The Standard - 2016 May 15 - Sunday

VOL. XXX NO. 92 3 Sections 24 Pages P18 SUNDAY : MAY 15, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

DIGONG GETS MEDIA FOCUS

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‘NBC OFF-LIMITS TO SMARTMATIC’

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Vito Barcelo

AFTER it learned that its technology supplier Smartmatic-TIM tampered with its transparency server without authorization, the Commission on Elections ordered its automated election system provider to stay away from the canvassing and consolidation system.

Comelec Commissioner Robert Lim wrote Smartmatic general manager Elie Moreno to stress that only the National Board of Canvassers, which will count the votes for senators and party-list congressmen, should have control over the CCS at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

“As a precautionary measure in the midst of numerous con-

cerns and speculations as to the integrity of the [CCS] being used for the 2016 National and Local Elections, please be reminded that the [NBC] has sole and absolute control over the CCS workstation located at the [PICC],” the letter read.

“Henceforth, access to the same shall be subject to strict protocols.

Your personnel shall not be allowed access to the same unless

with specific prior authority from the NBC or the Project Monitoring Office,” Lim said.

“In any case, access to the same shall always be under the direct supervision of a duly designated Comelec personnel,” Lim told Moreno.

Lim also said Smartmatic has to secure his consent before examining any other equipment or system.

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OFFICIAL COUNT. Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista and Commissioner Arthur Lim preside over the National Board of Canvassers which is conducting the official count of the May 9 elections at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. On Saturday, the NBC had received 90,594, or 96.62 percent, of the total 93,754 election returns. EY ACASIO

ALL SET FOR RIO GAMES

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MARCOS VOWS TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION

By Maricel V. Cruz, Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo THE camp of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday vowed to exhaust all legal actions possible to expose to the Filipino people the orchestrated attempt of the Aquino administration to rig the recent elections to favor administration candidates.

“We will take every available legal action to ensure that the votes of BBM are properly counted and protected; also to have those responsible for this faux pas to be held accountable for their misdeed,” said Marcos’ campaign manager Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz stressed the need for government agencies, including Con-

gress, to investigate the alleged security breach when a Smartmatic official altered a script in the server of the Commission on Elections.

“It is all our desire to search for truth. We want to know what happened during the last elections,” Dela Cruz said, stressing that as a Filipino citizen and member of Congress, it Next page

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CHINA TACTICS COERCIVE—US ‘NBC...

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“Finally, in the spirit of utmost transparency follow the protocol of announcing any action to all parties present before undertaking the same,” he added.

Lim wrote the letter after Commissioner Rowena Guanzon scored Smartmatic for altering or inserting a script in the transparency server that is the source of the partial and unofficial election results that are being reported in media.

While Smartmatic project director Marlon Garcia admitted they inserted a script in the transparency server without the authorization of the Comelec, but insisted that the alteration was only “minor” and “cosmetic.”

“There was no results changed, okay? It’s very important to keep that in mind. Only the ‘ñ’ replacing the ‘?’ All the votes for Candidate A were still there, all the votes for Candidate B, everything remained the same,” he said.

“There may have been no damage in terms of alteration of the results, but there is certainly some effects because now people are anxious,” said Guanzon, who demanded that the poll agency conduct a formal investigation of the incident to identify the possible liabilities of Smartmatic.

“They should not have

MARCOS...

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is only proper that the unauthorized script alterations be investigated.

Meanwhile, National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) council member Maricor Acol said she believed there was some “hocus pocus” committed to manipulate the election results.

“Even if there was a change in the hash code [of the transparency server], there was no change in the value of election returns as far as we are concerned… They should look at the VCM which transmits the results of the election receipts,” Acol said.

Acol said that what should be examined also is the hash code of vote counting machines instead of the transparency server.

She also said that apart from the transparency server, there is also an “intermediary server” which contains the information

touched that program without our prior knowledge and our official consent... It’s our property, its not their property,” she added.

“This was unauthorized.

That initiative to change a ‘minor’ thing did not come from the Comelec, it came from them,” Guanzon said.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Guanzon said Smartmatic may even be banned from participating in future elections in the country, especially after an earlier problem over the malfunction of at least 2,363 vote counting machines (VCMs) that the Comelec leased from the company.

Comelec Commissioner Luie Guia had earleir said the poll body is reviewing its terms of reference with Smartmatic, which supplied 92,509 VCMs for the elections, so the government would not have to pay for the VCMs that malfunctioned since they were not used.

There have already been moves in Congress, like the proposal of Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, seeking a House of Representatives probe on the issue of the malfunctioning of the VCMs even before the script alteration controversy arose.

In the Senate, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Poll Automation, also asked the Comelec to withhold

the unpaid balance for the lease of the 98,000 vote counting machines supplied by Smartmatic.

Nonetheless, Smartmatic issued a statement saying the Philippines can be proud that it holds the record for having the largest manufacturing and deployment of VCMs not only in Asia but in the whole world.

“I can’t tell you how proud and fulfilled I feel now knowing that I’ve been part of such an amazing and historic accomplishment,” Garcia said in an internal memo to all its employees and technicians.

Garcia said the Philippines can now call itself a leader in automated elections because it configured almost 100,000 VCMs in just a month, recruited 45,000 field technicians in less than three months, deployed the biggest BGAN in the world, set up a call center with more than 700 operators in one month, set up a private election network and three data centers in only one month.

Garcia also noted Smartmatic also supervised the printing of 56,000,000 ballots in just 49 days.

But lawyer Harry Roque, who has been a critic of Smartmatic since 2009, welcomed Guanzon’s insistence on a probe.

“Smartmatic must be investigated and held liable for the unauthorized and patently illegal change in the server script,” said

Harry Roque, who said the Comelec’s credibility has been put in question despite an otherwise orderly election.

Roque, who is a professor of law at the University of the Philippines, said that the change the Smartmatic introduced was cosmetic is not the crux of the matter.

“The point is that the script was changed, and without authorization at that. If Smartmatic was able to freely change the script without Comelec’s prior approval, any result can now be changed by them. If one character can be changed, so can others,” he said.

He said Smartmatic made a serious security breach, one that should not have been allowed and one that they should be held liable for.

Meanwhile, computer experts slammed the modification of the hash code in Comelec’s election transparency server as this has cast doubts on the integrity of the election results and could even be tantamount to electoral sabotage.

Toti Casino, board member of the Philippine Computer Society, agreed with Roque and said the matter should be probed further to restore public confidence in the electoral system.

“All of this are manifestations that there is a high vulnerability to fraud within the source code or within the election system, which now needs to be secured and subject to investigation,” Casino said.

on the transmitted ballots and the time these ballots were transmitted.

But this intermediary server is under the custody of the Smartmatic, Acol said, criticizing Smartmatic officials for the security breach.

For his part, Alyansang Duterte-Bongbong (AlDuB) convenor Lito Soriano said the existence of an “intermediary server” under the supervision of Smartmatic bolsters suspicions that there was indeed a deliberate attempt to manipulate the Comelec quick count.

Soriano said that the “intermediary server” was “very dangerous” as it is prone to manipulation.

“If this server is in the custody of Smartmatic, we can say that the results of the vote count has already been compromised,” Soriano said.

Meanwhile, Marcos himself thanked his volunteers and supporters, who he said, deserve commendation for helping him in the campaign in the last general elections.

“I want to profusely

thank our volunteers and our supporters for their selfless act of giving their time and effort in helping ensure free, honest and credible elections,” he said.

Marcos earlier urged the Comelec to stop the ongoing quick count of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) after reports of the script alteration.

The senator said the prayers and words of encouragement of his volunteers and supporters nationwide continue to inspire him to keep on seeking the truth.

“I also thanked the people who continue praying for me and I assure you that you will be my inspiration to continue the fight for the votes of the Filipinos,” said Marcos.

Marcos appealed for continued vigilance not only from his supporters but also from the election watchdogs as well, as he cited reports that as of Friday over 3,800 Vote Counting Machines still could not transmit election results.

“With a considerable number of votes that have yet to be transmitted we have to remain vigilant, yet calm and sober, to ensure that the true will of the people will be reflected in the results of the elections,” he said.

Marcos said a total of 555 VCMs from polling precincts in the Middle East and Africa still have to transmit results, 310 from North and Latin America, 339 from Asia and 152 from Europe.

These VCMs, he added, should supposedly account for around 980,000 registered voters.

“Likewise, 333 VCMs from Lanao del Sur still need to transmit election results, 207 from Surigao del Sur, 158 in Maguindanao and 160 in Sulu.”

“I will rest when I am satisfied that the results that are being counted, that are official, are actually validated by the results as we can certainty confirm it from local reports that we get from the different precincts,” Marcos said.

WASHINGTON—China is using “coercive tactics” and fostering regional tensions as it expands its maritime presence in the South China Sea and elsewhere, but is avoiding triggering an armed conflict, the Pentagon said Friday.

In an annual report to Congress, the Defense Department outlined China’s rapid military growth and described how it is assertively defending sovereignty claims across the contested East China Sea and South China Sea. Last year, for instance, China deployed coast guard and PLA Navy ships in the South China Sea to maintain a “near-continuous” presence there.

And in the East China Sea, Beijing deployed planes and maritime law-enforcement ships to patrol near a chain of islands known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese.

“China is using coercive tactics... to advance their interests in ways that are calculated to fall below the threshold of provoking conflict,” the report states.

When asked to describe China’s coercive tactics, Abraham Denmark, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, told reporters that Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels sometimes act in an “unprofessional” manner.

They do so “in the vicinity of the military forces or fishing vessels of other countries in a way that’s designed to attempt to establish a degree of control around disputed features,” Denmark told reporters.

“These activities are designed to stay below the threshold of conflict, but gradually demonstrate and assert claims that other countries dispute,” he added.

China claims nearly all of the strategically vital South China Sea, even waters close to Southeast Asian neighbors including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, which have competing claims.

Central to China’s claims are its land-reclamation efforts that have seen tiny islets, reefs and other maritime features built into military facilities.

The Pentagon report included dramatic photos of these contentious islands, including the Fiery Cross Reef Outpost, located between the Philippines and Vietnam.

Since 2014, China has turned a sandy blip in the ocean into an island stretching more than two miles (three kilometers,) complete with a lengthy runway.

China’s land reclamation efforts in an area known as the Spratly Islands have added 3,200 acres (1,295 hectares) of land to the sev-

en features it occupies, the report states.

Beijing last year paused land-reclamation efforts and began focusing on “infrastructure development” of the islets.

The United States insists China’s claims have no basis under international law, and the US military has conducted several “freedom of navigation” operations, where ships and planes pass close to the sites claimed by China.

Such missions have drawn howls of anger from Beijing, which accuses the United States of provocation and of increasing the risk of a military mishap.

The US Navy maintains a strong presence in the South China Sea, and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has twice in recent months pointedly visited US aircraft carriers deployed in the waterway.

“Recent land reclamation activity has little legal effect, but will support China’s ability to sustain longer patrols in the South China Sea,” the report notes.

China’s ambitions extend far beyond its immediate region. In November, Beijing announced it was establishing a military facility in Djibouti.

This “likely reflects [a] more global outlook, as it will be utilized to sustain the PLA Navy’s operations at greater distances from China,” the report notes.

Additionally, China is “expanding its access to foreign ports to pre-position the necessary logistics support to regularize and sustain deployments in the ‘far seas.’”

China has the secondlargest military budget after the United States, and over the past two decades has increased spending annually.

In 2015, its official military budget was $144 billion, though the true number is thought to be even higher.

The Pentagon’s 2016 budget is about $585 billion.

Much of China’s military money is going towards the development of its conventionally armed missile capability, “as well as groundand air-launched land-attack cruise missiles, special operations forces, and cyber warfare capabilities to hold targets at risk throughout the region,” the report states.

While critical of some of China’s military tactics, the Pentagon said it hopes to continue building a “sustained and substantive” military-to-military relationship with China. AFP

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DIGONG GETS MEDIA FOCUS FIVE days after the May 9 elections, president-in-waiting Rodrigo Duterte caught international media attention with the cover of TIME Magazine and his first foreign media editorial from Singapore.

Uncharacteristically wearing a sports coat, Duterte smiled for his TIME cover which was entitled “The Punisher: Why Rodrigo Duterte is the Philippines’ new leader.”

The magazine, which will be available on May 23, outlined the reasons why the public compared Duterte to Trump.

The author Charlie Campbell explained the similarities between their tactless remarks, honesty and record of bad publicity, but also stressed that comparisons are exaggerated.

In Singapore, the city-state’s biggest newspaper, The Straits Times, published the first foreign editorial on president-in-waiting Rodrigo Duterte, urging the Davao City mayor “not to drop the ball” since Filipinos are already weary with status quo politics and graft.

The largely pro-government daily broadsheet, with a circulation of more than 300,000 readers, said in a May 14 editorial that Duterte’s victory shows “the draw charismatic leaders bearing tall promises have on electorates wearied of graft, the inefficiency of institutions and widening income disparities.”

The Straits Times appeared to be an admirer of President Benigno Aquino III, whom it credited with the country’s economic growth.

“Now that the election is over, attention will focus on what happens to the Philippines on his watch. Mr Duterte cannot complain that he inherited a poisoned chalice,” the editorial read.

“The economy he inherits from President Benigno Aquino is a strong one... Once the ‘Sick Man of Asia’, the Philippines, under Mr. Aquino, has indeed become a star in the region,” it added.

“Mr. Duterte’s task is to not drop the ball, even if he finds it difficult to outpace Mr. Aquino’s track record. The highly literate, Englishspeaking nation of some 100 million needs policies that promote not only growth, but employment as well,” the paper said.

SPECIAL ELECTIONS. Soldiers serve as election inspectors and applies indelible ink on the finger of a voter from Binidayan, Lanao del Sur during the special elections that were held in 11 provinces across the country on Saturday. AFP PHOTO

ANTIQUE, LANAO SUR POLLS MOVED ANEW

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

ALTHOUGH the special elections in 11 provinces on Saturday were generally peaceful, the Commission on Elections again moved the polls in Antique and Lanao del Sur to Monday due to security and logistical problems.

In a press briefing, Comelec Commissioner Arthur Lim said two precincts in Antique lacked ballots while the polls in Lanao del Sur was again postponed because of a ballot snatching incident In a resolution promulgated on May 14, the Commission en banc cited the report of its National Operations Support Center that precincts in Barangay Mabuyong in Anini-y, Antinque and Barangay Insubuan in San Remigio, Antique lacked 268 and 34 ballots, respectively.

“Special elections for certain

precincts of Antique is set on May 16, from 5 a.m to 6 p.m.,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

In Tamparan, Lanao del Sur, Jimenez said, the special polls was also moved due to a ballot snatching incident at some precincts.

Nonetheless, a total of 19,791 voters were able to cast their ballots during the special elections.

These are areas in: Cordova, Cebu; Maitum, Sarangani; Sta. Cruz, Marinduque; Lope de Vega, Northern Samar; Matuguinao, Western Samar; Binidayan, Pata, Sulu; Pan-

glima Estino, Sulu; Tamparan, Lanao del Sur; Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; Loreto, Agusan del Sur; and Hinigaran, Negros Occidental.

The military and police were employed as election inspectors in most of the areas after public school teachers did not show up for the May 9 elections amid security threats or logistical problems.

Special elections in Sulu, Sultan Kudarat, and Lanao del Sur have been peaceful so far, the military’s spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said on Saturday.

Padilla said the Joint Task Force Sulu are overseeing the security in the area while Joint Task Force Central is on top of the special elections being conducted in Barangay Katuli in Sultan Kudarat.

A total of 18,504 voters were affected by the declaration of failure of elections in certain areas in the country, according to Comelec

Commissioner Christian Robert Lim who announced the updated number during the ongoing canvassing of votes by the National Board of Canvassers at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Through Resolution No. 10129, the Commission on Elections on Wednesday first declared a failure of elections in 52 clustered precincts, with a total of 17,657 voters, in Cebu, Sarangani, Marinduque, Antique, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Lanao del Sur and Sulu.

The following day, the Comelec again issued another resolution for failure of elections in three other villages, with 2,134 voters, in Maguindanao, Agusan del Sur and Negros Occidental.

The poll body directed police and military forces to “intensify efforts to ensure” the peaceful conduct of the special elections.

COMELEC CREATES AUDIT BODY FOR OFFICIAL COUNT

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

FIRE RELIEF. The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., FilipinoChinese Chamber of Commerce of Mandaluyong Inc. and a group of Filipino-Chinese associations conducted relief operations for the victims of a big fire in Mandaluyong City that left hundreds of families homeless. The relief team was headed by FFCCCII board member and social responsibility project committee chairman Antonio Cosing, FFCCCII welfare committee co-chairman Bonifacio Lui; FFCCCII welfare committee vice chairman Robert Kho Tian Ang and FCCCMI president John Lim.

