOST Filipinos will vote for a candidate who supports the continuation of the government’s multi-billion-peso dole program, despite criticism that it fosters political patronage and mendicancy, results of the latest Social Weather Stations survey showed Sunday.

The SWS said 80 percent of the

1,200 respondents surveyed from Feb. 5 to 7 would probably vote for a candidate who would continue the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, also called the conditional cash transfer program. Only 9 percent said they would probably not vote for such a candidate.

Some 12 percent said support for the program would not affect the

way they vote.

All five presidential candidates—Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas II and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago—support the CCT. The SWS said the result was similar to its surveys conducted in September 2015 and January 2016.

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MNLF’s Misuari endorses Duterte

By Rio N. Araja

THE founding chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front on Sunday endorsed the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Closer...

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“The people’s continued support for my candidacy across the country warms my heart and encourages me to work harder to deliver our message of hope for their future,” Poe said.

Her spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said Poe remained on top “despite all the under-handed attacks launched against her.”

Duterte spokesman Peter Laviña welcomed the latest results.

“We are happy with the result of this survey, which we think mirrors what is really happening on the ground. We believe this is more reflective of the pulse of the communities and the preference of the Filipino people,” he said.

“The high increase by Duterte of four percentage points, noticeably the only one among the bets to gain that much, is more

Voters...

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The SWS said that the survey was conducted through face-toface interviews with 300 respondents each from Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The survey has a sampling error margin of ± 3 percent for national percentages, ± 6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The government’s 4Ps provides monthly stipends to confirmed indigent families provided that the children stay in school.

The same SWS survey showed

reflective of what we are seeing as we visit communities, talks to volunteers, meet with support groups and sectors, and consult with local leaders across the country,” he added.

Roxas’ spokesman Akbayan party-list Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez declined to comment on the survey.

“The Vice President will continue to talk directly to the people about the need for an experienced and compassionate leadership to address the moral issue of poverty. Numbers will go up and down in the course of the campaign, but what will be constant is our ground game,” Binay’s spokesman Joey Salgado said.

Poe and Binay took the lead in the National Capital Region with 28 percent each, but with a higher margin of error of +/- 6 percent in the Metro Manila results, Duterte was statistically tied with them at 23 percent.

Across other major geographic areas with a margin of error of +/-

4 percent, Poe and Binay were tied in North/Central Luzon with 34 percent and 33 percent, respectively. The two presidential candidates were also tied in South Luzon/Bicol with Poe getting 32 percent and Binay with 27 percent.

Visayas continued to be Roxas’ bailiwick with 36 percent of respondents there choosing him, while Duterte was the top choice of voters in Mindanao with 49 percent.

Per region, Poe led in Cordillera (39 percent), Ilocos (40 percent), Central Luzon (34 percent), and Mimaropa (31 percent).

Duterte led in Zamboanga Peninsula (30 percent), Northern Mindanao (43 percent), Davao Region (79 percent), Cotabato Region (47 percent), Caraga (43 percent) and ARMM (45 percent).

Binay was the top choice among voters in Cagayan Valley (62 percent) and Eastern Visayas (27 percent) while Roxas led in Bicol (34 percent), Western Visayas (51 percent) and Negros

Island (45 percent).

Poe and Binay were tied in Calabarzon with 33 percent each.

By locale, Poe led other presidential bets with 27 percent in urban areas, but this was down from 35 percent in January. In contrast, all other candidates saw a slight increase in their rating among voters in urban areas.

Duterte was the top choice of voters in rural areas with 25 percent, with Poe close behind with 24 percent.

By economic class, Poe lost her lead to Duterte among voters from those belonging to Class ABC. Poe, who registered 30 percent in January, saw her rating go down to 21 percent while Duterte’s 27 percent in January rose to 30 percent.

The survey had 3,000 respondents—all of whom are registered voters with biometrics and who said they are sure to vote in the May elections—from 79 provinces across the country and the 17 cities in the National Capital Region.

At a peace summit in Kidapawan City, Cotabato, MNLF founding chairman Nur P. Misuari, called on more than 500 participants to vote for Duterte.

“Let us not be afraid to vote for our brethren Rodrigo Duterte. He is the MNLF’s candidate,” he told the participants.

Duterte could be the last hope for peace in Mindanao, he said.

The mayor was the only candidate who was very vocal about pursuing peace talks, he added.

Kautin Usman, MNLF chief of staff in Central Mindanao, said he was taken aback by Misuari’s announcement because the non-partisan organization has never endorsed any presidential candidate before.

“I was speechless . The MNLF has not endorsed any candidate but this time it was chairman Misuari announcing it in front of us,” he said.

He said the MNLF’s final decision will be known when they meet on March 13 but he believed the MNLF could deliver a solid bloc of votes to any candidate.

Speaking on a mobile phone, Misuari addressed the summit participants from an undisclosed place. The MNLF founding chairman is wanted by the government for leading the Zamboanga City siege in September 2013, which led to the death of more than 100 rebels, 11 civilians, nine soldiers and five policemen.

Duterte on Sunday said even though he advocates strong leadership, his administration would not be “undemocratic.”

The mayor said he was not bothered by suggestions that he would become a dictator, but assured a crowd of local treasurers and assessors in Pasay City that there would not be a repeat of martial law if he were elected.

that 66 percent will also probably vote for candidates who are pushing for the full implementation of the Reproductive Health Law. Some 62 percent said they will vote for those who will advocate the enactment of the Freedom of Information law.

The survey also showed that 60 percent will vote for those who will continue the “Daang Matuwid” policy of the Aquino administration.

The other advocacies provided during the SWS survey were as follows: Reimposition of death penalty for heinous crimes (59 percent); Defend the rights of LGBT (47

percent); Enactment of the anti-political dynasty law (47 percent); Enactment of a divorce law (34 percent); Enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL (31 percent); and Enactment of law allowing foreign ownership of lands (19 percent).

Last week, the militant youth group Anakbayan slammed the Aquino administration for using the 4Ps as a form of “legalized vote buying” using public funds.

“Out of desperation to let [the trailing] Mar Roxas win the presidential contest at all costs, the Aquino government is contributing all the resources under its

command for the ruling party’s campaign,” said Anakbayan chairman Vencer Crisostomo.

He said patronage politics is the real meaning of Tuwid na Daan, recalling statements by Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary Corazon Soliman warning that “the fate of these programs would now be up to people voting for new leaders in the 2016 elections.”

Crisostomo said this is on top of the CCTs’ failure as an antipoverty measure and its taking away of funds that should have been directly allotted for social services. For 2016, P64 billion will be allotted for the 4Ps, more than half of the DSWD’s P110.8-billion

budget.

The Commission on Audit have previously criticized the 4Ps, pointing out that many beneficiaries are not actually poor and that billions in funds remain unliquidated. Despite the increase in the 4Ps budget in past years, CoA also noted a decline in the number of program beneficiaries.

“The CCTs is being used by the Aquino government to buy votes and get support of local government for the Roxas campaign. 4Ps assemblies have been transformed into election sorties where beneficiaries are threatened with the slashing of doles if Roxas doesn’t win the presidency,” Crisostomo said.

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Poe promises to go after corrupt officials

Poe in Zamboanga. Senator Grace Poe is shown here campaigning in Zamboanga City on Saturday. JAy MorAlEs

Binay, Duterte say LP buying votes for Mar CANDABA, Pampanga—The Binay and Duterte camps on Sunday slammed President Benigno Aquino III for allowing administration presidential bet Manuel Roxas II’s wife Korina Sanchez to distribute P611 million worth of agriculture checks and equipment.

In a statement, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, said Sanchez joined the Department of Agriculture in handing down checks to farmers in Tagum City. She also joined the department in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato and Mexico in Pampanga.

Rico Quicho, Vice President Jejomar Binay’s spokesman, said Roxas and the ruling Liberal Party

were using government funds and resources to buy votes.

Said Duterte’s spokesman Peter Laviña: “Korina is now an accomplice in a systematic shameless act that conditions the electorate to accept doles in exchange for votes.”

He questioned Sanchez’s authority to hand out government funds or implement government projects.

“Is Korina employed by the Department of Agricul-

ture?” Laviña said.

“We have been saying for the longest time that not only are institutions being used by the government in politicking and campaigning, but the resources as well,” Quicho said.

“Public funds are being used by our opponents to make their lethargic candidate win.”

Earlier, Duterte’s camp blasted the LP for using government-issued vehicles in campaigning for Roxas and dismissed its Tuwid na Daan slogan as nothing but a sham.

“Have you no sense of decency and respect for the intelligence of the Filipino people?” Laviña asked, addressing Aquino and Sanchez.

He said there was now

a pattern of “creative votebuying schemes” employed by the administration for its bet.

“Clearly, this is a form of corruption,” he said.

Laviña noted how the Agriculture Department was linked with the multi-million-peso pork barrel scam of Janet Napoles that allegedly benefited a number of lawmakers, including some Liberal Party members.

He also recalled the fertilizer scam involving P728 million in agricultural funds when the department was headed by Jocelyn Bolante.

“The administration is repeating the sins of the past in its desperation to see its bet win the election,” Laviña said. christine F. Herrera

ZAMBOANGA CITY—She is running under the banner of “Gobyernong may Puso” but Senator Grace Poe said Sunday she will have no heart for corrupt government officials if she wins the presidency in this year’s elections.

“It should be one strike out whoever commits a crime while in the government—whether they are government officials or policemen,” Poe said.

“This is because the people depend on you. How could they depend on you if you are involved in an anomaly?”

Poe made her statement even as vice presidential candidate Francis Escudero expressed hope that the Supreme Court would rule on her favor when it decides on her petitions to reverse two Commission on Elections decisions canceling her Certificate of Candidacy due to alleged false material representations and lack of residency.

The Supreme Court decides on Poe’s petitions on March 9.

Poe said should be a speedy disposition of justice and the guilty put in jail once a crime was committed.

She said those found guilty of corruption or involvement in anomalies must be held accountable and imprisoned.

She said she would appoint to her Cabinet competent and honest people. Her administration would not tolerate officials who could not be examples of good governance.

She repeated the need to immediately pass the Freedom of Information bill to enhance fiscal transparency in government.

The bill, of which Poe was a principal sponsor, was passed by the Senate in March 2014 but is still awaiting second reading in the House of Representatives. It is not likely to pass in the 16th Congress, but Poe said her first executive order, if elected, would be to implement the FOI in the executive agencies.

She said this would give the public the arms and the media the right to scrutinize government transactions. She noted that under the present system, it always took time for one to get a copy of the contract for a particular project.

Poe said she would also strengthen the Commission on Audit.

“We really need to strengthen CoA. It is really important to place in the CoA people who can be trusted,” she said.

Poe and Escudero, her running mate, also vowed to lead by example by going to work early and never stealing from the people.

Poe said she would move to make the Philippine National Police a well-equipped and well-disciplined agency.

Her administration would give Mindanao a bigger share of the national budget to help the island.

She renewed her administration’s promise to allot 30 percent of the national budget to Mindanao to fuel its development.

Poe cited the need to support farmers.

She urged the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry to help farmers improve their production and to market their produce. Macon ramosAraneta

‘Aquino campaigning for good governance’ PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III’s campaigning for the Straight Path Coalition is part of his work to ensure the continuity of good governance, Malacañang said Sunday.

“President Aquino is actively campaigning for the candidates of the Daang Matuwid Coalition because he believes it is his duty to our Bosses— the Filipino people—to ensure the continuity of good governance that is essential to the attainment of inclusive growth for future generations of Filipinos,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement over the state-run dzRB radio.

“He is also determined to ensure the conduct of fair and credible elections by respecting the independence of the Comelec [Commission on Elections].”

Coloma made his statement in response to vice presidential candidate Senator Francis Escudero’s remark that Aquino should focus on fair elections and not on partisanship.

He said the president was also determined to ensure the conduct of fair and credible elections by respecting the independence of the Comelec.

“President Aquino and the whole government is one in having an orderly, clean and peaceful elections in May,” Coloma said.

On Saturday, Escudero said Aquino should not have endorsed any candidate to ensure the elections would be fair.

“It would be better if he [Aquino] would just ensure there would be clean and fair elections,” Escudero said. sandy Araneta

Marcos in Nueva Vizcaya. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is shown here campaigning at the Nueva Vizcaya State University on Saturday. Ey AcAsio

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Traffic obstructions. Illegal bus and jeepney terminals slow down traffic in the Baclaran portion of Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City even on a Sunday. EY ACASIO

‘Mercado loses at two casinos’

By Christine F. Herrera

MACABEBE, Pampanga—Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, accompanied by 10 bodyguards, including alleged agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, lost P300,000 while gambling for six hours last Saturday at a casino inside the Clark Freeport in this province, Senator Nancy Binay said on Sunday.

Binay said she saw Mercado leaving the casino at Royce Hotel and Casino at 3:30 p.m.

Mercado transferred to the nearby Widus Hotel and Casino to avoid the Binays but he was seen there, too, by Binay ally former Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo.

Mercado, a former ally of Vice President Jejomar Binay who ran and lost to Binay’s son and namesake dismissed Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., stood as witness to the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall parking building in a hearing that lasted for more than a year before the Senate sub-committee on blue ribbon.

The Binays denied Mercado’s allegations.

“I demand an explanation from the Department of Justice [which placed Mercado in the government’s Witness Protection Program]. This is not the first time that government’s scarce resources and taxpayers’ money were wasted on someone like Mercado, who was allowed to gamble in cockfighting and now in the casinos,” Senator Binay said.

“We have been hearing complaints from government witnesses that their movements are limited and the government cannot fully provide for their needs due to lack of funding [for the

WPP]. Yet here is Mercado going casino-hopping with lots of bodyguards in tow,” she lamented.

The senator said when Leila de Lima was DoJ secretary, she already asked that Mercado’s compulsive gambling be investigated.

“Nothing came of that promised probe. I am not sure if his casino gambling would [be stopped] considering that Mercado’s daughter is now running for vice mayor of Makati City under the ruling Liberal Party,” Senator Binay said.

The senator said she was informed that Mercado left 30 minutes into his game because he had lost already some P300,000.

“Mercado must have learned that my family and I are in the lobby because we came early for the Pampanga sorties of my father, which was why he left the hotel. I saw him leave with his bodyguards. I will ask the DoJ to explain the presence of so many bodyguards in the casino when they were supposed to secure Mercado in a safehouse,” Binay said.

Comelec: Receipts okay if Congress allows them DESPITE criticism of its decision to reject with finality the printing of receipts for voters, the Commission on Elections said it may consider using the feature in the future if Congress extends the voting period to more than one day.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista told reporters that it may be time to hold elections for several days to allow voters to get printed receipts.

“I think we should have receipts, hopefully at some point in the future.

But we have to change the current election system,” Bautista said.

Bautista said Congress may also opt to change the system of synchronizing national and local elections.

“We should think [about] why we only have elections for one day. Why can’t we have elections for several

days?” he asked.

He insisted that printing a voter’s receipt would take a longer time than what is allotted and may stall the voting process.

Bautista insisted that Congress has to approve before Comelec can enable the receipt-printing feature of its vote-counting machines.

On Saturday, both Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo rejected the decision of the Comelec, saying it could cast doubts on the credibility of the May 9 elections.

“It is clear that Comelec is breaking the law and depriving people of their right to be assured that their vote is counted,” Arguelles said. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Priest suspended for cemetery treasure hunt

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan A CATHOLIC archbishop has announced the suspension of one of his priests for unauthorized treasure-hunting inside a cemetery in Iloilo province.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo has relieved Nelson Silvela, a priest of San Joaquin parish, for allowing a group of men to dig inside a “campo santo” in the town that has been declared a national cultural treasure site.

Local police on Feb. 24 arrested at least 10 suspected treasure hunters for digging a 50-foot hole inside the cemetery, which dates back to the Spanish colonial period.

They are currently detained at the San Joaquin police station jail.

The archbishop said neither the archdiocese nor the National Historical Institute has issued a permit for the treasure-hunting mission. “[This] should become a warning to other priests not to do the same thing,” Lagdameo said over Church-run Radio Veritas. “It’s

not part of their jobs and the archdiocese and the [authorities] should be informed about it beforehand.”

Treasure-hunting in the country has become a regulated activity following the passage of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

The law prohibits anyone from exploring or undertaking diggings for the purpose of obtaining materials of cultural historical value without government’s permission.

Amulets. Vendors of amulets known as anting-anting intended to ward

off evil spirits are reportedly enjoying brisk sales in Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila. DIANA B. NOCHE

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First Zika case in PH bared

By Macon ramos-Araneta

The Department of health on Sunday disclosed that an American woman who visited the Philippines last January was infected with the Zika virus.

Health Secretary Janette Garin said that the US Center for Disease Control informed her that the US resident had developed Zika symptoms from Jan. 2 to Jan. 18 before returning to America.

The US center said the patient was described as a “non-pregnant adult” who reportedly got sick last week in the country.

Following the confirmation of the case, Philippines and US authorities traced and visited the places where the patient had gone and conductedmeasures to prevent and control the virus.

The DoH assured the US that there is no outbreak of the Zika virus in the Philippines and there is absolutely no reason to panic.

Garin said the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine had activated five other government hospitals and laboratories for Zika virus testing.

The hospitals are: Baguio General Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao, Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, and San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.

Garin also said the DoH continues to study the virus and ways to prevent its entry into the country.

She said they have started training several hospitals on how to detect possible Zika cases using new machine testing kits.

Symptoms of the Zika disease include rashes, fever for more that two days, conjunctivitis and muscle weakness.

Garin also stressed the importance of keeping the surroundings clean to stop the virus-carrying mosquitoes from breeding.

She advised women not to get pregnant in 2016 to avoid contracting the virus linked to birth defects since the mosquito-borne Zika virus continues to rapidly spread across Latin America.

Miriam vows more PDAF convictions PReSIDenTIAL bet Miriam DefensorSantiago vowed to go after legislators involved in the multi-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund scam even as the Ombudsman last week charged five former congressmen with receiving kickbacks from suspected PDAF scammer Janet Lim-napoles, the largest of which went to three former congressmen from Mindanao.

According to the Ombudsman, evidence revealed that the biggest kickbacks went to former South Cotabato Rep. Arthur Pingoy Jr., who allegedly received 7.5 million pesos; former Davao Del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV, who allegedly obtained 5.5 million pesos; and former Davao Del norte Rep. Arrel Olaño, who allegedly received 3.17 million pesos.

In a speech before some 3,000 youth voters at the Our Lady of Fatima University in Valenzuela City, Santiago

said that if elected, she would “expedite the investigation and prosecution of cases against those involved in the PDAF scam.”

Santiago stressed that legislators involved in the scam had to be charged and convicted to ensure that more government funds would not be diverted from public use.

“If these corrupt politicians remain at large, they will return to power and again steal public funds,” Santiago said After surrendering to the Department of Justice under then Secretary Leila De Lima, whistleblower Benhur Luy implicated 14 senators, 120 congress representatives, and several bogus nGOs in the PDAF scam.

However, by the time De Lima stepped down to run for the Senate, charges had only been filed against three opposition senators and 25 members of the House.

Apart from Pingoy, Cagas, and Olaño,

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales last week affirmed the findings of probable cause to indict former representatives Rozzano Rufino Biazon (Muntinlupa City), Rodolfo Valencia (1st district of Oriental Mindoro), and several others in connection with the PDAF scam.

In five separate Orders, Ombudsman Morales directed the filing of Informations before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act no. 3019), Malversation (Article 217, Revised Penal Code), and Direct Bribery against the five congressmen and officials of the energy Regulatory Commission including eRC Chairperson Zenaida Ducut, the Department of Budget and Managemen, Technology Resource Center, national Business Corp. and representatives of non-governmental organizations including Janet Lim napoles.

Martin’s message. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (left) delivers his message to the

local leaders of the municipality of Remedios Trinidad Romualdez during his campaign sortie in Agusan Del Norte. The town was named Remedios T. Romualdez after his grandmother. Ver NoVeNo

Marcos wins over LP in P Princesa, gets named as city guest BeInG a rival in the May elections did not stop Liberal Party leaders of Puerto Princesa City from inviting vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the guest of honor and speaker of the city’s 144th founding anniversary and its Balayong Festival.

Marcos is one of the political opponents of LP’s Leni Robredo, who is the vice presidential bet of former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. Marcos, a member of the nacionalista Party, is running along with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago of the Peo-

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ple’s Reform Party.

City Mayor Lucilo Bayron, Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida III and their councilors who are all members of the ruling LP feted the senator as their guest of honor in the week-long festival which is a merry mix of socio-civic, cultural, historical, and sports activities. The Balayong Festival derives its name from the Palawan cherry blossoms known as Balayong.

City officials welcomed Marcos at the airport and accompanied him during the Civic Grand Parade from Junction 1 to the famed Puerto Princesa City Baywalk

where he delivered his speech.

Marcos thanked the people of Puerto Princesa for giving him a warm welcome, as well as the honor and the privilege to join them in their celebration of the city’s founding anniversary and the Balayong Festival.

“I will bring this memory and the image of your unity, which I witnessed, as I tour the country,” said Marcos.

He noted that the Balayong Festival is a perfect example of his advocacy for national unity.

However, Marcos lamented that the kind of politics the past few administra-

tions adopted had caused deep divide among the Filipino people and made the country’s problems worse.

While in Palawan Marcos also said the next administration should conduct an accurate audit of the collections and expenditures of the Malampaya Fund not only to ensure proper use but also provide the province of Palawan its just share in the funds.

Under the Local Government Code, Palawan is entitled to 40 percent share of the Malampaya Fund but until now the province has yet to enjoy this right.

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Women’s Day. Marking the International Women’s

Day on March 8, members of the militant women’s group Gabriela on Sunday hold a wreath-laying ceremony at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani marker in Quezon City in honor of the female victims of atrocities.

MANNY PALMERO

Palace justifies Kentex order

By Sandy Araneta and Rey Requejo MalacaÑang on Sunday said it was determined to ensure the safety of Filipino workers in the workplace, justifying the Office of the Ombudsman’s order dismissing Valenzuela city Mayor Rexlon “Rex” gatchalian and six others over the fire that hit footwear factory Kentex Manufacturing corp. and killed 72 people.

It issued that statement while the Department of Justice vowed to begin the preliminary investigation on the criminal charges filed against executives of Kentex and city fire officials over the deadly blaze in May last year.

Communications Secretary herminio Coloma Jr. said all government agencies are tasked to enforce laws and rules on occupational health and safety.

“The Ombudsman resolution on the filing of charges is an opportunity for establishing accountability of concerned public officials so that there

will be stronger deterrence against the possible repetition of the disastrous fire that claimed the lives of 72 workers,” said Coloma.

“We should note, however, that the Office of the Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body over which the executive branch has no authority or jurisdiction. Considering that those involved have the right to avail themselves of appropriate legal remedies under our laws, it is best that we await the outcome of their case,” Coloma said.

The Ombudsman has or-

dered the dismissal of Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian and six others over the Kentex blaze.

But the Valenzuela mayor said on Saturday, March 5, that he was able to secure a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals.

In its resolution, the Ombudsman found the following guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty: Valenzuela Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian; Valenzuela Business Permit and Licensing Office officer-in-charge Renchie May Padayao; BPLO Licensing Officer IV eduardo Carreon; Valenzuela City Fire Marshal F/Superintendent Mel Jose Lagan; Fire Safety Chief F/Senior Inspector edgrover Oculam; Fire Safety Inspector SF02 Rolando Avendan; and Fire officer Ramon Maderazo.

The seven were ordered dismissed from service, with accessory penalties of forfeiture of benefits and privileges and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The Ombudsman also found probable cause to charge Gatchalian, Padayao, Carreon, Lagan, Oculam, Avendan, and Kentex operations manager Terrence King Ong with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides and multiple physical injuries.

It also charged officers of the Bureau of Fire Protection for violating the Fire Code by issuing Kentex a fire safety inspection certificate, while city officials were charged for issuing a business permit to the fire-hit factory in 2014 and 2015 despite its failure to comply with Fire Code regulations.

The Valenzuela City government earlier defended its issuance of a provisional business permit to Kentex, citing memorandum circular 2011-05 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government signed by the late secretary Jesse Robredo.

Gatchalian also cited DILG and BFP circulars recognizing one-stop shops to speed up the processing of business permits in cities and municipalities.

UN team to inspect Nokor ship in Subic The Philippine coastguard said it was closely watching a North Korean vessel and its 21 crew members Sunday as officials waited for a response from the United Nations days after the ship was seized in compliance with new sanctions.

