The Standard - 2016 April 19 - Tuesday

VOL. XXX NO. 66 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 TUESDAY : APRIL 19, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Chinese land plane on disputed island

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‘VULGAR’ DIGONG TAUNTS CRITICS

‘Women, Church can vote for other bets’

By Christine F. Herrera

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday taunted women’s groups, his opponents, and religious leaders outraged by his remarks about the 1989 rape and murder of an Australian missionary, and said he would not back out of the race because his campaign donors had already spent a lot.

Unrepentant. In this photo taken on March 2, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte speaks to reporters during a campaign sortie in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Duterte has admitted that he used ‘gutter language’ in recounting the rape and killing of an Australian missionary in 1989 during a speech last week. AFP

Mar denies Cotabato bribery attempt

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“For the life of me, I can lose the elections today. I will not die if I don’t get elected president. However, I cannot just withdraw because many donors have started giving their contributions since my ratings started going up,” said Duterte, who has topped the latest opinion polls.

Expressing no remorse Monday, Duterte dared his critics—particularly the militant women’s group Gabriela—not to vote for him.

“Tell Gabriela, as a matter of principle, son of a bitch, you want me to remember to be courteous all the time? Do not control my mouth, Gabriela. This is my mouth. It is God-given. That’s gutter language because I grew up in a poor neighborhood. Ang bunganga ko bastos.

Lumaki ako sa neighborhood na bastos, (My mouth is vulgar. I grew up in a vulgar neighborhood.)” Duterte said.

Continuing his tirade, Duterte said: “Gabriela, if it will make you happy if I lose because of this. Well, let me get ahead of you, Gabriela. Do not vote for me.” Next page

Rights group brings Kidapawan case to UN

By Christine F. Herrera and Florante S. Solmerin A HUMAN rights group on Monday filed a complaint against the government before the United Nations, asking it to investigate atrocities against protesting farmers in Kidapawan City, who were shot, beaten and arrested by police on April 1.

In bringing the case to the UN Human Rights Council, the group Karapatan cited the killing, illegal arrest and detention, and other rights violations against the farmers during and after the April 1 dispersal of their protest in Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

The group sought an investigation through Maina Kai, special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful as-

sembly and of association; Michel Forst, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and Seong-Phil Hong, chair-rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Karapatan also submitted the full report of the National Fact-finding and Humanitarian Mission organized by Karapatan, Kilusang Magbubukid ng

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Aussie envoy slams ‘rape jokes’

By Macon R. Araneta and Vito Barcelo

AUSTRALIA’S ambassador to the Philippines on Monday denounced jokes on rape and murder after presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte and his supporters made fun of the 1989 assault on an Australian missionary in Davao City.

New road. President Benigno Aquino III rides a truck on the new Baybay Diversion Road, which connects the cities of Maasin, Tacloban and Ormoc. The completed project reduces travel time around Leyte Island. MALACANANG PHOTO

‘Vulgar’...

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Duterte took the same attitude when told that Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, had urged Catholics not to vote for him, Duterte said: “Correct.

Do not vote for me.”

“If you obey CBCP, fine,” he added. “But understand my language.’’

Duterte said his language may be foul and offensive, but the bishops and the members of the Catholic Church should remember that he is not a thief.

He then told Catholics to carefully examine the call of their leaders.

“I am asking the Catholics to carefully examine this… What I am saying is, in spite... of my mouth, I will give you a clean government,” he said.

Asked to comment on the condemnation of his remarks by the Australian Embassy, Duterte said: “I don’t want anyone controlling me. I say what I say, and I have said it.”

In the video of a speech delivered April 12, Duterte told supporters he got angry at a group of inmates

Rights...

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Pilipinas and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

The report serves as a reference to the complaint filed, Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay said.

“It is important that the international community is made aware of these gross human rights violations against the farmers, with all the visible signs of cover-up on the accountability of the Aquino government and the Philippine National Police,” Palabay said.

“We believe that the Philippine state security forces, with the approval of, if not direct orders from top civilian authorities, deliberately and murderously attacked the protesters, grossly violating the farmers’ civil and political rights protected by the Philippine Constitution, law and various international covenants

who had raped and killed Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill in 1989, not just because they committed the crime, but because the victim was so beautiful, “the mayor should have been first.”

On Sunday, Duterte refused to apologize for his remarks and went into a lengthy narration of the twoday hostage taking in a Davao prison in 1989.

He said his remarks on April 12 were not a joke, but a narration of the events of 1989.

In the video, Duterte said in Filipino to laughter from his supporters: “When the bodies were brought out, they were wrapped. I looked at her face, son of a bitch, she looked like a beautiful American actress. Son of a bitch, what a waste… What came to mind was, they raped her, they lined up. I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.

Duterte, who boasts of the extrajudicial killings of suspects by vigilantes during his time in Davao, was the preferred candidate in the run up to the May 9 election, according to the latest opinion survey on April 3.

In his account of the 1989 hostage crisis, Duterte said then President

Corazon Aquino had ordered him to resolve the two-day standoff at the jail immediately and peacefully.

“Cory Aquino prevented me from killing them, but those sons-ofbitches beat me to it [raping the Australian missionary]. I’m the mayor and they beat me to it.”

In utter outrage, Duterte said, he emptied a magazine from his Uzi on the rapists and hostage takers.

“I fired the first shot. I took my Uzi and emptied the magazine. I said, wipe them out. Kill them all.

Those sons of bitches, the Australian was so beautiful and they beat me to her,” Duterte said.

No one was spared, and all 16 hostage takers were killed, he added.

Duterte also said the rape joke that went viral was “no joke” because he was recounting what he had said in 1989 in anger.

Duterte urged the CBCP to ease up on its condemnation of him.

“I thought all the while I was doing my duties for humanity. And now they’re castigating me for my mouth?” he said.

He also said he does not care if his choice of language will cost him the election.

“If it is not acceptable to the cultured people, let it be,” he said. “If it

means my defeat, so be it.”

He again explained the remark that sparked negative reactions.

“It was slang, a derogation. I was belittling their manhood. It was not a slur. It was street slang,” he said.

“But it was not a joke about rape.”

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, president of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan which adopted Duterte as its standard bearer, urged the public to “move on,” saying that the mayor had already apologized for his remarks—even though the candidate had not done so.

“We stand unequivocally on the side of Mayor Duterte on this matter and wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who stood by him and continue to do so despite the most vicious and malevolent attacks against his character and integrity in both mainstream and social media,” Pimentel’s statement read.

“We reiterate: Mayor Duterte remains focused on the campaign and will continue to mobilize people’s support for his platform of Tunay na Pagbabago anchored on a 24/7 war against crime and corruption, inclusive growth through regional development and equality under the law.” With Rio N. Araja

and instruments to which the Philippine government is a signatory,” Palabay said.

The NFHM report to the UN cited various “maneuvers” by the PNP and the local government to destroy evidence, such as clearing the crime scene through the use of bulldozers and water cannons, and the burning of personal effects confiscated from the protesters during and after the dispersal.

The fact-finding body also reported to the UN that authorities prevented paralegals and quick reaction teams from leaving the Spottswood Methodist Center to gather important details and documentation on the incident and provide emergency support to the victims and their families.

Palabay said Karapatan also received initial reports that the family of slain Manobo farmer Darwin Sulang received threats and experienced harassment from the provin-

cial government, the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Palabay quoted Ebao Sulang, father of Darwin, who said that on April 6, North Cotabato provincial board member Kelly Antao and Lito Palma of the Office of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza went to his house and tried to convince the family not to file criminal charges against the governor and the PNP and offered them P100,000.

The family refused the offer.

Unknown men were spotted walking around their house from midnight until 3 a.m. on April 12, Sulang said.

On April 13, relatives of the Sulang family received news that members of the Army were looking for Ebao Sulang. The whole family immediately left and sought refuge from church and human rights groups.

“This is clearly part of the government’s underhanded moves to

dissuade the family from pursuing countercharges,” Palabay said.

Palabay also said that while the 82 illegally arrested and detained farmers have all been released on bail as of April 16, trumped up charges of direct assault and frustrated homicide have yet to be dismissed.

“The arrest and detention of the farmers—of those who were shot, pulled from the protesters’ ranks and tortured by the police, to the elderly and pregnant women farmers, to the mere bystanders—show the inhumanity and callousness of the BS Aquino government institutions on the plight of the farmers,” she said.

Among the recommended actions stated in the NFHM report is the indictment and prosecution of all police operatives on the ground responsible for killings, frustrated killings, illegal arrest and detention, and other criminal acts committed during and after the dispersal.

“Rape and murder should never be joked about or trivialized,” Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely said in a statement on Twitter.

“Violence against women and girls is unacceptable anytime, anywhere,” Gorely added.

Duterte’s comments were caught on video, saying he found the missionary beautiful and lamented that he was upstaged by the prison inmates who raped and killed the Australian woman.

His comments drew a firestorm of criticism on social media and from his rival candidates, saying his remarks were insensitive, unacceptable and showed lack of respect for women.

President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Duterte’s offer to serve as president “truly deserves scrutiny” and that his words show his “lack of fitness” for the position.

Presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe said Duterte would be “a dangerous president,” adding that the character he has shown is frightening.

She said there was no justification for Duterte’s rape remark.

As a woman and a mother, Poe said, she is not just saddened, but alarmed and frightened because of his kind of thinking.

“That’s not the mindset of the majority and he’s only showing a bad example....We cannot say that this is reasonable. This is not reasonable thinking,” she said.

A group of overseas workers on Monday joined the United Nationalist Alliance and the Liberal Party in condemning Duterte’s remarks.

Migrante International said many Filipina workers were victims of abuse abroad and feared that this would grow under a Duterte presidency.

Liberal Party spokesman Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said the remarks on the rape case unmasked Duterte’s irresponsibility.

Students from the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City also slammed Duterte for his rape remarks, with the school’s student council calling on the nation “to hold their leaders to account.”

“Leaders ought to be held to a higher moral standard,” the council’s statement read.

“Rape is no joking matter, and making light of violence against women is unbecoming of anybody, especially when they are public servants who aspire to lead the nation,” it said.

Prospero de Vera, vice president for public affairs of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, said no government official or national leader should joke about rape.

“He must apologize for that, and others must ask him to stop talking about that,” De Vera said. With Rio N. Araja, PNA

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Ejercito pleads not guilty, to clear name SENATOR Jose Victor Ejercito on Monday vowed to clear his name after he pleaded not guilty during his arraignment before the Sandiganbayan for graft, which he described as the “very first court hearing” for a suit filed against him as an accused.

“We are confident that the evidence and witnesses we have will show who is right and what indeed happened,” Ejercito said.

“I want to get this case over and done with as soon as possible. Justice delayed is justice denied.”

He made his statement even as the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division on Monday ordered the arrest of ex-Laguna governor ER Ejercito for failing to appear in his arraignment for graft.

The anti-graft court questioned the alteration in the date of ER’s medical certificate that was presented by his lawyer Antonio Jose Gerardo Paz. The court ordered the confiscation of ER Ejercito’s P30,000 bail bond.

JV Ejercito is the son of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada with San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, who is also seeking reelection.

The opposition senator said he had never had a court case and had been very careful to keep his record as a public servant clean and his reputation unblemished.

“My lawyer Attorney Sig Fortun and I both agreed not to delay the case any further,” he said.

He said the Ombudsman’s filing of graft charges against him was politically motivated.

He said he believed the Zamora family, his family’s political rival in San Juan, was behind the charges.

JV Ejercito denied the alleged anomalous purchase of high-powered firearms using San Juan City’s calamity fund when he was mayor in 2008.

He and Fortun attended his arraignment at the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division.

The Sandiganbayan had ordered him arrested on April 6 after it found “sufficient grounds” to proceed with the graft and malversation charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman. A day later, he posted a P30,000 bail for his temporary freedom. Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

Star power. To keep up with his laggard numbers in the surveys, administration bet Manuel Roxas II taps the endorsing power of presidential sister Kris Aquino to boost his presidential bid.

Roxas denies bribery attempt in Cotabato CALBAYOG CITY—The Liberal Party’s standard bearer Manuel Roxas II on Monday denied the LP was responsible for an incident in which some party stalwarts in North Cotabato were seen bribing audiences with envelopes to cheer for him.

“I condemn these acts, and these are clearly not part of the straight path platform,” Roxas told reporters as he visited Samar on Monday.

“For us, these acts aren’t right,” he said.

“While I haven’t seen the video personally, we will investigate who are the organizers of this program and we maintain that these things should not be tolerated.”

But North Cotabato Rep. Jesus Sacdalan, who organized the rally, claimed that the envelopes were only a “joke” by the emcee, adding that he

did not have any involvement with the proclamation rally that happened at the Pikit Municipal Gym on March 30.

“I just want to clear the issue on the video wherein the emcee threw jokes about the envelopes. There is no basis to these claims and these are not part of the rules that we follow. We do not engage in that kind of politics,” Sacdalan said.

In the two-minute viral video, however, the emcee, who led the chants, did give envelopes to the members of the audience—which supposedly contained money—to lure the disinterested crowd to chant the words “Oras na, Roxas na!”

They would not be given envelopes if they didn’t cheer for Roxas.

“The chant is weak here, so you won’t get your envelope,” the emcee said in Filipino as he coached the crowd in Pikit, North Cotabato.

“It’s also weak in the back, so you won’t get your envelopes either.”

Roxas’ visit to Pikit town came days before the bloody dispersal of hungry farmers who were

demanding government food aid amid a fivemonth drought brought about by the El Niño phenomenon in nearby Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, on April 1.

His spokesman said the ruling party had “zero tolerance” on the issue of the envelopes.

“Our instruction to the local organizers of these events is clear: we do not tolerate these things. We are investigating the truth behind this video,” Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez said in a statement.

On Monday, Roxas started campaigning in Eastern Visayas, one of the areas badly hit by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, banking on the endorsement of presidential sister Kris Aquino who accompanied him for the first time in the campaign.

“It’s not good that you’re asking for something, and then you won’t vote for Mar [Roxas,] right?” Aquino told the crowds who were asking for a hospital and expanded PhilHealth coverage in Calbayog City. John Paolo Bencito

‘Daang Matuwid as part of names not allowed’

Serenade. Heart Evangelista-Escudero, is serenaded by the Pink Sisters in Lipa City after a brief stop-over from campaigning on Monday for the Gobyernong May Puso slate led by presidential candidate Grace Poe and her running mate Francis Escudero, Heart’s husband.

"DAANG Matuwid" was used as a nickname by the Aquino administration's standard bearer Manuel Roxas II and his running mate Leni Robredo, but former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal on Monday said the government must now take down all posts from its Official Gazette that contains that nickname.

Larrazabal cited a post from the Official Gazette, the Philippine government's official website, containing a hashtag of #DahilDaangMatuwidTayo in any projects or progress report of the country.

"Notice anything with this post of the Official Gazette? It contains the 'nickname' of two candidates in the ballot," said Larrazabal, the legal counsel of the Nacionalista Party Coalition.

"This is not allowed. This is an election offense punishable by imprisonment."

Larrazabal said the government may have committed an election offense for allowing Roxas and Robredo

to use "Daang Matuwid" as part of their names on the ballot, and to use "Daang matuwid" or "Tuwid na daan" in all its public announcements, tarpaulins or ads.

"Of note is the fact that when the government allowed Roxas and Robredo to use 'Daang Matuwid' as part of their names on the ballot, and at the same time to continue to use 'Daang matuwid' or 'Tuwid na daan' in all its announcements, tarpaulins, ads, etc., during the campaign period, the government may have committed, and up to now has been committing, an election offense," Larrazabal said.

He said the use of public funds "under any guise whatsoever, directly or indirectly" for any election campaign or for any partisan political activity was illegal.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez refused to comment on the use of the "Daang Matuwid" slogan, but said they would address the matter once a petition was filed against it. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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China lands plane on reef BEIJING—Beijing landed a military plane on a disputed South China Sea reef it has built up into an artificial island, state media said Monday, in the first official confirmation of such a flight.

An air force plane landed on Fiery Cross reef in the Spratlys archipelago on Sunday to evacuate sick workers, the official People’s Liberation Army Daily said.

China claims nearly all of the strategically vital sea, even waters close to its Southeast Asian neighbors, and has created artificial islands in an effort to assert its claims.

It has significantly expanded Fiery Cross, which is also claimed

by Vietnam and the Philippines,

drawing international criticism.

In 2014, China began work on a 3,000-meter (9,840 feet) runway on the reef, which is around 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from its island province of Hainan.

Beijing in January carried out several of what it called civilian flights to Fiery Cross, enraging Hanoi.

This weekend’s flight came just days after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter visited a warship close to flashpoint waters, after

announcing joint naval patrols with the Philippines.

On the day of Carter’s trip, Beijing said that one of its top military officials had visited a South China Sea island.

Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, observed building work, the defense ministry said, without giving a precise date or location for the visit.

Washington regularly accuses Beijing of militarizing the South China Sea, saying it has built runways and deployed weapons to the islands.

Beijing denies the accusations and says US patrols have ramped up tensions.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it will verify report that a Chinese military aircraft landed on the disputed island.

In a text message, DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said that the department would validate the report before issuing any statement.

Only recently, the Philippines protested China’s test landing of a civilian plane on an airstrip it has built on an artificial island, the Kagitingan Reef, which is claimed by China, Philippines, and Vietnam.

Jose said Kagitingan was part of the Kalayaan Island Group that belonged to the Philippines.

China has become more assertive in pressing its claims to

the South China Sea, building artificial islands on reefs in the Spratlys, an archipelago rich in natural resources that is the focal point of rival claims by neighboring countries.

The United States has criticized China’s construction of artificial islands in the sea and worries that it plans to use them for military purposes, even though China says it has no hostile intent.

The runways would be long enough to handle long-range bombers and transport aircraft as well as China’s best jet fighters, giving it a presence deep in the maritime heart of Southeast Asia that it has lacked until now.

Vito Barcelo, AFP

Aquino ratings drop again

By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III’s public satisfaction dropped to its lowest since the first quarter of 2015, according to the latest survey the Social Weather Stations.

Aquino’s net satisfaction rating was downgraded to a “moderate” +27 for the first quarter of 2016, according to a survey conducted March 30 to April 2, of 1,500 adults nationwide that had sampling error margins of ±3 points for nationwide percentages and ±6 points each for Metro Manila, Luzon areas outside the capital, the Visayas and Mindanao.

SWS describes a net satisfaction rating as the difference between the percentage of satisfied and unsatisfied respondents.

According to the SWS, the survey particularly bared a huge drop in the country’s capital.

The latest rating was five points below the “good” +32 recorded in December 2015.

This quarter’s net rating was also the lowest in a year since Aquino’s satisfaction dropped at a “moderate” +11 in the March 2015 survey.

The survey during that period was conducted in the wake of the January 2015 counter-terrorism operation in Maguindanao that killed 44 cops, more than 20 rebels and a few civilians, and eroded legislative support for a proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law that was supposed to pave the way for peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The SWS attributed the fivepoint decline in Aquino’s net satisfaction rating to “declines of 23 points in Metro Manila, eight points in the Visayas, and one point in Mindanao, combined with a steady score in Balance Luzon.”

Agbiag ti Ilokano. Vice Presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. follows Philippine Constitution Association chairman retired Justice Manuel Lazaro to a meeting, called Agbiag ti Ilokano [Long Live Ilocanos], with prominent Ilocanos at the Manila Polo Club. EY ACASIO

NGOs slam De Lima over selective justice

Vice presidential debate. Senator Antonio Trillanes, Senator Chiz

Escudero, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Representative Leni Robredo await the start of the vice presidential debate hosted by the broadcasting network ABS-CBN in Quezon City on Sunday.

A FEDERATION of nongovernment organizations slammed senatorial candidate Leila de Lima on Monday for her alleged selective dispensation of justice, noting her apparent bias against opposition leaders and snail-paced action on complaints against allies of the Aquino Administration.

The Balikatan People’s Alliance pointed out that in just a matter of weeks, De Lima managed to file cases against critics of the Aquino Administration over the alleged anomalous use of “pork barrel” funds.

“As we all know two of these critics, Senators Bong Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, have been in jail for more or less a year already,” Balikatan spokesman Arsenio Antiporda noted.

But despite the fact that sus-

pected scam mastermind Janet Napoles herself said there are government allies in her list, Antiporda pointed out that not one has been detained.

“Cases were filed against a few but it took Miss De Lima months to do so,” Antiporda said.

When the SAF 44 were massacred in Mamasapano, it was immediately established that some of the killers were members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Antiporda said.

“But cases were filed against a few only a year after the massacre, and when Ms. De Lima was about to step down as Justice secretary. She was never reported as having aggressively pursued any action to take custody of the suspected killers,” Antiporda said.

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Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (center) is endorsed by the nation’s largest transport groups as their top senatorial bet for his ‘malasakit’ platform.

From left: Acto National President Efren De Luna, LTOP National President Orlando Marquez, Fejodap National President Zenaida Maranan and Pasang Masda National President Robert Martin. Romualdez vows to push for the modernization of public transport in the country.

VER NOVENO

Pump prices up by P1.50

By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL players raised pump prices by as much as P1.50 per liter on Tuesday to reflect the movement of world oil prices last week.

The oil firms raised the price of diesel by P1.50 per liter, and gasoline and kerosene by P1.10 per liter, respectively, starting 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Seaoil Philippines and Phoenix Petroleum also issued separate advisories while other oil players are expected to follow suit.

Oil prices went up in the world market as traders have been expecting a possible cut in production ahead of the meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other fuel—producing countries.

On Sunday, however, the Opec and some 18 oil countries, failed to get a consensus to cut production levels, sending oil prices downward on Monday.

World oil prices have significantly gone down since late 2014 due to oversupply of oil from the US, which has been compounded by the decision of Opec not to cut production.

Last April 12, the oil companies implemented a rollback by P0.70 per liter for gasoline, P0.50 per liter for diesel and P0.55 per liter for kerosene.

Oil prices initially declined early last week on renewed concerns over continuing supply, but the Energy department said mixed reports of renewed demand behind indications of moderate economic growth in China and reassurance to hold Opec and non-Opec production levels at January 2016 levels sent prices back higher starting midweek.

The statement of Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the country will not freeze oil output unless other major producers join the agreement initially set prices lower by more than $1.

‘Big 4’ transport groups endorse Romualdez bid

By Maricel V. Cruz Senatorial candidate and leyte rep. Martin romualdez has earned the overwhelming support of the so-called “Big 4” in the million-member strong transport sector following his “malasakit” (compassionate) advocacy for them to push the PUJ modernization program.

At a news conference in Quezon City on Monday, Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) National President Efren De Luna, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) National President Zenaida Maranan, Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide (Pasang Masda) National President Robert Martin, and Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) National President Orlando Marquez declared that the transport sector needs Romualdez in the Senate to advance

their welfare and interests.

The leaders of the “Big 4” vowed to deliver significant votes for Romualdez in the May 9 general elections.

“We declare an all out support for fhe candidacy of Congressman Martin Romualdez as senator of the Republic of the Philippines in the coming May 9, 2016,” the group declared in a joint statement following a nationwide series of consultations with their members which include drivers and operators of jeepney, tricycle, taxi, school bus and UV Express vans.

“We believe that Congressman Romualdez will be able to do a lot for us, the jeepney operators and drivers and the public transport sector in general, as he is the only senatorial candidate who provides us a concrete plan of actions to advance our interests,” the Big 4 pointed out in declaring support for Romualdez, a shared senatorial candidate of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and was virtually endorsed by Senator Grace Poe because of his “malasakit” advocacy.

During consultations and presentation of his platforms, Romualdez assured his “malasakit” to ordinary jeepney drivers and operators by not turning his back on them

in ensuring that government’s plan to implement the PUJ modernization program will not burden them.

The proposal is to replace jeepneys that are more than 15 years old with new vehicles such as electronic jeeps and those with combustible engines.

Romualdez said modernization is needed through e-jeepneys by ensuring that “it does not penalize the lives of ordinary families who are depending on the traditional mode of transport in the country.”

“In any modernization program, it should always champion the best interest of the affected sectors, in this case, ‘malasakit’ should be showed to hundreds of thousands of ordinary drivers and operators,” Romualdez said.

The leaders of the “Big 4” also commended Romualdez over his latest “malasakit” act— that was the signing into law by President Benigno Aquino III last March 23, 2016 of his measure, also known as Republic Act (RA) No. 10754 exempting more than 1.5-million persons with disabilities from the payment of 12-percent value added tax on certain goods and services.

The modernization of jeepneys is aimed at improving passenger safety and promoting the use of environment-friendly vehicles.