THE Commission on Elections will create a subcommittee to audit the official count of votes cast in the May 9 elections to dispel doubts of cheating, Comelec Commissioner Arthur Lim said Saturday.

Lim said the commission decided to create a subcommittees to compare the hard printed copies as delivered by the provincial election supervisors and the generated certificates of canvass as well as the statement of votes per municipality.

“This is to determine if any municipality has been omitted from the certificate of canvass,” Lim said, adding that the subcommittee will start auditing everything today, Sunday.

“The parties will be given the opportunity to review the printed COCs as against the hard copies of the COCs, and the statement of votes per municipalities,” Lim said.

Aside from the subcommittee, the Comelec will do a manual tabulation for the purpose of generating the certificate of canvass for the positions of senator and party-list congressman.

“What we will do is similar to a statement of votes per province,” he said, adding the first statement will contain all the votes, whether automated or manual.

The second statement, he said, will contain all the votes broken down per province or highly urbanized city, or local absentee voting, or detainee voting.

The subcommittee will also prepare a third statement consolidating the two votes from both statements.

“And that will be the basis of the certificate of canvass, and as well as the basis for the certificate of proclamation,” Lim said.

Lim assured that this auditing process will only take two days.

The Comelec announced on Friday it is looking to proclaim the winners of 12 senators either on Tuesday or Thursday.

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OPINION

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THERE’S NO RULE BOOK FOR ERADICATING CORRUPTION

[ EDI TORI A L ]

By Leonid Bershidsky

DICTATED

BY THE WEATHER THE past several months were tough—and we don’t mean in politics.

The El Niño phenomenon wrought so much suffering on millions of Filipinos. More than the punishing heat that people experienced, the drought brought unimaginable damage on the livelihood of our already beaten farmers.

It heightened the tragic irony of food producers not having anything to eat.

With the coming of the rainy season comes not so much relief but yet more reasons to worry.

Pagasa this week set up a “La Niña Watch” to remind people to prepare for the opposite of drought, which may be equally damaging to lives and livelihood of Filipinos especially those in vulnerable areas.

We know this too well already because we experience it year after year, although perhaps more intensely and devastatingly in recent ones. The changing climate has the capacity to brew stronger and more frequent weather patterns. Such, experts say, is the “new normal.”

The looming shift in the weather coincides with the transition from an old to a new administration. Of the old, we have seen how disaster risk reduction and management has become a buzzword out of firsthand experience: the national and local governments as well as communities have established DRRM practices, but in varying degrees, often depending on the leaders’ priorities.

The incoming administration has drafted an agenda that includes improving the country’s viability as a destination for long-term investment. Ultimately, the objective is to make nominal income growth inclusive as well, so that more Filipinos can observe some improvement in their economic lives and have more options for their children.

This, however, would be meaningless if modest gains are washed away by a single episode of typhoon and flooding, setting back communities by years, if not decades.

The new administration should ensure local governments and communities across the country are equally resilient in the face of disaster in whatever form.

Especially so in emergencies, nobody should be left behind.

FEELING THE HATE RENEE Julienne Karunungan recently took responding to online harassment to a new level. She filed a case against her online bashers at the height of the bitter campaign period for the just-concluded elections.

It’s a development that bears watching even as we “move on” from the acrimonious exchanges that became the norm in the past few weeks.

The twenty-something graduate of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, climate director of the non-government organization Dakila and environment advocate wrote in her blog, just after the March presidential debates, that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

ADELLE CHUA

would be a lazy choice for the voters.

At that time, Duterte anchored his campaign on eradicating criminality and corruption in just a few months by executing the criminals.

He also said, pertaining to climate change negotiations, that the United Nations was a hypocrite and that we cannot do without coal-fired power plants. We are, after all, not historical carbon emitters.

As soon as Karunungan posted the entry in her blog, it became viral.

“They want to protect their chosen candidate, which I understand. But sometimes to a fault,” she said.

And what excesses did the protective supporters commit. Over the next few weeks, Karunungan received the vilest of comments from people she did not know—people who threatened to rape her and massacre her family. Her “filtered” Face-

A unifying leader will call on his constituents, whether they voted for him or not, to respect each other’s opinion and engage each other constructively. book messages—those coming from users who are not in her friends list

—numbered in the hundreds.

In those nasty messages, references were made to her body. She was cursed at, and was told she resisted the change that the candidate wanted to offer the country. She was accused of being an attention whore.

These were certainly not along the lines of banter, or even jokes at her expense the way people would make fun of, say, an actress-turnedsenatorial candidate’s cluelessness.

This was different because Renee was told by different people that she would die.

In fact, one of the most threatening was a photo of a gun, which said: “Mag-ingat ka iha. May kalalagyan ka [Be careful. There is a place for you],” and yet another: “Malapit ka na namin matunton, iha [We are coming close to tracking you down].”

And so on May 2, the petite,

short-haired, bespectacled Karunungan went to the Commission on Elections and the Department of Justice to charge 20 supporters of Mayor Duterte, stressing that cyberbullying is a “violation of basic rights and a threat to democracy.”

The acts, she claimed, were in violation of the Revised Penal Code, the Cybercrime Law and the Omnibus Election Code.

Seeking legal relief was not her impulse. “At first, I did not know what to do and just laughed it off,” she said. “But the messages kept coming.” And then her friends, fellow development workers, all advised her to file first a police blotter, and then an actual case.

Since then, Karunungan has not backed down. She never thought of being silent. “They want people to be silent and I will not give them that

satisfaction, not without a fight.”

She has been, however, forced to vary her routines as advised by friends from human rights organizations.

••• Karunungan’s is just one of the numerous cases of vicious hatred that permeated this campaign. Over social media, especially, the negativity was so unbelievable that you could not believe ordinary human beings could make cruel statements or illogical arguments.

Now the elections are practically over and the country will be preoccupied with transitioning from one administration to the next.

Many have sounded the call to “move on.” But must we only go from one chapter to the next without a takeaway from the previous episode?

In Karunungan’s case, “moving on” may

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be mistaken for conveniently forgetting all the vexation and fear created by the hate mail. Now that the honeymoon for the new administration is about to begin, she may be accused of being fixated on what had happened to her in the past and refusing to continue with the next phase.

This is not something she is prepared to do. What she wants is to drive home a point.

“Maybe we can have better conversations without threatening someone. Maybe we can respect human rights again...maybe we can be better people. That’s the message I want to put across.”

People cannot have the same opinion all the time. We disagree even with members of our immediate family, our closest friends.

How much more with strangers?

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A unifying leader will call on his constituents, whether they voted for him or not, to respect each other’s views and engage each other constructively. They may debate and argue, sure, but first there is the acknowledgment that each person has inherent rights to develop their own opinion, to express these positions and to be secure in their person without the threat coming from those who think differently.

Finally, he will make it clear that it is just plain wrong to punish anybody in any form just for uttering what she thinks or feels.

Mr. Duterte, if he is to be the leader we expect him to be in the next six years, should elevate the level discourse, not doom it to the gutter. adellechua@gmail.com

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UK PRIME Minister David Cameron’s anticorruption summit coincided with the release of an International Monetary Fund staff paper that explains why corruption is bad for economies and suggests ways to eradicate it.

But neither these recommendations nor those expressed at the forum will do much to fix the developing world’s problems. That would require much more than better anti-graft laws and dogged enforcement.

At the forum, much was made of international efforts to recover stolen wealth, and of transparency in general. Cameron hopes to erase London’s reputation as a haven for corrupt fortunes. He wants all foreign companies that own real estate in the UK to declare their assets in a public register. I doubt that will be very useful: In most cases, such declarations won’t contain anything but a list of London properties, and the names of beneficiary owners either won’t mean anything to anyone or will belong to people with legitimate businesses.

Asset recovery is tricky: For starters, the owners must be sentenced by a court of law. In corrupt countries, however, courts are among the most rotten institutions. The European Union has been forced to remove associates of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from its sanctions lists after the Ukrainian justice system failed to nab them.

The IMF’s “mitigating strategies” for corruption also center on transparency, enhancing the rule of law, building institutions and trying patiently to change social norms in corrupt societies. These are all well-known recommendations that some of the most corrupt regimes in the world have mockingly applied.

Russia has a transparent, electronic government procurement system that would be the envy of many a country if the “right” companies weren’t winning all the tenders, anyway.

Ukraine has not one but three bodies charged with fighting graft—the National Anti-Corruption bureau, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention and the Specialized AntiCorruption Prosecutor’s Office, but it’s still so corrupt that the IMF is withholding the latest tranche of its bailout package.

Kakha Bendukidze, whose reforms took the nation of Georgia from the 124th place in Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index in 2003 to 50th place today, recalled in an interview with Ukrainian journalist Vladimir Fedorin that he once attended a RAND Corporation-organized US-Russian business forum, attended by Donald Rumsfeld and Paul O’Neil, both of whom had leading roles in George W. Bush’s administration.

Bendukidze, known for his sharp wit, seized on an important issue: Western experts stress the institutional, legal and enforcement side, as if unaware that laws can be ignored, institutions subverted and enforcers can become the problem rather than the solution.

Bendukidze’s own solution was not of the kind recommended at international conferences or in IMF papers. “Liberalization and deregulation helped destroy corruption, and the destruction of corruption, in turn, helped liberalization and deregulation,” was how he described the process.

Bendukidze, who paid out millions of dollars in bribes while building a huge fortune in Russia, knew all the common schemes and many of the players when President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia appointed him minister for economic reform in 2004. Saakashvili had the biggest grafters jailed without much due Continued on A6 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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OPINION

EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

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THERE’S NO RULE BOOK FOR ERADICATING CORRUPTION

[ EDI TORI A L ]

By Leonid Bershidsky

DICTATED

BY THE WEATHER THE past several months were tough—and we don’t mean in politics.

The El Niño phenomenon wrought so much suffering on millions of Filipinos. More than the punishing heat that people experienced, the drought brought unimaginable damage on the livelihood of our already beaten farmers.

It heightened the tragic irony of food producers not having anything to eat.

With the coming of the rainy season comes not so much relief but yet more reasons to worry.

Pagasa this week set up a “La Niña Watch” to remind people to prepare for the opposite of drought, which may be equally damaging to lives and livelihood of Filipinos especially those in vulnerable areas.

We know this too well already because we experience it year after year, although perhaps more intensely and devastatingly in recent ones. The changing climate has the capacity to brew stronger and more frequent weather patterns. Such, experts say, is the “new normal.”

The looming shift in the weather coincides with the transition from an old to a new administration. Of the old, we have seen how disaster risk reduction and management has become a buzzword out of firsthand experience: the national and local governments as well as communities have established DRRM practices, but in varying degrees, often depending on the leaders’ priorities.

The incoming administration has drafted an agenda that includes improving the country’s viability as a destination for long-term investment. Ultimately, the objective is to make nominal income growth inclusive as well, so that more Filipinos can observe some improvement in their economic lives and have more options for their children.

This, however, would be meaningless if modest gains are washed away by a single episode of typhoon and flooding, setting back communities by years, if not decades.

The new administration should ensure local governments and communities across the country are equally resilient in the face of disaster in whatever form.

Especially so in emergencies, nobody should be left behind.

FEELING THE HATE RENEE Julienne Karunungan recently took responding to online harassment to a new level. She filed a case against her online bashers at the height of the bitter campaign period for the just-concluded elections.

It’s a development that bears watching even as we “move on” from the acrimonious exchanges that became the norm in the past few weeks.

The twenty-something graduate of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, climate director of the non-government organization Dakila and environment advocate wrote in her blog, just after the March presidential debates, that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

ADELLE CHUA

would be a lazy choice for the voters.

At that time, Duterte anchored his campaign on eradicating criminality and corruption in just a few months by executing the criminals.

He also said, pertaining to climate change negotiations, that the United Nations was a hypocrite and that we cannot do without coal-fired power plants. We are, after all, not historical carbon emitters.

As soon as Karunungan posted the entry in her blog, it became viral.

“They want to protect their chosen candidate, which I understand. But sometimes to a fault,” she said.

And what excesses did the protective supporters commit. Over the next few weeks, Karunungan received the vilest of comments from people she did not know—people who threatened to rape her and massacre her family. Her “filtered” Face-

A unifying leader will call on his constituents, whether they voted for him or not, to respect each other’s opinion and engage each other constructively. book messages—those coming from users who are not in her friends list

—numbered in the hundreds.

In those nasty messages, references were made to her body. She was cursed at, and was told she resisted the change that the candidate wanted to offer the country. She was accused of being an attention whore.

These were certainly not along the lines of banter, or even jokes at her expense the way people would make fun of, say, an actress-turnedsenatorial candidate’s cluelessness.

This was different because Renee was told by different people that she would die.

In fact, one of the most threatening was a photo of a gun, which said: “Mag-ingat ka iha. May kalalagyan ka [Be careful. There is a place for you],” and yet another: “Malapit ka na namin matunton, iha [We are coming close to tracking you down].”

And so on May 2, the petite,

short-haired, bespectacled Karunungan went to the Commission on Elections and the Department of Justice to charge 20 supporters of Mayor Duterte, stressing that cyberbullying is a “violation of basic rights and a threat to democracy.”

The acts, she claimed, were in violation of the Revised Penal Code, the Cybercrime Law and the Omnibus Election Code.

Seeking legal relief was not her impulse. “At first, I did not know what to do and just laughed it off,” she said. “But the messages kept coming.” And then her friends, fellow development workers, all advised her to file first a police blotter, and then an actual case.

Since then, Karunungan has not backed down. She never thought of being silent. “They want people to be silent and I will not give them that

satisfaction, not without a fight.”

She has been, however, forced to vary her routines as advised by friends from human rights organizations.

••• Karunungan’s is just one of the numerous cases of vicious hatred that permeated this campaign. Over social media, especially, the negativity was so unbelievable that you could not believe ordinary human beings could make cruel statements or illogical arguments.

Now the elections are practically over and the country will be preoccupied with transitioning from one administration to the next.

Many have sounded the call to “move on.” But must we only go from one chapter to the next without a takeaway from the previous episode?

In Karunungan’s case, “moving on” may

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be mistaken for conveniently forgetting all the vexation and fear created by the hate mail. Now that the honeymoon for the new administration is about to begin, she may be accused of being fixated on what had happened to her in the past and refusing to continue with the next phase.

This is not something she is prepared to do. What she wants is to drive home a point.

“Maybe we can have better conversations without threatening someone. Maybe we can respect human rights again...maybe we can be better people. That’s the message I want to put across.”

People cannot have the same opinion all the time. We disagree even with members of our immediate family, our closest friends.

How much more with strangers?

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A unifying leader will call on his constituents, whether they voted for him or not, to respect each other’s views and engage each other constructively. They may debate and argue, sure, but first there is the acknowledgment that each person has inherent rights to develop their own opinion, to express these positions and to be secure in their person without the threat coming from those who think differently.

Finally, he will make it clear that it is just plain wrong to punish anybody in any form just for uttering what she thinks or feels.

Mr. Duterte, if he is to be the leader we expect him to be in the next six years, should elevate the level discourse, not doom it to the gutter. adellechua@gmail.com

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UK PRIME Minister David Cameron’s anticorruption summit coincided with the release of an International Monetary Fund staff paper that explains why corruption is bad for economies and suggests ways to eradicate it.

But neither these recommendations nor those expressed at the forum will do much to fix the developing world’s problems. That would require much more than better anti-graft laws and dogged enforcement.

At the forum, much was made of international efforts to recover stolen wealth, and of transparency in general. Cameron hopes to erase London’s reputation as a haven for corrupt fortunes. He wants all foreign companies that own real estate in the UK to declare their assets in a public register. I doubt that will be very useful: In most cases, such declarations won’t contain anything but a list of London properties, and the names of beneficiary owners either won’t mean anything to anyone or will belong to people with legitimate businesses.

Asset recovery is tricky: For starters, the owners must be sentenced by a court of law. In corrupt countries, however, courts are among the most rotten institutions. The European Union has been forced to remove associates of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from its sanctions lists after the Ukrainian justice system failed to nab them.

The IMF’s “mitigating strategies” for corruption also center on transparency, enhancing the rule of law, building institutions and trying patiently to change social norms in corrupt societies. These are all well-known recommendations that some of the most corrupt regimes in the world have mockingly applied.

Russia has a transparent, electronic government procurement system that would be the envy of many a country if the “right” companies weren’t winning all the tenders, anyway.

Ukraine has not one but three bodies charged with fighting graft—the National Anti-Corruption bureau, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention and the Specialized AntiCorruption Prosecutor’s Office, but it’s still so corrupt that the IMF is withholding the latest tranche of its bailout package.

Kakha Bendukidze, whose reforms took the nation of Georgia from the 124th place in Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index in 2003 to 50th place today, recalled in an interview with Ukrainian journalist Vladimir Fedorin that he once attended a RAND Corporation-organized US-Russian business forum, attended by Donald Rumsfeld and Paul O’Neil, both of whom had leading roles in George W. Bush’s administration.

