The Standard - 2016 March 11 - Friday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX NO. 30 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 FRIday : MaRCH 11, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Salonga, ex-Senate head, dies at age 95

PoLL: Poe, digong can SoLve Ph iLLS By Joyce Pangco Pañares

AMONG the five candidates seeking the presidency, voters believe Senator Grace Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are the ones who can solve the country’s most pressing problems, The Standard Poll conducted from Feb. 24 to March 1 showed. A quarter of the 3,000 respondents—all of whom are registered voters with biometrics and who

said they are sure to vote in the May elections—ranked poverty as the most important problem fac-

ing the country’s next top leader, followed by corruption (19 percent), illegal drugs (16 percent), unemployment (11 percent), high prices of goods and services (8 percent), criminality (6 percent), low salary (4 percent), and traffic (2 percent). Poe was the top choice of Filipinos when asked who among the candidates could solve poverty (27 percent), corruption (26 percent), unemployment (27 percent), high

pRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO CAN SOLVE THE pROBLEM

pOVERTy

CORRupTION

pOE, gRACE

DuTERTE, RODRIgO

BINAy, JOJO

ROxAS, MAR DEfENSORSANTIAgO, MIRIAM

The tough-talking Duterte, on the other hand, was the choice of voters for solving the problem of illegal drugs (31 percent), criminality (31 percent) and low salary (36 percent). In terms of trust rating, Poe led the other presidential aspirants with 50 percent, followed by Roxas and Binay who were tied with 36 percent each, Duterte with 34 percent, and Senator Miriam Santiago with 17 percent. Next page

HIgH pRICES Of gOODS/ SERVICES

CRIMINALITy

LOW SALARy

TRAffIC

LP vows to remain loyal to Roxas

prices of goods and services (26 percent) and traffic (38 percent). With the survey’s national margin of error of +/- 1.8 percent, Poe was statistically tied with Vice President Jejomar Binay who got a 28-percent rating on the issue of solving poverty, Duterte (27 percent) on the issue of corruption, and Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II (25 percent) on the issue of high prices of goods and services.

ILLEgAL DRugS uNEMpLOyMENT

Sereno chides Comelec for not replying “When we say that a deadline is nonextendible it is to be taken seriously,” Sereno told reporters during the 21st CHIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno annual convention of the Philippine chided the Commission on Elections Women Judges Association. Thursday for failing to respond to the “When a matter is under litigation petition filed before the Supreme Court before a court the procedure is to make asking it to compel the poll agency to such communications with the court.” issue receipts to voters. On Tuesday, the Court ordered

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

the Comelec to enable the voter verified paper audit trail feature of the vote counting machines to be used during the May 9 elections. The justices ruled on the case without considering the side of the Comelec, which failed to submit its comment on the petition filed by former senaNext page tor Richard Gordon.

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Party-list backs bid to pair Rody, Marcos By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

A PARTY-LIST group on Thursday said their movement to pair presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was gaining ground, as shown by recent polls. The sports-oriented PBA party-list has been at the forefront of the Alyansang Duterte-Bongbong Marcos or “AlDuB,” even though Duterte is running with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, while Marcos is running with presidential candidate Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. “Given the enthusiasm that we experienced on the ground, we are optimistic that Duterte for president and Marcos for vice president will score very high,” PBA party-list spokesman Jericho Nograles said. In February, the PBA party-list group hosted an AlDuB Convention in Davao City. Nograles said his group supports AlDuB because both leaders carry sports development in their respective platforms. Since Feb. 9, Nograles said he personally led the PBA campaign in the provinces of Surigao, Agusan, Comval, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Socsargen, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Bohol, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viz-

caya and Laguna. Former PBA representative Mark Sambar led the party-list drive in Metro Manila. “AlDuB is phenomenal,” Nograles said. “People just could not hide their enthusiasm each time the PBA will push for the Duterte-Marcos combination.” Nograles said a Duterte-Marcos team-up fuses the best of the “Solid North” and the emerging “Solid South.” In a forum Thursday, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan president, said he believed his party’s candidate, Duterte, will win big in Metro Manila and Mindanao as well as in some parts of Luzon and the Visayas. “We will fight it out in Luzon. We will not neglect Southern Luzon and Central Luzon. We have a fair share. In Metro Manila, we expect to win. [In] Eastern Visayas and Central Visayas, part of the Cebuano-speaking parts of the Visayas, we expect to win. And of course, we expect to dominate Mindanao,” he told reporters. “We are confident, that is my analysis. I am divulging this because it is not a top secret, and it is reflected in the surveys.” Duterte has a big fighting chance to win, he said. But Pimentel warned party members to leave PDPLaban if they cannot support both Duterte and Cayetano. “If you can’t accept the Duterte-Cayetano [tandem], get out of the party. That is a party discipline,” he said.

Tragedy in Rizal. Rescuers retrieve the body of four people who were buried alive after a construction site collapsed in Cogeo in Antipolo, Rizal, on Thursday. MANNy PAlMeRo

Poll: ... From A1

The top reason of voters for choosing Poe were as follows: they want to try her style of governance and they like her platform (40 percent) and they think she is a good person like her father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. and she can fulfill his promises to the people (26 percent). Those who said they will vote for Duterte cited his track record in fighting illegal drugs

and crimes (34 percent) and his iron-fist policy in governance (34 percent) while respondents who backed Binay’s presidential bid said the Vice President can replicate Makati’s success nationwide (21 percent). On the other hand, supporters of Roxas said he might be able to continue the programs of the Aquino administration (38 percent) while voters who chose Santiago said they liked that she talks straight and is principled (36 percent). While Poe remained the front-

runner in the survey with 26 percent of the respondents saying they will vote for her if the elections were held today, she is now statistically tied with Duterte (24 percent) and Binay (23 percent). Roxas came in close second at 22 percent while Santiago trailed with only 2 percent. The survey, conducted by The Standard’s resident pollster Junie Laylo, covered 79 provinces and 40 highly urbanized cities across the country and the 17 cities in the National Capital Region.

Sereno...

From A1

Sereno said the Court gave the Comelec a non-extendible five-day deadline to respond because it didn’t want to be an obstacle to the 2016 elections. In his decision, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen cited the Comelec’s failure to file a comment within the time required by the court. “It perplexes this court that the Commission on Elections failed to immediately transmit relevant documents to the Office of the Solicitor General [which represents the Comelec in the case] to allow them to respond within the time granted,” the ruling said. “It is not often that this court requires the filing of a comment within a non-extendable period… We have set aside a lot of our time focusing on election issues and you can see how fast we have been working,” it added. Despite the Comelec’s failure, Sereno said the justices looked into the merits of the case before rendering their 14-0 ruling. “I think that the most important part was the law itself. As you can see in the resolution that had been penned by Justice Leonen and unanimously concurred in, we looked at the law and we found that its character is mandatory. So until there is something that is exceptional we have to apply it as a mandatory requirement,” Sereno said. The Court said the Automated Election Law was clear when it said receipt-printing capabilities should be put in place as part of the minimum safeguards provided by law. “Compliance with the minimum system capabilities entails costs on the state and its taxpayers. If minimum system capabilities are met but not utilized, these will be a waste of resources and an affront to the citizens who paid for these capabilities,” the Court ruling said. Earlier, the Comelec had deactivated the VVPAT, saying that the receipts could be used for vote-buying activities. The Court said the poll body could not simply breach requirements of the law just “to assuage its fears regarding the VVPAT.” “The Commission on Elections has the power to choose the appropriate procedure in order to enforce the VVPAT requirement under the law, and balance it with the constitutional mandate to secure the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot,” it said. Asked about Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista’s warning that the elections might be postponed as a result of the decision, Sereno said such concerns should be submitted to the Supreme Court. “We don’t take matters that are aired before the media and that are not properly raised before us,” Sereno said. The Palace said it was confident that the Comelec can ensure orderly elections despite the Supreme Court ruling. “We trust that the Comelec will exert all efforts to ensure the orderly conduct of the national elections while complying with the Constitution and with the Supreme Court decision,” Communications Secre-

tary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to the Malacañang Press Corps. Bautista had earlier said they were considering postponing the elections because of the delays reactivating the printed receipts would entail. Presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte slammed the Comelec for suggesting a postponement. He said the printed receipts were put in place to guarantee transparency. “Those are the things that are put in place by law. Why didn’t they implement it? There’s a problem now. I don’t know how the Comelec will resolve that.” Duterte’s running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, said it was unacceptable that the Comelec was not ready for the May 9 elections. “I don’t see a reason, given the constitutional powers given to the Comelec, that the election would be postponed or held for more than one day,” he said. Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also chided Bautista for raising the possibility of a postponement, saying this did not sit well with its mandate to conduct the elections on the date set by law, which is the second Monday of May. Presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe and her running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, said the Comelec may not postpone the elections because May 9 is the day mandated by the law. “The Comelec always has a threat—the printing will not push through, there will be printing. We will have a manual election, we will not have a manual election. I understand there is always pressure on the chairman of Comelec, but there is a law that we should follow,” Poe said. Gordon, who wrote the Automated Election Law, said the Comelec should stop making excuses. “They should not paint a doomsday scenario… Just do it because it’s the law and the order of the Supreme Court. It’s clear: follow the law,” Gordon said. “The Supreme Court’s ruling is a victory for the people, a victory for democracy and victory for clean elections. Thanks to the Supreme Court, which is truly the last bastion of justice and democracy. The decision demonstrated that government agencies, like the Comelec, will never be allowed to run roughshod over peoples’ rights and will not get away with flagrant violations of the country’s laws,” he said. Gordon expressed hope that the poll body would work harder and comply with the tribunal’s order instead of raising difficulties as a cop out. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said a postponement was “unacceptable and unthinkable” and could damage democracy. “It is the mandate of the Comelec to ensure that the will of the people is respected and protected. The challenge is for them to safeguard the country’s democracy. A no-election scenario will only create chaos and damage our democratic system,” Romualdez said. With Sandy Araneta, Rio N. Araja, Maricel V. Cruz

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Binay camp slams CoA reports THE United Nationalist Alliance on Thursday slammed the Commission on Audit for allegedly providing incomplete reports on the Makati City Hall building and pronouncing Vice President Jejomar Binay guilty of corruption before a case against him was filed before a court.

Campaigning in Lucena. Senator Grace Poe is shown campaigning at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City on Wednesday. Jay MoraLes

“Only the courts can decide whether a person is guilty of a crime,” UNA president Toby Tiangco said. He warned the commission that it could be held liable for violating a 2015 resolution and its own rules after it released an incomplete report on the Makati City Hall Building 2 as reported in media. He said the CoA report was part of the Liberal Party’s grand design to demolish Binay and his family. “We have received information

that a public relations consultant working for the Ombudsman provided copies of the CoA report to select reporters. If the case against us is strong, would there be any need for underhanded tactics?” Gatchalian said. “This project has passed 11 regular audits. It is very clear that a special audit team was created for the “special” purpose of being used as a demolition team against VP Binay.” The lawyer of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay said the CoA, like the Ombudsman, was clearly biased against the Binays and had overstepped its mandate. “CoA is clearly biased as it has no authority to determine who is guilty of a crime. Its mandate is merely to audit government expenditures and to determine if the same are allowable,” Claro Certeza said. He said the mayor’s camp had not received a copy of the CoA report. “The commission could be held liable for violating CoA Resolu-

tion 2015-033 dated September 29, 2015, prohibiting the conduct of special audit against candidates in the 2016 elections,” Tiangco said. “As UNA president, I wrote CoA to request them to abide by their own rules. I asked that they apply the resolution equally to all candidates.” In his letter dated Feb. 21, Tiangco said he had received many complaints from UNA candidates about continuing harassment and political persecution. “I therefore request your strict adherence to CoA Resolution 2015-033 and the principles set out therein,” he said. “Until the termination of the 2016 elections, the Honorable Commission should accordingly desist from acting upon any and all complaints against all candidates in the 2016 national and local elections and not issue any resolutions, rulings or decisions for or against any candidate to avoid the unwitting use of the Commission for partisan political purposes.” Vito Barcelo

Liberal Party vows Poe promises to help coconut farmers to stay with its candidate Roxas IMUS, CAVITE—The ruling Liberal Party on Thursday vowed to remain behind Manuel Roxas II even as some party members are expected to bolt the administration coalition to support Senator Grace Poe, whom the Supreme Court allowed to run for president in the May 9 elections. “Remarkably, many still believe in the straight path. In fact, we are intact,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, the ruling Liberal Party’s president, told reporters. “The Supreme Court decision is just establishing who are the official candidates.” Abaya made his statement even as Roxas warned Filipinos to think twice about voting for corrupt officials in the coming elections. Roxas made his warning after slamming Vice President Jejomar Binay following a Commission on Audit report pointing to Binay as the one liable for the allegedly bloated cost of the Makati City Parking Building II. “What [Binay] has done to Makati is a clear example of what kind of leadership happened to Makati,” Roxas said. On Wednesday, Poe claimed that many allies of the administration party were just waiting for the Supreme Court to resolve her disqualification cases before declaring their support for her. Poe enjoys the support of the second-largest political party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition. Roxas on Wednesday said the political butterflies within the administration coalition should now go to the rival camps rather than stab him in the back. Abaya said Thursday the administration coalition was now more concerned with securing the ground machinery, one thing that would matter in translating votes for Roxas on election day. “What we are doing is breaking away from the neck-and-neck fight. Everyone is plateauing within a band, so we are looking at our messaging,” Abaya said. In the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from Feb. 16 to 27, Roxas landed in fourth spot with 19 percent, behind Senator Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay who shared their lead with 26 percent and 24 percent, respectively. At third spot in the presidential survey was Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with 22 percent. John Paolo Bencito

THE camp of Senator Grace Poe said Thursday the independent presidential candidate is committed to helping thousands of poor coconut farmers by increasing the budget allocation to the agriculture sector. Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said, she would also be tapping the coconut levy funds to help the coconut farmers once she won the presidential elections this year. Poe on Wednesday night said in Candelaria, Quezon, that she felt getting closer to the finish line following the Supreme Court’s decision reversing the Commission on Elections’ decision canceling her Certificate of Candidacy for president over the questions on her citizenship and residency. Voting 9-6, the Supreme Court de-

clared that Poe was qualified to run for president in the May 9 elections. Meanwhile, some Supreme Court magistrates on Thursday bewailed a newspaper report about a supposed a P50-million bribe to disqualify Poe in this year’s elections. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro deplored the insinuation of bribery that was published on the same day the tribunal voted 9-6 on Tuesday to allow Poe to run for president. Sereno said the high court was aware that some people would like to raise issues against it. “Some matters are best disregarded or ignored. Some matters are just speculation,” Sereno told reporters during the 21st annual convention of the Philippine

Women Judges Association at the Manila Hotel. Gatchalian said the Supreme Court had rendered its ruling on the real owners of the coconut levy funds. With its decision, he said, the ball was now in the government’s court. It was up to it if it would abide by the high tribunal’s ruling whether or not to distribute the funds to the coconut farmers, who were among the poorest. “Attempts to muddle the issue of the government’s non-disbursement of coco levy funds, which rightfully belong to coco farmers will not address the problems of the ailing coconut industry. This is another injustice to our farmers,” Gatchalian said. Macon ramos-araneta and rey e. requejo

V i si t at io n t o Fa r m e r s C U LT I VAT I N G R E L AT I O N S H I P S . M i g h t y C o r p o r a t i o n exe c u t i ve s a n d o f f i c i a l s r e c e n t l y v i s i t e d L a U n i o n a n d I l o c o s Sur areas to personally spend time with tobacco farmers as well as watch how their tobacco is farmed and h a r ve s t e d . T h e o l d e s t , f u l l y F i l i p i n o - o w n e d M i g h t y C o r p., i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t o b a c c o l e a f c o m p a n i e s , i s a s t r o n g a n d c o n s i s t e n t s u p p o r t e r o f l o c a l t o b a c c o f a r m e r s h av i n g p r ov i d e d va r i o u s f a r m i n g e q u i p m e n t , o t h e r g e n e r o u s d o n a t i o n s o r s i m p l y e s t a b l i s h i n g g o o d r a p p o r t w i t h t h e m . T h e g e s t u r e i s a sy m b o l o f a l o n g a n d l a s t i n g b u s i n e s s r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n i n d u s t r y s t a ke h o l d e r s . I n p h o t o a r e ( L- R): J o h n L a c a b e t o g e t h e r w i t h t o b a c c o l e a f c o m p a ny o f f i c i a l s , C a m e l o N o e l N ava r r o, G e o f f r ey G a d i a n a , E V P J u d g e O s c a r B a r r i e n t o s (r e t .), p r e s i d e n t G e n . Ed i l b e r t o A d a n (r e t .), C o n n i e B o r j a , N o i B e r n a r d o, G e n o j u n A n t o n i o, Fa e M a r c e l o a n d a n o t h e r t o b a c c o l e a f c o m p a ny o f f i c i a l .

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PhilHealth probe pushed By Maricel V. Cruz and John Paolo Bencito AN Activist lawmaker sought on Thursday a congressional probe into the claim that the state-run Philippine Health insurance corp. is in dire financial straits and may continue to exist for only a few more months.

Real change. Pushing the vice presidential candidacy of her brother Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Pia Cayetano urges supporters to join her in a nationwide biking tour.

Abu Sayyaf threatens captives By Francisco Tuyay ABU Sayyaf extremists holding the three foreigners and Filipino women who were abducted in Samal Island threatened to execute their captives if they do not get the P1-billion ransom for each of the three foreigners within one month. In a video footage posted on Facebook last March 8, a masked man acting as the group leader presented Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipino Marites Flor who were abducted from a Samal Island beach resort last September. They are believed to be held in the jungle on Jolo island, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, which is known for bombs, beheadings and kidnappings. “We are giving a warning [of] one

month for the families to [meet] the demand. Starting today March 8 until April 8, 2016. Then if you think your policy [non-negotiation] is better for you than the lives of the captives, certainly we will do something terrible against these captives,” the masked man said. The video showed each of the three foreigners pleading for their governments to accede to the demand, or they will be executed. Ridsdel appealed to Canadian Prime Minsiter Justin Trudeau and the Canadian people to meet the demand of their captors, otherwise they will be executed. “Please do what’s needed to meet their demands within one month or they will kill me and they will execute us,” Ridsdel appealed to Canadian Prime Minsiter Justin Trudeau crying as one of the kid-

nappers poised a machete by his neck. Sekkingstad, on the other hand, said they are being held somewhere in Sulu Island as he asked his friends to listen to the ultimatum of their captors. Meanwhile, the military said the video footages have already been submitted to forensic experts to determined their authenticity, but AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the results of the examination have yet to be submitted. The bandit group are still holding at least nine kidnap victims most of whom foreigner held somewhere in the jungles of Sulu. The military has intensified its operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group in their various lairs in Sulu and Basilan province and has inflicted several dozens casualties in bloody fighting with security forces.

But PhilHealth denied the claim and assured the public that their finances are robust and healthy and has in fact been growing in the past five years. “We would like to clarify some news reports that came out today that might have caused panic among our members, especially where the stability of the health insurance funds is concerned,” said PhilHealth president Alexander Padilla. “PhilHealth’s finances are as robust, healthy and substantial as ever. Proof of this is our ability to pay for the benefit claims of our members at an amount that has been steadily growing over the last five years,” he said. Padilla noted that PhilHealth paid about P34 billion in benefit claims in 2011, about P44 billion in 2012, up to P55 billion in 2013, P77 billion in 2014 and about P97 billion in 2015. But Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said the public, especially the PhilHealth members, have a right to know what is the real financial condition of the state health insurance agency. “Every year, the PhilHealth has been at the receiving end of huge chunks of the government’s health budget. It has increased mandatory contributions from OFWs, and workers from the public and private sectors. Where did all the finances go?” De Jesus asked. Citing data from the Department of Health, De Jesus said PhilHealth received 42.5 percent of the DoH budget amounting to 35.2 billion in 2014 and 42 percent, or 37.4 billion, in 2015. In 2016, the DoH allocated 43.8 billion for PhilHealth. Given these data, De Jesus said she finds it unacceptable that the PhilHealth, which is supposedly in charge of the government’s universal health program, is running out of funds when its annual budget is increasing. “The government allocates a huge budget for PhilHealth annually. While PhilHealth is a dismal failure in responding to the health needs of the Filipino people, its government funding is depleting, and we want to know why and how,” De Jesus said.

Jovito Salonga dies at 95 By Sandy Araneta MALACAÑANG expressed condolences with the family of former Senate president Jovito Salonga who passed away on Thursday at the age of 95. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Senator Jovito Salonga,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said after the announcement of Salonga’s passing. Born in Pasig City on June 22, 1920, Salonga was the youngest among the five sons of pastor Esteban Salonga and vendor Bernardina Reyes. Salonga studied law at the University of the Philippines, but was interrupt-

ed by World War II. He was imprisoned for almost a year for participating in anti-Japanese activities. Upon his release in 1943, he resumed his law studies. He and future senator Jose W. Diokno topped the 1944 bar examinations. Salonga obtained his masters of law degree from Harvard Law School in 1948, and his doctor of law degree from Yale Law School in 1949. Salonga ventured into politics in 1961, when he was elected representative of Rizal province. He became senator in 1965, topping that year’s polls. He was seriously injured in the Plaza Miranda bomb-

ing on Aug. 21, 1971, which left him blind in one eye and deaf in one ear. This did not stop him from again topping the senatorial elections that year. In 1980, during Martial Law, he was arrested for allegedly masterminding a series of bombings in Metro Manila but was later released by President Ferdinand Marcos. After the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution, President Corazon Aquino tapped Salonga to head the Presidential Commission on Good Government before it was criticized for sequestering alleged ill-gotten gains and transferring it to allies of Aquino or the PCGG agents themselves.

Supreme leader. T’boli tribesmen of South Cotabato on Wednesday gave vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. the royal treatment as they declared him their ‘Supreme Leader.’

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A5 ‘Global Pinoys’ laud SC ruling on Poe’s bid

Stumping in Sta. Cruz . Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is warmly received by thousands of supporters during his campaign swing in Sta. Cruz, Zambales. VER NOVENO

Romualdez, 4 others backed by 100 NGOs By Christine F. Herrera SOME 100 non-government organizations and civil society groups on Thursday endorsed the senatorial bid of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and four others out of 50 vying for the Senate for championing transparency in the national budget and exposing the graft-ridden pork barrel system. the budget watchdog Social Watch Philippines, which counts as members 100 NGos and civil society groups, made the formal endorsement before some 3,000 students, members of the academe and professionals at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. “i am humbled and inspired

by your recognition of my qualifications as deserving of a seat in the Senate. i want to thank everyone for this invaluable endorsement and show of trust and confidence in my senatorial bid,” romualdez said. SWP lead convener and former national treasurer Leonor Magtolis Briones said the

selection of the candidates went thorough research on the platforms of the aspirants for the national post using standards based on public finance and socio-economic development. “We monitored their position on pork barrel and the national budget as well as respective development plans. After the consolidation of reports, five out of 50 senatorial aspirants were selected to be supported by the organization. if other senatorial candidates will come out with their positions and platforms, additional names will be announced,” Briones explained. SWP is part of an international network of citizens’ organizations struggling to eradicate poverty and the

causes of poverty, ensure equitable distribution of wealth and to protect human rights. “Let us advocate the return of malasakit to public service by ensuring the transparent use and disbursement of public funds,” said romualdez, head of the House independent Minority Bloc and a three-term congressman who is running for the Senate under a platform anchored on compassionate governance. romualdez and Philippine constitution Association, of which romualdez is president, were among the petitioners in the Supreme court that declared unconstitutional some key provisions of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program.