Escudero: Poverty is Public Enemy No. 1 INDEPENDENT vice presidential bet Francis “Chiz” Escudero highlighted poverty as the real enemy of the people, rallying all candidates to unite against the scourge of 26 million Filipinos.

Escudero, who is running with Senator Grace Poe under the banner of “Gobyernong may Puso,” said there will never be an end to criminality or secessionism until the government is able to address poverty.

“Habang mayroong tatay na hindi napapakain ang kanyang anak ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, habang mayroong nanay

na hindi napag-aaral hanggang kolehiyo ang kanyang anak, habang mayroon pong pamilya na hindi kayang ipagamot ang mahal nila sa buhay, palagi pong may kakapit sa patalim, palaging may gagawa ng krimen at palaging may aakyat sa bundok,” he said. “layunin po namin, tugunan ang ugat ng problema. Sa Gobyernong may Puso, ang kalaban po namin, kahirapan, public enemy number one po namin yan,” he said.

Addressing voters during a televised debate among vice

presidential bets Sunday night, Escudero said the country needed leaders with the courage and compassion to provide what the people truly need.

“Seryoso po ang mga problema natin, at kailangan natin ng mga taong handa at seryoso para tugunan ang mga problema at suliraning ito,” Escudero said.

“Handa po ako na gamitin ang aking karanasan para labanan ang kahirapan. Handa po ako gamitin anumang talino o talento mayroon ako para ipaglaban kayo. Para labanan ang katiwalian at manilbihan

po bilang inyong ikalawang pangulo,” the veteran lawmaker said.

Escudero reiterated their commitment to provide P300 billion or 10 percent of the national budget to help farmers and fisherfolk, which comprise the poorest sector in the country, and P12.4 billion to fund the education of indigents in state universities and colleges.

He said they would allocate P1 trillion or one-third of the budget for Mindanao, which has 11 of the Philippines’ 20 poorest provinces.

t u e s D AY : A p r i l 1 9, 2 0 1 6

A6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Explain wage petition, Labor told

By Rey E. Requejo

The Supreme Court has required the Department of Labor and employment to comment on a petition filed by labor groups last month seeking to strike down the Wage Rationalization Act. In a resolution, the SC ordered the DoLE and the National Wage and Productivity Commission to submit their respective comments to the petition that pushed for a uniform minimum wage all over the country.

The tribunal gave Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and NWPC execu-

tive director Ma. Criselda Sy 10 days from receipt of notice to comply with the order.

In their 29-page petition, the labor groups led by former Akbayan party-list congressman and now senatorial candidate Walden Bello asked the high court to stop the NWPC and all the regional tripartite wage

and productivity boards from further issuing regional wage orders.

They also asked for the abolition of the 17 RTWPBs and a standardized or uniform National Minimum Wage all over the country.

Petitioners, including the Ugnayan ng Maralita Laban sa Kahirapan (Umalab Ka) party-list, National Federation of Labor (NFL) and Solidarity of Independent and General Labor Organizations (Siglo), argued that the law being implemented since 1989 violates the equal protection clause of the constitution.

They said the implementation of R.A. 6727 has set different minimum wages all over the country with the highest as P481.00 in the National Capital Region and as low as P250 at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Through lawyer General Du, petitioners said the law also violates Article 135 and 248 of the Labor Code, which prohibits labor discrimination.

They cited records showing that only 207,507 of 62,189,000 laborers are covered by collective bargaining agreement (CBA): “This means that virtually most of Filipino laborers do

not have bargaining power over their employers. That is why living wage legislation is important.”

Petitioners further argued that the wages set by NWPC and RTWPB have failed to meet the suggested living wage by various think tanks, including the Ibon Foundation.

Data from Ibon Foundation showed that the daily minimum wage in May 2012 was P446 while the family living wage is P1,017 —or a discrepancy of P571.

Asked why they filed the petition only after 26 years of implementation of the law, Du explained that the labor groups have been busy

fighting for wage increases all these years and have not really put their focus on the issues involving the legality of the law.

Earlier last week, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines filed a petition seeking a daily wage increase of P154 in Metro Manila.

It said eight million workers are living below the poverty line as a result of rising cost of basic needs and the low minimum wage whose real value amounts to P364.12 a day excluding deductions for Social Security System, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth premiums.

With Vito Barcelo

Briton sues four condo sales agents for estafa

By Joel E. Zurbano

Universal beauties. Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach (right) crowns Binibining Pilipinas 2016 winner Maxine Medina during the coronation night on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Medina will represent the Philippines in the international beauty pageant won by Wurtzbach. MANNY PALMERO

Bagatsing greets Estrada, seeks end to bitter diatribe MANILA mayoral candidate Amado Bagatsing on Monday extended his greetings to Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada who is celebrating his birthday today, April 19, amid calls that they as well as former mayor Alfredo Lim, another mayoralty hopeful, put a stop to the adversity their respective political camps are waging in their campaigns.

In observance of his 79th natal day, Estrada is scheduled to inaugurate five newly constructed/renovated public markets, a few school buildings and additional rooms, asphalted or cemented streets, and scores more of infra projects like parks, plazas and playgrounds, relocation sites

for informal dwellers, and newly-refurbished city hall offices.

Job fairs will also be held to mark this day and cater to the jobless Manilans.

“My family and I, as well as my partymates and supporters in the ‘Kabaka LABs Manila’ team, are one in wishing Mayor Estrada many happy return of the years, more successes, and a healthy and long life,” Bagatsing said.

On the issue of “hate politics,” Bagatsing said it’s about time that “we raise the level of the campaign by zeroing in on issues that will redound to the benefit of the city and the local populace, and to regain the lost glory, grandeur and

greatness of Manila.”

“Let’s talk sense, not nonsense; render service, not disservice. Manilans deserve this, no more, no less,” said Bagatsing, son of former Manila mayor Ramon Bagatsing Sr. Bagatsing said accusations like “sinungaling (liar) and magnanakaw (thief)” should not be discussed when candidates talk of platforms and programs of government.

Aliases and name-calling like “Boy Dayo and Mang Angas (directed at Estrada),” “Tondo and Intsik (for Lim),” and “Bumbay and Five-six (for Bagatsing)” must be erased and deleted from the aspirants’ or their followers’ vocabulary. Tony Macapagal

A BRITISH national, who filed a complaint against four former land developer sales agents for falsifying documents of Serendra condominium units he bought in 2007, has asked the Taguig Prosecutors Office to issue a resolution following the respondents’ failure to attend preliminary investigations of the case.

The respondents—Robert Lao, Peachy Pasana, Marishel Mendiola, and Carmina Cruz —are facing 25 counts of estafa, falsification of public documents, and violation of the Subdivision and Condominium Buyer’s Protective Decree.

In a 52-page complaint filed last Feb. 5, Andrew Gudgeon said the respondents, who then representing Alveo Land, conspired and victimized him by faking the deeds of sale and the titles of the five condominium units.

Gudgeon, 70, said he bought the units in full amount worth P19.3 million in 2007 on a pre-selling basis. He made full check payments inside the Alveo office in Bonifacio Global City.

“I paid for the condos in full, using my lifetime savings from working as a chemistry profes-

sor in the United Kingdom,” he said.

Gudgeon said they bought the units for investment but when the construction of the Serendra units was completed in 2010, Pasana and Mendiola told him the titles were also issued but under the names of fictitious individuals—Melissa Aquino, Enrico Santos, and Gemma Budiosa—the two allegedly invented.

He said the respondents made it appear that no purchase transaction happened despite a certification from BPI Family Bank that the checks he issued in payment for the units were credited to the accounts of Alveo Land and Serendra Inc. “I never fear if things become too difficult. God is my comfort!

I do not seek more responsibilities than God has given me. He will lead me at a pace that fits my present character and His purposes for me,” Gudgeon said.

Last week, the four respondents failed to attend the preliminary investigation of the case.

This prompted Gudgeon’s lawyer Argee Guevarra to make an appeal before the inquest prosecutor to submit resolution on probable cause.

Guevarra said that next preliminary investigation scheduled today (April 19).

Another first for PH.

A team of Smart Communications Inc. and Samsung Electronics engineers perform final testing prior to the official roll-out of LTE-A services in Boracay. With Smart’s launching of the country’s first LTE-Advance service, the Philippines joins the short list of countries with available LTE-A network such as Australia, the United States and Turkey.

From left: Smart Regional Service Assurance Group supervisor Arnaldo Alva, Samsung Field Test engineer Silver Garcia, Smart Public Affairs head Ramon Isberto and Smart Regional Service Assurance Group supervisor engineer Kirc Ian Develos.

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 1 9, 2 0 1 6

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘Review poll bets’ record in Yolanda response’

By Ronald O. Reyes

Pyramids. Visitors enjoy the World Historical Theme Park in Baguio City. DAVID CHAN

Govt troops capture 3 Sayyaf lair, manhunt on rd

sive device in the camp located at Barangay Baguindan.

Other items recovered were five GOVERNMENT troops captured on Sunday liters of gasoline; assorted medimorning a third camp of the Abu Sayyaf Group cal paraphernalia; three sacks of rice; and five laminated sacks. after the April 9 encounter which led to the Continued government ofdeaths of 18 soldiers and the wounding of 53 fensives against the Abu Sayyaf has also resulted in the deaths others in Tipo-tipo, Basilan. of 38 bandits, among whom are Western Mindanao Command Ranger Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Moroccan terrorist and bomber spokesman Major Filemon Tan Elmer Suderio, recovered com- Mohammad Khatttab who is said the troops under the Scout ponents of an improvised explo- said to be acting as a conduit

By Francisco Tuyay, PNA

between a “Middle East terrorist organization.”

The ASG is believed to be holding 14 Indonesian and Malaysian hostages, taken in separate incidents off the sea of Tawi-tawi.

Tan said he was optimistic that the military would capture the ASG, which he said broke into small groups as they fled pursuing troops.

“We will not stop until we locate them,” Tan added.

TACLOBAN CITY—A regional political party in Eastern Visayas said voters should be circumspect about how candidates acted in the aftermath of Typhoon “Yolanda” which flattened the region on Nov. 8, 2013.

“Voters should ensure that this upcoming election will be defined by what happened during typhoon Yolanda,” said Jude Acidre, first nominee of Tingog Sinirangan party-list.

“In choosing our next leaders, it is important to ask, who were there? Who were the ones nowhere to be found? Instead of the help, leadership and compassion we expected from those who said and promised to champion us, we were snubbed,” Acidre added.

According to Acidre, Typhoon “Yolanda,” which killed over 6,000 people in Tacloban and nearby towns in Leyte, has become “an issue of political integrity.”

“We were ignored. We were betrayed. We expected them to speak for us, but they remained silent. When we were sidelined, they chose to stand with their political allies rather than the people they promised to represent,” he added.

Acidre, however, didn’t mention particular politicians or officials in his statement.

“Where were they when we needed them most?

Why? When they were not in our time of greatest need, how can we trust them to lead our region out of poverty?” Acidre asked.

Bill to declare Batanes as cultural heritage and eco-tourism zone

By Maricel V. Cruz A HOUSE proposal to declare the province of Batanes as a responsible, community-based, cultural heritage and ecotourism zone is nearing enactment into law after a Senate panel endorsed its plenary approval before lawmakers went on congressional adjournment two months ago.

House Bill 6152, principally authored by Deputy Speaker and Batanes Rep. Henedina R. Abad, was approved by the Senate committees on environment and natural resources and on tourism chaired by Senators Francis Escudero and Manuel Lapid.

The House approved the

measure on third and final reading last Oct. 9, 2015. Its counterpart measure in the Senate is SB 2981 authored

by Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV. Abad said both the government and the private sector recognize the potential positive impact of ecotourism in Batanes because of its vast experience in sustaining protected areas while creating jobs, increasing household incomes and generating revenues for local governments.

“Since 2014, Batanes has been experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of tourists visiting the province. While infrastructure, human capital, and tourism programs and products are

being developed, the importance of sustaining the natural and cultural heritage of Batanes remains a key priority in the development of the province,” Abad said.

Abad further said the attendant negative impact of the developing tourism industry on the environment must be mitigated for the benefit of future generations.

House Bill 6152, or the proposed “Batanes Responsible Tourism Act,” provides it is the declared State policy to recognize, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions, and considers these rights in the formulation of national plans and policies.

Farm work. Farmers in Pulilan, Bulacan thresh newly harvested palay. ANDREW RABULAN

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 1 9, 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

THE CARPIO DISSENT IN THE POE DECISION

[ EDI TORI A L ]

STUCK IN THE GUTTER

SOME words you take at face value, some with a grain of salt. Some you brush off and dismiss. Others, you object to and demand an apology for.

Some words are just so reprehensible there is neither excuse nor redemption.

We condemn in the strongest terms the words of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte who trivialized the rape and murder of an Australian missionary 27 years ago.

The mayor of Davao City described the woman as being so beautiful that she looked like an actress. “What a waste,” he remembered thinking.

“They raped her, they lined up. I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first,” he said to a cheering crowd of supporters in an April 12 rally.

Duterte’s supporters insist that their candidate is the only one who could restore peace and order in the country. The mayor himself has talked about giving criminals what they deserved—the ultimate punishment of death.

In fact, dealing with the fallout of his chilling statement—likely a window into his thoughts—he babbled on about ordering the killing of the men who had raped and killed the woman.

“It is my style. It is my mouth. I said that in the heat of anger but [you should] listen to the story behind it,” he said. But what story?

Duterte makes a leap in logic by attacking his rivals who speak better than he did, and dared the people to vote for those who spoke good English but stole or did nothing while in office.

All the efforts at damage control fail. What was done in 1989 is not the issue, but what was said on April 12. If the mayor felt so strongly against criminals, then why did he express the intention to be one of—indeed, be the first in line among—them? Nobody should ever joke about rape.

Many have joined the chorus of condemnation against the frontrunner in the presidential race: Women’s groups, social media users, and his rivals in the contest who for once found something to be united against.

In the meantime, Duterte’s handlers must be banging their heads on a wall thinking how they could arrest the mayor’s self-destruction.

This is just the campaign—imagine our horror and humiliation if he were president.

Duterte says only his mouth is foul. With this latest slip, we do not believe for a second that the rest of him is not stuck in the gutter, if not somewhere even lower.

PENDULUM SWING LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THERE’S simply no other way to explain it: the rise of Rodrigo Duterte as presidential frontrunner represents the swing of the political pendulum to the other extreme after six years of feckless, hands-off governance

by Noynoy Aquino.

I’ve always believed that while there are five candidates seeking the presidency three weeks from now, there are only two kinds of votes that will be

cast. To me, the coming election is simply a referendum, during which voters will be asked if they are satisfied with Aquino or not.

That’s why the first kind of vote is the one that approves of Aquino’s performance and wishes to continue it by electing his surrogate, Mar Roxas.

The second, which the surveys say represents the vast majority, is the one that disapproves of Aquino and will choose anyone but Roxas, who represents more-or-less seamless continuity of the incumbent’s reign.

Duterte, the potty-mouthed,

do-everything mayor of Davao City, is merely the apotheosis of the anti-Aquino vote, the endpoint of the natural progression away from the son of Ninoy and Cory. Noynoy started his rule with the bang of reform but now only seems hell-bent on ending his term in the whimper of ignominy and incompetence; Duterte is the voters’ revenge for their remorse.

The reason why Roxas has never made any headway as a candidate is because he has taken on the role of Aquino’s clone.

Duterte, on the other hand, is anything but Aquino, which makes him the most attrac-

A9

Aquino made Duterte a viable candidate because he was such a bad president.

tive candidate for those who feel that their government no longer works for them or even cares to appear that way.

The reason Duterte’s frequent broadsides against Roxas (who personifies, in the mayor’s off-color language, the “konyo”) resonate is because of the disaffection that Filipinos feel after six years of Noynoy. Duterte doesn’t even have to call himself the antiNoynoy; everything about him is the polar opposite of the rich kid from Hacienda Luisita via Times Street. I contend that if Duterte’s political star is ascendant, it is because of the failure of Aquino. If Aquino, after all, is truly “the best president the Philippines ever had,” Roxas

would only have to declare himself as Noynoy’s choice and take it easy in his family’s sprawling Cubao digs; he would be president without even lifting a finger.

It is no coincidence that the most vocal of Duterte’s detractors will confess, with only very little prodding, that they are actually supporters of Roxas. In the same manner, the most fervent of Duterte’s fans are most likely those who will have nothing to do with Aquino and his empathy-challenged regime, his incompetent officials and

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

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

his failed promises of uplifting the lives of the poor.

Aquino made Duterte a viable candidate because he was such a bad president. Roxas, as usual, doesn’t stand a chance. *** The founder of this newspaper, Rodolfo T. Reyes, came closest to being the equivalent of the latter-day media celebrity the hard way: he infiltrated a drug den and wrote about it.

That was in 1961, when RTR, as we called him, was making a name

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

for himself as a police reporter of the Manila Times. The ever-affable, softspoken Rod Reyes, in contrast to some of those who gained fame as media personalities, always knew that he wrote the stories and was not the story himself.

For his drug-den exposé, Rod received numerous awards, including one from President Carlos Garcia. His work as a police reporter even got him to Harvard University as a Nieman fellow.

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

IN A STRONG dissent from the majority opinion, Senior Associate Justice Carpio decries the lack of majority of the Court declaring Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares (Poe) a natural-born Filipino citizen and therefore qualified to run for the presidency. He points out that five justices dissented from the majority while three did not give their opinion on the citizenship of petitioner Poe; hence the lack of majority vote required. The majority vote, in the opinion of J. Carpio, will lead to absurd results, making a mockery of our national elections by allowing a presidential candidate with uncertain citizenship status to be potentially elected to the Office of the President, an office expressly reserved by the Constitution exclusively for naturalborn Filipino citizens.

This will make a mockery of our election process if Poe wins the elections but is later disqualified by the Supreme Court for not possessing a basic qualification for the Office of the President —that of being a natural-born Filipino citizen, the dissent warns.

Carpio argues that Poe failed to comply with the essential requirements of citizenship and residency under Section 2, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. Her Certificate of Candidacy, wherein she stated that she is qualified for the position of president, contains false material representations, and thus, must be canceled. Petitioner, not being a natural-born Filipino citizen, is also a nuisance candidate whose CoC can motu proprio be canceled by the Comelec under Section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Citing Timbol vs. Comelec, the dissent states that the Comelec can initially determine the qualifications of all candidates and disqualify those found lacking any of such qualifications before the conduct of the elections. In fact, the Comelec is empowered to motu proprio cancel CoCs of nuisance candidates. It cannot be argued, according to J. Carpio, that a person, not a natural-born Filipino citizen, who files a Certificate of Candidacy for president, “put[s] the election process in mockery” and is therefore a nuisance candidate; hence, the Comelec can cancel his/her Certificate of Candidacy motu proprio under Section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Carpio debunks Poe’s argument “the pertinent deliberations of the 1934 Constitutional Convention, on what eventually became Article IV of the 1935 Constitution, show that the intent of the framers was not to exclude foundlings from the 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

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 1 9, 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

THE CARPIO DISSENT IN THE POE DECISION

[ EDI TORI A L ]

STUCK IN THE GUTTER

SOME words you take at face value, some with a grain of salt. Some you brush off and dismiss. Others, you object to and demand an apology for.

Some words are just so reprehensible there is neither excuse nor redemption.

We condemn in the strongest terms the words of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte who trivialized the rape and murder of an Australian missionary 27 years ago.

The mayor of Davao City described the woman as being so beautiful that she looked like an actress. “What a waste,” he remembered thinking.

“They raped her, they lined up. I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first,” he said to a cheering crowd of supporters in an April 12 rally.

Duterte’s supporters insist that their candidate is the only one who could restore peace and order in the country. The mayor himself has talked about giving criminals what they deserved—the ultimate punishment of death.

In fact, dealing with the fallout of his chilling statement—likely a window into his thoughts—he babbled on about ordering the killing of the men who had raped and killed the woman.

“It is my style. It is my mouth. I said that in the heat of anger but [you should] listen to the story behind it,” he said. But what story?

Duterte makes a leap in logic by attacking his rivals who speak better than he did, and dared the people to vote for those who spoke good English but stole or did nothing while in office.

All the efforts at damage control fail. What was done in 1989 is not the issue, but what was said on April 12. If the mayor felt so strongly against criminals, then why did he express the intention to be one of—indeed, be the first in line among—them? Nobody should ever joke about rape.

Many have joined the chorus of condemnation against the frontrunner in the presidential race: Women’s groups, social media users, and his rivals in the contest who for once found something to be united against.

In the meantime, Duterte’s handlers must be banging their heads on a wall thinking how they could arrest the mayor’s self-destruction.

This is just the campaign—imagine our horror and humiliation if he were president.

Duterte says only his mouth is foul. With this latest slip, we do not believe for a second that the rest of him is not stuck in the gutter, if not somewhere even lower.

PENDULUM SWING LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THERE’S simply no other way to explain it: the rise of Rodrigo Duterte as presidential frontrunner represents the swing of the political pendulum to the other extreme after six years of feckless, hands-off governance

by Noynoy Aquino.

I’ve always believed that while there are five candidates seeking the presidency three weeks from now, there are only two kinds of votes that will be

cast. To me, the coming election is simply a referendum, during which voters will be asked if they are satisfied with Aquino or not.

That’s why the first kind of vote is the one that approves of Aquino’s performance and wishes to continue it by electing his surrogate, Mar Roxas.

The second, which the surveys say represents the vast majority, is the one that disapproves of Aquino and will choose anyone but Roxas, who represents more-or-less seamless continuity of the incumbent’s reign.

Duterte, the potty-mouthed,

do-everything mayor of Davao City, is merely the apotheosis of the anti-Aquino vote, the endpoint of the natural progression away from the son of Ninoy and Cory. Noynoy started his rule with the bang of reform but now only seems hell-bent on ending his term in the whimper of ignominy and incompetence; Duterte is the voters’ revenge for their remorse.

The reason why Roxas has never made any headway as a candidate is because he has taken on the role of Aquino’s clone.

Duterte, on the other hand, is anything but Aquino, which makes him the most attrac-

A9

Aquino made Duterte a viable candidate because he was such a bad president.

tive candidate for those who feel that their government no longer works for them or even cares to appear that way.

The reason Duterte’s frequent broadsides against Roxas (who personifies, in the mayor’s off-color language, the “konyo”) resonate is because of the disaffection that Filipinos feel after six years of Noynoy. Duterte doesn’t even have to call himself the antiNoynoy; everything about him is the polar opposite of the rich kid from Hacienda Luisita via Times Street. I contend that if Duterte’s political star is ascendant, it is because of the failure of Aquino. If Aquino, after all, is truly “the best president the Philippines ever had,” Roxas

would only have to declare himself as Noynoy’s choice and take it easy in his family’s sprawling Cubao digs; he would be president without even lifting a finger.

It is no coincidence that the most vocal of Duterte’s detractors will confess, with only very little prodding, that they are actually supporters of Roxas. In the same manner, the most fervent of Duterte’s fans are most likely those who will have nothing to do with Aquino and his empathy-challenged regime, his incompetent officials and

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

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

his failed promises of uplifting the lives of the poor.

Aquino made Duterte a viable candidate because he was such a bad president. Roxas, as usual, doesn’t stand a chance. *** The founder of this newspaper, Rodolfo T. Reyes, came closest to being the equivalent of the latter-day media celebrity the hard way: he infiltrated a drug den and wrote about it.

That was in 1961, when RTR, as we called him, was making a name

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

for himself as a police reporter of the Manila Times. The ever-affable, softspoken Rod Reyes, in contrast to some of those who gained fame as media personalities, always knew that he wrote the stories and was not the story himself.

For his drug-den exposé, Rod received numerous awards, including one from President Carlos Garcia. His work as a police reporter even got him to Harvard University as a Nieman fellow.

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

IN A STRONG dissent from the majority opinion, Senior Associate Justice Carpio decries the lack of majority of the Court declaring Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares (Poe) a natural-born Filipino citizen and therefore qualified to run for the presidency. He points out that five justices dissented from the majority while three did not give their opinion on the citizenship of petitioner Poe; hence the lack of majority vote required. The majority vote, in the opinion of J. Carpio, will lead to absurd results, making a mockery of our national elections by allowing a presidential candidate with uncertain citizenship status to be potentially elected to the Office of the President, an office expressly reserved by the Constitution exclusively for naturalborn Filipino citizens.

This will make a mockery of our election process if Poe wins the elections but is later disqualified by the Supreme Court for not possessing a basic qualification for the Office of the President —that of being a natural-born Filipino citizen, the dissent warns.

