The Standard - 2016 April 21 - Thursday

VOL. XXX NO. 68 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 THURSDAY : APRIL 21, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Bayan: LP bets are most corrupt

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PROBE COTABATO SLAYS, UN URGED

Palace: Govt committed to safeguarding rights

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

SOME 200 civil society organizations from more than 60 countries have signed a statement urging Hilal Elver, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Right to Food, to investigate the killings of Kidapawan farmers and the government’s failure to address the plight of starving communities due to the El Niño phenomenon.

Spearheaded by the Peoples Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS), several organizations from Europe, USA, Africa, Middle East and Asia have issued statements condemning the violent dispersal by police of the protesting farmers oin Kidapawan City on April 1.

These appeals came as the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said calamity funds withheld by various government agencies

should be released to help millions of farmers who are suffering from drought across the country.

“The government is awash with funds, yet, it neglected and left drought-hit farmers and their families starving and abandoned,” said KMP chairperson Rafael Mariano as he lambasted what he described as the continuing criminal negligence of President Benigno Aquino III. Next page

The fight continues. Farmers from North Cotabato chant slogans Wednesday at a picket line outside the Senate in Pasay City, where senators resumed their inquiry into the violent dispersal of protesters in Kidapawan City on April 1. The dismissed police director of the province told senators that Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza ordered him to disperse the rally.

EY ACASIO

Duterte disowns apology issued by his party

By Rio N. Araja PRESIDENTIAL candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday disowned an apology for remarks he made about the rape of an Australian missionary in 1989, saying that it was issued on his behalf by his party, the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

Duterte said he never approved the

statement, which was released by PDPLaban spokeswoman Paola Alvarez.

“Anyway, [it was] PDP-Laban, okay na iyon [it’s okay],” he told reporters.

On Sunday and Monday, Duterte was adamant that he would not apologize, after a video showed him telling a rally that he was angry at inmates who raped an attractive Australian missionary in 1989, not only because they com-

mitted a crime, but because they beat him to her.

But in a forum in Quezon City, the PDP-Laban spokeswoman contradicted Duterte, saying that the mayor refused to read the draft statement because it was written in English.

She said the apology was “sincere,” and tried to steer media attention instead Next page

Poe bares copy of ID as US student

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Comelec mall voting scheme hit Probe...

From A1

“A state of calamity has been declared in seven provinces, five cities and 24 municipalities. More than P10 billion worth of crops were destroyed in 373,491 hectares of parched farmlands. The drought will continue for at least three more months, affecting the May-June planting season. Farmers and tillers are hungry. Even sources of potable water are almost dried up. Under these dire conditions, farmers’ unrest is inevitable,” Mariano warned.

The PCFS said the Kidapawan incident falls into the jurisdiction of Elver, given the state’s alleged criminal neglect of the farmers, who were denied the fundamental right to be free from hunger. PCFS and its allied organizations have also participated in the globally coordinated protest action held last April 8 to condemn the violent Kidapawan dispersal internationally.

The Palace on Wednesday said the government was committed to upholding the fundamental rights of the people, and that the Kidapawan incident would not affect the country’s standing in the UN Human Rights Concil.

“The government is committed to protect and uphold the people’s fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression and assembly,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told The Standard in a text message.

“The reported filing of a complaint arising from the Kidapawan incident does not affect the PH’s standing in the UN Human Rights Council as we are a staunch advocate of eight of the nine core human rights international treaties,” Coloma said.

The human rights group Karapatan 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.

PCFS noted that police opened fire on the protesting farmers, killing two of them and injuring more than 100, while more than 80 people were also arrested, including three

Duterte...

From A1

to President Aquino’s sister Kris using the presidential plane to campaign for administration bet Manuel Roxas II. The statement released Tuesday, and subsequently disowned by Duterte, read: “I apologize to the Filipino people for my recent remarks in a rally.

There was no intention of disrespecting our women and those who have been victims of this horrible crime. Sometimes my mouth can get the better of me.

“However, I will not apologize for the things I’ve done to protect our people, especially the weak and defenseless, from crime. I know what it can do to the victims and their families. The anguish and pain they cause. The trauma that can’t be erased. I have witnessed these myself numerous times.”

Duterte has reaped a firestorm of protest after the video of his speech spread on the Internet.

“Nagalit ako kasi ni-rape. Oo, isa rin ‘yun. Pero napakaganda, dapat

pregnant women, six elderly people and four minors.

The group also took note of anomalies in the distribution of calamity funds, and the failure by the government to provide food relief to the farmers’ families, which are under investigation at the Senate.

PCFS said initial reports from a fact-finding team of human rights groups showed evidence of a coverup by the administration, local government officials and the police.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food monitors the situation and identifies general trends related to the right to food and undertakes country visits which provide the special rapporteur with firsthand accounts on the situation in a specific country.

The special rapporteur also communicates with states and other concerned parties with regard to alleged cases of violations of the right to food and other issues related to his or her mandate.

Faith-based organizations, trade unions, farmers and indigenous peoples movements, research institutions and non-government organizations have signed the statement condemning the Kidapawan incident.

Data from the government indicates that at least P52 billion in Quick Reaction Fund, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund and People’s Survival Fund are at the disposal of the government, Mariano said.

These, he said, should be released immediately to address the needs of the hungry farmers.

In Northern Mindanao, Mariano said, farmer-led protest actions spearheaded are expected to peak in the coming days as 7,000 farmers from the different municipalities and cities are united in demanding that the provincial government release much-needed subsidies.

Farmers from Misamis Oriental towns of Salay, El Salvador and Opol have also launched similar actions to press for their demands, he said.

The KMP also called on farmers and the people to continue seeking justice for the victims of the Kidapawan dispersal and to hold President Benigno Aquino III accountable.

At the Senate, members of the

militant Anakpawis led a demonstration hours before a hearing on the Kidapawan dispersal was held.

The group urged the Senate to hold North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza accountable for the death of two farmers as well as her abandonment of her constituents.

Mendoza is a close ally of President Aquino and Liberal Party presidential bet Manuel Roxas II. “We urge the honorable senators to consider the root of the problem, if only the governor has addressed the concerns of the people, she was supposed to serve, delivered relief, no one would be compelled to protest, and deaths could have been prevented,” said Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap said during the protest.

Hicap went to Kidapawan City on April 5 as part of the negotiating team for the immediate withdrawal of government forces around the United Methodist Church Spottswood compound, as well as to gather data on the violent dispersal.

Most of the 6,000 farmers that protested are members of Anakpawis.

At the hearing, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile pressed Philippine National Police chief Ricardo Marquez to attend the next hearing.

“We have to get that information in order to find out whether we have a government or not,” Enrile said.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, who heads the hearings, ordered PNP officials present to relay the Senate’s request to Marquez.

He said that based on the regional police director’s testimony, it was established that Marquez was appraised of the Kidapawan events.

“So Senator Enrile wants to know what they specifically did with the information and if it was relayed to Malacanang,” said Pimentel.

Earlier, Enrile was also angered that none of the invited Cabinet secretaries showed up for the hearing.

The Senate panel had invited Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Signson.

“This involves an event that af-

fected... 6,000 members of our national community. I supposed if they were invited, they should be here because that’s the purpose of their being members of their Cabinet,” Enrile said.

Alcala said he could not appear before the panel because he received “an urgent call,” a representative at the hearing said.

Enrile dressed down Region 12 Director Reynaldo Bungubung, Sarmiento’s representative.

“Could you explain why your boss could not attend a hearing like this?

What is the impelling problem of your department that keeps him out of discussing a problem… as important as this one?” Enrile asked him.

“I supposed he’s attending urgent matters today, so I was advised to proceed here today,” said Bungubung.

“What are those urgent matters of the nation (so) earthshaking that prevent him from coming here to honor the invitation of a committee of the co-equal branch of the government? This is question of attitude and efficiency in government.

Tell us. Does your secretary think that this matter is within the level of the regional director and not a responsibility of his excellency, the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government?” he added.

When Soliman’s representative, Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera, informed the Senate panel that Soliman was in Mati, Davao Oriental, Enrile blurted: “Campaigning?”

Cabrera said she was consulting with regional officials about El Niño concerns.

“Oh come on, she’s distributing CCT,” said Enrile, referring to the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer program that gives the poor a straight dole.

Singson, also a member of the El Niño Task Force, said he had a prior commitment.

Enrile said he was disgusted at the way the government treated the problem, which was reflected by their absence before the panel.

At the same hearing, Public Attorney Office chief Persida Acosta urged policemen to release the Kidapawan farmers who remained under their custody.

mayor muna nauna. Sayang, [I got mad because she was raped. That’s one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first.

What a waste],” he told a crowd in a campaign sortie on April 12.

The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday likened Duterte to the leading Republical presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, writing not only about his controversial rape remark, but also his links to extrajuidicial killings and his reputation as a womanizer.

“While [YouTube] commentators have started referring to him as another Donald Trump, this guy makes Trump look like Mr. Rogers,” wrote Travis M. Andrews in the Washington Post, referring to Fred Rogers, who hosted a popular children’s show.

Duterte played down comparisons to Trump, telling the Associated Press that Trump was a bigot while he was not.

He also called his daughter Inday Sara a “drama queen,” after she claimed she had been raped years ago, and that she did not find her father’s remarks offensive.

“Do you believe her? I don’t know.

We don’t talk about it. She was am-

bivalent when she said that to me.

I really don’t know,” he said, then added: “She can’t be raped. She always carries a gun.”

Various women’s groups belonging to Women Against Duterte filed a complaint against Duterte before the Commission on Human Rights for violating the Magna Carta of Women.

“To make the rape of a woman who was later killed a laughing matter, and to treat women as playthings to be taken advantage of constitute an affront to us and all women,” their complaint read.

“As a public official, an incumbent Mayor of Davao City, and now seeking to win the highest position of the land, Mr. Duterte is expected to be an exemplar of a respectable, law-abiding citizen. Instead, he arrogantly flaunts his power over these women and diminishes their worth as human beings.”

CHR Chairman Chito Gascon said they will summon Duterte to answer the complaint.

“We take cognizance of the complaint,” he said. “Rape is one of the greatest forms of violence against women.”

Alvarez defended Duterte’s record, saying he promoted the wel-

fare, health and safety of women in Davao City for decades.

“Mayor Duterte is well-loved as an overprotective father by women and children in Davao City because they know he is ready and willing to sacrifice his own life in order to protect them from criminals,” she added.

She also said that “a very real language barrier” that caused people to misunderstand Duterte.

“The nuances of Mayor Duterte’s statements have been open to differing interpretations and, worse, to being taken out of context by his political opponents. This is especially so since Mayor Duterte has a peculiar, tough-guy way of speaking,” she said.

She added that Duterte was the last person to think ill of women.

In the House, a Duterte supporter, 1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, played down the mayor’s remarks.

“The CHR should not allow itself to engage in witch hunting by the Aquino administration,” he said. “In spite of his dirty mouth, Mayor Duterte will give us a clean government.” With Maricel V. Cruz, Sara Susanne Fabunan, Christine F. Herrera and Vito Barcelo

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Macon Ramos-Araneta

A FORMER poll commissioner on Wednesday questioned the approval of voting in shopping malls, despite the absence of a resolution approving the transfer of 352 clustered precincts to those commercial centers.

In an interview, former commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said it was illegal for Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista to issue a memo dated April 14 without copy furnishing the six other commissioners, and ordering selected regional election directors and provincial election supervisors to start coordinating the transfer of clustered precincts to malls.

“There are two issues which we raised to the Comelec. The first is, is the memo is genuine because we just got the copy; and second is it appears not to be not in conformity with the law on transfer of polling places,” Larrazabal said.

Larrazabal said that 19 days before the May 9 national and local elections, it was illegal to transfer the polling precincts since the Comelec failed to meet the three requirements needed.

“If you transfer the polling places now, it’s illegal,” he said.

“When you transfer polling places or clustered precincts from one polling place to another, there are basically three requirements. First, you have to have notice to all parties and voters affected. Second, you have to have a Comelec en banc resolution moving the clustered precincts to the new polling places.

And you have to specify the clustered precincts that will be moved.

And third, it has to be done not later than 45 days before elections,” Larrazabal said.

Two commissioners who declined to be named said they have not signed any resolution approving the transfer of precincts to shopping malls.

One commissioner admitted that he or she was not aware of what was happening with Bautista’s mall voting project.

The other commissioner said it was already too late to implement the mall voting project.

Larrazabal also criticized how the memo was signed only by Bautista and not all the commissioners.

“In the first place, the transfer is being effected only by the chairman, not by the commission. While the honorable chairman certainly has authority to perform certain acts for the Commission as its chief executive officer, the authority to transfer polling places is, unfortunately, not one of them as the law specifically requires that the same be done by the commission,” Larrazabal said.

“It also appears that the memorandum does not even show that the other members of the commission have been informed.... As a former member of the Commission myself, I lament the seeming disrespect to the other members of the commission apparent on the face of the memorandum,” the former poll official added.

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LP bets most corrupt—Bayan Grace releases copy of student ID INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Grace Poe on Wednesday released a copy of her student ID at Boston College in Massachusetts to reject the reports she used a fake Social Security Number while she was in the United States.

In a text message, Poe’s spokesman Rex Gatchalian said Poe’s student ID number was the one being alleged as the fake SSN. “Clearly, the news article has no basis and the evidence attached refutes its allegations,” Gatchalian said in reaction to the news that came out in Inquirer.net on April 18 this year.

“Senator Poe has been honest in her disclosures from day one,” Gatchalian said.

“This virtue is what the voters saw in the last Senate elections when they elected her no. 1 and what they continue to see in her.”

The release of Poe’s ID at Boston College was prompted by a report that her defense against an earlier report that she had a fake SSN might be spurious.

The copy of Poe’s student ID bears the senator’s full name, Mary Grace Poe, her photo, and the controversial numbers—005-003-1988005-003-1988, which was earlier reported by the Daily Tribune as one of the

two SSNs supposedly listed under her name.

It was reported that the SSN allegedly belonged to a dead person as it was issued between 1934 and 1951 or even before the senator was born in 1968.

Poe’s camp immediately dismissed the report when it first came out in March, saying it was part of an ongoing black propaganda attack.

“The other supposed social security number being referred to was Senator Poe’s Student Identification Number (005-003-1988),” Gatchalian said.

He said the student ID number was issued to Poe by Boston College during her stint as a student there.

“In fact, that number corresponds to her enrollment date into the college,” Gatchalian said.

Poe left the country for the United States in 1988 to study at Boston College, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies in 1991.

After graduating from college, Poe married Teodoro Misael Daniel Llamanzares, who is a citizen of both the Philippines and the United States.

The senator returned to the country in 2004 following the death of her adoptive father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Liberal Party’s Manuel Roxas II and Leni Robredo are the most corrupt presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, for using government resources and coercing the recipients of the government’s dole to the poor to support them, the group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said Wednesday.

“Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo condone and benefit from corruption when they indicated in their Certificates of Candidacy and eventually on the official ballots that their nicknames are ‘daang matuwid’,” Bayan secretarygeneral Renato Reyes Jr. said.

“They hope to benefit from the extensive use of government resources and government propaganda for the ruling party,” he said.

Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon also assailed presidential sister Kris Aquino for using government helicopters in making the rounds to campaign for Roxas and Robredo whose principal campaign manager is President Benigno Aquino III. “The use of public resources for the presidential campaign of Mar Roxas, including the use of AFP choppers by presidential sister Kris Aquino to campaign for Mar, is by far worse than the crass remark of another presidential candidate,” Ridon said.

“The photos clearly have no other explanation but the brazen use of government machinery to further the campaign of Mar Roxas,” he said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, a candidate for senator, said Roxas and other Aquino Cabinet secretaries should be summoned by the Senate for their neglect and incompetence that led to the Kidapawan carnage on April 1.

“Secretaries Proceso Alcala [Agriculture], Dinky Soliman [Social Welfare), Florencio Abad [Budget] and Mar Roxas should also be questioned in the Senate hearing because as the LP team was campaigning during the days leading to the bloodbath, reports were rife that the police opened fire on the farmers because Mar was in the area and the road had to be cleared for him,” Colmenares said.

“The public should be warned that while we do not like insensitive leaders, the leadership represented by Mar Roxas is incompatible with the most basic aspirations of our people,” Ridon said.

Reyes said investigating the reported cash envelopes in the LP rallies was not enough.

On Tuesday, Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said Soliman was threatening the recipients of the dole to the poor that some P500 would be deducted from their monthly doles if they defied the directive to attend the rallies for Roxas.

She said Gabriela was able to gather reports that coercion was being done in Cebu, Bacolod, Pikit, North Cotabato and Metro Manila.

The membership of the 4Ps under the controversial Conditional Cash Transfer program has grown to more than four million households with a budget of P65 billion. Christine F. Herrera

Campaigning down south. Around 35,000 supporters welcomed United Nationalist Alliance

presidential candidate Jejomar Binay, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao and UNA’s senatorial candidates as they visited Alabel, Sarangani and General Santos City.

Poe tops new survey by Radio Veritas INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Grace Poe topped the poll conducted by Veritas Truth Survey on Servant Leadership qualities for the May 9 national and local elections.

In the survey conducted by the Churchrun Radio Veritas, Poe bagged nine out of the 10 qualities of a servant leader as 59 percent of those polled believed she possessed most of the qualities of a good leader.

“The Veritas Truth Survey is being conducted to know if [the] candidates for the coming election possess [the] qualities of a servant leader based on the points of view of the voting public and to assess how such qualities would affect voters’ decisions,” Radio Veritas president Anton C.T. Pascual said.

He made his statement even as Senator Poe said she was overwhelmed by the results of the Veritas Truth Survey.

“This very same zeal and dedication is what she intends to bring to the governing table if given the chance to serve as chief executive of the country,” said Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Poe’s spokesman.

The nationwide survey asked the respondents to rank the five presidential candidates based on the 10 qualities of a servant leader including listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, c onc e pt u a l i z at ion , foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of the people and building community.

Poe was followed by People’s Reform Party presidential bet Miriam Defensor-Santiago who has been “consistently ranked second in half of the given traits” or 51 percent.

The standard bearer of PDP-Laban Rodrigo Duterte and Liberal party bet Manuel Roxas II tied for third after both received 44 percent.

Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance ranked last after obtaining 41 percent from the respondents.

On the first quality of a servant leader, which is listening, 3 out of 4 (76.5 percent) chose Poe followed by Roxas (54.3 percent), Santiago (53.9 percent), Binay (50.5 percent) and Duterte (44. 65 percent).

A great majority of

the respondents or 70.8 percent said Poe was the most empathetic among the presidential candidates. Binay was next (52.5 percent) followed by Duterte (46.5 percent), Roxas (45 percent) and Santiago (40.9 percent).

On the third quality of a servant leader, healing, half of the respondents or 51.1 percent favored Poe followed by Santiago (36 percent), Roxas (30.3 percent), Duterte (29.2 percent) and Binay 24.5 percent).

Three out of every four respondents or 75.1 percent said Santiago had the servant leadership quality of awareness. She was followed by Binay (65 percent), Roxas (61.7 percent), Duterte (56.1 percent) and Poe (48.7 percent). Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Paid for by friends of ANSLI, Farola, Compound, Binondo, Manila.

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Liquidate expenses, senatorial bet told

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Audit has called on former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Joel Villanueva to settle P198.7 million in suspended and disallowed expenses found to be irregularly disbursed.

The state auditors threatened to either suspend or disallow P139.3 million in various disbursements in 2014 unless the incumbent and previous Tesda heads can present adequate documentation to prove the regularity of the expenses.

The recommendations were included in the latest Tesda annual audit report released

by CoA covering 2014 transactions during Villanueva’s term.

The audit agency has yet to release the 2015 annual audit report that would determine whether Villanueva has complied with the recommendations, or not.

“Various disbursements totaling P139,373,487.33, including payments of salary, honoraria, professional/ personnel benefits monetization, overtime pay, traveling expense, rent expense, representation expenses, communication expense, various repairs and procurement not supported with adequate documentation or not included in the annual procurement plan; the disbursement vouchers of which have not been submitted for post-audit, thus casting doubts on the validity and propriety of expenditures,” its report read.

Farmers’ protest. Farmers lie down infront of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Quezon City to demand reforms in the agriculture sector. MANNY PALMERO

Law group disputes Sandigan gag order

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Center for International Law questioned on Wednesday the constitutionality of the Sandiganbayan’s order stopping presidential candidates from discussing the controversies at the Metro Rail Transit 3 because it “goes against the best practices of many courts in various jurisdictions.”

CenterLaw executive director Romel Bagares questioned the Sandiganbayan order as the Supreme Court stopped the implementation of two orders of the Commission on Elections on overseas campaigning and on the voting of jail inmates and detainees.

“In the first, place, traditionally,

the sub judice rule applied only to the parties involved in litigation.

However, the order issued by the Sandiganbayan over extends this traditional reach by proscribing discussion in the public sphere of this very public matter of graft and corruption in government,” Bagares said.

“The sub judice rule was developed in contexts were it was a jury that deliberated on the fate of the accused in a criminal case. The idea was to insulate lay persons who make up the jury from the undue influence of too much publicity over a case,” he added.

“State practice in countries from which we trace the sub judice rule has increasingly recognized that a judge is not as susceptible to public opinion as a jury is so that fair comments and reportage on an ongoing criminal proceedings in court presided over by a judge are not to be unduly restricted,” Bagares argued.

Bagares, a former journalist, also stressed that the sub judice rule “must give way to greater informed

public discussion, such as that on the alleged irregularity involving Mr. Vitangcol,” because of the “overriding interest to know what really happened to the botched bidding.”

“Certainly, the justices of the Sandiganbayan know like the rest of us do that the failings of the government to provide the public with a reliable and comfortable mass transit system has been the source of incredible public frustration,” the lawyer said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order stopping the implementation of the Comelec resolution allowing inmates and detainees to vote in the local polls.

Press faces ‘era of propaganda’

Train talk. Businessman Robert John Sobrepeña explains why train riders are facing

bigger dangers if the MRT Authority allows Chinese-made trains to run without proper testing. Sobrepeña was speaking at the Kapihan sa Adriatico news forum in Manila.

DANNY PATA

PARIS—World press freedom deteriorated in 2015, especially in the Americas, advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said Wednesday as it released its annual rankings, warning of “a new era of propaganda.”

The Philippines ranked 138th out of 180 countries in the survey, an improvement from its 141 rank in 2015, but its global rank declined by 3.47 points from 41.19 to 44.66, meaning journalists in the country are at greater risk than those with lower scores.

“In the Philippines, journalists carry guns and know

how to use them because they are in constant danger,” the group said in its footnote for the Philippines.

“From the 2009 Maguindanao massacre to recent execution-style killings, many have been murdered. Often committed by private militias in order to silence reporters who are investigating them, these murders usually go unpunished.

“In this climate of terror, media outlets succumb to self-censorship or corruption, in which journalists receive ‘favors’ in exchange for positive coverage,” the group added.

“Paradoxically, the national media are fairly free and diversified and do not hesitate to criticize President Begnino Aquino III’s administration. The Internet is not subject to any control,” the report said.

The World Press Freedom Index ranks 180 countries on indicators such as media independence, selfcensorship, the rule of law, transparency and abuses.

This year’s index saw a decline in all parts of the world, Christophe Deloire, secretary-general of the Paris-based group told AFP, with Latin America of particular concern. With AFP

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Romualdez wins over power co-ops

By Maricel V. cruz Officials and members of various electric cooperatives from luzon grid have seen the “malasakit” (compassionate) platforms of government being pushed by leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, prompting them to declare unconditional support to his senatorial candidacy.

During the signing of manifesto held at the Manila Golf club in Makati city, the groups of electric cooperatives cited Romualdez’s concern to the plight of ordinary filipinos when he successfully pushed the passage of Republic act (Ra) 10754, exempting more than 1.5-million persons with disabilities from the payment of 12-percent value added tax on certain goods and services that President Benigno aquino iii signed last March 23, 2016. in declaring support, the groups also named Romualdez’s compassionate priority proposal to institutionalize the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or the conditional cash transfer with substantial increase, pushing a maximum of P46,200 and a minimum of P24,200 financial support annually to each family-beneficiary.

“We believe in the advocacy of Martin G. Romualdez and his vision of malasakit in the public service; we believe in his sincere intentions of giving his unqualified effort to help others as manifested by his legislative programs for expanded ccTs, better benefits for PWDs, including his advocacy of giving more to those who have less in life,” the group said.

MRT 7. President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang and Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya, leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the Metro Rail Transit 7 project at the Children’s Garden of the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. Malacañang PhoTo BuReau

Pacquiao, wife get P3-b tax relief nishment of their properties.

The spouses even accused the The supreme court has issued BiR of resorting to fishing expea writ of preliminary injunc- dition to pin him down on a P3tion stopping the court of Tax billion tax evasion.

They said the BiR violated their appeals from requiring boxing champ emmanuel “Manny” right to due process when it proPacquiao and his wife Jinkee to ceeded with the tax collection deposit P3.2-billion cash bond or process despite its failure to serve P4.9-billion surety bond as a con- them a final Decision on Disputdition to suspend the garnishment ed assessment (fDDa). an fDDa is needed to give the order against his assets. Pacquiao, an incumbent congressman who taxpayer the opportunity to quesis running for a senate seat, was tion the final decision of the BiR. according to them, the cTa issued the taxman’s garnishment order due to his alleged failure to acted with grave abuse of discrepay taxes that have ballooned tion when it required them to post to over P3 billion for the period a bond despite the BiR’s violation. sc spokesman Theodore Te 2008 and 2009. in an en banc resolution released stressed that the high court ruled on Wednesday, the sc remanded that the cTa “has ample authority the case to the cTa’s first Division to issue injunctive writs to restrain which was also ordered to conduct the collection of taxes and to even a preliminary hearing to determine dispense with the deposit of the whether the dispensation or reduc- amount claimed or the filing of the tion of the required cash deposit or required bond, whenever the methbond is proper to restrain the col- od employed by the commissioner lection of deficiency taxes assessed of internal Revenue (ciR) in the collection of taxes jeopardizes the against the couple. “if required, the court of Tax interest of the taxpayer for being in appeals, first Division, shall violation of the law.” however, Te explained that the proceed to compute the amount of the bond in accordance with magistrates found no basis to dethe guidelines aforestated...it termine whether the imposition should also take into account the of the cash bond is appropriate amounts already paid by the peti- since the cTa has not made even a preliminary determination of tioners,” the tribunal ruled. “after posting of the required whether the ciR had violated the bond, or if the court of Tax ap- law in its effort to collect taxes peals, first Division, determines from the Pacquiaos. “absent any such determinathat no bond is necessary, it shall proceed to hear and resolve the tion, the court cannot make any petition for review pending before factual finding and settle the issue of whether the petitioners should it,” it said. in their petition, the Pacquiao comply with the security requirecouple asked the sc to set aside ment; this would be a finding of the april 22, 2014 and the July 11, fact that would require reception 2014 resolutions which required of evidence and the cTa would them to post cash bond as a pre- be in a better position to make this requisite for the lifting of the gar- finding,” it ruled.

By Rey Requejo

Kris on the stump. Presidential sister Kris Aquino is about to board a presidential helicopter to join her

brother, President Aquino who is campaigning for administration bets Manuel Roxas II and Leni Robredo in Dalaguete, Cebu on Tuesday. John Paolo BencITo

Aviation unrest bad for PH image—PAL

By Joel e. Zurbano flaG-caRRieR Philippine airlines on Wednesday warned that a long-drawn conflict between the management and employees of the civil aviation authority of the Philippines on the issue of salaries and other benefits will paint a negative picture of the country’s aviation industry. “it is important to protect the Philippines’ return to category 1

status, a reflection of the country’s compliance to international safety standards set by international civil aviation Organization. any perception of disunity in the civil aviation sector may affect the status the country has earned,” said Pal President and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista.

The caaP employees held a nationwide protest and asked President Benigno aquino iii to overrule the disallowance of bonuses

and salary increases they have already received.

The labor union is peacefully protesting the recent suspension of their salary increases and bonuses, specifically for technical staff. streamers are now up on 23 air control towers all over the country bearing the distress call “Mayday Mayday”.

Bautista said Pal is calling for a peaceful and immediate resolution to the brewing labor unrest among caaP members.

t h u r s d ay : a p r i l 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

A6

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Graft court clears former PCGG chief

By Rio N. Araja

THE Sandiganbayan on Wednesday acquitted former Presidential Commission on Good Government’s chairman Camilo Sabio of graft and malversation raps for allegedly pocketing close to P12 million worth of ill-gotten wealth.

The Fourth Division cleared Sabio of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and two counts of malversation of public funds over the prosecution’s failure to substantiate allegations that Sabio personally received and used the recovered

funds from the ill-gotten wealth.

“In the three cases, the Prosecution has failed to fulfill the test of moral certainty and establish such degree of proof necessary to support a conviction. Even if the Defense evidence may appear to be weak, the Prosecution

must stand on the strength of its own evidence,” the resolution read.

“Any reservation of guilt of the accused, as in these cases, given the totality of evidence adduced, the Court should entertain no other alternative but to acquit him. unless the Prosecution has overturned the presumption of innocence, acquittal is inevitable.”

In 2011, the office of the ombudsman accused Sabio of pocketing P10.35 million from the sales of the recovered part of the illgotten wealth.

He was also accused of misappropriation of P1.5 million for his trips to

Kuala Lumpur, malaysia from may 30, 2007 to Aug. 14, 2008.

The alleged embezzled money came from the P50.350-million proceeds of the sale of shares in a publicly listed company remitted to the Bureau of Treasury for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program fund allocation.

The money was remitted to PCGG by midPasig Land Development Corp. under the IRC Group of Companies, and was turned over to Sabio through cash advances from PCGG between Feb. 14, 2006 to oct. 3, 2006.

The two companies were

both sequestered from the marcos family.

The anti-graft court ruled that the supposed misappropriation was “a gray area” since no check was endorsed or deposited to Sabio’s account based on the evidence of prosecution witness Primitiva Solinap Hingco-millado’s statement.

In addition, the court said the fund was used as “financial assistance and operating expenses of PCGG.” Sabio said the cases were politically motivated since he was a member of the Cabinet family of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo.