The 6,830-ton cargo ship, the Jin Teng, is being held at Subic port, northeast of Manila, where the Philippine coastguard are guarding the freighter and monitoring its crew, said coastguard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo.

“We will probably keep it in Subic pending our request for

guidance on its disposition,” he said.

The ship’s 21 North Korean crew members remain onboard but are otherwise not restricted, he told AFP. “They are just on the ship.

They are remaining there.

They have provisions of their own. They won’t try to escape,” Balilo said, adding there was no need to provide them with any supplies yet. earlier this week, a government spokesman said the North Koreans would eventually be deported, but there has been no confirmation when that would take place.

The Philippines said Saturday authorities had impounded the vessel in accordance with fresh UN sanctions introduced in the wake of Pyongyang’s recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

It was the first reported enforcement of the sanctions, the toughest to date, which were adopted late Wednesday by the UN Security Council.

Balilo said the coastguard have inspected the ship twice, once using electronic sensors to search for weapons. however, no contraband has been found.

A team from the UN is ex-

pected to inspect the ship in Subic, a former United States naval base, foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose said earlier.

The Jin Teng arrived in the Philippines from Palembang, Indonesia Thursday afternoon, just hours after the latest sanctions were unanimously passed.

In response to the UN’s move, Pyongyang fired six short-range missiles into the sea on Thursday, while North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un ordered its nuclear arsenal put on standby for pre-emptive use at any time. AFP

Court upholds fishermen’s civil case vs Marcopper

By Rey E. Requejo

The Court of Appeals has paved the way for the full-blown trial of the civil suit filed by a group of fishermen seeking damages against Marcopper Mining Corp. in connection with the 1996 mine tailings disaster on Calancan Bay in Marinduque that impaired their livelihood and resulted in sickness and death in surrounding communities.

The CA’s Former Fifth Division through Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr. denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Marcopper of its June 29, 2015 decision which affirmed the order issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 38 of Boac, Marinduque on July 5, 2013 denying its motion to dismiss the class suit.

The appellate court had ruled in favor of the lower court, saying the RTC did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it denied the motion to dismiss the complaint filed by Calancan Bay Fisherfolk Federation, et al, based on prescription and laches or undue delay in seeking relief.

The CA rejected the mining firm’s claim that the factual findings in its decision were based on unofficial and unverified reports found on the Internet, which were neither part of the record of the case nor matters of judicial notice.

The CA also dismissed Marcopper’s assertion that its ruling comprised of unsubstantiated conclusion of facts and was tantamount to prejudgment of the case.

M O N D AY : M A r c h 7, 2 0 1 6

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Government must secure Mindanao transmission towers—Poe IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY—Presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe said the national government should help secure the transmission towers of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, which have been the target of bombings by different groups.

Speaking to media last week in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Poe said that even with sufficient supply of energy in the coming years, the power problem in Mindanao would not be solved if the transmission towers continue to be bombed or burned.

She said these power transmission lines should not be bombed to avoid power interruptioms.

Early this year, Poe called on the government’s security cluster to convene and discuss how the continued attacks on power transmitters in Mindanao can be stopped. She also asked local governments in the region to work with the NGCP in ending hostilities with some landowners.

Last year, 16 towers of NGCP were bombed, causing power interruptions in various Mindanao provinces. Restoring power has posed a problem for the NGCP because uncooperative landowners refuse to let the linemen repair the toppled transmission towers.

In the first three weeks of 2016, two of the NGCP’s transmitters— one in Sultan Kudarat and one in Lanao del Sur—were bombed within five days of each other. A transmission pole in Sultan Kudarat was also burned on Jan. 23.

On March 1, Tower 63 of Kabacan-Sultan Kudarat in Cotabato was bombed but not toppled. It was the second time the same tower was attacked this year.

Poe said it was imperative for the government to ensure the security and capacity of the NGCP towers as more power plants are expected to be functional next year.

spared? Agriculture officials in the Cordillera Administrative Region say they have been spared the damaging effects of El Niño, as this photo from La Trinidad, Benguet shows. DaViD CHan

Yolanda farmers demand answers from rights body

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—At least 50 farmer leaders from Leyte and Eastern Samar have trooped to Manila on Monday to seek resolution from Commission on Human Rights on their land, shelter and economic problems two years after Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda.’’

“Two years after the typhoon wrought havoc, our full recovery is still a far-fetched reality due to the unresolved land and housing property rights issues that affect us,” said Dhon Daganasol, spokesperson for Katarungan-

Eastern Visayas, an organization of landless farmers and shelter rights claimants affected

by Yolanda.

According to Daganasol, they have been “continuously pushing and campaigning for the

Fruit stand on wheels.

Babo Aida (left), a 58-year-old from Sultan Kudarat, sells fruits along Governor Gutierrez Avenue in Cotabato City.

OmaR mangORsi

release of 12,000 undistributed CLOAs [Certificate of Land Ownership Award] for 14,000 farming families.”

“In January and February, an estimated 1,500 CLOAs have been turned over by the Registry of Deeds [ROD] Region 8 to the Regional Office of the Department of Agrarian Reform [DAR]. ROD Regional Director Atty. Villanoza bared last Friday to leaders of Katarungan Leyte that 6,000 more CLOAs will be turned over to the DAR Region 8 office for release,” the group said in a statement.

The farmers, however, said they remained “wary of the serious issues that need to be threshed out

in the said CLOAs.” “Apart from the undistributed CLOAs, they have other issues that need urgent attention

by DAR and Department of Environment and Natural Resources and these are the undocumented Agricultural Leasehold Agreements, Nonclassification/non-delineation of lands within the Leyte Sab-A Basin Development Authority area, continuing share tenancy within lands subjected under Presidential Decree 27, socalled distributed but not yet documented titles of which are not yet in the hands of farmers, and uninstalled beneficiaries, among others,” it added.

UN official to visit Albay, review disaster programs LEGAZPI CITY—United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson will visit the country and specifically Albay province tomorrow, March 8, to review the province’s multi-awarded Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation programs.

Albay’s innovative disaster risk reduction strategy towards sustainable development continuously has gained global recognition.

Eliasson’s visit forms part of the preparations for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul next May. In the summit, the Philippines will be presented as sole global model for DRR-CCA; Albay’s programs will be featured.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda will brief Eliasson and other UN officials and guests during their visit on Albay’s

innovative approach in linking up DRR and CCA with sustainable development.

The UN executive will also visit the Albay Climate Change Academy, the first of its kind in Asia, serving as a training center on DRR and CCA, for local government officials and many coming from other countries, said Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office head.

Salceda also pioneered the Zero Casualty goal and preemptive evacuation strategy in Disaster Risk and Reduction Management. Albay has had Zero Casualty in 20 of the past 22 years. “This gives flesh to the central philosophy of our provincial community—constant of kindness and the universality of human dignity,” he noted.

M O N D AY : M A R c h 7, 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA ediTOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

Car plates Can be made here

[ EDI TORI A L ]

bacK channel aleJandRO del ROsaRiO

The Ombudsman as assassin RECENT events reveal the extent to which the Office of the Ombudsman—a supposedly independent state agency tasked to investigate government corruption—has been itself corrupted by an administration that thinks nothing of wielding it as a weapon against its political enemies.

Just last week, we learned that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has been pressuring the Commission on Audit to release an incomplete audit report on the construction of Makati City Hall Building 2 in a bid to derail the candidacy of opposition presidential candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was mayor of Makati during the building’s construction.

At the same time, the Ombudsman also ordered the dismissal of the mayor of Valenzuela City, a key campaign official for independent presidential candidate Grace Poe. The mayor was ordered dismissed, the Ombudsman said, because he was responsible for issuing a business permit to a factory that burned down, killing 74 people in May last year.

Is it a mere coincidence that these cases are surfacing at a key juncture, two months before Election Day? If we are to apply author Emma Bull’s suggestion that coincidence is the word we use when we can’t see the levers and pulleys, then there is nothing coincidental about the Ombudsman’s actions.

There has been nothing subtle, after all, in the way Morales has gone after the President’s enemies with hammer and tongs.

Last month, Morales reaffirmed the indictment against Binay for graft just a few days before the campaign period began, guaranteeing headlines that would hurt the opposition candidate.

Shortly after her appointment in 2012, she also played a key role in the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, a thorn on the side of her benefactor, President Aquino.

In 2014, she sidelined three opposition senators by filing plunder charges against them and sending them to jail while awaiting trial.

In contrast, Morales has been glacially slow in taking action against administration allies who benefited from the Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program, both of which had been declared illegal by the Supreme Court.

There is absolutely nothing wrong about filing cases against corrupt government officials and sending them to jail. Indeed, that is the job of the Ombudsman. But when this job is done selectively and targets only the political opposition and a few token administration allies to ward off criticism, this reduces the Ombudsman to a political assassin doing the dirty work for the party in power.

Last year, piqued by media criticism, Morales dared her critics to impeach her if they believed she had done wrong. “I welcome it,” she shouted. “I will give [up] my position on a silver platter.”

Perhaps she needs to be reminded that this was exactly what happened to her predecessor— who was pressured by a vindictive President into resigning by the threat of impeachment.

Precedent is a double-edged sword, and Morales may yet find herself on the wrong end of it if any of the candidates she has tried to take down wins the election in May.

Issues and non-Issues pensées fR. RanhiliO callangan aquinO The Republican debate in the US has turned ugly. From foreign policy to a stand on the plight of migrants, the exchanges have turned to genital concerns! I used to think that the maturity of American politics was something we would do well to emulate. Now, I have

very serious doubts because there is as much wallowing in stupidity there as there is here! In the Philippines, it seems that the campaign period also marks the onset of an epidemic of specious reasoning generously dashed with hysteria.

Whether Ms. Grace Poe complies with the constitutional requirements of nationality and residence is an issue, and that the Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the case and

is due to resolve it any time soon is proof supreme. But that her adoptive father was Fernando Poe Jr, the mega-star of his time, whose involvement in Philippine public life went no farther than movies, is—or should be—a non-issue. So what are all these posters that have her portrait juxtaposed to that of The King? That she smokes and drinks—as some allege—are non-issues, after all we presently have an unrepentant smoker for

A9

it is never too late to be logical.

a president! But that she possibly lied under oath about the use of an American passport or surreptitiously made use of two social security numbers, once more as alleged, are matters that invite scrutiny.

Mar Roxas has amply demonstrated that he can

carry a sack of onions, peddle a “padyak” and sit on a block of ice. What does this tell us about his capacity to be President, especially when he doggedly repeats the lines that he will perpetuate the legacy of “Daan Matuwid” that many Filipinos now think a nightmare from

which they hope the nation will soon shrug itself? That he poses as Onion-Man or Padyak-Man or IceMan should not be issues against him though. After all, why allow Carrot-Man to bask alone in the limelight?

But while the attacks on Poe and Mar are launched by individuals whose convictions I am not prepared to question, whose sincerity I am quite willing to grant,

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-

the attacks on Binay and Marcos (not a presidential candidate even) are of a different nature. They are sinister, ominous and bear all the marks of corporate cunning and stratagem, cloak-and-dagger operations mightily financed, highly organized. And that is what makes them particularly obnoxious.

The Constitution guarantees every person the right to express himself, no matter

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

that his two cents worth(less)—I got that expression from Justice Isagani Cruz—contributes nothing more than an aggravation of noise pollution. But it threatens the constitution for mega-corporations and organized alliances to take into their hands the political future of a nation and to make malleable electoral processes according to their will.

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Continued on A11

Continued on A10

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

Why go into contract with a foreign company to manufacture car plates when they can be made locally?

The answer to that is obvious to anyone with a suspicious mind who’s inured to the wiles of our government officials to make money while at the helm of power.

If we recall, car plates were manufactured here by a local company with links to a religious sect that supported two former presidents. The Filipino firm also had a lock on the printing of drivers’ licenses during the time of the LTO chief who was a member of the religious sect.

Car plates can be made here. In the United States, car plates are made by minimum security prison inmates who are paid at least a dollar a plate turned out which they can collect when released after serving their sentences. The same can be done here. Prisoners at the New Bilibid in Muntinlupa can be kept productively busy instead of allowing them so much free time to engage in their businessas-usual, drug-trafficking and karaoke entertainment that go on under the very noses of prison guards.

The P3.8-billion contract entered into by Land Transportation Office head Jose Lotilla and Transportation Secretary Joseph emilio Abaya with a Dutch-Filipino consortium is being questioned by the Commission on Audit as irregular and spurious. The CoA based its findings on the complaint of losing bidders and the public who claimed the Dutch company, JKG Knierman, was undercapitalized, while its Filipino partner Power Plates Inc. has allegedly had been barred from participating in public biddings.

They want the government to recover P470 million already paid in advance to the Dutch-Filipino consortium.

The LTO deal came to the fore again when the Bureau of Customs threatened to seize several container vans of car plates imported by the Dutch company for failing to pay import duties. The LTO and the Dutch manufacturer are pointing to each other as to who should pay the import taxes levied on the shipment. The LTO, reacting to an earlier column the on

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

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

M O N D AY : M A R c h 7, 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA ediTOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

Car plates Can be made here

[ EDI TORI A L ]

bacK channel aleJandRO del ROsaRiO

The Ombudsman as assassin RECENT events reveal the extent to which the Office of the Ombudsman—a supposedly independent state agency tasked to investigate government corruption—has been itself corrupted by an administration that thinks nothing of wielding it as a weapon against its political enemies.

Just last week, we learned that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has been pressuring the Commission on Audit to release an incomplete audit report on the construction of Makati City Hall Building 2 in a bid to derail the candidacy of opposition presidential candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was mayor of Makati during the building’s construction.

At the same time, the Ombudsman also ordered the dismissal of the mayor of Valenzuela City, a key campaign official for independent presidential candidate Grace Poe. The mayor was ordered dismissed, the Ombudsman said, because he was responsible for issuing a business permit to a factory that burned down, killing 74 people in May last year.

Is it a mere coincidence that these cases are surfacing at a key juncture, two months before Election Day? If we are to apply author Emma Bull’s suggestion that coincidence is the word we use when we can’t see the levers and pulleys, then there is nothing coincidental about the Ombudsman’s actions.

There has been nothing subtle, after all, in the way Morales has gone after the President’s enemies with hammer and tongs.

Last month, Morales reaffirmed the indictment against Binay for graft just a few days before the campaign period began, guaranteeing headlines that would hurt the opposition candidate.

Shortly after her appointment in 2012, she also played a key role in the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, a thorn on the side of her benefactor, President Aquino.

In 2014, she sidelined three opposition senators by filing plunder charges against them and sending them to jail while awaiting trial.

In contrast, Morales has been glacially slow in taking action against administration allies who benefited from the Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program, both of which had been declared illegal by the Supreme Court.

There is absolutely nothing wrong about filing cases against corrupt government officials and sending them to jail. Indeed, that is the job of the Ombudsman. But when this job is done selectively and targets only the political opposition and a few token administration allies to ward off criticism, this reduces the Ombudsman to a political assassin doing the dirty work for the party in power.

Last year, piqued by media criticism, Morales dared her critics to impeach her if they believed she had done wrong. “I welcome it,” she shouted. “I will give [up] my position on a silver platter.”

Perhaps she needs to be reminded that this was exactly what happened to her predecessor— who was pressured by a vindictive President into resigning by the threat of impeachment.

Precedent is a double-edged sword, and Morales may yet find herself on the wrong end of it if any of the candidates she has tried to take down wins the election in May.

Issues and non-Issues pensées fR. RanhiliO callangan aquinO The Republican debate in the US has turned ugly. From foreign policy to a stand on the plight of migrants, the exchanges have turned to genital concerns! I used to think that the maturity of American politics was something we would do well to emulate. Now, I have

very serious doubts because there is as much wallowing in stupidity there as there is here! In the Philippines, it seems that the campaign period also marks the onset of an epidemic of specious reasoning generously dashed with hysteria.

Whether Ms. Grace Poe complies with the constitutional requirements of nationality and residence is an issue, and that the Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the case and

is due to resolve it any time soon is proof supreme. But that her adoptive father was Fernando Poe Jr, the mega-star of his time, whose involvement in Philippine public life went no farther than movies, is—or should be—a non-issue. So what are all these posters that have her portrait juxtaposed to that of The King? That she smokes and drinks—as some allege—are non-issues, after all we presently have an unrepentant smoker for

A9

it is never too late to be logical.

a president! But that she possibly lied under oath about the use of an American passport or surreptitiously made use of two social security numbers, once more as alleged, are matters that invite scrutiny.

Mar Roxas has amply demonstrated that he can

carry a sack of onions, peddle a “padyak” and sit on a block of ice. What does this tell us about his capacity to be President, especially when he doggedly repeats the lines that he will perpetuate the legacy of “Daan Matuwid” that many Filipinos now think a nightmare from

which they hope the nation will soon shrug itself? That he poses as Onion-Man or Padyak-Man or IceMan should not be issues against him though. After all, why allow Carrot-Man to bask alone in the limelight?

But while the attacks on Poe and Mar are launched by individuals whose convictions I am not prepared to question, whose sincerity I am quite willing to grant,

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-

the attacks on Binay and Marcos (not a presidential candidate even) are of a different nature. They are sinister, ominous and bear all the marks of corporate cunning and stratagem, cloak-and-dagger operations mightily financed, highly organized. And that is what makes them particularly obnoxious.

The Constitution guarantees every person the right to express himself, no matter

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

that his two cents worth(less)—I got that expression from Justice Isagani Cruz—contributes nothing more than an aggravation of noise pollution. But it threatens the constitution for mega-corporations and organized alliances to take into their hands the political future of a nation and to make malleable electoral processes according to their will.

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Continued on A11

Continued on A10

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

Why go into contract with a foreign company to manufacture car plates when they can be made locally?

The answer to that is obvious to anyone with a suspicious mind who’s inured to the wiles of our government officials to make money while at the helm of power.

If we recall, car plates were manufactured here by a local company with links to a religious sect that supported two former presidents. The Filipino firm also had a lock on the printing of drivers’ licenses during the time of the LTO chief who was a member of the religious sect.

Car plates can be made here. In the United States, car plates are made by minimum security prison inmates who are paid at least a dollar a plate turned out which they can collect when released after serving their sentences. The same can be done here. Prisoners at the New Bilibid in Muntinlupa can be kept productively busy instead of allowing them so much free time to engage in their businessas-usual, drug-trafficking and karaoke entertainment that go on under the very noses of prison guards.

The P3.8-billion contract entered into by Land Transportation Office head Jose Lotilla and Transportation Secretary Joseph emilio Abaya with a Dutch-Filipino consortium is being questioned by the Commission on Audit as irregular and spurious. The CoA based its findings on the complaint of losing bidders and the public who claimed the Dutch company, JKG Knierman, was undercapitalized, while its Filipino partner Power Plates Inc. has allegedly had been barred from participating in public biddings.

They want the government to recover P470 million already paid in advance to the Dutch-Filipino consortium.

The LTO deal came to the fore again when the Bureau of Customs threatened to seize several container vans of car plates imported by the Dutch company for failing to pay import duties. The LTO and the Dutch manufacturer are pointing to each other as to who should pay the import taxes levied on the shipment. The LTO, reacting to an earlier column the on

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

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

A10 Mindanao, tourist destination

M O N D AY : M A r c h 7, 2 0 1 6

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

allegation made against one’s own changed the rules, there are person! It should be established moral standards to go by.

There is a flurry of Martial Law by the processes established Manny Pacquiao is entitled to material, aimed without doubt by law, and by evidence the his opinion, and his statement at discrediting the candidacy of rules recognize as competent, against same-sex unions should Bongbong Marcos. There are whether or not Jejomar Binay not be an issue against him. so many assumptions here that is guilty, but when all that there Everyone is entitled to his must be parsed. It is assumed is against him are allegations beliefs, no matter how bizarre A FRIEnD who’s that Martial Law was wrong, that cost taxpayers millions of these may be. What irked many plumbline been planning for that it was morally and legally pesos to make, and one year of was his unfortunate reference ages to visit Davreprehensible for Ferdinand squandered congressional time to the animal kingdom, where pastor ao, texted me if apollo Marcos to have declared it. in the service of the agenda of an he meant to be flattering to quiboloy ISIS had inSecond, that every act of torture, ambitioning politician, what logic the animals! Once more, that deed gained a footenforced disappearance and —or justice—is there in holding should not be an election issue, hold in Mindanao. “no, ISIS here, only SSSS,” I military abuse is an act of which corruption as an issue against although it stresses the need for replied.

Ferdinand Marcos is culpable. him before he has been given the Pacquiao to submit to tutorials “What’s SSSS?” he texted again. “Sand, sea, surf, Third, that Ferdinand Marcos judicial opportunity to refute the in literature and the proper use sun, ” was my reply.

Jr. must answer for the sins and charges? The color of his skin— of similes and metaphors. His “But what about TV footage of men waving ISIS’ omissions of Ferdinand Marcos, typical Ibanag complexion— dismal attendance at the sessions black flag?” was his follow-up query. his father. Compared to the should also be a non-issue, of the Lower House, however, is “Those are clueless copycats. They’re aping eve- fiery exchanges between Trump considering that we have had an issue. An absentee senator is rything they see on YouTube—from bandanas and his opponents over who is fair-skinned apes occupying high a cheat! to bandoliers to beards,’’ I said. better hung, this peddling of places and bringing immense It is not too late to be logical. It I was tempted to call them dubsmash mili- illogicality, especially by those shame to their simian kin by their is never too late to be reasonable. tants, they whose idea of insurgency is to mimic who should know better, is arrant ineptitude!

And in this, I hope we do not go poster boys of terror for social media likes. But my despicable!

As for Digong Duterte, I never the way of the Republicans. friend, being a foreigner, hasn’t probably heard of As to charges of corruption really took his vulgar expression, Aldub. against Vice President Jejomar not against the Pope, but while rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph The above conversation is familiar to me. Friends Binay, it seems we still have to learn talking about the Pope, against rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph planning to fly to Mindanao would first surf the Trip the difference between allegation, him. Digong needs to learn the rannie_aquino@yahoo.com Advisor webindictment and conviction. ways of civilized speech, that site for reviews One particularly stupid comment is for sure. And suspicion that and validate I once got when I tried to he had something to do with out of the what they read reintroduce this distinction was perceived dregs of Davao society box there with me, “Gobbledygook.” Obviously, it tucked conveniently away in their personal rita linda came from a turkey, or one with eternity should be treated as one day, this will be v. jimeno trip advisor. a turkey’s brain, because if one such—suspicions. But openly W h a t the dividend of peace. cannot make that distinction even boasting about marital infidelity Atty. Jimeno’s column will usually folin everyday life, then one must or extramarital dalliances is an resume soon. lows is talk take as sublime truth every nasty issue, for unless we have radically or text interpellation.

They raise beaches. One day, tourism will be a dividend of in Davaoeños. their concerns; I assuage them.

So, if you’re planning your summer trip, you may peace.

After fieIding questions from hundreds of consider the world’s 19th biggest island, whose sights Mindanao is dotted with beaches off the beatthem through these years, I have come to conclude and adventure offerings are only matched by the en track. Glan in Sarangani, and Kalamansig that their fears stem from low GQ—or geographic number of its residents. and Palembang in Sultan Kudarat have great quotient.

For one, Mindanao is well served by airlines. beaches.

They think Mindanao is a postage stamp-sized is- Flights to Davao and major cities like CagayA friend is trying to catalogue Mindanao’s land which can be circled by a car with just one full an de Oro from Manila or Cebu leave almost waterfalls. He has counted 150 and admits he tank of gas. has not reached midpoint yet. He invited me to hourly.

If they’d just Googled its size, they would Even once-missionary routes are now linked by sky Asik-Asik in Alamada, Cotabato. I’ve put it in have learned that at almost 100,000 square kil- bridges. There are flights to Tawi-Tawi, out of Zam- my bucket list. ometers, Mindanao is the world’s 19 th biggest boanga City by Cebu Pacific which has deployed an Another friend’s project is to sail around Mindanisland. ao’s many lakes. He has been to Lake Mainit which Airbus jet for this route.

It is slightly smaller than Cuba (17th) and Iceland You may not have heard of Tandag, the capital straddles the Surigao norte-Agusan norte bound(18th) but bigger by 13,000 square kilometres than city of Surigao Sur. It is the latest destination of the ary and the freshwater eel he tasted there, he swears Ireland. You can chop off one-third of Mindanao’s Gokongwei-owned budget carrier. with eyes closed and lips smacking, can give the land mass and what would remain would still be big now you ask me what visitors can do in Surigao roasted eel in Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market a run for its ger than Sri Lanka.