Carpio argues that Poe failed to comply with the essential requirements of citizenship and residency under Section 2, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. Her Certificate of Candidacy, wherein she stated that she is qualified for the position of president, contains false material representations, and thus, must be canceled. Petitioner, not being a natural-born Filipino citizen, is also a nuisance candidate whose CoC can motu proprio be canceled by the Comelec under Section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Citing Timbol vs. Comelec, the dissent states that the Comelec can initially determine the qualifications of all candidates and disqualify those found lacking any of such qualifications before the conduct of the elections. In fact, the Comelec is empowered to motu proprio cancel CoCs of nuisance candidates. It cannot be argued, according to J. Carpio, that a person, not a natural-born Filipino citizen, who files a Certificate of Candidacy for president, “put[s] the election process in mockery” and is therefore a nuisance candidate; hence, the Comelec can cancel his/her Certificate of Candidacy motu proprio under Section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Carpio debunks Poe’s argument “the pertinent deliberations of the 1934 Constitutional Convention, on what eventually became Article IV of the 1935 Constitution, show that the intent of the framers was not to exclude foundlings from the 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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A DEMAGOGUE FOR A PRESIDENT TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

BS AQUINO III has said he would lead a People Power Revolution if Senator Bongbong Marcos gets elected as vice president despite the abuses and atrocities committed under Martial Law. Aquino’s remark may well go down in history as the most ridiculous, ludicrous, silly, and bordering on the insane.

Thank God he will step down on June 30. Do you wonder why I say that he is the worst President the country has ever had? *** Many people seem to be mesmerized by the rabble-rousing rhetoric of presidential pretender Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Du-Dirty. He is a self-confessed killer and womanizer, who is now riding the wave of popular discontent and frustration on the issues of corruption, criminality and illegal drugs.

Will we have this demagogue for a president?

The latest of his statements was that joke about an Australian lay missionary gang-raped in Davao.

She was so beautiful, he said, that he should have been first. “What a waste,” he added. Believe it or not, the crowd roared in laughter.

That was a supreme insult on women. It could have only come from the lips of somebody lacking decency and moral values.

Even his promise to wipe out the evils of corruption, criminality and illegal drugs in three to six months by killing those responsible is outright demagoguery.

This is why I am alarmed that he now leads the presidential survey, less than a month before elections. It shows how Filipinos have sunk so low in deciding who they want to lead them in the next six years.

It has been said by analysts and political observers that the reason for Du-Dirty’s popularity is people’s frustration about the inability of the Aquino administration in addressing the worsening issues of corruption, criminality and proliferation of illegal drugs.

I think a major fac-

tor is that Du-Dirty has hitched his candidacy to the growing popularity of Senator Bongbong Marcos, who has vaulted to the top of vice presidential wannabes. This tandem has been called “Aldub”—Alyansang DuDirty-Bongbong. It has been noted that many supporters of the Davao City mayor are actually pushing for an “Aldub” not a Du-Dirty-Cayetano team up because of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s dismal showing in poll surveys.

Note that in a recent meeting with local government executives in Ilocandia, Du-Dirty stated that if both Bongbong got elected, and should circumstances subsequently compel him to yield the post of president, Bongbong would automatically succeed him.

People’s apparent fascination with Duterte reflects their desperation.

This gives his presidential bid a huge boost in the Solid North as well in the regional bailiwicks of the Romualdez clan in the Eastern Visayas provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar.

For sure, “Aldub” will also benefit Bongbong as he may also get the votes of the Du-Dirty believers, particularly in Mindanao. This could well catapult him beyond the surging survey figures of Rep. Leni Robredo, administration’s candidate for vice president, now in second place in the latest poll survey.

But, what about the earlier reports that Senator Francis Escudero, also an independent vice presidential candidate, has also forged a similar campaign pact with Du-Dirty? My gulay, I am also told that this agreement is called DutEscu.

I know such alliances

THE PRESIDENT HAS TO BE A TOUGH LAW ENFORCER THE Constitution allocates power to three branches of government —the legislative branch, which enacts the laws; the executive department, which enforces the law; and the judiciary, which interprets the law. Legislative power is vested in Congress; executive power in the President; and judicial power in the Supreme Court.

Although too many laws already exist in the Philippines, senators and congressmen believe that the more bills a legislator files, the more competent the legislator is perceived to be. That is a fallacy because almost all of those bills are left unacted upon and die a legislative death when the next congressional elections begin.

The problem lies in law enforcement. Well-meaning laws, if unenforced, are worthless. For instance, although the Clean Air Act forbids smoke-belching vehicles from the roads, many public utility buses on Edsa violate this law with impunity. Tricycle drivers add oil to their fuel tanks to increase the volume of their fuel, but they end up with vehicles that produce thick, irritating white smoke.

Another example is the national penitentiary, where convicted drug lords are given special accommodations and privileges by prison officials. When Liberal Party senatorial candidate Leila de Lima was the Justice secretary, these felons lived in air-conditioned, spacious quarters, with access to restaurant food, cable television, the Internet, mobile telephones, and firearms.

No wonder rich criminals are not afraid to be put behind bars!

Traffic regulations, the most basic of rules in the metropolis, are disobeyed by many motorists and pedestrians. Unless there are traffic enforcers nearby, taxicab and jeepney drivers load and unload anywhere they please, breach traffic are not uncommon. My gulay, even administration candidates for the Senate are junked if only to have the President’s favorites included. I heard that Senator TG Guingona III is being junked by the President and the Liberal Party just to have former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and PhilHealth director Riza Hontiveros elected.

My gulay, where does all these machinations leave Cayetano, DuDirty’s loyal running mate who has become Du-Dirty’s echo on many issues, who continues to hang on the Davao City mayor’s shirt like a leech?

Poor Allan.

The truth of the matter, however, is that Du-Dirty and his political strategists are expert manipulators. They seize every op-

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA lights, and enter one-way streets the wrong way. When accosted by traffic lawmen, they scratch their heads and plead they are only trying to make a living. Since when has one’s working-class status been an excuse for disobeying traffic regulations?

Many jeepney drivers keep rocks near their vehicles’ pedals. They throw these rocks at drivers of private vehicles who reprimand them for disregarding traffic rules.

Drivers of luxury vehicles are worse. Because their employers are wealthy and powerful, they assume that they are exempted from traffic rules, particularly from “no parking” signages. Their impunity eventually conditions the children of their employers into believing that with wealth and power comes exemption from compliance with the law.

One big concern of law enforcement is organized crime. Criminal syndicates behind illegal drugs, kidnapping, human trafficking, and large-scale smuggling will not hesitate to use money or violence to protect their operations. Corruptible bureaucrats and law enforcers are paid to look the other way whenever these organizations have transactions. The honest and dedicated ones are summarily killed to discourage future resistance.

Terrorism is another concern of law enforcement. Islamic separatist groups and kidnap for ransom gangs in Mindanao have powerful firearms and will not hesitate to kill any policeman or soldier who gets in their way. Many of these groups have no respect for women and treat their female victims inhumanely.

portunity to project him as the man to beat in the presidential derby.

Take note of this: In March, the political strategists of Du-Dirty falsely claimed the Davao City mayor zoomed to the top of the poll surveys, attributing this claim to a Holy Week poll allegedly conducted by Pulse Asia from March 21 to 25. This was posted in a pro-Du-Dirty Facebook page that used the names and logos of Pulse Asia and ABS-CBN to invest the claim with an aura of legitimacy. They were caught lying through their teeth when Pulse Asia flatly rejected the claim.

That’s why I say DuDirty is employing demagoguery to achieve his ambition. His constant attempts to cause hysteria, his advocacy of illegal and

All that, in a nutshell, illustrates the total collapse of law and order in the Philippines under President Benigno Aquino III. Since law enforcement is an executive function, the Constitution explicitly requires the president, as the top executive of the country, to ensure that the laws are faithfully executed. That is why the national police and the armed forces are under his ultimate authority.

Sadly, a president vested with executive power is not enough. As the primary law enforcer in a troubled country, the president has to be tough as steel if he is to succeed in enforcing the law. Since lawless elements will respect only those they fear, the president must talk to lawless elements in the language the criminals understand. If the criminals refuse to listen, the president must use force of the type and intensity the criminals are afraid of. All that must be done by the president himself, and not by some representative or hireling. Otherwise, the president will be seen as a weakling, and large-scale crime will continue unabated.

During his strongman administration, President Ferdinand Marcos conveyed the message to everyone that he was serious about law enforcement. Thus, curfew violators and reckless motorists were required to pull weeds from the old center island of Edsa (now occupied by the MRT) for everyone to behold. Soon enough, the number of violators declined, motorists followed traffic rules, and pedestrians crossed the streets at designated lanes.

Likewise during his strongman rule, Marcos ordered the execution by musketry, at Fort Bonifacio, of convicted drug lord Lim Seng. After the execution was televised, the drug menace plaguing the country was halted.

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violent methods, like killing—a no-no under any circumstance—to fight crime and illegal drugs, his use of arguments, foul and indecent language that appear to the emotions rather than to reason, are classic tools of an agitator.

By his own admission, Du-Dirty has been acting as a prosecutor, judge and jury rolled into one. And a remorseless executioner, I may add. Santa Banana, should we sell our souls and vote for somebody like Duterte?

As for Mrs. Llamanzares and her running mate Senator Chiz, all is not well in the Poe-Escudero camp. Escudero reportedly asked for an immediate accounting of all the contributions given by some people to their tandem. But the husband of

Mrs. Llamanzares reportedly refused Escudero’s demands. Santa Banana, what gives?

I understand from my sources that Mr. and Mrs. Llamanzares consider the campaign contributions like their own, and not for Chiz.

It’s only two weeks before Election Day, all these developments may just make all the difference between winning and losing. The bottom line in our kind of elections is funding.

In a close poll like we now have, funding becomes very critical since funding makes a political machinery work. No matter how popular a candidate is, these will spell the difference.

I have seen this happen many times. It will not be any different on May 9.

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

WHY DO THEY WANT TO BE PRESIDENT?

EVERYMAN

By Ernesto G. Banawis THE presidential chair is a hot seat. Those who have had the rare privilege to spend time at the Office of the President of the Philippines will testify that the presidency is a demanding, exhausting, stressful, and brainwracking assignment.

Yet anyone who thinks highly of himself will not refuse the presidency. It is the most powerful, influential, prestigious, and highest position in government.

He is the only public official who runs around; in a bullet-proof limousine with the Number 1 plate.

The president is accorded the highest courtesies in all official and even private affairs or functions. It is an honor and a privilege to be seen with him, talk to him, and certainly to be close to him as a member of his Cabinet or his inner circle of opportunists and hangers-on. Anyone romantically linked to the president, married or single, becomes instant celebrity and the talk of the town.

On important ceremonial events, he is greeted with a 21-gun salute. It must be heart-warming, ego-enhancing and enthralling to be accorded such attention and honors.

But these are the perks and privileges enjoyed by the president.

What are the responsibilities, challenges, and dangers which confront whoever occupies this omnipotent office?

First, the dangers. Any crazy character who is simply jealous or angry at the man occupying the office could assassinate the president. This is what happened to William McKinley and Robert F. Kennedy of the United States.

The president may suffer hu-

miliation and shame if impeached or forced out of Malacañang by a people who have had enough of a corrupt and despotic regime.

Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada suffered this humiliating experience.

The challenges which will confront the next president of our country are awesome, formidable and complex.

How to handle and hopefully resolve the territorial dispute with China on the West Philippine sea is a ticklish, sensitive, and nervewracking challenge.

How would the next president handle the long-pestering separatist and insurgency problems?

How can a peace agreement bring peace to Mindanao when most of the other stakeholders have not been consulted and are in fact against it?

The Internet and digital technology has radically altered the fabric of human civilization. The whole world had become just a global village having been wired to the Internet. Keeping the Philippines in step with the radical and rapid advances in information technology is an abiding concern. Are the candidates for president aware of the terrifying implications of bio-technology such as the prospect of replicating a human being?

The president holds in his hands the lives and future of over 100 million Filipinos. Every decision he makes affects every citizen. When he suffers a cold, everybody gets nervous. He must take good care of his health for the sake of the people and not for himself alone.

If he fails to issue an order or directive to address a crisis, the consequences can be regrettable and disastrous. President PNoy

must have learned of this lesson. There is no excuse for being late in making decisions in crisis situations.

The president must have a fairly good knowledge of the most important aspects of running the government. He must promote the growth and development of the vital arteries of the national economy. He must be educated enough to be able to discuss with other heads of state climate change and economic integration.

The president is mandated by the constitution to give every citizen the opportunity to live a life of decency and in peace. He must do justice to everyone. He must be frugal, scrupulous and honest.

He must be the best example of a responsible citizen. He is citizen Number One. It is not all pomp and glory when one sits in the presidential chair. It can be a terrifying and soul-searing experience. The four persons who became president and who are still around— Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno Simeon Aquino III— can attest to this. They all have had their glorious moments and unbearable, harrowing and depressing experiences.

But who would not want to be president?

Some of those who became president of our country left lasting legacies. They are honored, even adored, by our people for their good deeds. Some are remembered for their patriotism and heroic acts.

But most of our former presidents did not have a sincere love and concern for our people. They became corrupt. Their relatives, friends, and political allies also enriched themselves. They have

The President... From A10

The Carpio... From A9

In 1974, when a power outage darkened the national capital region for two consecutive nights, Marcos publicly threatened the top officials of the stateowned power company with unemployment if the brownouts continued. After that announcement, the dark nights were no more.

Five years later, when parents complained about violent Japanese animated robot programs on a popular television channel, Marcos put a stop to the violent programming.

Since 1946, the United States used the term “aid” to refer to what it paid Manila for its military bases in the Philippines.

Under Marcos, the Americans were compelled to call it “rent.” Marcos was also the obvious leader of the Association of South East Asian Nations. Unfortunately, the presidents after Marcos were poor approximations of the executive that he was.

If the president is seen as a weakling, or a stooge of vested interest groups, or an alien, or an inexperienced but ambitious politician, or one beholden to big corporations subject to state regulation, or one who, despite health problems, insists on leading the country, or a hopelessly corrupt politician, that president will not enjoy the respect of the people, and will not be feared by criminal organizations. Law enforcement will remain an impossible dream, and crime will not be reduced, much less eradicated.

Which of the candidates for president has what it takes to be a competent law enforcer?

term “citizens” of the Philippines.” Contrary to the assertion of both the Solicitor General and petitioner Poe, the dissent points out that the 1934 Constitutional Convention actually voted upon, and rejected, the proposal to include foundlings as citizens of the Philippines. Further, there is no “silence of the Constitution” on foundlings because the majority of the delegates to the 1934 Constitutional Convention expressly rejected the proposed amendment of Delegate Rafols to classify children of unknown parentage as Filipino citizens. He draws attention to Delegate Buslon’s suggestion that the subject matter be left in the hands of the legislature, which meant that Congress would decide whether to categorize as Filipinos (1) natural or illegitimate children of Filipino mothers and alien fathers who do not recognize them; and (2) children of unknown parentage. If that were the case, according to J. Carpio,

Pendulum... From A9 But I’m sure, like many committed journalists, Rod was happiest when his story got results. In his most famous story, that meant the closure of the heroin den that Reyes wrote about and the ensuing police crackdown on similar establishments in and around Manila.

accumulated enormous wealth which have made their children and three or four generations of their grandchildren very rich and affluent that they need not work for a living in their entire lives.

Children of former presidents also inherited their political genes. They run and get elected as governors, congressmen and senators or appointed members of the Cabinet.

In our country, the sins of former presidents do not visit their children. They readily regain their social standing and the adulation of society.

Yes, it pays to be president. It pays to be corrupt and crooked.

Even if convicted for plunder, they get pardoned and get elected to another public office. Erap Estrada enjoyed and is still enjoying this privilege.

This is the reason why even corrupt, incompetent, deranged and inexperienced persons want to be president.

Who among the five candidates for president today is capable and prepared to assume the responsibilities, embrace the challenges, and face the dangers of the presidency?

The surveys indicate that what many voters are drawn to the candidates for their profanity, audacity, colorful lives, and egocentricity.

Are the voters aware of the serious implications of electing the wrong man for the presidency?

Are they aware of the stakes in the coming political exercise?

Do they realize that it is not the name and honor of Duterte, Poe, Binay or Roxas that is at stake but their own lives and those of their families?

Did they ever stop to think why they are poor, unable to get

good-paying jobs or earning enough from their lowly callings or occupations? The root cause is the poverty of the country. We don’t have enough funds to build all the highways and freeways, the ports and airports, to make transportation cheaper and faster and to attract foreign investors?

The most important issue in the coming elections is the economy, not the peace and order situation, not even corruption, or even the human rights of a foundling.

We must become a rich and highly-developed country. We can because we have much more resources than Singapore or most of the wealthy European nations.

The economy should be our main concern when we cast our ballot on May 9, this year.

Once we become a wealthy nation, corruption, criminalities, poverty and injustice will be effectively checked, minimized, if not solved.

Study carefully the credentials, experience, character, and background of the candidates and vote for the one who is fit to become president because he has these vital requirements.

Somehow we have managed to survive and even progress in spite of having had corrupt and incompetent presidents. Our luck may not hold further. The next election could be a watershed event.

The next president could hasten the prosperity of our country or set back many years our progress which had been the legacy of some of our former presidents.

Your vote is sacred. It is not a privilege but a right. Use it with dignity and honor.

Ernesto Banawis is the former general manager of the Philippine News Agency.

foundlings were not and could not validly be considered as naturalborn Filipino citizens as defined in the Constitution since Congress would then provide the enabling law for them to be regarded as Filipino citizens.

Moreover, the dissent underscores the absence of law or jurisprudence which supports the Solicitor General’s contention that natural-born citizenship can be conferred on a foundling based alone on statistical probability. Hence, in the absence of any legal foundation for such argument, the Solicitor General cannot validly conclude that a 99.93 percent (or 99.83 percent) statistical probability that a foundling born in the Philippines is a natural-born Filipino citizen legally confers on such foundling natural-born citizenship.

Neither can petitioner Poe rely on any domestic or international law to buttress her position, Carpio adds. The 1930 Hague Convention on Certain Questions Relating to the Conflict of Nationality

Laws, which articulated the presumption on the place of birth of foundlings, was in existence during the deliberations on the 1935 Constitution. Yet the Convention does not guarantee a nationality to a foundling at birth. Simply stated, there was no prevailing customary international law at that time, as there is still none today, conferring automatically a nationality to foundlings at birth. In fact, there is no customary international law presuming a foundling as a citizen of the country where the foundling is found. The dissent stresses that there is no international treaty to which the Philippines is a contracting party, which provides expressly or impliedly that a foundling is deemed a natural-born citizen of the country in which the foundling is found. There is also obviously no international treaty, to which the Philippines is not a party, obligating the Philippines to confer automatically Philippine citizenship to a foundling at birth.

Deviating from the position taken by the majority opinion,

the dissent insists that the burden of proving his or her Philippine citizenship lies on him or her who claims to be a citizen of the Philippines. As the burden shifts on petitioner Poe, it is her duty to present evidence to support her claim that she is a natural-born Filipino citizen, and thus eligible to run for President such as DNA evidence.

I hold Justice Carpio in very high regard. He is brilliant, certainly a man of integrity, and definitely a nationalist. I supported him strongly and publicly for Chief Justice to replace Chief Justice Corona when the latter was impeached and convicted. But on the issue of citizenship, I disagree with Justice Carpio. I prefer a liberal approach for both determining natural born citizenship and for ascertaining residence requirements. Human rights trump everything for me and in this case the rights of foundlings and global Filipinos rightly prevailed.

RTR, as we used to call him, died last week at 80. He left behind, apart from his grieving family, a generation of journalists who wanted to write like he did and achieve similar results.

I met Rod when he and Andy del Rosario took me in as a police reporter in this newspaper shortly after it opened in early 1987. I quickly learned how illustrious my boss was. I

have always tried to live up to the high expectations he set for himself and his subordinates, even if he never openly stated them.

Over the years, I would work for RTR two more times and he never ceased to amaze with his quiet, self-effacing demeanor.

Rod Reyes was a man who didn’t have to brag about anything—he’d done enough on his

own to distinguish the careers of a whole raft of journalists, as top-flight media executive, two-time press secretary to two administrations and de facto ambassador to Taiwan.

Not a lot of people outside of the media profession remember Rod Reyes. Those of us who do, however, are thankful to have known him and to have been inspired by his example.

Facebook: tonylavs5 or Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Grace grabs 1st PGA tour crown LOS ANGELES— Branden Grace fired seven birdies in a five-under par 66 on Sunday to surge to his first US PGA Tour victory at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

3 bets dominate age-group tilt CAGAYAN de Oro’s Mary Aubrey Calma, Cebu City’s Marc Nicole Suson and Lanao del Norte’s Heinz Asian Carbonilla dominated anew their respective categories at the recent Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series leg in Ubay, Bohol, romping off with three titles each in the nation-wide three-day tournament that attracted more than a hundred participants from the Visayas and Mindanao.

Calma posted a straight set 6-1, 6-2 victory over Shyne Villareal of Naga City, a gold medalist at the last National PRISAA meet in Koronadal City, to win the 18-under girls’ title.

Earlier, she had a more difficult time with Siquijor’s Elaine Rose Bahonsua in the 16-under finals before winning, 7-5, 6-3.

Calma then teamed up with Villareal in the 18-under girls’ doubles and defeated the tandem of Rica Trexie Godelosao and Jessa Marie Liquit, 8-3, for her third title in the event, now on its 10th year and supported by Dunlop as the official ball.

Suson duplicated Calma’s feat as he annexed anew the 16-under, 18-under and 18-under doubles’ crowns.

He also beat a gold medalist in the PRISAA meet in Norman Joseph Enriquez, 7-6, 6-2 in the 18-under finals, disposed of Cebuano bet Francis Hidalgo, 6-3, 6-4, in the 16- under championship match, and then partnered with Hidalgo to edge out the duo of Enriquez and Marc Pradel for the 18-under doubles’ title.

“What we are seeing is the steady development of young provincial players like Calma and Suson as they are exposed regularly in organized and competitive tournaments in different regions. This is how the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series is helping the development of the sport in the country,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/CEO of the sponsoring Cebuana Lhuillier group and current PHILTA Chairman.

Branden Grace putts the ball on the 16th hole during the final round of the 2016 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. AFP

Locals seek to avert foreign sweep at ADT golf THE country’s top guns set out for the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic Wednesday, hard-pressed to come up with a victory or be at the receiving end of another sweep by the Asian Development Tour campaigners for the second straight year.

“We really have to step up. They’ve (foreign players) been dominating us when it should be the other way around, given our local knowledge of the courses,” said Tony Lascuña, also raring to atone for his mediocre joint 30th finish at ICTSI Manila

Southwoods last week, the first of two ADT stops in the country.

Malaysian Arie Irawan and Thai Ittiphat Buranatanyarat swept the ADT events at Eagle Ridge and Sherwood last year and though the duo aren’t returning to defend their respective titles, another Malaysian, Gavin Green, ruled Southwoods stop in a wild finish last Saturday.

So outclassed were the Pinoys that no local player made it to the top 10 with reigning local Order of Merit winner Miguel Tabuena finishing at

joint 13th in the 10th leg of the ADT. Tabuena won’t be around to honor a commitment to play on the Asian Tour in Japan, also slated this week along with Angelo Que and Japan-based Juvic Pagunsan, leaving Lascuña as the spearhead of the local challenge in the fourth stage of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. “I’ve been working on my putting and I hope to finally put it all together this week. Sana manalo uli,” said Las-

cuña, who will lead a select group of local and foreign pros in today’s (Tuesday) pro-am along with officials and guests of the event’s chief backers, including Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Sharp, Summit, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade and Champion.

Green is also passing up the chance for a back-to-back feat to compete in Japan but the foreign roster remains as tough as ever with American John Michael O’Toole looming as the top bet following a joint fourth finish at Southwoods.

Paeng to coach PH team Philippine presidents, and has a United States Bowling Congress gold FOUR-TIME World Cup champion level coaching certification.

Joining him in the coaching staff are Rafael ‘Paeng’ Nepomuceno is the new former world chamcoach of the Philippine pion Biboy Rivera, Jojo bowling team.

Canare, Rey Reyes, Nepomuceno was apand Johnson Cheng. pointed to the post last Nepomuceno said month, a job he felt he he will also continue deserved. to train and certify He said he has long coaches in the United wanted to help and States. bring glory back to Nepomuceno’s fobowling and inspire the cus is on improving athletes. the national bowlers’ Now 59, Nepomumental and scientific ceno once held the Nepomuceno approach to the game. crown in the World The sport, according to NepomuCup in 1976, 1980, 1992, and 1996.

His feat put him in the Guinness ceno has changed in the past few years, and, he believes that talent alone Book of World Records.