Bendukidze, known for his sharp wit, seized on an important issue: Western experts stress the institutional, legal and enforcement side, as if unaware that laws can be ignored, institutions subverted and enforcers can become the problem rather than the solution.

Bendukidze’s own solution was not of the kind recommended at international conferences or in IMF papers. “Liberalization and deregulation helped destroy corruption, and the destruction of corruption, in turn, helped liberalization and deregulation,” was how he described the process.

Bendukidze, who paid out millions of dollars in bribes while building a huge fortune in Russia, knew all the common schemes and many of the players when President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia appointed him minister for economic reform in 2004. Saakashvili had the biggest grafters jailed without much due Continued on A6 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THRILLS, CHILLS AND PENGUIN POO ON ANTARCTICA MISSION

By Roland Lloyd Parry PETERMANN ISLAND, Antarctica—Some say we journalists are full of it, so perhaps it was poetic justice that I ended my first day in Antarctica covered in excrement. It was all around as I tottered out of the dinghy onto the wet black rocks of Petermann Island. There was nowhere to put your bag down. The best spots were taken by penguins. Every other patch of level ground they had basted in their white and red “guano.” Penguin poo, in layman’s terms.

I laid the tripod bag down on the clearest spot I could find. I laid down my rucksack. I kneeled on the slimy ground in my windproof trousers. I fumbled the video camera out of its waterproof bag and went to work.

The brass in Paris had jokingly called it a “hardship mission”—10 days on a cruise in the Antarctic, enjoying the view, at the invitation of environmental campaigners. Anyone free? Reading the email in my shorts in sunny Montevideo, I was the first to hit “reply.” What could go wrong?

Film penguins, talk to boffins, write it up. Back in Montevideo before winter.

A few weeks later there I was, tripod in hand, slithering over the rocks. The camera hung around my neck like an albatross. I felt like an intruder on a strange planet.

It’s not just the eerie blue of the ancient icebergs and the inhuman scale of the mountains that make Antarctica feel like an alien land. It’s the feeling that you are outnumbered by other creatures that you don’t fully understand. They run on their own time. If they know you’re there, they don’t seem to care.

At sea one day, our guides summoned us to deck when a humpback whale was spotted to port. I clambered up to the bridge and squeezed in among my shipmates as they pointed their cameras and binoculars over the misty water.

There it was, heaving its white belly out of the depths and crashing back under in a shower of foam. I hit record.

The grey surface of the water stayed flat.

I stopped recording to save space on the memory card. There it was again, the white belly, the foam. I hit record, zoomed, swivelled the tripod. Too late.

Penguins at Deception Island AFP After half an hour, I had a few precious seconds of whale footage.

Meanwhile, I was sitting on the sand further along the bay, filming a pair of seals play-fighting on the shore. They turned and started lunging towards me, barking and thwacking themselves over the sand with their flippers. I scrambled to my feet and ran. We’d been warned those seals were grumpy. I hadn’t realized they could move so fast.

“It’s hard for people to understand, before they have experienced the Antarctic, what it is like to get so close to wildlife,” Kim Crosbie, head of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, told me.

“Everywhere else in the world, the animals have learned to be afraid of humans. It is important that they get an introduction to understanding animal behavior.”

I had shots of seals, whales and countless Gentoo penguins in the bag, when one day our guides pointed out another species, rarer in those parts. You know a Chinstrap penguin by the black stripe at his throat. Getting footage of one, I decided, would help illustrate my story about environmental threats and shifting penguin populations.

Leaving the heavy tripod behind, I hiked uphill through the snow to an outcrop where three Chinstraps were sheltering behind some rocks.

Antarctic tour regulations oblige you to keep five meters’ distance from the wildlife. I stooped, steadied the camera on my knees and zoomed through the fog.

The penguins had their beaks close to their chest feathers in the cold. “Chin up!” I said. “Let’s see your chinstraps!” I hit record. There was mist and snow over the black rocks.

The penguins blended in. They sat still, looking to my untrained eye just like any penguins. I struggled to make out their chins.

The species most crucial to my story was the most elusive of all. An inch-long crustacean, the krill, lives in the sea and is food for penguins, whales and seals. But unless you’re a fisherman with a trawling net it’s hard to get hold of any. The story was about how the penguins on the Antarctic peninsula were struggling to find enough krill to eat. We wondered how to get images of the wee chap.

On the last day of the cruise, a specialist on board gave a slideshow about Antarctic fishing. A close-up of a translucent grey krill appeared on the screen.

At last I relaxed. I had all the images I needed on film, along with interviews explaining what krill are for, and the difference between a Gentoo and a Chinstrap.

It was a rough voyage back to Argentina through the giant waves of the Drake Passage. The ship was heaving.

I took my hand off the camera and turned away from it as I took a deep breath. The boat rocked, the tripod tipped. The camera crashed to the floor.

Rolling around in my bunk at night, flat on my back to tame the seasickness, I read the British explorer Ernest Shackleton’s book about his doomed voyage to Antarctica in 1914.

In the days before Gore-Tex, he and his men survived for months camping on the ice after it swallowed their ship. They shot penguins and seals and ate them to survive.

You can’t do that any more. Shackleton’s was a different world from ours, but I was sure he had a lesson for me. We’re not great adventurers, we journalists, though we act like it. We pretend we know what we’re doing, even when we’re blinded by fog, tossed by waves, knee-deep in poo, staring into the dark water for a glimpse of a whale.

AFP

CHINA SHOULD WANT A STRONGER TAIWAN

By Adam Minter NEXT week’s inauguration of Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan’s new president has got China agitated. Tsai, leader of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, has so far refused to reiterate the formula used to dodge questions about Taiwan’s status—that there’s only “one China,” even if the two sides disagree about what that means. China has darkly warned that any breakdown in relations will be on Tsai’s head. It’s even threatening to cut off Taiwan’s access to the World Health Organization, one of the few global bodies in which the island is allowed to participate.

The threat itself isn’t surprising.

Ever since the United Nations voted in 1971 to kick out Taiwan and give its seat to China, the mainland has sought to block anything that might raise Taiwan’s international stature and thus imply that the island is a sovereign state, rather than just another Chinese province. The rest of the world has generally gone along, especially as China’s global clout has grown.

Yet given the challenges China itself faces—from the environment to public health to the economy—this strategy is looking increasingly counterproductive.

If anything, Chinese leaders should be promoting a Taiwan that’s more, not less engaged with the world.

A similar realization—albeit on a limited scale—is how Taiwan ended up working with the WHO in the first place. Back in 2003, as a deadly SARS outbreak swept the island, Taiwanese doctors were denied information, virus samples and even diagnostic tests because the island wasn’t a member of the WHO (which called the outbreak a “worldwide health threat”).

Even China eventually had to admit this was foolish and dangerous. Taiwan’s SARS cases were almost certainly imported from the mainland, which was then struggling to understand the disease; Taiwan’s far more advanced medical facilities would’ve been in a strong position to help. (At the time, Chinese doctors were under intense pressure to cover up their own outbreak.) To hinder the investigation and treatment of a potentially explosive epidemic just 100 miles off the Chinese coast bordered on medical malpractice.

In 2005, China secretly agreed to allow Taiwan to engage with WHO experts in health emergencies. Even then, it took another health scare—a 2009 outbreak of bird flu—before

China relented and allowed Taiwan to participate openly in WHO activities as an “observer” under the name “Chinese Taipei.” To this day, the Taiwanese medical community remains excluded from important WHO committees, limiting the island’s ability to serve as a kind of early-warning system for China.

Similarly, China’s insistence on excluding Taiwan from the recent Paris climate talks hardly helped its own efforts to reduce emissions.

For years, China has consciously modeled its environmental regulations (especially in waste management) on initiatives pioneered in Taiwan, a highly industrialized CO2 emitter. For its own sake, the island should continue to pursue innovative environmental solutions. But its leaders would have more incentive to do so if they were part of the international dialogue over how to address global warming. That in turn would be better for the air on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

China has a more mixed record when it comes to dealing with the Taiwanese economy. Taiwan joined the World Trade Organization in 2002, a year after the mainland did. But the prospect of Chinese opposition has successfully kept

Taiwan out of several regional trade agreements, including the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Perhaps some Chinese leaders imagine a weaker and more isolated Taiwanese economy will be more dependent on trade with the mainland.

In fact, China benefits immensely from Taiwan’s openness to the world.

In part because of those links, the island’s tech sector has grown into one of the globe’s most innovative and vibrant, both in designing products and the processes to produce them.

Much of that innovation makes its way, via companies such as Foxconn and semiconductor giant TSMC, to the mainland. Given the urgent need for China to move up the value chain as labor costs rise, it’s foolish to undermine such a profitable source of inspiration and technology.

For an increasingly nationalistic China, none of these arguments are likely to matter much when counted against the danger— however exaggerated—of Taiwanese independence. Before piling on the threats, though, mainland leaders might want to recall just what China gains from a vibrant and connected Taiwan, not what it supposedly loses.

Bloomberg

THERE’S NO... From A5 process and forced others to hand most of their fortunes to the state.

The process wasn’t grounded in legality by Western standards but, coupled with Bendukidze’s reductionist approach to government, it worked remarkably well.

Bendukidze’s theory was that to remove corruption, a government had to get rid of departments that it knew it could do without and reduce contact between citizens and government to a minimum. Thus, he closed down Georgia’s antitrust committee, which, he said, was doing little except taking bribes, and disbanded the notoriously venal traffic police. No one missed either, and monopolization or traffic chaos did not ensue. Georgian culture changed quickly, and the country didn’t slip in the Transparency rankings even after Bendukidze and Saakashvili were driven out of office. Georgia is now the cleanest country in the former Soviet bloc, but no other nation—including post-revolutionary Ukraine— has had the courage to adopt this draconian approach.

The economist Hernando De Soto regarded excessive bureaucracy as the root cause of corruption in the developing world. In post-Soviet states, some of the world’s most corrupt, the bureaucracy is mostly inherited from a time when cheating the state was a national pastime. It has been strengthened and streamlined to keep out the unconnected. So in these countries, corruption is both a traditional part of the social fabric and a mainstay of the regime.

The only way to beat it is to take the reins out of the bureaucrats’ hands, depriving them of any opportunity to collect a rent.

The IMF paper contains exactly three paragraphs about eliminating excessive regulation, but one of these stresses the importance of technology (electronic procurement again), and another warns that deregulation can “pose its own risks, particularly where the institutional framework is underdeveloped.”

These risks, according to the paper, are associated with the monopolies created by the fast post-Soviet privatization. The oligarchs who put together these conglomerates are pretty good at government capture.

Bendukidze’s approach to them was “play by the new rules or rot in jail,” but that can’t be part of any “institutional framework.”

Eradicating corruption in countries where it is the way of life can’t be achieved by following a rule book. Bendukidze’s method probably isn’t the only possible one, but no useful recipe can be based solely on recommendations from law-abiding, orderly Western societies: postCommunist states, and probably many in Africa and Asia, have deep traditions of subverting and mocking the systems and institutions of power.

According to the IMF, corruption costs the world $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion a year, or 2 percent of global economic output, mainly by undermining incentives for taxpayers to share their incomes with governments, increasing costs and undermining the quality of public spending, and stifling private investment and productivity. The losses mostly occur in the countries that can least afford them.

The West cannot do much to help, either in terms of enforcement or by offering advice. It’s up to each corrupt nation to rip up its bureaucracy and chase away its architects.

Bloomberg

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NEWS

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Navy acquires 2 New ships

By Florante S. Solmerin

The Philippine Navy will be having its first brandnew Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV) that will arrive from Indonesia on Monday to the Manila harbor, FlagOfficer-in-Command Vice Admiral Caesar Taccad said Saturday.

Taccad said the ship will be christened Barko Republika ng Pilipinas Tarlac. The vessel will be manned by 17 officers and 98 enlisted personnel during its voyage from Indonesia.

The vessel is first of the two ordered by the Navy from Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL (Persero) de-

clared as lone eligible bidder in August 2013 by the Bids and Awards Committee of the Department of National Defense.

Another bidder, Daewoo/Daesun Shipbuilding of South Korea, was declared ineligible.

The government allotted P4 billion for the two vessels but

PT PAL (Persero) got it only for P3,863,999,529. The first completed vessel was launched at the shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia in January 2016.

Defense and military insiders said the project was almost shelved then by some defense officials allegedly in favor of other equipment such as helmets, rifles and individual force protection.

“The SSVs are programmed to be the PN’s floating Command and Control especially in the conduct of humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response [hADR] and serving other purposes as military sealift and transport vessels. These vessels are also critical assets for civil-military

operations due to their capability of transporting large number of soldiers, logistics, and supplies. Moreover, each SSV has the capacity to house three helicopters,” Taccad said.

The vessels are a derivative of Indonesian Navy’s BanjamasinLPD (Landing Flatform Dock), which is reportedly was derivative from the Makassar-class LPD built by Daewoo/Daesun.

The vessel has a displacement of approximately 7,300 tons full load and having a length of 120 meters minimum. Its beam is 21 meters minimum and propulsion of at least 2 diesel engines coupled to 2 controllable pitch propellers.

Its speed is at least 13 knots cruis-

ing, at least 16 knots maximum (Range: 7,500nmi @ 13 knots).

The vessel can carry 2 Landing Craft Mechanized/Utility at floodable well decks, 2 RhIB or LCVP on Boat Davits, 500 troops, tanks, trucks and with a total payload of 2,800 tons minimum.

It is also equipped with navigation, surface search radar, air search radar, eW suite, electro-optical fire control system and combat management system. It has weapons such as 1 x gun (possibly between 40mm to 127mm) as primary and secondary weapon of 2 x 30mm automated cannons port and starboard sides (eO FCS controlled), and machine guns.

suspension order on rama, 13 city dads lifted

By Sara D. Fabunan The Commission on elections has ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government in Cebu to lift the suspension on Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and 13 other local officials.

A Comelec officials who refused to be named confirmed the letter sent to DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero.

The suspension order was imposed on Rama, Vice Mayor edgardo Labella and 12 councilors due to alleged anomalous release of calamity aid to City hall employees in 2013.

Rama served a 60-day preventive suspension that started four months ago.

Malacañang, under the office of Paquito Ochoa, has ordered the suspension of Rama, Labella, and 12 councilors over the calamity assistance to city government employees, who were allegedly not victims of the earthquake and Super Typhoon “Yolanda” that devastated the province of Cebu in 2013.

The allegations stemmed from the release of P20,000 each as calamity aid to City hall officials and employees after the said calamities.

In April, however, the Comelec en banc deferred the suspension order issued by the Office of the President.

Comelec Andres Bautista said that the commission en banc decided to honor its existing resolution that the poll body can grant exemption from suspension during the period of election.

Rama, a member of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance, lost to former mayor Tomas Osmeña by more than 30,000 votes during Monday’s elections.

CAVITEX-C5 SouTh LInk BrEAkS grounD. president Benigno aquino iii leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the cavitex c5 south link project, a six-lane expressway that will connect circumferential road no. 5 (c5) to the caViteX. the p12.0-billion project is a joint venture of the Philippine Reclamation Authority and Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. and a flagship project of the Philippine government’s Public-Private Partnership program. It aims to decongest traffic by linking major business districts in Makati and Taguig areas to the southern cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite. Photo shows President Aquino flanked by Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Emilio Abaya, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chairman Manuel Pangilinan and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. president Jose Ma. Lim, while Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto, Rep. Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Metro Pacific Tollways president Rodrigo Franco and Cavitex president luigi Bautista pour sand over the time capsule.

TARLAC PubLIC SCHooL gETS nEW buILDIng CONCePCION, Tarlac—“SM Foundation’s donation of a four-classroom school building has not only addressed the problem of Deped to reduce the gap between private school education and public school education but is also a means to attend to the comfort of students as well as that of the teachers who are dedicated in their task of educating children,” SM Foundation executive director for education Carmen Linda Atayde said as SMFI turned over a new twostory school building to the San Francisco elementary School in Concepcion, Tarlac recently.

It is SM Foundation’s 74th school building donated to public elementary and secondary schools nationwide, bringing down the country’s classroom shortage by 224.

The school building follows the specifications of the Deped and like the other SM-donated school buildings, each classroom is fully furnished with a toilet, arm-

chairs, teacher’s table and chair set, blackboard, wall fans and a wall clock. An added donation of eight computers came with the classrooms.

The new classrooms will welcome incoming Grade One and Grade Four students for school year 2016-2017.There are 668 pupils enrolled in the school, 70 percent of whom are indigents. It is a farming community but “because of el Niño, many of them have no stable work; some have found contractual work in nearby factories,” says Cristina Tuazon, Grade 3 teacher, “however, the ParentTeachers Association is an active group in trying to raise funds for the school.” There are nine school building in the campus but three are dilapidated.

