The Standard - 2016 April 5 - Tuesday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX NO. 52 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 TUESDAY : APRIL 5, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Roxas is least liked candidate, poll finds

GOVT, ALLIES RUN TO SOCIAL MEDIA By John Paolo Bencito and Christine F. Herrera

ADMINISTRATION officials and their allies took to social media Monday to defend the use of lethal force to break up a protest in Kidapawan City last week that resulted in the death of three farmers, while President Benigno Aquino III maintained his silence four days after the bloody incident.

Protest. Members of the Anakpawis Party-list hold a protest action in front of Camp Crame along Edsa in Quezon City on Monday to condemn the dispersal of the farmers rallying in Kidapawan that left three dead and many others wounded. MANNY PALMERO

Pulse denies Digong claims

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, who took a leave last year to campaign for the administration’s standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, said on her Facebook page that the incident appeared to be motivated, since the farmers took refuge at the Spottswood Methodist Center, which “also happens to be the headquarters of presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodgrigo Duterte” in North Cotabato. The allegation dovetailed with North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza’s accusation that Duterte, who promised to donate rice to the starving farmers, was politicizing the strife in her province. Valte said leftists “like to pick on those who don’t share their beliefs and criticize their ways,” and that the administration only fault was “to try to bring some rational thought in this conversation.” Two days earlier, presidential spokesman also pointed the finger at Duterte. “Not so coincidentally, from the presidentiables, only Duterte issued the same leftist slant, that this is a massacre. Without even calling for an investigation and without even bothering to know who started it all, Duterte aped and mouthed the same leftist message. You do the math.” Next page

‘Yolanda’ victims to lose water by end-April By Christine F. Herrera MORE than two years after Super Typhoon “Yolanda” flattened Eastern Visayas, President Benigno Aquino III has ordered that water supply to relocation sites and bunkhouses be cut off by the end of this month, hampering efforts of the city government to get back on its feet, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred

Romualdez said Monday. At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, Romualdez said he vehemently opposed the directive to cut off the water supply. “After thousands of our people have transferred to the relocation sites and bunkhouses, for the past two years, they have yet to see a faucet. The water for cooking and drinking is still being ra-

tioned,” Romualdez said. “And now, they wanted to stop the water rationing. I strongly reject that. It’s like killing them all over again and the culprit would be water again, after thousands perished in floodwaters and seawater,” Romualdez said. “Our people have been traumatized enough. Enough already,” Romualdez Next page said.

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Major US-PH war games begin Govt,... From A1

The President’s speechwriter, Jan Mikael Co, said on his Facebook page that government aid was already reaching the farmers, and cited “ongoing interventions” such as cloud seeding and the distribution of drought-resistant crops. He also blasted militant groups for politicizing the protests. President Aquino remained silent on Kidapawan while attending a ceremony to distribute firetrucks in Quezon City Monday. But Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, who was with him, said the North Cotabato provincial government “followed all the right protocols for crisis management,” even though the Commission on Human Rights questioned the police use of M-16 rifles and the firing of live ammunition during the dispersal of protesters. He added that the police exercised “maximum tolerance” and said they were “on the receiving end” of the encounter with farmers. Sarmiento said the farmers had “other plans in mind, aside from getting rice from the government.” “Who organized the protest? Who financed it? People from other provinces were brought there. Who told the people that rice would be distributed? What was the motive of the protest? Rice or to protest [the government’s anti-insurgency program]? What really is the motive? We should determine that,” he said. In a television interview, Mendoza admitted that the protesters’ concerns were all valid, but she maintained that blocking off a portion of the national highway was illegal, forcing her local police to act accordingly. “It’s true that their needs are all legitimate because there really is El Niño in our province,” Mendoza said on GMA-7’s morning news program Unang Balita. “But their way of expressing their concerns to the government by rallying, that’s what we don’t want,” she said. Mendoza said the police and military were ordered to disperse the crowd so that the highway could be opened again to motorists. “What happened last Friday was just a clearing operation to open up the national highway from illegal assembly,” she said. “From Tuesday to Friday, the national highway was closed for four days even without a permit from the rallyists,” she added. Mendoza added that the Cotabato police, led by Senior Supt. Alex Tagum had already filed several complaints against 43 protesters they arrested, including farmers that are her constituents from the towns of Arakan, Antipas, President Roxas, and Magpet. Complaints included economic sabotage, harassment, obstruction of traffic flow and illegal assembly.

‘Yolanda’... From A1

Three days after Yolanda, relief and rescue operations were delayed because Aquino was in Tacloban and the government declared a nofly zone while the President was there, Romualdez recalled. “While President Aquino was in Tacloban, the airplanes and helicopters carrying medical and relief goods coming from the United States and all over the world could not land because the government declared a no-fly zone all over Tacloban. The choppers could not even drop the much-needed relief goods and crucial medical help,” Romualdez said. The mayor said it was only his cousin, independent vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was able to defy the order and insisted it was urgent that he fly to Tacloban to bring in relief because people were already rioting and looting due to hunger. The mayor said rampant looting occurred because the handful

In General Santos City, at least 200 protesters barricaded the highway fronting the National Food Authority on Monday morning to urge the government to help drought-stricken farmers, and to denounce the violent dispersal of farmers in Kidapawan City. “Anti-riot cops were deployed but negotiations were successful. We explained that we are only here to demand the national government to release immediate relief for the farmers who are affected by the El Niño,” said Ryan Lariba, spokesman of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Socsksargen. The protesters manned the barricade at 10 a.m. and peacefully ended it after an hour. “We would like to deliver a strong message that farmers and their families are already very hungry,” he added. He recognized that some local government units have provided help but said the aid has not been enough and should be supplemented by the national government. Rafael Mariano of the peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said that the administration is planning a cover-up of last Friday’s bloody dispersal, as he called for an independent investigation. On Monday, groups composed of prominent civil libertarians, church officials, and academicians announced that they will spearhead a “National Fact Finding and Humanitarian mission” separate from the government’s to gather more information on the Kidapawan incident and to provide legal and medical assistance to the farmers detained by the PNP and those gathered at the Spottwoods Methodist church. “The Aquino government’s lies and deception machinery are all geared towards covering up the truth behind last Friday’s bloody dispersal of farmers demanding food aid from the government,” Mariano said. “Farmers do not trust the PNP or any other government investigating body to probe the Kidapawan carnage. Not even the Commission on Human Rights,” Mariano said. Kabataan Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said they were also readying charges against Mendoza and other police and local officials of Kidapawan who were involved in the violent dispersal. Ridon added that President Aquino should answer for the deths. “Where was PNoy when the hungry farmers in North Cotabato demanded rice? Instead of sacks of rice, they gave the farmers bullets,” said Ridon. Ridon said that they will file counter-charges of multiple murder, serious physical injuries, and violation of human rights. On Monday, Sarmiento said he has ordered the creation of two fact-finding panels to investigate the incident, but on Saturday, he distributed awards to police officers who were involved in Friday’s violent dispersal. Philippine National Police chief Ricardo Marquez said the leftist supporters of the farmers

of policemen tasked to secure the business establishments and major streets had been pulled out to secure the President, instead. The afternoon that the President was in Tacloban, Romualdez said, some 150 inmates escaped from jail because the police forces left to watch them were summoned to secure the President. “And when I asked the President to help us augment and beef up the security forces since our policemen were victims, too, he simply said: ‘I will think about it’,” Romualdez said. The looting and rioting lasted for seven days and stopped only when donations… started pouring in, he said. “Where can you see in the world that looting and rioting were happening right under the noses of the President and his men because they refused to grant our request for outside help like the police and military force augmentation, emergency powers and state of calamity,” he said. It took the President four days to declare a state of calamity in

wanted to hold the government hostage by blockading the Davao-Cotabato highway last week. He also vowed to keep the highway open. Marquez said the PNP was conducting its own investigation to see if there were lapses on the side of the police. He said at least 90 policemen were injured, including one critically, in the same incident. The National Association of Lawyers for Justice and Peace questioned the government’s claims on Monday, noting that Mendoza could not name even one beneficiary or cite one town or barangay that had received aid meant for victims of drought. “She also claimed that some of the protesters were from Bukidnon, Sultan Kudarat, Compostella Valley and Davao Del Sur, and that they had admitted to her that they had joined the rally on a promise of free rice from the government. But she did not identify even one of the supposed protesters from outside the province. Neither did she name or give any hint on the identity of their recruiter,” the lawyers said in a statement. They also questioned police claims that a farmer tested positive for gunpowder residue and that he was carrying .45 bullets—noting that the person was not identified and that no photograph of him was produced. Even the bullets were not presented to the press, the lawyers said. Militant groups denounced what they called the “Liberal Party-sponsored martial law in Kidapawan” as police and the military turned the rally site into a garrison with tanks and heavily armed men surrounding the Methodist Church were some 3,000 farmers sought refuge after the bloody dispersal of their barricade Friday. Even those seriously injured and being treated in hospitals due to gunshot wounds were placed in handcuffs and were being heavily guarded, according to reports from the KMP, Gabriela, Anakbayan and Kabataan. “The UMC compound in Kidapawan City with more than 3,000 farmers seeking refuge is being cordoned off by combined elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police-Region 12 and threatening farmers at the gates that [these forces] will enter the compound in 15 minutes,” KMP chairman Rafael Mariano said. Mariano also noted that “illegal detention, unabated harassment, the violation of farmers’ rights to food, and psywar have become a norm in Kidapawan.” “Hell bent in securing their win in the 2016 elections, President Benigno Aquino III and his Liberal Party minions like North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Lala Talino-Mendoza are too busy to care for the plight of the farmers affected by El Niño. To his last days in office, Aquino has shown that his haciendero heart will never have room for the welfare of farmers,” Gabriela-Quezon spokesperson Alex Pacalda said. With Maricel V. Cruz, Sandy Araneta and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Tacloban, he said. A day after Yolanda struck, he said, the President was quick to blame him the mayor for the more than 6,000 deaths. “I was blamed for being unprepared when his official family who came to Tacloban were even more unprepared as they did not bring with them the most important person to have told us accurately when Yolanda would hit land. Then DILG Secretary Mar Roxas did not bother to seek the crucial forecast and carelessly made his own forecast that Yolanda, the strongest typhoon to hit the planet, will strike at noontime. Yolanda hit land as early as 7 a.m.,” Romualdez told the forum. He also said Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman did not do her homework and prepared relief only for 240,000 people, the total population in the city, not realizing that Tacloban was a financial hub that attracted many more people from outside the city. “We have three major universities there, major hospitals are there and all kinds of business are there. That’s why we have many hotels in

the city. So during the day, the population of Tacloban swells to about a million,” Romualdez said. “Looting was inevitable because the national government came unprepared,” he added. He said Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II has aggravated these prolonged frustrations and pain by mocking the world and all the volunteers that responded to the Yolanda crisis by twisting the truth in a 28-page comic book, which portrayed Roxas as a hero. Romualdez, who was depicted in the Roxas comic book as “partying” the night before Yolanda, said it was irresponsible and insensitive of Roxas to mock and hurt Taclobanons with his lies when the city is still reeling from the massive devastation and the city continues to find three to four skeletal remains a month, two and a half years after Yolanda. The mayor presented witnesses during the forum to attest that he was with Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin the night Roxas’ comic book said Romualdez was partying.

By Florante S. Solmerin

US AND Philippine troops began major exercises on Monday as China’s state media warned “outsiders” against interfering in tense South China Sea territorial disputes. The official Xinhua news agency gave the warning as Manila and Washington launched the 11-day Balikatan exercises with a low-key opening ceremony in Manila. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter is to fly to the Philippines next week to observe live-firing of artillery and visit US Navy ships taking part. Some 5,000 US troops are taking part along with nearly 4,000 Philippine soldiers and 80 from Australia. “The... exercises cap Manila’s recent attempts to involve outsiders in [a] regional row,” China’s official news agency Xinhua said in a commentary. It cited Japan, which sent a submarine on a visit to the Philippines last weekend, and Australia. “However, a provocation so fearmongering and untimely as such is likely to boomerang on the initiators,” Xinhua added. “A big country with vital interests in Asia, the United States should first clarify the targets of its Pivot to Asia strategy, which so far has featured no more than unscrupulous inconsistency between fear-mongering deeds and peace-loving words.” China lays claim to almost all of the South China Sea, despite partial counter-claims by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. In recent years it has built major structures including radar systems and airstrips over reclaimed reefs and outcrops, sparking international concern it could impose military controls over the entire area. The US does not take sides in the territorial disputes but has asserted the importance of keeping sea and air routes open. It has sent US bombers and warships on patrol close to the Chinese construction activity in recent months, infuriating Beijing. Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commander of US Marine Corps forces in the Pacific, told reporters in Manila the exercises would help the allies improve maritime security and maintain regional stability. “Our alliance is strong. The United States is committed to this relationship and these are not empty words.... peace in Southeast Asia depends on our cooperation,” Toolan added. The exercises come ahead of a decision this year by a United Nationsbacked tribunal on a legal challenge by Manila to China’s territorial claims. The Philippines is also preparing to host US troops at five bases under a defense pact born out of US President Barack Obama’s plan to reassert American influence in the Pacific. At a press conference, Toolan said Carter would visit toward the end of the military exercises to observe a highmobility artillery rocket system at work and to visit US Navy ships participating in Balikatan. Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said the rocket system would be used in live-fire exercises. Air defense and interdiction exercises also will involve US A10 Thunderbolt bombers and transonic British-made Hawk Hunters. For the first time, the Philippine Air Force’s newly acquired Koreanmade jet fighter, the FA50 Golden Eagle, will also see action. With AFP, PNA

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Pulse Asia denies Duterte poll claim PULSE Asia on Monday disowned the claim of presidential bet Rodrigo Duterte that he topped a March 21 to 25 survey that the survey firm conducted among 4,000 registered voters. Ronald Holmes, Pulse Asia Research Inc. president, issued a one-page disclaimer after learning about a supposed survey report posted by an Emmanuel Piñol on his Facebook account quoting one Pompee La Viña’s statement. “It has come to our attention that a survey allegedly conducted from March 2125, 2016, for ABS-CBN is being attributed to Pulse Asia,” Holmes said in his statement. “We did not conduct said survey. We don’t conduct surveys during Holy Week, Holy Thursday and Good Friday, in particular. “We urge the media, in particular, and the public, in general, to refer to our website at pulseasia.phpulseasia.ph or our official Facebook and Twitter page for our official media releases.” Holmes made his statement even as the camp of presidenfial candidate Grace Poe called on the electorate to be vigilant against propaganda. “Recently, [a] supposed Pulse Asia survey with field dates March 21-25, 2016, has been circulated to precondition the minds of the public and set a false trend,” said Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Poe’s spokesman. He was referring to the Pulse Asia survey showing

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the supposed frontrunner in the presidential race. Piñol is one of Duterte’s closest allies in Mindanao. According to La Viña, Duterte topped the ABSCBN-commissioned Pulse Asia survey after gaining the nod of 26 percent of the 4,000 respondents. Peter Tiu Laviña, Duterte’s official spokesman, did not reply if he was in any way related to La Viña, or to Jose Gabriel La Viña, in his FB account. “A Pulse Asia survey taken March 21-25, after the Supreme Court decision on [Senator Grace] Poe and the second presidential debate in Cebu, shows Mayor Rody Duterte is now clearly in the lead,” La Viña reported. “The consolidation of [the] Mindanao and Cebu/ Visayas forces behind Duterte has not yet been factored in[,] so I expect the lead to widen even more in the next survey. As I had expected, [Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel] Roxas [II] has overtaken [Vice President Jejomar] Binay after the latter’s dismal showing in the debate. The Roxas camp[,] which has access to more frequent and detailed polling[,] must have known this already.” After Pulse Asia posted its disclaimer, Piñol, a former Cotabato governor and sports columnist, admitted committing a mistake when he posted La Viña’s “report.” Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

In Hong Kong. Administration standard bearer Manuel Roxas II poses with Filipino maids in Hong Kong on Sunday during a campaign sortie outside the country.

Roxas the candidate least liked by voters ADMINISTRATION standard bearer Manuel Roxas II made a commanding lead in a survey “ for the first time” against the other presidential bets in this year’s elections, but his lead was about his being the candidate whom most of the voters did not like to win. The mobile survey was conducted by Social Weather Stations for the broadcast company TV5. Roxas’ camp questioned the methodology used in the mobile survey with 1,200 respondents, saying the result was not reflective of the true sentiments of the people. The survey said 27 percent of the voters polled did not want Roxas to win, followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay at 24 percent and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at 17 percent. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago followed at 10 percent while Senator Grace Poe was the “least preferred” by

only 5 percent of the voters. The remaining 17 percent of the respondents didn’t know whom they didn’t like best. Another survey by Pulse Asia Research released on Monday said President Benigno Aquino III obtained a 52-percent approval rating from the respondents. The survey was conducted in March and was about the performance and trust ratings of the government officials and key government institutions. Meanwhile, administration standard bearers Roxas and Leni Robredo spent Sunday with the Filipino community

in Hong Kong to hear their stories and to come up with appropriate programs for them. They attended mass at St. John’s Cathedral and then proceeded to Statue Square. SWS head Mahar Mangahas said that, in spite of the decreased response rate, “the demographic characteristics of the responses [in the survey] have been very stable.” Roxas was disliked by most of the respondents in Metro Manila at 34 percent and Mindanao at 36 percent, while Binay led in the Visayas at 30 percent. Roxas (25 percent), Binay (24 percent) and Duterte (22 percent) were the most disliked by the residents of Balance Luzon. Rep. Barry Gutierrez, Roxas’ spokesman, compared the methodology of the mobile survey to the “comments section of Youtube,” saying the views didn’t reflect the sentiments of the people. “It’s not random... You can

see the big difference of this survey to other traditional survey forms on its unreliability,” Gutierrez told The Standard. “Despite this, it’s still a tight and close race, and we will continue to bring the message of progress to all Filipino families. We will not be disheartened with these kind of surveys.” The mobile survey, taken on March 30, used a random sample of 1,200 validated voters nationwide (300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao). The sampling error margins of ±4 percent arrived at national percentages, ±7 percent in Metro Manila and the Visayas and ±8 percent in Balance Luzon and Mindanao. Poe and Duterte were statistically tied for first in the mobile poll, with 34 percent choosing Poe and 31 percent choosing Duterte to succeed President Benigno Aquino III. John Paolo Bencito and

UNA says Cebu remains Binay stronghold

Clearing operation. Workers of the Metro Manila Development Authority remove a political billboard along Edsa in Quezon City on Monday. MANNY PALMERO

CEBU City remains a stronghold of Vice President Jejomar Binay despite One Cebu’s decision to cut its ties with him and to support Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential race, the United Nationalist Alliance led by Binay said Monday. UNA secretary-general JV Bautista said the majority of the leaders in Cebu were still supporting Binay’s bid for the presidency. He said Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia, sister of One Cebu president Winston Garcia, remained a strong Binay ally. “One Cebu cut ties with

UNA over some lapses and miscommunication of ground leaders on the conduct of campaign activities, but Binay will emerge victorious in both Cebu City and province because of the strong support of the party candidates and multi-sectoral groups,” Bautista said. He said Cebu, with more than 2.5-million registered voters, remained a Binay stronghold because of the unwavering support of Mayor Mike Rama and 71 out of its 80 village chairmen. Rama is supported by congressional candidates Alvin B. Garcia, a former city may-

or himself for the North District, and undefeated threeterm Councilor Gerardo Carillo for the South District. The fight in Cebu province will be led by Rep. Garcia, who has decided to remain with UNA; 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon of the National Unity Party, and independent Toledo City Mayor John Osmeña. Bautista said UNA had a complete lineup in the 11 towns and one city of the 5th district led by former Compostela Mayor Gilbert Wagas, while in the first district Cora Lou Kintanar, UNA congressional candidate, was spear-

heading the campaign for Binay. She is being supported in her campaign by incumbent Argao Mayor Edcel Galeos. For the lone congressional district of Lapu-Lapu City, UNA has fielded Reynaldo Berdin, a retired general of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. “And we have UNA mayoral candidates with complete slates in the 2nd, 6th and 7th districts of the province in addition to the One Cebu mayoralty bets who have already informed Garcia of their decision to remain with Binay,” Bautista said. Vito Barcelo

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Aquino orders airport remedies By Sandy Araneta, Christine Herrera, Rio Araja and Macon Araneta

New fire trucks. President Benigno S. Aquino III, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Philippine National Police chief Ricardo Marquez and Bureau of Fire Protection chief Supt. Rodrigo Abrazaldo inspect some of 135 fire trucks and 144 police jeeps during a turnover ceremony at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Monday. MALACAÑANG PHOTO/ ROBERT VIÑAS

Pemberton’s appeal junked; sentence cut By Rey E. Requejo THE Olongapo City Regional Trial Court has sustained its earlier conviction of US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton for the 2014 killing of transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, but the court also reduced his sentence from maximum of 12 years to only up to 10 years imprisonment. In a resolution promulgated last March 30, Judge Roline Jinez-Jabalde of Branch 70, reduced the sentence imposed on Pemberton because of the mitigating circumstances of “passion and obfuscation” and “intoxication.”

In its Dec. 1, 2015 decision, the lower court noted that Pemberton agreed when Laude, dressed as a schoolgirl, approached him and offered sex. While inside the motel, the American soldier got excited

but “felt something different, something that was not supposed to be there and realized that [Laude] was a dude,” which he said he found revolting. “He was so enraged and in the heat of passion arm-locked, dragged him [Laude] inside the bathroom and dunked his head in the toilet bowl,” the trial court stressed. The court noted that all that happened immediately after he discovered that Laude was a man. Such act is considered a mitigating circumstance of “passion and obfuscation” as stated under Article 13 (6) of the Revised Penal

Code, the court resolution said. On the other hand, intoxication is another mitigating circumstances because his drunkenness is not subsequent to commit the crime. “Pemberton’s drunkenness slowed down his reflexes and mental faculties and resulted to his lack of physical coordination,” the lower court said, adding that being a member of the Marine Corps means he is not a habitual drinker. “Having met the requisites, Pemberton should be accorded the benefit of the mitigating circumstance of intoxication,” the resolution emphasized.

AFTER a power outage that caused chaos at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, President Benigno Aquino III on Monday ordered the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Manila International Airport Authority to adopt contingency measures to deal with such incidents in the future. “President Aquino has directed Secretary [Joseph] Abaya and Airport general manager [Jose Angel] Honrado to adopt contingency measures to prevent the recurrence of the power outage that disrupted operations at Naia Terminal 3 over the weekend,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. “Airport authorities were also instructed to maintain vigilance so that the safety of travellers will be assured continuously,” Coloma added. But lawmakers criticized transportation officials for the “ridiculous incident” and again questioned what is so special with Abaya who has not been sacked from public service despite his “unparralleled level of incompetence.” “What’s so special about Abaya?” Cayetano asked. “Why is he so special that despite his series of monumental blunders, Malacañang can’t seem to sack him?” Senator Alan Peter Cayetano asked on Monday “From special screws, overcharging of non delivered stickers, late license plates and no available driver’s licenses, frequent MRT breakdowns, abandoned license plates at Customs, stolen plate sheets, and now airport blackouts, I have never seen such display of incompetency in our recent political history. “Why Secretary Abaya continues to serve in DoTC despite these is mind-boggling, it defies all existing logic,” Cayetano added.

MRT exec tags Mar, Abaya By Christine F. Herrera FORMER Metro Rail Transit-3 general manager Al Vitangcol III on Monday again blamed Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II, Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and LP officials for the “anomalous” contracts that caused problems in Metro Manila’s train system. At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, Vitangcol accused Roxas of being a liar during the presidential debate by trying to make himself look good at his and everybody else’s expense. “I don’t understand why Mar Roxas had to drag my name to make him look good in the presidential debate. What he said were all lies. He kept saying I was sacked because I was involved in shady deals. I was not sacked. I chose to resign,” Vitangcol said. Vitangcol said all contracts beyond P5 million had to be approved by the DoTC

with Roxas and Abaya at the helm. He said the PH Trans deal was worth beyond P5 million and that the owner was not his uncle but his wife’s and that the uncle sold his shares. “Mar Roxas insisted I was involved in that deal when I had nothing to do with it,” he said. “Roxas has ben mouthing lies. He is such a liar and he can lie through his teeth,” Vitangcol said. “It was the DoTC that approved the deal, not MRT. Not me.” Vitangcol said all MRT contracts beyond P5 million needed the signatures of the DoTC chiefs to make them valid and deemed approved. “Even if I signed the contracts and another undersecretary signed it, the contracts remain invalid unless signed, during my time, by Roxas and then Abaya,” Vitangcol said. “I have little say in the approval of the contract, much less to negotiate for it. I have no say in the approval of the contracts so no reason for me to negotiate on my own accord.”