Paeng also has awards from five will not be enough.

By Peter Atencio

Soaring move. Romania’s Diana Laura Bulimar performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics test event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP

South Africa’s Grace, owner of seven European Tour titles, finished with a nine-under total of 275, two strokes ahead of Scotland’s Russell Knox and England’s Luke Donald—the 54-hole leader who yet again was pipped at the post on the Harbour Town Golf Links.

Donald now has five topthree-finishes in the Heritage but no victories.

He began the day sevenunder and ended there, too, after a round that included two birdies and two bogeys in a four-hole stretch.

Grace, meanwhile, wasted no time in challenging Donald’s lead, with birdies at his first two holes.

He bounced back from a bogey at the fourth with birdies on the next two holes and another on the ninth to take the lead into the back nine, where he made two birdies and a bogey coming in.

It was a good turnaround for the 14th-ranked Grace, after he missed the cut at the Masters last week.

He said putting was the difference, but it wasn’t until he had rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt at 12 and a ninefooter at 13 that he really felt he had a victory in sight.

“When I got to 12, 13, when I made a couple of nice putts I knew I’m in there with a chance,” said Grace, who finished equal fourth at the US Open last year and third at the PGA Championship.

“That last stretch of five holes you know you can’t really force things. As soon as you try to force things there it’s going to backfire.

You just have to stay patient and grind it and that’s what I managed to do.”

Knox claimed his share of second with a final-round 67. He and Donald were two shots in front of Kevin Na, who carded a 69, and Bryson DeChambeau, who closed with a 68 for his share of fourth in his professional debut.

World number one Jason Day of Australia, who shot himself out of contention on Saturday with a season-worst 79, finished on a solid note with a three-under par 68.

Day finished tied for 23rd and will retain his world number one ranking as he heads into a much needed week off. AFP

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

A13 Filipino boxer falls to Barrios

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Cheerleading candidates perform dance moves on stage during the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleading Final auditions at the Forum in Los Angeles, California. The St. Louis Rams, relocated to Los Angeles for the 2016 season, have chosen 30 new cheerleaders from the city. AFP

Boost PH Open meets, sports associations told SENATOR Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero on Monday asked the Philippine Sports Commission to also help national sports associations strengthen their national open tournaments to supplement government’s grassroots programs with other high-level competitions.

Escudero observed that only a few NSAs have conducted their own national open tournaments over the past years, and that NSAs now only rely on the PSC, with their elite athletes and some rising members of their national pools taking part in the Philippine National Games in lieu of their own open competitions.

“Something is wrong somewhere in this practice,” Escudero said. There should be more competitions for athletes in different levels. But some NSAs seem to have slackened in their duties to conduct local tournaments, espe-

cially national open events, and just rely on the PSC projects and the Palarong Pambansa to produce athletes for them.”

This practice, according to Escudero, is also partly to blame for NSAs taking the more convenient shortcutting in recruiting Filipinos with mixed foreign bloods, especially those who have trained in schools and universities with strong sports programs abroad.

“Niloloko naman natin ang mga sarili natin kapag ganyan lang ang practice natin. And then, we talk about winning our

first Olympic gold medal soon when only a few NSAs are doing their jobs in searching for potential winners among the 101 million Filipinos,” Escudero said.

“The more tournaments we have, the better for our athletes.

Dahil aside from giving them experience, they also develop their maturity and confidence in facing adversities in their playing areas,” Escudero said.

Among the few NSAs with strong national open and agegroup programs include athletics, golf, taekwondo, boxing, and karatedo, among others. Other NSAs lack similar programs either due to the size of active practitioners of their sport or lack of funds to administer big events.

Collegiate leagues are also a source of athletes for majority of the NSAs. Escudero, however, noted that the PSC is doing its job well by

keeping true to its mandate to promote grassroots sports.

“The programs are there. And from what we see and hear from PSC officials during budget deliberations, the structure is fairly working. We have the Batang Pinoy and the revived PNG, we have the Palarong Pambansa with the Department of Educations, but we lack activities up there. Mostly, kapag NSAs ang requests na natatanggap ng PSC ay for regional and international trainings and competitions,” Escudero said.

“What happens is, sa Fil-foreign athletes na lang nagre-rely ang ilang NSAs. And the PSC has to share in the brunt of paying for their allowances, most of the time in dollars, para lang hindi tayo mapahiya during the SEA Games at Asian Games, which are the turf of the NSAs and the Philippine Olympic Committee,” Escudero added.

Mixed martial arts battle royale back at RWM THE country’s premier entertainment and tourism destination Resorts World Manila and the country’s foremost mixed martial arts promotions outfit the Universal Reality Combat Championship join forces to bring fight fans URCC 27: Rebellion at the Ceremonial Hall of Marriott Grand Ballroom on April 23.

Ten explosive fights are slated for the grand slugfest headlined by four championship bouts, including the main event featuring the featherweight championship battle between Deftac’s Red Romero from the Philippines and MK Muay Thai’s Do Gyun Lee from South Korea.

Romero was previously sidelined due to

injuries prior to his cage return and exciting second-round stoppage of Malaysia’s Jian Kai Chee in URCC 26: Domination last year. Now in 100% great shape, Romero is set to defend his title against the hungry South Korean fighter.

Meanwhile, former Ultimate Fighting Championship warrior, American Will Chope, is set to defend his lightweight title against fellow American Richie Redman, a former Pacific Xtreme Combat fighter.

Other highlight fights for the event include the return of former bantamweight champion Andrew Benibe, who comes out from retirement to enter the cage with a younger

Drex Zamboanga from Toughguys International, the title fight between Swiss champion Chris Hoffman against Filipino knockout king Caloy Baduria for the light heavyweight crown, and the heated rivalry of flyweights Carlo Laurel and Alvin Ramirez.

URCC 27: Rebellion also features the championship bout between Japan’s Morikawa versus unbeaten CJ De Tomas for the flyweight title as the latter is looking to avenge the loss of his father to Morikawa six years ago. Rounding up the 10-bout fight card are Estrada v. Biagtan and Dultra v. Tabang for the pinweight division, and Tomagan v. Hermida in welterweight.

IN A TERRIBLE mismatch approved by the Games and Amusements Board, Filipino Edgar Gabejan was hammered by IBF No. 15 super featherweight contender Mario Barrios.

Barrios remained unbeaten and improved to 15-0 with 8 knockouts, while the hapless Gabejan, who is not even ranked in the Top 15 in the February GAB ratings, dropped to a miserable 26-33-6 with 9 knockouts. And although promoters tried to build up the mismatch, claiming Gabejan was a veteran of 500 rounds, it meant nothing.

Ringside reports from Barclays Center in New York said Barrios “came out guns blazing” and dropped the Filipino in the very first round.

Barrios, who stands over six feet, towered over Gabejan and made full use of his height and reach advantage.

He connected with perfection and landed precise punches throughout the remainder of the fight. Gabejan made it to the final bell, but was severely beaten up.

All three judges scored an 80-71 shutout.

With the win, Barrios hopes to get back in the ring as soon as possible and is eyeing a world title fight by the end of the year.

“I’m happy with my performance tonight. My opponent showed a lot of heart and making it to the final bell. Going the full eight rounds was a great experience for me,” said Barrios, who dominated a one-sided slow and ugly type of fight.

He delivered a strong right to Gabejan, which may have broken his nose, though the Filipino labored through and reached the final bell.

Forum Robinsons rapid chess slated FORUM Robinsons will hold a two-category summer rapid chess tournament on April 30 and May 1 with a big field expected to participate at the ground floor of Forum Robinsons’ fountain area at Edsa cor. Pioneer St, Mandaluyong.

The kiddies division, for players 12-yearsold-and-below, will be held on Saturday while the non-master tournament, for players with maximum local ratings of 1950 and below, will be played Sunday, according to the organizing Robinsons Mall headed by Group Marketing Communications manager Ma. Theresa Gonzales.

Listup is ongoing. For details, call or text coordinator and tournament director National Arbiter Alexander Dinoy at 09183705750 or at 0922-8288510.

Seasoned campaigners from various cities in Metro Manila and nearby towns and provinces are expected to join in the Rapid 20 minutes with five seconds time-delay mode of seven rounds-Swiss system format events.

PSA Forum tackles Football for Peace PROPONENTS of the coming Football for Peace will grace Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Shakey’s Restaurant in Malate Manila.

Meralco SVP Al Panlilio, Meralco VP Victor Genuino, Loyola Sparks’ FC Coach Simon McMenemy, Football for Peace cofounder Rookie Nagtalon and Capt. Ryan Lacuesta of the Philippine Marine Corps will discuss the Football for Peace, a sports and youth development advocacy of One Meralco Foundation. Founded in 2011 by Lt. Col. Stephen Cabanlet, the program aims to bridge the gap between government and the people of Mindanao by fostering harmonious relationship through the sport.

The PSA Forum, supported by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Shakey’s and Accel, and aired live over Sports Radio 918, starts promptly at 10:30 a.m.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Arum to skip Donaire’s title fight

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

TOP Rank promoter Bob Arum can’t attend the biggest boxing event in years at the sprawling Cebu Sports Center on Saturday when Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire defends his WBO super bantamweight title against No. 4-ranked former Hungarian Olympian Zsolt Bedak because of a bad back.

Arum, who is promoting the exciting fight card

titled “It’s About Time” reportedly hurt his back dur-

ing the third fight between eight-division world cham-

pion Manny Pacquiao and Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, which Pacquiao won handily after dropping Bradley once in the seventh round and once again in the 9th.

There were scant details on how Arum hurt his back, forcing him to cancel the long flight from Los Angeles tno Manila

with a connecting flight to Cebu.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and ABS-CBN Sports consultant Peter Musgni said it was unfortunate that the leading promoter in the world won’t be able to attend the final press conference on Thursday at the Waterfront Hotel and the

official weigh-in the following day and the fights themselves.

Donaire, who is determined to put on a show for the fans and go after a knockout in every round, worked out at the plush Robinsons Galleria before a huge crowd of boxing fans on Sunday afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center.

2 PH jins settle for silver, bronze RODOLFO Reyes Jr. and Jocel Lyn Ninobla bagged a silver and bronze, respectively, in the men’s and women’s individual poomsae in the 4th Asian Taekwondo Championships at the Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom today.

Vyiing in the men’s under30-yearold division, Reyes scored 7.83 points in placing second, narrowly losing to South Korea’s Chang Yun Oh, who took the gold with a score of 7.93 points.

Iran’s Mahdi Jamali Fashi (7.63) took the bronze.

Ninobla took the bronze in

Nonito Donaire works out at the plush Robinsons Galleria before a huge crowd of boxing fans.

Republic of the Phillippines Department of Health National Capital Regional Office VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER BIDS AND AWARD COMMITTEE

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

Request for Expression of Interest for CONSULTING SERVICES for an INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE PHILIPPINE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE (PH-EITI) for 2016 1. The Department of Finance (DOF), through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP3,500,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payments under the contract for Consulting Services for an Independent Administrator for the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) for 2016. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

2. The DOF now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the procurement of consulting services of a consulting firm/company affiliated with an internationally recognized audit firm with extensive experience in large scale auditing and accounting projects in extractive and financial sectors.

Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before April 26, 2016, 09:45 a.m. at the SBAC Secretariat, c/o General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City Telefax No. 294-4625 Email addressvmc_bac@yahoo.com INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID PROCUREMENT OF VARIOUS LABORATORY AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (RE-BID) 1.

- 30% - 50% - 20% 100%

4. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA No. 9184.

2.

The Valenzuela Medical Center now invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for laboratory and medical equipment Re-bid. The description of an eligible Bidder is contained in Section II of the Bidding Documents’ ITB.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criteria as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations Parts A (IRR-A) of Republic Act No. 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act, and is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws and regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to Republic Act 5183 (RA 5183) and subject to Commonwealth Act 138 (CA 138). Only Bids from bidders who pass the eligibility check will be opened. The process for the eligibility check is described in Section II of the Bidding Documents, ITB. The Bidder with the lowest calculated bid (LCB) shall advance to the post-qualification stage in order to finally determine his responsiveness of the bid to the technical and financial requirements of the project. The contract shall then be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during the post-qualification procedure.

4.

Interested Bidders may obtain further information from Valenzuela Medical Center and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00AM-4:00PM starting April 19, 2016 to May 10, 2016.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee in the amount of (More than 500,000 up to 1 Million), Php 5,000.00 (More than 1 Million up to 5 Million), Php 10,000.00 (More than 5 Million up to 10 Million) and Php 25,000.00 (More than 10 Million to 50 Million). The method of payment will be in cash. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective bidder or his authorized representative.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The Valenzuela Medical Center will hold a Pre-Bid Conference open to all interested parties on April 27, 2016, 10:00 AM at 4TH Flr. VMC Conference Room, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

Eligibility Check and Bid Opening will be on May 10, 2016. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

8.

Bids and eligibility requirements must be delivered to the address below on or before May 10, 2016, 10:00 AM, BAC Office. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the form of Cash, Manager’s Check or Cashier’s Check Bank Draft or Bank Guarantee of two (2%) percent of the total amount to bid. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

9.

The Valenzuela Medical Center reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to the contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

5. The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The Procuring Entity shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the Technical and Financial Proposals. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

6. The contract shall be completed within a period of seven (7) months from issuance of Notice to Proceed.

7. The DOF reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8. For further information, please refer to: Ms. Mary Ann Rodolfo PH-EITI Tel. No. 400-6882

(TS-APR. 19, 2016)

(SGD) MA. TERESA S. HABITAN Assistant Secretary and BAC Chairman

FUNDING SOURCE: The Valenzuela Medical Center (VMC) through INCOME/GAA/GOP intends to apply the amount of Eleven Million One Hundred Sixty Four Thousand Pesos Only (Php 11,164,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the provision of public bidding for LABORATORY AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (RE-BID) . Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at Bid Opening.

3. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (RA No. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least one (1) prospective bidder who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: I. Applicable Experience II. Quality of Personnel to be Assigned III. Capacity to Execute the Project Total

the women’s individual under-30 division with a tally of 7.9, the same score as Chinese Taipei’s Wen Hsuan Lao in the event topped by South Korean So Hee Kang.

Reyes was scheduled to join brothers Dustin and Raphael Enrico Mella in the men’s team poomsae later in the afternoon.

Allan Keanua Ganapin, the country’s lone entry in the Asian Para Taekwondo Championships, bowed out early in the men’s 75-kg. division, losing his opening match, 0-5, to South Korea’s Choi Jae Sik.

(TS-APR. 19, 2016)

(sgd) DONA D. SALMOS, RN, MAN BAC Chairperson

Batang PBA clinic listup on R E G I S T R AT I O N for the Batang PBA Clinic 13-16 years old category is still going on at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City.

To register, fill up an application and waiver form and submit it to the PBA office along with two 2x2 ID pictures and current school ID, original NSO birth certificate and P500 entry fee.

Application forms may be downloaded from the PBA website (www.pba.ph) and PBA official facebook page (www.facebook. com/pba official) or visit the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City and look for Miss Jo Gomez or RouselleIghot.

According to camp director Eric Castro deadline for registration is on April 25, 2016. Screening of all participants will be on April 26 (Tuesday) at 10 am for 13 & 14 years old and April 27 (Wednesday) at 10 am for 15 & 16 years old at the PBA office.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Lopsided playoffs TWO DAYS into the first round of the NBA playoffs, there ARMAN were at least three D. ARMERO games which ended with the higher seeded teams steamrolling over their opponents in both the Western and Eastern Confercnce.

I’m referring to the Golden State Warriors’ 104-78 thrashing of the Houston Rockets, the Oklahama City Thunder’s 108-70 dismantling of the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs annihilation of the Memphis Grizzlies, 106-74, a development which is quite disappointing, to say the least Over at the East, the Miami Heat also started its playoff bid with a huge 123-91 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Sure, there’s no doubt that the Warriors, the Spurs, and the Thunder are the top three teams in the Western Conference and the Heat are the higher seed at no. 3 and the Hornets are way below at no. 6 in the East (plus all three were playing in their homecourts), but there’s no excuse for any team to not put up a decent fight, since this is supposed to be the playoffs, where teams are supposed to perform a notch higher than they did during the regular season.

The problem with losing big in the playoffs, (and I know that NBA coaches know this) is that not only that your team now trails 0-1 in the series, the loss also deals a psychological blow on the team and the players, the coaches and the entire organization.

Losing big in the opener of a series will, sooner than later, eat at the team’s psychological make-up and the players’ confidence so much so that the players will question their capability to bounce back with a win in the next game.

I can’t hazard a guess whether the Grizzlies, for one, can pick themselves up after that humiliating loss to the Spurs, who even had the luxury of pulling out all their starters early in the fourth to watch their second stringers add insult to injury to the already embarrassed Grizzlies.

When it was clear that Memphis had no answer to San Antonio early in the fourth when the Spurs built a 30-plus lead, I was so disgusted that I had to switch channels to find a more interesting fare.

But it was only some five hours later when I was able to watch a more interesting sports offering, which also happens to be another playoff match, the Final Four of the UAAP volleyball Final This was the playoff game between Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws and the De La Salle Lady Spikers.

Going in the game, the Lady Spikers held a twice-to-beat advantage and were hoping to put away the Lady Tams and seal a dream finale against their archrivals, the Ateneo Lady Eagles, who last week disposed of the UP Lady Maroons to take the first Finals seat.

The Lady Spikers played brilliant volleyball in the first two sets to take a 25-15, 26-23 edge, but the Tamaraws fought back hard to take the third and fourth sets, 25-23, 25-21, to set up a deciding fifth.

In the deciding fifth, the Tamaraws displayed more grit and a better defense to finally put the game to bed, 16-14, and force a rubber match this Wednesday.

And you know what? I totally enjoyed the volleyball match with all its drama and tense moments more than the dull, unexciting, lopsided games which they had mistakenly labeled as the “playoffs.”

Playoff time? NBA teams should wake up fast before the games turn into boring, uneventful affairs. *** Belated happy birthday to my sister Emily, who turned a year older last Sunday. I love you, sis and God bless always.

Email me at armero_23@yahoo.com STEP BACK

Tim Duncan (right) of the San Antonio Spurs maneuvers his way around Zach Randolph of the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. AFP

Spurs, Clippers, Heat cruise in series openers LOS ANGELES—The San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers both romped to easy home victories in a pair of NBA Western Conference playoff openers on Sunday.

Kawhi Leonard tallied 20 points as the Spurs routed the Memphis Grizzlies 106-74 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series.

The Spurs dominated the middle two quarters but were especially effective in the final eight minutes of the third against the Grizzlies, who were led by 39-year-old journeyman Vince Carter.

In the night game, Chris Paul finished with 28 points and 11 assists as the Clippers pounded the Portland Trail Blazers 115-95.

LaMarcus Aldridge collected 17 points, Tony Parker and Patty Mills scored 15 points each for the Spurs and Kevin Martin added 10 points, all in the fourth quarter.

“It all started with our defense. They only scored 74 points so that is pretty good,” said Parker.

In Los Angeles, Paul also had 11 assists and six rebounds for Los Angeles who, like the Spurs, blew the game open with a dominating third quarter.

“We just tried to make it tough on them, make it uncomfortable,” said Paul.

Blake Griffin added 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Clippers and DeAndre Jordan contributed 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.

Meanwhile, Cleveland’s top trio of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined for 81 points on Sunday as the Cavaliers battled to a 106-101 victory over determined Detroit in their NBA playoff opener.

The Pistons, back in the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, did all they could to steal an away win, draining 15 three-pointers as they shot 52 percent from long range.

Deng turns up Heat It wasn’t close in Miami, where the Heat bolted to a 41-22 first-quarter lead and never trailed en route to a 123-91 rout of the Charlotte Hornets.

British NBA veteran Luol Deng scored 31 points in his first playoff appearance for the Heat, connecting on 11 of 13 attempts from the field and five of seven from three-point range.

Hassan Whiteside added 21 points and 11 rebounds in his playoff debut making nine of 11 shots and blocking three shots.

Dwyane Wade scored 16 points and Goran Dragic had 10 assists in his Miami playoff debut. Amar’e Stoudemire and Joe Johnson were Miami’s other doublefigure scorers with 11 points each.

Deng scored 14 points in the first quarter and Whiteside added 10. It was Whiteside’s hook shot with 4:42 left in the period that gave Miami their first doubledigit lead.

Unlike the Heat’s regular-season finale at Boston on Wednesday, when they squandered a 24-point halftime lead and lost by double digits, Miami never let up on the accelerator.

They opened the second half with a 7-0 scoring run, and the Hornets can only hope to bounce back in game two on Wednesday. AFP

Resurgent Nadal targets Vilas’ Barcelona record BARCELONA—Fresh from claiming his first title in nearly two years at the Monte Carlo Masters, Rafael Nadal can tie Guillermo Vilas’s record of 49 clay court titles on home soil at the Barcelona Open this week.

Nadal is a serial winner in the Catalan capital having won the title eight times, but has slumped to shock defeats in each of the past two years to Nicolas Al-

magro and Fabio Fognini.

“I had a tough season in the last few years, but I’ve had better preparation this year, even with a tough start to the season,” said Nadal after lifting his 28th Masters title.

“I hope it helps my season with confidence for the next few tournaments. I’ve been able to play well for two events in a row—Indian Wells and

here—winning against very tough opponents so that is very good for my confidence.”

Enigmatic Italian Fognini has been a thorn in Nadal’s side in the past two years as he has twice defeated the Spaniard on clay and came from two sets down to beat the 14-time Grand Slam champion at the US Open last September.

The two could meet again in

the quarter-finals as Nadal has been handed a tricky draw with compatriot David Ferrer also potentially awaiting in the semis.

“I’ve been given a tough route and, moreover, I am coming back from injury,” said Fognini.

“I hope I can have a good tournament and take advantage of some players arriving a little tired after playing in the past few weeks.” AFP

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

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RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Sean Anthony of NLEX drives to the basket after finding a gaping hole in the defense of Meralco’s Baser Amer and Reynel Hugnatan in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Bolts, 104-97.

Bolts edge Warriors, clinch semifinal berth

By Jeric Lopez

ON to the semifinals.

Second seed Meralco flexed its muscled in the endgame to earn a 104-97 victory against NLEX, becoming the first team to clinch a seat in the semifinals of the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Monday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Reynel Hugnatan topscored for Meralco with 20 points, getting help from Cliff Hodge, who had 19 points, and import Arinze Onuaku, who had a doubledouble with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Jared Dillinger added 18

Paeng to coach PH team TURN TO A12

points along with four rebounds and three assists and his all-around play helped the Bolts move forward to the Round of 4.

With the game hanging in the balance entering the last two minutes and the two gutsy squads having a great

exchange down the Road WarriGames Today the stretch, the (Quarterfinals, Best-of-three— ors alive with the Smart Araneta Coliseum) Bolts were the 4:15 Bolts lead down to p.m. - Barangay Ginebra ones who rose 96-98, but Chris vs. Rain or Shine to the occasion, 7 p.m. - Alaska vs. Talk ‘N Text Newsome, after racking up seven getting fouled, unanswered points to take a sank both his free throws, makcritical 96-92 edge with 1:16 ing it 100-96 for Meralco with left after a completed three- 18.4 seconds left. point play from Hodge.

That eventually propelled In the succeeding play, Al the Bolts to the semifinals Thornton attacked hard and just for the second time in scored for NLEX, keeping franchise history. his team alive at 94-96 with “It was a hard-fought game 53.2 seconds remaining. for us. We had a difficult However, a putback from time,” said Meralco coach Onuaku with 27 seconds Norman Black. “It was really left allowed the Bolts to have a total team effort for us.” more breathing room as their Meralco will face in the lead was stretched to 98-94. semifinals the victor beAsi Taulava made a basket tween Talk ‘N Text and with 22.2 ticks left, keeping Alaska in their best-of-three

Spurs, Clippers crush rivals TURN TO A15

quarterfinal duel.

The Tropang Texters currently lead that series, 1-0, and are looking to clinch a berth in the next phase today in Game 2.

As for NLEX, its campaign in the tournament comes to an end as it is now headed for an early vacation.

Through the hot hands of Thornton early, NLEX started out like a house on fire, taking a double-digit lead, 15-4, after the first few minutes of the game, but Meralco settled down and finished the opening period strong to slice the Road Warriors’ lead to just three, 22-19, heading the second and get itself back in the game as well.

La Salle tablenet star shines STILL on cloud nine after claiming the “golden ticket” to Rio in the recently concluded 2016 ITTF-Asia Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Hong Kong, table tennis star Ian Lariba made the Philippines proud.

