The Standard - 2016 May 9 - Monday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX NO. 86 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONDAY : MAY 9, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Comelec: We’re ready 100%

ALARM RAISED ON BUYING, CHEATING TENS of thousands of security forces fanned out across the country Sunday on the eve of national polls, following a bitter and deadly election campaign plagued by rampant vote-buying and intimidation.

Frontrunner. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledges cheers during a miting de avance on Saturday.

“Vote-buying is everywhere,” Commission on Elections [Comelec] Commissioner Luie Guia told reporters. “We are receiving reports that everything is being used to buy votes, not only money. It could be [plastic] basins, groceries.” In just one instance, political operators and some candidates in a Bohol town went from house to house distributing cash or groceries, he said. To try to check vote buying, the election commission has banned

mobile phones in polling places. This is so people cannot photograph their ballots to prove to vote-buyers that they cast their ballots for the right candidates. At the national level, presidential and vice presidential rivals are also accusing each other of trying to rig the elections. President Benigno Aquino III has warned the favorite to succeed him, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, is a dictator in the making and will bring terror to the nation. Duterte has in turn accused

Aquino’s administration of planning “massive cheating” to ensure that his preferred successor, former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas II, wins. Followers of Duterte, who has admitted links to vigilante death squads in Davao that rights groups say have killed more than 1,000 people, have warned of a “revolution” if he loses. Meanwhile, at least 15 people have died in election-related violence, according to national police statistics. In the latest suspected case, a grenade blast killed a nine-yearold girl behind the house of a powerful political warlord in the strifetorn province of Maguindanao late on Saturday, said Chief Inspector Jonathan del Rosario. Next page

Rody tells supporters to choose Romualdez By Rio N. Araja

One last check. A teacher who will be acting as an election officer inspects voting machines inside a school on Sunday ahead of the presidential election in Manila on May 8, 2016. Tens of thousands of security forces fanned out across the Philippines on May 8 on the eve of national polls, following a bitter and deadly election campaign plagued by rampant vote-buying and intimidation. AFP

PRESIDENTIAL frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte urged his supporters Saturday night to vote for senatorial candidate Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, saying he would strengthen the fight for reforms and bring compassion or malasakit back to public service. At his miting de avance at Luneta Park in Manila, Duterte urged voters to trust those with proven accomplishments rather than candidates who merely make promises. “He [Romualdez] has compassion for the people and is a committed public servant in pushing reforms,” Duterte said. Duterte said he adopted Romualdez, head of the independent minority bloc in the House, as a guest senatorial candidate because they shared similar platforms to ensure peace and order, curb corruption and red tape, offering free college education, improving health services for the poor, creating better job opportunities and delivering efficient public and social services. Romualdez reiterated his plan to push in-city resettlement through decent and affordable Next page

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Comelec ready to conduct ‘most transparent’ polls “We are more prepared to hold the elections [on Monday than] ... previous national elections we conducted.... The elections will become the most transparent elections in the history of Comelec,” said the poll agency’s spokesman James Jimenez in a press briefing. “We feel that on Election Day, we will be 100 percent ready to conduct the elections . . . So far, [there are] no hitches,” Jimenez said. He said the Comelec technicians were expected to finish the final testing and sealing (FTS) of 92,509 vote counting machines on Sunday. “FTS have been clean across the board. There have been some issues regarding late arrivals, but we expect the process to be completed within the allotted time, which is today [Sunday]. So far, we don’t have major discrepancies,” Jimenez said. The Energy Department on Sunday said there were ample reserves of power to make sure the automated elections run smoothly, even in Mindanao, which has experienced prolonged outages in recent months. Under the FTS, the voting process is tested from end-toend: the initialization of the machines, voting by10 people, the feeding of accomplished ballots to the VCMs, and the printing of election returns. The Comelec also offered tips to voters to make the voting go

faster. “We encourage everyone to prepare a list of the people they want to vote for to speed up the voting processing. Secondly, make sure that the ballot is properly shaded. It is okay to abstain, under vote, but it is not okay to over vote,” Jimenez said. The Comelec also appealed to the voters to refrain from making unnecessary marks on the ballot. “Make sure that you fill up the ballot properly... and use only the official marker for shading,” Jimenez said. Jimenez also warned voters not to wear shirts bearing the names or images of their candidates when they go to their respective polling precincts. “Let us avoid wearing shirts bearing graphics or texts of your candidates so we won’t encounter problems on election day,” he added. The Comelec said it expects a 75 percent to 80 percent turnout among 54 million registered voters. Five candidates are contesting the presidency: Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, administration candidate Manuel Roxas II, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. There are six candidates for vice president while 50 candidates are running for 12 posts in the Senate; 115 candidates are vying for 59 partyl-list seats. For the House of Represen-

tives there are a total of 634 candidates vying for 238 seats; 275 candidates for 81 gubernatorial posts and 206 candidates for 81 vice gubernatorial posts. There are a total of 1,813 candidates for 776 seats in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; 4,159 candidates for 1,634 mayoral seats; 3,795 candidates for 1,634 vice mayoral seats; 33,737 candidates for 13,540 seats for Sangguniang Panglungsod/ Pambayan; four candidates for the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; four candidates for vice governor of ARMM; and 68 candidates contesting 24 seats for the ARMM Regional Assembly. In his press briefing, Jimenez also countered allegations of massive cheating during today’s national elections. He said images circulating on the internet of pre-marked ballots with a pink line code, which will allegedly count votes of other candidates in favor of administration bets Manuel Roxas II and Leni Robredo, were fake and obviously altered with image editing software. “The one on the right is clearly Photoshopped. Fake,” Jimenez said pointing to an example of the pre-marked ballot. “That stupid pre-marked ballot story again. [It’s] offensive because it assumes voters are dumb enough to accept a premarked ballot,” he said. At the same time, Jimenez said the Comelec expected a hotly contested election with the introduction of printed voter receipts from more than 92,000 machines and the closeness of the race. On the eve of the Election Day, Jimenez admitted that today’s voting exercise could see reports of discrepancies be-

Alarm...

regardless of status in life, has a single vote, to directly elect our next leaders. This will be the totality of our collective decisions about the future of our country,” Aquino said in Filipino. He added that he was honored to be a part of the peaceful transition of power under a democracy. Aquino also reminded voters it is against the law to campaign on election day, “so please do not wear paraphernalia.” He also urged voters to go home “quietly” after the vote. He also urged the public, in monitoring election results, to make sure they have a credible source of information before they believe in reports. “Let us show the world that no matter how deep our feelings and commitment for our candidate, we can conduct peaceful and orderly elections [that] truly reflect the spirit of

democracy,” he said. For today’s elections, the Comelec has accredited some 104 foreigners to serve as observers. “The Philippines is becoming the one of the leaders in automated elections,” said Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista. “We are sharing our international best practices—especially those looking to transform from manual to automated [polls].” Some 50 of the foreign observers come from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Nepal, Turkey, Indonesia, Thailand and Korea, he said. The others come from foreign embassies and international organizations based in the country. The Comelec chief said the Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting conducted an orientation seminar for the foreign ob-

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Rey E. Requejo

THE Commission on Elections said Sunday it is “100 percent ready” to hold today what it describes as the “most transparent” automated elections in the country’s political history.

From A1

The girl’s death has not yet been included in the tally, although it likely will be, according to Del Rosario, spokesman for a police election-monitoring task force in Manila. “This looks like it is electionrelated but we have a process we have to follow,” he said. Del Rosario said 90 percent of the nation’s police force, or about 135,000 officers, were already on election-related duty and had been authorized to carry their assault rifles. He said they were guarding polling and canvassing places and manning road checkpoints. On Sunday night, President Aquino reminded voters they had a sacred duty on Election Day. “We will be showing the spirit of our democracy. Each of us,

tween the VCMs and the printed receipt, which could stall the voting process. Discrepancies such as these were reported in overseas absentee voting ahead of today’s elections. But Jimenez said they were “firmly certain” that the VCMs will perform as planned. “The elections this year will be hotly contested because as you can see even down to the wire, the fight is really close, I think except for the frontrunner, everyone is very close. It is really every single vote will count in these elections, so the votes will be contested,” Jimenez said. Jimenez again warned voters that making false or frivolous complaints was an election offense that carried jail time of six months to six years. Fake reports on social media would also be considered an election offense, he added. In a separate press briefing, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista advised voters that if they felt there is something wrong with the printed receipt, they should file an objection with the Board of Election Inspectors. Bautista also appealed to the public to be vigilant, observant and to be skeptical of exposes posted on social media. Bautista also said he believed the Comelec has come a long way since the 2010 elections, accomplishing the source code review and implementing a voter verified paper audit trail. Bautista advised voters to wear comfortable clothes and be patient. Jimenez added that voters should cast their votes early and accept only ballots that are not marked in any way. With Alena Mae Flores servers. The PPCRV said Sunday it has deployed all of its volunteers nationwide to monitor the polling precincts on Election Day. Anna de Villa Singson told radio dzBB the PPCRV is ready to accept any complaints from voters who will cast their ballots on Monday. She added, however, that the complaints of election fraud must be accompanied by evidence. A day before the national and local elections, the Philippine National Police announced the arrest of close to 4,100 persons for violating the nationwide election gun ban. Police also arrested 12 people who violated the liquor ban which was implemented on Sunday. The liquor ban will last throughout Election Day on Monday. Rey E. Requejo, AFP, PNA

Rody... From A1

housing for the urban poor, to institutionalize and strengthen the conditional cash transfer program, to champion further the interests of people with disabilities, and to end the practice of contractualization among businesses. “I offer myself to be your representative and voice to the Senate through my malasakit advocacies. I seek people’s trust and support for me to carry and fulfill my platforms and programs to the Senate,” Romualdez said. He said free and quality education was the “expressway” for Filipinos to escape poverty and unemployment. Romualdez, a shared guest senatorial candidate of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, has won the endorsement of major religious groups such as the Iglesia ni Cristo, the El Shaddai Movement and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name. He has also been endorsed by at least 500 urban poor groups under the Sulong Mamayang Pilipino. The congressman has also won the support of major transport groups and alliances, including Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (Acto), the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) and Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide (Pasang Masda). The One Cebu party has vowed to deliver more than two million votes for Romualdez. The 142-strong Liga ng Barangay of Quezon City has also endorsed Romualdez’s senatorial bid. 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. Among his achievements is a law that provides VAT exemption for persons with disabilities for medical and dental services; purchase of medicines in all drugstores; public railways, skyways and bus fare; admission charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other places of culture, leisure and amusement; and all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants, and recreation centers. The law will also allow relatives, up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, taking care of handicapped to claim a tax deduction of P25,000 in their income tax. The law adds funeral services and burial expenses to the list of assistance to be given to persons with disability.

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Binay warns against cheating THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday warned the Aquino administration it will expose any underhanded schemes to manipulate the results of the May 9 national elections. United Nationalist Alliance Secretary General JV Bautista enjoined the PDP-Laban, Partido Galing at Puso and the People’s Reform Party to form an alliance to thwart any irregularities orchestrated by the Liberal Party. “The Aquino Administration and the Liberal Party are already in panic,” Bautista said. “We can already sense their fear and desperation, that’s why we need to come together and unite against electoral fraud.” Bautista said UNA had received reports that the administration was targeting Binay’s known bailiwicks in Mindanao and Luzon. “They know Vice President Binay is strong in these places so they want to sow chaos to make the election results favorable to the Liberal Party,” Bautista said. “But we will never allow their evil agenda and we will take concrete steps to prevent any attempt to influence the outcome of the May 9 elections.” Bautista said it now appeared that the Aquino administration could guarantee a clean and honest elections, and that it would exploit any opportunity to cheat. “There are already reports that the receipts that the VCMs [vote-counting machines] printed showed results favoring Mar Roxas,” Bautista said. “They know that the weakest links are the misprinted or missing voters’ list, unreadable ballots, and faulty SD cards—and we haven’t factored in yet power failures. These are the kinds of retail cheating that come before the votes are counted. “Together with Senator Poe, Mayor Duterte and Senator Santiago, we can have a united front to prevent Mar Roxas and other sinister groups from stealing the people’s real choice. This is our call to protect democracy.” During Saturday’s UNA miting de avance in Makati, Binay warned of possible cheating on May 9. The UNA standard bearer underscored the importance of guarding the votes. “At this point in time, we have already been receiving alarming reports from Mindanao, so my call to everybody is to watch and guard our votes,” Binay said. “Mr. President, I am appealing to you not as vice president but as an ordinary Filipino. I hope you will use your power as the father of the country to ensure a clean and peaceful election on Monday.” Bautista said UNA had its team of lawyers, poll watchers and volunteers in every precinct and village who had been directed to immediately report any irregularity or suspicious activity during the elections. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Final campaign. Presidential candidate Grace Poe speaks during her Galing at Puso’s miting de avance at Plaza Miranda on Saturday.

Duterte denies he will establish a dictatorship PRESIDENTIAL race front runner Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday denied having any plans to be a dictator should he win the presidency. Speaking before 550,000 supporters during his miting de avance at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the tough-talking mayor of Davao City said he could only establish a revolutionary government in the event of a coup d’etat. “There are those who say I would declare martial law, a revolutionary government. I will not do it,” Duterte said. “What I said is that if you stage a

mutiny, I will establish a revolutionary government. If you destroy the government, I have to protect it. “How dare you. Corruption and dictatorship? I will declare a revolutionary government if you plan a coup d’etat with Trillanes,” he said, addressing President Benigno Aquino III. Aquino has said Duterte is a threat to democracy, while vice presidential bet Antonio Trillanes IV has accused Duterte of undeclared deposits at the Bank of the Philippine Islands’ Julia Vargas branch in Pasig City.

Duterte said there were laws to be followed and that he could not just kill people. “There are laws, and I intend to enforce them,” Duterte said. “You want due process, presumption of innocence. By all means, I will give them to you. But I will never allow you to destroy the children or my country.” Duterte promised to give the people a comfortable life and a clean government. He took a swipe at the President and Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II for promoting ha-

tred and division “as if their party is all that matters in the world.” “So I said, I will not die if I do not become the president. But these people, see how they are trying to promote divisiveness in this country. [Senator Grace] Poe is much better,” Duterte said. He slammed Aquino and Roxas for their last-ditch effort for an alliance with Poe and the other presidential bets to prevent a Duterte presidency. He promised to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Mindanao. Rio N. Araja

Poe again asks voters to pick a good leader

Endorsement. Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte endorses

senatorial candidate Martin Romualdez during his campaign rally at the Luneta Park. VER NOVENO

INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Grace Poe on Sunday renewed her call to the people to choose a leader who will not only make them feel secure but will also respect their rights. She made her call as more than 54 million Filipinos are expected to troop to the polling centers today to cast their votes for the next president, vice president, 12 senators and local officials. She also renewed her appeal to the electorate not to back the presidential bid of a corrupt candidate; an inept, insensitive and indecisive leader or engaged in extra-judicial killings. Poe made her statement even as her running mate Francis Escudero said Poe was the only hope of the country, a leader who would inspire and bring out the best in every Filipino. ìI want a president that inspires us. I want a president that brings out the best in every Filipino, not the worst in every Filipino,î Escudero said. He made his statement in a final pitch to voters in the miting de avance of Partido Galing at Puso at Plaza Miranda in Manila on Saturday night. Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said there were no unity talks between Poe’s camp and the camp of vice presidential candi-

date Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “There’s no such thing,” Gatchalian said. He said Poe and Escudero were still running together. Poe said she was not perfect but she would be doing what was right because she had fear in God. Poe, the No. 1 senator in the last elections, said she decided to seek the presidency to give the people an alternative candidate. She made the final push for her ‘‘Gobyernong may Puso’’ with a declaration to fight anyone who would thwart the will of the people or threaten democracy. Poe tallied 90 days of campaigning around the country at the Plaza Miranda in Manila, where she officially kicked off her presidential bid on Feb. 9. Partido Galing at Puso’s miting de avance was attended by celebrity supporters including superstar Nora Aunor, singer-composer Ogie Alcasid, Carmina Villaroel, Poe’s sister Lovi Poe, Heart Evangelista, wife of Poeís running mate Francis Escudero, singer Angeline Quinto, former child star Niño Muhlach, Epy Quizon and Ruby Rodriguez. Macon RamosAraneta

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A4 Poll body to unveil canvass website By Sara D. Fabunan DESPITE the recent leak of the personal information of some 57-million Filipino registered voters, the Commission on Elections has put up a website that will show the un-canvassed results of electronic voting nationwide In a press conference, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the website will allow the public to calculate the results of today’s elections for themselves. “The election returns contain all the results from the president down to the last candidate. Which means, we can already total them even if we don’t announce it. But you could also make your educated guesses,” Jimenez said in a press briefing at the elections headquarters at the Philippine International Convention Center. The site, www.pilipinaselectionresults2016. com, will be made available right after voting closes. “Anyone with a calculator, time and is so minded could actually do [the computation]. That’s precisely the point of this website. It democratizes the count so anyone can [do it],” Jimenez said. During the first automated elections in 2010, the Comelec also put up a website where voting based on election returns was made public on the same day of the elections. In the present website, the precinct results and canvassing results for all 17,000 positions contested will be made available to the public.

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Big business keeps grip on pols with big bucks PRESIDENTIAL frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has flippantly brushed aside campaign trail allegations of accepting million-peso gifts, while his rivals have refused to disclose their backers, deepening concerns over business titans’ shadowy grip on politics. The Philippines has one of Asia’s biggest rich-poor divides, with poverty rates remaining stuck in recent years despite strong economic growth, and analysts say one of the reasons for the disparity is the debt that politicians owe their secret backers. Under the nation’s campaign financing laws, there are no caps on how much people or companies can give to candidates, nor are there lim-

its on individual donations. They also do not have to reveal their backers until a month after election day. Duterte has entrenched himself as the clear frontrunner for Monday’s elections by portraying himself as a frugal, anti-establishment politician who is tough enough to take on the elites. “When I become president, by the grace of God, I serve the people,

not you,” Duterte told reporters this week, referring to the elite. But in the final stages of the campaign trail Duterte, who earns less than P100,000 a month as the mayor of Davao, was hit with allegations that millions of dollars had poured into secret bank accounts. He initially denied there were any hidden accounts. After a journalist deposited money into them, he admitted they did exist and that P193.7 million were deposited into them on his birthday two years ago, nearly 10 times his declared assets. “That only means I have many rich friends,” he said, refusing to disclose who they were. Asked at an earlier national tele-

vision debate to name his campaign donors, Duterte gave a mocking answer, answering “Emilio Aguinaldo,” the Philippines’ first president, whose face appears on P5 coins. His rivals similarly have felt no obligation to tell voters who their backers are, let alone how much they have been paid by them. Senator Grace Poe, who has been in politics for just three years and fashions herself as a lily-white poster image of change and probity, has been widely rumored to be backed by taipans Eduardo Cojuangco and Ramon Ang. They are in charge of San Miguel Corp., one of the nation’s biggest conglomerates.

Only Binay. Vice President Jejomar Binay is flanked by his running mate Senator Gregorio Honasan and his daughter, Makati mayoralty candidate Abigail Binay during his United Nationalist Alliance party’s miting de avance on Saturday. MANNY PALMERO

‘Comelec has say on attack ads’

Daang Matuwid. Former Secretary Mar Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo greet supporters during their final political campaign rally on Saturday night at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. AFP

THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board has no authority to review any political advertisement broadcast during the election period. MTRCB Chairman Eugenio Villareal said it is the Commission on Elections that has jurisdiction over television advertisements during the campaign. The MTRCB was reacting to complaints about the recent commercials that showed minors criticizing presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. “In response to continuous queries and feedback over traditional and social

media, the MTRCB reiterates that it does not, as a matter of law and practice, preview any political advertisement for broadcast during the election period,” said Villareal. “The agency furthers affirms its regular policy of respect and deference to the Comelec, which has jurisdiction to supervise and regulate such advertisements under the Omnibus Election Code, the Fair Elections Act, and Comelec Resolution 10049,” Villareal said. “At the same time, advertisers and networks [should] observe self-regulation in regard to content,” the

MTRCB chairperson said. The MTRCB published the advisory in its website after it was defaced by hackers who questioned the airing of negative advertisements against Duterte on major television networks. The 30-second antiDuterte advertisement supposedly paid for by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV showed several children questioning the morality of electing the mayor as president. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano secured a temporary restraining order against the advertisement from a Taguig Court on Thursday.

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Green jobs law gets DoJ backing By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice has supported the enactment of the Philippine Green Jobs Act, which was recently signed into law by President Aquino. In a two-page legal opinion, Undersecretary Zabedin Azis said it has found no constitutional or legal objection to the green jobs law or Republic Act No. 10771, which consolidated Senate Bill No. 3092 and House Bill No. 6100. “Now is the time to plant and nurture the seed of environmentalism in every Filipino by creating green goods and services towards the transformation of our consolidated enrolled bill into law,” the opinion stated. The Justice department stressed that the new law is consistent with sections 16 and 18, Article II of the Constitution, which respectively uphold the right to balanced and healthful ecology and right of workers. It said the new law also strengthens the earlier Climate Change Act and the government’s National Climate Change Action Plan by “making explicit the State policy for jobs and employment creation as an integral pillar of measures to prevent and reduce the adverse impacts of climate change and to maximize whatever potential benefits climate change may bring.” “The government must take an active role in preventing further environmental degradation and disasters brought about by climate change and accordingly must formulate major policy reforms to address the most pressing environmental issues, like overpopulation, pollution, global warming, rain forest destruction, overflowing landfills, etc.,” the legal opinion stressed. “The creation of green jobs, the establishment of a green economy and the development of green technologies will greatly help in the protection and conservation of our environment and natural resources and in the process, insure that development meets the needs of the present populace without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” it said.

