The Standard - 2016 May 01 - Sunday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX NO. 78 3 Sections 24 Pages P18 SUNDAY : MAY 1, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

LA SALLE SPIKERS WIN VOLLEY CROWN

PRO-LIFERS BACK BINAY, BONGBONG Endorse senatorial bid of Romualdez, 7 other bets By Christine F. Herrera CHURCH-BACKED pro-life groups on Saturday endorsed the Binay-Marcos tandem, the senatorial bid of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and seven other senatorial candidates for being anti-death penalty and anti-abortion.

At the Kapihan sa Annabel’s forum, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said the combined forces of Buhay party-list and Pro-Life Philippines Foundation, numbering some 2.5 million Catholics, rejected the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The groups appealed to all Catholics and Christians not to

vote for Duterte because of his alleged penchant for extrajudicial killings. They, instead, endorsed the candidacies of opposition United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay for president and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for vice president. Marcos is running as independent.

Besides Romualdez, endorsed for the Senate were Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, world boxing champion Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao, reelectionist Senator Vicente Sotto III, former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Princess Jacel Kiram, former Quezon City Rep. Dante Liban and Diosdado Next page Valeroso.

SIX-YEAR TRADITION. Members of the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (May One Movement) prepare an effigy of President Benigno Aquino III which will be used in their May Day protest. The group has been burning effigies of Aquino on May 1 since he assumed office. MANNY PALMERO

EX-WRESTLER ROCKS RESTO SCENE

WORKERS ALL SET FOR MAY DAY RALLY By Vito Barcelo

VARIOUS labor groups forged a pact to stage rallies in different parts of Metro Manila to call for the government’s attention on the poor plight of millions of workers in the country in today’s Labor Day celebration. The labor groups, led by the Partido Manggagawa, will be joined by

the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, the labor coalition Nagkaisa, Palea, National Federation of Labor Unions and the Kilusang Mayo Uno. The main demands of the Labor Day rallies are the call against contractualization and for an increase in the minimum wage. Together with the appeal for lower prices and decent public

services, PM dubs these four demands as “Apat na Dapat.” The group also belittled the job fairs by the DOLE as simply “job facilitation and not job creation.” Aside from rallies in Metro Manila, various labor groups will likewise hold in Antipolo, Rizal, Angono, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Cebu, Negros, and Next page Iligan City.

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WORKERS..

From A1

PRO-LIFE. Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza shows the Marcos Youth stickers during a news forum at the Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City. MANNY PALMERO

DIGONG, MARCOS KEEP LEADS IN WEEKLY POLL Duterte remained the top choice of registered voters in the survey with 33 percent, down from 34 percent in the last ABS-CBN survey and 35 percent from the last Pulso ng Bayan survey, also conducted by Pulse Asia. Rivals Sen. Grace Poe came in second in the nationwide survey of 4,000 respondents with 22 percent, followed by Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II who rose at third spot with 20 percent. Vice President Jejomar Binay,

meanwhile, slipped to fourth place with 18 percent while Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago trailed fifth at 2 percent. While he remained the leading presidential candidate, Duterte also suffered 10-point drop in support from members of the Class ABC with supporters dropping to 37 percent from 47 percent in a prior survey conducted from April 12 -17 to 37 percent in the present survey. His numbers also suffered a threepoint drop in Class E from a 34 to 31

percent over a one-week period. Duterte’s numbers saw a ninepoint drop in Metro Manila from a 43 percent the week earlier to 34 percent. The number of undecided voters, meanwhile, remained at 5 percent. In the vice presidential race meanwhile, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos maintained his lead at 31 percent followed by administration vice presidential bet Camarines Sur Rep. Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo at 26 percent. Marcos and Robredo both made a significant upward trend in a span of one week, taking away numbers against their rivals, gaining two and three points, respectively. Poe running mate Sen. Francis Escudero came in third at 18 percent while Duterte’s running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano ran

PRO-LIFERS...

the group did not take the issues against Marcos. “We had a face-to-face interview with Senator Marcos. All vice presidential contenders were subjected to intense review and grilling. We followed his political career and found that he is prolife. All his legislations are geared at protecting and preserving life,” Manalang said. Alba said the pro-life groups were targeting the 12.5-million Filipinos who remain undecided, nine days before the elections on May 9. “No candidate has ever admitted that he is corrupt or a thief. They all deny this. But there is one candidate who admitted that he is a killer and he does not regret it,” said Alba, referring to Duterte. Atienza said the Catholic members of Buhay would not go for Senator Grace Poe, standard bearer of Partido Galing at Puso, because she was anti-life for being pro-abortion and pro-same sex marriage. “Poe, if she becomes president, will promote divorce and abortion.

That’s going against the teachings of the Catholic Church,” Atienza said. “We cannot have a president that violates the law of the Church, particularly disregarding the sanctity of life and family values.” He said Poe has adopted an American lifestyle because she was an American before she renounced her foreign citizenship to run for the Senate and she would also push for the use of contraceptives, which the pro-life groups oppose for the pills’ being abortifacient. Several women’s groups that are advocates of reproductive health law and family planning said several studies show that contraceptives are safe for women. Atienza said the lone woman vice presidential candidate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, running mate of Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II, shares the same stand as Poe. “Just like Poe, Roxas and Robredo are also anti-life,” Atienza said. “Only Binay has a clear-cut position on preserving the sanctity of life, being a human rights lawyer.

By John Paolo Bencito

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bongbong Marcos sustained their leads in the latest weekly survey commissioned by the ABS-CBN network and by Pulse Asia Research from April 19-24.

From A1

Atienza also revealed that the influential El Shaddai of Bro. Mike Velarde would back the BinayMarcos tandem. Velarde, he said, would make the announcement during the gathering of the El Shaddai flock Saturday night. But the Servant Communities, led by Albert Gomez Alba, said the SC, composed of charismatic priests, endorsed the vice presidential bid of Binay’s running mate, Senator Gregorio Honasan. Atienza and Eric Manalang, president of Pro-Life Philippines Foundation, said they had no problem with either Marcos or Honasan. Manalang said while Marcos’ family was hounded by such controversies as corruption and human rights violation due to Martial Law that was declared by his father and namesake the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr.,

fourth at 15 percent. Trailing behind are Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at 3 percent while Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan lagged at sixth with 2 percent. In the senatorial race, those with a statistical chance of getting into the so-called Magic 12 are Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senate President Franklin Drilon, former Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, former Sen. Juan Miguel “Migs” Zubiri, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, former TESDA director-general Joel Villanueva, Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon, Sen. Ralph Recto and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian. He values life. Bongbong Marcos is also pro-life,” said Atienza, defending the group’s choice of Binay-Marcos tandem. “Digong [Duterte] is simply antilife. He kills. He even boasts of his penchant for killing,” Atienza said, cautioning the electorate against believing in popularity surveys. “The surveys tend to condition the mind of the public. Their results are simply not accurate,” Atienza said. Atienza cited the case of Buhay party-list group that the surveys claimed in the 2013 elections would not make it to Congress. “Came election day, some 1.3 million people voted for us. We were able to obtain three seats in Congress. So these surveys should be banned for trying to influence the outcome of the elections,” Atienza said. He vowed that if got reelected, the Buhay party-list would pass legislations that would bar the survey outfits from coming out with survey results a month before the elections.

The research group IBON said that while the Philippines saw growth, increasing corporate profits, investor confidence and international media hype under the Aquino administration, less new jobs were created, joblessness remains high, and the quality of work has worsened. Falling job creation under the Aquino administration has resulted in the most unemployed, underemployed, discouraged job-seekers, and overseas Filipino workers in the country’s history. IBON noted that only an average of 692,000 new jobs were created annually in the period 2011-2015 which is much smaller than the 858,000 annually in 2001-2010. This has resulted in 11.5 million unemployed and underemployed Filipinos in 2015, including millions of discouraged job-seekers, and up to 12 million overseas Filipino workers and their families. Some 5,000 overseas Filipino workers go abroad daily for work which is more than double the scant 1,775 new jobs created per day in the country. The group stressed that despite the reported uptick in employment, the quality of jobs is dismal. Some 24.4 million working Filipinos or nearly three-fifths (63 percent) of total employed are non-regular, agency-hired, informal sector, or unpaid family workers. Some seven million workers nationwide, or about four out of 10 (38 percent), are non-regular or agency-hired workers. These have driven average basic pay nationwide to a meager P380 per day which gives a very low standard of living. IBON added that the mandated minimum wage lags behind growing labor productivity while the actual daily basic pay received barely keeps up with the rising prices of goods and services. As it is, nearly half (46 percent) of workers receive less than the minimum wage and only one-fourth (25 percent) receive just exactly the low minimum wage. The group also commented that even the promised 14th month pay for government employees does not bring the million or so government employees at the lowest salary grades up to the decent living wage of P16,000 per month. Falling job generation, increasing poor quality work, and measly wages are the result of more than three decades of ‘free market’ economics that have stunted domestic industries and eroded Philippine agriculture. As long as the state supports the private profit-seeking of a few rather than socioeconomic development for the majority, most of the Filipino workforce, employed or otherwise, will remain deprived of gainful work, IBON said.

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ANOTHER BINAY ALLY ATTACKED By Vito Barcelo

VICE President Jejomar Binay condemned the bombing of the convoy of La Union Rep. Eufranio “Franny” Eriguel that killed two and injured four of his staff in San Fernando City on Saturday.

Calabarzon for Marcos. Quezon province political kingpin Danilo Suarez greets vice presidential candidate

Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. upon his arrival at a Lucena City convention where his vice presidential bid was endorsed by village leaders. (Related story on A8)

‘MAR KILLED PRE-NEED INDUSTRY’ By Christine F. Herrera FORMER Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Perfecto Yasay on Saturday attributed the failure of some 500,000 pre-need plan policy holders from collecting maturing contracts to Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, whom he accused of “killing” the P27-billion pre-need industry. At the Kapihan sa Annabel’s forum, Yasay said Roxas was behind the collapse of the pre-need industry because he lobbied strongly for the revival of American-owned AIG, or the American International Group Inc., a life insurance company. “The P27-billion pre-need industry was the direct competitor of the lackadaisical P5-billion life insurance industry. Mar Roxas, who was then an official of AIG, wanted life insurance to be resuscitated and the only way to do that was to kill the

pre-need industry, in which he succeeded being then the secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, which had nothing to do and had no jurisdiction over SEC. Roxas did it while I was suspended as SEC chairman,” Yasay told the forum. Yasay said he was compelled to come out in the open to prevent the “hypocrite” Roxas from ascending to the presidency by claiming he was fighting for the poor. He said Roxas “lied” when he projected during the presidential debate that he was able to fight for pre-need policy holders when he was senator. “That’s a lie. He was responsible for the killing of the pre-need industry and the impact of his abuse and misuse of powers when he was DTI secretary years ago is now felt by some 500,000 policy holders, who could no longer collect the money they had invested that was meant to

send their children to college,” Yasay said. In 1998, Yasay said Roxas, along with then US Ambassador Jose Cuisia, lobbied for the AIG’s entry to the Philippines. “I was the stumbling block to Roxas’ vested interests at the time and so he had me suspended so that he could push for the entry of the AIG but at the expense of the pre-need industry,” Yasay said. He said he was puzzled when the SEC consultant, the USAID had come out with a study that recommended the prioritization of the life insurance business to the detriment of the pre-need industry. “Roxas thought I would be dismissed from the SEC. I fought them from the Ombudsman to the Court of Appeals, all the way to the Supreme Court and I won. I reacquired my post and I asked for an investigation,” Yasay recounted.

“I am concerned over the attemp to kill Congressman Eriguel of La Union,” Binay said, adding that his supporters and leaders of the United Nationalist Alliance have been the targets of harassment since the start of the campaign period. “The harassment of the political opposition bodes ill for our electoral process and our democracy,” Binay said. “Such intolerance for political dissent must not be encouraged or tolerated by government inaction. While we condemn these acts of harassment against UNA, let us pray for peace in our land,” he added. Eriguel was on board his car and was heading to a campaign sortie when a motorcycle exploded a moment after the congressman’s vehicle passed it but the back-up vehicle that was tailing him and was carrying several members of his staff bore the brunt of the explosion. Eriguel was unhurt in the incident but two of his staff who were in the back-up car were killed in the explosion. UNA likewise denounced the near-fatal attempt to assassinate Eriguel. “We strongly condemn the bombing of Congressman Eriguel’s convoy that killed two of his staff and hurt four others. We regard this unfortunate incident as an affront to the peace-loving people of La Union. At this time, Vice President Binay’s thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims,” said UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan.

With nine days to go until election day, UNA reiterated that the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police must exert their efforts to avert such incidents and broaden their intelligence network to prevent bloodshed in the coming elections. Ilagan said the fatal attempt to assassinate Eriguel only shows that perpetrators have become ruthless and heartless. “These acts of violence targeting political opponents are deplorable and appalling. The attempt of the life of Congressman Eriguel only shows the barbarity and ruthless nature of the perpetrators who have no regard for law or life,” he added. Three weeks ago, UNA gubernatorial bet and Marawi City Mayor Sultan Fahad Salic, husband of UNA senatorial candidate Alma Moreno, and his driver were ambushed in Cagayon de Oro City. Last March, UNA youth leader Eman Peña of Calauan, Laguna was killed when the vehicle of Mayor Buenafrido Berris was attacked by still unidentified armed men. Peña is the fourth UNA member killed since the start of the campaign, following the assassination of Sto. Tomas, Batangas councilor Damasino Mabilangan Jr., former Pangutaran, Sulu mayor Ahmad Nanoh and former Banisilan, North Cotabato mayor Floro Allado. Eriguel is a key supporter of UNA presidential candidate Jejomar Binay in La Union.

FORMER DEFENSE CHIEF DENIES LEAVING ROXAS

By John Paolo Bencito

FORMER Defense Secretary Avelino “Nonong” Cruz on Saturday denied that he is leaving the camp of Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas to lead a group of lawyers in supporting the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The former defense chief of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Cruz in a statement said he continues to support administration bet Manuel Roxas II and running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo. Cruz, who graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law, said he was mixed-up with another lawyer—Atty. Avelino “Abe” Cruz of the San Beda Law Alumni Association which also counts Duterte among its members. Abe Cruz, the incumbent presi-

dent of the Asean Law Association, issued a statement on Friday saying he and other lawyers have decided to support Duterte. Cruz was the chief presidential legal counsel under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from January 2000-2004 prior his appointment as secretary of national defense on Aug. 25, 2004. On numerous occasions during the same period, Secretary Cruz was also designated as acting executive secretary. Cruz was also a member of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security and the National Security Council where he actively participated in the review of the draft peace agreements with the National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and in meetings on the Joint Defense Assessment program with the US Department of Defense.

Girl power. Young ladies of Quezon City show off a campaign poster of their presidential bet Senator Grace Poe. AFP PHOTO

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OPINION

TRUMP SPELLS DOOM FOR SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES By Francis Wilkinson

[ EDI TORI A L ]

NO VINDICATION FORMER Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona died early Friday morning at a Pasig City hospital. As his family grieves his loss, so do we mourn the death of civility that accompanied his impeachment trial that had led to his conviction and ouster four years ago. From Day One of the Aquino administration, Mr. Corona did not stand a chance. At the inauguration on June 30, 2010, the chief justice’s presence was not even recognized by the new chief executive even though he was just a few seats away from Mr. Aquino, who acknowledged almost everybody else. The supposed beef was the hasty designation of Corona to head the High Court, shortly before Mr. Aquino’s predecessor, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, stepped down from office. A less-known grudge was the fact that Corona had led the court in deciding that the farmer-tenants of Hacienda Luisita deserved better from the Cojuangco-Aquinos in the spirit of genuine agrarian reform and social justice. Corona’s end came way before last Friday. It did in the form of a hastily put together impeachment case that initially boasted of being founded on numerous grounds but which, under scrutiny, was whittled down to only that Corona did not declare all his bank deposits in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. Death came in the orchestration of his downfall by a vindictive president who had the gall to go around town practically pronouncing the man guilty even before trial began and who had the duplicity to crow about the straight and righteous path while handing out financial incentives to senators who later on, by sheer coincidence, voted to oust the chief justice. Tax evasion cases hounded Corona after his unceremonious exit from the High Court. He claimed, however, that since truth was on his side, he would “fight to the end.” But now the end has come and this administration is just winding down after a six-year spree with selective justice and relentless persecution of those it had marked as “enemy.” Corona was no doubt weighed down by the beating he got and never quite recovered from it. Public opinion, whether or not he cared much for it, remained adverse, even hostile, toward him. The Palace has condoled with the family, saying it wished the eternal repose of Mr. Corona’s soul. As the Aquino term nears its own end, we wish, too, that it would be able to live with the decisions it made and come to terms with their consequences.