“A victory for foundlings, global Pinoys and democracy.” this was the collective sentiments of a broad coalition of Filipino leaders in various countries and provinces following the Supreme court decision declaring Senator Grace Poe as eligible to run for president. in the process, the Sc ruling dismissed the two disqualification cases imposed by the commission on Elections en banc last December on the former’s status as a natural born Filipino and in compliance with the 10-year residency requirement. in a statement, the Global Pinoys for Grace and chiz Movement hailed the Supreme court justices for their landmark ruling affirming their role as knights of justice and not as foremost legalists being the last bastion for democracy. “the Supreme court has affirmed the inherent rights of foundlings as natural born citizens and the basic rights of overseas Filipinos as represented by Senator Grace Poe since in a democracy, the strict rule is to ‘include’ everyone particularly in the basic constitutional right to suffrage,” said Fil-Am lawyer Noriel L. Flores, one of the key leaders of tGPGcM based in Los Angeles. According to lawyer roberto rafael v. Lucila, it’s not only Senator Grace Poe who won big but the bigger winners are the Filipino people themselves whose full excercise of their defining right to choose their servant leaders has been upheld. “the Supreme court has proven to be the dependable guardian, protector of the rights of the oppressed, innocent and unempowered by upholding the rights of foundlings, women, mothers, children, the innocent and the helpless. the Sc decision affirmed our faith in democracy wherein society is founded on our capacity to take the extra step to help those in need, which is the hallmark of any civilized society,” added Lucila. For his part, resigned Pagcor President Jorge v. Sarmiento, who is now actively campaigning for team Grace and chiz, welcomed the Sc decision as a fresh start going into the last 60 days of the presidential campaign. He described the Sc decision as a great gift to all empowered Filipino women on the celebration of international Women’s Day yesterday as he noted that the Supreme court is led by chief Justice Sereno and with Grace Poe looming to be the next third empowered Filipina to become Philippine president come May 2016 after corazon c. Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Gazmin: US patrols deter China’s action the US deployment was a challenge to china’s militarization in the world’s largest ecoDEFENSE Secretary voltaire Gazmin said nomic sea lane to close freedom of navigation on thursday the government has welcomed as part of its expansionist policy to change the initiatives of the United States government for geo-political and military map in the region deploying its naval and air fleet to patrol the which is largely still dominated by the US and West Philippine Sea and deter china’s mili- its western allies, analysts said. Just recently, Beijing deployed sophisticated tary aggression while the Armed Forces of the Philippines doesn’t have enough capability yet missiles in one of its claimed islands as security to patrol and defend the country’s territorial and defense experts say similar deployments can be done also at the artificial islands built domain. “We will welcome this opportunity. Some- by the chinese military located within the Kahow it deterred them from moving aggres- layaan island Group, a municipality of Palawan sively,” Gazmin told reporters in an ambush in the WPS. While Manila is waiting the arbitral verinterview at camp Aguinaldo in Quezon city. th dict at the Hague about her complaint against the 7 Fleet operating under the US Pacific command based in Honulu, Hawaii deployed Beijing’s excessive and unilateral “9-dash line” its multi-role aircrafts carrier along with de- claiming 90 percent of the disputed seas instroyers and submarines led by the US com- cluding a big portion of the WPS, the Philipmand and control ship to conduct patrols in pine and US government inked last year the the WPS and South china Sea while Beijing has Enhanced Defense cooperation Agreement been bullying other claimants such the Philip- to fast-track the deployment of US forces and pines, vietnam, taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. military equipment to the Philippines.

By Florante S. Solmerin

Philjobnet launching. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz (right) and Luis

Alberto A. Anastacio, president-CEO of the SFI Group of Companies, press the button to mark the formal launching of Philjobnet, an online job search, in a ceremony held at the Hive Hotel in Quezon City. Joining them are (from left) Labor Undersecretary Nicon F. Fameronag and Bureau of Employment director Dominique Rubia Tutay. MANNY PALMERO

A6 Republic of the Philippines CO M M I SSI ON ON ELECTI O NS M anila

Invitation to Bid For PROCUREMENT OF 1,100,000 ROLLS OF THERMAL PAPER TO BE USED AS VOTER’S RECEIPT IN CONNECTION TO THE MAY 9, 2016 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS (Bac Reference No. 02-2016-TP) The COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites interested bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the PROCUREMENT OF 1,100,000 ROLLS OF THERMAL PAPER TO BE USED AS VOTER’S RECEIPT IN CONNECTION TO THE MAY 9, 2016 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS with the total Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) of Eighty Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand (Php85,800,000.00), inc lusive of all ta xes, such as, but not limited to, value added ta x ( VAT ), inc ome ta x, loc al ta xes, and other f isc al levies.

Lot

Title/ Description

Quantity

Unit Cost

Total Cost (Approved Budget for the Contract)

Bidding Documents Fee

Thermal Paper

1,100,000

P 78.00/ roll

Php85,800,000.00

Php50,000.00

TOTAL:

Php85,800,000.00

Bids received in excess of the ABC per item shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 2. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II - Instructions to Bidders. 3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedure using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders who wish to participate in the bidding process from 10 March 2016 to 05 April 2016 (before the deadline of the submission of bids), Mondays to Saturdays, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents.

F R I D AY : M A R C H 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Erap: No ill feelings vs Sandigan justices By Rey E. Requejo

OUSTED President and now Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada says he has buried the hatchet and no longer harbors ill feelings against the Sandiganbayan magistrates who convicted him for plunder in 2007. Speaking as special guest before the 21st convention-seminar of the Philippine Women Judges Association held on Thursday at the Manila Hotel, Estrada in jest told the delegates that he can never forget Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro. Estrada recalled that De Castro was one of the three Sandiganbayan justices who tried and subsequently convicted him for plunder. “I will never forget her, Justice Teresita de Castro was one of the three justices who heard the plunder case against me. Sinabi ko nga noon handa ako makulong dahil wala akong ninakaw na pera sa gobyerno, akalain ninyo, ipinakulong nga ako... si Ma’am naman hindi na mabiro,” Estrada said, which elicited laughter from the audience. De Castro was then the presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan and the chairman of the special division that convicted Estrada.

However, for Estrada, it is all water under the bridge now even as he thanked De Castro for inviting him as special guests for the PWJA convention for two consecutive years. The Manila City mayor praised De Castro for being the author of the SC decision last year that dismissed a petition seeking his disqualification as mayor of Manila. “In truth, I would not be here today, delivering these welcome remarks, were it not for the probity and impartiality of that decision by the Supreme Court. Neither would I have had the authority nor the power to put in place the reforms necessary to resurrect a bankrupt city and steer it back on the road to progress,” Estrada stressed. For her part, De Castro acknowledged Estrada as “the quintessential gentleman, most kind-hearted, public servant and most-loved by the poor.” Estrada was sentenced by the Sandiganbayan’s Special Division

to suffer life imprisonment and barred from holding public office after being found guilty of the crime of plunder in a marathon six-year trial on Sept. 13, 2007. On one of the other charges, Estrada was acquitted of perjury and the Sandiganbayan allowed him to return to his Tanay, Rizal resthouse, “until further order of this court.” The Sandiganbayan also ordered Estrada to hand over P732.4 million worth of bank accounts and a piece of property known as the “Boracay Mansion.” However, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned him, and saved him from serving a life term in prison. Meanwhile, Estrada declined to name the presidential candidate that he will support in the May 9 presidential election, but welcomed the SC’s ruling allowing Grace Poe to run for president. “Of course, it’s better. The people will be given the chance to choose. More candidates, the better for the people,” he said. Estrada added that he does not consider personal ties in choosing the candidates he will support. “When asked if he will join the campaign of his preferred candidates, Estrada replied: “You know I will charge them money for my personal appearance. Mahal ako,” he quipped.

Copy of it may also be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the COMELEC website. 6.

The BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 23 March 2016, 10:00 a.m. at the COMELEC Session Hall, 8th Floor Palacio del Gobernador Bldg., Gen. Luna cor. Postigo Sts., Intramuros, Manila, to discuss Eligibility Requirements and the Technical and Financial Components of this Project. All interested bidders may raise and submit queries or clarifications regarding the Bidding Documents.

Submission of Bids shall be on 05 April 2016 on or before 9:00 a.m. at the BAC Secretariat Office, 7th Floor Palacio del Gobernador Bldg., Gen. Luna cor. Postigo Sts., Intramuros, Manila. Opening of Bids shall be on the same day, 05 April 2016, 10:00 a.m. at the Personnel Department Conference Room, 5th Floor, Palacio del Gobernador Bldg., Gen. Luna cor. Postigo Sts., Intramuros, Manila.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in BDS Clause 18. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The COMELEC reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, or to reduce the corresponding ABC and Terms of Reference (TOR), without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information please visit or contact: BAC SECRETARIAT OFFICE Commission on Elections 7th Floor, Palacio del Gobernador Bldg., Gen. Luna cor. Postigo Sts., Intramuros, Manila Tel. No.: 527-5760 Telefax No.:527-2774 E-mail Address: comelecbac@gmail.com COMELEC Website: www.comelec.gov.ph

HELEN LEN G. AGUILA-FLORES BAC Chairperson ( T S - M A R . 11, 2 016)

Marikina’s senior citizens. With the battle cry ‘We are still part of the solution!’, the newly elected ofﬁc-

ers of the Association of Senior Citizens of Dela Costa Homes in Marikina City took their oath of ofﬁce before Mayor Del de Guzman on March 9, 2016. Shortly after election in February, they have undertaken a Seminar on First Aid and Basic Life Support, in cooperation with the Philippine Red Cross, and a Lenten recollection for its members, to be followed by a study tour in Malacañang Palace on May 6. (From left) Joseph Cayao (adviser); Tony Rosana (external vice president); Relma Gimpao (adviser); Art Avila (internal vice president); engineer Ely Ramos (adviser); Vice Mayor Fabian Cadiz; Councilor Fredie Marco; Rudy Mangawang (adviser); Councilor Sam Ferriol; Mayor De Guzman; Bella Antonio (president); Margie Ibuan (auditor); Grace Hoﬁlena (secretary); Eding Tagalicud (business manager); Rose Tadina (PRO); Councilor Willy Chavez; Auring Remorin (treasurer); Marina Malicdem (adviser); and Kagawad Cloyd Casimiro.

Drug bust nets 2 Chinese, P25-m shabu By Joel E. Zurbano LAWMEN arrested two Chinese nationals and a Filipina companion and seized five kilos of shabu valued at P25 million during a buy-bust operation in Makati City Wednesday night. Metro Manila Police director Joel Pagdilao identified the suspects as He Kaibei, 28, and Henry Lam, 43, both of Fujian, China; and Annaliza Villegas, 45.

Members of the Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group arrested the suspects during a drug sting at the parking lot of Max’s Restaurant at the corner of Magallanes Avenue and Humabon Street in Magallanes Village around 11:15 p.m. Apart from the illegal substance, Pagdilao said police also recovered the buy-bust money worth P10 million, and seized the silver Nissan Cefiro (XAY567) used by the suspects during the transaction with the poseur

buyer. The arrest came on the heels of a month-long surveillance operation against the suspects, Pagdilao said. The suspects are now detained at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City and will be charged with violation of selling dangerous drugs (Section 5), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Pagdilao said the drug sting is part of the “Oplan Lambat Sibat” against criminality.

f r i d ay : m a r c h 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

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Ex-officials ask court to stop work on cemetery By Orlan L. Mauricio MALOLOS CITY—Two former officials of San Ildefonso town in Bulacan have asked the Regional Trial Court to immediately stop the ongoing construction of the P120-million municipal cemetery. In an eight-page sworn complaint, former vice mayor Rolando Centeno and ex-councilor Crisandro Mananghaya asked the RTC to issue a temporary restraining order against Mayor Gerald Galvez to stop and annul the procurement of the project. The award and construction of the P150-million cemetery is not only rigged and anomalous but also illegal because the project was not in the 2015 town’s budget, the complainants said. They also claimed that there was no valid Sanggunian Bayan Resolution that authorized Mayor Galvez to obtain a loan from the Philippine National Bank to finance the obvious “midnight deal” to circumvent the election ban. They said the project did not comply with the posting requirements under Republic Act 9184 (PhilGePS Law) including the publication in a newspaper of nationwide circulation that was mandatorily required for infrastructure projects costing more than P5 million. hence, there was virtually no bidding and if ever there was, it was a sham or moromoro, they said. Also included in the complaint was the project contractor, Radthien Builders and owner Benjamin de Guzman of San Roque, San Rafael, Bulacan, including the president of Philippine National Bank, lawyer Reynaldo Maclang.

Multi-tasker. A mother dries out heirloom rice and legumes while letting her child sleep on her back in Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga. DAVID CHAN

ARMM has highest student dropout, lowest literacy rate By A. Perez Rimando

COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao—The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao records the highest number of elementaryand secondary-level dropouts among all regions, according to a government survey. The Philippine Statistics Authority said that Muslim Mindanao—which is composed of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi and their component cities of Marawi

and Lamitan—has a dropout rate of 14 percent in basic education. The PSA, which surveyed at least 26,000 households, also announced that ARMM also registered the

nation’s lowest functional literacy rate of 72.1 percent, noting that “26 percent of those who dropped out left their classrooms to look for jobs; 17.7 percent, to marry, and 16.5 percent lost interest in pursuing their basic education.” Placing second and third, respectively, in dropout rate, the PSA said, are Central Mindanao (Region 12) with 12.3 percent and Southern Mindanao (Region 11) with 12.2 percent.

Region 12 is also known as Soccsksargen—South Cotabato, (North) Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos—while Region 11 is made up of Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental and Davao City. ARMM, Regions 11 and 12 even surpassed the national average dropout rate of 10 percent, according to the Functional Literacy, education and Mass

Media Survey, which “provides the baseline information and literacy status of Filipinos 10 years old and above.” Meanwhile, the Department of education claimed that ARMM continues to rank lowest in the agency’s annual National Achievement Test for elementary and high school students, largely attributing the region’s poor academic performance of learners to its unstable peace and order problem.

USAID turns over water facilities to storm-hit Leyte schools By Ronald O. Reyes

Frolic. Children enjoy the sun and each other’s company at a playground in Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. EY ACASIO

The United States Agency for International Development on Wednesday turned over storm-resistant water infrastructure facilities to two schools in Palo town in Leyte province as part of its “Be Secure Project” after the 2013 Super Typhoon “Yolanda.” “Access to clean and adequate water is critical…we continue to work to better prepare from natural disasters,” said Dani Newcomb, division director, environment office of USAID Philippines. Joining Newcomb during the ceremony was USAID-Be Secure Project deputy chief of party Lisa Pagkalinawan. engineer Ariel Lapus, wa-

ter service team leader of the project, said Palo National high School and Palo I Central elementary School along with eight others are among those identified and selected by USAID-Be Secure Project to build back better. These schools in Leyte are Tanauan National high School, Dulag National high School, Dulag elementary School, Granja-Kalinawan National high School, Cassidy elementary School, Alangalang National high School, Burauen National high School and Leyte Provincial hospital. “USAID provided cistern to store potable water coming from the source, pump and elevated tank to generate

pressure. A whole generation of piping system to supply water system to all washing areas and classrooms,” said Lapus. Cisterns and elevated tanks turned over to Palo National high School with its 2,500 students and Palo elementary School with its around 2,000 students can provide 20 liters and 15 liters of water per day for each student, respectively. The water facility can withstand 300-kilometer per hour wind, Lapus said. “USAID also trained utility personnel on water demand management to use the facilities wisely. In addition, the water system of other schools and health clinics across Leyte province are also being rehabilitated right now,” he added.

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION [ EDI TORI A L ]

EXOTIC SOURCES OF ENERGY SOLAR, wind and other renewable sources of energy are slowly joining the country’s power supply mix. Some of them have been in the electricity grid for quite a while, powering many residential homes, buildings and factories. They are the wave of the future and preferred by many in the population, especially those who have been forewarned by the disastrous effects of climate change. A renewable energy company just this week announced the completion of four new solar farms with a combined power generating capacity of 98 megawatts in the Visayas. Bronzeoak Philippines said all four were fully tested by

transmission operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and their output ready to be sold in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. The first of such solar power plants operates in Bais City, Negros Oriental, while the other three are generating electricity from La Carlota City and in the municipality of Manapla, Negros Occidental. In all, the four solar power plants are now partly supplying the daytime electricity requirements of Dumaguete City and Cebu through the Cebu-Negros undersea cable and seven million people in Negros Occidental and Panay’s four provinces. Here in the Luzon grid, Ilocos

Norte’s wind farms have been supplying the main Philippine island with the exotic form of energy, generating power from the wind. Hydro-electric dams and geothermal energy plants were actually the first to supply clean power to the Philippines back in the 60s, 70s and 80s, or way before green energy became the vogue in the new century. Renewable sources of energy, indeed, are the future sources of power amid the worldwide call to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere and put an end to the depletion of the earth’s natural resources. But renewable forms of energy entail higher production cost. They are costlier to produce

compared to the traditional fuel sources, such as oil, coal and natural gas. As a result, the government agreed to grant preferential electricity rates to producers of wind, solar and biomass energy to make their projects viable. Thus, the electricity bill of a typical household with a power consumption of 200 kilowatthours will increase by P24.80 in April, after the government approved the collection of the socalled feed-in-tariff allowance for renewable energy projects. Consumers will ultimately decide if they want cleaner energy but higher electricity rates. It is a dilemma faced by every consumer in the world.

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OPINION

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A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

CRAZY LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES IT WAS the quirky film director Tim Burton who once said that “one person’s craziness is another person’s reality.” Two seemingly unrelated events— the other day’s disaster at the North Avenue terminal of the Metro Rail Transit 3 and a remark made by President Noynoy Aquino while campaigning for his candidates in Cavite yesterday—reminded me of Burton’s trenchant observation. What happened at the North station? Well, the queues of people lining up for rides on the MRT on Wednesday morning suddenly became crazy—crazylong.

I am forced to conclude that this is probably the craziest (not the best, as his boosters claim) president we ever had.

Not only did they snake down either side of Edsa from the overhead station, as they normally do. They actually reached all the way to the pedestrian overpass on the actual intersection of North and West Avenues and Edsa about 300 meters away, filling the overhead walkway that straddles the considerable width of the main metropolitan highway with people. The reality of how hard it is to catch an MRT ride turned hyper-real. And, yes, it was crazy. Yesterday, it was Aquino who turned on the craziness. In a campaign speech for the candidates of the Liberal Party in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Aquino dared his critics to have their heads examined. “If they’re saying there’s no change [under this administration], they’re free to seek medical attention at the National Center for Mental Health,” Aquino declared. This, from a man whose mental health was questioned when he ran for president in 2010—and whose unreal speeches and behavior since his election have never squelched rumors of his unstable mind. Of course, since we’re talking about change, the crazy lines at the MRT actually proved Aquino correct. Before Aquino’s election, there were never any lines as long as the ones we see on a daily basis at the MRT or the LRT; traffic in Metro Manila has never been as bad as it is now, as well. There has been change. But it has not been for the good.

As a compiler of the statements emanating from Aquino and his administration over the past six years, I never suffered from a shortage of crazy things to report about. And if “crazy” is defined as an utter and incurable detachment from reality, then, yes, I am forced to conclude that this is probably the craziest (not the best, as his boosters claim) president we ever had. And I’m willing to have myself examined by the doctors at the mental hospital in Mandaluyong, if that will make Aquino happy. The question is, is he willing to do the same? *** Mar Roxas, the supposed administration candidate for president in the May elections, was in no mood to be civil about the decision of the Supreme Court to allow Senator Grace Poe to run. For Roxas, the ruling was only an opportunity to challenge those who say they are for him but who are actually for somebody else. “If there are those who want to transfer [support to Poe], well, thank you very much. It’s better that they openly transfer than hide and stab me in the back,” Roxas said during a campaign sortie in Batangas. It’s always been a tough battle for Roxas, who has never really gotten into the thick of the presidential race. You’d probably feel the same way if you were Roxas, who has never even gotten to second place in any voter preference survey despite being the purported chosen one of the Aquino administration. While President Noynoy Aquino keeps declaring that his former favorite Cabinet member and ex-running mate is his one and only candidate, the talk that Poe is also Aquino’s bet has never gone away. And the recent ruling on Poe’s candidacy, which was supposedly delivered upon Aquino’s behest, only added fuel to that long-burning fire. The Supreme Court ruling and Roxas’ testy reaction to it also reinforced the belief of some that it was the administration candidate who has been backing efforts to disqualify Poe. Never mind if survey after survey has pointed out that some other candidate— not Roxas—would benefit if Poe is taken out of the race. And with Poe still in the race, no one believes that Roxas will move up in the rankings. No wonder the LP candidate was grouchy. This, after all, proves the folly of Roxas’ efforts at negative campaigning: he never really becomes the beneficiary, and his rivals only get stronger. When Roxas and the LP initiated and bankrolled the Senate investigation of Vice President Jejomar Binay (his only rival at the time), he only unwittingly became the midwife of the presidential bids of Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. And when he went after Poe, the Supreme Court (and possibly Malacañang) shut him down. How is Roxas ever going to win this contest? I don’t know, but I’d like to see what other tricks he has up his sleeve, less than two months before Election Day.