On alert. Policemen stand guard outside a school to be used as polling station ahead of the presidential election in Manila on May 8, 2016. Tens of thousands of government forces fanned out across the country, following a bitter and deadly election campaign plagued by rampant vote-buying and intimidation. AFP

MMDA deploys 2K enforcers AT LEAST 2,000 trafffic enforcers have fanned out in Metro Manila to ensure smooth traffic in roads near polling precincts, the Metro Manila Development Authority said on Sunday. MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos said the agency dispatched a total of 2,664 personnel coming from its units and offices from May 6 until May 10. The measure is part of the agency’s traffic management plan for the May 9 polls. Carlos said traffic enforcers will also be deployed at the Commission on Elections in Intramuros, Manila and the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, where the National Board of Canvassers will be canvassing the votes. Carlos said the agency will also

send out its personnel to bus terminals, sea ports and exit points to and from Metro Manila, including the North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Coastal Road, McArthur Highway, Marcos Highway, Mindanao Avenue and A. Bonifacio Drive. He said that MMDA personnel will likewise conduct cleanup operations around schools and polling centers after Monday’s elections. Meanwhile, the Comelec has accredited 104 foreigners to observe the conduct of the country’s

local and national automated elections today. Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista noted that the Philippines is becoming one of the leaders in holding automated elections. “The Philippines is becoming one of the leaders in automated elections, instead of us learning from them, it is the other way around. We are sharing our international best practices—especially those looking to transform from manual to automated [polls],” Bautista told reporters. He said that 50 of the foreign observers came from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Nepal, Turkey, Indonesia, Thailand and Korea. The other half of the numbers belonged to foreign embassies and

international organizations based in the country. The Comelec chief said the Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting conducted the orientation seminar for the foreign observers. In fact, he said, the foreign observers have been warned that they should not get involved in partisanship during the elections as they may be held liable under Comelec Resolution No. 10079. “It shall be unlawful for any foreigner, foreign group, organization, committee or association to engage in partisan political activities, which refer to acts designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to public office,” the resolution stated. Rey Requejo and PNA

Palace shrugs off treason charges MALACAÑANG on Sunday said there was no basis for the treason and espionage charges filed against President Benigno Aquino III and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV by the camp of presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte for the back-channel talks regarding the South China Sea. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Palace reiterated that the actions taken by the government regarding the settlement of disputes in the SCS (South China Sea) are rules-based, thus, we filed for arbitration under the Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) rules.” Treason may be committed only in times of war

where the Philippines is involved and clearly, it is not applicable at this time, Coloma said. The camp of Duterte said Friday that Aquino and Trillanes by undertaking “back-channel talks” with China “only advanced the interest of our Asian neighbor.” Martin Diño, Duterte’s national campaign manager, announced the filing of the treason and espionage charges by supporters of the Davao mayor in the Office of the Ombudsman during a press conference at the Club Filipino in San Juan City. The filing of the treason and espionage charges came as Trillanes publicly accused Duterte, the front-

runner in the presidential race, of having millions of pesos in undeclared bank accounts. The complaint said “Senator Trillanes met with the Chinese 16 times, and he requested that the meeting [be] secret. In those meetings, Trillanes made mention that the Philippines cannot enforce coastal protection. And that made the Chinese take an aggressive [stance] and take over our areas like Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Islands. That alone constitutes treason,” former Rep. Ronald Adamat, one of the complainants, said, quoting from supposed notes made by former Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady. Sandy Araneta

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Child-safe cleaning items eyed in schools A LAwmAKER has proposed the mandatory use of safe cleaning products in schools in order to protect children from harm and illness. Rep. Alfredo D. Vargas III of Quezon City filed House Bill 6481 to ensure that only environment-preferable cleaning products are used to clean the school premises. Vargas cited the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency, which revealed that residues of more than 400 toxic chemicals have been identified in human blood and fat tissue. Some of these toxic chemicals have been found in household products and food. “Dangerous ingredients such as caustics or solvents are present in ordinary household cleaning products. when improperly used, stored or disposed, they become health hazards,” Vargas said. Vargas said inhalation or accidental drinking of solvents, which are fast-drying substances that dissolve another substance, could be harmful and even fatal. Cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, and liver and kidney problems, may be caused by long-term exposure to some solvents, he added. He expressed alarm that even pleasant-smelling cleaning products such as laundry detergents, all-purpose sprays, dish soaps and scrub contain ingredients, which are dangerous to health. Vargas said the bill not only aims to protect the health of students but the custodial staff and all other workers in the school as well. Under the bill to be known as the “Safe Cleaning Products in School Act,” schools both public and private shall ensure that only environmentally preferable cleaning products are used to clean their premises. The property manager is mandated to use cleaning products certified as environmentally preferable by an independent third party.

INC charity. Tondo residents flocked to the Iglesia ni Cristo’s Aid for Humanity charity event to receive goody bags, clothing and new pairs of shoes, all given for free under the auspices of INC’s Felix Y. Manalo Foundation. The April 29, 2016 event set four new Guinness world records.

Five measures seek to reform labor code By Rio N. Araja

AT leAsT five bills pending at the House of Representatives have been designed to plug the “loopholes” in the labor Code of 1974 and address the gridlock between workers and employers on the issue of “endo” or end of contract or labor contractualization. Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairman of the House committee on labor and employment, said the measures are House Bills 5416, 5415, 5806, 6397 and 4659, which he authored. “These bills seek to institutionalize the multiple approach adopted by Department of Labor

and Employment in addressing the issue of endo or contractualization, which is synonymous to circumvention of labor laws on labor standards and occupational safety and health standards, security of tenure, and right to self-organization and collective bargaining,” he said. He, however, said DoLE has undertaken reforms to address the issue of contractualization over the issuance of Department Order 18-A prescribing stricter rules and regulations on contracting and subcontracting, and provides all contractor’s employees, the rights and labor standards benefits including the right to security of tenure, right to selforganization and collective bargaining. Another reform by DoLE is Department Order No. 131-2013 or Labor Law Compliance System that ensures enforcement of all labor laws and regulations and addresses issues on contractualization, security of tenure and other labor laws violations through a

combined regulatory and developmental approach,” he added. The gaps include Articles 106-109 that allows contracting and subcontracting arrangement and prohibits labor-only contracting; Articles 279, 280 and 281 on the right to security of tenure, regular employment, probationary; and Articles 282 and 283 or the grounds on termination of employment and Articles 128 and 129 on visitorial and enforcement power of DoLE secretary. “Completing the package of amendments is the proposed Labor Laws Compliance System (HB6433) or the amendments to Articles 128 to 129 of the Labor Code, and House Bill 6397, the Occupational Safety and Health bill, which imposes penalties for everyday of noncorrection of OSH violations including criminalizing deaths with employer negligence due to non-observance of OSH standards,” Nograles said.

OFWs face grim prospects over Canadian wildfires FORT mCmURRAy, Canada—Jonathan Infante fled for his life from wildfires ravaging Canada’s remote Athabasca oilproducing region, and now he and other migrant workers face the grim prospect of having to altogether leave Canada. Their residency here is tied to their employment and if that is now gone — literally up in smoke—they could be forced to leave this country. The wildfires in northern Alberta have forced the evacuation of 100,000 people. Among the evacuees were almost two dozen distraught migrant workers who arrived late Friday at a government shelter in Edmonton, Alberta’s capital. marco Luciano of the migrant advocacy group Coalition for migrant worker Rights in Canada, who was on hand to greet them, said many showed up in their work uniforms. “They had been evacuated from work

and did not have time to stop at home to pick up any of their clothes or belongings,” Luciano told AFP. “They’re not sure what’s coming... Because they no longer have work, their [residency] status has become precarious.” “many are bracing for the worst,” he said. Infante’s wages support a wife and two children back in the Philippines. The wendy’s fastfood restaurant in Fort mcmurray where he worked is believed to have survived the wildfires, so far. “Our employer told us to wait and see,” Infante said outside an evacuation center in Lac La Biche, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) south of Fort mcmurray. According to Luciano’s group, there are about 70,000 temporary foreign workers accredited in Alberta. There’s no breakdown available of how many were displaced by the fires.

Fort mcmurray has been a popular destination for foreign workers over the past decade. many work in restaurants or lodges and provide childcare—relatively lowerpaying jobs in the oil-producing region where employers say it is hard to recruit local staff. The service industry in particular lobbied hard to ease the rules for temporary foreign workers in order to allow more into Alberta during its boom years when oil prices were higher. Luciano said they are facing more challenges than Canadian citizens in finding temporary accommodations until the fire situation comes under control as few have family or friends nearby who can take them in. many also lost their documents in the fires, and have meager savings they can tap into over the short term. Canadian immigration officials are

looking into the situation to see if exceptions could be made that would allow them to stay in Canada. Several foreign embassies, meanwhile, have offered assistance, including replacing lost passports and expediting travel home. Egdon Parra, who is acquainted with several migrant workers in Fort mcmurray, said he hopes they will receive special consideration from Ottawa. “It would be a calamity if they were asked to leave Canada,” he said. Parra said the workers need time to recover from the trauma of recent days. “This has been hard for them, for everyone,” he said. “The government must understand that they are important members of the community, they contribute to the economy and they pay taxes,” Parra added. “They don’t just work here, they live here, too, even if it’s only temporarily.” AFP

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Police seize Galera LGU’s car, guns By Robert A. Evora

Authorities hunt down S. Aguak bombers

PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro—The Philippine National Police seized on Saturday, in two checkpoints, a staff car of a ranking municipal official carrying high-powered guns and four still unidentified personnel in clear violation of the Omnibus Election Code being implemented by the Commission on Elections. Elements of the Regional Public Safety Battalion headed by a Superintendent Frias, stopped at a Comelec checkpoint in Barangay Sto. Niño a black Nissan Patrol SUV, with redcolored plate number SHU 897, registered with the Puerto Galera municipal government. Found inside the government vehicle were two .45 cal. pistols and two high-powered rifles, an M-16 and M-14 rifles. Passengers of the car, a certain Mark Ramilla and three other unidentified persons, were arrested and brought to an unidentified location for questioning. In another Comelec checkpoint in Barangay Balatero, P/Senior Inspector Gabito, apprehended two suspects, identified as Marcelino M. Banaag and Roger M. Evangelista, each carrying a .45 cal. and .40 cal. pistol, respectively. Also seized from the suspects were six magazines and 30 rounds of live ammunition. Regional Police Director Ramon Apolinario said police personnel had been deployed in Puerto Galera since last week to enforce election laws for the conduct of an honest, orderly and peaceful elections in the province on May 9. Deputy RPSB battalion commander, Superintendent Manzano, barred the entry of newsmen from the RPSB camp in Barangay Poblacion to interview the six suspects. Manzano told newsmen that the latter must secure clearance from either Director Apolinario and Superintendent Frias first before entering the police camp. “It’s unusual for the PNP officials to deny us our right to interview suspects involved in election-related crimes,” local media practitioners said. The Oriental Mindoro media appealed to PNP Chief, Director-General Ricardo Marquez, to open all police camps to local newsmen to avoid suspicion of a whitewash of crimes allegedly violated by suspects in the conduct of local election.

Mr. and Ms. Children join the Santacruzan in this festive month of May. DIANA B. NOCHE

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao—Police and military authorities deployed for poll duties in Maguindanao are now hunting down the persons responsible for rifle grenade attacks in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao that killed a nine-year-old girl and hurt her parents and siblings Saturday night. “We are helping the local police of Shariff Aguak in tracking down the suspects,” Capt. Joann Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said. “We cannot say if it was election-related, we are investigating,” she told the Philippine News Agency. Two blasts rocked Shariff Aguak town, home of the Ampatuan clan during the last day of campaign period Saturday. Shariff Aguak, one of the towns considered by the Commission on Elections as possible “area of immediate concern” for Monday’s polls, was the former capital of Maguindanao. The first blast believed to be from rifle grenade occurred at past 7:30 p.m. There were no injuries. The second came at past 12 midnight when the residents were already asleep. Petinglay identified the fatality as nine-year-old Puti Mandigan who was killed on the spot. Injured were her father Wahid, 38, mother Bae, 37 and siblings Arabai, 7 and another unidentified brother. Responding police and military infantrymen rushed the victims to the Maguindanao provincial hospital. Scene of the Crime Operatives and Army bomb experts found fragments of M-203 rifle grenade and M-79 grenade at the blast sites. PNA

Survivors receive permanent shelters two years after Yolanda By Ronald O. Reyes

Rain play. Two kids play as Baguio City welcomes a downpour. DAVE LEPROZO

TACLOBAN CITY—Elma Globio, 39, woke up earlier than usual. Her gut feeling revealed that something different and important will happen along the way. Her feeling was telling her that it will not go wrong. When the City Government Truck arrived and sounded its horn, Elma, along with hundreds of Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ survivors who cramped into an already dilapidated bunk house, rushed into the street corners where their baggage and their personal belongings which were left by the storm two years ago were also waiting for them to be taken to their new addresses, to their new permanent houses about

15 kilometers north of the city. “I have waited for this day. Finally, it came. Thank you, thank you Lord,” Globio said, smiling. “I lost my house and my father-in-law during the storm. Now, a blessing came to us,” she added, while loading her belongings to the waiting truck. “I am very excited.” Marlinita Aurelia, 42, also felt the same, saying that her family will soon be better knowing that they have been finally moved to a safer and permanent resettlement site. “Living in the crowded bunk house for over two years is not something I thought about after Yolanda, yet we had no choice because we were homeless, and penniless,” Aurelia said

in Waray, the local language. “ This is what new life is with my husband and two children after Yolanda, we now have a new home,” she added, recalling how the rising ocean water swallowed their house in the coastal village of Sagkahan in the city on the morning of Nov. 8, 2013. More than 6,000 people were killed by the world’s strongest storm on record. They were mostly from Tacloban and nearby towns in Leyte province. “I am going to have a garden in our new place,” Aurelia said. The government had set April 20 as deadline for the transfer of all remaining 700 families in three bunk houses areas in the city.

M O N D AY : M AY 9, 2 0 1 6

opinion

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SeaSon of fear ONE of the most unfortunate aspects of the bitterly fought 2016 election campaign is the trepidation that so many voters feel about what the future brings. As we go to the polls today, the predominant emotion is anxiety, not hope. We are anxious about the election of a candidate who many see as unfit for high office, and who appears to bring out the worst in his supporters—unreasoning faith and intolerance of those who do not believe. The feeling of dread is driven in part by the candidate’s own words, which promise a ruthless and brutal campaign against criminals with no regard for human rights or other constitutional guarantees. Our unease is driven, too, by the candidate’s lack of a detailed economic road map. In its place, the candidate offers slogans and vague promises, often punctuated by expletives— as if these were enough to propel this nation out of the rut of the last six years, in which macroeconomic growth has not resulted in tangible benefits for the vast majority of Filipinos. The fear is further fueled by a desperate, last-minute appeal from President Benigno Aquino III, that the candidate’s opponents—including the administration standard bearer—set aside their differences and unite against the leading candidate. In a TV interview, the President said the leading candidate had only 30 percent of the vote, according to the latest surveys, while the next two in line had about 20 percent each. “[If] any two of them unite … we have more than 40 percent. It defeats the 30 percent,” the President said, showing off his skill in math but not political astuteness. For the call to unity was clearly an appeal for everybody else to drop out of the race in favor of the administration candidate, a suggestion that was clearly unacceptable for failing to acknowledge one indisputable fact—that we would not have been in this mess in the first place, if only Mr. Aquino had done his job well. Had the President not squandered his first years in office, billions of pesos in public funds, and his considerable political capital to persecute and jail his opponents, and focused instead on implementing projects that would benefit more middle-income and poor Filipinos, a demagogue running only on a vague promise of change would most likely not be the election frontrunner today. Would voters carried away by promises of change really want to elect the administration candidate, who promises us six more years of the same? But now, the chickens have come home to roost, and no amount of last-minute squawking by the President or his chosen successor will make a difference. Six years ago, against good advice, the nation elected an unqualified and vindictive candidate to be president. Today, we are still paying the price.

Time To beaT swords inTo plowshares PenSéeS fr. ranhILIo caLLangan aquIno The noise of jingles, ads, debates and miting de avance has died down. We went separate ways in this interesting, if often acrimonious, campaign period. With fervor, we advanced the causes of our

favored candidates, and with equal fervor did we cast aspersions on those favored by others. We looked at the colors of the shirts our friends wore on their backs, and often decided that we did not feel like talking to them for now. Some kind of “color phobia,” secondary, no doubt, to election delirium! That is part of the noise of democracy, but the time has come to beat swords in to

plowshares. If elections are peaceful and proceed as the laws ordain, then whoever continues brandishing a sword is a ruffian! We have said enough and, as our VCMs do their jobs—or so we hope, barring failed signals —we shall once more bask in the blessings of a democracy or suffer the consequences of its folly! (Aristotle, for one, had a very dim view of democracy.)

Let us not make jailing Pnoy and his minions a national priority. It should not even be on our agenda.

By all means, let us take these elections with utmost seriousness. official ineptitude is always a curse on national life, and there is no greater punishment that can be inflicted on a nation than the plague of fools for leaders! But let us now return with sobriety to

the friendships we have put on hold and perhaps, even to the churches from which we have some time distanced ourselves because we did not like the signals sent by our faith-leaders. And, worse, if any family bonds have been sundered because of allegiances to politicians

who will hardly, if ever, even acknowledge us after the last ballot shall have been counted, let us cherish the things that matter and that last. And certainly, political affinities occasioned by six- or three-year exercises are so fleeting, so transient that any person of good spirit will long for the things that last, those dimensions in human life that make the spirit soar— the company of good friends,

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

the warmth of family and the strength of faith—all that is truly transcendent in our lives. hegel once remarked on something that should be pretty obvious: When all that the slave desires is to be free of his master, so that he too can enslave his master, with the result that he who once was slave is now master, and the former master, now a slave, there is really no progress. Right. So, let us, as a

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nation, move on. I have had more than mouthful against the present administration. Many of its acts were not only irresponsible but also criminal. But let us not make jailing PNoy and his minions a national priority. It should not even be on our agenda. We bore the curse of an administration distinguished for its vindictiveness. The only way to move on, to break the cycle Continued on A10

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So you have shared and liked a thousand social media posts about your candidate over the past 100 days. Admit it, you have culled your friends’ list but you’ve a made mental note to follow them again. you have gift-wrapped your house with posters of your bets as you have proudly worn their wristbands as if they were pricey bling. you even find yourself humming their catchy jingles, making you a certifiable LSS captive. Today is the day you will formalize your choice but as you read this piece with your coffee, the realization that you have zero inkling how to vote jolts you more than the caffeine in your cup does. First thing first. It will be hot out there. Change to comfy clothes, and leave that vest with the name of your candidate you painstakingly handstitched behind. Walking billboards are not allowed inside polling places. Bring water. hydrate. you don’t want your fainting to end up as a youTube hit. Beat the heat by going to your assigned precinct early. Voting starts 6 a.m. Better yet, ask a housemate to reconnoiter the place. If there’s someone in the house who jogs before sunrise, ask him to swing by the school where you will vote to scout your exact room. Bring a valid I.D. with you. And your codigo, too. Although reams of sample ballots will be thrust on your face that you’ll feel that you’re being swamped by leaflets in a housing fair, there’s no substitute for what you have personally prepared. upon arriving at the voting place, which probably is a school, look for your name in the voters list. Ask help from accredited volunteers. Take note of your precinct, sequence, and room number. Fall in line. There’ll be a queue but not as long as the one that coils around an MRT station. Give your name, valid I.D. , and precinct number to the Board of election Inspectors (BeIs). If your name checks out, you’ll be handed a ballot, a ballot secrecy folder, a marker. Go to the “voting area” Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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Let us not make jailing Pnoy and his minions a national priority. It should not even be on our agenda.

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

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

A10 Judgment day TODAy is out of the judgment day. The box Filipino people will rita linda cast their votes as v. jimeno they have never done before—this time with varying feelings of faith, passion, fear, suspicion and anticipation of something new. Returning from a long sabbatical, observing events from the sidelines, I am just too eager to speak my two cents’ worth. This election must have been the most vicious and divisive of all—not because we are choosing the best f r o m among the best—but People are willing to because it wager the future in has become a battle exchange for a chance at between change. the status quo and a call for real change. The election has become not a contest among candidates per se but for what they stand. And rightly so, I say, because elections, ideally, should be about platforms and ideologies—something we have been missing in the past many elections as focus used to be on mere personalities. This time, the battle lines have been drawn into three parts: those espousing the perpetration of the so-called daang matuwid; those who have been offering traditional election promises; and those advocating for real change. The mayor from Davao City promises change. No matter how the yellow camp has vilified the person of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, to the point of using innocent children to bring him down, he has continued to dominate in surveys and win people to his side. He is a phenomenon that will continue to puzzle many for years to come because he is foul-mouthed, not as eloquent as his rivals, and brash. He also did not have the money to buy votes nor the means to launch a media campaign as extensive as that of his rivals. So why do people rally behind him and ignore the fear sown by those espousing the continuity of the status quo? He has been portrayed as a leftist, a dictator, a human rights violator and one who has no respect for women. yet, rich or poor, even women’s groups, for that matter, have backed him openly. In his miting de avance on Saturday, a friend who attended it described what he witnessed in this manner: “Hundreds of thousands came on their own, not brought to the site on buses. Families, students, professionals and workers came; the perfumed and well-dressed mingling with the masa. The crowd cheered Duterte even while his speech was not particularly inspiring. A law professor even described his speech as phenomenal.” For all his quirks, why do people gravitate to Duterte? I say, it is for what he stands for—change. To explain, I am sharing a Facebook post by Dana Batnag about the moving account of a man in Tawi Tawi who was so poor he did not have money to bring his sick son to the hospital. When the boy became worse, the boy’s aunt approached Al Jazeera reporter, Jamela Alindogan-Caudron, in a pier, asking for help. The reporter readily obliged but the boy died on the way to the hospital. “It was the father’s grief I could not bear,” Jamela wrote.