School Division education Program Supervisor Dr. Ma Luisa Bondoc who accepted the donation in behalf of Deped and the

School Principal said “the school building will create a new meaning to the community, for this gift will create a new life, new inspiration and a new beginning.”

She thanked the donor profusely

for “kindness in giving, creates love.”

While Barangay San Francisco are happy with the donation, those who gave the school building are happier.

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SUNDAY: MAY 15, 2016

NEWS editorial@thestandard.com.ph

IMMIGRATION MULLS OVER E-PAYMENT FOR VISA EXTENSION

By Vito Barcelo

SUMMER FUN.

Solo surfer makes waves in Eastern Samar.

MEL CASPE

WIRETAPPING SOUGHT IN ILLEGAL DRUGS RAPS

By Maricel V. Cruz

A HOUSE proposal to authorize wiretapping in cases involving violations of the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” has already been taken into consideration by two Senate committees when they approved the bill’s counterpart measure.

In their committee report submitted last Feb. 1, 2016 prior to the congressional adjournment on the same month, the Senate committees on public order and dangerous drugs chaired by Senator Grace Poe, and committee on national defense security chaired by Antonio Trillanes IV recommended the approval of Senate Bill 2139 which seeks to amend certain sections of RA 4200, otherwise known as “An Act to Prohibit and Penalize Wiretapping, and Other Related Violations of the Privacy of Communication, and For Other

Purposes.”

The Senate panels recommended the plenary approval of Senate Bill 2139 with amendments and taking into consideration Senate Bill 67, which is authored by Senator Gregorio Honasan titled “Authorizing the Wiretapping, Interception, Surveillance and Recording of Communications of Pushers, Manufacturers, Cultivators, Importers and Financiers of Dangerous Drugs, Amending for the Purpose RA 9165,” and House Bill 6107 or the proposed “Act Authorizing Wiretapping in Cases Involving

Violations of RA 9165, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act Of 2002”, Amending for the Purpose Section 3 of RA 4200, Entitled “An Act to Prohibit and Penalize Wiretapping And Other Related Violations Of The Privacy Of Communication, And For Other Purposes.”

House Bill 6107, principally authored by Iligan City Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr. was approved on third and final reading by the House on Oct. 9, 2015 and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.

Belmonte, chair of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said the bill seeks to amend the anti-wiretapping law to include operations against drug-related offenses as an exemption.

He noted that the present law only allows wiretapping upon securing a court order for operations against treason, sedition, rebellion and kidnapping.

“We need to capture the kings and queen, not the runners. These contrabands empower the drug

lords, with their drug dealings within the confines of their detention facilities,” said Belmonte.

HB 6107 seeks to amend Section 3 of RA 4200 so that “Nothing contained in the Act, shall render it unlawful or punishable for any peace officer and law enforcer, who is authorized by a written order of the Court, to execute any of the acts declared to be unlawful in the two preceding sections in cases involving the crimes of treason, espionage, provoking war and disloyalty in case of war, piracy, mutiny in the high seas, rebellion, conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion, inciting to rebellion, sedition, conspiracy to commit sedition, inciting to sedition, kidnapping as defined by the Revised Penal Code, Violations of Republic Act 9165, Otherwise Known As “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act Of 2002,” and violations of Commonwealth Act No. 616, punishing espionage and other offenses against national security.

THE Bureau of Immigration will soon allow electronic payment through credit cards for foreigners applying for a visa extension.

In a memorandum of agreement signed by Commissioner Ronaldo Geron, the bureau will accept credit card payments for foreigners who wish to extend their stay in the Philippines.

The bureau plans to implement the e-payment scheme by the end of the month.

“The online payment system will provide a convenient way to our clients to conduct their businesses in the bureau,” Geron said in a statement.

Under the scheme, foreigners who wish to extend their stay in the country will no longer queue at the main office just to have their visa extended.

“All they have to do is to log on to the immigration website, www.immigration.gov.ph, fill up the form for visa extension, pay the amount through their credit card and wait for the printable receipts,” Geron said.

The printable receipts will also indicate the date when the client will go to the bureau’s main office to have their passport stamped.

The BI chief added that the e-payment scheme is fast and secured as payment will be handled by Global Payments, a subsidiary of Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Geron said that other visa payments will follow soon as the bureau innovate its payment schemes for the convenience of the transacting public.

“We are doing this to ensure that all possible glitches have been seen and addressed before we add-on to the services.”

He assured that the government did not spend a single centavo for the scheme, stressing that the transaction fees will be shouldered by the foreigners.

The transaction fee, Geron said, costs more or less $10 or P300.

Kay dela Paz, country head of the Global Payments, said that payments made will go direct to BI account.

“We are not a depository bank.

All payments made go directly to the bureau,” Dela Paz said.

ZIKA SITUATION UNDER CONTROL, SAYS PALACE THE Palace gave the public an assurance on Saturday that the Health department is on top of the situation as far as Zika virus is concerned.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said DoH is coordinating with other centers for disease prevention in other countries to fight the virus which have infected thousands of people in other parts of the globe.

There is also a need to understand the nature of Zika virus, he said.

Like dengue fever, Zika virus is transmitted through mosquito bite.

If the public observe cleanliness, there will be no transmission of Zika virus or other diseases.

“Kaya lahat ng ‘yan dapat ay pagtuunan natin ng pansin at handang-handa naman ang ating

pamahalaan, maagap at masipag ang ating Department of Health at ang mga ahensya nito sa pagharap sa mga virus at sa iba pang mga banta sa ating kalusugan,” he said.

Coloma urged the public to support the DoH programs especially after the launching of AIDS hour aimed at raising awareness about the disease.

Part of the government initiative is disseminating information about HIV and AIDS to warn the public about the virus.

“Pagtulungan po natin ‘yan, nag-uumpisa po sa awareness, naguumpisa sa kamalayan na kung ano ang dapat gawin, kung isasapuso natin ito ay mas madali nating mapagtutulungan ang pagtugon sa banta ng HIV virus at ng AIDS,” Coloma said. Sara Fabunan

ARID LAND. A parched land in Jaen, Nueva Ecija on May 11, 2016 reflects the damage inflicted on the country’s farmlands by the El Niño. An estimated 12,558 hectares of agricultural land in Nueva Ecija, the country’s rice granary, are in danger of being affected by the prolonged dry spell. MANNY PALMERO

SUNDAY: MAY 15, 2016

BUSINESS

Roderick T. dela Cruz EDITOR

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

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DUTERTE INHERITS $300-B ECONOMY Presidential candidate Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte speaks to supporters during an election campaign rally ahead of the presidential and vice presidential elections. AFP

INVESTORS bought stocks of companies with a strong presence in Mindanao and dumped equities related to liquor and cigarettes last week, as they speculated on the economic platform of Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is poised to become the next president.

Duterte, a 71-year-old lawyer who caught the imagination of Filipino voters because of his firebrand politics and brash language during the campaign period, cornered around 38 percent of the votes, the highest among five contenders, during the May 9 presidential election and was scheduled to be inaugurated 16th Philippine president on June 30.

His general and quick pronouncements about being “leftist” worried investors while his “rape” remarks shocked members of the diplomatic corps. His push for federal form of government and constitutional amendments also raised suspicion among businessmen.

Businessmen fear that a policy misstep could derail economic growth and throw thousands of Filipinos out of jobs. Duterte is inheriting an economy that grew nearly tenfold over the past three decades, from $33.1 billion in 1986 to more than $300 billion in terms of nominal gross domestic product today,

as per capita income also increased five times from $591 to over $3,000 over the same period. Philippine population nearly doubled over the past 30 years.

Growth became possible as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas successfully controlled runaway inflation and tamed the peso-dollar exchange rate, two crucial factors in economic stability. With annual foreign exchange inflows of more than $60 billion in terms of workers’ remittances, business process outsourcing revenues and tourism receipts, the economy now enjoys a balance of payments surplus as well as record gross international reserves. The Philippines is also recognized as the fastest growing real estate and automotive market in the world today.

Despite these economic feats that saw the rise of major conglomerates, poverty and hunger remain widespread especially in rural areas. In cities, record vehicle sales

Duterte’s transition team 8-point economic plan seems sane and credible, in sharp contrast to his crass remarks.

and construction of commercial districts resulted in road congestion, as the government failed to convince property developers to construct mass housing in centers of economic activities.

Healthcare and education costs have been increasing, as the Aquino administration attempted to privatize public hospitals and state-run universities, while selectively trying to keep the operation of mass rail transit, which is one of the least efficient in the world.

As president, Duterte will be in charge of a government with a record budget of more than P3 trillion to serve 105 million Filipinos. The Philippines also posted an average annual growth of 6.2 percent over the past six years, one of the fastest among emerging economies. Over the next six years, the Philippines is projected to become an uppermiddle-income economy, joining Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. By 2050, the Philippines is projected to be one of the largest economies on the planet, given its young population, with an average age of 23.5 years today.

To calm the anxious business community, Carlos Dominguez, a former agriculture secretary who served as a campaign finance manager of Duterte, unveiled an eightpoint economic agenda. “We will continue and maintain the current macroeconomic policies,” Dominguez said in a televised news briefing from Davao City. Dominguez, an economics graduate, owns a popular hotel in Davao and is Duterte’s childhood friend. He was also a banker and a director in several mining, agriculture and manufacturing companies.

Dominguez said the continuation of current macroeconomic policies will be complemented by

reforms in the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs. The Duterte administration will also accelerate infrastructure spending to account for 5 percent of the gross domestic product and address major bottlenecks in the public-private-partnership program.

The new government will attract more foreign direct investments by addressing restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution and follow the economic model in Davao City. “We will use Davao City model where licenses for doing business are given the shortest possible time,” Dominguez said.

It will pursue a genuine agricultural development strategy that provides support services to small farmers to increase productivity, improve market access and develop agricultural value chain by forging partnership with agribusiness firms. “It means we are going to encourage more agriculture processing. This is a rural development strategy, not just an agricultural strategy,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said the Duterte administration will address the bottlenecks in land administration and management system by ensuring security of land tenure to encourage investments and make proj-

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

DUTERTE GOVT ASKED TO ADOPT ‘DEVELOPMENTAL DIPLOMACY’

Dr. Bertram Pitt (left) and Dr. Eugenio Ramos

FOREIGN MEDICAL EXPERTS SHARE KNOWLEDGE IN PH

By Othel V. Campos

HEART disease remain the leading causes of death globally. In the Philippines, diseases of the heart top the chart of the 10 leading causes of mortality.

United Laboratories Inc. actively participated in the continuous education of doctors and health practitioners with the launch of the Experts’ Convergence for Health Outcomes or Echo Summit in 2015.

Dr. Ma. Rosario Sevilla, one of the members of the organizing committee, and a consultant for Unilab underscored the importance of keeping tabs on the latest information and having an updated technology to fully serve the health needs of the public.

“The integration of that knowledge can then be utilized in the proper medical management of their patients,” she said.

Echo Summit is a continuing medical education for Filipino doctors to help them further enhance their practice, hone their skills and sharpen their perspective to continuously provide excellent service and healthcare for Filipino patients.

On its second installment, Echo Summit focused on heart diseases and diabetes that became widening threats to the health of Filipinos.

Echo brought in world-renowned medical experts in the medical industry with different specialties.

The convergence of different experts is intended to provide Filipino doctors with a more holistic perspective in understanding the condition of their patients. This year, four experts shared their studies and insights on four topics.

The first Echo summit was held last year in two areas – at the SMX Convention Center and Cebu. Both were well attended with six world renowned

thought leaders and researchers from top-rank medical institutions.

Sevilla said Unilab is the only pharmaceutical and healthcare company that is organizing a health information furtherance for health professionals.

Unilab has always been committed in advancing the medical profession through high-quality continuous medical education.

Echo Summit is a continuing medical education for Filipino doctors to help them further enhance their practice.

During Echo 2016, Filipino doctors from different specialties such as cardiology, endocrinology, psychiatry, OB gynecology, general and family medicine gathered for the second time.

This year, more than 1,000 doctors attended the eventat the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City in April 2016.

Four medical experts shared their insights on the latest trends in the areas of heart failure, diabetes, depression and women’s health during Echo 2016.

Dr. Bertram Pitt of the University of Michigan, Dr. Wilfred Fujimoto of the University of Washington, and Dr.

Nassir Ghaemi of Tufts Medical Center in Boston and Dr. Amos Pines from the Tel-Aviv University in Israel shared their expertise the said medical field.

Dr. Bertram Pitt, a known heart expert, presented the latest trends in the management of heart failure as well as new drug agents which can help manage hyperkalemia or high level of potassium in blood.

Dr. Pitt is professor emeritus of Medicine at the University of Michigan’s School of Medicine. He has chaired or co-chaired a number of clinical trials in cardiology and has written over 500 articles in peer reviewed journals.

Dr. Wilfred Fujimoto led the team that conducted The Japanese American Community Diabetes Study in Seattle, Washington, USA from 1983 to 2001.

His study showed that Asians constitute an ethnic group that seems to be especially at risk when exposed to lifestyle changes. Their weight gain need not lead to obesity as defined in predominantly Caucasian populations.

Rather the apparent propensity to accumulate central fat can be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

On the other hand, Dr. Nassir Ghaemi presented some of the evidence for treatment of depressive or anxiety symptoms in persons at risk of cardiovascular disease. He is currently a professor at the Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine.

Finally, Dr. Amos Pines discussed the potential of hormone replacement therapy in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease among menopausal women as well as the protective effect of HRT on the bone and reduction in fraction rate among current users.

Echo Summit is the fruit of United Laboratories, Inc.’s commitment to provide excellent continuing medical education opportunities for Filipino physicians.

DESPITE China’s optimism of a “fresh start” with the new government under presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte, an independent think tank said the Philippines should continue challenging Beijing’s expansionism in the West Philippine Sea while at the same time commit to a ‘development diplomacy’ with the Asian power.

The ADR Institute for international Studies and Washington-based partner Center for Strategic and International Studies, raised the issues on the ongoing territorial dispute, including the pending arbitration case over China’s nine-dash line as a major policy decision that the next president must address.

“While Asia recognizes that China has long been an important force for economic prosperity and security in the region, there is resistance when Beijing becomes overzealous in asserting this dominance,” said ADRi president Dindo Manhit.

ADRi trustee and CSIS Southeast Asian Studies chairman Ernie Bower said: “What China’s Asian neighbors want is a China that feels secure, is prosperous economically and actively participates in regional rule-making.

What they fear is that China feels it needs to change the rules around security and economic norms that have produced nearly seven decades of economic growth and progress as well as relative peace in the Asia Pacific.”

“This has put China’s neighbors on edge, making them anxious about advancing their economic engagement through increased trade and investment with China. They fear that the deeper those ties extend; the more leverage Beijing may use to force sovereign concessions,” Bower said.

“China will be an influential and positive force for economic prosperity, regional security and peace if it takes time to listen to its neighbors and partners.

That is an outcome the rest of the world has a great interest in promoting,” said Bower.

Sustaining the country’s economic partnership with Beijing need not be mutually exclusive with efforts to develop a credible defense posture and should be seen as a complement to the strategic deterrence provided by US forward naval deployment and bilateral alliances in East Asia, Manhit said.

Manhit said it was possible to challenge China’s expansionism while conducting the routine mandates of the foreign service, like helping overseas Filipinos as well as pursuing economic security by promoting trade and investment.

Manhit also recommended recalibrating the Philippine foreign service to include political and economic reporting, trade promotion and negotiation and pushing for the passage of the National Security Act, which will lead to a whole-of-government approach to foreign policy and national defense.

This advocacy is part of the USPhilippines Strategic Initiative jointly launched by ADRi and CSIS in May 2015. The program seeks to strengthen US-Philippine relations communities by seeking alignments in strategic thinking and related policies by educating constituencies in the executive, legislative, policy, business, academic, civil society and media.

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

CALL centers and business process outsourcing companies are on the verge of change to meet the demands of the millennial generation, according to an industry expert who provides communications solutions for the IT-BPO industry.

“BPOs are evolving. It is being customer-driven. It is customers driving the change, the transformation,” Edgar Doctolero, country manager of Avaya Philippines Inc., says in an interview at Marriott Hotel Manila in Pasay City.

Doctolero is in charge of a 25man team at Avaya Philippines’ sales and marketing operations.

Before joining Avaya, he held country sales positions in Cisco Systems and Datacraft.

“We in Avaya believe that for transformation to be successful, you have to put the customer first.

We already see that happening.

BPO customers are already talking to us,” Doctolero says, in announcing a new solution for the industry.

“Businesses need to respond to those needs, otherwise they will be missing a lot,” he says, explaining that millennials, or those who were born between 1982 and 2002, now represent 46 percent of the Philippine population.