Sur, on Mindanao’s Pacific seaboard, or in Tawi-Ta- money.

Unfortunately, when a bomb goes off in Zamboan- wi, whose many islands can be reached by paddleMarawi City in Lake Lanao he describes as a city ga, the impression is that the shrapnel is sprayed all boat from Borneo. with the climate of Baguio but with a lake as big as over the island, as if this land of 23 million people Plenty. The Philippines’ version—petite, I must, Laguna de Bay beside it. Both the city and lake are were a pocket-size sitio. however, qualify—of niagara Falls is in Tinuy-an, perched thousands of feet above sea level, assuring What is not known is that the distance by a Bislig, less than two hours by van from Tandag. its residents of natural airconditioning. straight line from Dinagat, the northeast-most nearby is Hinatuan town’s Enchanted River, unfathIf climbing summits, not the 4S, is not your cup point of Mindanao, to Tawi-Tawi, its southwest- omable both in depth and beauty. of tea, Mindanao offers lots to climb. Mount Apo is ern tip , is the same as that of Matnog, Sorsogon Or if you want someplace nearer, there’s the Bri- one. Kitanlad in Bukidnon also has a climbing seato Aparri, Cagayan. tannia group of islands, which many swear is better son.

In fact , in Dinagat one can tune in to than Boracay without the crowd—and for a fraction Whatever, Mindanao offers ridge to reef natural the spiels of Waray DJs of Tacloban FM sta- of the cost. wonders. Beginners may want to enjoy what Davao tions while in Tawi-Tawi, they’re addicted to MaTawi-Tawi’s 109 islands boast of pristine beaches. and its environs can offer, from summiting to snorlaysian telenovelas.

If only the security situation in the area were bet- kelling, all within minutes of their hotel.

So my standard reply to the stereotypical fears ter, Tawi-Tawi’s beaches would have long made it to The CDO-Camiguin-Bukidnon triangle can also about Mindanao is that it is generally safe and Conde nast’s global best. be packed with trips, from canopy walks, to culipeaceful.

That in fact is the common roadblock to scenic nary excursions , to camping out.

Exhibit A is Davao City. While a Metro Mani- spots perceived, rightly or wrongly, to be located More than 4.7 million local and foreign tourists lan would clutch his old nokia phone for fear of in conflict areas. Case in point is Basilan,which a visited Mindanao in 2014. And not one was kidbeing snatched, such a habit has not been ingrained friend attests, possesses an inventory of unspoilt napped by a terrorist group—real or copycat. issues... From A9

M O N D AY : M A r c h 7, 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A wAr crime AgAinst culture Bloomberg editorial The destruction of a mausoleum cannot compare to the rape and murder of innocents. But it is a war crime nonetheless—and the importance of prosecuting it should not be underestimated, for the present day or for posterity.

When the terrorist group Ansar Dine invaded Timbuktu, Mali, in 2012, it not only attacked the local population, but also destroyed a historic mosque and several graves. Now its leader, Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, is before the International Criminal Court, charged with the destruction of Unesco World heritage sites. After a hearing in the hague this week, the court will decide whether Al Mahdi will stand trial.

The idea that the intentional destruction of culturally valued property is a war crime is not new. This case would mark the first time that such an act would be the main charge in a war-crimes tribunal.

The seriousness of the crime is beyond doubt.

The purpose of destroying cultural heritage is to eliminate all the attachments of a people under attack—to obliterate not only one’s enemies, but also any trace of their existence. As the court’s prosecutor made clear in her opening statement, at stake is more than simply “walls and stones.” The accused was attempting to “destroy the roots of an entire people.”

This case will not serve as a deterrent to militants such as those in Syria and Iraq, who consider the destruction of cultural heritage to be part of their war against infidels. But the pursuit of justice is valuable for

its own sake, and at the very least a trial will help create a reliable record of the devastation Ansar Dine wrought. however this case is decided, its value will lie mainly in the establishment of that historical record.

In prosecuting the erasure of Timbuktu’s cultural heritage and community identity, the ICC would be documenting the attacks, going some way toward restoring the dignity of those whose sacred places were destroyed. how this prosecution affects the legitimacy of the court itself, which has not lived up to the extravagant hopes once claimed for it, remains an open question. The court has been accused, not without reason, of irrelevance, incompetence and unfairness. It’s possible that this case will show it’s not too late for the court to serve the vital purpose for which it was established nearly 14 years ago.

letter to the editor

Promo winners were AwArded in 2015, not this yeAr We WOULD like to clarify the news release regarding the e-Pass-BPI promo that appeared on your Feb. 7 issue.

Said promo ran from Oct. 29, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2014. The awarding of winners happened on Jan. 30, 2015. On Feb. 18, 2015, the undersigned emailed a request to The Standard to use the press release announcing the promo winners.

We thank The Standard for publishing our press release albeit one year later. however, we need to clear, through this letter, any confusion that the

car... From A9 the stuck shipment at the pier, assured the public the plates will be released.

Customs Commissioner Bert Lina warned that he will consider the shipment abandoned and then auction it. What about the motorists who already paid for these undelivered car plates? They have been waiting for these new plates for almost a year while they drive around with temporary stickers issued by the LTO. Criminals take advantage of the proliferation of temporary plates when committing a crime using stolen vehicles.

A dead-heat presidential race This year’s presidential election is

#failocracy

turning out to be a horse race with the top two finishers probably ending up in a dead heat. The latest Pulse Asia poll survey showed Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay practically tied for first place with 26 and 25 percent, respectively. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas are also tied, sharing second place with an identical 21 percent of voter respondents polled for their preferred presidential bets.

Poe, whose citizenship challenge is still hanging fire at the Supreme Court which is set to rule on it any day, regained the top position over Binay who had earlier snatched the

news release on the e-Pass promo and the winners might have caused.

Mr. Rene Banzon, one of the e-Pass representatives shown in the photo, is no longer affiliated with Capstone Technologies Inc., the company behind the e-Pass.

ANNE MACHUCA Communications Manager Capstone Technologies Inc.

lead. But don’t rule out Duterte and Roxas just yet. They could overtake the leaders at the homestretch of the campaign with elections on May 9 only two months away.

In the vice presidential race, Senators Francis escudero and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are statistically tied with Chiz slightly ahead at 29 percent while Bongbong is closing in at 26 percent. Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Roxas’ running mate, is third with 19 percent.

One misstep or misspoke like what happened to Manny Pacquiao’s worse-than-animals remark on the LGBT community slightly dimmed the boxing icon’s bid for the Senate.

his popularity is also at stake when he takes on Timothy Bradley in their April rematch in Las Vegas. Will he lose some of his supporters if he is beaten by Bradley?

Poe’s ambivalent statement on a hero’s burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani for former President Ferdinand Marcos almost did her in. Vice President Binay campaign promise to pursue the Philippine claim to Sabah may have earned him points from Mindanao voters. But he drew a strong response from the Malaysian government which said Sabah is a closed issue, with the people in the disputed state having already voted to stay with the Malaysian Federation.

chong ardivilla

m o n day : m a rc h 7 , 2 0 1 6

A12

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

James reaches scoring milestone LOS ANGELES—LeBron James led eight Cleveland players in double-figures with 28 points Saturday, and reached another milestone in his brilliant career as the Cavaliers crushed the Boston Celtics 120-103.

Fund-raising golf. The UP Law Class of 1993, in partnership with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, held recently, a golf tournament at the Riviera Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite. Shown in photo are the organizers together with the winners (from left) Anton Bengzon, Carlo Castro (Class C Champion), JJ Disini, Sikini Labastilla (Lowest Gross), Red Bongolan, Rudy Panaguiton (Over-All Champion), Gold Barcelona (Class B Champion), Angelo Kapunan (Class B Runner-Up), Nino Coronel (Class C Runner-Up), Glenda Biason, Mabel Mamba, Roderick Rosas (Class A Runner-Up) and (back row) Mike Orosa. Not in photo is Yoyong Santos (Class A Champion). The activity is intended to raise funds for the medical needs of the faculty and staff of the UP College of Law.

WBC names Taconing mandatory challenger

By Ronnie Nathanielsz WORLD Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman informed The Standard on Saturday morning following his return to his home in Mexico City after a long trip that No. 1-ranked Filipino Jonathan Taconing “is the mandatory contender” for the world title won on Friday by Mexican veteran Ganigan Lopez ( 27-6, 17

KOs), who captured the belt in an upset victory over Japan’s defending champion Yu Kimura (18-31, 3 KOs) in what boxing writer and matchmaker Joe Koizumi described as “12 monotonous rounds” in Kyoto, Japan.

American judges Cathy Leonard (119-109) and Gary Ritter (118110) both scored the fight for the 34-year-old Lopez, while his countryman Carlos Pelayo inexplicably

scored the fight a 114-114 draw.

Lopez maintained his aggressive style throughout and took the initiative away from the 32-year-old Kimura, who was not as sharp and effective as when he won the title from Mexico’s Pedro Guevara.

Sulaiman said he wants the mandatory defense of Lopez against Taconing, who is also a southpaw, to take place in July at the latest and indicated he would

“check whether the fight could be made immediately,” referring to the negotiations between the handlers of Taconing, Johnny and Liza Elorde and the handlers of Lopez.

Liza Elorde was elated when The Standard informed her about its conversation with Sulaiman, who said he will be in Bacolod City for the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation Convention on March 30 to April 1, while Laura Elorde said

6 Benz cars at stake in Bill Shaw Memorial golf SIX Mercedes Benz cars with a combined value of almost P20 million are up for grabs in the 27th Bill Shaw Memorial member-guest tournament of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong from March 9 to 12.

At stake at the west course are a Benz C200 Avantgarde (hole No. 3), CLA180 (hole No. 8, B200 (No.

11) and A200 (No.14) while the cars on offer at the east are C250 AMG (No. 8 and GLA (No. 16) for what could be the biggest hole-inone package in the local scene.

More than 300 member-guest teams are taking part in the fourday event backed by Mercedes Benz, Shell, Delta Airlines and Mizuno as co-presentors.

The Glenlivet, Asiatraders Corp.

(Honma) are Platinum sponsors and D & L Industries, Inc., Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Inc. are Diamond sponsors of the event officially kicking off today, Monday March 7 with the hitting of the ceremonial balls by club officials and sponsors.

DKT International Inc., Canon, Stradcom, St. Francis Square Group of Companies, Mikey Ma-

capagal Arroyo, LARES, MVP Sports Foundation Inc., Pacific Links Golf Development, Inc, Indigo Estates, United Auctioneers, Inc., San Miguel Corp, The Turf Company, Unilever PH, Superchairs Incorporated (Inada), Food Details Inc., Duty Free, Profood International Corporation, PAL, Asia Brewery Inc. and Rimowa are Gold sponsors.

Kenyan wins Yakult 10 Miler LUISA Raterta returned to the scene of her triumph by ruling the women’s division of the 27th Yakult 10 miler, preventing the Kenyans from sweeping both divisions with Nairobi native Eric Chepsiror topping the men’s side that started and ended in front of the Philippine international Convention Center.

Determined to regain lost glory she held a few years back, the 35-year-old Laguna housewife and mother of three daughters, took the driver’s seat from faltering Kenyan Judith Kepchirchir in the last nine kilometers in Paranaque, then sustained the blistering run to clinch the title previously held by Cinderella Lorenzo in 1:07.25.

Lorenzo did not defend her title and decided to compete in the five kilometers she handily won in 20 minutes and 52 seconds.

“Hindi ako sumali sa 16k at pinaghandaan ko ang 5k,” said Lorenzo, a native of Roxas City living in Taguig.

“Nakita bumagal ‘yung takbo niya at panay ang lingon sa kan-

yang likuran. Napuna ko humihina na siya at sinamantala ko ang pagkakataon doon ko inabutan sa last nine kilometers at mabilis ‘yung takbo ko sa finish line,” said Raterta.

“Malakas ‘yung Kenyan runner. Lagi akong tinatalo niyan.

Ngayon nakabawi ako sa kanya,” added Raterta.

Raterta, a former duathlon athlete married to a fellow runner from Bicol, pocketed P7,000 plus trophy, awarded by Yakult official Michael Ong. Kepchirchir couldn’t withstand the pressure, quitting the race in the last three kilometers.

The win came after Chepsisor, 32, from Nairobi, topped the men’s division in 51 minutes and 25 seconds, outdistancing compatriots Jackson Chirchir and Ellud Kering, who clocked 54.08 and 54.37 seconds, respectively.

Joackim Kemboi, another Kenyan, took the 5-kilometer distance in 15 minutes and 49 seconds, edging Reynold Villafranca, who checked in 15.53 seconds.

Eric Chepsiro and Luisa Raterta, who topped the men’s and women’s division of the 27th Yakult 10 Miler, respectively on Sunday, display their trophies with Yakult Phils., Inc. executives (from left) Michael Ong, Sales and Planning Director; Hiroshi Suzuki, Executive Vice President; Kenji Egami, YMC Department Head; Koji Kuruda, Plant Manager and Mitzuo Taniguchi, plant manager.

In the 3-kilometer age group division, Marionne de Vera topped the 6 to 9-years-old in 14.38 seconds and Shaira Fantillaga won the distaff side in 17.55 seconds, while Francis Morales bagged the 10 to 13-years-old cat-

egory in 13.38 seconds, sharing honor with Rayya Abellar, who clocked 12.56 seconds.

Over 2,000 male and female runners answered the 5:30 a.m. starting gun from the CCP complex ground in Pasay City.

James was his usual dominant self, posting 11 rebounds and eight assists in 36 minutes.

In the third quarter he passed San Antonio great Tim Duncan (26,366 points) for 14th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

James and Duncan have met three times in the NBA Finals, with James’ Miami Heat beating the Spurs in 2013.

“He’s the greatest power forward of all time, if not one of the greatest of all time, period,” said James, who has now scored at least 10 points for the 700th consecutive regularseason game -- third longest streak in NBA history.

“I got so many different stories and so many different things and situations that have been linked to him. Even though he’s a few years older than me, we just stayed linked.

“I just think what he’s done for this league. You look at a guy like that and it kind of puts you right back in place.”

Kyrie Irving scored 20 points, Iman Shumpert posted a career-high 16 rebounds to go with 12 points off the bench, and J.R. Smith tallied 14 points on four three-pointers.

Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 27 points. Jared Sullinger added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics, who had their five-game winning streak halted.

Boston led 35-22 after one quarter, shooting 60 percent. The Celtic’s 35 points tied the most points Cleveland has allowed in a first quarter all season.

Cleveland countered with a 12-0 surge in the second quarter.

The Cavaliers led by eight points after three quarters.

They extended their lead to 16 points with just under three minutes to go on the final play from James.

Jeff Teague scored 22 points as the Atlanta Hawks came back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 107-97 at Staples Center.

Paul Millsap scored 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for Atlanta, who surrendered 37 points in the first quarter.

Kent Bazemore tallied 17 points as Atlanta moved to within 1 1/2 games of Miami for first place in the Southeast Division.

DeAndre Jordan had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Paul earned 17 and 11 assists -- but it was not enough for the Clippers, who had a disappointing follow up to their comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

m o n day : m a rc h 7 , 2 0 1 6

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Rory grabs Doral lead MIAMI—Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy fired a four-under par 68 Saturday to seize a three-stroke lead after the third round of the World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship at Doral.

The 26-year-old Northern Irishman, who hopes to complete a career Grand Slam at next month’s Masters, stood on 12-under 204 after 54 holes at the Blue Monster.

Australian Adam Scott, who owned a two-shot lead over McIlroy when the day began, and US defending champion Dustin Johnson shared second on 207. Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, five-time major winner Phil Mickelson and England’s Danny Willett shared fourth on 209.

Third-ranked McIlroy, who closed with eight consecutive pars, seeks his 12th US PGA Tour title, his first since last May at Quail Hollow, and his 20th career victory worldwide.

“It was good,” McIlroy said. “The wind was coming from a different direction so it made the course play a little bit tougher. I played a solid round of golf, didn’t make any mistakes. I felt really good about it. I’ll have to do the same thing tomorrow.”

Eighth-ranked Johnson, 31, seeks his 10th career US PGA Tour title and the first since last year at Doral. AFP

Best Center ready for clinics THE award-winning Best Center (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center) sponsored by Milo will conduct summer basketball and volleyball clinics for aspiring young athletes.

Tuesdays and Fridays starting April 1 at the Starmall Alabang and Amoranto Sports Complex will feature classes in basketball (Preparatory Level and Levels 1 to 4), while Wednesdays and Saturdays from April 2 will be reserved for students in basketball at the Caloocan High School and Xavier School (Preparatory Level and Levels 1 to 3) and at the Malate Catholic School (Preparatory Level and Levels 1 to 4) Mondays and Thursdays from April 4 will be for students at the University of Perpetual Help, Las Piñas (Preparatory Level, Levels 1 to 3).

Classes at the Ateneo College Covered Courts will start on April 11 for Preparatory Level and Levels 1 to 6 Sunday classes are to be held at the Lancaster New City in Imus, Cavite from April 17 to May 22.

For volleyball, Monday and Thursday classes are set at the Starmall Alabang for Levels 1 and 2 starting April 4 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesdays and Fridays are at the Malate Catholic School starting April 5 for Levels 1 and 2 and at the Ateneo College Covered Courts starting on April 12 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. for Levels 1, 2 and Mastery.

Princess Superal braces for a battle royale in the ICTSI Champion Tour, where she is seeking to extend her win run to eight.

Superal eyes win no. 8 AMATEUR Princess Superal sets out as the dark horse in a star-studded pro field bracing for a battle royale in the ICTSI Champion Tour presented by Champion and Taiwan LPGA, seeking to stretch her win run to eight when the $75,000 event is fired off Wednesday at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay.

Superal actually isn’t aware of her streak or has lost count of her amazing run that started late last year when she racked up victories in Malaysia, Singapore and Jakarta before kicking off the 2016 season with emphatic wins in the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open and the Philippine Ladies Open last January and the W Express RVF Cup last month.

“I’m not aware of my streak since I don’t count them (victories). What I do is prepare hard for each tournament and give it my best shot,” said the 19-yearold Superal, whose biggest

feat remains the US Girls’ Juniors in 2014.

The Country Club team spearhead will also be coming into the Taiwan LPGA Tour event, the first leg of this year’s ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, trying to get back at Korean Hwang Ye-Nah, who nipped her by one in the TLPGA inaugural event in the country at ICTSI Ladies Open at Southlinks last year.

The young Korean ace headlines the huge foreign field numbering to 52 competing in the 54-hole championship sponsored by International Container Terminal

Services, Inc., along with Thai Kanphanitnan Muangkhumaskul, winner of this year’s TLPGA kickoff leg’s Hitachi Ladies Classic, and Taiwanese Yu Pei-lin, Chen Yu-Ju, Huang Ching and Pan Yen-ling, all in the Top 20 in the current TLPGA money ranking.

“Despite the long break, Princess’ ball-striking has been pretty solid and she’s very confident of her shots,” said TCC coach Nestor Mendoza during a break in practice at the windswept Splendido where Superal and teammates Sam Martirez and Kayla Nocum have been honing their short game and putting.

While the foreign cast looks formidable, the local roster remains as deep as ever with LPGA Tour campaigner Cyna Rodriguez and Symetra Tour players Dottie Ardina and Mia Piccio in the fold, all raring to get a crack at the championship in the event backed by adidas, Custom Clubmakers, KZG, TaylorMade, Champion, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Pacsports, Sharp and

Rustans Supermarket The same field will vie in the ICTSI Champion Tour presented by Champion and TLPGA at Manila Southwoods on March 16-18 at the Legends course in Carmona, Cavite, another $75,000 tournament also serving as the sixth leg of the Taiwan LPGA Tour and the second stage of the LPGT. Other local players tipped to crowd the favorites for the championship are last year’s LPGT Sherwood winner Sarah Ababa, Fil-Am Cristina Corpus, winner of the LPGT Luisita leg last year, former SEA Games gold medalist Chihiro Ikeda, and former Phl Ladies Open champion and LPGT leg winner Jayvie Agojo.

Others joining the title hunt are former Philippine Ladies Open champion Lee Jeong-hwa and fellow Koreans, Kang Ji-won, Grace Lee and Gu Na-eun, Japanese Tomoko Takahashi, Fumika Kawagishi, Ai Asano, Senno Yasufuku and Mayumi Chinzei, and Aretha Pan and Dianne Luke of Malaysia.

Arcilla shows worth as top performer, bags net title

Johnny Arcilla (center) holds his trophies as he poses with (from left) Ultra president Angel Gella, PPS-PEPP managers Arleen Grace Tuvilla and Ma. Luisa Capatan and Philta regional vice president Dr. Andres Bayona after sweeping the singles and doubles crowns in the first PPS-PEPP Iloilo City Men’s Open Tennis Championship in La Paz yesterday.

JOHNNY Arcilla overcame a tough Leander Lazaro in the semifinals then reasserted his mastery over Vicente Anasta to capture the singles’ crown in the first Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Iloilo City Men’s Open Tennis Championship at the Iloilo City Tennis Center in La Paz yesterday.

The veteran campaigner turned what was expected to be a fierce final showdown with Anasta into a victory walk as he overwhelmed the second seeded bet with his vast repertoire of shots, com-

ing away with a 6-1, 6-4 romp to bag the coveted crown worth P40,000.

It was Arcilla’s fourth straight victory in the PPS-PEPP Open circuit with the many-time PCA Open champion sweeping the PPS-PEPP Open titles in Gen. Santos City, San Carlos City and Naga City, Cebu last year last year.

“Johnny continues to show his worth as a top performer. He has been an inspiration to our young players for staying in top form through the years and never losing his appetite for winning,”

said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

He also cited host Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Vice Mayor and Iloilo City Sports Council chairman Joe III Espinosa’s all-out support to the event by helping organize and ensure the successful staging of the event, the biggest tennis tournament the city hosted in three decades.

Arcilla also teamed up with younger brother Joseph and crushed Jimmy Tangalin and Deo Talatayod, 6-2, 6-2, in the men’s doubles finals of

the week-long event presented by Palawan Pawnshop and held in partnership with the City of Iloilo and sanctioned by Philta headed by president and Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

The Arcilla brothers won P20,000.

Johnny actually went through some anxious moments in the semis as the game Lazaro fought back from an opening set setback with a big win in the second but the former struck back and dominated the No. 4 seed in the decider for a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 victory.

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A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Southwoods is PAL Interclub champ.

Members of the Manila Southwoods squad receive their 2nd consecutive PAL Interclub trophy (fourth since 1999) from PAL President Jaime J. Bautista (center) after overpowering Canlubang by 10 points in the Championship division of the 69th edition of the tournament recently at Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark, Pampanga.

Also an award presentor was Ria Domingo, PAL vice president for Marketing (left). LINO SANTOS

N O TI C E

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

Notice of extrajudicial settlement with waiver executed by the heirs of the late Pastor L. Cruz over a portion of property covered by tax declaration no.

D-022-04304 situated at 51 Laura Street, Plainview Subd., Mandaluyong City acknowledge before notary public Atty. John Domingo A. Ponce, Jr. as per doc. no.

296; page no. 60; book no.

09; Series of 2016.

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

( T S - F E B . 2 9 , M A R . 7 & 14 , 2 016)

Blackwater ends slide

By Jeric Lopez

FACING a must-win situation, Blackwater showed up ready to fight, scoring a huge 115-103 triumph over a fading GlobalPort to improve its stand in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications

Repub lic of t he Philippine s D epar t ment of Financ e Securities and Exchange Commission S EC B ldg. EDSA , G re enhills, M andaluyo ng Cit y 15 5 4

CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD IN RE:

PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY (CPCN) TO OPERATE DOMESTIC NON-SCHEDULED (AIR TAXI) AIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CAB Case No. EP-227-16/HED022016863

CORPOR ATE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT

LlTEAIR EXPRESS INCORPORATED, Petitioner. x-----------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING

O N E W E A LT H Y N AT I O N F U N D, I N C .:

Pursuant to the provisions of RA 776, as amended, Notice is hereby given that LlTEAIR EXPRESS INCORPOPRATED has filed with the Civil Aeronautics Board a petition for issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to operate domestic non-scheduled (air taxi) air transportation services.