M O N D AY : M AY 9, 2 0 1 6

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making economic sense of anti-smoking campaigns By Leonid Bershidsky ON MAy 20, cigarette packs in Germany will display images of rotten teeth and blackened lungs. Also this month, cigarette manufacturers in the UK are likely to have to switch to plain packaging, without brands or imagery. And the top European court has upheld a 2014 European Commission directive that banned flavored cigarettes, mandated that 65 percent of the surface of packs must be covered with health warnings and imposed restrictions on how much nicotine could be ingested via e-cigarettes. It’s clear where all this is going: Following the example of the US, Europe is trying to get its citizens to quit smoking, or not to start. It’s a moral issue: It could be argued that it’s the government’s job to stop people from killing themselves or developing diseases that cause suffering and to curb an activity that poses a threat to public health. yet governments aren’t prepared to ban tobacco completely as a dangerous drug, in part because that also is an economic issue. Regulating rather than banning tobacco is a matter of a fine balance between establishing strong disincentives for smoking, offsetting its cost to society through taxation and discouraging a black market in cigarettes. Any new strictures disturb that balance, but policy makers appear to be groping for a response instead of developing a model that would predict the costs and benefits of making cigarettes less attractive and harder to get. Depending on how one counts, society gets either a huge net economic benefit or a huge net loss from smoking. According to a 2012 report prepared for the European Union by the UK consulting firm GHK, the total annual cost of smoking to 27 EU countries (excluding Cyprus) is a whopping 550 billion euros ($627 billion). yet most of that is the 516.7 billion cost of premature mortality from tobacco, which dwarfs the actual treatment cost and the losses from smoking-related absenteeism and long-term disability. In the US, where health-care costs are much higher, the Surgeon Generalestimates the range of annual direct medical expenses at $132.5 billion to $175.9 billion and the losses from premature deaths at $151 billion. The problem with these calculations is that while the costs of treatment, disability and absenteeism are real and relatively easy to quantify, the costs linked to premature death are a guess. GHK, like most other researchers, borrowed a “willingness to pay” approach from the European Commission: an estimate of how much society would pay to save a person’s life for one year. The median of such estimates in Europe is 52,000 euros.

time... From A9 of blame, is to exact no vengeance and to find solutions, rather than pile up accusations. When PNoy delivered his last State of the Nation Address and still blamed PGMA for his own failures, I pitied, rather than ridiculed him, because only a man who has chalked nothing significant to his credit will regale his audience with the faults of his predecessor, rather than remind them of the gains he has made. Our badly wounded nation cries for healing. And memories come flooding back of one more time in our history that we were divided as a people: the impeachment of then President Joseph As the father cradled the dead boy in his arms he tried to give the boy his favorite juice, the reporter said. That is what non-inclusive growth means to those who were not included, she added. I see him in my mind’s eye and he asks me, “What right do you have to ask for six more years of this life for me?” In her mind she replied to him: “But your choice will not make your life better; choosing continuity may, in the end.” His response was: “Will you swap your years with mine? Let me live your life while you wait for economic growth to finally include you. Will you risk letting your child die of curable diseases or hunger, even? Will you be poor and in my place for those six years of

This method makes some sense because tobacco is regulated on behalf of society, which in effect decides how much smokers’ lives are worth to the general wellbeing. yet there are counterarguments. Smokers are by now well aware of the risks they are taking. They know they are shortening their lives. Their willingness to pay for the extra years, then, is much lower. From a cynically economic point of view, early deaths from smoking could carry a net benefit rather than a net cost, because they reduces the future liabilities of pension and health care systems. Philip Morris commissioned an infamous paper that made this argument 15 years ago. Keeping the premature deaths out of the equation makes for a cleaner model in which the directly quantifiable costs are offset by sin taxes. It makes the net benefits or costs transparent, if researchers and poilicy makers agree on which costs to include. GHK only added up the treatment expenses and the losses from absenteeism and long-term disability attributable to smoking. The total amount, 33.3 billion euros, is easily covered by cigarette tax revenue. According to Eurostat, in 2012, the 27 EU countries (not including Cyprus) collected 117 billion euros in alcohol and tobacco taxes, about 60 percent of that (70 billion euros) from tobacco. That balance could change if more indirect costs—such as those associated with fighting cigarette smuggling or social care (nursing homes and rehabilitation)—were included in the calculation. GHK reviewed 17 studies that attempted to quantify the cost of smoking and found that on average, the indirect economic costs were estimated to reach 2.7 times the direct medical costs. Using that rule of thumb, the total cost of tobacco use to Europe would be 95 billion euros—more than the tobacco tax revenue. The estimates vary widely, and it would make sense for regulators to adopt a unified costing approach. That would help them understand how the suggested regulation —plain packaging, advertising bans, taking flavored cigarettes out of circulation, and so on—would change the balance of costs and benefits. What if a proposed measure drove down treatment costs by less than the projected decrease in tax revenue? In that case, in strictly economic terms, the net benefit to society is negative. The US, which started its anti-tobacco campaign earlier than Europe, its already experiencing declining tobacco tax revenue, which the EU has not. It’s not clear, though, whether those declines are fully offset by falling medical and economic costs: No one is tracking that on a regular basis. In any case, societies may decide that the noneconomic benefits to curbing or eradicating smoking are well worth the additional costs. Bloomberg

Estrada. After one of the hearings, the wise, honored, truly impartial and God-fearing Hilario Davide Jr., who, as chief Justice, presided, led the whole chamber in a recitation of a scriptural verse. That passage from Second Chronicles, I find apt now: “If my people upon whom my name has been pronounced humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land.” rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com continuity that you want?” With those same eyes that could do nothing but look on while his child died in his arms, the father adds, “My choice may bring us to hell but you see, I already live here.” This story tells us that people are willing to wager the future in exchange for a chance at change. It tells us that the Filipino voters are maturing. It is no longer popularity, name recall or personality that moves them; it is now ideology and platform, finally. If only for this, whatever the outcome of today’s election, the Filipino people have won. Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

M O N D AY : M AY 9, 2 0 1 6

A11

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Why quacks are thriving in china By adam Minter ThERE are more than 10,000 private hospitals in China, and their numbers—and revenues—are growing every year. Yet they’re also among the least trusted institutions in China, widely assumed to be dens of quackery, malpractice and shameless profiteering. So why do patients flock to them? One reason is that China’s top search engine, Baidu, accepts their advertising. That’s how Wei Zexi, a 21-year-old cancer patient, ended up spending more than $30,000 on what was advertised as an experimental treatment at a private Beijing clinic. he died on April 12, but not before writing an angry account of his fleecing that went viral on China’s internet. For now, most criticism has focused on Baidu. But that’s not entirely fair. The Chinese government, which has been the first to point fingers in this case, is just as much at fault, in large part for its longstanding failures to reform and regulate China’s healthcare sector. The problems start in Putian, a small city in China’s coastal Fujian Province. It’s best known as a manufacturing base for counterfeit designer footwear. But Putian’s biggest business is the network of 8,600 private hospitals owned and run by a handful of Putian families. Collectively, they represent roughly threequarters of all private hospitals in China. The empire has sordid roots in 1980s China, when a a guide... From A9 shown to you, which most probably is an armchair, the one you sat on when you were in grade school eons ago. Inspect the ballot. Make sure it is free of any marks or smudges. Place it securely on a flat surface. Carefully shade the entire oval corresponding to your candidate of choice. Important reminder: The oval, smaller than a mongo grain, is to the left of your chosen candidate’s name. The Comelec says you can prop up the folder so no one would see whom you’re voting for. Actually, nothing prevents you from doing it in the open, if, in one last act of partisanship, you want to advertise your choices. Do not mark your ballot. It is not an affidavit that will have to be initialized at the margins. Don’t autograph it with emoticons. Undervoting is allowed and so is abstaining. Overvoting is not. You’re

#failocracy

handful of entrepreneurs started selling iffy skincare treatments and later expanded into STD clinics. Their methods were less than ethical. A 2006 account by a Chinese state media organ claimed that the company often tricked people into paying for treatments when they had no STDs; in pursuit of additional business, some agents even allegedly sprayed public toilets in Shanghai with an itch-inducing lacquer. The Putian clan’s methods don’t seem to have improved much since then. According to Caixin, a respected Chinese business magazine, some Putianaffliated hospitals threaten to punish doctors who don’t collect at least 1,000 yuan per patient—the equivalent of $153 and an extraordinary sum when public hospital consultations can be had for the equivalent of $2 or $3 (plus a long wait). To meet the quota, doctors prescribe unnecessary treatments and drugs, oftentimes pressuring patients when at their most vulnerable. Vice recentlyreported on one man talked into undergoing a medically unnecessary circumcision at a Putianaffliated hospital, then “pushed” to sign off on more expensive procedures that eventually left him impotent. These kinds of stories are rife in China, told and retold whenever Chinese complain about health care. Part of the problem is that there aren’t enough regulators to keep up with the growth in private hospitals and clinics. (Of course, even if there were enough, many Putianowned facilities—including the one used by Wei Zexi —are embedded in military hospitals that are exempt

voting for half of the Senate, meaning 12, not the 24 en banc. Choose one mayor, one governor, and so forth. If you have multiple choices for one slot, your vote, as you will soon find, will not be counted. Next step is feeding your ballot into the vote-counting machine. Whether you put the ballot top or bottom side first, front or back side first, the VCM can read it back-to-back. If the ballot is rejected by the VCM during scanning, the BEI will allow you to re-feed the ballot up to four times. If it still rejected, and it is not the voter’s fault, you will be given a replacement ballot. Wait for your receipt to print and let the precinct supervisor cut your receipt from the machine. Don’t perforate it on your own as it could yank out the entire roll of thermal paper and shut down the VCM. Before you get your voter’s receipt,

from oversight by civil medical authorities.) The bigger problem, though, is a lack of capacity in the state-run health system. Since the late 1970s, the Chinese government has steadily reduced its contributions to public health institutions in hopes that they’ll develop their own, market-based revenue sources. But many of these clinics and hospitals—especially at the local community level— simply aren’t able to survive without government help. The same goes for medical personnel. China’s famous “barefoot doctors,” for example, who were trained over three-to-six month periods to offer simple medical care in rural villages, have largely disappeared. Welltrained general practitioners are almost as scarce— China currently has 25,000 GPs serving a population exceeding 1.3 billion. Low pay deters many students from entering the field. So, too, does an ongoing epidemic of patient violence against physicians, driven by the widespread perception that the profession is profiteering and corrupt. With no GP or community clinic to consult, most Chinese patients self-diagnose and then head to China’s overcrowded public hospitals to wait in line for a specialist. Those who don’t trust the public hospitals (and they have their own serious problems), either go directly to private hospitals or—even worse—scour the internet for options. Baidu, China’s leading search engine, has long allowed medical providers to push up their listings in search rankings, making them look more legitimate. Bloomberg

have your right forefinger marked with indelible ink first. Review your receipt. If there’s a discrepancy, quietly approach the BEI to register your complaint. Don’t throw a tantrum, or chant your candidate’s name while crying out fraud. There’s no need for theatrics. Frivolous complaints can be penalized. State your case and sign the back of your receipt upon making a complaint. If the receipt faithfully reflects your choices, fold and drop it at the receptacle beside the VCM. You cannot bring it home. You cannot photograph it. In fact, selfies are not allowed inside the voting room. You can’t wear a GoPro cam either. Save the selfies until you’re outside the precinct. Now that you’ve voted, be the change you want to see in your society. Dispose of the leaflets properly, or bring them home for recycling. Littering should not be your first act

after voting for a candidate who ran on a platform of asking the citizens to practice discipline. If you will drive to the voting precinct, be sure to park your car properly. You don’t plan on voting for change and yet violated traffic rules en route to where you will cast your ballot. What is important is not whom you voted for but what you will do after you have voted. Before the new administration can implement the changes you want to see around you, carry out the changes you can do yourself. Real change should come from below, not dictated from above.

BaCK CHaNNeL aLeJaNdRO deL ROSaRiO Ambassador Del Rosario’s column will resume on Wednesday.

chong ardivilla

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Damian’s big night lifts Blazers LOS ANGELES— Damian Lillard scored a career playoff-high 40 points and handed out 10 assists Saturday as the Portland Trail Blazers beat reigning NBA champions Golden State 120-108 to narrow the gap in their playoff series.

Powell struggles in 200-m victory KINGSTON—Former 100 meter world record holder Asafa Powell flashed across the finish line in 20.45 seconds to win the men’s 200m race at the Jamaica International Invitational on Saturday. Powell held off a strong field at Kingston’s National Stadium and later described the 200m victory as a learning experience. “Honestly I don’t remember how to even run the 200m event so this is a work in process,” he said. The 33-year-old Powell said he felt good for the first 150m then got tired over the last 50m. “But I worked hard all week,” he added. Powell finished ahead of American Bejee Lee and Jamaican Rasheed Dwyer, who both ran 20.52 seconds. World Championships medalist Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas retained her 200m title with a magnificent run, breaking away from the women’s field in the last 60m to win by a massive margin in a wind-aided 22.14 seconds. Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby was second in 22.79 seconds and Shalonda Solomon took third in 22.80 seconds. Kemar Bailey-Cole’s winning time of 10.01 seconds in the men’s 100m was also a highlight of the night. Bailey-Cole, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the World Championships in Beijing last year, surprised himself with his fast time, the joint sixth fastest in the world so far. Tyson Gay, of the US, finished fifth in a time of 10.08 seconds. Elaine Thompson, who won the bronze in the world indoor 60m in Portland in March, was brilliant in winning the women’s 100m in a time of 10.71 seconds. AFP

Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers goes to the basket against the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. AFP

Former champ Fowler grabs Fargo lead WASHINGTON—Rickie Fowler fired six birdies in a four-under par 68 on Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fowler who captured his first PGA on the same Quail Hollow course in 2012, had a nine-under par total of 207. “The course dried out and played much faster, so 68 is a really good round out there,” Fowler said. “The

only two bogeys I made, I just missed putts and didn’t get up-and-down for par. “I had a good warm-up, hit a good drive on the first hole and just went from there.” Fowler, who won at Quail Hollow in 2012 and will defend his title next week in the Players Championship, took charge with three straight birdies through the 16th hole and his second straight 68.

Fellow American Roberto Castro bogeyed Quail Hollow’s difficult 18th to cap a 71 that left him one adrift on 208. England’s Justin Rose made two late birdies in a 69 and was two shots behind in a tie for third with James Hahn, who made three straight birdies through No. 16, but made bogey on the penultimate hole in a 68. A double-bogey at 18 saw overnight leader Andrew Loupe post a 74

that left him on 201, level with Scott Langley who carded a 71. Tim Wilkinson of New Zealand and Lucas Glover both shot 70 and were three strokes behind in a tie for seventh, and Retief Goosen of South Africa was five shots back in solo ninth after a 71. Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson fared even worse at 18, carding a quadruple-bogey eight to complete a 76 for 215.

Novak fights Andy in finale MADRID—World number one Novak Djokovic set-up a mouthwatering Madrid Masters final showdown against defending champion Andy Murray by seeing off Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Saturday. Murray, the second seed, earlier registered just his second ever win over Rafael Nadal on clay to make the final with a 7-5, 6-4 victory. Djokovic has yet to drop a set in the Spanish capital this week but he was nearly caught cold by the windy conditions as he had to battle back from 0-40 down in the first game with some fine serving. The Serb slowly began to find his rhythm and broke

through in the eighth game as Nishikori pulled a forehand wide before serving out for the set. Djokovic looked set to seal victory comfortably as he led 40-0 at 5-4 in the second set, but the Japanese star dug deep, saving the three match points and then a fourth as he broke back before forcing the tiebreak. However, the top seed bounced back to take the breaker 7-4 and set up his first meeting with Murray in a Masters series final on clay. “I had an easy forehand to finish off the match at 40-0 then a double fault and couple of good points Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Japan’s Kei Nishikori during the from Kei and the break was Madrid Open men’s tennis semifinal at the Caja Magica (Magic Box) sports complex in there,” said Djokovic. AFP Madrid. AFP

Al-Farouq Aminu collected 23 points and 10 rebounds and C.J. McCollum added 22 points for the Trail Blazers, who trimmed the deficit in the best-ofseven Western Conference second-round series to 2-1. The Trail Blazers will try to level the series when they host game four on Monday. Lillard connected on 14 of 27 shots from the field, including eight of 13 from three-point range. “We were just a lot more aggressive, we played a lot smarter down the stretch than we did the last game,” Lillard said. “I think tonight we kept doing what was working for us.” Aminu was eight-fornine from the field, making four three-pointers for a Blazers team that withstood a career playoff-high of 37 points from Golden State’s Draymond Green, who also pulled down nine rebounds and dished out eight assists. Klay Thompson added 35 points for the Warriors, who were again without injured star Stephen Curry. The young Portland team kept their nerve in the face of a strong start from Golden State. Lillard scored 25 points and Aminu contributed 11 points in the second quarter and the Blazers took a 58-46 lead into halftime. Thompson had 24 in the half for the Warriors, who were outscored 3618 in the second period. The Warriors used a 9-0 scoring run to pull within 105-94 with 5:25 remaining, but Portland scored the next five points and the Warriors never got within 12 the rest of the way. “I thought we got outworked,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “Even though we had a couple of guys who scored a lot of points we didn’t get the flow or rhythm we needed to play at a high level.” There was some good news for the Warriors as Kerr said Curry, nursing a sprained right knee, had his first “actual basketball” workout and came out of it well. AFP

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Blockbuster fight in the making locker room randy caluag

WITH Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao no longer in the business of boxing, who will be the next face of the sport? It should be a toss-up between Mexican firepower Canelo Alvarez and Kazakh fighting machine Gennady Golovkin. What’s exciting here is that they belong to the same weight category, so there should be only one between them. Alvarez, showing why he’s the next big thing, unleashed a powerful overhand right that hit right smack onto the glassy jaw of Amir Khan in the sixth of their 12-round title fight yesterday at the in Las Vegas. That was all Alvarez needed to retain the World Boxing Council middleweight title as the British fighter crumpled to the canvass, the back of his head hitting the floor. He was totally out cold and referee Kenny Bayless didn’t need to count him out and instead, just waved to signal the end of the fight in favor of Alvarez, who improved his fight record to (47W-1L-1D, 33 KOs). Curiously, one of the keen observers at ringside was Golovkin, the unified middleweight champion, who also holds the WBC interim belt, making the mandatory challenger to Alvarez’s title. After his bout, Alvarez looked at the direction of Golovkin and invited him in the ring and later in an interview, he said “I’ll fight right now. Let’s put our gloves in there with him (Golovkin).” Golovkin continued his domination of the middleweight division with his 22nd straight knockout of the previously unbeaten Dominic Wade to successfully defend his WBO and IBF titles. The Kazakhstani defeated the previously unbeaten Dominic Wade, who was knocked down three times before the fight was finally called to a close. Golovkin is coming off his 22nd straight knockout win, stopping the previously unbeaten Dominic Wade in the third round to keep his WBO, WBA and IBF titles. Golovkin beautified his flawless record to 35 fights, 35 wins and 32 knockouts with the victory. Like Alvarez, Golovkin wants the unification fight to happen. “Give me my belt! I’m ready,” he told Alvarez. “I’m here now and I’m here to stay. I’m not going anywhere. Let’s fight,” added Golovkin, who was wearing a black WBC shirt, probably saying it’s the only one missing from his collection of word titles. It should happen later this year. Boxing will be exciting as ever again.

Canelo Alvarez (right) stands over Amir Khan after delivering a knockout punch during the sixth round of their WBC middleweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Alvarez kayoes Khan By Ronnie Nathanielsz

A THUNDERING overhand right cracked the jaw of gallant Amir Khan, who moved up two weight divisions to challenge World Boxing Council middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez before a predominantly Mexican Cinco de Mayo crowd at the spanking new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. As a result, the popular Mexican shattered the dreams of Khan and set up a mouth-watering rumble with International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association champion and WBC Interim champion Gennady Golovkin, who was at ringside to watch the cool, calculating Alvarez end the fight with a single devastating punch. Khan, using his speed and nifty combinations, took control in the early rounds as Alvarez bided his time with ringside commentators Dough Fischer and heavy-

weight legend Lennox Lewis, scoring the first four rounds for Khan. But after a somewhat even fifth round, when Alvarez began to use his power with a hard shot to the left side of Khan’s body, the 2004 British Olympic silver medalist at the age of 17, made the mistake, as pointed out by Lewis, of dropping his hands in the sixth and allowing his foe to unleash a vicious right hand. This sent Khan crashing to the canvas where he bumped the back of his head rather badly. Alvarez immediately

rushed towards the fallen warrior with a look of concern on his face as doctors gathered around Khan, who lay still for a couple of minutes before he recovered and was helped to his corner. Referee Kenny Bayless didn’t have to count as Khan was out cold. The official time of the KO was 2:36 of the sixth round. Khan had taken a big shot from Alvarez late in the second round, but didn’t seem to be unduly bothered by the power of the Mexican, who weighed 155 pounds, which was the catch-weight agreed upon at the official weigh in but may have rehydrated to around 170 pounds. After boxing beautifully behind the left jab and lightning quick combinations, Khan was ahead, 40-36, but Alvarez began to turn things around in the fifth round. A heavy left from Alvarez caught Khan, who looked stunned for a moment before regaining his composure. But another vicious jab snapped

Khan’s head back. A glancing hook from Alvarez late in Round 5 opened up a cut over the right eye of Khan, forcing his corner to work feverishly to patch it up before the fatal sixth round, when Alvarez, who had obviously been biding his time, nailed the Briton with a perfectly timed right to end the bout in sensational fashion. “I knew he was very fast and knew it would be competitive in the beginning. But I knew time would come to my favor and you saw that. Many people focus on my power but I have many more qualities in the ring. I like to surprise everyone,” said Alvarez in a postfight interview. Khan didn’t make any excuses, but said he is moving back to 147 pounds. He also asked Alvarez to face Golovkin. Alvarez invited Golovkin into the ring and said “Like I said in Mexico, we don’t f—k around. We don’t come to play in this sport. I fear no one in this sport.”

