The Standard - 2016 March 21 - Monday

VOL. XXX NO. 40 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONday : MaRCH 21, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Rules spat causes delay

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betS baSH RivalS in 2nd tv debate

By Christine F. Herrera, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Sandy Araneta and Rio N. Araja

THE gloves came off at the second presidential debate in Cebu Sunday, with the four candidates openly attacking each other over competence, nationality and allegations of corruption and extrajudicial killings.

After a one-and-a-half hour delay over a disagreement about the rules, the debate at the University of the Philippines Visayas quickly turned into a venue for heated

arguments and personal attacks among the candidates.

The heated exchanges were the result of a new debate format that allowed candidates to address

questions directly to their opponents, and also gave more time for rebuttals.

When Senator Grace Poe asked Vice President Jejomar Binay why he never attended a session at the Senate to address the allegations of corruption against him, Binay attacked Poe’s nationalism, and asked her how she could call herself a true Filipino when she had taken an oath to be an American citizen and abjured her allegiance and fidelity to her country.

Poe shot back, saying in Filipino: “If you stay in the country but

you plunder and steal, what’s the point?”

Binay, who faces a plunder charge, said: “Madam senator, the way you speak, it’s as if I’ve already been convicted.”

Poe retorted: “Why, was I talking about you? I’m not saying it’s you because I believe in due process.”

In another exchange, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte called administration candidate Manuel Roxas II “weak, indecisive” and a “moron” unfit to be president.

He also called him a fraud and

once again questioned his having graduated from Wharton.

Roxas said Wharton itself had written that he was a graduate for the school, and that Duterte was “dangerous” because once he had formed an idea, he would not consider anything else.

“You’re closed-minded,” he said.

“You do what you believe [is right even if it isn’t]. You could kill [a person].”

Duterte replied: “That’s the problem with you. You are not capable of killing. You can’t be a leader.”

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Heated debate. This TV grab shows four of the five candidates for president facing off in the second television debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections at the University of the Philippines campus in Cebu on Sunday.

PH lauds plan to give US 5 bases

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Laundering scandal exposes weak system THE scandal over the laundering of $81 million stolen by hackers through the local banking system has exposed the Philippines as a dirty money haven.

The funds, stolen from the Bangladesh central bank’s American accounts, were immediately sent via electronic transfer to the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.,

with the thieves deliberately targeting their laundering location.

The Philippines has some of the world’s strictest bank secrecy laws to protect account holders, while its casinos are exempt from rules altogether aimed at preventing money laundering.

“The Philippines is very attractive [for dirty money] because our laws have

gaping holes. It’s easy to launder money here,” said Senator Sergio Osmena III, who is pushing for stronger anti-money laundering laws.

Still, if the thieves were to get away with their audacious heist, the money had to be moved quickly through the banking system and into the casinos.

And it did.

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Row over rules delays TV debate

By Christine F. Herrera

CEBU CITY—A disagreement over the rules delayed the second presidential debate at the University of the Philippines Visayas by more than an hour Sunday.

Blessing. Catholic devotees wave their palm fronds while a priest blesses them at the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu City on Palm Sunday.

Danny Pata

Bets...

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He said Roxas performed poorly during Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ in Eastern Visayas.

“You can’t handle stress,” he told Roxas, then turned to the audience and said: “This guy is a weak leader… We have a moron here.”

Duterte also criticized Roxas for being unable to stop crime, including the making and selling of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary.

But Roxas said the illegal operation had been exposed and stopped.

At another point, Poe also questioned Roxas’ claim that the administration followed the “straight path” and punished err-

Laundering...

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Authorities took four days to order a recall of the money.

But by then it had vanished— leaving in its place a tale of death threats, bribes, shady business figures and a bank manager who could be the villain or a victim.

“I did not do anything wrong.

If this is a nightmare, I want to wake up now,” the manager of RCBC bank, Maia Deguito, told ABS-CBN television this week after authorities stopped her at Manila airport from trying to leave the country.

“I live everyday in fear.”

With authorities in Bangladesh and elsewhere bamboozled over who masterminded the cyberheist, Deguito’s role as manager of the bank that accepted and shifted the money has come under intense scrutiny.

She has accused the bank’s president, Lorenzo Tan, of ordering her to move the money. He has fiercely denied the accusations.

Senators who launched an inquiry this week into the affair

ing allies just as they did their opponents.

But Poe said the administration protected those who were important to it, including Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, despite the allegations of corruption against them.

Binay also accused Roxas of being behind the demolition campaign against him, comparing him to Hitler’s minister of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, who believed that a big lie told repeatedly would eventually be believed.

Roxas spent most of his time defending his and the administration’s track record.

“The World Bank, Transparency International, the World Economic Forum have all said that the Philippines has greatly improved and [that we] have come a long way in cleaning the

government.

The leaks have been plugged.

We are not perfect but we continue to do this,” Roxas said.

Roxas also chided his rivals for questioning the administration’s campaign against corruption.

“You can check the records. All are being charged. The Sandiganbayan has the records. LP or nonLP are being charged and a decision will be made whether you are guilty or not guilty,” he said.

Roxas also defended his role during Typhoon Yolanda, saying 93 percent of the budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government had already been released for rehabilitation.

Roxas also denied Binay’s allegations that the DILG under his watch had P7 billion in unliquidated cash disbursements—saying that was based on an outdated

Commission on Audit (CoA) report.

He said the findings were addressed in 2015, and chided Binay for using old data to attack him.

Roxas said if he were elected president, he would pass a strong Freedom of Information (FOI) law—the same promise that President Benigno Aquino III made before he became president.

Binay also said he would support FOI and would do so by way of an executive order.

In a show of hands among the candidates, none said they would support a divorce law.

Only Poe and Duterte said they would support a return of the death penalty.

Duterte and Binay said they would support a burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

are yet to determine whether she was a scapegoat or not, but are convinced she was not the mastermind.

“It’s a big operation. This could not have been done out of the Philippines alone,” Senator Ralph Recto said.

The Senate inquiry and another probe by the Anti-Money Laundering Council have hit several major hurdles, including a security camera at the bank not working when the money was shifted.

Accusations and counter-accusations between Deguito and RCBC management have further confused investigators.

A final roadblock has emerged at the casinos, with the money apparently vanishing in mountains of gambling chips and mysterious middlemen.

“Our money trail ended at the casinos,” Julia Abad, deputy director of the anti-money laundering council, told senators Tuesday.

On Feb. 5, the same day Bangladesh Bank was hacked, the money was sent electronically to four accounts in Deguito’s RCBC Jupiter branch in Makati, accord-

ing to testimony to the Senate inquiry.

Those accounts appeared to have been set up solely for that purpose because they were done using aliases, the Senate inquiry heard.

After that, the bulk of the money was transferred into accounts of a local ethnic Chinese businessmen, William Go, who has since protested his innocence.

He said his signature was forged to set up the accounts.

From there, the money was briefly held by Philrem, a foreign exchange brokerage.

Philrem president Salud Bautista told the Senate inquiry $30 million went to a man named Weikang Xu. He was described as a casino junket operator but senators have said they know little more about him other than he is of Chinese origin.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council said another $29 million ended up in Solaire, a casino on a glittering Manila bayside strip that the Philippines hopes will become one of the world’s biggest gambling destinations.

That money was exchanged

into chips but could only be turned back into cash after being played in the casino, its management told the Senate inquiry.

Another $21 million was sent to Eastern Hawaii Leisure, which runs a sparsely furnished casino with Chinese-only television in Santa Ana, a sleepy town in the far northern Philippines, according to the council.

Osmeña said the case was likely just the tip of the iceberg.

“This could have happened hundreds of times already,” he said.

“We discovered this one only because someone complained.

But normally, if a drug dealer from Burma [Myanmar] or China would send money here, no one would complain,” he said.

Presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has called for a review of the AntiMoney Laundering Act following the RCBC scandal.

“AMLA is a good law, but we need to see to it that the law is implemented the way it is supposed to be,” said Duterte. “What is important is for us to find the loopholes and the weak points of the regulations.”

Off camera, administration candidate Manuel Roxas II objected to opposition candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay’s plan to bring documents and notes with him to the podium, arguing that this was against the rules set by the Commission on Elections.

Binay, on the other hand, said he had been told by the debate moderator Luchi Cruz-Valdez of TV5 that he could bring his notes.

The three-hour debate was set to begin at 5 p.m., but began at 6:30 p.m. after organizers ironed out the last-minute disagreement between the Roxas and Binay camps.

Each side blamed the other for the delay that sent TV-5 anchors scrambling to kill time on live national TV. “TV5 assured the vice president that he can bring documents. These documents will be used by the VP to disprove the allegations against him,” said Joey Salgado, communications director of Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance.

But LP campaign spokesman Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez said it was the Binay camp that wanted to change the rules at the last minute.

“The Comelec rule, since first debate, is that candidates are not allowed to bring notes on stage. VP Binay wants to be exempted from this rule, gusto niya may kodigong bitbit [he wants to bring crib sheets] and his handlers are talking to TV5 and Comelec,” Gutierrez said.

“We are not asking for any rule change.

It is VP Binay who is asking for an exemption from the rule,” Gutierrez added.

Valdez apologized for the delay and admitted that it was her fault for assuring the Binay camp that the vice president could bring his documents to the podium during the debate.

“However, the Comelec has ruled that no notes or documents are allowed at the podium. Let us abide by the rules,” she said.

Earlier, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista and some Manila-based reporters were not allowed into the debate venue because he did not have a pass.

Unlike the journalists, however, Bautista was able to get a pass in five minutes.

“I’m pleased about our security preparations because when I tried to enter, they did not allow me to do so,” Bautista said in Filipino. “I thought I could get in simply by showing my face, but I could not.”

The Comelec, TV5 and Philippine Star promised to improve on the first debate organized by GMA7 and the Inquirer, but the delay set it off on a rough start.

While local reporters were not allowed into the first debate in Cagayan de Oro, it was national reporters who were disallowed in the main debate hall because of “limited space.”

Bautista later admitted that the second debate was kept exclusive to TV5 and Philippine Star “because the Comelec did not have the budget and could not afford to sponsor such a huge event.”

About 30 Manila-based reporters covering the camps of presidential candidates Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe of Partido Galing at Puso, and Roxas converged on Cebu after sorties from various provinces to cover the presidential debate.

Not one of them was allowed access to the debate hall, however, and were herded into a cramped “media center” where TV monitors had been set up.

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Poe says all law violators to face the consequences SENATOR Grace Poe said said Sunday no one who had violated the law— whether a friend or an ally—would be immune from suit under her presidency.

The leading candidate in this year’s presidential race said she would not stand in the way of justice regardless of who was at the receiving end.

“Whether you are my friend or we are in tandem, or you belong to our senatorial slate, all of us must do what is right for our country,” Poe said when asked if she would be willing to accept support from people with pending cases.

“If we commit a wrong, we have to pay for it. We will accept the support, but we will not turn a blind eye to any wrong that has been committed.”

Poe said she would not interfere in the legal cases of friends or enemies if she won the presidency. They would have to go through the process.

There have been reports of politicians lining up to join or support Poe’s Par-

tido Galing at Puso after the Supreme Court declared she was qualified to run for president in the May 9 elections.

Voting 9-6, the high court rejected the Commission on Elections’ decision canceling Poe’s Certificate of Candidacy for president over some questions on her qualification to run.

With a promise to deliver at least 10 million votes, a former ally of President Benigno Aquino III on Friday led his more than 30 colleagues from the partylist bloc in supporting the candidacies of Poe and Francis Escudero who are running for president and vice president, respectively, this year.

Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez, a former Liberal Party provincial chairman, cited the need for the country to have new leaders who would truly serve the people.

“I believe on the integrity and competence of Senator Poe to lead the country,” said Benitez who is now the leader of the local po-

litical group called “Love Negros.”

Benitez vowed to use his influence in the province to deliver the votes to Poe and Escudero.

Political observers considered Benitez’s support for Poe and Escudero as a setback to the presidential bid of Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II. The mayors of San Carlos, Calatrava and Escalante in Negros Occidental, as well as the local candidates of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, has also come out to welcome Poe, Escudero and their senatorial bets as they campaigned in San Carlos, Isabela, and Bacolod.

Poe, who remains the top choice of the voters for president in most of the recent polls, said she would also not intervene in the work of legislators should she win in the May elections.

The role of the president, she said, was to push bills that would be good for the country. Macon RamosAraneta

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UNA: Mar ally meddling in police matters CEBU CITY—A Liberal Party-backed ex-police official is handpicking the police officials to be appointed to the cities and provinces during the May 9 elections, according to Mon Ilagan, the spokesman of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.

He said the former police official was closely identified with LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, and that he was meddling in the police appointments in an attempt to manipulate the May 9 elections.

UNA claims the recently retired PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Marcelo Garbo Jr. is personally handpicking the commanders now being deployed to the provinces as an offshoot of a revamp imposed by the Commission on Elections.

Ilagan said Garbo, who retired on

March 2, was still involved in the reshuffling of police personnel.

UNA said Garbo had figured prominently during the Cebu Capitol standoff in December 2012, and that he had cases before the Office of the Ombudsman for robbery in connection with the incident.

The group said Garbo’s appointment as chief of the NCRPO in 2013 was a political reward for his “outstanding stewardship” in connection with the sixmonth suspension of former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia in 2012.

UNA president Toby Tiangco said Garbo appointment contradicted the efforts being done to insulate the PNP from any political influence.

“What we see here is that the PNP has again become more exposed to patronage politics and unfair maneuvering by the Liberal Party,” Tiangco said.

He said Garbo was closely associated with Roxas and the LP, and that he was now pre-occupied with designating police commanders to sensitive posts in the provinces. Christine F. Herrera

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86 malls chosen as voting centers

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Araneta

Fireworks show. This shower of fireworks was a highlight of the ‘pyromusical’ exhibition at the Mall of Asia on Saturday night. TEDDY PELAEZ

PH hails accord giving US use of 5 local bases

THE Philippines on Sunday hailed a new accord giving the US military access to five of its bases, saying this would strengthen its defensive capabilities and maritime security.

The agreement between the two close allies comes as the Philippines and other countries are embroiled in a tense dispute with China over conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea. Under the agreement, US forces would be able to rotate through five Philippine bases including those close to the South China Sea. “The [agreement on the] five agreed locations... reaffirms the shared commitment of the Philippines and US to strengthening their

alliance in terms of ensuring both countries’ mutual defense and security,” Foreign Affairs department spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement.

Defense department spokesman Peter Galvez said separately the agreement “would greatly enhance our capabilities” in maritime security and disaster relief.

Philippine and US officials meeting in Washington on Friday announced that they had agreed to the rotation of US military personnel

under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which went into effect last January.

The agreement was reached during the sixth Bilateral Strategic Dialogue between the Philippines and US under the Edca.

One of the installations is the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, directly facing the South China Sea. Another is Basa Air Base north of Manila, home of the Philippines’ main fighter wing, which is also close to disputed waters.

Apart from Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, the other bases are in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan De Oro; and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in

Mactan.

China claims virtually all the South China Sea, despite conflicting partial claims by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines.

It has been asserting its claim by occupying more reefs and outcrops in these waters, and building artificial islands including airstrips on some of them.

Bautista Air Base is just 300 kilometers east of Mischief Reef, an outcrop occupied by China in the 1990s despite angry protests by the Philippines.

Basa Air Base is about 330 kilometres from Scarborough Shoal, occupied by Chinese vessels after a tense confrontation with Philippine ships in 2012. AFP, Sandy Araneta

FOR the first time, voting will be allowed in 86 malls across the country, according to the Commission on Elections.

“It’s a go,” Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said in an interviewed on the eve of the second leg of PiliPinas presidential debates in Cebu City.

Bautista said an estimated 200,000 voters will benefit from the mall voting scheme.

He said the decision was arrived at after a series of public hearings were conducted with officials of affected barangays.

Bautista said that while most approved of the initiative, there were reservations from officials of other communities, like the distance of the precinct from the designated mall.

The Comelec head explained that entire clustered precincts will be moved to the assigned malls, not just voters with disabilities and senior citizens. Nonetheless, these persons will be given priority within their precincts.

A resolution on mall voting will be released within the week, the poll official said.

Meanwhile, foreign observers in the May 9 general elections should remain non-partisan or they may be charged with committing an election offense, according to Comelec.

“It shall be unlawful for any foreigner, foreign group, organization, committee or association to engage in partisan political activities, which refer to acts designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to public office,” Comelec said in Resolution No. 10079 adopted last March 11, 2016.

2 NPA blasts hurt 5 soldiers

Earth Hour. Over 1,500 solar ‘tulips’ made from recycled softdrink bottles and light emitting diode or LED lights are arranged to show the ‘60+’ slogan of the organizers of Earth Hour, a movement pledged to help mitigate the impact of climate change. DANNY PATA

FIVE soldiers and two civilians were hurt after the communist New People’s Army exploded two improvised explosive devices in separate incidents in the Bicol region over the weekend.

The first explosion took place in Camarines Norte Sunday morning, according Southern Luzon Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman.

The first attack took place at 8:30 a.m. and injured four soldiers and two military dependents aboard a KM-450 military truck that was passing along Mahawanhawan Road.

The wounded soldiers were identified as Cpl. Reynaldo Rivera, Pfc. Ricky Obina, Pfc. Rodelio Urbano Jr. and Pfc. Carlon Duriza. The names of the two civilians were not disclosed.

In the second incident, which took place

in Sorsogon, 2Lt. Jonathan Baay of the 31st Infantry Battalion was hit by fragments from a bomb exploded during a five-minute encounter with 10 NPA rebels in Barangays Union and Sangat of Gubat town at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

Field units are conducting pursuit operations in connection to the two incidents.

On Wednesday, five militiamen and a soldier were killed when their platoon encountered more than 30 NPA rebels in Barangay Hagan, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro.

Killed were Cpl Roland Bernal and militiamen Fulgencio Rolando, Christer Gadon, Garry Galindez and Ernesto Malubay.

Also wounded were Privates First Class Mark Leo Nacion and Argie Capucao and militiamen Jesse Francisco and Meddy Gaban.

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Endorsed. Pangasinan mayors and Rep. Marlyn Agabas (5th from left) flash the thumbs-up sign in endorsing senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (center) during their consultation meeting at a restaurant in Rosales, Pangasinan. The mayors are from left Rodrigo Rafael of Natividad, Eldred Tumbocon of Umingan, Teodoro Ramos of Sta Maria, Susan Casareno of Rosales, Heidee Chua of Aringan, Rebecca Saldivar of San Nicolas, Clark Cecil Tiu of San Quintin, Philipp Peralta of Balungao and Tyrone Agabas of Tayug. They support Romualdez for his malasakit platform on agriculture and empowering local government units. VER NoVENo

De Lima unmasked as ‘rights violator’

Duterte students’ top pick

Former Justice Secretary and now Liberal Party senatorial candidate Leila de Lima’s posturing as a self-styled defender of human rights is sheer “hypocrisy” and that the people should be warned about this, according to Graham Chua Lim, who has earlier scored the former Cabinet member for the “injustice” he suffered.

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Rodrigo Duterte is the top choice of students, based on mock polls released by the Davao City mayor’s camp.

The Davao City mayor continued to enjoy several past mock polls held in various universities and colleges, his spokeperson Peter Laviña said, adding Duterte’s strong showing has proven that his message of eradicating crime, drugs and corruption within three to six months was resonating with the youth.

“Duterte’s strongest showing has so far been at the Pilgrim Christian College in Cagayan de Oro City where he garnered 77.26 percent,” he said Duterte got 75.5 percent at Fr. Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City, followed by the Mindanao University of Science and Techonology in Cagayan de Oro City at 72.4 percent).

In Metro Manila, Duterte was able to get 53 percent at the De La Salle Araneta University, 51.51 percent at the Arellano University, 43.66 percent at the Far Eastern University, and 44.98 percent at the University of Caloocan City.

If the 15 existing student mock polls are averaged, Duterte received 55.65 percent—a clear majority as far as the youth are concerned, Duterte’s camp said.

Laviña said the mayor’s vow to prioritize education is also being received well by the students.

Lim, the secretary-general of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, said he has been on “exile” abroad for three years in an Asian country since De Lima issued a Department of Justice Circular that prevented his return from Singapore in December 2012.

“For someone who was once the head of the Human Rights Commission, it was utterly disgusting for the Honorable De Lima to violate the same human rights she was sworn to respect under the previous administration but somehow forgot to practice under the current dispensation,” Lim said in an Open Letter to the Public he sent to the local media.

“And now, the honorable De Lima is even seeking a mandate as a Senator of the Republic of the Philippines… The honorable De Lima, a self-styled advocate of human rights before and now of justice, selective though it has been under the current administration, wants your vote,” he stressed.

Lim said he was “born, raised,

lived and studied” in the Philippines throughout his life until he was forced into exile following the issuance of De Lima’s directive.

He blamed the LP senatorial candidate for his predicament after she “unduly” reversed an earlier department ruling declaring him a “stateless” person in September 2010 or one who may be allowed permanent residency in the Philippines.

“Moreover, the honorable De Lima even applied a ruling that was not yet in existence at the time of my “exile” to justify my deportation in December 2012. Just remember this: There’s no honor in hypocrisy, as I was taught by my parents as a young kid. The time-tested adage is applicable in the Philippine general elections in May,” he said.

Lim said he was forced out of the country when De Lima issued Circular Number 058, which effectively reversed his status as a “stateless” person and declared him an undesirable alien.

“Until now, I have been unable to

return to the land of my birth because of a political conspiracy between the Justice Department and some envious sports officials who until now see me as a threat to their monopolistic control of Philippine sports leadership,” he pointed out.

During his stay in the Philippines, Lim said he was passionate about uplifting local sports, specifically in the sport of basketball, without having to dip his hands into government funds.

Neither did he sacrifice his honor and principle in exchange for monetary considerations, Lim added.

He described the treatment he got from his detractors and De Lima as “ridiculous”, especially since De Lima allegedly allowed herself to be used by “the powers that be” in local sports.

De Lima’s Circular, he also explained, should apply only to cases that occurred beginning October 2012 and not to those people that were declared “stateless” before then.

In doing so, the Circular acted retroactively in his case.

By Rio N. Araja

US travel alert over Zika only precautionary—Palace

By Sandy Araneta

THE Department of Health is continuing to do all the measures to prevent the Zika virus from spreading in the country, Malacañang said on Sunday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. has clarified that the United States travel alert over Zika virus advises people visiting the country to practice enhanced precautions.

“The Department of Health is doing all the measures to prevent the spread of the Zika virus and ensure the safety and health of all the people, including tourists visiting the

country,” said Coloma.

The spread of mosquito-borne Zika virus is linked to birth defects.

In the meantime, the DoH stepped up its measures to monitor the Zika virus, under the prevailing Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system, Coloma said.

Under the PIDSR, all suspected carriers of the Zika virus must be reported to the DoH within 24 hours and must undergo immediate testing conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and other agencies under the DoH. The DoH reminded the public to be careful and continue

to clean their surroundings which could be nests of mosquitos which carry the Zika virus, Coloma also said.

Those who have symptoms of fever, rashes, and conjunctivitis or red eyes, must consult a doctor in order to prevent the spread of the Zika virus, Coloma said.

Coloma said the agency that released a travel advisory against Zika virus is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.

Coloma was reacting to reports that the DOH is expecting the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue Level 2 travel notice after an American was infected with the Zika virus last month.

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AFTER

BEFORE

The bronze statue of Marcelo H. del Pilar that once stood on Remedios Circle was relegated to an odd corner.

Plaridel ejected; newsmen protest The statue of Marcelo h. del Pilar was unceremoniously removed by the Manila city govenment from its location at the Remedios Circle, Malate, Manila, where it had stood since 2009.

The seven-foot bronze statue of the Filipino propagandistjournalist, also known as Plaridel, was transferred to the corner of M. H. del Pilar St. and Quirino Avenue without prior knowledge or consent of Samahang Plaridel, the association of veteran journalists and communicators, which commissioned Julie Lluch in 2005 to sculpt the bigger-thanlife image of the association’s patron.

The board of directors and

members of Samahang Plaridel are up in arms at the travesty of Plaridel’s honor as father of Philippine journalism, according to Samahang Plaridel president Rolando Estabillo.

“Isa itong pambabastos sa ating bayani,” said Estabillo.

The Manila city government, through a council resolution, caused the transfer in January 2016 without informing Samahang Plaridel.

A huge fountain has replaced

the statue at Remedios Circle which is a stone’s throw away from Plaridel’s ancestral home.

The P1.3-million statue was originally erected in 2005 at the Paraiso ng Batang Maynila, a children’s park in front of Manila Zoo, that was eventually renamed Plaza Plaridel.

Former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, a staunch supporter of Samahang Plaridel, caused the transfer of the statue in 2009 to Remedios Circle, where it was placed on top of a six-foot pedestal.

In 2004, a fund-raising campaign was launched to cover the cost of sculpting the statue, with much help from another Manila mayor, Lito Atienza.

Samahang Plaridel pays trib-

ute to Plaridel annually during the Filipino hero’s birth and death anniversaries.

The association’s incorporators include Max Soliven, Adrian Cristobal, Neal H. Cruz, Rolando Estabillo, Rod Reyes, Ben Rodriguez, Julius Fortuna, Diosdado Beltran, Alex Liu, Cris Maralit, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, Lilia Andolong, Isagani Yambot, Jun Icban and Jullie Yap Daza.

The current officers are Rod Reyes, Jullie Yap Daza, Rolando Estabillo, Jimmy Gil, Twinkle Valdez, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, Jake Makasaet, Marichu Villanueva, Jun Icban, Dick Pascual, Roy Acosta, Ernesto Tolentino, Lito Gagni, Ariel Ayala and Max Edralin.

Air controllers’ P1-b unpaid bonus sought

By Eric B. Apolonio

OROZCO

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines says it has been working to correct flaws in the air traffic service and lift the disallowance imposed by the Commission on Audit on P1 billion in pay increases and bonuses given to employees.