Veritas poll. Catholic bishops Broderick Pabillo and Teodoro Bacani Jr., together with Dr. Cliford Sorita, discuss the results of the Veritas survey on the 2016

presidential candidates on Tuesday, April 20 at the Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros. Based on the survey results, Senator Mary Grace Poe ranks first with 59 percent, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago with 51 percent, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, 3rd place with 44 percent and Vice President Jejomar Binay, 4th with 42 percent. DANNY PATA (Story on A3)

2 groups own up to defacing ‘biased’ websites AnonymouS Philippines and Blood Security International, two secretive groups of computer programmers, admitted that they were responsible for hacking and defacing the website of radio station DZmm last monday.

Typing and clicking on the DZmm web address will not bring the user to the station site but instead to a page that proclaims the names of the two groups. They left a message that reads “our minds are constantly being invaded by legions of half-truths, prejudices and false facts. one of the great needs of mankind is to be lifted above the morass of false propaganda.”

The hackers also warned that “We do not forgive. We do not forget.”

When news of this hacking incident spread, not a few were heard to have blurted “They had it coming.” DZmm has been accused several times before of championing certain causes, issues and personalities. It wasn’t exactly the paragon of subtlety in lambasting its enemies. It also wasn’t too meek in pushing for certain government officials or candidates.

DZmm and mother company ABS-CBn have been hit by critics for their unrelenting news coverage critical of the Iglesia ni Cristo, for example.

Even the smallest incidents involving the church and its enemies and detractors have been highlighted and deemed “newsworthy” by these news outlets.

The two news groups have also been labeled “too yellow,” referring of course to the color of the current administration. mm and ABS have become particularly enamored of late with Leni “Daang Matuwid” Robredo, propping her up any chance they get.

Anonymous and Blood Sec, for their part, do not appear to carry a political agenda. They don’t extort or ask anything in return for what they do, and just seem to want to call attention to the bias and blatant partisanship that’s prevalent in media and in government, which are both supposed to serve the “public interest.”

Human rights body asked to probe 5 cops’ abduction THE Philippine national Police has asked the Commission on Human Rights to look into the plight of five police officers who were abducted and detained in “animal cages” by the new People’s Army in Davao City last week.

The CHR should step into the case of the five cops who were placed under “sub-human” conditions, said Chief Supt. Wilben mayor, PnP spokesman. malacañang condemned “this lawless act against our police officers, who were performing their duty to protect the security and well-being of our people.”

Communications Secretary

Herminio Coloma Jr. said the PnP is exerting efforts to capture the nPA rebels while ensuring the safety of the five police officers.

The five on board patrol car no. 82 of the Davao City Police office were responding to a distress call from the beleaguered military soldiers who were under heavy fire from the nPA rebels.

Led by Chief Inspector Leonardo Tarongoy, the five policemen were abducted at noon on April 16 by the nPA, whose 1st Pulang Bagani Command claimed responsibility for the abduction.

The PnP condemned the

abduction and promised the cops’ families that it will do all it can to bring them home.

Invoking the need for CHR to intervene, the PnP said the officers were “performing [their] law enforcement function” when they were taken.

“The PnP condemns this lawless act against PnP personnel who were only performing their duty to serve and protect the people. These police officers are but citizens who are working for the improvement of the standard of living of the people in Region 11,” mayor said.

Francisco Tuyay, Sandy Araneta, Florante Solmerin

On carpet. Kidapawan City’s police officers (from left) Chief Supt. Noel Armilla,

Alexander Tagum, and Director Isagani Nerez testify at the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the violent dispersal of farmers-protesters in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato on April 1, 2016. EY ACASIO

AIR PHILIPPINES CORPORATION doing business under the name and style of Airphil Express; PAL express; and Philippine Airlines GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE (GCC) (Passenger and Baggage) Article 1 DEFINITIONS

Article 7 REFUSAL AND LIMITATION OF CARRIAGE

“APC” means Air Philippines Corporation doing business under the name and style of Airphil Express; PAL express; and Philippine Airlines.

“YOU,” “YOUR,” and “YOURSELF” means any person, except members of the crew, carried or to be carried in an aircraft pursuant to a Ticket. (See also definition of Passenger) “AGREED STOPPING PLACES” means those places, except the place of departure and the place of destination, set forth in the Ticket or shown in APC’s timetables as scheduled stopping places on the your route.

“AIRLINE DESIGNATOR CODE” means two or three characters or letters which identify a particular air carrier.

“AUTHORIZED AGENT” a passenger sales agent who has been appointed by APC to represent it in the sale of air passengers’ transportation services of APC. “BAGGAGE” means your personal property accompanying you in connection with your travel. Unless otherwise specified, it includes both your Checked and Unchecked Baggage.

“BAGGAGE TAG” means a document issued by APC solely for identification of Checked Baggage.

“CHECKED BAGGAGE” means your Baggage which APC takes custody of and for which APC has issued a Baggage Tag. “CHECK-IN DEADLINE” means the time limit specified by APC within which you must have completed checkin formalities and received your boarding pass.

“CONNECTING FLIGHT” means a subsequent flight providing onward travel on the same Ticket, on a separate Ticket or on a Conjunction Ticket.

“CONJUNCTION TICKET” means a Ticket issued to you in conjunction with another Ticket, both of which constitute a single contract of carriage.

“CONVENTION” means whichever of the following instruments is or are applicable: • the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, signed at Montreal, 28 May 1999 (referred to as the Montreal Convention the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air, signed at Warsaw, 12 October 1929 (referred to as the Warsaw Convention); • the Warsaw Convention as amended at The Hague on 28 September 1955.

“DAYS” means calendar days, including all seven days of the week; provided that, for the purpose of notification, the day upon which notice is dispatched shall not be counted; and that for purposes of determining duration of validity of a Ticket, the day upon which the Ticket is issued, or flight is commenced shall not be counted.

“DOMESTIC CARRIAGE” means travel between points within the Philippines and there is no transit, transfer or Stopover outside the Philippines.

“DOMESTIC TICKETS” means Tickets with purely Philippine domestic itinerary.

“ELECTRONIC COUPON” means an electronic Flight Coupon for an Electronic Ticket held in APC’s database.

“ELECTRONIC TICKET” means the electronic record of your Ticket made by APC or its Authorized Agent, which is held in APC’s database.

“FLIGHT COUPON” means that portion of the Ticket that bears the notation “good for passage,” and indicates the particular places between which you are entitled to be carried.

“INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE” means any carriage other than Domestic Carriage, however, when the Convention is applicable, the stated definition of “International Carriage” in the Convention shall prevail.

“ITINERARY RECEIPT” means a document or documents issued by APC to Passengers travelling on Electronic Tickets that contains the Passenger’s name, flight information and notices.

“PASSENGER” means any person, except members of the crew, carried or to be carried in an aircraft pursuant to a Ticket.

“PASSENGER COUPON” means that portion of the Ticket issued by or on behalf of APC, which is so marked and which ultimately is to be retained by the Passenger.

“STOPOVER” means a deliberate interruption of the travel by the Passenger at a point between the place of departure and the place of destination, which has been agreed to in advance by APC. “TARIFF” means the published fares, fees or charges and related terms, conditions and restrictions filed, where required, with the appropriate authorities, and approved as such by the same.

“TICKET” means the document of carriage issued by APC. “UNCHECKED BAGGAGE” means any Baggage hand-carried by the Passenger and Baggage other than Checked Baggage.

ARTICLE 2 APPLICABILITY Section 1. GENERAL Except as provided in Sections 4, 5, and 6 of this Article, these Conditions of Carriage apply to all domestic and international carriage of Passengers and Baggage operated by APC, and in any case where APC may have a legal liability to you in relation to your travel.

Section 1. RIGHT TO REFUSE CARRIAGE APC will not refuse carriage to any person based solely on race, sex, color, nationality or religion. Further, as a matter of policy, APC will not refuse carriage to any person based solely on disability subject to exceptions that may be allowed by applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

APC may refuse to carry you or your Baggage, or may remove you from the aircraft at any time, for any of the following reasons: (a) You fail or refuse to comply with these Conditions of Carriage; (b) (i) The applicable fare or any charges or taxes payable have not been paid, or credit arrangements with APC have not been complied with; (ii) the payment is done through fraudulent means; (iii) when the credit card used for payment could not be authenticated upon booking or is subsequently reported to be lost or stolen; or (iv) when the credit card used for payment is not presented for validation, if required so by APC; (c) The refusal to transport or removal from APC’s aircraft is necessary to comply with any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations of any country to be flown from, to or over; (d) Such action is necessary or advisable by reason of weather or other conditions beyond APC’s control including, but not limited to, acts of God, force majeure, strikes, civil commotions, embargoes, wars, hostilities, terrorist activities, or disturbances, whether actual, threatened, or reported; (e) (i) You appear to be improperly documented; (ii) you cannot prove, when so required that, you are the person named in the Ticket; (iii) the Ticket has been acquired or reported to have been acquired unlawfully or has been purchased or reported to have been purchased from an entity other than APC or its Authorized Agent; (iv) your Ticket is acquired illegally, (v) if you’re Ticket is a counterfeit Ticket or has been altered, torn, damaged or tampered with; (vi) when the immigration authority of the country you are traveling to, or of a country in which you have a Stopover, informed APC (either verbally or in writing) that it has decided not to allow you to enter that country, even if you have, or appear to have, valid travel documents; (vii) when you destroy your travel documents during the flight; (viii) when you have refused to allow APC to photocopy your travel documents; (ix) when you have refused to give your travel documents to a member of the crew of the aircraft, when APC asked you to do so; or (f) You are a person in the custody of law, unless you are sufficiently escorted. (g) Such refusal or removal is reasonably necessary for the security, safety or comfort of other Passengers or APC’s employees; or to prevent damage to the property of APC or of its Passengers or crew or employees, including, but not limited to the following instances: 1.

When you assault, intimidate or threaten, whether physical or verbal, any of APC’s ground staff, crew members or other Passengers; 2.

When you create a disturbance which interferes with the duties of the ground staff, flight crew or when the disturbance necessitates the pilot-in-command or any member of the cockpit crew to leave the cockpit to attend to the same; 3.

When you refuse to follow a lawful instruction given by the pilot-in-command, or on behalf of the pilot-in-command, or by a crew member for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the aircraft or of any person or property on board or for the purpose of maintaining good order and discipline on board; 4.

When you commit an act of physical violence, sexual assault, or child molestation, against other persons; 5.

When your conduct results or may result to a risk of harm or damage to the aircraft, or properties belonging to APC, its Passengers, or employees; 6.

When you refuse to submit to a security check; 7.

When you refuse to follow APC’s policy on smoking and use of alcoholic beverages and drugs; 8.

When you tamper with the smoke detector or any other safety-related device on board the aircraft; 9.

When you fail to comply with safety regulations, including fastening seatbelts when required; 10. When you use portable electronic device when such is prohibited; 11. When you are not properly clothed; 12. When you have a contagious disease which may be transmitted to others during the fight; 13. When the Passenger who may have been required to present medical clearance in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, failed to submit said medical certificate and where it appears that he/she cannot complete the flight without requiring medical assistance; 14. When your conduct is disorderly, abusive, offensive or violent; 15. When your conduct results or may result to a risk of annoyance, offense or disturbance to other Passengers; 16. When you have made a hoax bomb or other security threat;

Sec 2. GRATUITOUS CARRIAGE These Conditions of Carriage also apply to gratuitous or reduced fare carriage except to the extent that APC has otherwise provided in its Tariffs, or in relevant contracts, passes, tickets, or policies.

Sec. 2. CONSEQUENCES OF REFUSAL OF CARRIAGE AND OF REMOVAL OF PASSENGER If you commit any of the acts enumerated under Section 1(g) of this Article, and conduct yourself aboard the aircraft so as to endanger the aircraft or any person or property on board, APC may take such measures reasonably necessary to prevent continuation of your conduct, including restraint. You may be disembarked and refused onward carriage at any point.

Sec. 3. CONDITIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE APC may change these Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs at any time, without prior notice. Your travel shall be governed by these Conditions of Carriage andAPC’s Tariffs in force at the date you purchased your Ticket; provided, however, that APC reserves the right to apply the Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs in effect on the date of your travel where reasonably necessary for operational efficiency.

If, for the reasons enumerated under Section 1 of this Article, APC has refused to carry you, or removed you en route, APC may cancel the remaining unused portion of your Ticket and you will not be entitled to further carriage or to a refund either in respect of the sector subject of the refusal of carriage or removal, or any subsequent sectors covered by the Ticket. APC reserves the right to prosecute offences committed. APC will not be liable for any consequential loss or damage alleged due to any such refusal to carry or removal en route.

Sec. 4. CHARTER OPERATIONS If the carriage is performed pursuant to a charter agreement, these Conditions of Carriage apply only to the extent that they are incorporated by reference or otherwise, in the terms of the charter agreement and the charter ticket.

In case of any inconsistency between these Conditions of Carriage and the provisions of said charter agreement and/or charter ticket, the latter shall prevail.

Sec. 5. CODESHARES AND COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS On some services,APCmay have commercial agreements with other airlines such as code shares and/or licensing agreements. This means that, even if you have a reservation with APC and you hold a Ticket showing APC’s Airline Designator Code, marks or tradename, another airline may operate the flight.

If such a commercial agreement applies to your flight, APC or its Authorized Agents will inform you at the time you make a reservationif APC or another carrier will be operating the flight.

If your flight is operated by another carrier, you may be subject to certain conditions of carriage of the operating carrier which may differ from those of APC’s, such as but not limited to: 1. refusal of carriage; 2. check-in deadline; 3. denied boarding compensation; 4. boarding fees; 5. baggage acceptance and liability; 6. flight disruptions; 7. advance seating arrangement; 8. unaccompanied minors; 9. carriage of animals; 10. stretcher assistance; 11. medical oxygen.

Sec. 6. OVERRIDING LAW These Conditions of Carriage are applicable unless they are inconsistent with APC’s Tariffs and applicable laws, rules, and government regulations in which event such Tariffs, laws, rules, or government regulations shall prevail.

If any provision of these Conditions of Carriage is invalid, under any applicable law, rules, or government regulations, the other provisions shall nevertheless remain valid.

Sec. 7. CONSENT OF PASSENGERS Upon your purchase of a Ticket for carriage by air on APC, you shall be deemed to have acknowledged and given consent to these Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs.

Article 3 TICKETS Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS (a) A person shall not be entitled to be carried on a flight unless that person presents and is named in a valid Ticket containing all corresponding Flight Coupon or Electronic Coupon duly issued in accordance with these Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs. APC may require you to present appropriate identification. (b) You shall not be entitled to be carried if the Ticket presented is mutilated or if it has been altered by a person other than APC or its Authorized Agent. (c) Your Ticket is not transferable. If a Ticket is presented for carriage or for refund by someone other than you, APC shall not be liable to you, if in good faith, it provides carriage or makes a refund to the person presenting the Ticket. (d) The Ticket is and remains at all times property of APC. (e) Changes to the Ticket you requested will be subject to APC’s Tariffs and may require payment of a change fee.

Sec. 2. PERIOD OF VALIDITY Except as otherwise provided in the Ticket, these Conditions of Carriage or APC’s Tariffs, an International Ticket is valid for carriage for one (1) year from the date of commencement of travel, or if no portion of the Ticket is used, from the date of issuance of the Ticket. A Ticket issued at other than normal fare or under certain restrictions may have a different period of validity as provided for in the conditions prescribed in the Ticket or APC’s Tariffs.

A Domestic Ticket is valid for one (1) year from the date of its issuance.

Sec. 3. EXTENSION OF VALIDITY (a) APC may extend the validity of your Ticket in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations. (b) If you are unable to commence or continue your travel within the period of validity of the Ticket by reason of illness, APC may extend the period of validity of your Ticket until APC’s first flight after the date when you become fit to travel according to a medical certificate, from the point where the travel is resumed on which space is available in the class of service for which the fare has been paid. Provided, however that, when the flight segments remaining in the Ticket involve one or more Stopovers, the validity of such Ticket, subject to APC’s Tariffs, will be extended for three (3) months from the date shown on the medical certificate. (c) In the event of death of the Passenger or his/her immediate family member, APC may likewise extend the validity of their Tickets. Any such change on the Ticket shall be made upon receipt of a proper death certificate and any such extension of Ticket validity shall not be for a period longer than forty-five (45) days from the date of the death.

Sec. 4. COUPON SEQUENCE (a) The Ticket you purchased is valid only for the transportation as shown on the Ticket, from the place of departure via any Agreed Stopping Places to the final destination. Electronic and Flight Coupons shall be honored only in sequence. The Ticket will not be honored and will lose its validity if all the coupons are not used in sequence provided in the Ticket. (b) Each Electronic or Flight Coupon will be accepted for carriage in the class of service specified on the Ticket on the date and flight for which space has been reserved. When a Ticket is originally issued without a reservation being specified, space may be later reserved subject to APC’s Tariffs, and the availability of space on the flight requested. (c) If you fail or have failed to use the Electronic or Flight Coupons in sequence, APC is entitled to recompute the fares in accordance with APC’s Tariffs and you are liable to pay APC any fare difference applicable.

Article 4 FARES AND CHARGES Section 1. FARES (a) Fares apply only for carriage from the airport at the point of origin to the airport at the point of destination. (b) Your fares are calculated in accordance with APC’s Tariffs. Fares to be paid may change in cases of changes in your itinerary or dates of travel. (c) Where you voluntarily change the schedule of your flight as reflected in the Ticket, and there is a difference between the fare paid and the available fare in the new schedule. You shall pay the applicable fare difference in accordance with APC’s Tariffs. (d) Fares do not include ground transport service between airports and between airports and town terminals, unless provided by APC without additional charge.

Sec. 2. TAXES, FEES AND CHARGES Applicable taxes, fees or charges imposed by government authority, or other offices such as airport operators, must be paid by you in full before carriage, except as otherwise provided in APC’s Tariffs. The taxes, fees and charges imposed on air travel are beyond APC’s control and are constantly changing. Taxes, fees and charges may be imposed or increased even after the date of Ticket issuance. APC reserves the right to refuse carriage if the applicable taxes, fees and charges arenot paid.

Sec. 3. CURRENCY Fares, taxes, fees and charges are payable in the currency in which the fare is published. APC may, at its discretion, accept payment in another currency subject to applicable rate of exchange.

Article 5 RESERVATIONS

Sec. 4. OTHER LIMITATIONS ON CARRIAGE (a) Acceptance for carriage of unaccompanied children, persons with disability, pregnant women or ailing persons may be subject to prior arrangements with APC, in accordance with these Conditions of Carriage and any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations. (b) Acceptance for carriage of persons requiring special assistance such as but not limited to medical oxygen for use on-board the aircraft, packaging of wheelchair and wheelchair batteries, stretchers and other similar assistance, may be subject to advance notice and prior arrangements with APC, in accordance with these Conditions of Carriage, APC’s Tariffs and any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations. (c) If APC believes that the aircraft weight limitation or seating capacity would otherwise be exceeded, APC will decide in its reasonable discretion which persons or articles shall be carried.

Sec. 5. MEDICAL CLEARANCE REQUIRED Subject to applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, APC may require a medical clearance when, in good faith and using its reasonable discretion, APC determines there is reasonable doubt that a Passenger can complete the flight safely without requiring extraordinary medical assistance.

Sec. 2. EXCESS BAGGAGE You will be required to pay a charge for the carriage of Baggage in excess of the free baggage allowance at the rate and in the manner provided in these Conditions of Carriage orAPC’s Tariffs. Baggage in excess of the free baggage allowance will be carried only at APC’s discretion, subject to space availability and weight limitation.Excess baggage includes oversized and overweight baggage.

Sec. 3. ITEMS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS BAGGAGE (a) You shall not include in your Baggage: 1. items which do not constitute Baggage as defined in Article 1 and as stated below; 2. items which are likely to endanger the aircraft or persons or property on board the aircraft, such as those specified in the Dangerous Goods Regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), these Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs; 3. items which are prohibited for carriage by any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations; 4. live animals, except as provided in Section 11 of this Article.

5.

Items, which in the opinion of APC, are unsuitable for carriage because they are dangerous, unsafe or by reason of their weight, size, shape or character, or because they are fragile or perishable. (b)

(c) (d)

(e) (f)

Firearms and ammunitions may be accepted as Checked Baggage provided that they are covered by proper authorization, permits, and licenses from the appropriate government authority. Firearms must be unloaded, have the safety catch on, and must be suitably wrapped and packaged, and APC may require them to be delivered to and remain in its custody until your arrival at the airport of destination. Carriage of firearms and ammunitions is subject to ICAO and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

APC may implement restrictions on the carriage of liquids, aerosols and gels in compliance with guidelines set by the ICAO, IATA and any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

You shall not include in your Checked Baggage, artwork, cameras, money, jewelry, precious metals, silverware, computers, diving computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples, unless otherwise permitted by APCin accordance with these Conditions of Carriage.

Weapons such as swords, knives and similar items may be accepted as Checked Baggage in accordance with these Conditions of Carriage, but will not be permitted in the cabin.

If any item referred to in this Article Sub-sections (a), (b) or (c) above is carried, whether or not it is prohibited from carriage as Baggage, its carriage shall be subject to the charges, limitations of liability and other provisions of these Conditions of Carriage.

Sec. 4. CHECKED BAGGAGE (a) Upon delivery to APC of your Baggage to be checked, APC shall take custody thereof and issue a Baggage Tag. (b) If the Baggage has no name, initials or other personal identification, you shall affix such identification to the Baggage prior to acceptance by APC. (c) Checked Baggage will be carried on the same flight as you, subject to considerations of safety, security, or any other legal and valid cause, in which case, APC will carry the Checked Baggage on APC's next flight on which space is available. (d) APC reserves the right to restrict the weight, size and character of Baggage according to capacity and accommodation of the particular aircraft. (e) You must ensure that the Checked Baggage is sufficiently robust and well secured to withstand the usual and normal rigors of carriage by air without sustaining damage except for ordinary wear and tear.

Sec. 5. UNCHECKED BAGGAGE (a) APC may specify maximum dimensions and/or weight for Baggage which you carry in the aircraft. If APC has not done so, Baggage which you carry into the aircraft must fit under the seat in front of you or in an enclosed storage compartment in the cabin. Items determined by APC to be of excessive weight or size will not be permitted in the cabin and if suitable shall be transported as Checked Baggage. (b) Objects not suitable, in the opinion of APC, for transport in the cargo compartment, such as but not limited to delicate musical instruments and the like, will only be accepted for transportation in the cabin compartment if due notice has been given in advance and permission granted by APC. The transport of such objects may be subject to separate charges. (c) APC shall not be responsible for loss or damage of Unchecked Baggage not attributable to APC. (d) APC may allow you to carry electronic devices on board, however, for security and safety reasons, and in accordance laws, rules, and government regulations of countries to be flown from, to or, over, APC may limit the use aboard the aircraft of transmitting portable devices, including, but not limited to, cellular phones, laptop computers, E-book reader, personal gaming consoles, and two way radios.

The right of search of APC does not impose an obligation on APC, nor does it constitute an agreement, either express or implied, by APC to allow carriage of items which would otherwise be precluded from carriage under Sections 1 and 2 of this Article.

APC reserves the right to assign or re-assign seats at any time, even after boarding of the aircraft. This may be necessary to comply with laws, rules, and government regulations, or for operational, safety, or security reasons.

Sec. 8. EXCESS VALUE DECLARATION AND CHARGES (a) You may declare a value for Checked Baggage in excess of the applicable limits of liability. If you make such a declaration, you shall pay the applicable charges in accordance with APC’s Tariffs. APC shall have the option to inspect the Checked Baggage to ascertain veracity of the declared value. (b) APC will refuse to accept an excess value declaration on Checked Baggage when a portion of the carriage is to be provided by another carrier which does not offer the facility. (c) Except as otherwise provided in APC's Tariffs, excess value charges shall apply for the entire travel and shall be payable at the point of origin, provided that if at a Stopover en route, you declare a higher excess value than that originally declared, additional excess value charges for the increased declared value from such Stopover to final destination shall be payable.

Sec. 6. CANCELLATION OF RESERVATIONS If you do not use a reservation and fail to advise APC, your reservation, including onward or return reservations, may be cancelled without prior notice.

Article 6 CHECK-IN AND BOARDING (a)

(b) (c) (d)

Check-in Deadlines and boarding requirements are different in every airport and you must be aware of these deadlines and requirements prior to your travel. You must arrive at APC's check-in location and assigned boarding gate sufficiently in advance of flight departure to permit completion of all departure procedures, including government formalities, and in any event not later than the time that may be indicated by APC. APC may cancel the space reserved for you if you fail to arrive on time at APC's check-in location or if you fail to arrive at the assigned boarding gate within reasonable time prior to the closing of gates in preparation for departure. APC will not delay departure of the flight by reason of such failure.

Persons with disability or Passengers requesting for special assistance may be required to check-in earlier than the regular check-in time.

APC will not be liable to you for any loss or expense incurred due to your failure to comply with the required Check-In Deadlines or boarding requirements.

Article 9 SCHEDULES, CANCELLATION OF FLIGHTS Section 1. SCHEDULES The flight times shown in timetables may change between the date of publication and the date you actually travel, as shown in the Ticket. APC does not guarantee these schedules and they do not form part of your Conditions of Carriage.

Sec. 2. CANCELLATION, CHANGES OF SCHEDULE, ETC. (a) Subject to applicable laws, rules, or government regulations, APC may, when circumstances so require, cancel, terminate, divert, postpone, delay any flight, alter or omit stopping places shown on the Ticket or in schedules and may without notice substitute alternate carriers or aircraft (b)

If due to circumstances beyond its control, APC cancels or delays a flight, is unable to provide previously confirmed space, fails to stop at a Stopover or point of destination, or causes you to miss a connecting flight on which you hold a confirmed reservation, APC shall not be liable for losses or damages including any indirect, special or consequential loss, expense or damage.

Article 10 REFUNDS Section 1. GENERAL Refund of a Ticket or any of its unused portion is subject to these Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs.

Sec. 2. PERSON TO WHOM REFUND WILL BE MADE (a) Except as provided in this Article, refund shall be made either to the Passenger, or to the person who has paid for the Ticket upon presentation of satisfactory proof of entitlement to the refund. (b) If a Ticket has been paid for by a person other than the Passenger, and APC, upon instruction of such person, has so indicated on the Ticket that there is a restriction on refund, APC shall make a refund only to that person paying for the Ticket or to that person's order. (c) A refund made to anyone holding himself or herself out as a person to whom refund may be made in terms of (a) above shall be deemed a proper refund and shall discharge APC from liability and any further claim for refund. (d) Refund due to Tickets paid for with credit cards will only be charged back to the credit card accounts originally used for the Ticket purchase. The refundable amount to be charged back to the credit card account of the card owner may vary from the originally debited amount due to differences in the exchange rate. Such variances do not entitle the recipient of the refund to a claim against APC. APC shall not be held liable for any damages that may result from the ticket cancellation. (e) If the credit card used is not under Passenger’s account name, Passenger warrants that the he/she and the credit card holder both agreed that: 1) either the Passenger or credit card holder may apply for online refund; and 2) the refund will automatically be charged back to the credit card account originally used.

Sec. 3. INVOLUNTARY REFUNDS If APC cancels a flight, or fails to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule, or fails to stop at a point to which you are destined or ticketed to Stopover, or is unable to provide previously confirmed space, the amount of the refund shall be subject to these Conditions of Carriage, APC’s Tariffs, and applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

If you are entitled to a refund of your Ticket for reasons other than those set out in Section 3 of this Article, the amount of the refund shall be in accordance with APC’s Tariffs.

Sec. 5. RIGHT TO REFUSE REFUND (a) APC may refuse refund when your application is made thirty (30) days after the expiry of the validity of the Ticket. (b) APC may refuse refund on a Ticket which has been presented to APC or other carriers or to government officials of a country as evidence of intention to depart from such country, unless you are able to establish to APC's satisfaction that you have permission from the government to remain in the country or that you will depart such country by another carrier or by another means of transport. (c) APC may refuse refund in the circumstances covered by Article 7, Section 2 of these Conditions of Carriage.

Sec. 6. CURRENCY All refunds will be subject to applicable laws, rules, and government regulations of the country in which the Ticket was originally purchased and of the country in which the refund is being made. Subject to the foregoing provision, refunds will normally be made in the currency in which the Ticket was paid but may be made in another currency in accordance with APC's Tariffs.

Article 11 ARRANGEMENTS WITH CARRIER

Sec. 2. STOPOVERS Stopovers may be permitted at Agreed Stopping Places only if arranged with APC in advance, subject to these Conditions of Carriage and APC's Tariffs.

Sec. 4. SEATING APC will endeavor to honor your advance seating requests. However, APC does not guarantee to provide any particular seat in the aircraft and you agree to accept any seat that may be allotted on the flight in the class of service for which your Ticket has been issued.

Sec. 5. RECONFIRMATION OF RESERVATIONS Your reservation may be subject to the requirement that it be reconfirmed not later than seventy-two (72) hours before flight departure. Your reservation with other carriers involved in your travel must be reconfirmed with the carrier whose Airline Designator Code appears on the Ticket, and in accordance with their respective reconfirmation requirements.

Sec. 13. ITEMS REMOVED BY AIRPORT SECURITY PERSONNEL APC will not be responsible for, nor have any liability in respect of items removed from you or your Baggage by government authority or airport security personnel.

Sec. 7. ATTENDANT’S REQUIRED For reasons of safety, Passengers in the following categories may be required to travel with an attendant: (a) A Passenger with a mobility impairment so severe that the individual is unable to assist in his/her own evacuation. (b) A Passenger with severe hearing and severe vision impairment who is unable to establish some means of communications with APC’s personnel adequate to permit the Passenger to receive APC's safety briefing as may be required by the applicable law, rules, and government regulations; (c) A Passenger who is traveling on a stretcher or in an incubator or who requires administration of certain medical services during the flight (e.g. medical oxygen, respirator, intravenous injections, etc.) which he/ she cannot administer on himself/herself.

Article 8 BAGGAGE Section 1. FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE You may carry some Baggage, free of charge, subject to the conditions and limitations of these Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs.APC also reserves the right to change its free baggage allowance.

Sec. 7. RIGHT OF SEARCH For safety and security reasons, APC may conduct a search on your person and your Baggage, for the purpose of determining whether you are in possession of, or whether your Baggage contains any item described in Section 3, or any firearms, ammunitions, or weapons are not presented to APC in accordance with Section 3 of this Article. If you are unwilling to comply with such request, APC may refuse to carry you and/or your Baggage. In the event a search or scan causes damage to your Baggage, APC shall not be liable for such damage unless due to its fault or negligence.