The above-entitled case is scheduled for hearing on April 6, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the CAB Conference Room, Old MIA Road, Pasay City before the undersigned, wherein the applicant shall present relevant evidence. Pre-marking of documents to be presented during the hearing shall be on March 30, 2016 at 10:30 AM.

-Registrant: x-------------------------------------------------x

The applicant is hereby required to have this Notice of Hearing published at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation and that copy of this Notice and the Application be sent to all Philippine carriers, either by personal service or by registered mail with return card at least five (5) days before the scheduled hearing.

Parties opposed to the granting of this application must file their written opposition on or before the date of hearing, furnishing a copy of the same to the applicant or appear at the hearing with such evidence as may be proper under the circumstances. Failure on the part of any interested party to file their opposition on time or appear at the hearing shall be construed as a waiver of their right to be heard and the Civil Aeronautics Board shall proceed to hear and decide the application on its merits.

Let a copy of the petition and this Notice be posted at the CAB Bulletin Board beginning today.

23 February 2016 Pasay City, Philippines

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on January 26, 2016 an Amended Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. to reflect the change in its investment objective as follows: Subject

Original P r ov i s i o n

Proposed Amendments

R e a s o n /s

I nve s t m e n t O b j e c t i ve

T h e Fu n d s e e k s to p r ov i d e total return consisting of as h i g h a l eve l o f current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital and liquidity and longterm capital appreciation by i nve s t i n g i n a mix of debt instruments and equity securities

The Fu n d is designed to seek longterm capital appreciation by i nve s t i n g p r i m a r i l y in carefully selected listed and nonlisted equity securities

To cater to existing i n v e s t o r s who prefer higher equity rating due to low interest environment.

(SGD)MARIA ELBEN SL. MORO Hearing Officer

( T S - M A R 7,14 & 21, 2 016)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF MANDALUYONG CITY BSA TWIN TOWERS CONDOMINIUM CORPORATION (BSATTCC)., Petitioner, -versus-

MC16-56FA Extra-Judicial Foreclosure of Assessment/Lien pursuant to Sec. 20, R.A. 4726 as Amended by Act 4118

JAIME GOSIACO, Respondent. x--------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE Upon the verified petition for Extra-Judicial Foreclosure of sale pursuant to Section 20, Republic Act 4726, as amended (otherwise known as the “Condominium Act) in relation to Act 3135, as amended by Act 4118, filed by BSA TWIN TOWERS CONDOMINIUM CORP. (BSATTCC), petitioner with office address at Ground Floor, BSA Twin Towers, Bank Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City against JAIME GOSIACO respondent, Condominium Unit Owner, with postal address at 2968 Jose Abad Santos Ave., Tondo Manila to satisfy the lawfully annotated assessments, under the Master Deed of restriction in the BSA Twin Towers Condominium Corp., and the by-laws of said corporation, in the amount of THREE HUNDRED NINETY SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIXTY THREE PESOS and 31/100 (397,663.31) ONLY, Philippine Currency, as of December 20, 2014, inclusive of interest other charges and attorney’s fees, cost and other foreclosure expenses of the public auction, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Mandaluyong City or his duly authorized deputy will sale of PUBLIC AUCTION to the HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH OR MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency on the 15th day of April 2016 at 9:00 A.M. or soon thereafter in front of the main entrance of the Hall of Justice building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City, the following described real estate property together with the improvements existing thereon, to wit: CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE No. 008-2012002230 Registry of Deeds – City of Mandaluyong -------------------------------------------------------------IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the unit identified and described as: UNIT NO. : A4917 COVERED AREA (SQ.M.) : 40.79 OPEN AREA (SQ.M.) : 1.44 TOTAL AREA (SQ.M.) : 42.23 OF “BSA TWIN TOWERS” CONDOMINIUM PROJECT In the diagrammatic floor plan appended to the enabling or master deed of the condominium project annotated on TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE 9834; 9835 which embraces and describes the land located at Mandaluyong City within an area of (THREE THOUSAND THIRTY SEVEN SQUARE METERS AND THIRTY TWO SQUARE DECEMETERS (3,037.32), is registered in the name of: Owner: Address :

JAIME GOSIACO, MARRIED TO JUDITH T. GOSIACO, BOTH LEGAL AGE, FILIPINO CITIZENS 2968 J. ABAD SANTOS ST., TONDO, MANILA

“All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date.

“In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on April 28, 2016 9:00 A.M. or soon thereafter without further notice”.

Prospective bidders or buyer are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the said real property and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Mandaluyong City, Philippines, March 4, 2016.

(Sgd.)HELDER A. DYANGCO Sheriff IV

(Sgd.) ATTY. ERWIN N. BARATA Clerk of Court VI Ex-Officio Sheriff

Amended Registration Statement

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Citizenship

Po s i t i o n

Fr a n c i s c o J . C o l ayc o M a r y A n n e B . C o l ayc o Armand Q. Bengco Victor C. Macalincag D r. C i e l i t o F. H a b i t o Alfonso B. Cruz D r. V i c t o r A . A b o l a

Filipino Filipino Filipino Filipino Filipino Filipino Filipino

Chairman of President Director Director Independent Independent Independent

Hector C. De Leon

Filipino

Vice - President

J o s e p h A n t h o ny B a u t i s t a

Filipino

Tr e a s u r e r

M e l i s s a B . R eye s

Filipino

Corporate Secretar y

Aristotle Cala

Filipino

Compliance Of ficer

the Board

Director Director Director

Said Amended Registration Statement and other papers/documents attached thereto are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to any party upon request at such fees as the Commission may prescribe. The Registration Statement dated January 22, 2016 m ais be downloaded from www.fami.com.ph.

WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of Auction Sale under penalty of the law.

Copy furnished: Jaime Gosiaco 2968 Jose Abad Santos Ave., Tondo, Manila/Unit A4917, BSA Twin Towers, Bank Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City BSA Twin Towers Condominium Corp.

Bank Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City

J U S T I N A F. CA L L A N G A N Director (TS-MAR.7/14/21 , 2016)

( T S - M A R . 7/14 , 2 016)

MJ Rhett continued his improvement, scoring a game-high 30 points to go with 13 rebounds, while Mike Cortez also had an impressive game, hitting 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out seven assists as the duo led Blackwater to victory.

In a battle of skidding teams, it was the Elite, who came out with a purpose of ending their drought.

The Elite snapped their two-game slide and improved to an even 3-3 slate to move to the upper half of the standings, while the ailing Batang Pier slipped further down to 2-4 with a third loss in a row.

“We were able to get good performances from the guys. Everyone stepped up and this is a needed win for us. We’re in a better position with this win after our last two defeats,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac.

Blackwater started gaining ground late in the first half after it suddenly unleashed a swift 16-2 blast to break a 46-all deadlock and suddenly find itself ahead by 14 points, 62-48, in the closing seconds of the second frame.

The Elite carried a 62-51 leverage at the half.

The third quarter was a continuation of what Blackwater did late in the opening half. The Elite picked it up in the second half and resumed the pounding, raising their lead even higher to 20 points, 78-58, with under seven minutes left in the third following two free throws from Art Dela Cruz.

Not the one to just surrender, GlobalPort fought back briefly, ending the third with a 21-9 run to trim the gap to just eight points, 87-79, entering the fourth and give itself a fighting chance in the last 12 minutes of action.

Pacquiao criticized

According to the paper/documents presented, the following are the directors/officers of the corporation: Name

Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum): 4:15 p.m. - Phoenix vs. Mahindra 7 p.m. - Barangay Ginebra vs. Alaska

THE announced readiness of eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao to fight in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games some four months from now if he was asked and that he would be proud to represent the Philippines have been criticized by World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman.

Sulaiman, who returned home to Mexico City after a long trip out of his hometown and was spending what he described as “quality time with my family” told The Standard: “How can Manny Pacquiao say he wants to fight in the Olympics? It’s ridiculous.”

He insinuated that AIBA president Dr. Wu Kuo Ching of Chinese Taipei, who offered to allow Pacquiao to skip the qualification rounds and be seeded into the main draw, must have offered him some other concessions and hinted that he was sure the AIBA president was “paying him (Manny) to say something like that.”

Sulaiman commended unbeaten former poundfor-pound king and now retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. for rejecting any attempt to get him to come out of retirement and fight in the Olympics, where he won a bronze medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

“Absolutely not,” said Floyd when asked whether he was interested in fighting in Rio. Pacquiao, who announced that his April 9 third fight with Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas would be his farewell fight, said he would be willing to push back his planned retirement if only to represent the Philippines in the Olympic Games and hopefully end the country’s quest for an elusive gold medal.

M O N DAY : M A RCH 7 , 2 0 1 6

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Donaire-Bedak gets major boost

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

UNBEATEN featherweight Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, one of the most promising young stars from the famed ALA Gym, will have a chance to prove his worth when he battles American Chris Avalos in the undercard of WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipio Flash” Donaire’s title defense against No. 4-ranked former Hungarian Olympian Zsolt Bedak at the sprawling Cebu City Sports Center on April 23.

Top-rated Jessie Magdaleno was originally supposed to figure in the supporting main event, but he withdrew reportedly because he wanted a bigger purse.

Instead, ALA Promotions, which is staging the exciting fight card, in cooperation with Top Rank Promotions and ABS-CBN, picked former title challenger Chris “Hitman” Avalos to battle Magsayo in the main supporting bout, which is expected to be a far more compelling contest.

Magsayo, who has an unblemished record of

13-0 with 10 knockouts, is coming off a comfortable unanimous decision win over Mexico’s Eduardo Montoya (17-5-1, 13KO) in Pinoy Pride 35 before a packed crowd at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu.

Magsayo dropped Montoya in the seventh round, but failed to put him away to the disappointment of fight fans who expected a knockout.

The Filipino admitted that he tried too hard to score a knockout and in the process lost his rhythm, even as Montoya refused to engage and appeared hell-bent on surviving.

A cage league’s great promise LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG

THIS early, the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League is showing great promise of becoming the country’s premier commercial cage tournament, next only to the Philippine Basketball Association.

First of all, the PCBL has the solid leadership of a seasoned basketball leader, Chairman Buddy Encarnado, whose accountancy background put the PBA’s financial condition in proper perspective when he was still part of the board as Sta. Lucia Realty’s team representative.

In only its second conference, the PCBL has introduced a phase laden with imports because “we want the fans to witness exciting basketball action involving Filipinos and foreign players.”

Then in the next conference, it will be a truly All-Filipino conference.

“It will be called the Homegrown Cup,” said Encarnado.

The indefatigable executive also said that eventually, he will do away with the practice of forming a team from of a collegiate squad adopting a commercial backer as its name.

“Our model is the old MICAA (Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association). The teams are composed of the best combination of collegiate players, ex-pros and those graduates who want to get noticed.”

The MICAA is the pre-cursor of the PBA. Although most of the teams in the MICAA bolted to form the PBA, some teams remained before they finally joined what is now the oldest professional cagefest in Asia.

During the heydays of the nowdefunct Philippine Basketball League, the best players from the NCAA, UAAP and some minor collegiate leagues are spread out to different commercial teams.

The likes of Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera, Jojo Lastimosa were products of the PBL. The PCBL opened the Chairman’s Cup Friday at the Malolos Sports Center in Bulacan. The other home gym is the Marikina Sports Center.

“We want to relive the glory of commercial basketball through the PCBL,” added Encarnado, whose choice of multi-titled coach Joel Banal as PCBL commissioner was lauded by many, saying he’s a perfect choice for the post.

Banal has been exposed to basketball as a player and coach in all facets of the game and in different eras. He was a player in the MICAA and the PBA. He was part of the Great Taste team that won the championship in 1985. He coached TNT to the championship in the PBA and the Ateneo squad to the UAAP. Now as commissioner, Banal said it’s a new ballgame for him.

“I am committed to perform and excel,” he said. “When I was a player, I used to just focus on my game and my teammates.

As a coach, I only watch players

and the time clock. Now, I watch all the players, the teams, the referees and the audience. I want to make sure they all enjoy the games.”

Banal’s choice as man-incharge of running a budding league is not without basis.

Unknown to many, Banal has a proven business acumen.

When he left the basketball scene years ago, he and his wife put up a pre-school at the University of Life compound in Pasig City. He took over as president and while at it, he finished his Master of Entrepreneurship at the Asian Institute of Management. “ “It was a higher calling for me, from being a sportsman to educator and social builder. I forgot about basketball for the meantime. I go to school early to make sure I am there before the students arrive and I leave the school only after all the students are gone.”

A few more years, his International Baccalaureate accreditedaccredited school has now been relocated to a commercial area in Ortigas and accommodates up to Grade 10 students, and among them are the grandchildren of Encarnado and children of some PBA players, like Asi Taulava.

Six months ago, Banal bowed out as president and their partners now run the daily operation.

“My wife and I just took a sabbatical leave and enjoying our travels. And I knew and I felt, something was coming for me.”

Now, Banal is just too happy he’s back to his first love—basketball.

Champion Michael Kevin Cudiamat (center) is shown at the podium after his title conquest in the 9th Prima Pasta Badminton Championship. He is joined by (from left) official JC Benipayo, Marky Alcala, Orlan Ticala and Ros Lee Pedrosa.

Cudiamat dethrones Alcala as singles’ king NATIONAL team member Michael Kevin Cudiamat dethroned Marky Alcala, 21-17, 21-17, to become the new men’s open singles’ champion in the 9th Prima Pasta Badminton Championships recently at the Powersmash Badminton Center in Makati City.

The top-seeded Cudiamat, who also played for Far Eastern University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines badminton competition, relied on his great conditioning to outplay his fellow national player Alcala, the second seed.

Sarah Joy Barredo also of Philippine team, overcame a sluggish first set to dominate fellow national player Mariya Anghela Sevilla, 20-22, 21-14, 21-18, in the women’s open championship round and bagged the women’s open singles trophy.

The tournament, attended by at least 2,000 participants, was supported by Smart, Boysen Paints, Mabz Builders, Monocrete Construction, Morning Star Milling, ILO Construction, Pioneer Insurance, Promax, Babolat, Vitwater, Regent Foods Corp., and Del

Mendoza...

From A16

According to the coaching staff, there are lots of openings in the Team A at the moment, considering that eight players from Team B can’t see action because of academics and their need to focus on their studies.

CJ Perez, a prized recruit and transferee from the San Sebastian

Stags, is among those not expected to suit up this season, along with Team A players Arvin Tolentino, Clint Doliguez, Chibueze Ikeh and John Apacible.

Team B players Kenmark Carino, Hubert Cani and Jerie Pingoy have also been asked to concentrate on their studies, according to assistant coach Yuri Escueta.

Mendoza also suit-

NU champ coach Napa offered to handle Knights

By Peter Atencio JEFF Napa is one of the top choices to take over as the new head coach of the Letran Knights.

He is seriously considering the offer to handle the Knights after steering the National University Bullpups to the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament title.

“Mag-uusap na kami. Pero ayoko muna

isipin iyun. Itong championship muna.

Kahit isang araw lang, ma-feel ko ang pagchampion ng team,” said Napa.

The Knights have been without a head coach after the team won the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball crown.

It was left vacant when Aldin Ayo suddenly accepted an offer to handle La Salle a month after Letran’s title conquest.

Napa and Mapua Cardinals assistant

Monte Fit N Right The competition was also backed by Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu, Jose Siao Ling & Associates, Goldilocks, Mega Subic Terminal Services Inc., Sincere Construction, U2 Electrical, United Colourtech, Wl-An Aluminium, Window One, Waterlite Engineering, Unitech Industrial Sales, Ultracote, Amstar, NCS Builders, Unipak Plastics & Containers, GCI Industries, Belarmino & Associates, and Sidel Industrial.

In other singles’ results, reigning champion 12-year-old Jewel Albo retained the boy’s under-15 division crown by scoring a 21-7, 21-16 win over Charles Alcarpio; Anthea Marie Gonzales beat Jochelle Alvarez, 21-15, 21-19, to capture the girls’ under-15 crown; and Janelle Anne Andres rallied past Aldreen Rae Concepcion, 1621, 24-22, 23-21, to bag the 19-under girls’ singles trophy.

The competition was organized by Prima Pasta tournament chairman Alex Lim and was sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association.

mentor Randy Alcantara are among those in the short list.

For now, it’s Nap Garcia and his assistant Al Ogahayon, who are calling the shots for the Knights.

Napa coached the NU Bullpups to their first-ever UAAP junior crown two years ago.

Alcantara, a former standout in the PBL and MBA, was picked by Shell in the third round of the talent-laden 1998 PBA rookie draft.

ed up for Batang Gilas in the 2013 FIBA U16 tournament and the 2014 FIBA World U17 Championship.

Another high school standout Tyler Tio of Xavier School has also committed to the Blue Eagles, but citizenship issues still need to be resolved since he is currently a holder of a Canadian passport.

Peter Atencio

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0

P16M

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A16

m o n day : m a rc h 7 , 2 0 1 6 rIEra U. maLL arI EDITOR

rEUEL vIdaL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

Nate Diaz applies a choke hold to win by submission against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFp

A night of upsets, underdogs

By Jeric lopez

IT was a night of upsets.

That’s what happened in a huge Ultimate Fighting Championship card Sunday as two underdogs withstood two champions to emerge with the biggest victories of their careers.

In UFC 196, Nate Diaz scored a stunning upset win over featherweight king Conor McGregor with a scintillating submission victory via a rear-naked choke at 4:12 of the second round to deal the Irish superstar his first loss in six years in a non-title welterweight bout in front of a pumpedup MGM Grand Garden Arena

in Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday.

In the other featured fight, Miesha Tate did the exact same thing, submitting erstwhile champion Holly Holm at the 3:30 of the fifth and final round, also with a rear-naked choke to claim the elusive UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship.

Diaz and Tate came in as huge

JAmeS reAcheS Scoring mileStone turn to A12

underdogs and both came out with a lot to prove. And they certainly did not disappoint as they shone bright in the UFC’s biggest card thus far in 2016.

After landing some significant strikes late in Round 2 to turn the tide, Diaz had the upperhand as he got McGregor wobbled.

He followed this up nicely when the action hit the ground with a sneaky choke from behind to force the fighting Irish’s hand to tap out as he claimed a spectacular victory that will push him to main event status.

Originally, the scheduled fight was between McGregor and lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos in a champion-

against-champion super fight, but the latter got injured three weeks prior to this event, forcing the UFC to find a replacement and Diaz answered the call and got the job done emphatically.

Despite the loss, McGregor remains the featherweight champion and is expected to go back to his true weight class.

Tate, after being bypassed for a title shot late last year despite her four-fight winning streak, made the most out of her second crack at the belt when she went toeto-toe with Holm in a long fight before showcasing her superior skills on the ground to dismantle her foe and claim the title she’s been chasing.

SuperAl eyeS win no. 8 turn to A13

Mendoza joins Eagles JOLO Mendoza, one of Ateneo’s main scorers in the junior division, is suiting up for the Tab Baldwincoached Ateneo Blue Eagles with three other teammates.

Mendoza said he has committed to join the senior squad in the coming Season 79 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

“One of the things that I need to improve on is my conditioning and my strength. It’s a process,” said the 18-year-old Mendoza, who talked about the coming stint with Ateneo in an interview with The Standard last Thursday during the launch of the SM-NBTC National Championships and AllStar Games.

Mendoza averaged 16.6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists a game for the Blue Eaglets, who reached the stepladder semis of the recent season.

Baldwin has ask him to join the practice sessions, with Blue Eaglet players Gian Mamuyac, Bryan Andrade and Shaun Ildefonso.

Turn to A15

MONDAY: MARCH 7, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Bigger STL operations okayed PSe comPoSite index Closing March 4, 2016

8000 8340 7880 7420 6960 6500

6,899.07 64.37

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing March 4, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.945

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.920 LOW P47.000 AVERAGE P46.956 VOLUME 649.755M

P417.00-P627.00 LPG/11-kg tank P33.30-P40.75 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE state-run Philippine Statistics Office said over the weekend it will expand the operations of the small town lottery program to other cities and provinces to raise additional revenues.

The PCSO board said the ticket sales of STL had the capacity for further expansion, as they merely accounted for about 12 percent of the charity office’s annual gaming income. Lotto is the main source of PCSO’s revenues.

The PCSO board in 2014 passed a resolution expanding STL operations nationwide on the recommendations of its gaming, product development and marketing sector and branch operations.

But despite the board resolution, PCSO chairman Erineo Maliksi wanted to revoke the authority of all STL operators in the country and give it exclusively to a maximum of two nationwide.

A source said Maliksi also wanted PCSO to renege on its obligation to remit dividends to the national government, despite Republic Act 7656 that mandated it.

The source said Maliksi believed his proposal to eliminate all STL operators from the game

would increase the revenues of PCSO. Maliksi, according to the source, wanted “to amend pertinent laws to abolish PCSO’s mandatory contributions to various government agencies.”

There are 15 laws that mandate PCSO to share a small portion of its revenues to government agencies.

These are Commission on Higher Education, National Shelter Program, Crop Insurance Program, Government Information System on Migration under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

PCSO also contributes to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples for the Ancestral Domain Fund, Museum Endowment Fund, Dangerous Drug Board and Standby Fund for the financial requirement to combat

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

The agency contributes to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the fight again avian influenza or bird flu virus and the lotto share of local government units.

The law created PCSO to generate funds for health programs and charities through sweepstakes, races, lotteries and other similar activities.

PCSO had total assets of P19.37 billion based on its 2014 unaudited financial statement.

Total retail receipts amounted to P32.32 billion in 2014, with sweepstakes sales amounting to P50 million; Keno, P2.75 billion and lotto sales, P29.52 billion.

About 55 percent of the net receipts are allocated for prize fund; 30 percent for charity fund and 15 percent for operating fund.

today

P20.40-P23.80 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, March 4, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.1150

Japan

Yen

0.008797

0.4145

UK

Pound

1.418100

66.8138

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128742

6.0657

Switzerland

Franc

1.007861

47.4854

Canada

Dollar

0.746324

35.1631

Singapore

Dollar

0.720254

33.9348

Australia

Dollar

0.734900

34.6248

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656748

125.1727

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266738

12.5674

Brunei

Dollar

0.717669

33.8130

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028177

1.3276

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.8288

Euro

Euro

1.095900

51.6333

Korea

Won

0.000826

0.0389

China

Yuan

0.153020

7.2095

India

Rupee

0.014900

0.7020

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.242131

11.4080

New Zealand

Dollar

0.671600

31.6424

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030436

1.4340 Source: PDS Bridge

‘Company of the Year.’

Representatives of Smart Communications Inc. led by public affairs head Ramon Isberto [standing, center] pose with their trophies at the Anvil awards dinner. Mobile leader Smart is the big winner at the recently-concluded 51st Anvil Awards, bringing home the Company of the Year distinction after receiving the highest number of Gold Anvils for its public relations programs. Smart received seven Gold Anvils and seven Silver Anvils in a ceremony organized annually by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.

Industrial production grew 5.3% in January, says Moody’s

By Julito G. Rada INDUSTRIAL production likely grew 5.3 percent in January, stronger than a 4.9-percent expansion in December, bucking the slowing demand from China, Moody’s Analytics, a division of Moody’s Corp., said in a report over the weekend.

Moody’s expects industrial production to have sustained the recovery seen in recent months.

“Philippine industrial production is expected to have expanded 5.3 percent year-on-year in January... Since the Philippines is less reliant on China as an export destination than most other countries in the region, its producers have been less affected by slowing Chinese demand,” Moody’s said.

Moody’s said food producers would “start to see improvements in the coming months as the unfavorable growing condi-

tions caused by El Niño start to dissipate.”

The manufacturing sector expanded in December 2015 due mainly to the more robust construction activities, coupled with declining oil prices.

The volume of production index in December rose 4.9 percent from 4.4 percent in the previous month, while the value of production decreased 2.6 percent.

Beverages jumped 12 percent in volume of production from its

negative performance in the previous month and 15.2-percent growth in value of production— tripling its performance from November 2015.

The drop in the food subsector, meanwhile, slowed down in both production volume and value, registering a contraction of 1.3 and 2.7 percent, respectively.

This is due to the persistent dry spell brought about by El Niño in the second semester of 2015.

For intermediate goods, non-

metallic mineral products led a double-digit boom by 18.8 and 18.2 percent in volume and value of production, while paper and paper products came in second, posting 18.6 and 18.8 percent growth in volume and production.