BOUND TO FAIL A PROFESSOR from Princeton University had the idea of compiling instances of his failures in a neat resume and then posting it online. Instead of “educational background,” “professional experience,” “papers published” or “training attended,” the curious resume included “degree programs I did not get into,” “research funding I did not get” or “paper rejections from academic journals.” The article on psychology and public affairs professor Johannes Haushofer was published in the website of

CNBC.com. Projecting only success and never recognizing failures has damaging effects, according to Haushofer. The effort is similar to what author JK Rowling did— published rejection letters she got, among which contained suggestions that she attend a writing course or go to a helpful book shop to know what it truly means to be a novelist. She, of course, is the author of the bestselling Harry Potter books. ••• We have been trained to succeed all our lives. Our parents made sure that we had all the tools to have a better life than they did. We were

Failures shape us as much as our successes do.

enrolled in good schools, told to determine as early as possible what field we wanted to pursue, and advised to work hard reaching for our goals. They were the first to reprimand us when we exhibited

the slightest doubt in our own abilities. They told us anything we could dare imagine is possible. And so we persevered. In general, these admonitions worked. Decades after, we find ourselves doing relatively well despite occasional snags at several points in our silly youth. Because we believe that the formula works, we adopt this same stance on our children. Set them up for success, let them believe there is nothing they cannot do. And then sing to the world about it: You’re made. Wrong. Perhaps the context today is different, made more challenging by the pervasive presence of social media. In the vastness of

the internet, it is easy to feel small and inconsequential when you compare yourself to others. How many of our Facebook friends, for instance, appear to lead such exciting, happy, prosperous, successful lives? But the successes are, to use a cliché, just the tip of the iceberg. The big mass that lies underwater is the painstaking work, the self-doubt, the lethargy, the temptation to quit—and yes, the instances when we did not quite get what we wanted. Perhaps what we lacked then was the assurance that it was all right, and that success can be defined in so many ways. That we know this now should be good

for the next generation. There is not but one path to success, or happiness, and that one person’s journey is not—should never be—identical to another’s. It is easy to be the ideal person when everything is going our way. We get into the program we want, finish it with flying colors, and believe we are, to use yet another cliché, on top of the world. But how shall we react when we encounter major setbacks along the way? Being told we fell short of the standard, that we were no good, and that we better find other areas worth pursuing? How, too shall we deal with inherent

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impediments to our experience of life— poverty, sickness, personal circumstances and other factors beyond our control that prevent us from realizing our potential? It’s so much easier to share with friends the joy of seeing everything going according to plan. That would not doubt garner plenty of likes and comments. On the other hand, we do not normally talk about the things we did not quite achieve, that time somebody told us we were no good or at least not good enough, that blunder we made, that friendship we bungled, or that time when we doubted whether we were really doing what we

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were born to do. These things shape us as much as the happy times do. How we respond to them determines what we are made of. Do we blame other people, find an excuse, say the world is unfair, or do we introspect and think hard about what caused them and how we can avoid them again? We all are bound to fail, sometime. The law of averages says we win some and we lose some. Real success is making something out of, and being changed for the better by, that failure. adellechua@gmail.com

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THE 2016 Republican presidential campaign began last year with Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum—among others—flashing Bible passages and competing for support from social conservatives in Iowa. It will end in July with the all but certain nomination of Donald Trump. The rout of social conservatives in this campaign is absolute. Their future looks grim. The problem isn’t that Trump has a disco ball where his moral compass should be. It’s that he isn’t particularly interested in the social conservative agenda—or even in pretending that he is. Aside from a few comic forays into biblical scholarship early in his campaign, and later comments about abortion that were so off-message that they merely confirmed his lack of interest in the topic, Trump is running free and clear of the entire movement. He’s leaving social conservatives in the dust. The country as a whole deserves some credit for this turnabout. Americans have taken seriously the social conservative complaints that mattered most. The Guttmacher Institute reported earlier this month that in 2011 US teen pregnancy, birth and abortion rates all reached their lowest points in almost four decades. Teen pregnancies were down almost one quarter since 2008. Of course, trends in divorce have migrated from cosmopolitan America to the Bible Belt, as has a great deal of drug use and addiction. And even the good news on teen pregnancy has a downside for social conservatives: The kids are still having sex. “The available evidence suggests that increased contraceptive use is the primary driver of this decline,” said Kathryn Kost, the study’s lead author. But social conservatives can take some credit for pushing Democrats to adopt the Clintonian mantra that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare.” There is an implicit moral calibration in that last word. Whether or not it has influenced the overall decline in US abortions, many liberals have accepted that reducing the number of them should be a priority. Calibration is not condemnation, but it’s as close as conservatives are likely to get for a while. Even in states seeking to regulate abortion out of existence, such as Texas, Republican legislators feel compelled to pretend they’re merely advancing the cause of women’s health, not saving their souls. If abortion represents a highly qualified success, however, the social conservative attack on the “homosexual agenda” has been a comprehensive fiasco. If gay rights were more controversial, even among Republicans, it’s doubtful that Trump, who has lived his entire life in New York City without registering objection to its customs, could have skated so freely through the primaries. With a Republican nominee hailing from the most hostile psychographic terrain in the nation, it’s unclear where, outside of the deepest South, social conservatives can go to find a sympathetic ear for righteous anger. When Republican politicians in North Carolina recently targeted transsexuals, a minority of a minority, they surely expected an outcry from some Hollywood liberals. However, they seemed unprepared for the devastating and swift response from corporate America. Without fingers to the wind or focus groups to guide them, corporations big and small unambiguously denounced the action, making it clear they viewed North Carolina leaders as the kind of bigots and kooks they’d take pains to avoid at the local Rotary. This election will likely cut a swath of destruction through conservative America. If social conservatives hope to survive as a credible political force outside the South, they’re probably going to have to surrender on gay rights—at the very least—and cultivate more relevant issues. The battle against drug abuse could use a hand, along with lots of other worthy causes. Accepting gay rights may seem alien, even impossible, to social conservatives at first. But many in their ranks have already embraced Trump. It can’t be any more awkward than that. Bloomberg Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

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OPINION

TRUMP SPELLS DOOM FOR SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES By Francis Wilkinson

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Failures shape us as much as our successes do.

enrolled in good schools, told to determine as early as possible what field we wanted to pursue, and advised to work hard reaching for our goals. They were the first to reprimand us when we exhibited

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A6 By Will Vassilopoulos LESBOS, Greece—Gotta book a ticket to Lesbos. My bureau chief says it can’t wait any longer. It’s April 2015 and a ship carrying 400 migrants from the island of Lesbos had docked the previous day at the port of Piraeus. Something is happening in Lesbos and I have to check it out immediately. Is it as bad as one of my colleagues already there says it is? He has been closely covering the refugee story for two years and says he’s never seen so many people. “Something is changing on the island, something is changing in Greece,” he tells me. So I go to take a look. I arrive early in the morning before the sun rises on this beautiful Aegean island. Dozens of people are at the port sleeping, out in the open. A small group of migrants from Afghanistan are brought to the port where the Hellenic Coast guard checks their documents. They are all drenched and they are all shivering. The coast guards give them emergency blankets. Shivers run down my spine. There are kids among them. I have a six-year-old and a fouryear-old at home and I can’t help but think of them when I look at these people with their children. Who are these people anyway? Illegal migrants, irregular migrants or refugees? The people I see are people like you and me. I wonder what will happen in the summer when the weather is better. Gotta book a ticket to Lesbos. It’s summer and there are dozens of dinghies landing on shore every day, deposing hundreds upon hundreds of people on the island’s northern shores. Which way is it closer to the city where they will be registered,

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TICKET TO LESBOS

A refugee family finally makes it to Lesbos. AFP they ask. It breaks my heart to tell them they have to walk some 60 kilometers to reach the main town of Mytilini. Perhaps, I think, I could help two or three of them. But their wet clothes will leave salt stains on the car seats and I won’t be able to explain that to the car rental company. Plus I can get arrested under an old Greek law that forbids helping illegal migrants as you can be charged as a smuggler yourself. Screw everyone, I’ll fill the damn car to the brim. I’ll break the Guinness World Book of Records for how many people can fit in a Fiat Panda. How can a child, an old man, a pregnant woman walk this distance? I end up stuffing eight people in. Gotta book a ticket to Lesbos. It’s Oct. 1 and today they will bury four migrants who drowned while trying to reach the island. Wrapped in white sheets the

bodies of four people lie on the cold dirt of a cemetery in the town of Mytilini. We don’t know who they are, their names, where they came from. Among them is a girl who the coroner says is seven years old. I wonder where her Mommy is? I can’t believe that I’m thinking this, but I hope she drowned, too. The thought of her mother still alive and searching for her little angel in Turkey or Greece while the girl is laid to rest in a grave next to a complete stranger is something completely beyond me. Gotta book a ticket to Lesbos. It’s Oct. 6 and the Greek prime minister will visit the island for the first time. It’s a cold visit. He goes to some camps on the island, which were prepared ahead of time. That’s not where the drama is. The drama is on the northern beaches of Lesbos,

where the refugees are landing. Why are they only showing him the camp where everything is organized and spotless clean? I am so disappointed, he is not going to see anything. Gotta book a ticket to Lesbos. It’s early April 2016 and the first deportations of the refugees back to Turkey are to begin. This refugee crisis is the biggest Europe has faced since the end of World War II and the deportations were part of a hugely controversial deal between the EU and Turkey. Under the deal, Turkey agreed to take back all irregular migrants that had landed in Greece after March 20. In return, the EU pledged to rehouse one Syrian inside the bloc for every one deported from Greece. The grim-faced group we saw were men without children, without wives. The media

descended on the place, it was a well-planned operation. No one was screaming. In a way, these were people who have had enough, who wanted to leave. For me it was coming full circle. I’ve seen them come, now I’m seeing them go and everything in between was pretty crap. It is a weird feeling seeing them on a boat. A decent boat, unlike the rickety dinghies they came to the island on. You think of all those who have died—366 people this year alone. You think of the unfairness. Many of these people spent their entire life savings, they came here with such hope, such dreams. I wish something more could have been done, I wish they could have a better future. Gotta book a ticket to Lesbos, it’s mid-April 2016 and the Pope is due to visit. Hope fills the island ahead of the visit. Refugees and Lesbos residents alike seem so excited. With his visit, the attention will again be on Lesbos, they say, maybe the borders will reopen. The Pope seems very kind and genuine but I don’t share their excitement. I am very skeptical. Gotta book a ticket to Lesbos…. From April 2015 to April 2016, I’ve been on assignment to Lesbos 13 times. That’s not counting the myriad of other islands and places from where I have covered the refugee story. This story seeps into your bones. I keep telling myself that I have to be a professional. I have to try and keep everything at a distance so that I can tell the story in a balanced way. But it’s hard to remain at a distance when you see a dead child on the beach. It really is. When you see the refugee children, you see your children in their eyes. You can’t get around that. AFP

WHY WE FEAR SPIDERS MORE THAN CLIMATE CHANGE By Mark Buchanan PEOPLE tend to fear spiders and snakes more than they do electrical sockets or fireworks, even though the latter present a far greater danger. This might help explain why humans have such a hard time seeing the threat of climate change. Evolutionary psychologists argue that much of human behavior can be understood only by studying our ancient ancestors. Through 99 percent of human history, they lived in small groups of hunter-gatherers, with brains evolved to handle specific tasks, such as recognizing quickly a poisonous reptile or the emotions and intentions betrayed by facial expressions. The kind of rational thinking needed to weigh payoffs far in the future developed only recently, in the last 1 percent of our existence. Now, climate change is

presenting humans with the ultimate long-term thinking task. February saw a record high average global surface temperature —a whopping 1.35 degrees Celsius higher than the average temperature between 1951 and 1980. A recent study suggests that the melting of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets could plausibly raise sea levels several meters by the end of the century. Yet despite the growing body of evidence that rising carbon dioxide levels will lead to a catastrophic warming of the planet, we keep producing more than ever—as if we just can’t believe what we’re seeing. In a recent paper, Stanford psychology professor Lee Ross and a team of other psychologists, economists and biologists suggest that the problem is in the way our brains are put together. The nature of climate change, they argue, makes it nearly impossible

for us to exercise “foresight intelligence”—to diagnose the problem in advance, and then take planned action to address it. A threat that emerges only gradually, with consequences coming only in the future, just doesn’t excite our ancient mental circuits with the urgency of a scuttling spider or terrorists on the television. It resides in a mental blind spot. So what can we do? Ross and colleagues suggest finding ways to get around our brains’ limitations and instead play to its strengths. Targeting social instincts, for example, can be effective. Studies show that appeals to self-interest (saving money) don’t work nearly as well as social norms in encouraging people to use less energy—people conserve more if they think others around them are already doing so. As a result, information campaigns could be far more effective in changing

behavior than policies targeting the calculating mind through monetary incentives. Another approach is to frame choices differently. In European nations, nearly everyone allows their organs to be donated for medical uses in the event of a fatal auto accident. In the US, the number is only 15 percent, even though surveys show broadly similar attitudes toward donation on both sides of the Atlantic. Why the difference? Europeans participate in the program by default—they must opt out if they do not wish to donate. In the US, people have to “opt in” by signing the back of their driver’s licenses. This suggests that getting more people to save energy could be as easy as changing the default mode on furnaces and air-conditioners. Defaults don’t just take advantage of human laziness or inertia. Rather, they assert

a societal value and encourage people to follow it. Such small steps can reinforce one another, facilitating movements that have the potential to bring about big and sudden change, even if they ramp up slowly. Think about how attitudes to smoking have changed in recent decades. One final point: Ross and his co-authors suggest that “the most difficult but perhaps most important task” is to move away from the economic vision of endless growth, because the production of an ever-widening spectrum of new material things has put too much of a strain on the planet. Most economists would see this as a radical proposition, yet the second author on the paper, Nobel Prize winning economist Kenneth Arrow, is about as mainstream as you can get. Maybe the shift in thinking we need is already starting. Bloomberg

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hit list eyed vs red tape Next to crime, red tape is another scourge that the next president needs to put on top of government’s “hit list” to put the country back in order. “If the next President has a hit-list in the anti-crime campaign, he or she must also draw up a hit list to cut down red tape in government transactions,” Senate President ProTempore Ralph Recto said. “For starters, the next President may consider extending the validity of motor vehicle registration and driver’s license as part of efforts to improve the ease of

doing business in the Philippines,” the senator added. Citing a report issued by the World Bank last October, Recto noted that red tape costs the country P140 billion in opportunity losses annually. The same report ranked the Philippines at a low 95th among 189 economies in overall ease of doing business. As one way of cutting red tape, Recto said the next ad-

ministration must study proposals to limit the number of times that an ordinary citizen has to go to government agencies to get licenses and transact business. “There is, for example, a proposal in the Senate to increase the validity of the registration of new cars to more than five years, and driver’s license from three years to five or six years,” Recto said. “The benefits of having their validity extended are obvious from the holder’s point of view. Wala nang red tape. Walang pila,” he added.