APC reserves the right to charge for more than one seat in cases where the physical condition of the Passenger require additional seat.

(d)

Sec. 12. PLANTS Plants, flowers, fruits, cuttings or other plant products may be carried subject to these Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs, and any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations of any country to be flown from, to or over.

Section 1. NO LIABILITY FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES If in the course of concluding the Conditions of Carriage by air, APC also agrees to make arrangements for the provision of additional services such as hotel accommodations, excursion trips and the like, APC does so only as your agent and shall have no liability to you for any loss, damage or expense of any nature whatsoever you incurred as a result of or in connection with your use of such arrangements or the denial of its use by any other person, company or agency.

Sec. 3. PERSONAL DATA You recognize that personal data have been given to APC for the purposes of: making a reservation, purchasing a Ticket,for obtaining ancillary services, facilitating immigration and entry requirements, complying with regulatory requirements of government authority and making available such data in connection with your travel. For these purposes, you authorize APC to retain and use such data and to transmit them to its own offices, Authorized Agents, government authorities, other carriers or the providers of the above-mentioned services.

(b)

It is entered on the appropriate Flight or Electronic Coupon, by APC or its Authorized Agent; You have paid for your Ticket; and A Ticket has been duly issued to you, or in the case of an Electronic Ticket, when it has been duly created in APC’s database. A reservation that does not comply with any of these requirements may be cancelled by APC at any time without notice.

As provided in APC’s Tariffs, certain fares may be subject to conditions which limit or exclude your prerogative to change or cancel reservations.

(c)

Sec. 6. BANNING NOTICE In addition to its right to refuse carriage under any of the grounds in Section 1 of this Article, APC reserves the right to ban any person from all its flights and from availing of any of its services for the following reasons: (a) Such person is a habitual offender under any of the instances enumerated in Section 1; (b) When records support that you habitually and in bad faith, filed unwarranted complaints against APC and its employees tantamount to unjust vexation.

Sec. 2. TICKETING TIME LIMIT If you have not paid or made credit arrangements for the Ticket with APC prior to the specified ticketing time limit as advised by APC or its Authorized Agent, APC will cancel your reservation without prior notice.

1.

2.

3.

(b)

You must ensure that animals, such as dogs, cats, household birds and other pets, are properly crated and accompanied by valid health and vaccination certificates, entry permits, and other documents required by countries of entry or transit, failing which, they will not be accepted for carriage. Animals may be accepted for carriage as Checked Baggage, subject to APC's Tariffs.

If accepted, the animal, together with its container and food carried, shall not be included in your free baggage allowance, and will constitute excess baggage, for which you will be required to pay the applicable excess baggage rate. Animals shall not be carried in the Passenger cabin.

However, APC may issue policies to allow service animals, such as guide dogs, accompanying Passengers with disability, consistent with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations. Provided that, containers and food of such animal shall be considered as Checked Baggage and will be carried subject to APC's Tariffs.

You shall assume full responsibility for the animal carried. (i) Where carriage is not subject to the liability rules of the Convention, APC shall not be liable for any injury to or loss, sickness or death of such animal. (ii) APC shall have no liability in respect of any such animal not having all the necessary exit, entry, health and other documents with respect to the animal’s entry into or passage through any country.The person transporting the animal must reimburse APC for any fine, costs, losses or liabilities reasonably imposed or incurred by APC as a result.

APC shall have no liability to you if you are unable to travel as a result of the refusal of carriage to any animal that you attempt to carry on the aircraft.

Sec. 4. VOLUNTARY REFUNDS Sec. 3. GENERAL INDEMNITY If you conduct yourself in a manner described in Section 1 of this Article, you will indemnify APC for all claims or losses, including, but not limited to, all costs arising from the diversion of the aircraft for the purpose of offloading you and all losses suffered or incurred by APC, its Authorized Agents, employees, independent contractors, Passengers, and any third party in respect of death, injury, loss, damage or delay to other persons or to property, arising from such conduct.

Sec. 6. RIGHT TO REFUSE CARRIAGE OF BAGGAGE (a) APC may refuse to carry as Baggage the items described in Section 3 of this Article and may refuse further carriage of any such items upon discovery. (b) APC may refuse to carry as Baggage any item, reasonably considered by APC to be unsuitable for carriage by reason of its size, shape, weight, content, or character; or for safety or operational reasons; or for the comfort of other Passengers. APC may refuse to accept Baggage as Checked Baggage unless it is properly packed in suitcases or other similar containers to ensure safe carriage with ordinary care in handling. (c) APC may refuse to carry as Baggage any item, due to security, safety or operational reasons, including Baggage which does not belong to you or which you have pooled with your Baggage. APC will not be liable for such Baggage and APC reserves the right to seek indemnity from you in respect of claims or losses incurred as a result of damage caused to it. (d) Subject to laws, rules, or government regulations, APC shall carry passenger wheelchairs or other disability-assistive devices, unless such carriage would be inconsistent with safety requirements. (e) APC shall not check through Baggage for other carriers with whom it does not have an interline agreement with. You are responsible for clearing your Baggage and having it checked-in and re-tagged for your onward flight. In such circumstances, APC shall not be liable for any loss, damage or delay.

Section 1. RESERVATION REQUIREMENTS (a) A reservation is not confirmed until:

(a)

Sec. 9. COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF BAGGAGE (a) You are required to collect your Baggage as soon as it is available for collection at places of destination or Stopover. Should you not collect it within a reasonable time, APC may charge you a storage fee. (b) Only the bearer of the Baggage Tag is entitled to delivery of Baggage. . (c) If a person claiming the Baggage is unable to produce the Baggage Tag and identify the Baggage by any other means, APC will deliver the Baggage to such person only on the condition that he or she establishes to APC's satisfaction his or her right to the same. APC also reserves the right to require such person to furnish adequate security to indemnify APC for any possible loss, damage or expense which may be incurred by APC as a result of such delivery. (d) Acceptance of Baggage by the bearer of the Baggage Tag without written complaint at the time of delivery is proof that the Baggage has been delivered in good condition and in accordance with these Conditions of Carriage.

Sec. 10. UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE Any Baggage which is unclaimed after being in APC’s possession for thirty (30) days shall be disposed of by APC in any manner it deems proper.

Sec. 11. ANIMALS Carriage of animals by APC shall be subject to the following conditions:

Sec. 3. ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION Consistent with Section 1 of Article 9 above, APC may arrange for comparable air transportation or for other transportation which, at the time such arrangement is made, is scheduled to arrive at the place of your next Stopover, or place of your destination within the same time or reasonably within the same time frame as the scheduled arrival time of the flight where you hold a confirmed reservation.

Article 12 ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES Section 1. GENERAL (a) You are responsible for obtaining and holding all required travel documents and visas and for complying with all applicable laws, rules, or government regulations, and travel requirements of all countries to be flown from, to or through which you transit. APC shall not be liable to you on the following circumstances: 1. for any aid or information given by any agent or employee of APC in connection with obtaining necessary documents or visas or complying with such laws, rules, and government regulations, whether given in writing or otherwise; or 2. for your failure to obtain such documents or visas or to comply with such laws, rules, and government regulations.

Sec. 2. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS (a) Prior to your travel, you must present all exit, entry, health and other documents required by laws, rules, and government regulations of the countries concerned and permit APC to take and/or retain copies of it. (b) APC reserves the right to require you to present any of these documents at any time during the carriage.

APC may also refuse to carry you if you have not complied with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations or when APC has reason to believe that your travel documents are not in order.

Sec. 3. PASSENGER RESPONSIBLE FOR FINES, DETENTION COSTS, ETC. (a) You are required to pay the applicable fare whenever APC, on government orders, is required to return you to your point of origin or elsewhere, owing to your inadmissibility into a country, whether of transit or of destination. (b) If APC is required to pay any fine or penalty or it incurred any expenditure by reason of your failure to comply with any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, and travel requirements of the countries concerned or to produce the required documents, you shall, on demand, reimburse to APC any amount so paid and any expenditure so incurred. (c) APC may use for such expenditure any funds paid to APC for unused carriage, or any of your funds in APC’s possession. (d) In addition to the above, APC reserves the right to hold you liable for any fine and penalty incurred by APC by reason of any fraud or misrepresentation you commit in relation to your travel or immigration documents.

Sec. 4. CUSTOMS OR OTHER OFFICIAL INSPECTION (a) If required, you shall attend the inspection of your Baggage, checked or unchecked, by customs or other government officials. (b) APC is not liable to you for any loss or damage you suffered through your failure to comply with this requirement.

Sec. 5. SECURITY INSPECTION You shall submit to any security checks by APC, government or airport officials to carry out security screening on your person and your Baggage.

Article 13 LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS These Conditions of Carriage and applicable laws, rules, and government regulations govern APC’s liability to you.

Sec. 2. LIMITS ON LIABILITY ON INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE Unless otherwise stated in these Conditions of Carriage, International Carriage, as defined in the Convention, is subject to the liability rules of the Convention.

Sec. 3. LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE Where your carriage is not subject to the liability rules of the Convention, our liability provisions are as follows: (a) APC will not be liable to you for any loss or expense incurred due to your failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Conditions of Carriage. (b) APC is not liable if it proves that it or any of its agents have taken all necessary measures to avoid the damage or that it was impossible for it to take such measure. (c) In the carriage of Baggage, APC is not liable if it proves that the damage was occasioned by negligence in the handling of the aircraft or in navigation and that, in all other respects, it has taken all necessary measures to avoid the damage. (d) APC is liable only for damage occurring on its own line or air services. When APC issues a Ticket or Baggage Tag over the lines or air services of another carrier, APC does so only as agent for such other carrier and assumes no responsibility for the acts or omissions of such other carrier. Nevertheless, with respect to Checked Baggage, you shall have a right of action against the first or last carrier. (e) APC is not liable for damage to Unchecked Baggage unless such damage is caused by the negligence of APC. If there has been contributory negligence on your part, APC's liability shall be subject to the applicable laws, rules, and government regulation relating to contributory negligence. (f) APC is not liable for damage arising from its compliance with any laws, rules, or government regulations, orders or requirements, or from your failure to comply with the same. (g) If in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, different limits of liability are applicable such different limits shall apply. If the weight of the Baggage is not recorded on the Baggage Tag, it is presumed that the total weight of the Checked Baggage does not exceed the applicable free baggage allowance for the class of service concerned. If in the case of Checked Baggage a higher value is declared pursuant to Article 8, Section 7, the liability of APC shall be limited to such higher declared value. (h) APC's limit of liability shall not exceed the amount of proven damages. APC shall furthermore not be liable for indirect or consequential damages. (i) APC is not liable for injury to you or for damage to your Baggage caused by property contained in your Baggage. In the event that your property causes injury to another person or damage to another person's property or to APC’s property, you shall indemnify APC for all losses and expenses incurred by APC as its result. (j) APC is not liable for loss or damage to fragile or perishable items, money, jewelry, precious metals, silverware, negotiable papers, securities, or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples. Carriage of the foregoing shall be allowed only under special arrangements with APC. (k) APC is not liable for any consequence resulting solely from your state of health. (l) The aggregate amount you may claim from APC, including from Authorized Agents, employees, or representatives shall not exceed the limits of liability as prescribed in these Conditions of Carriage. (m) Unless so expressly provided nothing herein contained shall waive any exclusion or limitation of liability of APC under the Convention or applicable laws, rules, and government regulations. (n) In the Domestic Carriage of persons, the limit of liability for death or injury of personsattributable solely to the act, omission or negligence of APC and not due to any cause beyond its control, shall be governed by the relevant local law or regulation. (o) In the Domestic Carriage of Checked Baggage, the limit of liability for loss, damage or delay of the Checked Baggage or of any object contained in the Baggage, attributable solely to the act, omission or negligence of APC and not by any cause beyond its control, shall be governed by the relevant local law or regulation.

Article 14 DENIED BOARDING COMPENSATION Section 1. DENIED BOARDING Subject to the exceptions provided under Section 2 of this Article, APC shall compensate Passengers holding confirmed reservations and who have undergone all the prerequisite formalities for check-in, but were denied boarding due solely to unavailability of space, in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

Sec. 2. EXCEPTIONS OF ELIGIBILITY You shall not be eligible for denied boarding compensation if: (a) (b) (c)

the flight for which you hold confirmed reservations is unable to accommodate you because of: (1) government requisition of space; or (2) substitution of equipment of lesser capacity when required by operational and/or safety reasons and/or other causes beyond the control of APC; the flight is cancelled due to operational and/or safety reasons, force majeure, weather, strikes, or other causes beyond the control of APC; or APC arranges for comparable air transportation or for other transportation which, at the time such arrangement is made, is scheduled to arrive at the place of your next Stopover, or place of your destination not later than three (3) hours from the scheduled arrival time on the flight where you hold a confirmed reservation.

Article 15 MODIFICATION AND WAIVER No agent, employee or representative of APC, by conduct, in writing or otherwise, has authority to alter, modify or waive any provision of these Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs Article 16 TOPIC HEADINGS The title of each Article of these Conditions is for convenience only, and is not to be used for interpretation of the text. ( T S - A P R . 14 / 21, 2 016)

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

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

18 DAYS TO GO

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A CONSTANT THREAT ON July 30, 2015, the Metro Manila Development Authority conducted an earthquake drill that sought to foster a culture of preparedness should a high-magnitude earthquake hit the crowded metro.

Scientists then pointed to an impending movement in the major faults traversing the large Luzon island and predicted that tens of thousands could die should what they call The Big One hit. The damage in property and infrastructure could be unprecedented.

At that time, the head of the MMDA said he thought that the level of preparedness of the metro was just 4.5 on a scale of one to 10.

The drill simulated both day and night scenarios of disaster and was implemented, albeit in varying degrees of seriousness, in Metro Manila.

But there has been no follow-up to it as if the single event automatically and sustainably improved our preparedness level. The MMDA chief has quit after a lewd-dance scandal and is now eyeing a Senate seat.

Meanwhile, the threat remains. In the past several days, extraordinary activity has been noted along the Pacific Ring of Fire— along which the Philippines lies—with earthquakes in various parts of Japan and in Ecuador claiming hundreds of lives and injuring thousands. Volcanos along the ring have also been erupting.

Experts differ on whether the seismic activities are related, but the fact that these are occurring in places in the same ring where the Philippines belongs sparks renewed concern.

Given the distraction given by the election circus, we should not forget the threat is not going away and people must know what to do if an earthquake—or some other disaster—strikes. We’ve seen enough scrambling in the past.

Local government executives, however busy they are campaigning for themselves or their anointed successors, should make systems and resources available for their constituents’ benefits.

And should a sound plan be in place already, those next in line should no longer overhaul them, only strengthen them, and ensure they could be set in motion the moment the need arises.

MISREADING THE PEOPLE LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES I HAVE a friend who has always maintained that he will vote for anyone who promises to throw President Noynoy Aquino in jail. This late, he still doesn’t have a candidate.

Earlier this week, I blamed Aquino’s diffident and incompetent style of governance for the rise of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as a viable presidential candidate. But the bad example of Aquino is only partly responsible for Duterte’s burgeon-

ing popularity—the potty-mouthed mayor’s rivals also aided and abetted his rise by failing to seize the opportunity of becoming the “anti-Aquino” that the people are apparently desperately seeking.

Aquino’s successful 2010 campaign will help explain this. After he decided to run, upon seeing the multitudes who turned up for the wake of his mother Cory, Noynoy and his handlers understood that his message would be simple: whatever the incumbent, Gloria Arroyo, was perceived to be, he would become the exact opposite of that.

So Noynoy went about staking his claim to being the anti-Arroyo, in the process scaring the candidate who

thought he had dibs to that title—a certain Mar Roxas II, who had even tried his hand at being an early version of Duterte by cursing Gloria on public stages. So successful was Aquino’s demonization of Arroyo that all the other candidates, like Manny Villar, had faded by the new year.

Of course, it’s ironic that Aquino, nearing the end of his term now, would suffer from the same malaise that made Arroyo such an easy target for him in 2010. What’s strange is that none of Aquino’s would-be successors consciously decided to portray themselves as the polar opposite of the now-hated incumbent.

Even Duterte, as I’ve already written, has never openly described himself as standing squarely against the incumbent. But simply by being perceived as a cuss-happy man of action, one who will solve the ills that Aquino made so little headway against in his six years, the Davao City mayor has

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The voters need someone to tell them that Aquino has been an abject failure and that radical change is about to happen.

zoomed to the top of the rankings.

Duterte’s supporters will go a bit further that the candidate himself, routinely praising the mayor for not being under the influence of the incumbent. The persistence of reports that Vice President Jejomar Binay

and Senator Grace Poe are really candidates of Aquino just like Roxas is can partly explain Duterte’s easy separation from the rest of the pack; the fact that all three of these candidates, for varying lengths of time, actually worked with Aquino in his administration surely didn’t help them differentiate themselves from the president.

Roxas, of course, cannot wean himself from Aquino, having been designated as the one true inheritor of “daang matuwid”; we now know how far his message of continuity has gotten him. But Binay and Poe never really presented themselves as real alternatives to Aquino, either, though they have been sniping at him of late.

The voters, apparently, need someone to tell them that Aquino has been an abject failure and that radical change is about to happen.

This, in my view, is why they will embrace even the nebulous “tunay

na pagbabago” (real change) that Duterte is offering, since no one else wants to truly turn his back on the failed incumbent.

Duterte has always portrayed himself as a strong leader in contrast to the weakling in Malacañang. He promises to do actual things, where the incumbent is dismissed as a donothing absentee landlord/slacker for life.

How could all the bright political minds working for the candidates and the supposedly brilliant candidates themselves miss that? *** The gross misreading of the popular antiAquino sentiment by the major candidates and their advisers is even more evident in the

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.

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vice presidential race. In the case of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., he didn’t even have to lift a finger to criticize Aquino —and like Duterte, the senator from Ilocos Norte is now threatening to run away from the rest of the field.

Simply because of who is he and what he represents to Noynoy and his family, the Aquino administration decided to go tooth and nail against Bongbong. The results of this, again, are plain to see.

Unlike Aquino, who had to campaign hard to paint Arroyo as the devil incarnate, Marcos just did the usual political work— forging alliances, going on provincial sorties and making non-controversial statements—

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and look where it’s gotten him. That Aquino is making Marcos win by trying so hard to make him lose is such a tired old joke that it’s become axiomatic.

And yet, most people can’t seem to make the next step—that it is Aquino himself who cannot make his candidates win and who cannot seem to defeat those he throws the full weight of his presidency against. Why? All of this, of course, sounds like Monday morning quarterbacking, a little over two weeks before the May 9 elections. But perhaps it’s not too late yet for the lesson to sink in: probably the best way to win is to become the anti-Aquino—something no one, not even Duterte, has tried to do.

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

LESS than three weeks before the elections, the frontrunners in both the presidential and vice presidential races are not supposed to be where they are.

Mayor Duterte is now seven points ahead and Senator Bongbong Marcos has overtaken Senator Chiz Escudero as the frontrunner. Senator Grace Poe is supposed to be our runaway contender but she is now in second place. This situation is compounding political analysts.

Duterte is described as vulgar, a killer, a dictator, a womanizer, to name a few but is surging. Perhaps the Filipino electorate identifies more with him than any of the other candidates. What he is saying seem to resonate with the voters.

But why him and not say Ping Lacson or former mayor Alfredo Lim who have the same reputations—tough on crime?

Mayor Lim was known as “Dirty Harry” and Panfilo Lacson was known as a ruthless crime fighter during his stint with Metrocom Intelligence and Service Group during Martial Law. Both tried to go for the presidency but were never embraced by the electorate like Mayor Duterte is now. The mayor, even if he is often vulgar, comes out as honest, down to earth and simple. It could also be because the voting public have grown tired of the usual political rhetoric that no one believes anymore. Mayor Duterte, on the other hand, is different, as we have seen. He does not make the usual promises but says he wants to eradicate crime and illegal drugs in three to six months. People actually believe him.

The other presidential candidates must come out with a new bag of tricks if they want to narrow the gap. VP Jojo Binay and Mar Roxas are still banking on their vaunted party machinery to carry them to victory. It is not only that.

In the case of Mar Roxas, the whole machinery of government is under his disposal, yet he continues to languish in fourth place. Mar Roxas has a heavy burden on his shoulders—President Aquino.

His biggest drawback, however, is his inability to identify with the masses which constitute the biggest chunk of voters.

Meanwhile, VP Binay is of the belief that a second miracle can happen again repeating his come-from-behind victory in the 2010 elections. In spite of the hammering that he got from the administration, he still has 20 percent of the votes. But with the elections so near, 12 percentage points is difficult to overcome.

Senator Grace Poe has the most realistic chance of defeating Mayor Duterte. It is doable and if her team is able to convince the voters to go back to Senator Poe, she could still win. Her team’s big mistake was to think that being independent with this Galing Puso monicker was enough to propel her to the presidency. Either she overestimated her popularity or underestimated 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 H U R S D AY : A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

18 DAYS TO GO

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A CONSTANT THREAT ON July 30, 2015, the Metro Manila Development Authority conducted an earthquake drill that sought to foster a culture of preparedness should a high-magnitude earthquake hit the crowded metro.

Scientists then pointed to an impending movement in the major faults traversing the large Luzon island and predicted that tens of thousands could die should what they call The Big One hit. The damage in property and infrastructure could be unprecedented.

At that time, the head of the MMDA said he thought that the level of preparedness of the metro was just 4.5 on a scale of one to 10.

The drill simulated both day and night scenarios of disaster and was implemented, albeit in varying degrees of seriousness, in Metro Manila.

But there has been no follow-up to it as if the single event automatically and sustainably improved our preparedness level. The MMDA chief has quit after a lewd-dance scandal and is now eyeing a Senate seat.

Meanwhile, the threat remains. In the past several days, extraordinary activity has been noted along the Pacific Ring of Fire— along which the Philippines lies—with earthquakes in various parts of Japan and in Ecuador claiming hundreds of lives and injuring thousands. Volcanos along the ring have also been erupting.

Experts differ on whether the seismic activities are related, but the fact that these are occurring in places in the same ring where the Philippines belongs sparks renewed concern.

Given the distraction given by the election circus, we should not forget the threat is not going away and people must know what to do if an earthquake—or some other disaster—strikes. We’ve seen enough scrambling in the past.

Local government executives, however busy they are campaigning for themselves or their anointed successors, should make systems and resources available for their constituents’ benefits.

And should a sound plan be in place already, those next in line should no longer overhaul them, only strengthen them, and ensure they could be set in motion the moment the need arises.

MISREADING THE PEOPLE LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES I HAVE a friend who has always maintained that he will vote for anyone who promises to throw President Noynoy Aquino in jail. This late, he still doesn’t have a candidate.

Earlier this week, I blamed Aquino’s diffident and incompetent style of governance for the rise of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as a viable presidential candidate. But the bad example of Aquino is only partly responsible for Duterte’s burgeon-

ing popularity—the potty-mouthed mayor’s rivals also aided and abetted his rise by failing to seize the opportunity of becoming the “anti-Aquino” that the people are apparently desperately seeking.

Aquino’s successful 2010 campaign will help explain this. After he decided to run, upon seeing the multitudes who turned up for the wake of his mother Cory, Noynoy and his handlers understood that his message would be simple: whatever the incumbent, Gloria Arroyo, was perceived to be, he would become the exact opposite of that.

So Noynoy went about staking his claim to being the anti-Arroyo, in the process scaring the candidate who

thought he had dibs to that title—a certain Mar Roxas II, who had even tried his hand at being an early version of Duterte by cursing Gloria on public stages. So successful was Aquino’s demonization of Arroyo that all the other candidates, like Manny Villar, had faded by the new year.

Of course, it’s ironic that Aquino, nearing the end of his term now, would suffer from the same malaise that made Arroyo such an easy target for him in 2010. What’s strange is that none of Aquino’s would-be successors consciously decided to portray themselves as the polar opposite of the now-hated incumbent.

Even Duterte, as I’ve already written, has never openly described himself as standing squarely against the incumbent. But simply by being perceived as a cuss-happy man of action, one who will solve the ills that Aquino made so little headway against in his six years, the Davao City mayor has

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The voters need someone to tell them that Aquino has been an abject failure and that radical change is about to happen.

zoomed to the top of the rankings.

Duterte’s supporters will go a bit further that the candidate himself, routinely praising the mayor for not being under the influence of the incumbent. The persistence of reports that Vice President Jejomar Binay

and Senator Grace Poe are really candidates of Aquino just like Roxas is can partly explain Duterte’s easy separation from the rest of the pack; the fact that all three of these candidates, for varying lengths of time, actually worked with Aquino in his administration surely didn’t help them differentiate themselves from the president.

Roxas, of course, cannot wean himself from Aquino, having been designated as the one true inheritor of “daang matuwid”; we now know how far his message of continuity has gotten him. But Binay and Poe never really presented themselves as real alternatives to Aquino, either, though they have been sniping at him of late.

The voters, apparently, need someone to tell them that Aquino has been an abject failure and that radical change is about to happen.

This, in my view, is why they will embrace even the nebulous “tunay

na pagbabago” (real change) that Duterte is offering, since no one else wants to truly turn his back on the failed incumbent.

Duterte has always portrayed himself as a strong leader in contrast to the weakling in Malacañang. He promises to do actual things, where the incumbent is dismissed as a donothing absentee landlord/slacker for life.

How could all the bright political minds working for the candidates and the supposedly brilliant candidates themselves miss that? *** The gross misreading of the popular antiAquino sentiment by the major candidates and their advisers is even more evident in the

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vice presidential race. In the case of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., he didn’t even have to lift a finger to criticize Aquino —and like Duterte, the senator from Ilocos Norte is now threatening to run away from the rest of the field.

Simply because of who is he and what he represents to Noynoy and his family, the Aquino administration decided to go tooth and nail against Bongbong. The results of this, again, are plain to see.

Unlike Aquino, who had to campaign hard to paint Arroyo as the devil incarnate, Marcos just did the usual political work— forging alliances, going on provincial sorties and making non-controversial statements—

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and look where it’s gotten him. That Aquino is making Marcos win by trying so hard to make him lose is such a tired old joke that it’s become axiomatic.

And yet, most people can’t seem to make the next step—that it is Aquino himself who cannot make his candidates win and who cannot seem to defeat those he throws the full weight of his presidency against. Why? All of this, of course, sounds like Monday morning quarterbacking, a little over two weeks before the May 9 elections. But perhaps it’s not too late yet for the lesson to sink in: probably the best way to win is to become the anti-Aquino—something no one, not even Duterte, has tried to do.

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

LESS than three weeks before the elections, the frontrunners in both the presidential and vice presidential races are not supposed to be where they are.

Mayor Duterte is now seven points ahead and Senator Bongbong Marcos has overtaken Senator Chiz Escudero as the frontrunner. Senator Grace Poe is supposed to be our runaway contender but she is now in second place. This situation is compounding political analysts.

Duterte is described as vulgar, a killer, a dictator, a womanizer, to name a few but is surging. Perhaps the Filipino electorate identifies more with him than any of the other candidates. What he is saying seem to resonate with the voters.

But why him and not say Ping Lacson or former mayor Alfredo Lim who have the same reputations—tough on crime?

Mayor Lim was known as “Dirty Harry” and Panfilo Lacson was known as a ruthless crime fighter during his stint with Metrocom Intelligence and Service Group during Martial Law. Both tried to go for the presidency but were never embraced by the electorate like Mayor Duterte is now. The mayor, even if he is often vulgar, comes out as honest, down to earth and simple. It could also be because the voting public have grown tired of the usual political rhetoric that no one believes anymore. Mayor Duterte, on the other hand, is different, as we have seen. He does not make the usual promises but says he wants to eradicate crime and illegal drugs in three to six months. People actually believe him.

The other presidential candidates must come out with a new bag of tricks if they want to narrow the gap. VP Jojo Binay and Mar Roxas are still banking on their vaunted party machinery to carry them to victory. It is not only that.

In the case of Mar Roxas, the whole machinery of government is under his disposal, yet he continues to languish in fourth place. Mar Roxas has a heavy burden on his shoulders—President Aquino.

His biggest drawback, however, is his inability to identify with the masses which constitute the biggest chunk of voters.

Meanwhile, VP Binay is of the belief that a second miracle can happen again repeating his come-from-behind victory in the 2010 elections. In spite of the hammering that he got from the administration, he still has 20 percent of the votes. But with the elections so near, 12 percentage points is difficult to overcome.

Senator Grace Poe has the most realistic chance of defeating Mayor Duterte. It is doable and if her team is able to convince the voters to go back to Senator Poe, she could still win. Her team’s big mistake was to think that being independent with this Galing Puso monicker was enough to propel her to the presidency. Either she overestimated her popularity or underestimated 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 H U R S D AY : A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

WAGING THREE WARS MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ GENERAL George Patton famously said “No man ever won a war by dying for his country— it is by making the other bastard die for his.” While this was painfully true in the context of world wars, this should not be the case for the wars that should be waged once a new president is elected in May. I’m talking about two wars that the present administration has only waged selectively and half-heartedly: the war against corruption, and the war against poverty. To cite another quote, Bertrand Russell sums everything up quite poignantly: ”War does not determine who is right— only who is left.” Unlike wars that were fought with clearly drawn lines on the sand, the wars against

corruption and against poverty should not be waged against specific persons—we are up against cultures, mindsets, and ways of living. Instead, we have witnessed personality politics in the guise of honorable crusades.

We have seen this during the pork barrel suits and the delivery of Typhoon “Yolanda” aid.

The wars against corruption were waged in the framework of “us versus them.” Government policy on eliminating graft and corruption were railroaded with the hubris of the battle cry “If you are not with us, then you are against us.” For this administration, Lady Justice does not wear a blindfold; instead, she wears the blinders, much like administration cronies who cannot see the faults of those who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them.

We have seen how this administration makes the mistake of confusing its war against poverty and turning it

into the war against the poor.

We have seen how this administration throughout the years have marginalized and alienated the farmers and the agricultural sector. From the humiliation that is Hacienda Luisita, to the elimination of hunger by bullets in Kidapawan, this administration has a puzzling definition of poverty that excludes those that are meant to feed the nation and yet cannot feed themselves.

And there is another war that the present administration has failed to rally: the war against criminality. What is disconcerting about this war is that some presidential candidates have unrealistic views on how to end criminality in the country, which would require the perpetuation of the “us versus them” perspective the present administration has espoused. For them, this is a war not against the concept of criminality but against criminals themselves, as notoriously established by both evidence against

and myths about him. What they need to understand is that the wars against corruption, criminality, and poverty are part of a vicious cycle that has bored itself into the system of Filipino political life.