Doctolero says millennial customers are more demanding and want quick answers. “When you call a bank, you have to enter 16-digit number. What if there is a contact center, which has all the infrastructure at the back that will support analytics, big data, social channels and the moment when you call, the call center agent already knows who you are, knows your name, knows your last transaction, your issues and your problems. Imagine how the experience would be if you are the customer.

The contact center agent at the other end knows everything about you, your transactions,” he says.

He says Avaya itself has transformed. “”Before they would say Avaya was an IP-PBX company and it was a contact center company. The messaging today is that we have transformed. We are now a software and services company.

About 73 percent of our business is software and services,” he says.

DUTERTE...

FROM B1

ects more bankable by addressing bottlenecks among four land titling agencies. It will also strengthen basic education with focus on skills in communication, mathematics and logical thinking and grant scholarship for tertiary education which are relevant to the needs of the private sector.

The seventh economic agenda is to improve the income tax system to enable those who earn little to have more money in their pockets, by indexing tax to the inflation rate.

Finally, it will expand and improve implementation of the conditional cash transfer program, which extends subsidies for the education of poor children.

While pursuing the eight-point economic agenda, the Duterte administration will remove opportunities for corruption, catch people involved in corruption, promote tourism in rural areas and expand PhilHealth coverage.

Dominguez, who is likely be appointed as Duterte’s head of economic team and finance secretary,

PHILIPPINE CALL CENTERS ON THE VERGE OF CHANGE

Doctolero says Avaya is introducing the next-generation technology platform that makes it easier for organizations to develop their own applications to achieve their digital transformation.

“We announced a product called Avaya Breeze, which we called the Avaya engagement development platform. It basically helps our customers in the enterprise move, evolve from having a legacy infrastructure to the digital age,” Doctolero says.

Avaya organized a conference at

Marriott Hotel attended by 158 enterprise customers, representing all the key verticals from banking and finance, hotel and gaming, education, BPO and government.

“We also shared with customers why Avaya is qualified to lead them to this transformation journey. We have a complete end-to-end portfolio that would help them journey to an embedded, to mobile and to multi-platform communications that we can deliver. We can provide the applications across all devices.

We can deliver to them via the web, or via the cloud either private, public or hybrid,” he says.

Doctolero says Avaya’s smart vertical solutions help businesses digitally transform their operations and customer experience. Almost two of five businesses in the Philippines identify innovation as key to driving business success, according to a report by International Data Corp.

“It is primarily customer driven.

It is the customers who are driving us. In the digital age and digital

transformation, companies need to evolve. If they do not evolve, as we said, there is a big cost to doing nothing,” he says.

Doctolero says Avaya Breeze provides an entirely new way to develop business communications applications, simplifying application development, while delivering built-in capabilities for enhanced mobile, customer-facing and hybrid/cloud requirements.

He says Avaya also now has an e-commerce app store called Avaya Snapp Store which makes it easier to create new customer experiences, allowing companies to find, access and download pre-built Snap-ins to quickly create unique applications.

Doctolero says companies need to embrace new technologies to be competitive, but the challenge is capital expenditure. “That is why we offer it in public or private cloud.

It is all about the customers and we listen to the customers,” he says.

“In order for digital transformation to be successful, business and enterprises must put the customer at the front, at the center and at the back of everything,” he says.

“What we are saying is for business transformation to succeed, it must be a vision and a mission and everybody is connected to the vision and mission. Only then will the transformation be successful because everybody is aligned to it and everybody wants to serve customers,” he says.

Doctolero says he remains optimistic about the prospects for Avaya and the IT-BPO sector in general. “ “We are growing. We have double-digit growth year-on-year,” he says, referring to Avaya Philippines, which serves 70 percent of the largest call centers and BPO companies in the country.

Doctolero says BPO companies are expected to shift to the nextgeneration technology transform sooner than later. “It is now a matter of when, not if. Customers are now in the driver seat and they are the ones demanding this change.

We have to do it soon, and fast.

There is a big cost to doing nothing,” he says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

said the new administration would push for changes to the 1987 constitution and review foreign ownership limits.

Other possible members of the Duterte Cabinet are former press secretary Jesus Dureza and vicepresidential candidate Alan Peter Cayetano, after a one-year rest.

Duterte may also seek advice from former president Fidel Ramos, who was caught in a photograph endorsing Duterte during the campaign period.

The Philippine peso and the local stocks rallied last week, after the generally peaceful elections gave a clear mandate to the next president. Property developers saw their stocks rise, as they are expected to benefit from Duterte’s push for countryside development. On the other hand, stocks of LT Group and Emperador Inc., which sell cigarettes and liquor, fell on speculation that Duterte will declare nationwide smoking ban on public areas and limit the sale of alcoholic drinks to certain hours, replicating the policy in Davao City.

In his previous appearance be-

fore the elite Makati Business Club, Duterte said the land reform program had failed to uplift the income of Filipino farmers. Davao City is known for large banana and pineapple plantations. Duterte also said progress would only be possible if there is “peace and order.”

International credit rating agencies, which bestowed the Philippines sovereign investment-grade ratings under the Aquino administration, believe that the country will continue to perform well under a Duterte presidency.

“We expect fiscal and economic policies under the incoming administration to remain supportive of the ‘BBB’ long-term rating on the Philippines,” Standard & Poor’s said.

“We expect the incoming administration to continue with policies that had contributed to sovereign rating improvements in the past few years.

Duterte’s track record of more than 20 years in Davao gives few indications that he would embark on economic policies significantly different from the Arroyo and Aquino administrations,” S&P said.

“Consequently, we believe the

new administration will maintain fiscal policy to keep fiscal deficits to low single-digits. Policies affecting businesses are also likely to be supportive of continued investment growth. In the near term, however, businesses in the country may be more cautious about expanding given the uncertainties over the new government’s policy orientation,” it said.

Fitch Ratings also said the results of the presidential elections would not have “immediate” impact on the sovereign rating and outlook of the Philippines.

Fitch said it continues to view the Philippines’ underlying economic fundamentals as a strength. These include the strong net external creditor position, declining general government debt and deficit levels and positive growth momentum.

London-based think tank Capital Economics is not as optimistic.

“With the highly controversial Rodrigo Duterte riding high in the polls ahead of presidential elections, the country could be about to take a backward step,” Capital Economics said in its Emerging Asia

Weekly issue, ahead of the May 9 elections.

“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.

French investment bank Natixis, however, believes that Duterte should not be judged according to his off-the-cuff remarks. “We argue that if we judge a man by his actions and not his words, then Duterte may actually be rather positive for the Philippines and is the right person to take the country to the next level,” Natixis senior economist Trinh Nguyen said.

“Both the Arroyo and Aquino administrations lowered the fiscal deficit, improved external balances, and boosted growth. The next step is to resolve long-standing challenges such as security, infrastructure and jobs. And Duterte’s transition team 8-point economic plan seems sane and credible, in sharp contrast to his crass remarks,” Nguyen said.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

Avaya Philippines Inc. country manager Edgar Doctolero

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WORLD

Royal Wave. French actor Fabrice Luchini (R) waves on May 13, 2016 as he arrives with French actress Juliette Binoche for the screening of the film “Ma Loute (Slack Bay)” at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. AFP

PARIS AGREEMENT FLESHED OUT IMF CALLS FOR AFGHAN BANKING REFORMS

FRONTLINE climate diplomats will seek to translate good intentions into concrete action in Bonn Monday when they gather for the first time since hammering through a historic deal in December.

THE International Monetary Fund said Friday that it is considering new financial support for the Afghanistan government as the country’s economy continues to stumble.

The IMF lauded the country’s gains under a just-concluded IMF-monitored program to close vulnerabilities with reforms in the government budget process and in the financial sector.

“Despite difficult circumstances, the authorities implemented the program successfully,” the IMF said in a statement.

But given the country’s ongoing domestic conflict and the drawdown of international military forces from the country, it said, “Afghanistan’s economic situation remains very difficult.”

The Washington-based global

“Our challenge is now to operationalize the Paris Agreement,” France and Morocco -- currently co-chairs of the negotiating process -- said in a briefing note.

After two decades of intense wrangling, the 195-nation Paris accord set ambitious targets to cap global warming and help poor countries cope with its impacts, present and future.

Ratification could happen early next year or sooner, a speed record for an international treaty.

But the landmark deal left a large number of crucial issues unresolved, experts and negotiators say.

“The cooperation shown in Paris will mean nothing if we descend into petty squabbles,” Mohamed Adow, a climate expert with Christian Aid, said in a commen-

lender said that it expects the economy to grow only about two percent this year, barely faster than last year. And that pace is at risk to a further deterioration of security conditions and slowing donor aid.

On top of that, it added, the country’s banking system needs more reform to eliminate vulnerabilities.

The IMF said it will be discussing with Kabul authorities this month a new Extended Credit Facility loan the government requested to help it address some of these problems.

“The ECF would help tackle some of the challenges and thus assist in improving the conditions for sustainable growth and in catalyzing support from donors,” it said. AFP

tary on the Climate Home website.

The most urgent question is how to ramp up national plans for slashing greenhouse gas emissions.

As they stand, these voluntary pledges -- which go into effect in 2020 -- would see Earth’s surface heat up by at least three degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to the pre-Industrial Era benchmark.

But a climate-fuelled crescendo of superstorms, droughts and rising seas convinced the world’s nations to lower the bar to “well below” 2 C, and 1.5 C if possible.

2015 was by far the hottest year on record, and nearly every month in 2016 has also exceeded previous highs.

“History will judge the Paris Agreement... by whether govern-

ments, corporations and other actors rapidly increase ambition,” the WWF said ahead of the Bonn meeting.

The next “political moment” when countries could deepen their commitments to curb carbon pollution is a so-called “stocktaking” in 2018, a focal point at the talks next week.

Negotiators also have a lot of blanks to fill in when it comes to aid for developing nations which, historically, have contributed least to climate change but are most exposed to its ravages.

“There is pent-up demand for implementation of financial assistance,” noted Alden Meyer, a climate analyst at the Washingtonbased Union of Concerned Scientists who has been tracking the negotiations for 25 years.

“A lot of parties came out of Paris feeling there was more progress on mitigation and decarbonisation” -measures, in other words, to curb greenhouse gases -- “and less on adaptation”. AFP

MEXICO MULLS LEGALIZING OPIUM FED UP with drug-related violence, a growing number of Mexican politicians see one potential cure: legalizing the cultivation of opium poppies for the production of medicine.

The debate has emerged in recent weeks after President Enrique Pena Nieto proposed legislation in April to loosen marijuana laws by legalizing medical cannabis and easing restrictions on its recreational use.

Since then, governors and congressional lawmakers have voiced their support for regulating opium poppies, which are often

grown by farmers in poor areas of the country and sold to cartels as the raw material for heroin.

The idea was launched by Hector Astudillo, governor of the southern state of Guerrero, which has the country’s highest murder rate amid turf wars among drug cartels battling for control of the mountains where US-bound heroin is born.

Astudillo, whose state is the biggest producer of opium poppies, proposed a pilot program for the crop’s cultivation for medical uses.

Graco Ramirez, governor of

the neighboring crime-plagued state of Morelos, which is a transit route for the drug, voiced his support.

“In (the northwestern state of) Sinaloa and Guerrero, growing opium poppies is a fact of life and we must take it away from the criminals and give it to health,” Ramirez said.

Manuel Mondragon y Kalb, the national commissioner against drug addiction, said that his agency is “deeply studying the use of opium gum as medicine, its transformation into morphine and its derivatives as painkillers.” AFP

Veteran. Australian rock band AC/DC’s guitarist Angus Young performs on stage in Marseille, southern France, on Friday. AFP

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2 MORE NEWSMEN SHOT DEAD IN INDIA GUNMEN shot dead two journalists in 24 hours in separate incidents in eastern India, police and local reports said Saturday, the latest media killing in Asia’s deadliest country for reporters.

Rajdeo Ranjan, the local bureau chief for Hindi-language daily Hindustan, was travelling on his motorcycle late Friday in Bihar state when a group of unknown assailants shot him five times.

“He was shot from very close range. We rushed him to a hospital where he was declared dead on arrival last night,” local Siwan district police chief, Saurabh Kumar Sah, told AFP by telephone.

Sah said police were yet to ascertain the motive behind the killing, but two people have been detailed for questioning.

“We are focusing more on the professional angle since he may have written some things about certain people, which may have led to this,” he said.

Television footage showed villagers collecting firewood to prepare Ranjan’s funeral pyre as family members and women sat on the ground wailing, holding their heads in their hands.

Late on Thursday, television journalist Akhilesh Pratap Singh was also shot dead by unknown assailants as he returned home on a motorbike in restive Jharkhand state, which neighbours Bihar, according to local reports.

“We have no eyewitnesses yet.

But we suspect that the assailants too were on motorcycle,” the Indian Express newspaper quoted Upendra Prasad, a senior state police official, as saying.

“It is not immediately clear if the journalist had (received) any threat from anybody.”

Singh’s family members and supporters held a protest Friday, blocking roads and demanding compensation and swift police action against the perpetrators.

India was Asia’s deadliest country for journalists in 2015, according to Paris-based Reporters Without Borders.

It is also one of the most restrictive countries for the press, ranked 133 out of 180 nations by the group.

Journalists in the world’s largest democracy often face harassment and intimidation by police, politicians, bureaucrats and criminal gangs, while scores work in hostile conditions in conflict-ridden pockets of the country.

In October gunmen on a motorbike shot dead a television journalist in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh as he returned home from a market.

A freelance reporter also died after being doused with petrol and set on fire in Uttar Pradesh in June. AFP

EXTREMISTS KILLED SYRIA ARMY CHIEF—HEZBOLLAH

L E B A N O N ’ S Hezbollah on Saturday blamed Islamist extremists for killing the Shiite militant group’s top military commander in Syria in an artillery attack.

Peace push. Myanmar State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi (4th L), accompanied by

former peace advisers Hla Maung Shwe (L) and Tin Maung Thann (3rd L), inspects the compound of the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon on Saturday. Suu Kyi made the visit following her renewed push on the country’s peace process, with the formation of a National Reconciliation and Peace Center to replace the nowdefunct Myanmar Peace Center set up by former president Thein Sein. AFP

“An investigation has shown that the blast that targeted one of our positions near the Damascus international airport that led to the martyrdom of the brother commander Mustafa Badreddine was caused by artillery bombardment carried out by takfiri (Sunni extremist) groups present in that region,” a Hezbollah statement said.

It did not name any particular group and there has been no claim of responsibility for the attack, which pro-Hezbollah media said happened on Thursday night.

The Iran-backed movement has deployed thousands of fighters in Syria where Badreddine led its intervention in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

Hezbollah has been battling opponents of the regime including Sunni extremists from the Islamic State jihadist group and Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s Syria affiliate.

In its statement Saturday, a day after thousands attended Badreddine’s funeral in Beirut, Hezbollah vowed no let up in its war against those it describes as “criminal gangs” in Syria.

“The result of the investigation will only increase our determination and will to pursue the fight against those criminal gangs until they are defeated,” the statement said.

“It is the same battle against the American-Zionist scheme in the region, which the terrorists are spearheading,” it added.

Badreddine was on a US terror sanctions blacklist, was a key suspect in the 2005 assassination in Beirut of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri and was one of the “most wanted” by Israel.

His predecessor, cousin and brother-in-law Imad Mughniyeh, was killed in Damascus in a 2008 bombing that Hezbollah blamed on its regional arch-foe Israel with whom it has fought several wars. AFP

JAPAN SALES TAX INCREASE POSTPONED ANEW

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to postpone a sales tax hike a second time, judging that boosting the tariff could hurt the world’s third-largest economy, a newspaper said Saturday.

Abe has already informed senior government officials he plans delay the consumption tax hike, scheduled for next April, that would raise levy from eight to 10 percent, the

Nikkei business daily said.

The last such rise, in April 2014 -- the nation’s first in 17 years -was blamed for pushing Japan into recession.

Deadly earthquakes that hit southwestern Japan last month have already put the brakes on the economy, while a rise in the yen has threatened to squeeze exporters’ profits.

It is still unclear how long Abe, who first postponed the tax increase in November 2014, wants to put off the hike this time.

The premier may announce the delay on June 1, when he hold a news conference to mark the close of the current parliament session, and after he hosts a Group of Seven summit in Japan this month, the Nikkei said.

Postponing the hike would require legislation to be passed.

Critics say Japan must increase tax revenues in the face of soaring debts and to pay for the ballooning cost of welfare as the population ages.

Government coffers are deep in the red, with public debt standing at twice the size of the economy -- the worst among industrialized economies. AFP

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REUEL VIDAL EDITOR

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

ALASKA’S ABUEVA

RECEIVES LONG OVERDUE RECOGNITION

Alaska Aces forward Calvin Abueva holds up the trophy signifying his win as Best Player of the Conference. Abueva received long-overdue recognition when he was crowned 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference Friday, May 13.

By Homer Vidal

CALVIN Abueva is the most polarizing figure in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Fans, players and the public either love the do-everything, hard-driving, blood and guts forward or they thoroughly and absolutely hate him.