All efforts of the CAAP to increase plantilla positions and provide employees with pay commensurate to their skills, however, depend on the approval of the Governance Commission on Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations, according to CAAP deputy directorgeneral for administration Artemio Orozco.

“We have long been aware of the situation of our air traffic controllers and have been working to increase the number of plantilla positions in the air traffic service.”

Orozco said that the CAAP also wants to fill vacant positions to beef up the thinning ranks of the air traffic controllers.

“While our recruitment is continuing, there are currently only a total of 657 approved plantilla positions in the air traffic service. Only 115 are available for air traffic management officer I (ATMO-I), the entrylevel, and we have 315 assistant ATMOs and assistant air traffic controllers who are employed on a job-order basis,” he explained.

A pre-screening review is ongoing for the promotion of ATMOs to the next higher level. This is after the Civil Service Commission approved last year amendments to the qualifications standards, which the CAAP sought in 2013.

Likewise, the CAAP official said, a restructuring plan pertaining to the increase in plantilla positions remains pending approval by the GCG. The CAAP restructuring program will increase the approved plantilla positions for ATMOs to 1,200 that will then regularize the status of the job-order hires.

“Employees of the air traffic control service have been doing their job effectively and efficiently even if they are understandably demoralized. CAAP recognizes their hard work and is doing its part to make sure that their skills and efforts are well compensated. They are vital to keeping our skies safe,” Orozco said, citing an International Civil Aviation Organization requirement for an internationally competitive compensation package in aviation authorities.

CAAP has been seeking the reversal of the May 2015 disallowance by the Commission on Audit and the GCG of salary increases and bonuses of nearly P1 billion already given to the agency’s employees since 2012.

The CoA and GCG disapproved the salary increases for 1,775 technical posts given since October 2012 as well as six months worth of bonuses in 2012, 2013 and 2014, which were approved by the CAAP board to boost the morale of the employees who succeeded in reinstating and maintaining category 1 rating from the Federal Aviation Administration; removing the country from the ICAO’s list of countries with significant safety concerns; and lifting the European Union ban against Philippine air carriers.

Asean execs adopt strategic info campaign MINISTERS of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have adopted a communications strategic plan that would make the people aware of what is happening in the region, Malacañang said on Sunday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the strategic plan was adopted during the 13th Asean Ministers Responsible for Information Conference which was held on March 14 to 16, 2016 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

“The Asean Communications Strategy will be implemented by the different Ministries of Information, who are responsible for the information campaign,” said Coloma.

“The important thing is they have agreed to the formulation of a strategic plan regarding communications which was proposed by the heads of state of the Asean. We are aware that on Dec. 31, 2015, the Asean Community has started. This is stated in a document released by all leaders of the Asean member states, entitled ‘Asean 2025: Forging Ahead Together’,” said Coloma.

Coloma said the Asean region, which has a population of 620 million people, has a huge potential and will play an important part in the world economy.

The AMRI Conference also tackled the preparations for the 50th Founding Anniversary celebration of the Asean to be held in the Philippines.

Coloma said as host country, the Philippines already formed the national organizing committee for the Asean Golden Jubilee Anniversary.

“In 2017, the 50th anniversary or the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the Asean foundation on Aug. 8, 1967, will be celebrated. During this celebration, the Philippines will lead the Asean, so in 2017 the Asean Summit will be held in our country.

As of the moment, the country is preparing for the establishing of a National Organizing Committee,” said Coloma. Sandy Araneta

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

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Health body recognizes ARMM schools’ sanitation

By A. Perez Rimando COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao—The World Health Organization has hailed the hygiene thrust of public schools in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao initiated this semester by Education Regional Secretary Jose Magno and Health Secretary Kadil Sinolinding, Jr. The Global Handwashing Day, spearheaded by the German entity Deutsche Gessellschaft fur Internationale Zugenecasammenarbeit (DGIZ), installed 1,500 washing facilities in rural and urban public schools in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.

The Geneva-based WHO, in its letter to DepEdARMM, lauded the two agencies’ extensive advocacy for hygiene among Moro school children many of whom were reportedly unaware of the health benefits of hand washing, especially before and after meals.

“It is wonderful to hear about ARMM’s GHD now being undertaken regularly all over the region,” the WHO stated, adding that “such advocacy for hygiene ensures that children can be clean and healthy to attend school,” even as it hailed ARMM and the national DepEd “for working together to provide such strong support for this highly beneficial initiative.”

Magno and Sinolinding said the region’s GHD, funded by the Australian Assistance for International Development, is “a global advocacy dedicated to promote awareness and public understanding on the importance of hand washing to prevent diseases.”

Palm Sunday. A woman and her child sell young coconut leaves on Palm Sunday at the Sto. Niño Church grounds in Tacloban City. MEL CASPE

Build agro-industrial zones in Eastern Visayas—group

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—The creation of an agro-industrial zones in Eastern Visayas will pave for the rebuilding of agricultural sector in the region, said a regional political party here.

“With the region being an agricultural area, there is a need to organize farmers and consolidate farming,’’ said Jude Acidre, first nominee of Tingog Sinirangan.

“In the farmer level, we must organize community farming.

Whether it’s production, marketing or selling or buying we must make sure that the goal in every

level is to consolidate,” Acidre said.

Citing a report from National Economic and Development Authority, Acidre said that Eastern Visayas is basically an agricultural area with 45 percent of its total land area devoted to it.

“The scale of farming is important. There is no way that agricul-

ture will grow on the basis of the system that we presently have. We cannot grow in piecemeal. Cultivating one hectare is no use, when we talk about agricultural industrialization,” Acidre said.

“In fact, this is the weakness of land reform, it should have led to integration. Yes, they will get their own but in the end, they should have been integrated so that output is bigger than the yield. It should have been our yield,” he added.

Another step to be taken by the group is to ensure that there is “a match between agriculture and our industries.”

“Why can’t we have agro-industrial zones wherein industrial crops

are grown with government support and incentives. For example, in our region, coconut is a primary product. Let us look at the region as one coconut farm, not as individual farmers. We must identify strategic locations that can be considered as agro-industrial zones,” he said.

In that way, according to Acidre, these zones will trigger more investments to come in.

“Why are there low investments specially in processing? Because investors don’t think that supply in the region is stable. But once we have integrated farms declared and recognized as agro-industrial zones, we will encourage more investments in the region,” he said.

Mayon, Fuji local govts ink tourism partnership

More water. Farmers water their vegetables in Barangay San Francisco, General Trias, Cavite.

PNA

LEGAZPI CITY—Albay and Fuefuki City in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan will sign a sisterhood accord for their respective world famous conicalshaped active volcanoes—Mt. Mayon and Mt. Fuji.

The agreement is considered as a major marketing tourism coup in the global travel industry.

The accord, among others, calls for a packaged marketing drive for the two iconic volcanoes in their domestic markets which can be particularly beneficial for the Philippines considering the potential of the Japanese market.

Aside from tourism, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the sisterhood scheme also explores partnership in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation for which Albay has been a global model, as well as on education, agriculture, trade and investments.

Overseas, the two tourism magnets will similarly be marketed as packaged

destinations.

Salceda said the Mayon-Fuji sisterhood brings about a “Fire and Ice” partnership that amounts to a “major marketing coup for the Philippines and the Department of Tourism, and there is no doubt Albay and the whole Bicol region will gain major boosts from this tourism alliance.”

“Fire” refers to the iconic image of the 8,000 feet high Mayon with its crater at the apex of its near-perfect cone-shaped frame, spewing fire, while “ice” pertains to the 12,000 feet tall Mt. Fuji in Fuefuki City, Yamanishi Prefecture in Japan that is snow-capped nearly all year round.

The two stunningly beautiful mountains are active volcanoes global tourists visit in droves.

The two active volcanoes are surrounded by national parks and are magnets for tourists and mountaineers. Fuji is a Unesco Heritage Site, while Mt. Mayon is tentatively listed as such.

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

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA ediToR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

‘statistically signiFicant’ doesn’t mean ‘rigHt’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Those pesky CoA findings

By Faye Flam

IT would be a mistake to dismiss allegations that administration candidate Manuel Roxas II mismanaged the department of Interior and local Government to the tune of P7 billion in unliquidated cash disbursements simply because the accusation comes from the opposition.

That is certainly what the Roxas camp is hoping people will do when it brushes aside these accusations from the opposition united Nationalist Alliance with a blanket denial and motherhood statements about transparency.

But the administration cannot escape the fact that the uNA revelations about fiscal mismanagement come, not from some shadowy opposition research group, but from an official Commission on Audit report.

Specifically, the CoA said the dIlG had P7 billion in unliquidated fund transfers, including cash advances for local and foreign travel and typhoon rehabilitation funds incurred while Roxas still headed the department.

The funds were also supposed to have gone to programs to provide potable water, relief to typhoon victims, and public transport assistance. The money, too, was disbursed to local government units under the administration’s Bottom-up Budgeting program that has been criticized as a tool for political patronage during an election year.

“The receivables accounts accumulated to a huge amount of P7.040 billion because management failed to monitor the liquidations of the fund transfers and submission of the corresponding financial reports” as required, the audit agency said.

But a spokesman for Roxas waved away these findings, saying that the responsibility for liquidation now lies with the local government units that are implementing numerous projects.

“All these funds are fully accounted for and the entire process is completely transparent,” the spokesman added, without citing any CoA conclusion to support the claim. we believe, however, that the administration and the Roxas campaign need to be less cavalier about the people’s money. They cannot expect the people to blindly accept what they say, simply because they pay lip service to the straight path and transparency in government.

The National Association of lawyers for Justice and Peace said as much when it declared that it was wrong for Roxas to pass the responsibility to local government units, since it was his office that disbursed the funds.

“Mr. Roxas must show the records of how much was given to each lGu, who received the money and how, when, where and for what purpose. Related documents such as project studies and accomplishment reports must also be presented,” the group’s founding chairman, Jesus Santos, said.

Roxas also needs to explain the CoA finding that the dIlG under his watch failed to monitor the projects to which funding went, the NAlJP said.

“Considering the amount and the implications, mere words by Roxas or anyone else in the lP will never be enough assurance that there is nothing wrong with the handling of the P7 billion.”

These concerns, we hasten to add, are doubly worrisome in an election year, where it is easy to believe that public funds are being diverted to put the administration candidate in office.

To dispel such suspicions, the Roxas campaign must prove in a detailed manner that this isn’t so, and not just wave the pesky question aside.

How elections are rigged pensées fR. RAnhilio CAllAngAn Aquino Stuffing ballot boxes with ballots accomplished even before election day, bribing poll clerks and election inspectors to pad returns, tampering with tally sheets—these were the classic ways of rigging elections as well, of course, as intimidating into silence those who were tasked with entertaining protests and giving

due course to them so that one could cry “anomaly” until one was hoarse—and not be heard.

That was then.

The 2016 elections are being rigged in other ways. The clearly favored candidates—Manuel Roxas ii and grace Poe—are, well, favored! it should now be clear to Roxas that there is some kind of “political infidelity” going on here, not too different from marital infidelity. But how can the wayward one be blamed, since he is in desperate need of protection from the very same persecution he visited on his

foes when he sheds the mantle of immunity? in the case of Jejomar Binay, it is frightening to see the awesome display of government might have been arrayed against him. All of a sudden, there is a patriotic upsurge of interest in prosecuting him, investigating him, looking into his deposits, prying into every nook and cranny of his life for indictable acts, most of which supposedly date back to his mayorship in Makati.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council vies with the office of

A9

The deed is done.

the ombudsman, with Kim Henares, with the Department of Justice in “exposing” to the public the “crimes” of Jejomar Binay. And since it takes some degree of thoughtfulness to distinguish between charge and fact, public thinking is rigged to make Binay look even worse than the year-long Senate

probe by which some senators entertained themselves—and propped, or so they hoped, their own candidacies—at taxpayers’ expense has portrayed him.

Thrown in for good measure are the survey results that purport to show him declining in popularity—and what you have is a rigged situation that

convinces the voter that he should not waste his ballot on sure loser!

The other victim of the remorseless rigging of the 2016 elections is Bongbong Marcos. The very tales of horror and woe that propelled Cory Aquino to the presidency in 1986 are being revived—and embellished —to portray ferdinand Marcos in the worst possible light. There is one easy proof that the national psyche is rigged by misleading narratives. Why did imelda Marcos easily win a seat in Congress in the elections called immediately after

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

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

the ratification of the 1987 Constitution?

Why did imee and Bongbong make it back to public office if the Marcoses are the despoilers of the nation that they are made to appear? “Apologize” —so goes the cry. i repeatedly have asked: What for? Three things must be proved to lend to this demand some semblance of reasonability: first, that ferdinand Marcos can be blamed for every act of abuse during the Martial Law era; second, that Martial Law was illegal and immoral; third, that ferdinand Marcos Jr. must share in the

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culpability, if any, of his father. none of these logical antecedents has been unequivocally met! of hysteria, there is enough, to be sure—especially as Bongbong is no marginal candidate. even the pathetic attempt of Deped to introduce into the curriculum horror stories about Martial Law is part of the rigging scheme!

As for “never again,” i do not understand what it addresses itself to. never again to martial law? That is unconstitutional, for the fundamental Continued on A10

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

in ReSPonSe to charges that their field is churning out unreliable science, psychologists this month issued a defense that may be tough to dispute.

At issue was a claim, published in the journal Science, that only 39 of 100 experiments published in psychology papers could be replicated.

The counterpoint, also published in Science, questioned the assumption that the other 61 of the results must have been wrong. if two experimental results are in conflict, who’s to say the original one was wrong and not the second one? or maybe both are wrong if, as some argue, there’s a flaw in the way social scientists analyze data.

This is an important puzzle, given the current interest in drawing conclusions from huge sets of data. And it’s not just a problem for psychologists. Researchers have also had trouble replicating experimental results in medicine and economics, creating what’s been dubbed “the replication crisis.”

Some insights come from a new paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association. While previous discussions of the replication crisis have focused on the way scientists misuse statistical techniques, this latest paper points to a human fallibility component —a marketing problem, which boils down to a universal human tendency, shared by scientists, to try to put their best foot forward.

At the center of both the math and the marketing problem is the notion of statistical significance—roughly, a measure of the odds of getting a given result due to chance. Computing statistical significance is a way to protect scientists from being fooled by randomness. People’s behavior, performance on tests, cholesterol measures, weight and the like vary in a random way. Statistical significance tests can prevent scientists from mistaking such fluctuation for the workings of a drug or the miracle properties of artichokes.

Statistical significance in medicine and social science is expressed as a p value, which represents the odds that a result would occur by chance if there’s no effect from the diet pills or artichokes being tested. Popular press accounts make much of their potential for trouble in the hands of scientists.

A headline at the website “Retraction Watch” claimed, “We’re using a Common Statistical test All Wrong,” and Vox ran with “An unhealthy obsession with P-values is Ruining Science.” it’ll take more than that to ruin science, though, since many fields don’t use p-values the way clinical researchers or social scientists do. The

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

Continued on A10 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA ediToR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

‘statistically signiFicant’ doesn’t mean ‘rigHt’

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Those pesky CoA findings

By Faye Flam

IT would be a mistake to dismiss allegations that administration candidate Manuel Roxas II mismanaged the department of Interior and local Government to the tune of P7 billion in unliquidated cash disbursements simply because the accusation comes from the opposition.

That is certainly what the Roxas camp is hoping people will do when it brushes aside these accusations from the opposition united Nationalist Alliance with a blanket denial and motherhood statements about transparency.

But the administration cannot escape the fact that the uNA revelations about fiscal mismanagement come, not from some shadowy opposition research group, but from an official Commission on Audit report.

Specifically, the CoA said the dIlG had P7 billion in unliquidated fund transfers, including cash advances for local and foreign travel and typhoon rehabilitation funds incurred while Roxas still headed the department.

The funds were also supposed to have gone to programs to provide potable water, relief to typhoon victims, and public transport assistance. The money, too, was disbursed to local government units under the administration’s Bottom-up Budgeting program that has been criticized as a tool for political patronage during an election year.

“The receivables accounts accumulated to a huge amount of P7.040 billion because management failed to monitor the liquidations of the fund transfers and submission of the corresponding financial reports” as required, the audit agency said.

But a spokesman for Roxas waved away these findings, saying that the responsibility for liquidation now lies with the local government units that are implementing numerous projects.

“All these funds are fully accounted for and the entire process is completely transparent,” the spokesman added, without citing any CoA conclusion to support the claim. we believe, however, that the administration and the Roxas campaign need to be less cavalier about the people’s money. They cannot expect the people to blindly accept what they say, simply because they pay lip service to the straight path and transparency in government.

The National Association of lawyers for Justice and Peace said as much when it declared that it was wrong for Roxas to pass the responsibility to local government units, since it was his office that disbursed the funds.

“Mr. Roxas must show the records of how much was given to each lGu, who received the money and how, when, where and for what purpose. Related documents such as project studies and accomplishment reports must also be presented,” the group’s founding chairman, Jesus Santos, said.

Roxas also needs to explain the CoA finding that the dIlG under his watch failed to monitor the projects to which funding went, the NAlJP said.

“Considering the amount and the implications, mere words by Roxas or anyone else in the lP will never be enough assurance that there is nothing wrong with the handling of the P7 billion.”

These concerns, we hasten to add, are doubly worrisome in an election year, where it is easy to believe that public funds are being diverted to put the administration candidate in office.

To dispel such suspicions, the Roxas campaign must prove in a detailed manner that this isn’t so, and not just wave the pesky question aside.

How elections are rigged pensées fR. RAnhilio CAllAngAn Aquino Stuffing ballot boxes with ballots accomplished even before election day, bribing poll clerks and election inspectors to pad returns, tampering with tally sheets—these were the classic ways of rigging elections as well, of course, as intimidating into silence those who were tasked with entertaining protests and giving

due course to them so that one could cry “anomaly” until one was hoarse—and not be heard.

That was then.

The 2016 elections are being rigged in other ways. The clearly favored candidates—Manuel Roxas ii and grace Poe—are, well, favored! it should now be clear to Roxas that there is some kind of “political infidelity” going on here, not too different from marital infidelity. But how can the wayward one be blamed, since he is in desperate need of protection from the very same persecution he visited on his

foes when he sheds the mantle of immunity? in the case of Jejomar Binay, it is frightening to see the awesome display of government might have been arrayed against him. All of a sudden, there is a patriotic upsurge of interest in prosecuting him, investigating him, looking into his deposits, prying into every nook and cranny of his life for indictable acts, most of which supposedly date back to his mayorship in Makati.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council vies with the office of

A9

The deed is done.

the ombudsman, with Kim Henares, with the Department of Justice in “exposing” to the public the “crimes” of Jejomar Binay. And since it takes some degree of thoughtfulness to distinguish between charge and fact, public thinking is rigged to make Binay look even worse than the year-long Senate

probe by which some senators entertained themselves—and propped, or so they hoped, their own candidacies—at taxpayers’ expense has portrayed him.

Thrown in for good measure are the survey results that purport to show him declining in popularity—and what you have is a rigged situation that

convinces the voter that he should not waste his ballot on sure loser!

The other victim of the remorseless rigging of the 2016 elections is Bongbong Marcos. The very tales of horror and woe that propelled Cory Aquino to the presidency in 1986 are being revived—and embellished —to portray ferdinand Marcos in the worst possible light. There is one easy proof that the national psyche is rigged by misleading narratives. Why did imelda Marcos easily win a seat in Congress in the elections called immediately after

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

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

the ratification of the 1987 Constitution?

Why did imee and Bongbong make it back to public office if the Marcoses are the despoilers of the nation that they are made to appear? “Apologize” —so goes the cry. i repeatedly have asked: What for? Three things must be proved to lend to this demand some semblance of reasonability: first, that ferdinand Marcos can be blamed for every act of abuse during the Martial Law era; second, that Martial Law was illegal and immoral; third, that ferdinand Marcos Jr. must share in the

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

culpability, if any, of his father. none of these logical antecedents has been unequivocally met! of hysteria, there is enough, to be sure—especially as Bongbong is no marginal candidate. even the pathetic attempt of Deped to introduce into the curriculum horror stories about Martial Law is part of the rigging scheme!

As for “never again,” i do not understand what it addresses itself to. never again to martial law? That is unconstitutional, for the fundamental Continued on A10

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

in ReSPonSe to charges that their field is churning out unreliable science, psychologists this month issued a defense that may be tough to dispute.

At issue was a claim, published in the journal Science, that only 39 of 100 experiments published in psychology papers could be replicated.

The counterpoint, also published in Science, questioned the assumption that the other 61 of the results must have been wrong. if two experimental results are in conflict, who’s to say the original one was wrong and not the second one? or maybe both are wrong if, as some argue, there’s a flaw in the way social scientists analyze data.

This is an important puzzle, given the current interest in drawing conclusions from huge sets of data. And it’s not just a problem for psychologists. Researchers have also had trouble replicating experimental results in medicine and economics, creating what’s been dubbed “the replication crisis.”

Some insights come from a new paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association. While previous discussions of the replication crisis have focused on the way scientists misuse statistical techniques, this latest paper points to a human fallibility component —a marketing problem, which boils down to a universal human tendency, shared by scientists, to try to put their best foot forward.

At the center of both the math and the marketing problem is the notion of statistical significance—roughly, a measure of the odds of getting a given result due to chance. Computing statistical significance is a way to protect scientists from being fooled by randomness. People’s behavior, performance on tests, cholesterol measures, weight and the like vary in a random way. Statistical significance tests can prevent scientists from mistaking such fluctuation for the workings of a drug or the miracle properties of artichokes.

Statistical significance in medicine and social science is expressed as a p value, which represents the odds that a result would occur by chance if there’s no effect from the diet pills or artichokes being tested. Popular press accounts make much of their potential for trouble in the hands of scientists.

A headline at the website “Retraction Watch” claimed, “We’re using a Common Statistical test All Wrong,” and Vox ran with “An unhealthy obsession with P-values is Ruining Science.” it’ll take more than that to ruin science, though, since many fields don’t use p-values the way clinical researchers or social scientists do. The

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

Continued on A10 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

A10 ‘StatiStically... From A9 problem, as JAMA author John Ioannidis sees it, is partly in the way medical researchers use p values as a marketing tool.

Statistical significance is a continuum—a measure of probability—but in medical research it’s been turned into something black or white. Journals have informally decided that results should be considered statistically significant only if the p value is five percent or lower. (Since most scientists hope their results are not due to chance, lower is better.)

Ioannidis worries that researchers are making too much of this arbitrary cutoff. He sifted through millions of papers and found that most advertised their statistical significance up high, in the abstract, while burying important but perhaps less flattering aspects of the study. A statistically “successful” drug may only reduce the risk of a disease from one percent to 0.9 percent, for example, or raise life expectancy by 10 seconds.

Just as food manufacturers have advertised all manner of products as low-cholesterol, all natural, fat- or sugar-free, hoping to give the impression of health benefits, so scientific papers have advertised themselves as statistically significant to give the impression of truth.

The same five-percent cutoff is used in a lot of social science and has been a source of trouble there too.

In 2011, the psychologist Uri Simonsohn showed that it’s all too easy to produce bogus results even in experiments that clear the five-percent p-value bar.

He set up an experiment to show that he could use accepted techniques to obtain a result that was not just ridiculous but impossible. He divided students into two groups, one hearing the song “Kalimba” and the other “When I’m 64.” Then he collected data on both groups, looking for differences between them.

He found something that varied by chance—the ages of people in the groups—then, using math tricks that had been common in his field (but are considered cheating by statisticians), he showed that it was possible to come up with a statistically significant claim that listening to “When I’m 64” will make people get 1.5 years younger.

Statistician Ron Wasserstein agrees that there is a right way and a wrong way to use statistical tools. And that means those trying to replicate studies can also get it wrong, which was the concern of those psychologists defending their field.

Getting a different p value in a replication effort is not enough to discredit an existing study. Imagine, he said, you are trying to replicate a study that showed that cats gained weight eating Brand X cat food. The original result shows the cats got fatter, with only a two percent chance that this happened by chance. A new study also shows they got fatter, but with six percent odds that it’s by chance.

Is it fair to call the original experiment a failure because the second result missed the five-percent p-value cutoff?

Should we assume that Brand X is not fattening? There’s not enough information to draw a conclusion either way, Wasserstein said. To get an an answer you’d also want to know the size of the effect. Did the cats gain pounds or ounces? Did the cats eat more of the food because it tasted good, or was it more fattening per bowl? Statistical significance has to be weighed alongside other factors.

Science is a way of seeing the world more as it is, and less as we’d like it to be. Statistical techniques were invented by people who dreamed that the power of physics and chemistry might extend to a world of previously unpredictable phenomena, including human behavior. There may yet be something to it, once people work out the kinks.

Bloomberg

#failocracy

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

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Tech fuels The winner-Take-all economy By noah smith SeveRAl new pieces of research have investigated the cause of declining dynamism among US businesses. The drop in the number of startups is a real concern, since new high-growth businesses are believed to be an important driver of economic expansion.

One new paper, by Massachusetts Institute of Technology economists Jorge Guzman and Scott Stern, argues that new companies are having trouble scaling up. The researchers used historical data to identify companies that are likely to grow a lot in the future —such as where the company is registered (Delaware is best). Five out of the eight characteristics they use involve the company’s name—in the past, for example, new companies with shorter names have tended to grow more later on. Guzman and Stern find that many more companies with these telltale indicators of growth potential have been started in the last few years, but that these companies have been succeeding much less frequently than in the past.

Guzman and Stern’s method has an obvious shortcoming— it can’t actually be that easy to identify companies with high growth potential. If everyone knew that businesses with short names were likely to experience huge growth, every startup that pitched itself to venture capitalists would just pick a short name. eventually, low-quality companies embracing the shortname trend would drive down How electionS... From A9 law grants such a commanderin-chief power to the President.