The problem of some presidential candidates is that they are no different from the present administration in waging these wars; they tend to be unapologetic, partisan, and blind to their respective faults and shortcomings. Like President Aquino, Grace Poe and Mar Roxas were raised in their pedestals by hanging on flimsy myths based on the transferability of their family’s legacies however dubious they are—except for Rody Duterte.

Similar to Aquino, the respective supporters of these candidates have been misled by the idea that choice of president is as competent as their parents.

These candidates are choices for maintaining a dismal and inequitable status quo of im-

plementing anti-crime, anticorruption, and anti-poverty policy that will be continuously bogged down by analysis paralysis, red tape, and doovers; or worse, summary executions. These are policies on waging the three wars that will determine who would be left, and will always be right.

Vice presidential candidate Senator Gringo Honasan said it best in the Comelecsanctioned VP debates: Kung walang kurap, walang mahirap. To extend this logic, solving poverty would also solve the problem of crime, and promote peace and order. It is time to remind voters that a sound platform for a president is one that is based in sober reflections on how poverty, corruption, and criminality are intertwined, and can only be solved with experience in implementing poverty alleviation programs—the true weapon for ending the three wars.

VOTE BUYING IS INEVITABLE TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO THE question foremost in the minds of many Filipinos is this: After all his vulgarity, lack of decency and moral values, especially when he spoke about the Australian lay missionary who had been raped and killed in 1989, can Rodrigo Du-Dirty still win the elections?

My only answer is that with God’s grace, I hope not.

My answer is based on what I see as a journalist and opinion writer, on what I read as result of poll surveys where Du-Dirty is surging ahead. It does seem that people are mesmerized by what Du-Dirty has been promising as “real change.” He promises to kill all those who are engaged in corruption, criminality and trafficking of illegal drugs.

It’s like Satan in my tale of the man who voted for hell instead of heaven. Before the man chose where to go, the devil gave him a tour of hell with naked girls, feasts and all things earthly. He then chose hell. The next day, after he had voted, he saw a different place altogether. Lucifer said: “Yesterday, we were campaigning. Today, you voted. Welcome to hell.”

I’m actually alarmed that poll surveys show Du-Dirty pulling ahead of everybody else. It is like jumping from the frying pan to the fire. God help us!

A psychiatrist described Duterte as conceited, remorseless, ready to condemn others, selfish and impulsive. I don’t

think will ever change.

Clearly, he is not only a dangerous man, but a big liar as well. He said he was born in a poor neighborhood, hence he is vulgar. This is an insult to the poor who are not vulgar.

But was he really poor? DuDirty’s father was a lawyer, who had served as governor of Davao, while his mother was a school teacher and a civic leader. He went to the best schools, and finished his secondary education at the Holy Cross Academy in Digos after being expelled for misconduct from previous schools, including Ateneo de Davao.

just because they love the face of a candidate? Of course not!

That’s why I believe corruption in government will stay on unless we change the system of electing people to lead us. Did BS Aquino expect corruption to stop just because of his “Daang Matuwid” and “Kung Walang Kurap, Walang Mahirap” mantra? My gulay, corruption even worsened in the Aquino government!

Even Du-Dirty admitted he can’t withdraw from the presidential race because of the many contributions given him, mostly from Chinese businessmen from Davao.

*** With 18 more days to go until Election Day, we will soon find out who among the four presidential candidates—administration candidate Mar Roxas, Vice President Jojo Binay, Mrs. Llamanzares and Du-Dirty— will make it.

In all presidential and vice presidential elections as well as for the Senate and even for Congress and local elections, the bottomline is funding or money. Ask politicians and they will tell you that funding spells the difference between losing and winning.

Reliance on funding to win in the polls is actually a threat to our democratic system. But it’s a fact in the Philippines.

It’s actually a vicious cycle of political patronage leading to corruption. Contributors expect some form of payback when their candidates win.

Santa Banana, do you think that taipans part with their millions

It is unfortunate, but it is how elections are, Philippine style.

The reason why taipans along Ayala Avenue want to maintain the status quo is that they has been lording it all. They are even against amending the Constitution to allow foreigners to compete with them.

So long as poverty stalks the land, and so long as the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen, money will always be the foremost consideration between win-

ning and losing an election.

As I have been saying, so long as the poor need food on the table, clothes to wear and shelter to live in, money will continue to be the bottomline.

Only grassroots political machinery and funding will determine the winners. Wanna bet? *** Vote buying is the name of the game not only in the province, but right here in Metro Manila where a vote now costs as much as P400 to P500, depending where.

As early as a month ago, drivers of buses, jeepneys and tricycles have already been contracted by local politicians to ferry voters from their homes to precincts. Do you think voters from the barrios would walk several kilometers just to vote? Never. They wait for politicians to ferry them, and they expect something, like money, in return.

A local politician told me that even motorcycles have been contracted to enable voters to “ride in tandem” to precincts.

Candidates have already pinpointed local leaders who will get their votes for them.

And they have been paid partially; the rest of the money will be given after election day —if they win.

As I said, even here in Metro Manila, vote buying becomes rampant during election day. In the past years, whenever I voted at San Lorenzo Village, I always saw a long line of people waiting to vote late. When I asked who were they, I was told that they

were waiting for some people for this or that candidate to give them sample ballots.

If it can happen right here in Makati, so much more in the provinces. That’s election day, Philippine style. *** My worry on Election Day is not only who will win, but whether we will at all have clean, honest and fair elections. Just as I have doubts on the credibility on the use of the Smartmatic Precinct Count Optical Scan machines and the administration’s propensity to cheat as in the 2010 and 2013 polls, cheating could happen again.

With so much at stake for President Aquino, who will surely be charged with so many counts of criminal and civil offenses, I worry about the credibility of the May polls. Santa Banana, that’s precisely the reason why BS Aquino has two candidates—his anointed Mar Roxas, and his “Manchurian Candidate,” Mrs. Llamanzares.

With so much at stake on May 9, do you believe that BS Aquino will just allow things to happen without lifting a finger?

It would be the height of naiveté if the polls were completely clean, honest and fair.

My gulay, if the website of the Comelec can be hacked, compromising the biometrics of 1.5 million voters, the Smartmatic PCOS can also be hacked to frustrate the will of the people. The Comelec has assured us this would not happen, but there remain many “Little Garcis” out there.

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

DUTERTE RAPE-SAY CASE POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE SO MAYOR Rodrigo Duterte is a sexist, potty-mouthed, bad-ass.

We knew that to begin with. The question is, why does he still have a legion of supporters?

His remarks about the 1989 rape-slay of an Australian missionary angered women’s groups, the religious, the Australian ambassador to the Philippines, as well as many people here and abroad.

The incident turned some Duterte supporters against him.

It was like watching a horse you’d bet on pulling away from the pack but suddenly stumbling just before reaching the finish line.

Here’s my take, as a woman and the mother of two daughters —rape is not funny. Violence is not funny. It is not a joke. The remark—“Dapat nauna ang Mayor”—was disgusting.

Duterte is a product of our patriarchal culture. His remark reflects the prevailing anti-women attitudes of both men and women in society. I’ve heard many other politicians speak the same way.

However, the tide slowly is turning, and sexists are on the wrong side of history. But

changing societal attitudes is a long and difficult process, and having a high-profile personality validate these negative norms is detrimental to the efforts of many who are working to make this country a better, safer environment for people of all genders.

Based on netizens’ comments, many men brushed off his remarks as something that a man would naturally say. What was horrifying that many women as well rushed to defend him, his own daughter Sara one of them.

I am sure many Duterte supporters are experiencing cognitive dissonance as a result of his offensive remark, but they are coming up with arguments to counter that. A Duterte supporter told me: “It was just a joke. In fact he is angry at rapists and other criminals. Well, what do you want—someone who will clean up the country, or a sweet-talker who will do nothing?”

Those who wonder why Duterte still has supporters after this, this is the reality—they are desperate. They are so desperate for change, for something other than what we have now, that they are still willing to put this man in the presidency.

Our country’s problems didn’t happen overnight. So this goes to our leaders for the past couple of decades: what did you do, and what did you fail to do, that made

many Filipinos so despairing that despite all Duterte’s flaws, they are still willing to elect him?

Why are so many fed up with the status quo that they see him as a Messiah even while toting guns and curses?

At first refusing to apologize, Duterte recently did, saying he had “no intention of disrespecting our women and those who have been victims of this horrible crime.”

He took the opportunity to spin the incident around. “I know what it [crime] can do to the victims and their families…the trauma that can’t be erased…this is why I am angry.” He vowed that if elected he would “protect our women, children, and families from the horrors and disorders of crime.”

This is what his supporters are counting on. They are willing to accept all his faults if he can just deliver on his promises. This is just how bad the situation in our country is. *** For a communication scholar, this election campaign is one of the richest in terms of topics to explore. It’s interesting for me in that regard but as a citizen it is excruciatingly painful to watch.

We’re talking about our country here, and our present and future.

It’s like a bad ball game—it’s time to sub out the guy with ball,

but our bench of players is shallow.

With 18 days more to go of this circus, let’s see who’ll be the next to shoot themselves in the foot with their mouth, if that metaphor makes any sense, because not a lot about this campaign is making any sense anymore. *** Like maps? Enjoy Philippine history? Love free books?

Check out the Historical Atlas of the Republic, recently published by the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.

It helps the reader summarize, visualize, and contextualize Philippine history “through a collection of 44 concise [and] meticulously researched political, demographic, maritime, military, and migration maps.”

Download the free e-book from malacanang.gov.ph. *** The National Book Development Board is staging the 7th Philippine International Literary Festival on April 28-29 in Quezon City with the theme “Against Forgetting.”

Admission is free but you need to register by emailing litfest@nbdb.gov. ph. Do bring book donations.

Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember

CHINA’S FUTURE: NEITHER BOOM NOR BUST

By Arthur R. Kroeber THE debate over how China’s economy might evolve over the next decade generally breaks down into two opposing cases.

Bulls are confident that Chinese leaders will make the hard reforms needed to clean up local government debt, reform state companies, open more markets to private-sector competition and liberalize the financial sector. This should enable China to achieve another 10-15 years of rapid growth. Bears are equally convinced that the government will fail to enact any real reforms, provoking either a drastic plunge in economic growth or an outright financial crisis.

In fact, the likeliest scenario is far less dramatic. Rather than curing its economic woes and cementing its position as an economic superpower, or suffering a devastating collapse, China looks set to spend the next decade in genteel decline, much as Japan has since the 1990s.

If that outcome seems implausible for an economy of China’s size and dynamism, consider the similarities. By 1990, Japan, too, had enjoyed a nearly four-decade run as the world’s fastest-growing economy, thanks to a growth model fueled by investment and exports. It also ranked second in the world in GDP and total trade. Its companies were moving rapidly up the technology ladder and seemed poised to supplant their US and European rivals. The financial market was opening; Tokyo was anointed the next major center of global finance. The national saving rate was high and public finances were prudently managed: Japan had the lowest sovereign debt of any OECD country.

At the same time, problems lurked under the surface. Corporate debt had piled up, largely because of skyrocketing land and equity prices in the late 1980s. Then, after the land and stock-market bubbles popped in 1990, asset prices fell by three quarters over the next few years. Corporate Japan got

caught in a debt trap. As companies desperately deleveraged, the government had little choice but to step up its own spending and borrowing to fend off economic collapse.

The government failed to execute marketoriented reforms that could have boosted growth and eased the transition out of the debt trap.

Of course, in other respects China resembles a much earlier and more vibrant Japan. Demographically, it lines up more with the Japan of 1980, with six people of working age for each person over 65. Developmentally, it looks like the Japan of the early 1970s, with a per-capita GDP barely a fifth that of the US. That relatively low per-capita income means China probably has plenty of “catchup” growth left, as it continues to move people from subsistence farming into the more productive modern economy. Its relatively young population structure also gives it more room to maneuver than Japan, which by 1990 was already well into its aging problem. (China’s date with demographic destiny is rapidly approaching, though: By 2040, it’ll have only two workers for every retiree, the same as Japan today.)

Whether China can avoid a Japan-like slide from world-beater to also-ran will ultimately depend on the courage of its leaders. Unfortunately, on that front, the Chinese regime also seems to be repeating Japan’s mistakes.

One is hubris. By the end of the 1980s, Japanese officials, and many analysts, were convinced that Japan had come up with a new, hybrid economic model superior to traditional free-market capitalism. This proved not to be so. Foreign diplomats and businessmen consistently say that today’s Chinese leaders are similarly self-righteous, deaf to criticism and convinced of the virtues of their model of state-led development. Public discussion of the debts weighing down state companies is muted.

Ambitious plans to introduce private shareholders into the state sector have diminished into a timid reshuffling among existing players. History teaches that when the captain and his mates start congratulating themselves on the superior design of their ship while ignoring obvious icebergs, it’s time to haul out the lifeboats.

Another fatal mistake is timidity. The obvious solutions to both countries’ problems all involve a scaling back of state control.

Japan could probably have achieved higher growth in the 1990s if it had deregulated services, opened up the financial sector and permitted much more foreign investment.

It chose not to do so, for fear of upsetting the cozy ties between government and corporate elites.

The same reluctance is obvious today in Beijing, where Communist leaders say they intend to let market forces “play a decisive role in resource allocation,” but in practice have intervened in the equity and foreign exchange markets to prevent prices from falling. The reluctance to reform the state sector reflects a fear of letting markets, rather than the Party, decide who gets to control important assets.

China is still fundamentally an economy with a lot of dynamic potential. Vigorous policy in the next few years could arrest the rise of leverage and enable growth to stabilize at around 5 percent by 2020. The crucial steps would be to shut down or privatize the least productive state-owned enterprises (cutting the state sector roughly in half), open up protected service sectors to private and foreign competition, and liberalize the financial system so that it reliably channels credit to the most productive firms. The problem, from the Party elite’s point of view, is that these reforms would require that the regime surrender much of its ability to direct economic activity. China may yet be able to avoid the Japan trap, but only if its rulers learn to lighten up. Bloomberg

18 DAYS...

From A9

importance of party machinery in running for high political office. There is of course another way and that is with the use of the VMC or vote counting machine. The team that is able to enlist the services of a group that is in the business of electoral manipulation will win it all.

I suspect that there is also a furious but quiet war going on in this area by all sides. Electoral fraud after all is customary in this country in every election. * **** The administration is scrambling to find ways to stop the rise of Senator Marcos.

In spite of all the negative publicity from the “yellow” and international media to demolish Senator Marcos, his popularity continues to surge.

Both have never stopped detailing the excessive abuses of his father during Martial Law. Yet, wherever Bongbong Marcos goes, he is being mobbed by people wanting to touch him or be photographed with him. It is as if his father is rising from his grave to give his son and namesake a helping hand.

As Bongbong Marcos grows older, looking at him is like looking at “Macoy” himself.

With his long jet-black hair, he is the spitting image of his father. He also talks like his father and even walks like him. There are for sure many academic explanations as to why he is leading instead of those identified with “daang matuwid.”

Corruption is still around and some say it is worse. Rampant extra judicial killing and human rights violations are still happening and Filipinos are still poor. During the years of President Marcos, the country was in 77th place as far as Human Development Index is concerned. Now, we are about 112th. This shows that we have in fact become poorer.

But the most likely explanation of his frontrunner status is the so-called Marcos phenomenon.

Bongbong Marcos can bank on his solid north credentials because Ilocanos wherever they are, vote solidly. Region 1, 2, the Cordilleras and part of Region 3 are Ilocano country. Mindanao also has many Ilocanos but one that is perhaps more difficult to explain is that he is even leading in Metro Manila, the center of the uprising that sent his father into political exile.

This must be driving President Aquino crazy. This election has the potential to radically change the existing political order in this country. In a way, the future of this country really hangs in the balance on who will be elected as president and vice president.

This administration will be leaving a lot of challenges, both domestic and in foreign affairs.

It is extremely important that the electorate be allowed to choose their leaders without any attempts by some quarters who might have plans to railroad the choice of the people.

THURSDAY: APRIL 21, 2016

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

McGregor stuns with retirement claim LOS ANGELES—Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor stunned the sport on Tuesday after appearing to announce his retirement at the age of 27.

The UFC featherweight icon—one of the most high-profile stars of the combat sport—had been scheduled to face Nate

Diaz in a rematch in Las Vegas on July 9.

Diaz demolished the outspoken Irishman when the two met earlier this year.

However, in a post on Twitter that was widely interpreted as a retirement announcement, McGregor signaled he was quitting.

“I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later,” McGregor wrote.

UFC president Dana White later confirmed McGregor would no

longer be feature on the card for UFC 200 in July.

“Conor didn’t want to come to Las Vegas and be part of any promotional training,” White said on ESPN. “He’s in Iceland training. He felt leaving right now would hurt his training. But every other fighter on the card is coming.”

1

RIBBON, ZEBRA P420I

True Colours iSERIES  ID Card Ribbon, True Colour PART Three Hundred Seven Thousand One Hundred #800015450 iSERIES  Dye Sublimation, Thermal transfer – Pesos (PhP307,100.00) 500 Impression – Black  2 Panel KdO with 1 Cleaning Roller Replacement -For existing Zebra Printer

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF EIGHTEEN (18) LOTS PRINTER CONSUMABLES UNDER ITB NO. PB16-029

DESCRIPTION Lot 1 1

Lot 16 1

ABC PER LOT (VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction)

Ink Cartridge, HP 950, Black (CN049AN) One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Pesos -For existing HP Printer (PhP1,250.00)

RIBBON, YMCK COLOR RIBBON, EDI One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos Secure 8300 (PhP125,000.00) -For existing EDI Secure Printer

Lot 17 1

TONER, Samsung Laser, CLT-Y4075, Yellow -For existing Samsung Printer

2

TONER, Samsung Laser, CLT-M4075, Thirty-Five Thousand One Hundred Pesos Magenta (PhP35,100.00) -For existing Samsung Printer

3

TONER, Samsung Laser, CLT-C4075, Cyan -For existing Samsung Printer

Lot 2 1

Ink Cartridge, HP 951, Cyan (CN050S) -For existing HP Printer

2

Ink Cartridge, HP 951, Magenta Three Thousand Six Hundred Eighty-Six Pesos (CN051S) -For existing HP Printer and 40/100 (PhP3,686.40)

3

Ink Cartridge, HP 951, Yellow (CN052S) -For existing HP Printer

Lot 3 1

Ink Cartridge, HP 500PS, Black (HP10) Thirty-One Thousand Five Hundred Twenty -For existing HP Printer Pesos (PhP31,520.00)

Lot 18 1

Lot 4 1

Ink Cartridge, HP 933, Cyan -For existing HP Printer

2

Ink Cartridge, HP 933, Yellow -For existing HP Printer

3

Ink Cartridge, HP 933, Magenta -For existing HP Printer

One Hundred Twenty-One Thousand Eighty Pesos and 96/100 (PhP121,080.96)

Lot 5 1

Ink Cartridge, HP 932, Black -For existing HP Printer

Sixty-Three Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PhP63,500.00)

Lot 6

tended an April 9 bout in which fighter Joao Carvalho suffered fatal injuries.

“To see a young man doing what he loves, competing for a chance at a better life, and then to have it taken away is truly heartbreaking,” McGregor wrote on Facebook after Carvalho’s death last week. AFP

 Zebra800015450

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Eighteen (18) Lots Printer Consumables under ITB No. PB16-029.

White was uncertain on whether McGregor had in fact retired. “Only he can answer that question,” he replied.

Diaz meanwhile responded with his own lighthearted retirement. “I guess my work here is done I’m retiring too,” the fighter wrote.

McGregor’s tweet comes after he at-

TONER, Samsung Laser, CLT-K4075, One Hundred Thirty-Three Thousand Eight Black Hundred Sixty Pesos (PhP133,860.00) -For existing Samsung Printer

TOTAL ABC

Two Million Five Hundred Forty-One Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-Three Pesos and 56/100 (Php2,541,573.56), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

DELIVERY SCHEDULE

The complete schedule of deliveries is provided in Section VI (Schedule of Requirements) of the Bidding Documents which will commence starting from the contract effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed

SOURCE OF FUND

Internally Funded

NOTE: Bidders may bid on any/all lots.

Ink Cartridge, HP# 46 (HP2020 HC), Black-For existing HP Printer Five Hundred Ninety-Seven Thousand Nine Ink Cartridge, HP# 46 (HP2020 HC), Tri- Hundred Sixty Pesos (PhP597,960.00) Color -For existing HP Printer

Bidder should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidder. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

1

Ink Cartridge, Epson 1390, T0854, Yellow -For existing Epson rinter

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

2

Ink Cartridge, Epson 1390, T0855, Light Two Hundred Forty-One Thousand Cyan Hundred Pesos (PhP241,800.00) -For existing Epson Printer

3

Ink Cartridge, Epson 1390, T0856, Light Magenta -For existing Epson Printer

1 2 Lot 7

Eight

The schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

Lot 8 1

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR.

Ink Cartridge, Epson #188, Max Eco, Twenty-Eight Thousand Five Hundred Pesos Black -For existing Epson Printer (PhP28,500.00)

2. Pre-Bid Conference

1

Ink Cartridge, Epson #188, Max Eco, Cyan -For existing Epson Printer

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

2

Ink Cartridge, Epson #188, Max Eco, Forty-Four Thousand Three Hundred TwentyMagenta -For existing Epson Printer Five Pesos (PhP44,325.00)

3

Ink Cartridge, Epson #188, Max Eco, Yellow -For existing Epson Printer

Lot 9

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids

Approved Budget for the Contract

2 3 4

Ink Cartridge, Epson 9600, Photo Black -For existing Epson Printer

500,000.00 and below

Ink Cartridge, Epson 9600, Light Black -For existing Epson Printer Four Hundred Thirty-Nine Thousand Ink Cartridge, Epson 9600, Light Cyan Hundred Pesos (PhP439,600.00) -For existing Epson Printer

Six

Ink Cartridge, Epson 9600, Light Magenta -For existing Epson Printer

Lot 11 1

Ink Cartridge, Epson 9600, Cyan -For existing Epson Printer

2

Ink Cartridge, Epson 9600, Magenta -For existing Epson Printer

3

Ink Cartridge, Epson 9600, Yellow -For existing Epson Printer Ink Cartridge, Epson, Black T0631 -For existing Epson Printer Ink Cartridge, Epson, Cyan T0632 -For existing Epson Printer

2

Ink Cartridge, Epson, Magenta T0633 -For existing Epson Printer

3

Ink Cartridge, Epson, Yellow T0634 -For existing Epson Printer

Lot 15

Ink Cartridge, Lexmark #15 Tri-Color -For existing Lexmark Printer

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00

More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

Prospective bidder may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidder shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidder. Prospective bidder should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from BASD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Twenty-Three Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Pesos (PhP23,520.00)

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - TieBreaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 shall use a non-discretionary and nondiscriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidder have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1.

2.

Nine Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Pesos (PhP9,660.00)

In alphabetical order, the bidder shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidder.

Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee thru BASD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 524-3911, 521-1542 local 223 or 671.

Lot 14 1

May 11, 2016 (Wednesday) at 2:30 p.m. onwards

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidder for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

Lot 13 1

May 11, 2016 (Wednesday) at 2:30 p.m.

Three Hundred Twenty-Nine Thousand Eleven Pesos and 20/100 (PhP329,011.20)

Lot 12 1

April 29, 2016 (Friday) at 10:00 a.m.

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Bids and Awards Services Department (BASD), upon payment of the non-refundable cost of sale of bidding documents based on the following matrix:

Lot 10 1

Schedule April 21, 2016 (Thursday) to May 11, 2016 (Wednesday)

Five Thousand (PhP5,100.00)

One

Hundred

Pesos (SGD) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION (SGD) Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1

( T S - A P R . 21, 2 016)

Ringia scores twin-kill in Bicol JANUS Ringia fended off Klyde Lagarde’s gutsy stand in two grueling title faceoffs to sweep the boys’ 18- and 16-andunder crowns in the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala Bicol Open regional age-group tennis tournament late Tuesday.

Ringia, one of Koronadal City’s emerging stars, survived Lagarde in the opening set tiebreak then held on to hack out a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory in the premier class then pulled off a 6-2, 6-4 victory in the full-packed 64-player 16-U field of the Group 2 tournament sponsored

by Palawan Pawnshop and presented

by Slazenger.

He emerged as the lone player to score a “double” as Sultan Kudarat ace Carlyn Bless Guarde fell short of her bid in the girls’ side of the tournament kicking off a two-week PPS-PEPP tennis festival capped by the Bicol Open, which got under way yesterday.

“We’re impressed with the big turnout which only inspires us to put more and more tournaments, especially in the countryside where a huge base of players remain untapped,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro.

Guarde warded off Ma. Angelica Novis from Malita, Davao del Sur, 6-4, 6-4, in the semis then trounced Minette April Bentillo, 6-2, 6-0, to pocket the 16-U diadem but dropped a heartbreaker of a 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 setback to Nica Alanis from Iriga City in the 18-U finals of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Two other Iriga City bets shared the spotlight with second seed Jan Harold Trillanes outlasting Jenard Gonzales, 6-3, 0-6, 10-7, in the boys’ 14-U class, which also drew a 64-player field, while Glydel Guevarra upended top seed Tenielle Madis, 5-3, 1-4, 4-1, in the semis then dominated Christian Taller, 4-2, 4-0, to bag the 10-unisex crown.

THURSDAY: APRIL 21, 2016

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

San Beda camp set

No Spence-Pacman fight, for now

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

THE second sessions of the San Beda basketball camps, now on its 11th season this summer, will commence next month.

Interested parties may contact Oliver Quiambao at 735-6011, local 2104, or 09478221544.

It will hold clinics for boys and girls from the school, including nonSBC students, with classes in the Mendiola campus set from May 3 to 27, to be held every Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

In the Taytay campus, classes are set from May 12 to June 2, and will run every Monday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Registration fee is P3,500, which includes a t-shirt and a brand new Molten ball.

UNBEATEN Errol Spence (20-0, 17 KOs) can forget about a fight with eightdivision world champion Manny Pacquiao for the time being as the International Boxing Federation has ordered him to face undefeated Konstantin Ponomarev (30-0, 13KOs) in a final world title eliminator, with the winner becoming mandatory challenger to welterweight world champion Kell Brook (300, 13KOs) of Britain.

Kaya to play final AFC home game KAYA FC will play its third and final home game in the AFC Cup group stage on April 26 at the Rizal Memorial football stadium.

They will go up against against Hong Kong giant Kitchee at the 3 p.m.

Kitchee is the only team to have defeated Kaya in the competition so far, The two fought in their opening match in Group F, with the Hong Kong side sneaking past with a 1-0 victory.

The Filipino club has since gone on a thrilling threegame winning streak.

Another triumph on Tuesday will allow Kaya to move into the AFC Cup knockout rounds.

“It’s going to be a tough game, no doubt,” Kaya FC skipper Miguel Tanton said.

In their latest outing, Kaya came up with a 3-0 victory away over Singapore’s Balestier Khalsa. Peter Atencio

Danny Masrin, a 22-year-old Indonesian-American, is coming off a so-so joint 42nd place finish in last week’s ICTSI Manila Southwoods, the first of two ADT events sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Indonesian takes charge in ICTSI golf TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite—Danny Masrin came out with the best card from among the early starters that came in ruffled by the wind and scorching heat, shooting a four-under 68 and seizing a two-stroke lead over Jun Bernis and two others at the start of the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club here yesterday.

Masrin bucked the blustery condition that lashed the par-72 layout all day, birdying the opening hole and gunning down three more from close range in the next 10 holes to seize early control. He stumbled with a bogey on the tough No. 5 but hit a superb iron shot to within six feet for another birdie on the seventh.

With a 35-33 card, the 22-year-old Masrin, who had two top 10 finishes in his first seven tournaments in this year’s Asian Development Tour, got

past Bernis, who gained a shared view of the top with an eagle-spiked 32 start at the front only to tumble with back-to-back bogeys from No. 13 and end up with a 70.

“The wind was strong and the condition was humid. It was a pretty good round with this kind of condition,” said Masrin, a 22-year-old Indonesian-American, who is coming off a so-so joint 42nd place finish in last week’s ICTSI Manila Southwoods, the first of two ADT events sponsored

by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Bernis, the former national champion who missed the cut in the first two legs of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour and didn’t see action at Southwoods, actually fell farther back with another bogey on the 17th but rebounded with a closing birdie to stay in early contention in the 72-

hole championship co-organized by ADT and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Michael Bibat fought back from back-to-back bogeys from No. 2 with three birdies in the next four holes, strung up a slew of pars, including a couple of up-and-down feats, before birdying the last hole to join Bernis and Aussie Gavin Fairfax at second.

With a one-over card with six holes to play at the front, Fairfax, who ended up tied with Tony Lascuna at 30th at Southwoods, strung up three straight birdies from No. 4 and added another on the par-5 eighth but missed grabbing solo second with a bogey on joint for 51st last week, Only five others carded a 71 and only four matched par as majority of the 120-player starting field struggled and wobbled to salvage pars in the heat and wind from tee-off.

Boxing Scene reported that Spence, who demolished former WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri in five rounds at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York last Saturday, immediately called out Brook.

Trained by veteran coach Abel Sanchez, Ponomarev handed Brad Solomon his first career defeat two weeks ago in the opening fight of the Pacquiao-Bradley III non-televised undercard from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Ponomarev will be a very big underdog in the contest.

The IBF ordered both sides to negotiate, but Boxing Scene said: “Don’t be surprised if the fight heads to a purse bid. Spence is managed by Al Haymon and fights under the Premier Boxing Champions banner. Ponomarev is promoted by Top Rank. Haymon and Top Rank are currently involved in a multimillion dollar legal battle.”

Meantime, Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has ripped into Spence after he had challenged the Filipino ring icon following his impressive fifthround stoppage of Chris Algieri.

While commending Spence for being “a good fighter. I met him in the Olympic training center.

He was one of the best fighters on the (2012) team. He looked good against (Chris)Algieri the other night, but he can’t carry Manny Pacquiao’s bags.”

Yuzon, Alabanza rule Phoenix slalom RONZ Yuzon of Cabanatuan Auto Club grabbed both the overall and Production Front Wheel best time of the day by clocking 51.60 in the 1st leg of the RACE Motorsports Club Phoenix Slalom Invitational Challenge on Sunday at Robinsons Place Calasiao, Pangasinan.