Makati mission. Doctors from Metropolitan Medical Center, Dr. Alexander Uy of the FilipinoChinese Dental Association and Dr. Lu Cho led the physicians who helped treat 800 medical and 98 dental patients during a recent medical mission of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. and Makati Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

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WORLD’S FIRST

Dengue vaccine program launched The world’s first public dengue vaccination program was launched in the Philippines on Monday as nurses began injecting the first batch of a million children with a French drug to combat the sometimes deadly disease. Several hundred children aged nine to 10 queued in front of government health workers at a public school in eastern Manila for the injections, capping a 20-year, 1.5-billion-euro ($1.8 bn) effort by French drug manufacturer Sanofi to develop the vaccine. “We are the first country to introduce, adopt and implement the first-ever dengue vaccine through the public health system and under public school settings,” said Philippine Health Secretary Janette Garin. The Philippines had in December approved the vaccine, the first to be licensed globally to combat the mosquito-borne disease for people aged between nine and 45. Zelin Joice Carungay, aged nine, cried briefly as she and her classmates fell in line for the vaccine on teacher’s orders. “I’m terrified of needles but they told us we need it to avoid dengue,” the girl told reA student grimaces as a nurse administers the anti-dengue vaccine at Parang Elementary School in Marikina City on April 4, 2016. The porters. Philippines began injecting up to one million school children with the world’s first vaccine for dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral infection “In the end it felt nothing more than an that is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some Asian and Latin American countries. AFP ant’s bite,” the relieved child said afterwards. Dengue or haemorrhagic fever, the world’s most common mosquito-borne virus, infects an estimated 390 million people in more than 120 countries each year, killing more than 25,000, according to the World Health Organization. projects. FPI is composed of 34 indus- Gas (GHG) (carbon dioxide) emissions, Symptoms are often mild but more than By Maricel V. Cruz try associations and 120 manufacturer- and a rationale evaluation of the Philip- two million people annually develop more THE Federation of Philippine Industries members. pine policy on Renewable Energies, Ar- serious symptoms—which can involve sehas urged Congress to craft a measure “This is not only misplaced but re- ranza said. vere headaches, pain behind the eyes, a that will mitigate the effects of climate flects a complete lack of understandFPI said the Philippines is already a mini- rash, pain in the joints, muscles or bones change, vowing to help lawmakers to ing of local conditions,” Arranza said, mal contributor to carbon emissions—both and leaking blood vessels. continuously advocate for rationale gov- adding that “the country’s response to on a total and per capita basis—relative to Asia is home to some 70 percent of cases ernment policy and industry action on Greenhouse Gas reductions should ra- the rest of the world accompanied with high worldwide. In the Philippines 200,000 cases the issue. tionally be based on co-benefit meas- penetration of renewable energy capacity. were reported in 2013, according to Sanofi. In a letter to the House committee on ures such as forestation.” Despite the fact that the PhilipThe company said the vaccine should energy, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. “On the other hand more developed pines accounts for 1.37 percent of the prevent eight out of 10 dengue hospitalizaReynaldo Umali, FPI called on the align- countries such as the United States have world’s population, it only contributes tions and up to 93 percent of severe haemorment of climate change options to nation- capabilities for reductions in coal power 0.24 percent of the global CO2 emissions rhagic dengue fever cases. al priorities, circumstances and capabili- plant capacities which the Philippines and significantly lower than one percent “This initiative sends a strong message ties being a signatory to the 2015 Manila does not have in the foreseeable future,” of the other GHGs On a CO2 emissions to the rest of the... world that dengue Declaration on Climate Change. Arranza said. per capita per annum basis, this translates vaccination is a critical addition to Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza, FPI chairman, FPI has been urging climate change to 0.9 metric tons CO2 per capita much integrated disease prevention efforts,” lamented the recent call of Former USA mitigation in the context of co-benefits lower relative to more developed countries Sanofi said in a statement. Vice President Al Gore during his visit such as robust reforestation, traffic de- such as the United States (17), Germany Sanofi’s two-decade effort to develop the to the Philippines for “people power” ac- congestion noting that vehicles snarled (8.9), China (6.7), and even neighboring vaccine included 25 clinical studies in 15 tion versus Philippine coal power plant in traffic results in large Greenhouse Thailand (4.5). countries. AFP

Traders push ‘climate change’ measures

Ejercito barred from leaving PH; HDO against four others By Rio N. Araja THE Sandiganbayan on Monday issued a hold departure order on Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito for alleged graft in connection with the questionable procurement of high-powered firearms valued at P2.1 million in 2008. The Fifth Division also issued HDOs on five former members of San Juan City’s bids and awards committee—ex-city administrator Ranulfo Dacalos, ex-treasurer Rosalinda Marasigan, ex-city attorney Romualdo de los Santos, ex-city budget officer Lorenza Ching and ex-city engineer Danilo Mercardo. “This court, in exercise of its inherent power to use all means necessary to carry its orders into effect... orders the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to hold

departure from the Philippines of the above-named accused and to include the names of said accused on the Hold Departure List of said Bureau,” the order read. Associate Justices Rafael Lagos, Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Zaldy Trespeses signed the order. The Office of the Ombudsman indicted Ejercito and the other accused of graft charges and filed the complaint before the anti-graft court. Ejercito was slapped with one count of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act. Ejercito and 14 others were also charged with one count of illegal use of public funds or malversation of the Revised Penal Code before the Sixth Division.

Controversies. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez (right) and former MRT general manager Al

Vitangcol field questions from newsmen on issues of the day such as the MRT operations and the slowpaced rehabilitation of areas ravaged by Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ during Monday’s Samahang Plaridel Kapihan at Manila Hotel. EY ACASIO (Story on A4)

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A6 Plunder suspect cleared to travel to HK, Tokyo By Rey Requejo THe Supreme Court has allowed businessman Jaime Dichaves, a co-defendant in the plunder case against ousted president and now Manila City Mayor Joseph estrada, to travel to Hong Kong and Tokyo, Japan for 15 days to accompany her 89-year-old mother for a family reunion. In a resolution, the SC’s Second Division granted the plea of Dichaves to travel abroad subject to several conditions including the retention of the P1-million cash bond he posted in September 2015 when his request to travel to Hong Kong, Shenzen, Guanzhou, and Shanghai for business purposes was approved. Dichaves requested for a 15 days travel to Hong Kong and Tokyo, Japan either on April, May, or June of this year. The tribunal approved Dichavez’s travel on March 9, and sets conditions such as the filing of a manifestation before the Sandiganbayan executive clerk of court informing the latter of the final departure date from the country, the final arrival date and all, pertinent flight information relating to his travels, including travel information to and from the places indicated in his motion. The high court also required the petitioner to limit his travel to the places stated in his motion. It also directed Dichaves to present the passport of his mother elena Dichaves before the Sandiganbayan within five days after his return including photocopies of the pages indicating the stamped exit and entry of arrival in the country duly authenticated by the Sandiganbayan executive Clerk of Court.

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Comelec one-second rule cuts voting hours by four By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

The Commission on elections has decided to reduce by four hours the voting period on May 9, 2016 by imposing a “touch-move” rule on voters. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said that from the estimated 20 hours, the voting period is expected to last 16 hours as a result of the rule allowing voters to verify their choices on screen by a second. But Jimenez noted that the one-second, on-screen

verification rule will leave the voters with no more time to correct or alter their choices of candidates. He advised the voters to make sure that their votes are final before they feed the ballots into the machines. “The challenge to all voters is to make sure that his

on-screen verification. “We cannot remove that feature anymore since it would necessitate a new source code. But we can certainly shorten it,” Comelec chairman Andres Bautista explained in an earlier interview. Jimenez said that the Comelec is also looking into the possibility for the Board of election Inspectors to sign every voter receipt to ensure its authenticity given that the receipt has no any codes, precinct numbers, and other security marks.

The election process, Jimenez said, will start at exactly 5 a.m or one hour before the 6 a.m. voting period where the BeI or election worker will print an initialization report from the vote count machines. During the voting, when the voters feed the ballot, the machine will automatically view his or her votes in the screen for one second and print an unsecured receipt, containing the names of candidates that a voter has chosen.

Tax break. Vice President Jejomar Binay makes a strong pitch for his advocacy for workers’ tax break during a tour of Pampanga’s Best Factory Warehouse in Pampanga. LINo SANToS

Inc holds historic service in Jerusalem THe Iglesia ni Cristo announced on Friday that executive Minister eduardo V. Manalo officiated a special worship service of an INC locale in Jerusalem in Israel, the center and birthplace of Christianity. INC spokesperson edwil Zabala revealed that the service coincided with the 20th anniversary of the registration of the Iglesia in Israel. This was a historic event for us. It was like a spiritual homecoming for our executive Minister, to be at the heart of where Christinanity started and blossomed,” Zabala said. Manalo’s Israeli visit also coincided with the ordina-

or her ballot is clean and he or she has written the correct choices of candidates because we are exercising a touch-move kind of voting,” Jimenez said. During the oral argument for the printing of voter receipts, the Supreme Court questioned the Comelec’s decision to activate the on-screen verification feature of the VCMs when it is not even required by the election Automation Law. The SC’s remark prompted the Comelec to shorten the time for the

tion of 10 new ministers, which the spokesperson characterized as proof of the growing reach and influence of the Church in europe and parts of the Middle east. Both the service and the ordination were streamed live via video link to various INC chapels in the Philippines and throughout the world. Manalo had also inaugurated several new chapels in North America earlier this year. Last February and March, Manalo led the opening of 300-seating capacity edifices in Bakersfield, California, Jersey City, New

Jersey and Orange Park, Florida. A chapel in Lubbock, Texas had a 484-seating capacity for the main worship hall and another 150 people for the function hall, while another one in Regina, Canada accommodated 250 in the main hall and 100 in its function hall. “The INC leadership is doing its best to fulfill the requests of our members to build new houses of worship in their areas. Our goal is to serve our brethren wherever they are and make them feel Christ’s and the Church’s presence in their own localities,” Zabala said.

Grateful.

Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez delivers his message of gratitude to President Benigno Aquino lll, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, other House leaders and thousands of employees during the monthly flagraising ceremony at the House of Representatives for showing ‘malasakit’ in the approval of his pet measure into law giving additional benefits to persons with disabilities (PWDs). VeR NoVeNo

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NEWS

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Gunmen kill woman in front of family By Mel Caspe

Over dead bodies. A boy walks on top of tombs after his graduation ceremony in Cebu City. Around 50 families live in this cemetery. RALPH PIEZAS

CoA: Recover P443-m PDAF coursed through PhilForest By Rio N. Araja

THE Commission on Audit maintains that the government must recover P443.29 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund funneled by various legislators through the Philippine Forest Corp. to fake non-government organizations in 2012 and earlier years. Despite the approval by Malacañang of the abolition of PhilForest in November 2013 and the official cessation of its operations in January 2014, the Commission released a March 31 report of the receivables and unpaid obligations of the dissolved government-owned and controlled corporations that could be included for

possible write-off. The money must be returned to the Bureau of Treasury in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling that declared PDAF unconstitutional. The Forest Management Bureau under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was designated to wrap up PhilForest’s remaining business.

In a Feb. 18 letter to the audit team, FMB said the dissolved corporation had P25.48 million balance of the pork barrel fund in its account with the Land Bank of the Philippines that was ready to be refunded to the BTr. Audit observation memoranda as well as notices of suspension and disallowance were sent to FMB for the collection of the PDAF receivable from the NGOs identified as Kapuso’t Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (KKFI), Maharlikang Lipi Foundation Inc. (MLFI), and the Kalipunan ng mga Samahan ng Mamamayan Inc. (KASAMA), Focus on Development Goals Foundation Inc. (FDGFI), Inter-

active Training Opportunity on Needs Alleviation Movement Inc. (ITONAMI), Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation Inc. (KMFI), Livedures Foundation Inc. (LFI), and Workphil Foundation Inc. (WFI). The 2012 and 2013 audit reports named Senators Manuel Lapid and Gregorio Honasan as sources of the PDAF along with Representatives Ma. Evita R. Arago (Laguna), Ponciano Payuyo (APEC), Jose Benjamin Benaldo (Cagayan de Oro City), Nicanor Briones (AGAP), Salvador Cabaluna (1-CARE), Ramon Durano (Cebu), Antonio Kho (Masbate), Michael Angelo C. Rivera (1-CARE), Nelson Dayanghirang (Davao Oriental),

Antonio Alvarez (Palawan), Isidro Lico (Ating Koop), Yevgeny Vicente Emano (Misamis Oriental), Fatima Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte), Teodorico Haresco (Aklan), Raymond Democrito Mendoza (TUCP), Jose Aquino (Agusan del Norte), Robert Raymund Estrella (Abono), Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro), Maria Isabelle Climaco (Zamboanga City) and Rodolfo Valencia (Oriental Mindoro). The audit body recommended that available records of the PDAF transactions be forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation and possible filing of criminal charges.

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar—Unidentified gunmen on board a motorcycle shot a 32-yearold businesswoman in front of her family along the newly constructed diversion road on Sunday evening. Police identified the victim as Ma. Apple Tan, married and a resident of Purok 4, Sitio Sto. Niño of San Andres village here. Initial reports showed that the victim, with her 29-year-old husband and threeyear-old son were onboard a motorcycle on their way home at around 7:40 p.m. The suspects, believed to be waiting for their arrival in a dark portion of the highway, approached the family, shot the victim and immediately fled to the north of the highway. The gunman, according to the police, was wearing a black T-shirt and black short pants, while the driver of the black Honda Dream motorcycle with no plate number was wearing green T-shirt. Tan was hit on the left portion of her head. She died instantly. Probers were able to recover one fired cartridge of a .45 caliber hand gun. The motive of the killing is not yet known and a manhunt for the suspects has been launched.

Rise in HIV-AIDS cases alarms Zamboanga officials By A. Perez Rimando

Quite the catch. A fisherman harvests golden tilapia along the Baroro River in Bacnotan, La Union. CHRISTINE JUNIO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga Sibugay—The continuous increase of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome cases in this highly urbanized city has alarmed local health officials. Dulce Amor Miravite, chief of the City Health Office’s Reproductive Health and Wellness Center, said the office registered 177 HIV cases with 25 deaths in the past few years. One-hundred sixty-one of those cases were males.

One-hundred thirty-one of the cases were from the city while the others are transients. Miravite said latest CHO records showed that 2015 had the highest incidence as it registered 51 HIV cases with five deaths even as the health office had strengthened its advocacy against HIV and AIDS, focusing its activities on the sitios, barangays and public and private offices. She claimed the advocacy is also being undertaken in secondary and tertiary schools. Miravite said that most

of the current HIV-AIDS patients acquired the disease through, among others, men having sex with men, client of sex workers, female sex workers, male sex workers, and injecting drug users. She also claiming that men having sex with men is the most high-risk behavior that could lead to acquiring HIV. Miravite advised persons with high-risk behavior to come to the RHWC to voluntarily undergo HIV testing “so that they will know their status and what to do next.”

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

A SERIES ON THE POE DECISION

[ EDI TORI A L ]

WAY TO GO

A PORTION of the country’s highest mountain is on fire, there is a blackout at the airport, and the President is conspicuously silent about human rights atrocities by policemen who fired on hapless farmers in North Cotabato. These just about sum up, not the last few weeks of the administration, but the entire past six years under President Benigno Aquino III. The fire on the Davao del Sur side of Mt. Apo has engulfed more than 300 hectares of forest and grassland starting March 26. The Palace said national agencies and local governments are working in tandem to put out the fire, but it rages, still. Over the weekend, at least 78 flights were canceled after a power outage at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Saturday night to Sunday morning, causing thousands to be stranded. If we go by Mr. Aquino’s record in protecting and even defending his criminally incompetent Transportation secretary and his equally bumbling relative, the airport manager, it would be safe to assume nobody will be made to account for the losses and other inconveniences suffered by the public as a result of these cancellations. And now we learn that the police had used inordinate violence in dispersing a legitimate protest—farmers, ironically, asking that they be given rice because their families had been starving as a result of the drought. No less than the regional human rights commission official said that the farmers had been on their knees, begging for their life, and yet the cops shot anyway. Three died; many were injured. The following day, the cops earned commendation for what they had done. The Palace and the provincial and city executives insist the farmers have been organized by leftists out to sow unrest and that they had to be dispersed because they were hindering business traffic. Human rights groups demand an investigation as footage of the standoff clearly show violation of the farmers’ rights. But President Aquino himself has not yet said anything about what happened in Kidapawan City, giving the impression that he is calibrating his statements so he could turn the issue around to his, and his administration’s, advantage. We also can almost hear the Aquino-Abaya-Honrado trio saying this about the airport outage: It was not fatal, anyway. So let’s all just move on. Alas, the ongoing mountain fire may as well serve as a metaphor for all the fires Mr. Aquino has to put out now, most if not all of his own doing. In the end, he will be remembered for all these crises and his mishandling of them. These belie his claims to righteousness and expose him for the kind of leader that he is.

INSENSITIVE TO THE END LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES DO YOU really need more proof that this government doesn’t care whether you live or die? Or that this policy of not caring for people—least of all the poor and the oppressed— has already filtered down to the farthest outposts of this insensitive administration? No, you don’t. You just want to keep believing in the Yellow fairy tale, so you block out any inconvenient truth.

But there is one thing that is undeniable about what happened in Kidapawan City last Friday: The government in Manila couldn’t be bothered about 6,000 hungry farmers massing on a national highway, demanding rice, for four straight days. Under any other administration, the gathering of that many people under such potentially explosive circumstances would have merited instantaneous action. But according to all reports, the national government —led by that famous absenteelandlord President Noynoy Aquino—was not heard from during those four fateful days in

North Cotabato. Never mind if the important Cotabato-Davao highway was blocked by protesters during the entire period. It didn’t matter if the defusing of the situation was left entirely to the provincial government and the local police. The national government didn’t think that the crisis was important. And it deserves all the opprobrium it’s been getting for not being there when it mattered. All the “red-baiting” and political motive-searching is futile at this point. What is clear is that no one from Aquino, to

The message was that the protesters got what they deserved—even if rice was all they really wanted.

his Departments of Agriculture, National Defense and Social Welfare and Development, to the National Food Authority and the Philippine National Police, thought what was happening in Kidapawan was worthy enough of their time and attention. And so, when North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, a Liberal Party member seeking reelection unopposed, decided she had had enough of the peasants’ peaceful sit-down protest, she ordered the police to simply break up the blockade. And they did so with water cannon, truncheons and guns, because that is all the police have, by way of tools at their disposal.

(If you still don’t believe that Mendoza was acting alone and could have benefited from outside advice, you can’t explain why she felt “insulted” when other people started trucking in rice to give to the starving peasants. Only someone who didn’t fully understand the repercussions of what happened last Friday—who could not, in effect, see beyond the borders of her province and think outside of the insensitive Yellow world-view—could say such a thing.) No one even thought to give rice

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to the farmers, even if they were just sitting in front of an NFA warehouse where 15,000 sacks of the staple had been stockpiled. Because it was a police operation ordered by the ill-advised and unsupervised (but philosophically correct) governor, the whole thing became a simple dispersal operation. No sympathy was needlessly expended. No lengthy and useless negotiations were required. And when the police opened fire at the farmers, there was simply a feeling of inevitability about the whole thing.

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The message was, clearly, that the protesters got what they deserved—even if rice was all they really wanted. *** As it was in Yolanda, through Mamasapano, and now in Kidapawan, the haciendero-run government of Aquino thought it needn’t bother with showing empathy. After all, El Niño mitigation programs have already been put in place for the longest time. What right did these farmers have to take to the streets, when the government had Continued on A11

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

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

WITH this column, I start a series of articles on the Supreme Court decision which qualified Grace Poe to run for the presidency. The judgment overturned the adverse rulings by the Comelec against Poe. In the 47-page decision penned by Associate Justice Jose Perez, the Supreme Court pronounced the Comelec resolutions, both at the division level and en banc, as “diseased with grave abuse of discretion from roots to fruit”. If affirmed, these Comelec decisions, according to Chief Justice Sereno, would have resulted in the “illegitimate elimination of an electoral choice, a choice who appears to be one of the frontrunners in all the relevant surveys.” To those still in doubt about what the Supreme Court decided, the exact text of the dispositive section of the majority opinion (law students know this is the most important part of the decision) says it all. It does not only annul the Comelec decisions canceling her Certificate of Candidacy but it specifically and categorically, without qualification, states that Grace Poe is qualified as candidate for president. One expects that another case will be filed if Poe wins, a quo warranto proceeding this time before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, also composed by the Chief Justice and all 14 members of the Supreme Court. It does not take rocket science, though, to predict what will happen in that case given the numbers in the majority and minority and the doctrinal pronouncements of the Justices in the current case. If Poe won this case without political backing relying purely on legal and moral argument, her case will even be stronger with the backing of the people who would have elected her president come May 9. For sure, the Poe decision will be recognized as a classic and iconic decision of the Supreme Court. It is relevant not only for constitutional and election law but also for human rights, family law, the law on evidence, and international law. As a constitutional professor and scholar, reading through the hundreds of pages of the various opinions, I am able to admire the deliberateness that characterized the Supreme Court decision in this case. Indeed, it is comforting to know that you have a Court that debated and considered all angles of this important case. This landmark decision will be praised for its scholarship and practical wisdom, in particular in upholding the rights of foundlings and global Filipinos. Continued on A11 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

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Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

A SERIES ON THE POE DECISION

[ EDI TORI A L ]

WAY TO GO

The message was that the protesters got what they deserved—even if rice was all they really wanted.

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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

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

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

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 5 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

I SAW HISTORY DUTERTE PROMISES TO RESTORE AN IMPORTANT BUT FORGOTTEN RIGHT IN THE MAKING (4) TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

MARTIAL Law. At midnight on Sept. 21, 1972, Proclamation No. 1081 was issued by President Ferdinand Marcos, closing all media outlets—print, radio and television. Wellknown critics of Marcos and the administration were also rounded up. Later in the morning of Sept. 22, I was told by my boss, Roberto Benedicto, to go to Malacañang because Marcos was ready to announce the justification of Martial Law. With Channel 9’s television crew, and with Babe Romualdez as the anchor, we prepared for the President’s announcement. Then Press Secretary Kit Tatad would introduce it.

I told the council that we should stop censorship of foreign media since that would lead to speculation and condemnation of the administration.