Recto stressed that extending the expiry dates on licenses and registration is “the best anti-red tape app.” “We haven’t seen an increase in the number of LTO field offices that is commensurate to the tremendous rise in the number of vehicles,” he said. Recto said concerns that a longer validity of permits will cut government income have no basis. He said adjusting existing pollution checks before a car can be registered will have to be made once the life of a car regis-

tration is lengthened by law. Recto describes the LTO, which issues the permits, “as one big government cash machine.” In 2013, its income rose to P17.2 billion, or a 17 percent jump from the P14.7 billion it earned in 2012. The reason, Recto explained, can be traced to the steady increase in the number of motor vehicle registrations, from 7,138,000 in 2011 to 7,690,038 in 2013. “Simply put, more than halfa-million vehicles were added in two years,” Recto said.

CalooCan wins wRit foR PangaRaP village CALOOCAN City Mayor Oscar Malapitan and the city council on Friday felt victorious after the Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 12 issued a preliminary writ of injunction to pave the way for the opening of Pangarap Village gates. Malapitan said that the lives of the 40,000 residents have been difficult due to the closure of the access gates. Utility companies such as Meralco, Maynilad and other government agencies were denied entry into Pangarap Village its private developer. Barricades were also set in place by village guards to block vehicles going in and out of the village. Residents opened a temporary opening at the back of the Pangarap Village. The 156-hectare property situated in Barangays 181 and 182 was declared in 1988 by the Supreme Court as a private land. In 2010, a private com-

pany claimed ownership of the land. Malapitan said he ordered the installation of electric generators, delivery of water in the area to lessen the dilemma of the residents. “The city government immediately attended to whatever assistance it could give to the residents who fell victims of the long-standing land dispute,” the mayor said in a short interview. According to the injunction released by Caloocan City RTC 12 Judge Remigio Escalada Jr. on April 25, the gates of Pangarap Village will be opened to Meralco, Maynilad and other utility companies and government agencies. “Though this is not the decision that we are waiting for, at least the residents’ lives will normalize. The city government can claim victory as basic utility services have gone back to normal,” Malapitan said. Jun David

Bullet oR Amulet? An 85-year-old passenger Crisencia Pabustan, flanked by her daughter (left) and son, is found by airport police to have been carrying a caliber .45 bullet shell inside her luggage at Naia Terminal 1. She was eventually allowed to leave for Canada after police verified the bullet as her amulet. eRic ApoloNio

Make CPR tRaining a Must in sChools, say heaRt doCtoRs By Rio N. Araja HEART doctors are seeking the integration of a mandatory cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in schools nationwide because of an alarming rise in death due to heart diseases. Dr. Francis Lavapie, PHA’s council chairman on CPR, said the country has yet to be CPR-ready, and that as heart physicians, they saw the need to incorporate CPR trainings in the music, art, physical education and health subject in public and private elementary and high schools. “Even an eight-year-old child who is CPR-trained can save the life of an adult suffering cardiac arrest,” Lavapie

said at last week’s media briefing in Quezon City. “We want to correct misconception that only doctors and other competent medical personnel can administer CPR.” Coronary vascular diseases are the number one cause of death, based on a World Health Organization data. “We are batting to provide the so-called bystander CPR, just like in Japan, Singapore, the United States of America and Europe,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to administer CPR when you see someone suffer heart attack.” There is a zero to two percent chance of survival if CPR is given 10 minutes after the cardiac arrest, while the window period of four to six

minutes of CPR administration has a 20 percent to 30 percent chance of survival, he said. Lavapie said PHA with at least 1,600 doctor-members has already launched a nationwide CPR trainings for government agencies and even private establishments. “We thanked cage star Samboy Lim for the passage of House Bill No. 6891, or the CPR Trainings in Schools Act. Because of him, Pampanga Rep. Joseller ‘Yeng’ Guiao batted for its passage on first reading. It is called the Samboy Lim measure,” he said. The Senate’s version now on its third reading will be tackled on May 23, he added.

“Lim could have been saved if only those around him knew how to administer the proper CPR,” he said. Last year, Lim suffered heart attack during an exhibition game, and that from then on, he was in coma. A news article written by Gynna Gagelonia, PHA media officer, said Lim’s brain was deprived of oxygen for at least 23 minutes before he was taken to a hospital. “Had Samboy been given adequate CPR during the first three minutes he was rendered unconscious, his chances of recovery could have been much better,” she said. CPR training in school is nothing new in many coun-

tries, Lavapie said. Four out of five cardiac arrest cases happen at home, PHA president Alex Junia said. “There is a good chance a rescuer will be helping his or her loved one. Giving Filipinos the skills to intervene rather than remain passive, ignorant bystanders until the arrival of a well-trained medical personnel can literally spell the difference between life and death,” he said. On Monday, the heart doctors of PHA conducted a CPR-ready Philippines mass campaign at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City to provide the public with actual training sessions.

RODY LIKENED TO N. KOREAN DICTATOR UNITED Nationalist Alliance Secretary-General JV Bautista has compared PDP-Laban presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte to tough North Korea’s supreme leader and dictator, Kim Jong-un. Malacañang also joined the anti-Duterte bashing and dared the Davao City mayor to answer questions on his hidden bank accounts. Just like Kim, “Digong” is an executioner, Bautista said. Bautista has likened Kim and Duterte based on their supposed similarities in running their respective government. “He is getting tougher, madder by day, a Kim Jong-un in the making,” UNA said. Jong-un has ordered a series of executions over disobedience on him and his family members. “He [Duterte] is a threat to democracy,” Bautista said. The US State department says it has “solid evidence” that the presidentiable was responsible for the extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances in Davao City. “This is frightening. Are we ready for this? It’s a very dangerous world we are facing,” UNA pointed out. It fears of the possibility of war erupting between the Philippines and its friendly allies with Duterte’s threat of severing diplomatic ties, particularly with Australia and US that slammed him over his rape joke. “Duterte does not accept criticisms. What will happen to his critics?” the camp of Binay asked. “We will become a pariah nation and that is very dangerous.” At the Palace, one of President Benigno Aquino’s spokesmen Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III dared Duterte to take the allegations against him since “we are not talking about just one bank account but several other peso and dollar accounts and land titles that are not included in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth in 2015.” Sara Fabunan

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CALABARZON’S CHOICE. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez delivers his ‘malasakit’ message to more than 8,000 delegates representing mayors and barangay chairmen of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon during a convention in Lucena City, Quezon province. VER NOVENO

ROMUALDEZ ENDORSED BY VOTE-RICH ONE CEBU By Maricel V. Cruz

VOWING to deliver more than two million votes, the One Cebu party has declared its full and unconditional support for the senatorial candidacy of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez who will be their “malasakit” (compassionate) leader in the Senate. Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia said Romualdez’s “malasakit” advocacies are in perfect sync with the One Cebu’s platform, ideals and vision especially on infrastructure. “One Cebu is fully supporting the candidacy of Rep. Martin Romualdez for senator,” said Garcia, a stalwart of One Cebu party, on the significant votes that the party would deliver to Romualdez in Cebu which has 2.7 million registered voters. “We believe that he [Romualdez] will be the compassionate voice in the Senate for the Visayas especially Cebu,” said Garcia on the party which was responsible behind a one-million vote lead in 2004 by former President and Pampanga

Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Cebu over her closest rival in the presidential race. One Cebu had also thrown its full support to the presidential bid of Davao City Rep. Rodrigo Duterte who also endorsed Romualdez’s senatorial bid. Romualdez, head of the House Independent Bloc and a three-term congressman who is running for the Senate under a platform anchored on compassionate governance, as one of his guest senatorial candidates for sharing similar platforms of government in ensuring peace and order, curbing graft and corruption, giving free college education, and improving health services through zero-billing for the indigents.

Romualdez assured Filipinos that he would push in-city resettlement through decent and affordable housing program for informal settlers and urban poor communities to guarantee the preservation of their jobs and livelihood, institutionalizing, increasing and making Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) accessible to all free of any discrimination; ending the “contractualization” system; and champion further the interests of persons with disabilities (PWDs). Earlier, Romualdez’s senatorial candidacy was endorsed by at least 500 urban poor groups under the Sulong Mamamayang Pilipino (Sumapil). The 2,000-strong Batasan Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association with 16 umbrella organizations and four other big organizations of tricycles in the National Capital Region also declared their support for Romualdez. The so-called “Big 4” in the transport sector led by Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) national

president Orlando Marquez, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) national president Efren De Luna, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) national president Zenaida Maranan, and Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide (Pasang Masda) national president Robert “Ka Obet” Martin, declared support to Romualdez. Romualdez was credited for the successful passage into law of his measure exempting PWDs from the payment of 12-percent value-added tax on certain goods and services. Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, finished his undergraduate studies with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Government from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 1985 and obtained in 1988 a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from the Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts.

MARCOS UPBEAT ABOUT BICOL DELIVERING VOTES By Joel E. Zurbano CAMARINES NORTE—Vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed confidence he will get a big number of votes in Bicol region, a known bailiwick and hometown of four other candidates for the second highest position. “This campaign is not because they are Bicolanos or not, the campaign is who has a good platform of government, solutions to their problems so they will have a good future. Sa akin ka lang makakarinig ng detailed program of

government,” Marcos said. “Hindi mahalaga kung saan ka galing. Ang importante meron ka bang plano, may programa ka ba, alam ba ang solusyon at may kakayahan na ibigay ang solusyon?” Marcos added. “We are all serious candidates. To dismiss anyone of them is a dangerous thing to do. In terms of the vice president, I know all of my opponents, I take them very seriously,” the senator said. Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara threw his support behind Marcos, saying he agreed

with the unity advocacy of the senator because of the many problems and challenges buffeting the nation. “I could not agree with you [Marcos] more on your message of unity because we really need to unite this country,” said Bichara, a longtime friend of Marcos, going back to their days as neophyte members of the House of Representatives in the 9th Congress. Marcos said unity should reign in order to get the country moving forward. Bichara said Marcos could very

well be the country’s next president because of his solid track record in public service spanning 27 years. Albay Gov. Joey Salceda warmly received Marcos in the provincial capitol when his Unity Caravan rolled into the province Friday afternoon. Salceda, who is Liberal Party affiliated together with Vice Gov. Harold Imperial, wished the senator the best in his candidacy. Marcos thanked the Bicolanos for their warm welcome and gave his report on the Barangay Retirement Benefits Bill that he has been championing.

SUNDAY: MAY 1, 2016

Roderick T. dela Cruz EDITOR business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

Sumo Chaya Sekitori Corp. president and chief executive Seto Masakazu (right) together with chef Keita Kamimoto and deputy chef Ume.

EX-SUMO WRESTLER ROCKS ORTIGAS RESTAURANT SCENE

A FORMER sumo wrester built a successful business in Japan, only to see it dissipate during an economic bubble. He found hope in the Philippines, where his company is on a mission to bring authentic Japanese food. Seto Masakazu, who was born in Nikko, a city in Tochigi Prefecture north of Tokyo, competed as a sekitori or sumo wrestler at age 15, became homeless after fleeing the sumo stable, worked as a newsboy, excelled in high school, established a travel agency while studying at Tohoku Fukushi University, put up a high-end club, then saw his businesses go bankrupt due to economic and personal circumstances. He decided to move to Manila. Today, the venturesome Japanese entrepreneur is on a mission to build a restaurant chain in the Philippines that offers genuine Japanese food, with the help of two chefs from Japan. Masakazu, 50, believes that only a Japanese chef using fresh ingredients from Japan can prepare an authentic Japanese cuisine. “There are lots of restaurants masquerading as real Japanese restaurants in the Philippines. They just use the Internet for their menu. If you do not consider the history and the source of the food, it cannot be real Japanese food. In the same way, Filipino food cannot be prepared by Japanese,” Masakazu

says in Nihongo, in an interview at his new restaurant in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Veraldyn Simbulan of HappyRoad JP Inc., which supplies printing materials for Sekitori, served as the translator during the interview with journalists and bloggers. Masakazu teamed up with chef Keita Kamimoto and deputy chef Ume to establish Sekitori Authentic Japanese Restaurant at the ground floor of Hanston Square Building along San Miguel Ave. in Ortigas. Kamimoto is a master craftsman who spreads authentic Japanese cuisine to other parts of the globe. He has also experimented fusing traditional food with Japanese cuisine and now showcases his culinary skills in Sekitori Ortigas. Sekitori Ortigas first opened in 2014 and reopened with an expanded floor area on Jan. 11, 2016. A giant statue of a sumo wrestler greets customers upon entering the restaurant. It was a life of many challenges for Masakazu, who entered the world of Yokozuna, the highest rank in professional wresting in

Sumo Chaya Sekitori Corp. president and CEO Seto Masakazu explains an assortment of sashimi displayed on a wooden boat bowl.

Japan, when he was 15. “I have always been big as a child, and at 15, I was already 184 cm in height [six feet] and over 100 kilograms in weight,” he says. “Away from my parents for the first time, I found sumo to be a world that is severe beyond my imagination. Everyday, I was kicked and beaten, and since I lived within the stable, this continuously occurred, 24 hours around the clock,” he says. Sick of the sumo world, he tried to run back home, only to be strongly rebuked by his mother, who was opposed to him joining the sumo world in the first place. His mother asked why he gave up so easily, a lesson that would define the rest of his life. Thrown out of home, he worked at a newspaper shop and went back to high school. He studied hard and even did volunteer work to help the elderly and the disabled. He was at the top of his class, became president of the student council, competed as captain of the Judo Club and reconciled with his mother who gave him permission to study at a top university. In his third year in the university, he established a travel agency and a popular bar and later became a teacher. He successfully built a chain of 15 shops and led a flashy lifestyle. TURN TO B3

SUNDAY: MAY 1, 2016

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THE RISE OF GENMOBILE

MOBILE devices and gadgets connected to the network and the entry of the young generation into the labor force are changing the way people work, according to a technology expert who visited the Philippines recently.