“Basta grabe po. It still feels surreal. I am just really thankful and grateful for the moment. Sobrang nakakataba po ng puso noong makita ko rin po na masaya ang mga Filipino na nakamit natin,” said Lariba, who is also the reigning UAAP MVP after leading De La Salle to its fourth title last October.

By making it to the Olympics, Lariba is also a heavy favorite to win a second straight UAAP Athlete of the Year at the conclusion of Season 78 action next month.

Ranked no. 324 on the women’s world rankings, Lariba arrived in the country Monday after becoming the Philippines’ first table tennis player to make it in the Olympics.

“Lagi ko naman pong sinasabi na hindi lang po ako ang may gawa nito. Dahil rin po ito sa lahat ng dasal, suporta at inspirasyon ng mga kababayan natin, ng mga coaches, kababayan at pamilya ko. Para po sa ating lahat ito,” said Lariba.

TUESDAY: APRIL 19, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

B1

Insurance commissioner Emmanuel Dooc (right) and deputy commissioner for technical services group Vida Chiong announce in a news briefing in Manila that the owner of the troubled Loyola Plans Consolidated Inc. offered to contribute P1.8 billion worth of assets to its trust fund to settle the claims of plan holders. DANNY PATA

Loyola to sell P1.8-b assets PSe comPoSite

index

Closing April 18, 2016

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

LOYOLA Plans Consolidated Inc. on Monday offered to liquidate P1.8 billion worth of real estate properties to cover the trust fund’s deficiency and settle the claims of plan holders.

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,243.40 77.90

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing April 18, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.150

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.140 LOW P46.200 AVERAGE P46.174 VOLUME 415.400M

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

oPriceS il P today

Loyola Plans chairman and president Jesusa Concepcion said in a letter to Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc the company planned to liquidate noncash assets amounting to P1.873 billion to fund the P238-million trust fund shortfall.

“Loyola would like to propose for a non-cash contribution against its net worth amounting to P1.87 billion based on the 2014 audited financial statements,” Concepcion said.

Dooc said the fund was more than enough to cover the trust deficiency and pay the 95 plan holders who filed complaints with the IC.

Loyola Plan’s deficiency in its trust fund included P120 million for pension, P66 million for life plans and P50 million for educational plans. The trust fund deficiency prevented the insurers from servicing the claims of plan holders this year.

“This morning, she came with a proposal offering to contribute more than enough real estate assets to the trust fund so that the deficiency will be fully covered.

As you know it has a deficiency of P238 million. And Mrs. Jesusa Concepcion proposed a non-cash contribution against its net worth and corporate asset amounting to

P1.8 billion, which is more than enough to cover the deficiency,” Dooc said.

“Since these are illiquid assets, some of them will have to be converted into cash by selling them. so to ensure that these assets will come to us this afternoon, they will turn over the original transfer of certificate of title or TCT,” Dooc said.

The IC last week issued a show cause order to Loyola Plans after a number of plan holders complained on social media that the company failed to service their educational claims this year.

Loyola Plans has major investments in real estate, such as memorial parks. It had total assets of P3.75 billion as of end-2015.

Dooc said the TCT of Loyola Plans would be turned over to IC for safekeeping and would be released to the Loyola Plans when the sale was completed.

Another possible arrangement

is that the IC would turn them over to the various trustee banks for safe keeping and proper handling, he said. Trustee banks include BDO Unibank Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands and China Bank.

The insurance body said the 95 complainants could get their claims starting Monday by bringing in the certificate of full payment and two valid identification cards.

“Furthermore, starting tomorrow, the office of the IC will start to pay off the 95 complaints lodged with us. We invited representatives from the Loyola Plans to bring the checks so that they can also witness the settlement of the aforesaid complaints,” Dooc said.

He said aside from the 95 complaints which the IC had already validated, there were 32 additional complaints against Loyola Plans.

P19.25-P22.75 Diesel

MetroPac readies construction of Cavitex-C5 link

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, April 18, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.1340

Japan

Yen

0.009246

0.4266

UK

Pound

1.418500

65.4411

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128962

5.9495

Switzerland

Franc

1.035518

47.7726

Canada

Dollar

0.772678

35.6467

Singapore

Dollar

0.735835

Australia

Dollar

0.766400

35.3571

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

122.3714

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

33.9470

12.3017

Brunei

Dollar

0.733138

33.8226

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028555

1.3174

UAE

Dirham

0.272220

12.5586

Euro

Euro

1.129900

52.1268

Korea

Won

0.000874

0.0403

China

Yuan

0.154381

7.1222

India

Rupee

0.015006

0.6923

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.256410

11.8292

New Zealand

Dollar

0.688900

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030931

31.7817 1.4270 Source: PDS Bridge

METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. said Monday a unit expects to start construction of the first segment of the P10-billion Cavitex-C5 South Link Expressway Project in July after securing approval from the Toll Regulatory Board and the Public Works Department.

Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. president and chief executive Luigi Bautista said the groundbreaking for the first phase of the C5 South Link Expressway, stretching from C5 Road in Taguig toward Moonwalk and Merville villages in Sucat, Parañaque was expected on May 2.

Construction is expected to begin in July 2016.

The right-of-way for the first portion of the C-5 South Link Expressway was already acquired while the detailed engineering plans were ready for implementation, the company said.

Bautista said the company would spend P2.5 billion for the construction of the first segment, while the second segment, from Sucat all the way to Cavitex, would cost P7.5 billion.

He said the new expressway, which was expected to be completed in 2019, would add 40,000 to 45,000 vehicle traffic per day, on top of the 130,000 vehicle traffic per day at Cavitex.

The C5 South Link will ultimately connect with the R1 Expressway (Coastal Road) and will

provide fast, safe and convenient travel for motorists going to and from Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite and for Paranaque residents in Multinational, Moonwalk and Merville villages.

The new expressway will not only decongest the Parañaque villages, but will also provide easier travel from Taguig, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City and other northern areas to Manila, Las Piñas and Cavite province.

It will also provide relief for vehicles using the congested Edsa and C5 Road arteries of the metropolis.

When completed, the expressway will provide a seamless connection to the Cavitex road network, and to the Cavite-Laguna Expressway slated for completion

in 2020.

The new C5 Link is envisioned to spur further economic development in Parañaque and in Cavite and Laguna provinces by providing a safe and convenient link from the central and northern parts of Metro Manila to the high-growth industrial and residential centers in Southern Tagalog.

Besides Cavitex, MPTC operates the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

MPTC also won the bid for the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway and is set to implement the Cebu-Cordova bridge project that will provide a convenient third bridge from Mactan island to Cebu City.

TUESDAY: APRIL 19, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Monday, april 18, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

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

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

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 148 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 32 15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

79 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 1450 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 1.3 26 2.17

34.1 2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 5.9 801 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 0.640 10.02 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837

76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 0.0670 2.31 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 390 156 0.710 0.435

49.55 3.43 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 0.030 1.23 0.550 2.26 59.3 751 1.13 0.93 170 80 0.211 0.179

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.25 2.88 46 45.15 103.50 102.00 91.00 89.60 39.6 39.55 2.98 2.98 1.50 1.41 14.3 14.26 16.18 15.88 7.42 7.42 1.72 1.7 590.00 590.00 0.670 0.620 85.25 83 1.05 1 14.96 14.72 53.80 53.40 103 98.2 271 270 32.35 31.65 183.5 172 57.50 57.45 1.6 1.58 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

44.35 44.35 43.8 Agrinurture Inc. 5 4.9 4.75 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.88 0.86 0.73 Alsons Cons.

1.44 1.5 1.44 Asiabest Group 11 10.96 10.68 Bogo Medelin 59 60.1 60 C. Azuc De Tarlac 220.00 220.00 220.00 Century Food 19.02 19.6 19 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 319.8 307 285 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 19.06 19.36 18.6 Concepcion 47.5 48 47 Crown Asia 2.39 2.4 2.35 Da Vinci Capital 5.65 5.7 5.49 Del Monte 11.24 11.24 11.12 DNL Industries Inc. 9.320 9.310 9.140 Emperador 8.10 8.15 8.09 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.92 5.92 5.84 EEI 7.50 7.50 7.34 First Gen Corp.

21.6 22 21.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 70.35 70.45 69 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 14.24 15.80 15.00 13.80 13.94 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.76 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.8 5.89 5.75 Ionics Inc 2.690 2.710 2.560 Jollibee Foods Corp.

228.20 228.00 224.00 LBC Express 11.06 11.06 11.06 Leisure & Resorts B 7.8 7.59 7.58 Liberty Flour 3.88 3.91 3.88 LMG Chemicals 2.2 2.12 2.06 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.96 3.81 3.7 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27 27.05 26.8 Maxs Group 22.8 22.8 22 Megawide 6.55 6.6 6.55 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 330.00 330.00 326.60 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.40 4.49 4.49 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.8 3.82 3.79 Petron Corporation 11.00 10.70 10.18 Phil H2O 3.3 3.25 3.23 Phinma Corporation 11.64 11.60 11.54 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.45 4.43 4.41 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.62 1.62 1.60 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.79 2.76 2.72 RFM Corporation 4.16 4.20 4.16 2.5 2.5 2.5 Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings 4.51 4.75 4.56 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 202 250 204 SPC Power Corp.

4.11 4.07 4 Splash Corporation 2.8 2.8 2.77 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.167 0.169 0.165 TKC Steel Corp.

1.29 1.27 1.22 Trans-Asia Oil 2.84 2.82 2.70 Universal Robina 211 211 206.4 Vitarich Corp.

1.06 1.18 1.06 Vivant Corp.

32.00 32.00 28.00 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.28 1.29 1.27 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.365 0.370 0.360 Aboitiz Equity 64.50 64.50 63.50 Alliance Global Inc. 16.52 16.52 16.20 Anglo Holdings A 1.19 1.15 1.10 Anscor `A’ 6.10 6.20 6.10 ATN Holdings A 0.315 0.320 0.300 Ayala Corp `A’ 782 780 767 Cosco Capital 8.31 8.37 8.16 DMCI Holdings 12.70 12.72 12.40 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.04 5.23 5.04 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

5.52 5.80 5.41 Forum Pacific 0.218 0.218 0.214 GT Capital 1400 1412 1390 IPM Holdings 9.75 9.74 9.74 JG Summit Holdings 82.50 83.00 82.15 Jolliville Holdings 4.94 4.9 4.9 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.32 7.26 7.08 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.67 0.69 0.68 LT Group 15.82 15.9 15.72 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.490 0.495 0.495 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.99 6.01 5.84 Pacifica `A’ 0.0350 0.0350 0.0330 Prime Media Hldg 1.350 1.360 1.300 Prime Orion 1.930 1.950 1.920 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.66 2.66 2.65 San Miguel Corp `A’ 75.35 75.35 74.50 SM Investments Inc. 962.00 962.00 954.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.28 1.34 1.25 South China Res. Inc. 0.80 0.80 0.78 Transgrid 206.00 195.00 195.00 Top Frontier 178.500 178.500 173.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3150 0.3300 0.3100 Wellex Industries 0.2070 0.2060 0.2000 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.880 8.150 7.800 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.47 1.46 1.36 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.500 1.460 1.450 Arthaland Corp.

0.241 0.340 0.247 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Union Bank Vantage Equities

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

Close

SHARES 14,637,195 114,787,454 139,371,930 122,335,968 235,333,485 380,934,024 1,011,589,196

3.29 46 103.50 90.00 39.55 3.00 1.50 14.12 15.86 7.50 1.7 590.00 0.620 84 1.04 15.00 53.70 103.7 270.4 32.15 183.5 57.50 1.6

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.02 46 102.40 89.80 39.55 2.98 1.41 14.26 16 7.42 1.7 590.00 0.640 84 1 14.72 53.70 103 271 31.75 174 57.50 1.59

-8.21 0.00 -1.06 -0.22 0.00 -0.67 -6.00 0.99 0.88 -1.07 0.00 0.00 3.23 0.00 -3.85 -1.87 0.00 -0.68 0.22 -1.24 -5.18 0.00 -0.63

1,331,000 7,900 901,330 1,454,270 77,700 35,000 306,000 12,700 269,400 4,700 9,000 720 4,196,000 1,409,430 158,000 139,700 57,760 230 2,510 79,500 2,283,860 33,220 1,666,000

150,000.00 311,890.00 1,581,971 42,582,786.50 1,562,220.00

44 4.78 0.79 1.46 10.96 60 220.00 19.44 290 18.6 48 2.35 5.58 11.12 9.150 8.10 5.92 7.39 21.9 69.5 15.00 13.90 5.8 2.640 224.20 11.06 7.58 3.88 2.09 3.7 27 22.55 6.55 326.80 4.49 3.8 10.18 3.23 11.60 4.42 1.62 2.72 4.20 2.5 4.56 222 4 2.79 0.166 1.22 2.73 207.4 1.18 28.00 1.27

-0.79 -4.40 -10.23 1.39 -0.36 1.69 0.00 2.21 -9.32 -2.41 1.05 -1.67 -1.24 -1.07 -1.82 0.00 0.00 -1.47 1.39 -1.21 5.34 1.02 0.00 -1.86 -1.75 0.00 -2.82 0.00 -5.00 -6.57 0.00 -1.10 0.00 -0.97 2.05 0.00 -7.45 -2.12 -0.34 -0.67 0.00 -2.51 0.96 0.00 1.11 9.90 -2.68 -0.36 -0.60 -5.43 -3.87 -1.71 11.32 -12.50 -0.78

2,245,200 691,600 277,000 5,131,000 1,300 650 40 2,031,100 2,230 329,500 146,400 868,000 2,483,600 117,300 3,844,200 4,821,500 1,947,500 218,100 2,124,200 137,920 66,100 129,000 67,800 4,423,000 514,420 500 72,900 116,000 82,000 41,000 1,101,700 321,500 82,500 48,360 1,000 316,000 16,225,300 142,000 12,000 59,000 475,000 148,000 183,000 2,000 4,000 83,000 43,000 360,000 2,720,000 82,000 9,860,000 1,107,230 48,612,000 600 23,000

0.365 64.00 16.20 1.15 6.20 0.315 780 8.3 12.40 5.23 5.63 0.214 1398 9.74 82.50 4.9 7.26 0.68 15.72 0.495 5.94 0.0330 1.300 1.930 2.65 74.55 960.00 1.26 0.78 195.00 173.000 0.3150 0.2050

0.00 -0.78 -1.94 -3.36 1.64 0.00 -0.26 -0.12 -2.36 3.77 1.99 -1.83 -0.14 -0.10 0.00 -0.81 -0.82 1.49 -0.63 1.02 -0.83 -5.71 -3.70 0.00 -0.38 -1.06 -0.21 -1.56 -2.50 -5.34 -3.08 0.00 -0.97

100,000 1,493,640 1,702,500 59,000 4,700 2,220,000 268,020 2,247,300 6,909,200 3,800 2,539,100 650,000 49,850 300 1,229,540 1,000 2,506,600 29,000 1,918,300 10,000 12,986,000 90,400,000 8,000 1,698,000 5,000 95,410 373,910 2,199,000 194,000 100 3,520 6,290,000 660,000

8.100 1.41 1.450 0.275

2.79 -4.08 -3.33 14.11

673,400 386,146.00 10,593,000 839,380.00 30,000 10,470,000 29,750.00

-938,934.00 -124,200.00 -39,040.00 16,395,719.00 294,800.00 -1,251,630.00 1,235,390 -85,594,848.00 -1,259,428.50 70,559,990.00 -23,950.00 865,050.00

30,741,764.00 -121,230.00 -3,590,400 992,825.00 13,816,344.00 -1,076,052.00 1,938,790.00 -324,491.00 4,374,295.00 -2,287,425.50 -750,000.00 -1,296,730.00 -82,540.00 -10,470.00 -22,539,014.00

1,512,120.00 -108,765.00 -309,195.00 -803,882.00 372,350.00 -34,634,616.00

375,910.00 10,438,040.00 -4,050.00

8,769,440.00 -72,782,942.00 -526,600.00 9,600.00

34,835,710.50 -5,615,010.00

114,142,295.00 551,860.00 -27,679,260.00 175,088.00 42,263,575.00 66,825,631.50 -2,105,388.00 17,312,948.00 -16,330,702.00 34,000.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

Ayala Land `B’ 35.500 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.14 Cebu Holdings 5.2 Century Property 0.560 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.000 Crown Equities Inc. 0.127 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.540 Double Dragon 37.5 Empire East Land 0.860 Global-Estate 1.10 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.88 Interport `A’ 1.32 Keppel Properties 4.67 Megaworld 4.02 MRC Allied Ind. 0.091 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.510 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 27.05 Robinson’s Land `B’ 29.00 Rockwell 1.58 Shang Properties Inc. 3.15 SM Prime Holdings 22.85 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.89 Starmalls 6.74 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.140 Vista Land & Lifescapes 4.810

-1.55 -2.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -5.56 -2.93 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.27 -10.06 -0.25 -4.40 1.96 -2.22 0.00 1.27 1.27 -3.72 -2.25 -6.53 0.00 -0.21

8,832,500 572,000 300 3,493,000 79,000 1,640,000 16,757,000 1,974,500 5,000 14,128,000 13,872,000 223,000 8,000 12,074,000 6,840,000 120,000 1,000 2,762,600 174,000 37,000 8,986,400 454,000 3,000 1,857,000 5,665,000

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 2720 8.41 70.5 1.97 119.5 7 0.8200 2.2800 3.2 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 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 0.041 1.200 1.95 0.650 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 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. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Island Info ISM Communications Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

-0.96 -0.34 -0.78 -3.33 -7.02 -3.13 2.56 -0.77 -0.21 5.29 0.00 0.65 0.41 0.00 0.00 -0.59 -0.85 3.39 7.55 0.00 -3.39 0.00 -8.95 -3.66 15.85 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.74 -1.11 -1.15 0.62 0.19 -1.37 -4.34 1.61 -0.27 1.52 2.04

43,600 60,820 122,000 442,000 10,443,000 33,240,000 1,017,000 503,140 5,200 27,000 34,400 38,235 269,900 4,200 60,000 370,470 29,000 33,140,000 10,986,000 25,000 53,000 10,000 19,069,000 3,271,000 72,829,000 800,000 110 44,800 144,005 1,890,000 28,283,000 5,788,100 1,311,010 915,800 5,737,000 2,841,000 532,000 320,000 90,000

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 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 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

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

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

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

TA Petroleum

2.38 -6.02 0.71 -3.85 -6.71 2.91 -1.30 -1.75 0.61 -1.14 1.72 -5.00 -3.77 0.00 0.00 -5.53 -0.19 1.20 3.57 -1.01 -2.60 0.93 -9.17 0.00 -0.39 -10.34

245,000,000 411,000 96,000 -42,200.00 1,220,000 64,300 92,800 -13,809.00 2,941,000 20,100.00 2,683,000 3,500 21,318,000 -261,600.00 470,000 59,610,000 6,450,000 255,000.00 700,000 100,000 1,200.00 369,000 -21,290.00 2,380,700 -3,802,610.00 50,000 59,000 17,000,000 45,000 456,100 -373,687.00 5,525,000 63,800.00 8,400,000 509,260 -53,326,413.00 4,152,000 567,330.00

70 118 515 8.21 12.28 111 1060 1047

33 101 480 5.88 6.5 101 997 1011

78.95 84.8

74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

First Gen F GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H

-1.50 8.14 0.00 -0.14 0.00 -0.72 2.60 0.39 -0.19 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.95 0.53 0.06 0.00 0.00

65,770 70 20 74,300 10,000 10,500 1,000 9,110 9,500 1,000 14,710 11,270 59,900 10,960 33,200 15,100 235,860

-0.60

194,000

-1.69 0.31 -0.52

58,000 502,000 3,623,300

-0.92

5,590

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant Alterra Capital Italpinas Xurpas

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,620.47 (down) 18.39 INDUSTRIAL 11,730.37 (down) 138.64 HOLDING FIRMS 7,190.07 (down) 35.77 PROPERTY 2,952.94 (down) 58.21 SERVICES 1,526.23 (down) 21.49 MINING & OIL 10,603.33 (down) 100.98 PSEI 7,243.40 (down) 77.90 All Shares Index 4,272.19 (down) 42.48 Gainers:52; Losers: 126; Unchanged: 49; Total: 227

Close

30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.39 23 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

35.550 34.750 34.950 3.13 3.06 3.07 5.2 5.2 5.2 0.57 0.550 0.560 1.000 0.980 1.000 0.127 0.124 0.127 0.540 0.500 0.510 37.45 36.3 36.4 0.860 0.860 0.860 1.11 1.08 1.10 1.88 1.84 1.88 1.31 1.29 1.29 4.20 4.15 4.20 4.04 3.97 4.01 0.090 0.087 0.087 0.550 0.520 0.520 31.10 26.45 26.45 29.00 28.90 29.00 1.63 1.57 1.6 3.24 3.12 3.19 22.75 22.00 22.00 0.87 0.87 0.89 6.5 6.3 6.3 1.160 1.120 1.140 4.820 4.790 4.800 SERVICES 7.3 7.26 7.21 7.23 59.4 59.5 59.1 59.2 1.28 1.3 1.27 1.27 0.600 0.590 0.580 0.580 4.70 4.68 4.35 4.37 0.0640 0.0630 0.0610 0.0620 3.12 3.33 3.12 3.2 90.7 90.7 89 90 9.7 9.7 9.68 9.68 1.7 1.8 1.79 1.79 7.00 7.00 6.90 7.00 2154 2178 2140 2168 7.24 7.28 7.24 7.27 24.05 24.35 24.05 24.05 1.20 1.20 1.19 1.20 68 68 67.3 67.6 16.48 16.80 16.00 16.34 0.295 0.305 0.285 0.305 1.5900 1.7200 1.5800 1.7100 2.83 2.83 2.65 2.83 0.590 0.580 0.570 0.570 2 2 2 2 2.57 2.55 2.34 2.34 4.10 4.08 3.95 3.95 2.460 2.930 2.380 2.850 17.5 17.5 17.5 17.5 111.00 111.00 111.00 111.00 22.00 22.00 21.70 22.00 1896.00 1895.00 1842.00 1844.00 0.450 0.460 0.440 0.445 0.870 0.870 0.850 0.860 40.05 40.50 39.50 40.30 78.00 78.55 77.75 78.15 6.59 6.60 6.48 6.50 3.69 3.70 3.52 3.53 0.620 0.640 0.620 0.630 3.64 3.65 3.63 3.63 0.330 0.335 0.325 0.335 4.900 5.240 4.880 5.000 MINING & OIL 0.0042 0.0044 0.0042 0.0043 2.16 2.24 2.03 2.03 4.22 4.25 4.22 4.25 0.260 0.260 0.249 0.250 8.7900 9.19 8.15 8.2000 8.6000 8.9900 8.4000 8.8500 0.77 0.8 0.73 0.76 0.570 0.580 0.550 0.560 8.20 8.25 8.00 8.25 0.880 0.900 0.870 0.870 0.290 0.310 0.295 0.295 0.260 0.260 0.245 0.247 0.265 0.265 0.250 0.255 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 2.17 2.17 2.05 2.05 5.15 5.15 4.99 5.14 2.49 2.56 2.48 2.52 0.5600 0.5800 0.5600 0.5800 0.0099 0.0099 0.0096 0.0098 3.85 3.85 3.70 3.75 5.40 5.50 5.40 5.45 2.40 2.32 2.18 2.18 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 127.00 127.70 126.50 126.50 3.58 3.56 3.1 3.21 PREFERRED 59.95 59.9 58 59.05 108.1 117.1 116.9 116.9 520 520 520 520 7.07 7.06 6.8 7.06 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 110.8 110 110 110 1000 1026 1026 1026 1014 1018 1008 1018 103.7 103.7 103.5 103.5 107 107 107 107 77.5 77.5 76.7 77.5 80 80 80 80 77 75.5 75.5 75.5 75.6 76 76 76 76.95 77.05 77 77 77 77 76 77 75 75 75 75 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.360 3.440 3.340 3.340 SME 4.13 4.1 3.9 4.06 3.25 3.5 3.25 3.26 19.24 19.36 18.94 19.14 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.2 120.2 118.4 119.1

T op g ainerS VALUE 806,235,640.43 1,024,386,148.34 1,270,340,222.21 816,868,737.82 1,175,099,355.59 149,861,461.55 5,314,576,386.94

Low

41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.72 27 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

-2,608,371.00 12,909,300.00 67,000.00 -15,720.00 166,950.00

Close

4,938,645.00 748,320.00 -520.00 -722,520.00 12,400.00 470,950.00 -13,901,400.00 -346,500.00 5,182,320.00 -112,730.00 1,591,410.00 -2,700.00 27,820,715.00 150,400.00 -66,491,030.00 17,800.00 23,520.00 1,988,690.00

895,910.00 112,250.00 -19,910,806.00

33,755,800.00

-1,838,778.50 -258,400.00 -65,600.00

-1,789,760.00 213,070.00 -525,990.00

-71,407,290.00 962,240.00 59,729,410.00 17,690,240.00 -100,750.00 -71,700.00 -52,920.00 -93,920.00 330.00

-498,287.50 -388,142.00 -10,800.00 -2,539,500.00

464,700.00 1,500,000.00

200.00 -14,905,980.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

NOW Corp.