Paolo Alabanza of Globe Spade placed second with 52.78, followed by Ervin Veloso (54.22).

Mike Simbulan of Team Comet Tarlac came in fourth with 54.80, while Kiko Dysico (54.96) of San Jose Nueva Ecija and Lee Ugay (55.06) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

Meanwhile, Alabanza also bagged the novice best time of of 52.78, with Ram Rafanan (55.40) and John

Labrado (55.60) placing second and third, respectively.

The 2016 RACE Motorsports Club Phoenix Slalom Invitational is powered

by Phoenix Premuim ’98 and Phoenix Accelerate fully synthetic motor oil and co-sponsored by Federal Tyres and Outlast Battery. It is also supported

by Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter, media partners Stoplight TV, Inside Motoring, DZRJ-Am, Pinoy Speed sa mga Pahayagan, Spin.Ph Sports Interactive Network, C! Magazine, medical team Aeromed, Robinsons Malls and Robinsons Place Calasiao Pangasinan.

Joining the invitational were teams Corolla Auto

Club Baguio, Speed Limits, Wholesome Concepts, Cabanatuan Auto Club, Team Kuneho, Mellworx, Greenlight La Union, MITTC, Mellworx GNS Auto , Team Comet and privateers from Dagupan and Pangasinan.

Class and overall winners received 4 liters Phoenix Accelerate fully Synthetic oil, aside from the 1 gallon received by each slalom driver. The 2nd Phoenix Slalom Invitational will be on Aug. 14 at San Fernando La Union.

For details, contact Bing Bang Dulce at tel. nos. 928-6951 or 09178119337; e-mail racemotorsportsclub@yahoo.com or Facebook account RACE Motorsports Club.

Ronz Yuzon of Cabanatuan Auto Club maneuvers his car around the traffic cones situated at the race course of the 1st leg of the RACE Motorsports Club Phoenix Slalom Invitational Challenge.

T H U R S DAY : A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 16

SPORTS A14 Cole to kids: Work hard, respect the game sports@thestandard.com.ph

By Reuel Vidal

TWO-TIME National Basketball Association champion Norris Cole advised young Filipinos that there are no shortcuts to becoming a good basketball player. to work hard and make the necessary sacrifice to improve themselves “Don’t cheat the game. Put your time in. You have to work extra hard on the fundamentals

Cole teamed up with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade to help the Heat win the NBA title in 2012 and 2013. He said players who want to be successful must be prepared

of the game. You have to understand sportsmanship. You have to be a great teammate.

You need to have respect for the game,” said Cole, who is now with the New Orleans Pelicans.

JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help aspiring basketball players. Cole said the lessons learned in basketball will help youngsters become

Republic of the Philippines Department of Education Region V (Bicol) DIVISION OF CATANDUNES BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC) San Roque, Virac Catanduanes, Philippines

1

2

3

Repair of Three (3) Cl Repair of One (1) Cl Repair of Three (3) Cl Repair of Three (3) Cl Repair of Three (3) Cl Repair of Five (5) Cl

Repair of Three (3) Cl Repair of Two (2) Cl Repair of Three (3) Cl Repair of Six (6) Cl Repair of Three (3) Cl Repair of Three (3) Cl

Location

Virac Central ES Virac Simamla ES

Virac

Approved Budget for the Contract ABC (Php)

Contract Duration

742,500.00

1.

The Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), through the General Appropriation Act of 2015 through the Corporate Operating Budget of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) intends to apply the sum of ONE HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P100,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) as payment for the Procurement of a Merger Integration Advisor to the GCG in the Merger of Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

2.

The GCG now calls for the submission ofEligibility Documents for the Procurement of Consultancy Firm to Act as Merger Integration Advisor to the GCG in the Implementation of Merger of Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). Interested advisers must submit their Eligibility Documents not later than 10:00 AM on 12 May 2016 for the opening of Eligibility Documents at 3/F, Citibank Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 1226.

3.

A complete set of Eligibility Documents and Eligibility Data Sheet may be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) at www.philgeps.gov.ph and the website of the GCG at www.gcg.gov.ph by interested advisers starting 21 April 2016.

90 cd

247,500.00

Mayngaway NHS San Andres

742,500.00

Agojo ES

San Andres

742,500.00

Jose Rizal ES

San Andres

891,000.00

4.

Salvacion ES

Caramoran Sub-Total

1,782,000.00 5,148,000.00

The BAC shall hold a Pre-Eligibility Conference to be held on 29 April 2016, 1PM at the GCG Office located at 3/F, Citibank Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 1226.

5.

The BAC shall draw up the short list of advisers from those who have submitted Eligibility Documents and have been determined as eligible using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Bidding will be open to all interested bidders, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

6.

The short list shall consist of the top five (5) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are:

Ananong ES

Viga

891,000.00

Rizal ES

Viga

247,500.00

Tinago ES

Viga

841,500.00

Balatohan ES

San Miguel

Oguis ES

Bato

742,500.00

Bacak ES

Bagamanoc

990,000.00

Repair of Six (6) Cl Tariwara ES Repair of Five (5) Cl Maculiw CS

90 cd

1,860,140.70

Sub-total

5,572,640.70

Pandan Panganiban Sub-Total

1,584,000.00 1,633,500.00 3,217,500.00

GRAND TOTAL

90 cd

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be inspected or purchased at DepEd, Schools Division Office, BAC Secretariat, upon payment in cash of a non-refundable fee by interested bidders in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos(Php10,000.00) for Cluster 1 and 2 and Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00) for Cluster 3 to SDO, Cashier. Only bidders who purchased the Bidding Documents will be allowed to submit bids.(ITB 6.8) Date and Time

35%

b)

Qualification of principal and key staff

55%

c)

Current workload to capacity

10%

“Job Capacity” means the absorptive capacity of the Applicant to do additional works other than those currently undertaken.

The “Rating” multiplied by their respective “Weights” gives the weighted “Scores”.

These are added to determine the total points for the Applicant. The Applicants shall then be ranked according to their “Total Points” which will qualify them for the short listing and to bid for contract. Should less than the required number apply for eligibility and short listing, pass the eligibility check, and/or pass the minimum score required in the short listing, the BAC shall consider the same.

7.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures. The BAC shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation/Selection (QCBE/QCBS) procedure. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Bid Data Sheet.

8.

The Bidding Documents shall be made available to shortlisted applicants from 25 May 2016 to 27 June 2016 and may be secured from the GCG office located at 3/F Citibank Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City1226; provided that a non-refundable fee of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00) shall be paid in cash prior to the submission of bid.

9.

The Merger Integration Plan shall be completed and submitted within six (6) months from the date of the Notice to Proceed. A Terminal Report on the first 100 days implementation of the merger after approval by the BangkoSentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) shall be submitted at an agreed date.

10.

Foreign advisers may be eligible to participate in this Project, subject to the following qualifications:

Venue

From April 21, 2016(office hours) SDO, CID Office to May 11, 2016 at 8:00 AM

Pre-Bid Conference

April 28, 2016 at 9:00 o’clock AM SDO, BAC Office

Submission and Opening of Bids

May 11, 2016 at 9:00 o’clock AM SDO, BAC Office

Prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to order from the PhilGEPS website: www. philgeps.net for them to be included in the Document Request List of the project.

Bids must be delivered to the address and on the date and time stated herein. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. A valid Bid Securing Declaration must accompany the bid(s) in lieu of the bid security.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend the opening of bids at the address stated herein. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The DepEd, Division of Catanduanes, reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract(s), or annul the bidding process without thereby incurring any liability to the affected parties.

For further information, please refer to: (SGD) BERNIE C. DESPABILADERO Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee DepEd, Division Office, Virac, Catanduanes CP No. 09062470642

Applicable Experience

“Qualification of personnel” pertains to the personnel who may be assigned to the job and their expertise vis-à-vis the extent and complexity of the undertaking;

13,938,140.70

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Activity

a)

The minimum score to be eligible based on the above criteria shall be 75%. “Applicable Experience” pertains to the firm/adviser’s overall experiences and the individual experiences of its principal and key staff including the times when employed by other firms.

The DepEd, Division of Catanduanes, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) now invites bids for the above-mentioned works. Prospective bidders must have an experience of having completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the NSO consumer price indices, must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

Issuance of Bidding Documents

Cole

Procurement of Merger Integration Advisor Merger of Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)

The Department of Education, Division of Catanduanes, through the 2016 Government Appropriation Act (GAA) intends to apply the sum of Thirteen Million Nine Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand One Hundred Forty Pesos and 70/100 (Php13,938,140.70)being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment under the contract for the CY 2016 Basic Educational Facilities Fund- Repair of Classrooms.

Bids received that exceed the ABC per cluster shall be rejected at bid opening.

Recipient Schools

you give yourself a chance to be successful not just in basketball but in everything you do in life,” said Cole.

The NBA star will help select 10 JrNBA and five JrWNBA All-Stars who will travel on an overseas NBA experience trip together with fellow JrNBA AllStars from Southeast Asia. The 2015 JrNBA All-Stars traveled to China to watch the NBA Global Games in Shenzhen featuring the Charlotte Hornets and the L.A. Clippers.

Request for Expression of Interest

INVITATION TO BID

Cluster Project Description No.

more productive members of the community as well.

Cole is in the country to be a mentor to the participants in the National Training Camp of the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska on April 22 to 23 at the Don Bosco Technical Institute.

He met members of media at the NBA Café, SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City, yesterday.

“You need to have a great attitude and be prepared to make the sacrifices to better yourself.

If you do all those things then

( T S - A P R . 21, 2 016)

11.

12.

a)

It must be registered with the SEC and/or any agency authorized by the laws of the Philippines;

b)

When the types and fields of consulting services in which the foreign adviser wishes to engage involve the practice of regulated professions, the foreign adviser must be authorized by the appropriate GOP professional regulatory body to engage in the practice of those professions and allied professions: Provided, however, that the limits of such authority shall be strictly observed.

The Governance Commission for GOCCsreserves 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.

For further information, please refer to: ALLAN ROY D. MORDENO Head, BAC Secretariat GOVERNANCE COMMISSION FOR GOCCs 3/F, Citibank Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 1226 armordeno@gcg.gov.ph Tel No. 328 2030 to 33

( T S - A P R . 21, 2 016)

DIR. NOEL P. LUNA BAC Chairman

Dolphins bolster semis bid PHILIPPINE Christian University-Lilac Experience rode on Jon Von Tambeling’s season-high 39 points to subdue upset-conscious Our Lady of Lourdes Technological College, 101-96, in the 2016 MBL Open basketball championships at the Rizal Coliseum.

Tambeling scored repeatedly from almost all sides despite the tight defense thrown against him and finished with the league’s highest individual score so far The 39-point explosion of Tambeling erased the previous-high.of 34.points esrablished by Mel Mabigat of Macway Travel Club and later matched by Ivan Villanueva of OLLTC and Federico Alupani of AMA-Wang’s Ballclub.

More importantly, the win enabled the Dolphins to join Macway Travel in the lead wiqth identical 5-1 win-loss records in the eightteam tournament sponsored by Smart Sports, Ironcon Builders, Bread Story, Dickies Underwear, PRC Couriers and Gerry-s Grill.

Both PCU and Macway need only to win their remainng assignment to secure the two outright semis berths and the twice-to-beat advantages.

“We’ll play our usual game (against Jamfy) and see what happens.

We want to finish No. 1 or No. 2,” said multititled coach Ato Tolentino, who called the shots for the team in the absence of head coach Elvis Tolentino.

Yvez Sazon added 20 points, Fidel Castro contributed 16 and Mike Ayonayon had 13 for PCU. Danilo Marilao topscored with 22 points for Lourdes, which dropped to 2-4 in a tie with AMA-Wang’s.

Backing up Marilao were Bobby Balucanag (19), Villanueva (13), and Jerome Garcia (11) and Joseph Brutas (11).

T H U R S DAY : A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 16

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

South Korea’s Kim Seok-Bae (left) scores off a kick to the body against Abolfazl Yaghoubijouybari of Iran in one of the top actions in the senior category of the Asian Taekwondo Championships 2016 held at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. Kim won this match to take the gold medal.

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Black likes Meralco’s team effort

By Jeric Lopez

Lopez subdues Thai, makes Asian taekwondo semifinal PAULINE Louise Lopez made her big move in the third and final round to subdue Thailand;s Sae-Lao Thanapa, 6-3, in the women’s quarterfinals of the 22nd Asian Taekwondo Championships at the Mariott Hotel Grand ballroom in Pasay City yesterday.

Down 0-1 after two rounds, Lopez, a 2015 Singapore Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, opened the last round with a cut roundhouse kick to the stunned Thai’s face which is good for three points, to turn the tide, 4-1, assuring herself and the country of another bronze medal at the close of the competition.

The Nanjing Asian Youth Games veteran scored two more points with kicks to the body of the

Thai, whose desperate efforts with under a minute went for naught, as the hometown gallery erupted in cheers for the pretty and gutsy Fil-Am. Lopez will be up against Iran’s Mahsa Jedda, who upset Japanese No. 1 seed Mayu Hamada, 7-6, of in the the semifinals set later in the afternoon.

The Philippines had an earlier silver from Kristopher Robert Uy and courtesy of Olympic qualifier

Kirstie Elaine Alora.

But the other quarterfinalist, rookie Eddtone Lumasac, couldn’t hold on to his lead and eventually fell to Kazakhstan’s Yerzyhan Abylkas, who used a last-gasp turning side kick to the head in scoring a come-from-behind 9-8 victory in the men’s 74-kg. Division.

Ahead 8-6 with barely 20 seconds to go, Lumasac relaxed, allowing the Kazakh to score three points with his final kick and advance to semis of the tournament sponsored by Smart, PLDT, Meralco, MVP Sports Foundation, Resorts World Manila and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Earlier, Lopez reasserted her mastery over Malaysia Nurul Farah Alisa Roslan, 4-1, in the round-of-16 match while Lumasac crushed Syria’s Mohammad

Ghanem, 16-3, in the same round.

Bowing out early were Keith Sembrano and Kaye Shannele Romuar in the men’s 68-kg. and women’s 62-kg. opening bouts, respectively.

Sembrano lost lopsidedly, 4-22, Iran’s Alireza Alyari, after which the host camp noted that the Iranian’s body body was wet that could have short-circuited or grounded the sensitive electronic system so that the Filipino’s blows failed to register.

“This is why we had a coaches meeting when this was observed because this is one way some players are able to cheat (the scoring system),” explained head coach Kitoy Cruz, who attended the meeting.

Romuar dropped a close 2-3 decision to Vietnam’s Thi Hang Pam in her first match.

FROM worse Game Tomorrow all the way to (Quarterfinals, Knockout the semifinals.

Smart Araneta Coliseum): For the sec- 7 p.m. - Talk ‘N Text vs. Alaska ond time this season, Meralco coach Norman Black was able to steer the Bolts to the semifinals.

So far in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner's Cup, Meralco is doing serious damage and is hyped up to be in the semis.

Black couldn't help but admire what his team has done so far in the tournament ahead of their semifinals stint.

“We fought hard for this (semifinals) and it was a total team effort. I really can't pinpoint who stands out for us," said Black. "It's really been a nice ride for us so far this conference."

The Bolts are now wait who they will face in the best-of-seven semifinals.

Currently, the Alaska Aces and defending champion Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters are tied 1-1 in their best-of-three quarterfinals series and will play their rubber match tomorrow night to see who goes on to face Meralco in the next phase.

This ride that Meralco is enjoying came after a dismal showing in the Philippine Cup where it ended up dead last and only managed to win twice.

Black credited the team's improved chemistry and physical shape for the success that they're enjoying this conference thus far.

“I think we're in better physical condition in this conference compared to the last one and we have way better chemistry now," he said.

"Those are huge factors for us."

Meralco disposed sister team NLEX, 10497, last Monday in a tough game to advance.

Meanwhile, top seed San Miguel Beer and No. 8 ranked Star are currently going all out in their knockout battle in their own quarterfinals tussle.

2015 ITALIAN OPEN TEAM: The Bocchi’s Grand Coup THERE is in Italy an important book published in 1941 and never SYLVIA LOPEZ translated in English: ALEJANDRO it is “Il Gioco di Compressione nel Bridge”, di Adolfo Giannuzzi (translation: squeeze play; but this article is not dealing with squeeze). In the first pages the author explains that there are six main techniques to make tricks in declarer play; three basic and three advanced. The three basic are finessing, ruffing and suit establishing (“basic” is by no means synonym for “easy”, but this is another story).

The three advanced techniques are elimination and thrown in, the squeeze, and the Grand Coup. The last technique is rare and is deemed the most difficult to see and to realize.

Norberto Bocchi saw and realized it this morning in the last round of the 2015 Italian Open Team Championship, won by him with Lavazza-Allegra; he played with Madala and against Colarossi-Severini of the Team Pacini from Pisa. (Round 9/9 Board 12).

The hand: N-S vulnerable Bocchi ♠95 ♥4 ♦Q63 ♣KQJ9653

Colarossi ♠72 ♥93 ♦J10975 ♣10872

Severini ♠QJ10643 ♥QJ2 ♦842 ♣A

Madala ♠AK8 ♥AK108765 ♦AK ♣4 West North East South Colarossi Bocchi Severini Madala 3♣ 3♠ 4♠ Pass 4NT Pass 6♣ All pass Severini led ♠Q, taken by dummy’s ace, then ♣K won by East, who returned spades for dummy’s king.

Now Bocchi moved spade again, ruffed and played the trump queen, discovering the unlucky break. Unlucky but not hopeless; there is a way to catch the club ten: this is to go to a final of trump only and the led on dummy, making an automatic ruff finesse. This is the final Bocchi envisaged: Bocchi ♠--♥--♦--♣J9 Colarossi Severini ♠--(Immaterial)

♥--♦--♣102

Dummy*on lead ♠--♥52 ♦--♣--Let us count: Bocchi started with seven trumps; Colarossi with four, therefore to enter this final Bocchi had to shorten thrice by ruff. He needed four entries in dummy: three to ruff and one to get the final position with the lead on the duly side.

First entry: the second spade played by Severini after he took by ♣A. First ruff: the third dummy’s spade. Bocchi now played club queen, discovering the 4-1 break; he just exposed his cards and called made, explaining at the table his playing plan. The hand ended, and tens of kibitzers complained against the poor vugrapher because she result the scored, that is made (instead of-1, as kibitzers thought). Let us continue the analysis.

Second entry: the heart ace (not diamond!), Now it must be played heart king too and cast a diamond; the diamond is winning, but Declarer only must shorten himself. Second ruff: the third round of hearth.

Third entry: diamond ace. Third ruff: another hearth. Note that even this heart is winning, and this is the second winner Declarer wasted;

that is why the “Grand Coup” is so called: in his march toward the trump equality, any richness can be cast save entries.

Fourth entry: diamond king and we arrived to the two card final and dummy on lead. Note that if East led or returned diamond he would have forced Declarer to use an entry untimely, defeating the contract.

-oOoFANTONI & NUNES: Italian Federation’s judgment On the 16th of September 2015, the Italian Bridge Federation (FIGB) announced that an investigation on Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes was going to start: “like the EBL, we are opening a file on this and we follow the events as they unfold.”

Today the verdict has been announced: Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes each player individually is banned for playing for a period of three years.

The sentence is expected to be made public tomorrow by the Italian Federation: Fantoni and Nunes have 20 days to file their appeal. The 20 days start from when the verdict is officially published.

Further updates on this story will published in the next days.

The case will be discussed at the EBL Disciplinary Committee being held in Lausanne on 25-26 May later this year.

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yahoo

A16

T H U R S DAY : A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 16 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

La Salle, NU advance to volley finals

By Peter Atencio THE National University Bulldogs men’s volleyball team is back in the finals for the fourth straight season.

Outside hitters Bryan Bagunas and Madzlan Gampong and main man James Natividad made sure of this as they led the Bulldogs past a stubborn Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 19-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23 in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs needed a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes to finally put away the Soaring Falcons, who forced a rubber match by winning their first encounter, 23-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-22, also at the MOA Arena.

With the win, the Bulldogs arranged a finals showdown with the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, who beat them for the crown last year.

The two will meet in Game 1 on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

Recovering from an injury, the 6’4 Bagunas, hit 13 of 14 points on attacks, including a spike that broke a 23-all deadlock in the fourth set.

Meanwhile, the La Salle Lady Spikers made it back to the women’s finals for a sixth straight year following a 25-15, 27-25, 2521 victory over the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the women’s side of the UAAP volleyball competitions.

With the win, the Lady Spikers arranged a best-of-three finals affair against defending champion Ateneo Lady Eagles.

Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo scored the crucial points as La Salle sealed a finals showdown against Atenbeo for the fifth time since 2012.

LaMarcus Aldridge (no. 12) of the San Antonio Spurs shoots against Tony Allen (no, () of the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. AFP

Spurs, Hawks thrash foes, take 2-0 edge THE San Antonio Spurs thrashed the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their play-off series as Atlanta also cruised past Boston with a second straight win.

San Antonio, boasting the second best regular season record in the league behind the Golden State Warriors, raced into the lead early on against Memphis and never looked back en route to a comprehensive 94-68 win.

It was a second blowout victory for San Antonio over the Grizzlies, who had crashed to a 106-74 defeat in Game One on Sunday.

With Game Three looming on Friday, San Antonio will now be odds on to take

a step closer to a clean sweep against a Memphis side who have been comprehensively outclassed in their opening two Western Conference playoff games.

“So far, we just did our job by winning our two games at home,” Spurs guard Tony Parker said. “We just have to make sure we take care of the ball (in Memphis) and stay focused.

“It’s the playoffs. (We need to) respect the opponent and know that over there it’s go-

Indonesian takes charge in ICTSI golf TURN TO A13

ing to be a lot harder.”

Memphis’ Matt Barnes called on his teammates to “go down swinging.”

“We are coming into a gunfight armed with spoons,” he said.

“We have to make some shots. We have to roll the dice a little and find a way to switch things when we get home. It doesn’t matter where we play -- here, at a YMCA or in Memphis, we just have to play better.

“I don’t know how good our chances are. I just know I want to go down swinging.”

In Atlanta, the Hawks took a stranglehold on their Eastern Conference series against Boston, romping to an 89-72 win

to go 2-0 up in the best-ofseven series.

An early barrage of three-pointers from Kyle Korver set the tone for a one-sided encounter as the Hawks raced into a big early lead that Boston never looked like overhauling.

Korver, Atlanta’s joint top scorer with Al Horford on 17 points, hit five three-pointers, four of them in the opening seven minutes, to leave Boston reeling.

Celtics guard Evan Turner was disgusted by the way he and his teammates had surrendered the early initiative so easily.

“In a playoff game, that should never happen,” Turner said. “We

Lopez makes Asian taekwondo semifinal TURN TO A15

have to start off with more energy.”

Boston coach Brad Stevens said his side had been unable to match Atlanta’s pace.

“They were playing at a speed that we weren’t at,” Stevens said.

“We can’t get off to starts like that. We just put too much pressure on ourselves to make shots later, because every one of them mattered so much just to give us a shot to get back in the game.”

It marked a welcome return to form for Korver, who had made just three of his previous 19 threepoint attempts. He missed all seven efforts in Game One. AFP

B1

THURSDAY: APRIL 21, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandardtoday.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

San Miguel Corp. breaks ground for the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 project, a 23-kilometer elevated railway from North Avenue, Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Shown during the groundbreaking and time capsule laying ceremony at Quezon City Memorial Circle are (from left) EEI Corp. president and chief executive Roberto Jose Castillo, Hyundai-Rotem president and chief executive Seung-Tack Kim, San Miguel Corp. president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, President Benigno Aquino III, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

SMC breaks ground on mass rail transit

By Darwin G. Amojelar

SAN Miguel Corp. on Wednesday broke ground on the P69.3-billion mass rail transit system from Quezon City to Bulacan province, eight years after the original proposal was presented to the government.

“We are ready to start the construction of MRT 7,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said during the groundbreaking ceremony at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

MRT 7, a 23-kilometer elevated railway from North Avenue, Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, is expected to be completed three or four years from now, he said.

The project, which will have 14 stations, will be implemented by newly-formed SMC Mass Rail Transit 7 Inc. under SMC’s infrastructure

subsidiary San Miguel Holdings Inc. Ang said once the MRT-7 was built, it would take only 30 minutes to commute from North Ave. to San Jose del Monte, compared to the current two-hour travel time.

“MRT 7 will connect to MRT 3 and [will have] a provision to connect to LRT Line 1,” Ang said.

He said the project also has a road component, a 23-kilometer stretch that would start at the Balagtas Interchange of North Luzon Expressway and end in an intermodal terminal in San Jose Del Monte. This will provide provincial buses with an alternate route to San Jose and will help decongest EDSA. “The long-awaited MRT-7 will serve commuters who ply the heavily congested Commonwealth Avenue area for work and school on a daily basis. The new railway system will not only significantly lessen travel time along this corridor, but also help decongest traffic in Caloocan and NLEx,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said.

Construction of MRT 7 was delayed for eight years, because of the proponents’ failure to se-

cure a performance undertaking from the Finance Department.

A performance undertaking represents a recognition of the obligation of the Philippine government through the Transportation Department under the concession agreement, particularly the remittance of semi-annual amortization in favor of the Universal LRT Corp., the original proponent of the project that is now controlled by San Miguel.

The Transportation Department and ULC signed the contract to build the railway in 2008.

San Miguel though San Miguel Holdings is now a majority-owner of ULC. San Miguel Holdings executed a share sale and purchase agreement in October 2010 to acquire 51 percent of ULC from the group of Salvador Zamora II. San Miguel tapped Hyundai Rotem and EEI consortium to build the railway line composed of 14 stations at North Ave., Quezon Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala and San Jose del Monte.

Power rates to rise as govt turns to diesel-fired plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER rates will likely rise in May as coal plants undergo maintenance shutdown and power plants shift to diesel as fuel, the Energy Department said Wednesday.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada said the power plants mostly using coal were forced to undergo maintenance shutdown before the elections to ensure they would be online by May. “We replaced coal with bunker or diesel-fired plants. Like Malaya, we asked it to run and it uses special fuel oil, in between bunker

and diesel. It’s still more expensive than coal,” Monsada said.

She said the participants of the interruptible load program that were tapped during the April 15 power shortage had to use their generators running on diesel and gasoline.

ILP participants are compensated for not drawing power from the grid during times of shortage and for running their own generating sets.

ILP helped contain the peak demand at 9,416 megawatts on April 15.

A total of 247 MW of power was deloaded from 121 partici-

pants, sparing 290,000 customers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces from rotating brownouts.

“So because demand has been going up, electricity prices will also likely go up because of the use of diesel as fuel,” Monsada said.

Monsada also said the higher electricity cost was “a consequence of meeting the necessary power supply.”

“The plants did not go offline on purpose. It so happens that it’s summer and they have to be on maintenance schedule,” Monsada said.

She said that by going into maintenance shutdown prior to the elections, the power plants would be available and running during the critical period a week before and a week after the elections.

The Energy Department called on electricity consumers to conserve energy not only during the summer period, but throughout the year.

“Historically, power consumption spikes during hot summer months as more consumers spend time in their homes and use cooling equipment to make them feel comfortable,” it said.

PSe comPoSite index Closing April 20, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,201.37 13.72

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing April 20, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.225

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.075 LOW P46.225 AVERAGE P46.133 VOLUME 593.000M

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

oPriceS il P today

P19.25-P22.75 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, April 20, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.0990

Japan

Yen

0.009153

0.4219

UK

Pound

1.439600

66.3641

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128961

5.9450

Switzerland

Franc

1.040150

47.9499

Canada

Dollar

0.789328

36.3872

Singapore

Dollar

0.748671

34.5130

Australia

Dollar

0.781200

36.0125

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655408

122.4117

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266738

12.2964

Brunei

Dollar

0.745879

34.3843

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028670

1.3217

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

12.5528

Euro

Euro

1.135600

52.3500

Korea

Won

0.000887

0.0409

China

Yuan

0.154844

7.1382

India

Rupee

0.015120

0.6970

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.257599

11.8751

New Zealand

Dollar

0.704500

32.4767

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031106

1.4340 Source: PDS Bridge

THURSDAY: APRIL 21, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, april 20, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

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

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

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 148 20.6 125 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 32 15.32 62.5 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

79 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 1450 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

34.1 2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 801 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 0.66 1455

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 1.15 2.26 0.152 837

76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

49.55 3.43 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 751 1.13 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.18 3.05 46 45.2 104.00 102.80 89.80 88.55 38.5 38.2 1.66 1.45 14.28 14.2 16.1 15.74 7.60 7.60 600.00 599.00 0.650 0.610 83 81.75 1.05 1 14.70 14.68 53.80 53.50 274 270 32.2 31.8 180 173 1400.00 1400.00 57.60 57.40 1.59 1.56 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

44 44.05 43.8 Agrinurture Inc. 4.73 4.78 4.58 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.79 0.86 0.77 Alsons Cons.

1.42 1.46 1.41 Asiabest Group 12.5 13.38 12.36 Bogo Medelin 60 59.9 51.8 C. Azuc De Tarlac 220.00 220.00 220.00 Century Food 19.12 19.24 19.1 Chemphil 178.5 161 160 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 255 255 202 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 18.68 19 18.5 Concepcion 48.5 48.5 48 Crown Asia 2.37 2.4 2.34 Da Vinci Capital 5.72 5.9 5.63 Del Monte 11.24 11.24 11 DNL Industries Inc. 9.180 9.300 9.150 Emperador 8.09 8.09 7.90 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.90 5.90 5.78 EEI 7.30 7.45 7.12 Euro-Med Lab 1.83 1.63 1.63 First Gen Corp.

21.85 21.9 20.9 First Holdings ‘A’ 70.2 720.5 69.4 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 14.28 14.30 14.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.96 13.98 13.96 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.74 5.8 5.75 Ionics Inc 2.590 2.600 2.520 Jollibee Foods Corp.

221.80 227.80 221.80 LBC Express 12 11.6 11 Leisure & Resorts B 7.58 8 7.83 Liberty Flour 3.88 3.85 3.80 LMG Chemicals 2.07 2.1 2.1 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.47 4.2 3.3 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.3 27.5 27 Maxs Group 21.95 21.95 21.45 Megawide 6.65 6.73 6.65 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 330.00 340.00 330.00 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.78 3.8 3.76 Petron Corporation 10.90 11.06 10.68 Phinma Corporation 11.62 11.62 11.60 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.42 4.43 4.41 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.61 1.60 1.57 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.73 2.82 2.71 RFM Corporation 4.23 4.40 4.23 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 217.6 223 212 SPC Power Corp.