A SPIRITUAL REAWAKENING BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THE Supreme Court has spoken. By a vote of 9 to 6, the magistrates of the high court ruled that Grace Poe is a Filipino qualified to run for president. It was a heady victory for the senator after a long legal battle that marked the political campaign in the runup to the May 9 national elections. This corner will take pause from politics and leave the fate of Grace Poe to the people to decide her fitness for the presidency. Overshadowed and lost in the thicket of political news was the 51st International Eucharistic Congress recently held in Cebu. This was a significant religious event that has resonance in a country in need of spiritual reawakening particularly at a time of political turmoil. Foul language in the muck-raking exchange among presidential candidates and the bloody, internecine strife in the South have deepened the political and religious divide between Christians and Muslims. It is therefore timely to reflect on the Eucharistic Congress Cebu hosted for a gathering of God-loving people from all over the world. Held every four years, Pope Benedict XXVI asked for prayers in the last IEC in Dublin, Ireland (a dominantly Catholic country) for a successful hosting of the event in Cebu where the Spanish explorer Magellan planted the first cross on Philippine soil in Mactan. The first IEC was held in Lille, France in 1881. An immense undertaking, the

Eucharistic Congress brought like-minded Church followers to work together in raising funds for the international event. The call for financial assistance was answered by leaders of the business community, among them the Wong Chu King Foundation which was listed third among the big donors and sponsors. Responding to the call of Pope Benedict, the Archdiocese of Cebu through Most Rev. Jose S. Palma and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) wasted no time in preparing for the historical event. Monsignor Roberto Alesna, finance committee chairman of Project Eukaristiya, tapped Cebu’s business community and prominent families. The WCKF responded and defrayed the cost of rehabilitating Cebu’s old churches, sprucing them up for better appreciation of the foreign visitors. Beams, roofs and ceilings of the Cebu parish church were either repaired or replaced. The centerpiece of the Wong Chu King Foundation’s contribution for the religious event was the creation of a Gethsemane replica complete with a monument of Christ‘s Agony in the Garden. Built inside the Archbishop’s Residence compound, the Garden has drawn devotees even after the IEC. For the Wong Chu King Foundation, the successful hosting of the International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu is a source of pride and a highlight of the King family’s Christian life as it was for 41 other organizations and millions of devotees. Bangkok revisited Bangkok, like most of Asia’s bustling cities, is a modern metropolis with its share of conges-

tion from vehicular traffic and commuters. But unlike Metro Manila, the Thai capital with a foresight of urban planning has managed to keep pace with progress. Bangkok today is a totally different city from the one I visited some 20 years ago to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference. Then, it took more than three hours to get to Don Muang, the former international airport. Now with its ribbon of elevated roads, a network of mass transport railway like the Skytrain to the airport, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) with its designated and reserved lanes, Bangkok’s transport system is running efficiently, moving people to and from the inner cities to nearby towns. To be completed by 2029, the master plan for Bangkok’s entire metropolitan Rapid Mass Transit System consists of eight mainlines and four feeder lines totaling 508 kilometers (316 miles). It took us less than an hour by road to reach the sprawling Suvarnabhumi airport. We could have taken the Skytrain but decided to time Monday morning peak hour traffic going to the airport. During weekdays, traffic around Bangkok’s central business district is still heavy but moving along despite the low visibility of traffic enforcers. Speeding motorcycles are also a familiar sight in Bangkok. But unlike Metro Manila’s helter-skelter traffic flow marked by daily road accidents, Bangkok motorists are a disciplined lot who obey traffic lights. There are very few concrete barriers to prevent drivers swerving from one lane to another, yet vehicles stay in lane as much as possible.

WITHOUT BATTING AN EYELASH REP. SHERWIN Gatchalian first caught the attention of us pensioners on Oct. 16, 2013 when he declared like a wise old man that the performance of the Social Security System “must be measured by how well the pensioners and its other members get the benefits due them and how their needs are met.” “Not just by how much profit the agency has made,” asserted this enlightened and trailblazing Chinese-Filipino politician. Instantly, he earned our love and respect. We have added him since then to our list of political champions, unique in building a bright future in Philippine politics through his own efforts and hard work unlike scions of political dynasties who rely on the past accomplishments of their distinguished parents and grandparents. He was reacting at that time to the performance bonus of P1 million that SSS board members had awarded to each of them despite their agency’s unsatisfactory service delivery. As he had observed, “members have had enough nightmares in availing themselves of loans or receiving their pensions on time.” There was a national con-

FILIPINO PENSIONER HORACE TEMPLO sensus that the board members didn’t deserve any bonus. But the SSS head insisted that his agency had a sterling performance in the previous year, and that those bonuses were justified pursuant to the performancebased incentive system of the Governance Commission for GOCCs. Besides, as disclosed by him, SSS regular “employees also got bonuses amounting to P276 million.” A finance man who once worked as a stock analyst, trader and broker, Cong. Sherwin questioned the often-repeated statements of SSS officials about their agency’s much-improved profitability: “If SSS is after profit, we might as well privatize social security and let market forces and the profit motive dictate the contributions and premiums.” He was, of course, merely issuing then a sarcastic and rhetorical statement. His real position was that

“SSS can work on fiscal reforms without hurting the pockets of its members.” After all, “it is the SSS’ fault that it has failed to collect billions in unremitted premiums from delinquent employers.” He even suggested that: “We need fresh, doable and sustainable systems that would bring back the confidence of the people in the SSS, and perhaps motivate them more to save for their future.” In particular, he cited Australia’s superannuation system as a good model. But a consenting PNoy defended the SSS officials’ bonuses, which emboldened them to simply ignore the almost violent public objections, and proceeded with awarding themselves those fat bonuses that year and the year after. Right now, SSS officials are again seeking permission from GCG to grant to themselves their last performance bonus during PNoy’s last two months in office. Why would they not help themselves to a generous “pabaon” before exiting on July 1? We find this callous and shameful because we have yet to forget their all-out opposition to the proposed P2,000 pension increase that Congress has Continued on A11

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

GRACE POE WAS ALMOST DISQUALIFIED VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ WERE it not for an act of judicial somersault, Senator Grace Poe could not, by now, be running for president of the Philippines. Before Tuesday, March 8’s 9-6 Supreme Court ruling allowing Poe to run, the prevailing view, it seems, in the high court, was that the freshman senator lacked the 10-year residency required of Philippine presidents or candidates for president. But it seems the tribunal ruled on a technicality, that is the Commission on Elections committed grave abuse of discretion, amounting to lack of jurisdiction when the latter disqualified Poe as a candidate for president. The main issue thus before the Supreme Court became whether the Comelec gravely abused its discretion in canceling Poe’s Certificate of Candidacy due to her alleged “false representation.” As explained by former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban in his Inquirer column March 6, “Before any CoC can be cancelled by the Comelec, the statements must be (1) material, (2) false, and (3) made with a deliberate intent to mislead, misinform, or hide a fact, or to deceive the electorate as to one’s qualifications.” In Poe’s cases, Panganiban said the questioned statements are definitely material because they refer to her citizenship and resi-

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO I THOUGHT I was being logical in arguing that Grace Poe was not eligible for the presidency of the Republic. Apparently, I was wrong. The Supreme Court has ruled that she is qualified. In an attempt to keep faith with rationality, no matter how trying the circumstances might be, I will review my premises and my lines of proof, in the hope that I am convincingly shown where my logic failed me. Spinoza took to the axiomatic method—the procedure that argues from axioms and definitions—to leave no doubt that he was not merely being provocative nor controversial. He, of course, learned this from Euclid. I learn it from both. I start with the following Propositions, which I take to be axiomatic, not in the sense that

Without... From A10 approved. Warning a naïve PNoy that the increase would bankrupt SSS in year 2029—and offering no alternative—they had him vetoed it days before it was supposed to have lapsed into law. Cong. Sherwin is now campaigning for senator, and it was while being interviewed last March 3 in a popular television program when he reacted to this “pabaon” bonus. Very self-confident, he disclosed—without batting an eyelash—that he would privatize

dency. But are they false? Some of the justices seem to believe that Poe told the truth, or at least had some factual and legal bases in making them. Additionally, Justice Francis H. Jardeleza also wondered whether the Comelec deprived Poe of due process, which would ipso facto void the poll body’s decision. In the oral arguments, the question was whether, in fact and in law, the entries on Poe’s citizenship and residence were true or false. If the statements were true, then Poe’s CoC (Certificate of Candidacy) could not be cancelled. In her statements were false, still her CoC could not be cancelled if she made them in good faith with no intention to deceive the electorate. Panganiban cites the case of FPJ in Tecson vs Comelec (March 3, 2004), on the Comelec’s authority to cancel the CoC of a presidential candidate. In the FPJ case, the petition prayed for his cancellation of his CoC because he stated therein that he was a natural-born citizen when, allegedly, his parents were foreigners. FPJ’s mother, Bessie Kelly, was an American, and his father, Allan Poe, was a Spaniard, being the son of Lorenzo Pou, a Spanish subject. It was further claimed that FPJ was an illegitimate child who followed the citizenship of his American mother. Lorenzo Pou died on Sept. 11, 1954, at 84. If Pou was 84 when he died, therefore, he was born in 1870, when the Philippines was under Spanish rule. And nationals during that time were considered

Filipinos by the “en masse” Filipinization authorized in 1902. In the Supreme Court’s ruling on FPJ in 2004, eight justices held this view— Pou was a Filipino or presumed him to be a natural-born Filipino. The Court in 2004 ruled: “… [W]hile the totality of the evidence may not establish conclusively that respondent FPJ is a natural-born citizen … he cannot be held guilty of having made a material misrepresentation in his [CoC]… which, as so ruled in Romualdez-Marcos vs COMELEC, must not only be material, but also deliberate and willful.” Besides, then Justice (later Chief Justice) Reynato S. Puno pointed out on the same FPJ case: “Given the indecisiveness of the votes of the members of this Court, the better policy approach is to let the people decide who will be the next President. For on political questions, this Court may err but the sovereign people will not. To be sure, the Constitution did not grant to the unelected members of this Court the right to elect in behalf of the people.” Comes now the Supreme Court, again with its unelected members, ruling on the qualifications of a candidate for President—Grace Poe. Unelected but appointed to the high court on sheer merit, the justices are like Gods of the Olympus ruling on mortals—and using the law and the Constitution in the strictest sense of their verbiage. A 70-page dissenting opinion penned by SC Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo is now circulating among media circles. The jurist can be quite intractable in his views. He thinks Grace lacked

the qualifications of a candidate for president. Specifically, Grace lacks the 10-year residency. Del Castillo and five other justices wanted to uphold the Comelec’s unanimous ruling that Poe lacks the qualifications of a candidate for president. She is not a natural-born Filipino and she has not met the 10-year residency. Del Castillo’s opinion was initially the draft ruling of the high court. This draft rejected Grace Poe’s defense of honest mistake when she declared “six years and six months” of residency in her 2012 Certificate of Candidacy for senator. If indeed that was the case, then Poe would lack the 10-year residency by today, being short of six months. Fortunately for Poe, nine justices thought her declaration was “an honest mistake.” And when the Comelec disqualified her, the poll body committed a “grave abuse of discretion.” Del Castillo disagrees with the 9-6 ruling. He thinks their Court should have agreed with the Comelec that Poe “knowingly made a false material representation in her 2015 CoC sufficient to mislead the electorate into believing that she is eligible and qualified to become president.” Del Castillo thinks Poe failed to present evidence showing she had intended to re-establish a new domicile in the Philippines prior to taking her oath of allegiance to the Philippines on July 7, 2006. “Since the petitioner took her oath of allegiance in July 2006 and renounced her US citizenship in October 2010, both less than 10 years prior to the May 9 elections,

she could no longer prove compliance with the 10-year residency requirement,” the jurist points out. Del Castillo sneers at Poe’s claim of honest mistake, noting it was “shrouded in doubt.” She was maintaining a house in the US, which she bought in 1992, and subsequently bought a residential house in the US in 2008, three years after her claimed intent to remain in the Philippines for an indefinite period of time. Poe’s stay in the Philippines starting from May 24, 2005 was not permanent and could not be included in counting the length of her residency because she arrived in Manila as an alien with a balikbayan visa, Del Castillo notes. “It was merely temporary. At most, her stay in the Philippines would only be for one year [under Republic Act 6768]. This only proves that her stay was not impressed with animus manendi, i.e. the intent to remain in or at the domicile of choice for an indefinite period of time,” the justice argues. True, Poe acquired a condominium unit in San Juan and a house and lot in Corinthian Hills, Quezon City. But these purchases did not establish domicile as they could just be for investment purposes, Del Castillo muses, citing the February 2013 decision on Jalosjos vs Comelec. Del Castillo believes Poe renounced her US citizenship only to meet the requirement for her appointment as chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. biznewsasia@gmail.com

WHERE DID MY LOGIC FAIL ME? they are self-evident but because they are the givens in this case. Proposition 1: To be president of the Philippines, one must be a natural-born Filipino. (Art. VII, 1987 Constitution) Proposition 2: A natural-born Filipino is one who was born of a Filipino father. (Art. IV, 1935 Constitution) Proposition 3: Grace Poe is a foundling. (Admission) Definition: A foundling is one of unknown parentage, whose birth circumstances are likewise unknown and who is found as an infant. Conclusion 1: Because of the Definition and Proposition 3, then whether or not Ms. Poe complies with Proposition 2 is, at best, doubtful. Now: To say that it is doubtful that Ms. Poe was born of a Filipino father, is to say: “It is possible that she was born of a Filipino

father”. Unfortunately, it is also to say: “It is possible that she was not born of a Filipino father.” Conclusion 2: Proposition 1 is likewise a modal proposition. “To be president of the Philippines, one must be a natural-born Filipino” is, in logical terms, “To be president, it is necessary that one be a natural-born Filipino.” “Necessary” is defined as: It is not possible that it should not be so. (This should be render in symbols, but aware of the general aversion for anything remotely mathematical, I have avoided the symbols.) In other words: For Ms. Poe to be eligible for the presidency, the very possibility that she is not a natural-born Filipino citizen should be excluded. But Conclusion 1 has precisely pointed out that this possibility is not excluded in the case of Ms. Grace Poe. Therefore, she cannot

be eligible for the Presidency. Here is the argument again, this time, in sentential form: To be President of the Philippines, one must be a naturalborn Filipino. Therefore: Owing to the necessity of the requirement, the very possibility that a candidate is not a natural-born Filipino should be excluded. Under the 1935 Constitution, one was natural-born only if one was born of a Filipino father. (For purposes relevant to the present discussion). Ms. Poe is POSSIBLY naturalborn, but AS POSSIBLY not natural-born, precisely because she is a foundling. A foundling is one whose parentage is unknown and whose birth circumstances are unknown, who is found, as an infant. Since one cannot argue from POSSIBILITY (she is possibly

a natural-born Filipino) to NECESSITY (she is necessarily a natural-born Filipino), then she does not comply with the requirement of the Constitution. This is, I willingly admit, as far as the logic goes. Spare me the hogwash that the life of the law is not logic but experience, for while experience goes into the crafting of law, the application of the law has to be logical, otherwise it is unreasonable, and if unreasonable, unfair! I have not yet read the judgment and the separate opinions. When I do so, I hope to see where logic failed me, but until that time, I think that the rules of logic led to one conclusion— one that the Supreme Court did not reach!

SSS once elected. His reasons in privatizing SSS were noticeably focused on stopping those presidential board appointees from getting undeserved fat bonuses. He didn’t even hint, for instance, why our light railway transit system is best operated by a private company. We therefore couldn’t agree with him until we have settled first more profound privatization issues. For starters, SSS would cease to be a “bayanihan” or a social insurance scheme where contribu-

tors pay premiums according to their means, and beneficiaries— pensioners, especially—are paid benefits according to their needs. It would be a “kanya-kanya” system with nobody being obliged to help the weak among us. The poor have to fend for themselves. Privatizing SSS is like converting it into a national savings scheme from which everybody receive back only what they have saved. This is how Pag-IBIG or our national provident fund operates. But a privatized SSS could still work if integrated with a

much-improved social pension scheme. Instead of subsidizing the SSS directly, the government may simply increase to P2,000 the social pensions and entitle all senior citizens including those receiving SSS pensions of P3,000 or less. This would create inequity if those receiving SSS pensions from P3,000 to P5,000 were not entitled to any social pension. Government may thus decree—using the social pension scheme—to raise SSS pensions to a guaranteed P5,000 while providing non-SSS pensioners

P2,500 instead of the present P500. Cong. Sherwin is now a senatorial candidate running under Senator Grace Poe’s “Gobyernong may Puso” slate, which has been flooding us with paid television advertisements promising to improve everybody’s pensions once elected. Cong. Sherwin must thus reconsider his privatization position. Closing his eyes and thinking deeply, he must realize that GP’s pension promise would never materialize under his privatized SSS.

rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Cavs rebound after LeBron rebuke LOS ANGELES —LeBron James scored 25 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from their shock defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies with a 120-111 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

Women’s aquathlon set Sunday THE spirit of International Women’s Month will be highlighted through the endurance tests that around 330 girls and ladies will go through as the 2nd Atleta Ako Women’s Aquathlon fires off at 7:30 a.m. on March 13 (Sunday) at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. Organized by Bike King, headed by Raul Cuevas and presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Atleta Ako, the event’s swim-run format will utilize fully the Philsports Complex’s swimming pool and the track oval. Girls in the 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 age categories will test their skills in the 50 meter swim-600 meter run, 100 meter swim-600 meter run and 200 meter swim-1.8 kilometer run, respectively. Category 13-14 has a 300 M swim-2.2 km run course, while category 15-17 has a 400 M swim-4.2 km run. For participants aged 18 and older of the event supported by Arena, Klean Kanteen, Urban Ashram Yoga, Standard Insurance, TIMEX, Neutrogena, Gatorade, Crayola, Ogalala, Robinsons Supermarket, Dolfin, E-Z laces, Pigeon, Century Tuna, Gardenia, Del Monte, Asian Secrets, Rexona Motion Sense, Casino Ethyl Alcohol, Omega Pain Killer, Merrell and Endurance Sports, they will engage in the standard course of 500 M swim-5 Km run and the petite course of 300 M swim-3 Km run. Relay participants (two per team), meanwhile, will use the standard course. Notable personalities, who signed up are national standout Vicky Deldio, former national champion Sandra Araullo-Gonzalez and Joyce Pring. The relay competition, meanwhile, attracted a total of 14 teams.

LeBron James and JR Smith of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate during the fourth quarter of their game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California. AFP

Energizer triathlon team stamps class SUBIC BAY—The Energizer Tri Team proved to be a force to be reckoned with during the Yellow Cab DIY 2016 Race Series, an Open Water Swim activity which was recently held in ACEA Resort, SBMA. The team represents Energizer Philippines, Inc., a market leader in the batteries and portable lights category driven by its quality and performance. Energizer Tri Team representatives France Gutierrez and Araceli Naval both won 1st and 3rd places in the 1500m distance, respectively. Gutierrez swam for the ages 45-and-above category, while Naval bested other competitors in the 35 to 39 age category. With Team Captain Gerry Gutierrez at the helm, the members of the Energizer Tri Team swam their way through the clear waters of Dungaree Beach towards a strong finish. Meanwhile, the other members of the Energizer Tri Team Joel Pabelico, Richard Panzo, and Ella

Arienda participated in the 2.2km distance swim. The first leg, which was an Open Water Swim competition, is the first of a series of multisports races organized and supported by the YellowCab Pizza and TriClark Triathlon Team. The race was participated in by almost 300 swimmers and triathletes together with their families, friends and supporters. “We support activities like this because it is in line with Energizer’s mission of sharing ‘positivenergy’ through sports and an active lifestyle,” said Claire Guevarra, senior brand manager, Energizer Philippines. While this event marks the team’s first race for 2016, it was also seen as a good open water simulation in preparation for upcoming races like the Tri United 1 scheduled on Feb. 28 and Century 70.3 Ironman set for March 6 in Subic. Also competing in these races are team members, Marl Dario and Xerxes Delgado.

The Energizer Tri Team was created by a group of athletes sharing a common passion—to continuously challenge oneself and strive for personal fitness thru the exacting sports of triathlon thereby, raising awareness of the importance of good health and a healthy lifestyle. “We strongly believe that a group of ordinary people like us, backed by the support of a dynamic, strong and tested brand name such as Energizer, is an embodiment of the company’s advocacy that everyone has the power to make positive impact,” said Team Captain Gutierrez. Energizer Philippines, Inc. has been supporting the Energizer Tri Team since October of 2014. The schedule of activities for the next legs will be announced soon, giving more time for the Energizer Tri Team to prepare for succeeding competitions. This includes the Tri United One 2016, where four members of the Energizer Tri Team will participate.

James had been scathing in his assessment of the Cavaliers’ readiness for the play-offs after Monday’s upset loss to Memphis, warning that his team were a long way from postseason form. However the Cavs made sure there was no repeat defeat against Sacramento, who remain in the lower reaches of the Western Conference with a lot of ground to make up if they are to force their way into the play-offs. Kyrie Irving top scored for the Cavaliers, while James also finished with 11 rebounds and six assists to go with his 25-point haul. The key moment came when Kevin Love drained a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter before drawing a foul. Love converted the fourpoint play to give Cleveland a seven-point lead with 1:32 left that they never looked like relinquishing as they held on to win and improve their record to 45-18. Tristan Thompson also chipped in with 18 points and 15 rebounds as Cleveland went 2 1/2 games clear of the Toronto Raptors at the head of the Eastern Conference. - Quiet Curry night In Oakland meanwhile, Stephen Curry had a relatively low-scoring night but still managed to produce some game-changing longrange magic with team-mate Klay Thompson to help the Golden State Warriors pull clear of the Utah Jazz in a 115-94 victory—their 46th consecutive home win. AFP

Kappel eyes kiteboarding sweep ATTE Kappel guns for a sweep of the Twin Tip Race Masters crown as he headlines the crack international field vying in the final leg of the ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour Season 3 beginning today at the picturesque Cuyo Island in Palawan. The Boracay-based Kappel, with his Flysurfer, strung up three scintillating performances to rule the centerpiece event in Siargao, Boracay and Anguib, Sta. Ana, Cagayan with the ace Swede rider eager to flash his superb riding skills anew to complete his sweep of the four legs of the circuit sponsored by International Container

Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by the Philippine Kiteboarding Association. The three-day event is expected to lure 60 participants clashing for top honors in various events and the overall crown in the annual circuit sponsored by Cabrinha, Coca Cola, Sailor Gerry and Greenyard Boracay. Focus will also be on Christian Tio, the Red Bull-backed world junior No. 2, who skipped the last leg in Anguib but is all primed up for the final event of the country’s pioneering kiteboarding tour backed by local sponsors Cuyo Windsport Association, Buradol Kite Central, Nikki’s Pen-

sion and Municipality of Cuyo. Other foreign riders tipped to contend for the crown are Julia Castro from Spain, Frenchman Louis Hutter and American John Ruffing with the local challenge to come from top riders from Boracay, Puerto Galera, Laguna, Davao and Manila, including Jing Gajisan, Doque delos Santos and Julius Non. Meanwhile, the organizing PKA said the wind forecast this weekend is great, guaranteeing an adrenalinefilled competition for both the riders and spectators in the event which stakes a total prize fund of $10,000 and equipment.