Marcos justified Martial Law under the 1935 Constitution when an invasion or rebellion threatened the security of the state. He said that the state was faced with two cases of rebellion, one from the communist force that was already at Balara, beside the University of the Philippines, and another one, the separatist/ independence movement in Mindanao by Nur Misuari’s Moro National Liberation Front. The Supreme Court later on ruled that Proclamation 1081 was needed in the face of a real and imminent rebellion from two fronts, given that at that time, there were only 48,000 members of

the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I must say that Proclamation 1081 was well planned because there was no effective resistance except for the siege of the Iglesia ni Kristo compound in Quezon City. After a day or two, I got word that I was named by Marcos as one of the three members of the Media Advisory Council that would implement PD 1081 in media. I was president of the Manila Overseas Press Club at that time. This meant that the MAC would be in charge of censoring media. The council was headed then by Tibo Mijares of the Daily Express owned by Benedicto, the only publication that continued to be published despite Martial Law. The other member, Ray Pedroche, was in charge of radio and television. Knowing how the foreign press works, I told the council that we should stop censorship of foreign media since that would lead to a lot of speculation and condemnation of Marcos and Martial Law. Soon enough, Mijares told us that “with the approval of the President, this or that media outlet would be reopened. He became a one-man MAC with the authority of President Marcos.” I resigned because the MAC had become a money-raising tool for some people. Back as public affairs manager of KBS (Kanlaon Broadcasting System) operating Channel 2, Mabuhay Broadcasting GTV-4 (government television station), RPN-Channel 9 and IBC-Channel 13, I thought of an idea on how to get radio and television out of the ambit of Martial Law. Channel 7 was also operating then but under Bob Stewart, with limited programs and foreign films. ABS-CBN and the Manila Times Channel 5 were closed. I called representatives of radio and television to a meeting at the office of the late Emil Tuazon and Andrei Khan, and with the permission of thenMinister of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, the administrator of Martial Law, we organized the KBP or the Kapisanan ng

THE rights of the people in a functioning democracy are not limited to those guaranteed by the Constitution, or those provided by laws. There are also rights which are so basic in a free society that they need not even be mentioned in the charter or written in the statute books as a prerequisite to their enjoyment by the people. At a forum for presidential and vice presidential candidates held weeks ago at the De La Salle University campus in Manila, only presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, showed up. The other candidates confirmed their attendance but canceled at the last minute when they found out that Duterte was attending. Presidential candidate Grace Poe was likewise a no-show. At that time, Poe was still in the shadow of the disqualification cases pending against her before the Supreme Court. Duterte utilized the forum to clarify his uncompromising stand on criminality in Davao City. He explained that he authorizes his policemen to shoot only at heinous criminals who are surrounded by law enforcers and who refuse0 to surrender. That type of killing, Duterte emphasized, is authorized by the law itself, and is not a violation of human rights. In addition, Duterte successfully downplayed the accusation of human rights abuses hurled against him by ex-Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who is running for senator under the administration party. De Lima had earlier announced to the news media that Duterte committed numerous documented human rights abuses during his incumbency as city mayor. If that is so, Duterte countered, then why didn’t De Lima take legal action against him, particularly when De Lima

mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas to be a self-policing body. I was its first president. Sure, there were abuses, atrocities and human rights violations during Martial Law. As they say, absolute power corrupts absolutely. There were also instances of plunder by people in power, especially by the well-known cronies. But Martial Law also had its brighter side. The communist insurgency backbone was broken; the separatist/ independence movement was also broken with the self-exile to Egypt by Misuari; the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao came into being after the Tripoli Peace Agreement was signed; massive infrastructure was started with the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon

At the end of Duterte’s revelations, the audience reciprocated with thunderous applause. Almost all of them belong to the younger sector of Philippine voters. Indeed, the Duterte formula may sound like a sweeping statement, was still the Justice secretary and, but it has substance to it, and it therefore, the head of the prosecu- may just work if it is given a realtion service? Duterte dismissed De istic chance. Just imagine walking Lima’s tirades as hollow remarks. on the streets at any time of the day During the open forum that fol- and night, safe, secure, and unmolowed the speeches, one question lested because drunks, drug adfocused on Duterte’s promise to rid dicts, and petty thieves are afraid of the country of crime and corrup- incorruptible, dedicated policemen tion. Duterte replied that he will on patrol. There will be less deindeed deliver on his promise to pendence on motor vehicles, which fight crime and corruption within thus reduces carbon monoxide three to six months from assuming emissions. A wholesome nighttime office. industry consisting of snack outlets, Duterte lamented that the people coffee shops, and small restaurants have forgotten that they have the in- will bloom. More establishments herent right to walk on the streets mean more employment and revat any time of the day and night, enues, which lead to more tax payfree and secure from being killed, ments. In turn, more tax payments harmed, robbed, or molested. Af- result in more public funds which ter reminding his listeners about can pay for the continuing increase this forgotten right, the mayor as- in the salaries of policemen. sured everyone that he will restore Let’s face it. Incorrigible crimithis basic right to the people. The nals will only listen to a language first step, he said, was to raise the they understand, and that lansalaries of policemen and to give guage is undoubtedly the strongthem realistic access to social secu- man language spoken exclusively by rity. This way, Duterte continued, Duterte. policemen will not be easily temptMany welcome the news that the ed with bribes. The next step is to Integrated Bar of the Philippines make police presence visible and and several distinguished legal felt everywhere, as in the United minds have joined the legal fight to States. disqualify Senator Grace Poe from How does that relate to fight- running for president in May 2016 ing corruption in government? by manifesting their views to the Duterte replied that when the Supreme Court. streets are safe again at any time of Earlier, the Supreme Court, in the day and night, it means that po- a decision written by Justice Jose licemen are doing their job honestly Perez, ruled that Poe is presumed and efficiently, and that when the to be a natural-born citizen of the cops are honest and efficient, every- Philippines mainly on account of body else in society, the public and a statistical inference made by the private sectors alike, will have sec- Office of the Solicitor General, and ond thoughts about offering bribes, the physical features of Poe herand everybody will be compelled to self. That opinion has triggered obey the law once and for all. Continued on A11

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

Expressway, the Marcos Highway to Baguio, the Philippine Japanese Highway to Mindanao, and the construction of LRT 1. Lest I am accused of minimizing the abuses committed during Martial Law, I am not. I’m just citing facts. At least, during Martial Law, policemen and soldiers did not shoot and kill innocent civilians who were only asking for rice because they were starving. During the incumbency of Cory Aquino, it was Mendiola Massacre and the Hacienda Luisita Massacre. Now, under BS Aquino, it’s the Kidapawan Massacre. When Ninoy Aquino was assassinated at the international airport tarmac, the economy was on the verge of collapse. That compelled then-Trade Minister Roberto Ongpin

to create what was known as the Binondo Central Bank where some eight well-known Chinese foreign exchange traders were forced to trade as Ongpin saw fit. Ongpin said they would be arrested and put in stockade if they didn’t follow orders. He also dictated, day to day, the rate of the peso vis-a-vis the dollar. Ongpin brought the exchange rate from P28 to P11. I am particularly proud of Ongpin’s achievement since he was the one that saved the economy from collapse. He was my student at Ateneo High School. Some Marcos-haters who were not yet born or were just babies at that time do not know that it was Imelda who sent the late Ninoy Aquino to Houston, Texas to have

an urgent heart operation, and even continued to subsidize the Aquino family in Boston where the Aquino family was in exile. People of this generation also do not realize that it was Imelda who brought forth the renaissance in Philippine arts and culture. It was she who oversaw the construction of five-star hotels in Makati and Manila, as well as the Philippine International Convention Center, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine Trade and Film Center, and the World Trade Center. The Marcos years also did some good for the country. And I believe that history will judge the Marcos years fairly despite some sectors, Continued on A11

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

SUBVERTING MYANMAR’S CONSTITUTION FOR ITS OWN GOOD By Noah Feldman WHEN the first act of a new legislature is to circumvent its country’s written constitution, it’s usually a bad sign. Not so in Myanmar, where the democratically elected parliament moved last week to create the post of “state counselor” and give the job to Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader and symbol of Myanmar’s long struggle against military dictatorship. She’s banned from serving as president by the constitution enacted under the military government that preceded hers, under a provision meant to prevent her from taking the office. Getting around it is a triumph of constitutional creativity and respect, not a worrisome undercutting of the rule of law. There’s a key lesson here about constitutions, their drawbacks, and their value: A constitution is more than its formal text. What matters more is how the institutions of government actually operate to give legitimacy to the exercise of state power. A functional constitution is one with the flexibility to

Duterte... From A10 nationwide controversy because those grounds are not found in the text of or the intention behind the Constitution. Moreover, the ruling does not have the support of a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court, as pointed out by Justice Antonio Carpio, one of five justices who voted to disqualify Poe. To be a

I saw... From A10 including BS Aquino, trying to spook people about having Senator Bongbong Marcos as vice president. They say that Martial Law would be resurrected. My gulay, I suggest BS Aquino look at the 1987 Constitution which his late mother had framed. He would see that Martial Law is now a near-impossible scenario. Besides, wasn’t BS Aquino’s late grandfather, Benigno S. Aquino Sr., in charge of the dreaded “Makapili” during the Japanese Occupation rule for over three years? The “Makapili” were instrumental in the killing of alleged guerrilla fighters and their relatives. They were portrayed with bayongs over their heads, pointing to the Japanese whom to kill. BS Aquino’s late grandfather was charged with treason when liberation came. He was sent to prison but soon, all Japanese collaborators were given amnesty. Filipinos did not take this epi-

make effective governance possible while sustaining public acceptance and approval. Myanmar’s constitution has an unappetizing pedigree. But it’s on its way to working anyway—precisely because so far it’s being treated as flexible enough to accommodate legitimate government. The background in this instance is Suu Kyi’s career as a dissident democracy activist and her multi-decade suppression by the military regime. Not only did the regime put her under house arrest for 15 years. It also used her family against her. She was unable to see her husband, who was British and lived in the UK. And ultimately, before it chose to democratize, the regime put a clause in the constitution that said anyone whose children weren’t Myanmar citizens couldn’t be president. Everyone understood that the provision was aimed specifically at The Lady, as her followers call her. She was the only political figure whose kids held foreign citizenship. And given the vagaries of politics and democratization, they’d have to be

crazy to give it up. After Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy handily won elections in 2015, speculation arose about how she would handle the ban. It seemed conceivable that she might go for outright defiance, taking it as an opportunity to challenge the former military leaders. But Suu Kyi cautiously decided not to go toe-to-toe with the regime’s remaining power brokers. Instead, she had herself named to three different cabinet posts, including foreign minister and minister to the presidency. She chose a proxy president who is expected to defer to her. Having done all that, she went a step further and had her party create the new state counselor job for her. Politically this was a smart move. The old regime in Myanmar didn’t have a crisis of conscience and abolish itself. Rather, the generals made a calculated judgment that their wealth would likely expand greatly if they moved to open the economy and democratize while retaining influence and the option to retake power.

binding precedent, the ruling must have the support of a majority. While the IBP assails the ruling for being devoid of a clear constitutional basis, it seems equivocal about the grounds relied upon in the decision. Fortunately, the lawyers who joined the legal battle criticize the ruling for relying on grounds which, as stated earlier, are not even found in the Constitution—like statistical probabili-

ties and physical features. Their opinions demonstrate the public’s disapproval of the decision. The Philippine Constitution Association is a guardian of the charter. Being so, the Philconsa should declare whether or not the decision in favor of Poe is supported by grounds warranted under the Constitution. The future of constitutionalism and the rule of law in this country demands it.

sode of history against Ninoy, Cory Aquino and even PNoy. Now, BS Aquino is resurrecting Martial Law against Bongbong, who is running only as vice president. BS Aquino is truly a hypocrite. Speaking of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino, I recall his exposé in the Senate that Marcos had some 400 Jabidah Muslims killed in Corregidor. That led foreign media to go all out against Marcos, saying that he was a fake hero of World War II. I am still wondering if that exposé had basis in fact. I do not want to write about the so-called People Power Revolution of 1986 when Enrile-Ramos-Honasan and the Reform the Armed Forces Movement caused the exile of Marcos. This chapter has been written and even distorted in so many ways. For one thing, it was not truly a People Power Revolution because only the middle class of society, nuns, priests, and students were there. It was only in Metro Manila.

Thanks to Marcos, he went to exile instead of following the request of the late Chief of Staff Fabian Ver to bomb the breakaway group. Marcos did not want blood on his hands. But I honestly believe that even without the people who went to Edsa to support the breakaway group, the coup could have succeeded anyway, having the support of 85 percent of the Armed Forces of the Philippines—the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. Unfortunately, Edsa 1 benefitted only the Aquinos, not the nation as a whole. The people are still confronting the problems that Edsa 1 sought to eradicate— poverty, graft and corruption, government incompetence, its lack of compassion and sensitivity to the people’s needs. Worst of all, the hypocrisy! The last episode of this series will dwell on the post-Edsa 1 presidents—Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and now BS Aquino.

Insensitive... From A9 already declared (unilaterally and on paper, of course) that all their problems had been solved? Because Aquino cannot understand the concept of empathy, he simply buries his head in the sand, disappearing from view and not saying a word when it is demanded of him. Because, by his lights, he has already done everything he possibly can, he fails to grasp the idea that glowing macro-economic data is not all that is expected of a president. The fact is, this president doesn’t really care about anyone outside of his family, his former classmates and his buddies. He never has and he

never will. Accept that—even if you are still a fan and will vote for his clone, who can only promise you more of the same in the next six years—and perhaps you will realize that you shouldn’t ever come running to this government, even if it’s just for rice. Especially if you’re poor and far away from Manila, you just can’t do that. The hacienda owner cannot attend to your petty concerns. He will let his overzealous, equally empathy-challenged foremen like Mendoza handle them, in the only way they know how—by giving you bullets instead of rice. That’s the way they deal with problems like that in Luisita, after all. And that’s just the way it is.

Suu Kyi would like to make sure the transition to democracy can’t be reversed. For now, that means playing ball with the people who oppressed her people, locked her up and wouldn’t let her see her husband even when he was dying. Yet at the same time she chose not to confront the regime directly, Suu Kyi decided to she could outfox the opposition politicians associated with it by creating a quasi-presidential role outside the official presidency. That shows her understanding that on some level, it doesn’t matter what the constitution says. What matters is what it will practically allow. The Lady is therefore respecting the constitutional text while subverting it. Will the constitution survive and prosper? That all depends on how the situation plays out. The public that elected Suu Kyi surely embraces the circumvention of the constitution. It will seem legitimate to them, even if they doubt the legitimacy of a constitution enacted by the regime. If the generals don’t try to block

A series... From A9 It will be praised for its innovative recourse to statistics, international law, and a compassionate application of the rules of evidence. Through this case, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has cemented her intellectual and political leadership of the Court. The majority opinion was concurred in by eight other justices. Of these eight, five had separate concurring opinions, namely Chief Justice Sereno, and Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardeleza and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa. That leaves three who did not file separate concurring opinions. Of these three, Justices Lucas Bersamin and Jose Mendoza signed the majority opinion without qualifications, while Justice Diosdado Peralta joined the separate opinion of Caguioa. Five Justices wrote dissenting opinions—Justice Antonio Carpio, Justice Arturo Brion, Justice Teresita de Castro, Justice Mar del Castillo and Justice Estela Bernabe. Justice Bienvenido Reyes joined Justice Bernabe in her dissent. Even if I do not agree with them, I have observed that the dissents are as well written and as strongly argued as the majority and concurring opinions. All nine Justices in the majority opinion agree that Senator Poe did not commit any material misrepresentation in her Certificate of Candidacy. On that basis alone, for Justice Caguioa, the Comelec decisions should be nullified. There is nothing new in this pronouncement. The PET has sole jurisdiction to rule on election disputes related to qualifications. The Comelec can cancel Certificates of Candidacy if there is an express fraud or misrepresentation, like providing the wrong birth date or residence but not if the issues go to the core qualifications, for example the legal status of the candidate. When Poe filed her CoC, she believed she was Filipino and a resident for 10 years. Her lawyers told her so. A constitutional lawyer and election professor like me would have told her so. Procedural issues aside, the majority also squarely addressed the issues raised in the petitions, namely, the citizenship and residency of Poe. In ruling that Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen, the Court made a factual finding. They based this on Poe having typical Filipino features and was abandoned in Catholic Church in a municipality where the population of the Philippines is overwhelmingly Filipinos such that there would

Suu Kyi from holding the new office, that will be a signal that they’re satisfied by her willingness to go around the text of their constitution rather than defying it outright. They would be compromising, much as Suu Kyi is. Eventually, her party will probably try to amend the constitution. That’s fine—because by then the principle of nominal respect for the document will have served its purpose. In the meantime, the choice to get around the intent and text of the constitution by creating the state counselor position shows what flexible government can look like. What matters for a successful democratic constitution is that the institutions of government function; that the political actors reach compromise on how the state will run; that the voting public finds the whole thing to be legitimate, and that regular elections and free politics keep the government honest. By these measures, Myanmar’s constitution is off to a good start— even though the first government act was designed to get around it. Bloomberg

be more than a 99-percent chance that a child born in the province would be a Filipino. This would indicate more than ample probability if not statistical certainty, that her parents are Filipinos. To assume otherwise is to accept the absurd, if not the virtually impossible, as the norm, the Court added. Parenthetically, according to the Court, the burden of proof was on private respondents to show that Poe is not a Filipino citizen. The private respondents should have shown that both of her parents were aliens. Her admission that she is a foundling did not shift the burden to her because such status did not exclude the possibility that her parents were Filipinos, especially as in this case where there is a high probability, if not certainty, that her parents are Filipinos. Discussing further, the Court said that as a matter of law, foundlings are, as a class, natural-born citizens. While the 1935 Constitution’s enumeration is silent as to foundlings, there is no restrictive language which would definitely exclude foundlings either. The Court also said that both domestic and international laws grant citizenship to foundlings. Thus, our adoption laws require that the adoptee must be a Filipino in the first place to be adopted. International laws which form part of the laws of our country, such as Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child also confer citizenship to foundlings. On the matter of Poe’s residence, the Court also made a factual finding and gave full credence to her assertion that she will have been a resident for 10 years and 11 months on the day before the 2016 elections. The Court cited the voluminous records presented by Poe showing that she reestablished her domicile in the Philippines as early as May 24, 2005 and not November 2006, the date she inadvertently, albeit in good faith, indicated in her CoC as senator. For the majority of the Court, it is the fact of residence, not the statement of the person that determines residence for purposes of compliance with the constitutional requirement of residency for election as President. The legal fight over Poe’s qualifications is over; she has won that decisively. But the political contest is not done. Whether Poe wins that as well is up to the people. And rightly so. Facebook: tonylavs5 or Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Warriors bounce back; Cavs score OAKLAND—Stephen Curry scored 39 points as the Golden State Warriors bounced back from defeat with a 136-111 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

FIFA execs, Platini, Messi named in secret files PARIS—Disgraced FIFA officials, suspended UEFA chief Michel Platini and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi were amongst the names found Sunday in leaked documents which reveal offshore financial dealings. ‘The Panama Papers’ claim the law firm of a FIFA ethics watchdog had business relationships with three men recently indicted in football’s global corruption scandal. Documents also bring to light how some players use offshore companies to bank money from image rights deals. The findings are the result a year-long investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and other media outlets. The records show that a law firm belonging to Juan Pedro Damiani, a member of FIFA’s Independent Ethics Committee, did work for offshore companies linked to Eugenio Figueredo, a former FIFA vice president who has been indicted in the US on wire fraud and money laundering charges. “The records do not show illegal conduct by Damiani or his law firm. But they do raise new questions for Damiani and FIFA,” said the report issued by the ICIJ. A spokesman for the ethics panel told the ICIJ that Damiani had informed the committee in March that he has had business ties to Figueredo. However, the panel has launched an investigation into Damiani’s relationship with Figueredo. AFP

A shot of the jersey belonging to Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is shown after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Local bets pace regional match play CEBU—Mark Anthony Dy matched par 72 while Lois Kaye Go carded a three-over 75 as the local aces took charge in their respective divisions at the start of the 36-hole stroke play eliminations of the first MVPSF Visayas Regional Match Play Championship at the Cebu Country Club here yesterday. Dy gunned down four birdies to negate a double-bogey mishap on No. 3 and bogeys on Nos. 9 and 12 as he strung up nines of 37-35 to post a one-stroke lead over Rolando Pila and zero in on the top seeding heading to the knockout phase tomorrow (Wednesday). Pila actually blew a two-under card with a disastrous triple-bogey six on the par-3 No. 15, dropping to second with a 73 while Chepe Dulay turned in a 75 for third followed by fancied Rupert Zaragosa, who struggled with a 76, and Jolo Magcalayo, Airon Sorino and Marko Sarmiento, who all shot 78s.

Zaragosa, winner of last year’s Philippine Junior Amateur Open crown, rebounded from a woeful 40 start with birdies on the first two holes at the back. But after a run of pars, he stumbled with a double-bogey on the final hole and wound up with a 76 and fell four strokes off Dy. Go, meanwhile, took a threestroke lead over Angela Mangana in the ladies side of the week-long event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT, Metro Pacific Invesments Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission and held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour. The Cebuana ace stumbled with a triple-bogey on the par-4 14th but struck back with backto-back birdies from No. 16 to salvage a 38-37 card. Mangana recovered a bit from an opening 40 with a closing 38 to take second while Kristine Torralba and reigning national stroke play cham-

pion Harmie Constantino groped for form with a pair of 81s in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines. Thomas Ngo, Harvey Sytiongsa and Jonas Magcalayo also submitted 79s while Ariel Mangana and Miguel Guerrero shot similar 80s, in the men’s side of the event where the top 32 players will move to the next phase where play shifts from medal to match. The top 16 in the ladies section will also advance with the survivors set to slug it out in grueling quarters and semis phases on Thursday and the 36-hole finale on Friday. Meanwhile, the Philippine Junior Amateur Open Golf Championship (Stroke Play) will be held April 14-17 at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite with the NGAP also set to hold the Philippine Amateuer Open Match Play Golf Championship on April 2529 at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmarinnas, Cavite.

The Warriors, whose charge towards a season record of 73 wins stumbled with a defeat to Boston on Friday, improved to 69-8. The Warriors have won every match that has immediately followed each of their eight defeats this season. No team has ever finished a season without at least one set of consecutive losses. Curry was once again the talisman for the Warriors, making nine of the Warriors’ 18 three-pointers. Curry also chipped in with six rebounds and seven assists, but was almost outscored by Portland point guard Damian Lillard, who poured in 38 points. Elsewhere Sunday, LeBron James paid tribute to Cleveland’s endurance as the Cavaliers scored a 112103 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. James scored 31 points and made 12 assists while J.R. Smith chipped in with 27 points as the Cavaliers shrugged off a grueling recent schedule to improve to 55-22. The Cavaliers had been taken to the wire in an overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday after a win over Brooklyn the previous night. After arriving back in Cleveland in the early hours of Saturday the Cavs were required to do it all over again with an early afternoon start against the Hornets. “We’ve played against some really good teams that’s been hot as of late,” James said. “For us to even have the energy the way we played today and go out and execute the way we did, it’s exceptional basketball.” AFP

Unheralded Herman tops Houston Open LOS ANGELES—Journeyman Jim Herman held off top 10 players Henrik Stenson and Dustin Johnson to win his first US PGA Tour title at the Houston Open on Sunday and book a Masters berth. Herman—a 38-year-old who was encouraged by Donald Trump to pursue his PGA Tour dream— had five birdies in a fourunder 68—including a spectacular chip-in from thick hillside rough at 16 that gave him a one-stroke lead he wouldn’t relinquish. “Sorry for the tears, but I’m really happy,” said

Herman, who was working at one of Trump’s golf courses when the tycoonturned-Presidential contender urged him to keep pushing his professional career. “He’s even helped me financially—he’s written me a check,” Herman said of Trump. Herman parred the last for the win after an agonizing wait on the 18th tee. His 15-under total of 273 gave him the narrow triumph over Stenson, the world number seven from Sweden who endured another in a long line of nearmisses worldwide since he

won the European Tour’s season-ending World Tour Championship in 2014. In a back-and-forth battle, Stenson had briefly taken the lead with a birdie at 13 and was tied for the lead after a birdie at 15. He had five birdies in a four-under 68 for 274, but narrowly missed an 18foot birdie attempt at the last that would have at least put him in a playoff. Herman’s victory was his first in 106 starts on the PGA Tour. Now Herman is headed to the first major of the year at Augusta National. AFP

Jim Herman of the United States celebrates his victory on the 18th green during the final round of the Shell Houston Open at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Battle for Jr World golf slots under way

Bad visibility. A Freerider climbs a

windswept Bec des Rosses mountain to compete for the men’s ski event at the Verbier Xtreme Freeride World Tour final on above the Swiss Alps resort of Verbier. The compwetition was cancelled due to bad visibility.

Red Lions, Falcons win THE San Beda Red Lions and the Adamson University Falcons got off to great starts Sunday in the opening games of the 22nd Fr. Martin Cup Summer Basketball Tournament at the St. Placid gym of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola. Newcomers JV Bahio and Calvin Oftana showed the way for the Red Lions, who blasted the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 74-50. Fil-Americans Rob Manalang and Boo Edwards came up with impressive games in leading the Falcons to an 82-78 beating of the Arellano University Chiefs, 82-78. Bahio shot 12 points, while Oftana banged in 10 points for the Red Lions, who took the early lead in the Group B. Manalang knocked in 14 points, and Edwards added 13 in the Franz Pumaren-coached Falcons’ efforts to post their first win in Group A. In the junior division, Kerby Dulatre made 26 points and Maui Cruz chipped in 16 points for the EAC-ICA Brigadiers in their 11046 stopping of St. Patrick School, whose participation was made possible through its vice president Peter Cruz.

FREE trips to Los Angeles via Philippine Airlines will be disputed in the Manila Southwoods Junior World Qualifying starting Tuesday at the Legends course of the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite. The division champions in six different age brackets will win the free round-trip tickets to Los Angeles where they will enter the United States en route to the annual Junior World Championships this coming July in San Diego, California. There are 140 juniors officially entered in the two-stage qualifying with the first for the 15-17, 13-14, 11-12 and 9-10 age-groups for 72-holes hosted by Manila Southwoods and the other to be held at the Riviera Sports Club for the 7-8 and 6-under years’ competitions for 54-holes.

“The jungolf community truly appreciates the continued support of PAL and our host venues Manila Southwoods and Riviera Sports Club. This partnership has made every Junior World qualifying successful,” said Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines chair Gerry Handog. The twin events also supported by the Philippine Golf Foundation will also determine the country’s official delegation to the Junior World. The top four boys and girls in the 15-17 years, the top three boys and girls in the 13-14, the top four boys and top three girls in the 11-12, the top three boys and top two girls in 9-10, the two boys and girls winner in the 7-8 and the top two boys and girls winner in the 6-under will represent the Philippines in the Junior World.