Pacman’s sparmate loses

Manila master. Clyde Mondilla (center) receives his trophy from Eastridge Golf Club general manager Erwin Temena (right) after edging Jobim Carlos in sudden death to snare the P3.5 million ICTSI Manila Masters crown Saturday. With them is ICTSI Public Relations head Narlene Soriano.

EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao’s former sparring partner Glen Tapia has been battered and stopped in four rounds on the undercard of the Saul Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan middleweight battle at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tapia, who is known as “Jersey Boy,” took a bad beating from former IBF middleweight world champion David Lemieux (35-3, 32 KOs), who hammered Tapia for a fourth-round stoppage win when his corner threw in the towel. This was because early in the fourth, Tapia finally went

down after Lemieux unloaded a series of punches. Tapia got up and wanted to continue, but his corner threw in the towel, stopping the fight and the beating Tapia (23-3, 15 KOs) was taking. Tapia, who moved up in weight couldn’t handle Lemieux, whose punches were flying to the head and body. Tapia’s nose was bleeding by the end of the first round. Boxing Scene reported that Lemieux continued to control the entire fight in the second. He was throwing a lot of punches and not much of anything was com-

ing back. Lemieux was walking Tapia down with big shots to the head and body. Tapia was starting to get beat up. The third was more of the same. Lemieux was letting his hands go, fighting very aggressive and pressing an overmatched Tapia, who had little pop on his punches at the new weight. Tapia was landing punches here and there, but Lemieux was walking right through them with no effect. Early in the fourth, Tapia finally went down after Lemieux unloaded a series of punches. Ronnie Nathanielsz

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

PH to host world volley for women WORLD-CLASS volleyball action rolls to Manila late this year after the International Volleyball Federation formally sanctioned the Philippines’ hosting of the FIVB World Women’s Club Championship. FIVB executive committee member Stav Jacobi on Sunday signed a memorandum of agreement with Philippine Superliga president Ramon Suzara to formalize the country’s hosting of the prestigious meet set on Oct. 18 to 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena. It will be the first time for the Philippines to host a world volleyball meet after opening its doors to the FIVB World Grand Prix in 2000 when Cuba won the crown and Brazilian star Leila Barros swept Filipino fans off their feet. This will also the the first time the Philippines is hosting a world championship of an Olympic event in decades. “This is the biggest club competition in the world, and we’re bringing in the best club teams to compete with each other,” said Jacobi. Jacobi said the best club leagues from South America, Europe and Asia will be competing. The host country represented by the PSL, Jacobi said, will also be competing for the very first time. This will also be the first time that eight teams will be fielded from six the previous editions. The other four slots will be for wild cards, which will be assessed by the organizing committee. Suzara said the hosting comes at a perfect time since volleyball in the country is experiencing a rebirth with the massive success of the PSL and

the recent University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Also present during the signing of the MOA were top Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. officials headed led by vice-president Peter Cayco as well as Peter Bratschi of Eventcourt, which will serve as co-organizer of the tournament. Bratschi was a former volleyball player, himself. “Philippine volleyball is experiencing a renaissance,” said Suzara, who is also chairman of the marketing and development committee of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and a member of the FIVB. “But our athletes are experiencing international level competitions only lately. The 2016 FIVB World Women’s Club Championship will be one, if not the biggest, of the major international tournaments we will be hosting.” Set to compete are South American champion Rexona Ades Rio de Janeiro of Brazil, Asian heavyweight Bangkok Glass of Thailand, Pomi Casalmaggiore of Italy, the Philippines and two wildcard entries. The Philippines will be represented by six PSL stars and six foreign players reportedly from volleyball powerhouse countries like Russia, United States and Brazil and Turkey.

Republic of the Phillippines Department of Health National Capital Regional Office VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER BIDS AND AWARD COMMITTEE Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City Telefax No. 294-4625 Email addressvmc_bac@yahoo.com

INVITATION TO BID PUBLIC BIDDING NO.: VMC-2016-012 The VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER invites all eligible bidders to bid on: DESCRIPTION Procurement of Drugs & Medicines CY 2016 (Rebid)

PROJECT ALLOCATION

P 6,277,668.90

NON-REFUNDABLE FEE 1M -5M P5,000.00 5M up-10M- 10,000.00

The bidding documents shall be available to interested bidders at the BAC Secretariat, BAC Office, 2/F, VMC, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City from 9:00AM to 3:00PM, starting May 9, 2016 upon payment of non-refundable fee as indicated above. Only those who have purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre bid conference and raise or submit written queries (see revised IRR of RA 9184). The pre-bidding conference will be on May 17, 2016, 10:00 am at the Conference Room, 4/F, VMC Annex Bldg., Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. Bid opening will be on May 31, 2016, 10:00AM at the 4/F, VMC Conference Room, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. All particulars relative to bid evaluation and award of contract shall be governed by the provisions of R.A. 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC) shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ALTERNATIVE BIDS SHALL BE REJECTED. Bid bond shall be in form of cash, cashier’s check or manager’s check equivalent to two percent (2%) of the approved budget of the contract. This invitation is also advertised with the Government Electronic Procurement System (G-EPS) at www.procurementservice.org and posted at the VMC BAC bulletin board. For inquiry, please call the BAC Secretariat Office at Telephone No. 294-4625 . VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO 1) REVIEW ALL THE REQUIREMENTS; 2) REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS; 3) CONFISCATE THE BID BOND AND/OR PURSUE APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION SHOULD A BIDDER BE FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED R.A. 9184; 4) WAIVE ANY DEFECTS CONTAINED THEREIN; and/or 5) ACCEPT THE OFFER MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT. ANY DECISION MADE BY THE VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER IS FINAL AND EXECUTORY. FURTHER, VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION WHATSOEVER TO COMPENSATE OR INDEMNIFY THE BIDDER OR WINNING BIDDER. AS THE CASE MAY BE, FOR ANY EXPENSE OR LOSS THAT SAID PARTY (IES) MAY INCUR IN ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE PRE-BIDDING AND BIDDING PROCESS NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE THAT AN AWARD WILL BE MADE.

(TS-MAY 9, 2016)

(SGD) DONA D. SALMOS, RN, MAN Chairman, BAC

Philippine Superliga president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara and International Volleyball Federation Executive Board Member Dr. Steve Jacobi seal their agreement with a handshake for the hosting of the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship. The tournament, through the PSL and sanctioned by the FIVB and the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, will be held Oct. 18 to 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena. ROMAN PROPERO

Foton earns quarterfinal berth By Peter Atencio

TWO unlikely teammates, Foton’s Cherry Rondina and Patty Orendain, became the first pair of spikers to reach the quarterfinal round of the 2016 Philippine SuperLiga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup at the Sands SM By The Bay on Saturday. Playing under the Foton banner, they hacked out two straight wins in Pool C, first with a quick and easy 21-3, 21-7 triumph over Accel Quantum Plus’ Aileen Abuel and Princess Listana. Then, they were awarded with a default win over Mapua’s Shaira Hermano and Niella Ramilo. made their day. The Mapua bets withdrew on the first day, allowing Orendain and Rondina to reach the next round. Orendain, who reached the finals last year and settled for runner-up honors with Fiola Ceballos, found Rondina’s style of play to her liking. “Hindi kami masyadong pagod. Nakakarecover kami agad,” said Orendain after they quickly took an 18-point lead in the first set against Abuel and Listana. Rondina, who placed fifth for University of Santo Tomas in the recent UAAP spikefest, learned fast on a deep surface of the MOA sand court and helped Orendain control the pace of the the game with her drop shots from the net. Two of her frontline attacks allowed Foton to take a 15-7 lead.

“Mas malalim ang buhangin. Mahirap, pero na-push namin ang mga sarili namin,” said Rondina. Meanwhile, highly favored RC Cola-Army A of Jovelyn Gonzaga and Nene Bautista turned back Far Eastern University-Petron’s Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza, 19-21, 21-16, 15-13, in the opener of their Pool D campaign. Pons and Atienza, who were last season’s UAAP runner-ups, ended the day with a 1-1 win-loss record after they started their bid with a 21-14, 21-12 victory over Meralco’s Jona San Pedro and April Ross Hingpit. Standard Insurance-Navy A’s Norie Diaz and Pau Soriano got off to great start in in Pool A following a 21-18, 22-22 verdict over RC ColaArmy B’s Genie Sabas and Jeannie de los Reyes. In other matches, RC Cola-Army B’s Sabas and De los Reyes prevailed over University of the East’s Angelica Dacaymat and Jasmine Alcayde, 21-18, 21-13, for a 1-1 card in Pool A. Petron XCS’ Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Sheila Pineda walked over Mapua’s Hermano and Ramilo in Pool C, while Maica Morada and Frances Molina of Petron 4T downed Standard Insurance-Navy B’s Florence Madulid and Pau Genido, 21-17, 21-14. San Pedro and Hingpit then bounced back with a 13-21, 21-18, 15-10 triumph over Cignal’s Vhima Condada and Mary Grace Berte to improve at 1-1 in Pool D.

Parks leads list of youngsters in Gilas’ 24-man roster By Ronnie Nathanielsz GILAS Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin has included a roster of promising youngsters in the initial 24-man line-up submitted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to FIBA for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena this July. The list was submitted to Ivanka Toteva of FIBA by email, with pertinent details such as player’s age, date of birth, place of birth, original nationality and nationality at present, which specifical-

ly covers naturalized American Andray Blatche, as well as player’s FIBA identity card number. The transmission also indicated that the Manila Qualifier will be held either from July 3 to 9 or July 4 to 10. SBP executive director and former PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios provided The Standard with the list, which includes Bobby Ray Parks, son of the late seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks. Parks, who returned home after a stint in the NBA D-League,

is joined in the list by youngsters Russel Escoto, Mark Belo, Kevin Ferrer, Roger Pogoy and Kiefer Ravena. Also included in the line-up were big men Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter, Moala Tautuaa, June Mar Fajardo and Troy Rosario, alongside shooting stars Marcio Lassiter, Ryan Reyes, Jeff Chan, Ranidel de Ocampo, Terrence Romeo and hard-nosed players Calvin Abueva and Marc Pingris, plus outstanding defender Gabe Norwood and Matt Ganuelas

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RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Alaska’s Rob Dozier tries to escape from a double-team put up by Rain or Shine in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship game won by the Painters, 105-103.

Lee’s shot at buzzer carries Painters past Aces in Game 2 By Jeric Lopez

PAUL Lee reminded everyone that his dazzling play is back for good. Game Wednesday (Finals, Game 3 Smart Araneta Coliseum): 7 p.m. - Alaska vs. Rain or Shine

The fiery spitfire knocked down the game-winning shot at the buzzer to lift Rain or Shine to a thrilling 105-103 squeaker over Alaska and the Painters grabbed a solid 2-0 lead in the best-of-sev-

en finals of the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. With the game tied at 103-all with 27 seconds left, the Elasto Painters went to Lee and he dished out to an open Beau Belga, who missed a triple from the left corner. But Lee saved the day for Rain or Shine as he grabbed the offensive rebound after Belga’s miss with around three seconds left and he immediately jacked up a medium-range elbow jumper which he drained to give the Painters the victory in this game of spurts. “Nag-focus lang ako sa last

play. Pagtingin ko sa clock, may 2 seconds pa so itinira ko and pumasok,” said Lee. “Tulong-tulong lang kami and stick sa gameplan kaya we got the win.” Game 2 is scheduled Wednesday night, also at the Big Dome, with Rain or Shine shooting for an even more commanding 3-0 series lead. Lee exploded in the final period, where he scored 13 of his 17 points, to spearhead Rain or Shine’s attack in the winning stretch of the game. Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao described the last-second heroics that lifted them to the vital victory. “When Rob Dozier made the

tying shot at 103-all, I thought it was going to overtime, but we set-up a play in the end game. We didn’t think it would happen that way but we’ll take it,” said a jubilant Guiao. It was Dozier who completed Alaska’s end-game run after his hook shot with 27.3 seconds left allowed the Aces to tie it at 103all, giving them a chance after falling behind, 91-98, with under four minutes left. However, Lee and the Painters delivered in the final play to put the Aces into a huge 0-2 hole that they now need to climb out of. Jeff Chan likewise had 17 points, while Belga, Jewel Ponferrada and Jericho Cruz were also

terrific for Rain or Shine, adding 14 points each, RJ Jazul led all scorers with 24 points and his two three-pointers prior to Dozier’s game-tying basket were huge for Alaska’s lastditch effort. The scores: RAIN OR SHINE 105 - Chan 17, Lee 17, Belga 14, Cruz 14, Ponferada 14, Henderson-Niles 8, Ahanmisi 6, Quinahan 6, Almazan 3, Ibanes 2, Norwood 2, Tiu 2, Teng. ALASKA 103 - Jazul 24, Dozier 18, Abueva 14, Thoss 14, Baguio 11, Banchero 9, Hontiveros 8, Exciminiano 5, Baclao 0, Eman 0, Dela Cruz 0. Quarters: 21-26, 49-51, 76-79, 105-103

LOTTO RESULTS

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

P16M

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0 Top women cagers. The top three placers in the recent Philippine Basketball Association Women’s 3X3 tournament poses with PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa (fourth from left) after a simple awarding ceremony at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

MONDAY: MAY 9, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS MNTC is open to toll settlement with govt By Darwin G. Amojelar

MANILA North Tollways Corp. said it is now open to an out-of-court settlement with the government over a P3-billion compensation claim, stemming from the regulator’s refusal to approve toll increase since 2013. MNTC filed an arbitration case against the government in Geneva after the Toll Regulatory Board froze toll along North Luzon Expressway, despite an existing agreement that provided for periodic adjustments. “The settlement can happen anytime, but the procedure is we nominate and they will nominate and then they will convene,” MNTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.

MNTC nominated former Supreme Court justice Jose Vitug as one of the members of the arbitration panel while the government on May 4 chose former Supreme Court justice Reynato Puno. The Office of Solicitor General and MNTC also named their arbitrators, but they have yet to nominate a third arbitrator to preside over the proceedings. The arbitration proceedings will be held in Geneva. MNTC on April 4 issued a notice of arbitration and statement of claim to the government through TRB, consistent with the dispute resolution procedures under the existing supplemental toll operation agreement. The operator of NLEx was seeking a P3billion compensation as of end-2015 for TRB’s alleged inaction on lawful toll adjustments which were due since Jan. 1, 2013. MNTC filed a petition with TRB in September 2014 for bi-annual toll adjustment that was supposed to start on Jan. 1, 2015, as stipulated under the concession. The new petition is on top of the previ-

ous petition the company filed in 2012 for a toll increase scheduled in January 2013. This would bring the cumulative toll adjustment to 15 percent, of which 12 percent was long overdue. Toll at NLEx from Mindanao Avenue to Sta. Ines currently amounts to P218 for Class 1 vehicles (cars, jeepneys, pickup trucks and vans), P544 for Class 2 vehicles (two-axle trucks, buses and vans) and P652 for Class 3 vehicles (trucks and trailers with three or more axles). Cavitex Infrastructure Corp., operator of Manila-Cavite Expressway, also filed an arbitration case against the government, requesting an P800-million compensation for failure to increase toll rates. Cavitex also proposed a toll hike for Class 1 vehicles to P27 from P22; Class 2 vehicles to P54 from P44; and Class 3 vehicles to P81 from P66. The two companies said the periodic toll rate adjustment was a contractual right the toll operators were entitled to under the toll operation agreement.

NGCP warns of outage in Luzon By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE right-of-way problems of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has reached Luzon, posing a threat to the transmission of electricity to Central Luzon power customers during the critical election period. National Grid, operator of the country’s transmission network, said it was denied entry by landowners in Nueva Ecija to trim the vegetation that posed a risk to the transmission system in the area. “Despite repeated efforts to negotiate with landowners Dr. Manalo and Judge Mildred Hernal, NGCP was denied entry into the property to trim intentionally planted trees underneath transmission facilities as part of its preelection maintenance activities,” the company said. The untrimmed trees are along Cabanatuan-San Isidro 69kV line 1 and 2, and Mexico-Cabanatuan 230kV lines, which traverse the Hernals’ property in Barangay Soledad, Sta Rosa, Nueva Ecija province.

MONDAY: MAY 9, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

MAY 2-6, 2016 Close Volume

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

2.85 45.5 99.50 90.95 39.75 2.90 1.46 14.2 15.3 7.05 0.68 1.67 0.570 78 0.97 15.00 50.00 103.5 310 260 30.2 171.5 1360.00 59.00 1.5

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Bogo Medellin C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. À’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab. First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp. Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co À’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. À’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ SPC Power Corp. Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

44.05 4.2 0.76 1.4 13.9 57 190.00 19.12 130 187 18.02 45.05 2.26 4.62 10.7 8.870 7.98 5.65 7.10 1.61 19.64 64 14.70 14.00 5.4 2.260 226.80 35.00 1.88 3.5 35.50 28.25 21.35 6.4 336.60 0.285 4.40 3.4 10.50 3.16 11.60 4.82 1.53 2.69 4.10 2.23 4.55 206 4.14 2.59 0.150 1.23 2.50 204.4 4.65 0.9 35.00 1.27

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

0.350 64.30 14.36 1.09 6.00 0.440 0.435 735 7.82 11.70 5.08 5.70 0.204 1363 6.20 78.40 4.8 5.33 6.1 6.9 0.68 14.4 0.460 5.65 2.88 0.0320 1.440 1.770 2.7 66.95 2.14 913.00 1.14 0.79 190.00 145.000 0.3100 0.2000 0.290

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. À’ Centennial City City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport À’ Keppel Properties Megaworld Prop. MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty À’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

7.410 1.05 2.050 0.270 33.850 2.95 5.1 5.41 0.510 0.98 0.980 0.129 0.455 38.05 0.830 0.149 0.95 1.85 1.33 4.60 3.7 0.082 0.2600 0.530 29.45

Value

FINANCIAL 736,820.00 2,685,970.00 1,240,060,606 1,722,869,484.50 31,991,145.00 848,790.00 2,356,190.00 217,980.00 13,242,444.00 286,164 12,240 76,050.00 2,485,440.00 800,035,132.00 174,330.00 2,192,042.00 35,343,972.00 2,543,958.00 6,200.00 5,540,104.00 18,841,575 838,438,134.00 1,061,900.00 31,961,203.50 368,600.00 INDUSTRIAL 10,272,600 457,105,565.00 2,592,000 10,989,310.00 600,000 453,530.00 4,268,000 5,958,900.00 16,500 220,464.00 2,450 135,906.50 2,820 462,018.00 3,056,500 58,037,842 200 26,950.00 6,800 1,298,564.00 432,900 7,712,354.00 3,400 156,255 1,869,000 4,230,270.00 3,247,798 3,932,230.00 229,100 2,462,128.00 43,282,700 383,301,787.00 3,475,900 27,181,820.00 43,715,500 247,868,315.00 392,700 2,812,965.00 34,000 56,850.00 11,342,200 222,666,568.00 913,370 58,554,045.50 49,100 720,158.00 299,600 4,234,618.00 895,000 4,919,881.00 7,992,000 17,824,230.00 2,666,780 604,483,760.00 25,000 790,885.00 96,000 183,390.00 46,000 167,570.00 55,900 1,935,350.00 12,115,200 338,935,785.00 5,583,440 18,297,370.00 246,600 1,554,277.00 838,490 283,341,920.00 180,000 49,000.00 57,000 252,840.00 1,823,000 6,495,470.00 19,335,900 204,011,966.00 47,000 148,520.00 6,600 76,268.00 2,095,000 9,914,910.00 842,000 1,275,510.00 2,309,000 6,347,820.00 1,149,000 4,739,000.00 8,000 17,920.00 6,000 27,300.00 43,380 9,044,704.00 15,400 76,860.00 813,000 2,039,320 6,660,000 1,005,190.00 238,000 278,600.00 10,237,000 25,524,930.00 11,128,630 2,271,394,462.00 40,000 186,680.00 21,842,000 19,561,980.00 2,700 93,170.00 3,470,000 4,417,940.00 HOLDING FIRMS 34,440,000 12,087,100.00 6,568,090 425,798,020.00 15,646,800 224,932,550.00 35,000 38,540.00 406,800 2,442,101.00 432,507,000 203,377,320.00 56,920,000 26,621,650.00 1,153,830 856,069,205.00 7,322,900 57,207,505.00 18,483,800 218,919,262.00 37,400 190,036.00 1,412,600 7,943,545.00 1,040,000 215,570.00 688,025 924,687,105.00 998,400 6,347,241.00 9,851,470 779,138,606.50 8,000 38,900.00 40,600 216,184.00 400 2,262.00 10,355,700 73,034,288.00 177,000 120,870.00 13,990,800 205,560,722.00 90,000 41,100.00 134,048,000 760,943,105.00 25,000 72,970.00 75,700,000 2,450,600.00 429,000 603,160.00 8,673,000 15,428,190.00 409,000 1,057,280.00 570,860 38,494,631.50 106,000 226,540.00 1,223,580 1,128,137,025.00 572,000 648,160.00 973,000 749,790.00 30 5,700.00 17,800 2,536,870.00 36,240,000 11,303,950.00 2,300,000 449,300.00 1,540,000 410,750.00 PROPERTY 16,724,500 123,923,056.00 22,524,000 24,855,260.00 28,578,000 60,018,930.00 35,450,000 10,436,300.00 63,402,700 2,143,422,955.00 13,053,000 38,419,950.00 77,705 408,470.00 200 1,082.00 188,607,000 102,101,740.00 85,000 80,650.00 39,000 37,850.00 33,960,000 4,405,410.00 4,110,000 1,865,850.00 5,045,300 191,967,225.00 176,000 146,910.00 910,000 142,920.00 19,266,000 18,338,910.00 58,670,000 106,138,990.00 477,000 617,550.00 26,000 117,900.00 220,575,000 805,651,530.00 2,620,000 215,010.00 80,000 19,740.00 7,222,000 4,013,110.00 300 8,345.00 307,000 59,500 12,498,060 19,008,390 809,600 286,000 1,565,000 15,500 871,900 40,100 18,000 46,000 4,359,000 10,155,700 181,000 148,100 701,860 24,940 20 21,060 616,100 4,892,200 770 551,290 245,000