He goes hard in every play and gladly sacrifices his body to grab rebounds. He willingly endures floor burns as he regularly dives into the floor to collect loose balls.

He’s a bundle of energy who motivates his teammates to work as hard and try as much as he does.

But at the same time he antagonizes referees with his demeanor, angers players of opposing team with his rough physical play and baits the fans of other teams with his flamboyant ways.

Love him or hate him, he is the most important player in the Alaska Aces team right now.

Abueva finally received long-overdue recognition from the league when he was crowned 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference Friday, May 13 just before Game 4 of the championship series against the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters.

Minutes after receiving the recognition Abueva led the Alaska Aces against the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters last Friday, May 13. In typical Abueva fashion he was ejected from the game which fortunately his team won just the same.

RJ Jazul converted a lefty layup to push Alaska to a safe 101-88 advantage with just 1:40 left to play. But Abueva, who like the rest of the Aces never let up, still double-teamed Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters rookie guard Maverick Ahanmisi.

Abueva and Jazul trapped Ahanmisi after Abueva blitzed ball carrier Ahanmisi in a pickand-roll play by the Elasto Painters just outside the three-point line. A surprised Ahanmisi was stopped in his tracks and Abueva ripped the ball right out of his hands.

The referees whistled Abueva for the personal foul and then sent him off to the showers when they slapped a second technical on him.

On the way to the Alaska dugout he acknowledged the cheers and the jeers as he waved to fans of the Aces as well as the Elasto Painters. His departure hardly mattered.

The Aces gave Rain Or Shine a dose of its own medicine as they trounced the Elasto

Alaska Aces forward Calvin Abueva (8) outsprints Rain Or Shine defender Paul Lee beside him. Abueva finally received long-overdue recognition from the league when he was crowned 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference Friday, May 13.

Although sent off by referees Abueva finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds to go with four assists as he led his team to victory.

Abueva trailed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel center Greg Slaughter in statistical points. Discerning voters however voted him overwhelmingly for best player.

In the end, the 2013 PBA Rookie of the Year held a huge advantage over Slaughter with 1,150 points against Slaughter’s 752.

Before that the Angeles, Pampanga native was a recipient of a Mythical First Five award and a Mythical Second Team citation. Abueva also became a member of the All-Defensive Team and has been a regular fixture in the annual PBA All-Star Game.

He’s a good bet to make the Gilas team that will face France, New Zealand, Canada, Turkey and Senegal to vie for a slot in the Rio Olympics in the Olympic Qualifiers to be held right here in the Philippines.

Alaska Aces forward Calvin Abueva (middle) slams in to Rain Or Shine defender Raymond Almazan. Abueva received longoverdue recognition when he was crowned 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference Friday, May 13.

Painters, 111-99, in the high-scoring, runand-gun game. The Aces virtually settled the outcome of the match as early as the end of the third period.

Chris Banchero drilled a triple followed by a jumper by Sonny Thoss and another triple by Dondon Hontiveros as the Aces extended their advantage to 23 points, 90-67, after the third quarter.

Abueva isn’t even thinking about that as he is locked in on the Alaska goal to salvage the conference and go for the Commissioner’s Cup championship.

The tireless Aces forward outworked his rivals with averages of 17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals to lead his team to the Finals. He amassed a total of 1,150 points with 413 coming from stats, 493 media votes, 94 player votes, and 150 votes from the PBA. Abueva lorded it over stats leader Greg Slaughter of Ginebra (752 point), GlobalPort’s Terrence Romeo (488 votes), TNT slasher Jayson Castro (482 votes), and Blackwater Elite guard Carlo Lastimosa (378 votes).

Abueva became only the sixth Alaska player to win the award (after Kenneth Duremdes, Bong Hawkins, Johnny Abarrientos, Ali Peek and Willie Miller) and the first since Miller was adjudged conference best player of the 2008-2009 Philippine Cup.

Alaska Aces forward Calvin Abueva (right) tries to drive past Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters defender Raymond Almazan.

Abueva received long-overdue recognition when he was crowned 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference Friday, May 13.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

PSC TO ASK PAGCOR FOR ITS FULL 5% ALLOCATION

By Peter Atencio THE Philippine Gaming Corporation will be asked to remit its full 5 percent allocation to the Philippine Sports Commission.

The incoming administration of president-apparent Rodrigo Duterte will make this happen during his watch.

Former PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, Duterte’s long-time adviser for sports in Davao City, said this is one of the priority moves needed to be done for the government sports agency to achieve its goals.

For years, Ramirez noted that the PAGCOR has not been remitting the full amount to the PSC. “PAGCOR’s share must be remitted in full for PSC to achieve its goals,” Ramirez added.

PAGCOR brought down its PSC contribution to 2.135 percent of its gross income since 1993.

Ramirez vowed that radical change will soon come to Philippine sports.

The Davao City-based Ramirez, discussed his thoughts as the incoming president’s transition team began crafting his policies and goals for the next six years.

“Trabaho na kami. Definitely, there’s radical change. Kung sino ang uupo will put Philippine sports in a positive direction,” said Ramirez in an interview with The Standard.

Ramirez has headed the Davao Sports Development Division since he quit his post as PSC Chairman in 2008.

Duterte, according to Ramirez, will start discussing to him his administration’s plans for sports by next week.

Ramirez bared that the incoming president wants to give equal importance to grassroots development, international sports and elite-level activities.

“It’s all about developing athletes, and strengthening the search for the Olympic gold,” said Ramirez.

The search and development of young and talented athletes will be enhanced, once the new set of officials are in place in the PSC. The 65-year-old Ramirez added that while he won’t be back to run the government sports agency again, he will play an active role in the search for the next chairman and the four commissioners.

They will screen applicants in the coming days as he joins the presidential transition team in the selection process.

Ramirez said he will discuss to Duterte and his transition team the role of the 26-year old PSC in sports development and the relationship it has with the Philippine Olympic Committee and the national sports associations.

John Reil Casimero (right) is shown absorbing a body punch from Ramon Garcia Hirales during one of the Filipino boxer’s earlier fights.

CASIMERO LOOKS SHARP IN TRAINING

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

FORMER light flyweight champion and current International Boxing Federation flyweight challenger John Reil Casimero looked sharp in training in the hot and humid gym of Dr. Rajan Yraola, along Mindanao avenue in Quezon City, as he prepared for his rematch with Thai champion Amnat Ruenroeng in Beijing on May 25 as a highlight of the IBF Convention.

Casimero ripped into the punch-mitts during eight rounds with trainer Jhun Agrabio as Dr. Yraola watched intently.

John Reil Casimero with the The Standard reporter

“John Reil Casimero has power in both hands and will win by a landslide just like incoming president Rody Duterte.”

The Filipino boxer went through the usual routine as he needed to reduce weight since he is some eight pounds over the 112-pound limit.

However, Agrabio told The Standard Casimero is “ready to fight even today” after some eight weeks of solid training, capped by 14 rounds of sparring on Thursday.

“Casimero wants to win and has the power to win by a knockout, but he must use his head,” said Agrabio, expecting a clean fight, unlike his ward’s foul-infested first encounter, which was roundly criticized by fight fans and the media.

But the trainer indicated they won’t go looking for a knockout, but will grab the opportunity if it comes.

“Casimero must use his head. He wants this to be a clean fight,” said Agrabio, who believes that the coming fight won’t be peppered by dirty tactics that marred the first title fight against Amnat in Bangkok, because all the IBF top executives will be watching,

along with top boxing officials from around the world.

The veteran trainer, who handled Casimero when he captured the world light flyweight crown, said Casimero “has power in both hands and will win by a landslide just like incoming president Rody Duterte.”

“I’m in great condition because I trained here in the Philippines and since the fight is in Beijing, China there won’t be a hometown decision or cheating similar to what happened in our first fight in Thailand,” said Casimero.

Team Casimero will leave for Beijing on May 23.

Casimero went 14 rounds with three different sparring partners at the Gerry Penalosa Gym on Thursday and said he felt good, although he was some 8 pounds overweight “We are preparing to bring the title back home. My weight is 8 pounds over, but it won’t be a problem,” he said.

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RIERA U. MALLARI EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Volleyball player Fabiana Claudino applauds as Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff holds the Olympic torch during its arrival at the Planalto Palace. AFP

RIO OLYMPIC GAMES TO GO ON, UNMINDFUL OF ZIKA VIRUS THREAT

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

THE International Olympic Committee said it sees no need “to cancel, delay or move the Rio Olympic Games because of the Zika virus threat.”

However, BBC Sports revealed that IOC medical director Richard Budgett said it would continue to monitor the situation closely.

Dr. Budgett was responding to a call by Canadian health Professor Amir Attaran for the Games to be postponed or moved.

Prof. Attaran said that the influx of visitors to Brazil would result in the avoidable births of malformed babies.

In a telephone interview with the Associated Press, he said: “If the IOC and the World Health Organization do not have the generosity of heart to delay the games to prevent children being born and disabled their whole lives, then they’re among the cruelest institutions in the world.’’

Professor Attaran insisted: “What I’m asking for is a bit of delayed gratification so that babies aren’t born permanently disabled.”

An anti-terrorism rehearsal is done prior to the Rio Olympic games. AFP

Prof Attaran, a public health specialist, argued that Zika is far worse than the IOC is willing to admit.

In an article for the Harvard Public Review, the professor claimed that Rio de Janeiro is more affected by Zika than any-

one expected and that all it takes is one infected traveller to start a process that could ultimately result in a “full-blown global health disaster.”

He argued that if the Games go ahead, it would be especially un-

fair on countries like Nigeria, India and Indonesia, which do not have the same resources to fight Zika as Brazil.

But his point of view is hotly contested by Olympic and global health authorities including the WHO,

which are adamant the August 5 to 21 Games will not be derailed by the virus.

The IOC, which adheres to the WHO’s advice, insisted there were no plans to relocate or postpone the games.

The IOC also pointed out that the mosquito threat will not be so great during Brazil’s winter months.

“The clear statements from WHO that there should be no restrictions on travel and trade means there is no justification for canceling, delaying, postponing or moving the Rio Games,’’ Budgett said.“The IOC will continue to monitor the situation very closely and work with the WHO, and we’re confident as we’ve been advised by the experts that the situation will improve over the next three months.”

A separate IOC statement said that plans were in place to target mosquitoes and deal with their stagnant water breeding grounds.

The statement said it was important to remember the Olympic and Paralympics Games are taking place in the winter months of August and September, when mosquitoes should not be so abundant.

The Olympics is expected to attract about 500,000 visitors from abroad.

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TATUm ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER

T

here’s no arguing that motherhood is one of the toughest jobs in the world – a 24/7 occupation with virtually no day off. Any woman would say that motherhood is a life-changing experience, a challenging role especially for those who have to juggle motherhood with their career, seeking ways to delicately balance their time and fulfill their dual roles.

For Atty. Marianne Malate-Guerrero, a senior vice president who also heads the Legal Department at SM Investments Corporation, what works is prioritizing those situations with kids – 21-year-old Josen who is an Economics major and 16-year-old Marra – where her presence is most productive.

“There are situations that you are needed at home but you are expected at work, (so) you should choose to be at home. If there’s an event in school for instance and you have to be present, you have to be there. On the other hand, though you’re expected to be home but you have to attend to an urgent matter at work, you have to prioritize work at that point. You have to be flexible. You have to choose at any given moment which task counts the most,” Guerrero said.

Having worked in SM for the last 10 years, Guerrero said she has also tried to instill the same value of hard work in her children. “That’s one thing this generation is beginning to lose, that idea of working for what you deserve,” Guerrero shared.

As a mom, the corporate lawyer also realizes that her children have lives, minds and interests of their own. “I have to remind myself as a mother that these two are not mine. They are here for their own purpose, for God’s own life plan for them,” she said. “Everything that happens to them – good or bad – is part of God’s plan. I just have do what’s best for them based on my limited abilities and to influence them to be a good and responsible citizen and be the best that they can be.”

Cecilia Patricio, a senior vice president who heads the Tax Division at SM, avers that working in a corporate environment can be demanding, but she always tries her best to free up her weekends for family.

“I work to fulfill my career and professional goals and to help support my family,” says Patricio, who has three daughters: a physician, a businesswoman and one who is currently doing volunteer work. “But I am always a mother and wife. That means taking time at the start of the day to make sure that my family is taken cared of. I also spend time with my daughters by driving them to work or school so we can talk and catch up. When I get home, I try as much as possible to leave work at the office so that I can focus my energy on my family,” Patricio said.

Quality time with the family is important for the lady as she makes it a point to talk to her family whenever she sees them.

“Modern technology has its advantages.

The responsibilities of a mother does not end when she enters the office,” she added.

Having been with SM for over two decades, Patricio said she has learned the value of hard work as well as appreciating that certain tasks need to be done urgently without compromising quality. “This helps in my journey through motherhood because I know how to prioritize matters and balance my time between my home and work,” the lady shared.

Asked what things she would like to impart to her children, she mentions faith in God, good stewardship, the importance of investing in education and setting a good example.

Patricio has this to say to women like her: “Working mothers should not feel guilty when they are at work. There are so many ways we can make our love for our family felt. We have to make sure that our family knows that we love them, that they are the reason why we are working and that we prioritize them through different means.”

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIfEatStandard

S U NDAY L If E

LIFE

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LESSOnS fROm ATTy. mARIAnnE mALATE-GuERRERO AnD CECILIA PATRICIO Or how two mothers balance career and family

SM senior vice president for Corporate Tax Cecilia Patricio (fourth from left) with family

From left: Marra, Atty. Marianne Guerrero and Josen standing in front of their portraits

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

SITE participants with Diwa Learning Systems managing director Elma Ropeta (front row, third from left) and the director for Basic Education and high school principal of Miriam College Edizon Fermin (front row; eighth from left), which show the number of years SITE has been an anticipated summer event for educators who want to become leaders in the use of mobile educational technology

J

mIrIAm CoLLEGE trAINS NEw AGE EDUCAtorS IN A SUmmEr workSHoP

ane Antiola’s knowledge in educational technology paved the way for her to become a teacher at St. Columban College High School in Mindanao, earning for her an award in recognition of her highly creative way of using a learning management system in presenting instructional materials and conducting instructional activities.

However, she believes that there is a need to improve her knowledge and further her skill as a 21st century teacher in order for her to meet the needs of today’s learners.

Antiola went to a series of summer classes and workshops for the whole week last April— but instead of a teacher, she was there as a student. Usual summer classes and workshops are meant for advance learning

Educators need to catch up on to new age tools that support 21st century teaching and learning

to give insights on certain topics.

Antiola, together with over a hundred educators from various parts of the country, attended

Miriam College’s Summer Institute on Technology in Education (SITE) from April 18 to 22. The workshops aim to

educate participants on matters concerning today’s digitally dependent learners to better understand them and to catch on to new age tools that support 21st century teaching and learning.

SITE, a five-day certification training and workshop, has been engaging educators as well as administrators, librarians, and IT and media specialists in a highly interactive environment which gives emphasis on educational technology—for four years now— as a part of innovation and to bring forth their creativity.

SITE offered four courses this year and each of these courses fit the need of participants on areas that are of interest to them. Course 1 focused on implementing the tablet PC-based education; Course 2 was about developing and adapting

digital and mobile applications; Course 3 explored instructional design and supervision of a digital learning environment; and Course 4 shed light on cyber ethics and digital law.

SITE is a collaboration between Miriam College and Bato Balani Foundation Inc. (BBFI) with the participation of Diwa Learning Systems Inc, the country’s leading provider of K-12 educational resources, and the one that introduced Genyo, the Philippines’ first and only fully-integrated online learning management system on Basic Education.

To learn more about BBFI and Diwa, visit www.batobalanifoundation.org.ph and www.diwa.ph, or email info@diwamail.com.

Henley & Partners opens nominations for Global Citizen Award The global leader in residence and citizenship planning, Henley & Partners, announced the call for nominations for the upcoming prestigious annual Global Citizen Award. This award acknowledges individuals who have made an exceptional participation regarding the improvement of the global community as well as in creating a more understanding and more tolerant world.

The granting of the 2016 laureate will be honored at a Gala Fundraising Dinner for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in London this coming November 11.

According to Dr. Juerg Steffen, managing partner of Henley & Partners Singapore, their team will assist with the registration and documentation of those at the other end of the global mobility spectrum.

The annual laureate will be selected by an Award Committee, an independent body of recognized individuals including:

• Her Royal Highness Princess Firyal of Jordan • Her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, president of the Republic of Malta • Senator Joëlle GarriaudMaylam, secretary of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces, Senate of France, Paris • Professor Dr. Khalid Koser OBE, executive director of GCERF and vice chairman of the Advisory council on Migration, World Economic Forum, Geneva • Leigh Foster, chief of Events, Campaigns and Goodwill Ambassadors, UNHCR, Geneva • Dr. Marek Urban CSSR, Councilor of the Henley & Partners Foundation, Kraków • Namira Salim, global explorer and artist, Monaco According to Foster, the committee is looking for inspirational individuals who demonstrate extraordinary vision, courage and commitment, whose works are innovative

and visionary. He added that a nominee’s work should also have a positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable in society.