2.850

15.85

Vivant Corp.

28.00

Arthaland Corp.

0.275

14.11

TA Petroleum

3.21

-12.50 -10.34

Vitarich Corp.

1.18

11.32

Alliance Tuna Intl Inc.

0.79

-10.23

San Miguel 'Pure Foods `A'

222

9.90

Keppel Properties

4.20

-10.06

First Gen F

116.9

8.14

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

290

-9.32

ISM Communications

1.7100

7.55

PhilexPetroleum

2.18

-9.17

Ginebra San Miguel Inc.

15.00

5.34

Melco Crown

2.34

-8.95

Discovery World

1.79

5.29

AG Finance

3.02

-8.21

F&J Prince 'A'

5.23

3.77

Petron Corporation

10.18

-7.45

Omico

0.5800

3.57

Bloomberry

4.37

-7.02

TUESDAY: APRIL 19, 2016

B3

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

Resorts World partner. Through the

Original Pilipino Performing Arts Foundation, Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., along with the Meridian International College and the University of Santo Tomas, sign a partnership to organize efforts in institutionalizing the advancement of performing arts in the country. Endorsing the agreement are Resorts World Manila director for corporate communications Owen Cammayo, OPPA Foundation vice president Michael Stuart Williams, OPPA Foundation president Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Meridian International College president and chief executive Baltazar Endriga, University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music Dean Raul Sunico and Meridian College head of theater arts program Dennis Marasigan.

Market slumps; Petron tumbles THE stock market slumped Monday in step with the rest of Asia as oil talks failed to bring an agreement on limiting supplies.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index tumbled 77.90 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,243.40 on a value turnover of P5.3 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 126 to 52, with 49 issues unchanged.

Security Bank Corp., the fifthlargest lender in terms of capital, retreated 5.2 percent to P174, while Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the biggest telecommunications firm, fell 2.7 perent to P1,844.

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the largest integrated property company, dropped 3.7 percent to P22, while Petron Corp., the bigger of the two oil refiners, slumped 7.4 percent to P10.18.

Technology stock Now Corp. surged 15.8 percent to P2.85.

Tokyo shares, meanwhile, tumbled on a stronger yen and the impact of earthquakes that struck southern Japan.

China’s Shanghai Composite Index declined 1.4 percent, the most in three weeks.

South Korea’s Kospi index lost 0.3 percent. Taiwan’s Taiex index fell 0.4 percent, as did Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index. Singapore’s Straits Times Index slipped 0.6 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index retreated 0.7 percent.

New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 Index added 0.1 percent.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 1.5 percent to 130.28 as of 4:09 p.m. in Hong Kong, retreating from a four-month high. The gauge surged 17 percent from its Feb. 12 low through last week, recouping all of its losses for 2016, as the Federal Reserve reassured investors that it won’t rush to increase borrowing costs and a rebound in commodity prices boosted mining and oil producers. West Texas Intermediate lost as much as 6.8 percent, the biggest intraday drop since Feb. 1.

With Bloomberg

Ayala Land raises P7b from bond sale

By Jenniffer B. Austria

AYALA Land Inc., the second-biggest builder, has successfully raised P7 billion from the issuance of retail bonds priced at 4.75 percent a year.

Total demand for the bonds reached P11 billion on strong market liquidity, according to one of the underwriters handling the transaction.

Sources said the 4.75 percent per annum interest rate for the bonds maturing in 2025 was at the low end of the price range of 4.75 percent to 4.83 percent.

The offering period ran from April 13 to April 15, with investors swarming on the P7-billion bond issue. Ayala Land will list the bonds with Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on April

25.

The bond issue was the second tranche of the fixed rate series under the company’s P50billion debt securities program approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The first tranche, worth P8 billion issued only last month, was oversubscribed by 3.7 times at P29 billion, prompting the property firm to issue another tranche in less than one month.

Ayala Land hired BDO Capital & Investments Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp. and First Metro

Investments Corp. as joint lead underwriters and book runners for the P7-billion bond offering, and East West Banking Corp. and PNB Capital and Investments Corp. as co-lead managers.

Ayala Land plans to use proceeds from the offering to finance the company’s corporate requirements and capital expenditures, including the redevelopment of the Intercontinental Hotel area along Ayala Ave. into a transport hub with retail and office component, the construction of a high-end office project and retail mall in Ayala Triangle in Makati and the construction of Cloverleaf Mall in Balintawak, Quezon City.

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

in 2014.

Consolidated revenues reached P107.2 billion, 13 percent higher than P95.2 billion in the previous year.

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

Ayala Land over the next five years plans to increase its net income annually by 20 percent to reach P40 billion by 2020.

It plans to achieve the target by aggressively rolling out residential projects, while increasing investments in recurring businesses and optimizing its landbank.

The property firm also plans to maintain a capital spending of P80 billion to P90 billion over the next five years.

Metro Pacific eyeing bulk water project in Cebu

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE water unit of Metro Pacific Investment Corp. said it is looking at a bulk water supply project in Cebu to resolve the worsening water crisis in the province due to El Niño.

“With the water crisis there are a lot of opportunities that Maynilad/MetroPac Water Investments Corp. is looking at in Cebu,” Maynilad Water Services Inc. president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez told reporters.

Fernandez said his company was in talks with the Cebu government

to help its water crisis problem.

“If you look at it, the water crisis is really because of the lack of supply, so helping the city, helping the province and helping Mactan to solve the problem is the task that we would like to offer. We are here to offer our expertise and our service to help resolve the water crisis,” he said.

Fernandez said 70 percent of the water supply in Cebu secured from deep well, so “the potential is big.”

He added the Manila Water Consortium, which operates the Carmen Bulk Water Supply Project in Cebu, secured an ap-

proval from Metro Cebu Water District to increase the supply from 18 million liters of water per day to the local water district to between 25 million liters and 35 million liters per day in the next seven days.

MWC is 51 percent owned by Manila Water Corp., 39 percent

by MetroPacWater Investments and 10 percent by Viscal Development Corp.

“The water district gave us the go signal to increase the supply that they are getting from us practically to support the city in this struggle in address this water crisis,” Fernandez said.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama on April 8 declared the city in a state of emergency because almost all barangays in the city were experiencing water supply shortage because of El Niño.

MetroPac Water Investments in November last year obtained the notice of award for P2.8-billion bulk water supply project in Iloilo City.

Under a joint venture with the government of Iloilo, the company will provide up to 170 million liters a day of bulk water supply to the Metro Iloilo Water District for the next 25 years.

B4 New city rising.

President Aquino (third from right) views the scale model of the 9,450-hectare Clark Green City during the groundbreaking rites at the Capas, Tarlac section of the Clark Special Economic Zone. Briefing President Aquino is Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova (left), while looking on are BCDA chairperson Ma. Aurora Geotina-Garcia (second from right) and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson (right).

BPI allots P450m for new branches

By Julito G. Rada BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender, is allocating P450 million to put up new branches this year to widen its coverage nationwide.

BPI chief financial officer Joseph Albert Gotuaco said at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting the bank planned to open 25 to 30 branches in 2016.

“Most of these will be in Metro Manila and the VisMin [Visayas and Mindanao] areas,” he said, adding the establishment of new branches would cost around P5 million to P15 million, each “depending on the location.”

BPI president and chief executive Cezar Consing said earlier the bank would prioritize expanding its coverage to seize the opportunities amid the growing economy.

“We want to allocate our resources primarily in the Philippines,” Consing said.

He said the bank was not downplaying the idea of going overseas especially under the Asean banking integration framework.

Consing said the bank was managing its metrics efficiently so that when the right opportunities came, it would automatically qualify as an Asean bank to expand in the region.

BPI posted a 1.1-percent increase in net income to P18.23 billion in 2015 from P18.04 billion in 2014.

Total loans rose 9.1 percent to P872.86 billion, while total deposits increased 8.5 percent to P1.28 trillion.

The bank is eyeing a doubledigit growth in loans and deposits this year on the back of the robust economic growth.

BPI, the first bank in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, is a commercial bank with an expanded banking license.

BPI’s services include consumer banking and lending, asset management, insurance, securities brokerage and distribution, foreign exchange, leasing, and corporate and investment banking.

DoubleDragon secures approval to raise P10b

By Jenniffer B. Austria

DOUBLEDRAGONProperties Corp., a joint venture between Jollibee Foods Corp. chairman Tony Tan Caktiong and Mang Inasal founder Edgar Sia, said it obtained regulatory approval to increase authorized capital stock to P20.5 billion.

DoubleDragon said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the Securities and Exchange Commission also approved the company’s application for the creation and issuance of P10 billion worth of preferred shares.

DoubleDragon early this month said it

would issue P10 billion of preferred shares which would only be created after the SEC approved the company’s application for amendment to articles of incorporation.

“With the SEC approval, the preferred shares are considered issued to the stockholders,” DoubleDragon said.

DoubleDragon could also apply with the Philippine Stock Exchange for the listing of the preferred shares.

PSE earlier issued several advisories stating that DoubleDragons’ offering was only for subscription to the preferred shares to be created and issued pending approval by the SEC. BPI Capital Corp., one of the underwriters of the DoubleDragon’s preferred shares offering, said PSE issued the advisory because the exchange wanted the investing public to be aware that the preferred shares had been processed by PSE for listing yet and that there

was no guarantee that the preferred shares would be listed with the exchange.

In 2015, DoubleDragon reported that its net income grew by 11 percent to P623 million from P561 million recorded in the same period last year.

Total revenues also went up by 13 percent to P1.9 billion on the back of higher residential sales and strong rental revenues.

As of end 2015, the company had P19.9 billion in investment properties almost double the P10.5 billion in 2014, mainly due to aggressive build up of the company’s land bank during the year.

To date, the property firm has secured 2/3 of the land bank it needs for its five year plan.

Under its five year plan, DoubleDragon aims to develop one million square meters of leasable space that will translate to P4.8 billion in net income by 2020.

Sarangani Energy’s coal plant set to open this month

By Alena Mae S. Flores SARANGANI Energy Corp. said Monday the first 105-megawatt unit of its 210-MW baseload coalfired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani successfully completed key tests ahead of commercial operations this month.

Sarangani Energy owned by Alsons Power of the Alcantara Group said in a statement the power plant’s commercial operations would immediately provide power to Mindanao reeling from another summer of power shortages.

The company is now awaiting the issuance of a certificate of compliance from the Energy Regulatory Commission.

The power plant will supply power to more than three mil-

lion residents in the provinces of Sarangani, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur; the cities of General Santos, Iligan, Bayugan, Butuan, Samal and Tagum and the municipalities in Davao del Norte and South Cotabato.

“Once we commence commercial operations, SEC 1 will be able to bring in 105 MW of power to key areas in Mindanao that will help put an end to the six-year-old power shortage and provide substantial relief to the people who have been suffering from this dire situation,” said Nicandro Fucoy, Alsons Power vice president for project implementation and head of coal operations.

“We are confident that the ERC will be able to issue the COC at

the soonest time possible as we have already completed all the requirements. Any delay in the start of commercial operations would be a gross disservice to the people who have long been waiting for an end to the power crisis,” he said.

The entire 210-MW capacity is expected to be completed by 2018 and will supply power to other areas including South Cotabato and the provinces of Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Dapitan, Digos, Dipolog, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Pagadian.

The $570-million Sarangani power plant is the single largest investment in Sarangani province and the entire Region 12.

Alsons Power is also developing the 105-MW San Ramon Power Inc. coal-fired power plant in Zamboanga City, with construction slated to commence in the second half and commercial operations expected by 2019.

The group is also entering the renewable energy segment with the development of a 15-MW run-of-river hydroelectric power plant at the Siguil River in Maasim, Sarangani.

Alsons Power currently operates three diesel plants in Mindanao, including Mapalad Power Corp.’s 103-MW plant in Iligan City, the 55-MW Southern Philippines Power Corp. facility in Alabel, Sarangani and the 100MW power plant of the Western Mindanao Power Corp. in Zamboanga City.

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 1 9, 2 0 1 6

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

A friendly squirrel this way comes IN just a few days, Ubuntu 16.0also known as Xenial Xerus— will be available as a free download from Ubuntu.com. The latest version, named after a sociable African squirrel, will offer more new features than the last few releases of the popular Linux distribution.

The long awaited (or dreaded, depending on your point of view) shift to the new Mir display server and the Unity 8 interface won’t happen in 16.04—that will have to wait at least six more months when 16.10 is released. For now, Ubuntu users will get the more mature and stable X.org-Unity 7 pairing.

That’s not to say, however, that there are no significant changes in store.

As strange as it may seem, the biggest news to many Ubuntu users is that 16.04 will finally enable them to move the Unity launcher from its default position on the left side of the screen to the bottom. This might seem strange to folks who use desktops that let them to move their application launchers or docks anywhere they want—but Unity has locked its launcher on the left ever since it was introduced in 2010.

Since I use the XFCE desktop as a replacement for Unity and run Cairo Dock as my launcher, this isn’t a big deal to me. But to Unity users who pine for the days when their launchers were at the bottom of the screen, this new feature is a godsend.

Another important change, especially for newcomers, is that Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has turned off online searches by default, thereby addressing vexing questions about privacy that have hounded it since 2012.

Canonical had come under fire from groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Privacy International because Ubuntu collected data and passed these on to third party services every time a user performed a search.

The latest release fixes this by turning off online search by default.

“This means that out-of-the-box none of your search terms will leave your computer,” writes Will Cooke, Ubuntu desktop manager.

You can, however, choose to turn it on through Ubuntu’s privacy settings.

Another major change in 16.04 is that Ubuntu Software Center will be replaced by Gnome Software, which is supposed to be sleeker and snappier. This is a welcome change because I have never been a fan of Ubuntu Software Center, which I found to be slow and sluggish—and created in the mold of the Mac’s App Store, which I also despise. I disliked Ubuntu Software Center so much, in fact, that I installed Ubuntu’s previous software manager, Synaptic, and use it regularly to install applications. It will be interesting to see if Gnome Software will be an improvement.

Other changes: • Ubuntu 16.04 will use the Linux Kernel 4.4 (up from 4.2 in 15.10)

•

Newer versions of Mozilla Thunderbird, LibreOffice, Python and Docker.

•

Command line users will now be encouraged to use APT instead of APT-GET when installing software. There is not much difference between the two commands, but APT gives you a progress bar in terminal.

•

16.04, which is a long-term support (LTS) version, is expected to come with support for the new Snap packaging format, which will make it easier for users to get the latest versions of their favorite applications.

•

The upgrade will also support the ZFS file system that continually checks on stored data to make sure it has not been corrupted.

There are a few caveats.

As with any OS upgrade, it’s a good idea to back up your data before proceeding.

Also, if you are an AMD Radeon user, it’s probably best to stay away for now. Ubuntu 16.04 drops support for the proprietary graphics driver known as fglrx, and uses an open source driver being developed by AMD called AMDGPU. The new driver isn’t ready yet, however, and it may not work with older cards.

To upgrade to 16.04, you can download the .ISO file from the Ubuntu website and burn it onto a CD or create a USB boot drive, and do a fresh install. Or, if you are already on 15.10, you can opt to upgrade through Software & Updates.

Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

B5

SMC Global Power selling P15-b bonds

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SMC Global Power Corp., one of the largest power companies owned by conglomerate San Miguel Corp., plans to raise P15 billion from a bond offering.

Documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed SMC Global Power would issue fixed-rate bonds due 2021, 2023 and 2026. The bonds will have an early redemption option.

Proceeds from the bond offering will be used to refinance the company’s short-term loan provided by BDO Unibank Inc. Proceeds were used to fully redeem $300-million notes due 2016 and for general corporate purposes.

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

The company hired nine banks

to handle the transaction, including BDO Capital and Investments Corp., Maybank ATR Kim Eng, SB Capital, BPI Capital Corp., PNB Capital Corp., Standard Chartered, China Bank Capital, RCBC Capital Corp. and United Coconut Planters Bank.

SMC Global Power currently controls 2,903 megawatts of combined contracted capacity with diversified fuel sources, including natural gas, coal and hydroelectric.

It operates the Sual, San Roque and Ilijan power plants. It also holds a 60-percent interest in Angat Hydro Power Corp., which

operates the 218-MW Angat hydroelectric power plant.

SMC Global Power said it planned to further expand its power portfolio of additional capacity nationwide through greenfield power projects over the next few years, depending on market demand.

“With the increased development of greenfield power projects from 2016 onwards, an increasing portion of the portfolio of SMC Global Power is expected from company-owned and company-operated IPPs,” SMC Global Power said.

“In order to continue its strategic acquisitions of existing power generation capacity, SMC Global Power intends to participate in the bidding of selected National Power Corp. of the Philippinesowned power generation plants that are scheduled for privatization as asset sales or under the IPPA framework,” it said.

E-vehicle summit. Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar (center) presides over the opening ceremony of the 5th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit organized by Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines at the Meralco multipurpose hall in Pasig City. With her during the ribbon cutting ceremony are (from left) Yvonne Casto of Bemac, Ricardo Lopez of the Energy Department, Jon Aitchison of Sevcon, Takahiro Innami of Bemac, Jonas Leones of the Environment Department, Cora Jimenez of Metro Manila Development Authority, Rommel Juan of EVAP, Ferdie Raquelsantos of EVAP, Anthony Agoncillo of Meralco, Lawrence Fernandez of Meralco and Grayson Richards of Kyto Ventures.

Nickel Asia raises stake in power unit

By Alena Mae S. Flores NICKEL Asia Corp. said Monday its board approved an additional equity contribution of P660 million to its 66-percentowned renewable energy subsidiary Emerging Power Inc. The board also approved a separate P1.5-billion three-year term loan to be provided by the listed firm.

“These funds, together with bank financing at the project company level will complete EPI projects of 105 megawatts lined up for 2016,” Nickel Asia said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

The fund raising came after Nickel Asia’s fully-owned subsidiary Jobin-SQM Inc. successfully energized 7 megawatts of solar power, representing the

first phase of its 100-MW solar farm in Subic Bay Freeport. The balance of 93 MW is targeted for completion within the year.

The 100-MW solar project is expected to be completed at a cost of P8 billion. The JobinSqm renewable energy service contract also includes a 50-MW wind farm, which is scheduled for development in 2017.

Nickel Asia said part of the funds would also be used for the development of the first geothermal power plant with a capacity of 5 MW under 60-percent-owned subsidiary Biliran Geothermal Inc. The total project cost is estimated at P800 million.

It said seven holes were drilled in the Biliran geothermal field by 40-percent partner Orka Energy of Iceland, all of which exhibited

the required temperatures for the production of geothermal power.

The development of additional plants and required infrastructure and further drilling of the potentially large geothermal field is currently under study.

“We have gained a lot of momentum in the past year especially in our Subic project and also in the other areas. EPI is determined to develop all of these clean energy projects in the soonest possible time,” said Nickel Asia president and chief executive Gerard Brimo.

Emerging Power is also said to be developing a 10-MW solar project in Camarines Sur, a 2.5MW biogas project in Quezon and a 10-MW solar and bunker hybrid project in Northern Palawan.

B6

TUESDAY: APRIL 19, 2016

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

SSI Group tempers outlook THE largest Philippine seller of luxury brands such as Jimmy Choo shoes and Prada handbags says investors and analysts should temper earnings expectations, with competition among retailers squeezing margins— even as consumer spending shows no signs of letting up.

SSS dialogue. Social Security System president and chief executive Emilio de Quiros Jr. (on podium) presents updates on the SSS financial status and operations before an audience of about 300 human resource managers during the ‘Dialogue with SSS Officials’ sponsored by the People Management Association of the Philippines on February 24 at Marriott Hotel, Pasay City. De Quiros discussed various SSS concerns such as payment of contributions, procedures for SSS benefit applications and the corresponding qualifying conditions, the veto of President Aquino on the proposed P2,000 pension increase and its effects on the viability of the fund if it was approved.

Atlas Mining trimmed ’15 net loss to P814m ATLAS Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. registered a net loss of P814 million in 2015, up from P397 million in 2014 on low copper prices.

The company said the full-year loss eased from a loss of P1.3 billion in the first nine months of 2015. Atlas said higher production volumes and cost efficiency improvements helped cushion the impact of low copper prices.

Atlas Mining said the narrower net loss for the full year benefitted from the share in net income of Berong Nickel Corp. in the amount of P244 million. It also reduced the loss from a net foreign exchange gain of P138 million and realized gains on derivatives of P295 million

attributable to the recognition of derivative assets and liabilities from provisional pricing contracts still outstanding at the end of the year for copper concentrate shipments.

Intensified improvements in production volumes were recorded in the second half of the year, benefitting from ongoing improvements in maintenance and process efficiencies at Atlas Mining’s wholly-owned subsidiary Carmen Copper Corp.

Copper metal in concentrate production in the second semester rose 20 percent to 55.6 million pounds, spurred by relatively higher head grade, improvement in copper recovery and increased milling tonnage.

Copper grade improved to 0.307 percent from 0.292 percent and

copper recovery accelerated further to 86.3 percent compared with 85.2 percent in the first semester average. Milling tonnage expanded 13 percent to 9.5 million tons as average daily throughput delivered 51,800 ton per day for the second half from 46,600 tpd in the previous semester.

Copper prices fell to a six-year low on concerns over the future demand from China. The average realized copper price ended the year at $2.46/ lb, 21 percent lower than the $3.12/ lb average in 2014. The average realized gold price, meanwhile, dropped 9 percent to $1,152/oz from $1,265/ oz in the previous year.

Total operating cash costs shrank 16 percent to P9.4 billion in 2015

due to cost containment initiatives. Average cash cost per pound of copper declined to $1.71/lb from $1.99/lb in 2014.

Due to the challenging environment for copper, Atlas Mining announced the reduction of its mill throughput at the Carmen Copper mine from its nameplate capacity of 60,000 tpd to 40,000 tpd.

“While management views the long term outlook for copper positively, the company must respond to current market conditions to optimize cash flow while protecting its large mineral resources for the longer term and to position the company to enhance performance and throughput when copper prices improve,” it said.

Intensifying competition for consumers will cap sales growth, SSI Group Inc. president Anthony Huang said in an interview. Profit estimates by analysts are “too rosy” while revenue forecasts are “a little bit optimistic,” he said.

Mid-range and luxury brands are rushing into the Philippines, cashing in on some of Southeast Asia’s most bullish consumers. Cushman & Wakefield Inc. estimates that more than 190 such brands have entered the country since 2008.

Filipinos are the second most confident consumers in the world, just behind Indians, Nielsen Holdings Plc said in its latest Global Consumer Confidence Index report.

“The market has turned extremely competitive,” Huang said from his office in Makati district.

“Over the past years, there’s a huge influx of brands. Consumer spending is growing but that is also going to other things. Retail will still grow but it won’t be as fast as in the past.”

SSI posted its first profit decline in five years in 2015 amid rising competition and the need to match price discounts of rival brands, including Hennes & Mauritz AB’s H&M and Fast Retailing Co.’s Uniqlo clothing chain. Net income fell almost a fifth even as sales posted a record. Last year’s profit margin shrank to 53.5 percent from 56.1 percent the previous year, Huang said.

SSI’s adjusted net income may reach P1.11 billion this year and rise to P1.41 billion in 2017, while sales will increase from P19.4 billion to P21.7 billion over the period, according to the average of analysts’ projections compiled by Bloomberg. Bloomberg

Catching money launderers is a 24/7/365 thing There are many things that the average Filipino has been finding disturbing about the heist of $81 million worth of Bangladesh bank money deposited—as the deposits of almost all central banks are—with the Federal Bank of New York, in a well-orchestrated operation that involved one of this country’s top five banks, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., one of the bank’s branches, a remittance company and three casinos. But undoubtedly one of the most disturbing things about the entire enterprise was the apparent ease with which it was carried out.

The ease was accounted for largely by two circumstances. One circumstance related to the lack of clarity as to the decision-making threshold—or so the Filipino people have been made to understand by the public testimonies of RCBC president Lorenzo Tan and bank branch manager Maia Deguito—of RCBC branch managers. Under questioning in the Senate, Lorenzo Tan made the statement that deciding whether to accept an inward deposit equivalent to about P4 billion was a judgment call for an RCBC branch manager. Perhaps Tan believes that Filipinos are a gullible lot, I don’t

know. But that is what he said before the Senate.