4.05 4 3.96 Splash Corporation 2.75 2.75 2.7 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.164 0.164 0.159 TKC Steel Corp.

1.22 1.23 1.21 Trans-Asia Oil 2.73 2.74 2.69 Universal Robina 206 207 203.2 Victorias Milling 4.8 4.7 4.7 Vitarich Corp.

1.11 1.15 1.06 Vivant Corp.

32.50 34.00 34.00 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.27 1.30 1.27 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.360 0.360 0.350 Aboitiz Equity 63.70 64.00 63.50 Alliance Global Inc. 16.36 16.46 16.34 Anglo Holdings A 1.15 1.16 1.16 Anscor `A’ 6.20 6.19 6.06 ATN Holdings A 0.305 0.310 0.290 ATN Holdings B 0.305 0.300 0.295 Ayala Corp `A’ 779.5 780 764 Cosco Capital 8.4 8.66 8.35 DMCI Holdings 12.42 12.70 12.20 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.22 5.22 5.2 F&J Prince ‘B’ 5.11 5.11 5.11 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

5.80 5.79 5.75 Forum Pacific 0.214 0.212 0.212 GT Capital 1363 1390 1363 IPM Holdings 9.75 9.87 9.69 JG Summit Holdings 81.35 82.90 80.00 Jolliville Holdings 4.9 4.9 4.9 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.4 7.4 7.21 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.68 0.69 0.68 LT Group 15.76 15.9 15.76 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.495 0.480 0.480 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.9 5.85 5.79 Pacifica `A’ 0.0330 0.0330 0.0320 Prime Media Hldg 1.270 1.400 1.360 Prime Orion 1.910 1.920 1.900 San Miguel Corp `A’ 74.80 74.70 74.00 SM Investments Inc. 959.50 962.00 957.50 Solid Group Inc. 1.27 1.26 1.23 Top Frontier 173.000 172.000 165.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3150 0.3250 0.3150 Wellex Industries 0.2010 0.2010 0.1980 Zeus Holdings 0.275 0.290 0.280 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 8.150 8.160 7.850 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.28 1.38 1.25 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.430 1.530 1.450 Arthaland Corp.

0.280 0.270 0.250 Ayala Land `B’ 34.450 34.500 33.800 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.09 3.1 3.08 Cebu Holdings 5.2 5.22 5 Century Property 0.560 0.57 0.560 City & Land Dev. 0.96 0.97 0.97 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

Close

SHARES 11,302,550 83,533,992 112,062,095 143,911,352 202,149,924 2,350,751,119 2,906,371,864

3.05 46 102.90 88.85 39.5 1.53 14.28 15.88 7.35 590.00 0.650 83 1 14.70 53.50 274 32 173 1400.00 57.50 1.59

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.18 46 103.10 88.70 38.5 1.45 14.2 15.94 7.60 599.00 0.620 81.85 1.05 14.70 53.60 270 32 174 1400.00 57.40 1.59

4.26 0.00 0.19 -0.17 -2.53 -5.23 -0.56 0.38 3.40 1.53 -4.62 -1.39 5.00 0.00 0.19 -1.46 0.00 0.58 0.00 -0.17 0.00

149,000 9,300 793,270 804,380 66,300 208,000 1,500 890,500 100 510 2,614,000 1,988,560 68,000 23,300 176,520 150 532,700 1,619,670 90 22,220 50,000

43.85 4.6 0.8 1.46 13.2 56 220.00 19.2 161 230 18.7 48.5 2.35 5.68 11.16 9.200 8.08 5.79 7.26 1.63 21 69.9 14.30 13.98 5.8 2.530 226.00 11.36 7.95 3.80 2.1 3.6 27.5 21.9 6.67 336.00 3.77 10.90 11.62 4.43 1.57 2.8 4.35 218 4 2.71 0.161 1.23 2.71 204.4 4.7 1.08 34.00 1.27

-0.34 -2.75 1.27 2.82 5.60 -6.67 0.00 0.42 -9.80 -9.80 0.11 0.00 -0.84 -0.70 -0.71 0.22 -0.12 -1.86 -0.55 -10.93 -3.89 -0.43 0.14 0.14 1.05 -2.32 1.89 -5.33 4.88 -2.06 1.45 3.75 0.73 -0.23 0.32 1.82 -0.26 0.00 0.00 0.23 -2.48 2.56 2.84 0.18 -1.23 -1.45 -1.83 0.82 -0.73 -0.78 -2.08 -2.70 4.62 0.00

1,682,400 936,000 553,000 1,886,000 89,400 620 40 463,900 50 6,060 156,100 88,200 253,000 304,200 166,500 1,873,300 988,800 7,932,300 729,000 1,000 5,091,400 269,750 6,200 103,300 1,742,500 3,558,000 422,350 15,700 218,600 363,000 2,000 142,000 1,428,100 460,800 655,400 447,430 127,000 5,154,400 23,000 457,000 352,000 10,101,000 880,000 23,440 40,000 290,000 1,180,000 102,000 3,580,000 2,627,170 3,000 25,920,000 100 210,000

0.360 63.95 16.38 1.16 6.06 0.295 0.300 773.5 8.52 12.36 5.2 5.11 5.75 0.212 1369 9.69 81.40 4.9 7.4 0.68 15.82 0.480 5.81 0.0330 1.360 1.910 74.00 959.00 1.24 165.000 0.3150 0.1990 0.280

0.00 0.39 0.12 0.87 -2.26 -3.28 -1.64 -0.77 1.43 -0.48 -0.38 0.00 -0.86 -0.93 0.44 -0.62 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.38 -3.03 -1.53 0.00 7.09 0.00 -1.07 -0.05 -2.36 -4.62 0.00 -1.00 1.82

100,000 1,218,270 2,898,300 8,000 2,100 5,660,000 320,000 341,320 4,729,600 8,375,600 21,900 300 314,100 100,000 89,645 1,653,900 2,743,050 1,000 2,599,800 13,000 2,129,400 340,000 44,178,000 22,000,000 15,000 1,496,000 50,350 193,000 640,000 5,200 980,000 1,570,000 1,570,000

8.090 1.38 1.500 0.265 34.000 3.08 5.1 0.560 0.97

-0.74 7.81 4.90 -5.36 -1.31 -0.32 -1.92 0.00 1.04

306,900 14,919,000 328,000 590,000 10,473,900 2,054,000 200,200 7,117,000 10,000

418,505.00 17,027,367 -23,577,319.50 -31,540.00 -363,200.00 53,700.00 -97,500.00 -31,576,877.00 2,338,944.00 9,321,900 -110,216,924.00 -1,148,002.00 12,167,785.00 6,240.00 191,700.00 -1,300.00 3,780,316.00 376,554.00 67,900 164,070.00 512,532.00 1,922,379.00 -24,779,656.00 2,879,651.00 -60,748,750.00 -3,959,533.00 2,848.00 -846,392.00 -770,559.00 -273,350.00 10,216,062.00 74,077.00 44,200.00 26,197,195.00 -370,775.00 -330,580.00 -2,566,122.00 64,420.00 -6,588,464.00 47,600.00 554,700.00 1,279,436.00

270,000.00 -193,693,636.00 -60,840.00

35,952,743.50 -4,741,588.00

13,588,380.00 -3,363,823.00 -76,517,996.00 1,574,875.00 40,036,905.00 43,802,533.50 585,309.00 21,796,576.00 -71,325,765.00 -16,500.00 115,442.50 27,065,640.00 -161,200.00

18,980.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.000 Crown Equities Inc. 0.121 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.510 Double Dragon 36.5 Empire East Land 0.860 Global-Estate 1.11 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.88 Interport `A’ 1.28 Keppel Properties 4.20 Megaworld 4.01 MRC Allied Ind. 0.088 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2550 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.510 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 22.05 Primex Corp.

8.52 Robinson’s Land `B’ 28.95 Rockwell 1.6 Shang Properties Inc. 3.19 SM Prime Holdings 22.00 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.88 Starmalls 6.56 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.130 Vista Land & Lifescapes 4.790

-1.00 2.48 -1.96 -0.27 -2.33 1.80 -1.06 1.56 -1.67 0.50 -2.27 1.96 19.61 28.12 0.12 2.07 0.00 0.00 1.82 -1.14 -3.96 1.77 0.84

60,000 1,590,000 8,786,000 840,100 1,394,000 12,054,000 28,170,000 10,000 16,000 19,041,000 4,440,000 80,000 10,429,000 1,700 64,800 1,249,700 156,000 90,000 11,060,100 1,829,000 10,300 4,598,000 1,925,000

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 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 3.2 1 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 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 1.95 0.650 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 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’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Yehey

3.97 -1.79 0.00 0.00 2.50 0.00 -3.12 0.17 -0.84 0.59 2.04 -2.64 -5.18 0.00 0.00 -3.31 -3.08 23.89 -9.09 0.00 -1.14 -0.72 0.00 -3.39 0.00 -6.03 0.00 -5.30 0.00 0.00 0.68 0.27 -1.12 -1.14 1.84 0.25 0.30 -3.51 0.00 -0.52 -0.55 0.00

398,200 22,330 33,000 981,000 2,326,000 29,050,000 504,000 180,660 18,100 16,000 10,500 120,905 561,600 700 16,000 397,750 45,300 12,600 8,900,000 59,250,000 3,279,000 7,000 52,000 20,539,000 3,016,000 43,099,000 1,032,200 6,100 15,000 80 248,100 118,720 1,540,000 9,538,000 4,744,800 451,140 223,500 2,615,000 2,330,000 6,000 1,853,000 62,200

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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 Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

-2.44 7.46 2.66 2.00 3.75 0.12 1.35 -3.64 0.61 -1.90 0.00 1.27 2.00 9.09 16.67 0.00 8.16 -0.76 3.17 2.22 -3.06 -9.09 0.00 3.86 -1.75 0.00 -0.71 4.73 -8.70

926,000,000 255,000 -41,000.00 106,000 -25,420.00 160,000 6,500 17,200 3,770,000 1,672,000 530.00 1,900 234,331,000 -1,260,100.00 330,000 64,300,000 14,410,000 -25,500.00 611,700,000 117,900,000 1,826,000 14,828,000 -11,094,401.00 240,000 1,349,000 37,620.00 254,000 4,000,000 1,000,000 21,000 1,304,800 -646,238.00 1,809,000 -34,700.00 43,200,000 533,860 -45,444,671.00 2,494,000 -803,490.00 301,000,000

70 553 525 120 8.21 111 1047 78.95 84.8

33 490 500 101.5 5.88 101 1011 74.5 75

1

-2.15 0.00 -0.19 -0.34 -2.82 0.45 -0.79 -1.35 -0.56 0.00 0.66 0.13 0.07 0.07 0.13 -17.73

108,530 600 400 3,000 49,900 80 350 3,000 3,050 16,000 2,000 23,200 7,350 116,790 103,140 5,000

-63,840.00

1.34

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GMA Holdings Inc. MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-4.00

2,113,000

-60,370.00

-4.99 0.26 -2.80 1.24

57,000 37,000 680,000 1,884,700

62,200.00 5,577,492.00

-0.25

2,120

-188,692,690.00 1,192,980.00

15

3.5

-2,758,690.00

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,607.30 (DOWN) 5.69 INDUSTRIAL 11,724.47 (DOWN) 1.60 HOLDING FIRMS 7,147.20 (DOWN) 10.38 PROPERTY 2,940.83 (UP) 5.16 SERVICES 1,523.21 (DOWN) 9.10 MINING & OIL 10,829.23 (UP) 143.90 PSEI 7,201.37 (DOWN) 13.72 All Shares Index 4,265.40 (DOWN) 6.02 Gainers: 89; Losers: 104; Unchanged: 40; Total: 233

Close

1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.990 0.980 0.990 0.125 0.122 0.124 0.510 0.495 0.500 36.5 36 36.4 0.860 0.840 0.840 1.17 1.11 1.13 1.89 1.84 1.86 1.30 1.30 1.30 4.13 4.13 4.13 4.06 3.98 4.03 0.088 0.085 0.086 0.2600 0.2450 0.2600 0.620 0.540 0.610 29.15 22.05 28.25 8.55 8.53 8.53 29.55 28.85 29.55 1.6 1.57 1.6 3.19 3.15 3.19 22.40 21.80 22.40 0.89 0.86 0.87 6.5 6.3 6.3 1.190 1.130 1.150 4.850 4.800 4.830 SERVICES 7.31 7.6 7.3 7.6 58.8 58.8 57.5 57.75 1.28 1.28 1.27 1.28 0.600 0.600 0.590 0.600 4.40 4.58 4.40 4.51 0.0620 0.0620 0.0610 0.0620 3.21 3.21 3.08 3.11 89.95 90.1 88.7 90.1 9.58 9.58 9.4 9.5 1.7 1.75 1.7 1.71 6.86 7.00 6.99 7.00 2198 2190 2132 2140 7.33 7.00 6.55 6.95 24.05 24.05 24.05 24.05 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 66.5 66.9 64.3 64.3 15.58 15.28 15.10 15.10 11.3 14 11.66 14 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 0.315 0.330 0.310 0.315 1.7500 1.7900 1.6900 1.7300 2.79 2.77 2.53 2.77 0.570 0.570 0.560 0.570 2.36 2.36 2.28 2.28 4.04 4.10 4.01 4.04 2.820 3.000 2.600 2.650 17.5 17.5 17.5 17.5 5.09 5.09 4.60 4.82 2.74 2.74 2.74 2.74 111.00 114.00 111.00 111.00 22.00 22.15 21.80 22.15 1850.00 1875.00 1855.00 1855.00 0.445 0.450 0.430 0.440 0.880 0.880 0.860 0.870 40.75 42.00 40.95 41.50 79.30 79.80 79.30 79.50 6.58 6.65 6.56 6.60 3.70 3.68 3.56 3.57 0.630 0.640 0.630 0.630 1.92 1.91 1.81 1.91 3.62 3.64 3.58 3.6 5.020 5.020 5.020 5.020 MINING & OIL 0.0041 0.0042 0.0040 0.0040 2.01 2.18 2.02 2.16 4.14 4.29 4.15 4.25 0.250 0.260 0.249 0.255 8.0000 8.57 7.5 8.3000 8.0200 8.9800 8.0000 8.0300 0.74 0.8 0.75 0.75 0.550 0.560 0.530 0.530 8.20 8.25 7.96 8.25 1.050 1.140 1.000 1.030 0.295 0.305 0.290 0.295 0.237 0.250 0.236 0.240 0.250 0.260 0.250 0.255 0.0110 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0140 0.0120 0.0140 2.18 2.33 2.14 2.18 5.15 5.62 5.22 5.57 2.62 2.68 2.57 2.6 0.6300 0.6700 0.6400 0.6500 1.3500 1.4000 1.3800 1.3800 0.0098 0.0096 0.0095 0.0095 0.0099 0.0090 0.0090 0.0090 3.80 3.85 3.80 3.80 5.44 5.66 5.50 5.65 2.29 2.36 2.25 2.25 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 126.90 127.00 126.00 126.00 3.17 3.5 3.2 3.32 0.0092 0.0084 0.0083 0.0084 PREFERRED 58.25 58.05 57 57 518 518 518 518 526 525 525 525 117.1 116.7 116.7 116.7 7.08 7.07 6.86 6.88 110 110.5 110.5 110.5 1018 1018 1010 1010 77.5 77.5 76.45 76.45 80.25 80.25 79.8 79.8 75.5 75.5 75.5 75.5 76 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.9 77.3 76.9 77 76.9 77 75.6 76.95 75 75.05 75 75.05 75 75.1 75.05 75.1 2.2 1.81 1.81 1.81 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.750 3.950 3.530 3.600 SME 4.21 4.1 4 4 3.85 3.98 3.86 3.86 3.22 3.2 3.09 3.13 19.4 19.98 19.42 19.64 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.5 118.4 118.1 118.2

T op g ainerS VALUE 882,606,480.577 1,301,654,352.35 1,451,549,807.73 875,517,012.85 1,065,710,302.04 467,351,362.6702 6,084,131,379.417

Low

9,900.00 6,939,780.00 -202,170.00 -21,222,020.00 -9,800,810.00

11,033,645.00 156,680.00 42,259,555.00 63,150.00 -165,400.00 -369,180.00 390,911.00

-2,538,440.00 -90,750.00 8,901,891.50

-13,985,220.00

-11,024,724.50 -31,522.00 736,250.00 -1,640.00 -1,364,460.00 3,151,020.00 -20,425,950.00

4,440.00 -109,100.00 -56,533,110.00 -1,982,820.00 86,738,960.00 23,782,768.50 -13,220.00 -597,330.00 19,200.00 -6,118,960.00 40,160.00

778,844.00

129,307.00 -50,900.00

742,995.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

28.25

28.12

Swift Pref

1.81

-17.73

IPeople Inc. `A'

14

23.89

Euro-Med Lab

1.63

-10.93

Phil. Realty `A'

0.610

19.61

Chemphil

161

-9.80

Manila Mining `B'

0.0140

16.67

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

230

-9.80

Manila Mining `A'

0.0120

9.09

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0090

-9.09

Nickelasia

5.57

8.16

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.0100

-9.09

A. Brown Co., Inc.

1.38

7.81

United Paragon

0.0084

-8.70

Apex `A'

2.16

7.46

Bogo Medelin

56

-6.67

Prime Media Hldg

1.360

7.09

NOW Corp.

2.650

-6.03

Asiabest Group

13.2

5.60

Arthaland Corp.

0.265

-5.36

THURSDAY: APRIL 21, 2016

B3

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

Megawide’s profit hits P1.47b

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Megawide Construction Corp. said net income jumped 66 percent in 2015 to P1.47 billion from P887 million in 2015, fueled by the strong growth in the core construction business and the first full-year earnings recognition from its airport operation.

The profit was the highest growth posted by the company since its initial public offering in 2011, Megawide said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

Megawide said the group recorded consolidated revenues of P15.44 billion in 2015, up 54 percent in 2014.

The construction business contributed 66 percent or P973

million to the total consolidated earnings, while income from airport operation from the MactanCebu International Airport accounted for 34 percent or P501 million.

Megawide in joint venture with Bangalore-based partner GMR Infrastructure Ltd. took over the operations of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Novem-

Citi chief in PH. Citigroup chief executive Michael Corbat (fourth from left) pays a courtesy call to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. (third from left) during his first official visit to the Philippines. Citi and Bangko Sentral have a long history of partnership in promoting micro-finance and financial education. They co-hosted in October an inaugural summit on Asia Pacific Financial Inclusion, which drew over 500 delegates across the globe. With them are (from left) Citi Asean head Michael Zink, Citi Asia CEO Francisco Aristeguieta, Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., and Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed.

Market falls; Metrobank, Globe retreat

THE stock market slumped for the fourth straight day Wednesday on sharp losses in Shanghai and a drop in oil prices.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 13.72 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,201.37 on a value turnover of P6.1 billion. Losers beat gainers, 104 to 89, with 40 issues unchanged.

Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications company, dropped 2.6 percent to P2,140, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into water and electricity distribution, toll roads and hospitals, lost 1.5 percent to P5.81.

First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group tumbled 3.9 percent to P21, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. fell 1.4 percenbt to P81.85.

The rest of Asian shares, meanwhile, mostly fell.

After an edgy start to the day, investors brushed off another strong lead from Wall Street and Europe to cash in after Tuesday’s sharp gains.

Oil, which has been center stage this week after the collapse of weekend output limit talks, tumbled Wednesday after the industrial action in Kuwait was called off as union leaders look to negotiate a pay deal.

The walkout slashed Kuwaiti output and provided some much-needed support to the commodity on world markets Monday and Tuesday, largely offsetting the failure of the talks between Opec and non-Opec giants aimed at freezing production.

“The size of the disruption, had the strike persisted, would have been quite significant,” Ric Spooner, a chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, said. “It took quite a lot of oil out of production.”

In afternoon trade West Texas Intermediate was down 2.3 percent and Brent lost two percent.

On equity markets Tokyo’s Nikkei ended the day 0.2 percent higher, with speculation that Japan’s central bank will unveil fresh stimulus following last week’s double earthquake boosting sentiment.

Hong Kong ended 0.9 percent lower, Seoul shed 0.3 percent, Singapore fell 0.5 percent and Taipei dived 1.4 percent. There were also losses Jakarta and Bangkok. With AFP

ber 2014.

The company attributed the increase in the construction income to higher revenues, which rose 42 percent to P13.96 billion after recognizing a higher percentage of completions in on-going projects.

Revenues from airport operations amounted to P1.48 billion due to strong aeronautical, commercial and rental revenues brought by a 15.5-percent increase in passenger traffic from the 2014 level.

The company’s airport subsidiary GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. continues to embark on new airline and destination marketing initiatives to add new routes and increase passenger volume.

Four new international flight routes were launched in March of this year—Los Angeles with Philippine Airlines, Xiamen with Xiamen Airlines, Taiwan with EVA Air and Dubai with Emirates.

GMR Megawide is doing renovations in Terminal 1 to improve operating efficiencies and lessen passenger processing times.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport project was one of the infrastructure projects bagged by Megawide under the public-private-partnership program of the Aquino administration.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING TO A LL STOCK HO LDERS: NOTICE IS H ER EBY GIV EN that the M anila Banker s Life Insuranc e C or poration will hold its A nnual Stoc kholder s’ M eeting on M ay 18, 2016, Wednesday at 3:0 0 o’c loc k in the af ter noon at the 6 t h Floor VG P C enter, 6772 Ayala Avenue, M akati Cit y to c onsider and t ake ac tion upon the following mat ter s: 1. A pproval of the M inutes of the A nnual Stoc k holder s M eeting held last M ay 20, 2015 2. President ’s Repor t 3. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statement as of December 31 , 2015 4. Ratif ic ation of the Ac ts of D irec tor s and O f f ic er s for 2015 5. A ppointment of E x ter nal Auditor s for 2016 6. Elec tion of Board of D irec tor s 7. C onsideration of suc h other busines s as may proper ly c ome before the meeting.

Stoc kholder s of rec ord as of the c lose of busines s on 3 0 A pr il 2016 will be entitled to at tend, vote and exerc ise their pre - emptive r ight to the proposed additional c apit aliz ation.

M akati Cit y, A pr il 19, 2016

By O rder of the Board of D irec tor s:

CL A R ENCE D. GUER R ERO C orr porate Sec ret ar y

M ember : Philippine Life Insuranc e A ssoc iation, Inc.

B4 DLS-CSB donor walls.

The De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde unveils its College Donor Recognition Space and Vision-Mission Statement at the lobby of School of Design and Arts Campus.

The sponsor wall design represents books which credit individuals and companies that have made a contribution to the continued story of the college. Shown are DLSU president Ray Suplido FSC (second from the left), DLS-CSB board of trustees chairman Nestor Jardin (fourth from the right) and DLS-CSB president Dennis Magbanua FSC (right), together with sponsors and patrons.

GSIS plans $400-m infrastructure fund

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

STATE-RUN Government Service Insurance System said Wednesday it will set up a new infrastructure fund worth $400 million to expand its investment portfolio.

GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara told reporters in a news briefing he would propose to the next set of officials of the fund the creation of Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure 2.

“As I write my report on the deployment of that fund, I’ll probably be making a recommendation, or the GSIS financial group will be making a recommendation to the board that we set aside another sum of money into what looks to be a promising area of investment,” Vergara said.

“It’s undeniable that the country has to upgrade infrastructure. The many projects that have been identified is something we can look at if we are able to deploy further in this asset

class,” Vergara said.

GSIS teamed up with Asian Development Bank, Dutch pension fund manager Algemene Pensioen Groep and Australia’s Macquarie Group to set up the $625-million PINAI fund to finance infrastructure projects in the Philippines.

“We will probably create another fund.

Maybe it will be called PINAI 2. At least the same amount [with PINAI 1] but we will look at the kind of asset allocation and the portfolio it should have, if the available returns on other investments continue to be attractive as it is now,” Vergara said.

Vergara said the the initial $400-million investment could further be increased depending on prospective profit.

“Once the investments are made, then will revisit it and see whether investment proposition for at least core infra projects are still as attractive to the funds later,” he said.

GSIS said last year about 76 percent of the $412 million it committed to PINAI in 2012 had already been fully invested.

GSIS allocated $412 million for the program while ADB gave $25 million. APG and Macquarie raised $200 million while Mac-

quarie Infrastructure and Real Assets was tasked to manage PINAI. Vergara said with the way the financial markets were behaving in the early part of 2016, it was more risky to increase fixed-income allocations.

Vergara said, on the other hand, recent investments in several core infrastructure projects had started to gain attractive profit for the pension fund.

PINAI invested in wind and solar plants in Negros and Northern Luzon and became a part of the consortium extending the Light Rail Transit Line 1 from Baclaran to Cavite.

“With the investment in two solar power plants in Negros which we actually inaugurated two weeks ago, we have fully invested the portfolio and it’s already beginning to deliver gains on money that is being invested, so we have completed the investment of $400 million coming from the pension fund. Then we were able to raise additional $325 million from three other partners that haas now been fully committed and it’s quite interesting that...our investments are geographically placed across the country,” Vergara said.

Bangko Sentral seen to keep interest rates steady

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely keep policy settings steady in the near term on low oil prices and strong economic growth this year, a bank economist said in a report Wednesday.

Joey Cuyegkeng, senior economist of ING Bank Manila, said this view got support from the failed Doha meeting about freezing oil output. He said downside risks to the 2017 inflation forecast had increased in the absence of an agreement to freeze oil production.

“Excess oil supply situation is then expected to persist and the

balancing of demand and supply conditions this year is less likely with expectations now pushed later to mid- 2017,” Cuyegkeng said.

He said Philippine economic growth was expected to improve this year on the back of stronger government spending, private consumption, election spending and fixed capital investments.

“The risk that we have priced in for a policy rate hike later this year related to inflation management. We still expect inflation to trend higher to average at 1.8 percent in 2016 and around 3 percent in 2017,” he said.

He said stronger economic growth in the major economies would accel-

erate the timing of a more balanced oil supply environment and would exert some upward pressure on commodity prices.

The last time the Monetary Board changed the policy stance was in September 2014, when overnight borrowing rate was increased to 4 percent and overnight lending rate was adjusted to 6 percent.

The board kept the benchmark interest rates steady on its March 23, 2016 meeting, the 12th consecutive time since October 2014 due to a manageable inflation environment.

The economy grew 5.8 percent in 2015, lower than 6.1 percent a year ago and the government’s

target range of 7 to 8 percent, but remained one of the fastest growing in the region.

This year, the government expects GDP to grow between 6.8 percent and 7.8 percent on sustained robust domestic demand.

Inflation in the first quarter averaged 1.1 percent, below the government’s official forecast range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Inflation in January decelerated to 1.3 percent from 1.4 percent in December 2015.

Inflation further slowed to 0.9 percent in February before picking up to 1.1 percent in March because of slight increases in food prices.

Max’s eyes five pizza outlets in Singapore

By Jenniffer B. Austria MAX’S Group Inc., the country’s leading casual dining restaurant chain, is set to open five Yellow Cab Pizza outlets in Singapore as a part of an overseas expansion.

Max’s Group said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it signed a development agreement with Pagh Pte. Ltd. to build at least five Yellow Cab Pizza stores in Singapore.

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to bring Yellow Cab Pizza in a highly strategic market such as Singapore. We are confident that our mainstream offerings and value proposition will allow us to stay competitive alongside some of the biggest global food names,” said Max’s Group president and chief executive Robert Trota.

This is the fourth development agreement inked by Max’s Group in 2016, which will bring the total international stores to 116 over the next few years. It is also the third agreement involving Yellow Cab. Max’s Group signed a deal with ZhongFa Group in January this year to build at least 15 Yellow Cab Pizza stores in China, particularly in Beijing, Tianjin and parts of Hebei Province, within the next five years.

The restaurant chain sealed a development agreement with Changsha New Yorker Catering Management Co. Ltd. last week to build at least 10 Yellow Cab Pizza stores in Hunan Province over the next five years.

“We found the right partner in Pagh Pte. Ltd. for this venture. We can rely on their focus and determination to deliver best-quality products and genuine service to Singaporeans,” Trota said.

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

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El Niño creates untold havoc PARCHED lands caused by the long dry spell have altered the lives of many Filipino farmers and those in other parts of Asia as well. The Kidapawan incident in Cotabato province where farmer took to the streets on April 1 to protest government’s inaction against El Niño bears testimony to the damage wreaked by the weather phenomenon.

Over in Vietnam, one farmer saw her land turn into a wasteland from what used to double as rice paddy and shrimp pond. Nguyen Thi Tam’s family, according to a Bloomberg report, had no income for two harvests because the rice crop failed and the shrimp died. They piled $8,000 in debt, or more than twice her earnings in a typical year. She now plans to leave her village to work at a factory hundreds of miles away to make ends meet.

Here in the Philippines, the El Niño phenomenon has so far ruined 237,000 hectares of agriculture areas with damage estimated at P5.32 billion as of March, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Farmers in the rural areas have turned to the government for help and assistance after key commodities, including rice and corn as well as high value crops and livestock, were affected by the drought that has intensified with the onset of the dry season.

What can be done to mitigate the impact of a natural phenomenon like El Niño or La Niña on the country’s food supply? Will imports suffice to fill up the supply gap? The International Rice Research Institute has already warned of supply crises amid the most damaging drought.

Science and technology and regional and global cooperation are the key tasks at hand for countries like the Philippines to temper the changing climate pattern.

The Philippines and the rest of the world are now confronted with a global food crisis similar to the 2007-08 situation as a result of the current El Niño episode. Close cooperation, thus, should be secured among the biggest rice-producing and -consuming nations to stem the crisis should it worsen.

IRRI director general Matthew Morell, in a communication sent to the secretaries general of the Asean member-countries last week, called for a joint action to forestall an impending crisis.

Morell notes that for maximum impact, cooperation would have to involve not only Asean member-countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) but also China, Japan, and South Korea (Asean+3) and India—collectively the world’s biggest producers and consumers of rice. About 90 percent of the world’s rice production come from Asia.

Rice research key IRRI is one of the first non-government institutions to issue a warning on the food crisis amid the drought, which Department of Agriculture, unfortunately, does not share.

IRRI sparked the Green Revolution in Asia, which saved the continent from famine in the 1960s to the 1970s, through its sturdy high-yielding rice varieties.