Vinay Anand, an Indian national who works for a US company based in Sunnyvale, California, says the work environment is shifting, as companies move away from fixed, static wired networks to an open, dynamic environment where mobility rules and the young employees belonging to the so-called GenMobile demand to work anywhere, anytime with constant access to the Internet. “The whole mobility aspects, which allow us to go wherever we want—from home, from work, from outside, and do our job as effectively as before is as the heart of what we are seeing in this transformation,” Anand says in a news briefing at Raffles Hotel in Makati City. Anand is the vice president and general manager of ClearPass Security at Aruba Networks, a leading provider of next-generation networking solutions for enterprise. The company, which was acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprise last year, delivers IT solutions to empower organizations to serve the so-called GenMobile, which refers to mobile-savvy users who rely on cloud-based business apps for every aspect of their work and personal lives. Before coming to Aruba, Vinay was the vice president of product management for network security at Intel Security. He also held leadership positions with Syman-

ClearPass Security general manager Vinay Anand of Aruba Networks (left) and Aruba Philippines country manager Cheryll Terrado tec, Nokia and Cisco Systems. Anand cites the results of a survey showing that a lot of new employees refuse to take a job if they are not given the freedom to use the computer they want. “This is a very dramatic change from the behavior we have seen in the past where you go to work and take the computer you are offered. Now, the younger generation is actually insisting on the kind of work environment they get,” he says. He says this became possible through WiFi, or wireless networking that uses radio waves to

provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections. Through WiFi, people can now work and get connected everywhere they want. It has also led to the rise of IoT, short for Internet of things, which is the network of devices other than smartphones or tablets which are embedded with electronics, software and sensors to connect to the network. “IoT is the new trend we are seeing. That will change the entire paradigm. Non-traditional devices get connected to the network. Not only computers or laptops, but monitors, light fixtures, process control systems, health-

care equipment, factory equipment, cars etc. are now connected to the network,” says Anand. “When you bring that paradigm into the network, it is just an extension of mobility. The old paradigm is on wired networks, the next paradigm is on mobility. IoT is an extension of mobility. “In the next three to five years, there are few trends we are seeing. IoT is one. It will be pervasive. Years from now.... that would be our life. It is like our cellphone. Three to five years from now, IoT will be adopted so broadly and cloud will be much more pervasive. The interesting part is that

all these trends come together to define a new work environment. The whole concept of sitting in a cube or a desk in an office to do work, that is gonna change rapidly, as the next generation comes in. As more younger people come in, that paradigm of work environment is going to shift,” he says. Anand says GenMobile, armed with a growing number of personal devices and apps, is taxing IT and security administrators by demanding greater access to company resources via Wi-Fi and cellular. “That becomes very important when we design our new solutions,” he says. He says to address the requirements of GenMobile, Aruba is offering a new suite of integrated networking software and hardware solutions. The new portfolio enables IT teams to anticipate and resolve connectivity problems, and create secure policies to build digital workplaces that are optimized to boost employee productivity. The new, integrated wired and wireless portfolio, combined with innovations in network management and security, allow IT organizations to design and augment their networks for the digital workplace. “We are taking those trends that we are seeing and we are building technologies that are helping drive those trends. We are moving from a legacy architecture to mobile first,” says Anand. Aruba Philippines country manager Cheryll Terrado says the company has thousands of customers in the Philippines, including telecom companies, banks, retail establishments and manufacturing firms. “We are doing very well in the wireless space. We have clients in telco, retail as well as manufacturing,” she says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

MASTERCARD TEAMS UP WITH WORLD VISION MASTERCARD and World Vision International have recently signed a multi-layered partnership agreement where MasterCard will apply its expertise, products and services in support of World Vision’s efforts to tackle key challenges impacting the humanitarian sector, beginning with projects in the Philippines. Mastercard is a US technology company in the global payments industry while World Vision International is a Christian relief, advocacy and development organization. International humanitarian aid assistance continues to grow, reaching an all-time high last year. Yet, at a time of unprecedented humanitarian crises, it is insufficient in meeting the needs of the millions of people affected

by poverty, political turmoil and natural disasters every year. Through the partnership, MasterCard and World Vision are improving humanitarian aid delivery via digital identity and electronic payment technology, including World Vision’s last mile mobile solutions and the MasterCard aid network. MasterCard partnered with World Vision to test both systems in the Philippines to help microentrepreneurs rebuild businesses after typhoon Haiyan. World Vision also began using LMMS and MasterCard Aid Network in Nepal, following last year’s earthquake, to deliver a wide range of services, food assistance and equipment. “Effectiveness and sustainabil-

This partnership can serve as a blueprint for private and nonprofit organizations working together to create mutually beneficial and sustainable solutions.

ity are two of the most pressing issues facing humanitarian organizations,” said Ann Cairns, president for international markets at MasterCard. “We’re increasingly using our core expertise to create innovative solutions with NGOs like World Vision that address these pain points and better support those affected by poverty and emergencies around the world. We believe this partnership can serve as a blueprint for private and non-profit organizations working together to create mutually beneficial and sustainable solutions for some of the world’s most challenging issues,” Cairns said. “Responding to disasters and meeting humanitarian needs is a

shared responsibility,” said Kevin Jenkins, president of World Vision International. “World Vision values partnerships like this that aim to move the relationship between NGOs and private enterprises from transactional to transformational. We want to harness each other’s experience, skills and technology to reach more people in more effective innovative and efficient ways,” Jenkins said. MasterCard and World Vision also plan to partner on fundraising and advocacy opportunities, as well as joint industry research and consulting on topics ranging from digital identity to financial education for beneficiaries to data management and protection.

SUNDAY: MAY 1, 2016

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

SKYPE REDEFINES BUSINESS COMMUNICATION MICROSOFT Philippines answers the urgent need for unified communications through unit Skype for Business. “Today, enterprise organizations in the Philippines are in for a digital disruption,” said Christian Lim, office marketing business group lead for Microsoft Philippines. “As the workforce and the consumer markets become more digital, there is a need for flexible, rich communications, and a reinvented productivity solution that will usher in a new modern work place”. In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype, an application that provides video chat and voice call services. Skype for Business provides instant messaging, audio and video calls, online meetings, availability (presence) information and sharing capabilities from one, easy-to-use program. Presenting data they have garnered through their “New World of Work” survey, Microsoft surmises that as enterprises adapt to the changing business landscape, they must simultaneously adopt new ways to communicate with their workforce that are grounded in available and inexpensive technologies. With most of the modern employees disparate and working well away from the office space, work mobility has become a primary concern among businesses. They have adapted multiple technologies to cope with the need to connect and interact with one another.

Microsoft stressed that a sporadic work force should not rely on multiple confusing devices in order to be flexible and workcompetitive. “We understand there is an undeniable demand for communication that transcends time zones and geographies,” said Lim. “The evolution of communication through technology has greatly impacted the workplace and we want to help equip businesses with products that will empower them to do more in a mobile-first, cloud-first world.” Microsoft embraces the new working culture present-day employees are steeped in by introducing solutions they have devised in Skype for Business, helping them to unify communications in a heavily scattered workplace. Available Skype for Business solutions are expanded through Microsoft’s partnership with Polycom to deliver the industry’s first cloud-based video interoperability service. Polycom will also develop new video collaboration and video room solutions for Skype for Business. “Our 12-year partnership with Microsoft delivered industryleading collaboration solutions to our end users,” said Peter Leav, chief executive of Polycom. “Together, we equip our customers of all sizes with cloud-ready solu-

EX-SUMO... FROM B1 “Eventually, at the age of 30, the high-end club I had pushed for which the company had been again bled largely on deficit, and from there, overall performance started to fall. Then the bubble economy burst,” he says. “I lost everything. Left with no house or a place to sleep the day after, I was reduced to a life of collecting coins just to buy bread. But then, the Yakuza gangster who had accepted the transfer of debt was caught and put under house arrest,” he says. An acquaintance later introduced him to a friend who employed him as a salary man. Masakazu says he worked three times more than the average person did and caught the attention of a client—president of a condominium developer—who recruited him. In the fourth year of his employment, he was entrusted the management of the company. In two years, company sales increased five-fold. He also introduced a spa business, which became a fast growing segment in the company. But there were pitfalls along the way, he says. A jealous colleague set a trap which he fell into and led to losing his job. “Overnight, I lost my job. Still, as my name was already known in the industry, there came a number of invitations and requests for work. In the end, I founded my original company and went into consulting and producing spa,” he says. “The Yakuza came and threatened my employees and warned me that if I value the safety of my

tions that will help them realize the powerful benefits of collaboration in the workplace of the future.” Partnering with the international communication technology company, two readily available solutions built in Skype for Business were presented by Microsoft: Outlook Integration and Cloud Private Branch Exchange. Businesses can now integrate their Outlook accounts into their Skype for Business app, providing them ease in inviting workmates into meetings and Skype calls that dissolve the need to bring their work into the boardroom. Microsoft also made this available to people who do not have the Skype for Business app yet through the free web app. “Answering the urgent need for unified communications, we simplified Skype for Business’ design and created a common user experience that is both accessible to people and fitting to their devices,” said Eileen Ong, small and midmarket solutions and partners director for Microsoft Philippines. “And with the present day’s threat to privacy, we employed measures to ensure reliability and security in our services, we assure our customers that they can put their whole attention into the conversation worry-free.” Facing the future head on with Skype for Business, Microsoft assures businesses the opportunity to modernize mobility, collaborations, and meetings within the workplace. “We at Microsoft, underline our

Executives of Microsoft Philippines and Polycom Inc. flash a thumbs up sign during a news briefing at Makati Shangri La Hotel. mission to empower people to do more by pushing further toward advancement, to which we believe there is only one way—forward,” said Ong. In March, Polycom and Microsoft announced plans to expand the reach of Skype for Business meetings enabling Polycom customers of all sizes to leverage their existing video investments, as they move to Microsoft Office 365 and Skype for Business environments. In addition, Microsoft customers new to video collaboration will have the option to use Polycom’s proven technologies in their new deployments. Customers will also be able to collaborate with other existing video platforms using a cloud video interoperability

family, I would quit with the spa business.” He decided to close the Tokyo office of Benefit Corp. and moved to Manila, where he established a restaurant. Masakazu, who stands six feet tall, first came to Makati 30 years ago, returned many times as a tourist and helped establish a care-giving business. “I was here only for fun 30 years ago. During that time, the surroundings of Makati Cinema Square were still empty lots,” he says. His mother actually started the family’s restaurant business in the Philippines. The company he was working for wanted to get involved in a care giving business and later bought a small restaurant in Little Tokyo, Makati. Masakazu’s mother became the mama-san (woman in charge) in that restaurant which was appropriately called Kaa San and which served home-cooked food. “When my mother left, I could not operate under the name Kaa San, which means mother. During that time, the one occupied by Sekitori right now was up for sale. What I did was to close down the Kaa San and opened Sekitori,” he says. One of the employees of the Japanese care-giving business he was working for was a Filipino woman. She introduced him to a younger sister, who worked at Kaa San as a manager and later became his wife. Sekitori at Little Tokyo, Makati has been in operation for 11 years now, attracting mostly Japanese customers, which speaks of the authentic taste of the food served in the restaurant. Sumo Chaya Sekitori Corp., the company established by Masakazu as president and chief executive, launched the first Sekitori outlet at Little Tokyo near Makati Cinema Square in Makati City in 2005. Masakazu says he has high hopes for Sekitori Ortigas, which offers menu that cannot be found in other Japanese restaurants. He goes to Japan on a regular basis to procure the food supplies and ingredients. He says the quality of fish or meat in Japan is different, mainly because of the temperature. He also established J. Boy Corp., a Japanese fastfood shop in 2012. “In the Philippines, the menu of Japanese restaurants are the same. What Sekitori offers is the menu in Japan and not in the Philippines,” Masakazu says. Sekitori Ortigas serves large portions of authentic Japanese food. The price range of a meal starts from as low as P200, he says. Assorted premium sashimi on a wooden boat costs about P3,800. Its premium Japanese tuna is brought fresh from Japan.

service built by Polycom and Microsoft. The two companies also announced that Polycom would deliver an industry-first, cloudbased video interoperability service, hosted in the Microsoft Cloud, for Office 365 customers. This enables Office 365 customers to leverage their existing video investments and unite with those of other vendors, including Polycom, Microsoft and Cisco, as they move to the cloud. “Uniting Skype for Business in Office 365 with Polycom’s highquality audio and video solutions gives customers the most complete collaboration toolkit for the modern workplace,” said Zig Serafin, corporate vice president of Skype for Business.

The restaurant also serves salad, braised Lapu-Lapu, spicy salmon, Wagyu beef sukiyaki, Shinshu premium beef steak, home-made noodle called Zaru soba and udon, a hotpot called Kisetu no irodori dobinmushi, consisting of seafood and vegetables, Chawang mushi made of chicken egg, fish and vegetables and assorted Japanese sweets. Waitresses dressed in kimonos greet the customers. Masakazu says he has not yet done any promotion for Sekitori Ortigas, but it has already attracted a horde of loyal Japanese and Filipino customers. “It is still not well known but the Sekitori name is already popular because the one in Little Tokyo has been operating for 11 years now. Japanese people already know the Sekitori name here,” he says. About 95 percent of customers at Sekitori Little Tokyo in Makati are Japanese diners. Masakazu says his goal is to introduce Japanese cooking that is not known to Filipinos. “Japanese cooking is not just Japanese food. Japanese food is not just ramen, not just tonkatsu. There are lots of Japanese food. I want to introduce them here,” he says. “Looking back, I’ve come to realize how varied and experience I’ve had. However, it does not end here. I do not consider myself as a success, and from here on, I am still thinking of taking on the variety of challenges that would come my way,” he says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

world

sYria Hits Vital CitY amid Call For trUCe

HAvoc. syrian men carry a body on a stretcher amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighborhood of al-Qatarji in the northern syrian city of aleppo. the northern city, which has been left out in a truce agreement has been battered by air strikes, rocket fire, and shelling, leaving more than 200 civilians dead across the metropolis. The renewed violence has all but collapsed a fragile ceasefire deal that had brought an unprecedented lull in fighting since Feb. 27. AFP

CHINA DENIES PORT CALL OF US CARRIER

hong kong—China has denied the US aircraft carrier USS Stennis and accompanying naval vessels permission to make a port call in hong kong, a Pentagon spokesman said Friday. It was not immediately known what prompted the Chinese action, but it comes amid growing tension between the two countries over Beijing’s moves to assert its claims to much of the South China Sea. “We were recently informed that a request for a port visit by a US carrier strike group, including the

USS John C Stennis and accompanying vessels, to Hong Kong was denied,” Commander Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman, said. “We have a long track record of successful port visits to Hong Kong, including with the current visit of the USS Blue Ridge, and we expect that will continue,” he added.

It was the first time US naval ships had been denied permission to make a Hong Kong port call since August 2014, Urban said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry told Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post newspaper that port calls by US ships are decided on a “case by case basis in accordance with sovereignty principles and specific circumstances.” US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter visited the Stennis on April 15 as it sailed off the Philippines near the disputed area where

China has expanded islets and reefs into islands capable of supporting airfields and other installations. During a preceding stop in Manila, Carter had emphasized that the United States would support the Philippines and other allies as they faced “coercion and intimidation.” The two countries also announced they have begun joint naval patrols in the South China Sea, and Carter said a contingent of 275 US troops and five A-10 ground attack aircraft in the Philippines for an an-

nual exercise would remain in the country until the end of the month. On Friday, Russia offered support for China’s opposition to U.S. actions in two of Asia’s biggest security flash points amid mounting tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the South China Sea. Foreign ministers from China and Russia expressed “grave concern” about the possible U.S. deployment of the Thaad anti-missile system in South Korea to defend against the growing. AFP and Bloomberg

DA M A S C U S — R e g i m e aircraft pounded rebel areas of Syria’s second city Aleppo, which was left out of a deal to “freeze” fighting from Saturday despite international outrage over renewed violence. Shelling and air raids in Aleppo over the past week have killed more than 230 civilians and pushed a landmark February 27 ceasefire to the verge of collapse. On Friday, crude barrel bombs smashed into residential neighborhoods as rescue workers scrambled to cope with the casualties. Near the eastern rebelheld Fardos district, the civil defense, known as the White Helmets, pulled bloodied bodies caked in dust from a building that had been hit. Bombardment of the city killed 17 people in rebel-held districts and 13 people in the government-controlled western neighborhoods, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. “The earth is shaking beneath our feet,” one resident of the densely populated Bustan al-Qasr area told AFP. An air raid also hit a local clinic in rebel-held Al-Maja neighborhood, wounding several people, including a nurse, the White Helmets said. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported a clinic was “totally destroyed” but without casualties. It was not clear if it was the same facility. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, a total of four medical facilities were hit in Aleppo Friday on both sides of the front line. It was the second time this week that an air strike hit one of the few medical facilities still operating in rebel areas. AFP

iran moderates win polls

‘Go oUT AND voTE’. Indian voters are watched by a paramilitary soldier as they wait to cast their ballots in state assembly elections at a polling station in Kolkata on saturday. state assembly elections in west Bengal are taking place from april 4 to may 5. AFP

TEHRAN—Reformist and moderate politicians allied with President Hassan Rouhani won second round parliamentary elections in Iran, unofficial results said Saturday, opening the door to them controlling the legislature. The outcome, if confirmed officially, would represent a dramatic political realignment in the Islamic republic, with conservative MPs likely being outnumbered by their rivals for the first time since 2004. It would also be a huge public vote of confidence for Rouhani, who won a landslide election victory in 2013 and went on to clinch a historic deal with world powers over Tehran’s nuclear programme that lifted sanctions.

Voting was extended Friday in the second round elections for almost a quarter of parliament’s seats in what was a crucial showdown between reformists and conservatives seeking to influence the country’s future. The result could open a delicate path to limited social and cultural change after an era of diplomatic clashes over the nuclear program that, before Rouhani, had left Iran highly isolated. It is also likely to herald a parliament that supports the government—the current conservative-dominated chamber has repeatedly blocked Rouhani’s initiatives and even impeached one of his ministers.