However, petroleum continued to decline, posting a drop of 33.8 and 40.6 percent in volume and value of production due to the weak global demand and oversupply in the world market.

MONDAY: MARCH 7, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW FEBRUARY 29-MARCH 4, 2016 Close Volume Value AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. Bright Kindle Resources Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Equitable PCI Bank First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

2.95 45.05 99.00 83.70 36.15 3.12 1.40 10 14 14.92 1.71 0.71 1.75 675.00 0.560 77.05 0.92 15.00 23.05 52.00 98.3 274 33.5 143.2 1300.00 56.50 1.54

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. `A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab. First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

LBC Express Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp.

Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp.

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

43.55 5.5 0.69 1.49 10.58 180.00 17.6 97 51.9 19 40 2.43 5.36 12.2 9.000 7.70 6.03 7.05 1.51 19.96 61.6 12.00 13.80 5.51 2.750 225.00 9.1 32.50 1.95 2.99 37.45 26.85 17 5.88 327.00 3.97 3.24 9.90 11.50 3.91 1.74 3.02 4.14 2.31 4.6 143 4.05 2.48 0.158 1.11 2.25 201 4.6 0.74 1.14

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. IPM Holdings JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Transgrid Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.320 59.95 15.30 1.15 6.17 0.250 0.255 734.5 7.64 12.96 5 4.80 0.213 1349 6.00 9.78 72.90 5.46 0.7 16 0.495 5.7 2.3 0.0300 1.410 2.010 2.75 74.80 2.3 910.00 1.07 0.77 152.00 167.500 0.3150 0.2080 0.295

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Centennial City City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld Prop.

7.270 7.60 0.88 1.450 0.222 34.000 3.22 5.26 0.560 0.93 0.960 0.119 0.425 29.5 0.830 0.155 0.96 1.53 1.27 4.46 3.82

FINANCIAL 1,616,280.00 8,218,235.00 1,465,933,147 833,950,831.50 67,392,495.00 1,593,440.00 1,568,900.00 4,997.00 9,397,316.00 107,727,038.00 34940 6,390 241,350.00 148,650.00 10,493,660.00 1,043,232,900.50 284,060.00 1,589,026.00 2,305.00 28,512,753.50 810,713.50 18,453,120.00 27,414,075 470,149,344.00 422,125.00 51,709,225.00 3,556,770.00 INDUSTRIAL 13,075,300 567,622,630.00 9,942,300 55,681,088.00 598,000 413,910.00 75,043,000 118,461,730.00 4,300 44,942.00 330 60,320.00 8,717,500 154,793,788 10 970.00 6,430 297,484.00 561,400 10,101,826.00 809,400 32,370,500 5,908,000 13,813,850.00 77,921,000 304,651,690.00 413,700 4,863,784.00 40,907,700 358,416,571.00 20,296,500 149,996,267.00 125,562,100 733,236,935.00 1,711,800 10,255,474.00 462,000 728,610.00 12,835,500 260,262,590.00 871,870 53,181,263.00 2,900 34,800.00 921,800 12,764,382.00 1,330,400 59,930,705.00 57,430,000 152,202,540.00 6,857,290 1,535,837,956.00 198,400 1,837,082.00 25,100 779,480.00 6,000 11,700.00 16,000 48,540.00 9,500 343,045.00 4,698,300 125,785,815.00 3,561,400 60,651,168.00 352,800 2,070,059.00 1,427,680 471,670,314.00 6,000 23,940.00 17,839,000 56,835,740.00 62,621,500 537,371,722.00 129,500 1,474,922.00 4,845,000 18,453,580.00 1,738,000 3,007,120.00 3,601,000 10,668,630.00 27,512,000 105,897,300.00 10,000 23,190.00 276,000 1,245,430.00 221,830 31,270,407.00 45,000 175,950.00 961,000 2,406,430.00 78,980,000 12,711,000.00 429,000 490,490.00 30,820,000 71,033,600.00 9,271,360 1,862,955,114.00 114,000 528,870.00 32,360,000 23,205,010.00 4,373,000 5,261,890.00 HOLDING FIRMS 2,420,000 766,300.00 10,676,820 626,951,803.50 32,015,900 476,918,656.00 1,000 1,150.00 513,000 3,078,036.00 4,520,000 1,119,240.00 650,000 163,500.00 1,861,240 1,328,849,180.00 11,128,500 83,457,569.00 29,264,700 378,265,790.00 137,900 657,885.00 408,000 1,957,890.00 1,040,000 227,430.00 1,075,925 1,432,577,410.00 152,300 911,041.00 11,218,300 109,761,374.00 11,266,570 795,778,338.00 18,548,000 98,566,564.00 3,217,000 2,206,120.00 10,617,400 170,085,328.00 290,000 142,300.00 369,114,900 2,181,468,636.00 1,000 2,300.00 189,200,000 5,769,900.00 12,000 15,880.00 11,559,000 22,984,360.00 114,000 308,750.00 3,576,430 266,220,035.50 3,000 6,900.00 2,255,490 2,024,540,205.00 8,371,000 8,715,730.00 934,000 725,630.00 70 10,640.00 544,370 90,129,705.00 31,100,000 9,849,650.00 1,970,000 394,740.00 1,700,000 499,700.00 PROPERTY 2,733,500 19,346,755.00 9,000 70,838.00 11,158,000 9,896,260.00 3,614,000 5,285,190.00 140,000 31,150.00 60,363,600 2,024,572,075.00 9,612,000 30,345,660.00 1,013,700 5,350,110.00 25,775,000 14,252,610.00 12,000 11,460.00 39,942,000 3,945,770.00 22,200,000 2,761,740.00 16,730,000 7,081,800.00 16,060,600 435,232,565.00 5,251,000 4,292,880.00 680,000 105,460.00 24,524,000 22,984,740.00 128,980,000 198,137,620.00 743,000 941,120.00 4,000 17,840.00 294,236,000 1,077,689,310.00 561,000 183,400 14,747,140 9,967,180 1,879,500 513,000 1,131,000 500 664,200 7,262,700 20000 9,000 141,000 220 17,855,000 13,569,050 313,000 105,900 100 548,060 8,260 67,390 842,400 3,304,080 320 927,760 2,311,000

FEBRUARY 22-26, 2016 Close Volume Value 2.95 44.8 99.00 84.20 36.1 3.15 1.39 9.5 14.12 15.92

406,000 71,400 5,697,590 9,526,950 448,600 684,000 581,000 300 107,900 468,100

1,178,640.00 3,199,570.00 564,387,748 813,299,832.00 16,114,960.00 1,989,940.00 773,450.00 2,850.00 1,516,080.00 7,547,614.00

1.78 660.00 0.520 75.3 0.92 15.00 23.00 52.10 98 273 33 140.7 1331.00 55.30 1.54

1,004,000 250 4,019,000 10,900,330 27,000 82,700 100 90,180 2,660 2,460 92,900 1,516,400 30 14,900 84,000

1,810,320.00 147,000.00 2,073,370.00 825,428,534.00 24,880.00 1,241,060.00 2,300.00 4,717,951.50 260,086.00 666,240.00 3,133,105 214,724,258.00 42,345.00 830,035.00 129,420.00

43.05 5.73 0.69 1.54 10.52 185.00 17.6 97 65 18.9 40 2.18 2.74 11.46 8.450 7.30 5.60 7.10 1.84 20.2 59.9 12.00 13.80 5.48 2.480 222.00 8.49 29.50 1.95 3.04 38.70 26.6 16 5.9 330.20 4.01 3.15 8.70 11.50 3.70 1.75 2.88 3.86 2.22

5,950,600 10,347,000 1,122,000 3,972,000 11,900 570 1,840,000 40 7,530 977,100 5,200 6,808,000 27,237,000 145,100 19,398,900 5,060,500 36,926,300 3,581,600 72,000 11,504,700 921,000 28,600 1,472,200 280,000 12,978,000 5,020,800 94,800 13,000 45,000 56,000 2,900 6,897,100 2,509,800 380,000 1,153,580 58,000 3,694,000 62,328,800 66,800 691,000 7,400,000 1,282,000 9,763,000 3,000

256,212,615.00 56,964,667.00 744,820.00 5,845,660.00 123,684.00 109,247.00 32,243,256 4,072.00 518,664.50 17,982,612.00 209,670 15,203,060.00 68,400,950.00 1,660,612.00 161,705,730.00 36,901,325.00 211,399,124.00 25,168,509.00 135,760.00 272,964,240.00 55,136,581.00 350,724.00 20,303,966.00 1,540,832.00 31,276,000.00 1,105,826,294.00 783,181.00 361,095.00 84,750.00 175,510.00 107,120.00 187,243,595.00 40,126,422.00 2,217,424.00 374,878,020.00 233,630.00 12,120,960.00 572,852,213.00 764,568.00 2,531,800.00 13,346,300.00 3,562,000.00 37,385,320.00 6,660.00

142 3.9 2.5 0.165 1.25 2.23 195.9 4.79 0.64 1.17

5,780 45,000 1,008,000 27,330,000 3,644,000 15,568,000 7,477,240 218,000 2,069,000 3,539,000

824,042.00 176,250.00 2,450,890.00 4,326,100.00 4,734,180.00 34,129,150.00 1,452,532,471.00 1,022,970.00 1,297,200.00 4,052,970.00

0.315 57.8000 14.50 1.13 6.00 0.233

1,560,000 3,438,410 26,756,700 32,000 771,600 460,000

507,300.00 198,433,017.00 388,169,726.00 35,180.00 4,630,061.00 108,180.00

687 7.2 12.30 4.55 4.80 0.226 1288 5.85 9.80 68.50 5.26 0.7 16.1 0.5 5.86

1,041,300 3,217,400 14,865,400 18,000 358,000 1,810,000 367,010 99,600 10,731,800 5,687,010 28,982,500 8,099,000 4,862,500 120,000 157,942,600

721,946,610.00 23,326,624.00 211,211,326.00 82,610.00 1,693,750.00 413,860.00 469,926,745.00 582,125.00 104,506,647.00 388,540,651.50 108,421,018.00 5,565,540.00 78,901,410.00 59,100.00 913,308,197.00

0.0320

306,900,000

9,723,100.00

2.010 2.62 72.00 2.45 845.00 1.05 0.77 152.00 158.000 0.3100 0.1980 0.285

21,130,000 11,000 2,272,540 5,000 783,950 6,932,000 210,000 10 2,601,830 15,300,000 5,190,000 1,160,000

45,119,610.00 28,810.00 158,669,101.50 11,470.00 3,040,839,565.00 7,346,350.00 159,650.00 1,520.00 388,909,562.00 4,670,950.00 1,034,850.00 336,600.00

6.900 7.05 0.86 1.400 0.230 32.050 3.15 5.29 0.560 0.97 0.970 0.132 0.425 24.3 0.830 0.155 0.91 1.52 1.28

5,597,100 1,100 4,435,000 1,464,000 200,000 39,223,400 8,287,000 4,207,100 12,752,000 60,360,000 68,000 74,390,000 1,790,000 3,235,200 1,923,000 640,000 6,388,000 49,809,000 1,033,000

38,617,463.00 7,755.00 3,787,450.00 2,007,040.00 43,870.00 1,265,257,680.00 25,645,980.00 21,170,727.00 25,448,410.00 55,341,210.00 65,600.00 9,491,990.00 751,000.00 78,497,625.00 1,602,420.00 99,890.00 5,821,750.00 75,754,770.00 1,291,670.00

3.49

85,879,000

301,882,010.00

STOCKS

FEBRUARY 29-MARCH 4, 2016 Close Volume Value

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

0.090 0.2250 0.445 8.46 27.50 1.43 3.09 20.90 0.85 5.59 1.000 4.500

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

6.73 55.7 1.15 0.485 11.16 28.5 4.87 0.0510 3.13 85.95 10 1.6 6.15 3.00 960 1745 6.59 21.35 1.19 61.05 11.3 0.0092 0.214 1.2000 2.1 7.71 4.42 1.12 2.58 24.00 0.570 1.91 2.39 3.84 0.265 0.720 17 4.55 2.4 8.95 100.00 22.10 1797.00 0.440 0.930 33.80 62.50 6.10 3.30 0.510 1.7 3.74 0.335 4.920

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0045 2.16 4.28 12.80 0.248 4.8900 0.61 0.435 7.50 0.710 0.285 0.310 0.330 0.0130 0.014 2.13 5.68 2.75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure & Resort Pref.

MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

54.95 538 532 118 500 527 6.52 1.07 109 1028 1061 1018 105.9 108.7 78 82 76.5 76.5 77 2

0.5400 1.2400 0.0096 3.35 6.01 1.68 0.0120 126.00 2.34 0.0082

Leisure & Resort Warr.

2.710

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

3.56 3 2.55 15.4

First Metro ETF

112.7

FEBRUARY 22-26, 2016 Close Volume Value

5,160,000 121,550 4,200,000 66,800 13,869,200 1,979,000 41,000 66,398,500 21,875,000 62,800 11,518,000 41,011,000

453,730.00 383,480.00 1,831,550.00 564,535.00 370,272,770.00 2,856,340.00 125,980.00 1,399,287,940.00 17,908,970.00 353,785.00 11,376,800.00 183,981,160.00 SERVICES 402,200 2,703,176.00 315,630 17,223,172.50 140,000 160,980.00 1,601,000 782,330.00 5,100 55,878.00 500 13,795 43,033,000 197,912,190.00 188,780,000 9,745,360.00 3,933,000 12,229,990.00 2,320,450 195,651,084.00 3,100 30,600.00 157,000 240,150 1,599,300 9,761,814.00 2,000 6,000.00 3,800 3,646,080.00 351,271,405 539,366,565 376,400 2,480,604.00 1,100 23,445 506,000 616,910.00 8,547,410 429,607,148.00 6,400 71,740.00 5,000,000 47,200.00 602,700,000 133,038,200.00 3,573,000 4,251,900.00 95,000 195,970.00 314,900 2,387,708.00 3,728,000 16,080,630.00 25,000 27,640.00 449,000 1,118,290.00 300 7,200.00 50,000 27,630.00 17,000 32,960.00 172,511,000 379,215,730.00 10,146,000 36,865,560.00 810,000 216,450.00 16,858,000 11,939,070.00 10,400 177,752.00 122,000 555,750 306,000 734,400.00 100 895.00 547,620 54,760,000.00 15,470,600 341,972,750.00 1,925,510 3,573,256,660.00 23,030,000 9,983,100.00 181,142,000 166,176,900.00 17,478,900 592,595,660.00 11,049,470 685,705,470.50 34,297,600 221,940,674.00 57,355,000 191,194,600.00 37,366,000 18,965,935.00 40,000 61,910.00 5,772,000 21,529,460.00 30,000 9,750.00 143,000 678,550.00 MINING & OIL 3,618,000,000 16,424,600.00 573,000 1,234,970.00 3,443,000 14,687,350.00 35,700 386,910.00 2,190,000 540,620.00 300 1,467.00 2,368,000 1,437,160.00 2,020,000 875,400.00 231,900 1,728,156.00 115,680,000 82,543,970.00 900,000 254,600.00 494,850,000 151,570,650.00 95,950,000 29,257,500.00 325,500,000 3,892,200.00 126,200,000 1,677,000.00 4,860,000 9,796,830.00 51,591,200 281,154,583.00 3,392,000 8,585,320.00 347,020 426,000 231,250.00 3,112,000 3,928,010.00 25,000,000 232,600.00 127,000 432,480.00 17,247,700 102,558,093.00 13,747,000 23,027,330.00 235,900,000 2,629,200.00 1,412,620 259,476,527.00 665,000 1,549,620.00 5,000,000 37,400.00 PREFERRED 1,700,340 92,347,734.50 83,680 44,371,005.00 3,010 1,601,320 73,100 8,625,800.00 2,000 1,000,000.00 2,680 1,427,480.00 11,700 76,284.00 1,431,000 1,539,680 53,640 6,134,331.00 13,840 14,639,700.00 1,100 1,167,880.00 23,860 24,830,600.00 570 60,363.00 6,020 647,812.00 85,900 6,839,700.00 107,250 8,673,809.00 1,063,450 82,894,625.00 223,600 17,147,135.50 2,788,870 217,382,915.00 4,000 7,400.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 4,308,000 10,998,450.00 SME 673,000 1,889,590.00 191,000 573,700.00 1,317,000 3,332,510.00 11,442,700 164,932,380.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 653,330 73,016,276

0.085 0.2280 0.450 8.5 24.95 1.49 3.07 20.50 0.79 5.85 0.960 4.400

3,190,000 1,140,000 2,510,000 47,500 5,975,000 10,794,000 238,000 44,265,200 5,962,000 80,500 2,368,000 15,732,000

278,040.00 263,450.00 1,070,900.00 402,481.00 151,785,485.00 16,249,640.00 718,980.00 911,806,615.00 4,631,450.00 468,074.00 2,257,090.00 69,218,890.00

6.95 54.1

1,016,200 144,230

7,068,324.00 7,818,500.00

0.500 10.1

4,292,000 7,900

2,167,400.00 80,788.00

4.15 0.0540 3.11 81.8 10 1.48 5.73 3.19 960 1811 6.58

11,966,000 313,030,000 325,000 641,550 16,400 17,000 111,100 46,000 400 361,690 263,200

51,455,180.00 17,140,240.00 1,033,300.00 52,311,611.00 164,000.00 25,320 646,577.00 128,060.00 384,000.00 656,751,580 1,758,416.00

1.17 62 11.2 0.0095 0.237 1.1900 2.2 7.57 4.04 1.04 2.45 24.00 0.580 1.9 2.05 3.49 0.270 0.730 18 4.50

490,000 6,988,680 61,900 8,000,000 360,730,000 5,512,000 10,000 617,300 834,000 39,000 146,000 1,100 11,000 10,000 90,544,000 5,076,000 600,000 11,469,000 700 53,000

590,450.00 427,194,637.50 695,718.00 75,800.00 74,059,470.00 6,445,440.00 21,260.00 4,685,666.00 3,315,070.00 43,010.00 356,940.00 26,400.00 6,270.00 19,000.00 180,768,430.00 17,904,880.00 162,550.00 6,753,410.00 12,600.00 238,500

8.95 101.00 22.00 2228.00 0.410 0.890 33.75 59.80 4.95 3.62 0.495 1.51 3.74 0.325 4.610

1,000 600 466,500 358,370 23,380,000 106,882,000 7,616,100 2,659,970 2,039,200 56,112,000 17,720,000 3,000 3,035,900 1,460,000 222,000

8,950.00 60,310.00 11,500,270.00 796,945,980.00 9,360,450.00 64,516,410.00 259,315,475.00 163,672,583.00 10,074,977.00 208,393,390.00 8,570,400.00 4,530.00 13,390,760.00 468,400.00 1,039,910.00

0.0043 2.09 4.36 12.78 0.239

379,000,000 526,000 464,000 800 14,590,000

1,635,500.00 1,089,500.00 2,030,240.00 9,136.00 3,692,280.00

0.58 0.435 7.26 0.690 0.285 0.300 0.305 0.0120 0.013 1.87 5.03 2.46

695,000 4,420,000 1,285,500 60,261,000 6,320,000 245,750,000 46,580,000 183,300,000 91,000,000 1,385,000 13,685,000 744,000

410,420.00 1,916,650.00 9,274,491.00 43,640,310.00 1,833,050.00 73,924,000.00 12,049,900.00 2,201,200.00 1,183,000.00 2,555,050.00 68,864,560.00 1,829,690.00

0.5500 1.2400 0.0095 3.56 5.80 1.77 0.0110 122.80 2.36 0.0076

163,000 472,000 3,000,000 71,000 5,975,800 10,635,000 78,600,000 1,972,780 1,443,000 6,000,000

90,550.00 576,690.00 28,500.00 244,970.00 34,032,854.00 19,610,540.00 898,500.00 242,066,175.00 3,512,430.00 45,600.00

54 540 540 114

648,830 17,600 50,880 158,300

35,019,163.00 9,413,995.00 27,176,885 18,482,730.00

535 6.77 1.08 115 1080 1090 1040 103.5 107.5 79 82 78 77 78

34,840 600 207,000 166,800 21,070 2,565 28,640 13,400 2,500 10,000 37,610 130,840 100,160 321,520

18,508,250.00 4,067.00 223,560 18,704,665.00 22,752,920.00 2,805,850.00 29,677,935.00 1,389,910.00 268,850.00 790,000.00 3,091,553.00 10,237,320.00 7,709,590.00 25,124,488.00

2.310

1,158,000

2,726,930.00

3.7 2.95 2.53 13.5

93,000 23,000 716,000 762,000

346,590.00 65,510.00 1,809,140.00 10,300,500.00

109.5

65,700

7,211,309.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Island Info Lepanto `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Globe Telecom Manila Mining `A’ Megaworld Prop.

Philodrill Corp. `A’ Pacifica `A’ Boulevard Holdings

VOLUME 3,618,000,000 602,700,000 494,850,000 369,114,900 351,271,405 325,500,000 294,236,000 235,900,000 189,200,000 188,780,000

STOCKS PLDT Common Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ SM Investments Inc. Universal Robina Jollibee Foods Corp.

Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. GT Capital SM Prime Holdings Ayala Corp `A’

VALUE 3,573,256,660.00 2,181,468,636.00 2,024,572,075.00 2,024,540,205.00 1,862,955,114.00 1,535,837,956.00 1,465,933,147 1,432,577,410.00 1,399,287,940.00 1,328,849,180.00

MONDAY: MARCH 7, 2016

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

B3

Harbor takeover valid—SMC

By Jenniffer B. Austria

C O N G LO M E R AT E San Miguel Corp. said the acquisition of a controlling interest in Manila North Harbor Port Inc. from Harbor Center Port Terminal Inc. is legitimate despite the ongoing ownership dispute between businessman Reghis Romero II and his son Michael.

San Miguel said it was aware about the petition filed by Reghis Romero with the regional trial court and the Securities and Exchange Commission to revoke the approved increase in the capital stock of MNHPI, which enabled the conglomerate to raise its ownership in the port terminal operator to close to 80 percent from an initial 35 percent.

Reghis Romero has questioned the validity of the acts of his son Michael Romero as controlling shareholder of HCPTI. “Absent a temporary restraining order issued by RTC or the final resolution the cases filed both in the RTC and the SEC, we believe that Petron and SMHC [San Migule Holdings Corp.] has valid ownership of the share as they respectively acquired to subscribed to MNHPI, San Miguel said.

San Miguel earlier reported that SMHC subscribed to and fully paid for 13 million common shares of MNPHI at a subscription price of P100.00 per share.

The subscription resulted in SMHC owning a 43.33 percent equity interest in MNHPI. Prior to the transaction, MNHPI was 65 percent owned by HCPTI and 35 percent held San Miguel-owned Petron Corp.

With San Miguel’s acquisition of an additional 43.44 percent stake, the conglomerate as a group now controls a 78.33-percent interest in the port terminal company.

San Miguel said it acquired the total equity interest in MNPHI in a regular and legitimate manner because all the requirements for holding of a stockholders meeting to approve the increase in MNHPI’s authorized capital stock and the investments of SMHC to MNHPI were met.

The conglomerate said it also obtained the waiver of pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders of MNHPI, allowing Petron to subscribe to seven million common shares in MNHPI and SMHC to buy 13 million common shares.

San Miguel said the requirements for the increase in the authorized capital stock of MNHPI were complied as determined by the SEC when it approved the proposed hike.

MNHPI won the 25-year contract to manage, develop and operate the 52-hectare seaport terminal.

12 Anvils for Manila Water. Manila Water Company Inc. and units Laguna Water AAA Corp. and Clark Water Corp. win 12 awards in the 51st Anvil Awards held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City. Shown at the awarding ceremony are Manila Water senior executives led by chief operating officer for water operations Ferdinand Dela Cruz (center), COO for new business operations Virgilio Rivera Jr. (fifth from right), group director for strategic asset management Abelardo Basilio (sixth from right), group director for information technology Rodell Garcia, (fifth from left), group director for corporate project management Thomas Mattison (sixth from left) and officer-in-charge for corporate strategic affairs group and corporate communications head Jeric Sevilla (second from left).

Stock mart poised to test 7,000 points THE stock market may test the 7,000-point level this week after showing signs of recovery on a stable domestic economy.

But analysts said the market’s direction would still be driven by earnings results and developments overseas, which could trigger volatility in trading.

“Chartwise, the week’s close at 6,899.07 continues to suggest the market to range the 6,800–7,000 levels in the near-term. The market could still retry the 7,000 levels, a break of which could try the 7,350–7,370 levels,” BDO Unibank Inc chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said.