Swede ace Atte Kappel all primed-up for another title romp in Cuyo.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Spieth tempers expectations

Players stunned by Sharapova’s confession INDIAN WELLS—Tennis professionals rocked by Maria Sharapova’s admission that she had failed a drug test are now waiting to see what sanction the Russian superstar will face. Sharapova’s positive test for meldonium was the talk of the locker room as the hardcourt tournament at Indian Wells got under way on Wednesday. Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said she was “shocked” and world number three Agnieszka Radwanska described it as a “sad day for tennis.” Radwanska said she was in the locker room in Indian Wells with a group of WTA players getting ready to train for this week’s tournament in southern California when she heard the news on Monday. “It is a sad day for tennis,” Radwanska said. “Nobody expected that. We are all waiting to see what they are going to do about it.” Czech Kvitova said Sharapova had made a “huge mistake” by not paying more attention to what drugs are on the banned list. “We should all know what we are putting into our body,” she said. “It was a huge mistake and she is taking responsibility for it.” Sharapova revealed on Monday that she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open in January, saying she had taken the circulation-boosting drug used to treat heart ailments since 2006, but had not spotted that it was added to the banned list as of January 1. Sponsors of the world’s highestearning sportswoman immediately distanced themselves, with Nike, Porsche and TAG Heuer all halting their relationships with the former world number one. The five-time Grand Slam winner could face a ban of up to four years, although her lawyer John J. Haggerty told the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday that he believed she can plead mitigating circumstances and receive a lesser punishment. AFP

Japanese Fumika Kawagishi checks the wind, distance and the club to use on the par-3 No. 8

MIAMI—World number one Jordan Spieth heads into his Valspar Championship title defence hoping another solid showing at Innisbrook will boost his momentum for the Masters. The 22-year-old Texan’s playoff triumph on Innisbrook’s Copperhead course in Palm Harbour, Florida, last year was the first of five US PGA Tour wins in 2015 that included two major titles and propelled Spieth to the top of the world rankings. He admitted on Wednesday that after launching 2016 with an eight-shot victory in the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii he had put expectations on himself that were “too high”. He went on to finish fifth in his debut in a regular European Tour event in Abu Dhabi and second in Singapore before missing the cut at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles. He wasn’t a factor in last week’s World Golf Championships event at Doral. “We’ve had a win this year already, but obviously the last few PGA Tour events weren’t up to par with how we were doing before,” Spieth said. AFP

Japanese, Korean forge Champ Tour title faceoff TAGAYTAY—Fumika Kawagishi exploded with an early birdie-binge then eagled No. 10 on her way to a seven-under 65 while former Philippine Ladies Open champion Lee Jeong-hwa shot a 66 as they virtually sealed a title showdown in the ICTSI Champion Tour presented by Champion and Taiwan LPGA here yesterday. The duo bounced back from a pair of mediocre opening 72s to pull away from the field with the 21-year-old Japanese rattling off five birdies in a sixhole stretch from No. 2 to surge past a faltering Mookharin Ladgratok and Kanpahnitnan Muanghkumaskul of Thailand then stayed on top with an ea-

gle-birdie start at the back before running off seven pars for a 32-33 card and a 137. For a while, Kawagishi stood five shots clear off her nearest pursuer until Lee, who humbled the cream of the local crop to snare the Phl Ladies Open crown at Manila Southwoods in 2012, charged home with four

birdies for a 32 and 66 for a 138. Amateur Princess Superal actually seized control with a threebirdie string from No. 2 only to drop off the leaderboard with bogeys on No. 6 and 7. She fought back with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12 but The Country Club ace hit an errant shot on the par-4 13th and wound up with a double-bogey, settling for a 71 and a 143, six strokes off Kawagishi. Taiwanese Chen Yu-ju matched par 72 and tied Superal at third but the Filipina ace took the third slot in the championship flight in a marquee matchup with Kawagishi and Lee. Chen Min-jou, also from Taiwan, double-bogeyed No. 16 for a second 72 and 144 while Ladgratok and Muanghkumaskul, who took the 1-2 posts in the opener

of the $75,000 event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Wednesday, hobbled with 76 and 75, respectively, and tumbled to joint sixth at 145 with fellow Thai Chorphaka Jaengkit, local ace Mia Piccio and Korean Kang Ji-won, who all carded 72s, Taiwanese Shih, Huei-ju and Symetra Tour campaigner Dottie Ardina, who both turned in 73s. LPGA Tour campaigner Cyna Rodriguez hardly recovered from a 76 with a 74 for a 150 and bowed out of contention in the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by adidas, Custom Clubmakers, KZG, TaylorMade, Champion, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Pacsports, Sharp and Rustans Supermarket.

Rider teams up with pro triathletes TOP Brazilian footwear brand Rider announced its partnership to professional triathlon team Rider Omega Pro Tri-Team as it competes in a series of races both local and international. The Cebu-based triathlon team is composed of top-tier local tri-athletesincluding Paul Jake Castillo, Tonyson Luther Lee, Frederick Castañeda, Jeffrey Codino, Alton Amor, Franz Baguio, Christopher Capistrano, Steve Cortes, Johny II Ferniz, Reiner Englis, AllistairPatiño, Alton Lorenzo Amor, Sean Yu, Clive Jude Baguio, Jezryl Villarete, Mendel Lopez, Ryan Capuno, Fr. Joseph Larida, Feelin “En” Torres, Rachel Rae Ngo, Lorna Amor and

Rashell Cabrera. Completing the 28-man team are former members of professional triathlon team Alaska Tri-Aspire including Banjo Norte of Cagayan de Oro City, Kristiane Lim of Cebu and Paul Jumamil of Tagbilaran City. Also added in the roster are local elites like Cianyl Gonzalez, Lorihiz Lopez and Welmar Saavedra. “Rider’s existence is deeply rooted from a culture that celebrates an active, outdoor lifestyle and a spirit of freedom and self-expression,” says Rider Marketing Manager Cecille Loretizo. “And as a brand that is designed for extreme sports, we think of no better way to highlight our culture than by

supporting Rider Omega Pro Tri-Team in their upcoming races both local and international.” Founded in 1986, the brand has taken inspiration from extreme sports and great outdoors. With this in mind, Rider has been making durable f lip f lops and sandals for men, women and kids for almost three decades. Rider Omega Pro-Tri Team is all set to reach the finish line in its upcoming races for the first half of the year including the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay on March 6, Dipolog Centennial Triathlon on May 15, Rider Dip N Dash Aquathlon, Cebu on May 21, and Tabuelan 111 on

Rider Marketing Team Cecille Loretizo and Maricel Paderes (standing, 9th and 10th from left) join professional triathlon team Rider Omega Pro Tri-Team.

June 5. The second half of 2016 is going to be jam-packed for the team as they will also participate in the following activities: Tri United 2 on July 3, Cobra

Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship on August 7, and Tri United 3, Subic Bay Olongapo. Rider footwear is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by ELRO

Retail Corporation. For more information about Rider and the brand’s initiatives, check out its official Facebook account https://www.facebook.com/ RiderPhilippines.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Juico wants 8 deleted events reinstated By Peter Atencio

SANCTIONS may be imposed, boycotts could take place and a separate regional championship could be organized as a consequence if all eight events deleted in athletics are not reinstated in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games. Philippine Athletics Track and Field president Philip Ella Juico said this after attending an execu-

tive council meeting of the Philippine Olympic Committee last Wednesday.

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Juico, who submitted a letter of appeal to the POC last week, said organizers in Malaysia must realize that events like decathlon, heptathlon, men’s and women’s marathon, the 3000-meter steeplechase and the 10,000 meter should always be in the calendar. “Hind ba dapat? It’s not a new game, they’re not parlor games that are being introduced. It’s an ancient tradition to have them. It’s the basis of all sports,” said Juico in an interview with The Standard. Organizers of the 29th Games met two weeks ago in Kuala Lumpur, ratifying the initial list of 34 sports and 342 events, with ice hockey and ice skating added for the first time. Futsal, a form of five-a-side football, is there, while heptathlon and 3,000 meters were among other athletics’ events scrapped, along with Olympic staples fencing, judo and canoeing.

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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.

DENR-NCR Building, National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY

National Capital Region

INVITATION TO BID PROJECT

DESIGN AND BUILD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF VISITORS’ CENTER AND BOARDWALK MASTER SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR LAS PINAS-PARANAQUE CRITICAL HABITAT AND ECOTOURISM AREA (LPPCHEA)

LOCATION

LAS PINAS-PARANAQUE CRITICAL HABITAT AND ECOTOURISM AREA (LPPCHEA)

OWNER

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES –NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) through FY 2015 Budget and its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) intends to apply the sum of SEVEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED PESOS (Php7,600,000.00), hereby invites all Contractors to submit Letters of Intent (LOI) and to Bid for the abovestated Project: PROJECT DESCRIPTION

SCOPE OF WORK

DESIGN AND BUILT

DESIGN AND BUILD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF VISITORS’ CENTER AND BOARDWALK

Invitation to Bid The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2016 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment for the following contract: Ref. No.

Projects

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Duration (c.d.)

Required PCAB License

Work Description

2016 -03159

Riprapping Works at Phase VIII, Bagong Silang Project, Caloocan City

5,968,586.23 Corporate Receipts

At least Cat.“C” and “D” & Small “B” for Irrigation & Flood Control

Repair of Riprap Slope Protection

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited project. Completion of the works is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed a single contract similar to the project costing at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/authorized official representatives or employees of the bidder who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific project, Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and upon Cash Payment of non-refundable fee of P6,000.00 at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting on March 11, 2016. The BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel/Fax No. 928-8272. The NHA will hold a Pre-bid Conference on March 22, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN ONLY to bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City not later than 9:00 a.m. on the date specified below. -

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT Php7,600,000.00

MASTER SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR LAS PINAS-PARANAQUE CRITICAL HABITAT AND ECOTOURISM AREA (LPPCHEA) Eligibility Requirements or Complete Set of Pre-qualification forms and Bid Documents will be available for issuance at the Procurement Section /BAC Secretariat, 3rd Floor (Mezzanine), DENR-NCR Building, National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City with telephone number 3734399. A non-refundable fee of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php10,000.00). All particulars relative to the bidding process, such as Eligibility Screening, Posting of Bid Security, Evaluation and Post-Qualifications shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Given hereunder is the schedule of the Bidding Process, to wit: ACTIVITY Publication -

PHILGEPS DENR-NCR Web Manila Standard

DATE AND TIME

VENUE

February 23, 2016 February 23, 2016 March 10, 2016

Submission of Letter of Intent

March 10 to March 27, 2016

Procurement Section / BAC Secretariat, 3rdFlr., Mezzanine Floor, DEBR-NCR Bldg., East Avenue, Quezon City

Issuance of Bidding Documents

March 10 to March 27, 2016

G S S / B A C - S e c r e t a r i a t , 3 r d F l r. , Mezzanine Floor, DEBR-NCR Bldg., East Avenue, Quezon City

Pre-Bid Conference

March 17, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

Conference Room, National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City

Submission of Eligibility Documents and Technical Proposal (First Envelope)

March 28, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

-Do-

First Step Evaluation

March 29, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

Do -

Preparation, Approval and Tender of Notice

March 30, 2016

Submission of Financial Proposal and Determination of Lowest Calculated Bid (LCB)

April 5, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

Conference Room, National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City

Post-Qualification of the LCB

April 6, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

Conference Room, National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City

Preparation and Approval of Minutes and Resolutions

April 7-8, 2016

Awarding

April 11, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

Preparation and Approval of Notice of Award (NOA)

April 12, 2016

Issuance of NOA

April 13, 2016

Preparation and Approval of Contract

April 14, 2016

Preparation and Approval of Notice to Proceed (NTP)

April 15, 2016

Issuance of NTP

April 18, 2016

Conference Room, National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City

In addition to the requirements set forth in Sec. 25.3 (b) of the IRR of R.A. 9184, the following additional documents shall be submitted :

Schedule of Opening of Bid A p r i l 5 , 2 016

Juico felt that the non-inclusion of the eight events is considered a disrespect to the Olympic movement. If they are added in the coming months, Juico sad the PATAFA may be forced to withdraw its participation the athletics’ meet. As vice president of the Asian Athletics Association, Juico added that he will encourage membercountries not to send athletes as well and seek sanctions to those who will not comply. He added that they will ask the AAA to stage regional championship at the same time when the Games are held. There were other sports disciplines, which had reduction in events, and these include wushu, boxing, weightlifting, tennis, volleyball, cycling and rugby. There are other Olympic sports which were scrapped, including rowing, triathlon, dragon boat and wrestling.

R e f. N o. 2 016 - 0 3 -15 9

a.) Preliminary Conceptual Design Plans; b.) Design and Construction methods; c.) List of design and construction personnel to be assigned to this project with complete qualification and experience data; and d.) Value engineering analysis of design and construction method

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and amount as stated in Bid Data Sheet (BDS). Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bids will be opened promptly on the above bidding date in the presence of participating bidders or their duly authorized representatives who chose to attend. Bids Prices shall be fixed. Adjustable price proposals shall be treated as non-responsive and shall be rejected.

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

All bids must be accompanied by a corresponding security bid bond in the form of Cash, Manager’s Check, Certified Check, Bank Draft or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency, or Surety Bond callable on demand issued by the GSIS or by any private insurance company duly accredited by the Insurance Commission and submitted to the undersigned c/o BAC Secretariat on the Bidding date. DENR-NCR reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior of contract, waive any defects therein, accept the bid, and award the contract to the bidder with the lowest, calculated and responsive bid. The office assumes no responsibility to compensate or indemnify the bidder for any expense or loss that may be incurred for the preparation of bids, nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.

(SGD) VICTOR C. BALBA Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City

16 February 2016. ( T S - M A R ,11, 2 016)

(TS-MAR. 11, 2015)

(SGD) ARD SOFIO B. QUINTANA, PhD, CESO IV Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee

Atlas: Pacman good as new By Ronnie Nathanielsz VETERAN trainer Teddy Atlas, who is preparing Timothy Bradley for his third encounter with eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, said he didn’t see any influence from injury in the Filipino’s fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. “When he (Pacquiao) had to throw that hand, he did without wincing or discomfort. As for age, I haven’t seen any dissipation and I don’t expect any now,” said Atlas. Both Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach claimed that Pacquiao aggravated a rotator cuff tear on his right shoulder in the fourth round of his “Fight of the Century” against unbeaten poundfor-pound king Mayweather Jr. last May 2. He underwent arthroscopic surgery five days later, but there have been those who have been skeptical of the injury claims. In an interview on Boxing Scene, Atlas said: “Speed and power are always the key for Pacquiao—that makes him dynamic. For us, speed will be an important part of the equations, but calculated and controlled speed.” Pacquiao insider Joe Ramos told The Standard that he had watched Manny train in General Santos City for the past week and indicated he was in terrific shape, showed remarkable speed and punching power. Asked what he saw in the first two Bradley fights against Pacquiao which he would like to change in their third encounter, Atlas said they need to “Eliminate situations where Timmy is hit with lefts—either off the jab or leads. In the second fight, although I know Tim was injured, Pacquiao was able to walk him down and we can’t allow that.” He indicated he is preparing Bradley “for the ultimate Pacquiao.” Atlas also said that after watching tapes of the first two fights and noting Bradley’s mistakes, Atlas said Bradley “must not allow Pacquiao “to control the pace or rhythm of the fight.” The Pacquiao-Bradley trilogy is scheduled at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 10, Manila Time.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Pagara headlines fight card in San Francisco By Ronnie Nathanielsz UNBEATEN super bantamweight Prince Albert Pagara will headline the ALA Promotions’ fight card at the San Mateo Events Center in San Francisco on July 9, but no opponent has been finalized yet. However, ALA Promotions’ president Michael Aldeguer told The Standard they are looking at Cesar Juarez and Juan Carlos Sanchez (the former IBF super flyweight champion).

Juarez lost his battle for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title to Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire last Dec. 11 in Puerto Rico and then dropped a 10-round split decision to Giovanni Delgado last March 5 on the Antonio Margarito undercard. Aldeguer also informed The Standard that Chris Avalos, who will battle another promising, unbeaten ALA fighter Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo in a featherweight clash on the un-

dercard of the big Donaire title defense against No. 4-ranked former Hungarian Olympian Zsolt Bedak at the Cebu Sports Center on April 23, “has signed the contract already so it’s a done deal.” “Avalos wants to be in Cebu a week before the fight,” said Aldeguer of the move, which heightens interest in a crucial showdown for Magsayo. Aldeguer also said that he and Zanfer Promotions have verbally agreed on a title defense by WBO

light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion against Mexican Raul “Rayito” Garcia, the twin brother of Raul Garcia Hirales, from whom Nietes won the vacant title in Bacolod City on Oct. 8, 2011. “Rayito” Garcia is aiming to avenge his twin brother’s loss when they face off on May 28 in Bacolod City, where the title fight will be held in response to numerous requests by the hometown fans of Nietes.

Ronda PH tries to discover new talents BAGO CITY—The LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016 goes to the Visayas region in search of more cycling talents with the staging of the Visayas Leg, unfurling with the Stage 1 criterium that will start and end here today.

Riders from the Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance are among the cyclists to watch out for in the Visayas leg of the Ronda Pilipinas 2016.

Wildcats, Lady Engineers bag UCLAA cage titles THE National College of Business and Arts Wildcats kept the men’s division title, while the Technological Institute of the Philippines Lady Engineers took a shorter route to retain the women’s honors last Monday at the end of the 8th University and Colleges of Luzon Athletic Association volleyball tournament at the Marikina Sports Complex. The Wildcats bounced back from two sets down and stopped the PATTS College of Aeronautics Sea Horses, 21-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-21, 15-8, in Game 2 to complete a 2-game sweep of their best-of-three championship series. Frontline plays by Gabo Nidua, Daryl Valenzuela and Jayson Canlas gave the Wildcats a chance to move ahead in the fourth set, 24-21. In the final set, Edgar Lumachay hit a pair of aces, shattering a 7-all deadlock and touching off a deciding 6-0 blast. “The boys worked hard to win the last three sets. I gave them challenges after they lost the first two sets,” said NCBA coach Jun Balubar. Meanwhile, the Lady Engineers pounced on big lapses in the fourth set to repulse the NCBA Lady Wildcats, 25-15, 22-25, 25-11, 2514, and emerge unbeaten after nine games. This gave them the women’s plum for a fourth consecutive time. Alyssa Layug, a transferee from the Univer-

Members of the NCBA Wildcats flash the no. 1 sign after taking the men’s title.

sity of the Philippines, struck hardest in the final set for the Lady Engineers. She scored five points on attacks during the set, including two aces that gave TIP an 11-point lead, 23-12. “We recovered with our defense in the third set. Their blocking, offense and attacks finally

worked well in the final set,” said TIP coach Boy Paril on the Lady Engineers’ four-peat feat. In the battle for third, Asian Institute of Maritime Studies fought off Colegio de San Lorenzo, 25-16, 25-17, 25-18, in the men’s side, while CDSL won over PATTS, 25-17, 25-15, 25-23, in the women’s action.

While attention will focus on big guns George Oconer of LBC-MVP Sports Foundation developmental team and Mindanao Leg winner Jan Paul Morales and his powerhouse Navy-Standard Insurance team, organizers are also setting their eyes on young riders, who are oozing with potential. James Paolo Ferfas and Renlan Maglantay were the biggest discoveries thus far after the two came through with noticeable performances in the Mindanao Leg in Butuan, Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon last month. Ferfas, 22, wound up in the Top 10 overall while Maglantay, 18, in the Top 20 despite competing under-equipped. LBC and MVP Sports Foundation didn’t waste time rewarding Ferfas and Maglantay, who received racing gears like helmet, racing shoes, gloves and socks, while being loaned competition bikes worth P400,000. The campaign of Ferfas and Maglantay will also be bankrolled by LBC and LBC Express. “We want to use LBC Ronda Pilipinas as not only to give our local riders some additional income, but to also discover talents from the far-flung areas like Mindanao and the Visayas,” said Ronda project director and LBC Sports Development head Moe Chulani. This early, the 22-year-old Oconer has emerged one of the favorites after he ended up second to last year’s champion Santy Barnachea, third in Ronda’s first0ever edition in 2011 and fourth two years ago. Morales is another cyclist to watch after he and his fellow Navymen dominated the Mindanao Leg. “It will be a team effort because he (Oconer) and his team are strong too,” said Morales. Mark Julius Bonzo, Rustom Lim, Ronald Lomotos and Jerry Aquino, Jr. are Oconer’s teammates, while Navy skipper Lloyd Lucien Reynante, Ronald Oranza, Rudy Roque, Joel Calderon and brothers Daniel Ven and El Joshua Carino are backstopping Morales. The race resumes on Sunday with another criterium in Stage 2 in Iloilo City in a lap that will coincide with Iloilo Bike Festival.

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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

Lilet Mabbayad of F2 Logistics smashes one against Petron’s Maica Morada and Mary Grace Masangkay. ROMAN PROSPERO

Bolts try to keep hold on lead; Narvasa is CEO By Jeric Lopez

THE Philippine Basketball Association announced late Wednesday night that it had elevated commissioner Chito Narvasa to the position of Chief Executive Officer, the post vacated by erstwhile league chair Chito Salud when he resigned late last year. Prior to this promotion of Narvasa, PBA Chairman Robert Non took over the CEO role on a temporary basis. Now, Narvasa is expected to do a dual-role and fulfill the duties of both commissioner and CEO for the league. As commissioner, Narvasa monitors happenings in the games’ aspect on a daily basis, while as CEO, he will be tasked to lead the administrative and

Cavs rebound after LeBron rebuke TURN TO A12

marketing side of the league as well. Meanwhile, action continues in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup with two of the top three teams taking part. League-leading Meralco (5-1) wants to keep its place at the top and bounce back as well when it goes up against sister team NLEX (2-3) at 4:15 p.m. to start things off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Following this up to third and it’ll Games Friday is a battle of Golibe a tough task for (Smart Araneta Coliseum): aths as rivals San the Elasto Paint4:15 p.m. - Meralco vs. NLEX Miguel Beer (3-1), 7 p.m. - Rain or Shine vs. San Miguel ers especially with red hot with three the duo of SMB straight wins, and Rain or Shine import Tyler Wilkerson and June (2-3), collide at 7 p.m. in the main Mar Fajardo now playing in full attraction. force. The surprising Bolts saw their But a possible win against San rousing start halted by the Beer- Miguel Beer could be just what men, 94-86, last Saturday in an Rain or Shine needs to finally get its act going. out-of-town game in Legaspi City. The Painters have struggled Meralco is now looking to get its bearings back against an thus far this conference and are inconsistent NLEX squad that in desperate need of another win needs a win to remain in the to remain in contention. thick of things. The positive note for Rain or San Miguel is looking like a Shine is that star Paul Lee, who champion team, whose machine has yet to play a game this conference due to an injury, is most is well-oiled at this stage. The Beermen have shown likely to make his return against dominance with their current San Miguel Beer, according to winning run as they have moved Painters’ coach Yeng Guiao.

Korean, Japanese forge golf title duel TURN TO A13

Tri-Activ Spikers rip Cargo Movers By Peter Atencio THE Petron Games Saturday Tri-Activ Spik(Batangas City) ers found a 1 p.m. New San Jose vs Petron way to neutralize top hitter 3 p.m. F2 vs Cignal Aby Marano Thursday at the start of the second round of the 2016 PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga Invitational women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan City. The Tri-Activ Spikers tried to keep the ball away from Marano’s reach most of the time and it worked as Petron went on to post a 25-14, 2515, 25-16 beating of the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers. “Kilala namin ang laro niya. Hindi siya makapalo. Nilalagay namin ang bola sa blind side niya,” said Tri-Activ coach George Pascua. It was the Tri-Activ Spikers’ first victory in the opening match of the second classification round as they drew 12 points from Shiela May Pineda. The Cargo Movers, with Marano limited to eight points, absorbed their second setback. They now have a 2-2 record after ending the first classification round with a 2-1 slate. A pair of aces from Carmina Aganon and Maica Morada put Petron ahead, 16-8 , in the second set. Aiza Maizo-Pontillas’ hit, followed by a block allowed Petron to gain a 10-point advantage, 18-8. Stepping up with their serves in the third set, Petron hardly sweated it out as they took an 8-3 advantage. A combination of plays at the front and back from Aganon and Pineda kept Petron ahead, 13-5.