The president’s backers made huge gains in the first round of elections, on Feb. 26, when voters drove many conservatives out of the parliament, but still scored eight seats less than them overall. Tension over the Friday vote’s high stakes was underlined by a shooting involving supporters of rival candidates in a southern province. The rare political violence left four people wounded, a security official said. Iran’s reformists have encouraged foreign investment, support moves for greater diplomatic rapprochement and seek social change and fewer political restrictions at home. AFP

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WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

mining blamed for malaria

BOGOTA—Colombia’s widespread illegal mining is blamed for causing environmental damage and holding workers in slave-like conditions —and now is also being blamed for a malaria outbreak.

PoPe For CAnCer. Pope Francis, who made rounds at the St. Peter’s Basilica square on Saturday called for an increase in funding for research to find cures to rare diseases, saying there’s a need for an ‘increased sensitivity’ towards those suffering from those illnesses, while also calling for ‘universal access to treatment’ during the celebrations of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. AFP

Critics point to stagnant water buildups at the clandestine sites and poor sanitary conditions at the workers’ camps for an increase in mosquitos spreading the disease, which has quadrupled in jungle regions of the hardhit and impoverished western department of Choco. “The country had more or less controlled its malaria problem... the death rate had dropped significantly,” Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria said this week. “But because of illegal mining... we’ve had hotspots since last year and especially this year.” Speaking on RCN radio, Gaviria said that malaria was especially on the rise in Choco—which stretches from the border with Panama along a stretch of Colombia’s Pacific coastline —as well as the Bajo Cauca area to the east. The National Health Institute counted 18,524 malaria cases and about 300 cases of the disease’s more severe strain.

A year earlier, only 4,740 cases of malaria were recorded. But authorities say that more than half of Colombia’s mining sites are in fact illegal. In these illegal mines, which help finance illegal armed groups, “excavators dig huge holes where water accumulates, perfect breeding groups for malariacarrying mosquitoes,” said University of Antioquia researcher Ivan Dario Velez. And the sites where the miners set up camp “usually lack public utilities and have very poor hygiene conditions, which encourages the spread of mosquito and thus the disease,” he said. Malaria symptoms include feverish headaches, chills, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. From 2015 to 2016, about 30 people died of malaria, most in isolated communities far from urban centers, according to the Office of the Ombudsman, which that warned this week of a “worrisome increase” in cases. AFP

GERMANY GRANTS PAY HIKE; SETTLES UNREST BERLIN—Germany’s federal and local governments reached agreement on Friday with public sector workers on a pay rise, settling a dispute that grounded hundreds of flights during a warning strike two days earlier, sources said. More than two million workers are to receive a pay increase of 4.75 percent over two years, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said after a third round of talks with Germany’s biggest services sector union, Verdi. In a statement Verdi said the increase would be paid in two stages, with a first increment of 2.4 percent in March 2016 to be followed by another 2.35

percent in February 2017. The union, which had initially demanded a sixper-cent pay rise, hailed the result as “a compromise that clearly increases salaries, boosts purchasing power and helps make the public sector more attractive” to workers. On Wednesday, walkouts by Verdi members forced the cancellation of more than 1,200 flights in and out of the country’s main airports, with flag carrier Lufthansa among the hardest hit. The union had also recently organised work stoppages in hospitals, town halls and child care centers. On Friday, the labour

unrest spread to the automobile sector, with around 110,000 people taking part in strikes organized by the powerful IG Metall union aimed at pressing the wage demands of 3.4 million metal sector workers across the country. IG Metall is demanding a pay rise of five percent for its members. After a decade of enforced wage moderation, German workers have begun receiving more generous pay increases. The pay rises are helping drive domestic demand, which has taken over from exports as the main driver of Europe’s largest economy. AFP

ChAos. An egg is thrown at a cardboard cutout of republican presidential candidate

Donald Trump during a protest outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel where republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was speaking in Burlingame, California. Hundreds of protesters jostled with police in riot gear outside a California hotel where Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump was to give a speech, forcing the candidate to duck into a back entrance. AFP

‘SPOTLIGHT’ NEWSMAN HITS TRUMP OVER ABUSE LOS ANGELES—The leader of the Boston Globe investigation into Catholic church child abuse that spawned the movie “Spotlight” berated Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump Friday for his “shameless” treatment of journalists covering his campaign. This as hundreds of protesters faced off with police on Friday at a California hotel where Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump was giving a speech, as tensions intensified ahead of the next key primaries. Ben Bradlee Jr., who was in charge of the Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning

2001-02 investigation into the Boston archdiocese, said Trump’s constant smearing of journalists as dishonest made him a hypocrite. “It’s shameless, what’s going on in the Republican campaign. He’s got them in a pen and they’re not allowed to leave the pen and go out and talk to people,” he told a panel discussion in Los Angeles. “And he says ‘look at them, look how dishonest they are.’ This is the guy who’s lived by the press and has his own relationships—good relationships—with reporters, and he plays them. “He so hypocritical in calling

them out as a bunch of dishonest jackals. It’s just outrageous.” Trump’s campaign has faced a barrage of criticism over its handling of the media, culminating with manager Corey Lewandowski being charged with battery for allegedly grabbing a reporter, although the case was later dropped. The GOP candidate has been accused by Fox News of harboring a “sick obsession” with prominent news anchor Megyn Kelly and waging a campaign of crude verbal abuse against her. Journalist Seth Stevenson, who followed Trump rallies from Chi-

cago to Florida, accused Trump of singling out specific outlets for vindictive treatment, denying access to events following negative coverage. In the second straight day of tumult awaits in the run-up to June 7, when California—the most populous US state —votes. That primary could mark the point at which the bombastic 69-year-old billionaire clinches the number of delegates he needs to win the Republican party’s nomination. Demonstrators—some holding anti-Trump signs, waving Mexican flags and jostling with police in riot

gear—clambered over barricades and blocked multiple entrances to the hotel a few miles (kilometers) from the San Francisco airport. Trump halted his motorcade along a highway and, surrounded by Secret Service, climbed an embankment and ducked into a side entrance to give protesters the slip. The extraordinary images were broadcast live on US cable television. “It infuriated me when he’d pause between telling blatant whoppers to point at the media pen and say, ‘Those are very dishonest people, I have to tell you,’” Stevenson wrote in Slate magazine. AFP

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RIERA MALL ARI EDITOR

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

ULTIMATE REALITY COMBAT IN EXPLOSIVE RWM SHOW

Rebellion went down as another explosive installment of what is fast-becoming the most exciting mixed martial arts tournament in Asia.

PALASAN CAPTURES 2 JUNIOR TENNIS TITLES IN ILOILO CITY MATT Steve Palasan bagged two crowns recently to lead all champions, while Tracy Llamas conquered the girls’ 18-andunder singles in the fourth leg of 18th HEAD Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit at the La Paz tennis courts in Iloilo City. Palasan, the top seed in the boys’ 16-and-under singles, whipped Lorenzo Legaspi, 6-1, 6-1, in the final round to capture the 18-and-under singles’ title of the weeklong tournament organized by the Dynamic Sports. He claimed his second crown by crushing Alfrancis Andrade, 2-6, 6-3 (Ret.), during the championship Round of 16-and-under boys’ singles. The annual satellite tournament was attended by more than 150 players from all over the Visayas region. The No. 1 seeded player Llamas, meanwhile, bounced back from a humiliating loss in the girls’ 16-and-under championship round by beating Andrea Seballos, 6-1, 6-0, to win the girls’ 18-and-under trophy. Averille Sacapano outlasted

Llamas, 6-3, 6-1, to cop the 16-and-under girls’ singles crown. The competition, attended by more than 150 entries from all over the Visayas, was supported by HEAD, Chris Sports, Toalson, 92.5 FM Aksyon Sports, Reach Magazine, Philippine Tennis Association, Pilipino Mirror, ANC, Impact Magazine and Podcast.ph. Meanwhile, Earl Mosquera bested Kalvin Charles Sajonia, 6-2, 6-3, to wrest the 14-andunder boys’ singles’ title, while second seed Bliss Bayking whipped third seed Averille Sacapano, 6-1, 7-6 (5), for the 14-and-under girls’ singles crown. In the other championship singles’ results, Jeff Jimenea bashed Chad Quizon, 5-3, 4-2, 5-3, for the 10-and-under unisex title; while John Alphard Bolivar outplayed Khen Nber Justiniani, 6-0, 6-3, for the 12-and-under boys’ title. Althea Rose Martirez won over Abigael Jenny Sacapano, 6-1, 6-2, for the girls’ 12-andunder crown. Tracy Llamas in action

EACH adrenalinecharged fight had the audience of the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Resorts World Manila on the edge of their seats last Saturday, April 23. With 10 superb bouts including four titles on the line, the Ultimate Reality Combat Championships 27: Rebellion went down as another explosive installment of what is fast-becoming the most exciting mixed martial arts tournament in Asia. The flyweight contest between bad blood fighters Alvin “Sindikato” Martinez and Carlo “The Samurai” Laurel ended with a stoppage on the 3rd, triggered by a vicious right kick that opened a deep wound on Laurel’s forehead. Martinez followed through with a flurry of punches that prompted the referee to call in the ring physician and stop the fight. Filipino CJ “The Golden Boy” De Tomas also celebrated a night of glory after avenging his father’s loss to Japanese Hideo “Death from Tokyo” Morikama via a unanimous decision to capture the flyweight championship belt. “Nabawi ko ang karangalan ng apelyido namin (I regained the honor of our name)” said De Tomas after the convincing win. Also impressive was the TKO win for light heavyweights Chris “The War Machine” Hoffman over brawler Caloy “Bad Boy” Baduria. Early in the fight, Baduria willingly took blows from Hoffman to show that he could absorb the younger Hoffman’s punches. The two exchanged strikes for most of the match with the Bad Boy landing haymakers several times. Unfortunately Baduria wasn’t able to answer the bell for Round 3 due to a shoulder injury giving Hoffman the win. In the main fight, Filipino Reydon “Red” Romero relinquished his featherweight title in just his second defense to the fast-punching South Korean Do Gyeom Lee. Romero was not able to defend Lee’s spot-on blows which led to a referee stoppage in the 2nd round. Fans filled the MGB as the URCC held its first event of the year at the largest ballroom in the country after it sealed a partnership with RWM this year. RWM Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly was very optimistic about the team-up. “The Marriott Grand Ballroom is a place for enormous events and we’re very proud to be hosting the URCC and to have this partnership” he said. Recently, the MGB also played host to the 4th Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. With an ample 2,500-seating capacity for such athletic events, the 3,000 square meter pillar-less main ballroom proves to be another worthy venue for sports aside from being a comprehensive meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions facility. For more upcoming events at Resorts World Manila, visit www. rwmanila.com or call the Tourist/ Visitor Hotline at (632) 908-8833. RWM is the first one-stop, nonstop entertainment and leisure destination in the Philippines that features recreational thrills, world-class performances, unique events, and exciting lifestyle options.

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SPORTS

ARMAN ARMERO EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

LADY SPIKERS WIN VOLLEY CROWN The DLSU Lady Spikers celebrate in midcourt after beating the Ateneo Lady Eagles in Game 3 of the UAAP women’s volleyball ﬁnals at the Araneta Coliseum. EY ACASIO

By Peter Atencio

LA SALLE showed up with the bigger heart and the smarter plays to end Ateneo’s two-year reign in women’s volleyball. Frustrated by a five-set loss in Game 2, the Lady Spikers this time held their ground and came up big in the third and fourth sets to put away the defending champion Ateneo Lady Eagles, 19-25, 25-21 25-15, 25-15, yesterday in Game 3 of the UAAP women’s volleyball finals at the Araneta Coliseum. The Lady Spikers beat La Salle, 2-1, for the crown, their ninth overall in the UAAP. Third-year player Kim Kianna Dy, who dedicated her game to five teammates who are graduating this season, proved the spark La Salle needed. Her gutsy performance was rewarded by the Finals MVP honors. The 5’10 Dy made 17 points, 16 on attacks, as La Salle raced to a 9-2 edge in the fourth, where she combined for blocks twice with Mary Joy Baron, and then another with Mika Reyes. Several plays later, Dy combined with Cyd Demecillo to turn back the attacks of Jhoanna Maraguinot and Alyssa Valdez, as La Salle built

not lead Ateneo this time in the 1 hour, 2 minute match watched by a crowd of 22,848. De Jesus said the players learned from their mistakes from Game 2. “Sabi ko sa kanila, matuto tayo dito.

a commanding cushion, 14-4. Valdez, who hit 34 points when she led the Lady Eagles 18-25, 26-28, 2517, 25-16, 15-11 win over the Lady Spikers in Game 2, again led Ateneo with 31 points, but could

Ayun, sumunod sila sa game plan,” said De Jesus. The Lady Spikers dedicated their title conquest to graduating teammates Mika Reyes, Mika Esperanza, Carol Ann Cerveza, Ara Galang and Cy Demecillo.

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AUCTION SALE

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N ot i c e i s h e r e by g i ve n to t h e p u b l i c t h at M r. Ro m m e l L . A m u r a o, f o r m e r S e n i o r C o r p o r ate S a l e s , i s n o l o n g e r au t h o r i ze d to a c t a n d r e p r e s e nt U n i - O r i e nt Tr ave l, I n c . ef fe c t i ve A p r i l 0 5 , 2 016 . A l l t r a n s a c t i o n s h a n d l e d by M r. Ro m m e l A m u r a o p r i o r to A p r i l 0 5 , 2 016 m u s t b e r efe r r e d to U n i - O r i e nt f o r c o nf i r m at i o n a n d va l i d at i o n at Te l. N o. (0 2) 70 5 -2 2 2 2 o r at C P # 0 917- 8 9 019 9 0 o r at e m a i l a d d r e s s: info@uniorient.net

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WESTCHESTER

All unredeemed pledges during the month of DECEMBER 2015 will be sold to public auction on MAY 11, 2016 at the ff. branches: HERRAN - 8:00 AM at # 1101 P. Gil St., Paco, Manila STA. ANA – 10:00 AM # 390 AP Reyes Cor. JP Rizal St., Makati City at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( T S - M AY 1, 2 0 16 )

AUCTION SALE CITRINE PAWNSHOP CO., INC All unredeemed pledges during the month of DECEMBER 2015 will be sold to public auction on MAY 4, 2016 at RITZ - 12:00 PM at Stall # New Muntinlupa Public Market, Alabang Muntinlupa City JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( T S - M AY 1, 2 0 16 )

AUCTION SALE LUIROM PAWNSHOP CO., INC. All unredeemed pledges during the month of DECEMBER 2015 will be sold to public auction on MAY 4, 2016 at the ff. branches: SUCAT - 9:00 AM at #3 Dr., A. Santos Ave., Sucat, Parañaque City MUNTI – 1:30 PM #659 National Road, Poblacion St., Muntinlupa City MAY 08, 2016 SAN JOAQUIN – 1:30 PM # 9 M. Concepcion San Joaquin, Pasig City MAY 24, 2016 10TH AVE. – 2:00 PM # 245-B 10TH Ave., Brgy., 60 Zone 6, Caloocan City MAY 23, 2016 MARILAO – 1 PM #5 NETWORK AVE., MERALCO VILL. LIAS MARILAO BULACAN MAY 12, 2016 SAGRADA – 11:00AM #1978 ESTRADA ST., FORMER SAGRADA FAMILIA STA. ANA, MLA. MAY 18, 2016 GAGALANGIN – 8:45 AM #2 JUAN LUNA ST., COR. GUIDO ST., TONDO MANILA MAY 23, 2016, STO NIÑO – 9:30 AM #30 ST., THERESE COR, ST. PETER, P3 STO NIÑO MEYCAUAN BULACAN at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( T S - M AY 1, 2 0 16 )

RACATAM PAWNSHOP CO., INC. All unredeemed pledges during the month of DECEMBER 2015 will be sold to public auction on MAY 18, 2016 at the ff. branches: PRITIL - 8:00 AM at 1833 N. Zamora St., Pritil, Tondo, Manila BLUMENTRITT – 10:30 AM #1687 M. Hizon St., Blumentritt, Manila VARONA – 8:30 AM 1872 F. VARONA ST., BRGY 95, ZONE 8, TONDO, MANILA MAY 24, 2016 ALTURA – 9:00 AM # 418 Altura St. Sta. Mesa, Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

INVITATION TO BID PROCUREMENT OF COMMON-USE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT (OUTSIDE PS-DBM) Bid Ref. No. 2016-12 The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) with office address at NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City intends to apply the following:

LOT N O.