APRIL 25-29, 2016 Volume Value

2.95 45.6 100.00 90.50 38.5 2.98 1.59 14 15.32 7.60 0.7 1.69 0.600 81.25 0.99 14.52 51.20 102.9 310 266.2 31 170 1380.00 57.70 1.5

1,010,000 101,300 17,528,350 5,280,510 852,100 92,000 11,382,000 54,200 5,761,100 9,500 5,000 585,000 10,315,000 7,577,800 196,000 589,100 273,790 7,970 660 2,644,190 914,300 4,667,030 1,215 297,950 1,481,000

2,992,410.00 4,636,295.00 1,748,351,964 476,986,742.00 32,887,120.00 271,030.00 20,405,100.00 758,740.00 93,073,990.00 68,072 3,500 995,850.00 6,348,010.00 624,951,264.00 188,800.00 8,582,698.00 14,362,057.00 815,487.00 315,430.00 691,407,774.00 28,971,815 788,350,761.00 1,712,055.00 17,164,859.50 2,265,920.00

44.9 4.48 0.8 1.41 14.18 53.15 238.60 18.9 135 191 17.84 48 2.29 5.14 10.94 9.000 7.94 5.89 7.25 1.67 20.25 66.6 15.00 14.04 5.7 2.310 229.60

10,700,700 4,355,000 599,000 13,415,000 500,300 1,060 820 2,779,400 80 14,630 794,400 13,500 3,631,000 5,172,900 205,000 23,958,400 12,673,100 40,298,000 1,820,400 40,000 10,922,900 606,770 33,300 580,400 806,300 23,164,000 6,771,340

476,961,150.00 19,125,710.00 480,650.00 18,603,830.00 7,903,570.00 57,168.50 166,830.00 52,494,042 10,811.00 3,083,452.00 14,336,986.00 637,095 8,286,790.00 27,242,273.00 2,256,092.00 216,703,026.00 100,989,151.00 196,409,150.00 13,389,702.00 66,960.00 225,703,690.00 41,684,266.50 476,182.00 8,125,088.00 4,565,259.00 54,917,840.00 1,527,934,632.00

2.07 3.99 38.00 27.75 21.1 6.3 343.00 0.285 4.25 3.71 10.66 3.16 11.60 4.73 1.55 2.71 4.18 2.3 4.8 205 4 2.6 0.153 1.20 2.55 208.4 4.89 0.88 35.90 1.31

14,000 210,000 95,800 7,114,100 2,658,000 489,500 1,611,660 1,670,000 12,000 6,064,000 16,779,400 8,000 81,200 3,138,000 2,545,000 24,331,000 8,068,000 7,000 14,000 99,500 52,000 3,297,000 26,260,000 418,000 20,406,000 15,054,790 343,000 161,688,000 14,100 20,918,000

28,920.00 751,630.00 3,918,720.00 197,201,915.00 54,983,217.00 3,189,871.00 557,862,188.00 477,950.00 51,390.00 22,905,930.00 179,062,664.00 26,000.00 941,336.00 14,817,210.00 4,093,380.00 65,626,950.00 34,656,160.00 16,100.00 65,520.00 20,550,342.00 210,210.00 8,818,600 4,081,280.00 505,520.00 52,564,020.00 3,126,558,450.00 1,647,210.00 154,789,080.00 466,180.00 28,920,280.00

0.340 66.40 14.50 1.13 6.04 0.380 0.375 771 7.94 12.48 5.15 5.45 0.222 1367 6.32 81.50 4.9 5.3 6.29 7.31 0.69 15.4 0.470 5.8 3.32 0.0330 1.620 1.870

43,460,000 5,512,290 35,374,200 428,000 313,700 168,220,000 41,410,000 1,396,530 7,444,100 26,649,000 97,600 2,511,900 4,580,000 404,850 91,100 7,475,340 8,000 16,100 900 11,649,500 8,009,000 11,015,300 620,000 154,894,300 33,000 64,800,000 3,448,000 3,276,000

15,358,800.00 365,504,222.00 533,602,948.00 488,900.00 1,899,051.00 65,786,700.00 16,073,600.00 1,082,636,710.00 60,853,234.00 329,189,408.00 500,375.00 14,020,922.00 1,067,910.00 554,532,920.00 581,001.00 617,082,277.00 39,200.00 89,070.00 5,649.00 75,565,945.00 5,820,470.00 169,030,362.00 295,950.00 900,466,449.00 110,150.00 2,140,200.00 5,642,780.00 6,122,630.00

67.00 2.14 944.00 1.15 0.79 190.00 140.000 0.3200 0.1920 0.280

1,051,520 100,000 1,011,260 2,224,000 2,032,000 650 37,840 204,740,000 4,140,000 2,230,000

71,558,294.00 215,780.00 961,912,510.00 2,600,020.00 1,804,340.00 124,270.00 5,484,929.00 74,276,250.00 808,260.00 619,200.00

7.990 1.15 2.280 0.260 34.650 3.04 5.1 6 0.550 0.96 1.000 0.135 0.460 39 0.850 0.150 1.01 1.83 1.33 4.50 3.77 0.083 0.2550 0.560 28.00

752,500 48,237,000 99,633,000 15,590,000 43,507,000 7,971,000 104,800 20,300 11,045,000 234,000 260,000 275,930,000 23,270,000 6,214,900 5,284,000 1,000,000 40,897,000 67,586,000 927,000 53,800 178,399,000 7,000,000 1,180,000 27,002,000 21,900

5,758,576.00 55,480,050.00 279,574,800.00 4,153,050.00 1,493,182,575.00 23,828,810.00 535,396.00 111,100.00 6,091,600.00 228,390.00 257,000.00 38,565,510.00 10,825,400.00 238,816,910.00 4,452,650.00 150,290.00 41,501,160.00 125,981,930.00 1,205,180.00 246,376.00 685,794,390.00 583,030.00 291,030.00 16,081,710.00 703,420.00

STOCKS

MAY 2-6, 2016 Close Volume

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

8.52 26.70 1.51 3.1 22.65 0.86 6.45 1.010 4.580

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Prime Gaming Corp. Puregold Robinsons Retail SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Yehey

7.75 54.9 1.25 0.580 11.58 28.4 4.08 0.0550 3.07 86.75 9.5 1.7 6.80 2.81 955 2178 6.86 24.00 1.18 63 17.28 178 11.52 0.0099 9.66 0.355 1.8700 2.09 11 7.47 4.24 1.12 2.80 21.00 0.580 1.97 2.25 3.74 2.530 16.88 5.09 2.41 8.66 110.00 22.75 1660.00 0.400 0.850

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

0.0041 2.03 4.20 4.26 12.30 0.236 8.0000 7.7500 0.65 0.510 8.27 0.840 0.290 0.250 0.275 0.0120 0.0130 2 5.03 2.42 0.6000 1.2500 0.0093 0.0095 3.71 6.14 2.20 0.0120 126.40 3.18 0.0086

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

53.55 517 530 118 500 530 6.62 1.07 108.5 1026 1050 1020 105 110 78 80.5 77 77 78 78 75.05 75.15 1.81

Leisure & Resort Warr.

2.880

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

4.18 3.82 2.99 16.2

First Metro ETF

115

Value

365,400 12,117,800 1,411,000 120,000 66,991,100 11,767,000 5,300 2,243,000 60,967,000

39.95 74.95 6.08 3.29 0.570 1.99 3.34 0.335 5.230

3,113,508.00 326,424,330.00 2,129,190.00 364,880.00 1,512,463,990.00 9,964,490.00 34,157.00 2,255,930.00 283,235,410.00 SERVICES 403,000 2,947,032.00 769,950 42,591,742.00 327,000 405,850.00 5,515,000 3,119,040.00 14,300 166,022.00 400 11,020 20,064,000 81,875,750.00 67,050,000 3,684,000.00 5,127,000 15,976,410.00 2,414,480 212,197,420.50 11,100 104,914.00 64,000 112,160 1,985,300 13,675,424.00 43,000 134,660.00 3,980 3,820,750.00 389,150 838,644,770 381,000 2,570,842.00 700 16,800 128,000 150,640.00 7,246,220 456,776,069.00 1,184,900 21,863,994 3,470 633,661 7,300 84,096.00 9,800,000 97,910.00 2,345,000 22,580,730.00 450,770,000 161,362,750.00 67,850,800 156,569,100.00 162,000 341,200.00 15,400 160,902.00 265,900 2,018,604.00 8,463,000 35,711,720.00 64,000 71,600.00 24,000 67,000.00 5,400 112,125 2,077,000 1,204,520.00 220,000 435,260.00 45,301,000 104,778,970.00 2,836,000 10,692,050.00 186,866,000 498,478,040.00 71,000 1,236,712.00 86,500 435,814 27,000 67,480.00 37,000 320,420.00 5,486,470 594,773,051.00 427,800 9,812,460.00 936,765 1,580,215,760.00 2,680,000 1,116,500.00 61,605,000 43,736,370.00 8,497,960 -2,004,310.00 16,418,800 639,275,855.00 4,936,670 374,528,493.00 2,387,700 14,538,233.00 10,828,000 35,415,250.00 18,167,000 10,602,470.00 358,000 708,190.00 7,100,000 23,372,270.00 570,000 189,000.00 150,400 801,765.00 MINING & OIL 7,354,000,000 31,667,400.00 714,000 1,480,960.00 314,000 1,325,640.00 2,000 8,520.00 11,700 132,214.00 2,440,000 585,620.00 62,800 514,809.00 45,600 356,322.00 3,690,000 2,377,820.00 3,077,000 1,531,335.00 22,400 180,311.00 213,168,000 192,692,360.00 3,790,000 1,079,950.00 416,660,000 107,457,020.00 35,290,000 9,722,900.00 185,800,000 2,323,000.00 17,600,000 237,800.00 1,375,000 2,766,820.00 15,948,500 83,432,208.00 1,354,000 3,270,540.00 64,000 36,230.00 897,000 1,169,060.00 28,000,000 272,400.00 5,000,000 47,500.00 113,000 424,200.00 19,633,200 123,483,081.00 5,574,000 12,441,250.00 149,900,000 1,772,600.00 1,959,640 247,834,422.00 4,688,000 15,066,660.00 3,623,000,000 30,071,400.00 PREFERRED 581,960 31,839,124.00 14,000 7,275,370.00 33,930 17,982,900 57,030 6,679,475.00 10,130 5,066,300.00 2,390 1,247,800.00 174,500 1,135,470.00 275,000 294,630 2,000 216,738.00 50 51,300.00 240 251,800.00 1,275 1,295,250.00 25,250 2,626,950.00 52,290 5,749,000.00 10,000 780,000.00 13,130 1,051,632.00 32,400 2,462,640.00 30,100 2,290,300.00 80,770 6,276,409.00 165,290 12,882,687.00 1,067,390 80,187,194.00 315,540 23,690,888.00 1,000 1,810.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 2,247,000 6,497,110.00 SME 132,000 529,060.00 211,000 837,430.00 558,000 1,649,970.00 7,901,400 128,522,078.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 60,140 6,951,478.00

APRIL 25-29, 2016 Volume Value

8.53 27.10 1.56 3.06 22.65 0.9 6.59 1.050 4.800

218,900 10,689,300 544,000 61,000 57,290,600 156,468,000 42,700 16,050,000 30,561,000

1,865,510.00 296,402,445.00 865,160.00 186,900.00 1,295,649,355.00 149,396,370.00 274,320.00 17,806,430.00 145,893,690.00

7.4 56.6 1.22 0.570 11.58 28.5 4.26 0.0580 3.03 89 9.43 1.76 7.18 2.91 960 2194 6.70 24.05 1.15 65 20.00 225 12 0.0100 9.60 0.370 2.2000 2.18 10.62 7.70 3.84 1.10 2.80 23.50 0.580 2 2.3 3.89 3.190 17.6 4.90 2.75 8.66 115.00 23.50 1717.00 0.425 0.870

965,200 112,030 320,000 5,593,000 27,500 200 8,014,000 181,570,000 7,326,000 1,792,220 7,700 106,000 1,385,000 20,000 28,000 427,290 634,500 142,800 7,248,000 2,595,610 3,317,900 13,260 17,400 3,200,000 5,434,100 1,357,982,000 130,383,000 251,000 36,500 162,000 1,411,000 10,000 29,000 100 757,000 438,000 81,386,000 10,391,000 103,300,000 3,741,100 23,000 22,000 2,400 26,310 882,200 1,017,510 6,810,000 54,366,000

7,547,129.00 6,348,283.50 411,560.00 3,217,300.00 309,116.00 5,700 34,498,360.00 10,272,200.00 22,403,850.00 179,202,880.50 72,798.00 185,700 9,875,028.00 58,800.00 26,880,000.00 938,855,670 4,312,070.00 3,434,340 8,411,890.00 169,398,960.00 72,805,042 2,958,806 201,786.00 32,380.00 48,012,722.00 743,100,300.00 291,094,860.00 558,560.00 397,092.00 1,250,764.00 5,411,020.00 11,120.00 81,170.00 2,350 454,530.00 867,690.00 179,391,770.00 39,953,320.00 345,743,730.00 65,463,628.00 112,630 60,500.00 20,784.00 2,900,756.00 20,539,125.00 1,765,459,145.00 2,932,600.00 46,296,710.00

40.20 77.00 6.21 3.29 0.610 1.92 3.38 0.345 5.410

18,289,900 8,614,670 6,786,100 19,654,000 20,685,000 1,221,000 4,100,000 690,000 1,412,400

740,897,325.00 667,170,231.50 44,238,455.00 66,010,960.00 12,757,600.00 2,466,260.00 14,232,390.00 230,700.00 7,929,166.00

0.0041 2.05 4.18

618,000,000 767,000 710,000

2,532,700.00 1,544,990.00 2,944,130.00

0.250 8.3100 8.2500 0.69 0.530 8.28 0.930 0.295 0.250 0.260 0.0120 0.0130 2.01 5.32 2.57 0.5700 1.2900 0.0097 0.0094 3.90 5.91 2.30 0.0120 127.00 3.6 0.0083

2,240,000 629,100 265,900 8,407,000 5,826,000 996,300 226,108,000 9,290,000 249,890,000 25,440,000 203,900,000 33,400,000 4,060,000 14,360,600 2,607,000 5,155,000 885,000 86,000,000 16,000,000 84,000 6,972,600 10,694,000 202,900,000 3,396,650 14,932,000 15,000,000

554,430.00 5,778,401.00 2,417,845.00 6,040,420.00 3,048,140.00 8,972,286.00 211,556,790.00 2,844,750.00 60,792,440.00 6,498,340.00 2,482,400.00 436,900.00 8,453,650.00 76,409,072.00 7,178,680.00 3,436,820.00 1,139,510.00 814,600.00 150,900.00 323,970.00 40,545,551.00 24,476,230.00 2,421,800.00 430,644,804.00 52,018,800.00 129,500.00

58 518 530 116

1,959,050 6,900 17,110 51,100

111,707,297.00 3,574,200.00 9,026,770 5,946,508.00

525 6.8 1.08 108.1 1026

15,670 52,100 4,418,000 9,280 60

8,133,250.00 338,418.00 4,727,880 1,033,262.00 61,560.00

1020 103.5 108 77.5 81.9 76 77 78 77 75.5 75

32,920 500 2,590 264,250 259,240 2,660 99,630 101,990 373,240 794,580 330,420

33,523,290.00 51,900.00 279,900.00 20,477,215.50 20,909,660.00 202,160.00 7,627,730.00 7,893,479.00 28,309,851.50 59,793,837.50 24,827,901.00

3.240

2,927,000

9,347,550.00

4.12 4.23 3 16.5

263,000 302,000 1,146,000 28,890,700

1,094,790.00 1,280,430.00 3,493,790.00 488,627,168.00

117.6

18,470

2,144,419.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining United Paragon Island Info ATN Holdings A Lepanto `A’ Megaworld Prop. Ferronickel Centennial City NOW Corp. Manila Mining `A’

VOLUME 7,354,000,000 3,623,000,000 450,770,000 432,507,000 416,660,000 220,575,000 213,168,000 188,607,000 186,866,000 185,800,000

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

VALUE 2,271,394,462.00 2,143,422,955.00 1,722,869,484.50 1,580,215,760.00 1,512,463,990.00 1,240,060,606.00 1,128,137,025.00 924,687,105.00 856,069,205.00 838,644,770.00

MONDAY: MAY 9, 2016

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

MetroPac unit eyes P2-b loan By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. plans to borrow money from local banks to partly finance the first segment of the P12-billion Cavitex-C5 South Link Expressway project. “A lot of banks have approached us to finance the C5 project,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. chief financial officer Christopher Lizo told reporters at the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony for the C5 Link project Friday. Lizo said MPTC planned to borrow between P1.7 and P2 billion from local banks to finance the P2.8-billion first phase of the C5 Link project. “The full blast of construction would probably start third or fourth quarter of this year, so before that [we will close the financing],” Lizo said. The remaining balance will be funded through equity by MPIC. The first phase of the Cavitex C5 South Link construction will start in July, to link C5 and Merville, Paranaque by way of flyover. The second phase, which would start in 2017 to link Merville and Cavitex, would cost P9.5 billion. “The Cavitex C5 South Link will allow residents from Cavite, Las Piñas and parts of Parañaque to avoid Edsa and take a direct link to and from C5 to the Cavitex,” Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. president Luigi Bautista said. Bautista said aside from decongesting traffic in the south, the toll road would ultimately increase productivity and activity. He said the new expressway, which was expected to be completed in 2019, would add 40,000 to 45,000 vehicle traffic per day, on top of the 130,000 vehicles currently using Cavitex. The C5 South Link will ultimately connect with the R1 Expressway (Coastal Road) and will provide fast, safe and convenient travel for motorists going to and from Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite and for Paranaque residents in Multinational, Moonwalk and Merville villages. The new expressway will not only decongest the Parañaque villages, but will also provide easier travel from Taguig, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City and other northern areas to Manila, Las Piñas and Cavite province. It will also provide relief for vehicles using the congested Edsa and C5 Road arteries of the metropolis. When completed, the expressway will provide a seamless connection to the Cavitex road network and to the Cavite-Laguna Expressway slated for completion in 2020. The new C5 Link is envisioned to spur further economic development in Parañaque and in Cavite and Laguna provinces by providing a safe and convenient link from the central and northern parts of Metro Manila to the highgrowth industrial and residential centers in Southern Tagalog.

EAGA-Australia partnership. High level officials of the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines East Asean

Growth Area and Australia’s Northern Territory commit to strengthen partnership between the two areas during the 4th Darwin Dialog held at the Darwin Convention Center in Australia. Shown are (from left) Dato Paduka Lim Jok Hoi of Brunei Darussalam, deputy minister Rudy Salahuddin of Indonesia, Dato Razali Haji Ibrahim of Malaysia, Trade Undersecretary Prudencio Reyes of the Philippines and deputy chief minister Peter Styles of Northern Territory.

Stock investors likely to wait for poll results By Jenniffer B. Austria STOCKS are expected to move sideways with a downward bias this week, as investors will likely remain on the sidelines while awaiting the results of the national elections. “For now, the investing community will be on a wait-and-see mode to check on the market’s quick acceptance of results, which might still be marred by possible protests from candidates inclined to question the counting process,” the research team of online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said. 2TradeAsia.com said the international community would close-

ly watch the elections, particularly the economic platform of the new administration, to ensure political noises were kept to a minimum. Investors will also monitor the release of first-quarter income reports of listed firms and their profit guidelines for 2016. Aside from the developments in the local front, developments overseas, particularly Bank of Japan’s move to refrain from making extra stimulus set against the backdrop of negative interest rates and US Federal Reserve’s non-policy action on interest rates could result in a weaker US dollar against the yen.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, fell below the 7,000-point level last week, as it closed lower by 2.3 percent to 6,991.87 on May 6, with investors opting to stay on the sidelines ahead of the May 9 national elections. The broader all-share index also declined 2 percent to settle at 4,163.06. All major sub-indices ended in the red, led by holding firms which dropped 3.3 percent , services which declined by 2.5 percent and industrial which dipped 1.7 percent. Foreign investors were net sell-

ers by P780 million last week, as total foreign selling reached P18.3 billion while foreign buying amounted to P17.52 billion. Top gainers last week were Filinvest Development Corp., which jumped 4.6 percent to P5.70; Philex Mining Corp., which advanced 3.9 percent to P6.14; and PAL Holdings Inc., which rose 3.9 percent to P5.08. Heavy losers were Pepsi Cola Products Philippines Inc., which declined 8.4 percent to P3.40, LT Group Inc., which dropped 6.5 percent to P14.40 and DMCI Holdings Inc., which went down by 6.3 percent to P11.70.