IRRI recently made available climate-smart rice varieties, or those tolerant of submergence, drought, salinity and other environmental stresses, that have made unproductive areas in India and Bangladesh and parts of Southeast Asia bloom.

Working with hundreds of partners across the world, IRRI has developed and offers the improved and resilient rice varieties, crop management technologies and expertise to rice-growing countries.

Upon request of the governments of some of these countries, IRRI had helped develop national rice sector strategies, providing policy advice and technical assistance.

Bruce Tolentino, deputy director general for communication and partnerships at IRRI, says in a recent press conference “the way to handle another crisis is for the Asean+3 and India to come together as a region with shared concerns and interests, and take advantage of IRRI as a regional and neutral resource.”

IRRI’s call for action also includes an appeal for serious investment in rice research, which has borne the brunt of decreasing support in agriculture globally.

Rice research has historically been supported mainly by Western donor countries, and to a much lesser degree by rice-growing countries.

IRRI seeks to push this dynamic to a more appropriate balance, that is, for the biggest rice stakeholders to invest the most in the research.

The Philippines, the eighth largest producer of rice in the world in 2015 and one of the most at-risk countries from climate change, has risen to the challenge and is now IRRI’s fourth biggest donor. Other Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, India,and Indonesia, are also increasing investment in rice research.

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

Mindanao power grid remains on ‘red alert’

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Mindanao power grid remains on red alert amid soaring temperature, even as a unit of Therma South Inc.’s 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Davao City resumed operation.

“Mindanao is still on red alert as per NGCP [National Grid Corp. of the Philippines] advisory but situation has improved since Therma South’s Unit 1 is back online last Saturday (April 17), earlier than expected,” Energy Department director Irma Exconde said.

Unit 1 of Aboitiz Power Corp.’s Therma South suffered a boiler tube leak problem in early April

that needed to be repaired for at least two weeks. The coal plant is located in Barangay Binugao, Toril District, Davao City and Barangay Inayawan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Exconde said power supply in Mindanao remained in deficit because of the soaring temperature.

The El Niño weather phenomenon affected Mindanao’s power

supply, particularly the Agus-Pulangi hydro power plants due to low water level.

“Yes, demand is still forecasted to be higher than available supply,” she said.

The official said the agency was hoping that committed power plants for Mindanao would go online as expected.

“We hope that Sarangani [105 MW] will be able to fulfill their target of end April for the commercial operation, SMC [San Miguel Corp.’s first 150 MW to 300 MW] and FDC [Filinvest Development Corp.’s 405 MW],” Exconde said.

National Grid forecasted a supply deficit of 28 MW for Mindanao on Wednesday with demand at

1,486 MW and available capacity at 1,458 MW. “The coming back online of TSI Unit 1 provided much ease, especially to major load users such as Davao City. We just hope no other major power plant goes offline because that will again send many areas to rotating brownout due to absence of reserves,” Romeo Montenegro, director for investments promotion, international relations and public affairs office of the Mindanao Development Authority, said.

Based on the latest power grid situation outlook on Wednesday, Luzon was expected to have a peak demand of 9,444 MW against system capacity of 10,691 MW or reserves of 1,247 MW.

Solar plant inauguration.

President Benigno Aquino III (center) leads the official launch of San Carlos Sun Power Inc. (SacaSun)’s 59-megawattpeak solar facility in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, representing Aboitiz Power Corp.’s first foray into solar energy. He is joined by (from left) Aboitiz Power president and chief operating officer Antonio Moraza, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada, AboitizPower chief executive Erramon Aboitiz, Kris Aquino (hidden) and San Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr.

Govt told to support renewable projects THE Climate Change Commission asked the government to step away from the use of coal and tap more renewable resources to meet the country’s power supply requirements.

“Updating our roadmap to massively favor clean sources will allow the Philippines to be at the forefront of this aggressive and massive trend of investment and transition from fossil to renewable energy. This allows the Philippines to not only contribute to global efforts to combat climate change but reduce growing economic and financial risks associated with carbon intensive energy sources such as coal,” ECC vice chairman Emmanuel De Guzman said.

De Guzman cited the report of the International Energy Agency that more than 90 percent of new electricity generated last year came from renewable energy sources, with investments reaching a record $328.9 billion.

Coal, on the other hand, the most carbon intensive among fossil fuels, is starting to be seen as a risky long-term investment.

The agency said long-term institutional investors were increasingly treating carbon as a long-term risk and are divesting from fossil enterprises from their investment portfolio and moving to greener sources of energy.

“We must seize the opportunity now. A decisive transition to clean energy is good for the climate and makes financial and economic sense,” De Guzman said.

“It is now imperative for our country to adjust energy models with the global trend in renewable energy use in mind in order to come up with roadmaps with definitive actions for the power sector, and eventually for the transport industry and other key sectors,” he said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Bank Secrecy Act made AMLC a paper tiger IF EVER there was any doubt on the effectiveness of the Anti-Money Laundering Act as a deterrent to the laundering of ill-sourced funds, that doubt has been demolished by the testimonies given before the Senate blue ribbon committee by the management and personnel of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and the other players in the $81-million Bangladesh Bank drama.

The common verdict of the testimonies is that AMLA has not been effective.

If the question were asked, “Who’s afraid of AMLA?”, the highly disconcerting answer would be, hardly anyone. This response was – or should have been – clear from the substance and manner of delivery of the testimonies given during the hearing, especially those of the RCBC folk. The representative of AMLA should have been the star performer in the hearing, but that was not the case. AMLA’s executive direc-

tor was just another expert witness.

True, few people in government wanted AMLA. It was forced upon the Philippines by the Paris-based Financial Task Force, which had placed this country in its blacklist and had issued a pass-AMLAor-else threat against the Philippines. But, having swallowed the bitter pill, discerning observers expected that the rules of the new regulatory regime would be adequately implemented.

The truth of the matter is that actual or would-be perpetrators of money-laundering schemes appear to believe that they can get away with their nefarious activities. They seem to believe that the AntiMoney Laundering Council is a paper tiger. Two facts have brought them to this judgment. One is a wound inflicted on AMLC by Congress. The other is a selfinflicted wound.

Originally designed to encourage savers to deposit their savings in banks rather than under mattresses, the Bank Secrecy

Act has gravely hamstrung the operations of AMLC. The depositaries of individuals who have been red-flagged by AMLC, when faced by requests for access to the accounts of the red-flaggees, are quick to deny such access on the basis of the prohibitive provisions of the Act. Truth to tell, one gets the feeling this country’s bankers are happy that there is a Bank Secrecy Act. Part of the DNA of bankers is the concept of secrecy and they instinctively dislike being compelled to open up anything.

My own gut feeling is that the Philippine banking community is merely paying lip service to the idea of broadening AMLA’s coverage or repealing it.

I spoke earlier of AMLC’s ineffectiveness partly as being a self-inflicted wound.

The bankers that I speak to about AMLC are definitely neither scared nor awed by AMLC as it has been operating. They view AMLC as essentially a reactive rather than a pro-active or investigative agency.

As one banker put it, “We are required by

law to send AMLC ed-flag and suspicioustransaction reports, but usually nothing happens after that.”

I agree with my banker friend. Without a doubt, the Bank Secrecy Act has been an enormous obstacle to AMLC’s effective operation, but it is a tiger not entirely without teeth. It has some teeth, but what teeth the tiger has are not being effectively used. Tigers can and do growl, and one wishes that the AMLC would occasionally growl. Enough of being laidback and reports-oriented.

The Bank Secrecy Act is in my view totally inimical to the concept of fighting money laundering. It needs to be repealed, rather than merely amended.

Until that happens, AMLC does not have to behave like it was a paper tiger. It should more effectively use the teeth that it has, and it should stop operating like an 8-to-5, laidback institution. That way, the banking community will begin to fear and respect it.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Popular Queen Elizabeth turns 90 LONDON—Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 90th birthday on Thursday with a family gathering and a cake baked by a reality television star, as a new poll finds Britain’s longest serving monarch is as popular as ever.

The queen has reigned for more than 63 years and shows no sign of retiring, even if she has in recent years passed on some of her duties to the younger royals.

A new poll suggests the British public want it to stay that way, with 70 percent saying she should reign for as long as possible, the highest proportion since 1981.

Support for the monarchy remains high at 76 percent, according to the Ipsos-Mori poll for King’s College London.

“The queen is hugely popular, she is liked personally and is felt to have done an excellent job,” Roger Mortimore, a professor at the Institute of Contemporary British History at King’s College London, told AFP. Thursday’s celebrations will be low-key, with the main public events, including a military parade and lunch for 10,000 guests on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, taking place as part of her official birthday celebrations in June.

With her husband Prince Philip, she will meet members of the public near Windsor Castle, her weekend residence, before lighting the first of a chain of beacons stretching across Britain and its overseas territories.

At an event in Windsor’s town hall, the queen will be presented with a cake baked by Nadiya Jamir Hussain, the winner of the “Great British Bake Off ”, a hugely popular television cooking competition.

The Muslim motherof-three will present the orange drizzle cake, with orange curd and orange butter cream, to the queen personally— a prospect she said has left her “so nervous I can’t even look at the oven”.

The queen will also attend a family birthday dinner organized by her heir Prince Charles, emphasizing her role as the head of four generations of the House of Windsor. AFP

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Anger erupts as 1,700 still missing in Ecuador quake PEDERNALES, Ecuador—The death toll from Ecuador’s earthquake was set to rise sharply after authorities warned that 1,700 people were still missing and anger gripped the families of victims trapped in the rubble.

Three days after the powerful 7.8-magnitude quake struck Ecuador’s Pacific coast in a zone popular with tourists, 480 people are known to have died, the government said Tuesday.

Sniffer dogs and mechanical diggers were busy at work in the wreckage of coastal towns such as Pedernales and Manta as the stench of rotting bodies grew stronger under the baking sun.

International rescuers and aid groups rushed to help victims as searchers dug for the families trapped in the debris of homes, hotels and businesses.

“We have 2,000 people listed that are being looked for, but we have so far found 300,” Deputy Interior

Minister Diego Fuentes told reporters in the capital Quito.

Some 4,605 people were injured, according to the latest government figures.

In a glimmer of good news as he toured the affected areas, President Rafael Correa said that 54 people had been rescued alive from the rubble.

Still, the hope of finding more victims alive was fading fast as the crucial three-day mark was reached late Tuesday.

The locals in the devastated towns such as Manta—population 253,000—have started to lose patience.

“The rescue has been very slow and precious lives have been lost. We relatives have been waiting here since

Saturday night,” said Pedro Merro, who said his cousin was under the wreckage of a threefloor market in Manta.

Luis Felipe Navarro said he was sure there were people alive in the concrete and twisted metal of a building he owned—one of around 800 structures toppled in the quake.

“I have received messages on my telephone.

They say there are 10 of them in a cavity,” he said.

“But the rescue teams will not listen to me.”

“It is very hard but we are moving forward,” Correa told AFP in Manta, where he handed out food and water in what resembled a war zone.

Hundreds of emergency workers from Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Spain and other countries were helping overwhelmed Ecuadorian officials.

Fears rose for thousands of people left homeless by the quake, prey to disease-bearing mosquitoes and dirty drinking water. AFP

In Agra. Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, pose at The Taj Mahal in Agra on April 16, 2016. AFP LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Isidro Clar Dorilag of Dumangas, Iloilo, who died intestate on October 26, 2007 was extra-judicially settled among his heirs by means of a public instrument executed on March 31, 2016 and ratified before Atty. Rex C. Muzones, Notary Public in and for Iloilo City as per Doc. No. 79, Page No. 16, Book No. IV, Series of 2016 of his Notarial Register. ( t s - a P r . 7,14 , 21, 2 016)

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Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

National Irrigation Administration

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

INVITATION TO BID FOR SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF VARIOUS ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CF-CEBU MAIN UNDER ITB NO. PB16-007CEB The Philippine Amusement And Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Is inviting all interested bidder in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Various Entertainment Equipment for CF-Cebu Main under ITB No. PB16-007CEB. Brief Description

Supply and Delivery of Various Entertainment Equipment for CF-Cebu Main

Delivery Schedule

Within ninety (90) calendar days from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC):

The ABC for the project is in the amount of Four Million Four Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Pesos (Php 4,485,000.00)VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

Source of Funds:

Internally Funded

Bidder should have completed, within the last three (3) before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidder. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

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

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

Schedule April 21, 2016 to May 11, 2016

2. Pre-Bid Conference

April 29, 2016, 2:00pm

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids

May 11, 2016, 2:00pm

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

May 11, 2016, 2:01pm

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidder at the Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat Section (BACSS), acting as the BAC Secretariat, upon payment of the non-refundable cost for the sale of bidding documents in the amount of FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (Php 5,000.00).

Prospective bidder may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidder shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidder. Prospective bidder should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth(6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del PilarStreet corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from BASD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Branch Bids and Awards Committee, Casino Filipino Cebu (BBAC, CF-Cebu)shall use a nondiscretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1.

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

2.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

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

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee, thru Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat Section (BACSS) 3 rd Level, VIP 5, Casino Filipino Cebu, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, Salinas Drive, Lahug Cebu City. Tel No.: 032-268-4989 or 2326272 local 5265.

(SGD) ATTY. JANICE A. GODORNES Branch Bids and awards committee (BBac), cF-ceBU

(TS APR. 21, 2016)

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 3 Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office Office Address: Telephone Nos.: Email Address:

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-3888 / 766-4142 / 766-0157 / 766-3524 niabaneimo_es@yahoo.com/niabaneimo_om@yahoo.com niabaneimoafs@yahoo.com

Telefax No. (044) 766-3888 TIN No. 000-578-009-000

INVITATION TO BID April 18, 2016

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for: ITB No.R3-BANE-RRENIS-2016-BU-50R ANGAT RIS (AMRIS) Improvement of Various Irrigation Facilities-Baliuag, Bulacan.

The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P14,222,977.43 with contract duration of 120 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 14,000.00. Any bid above the ABC shall be rejected outright.

Only those, Letter of Intent together with the company profile, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer will be accepted.

Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

Issuance of Bid Documents; (upon payment of non-refundable amount as stated above each ITB)

April 20, 2016 @ 10:00 AM NIA BANE, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan

Pre-Bidding

April 26, 2016 at 10:00 AM

Submission/Opening of Bids

May 9, 2016 at 10:00 AM NIA-BANE, San Rafael, Bul;acan

The NIA-BANE assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids.

Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.

(TS-APR,21, 2016)

SGD.ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ Chairman – BAC

Th ha rel 20 Ca

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

70th anniversary. Guests attend a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the International Court of Justice in The Hague on April 20, 2016. AFP

‘Press freedom is in decline’ Nato, Russia hold first major talks since 2014

PARIS—World press freedom deteriorated in 2015, especially in the Americas, advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said Wednesday as it released its annual rankings, warning of “a new era of propaganda”.

BRUSSELS—Nato and Russia held their highest level talks for nearly two years on Wednesday, in a bid to ease the military tensions over the Baltic Sea and the simmering violence still gripping eastern Ukraine.

The meeting of the Nato-Russia Council will be the first since the alliance cut off all practical ties with Moscow to protest the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in early 2014.

Relations have worsened over Moscow’s air campaign in Syria and tensions have flared in the past week after two incidents involving the US military and Russian planes in the Baltic Sea. NATO’s press office confirmed that ambassadors from the 28 countries that make up NATO had begun their meeting with Russian officials at the alliance’s

The World Press Freedom Index ranks 180 countries on indicators such as media independence, selfcensorship, the rule of law, transparency and abuses.

This year’s report warned of a climate of fear that has seen world leaders “developing a form of paranoia about legitimate journalism.”

Christophe Deloire, secretary general of the Paris-based group, told AFP there had been a decline in all parts of the world, with Latin America of particular concern.

“All of the indicators show a deterioration. Numerous authorities are trying to regain control of their countries, fearing overly open public debate,” he said.

“Today, it is increasingly easy for powers to appeal directly to the public through new technologies,

headquarters in Brussels.

“We are not afraid of dialogue,” said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday, adding that they would discuss Ukraine, improving military cooperation and the war in Afghanistan.

“Actually we think dialogue is more important when times are difficult and tensions are high,” he added.

Stoltenberg will hold a press conference at 1000 GMT. High on the agenda will be an incident this month when Russian warplanes flew within meters of an American missile destroyer in the Baltic Sea in what the US called a “simulated attack”.

Two days later, a US air force plane was intercepted by a Russian fighter, prompting Stoltenberg to accuse Russia’s military of “unprofessional and unsafe behavior”. AFP

and so there is a greater degree of violence against those who represent independent information,” he added.

“We are entering a new era of propaganda where new technologies allow the low-cost dissemination of their own communication, their information, as dictated. On the other side, journalists are the ones who get in the way.”

The situation was particularly grave in Latin America, the report said, highlighting “institutional violence” in Venezuela and Ecuador, organized crime in Honduras, impunity in Colombia, corruption in Brazil and media concentration in Argentina as the main obstacles to press freedom.

Among the lowest ranked countries were Syria, at 177th place out

of 180, just below China (176th) but above North Korea (179th) and last placed Eritrea.

Japan slumped to 72nd due to what the watchdog identified as self-censorship towards Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, while Finland retained its top spot for the sixth consecutive year, followed by the Netherlands and Norway.

While Europe remained the region with the most press freedom, Reporters Without Borders warned that the misuse of counter-terrorist and counter-espionage measures and conflicts of interest had put it on “a downhill course”.

Poland fell a massive 29 places to 49th due to government seeking to restore Polish ownership of foreign owned Polish media.

And France dropped seven places to 45th because “most of the private-sector national media are now owned by a handful of businessmen with interests in areas of the economy unrelated to the media.” Afp

Bleaching hits 93% of Great Barrier Reef SYDNEY—Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is suffering its worst coral bleaching in recorded history with 93 percent of the World Heritage site affected, scientists said Wednesday, as they revealed the phenomenon is also hitting the other side of the country.

After extensive aerial and underwater surveys, researchers at James Cook University said only seven percent of the huge reef had escaped the whitening triggered by warmer water temperatures.

“We’ve never seen anything like this scale of bleaching before,” said Terry Hughes, convener of the

National Coral Bleaching Taskforce.

The damage ranges from minor in the southern areas—which are expected to recover soon—to very severe in the northern and most pristine reaches of the 2,300 kilometer site off the east coast.

Hughes said of the 911 individual reefs surveyed, only 68 (or seven percent) had escaped the massive bleaching event which has also spread south to Sydney Harbor for the first time and across to the west.

Researcher Verena Schoepf, from the University of Western Australia, said coral was already dying at a site she had recently vis-

ited off the state’s far north coast.

“Some of the sites that I work at had really very severe bleaching, up to 80 to 90 percent of the coral bleached,” she told AFP. “So it’s pretty bad out there.”

Australia’s Environment Minister Greg Hunt said it was “absolutely clear that there is a severe coral bleaching event occurring not just in the Great Barrier Reef but throughout many parts of the Pacific”.

Hughes said the bleaching began in Hawaii late last year and Coral in danger. This undated handout photo released on April had already affected several Pacific 20, 2016, by XL Catlin Seaview Survey shows a turtle swimming over islands. AFP bleached coral at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef. AFP

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BiNG pAREl

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

BERNADETTE lUNAS WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@liFEatStandard

w El l BEiNG

LIFE

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FINE FEttlE

By BuBBlES pARAISO

i

’ve always wondered why, when people come home from a week or a month of traveling, it is apparent that they did so because of one thing: they gained weight.

Whether it is five or 10 pounds, we pack some weight up when we are away and blame the flight home for that “airplane bloat.” But several hours or days later, the pudginess is still there and we have no one to blame but ourselves.

It’s not just the weight gain; sometimes, being on vacation also means time away from our gyms and/or trainers which means we’ve got hell to pay when we get back – and getting back to the groove after a hiatus may just be harder than squatting twice your weight over your head.

One might wonder if its possible to keep fit and/or not pack on the pounds when traveling. And I say yes, of course! Those who have traveled with me know that despite my ginormous appetite and love for discovering new places to eat in, I refuse to come home from a trip half a size bigger or out of breath on my next workout.

It being the season for traveling, I compiled a list to guide you on how you can travel, yet still manage to keep yourself or your jeans fit.

Walk, walk and walk. I am notorious for making my friends walk with me everywhere. I love walking and I believe that the best way to explore any place is by foot.

Check out your surroundings while burning calories and seeing sights. Two for one, right?

Watch what you eat. Despite the temptation to be adventurous with the cultural delicacies the country you’re visiting, keep in mind that a moment on your lips will still be hard to remove on your hips. That being said, try to still avoid food that are fried or are just too unhealthy to begin with. Be mindful of everything that you order and be smart about it.

Skip the fast food. It’s sometimes fun to check out the international franchises of our favorite fast food chains because they always have something different to offer depending on the country. But the bottom line is, it’s still fast food, and if you don’t or hardly eat it when in Manila, why are

Make your friends join you in your incidental workouts and explore the place on foot or bikes. Keeping fit while sightseeing makes you hit two birds with one stone

ThE FIT TRAvElER

you eating it elsewhere? The caloric and nutritional content of the food will be the same anyway.

Take flight. Use the stairs as much as possible when going up your hotel room, when walking around malls, going up towers and what not. It’s additional cardio and your body will thank you for it. It won’t just burn that extra mashed potato you ordered, it also won’t make you feel too winded when you get back into your gym.

Make use of the hotel gym. Most hotels come with fancy gyms that most people don’t make use of. I say wake up an extra hour early and try it out! Group classes are usually offered as well and I think joining these may still be part of your cultural experience. Always remember that starting your day with a workout will give you more energy to see the sights in your trip after.

Put your sneaks on and go. If you don’t have a nice gym where you’re staying, then turn the neighborhood into one. Run around the block, use the bench for tricep

Indulge if you must but moderation is still key. Just take one bite of anything too sweet or unhealthy just so you don't deprive yourself

dips and step ups. Use the park swing to help your stretches. Be creative in your workouts and just move!

Don’t overindulge yourself. Sometimes you can’t help not watch what you’re eating and you choose to indulge. If and when you do so, just do it moderately. A bite of the special fried strawberry Nutella mango Oreo cheesecake would be better than eating the whole slice.

Don’t drink the calories. Skip the sodas, iced teas and juices. And if you must go out and party, stick to a simple vodka on the rocks instead of adding any fancy schmancy liquid to mask the taste or any sweet cocktail.

Pre-plan some workouts. Try to plan your workouts ahead of your trip by researching the nearest gyms or yoga studios in the area. Sneak in a session or two just so you won’t get into a rut while you’re in a different city.

Pack a jump rope. A very light weight and portable accessory, a jump rope is

so easy to take along with you for some light and easy workout you can do in the confines of you hotel or Airbnb room. Add in some core exercises while you’re at it to make it more of a complete workout.

So you see, its all about the combination of a proper workout + eating plan even when you’re away. Travelling mustn’t always equate to weight gain. I’ve always been known for being able to maintain my fitness and weight when I’m away.

No matter how much food I put in my mouth, I make sure to negate it with lots of physical activities – be it walking, running or biking around where I am; or making use of whatever is around me and turning it into my little version of a gym.

Wherever you are, there should never be any reason to not be active. You have no excuse. Make your body as strong as your will. You can do it.

Discover more places and get lost (not literally) on foot.

Keep a pedometer if you must, and see how many steps you can achieve in a day of exploring

Riding a bike to explore the place you travelled to is a sure way to keep you fit while still enjoying the sights while on vacation

You may find me on Twitter and Instagram @bubblesparaiso

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@liFEatStandard

Make sure the food you eat is not exposed to pesticide residue

I

iS YoUR FooD SAFE FRom ToxinS?

t is said that “we are what we eat,” where every little thing we ingest shapes the way our bodies look, and affects the status of our health. It must follow then that if we take in food that contain toxic chemicals and ingredients, we are inviting serious health problems – more so when we allow our children to take in food that may have harmful toxins.

To cope with the growing demand for food (in large part due to population explosion in many countries), many agricultural businesses resort to artificial growth-promoting hormones and synthetic pest control substances like pesticides and herbicides for faster production of crops, meat and dairy products. While the immune system of adults can help fight these toxins, children are more vulnerable, if not defenseless, because of their immature organs and systems.

“Several studies have linked the harmful effects of chemical residues in food to pesticides. These chemicals are increasingly found in the food we eat and have been linked to the rising incidence of developmental disorders among children such as autism and ADHD, immune disorders such as allergy and asthma, as well as metabolic disorders leading to obesity and type 2 diabetes in later life,” reveals Edwin Feist, chairman and CEO of Advanced Nutritional Technologies Inc. or ANTECH, the distribution and marketing partner of HiPP Germany, the largest global producer of organic food.

According to the World Health Organization, chemical contaminants

significantly contribute to foodborne diseases, and this is linked to child mortality globally.

Artificial growth promoting hormones and prophylactic antibiotics regularly used in small doses to fatten up farm animals and increase production of cow’s milk, along with the use of feeds that have pesticide residue and GMOs, may be detrimental children’s health and cognitive development.

Exposure to pesticide residue that may be present in conventional food and dairy products like cheese and milk, even in low doses, is particularly damaging to children because it is the timing of exposure and not the dose that makes it poisonous, ANTECH noted.

The possibility that ingestion of these harmful pollutants through food may bring irreversible and lifelong harm to children’s health and cognitive development, which may lead to learning disabilities and developmental disorders such as autism and ADHD, is indeed disturbing.

“One of the most effective ways to reduce exposure of children to these harmful substances is (by) giving them organic food.

Organic farming does not use synthetic growth-promoting hormones, antibiotic for prophylactic purposes among farm animals, and GMOs are prohibited, thus avoiding toxin residue that may be present in conventionallygrown food,” Feist pointed out.

The production of organic food is a careful process that begins with the selection of farmland, ensuring that the soil is free from pesticides and harmful chemicals. Animals are fed with organic

Organic food produced through organic farming minimizes the risk of exposing children to harmful chemicals

feeds and pesticide free crops and are raised using natural methods; prohibiting use of artificial growth promoting hormones and antibiotics unless for treatment of disease.

The produce, like meat and dairy products, are then tested from detectable residue of pollutants and made sure to comply with organic standards before they are sold in the market or used as raw materials. When cows get sick and are given antibiotics, they are cared for in isolation and are tested to make certain they are free from antibiotic residue before returning to the herd.

Simply put, organic food produced through organic farming minimizes the risk of exposing children to harmful chemicals

that may affect their health and intelligence.

Without foreign chemicals negatively interacting with its pure nutrients, organic food has greater nutritional value, more antioxidants that help boost children’s immune system, higher Omega 3 that supports heart and brain development, and more mineral content like zinc and iron.

Making informed choices about nutrition and food that are free from toxin residue are important in ensuring the health of every one in the family, most especially the children.

Get a good start by choosing organic.

To find out more about ANTECH and HiPP Organic, visit antech-asia.com.

Tips to protect eyes from digital strain

The advent of social media and computer games has revolutionized the way people live, but along with these technological advancements also come health risks.

On the average, gamers spend five hours in front of a computer as they map out

battle plans to wipe out their opponents or search for those mines, treasures and game boosters. Social media fanatics also spend hours online, posting, tweeting and commenting. The result: a common eye disorder called digital strain.

Gamers can protect their eyes from digital strain by wearing protective eyewear

Prolonged exposure to harmful blue light emitted from the excessive use of digital devices such as computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones cause digital strain. The condition is characterized by symptoms that include constant headaches, eye fatigue, redness and blurred vision. If left untreated, digital strain may lead to more serious eye disorders like retinal damage, which can contribute to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Here are a few simple tips that will allow you to enjoy your time spent online while still protecting your eyes from the harmful blue light: The 20-20-20 rule. While it’s difficult to get your eyes off the screen while you are in the zone, it’s advisable to follow the ‘2020-20’ rule. Take frequent eye breaks by taking your eyes off your computer every 20 minutes. Shift you gaze to something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds, and blink regularly to refresh your eyes and keep them moist. Blinking also relaxes eye muscles, which reduces the tendency of eye itchiness.

Mind your distance. Gamers, follow the good old rule of keeping distance from the computer or TV screen to prevent eye damage. Computer screens should be

at least an arm’s length away. The more distance from the screen, the less eyestrain.

Use protective eyewear. Protect your eyes by investing on an eyewear that minimizes eyestrain. Consider using an eyewear that effectively blocks the harmful blue light and eliminate glares from computer or smart phone screens.

Energeyes Digital Lenses is one good example of protective eyewear that alleviates the symptoms of digital strain by cutting out over 50 percent of harmful blue light through the synergistic actions of a reflective front surface treatment on the lens and an absorptive lens material.

Energeyes Digital Lenses are effective in blocking out the damaging blue light and improving visual performance by eliminating glares from digital screens.

With Energeyes, the eyes are protected from the damaging effects of blue light, allowing you to win not only in eye care health but in dominating your opponents in the battlefield.

So gamers, don’t be a noob to digital strain. Plan your strategy: Protect your eyes with Energeyes Digital Lenses, available in iStudio at Shangri-La Plaza Mall and in all Ekotek branches.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

SpEAk wITH nATURALLY FRESH BREATH

B

ad breath caused by bacterial growth from leftover food particles, cavities or tooth decay can strike anyone. The good thing is, it can easily be prevented by brushing our teeth regularly.

However, while the regular toothpaste may look harmless, it could actually be bad for you and the environment.

The country’s largest brand of natural personal care products, Human Nature, introduces its Natural Toothpaste that keeps teeth strong and breath fresh sans the harmful chemicals usually found in many synthetic personal care products.

Human Nature Natural Toothpaste is powered by GreenMineral Plus which fights tartar, plaque and cavities. It features a blend of zinc citrate, calcium carbonate and fluoride. It also contains natural breath-fresheners courtesy of sesame seed, spearmint and peppermint oils.

In a panel test conducted last year, GreenMineral Plus’ effectivity was proven by 86 percent of subjects who reported fresher morning breath after using Human Nature Natural Toothpaste.

Human Nature Natural Toothpaste features GreenMineral Plus that keeps breath fresh and teeth strong sans harmful chemicals

Brushing teeth helps prevent bad breath

Synthetic toothpaste contains harmful chemicals such as triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate and propylene glycol that can harm the body and the environment

The toothpaste is free from chemical products such as triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and propylene glycol. Used in cosmetics as a cleaning agent, SLS has been clinically-proven to destroy membrane proteins which can leave the mouth feeling dry, while propylene glycol increases the amount of acid in the body.