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AUCTION SALE PANG NEGOSYO PAWNSHOP

All unredeemed pledges during the month of DECEMBER 2015 will be sold to public auction on MAY 7, 2016 at the ff. branches: COUNTRYSIDE - 12:30 PM at 49 Countryside Ave., Sta. Lucia, Pasig City JUNCTION – 2:30 PM # Star Valley Plaza Mall, Junction at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( T S - M AY 1, 2 0 16 )

AUCTION SALE

MAKATI LUXURY JEWELRY PAWNSHOP CO., All unredeemed pledges during the month of DECEMBER 2015 will be sold to public auction on MAY 04, 2016 at BF Homes – 10:00 AM # 43 President’s Ave., BF Homes, Parañaque City SPL - 3:00 PM at Casa Hacienda San Pedro, Laguna on MAY 07, 2016 at the ff. branches: ROMULO - 10:00 AM at 135 13TH Ave., Cor. P. Tuazon, Cubao, QC SANTOLAN – 4:00 PM 526 ADR Bldg., Dela Paz, Santolan, Pasig City on MAY 11, 2016 JP RIZAL – 11:00 AM # 529 Olympia St., JP Rizal, Makati City ALPHALAND – 5:00 PM G11 South Gate Towers, P. Tamo Ext., Makati City MANUELA – 3:00 PM G/F Starmall, Wack2, Mandaluyong City MAY 18, 2016 LALOMA – 11:30 AM # 67 Calavite St., Brgy., P. Bundok, QC RETIRO - 12:30 PM # 270 N.S. amoranto Street, Retiro QC. ROTONDA – 2:00 PM # 1 Sto. Tomas St., Rotonda QC at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

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TITLE

AMOUNT IN WORDS

AMOUNT IN FIGURES

Lot 1

Office Supplies

T h r e e M i l l i o n Fo u r H u n d r e d Ei g h t T h o u s a n d Ei g h t H u n d r e d Tw e n t y S i x Pe s o s a n d S i x t y Fo u r C e n t avo s

P3,408,826.64

Lot 2

MPE and Other Materials

Tw o M i l l i o n S eve n H u n d r e d T h i r t y Ei g h t T h o u s a n d Ei g h t H u n d r e d Ei g h t y Pe s o s O n l y

P 2 ,7 3 8 , 8 8 0 . 0 0

Lot 3

Ink Car tridges and Printers

O n e M i l l i o n T h r e e H u n d r e d Fo u r t e e n T h o u s a n d S eve n H u n d r e d N i n e t e e n Pe s o s a n d F i f t y Tw o C e n t avo s O n l y

P1, 314 ,719 . 5 2

Lot 4

Electrical Supplies a n d Eq u i p m e n t

S i x H u n d r e d N i n e t y F i ve T h o u s a n d T h r e e H u n d r e d S eve n t y S i x Pe s o s O n l y

P 6 9 5 , 376 . 0 0

being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the PROCUREMENT OF COMMON-USE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT (OUTSIDE PS-DBM) under Annual Procurement Plan (APP) for CY 2016; Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the Bid opening and late bids shall not be accepted. 1.

The PDEA - BAC now invites PhilGEPS registered providers for the PROCUREMENT OF COMMON-USE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT (OUTSIDE PS-DBM).

A prospective bidder should have completed within the last Three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, at least one (1) single contract of similar nature amounting to at least 50% of the ABC for the said projects.

Open competitive bidding will be conducted using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as “Government Procurement Act”. All particulars relative to this bidding including Eligibility Checking, Bid Security, Evaluation and Post Qualification Procedures and Award of Contract shall be governed by R.A. 9184 and its Revised IRR.

The bidding is open 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.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph. The complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders upon payment of nonrefundable fee indicated below. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective Bidder or his duly authorized representative upon presentation of proper identification of document. For purpose of having a legal personality to raise or submit written queries or clarification in the Pre-Bid Conference relative to these bid projects, Bidder must first pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents on or before the date of Pre-Bid Conference. The Schedule of Bid Activities shall be as follows:

N O M E N C L AT U R E

VENUE

DAT E / T I M E

B AC S e c r e t a r i a t c /o M s . R i a S a m s o n PDE A Compound, NIA Nor thside Road, N a t i o n a l G ove r n m e n t C e n t e r, 110 0 Quezon City

8: 0 0 A M t o 4: 0 0 P M o n l y, M o n d a y s t o Fr i d a y s , star ting April 28 to May 5 , 2 016

Cost of Bidding Document Sheet: 1.

S A L E & I S S UA N C E o f B i d Documents

PR E - B I D C O N FE R E N C E (o p e n o n l y t o p a r t i e s w h o h ave a c q u i r e d b i d d o c u m e n t s)

3. S U B M I S S I O N a n d O PE N I N G OF BIDS

Lot 1

Office Supplies

P5,000.00

Lot 2

MPE and Other Materials

P5,000.00

Lot 3

Ink Cartridges and Printers

P5,000.00

Lot 4

Electrical Supplies and equipment

P1,000.00

Conference Room, PDE A Compound, NIA Nor thside Road, National G ove r n m e n t C e n t e r, 110 0 Q u e z o n C i t y

M a y 6 , 2 016 3: 0 0 P M M a y 19 , 2 016 3: 0 0 P M

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/o Ms. Ria C. Samson at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting April 28 to May 5, 2016, 2016 at Tel No. (632) 920-8082. However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids. PDEA reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders. (Sgd) ATTY. ROSELYN A. BORJA Director III, Internal Affairs Service Vice Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

(TS-MAY 1, 2016)

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REUEL VIDAL EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Alaska Marketing Director Blen Fernando (left) leads the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska all-star squads as they are presented to the public. With them are NBA Philippines Marketing Director Carlo Singson (standing, second from right), WNBA legend Taj McWilliams-Franklin (right), two-time NBA champion Norris Cole (left), the Alaska coaching staff and winners of the coach of the year awards Ewon Arayi and Cholo Elegino.

BEST OF THE BEST JOIN JRNBA/JRWNBA ALL-STAR SQUADS By Homer Vidal

AFTER a nationwide search participated in by close to 21,000 basketball players, the JrNBA/JrNBA Presented by Alaska formally named the 10 boys and five girls who will join its two all-star squads after its threeday National Training Camp last weekend. The yearly program, now on its ninth year, started with the basketball training camps held all over the Philippines, followed by the Regional Selection Camps in Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Manila and finally the NTC in Pasay. The all-star squads will enjoy an NBA experience along with other selections from Southeast Asia countries Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. The squads will fly to China,

play exhibition games against the other squads, meet NBA stars and legends and watch a pre-season NBA game. New Orleans Pelicans point guard Norris Cole and WNBA legend Taj McWilliams-Franklin were present at the NTC to help train and inspire the 50 boys and 24 girls that emerged from the Regional Selection Camps. Literally standing out from all the rest, 6’9” Kai Zach-

ary Sotto finally made it to the all-star squad after three tries. The 13-year-old did not make it past the regional camp two years ago. He made it to the finals last year as a 6’4” 12-year-old. The product of St. Francis of Assisi School in Las Pinas City was also named the JrNBA NTC Most Valuable Player. The other boys include Jearico Nunez (UPHSD), Miguel Rey Luis Tan (Xavier), Julian Alfonso Jugo (LSGH), Isaiah Miguel Blanco (LSGH), Tracy Carl Dadang (University of San Carlos), Ric Ozner Gatuz (Cherished Moment School Pangasinan), Andrei Philip Lechoncito (SJI Bacolod), and Fritz Felix Valencia and Harold Alarcon (Tay Tung HS in Bacolod). Darlien Ragasajo and Flor-

ence Jil Talas of Abellana National School from Cebu, Nicky Quilenderino of Dalig National High School in Antipolo, Rozie Amatong of Modern International Learning Center, and Aloha Marie Betanio of Malaybalay CCS were selected to the JrWNBA all-star team. Talas was named JrWNBA NTC Most Valuable Player honors. Alaska Marketing Director Blen Fernando said she is happy that more and more girls are participating in the JrNBA/ JrWNBA Presented by Alaska. “I have long wanted the JrWNBA included in the program. Look at the UAAP. The girls are the stars. That is why we want more girls to participate. But I’m not happy yet. There is still much to be done,” said Fernando.

Alaska Marketing Director Blen Fernando (left) joins Rozie Amatong and Julian Alfonso Jugo while they receive their trophies as Alaska Ambassadors of Goodwill.

PUBLIC SCHOOL GIRLS SHINE IN JRNBA/WNBA ACTION By Reuel Vidal GIRLS from public schools surprised everyone when they nailed three of five slots in the JrWNBA Presented by Alaska all-star squad. To begin with only four girls from public schools advanced to the National Training Camp. What they lacked in numbers they more than made up for in talent and hard work. Darlien Ragasajo and Florence Jil Talas are incoming Grade 8 students taking up the Special Sports Curriculum at the Abellana National School in Cebu City. Nicky Quilenderino is an incoming Grade 9 student at Dalig National High School in Antipolo City. Ragasajo, the tallest among

the girls participating, was the clear standout in stature and in performance. She could dribble and shoot with either hand. She had footwork and could pivot with ease to score points inside the paint. She was strong, lean and knew how to use her length to advantage. Additionally, she was a hard-driving workhorse at both ends of the court. Talas was not as tall as Ragasajo nor as skilled. But a lastminute pep talk from coach Freddy Serafica—worried that her ward was looking to pass and help others too much— fired her up enough for her to win the MVP award for girls. Quilenderino was a true point guard who makes her teammates better. She could

Florence Jil Talas (right) of Abellana National School dribbles at full speed while defender Carly Monreal (left) of La Salle Zobel tries to keep pace.

dribble with speed and control with either hand. She could shoot from the outside, drill the midrange shot or penetrate and finish at the hoop. But her biggest skill was involving teammates in the game as she continually found open teammates who went on to score with her unerring passing skills. The girls of Abellana benefit from their school’s Special Sports Curriculum which allows them time to play the game. They are also helped by volunteer coaches in former Philippine Basketball Association player Serafica, former Gintong Alay weightlifter Joel Gajudo, former basketball player Noel Talas as well as regular coach Darwin Denoy.

Quilenderino was discovered by her school’s basketball coach and MAPE teacher Christian Batacan, a FIBA accredited referee and parttime teacher at the University of Rizal System-Antipolo Campus. She says she would be thankful to get a college athletic scholarship and get a degree to secure her future. Boys from the JrNBA Presented by Alaska routinely go on to become stars in the NCAA and UAAP. Aljon Mariano is now in the PBA. Kiefer Ravena is on his way. Kobe Paras was lucky enough to gain entry to the University of California in Los Angeles. It will be interesting to follow the careers of the girls to see if they are able pursue similar paths.

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TATUm ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIfEatStandard

S U NDAY L If E

LIFE

For many OFWs, the main reason of leaving the country other than to find better opportunities is to earn so they can eventually support their families back home

ThE WORkIng FIlIpInO Carotid artery By TATum AnChETA

was packing my luggage to go back to the Philippines from my Kyoto trip when I watched Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown Philippine episode, and I couldn’t help but get a little teary eyed. Bourdain probably told the story of most Filipinos, especially the working class – the balikbayan boxes, the holidays, the delicacies that remind them of home, and the love for family. As I was carefully packing my pasalubong and my clothes, I felt – this is probably what every OFW also feels before heading home – excitement at seeing loved ones open their pasalubong, anticipation and the thought of just being back with family, which makes you want to fast forward the clock.

“Filipinos speak about home with immense pride and love, and if you are an overseas Filipino worker, longing, especially during the holidays. It’s always about family in the Philippines or anywhere you find Filipinos,” narrates Bourdain as clips of people getting busy for the Christmas holiday are shown. I come from a family of OFWs – most of my relatives work abroad, my dad spent most of my childhood and teenage life working as a mechanical engineer in different parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Russia. The scenes and clips of luggage and airports seem all too familiar for me. While I was visiting Japan, I stayed at my aunts’ and uncles’ working in Kyoto as missionaries, teachers and cake decorator. I watched them wake in the morning and head to work, come back before lunch to see how I was doing and fix their schedules just to help me tour the place and get my itineraries done. Even if they’re tired from work, family comes first. They juggled schedules to entertain me and go about their normal workdays while still making sure I get to visit sights and get my stories done. They talk of home, their experiences in a foreign land, their families left behind and the stories of Filipinos they meet who

If you work in a newspaper, holidays are virtually non-existent– life becomes work

Continued on C3

Anthony Bourdain dines with Aurora and her family. Aurora worked as an overseas Filipino worker (nanny and housekeeper) for 30 years. Screengrab courtesy of CNN

Chedy Bautista who has been living in Japan for 23 years, works as a cake decorator

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Citi Philippines Corporate Public Affairs and Corporate Citizenship director Aneth Lim (middle row, center) with the 50th batch of Citi Microenterprise Development Center micro-entrepreneur scholars

A pRogRAm ThAT NURTURES mIcRo-ENTREpRENEURS

Citi MiCroenterprise DevelopMent Center toasts to its 50th batCh of sCholars

he year 2015 had been very rewarding for micro-entrepreneurs Ester Sheila Vitto and Victoria Bantilan. The two small business owners were recognized by the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards for the feat they have achieved for their respective micro-enterprises. Since receiving their respective awards last year, which also included generous cash grants that they’ve reinvested into their businesses, these two successful micro-entrepreneurs have begun reaping the benefits of the recognition gained. Vitto is now in the process of completing a new manufacturing site slated to open this year, which was partly financed from the proceeds of her cash prize. Through this facility, Vitto’s Bahag Footwear and Repair Shop in Oriental Mindoro can now increase production and take in

more orders of slippers and sandals, all made from recycled rubber. She is also more confident in her ability to expand beyond Oriental Mindoro, and is looking into franchising as a means to help other micro-business owners. Meanwhile, Bantilan and her husband Roberto have just added a halfhectare lot for organic red and brown rice production, which they grow in addition to mushrooms. Apart from this, they are also looking into expanding their mushroom harvest by way of constructing a new growing house, again using the proceeds from the money that she won. Even with these achievements, Vitto and Bantilan refuse to rest on their laurels. The two businesswomen still find the need for further learning and knowledge, particularly in the areas of entrepreneurship and business management.

With their CMA award, the two were fortunate to be part of the 50th batch of the Citi Microenterprise Development Center program. Launched in 2011, CMDC provides for training for micro-entrepreneurs. The program is a partnership between Citi Philippines and the Bayan Academy for Social Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Development, Inc. Vito and Bantilan, together with other CMDC scholars, spent nine days under the Grassroots Entrepreneurship and Management course to learn the different facets of enterprise management including self-mastery, situation mastery and enterprise mastery. The lectures were facilitated by experts who understand the unique business operations and workings of a microenterprise. CMDC recently held the graduation rites for its 50th batch of micro entrepreneur-

scholars. Citi Philippines Public Affairs and Corporate Citizenship director Aneth Lim was present to congratulate the graduates. Lim also encouraged them to take full advantage of this life-changing opportunity by making a real difference not only in their families but also in their communities. “The future of this nation lies in your hardworking hands,” asserted Lim. “We hope you value the investment we have made in you, and pay it forward by growing your businesses, sharing your knowledge and skills, and continuing to fuel your success with your courage and determination.” CMDC will continue to support the scholars after graduation as they transition to the Citi-Small Business Advisory and Coaching Services (Citi-SBACS) where they are provided with one-on-one business coaching and mentoring on issues such as marketing, finance, human resources, operations, and regulatory requirements.