You cannot insist “never again” without repudiating the Constitution. Never again to Ferdinand Marcos? Well, he is dead—though not yet quite buried, because the national leaders’ sense of self-confidence has been so fragile that they shudder at the thought of interments. But Marcos was not a disaster, really. He was extraordinarily brilliant, which cannot be said of many who

the success percentage for shortnamed companies. This kind of fad might be responsible for some part of the effect that Stern and Guzman find.

But probably not all of it. Other measures, like patenting and incorporation, are far less easy to game. The decreasing success of ambitious companies should be worrying, especially because influential figures in industry have been warning us about it for quite some time. Andrew Grove, former chief executive officer of Intel, has written that US companies struggle to achieve large scale, especially in manufacturing. He largely blames the short-termism of the financial system and the lack of a domestic manufacturing ecosystem.

Another cause that some have suggested is rent-seeking. This is the economics term for when existing companies use regulation to block new competitors.

Obviously, if new companies can’t steal business from old ones, there is less room for growth. large corporations are more dominant today than in the past.

One problem for this thesis is that some research indicates that increasing regulation hasn’t had much of an impact on dynamism.

So if rent-seeking is the problem, it’s still an open question as to how, exactly, big companies are using the government to block their competitors.

I would like to suggest a third—and more worrying— possibility. The changing nature of technology may have altered the structure of competition in the US economy, encouraging

more monopolies. venture capitalists have been noticing the troubling rise of winner-take-all situations in the startup world. For example, here is legendary venture capitalist Marc Andreessen in 2013: In normal markets you can have Pepsi and Coke. In technology markets in the long run you tend to only have one…The big companies, though, in technology tend to have 90 percent market share. So we think that generally these are winner-takeall markets. Generally, number one is going to get like 90 percent of the profits. Number two is going to get like 10 percent of the profits, and numbers three through 10 are going to get nothing.

Why are today’s growth industries more likely to be winner-take-all? The Internet.

Companies such as Facebook or Snapchat have strong network effects—the more users they have, the more it pays to become a user. It just doesn’t make sense to have three or four Facebooks out there. Strong network effects create natural monopolies— industries where competition tends to vanish on its own.

Natural monopolies existed in old-line industries, of course.

Utilities are a prime example.

Where they did exist, they were usually heavily regulated. The reason is that monopolies are bad for the economy—they keep prices too high and choke off demand. That is also why the government has antitrust laws— to prevent collusion between companies and ensure that competition keeps the economy efficient. Bloomberg

succeeded him. He knew how to choose good advisers and he had a brilliant cabinet—that makes other cabinets look like a motley gathering of freshmen!

And he steered the country through waters churned by oligarchs and communists!

Never again to a Marcos? That is immoral—because it condemns to infamy a whole family, the present generation and future generations of Marcoses without so much as the decency of the appearance of a hearing. It is also illegal because it denies them, including unborn Marcoses, a

fundamental right—the right to be elected to public office.

We do not need hocus-pocus machines to rig the elections.

They are already being rigged.

They are rigged in the most despicable way possible: So that those who now wield government power determine the next government, and the choice of corporate magnates trumps all others. The deed is done! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

chong ardivilla

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Day keeps 2-shot lead at Bay Hill MIAMI—Australia’s Jason Day fired a two-under par 70 Saturday to maintain a two-stroke lead after the rainy third round of the US PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

The 2015 PGA Championship winner shrugged off miserable weather to stand on 15-under 201 after 54 holes in the warmup event for next month’s Masters, the year’s first major tournament.

“At times it got pretty heavy there with the rain,” Day said. “The wind was tricky as well. It was all over the shop. The temperature change, it got a little cool.

“To get off the course under par was a good day. I had the patience thing going out there.”

Americans Troy Merritt and Kevin Chappell each fired 67s Saturday to leap into a share of second on 203 with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who shot 70, with Britain’s Justin Rose and American Derek Fathauer sharing fifth on 205.

Stenson and Rose joined Day in the last trio at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida, where tee times were moved earlier due to forecasts for worse weather by late afternoon.

“I had one or two chances but it was tough conditions,” Stenson said. “It went from a golf tournament the first six holes to a survival contest.”

Day kept the two-stroke lead with which he began the round, hoping to become the first 36-hole leader to win since Tiger Woods in 2012.

The Aussie is only 1-for-7 at converting 36-hole leads into titles, having done so in his most recent PGA triumph, last September’s BMW Championship.

That was also the last wire-to-wire PGA victory, which Day could match on Sunday.

Day, who began the round

with a two-shot lead, found a greenside bunker at the par3 second and made bogey, missing a 15-foot par putt.

But he answered with birdies at the par-5 fourth and sixth and par-4 eighth, the last coming when he popped the ball in from 48 feet out of greenside rough.

“About six feet from the cup, I knew it was going in,” Day said. “It was good to get one of those.”

The Aussie found the water on his second shot at the 11th and took another bogey but responded at the par-5 16th, just missing a 26foot eagle putt but tapping in for birdie.

- Plugged bunker lies irksome Stenson sizzled early with tap-in birdies at the fourth and fifth and a 13-foot eagle putt at the par-5 sixth. But the Swede gave one back at the par-3 seventh, finding a bunker off the tee, and took another bogey at the par-5 12th, again finding a bunker off the tee and then missing an eight-foot par putt. At 18, Stenson saved par from a greenside bunker.

“It’s tough around here in the bunkers. They tend to plug on you,” Stenson said.

“I was in four bunkers today and three of them were plugged.”

Rose, who fired a 71, took a bogey at the second but the Englishman bounced back with birdies at the fourth and ninth. He was off by inches on a 45-foot eagle putt at the par-5 16th but his tap-in birdie was offset by a bogey at the par3 17th, missing the green off the tee and a five-foot par putt. AFP

Jason Day of Australia hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida. AFP

2 dead, 51 injured as soccer fans clash RABAT, Morocco—Two people were killed and 51 injured in Morocco’s largest city on Saturday when rival fans of its Raja de Casablanca football club brawled after a home game.

The running battles, in which the rival fans threw flares and ripped up parts of the Mohammed V stadium, came despite a 2-1 victory for the home team over Chabab Rif Al Hoceima of Al Hoceima in northern Morocco.

Moroccan media said 11 cars parked on streets outside the stadium had been pelted with stones.

Security forces

eventually quelled the violence and the injured were evacuated to hospital, authorities said.

Prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the fan trouble and police have already made 10 arrests.

Meanwhile, Gyasi Zardes scored twice to lift the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 3-1 victory over the 10-man San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday in Major League Soccer’s “Cali Clasico”.

San Jose were down a man for all of the second half after Simon Dawkins was shown a red card in first-half injury time for a tackle on Sebastian Lletget.

The Galaxy took advantage, with Zardes opening the scoring in the 56th minute.

He scored his second six minutes later, pouncing on Earthquakes defender Kip Colvey’s weak clearance to beat San Jose keeper David Bingham.

San Jose pulled one back through Chris Wondolowski in the 89th minute.

But Victor Bernardez tripped Robbie Keane in the penalty box moments later and Keane connected from the spot for the final goal.

Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard’s night was

cut short when the was forced off in the opening minutes with an apparent calf injury.

The former England international was attempting to track down a cleared ball when he pulled up, and he departed after an examination by medical staff.

In other matches, FC Dallas spoiled the 2016 season debut of Montreal’s star striker Didier Drogba with a 2-0 home win.

Drogba, the former Ivory Coast and Chelsea star, sat out the first two matches of the season with knee trouble. AFP

Ji grabs LPGA lead; Ko, Lewis in the hunt LOS ANGELES—South Korea’s Ji Eun-Hee, seeking her first victory since the 2009 US Women’s Open, fired a bogey-free seven-under par 65 to seize a one-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the LPGA Founders Cup. But world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand, fourthranked American Stacy Lewis and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda each fired 64s at Phoenix, Arizona, to charge into contention with the first major

of the women’s season just two weeks away at Rancho Mirage, California.

Ji finished on 18-under 198 after 54 holes with Lewis and South Korean 36-hole leader Kim Sei-Young sharing second on 199, American Jacqui Concolino fourth on 200 and 18-year-old Seoul-born Kiwi Ko sharing fifth on 201 with Ciganda and American Paula Creamer.

Ji birdied the fifth and seventh

holes, then had back-to-back birdies at nine and 10. She also sandwiched birdies at the par3 14th and 17th holes around another at the par-5 15th.

“My putting was really good,” Ji said. “My iron shots were really good, too because I was really struggling with them the last couple of weeks.

“I didn’t think about that score. I just tried my best on every shot and just tried to focus on my game.” AFP

Grizzlies’ Barnes banned for off-court move

Skiing World Cup. Switzerland’s Lara Gut competes in the first run of the Ladies’ Giant Slalom at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup finals in St Moritz. AFP

NEW YORK—Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes was suspended one game without pay by the NBA on Saturday after trying to force his way into the locker room of the rival Milwaukee Bucks.

The ban was issued for Barnes’s attempt to enter the locker room and his verbal

challenge of Milwaukee forward John Henson after both players had been ejected from Thursday’s 96-86 Bucks’ home triumph.

Barnes, averaging 9.6 points and 5.3 rebounds a game in his 13th NBA season, will miss Saturday’s Memphis home game against the Los

Angeles Clippers.

In addition to the ban, Milwaukee guard Greivis Vasquez was fined $15,000 for following Henson to the locker room. Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and center Greg Monroe were each fined $10,000 for lesser roles in the incident. AFP

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Djokovic subdues resurgent Nadal F1 to adopt old qualifying system MELBOURNE—Formula One will revert to the old system of qualifying for next month’s race in Bahrain following the debacle of the new elimination format, reports said Sunday.

There was widespread condemnation of the new qualifying format after its first operation at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.

The qualifying session embarrassingly petered out with Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg not bothering to improve their times against the rampant Mercedes world champion Lewis Hamilton in the final minutes, leaving bewildered fans watching an empty track.

The decision was reached following a meeting of team principals and managers at the track ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix race.

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff told reporters: “There was a meeting, with a unanimous decision taken to go back to the old format from Bahrain onwards.

“It needs to be ratified by the F1 Commission, but I would like to see who puts his hand up for yesterday’s qualifying.

It should be done in the next few days.”

Wolff said some teams had wanted to retain Q1 and Q2 in the current elimination procedure and only switching Q3 to the old format to ensure there would be action throughout.

“There were positive discussions and there were some teams who thought Q1 and Q2 would shake up things and would be interesting, but fundamentally common sense prevailed. afp

INDIAN WELLS —Novak Djokovic toppled a resurgent Rafael Nadal in straight sets Saturday and to reach the Indian Wells final, where he’ll be seeking a third straight and record fifth overall title.

The 28-year-old world number one from Serbia was the heavy favourite coming into the joint ATP and WTA Tour event and he showed why as he dispatched long time rival and nine-time French Open champion Nadal 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

“Today the first set was decided by just one or two points,” Djokovic said. “The second set was very close and I played the last three games very well.

“I am glad I overcame this challenge, which is one of the greatest in sport, playing against Rafa.”

Djokovic improved to 21-1 this season and will square off in Sunday’s final against Canadian Milos Raonic, who beat Belgian David Goffin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

The women’s final is also on Sunday with Serena Williams vying for her first Indian Wells title since 2001 when she takes on Novak Djokovic pleads his case during the match against a resurgent Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells. former champion Victoria Djokovic beat Nadal to advance to the finals. AFP Azarenka.

Djokovic showed why he has been so dominant at Indian Wells, the hard court tournament in the California desert that he hopes this year will be a stepping stone HULL, United Kingdom—A new and we weren’t expecting them,” said on the way to the Detroit title in others and hungrier.” to his first French Open title January, Gawad rose to a careerA spectacular exception to this is era could emerge at this year’s 52-year-old Jahangir. and a career Grand Slam.

British Open, predicts legendary “I think a new era is quite near. high world number seven after Gregory Gaultier, the Frenchman Djokovic beat Roger Pakistan squash player Jahangir There could be a lot of upsets at the capturing the Swedish Open the who has become world champion Federer in three sets in the following month, and Mosaad is at for the first time at the age of 32, Khan, who won the world’s oldest British Open too.” title match here the past tournament a record ten times.

Jahangir identified three world number four after reaching belatedly achieving what many two years, and now aims to thought was past him.

Jahangir believes the new wave Egyptians as possible challengers the World Open final. surpass the record of four “They are good talents coming Gaultier expects to return to of players could break through at —Ali Farag, a 23-year-old Harvard Indian Wells titles he shares the tournament in the Airco Arena graduate, Karim Gawad, 24, up,” Jahangir said. “They all know competition next week after with the Swiss. and Omar Mosaad, a steadily what the guys at the top of the nine weeks out with a ruptured starting Monday.

Djokovic and Nadal have rankings have to struggle with. ankle, as he bids for a third “There were a lot of upsets in the improving 28-year-old. butted heads 68 times with World Open last year (in November) Farag beat three top ten players And they are younger than the British Open title. afp Djokovic now holding a 2523 edge, including winning 10 of the last 11.

“It could have gone either way but I managed to stay MADRID – A stellar cast headed by Chris Froome will composed and serve well in battle it out at the seven-stage Tour of Catalonia from important moments and just Monday in an early season indicator as to who is favorite to believed that I can win,” said ride to victory at the Tour de France in July.

Djokovic, who overcame an Defending Tour de France champion Froome will be early break in the opening set. joined by fellow Grand Tour winners Alberto Contador, Nadal, who will turn 30 Nairo Quintana and Fabio Aru. in June, is also a multiple Froome will be supported by Sky teammate Geraint champion here having won Thomas fresh from his Paris-Nice victory with Teejay three times in 2007, 2009 van Garderen and Joaquim Rodriguez also amongst an and 2013. extremely strong field.

But the Spaniard had to “The level of the line-up can only be matched, probably, work a lot harder to hold his by the Tour de France,” Contador told his team Saxoserve for much of Saturday’s Tinkoff ’s website. one hour, 58 minute match, “There are so many rivals that there isn’t any in particular spending almost twice as that can be singled out because virtually all teams will bring long as Djokovic in his a favourite, who will be flanked by a very strong squad.” service games.

Contador narrowly missed out to Thomas by four Nevertheless Nadal’s solid seconds to take second place in the Paris-Nice last week.

Indian Wells effort allayed The Spaniard’s chances of victory were dashed by some of the fears raised by the cancellation of the third stage due to snow and he the 14-time Grand Slam believes the after-effects of catching a cold could hamper Throwback vehicles. F1 Drivers in vintage cars wave to the crowd during annual champion’s first-round exit drivers parade ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. afp his chances in Catalonia. afp at the Australian Open.

Jahangir sees breakthrough at British Open

Froome leads favorites

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Atletico title bid in tatters after loss to Sporting MADRID—Sporting Gijon scored twice in the final 11 minutes to deliver a huge blow to Atletico Madrid’s La Liga title challenge with a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Antoine Griezmann’s stunning first-half free-kick put Atletico in front.

However, Atletico felt the after effects of their efforts in seeing off PSV Eindhoven after extra-time and penalties in the Champions League in midweek as Antonio Sanabria and Carlos Castro turned the game around in the final stages.

Barcelona can now move 11 points clear at the top when they travel to Villarreal on Sunday.

Third-placed Real Madrid can also close the gap on Atletico to a point when they host Sevilla.

“We were always clear that the objective of the club is to be in the top three,” said Atletico boss Diego Simeone.

“That is what we are working towards.

This defeat goes against any aspiration to be champions.”

Simeone named a youthful side with an average age of 23 as he made five changes from the team that started against PSV on Tuesday.

Atletico have often felt they have been prejudiced by the scheduling of their La Liga fixtures around European games this season.

And Simeone hinted at his frustration at having to play at early on Saturday, whilst Barcelona and Real Madrid aren’t in action till Sunday.

“I don’t like to look for excuses. I’m happy that we are premium, we play at four o’clock and they see us in China,” he added ironically.

Griezmann retained his place up front and was once again Atletico’s only serious goal threat as he opened the scoring just before the half hour mark.

Sporting had reason to feel hard done by as Pablo Perez looked to have taken the ball before making contact with Saul Niguez on the edge of the area.

And there was no stopping Griezmann’s effort from the resulting free-kick as he curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner.

Simeone looked to hold out for the three points as he withdrew his three most attacking players in Griezmann, Angel Correa and Luciano Vietto after the break.

However, for once, Atletico’s defensive resilience let them down.

Sanabria fired a warning shot when he struck the post from a free-kick 12 minutes from time.

But presented with a similar opportunity a minute later, the Paraguayan rifled a freekick through the Atletico wall to leave Jan Oblak unsighted.

Castro missed a glorious chance to make it 2-1 four minutes from time when he smashed Sanabria’s unselfish square ball off the bar in front of an open goal. AFP

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s British driver Lewis Hamilton takes a photo on his phone ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 20. AFP

Rosberg edges Hamilton MELBOURNE—Nico Rosberg capitalized on a slow start off pole by world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton and superior tyre strategy over Ferrari to win the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The German won his fourth straight GP and 15th overall after stringing together the final three races of 2015 to beat his Mercedes rival Hamilton by eight seconds.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who led off the grid and was faster than the Mercedes pair on his super softs before needing a tyre change on lap 36, was third.

It was an incident-packed race with McLaren’s double world champion Fernando Alonso walking away from a horrifying high-speed crash and Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari catching fire in the pit lane.

The dominant German team has now won 33 of the

last 39 races and it was a sweet triumph for Rosberg, who has trailed Hamilton in the drivers’ standings for the past two seasons.

“The strategy was crucial today and I am truly thankful to the team and there was a tyre choice on the red flag and I was happy to follow up with the mediums,” Rosberg said.

“It’s early days but it’s the perfect start. We have to keep an eye on the red guys (Ferrari).”

Australian Daniel Ricciardo was fourth in his Red Bull, with Brazilian Felipe Massa fifth in a Williams and Romain Grosjean sixth for the newcomers Haas.

Hamilton, who had led every practice and qualifying session for the first race, was slowly away allowing Vettel to dart through a narrow opening between both Mercedes to beat them to first turn.

Rosberg locked up on the inside of the first corner, forcing Hamilton to back off and allow Raikkonen to pass them both on the exit to the sharp right-hander.

Hamilton’s loss of momentum cost him two more places to Max Verstappen and Massa.

“I loved the fact we had to come from far behind. I’ve had much worse in the first race and I’ll take it as a real bonus to come back from seventh,” Hamilton said.

Alonso had a heart-stopping moment on lap 17 and was fortunate not to be seriously injured in a spectacular shunt with Esteban Gutierrez in a Haas approaching turn three.

Alonso’s McLaren veered into the wall and went into a series of violent rolls before it flew through the gravel trap and slammed into another barrier

disintegrating upon impact.

The twice former world champion was shaken but unharmed and quickly clambered out of the barely recognisable wreckage.

The race was red-flagged and cars returned to the pit lane while considerable debris was cleared from the track.

The stoppage wiped away the Ferrari pair’s advantage -- and planned tyre strategy -- with the entire field able to change to fresh rubber before restarting behind the safety car with 18 laps of the 57 gone.

Indonesian rookie Rio Haryana failed to rejoin, however, with his Manor car experiencing driveline problems.

Vettel, still on the softest compound, again established a lead after the restart from Rosberg, Riccardo and Verstappen with Hamilton sixth.

Raikkonen’s Ferrari came into the pits with flames coming out of the air box of his car and the Finn appeared unflustered while a marshal extinguished the fire above his head as he exited the cockpit to retire. AFP

Reports say Mourinho headed to Man U MADRID – Jose Mourinho has signed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United with a view to replacing Louis van Gaal as manager of the English giants next season, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Sunday.

Citing sources from Gestifute, the agency company owned by Mourinho’s representative Jorge Mendes, El Pais suggest a deal has been struck that could

see the former Chelsea boss make £15 million (19 million euro), even if he doesn’t end up taking charge at Old Trafford.

If United don’t complete the deal

by May 1, Mourinho will be entitled to £5 million compensation, should negotiations drag on beyond June 1 or break down, the 20-time English champions would owe the Portuguese a further £10 million.

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December after losing nine out the first 16 games of their Premier League defense.

“I look forward to the future,” Mourinho told BT Sport this week.

“I want my football back, time flies and July will be just around the corner.”

Van Gaal is under mounting pressure if he is to see out the final season of a threeyear deal he signed in 2014.

United were dumped out of the Europa League by bitter rivals Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate on Thursday and face an uphill battle to make it into next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League.

They currently sit sixth in the table, four points behind Manchester City in fourth, ahead of their trip to City later on Sunday. AFP

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PH boxers eye Olympic seats

By Ronnie Nathanielsz THE Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines has named five male and one female boxer to the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Qian’An, China.

Executive director Ed Picson announced the line-up composed of Rogen Ladon (light flyweight, 49 kg.), Roldan Boncales (flyweight, 52 kg.), Mario Fernandez (bantamweight, 56 kg.), Charly Suarez (60 kg.), Eumir Felix Marcial (welterweight, 69 kg.) and Nesthy Petecio (women’s flyweight, 51 kg.).

The six were part of a group of 14 boxers who went on a whirlwind 18-day training camp in 4 cities in the West Coast of the United States,

namely Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas and drew praise from American coaches for their impressive showing.

The roster was based on recommendations from the four coaches, who traveled with the group--Deputy Head Coach Nolito Velasco, Women’s Head Coach Roel Velasco, 3-star AIBA coach and 3-time Olympian Romeo Brin and the only female coach in ABAP, Mitchel Martinez.

ABAP Head Coach Pat Gaspi was

unable to make the trip as he was in Manchester, England attending the AIBA Coaches’ Commission meeting, where he is a member. Gaspi is the chairman of the Asian Coaches Commission.

By all accounts, the ABAP Olympic boxing hopefuls benefited from what delegation head Ed Picson said was “definitely a rewarding trip.”

The roster of 15 boxers, which included three females, trained at the gym of Dodong Donaire, father/ trainer of five-division world champion Nonito Donaire in Oakland, California, the University of San Francisco Gym and the Top Rank and Fight Club Gyms in Las Vegas over a three-week period.

Picson told The Standard that “the boxers are peaking at the right time,” as they prepare for the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Qan’ An, China from March 23 to April 3.

Although some boxers were hit by episodes of coughs and colds because it was really cold especially in Las Vegas, it didn’t stop them from training.

Nonito Donaire helped his trainer/father in giving the boxers some drills and kept urging the boxers on while training.

Picson said it was “really very productive” as Donaire gave the fighters a motivational/inspirational talk, which was set to last 10 minutes but went on for over 30 minutes “because Nonito spoke from the heart.”

Donaire begins sparring

By Ronnie Nathanielsz FIVE-DIVISION world champion and reigning WBO super bantamweight king Nonito “The Filipino Flssh” Donaire will step up his preparations for his title defense against former Hungarian Olympian Zsolt Bedak this week when he spars eight rounds.

Trainer/father Dodong Donaire told The Standard that his son will spar with unbeaten Michigan featherweight, 25-year-old Raeese Aleem, who “fights like Bedak and is very fast.”

“Nonito needs to throw more punches and not depend solely on his power,” Dodong said.

The champ, who won the super bantamweight title for the second time, will be making his first defense of the vacant title he won handily against No.1-ranked Cesar Juarez after dropping him twice in Round 4. He, however, had to survive a brutal second-half battle against Juarez, who suddenly showed amazing resistance and strength.

Donaire, in an earlier conversation with The Standard, described Bedak as a fighter “who has speed and pretty decent power, but is basically a technical fighter (who looks to win on points).”

“But we won’t let that happen. We know what we need to do,” he said.

Donaire, who arrives in Manila on April 4 for the blockbuster ALA Promotions-Top Rank-ABS-CBN fight card, has committed to being 100 percent ready for the Bedak showdown.

Alvarez wins WBO-Nabo flyweight title

Golf sweep. Korean Lee Jeong-hwa (second from left) holds her trophy as she poses with (from left) Taiwan LPGA Tour lady chair Liu Yi-chen, top amateur Sam Martirez of The Country Club, and ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour general manager Colo Ventosa after scoring a come-from-behind victory in the ICTSI Champion Tour at Manila Southwoods on Friday, completing a sweep of the TLPGA Tour events and the first two legs of the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, including the Splendido leg.

Lady Maroons prevail

By Peter Atencio THE University of the Philippines Lady Maroons turned back the University of the East Amazons, 2523, 25-22, 25-15, to stay in contention in the race for a Final Four semifinal seat Sunday in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Rookies Isa Molde and Justine Orog showed the way for the Lady Maroons, who picked up their seventh win in 11 games.

Molde hit all her 12 points from attacks, while Marian Buitre had eight spikes and four kill blocks for a total of 12 markers for the Lady Maroons.

The Lady Warriors got off to a strong start in the first set, leading by three in the early going.

After taking a two-point advantage, UE slowed down when it lost Celine Domingo, who landed awkwardly, spraining her right ankle in the process.

Before Domingo returned in the third set, UP fought back for a 2321 lead.

Tenpin bowling starts March 27 THE Tenpin Bowling Affiliation of Makati Inc. will hold the prestigious 27th TBAM-Boysen Easter Open Bowling Championship and 2016 TBAM JuniorsPrima Pasta Challenge on March 27 to April 4 at the Superbowl, Makati Cinema Square in Makati City.

Organized by tournament director Bonnie Solis, the annual tournament will have the mixed open, men’s graded, men’s associate, men’s seniors, ladies’ seniors, mixed Ladies, mixed youth and mixed rookie divisions.

“The 27th TBAM Easter Championship is the most prestigious and longestrunning tenpin bowling event in the country,” said Solis. “We are expecting the best bowlers to compete in the tournament. We are also holding a traditional Easter mass at 11 a.m. during the

opening day.”

Total Prizes worth P 700,000 in Gift Certificates, will be given away to winners of the competition sponsored by Boysen Paints and Prima Pasta.

This tournament is also being supported

by Cebuana Pera Padala and Alveo Land.

More than 300 bowlers all over the country are expected to compete in the tournament.

Defending mixed open champion Krizziah Tabora is expected to play against the country’s elite bowlers, headed by Kenneth Chua, Enzo Hernandez, Bea Hernandez, Alexis Sy, Liza Del Rosario and world campaigner Biboy Rivera.