FRIDAY: MARCH 11, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Bloomberry donates P100m. Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. donates P100 million to fund the procurement of 21st century audio-visual technologies for the

National Museum of Natural History. The Philippines’ new museum, one of the largest natural history museums in Asia, joins the ranks of other museums in the world that will use state-of-the-art technologies to create a more engaging and more immersive visitor experience. Shown are (from left) Ellan Mark Pailan of BCFI; Jose Eduardo Alarilla, BCFI board trustee; Donato Almeda, BCFI president; Jeremy Barns, National Museum director; Teresita Vista, National Museum chief cashier; and Linricon Absuelo, National Museum ofﬁcer-in-charge for ﬁnance and administration.

Factory production in January rose 34% By Gabrielle H. Binaday

FACTORY output soared 34 percent in January from a year ago, on higher food and chemical production, signaling a good start for the economy in the first quarter, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Thursday. PSA said in its monthly integrated survey of selected industries the growth in the volume of production index accelerated from 4.9 percent in December 2015 and 2.6 percent in January 2015. The National Economic and Development Authority said the growth in the manufacturing sector started strong in 2016, as production of chemical products

jumped 312 percent year-on-year, while food output climbed 20 percent. “The manufacturing sector is expected to grow more strongly for the year ahead following moderate growth in 2015, on account of weak global demand and adverse weather conditions,” said Economic Planning Secretary and Neda director-general Emmanuel Esguerra.

The value of production index also recovered from last year’s decline to post a robust growth of 26.5 percent in January. Standard Chartered Bank economist Jeff Ng said the growth in factory output showed the domestic demand was stronger compared to the external demand. Strong domestic demand enabled the country’s gross domestic product to grow 5.8 percent in 2015, below the government’s target of 7 percent to 8 percent. “This shows that domestic demand remains stronger compared to external demand. We still see a two-speed economy with domestic economic activities likely to cushion against external volatility,” Ng said in an e-mailed state-

ment. Esguerra said he remained bullish for the second quarter, on higher election-related spending and the roll-out of infrastructure projects. “Continued implementation of projects under the public-private partnership and stronger domestic demand during the summer season will further support the growth in manufacturing sector,” said Esguerra. Food manufactures posted a double-digit growth of 20.2 in terms of volume and 19.1 percent in value of production, after a year of decline. Tobacco maintained its strength, growing in volume and value of production by 49.4 percent and 49.6 percent, respectively.

Ayala Corp.’s proﬁt climbed 20% to P22.3b in 2015 By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said Thursday net income climbed 20 percent in 2015 to P22.3 billion from a year ago, lifted by the solid performance of real estate, telecommunications and power generation units. Ayala’s 2015 profit exceeded the company’s P20-billion income target. Ayala said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it earmarked P174 billion in capital expenditures for 2016, primarily to support the growth of real estate and telecom businesses.

It said minus the capital gains from the partial sale of AC Energy’s stake in North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp. in 2015 and the divestment from Stream Global Services in the previous year, net earnings grew 24 percent yearon-year. Equity earnings contribution from business units Ayala Land Inc., Globe Telecom Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands and Manila Water Co. Inc. reached P28 billion in 2015, up 13 percent from 2014. Consolidated revenues, including the combined revenues of subsidiaries and share in

earnings from associates, surpassed the P200 billion-mark, increasing by 11 percent from a year ago. “We achieved a number of milestones as a group in the past year, with most of our major businesses continuing to perform well. In 2015, we strengthened our growing portfolio of power and infrastructure investments, with various projects coming to fruition,” Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala said. Zobel said the group entered the healthcare space in 2015, with

the acquisition of a 50-percent interest in pharmaceutical chain Generika. It also deepened its presence in education via Apec Schools, a fast-growing chain of low-cost private secondary schools it co-owned with UKbased Pearson Plc. The conglomerate also continues to invest in power and infrastructure sectors. Unit AC Energy currently has an attributable capacity of 600 megawatts in its portfolio of conventional and renewable power projects which are currently in operations and under construction.

PSe comPoSite index Closing March 10, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,048.08 99.90

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing March 10, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.700

44.00

43.00

HIGH P46.695 LOW P46.820 AVERAGE P46.744 VOLUME 676.800M

P400.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank P30.00-P39.32 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P19.25-P22.75 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, March 10, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.9400

Japan

Yen

0.008825

0.4142

Pound

1.422000

66.7487

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128771

6.0445

Switzerland

Franc

1.003009

47.0812

Canada

Dollar

0.754774

35.4291

Singapore

Dollar

0.723641

33.9677

Australia

Dollar

0.748500

35.1346

Bahrain

Dinar

2.658090

124.7707

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266745

12.5210

Brunei

Dollar

0.721033

33.8453

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028337

1.3301

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.7812

Euro

1.100100

51.6387

Korea

Won

0.000827

0.0388

China

Yuan

0.153539

7.2071

India

Rupee

0.014899

0.6994

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.242660

11.3905

New Zealand

Dollar

0.665100

31.2198

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030480

1.4307 Source: PDS Bridge

FRIDAY: MARCH 11, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Thursday, March 10, 2016

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

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

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

3.04 45.15 101.00 83.80 36.5 2.75 1.44 14.14 15.18 6.65 1.78 581.50 0.590 80 0.94 14.90 52.10 98 275 32.85 146.8 1295.00 57.45 1.55

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 85 36 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 15.32 20.2 10.08 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 1.3 2.17

1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 161 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 0.640 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 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 Mabuhay Vinyl Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp. Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Vitarich Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

43.95 5.3 0.7 1.51 10.5 171.00 17.8 59.5 18.82 2.35 5.55 11.94 8.690 7.86 6.18 6.90 1.6 19.9 61.75 12.00 13.82 5.5 2.630 226.00 10.28 2.6 26.45 17.06 5.93 327.00 3.97 3.28 10.44 2.91 11.54 4.10 1.59 2.71 3.95 155 3.9 2.41 0.157 1.20 2.43 204 0.86 1.14

0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5

0.44 48.1 20.85 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 5.3

76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435

49.55 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 80 0.211 0.179

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anscor À’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. IPM Holdings JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries

0.380 60.20 15.40 6.10 0.255 0.255 738 7.5 12.88 5 4.90 0.208 1356 5.95 9.80 74.20 5.45 0.68 15.48 0.485 5.74 0.0310 1.430 1.960 78.60 2.3 920.00 1.16 169.500 0.3150 0.2060

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev.

7.270 7.80 0.92 1.550 34.200 3.19 5.12 0.540 0.96

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

SHARES 16,622,791 118,636,787 101,755,577 158,227,981 266,548,439 369,900,507 1,042,722,054

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.06 2.85 45.25 44.6 103.00 101.40 85.70 83.75 37 36.2 3.00 2.76 1.50 1.42 14.3 14 15.3 15.18 6.90 6.90 1.78 1.71 581.50 581.50 0.600 0.580 81.8 79.6 0.95 0.92 14.90 14.90 53.00 52.15 102 96.5 280 269 33 32.35 151 146.8 1310.00 1290.00 57.50 57.20 1.55 1.55 INDUSTRIAL 44.05 43.65 5.33 5.2 0.72 0.69 1.52 1.49 11 10.5 170.00 145.00 17.94 17.76 59.5 59.5 18.96 18.64 2.38 2.31 6.43 5.55 12.54 12.2 9.050 8.700 8.08 7.85 6.35 6.15 6.99 6.83 1.55 1.53 21.4 20 63.95 61.75 12.00 12.00 14.00 13.62 5.55 5.49 2.750 2.660 231.00 226.00 10.48 10.28 2.9 2.88 26.8 26.4 17.2 16.92 5.95 5.93 329.20 326.20 4.00 4.00 3.44 3.27 10.52 10.36 3.3 3.3 11.60 11.52 4.20 4.12 1.67 1.54 2.81 2.67 4.00 3.95 161 155 3.7 3.7 2.49 2.41 0.166 0.158 1.19 1.14 2.44 2.37 204 200.6 0.86 0.81 1.19 1.12 HOLDING FIRMS 0.380 0.350 61.10 60.05 16.20 15.40 6.20 6.08 0.270 0.255 0.270 0.260 763.5 738.5 7.74 7.49 13.00 12.86 5 4.9 5.02 4.89 0.229 0.225 1402 1356 6.05 5.73 9.78 9.73 74.80 73.45 5.88 5.45 0.7 0.68 16.26 15.48 0.485 0.485 5.9 5.75 0.0320 0.0310 1.230 1.230 2.010 1.950 7835.00 78.00 2.30 2.30 948.00 920.00 1.20 1.15 169.900 164.000 0.3250 0.3100 0.2180 0.2070 PROPERTY 7.280 7.240 7.80 6.92 0.94 0.90 1.570 1.500 35.000 33.750 3.2 3.02 5.27 5.14 0.57 0.540 0.97 0.97

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.97 45.25 102.50 84.90 36.55 2.80 1.42 14.1 15.2 6.90 1.78 581.50 0.580 81.5 0.95 14.90 52.50 102 271.2 32.9 150.1 1310.00 57.25 1.55

-2.30 0.22 1.49 1.31 0.14 1.82 -1.39 -0.28 0.13 3.76 0.00 0.00 -1.69 1.88 1.06 0.00 0.77 4.08 -1.38 0.15 2.25 1.16 -0.35 0.00

196,000 18,800 3,993,620 2,600,730 832,700 138,000 407,000 20,800 166,600 400 17,000 50 822,000 5,546,450 131,000 9,500 43,170 7,890 720 159,900 1,444,440 145 63,420 1,000

43.7 5.33 0.7 1.5 10.8 170.00 17.78 59.5 18.84 2.38 6.2 12.3 8.970 7.85 6.25 6.99 1.55 21.25 63.25 12.00 13.72 5.5 2.720 230.00 10.48 2.9 26.75 17 5.95 327.00 4.00 3.42 10.46 3.3 11.54 4.18 1.61 2.71 4.00 160 3.7 2.46 0.163 1.15 2.41 202.4 0.84 1.19

-0.57 0.57 0.00 -0.66 2.86 -0.58 -0.11 0.00 0.11 1.28 11.71 3.02 3.22 -0.13 1.13 1.30 -3.13 6.78 2.43 0.00 -0.72 0.00 3.42 1.77 1.95 11.54 1.13 -0.35 0.34 0.00 0.76 4.27 0.19 13.40 0.00 1.95 1.26 0.00 1.27 3.23 -5.13 2.07 3.82 -4.17 -0.82 -0.78 -2.33 4.39

2,379,300 871,400 135,000 227,000 4,300 5,410 1,118,100 170 76,300 480,000 11,578,600 450,900 7,428,900 5,973,700 24,074,800 78,700 15,000 9,128,700 357,380 2,100 95,400 35,000 2,658,000 1,424,890 9,000 18,000 774,400 436,100 114,500 117,340 6,000 476,000 3,944,200 10,000 13,300 1,052,000 178,000 259,000 2,271,000 23,720 4,000 143,000 17,180,000 45,000 2,809,000 880,570 19,195,000 48,000

0.350 60.30 16.10 6.08 0.270 0.270 754.5 7.6 12.90 4.9 4.96 0.229 1381 5.73 9.78 74.80 5.81 0.69 15.94 0.485 5.89 0.0310 1.230 1.960 78.00 2.3 940.00 1.16 164.000 0.3100 0.2070

-7.89 0.17 4.55 -0.33 5.88 5.88 2.24 1.33 0.16 -2.00 1.22 10.10 1.84 -3.70 -0.20 0.81 6.61 1.47 2.97 0.00 2.61 0.00 -13.99 0.00 -0.76 0.00 2.17 0.00 -3.24 -1.59 0.49

1,770,000 1,334,850 13,112,100 20,900 1,790,000 1,250,000 538,870 1,341,400 4,713,600 35,000 459,000 360,000 254,350 7,200 2,205,000 1,810,920 17,716,600 12,000 4,999,700 120,000 30,488,400 13,000,000 1,000 699,000 342,510 2,000 231,330 447,000 82,150 1,270,000 1,130,000

7.250 7.80 0.90 1.500 34.950 3.16 5.14 0.550 0.97

-0.28 0.00 -2.17 -3.23 2.19 -0.94 0.39 1.85 1.04

249,100 600 2,269,000 322,000 6,607,400 1,578,000 40,000 13,934,000 22,000

754,630.00 53,275,965 -11,115,087.00

-14,020.00 -470,960.00

58,118,393.00 863,895.00 3,670,275 60,986,882.00 129,000.00 -1,848,044.50 25,897,385.00 -35,750.00

18,831,270.00

6,555,772.00 3,860,860.00 17,947,816.00 -18,157,243.00 -12,108,957.00 -68,918.00 -3,100.00 40,329,950.00 2,014,787.00 -279,000.00 -21,999.00 -663,850.00 88,917,768.00 -6,087,460.00 2,390,028.00 59,300.00 -10,039,774.00 454,900.00 6,889,978.00 -810,950.00 -4,710.00 669,090.00 -2,784,090.00

3,852,770.00 54,361,380.00 979,350.00 36,700.00 40,408,307.50 -69,230,824.00 -45,140.00 54,250.00 -31,556,540.00 1,415,628.00 -15,112,354.00 1,144,680.00 112,716,415.00 32,790,312.00 -11,850,426.00 -19,138,594.00 -69,038,321.00

-9,364,354.00 -2,300.00 79,778,200.00

181,973.00 3,899.00 -6,580.00 61,007,865.00 -374,410.00 9,350.00

52 Weeks

High Low 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

STOCKS

0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1 11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9 0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016 70 553 525 120 515 8.21 12.28 111 1060 1047 84.8

6.98 15 12.88 130.7

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,552.75 (up) 21.04 INDUSTRIAL 11,563.54 (up) 69.38 HOLDING FIRMS 6,937.13 (up) 118.68 PROPERTY 2,913.63 (up) 41.64 SERVICES 1,403.34 (up) 26.29 MINING & OIL 11,186.73 (down) 55.33 PSEI 7,048.08 (up) 99.90 All Shares Index 4,069.87 (up) 47.50 Gainers: 130; Losers: 52; Unchanged: 39; Total: 221

1.000 0.127 0.520 33.85 0.860 0.159 0.95 1.63 1.27 3.74 4.07 0.096 0.2300 8.48 28.00 1.49 3.14 21.45 0.82 5.5 1.030 4.460

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,345,692,765.15 1,362,564,560.74 1,920,427,548.03 925,508,701.61 1,518,238,888.326 159,345,177.675 7,424,670,672.036

Low

1.100 0.980 1.100 0.128 0.125 0.128 0.550 0.490 0.490 34.3 32.75 33.95 0.870 0.860 0.860 0.155 0.146 0.155 0.98 0.95 0.96 1.66 1.63 1.66 1.26 1.25 1.26 3.74 3.74 3.74 4.14 4.04 4.09 0.099 0.094 0.099 0.2350 0.2340 0.2350 8.49 8.45 8.49 28.45 26.00 28.00 1.5 1.48 1.49 3.13 3.09 3.13 21.95 21.30 21.75 0.85 0.82 0.83 5.4 5.4 5.4 1.030 0.990 0.990 4.500 4.480 4.500 SERVICES 1.97 2GO Group’ 6.85 7.2 6.9 7.2 35.2 ABS-CBN 54.65 54.8 54.55 54.6 0.63 APC Group, Inc. 0.500 0.580 0.510 0.540 10.5 Asian Terminals Inc. 10.22 10.3 10.22 10.3 8.6 Bloomberry 4.60 5.00 4.56 4.85 0.0770 Boulevard Holdings 0.0580 0.0610 0.0580 0.0580 2.95 Calata Corp. 3.14 3.25 3.1 3.2 56.1 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 86.45 87.9 86.3 87.45 10.14 Centro Esc. Univ. 9.6 9.9 9.61 9.9 4.8 DFNN Inc. 6.36 6.36 6.27 6.27 2.58 Easy Call “Common” 3.20 3.19 3.19 3.19 830 FEUI 960 956 956 956 1600 Globe Telecom 1719 1751 1711 1747 5.95 GMA Network Inc. 6.65 6.70 6.65 6.70 1.23 Harbor Star 1.25 1.35 1.24 1.32 102.6 I.C.T.S.I. 61 63.85 61.05 63.85 8.72 IPeople Inc. À’ 11.3 11.3 11.3 11.3 0.041 Island Info 0.211 0.220 0.211 0.214 1.200 ISM Communications 1.3800 1.4500 1.2900 1.3300 2.34 Jackstones 2.15 2.19 2.1 2.19 6.5 Leisure & Resorts 7.72 7.92 7.72 7.90 1.91 Liberty Telecom 4.40 4.43 4.27 4.36 1.95 Macroasia Corp. 2.72 2.75 2.73 2.74 0.650 Manila Bulletin 0.570 0.570 0.570 0.570 1.8 Manila Jockey 1.86 1.9 1.87 1.87 6 Melco Crown 2.32 2.6 2.3 2.55 Metro Retail 3.76 3.84 3.66 3.76 0.335 MG Holdings 0.280 0.290 0.270 0.275 0.37 NOW Corp. 0.830 0.880 0.830 0.830 14.54 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 17.12 17.2 17.1 17.2 3 PAL Holdings Inc. 4.80 4.99 4.85 4.95 2.28 Paxys Inc. 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 79 Phil. Seven Corp. 99.00 99.00 99.00 99.00 4.39 Philweb.Com Inc. 21.95 22.00 21.75 21.95 2748 PLDT Common 1690.00 1714.00 1691.00 1700.00 0.435 PremiereHorizon 0.435 0.460 0.435 0.460 1.2 Premium Leisure 0.870 0.920 0.870 0.920 31.45 Puregold 35.00 36.20 35.30 35.95 60.55 Robinsons RTL 68.00 69.10 67.90 69.00 SBS Phil. Corp. 6.30 6.85 6.35 6.60 7.59 SSI Group 3.46 3.67 3.52 3.60 0.63 STI Holdings 0.510 0.550 0.500 0.550 5 Travellers 3.8 4.02 3.81 3.87 0.315 Waterfront Phils. 0.320 0.330 0.320 0.330 1.14 Yehey 4.590 4.790 4.590 4.790 MINING & OIL 0.0043 Abra Mining 0.0046 0.0046 0.0045 0.0046 1.72 Apex À’ 2.18 2.22 2.17 2.22 6.47 Atlas Cons. À’ 4.44 4.54 4.45 4.47 0.236 Basic Energy Corp. 0.240 0.245 0.240 0.245 0.85 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 0.64 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.77 Coal Asia 0.440 0.480 0.445 0.475 5.99 Dizon 7.20 7.45 7.20 7.30 1.17 Ferronickel 0.760 0.780 0.750 0.760 0.305 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.295 0.295 0.290 0.290 0.2130 Lepanto À’ 0.300 0.300 0.290 0.295 0.2160 Lepanto `B’ 0.320 0.315 0.300 0.305 0.013 Manila Mining À’ 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.014 Manila Mining `B’ 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.013 3.240 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 2.18 2.29 2.21 2.24 18.96 Nickelasia 5.64 5.84 5.66 5.66 2.11 Nihao Mineral Resources 2.71 2.73 2.62 2.65 1.54 Oriental Peninsula Res. 1.2500 1.2800 1.2500 1.2600 5.4 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 3.50 3.72 3.56 3.72 7.26 Philex À’ 6.33 6.22 6.00 6.06 2.27 PhilexPetroleum 1.78 1.82 1.77 1.78 0.015 Philodrill Corp. À’ 0.0120 0.0120 0.0110 0.0120 115.9 Semirara Corp. 129.00 130.20 130.00 130.00 3.67 TA Petroleum 2.4 2.4 2.36 2.4 0.0100 United Paragon 0.0073 0.0083 0.0082 0.0083 PREFERRED 33 ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 53.8 54.7 54 54.7 490 Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 526 530 530 530 500 Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ 529 530 530 530 101.5 First Gen G 114 117.8 114 117.8 480 GLOBE PREF P 521 527 526 527 5.88 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.5 6.76 6.49 6.76 6.5 Leisure and Resort 1.07 1.1 1.1 1.1 101 MWIDE PREF 111 111 111 111 997 PCOR-Preferred A 1028 1028 1028 1028 1011 PF Pref 2 1018 1018 1017 1018 75 SMC Preferred C 80 82.5 80 82.5 SMC Preferred E 76.15 76.5 76.5 76.5 SMC Preferred F 76.5 77.4 77 77 WARRANTS & BONDS 0.8900 LR Warrant 2.490 2.700 2.460 2.640 SME 3.5 Makati Fin. Corp. 3.05 3.2 3 3.19 Italpinas 3.12 3.18 2.9 3.03 5.95 Xurpas 17.04 18.9 17.06 18.7 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 105.6 First Metro ETF 113.5 114.2 113.5 113.9

10.5 66 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 7.67 4 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 3.2 1 2.46 15.2

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 MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. 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

High

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

10.00 0.79 -5.77 0.30 0.00 -2.52 1.05 1.84 -0.79 0.00 0.49 3.13 2.17 0.12 0.00 0.00 -0.32 1.40 1.22 -1.82 -3.88 0.90

42,000 5,250,000 14,933,000 2,652,200 4,473,000 100,000 3,416,000 24,128,000 905,000 1,000 26,383,000 23,790,000 110,000 33,300 1,224,400 798,000 15,000 11,932,800 1,225,000 100 1,965,000 5,073,000

-2,200.00

5.11 -0.09 8.00 0.78 5.43 0.00 1.91 1.16 3.13 -1.42 -0.31 -0.42 1.63 0.75 5.60 4.67 0.00 1.42 -3.62 1.86 2.33 -0.91 0.74 0.00 0.54 9.91 0.00 -1.79 0.00 0.47 3.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.59 5.75 5.75 2.71 1.47 4.76 4.05 7.84 1.84 3.13 4.36

471,500 52,750 4,177,000 28,000 19,516,000 63,550,000 338,000 951,850 5,800 45,700 11,000 40 73,150 1,038,500 1,745,000 240,050 10,000 16,090,000 4,832,000 10,000 111,200 626,000 75,000 1 107,000 43,486,000 1,849,000 680,000 6,855,000 13,200 97,000 10,000 1,820 278,500 190,725 600,000 50,022,000 6,571,300 2,243,520 5,926,000 12,618,000 14,074,000 1,543,000 180,000 58,000

0.00 1.83 0.68 2.08 -1.56 7.95 1.39 0.00 -1.69 -1.67 -4.69 0.00 0.00 2.75 0.35 -2.21 0.80 6.29 -4.27 0.00 0.00 0.78 0.00 13.70

67,000,000 82,000 871,000 550,000 441,000 6,670,000 4,500 24,786,000 200,000 74,790,000 30,510,000 11,500,000 8,300,000 508,000 6,031,500 620,000 118,000 162,000 3,873,900 1,186,000 127,200,000 271,760 56,000 3,000,000

1.67 0.76 0.19 3.33 1.15 4.00 2.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.13 0.46 0.65

129,050 430 3,290 23,620 8,000 1,739,100 26,000 800 1,350 1,180 43,510 200 161,340

6.02

559,000

4.59 -2.88 9.74

22,000 785,000 10,177,700

0.35

45,040

78,000.00 -5,483,700.00 43,000.00 4,380.00 -48,500.00 2,118,020.00 936,250.00 -12,543,990.00 -29,100.00 1,699,120.00 -267,370.00 51,494,690.00 -4,000.00 -10,079,010.00 80,511.00 0.00 13,690,250.00 -59,000.00 8,495,226.50

-1,488,890.00 -1,488,890.00 52,800.00 9,521,736.50 10,200.00 -261,850.00 43,600.00 -13,650.00 34,770.00 -925,680.00 954,180.00 271,970.00

180,180.00 1,089,080.00 24,617,665.00 -25,019,270.00 -5,558,530.00 -25,475,260.50 -129,134.00 -4,726,710.00 -2,923,370.00 -1,143,940.00

1,479,560.00 -31,500.00 -109,250.00 -3,437,950.00 -2,856,200.00 283,260.00 -11,530,712.00

-780,603.00 260,400.00

-230,295.00

-488,640.00

-23,510.00 66,348,762.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

United Paragon

0.0083

13.70

Prime Media Hldg

1.230

-13.99

Phil H2O

3.3

13.40

Abacus Cons. `A'

0.350

-7.89

Da Vinci Capital

6.2

11.71

Cyber Bay Corp.