FedEx Recognizes Top Young Road Safety Advocates FedEx Corp. subsidiary FedEx Express recently awarded the top “Young Road Safety Advocates” during ceremonies at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The young awardees – Ashley Crystal Dane D. Dumilon from Angeles City, Samantha Kate B. Salenga from Paranaque City, Jennalyn Mae L. Dalit from Quezon City and Pauline Jen Aviquivil from Pasay City – are fifth grade pupils from different elementary schools who were recognized for mentoring fourth graders on road safety and safety-conscious pedestrian behavior. As a leading global express transportation company that deploys more than 90,000 vehicles on the road daily, FedEx knows the critical role it can play in actively promoting a culture of safety all over the world. Since 2000, the company has been working with Safe Kids Worldwide, starting with the Walk This Way program that highlighted the issues through awareness and education campaigns including physical improvement in places where children are most at-risk for road-related accidents. In 2004, the Walk This Way program was launched in the Philippines with the goal of decreasing road accidents that result in child fatalities and to raise pedestrian safety awareness for the 500,000 Filipino

children who walk to school daily. Since then, the program has reached more than 1.7 million students in 102 schools. The Walk This Way program initiatives include The Walking School Bus, Mobile Road Safety Park, Model School Zone Project, and the Young Road Safety Advocate. FedEx partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide Philippines in 2014 to launch The Young Road Safety Advocates program with the aim of educating parents, teachers and children about safe and responsible road use behavior. In 2015, the peer-to-peer traffic safety education program reached 300 students from 25 schools in Pasay, Paranaque, Cebu, Quezon, and Angeles Cities to become road safety educators. FedEx envisions a world where every child can have a safe place to walk, play and live. Road accidents are believed to be mostly a result of recklessness, incautiousness, illiteracy of some and the lack of discipline when it comes to road safety regulations. According to John Peterson, acting managing director of FedExpress Philippines, enhancing road safety is a commitment and their main priority is to help ensure the safety of children. “The Young Road Safety Advocates Program further reinforces our support to making roads safe, particularly

Back row, from left: World Health Organization representative Dr. John Juliard Go, AAP advocacies executive Cynthia Reyes, Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership executive director Alberto Suansing, Safe Kids Worldwide Philippines president Dr. Jocelyn Yambao-France, FedEx project manager John Peterson, Metro Manila Development Authority traffic enforcement south sector division head Gerry Nazarrea, Children and Youth Program of SM Cares vice president Royston Cabunag, and Safe Kids Worldwide Philippines executive director Jesus de la Fuente join the top Young Road Safety Advocates during the awarding ceremony

for children who are more vulnerable to traffic accidents,” he stressed. FedEx Corp. is consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers. FedEx continuously inspires

its more than 340,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of the customers and communities. For more information and updates on FedEx, visit www.fedex.com.ph.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Participants at Solane's fire fighting training program

SoLANE coNDUctS FIrE FIghtINg trAININg For StAkEhoLDErS

ome say it is better for a thief to ransack a house than for a fire to raze the home. And they are absolutely right – because a fire leaves nothing in its wake, turning precious possessions that one acquired through hard work into ashes. Worse, it can also take away loved ones. Educating people on how to prevent fires has never been more important especially during summer when fire incidents are more likely to happen, and this is what Solane, the country’s leading LPG solutions provider, recently embarked on when it conducted fire fighting training sessions for customers. Supported by the Bureau of Fire Protection, the training sessions, which were held at Solane’s LPG plants in San Fernando, Pampanga and Canlubang in Laguna, taught customers about the proper use and handling of LPG and standard operating procedures in the prevention and management of possible fire-related activities. “The fire fighting trainings are conducted as part of Solane’s commitment to safety. We believe that fire accidents can be prevented when more people know how to prevent accidental fires at home and at work and how to respond if a fire breaks out,” says Solane marketing manager Valeri Villano.

The training activities are seen to further enhance skills in managing fires and providing emergency responses

More than a hundred participants attended the training program. These include Solane’s valued B2B customers as well as safety officers and inspectors, pollution control supervisors, engineering supervisors, plant engineers and plant operators. The activities included lectures and discussions on fire safety, LPG product knowledge and fire fighting. Fire drills

supervised by BFP personnel to test the participants’ knowledge and how they make judgment calls during actual fires were also conducted. Aside from fire fighting training programs for B2B customers, Solane also provides safety training programs on proper LPG storage and handling for BFP personnel and officers of local government

units. The activities are seen to further enhance skills in managing fires and providing emergency responses. Solane also conducts community seminars on the proper storage and handling of LPG tanks at home, what to do during an emergency, where to buy authentic LPG tanks, and how to identify legally filled Solane cylinders.

thE WorkINg... From C1

are also working in Japan. During my stay, I met different Filipinos for interviews and they told me their stories on why they left home. They say it is difficult to be away from one’s country, especially in a country like Japan where the language is different and quite a challenge to learn. The culture is also different. “Here, work comes first before family,” says Jason Enriquez, a hardware engineer living in Kyoto with his wife. For most Filipinos leaving their country, the main purpose is to work and support the family. As Bourdain says, “Filipinos give, of themselves, of their time, of their money, their love, to others. They do and continue to do what needs to be done to survive.” According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, based on 2015 Survey on Overseas Filipinos, the numbers of OFWs who left the country from April to September 2015 is at 2.4 million. Age range is from 15 to 35 and they are scattered in different parts of the world taking on different jobs. “We have more Filipinos working for us than any other nationality,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in one of my

interviews during his visit to the Philippines. “That totals about 11,000 people and we want to expand that,” he added. “Our guests love the Filipinos, they work hard and with a passion. We’re a company that runs on passion. We find that Filipinos are very passionate about doing a great job and great level of service.” While I was having tea in a Japanese tea house in Gion, I met an American IT tourist named Beau who was also visiting Kyoto. When he found out I was a Filipino, he exclaimed with pride, “My boss is a Filipina!” I smiled and felt more proud of my nationality. Today, whether the working Filipino celebrates Labor Day abroad or at home, or in Boracay savoring the heat of the sun, or on Facebook simmering in the endless political parade, let’s all pat our backs and say, “Filipino worker, you’re doing a good job. This day is for you.” For comments, and topic suggestions, you may email me at tatum@thestandard.com. ph. For my crazy life’s adventures follow me at @tatumancheta on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.

From April to September 2015, the numbers of OFWs leaving the Philippines reached 2.4 million

S U N D AY : m AY 1 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Homegrown footwear brand Suelas is a trusty companion for women who travel (Photos courtesy of www.suelasonline.com)

@LIFEatStandard

Kaye Ong used to struggle with packing footwear into her luggage whenever she traveled, hence she and her partner decided to create a brand of foldable shoes

How traveling inspired tHree women to build tHeir empire

aye Ong loves traveling abroad, but packing footwear into her luggage has always been a problem. “It’s just difficult to pack several pairs of shoes into the luggage, and it’s a recurring problem every time I have to travel,” relates Ong. Not to be outdone by tiny luggage space, Ong, together with her “sole sister” and fellow traveler Jackie Tan, who faces the same plight, created Suelas, the country’s first foldable footwear brand. Each pair of Suelas features a design that allows the shoes to be flattened, folded and rolled, thus making them a flexible and comfortable solution to footwear problems women face. Aside from saving women precious luggage space, the footwear solves a couple more logistical and mobile problems, such as a stylish and comfortable change of shoes after a long day of wearing high heels. “Wearing heels in the office can be quite hard on the feet,” says Ong. During their travels abroad, Ong and Tan would look at the latest trends and designs of shoes and incorporate them into their own brand. “We get inspiration from a variety of things – landscapes and different cities, styles of people we look up to, and fashion trends that are in season. We gather ideas based on our individual style preferences and combine them to create collections and products that are stylish and compact for our customers to bring to their travels,” shares Ong. Traveling allows the duo to get a fresh perspective on how things are done and how ideas are executed in other parts of the country and the world. According to Ong, “When we see new things or even familiar concepts in different cities, it sparks our creativity and challenges us to continue to improve our products.” Meanwhile, when Anya Lim founded ANTHILL or Alternative Nest and Trading/Training Hub for Indigenous/ Ingenious Little Livelihood, she applied what she learned from her many trips abroad and in the Philippines. “My trips abroad and around the country opened my eyes,” says Lim. She relates further, “Within the Philippines, I saw that there was a lack

“when we see new things or even familiar concepts in different cities, it sparks our creativity and challenges us to continue to improve our products.” – Kaye ong or a gap in the transmission of cultural identity. Weaving, for example, is a dying art form as the techniques and tradition that come with it are not passed on to the next generation. We wanted to be able to showcase our Filipino heritage and this is one way of helping to preserve it.” Lim uses local hand-woven fabrics, which others would just take for granted, as the medium to advance her cause. ANTHILL is a space for artists, artisans, designers and students to create fashion products from indigenous fabrics that are sourced from all over the country. Lim’s different trips abroad also allows the fabric

Traveling around the world brought Ong (in photo) and Jackie Tan to places that inspired ideas for a successful business

gallery to integrate different kinds of fabrics that result in “really great products.” Traveling around the world did not only take these fab women into places, but it also brought them to the ideas that led to their business triumphs. Just like the young entrepreneurs behind these brands, budding Filipino business creatives can take inspiration from exploring their dream destinations with Cebu Pacific. The country’s leading low-cost airline has the most extensive network to and from the Philippines, with over 90 routes on 64 destinations, spanning Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

ANTHILL prioritizes the use of local hand-woven fabrics (Photo courtesy of ANTHILL Facebook page)

ANTHILL offers fashion products from indigenous fabrics

SunDAy : m Ay 1, 2016

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

Cinematic experience. The Philippines’ first and only mX4D theater has 62 top of the line VIP seats

MOvIEs lOOk, sOunD bETTER aT MX 4D

Camille Villar, managing Director for Vista malls, is interviewed by media during lunch at TGI Friday’s in Evia Lifestyle Center

hen Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice premiered March 26 in the Philippines, long lines of die-hard fans of the Bat of Gotham and the Son of Krypton formed in theaters. But for many, watching the movie once was not enough. The MX4D experience now available in the Philippines let moviegoers double the fun and excitement of watching the super blockbuster in 4D.

members of the media get ready to watch Batman Versus Superman in their media motion mX4D Cinema seats

MX4D is a movie-watching experience like no other. Right from the start you are part of the action on-screen when you watch movies like Batman V Superman in the new format. From the moment when the Metropolis is being destroyed by aliens, you ride shotgun with Bruce Wayne as he races to save his employees from the oncoming onslaught. Smoke comes out of the screen when the building collapses and debris starts flying everywhere. You’ll never know what, or when, to expect the next big thing if you’re watching a movie in MX4D. Jolts, turns, gusts of wind and scents are some of the extraordinary things you will experience while watching a movie in the format. It is highly recommended that you immerse yourself completely in the action and not munch on snacks while the on-screen action is hot. MX4D really literally moves you, and you won’t know what’s going to happen next. The action-filled Batman V Superman showcases the best of what the MX4D experience can offer.

Although those who prefer to be relaxed while watching movies may prefer the conventional theatrical experience to the all-engaging style of watching movies in 4D, it is a must to watch a movie in this format at least once. The MX4D experience helps viewers feel more connected to the scene and the protagonists and makes movie-watching more interesting and fun. Good news for Metro South residents, who can now enjoy this one of a kind experience right outside their doorstep. The Philippines’ first and only MX4D theater is at Vista Cinemas in Evia Lifestyle Center, Vista City, Daang Hari. It’s worth visiting and experiencing too, even if you’re not from the South. Showing now at MX4D action is the much-awaited blockbuster film, Captain America: Civil War. For updates on movie schedules and ticket prices, please visit the website vistamalls.com.phor the Vista Cinemas Facebook page at facebook.com/vistacinemas and facebook.com/ evialifestylecenter. You may also use the #eviaMX4D.

Anthony Bourdain calls Jollibee ‘the wackiest, jolliest place on earth’ TV host and best-selling author Anthony Bourdain made good his promise of coming back to the Philippines for the Season 7 premiere of his hit CNN food and travel documentary show Parts Unknown. Like most Filipinos who have lived long enough abroad, he made sure that his return included a visit to a Jollibee store. Bourdain first came across Jollibee in 2013 when the Filipino fast food giant was featured in season one of Parts Unknown. In that episode, Bourdain visited a Jollibee branch in Los Angeles, California where he sampled,

among other meals, the Amazing Aloha Burger which he referred to as “a very tasty burger” that has “a nice char.” Bourdain and Jollibee would again cross paths for the season opener that was shot in Manila last December at Jollibee Blue Bay in Pasay City. He started his review by saying, “I sneer at fast food, revile it at every opportunity but I am also a hypocrite because to me, Filipino chain Jollibee is the wackiest, jolliest place on Earth.” Bourdain was then shown casually lining up at the counter of the Jollibee store and ordering Chick-

enjoy with rice, “Jolly Spaghetti with the hotdogs on it” and a Yum with cheese. “Oh yeah, chicken and spaghetti!” exclaimed Bourdain, “and not just any spaghetti. I think it’s like sweet, banana, ketchupy stuff with hotdogs,” he added. “That spaghetti is deranged, yet strangely alluring.” He also called the gravy of Jollibee’s bestselling Chickenjoy ‘awesome’, referring to it as a sinister brown sauce before he grabbed his second piece of chicken. As part of the documentary, Bourdain’s team was given a tour of the outlet’s kitchen which

Celebrity chef, author, and television personality Anthony Bourdain

showed the crew preparing its trademark langhap-sarap burgers, spaghetti and Jolly crispy fries. “We are honored that Anthony Bourdain chose to visit our store in Manila and has made it a point to share this globally with view-

ers of his widely-popular culinary adventure show on CNN. We hope he will come back and visit our other Jollibee locations worldwide,” said Francis Flores, Jollibee Global Brand chief marketing officer.

SunDAy : m Ay 1, 2016

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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HEAltHy SmIlE, HEAltHy SElf-EStEEm By ROBBIE pangIlInan

healthy smile is not only beautiful, it is also important to maintain a healthy self-esteem. Studies have proven that dental health plays a significant role in the confidence of a person. People who are negatively conscious about their smile do not feel good about interacting with others. Ask actor Carlos Agassi, who experienced the cruelty of show business when it comes to physical appearance. “People can be judgmental and unforgiving when it comes to actors and actresses not looking good on the screen or in ads. And in this case, a nice smile, preferably with perfect teeth, can be your savior,” says the Persian-Filipino star. “A smile can make or break first impressions. So of course we want our smile to be the best,” says Agassi. Many people are unhappy and embarrassed with their smile. A strong correlation has been established between having bad teeth and low self-esteem. Yellow, crooked or missing teeth can affect one’s professional life dramatically, as it can reduce confidence. On the other hand, a good smile can have a dramatic effect on job interviews, meeting a new partner, making new friends and having a polished and confident professional look. But healthy teeth bring more than the admiration of fans and good first impressions. Oral

Killer smile. Actor and rapper Carlos Agassi

health mirrors the condition of your body as a whole. When your mouth is healthy, chances are your overall health is good, too. On the other hand, if you have poor oral health, you may have other health problems. “Poor oral health can lead to problems like oral and facial pain largely due to infection of the gums that support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss; digestion problems because digestion begins with physical and chemical processes in the mouth, and problems here can lead to intestinal failure, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders,” explains the co-founder of Fashion Smile Dr. Farzaneh Shamsi. The other co-founder of Fashion Smile, Dr. Shahideh Nikbin,

adds that mouth infections can even affect major organs and cause problems with the heart and other major organs. “For example, the heart and heart valves can become inflamed by bacterial endocarditis, a condition that affects people with heart disease. There is a relationship between gum or periodontal disease and health complications such as a stroke and heart disease. Other research shows that more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases or diseases involving many organs or the whole body, have oral manifestations, including swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and excessive gum problems,” continues Dr. Nikbin. If you would like to improve your smile and boost your self-

Carlos Agassi with fashion Smile’s Dr. Shanideh nikbin and Dr. farzaneh Shamsi esteem, visit Fashion Smile today. ti City. Call (02) 4787738, Unit 601 Heart Tower 108 Valero 09175092010 or 09178207827 for St., Salcedo Village, 1227 Maka- inquiries and appointments.