The Masters finals are set on April 2, 3 and 4, while the awarding is on April 4.

For more details, contact Tina Villaluz (09178221215).

IN A fierce battle of southpaws, Filipino Joebert Alvarez scored a stunning sixth- round TKO victory over Jonathan “La Bomba” Gonzalez to win the WBO North American Boxing Organization and FECARBOX flyweight title in Puerto Rico.

The trainer of Alvarez, Nonito “Dodong” Donaire Sr., father/trainer of fivedivision world champion and reigning WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, predicted in a conversation with The Standard prior to the fight that he expected his ward to win.

“Joebert looked good in training,” said Donaire at his Boxing and Fitness Gym in Oakland, California.

In an overseas telephone conversation, Donaire said Alvarez dropped Gonzalez in the second round, but suffered a cut and told the referee that it was caused by a head-butt and he was “worried about the cut.”

But the referee claimed it was caused by a punch.

“Alvarez kept on pressuring Gonzalez and they began exchanging punches but Joebert was much stronger,” Donaire said.

Ronnie Nathanielsz

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

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Arcilla, Capadocia crowned champs

By Peter Atencio

JOHNNY Arcilla grabbed another men’s singles crown, while Marian Jade Capadocia booked herself another trip to France when they dominated the first staging of the Peugeot Philippines Tennis Open championships Sunday at the Valle Verde Country Club courts in Pasig City.

The 36-year-old Arcilla worked steadily at the baseline and held off seventh-seed Roel Capangpangan, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, in the men’s finals.

Capadocia, bothered by a strained arm muscle, took time to get her rhythm and held off Clarice Patrimonio, 7-5, 6-1, for the women’s plum.

They both took home the P40,000 top purse and a trip to the 2016 French Open this May, courtesy of sponsors Peugeot Philippines, Total, Smart and Wilson.

Arcilla banked on his familiarity with the game of Capangpangan, his hitting partner back home in Las Pinas.

After making it past Elbert Anasta, 7-6, 7-6, in

the semifinals, Arcilla easily took a 3-0 lead in the first set against Capangpangan.

He frustrated his foe in the second set by breaking his serves thrice, holding him scoreless this time around.

“I’m familiar with his game. We’re hitting partners back in Las Pinas. He has gone through a lot before we met in the finals,” said Arcilla, who won his second crown this year after taking the Palawan Open men’s singles and doubles’ honors last month.

Capangpangan’s biggest challenge came when he upset second seed PJ Tierro, 6-3, 6-3, in the semis.

RWM Chief Operating Chief Stephen Reilly (left) and URCC Founder Alvin Aguilar seal their deal with a handshake.

OPBF convention lures bigwigs Resorts World, URCC to stage ‘Rebellion’ LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG

THE most influential people in boxing in Asia and the Pacific will converge in Bacolod City for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation convention, with no less than World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman as guest of honor.

Boxing managers, promoters and ring officials from the region are eager to meet with Sulaiman, who will be hosted

by OPBF president Juan Ramon Guanzon to a night of triple championship boxing and a local serving of cockfighting.

The OPBF convention was held for the first time last year, after a long hiatus. Due to its success, more boxing executives clamored for a followup, thus a back-to-back OPBF is being held, an event that is unprecedented in the oldest and most prestigious regional boxing organization.

More than 200 boxing executives and officials from at least 20 member countries have pre-registered for the convention slated March 30 to April 1 at the El Fisher Hotel.

“Our mission from the time that we were given the opportunity to take the helm of the OPBF is to make it

stronger, more active by promoting better relationship among promoters and managers across the region,” said Guanzon, also the chairman of the Games and Amusement Board, recognized the authorized boxing commission in the Philippines.

While safety of the fighters is an utmost priority, Guanzon said the OPBF has also implemented rules that are promoter-friendly.

“We want to help the promoters and managers because if they promote more fights, the more opportunity for boxers.” *** Guanzon attributes the resurgence of OPBF to the Philippines as an English-speaking country that makes it a better communicator.

“I think one factor is we communicate better with other countries and we make sure that we attend boxing conventions of other world bodies and share the information with all OPBF members.”

One of the agenda in the three-day convention is the improvement of the systems in the medical aspects with world-class fight doctor Dr. Paul Wallace scheduled to conduct talks on advanced drug-testing procedures and boxers’ safety.

WBC chief of ring officials, Hubert Minn from Hawaii, will conduct seminars on judging principles with

scientific basis, while noted international referee, Angeles City-based Bruce Mctavish, will talk on refereeing principles with emphasis on safety. *** Guanzon, who is ably assisted by GAB boxing division chief, Dr. Nasser Cruz, is also introducing for the first time the application and implementation of the interim championship, a system being done in the WBC. A major part of the convention is a boxing event, to be promoted by Brico Santig of Highland Boxing, topbilled by a triple interim championship.

Carlo Magale, whose last fight was a masterful TKO win over a highly rated Australian, will dispute the superfeatherweight interim title with Bacolod pride Mark Gil Melligen.

Rey Singwangcha Megrino will contest the OPBF interim bantamweight jewel, with Jonathan Baat, while Rene Dacquel (16W-6L-1D) and undefeated Thai Lucky Tor Buamas will fight for the interim superflyweight crown.

Santig said the triple championship will showcase the skills of Filipino fighters. “The WBC bigwigs and the top promoters in Asia and the Pacific will be treated to a slam-bang boxing action. We will show them that Filipino fighters deserve to fight abroad and get a chance to be world champions,” Santig said.

AN all-out rebellion is set to take place at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Resorts World Manila this April 23, 2016 after the country’s premier lifestyle and entertainment destination and the country’s foremost MMA promotions outfit the Universal Reality Combat Championship made official their partnership for the event.

“The sky’s the limit for the URCC,” said URCC President and Founder Alvin Aguilar during the signing and press conference held at the Passion restaurant at Maxims Hotel in RWM in February. “Fighters are better now and more skilled.”

URCC 27: Rebellion kicks off this year’s slate of fights with 10 exciting bouts and four title belts on the line. The main event features the featherweight championship crown between Deftac’s Red Romero from the Philippines in the cage with MK Muay Thai’s Do Gyun Lee from South Korea.

Romero was sidelined due to injuries prior to his cage return and exciting second round stoppage of Malaysia’s Jian Kai Chee in URCC 25: Domination last year. Now in great shape, Romero is set to defend his title against the hungry South Korean fighter.

Other title fights are for the lightweight belt between Americans Will Chope, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter and current URCC cham-

pion and Richie Redman, a former Pacific Xtreme Combat fighter; Japan’s Hideo Morikawa who defends his title for the first time against the Philippines’ undefeated fighter CJ De Tomas for flyweight; and Switzerland’s young champion Chris Hoffman who just came out of two back-to-back first round TKO wins as he slugs it out with the Philippines’ own knockout king Caloy Baduria for the light heavyweight crown.

Another must-see bout for Rebellion is between two Filipino MMA favorites Andrew Benibe versus Drex Zamboanga.

URCC 25: Takeover’s bantamweight champion Benibe comes out of retirement to battle the younger Zamboanga to get a better shot at the title.

Four more fights comprising of Filipino fighters complete the undercard for Rebellion. Battling it out for pinweight are two fights between Eddie Estrada v. Fritz Biagtan, and Solomon Dultra v. Jojo Tabang; the welterweight match featuring Jericho Tomagan v. Jet Hermida and the heated rivalry between flyweights Carlo Laurel and Alvin Ramirez.

For more information on URCC 27: Rebellion visit www.urccmma. com. Visit www.rwmanila.com for more upcoming events at the country’s premier tourism destination, Resorts World Manila or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline (632) 908-8833.

Philracom amends rule on racehorse retirement LOTTO RESULTS

IN a bid to address the issue of the declining racehorse population while considering the safety of older horses, the Philippine Racing Commission amended the rule on the retirement age of horses.

The Commission resolved last March 2 to amend Resolution No. 15 of 2014, which extends the retirement age of local racehorses from 12 to 14 years, by addition of the following conditions:

that such horses “can run only one official race…every 30 days,” and that the rule “shall also apply even to those horses that had been retired at the age of 12 years.”

Horses that have reached their 14th year as reckoned from their date of foaling shall be retired on January 1 of the succeeding year.

“This amended rule that extends the

retirement age allows older horses to race safely,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, “while at the same time allowing for the augmentation of the pool of active racehorses.”

While there are some 2,000 or so registered horses each year, only about twothirds are available to race at any given time, with the rest temporary sidelined and others no longer running.

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

P16M

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

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A16

M O N day : M a RC H 2 1 , 2 0 1 6 RIERa U. MaLL aRI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

Harrison Barnes (40) of the Golden States Warriors has his shot blocked by Kawhi Leonard (2) and Danny Green (14) of the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. AfP

Spurs smother Warriors LOS ANGELES—The San Antonio Spurs shut down Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, winning the clash of NBA heavyweights 87-79 on Saturday to remain perfect on their home floor this season.

The reigning NBA champion Warriors might be marching toward a single-season record for victories, but they still couldn’t find a way to win in San Antonio, where they haven’t come away with a victory since February 14, 1997.

The Spurs, who have put together a magnificent season in the shadow of Golden State, improved to 59-10 and 35-0 at home. They have won 44 straight regular-

season games in San Antonio in a streak dating to last March.

San Antonio’s streak is tied for the second-longest in NBA history behind only the continuing home streak of Golden State, now at 50 games.

The Spurs held the Warriors scoreless over the final 2:33, building a three-point lead to the final eight-point margin as they asserted themselves against a Warriors

team that beat them in Oakland on January 25.

Spurs point guard Tony Parker said San Antonio learned from that game that they couldn’t let the Warriors dictate the pace.

“This time we tried to slow it down and tried to control it,” Parker said, and the strategy worked -- at least this time.

“I think the whole league is trying to figure them out,” Parker said. “I’m not saying we’ve figured them out, but it was better than the last game.”

San Antonio cut the Warriors’ first-place lead in the Western Conference to three games with two more matchups between the two remaining in

the regular season.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs, who held reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Curry to 14 points.

Curry connected on just four of 18 shots -- only one of 12 from three-point range.

“He missed some shots he normally makes, but he also had to take some tough ones,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

Curry missed seven three-point attempts before making his first over Aldridge to knot the score at 55-55 in the third quarter after the Spurs had led by as many as 11.

dAy stAys AheAd

hAmilton fAlls to rosberg

turn to A11

turn to A13

Aces seek PBA lead

by Jeric lopez games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum): 4:15 p.m. - Alaska vs. Mahindra 7 p.m. - Talk ‘N Text vs. Rain or Shine

ALASKA is aiming to gain a piece of first place once more, even as streaking Rain or Shine looks to continue its winning push when they face separate opponents in a rare Monday playdate of the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. Currently in second, the Aces (5-2) want to get back on the winning track and regain a piece of first place as they take on slipping Mahindra (3-4) at 4:15 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today, while a heavyweight bout between the red-hot Elasto Painters (4-3) and Tropang Talk ‘N Text (3-4) follows at 7 p.m.

The Aces are also set to gain a berth in the quarterfinals should they triumph over the slumping Enforcers.

Following a conference-best five-game winning streak, Alaska got its hot run halted by rival San Miguel Beer in a 96-116 loss.

B1

MONDAY: MARCH 21, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Al Gore forum.

Former US Vice President and global climate activist Al Gore (center) poses with Oscar Lopez (right), chairman emeritus of the OML Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation Inc., and Federico R. Lopez, OML Center chairman, during a dinner held in Manila in honor of Gore. Oscar and son Federico participated in the Climate Reality Leadership Training that Gore’s non-profit Climate Reality Project conducted recently in Manila.

PSe comPoSite index Closing March 18, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,306.74 95.84

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing March 18, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.360

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

Manufacturing seen to lift growth in 2016

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE strong growth of manufacturing sector in January indicates the economy can withstand global shocks this year, the Finance Department said over the weekend.

Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran made the comment after the volume of production index, which represents the output of 20 largest industries, soared 34.3 percent in January from a year ago. This was the highest growth rate recorded since 2010.

“The robust manufacturing sector is an indication that our domestic economy can withstand the impact of external volatilities.

Despite the slowdown of our ma-

jor trading partners and continued oil price crisis, the country managed to stabilize our major economic indicators,” Beltran said in an internal economic bulletin.

The country’s gross domestic product grew 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter, bringing the full-year growth to 5.8 percent in 2015. The growth figure, however, was below the government’s target of 7 percent to 8 percent.

Economic managers revised downward the GDP growth target

for 2016 to a range of 6.8 percent to 7.8 percent from the previous 7 percent to 8 percent, amid lingering threats to the global economy.

Manufacturing expanded 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter and 5.7 percent in the whole of 2015, slower than the 8.3-percent expansion in 2014.

Beltran said to achieve the 2016 GDP growth target, the government should continue the publicprivate-partnership projects and enforce free trade agreements to provide a more conducive business environment to attract local and foreign investors. Beltran said these factors were essential to sustain the positive economic growth.

“Despite the on-going El Niño [dry spell], food sector recorded a significant improvement from the previous months’ performances.

The continuation of programs such as cloud seeding and irrigation to most affected provinces is vital to lessen the adverse effects of the drought,” Beltran said.

“The government can also provide additional training to farmers towards a more technologybased farming that can boost crop production. The government should also intensify its measures to prevent the spread of the Newcastle disease in the poultry industry and provide alternative livelihood to fishermen affected by the dry spell,” he said.

The National Economic and Development Authority said the growth in the manufacturing sector started strong in 2016 as production of chemical products and food manufactures expanded in January.

HIGH P46.150 LOW P46.380 AVERAGE P46.270 VOLUME 700.900M

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 Friday, March 18, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.4430

Japan

Yen

0.008975

0.4168

UK

Pound

1.447600

67.2309

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128959

5.9892

Switzerland

Franc

1.034233

48.0329

Canada

Dollar

0.770179

35.7694

Singapore

Dollar

0.740686

34.3997

Australia

Dollar

0.763500

35.4592

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

123.3186

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

12.3855

Brunei

Dollar

0.737953

34.2728

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028752

1.3353

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

12.6451

Euro

Euro

1.131900

52.5688

Korea

Won

0.000866

0.0402

China

Yuan

0.154428

7.1721

India

Rupee

0.015013

0.6972

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.246518

11.4490

New Zealand

Dollar

0.683100

31.7252

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030952

1.4375 Source: PDS Bridge

India’s Tata expanding to Pampanga, to add 1,500 BPO seats

By Othel V. Campos LEADING Indian business process outsourcing company Tata Consultancy Services Philippines, a unit of India’s Tata Group, is expanding services to Pampanga and adding 1,500 seats.

Tata Consultancy president Vikram Singh said the company had been expanding since it started operating in the Philippines in 2008.

“We strongly feel Philippines

will continue to grow and have a strong potential to be a larger outsource of talent in India,” he said.

He said Tata took two years to deliver to the Filipino costumers “because we were not sure what the competency in the local market [is].”

The new Pampanga office will be ready by May. Tata Consultancy currently has more over 4,200 employees, mainly in Manila, Bonifacio Global City and Pampanga City.

“We see it is important to grow their talent pool beyond Manila because today most of IT company headquarters are in Manila,” Singh said.

Tata said the BPO business should contribute to the growth of the Philippines.

“We take a lot of pride in growing local companies. We are a global company. We do IT, infrastructure service and BPO services,” the company said.

Building on the competency of

the Filipino workforce, training and workshops were two of the most important requirement for employees to undergo, the company said. “[The] Philippines is doing an entry level kind of repetitive work. We want to know how we can make the current employment into deployable services,” said Singh.

Tata Consultancy has been recognized by Brand Finance as one of the Big 4 Global IT Services

Brands.

It offers a consulting-led, integrated portfolio of IT, BPO, infrastructure, engineering and assurance services delivered delivered through its global network delivery model TM, recognized as the benchmark of excellence in software development.

A part of the Tata group, India’s largest industrial conglomerate, Tata Consultancy has over 318,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 46 countries.

MONDAY: MARCH 21, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

MARCH 14-18, 2016 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. Bright Kindle Resources Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank First Abacus 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

2.85 46.15 104.00 90.00 38.35 2.91 1.41 10.1 14.28 15.2 0.7 1.79 600.00 0.560 87.5 0.96 14.50 53.00 103 291 30 161 1345.00 58.60 1.53

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

LBC Express Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp.

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 Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp.

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

43.3 4.67 0.75 1.46 10.48 47 160.00 19 120 17.8 42 2.39 6.02 11.7 9.000 7.52 5.96 7.12 1.68 20.85 63.85 11.12 13.90 5.61 2.650 232.00 10.48 29.50 1.85 3.1 26.5 20.6 6.44 315.00 4.10 3.82 10.30 3.31 11.50 4.33 1.72 2.7 4.09 5.04 169 166.9 4.09 2.44 0.160 1.25 2.75 204.6 4.6 0.77 1.15

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

0.355 63.40 15.88 1.12 6.18 0.290 0.290 737 7.2 13.56 5.1 5.00 0.229 1405 5.96 9.74 79.00 3.9 6.36 0.69 15.8 0.510 6 0.0330 1.250 2.010 2.75 77.50 2.2 990.00 1.09 0.77 150.00 155.000 0.3100 0.1950 0.295

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

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

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

MRC Allied Ind.

8.000 7.75 0.87 1.610 1.50 0.226 36.600 2.83 5.16 0.550 0.97 0.980 0.128 0.500 38.95 0.880 0.154 1.04 1.78 1.34 3.74 4.05 0.092

Value

FINANCIAL 1,622,370.00 3,111,990.00 1,150,806,919 639,736,997.00 62,251,080.00 615,610.00 1,865,320.00 100,790.00 551,806.00 22,037,172.00 8,800 53,670.00 722,750.00 5,225,780.00 1,455,525,031.50 64,230.00 4,367,666.00 13,958,505.50 1,178,539.00 3,462,556.00 114,184,100 995,750,623.00 574,860.00 19,842,523.50 1,214,310.00 INDUSTRIAL 13,231,900 579,677,680.00 7,763,400 37,862,824.00 489,000 361,320.00 2,789,000 4,126,820.00 37,400 380,936.00 3,900 179,120.00 110 17,850.00 7,860,900 142,486,788 120 14,220.00 2,440,700 44,563,962.00 1,059,900 45,617,820 2,668,000 6,363,710.00 48,030,700 299,541,227.00 857,200 10,106,276.00 36,915,000 340,655,605.00 23,023,600 180,054,009.00 83,329,000 510,105,605.00 2,392,100 17,169,635.00 54,000 87,600.00 16,513,900 348,892,675.00 846,250 213,572,243.00 16,400 193,456.00 135,400 1,884,012.00 1,411,000 7,905,504.00 15,462,000 41,889,790.00 3,539,780 820,231,124.00 59,100 614,918.00 1,300 39,240.00 48,000 88,630.00 48,000 145,290.00 6,236,700 163,543,795.00 6,633,300 132,893,654.00 1,369,100 8,768,447.00 1,890,530 611,635,284.00 7,000 28,610.00 3,055,000 11,154,570.00 52,766,000 535,388,139.00 68,000 225,970.00 250,200 2,880,906.00 2,021,000 8,487,240.00 2,114,000 3,548,430.00 1,177,000 3,169,660.00 3,123,000 12,839,120.00 21,200 101,178.00 57,440 9,572,728.00 22,500 3,664,559.00 11,000 44,590.00 484,000 1,186,450.00 34,050,000 5,358,790.00 2,219,000 2,881,870.00 72,060,000 194,789,070.00 10,087,180 2,036,798,995.00 199,000 910,660.00 49,486,000 38,974,360.00 931,000 1,138,960.00 HOLDING FIRMS 482,000 211,300.00 9,366,800 577,961,277.50 32,143,700 513,175,898.00 114,000 124,850.00 235,500 1,455,951.00 15,120,000 4,243,300.00 4,550,000 1,294,650.00 2,318,330 1,729,948,045.00 14,660,600 109,776,960.00 33,605,100 450,141,336.00 282,400 1,431,997.00 285,100 1,416,611.00 460,000 102,940.00 1,044,865 1,473,262,040.00 260,600 1,564,104.00 8,163,600 79,508,043.00 14,483,520 1,107,439,386.00 27,000 110,370.00 21,752,000 133,498,019.00 2,236,000 1,570,870.00 16,548,100 262,087,834.00 282,000 129,710.00 156,103,000 936,313,892.00 783,476,300 29,781,400.00 29,000 38,380.00 3,084,000 6,164,630.00 41,000 112,580.00 2,510,530 191,785,020.00 120,000 259,880.00 1,614,680 1,550,427,720.00 2,529,000 2,814,550.00 1,102,000 855,350.00 1,100 169,544.00 423,700 68,067,153.00 30,660,000 9,821,300.00 8,860,000 1,746,520.00 1,630,000 478,950.00 PROPERTY 3,671,800 28,156,128.00 2,200 16,279.00 10,307,000 8,935,170.00 2,516,000 3,921,410.00 224,000 335,720.00 570,000 128,410.00 71,906,900 2,553,280,725.00 14,516,000 43,313,250.00 215,500 1,118,416.00 17,740,000 9,717,320.00 1,000 970.00 872,000 901,270.00 46,080,000 6,006,480.00 21,163,000 10,573,100.00 23,852,700 917,221,800.00 6,259,000 5,615,630.00 1,130,000 176,840.00 22,114,000 22,876,140.00 94,051,000 162,796,580.00 1,513,000 1,958,570.00 5,000 18,700.00 180,433,000 736,800,040.00 19,190,000 1,846,520.00 560,000 67,900 13,478,360 7,219,690 1,681,000 214,000 1,338,000 10,000 38,800 1,445,000 13,000 31,000 130,160 8,982,000 17,181,040 68,000 298,000 264,920 11,560 12,270 3,798,800 6,342,060 425 345,630 790,000

MARCH 7-11, 2016 Close Volume Value 2.98 45.5 105.00 86.20 36.9 2.75 1.44

1,892,000 64,400 16,695,890 7,257,070 1,716,300 464,000 824,000

5,835,370.00 2,907,200.00 1,698,792,862 612,973,539.50 62,385,545.00 1,375,290.00 1,177,380.00

14.18 15.2

72,600 574,200

1,019,224.00 8,734,566.00

1.7 585.00 0.600 84.1 0.95 14.84 52.55 102 275 31.7 154.5 1320.00 57.20 1.54

235,002 1,000 20,262,000 16,771,920 1,246,000 119,400 161,530 14,780 8,400 875,100 5,145,990 745 173,570 554,000

414,040.00 594,245.00 12,382,850.00 1,353,980,064.50 1,149,700.00 1,775,626.00 8,472,373.00 1,453,329.00 2,299,174.00 28,714,215 768,194,852.00 972,825.00 9,942,296.00 852,740.00

43.9 5.2 0.7 1.5 10.7

10,404,100 5,132,600 582,000 2,744,000 10,900

456,655,000.00 27,034,296.00 410,830.00 4,151,370.00 115,966.00

170.00 17.9

6,510 3,366,900

982,660.00 41,806,960

18.74 41 2.45 5.71 12.2 9.080 8.00 6.34 7.02 1.55 21.9 63.8 12.00 13.70 5.46 2.790 230.00 10.5 32.00 1.91 2.91 26.4 19 6.25 326.40 4.00 3.59 10.30 3.32 11.60 4.17 1.66 2.6 4.00 4.55

1,168,600 969,800 12,107,000 72,605,000 1,317,900 19,545,300 23,034,500 90,254,100 2,502,000 28,000 28,277,400 1,142,270 10,600 161,900 2,519,000 29,695,000 5,297,740 131,500 18,900 18,000 106,000 2,769,100 4,653,000 1,039,800 733,350 6,000 1,621,000 46,114,200 28,000 124,100 3,803,000 3,703,000 3,191,000 33,055,000 751,000

22,115,794.00 38,813,070 28,727,010.00 428,988,397.00 16,128,864.00 172,433,444.00 181,912,266.00 558,198,703.00 17,509,113.00 43,870.00 585,108,998.00 71,148,071.00 129,802.00 2,249,932.00 13,852,213.00 82,067,790.00 1,207,915,330.00 1,315,176.00 630,180.00 35,180.00 296,810.00 73,853,075.00 81,898,904.00 6,283,098.00 239,623,484.00 24,000.00 5,529,760.00 475,879,033.00 92,260.00 1,434,298.00 15,673,660.00 6,040,980.00 9,182,490.00 131,919,310.00 3,541,460.00

161.5 3.7 2.46 0.155 1.20 2.50 204 4.72 0.86 1.17

290,240 28,000 899,000 40,590,000 923,000 35,968,000 4,848,310 10,433,000 104,026,000 504,000

46,630,325.00 110,400.00 2,192,480.00 6,457,050.00 1,057,800.00 87,038,870.00 983,245,915.00 48,096,280.00 88,813,550.00 569,990.00

0.360 61.00 16.00 1.15 6.10 0.275 0.275 757 7.71 12.90 5 4.96 0.222 1410 6.05 9.77 76.00

6,190,000 5,924,910 50,768,400 9,000 186,400 7,880,000 7,850,000 1,811,250 8,818,700 24,355,000 63,100 1,385,000 711,000 1,451,265 371,600 12,662,500 11,304,040

2,237,650.00 357,563,416.50 793,109,066.00 9,770.00 1,137,653.00 2,092,880.00 2,099,000.00 1,351,178,965.00 67,548,236.00 314,384,348.00 310,488.00 6,790,600.00 237,400.00 1,982,866,675.00 2,231,997.00 123,872,972.00 838,394,949.50

6.1 0.71 15.92 0.475 6.03 0.0320 1.410 1.950 2.7 75.60 2.3 926.50 1.15 0.77

37,432,700 3,606,000 15,187,800 760,000 161,667,600 177,400,000 37,000 20,392,000 10,000 3,446,550 2,000 1,182,440 7,264,000 31,000

215,723,093.00 2,551,660.00 239,145,210.00 372,250.00 945,701,063.00 5,499,400.00 51,530.00 13,123,500.00 27,000.00 264,610,638.50 4,600.00 1,086,079,740.00 8,463,650.00 23,410.00

164.000 0.3100 0.2150 0.295

566,800 9,220,000 2,580,000 1,370,000

94,208,421.00 2,891,700.00 530,210.00 403,450.00

7.270 7.80 0.90 1.480

1,275,700 1,100 7,668,000 1,570,000

9,250,052.00 8,401.00 6,951,440.00 2,339,130.00

0.228 35.300 3.15 5.16 0.550 0.97 1.100 0.127 0.480 34.5 0.890 0.153 1.08 1.69 1.26 3.74 4.14 0.101

420,000 44,376,100 16,944,000 400,300 44,248,000 92,000 579,000 30,180,000 190,803,000 18,251,600 25,992,000 1,560,000 52,524,000 247,533,000 2,116,000 17,000 182,176,000 59,250,000

97,620.00 1,530,311,250.00 55,220,230.00 2,073,528.00 24,191,080.00 94,990.00 604,860.00 3,901,750.00 59,907,690.00 607,272,170.00 22,373,500.00 240,950.00 52,552,120.00 211,531,490.00 2,058,790.00 63,310.00 732,449,130.00 5,771,870.00

STOCKS

MARCH 14-18, 2016 Close Volume

Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

0.2290 0.445 8.66 29.20 1.48 3.09 21.45 0.84 5.62 1.010 4.690

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

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.36 58.6 1.21 0.540 10.7 28.3 5.30 0.0650 3.38 90 9.9 1.52 6.28 980 2190 6.92 18.14 1.25 69 5.99 37 11.6 0.0110 0.270 1.3700 2.15 8.18 3.70 1.29 2.75 24.90 0.540 1.94 2.83 3.90 0.280 0.860 17.48 5.00 2.4 8.56 105.00 22.05 1978.00 0.455 0.960 37.65 71.80 6.15 3.44 0.530 1.73 3.69 0.340 4.780

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0045 2.08 4.61 0.238 4.8600 0.61 0.480 7.88 0.840 0.295 0.290 0.305 0.0120 0.013 2.12 5.63 2.63 0.5400 1.2800 0.0098 0.0100 3.80 6.00 2.50 0.0120 135.00 2.76 0.0085

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ BC Pref. A First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

58.5 529.5 535 13.2 109.1 117.6 520 6.89 107 1077 1100 1009 104 107.9 80 82 75.5 75.5 76.4

Leisure & Resort Warr.