Manufacturing sustained growth in March—Moody’s By Julito G. Rada THE manufacturing sector likely sustained its growth in March, Moody’s Analytics, a division of Moody’s Corp., said in a report over the weekend. “Philippine industrial production is forecast to have grown 5.1 percent year-on-year in March following February’s 8.4-percent increase. The main driver of the strong growth in 2016 has been the revival in food manufacturing,” Moody’s said. “This will continue in the coming months with crop yields recovering as the effects from a severe El Niño climate pattern dissipate,” it said. The 8.4-percent volume of pro-

duction index growth in February was a turnaround from the 2.1-percent decline a year ago. The improvement was driven mainly by increased production of furniture, food products and rubber, according to the National Economic and Development Authority. The value of production index recorded a modest growth of 2.8 percent, rebounding from the 7.6-decline recorded in the same period last year. Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra said earlier the manufacturing sector was expected to sustain growth this year because of the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, resilient domestic consumption and upcoming national elections.

“There is a positive business outlook due to anticipated increases in gross revenues and net income of some of the country’s largest corporations,” Esguerra said. Data showed furniture and fixtures recorded strong growth in February on the back of robust domestic demand, posting an increase in volume of 32.4 percent and value of 13.2 percent. The food subsector also sustained double-digit growth with 26 percent in terms of volume and 25.8 percent in terms of value. Rubber and plastic products posted a double-digit growth of 25.6 percent in volume and 1.5 percent in value of production. For capital goods, electric machinery grew by 16.3 and 8.3 percent in

volume and value, respectively. Esguerra also said that with low global oil prices, lower production costs would encourage expansion of manufacturing production. He said that driven by strong consumer spending and efficient distribution of goods, the growth in food production was expected to continue in the coming months as El Niño dry spell was anticipated to fade away in the second quarter of 2016. Esguerra also said strategic investments in research and development should be pursued. The development of new products and services and the improvement of existing ones will enhance the competitiveness of local players in the global market, he said.

B4 Business pushing rules on fair trade

Radius partner.

Radius Telecoms Inc., a unit of Manila Electric Co., signs a partnership with social news network Rappler in support of the #PHVote campaign for the May 9 national elections. Radius, which specializes in data connectivity solutions for enterprise customers through its dense fiber optic network in Mega Manila, is set to power key sites for Rappler’s elections coverage. Signing the agreement are Radius president and chief executive Raymond Ravelo (left) and Rappler chief executive and executive editor Maria Ressa.

By Othel V. Campos EXPORTERS are pushing for the immediate drafting and approval of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10667 to improve market competition and attract more investments into the Philippines. Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the Philippine Competition Act would help ensure a level playing field. The law was signed on July 21, 2015. “This is critically important within the Asean Economic Community to protect both local and foreign businesses with the legal environment against anti-competitive trade practices,” he said. Ortiz-Luis cited many countries, including neighbors Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, which have adopted strong legal frameworks to guard against such trade practices. “It is interesting to note that these countries also register higher foreign direct investments or FDIs than [their] Asean brothers which have not adopted their competition law,” he said. He stressed the need for micro, small- and medium-scale enterprises to participate in the growth of the country’s economy. “While exporters are mainly global players, our interest lies on the fact that exporters also consume domestic goods and services as part of export production. For this reason, a conducive environment must be in place to ensure that prices, quality and availability of these goods and services must be at competitive levels,” Ortiz-Luis said. He said the Philippines should speed up the approval of the IRR of the law now that former National Economic and Development Authority secretary Arsenio Balisacan heads the Philippine Competition Commission. The commission is a quasijudicial body in charge of enforcing and implementing the provisions of the Philippine Competition Act.

Semirara to expand Batangas coal plant By Alena Mae S. Flores

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. plans to expand its 600-megawatt, coal-fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas province by 100 MW with potential investments reaching $150 million to $160 million. Semirara Mining chairman Isidro Consunji told reporters the coal plant, which the company acquired from the government in 2009 for $361.7 million, was running at 500 MW. Two units with a capacity of 300 MW each have a combined installed capacity of 600 MW. Consunji said the coal plants, built in 1984 and 1995, underwent rehabilitation upon the company’s acquisition to increase the plant’s capacity and ensure reliability. The Calaca facility was running only at 340 MW when the Consunji Group took over the operations of the plant from the government. The plant’s capacity rose over 500 MW upon

completion of the rehabilitation program in 2013. The plants are can now run on 100 percent local coal from Semirara Mining’s operations in Antique. “Construction will take only about six to nine months but we have to start ordering the machines now. That will be in end 2018 or 2019,” Consunji said. The acquired Calaca coal plants recorded higher availability in 2015 at 87 percent compared with 30 percent in 2014. Semirara Mining’s wholly-owned subsidiary Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp., meanwhile, has completed a 300-MW plant expansion also in Calaca. The full commercial operation of the plant is expected to bring in P2 billion in additional profits to the company this year. The company expects net income to reach around P10 billion this year from P8.45 billion in 2015 with the completion of the expansion. Semirara Mining president and chief operating officer Victor Consunji told reporters after the annual stockholders’ meeting that “if all remain equal,” the company might hit a net income of P10 billion in 2016.

“That’s the way we’re thinking because if we did P8.5 billion, and assuming we can control the costs. But prices are still falling, so it’s hard to speculate,” Consunji said. Semirara Mining posted a record net income of P8.45 billion in 2015, up 24 percent from 2014 despite a 13-percent drop in revenues to P24.68 billion due to low coal prices. Consunji said “notwithstanding the difficulties in 2015 and the failure of the 2x 150 MW plants to contribute to the net earnings of our company,” Semirara Mining still achieved a 25-percent growth in profit to P8.45 billion from P6.86 billion in the previous year. The output of the 300-MW power plant expansion secured 222 MW of supply contracts, or 84 percent of the rated capacity. Consunji said he was optimistic on the outlook on coal demand, saying growth will be driven by the commissioning of new power plants and the expansion of cement plants. Semirara Mining’s coal production reached 7.98 million tons in 2015, a slight decline from 8.08 million tons in 2014 due to the less temporary suspension of operations for nearly a month from July 17, 2015 after a mining accident.

Duterte victory may reverse economic growth—think tank By Gabrielle Binaday THE economy may take a “backward step” if Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte wins Monday’s presidential elections, a Londonbased think tank said over the weekend. “With the highly controversial Rodrigo Duterte riding high in the polls ahead of presidential elections on Monday, the country could be about to take a backward step,” Capital Economics said in its Emerging Asia Weekly issue. The think tank said the next president of the Philippines will

have “big shoes to fill in” as the Aquino administration had done a good job wooing investors through its “clean image” and “reformist stance.” It said the May 9 elections would have a key bearing on the prospects for the Philippine economy. The think tank cited that the country’s economy grew by an average of 6.3 percent in the last five years. It said the figure was 1.8 percentage points higher than in previous five years and “a bigger improvement than in any other country in the region.” Capital Economics said with

Duterte as the frontrunner in recent elections polls in which might reflect today’s election, financial markets would probably fall. “In the increasingly likely event that Duterte wins Monday’s presidential election, financial markets, which have sold off as his victory has looked more likely, would probably fall further,” it said. “The longer-term consequences of a Duterte victory are unlikely to be so benign, and there is a real risk that Aquino’s most important achievements could quickly start to unravel,” it added. Capital Economics said one

of the risks that would emerge if Duterte won was a possible coup attempt. “One of the key features of the past six years has been a return to political stability and an absence of coup attempts. The military might not be as tolerant of someone who wants to ‘change the system,’” Capital Economics said. The think tank also said corruption could quickly re-escalate if the recent polls reflected Monday’s election. Capital economics said if Duterte won, the country was electing another Ferdinand Marcos.

“Electing, for example, another Ferdinand Marcos, whose disastrous presidency from 1965-86 saw the economy lurch from one crisis to another, could quickly see economic prospects unravel,” Capital Economics said. “We now have concerns that the electorate may be about to make exactly that kind of mistake,” it said. Capital Economics noted that while the seven-term Davao City mayor managed to reduce crime rates in his city during his term, it was largely achieved through a spate of extrajudicial killings.

M O N D AY : M AY 9, 2 0 1 6

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

Banks’ property loans up 5.9% By Julito G. Rada

THE real estate exposures of universal, commercial, thrift banks and trust departments rose 5.9 percent to P1.5 trillion at the end of 2015 from a quarter ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said over the weekend. The amount accounted for 23.7 percent of the banks’ total loan portfolio during the period, slightly lower than 24.1 percent posted at the end of September 2015. “The end-2015 REE is 5.9 percent higher than that posted by

the banks a quarter earlier. The rise is attributed to the banks’ real estate loans, which grew by 6 percent to P1.3 trillion quarteron-quarter,” the regulator said. The loans comprised 86.2 percent of banks’ real estate exposures at end-2015.

Real estate loans and investments in securities as a percentage to total loan portfolio stood at 20.4 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively, as of end-2015. The banks’ investments in real estate securities, meanwhile, expanded 5.1 percent quarteron-quarter to P209.7 billion at the end of last year. The banks’ exposure to real estate securities accounted for 13.8 percent of real estate exposures during the period. “While real estate exposures sustained an increase, the nonperforming real estate loans ra-

tio of universal, commercial and thrift banks followed a downtrend. At end-2015, the banks’ non-performing real estate loans ratio stood at 2.1 percent, marginally lower than the 2.2 percent recorded a quarter earlier,” the Bangko Sentral said. Most of respondent banks, or 95.2 percent, in a Bangko Sentral survey for the first quarter of 2016 indicated unchanged credit standards for commercial real estate loans. The diffusion index approach, however, showed a net tightening of overall credit standards for the said type of loans.

“The tighter overall credit standards for commercial real estate loans reflected respondent banks’ reduced tolerance for risk, deterioration in the profile of borrowers, and perception of stricter financial system regulations,” the Bangko Sentral said. The regulator monitors the real estate exposures of banks as part of its broader role of assessing the quality of bank exposures to the different sectors of the economy. It said maintaining high loan quality was essential to the promotion of financial stability, one of its key policy objectives.

Sicat expects market to rally By Jenniffer B. Austria NEWLY re-elected Philippine Stock Exchange president Hans Sicat said the market’s recent decline on political jitters is somewhat “overdramatized,” predicting that trading will pick up after the national elections. “We are giving politics too much weight. The economic fundamentals of the country are extremely solid. We have great indicators of strength which has been confirmed by many multilateral agencies and the country is expected to grow at six percent GDP this year perhaps even higher in 2017,” Sicat said. “I think maybe fears might be at this stage overdramatized. We still have to see who... the economic [team] that could be chosen to serve,” Sicat added. Analysts earlier said the apparent lack of economic plans from leading Philippine presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte was causing investors to be jittery. Sicat, however, said the market’s recent decline was largely due to global market conditions and not solely on the pending national elections. “It could e noted that over the last two weeks, the major trend has been for exchanges in Asia to go down primarily as a result of various expectations, various areas like the interest rate hike in US and BOJ non-movement in Japan and some other currency differentials as some of the drivers,” Sicat said. While market activity had been muted during the first four months of the year, Sicat expects the trading activity to pick up after the elections, especially on companies planning to conduct initial public offerings. “We expect market activity to pick up after the national elections, as there will be less volatility, at least locally,” Sicat said. He expects IPOs that have previously postponed their fund raising activities to push through after the national elections.

Angat Dam upgrade. Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System administrator Gerardo Esquivel (right) and National Power Corp. president Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita sign an agreement that will transfer P237.16 million in funds from MWSS to Napocor to upgrade the flood forecasting and warning system of Angat Dam. The upgrade and flood control protection works are two of the four packages aimed at securing water for Metro Manila and Bulacan province.

Makati court stops LTO car insurance program THE Makati Regional Trial Court permanently stopped the Land Transportation Office from implementing the Reformed Compulsory Third Party Liability for vehicle registration. In a 14-page order, Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Edgrado Caldona of Branch 65 granted the writ of preliminary injunction filed by Standard Insurance Co. Inc. against the LTO and the Insurance Commission in December last year. The CTPL is a mandatory insurance plan required by the LTO for vehicle registration. The “reformed” version is a modification of the CTPL. The new measure required an administrator, which insurers said would eventually turn out as

the insurer, resulting in the nonlife insurance industry becoming mere reinsurers. The court said the LTO committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of or excess of jurisdiction when it “overstepped its office which is essentially overseeing the registration of motor vehicles and licensing of drivers.” Caldona noted that the reformed CTPL was also deemed in violation of the Amended Insurance Code and the exclusive right of the Insurance IC to regulate the country’s insurance industry. “Thus, arrogate upon itself such power in derogation of I’s authority respondent LTO inevitably committed an act constitu-

tive of grave abuse of discretion amounting to luck of or excess of jurisdiction,” said the judge in his order. Caldona, who issued a temporary restraining order December last year, said the Memorandum Circular AVT-2015-1975 or the CTPL project violated regulations on monopolies and restraining trade under the Constitution. Standard Insurance lawyer Reynaldo Geronimo informed the court that the designation of administrators was in excess of LTO’s jurisdiction and the circular infringes upon the constitutional provision against monopolies and restraint of trade under Section 19, Article XII of the Constitution. Geronimo, of the Romulo Ma-

banta Buenaventura Sayoc and Delos Angeles Law Offices, said the circular might cause massive disenfranchisement of insurance providers and stakeholders engaged in CTPL insurance for several decades. The petitioner argued that it could also lead to higher costs to vehicle owners. Another insurer said the proposed administrator was not the solution to problems of fake CTPL, fly-by-night insurers, under cutting of tariffs and tax leaks. The court also noted that IC Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc repeatedly failed to participate at any stage of the proceedings to clarify its position on the matter despite having been duly notified.

MONDAY: MAY 9, 2016

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

EastWest takes over StanChart’s PH clients EAST West Banking Corp. and Standard Chartered Bank Philippines signed an agreement on SCB PH’s retail business. Under the agreement, the credit cards, personal loans, wealth management and retail deposits of SCB in the Philippines will be migrated to EastWest. EastWest and SCB PH will work closely in the coming months to collaborate on a range of retail banking opportunities and to provide a seamless transition for the retail banking clients and staff to EastWest. Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar, chief executive of SCB PH, said the agreement with EastWest for Standard Chartered’s retail business in the Philippines was aligned with its global strategy to focus on retail markets where Standard Chartered had scale. “Standard Chartered remains fully committed to the growth of our corporate and institutional banking business in the Philippines which is a core part of our Asean network. Our agreement with EastWest will allow us to leverage on their scale and product offering to meet the retail needs of our clients. In the meantime, our retail banking clients will continue to have access to all of our existing banking services,” said Dastidar. EastWest has been building scale and exploring growth opportunities. EastWest president and chief executive Antonio Moncupa Jr. said the bank continued to seek opportunities to grow, especially in the retail and consumer segments. “We are very pleased to have been chosen by Standard Chartered Philippines as its counter-party in this agreement. We expect this agreement to be value accretive as we further enhance our retail and consumer banking scale. We look forward to future opportunities to assist Standard Chartered in serving the retail banking needs of its corporate and institutional clients,” said Moncupa.

DIVINA M. EDRALIN

GREEN LIGHT

It’s tea time!

IT IS summer time. It is scorching hot outside and a glass of iced cold green tea with lemon and honey can cool us down. I am a tea lover amid the company of my co-faculty and doctoral students who are coffee lovers. My passion for tea began when I discovered acupuncture as an alternative treatment for some of my illnesses thirty years ago. My first acupuncturist, who is a medical doctor, recommended that aside from water, I drink green tea instead of calorie-laden sodas or other juices containing artificial flavors and high-fructose sweeteners. The Everything Healthy Tea Book As an avid tea consumer, I always read anything about tea. Last week, before watching a movie with my family, we went to a nearby bookstore to look for new books that I can read this vacation time. Lo and behold, I was so lucky to find this book by Babette Donaldson entitled “The Everything Healthy Tea Book” published in 2014. There are many interesting information about tea in this book that I want to share with you. According to Donaldson, the scientific name for the tea plant was originally Thea sinensis in the mid-1700s.

Logistics sector set to expand until 2020 By Othel V. Campos

The logistics industry is expected to grow 11 percent to 18 percent annually over a five-year period until 2020, according to a think thank. Enrico Basilio, a transport and logistics expert at the Center for Research and Development, said in a report the logistics sector could expand from a P100 billion market in 2013 to an industry valued at more than double or triple this value by 2020. Basilio said the sector was poised to grow by a low of 11 percent annually to P204 billion and up to 18 percent annually to P326 billion by 2020. Basilio said the rosy outlook depended on

certain conditions being put in place by the government, including the right infrastructure, policies and institutional support. He said the government should accelerate priority infrastructure development and provide sufficient funding for their completion, estimated at P5.7 trillion for 2017 to 2022. Multimodal logistics infrastructure development is a requisite to support the industry’s growth, and covers roads, airports and seaports, he said, citing the results of the study. The report said for road development, existing rail systems and thoroughfares should be expanded and improved and new ones developed across the country. More provincial, city and municipal roads need to be paved, it said. It said for airport infrastructure, top priority should go to international gateway airports to support tourism such as Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan, Clark, Kalibo, Davao, Iloilo/Bacolod, Daraga and Puerto Princesa gateways.

It said the international airports of Laoag, Zamboanga and Laguindingan should also be upgraded. Among the secondary airports, focus should go to developing those in Legaspi, Panglao, Siargao, San Vicente, Busuanga, Camiguin, Dipolog and Tacloba as well as the aviation facilities in Naga, Masbate, Marinduque, San Jose, Butuan and General Santos, it said. The think tank said there should also be initiatives to expand airports with the goal of boosting cargo volumes, especially at Naia, Clark, Cebu, General Santos and Davao. On seaport infrastructures, the study suggested the development of ports and cruise berthing facilities to support tourism activities especially the seaports of South Harbor, Puerto Princesa, Caticlan, Cagban, Coron, Iloilo, Romblon, Currimao, Aparri, Subic, Batan, Hundred Islands and Lingayen Gulf as well as Sasa Port in Davao into domestic port and berthing facility for cruise shipping.

SM school donation. SM Foundation turns over a two-story, four-classroom school building to the Northern Tacloban City National High School in partnership with Deutsche Bank. The transfer followed after SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation, turned over 400 disaster-resilient houses to typhoon Yolanda victims in the same area. Then, the botanical name was changed to Camellia sinensis in 1818, which is what is now being used. The true tea plant is a flowering evergreen that when left to grow wild can be as tall as 50 feet or 15 meters. There are five main categories of true tea, namely: green, black, oolong, white, and pu’erh. They all come from the same plant. Historically, tea began as a medicine, and then grew into a beverage. In fact, tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, so that in 2011, approximately 4,000,000 tons of tea was produced worldwide. Health benefits of tea Donaldson likewise cited some of the most interesting research concerning the habitual drinking of green tea, as well as black tea, which have drawn the following conclusions: Health benefits of black tea • Reduces risk of heart disease by lowering LDL (bad cholesterol), while increasing HDL (good cholesterol), thereby improving blood flow. • Lowers triglyceride levels. • Reduces the risk of heart disease. • Helps keep blood sugar stable. • Blocks DNA damage associated with toxic chemicals. • Increases activity in the working memory area of the brain. • Blocks formation of plaques in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease and may slow other forms of dementia. • Blocks the attachment of bacteria in the mouth that causes tooth decay. • May help prevent various types of cancer, including: bladder, breast, ovarian, colorectal, stomach, lung, and skin

cancers. Health Benefits of Green Tea • Hydrates the body–with less tannins than green tea, and black tea is less astringent. • Strengthens the immune system with bacteria-fighting antioxidants. • Has anti-inflammatory qualities. • Balances hormone levels. • Balances cholesterol levels, may reduce incidence of stroke and generally improves heart health. • Reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. • Promotes blood flow to the brain and improves mental focus and concentration. • Stimulates metabolism, giving more energy. • Improves oral health, and may reduce the risk of oral cancer. • May reduce the risk of many other cancers. • Aids digestion and the breakdown of fats in the gastrointestinal tract. Top 10 myths about tea Interestingly, Donaldson also enumerated the top 10 myths about tea. Here they are: • Tea doesn’t go bad. (In reality, the compounds that produce flavor and health benefits degrade with time and exposure to light, moisture and air.) • Green, black, oolong, pu’erh, and white teas all come from different plants. (All true teas come from varietals of the Camellia sinensis plant. Processing creates the differences between the categories.) • Green tea is healthier than black tea. (More research has been done on green

tea than black tea, making the former seem healthier.) • All tea has equal health benefits, so buy the least expensive. (The healthiest tea is the freshest and least degraded by poor packaging or inadequate storage.) • Drinking tea can help you lose weight. (Drinking tea can increase metabolism and energy to encourage more activity, and can also replace high calorie beverages.) • Black tea has the most caffeine and white tea the least. (It is nearly impossible to predict the amount of caffeine in brewed tea. White tea with a high percentage of whole buds may contain more caffeine than black tea.) • Decaffeinated tea is completely free of caffeine. (It is impossible to remove all caffeine from tea. There will always be a trace amount, usually less than 5 percent.) • Tea bags are filled with “dust” swept from the factory floor. (Tea “dust” is a byproduct of tea production, where the leaves that have broken or been ground into a dust-like powder are used to fill tea bags for quick infusion.) • Green tea is bitter. (Green tea has more astringency than other teas and can be bitter if it is brewed improperly. If brewed correctly, it can be very sweet.) • Tea causes dehydration. (Astringent green tea can sometimes leave a feeling of dryness in the mouth, but this has been shown to cause only slightly more fluid loss than water.) Other benefits of tea Aside from the numerous health benefits that tea can give, tea has many

other uses. It is used in cooking to add flavor or go with the dishes. It is also used for beauty treatments where the extracts or concentrates are added to beauty products. Tea is likewise used in gardening as compost, houseplants and potting soil. Around the house, tea can be a handy nontoxic helper as wood cleaner, absorber of refrigerator odors, cupboard deodorizer and glass cleaner too. I think for busy working people who work so hard everyday, it is imperative to keep healthy and fit to be productive, and happy at work and at home. Alternative natural and organic means of eating, drinking, treating illnesses, and living as a whole should be explored. Employers, unions, school educators, and health advocates should start propagating the benefits of true tea. Start organizing tea time to bring together people who would like to promote a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Edralin is the vice-dean for Research and Graduate Studies of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. A full professor, she teaches Human Behavior, Strategic Human Resource Management, Labor Relations and Research. She is also a management consultant of SME’s, schools and NGOs. She may be reached at divina.edralin@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators.