0.490

-5.77

Mabuhay Vinyl

2.9

11.54

SPC Power Corp.

3.7

-5.13

Forum Pacific

0.229

10.10

Lepanto `B'

0.305

-4.69

Cityland Dev. `A'

1.100

10.00

Philex `A'

6.06

-4.27

Melco Crown

2.55

9.91

TKC Steel Corp.

1.15

-4.17

Xurpas

18.7

9.74

Suntrust Home Dev. Inc.

0.990

-3.88

APC Group, Inc.

0.540

8.00

House of Inv.

5.73

-3.70

Coal Asia

0.475

7.95

ISM Communications

1.3300

-3.62

FRIDAY: MARCH 11, 2016

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

Meralco seeks capex of P15b By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, has asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to approve a capital expenditure program of around P15 billion for 2017. Meralco, in an application filed with the ERC on March 4, sought a provisional authority to implement the capital expenditure program covering July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 pending a hearing. “It is emphasized that Meralco has no approved capex projects by the start of the fourth regula-

tory period on July 1, 2015 and this will severely hamper its operations and affect its ability to deliver electricity service to its customers,” it said. Meralco said it was imperative for the company to undertake expansion and rehabilitation of its network facilities through

the acquisition of new assets to ensure compliance with safety, performance and other regulatory requirements and address the growing needs of 5.78 million customers. The company said the petition was also without prejudice to the subsequent filing by Meralco of any unforecasted or emergency capex as the need arose. Meralco said its 2017 capex program considered the projects filed during the third regulatory period and for 2016.It said the capital spending aimed to provide superior service to costumrs through a reliable, efficient and

viable distribution network. Meralco has lined up projects to meet the projected growth of future electricity demand within the franchise area. The company said its capex program for 2017 was a continuation of regulatory year 2016 and mainly driven by the need for infrastructure to meet growth in peak demand and connections, repair of projects and in support of the government’s government public-private partnership initiatives. These include the P2-billion budget for the advanced metering infrastructure, P1.7 billion for

distribution transformers, P443 million for the development of the Makati 115 kV substation, P457 million for the San Mateo 115 kV substation and expansion of the Tayabas 230 kV delivery point substation. Meralco sought approval of a capital expenditure budget amounting to P17.5 billion to P18 billion for 2016, but has not received any response from the ERC. ERC, instead, allowed Meralco put up infrastructure and other facilities under an emergency capex program amounting to just P9 billion to P10 billion.

Stocks rise as index breaks 7,000 points THE stock market rallied Thursday in step with a global advance, buoyed by gains in blue chips and encouraging economic data showing factory production up by a robust 34 percent in January. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 99.90 points, or 1.4 percent, to a year-high of 7,048.08 on a value turnover of P7.4 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 130 to 52, with 39 issues unchanged. The index returned to the 7,000-point mark for the first time this year, after slumping to as low as 6,084.28 on January 21, 2016. The Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday factory output jumped 34 percent in January from a year ago, on higher food and chemical production, signaling a good start for the economy in the first quarter. “The manufacturing sector is expected to grow more strongly for the year ahead following moderate growth in 2015, on account of weak global demand and adverse weather conditions,” said Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra. Conglomerate Ayala Corp. climbed 2.2 percent to P754.50, while unit Ayala Land Inc. gained 2.2 percent to P34.95. Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan advanced 4.6 percent to P16.10, while First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group jumped 6.8 percent to P21.25. Asian investors turned positive again Thursday, as they turn their attention to a European Central Bank policy meeting later in the day that is expected to see another stimulus push. But while most regional markets are in the ascendancy, Shanghai— which analysts say has been supported in the past few days by statebacked buying—was in retreat despite a strong Chinese inflation reading. With AFP

Position IT’S official. The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Grace Poe’s right to run for the presidency. This was always one of the contingencies for those running the campaigns of the other candidates. Who does this hurt? Who does this help? The answer, of course, lies in what the preference patterns are. Platform Preference is affected by many things, including voter values and interests. The easy answer to managing a campaign is that the candidate whose campaign platform best fits voter preference is the one who is selected during actual elections. Since election is essentially a numbers game, it is essential to ensure that the candidate’s platform appeals to a large proportion of the population. The heart of a campaign platform is essentially a combination of promises designed to convince a voter to choose the candidate over other candidates. The campaign communication itself is then supplemented by candidate credentials. An easy way to understand this is to think about leadership. In leadership classes, we say that the essential definition of leader is this: A leader is someone who has followers. Except for conditions of slavery, dictatorship or formal authority (and even then, you can choose to resign), the decision to follow belongs to the follower, not the leader. Why are promises

PNB’s Anvil Award. Philippine National Bank wins a Silver Anvil for its annual report during the

Public Relations Society of the Philippines’ Gabi ng Parangal 51st Anvil Awards held at the Makati ShangriLa Hotel on February 26, 2016. Shown at the awards’ night are (from left) executive vice president Nelson Reyes, PNB chief finance officer; Nilo Rosas, 51st Anvil Awards juror and New Era University president; Rochelle Gamboa, PRSP vice president-internal and Light Rail Manila Corp. corporate communications hyead; VP Janette Abad Santos, PNB marketing group; PNB AVP Susan Cervantes, PNB retail banking group; SVP Norman Martin Reyes, PNB chief marketing officer; Nina Melissa Robles, PNB marketing group; Tina Marie Angeles, PNB marketing group; and Ron Jabal, PRSP president and Center for Health Solutions & Innovations Philippines Inc. consultant.

important? They are important because followers will follow you only if they desire the future you plan to lead them to. Why are credentials (including track record) important? Because while others might desire the picture of the future you paint, they will only follow you if they believe you have the ability to actually make that future real. For the candidate, this means many things. He must make promises that are desirable to a large proportion of voters. He must also choose promises that he actually has the ability to make good on. In addition, the good leader must choose to make promises that are actually good for the country. Sometimes, what people want is not what they need. Very often, the job of the leader is to educate citizens concerning what they should want. The other thing this means is that a candidate must somehow ensure that he has the ability to implement all of the promises that he must make because they are good for the country. This means not only educating himself. It also means developing the ability to source and leverage resources. It also means eliciting the support and commitment of individuals and organizations whose support he will require. Unfortunately, it is not enough for the candidate to ensure he can actually implement his promises. Even harder is getting the voter to believe he can and will implement those promises. And, even after all of this, sometimes the voter will still choose someone else. Why? Well, perhaps the other candidate is actually better—has a better platform or has superior credentials or track record. Sometimes, the voter simply needs better information. Other times, and often enough that it can be frustrating, it is because your candidate simply isn’t likable enough.

Positioning is about a clear message. Choice Choosing a new president is very much like choosing to change. In management of change, we always say that implementing change within an organization is often about convincing enough people to actually change. Rick Maurer says that there are at least three levels of resistance to change. The first is cognitive: I don’t get it. The second is personal and/or emotional: I don’t like it. The last one, most overlooked and seemingly illogical, can be the most difficult: I don’t like you. What Grace Poe has, which Roxas struggles with, is that last factor. Poe is immensely likable. Roxas is bland. This is a tremendous challenge because a presidential campaign is at heart a marketing campaign. It is about convincing voters to choose. This requires that the candidate have a clear and differentiated identity – what we would refer to in marketing as a brand. This is how voters will remember the candidate. It is the short cut they will use to compare him with others. It is the statement they will use to explain their choice to others – and even more importantly, to themselves. Binay’s campaign focuses on referencing the Makati government’s track record of providing

generally desirable benefits for residents. Duterte does the same by referencing Davao’s record on law and order. There are, however, very clear arguments against each of these candidates. In fact, for many voters, without Grace Poe, Roxas would have risen to the top simply by a process of elimination. If that is to continue to be the calculus of voting for Roxas, then his campaign managers will need to find arguments against Poe. Poe’s voice is unclear thus far. For those desiring change, any change, her very lack of a track record is an argument in her favor. She can be the face of change, her sheer likability providing an immediate anchor. On the other hand, those who are managing the Roxas campaign seem to believe that Roxas is nothing but a variant of the liberal brand. If you pass by the Farmer’s Market in Cubao, you will find Roxas’ face plastered on yellow posters with the ribbon and the slogan “Daang Matuwid.” Is there nothing that Roxas can claim for himself? The Roxas campaign has a good, solid candidate but throwing his CV at the voters will not work. He needs to have a clear and succinct message. He needs to build a clear identity. This is every marketing person’s conundrum, of course. You have a good, solid but bland product. It can do many things. How do you choose the few statements that will create a good solid identity? How will you make it memorable? Positioning is about a clear message. Readers can email Maya at integrations_ manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http:// integrations.tumblr.com.

FRIDAY: MARCH 11, 2016

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

IN BRIEF Peso hits 46.70 a dollar

THE peso climbed to four-month high Thursday, as investors renewed their appetite for emerging markets’ assets. Data from the Philippine Dealing System showed the peso gained 0.3 percent Thursday to close at 46.70 against the US dollar. It was the local currency’s strongest level since settling at 46.54 per greenback on Oct. 26, 2015. Total volume turnover reached $676.8 million Thursday, higher than $503.5 million a day earlier. “Risk-on sentiment dominated trading anew with the dollar pulling back in reaction to the sustained rally in crude oil prices overnight. Oil trends higher on expectations for cooperation between major oil producers to freeze output at January levels,” Nicholas Antonio Mapa, research ofﬁcer at Bank of the Philippine Islands, said in an e-mailed message to the Standard. “Furthermore, the market expects easing from the ECB in some shape or form with [European Central Bank president Mario] Draghi set to announce additional stimulus, which should ﬁnd its way to Asia as investors seek higher-yielding assets,” Mapa said. Julito G. Rada

EDC nets P7.6b

GEOTHERMAL power producer Energy Development Corp. said consolidated recurring net income attributable to equity holder’s of the parent company reached P8.8 billion in 2015, down 4 percent from P9.2 billion in 2014, on higher operating expenditures. EDC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that inclusive of non-recurring items, consolidated net income attributable to equity holders of the parent amounted to P7.6 billion, or 35 percent lower than P11.7 billion in 2014. The company said the decline in net income was due to the absence last year of P2.1-billion impairment reversal recorded in 2014 for the Northern Negros power plant and higher foreign exchange losses of P1.3 billion in 2015, brought about by the depreciation of the peso against the US dollar. Consolidated revenues increased P3.5 billion or 11 percent to P34.4 billion in 2015 from P30.9 billion in 2014. The higher energy sales was led by the 150-megawatt Burgos wind power plant in Ilocos Norte at P2.2 billion while Bac-Manito and Nasulo geothermal plants contributed P1.2 billion and P600 million, respectively. Alena Mae S. Flores

Car sales jumped 22% in February By Othel V. Campos

CAR sales jumped 21.7 percent year-on-year in February, sustaining the double-digit growth in January and putting the automotive industry on track to setting record sales of 350,000 in 2016.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report their members sold 25,150 vehicles in February, up from 20,663 units delivered a year ago. The figures exclude the sales of industry group Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, which has a separate report. Campi said the February sales were also

5.6 percent higher than the January volume of 23,808 units. “So far, it has been a good start for the auto industry. Demand for mobility continues and industry players are ready to respond to the needs and demands of consumers” said Campi president Rommel Gutierrez. Sales of all segments improved on a yearon-year basis, with passenger cars or sedans increasing 20.5 percent to 9,819 units in February from 8,149 units in February 2015. Commercial vehicles collectively increased by 22.5 percent to 15,331 units from 12,514 units in the same period last year. Heavy-duty trucks and buses or category 5 grew 331.3 percent to 126 units from 96 units in 2015 while light trucks or category 3 showed an increase of 3.9 percent to 160 units from 154 units in February 2015. Light commercial vehicles and Asian utility vehicles also performed well, with 21.7-percent and 24.1-percent growth to 10,071 and 4,419 units, respectively.

Weighing scale.

The Trade Department monitors the ‘timbangan ng bayan’ of Calasiao, Pangasinan to make sure that weighing scales are functional and properly calibrated. Shown are (from left) Danzen Imus and Jayson Tarog of DTI Pangasinan together with Teddy Tuliao, market supervisor of Calasiao town as they discuss the calibration of the weighing scale.

Robinsons spending P16b

PROPERTY developer Robinsons Land Corp. is preparing to launch up to P16 billion worth of residential projects. “We remain conservative but cognizant of the strong demand in our residential division business. The demand for housing units remains resilient supported by steady OFW inﬂows, attractive lending rates and the availability of mortgage ﬁnancing from banks,” Robinsons Land president Frederick Go said during the annual shareholders’ meeting. One major residential development the company will launch is the Westin Residences, a 50-story tower in Ortigas central business district, with total sales value of P6 billion. Go said the company would continue to evaluate each project and the market before launching the planned housing projects. “The actual launch of projects, however will be phased and dependent on market conditions,” Go said. Go said the company was targeting to open three to four shopping malls annually to bring the total to 55 stores by 2019. Jenniffer B. Austria

‘Green vote’ cited

THE ‘Green Vote’ campaign by NGO groups manifests the loud call for the next government to approach the issues of environment and economics as one comprehensive agenda, according to Dindo Manhit, president of private think tank ADR Institute on Strategic and International Studies. Renowned geologist and ADRI trustee CP David said environmental issues facing the country were complex and needed to be seriously addressed by the candidates. “Aside from mining, politicians vying for national positions should debate on marine protection, forestry, solid waste management, and, of course climate change in relation to disaster risk management,” David said. Meanwhile, environment advocacy group Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship said the ‘green vote’ for the upcoming 2016 elections should be about policy reform and not politics. “A ‘green vote’ can be the vehicle to force solutions to the environment issues into the election debate and adopted in their platforms,” said lawyer Ysan Castillo, PBEST secretary general.

Furniture show opens

THE best Filipino furniture craftsmanship and seasoned industry players will be the showcase of the 23rd Furniture, Furnishing and Fashion Festival on March 11 to April 4 at the Greenhills Shopping Center on Ortigas Avenue in San Juan City. Highlighting 100 years of the evolution of Philippine furniture from antique to contemporary styles, the festival is the biggest assemblage of local furniture makers and traders in what has been billed as the longest running trade event of its kind in the country. Aside from these stakeholders in the furniture industry, the festival will also be participated in by tianggeros, importers, mall suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers and factory owners. Selected masterpieces of known furniture makers from Betis, Pampanga, the Mountain Province, the Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions, Visayas and Mindanao will share the limelight with the other top-ofthe-line furnishing and fashion items from apparel to accessories. Event organizer Prime Asia Trade Planners and Convention Organizers headed by Henry Babiera said there would be around 1,500 exhibitors during the 25-day festival which would also sell jewelry, leather goods, footwear, arts and crafts, food and other novelty items.

Data showed that on a month-on-month basis, nearly all categories posted increases from January figures except for AUVs and category 5 trucks. Campi said year-to-date, all categories grew between 20 and 90 percent, with category 5 trucks posting the highest growth of 91 percent. The automotive industry set a 2016 sales target of 350,000 units, with a conservative 10-percent increase from 2015. “Our 2016 target looks achievable given the current trend,” said Gutierrez. Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. remained the top seller, with a 39.8-percent market share. Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. came in second with 19.9 percent. Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc. ranked third with 10.5-percent share while Isuzu Philippines Corp. and Honda Cars Philippines Inc. remained the fourth and fifth biggest players with 8.5-percent and 7.5-percent share, respectively.

Exports dip 3.9% to $4.2b on weak global demand By Gabrielle H. Binaday EXPORTS dropped 3.9 percent in January from a year ago, amid sluggish global demand for the country’s forestry and mineral products, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday. Preliminary data from the PSA showed the country’s outward shipment of goods declined to $4.2 billion in January from $4.4 billion in the same month last year. It was also the lowest monthly exports in three years. The National Economic and Development Authority said the drop in Philippine exports reflected the weak global demand. “The year 2016 is expected to be a challenging one for the export sector as the global economy faces sluggish economic recovery and uneven growth. We see global trade growth remaining at a low level as the world copes with soft demand and lower commodity prices,” said Economic Planning Secretary and Neda director-general Emmanuel Esguerra. Neda said most major East and Southeast Asian trade-oriented economies registered negative export growth in January 2016, with Singapore posting the steepest decline. Data showed Philippine export of manufactured goods dropped 2.2 percent to $3.7 billion in January. “The fall in exports of manufactured products mirrors the general weakness of the global manufacturing sector. However,

worth noting is the 5-percent increase in the exports of electronic products that registered its eighth consecutive month of positive growth in January,” he said. Exports of agro-based products dipped 7.6 percent to $289.1 million, dragged down by lower revenues from coconut and fish products. Sales of forest products also dropped 46 percent to $2.66 million. “We attribute this to the continued tightness in supply due to persistent dry weather. Also, lower export revenues for fish products can be partly traced to the lower supply of fish in Region XII,” said Esguerra. Outbound sales of mineral products plunged 27.8 percent to $145.3 million, while exports value of petroleum products went down by 17.8 percent to $10 million on persistent low oil price environment. Bank of the Philippine Islands market research and strategy officer Nicholas Antonio Mapa said the drop was disappointing, given the exports bill came from a low base of negative growth of 0.02 percent in January last year. “The export print was disappointing given that we were coming from a low base. Further worrisome is the fact that 50 percent of the export basket [electronics] grew by a decent clip [5 percent] and yet exports still dropped on the back of very poor sales for its other products,” Mapa said in an e-mail.

F R I D AY : M A R C H 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

N. Korea liquidates assets of S. Korea SEOUL—North Korea looked to ratchet up the already elevated tensions on the Korean peninsula still further Thursday, firing a pair of short-range missiles and announcing the liquidation of all remaining South Korean assets on its territory. The moves were a direct response to the unilateral sanctions announced by South Korea on Tuesday to punish the North for its January nuclear test and last month’s long-range rocket launch. Military tensions have been on the rise ever since the January test—the fourth nuclear device North Korea has detonated in defiance of UN resolutions. The UN Security Council responded with tough, new sanctions, which Pyongyang condemned as a “gangster-like” provocation orchestrated by the United States. The North also reacted furiously to the start earlier this week of large-scale South Korea-US military drills, threatening pre-emptive nuclear strikes against both Seoul and the US mainland. The asset seizure announced on Thursday referred to two now-shuttered joint projects, the Mount Kumgang tourism resort and the Kaesong joint industrial complex. “We will completely liquidate all assets of South Korean firms and related institutions left behind in our region,” the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in statement carried by the North’s official KCNA news agency. “From this time on, we nullify all agreements adopted by North and South Korea on economic cooperation and exchange programs,” the committee said. It also warned of other unspecified “special measures”—political, military and economic—it would take against the South in the future. South Korea announced the suspension of operations at the Seoulfunded Kaesong industrial complex last month, saying the money Pyongyang made from the venture was going towards its nuclear weapons program. AFP

WORLD

EU officials meet after migrant route is shut BRUSSELS—EU interior ministers were set to meet in Brussels Thursday to discuss the migrant crisis after western Balkan nations slammed shut their borders, exacerbating a dire humanitarian situation on the Macedonian frontier.

State visit. King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands lay flowers in front of the tomb of the Unkown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe during a welcoming ceremony at the start of their state visit to France on March 10, 2016, in Paris. AFP

The scheduled two-day meeting will tackle various areas, including a proposed deal with Turkey and the restoration of the visa-free Schengen zone, along with plans for a European border and coastguard system seen as a key step for securing the bloc’s frontiers. The talks come after Slovenia and Croatia, two of the countries along the Balkan route used by hundreds of thousands of people in recent months, barred entry to transiting migrants from midnight Wednesday and Serbia indicated it would follow suit. EU member Slovenia said it would make exceptions only for migrants wishing to claim asylum in the country or for those seeking entry “on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with the rules of the Schengen zone”. Prime Minister Miro Cerar said the move meant that “the [Balkan] route for illegal migrations no longer exists”, while EU President Donald Tusk said on Twitter, “Irregular flows of migrants along Western Balkans route have come to an end”. “Not a question of unilateral actions but common EU28 decision... I thank Western Balkan countries for implementing part of EU’s comprehensive strategy to deal with migration crisis,” Tusk added. As the 28-nation EU battles the worst migration crisis since World War II, the fresh measures ramped up the pressure on the bloc to seal a proposed deal with Turkey to ease the chaos. A controversial deal discussed with Turkey at an EU summit on Monday and due to be finalized on March 17-18 would see the country take back all illegal migrants landing in Greece. Ankara proposed an arrangement under which the EU would resettle one Syrian refugee from camps in Turkey in exchange for every Syrian that Turkey takes from Greece, in a bid to reduce the incentive for people to board boats for Europe. In return though, Turkey wants six billion euros ($6.6 billion) in aid, visa-free access to Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone and a speeding up of Ankara’s efforts to join the EU—demands that go too far for some. AFP

AI beats human Go grandmaster again SEOUL—A Google-developed supercomputer bested a South Korean Go grandmaster again Thursday, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in a five-game series that has become a stunning global debut for a new style of “intuitive” artificial intelligence (AI). After shocking the world by defeating Lee Se-Dol—one of the greatest modern players of the ancient board game—in their opening match on Wednesday, the AlphaGo computer proved it was no fluke with another victory after a grueling four-and-a-half-

hour encounter. AlphaGo’s creators have described Go as the “Mt Everest” of AI, citing the complexity of the game, which requires a degree of creativity and intuition to prevail over an opponent. The most famous AI victory to date came in 1997 when the IBMdeveloped supercomputer Deep Blue beat Garry Kasparov, the then-world class chess champion, in its second attempt. But a true mastery of Go, which has more possible move configurations than there are atoms in the universe, had long been con-

sidered the exclusive province of humans—until now. AlphaGo first came to prominence with a 5-0 drubbing of European champion Fan Hui last October, but it had been expected to struggle against 33-year-old Lee who has topped the world rankings for most of the past decade. The computer uses two sets of “deep neutral networks” that allow it to crunch data in a more human-like fashion—dumping millions of potential moves that human players would instinctively know were pointless. AFP

Mass wedding. Indian brides and a groom wait during a mass-

marriage ceremony at a local temple in New Delhi on March 10, 2016. Fourteen couples tied the knot during the marriage ceremony. Mass marriage ceremonies in India are organized by social groups to help those who cannot afford the traditionally large marriage events. AFP

F R I D AY : M A R C H 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Suu Kyi taps aide for president NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar— Aung San Suu Kyi was Thursday finally ruled out of the running to become Myanmar’s next president, as her party nominated one of her most loyal aides to rule the formerly junta-run nation as her proxy. Suu Kyi has vowed to rule “above” the president, despite being barred from top office by the army-scripted constitution, as she strives to fulfil the huge mandate delivered by millions of voters in her National League for Democracy’s landslide election victory in November. Many in Myanmar had clung to faint hopes that the 70-year-old democracy campaigner could still be named president, but months of talks with the powerful military failed to remove the legal obstacles in her way. At a parliamentary session in Naypyidaw Htin Kyaw, a genial 69-year-old economics graduate who now helps run Suu Kyi’s charitable foundation and once acted as her driver, was named as one of the party’s two presidential candidates, and is widely seen as the anointed person to rule in her place. His nomination was warmly received by observers and comes after Manila

Standard

TODAY

months of fevered speculation. Myanmar historian and political analyst Thant Myint-U said he was a “stellar choice” who had “unimpeachable integrity”. “I think he’s probably the best fit for the job, someone of proven and longstanding loyalty to [Suu Kyi] and also a person of considerable standing in his own right,” he told AFP. Myanmar’s first civilian government in generations will face soaring expectations in the country of 51 million eager to see further changes as it shakes off the shackles of junta rule and international isolation. “This is an important step in implementing the desires and expectations of voters who enthusiastically supported the NLD,” Suu Kyi said in a statement published on her party website early Thursday. She is barred by a charter clause that disqualifies anyone with close foreign relatives. Her late husband and two sons are British. Even Suu Kyi’s own MPs had been kept in the dark about the presidential deliberations, with the party fearful of upsetting a delicate political transition in a nation where the military still casts a long shadow. The NLD also nominated ethnic Chin MP Henry Van Theu, a law graduate, as a presidential candidate from the upper house. He is expected to become vice president. Htin Kyaw’s official confirmation may take days. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELL

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

Invitation to Bid for the PROVISION OF JANITORIAL SERVICES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE FOR CY 2016 1.