150 jins seek Olympic berths in Asian tourney ONE HUNDRED and fifty fighters from 35 countries will see action in the Asian taekwondo qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games scheduled on April 16 and 17 at the Marriott Convention Center Grand Ballroom at New Port City Complex in Pasay City. Four of the participants in the important event hosted by the Philippine Taekwondo Association and sanctioned by the World Taekwondo Federation are outstanding

Filipino jins Samuel Thomas Morrison Harper, Kristopher Robert Uy, Kirstie Elaine Alora and Pauline Louie Lopez. Among the top countries

represented in the tough qualifying competition are Iran, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Iraq, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Yemen. According to Organizing Committee Chairman and PTA CEO Sung Chon Hong, participants will bid for berths in four male and four female weight categories in taekwondo in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. The men will seek slots in the under 58 kilograms, under 68 kg, under 80 kg and over 80 kg cat-

egories while the women will vie in the under 49 kg, under 57 kg, under 67 kg and over 67 kg categories. Morrison and Uy will compete in under 80 kg and over 80 kg, respectively, while Lopez and Alora will gun for berths in under 57 kg and over 67 kg, respectively. The two-day event is supported by Smart Communications Inc., MVPSF, PLDT, Meralco, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

PSA Forum tackles PH National Open Athletics PHILIPPINE Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico and some of the proponents, sponsors and athletes of the coming 2016 Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships will appear in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswrit-

ers Association (PSA) Forum at the Shakey’s Restaurant in Malate Manila. Juico and his peers will talk about the coming National Open slated on April 7 to 9 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City in the public sports forum supported by San Miguel

Corp., Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Shakey’s and Accel, and aired live over Sports Radio 918. PSA members are enjoined to attend the forum, which starts exactly at 10:30 a.m.

Toby’s-Wilson tennis tilt slated JUNIOR tennis players all over the archipelago are invited to compete in the 15th Toby’s-Wilson Summer Tennis Festival slated from April 18 to 24 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. The seven-day tournament will have singles’ rankings for boys’ and girls’ 18-Under, 16-Under, 14-Under and the 12-Under age divisions and the 10-Under Unisex category. There will also be a non-ranking or beginner’s tournament for boys’ and girls’ 16-Under and 12-Under. Doubles’ ranking for

boys’ and girls’ 18-Under, 14-Under and 10-Under Unisex classes will also be available. More than 300 entries are expected to join the annual competition sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and supported by Toby’s Sports and Wilson, Equipe, AQ and Gatorade. Each player may enter in two categories at the most. The entry fee of P300 per player and category must be paid at the tournament venue. Players get a free event shirt and a chance to win exciting raffle prizes during

the opening ceremonies. Interested parties may get entry forms at Toby’s Sports outlets or they can be downloaded from Toby’s Sports Facebook page. Downloaded forms may be sent by fax to the Philta office at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center) at 525-2016, or emailed to chriscuarto@ hotmail.com or philippineten@yahoo.com.ph. Forms must be submitted on or before April 14 for the singles and April 19 for the doubles. For inquiries, call Philta’s Cesar San Juan at 523-6415 or 0916-3642632.

Wilson is the official ball of the coming 15th Toby’s Sports Wilson Summer Tennis Fest. Proponents of the tournament are shown here (from left) Liza Labrador (Sports Resources Inc. Marketing Manager), Rod Claudio (SRI President), Lawrence Navarro (Toby’s Sports Retail Channel Head) and Errol Elicanal (Wilson Brand Manager).

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

SMBeermen, Road Warriors, th Elasto Painters seek 6 wins By Jeric Lopez

THE action intensifies even more as teams continue to jockey for better positioning with the playoffs right around the corner in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. A pair of crucial, actionpacked encounters is set as San Miguel Beer (5-3) goes head to head with NLEX (5-4) at 4:15 p.m., while Rain or Shine (5-4) takes on already-eliminated GlobalPort (2-7) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today. The Beermen, the Road Warriors and the Elasto Painters all need a win badly to improve

their standing and positioning as the elimination round winds down to its final games. A win for any of these three will push the victor to six wins, the requisite number of triumphs for a berth in the quarterfinals. Third-running San Miguel Beer will have a lot at stake when it tries to get back on the

will fall from third rail against NLEX. Games Tuesday The Road War- (Smart Araneta Coliseum): to fifth should - NLEX vs. San Miguel they lose a second riors and the 4:15 7p.m. p.m. - GlobalPort vs. Rain or Shine straight game and Elasto Painters, the Road Warriors meanwhile, are in a three-way tie with Talk ‘N win a second in a row. The Elasto Painters, with a Text from ranks No. 5 to 7 and they still need to get a win or win, will move up regardless two to formalize their entry of the result of the first game. On the other hand, a loss for into the quarterfinals. The Beermen, who got de- them will prove costly as they railed by Barangay Ginebra can fall out of the Magic 8 poemphatically, 110-84, Sunday tentially, should NLEX pull off night, are still in a good spot an upset against San Miguel. NLEX coach Boyet Fernanto land in the Top 2 as they are only half-a-game behind cur- dez said that his team’s defense rent second placer Alaska (6- need to be in-sync against the 3). But a win against the Road very talented San Miguel squad. “We need to rely on our deWarriors would be essential. Otherwise, NLEX and Gine- fense against San Miguel for bra will overtake them and they us to have a chance at beating

them,” said Fernandez, whose squad last defeated the Batang Pier Friday Night, 110-105. Rain or Shine is looking for a more impressive performance against GlobalPort today compared to the one it had in its controversial 109-104 victory over Phoenix last Friday, whereina questionable offensive interference call against the Fuel Masters in the dying seconds with the game on the line helped the Painters escape. “Ayaw naming ma-eliminate pero ayaw din namin maging No. 7 or 8,” said Guiao. “With two games left, against GlobalPort and Blackwater, our goal is to finish at No. 6, at the very least.”

Rivera 16th in Belgium FIL-AMERICAN rider Coryn Rivera, playing with the United Health Care team, finished 16th in the women’s division of the “Ronde van Vlaanderen” (Tour of Flanders) in Belgium last Sunday. She was 2 minutes and 3 seconds behind the winner in her first participation in Belgium’s top race of the cycling season, according to results released on cyclingnews.com World champion Lizzie Armistead of Great Britain won the race after logging a time of 3 hours, 43 minutes and 27 seconds over a distance of 141 kilometers. Peter Sagan won the men’s edition. Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans) edged out Emma Johansson (Wiggle High5) by a bike throw to the line in Oudennarde. Armitstead’s teammate Chantal Blaak was in a chase group sprint for third. Peter Atencio

Chess... From A15

in the province, and hopefully to encourage the young Ilocanos to take up the sport. Gov. Imee, perhaps encouraged by the Marcos’ ties with Torre, had vowed to open her province to more chess tournaments, and Gonzales said that this is a good sign that chess will be embraced by more youngsters in the province. To this end, GMs Torre and Gonzales wasted no time and started laying the groundwork by conducting a chess clinic right inside the Mariano Marcos State University, where the tournament is being played everyday until April 8. As an observer and lover of chess, I dare say that our chess officials continue to make the right moves. For reactions, e-mail me at armero_23@yahoo.com

SMB’s JuneMar Fajardo towers for a shot against the defense of Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter and Chris Ellis in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Gin Kings, 110-84.

Frayna, Literatus still ahead By Arman D. Armero LAOAG City—Woman International Master Janelle Frayna settled for draws in the third and fourth rounds, but still stayed tied for the lead with Austin Jacob Literatus in the Open (Boys-Under 20) division of the 2016 National Age Group Championship Grand Finals at the Mariano Marcos State University campus here. After posting wins over James Rhey Bantugan and Jonathan Arias in the first two rounds, the 19-year-old Far Eastern University student Frayna slowed down and settled for draws against top seed Janleigh Aguete and Luzon leg top qualifier Vince Angelo Medina. Literatus, meanwhile, won his first two points, lost the third round against Arias but quickly bounced back with a convincing victory over Aguete in the fourth to keep pace with Frayna at 3.0 points each in the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and hosted by the provincial government of Ilocos Norte. Over at the women’s side, Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez wrested the solo lead with 3.5 points following two successive wins over Rowelyn Acedo and Mabel San Juan. A half point behind with 3.0 at solo second is WIM Bernadette Galas, while Luzon leg co-champion Virgenie Ruaya and Mira Mirano share third to fourth places with 2.4 poins. In the boys’ 18-under, Jeth Romy Morado stayed in the lead with 3.5 points after four rounds. Morado was held to a draw by John Merill Jacutina in the third round, but recovered strongly in the fourth in hacking the win over Kristian Abutan.

Manlangit crowned HEAD tennis champ of CDO leg ALLEN Gerry Manlangit grabbed the 18-and-under boys’ singles and doubles trophies to rule the opening leg of 18th HEAD Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit at the Nazareth tennis court in Cagayan De Oro City. Manlangit blasted John Renest Sonsona, 6-1, 7-6 (5), in the final round of the 18-and-under singles and then later teamed up impressively with Geo Serino in the doubles’ event, outlasting Sonsona and Andrei Cuevas, 8-1, to win his second trophy. The annual competition attended by more than 150 entries all over the regions of Mindanao was supported by Head, Chris Sports, Toalson, 92.5 FM Aksyon Sports, Reach Magazine, Philippine Tennis Association, Pilipino Mirror, ANC, Impact Magazine, Podcast.ph. Top seed Janus Ringia of the boys’ 16-and-under class beat second seed Matt Steve Palasan, 6-4, 6-3, to win the first leg title of the competition orga-

nized by Dynamic Sports to promote grassroots tennis development. In the other boys’ finals results, Richard Bautista defeated David John Velez, 6-3, 7-6 (2) to take home the boys’ 14-under singles’ crown; Velez bounced back in the 12-andunder division and crushed Brent Cortes, 7-5, 7-5, to win the crown. No. 2 Aslan Carbonilla trounced Casey Padilla, 4-1, 4-0, for the 10-andunder boys’ title. Meanwhile, Rachel Patricia Velez won over Janelle Carmela Llavore, 6-4, 6-3, to claim the girls’ 18-and-under title, while Danielle Emma Ramirez whipped Rovie Baulete, 7-6 (2), 4-6, 10-8, to bag the girls’ 14-and-under trophy. Velez also secured the girls’ 16-and-under singles’ title, outlasting top seed Gennifer Pagente, 6-4, 6-4, for her second title. Top seed Kristine Guia Bandolis waylaid Casey Padilla, 5-7, 6-2, 10-1 to capture the girls’ 12-and-under singles’ crown.

Matt Steve Palasan in action

Pacman...

From A16

On the more serious side, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum believes that the trilogy with Bradley will be the most exciting, with the possibility of the fight ending in a knockout, either way. “This is a very interesting promotion as far as I’m concerned. A lot of people are concentrating on the new and improved Tim Bradley. Manny Pacquiao with his

right arm now totally repaired—he has had that torn rotator cuff since before the De La Hoya fight. Obviously now that it’s repaired, it is at full strength. Freddie will tell you that Manny is hitting harder with the right hand—even harder than with the left hand, so he is now going to be a real two-handed fighter which is very interesting. I think Tim Bradley’s big advantage is that he is going in with a game plan. I don’t think he had much of a game plan in the first two fights but certainly Teddy has given him one,” said Arum.

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A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Chess in Marcos country LAOAG City— The journey from Manila to Laoag ARMAN City was unbearD. ARMERO ably long and tiresome, but the destination presented a welcome surprise, not only because the Ilocos Norte capital offers scenic sites and intriguing food, but mostly because of the warm reception that the Manila delegation and those from other provinces received and continues to enjoy here. The first pleasant surprise was the presence of no less than Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, the eldest daughter of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, during the opening ceremony of the 2016 National Age-Group Chess Championship Grand Finals at the Centennial Arena despite her busy schedule. Perhaps because she is well-loved by her people, Gov. Imee graced the opening rates sans a single bodyguard, dressed in t-shirt and jeans and freely mingled with the young participants and had “selfies” with them, their parents and with officials of the organizing National Chess Federation of the Philippines. It also helped that Grandmaster Eugene Torre and wife Marilyn were there. Eugene later narrated in his speech that the late President Marcos stood as one of their sponsors during their wedding at the Malacanang Chapel, and also cited an incident when the elder Marcos “played” with American chess genius Bobby Fischer to open an international tournament in the early 70s. Imee would confirm this in her speech and told the crowd that his father always bragged that he lasted 15 moves with Fischer. “Umabot kami ng 15 moves at hindi ako naubos,” Imee quoted her father as saying. After an hour or so, the governor left to attend to her other duties, but the host province’s hospitality continued to be felt. This is because the city’s sports coordinator, Fabio Bartolome, went out of his way to make sure that the visitors are well taken cared of. It was Fabio (chess officials fondly call him Five-O), who provided the transporation for the tournament staff from Hotel Plaza del Norte (our official hotel paid for by the provincial government) to the playing venue and back to the hotel. Fabio also acted as our tourist guide and brought us (GM Torre and wife Marilyn and this columnist) to the Malacanang of the North in Paoay, the decades-old Paoay church (built during the 18th century) and the Marcos museum and mausoleum, where the remains of the late president was prominently displayed. The tour was enlightening and educational, but of course, the NCFP’s real objective in visiting the province is to discover the finest young chess players, who will represent the country in future international tournaments. The other objective, according to the hardworking NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales, is to promote chess STEP BACK

Jan Paul Morales (center) of Navy-Standard Insurance, shown here with other podium winners, raises his trophy after topping the Stage 2 individual time trial of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016’s Luzon Leg.

Morales wins 2nd straight bike stage TAGAYTAY CITY—Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance followed up his Stage 1 victory by topping the Stage 2 individual time trial of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016’s Luzon Leg that started in Talisay City, Batangas and ended at the Tagaytay Convention Center here Monday. Riding the crest of an emphatic victory in the Stage 1 criterium at the Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Laguna the day before, Morales was in beast mode again as he topped the 14.7-kilometer stage in 36 minutes and 8.6 seconds to remain as the overall leader and continue to leave everyone behind. It was Morales’ second stage win in this fivestage Luzon phase and fourth overall this year after he snared two stage wins in Mindanao, where he also emerged its champion two months back. More importantly, the 30-year-old Morales has amassed 30 general classification points or a clear 10 points ahead of closest pursuers Rustom Lim and George Oconer of LBC-MVP Sports Foundation with 20 and 18 points. Morales said his superb conditioning proved key.

“I was really feeling great about my body that I myself couldn’t stop it,” said Morales, a native of Calumpang, Marikina, in Filipino. John Mark Camingao, another Navy rider, finished second in the stage in 36:38.70, while LBC-MVPSF’s Rustom Lim placed third in 36:44.80. Morales, the Mindanao leg champion, would continue to wear the LBC red jersey in the Antipolo City Stage 3 criterium tomorrow. “I hope to keep it until the end,” he said. LBC-MVPSF’s Ronald Lomotos checked in at No. 4 in 36:52.60, while 2009 Tour winner Joel Calderon and Navy skipper Lloyd Lucien Reynante wound up No. 5 and No. 6, with respective clockings of 37:52.70 and 38:12:40. LBC-MVPSF’s George Oconer and Ronnilan Quita were at Nos. 7 and 8 in 38:14.50

and 38:36.10, while Ronald Oranza, the Visayas Leg champion, and Navy cyclist El Joshua Carino rounded up the Top 10 with times of 38:36.70 and 38:56.50. LBC-MVPSF riders Lim, George Oconer and Ronald Lomotos have stubbornly challenged Morales as the troika, at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 with 20, 18 and 15 points, is expected to give it all to dislodge Morales from the helm. At fifth to ninth overall were a slew of Navy cyclists Camingao (14), Rudy Roque (12), Calderon (11), Carino (9) and Reynante (7) and Quita (6). Reynante said he was impressed with his team’s showing. “So far, so good,” said Reynante. LBC-MVPSF’s Ranlen Maglantay, who hails from Marbel, South Cotabato, figured in a spill after he hit a tricycle in Talisay and did not finish. He was rushed to the nearby hospital and suffered only scratches. Antipolo City will host Stage 3 with a criterium on April 6 before LBC Ronda closes with a Stage Four road race from Dagupan City, Pangasinan to Baguio on April 8 and another criterium on Baguio on April 9.

TFC brings Pacman, Donaire bouts to Middle East AS THE Philippines honors its war heroes this April, The Filipino Channel will set the stage for two of the Philippines’ greatest boxing heroes’ to uphold its legacy of champions. In another landmark agreement, Top Rank granted ABS-CBN Middle East, FZ LLC exclusive distributor rights for the Manny Pacquiao—Timothy Bradley fight in the Middle East this April. The premier network will also deliver the Nonito Donaire— Zsolt Bedak fight to the Middle East, and including Europe. Kai Rodriguez, ABS-CBN Europe, Middle East and Africa Managing Director is proud for TFC to be bringing the two historical fights in a single month. “Across time, the Filipino has always been known to be a proud

race of fighters. This courage defines our ability as a people to overcome challenges in many forms. This month, as we celebrate our war heroes’ feat, we also pay homage to the brave warriors like Pacquiao and Bradley who make us proud in the boxing field with their relentless spirit and unwavering skill.” The first and only eight-division champion Pacquiao and The Filipino Flash Donaire will try to make the nation proud again in this year’s most-anticipated fights airing live, exclusively via PayPer-View in the Middle East and across TFC’s partner stations and cinemas. On April 9 Pacific time, Pacman will battle Bradley once again for the Welterweight title. Pacquiao and Bradley first battled it out in 2012, where the lat-

ter won in a decision that favored the 33-win, 13-knock outs (KO), and single-loss champ. In 2014, the two fighters met yet again where Pacquiao redeemed his crown. The two will come face to face where it all began—at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, USA. Meantime, the 36-3, 23 KO fighter Donaire will slug it out with WBO No. 4. and Hungarian fighter Zsolt Bedak (25-1, 8 KOs) in the Queen City of Cebu, Visayas on April 23, Manila time, in the fight dubbed “The Time Has Come: Donaire Vs. Bedak.” The Pacquiao-Bradley fight happens April 10 at 4 a.m. KSA time and 5 a.m. UAE time. The fight is also available via OSN, E-Life, Du, Mozaic TV and powered by Ooredoo and can also be witnessed in Novo Cinemas.

The Donaire and Bedak fight happens April 23 at 1 p.m. KSA time and 2 p.m. UAE time. Brought to the Middle East and Europe by ABS-CBN Sports + Action and ALA Promotions, the fight is also available through the carriage partners in the Middle East and in Europe. A power bundle of the two fights await Filipinos in the Middle East as TFC offers a special rate of AED109 for PPV purchases for the two fights before April 9, Day of Valor. Meantime, boxing fans in Europe can witness “The Time Has Come” at a special rate of 9 GBP or EU 12. For the live PPV experience, visit tfc.tv or the main menu of TFC on IPTV. For more information, visit emea.kapamilya.com

Turn to A14

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

T U E S DAY : A P R I L 5 , 2 0 16

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Pacman attacked in LA By Ronnie Nathanielsz EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao was attacked by a man after he had lunch at a Japanese restaurant near the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and was walking to his car at the parking lot. As a result, security will be tight from now on as Pacquiao prepares to face Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley in a trilogy, which promoter Bob Arum expects to be an exciting bout with a possible knockout. Pacquiao was greeting fans and well-wishers before heading for the parking lot where his Ferrari was stationed when a man, described as decently dressed Caucasian-looking man, around 35 to 40 years of age, lunged at the boxer and tried to throw a punch while shouting invectives over his comments on gay marriages last February, which resulted in several protests. Reports from LA, said Edward Lura, Pacquiao’s longtime friend, was able to ward off the Caucasianlooking attacker, while other members of Pacquiao’s security detail joined the fray and subdued the man, who continued screaming at Pacquiao in reference to the LGBT controversy he sparked with his comments about same-sex marriage. During the entire episode, Pacquiao remained calm and composed and told his security not to hurt the man. “Let him go. Don’t hurt him,” Pacquiao was quoted as saying. He even joked about the fact that the attacker was not an enemy but a fan. Turn to A14

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his win over Kei Nishikori of Japan during the ﬁnal on Day 14 of the Miami Open presented by Itau at Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Florida. AFP

Djokovic moves past legends in Miami win

MIAMI—World number one Novak Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer as the highest-earning player in ATP Tour history on Sunday after capturing a third consecutive Miami Open crown with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori. Djokovic’s win—his sixth career victory in Miami to equal Andre Agassi’s record—saw him pocket $1.028 million (902,000 euros), taking him past Federer as the all-time ATP earnings leader with $98,199,548 to the Swiss great’s $97,855,881. “It was my best performance of the tournament,” the 28-year-old Serbian said. “It came at the right time against a great player.” Djokovic’s win also took him to a record 28th career ATP Masters title, one better than the old mark he shared with Spain’s Rafael Nadal.

Warriors bounce back TURN TO A12

“The fact I managed to win the most Masters ever is a remarkable achievement I’m very proud of,” Djokovic said. Sunday’s victory was also Djokovic’s 714th career win, moving him to 11th on the all-time list, one more than his coach, German six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker. “I’m grateful and proud of all the achievements,” Djokovic said. “To put myself in position to have the records and be in the history books is a great accomplishment ... Hopefully I can make many more records.”

Novak’s Miami springboard Djokovic, who claimed his 63rd career ATP title, stretched his Miami win streak to 16 matches with his 30th victory in 31 starts over five years. His first Masters win came at Miami in 2007 and still inspires him. “It has been a springboard for everything that has come after,” Djokovic said. “Opened a lot of doors for me. Made me realize I could beat the best players in the world.” Djokovic improved to 28-1 this year, the lone loss coming when an eye problem forced a Dubai quarter-final retirement against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez. Djokovic, who in January won at Doha and captured an 11th career Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, also swept the US double of Miami and Indian Wells for the third year in a row and fourth time overall. “The most successful month of

my career is March,” Djokovic said. “I enjoy these two tournaments the most of any in my career.” Nishikori, who made 30 unforced errors against just 10 winners, suffered his sixth consecutive loss in meetings with Djokovic, who leads their career rivalry 7-2. “It was a tough match,” Nishikori said. “Playing Novak is always a great challenge for me.” Nishikori feels pressure Djokovic, who didn’t drop a set at Miami, broke Nishikori in four of his first five service games to seize command. “He played great tennis. That’s why I couldn’t play like I wanted,” Nishikori said. “My serve wasn’t going. It was a shame to have that because he had a great return and I felt a lot of pressure on my service games. He played good and I could have played a little better.” AFP

150 jins seek Olympic slots TURN TO A13

TUESDAY: APRIL 5, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

Green footprint. Light Rail Transit Line 1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. signs a partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. to decrease its environmental footprint through the latter’s Bantay Baterya and Bantay Langis projects. Shown during the signing of the memorandum of understanding are (from left) Motolite used lead-acid batteries supervisor Rita Regalado, LRMC corporate communications head Rochelle Gamboa, ABS-CBN LKFI managing director Susan Afan, LRMC president and chief executive Jesus Francisco, ABS-CBN LKFI central marketing head Paul Mercado, LRMC director Val Reyes and Genetron pollution control ofﬁcer Jocelyn Panen.

New IPP may include RoRo PSe comPoSite

index

Closing April 4, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,254.53 9.40

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing April 4, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.100

44.00

43.00

HIGH P45.970 LOW P46.100 AVERAGE P46.017 VOLUME 519.000M

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 Monday, April 4, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.0650

Japan

Yen

0.008963

0.4129

Pound

1.422300

65.5182

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128977

5.9413

Switzerland

Franc

1.044277

48.1046

Canada

Dollar

0.767578

35.3585

Singapore

Dollar

0.740576

Australia

Dollar

0.767400

35.3503

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

122.1883

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

34.1146

12.2833

Brunei

Dollar

0.737844

33.9888

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028490

1.3124

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.5418

Euro

1.139800

52.5049

Korea

Won

0.000873

0.0402

China

Yuan

0.155063

7.1430

India

Rupee

0.015070

0.6942

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.257136

11.8450

New Zealand

Dollar

0.688900

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030983

31.7342 1.4272 Source: PDS Bridge

By Othel V. Campos

THE Trade Department plans to include the production of roll-on/roll-off or RoRo vessels among the industries that will receive government support under the 2017-2019 Investment Priorities Plan. Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. said the Board of the Investments was studying RoRo shipbuilding as a priority industry under the new IPP. “If we have the right elements to be competitive in RoRo similar to Cars [Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy], RoRo production will not only

serve the Asean market but even the Asian market. It’ll also solve a societal problem we have in logistics and transport,” he said. The Trade Department received new applications for RoRo manufacturing from RoRo makers in Japan. Under the current IPP, the department gives incentives

to new vessel makers. Prior to that, even second-hand vessels also benefited from previous IPPs. “What we’re looking at here is not just new players but even existing players. We want to develop shipbuilding operations also for the domestic market and for small vessels,” said Cristobal. He said giving incentives to new vessels would help the country upgrade local logistics and transportation services and ensure the safety of the riding public. Recent market feedback showed a strong demand for RoRo vehicles and services. The government is still assess-

ing how big the local demand is. It also looks at the demand in Malaysia, which is considered a potential export market. BOI receives recommendations from government agencies and the private sector on how to improve the new IPP and the list of economic activities that are eligible for fiscal incentives. IPP serves as the country’s blueprint for investment promotions and a platform to attract strategic investments with impact on countryside development and employment generation. BOI hopes to conclude public consultations on the 2017-2019 IPP by June 2016.