M O N D AY : M AY 9, 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Indonesia’s moderate Muslims take on IS JAKARTA—A group of Indonesian “cyber warriors” sit glued to screens, as they send out messages promoting a moderate form of Islam in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. Armed with laptops and smart phones, some 500 members of the Nahdlatul Ulama or NU?one of the world’s biggest Muslim organizations?are seeking to counter the Islamic State group’s extremist messages. “We’ll never let Islam be hijacked by fools who embrace hate in their heart,” tweeted Syafi’ Ali, a prominent member of the NU’s online army, a typical message to his tens of thousands of followers. They are trying to hit back at IS’s sophisticated Internet operations, which have been credited with attracting huge numbers from around the world to their cause. Internet propaganda is believed to have played a key role in drawing some 500 Indonesians to the Middle East to join IS, particularly among those living in cities where it is easier to get online. The dangers of the growing IS influence in Indonesia were starkly illustrated in January when militants linked to the jihadists launched a gun and suicide bombing attack in Jakarta, leaving four assailants and four civilians dead. It was the first major attack in Indonesia for seven years, following a string of Islamic militant bombings in the early 2000s that killed hundreds. As well as firing off tweets, the NU members have sought to dominate cyberspace by establishing websites promoting the group’s moderate views, an Android app and web-based TV channels, whose broadcasts include sermons by moderate preachers. The initiative has been building momentum for a while but started to pick up pace a few months ago. A handful of cyber warriors operate from a small office in Jakarta, while the rest work remotely, and the group mostly communicate with one another over the web. But it will be an uphill battle and the NU, which has been promoting moderate Islam for decades, conceded they have previously struggled to take on IS’s hate-filled messages. “NU has for a while wrestled with this radical propaganda,” said Yahya Cholil Staquf, secretary general of the NU, which claims at least 40 million followers. “Every time we defeated them, it didn’t take long for them to regain their strength.” The online drive comes as the NU is set to take its campaign to promote their tolerant form of Islam onto the international stage this week, with a two-day meeting from Monday of moderate religious leaders from around the world.’’ They aim to showcase their particular brand of the Muslim faith, known as “Islam Nusantara”, to counter the IS jihadists’ radical interpretation of Islam. AFP

Canada’s out-of-control wildfire doubles in size FORT MCMURRAY, Canada—A ferocious wildfire wreaking havoc in Canada doubled in size Saturday, and officials warned that the situation in the parched Alberta oil sands region was “unpredictable and dangerous.”

Gala. Singer Kesha performs onstage during The Humane Society of the United States’ Rescue Gala at the Paramount Studios on May 7, 2016, in Hollywood, California. AFP

“This remains a big, out of control, dangerous fire,” Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said of the raging inferno bigger than London that forced the evacuation of the city of Fort McMurray. Winds were pushing the flames east of the epicenter around the oil city late Saturday, as nearly all 25,000 people who were still trapped to the north finally left town, either via airlift or convoys on the roads. The wildfire had doubled in size in one day, covering more than 200,000 hectares by midnight and continuing to grow, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency said in an update late Saturday. “Fire conditions remain extreme,” it said. Low humidity, high temperatures nearing 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) and gusty winds of 40 kilometers (25 miles) in forests and brush dried out from two months of drought are helping fan the flames. Still, in a glimmer of positive news, the authorities have recorded no fatalities directly linked to the blaze that began almost a week ago. Cooler, moist air with some chance of rainfall could help slow the fires in the coming days, Alberta Fire Service director Chad Morrison said. However, “we need heavy rain,” he cautioned. “Showers are not enough.” The only “good news,” he said, was that the wind was pushing the fires away from Fort McMurray and oil production sites to the northeast, presenting less threat to people although causing serious damage to the environment. The government has declared a state of emergency in Alberta, a province the size of France that is home to one of the world’s most prodigious oil industries. In the latest harrowing chapter, police convoys shuttling cars south to safety through Fort McMurray resumed at dawn. Making their way through thick, black smoke, the cars were filled with people trapped to the north of the city, having sought refuge there earlier in the week. Police wearing face masks formed convoys of 25 cars, with kilometers (miles) of vehicles, smoke swirling around them, patiently awaiting their turn. Separate convoys of trucks carried essential equipment to support “critical industrial services,” according to the Alberta government. AFP

Israel’s Islamic cleric starts 9-month prison term BEERSHEBA, Israel—Israeli Arab Muslim leader Raed Salah started a nine-month prison sentence on Sunday for fomenting riots at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque Salah was accompanied by about 100 well-wishers, including Israeli Arab lawmakers, as he arrived at the prison in the city of Beersheba in southern Israel’s Negev desert, an AFP journalist said. At a farewell rally earlier in his home town of Umm al-Faham, in the north of the country, he exchanged hugs with supporters, local news agency Q-Press, considered close to the Islamic Movement, reported.

“It is an honor for me to enter prison to defend and protect AlAqsa and Jerusalem,” it quoted him as saying. “I enter prison by the will of God, not the will of Netanyahu.” Salah leads the radical northern wing of the Islamic Movement in Israel, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered banned last year after accusing it of encouraging violent protest that contributed to the October outbreak of a wave of unrest that has so far killed 203 Palestinians and 28 Israelis. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-

ramming attacks, Israeli authorities say. Salah has previously spent time in Israeli prisons for offenses ranging from incitement to spitting on a policeman to funding Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas. His latest jail spell comes after the Israeli Supreme Court last month denied him leave to appeal against convictions for incitement to violence and racism. The convictions stem from a 2007 rally against Israeli construction work near the Al-Aqsa compound, in which he urged “all Muslims and Arabs [to] start an intifada [uprising] to support holy

Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque.” In the clashes with Israeli police that followed, a number of officers were injured. The protests reflected the fears among Muslims that Israel was planning to change the rules governing the site, the third holiest in Islam. Revered by Jews as their most sacred shrine and known by them as the Temple Mount, the compound is a crucible of tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Under longstanding rules, Jews are allowed to visit, but not pray, in the compound. AFP

M O N D AY : M AY 9, 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

In attendance. Artist Tom Franco attends the Art of Elysium presents Tom Franco at the art salon on May 7, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Genocide mayors to be tried Vietnam breaks up fish deaths protest HANOI—Vietnamese police detained scores of people Sunday as they broke up a protest against a Taiwanese company accused of being behind a toxic leak that has caused mass fish deaths off the central coast. The protest in Hanoi, which follows a similar demonstration last weekend, was swiftly dispersed by authorities on Sunday morning, an AFP reporter witnessed, in a communist country where all shows of dissent are tightly controlled. Several hundred demonstrators had gathered in the heart of the capital outraged at the poisoning of the waters near Ha Tinh province that has left tons of fish and clams dead and decimated the local fishing industry,

accusing Taiwanese steel mill Formosa of overseeing a toxic leak. “Never has the Vietnamese sea been this badly polluted,” army veteran Nguyen Manh Trung, 68, told AFP. But “the police are now more and more professional in breaking up protests,” he added of the scores of people taken away in unmarked cars. Vietnam’s prime minister has vowed to get tough on those responsible for the leak, but an official inquiry has yet to apportion blame. However, state-run media has pointed the finger at a 1.5 kilometer waste water pipeline from Formosa’s multi-billion dollar steel plant into the ocean. AFP

KABARONDO, Rwanda—Twenty-two years after the Rwandan genocide, Jean-Damascene Rutagungira still cannot bear the sight of the Catholic church in the eastern village of Kabarondo, where his family was massacred before his eyes. Sitting in front of his house, set in the midst of corn fields and banana plantations, the fifty-something farmer, who lost his wife, three children and his mother in the attack, admitted: “Whenever I get close to that church, I go crazy.” On Tuesday, two former Kabarondo mayors go on trial in France over the killing of hundreds of people at the church in April 1994, at the height of the genocide in which 800,000 people, mostly ethnic Tutsis, were killed by Hutu extremists. Rutagungira will travel to Paris to testify against Octavien Ngenzi, 58, Kabarondo’s mayor at the time of the killings, and his predecessor Tito Barahira, 64, both of whom are accused of genocide

and crimes against humanity in just the second trial of suspected perpetrators living on French soil. Rutagungira is convinced the two men, who were sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment by a local Rwandan community court, played a key role in the massacre in Kabarondo. “If they hadn’t been there, there wouldn’t have been so many dead,” he insisted. On April 13, 1994, a group of mostly Tutsi families who had sought shelter at the church came under attack from villagers backed by the genocidal Hutu “Interahamwe” militia. Rutagungira and several others attempted to fight back with stones but they were no match for the gun

and grenade-toting attackers and the soldiers sent in as reinforcements. “There were a lot of dead. There were bodies everywhere in front of the church,” Rutagungira recalled. The militia then broke down the door to the church and ordered all the elderly people and children hiding inside, including Rutagungira’s family, to leave. Rutagungira’s mother was among the first of those who emerged to be killed, bludgeoned to death despite her pleas for clemency. An elderly woman who claimed to be Hutu followed. The woman appealed directly to Barahira, the former mayor, to save her, but he shoved her aside and she too was beaten to death, he said. Next, said Rutagungira, the militia ordered the refugees onto their knees and told them to cover their faces. “And then one of them shouted ‘It’s time to chop’ and they began killing people with machetes.” AFP

Kidnapped journalists’ return awaited MADRID—Three Spanish freelance journalists kidnapped in Syria some 10 months ago were due to fly back to be reunited with their families on Sunday, a day after their release. The trio—Antonio Pampliega, Jose Manuel Lopez and Angel Sastre—were last seen in July 2015 in the northwestern city of Aleppo where they had been reporting on the fighting. They had been working for various Spanish media around the time of their disappearance. The government and the Spanish Press Federation announced the release of the three men late on Saturday,

saying they were well and in Turkey, waiting for their flight back to Spain. They are expected to arrive at the Torrejon air base near Madrid, although government officials refused to reveal a specific arrival time. Pampliega’s mother Maria del Mar Rodriguez Vega said she planned to cook her son’s favorite dish—spinach with bechamel. “It was wonderful when I spoke to him by telephone,” she said in a statement released by the Spanish wing of the international media rights organization Reporters Without Borders, which is also known by its French acronym RSF.

“He had the same voice as always, from when he was a child, he repeatedly asked me to forgive me for what he made me go through,” she added. The release of the three journalists had been “possible thanks to the collaboration of allies and friends especially in the final phase from Turkey and Qatar”, the government said in a statement. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, the three reporters were last seen in a rebel-held area of Aleppo on July 13, 2015, when they were traveling in a van together before being taken by armed men. AFP

Second carrier. A View of a mosquito in Mexico City on May 7,

2016. Researchers have recently discovered the Zika virus in a second mosquito species known as the “Asian Tiger” mosquito, (formally named Aedes albopictus). The species stretches much further north into the United States. AFP

m onday : m ay 9, 2016

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

E aT, dRInK , T R aV EL

LIFE

Sinigang Pork Rib with Calamansi gravy

Estancia Nilagang Bulalo

ESCApE TO A COOlER ClImATE AT ESTAnCIA RESORT HOTEl In TAgAyTAy pHOTOS by STAR SAbROSO

he choking heat engulfing the entire metro is one of the best reasons to head on for colder mountainside enclaves. Fifty-five kilometers south of Metro Manila is the heart of Tagaytay, one of the nearest places to escape to for a relaxing weekend. One of the best places to stay in Tagaytay is a hotel that offers the best view of Taal Lake and volcano, highlighted by Santorini-inspired villas – the Estancia Resort Hotel. Located in Barangay San Jose in Tagaytay City, Estancia is approximately one-and-a-half hours away from Manila and less than a kilometer drive from the Tagaytay City rotunda. The cluster of villas on the terrain gives a perfect view of the majestic volcano, a break from the usual sight of traffic in the metro. Here, visitors can relax and enjoy the soothing mountain breeze in any of the 15 deluxe rooms, two deluxe family rooms, 18 Santorini rooms, 11 casitas, eight executive suites, and the newly added, charming two Santorini family villas which are part of the hotel’s phase three renovation. The area occupied by the hotel and its premises is so vast that you’d need a kart to bring you around. But if you want to have a good afternoon walk while enjoying the view, it wouldn’t hurt to use your feet. Operated by Tagaytay City Resort Hotel, Inc., the resort is equipped with amenities for business gatherings or family outings. There are outdoor and indoor swimming pools, Jacuzzis, saunas, game rooms and entertainment areas that the guests can enjoy. For couples taking their vows, the resort is also a perfect background for pre-nuptial photo shoots and wedding receptions.

With the resort set to finish its facelift until the end of the year, it is also introducing new dishes from its menu developed by chefconsultant Brando Santos. “We are on the third phase of our major upgrades, all based on consumer insights and keeping up with the demands of the times,” says Girlie Pe, the hotel’s general manager. “The restaurant can seat 60 and we hope to be able to entice nonchecked-in guests to just walk in and enjoy great food with a good view,” she adds. The additional food menu is something worth visiting the hotel for even for just a day or afternoon getaway. New on the menu are Traditional Caesar Salad, Beef Tenderloin and Mushroom Salpicao, Pok Satay, Fried Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Gamberetti Aglio Olio, Negrense Chicken Inasal served with ensaladang talong, sinamak and homemade atchara on the side, Kare-kare, and the quirky dish with a twist – Sinigang Pork Rib with Calamansi gravy. The pork is fried to a crisp and served on a sizzling plate with calamansi gravy and adorned with the classic sinigang vegetables, something that diners would love to keep going back for. The resort also took its own version of a Tagaytay favorite dish – the new signature Estancia Nilagang Bulalo. Whether you’re staying for the night or just stopping by to dine with a view, Estancia Resort Hotel is worth the drive away from the city. Here’s a tip: If you’re set on visiting the hotel, make sure you book from Thursdays to Sundays as there is a special 30 percent discount for hotel bookings. For more information, visit www.estanciatagaytay.com.ph or call (046) 4131 133 to 35 or 0915 134 9426.

Estancia Resort Hotel’ Executive Suite with a view of Taal lake and volcano

Pok Satay

Kare-kare

Santorini-inspired villas line up the hotel property

Chocolate Mousse and Pineapple Mango Panna Cotta

m onday : m ay 9, 2016

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

M/V St. Therese of the Child Jesus’ Suite Room

@LIFEatStandard

The ship’s Horizon Room that can be used as a function room for big gatherings or dining room on regular days

2GoTravelLaunchES prEmIum SEa vESSEL company ups local tourism with m/v St. Therese of the child Jesus

or some Filipinos, taking a cruise ship to go to a local destination is still not one of the top options. The old images in people’s minds is that of cramped ship spaces and dirty quarters, which can be enough deterrent. This will soon be changed with premier land/ sea trip provider 2GO Travel which has been upping domestic travel by providing passengers with world-class and cruiselike experiences on board. Armed with the vision to promote local destinations, 2GO Travel is launching the 16,622-ton and 160-meter long M/V St. Therese of the Child Jesus, in time for the peak travel season to serve the ports of Manila, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro. Going aboard the massive cruise ship brings you to a wide lobby with personnel ready to assist you for boarding. With a capacity of 1,856 passengers and 200 20foot equivalent units (TEU) of cargo, it addresses the demand for an alternative means for people who want to go home to their provinces and tourists who want to go around the Philippines in an affordable, safe and convenient way. “It has always been 2GO’s mission to promote local tourism and to introduce both Filipino and foreign tourists to the many beautiful and interesting destinations all over the country. At the same time, we wanted to raise the bar in domestic travel by providing passengers not just safety and convenience but a most leisurely, cruiselike experience aboard our vessels,” says 2GO’s senior vice president Stephen Tagud. M/V St. Therese of the Child Jesus is ready to treat any passenger to a relaxing journey to his destination with the elegantly designed six suite rooms, 12 state rooms, 21 business class and 34 tourist accommodations. First time cruise ship travelers would be surprised at the many amenities the ship has to offer. Just like the rest of 2GO’s fleet, the vessel also has a first-class bar and restaurant, a 24-hour convenience store and gift shop, a spa and salon, areas for karaoke, comedy acts and other forms of entertainment held nightly. It also houses a clinic and a chapel. And for passengers who want to see the views on the open sea or stargaze at night, an openair deck is available. The addition of this new vessel also addresses the demand for cargo space to transport goods and produce across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The M/V St. Therese of the Child Jesus serves the Manila-Bacolod-Iloilo-Cagayan de Oro route every Thursday at 9:00 p.m.

Photos by star sabroso

Passenger entance to M/V St. Therese of the Child Jesus

2GO’s senior vice president Stephen Tagud

Those booking via 2GO Travel can also enjoy a wide range of hotel accommodations, tours, event packages and entertainment options. The

The open-air deck available for the guests who want to see the views on the open sea or stargaze at night

company has 1,200 outlets nationwide, catering to various ports across the country so it’s very convenient for anyone across the Philippines.

For more information and updates on 2GO Travel services, visit its website at www.2GO.com.ph.

m onday : m ay 9, 2016

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

a LuxurIouS dInIng ExpErIEncE at marco poLo ortIgaS manILa’S Lung HIn TexT and phoTos by Marjaleen raMos

o amount of words can express the gratitude of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s general manager Frank Reichenbach for having Lung Hin, the hotel’s signature Cantonese Restaurant, recognized as the most outstanding Chinese restaurant outside China. The China Hotel Industry Golden Horse Awards took place last March at Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, China. The award is commonly known as the “Oscar” in the hotel industry as it symbolizes the highest recognition in the industry. Hotel chains, tourism industry players, real estate and investment companies gather at the event annually to talk about the different trends and establish contacts for business opportunities for the hospitality business. Lung Hin, located on the 44th floor of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, virtually brings the diners to Hong Kong through the fine art of Cantonese cuisine, thanks in large part to the well-trained Chinese chefs. Here, guests can sample combined tastes of both authentic and traditional flavors with a bit of modern spin while dining at a luxurious interior spot that offers a stunning view of the Ortigas skyline. During a media event, Marco Polo Manila Ortigas introduced the newest executive chef of the Lung Hin Cantonese Restaurant, Leung Chi Kwan or simply known as Chef Ken. He presented a menu that comprises foods that are scrumptious yet all made up with different healthy ingredients. Chef Ken’s special lunch preview showcased Deep Fried Tofu with Seaweed Salad, Deep Fried Beancurd Leek Rolls with XO Chili Sauce and Fried Spareribs with Black Vinegar Sauce. For the seafood lovers, the chef presented Stir-Fried Crystal Prawns and Poached Live Garoupa with Mushroom. Healthy light eats were also featured at the lunch preview, like the Ham and Vegetables in Superior Broth and Fookien Misua. According to Reichenbach, the authenticity of the dishes they serve and the award for their Chinese cuisine proves that their guests appreciate what they have been doing. Visit Lung Hin at Marco Polo Ortigas for a taste of authentic Cantonese flavors. For more information about Marco Polo Ortigas, visit www.marcopolohotels.com.

Deep-fried Beancurd Leek Rolls with XO Chili

Ham and Vegetables in Superior Broth

Marco Polo Ortigas proudly showing the China Hotel Industry Golden Horse Awards

Stir-Fried Crystal Prawns cooked the traditional way and served with fresh broccoli

Deep Fried Crispy Tofu with Seaweed Salad. It is made up of thin slice seaweed, Japanese tofu in cubes, shredded taro, shredded cabbage, shredded carrot and sesame dressing

m onday : m ay 9, 2016

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

The Vineyards of Bordeaux The vineyards of Grand Puy Lacoste

merCury rising

By BoB zozoBrado he port city of Bordeaux, including the surrounding region, is the wine capital of the world, as it has been producing superior quality wine since the 8th Century. Home to the world’s biggest Wine Fair, VINEXPO, the city’s economy takes in close to 20 billion Euros each year. But there’s more to the city than just the vintage drink because its historical section is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, cited as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble” of the 18th century. However, it cannot be denied that when people think of Bordeaux, they think of wine so, I guess, any tourist attraction in the nearby areas just becomes secondary. The Bordeaux region is one of the three most famous wine-producing regions in France, the other two being Burgundy and Champagne. But of these three big grapegrowing areas, it is only the Bordeaux vineyards that have immediate access to the sea, an advantage that has enabled the region to be France’s leading wine exporter for many centuries. In fact, as early as the 12th Century, it became the main supplier of wine for England. This helped Bordeaux develop far stronger commercial links in the succeeding centuries, firmly establishing its wines in the international market. The vineyards of Bordeaux surround the city, along the estuary of the Gironde, and the rivers Garonne and Dordogne. They cover a large area which stretches 100 kilometers from north to south and from east to west. What is significant is the fact that one can count with the fingers of one hand the number of families that own these vineyards. One such owner is the Borie family that traces its origins to as far back as the mid-1800s. Hardworking brothers Eugene and Emile Borie were very ambitious. They saw a great opportunity in Bordeaux, so they put up a wine distributing company and asked their wives to manage it while they travelled around to develop its intended market. They rented wine cellars and specialized in shipping wine to Normandy and Belgium. The brothers’ business acumen led to the rapid growth of their enterprise. To ensure high quality wine, the brothers decided to build their own cellars and age their wines themselves. They eventually became the biggest wine producer in the region. Fast forward

Grand Puy Lacoste owner Emeline Borie signing wine bottles during her Manila visit

The imposing façade of the Grand Puy Lacoste Estate

through several generations later, the family business has merged with Grand Puy Lacoste, a highly successful enterprise originally owned by a member of the Bordeaux Parliament. This business focused on continuously improving the wine’s quality and reputation. Not too long ago, Manila’s social circles marked a key milestone in the Philippine wine industry because Emeline Borie, the owner of two leading wine estates in Bordeaux, visited our city. Borie’s Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste and Chateau Haut Batailley represent the finest in France’s wine regions under the 1855 Medoc classification which has set the bar for quality and prestige in the wine industry. Borie represented her family-owned estates which have had love for wine over three generations. She used to handle the

Excellent wines served during the Manila dinner event

The Basilique Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, took 200 years to build

public relations tasks for the company, but now leads it with her father, Francois Xavier-Borie. Her Manila visit was made possible by Wine Story, the country’s premiere wine retailer, which aims to raise the bar of wine experience from learning, tasting, buying, collecting and investing. Wine Story enhances wine culture by enriching appreciation of the finest wines, from the most accessible to the rarest collectibles.