The award itself consists of a specially made commemorative medal, an Award Certificate signed by the President of the Award Committee and a $50,000 monetary prize, $25,000 of which is donated to UNHCR. Winners will be selected through a majority decision by the committee.

Last year, the German entrepreneur Harald Höppner, the founder of the refugee aid project Sea Watch, received the Global Citizen Award. Thousands of refugees from capsized boats were saved by the non-profit organization during their patrols of the Mediterranean Sea. Leading international immigration and citizenship law specialist and group chairman of Henley & Partners, Christian H. Kalin, explained that more than 60 million people worldwide are currently displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized

Henley & Partners are looking for inspirational individuals who demonstrate extraordinary vision, courage and commitment for the improvement of the global community

violence and human rights violations. He mentioned as well that the registration of refugees is the first critical step towards ensuring their protection.

Without documentation papers, uprooted people lose their identity and are unable to access the fundamental UNHCR services necessary to take control of their lives again and begin the process of tracing their families.

“Over the past 15 years, more than 23,000 people have died trying to reach Europe’s shores. Our teams of highly professional, motivated

and dedicated volunteers have already saved hundreds of lives.

We recently started working between Lesbos, a small Aegean Greek island, and the Turkish mainland to prevent further deaths in this part of the Mediterranean Sea, which recorded the highest number of drowned refugees last year,” says Höppner.

To submit nominations for the 2016 Global Citizen Award, please visit https://www.henleyglobal.com/theglobal-citizen-award/. Nominations will officially close on July 1.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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A DIrEct-SELLINg AgENt’S StorY oF EmpowErmENt

L

iz Manalansan quit her job in the United States because she felt she no longer had control over her life.

“I never had time for myself and

Liz Manalansan, Avon representative since 2003

my family when I was working abroad,” begins Liz. She continues, “All I did was to work so hard day in and day out. My husband and I got tired of that lifestyle so we decided to look for a change.”

Liz was inspired by her mother who had so much time to manage household affairs and care for her family. And she knew she also wanted that for herself and for her family.

In 2003, Liz became an Avon lady just like her mother.

“My mother is an Avon lady and has always been a huge source of inspiration in my life,” she relates.

“She was the wake up call that I needed to set my life straight.”

Liz recalls how she started helping out her mom’s Avon business at a young age by selling Avon products in the school canteen.

Today, it is she who has the financial independence while

having more time to spend with her kids, something that she has since longed for.

“Avon has and will always be a huge part of my life. I credit a lot of what I am, what we have as a family, and where I am right now to the company that truly knows the essence of empowering others through a beautiful independence – in terms of decisions, time and financials,” shares Liz. But aside from the beauty of independence the “company for women” has given her, Liz is also proud of Avon’s products that empower women with smart and affordable choices.

Power and beauty in one swipe They say, “With the right lipstick, every woman can conquer the world.” This holds true for Liz as every Avon lipstick empowers her as she goes about her multifaceted family and professional roles.

“I feel extra confident as I get empowered by the products of Avon, especially the flexibility from wearing different shades of Avon lipsticks,” shares Liz. She adds, “I love how Avon allows me to accurately express

myself differently in every occasion, mood and outfit.”

And with the new Avon Perfectly Matte Lipstick, Liz believes that women will truly feel beautiful and empowered as they take on many roles.

With the luxurious velvety smooth feel of each of the nine shades (Pure Pink, Electric Pink, Splendidly Fuchsia, Vibrant Melon, Coral Fever, Ruby Kiss, Red Supreme, Wild Cherry and Superb Wine) of Avon Perfectly Matte Lipstick, intense color can be achieved in one swipe. The new line of lipstick promises to never cake or crack during wear.

Mommy’s choice “As an entrepreneurial mom, I always look forward to the month of May. The period sees great sales especially for the back-toschool products,” she says.

Liz is grateful that she can always count on Avon for cool and practical school bags at prices that fit every parent’s budget.

Young, stylish girls will surely love the adorable 16-inch Barbie Glam Girl Trolley Bag or the two-

in-one Hello Kitty Free Hugs Backpack with Lunch Bag. While mom’s little guy will become instant fan of the spacious Cars and Friends to the Finish Backpack with Coin Wallet or the mighty Marvel Avengers Assemble Trolley Bag. Liz, meanwhile, suggests the Danni the Dog Backpack for moms who want their little boy or little girl’s school day to be a little less “ruff.”

For Liz, Avon is more than a company that provides these kinds of products that women (and men, as well) of all ages need, but a family that sincerely cares for its members.

“The beauty Avon promotes is the kind of beauty that comes from within; the sense of purpose within all of us radiates and touches other people’s lives,” she avers.

The aforementioned products are available this month. Log on to www.avonshop.ph to order online or download the Avon Brochure app on Google Play or Apple Store to browse other items available during this period.

Another Sm city mall opens in San Jose del monte The recent opening of SM City San Jose del Monte has brought excitement to Bulakeños and residents of the North Metro area, anticipating the shopping, leisure and entertainment opportunities.

No less than SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy opened the doors of SM Prime Holdings’ 57th mall to the public, and as has been the tradition, shoppers quickly packed the mall, eagerly heading to their favorite shops and restaurants.

Prior to the opening, a blessing ceremony was held with local officials gracing the event, led by Bulacan governor Wilhelmino Alvarado, vice governor Daniel Fernando, San Jose Del Monte mayor Reynaldo San Pedro and vice mayor Eduardo Roquero. Araneta Properties CEO Gregorio Araneta, whose group is spearheading a large development in the area, also attended the event with wife Irene Marcos Araneta and Ilocos Norte Congresswoman Imelda Marcos.

Located on a 60,193-square meter site in Barangay Tungkong

Mangga along Quirino Highway, the 101, 407.28-square meter five level mall (three levels of retail, and two levels of basement parking and a pond area) will serve shoppers in San Jose Del Monte City and nearby towns in Bulacan, North Metro cities like Caloocan and Quezon City, as well as several areas in Rizal.

The new mall is the third in the province of Bulacan after SM City Marilao and SM City Baliwag.

San Jose del Monte is said to be the largest town in Bulacan in terms of land area and population.

Known as the “balcony of the metropolis,” it was proclaimed the first City of Bulacan on September 10, 2000.

The proximity of the area to Manila and Quezon City has made it ideal for quiet and peaceful living. The place is hilly, with the Sierra Madre Mountains providing a panoramic backdrop. Over the years, it has continually grown with private subdivisions mushrooming in strategic areas, and it is also ideal as an industrial site.

SM City San Jose Del Monte, the 57th SM supermall, will serve shoppers in San Jose Del Monte City and nearby towns in Bulacan as well in North Metro and Rizal area

Its prime location for enterprise and investments has given rise to the growth of residential and commercial developments, as

From left: SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy, San Jose Del Monte Mayor Reynaldo San Pedro, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado, Araneta Properties chief executive officer Gregorio Araneta III, Irene Marcos Araneta, Bishop Jose Oliveros, D.D., Mrs. Felicidad T. Sy, Ilocos Norte Congresswoman Imelda Marcos, Bulacan Vice Governor Daniel Fernando and San Jose del Monte Vice Mayor Eduardo Roquero during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly opened SM City San Jose del Monte

well as satisfactory infrastructure and support facilities. San Jose del Monte is considered as one of the thriving cities for doing business in the country. The opening of SM City San Jose Del Monte highlights SM’s confidence in the city’s booming economy, and will be a catalyst for employment and business opportunities.

SM City San Jose Del Monte’s interiors are organized around a central atrium that terraces back on each level, allowing natural clerestory light to reach deep into the building. Pedestrian bridges cross the atrium on each floor, while stairs, elevators, and escalators traverse the space vertically, contributing to the dynamic feel of the interior. The space is further accentuated by distinct, vivid bans of color and a collection of vibrant planting on the lower ground level, all of which together give the space a festive, contemporary appearance.

The SM Store and SM Supermarket are the mall’s

major retail anchors, leading the way with SM mainstays like SM Appliance Center, Watsons, Ace Hardware, Surplus and BDO. There is more shopping fun ahead courtesy of fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, and eyewear shops. The mall’s Cyberzone will be an attraction in this growing city with major players GLOBE, Samsung, Huawei, O+, Oppo, My Phone, as well as other computer stores.

Three alfresco dining areas will make dining in the mall exciting; while eating out options will give shoppers a lot to choose from.

These include international chains; as well major national chains, and hometown favorites. SM City San Jose Del Monte will also have four state-of-the art digital cinemas; as well as amusement and health and wellness centers.

For customer convenience, the mall will have 805 vehicle parking slots and 107 motorcycle parking slots as well as transport bays.

S U N D AY : m AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

a balinese artisan works his magic for a John hardy piece

John hardy 2016 Collection hand-crafted necklace

THoUGHTFUL aPProacH To deTaiLs #INTHEMOMENT

By Francis de Leon

T

o those who appreciate the finer things in life, I think it is easier for me to persuade you on the proverbial expression that indeed, “luxury is in the details.” Do you agree?

In my opinion, there is a premium when you encounter a deeper appreciation on the artistry that goes into the creation of a most coveted luxury possession. In addition, there is a certain appeal that connects you to a piece of item most especially when it was hand shaped by an artisan and touched by inspiration.

Case in point: One of Rustan’s VIP clients recently invited this columnist to an exclusive preview of John Hardy’s new collection. When I was trying to find my way to the event venue from the ground floor, the friendly attendants simply led me to the “Silver Vault” located at the second level of the high-end store. As I was searching for the John Hardy boutique, the sound that resonated from the clinks of champagne flutes and scenes of wellheeled women in high spirits confirmed that I have arrived at the right location.

“There is something about the pieces that empowers you,” this columnist shared to an utterly amiable man during the John Hardy event.

“Yes, you are correct,” he quipped.

Coincidentally, I was exchanging my honest thoughts about the collection to the commercial general manager of John Hardy for North Asia, Godfrey Hung, who flew in from Hong Kong for this exclusive VIP event organized by Rustan’s.

Inadvertently, I was actually on point on the brand’s philosophy. According to them, John Hardy creates beauty that empowers the wearer. Moreover, they cultivate artisanship that inspires desire and compels emotions with stories of power, drama and inspiration.

As I was admiring the collection, I observed that each piece was thoughtfully

handmade to the detail. Suffice it to say, it has soul. As such, I learned that John Hardy is a brand renowned for artisan-crafted luxury jewelry since its establishment in Bali in 1975. It carries in its DNA a tradition of artistry that dates back to the ancient Balinese courts as evident in its unique design aesthetic.

“I am excited to announce that you are the first to see in Asia the 2016 New Collection of John Hardy,” Godfrey explained to an appreciative crowd during the launch.

He added, “…the items that you’ll see on display are 100 percent handmade.”

He further explained that it takes the whole day for artisans to finish roughly a 7-inch long piece of jewelry.

Effortlessly elegant, they have managed to present John Hardy’s iconic collection with a fresh approach for spring. Inspired by nature’s gift, the collection is sleek, timeless and modern. It was versatile and high on contemporary elegance.

The artisans’ graceful design and skill in combining silver and gold to create harmony was evident in each piece.

A personal favorite is their display of signature hand-woven bracelets in multiple strands. The Men’s Collection marks the end of winter with luxurious design details such as colorful translucent enamel on hand-carved chain motif. Shades of blue ranging from rich leather bracelets to lapis lazuli beads add an intense pop of color to this season’s Classic Chain collection, perfect for welcoming the warmth of spring.

John Hardy collections are available at around 600 retail locations across 27 countries or regions and luxury jewelry retailers worldwide. In the Philippines, John Hardy Boutiques is exclusively available in Rustan’s Ayala Center in Makati City; Rustan’s Shangri-la Plaza Mall in Madaluyong City; and Rustan’s Ayala Center, Cebu City.

To those who value handmade luxury, know that John Hardy put in hard attention to every detail for each item you intend to thoughtfully purchase for your lucky one.

Maila Garcia King, nikki tang and buena sarmiento

John hardy's commercial general manager Godfrey hung and Connie haw

Carol Mercado

Crickette tantoco and Dina tantoco

Dr. elsie Pascua, ann ong and Consul helen ong

agile Zamora and Lyliette Guzman

rustan's nedy tantoco and amb. bienvenido tantoco, sr.

Marian ong-nuguid and Duday tuason

Photos by Lorna LLanes

Follow me on Twitter or Instagram @francis_deleon8 or email: deleon_francis@yahoo.com.

Ferdi salvador, Chris Co, Maritess tantoco, tessa Prieto-Valdes and ssI's anton huang

roi Phillips, nene Leonor and eni alba

SunDAy : m Ay 15, 2016

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‘All ThE WAy’ DEbuTs MAy 22 On hbO

F

ollowing its critically acclaimed, award-winning Broadway run, All The Way, a riveting behind-thescenes look at President Lyndon B. Johnson’s tumultuous first year in office in the wake of President Kennedy’s assassination, comes to Asia the same time as the US exclusively on HBO – Sunday, May 22 at 8 a.m. with same-day primetime encore at 9 p.m. and is also available on HBO GO. Bryan Cranston (four-time Emmy® winner for Breaking Bad) reprises his Tony Award-winning role for the HBO Original Movie, which is directed by Jay Roach (Emmy® winner for HBO’s Game Change and Recount) from a screenplay by Robert Schenkkan (two-time Emmy® nominee and Writers Guild Award winner for HBO’s The Pacific), who has adapted his Tony Award-winning play of the same name.

Co-starring with Cranston are Anthony Mackie (Martin Luther King, Jr.), Melissa Leo (Lady Bird Johnson), Bradley Whitford (Hubert Humphrey) and Frank Langella (Sen. Richard Russell).

Additional cast members include Joe Morton (Roy Wilkins), Stephen Root (J. Edgar Hoover), Marque Richardson (Bob Mo-

A scene from the HBO television drama “All the Way”

ses), Aisha Hinds (Fanny Lou Hamer), Todd Weeks (Walter Jenkins), Mo McRae (Stokely Carmichael) and Spencer Garrett (Walter Reuther).

This HBO Original Movie follows President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) during his early administration, as he stakes his presidency on what would be an historic, unprecedented Civil Rights Act. Johnson finds himself caught between the moral imperative of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the expectations of the southern Democratic Party leaders who brought Johnson

to power. As King battles to press Johnson while controlling more radical elements of the Civil Rights movement, Johnson navigates the bill through Congress, winning a landslide victory against Barry Goldwater, but causing the South to defect from the Democratic Party.

All The Way is produced for HBO by Amblin Television, Tale Told Productions, Moonshot Entertainment and Everyman Pictures, with Steven Spielberg, Robert Schenkkan, Bryan Cranston, Jay Roach, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (The Ameri-

American actor Bryan Caston as uS President Lyndon B. Johnson

cans) executive producing, and James Degus (Sneaky Pete) coexecutive producing.

The 2014 Broadway production of All the Way, starring Cranston, swept the awards season, winning Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League and Tony awards, as well as the Steinberg/American Theater Critics Award, the inaugural Edward M. Kennedy Award and Boston’s Elliot Norton Award. The play also set Broadway box-office records twice for biggest weekly gross of a new play (non-musical).

PLDT Smart SmE nation holds biggest tech summit for mSmEs

PLDT Smart SME Nation’s annual business convention for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is back, this time to help Filipino MSMEs discover uncharted terrains in the ever changing digital landscape.

Now on its third year, TechIs-

land aims to educate, enable and empower MSMEs to solve real life business challenges through technology. In the past years, the forum focused on introducing MSMEs to ICT solutions for business. According to VP and PLDT Smart SME Nation Head Mitch

mitch Locsin, VP and PLDT Smart SmE nation Head

uber manila’s Laurence Cua

Facebook Canada’s Alfredo Tan

Locsin, TechIsland 3.0 is about “conquering new territories and markets in today’s dynamic business by harnessing digital tools and platforms.”

This year’s theme for TechIsland is a story of overcoming challenges, embracing change and conquering opportunities.

PLDT EVP, Head of EICB and ePLDT CEO Eric R. Alberto led the highly esteemed group of speakers as he shared insights based on his experience in guiding the PLDT Group’s Enterprise and International activities, both fixed and wireless businesses, to an annual revenue turnover accountability of over 65 billion pesos. Formally opening the event, Alberto welcomed game changers in the field of IT as well as innovators in the fields of marketing, finance and operations, among others.