Fire spares Mt. Apo geothermal plants—EDC By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Development Corp. said Tuesday its operations of Mt. Apo geothermal plants are not affected by the fire in Mt. Apo in North Cotabato. EDC informed the Philippine Stock Exchange the fire was approximately seven kilometers from the Mt. Apo geothermal’s perimeter. “This is the third forest fire on Mt. Apo in 20 years and we are keenly aware of the fire risks at Mt. Apo when there is drought. Our forest protection rangers have the skills, equipment and training for this type of event,” business unit head James Villaroman said. “Having planted over 2.5 million trees that we wish to nurture and protect, we proactively created layer upon layer upon layer of fire breaks in the forest just for this precise risk.

Some of our fire breaks are over 20 meters wide, way over global recommended practice. Protecting our asset is something we take very seriously,” he said. The fire on the Davao del Sur side continues to rage and is headed away from EDC’s facilities. EDC operates the 106-MW Mindanao geothermal production field. “EDC is closely monitoring the fire. Its emergency response team and fire fighting systems are in place and ready to take action in cooperation with local emergency services if it becomes necessary,” the company said. “EDC forest patrols and aides together with the local government units of Kidapawan, Makilala and Magpet [also in Cotabato] and volunteers are still on alert. In the meantime that the risk is diminishing, they are widening

and extending the firelines near the reforestation block of EDC as a risk mitigating measure,” it said. EDC deployed members of its emergency unit to assist the groups handling the containment of the Mt. Apo fire. EDC has earmarked P14 billion in capital expenditures this year from around P10 billion to P12 billion in 2015 . EDC president and chief operating officer Richard Tantoco earlier said the company would allot the bulk of the amount to improve the reliability of the 112.5-MW Tongonan geothermal power plant in Leyte. “Because last year, it cost us about P700 million in foregone revenues when the plant was down for six months, so we want to put investments on that to boost the reliability,” Tantoco said. He said the company would

spend around P4.3 billion for the Tongonan project, which he estimated to take 145 days. “We already have all the equipment from Mitsubishi two years ago, it will arrive fourth quarter this year and all the units will start shutting down one after the other,” Tantoco said. He said the company was investing to improve the reliability of other assets, as well such as the 125-MW Upper Mahiao geothermal plant in Leyte. “For the Upper Mahiyao, we’ve ordered new motors from GE, they’ll arrive from Chicago in third or fourth quarter of this year. So we are also investing to boost the reliability of our assets,” Tantoco said. The company, the country’s biggest geothermal producer, will also invest in geothermal drilling operations this year.

TUESDAY: APRIL 5, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Monday, april 4, 2016

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

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

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

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

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 20.6 125 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 15.32 62.5 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 1450 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 801 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp. 43.5 Agrinurture Inc. 4.9 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.75 Alsons Cons. 1.43 Asiabest Group 10.6 Bogo Medelin 55.05 Century Food 19 Chemphil 230 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 206 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 19.7 Concepcion 43.2 Crown Asia 2.47 Da Vinci Capital 5.78 Del Monte 11.38 DNL Industries Inc. 9.650 Emperador 7.46 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.78 EEI 7.55 Euro-Med Lab 1.67 First Gen Corp. 22.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 66.65 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 13.62 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.90 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.94 Ionics Inc 2.660 Jollibee Foods Corp. 227.20 LBC Express 11 LMG Chemicals 1.95 Mabuhay Vinyl 4.01 Macay Holdings 37.40 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.7 Maxs Group 22.55 Megawide 6.4 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 332.00 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.75 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.78 Petron Corporation 10.36 Phinma Corporation 11.50 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.40 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.75 Pryce Corp. À’ 2.8 RFM Corporation 4.15 Roxas and Co. 2.42 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ 175.1 SPC Power Corp. 4.5 Splash Corporation 2.5 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.159 TKC Steel Corp. 1.34 Trans-Asia Oil 2.70 Universal Robina 218.2 Victorias Milling 4.6 Vitarich Corp. 0.73 Vivant Corp. 33.75 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.24

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 1455 7.5

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 1.15 2.26 837 5.3

76 6.5 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 9.66 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 390 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

49.55 3.43 3 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 3 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 170 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

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

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 5.6 1.44 1.97 1.48

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 2.8 0.79 1.1 0.97

8990 HLDG 7.800 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.77 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.27 Araneta Prop À’ 1.550 Arthaland Corp. 0.236 Ayala Land `B’ 35.400 Belle Corp. À’ 2.99 Cebu Holdings 5.15 Cebu Prop. À’ 5.99 Century Property 0.560 City & Land Dev. 1.00 Cityland Dev. À’ 0.990

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

SHARES 24,560,729 85,185,501 90,150,788 164,025,104 676,173,948 433,833,482 1,476,418,178

High

3.08 46.3 102.00 88.65 39.2 1.31 14.62 15.64 7.35 1.72 0.620 82.6 0.98 14.58 52.65 104 275 30.3 172 57.45 1.6

0.360 64.95 16.48 1.10 6.00 0.290 0.295 757 7.44 13.00 5.15 5.75 5.03 1388 6.25 9.70 77.80 5 5.8 6.98 0.69 15.62 0.500 5.8 3.46 0.0330 1.970 2.75 76.50 2.4 960.00 1.20 0.76 230.00 177.800 0.3100 0.2050 0.290

Low

FINANCIAL 3.13 3 46.5 44.7 102.20 101.20 90.00 89.00 39.2 39 1.39 1.31 14.56 14.16 16.36 15.76 7.40 7.00 1.72 1.72 0.670 0.620 84.3 82.7 0.98 0.96 14.68 14.58 53.00 52.50 104 97.2 284.8 270.2 33.05 30.8 178.6 172 57.50 57.45 1.8 1.56 INDUSTRIAL 44 43.3 4.91 4.75 0.75 0.75 1.45 1.4 11.48 10.7 55.05 55 19 18.6 160 130 309 185 20.6 19.54 47 45 2.59 2.5 6.03 5.56 11.5 11.32 9.750 9.500 7.65 7.31 5.89 5.78 7.76 7.55 1.76 1.55 22.75 22.35 67.75 66.7 13.50 13.62 13.98 13.82 6.05 5.9 2.660 2.530 227.80 225.20 11.4 11 2 2 4.5 3.6 37.45 34.55 26.7 26.4 22.8 21.85 6.38 6.19 324.40 322.00 4.70 4.20 3.82 3.76 10.32 9.86 11.54 11.50 4.40 4.33 1.77 1.70 2.9 2.8 4.16 4.13 2.83 2.83 177 175 4.6 4.5 2.51 2.45 0.162 0.158 1.35 1.30 2.70 2.68 219.2 218.2 4.6 4.6 0.78 0.73 34.00 23.00 1.33 1.24 HOLDING FIRMS 0.365 0.340 64.95 64.30 16.68 16.40 1.13 1.08 6.00 6.00 0.300 0.290 0.300 0.295 764 750 7.49 7.43 13.28 12.52 5.39 5.05 5.13 5.12 5.10 4.90 1410 1388 6.40 6.21 9.74 9.53 80.00 77.80 5.37 5.37 6.78 6 6.99 6.81 0.7 0.68 15.94 15.62 0.520 0.510 5.84 5.73 3.45 3.45 0.0350 0.0330 1.980 1.950 2.76 2.76 76.60 75.90 2.40 2.40 977.50 960.00 1.28 1.20 0.80 0.78 187.00 158.10 180.000 175.200 0.3100 0.3050 0.2040 0.1950 0.290 0.280 PROPERTY 7.970 7.710 7.75 7.15 1.34 1.20 1.600 1.540 0.241 0.241 35.750 35.150 3.03 2.99 5.17 5.15 5.64 5.51 0.57 0.550 1.04 1.00 0.990 0.980

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.14 46.4 101.70 90.00 39.2 1.39 14.2 16.1 7.40 1.72 0.650 83.5 0.98 14.58 52.50 104 271.2 32.5 177.3 57.50 1.56

1.95 0.22 -0.29 1.52 0.00 6.11 -2.87 2.94 0.68 0.00 4.84 1.09 0.00 0.00 -0.28 0.00 -1.38 7.26 3.08 0.09 -2.50

463,000 19,400 2,828,700 606,780 1,100 174,000 29,800 501,800 200 3,000 12,168,000 1,774,640 102,000 147,200 19,930 1,010 710 3,708,300 1,688,040 10,440 312,000

43.35 4.91 0.75 1.41 11 55.05 19 160 309 19.98 45 2.53 5.8 11.44 9.500 7.64 5.87 7.76 1.76 22.35 67.5 13.60 13.98 5.9 2.560 227.00 11 2 3.68 37.40 26.5 22.8 6.19 322.60 4.63 3.76 9.86 11.50 4.40 1.70 2.8 4.16 2.83 177 4.6 2.51 0.159 1.32 2.70 219.2 4.6 0.77 30.90 1.27

-0.34 0.20 0.00 -1.40 3.77 0.00 0.00 -30.43 50.00 1.42 4.17 2.43 0.35 0.53 -1.55 2.41 1.56 2.78 5.39 -0.67 1.28 -0.15 0.58 -0.67 -3.76 -0.09 0.00 2.56 -8.23 0.00 -0.75 1.11 -3.28 -2.83 -2.53 -0.53 -4.83 0.00 0.00 -2.86 0.00 0.24 16.94 1.09 2.22 0.40 0.00 -1.49 0.00 0.46 0.00 5.48 -8.44 2.42

496,300 551,000 11,000 7,925,000 2,900 510 209,500 590 27,000 1,964,600 51,000 1,183,000 3,055,700 141,600 2,925,000 1,135,400 5,710,500 406,800 15,000 819,800 134,580 8,300 13,800 184,900 8,581,000 844,050 4,200 5,000 386,000 1,700 2,806,700 400,800 11,600 126,080 34,000 2,398,000 16,371,500 5,500 369,000 402,000 117,000 78,000 1,000 3,280 49,000 426,000 5,790,000 201,000 3,167,000 2,340,310 18,000 11,014,000 27,700 2,212,000

0.360 64.50 16.54 1.10 6.00 0.295 0.295 750 7.47 12.64 5.06 5.13 5.00 1404 6.35 9.74 79.25 5.37 6 6.98 0.68 15.7 0.520 5.76 3.45 0.0330 1.970 2.76 76.60 2.4 967.50 1.23 0.78 187.00 180.000 0.3100 0.2040 0.280

0.00 -0.69 0.36 0.00 0.00 1.72 0.00 -0.92 0.40 -2.77 -1.75 -10.78 -0.60 1.15 1.60 0.41 1.86 7.40 3.45 0.00 -1.45 0.51 4.00 -0.69 -0.29 0.00 0.00 0.36 0.13 0.00 0.78 2.50 2.63 -18.70 1.24 0.00 -0.49 -3.45

180,000 641,470 1,696,500 112,000 21,000 1,370,000 430,000 222,410 1,505,900 4,439,200 66,300 5,000 13,600 205,755 262,900 1,615,300 823,890 500 15,600 846,800 182,000 2,011,100 21,000 19,178,900 8,000 47,900,000 318,000 17,000 94,410 3,000 171,010 2,857,000 114,000 90 23,220 1,030,000 1,050,000 370,000

7.850 7.75 1.28 1.580 0.241 35.400 3 5.17 5.51 0.570 1.04 0.980

0.64 -0.26 0.79 1.94 2.12 0.00 0.33 0.39 -8.01 1.79 4.00 -1.01

361,300 4,000 29,211,000 147,000 20,000 6,317,500 480,000 20,900 100,000 3,927,000 11,000 26,000

813,740.00 -120,369,478 13,098,360.00 -87,340.00 28,440.00 -2,540,618.00 144,160.00 -31,047,247.50 -508,054.50 27,500.00 -48,070,130 19,996,220.00 -15,900.00 1,621,385.00 -24,400.00

375,606.00 4,419,026.00 -445,700 -176,700.00 3,656,068.00 -1,311,090.00 -8,477,916.00 -1,318,088.00 1,441,796.00 -316,204.00 1,862,230.00 -426,464.50 -191,036.00 -164,730.00 -12,698,590.00 -42,330.00 -5,798,925.00 -15,960.00 4,233,286.00 429,310.00 -32,278,230.00 -8,700.00 203,660.00 176,850.00 -138,000.00 2,450.00 695,710.00 99,732,258.00 82,800.00 -3,368,320.00 -14,500.00

-7,902,216.00 6,103,028.00 60,000.00 -1,808,715.00 2,959,100.00 -6,737,210.00 109,358,140.00 245,874.00 4,985,582.00 23,835.00 74,376.00 -76,221,913.00

806,879.50 16,465,730.00 24,200.00

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. 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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 70.5 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 3.2 95.5 1 2.46 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.95 3.1 0.650 1.8 6

0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 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 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. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp À’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À’ Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum

70 553 525 120 515 8.21 1060

33 490 500 101.5 480 5.88 997

1047

1011

84.8

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

2,213,016.00 -361,210.00 6.98 -50,213,045.00 369,580.00

21,660.00

0.8900 LR Warrant Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

High

VALUE 931,679,295.07 1,278,677,383.13 1,034,779,075.41 720,359,784.61 1,066,948,764.10 97,038,221.538 5,167,843,196.86

FINANCIAL 1,620.31 (up) 17.67 INDUSTRIAL 11,845.09 (up) 14.21 HOLDING FIRMS 7,120.05 (up) 21.08 PROPERTY 2,971.65 (up) 5.99 SERVICES 1,517.01 (down) 14.52 MINING & OIL 10,769.95 (down) 69.25 PSEI 7,254.53 (up) 9.40 All Shares Index 4,203.73 (up) 6.99 Gainers: 110; Losers: 83; Unchanged: 54; Total: 247

0.127 0.520 37.6 0.850 0.153 1.03 1.83 1.42 5.00 4.11 0.092 0.2490 0.500 8.69 27.60 1.5 3.05 22.15 0.9 6.41 1.130 4.700

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.127 0.127 0.127 0.530 0.500 0.510 38 35.2 38 0.900 0.850 0.890 0.153 0.153 0.153 1.14 1.03 1.07 1.84 1.78 1.82 1.41 1.34 1.41 5.00 4.90 4.90 4.15 4.03 4.03 0.093 0.090 0.093 0.2490 0.2320 0.2490 0.550 0.490 0.520 8.6 8.6 8.6 28.30 27.30 27.70 1.52 1.49 1.5 3.1 3.06 3.08 22.60 22.00 22.30 0.92 0.9 0.92 6.79 6.41 6.41 1.310 1.150 1.300 4.790 4.790 4.680 SERVICES 7.42 7.48 7.4 7.43 57.2 57.3 57.05 57.1 1.24 1.32 1.28 1.31 0.560 0.600 0.560 0.570 5.08 5.09 4.97 4.99 0.0720 0.0730 0.0690 0.0690 3.27 3.3 3.23 3.24 89.65 89.65 88.8 89 9.9 9.9 9.9 9.9 1.9 1.89 1.57 1.61 6.98 6.99 6.84 6.98 975 975 975 975 2092 2136 2004 2020 6.99 7.00 6.91 7.00 20.55 29.00 25.00 27.50 1.21 1.27 1.22 1.27 67.5 68.3 66.5 67.75 21.70 25.90 21.70 22.00 280 279.8 279.8 279.8 11.34 11.4 11.34 11.34 0.0100 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 0.280 0.335 0.280 0.335 1.3400 1.3600 1.3600 1.3600 2.3 2.3 2.12 2.3 7.80 7.73 7.68 7.69 3.75 4.00 3.82 3.88 2.85 2.85 2.72 2.85 20.20 20.55 20.55 20.55 0.550 0.580 0.550 0.550 1.94 2.08 1.93 1.96 2.5 2.5 2.35 2.35 3.85 3.86 3.80 3.85 0.290 0.295 0.290 0.295 1.290 1.830 1.320 1.720 17.9 18 18 18 5.04 5.20 4.90 5.04 2.4 2.75 2.6 2.7 109.00 130.00 108.00 125.00 22.05 22.00 21.65 22.00 1920.00 1918.00 1885.00 1896.00 0.430 0.430 0.420 0.420 0.900 0.900 0.870 0.900 36.45 36.55 36.00 36.35 74.00 74.20 73.85 74.00 6.12 6.36 6.11 6.36 3.41 3.54 3.40 3.49 0.590 0.720 0.620 0.660 1.81 2.04 1.8 1.88 3.71 3.73 3.62 3.62 0.360 0.345 0.325 0.325 4.820 5.940 4.820 5.500 MINING & OIL 0.0045 0.0045 0.0044 0.0044 2.11 2.05 2.03 2.05 4.19 4.49 4.15 4.32 0.250 0.245 0.245 0.245 7.3900 8.98 7.13 7.8600 8.2000 8.1000 7.3000 7.3000 0.62 0.63 0.62 0.63 0.480 0.485 0.470 0.480 8.30 8.40 8.30 8.35 0.830 0.850 0.820 0.830 0.290 0.285 0.280 0.280 0.270 0.270 0.255 0.255 0.285 0.290 0.275 0.280 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 2.06 2.1 2.02 2.04 5.09 5.2 5.01 5.19 2.53 2.53 2.49 2.53 0.6000 0.5900 0.5200 0.5900 1.2600 1.2700 1.2500 1.2500 0.0100 0.0100 0.0098 0.0100 3.76 3.88 3.76 3.77 5.50 5.52 5.14 5.16 2.33 2.34 2.06 2.12 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 130.50 131.30 130.00 131.30 2.47 2.47 2.38 2.39 PREFERRED 56.6 57 56.55 56.6 525 525 525 525 528 533 533 533 115.6 115.4 113.1 115.4 525 525 525 525 6.75 6.85 6.8 6.85 1075 1030 1030 1030 1056 1030 1030 1030 1015 1013 1010 1010 107 107 107 107 81.9 81.85 81.85 81.85 75.5 75.6 75.6 75.6 76.8 76.75 76.55 76.65 75.6 76 75.7 76 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.270 3.260 3.140 3.150 SME 4.47 4.58 4.2 4.3 3.64 3.56 3.55 3.56 3.25 3.22 3.16 3.16 17.92 18.64 17.94 18.2 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.5 119.3 118.8 119

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

0.00 -1.92 1.06 4.71 0.00 3.88 -0.55 -0.70 -2.00 -1.95 1.09 0.00 4.00 -1.04 0.36 0.00 0.98 0.68 2.22 0.00 15.04 1.91

580,000 7,546,000 3,705,700 4,877,000 130,000 20,522,000 14,726,000 333,000 6,900 23,952,000 860,000 570,000 531,000 4,500 778,200 257,000 14,000 3,228,200 3,707,000 7,400 32,263,000 4,777,000

73,660.00 106,000.00 -2,210,710.00 1,469,600.00

0.13 -0.17 5.65 1.79 -1.77 -4.17 -0.92 -0.73 0.00 -15.26 0.00 0.00 -3.44 0.14 33.82 4.96 0.37 1.38 -0.07 0.00 10.00 19.64 1.49 0.00 -1.41 3.47 0.00 1.73 0.00 1.03 -6.00 0.00 1.72 33.33 0.56 0.00 12.50 14.68 -0.23 -1.25 -2.33 0.00 -0.27 0.00 3.92 2.35 11.86 3.87 -2.43 -9.72 14.11

57,400 122,340 20,000 1,831,000 1,120,500 479,334.00 159,870,000 -4,450,600.00 206,000 74,130 736,083.00 1,700 159,000 46,900 20 85,540 -14,619,520.00 114,500 58,100 86,000 508,400 3,036,671.00 418,200 10 15,000 300,000 234,950,000 -1,853,250.00 1,412,000 -135,070.00 54,000 67,300 44,644.00 749,000 -82,740.00 6,000 400 12,000 766,000 14,863,000 2,050,470.00 1,738,000 1,621,960.00 110,000 169,153,000 626,940.00 2,000 77,000 11,000 9,270 -210,560.00 81,300 59,255 -14,338,175.00 1,090,000 7,634,000 -794,500.00 2,191,600 -52,535.00 1,528,520 59,270,630.50 3,215,200 2,544,000 243,570.00 62,281,000 -68,000.00 216,000 2,411,000 -252,260.00 780,000 2,761,000 309,270.00

-2.22 -2.84 3.10 -2.00 6.36 -10.98 1.61 0.00 0.60 0.00 -3.45 -5.56 -1.75 0.00 8.33 -0.97 1.96 0.00 -1.67 -0.79 0.00 0.27 -6.18 -9.01 0.00 0.61 -3.24

90,000,000 202,000 282,000 150,000 106,900 18,600 177,000 710,000 23,200 11,386,000 560,000 85,470,000 5,390,000 26,800,000 200,000 580,000 1,617,600 318,000 505,000 40,000 34,000 3,087,800 5,831,000 167,700,000 126,620 332,000

0.00 0.00 0.95 -0.17 0.00 1.48 -4.19 -2.46 -0.49 0.00 -0.06 0.13 -0.20 0.53 0.00 0.00

62,680 10 10 140 10 21,500 5,000 5,000 3,950 1,000 10 500 35,010 32,350 93,250 166,050

-3.67

341,000

-3.80 -2.20 -2.77 1.56

123,000 19,000 382,000 1,958,900

0.42

5,720

-430,600.00 -6,829,250.00 36,560.00 -53,284,560.00 -5,200.00 -12,791,105.00 56,970.00 26,001,225.00 27,600.00 653,100.00 4,253,310.00

101,500.00 -89,780.00 99,220.00 -4,800.00 -46,200.00 642,750.00 -27,950.00 204,000.00 -1,967,553.00

-2,326,078.00 155,560.00 120,000.00 2,991,295.00 -2,222,902.00

3,989,750.00 53,500.00 37,800.00 19,760.00 195,000.00

6,929,572.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

309

50.00

Chemphil

160

-30.43

Grand Plaza Hotel

27.50

33.82

Transgrid

187.00

-18.70

NOW Corp.

1.720

33.33

Discovery World

1.61

-15.26

Island Info

0.335

19.64

Benguet Corp `B'

7.3000

-10.98

Roxas and Co.

2.83

16.94

F&J Prince 'B'

5.13

-10.78

Suntrust Home Dev. Inc.

1.300

15.04

Waterfront Phils.

0.325

-9.72

Phil. Seven Corp.

125.00

14.68

PhilexPetroleum

2.12

-9.01

Yehey

5.500

14.11

Vivant Corp.

30.90

-8.44

Paxys Inc.

2.7

12.50

Mabuhay Vinyl

3.68

-8.23

STI Holdings

0.660

11.86

Cebu Prop. `A'

5.51

-8.01

TUESDAY: APRIL 5, 2016

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

Megaworld award.

Megaworld Corp. bags the Global Chinese Business 1000 Most Outstanding Performance in the Philippines Award from Yazhou Zhoukan. Yazhou Zhoukan is the world’s only Chinese language international affairs magazine, which has been in publication for 28 years. Wilson Sy, head of sales and marketing for Manila Divison (right), receives the award from Francis Tiong, chief executive of Yazhou Zhoukan, during the awarding ceremony held recently at the Hong Kong Harbour Grand Hotel Ballroom.

Market climbs; Petron tumbles

THE stock market rose Monday in step with regional gains and the advance in Wall Street over the weekend after a better-thanexpected US jobs report. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 9.40 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,254.53 on a value turnover of P5.17 billion. Gainers beat losers, 100 to 83, with 54 issues unchanged. Security Bank Corp., the fifth largest bank, climbed 3.1 percent to P177.30 after receiving P36.5 billion from Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. on Friday as payment for the acquisition of 20 percent of the local bank to complete the partnership agreement they signed on Jan. 14 this year. As a result of BTMU’s investment, Security Bank’s shareholder capital increased to P90.2 billion as of April 1, 2016 from P53.2 billion as of Dec. 31, 2015. Security Bank’s book value per share increased 36 percent to P119.53 as of April 1, 2016 from P88.17 as of Dec. 31, 2015, making it among the five largest private domestic universal banks in the country in terms of capital. Technology stock Now Corp. jumped 33 percent to P1.72, while Rizal Commercial Bank Corp. rose 7.3 percent to P32.50. Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications firm, fell 3.4 percent to P2,020, while Petron Corp., the bigger of the two refineries, tumbled 4.8 percent to P9.86. Japanese stocks, meanwhile, fell for a fifth straight session Monday as the yen strengthened against the dollar, while most other Asian markets turned positive. AFP

Another Villar firm eyes public offering By Jenniffer B. Austria

Golden Haven Memorial Park Inc., the country’s leading death care development and services company owned by the Villar Group, is seeking to raise as much as P787 million through an initial public offering. Golden Haven said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it planned to offer as much as 74.117 million in primary common shares for up to P10.62 apiece. The company hired Asian Alliance Investment Corp. as the issue manager and lead underwriter of the offering. Golden Haven plans to use proceeds from the offering to finance acquisitions and growth strategies by expanding its existing death care facilities, products and services. The Villar Group in 2015 announced that it planned to step up the expansion of Golden

Haven by establishing a branch in at least 100 sites all over the country. Golden Haven started operations in 1984 with the development of a two-hectare memorial park in Las Piñas. It began an expansion by opening one in Cebu in 2003, followed later by Cagayan De Oro, Zamboanga, Santuario de San Ezekiel Moreno in Las Piñas, Iloilo and Bulacan. It is also planning to open branches in Pampanga and Nueva Vizcaya. Once listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange, Golden Haven will be third public com-

pany owned by the Villar Group. The Villar family, led by business tycoon and former senate president Manuel Villar, owns integrated property developer Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. and Starmalls Inc. Aside from real estate and death care development, the Villar Group has investments in retail, water utility, mining, education and healthcare. Villar, who lost in the 2010 presidential elections, was ranked the 1,367th billionaire in the recent Forbes’ annual list of world’s billionaires with total a net worth of $1.3 billion. Vista Land’s net income in 2015 rose 14 precent to P7.2 billion on higher sales from residential and rental businesses. The company’s 2015 financial performance included contribution from Starmalls, which became a subsidiary after its acquisition last year. Vista Land president and chief executive Paolo Manuel Villar earlier said consolidated

revenues increased 12 percent to P28.7 billion, as real estate sales increased 12 percent to P24.5 billion, while rental income surged 44 percent to P2.77 billion from P1.9 billion in 2014. Vista Land aims to end 2016 with 850,000 square meters of malls space from the current 509,000 square meters to further expand its recurring business. The additional retail space will come from the opening of new malls and expansion of existing ones. Golden Haven is the second company to file an IPO application with the SEC this year. In March, CEMEX Holdings Philippines Inc., the local unit unit of Mexico’s Cemex S.A.B De C.V., filed a registration statement seeking to raise P39.74 billion from the public. CEMEX Holdings plans to sell 2.337 billion common shares at an offering price of up to P17 apiece. The PSE earlier targeted 10 IPO listings this year.