3.640

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

3.65 3.15 3.4 17.1

First Metro ETF

118.7

MARCH 7-11, 2016 Close Volume Value

Value

7,030,000 330,000 90,700 17,519,000 1,123,000 164,003 91,831,400 9,541,000 16,500 5,543,000 35,065,000

1,584,120.00 147,100.00 786,509.00 508,937,385.00 1,675,840.00 510,120.00 1,958,360,260.00 7,905,900.00 90,636.00 5,679,750.00 163,073,320.00 SERVICES 973,100 7,101,081.00 374,440 21,630,507.00 144,000 185,800.00 5,120,000 2,772,280.00 6,800 72,808.00 300 7,330 60,332,200 316,222,854.00 551,830,000 35,373,480.00 3,262,000 10,791,460.00 3,964,470 345,315,149.00 4,200 41,400.00 5,000 7,600 2,120,000 13,386,264.00 390 378,360.00 1,356,380 2,780,321,685 866,500 5,991,529.00 700 12,698 811,000 1,046,200.00 4,712,380 314,585,907.50 124,900 696,667 600 19,400 17,700 203,230.00 30,900,000 314,700.00 918,580,000 253,225,520.00 8,213,000 10,986,290.00 110,000 230,600.00 1,079,000 8,719,671.00 8,741,000 28,038,990.00 1,019,000 1,324,320.00 109,000 294,670.00 2,100 51,925.00 112,000 60,800.00 82,000 152,970.00 144,675,000 410,474,100.00 45,540,000 181,087,780.00 820,000 226,000.00 53,691,000 47,617,880.00 12,300 214,902.00 182,500 902,185 10,000 24,000.00 5,000 42,800.00 1,025,720 102,382,156.00 850,400 18,538,320.00 1,781,480 3,429,256,610.00 5,850,000 2,672,900.00 184,551,000 177,841,990.00 18,765,800 700,858,545.00 10,196,910 725,262,238.50 4,241,800 26,322,072.00 26,291,000 90,864,360.00 12,270,000 6,441,740.00 73,000 124,390.00 45,509,000 170,397,420.00 3,700,000 1,201,150.00 221,000 1,052,680.00 MINING & OIL 330,000,000 1,467,000.00 408,000 864,360.00 8,956,000 41,470,690.00 2,760,000 651,430.00 1,000 4,860.00 2,147,000 1,363,850.00 10,340,000 5,126,300.00 816,800 6,494,925.00 411,163,000 334,604,110.00 3,450,000 1,039,200.00 284,170,000 83,272,350.00 39,190,000 11,813,600.00 474,500,000 5,697,800.00 87,400,000 1,114,100.00 3,358,000 7,436,110.00 34,773,500 196,592,803.00 1,175,000 3,100,630.00 60,000 32,400.00 786,000 991,810.00 176,000,000 1,740,000.00 43,400,000 434,000.00 851,000 3,340,210.00 27,624,900 164,963,539.00 47,121,000 100,933,530.00 998,800,000 12,247,300.00 3,019,240 411,417,622.00 8,321,000 22,331,860.00 8,000,000 67,600.00 PREFERRED 669,720 38,825,264.50 18,320 9,502,350.00 2,770 1,469,850 200 2,640.00 10,190 1,111,728.00 181,720 20,671,211.00 11,720 6,049,680.00 87,800 598,824.00 27,020 2,894,230.00 10 10,770.00 285 302,755.00 19,390 19,597,380.00 12,490 1,297,242.00 2,200 235,581.00 15,350 1,210,600.00 302,210 24,957,356.00 298,890 22,672,871.00 324,930 24,725,663.00 589,890 45,316,109.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 17,108,000 59,430,180.00 SME 49,000 175,240.00 80,000 249,130.00 9,263,000 30,999,840.00 7,834,300 135,588,982.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 666,320 78,318,036.00

0.2350 0.440 8.69 27.65 1.5 3.13 21.40 0.84 5.4 1.050 4.550

690,000 250,000 294,000 14,616,500 3,582,000 176,000 60,274,800 17,725,000 19,600 12,670,000 37,608,000

158,170.00 107,050.00 2,513,372.00 405,597,995.00 5,363,290.00 546,520.00 1,287,698,105.00 14,804,330.00 107,311.00 13,050,820.00 169,584,640.00

7.23 55.95 1.24 0.530 10.3

848,900 354,800 686,000 7,670,000 31,200

6,035,146.00 19,479,582.50 890,890.00 4,061,510.00 321,296.00

5.05 0.0580 3.15 86.6 9.9 1.56 6.39 956 1770 6.85 18.26 1.33 66.3

55,611,000 689,410,000 4,397,000 2,435,930 21,100 122,000 964,300 1,810 376,030 1,445,700 400 2,691,000 5,436,330

271,228,200.00 40,268,830.00 13,825,340.00 211,492,436.00 206,630.00 183,840 6,082,387.00 1,730,360.00 650,488,350 9,645,305.00 7,304 3,503,110.00 341,037,582.00

11.3 0.0090 0.217 1.3300 2.2 7.90 4.29 1.23 2.75 19.00 0.560 1.87 2.8 3.85 0.275 0.850 17.38 4.80 2.45 8.49 99.00 22.15 1704.00 0.460 0.970 36.95 70.00 6.36 3.56 0.540 1.69 4.01 0.325 4.770

10,000 5,200,000 215,660,000 27,582,000 32,000 372,900 3,656,000 97,000 605,000 400 415,001 109,000 224,284,000 13,225,000 2,100,000 125,457,000 28,700 158,000 40,000 1,400 92,930 2,148,400 1,204,765 1,840,000 245,941,000 19,463,900 16,528,720 13,826,200 42,876,000 30,184,000 12,000 10,112,000 1,300,000 195,000

113,000.00 51,600.00 46,381,160.00 36,589,860.00 68,360.00 2,913,932.00 15,773,610.00 108,990.00 1,611,020.00 7,134.00 297,540.00 205,810.00 570,522,370.00 49,875,040.00 575,700.00 106,999,290.00 490,874.00 763,960 96,500.00 12,070.00 9,200,320.00 46,638,175.00 2,080,957,550.00 822,100.00 224,950,950.00 688,930,325.00 1,096,656,281.50 89,216,615.00 150,023,390.00 15,896,090.00 18,020.00 39,319,930.00 425,400.00 931,230.00

0.0045 2.28 4.55 0.247

798,000,000 883,000 3,864,000 1,480,000

3,575,600.00 1,918,590.00 17,052,810.00 359,690.00

0.63 0.480 7.50 0.760 0.310 0.295 0.310 0.0130 0.013 2.31 5.7 2.65 0.5500 1.2300 0.0091

7,153,000 11,950,000 114,500 324,814,000 20,840,000 396,750,000 79,060,000 177,100,000 316,500,000 6,137,000 33,771,000 2,255,000 59,000 557,000 56,000,000

4,571,410.00 5,561,750.00 841,821.00 252,974,190.00 5,898,350.00 119,764,200.00 24,947,200.00 2,131,700.00 4,119,400.00 14,068,440.00 195,991,385.00 6,087,070.00 31,910.00 696,250.00 519,000.00

3.70 6.15 1.75 0.0120 135.90 2.35 0.0083

674,000 28,526,400 10,423,000 173,000,000 1,921,220 1,003,000 4,000,000

2,459,330.00 179,248,281.00 18,724,990.00 1,990,100.00 249,934,295.00 2,442,440.00 32,100.00

56.2 523 530

1,184,020 38,480 13,340

64,471,161.00 20,193,510.00 7,066,200

117.8 527 6.76 108 1028 1060 1012

35,670 16,350 1,776,600 9,610 2,400 325 10,030

4,086,199.00 8,597,500.00 11,530,401.00 1,045,190.00 2,467,200.00 344,800.00 10,217,460.00

107 80 82.5 76.5 76.5 77

2,510 30 93,710 113,450 54,880 605,500

268,570.00 2,400.00 7,598,829.00 8,679,937.50 4,193,527.50 46,622,739.00

2.700

4,329,000

11,896,470.00

3.66 3.19 3.11 18.1

25,000 43,800 11,689,000 29,015,800

90,370.00 157,020.00 36,768,490.00 503,345,134.00

114.8

276,720

31,659,553.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Philodrill Corp. `A’ Island Info Pacifica `A’ Boulevard Holdings Manila Mining `A’ Ferronickel Abra Mining Lepanto `A’ Premium Leisure Megaworld Prop.

VOLUME 998,800,000 918,580,000 783,476,300 551,830,000 474,500,000 411,163,000 330,000,000 284,170,000 184,551,000 180,433,000

STOCKS PLDT Common Globe Telecom Ayala Land `B’ Universal Robina SM Prime Holdings Ayala Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. GT Capital Metrobank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc.

VALUE 3,429,256,610.00 2,780,321,685 2,553,280,725.00 2,036,798,995.00 1,958,360,260.00 1,729,948,045.00 1,550,427,720.00 1,473,262,040.00 1,455,525,031.50 1,150,806,919

MONDAY: MARCH 21, 2016

B3

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

Ayala Land sells P8-b bonds

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. raised P8 billion from the sale of 10-year bonds, amid a strong demand from investors, one of the underwriters handling the transaction said over the weekend.

BPI Capital Corp. managing director Eric Roberto Luchangco said Ayala Land’s bond offering was well received by the market, as the offer was 3.7-times oversubscribed with total demand reaching P29 billion.

“The Ayala Land name is very well respected and the company has been part of the portfolio of most investors,” Luchangco said, when asked why the demand for the bonds was very strong.

“The market is also quite liq-

uid,” he said.

Ayala Land was able to raise the entire P8 billion from the bond offering, at the time conglomerate San Miguel Corp. was also conducting a P30-billion preferred shares offering.

The P8-billion bond offering, which carried an interest rate of 4.85 percent per annum, was a part of the P50-billion debt securities program of the property developer.

The bonds will be listed with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on Wednesday.

Proceeds from the offering will primarily be used to finance the

company’s corporate requirements and capital expenditures, including the redevelopment of the site of Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City into a transport hub with retail and office components.

The amount will also support the construction of a high-end office project and retail center at Ayala Triangle also in Makati and the construction of Cloverleaf Mall in Balintawak, Quezon City.

Aside from BPI Capital, other underwriters handling the transaction were BDO Capital & Investments Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Invest-

ments Corp., PNB Capital and Investments Corp. and East West Banking Corp.

Ayala Land reported a net income of P17.6 billion in 2015, up 19 percent from P14.8 billion in 2014.

Consolidated revenues rose 13 percent to P107.2 billion from P95.2 billion it posted in the previous year.

The growth was attributed to the sustained performance of the company’s property development and leasing businesses and improved margins across product lines.

Silicon Valley delegates. The Trade Department’s Export Marketing Bureau and Board of Investments present to the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley opportunities for trade and investment in the Philippines during a trade and industry briefing hin Makati City. Shown are (standing, from left) Noel Omega and Ben Menor of FACCSV; EMB assistant director Agnes Perpetua Legaspi, director Senen Perlada, Trade undersecretary for investment development group Ceferino Rodolfo, Lorna Dietz, Alfonso Galarpe Jr. and Mary Ann Omega of FACCSV, EMB market innovation division chief Rafaelita Castro, BOI international investments promotion service officer-in-charge Lanie Dormiendo, Marissa Laroza of BOI and Gina Yap of EMB. Seated are (from right) Florencio Andy Andres, Ana Andres, Benjie Fernandez, Anne Orozco-Ramirez and Sanny Leviste of FACCSV.

Roxas Holdings plans P1.19-b rights offering ROXAS Holdings Inc., a sugar producer controlled by the First Pacific group, plans to raise as much as P1.19 billion through a stock rights offering to finance the expansion of its ethanol business.

Roxas Holdings said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it would offer 265.968 million common shares to eligible shareholders at ratio of one right share for every 4.33 common shares owned.

Other details of the rights offer, including the price and record date, have yet to be finalized.

Roxas Holdings said it would use the net proceeds from the fund raising activity to finance the capital requirements of newly acquired ethanol subsidiary San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. The offer shares will come from the unissued capital stock of the company which is currently at P1.5 billion.

The First Pacific group, including First Pacific Natural Resources Hold-

ings BV and/or First Agri Holdings Corp., have committed to subscribe not just to their respective entitlements of rights rights offer but also to any unsubscribed rights share during the offer period.

BDO Capital & Investments Corp. was tapped as the underwriter for the rights offering.

Roxas Holdings chief finance officer Celso Dimarucut earlier said the company expected to complete the rights offering before the May elections.

Roxas Holdings initially acquired a 26.7-percent interest in SCBI in March 2015 and increased its stake in the bioethanol company to 93.68 precent, with the purchase of 64.02 percent from Menarco Clean Energy Inc. of the Jimenez family for P1 billion the following month.

The acquisition of SCBI boosted the company’s position as the leading bioethanol producer in the country.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Analysts expect muted trading ANALYSTS expect stock trading to be muted during the shortened trading week, ahead of the Lent observance in the country. Financial markets will be closed Thursday and Friday.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the market’s strong performance over recent trading weeks would likely encourage a further test of the 7,350 to 7,370-point level in the near term.

“However, expect some profit taking to occur given next week is a short trading week,” Ravelas said.

Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan said the market was ripe for technical correction after the index rose above 7,300 points last week.

“With volatility reading

at 100 point market, expect wider intraday swans which we see as a trigger to start taking profits already.

More aggressive traders may choose to hold but we advise putting tight triggers to protect gains,” Limlingan said.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 2.9 percent last week to close at 7.306.74 on Friday, as global investors took more risk. At the same time, the Fed’s decision to keep its rate unchanged also boosted the global equities markets.

Except for industrial and mining and oil, which lost 0.8 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively, all other major sub-indices were in the green led by services, which climbed 10.1 percent, holding firms which advanced 2.6 percent, property which increased 2.5 percent and

financials, which rose 2.4 percent.

Foreign investors were net buyers last week by P4.34 billion, as total foreign buying hit P24.6 billion while foreign selling amounted to P20.2 billion.

The strong inflow of foreign investments boosted blue-chip companies such as Globe Telecom Inc., which rose 23.7 percent to P2,190; Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which jumped 16.1 percent to P1,978; and SM Investments Corp., which rose 6.5 percent to P990.

Liberty Telecoms Holdings Inc. emerged as the heaviest loser after Telstra of Australia ended joint venture talks with San Miguel Corp. Liberty Telecom fell 13.7 percent to P3.70.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B4 Prasad joining PH hybrid rice plan

By Othel V. Campos HYDERABAD-based Prasad Seeds is tapping Philippine rice seed technology and joining the proposed hybrid rice production program of the government.

Prasad consultant for export marketing William Dar said the company would take part in the program, committing at least 10 percent of the hectarage sought for hybrid rice farming for a very competitive price.

“I understand that the government will be targeting almost half a million to be devoted to hybrid rice production. Prasad is just starting seed production in the Philippines, but we are willing enough to provide support to the program,” he said.

The company plans to produce at least 1,000 metric tons of seeds to cover as much as 50,000 hectares, or 10 percent of the half-a-million hectare rice farm that will be devoted to hybrid farming.

Prasad plans to use hybrids developed by the International Rice Research Institute.

Dar stressed the seeds would not be imported nor genetically modified.

He added the initial production would be devoted to Philippine requirements and go for seed exports as soon as the company had an excess capacity.

“We wil revisit our business plan. We plan to export in due time once we have the confidence” Dar said.

Prasad is in talks with other countries discussing plans on the seed processing side of the business.

It has reached an agreement with Syngenta Philippines for seed production for local marketing.

Sygenta provides Prasad the parent line necessary to produce commercial hybrid seeds for planting.

Prasad has been producing seeds in India in the last 30 years, starting with hybrid corn.

Seed production will start in October 2016 until January 2017 at the Prasad farm in Pangasinan province.

European motor show. EU Ambassador Franz Jessen (right) and his son get ready to board the all new Volvo XC 90 that served as the lead car during the 1st European Motor Show motorcade around the Bonifacio Global City on March 12, 2016. The motor show flaunted European excellence in automotive engineering and design and held open the possibility European cars could become more affordable through a free trade agreement between the Philippines and the European Union. The three-day show featured iconic European brands such as Audi, BMW, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Metro Pacific may defer mediation bid

By Darwin G Amojelar

THE tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said it may defer the filing of an arbitration case against the government, after the Toll Regulatory Board requested a 30-day extension to decide on its petition for a toll increase.

“They asked for another 30 days extension. It’s a request, but I’m not saying that we are agreeing to grant the request. Anytime we can implement, as far as we are concerned, we are ready to file our arbitration case, but we are just waiting,” said Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and Manila North Tollways Corp. president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco, “In fairness to them, they are

working on reviewing it and they said they need more days to sort out the issue,” Franco said, adding the Commission on Audit was reviewing the toll increase rates.

TRB consultant for traffic management and safety Albert Suansing confirmed that CoA was reviewing the petition of MNTC and Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. for toll increases.

Suansing, however, said the

current administration was unlikely to complete the review process and “probably the next administration” would act on the toll hike petition.

MNTC, a unit of MPTC which operates North Luzon Expressway, filed a petition with TRB in September 2014 for the bi-annual toll adjustment that was supposed to start on Jan. 1, 2015, as stipulated under its concession.

The new petition is on top of the one the company filed in 2012 for a toll increase scheduled in January 2013. This would bring the cumulative toll adjustment to 15 percent, of which 12 percent was long overdue.

Tolls at NLEx from Mindanao Avenue to Sta. Ines currently amount to P218 for Class 1 vehicles (cars, jeepneys, pickup trucks and vans), P544 for Class

2 vehicles (two-axle trucks, buses and vans) and P652 for Class 3 vehicles (trucks and trailers with three or more axles).

MNTC has asked for a P3.5billion compensation claim as of January for failure to increase the toll in the last three years, while Cavitex requested for P800 million.

Cavitex also proposed a toll hike for Class 1 vehicles to P27 from P22; Class 2 vehicles to P54 from P44; and Class 3 vehicles to P81 from P66.

The two companies said the periodic toll rate adjustment was a contractual right the toll operators were entitled to under the toll operation agreement.

Operators of South Luzon Expressway and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road also filed a doubt-digit increase in toll.

Mariwasa observes 50th year, launches latest CSR project MARIWASA, a leader in the ceramic tile industry, marks its 50th year in the business.

Established in 1966 by the brothers Emerson and Edison Co Seteng, the company, a pioneer in the industry, was founded on “a vision of producing ceramic products that would meet world standards for beauty and durability... [that] was to be achieved by harnessing the skills, discipline and creativity of the Filipino artisan,” said Mariwasa Siam Ceramics Inc. president Phaskorn

Buranawit, who is also the country director for SCG Philippines.

As an important part of the celebration, Mariwasa is unveiling its newest tile designs grouped into three avant-garde sub themes namely, Morphology, Indie-Fluence and Innotheraphy, which cater to different facets of modern urban consumers.

Launched on March 16 at the 21st Worldbex, the Philippines’ largest construction building materials exposition, the latest collection is touted to strongly

complement the company’s push for total home solution.

“This is our commitment to be always in step with the demands of an upbeat, young and upwardly mobile market,” said vice president for sales and marketing Jakkrit Suwansilp.

“We are launching innovative designs that reflect the preferences of an important segment of our market, the millennials,” he added.

Mariwasa was the first to manufacture both wall and floor

tiles in a vast range of colors and sizes.

“With each Mariwasa tile comes a firm commitment to product excellence that is fully supported by extensive research and development, innovative design and some of the most modern production facilities and processes in the Philippines, all of which are now operating under ISO 9001:2000 and PNS/ISO 13006 quality standards,” said Buranawit.

He stressed that apart from the

company’s goals for its bottom line, Mariwasa was committed in improving the quality of life of the community through its corporate social responsibility project.

In partnership with the Department of Education’s Adopta-School Program, the company has undertaken the Mariwasa Public School Toilet Renovation Project, which aims to improve sanitation facilities in public school toilets in far-flung communities across the country.

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

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

B5

BoP registers $316-m deficit

By Julito G. Rada

THE country’s balance of payments position swung to a deficit of $316 million in February from a $985-million surplus a year ago due to debt servicing by the national government, data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas over the weekend show.

The figure brought the balance of payments in the first two months of 2016 to a deficit of $1.129 billion, a reversal of the $1.121-billion surplus a year ago. The February deficit, however, was lower than the $813-million gap recorded a month ago. “... January was especially challenging due to some outflows given the negative market sentiment following the expected US Fed tightening and China slowdown.

February yielded less negative BoP position with the resumption of capital inflows,” Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a text message.

“We don’t expect the BoP deficit to per-

sist through the end of 2016. Instead we expect BoP to show around $2 billion in surplus on account of sustained current account surplus courtesy of remittances and BPO revenues,” Guinigundo said.

Bangko Sentral earlier projected remittances to grow around 4 percent this year, the same pace of expansion as last year’s.

Guinigundo said monetary authorities were closely monitoring external developments because of their impact to the country’s external trade. These are the tightening moves of the US Federal Reserve, the growth trajectory of the Chinese economy and oil prices in international markets.

“Slowdown in the growth of Chinese economy will affect emerging markets and exchange rate. [Also] I hope the US Fed will have only two tightening moves this year and not four as planned [previously],” Guinigundo said.

He said Bangko Sentral was ambivalent about oil prices. He said lower oil prices negatively affect oil-exporting countries, which are also the same markets for migrant Filipino workers.

The BoP summarizes the country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world, with a deficit indicating foreign exchange payments outstripping receipts and a surplus the reverse.

Food fair. The Department of Trade and Industry promotes local micro, small and medium enterprises through SikatPinoy National Food Fair 2016 with the participation of over 170 exhibitors all over the Philippines. Welcoming the entrepreneurs, consumers and visitors during the opening ceremonies of the fair from March 16 to 20 at the Megatrade Halls 1-3, Mega B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong Citya are (from left) Export Marketing Bureau director Senen Perlada, Trade Industry Promotion Group Undersecretary Nora Terrado and Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion director Rhodora Leaño.

AMA not part of Boracay row AMA Education System criticized a financially ailing resort operator to unduly drag the educational institution in the latter’s dispute with a property claimant over the ownership of a parcel of land in Boracay Island off Malay, Aklan.

AMAES senior vice president and chief operating officer Arnel Hibo said in a statement it was “grossly unfair for FHI [Friday Holdings Inc.] to drag us into its business squabble with a certain Mila Yap Sumndad in media statements and periodic disclosures to the PSE [Philippine Stock Exchange] with regard to the ownership of a property occupied by Friday’s Boracay Beach Resort in Aklan.”

FHI should know that its disclosures, even if baseless, sooner or later would find their way into the media and become news.”

“As an institution devoted to the pursuit of learning, AMAES has no interest in resort development, whether in Boracay or elsewhere, and neither does it intend to do

so in the future,” Hibo said.

He said AMAES was not involved in the business feud between FHI and Sumndad over a 1,447-square meter parcel of Friday’s resort in Boracay.

AMA is the largest educational network in Asia that runs AMA University and 10 other educational institutions here and abroad.

FHI is locked in a legal tussle with Sumndad even before the 25-lease agreement between Sumndad’s family and FHI expired in 2014.

Media reports said Sumndad repossessed her parcel of Friday’s after the lease agreement expired in 2014 to implement a court decision giving her possession of the property, which she claimed by virtue of a tax declaration registered in her name.

Sumndad’s late parents were among Boracay’s original settler-families and owned 2,564 square meters of beachfront property that the Yap couple leased to FHI in 1989.