The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of EIGHT MILLION NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX THOUSAND PESOS (PhP8,976,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments for the Provision of Janitorial Services for CY 2016 (the “Project”). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The DOF, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) registered contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the Provision of Janitorial Services for CY 2016. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project which is equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the ABC for the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. However, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens, sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA No. 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act No. 138.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on March 11, 2016 at the General Services Division, 7th Floor, EDPC Building, BSP Complex, Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila, and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (PhP10,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the PhilGEPS and the website of the DOF, provided that the Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Request for Clarification Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission of Bids Opening of Bids

SCHEDULE March 11, 2016 starting March 11, 2016 March 18, 2016, 10:00 am March 20, 2016 (by email) March 23, 2016 March 30, 2016, 9:45 am March 30, 2016, 10:00 am

Bids must be delivered to the address provided above on or before March 30, 2016, 9:45 am. The Bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address. All the Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on the date indicated above at the DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. “LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED”

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

(TS-MAR. 11, 2016)

(SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and DOF-BAC Chairman

Rare storm. The reflection of a mosque is seen on a flooded area in Fujairah on March 10, 2016, a day after a rain storm hit the desert Gulf state, causing flights to be suspended and flooding roads. AFP

Four on trial for helping gunman COPENHAGEN—Four men went on trial Thursday, accused of helping a Danish-born gunman whose attacks on a synagogue and a free speech event last year left two people dead. On February 14 2015, Omar El-Hussein, 22, opened fire outside a Copenhagen cultural centre where the speakers on “Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression” included Swedish artist Lars Vilks, a target of Islamic extremists since he portrayed the Prophet Mohammed as a dog in 2007. A 55-year-old filmmaker, Finn Norgaard, died in the attack. Later that night the DanishPalestinian fired six shots outside the city’s main synagogue, killing security guard Dan Uzan, 37. The assailant was shot dead by police hours later. The trial, which opens on Thursday at 9:30 am (0830 GMT), will focus on events that took place in the hours between the two attacks, when four men aged between 20 and 31 are accused of having aided the killer. The prosecution believes they are guilty of committing a “terror offense” by providing El-Hussein with support in the form of am-

munition, a hoodie and a bag used in the second attack, and by paying for his time in an Internet cafe where he located the synagogue. Two have also been charged with helping him get rid of an M95 rifle he used outside the cultural center. Because preliminary hearings have been held behind closed doors, little is known about the four suspects, all of whom plead innocent and who have been detained since February and March last year. Neither their names nor relationships to the killer have been published by the Danish media. If found guilty, they risk life imprisonment, which in Denmark means they would be entitled to a pardoning hearing after 12 years. “It has been hard waiting because the police can go out and say to the media what they think of the case but the defense can’t do the same,” Berit Ernst, a lawyer for one of the men, told AFP. The prosecution, which has set aside 30 court days for the trial, believes it can show that the four suspects were in close contact with El-Hussein in the hours af-

ter the first attack. It will also have to prove their “intent”, meaning that they knew about his plans to commit an act of terror. Their actions “should be seen in relation to the previous attack at the Krudttonden (cultural center),” prosecutor Bo Bjerregaard told news agency Ritzau. Released from prison two weeks before the attacks after serving time for a stabbing, ElHussein was known for his violent temper and for having ties to a criminal gang on the immigrant-heavy Mjolnerparken estate where he grew up. Danish intelligence agency PET has been criticized for failing to act on information from prison services that he was at risk of radicalization. The killer’s Islamic burial outside Copenhagen was attended by hundreds of people, including gang members but also people in the local Muslim community who wanted to show support for his family. A 19-year-old Mjolnerparken resident who gave his name as Abdi said he knew the suspects and that he believed they were innocent. AFP

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MOTORING mst.daydesk@gmail.com

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

Volkswagen QA marks a milestone As VolkswAgen Quezon Avenue celebrates its 1st anniversary, the dealership that caters to northern Metro Manila customers offers financing promos for select Volkswagen vehicles for a limited period.

Shell Eco-marathon: Team PH reigns A NuMBEr of Philippine student teams finished strong at the Shell Ecomarathon Asia that was recently held for the third and final time in a specially designed street circuit at Rizal Park in Manila, before moving to another host country next year. Four teams from three local universities bested 117 other student teams from 17 countries across Asia, the Middle East and Australia in the prestigious smarter mobility competition. The De La Salle university (DLSu) Eco-Car Team set the highest record in the urban Concept – Battery Electric Category with a mileage of 78km/kWh. As a top contender, the team also earned an exclusive invitation to compete in Shell’s first Drivers’ World Championship to be held in London in July. The Drivers’ World Championship will gather urban Concept team winners from the regional Shell Eco-marathon competitions in Asia, the Americas and Europe with the challenge to go head-to-head in a traditional racing car format while maintaining fuel efficiency. It is by far one of the most important innovations made in the Shell Ecomarathon program since it began 30 years ago. “The Shell Eco-marathon Drivers’ World Championship Race marks an important step in the

evolution of Shell Eco-marathon and the global drive for energy efficiency, challenging the students to push further than they have before,” said Norman Koch, global technical director at Shell Eco-marathon. The participation of a Philippine team at the pioneering global racing and smarter mobility event gains significance as 2016 marks the last time that Shell Eco-marathon Asia will be held in Manila, before moving to a new host country for another three years.

True performance and value

Also bagging honors for the country are university of San Carlos–Cebu’s Team Lahutay 4, Mapua Institute of Technology’s Team Aguila and another entrant from De La Salle university–Manila, the DLSu Eco-Car Team I.C.E. Team Aguila came at second place in the Prototype–Gasoline Category with a mileage of 335km/l of fuel. Team Lahutay 4, on the other hand, ranked third in the Prototype–Diesel Fuel Category with a fuel efficiency of 106km/l. DLSu Eco-Car

Team I.C.E. chalked 159km/l and clinched the second spot in the urban Concept–Gasoline Category. “We are extremely proud with the Philippine teams’ achievements at Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2016,” said Lyndon Lumain, project manager at Shell Eco-marathon Asia. “The increasing awareness and, most importantly, engagement of young Filipino engineers affirms that our country has secured a rightful place in the global map of energy efficiency and sustainable mobility.”

Three PH student-teams bested 117 other teams from 17 countries in the smarter mobility competition.

GET rEAL protection and performance from the country’s only 100 percent fully synthetic motor oil. MOTuL guarantees total protection for your engine with its latest line of fully synthetic motor oils; the Multigrade Plus Mineral group 2 base oil in 10W40 viscosity; Multipower Plus semi-synthetic group 3 base oil in 5W40 viscosity and the CrDi Plus group 4 base in oil which is 100% fully synthetic oil. As an industry pioneer in synthetic oils, Motul oils and lubricants were developed to provide lubrication for modern day sophisticated engines, while assuring fuel savings and automotive efficiency. The Multigrade Plus Mineral oil has the latest API SN/CF rating for both gasoline and diesel engines and retails for P290 per

liter. The Multipower Plus semisynthetic oil is perfect for gasoline and diesel powered sedans and AuV’s and Motul’s anti-deposit and anti-black sludge power help maintains a clean engine, and has properties for anti corrosion, antifoam properties that protects both the oil and engine from unwanted elements the car accumulates from usage. The Multipower Plus retails for P450 per liter. The CrDi Plus is engineered for Euro 4 and 5 diesel engines and its patented synthetic technology that has been tested in actual conditions to provide ultra low-friction for more horsepower, incredibly smooth and almost no noticeable drop in rpms when shifting and instantaneous engine revs with noticeable gains in horsepower.

Strategically located at the heart of Quezon City, near the corner of West and Timog avenues on the westbound side of Quezon Avenue, the Volkswagen QA dealership is all of over 1,500 square meters, encompassing a spacious 15-car display, a delivery handover lounge, a parts and accessories shop, customers’ lounge, and negotiation and reception offices that make it a standout even amidst other car dealerships in this flourishing automotive row. As Volkswagen QA celebrates its 1st birthday, northern Metro Manilans will find it even harder to resist dropping by the showroom and be treated to a blowout of financing offers. From now until March 31, 2016 (or until supplies last), Volkswagen Quezon Avenue offers its 1st anniversary promos. Check out these financing packages: • For the Polo 1.6MPi AT: P39,000 ALL-IN DOWNPAYMENT (inclusive of LTO registration, CHMO fee, and comprehensive insurance), P18,271 monthly for 60 months, or P609/day ownership. • For the Tiguan 1.4 MT: P49,000 ALL-IN DOWNPAYMENT (inclusive of LTO registration, CHMO fee, and comprehensive insurance), P34,111 monthly for 60 months or P1,137/day ownership. • For the Tiguan TDI AT: P59,000 ALL-IN DOWNPAYMENT (inclusive of LTO registration, CHMO fee, and comprehensive insurance), P41,345 monthly for 60 months or P1,378/day ownership. These offers are on top of other available purchase options, such as zero-interest or lowmonthly schemes, and outright cash discounts. Experience the best of Volkswagen at the heart of Quezon City. The Volkswagen QA dealership is located at 1229 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, with business hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mondays to Saturdays), and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sundays and holidays). For more information, or for a test drive, call Volkswagen QA at (02) 9580579 or (02) 958-0570. Offers are good up to March 31, 2016, or until supplies last and also available at other Volkswagen dealer network located in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig; Molito Lifestyle Building in Alabang, Muntinlupa; and North Reclamation Area in Cebu City. Dino Directo

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RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

motoring

Montero’s

Cebu sojourn

Text and photo by Dino Ray V. Directo III

A few weeks after the launch of its best selling SUV, Mitsubishi organized a ride and drive event for the media for an up close and personal experience with the Montero. After a successful seven-year run and a controversial 2015 which had the previous model being bashed on social media and literally hanged by public opinion, the ride and drive event held in Cebu dispelled rumors of the alleged Sudden Unintended Acceleration “SUA”. The SUV took it all in stride as we drove for almost 150 kilometers to our destination in Kandaya Resort in Daanbantayan, Cebu, from our jumpoff point at the Skydeck of the Azon Residences after a sumptuous breakfast. On hand to welcome the participating media was Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) First VP for Marketing Froilan Dytianquin. “This is a great opportunity for the media to experience firsthand the overall performance of the all-new Montero in a real-World environment,” he says. The convoy was an awesome sight, as the media participants were divided into groups of three and with nine spanking new units of the Montero snaking their way through downtown Cebu’s mid-morning traffic jams. People were craning their necks for a second look at the futuristic exterior design of the SUV, with some taking pictures with their smart phones. At the heart of the all-new Montero Sport is Mitsubishi’s Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) technology. According to MMPC engineers, this new 2.4 liter 4N15 diesel is Euro 4 compliant and cleaner, more powerful and fuel efficient. Compared to traditional diesel engines, the 4N15 engine boasts of a low compression ratio, thus reducing fuel consumption, smoke and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions as well

as maximizing the output of the Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT). As a result, the power output of the allnew Clean Diesel engine with MIVEC is raised to 181 Ps/3500 RPM and 430 Nm/2,500 rpm. Differentiating it from its predecessor, the 4N15 engine uses an aluminum cylinder block, making it significantly lighter. The well paved roads and twisty uphill climbs provided us with an accurate feedback on the SUV’s acceleration, power and on-road grip, as we pushed the vehicles to its limits. Unlike the Montero’s competitors, the ride was comfortable due to the soft cushions of the seats, and the redesigned Independent Double Wishbone suspension. During clear straights and passing maneuvers, we were able to enjoy the torque and sheer power of the turbo-diesel engine which was matted to an intelligent eight-speed automatic transmission with Sports Mode designed for quick sprints and relaxed highway cruising. While I was paired with Anjo Perez of the Manila Times and Ira Panganiban of Wheels Magazine in the top tier Montero Sport GTV, others were behind the wheel of the GLS 4WD which is equipped with a new 6-Speed Manual transmission. These new transmissions bring out a more pleasurable drive and better performance on every journey. The allnew Montero Sport uses an improved Super-Select II 4WD system which features a dial type selector. This is complemented by the new off-road Mode (first on a Mitsubishi model), which gives an excellent all-terrain performance and stability. The all-new Montero Sport first debuted in Thailand last August 2015 and the Philippines will be the fourth country to release the all-new Montero Sport. It will be available in four variants: the GT 4 Wheel Drive 8-Speed Automatic Transmission, GLS 4WD 6-Speed Manual Transmission, GLS 2 Wheel Drive Premium 8-Speed AT, and the base model GLS 2WD 8-Speed AT. The all-new Montero Sport which is produced at Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, will be introduced in more than ninety countries from around the globe including Asia, ASEAN, Oceania, East Europe, Middle East Africa and Latin America regions among others.

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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

ST Y L E & BE AU T Y

LIFE

Fun solid color jacket

Cross-over dress

Sarouel trousers

Printed cigarette trousers

Kimono jacket

PROmOD - BOuTIquE FRAnçAISE: LE ART LE STyLE SPRIng/SummER 2016

hrough the centuries, French women have always been trendsetters, and French fashion brands have always provided us with covetable staples for the season. Promod - Boutique Française has been a favorite fashion brand for women who love fabrics and silhouettes that are not only comfortable to wear but also very stylish, its tailored detailing yet feminine cuts transcending time regardless of the season. For Spring/Summer 2016, ready-to-wear fashion is all about comfort and style in bright and fun colors and prints. Promod s line offers season must-haves that can be mixed and matched with classic trends from the past season that you don’t want to let go from your closet. The collection highlights jumpsuits, loose and flared jeans, cropped pants, cross-over dresses, printed cigarette trousers, sarouel trousers, and their latest design collaboration with French designer Elise Chalmin. Jumpsuits have been on the catwalks since the ‘60s, revived in so many shapes and fabrics. Promod is putting back this timeless piece in light denim and tencel that is soft on the feel, hangs nicely on the body and can be comfortably worn as daywear. Skinny jeans have been ousted from their pedestal since last year and the ‘70s flared jeans have made a comeback this 2016. Promod highlights the chic and feminine side of these age-old jeans and tries to veer away from the ‘70s hippie look by suggesting pairings with short and blousy tops. Wide-cropped pants are also one of the focus on bottoms for the summer, and the drapey silhouette calls for structured and upper body pairings. Other fashion finds are classic cigarette trousers in print and ankle length cuts, and urban sarouel trousers that are fitted on the hips and lowered on the crotch. Cross-over dresses have been in style for quite some time, and Promod allows one to get creative by pairing its design with a leather jacket for nighttime wear, or denim jacket for daywear. This season s collaboration with Elise Chalmin, also known as the Made in France pattern specialist, has brought forth signature designs that include fun vibrant patterns that can be worn either by day or at night. There will be 10 limited edition pieces coming out from Promod for spring and eight will be available in the Philippines. Elise created four exclusive patterns for the collection that started with her hand-drawing the patterns, then splicing them with fun and modern details for the final print inspired by architectural lines and the urban landscape. Get her designs available in pants, tops, scarves, pouches and even shoes. Visit Promod - Boutique Française at Greenbelt 5, SM Megamall, Trinoma, Robinson’s Ermita, Ayala Center Cebu, SM Cebu City, SM Southmall, Araneta Center Gateway Mall, Abreeza Davao, Bonifacio High Street, Robinson’s Magnolia Town Center, Centrio CDO, and Promod Lanang.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Sutton sandals pair perfectly with dainty dresses and distressed shorts

@LIFEatStandard

Young girls will love the fashionable and comfortable Paprika sandals

SandalS for all SeaSonS Flip Flops brand banana peel launches a new line oF sandals

A pair of Cayenne comes handy during rainy days

Flossy Italica in marine and navy

n countries with only the wet and dry seasons, sandals will never go out of style. A pair of this versatile footwear can take you from sunny beaches to rainy outdoor markets. Apart from functionality, the previous seasons also saw the evolution of these modest sandals into fashionista must-haves. Riding on this renewed appreciation to what was once a mere summer and “pambahay” footwear, local flip flops retailer Banana Peel launched its line of durable and stylish sandals perfect for either summer or rainy season. The Paprika line is made for the young fashionista who is starting to become more conscious of her clothes and shoes. Each pair can match any of a young girl’s favorite clothes – whether during playtime or Friday casual in school. This specially made line for girls comes in six color combinations – ranging from a daintylooking pink and green strap combination to a more urban denim-orange-pink combo. Similar to all Banana Peel products, Paprika sandals are made using quality, comfortable, anti-slip and eco-friendly rubber, ensuring that kids can safely have fun while wearing this footwear. Kid sizes range from 9 to 14. Paprika retails for P530 per pair.

Flossy Bailen Maryjane in navy polka dot

Meanwhile, the Sutton and Cayenne lines are suitable for women looking for comfortable and stylish pairs of sandals. The Sutton line will be every lady’s summer best friend as the products under this range match dainty dresses, distressed shorts and swimwear. Sutton sandals come in vibrant, solid colors that make them eye-catching footwear. A pair is available for P550. On rainy days when stepping out in sandals seems a better idea than bearing the unpleasant feeling of walking in soaked shoes, go for a pair of Cayenne. This line of rubber sandals goes stylishly together with boyfriend pants and solid tops, shorts, long skirts and even office slacks for rainy commutes. Similar to Sutton, Cayenne comes in six classic and trendy color combinations. A pair retails at P570. With comfort and functionality in mind, the Banana Peel Sutton and Cayenne sandals are both made with quality, antislip and eco-friendly rubber, sans lead and other harmful chemicals. All three lines are now available at Banana Peel concept stores and on the brand’s website.

Banana Peel launches its latest line of stylish sandals

Flossy Guadix in white

BE Who You WAnt to BE WIth FLoSSY!

The deadlier the better and tiis ganda are no longer the only expressions that apply to fashion. Today, fashion has become synonymous with comfort and simplicity, and celebrities and different personalities would be seen donned in stylish clothes paired with stylish yet comfortable footwear. Spanish footwear brand Flossy screams designs that are simple, comfortable, and hand made, underscoring the rich, 30-year-old strong heritage under its belt. The brand originated in the Rioja region of Spain where the footwear was originally worn by bohemians, street artists and

sailing enthusiasts of Barcelona and the Balearics. The footwear grew famous in Ibiza as clubbers were usually seen wearing the brand. Today, Flossy is now available in over 40 countries worldwide Flossy boasts of a collection of unique prints and styles ranging from classic, to quirky, to bold, Flossy can be considered as the ultimate plimsoll that carries just about every personality and style. The brand stands firm in its thrust of inspiring people to be their quirky selves without compromising style. Last month, Flossy hosted a Styling Workshop session with celebrity stylist Bea Constantino.

During the event, Bea taught the public about what goes perfect with what, and how to wear certain things for a certain body shape, age, occasion, comfort and budget. She also encouraged the public to dress up according to their quirky selves, and gave tips on how to stay updated with their look without sacrificing style. This summer before you hit the road for an adventure road trip with your friends, a walk under the sun, fun outdoor activities, or whatever you have thought up to do in summer, check out what Flossy has in store for you.

You weren t made to fit in, but to stand out! Flossy encourages you to look and feel comfortable in your own skin. The Primer Group of Companies, Asia s next retail giant, is the exclusive distributor of Flossy in the Philippines. Keep updated and follow the brand at @flossyfootwearph on Facebook and Instagram and use the hashtag #IAmFlossy. For the latest collection, check out Flossy boutiques and kiosks at Glorietta 3, SM Block, SM Megamall, Alabang Town Center, Eastwood Mall, SM Cebu Northwing, and Abreeza Davao as well as Res Toe Run and Bratpack stores nationwide.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

The super-charged serum ThaT fighTs 20 signs of aging

D Avon Anew Essential Super Serum features a skin care technology inspired by a Nobel Prize-winning research

irect selling company Avon has always been at the forefront of the latest in skincare innovation. And this time, the company for women introduces the newest addition to its anti-aging arsenal that features technology inspired by a Nobel Prizewinning research. The new Avon Anew Essential Super Serum is a high-powered serum made effective by first-to-market patented Youth ID complex. This formulation is developed based on research that increases dynein,

a motor protein that delivers essential nutrients to skin cells. The super-charged serum is designed to detect specific visible age damage and deliver maximum results where the skin needs it most. Avon claims that continuous use of Anew Super Serum will result in 20 skin youth factors. These include firmness, radiance, brightness, hydration, translucence, moisture, smoothness, clarity, softness, even skin tone, tactile smoothness, reduced wrinkles, reduced freckles,

reduced pigmentation, reduced fine lines, improved dark spots, improved blotchiness, refined texture, energized skin, and younger-looking skin. Furthermore, one bottle of Anew Essential Super Serum has been shown to maximize the performance of your current Anew regimen, with 5x more anti-aging results based on moisturization tests for Anew 360 White Day Cream. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avon.com.ph.