F. Yap Securities Jason Escartin said while the PSEi showed signs of short-term recovery from January’s drop, external development should be considered on account of China’s economic transition, the volatility of the crude market and geopolitical tensions across the region.

“The trend is still below the PSEi’s 8,000 high with 6,9007,000 a critical resistance zone for the index. With the upcoming political election, it would still be prudent to trade within range by positioning on lows,” Escartin said.

Listed companies that will report their 2015 financial performance include Ayala Corp., LT Group Inc. and Del Monte Pacific Ltd. The bellwether PSEi last week advanced 1.89 percent to close

at 6,899.07, while the broader All Shares Index gained 2.07 percent to 3,966.66.

The stock market reached a high of 6,988.68 last week, or close to the 7,000 level following the lead of Wall Street, after rosy US factory and construction data.

Except for the services index, which declined 8.44 percent, all other major indices ended on the positive led by holding companies (5.3 percent), property (4.78 percent), mining and oil (4.34 percent), industrial (2.66 percent) and financials (0.52 percent).

Foreign investors were net buyers for the week by P1.4 billion as total foreign buying amounted to P21.51 billion against total overseas selling of P21.11 billion.

Top gainers for the week were DoubleDragon Properties Corp., which rose 21.4 percent to P29.50; Bloomberry Resort Corp., which climbed 17.4 percent to P4.87; and Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp, which gained16.7 percent to P2.39.

One of the weekly top price losers was Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which declined 20.15 percent to 1,797 per share after saying it would pay special cash dividends this year and projecting a 20 percent year-on-year drop in 2016 core net income to P28 billion.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B4 BIR set to launch new tax ID card

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Bureau of Internal Revenue said over the weekend it will roll out the smart tax identification number card before the end of the current administration’s term in June.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said the agency would put additional charges in the implementation of the updated TIN card, which would electronically store the personal data of the taxpayer.

“Yes, this year,” Henares said when asked if the rollout will happen before the end of President Aquino’s term.

“The PVC will have an additional cost which at the moment I do not know. The other thing is aside from the cost of the card, you have to pay for the delivery of that card to you. You don’t have to come to our office,” Henares added.

The TIN card is currently printed on a cardboard, which indicates the birth date, tax number issuance date and signature and photo of the taxpayer Henares said the application for the updated TIN card would depend on the current biometrics of the taxpayers in other government agencies, such as state-run pension funds.

“What we are doing is if there is an available biometric already in other government agency, we will just pick it up from them,” she said.

In the case of applicants without existing biometrics, Henares said they must apply personally in their respected revenue district offices.

She said upon the successful processing of the digitize TIN card, it would be delivered in the address affixed by the taxpayer in his enrollment.

Henares said the new TIN card had other purposes, aside from minimizing fraud opportunities under the previous TIN card.

She earlier said the new card could be swiped in the magnetic readers of stores, which would show the taxpayers identification number in value-added tax receipts.

Coron favorite. Residents, local and foreign tourists board Skyjet Airlines, Manila’s boutique airline, considered by the riding public as one of the major air transport services flying the Manila-Coron flight via Busuanga Airport.

Shell reviews LNG bid amid low prices

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Shell group of companies in the Philippines is reviewing its liquefied natural gas investment options in the wake of low oil prices in the global market, a senior official said over the weekend.

“All oil companies and the like are in a difficult situation so we all are therefore making sure that it’s really the one with the best technology going forward and the capability of making it happen,” Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. general manager Sebastian Quinones told reporters.

Quinones said Shell would make the final investment decision on the planned LNG facility next year in preparation for the eventual depletion of the Malampaya natural gas field.

“I don’t think it [final invest-

ment decision] will be this year...

There’s not much money now... it’s very difficult while the oil prices are low,” he said.

He said while the front end engineering and design of the LNG facility in Batangas was already completed, there were other concerns that must be addressed to convince investors and shareholders.

“Even though you say that front end engineering design is completed, there’s still a few more technical things that need to be done. We’re in fact look-

ing at the Batangas Bay area and the sea bed. There’s a lot of things needed to make sure that you can lure a floating re-gasification unit there,” Quinones said.

He said he was not fazed by reports that other companies were now ahead in the LNG industry.

“Energy projects like this take a long time. [We are re] not necessarily [left behind] with the depressed prices we have now,” he said.

Shell country chairman Ed Chua earlier conceded that Shell’s LNG was still a work in progress.

He said the final investment decision for the planned LNG facility would depend on the movement of world oil prices.

“It depends especially now with the low oil prices. We’ll have to review the timing,” Chua said.

Quinones, meanwhile, said Shell was in talks with First Gen

Corp. for a possible joint venture in the LNG facility.

“Of course we are always talking to as many people as we can.

Including First Gen... We are all aiming to achieve an LNG facility,” he said.

“In terms of potential customers, obviously they are the ones who are using Malampaya gas right now. And then you have also others around, Meralco Powergen, Aboitiz, all of them are very keen on getting into LNG gasfired power plants in the future,” Quinones said.

He said once the final investment decision was made, construction of the LNG facility would take less than three years, still in time for the Malampaya depletion by 2024.

Quinones also said Shell would continue to explore for oil and gas to prepare for the end of the Malampaya gas field life in northwest Palawan.

AirAsia okays $6.8-m loan to PH unit to support operations

By Darwin G Amojelar SOUTHEAST Asia’s largest budget carrier said it extended a financial assistance to its Philippine unit to support operations.

AirAsia Berhad said in a disclosure to Bursa Malaysia it provided a financial assistance to AirAsia Inc in the form of a $6.8-million loan.

“The financial assistance is in the ordinary course of business and to facilitate the running of the operations and financial affairs of AirAsia Inc.,” AirAsia Berhad said.

AirAsia Philipines and AirAsia X also announced a three

million seat sale, which will connect passengers to over 100 destinations across 22 countries, including flights to and from Manila, Kalibo, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, Davao, Tacloban, and international destinations in Korea, Malaysia, China, Macau and Hong Kong.

The promotional seats, which will be available for booking from March 7 to 13, start from P1 base fare, excluding applicable taxes and fees.

The travel period will be from October 1 to May 22, 2017. ”With AirAsia’s massive network in the whole of Asean and extending as far as India, Japan

and China, we offer guests the convenience of connecting seamlessly and at the same time ensuring that they enjoy only the best quality service from us. Filipinos traveling from Manila, Cebu and Kalibo to Korea, China, Malaysia, Macau and Hong Kong would be thrilled to know that Red Hot One-Peso seat sale also include these amazing destinations,” Philippines AirAsia Commercial head Gerard Penaflor said.

AirAsia Inc. earlier reported a 46-percent decline in net loss to P3.09 billion last year from P5.18 billion in 2014.

The operator of Air Asia Philippines posted a net loss of P118.79

million in the October-to-December period from a loss of P1.28 billion in the same period last year.

“We are proud to have turnaround our operations [in the Philippines] in this quarter and achieved figures close to breakeven,” AirAsia Group chief executive Tony Fernandes said.

Fernandes said the company expects a similar trend this year with revenue improvement of 25 percent to 30 percent projected in first quarter of 2016 from a year ago.

The company’s revenues amounted to P8.93 billion last year, up 18 percent from P7.54 billion in 2014.

Air Asia Philippines carried

3.59 million passnegers in 2015 from 3.03 million last year, while load factor improved 11 points to 81 percent.

The airline currently has 14 operating aircraft servicing domestic destinations, such as Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Tagbilaran (Bohol), Cebu and Tacloban. They also fly to China, Korea, Macau and Hong Kong.

Malaysia’s Air Asia, through AA International, owns 40 percent of Philippines’ Air Asia Inc., while Filipinos Marriane Hontiveros, Michael Romero, Antonio Cojuangco and Alfredo Yao hold the balance of 60 percent.

M O N D AY : M A R C H 7, 2 0 1 6

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

Meralco systems loss at record low

By Alena Mae S. Flores

CONSUMERS of Manila Electric Co. saved P0.12 per kilowatt-hour, or equivalent to P4.5 billion last year, after the utility registered an all-time low systems loss.

Meralco, the country’s biggest electricity retailer, reported an all-time best system loss rate of 6.47 percent in 2015, a 0.02 percentage point improvement from 6.49 percent in 2014.

Systems loss refers to the power lost due to technical and non-technical system factors. It is part of the distribution utilities’ performance metrics and is regularly monitored by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Meralco’s systems loss is significantly lower than the 8.5-percent cap imposed by the ERC on distribution utilities.

Savings to Meralco customers reached P22.1 billion, or P0.09 per kWh from 2008 to 2015.

“Operational excellence marked the performance of Meralco’s distribution system, breaking new records in terms of system loss, availability, reliability and power quality, speed to process and energize new customers and even call center response,” Meralco president Oscar Reyes said.

Meralco said aside from ensuring service excellence and reliable sourcing and delivery of power, it was also providing them at least cost.

The average bill of Meralco customers across all customers last year decreased 12 percent year-on-year. Generation charge, which represents 54 percent of the bill, was 16 percent lower in 2015 as a result of competitively priced power supply and lower fuel prices.

Meralco’s distribution charge, which accounts for 18 percent of the power bill, was also down P0.12 per KWh with the implementation of its interim rate of P1.3810 per kWh. Meralco said the average generation cost of P4.37 per KWh in 2015 was the lowest in the past several years, reflecting the positive impact of Meralco’s supply structure and lower fuel prices in the global market.

The company, which has over 5.8 million customers in its franchise area, reported a core net income of P18.9 billion in 2015, up four percent from P18.1 billion in 2014.

Meralco earlier said it posted a 5.4-percent increase in sales volume in 2015, after consumer segments registered growth.

“All segments are strong especially residential due to lower gen charges, low inflation, El Niño which meant higher temperatures, stable supply and a lot of our customer programs,” Meralco senior vice president Al Panlilio said.

With Wilfred Uytengsu; Roberto de Ocampo; CH trustee and Philippine Red Cross Board secretary Corazon Alma De Leon; CH trustees Conchita Manabat and Bernido Liu; CH Philippines chairperson Emily Abrera; Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; former Health Secretary Carmencita Reodica; CH trustee Evangeline Mayuga; Silverlakegroup country manager Armando Salvador; Cebu Landmasters CEO Jose Soberano III and Marianne Quebral, executive director of the Oscar M. Lopez Center

Just one hour for the children IN 1999, a fundraising campaign called Children’s Promise was started in the United Kingdom by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, Sir Richard Greenbury of Marks & Spencer’s, and the New Millennium Experience Company. This eventually caught fire globally and was spearheaded by the International Youth Foundation (IYF) based in the United States. In the same year, renowned businessman Jaime Zobel de Ayala, an IYF member, brought the idea to the Philippines and the Children’s Hour was born with the late President Corazon C. Aquino as its first honorary chairperson.

Since 1999, Children’s Hour has raised over P300 million in cash and services that translated into 600 projects directly benefiting more than 800,000 children nationwide.

Children’s Hour is basically a fundraising organization that asks each individual, employee, corporation, organization or institution to donate at least one hour’s worth of annual earnings for programs dedicated to making lasting improvements in the lives of disadvantaged children.

The late President Cory Aquino’s legacy of support to Children’s Hour continues to this day with her daughter Ballsy Aquino-Cruz stepping up to the plate as the honorary chair, committing her time, effort and resources to

ensure that the goals of CH are met.

Just recently the charity group held its annual benefit lunch to thank donors and partners and to report on what had been accomplished the previous year. I am honored to serve in the organization as a member of its Board of Trustees.

The charity group’s new fundraising and awareness campaign is the Children’s Hour Circle of Champions. It seeks to form a network of individuals committing to an annual donation of P1,000.00, P2,000.00, and P3,000.00 over a period of three years to make this world a better place for children. Those interested can sign up at https://childrens-hour.typeform.com/to/ yS49S0.

The oft-quoted adage from our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, is reason enough why we must invest in our children: They are the hope of our nation. An hour is all we ask.

Borderless access. Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar recently represents the Philippines at the Asean Conference on Work-Life Balance held in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. Speaking at the conference, Villar proposed a multi-pronged approach to create and entrepreneurship opportunities, strengthen employee benefits and establish borderless access to technology.

DBP defends computer auction THE Development Bank of the Philippines tapped the government-owned Philippine International Trade Corp. to conduct the bidding for a computer system that will make the bank more efficient and at par with private banks.

“We took this measure to ensure bidding integrity and to get the lowest price. We want to improve the bank’s operations, and we want everything to be above board and beyond question,” said DBP senior vice president Dennis Decena, operations sector head.

DBP issued the statement over the weekend to clarify reports of overpricing and bid rigging alleged by some disgruntled bank employ-

ees in a plunder complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman.

“How can there be plunder when everything was coursed through an objective third party?”Decena asked.

“We had nothing to do with the process aside from guide PITC on what we need. Also, the Commission on Audit did not say there was rigging of bid or overpricing. Even the award to the winning bidder was not questioned,” he said.

Decena added the complaint was full of inaccuracies, including identifying Cruz as a brother of presidential brother-in-law Eldon Cruz. The other respondents were also tagged as close to Mar Roxas, the

presidential candidate.

“Our Nilo Cruz is a mere namesake. The respondents being tagged as close to Mr. Roxas also shows there is nothing substantive they can allege. This is a nuisance case filed by employees who face termination proceedings due to poor performance,” he said.

Decena said the discussion for the new system started about two years ago.

“We have more than 20 servers that do not talk to each other. When the new system is in place, we will be able to serve our customers better and efficiently.

We will be a better catalyst for business and economic growth, which will create thousands of jobs as well.”

With fellow trustees (from left) Philippine Veterans Bank chairman Roberto de Ocampo, Alaska Milk Corp. president and CEO Wilfred Uytengsu; First Credit Consultants Corp. president Grace Tiongco and CH founder/Ayala Corporation chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala

Vince and Patricia Hizon with Sam O. and Paolo Abrera With Raffles & Fairmont Makati’s managing director David Batchelor and director of communications Monique Toda

Sun Life Financial president and CEO Rizalina Mantaring, CH Ambassador for Child Welfare and Development Anthony Pangilinan and CH executive director Geenette Garcia

MONDAY: MARCH 7, 2016

B6 Bread prices to drop —trader

By Othel V. Campos A FLOUR trader said over the weekend bread prices will drop after flour costs declined by least 15 percent from previous levels.

Malabon Long Life Trading Corp., one of the country’s biggest flour trading companies, said wheat prices had steadily declined since 2015, along with those of bread and flour-based commodities.

“Hopefully consumers can enjoy cheaper flour-based products as flour prices decline anew,” said Malabon Long president and owner Ernesto Chua. He cited that wheat prices in 2015 hit rock bottom, influencing the flour prices worldwide.

Big bread manufacturers are poised to roll back P0.50 of loaf prices during the Holy Week while Gardenia is set to impose similar price cuts by March 29. Prices of pandesal, meanwhile, will stay.

The addition of two new players in the flour milling sector may have also affected the behavior of local flour prices to the benefit of consumers.

Chua said the current world wheat supply and demand as well as the price of crude would make local flour market more stable in 2016.

“However, demand for flourbased products are not good since rice consumption is rising. Compared to flour-based products such as bread and noodles, rice is still cheaper and more affordable,” Chua said.

He predicted hard flour prices, those used for making breads, could remain stable at P700 to P750 per bag for the rest of 2016.

Millers in late 2015 have reduced their prices by about P40 per bag of flour resulting to P800 to P820 per 25-kilogram bag.

Every P40 per sack reduction on flour prices translates into about P1 drop on bread prices, according to government computation.

Local bakers noted that prices of flour in the Philippines were still among the highest in Southeast Asia.

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Standard & Poor’s bullish despite polls

By Julito G. Rada

KEY economic reforms implemented over the past six years in the Philippines will be sustained regardless of who wins the coming presidential elections in May, global debt watcher Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and business group USPhilippines Society said in an investment forum held in New York on March 3.

“Our assumption is that change in leadership is unlikely to reverse the economic reforms in the Philippines,” John Chambers, S&P Sovereign Debt Committee chair, said during the Philippines Business and Investment Forum.

The US-Philippines Society, an organization of business and civic leaders from the United States and the Philippines, shared the same view. Its president, retired

ambassador John Maisto, said: “Any incoming administration is expected to keep the good economic policies.”

The Investor Relations Office of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said in a over the weekend the statements of Chambers and Maisto helped address questions over the ability of the Philippines to maintain the economic reforms implemented under the outgoing Aquino administration.

Legislative and administrative reforms over the past six years are credited for helping the Philippines achieve economic milestones, including investment grade sovereign credit ratings and leap in the country’s rankings in various global surveys on competitiveness.

Among the major legislative reforms are the Sin Tax Reform law, the Foreign Banking Liberalization Act, amendments to the Cabotage law, the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act, amendments to the charter of Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., GOCC Governance Act of 2011 and the Philippine Competition Act. The legislative reforms aim to help institutionalize sound policies that promote business and economic progress.

In addition to the legislative measures are key administra-

tive reforms, including those that rationalize and make more transparent the budget process, strengthening of the Public-Private Partnership program, enhancement and modernization of the procurement processes for better transparency, and initiatives that expand the taxpayer base for improved revenue collection.

Chambers said S&P did not see the pending change in leadership disrupting the favorable credit standing of the Philippines. He said whoever won the presidential election in May was unlikely to initiate a reversal of the existing economic and business policy environment, which had proven beneficial to the Philippines.

S&P currently assigns the Philippines a rating of “BBB,” which is a notch above the minimum investment grade, with a ‘stable’ outlook.

El Niño measures. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala assures the public the Department of Agriculture will find ways to lessen the impact of El Niño during the El Niño Summit in San Fernando, Pampanga on March 1, 2016. He said government intervention measures have reduced the effects of El Niño. At the sidelines of the summit, DA awarded various agriculture implements to farmers’ and fisherfolk’s organizations, as well as livestock raisers, to aid them in their battle against El Niño.

Smart, InnoPub team up to launch digital tourism in Dapitan DAPITAN CITY—Tourists bound for Dapitan City on Zamboanga del Norte province can now use their mobile phones as guide to historical, cultural, heritage and tourism sites in the area with the recent launch of digital tourism here by Smart Communications Inc. and Cebu-based InnoPub Media.

“We are very happy and thankful to Smart Communications and Inno Pub Media for including Dapitan City, the Shrine City of the Philippine, in this noble undertaking. This will help the city move to the next promotions and

marketing level. It will also help us enhance the experience of our guests and help tourists make the most out of their visit,” Dapitan Mayor Rosalina Jalosjos said.

One of Dapitan’s attraction sites is the Puerto de Disembarco, the beachfront where Filipino hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal disembarked on July 17, 1892 on board SS Cebu, the vessel that ferried him to his four-year exile in this historic city.

The site features a diorama in marble depicting the disembarkation.

Through the Digital Tourism project, graphic information about where Rizal stayed and

admirable accomplishments he achieved while in exile in Dapitan can now be made more widely available on mobile devices The information package includes inviting attractions in Dapitan which tourists can visit—the Rizal Shrine that gave Dapitan its “Shrine City of the Philippines” monicker, the public plaza Rizal beautified, the relief map of Mindanao he built to help instruct pupils, the huge Gloria Fantasyland amusement park, and world renown Dakak Park Beach Resort.

Dapitan City Vice Mayor Ruben Cad said Digital Tourism inspired the city to aspire for becoming a tourism Mecca in Mindanao. The interactive tourism markers installed on key tourism sites contain a quick response or QR code and NFC (near-field communications) tags that when scanned or tapped trigger the download of tourism and historical information about a site or structure.

InnoPub Media co-founder Max Limpag noted that aside from family and friends, “the mobile phone is our most important travel companion. It is our map,

camera, messaging device and tourism guide. With Digital Tourism, we make important tourism and historical information more widely available to tourists through these mobile devices.”

The Digital Tourism app likewise lists places to stay when in Dapitan. It has a virtual concierge feature that will allow tourists to get in direct contact with the City Tourism Officer for questions and requests for assistance.

The Dapitan guide app is offlinecapable. Once installed, users can use it anywhere even in places without Internet connection.

M O N D AY : M A R C H 7, 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

EU to push Turkey over migrants BRUSSELS—European leaders will push Turkey at a summit on Monday to agree to “large-scale” deportations of economic migrants from Greece, as EU chief Donald Tusk says he sees the first hints of a resolution to the migrant crisis.

With a fresh surge expected in the warmer spring weather, the European Union’s 28 leaders are pinning much of their hopes for reducing the chaos on new commitments from Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

The EU will also push Ankara to drastically reduce the huge flow of migrants into Europe, as Turkey is the launch pad for most of the more than one million refugees and migrants who have come to the continent since early 2015.

On Saturday, European Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramapoulos said Greece—already struggling with a buildup of 30,000 migrants-was expected to receive “another 100,000” by the end of March.

But lingering tensions flared when Turkish police seized an opposition newspaper at the weekend and Brussels warned Ankara it had to respect media freedom in its decadelong bid for EU membership—also a topic in the migrant talks.

Tusk, the European Council president and summit host, said in his invitation letter that success depended largely on securing Turkey’s agreement at the summit for the “large-scale” readmission from Greece of economic migrants who do not qualify as refugees.

“It would effectively break the business model of the smugglers,” Tusk said when he also raised the idea on Thursday in Ankara with Davutoglu.

Brussels has meanwhile unveiled a plan for saving the passport-free Schengen zone, which has been jeopardized by several countries closing their borders to stop the huge influx of people from Syria and elsewhere.

“For the first time since the beginning of the migration crisis, I can see a European consensus emerging,” Tusk said in his letter.

Following their lunch with Davutoglu in Brussels, EU leaders are to meet by themselves. AFP

Relief. Workers load relief goods into a Dutch military cargo plane at Eindhoven airport on March 6, 2016. The plane, carrying blankets, sleeping bags and camp beds, will fly to Greece where the goods will be given to stranded refugees and migrants. AFP

Trump, Clinton win Louisiana on split votes WASHINGTON—Senators Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders scored key victories Saturday in their White House quests, but it was Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton who outperformed their rivals to remain the race’s undisputed frontrunners.

Republican Trump and Democrat Clinton did what they needed to do—dominate in the delegate-rich state of Louisiana in performance that keep them on top at a critical point in the US presidential race.

Results from contests in five states were split, but one element was clear: with Cruz taking Kansas and Maine, he boosted his claim as the most viable alternative to billionaire Trump, and put poorly performing Senator Marco Rubio under immense pressure to turn his campaign around or bow out.

“Thank you to Louisiana, and thank you to Kentucky,” Trump said in Florida, minutes after he was also projected to be the winner in Kentucky, where he led Cruz by four percentage points.

For Republicans, the races provide the first tests of whether the establishment’s desperate effort to halt Trump, led this week by 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, is having any effect on voters.

Trump declared those establishment efforts a

failure, and called on Rubio, seen by many political observers as the best hope to defeat Trump, to pack it in.

“Marco Rubio had a very, very bad night.

Personally I’d call for him to drop out of the race,” Trump said.

“I would love to be able to take on Ted one on one,” he added. “That will be easy.”

Beyond the delegate count, Cruz and Sanders can claim momentum as they head toward critical races in Michigan next Tuesday and then winner-take-all races in the large states of Florida and Ohio on March 15.

The brash real estate mogul is ahead in the allimportant delegate count for Republicans, having now won 12 of the 19 states that have voted since Iowa kicked off the race last month.

But Cruz’s wins are a reminder that while Trump still appears to be the likely nominee, it is by no means inevitable.

The conservative senator performed beyond expectations in Kansas, where he earned 48.2 percent support, doubling up on Trump who received 23.3 percent.

Rubio was third at 16.7, followed by Ohio Governor John Kasich with 10.7 percent.

In Maine, it was a startling 13-point win for

the arch-conservative Cruz in the more moderate New England region.

Centrist candidate Romney won Maine caucuses twice, in 2012 and 2008, but it was a disaster for the current establishment favorite Rubio, who finished fourth there Saturday.

Cruz exulted in his victories during a campaign rally in Idaho.

“The scream you hear—the howl that comes from Washington, DC—is utter terror at what we the people are doing together,” he said, adding that conservatives are “coming together... and standing as one behind this campaign.”

- Momentum -The Republican race has been winnowed to four men: political outsiders Trump and Cruz, and more mainstream candidates Rubio and Kasich. Many in the Republican establishment are apoplectic over whether anyone can stop Trump’s march.