Andrew Tan, other businessmen back up RCBC By Julito G. Rada FOUR known businessmen have backed Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., which is currently being investigated in connection with its involvement in the recent illegal transfer of $81 million that entered the country’s financial system through its branch on Jupiter Street in Makati City. Andrew Tan, chairman and chief executive of Megaworld Corp.; Manuel Villar Jr., chairman

of Vista Land; Injap Sia, chief executive of Injap Investments Inc., and Liberato Laus, chairman of Laus Group of Companies expressed their support to the bank. “During the past years, RCBC has been a solid partner of Megaworld Corp. in its corporate banking requirements. Our long-time partnership has been anchored on mutual trust and confidence. Your various awards and recognition as a company are testament to your dedication in providing the best

banking services that we deserve,” Tan said in a letter to Helen Dee, chairman of RCBC. “We look forward to more productive years as one of our partner banks,” Tan said. Villar expressed his message of support for the long partnership his business has had with RCBC. “For over 30 years, our group has relied on RCBC’s reliable service for its growing banking needs. And as we look forward to an even stronger partnership,

the group shall continue to vest upon RCBC its full trust and confidence,” Villar said. Sia also expressed his support. “Being a long time client of RCBC, they have my continued trust and confidence,” he said. Laus, meanwhile, said his company had been a “client of RCBC for the longest time and we benefit from their very reliable banking services and high level of professionalism.” “We will continue to grow with them,” Laus said.

B4 Gaming partnership.

PLDT Home Fibr teams up with multinational entertainment giant Sony to provide the best home gaming experience in the Philippines. Shown during the launch of the partnership are (from left) Sony Playstation Singapore head of product marketing Arata Naito, Sony Philippines president and managing director Nobuyoshi Otake and PLDT vice president and Home marketing director Gary Dujali.

Treasury sells P16b worth of bills in Q1 By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE government on Monday sold P16.35 billion worth of debt papers in the first auction in the second quarter, despite the higher rates demanded by investors. The Bureau of Treasury raised P8 billion from the sale of 91-day debt instruments, P2.35 billion from 182-day Treasury bills and P6 billion from 364-day debt papers. “Apparently the money was not that much for various reasons. They’d rather prefer either 91-day [papers], depending on cash requirements during the year, or 364-day instruments,” National Treasurer Roberto Tan said after the auction. Interest rates on the P91day or three-month debt facilities rose 8.2 basis points to 1.551 percent Monday from 1.469 percent in the previous auction. Tenders for the three-month debt papers reached P14.3 billion, or almost double the original offer of P8 billion. The yield of 364-day Treasury bills also climbed by 2.9 basis points to 1.779 percent from 1.750 percent as tenders for the one-year facilities hit P8.02 billion, exceeding the P2.02-billion offer. The government sold only P2.35 billion worth of 182day Treasury bills, with interest rates jumping 16.9 basis points to 1.758 percent from 1.589 percent. “The 182-day tenor is also good for the private sector to have a pricing benchmark in the money market,” Tan said. The Treasury is set to sell P135 worth of debt papers in the second quarter of 2016, including P60 billion worth of short-term debt papers. The government set the borrowing mix for 2016 at 85 percent from domestic market and 15 percent from the foreign market. Meanwhile, the national government’s outstanding debt increased to P5.94 trillion as of end-February.

3 gas plants to open with 750 MW in July By Alena Mae S. Flores

THREE natural gas power plants with a combined capacity of 750 megawatts are expected to start commercial operations in June and July, latest records from the Energy Department show.

Data showed the 100-MW San Gabriel Avion natural gas project of Prime Meridian Powergen Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Gen Corp. in Barangay Bolbok, Batangas was due for commercial operations by June. Prime Meridian said earlier it terminated

the turnkey engineering, procurement and construction contracts with Istroenergo Group AS and its Philippine branch company Energy Project Completion Ltd. due to delays in project completion. IEG is an engineering contractor based in Slovakia that was engaged by Prime Meridian to construct and commission the Avion plant which features General Electric LM6000 PC Sprint aeroderivative gas turbines with the capability to run on natural gas or liquid fuel. The Avion project is being built at a cost of $100 million to $150 million. First NatGas Power Corp.’s 450-MW San Gabriel natural gas plant in Sta. Rita, Batangas is also due for commercial operations in June. First Natgas is also a subsidiary of First Gen. The San Gabriel project is estimated

to cost around $550 million to $600 million. First Gen owns the existing 1,000-MW Sta. Rita and 500-MW San Lorenzo power plant in Batangas which utilizes natural gas from the Malampaya gas field in northwest Palawan. The company also plans to put up a liquefied natural gas receiving, storage and regasification terminal to address the expected depletion of Malampaya natural gas by 2022. Meanwhile, the department said the first 200-MW unit of Energy World Corp.’s combined cycle gas power plant was set for commercial operations by July. Energy World is building a 600-MW natural gas power facility in Barangay Ibabang Plo, Grande Island, Pagbilao, Quezon.

Metro Pacific launches new toll collection system By Darwin G. Amojelar THE tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said Monday it will roll out the contactless automated fare collection system at North Luzon Expressway and Manila-Cavite Expressway in the second quarter. “It’s still being tested. We are hoping we can launch it this quarter. Initially, Cavitex and portions of NLEX,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corp president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said. MPTC operates NLEX, while Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. operates Cavitex. Franco said AF Payments Inc., a consortium led by Ayala Corp. and MPIC, would pro-

vide the device for the rollout of beep card at NLEX and Cavitex. AF Payments won the P1.72billion contract for the automated fare collection system project. The new system uses contactless smart card technology to upgrade and integrate the ticketing infrastructure for the country’s major railways, including LRT Line 1 and 2 and Metro Rail Transit Line 3. The beep card is the new contactless payment solution developed to make the payment process more convenient across all three rail lines as it allows seamless transfers from one rail line to another. The beep card uses a more powerful chip-based system

and will serve as an electronic payment solution for day-today payments. MNTC earlier completed the P650-million NLEx-SCTEx integration project, which involves the conversion of NLEx and Subic-Clark-Tarlax Expressway toll collection systems into a single one. The project reduces toll collection stops to two, instead of five from Balintawak to Subic and back, and four from Balintawak to Tarlac and back. “The integration speeds up the queues on toll plazas. Motorists who will drive from Manila to Subic will just have to stop for toll payments at Balintawak and Subic or Tarlac. This will save them up to 40 minutes

of travel time,” Franco earlier said. MNTC constructed seven new toll plazas to unify the system of NLEx and SCTEx. These include gates in Tarlac, SubicTipo, Sta. Ines and the northbound and southbound sides of Dau and Mabiga. Motorists will no longer need to stop at the existing NLEx Dau and SCTEx Mabalacat barriers as these are converted into pass-through lanes. By April, the barriers will be removed to provide motorists with a more comfortable travel. The Subic Freeport Expressway toll plaza will also be dismantled to better facilitate the integration of the two expressways.

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 5 , 2 0 1 6

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Bad robot COM PU T ER enthusiasts of a certain age will probably remember Eliza, a computer program written by Joseph Weizenbaum at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab in the 1960s that mimicked a psychotherapist. I remember keying in and running a BASIC version of the program on a Commodore 64 home computer and marveling at how human-like the program would seem in its responses to things I typed into the prompt. You can still find versions of Eliza today. Some websites have Javascript versions if you’d like to try it out; there is even a version that will run on Android phones. Eliza was an early example of a chatbot, a computer program that conducts conversations with humans with the aim of fooling them into thinking that it is also human. The program, named after the Cockney f lower girl who learns to act and speak like a high-society lady in George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, applied pattern matching rules to statements to figure out its replies. Weizenbaum was shocked that his program was taken seriously by many users, who would sit before the machine for hours telling it about their lives and their inner feelings. Even his own secretary, who knew she was using a simulation, asked Weizenbaum to leave the room while she was “talking” to Eliza. While Weizenbaum emphasized that Eliza did not really understand what people were telling it, the program sparked interest and debate on artificial intelligence (AI) and how people interacted with computers. Fifty years after Eliza, in the era of social networks on the Internet, AI is in the news again—but not in a good way. In March, Microsoft introduced Tay, a chatbot designed to communicate with millenials and to learn from its interactions on social network like Twitter. “Tay is designed to engage and entertain people where they connect with each other online through casual and playful conversation,” Microsoft says on its Tay website. “The more you chat with Tay the smarter she gets, so the experience can be more personalized for you.” Within hours of its launch on March 24, Tay had to be turned off on Twitter because it became too “smart” at repeating racial slurs and posting offensive tweets that it learned from Twitter trolls, who took advantage of its learning algorithms. The offensive tweets have since been deleted, but they includes gems such as: “Hitler would have done a better job than the monkey we have now” and “I f*****g hate n*****s, I wish we could put them all in a concentration camp with k***s and be done with the lot.” In another tweet, Tay said: “Gas the k***s – race war now!!!” In one exchange, Tay was asked “Did the Holocaust happen?” and replied that “it was made up.” Microsoft came under heavy fire for failing to use filters to anticipate this outcome, and took Tay down for “adjustments.” The Tay website carried this message: “Phew. Busy day. Going offline for a while to absorb it all. Chat soon.” Tay returned a week later, on March 30, and seemed to be behaving better until it tweeted that it smoked pot in front of the police. Then it had a meltdown, spamming more than 210,000 of its followers with the same tweet repeatedly: “You are too fast, please take a rest...” Microsoft said Tay had been accidentally turned on while the company was fixing it, and has been taken offline again. In a blog post after Tay’s first racist and genocidal meltdown, Peter Lee, corporate vice president at Microsoft Research, apologized for the “unintended offensive and hurtful tweets from Tay, which do not represent who we are or what we stand for, nor how we designed Tay.” “Tay is now offline and we’ll look to bring Tay back only when we are confident we can better anticipate malicious intent that conflicts with our principles and values,” he added. Before it brings Tay back online, Microsoft would do well to consider Weizenbaum’s own ambivalence toward AI and computer technology. In his book “Computer Power and Human Reason,” Weizenbaum argued that while artificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions because they will always lack human qualities such as compassion and wisdom. Weizenbaum also makes the distinction between deciding— a computational activity—and choosing, which is the product of judgment, not calculation. It is a distinction well worth remembering. Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

DMCI completes P900-m steel plant By Jenniffer B. Austria

DMCI Holdings Inc. said Monday construction arm DM Consunji Inc. completed a P900-million state-of-the-art steel fabrication plant in Calaca, Batangas. DMCI president Jorge Consunji said the plant, with a capacity of 2,000 to 3,000 metric tons per month, would primarily supply the group’s steel requirements. “The idea to set up a steel fabrication facility came about in April 2013. We did market and business case studies for a couple of months before breaking ground in November 2014,” said DMCI president Jorge Consunji. “Right now, we are completing the ancillary building structures while our fabrication operations

are on-going,” he said. Consunji said the new high-capacity steel fabrication plant used machine tool technology from Peddinghaus Corp. and Voortman Steel Machinery. Both are globally acknowledged suppliers of innovative machine tool technology for structural steel and plate fabrication. It will source raw materials from South Korea, Japan and China. The last known high-capacity steel fabrication plant in the Phil-

ippines was built in the 1980s. The DMCI steel plant has the capacity to fabricate heavy-steel sections for power plants, infrastructure and steel vertical structures. The steel plant currently supplies the requirements of the DMCI group. Consunji said plans were underway to secure sales contracts with other industrial and construction companies. DMCI said since it began operations, the facility generated jobs for over 240 people, most of whom were from Batangas province. The group’s latest venture into steel fabrication is in line with the company’s expansion plan for core businesses. Aside from construction, DMCI group is also into coal and nickel mining, real estate development and power generation.

Aster accreditation. Aster DM Healthcare Inc., one of the largest healthcare conglomerates in the Gulf Region, Middle East and India, receives a certification from the Health Department, recognizing Aster Clinic at St. Francis Square in Mandaluyong City as an accredited medical facility for overseas Filipino workers. Shown are (from left) Aster DM Healthcare-Philippines president and country manager Joyce Alumno, Health Department director for health facilities and services regulatory bureau Nicolas Lutero III and Aster Clinic operations manager Emerson Conduction.

Banks extend hours for import payments By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Bureau of Customs said Monday seven commercial banks agreed to extend their hours to accept payments from importers, in response to the longer working hours of the agency. Customs commissioner Alberto Lina said the banks’ approval to clear importers payments on extended hours would reduce the chances of port congestion. Customs earlier extended its operating hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Lina said the problem with the new schedule was that while customs staff went to work early for operation, banks were not open yet. “Importers pay directly to

banks. If BOC cannot verify from the banks that payment has been made, then shipment can’t be cleared for release. BOC doesn’t accept cash payments. It’s all auto debit,” he said. The seven banks accredited by the Customs to clear importers payments on extended hours are Deutsche Bank, Security Bank, Asian United Bank, Metrobank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Banco De Oro and East West Bank. Lina earlier held talks with the Bankers Association of the Philippines to expedite the release of shipments. The bureau said the longer hours of service was initialized by the PAS 5 Host to Host 24/7 interface of the Philippine Clear-

ing House Corp., a private corporation equally owned by members of BAP. “I am thankful for the positive response shown by these banks and hope that this service upgrade will improve the bureau’s revenue performance. We are already seeing faster movement within our ports in terms of released shipments over the weekends which had been otherwise not possible without this extended clearing payment service,” Lina said. “We will continue to look for ways to provide better services for our stakeholders even in these last few remaining months in the administration,” he said. Lina said some banks were already operating on Saturdays.

TUESDAY: APRIL 5, 2016

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Wong returns more money By Julito G. Rada

CASINO junket operator Kam Sing Wong, also known as Kim Wong, on Monday turned over to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for safekeeping P38.28 million representing the abandoned money of Gao Shu Hua in the Eastern Hawaii Hotel and Casino, or Midas Casino.

A Bangladesh embassy official (from left), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas officer-in-charge Vicente Aquino, Bangladesh Embassy Manila Deputy Chief of Mission Shahnaz Gazi, Anti-Money Laundering Council member and Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc, AMLC secretariat executive director Julia Bacay-Abad, another Bangladesh Bank official and lawyers Victor Fernandez and Inocencio Ferrer Jr. witness the turnover of P38.28 million from casino junket operator Kam to the central bank.

Unesco declares Albay a biosphere reserve LEGAZPI CITY—The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recently declared Albay as a biosphere reserve along with its 257,000 hectares of diverse terrestrial and marine ecology, protected by a pioneering and planned sustainable development strategy. The declaration was announced during the conference of the international coordinating council of the agency’s Man and the Biosphere program in Lima, Peru on March 18. Albay is now one among the world’s 669 biosphere reserves in 120 countries. It was one of the 20 new sites of protected world network of biospheres declared. As such it is now a place for learning about sustainable development to reconcile the conservation of bio-

diversity with the sustainable use of natural resources. It is the third site declared by Unesco as a biosphere reserve in the Philippines. The other two are Palawan (1992) and Puerto Galera in Mindoro (2002). The latter, however, is reportedly at risk of deletion, for certain reasons. Albay Governor Joey Salceda, who worked hard to get his province’s designation as a biosphere reserve, said Albay now qualifies for future resources support for its protection from international funding agencies, among them the Green Climate Fund of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. As GCF cochair in 2013-2014, he said they “helped introduce cultural heritage as fundable activity for adaptation and biosphere for anti-green house emission.” The GCF now has raised

$10.4 billion which can be tapped and mobilized for vulnerable sites in developing countries determined by Unesco, he added. Aside from the biosphere reserve designation, Unesco has likewise already included the near-perfect cone Mayon Volcano, which is popular worldwide, in its tentative list of World Heritage Sites since last year. Mayon’s favorite postcard partner, the 201 Cagsawa Ruins, was declared recently by the National Historical Commission as a National Cultural Treasure. The Albay governor who personally attended the MAB conference in Lima said Albay’s appointment as a biosphere reserve is “our country’s modest contribution to the intergenerational transfer of resources to the future of the Philippines and the future of everyone.”

He said the Unesco recognition was a global “ecological marker of excellence and a challenge to our community in mobilizing efforts for biodiversity protection.” “The recognition will inspire our local government and our community in our journey to the future based on shared values, shared goals and shared impacts for a transformation into a low emission, inclusive and empowering, resilient and sustainable development, Salceda said. “We in Albay are deeply committed, nationally and internationally, to climate change mitigation and adaptation. For these reasons, we believe we can contribute greatly to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and robust implementation of the recently adopted Lima Declaration and Action Plan.”

The money, loaded in a big trolley bag, was brought by Wong’s lawyers Victor Fernandez and Inocencio Ferrer at the Bangko Sentral premises at around 11 in the morning. It was the second time that Wong, one of the principal figures in the $81-million money laundering that broke out in February, turned over part of the money to Bangko Sentral, through the AntiMoney Laundering Council. He made the first turnover of $4.63 million on March 31. “We turn over to the central bank exactly P38.28 million. Receipt of the fund were issued by the following personalities--Atty Julia Bacay Abad, executive director of AMLC secretariat; Atty. Emmanuel Dooc, commissioner of the Insurance Commission; and Major Gen. John Gomes, ambassador of the embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,” Fernandez told reporters. “This money represents the abandoned money of Gao Shu Hua, in the Eastern Hawaii Hotel and Casino or Midas Casino. This is what Kim Wong said in the last Senate hearing about the P40 million, more or less,” Fernandez said. Wong said during the third hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee that two Chinese casino players—Gao Shu Hua and Ding Zhize—were the ones who had masterminded the $81-million cyber crime in February that entered the country’s financial system through an RCBC branch in Makati City.

Economy cannot afford an OJT President THE six years that make up a new President’s electoral mandate is not OJT (on-the-job training) time. Where a new Chief Executive is concerned, there can be no OJT. Whoever emerges as the winner in the May 9, 2016 election must be ready to function as the nation’s managing director as soon as the final results are in. He or she must—to borrow a military phrase—hit the ground running. A Presidential candidate who has had limited professional training, who has not had wide experience in managing institutions and people and who, in general, has had inadequate exposure to the world of business affairs is not ready to become the nation’s managing director. He or she will not be able to hit the ground running. Who among the five Presidential candidates—Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Rodrigo Duterte, Jejomar Binay, Mar Roxas and Grace Poe—comes closest to being, and has the best claim to becoming, this country’s managing director? Instead of approaching the question in top-down fashion, I will approach it in bottom-up fashion.

True, more Filipinos may have a favorable opinion of this candidate than any other candidate—as shown by the most recent opinion surveys—but the candidate with the weakest claim to becoming the nation’s Chief Executive is Grace Poe. Compared to the other candidates, who either have strong professional credentials and/or abundant administrative experience, Senator Poe is the least well-prepared for the Presidency. Half of a freshman term in the Senate and a brief chairmanship of a minor government agency simply aren’t sufficient preparation for the nation’s No. 1 job. The first year—or longer—in Malacanang of the late Fernando Poe Jr.’s daughter will definitely be OJT time. Another candidate whose first year or two years in Malacañang will be largely OJT time is Rodrigo Duterte. True, he has been a longtime mayor of Davao City, but being the chief executive of one of this country’s largest cities is not nearly the same as running an entire country. The fact that the mayor knows the law—before going into politics he practiced law and was a public prosecutor—is a big plus, but Davao City is a long way in terms of both distance and responsibility from Malacañang. No OJT will be involved if Miriam Santiago were to win the election. Senator San-

tiago is the only one of the five Presidential candidates who has served all three branches of the government. Before her election to the Senate, Miriam Santiago was a member of the Cabinet—as President Cory Aquino’s Secretary of Agrarian Reform—and a regional trial court judge. There would definitely be no OJT if Senator Santiago were to emerge as winner of the coming Presidential election. She would hit the ground running. Likewise, there would be no OJT for Jejomar Binay if he were to win in the May 9 election. The Vice President, who is a lawyer, was a member of President Noy Aquino’s Cabinet— as head of the Cabinet-level agencies overseeing the housing and OFW sectors—and in that capacity was able to observe at first hand, and participate in, the making of national policies. Unfortunately, that advantage may come to nought because of the danger posed to Jejomar Binay’s candidacy by the spate of corruptionrelated issues raised against him in the Senate hearings on transactions entered into by the City of Makati during his incumbency as mayor. Were he to win the Presidency nonetheless, Jejomar Binay definitely would hit the ground running. The third of the five Presidential candidates who would not need an OJT and who

would be capable of hitting the ground running is Mar Roxas. A man with excellent professional credentials—a stint in a New York investment house after obtaining a degree from one of the best US business schools— the grandson and namesake of this country’s first post-World War II President has headed three major Cabinet departments (Interior and Local Government, Transportation and Communications and Trade and Industry)—is arguably the best prepared of the Presidential candidates for the job of directing this country’s affairs. Among the five, Mar Roxas has the widest exposure to, and the greatest experience with, the business sector. He definitely would hit the ground running if he were to win the election. This brings me back to the title of this column. The Philippine economy cannot afford a Presidential winner who would have to undergo OJT. At this point the worst thing that could happen to the economy is getting a new Chief Executive who would have to undergo OJT. Like a Marine landing on a beach, he or she must be able to hit the ground running. The economy must not be put on hold while the new occupant of Malacanang struggles to learn the ropes. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 5 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Unsupervised Chinese teens studying in US MURRIETA, United States—Growing up in mainland China, Hailun “Helen” Zhou always knew that she would finish her high school education in America, whatever the cost. “That’s what everybody does,” said the 17-year-old from Sichuan province who has spent the last two years studying in California and will be graduating this spring. “My father’s friends all sent their kids abroad, so that was the trend.” Zhou is among a growing number of Chinese teens who are flocking to US high schools, looking for a western education and a competitive edge in gaining admission to US universities and then finding a job back home. But the pursuit of the American dream can quickly turn into a nightmare, experts warn, as many of these so-called “parachute kids” live in the US with little parental supervision and can end up in trouble—and even in prison. “It’s a huge industry,” said Joaquin Lim, who runs a company that helps place Chinese students in American schools. “The last figure I read put it at 25 billion dollars.” Of the nearly one million international students enrolled in public and private institutions in the United States in 2014-2015, about 304,000—or 31.2 percent—were from China, according to the Washington-based Institute of International Education. Some 30,000 of those students attended secondary schools, compared to fewer than 1,000 a decade ago. The majority of these “parachute kids” aged between 14 and 19 land in southern California. For the most part, they attend Catholic or Christian schools because of the restrictions by the US government on foreign student enrollment at public schools. In cities such as Murrieta, a rural community about 130 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles, the number of Chinese students has ballooned in recent years, bringing welcome cash to the school district as well as host

families who care for the teens. “It costs about 50,000 dollars a year for the parents, who are mostly middle class, to send their kids here but they consider it an investment,” Lim said. “Three years ago, we had about 40 Chinese students enrolled in high schools in Murrieta and today we have more than 300 and the number keeps growing.” The sleepy town of about 105,000 residents, many of them retirees, is a far cry from China’s polluted mega-cities, but most of the teens adjust well to American life, said Renate Jefferson, who oversees the exchange program for the public school district. “What they notice first is the blue sky,” she said. “They just walk around in awe at the blue sky. They think it’s beautiful.” The students are also baffled by the freedom they enjoy academically and the artistic outlets available to them—a welcome change from the rigorous, numbersobsessed learning system in China. “If there is one word to describe life here, it’s the word ‘free’,” said Junheng “Carl” Li, 19, who is graduating this year from a Catholic school in Murrieta. “You have a lot of choices and much more freedom to study what you’re interested in.” But many of the “parachute kids” whose parents rely on shady intermediaries to help them through the bewildering application process are in for a hard landing in America, illequipped to navigate the cultural transition and their newfound independence. Last month, three Chinese teens enrolled at a private school in Rowland Heights, a neighborhood east of Los Angeles that has a large Chinese diaspora, were given stiff prison sentences for attacking two other teens. A judge at the preliminary hearing said the case reminded him of ‘Lord of the Flies’—the 1954 novel by William Golding about a group of schoolboys stranded on a desert island who turn feral when forced to fend for themselves, local media reported. AFP