Sfera presents urban and casual vibes for men Popular Spanish brand Sfera continues to lead the way with fun, dynamic and up-tothe-minute fashion styles in a minimalist but modern setting not only for women but also for mer. This time, it ushers in a new season with an interesting mix of go-to pieces for men, perfect for their uncomplicated yet fastpaced lifestyle. Sfera Men has a wide range of urban and casual pieces for today’s stylish male – with jackets and cotton knit jumpers, shirts with microprints and new ankle length trousers in shades of blue, red and khaki for a casual and easygoing vibe. Bomber jackets, hoodies and washed fabrics with faded colors also add a trendy touch to this new Sfera Men’s collection. For the sophisticated male, Sfera brings in the Smart collection – pieces with classic tailoring and definitive fabrics for blazers and trousers. These elaborate garments feature details on the neck, as well as backstitching and buttons in a range of blues, greys and neutral colors. Foulards, scarves and other accessories complete a meticulous look and add a pop of color to the clothes. Sfera’s two collections are strongly complemented by denims in washed fabrics with all shades of indigo. A part of El Corte Ingles, Spain’s largest department store group, Sfera is constantly adding new collections, inspired by the latest global trends for stylish yet practical men, women, and kids and babies. Sfera stores are located at the 2/F of SM Makati, 2/L Mega B of SM Megamall, and UG/F of SM Seaside City Cebu. Sfera Men is available at Sfera in SM Makati and SM Megamall. Get more of Sfera on Instagram: @sfera_ph (#SferaPH), on Facebook: SFERA Philippines and on its international website www.sfera.eu.

Sfera Men has a wide range of stylish, practical options for today’s stylish male

Sfera Men gets trendy with ankle length trousers

Must-haves for men: bomber jackets, crewneck shirts and trousers

An interesting mix of go-to pieces

Bright hoodies pair well with easy khakis

Urban and casual jackets and crewneck shirts

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

TREND ALERT: Feathered Brows pop-up beauty By jigs mayuga

ne of the biggest trends in makeup in recent months has been feathered brows. Brushed up and out, imperfect yet still beautiful, the way nature intended brows to look like. For the past few years everyone has been obsessed with achieving

perfect Instagram-worthy, penciledin arches without realizing that brows should look more like cousins and not like identical twins. They look great in perfect lighting but brows that are filled in with a solid line look more ghoulish than gorgeous especially in real life. It s refreshing to see celebrities from supermodel Cara Delevingne to local star Anne Curtis sporting this look. It exudes youthfulness and a carefree approach to beauty, yet is still very modern. Want to achieve this look for the summer? Pop-up Beauty gives you a step-by-step guide to getting the feathered brow trend.

miLaNi Brow shaping Clear wax, Beauty essentials by eren mckay, Fisher Mall iNgLot Brush 14m, Glorietta 5

STEP 1: Begin by brushing eyebrows upwards and outwards with a spoolie brush or a brow brush to see the natural shape of the brows. If brows are a bit sparse I suggest growing them out for a couple of weeks before attempting this look.

Step 2: Next, apply a brow wax pencil to prime the brows and give them a nice hold before filling them in. Apply directly from the tip of the pencil by pushing the eyebrows upwards and outwards with the product. Grab the same spoolie brush and continue brushing the brows until they appear naturally feathered. Remember you want your brows to look a bit messy and not perfect.

maKe uP For eVer Pro sculpting Brow Pencil, SM Megamall

Step 3: Using a slanted edge brow pencil, start filling in the brows with light, feathery strokes beginning by the bridge of the nose following the direction of the brow hairs after applying the brow wax in Step 2. Continue following the shape of the brows you created with the wax and fill in with a slightly darker slanted pencil as you reach the tail end of the brows for added emphasis. Brush brows once more with the spoolie brush to blend everything together. Apply highlight on the brow bone to add definition. Follow me on Instagram and TwitterÂ @jigsmayuga

photos by star sabroso I makeup by nIcole ceballos I model: arIsse de santos

m.a.C. CosmetiCs Pro Longwear waterproof Brow set, SM Aura

Step 4: Finally, apply a waterresistant tinted brow gel to set brows in place and add softness and highlights to the brows. Brush the product onto the brows and use a clean spoolie brush to remove any excess brow gel to avoid product overload. Remember to continue brushing the brows upwards and out to keep the look young and modern.

f RIDAy : m A RcH 11, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Rafael Roco, Jr. now known as Bembol Roco and Hilda coronel in the Lino Brocka masterpiece “maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag”

ClassIC anD REflECTIvE lEnTEn flICks

By JaO GavInO

emana Santa, or Holy Week, once again draws close. This is a yearly, weeklong celebration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here in the Philippines, it is reflective, solemn, and, strangely, colorful – centuriesold festivals, lifelong traditions, and strange customs abound in those seven days. One of these traditions are the movies aired on analog TV during the Holy Week in lieu of the channels’ standard programming – an odd mix of thought-provoking, culturally significant films taken anywhere from the 70s to the late 90s and beyond. Curious, and looking for a different perspective, we asked for insight into this strange, cultural phenomenon from an unlikely source: a young, fresh-faced sophomore taking up a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts at one of Manila’s prominent Catholic universities. We handpicked five Tagalog-language films almost synonymous with programming during the Semana Santa, and asked for her input as to why, exactly, these films are aired during the Holy Week, year after year, for almost as long as we can remember. • Oro, Plata, Mata (Peque Gallaga, 1982) “I haven’t seen it [on television] in a very long time. I’m not exactly a fan of this movie. Don’t get me wrong, though – I still see it as a good movie – the plot, acting, and cinematography are very good, it’s just that I have this feeling of not getting the entirety of what the movie has to offer – it was a revolutionary movie for its time. It’s difficult for me to view it as it is, because there’s this automatic comparison between Oro and the movies I see today. It makes me wish I could go back to 1982 just to see it back when it was first shown on the big screen, and compare it to the other films of that era … As to why it’s often shown during the Lenten season, I’m really unsure as to why – it might be because it focuses on a family, and showcases the horror and tragedy of war - an anti-war, family film, if you will.” • Himala (Ishmael Bernal, 1982) “Unlike Oro, Plata, Mata, I’ve seen this far more often in recent years. It’s a popu-

Shaina magdayao and Gloria Romero in the 2000 film “Tanging yaman”

A scene from the restored version of the Peque Gallaga opus, “Oro, Plata, mata”

A young Jiro manio in the critically-acclaimed “magnifico”

lar pick for [the] Holy Week, since it takes a stand against religion, rather than for it, especially with the ‘Walang himala!’ part. Come to think of it, it might be a good Semana Santa film because it’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind faith, or how man screws up God’s plans for us because of our greed. It’s a timely and timeless film. All in all, it’s still a good movie, it hasn’t exactly aged well, but the message, at least in my opinion, is still intact.” • Magnifico (Maryo J. de los Reyes, 2003) “Now, this one, I remember quite fondly – I actually wrote a reaction paper about it back when I was in high school. I don’t think I’ve ever cried that hard because of a movie in my

Nora Aunor as Elsa in the iconic Ishmael Bernal film “Himala”

entire life. I re-watched it a year back with some friends, and I’d say it still holds up. Sure, the plot and production seem a lot more bare bones to us now, but the acting, the direction and writing are still pretty solid. As to why it’s a good movie for [the] Holy Week, I think it’s because it’s a simple, heart-warming, familycentered, yet ultimately tragic film.” • Tanging Yaman (Laurice Guillen, 2000) “To put it plainly, it’s a simple, welldirected, well-acted film about a family and religion. It’s relatively well written, although it gets a bit preachy at times. Also, it was really successful at the box office. If that doesn’t merit a yearly screening during Lent, I don’t know what does.”

• Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (Lino Brocka, 1975) “This is a horrible movie – no, not in a negative way – it’s horrible because it makes life in Manila look like a quagmire of misery, hopelessness and poverty, from which there is absolutely no escape. It’s beautifully shot, though – and captures the terrible feeling of having your hopes and expectations of bright lights and prosperity being destroyed really well. As to why it’s a pick for Holy Week programming, it makes up a Manila that’s genuinely more horrible than the real one – and that makes the audience genuinely thankful for what they currently have, amid sighs of – ‘well, at least it’s not that bad.’”

f RIDAy : m A RcH 11, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

pEOplE ¼

are talking about

are not talking about

AnDREA TORREs 32nD sTAR AwARDs

After seeing the same familiar faces playing the lead roles over and over again, her being cast in a starring role in The Millionaire’s Wife is a breath of fresh air. Andrea’s afternoon soap in Kapuso network doesn’t seem to offer anything new to the public, but her inclusion in the program alone sure makes the excitement build up. Yes, people anticipate what the sexy actress can bring to the table.

FOR MOvIEs If you’re a reasonable movie fan or at least someone who has a decent taste when it comes to big screen entertainment, you would sneer and chuckle on the winners of the awards given out by the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC). The list of winners is a reflection of the biased, unsophisticated and uneducated choices of its members. We wonder why there are people who still believe that PMPC has credibility and is still relevant.

MARCH 11, 2016 KRIs AquInO

She’s leaving showbiz. And this is probably the best news that came from Kris of late. Not that we feel her two sons need her time more or that she needs to primarily focus on her health concerns, we believe it’s only logical for someone who’s been in the business for almost 30 years to take a long break. And by long break we mean not coming back in the next two months or so. Our mornings are good without Kris TV anyway.

CRIsTInE REyEs She’s slowly building a reputation, a bad reputation that is. Ask Vivian Velez, who took to social media recently to tell the world that she’s resigning from Tubig at Langis, and she’d tell you Cristine is extremely difficult to work with. If our memory serves us right, this is not the first time someone complained about Cristine’s demeanor. So, we guess all the rumors about her were true after all.

FACE OuT FAT

CARROT MAn After gaining popularity in the Philippines, online sensation Jeyrick Sigmaton (aka Carrot Man) has been featured in a TV show in South Korea. The show compares the features of Jeyrick to

South Korean male celebrities including Won Bin, Jang Geun Suk, and Lee Min Ho. Of course, we are happy for the lad and for the attention he’s getting. We just hope all these things would translate into something positive like say his family or tribe getting better education or perhaps securing their own land.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Cash in coupons 7 Like a bairn 10 Resolute 14 Forever, to Keats 15 Shoe color 16 Botanist’s wings 17 Tourist staple 18 Ancient Tokyo 19 Windshield option 20 Silent

messages (2 wds.) 23 Painter — Dufy 26 Endangered tree 27 Ore deposits 28 Blows it 29 Meadow murmur 30 Few, to Pierre 31 Ad — (wing it) 32 Cold War flier 33 Springy 37 Here, for monsieur

38 Pilot’s dir. 39 Fall flower 40 Orthodontist’s grp. 41 Party provisioner 43 U.K. leaders 44 Gemsbok cousin 45 Three-toed sloths 46 Veggie-tray item 47 Rural must 48 Bound by oath 51 Sun. homily 52 Up the stakes 53 Luxurious (4 wds.) 56 Earthen jar 57 Pizarro’s quest 58 One-celled animal 62 Baltic tributary 63 Fr. neighbor 64 Warded off 65 Course finale 66 Possess 67 Hurled DOWN 1 — room (den) 2 Flight board info 3 Dose guys? 4 Volcano in Antarctica 5 Join up (var.) 6 Middle Ages quaff 7 Blanche’s sister 8 Lady’s honorific 9 Well-known auth. 10 Inane

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 11 Old war story 12 Mountain chain 13 Allots 21 First Mach 1 breaker 22 Brief flashes 23 Curio 24 Port north of Antofagasta 25 Shuttle course 29 Hop stems 30 Chubby 32 Wool that doesn’t scratch 33 Vast realm 34 Sulu of “Star Trek” 35 Archaeology finds 36 Hawser 42 Long-lost aviator 46 Disarm a bull 47 Prairie schooners 48 Fire 49 Dorian Gray’s creator 50 Gives the eye 51 Fling 52 Lover in a play 54 NASA decision (hyph.) 55 Hatchet handle 59 Publishing execs. 60 Many a queen 61 Augment

Belo Medical has gigantic billboards on Edsa featuring Julia Montes. The big tarps carry a promise to achieve a V-shaped face through a non-surgical procedure. That’s quite tempting especially to those who would die just to have slimmer faces. But examining the billboard, Julia’s “before picture” was taken a few years back, probably when she was still part of Going Bulilit. How can Belo Medical explain this obvious advertising blunder? That’s false advertising in your face.

f RIDAy : m A RcH 11, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

‘My BEBE LOvE: #KILIgpaMORE’ nOw On DvD

omedians Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas team up with the phenomenal AlDub love team of Alden Richard and Maine Mendoza for the ultimate romantic comedy of 2015 – My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore. The movie was an entry to he Metro Manila Film Festival 2015. It has earned multiple awards in the Film Festival awards – 3rd Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Mendoza), and the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award. At the 47th GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards it bagged the awards for; Box Office King (Sotto), Box Office Queen (Delas Alas), and Highest Opening Gross of All Time. The story revolves around widower Vito (Sotto) and business rival, Cora (Delas Alas). The two meet in the most unlikely situation. Vito almost runs over Cora while

she on her usual morning jog. They eventually find out that they run the same type of business. Anna (Mendoza), daughter of Vito is a rebellious and stubborn girl who seeks the attention of his father. She meets Dondi (Richards), nephew of Cora and a nerdy individual who let shis aunt make most of the decisions in his life. The two are instantly attracted to each other and as the two get to know each other they eventually fall in love. This poses as a threat to both Vito and Cora who team up to conspire against the Dondi and Anna’s blossoming love affair., They agree to try and stop Anna and Dondi from becoming involved deeper than they think they should. As they are trying to do that something happens between them. They start to feel something for each other. Dondi and Anna do not approve of Vito and Cora’s, knowing that they two are

the cast of the blockbuster comedy “my Bebe love” (from left) Ai-Ai delas Alas, Alden Richards, maine mendoza and Vic Sotto

against their own relationship. They eventually decide to support Vito and Cora. My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore is now out on DVD, distributed by MCA Music, Inc. It has exclusive features – fanzine, postcard, Spinnr playlist voucher, behind-the-scene-photoshoot, music video, and the official trailer. The DVD is truly a fan memorabilia with

all the exclusive freebies included, something you can share with the whole family at home. It is available at Astroplus, Astrovision, and Odyssey stores near you. For more information about “My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore” you can log on to www.facebook. com/mcamusic, Instagram- mca_music or Twitter- mca_music.

Heart feels bad for families rendered Jasmine’s homeless by fire in Bacolod boyfriend a Grace Poe supporter Jasmine Curtis Smith’s rumored boyfriend, Jeff Ortega, is an avid supporter of Senator Grace Poe in her presidential bid. Poe’s son, Bryan Llamanzares, once declared he had a crush on Jasmine. He even admitted it publicly in a press conference with Jasmine Curtis Smith, surprising everyone, including his own family. Senator Poe is very proud of Jeff when she went to La Union on Feb. 25. She said, “Dito sa La Union, nakasama ko ang isang bata, si Jeff Ortega. Siya ay nagtatrabaho sa kanyang sariling sikap, minsan nag-aabono siya para lang ipakita kung gaano kaganda ang La Union.” Jeff is managing the popular La Union Surf School. His family hosted Senators Grace and Chiz Escudero’s sortie in La Union. Jeff posted on his Instagram account a photo of the two senators at Thunderbird Resort in La Union.

Finally Heart Evangelista’s travel to Bacolod City recently pushed through to campaign for her husband, vicepresidential candidate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero. She had planned to do that but she couldn’t because she was under the weather. “Yes, pupunta akong Bacolod dapat eh nagkasakit ako so iniyakan ko siya, medyo sumama loob ko dahil sabi nya magpahinga ka na lang. So ako talaga yung gustong pumunta,” the actress related. Heart really wanted to go to Bacolod, but Senator Escudero advised her otherwise so she could take a much needed rest. So, after taking a rest, Heart traveled to Bacolod. She said she feels bad for the victims

of a fire that razed around 50 houses in Bacolod City. The damage was estimated to be at P700 million pesos. Heart said she knows the feeling of losing everything you have in a fire because her family was once a victim of a conflagration. “So unang-una sa lahat, nakakarelate po ako diyan kasi yung bahay po namin kung saan po lahat ng, yung mga memories po namin nung bata kami, nasunog at nawala lahat. Yung naisalba lang ng tatay ko yung mga aso namin at I’m glad dahil okay siya. Kaya naramdaman ko na rin mawalan ng lahat-lahat, lahat ng pinag-ipunan mo, lahat ng pinaghirapan mo, lahat ng shinare nyong memories with each other,” the actress said.

Heart reminded everyone to be careful in handling flammable materials especially this month. March is Fire Prevention Month. “Always remember to be smart. Yung kandila, simpleng bagay lang yan kaya kapag hindi nyo ginagamit patayin nyo. Kuryente nyo kapag hindi nyo ginagamit patayin nyo, pati gasul, hindi ba?” Heart said. “Huwag kayong masyadong ma-relax. Minsan, narerelax tayo masyado kapag nasa bahay, nae-enjoy natin masyado ang mga teleserye pero yung niluluto nakakalimutan.” “Ganun lang din naman yun, kailangan, always think in advance, be smart and be careful and always pray,” Heart added.

BInIBInInG PIlIPInAS 2016 tAlEnt comPEtItIon kIckS off SEARcH

the 40 lovely candidates in this year’s Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant

Bb. Ariel Smith in a Beyonce number

Bb. niza Sabrina Sophia limjap singing “on my own”

Pia Wurtzbach sang “On My Own” from Les Miserables in last year’s Bb. Pilipinas Talent competition. Niza Sabrina Sophia Limjap, one of 18 (out of the 40) Bb. Pilipinas 2016 official candidates who joined the much anticipated Talent competition also sang the same song. The talent competition was held at the Gateway Mall activity area in Cubao, Quezon City on March 5 kicking off this year’s national search, the winner of which will be crowned by the reigning Miss Universe. A sizeable afternoon mall crowd stopped to watch the lovely and talented contestants as they showed what they got before a set of judges that included shoe designer Jose Joaquin Bragais, JAG Jeans operations head James Parry, Dairy Queen marketing manager Lorent Adrias, Picture City owner Paul Santos and PLDT broadband head Gary Dujali. Aside from Limjap, Maria Gigante sang “To Make You Feel My Love,” Paula Rich Bartolome, “Reflection,” Jeslyn Santos, “Let It Go,” Edjelyn Gamboa, “Try It On

My Own,” Anjellica Lopez, “Rumour Has It,” and Kristine Angeli Estoque who played the guitar. Warmly applauded were the girls who performed dance numbers like last year’s Miss Talent winner, Win Win Marquez. They were Apriel Smith (Beyonce), Janella Olafson (contemporary), Vina Openiano (belly dance), Angela Gene Valdez and Karen Ibasco (both interpretative dance), Alexandra Faith Garcia (“Piliin mo ang Pilipinas” interpretative folk dance), Priscilla Kimberley Dela Cruz (folk dance), Jennyline Carla Malpaya (Latin American dance), Maria Lina Prongoso (baton twirling), Sarah Christine Bona and Angelique De Leon (both hip hop dance). The Talent Competition followed that of the Zumba session and the Art Gallery tour at Gateway, the first public appearance of the official candidates. The winner of Miss Talent special award will be known during the grand coronation on April 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. –Eton B. Concepcion

f RIDAy : m A RcH 11, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

TRIbuTE TO MODERn FIlIpInas On InTERnaTIOnal WOMEn’s Day musician and rock artist Rico Blanco pays tribute to modern filipinas via his reworked rendition of Rivermaya hit “Balisong”

s the world celebrated International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8, Cream Silk paid tribute to the Modern Filipinas who have experienced their own transformations. Championing women and their ability to achieve limitless possibilities, the number one conditioner brand in the Philippines further empowers them to go beyond beautiful and leave a mark in the world. Earlier this year, Cream Silk launched Transformations, its latest campaign, with five new ambassadors who perfectly embody the Modern Filipina, and who have all undergone personal journeys of change. Leading the way in inspiring women are Nadine Lustre, transformed to light up more screens; Coleen Garcia, transformed to conquer new heights; Julie Anne San Jose, transformed to own the spotlight; Yassi Pressman, transformed to take the lead; and Rachelle Ann Go, transformed to take on the world stage. To kick off the celebrations, Cream Silk unveiled a music video honoring these Modern Filipinas, as they were serenaded with a reworked rendition of the popular tune, “Balisong” by OPM icon Rico Blanco. The music video was made to remind women of the true power of transformation, as embodied by the new Cream Silk ambassadors. In the video, each of these women relived their own incredibly inspiring transformation stories. Their dedication, hard work, and success are proof that there no limits to what a Modern Filipina can achieve, once she has transformed to go beyond beautiful. To further highlight the women who inspire others every day with their talent, beauty, and heart, Blanco went as far as adding new lyrics to his beloved song to express what he thinks of the Modern Filipina: “You are the sun in my skies, you are the days in my nights. You are the reason I smile, you put the worth in my while.” More than anything, however, the video is truly a celebration—a tribute to laud

every Modern Filipina whose beauty inspires, creates, and makes a mark in the world. The commemoraISAH V. RED tive music video of “You’re Everything I Wanted (Balisong)” can be viewed at the Cream Silk Philippines Youtube Page (http:// bit.ly/ModernFilipinas) **** Have an O,Wow-filled Year with Oishi How has the New Year been? Make 2016 crunchier and even more exciting as Oishi introduces not one but three brand new snacks. Let’s welcome the summer as we kick off with the all-new Oishi Pea Pow Garbanzo Stick Crunch Snack, a hot and spicy garbanzo snack’made from chickpeas, a well-known superfood. The crunchy stick is not only tasty, but is also packed with fiber and protein, making it the perfect mid-day treat. Lovers of the classic fish crackers will be thrilled to discover Oishi Fishda Fish Kropeck - an ever-pleasant surprise as the salty snack was made to taste exactly like fish balls, an all-time Filipino favorite. The New Year also brings with it new blockbuster films from both local and Hollywood productions so what better way to watch them than with the new Oishi Mobsters Caramel & Cheese Popcorn. The Chicago-style snack is a great mix of sweet caramel and savoury cheese flavor, a blockbuster movie-time companion. Our favorite Oishi classics will always have a special place in our hearts, but what is life without trying anything new and exciting right? Oishi fans are sure to be kept on their toes this year as Oishi continues to bring out new and innovative snacks for you. This is only the beginning, as Oishi always has new snack-ideas cooking. With that, 2016 is a surefire fun and tasty journey. For more information log on to www. oishi.com.ph or visit Oishi’s Official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oishi. ph. Don’t forget to Tweet @Oishi_tweets and share us your post on Instagram @ oishiph using the hashtag #OishiOWow.

modern filipinas: yassi Pressman, Rachelle Ann Go, Nadine Lustre, colleen Garcia, and Julie Anne San Jose

OPm icon Rico Blanco serenades modern filipinas yassi Pressman, Rachelle Ann Go, Nadine Lustre, colleen Garcia, and Julie Anne San Jose