2016 Philippine top Choice Awards for Excellence Outstanding hairstylist and Hairshaft Salon owner fred Penales

The Philippine Top Choice Awards for Excellence 2016 gave Hairshaft Salon the Top Choice Premiere Salon In Metro Manila award at the recent awarding ceremonies at Solaire Resorts and Casino in Pasay City. Celebrity

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe ACROSS 1 Luke’s twin sister 5 Cunning 10 Logger’s alert 16 Grouchy Muppet 21 Vases with feet 22 Open, as a gas tank 23 Dream of 24 Unduly severe 25 Be without 26 Form a gully 27 Champagne size 28 Meek and timid 29 Heralds (2 wds.) 31 Mentalist’s claim 33 Ladybug features 35 Convene 36 Thin clouds 37 O.K. Corral name 40 Play about Capote 41 Blackjack 42 Check fig. 45 Peace gesture 46 Lunch counter order

48 50 52 54 55 57 58 59 60 62 66 67 69 71 72 74 76 78 79 80 83 85 88 89

Be off Angels’ home Soft purples Persians, to Greeks “— Zapata!” Depot info Sonnet stanza Klutz’s mutter Other sock Phoenix origin No way! (hyph.) Flail Sangfroid Crow’s-nest locale Don Quixote’s horse It borders Fla. Kayak kin Round stopper Stephen King chiller Where artists mix Stock holder? “Hamlet” prop Eye enhancer Buzzer

guests and speakers from different government and business organizations graced the event. Hairshaft Salon is one of the pioneering celebrity salons in the country. Fred Penales, Hairshaft Salon owner was also given the Out-

SUNDAY, MAY 01, 2016

90 Arthur’s domain 93 Russian “icebox” 95 Overhang 97 Moon or planet 98 Muscle cramp 100 Pass near Pikes Peak 101 Shabby (hyph.) 106 Presage 108 Casual wear (hyph.) 110 Drags out of bed 112 Steakhouse order 113 Whittled down 115 About 2.2 lbs. 116 Cuba, to Castro 117 “20,000 Leagues” author 118 Mortar trough 120 MHz part 122 Ersatz butter 123 Unsavory 124 Beg and plead 128 “The,” to Wolfgang 129 — Enterprise 130 Family mem. 131 Winner’s shout 132 Maui cookout 133 It goes for a spin 135 Cookie sheets 137 Fold one’s tent 139 Rather or Duryea 140 Seal a tub 142 Morticia’s hairy cousin 144 Current (hyph.) 148 Lethargic feeling 150 Hors d’oeuvre 153 Jaunty lid 155 Gauge 156 Hound’s track 157 Short on iron 158 Incantation 159 Goddess’s statue 160 Roosevelt or Ruxpin 161 Enya’s music (2 wds.) 162 No longer chic 163 Lighten up

DOWN 1 Comic-strip moppet 2 Hurlers’ stats 3 Unit of length 4 Lopsided 5 Ballpark figures 6 Green 7 Mouse targets 8 Terhune collie 9 Non-aluminum foil 10 Busch Gardens site 11 My mind — — blank 12 Sticker stat 13 Flour holders 14 Release magma 15 Shark hitchhiker 16 Electrical units 17 — Paulo 18 Friday’s companion 19 St. Francis of — 20 Musical beat 30 Hold, as attention 32 Treats fractures 34 Fix a piano 38 Give it the gas 39 Fuss with makeup 41 Yawning gulf 42 Secret romance 43 Like a he-man 44 Ballet attire 46 One prone to sheepless nights? (2 wds.) 47 Reduced 49 Insulation meas. (hyph.) 51 — — disadvantage 53 Sled or taxi 54 Frontier outpost 56 It may be split 59 Mr. Bill’s cry (2 wds.) 61 Kuwaiti leader 63 — yoga 64 Glacial ridge 65 Squall or gale 67 — Mahal

68 69 70 73 75 77 81 82 84 85 86 87 91 92 93 94 95 96 99 102 103 104 105 107 109 111 114 117 119 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 130 134 136 137 138 140 141 143 145 146 147 149 151 152 154

Flounder Tailor, often Meadow murmur Declares invalid Credo Scoundrel Cassius Clay Numerical prefix Fairer Dip of ice cream Cosmic law Earth pigment Choose Piece of work Acted friendly Tickles Jazzy — James Happy sighs Wedge European capital Late Bilko’s name Has occasion for First P.M. of India Synonym scouter Van Gogh’s medium Woodland creature Car import PC fodder Onassis, to Jackie Bounce Space Needle site Most senior Shade of meaning Made suede Jungle squawker Drives away Branch of geometry Female relative Entices A funny Murphy Fat —; easy street Had down pat Recipe qty. Slave girl of opera Art colony town La femme And, to Fritz GP group Overeat, with “out” It banned DDT

standing Achievement Award in the hairstyling category. Celebrity clients of Hairshaft Salon include Arci Munoz, Ellen Adarna, Carla Abellana, AUbrey Miles, James Blanco, Camille Prats, Dr. Vicky Belo, and

Hayden Kho, among others. Hairshaft Salon branches are located in Podium (Pasig), Robinson’s Ermita (Manila) and The Fort (Makati). For inquiries and appointments, text 0917-628-3906.

SunDAy : m Ay 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Mother’s natal day. mother Ricky Reyes with celebrities lance Raymundo, yohan Santos, Ejay Falcon, boyband 1:43 and some benefactors of childhous

RIcky REyES cElEbRAtES bIRtHDAy At cHIlDHAuS

opular hairdresser and philanthropist Ricky Reyes wished on his birthday for more blessings not for himself but for others. In the previous years, Mother Ricky celebrated his natal day not with a big fabulous party replete with all the trimmings a person of his stature would throw, but with his ‘children’ at Childhaus. This year was no different as he spent another birthday with those who matter in his life. Founded in 2003, Childhaus provides temporary shelter to cancer patients while undergoing treatment in various government

hospitals nationwide. A simple surprise program was prepared by his staff for him and the children of Childhaus which started with a mass followed by various numbers from the kids themselves and celebrities who came to greet him personally and performed to everyone’s delight. Singer and actor Lance Raymundo, 1:43 boys, the Queens of our Beautiful Planet contestants all did numbers dedicated to the birthday celebrant and the residents of Childhaus. Pinoy Big Brother alumni Yohan and EJ Falcon greeted Ricky who is known as Mother Ricky to his friends.

They presented all the residents of Childhaus with gifts. Perhaps the best gift Reyes received for his birthday was from his friends and generous donors for the patients residing in Childhaus. Lilong and Judy Chua gave a five-foot image of the Miraculous Medal for Childhaus. Steve Balatbat provided the food and Annie and Ramon Santos donated another kiddie ride for the residents. The most touching gift that Mother Ricky received for his birthday this year came also from Lilong and Judy Chua. The couple promised a patient for the six chemo

sessions left for the treatment. They also would also finance for his prosthetic left leg to help him walk normally. Apart from those gifts, the couple also donated four wheelchairs to the institution. Brig. General Vic Castro, his wife Noemi and family donated sacks of rice, goodies and personal hygiene kits while Rey Go who had donated the three isolation rooms inside the institution and provides monthly ration of sacks of rice and biscuits also gave a hefty amount. Anita Del Rosario also gave a check. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Mother Ricky said in his touching

the power of X with caltex™ and ‘X-men: Apocalypse’

Do you desire more power for your car? Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex Lubricants, Havoline® and Delo®, launched the Power of X promotion with its first partnership with Twentieth Century Fox for the latest installment of the most-anticipated blockbuster movie X-Men: Apocalypse. You can experience the Power of X with Havoline® and Delo® when you go to any Caltex service station or Caltex Lubricants workshops. Caltex customers and fans of the film will receive X-Men T-shirts with every purchase of participating Havoline® and Delo® products, plus a chance to win X-Men premium items in the fortnightly draws, and a 150cc Yamaha motorbike in the grand draw. “At Caltex, our customers are the cornerstone of our business. Every bottle of Caltex Havoline and Delo engine oil is imbued with the power

caltex customers and fans of the film will receive X-men goodies with every purchase of Havoline and Delo

to protect their engines and deliver optimized performance. To help our customers ‘Enjoy the Journey’ even more, we’ve tailored exclusive offers and activities to make every journey with Caltex an exciting one,” says Joseph Bronfman, CPI area business

Stand a chance to win X-men gift boxes with caltex’s promo, which runs until June 12

manager for Lubricants, Philippines and Vietnam. Every Havoline® and Delo® promotion gift box comes with a free X-Men T-shirt and a raffle coupon for a chance to win exclusive X-Men: Apocalypse premiums in the fortnightly draw. Up for grabs are oneMagneto Helmet and 20 T-Shirts on the May 9 draw, one Magneto Helmet and 20 Wash Bags on the May 23 draw, and one Magneto Helmet and 20 Hoodies on the June 3 draw. Customers also stand a chance to walk away with a brand new 150cc Yamaha motorbike in the grand draw on June 15. The promotion gift boxes are available at selected Caltex stations and Caltex Lubricants workshop nationwide until June 12, or while stocks last. For more information on the ‘Release the Power of X’ promotion, visit www.calteXmen.com.

message, “My birthday will not be complete without you mga anak (my children). I will continue to ask, even beg for help and support from friends for you.” Mother Ricky also visited Meritxell Children’s Foundation and had another celebration with the kids there. Asked why he has a soft spot for children, he replied, “We adults are just caretakers of the world. And following Dr. Jose Rizal’s vision that children are our future, I take it upon me to seek out whatever means to do so.” His love, passion and selfservice for the unfortunate make Reyes the mother of all mothers.

Pagadian city-born actor is IFFm best actor in new york PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—A native of this coastal city, also known as the “Little Hongkong” of the Philippines due to its physical similarity to the Crown Colony, is this year’s best actor winner at the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) in New York, USA. The awardee is Alberto C. Paran, 42, whose talent and skills in acting and producing short films were recognized early this year . Paran, a 1991 graduate of Saint Columban College, is now based in Cebu City. His alma mater him recently, more specifically by batch mates, honored him during a press conference where tarpaulin with the words, “Welcome Alberto Paran: Pagadian’s pride!” was hanging in the background. The teary-eyed best actor said, “I feel great to return to my hometown after 25 years and given this heart-warming welcome and inspiring press conference. I did not experience this in Cebu” even as he noted that his “acting success story was earlier published in all major national dailies.” Paran related that he met in 2014 an American best actor during the Quezon City Film Festival and he introduced him to the IFFM. “We submitted my Julie and when the film director reviewed it, he cried right then and there and our entry was approved,” Paran said, explaining that Julie “is a story of a gay construction worker trying to hide his sexual orientation to support his single parent.” ”I’m very grateful to be the first Filipino film actor-producer to receive the Best Actor Award in the IFFM,” Paran said, adding that at first he didn’t quite believe the news that he was chosen as IFFM’s best actor in its short film category, but when I received the official invitation letter from IFFM inviting me to go to New York, to receive the award, I quickly flew to New York.” He said that in the short film category, his co-nominee was well-known American actor Eric Roberts, the director of actress Julia Roberts. “It was the USA , the world’s most progressive nation, against little Philippines which our country ultimately won.” – A. Perez Rimando, correspondent

s unday : m ay 1, 2016

IsaH V. REd EDITOR nICKIE WanG WRITER

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SHOWBITZ

aBs-CBn Integrated Corp Comm division head Kane Choa (second from right) receives the award for student Leaders’ Choice of TV network for Entertainment on behalf of the media company

anne Curtis accepts the students’ Choice trophy for Best Variety show Host

‘TV PATROL’ 12TH USTV AWARDS’ bEST nEWScAST ISAH V. RED

BS-CBN’s top-rating and longrunning newscast TV Patrol was recognized as the tudents’ Choice for News Program at the 12th USTv Awards held at the University of Santo Tomas campus on April 21. This is the fourth Best News Program award of TV Patrol in 2016. Entertainment news anchor Gretchen Fullido received the award for the iconic news program, anchored by Ted Failon, Bernadette Sembrano, and Noli De Castro, which has won four Best News Program trophies so far in 2016, and has consistently topped the national TV ratings among newscasts based on data from Kantar Media. TV Patrol led the winners from the country’s largest news organization, which also won Student Leaders’ Choice of 2016 Election Awareness Program and Students’ Choice of Public Service Announcement for National Elections (#Halalan2016), Student Leaders’ Choice of Election Station ID (Ipanalo ang Pamilyang Pilipino), Students’ Choice of Social Media Campaign for Social Action (#TrafficPatrol), Students’ Choice of Social Media Campaign for Environmental Protection (Matanglawin’s Justice for Pamana), Students’ Choice of Social Media Personality (Atom Araullo), Student Leaders’ Choice of TV Personality (Atom Araullo), Students’ Choice of Personality for Social Media Development (Gretchen Ho), Students’ Choice of Sports Program (Sports U), and Students’ Choice of Sports Program Personality (Dyan Castillejo). ABS-CBN won a total of 25 out of the 34 major awards, including Student Leader’s Choice of TV Network for Entertainment, Student Leader’s Choice of TV Network for New Media, and Student Leader’s Choice of TV Network for Promoting Family-Oriented Values, in the 12th staging of USTv, which recognizes programs and personalities in media that promote Thomasian values and teachings of the Catholic church. Awardees from the Entertainment category include the programs Kris TV (Students’ Choice of Magazine Program), Home Sweetie Home (Students’ Choice of Comedy Program), The Voice Kids (Students Choice of Reality/Game Show), Tonight with Boy Abunda (Students’ Choice of Talk Show), and On the Wings of Love (Students’ Choice of Drama Program).

Gretchen Ho is awarded as the students’ Choice for social media development

Gretchen fullido recieves the award for TV Patrol which was named Best news Program

Celebrities who were honored by the student award-giving body also for Entertainment were led by Anne Curtis (Students’ Choice of Variety Show host), who performed “Halik” by Aegis to a rousing ovation, and was joined by Alex Gonzaga (Students’ Choice of Reality/Game Show Host), Kris Aquino (Students’ Choice of Magazine Program Host), and Boy Abunda (Students’ Choice of Talk Show Host). ABS-CBN was also honored for its new media work on #Nazareno2015 (Students’ Choice of Social media Campaign for Catholic Formation. The Kapamilya Network’s dominant performance at the USTv awards completes its triumphant run in student award-giving bodies this year. ABSCBN was also named Best TV Station at the 14th Gawad Tanglaw Awards, 2016 Platinum Stallion Awards, 3rd Paragala Awards, 3rd UmalohokJuan Awards, and 2nd Aral Parangal Awards.

alex Gonzaga as the students’ Choice award for Reality or Game show Host

Broadcast journalist atom araullo taking home two awards including social media Personality

dyan Castillejo and “sports u” bag students’ Choice for sports Personality and students’ Choice for sports show, respectively

JP Morgan chase,Habitat Support Yolanda survivors

International banking leader JP Morgan Chase & Co. celebrated another milestone in providing safe and decent shelter with a turnover of 30 homes in Tupazville in the town of Dulag, Leyte, on March 30. The Tupazville development is part of Habitat for Humanity’s continuing longterm intervention for families affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Attending the simple ceremony were Roberto L. Panlilio, managing director and senior country officer of JPMorgan Chase (center-right, in orange), Charlie Ayco, CEO and managing director of Habitat for Humanity (center in grey); other JPMorgan Chase executives; Dulag local government officials; and representatives from the provincial government of Leyte, including Governor Dominic Petilla.

JP morgan Chase executives joined by Habitat for Humanity volunteers during a home turnover ceremony in dulag, Leyte