A second source of the general feeling of discomfort over the RCBC heist’s apparently easy execution was the slowness with which the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas came into the picture. Going over the transcripts of the testimonies given to the Senate, one would be hard put to not conclude that much critically important time had been lost by the time AMLC and BSP came into the picture.

The most important dates in the RCBC heist are February 5, 2016 and February 9. The heist came to pass between those two days. On February 5, in the late afternoon, inward remittances totaling $81 million were received at the RCBC branch of which Maia Deguito was manager. On February 8, RCBC received an urgent request from Bangladesh Bank for a stop payment order covering the money, which have apparently been stolen from the New York Fed and remitted to RCBC. The stop-payment request was also sent to BSP and AMLC on February 9. But the communication apparently came too late; by the time it was received withdrawals from RCBC totaling $81 million had already been effected.

The time element was absolutely essential to the successful execution of the heist, and its perpetrators—at RCBC and elsewhere—knew

that the chances of successful movement of the stolen funds would be greatest if accomplished while BSP and AMLC were non-operational.

The two regulators, like all government offices maintained the regular 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. office hours and are closed on weekend days and holidays. The perpetrators of the heist knew that BSP and AMLC personnel would end their workdays at 5 p.m. on February 5 and 9 and would not be going to work on February 6, 7 and 8, which were non-working days (February 8 being Chinese New Year’s Day). It is no coincidence that the heisted funds were remitted to, and received by, RCBC after 5 p.m. on February 5 and that the withdrawals of the funds were made on the evening of that day. BSP and AMLC personnel would not be at their posts on the two immediately succeeding days for the previously indicated reasons.

The timing of the various phases of the heist cannot have been a matter of happenstance. It must have been deliberate. The perpetrators knew that the personnel of Philippine regulatory institutions would not be at their posts after 5 p.m. and on no-work days. The fact that February 8 was a national holiday obviously figured in the perpetrators’ planning.

Violations of the nation’s banking laws and the AMLA are criminal offenses and the activities of those institutions charged with enforcing those laws partake of police work. That

being the case the work of those institutions is a 24/7/365 affair, not 8-5 on regular working days. Added considerations in this regard are the fact that countries celebrate different holidays (except for Christmas, New Year’s Day and Good Friday) and that time-zone differences give rise to variations in at-work hours and sleeping hours as between countries.

The RCBC episode could very well happen if the existing regulatory arrangements are not tightened. If enforcement of the nation’s banking laws and AMLA and prevention of money laundering are to be done effectively, the Monetary Board and the Anti-Money Laundering Council must install a sufficiently senior official who will be at his post on a 7/24/365 basis and who will be accessible at all times by bankers for reporting and consultation. The ideal situation would be one in which a bank officer like Maia Deguito, unable to reach her superiors, could call the BSP or AMLC duty officer after hours and, after describing an out-of-theordinary situation at her bank branch can ask, “How should I handle this?”

In the wake of the RCBC heist, the era of many-days-after entry into the picture by BSP and AMLC are over. If it’s not, there surely are other RCBC-type heists in the Philippine banking system’s future.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 1 9, 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Crisis after impeach vote on Rousseff BRASILIA—Brazil woke Monday to deep political crisis after lawmakers authorized impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff, sparking claims that democracy was under threat in Latin America’s biggest country.

Opposition deputies in the lower house of Congress needed 342 of the 513 votes, or a two thirds majority, to send Rousseff to the Senate, which will now decide whether to open a trial. They got there near midnight on Sunday after five hours of voting.

Wild cheering and a burst of confetti erupted from opposition ranks at the 342nd vote, countered by furious jeering from Rousseff allies in a snapshot of the bitter mood consuming Brazil just four months before Rio de Janeiro hosts the Olympics.

Presidential chief of staff Jacques Wagner accused deputies of voting for impeachment without proving that the leftist president, who is accused of illegally manipulating budget figures, had committed a serious crime.

“In this way, the Chamber of Deputies is threatening to interrupt 30 years of democracy in the country,” he said, referring to the end of a military dictatorship in 1985.

“It was a coup against democracy,” Rousseff ’s attorney general, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, said.

Cardozo said that Rousseff— who was imprisoned and tortured under military rule in the 1970s— would give her first public reaction on Monday.

There was expected to be a euphoric reaction from the financial markets which have been betting heavily on a Rousseff exit and the advent of a more business-friendly government to kick-start Brazil’s flailing economy.

Outside Congress, where tens of thousands of people were watching giant TV screens, the split was echoed on a mass scale—with opposition supporters partying and Rousseff loyalists in despair.

“I am happy, happy, happy. I spent a year demonstrating in hope that Dilma would be brought down,” said retiree Maristela de Melo, 63.

But Rousseff supporter Mariana Santos, 23, burst into tears, saying the vote was “a disgrace for our country.”

Several thousand police stood by and the rival camps were separated by a long metal wall.

If, as many expect, the Senate goes on to impeach the leftist president, Vice President Michel Temer—who abandoned Rousseff to become a key opponent—will assume power.

Temer ally Eduardo Cunha, the lower house speaker who engineered the successful impeachment vote, said Rousseff ’s days as president were numbered.

“Now Brazil needs to climb out of the bottom of the well and we have to resolve the situation as quickly as possible,” he said.

“The Senate should move rapidly.” AFP

B7

Carter flies to Baghdad to discuss plan against IS BAGHDAD—US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter made an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Monday for talks with Iraqi officials on the war against the Islamic State jihadist group.

Day 3. A music fan attends Day 3 of the 2016 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival

Carter’s visit comes after a week of political turmoil that has been a setback for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and the US defense chief has said it is important to support the embattled premier.

The US is leading an international coalition that is carrying out strikes against IS and also providing training and other assistance to forces fighting the jihadists in both Iraq and neighboring Syria.

Carter will meet officials including Abadi and Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi to discuss increasing American military assistance to Iraq ahead of the key battle for second city Mosul.

“The fight for Mosul is critical... and it’s a very large urban scenario,” a senior defense official said.

“We are going to need to be more aggressive,” the official said.

Carter arrived in Baghdad from the United Arab Emirates, the first stop on a Gulf tour during which he will seek to shore up support for Iraq.

He has said that “the success of the campaign against (IS) in Iraq does depend upon political and economic progress as well,” and that “it’s important that we continue to support” Abadi.

The premier has sought to replace the current cabinet of party-affiliated ministers with a government of technocrats, but has faced major opposition from powerful parties that rely on control of ministries for patronage and funds.

Abadi’s cabinet efforts were overshadowed by multiple days of chaos at parliament, where lawmakers held a sit-in, brawled in the parliament hall and sought to sack the speaker.

In addition to major security and political challenges, Iraq also faces a serious economic crisis caused by low oil prices and years of mismanagement and corruption by officials.

IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant ground from the jihadists.

Iraqi forces have begun preparatory operations in Nineveh province, of which Mosul is the capital, but the actual assault to take the city is not expected to take place for months, and possibly not until next year.

The United States has deployed some 3,900 troops to Iraq, most of them in advisory and support roles. AFP

Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Club on April 17, 2016, in Indio, California. AFP

Azerbaijan condemns Armenia MANILA—Azerbaijan has urged the international community to condemn what it called Armenia ’s illegal occupation of its territories and demand the withdrawal of its troops from all seized lands.

In a statement, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Indonesia also called on Armenia to engage constructively in the conflict settlement process in accordance with the requirements of relevant resolutions and principles of the United Nations Security Council and international law.

“The military occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan does not represent a solution and will never produce a political outcome desired by Armenia ,” the embassy said.

“The sooner Armenia reconciles with this reality, the earlier the conflict will be

resolved and the countries and peoples in the region will benefit from the prospects of cooperation and economic development.”

The embassy said that on April 2, 2016, Armenia opened intensive heavy weapons fire at the positions of Azerbaijan ’s armed forces despite the presence of civilians in the area.

As a result of the artillery attacks, a number of civilians were killed and seriously wounded while substantial damage was inflicted on private and public properties.

“The armed forces of Azerbaijan have taken the necessary counter measures within its internationally recognized borders to ensure the safety of civilian population, to stop the provocations of Armenia and to deter it from further acts of aggression,” the embassy said.

It said over the past years, Armenia had raised tension in the area by attacking and killing Azerbaijani military personnel as well as civilians with mortars and large-caliber machine guns and artillery.

“Azerbaijan has repeatedly brought to the attention of the international community the illegal presence of Armenian armed forces in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, which continues to pose a threat to regional peace and stability, the embassy said.

“Aside from artillery attacks, Armenia is also engaged in unlawful economic and other activities, including the transfer of Armenian population into these territories to pursue an apparent goal of annexation of Azerbaijan ’s territories.”

AFP

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 1 9, 2 0 1 6

B8

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

The day after. The sun sets in one of Ecuador’s worst-hit towns, Pedernales, a day after a 7.8-magnitude quake hit the country on April 17, 2016. The toll from the earthquake in Ecuador rose on Sunday to 246 dead and 2,527 people injured, the country’s vice president said. On Monday the death toll increased further to 272 and was expected to rise further. AFP

Ecuador quake toll hits 272 Survivors dig for kin using their bare hands MANTA, Ecuador—The desperation driving the survivors of Ecuador’s powerful earthquake to find loved ones trapped under rubble could be seen in the tools many used in their amateur rescue attempts: none.

A small crowd of residents in Manta, a popular beach town in the disaster zone on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, clawed away Sunday at big blocks of broken cement and scraps of twisted metal with their bare hands.

“My husband is under there,” said Veronica Paladines, a tiny woman tearing at a mound of debris that used to be a hotel and throwing what she could aside, with fury and tears in her eyes.

Her 25-year-old spouse, Javier Sangucho, the father of their two young children, worked at the property.

“He did the painting. He had just

gone down to rest a bit when it happened,” the 24-year-old woman told AFP. “It” was the earthquake, a 7.8-magnitude monster that late Saturday toppled buildings along the coast and a ways inland, killing by last count more than 270 people and injuring at least 2,500.

The toll, authorities say, is certain to rise in the next days.

A dozen men, friends and relatives, helped Paladines pick away at the rubble.

The group had been at it for more than a day, ever since the earth shook and brought down the hotel and many other buildings along the town’s main road.

A helmeted fireman finally turned up with a jackhammer to chip apart the concrete floor that had collapsed on Paladines’ husband. AFP

PORTOVIEJO, Ecuador—The most powerful earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades has killed 272 people—a toll that will ‘certainly’ rise, President Rafael Correa said as overwhelmed rescuers Monday struggled to pull survivors from piles of debris.

The 7.8-magnitude quake struck the small, oil-producing South American nation late Saturday, shattering hotels and homes along its Pacific coast popular with tourists and reducing several towns to rubble.

More than 2,000 people were injured as structures tumbled during the quake or its dozens of aftershocks.

The capital Quito, farther inland, escaped with cracked walls and power outages, and the country’s strategic oil facilities appeared unscathed, officials said.

But along the coast, the devastation prompted neighboring Colombia, as well as quake-experienced Mexico and El Salvador, to rush in rescue personnel to help out.

In Portoviejo, a city 15 kilometers from the coast, the temblor

knocked down walls in a prison, allowing 100 inmates to escape.

Some were recaptured or returned later, but police were hunting the others, Justice Minister Ledy Zuniga tweeted.

Elsewhere in hard-hit Portoviejo, the stench of decaying bodies began to fill the tropical air as rescuers raced to find survivors.

“We have already recovered three dead and we believe there are 10 to 11 people still trapped,” said one worker digging through the debris of what used to be a six-story hotel called El Gato.

Officials have declared a state of emergency in the worst-hit provinces, and a national state of “exception,” both of which suspend certain civil rights and liberties to

allow security forces and officials to react faster.

President Correa visited the disaster zone on Sunday after cutting short an official trip to the Vatican.

He said the latest toll of 272 dead “will certainly rise and probably in a considerable way” in the hours ahead.

“There are still lots of bodies in the rubble,” he warned. “These are extremely difficult times, the biggest tragedy in the last 67 years.”

Correa made reference to the August 1949 earthquake near the central Ecuadoran city of Ambato that killed some 5,000 people and caused widespread destruction.

Among the worst-hit towns in the late Saturday quake was Pedernales, where Mayor Gabriel Alcivar estimated there were up to 400 more dead yet to be confirmed, many buried under the rubble of collapsed hotels.

“Pedernales is devastated.

Buildings have fallen down, especially hotels where there are lots of tourists staying. There are lots of dead bodies,” he told local media. AFP

Park says N. Korea preparing nuke test SEOUL—South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Monday said North Korea appeared to be preparing for a fifth nuclear test in defiance of tightened UN sanctions imposed after its last test in January.

“Signs that it is preparing a fifth nuclear test have recently been detected,” Park told a cabinet meeting.

Her remarks followed South Korean media reports in which unnamed government and intelligence officials spoke of a spike in activity at the North’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

A fresh test would see Pyongyang doubling down in the face of tough sanctions adopted by the UN Security Council, and would throw down a gauntlet to the international community as it struggles to find new ways to curb the North’s nuclear ambitions.

North Korea is gearing up for a rare and much-hyped ruling party congress early next month, at which leader Kim Jong-Un is expected to take credit for pushing the country’s nuclear weapons program to new heights.

Many analysts have suggested the regime might carry out a fifth

nuclear test as a display of defiance and strength just before the congress opens.

“It is uncertain what kind of unexpected provocations it would stage,” Park said at the cabinet meeting.

The South Korean Defense Ministry said it was alert to the likelihood of a fifth test.

“Given current activities, we believe that there is a possibility that the North may stage an underground nuclear test, and are monitoring the situation accordingly,” ministry spokesman Moon SangGyun told reporters. AFP

Meeting. French Minister for Education Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the prefect of the Provence-Alpes-Cotes d’Azur region, and prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhone department Stephane Bouillon, attend a meeting with Marseille’s mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin and school representatives at the Prefecture in Marseille on April 18, 2016. AFP

tuesday : april 19, 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

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Calle Crisologo at night

Of ARTS, HERITAgE AnD IlOCAnO DElICACIES

A Daniel dela Cruz sculpture greets you at the main lobby of Hotel Luna

By TATuM AnCHETA

V

igan has always been one of the chosen road trip destinations for those who want to go north. The city is known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial and Asian architecture, and its famous Ilocano delicacies. Last 2008, the number of visitors reportedly reached 300,000, but since it was declared as one of the New Seven Wonder Cities (N7WC) of the world in 2014, the number of tourists has reached 700,000 as of last year.

A MuSEuM HOTEl

At the heart of the heritage city stands Hotel Luna, a hotel museum that houses over 200 artworks made by prestigious National Artists and contemporary painters like BenCab, Malang, Vicente Manansala, Cesar Legaspi, Arturo Luz, José Joya, Guillermo Tolentino, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Daniel Tan, Napoleon Abueva, Ronald Ventura, Arturo Luz, and Juan Luna – from whom the hotel takes its name. The four-story hotel opened last 2014 and even in its infancy, people were already booking it whenever they stay in Vigan. The hotel is part of Artstream Hospitality Management Group Inc.’s roster of hospitality offerings –Hotel Rembrandt in Manila, Le Monet in Baguio, and Vitalis Villa in Santiago, Ilocos Sur. During our visit last March, Vigan seemed to never run out of visitors as people would come in packs almost everyday. We almost couldn’t get rooms in Luna as it was fully booked for the week. According to Mayor Eva Marie Medina, Hotel Luna has been adding to the roster of tourist destinations in the city. Aside from the usual routes on the cobbled street of Calle Crisologo, the Dancing Light Fountain in Plaza Salcedo and other sights around the city, Hotel Luna has been becoming a tourist spot where people would visit just to tour the hotel and get a glimpse of its famous art pieces.

AHMG president Kristine Singson Meehan said that with their other hotels, it took them years before they could get a return on their investment. But with Hotel Luna, it only took them six months. At the onset, the artworks were from the family’s private collection and they would usually commission the artists. Today, the artists themselves donate the works just to be part of the museum. Last year, Rene Robles, Romulo Galicano, Demetrio dela Cruz, Fidel Sarmiento, BenCab, Grace Singson, Cid Reyes, and Fred Baldemor made one painting with different parts done by the

Sapsapuriket (Chicken Dinuguan) served with Chicharon Baboy

eight artists as tribute to Hotel Luna for its first anniversary.

But aside from the artworks, Hotel Luna’s modern facilities that contrast with its vintage appeal is also what visitors keep coming back for. While walking across the hallways feels like you’re in a different era, the facilities are packed with modern amenities including a modern bathroom whose toilet bowl has jets that ensure your tush is thoroughly cleaned.

The main structure of the place is an old Benigno Que house, built in 1882 by Don José Florentino and given to his daughter as a wedding gift. Now refurbished as Hotel Luna, it has guestrooms, five loft suites, five executive suites, and an outdoor pool that makes it seem like you’re staying in Venice when you take photos.

AHMG hotels are known for their gastronomic offerings and in Hotel Luna, guests can enjoy culinary delicacies prepared by their award-winning chefs at the three in-house restaurants, namely Comedor, Chula Saloon Bar, and Azotea.

The Comedor is the grand restaurant and they serve delectable Spanish and Ilocano cuisine that you can only taste in Vigan like Sapsapuriket (Chicken Dinuguan) served with Chicharon Baboy and special dishes with twists that only Luna offers, like the dessert that resembles a sapin-sapin but has chocolate Vigan longganisa in between and drizzled on top.

Staying in Hotel Luna also affords you a tour in the famous city in the hotel’s white horse-driven carriage. No, it’s not just your simple kalesa but one that looks like a carriage used for movies in the old times.

All you need is a baro’t saya and you’re ready for that perfect photo op. Go around shopping for pasalubong at Calle Crisologo, or visit the weaving centers and get yourself handmade mats for your dining area at home. You may also ask the carriage to bring you to Ruby Pottery and get a glimpse of one of the oldest pottery barns (burnayan) in town owned by National Folk Artist Fidel Go. If you’re lucky, you may even get to meet the old guy. Tours can also go as far as Baluarte so you can check out the mini zoo and the butterfly farm. If you have your kids with you, they might enjoy the visit to the Buridek Children’s Museum at Mira Hills.

nEW TOuRIST DESTInATIOnS In VIgAn

Soon, tourists will be able to experience the new Vigan Conservation Complex that houses museums showcasing the religious roots of the city, historical personalities, old houses in Vigan and the city’s structures, and a home depot with supplies that will help the locals rebuild and refurbish their houses without losing Vigan’s old Spanish antique appeal. Part of the government’s program that is aligned with the home depot is a book that will be disseminated throughout the city as an educational guide for families on how to take care of their antique houses and preserve the unique aesthetics of the city.

During our stay, we were able to chat with incumbent Mayor Medina and she’s ecstatic about the new project that will be built at the back of the Vigan Conservation Complex, the third Heritage theme park

BenCab's Sabel on display in Hotel Luna

in the Philippines after Nayong Pilipino and Villa Escudero. The theme park is still in its planning stage but it will be named “Ilocos,” after the old name of the province when La Union, Abra, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur were still whole and Vigan was the capital.

The park will feature a pavilion for meet and greet, a small main street that will resemble Calle Crisologo and will house shops. There will be an area dedicated to Mountain Province and will have features like rice terraces, houses in stilts to be used for various stores, and facilities for team building activities. La Union will have a water log jam fit for visiting families especially with kids. There will also be miniature sand dunes after the famous dunes of Ilocos Norte, including a lighthouse and windmills. To represent Abra, there will be a mini train referencing tunnel mining in the province. Other parts will house a conservatory with dining facilities and function halls including a chapel that can be used for weddings.

This new project aims to keep the ongoing tourism bustling in Vigan as well as to generate jobs and livelihood for the community. “It will add as a new destination where they can go to get a glimpse of how Vigan was before,” shares Mayor Medina. “Here they can learn about the history of Vigan and the province of Ilocus Sur at the same time people will be entertained,” she adds.

Hotel Luna is located at Luna Street, 2300 Vigan, Ilocos Sur. For booking and inquiries, visit hotelluna.ph.

tuESday : aprIL 19, 2016

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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

ExhibiTS

Travel Writing Ayala Museum, Makati City April 20 and 22; 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Hysteria Artery Art Space, Quezon City Ongoing until May 7 Three women come together in this group exhibit to dismantle the conventional muscle of painting with expressive aplomb, clever comebacks and sexy bravado.

Valeria Cavestany, Lara de los Reyes and Maria Jeona Zoleta share many same things together: They are all graduates of the University of the Philippines, all have shown locally and abroad (at Musée International des Arts Modeste in France and at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, among others), and the three artists represent the cutting edge of Manila’s painterly crop.

Cavestany’s works illustrate the divided self in the moment of global financial crises and religious terrorism. De los Reyes’ paintings, on the other hand, explores the gender divide between intuitive femininity and the macho strutting of techniques to give an old man painting an arousal, while Zoleta’s pieces epitomize bad painting as a contemporary conceptual stance on medium specific self-awareness and post-internet tactics.

For more details on this ongoing exhibit, contact the gallery at (02) 725-2837.

Liwanag sa Kawalan ng Kulay (Light in the Absence of Color) Lobby, Yuchengco Museum, Makati City Ongoing until June 25 Visual and performance artist Aze Ong exhibits her 8.83-meter-high crochet installation that was inspired by her trip to the United Arab Emirates.

The installation is accompanied by a video of Ong performing on the sand dunes of Abu Dhabi, which also features the crochet butterfly wings she made.

The series belongs to a particular part of Ong’s life as a woman who tackles challenges and overcomes difficulties and displacement in a different culture.

She was inspired by the Grand Mosque’s metaphor for her sense of “self,” by the desert where she found peace and connection in the warmth of sand, by the

wORkShOPS

silence of the winds and within, and by the traditional weaving kept alive by women.

Visit www.yuchengcomuseum.com to k n o w more about this display.

Those who have been bitten by the travel bug and wanted to share their experiences through writing can learn how to tell their tales with the help of avid travelers April Yap and Camille dela Rosa in this two-day workshop.

Yap, who has written two books and maintains a food/travel blog, and Dela Rosa, an editor of a local travel magazine, will go over the basic of travel writing for various platforms which would be beneficial whether for personal

Chinese painting instructor Arsenia Lim (Tsai Shiu-Yuin) is teaching once again the techniques of traditional Chinese painting in this 10-Saturday class. Shui Mo (water and ink) is a freestyle t e c h n i q u e using a brush dipped in ink and water and onto rice paper.

In this painting class for intermediate students with Western or Chinese painting experience, Lim will demonstrate the techniques and coach participants as they create their own brush painting, focusing on dahlia, narcissus, azalea and bougainvillea flowers, as well as grapes. Weekly assignments will be given, which will then be submitted the following session.

Workshop fee is P6,500, exclusive of materials. Supplies can be purchased from the instructor on the first session.

Call (02) 889-1234 or email emabrina@ yuchengcomuseum.org for inquiries and more details.

PPO Season Ender: Odin Rathnam Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila April 22; 8:00 p.m.

For inquires and subscription, call the CCP Marketing Department at (02) 8321125 loc. 1806, or the CCP Box Office at (02) 832-3704 or TicketWorld at National Bookstore at (02) 891-9999.

The P3,500 workshop fee is inclusive of materials, handouts, snacks, a certificate, one-day free admission to the museum and one-day free access to the library. For more inquiries, contact Marj Villaflores at (02) 759-8288 local 25 or email villaflores.md@ayalafoundation.org.

Shui Mo: Chinese Painting Workshop Yuchengco Museum, Makati City April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18 and 25; 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

CONCERTS

Outgoing music director Olivier Ochanine leads the season ending concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra together with guest soloist, American violinist Odin Rathnam.

The concert features Jules Massenet’s Scènes de Féerie, George Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody No.1 and Alberto Ginastera’s Estancia Ballet Suite. The Ginastera suite will be a preview of the Carnegie Hall performance by the PPO which Ochanine has put together for their June 18 tour in the United States.

Ochanine has been music director and principal conductor of the PPO since April 2010, when he took the helm as the youngest music director at the age of 30.

Under his leadership, the orchestra has repeatedly brought to Manila audiences new listening experiences with countless Philippine premieres.

or professional purposes. Participants to this two-day workshop are required to bring or submit a draft travel piece of 300 words on the first day of the session.

Recycled Summer Yuchengco Museum, Makati City April 25, 28, May 2, 5, 12 and 16; 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Kids will learn the value of recycling while letting their imagination fly in this workshop that will teach them how to make toys from trash, dollhouses from cardboards, and figures from plastic containers.