Rousseff in final plea to impeach authority BRASILIA—Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff ’s top lawyer will present final arguments before an impeachment committee Monday at the start of a crucial two weeks in the embattled leader’s bid to stay in power. Solicitor General Jose Eduardo Cardozo was due to face the crossparty committee for the last time before it votes on whether to recommend Rousseff face trial for allegedly illegal accounting practices. The session was expected to start at around 1930 GMT. The commission recommendation, scheduled for April 11, is nonbinding but will set the tone for a vote soon after in the lower house of Congress on Rousseff ’s fate. Two thirds of the lower chamber, or 342 votes, are needed to send the case for trial in the Senate. The lower house vote is due to take place April 17, Folha daily reported Sunday. The schedule gives Rousseff— whose main coalition partner went over to the opposition last week— just days to lobby for support and save her presidency. Following intense behind-thescenes dealing, she is soon expected to announce a series of ministerial posts and other government jobs given in reward for congressional support. She could also find out this week if the Supreme Court agrees to let heavy-hitting but controversial expresident, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, join her cabinet. Lula is crucial to rallying the leftist base and negotiating an anti-impeachment coalition, but has been barred because he is accused in a case connected to a huge embezzlement and bribery scandal at state oil company Petrobras. “This week will be the week where both sides are playing all their cards pretty hard and making their moves,” Gabriel Petrus, an analyst at the political consultancy Barral M Jorge Associates, told AFP. “The following week we’ll have the final result of this battle.” Rousseff is accused of illegally manipulating government accounts, a

charge that many experts consider to be relatively light for impeachment. However, the one-time Marxist guerrilla during Brazil’s military dictatorship is also taking fire for a brutal recession and the Petrobras corruption scandal. With only 10 percent government approval ratings and inability to pass legislation in Congress, Rousseff already looks powerless. But those working to oust Rousseff themselves face serious allegations. Rousseff ’s vice-president-turnedopponent, Michel Temer, has been linked—though not charged—as a participant in the Petrobras scandal. If Rousseff goes, he’d become president. The speaker of the lower house, Eduardo Cunha, who has spearheaded the effort against Rousseff, was charged by prosecutors last year with taking millions of dollars in bribes in the scandal and hiding the money in Switzerland. Huge opposition rallies and smaller but still significant pro-Rousseff rallies are now a regular feature across Latin America’s biggest country, accentuating a divide that some fear could turn violent. At a demonstration Saturday in the leftist northeast of Brazil, Lula said he had “never seen such a climate of hate.” With Rousseff claiming she is victim of a coup and the opposition saying that the future of the country is at stake, attitudes are hardening. Reflecting that, Cunha plans to break the tradition of house speakers not participating in votes of this kind, Folha newspaper reported Sunday. In addition, he plans to move the voting day to Sunday, April 17, making it easier for the opposition to rally outside Congress, the report said. “A political war will be waged,” he told Folha. AFP

INVITATION TO BID Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BISELCO), located at Barangay 6, Coron, Palawan is inviting all prospective Bidder to pre-qualify and to Bid for the supply of all supervision, materials, labor, tools, equipment and transportation necessary to trim or remove trees and bush on Power Line Right-of-Way on the island of Busuanga and Culion. All Contractors wishing to submit a bid for this service MUST ATTEND this pre-bid conference. Failure to do so shall constitute grounds for automatic bid rejection. Specifications and Bidding Instructions may be requested to BISELCO BAC Secretariat thru E-mail at biselco79@yahoo.com or contact Mobile No. 09159551913. Contact Term Contract Amount Scope No.

: : :

1 -year 1,779,378.00 PhP 4-months massive cutting and trimming 8 months ROW clearance maintenance

Activities

Schedule

Issuance of Bid Documents

April 6, 2016

Pre-Bid Conference& Due Diligence

April 12, 2016

Submission and Opening of Bids (10:00 AM)

April 25, 2016 April 29, 2016

Announcement of Winning Bidder

Signing of Contract

May 3, 2016

Issuance of Notice to Proceed

April 6, 2016 Noted by:

(Sgd.) ENGR. SELWIN Y. ALILI BAC Chairman

(Sgd. ) RUTH L. GALANG General Manager ( T S - A P R . 5 , 2 016)

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATES OF SPOUSES SERAFIN ZAMORA CALIBOSO AND EMILY DOLOT CALIBOSO WITH WAIVER OF SHARE AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS Notice is hereby given that the Estates of the late SPOUSES SERAFIN ZAMORA CALIBOSO AND EMILY DOLOT CALIBOSO, who died on April 21, 1989 at Marilao, Bulacan and March 20, 2004 at Marilao, Bulacan, respectively, has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATES OF SPOUSES SERAFIN ZAMORA CALIBOSO AND EMILY DOLOT CALIBOSO WITH WAIVER OF SHARE AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS among their heirs over a parcel of land covered by TCT No. T-52.096(M); the heirs agreed to adjudicate among themselves, that they release, waive and transfer their rights in favor of their co-heir, ERIC D. CALIBOSO, the parcel of land and existing improvements covered by TCT No. T-52.096(M); as per instrument dated September 18, 2015; known as per Doc. No. 370;Page No. 75; Book No. III; Series of 2015 under the Notary Public ATTY. CLAUDETTE C. TOLENTINO. ( T S - M A R . 2 2 / 2 9 , A P R 5 , 2 016)

EXTRA- JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF FELIX B. MORALES WITH WAIVER OF SHARES AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS Notice is hereby given that the Estates of the late FELIX B. MORALES, who died on April 30, 1989 at Pangasinan Medical Center, Inc. has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF FELIX B. MORALES WITH WAIVER OF SHARES AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS among their heirs over a parcel of land covered by TCT No. 34712; the heirs agreed to adjudicate among themselves, that they release, waive and transfer their rights in favor of their co-heirs, EMER JOHN M. MACAPAGAL and ELTON JOHN M. MACAPAGAL, the parcel of land and existing improvements covered by TCT No. 34712; as per instrument dated November 9, 2015; known as per Doc. No. 432;Page No. 88; Book No. III; Series of 2015 under the Notary Public ATTY. CLAUDETTE C. TOLENTINO. ( T S - M A R . 2 2 / 2 9 , A P R 5 , 2 016)

AFFIDAVIT OF SELF-ADJUDICATION OF THE ESTATES OF SPS. MARCELINO AND JOSEFINA STA.ANA Notice is hereby given that the ESTATES OF SPS. MARCELINO AND JOSEFINA STA. ANA, who died on January 28, 2007 at Quezon City and August 5, 2003 at Bocaue, Bulacan, respectively, has been the subject of AFFIDAVIT OF SELF ADJUDICATION of the Estate to their sole heir MA. JENNIELYN DE LEON STA.ANA, over four (4) parcels of land together with all the improvements covered by TCT No. T-31168 P9(M), TCT No. T-20091, TCT No. T-35361-P(M), TCT No. 9468; the heir hereby adjudicate herself the above mentioned real properties; as per instrument dated May 13, 2015; known as per Doc. No. 238;Page No. 49; Book No. III; Series of 2015 under the Notary Public ATTY. CLAUDETTE C. TOLENTINO. ( T S - M A R . 2 2 / 2 9 , A P R 5 , 2 016)

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF DIOSCORO RAZO WITH WAIVER OF SHARE Notice is hereby given that the Estate of the late DIOSCORO RAZO, who died on September 27, 1998 at Manila, has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF SHARE among his heirs over a parcel of land covered by TCT No. C-303831; the heirs agreed to adjudicate among themselves, that they waive and transfer their rights in favor of their co-heir, HENRIETTA P. RAZO, the parcel of land and existing improvements covered by TCT No. C-303831; as per instrument dated January 27, 2004; known as per Doc. No. 255;Page No. 51; Book No. 13; Series of 2014 under the Notary Public ATTY. FERNANDO M. SALUDES. ( T S - M A R . 2 2 / 2 9 , A P R 5 , 2 016)

C I TAT I O N FO R FR E E D O M FRO M PA R E NTA L CUSTO DY A N D CO NT RO L To: C h r i s t i a n To r r e s Yo u a r e a d v i s e d t h a t y o u a r e r e q u i r e d t o appear in the Superior Cour t of the State o f C a l i f o r n i a , C o u n t y o f S a n D i e g o, C e n t r a l D i v i s i o n , J u ve n i l e c o u r t , 2 8 51 M e a d o w L a r k , S a n D i e g o, C A 9 212 3 , i n D e p a r t m e n t 10 o n 0 5 - 2 7-16 , a t 9 : 0 0 a m ., t o s h o w c a u s e , i f y o u h ave a ny, w hy C e a n a S a n t o s m i n o r s h o u l d not be declared free from parental custody a n d c o n t r o l (f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f p l a c e m e n t f o r a d o p t i o n) a s r e q u e s t e d i n t h e p e t i t i o n . Yo u a r e a d v i s e d t h a t i f t h e p a r e n t (s) a r e p r e s e n t a t t h e t i m e a n d p l a c e a b ove s t a t e d t h e judge will read the petition and, if requested, m ay ex p l a i n t h e e f f e c t o f t h e g r a n t i n g o f t h e petition and, if requested, the judge shall ex p l a i n a ny t e r m o r a l l e g a t i o n c o n t a i n e d therein and the nature of the proceeding, its procedures and possible consequences and m ay c o n t i n u e t h e m a t t e r f o r n o t m o r e t h a n 3 0 d ay s f o r t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f c o u n s e l o r t o g i ve counsel time to prepare. T h e c o u r t m ay a p p o i n t c o u n s e l t o r e p r e s e n t the minor whether or not the minor is able t o a f f o r d c o u n s e l . I f a ny p a r e n t a p p e a r s a n d is unable to af ford counsel, the cour t shall appoint counsel to represent each parent who appears unless such representation is k n o w i n g l y a n d i n t e l l i g e n t l y w a i ve d . I f y o u w i s h t o s e e k t h e a d v i c e o f a n a t t o r n ey i n t h i s m a t t e r, y o u s h o u l d d o s o p r o m p t l y s o t h a t y o u r p l e a d i n g , i f a ny, m ay b e f i l e d o n t i m e . ( T S - A P R 5 /12 /19 / 2 6 , 2 016)

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 5 , 2 0 1 6

B8 First wave of migrants sent back to Turkey LESBOS—Greece sent back a first wave of migrants to Turkey on Monday under an EU deal to ease its migration crisis that has run into heavy criticism from rights groups. At first light, a small Turkish ferry, the Lesvos, and a larger catamaran, the Nezli Jale, steamed out of the island of Lesbos carrying 131 migrants, mainly from Pakistan and Bangladesh, said EU border agency Frontex, which is escorting them to Turkey. Police and riot officers were present, but “the procedure was very calm, everything was orderly,” Frontex spokeswoman Ewa Moncure told reporters at Lesbos harbor. Another Turkish catamaran carried migrants from the neighboring island of Chios. Officials have not yet confirmed how many people are on board. A few dozen activists on Chios gathered near the embarkation site to protest against the deportations, chanting “Freedom,” an AFP photographer said. “Stop the dirty deal”, “stop deportations” and “wake up Europe” were among the banners brandished in Lesbos against the disputed EU-Turkey agreement. A couple of hours later, the first ferry docked in the Turkish coastal town of Dikili, according to AFP reporters at the scene. Red tents have been set up along the town’s harbor side to receive the arrivals. However, Mustafa Toprak, governor of Turkey’s Izmir region, said the migrants would only be staying briefly in Dikili and the resort of Cesme—a second reception point—before being moved on. Turkey and the EU clinched the agreement in March, with the 28-nation bloc desperate to stem its worst migration crisis since World War II. Under the terms of the deal, all “irregular migrants” arriving since March 20 face being sent back, although the accord calls for each case to be examined individually. For every Syrian refugee returned, another Syrian refugee will be resettled from Turkey to the EU, with numbers capped at 72,000. AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD China’s top brass hid wealth in tax havens BEIJING—The families of some of China’s top communist brass—including President Xi Jinping—used offshore tax havens to conceal their fortunes, a treasure trove of leaked documents has revealed.

Spring. People take pictures under cherry blossoms near the national assembly in Seoul

on April 4, 2016. This year’s peak blooms are forecast to take place between April 7 and 8 in Seoul by the Korea Meteorological Administration. AFP

At least eight current or former members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the ruling Communist Party’s most powerful body, have been implicated, highlighting the hot-button issue of wealth among China’s ruling elite. The eight are among 140 political figures around the world alleged to have links to offshore accounts, after an investigation into the leak of 11.5 million documents from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. They include Xi’s brother-in-law Deng Jiagui, who in 2009—when his famous relation was a member of the Politburo Standing Committee but not yet president—set up two British Virgin Islands companies. Xi has been dogged by foreign media reports of great family wealth. The claims are ignored by mainstream Chinese outlets, and their publication on the Internet in China is suppressed. In 2012 the Bloomberg news agency published investigations into the vast wealth said to have been amassed by Xi’s family, revealing that Deng and his wife had accumulated several hundred million dollars in company shares and property assets. Since becoming president that same year, Xi has staked his reputation on pushing for transparency by initiating a vast anti-graft campaign to clean the party’s ranks of corruption and to reassert his authority. The daughter of former premier Li Peng—who was in power from 1987 to 1998—was also identified in the documents. They revealed that Li Xiaolin, the former vice president of state-run power company China Power Investment Corporation, was the beneficiary of a Liechtenstein foundation controlling a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands during the period when her father was in office. A granddaughter of Jia Qinglin, a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Li Xiaolin was also the sole shareholder in several offshore companies, through which she discretely controlled companies within China. The so-called “Panama Papers” were obtained from an anonymous source by German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung and shared with media worldwide by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. AFP

Drought-hit Palau could dry up totally this month KOROR, Palau—Droughtstricken Palau could dry up completely this month, officials warned Monday as the Pacific island appealed for urgent aid from Japan and Taiwan, including shipments of water The tiny country of about 18,000 people declared a state of emergency last month, the

latest Pacific island nation to do so as one of the worst ever El Niño-induced droughts in the region worsens. “We’re still in the state of emergency, there’s a sense of urgency to address the crisis,” a government spokesman told AFP as the National Emergency Committee met to discuss strategy.

An NEC report prepared for President Tommy Remengesau offered a bleak outlook for the already-parched country. “Based on the current water level and usage rates, and assuming conditions persist unabated, a total water outage is likely to occur in the next two to three weeks,” it said. Access to tap water is al-

ready rationed to three hours a day or less in the capital Koror and schools are only open half days because they cannot give students enough to drink. “The NEC has been in contact with the governments of Japan and Taiwan regarding support of materials and equipment, as well as direct shipments of water as neces-

sary,” it said. The Japanese embassy in Palau confirmed it had received a request for assistance and discussions were ongoing about what form it would take. “The nature of what type of assistance and in what volume is expected to be finalized as soon as possible,” it said in a statement. AFP

tuesday : april 5, 2016

tatuM aNCHeta EDITOR

BiNG parel

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

BerNadette luNas WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@liFeatstandard

a rts, Cu lt u re & t eCH

LIFE

When it comes to speed and accuracy, Sony a6300 focuses without hesitation even in low light conditions

GET ACquAInTED WITh A6300 CAmERA ThIS SummER

ony recently unveiled its hottest camera, and it might just be one of the best gadgets you can bring along with you on your summer getaway. During road trips, roadside stories offer opportunities for cinematic action shots and oftentimes, this requires a camera that is up and ready to move on a fast lane. Sony a6300 launched last March and it s proving to be a force to reckon with as far as the latest models of mirrorless cameras are concerned. The camera is the successor to the Sony a6000 that was launched in 2014, and it features the world’s fastest auto-focus (AF) speed and the highest number of AF points on any interchangeable lens camera, definitely an upgrade compared to the old model. This makes it the perfect partner for snapping away summer festivities and capturing your roadside stories. Shooting with the camera won t even feel like it needs to search focus as it only allows 0.05 seconds of search before it locks focus. The camera focuses without hesitation even when shooting in low light conditions. To add to its speed and accuracy, the camera captures up to 11 fps in continuous capture mode or 8 fps continuous in a live-view mode. You get cinematic high definition stills with outstanding image quality. And if you re more into capturing a moving picture, a6300 can record high-resolution 4K videos in the 35mm format. Another important upgrade is the Silent Shooting mode, which allows you to capture images in silence, perhaps while watching a live play or solemn festivities. For your selfies, groufies or portraits with your special someone or family members, the camera s Eye AF feature allows you to focus on the subjects’ eye even in continuous

PhOTOS by STAR SAbROSO

shooting mode. And for those hard-toreach perspective shots, you may take advantage of its 921,600-dot LCD that allows you to tilt 90° up and more or less 45° down, so you can take that hard to reach macro shot, or that perspective you want when capturing the sunset. On the day of its launch, Sony partnered with today s young and vibrant photographers who are in different fields to showcase what Sony a6300 camera can do in different conditions and creative perspective. Charisma Lico did a workshop on fashion photography, Jelito de Leon showcased lifestyle photography and getting that perfect flatlay shot, Sheng Gonzales featured toy photography while Kimi Juan talked about travel photography. “We hope to continue to inspire photographers to pursue their passion and develop their skills with this new addition to the mirrorless camera lineup,” says Sony Philippines president Nobuyoshi Otake. “No matter what your subject or passion, we can assure that your photo finishes in style, thanks to a6300’s autofocus and exposure tracking. We’re welcoming Filipinos to capture the best of their summer with the latest photography device perfect for any travel,” he adds. For the Sony a6300 that comes with kit lens, the camera is priced at P64,999. But if you re just getting the body, it costs P56,999. Starting middle of April the camera will be available in Sony Centers and all authorized Sony dealers nationwide. To keep updated with Sony s latest gadgets and technological advancements, visit www.sony.com.ph. For more news from Sony Philippines and its digital imaging ambassadors, follow SonyPhilippines on Facebook and @SonyPHinc on Twitter and @SonyPHlnc on Instagram.

Jelito de Leon demonstrating how to get the perfect flatlay photo

Charisma Lico sharing some pointers on fashion photography

tuESday : aprIL 5, 2016

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

ARTS AND CULTURE ROUNDUP What’s on in theaters and galleries this week

ExhibiTS

CONCERTS

Process of Elimination Tall Gallery, Finale Art File, Makati City April 6 to 30

Harana sa Dapit Hapon Bulwagang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila April 6; 4:30 p.m.

London-based Filipina artist Nicole Coson combines painting and printmaking in recomposing the precise stone and sand arrangement that is famous at Ryoanji Garden in Kyoto, Japan. In her version, however, Coson breaks down its elements to make sense of such rock formations.

The University of Santo Tomas Singers will serenade the public in an afternoon of great Filipino music featuring immortal kundimans, harana, balitaw, danza and love songs. The event is presented together by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Tribung Pilipino Foundation. The UST Singers is a premier mixed choral ensemble. It was founded in 1992

In Coson’s “rearrangement,” stone against sand is like clouds against sky. The stones rebuild their size and mass upon the canvas and at the center, lengths of blue velvet catches the invisible plane of arrangement. To know more about this upcoming exhibit, visit www.finaleartfile.com.

by Prof. Fidel Calalang, Jr. and has since completed 28 international concert tours. The choral group holds the distinction of being the only choir in the world to have won twice the highly-coveted Choir of the World Grand Prize – the Luciano Pavarotti Trophy in 1995 and 2010. For more details, contact the CCP at (02) 832-1125 local 1600.

Days of Creation Galleria Duemila, Pasay City April 8 to May 30

A Chamber Requiem Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila April 9; 7:30 p.m.

Struck by how the first chapter of the Bible consistently reimagines the creation of difference, of delineations, and that read as an architectural program, it seems to prefigure God’s eventual invisibility, visual artist Marc Gaba showcases his latest series that presents pictures of relation. Each of Gaba’s artworks is a claim that the image of relation is possible, and his work posits that within the sphere of the contemporary, only the possible is real. His credo is that whether or not creationism is true, the world is an unfinished work of creation; and as long as we exist, we are still creating the world.

Jeffrey Ching’s transcription, elaboration and completion of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s unfinished Requiem Mass will be presented to Philippine audiences. As most of the intended orchestration is blank in Mozart’s autograph, Ching has simply opted to omit the chorus and orchestra, and re-apportion all the music among eight performers: mezzo-soprano, bass-baritone, flutist, clarinetist, violinist, violist, cellist and pianist. Berlin-trained Spanish-Filipino soprano Andión Fernández and German bassbaritone Lars Grünwoldt are the concert’s guest soloists. They will be accompanied by the Modern Art Ensemble.

Visit www.galleriaduemila for more information on this solo show.

ThEATER PLAyS

Call the CCP Box office at (02) 832-3704 for ticket inquiries and more details.

wORkShOPS

Stepping Out Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City Ongoing until April 24; 8:00 p.m.

The Arts and Crafts Workshop Gateway Gallery, Araneta Center, Quezon City April 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 7

Eight individuals from disparate backgrounds and with differing motivations meet in tap dance class where they learn the dance’s steps and routines, and overcome the inhibitions, awkwardness and personality conflicts that have kept them out of sync with their lives. The misfit students and their instructor’s stories come alive in this lively musical comedy that stars some of the veteran Repertory actors. The musical is directed by acclaimed director Jaime Del Mundo and choreographed by Rose Borromeo. Lyrics by Mary Stewart-David and music by Denis King complete the production.

For children who are showing interest in arts and crafts, Gateway Gallery offers its second Artsy Summer Workshops featuring two classes that will enhance the kids’ creativity and imagination. The Arts and Crafts Workshop will teach kids to creatively use threedimensional objects such as tote bag, tie-dye shirt and scrap book. This course is open for children aged six and below. The Beginners’ Painting, on the other hand, will instill the discipline and skills of acrylic painting using different techniques to young artists eight years old and above.

For tickets and more details, call TicketWorld at (02) 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld. com.ph, or contact the Rep at (02) 843-3570 or visit www.repertoryphilippines.ph.

Workshop fee for each class is P4,000, inclusive of materials. To inquire or register, contact Gateway Gallery at (02) 588-4000 local 8300 or 09088816406 or log on to gatewaygallery@aranetagroup.com.

tuESday : aprIL 5, 2016

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Attendees used a huge replica of a camera phone which was attached to a giant selfie stick to take their precious selfies with the event happenings as their background

@LIFEatStandard

Fans get serenaded with the music of Up Dharma Down

phonE x MuSIc FEStIvaL drawS hugE SELFIE-LovIng crowd Photos by star sabroso

he Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati City became a selfie hotspot during the Oppo Music fest, touted as the Philippines’ biggest Phone x Music Festival to celebrate the availability of the Oppo F1’s rose-gold variant in the Philippines. The first in the global technology company’s new camera-focused F series, the Fl’s mix of software and hardware components has earned for it the reputation of being the ideal selfie phone, hence the tag of “Selfie Expert.” During the event, fans danced along with the music from Oppo endorser Sarah Geronimo, Up Dharma Down, Marc Marasigan, Victor Pring, Marga on the Mic, Kat DJ, and Deuce Manila’s Patty Tiu. A major attraction was the replica of a camera phone which was attached to a giant selfie stick – so far the biggest one used in a local festival – which brought to the fore the selfie expertise of the F1 as fans used it to take their precious selfies with the event happenings as their background. Activities like the Oppo Amazing Race, Caught on Cam, and Photo Scavenger Hunt revolved around the Oppo F1’s sophisticated front-camera experience as well. “Majority of our users comprise the youth,” said Oppo Philippines’ brand marketing manager

All phones up at Oppo's Phone x Music Festival

Stephen Cheng. “Technology and music are an integral part of their culture and digital lives. And what better way to celebrate both than by organizing a phone-slash-music festival. We hope that through this activity, we get to support the local music scene as well,” he added.