On the Democratic side, it was self-described democratic socialist Sanders who savored victories in Kansas and Nebraska, pushing his total to seven of the 18 Democratic contests.

“We’ve got the momentum, the energy and the excitement that will take us all the way to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia,” Sanders said in a statement. AFP

Road blocks fight gangs in Sri Lanka

Funeral. Mourners attend the funeral of Veteran Sudan Islamist opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi on March 6, 2016, in the capital Khartoum. Turabi, one of the fiercest critics of President Omar alBashir’s government, died of a heart attack on March 5 aged 84. AFP

COLOMBO—Sri Lanka’s police on Sunday re-introduced war-time road blocks and random checks on vehicles following a surge in gangrelated shootings in the capital, a spokesman said.

More than 100 police stations in Colombo and its suburbs have been asked to erect snap blocks, a common practice during the island’s separatist war that ended nearly seven years ago, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

“The objective is to prevent serious crime and drug smuggling as well as to catch those committing serious crime,” the spokesman said.

He said there was a surge in drug smuggling and shootings that prompted the authorities to take extraordinary measures.

At least three people were shot dead and many more wounded in Colombo in the past week in what police said was gang-related violence.

Unidentified gunmen had opened fire on a prison bus and wounded a suspect who was being taken back to jail after a court hearing in the capital last week.

Another suspect on bail was shot dead at home while a woman was shot and wounded outside the main prison in Colombo Saturday

after she visited her jailed husband.

Gunasekera said 10 special units were also established to crack down on gang activity that had increased in recent weeks.

Sri Lankan authorities had dismantled road blocks and stopped vehicle checks after the end of the decadeslong Tamil separatist war in May 2009.

Even the permanent check points at key entry points to the city had been removed several years ago.

The new government which came to power in January last year removed the last remaining check point at the entrance to the former war zone as a sign of normality. AFP

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Grief. Tibetan mourners look on as the body of Dorje Tsering is cremated in the Indian town of McLeod Ganj on March 6, 2016.Hundreds of grieving Tibetans on March 6 took part in the funeral procession of the 16-year-old schoolboy who died after setting himself on fire to protest Chinese rule. AFP

Viewing Japan’s disaster town NAMIE, Japan—Shinichi Niitsuma enthusiastically shows visitors the attractions of the small town of Namie: its tsunami-hit coastline, abandoned houses and hills overlooking the radiation-infested reactors of the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant.

Five years after the nuclear disaster emptied much of Japan’s northeastern coast, tourism is giving locals of the abandoned town a chance to exorcise the horrors of the past.

Like the Nazi concentration camps in Poland or Ground Zero in New York, the areas devastated by the Fukushima disaster have now become hot spots for “dark tourism” and draw annually more than 2,000 visitors keen to see the aftermath of the worst nuclear accident in a quarter century.

“There is no place like Fukushima—except maybe Chernobyl—to see how terrible a nuclear accident is,” Niitsuma said, referring to the 1986 accident in Ukraine.

“I want visitors to see this ghost town, which is not just a mere legacy but clear and present despair,” he added, as he drove visitors down the main street of Namie, which lies just eight kilometers from the stricken nuclear plant.

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 undersea earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast sparked a massive tsunami that swept ashore leaving 19,000 people dead or missing.

Namie’s residents were evacuated after the tsunami sent the nuclear plant into meltdown and none has yet been allowed to move back over radiation concerns.

Niitsuma, 70, is one of 10 local volunteer guides organizing tours to sights in Namie and other

Fukushima communities, including tightly regulated restricted areas.

The volunteers take visitors through the shells of buildings left untouched as extremely high levels of radiation hamper demolition work. The guides use monitoring dosimeters to carefully avoid radiation “hot spots”.

A tsunami-hit elementary school is another stop on the morbid tour.

Clocks on the classroom walls are stopped at 3:38 pm, the exact moment killer waves swept ashore.

In the gymnasium, a banner for the 2011 graduation still hangs over a stage and the crippled nuclear plant is visible through the shattered windows.

Former high school teacher Akiko Onuki, 61, survived the tsunami that claimed the lives of six of her students and one colleague, and is now one of the volunteer guides.

“We must ensure there are no more Fukushimas,” Onuki said of her reasons for wanting to show tourists her devastated former home. AFP

10,000 gather to greet released Basque leader SAN SEBASTIAN—Thousands of people in the heart of Spain’s Basque country gave a hero’s welcome on Saturday to a veteran separatist leader, following his release after more than six years behind bars.

A crowd of more than 10,000 gathered in the velodrome of the town of San Sebastian to give a tumultuous greeting to Arnaldo Otegi after his release last Tuesday.

“We are fighting for the liberty of this country and we will never stop,” said Otegi, who has ambitions to become the next leader of the region.

The meeting was a display of Basque independence and culture, featuring songs, dances and the red, white and green of Basque flags.

Many of his supporters queued in pouring rain for hours. Some carried banners demanding the re-

lease of around 400 ETA members in jail in France and Spain.

There was also a scattering of Catalan flags, reflecting the separatist movement in Spain’s other restive province, Catalonia.

A key figure in the Basque breakaway movement, Otegi, 57, has spent a total of 15 years in jail for separatist acts. But he is also credited with helping to swing the campaign away from the violence.

Otegi was jailed in 2011 for trying to resurrect the outlawed separatist party Batasuna.

The party had been banned in 2003 for being the “political wing” of ETA, blamed for more than 800 killings in its long campaign to create an independent homeland in the Basque country, which straddles part of northern Spain and southwestern France. AFP

New sanctions on Pyongyang coming

Ritual. Buddhist ascetics pray before the flames during the “HiWatari”, or fire- walking ceremony, to herald the coming of Spring at the Fudoji temple in Nagatoro town in Saitama prefecture on March 6, 2016. AFP

SEOUL—South Korea will soon announce its own tougher sanctions on North Korea, an official said Sunday, a move set to further heighten tensions as Seoul and Washington begin their largestever joint military exercise.

The new measures—following Wednesday’s decision by the UN Security Council to slap unprecedented sanctions on the North— will be announced this week, a Seoul government official said on condition of anonymity.

The Security Council announced its toughest sanctions yet to punish the North for its recent nuclear

and missile tests in violation of UN resolutions.

The North responded within hours by test-firing rockets into the sea. Its leader Kim Jong-Un ordered the nation’s nuclear arsenal to be readied for preemptive use at “any moment”.

The Seoul official did not elaborate on the South’s separate sanctions. Yonhap news agency said they would include banning any ships that have previously docked in the North from South Korean ports.

A group of North Korean individuals and organizations believed involved in weapons development will also be added to a blacklist, it

said, citing a government source.

In February, in an unprecedentedly tough move, the South announced the total shutdown of a jointly-run industrial park in North Korea, saying Pyongyang had been using it to fund its nuclear weapons programs.

On Monday, South Korea and its close ally the US begin their annual Key Resolve/Foal Eagle military drill.

This year’s will be the largestever, with the US reportedly sending more than 15,000 troops—four times as many as last year—to the Key Resolve drill, which is largely a computer-simulated exercise. AFP

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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

E aT, drInK , T r aV EL

LIFE

The Japanese considers the breathtaking Sogenchi Garden of Teryu-ji Temple as a special historic and scenic site. It was said to have been built by the founder of the temple

Despite the place's retro vibe and 'old Japan' look, 'Shinsekai' actually means 'new world'

WhEn In JApAn

n

ippon Daisuki!

It is quite a comfort knowing that just four hours northeast of the Philippines is a country that’s so easy to fall in love with – Japan. While most Filipinos long to visit Tokyo, there are several other tourist spots in and out of Tokyo that are equally worthy of visit and exploration. As the Japan Embassy eases its visa processing and Airbnb rises, with airlines battling it out with promo fares, planning a Japan trip is now made easier. Make sure to include the following spots in your itinerary.

KyOTO

The Arashiyama district in Kyoto offers breathtaking and scenic views. Two of such places are the Tenryu-ji Temple and Okochi Sanso Villa.

Tenryu-ji Temple is a Zen temple established in 1339 that’s considered as one of Kyoto’s important cultural properties, regarded as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Its buildings were repeatedly lost in fires brought about by wars over the centuries.

Thankfully, its Sogenchi Garden survived the maelstrom and continued to be Tenryuji’s majestic centerpiece. It proudly unravels its unparalleled landscape-and-pond beauty amid the Arashiyama mountains to guests.

After exiting Tenryu-ji Temple and steps after being ensconced under the shades of the Bamboo Grove, you will find yourself in Okochi Sanso Villa. It showcases a spectacular panoramic view of Kyoto.

The story behind the villa would certainly pique your interest. Denjiro Okochi, a major star from the 1920s up until his demise in 1962, dreamt of building a place where he could find inspiration through meditation and prayers.

Okochi Sanso Villa served as his sanctuary away from the limelight and showbusiness.

In addition to enjoying the view, guests are treated to a cup of hot green tea and biscuit after exploring the whole Okochi Sanso Villa complex.

OSAKA

When the Sakura season sets in, one of the best places to head to in Japan is the Osaka Mint Bureau.

Osaka Mint Bureau, the head office of the Japan government agency mainly responsible for the supply of coins and

TExT AnD phOTOS by GRACE C. DIEZ

medals, incredibly houses over 300 cherry trees with over 100 varieties in its premises.

Every year, the Osaka Mint opens its gates to the public for a week so visitors can marvel at the beauty of the cherry blossoms.

Right beside the Osaka Mint Bureau is the Sakuranomiya Park which runs along the Okawa River banks. It is home to over 500 cherry trees where you can coolly enjoy hanami (picnic under the cherry blossoms) and hanafubuki (snow-like falling of cherry blossoms). During spring, you can find a lot of food stalls and shops in the area.

When in Osaka, do check out Shinsekai which literally means “new world.” Ironically, it looks like vintage Japan. At the center of Shinsekai stands the Tsutenkaku Tower and other iconic images like the floating blowfish and flashy, neon Japanese signs. It is one of the most colorful places you can go to for dining options and souvenir shopping. The area also features a lot of Billiken statues, and most people rub its feet for luck.

TOKyO

Many Filipino tourists might not be acquainted yet with Tokyo’s Marunouchi district, one of Japan’s most prestigious business districts. Its proximity to Tokyo Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station makes it an ideal place to visit. If you’re curious about the corporate ecosystem of Japan, take a stroll in the Marunouchi area. It is home to the headquarters of many of Japan’s biggest conglomerates like Mitsubishi and Hitachi. The skyscrapers also offer a variety of shopping and dining complexes that makes it all the more exciting.

Tokyo may be an urban daydream but part of its appeal is its dedication to maintaining natural parks. Take a break from the urban jungle and breathe in fresh air at the Meiji Shrine-Yoyogi Park area. Even Justin Bieber was spotted spending an early morning at Yoyogi Park in the nearby Meiji Shrine during his recent visit to Tokyo.

Named after Emperor Meiji, the first emperor of modern Japan, the Meiji Shrine is naturally one of Japan’s most popular shrines. Traditional Shinto weddings are often held here.

All that said, why not spend the summer break enjoying spring in Japan? After all, the Cherry Blossoms season in Japan starts at the end of March until mid-April. Book now in 5…4…3…2…

The 10-minute walk from the world-famous Harajuku area, the Meiji Shrine is a sanctuary you can find in the city. It is famous for its towering torri gates

Be mesmerized by over 300 cherry trees of over 100 varieties at Osaka Mint Bureau

Located between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace, Marunouchi is Tokyo's premier commercial and financial district where most of the top Japanese companies and banks are headquartered

On the way to Meiji Shrine, you'll walk past an impressive array of sake barrels donated annually by Japanese breweries as an act of worship

Japan has started installing Japan Olympics 2020-related sculptures in the streets of Marunouchi

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Cake Voila

Coconut Sap Sugar

the 2016 sIkatpInoy natIonal food faIr: Piling-Piling Pagkaing PiliPino The Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) will hold the 2016 SikatPinoy National Food Fair from March 16 to 20 at Megatrade Halls 1-3 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

This year’s theme is “Piling-Piling Pagkaing Pilipino,” and over 100 exhibitors from the country’s 18 regions will be showcasing favorite Filipino delicacies and specialties.

Produce during the exhibit includes meat, fish and marine products; processed fruits and vegetables; ingredients, sauces and condiments; wines and beverages; coffee, tea, and cocoa; bakery products, snacks and confectioneries; organic, herbal and natural products; and food supplements and vitamins.

SikatPinoy National Food Fair is a great avenue to help promote Filipino small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

It not only gives them business exposure; it also prepares them for the export market. The selection committee of the SikatPinoy National Food Fair exhausted two days to carefully screen potential exhibitors for the fair. Criteria for the selection include product quality and safety; packaging and labeling; market potential; and the manufacturer’s production capacity.

DTI-BDTP director Rhodora Leaño explained that during the selection process, representatives from entities such as the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), and the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), sat down as a group to scrutinize each food item. “Products must achieve a grade of at least 80 percent to be able to make it to the fair,” Leaño explains.

“During the five days of the event, exhibitors will offer a lot of product samples,” says Leaño.

“Participate. Try as many as you can, because the fair also offers the public the opportunity to experience Filipino food done or prepared in new ways,” she adds. The fair is also a great venue for inspiration to visitors who want to venture into their own business. “We’ll have booths of government agencies related to the food industry, like the Food and Drug Administration and the FNRI,” Leaño shares. “We encourage would-be food entrepreneurs to network with these agencies during the fair, because these are the agencies that such businesses will be eventually dealing with.”

Cacao de Davao

Demetrio's Wines

The fair will also include interactive cooking demos and there will be a special competition among the exhibitors for best food packaging and most innovative products.

Admission to the 2016 SikatPinoy National Food Fair is free.

For inquiries and more information, call the DTI-BDTP at 751-3223, or email bdtp@dti.gov.ph.

8 rEaSonS why mEat SubStItutES arE bEttEr

Several studies linking excessive meat consumption – particularly red and processed – with pressing health issues as well as greenhouse emissions that contribute to climate change have been constantly discouraging meat eaters to rein in their intake. But meat is delicious and is a rich source of protein, and going cold turkey can be difficult for many.

Enter meat substitutes. These healthier and more sustainable alternatives can be made from various things: tofu, tempeh, falafel and jackfruit, among many others.

They aim to combat many health and environment issues by providing taste and experience akin to eating the real thing.

Lucky for many health and environment conscious Filipinos, numerous meat alternatives are now available at our fingertips, one of which is the British meat alternative brand Quorn. And here are eight reasons why a meat substitute like Quorn is better for your health and the planet.

It’s made from natural IngredIents

Quorn products are made from a fungus called mycoprotein, a naturally healthy protein that is meat-free and low in saturated fats, but high in protein and fiber. Unlike a number of meat substitute ingredients, mycoprotein is non-GMO (genetically modified organism).

It tastes lIke real meat

Now that we know it’s meat-free, the next important thing to ask is, does it taste like the very thing it’s replacing? Quorn’s wide range of products are said to have the taste, appearance and texture of meat – big thanks to its main ingredient mycoprotein.

there are optIons for vegan and people wIth celIac dIsease

Apart from vegetarian products available under the Quorn brand, there are also a range of vegan and gluten-free options – ideal for those with a vegan lifestyle and suffering from the autoimmune disorder celiac disease.

It’s versatIle

Quorn offers a wide array of choices (e.g. ground meat, burger patties, nuggets, etc.) that can be used in making different kinds of meals. The products also range from ready-to-cook to cook-from-scratch.

It wIll help you achIeve your #bodygoals

According to Quorn, each meal prepared using its products has 200 less calories and zero cholesterol. Quorn’s products are also 85 percent less in saturated fat than lean beef.

They’re also high in protein and fiber. All

Quorn Nuggets

Wafer-thin ham style slices

these together will help you on your journey to achieving those #bodygoals much easier.

experts recommend It

It loves the planet

Consuming Quorn meat alternatives is better for the planet as all its products have a carbon footprint of approximately 90 percent less than beef and 75 percent less than chicken – making Quorn Foods the first global meat-alternative brand to achieve third-party certification of its carbon footprint figures. In addition, production of its products uses 40 to 90 percent less land and water than other meat options.

It is recommended by doctors, nutritionists and heart foundations all over the world.

It’s the world leader

Quorn aims to be the world leader in meat alternatives, with over three billion servings made over the last 30 years. And from Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Quorn will soon be conquering the Philippines, following Monde Nissin Corporation’s acquisition of the UK-based meat substitute company.

To know more about Quorn, visit www.quorn. com and www.facebook.com/QuornPH.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

My SHaNgri-La merCury rising

I

By BoB zozoBrado

n James Hilton’s popular novel, Lost Horizon, Shangri-La is an imaginary paradise on earth, a very happy land that is isolated from the rest of the world. fact, the happy disposition of everybody who lives there makes them almost immortal, living beyond the regular lifespan of humans and aging very slowly. Of course, you and I would certainly want to be in a paradise like that, wouldn’t we?

Well, here’s great news. The Hong Kongbased Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, founded in 1971 by Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok, and which manages close to 100 hotels in all continents of the world, is giving us another taste of that happy place.

A week ago, what is being talked about as the best and the most beautiful of all Shangri-La properties in the country, Shangri-La at the Fort, opened its doors to the public. It is the chain’s fifth hotel in the country, the others being EDSA Shangri-La which opened its doors in 1992, followed by Makati ShangriLa, Mactan Shangri-La Resort and Spa, and Boracay Shangri-La Resort and Spa. Located right in the heart of Bonifacio Global City, Shangri-La at the Fort has 576 contemporary and spacious guestrooms and suites. These are in the lower floors of the 250-meter high structure, as the top floors are occupied by the 98 units belonging to Horizon Homes. There are also the Shangri-La Residences, 97 suites ideal for long-staying guests as they are equipped with cooking facilities, washer and dryer, a full-sized refrigerator and dining ware. This grand and impressive edifice also houses retail shops, and, what will be the metro’s most prestigious lifestyle and leisure club, Kerry Sports Manila.

Living up to its being “a paradise on earth,” Shangri-La at the Fort banners its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification, which highlights the green features in its design, construction, operations and maintenance, translating into its being resource-efficient, highperforming, healthy, and cost-effective, further enhancing the lives and experiences of everyone who walk through its doors.

These would certainly make one live longer, wouldn’t they?

Its being “clean and green” is the reason why it is LEED Gold-certified,

One of the hotel’s ultra-spacious Premiere suites

The hotel’s imposing façade

General manager John Rice, lording it over the metropolis

The 25-meter lap pool

which means that it has accrued optimal credits in five green design categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Shangri-La at the Fort’s potable water is treated with UV filtering devices and undergoes a monthly testing taken from different sampling points. This preference for a green ambience makes the hotel ideal, indeed, for health-conscious guests seeking their own “Shangri-La.” Business travelers attending conferences or meetings will be pleased with any of the hotel’s event spaces: the pillar-less Grand Ballroom is good for 1,200 guests and the smaller Bonifacio Hall accommodates 715 guests. A total of 19 multifunction rooms on different floors of the hotel are also available to meet all event needs.

What I’m really excited about is the variety of innovative cuisines from the hotel’s seven dining concepts. High Street Café is a modern-day marketplace with nine kitchens featuring international dishes cooked according to one’s preference. High Street Lounge, adjacent to the café, serves a wide selection of teas and beverages in a refined modern setting. Then there

is Canton Road, offering Cantonese and Huaiyang cuisine, and Raging Bull Chophouse & Bar for dry-aged steaks and Western grilled items.

On the 8th level is the Samba Poolside offering South American dishes by the pool.

At street level is Limitless, an entertainment club that features artisan cocktails, trendy music and private VIP suites. There is also what, perhaps, will be my favorite – Raging Bull Burgers, servings the finest custommade burgers in town.

Kerry Sports Manila will be the city’s most comprehensive lifestyle and recreation club, occupying two floors of the hotel. It has an NBA-grade indoor basketball court, two tennis courts, two squash courts, an outdoor lap pool with an entertainment and dining area, extensive gym facilities, exercise studios, and a wellness spa with nine treatment rooms. The complex also has a multi-level indoor playground for children, the Adventure Zone, including children’s party rooms.

Although the hotel is still in its soft opening stages, this early, bookings are already pouring in. Maybe because everybody who knows what the good life is all about is just as excited as I am to experience a real Shangri-La, their very own “nirvana,” towards living better… and hopefully, longer! Or maybe because it feels good to be among the first to try out something really impressive and be able to tell friends about it.

Whatever the reason, it’s best that we find out what else there is to see, feel, and taste about this “paradise on earth”… and now would be the best time to do it.

Call 820-0888 local 7522, look for JM or you can text him through 0917-5289696 for your requirements. As for me, I am getting ready to get lost and bask in days of delightful bliss at this hotel, this veritable “heaven on earth,” a modern-day ShangriLa… my Shangri-La. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

yoUr MoNday CHUCKLE: compromising does not mean you are wrong and your wife is right. It only means that the safety of your head is much more important than your ego.

celebrating the Good Life with a feast of asian culinary flavors

Fly Ace Corp. general manager Ramon P. Daez, Federation of Filipino Chinese-Chambers of Commerce and Industries Inc. (FFCCCII) vice president George Chiu, Confucius Institute at the Ateneo De Manila University director Dr. Ellen Palanca, FFCCCII executive vice president Henry Lim Bon Liong, Fly Ace Corp. executive vice president for Support Service Ellen Cochanco, Quezon City Mayor’s Office representative Jun Romnick Sarmenta, and ChinoyTV chief operating officer Loraine Tan

For the last 16 years, leading food brand Good Life has been continuously bringing authentic Asian flavors closer to Filipino palates, and celebrated this milestone with a grand Chinese New Year festival entitled “Good Life Flavors of Fortune: A Celebration of Good Life” at the TriNoma Activity Center that attracted a huge crowd.

The successful four-day affair also marked the brand relaunch of Good Life products in the Philippines.

“Good Life is honored to become instrumental in keeping Chinese culture and celebrations alive and now, part of the lives of many Filipinos. No matter what the occasion, from a regular weekday meal with the family, a grand

celebration, to catering large crowds via one’s food business, customers are assured that Good Life will deliver on its promise to make every meal authentic, best-tasting and wonderfully special, all the time,” said Karen Saguiped, product manager of Fly Ace Corporation.

Spectators were treated to an array of traditional Chinese performances, among them the dragon and lion dance exhibition by Philippine Sen Hua. Present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Fly Ace Corporation executives and Good Life brand team led with members of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University and ChinoyTV.

According to Fly Ace VP for Marketing Abraham Cipriano, Good Life patrons can look forward to more marketing activities and exciting new products. “Good Life is all about food and Asian celebrations, and it believes in celebrating everyday occasions with family. Just like the Chinese, Filipinos are very family-centered. Simple things in our home like sotanghon, pancit canton, bihon, siomai, all these come from the Chinese history and these have influenced and become ingrained in the Filipino culture,” he said.

The event also featured the Good Life Chinese Food Fair which had food sampling featuring the different Continued on C4

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

The Spiral cheese room has a vast array of cheeses to choose from

@LIFEatStandard

The Ginestet wine dinner offers one of the best selections of bottles from Bordeaux

Ginestet Wine Dinner at spiral

S

photos by star sabroso

till one of the most favorite interactive gourmet dining buffets in Manila, Spiral at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila is also one of the best destinations for fine wine dinner pairings.

Spiral restaurant, with its 21 dining ateliers, is often host to wine dinners and wine tasting, including private wine and cheese classes that attract discerning connoisseurs and food gourmands. With over 350 multisensory international dishes under its offering, the luxury dining buffet restaurant is the perfect venue for gustatory wine pairing explorations.

Cheese and wine is a marriage made in heaven and Spiral offers one of the best cheese rooms in the metro. Sipping premium wines and exploring the vast array of cheeses from Cheddar, Epoisses, Roquefort, Stilton, Feta, and many more fine aged cheeses is a multisensory delight for food gourmands.

Monthly, Spiral hosts delectable wine dinners with prepared menus designed to bring out the best in both the premium wine and the food. In a recently held wine dinner, Spiral’s culinary creations were paired with wines from one of the great wine houses in Bordeaux – Ginestet. Food and wine pairing is not really rocket science, usually similar food and wine flavor notes would complement each other – light wines with light foods while deeply colored wines pair well with rich foods.