Apol Lejano-Massebieau of La Pomme and Fiona Fajardo-Hernandez of Heartmade will teach children aged five to 12 to explore a wide array of crafts during the six-day class that will culminate with an exhibit of the participants’ selected works.

The P5,800 workshop fee includes craft supplies and a certificate of participation.

Kids are encouraged to bring additional recyclables. For more information, call (02) 889-1234 or email emabrina@yuchengcomuseum.org.

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Nicole Coson with pieces from her Process of Elimination Exhibit

@LIFEatStandard

Danish artist Kristian Kragelund

London-baSEd artIStS ShowcaSE workS at FInaLE art FILE

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inale Art File in Makati welcomed friends, family and art aficionados who joined two young Londonbased artists during the opening of their respective exhibits. Nicole Coson and Kristian Kragelund – who both went to Central Saint Martins – may have differing approaches to contemporary art, but their works never fail to evoke reflective contemplation from viewers.

Nicole Coson’s “Process of Elimination” exhibit at the Tall Gallery combines printmaking and painting, and recomposes a rock arrangement through a breakdown of elements. Stone is set against sand, reminiscent of clouds against the sky – where the instinct to make sense of such a formation is a generative but ultimately misleading exercise. The stones rebuild their size and mass upon the canvas while lengths of blue velvet catch the invisible plane of arrangement at the center.

Danish artist Kristian Kragelund showcases a series of works from an ongoing research project on process-based paintings and sculptures in an exhibit titled “Reactive Painting” at Finale Art File’s Upstairs Gallery.

By coating the canvas in a homemade mixture of acrylic binder and a variety of metal powders that alters the surface, Kragelund obtains what he calls “staged expressionism” where control (through the acid mixture spread on canvas) and randomness (the resulting corrosion) work together to create a unique work of art. Connecting the physical process of painting to the broader issue of multicultural formations and intersecting identities, Kragelund seeks to draw out and explore qualities inherent to the material itself.

Also currently on exhibit (until April 30) is Filipino-Japanese artist Taichi Kondo’s “What’s in A Name” where he explores the idea of dualities as perceived by the senses, and as part of imagining a new “provisional world.”

Taichi Kondo’s 'What’s My Name?' exhibit at The Video Room

Honorary Consul General of Austria Washington Sycip and SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy

Beatrice Lombard, Elizabeth Sy, Honorary Consul of Gambia Agnes Huibonhua, Senator Loren Legarda and Atom Henares

Yola Johnson, Nes Jardin and Finale’s Evita Sarenas

GSIS annual art contest now open All budding Filipino artists who are at least 18 years old by April 230 are encouraged to join the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) 2016 Art Competition.

Now on its 12th year, this year’s competition is open-themed, allowing artists to explore any subject matter or theme for all categories, namely representational, nonrepresentational, and sculpture for which interested

artists may send one entry for any of the three categories.

All entries must be the original work of the participating artist and should not have been exhibited, let alone awarded, in other competitions.

Cash prizes of P300,000, P200,000, and P100,000 await the top three winners in representational and nonrepresentational categories. In the sculpture category, the first, second, and third place winners

will receive P200,000, P150,000, and P100,000, respectively. Five honorable mentions will also be named per category and will receive P30,000 each. Winners will be announced on May 30, and the work of major winners will form part of the GSIS Art Collection and will have the opportunity to be showcased to the public.

Submission of entries will only be on 30 April 2016, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the GSIS Gymnasium, Pasay

City. As in previous contests, no joining fee will be charged.

For details on the requirements, mechanics, and guidelines of the competition, log on to www.gsis.gov.ph or visit any GSIS office. Entry forms may also be downloaded from the site. For inquiries, email to museum@gsis.gov.ph or call the GSIS Museo ng Sining at telephone numbers (02) 859-0395, (02) or 479-3588.

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Colorful hot air balloons dot the skies of Pampanga during the third Lubao International Balloon Festival

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@LIFEatStandard

The balloons land on designated sites in Lubao

Balloons up in the air Lubao InternatIonaL baLLoon FestIvaL LIvens up the skIes oF pampanga

hen you’re up in the air, you feel free.” That is how Japanese balloonist Mamoru Endo describes the feeling he gets whenever he’s flying his hot air balloon.

Mamoru-san has been flying for years, yet during his recent flight, he was still excited to take pictures of the bird’s eye view of the province of Pampanga on his smartphone. He was calm and silent for the most part; the silence was broken by short conversations with his co-pilot and his crew on the ground via a two-way radio.

The Japanese pilot was one of 40 balloonists who joined the third edition of the Lubao International Balloon Festival held on April 14 to 17 at Pradera Verde in the municipality of Lubao, Pampanga.

The hot air balloon pilots came from 20 countries, some of whom participated in last year’s LIBF, but most were new flyers.

“We shuffle them because we get a lot of inquiries, a lot of interest from international balloonists,” Forthinker president and creative director Rambo Nuñez told The Standard Life.

Forthinker, Inc., helped the Lubao International Balloon Festival, Inc. in organizing this year’s LIBF. The LIBF, according to organizers, currently holds the title as the biggest annual hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia.

And to further make it exciting, the organizers offered more activities, both up in the air and on the ground, which complemented the main attraction. “[For this year] we added more aerial exhibitions, we had Ultralight and motor gliders. We

By Bernadette lunas photos By star saBroso also added a car show wherein we displayed the 4x4 vehicles used by the chase crew for people to understand the purpose of the cars,” shared Nuñez.

The 4x4 cars are used by the chase crew to carry the balloon to the launch site and retrieve it from the landing site, wherever that may be.

There were also kite shows, animal shows, and magic shows that kept festival goers excited during the day. Come nighttime, guests were treated to a fireworks display and musical performances

by True Faith on Apr. 14, Sabado Boys on Apr. 15, Bamboo and Mitoy & D’Draybers on Apr. 16, and Ely Buendia on Apr. 17. The “nightglow,” another nighttime attraction, was a sight to behold – with the hot air balloons inflated on the open field while propane burners were ignited periodically to make the balloons glow like huge light bulbs.

“We know that [the main attraction] is just really during the 5:00 to 7:00 in the morning period when festival goers can see the balloons, so we tried to add activities, mix them up and add something new because we want them to stay the whole day,” related Nuñez.

The organizers disclosed that they continue to follow the same formula they have used in the previous editions of the threeyear-old balloon festival. “We don’t really want to make it different.

We are just improving the minor details, try to be updated in terms of entertainment – what’s in and what’s interesting,” said Nuñez.

Lubao Mayor Mylyn PinedaCayabyab seconded, “It was better this year because we tried to fix

Forty-one balloons from 20 countries participated in this year's International Balloon Festival in Lubao, Pampanga on April 14 to 17

The crew work together to ignite the hot air balloon for the nighttime attraction called 'nightglow'

the flaws we saw during the first and second years.”

With LIBF and the older Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark, Pampanga, the province is said to become the “ballooning capital of the country.”

“It’s not only here in the Philippines that Lubao is being known for this balloon festival, but also in other countries across the globe,” enthused Mayor Pineda-Cayabyab. “When you say Lubao International Balloon Festival, they will know that it’s in the Philippines so we’re expecting more guests from other countries in the coming years.”

It’s not everyday that we here in the Philippines see hot air

The car show exhibits the 4x4 vehicles used by chase crew to carry the balloons to the launching site and retrieve them from the landing site

Aerial exhibitions keep festival goers entertained as the sun goes down

balloons flying in the skies, that’s why the festival goers and people living near the venue were obviously excited during the fourday event.

Mamoru-san and the other foreign pilots were just as delighted to fly here in the country. One of them even noted, “We were able to fly

because the Philippines has the best crew.”

For first time flyers who were lucky enough to be in the hot air balloon, the experience was indeed freeing and exhilarating – provided that they can get past the initial jitters. It was scary, it was breathtaking, it was surreal. I should know, because I was one of them.

t uES DAy : A pRIl 19, 2016

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lizQuen makes “Dolce Amore” a little sweeter in the series’ episode last week

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liza Soberano and Cherie Gil in an intense scene from the top-rating prime drama “Dolce Amore”

LIza’s ‘I LOvE yOu’ puLLs sTROng RaTIngs

erena (Liza Soberano) finally revealed her true feelings for Tenten (Enrique Gil) by publicly telling him the sweet words “I love you” in the no.1 kilig series in the country, Dolce Amore.

“I fell in love with the most amazing person na nakilala ko sa buong buhay ko. I fell in love with my friend from Tondo. Mahal kita, Simon. I love you,” Serena told Tenten in front of parents Luciana and Roberto (Cherie Gil and Ruben Maria Soriquez) as well as best friend Giancarlo (Matteo Guidicelli).

Serena’s confession even led to an intense confrontation between her and Luciana, who lashed out and even slapped her out of anger.

The highly anticipated episode attracted viewers nationwide and recorded a whopping national TV rating of 35 percent, a solid 20-point lead over its rival program That’s My Amboy, which only managed to score 15 percent, based on data from Kantar Media.

liza Soberano and Enrique Gil as Serena and tenten in the the romantic primetime drama

The episode was also heavily discussed online, with the official hashtag #DolceAmoreILoveYou generating more than two million posts on Twitter, as netizens expressed their ‘kilig’ over Serena’s confession

and shock over Serena and Luciana’s confrontation scene.

As a sweet gift to its loyal followers or Amores, the program also recently launched its official website “Dolce Amore

Soundtrip” (dolceamore.ph), which allows them to follow the sweet journey of Serena and Tenten.

The site contains teasers, exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and even “Dolcenary,” which teaches Italian words and their Filipino translation.

Amores will also be able to keep up the adventures of Serena and Tenten through their status updates and playlists featured on the site.

The site also holds surprises, including the “The Amores The Sweetest Adventure” promo that will award an ‘Amore’ two round trip tickets to Italy. For the complete details and mechanics, just log in to dolceamore.ph.

Don’t miss the country’s number one kilig series, Dolce Amore weeknights on ABS-CBN SD and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). Catch its latest episodes on iwantv.com.ph or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers. For updates, follow @ realdolceamore on Twitter and Instagram.

Students take part in Habitat young leaders build Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) held sixth Habitat Young Leaders Build (HYLB) in various public schools across Manila, gathering more than 2,000 youth.

The annual HYLB campaign is celebrated in over 15 countries across the Asia-Pacific region and Americas to engage participants to “Play a part, Lead today and Share with friends”.

“Schools are considered children’s second homes and are a vital part of a community as they help build and shape the minds of our young people,” Charlie Ayco, managing director and CEO of HFHP said.

“This activity empowered our youth to play a more active role in revitalizing their very own community, as well as building their nation,” Ayco added.

Hundreds of Students from Jose Abad Santos High School in Manila getting ready for Habitat for Humanity philippines’ young leaders Build

Student volunteers cleaning one of the several schools in Manila

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DMCI Homes senior marketing research analyst Charissa Cortuna reads a story to the kids of pamasawata in Caloocan City

DMCI Homes and Books for A Cause donate pre-loved books to phil Book library

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towARDS A READIng ADVEntuRE In ‘BAtA, tARA nA!’

ith the aim of nurturing the minds of the youth and promote the value of reading books, DMCI Homes launched this month a storytelling and bookgiving campaign for less privileged kids – “Bata, TARA Na!” (Towards A Reading Adventure).

Together with advocacy group Books For A Cause, founded by DMCI Homes resident Ramil Sumangil, and non-government organization Philippine Book Library, the ‘Bata, TARA Na!’ campaign kicked off on April 1 with more than 50 less fortunate kids from Pamasawata in Dagat-dagatan, Caloocan City.

“We’ve always been very supportive of the advocacies of our homeowners. Bata, TARA Na! aims to bring books and the importance of reading closer to the hearts of less privileged children,” revealed DMCI Homes corporate communications manager Josephine Cruz.

“We want these kids, especially the out of school youth, to discov-

er a different kind of adventure through reading. We want them to gain knowledge, boost their imagination, creativity and most of all, learn good values by reading books,” Cruz added.

With employee volunteers from the real estate company, the kids enjoyed the special program prepared for them including games, gift-giving and storytelling, which was the highlight of the event.

“Reading a fable to children of Pamasawata was a very uplifting experience. Seeing the glow in their eyes and their enthusiasm on how will the story ends was truly priceless,” shared senior marketing research analyst Charissa Cortuna.

Aside from storytelling, DMCI Homes also donated new and pre-loved children’s books to the community’s little library maintained by French couple, Katia and Henri Ollivier, volunteers of international non-government group Phil Rouge which supports the Philippine Book Library.

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Fermi split it 5 Trouser feature 10 Machine teeth 14 A kiss in Granada 15 Walkway 16 Eye shade 17 In need of a retread 18 Spy mission 19 NBA’s — Monroe

20 Paramecium associate?

22 Alarmed 24 “Maggie May” singer 25 Comic-strip dog 26 Leaner 30 Came unglued 35 Electron loser 36 Old B’way posting 37 Diamond setting

38 It may be scarlet 41 Climber’s gear 43 Prince Val’s wife 44 That means —!

45 Suffix with stamp 46 Like the upper atmosphere 47 Bars 50 Howls at the moon 53 “— -Tiki” 54 Gander (hyph.)

58 Male attendants 62 Navy rival 63 Black-tie affairs 66 Face-to-face exam 67 Ex-PM Golda 68 Curie daughter 69 Mishmash 70 Early movie terrier 71 Grumpy moods 72 Iodine source DOWN 1 “Mamma Mia” group 2 Kind of spirit 3 Norway’s capital 4 Current 5 Seventh heaven 6 Untruth 7 PC button 8 On a glider 9 Doctrine 10 10-4 buddy 11 Viking name 12 Meditation guide

“We are grateful to DMCI Homes and Books for A Cause for all the books given to us, and for making this day very special for the children,” Katia Ollivier said. She revealed that the library, which can house 20 kids, is open at least two hours from Wednesday to Saturday. On the remaining days of the week, the group holds street readings with volunteer Percy Tan doing the storytelling as well as catechism.

The donated books were mostly children’s books collected from Give the Gift of Reading, a book drive project of DMCI Homes and its communities all over the metro last year.

Other books from the said book drive were donated to Books for a Cause. The event also celebrated BFAC’s 5th anniversary.

The activity was held at the Pamasawata Learning Center, a small room primarily used as chapel but also used as daycare center during school days. Located above the chapel is the small reading

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

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Talk up — appetit!

Major artery Incan treasure Hindu lute Sluggish marsupial — circle or ear Goof up Objective Hung open Form a butte They may be great Did lunch Getups Wally of “Mr. Peepers” Uproars Da or ja — Gatos, Calif.

Detach Patronage Be lovesick Prayer-wheel turner Buried treasures?

Pass over Sedgwick of the screen Whodunit name Kind of road?

Spill or splatter Luau welcome Grasshopper’s rebuker

room of Philippine Book Library, the first stop of Bata, TARA Na!, the latest corporate social respon-

sibility campaign of major real estate developer DMCI Homes under its Kaakbay program.

Free hugs from Ejay Falcon Many researches show that hugging is a very powerful therapy capable of treating health and emotional problems. Records of personal experiences also proved that hugging is truly effective at healing sickness, disease, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and stress. Famous family therapist Virginia Satir insists that four hugs support survival, eight hugs for maintenance, and twelve hugs for growth.

Sharing the same belief, Psalmstre declared April 15 to May 31 as “Free-Hug Season.” The leading skincare company, through its celebrity endorsers, will give free hugs to its patrons. Yes, New

Placenta endorsers PBB alumnus Ejay Falcon, Mr. Puerto Rico International 2015 Fernando Alvarez, Dolce Amore’s Laurence Mossman, and Miss Earth-Air 2012 Stephany Stefanowitz will be giving free hugs to lucky fans and patrons of New Placenta for Men and Women, as their way of saying “Thank you.”

Catch these celebrity endorsers in their 47-day meet-and-greet promo tour in selected supermarkets, superstores, groceries, and drugstores in Metro Manila and nearby Luzon areas. The activity includes autograph-signing, picture-taking, and free-hugging sessions.

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FEStIVAl oF FIlmS About FARm lIFE

n July, cinephiles will be able to watch the first batch of films financed partly by Dr. Milagros Ong-How, executive vice president of Universal Harvester, Inc. This festival aims to uplift the farmers as well as his profes-

sional development. It is most worthy and significant since this is the only film festival that showcases the lives, journeys, aspirations, trials and tribulations – failures and successes of the farmers and other stewards of agriculture.

The festival will give them the acknowledgement, honor and the respect due them as caretakers of our resources from the Great Creator.

The festival executive committee includes, apart from Dr. Milagros Ong-How, TV and film

director Maryo J. Delos Reyes also the festival director, Rommel Cunanan, project director, Ruby Pascual, UHI project development officer and Ianne Oandasan,TOFARM supervising producer and film producer.

The first batch of filmmakers of

the 1st TOFARM Film Festival in July at SM cinemas include Dennis N. Marasigan (Free Range), Vic Acedillo Jr (Kakampi), Zig Dulay (Pana-Panahon); Maricel Cariaga (Pitong Kabang Palay), Jose Johnny Nadela (Pilapil), Paolo Villaluna (Pauwi Na).

Chiz teases Edu

Power couple. Chiz Escudero and wife Heart Evangelista during a campaign sortie

No day off for Heart Evangelista This is it! Kapuso star Heart Evangelista has kept Friday busy, usually her day off, to help husband Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero in his campaign sorties in the provinces. She went to Dumaguete City on her own.

Heart joined the motorcade around the city and made several visits to radio stations where she was interviewed by local disc jockeys. She also tried native delicacies in a couple of restaurants.

The market tour is a must for Heart. She can now be the rightful

title holder of “Palengke Queen” because she makes it a point to visit the local market wherever she goes.

Among the markets she recently visited was Cartimar where she took a look at the market’s popular pet shops.

From Dumaguete, Heart rejoined her husband in Manila.

She posted on her Instagram and Snapchat accounts photos and videos of her and Chiz. One video she commented, “When life’s not too serious.”

It has been 12 years since Edu Manzano last starred in a movie. That was when he was appointed chairman of Optical Media Board (OMB).

The crowd in Guiguinto, Bulacan asked Edu if he’d be in another movie soon. He was then with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

“Ayokong namamangka sa dalawang ilog. So , makikita po ninyo noong ako ay chairman ng Optical Media Board talagang tinigilan ko na lahat. Walang teleserye, walang pelikula, dahil ako’y naniniwala na kapag ikaw ay binigyan ng isang trabaho ay kailangan mo talagang ayusin,” Edu said.

But Chiz kidded his friend saying the roles being offered to Edu were mostly villain roles.

“Oo, totoo iyon at saka yung mga bida pabata nang pabata tapos ang tanda-tanda ko nang kontrabida,” the audience laughed. “Alam mo inaamin ko naman. Hindi mo naman kailangang idiin pa eh!,” he told Chiz.

Senator Chiz Escudero

Actor and senatorial candidate Edu manzano

melai to work overseas for sick son and grandma The lives of best friends Wilma (Pokwang) and Maricel (Melai Cantiveros) are bound to get even more complicated as the latter decides to work overseas to provide for her grandmother and son’s medication in We Will Survive.

Afraid of losing her grandmother, Maricel got so worried after hearing the news that her Lola Judy suffered from a stroke.

And while her lola is still recovering, Maricel’s son Jude, unexpectedly contracts dengue and needs

to be rushed to a hospital for further observation.

With all the bills she needs to pay and without Pocholo (Carlo Aquino) by her side, the single mother grabs the opportunity of working in Spain and is set to face the struggle of being away from Jude to make ends meet. Wilma also promises to take good care of her best friend’s son and makes sure he gets the love he needs.

Now that Maricel is set to work abroad, how can she face life away

Defense against the deadly dengue

from her family? Will she be able to give the bright future she wishes for her son?

More exciting scenes are set to surprise the viewers in “We Will Survive, the teleserye that says however ugly the world gets, there is beauty in life as long as we are together. It airs weeknights before TV Patrol on ABSCBN SD and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167) Viewers may also catch up on the program’s past episodes on iWanTV.com and on skyondemand. com.ph for Sky subscribers.

BFFs. pokwang and melai Canteveros stars of dramedy “We Will Survive”

Despite continuous studies for ing multi-insect killer that has a the treatment of dengue, the mos- water-based formula which effectively kills mosquitoes and quito-borne disease remains to be other insects. It has lowincurable. Since the epidemic outer toxicity as compared break that started in the to the leading brand, Philippines and Thaithus, it is safe for peoland in the 1950s, the ple, pets and plants. best discovery to address Strike is also enthe deadly fever is still invironmentsufficient, 70 years later. friendly While there is a vaccine unlike that is formulated to other prevent dengue, its efficacy is oil-based yet to be fully tested nor is it insect available to the public. We are killers and left with no other choice but it contains no to rely on prevention.

ChlorofluoroWhile there is a vaccine carbon (CFC). that is formulated to prevent It leaves to stain dengue, its efficacy is yet to be on the surfaces tested. We are left with no othof your home and er choice but to fully protect does not release disourselves from having this turbing odors. disease. After all, it’s a smart Aside from the move and just like what they multi-insect killer always say, prevention is alspray, Strike also ways better than cure. One comes in other variway to prevent dengue and ants like Strike Coil other mosquito-related Mosquito Repellent, disease is through Strike Strike Mat, Strike Multi-Insect Killer, enLiquid Mosquito dorsed by actress-TV Amy Electric Repellent and host Amy Perez. perez Strike Patch.

Strike is a fast-act-

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“unlucky plaza” is a story about a Filipino restaurateur named Onassis, who is pushed over the edge after his business crashed down

‘UnlUcky Plaza’ Packs a PUnch ISAH V. RED

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onvincing characters, genuine scenarios and a fun amount of chaos…you can chalk up Unlucky Plaza as an indisputable win,” described Esquire Magazine of this Singaporean crime drama that had its soldout worldwide premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was subsequently picked as Opening Film for the Singapore International Film Festival, where critics confirmed its immense audience impact saying, “It is accessible but has something to say. It’s entertaining but has depth as well.

This film really packs a punch.”

Unlucky Plaza shows how a Filipino living in affluent Singapore is pushed over the edge after his business crashed down. Onassis Hernandez, played by Epy Quizon, is a single-father who runs an eatery located in Lucky Plaza (a popular mall in the city, especially among low-cost shoppers). But when a food scandal in the area quickly spread, his business is not spared. He becomes so hard up that he can no longer pay

the rent, much more provide for his young son’s requests. When he is further victimized by a financial scam, Onassis takes a desperate move. He takes a group of people hostage in a designer bungalow and publicizes his demands on YouTube. His captives include a financial guru (Adrian Pang) and his unhappy wife Michelle (Judee Tan) who has something going on with a pastor named Wen (Shane Mardjuki). Onassis refers to them as “the real bad guys”, pointing the blame on them for his crime that captures the attention of authorities and international media, and inspired riots all over the city.

Directed by award-winning director and playwright Ken Kwek (The Ballad of Vicki & Jake, a documentary film; I’ll Have The Special, a stage play), Unlucky Plaza “grabs your attention from its teaser of an opening and doesn’t let go until its strange, satisfying finish,” according to Toronto International Film Festival. The Hollywood Reporter praised it for tackling “myriad linguistic, moral and cultural transgressions previously unseen in Singapore cinema.” M Magazine Singapore called it “a great movie”, being the kind that “stays with you for a long time.”

Ken Kwek, considered as one of

Epy Quizon as Onassis Hernandez, a Filipino restaurant owner in Singapore

“unlucky plaza” is a Singaporean film directed by Ken Kwek, one of the most controversial filmmakers in the city-state

the most controversial filmmakers in Singapore, was named Best Director at the Tehran Jasmine Film Festival. Esquire Magazine also likened him to Quentin Tarantino, saying that he is “alternative, and uses great actors and awesome nonmainstream music.”

Philippine pride Epy Quizon (Heneral Luna) won the Best Actor award for Unlucky Plaza

at the International Film Festival Manhattan. Ken Kwek was quoted in saying that “Epy is a very intense and talented actor.

His acting comes from the gut and very instinctive.”

In an interview, Epy said he knew that “playing this character (would be) a rollercoaster ride of emotions”, and having been involved in “several fistfights” as a

A scene from the Singaporean film starring Epy Quizon

young man helped in his performance. “I brought that part of me back for the film,” he revealed.

Unlucky Plaza was also shown at the Warsaw Film Festival, where it was nominated for Grand Prix, and at Kolkata International Film Festival, where it got a nomination for NETPAC Award. It hits Philippine cinemas on April 20, 2016. Distributed by VIVA Films.