With Luchi Cruz-Valdes, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Rep. Leni Robredo, Sen. Sonny Trillanes and Go Negosyo executive director Mon Lopez

The Go Negosyo meet the vice presidentiables forum

IT IS said that the Vice Presidency is just a short breath away from the Presidency; the selection of a Vice President is as equally important as that of a President.

It was, thus, axiomatic that Go Negosyo Talks, after its “Meet the Presidentiables” series, would likewise conduct a “Meet the Vice Presidentiables” forum, still in partnership with PLDT-SMART SME Nation, TV5, Bloomberg TV Philippines, Bilang Pilipino 2016, RFM Corporation and Santa Elena Construction.

I once again had the privilege of serving as a panelist together with Babe Romualdez of the Philippine Star and Mon Lopez, executive director of Go Negosyo. Luchi Cruz-Valdes of TV5 likewise served as the host and moderator. The forum was aired on TV5 and went on live streaming.

Four vice presidential candidates attended the forum with their respective supporters in tow: Liberal Party candidate, Camarines Sur Representative Leni G. Robredo; and independent candidates, Senators Sonny Trillanes, Bongbong Marcos, and Chiz Escudero.

Each gave impressive opening salvos that went beyond mere motherhood statements that marred the early days of their respective campaigns and showed that each was strong with specific programs or points to address particular issues or concerns.

“To build a country of enterprising Filipinos” is the battlecry of Go Negosyo.

What do the candidates have in store (pun unintended) on this? For Senator Marcos, the proper implementation of the Magna Carta for SMEs is key. For Rep. Robredo, money and market links are needed. For Senator Trillanes, access to capital and ease of doing business is crucial. Senator Escudero meanwhile mentioned faster Internet speeds, oneperson corporations, and lower tax rates.

I asked the candidates what bold initiatives each would implement to make agriculture work for this country.

Cong. Robredo believes we need rice sufficiency for the nation and food

With co-panelists, Go Negosyo’s Mon Lopez and the Manila Overseas Press Club’s Babe Romualdez The very successful Go Negosyo ‘Meet the Vice Presidentiables’ forum

security for farmers, but farmers need mentoring, money, and market links.

For Senator Trillanes, modernizing the sector coupled with government subsidy is critical. Senator Escudero for his part said he would push for the allocation of P300 billion as agricultural fund when elected. Senator Marcos on the other hand said looking into our irrigation system as well as improving production loans is warranted.

My next question dwelt on their positions on agrarian reform. Suffice it to say, the responses of each candidate were expected given their respective backgrounds and political affiliations.

All were supportive of agrarian reform, but with qualifications as to how it should proceed. I am of the view, however, the there is too much focus and obsession with land ownership when attention or priority should be given in improving production. Time limits prevented me from further pursuing the issue. Perhaps a topic for future columns.

All in all, it was a successful forum where we somehow were able to pick the brains, so to speak, of the vice presidential candidates who, I must say, performed well at the rostrum.

Hopefully, the strengthening of MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) – the thrust of Go Negosyo – won’t be farthest from their minds if and when one of them gets to be elected to the secondhighest position in the land. MSMEs account for almost 65 percent of total jobs generated by the private sector, according to data from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). That is something that cannot be neglected or denied.

The vice presidentiables: Sen. Chiz Escudero, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Rep. Leni Robredo and Sen. Sonny Trillanes

MONDAY: MARCH 21, 2016

B6

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Bataan investors to launch new group THE Freeport Area of Bataan Investors and Locators Association, a strategic community of 81 foreign and local business enterprises inside the Bataan Freeport Area, is holding its first Fabila gala night on April 2 at Discovery Primea in Makati City.

With the theme “A New Beginning—Riding the Wave of Economic Growth of Central Luzon Area,” the event involves the grand launch of Fabila as an association and an important driver of economic growth in Central Luzon.

Fabila, as a unified organization, is also laying the groundwork to facilitate and attract global investors.

Fabila members employ around 25,555 workers, providing direct benefit to Bataan residents.

Bataan governor Albert Garcia and Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. vice chairman Francisco Delgado will serve as guest speakers during the event.

Top presidential and vice president candidates were also invited to grace the momentous occasion to share their respective views on how to move the Philippine economy forward.

An estimated audience of 200 CEOs, COOs and managers from member-companies of Fabila are expected to attend the gala night and hobnob with other movers and shakers from the nearby economic zones in Subic and Clark.

The gala night, sponsored by Qualitek-Delta Philippines Inc. led by Martin Han, is a celebration and recognition of Fabila’s role in nation-building and at the same time a show of unity among the foreign and local locators with a strong commitment to pursue economic development in the Central Luzon region.

Member-companies of Fabila contributed P2 billion last year to the national coffers.

Think tank asks PH to build gas pipelines

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SINGAPORE—A representative of global energy think tank IHS Inc. advised the Philippine government to develop natural gas infrastructure to spur the development of the country’s gas industry.

IHS research director and advisor Tony Taylor told reporters the Philippines lacked gas pipelines that could further develop the natural gas industry.

IHS is the leading source of information and insight on critical areas that shape today’s business landscape. IHS provides market understanding based on multi-industry depth in global data, analysis and insight.

“For the Philippines, the challenge really is infrastructure of pipelines, because you are still

limited to what you got in the industry stations and for years, they have been looking at connecting the pipelines to Manila,” Taylor said.

The Philippines natural gas industry is primarily limited to power generation.

The Malampaya natural gas power project in northwest Palawan powers three power plants in Batangas with a combined capacity of 2,700 megawatts.

The government plans to develop the Batangas-Manila (Bat-Man) 1 natural gas pipeline to transport natural gas to targeted markets located in the high-growth areas of Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and Metro Manila. The project will involve 121 kilometers of transmission pipelines from Batangas to Metro Manila.

The Philippines plans to import liquefied natural gas to replace natural gas supply from Malampaya once it is depleted by 2024.

Energy players want the government to put up the Bat-Man 1 pipeline to ensure there are buyers of natural gas once the imported LNG facilities are in place.

Under the public-private partnership pro-

gram, the private sector partner will finance, design, construct, operate and maintain the proposed 121-kilometer pipeline, install compressor stations, metering stations, valves as well as control stations and supervisory control and data acquisition systems.

The Bat-Man 1 pipeline is estimated to cost P14.72 billion or $327 million to construct.

The project is awaiting approval from the National Economic Development Authority.

“Different companies have looked at that [BatMan 1] and until you get that, you cannot replicate what they did in Singapore. Somebody has to bite a bullet and just pay the money and the billions of dollars but that’s the way,” Taylor said.

Singapore is now preparing to build its second LNG terminal after completing its first $1.7 billion LNG terminal in 2013. More than 90 percent of Singapore’s electricity is generated from natural gas.

Singapore has two gas pipeline networks, one for town gas for residential and commercial users and the other for electricity generation and industries.

Rural life upgrade. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (fifth from right) awards various livestock animals in the province of Cebu as a part of the government’s efforts to upgrade and improve rural economy across the nation. In his visit on March 3, Alcala said that aside from growing crops and raising farm animals, farmers must engage in marketing and value-adding to attain higher income and a more sustainable livelihood.

Employment Opportunities For The Challenged I

DR. BENEDICT SANDEJAS

GREEN LIGHT BELIEVE in employing individuals who are physically challenged. They shouldn’t be treated as second-class citizens, but somehow they are treated as such. Its an uphill struggle for them.

They live in a world that doesn’t understand the concept of disabled.

Improved awareness For the hearing impaired, they can actually function. In a factory setting where noisy and noise cancelling ear devices are used, they would be at par with other workers. What is needed is improved awareness that these people exist and are willing to work. There should be government incentives that

are passed that can help get these people into productive jobs.

As for the blind, that is another story.

When I think about jobs that a blind person can do, I end up thinking about the blind people I see in the malls who give massages. In essence, I do believe that they can give good massages. They can more or less “see” with their hands and become more sensitive to what they are touching. I don’t know what other opportunities they can be given.

On going blind If ever anybody asked me which sense I couldn’t live without, it would be my eyesight. I can imagine myself just sitting in a room and not uttering a word. I would probably just ask someone to play back my favorite movies or TV shows and leave it constantly running. It’s just a disability that I hope will never happen me or anyone I know. Unfortunately, I have a cousin who became legally

blind. Someone poured acid on her face, damaging both her eyes. The assailant was someone who had/has psychiatric problems at that time.

If you are inquisitive enough, you can just type my last name and the word “blind” on Google (doesn’t show up on Bing) and you will find the name of my cousin. She was a great soccer player and a student of DLSU. A few years after the incident, she needed to stay at the house I was living in for a night. I just greeted her and left the room, unable to say anything. That was the last time I saw her since she moved to the US, where there were more opportunities for blind people to make a living. She was able to get married to another blind person whom she met at an institute in the US. A short time after, there was an accident and she passed away. This was over 10 years ago and this was the first time I ever discussed it.

Create opportunities Blind and deaf people are just like us.

They want to lead a meaningful life. It used to be that people who were blind and/or deaf were told that what they had were disabilities. Later on, as we became more politically correct, they became more known as challenges. So physical disability became physically challenged.

So please, let’s help remove the term challenged by creating opportunities for them.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal he keeps in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit his blog at https://docsandejas.wordpress.com/.

The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

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

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

US tourists seek preserved Cuba HAVANA—American Sue Pemberton rushed to Havana to experience authentic Cuba before the communist island gets swamped by capitalism.

The only problem: millions of other foreigners had exactly the same idea.

Already booming tourism is set to explode in the wake of President Barack Obama’s visit to Havana on Sunday, when he’ll bury an almost six decades-long conflict that left Cuba the last major undeveloped market in the Caribbean.

So Pemberton, 63, joined a tour to “see it before it changes.”

“I assume in a few years there’ll be a Starbucks and

the McDonald’s and Subway and all the chains,” she said, while waiting for her group outside the cathedral, set in a stunning square in old Havana.

Visitors flock to see Havana’s crumbling, picturesque streets, ride in pre-1960s American convertibles, and listen to street musicians playing romantic songs about Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.

But the more they come to see a country seemingly stuck in time, the more the country changes.

“For me the attraction was getting here before everyone,” said Evan Ingardia, 30, a student at the University of Washington business school, standing with two friends near a dream-like line of pink and purple open-top Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles in the city center.

Yet he was aware they were probably already too late.

“It’s starting to wander between what’s authentic and what’s bordering on fake.”

Tourism dominat-

ed by Canadians and Europeans is nothing new. But the game changer was last year’s restoration of US-Cuban diplomatic relations, raising the eventual prospect of unrestricted travel from a country of 323 million barely an hour’s flight away.

Last Tuesday, the Obama administration tore another hole in the already tattered US economic embargo by telling Americans they can now travel to Cuba as individuals, not just as part of approved organizations.

They are still officially not tourists and have to come under one of 12 categories, such as educational activity, but

the rules are now almost unenforceable.

Of the 3.5 million tourists to Cuba in 2015, only 161,000 were Americans. However, this was 77 percent up on the previous year and Americans are now expected to be a major component in a growth spurt taking overall numbers to 6.8 million in 2018.

“We are obliged to focus entirely on this market, because there are so many of them that we don’t have time for other tourists,” said Nelson Calderon, a tour guide specializing in US visitors. “It’s not that we don’t want others, but we don’t have time.”

The commercializa-

tion of old Havana and other Cuban attractions may disappoint tourists searching for retro-revolutionary chic.

But Cubans themselves are utterly unnostalgic, thinking only of a chance to escape their stifling existence in a broken-down communist economy.

“It was an era that led to a dead end, so it’s good that it’s changing,” said Fulgencio Verderas Dias, an 80-year-old guitarist busking in a touristy street.

Yaset Martin, 30, an artist selling paintings nearby, said that “developing, not standing still,” is what matters. AFP

N OT I CE O F D I S SO LUT I O N The public is h e r e by notified that C R I M S O N LO G I C P H I L I P P I N E S , I N C . a c o r p o r a t i o n o r g a n i z e d a n d ex i s t i n g u n d e r Philippine laws, with registered address a t 2 5 t h F l o o r, 8 8 C o r p o r a t e C e n t e r, 141 Va l e r o S t r e e t c o r S e d e ñ o S t r e e t , S a l c e d o V i l l a g e, M a k a t i C i t y, P h i l i p p i n e s , w i l l b e D I S S O LV E D t h r o u g h s h o r t e n i n g of corporate term in accordance with S e c t i o n 12 0 o f t h e C o r p o r a t i o n C o d e. T h e c o r p o r a t i o n`s d i s s o l u t i o n w i l l t a ke e f f e c t u p o n a p p r ova l by t h e a m e n d m e n t m a d e o n t h e c o r p o r a t i o n`s A r t i c l e s o f I n c o r p o r a t i o n to shor ten its corporate term. ( T S - M A R . 21, 2 8 & A P R . 4 , 2 016)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications

Paris attacks suspect spends first night in jail BRUGES, Belgium— Paris attacks fugitive Salah Abdeslam woke up behind bars Sunday after spending his first night in jail on charges of “terrorist murder” for his role in orchestrating the worst-ever terror assault on French soil.

Abdeslam, who was caught after being shot in the leg during a Friday police raid in Brussels, told interrogators he had planned to blow himself up at the Stade de France stadium in Paris but had backed out at the last minute.

The 26-year-old spent four months as Europe’s most wanted man for his role in organizing the November 13 gun and suicide attacks on the French capital, which killed 130 people.

A day after he was caught, Abdeslam was charged with terrorist murder and participating in a terror group before being taken to a maximum security prison in the northwestern city of Bruges.

He is being held in the prison’s “individual and special safety” wing that was built in 2008 for people who pose an escape risk or for those with particular behavioral problems, a spokeswoman said.

Although he was cooperating with the authorities, he would fight the plans to transfer him to France, his lawyer Sven Mary said.

Police have also detained a suspected accomplice of his,

Mounir Ahmed Alaaj, also known as Amine Choukri, on the same terrorism charges.

Paris prosector Francois Molins said Abdeslam had played a “central role” in planning the November attacks, which targeted bars, restaurants and the Bataclan concert hall and were claimed by the Islamic State group (IS).

His brother Brahim blew himself up in a restaurant in the east of the French capital, and Molins said Abdeslam had planned to do the same at the Stade de France before changing his mind.

“These first statements, which should be taken cautiously, leave a whole series of issues that Salah Abdeslam must explain,” Molins told a Paris news conference.

Investigators believe Abdeslam rented rooms in the Paris area to be used by the attackers and a car, which he used to drive them to the Stade de France before heading to the 18th arrondissement in the north of the capital.

Days after the attacks an explosives-filled suicide vest was found in Paris in an area where mobile phone signals indicated Abdeslam had been.

French President Francois Hollande said shortly after his arrest Friday that he wanted to see Abdeslam transferred to France as quickly as possible to face prosecution. AFP

CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD IN RE:

Re p ub li c of t h e Phi li p p i n e s N AT I O N A L FO O D AUT H O R I T Y CA R AG A R EG I O N B ut u a n Ci t y

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

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

I N V ITATI ON TO BI D FO R THE SUPPLY O F I N - WA R EHOUSE H A NDLI NG SERV I CES FO R NFA- CA R AGA R EG I ON FO R CY 2016

NOTICE OF HEARING

T h e N AT I O N A L F O O D A U T H O R I T Y, T H R O U G H I T S C O R P O R AT E O P E R AT I N G B U D G E T F O R C Y 2 016 , I N T E N D S TO A P P LY T H E S U M O F E I G H T M I L L I O N S I X H U N D R E D S I X T Y T H R E E T H O U S A N D O N E H U N D R E D S I X T Y F I V E P E S O S ( P H P 8 , 6 3 3 ,16 5 . 0 0 ) B E I N G T H E A G G R E G AT E A P P R O V E D B U D G E T F O R T H E C O N T R A C T ( A B C) TO PAY M E N T S U N D E R T H E C O N T R A C T S O F I N - WA R E H O U S E H A N D L I N G S E R V I C E S F O R N FA C A R A G A R E G I O N F O R C Y 2 016 :

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

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

CONTR ACT NO.

PROJECT SITE / WAREHOUSE

I

AGUSAN DEL NORTE: GID -I & II Warehouses

II

AGUSAN DEL SUR: GID - Bayugan Warehouse GID -Alegria Warehouse GID -Trento Warehouse

III

V

TOTAL NUMBER OF STOCK MOVEMENTS

SURIGAO DEL NORTE: Rocha A , B and C Warehouses Tan Warehouse GID Km.10 Warehouse Dapa Warehouse San Jose Warehouse, PDI SURIGAO DEL SUR: GID - Duplex Warehouse GID - Mangagoy Warehouse Cantilan Warehouse

331,950

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTR ACT (ABC) (INCLUSIVE OF VAT) PER BAG PER MOVE

TOTAL

Php 3.50

Php 1,161,825.00

BIDDING FEE

Php 5,000.00

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

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

23 February 2016 Pasay City, Philippines

413,150

Php 3.50

Php 1,446,025.00

Php 5,000.00

(SGD)MARIA ELBEN SL. MORO Hearing Officer

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

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF MANDALUYONG CITY

1,260,655

Php 3.50

Php 4,412,292.50

Php 5,000.00

BSA TWIN TOWERS CONDOMINIUM CORPORATION (BSATTCC)., Petitioner, -versus-

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

JAIME GOSIACO, Respondent. x--------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE

469,435

Php 3.50

Php 1,643,022.50

Php 5,000.00

Bidders should have completed within the immediate last three years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, par ticularly in Section II. I n s t r u c t i o n s t o B i d d e r s ( I T B) .

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionar y “pass/fail” criterion as specif ied in the implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act (R A) 918 4, other wise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act ”.

A c omplete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders on March 2 1, 2 0 16 – A p r i l 11, 2 0 16 ( w o r k i n g d a y s o n l y) f r o m t h e a d d r e s s b e l o w a n d u p o n p a y m e n t of a non refundable bidding fee as specif ied in this Invitation.

N at i o nal Fo o d Aut h o r it y C ar ag a Re gi o n shall h o l d a Pr e - bi d c o nfe r e nc e o n M a r c h 2 9, 2 016 at 1:3 0 P. M . at 2 n d Fl o o r, Ru dy T iu V I I I B l dg. J.C. Aquin o Ave nue, B utuan Cit y, w hi c h shall b e o p e n o nly to all inte r e ste d par t i e s w h o have pur c has e d t h e B i d ding D o c um e nt s.

B i d m u s t b e d e l i v e r e d t o t h e a d d r e s s b e l o w o n o r b e f o r e A p r i l 11, 2 0 16 a t 10 : 0 0 A .M. A ll bids must be ac c ompanied by a Bid Secur it y in any of the ac c eptable for ms and i n t h e a m o u n t s t a t e d i n I T B C l a u s e 18 . L a t e b i d s s h a l l n o t b e a c c e p t e d .

B i d o p e n i n g s h a l l b e o n A p r i l 11, 2 0 16 a t 10 : 0 1 A . M . a t 2 n d F l o o r, R u d y T i u V I I I B l d g .

J .C . A q u i n o Av e n u e , B u t u a n C i t y. B i d s w i l l b e o p e n e d i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e B i d d e r s ’ representative who choose to at tend.

The National Food Author it y reser ves the r ight to ac c ept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding proc ess, and to reject all bids at any time pr ior to c ontract award without thereby incur r ing any liabilit y to the af fected bidder or bidders.

F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e r e f e r t o:

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

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

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

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

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

Mandaluyong City, Philippines, March 4, 2016.

Ms. Hyde Beth M. Pascual BAC Secretariat Head National Food Authorit y 2nd Floor Rudy Tiu Bldg. VIII J . C . A q u i n o Av e n u e , B u t u a n C i t y Te l N o s . ( 0 8 5 ) 815 3 2 8 4 ( 0 8 5 ) 2 2 5 6 7 01 Fa x N o . ( 0 8 5 ) 3 4 2 7 8 9 8

(Sgd.)HELDER A. DYANGCO Sheriff IV

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

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

(SGD)PROCOPI O B. TR A BA JO I I Acting Assistant Regional Director (TS-MAR. 21, 2016)

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

C h a i r p e r s o n , B AC

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

Bank Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City

(TS-MAR.7/14/21 , 2016)

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

B8

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Landmarks dim lights for Earth

Re p ub li c of t h e Phi li p p i n e s N AT I O N A L FO O D AUT H O R I T Y CA R AG A R EG I O N B ut u a n Ci t y Millions I N V ITATI TO BI D FOR THE SUPPLYofOFpeople I N - WA R EHOU SYDNEY—From Sydney’s Opera House to New York’s Empire State Building and Paris’s Eiffel Htower, theONlandmarks A NDLI NG SERV I CES FOR NFAAGAcountries R EG I ON FOR CY fromCA R 178 worldwide dimmed their lights Saturday for the 10th edition of the Earth Hour campaign againstT h climate change. e N AT I O N A L F O O D A U T H O R I T Y, T H R O U G H territories I T S C O R P O R AT E O P E R AT I N G and were F O R C Y 2 016 , I N T E N D S TO A P P LY T H E S U M O F E I G H T M I L L I O N S I X H U N D R E toE Stake part T H R E E T H O U S A N D O N E H U N D R E D Sexpected IXT Y FIVE P OS (PH P 8 , 6 3 3 ,16 5 . 0 0 T H E A G G R E G AT E A P P R O V E D B U D G E T F O R T H E C O N T R A C T ( A B C) TO PA WWF’s U N D E R T H E C O N T R A C T S O F I N - WAin REH O U S E HEarth A N D L I NHour G SERVICES FO C A R A G A R E G I O N F O R C Y 2 016 : this year, organizers APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE said, with monuments TOTAL CONTR ACT (ABC) and buildings such as CONTR ACT PROJECT SITE / NUMBER (INCLUSIVE OF VAT) BID NO. WAREHOUSE OF STOCK Berlin’s Brandenburg PER BAG MOVEMENTS TOTAL Gate PERplunging into MOVE darkness for 60 minAGUSAN DEL NORTE: 8:30 pm I 331,950utes from Php 3.50 Php local 1,161,825.00 Php GID -I & II time.

Warehouses The annual event AGUSAN DEL SUR: kicked off in Sydney, GID - Bayugan where the Earth Hour Warehouse II 413,150 Php 3.50 Php 1,446,025.00 Php GID -Alegria idea originated in 2007.

Warehouse “We just saw the GID -Trento Warehouse Sydney Harbor Bridge SURIGAO DEL switch its lights off...

NORTE: and buildings around Rocha A , B and C Warehouses as well,” Earth Hour’s Tan Warehouse III 1,260,655 Php 3.50 Php 4,412,292.50 Php Australia manager Sam GID Km.10 Warehouse Webb told AFP from Dapa Warehouse The Rocks area.

San Jose Warehouse, PDI Earth Hour’s globSURIGAO DEL al executive director SUR: Siddarth Das said orGID - Duplex Warehouse ganizers were Php excited V 469,435 Php 3.50 1,643,022.50 Php GID - Mangagoy about how much the Warehouse Cantilan movement had grown Warehouse since it began nine Bidders should have completed within the immediate last three years from th s u b m i s s i o n a n d r e c e i p t o f b i d s , a c o n years t r a c t sago. imilar to the project. The descr an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, par ticularly in S “From one city it I n s t r u c t i o n s t o B i d d e r s ( I T B) . hascompetitive now grown to over Bidding will be conducted through open bidding procedures usin discretionar y “pass/fail” criterion as specif ied in the implementing Rules and Regula 178 countries andProcurement terof Republic Act (R A) 918 4, other wise known as the “Government Refo A c o m p l e t e s e t o f B i d d i n g D o c u m e n t s m ritories a y b e p u r cand h a s e over d b y i n7,000 terested bidders o 2 1, 2 0 16 – A p r i l 11, 2 0 16 (w o r k i n g d a y s cities, o n l y) f rso o m we t h e couldn’t a d d r e s s b ebe low and upon of a non refundable bidding fee as specif ied in this Invitation. happier about how milN at i o nal Fo o d Aut h o r it y C ar ag a Re gi o n shall h o l d a Pre - b i d c o nfe re nc e o n M a r c h at 1:3 0 P. M . at 2 Fl o o r, Ru dy T iu V I I I B llions d g. J.C.of Aquin o Ave nu e, B utuan Cit y, w h people across b e o p e n o nly to all inte re ste d par t i e s w h o have p urc has e d t h e B i d din g D o c um e nt the world are coming B i d m u s t b e d e l i v e r e d t o t h e a d d r e s s b e l o w o n o r b e f o r e A p r i l 11, 2 0 16 a t A . M . A l l b i d s m u s t b e a c c o m p a n i e d b y atogether B i d S e c u r for i t y i nclimate a n y o f t hace acceptable f i n t h e a m o u n t s t a t e d i n I T B C l a u s e 18 . L a t e b i d s s h a l l n o t b e a c c e p t e d . tion,” he told AFP from B i d o p e n i n g s h a l l b e o n A p r i l 11, 2 0 16 Singapore a t 10 : 0 1 A . Mahead . a t 2 n dofF l the o o r, R u d y T i u V J . C . A q u i n o Av e n u e , B u t u a n C i t y. B i d s w i l l b e o p e n e d i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e w h o c h o o s e t o a t t e n d . lights out.

T h e N a t i o n a l F o o d A u t h o r i t y r e s e r v e s t h eOver r i g h t t150 o a c c ebuildings pt or reject any bid, the bidding proc ess, and to reject all bids at any time pr ior to c ontract awar t h e r e b y i n c u r r i n g a n y l i a b i l i t y t o t h e a f f in e c t eSingapore d b i d d e r o r b idimmed dders.

F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e r e f e r t o:their lights, while Ms. Hyde Beth M. Pascual Taipei’s 101 skyscraper BAC Secretariat Head gradually turned lights National Food Authorit y off for one hour and 2nd Floor Rudy Tiu Bldg. VIII J .C . A q u i n o Av e n u e , B u t u a n C i t y the city’s four historical Te l N o s . ( 0 8 5 ) 815 3 2 8 4 ( 0 8 5 ) 2 2 5 6 7 01 gates and bridges also Fa x N o . ( 0 8 5 ) 3 4 2 7 8 9 8 went( Sdark.