The menu boasts of seven Ginestet best batches of wine – Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc 2012, Mascaron Par Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc 2010, Ginestet Medaille Bordeaux Rouge 2011, Ginestet Reserve Bordeaux Rouge 2010, Ginestet Prestige Bordeaux Rouge 2010, Mascaron Par Ginestet Bordeaux Rouge 2009, and Mascaron Par Ginestet Sauturnes 2010. The wine dinner presents a selection of food best paired with the wine menu and you can see the wine marker on each of the food items when you navigate the buffet. However, the wine dinner is not limited to the suggested pairings; it is a buffet after all, and it is up to the guests to discover which pairings would satiate their fancy.

Surprising pairing of Filipino cuisine like Ginataang Tilapia complements the dry white Bordeaux Blanc 2012 with its floral and exotic fruit notes. The cheese room was also one of the best parts of Spiral where you can partake of premium slices of cheese and explore flavor pairings with award winning bottles of Ginestet. Another favorite bottle for the night was the Mascaron Par Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc 2010. The nose has woody hints and grapefruit scents, served well chilled and perfectly complementing light fish dishes and seafood selections. As the bottles are gradually poured into glass after glass, the flavor notes also become heavier and deeper. Reserve Bordeaux Rouge 2010 and Prestige Bordeaux Rouge 2010 sit well with meat selections. Rich and sweet desserts call for bottles that are also sweet, and Mascaron Par Ginestet Bordeaux Rouge 2009 and Mascaron Par Ginestet Sauturnes 2010 didn’t disappoint.

To get updated on the next wine dinner and special wine tasting events at Spiral, visit www.sofitelmanila.com or follow SofitelManila on Facebook.

Celebrating the Good Life From C3 Good Life products in partnership with Center for Culinary Arts, Manila (CCA Manila). Live Chinese cooking demos by CCA chefs Michael Cheng and Lionel O’Hari Go, and food stylist chef Sharlene Tan.

Ginestet Prestige Bordeaux Rouge 2010 paired with Angus Beef Rib Eye Teppanyaki slices

Mascaron Par Ginestet Sauturnes 2010 paired with selections of chocolate truffles

The wine dinner started off with a light glass of Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc 2012

Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc 2012 surprisingly complements a Filipino dish – Ginataang Tilapia

Offering a complete selection of Asian food products that bring out the genuine taste and flavor of favorite Asian dishes since year 2000, Good Life – whose name is inspired by the common association of longevity with noodles – carries a variety of top grade products.

The highlight of the event is the first ever Good Life Chinese Culinary Cook

Off with students putting their culinary skills to the test in coming up with their own modernized interpretation of a traditional Chinese Lauriat. Using Good Life as the main ingredients and after nearly five hours of heated combat, emerging as the Good Life Chinese Culinary Cook Off grand winners are the Culinary Champions team of CCA, while Grand Prize winners of the Cook Off pose for posterity with Fly Ace Corporation executives and other guests

the special award for Best Overall Dish went to the Vermicelli Taro Snapper by Michelle Lim. Good Life food products are available in all major supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide. Learn more at www.flyacecorp.com or like Good Life on Facebook (goodtastegoodlife).

Sumptuous dishes that use Good Life products as prepared

by Chef Michael Cheng

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SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Angelika dela Cruz

A

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Derrick Monasterio and Bea Binene play their most challenging roles to date in the intriguing drama Hanggang Makita Kang Muli

Raymart Santiago

INTRIGUING FAMILY DRAMA IN ‘HANGGANG MAKITA KANG MULI’

highly intriguing family drama featuring the life of a feral child is the subject of Kapuso Network’s new afternoon drama series.

The series tells of a girl who has lived isolated from human contact and has little or no experience of human care, behavior, or, crucially, of human language.

This series magnifies the unbearable pain and far-reaching consequences of disconnectedness, physically and emotionally.

Hanggang Makita Kang Muli features the tandem of Derrick Monasterio and Bea Binene.

Bea plays her most challenging role to date as Ana Medrano, a feral child isolated from human contact and has been confined in a dark room for a very long time. Derrick plays Calvin Manahan, a compassionate psychology student who while hiking with his best friend finds Ana in the forest.

Meanwhile, Ana’s mother, Evelyn, struggles to forgive her husband for being responsible for Ana’s disappearance and will result to them living apart from each other.

Playing equally important roles are Raymart Santiago who plays Larry Medrano, an architect and a loving father to

his only daughter Ana. His wife Evelyn Medrano played by Angelika dela Cruz is a renowned psychiatrist and a nurturing and compassionate mother. Ina Feleo is Odessa, an obsessive admirer of Larry and the kidnapper of his and Ana’s child.

Kim Rodriguez plays the role of Claire, Calvin’s socialite girlfriend. Rita Avila is Glenda, the mother of Calvin and a best friend of Evelyn. Ramon Christopher plays the role of Francis, Calvin’s father who has a heart for the poor. Luz Valdez takes the role of Conching, a sickly aunt of Odessa who knows all of her niece’s secrets. Shyr Valdez is Helen, elder sister of Evelyn who acts as her confidant.

Portraying the role of Dominic is Marco Alcaraz. He is a colleague and a friend to Larry who knows about his affair with Odessa. Jak Roberto takes the role of Elmo, Calvin’s best friend who secretly admires Claire.

Meanwhile, the woman they saved from her attempted suicide is rejoicing after planning the kidnap of Ana. Odessa’s (Ina) intention was to destroy their family so she can get Larry’s affection.

She then locks Ana in a barn and gives her food every once in a while, but never

letting her out of confinement and making development of her social skills suffer. As Odessa begins to live a life full of false love with Larry, Ana finds a way to escape and will be rescued by Calvin.

How will Ana survive the world she did not know existed? Will she find her way home to her family? And is there hope for Evelyn and Larry to hold their daughter in their arms again?

Director Laurice Guillen, who helms Hanggang Makita Kang Muli, says the series’ storyline will capture the viewers’ interest and curiosity because this is the first TV show that will tackle the case of a feral child.

“This will be the first time we will see on Philippine television a feral character a human who grows up with the traits of an animal after years of captivity with only a dog as company, and her journey back to human life. Is it still possible? Is love enough to undo the scars of hatred and cruelty? Can the feral child live with humans once again? Will she find love again?” said Director Guillen.

Hanggang Makita Kang Muli premieres today on GMA Afternoon Prime beginning after Wish I May.

Kim Rodriguez

Marco Alcaraz

Ramon Christopher

Ina Feleo

TV5 TO HOST CEBU PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

News5 news anchors will moderate the “Cebu Face Off,” the second part of the presidential debate series

As the election campaign heats up and the issues start to come together on what is at stake for the nation, the Filipino people turn its attention to the forthcoming Cebu Face-Off among the leading “presidentiables.”

TV5 together will host this second presidential debate on March 20 at the Performing Arts Hall of the University of the Philippines campus in Cebu City.

The Cebu Face-Off comes after the Cagayan de Oro first leg of PiliPinas Presidential Debates 2016 held in Mindanao with the five presidential candidates in attendance.

This series of COMELECinitiated debates was the first ever since 1992 and according to Commission on Elections Chairman Andres “Andy” Bautista is intended “to follow a provision in the Fair Election Act. The goal is to help voters make informed choices in the upcoming elections by giving them an idea where candidates stand on different impor-

tant issues.”

In the tradition of fair and unbiased reporting, News5 has been a champion in providing the Filipino people with the news and information that they need in their decision-making. The Kapatid Network in its coverage of the Cebu presidential debate will make it a point to engage millions of Filipino viewers all over the country with its even-handed and impartial coverage across its various platforms given News5’s unsurpassed prowess in digital technology.

Cebu Face-Off will be moderated by the multi-awarded broadcast journalist and head of News 5, Luchi Cruz-Valdes. With her would be a panel composed of highly respected and distinguished media personalities and journalists including: veteran journalist, Aksyon anchor and Radyo 5 commentator Erwin Tulfo, News 5 anchor Lourd de Veyra, DYHP RMN Cebu commentator Atty.

Ruphil Bañoc, Philippine Star

Managing Editor and columnist Marichu Villanueva; Bloomberg TV PH Host and economist Atty.

Tony Abad; and Philippine Star Editor-in-Chief Ana Marie Pamintuan.

TV5 President and CEO Emmanuel C. Lorenzana said that, “the coverage of the March 20 debate is the centerpiece in our Bilang Pilipino program to provide Filipino voters and the general public, with the most extensive and in-depth coverage of the 2016 national elections.”

Bilang Pilipino 2016 is the official handle of your Kapatid network’s elections coverage in partnership with PLDT, Smart, Cignal, Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, RadyoSingko, InterAksyon.com, and Bloomberg TV Philippines.

Leveraging not only the multiplatform distribution capacities of the PLDT Group of which TV5 is a member, it has also forged strategic partnerships with government, civil society, the academe, and the private sector.

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M ONDAY : M A RCH 7, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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isahred @ gmail.com

WURTZBACH NAMED AID FOR AIDS AMBASSADOR

iss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach took another title as HIV Prevention Ambassador for Aid for AIDS, a significant step toward fulfilling her desire to use her voice in influencing the youth and to raise awareness on relevant causes like HIV awareness.

“I learned so much from Aid for AIDS and I hope to share my knowledge with you. Let’s stop the stigma,” Wurtzbach said after accepting the honor and responsibility from “Aid for AIDS” founder Jesus Aguais at the foundation’s headquarters in New York on Feb. 26.

Prior to being named ambassador, Wurtzbach attended a workshop focusing on global statistics, HIV and its relation with the LGBT community and Gender and Sexuality. She was also given a tour of the group’s medicine storage to familiarize her with the advancements HIV and AIDS management.

Wurtzbach is the 6th Miss Universe winner to assume the title as HIV ambassador since 1996 when former Miss Universe owner Donald Trump took the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic as the Miss Universe Organization’s charitable platform. Miss Universe winners had traveled the world to work as global advocate

cacy to HIV-affected both internationally and in the United States and Case Management Program which provides social services to immigrants with HIV in the Greater New York Area with services ranging from health education, housing, legal services, support groups, referrals, and others.

Aguais, who became an AIDS activist after testing positive for HIV, and now the Executive Director of Aid for AIDS, thanked Wurtzbach and the Miss Universe Organization for their continued partnership. “We have no doubts that Wurtzbach will do a great job. May this long lasting relationship continue yielding amazing results in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and Human Rights,” Aguais said.

Meanwhile, local health workers and AIDS awareness and prevention advocates have welcomed Wurtzbach’s willingness to become a HIV spokesperson which they believed could help promote HIV prevention, especially, on the aspect of preventive education and communication, that is lacking at present in the country, which has recorded a disturbing 30,356 HIV infections from 1984 to 2015, 80 percent of which were reported in the last five years, based on statistics from the Department of Health. –Eton B. Concepcion

MARCH 7, 2016 Pia Wurtzbach with “Aid for AIDS” founder Jesus Aguais at the foundation’s headquarters in New York

for people with HIV, educate and inspire people to care and engage in effective prevention.

The New York-based Aid for AIDS, founded in 1996, is a non-profit organization committed to empowering communities at risk of HIV and the population at large, by developing leaders who adopt in comprehensive prevention through ac-

cess to treatment, advocacy, education and training to improve their quality of life and reduce stigma and discrimination.

Besides providing free medication to people with HIV in developing countries who do not have access to treatment, Aid for AIDS provides prevention education, Healthcare Professionals Training Program, Outreach and HIV Testing Program, advo-

KAPUSO PROGRAMS AND PERSONALITIES RECEIVE ANAK TV SEALS

GMA Network continues to earn the nod of the Filipino audience with a number of Kapuso programs and personalities receiving child-friendly seals from Anak TV. Recognized as Makabata Stars of 2015 – personalities who are most “credible, wholesome, and worth emulating by the youth” – were Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, GMA News and Public Affairs personalities Vicky Morales, Kara David, and Drew Arellano, and Eat Bulaga host Vic Sotto.

GMA public affairs programs recognized with the Anak TV Seal for 2015 were infotainment show AHA!, the animated series Alamat, travel and wildlife program Born to be Wild, news magazine show Kapuso Mo,

Jessica Soho, wellness program Pinoy MD, and wish-granting show Wish Ko Lang.

Various Kapuso entertainment programs were also given the Anak TV seal including cooking shows Del Monte Kitchenomics and Sarap with Family, well-loved family sitcom Pepito Manaloto, infotainment program I-BiliB, cooking talk show Sarap Diva, youth-oriented program Tropang Potchi, locally produced travel and culture program Let’s Fiesta, and the first ever faith-serye Pari’Koy. Anak TV also recognized GMA News TV’s Ang Pinaka, Biyahe ni Drew, Good News, I Juander, Idol sa Kusina, Just 4 Kids, and Pop Talk.

In celebration of its 18th year, Anak TV also recognized GMA as among the

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE

1 5 8 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 23

ACROSS “10-4” sayer Kind of tent Greenish-blue Cool Man of the haus Out of room Slowly, in music Popular cookie Hindu royalty Shiitake, e.g.

Orchestra strings Economic ind.

24 Contractor’s figure 25 Ran into 26 Hollow reed 30 Loses color 32 On the qui vive 33 Fish talk?

(2 wds.)

37 Exotic island 38 Peppermint goodies 39 Cats do it 40 Mini-planets

42 Bakery lure 43 White-water peril 44 Diminish 45 Bail out 48 Roast beef au — 49 Tractor-trailer 50 Groupie welcome 52 Blabbed (2 wds.)

57 Diamond, once 58 Ho-hum 60 Fridge maker 61 Calligraphy media 62 Ca++, for one 63 More upscale 64 Palm reader’s opener (2 wds.)

65 Leo mo.

66 Like wild oats DOWN 1 Reassure 2 Roquefort hue 3 Geologic time divisions 4 Portnoy’s creator 5 Beauty parlor special 6 Suffix for forfeit 7 Furnishes 8 1960s hairdo 9 Second thought 10 They parallel radii 11 Elite (2 wds.)

13 Overlooked

MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2016

14 Cager’s target 20 Lennon’s Yoko 22 Fateful day 24 Swelters 26 Rum cake 27 Anguished wail 28 Unfreeze 29 Short 30 Real bargains 31 Trains for boxing 33 Mop companions 34 Psyche’s beloved 35 Crowning point 36 Kublai — 38 A Carolina capital 41 Elephant owner, maybe 42 Crete’s sea 44 54, to Flavius 45 PC character code 46 Images 47 Elizabethan buccaneer 49 Bleacher shouts 51 Threat ender 52 Pack of hoodlums 53 Jacques’ pals 54 Texas town 55 From the top 56 Knitter’s need 59 Mr. Gehrig

Kapuso stars and personalities receive their Anak Tv seals

pioneer networks that pushed for childfriendly programming and being instru-

mental in the establishment of Anak TV as an organization.

M ONDAY : M A RCH 7, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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HEART READY TO HAVE A BABY

eart Evangelista has consulted an OB-Gyne as she prepares to have a baby next year, according to her husband Senator Chiz Escudero.

Escudero recounted her wife’s visit to the doctor at the Sikog (Buntis) Congress in La Union on Feb. 24.

“Ito ay upang matiyak at malaman, ano

ba ‘yung kailangang preparasyong gawin niya para maging malusog siya, at ‘yung magiging anak namin. Pero sa ngayon nagpa-practice-practice pa lang kami,” Escudero said, visibly amused.

He wants a boy. That is if Heart and he would be lucky to have one.

Escudero said it’s important for parents

to take good care of their upcoming baby.

What do you know, he mused, this baby might just be the next president of the country.

“Si Senator Grace Poe ipinanganak, walang magulang na kilala, iniwan sa simbahan, napulot lamang ng mga taong nagkataong nagsisimba. Pero ngayon baka

sakaling maging susunod na Pangulo ng bansa,” Escudero said.

“Kung sa isang pulot na bata puwedeng maganap iyon, ano pa kaya ang mga anak ninyo na simula pa lamang may nagmamahal agad na magulang at nanay,” added Heart Evangelista’s husband.

Dennis Trillo and Heart Evangelista in new soap opera HOOQ Glomo Awards

Fans of both Dennis Trillo and Heart Evangelista should be happy to know that the two Kapuso stars will be featured in a new drama series titled Juan Happy Love Story.

At a story conference held recently, the two stars said they were very excited to work with each other again. This is a reunion project for them as they

had been paired in a couple of series on GMA prior to this.

The sexy and naughty romantic comedy also stars Gloria Romero, Lotlot de Leon, Gardo Versoza, Erika Padilla, Dominic Roco, Vincent Magbanua, Kim Domingo, Rob Moya, and Leanne Bautista.

It premieres on GMA7 on April 4.

HOOQ best mobile app in GLOMO ABS-CBN NEWS CHANNEL MARKS Awards HOOQ, Asia’s largest video-on-demand service, has just been named Best Mobile App in the Media, Film, TV or Video category at the Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards 2016 in Barcelona.

HOOQ customers have been indulging in a diverse and expansive selection of over 35,000 hours of movies and TV series with hot favorites and award-winning series such as Gotham, The Flash, Mad Men, Ash vs Evil Dead, Nashville and awesome blockbusters, Spider-Man, Kill Bill and Harry Potter.

The GLOMO Awards highlights the greatest achievements and innovations across the mobile industry and include more than 40 awards over eight categories.

The awards showcase the very best and most compelling apps in the field of multimedia; those that are primarily innovative but also driving eyeballs and audiences from the fixed screen to the mobile screen.

“It’s been a great year for us and we are very proud for this award as a validation of our hard work in building an app here in Asia for Asia. What better gift to us as we celebrate HOOQ’s first birthday! We look forward to an exciting 2016 and are working very hard to bring to all our customers an even better experience to keep them HOOQ’d!” said Peter Bithos, CEO of HOOQ. HOOQ was launched a year ago in the Philippines, with Globe Telecom as its exclusive telecom partner.

With HOOQ, you can catch the best of Hollywood blockbusters and all-time favorite local dramas on any Internet-enabled device. Simply download the HOOQ app from the Apple Store or Google Play, sign up or log in, and your device is ready to access HOOQ’s library of Hollywood and local hits. Viewing movies and TV series on HOOQ is made even better with Chromecast support, now available on the iOS and Android apps.

Sign up today for a 30-day free trial on www.HOOQ.tv, or get up to 45 days of free trial with Globe GoSURF 99 and below for prepaid customers and up to 90 days of free trial for prepaid and postpaid customers availing of GoSURF 299 and up. Broadband customers also get HOOQ for free on Globe Home Broadband Plan 1299 and up.

Dennis Trillo and Heart Evangelista

20 YEARS ON HD SOON

Teddy Locsin, Jr.

ABS-CBN Integrated News Head Ging Reyes

Award-winning business journalist Cathy Yan

Educator and No Filter host Prospero De Vera

The Daily Serve host Gretchen Ho

Mornings @ ANC hosts Christian Esguerra, Gretchen Ho, Ginger Conejero, David Celdran, Paolo Abrera

On its 20th year, ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel, continues to conquer new territory with the launch of its own High Definition (HD) channel on SkyCable. ABSCBN Integrated News & Current Affairs head Ging Reyes made this announcement in a press conference on Feb. 29.

Reyes said this new development would cement ANC’s position as the gold standard and primary source of Philippine news and analysis for the country’s business and political leaders.

“This is what ANC has continuously strived to be: the best, most reliable, and prestigious English language, allnews channel in the Philippines. There is still a lot more in store for ANC, as we mark twenty years this coming May. Stay tuned for these exciting developments,” she said.

ANC also debuted two new programs anchored by three of the most respected names in the fields of business, politics, and the academe in February. Teddy Locsin, Jr. and Prof. Prospero de Vera react to the week’s political events on the show #NoFilter@ANC, 6 p.m every Thursday. Awardwinning business journalist Cathy Yang does in-depth interviews of business executives and entrepreneurs onThe Boss, 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

Since ANC’s successful re-launch on October 2015 with its new broadcast design and program grid, the news channel has also opened a new studio at the Rockwell Center in Makati City. The studio serves as the main hub for the new Mornings@anc, ANC’s fast-paced, business morning news and infotainment program headlined by David Celdran, Ginger Conejero, Gigi Grande, and Paolo Abrera. The program introduces two new faces on the channel, news reporter Christian Esguerra, and sports host and athlete, Gretchen Ho. Ho, a former volleyball star, is also at the helm of The Daily Serve, a half an hour program on the latest sports and entertainment news that airs 6 30 p.m. weekdays.

For “Halalan 2016,” ANC has gone all-out to deliver news and analysis that matter, through special interview segments on its flagship programs, partnering with educational institutions to fact- check statements of candidates, following the candidates on the campaign trail, and producing forums to give Filipinos a chance to know the candidates.

On May 9, ANC will take the lead in covering the national elections with a 48-hour marathon coverage leading to the poll results.

Watch ANC, your partner, your news channel, meantime on SkyCable Channel 27. It’s HD channel will be announced later.

Follow it on Twitter: @ancalerts; Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/ANCalerts. You may also view its microsite at http://news.abs-cbn.com/anc.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Ryan Cayabyab and this year’s PhilPop finalists

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PhilPop Executive Director Ryan Cayabyab

PHILPOP 2016 LAUNCHED

V Networks have it. Music channels hold their own versions of it. Even radios now do their own hunts.

Continuing what they’ve started in 2011, the Philippine Popular Music Festival (PhilPop) returns with the same objectives, same vision, but with a different face.

Designed by award-winning music video, concert and TV director Paul Basinilio, PhilPop’s sleek new logo not only goes with the competition’s new tagline, “Loud, Proud, Ours”, it also comes with a challenge: a new set of international judges to impress. Judging this year are three renowned record producers who have the eyes and ears to recognize talent and turn talented artists into superstars: recording artist and producer Adam Hurstfield (Ne-Yo, Ray J, Ashley Tisdale, Def Leppard); songwriter, arranger, composer, and record producer Christian Walden (Cheap Trick, Bad English, Charlie Green, Sarah Geronimo); and music producer/film and TV composer Marcus Davis, Jr. As various music competitions come and go, Philpop’s applications only grow stronger with a record number of singersongwriter hopefuls. While “the world is waiting for the next one,” Philpop promises to bring forth world-class Filipino talents that we can all be proud of. It recognizes nothing but the best artists.

Since its formation, its goal is to find outstanding songwriters that can best exemplify Filipino music -- a band member or a solo artist, a newcomer or a seasoned composer, raw or polished. Ryan Cayabyab says it best, “It’s high time for Philippine songwriting to be (sic) heard across the world, loud and proud. Philpop is rising to the challenge of discovering the next world-class Filipino song.”

On the competition’s fifth year, Cayabyab, Philpop’s Executive Director, says, “We need more songwriters. We need more peo-

ISAH V. RED

ple to write about their stories.

We really want to reach out to the young people and for them to tell us their stories.”

The process of having to go through thousands of entries may be grueling, but for the members of the industry that took part in the adjudication, they could only describe it as refreshing and exciting. “It’s tiring because there are a lot of songs that we have to go through. It’s exciting also because I’m just waiting for that one song that’s going to make me sit up in my chair,” Basti Artadi describes.

This year’s Top 12 finalist are Aikee Aplacador (“Pabili Po”), JC Jose (“Stars Are Aligned”), Jazz Nicolas and Wally Acolola (“Di Na Muli”), Jeroel Maranan (“Sintunado”), Keiko Necesario (“Nobody But You”), Ramiru Mataro (“Kahon”), Johann Garcia (“Binibini sa MRT”), Soc Villanueva (“Lahat”), Joan Da (“Baliw sa Ex-Boyfriend Ko”), Paolo Guico and Miguel Guico (“Tinatangi”), Karl Guarano (“Friday Night”), Brian Cua and Mike Villegas (“Dumadagundong”).

PhilPop continues its partnership with Viva Entertainment, one of the industry’s pioneering music organizations led by the visionary Vic del Rosario. Viva will produce an album-compilation of the 12 finalists, provide interpreters, intensive promotions, and mount the grand finals night that will happen on July 23 at the Kia Theatre. The grand prize winner is going home with P1,000,000.00 in cash.

For more details, follow PhilPop’s official social media accounts: Facebook: Philpopmusic Twitter: @philpopmusic; Instagram: @philpopmusic;_Youtube: Philpopmusic and Vivamusic1

PhilPop 2016 finalists Aikee Aplacador, JC Jose, Jazz Nicolas and Wally Acolola, Jeroel Maranan, Keiko Necesario, Ramiru Mataro, Johann Garcia, Soc Villanueva, Joan Da, Paolo Guico, Miguel Guico, and Karl Guarano