More information on the finest Bordeaux wines in the country may be obtained through info@winestory.com.ph better still, you may want to head off directly to Bordeaux where a visit to any of the vineyards will give you a chance to try their most popular products, for free, over and over and over again. Just be sure you’re not driving when you go back to your hotel. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

your Monday ChuCKLe: a man went to the police station wishing to speak with the burglar who had broken into his house the night before. “you’ll get your chance in court,” said the desk sergeant. “no, no, no!” said the man. “I want to know how he got into the house without waking my wife. I’ve been trying to do that for years!”

m oNDAy : m Ay 9, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

WhaT DO TV sTaRs say abOuT ThEIR mOThERs?

Jennylyn Mercado: Yung pagkamakulit niya, yung makulit in a good way na “anak, kumusta ka na?” na hanggang ngayon matanda na siya. Kahit na hindi na siya masyado nakakalakad, malambing pa rin siya.

ven before having us as their children, parents—most especially our mothers— think of nothing else but to inspire us to be the best version of ourselves. However, being a mom requires a lot of patience and hard work. Still, there are times that they, too, fall short to become a role model to us, their children. Nevertheless, this mom’s Day, these Kapuso stars say their moms remain their inspiration to become better in what they do because of their quality they observed to be valuable in their lives. We ask them what particular trait of their mpthers they admire most and want to emulate. And, here’s what they said.

Jennylyn and mom Lydia

Joross and family

Rhian and mom Clara

Rhian Ramos: Well, in my family, my mom’s the one who is good in handling money. And then no. 2, the thing that she taught me to value the most if there’s any tough decision is the one that I have to choose is the one that keeps me intact. Para bang like if you ever have to make a choice, you have to always invest in your personality and what keeps your morality, your spirituality intact. Parang you always invest in yourself.

Joyce Ching: Yung pagiging masipag niya. As in sobrang sipag. Kahit anong mangyari, kahit late matapos sa taping, gigising pa rin siya ng maaga para sa iba ko pang kapatid.

Carla and mom Rea

Carla Abellana: Madami. Unang-una, yung pagiging organized niya although nakuha ko naman ‘yon from her. Ano ‘yon eh, yung Mom ko type A personality. Lahat maayos, lahat neat, everything’s in place, lahat malinis. Nakuha ko naman ‘yon from her pero yung level niya, ibang klase. Number 2, yung pagiging ano niya, she’s not too strict sa aming magkakapatid. I don’t know if it’s the age gap pero kasi ano, very lenient siya. Hindi niya kami, ano ba, hindi mabigat yung kamay niya, hindi niya kami pinagbawalan sa maraming bagay, pero lumaki naman kami ng maayos. Alam naman namin yung tama at mali.

Jorross Gamboa: Ako, yung pagiging patient niya sa amin kasi grabe ang pagkamakulit ko nung bata ako so palagi ako pinarurusahan so feeling ko yung anak ko, mukhang babawi sa akin. Tuma-tumbling tumbling na eh six months pa lang. Gumugulong gulong. So ngayon nararamdaman ko na. Humanda daw ako pag pumatak na ng one year of two to three years old.. Kailangan talaga maging patient.

Derrick Monasterio: Yung pagiging makulit niya kasi kapag hindi naman siya makulit, hindi naman ako susunod sa kanya eh. I mean hindi naman aayos yung buhay ko. Siguro yung pagiging makulit, ‘yun din yung gusto kong gawin sa mga future children ko. Derrick and mom Tina

Joyce and mom minda

Heart and mom Cecil

Heart Evangelista: She’s a strong woman. She knows when to put her foot down. She’s also strong in a way in showing her emotions. I want to be as strong as her.

Betong and mom Virginia

Betong Sumaya: Kasi yung nanay ko sobrang komedyante. So feeling ko dun ko nakuha yung kulit ko e. Si Nanay kasi public school teacher eh, at naging teacher ko pa siya. Di ba nakita naman natin sweldo ng elementary public school teacher? Yung abilidad niya na mapagkasya yung sweldo niya na yun para sa amin at makapagtapos kami. Yung abilidad niya na makapag-adjust sa situation na feeling mo sobrang walang pag-asa pero nanay ko sobrang maparaan—madiskarte.

Kristoffer and mom Emy

Bea and mom Carina and sister Benice

Bea Binene: Siguro yung pagiging business-minded niya. Na lahat gusto niyang pagkakitaan, parang ganoon. Yung parang gusto niya palaging magtayo ng business.

Kristoffer Martin: Siguro yung pagiging strong ni Mama. At pagkakaroon ng paninindigan. ‘Yun siguro yung na-a-adapt ko na ngayon sa edad ko. Yung ‘pag gusto niya talaga, gusto niya. Kapag ayaw niya, ayaw niya. Ganoon niya kasi kami pinalaki. Kapag sinabi niyang hindi, hindi. Kapag sinabi niyang sige, sige. ‘Yun yun siguro yung nakapag-hubog sa akin. Parang nagiging precise yung decisions ko ngayon.

m onDAy : m Ay 9, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Do celebrities make... (From c8)

Daisy Reyes The former commercial model, actress and beauty queen is joining a long list of showbiz personalities who are taking small-town politics by storm. The Cariño Brutal star and papaya soap vendor is on her second term as councilor of Pateros. This probably gave her the confidence to run for mayor in the municipality famous for balut and salted eggs. Richard Gomez Goma started his political career in the 2007 elections when he ran for senator but lost. Gomez decided to run for congress in 2010 but was disqualified by the Comelec because of his failure to sufficiently establish residency in Ormoc City. His wife Lucy Torres replaced him and won. Trying his luck again, showbiz’s tall, dark and handsome actor is running for mayor in his wife’s native city.

Isko Moreno Like Alfred Vargas, our guy used to wear spandex underwear before leaving showbiz for good. Moreno served three consecutive terms (nine years) as councilor for Manila’s first congressional district. While in office, he took a crash course in Local Legislation and Local Finance at UP. When he became Manila’s vice mayor, he went to Harvard and took up “Emerging Leaders” executive and crisis management programs. Believing he already has enough experience and clout, he is trying for a seat in the Senate this time.

Herbert Bautista After his first term as Vice-Mayor, he ran for Mayor in 1998, but lost to then-Mayor Ismael Mathay, Jr. Bistek returned to politics when he was elected as the City Vice Mayor thrice in 2001, 2004, and 2007. Trying to yet again prove his clout, the former actor is now seeking his third and last term at the helm of the most populous local government unit in Metro Manila.

Jolo Revilla Show business in not kind to this 28-year-old Revilla. If not because of his last name, he wouldn’t be able to snatch any role in a TV show or movie. Yet, he still remains as a talentless actor who didn’t even inherit his father’s charisma. Good thing politics is their business in Cavite. From his grandfather and father to his mother Lani Mercado, who is running for mayor in Bacoor, their presence in the province is undeniable.

cROsswORD puzzlE 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 46 47 48

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Sight-related 6 Lhasa — 10 Customs request 14 Hockey venue 15 Spillane’s Hammer 16 Remove wrinkles 17 Tough as nails (hyph.) 19 Part of a deck 20 Ms. Thurman

21 Benefactor 22 Espresso with milk 23 Writer — Seton 24 Title for Josephine 26 Chest 29 Big bucks? 30 Coconut grove 31 Flower goddess 32 1960s style 35 Belt maker’s tools 36 Had tea

Mark lapid His being elected Governor of Pampanga at the young age of 24 is probably the best thing that happened to his career, both in politics and in showbiz. He is now running for senator under the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid ticket. On the other hand, his father Lito Lapid, who obviously had an illustrious showbiz career than his son, relegated himself when he decided to run for mayor of Angeles City.

Intuition Can. neighbor Zen riddles Actress Ina — Look at the books Most parched Kind of freak Dipper, sometimes Give — — (care) I thought — never leave! 50 Shooting marble 53 Madeline of “Blazing Saddles” 54 Egyptian character 56 Clapton or Roberts 57 Flying prefix 58 Spine-tingling 59 Dinner and a movie 60 Paperback ID 61 Rock, but not roll DOWN 1 Waikiki island 2 Wheels for nanny 3 Trillion, in combos 4 Not Dem. or Rep. 5 Beach huts 6 Garcia’s girl 7 Atomic — 8 Closet items, so to speak 9 U.K. lexicon 10 Deputies 11 In a foul mood

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

12 13 18 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 49 50 51 52 54 55

Arranges Alpaca locale Black mineral Links org. Provides rifles — my words! High priestess of Vulcan Goes left Clay pot Biased viewpoint Weaknesses Distance measure Kyoto sashes Soup can flaw Long-gone bird Colorado ski resort Cobain or Russell River crossers Now (2 wds.) “The Banana Boat Song” (hyph.) Crusted over Tara heroine Pitcher’s dream game (hyph.) Evita or Juan Sage or thyme Rookie Neat as — — What fun! Yes, in Kyoto — on (pretend)

Vandolf Quizon Inspired by his mother and his stepfather’s successful attempt at politics, the young Quizon is running for councilor in Parañaque City. Meanwhile, his half-brother, Jeremy Marquez, who was probably roped into politics by the same inspiration, is eyeing the second higesest office in Parañaque City hall (unopposed).

Here are some of the celebrities whose names will appear in the ballots today: It’s Showtime host Jhong Hilario is taking his “sample” as councilor of Makati City; Dan Fernandez, vice-governor of Laguna; Daniel Fernando, vice governor of Bulacan; Jukebox queen Imelda Papin, running for Congress represnting a district in Camarines Sur; Roderick Paulate, councilor, 2nd district of Quezon City; Jomari Yllana, councilor of 1st district Parañaque; Ronnie Rickets for congressman of Muntinlupa; Monsour del Rosario seeking reelection as councilor for the first legislative district of Makati; movie producer and MMFF regular E.R. Ejercito running for governor in Laguna; and Star Magic talent and Are You The Next Big Star? contestant Alex Castro, councilor reelectionist in a Bulacan town; and cross-dressing comedian/host Inday Garutay running for councilor in San Juan City.

Inday Garutay is running for councilor in San Juan City

m onDAy : m Ay 9, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

ElEKSyon 2016 CuttIng-EDgE onlInE InfoRmAtIon SouRCE

eading broadcast company GMA Network is taking its Eleksyon 2016 special coverage a step higher to complement its comprehensive on-air coverage by harnessing technology to deliver the fastest, most relevant and accurate news and information through its official news portal, GMA News Online. In the spirit of Serbisyong Totoo, GMA New Media Incorporated (GMA NMI), the Network’s forerunner in technology, developed and launched several innovative features in GMA News Online’s Eleksyon 2016 microsite (www.gmanews.tv/eleksyon2016) to provide the public with information and intuitive tools that can help them before, during, and after the polls. The Eleksyon 2016 microsite has a “Find Your Precinct” section that voters can use to search for their respective polling precincts. This feature provides the public the convenience of knowing their precincts ahead of time. Since the use of mobile devices is prohibited in the precincts on election day, GMA News Online offers “My Kodigo,” a customizable feature that lets a voter select his preferred candidates and generate a printable list to serve as a guide inside the polling precinct. GMA News Online has partnered with traffic and navigation app Waze to help voters get to their polling precinct by providing directions through “My Voting Journey.” After casting his votes, the user can let his friends know by sharing his photo on social media. This add-on to the “Find Your Precinct” feature is exclusively accessible via the GMA News Online mobile app. GMA News Online also features an Emoji Meter that allows users to rate their overall voting experience through the use of emojis. Throughout the whole day, this will provide an assessment of the general

public’s voting experience based on the emojis they submitted. In partnership with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), GMA News Online and GMA New Media are all set to publish the most comprehensive election count. Data both from the national and local elections will be shown as soon as these are available and will come from the transparency server

of the COMELEC to ensure veracity. The number of Election Returns (ERs) processed from the data provided by COMELEC, as well as voter turnout as of a specific time, will also be made available. This feature bolsters efforts to assure the transparency and integrity of the election count. Netizens can also drill the results down to the Barangay and Clustered Precinct lev-

els allowing them to determine how their respective communities voted. The information will be available on the website and on the GMA News Online mobile app, accessible through handheld devices running on both Android and iOS. At the same time, the GMA News Online page includes a “Smart Search” segment that enables users to search for a specific candidate, place, or position to view the election results. If an online user inadvertently misspells a candidate’s name or location, Smart Search will help him find what he is looking for. Voters can also keep track of certain candidates via the “Favorites” feature of the site. Regardless of position and location, one may tag each candidate as a favorite so he can just refer to a single page for a list of all candidates that he wants to track. In collaboration with GMA News and Public Affairs, GMA NMI offers a pioneering technology on the website referred to as the 360-degree livestream of the GMA headquarters on the day of the polls. The 360-degree feature allows the user to control the view of the video stream to see any area of the GMA Headquarters, enabling netizens to virtually partake of the action happening behind the scenes. Using a proprietary technology developed by GMA NMI, GMA News Online takes the Eleksyon 2016 coverage to a whole new level by offering an innovation that is the first of its kind in the country, and one of the firsts in the world. Today, the public can also view the live stream of GMA News TV on GMA News Online. This will also be accessible during the next few days after the elections. On-air and online, GMA Network continues to blaze the trail in media coverage, making the dissemination of news and information fast, reliable, accurate, and widely accessible to Filipinos here and abroad.

melai-Pokwang SKy widens access to ABS-CBn’s Halalan friendship on the rocks coverage SKY has widened Filipinos’ access to ABS-CBN’s comprehensive Halalan coverage by making it available on multimedia platforms. In partnership with ABSCBN, SKY makes available on its cable, direct-to-home, and video-on-demand platforms the Halalan coverage. “We want to empower Filipinos through easy access to news and information about the elections as it happens straight from ABSCBN News’ trusted programs using all forms of media anytime, anywhere,” Sky Cable Corporation CEO March Ventosa said. SKY subscribers can tune into ABS-CBN HD (SKYcable ch. 167 for Metro Manila; ch. 700 for regional; SKYdirect ch. 2), ANC (SKYcable ch. 182 HD and 27 SD for Metro Manila; ch. 706 HD or 502 SD for regional; SKYdirect ch. 26), and DZMM Teleradyo (SKYcable ch. 26 for Metro Manila; ch. 501 for regional; SKYdirect ch. 6) -channels that are available to SKYcable and SKYdirect subscribers nationwide for the extensive coverage about the elections anchored and led by the network’s roster of seasoned journalists. Meanwhile, Filipinos who want to assess once more the platforms of the presidential

Maricel’s (Melai Cantiveros) friendship with Wilma (Pokwang) is about to get in trouble as she discovers that her best friend failed to fulfill her promise of not letting Pocholo (Carlo Aquino) in in her son’s life in Kapamilya afternoon series We Will Survive. Years have already passed but Maricel still has not found the courage to forgive Pocholo for abandoning her and their son without any reason. And her hatred for him will even intensify when she learns that Wilma broke her promise and let Pocholo have

the chance of knowing his son Jude while she was overseas. And so, Maricel will decide to end Pocholo’s communication with their son and will make sure he won’t see Jude (John Steven De Guzman) again. Will Maricel and Wilma’s friendship start to fall apart? How will Pocholo fight for his right as Jude’s father? More exciting scenes are set to surprise the viewers in We Will Survive weekdays after Tubig at Langis on ABS-CBN or on ABSCBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

and vice presidential candidates can still watch the Mindanao and Luzon legs of the Pilipinas Debates, ABS-CBN’s Harapan ng Bise, and oneon-one interviews of the vice presidential candidates on SKY On Demand, SKY’s video-ondemand platform. Through SKY On Demand, Filipinos can even watch live the Halalan 2016 coverage of ABSCBN HD, ANC HD, and DZMM Teleradyo on multiple devices wherever they are or catch it ondemand shortly after it airs on TV. SKYcable and SKYbroadband subscribers can access ABS-CBN HD and DZMM Teleradyo for free on SKY On Demand, while ANC HD is accessible to subscribThe socio-political movie dIYOS-DIYOSAn has ers with ANC on their current cable plan using a SKYbroadband earned the nod of various religious groups. Through their respective endorsement letters, Bishor SKYmobi internet connection. Meanwhile, SKYbroadband or SKYmobi subscribers who don’t have a SKYcable subscription, can still access ABS-CBN channels and TV shows on SKY On Demand. To stream videos anytime, visit www.skyondemand.com.ph or download the mobile app. Become vigilant, empowered voters by watching ABS-CBN News’ comprehensive Halalan Socio-political/spiritual “dIyoS-DIyoSAn’ stars John Prats 2016 coverage on SKY. and Pincess Punzalan

Pokwang

melai Cantiveros

Viewers may also catch up on the program’s past episodes on iWanTV.com and onskyondemand. com.ph for Sky subscribers.

Religious groups endorse ‘dIyoS-DIyoSAn’ op Broderick S. Pabillo D.D. (Chairman, CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity), Bishop Noel A. Pantoja (Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches) and Bishop Daniel A. Balais (National Chairman, Intercessors for the Philippines) encouraged their followers to watch the movie and share its inspiring message. The movie, which stars John Prats, Princess Punzalan, Kiko Estrada, Tirso Cruz III, Cheska Diaz, Ryza Cenon and many others, has been commended for its relevant and timely role in promoting spiritual and moral values as a powerful catalyst for social change. It is hoped that these fundamental values eventually inspire Filipino moviegoers to make better and more informed choices for the coming May 9 elections. Diyos-DIYOSAn is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.

m oNDAy : m Ay 9, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ DO cElEbRITIEs makE pOlITIcs lOOk gOOD? “

politics is just show business for ugly people —american actress

”

by NIckIE WaNg

ast month, an Emmy Award-winning actress who currently stars in an American political satire comedy series, jested about politics being almost the same as showbiz. She said her experience of both worlds has taught her that the similarities outweigh the differences. And she even continued gushing: “Politics is just show business for ugly people.” For the American actress it was just a joke, like the series she is part of, we have to take it at face value. Nothing really serious. While, it’s true that politics hardly shows any difference from showbiz, the first has turned into a landscape where showbiz personalities are no longer content being just endorsers. They are now at the forefront selling themselves as public servants.

Vicente sotto The comedian known as the one-third of TVJ, is running for senator yet again. In Sotto’s last 24 years as a politician, he has spent three six-year terms (1992 to 1998, 1998 to 2004, and 2010 to present) as senator, and two years serving as chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board under the Office of the President. Most of all, he’s popularly known as the senator that holds office on the set of Eat Bulaga.

alma moreno Alma matters to those who enjoyed her shows like The Other Side of Alma, Rated A and Loveli-Ness where she comfortably displayed her figure in sexy, high-cut skimpy outfit called “tangga.” She ran for mayor in Parañaque in 2004 but lost. In 2007, she was elected as councilor in the same city, and was re-elected in 2010. In 2012, she became the first female National President of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL). You see, she’s not inexperienced after all. But are her experiences enough for her to win a seat in the Senate?

Certainly, Joseph Ejercito-Estrada is by far the most successful showbiz personality to ever get elected into office. If not because of that one faithful day when he was ousted from the Malacañang, he would have been a perfect prototype of successful celebrities who crossed over from silver screen to political arena. Now, the so-called Mayor-President is seeking re-election in Manila and today, he expects that electorate in the capital will cast their votes to keep him in power. Erap is just one of those showbiz personalities brave enough to set their feet on the crazy and oftentimes filthy world of politics. And today, while millions of Filipinos are out to exercise their right to suffrage, we are giving a look at a few of Erap’s successors who decided politics is their next battle after abandoning their crazy bouts against gossips and dwindling showbiz careers.

Vilma santos In 1998, she entered politics and ran for mayor of Lipa City, Batangas where she won three consecutive elections, becoming the city’s first female mayor. Ate Vi became Governor in 2007 and once again became the first female governor of the province. The Star for All Season was reelected Governor of the province in May 2010 and 2013. Today, the multi-awarded actress is joining millions of people who will exercise their right to suffrage while she seeking a congressional seat representing the lone district of Lipa.

Edu manzano Following a three-year term as Vice Mayor, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for Mayor of Makati City in 2001, losing to Jejomar Binay. With no political machinery (just his popularity as an actor), no one could have guessed that the actor-host would continue his dream to become a national leader until he filled his COC to be a Senator.

Joseph Ejercito Estrada seeks reelection as mayor in manila

alfred Vargas Before he started wearing pleated trousers and white barong, the actor was donning provocative and skimpy bikinis leaving almost nothing to someone’s imagination. Now, the 36-year-old former Bikini Open star is running for another term as congressman. He’s running without opposition in his district in Quezon City.

manny pacquiao As a sports legend, Pacman was on a rocket path to success and respectability. He has endorsed politicians outside the country but the same thing obviously didn’t happen when he was defeated in the election in 2007. He aimed to represent the 1st District of South Cotabato province but lost. Now a religious fundamentalist, the boxing superstar wants to be like his fellow celebrities like Bong Revilla, Tito Sotto and Lito Lapid, you know, as a Senator. continued on c6