GD)PROCOPI O B. TR ABA JO I I A c t i n g Alights s s i s t a n t R also egional Director The C h a i r p e r s o n , B AC dimmed across Hong Kong’s usually glittering skyline, although online commentators pointed out that China’s People’s Liberation Army garrison headquarters on the harbor front kept the lights blazing.

“Imagine being the manager of the only building in a major metropolis to forget,” said one Twitter post alongside a picture of the PLA building lit up against a darkened skyline.

A2 O After Asia, Earth N A2 I U Q * For more details, please contact the following : YS— A al is signed A3 Hour shifted to Europe A SasTneAw maintenance de Y A B POE TAKES Baldwin Felipe 0905-502-6548 brfelipe@thestandard.com.ph s twice EAK 2ND HIT MRT stop S E where St Peter’s Basilica, S Mitos Lusterio 0917-206-1376 mllusterio@thestandard.com.ph ETS OLITIC B , Rome’ s Trevi Fountain S P OP TY Aaron Morissey J. Tolosa 0917-2015987 ajtolosa@thestandard.com.ph and the Parthenon BISH TO DIR Aileen Frugal 0906-2200627 amfrugal@thestandard.com.ph END temple in Athens were among a slew of iconic sites to go off-grid. AFP

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Davao’s safe image a myth, LP says

Comelec 1st Divisi on cancels her CoC,

eta dy Aran

By San Paolo Bencito III and John Aquino

gno g calls NT Beni PRESIDE nored mountin n on Friday igfire Transportatioetary to for him munications Secr and Com lio Abaya for Joseph Emi to improve the ro ility his inab ting service of Met system deteriora commuter train that Manila’s r transport woes and othe endures daily. ic in Abaya the publ the defended

and rcelo n to Ba

By Vi D. Fabuna Sara 8 days

only 12 WITH the May 9 ent before s, independidate electionntial cand d vice preside ace Poe an n.

Sen. Gr ntial bet Se ong” preside and “Bongbtheir Ferdin s called on to Marco candidates litics fellow n dirty po te the abando rt to eleva in and sta l discourse politicauntry. de the the co ates ma hops

candid lic bis The twothree Catho the Catho as the l of appeal ed the cal rence of ers o vot t renew hops Confe pas Filipin lic Bispines for from the al Philip themselves for tradition e to fre p voting 2016 into use and stoians. ing politic all com We can el “We’re an slate. e the lev I a cle to elevat paign. with cam nce that this cha urse in the l agree m wil fro sco

cites ‘misrepresen tation’ By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Macon Ramos-Ara neta

THE Commission Division cancelled on Elections 1st the Certificate of Candidacy of Senator Grace Poe on Friday, dealing to her run for the a second blow presidency.

Like the 2nd Division that ruled against last week on a similar Poe said Poe committed petition, the 1st Division material misrepresenta in her CoC when tion she claimed she was born citizen and that she had resided a naturalippines for 10 years—both in the Philrequirements for ning for president. runVoting 2-1, the 1st missioner Christian Division headed by ComRobert Lim favored tions of former Senator the petiFrancisco Tatad, sity of the East Law UniverDean Amado Valdez, and De La Salle University professor Antonio “Upon reviews Contreras. of and jurisprudence the facts, applicable laws, , grant the petitions the Commission resolves to and cancel the Certificate Candidacy of respondent,” the resolution said. of Poe twitted the the facts and said commissioners for ignoring it identity was being was “hurtful” that her very taken away from her.

“We submitted evidence of my citizenship residence, putting and our full faith in a Poe said. just process,” “However, it is sad has chosen to ignore the Comelec 1st Division the facts just to deny chance to better me the serve our countrymen, deny our people and also their choices in an tion. “I am a true Filipino from birth. open elecas a Filipino, lived, I was studied, got married raised Philippines, and in the wish to serve my nos as a Filipino,” fellow Filipishe Poe’s lawyer, Georgesaid.

Garcia, said vision decision would not stop the 1st Dicandidacy. the senator’s

for parties President , As the blamed other Transit system and Davao at the Metro Rail e stopped runsertroubles uter train servicmaintenance the comm —just as a new over. that g ning twiceder was takin a announced by vice provi same day, Abay rtium led a On the n-Filipino conso . had signed the Corp the Korea portation contract with sere Busan Transmaintenanc maintenance had three-year t to provide reports that it congovernmen MRT despite deal amid in a the gled negotiated vices to out of the become entan consorbacked it would an-Filipino cerns that by a Germ Industrietechnik filed ology -und lawsuit k Bahn and TechnTransst tium, Schun m Builders again the before GmbH-Com. or SBI-CB&T, Abaya Phils. Corp ls, including officia railway port yan. iof the Busan Sandiganba g their techn operator “With theSouth Korea sharin can expect an in and public network tise, the riding running trains a in cal exper the number of Abaya said page in Next increase ncy of operations,” the efficie Friday morning. statement

Next page

rs Poe bgea grud e, ys PNoy sa

Losing her identity.

Elections again

Mar no expert in

By Vito Barcelo

on

helping people—B inay

two to a group of students in Dumagete THE camp of Vice City in Negros Oriental, law,” Quicho said. nay lashed back President Jejomar BiRoxas “commended” a Roxas bailiwick.

“This is something Friday at Liberal that is lost to SecParty for sharing his “expertise”the vice president retary Roxas standard bearer Manuel and the LP administration on the subject. ing him of disrespecting Roxas II, accusBinays spokesman, , Rico Quicho shot who do not respect the rule of and twisting the back law to advance his law and Friday. twist the law to advance own On Thursday, Roxas selfish agenda.

“The vice president selfish political agenda.” their narrow and mocked Binay an “expert in graft lawyer. The difference was speaking as a Quicho also twitted and corruption,” as between graft and Roxas, saying the he explained the after corruption is something administration had difference between no expertise the and those who understandclear to lawyers proving the lives of poor Filipinos. in imand respect the

y Araneta

By Sand icel V. Cruz and Mar III on Friday ga Aquino

no who is leadinMaT Benig PRESIDEN or Grace Poe,Jan. 25, 2015 gs Senat the feelin accused igation on harboring ill of Senate invest massacre, big on. masapano administrati politics plays a his a press towards we can see that o during “I think said in Filipin of a 300-megaAquino role here,” at the inauguration City. the conference plant in Davao one who led ps the watt power not forget, stand, perha o Aquin an under We must

Independent presidential candidate Senator ruled against her on Friday, but was Grace Poe says she hurt by attempts was not surprised to take away her that the Commission very identity.

gain left

o Rail the Metr Santos Friday as portation Epifanio delos of trans lined modes passengers ded alternative of stran dela Cruz to find housands erick

Next page

Opposition mayor gets suspended in Cebu

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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 WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

E aT, drInK , T r aV EL

LIFE

C1

FOLLOW THE FAITHFUL: VISITA IgLESIA

By KRISTEL DACUmOS-LAgORzA

o

ne of the well-honored traditions in a predominantly Catholic country such as ours is the Visita Iglesia. Finding its roots in 1553, the Visita Iglesia is considered a type of pilgrimage wherein the faithful visit seven churches and pray before the Blessed Sacrament. Today, this practice still holds meaning but more and more see the Visita Iglesia as a time for the family to get together and pray, as well as to rediscover some of the Philippines’ forgotten history.

They say that if you complete your pilgrimage to the seven churches, your prayers and wishes will be granted.

This coming Holy Week, tread to these beloved Churches that will inspire your faith and deepen your appreciation for our religious history.

mInOR BASILICA AnD mETROpOLITAn CATHEDRAL OF THE ImmACULATE COnCEpTIOn

Otherwise known as the Manila Cathedral, this church is located within the beautiful walled city of Intramuros, Manila, and serves as the Episcopal See of the Archbishop of Manila. It was originally built in 1581, and while it has been damaged several times, the current structure has been standing since 1958. Manila Cathedral has a papal endorsement from Pope Gregory XIII, and has been visited by three popes: Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, and, most recently, Pope Francis. Its Neo-Romanesque style with patinated dome, marble floors, polished columns, vaulted ceilings and high altar make it one of the most beautiful churches in the country.

SAn AgUSTIn CHURCH

BASILICA mEnOR DE SAn SEBASTIAn

ST. JAmES THE gREAT CHURCH

San Agustin Church is another church located within the walled city of Intramuros.

Succeeding from churches built of bamboo and nipa, and thereafter of wood, the stone edifice was constructed in 1586 and completed in 1607. Over the years, it has undergone several renovations due to damage by war and natural calamities. In 1993, it was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Today, it remains one of the most popular churches for weddings.

San Sebastian C h u r c h , completed in 1891, is a unique sight because of its Gothic revival architecture with its twin tower steel columns, vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. Located in Quiapo, Manila, it is the only church in the Philippines to be made of prefabricated steel, and it is run by the Order of the Augustinian Recollects.

The church was made into a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII on June 24, 1890, and was proclaimed a National Historical Landmark in 1973. It has been said that Gustave Eiffel, the brilliant engineer who designed the Eiffel Tower, was involved in its construction. However, this claim has never been supported.

ST. mARy mAgDALEnE CHURCH OF KAWIT

CHApEL OF THE TRAnSFIgURATIOn

mInOR BASILICA OF OUR LADy OF mAnAOAg

Dating back to 1737, Kawit Church is known as the place where the Philippines’ f i r s t president, E m i l i o Ag u i n a l d o, was baptized.

Located in Kawit, Cavite, the church’s patroness is Mary Magdalene, and a life-sized statue of the saint is housed inside. This beloved statue is the source of many stories and tall tales as the Lady bears a mole-like mark on her forehead, which locals have been unable to explain.

The Caleruega Church, as it is more commonly known, is located in Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas. Founded in 1995, it is now a popular site for weddings because of its picturesque location atop a hill surrounded by nature. The interiors are comprised of beautiful stained glass decor at the altar which depict the Transfiguration, a wooden finish to the A-frame ceiling, and tiled floors with an exterior of brick and cobblestones. Named after the birthplace of St. Dominic de Guzman, father of the Dominican Order, Calaruega Church exudes calm and helps the lost to reconnect with their faith.

St. James the Great Parish in Ayala, Alabang is a newer church structure compared to the others on this list having been completed only in 1995, but it is not lacking in style and beauty. Named after James, the son of Zebedee and one of the first disciples, the patron was chosen by the late Cardinal Sin and Jaime Zobel de Ayala. With its intricate designs, columns and porticos, manicured courtyard and the charming fountain in its gardens, it is an opulent space in an affluent community.

Upon entering the church, granite flooring, arched ceilings with square molding, and wide windows lead to an impressive gilded altar.

A bit farther up North, located in Manaoag, Pangasinan, this church was officially declared a basilica on Feb. 17, 2015. It was canonically affiliated

by Pope Benedict XVI to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome on June 21, 2011. Enshrining the 17thcentury ivory image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Manaoag is a major pilgrimage site for devotees. Many visit it to light candles, offer flowers, and ask for intercession as Our Lady is believed to grant many miracles and blessings.

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m onday : m arch 21, 2016

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Where you can skip the fast for Lent in the Metro

or a primarily catholic nation like the Philippines, the Lenten season is a time for reflection and the observance of fasting as they abstain from eating flesh meat ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. abstinence is one of the oldest christian traditions in cognizance of the fact that Jesus sacrificed his flesh and blood on Good Friday, christians refrain from eating flesh meat in honor of his sacrifice. Flesh meat includes beef, pork, chicken and turkey, and any meat of mammals and poultry.

Unless you cook at home and prepare your own food, there are a lot of choices for Lent around the metro as this is usually the time when restaurants highlight some of their non-meat menu items, or create something special for the season. Sometimes, we all need a break from our meaty adventures to make room for lower cholesterol intake and simply practice self-discipline for Lent. here are a few of the stops you can check out to get your non-meat feast for the Lenten season.

cravings group of restaurants offers MonthLong ‘Meat-free’ Lent speciaLs

corner tree cafe

corner tree cafe

Corner Tree Cafe is one of the oldest vegetarian places in the Metro along Jupiter St. in Makati. It is popular among vegans and vegetarians and it wouldn’t hurt to try their dishes for the Lenten season.

Some of the best-sellers are Veg Arroz a la Cubana for lunch; green salad with garlic croutons, fried onions toasted pine nuts

Veg Bibimbap

and a poached egg; Vegetarian Chili Bowl; Veg Bibimbap; Baked Tofu Walnut Burger; and they also offer gluten-free dishes so you can give your tummy a healthy break as well.

Corner Tree Café is located at 150 Jupiter St. Bel-Air, 1209 Makati, Philippines. For more information or reservations contact (02) 897-0295 or 0906 558-6177.

pipino vegetarian food by pino

Pipino Vegetarian Food is one of the most popular restos along the strip of foodie haven at Maginhawa-Malingap streets in Teacher’s Village, Quezon City.

It is the vegetarian sister resto of Pino Restaurant which serves creative Filipino vegan dishes that vegans and vegetarians including meat eaters have grown to enjoy.

It is definitely 100 percent plant-based so you may indulge here for Lent. Popular on the menu are Vegetable Kare-Kare, Vegan Lasagna, Mac & Cheeze (made with vegan cheese), and Pakwan Steak. You may also get healthy servings of its dairy free and egg free cupcakes and pastries. It will be open until March 23 (Wednesday) and will be closed during the holy week from March

chickpea Burger, Wicked Walnut Salad

24 to 26, and will be back in operation on Sunday, March 27.

Pipino Vegetarian Food by Pino is located at 39 Malingap St., Teacher’s Village, Quezon City. For reservations call (02) 441 1773. The restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m daily.

bait’s by chef Joseph Margate

If you’re not so much into plant-based food, seafood might be your best option for Lent. Go full-on pescetarian during your meat abstinence and head to Bait’s, developed by the makers of Pink Panda, Hatch 22, and Crisp on 28th. The seafood restaurant is headed by renowned chef from NYC, Chef Joseph Margate. Feast on its delecatable seafood menu or partake of its Lenten specials like Grilled Salmon with Citrus Avocado Salsa, Tuna Taco Bowl, Shrimp and Crab Tostada, and Caprese Sandwich with Tomato Soup.

Bait’s is located at G/F Signa Designer Residences, Valero cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Makati. For reservations, call 0917 860 4764.

The Cravings Group of restaurants made it easy to find meat-free indulgence this Lent as all their restaurants in the Metro will be highlighting dishes meant for your fast.

Cravings, Lucia, C2 Classic Cuisine, B&P, The Blackboard, Epicurious, Lombardi’s and Wicked prepared their Lenten Chef ’s Specials – a creative menu offering heavenly seafood dish options and vegetable entrees this entire month of March.

To cap your seafood craving, head to Cravings for a mouth-watering serving of Prawns Thermidor with Artichoke and Mushroom and Truffle Tagliatelle, or you may drop by at Cravings Fraser Place for these themed choices – Spicy Tuyo Spaghetti with Sundried Tomato and Grilled St. Peter Fish Fillet with Rice Pilaf in Garlic Confit. At Lombardi’s, they will be serving Pasta Linguini e Gamberetti (shrimp linguini with white wine, zucchini, basil and tomatoes) and Salmon con Salsa di Limon (baked salmon in garlic and lemon sauce served with pumpkin risotto). Lucia Ristorante likewise will have prime pasta and fish dishes for its Lenten specials. Order Angel Hair Vongole (Clam Pasta) which is available for solo, sharing and family plates and Dentice Alle Olive (grilled lapu-lapu in lemon and olives wrapped in parchment paper with baked potatoes).

For meatless yet mouthwatering dishes, B&P will have the Stir-fried Fish and Tofu and Grilled Oyster Mushroom Burger.

Wicked on the other hand highlights Vegetarian Lasagna and Tuna and Capers Sandwich. Epicurious meantime offers guiltfree menu starting with a snack of Tuna and Capers Sandwich with Grilled Zucchini and Tomatoes (served with Camote Chips and

Moringga Lemonada. For the main dish, the resto will be serving delectable Black and White Sesame Custard Prawns with Pesto.

Enjoy a fine dining Lent at Blackboard and order Prawns Aligue Risotto, Almond Cobbler, Rosemary Orange Sauce and Potato Mash and Mushroom and Truffle Tagliatelle. C2 Classic Cuisine will be serving more familiar Pinoy dishes like Crispy Pancit Palabok and Tilapia with Mango Salsa.

Here’s a list of the Cravings Group of restaurants in case you decide to dine there: Cravings (Katipunan; Molito; and Fraser Place Hotel, Makati City), Lucia Ristorante (inside Hotel Celeste located at San Lorenzo Drive, Makati City), C2 Classic Cuisine outlets (Shangri-La Mall; The Lakefront Wharf in Sucat and along Missouri Street in Greenhills), B&P outlets (Shaw Boulevard; Il Terrazzo Tomas Morato; Science Hub 3 McKinley; and Robinsons Cyberscape Alpha Ortigas), The Blackboard (5th level of The Podium Mall), Epicurious (East Wing of Shangri-La Plaza Mall), Lombardi’s (East Wing of ShangriLa Plaza Mall and Robinsons Place Magnolia) and Wicked (East Wing of Shangri-La Mall).

bag o’ shriMps

red Snapper Sashimi Salad with red rice, ebiko, avocado, greens, and furikkake

susi

One of the most popular vegetarian restos in BGC, Susi is a favorite place for people looking for gluten-free food and 100 percent plant-based dishes. Its fun approach to vegan and vegetarian food has made it a famous hangout for people who are vegans as well as people who want to be vegan even just for lunch or dinner. The menu is named after vegan celebrities or references and it reads fun so you’d just order it if it makes you smile.

Favorites on the menu are Oscar the Grouch (kale, spinach, wheatgrass, and banana), appetizer Into the Wilde (wild mushroom quiche topped with crisped leeks) named after vegan actress Olivia Wilde, The Emerson (baked lentil-mushroom loaf, served with zucchini-aubergine ratatouille, and mashed potatoes) which was actually

epicurious - tuna and capers Sandwich with grilled Zucchini and tomatoes (served with camote chips and moringga Lemonada) and Black and White Sesame custard Prawns with Pesto

Seafood in a bag Photo courteSy of Bag o'ShrimPS faceBook Page

If you’re ready for a more casual approach to seafood, get your hands dirty and head to Bag O’ Shrimps that offers a fun dining experience as you get to eat fresh shrimps and other seafood, well, in a plastic bag. Dig in to freshly cooked seafood or put on some gloves that will be provided for you. One of the popular dishes on the menu is Bag O’ Momma Shrimps by the Bag. You can have it mild or spicy; just inform the servers how you like it. It’s not for the squeamish, though, so if you plan to bring a date for Lent, make sure he knows he’s in for an adventure.

Bag O’ Shrimps is located at Tuscany Estate, Upper McKinley Rd, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. Call (02) 585 2789 for reservations.

catch

the alcott - tomato stew with kale, spinach, garbanzos, red bell peppers, black olives, and shitake mushrooms

named after the owner’s cat but don’t worry, there’s no cat or any meat in the dish.

Susi: The Key to Sustainable Living is located in Burgos Circle, Forbes Town Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila. For more information, you may visit www.susi.ph or call +632 833 SUSI.

Catch is a fine dining seafood restaurant concept created by the group that gave us Hooch and Smith Butcher and Grill.

It replaced the former casual fine dining restaurant Lulu at the burgeoning food strip in L.P. Leviste. It just opened a few months ago and so far, it has been getting good reviews from diners. It offers meat as well but for Lent, indulge on all the shellfish and the seafood that the place offers. Some of our favorites from the menu are best sellers Catch Pasta, Catch Fish and Chips, Line Caught Sustainable Big Eye Tuna, Tuna Poke, and its crunchy Salt and Chili Squid.

tiger Prawn gambas

Catch is located at G/F 125 V Corporate Center, L.P. Leviste, Street Salcedo Village, Makati. For reservations, call 0915 751 1226.

m onday : m arch 21, 2016

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

TravEL INdUsTry’s LENTEN rEfLECTIoNs

T merCury rising

By BoB zozoBrado

his week, we recall the martyrdom of Jesus Christ, through our respective forms of penitence, prayers, fasting, abstinence, or any other act that would show atonement for whatever sins we may have committed. I asked some friends, who represent a good cross-section of the travel industry, to share their thoughts on this Holy Season:

Lent means the story of our Lord Jesus Christ, His humble birth, His death, His glorious resurrection. It reminds me of the ultimate sacrifice that was made for the atonement of my sin. Lent inspires me to do my utmost for His highest, so that one day I can stand worthy before Him and let Him know that His sacrifice was worth it.

–Simon Ang, managing director, Let’s Celebrate Life Travel

Each day of Lent, through prayer, I remember special friends, family members and loved ones. I pray for a specific person each day, for their safety, good health and blessings from God. I also fast from negative thoughts and make myself more worthy and grow more deeply in God’s grace. I also make sure that I spend quality time with my family during this season.

–Isabel Garcia, AVP-Sales, Henann Group of Companies

Lent is a time for us to reflect on the sufferings of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Lent is about repentance, sacrifice, prayer and almsgiving. We are all leading such busy lives that we might have forgotten the true essence of our lives – love for God and love for our fellowmen.

–Ma. Paz Alberto, president, Ark Travel Express Inc. Lent is the time to reflect and appreciate more the unselfish love of our Lord through the death of His son, Jesus, for us to have an everlasting life and the assurance that God is alive and God is good ALL the time.

–Onelle Pacheco-Verzosa, director of Sales & Marketing, Boracay Tropics/Hotel Celeste

For me, the observance of Lent should be focused on Jesus Christ who did as God the Father willed it. He suffered on the cross, died, was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. As Christians, Lent reminds us to firmly believe that Christ went through these sufferings as a sacrifice for the atonement of our sins. Acts 15:11 says, “…we believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved…”

–Ma. Corazon Jorda Apo, director, Market Development Group, Department of Tourism

Lent is the reflection of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice to save humanity from suffering and death.

The Lenten period is the time for repentance, forgiveness, abstinence and prayer. As a Roman Catholic by heart and soul, I would do what Christians do during Lent: Join the “Pabasa,” Visita Iglesia, listen to the Siete Palabras, join the procession on Good Friday, the Salubong and all other Lenten activities.

–Teody Espallardo, senior sales manager, Huma Island Resort and Spa While we live in the guidance of God every day, we still tend to do wrong things and give in to temptations. This is why Lent, for me, is a very special time. It gives us time to ponder on things we have done and those we have failed to do. It allows us to reflect how far we have drifted away from God. It gives us an intimate time with ourselves to focus more on the wondrous grace that can lead us back to Him so that we shall be worthy of the sacrifices Jesus made to save us from our sins.

–Marlene Insigne, manager, Tours Division, Southeast Travel Corp.

Lent should be the time for forgiveness… for the slights and imagined oversights of family and friends, for the unintended and deliberate snubs of colleagues, for the violent and hurtful words and actions of strangers and neighbors.

Forgiveness is such a neglected and unpracticed virtue. Perhaps it is often neglected in the daily hustle of making a living, surviving traffic and earning a pat on the back from the boss and the customer. The pause that Lent brings should, therefore, be the most appropriate time to resolve that we should, more and often, be forgiving of one another. For didn’t He Himself show it, for all the world to see that in His final hour, He cried out for forgiveness for all of us even if we did not know what we were doing?

How, then, can we not follow Him? –Arnie Bayag, consultant for Inboud, Travel Experts Inc.

The Lenten season is the time for reflection on how closely I have lived my life according to the instructions of our Lord.

–Apolonio Anota, Jr., chairman and president, Kultura at Sining Scholarship Foundation

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

yoUr MoNday CHUCKLE: There are three kinds of men in this world. Some remain single and make wonders happen. Some have girlfriends and see wonders happen. The rest get married and wonder what happened.

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m onday : m arch 21, 2016

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Students offer a prayer at a Station of the Cross at the Arch of the Centuries inside the campus of the University of Santo Tomas. PHOTO BY DANNY PATA

@LIFEatStandard

Church Simplified mounts 'Walkway,' an interactive art exhibit that gives a personal twist to the Stations of the Cross.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHURCH SIMPLIFIED WALKWAY

non-traditional ways to follow the stations of the Cross by bernadette lunas

T

he Stations of the Cross is a devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man. Christians walk through 14 images or statues that depict scenes of His ordeal – from His arrest to His suffering to His death.

The scenes portrayed in the 14 traditional stations are (1) Pontius Pilate condemns Jesus Christ to death; (2) Jesus carries the cross; (3) Jesus falls for the first time; (4) Jesus meets His Blessed Mother; (5) Simon of Cyrene helps to carry the cross; (6) Veronica wipes the face of Jesus; (7) Jesus falls for the second time; (8) Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem; (9) Jesus falls for the third time; (10) Jesus is stripped of His garments; (11) Jesus is nailed to the cross; (12) Jesus dies on the cross; (13) Jesus is taken down from the cross; (14) Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Catholic churches usually have permanent exhibition of the stations – they could be images on frames or statues in varying sizes – for devotees to visit anytime of the year. However, the changing times have brought the stations outside of the church’s confines.

While walking through the stations in church is the common way to do the devotional act, many are now opting for a different route.

During Holy Week, particularly on Good Friday, some Christians in different parts of the globe observe the Stations of the Cross in shrines, in schools and in malls.

Here in the Philippines, Christians can also pay their respects and offer prayers at Stations of the Cross in nontraditional public spaces. The idea is not only to modernize a centuries-old tradition, but to make it more accessible and relevant to the younger population.

Crosses in a CommerCial area

For the eighth time this year, Church Simplified, an independent organization, is mounting “Walkway: Reflections on the Stations of the Cross” along the stretch of Bonifacio High Street at Bonifacio Global City from March 20 (Palm Sunday) to March 27 (Easter Sunday).

“Walkway” is an interactive installation art exhibit that “gives a

personal twist to the Stations of the Cross.” Each station is meant to be as interactive as it is reflective.

Each of the 14 installations depicting the Passion of Christ is a three-sided, 12x8-ft. panel where visitors can read descriptions and at the same time experience Jesus’ ordeal. Some stations ask visitors to write down their reflections after a silent contemplation.