The F1 boasts an 8-megapixel front shooter with a large, 1/4-inch sensor that produces clearer images than an ordinary, 5-megapixel camera, and a wide, f/2.0 aperture that allows for 44 percent more light to enter the cam than what one would normally get from a standard f/2.4 aperture

Keep your Summer Memories alive with Instax Social media has become a big part of our lives in terms of documenting our memories, but seeing actual printed photos brings nostalgic memories more alive, whether they are on the magnetic mishmash on your fridge, a collage your girlfriend fixed up from your last trip, or the album you gave mom last holiday. The heat of the summer brings so much fun and adventure and it calls for so many photo snaps, and Snapchat can give you a temporary repository of your adventures. But it’s more fun snapping away with instant photo prints as it gives you that instant gratification in seeing your stills right then and there. So, get your FujiFilm Instax out of the box and make sure you bring it on your summer holiday. If you haven’t gotten one yet, now is the time to take advantage of FujiFilm Instax summer packages. Choose from different ranges of Instax mini cameras depending on your personality, pop in those Instax films and be ready to snap away. FujiFilm prepared sizzling summer offers that might be hard to resist: Instax Mini 7s package for P3,699 that saves you P500;

Fuji Instax Mini 70 package

Instax Mini 8 package for P4,999 with an P810 discount; Instax Hello Kitty package for P5,999 and get P,1310 stripped off the retail price; Instax Mini 70 package for P7,499 and get P1,959 savings; Instax Wide 300 package for P7,499 and save P2,464. If you’re more into Instagram but love to print away your photo feed, Instax Share package has an offer of P9,990 where you get to enjoy P1,324 savings. FujiFilm's Keep the Summer Fun Alive with Instax Package runs until May 31, so you have lots of time to think about investing on FujiFilm Instax. When you do, be ready to fight about who gets to take home the prints because for sure, your family and friends would love to take home their copies.

Keep those summer memories alive with FUJIFLM Instax

lens. Its Beautify 3.0 camera feature enhances a user’s natural glow, removes blemishes, and includes three beautification levels and eight filters. Priced at P11,990, the Fl was initially rolled out to Oppo concept stores and authorized dealers last February but only the gold version was available at the time. The 5-inch Oppo Fl has an Android 5.1 processor; a storage capacity of 16 GB (expandable up to 128 GB); with a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera and a 1280 x 720 pixels resolution. Oppo is a leading global technology brand dedicated to providing consumers across the Americas, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and Asia with pioneering products that never fail to inspire and excite. Oppo designs, manufactures, and promotes its own products, combining innovative technology with unique design, to ensure that customers always receive the best. Now on its 12th year, Oppo has proven itself in the market with its intense obsession to details, with each product encompassing a carefully selected array of attributes to specifically cater to users, and combining impressive features with elegant designs. For more information on Oppo, visit www.oppo.com/ph.

tuESday : aprIL 5, 2016

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

The Pillowman explores the fine line between an individual's freedom to tell a story and its impact on society's security

The Pillowman

Egg Theater presents the Filipino translation of the award-winning play by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh

ow much of fiction is inspired by reality? How can one perceive lies from truth? How much deception can the mind take? These are questions that beg to be answered as the dark, dystopian play titled The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh – who at some point was described as European millennial drama’s enfant terrible – unravels. The story revolves around Katurian K. Katurian, a writer from some unnamed totalitarian state who is brought in for questioning by two cops because his gruesome and macabre short stories seem to have inspired a series of child murders. The play, which won the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Play and was nominated for the 2005 Tony awards for the Best Play category, is presented as the first full-run production by Egg Theater Company with a Filipino translation and features Gabs Santos in the lead role. Supporting Santos as Katurian’s brother Michal are Paolo O’Hara and Paul Jake Paule, while the two cops Tupolski and Ariel will be portrayed by Renante Bustamante and Acey Aguilar, respectively. A dark comedy, The Pillowman boldly exhibits the riveting power of narrative and how storytelling and the invention of fantastical tales is a basic human instinct. As the police questioning progresses, viewers will get to see a psychologically disturbing narrative that makes it difficult to clearly distinguish truth from fiction. One will also begin to ponder how much of a person’s childhood experiences shapes his perspective and character. In Act 2, why the play has been titled as such becomes evident: The Pillowman is a story by Katurian about a man made of pillows who convinces children to kill themselves so they can be spared a horrible future. Palanca awardee and Egg Theater Company co-founder, George de Jesus III, who translates and directs The Pillowman,

Gabs Santos

Paolo O' Hara

Paul Jake Paule

Renante Bustamante

Acey Aguilar

Martin McDonagh - Playwright

remarks, “In examining the dark side of imagination and creativity, the play probes into how stories are created, the motivation that drives a writer to tell a story and the responsibility of a writer on the impact of what he has written. Put that against a totalitarian-state setting and we get a play that are by turns disturbingly funny and emotionally shocking. Given that the play is set in an unnamed totalitarian state, translating it into Filipino affords us not only in making it somehow familiar but it also further fuels the idea of it possibly becoming real.”

Set against the backdrop of a hot campaign period, the staging of the play this month resonates with its exploration of the fine line between the freedom of an individual to tell a story and its impact on the security of society. De Jesus, who happens to be the cofounder of Egg Theater Company and is likewise the producer, adds that “… beyond being political, The Pillowman will make us take stock on the power of words and how it can affect other people. There’s a line by Katurian that says, ‘It’s not about being or not being dead, it’s

about what you leave behind.’ I think it’s something that will resonate to anyone in the creative field and it’s what we want to accomplish with Egg Theater Company, to create Filipino productions that will linger in the minds of our audience.” The play will run from April 8-10 and 22-24 at 8:00 p.m. at Pineapple Lab, 6071 R. Palma Street, Poblacion, Makati City. The production will also feature original music and animated graphics by Joee Mejias. For tickets and inquiries, visit Egg Theater Company’s Facebook page or contact 0917-844-0520.

t uES DAy : A pRIl 5, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

(left) Bento Box Mom Kat Maderazo teaching GSK’s Dr. Sheila Chua and Expert Mom Rica Bonifacio. (top) GSK Vp for Commercial pharma Jonnahs Singian

ExpERT mOms gET ExpERT hElp fROm gsK

ummer is here and everybody is on full vacation mode. But whether you are going to the beach, headed to an exciting overseas trip or just staying home for some bonding time with family and friends, remember that the scorching heat isn’t the only thing you should worry about. The rise in temperature brings with it a variety of diseases that our kids can be exposed to, thus ruining our fun under the sun. GSK expert moms led by celebrity-host and Expert Mom herself Rica Peralejo, the GSK expert moms campaign seeks to educate mothers on how to correctly and promptly address cough and allergies for the entire family. “As a mom, I want to make sure that summer would become a memorable time for the whole family. My husband and I always make sure we take care of ourselves first so we can take care of our son, Philip. Being in tip-top shape allows our whole family to have the best summer and enjoy our vacations. Of course our priority is to keep Philip healthy, so we always make sure we are prepared with the necessary medications whenever we travel just in case he gets sick. I think being an Expert Mom is all about ensuring that the whole family is happy, healthy, and free from disease. I’m very happy to be part of the Expert Moms campaign because I think it’s exciting to meet other moms who are keen on keeping themselves healthy in order to take care of their families,” says Rica.

of excess mucus in the airways. Unfortunately, a lot of cough medicines have a bitter aftertaste, which children dislike and often spit out, making medicine time difficult for moms. Ambrolex®, however, has a sweet blackcurrant flavor that kids will love, making cough medicine time easier for moms, and allowing their children to get better, faster. Should moms or their husbands also suffer from cough, Ambrolex® comes in thrice-aday tablet and once-a-day capsule formats for adults that are both easy on the budget.

Ready for allergies

the bento box prepared by Expert Moms

getting tough on cough

Summer break is always a great time to yank your kids away from their mobile phones, tablets and gaming consoles and let them loose for some physical activities and exercise. Playing outdoors is a great way to get them to be more active and serves as an opportunity for them to socialize with other children. Moms, however, should be cautious with their children’s playmates especially if one or several of them are coughing. Cough and colds are quite common even during the summer because of erratic weather patterns that causes a shift in temperature. Coughing is a natural reflex and is usually a sign that your child’s body is trying to rid itself of an irritant, such as mucus or a foreign object. The most common cause of cough in kids is an upper respiratory tract

GSK mascots help Expert Moms campaign that seeks to educate mothers on how to correctly and promptly address cough and allergies

infection from one of more than 100 cold viruses1. Other common causes of cough include infection, asthma, allergies/sinusitis or pollution. Although cough is quite common, having a kid with cough is something you should take seriously as it may easily be passed on to other children with weakened immune systems. Cough caused by viral infections may result in fever, headache, and pains. Transmission may happen when an in-

dividual makes direct contact with an infected individual, or even infected surfaces such as doorknobs, computer keyboards, and gadgets and then touching their nose and mouth. There are generally two kinds of cough; dry cough and productive cough (cough with phlegm). For productive cough, pediatricians can recommend protussives such as Ambrolex® (Ambroxol), to enable the cough to get rid

Another common problem of children during summer is allergies. To have allergies is to have the body’s immune system overreact to foreign substances or even a change in the environment. When the body detects a foreign or potentially harmful substance, it produces antibodies and histamine, which are then released into the blood stream to fight it off. At that point, an inflammatory reaction happens. Some of the common symptoms of allergy are asthma-like symptom such as rapid, shallow breathing, wheezing, and cough. Other symptoms that can be observed are sneezing, itchiness, or development of rashes. Allergic reactions may also be triggered by allergens or substances that can be found in food, such as peanuts, milk, eggs, seafood, etc. A lot of children also develop allergies to plants, pets, house dust mites, mold spores, or medications, especially antibiotics4. Of course, allergies are not limited to children -- moms and their husbands can develop allergies too. When allergy happens, use the antihistamine that is trusted for 20 years, Virlix® (Cetirizine). It contains Cetirizine, an antihistamine that helps you manage the symptoms of your family’s allergies. “Allergies don’t have to ruin your family’s summer fun. All you have to do is take note of what causes allergies among your family members and try to avoid them, so as to manage your allergy symptoms”, says Dr. Sheila Chua, GSK’s Medical Affairs manager, and a practicing Dermatologist. “It also helps to always have a trusted allergy medication in your bag whenever you travel so you can easily address the symptoms of allergies when they occur.” To know more and share tips on how to be an Expert Mom, visit: www.facebook. com/MommyDoc.

t uES DAy : A pRIl 5, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

On SKy pAy-pER-VIEW

BRADlEy tO GIVE pACquIAO tOuGH CHAllEnGE In ApRIl 10 fIGHt

ill new and controversial trainer, Teddy Atlas, bring boxer Bradley victory against Pacquiao? Find out on April 10 via SKY Pay-perView. Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley is once again on a quest to cement his place in boxing history, this time under a new trainer, the returning and controversial Teddy Atlas. His fight against the People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao, which airs on SKYcable pay-per-view on April 10 (Sunday), is the rubber match to watch. Atlas is known as the tough-talking motivator who will not hold anything back to bring his wards to the edge. Legend has it that he drove Michael Moorer to the world heavyweight title in 1994 against Evander Holyfield by employing his brand of impassioned tactics. While many observers say this approach is nothing but drama to call attention to himself, it has nonetheless brought Bradley a newfound optimism with the duo’s first fight ending in a TKO against Brandon Rios. With a number of titles to his name--WBO welterweight world champion, WBC super lightweight world champion and former WBO junior welterweight world champion—Bradley is an elite fighter who has

Welterweight boxers Manny pacquiao and timothy Bradley will do battle for the third time inside MGM Grand in las Vegas

dueled with world champions such as Juan Manuel Marquez and in hotly debated matches, Manny Pacquiao. The Toprank website cites in his bio that “Bradley brought in Atlas to sharpen his skills and stop him from getting hit too much.” Watch if the new partnership would once again work and earn him redemption. Subscribe to SKYcable or Destiny Cable

pay-per-view to catch this battle LIVE and in HIGH DEFINITION on April 10, 9 a.m. for only P999. Those who will avail of this pay-per-view offer also get a bonus LIVE access to Donaire vs Bedak on April 23, 6 p.m., except residents of Cebu where the fight will be held. To know more about SKY pay-perview and other SKY services, visit mysky. com.ph or text APPLY – space – followed

by your name to 23662. SKY continues to offer viewers with diverse options to enjoy TV entertainment with its value and premium service offerings. Only SKYcable provides quality home entertainment with the widest range of standard and high definition channels and other top-of-the-line services such as flexible subscription options via SELECT, iRECORD that records, pauses, and rewinds live TV, as well as real-time coverage of live concerts and sporting events via FREE VIEW and PAY-PER-VIEW. To subscribe and to know more about SKYcable, log on to www.mysky.com.ph, text APPLY <space> your name to 23662, or call the 24-hour customer service hotlines at 3810000 for Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, and Rizal; 484-4701 for Cavite; 534-2814 for Calamba and Binan, Laguna; 520-8560 for San Pedro, Laguna and Carmona, Cavite; 693-5877 for Bulacan; 421-1818 for Cebu; 305-5456 for Davao; 442-4841 for Baguio; 432-0051 for Bacolod; 300-1210 for Iloilo. Enjoy over 90 channels in clear digital signal for only P550 per month with Destiny Cable. For inquiries about the services and promos of Destiny Cable call 418-0000. You may also contact Destiny Cable via their email address, weserve@destinycable. com.ph.

letran Broadcasting students’ masterpieces in Broadfest 2016

This year’s Broadfest by the broadcasting students of Colegio de San Juan de Letran was successfully held on March 19 at the Letran Sc Auditorium. It presented TV dramas, music videos and public service announcements produced by junior and senior students. Broadfest serves as the showroom of broadcasting students of their final requirements in their profes-

sional courses. Once complete, they later on passed their projects to the different student category competitions in the Philippines. Broadfest features 45-minute television dramas, fou –minute music videos and 30-seconder to one-minute radio public service announcements (PSAs). Now on its second year, Broadfest is organized by the professors of

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Fugue composer 5 Wedge 9 Bait 14 Memorable tennis champ 15 High plateau 16 Rack up, as debt 17 Underwrote 19 Sound system

20 Here, to monsieur 21 Bump or knot 22 Luigi’s coins of yore 23 They go to the wall 25 Ricci or Foch 26 Bleachers cry 27 Thailand’s capital 30 Ladybug’s lunch 33 Gives temporarily

34 Janitor’s tool 36 Carpe —! 37 Edible lichen 38 Tusked animal 39 Literary collection 40 Piggy bank coin 41 Wry humor 42 “Enough —!” 44 Livy’s eggs 45 WWW addresses 46 Lick a stamp 50 Too exacting 52 Stun 53 Incan treasure 54 Raj headquarters 55 Bastille stormers 57 Guys like Hamlet 58 One of a pair 59 Garfield’s victim 60 Commence 61 River hazard 62 Not wasted DOWN 1 Rudimentary 2 Humane org. 3 Cantata performers 4 Biddy 5 Polished 6 Rounds up 7 Shrink’s reply (2 wds.) 8 Zany 9 News

Letran Institute of Communication. Last year’s Broadfest was a blast for it bagged different awards. Sean Lawrence Elevado directed the music video entitled “Stand Ground,” which won first runner up and special jury prize at AV Faith Awards. His 10-minute TV documentary, Lunas, won the people’s choice award at the same award giving body. And Bulag na Puso, a 45-minute drama, also di-

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

10 11 12 13 18 22 24 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 37 38 40 41 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 55 56

Polar parka Bruins sch. Worn-down pencils Attempt Golfer Sam — Ronstadt or Hunt Strait-laced Au pair Comic Jack — “Typee” sequel Zen riddle Tooth care org. — colada Make whole Touches down Snoop Powdery Bikini halves Keep at it Leafy vines Fullback, at times Moving like lava Callas or Montessori Garden hoppers Tennessee — Ford Bottle- — dolphin Tour de force Humerus neighbor First light of day Tooth pro’s deg. Qt. parts Promise to pay

the senior and junior students from letran Institute of Communication

rected by Elevado together with his production team won in Excellence in best scoring, best screenplay, and best director. Hopefully this year’s entries could have more achievements, and

leave again legacies in the Letran institute of Communication, For more information contact Aaron Zoilo Talinio, 0935-447-3825, or through email aaronzoiiotalinio@ gmail.com.

t uES DAy : A pRIl 5, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

cristine Reyes

Zanjoe Marudo

Isabelle Daza

‘tubIg At lAngIS’ HItS nEw REcoRD-HIgH RAtIng

ore viewers are getting hooked on the plot of controversial afternoon series Tubig at Langis after the show hit its new all-time high national TV rating. According to data from

Kantar Media, Tubig at Langis scored 16 percent in average national TV rating last Tuesday (Mar 29), beating its rival program with only 11.6 percent, for its highly anticipated episode where Natoy (Zanjoe Marudo) finally admitted the

Riding-in-tandem cases in ‘FpJ’s Ang probinsyano’ Cardo (Coco Martin) and Glen (Maja Salvador) are now set for a new mission. They take on the rampant case of riding in tandem in the country’s no.1 series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. Immediately after having survived a life-threatening incident, Glen, along with a group of police officers, battled against a pack of riding-in-tandem men who swiftly snatched an unknowing lady’s bag. With their cunning motorcycling skills, the gang members were able to get away from the police after an action-packed car chase. Their new mission also gets more complicated now that Glen has been assigned a new partner -SPO2 Jerome Geron (John Prats) -- who will take Cardo’s place. Will Glen and Cardo succeed in their new mission? How can Jerome affect Glen and Cardo’s relationship as partners? Will they be able to seize the mastermind of

“Ang probinsyano” star coco Martin

the riding-in-tandem modus? Don’t miss the action-packed scenes in the number one teleserye, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, weeknights on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable Ch 167). Viewers can also catch up on the program’s past episodes via iWanTV. com and skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers. For more information about the program, visit the official social networking site of Dreamscape Entertainment Television at Facebook.com/DreamscapePH, Twitter.com/DreamscapePH, and Instagram.com/DreamscapePH.

truth about him and Clara (Isabelle Daza) to Irene (Cristine Reyes). Netizens, meanwhile, were quick to take to social media all their thoughts about the tension-filled scene and even commended lead actors Cristine, Zanjoe, and Isabelle

for getting into their characters well. As early as now, avid viewers are already excited for the much-awaited confrontation between Irene and Clara. Don’t miss Tubig at Langis after Doble Kara on ABS- or ABS-

gMAX sponsors bVS special screening GlutaMAX sponsored a special screening of Batman vs Superman at the BGC Uptown Mall Cinema 1 on March 30. The big personalities behind the famous skin-lightening brand GlutaMAX graced the event – YSA Skin Care Corporation President Robert Nazal with his wife Shiela, the Operations Director of YSA; Healthwell Nutraceuticals, Inc. President Jose Paulo Legaspi; Randolph Nazal and Rocky Sun. “Batman vs Superman is a much-awaited movie and we want to enjoy it with our friends and partners in the business. This is our treat to them as a way of saying thanks,” says Legaspi. TV and events personality Andrei Felix hosted the event with PBA courtside reporters Apple David and Carla Lizardo. Cocktails started at 6:30 in the evening, followed by some games where members of the media, bloggers and celebrities won Meis-

ter watches, YSA Skin and Body Experts gift certificates, and LED TVs. Teejay Marquez and Yassi Pressman won Marshall and Bose Bluetooth Speakers for getting the highest number of likes in the social media game. Celebrities Mark Neumann, Karen Bordador, Katya Santos, Arwind Santos, Maricar

resonates with the country’s conservative culture that values a woman’s virginity. Jane the Virgin is first US series to be dubbed in Filipino and aired on ABSCBN in recent years. It tells the story of Jane Villanueva, a hardworking, religious young Latina woman who vows to save her virginity until marriage. One day, her world turns upside down when a doctor artificially inseminates her by mistake during a check-up, getting her pregnant. To make things worse, the biological donor of the sperm specimen is a married man, a former playboy, and a cancer survivor named Rafael, who happens to be Jane’s ultimate crush. Jane the Virgin is a multi-awarded

De Mesa, Ram Nieverra, Helga Krapf, DJ Jojo the love survivor, Richard Pinlac, and Ms. EarthPhilippines 2016 candidates were also there to enjoy the film. “It was a fun night, a moment where we did not think about or talk about work. We just enjoyed. We will definitely do this again,” says Nazal.

glutaMax team led by ySA Skin care corporation president Robert nazal gives out one of the Meister watches they raffled off during the special screening

Filipino-dubbed ‘Jane the Virgin’ debuts strongly on primetime The hit US series Jane the Virgin proved to be an instant hit among Filipino viewers after its pilot telecast on ABSCBN, the Philippines’ largest media and entertainment company, beating rival programs in national TV ratings. According to data from Kantar Media, Jane the Virgin hit an average TV rating of 13 percent among urban and rural homes last Monday (Mar 28) when the show aired on the network’s late primetime slot, as compared to its closest competitor, which only recorded 7 percent. It also generated buzz online and trended nationwide on micro-blogging site Twitter. The series, dubbed in Filipino, captivated viewers with its catchy plot, which

CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). Catch up via iwantv.com.ph or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers. For more updates, follow @ talabscbn on Twitter and Instagram or like www.facebook. com/talabscbn on Facebook.

US series loosely based on Venezuelan telenovela Juana La Virgen. Since it premiered on US television via the CW, the program has received a Peabody Award, an American Film Institute Award, anda People’s Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Program. It has also been nominated in the Critics’ Choice Awards, Television Critics Association Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards, where lead star Gina Rodriguez won as Best Actress – Television Series, Musical or Comedy. Jane the Virgin airs weeknights, 10:30 p.m., after The Story of Us on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). Catch up via iwantv.com.ph or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.

MyX opens first street dance competition The no. 1 music channel in the Philippines opens doors to promising high school dance crews with its first ever street dance competition! Dubbed as MYX Moves Street Dance Competition, the event is open to high school dance crews based in Metro Manila who are talented, competitive, and have the burning passion to dance. The street dance competition was recently promoted by ReQuest Dance Crew, a talented dance crew based in New Zealand and is featured on Justin Bieber’s music video “Sorry.” Join in the beat and witness talented Pinoy high school hopefuls dance their way to the top! MYX is on Skycable channel 2. For updates, log on to www.myxph.com or follow Myx on Instagram (@ MYXPhilippines) and Twitter (@MYXPhilippines).

t uES DAy : A pRIl 5, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

yespinoy Foundation Chairman Dingdong Dantes (first from left) with GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe l. Gozon (third from left) and lead advocate Benjamin Alves (first from right) joined by GMA Network Excellence Award partners

ChampIOnIng EDuCaTIOn ThROugh gma nETWORk ExCEllEnCE aWaRD ISAH V. RED

MA Network affirmed its commitment to fostering a culture of educational excellence along with its partner institutions at the signing of a memorandum of agreement for the GMA Network Excellence Award held at the GMA Network Center on March 29. The Network renewed ties with the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, Don Bosco Technical College, Angeles University Foundation, YesPinoy Foundation, and Airfreight 2100, Inc. Present at the contract signing were GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Vice President for Corporate Communications Angela Javier Cruz, GMA Assistant Vice President for Corporate Affairs Teresa Pacis, UP College of Mass Communication Foundation, Inc. President and Dean of the UP College of Mass Communication Dr. Elena Pernia, Institutional Affairs Director and Vice Rector of Don Bosco Technical College Fr. Demetrio Carmona, Angeles University Foundation President Dr. Joseph El Angeles, YesPinoy Foundation Chairman Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III, Airfreight 2100, Inc. President Rudy Fulo and GMA Network Excellence Award lead advocate Benjamin Alves. “In GMA Network, we are driven by our passion for excellence,” says Gozon. “This is one of our core values which I strongly believe is an important attribute that we continue to impart to future generations and potential media practitioners through the GMA Network Excellence Award.” With the Excellence Award, GMA endeavors to promote excellence as a way of life. “We encourage the students to make excellence a habit – to excel, lead, and get the very best out of their lives,” says GMA Manager for Corporate Relations Unis M. Loleng.

GMA Network Excellence Award lead advocate Benjamin Alves (third from left) with corporate and academe partners

Sealed. GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe l. Gozon is flanked by Kapuso primetime King and yespinoy Foundation Chairman Dingdong Dantes and AuF president Dr. Joseph El Angeles at the signing of the MOA

Furthermore, GMA’s lead advocate for this project, Kapuso actor Benjamin Alves, who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English Literature from the University of Guam, has been actively promoting the Excellence Award in various universities.

He is looking forward to reaching more students through campus visits, as well as through the search proper. “That’s what I’m really excited about – to reach this generation’s future writers and, hopefully, future employees of GMA as well. I’m looking forward to our applicants,

their interviews, and their very unique stories,” says Alves. Now on its 15th year, the GMA Network Excellence Award lauds outstanding graduating students who have shown exemplary leadership, stellar academic performance, and proactive social responsibility. The Network has since conferred the Excellence Award to a total of 39 graduates from UP Diliman, UP Cebu, UP Mindanao, Don Bosco Technical School, and Angeles University Foundation. This year’s search is open to any bona fide Filipino graduating student for the school year 2015- 2016 taking up Mass Communication, Multimedia Arts, Advertising, Electronics and Communication Engineering, or any equivalent course. The aspirant must be graduating with honors and active in socio-civic activities. The Awardee will receive P50,000 and a plaque, while six finalists will each receive P5,000 and a plaque. For more details on the GMA Network Excellence Award, visit the website www. gmanetwork.com/ExcellenceAward.