A Human Nature user vouches for the Natural Toothpaste. Commercial toothpastes

Beat the heat with Del Monte’s new Flavors of Summer The scorching temperature makes wading into a pool so refreshing. But if you’re not in a resort and you have yet to buy one of those giant inflatable pools, then the best option would be to reach for a cold glass of water inside the ref. But why settle for the bland taste of water when you can quench you thirst with the refreshing flavors of Del Monte fruit juices?

And here’s the good news – you can now enjoy the Pineapple Lychee and Pineapple Pomelo flavors from Del Monte. Made with real fruit juice, every sip brings the refreshing taste of real fruit goodness that brings on the great flavors of summer – down to the last drop.

Plus, drinking juice can also boost your health because of the vitamins and nutrients contained in the beverages.

With Del Monte juice drinks, 100 percent of daily Vitamin C needs are met.

These two new flavors are only available for the summer, so make sure to stock up so you have enough to bring to summer outings or even for snacks and mealtimes at home.

Del Monte Pineapple Pomelo and Pineapple Lychee Juice Drinks are available in 1L Tetra pack in all leading supermarkets at the SRP of P65. Make mealtimes more fruitful with Del Monte’s range of juice drink flavors.

Available in Four Seasons, Pineapple,

Mango, Pineapple Orange, and the new limited-edition Pineapple Lychee and Pineapple Pomelo.

Del Monte's new fruit juice flavors

leave my mouth dry after I brush my teeth, which means that they are loaded with preservatives. With Human Nature s Natural Toothpaste, my mouth feels refreshed after every brushing. It even helped eliminate bleeding gums which has been my problem for the past years, shares Hazel Mae. Human Nature Natural Toothpaste is also free from US-banned microbeads,

small plastic beads called polyethylene and polypropylene which pollute water systems and harm marine life.

Human Nature Natural Toothpaste comes in 120g and 215g variants and is available at all Human Nature Branches.

Visit http://humanheartnature.com/buy/store to find a branch near you.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Lifestyle experts Bianca King, Mari Jasmine and Citcit Sioson experienced wellness activities in Gyeonggi, Korea

Travel and Wellness in Korea features Myeongdong for shopping and food adventure, SkinAnniversary for pampering and beauty care, Herb Healing Garden in Gyeonggi-do for holistic healing, and sight seeing of shrines and palaces at Bukchon area located in Gyedong

p

Travel To Wellness WiTh airasia

eople are becoming more conscious about their lifestyle choices, and with the advent of holistic wellness, even travel options are changing. Each time we come back from a vacation, we come home more exhausted than rested due to endless touring, binging, and lack of sleep. The changing landscape of travel has been gearing towards wellness tourism and AirAsia, voted the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for seven consecutive years, also joined the bandwagon and recently launched “Travel to Wellness” in partnership with leading health and wellness brands.

With “Travel to Wellness,” AirAsia guests traveling to any domestic and international destinations may claim up to 20 percent discounts and special treats from AirAsia’s partner merchants – Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay, Urban Ashram Yoga, Beyond Yoga, Life Yoga, Whitespace Mind and Wellness Studio, Juju Eats, Detoxify Bar and Runner’s Kitchen until April 30 from bookings done last April 3.

During the launch of this program, AirAsia highlighted traveling and experiencing wellness activities in Korea as introduced by lifestyle experts Citcit Sioson, Mari Jasmine and Bianca King. Korea is becoming a popular destination especially for Filipinos because of its modern and traditional food, culture and sites. For Travel to Wellness, the carrier is training the spotlight on Korea for its traditional wellness centers that offer services from face care and body massages to nature healing. With the support

of Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, the event showcased experiences in Myeongdong for shopping and food adventure, SkinAnniversary beauty care activities, holistic healing at Herb Healing Garden in Gyeonggi-do, and sight seeing for shrines and palaces at Bukchon Area located in Gyedong.

“We are thrilled to introduce health and wellness treats that have become a unique attraction in Korea,” says Philippines AirAsia’s CEO Joy Cañeba. “Healthoriented relaxation, rejuvenation, hot springs and spas have become increasingly popular not only among Koreans but also among international tourists, Filipinos included.”

Travelers who want to get a free roundtrip ticket to Korea may join the “Travel to Wellness” Instagram contest via Philippines AirAsia’s social media platform.

Simply share a photo or video of your wellness routine and tell them why this is an important part of your lifestyle. Tag @AirAsiaPH and the wellness partners and post in public using the hashtag #WellnesswithAirAsia. Twenty lucky winners will get premium prizes from the wellness partners while three winners can get free roundtrip tickets to Korea.

Contest winners will be announced on May 2 in AirAsia and wellness partners’ social media accounts.

Keep updated with AirAsia’s latest promotion and activities via Twitter @AirAsiaPH, follow on Facebook at AirAsiaPhilippines, Instagram @AirAsiaPh, and on Viber public chat @AirAsiaPh.

2nD ECHO SUmmIT SET On ApRIL 28 The Experts’ Convergence for Health Outcomes or ECHO will hold its second summit on April 28 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Marriott Hotel, open to doctors and medical practitioners. This year’s summit will tackle relevant topics covering women’s health, psychosocial well-being, diabetes mellitus and heart failure aiming for greater results from last year’s turnout.

The Summit is a project of Unilab, created with the goal of providing worldclass and unbiased learning opportunities for Filipino doctors by covering a wide range of healthcare topics and to share the latest information and management trends in medical practice.

“The guiding vision for the ECHO Summit is to deliver multidisciplinary and up-to-date medical know-how to the front linersk such as the internists, family physicians, and industrial medicine practitioners,” shares Dr. Maria Rosario Sevilla, medical director of LRITherapharma. “These continuing medical education opportunities will, hopefully, arm them with the latest weapons that they can use to win the battle for their patients’ good health,” she adds.

This year’s roster of speakers include Professor Bertram Pitt, who will talk about the role of mineralocorticoids in the

management of heart failure; Professor Wilfred Fujimoto, who will discuss the pathophysiology of diabetes in Asians; Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, whose presentation will focus on anxiety and depression in patients with cardiovascular disease; and Dr. Amos Pines who will round up the discussion by explaining the cardiometabolic disorders in menopause.

t HuR S DAy : A pRIl 2 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

“Harapan ng Bise” moderators lynda Jumilla and Alvin Elchico

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Vice presidential candidates Sen. Antonio trillanes IV, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Sen. Alan peter Cayetano, and Rep. leni Robredo at ABS-CBN’s ‘Harapan ng Bise’ debate

ABS-CBN’S ‘HARApAN Ng BISE’ SCORES HIgH IN RATINgS

ilipinos all over the country did not miss an opportunity to be more informed about the country’s candidates vying for the vice presidential seat last Sunday. ABS-CBN’s Harapan ng Bise debate recorded a national TV rating of 21.4 percent, according to data from Kantar Media.

The debate held at the ABS-CBN compound bested 24 Oras Weekend and Vampire ang Daddy Ko, which only managed to score 10 and 13 percent ratings, respectively.

Harapan ng Bise, moderated by Lynda Jumilla and Alvin Elchico, also won against GMA in all key territories in the country, including Mega Manila, where it scored a 17.4 percent rating.

It also generated buzz online as netizens posted their thoughts about the candidates during the debate, with the event’s official hashtag, #HarapanBise, claiming the top spot nationwide and worldwide on Twitter.

Twitter user @zel_zone said, “Job well done ABS-CBN! Best debate so far. I am almost sure which VP to vote. Thanks! #HarapanBise.” Meanwhile, another user, @syntaxerror, tweeted, “Ang ganda lang ng Harapan Bise ngayon. Paliwanagan nga siya, hindi bangayan.”

User @lloydislucky agreed, “Kudos to ABS-CBN for a well-crafted “Harapan ng Bise”! Malinis, matino ang process, ‘hi-tech,’ at matalino ang sequence! #HarapanBise.”

Twitter users @humeako and @tyronnarito also congratulated the Kapamilya network for the work done on the debates, saying,

Sen. trillanes faces off with Sen. Cayetano at ABS-CBN’s “Harapan ng Bise”

ABS-CBN chief information officer Mark lopez, president and CEO Carlo Katigbak, and chairman Eugenio lopez III

“Congratulations, #HarapanBise and to ABS-CBN! You were able to bring out the best in each VP candidate for us to figure who (sic) to vote. Kudos!” and “Cheers to ABS-CBN for pulling it off and wrapping it up nicely. #HarapanBise,” respectively.

Rep. Robredo faces off with Sen. Escudero at ABS-CBN’s “Harapan ng Bise”

With a miting de avance theme, the debate brought forward the stands on different issues of Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Congressman Leni Robredo.

Senators Gringo Honasan and Bongbong Marcos were invited but failed to attend due to a scheduling conflict.

Harapan ng Bise: The ABS-CBN Vice Presidential Debate is part of ABS-CBN’s “Ipanalo Ang Pamilyang Pilipino” election campaign that encourages Filipinos to use their vote and uphold the interest and welfare of their families.

Through Harapan ng Bise and the upcoming PiliPinas 2016: The Presidential Townhall Debate on April 24, ABS-CBN aims to educate the public about the character and platform of the candidates to help voters make an informed choice for the elections.

This year, ANC let senatorial candidates present their platforms and views in Headstart with Karen Davila and featured different party-list organizations in Beyond Politics with Lynda Jumilla. DZMM, meanwhile, was the first to complete interviews with the candidates for the presidential, vice presidential, and senatorial races through its Ikaw na Ba ang Para sa Pamilyang Pilipino interview series anchored

by Karen, Vic De Leon-Lima, Gerry Baja, and Anthony Taberna.

Don’t miss the PiliPinas 2016: The Presidential Townhall Debate on Sunday 5:45 p.m. on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167) with the debate proper starting at 6 p.m.. Also catch it on ANC (SKyCable channel 27), DZMM TeleRadyo (SkyCable channel 26), The Filipino Channel on cable, satellite, IPTV, and TFC.tv in all regions, and ABS-CBNnews.com.

pHlpost honors Miss universe 2015 pia Alonzo Wurtzbach The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has released limited copies of the special commemorative stamps in honor of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach on April 18.

The stamps are expected to be a hit among collectors when PHLPost starts to sell the stamps and first day cover issue at the Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio.

“The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) takes pride in honoring our very own Ms. Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach by immortalizing her with a postage stamp

as the third Filipina to win the prestigious and much coveted Miss Universe crown”, OIC, Postmaster General Joel Otarra said.

The souvenir sheet of the stamps feature a special embellishment called tactile glittery texture embossed to enhance the important look and feel of the stamps. The glittered stamp would be limited to her crown, if when touch, would feel the rough texture on it.

Displayed in the regular stamp as well as the souvenir sheet is the photo of Pia in her shining moment when she was

crowned Miss Universe last December 2015 in Las Vegas.

PHLPost printed 101,000 pieces of the regular stamps sold at P15 each, while 5,000 pieces of the souvenir sheets has been released, at P40 per piece.

Pia joins other PHLPost “living legends” who has been given the rare privilege of being featured in a postage stamp which includes boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1973 Margarita Moran, and Miss World 2013 Megan Young.

Commemorative stamps featuring the country’s third Miss universe, pia Wurtzbach

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t HuR S DAy : A pRIl 2 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

‘tHE lunAcy of WIllIE nEp’

hrough the years, Willie Nepomuceno has done a good ‘jab’ at our country’s leaders via his satirical impressions. When President Marcos left for Hawaii, he gave the chills to the mammoth crowd gathered in Makati celebrating the victory of People Power. Imagine the shock of seeing Marcos wearing the very same wardrobe when he fled appeared on stage with full security offering immediate reconciliation with the people. The crowd simply went wild after a few seconds of disbelief.

When the military renegade Col. Gringo Honasan was in hiding after staging several coup attempts, guess who would appear in a press conference but the “Mutiny Idol” himself. Other guest panelists were trembling at the thought of a potential firefight with the surprise invasion. It was Willie Nep, of course. Foreign correspondents went gaga over the “scoop” and the story landed in the international press.

The Gringo reincarnation happened again when he became a “fugitive” Senator and turned up at a morning forum Kapihan sa Manila. The vicinity of the Manila Hotel was swarming with police and military personnel anticipating to capture the rebel lawmaker. The major dailies carried his photos in their front pages. Willie was just promoting his shows at the Music Museum,

it turned out.

During the 2004 Presidential campaigns, experienced reporters had a difficult time cornering presidential aspirant Fernando Poe, Jr. for a direct interview. It was only ANC’s Pia Hontiveros who got the rare one on one exchange with “Da King” in his sole television appearance. Not a few newsmen and opinion makers were fooled into believing they were seeing the real thing. With pen in hand they were ready to jot down the wannabe’s action plans… the whole town had more laughs than action instead.

He was even photographed as the newly ousted President Erap giving President GMA the “beso-beso” in a party immediately following his removal from office, He even raised the hand of his bosom friend turned star witness Chavit Singson as a sign of reconciliation. It was another front page material that lightened the tensed situation of the moment.

He likewise had a one on one repartee with President Fidel V. Ramos in more than one occasion. The not so keen observers had a difficult time telling who the real mackoy was when they saw two FVR’s in one photograph. Once more it caught the fancy of news editors and earned a frontpage treatment in the major local dailies including The Strait Times of Singapore.

Every election season, Willie Nep’s act

is a much anticipated event in the live entertainment scene. Last 2010, Willie Nep mounted a hilarious glimpse at Philippine politics at the Music Museum with his “Presidentiables’ Gut Talent”. The Presidential aspirants’ took turns in exhibiting their performance talents as they vie for the title of “Talentadong Pangulo”. Imagine Dick Gordon as a ventriloquist with his doll (who else but Bayani Fernando), Manny Villar showcased his energetic rap singing talent to the tune of his own jingle, Erap magically cuts his smoking and drinking vices including a woman in half, Noynoy in a sword balancing act of a hypnotized lady (not necessarily GMA) and Gibo Teodoro as a pilot who levitates to cloud nine and many more surprises.

The show got a good number of reviews from the leading national dailies with one article making it as the lead feature in a book launched in Manila and New York. It also made an all seats taken record and unexpected number of repeat performances from the original two nights only.

From the original playdate on April fool’s day, Willie Nep will reprise his traditional Show That Happens Only Once Every 6 Years, apolitical comedy presentation at the Music Museum on April 30. Fun starts at 8 p.m. and for tickets call Music Museum 721 6726 and TicketWorld 891 9999.

Shakespeare lives at Shang After debuting at the Royal Exchange Theatre in 2014, the critically acclaimed theater production Hamlet was filmed for cinemas, and now makes its premiere in the Philippines at the Shangri-La Plaza’s Shang Cineplex on April 23.

The play presents a progressively modern twist to the original, highlighted by a female actor taking on the main role.

Wonderfully talented Maxine Peake plays the doomed hero in what’s been called a “terrifically fast, fluent attacking production.”

The Hamlet film premiere at the Shang is part of the British Council’s year-long series of events entitled Shakespeare Lives to commemorate William Shakespeare’s 400th death anniversary, and celebrate his work and enduring global influence.

Catch Hamlet at the Shang Cineplex, 1 and 5 p.m. on April 23. Admission is free on a first-come, firstserved basis.

For inquiries, call 370-2500 loc. 593 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

‘Wheels’ continues to roll through summer

Actor Mateo Guidicelli goes behind the wheels of some of the hottest rides this summer

SuV aficionados are in for a treat in this week

Guidicelli and his special friend

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Bard’s forte 6 “Hot Lips” series 10 Freighter locales 14 Specks 15 Mighty Dog rival 16 Bottom feeder 17 — raving mad 18 Wedge driver 19 Hydrox rival 20 Fishing float 21 Bread at the

beach? (2 wds.)

Uses a compass Most ancient How cacti like it Swings around Grid coach Don — 32 Makes small talk 33 Except 36 Word before meeny 37 Hilarious people 23 25 26 27 29

38 Twist-offs 39 Koppel or Knight 40 Muscle injuries 41 Swat 42 — — the run (grab a bite) 43 Fair-hiring abbr.

44 Seafood dish 47 All thumbs 51 Near 12,000 feet in the Rockies 54 Chills 55 Jellybean shape 56 Franc’s successor 57 Disparage 58 Port or sherry 59 Oklahoma town 60 Pilot 61 Close violently 62 Return env.

63 Uptight DOWN 1 Music with a beat 2 Helicoptor part 3 Nintendo forerunner 4 Drastically 5 Say please 6 Half the parents 7 Astronaut — Shepard 8 Future fries 9 Not the “me too” type 10 Viragos

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016

11 Bogart in “High Sierra” 12 Territories 13 Good loser 21 Hog haven 22 Cheers for toreros 24 D.C. lobby 27 Fleeced 28 Back muscles 29 Collection 30 Laugh syllable 31 Sturm — Drang 32 Luigi’s farewell 33 Meadow murmur 34 Checkout ID 35 My, my!

37 Condo buyers, maybe 38 Beef jerky, just barely 40 First-aid kit item 41 Stir-fry pan 42 Logo 43 Lamb’s dam 44 Tucks away 45 Polite 46 Freezer name 47 Battery post 48 A second time 49 Clever ploys 50 Steel plow inventor 52 The Moon 53 Rainbow goddess 57 Rudder’s place

After a successful coverage of the 2016 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) in its previous episode, Wheels, The Philippine STAR’s premier motoring TV show, continues to roll through summer with more joyrides and cars to boot.

Join its top-notch motoring journalists Matteo Guidicelli, Kap Maceda Aguila, Ulysses Ang and Angel Rivero as they go behind the wheels of some of the hottest rides this summer.

First stop: Matteo takes a special friend on an unforgettable road trip aboard the Porsche Boxster. Find out who this special friend is, where their road trip brought them, as well as the slick and clever features of this roadster.

Another roadster also takes center stage in this episode as Kap puts the pedal to the metal on the Audi TT. Be amazed at how

this sports car performs perfectly on the road and be captivated by its marriage of aesthetics and power.

For SUV aficionados, Angel went aboard the all-new Ford Everest to test its capabilities under some of the toughest road conditions. Find out what’s new and improved in this upgraded Everest.

Finally, Uly shines the light on how to properly install LED lights on your car. Get some helpful hints on what LED lights are the best buys and installing it all by yourself.

It’s all these and more on the third season of Wheels, your guide to life on the fast lane.

Catch it every Thursday, 10:30 p.m., on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel.

For firsthand info on the latest happenings in motoring, like and follow Wheels on facebook.com/PhilStarWheels.

t HuR S DAy : A pRIl 2 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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DE lImA wAntS lIbEl DE-cRImInAlIzED

or Liberal Party senatorial candidate Leila de Lima, her image is totally different from what she is when cameras and reporters are not around A mother to two sons, she has always believed that she is very much like other mothers in the country: caring, thoughtful and only aspires to provide enough for the family.

“Isa po akong ina, at lola. I have always been the typical mother; namamalengke po ako tuwing Linggo. Gusto ko kasi ako ang namimili dahil ako rin po ang nagluluto. I believe I make a mean laing,” De Lima said.

Having an autistic son, the Liberal Party Senate bet has considered herself as a very fortunate mother. She also adds that the social justice aspect of her campaign

is personal because of him.

“I never considered Israel’s (her son) condition as a disability. In fact, it is what makes him special. It allowed him to excel other skills,” De Lima said.

“The chance to help the marginalized became more personal because of my son. Because we need to have laws that shall also grant poor families with special children sufficient access to opportunities, like what I have done for my Israel,” De Lima added.

When it comes to her legislative plans for the media and entertainment industry, De Lima also believes that reforms are needed for these sectors to grow.

“First and foremost, Libel has to be decriminalized. There are enough measures to self-regulate the media as it is. We are just one

of two countries in the world that still penalizes libel as a criminal offense. This has to be corrected,” De Lima said.

“Let us also look into the working hours in the industry. Recently, the Department of Labor and Employment recommended eight hours, with 14 hours as the maximum number of hours for taping.

I support that move. In fact, we should be looking into possible amendments in the Labor Code to accommodate safeguards for workers who do field work, such as tapings” De Lima added.

“There is also a need to study the possible fiscal incentives for the entertainment industry, as part of reforming taxation system.

We must encourage more shows that promote the talent of the Filipino artist,” De Lima ended.

Senatorial candidate leila de lima

Vic Sotto remains faithful to Hanabishi Fondly known as “Bossing of the Masses,” Vic Sotto will continue to be the face behind the “Kapartner ng Praktikal na Nanay at Bossing” brand identity of the Hanabishi line of home products, as he recently renewed his endorsement contract with the company.

The well-loved actor, television show host, and film producer has been promoting Hanabishi since 2015, and has been especially active in building it up as a line

of products perfectly suitable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Chest-type freezers, heavy-duty juicers and blenders, hand mixers, food steamers, and beverage showcase chillers are among the Hanabishi wares being targeted to SMEs. “’Bossing’ Vic has always been an icon of practicality and he best exemplifies the practical and productive living that the Hanabishi brand is all about. We are very proud to re-

Actor and host Vic Sotto (second from left) with the executives from Hanabishi

new our partnership with him and we look forward to working with him for many more years. As we continue to empower more Filipino families with quality products to help them in their homes and small business ventures, we are happy that ‘Bossing’ Vic remains part of the Hanabishi family,” shares Hanabishi Vice President Cherish Ong-Chua.

Now 30 years in the business, Hanabishi distinguishes itself from competitors as a provider of quality yet very affordable products which include kitchen appliances such as toasters, rice cookers, refrigerators and more; living appliances such as electric fans, air conditioners and others; and garment care products such as washing machines and flat irons. It plans to diversify into other appliances and home electronics categories soon.

“Parang pamilya na sa akin ang Hanabishi. Masayang masaya ako na ipagpatuloy ang partnership namin dahil ako mismo ay naniniwala sa mga produkto nila. Gusto kong maging bahagi ng misyon nilang makapaghatid ng mura pero de-kalidad na mga appliances para sa bahay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Sana makatulong akong mahikayat ang mga nanay at tatay na subukan ang mga produkto ng Hanabishi lalo na sa mga nagpaplanong magtayo ng sariling negosyo (Hanabishi has always been a family to me. I am very happy to continue this partnership with them because I really trust the brand and their products. I want to be a part of their mission of providing high quality yet affordable products to every Filipino family. I hope to encourage more mothers and fathers to try Hanabishi products especially those who are planning to start their own business),” Sotto says.

chiz’a cheering squad Heart Evangelista was rooting for her husband during the first vice presidential debate held at the University of Sto. Tomas recently.

The debate was held in cooperation with Commision on Elections (COMELEC), CNN Philippines and UST. Even when she was just on her way to UST, she had posted a photo of her and Chiz on her Instagram account with the caption: “On our way to the VP debate.

Break a leg my sweetheart. #SayChiz,” Heart said on IG. After the debate, Heart was all praises for her husband. Netizens also applauded Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero who remained calm even when others were already exploding during their arguments.

“Always a gentleman. That’s my VP #SayChiz,” said Heart who added that Chiz had shown good breeding.

“Di ko gawain manira at magyabang,” tweeted Heart, quoting her husband, adding, “At the end of the day you showed good character. Always proud to be standing by your side @SayChiz.”

She also posted her husband’s closing statement,“You stayed with the good and you kept your dignity. I am and will always be proud to be standing by you. At the end of the day, you are a good man. #SayChiz”.

‘barangay utakan’ on its second season TV5’s Barangay Utakan, the first and only “barangayan” quiz show brings sizzle to your summer on its second season. A fun-filled and exciting take on the Pinoy community spirit, this innovative news quiz show on Philippine television aims to showcase “Pinoy bayanihan’’ in the country’s different barangays --- communities rather than just individuals compete for a variety of prizes and collectively try to outsmart the competition by answering questions drawn from current news and public events. The participating teams

also get the chance to perform challenging tasks and what makes the show more exciting is the fact that it does not require “talino’’ from the players, they just need “diskarte.”

Barangay Utakan’s unique format that makes it endearing for Filipino viewers has led to copycat versions by other TV stations but nothing beats the original --- offering viewers the country’s leading broadcast trio of Internet celebrity and academician Ramon Bautista; Politics for Beginners host, satirist Jun “Bayaw”

Sabayton; and newsman and Palanca awardee Lourd de Veyra. They and their female co-hosts: Bea Benedicto and Nikki Veron make up for a truly stimulating and mind-expanding evening.

Aside from the constant support that it has been getting from the viewers, the Kapatid network also owes the success of this groundbreaking show to the brain behind it, its director RA Rivera. “We want to offer something unique, informative, innovative and entertaining to our fellow Filipinos especially the masses. Our

goal is to capture their hearts by feeding minds with information and putting emphasis on the essence of nationalism and teamwork,” the director shared. Rivera also stressed that the second season of the show will still continue to keep on pushing sports to be one the driving forces in transforming communities.

Don’t miss the fun, catch Barangay Utakan Season 2 (Sundays, 9 p.m.) on TV5 and visit its Facebook page for more updates: https://www.facebook.com/BarangayUtakan/.

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Reigning Queens. Bb. pilipinas International Kylie Versoza and Miss universe philippines Maxine Medina

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eigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach relinquished the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe crown to top model Maria Mika Maxine Medina at the Bb. Pilipinas 2016 Grand Coronation Night before a jam-packed crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.

A stunning beauty from Quezon City, Medina, a 25-year-old, 5-foot-7 interior designer and part-time model, was predicted to take the top title in this year’s Bb. PiIlipinas pageant, giving high hopes for a back-to-back Miss Universe crown.

She had previously entered the competition in 2012 but backed out due to contract conflict issues.

But the real star of the night was Wurtzbach who took a break from her hectic duties as Miss Universe to be in the country and crown her successor.

Deafening cheers and screams from the audience greeted her entrance for the traditional farewell speech.

Glowing in a white gown that wowed the crowd, including Miss USA and Miss Universe second runner-up Olivia Jordan, who sat as one of the judges, Wurtzbach took some moments before she could start her message. Her voice breaking while trying to fight back tears, she thanked God, her countrymen, her friends, and Bb. Pilipinas family led by BPCI’s Stella MarquezAraneta. “I am trembling and I feel like I’m graduating from the class of Bb. Pilipinas, this is the stage where I started,” Wurtzbach said with mixed emotion.

Miss universe philippines 2016 Maria Mika Maxine Medina (fourth from left) and her court

MaxInE MEDIna Is ThE nEW PIa alOnzO WuRTzbach

by ETOn b. cOncEPcIOn

Miss universe philippines 2016 Maxine Medina (3rd from left) is joined by other winners: (from left) Bb.pilipinas Globe Nicole Manalo, Bb.pilipinas Supranational Joanna Eden, Bb.pilpinas International Kylie Verzosa, Bb.pilipinas Intercontinental Jennifer Hammond and Bb.pilipinas Grand International Nicole Cordoves during the Bibining pilipinas 2016 coronation night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum

Miss uSA 2015 and Miss universe 2015 second runner-up Olivia Jordan sits as one of the judges during the Binibining pilipinas coronation night

Winning circle

the reigning Miss universe pia Wurtzbach on her farewell walk during the Binibining pilipinas 2016 coronation night at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City

photos by Manny palmero and teddy pelaez

“I would tell the girl to study hard no matter what her parents would tell her because having an education is something that can [(n)ever be taken (away) by] anybody else. Education can make you an even better person,” Medina, who also bagged the Miss Philippine Airlines ((PAL) special award, answered when she was asked, Even if her parents can afford to send her to school, a 15-year-old girl wants to stop her studies. What would be your advice to her?

Kylie Versoza, a 24-year-old, pre-school teacher, and a graduate of Management at Ateneo de Manila University, was named Bb. Pilipinas International and was crowned by last year’s titleholder Janicel Lubina.

Versoza, who hails from Baguio City, took home the Miss Photogenic (Face of Binibini), Manila Bulletin Reader’s Choice, She’s So Jag Jeans, and Ms. Fashionista special awards.

During the Q and A portion of the pageant, Miss USA 2015 Jordan asked Versoza,

“Why do you deserve to win a Bb. Pilipinas crown tonight?”

She answered, “The person who deserves to win Bb. Pilipinas crown tonight is the person who has worked hard for it and is willing to do everything to continue the legacy of the Philippines. She is confident with a positive attitude and personality and I believe I am her.”

Jordan, well-remembered by Filipino fans for her warm support when Wurtzbach was announced as the real winner in last year’s pageant in Las Vegas, was well-applauded and was visibly enjoying the program and the popularly regarded world’s best pageant fans. She arrived with Miss Universe Organization Paula Shugart and was joined by Pia’s Miss Universe roommate and close friends Miss Malaysia Vanessa Tevi Kumares and Miss Myanmar May Bayani Thaw. Jordan, who expressed appreciation for the Filipinos’ kindness and hospitality, received a token from pageant fans, a necktie which featured her lovely Miss Universe image.

Others who earned Bb. Pilipinas titles were: Jennifer Hammond, a 20-year-old model and nurse from Laguna who won Best in Evening Gown and succeeded Miss InterContinental 2015 first runner-up Christie McGarry; Joanna Louise Eden, a 19-yearold student at De La Salle majoring in International Studies won Best in Swimsuit and

succeeded Rogelie Catacutan as Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational 2016; Nicole Manalo, a 26-year-old nurse (sister of Bb. Pilipinas winners Bianca and Kate Manalo) took the title of Bb. Pilipinas Globe succeeding Miss Globe 2015 winner Ann Lorraine Colis and bagged the Miss Creamsilk award; and Nicole Cordoves, a 23-year-old Department of Finance employee, was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Grand International succeeding 2015 Miss Grand International 3rd runner-up Parul Shah.

Angelica Alita, a 20-year-old Oriental Mindoro lass and 21-year-old Jehza Mae Huelar of Davao were named 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively. Angela Lauren Fernando won the best in national costume award.

In the panel of judges were Paolo Roxas, son of Presidential candidate Mar Roxas and Miss Young International 1971 semi-finalist and Miss Photogenic Maricar Zaldarriaga, Lauren Dyogi, Ian Veneracion, Cory Vidanes, Ambassadors Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev of Russia, Roland Van Remoortele of Belgium, Jan Top Christensed of Denmark, former ambassador Lani Bernardo, Trade and Industry Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr., BPCI Executive Commissioner Betsy Westendorp and Marquez-Araneta.

The Bb. Pilipinas 2016 pageant was hosted by KC Concepcion and Xian Lim with Laura Lehmann, Bianca Guidotti and Kris Tiffany Janson.