“It deliberately asks you to remember a particular part of Jesus’ passion story and find how this relates to your everyday life,” Church Simplified director Bebo Bharwani told The Standard LIFE. “For a few days each year, the center of commerce and entertainment is turned into a Sanctuary. And while that might sound a little off, it actually isn’t,” says Bharwani.

While it is customary to do the Stations of the Cross in the solemnity of the church, Bharwani believes that it is good to note that the actual event did not happen in seclusion.

“It happened in the center of the city – publicly. The cross was the scandal for all to see,” he stresses.

“And it that sense, ‘Walkway’ gives a bit of that experience.”

For this year, much like in the past three years, “Walkway” will focus on the characters involved in the crucifixion – people who mostly messed up, but still found the grace in the person of Jesus.

“Walkway,” however, does not intend to replace the tradition of Stations of the Cross by offering a unique take in a rather unconventional location.

“We’re trying to achieve what all churches hope for – to slow people down to think about their lives, their faith, their relationships. And to take a pulse about where they’re at, to see if all is well with their soul, and maybe move them to making adjustments where they need to,” explains Bharwani.

“Doing the ‘stations’ traditionally is its own rich experience.

‘Walkway’ is something for people to add on,” clarifies Bharwani.

The eight-day exhibit will culminate in a free concert featuring American alternative rock band Switchfoot on Easter Sunday.

The event is open to the public from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

refleCtions in the Campus

The Catholic University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, has also mounted Stations of the Cross within the campus premises.

According to the UST Public Affairs Office, the Stations of the Cross is located at the front of the Main Building. Students, faculty members and even nonThomasians are welcome to visit and offer a short prayer at each of the 14 stations.

The Stations of the Cross will be open until Easter Sunday, March 27.

stations up in the hills

Kamay ni Hesus (Hand of Jesus) in Lucban, Quezon is a popular destination of pilgrims during Holy Week. People flock to the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church, the grotto area and the 50-foot statue of the Ascending Christ – with the latter requiring pilgrims to climb 300+ steps to reach the summit.

Aside from the life-sized replicas of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark and The Last Supper, visitors can also check out the life-size statues depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross located in the grotto area.

While devotees visit each station, they can also get to revel in the the amazing view of the mystical Mt. Banawe and the town of Lucban.

Kamay ni Hesus is located roughly two to three hours from Manila via South Luzon Expressway.

A devotee nail her pain, frustration and sins on the cross at Station 9 in 'Walkway.' CHURCH SIMPLIFIED

Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon is a popular pilgrimage site. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAMAY NI HESUS

passion of Christ in taCloban City

In Serin district in Tacloban City, pilgrims can climb the concrete steps leading up to the Calvary Hill to visit the life-size statues depicting the Passion of Christ.

The statues of Jesus Christ and other Biblical personages who are part of the event are arranged according to the order of the 14 Stations of the Cross.

Each statue is made of pure cement and painted in white.

The place is open all year round.

It can be reached through Torres Street in Tacloban City, Leyte.

Thank You notes are posted at the Station 13 in 'Walkway.' CHURCH SIMPLIFIED

m onDAy : m A RcH 2 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Dapat-Sy family

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Broadcast journalist Anthony taberna (right)

COnCERT CElEbRaTEs sChOOl’s pIOnEERIng EffORTs

or 20 years now, the Multiple Intelligence International School has been pioneering progressive education in the Philippines that aims to raise leaders who use their intelligences to make a difference.

As the first and only MI school in the country, MIIS has put emphasis on education that involves learning by doing, the integration of entrepreneurship in education, advocating for leadership with social responsibility, and the inculcation of 21st century skills that will make students globally competitive and future ready.

On March 12 at the UP Theater in UP Diliman, MIIS celebrated its pioneering spirit through a concert billed MIIS @20: Celebrating 20 Years of Making a Difference with students of Multiple Intelligence International School. Special guest artist Luke Mejares opened the show.

Deeply steeped in the multiple intelligence framework now widely used in the United States and other countries and developeb by Harvard psychologist Dr. Howard Gardner, an MI education allows students to develop their intelligences, namely linguistic, logicalmathematical, spatial, musical, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal.

The musical prowess of the MI students was displayed at the MI 20th Anniversary Concert as the production numbers featured the students’ original compositions.

Parents and friends of the students and celebrities also took part in the concert.

Proceeds from the show will be used to sustain two of MIIS’ flagship projects, the MI Kids Can! Movement and the MIIS Green School projects.

Under the MIIS Green Movement falls the Cambantoc Reforestation project, a sevenyear-old MIIS endeavor that helps in the replanting and maintenance of trees in the Laguna watershed, promote environmental literacy in public schools, and fund the school community’s Green School Movement projects. “At Multiple Intelligence International School, we put much importance on encouraging our students to make a stand to ensure a green future for everyone,” says Joy Abaquin, founding directress at MIIS. The MI Cambantoc Reforestation project has been sowing seeds of environmental awareness in partnership with Tranca Elementary School and MCME (Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems) of UP Los Banos.

MIIS @20: Celebrating 20 Years of Making A Difference marks the MI School’s continued commitment to raise global leaders who also possess an entrepreneurial and leadership mind to make a difference in big and small ways to make this world better and greener.

Present at the concert in support of their talented children are celebrity parents Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago, Tintin and Julius Babao, Karen Davila and DJ Sta. Ana, Anthony Taberna, Maritoni Fernandez, Raul and Cacai Mitra among others.

Radio and tV personalities tintin Bersola, Julius Babao and their kids

claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago with their kids Sabina and Santino news anchor Karen Davila joined by her husband and kids

nEw PHIlIPPInE gIn cultuRE Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) is brewing something new for 2016 called Gindependence Day. This is a celebration to mark the brand’s emancipation from the old and a welcoming of the new.

As the market leader in the gin category, Ginebra San Miguel is paving the way for a new mix of gin culture in the Philippines.

Standing on its success and popularity in the mass market, the GSMI Gin Brands now plan to reach even greater heights by catering to more premium groups. With a lineup of never-before-done activities, GSMI Gin brands will connect with a wider audience and improve the gin experience as a whole. Get ready to take the party on the road with the Gin Nation Roving Caravan.

The Gin Nation truck will be partnering with the metro’s hottest events and destinations like Mercato Centrale, Maginhawa Food Street, school events and concerts.

The Gin Cart is Premium Gin’s take on Ginebra San Miguel’s Gin Nation Roving Caravan. We believe that the Premium drinks vehicle showcases our brand’s elevated design aesthetic and readiness for

callalily and Banda ni Kleggy

(l-R) mark caguioa, gSmI President Bernie marquez, gSmI group Product manager marvin Dancel and gSm Blue Brand manager winchie tobias

a new, upscale market. Much thought and consideration was put into designing the Premium Gin cart. For materials, wood and black metal was chosen in order to give the cart a rustic, local feel. In terms of the actual wood design, it was crucial to showcase the iconic Ginebra San Miguel logo, which is one of Fernando Amorsolo’s earliest recognized works. The Premium Gin Cart made its public debut in the Art Fair Philippines 2016, an annual event by the Philippine Art Events group.

Ginumanfest Concert Series is a concert series that tours the different regions

of the Philippines, bringing top bands and performers to share their passion and the spirit of “Ganado sa Buhay” with everyone. The annual Blueniversity Bar Mixing event where Hotel and Restaurant Management students from different universities can participate to show off their mixing and bartending skills will face off on March 7, 2016 and the winner will be given a chance to represent the country in an international competition.

As the culminating event of the entire summer season, Ginebra San Miguel will be joining worldwide celebrations of World

the Premium gin cart made its public debut in the Art Fair Philippines 2016, an annual event by the Philippine Art Events group. It was made of wood and black metal in order to give the cart a rustic, local feel.

Gin Day on June 11. For this special day, the brand will be treating audiences to the country’s hottest acts and performers. This will be an event to look forward to with performers like Quest, Calalilly, Banda ni Kleggy, Arci Munoz and many more.

Gin11 will be partying simultaneously with the world as we celebrate World Gin Day here in the Philippines.

m onDAy : m A RcH 2 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ C6 EDwaRD BEnOsa TO sTagE BIRThDay cOncERT o ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

n April 16, Romantic Pop Balladeer Edward Benosa marks an important milestone when he stages a birthday concert at the Teatrino in Greenhills.

The concert will be directed by Frank Lloyd Mamaril, with Marvin Querido as musical director.

Edward’s special guests will be Morisette Amon and DJ Chacha of MOR 101.9.

Edward will perform a repertoire of mostly love songs, but will also showcase the other side of him when he takes on rock songs and musical genres he doesn’t usually perform. His director promises “a very intimate show” that will be a culmination and celebration of all the good things that have happened to Edward’s career in the past year.

Edward is nervous, but he’s ready to step into the spotlight. He knows it’s a big challenge, but he’s taking it on because he knows that if he succeeds in pulling it off, it will be another major step forward in his career and his bid to be known as a legitimate, full-fledged pop artist.

Romantic pop balladeer and Star Awards Best new Artist Edward Benosa

“Grabe ang pressure. Siyempre may pressure at kabado kasi first.

First year ko in showbiz, tapos first concert. Pero pag natawid ko ito, ibang self-confidence ang makukuha ko dito.”

Edward’s manager – stage, TV and indie film actor Arnold Cruz Reyes – says they had been planning the show for some time, and that it was really part of their wish list for the Star Awards for Mu-

sic 2015 Best New Artist. They spent several months planning and conceptualizing the show and fine-tuning the repertoire so they would have a show that they were sure the audience will enjoy.

Mamaril, who also directed the recent concerts of Matteo Guidicelli and Lani Misalucha, talks about their concept for the show.

“When we talked about the show, we wanted a follow through

on Edward’s career. A lot of things have been happening to him for the last year and in that year, it has to have a culmination, which is this show. It’s all about what he can bring to the table in the industry. Teatrino is a venue where some of the best artists started and built their careers. So we want to place him in a venue kung saan siya symbolically pwede mag-start on the concert scene. We know he can pull it off.”

Mamaril believes that Edward is the complete package and thus, the time is ripe for him to have a solo concert.

“He is the artist na complete package. He has (the) looks, can sing, can act. That’s rare. ‘Yun ang nakikita ko, that’s why we need this concert to happen. The success of Edward is the success of everyone.”

While preparing for the concert, they met people—both old and new supporters of Edward who were very excited about the show and couldn’t wait for it to happen.

Everyone behind the concert is confident all their hard work and preparation will come together on the

show date—and they know Edward has what it takes to make it work.

And there are a lot of people who’ve been asking for Edward to have a show. Now is the right time, which explains why the concert is titled “Most Requested”.

“When we thought of the title, o sige, si Edward honestly di pa kilalang-kilala, but when you check social media, and listen to radio stations, ‘Ay siya pala ‘yon’.

May gano’ng reaction. Every time I introduce Edward, “Ah siya pala yung nasa parang pelikula na video’ or ‘Siya pala ‘yung kumanta ng ‘Di Man Lang Nagpaalam’. Kaya nasabi namin, ‘Sige na, gawin na natin ito.’”

Edward is also getting a lot of support from his recording company, Star Music, his sponsors (like Dannon Clothing), his supporters and his management.

For inquiries, please call Ranjo Isip at 0917-882-2773. You can also reach Edward thru: facebook.com/realedwardbenosa; Twitter: @realbenosa; Instagram: realbenosa.

You can also tag Star Music PH.

DAISo JApAn Up At coSplAy cARnIVAl 2016

Daiso Japan Philippines teamed up for the first time with Cosplay. ph—the leading Cosplay website and online community and the squad behind popular events related to anime, gaming, toy, comic book, and collectibles—and supported the highly successful event Cosplay Event 2016.

It was a smorgasbord of fun, games, and adventure as cosplayers, hobbyists, artists, and performers gathered together at the two-day event that highlighted the many aspects of cosplay including Dance battle, Karaoke, Storage wars, Sumo showdown and Con Quest, among others.

Daiso Japan had a booth selling

authentic products from Daiso Industries Ltd. Japan, which has an exclusive contract with Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI) as Daiso Industries’ only authorized retailer in the Philippines.

As a major sponsor of Cosplay Carnival 2016, Daiso Japan gave away a cash prize and assorted Daiso Japan products to the winner of the Costume Contest called “Daiso’s Pick”. Meanwhile, all attendees each received a Daiso Japan event bag.

During the event, host Erin Bare were joined by guests of honor and international cosplayers Kirisaki and Rainer Tachibana; “Daiso’s Pick” costume con-

cROsswORD puzzlE 40 41 42 43 44

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Polite address 6 Two-BR units 10 Flung 14 “Maria —” 15 Humdrum 16 Emir or sheik 17 Talks wildly 18 Rice wine 19 Wire thicknesses 20 Sight 22 Got nervous

(2 wds.)

24 Toshiba rival 26 Was a “sound” sleeper?

27 Indonesia’s capital 31 — — woodchuck would ...

32 Loan-sharking 33 Rigg or Ross 36 Best medicine?

39 Philosopher Immanuel —

Lamp-plug part Drive a semi Eur. nation Monster John, Paul, George and — 45 Elev.

46 Slipped by 48 Tile mural 51 Show distress 52 Remote 54 Do a favor for 59 Raines or Fitzgerald 60 Glamorous wraps 62 Smidgens 63 Twinge 64 Kinks’ hit tune 65 Does a barber’s job 66 Very, to Yvette 67 Was very thrifty 68 Have a premonition DOWN 1 Griffin of game shows 2 Jai — 3 Studies 4 Not pro 5 Concrete work 6 Weightlifter’s pride 7 — du jour 8 Gathers in 9 Clammering up

test winner Dyan Caneja; Daiso Japan’s Maricar Torries, store manager; Millard Ramos, store supervisor officer; Gener Gacita, store supervisor officer and host Jennessy Cordero.

“Partnering with Cosplay.ph strengthened Daiso Japan’s appreciation of the Japanese culture including this artistic and “kawaii” Cosplaying event. We were glad to offer our customers real Daiso Japan products that are available only in our 48 stores,” said Bernice Jayne Bunoan, marketing manager.

Catch more of Daiso Japan’s wide range of quality products priced from P88 at the next ex-

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

10 11 12 13 21 23 25 27 28 29 30 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 52 53 55 56 57 58 61

Image maker Hitch — — Cantina toast Recipe meas.

After deductions Lobby furnishing Tight-knit team Feint Cold — — icicle — fu Easel display Na+ or ClAltiplano locale Neutral colors Kind of sled Earthy lump In a sorry state Diet target Bland They burrow in Most people London lav Wisdom tooth Dragon of puppetry Con man Equinox mo.

Ivy League member Practical knowledge Pack — — (quit) Whale herds Latin I verb Gloomy

In full cosplay gear: this year’s Daiso Japan winners joined by the team that organized the event

citing event with Cosplay.ph this October at Cosplay Mania.

To know more about Daiso Japan Philippines, check out Facebook: https://www.facebook.

com/DaisoJapanPH?ref=hl or @ DaisoJapanPH Twitter: https:// twitter.com/DaisoJapanPH or @ DaisoJapanPH Instagram: http:// instagram.com/daisophilippines.)

m onDAy : m A RcH 2 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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NEw YORk-basED ORgaNIzaTION hONORs FIlIpINa TRaNsgENDER

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ilipina transgender Bemz Benedito was honored by a US organization with an award as one of four Global Transgender Heroes in celebration of International Women’s Day this March.

True Colors Fund, an LGBT organization based in New York

gave Benedito the award.

True Colors, co-founded by international pop star Cyndi Lauper, “is working to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth by creating systemic change”.

Benedito learned about the award when an article appeared

Panday ride at ABS-cBn Theme Park?

on the True Colors website (https://truecolorsfund.org) announcing conferment of it on her and three other global transgender heroes: Lohana Berkins of Argentina (who passed away on Feb. 5) Cecilia Chung of the US and Hong Kong, and Liesl Theron of South Africa.

The award’s primary criteria were how a certain individual challenged the status quo and as well as the ways and means of stereotypical boxes for the LGBT. Next to that, says Benedito, is how the awardee struggled to uplift the condition of her community to be recognized and respected.

The award made this year’s International Women’s Day more significant for her, says Benedito, “because I was affirmed as a woman and my small contribution for equality in my country was recognized”.

To be hailed a Transgender Hero is a very humbling experience.

“Just like what I always say in interviews, I am not the best and there are others who are doing better than I do, but please be it remembered that there was a transgender woman who worked hard fearlessly in her little way to represent the Filipino LGBT community as one sector fighting for equal rights.”

The recognition, says Benedito, is a reminder to her that despite being elected into public office in 2010 and 2013, “the ray of light comes shining like it never was before, to continue with fight and to keep up with the challenges that cripples our dignity as human beings and citizens of our country.”

The award does not come with any monetary recognition, but according to the LGBT activist,

it is more than enough for her and others working to advance the cause of LGBTs and keep them in the thick of the fight despite sometimes feeling that they are doing a thankless job and in the long run allowing even personal relationships and personal ambitions suffer.

“We owe it to the next generation that being LGBT must be kinder and dignified.”

In her own case, the award is encouragement to keep pursuing equal rights and recognition not just for other transgendered women, but for all members of the LGBT community.

“We (LGBTs) are only tolerated and our dream and our goal is to be accepted,” says Benedito.

“Because if we are indeed accepted, then policies and laws must be present to protect and uplift us. Hindi na sana secondclass citizens ang tingin saamin at sana may kinatawan na rin sa Kongreso ang sektor ng mga Pilipinong LGBT. At higit sa lahat wala na sanang mambabatas at boxing superstar na hahamakin kami at tatawaging mas masahol pa sa hayop. We are not exaggerating our struggles, we are here giving a face and voice to the oppression that dehumanizes us every day of our lives while living the truth in our being.”

Their biggest goal is the basic right to self-determination.

“Then there is our common fight with our lesbian, gay and bisexual brothers and sisters for the passage of the anti-discrimination bill that has languished in Congress for 18 years. Imagine a human rights bill, the only one for that matter, that will protect LGBT Filipinos ay nabubulok sa Kongreso habang naghihirap ang

maraming LGBTs sa diskriminasyon at opresyon. In an egalitarian society that has passed the Magna Carta for Women, Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, Violence Against Women and Children, the LGBT community is ignored and discriminated.”

Benedito recalls what the struggle was like for her as a transgendered woman.

“It was difficult especially for me growing up in my province in Abra, which is laid-back, backward-thinking and conservative.

While growing up, I would cry whenever I would see my naked body as a young child in the mirror because my anatomy was incongruent to what I thought and felt about myself. It took me a long time to realize that I am not a simple case of a girl trapped in a man’s body. I found out about transgender people when I did my research during my college days.

It was then that I found out that I am not an effeminate gay or the pa-girl na bakla but I am a transgendered woman. That is why, as in all journeys, the wrong has to be righted, the flaw corrected. In my mind, in my heart and in my soul, I am a woman, a Transpinay, the other Filipina.”

Finally, says Benedito, if there is a message that she, as a transgendered woman, would like to put out there, it would be this: “Stereotypes are like cardboard cutouts; they do not form the complete picture. Not even a fragment of who we are. Our genitalia should not be the basis of one’s right to self-determination and gender identity. We should not be defined by our bodies nor our sexual orientation and gender identity defined our capabilities, skills and strengths.”

BAck-To-BAck ScREEnIngS oF STAR cInEmA BlockBuSTERS

Chill and bond with the entire family with the back-to-back screenings of Star Cinema blockbusters via SKY pay-perSenator Grace Poe wishes there would be Ang view this March.

Panday ride at the Hollywood inspired 15-hectHave a laugh-out-loud time with are lot where soundstages are being constructed the family with three days of unlimited

by ABS-CBN in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. back-to-back viewing of the two hit 2015 This could be like the rides in Disneyland and MMFF movies—the highest grossing PiUniversal Studios in other countries, like Indi- noy film Beauty and the Bestie (starring ana Jones Adventure, Revenge of the Mummy, Coco Martin and Vice Ganda) and the Transformers among others. hit Star Cinema rom-com All You Need “Iyong ABS-CBN ay may balak daw dito na Is Pag-Ibig (with an all-star cast led by lilipat sa San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Ang balak Kris Aquino, Derek Ramsay, Kim Chiu nila ay magkaroon ng isang amusement park, pa- and Xian Lim) when you avail of the rang Disneyland, pero mga pelikula at mga tele- pay-per-view package from March 16 to vision shows ang tema nito,” Grace said during a April 15 for only P199. campaign sortie in Bulacan.

Avid fans of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea “Kaya siguradong dadayuhin kayo ng iba’t ibang Alonzo can relive the love story of Popoy mga kababayan mula sa iba’t ibang parte ng Pilipi- and Basha from the very beginning to nas. At kakausapin natin sila para magkaroon ng their happily ever after with the back-toisang ride doon na ‘Ang Panday’ ni FPJ,” she added. back screenings of One More Chance and The film Ang Panday starred her late father, A Second Chance. Feel the “kilig” once Fernando Poe, Jr. who played the now popular more with three days of unlimited viewcharacter Flavio. ing until March 27, also for only P199.

Among FPJ’s films, Ang Panday is Grace’s faWith SKY pay-per-view’s high definivorite because she can relate with Flavio who tion quality, your family can enjoy your is also a “foundling” o “pulot” according to very own home theater experience.

“Komiks King” Carlo J. Caparas, the creator SKY pay-per-view is available to SKYof the character. cable postpaid subscribers in Metro

Top-grossing Filipino film “Beauty and the Bestie” top billed by coco martin and Vice ganda

Star cinema film “All you need is Pag-ibig” starring kris Aquino and Derek Ramsay

Manila, CAMANAVA, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan (San Jose del Monte), Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos and Iloilo, as well as to Destiny Cable digital subscribers.

You can also enjoy Sky pay-per-view in standard definition.

For more information, visit mysky. com.ph or text APPLY<space><NAME> to 23662.

m oNDAy : m A RCH 2 1, 2016

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Rocco Nacino (left) and Alden Richards (right) headline “Bae in the City Canada Tour 2016” to be held at the Club Regent Event Centre in Winnipeg

AlDEn, ROccO In cAnADA ISAH V. RED

K

apuso heartthrobs Alden Richards and Rocco Nacino turn up the heat in Canada as they headline Bae in the City Canada Tour 2016 this month.

Alden, one of the most in demand actors in the country today and a co-host on GMA Network’s top-rating comedy-musical variety program Sunday PinaSaya and the Philippines’ longest-running noon time show Eat Bulaga, and Rocco, one of GMA’s top leading men last seen in the primetime drama series Beautiful Strangers, will be joined by comedian Kim Idol.

Sponsored by GMA’s three international channels – GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International, Bae in the City Canada Tour 2016 kicks off on Tuesday at the Club Regent Event Centre (884 Sergent Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba). The event is staged in partnership with Corazon’s Money Express.

The next day, Alden and Rocco will head to the Maharaja Banquet Hall (9257 34a Ave NW, Edmonton Alberta) for the second leg of the tour, held in cooperation with Palabok Promotions.

In cooperation with Red Productions, the last stop will be on March 24 at the Massey Theater (735 Eight Avenue, New Westminster, British Columbia).

Social media is now abuzz with excitement on the arrival of the sought-after

Kapuso leading men as netizens have been posting messages urging the pair to try Canadian delicacies.

“Hope I can go to the concert on March.

But you should try beaver tails, poutine, and tim hortons (French vanilla)…” said Twitter user @mannachocoberry, to which the Kapuso Hunk Rocco Nacino excitedly replied, “I will!!”

As the fans give the Kapuso duo tips on how to make their stay an enjoyable one, Alden and Rocco are also preparing a fun-filled show for their fellow Filipinos in Canada.

All shows start at 7 p.m. The tickets are priced at $98 for VIP seats and $68 for General Admission seats (Manitoba); $100, $78 and $58 (Alberta) and $100, $80, $60 and $50 (British Columbia).

For ticket inquiries, please call 204 786

1112 (Manitoba), 780 995 6907 (Alberta) and 778 785 6322 (British Columbia).

GMA’s three international channels – GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International – are available in Canada through partner carriers in Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.

In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the channels are available on Bell (call: 1-888-7593474; or visit www.bell.ca/tv), MTS (call: 204-CALLMTS or 204-225-5687; or visit: www.mts.ca/tv), and Shaw (call: 310-7429; or visit www.shaw.ca).

GMA’s international channels are also offered in Alberta via Bell, Shaw, and Telus (call: 310MYTV or 310-6988; or visit www. telus.com/optiktv).

Meanwhile, the channels are also carried in British Columbia through Bell, Shaw and Telus.

Popular anime on GmA Miggs Cuaderno, Mikoy Morales and Jillian Ward lend their voices to the hit anime series Yo-kai Watch.

The most popular anime series sweeping across Asia has reached North America by storm. It premieres on GMA Network on March 28.

The story follows an ordinary boy, Keita, who chanced upon a bizarre capsule machine while playing in the woods. Expecting a toy inside, he opens one of the capsules and instead meets a spirit named Whisper.

After being freed from the capsule, Whisper gifts Keita a prized item known as the Yo-kai Watch, which effectively allows him to see and interact with spirits called Yo-kai.

Keita, then, together with his yo-kai

Teen actor mikoy morales

cat Jibanyan and Whisper set off to meet several kinds of yo-kai whom they can befriend or even battle.

At school, Keita is constantly struggling to impress an intelligent girl named Fumi, who is often possessed by yo-kai. He will become Fumi’s savior and, later on, her best friend.

Pinoy anime lovers will get to appreciate the series more as GMA stars Miggs Cuaderno, Mikoy Morales and Jillian Ward, lend their voices to bring Filipino touch to the well-loved anime.

Join the Yo-kai Watch craze from Monday to Friday (8 a.m.), beginning March 28, after Dragon Ball Z only on GMA. For more updates, visit Yo-kai Watch GMA on Facebook.

Child star Jillian Ward

“yo-kai Watch” anime series is now in the Philippines

Child actor miggs Cuaderno