PLDT Chief Strategy Officer Winston Damarillo

DENTSU Jayme Syfu’s ‘chairmom’ and chief executive, and one of Philippine advertising industry’s most renowned practitioners, Merlee Jayme, discussed digital marketing trends and how successful companies have adapted to the modern digital landscape. Meanwhile, PLDT Chief Strategy Officer Winston Damarillo shared strategies on how businesses can go digital through specifically-designed business solutions for MSMEs. For his part, Laurence Cua, general manager of Uber Manila, enlightened the audience on real-life application of digital technology.

Completing the roster is special guest speaker Alfredo Tan, who is Facebook Canada Group Director of Global Marketing Solutions and Facebook Philippines Interim Country Director.

DEnTSu Jayme Syfu ‘s merlee Jayme

He tackled digital exploration and how Facebook has evolved to serve the business community. He also talked about digital trends that can help businesses jumpstart their digital journey.

The breakout sessions in the afternoon were divided into four categories designed to target specific segments of an organization—the CEOs and owners (The Captain); sales and marketing (The Navigator); finance and procurement (The Trader); and operation and IT (The Engineer).

Held at the Harbour Tent of Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, the highly anticipated business-to-business ICT forum drew in over a thousand participants including industry leaders, multinational organizations, start-ups and MSMEs from various industries. Unlike in previous years where participation was limited to IT practitioners, this year’s TechIsland 3.0 was open to more people including professionals in the fields of marketing, sales, engineering, finance and procurement.

This year is also historic in TechIsland history because, for the first time, slots were opened to the general public on a first-comefirst-served basis.

Locsin added, “We’ve already established that digital is here and it’s here to stay. Now that everyone is on it, it’s time to challenge the standard business mindset and give our MSMEs a new perspective in managing their businesses, capturing and expanding their markets and handling competition. Online is where the action is, and we’re giving MSMEs the tools to thrive and survive in the digital arena.”

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SunDAy : m Ay 15, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

THE nExT SmARTpHonE SupERSTAR fInAlly ARRIVES

T

he Mobile World Congress was blown away in February 2016 when LG Electronics unveiled the playful LG G5 and Friends, the latest addition to the global technology innovator’s renowned G Series. This breakthrough innovation bagged a record-breaking number of 33 awards at what is known to be the mobile industry’s ‘Oscars’.

Two months later, the celebrated smartphone found its way to the Philippines, making its debut in a grand launch in Shangri-La at the Fort.

The prestigious event was graced by a number of prominent personalities such as Phil and James Younghusband, Ginger Conejero and more. Throughout the program, LG G5 and Friends were given ample praise by different industry experts: Qualcomm Southeast Asia Regional Head Mantosh Malhotra for the G5’s power-packed hardware, music DJ Jessica Milner for the Hi-Fi Plus with B&O Play sound accessory, and lifestyle-travel blogger Chuckie Dreyfus for the 360 CAM accessory.

Celebrity parents Doug and Cheska Kramer showed the audience why they

love the LG G5 and Friends through their Rolling Bot video demonstration with their kids and pet dog. And to reinforce G5’s message “Life’s Good When You Play More”, comedic video blogger Wil Dasovich presented his collaboration with LG through a heart-warming CSR project conducted for the children at the Philippine Children Medical Center (PCMC).

LG G5 sports the brand’s first-ever Modular Type design, encased in a sleek metal aluminum body and a Slide-out Battery which can easily swap a depleted battery with a fully charged one. Complete with LG Friends, a collection of companion devices, the G5 can be transformed into a digital camera, Hi-Fi player and more.

Reflecting LG’s longstanding reputation as a leader in smartphone cameras, the LG G5 has two cameras on the rear: one with a standard 78-degree lens and another with a 135-degree wide angle lens, the widest available in any smartphone. The 135-degree lens on the LG G5 offers a viewing angle that is approximately 1.7 times wider than those of existing smartphone cameras and 15 degrees wider than the human eye’s field of view. The

lG G5, the latest addition to the global technology innovator’s G Series

wide angle lens makes it easier for users to capture more landscape, taller buildings or larger groups without having to position oneself further from the subject.

LG G5’s unmatched camera qualities are further enhanced with powerful photo effects including Pop-out Picture, Film Effect and Auto Shot. Pop-out Picture combines images taken by the standard and wide angle lens to create a picture-in-a-frame effect. Film Effect can apply nine different film emulators to an image while Auto Shot is an enhanced camera UX which automatically captures the perfect selfie shot when a face is recognized.

“With all the smartphone brands striving for the latest technology and most

functional design, LG G5 marries these concepts with the human element of rediscovering the true joy in ‘playing more’,” LGEPH Mobile Communications VP Jay Won said. “We are so excited to bring this highly anticipated and out-of-the-box flagship to the Philippines. LG G5 and Friends play a game-changing role in the smartphone industry, providing devices and opportunities that would help make the most of a consumer’s mobile lifestyle.”

The LG G5 is now available in the Philippines in gray, titan, gold and pink, retailing for P34,990.00. To “play more” with the LG G5, visit lg.com/ph, like LG Mobile Philippines’ Facebook page or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

Disney mobile now available Disney fans young and old can enjoy more enchanted moments with the new Disney Mobile smartphones, now available in the Philippines. Made possible by CellPrime, the Disney Mobile devices will be available exclusively through Globe’s myStarter postpaid plans beginning at P750 per month.

Filipino technology distribution giant CellPrime is the Product Development Partner of Disney Mobile handsets in the Philippines and is the first to enjoy such a mobile phone partnership with the Disney brand in the market. “We are proud to bring our partnership with Disney further, as they entrust us with the introduction of Disney Mobile, their first mobile phone brand in South East Asia,” said Eric Yu CEO of CellPrime Distribution Corp. “Earlier this year, CellPrime launched special edition CloudFones and

CloudPads that come with exclusive Disney, Marvel and Star Wars accessories and a collectible range of Disney Mobile accessories that can be used by all brands. Now, the new Disney Mobile smartphones are the latest innovations that we are offering to everyone who loves Disney.”

Digital natives and tech-savvy Disney fans of all ages have three design themes to choose from: Mickey Mouse, Disney Princess and Frozen. The devices are packed with exclusive Disney custom user interface and content, such as wallpapers, widgets, ring tones. Also included are special Disney apps in tune with the theme of each smartphone, such as Princess Story Theater, Frozen Storybook Deluxe and Castle of Illusion. Other content may also be accessed on the Disney Philippines website.

Running on Android Lollipop, each Disney

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe ACROSS 1 Femme fatale 6 Girl from Baja 11 Fiber- — cable 16 Valens’ “La —” 21 January, in Jalisco 22 Where to celebrate Tet 23 Cease-fire 24 Bradley and Sharif 25 Ready to swing (2 wds.)

26 Release magma 27 Woods insects 28 Taboos (hyph.)

29 Something to read (2 wds.)

31 Loud kiss 33 Movie popcorn size 35 Depot info 36 35mm camera 37 Slug’s trail 38 Runs up a tab 39 Garrulous

41 42 44 46 51 52 53 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 66 67 68 69 70 72 73 74

Nile god of pleasure Present Making bows Rattled on Message concealer La — Tar Pits Kept in custody Cause to steam Snake juice Charlatan Be prone “Thereby hangs — —” It may be hard Ravine Scoundrel Prize marble Took a toll on Every morning Looked rudely Faxed, maybe Did a takeoff Potters’ ovens Eclipse

75 Gulf nation 77 Red Sonja ally 78 October sign 79 Car-radiator fronts 82 He had a gilt complex 83 Green mineral 84 Reindeer herder 88 Whodunits 89 Vaughan or Miles 90 Sticks in the mud?

91 Clingy seedpod 92 Dig deeply 93 Stun 94 Corn tassels 95 Lifted, so to speak 97 Sun. homily 98 Maureen of film 99 Basins in a church 100 Worthless amount 101 Georgetown athlete 103 New Mexico tribe 104 “Gigi” playwright 105 Own 106 Geneva’s river 108 Be frugal 110 Loose-leafed lettuce 111 Diamond-like gem 114 Snarl 115 Recoils in alarm 117 Pub pint 120 Shogun’s capital 121 Mo. expense 123 North Woods animal 125 Linen ruiner (2 wds.)

127 Outspoken 129 In reserve 131 Forestall 133 — -garde 134 Ms. Zellweger 135 Paddock occupants 136 Blacken 137 Hull filler 138 Fire of the mind 139 Vestibule 140 Brought to bay 141 Camel driver’s

SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2016 command DOWN 1 Trouser parts 2 PC chip maker 3 Concrete reinforcer 4 Of an epoch 5 Some are sour 6 Harassed 7 Sheiks’ bevies 8 Not free (2 wds.)

9 Speeder’s nemesis 10 Islets in the Seine 11 Canada’s capital 12 Out of reach, maybe 13 Pleats 14 Gross!

15 — la vie!

16 Fancy confection 17 I love, to Livy 18 “Luncheon on the Grass” painter 19 Thin soup 20 Ore analysis 30 “The Zoo Story” penner 32 Web surfer’s need 34 Boat made of skins 40 Yuck!

42 Got in shape 43 Hound’s trail 44 Dick or Spencer 45 Snort of disgust 46 Mixes batter 47 Square columns 48 Muscles 49 Checkbook amt.

50 More than med.

51 Granted, as land 52 Rally starters 54 A moon of Jupiter 55 Feline nine 56 Exploits 58 Female fox 59 Zorba portrayer 62 Cod and Canaveral 63 Black-tie affairs

Mobile device has a 1.2 GHz Quad core processor, dual SIM and 4G LTE capabilities, 5” HD IPS screen, 13MP rear camera, and 5MP front camera.

“Going beyond hardware specs like having a great screen and LTE connectivity at a competitive plan from Globe, we are focused on finding ways to deliver the magical world of Disney at the touch of your fingertips. With exclusive content like a custom UI comprised of fun widgets, live wallpapers and Disney songs as ring tones, your Disney Mobile device gives you access to a world of Disney content and services.

It truly is a device like no other,” added Yu. The Disney Mobile devices are not the only new products that CellPrime has in store for the Filipino consumers. With its collaborations with numerous globally reputable technology partners such as Intel,

64 Deborah of old movies 65 View from Everest 67 Breaks, corral style 68 Frankie Avalon’s “DeDe —” 69 Grease jobs 71 Mary — Moore 73 Eastman invention 74 Teams 76 “Vogue” rival 77 Roughly 78 Carefree escapades 79 Grind one’s teeth 80 Cheyenne meet 81 Piano key 82 Kiwi language 83 Spurns a lover 85 Cabin or chateau 86 Yanks at 87 Hunts for meat 89 Oater classic 90 North Dakota city 93 Cold-shoulder 94 Any minute 95 Family mem.

96 QB objectives 98 Atmospheric layer 99 Darts about 100 Gave an Rx 102 Electric bridge 105 Showed the way 107 Not as bland 108 Barracks bane 109 Foot, slangily 110 A grizzly may do it 111 Veld grazer 112 Clock watcher 113 “On the house” offer 114 Target rival 115 Act unit 116 “Cut us some —!”

117 Plugged in 118 Hope or Jessica 119 Praise to the skies 122 Hobbling 124 Maine, from Oregon 126 John, in Wales 128 Recent, in combos 130 Flash in the — 132 Caesar’s man

Microsoft, Disney, NBA and Spotify, consumers can expect more exciting innovations to be launched by CellPrime this year.

“The launch of Disney Mobile Accessories and Disney Mobile smartphones with Globe is just the beginning of exciting things to come. Stay tuned for a ‘first in the world’ launch in the coming months,” said Yu. Disney Mobile handsets can now be purchased through Globe stores or online.

SunDAy : m Ay 15, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Tito Boy’s blowout

Even after a busy day from work, from taping shows and handling schedules for his talents, Boy Abunda or “Tito Boy” as he is fondly addressed to, found himself some time to treat some of his friends for some late night dinner at GoodAh!!!.

Comically known for being “Open 25 Hours” a day, the popular all-Filipino food chain served Tito Boy and his friends some of the all-time favorite dishes, which everyone enjoys.

Tito Boy treated his friends with pork sinigang, fried chicken, garlic kangkong, and sisig, which are part of GoodAh!!!’s good-for-four meal package dubbed as “Boy’s Blowout”. Another set option that can be enjoyed by everyone serves nilagang baka, garlic kangkong, sizzling porkchop and pork barbeque. Both sets are served with rice and a pitcher of red iced tea to complete the hefty meal.

At only P499.00 for a set, Boy’s Blowout is best for barkada or officemates of four who wants to get an affordable meal that can satisfy their cravings for some tasty dishes that hearty enough to stuff themselves, but not heavy on the price.

Tito Boy’s late-night dinner with his friends brought out enthusiastic chatters and laughter about how their day went while enjoying every spoonful of their meal.

Tito Boy was also joined by his staff from Make Your Nanay Proud Foundation Inc. (MYNP) to enjoy the late night feast. MYNP is a non-profit organization aimed to encourage children to show their love, honor, and respect to their mothers. They recently received a donation from GoodAh!!! to help them in their programs such as the “Meeting of Nanays” which gives inspirational talks for mother in different communities, Sine Nanay Festival which allows student film makers to tell a variety of stories about mothers, and the annual Best Nanay Awards which recognizes exceptional mothers from all walks of life.

Even before Tito Boy became a part of the GoodAh!!! family as its newest celebrity endorser, he has been enjoying his meals at GoodAh!!! and has always been excited about GoodAh!!!’s latest offerings. Aside from “Boy’s Blowout” set meals, Tito Boy also got his name on one of his favorite dish with GoodAh!!!’s “Boy’s Bistek”, because he is such a big fan of the dish since he was a kid.

Watch out for more exciting dishes from GoodAh!!! by visiting their website at www.goodah.com.ph or their Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoodahPh.

Boy Abunda with friends from GoodAh!!!

O

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mARTIn nIEVERA InVITES yOu On A JOuRnEy wITH HIm

n May 24, a special concert billed Journeys with Martin Nievera will be staged at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City.

The country’s best crooner and all-around good guy— Concert King Martin Nievera—lends his voice in a oneof-a-kind benefit concert for the EPCALM Adult Leukemia Foundation of the Philippines.

Now on its 11th year, EPCALM is the only non-profit organization in the country focused on extending timely, personalized, practical and family-oriented support for patients journeying through leukemia, as well as their families. It works through networks of committed partners and volunteers to extend spiritual, medical and financial services and resources.

Journeys is all about you and me giving hope to our sick sisters and brothers—as they journey toward wholeness—healthier, happier.

However different our individual journeys may be, let Martin’s distinct brand of music get you through life’s challenges, through his songs of inspiration, healing, triumph, and hope.

As Martin, an honorary EPCALM Board Member, said: “I sing; you save.”

EPCALM receives requests for assistance every single day. Concert proceeds will go to the EPCALM Hope Fund, launched on April 1, to sustain the various EPCALM services and ministries, and raise the much-needed financial resources to make a holistic difference in the

Concert King martin nievera stages a concert at the at the Samsung Hall in Sm Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City

lives of adult leukemia patients and their families.

Tickets are now available in all SM Cinemas and SM Supermalls.

For inquiries and reservations, please call SM Tickets 470 2222.

For online ticket purchases, visit smtickets.com/events/vie For details, please contact Sunny Ku, EPCALM Board Director Mobile No. 0917.883.1999 E-mail: sunnyku888@gmail.com

HGTV challenges SKy subscribers to pitch for a kitchen makeover

Posing a challenge to avid homemakers and home makeover fans can bring about some very enthusiastic response. This is what HGTV, Asia’s only regional home focused channel together with SKYcable proved as they asked subscribers to convince them why their kitchen deserved a makeover.

The prize included a chance to attend the HGTV House Party and meet best friends and real life cousins, Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri more popularly known as The Cousins and vouchers worth P300,000.00 for a kitchen makeover.

Subscribers who participated in the contest got the invitation to attend the party at Discovery Primea in Makati City, and with it, a chat with the talented and good-looking pair. But it was one subscriber who walked away the luckiest: Shayne Grape who simply shared a picture of their desperate kitchen, which she wanted to remodel as a gift for her mom on Mother’s Day. When asked why, Shayne said “I wanted to give it to my mom as a Mother’s Day gift, since she has been cooking

for us ever since we were born”.

She and the rest of the other subscribers also got to listen to The Cousins who gamely answered questions and took on kitchen challenges such as guessing the use of rare, Filipino kitchen utensils.

The charismatic duo, who have become faces of kitchen renovation on television since the debut of Kitchen Cousins in 2011, have gone on to star in other hit programs such as Cousins on Call and Cousins Undercover. America’s Most Desperate Kitchens will see the return of The Cousins who both run a New Jersey-based family construction company as they rescue desperate homeowners in need of a major kitchen overhaul. Homeowners looking for inspiration to turn their mediocre kitchens into masterpieces can tune in to America’s Most Desperate Kitchens every Tuesday at 9 p.m. on HGTV on Skycable.

HGTV is the premier source for home-related inspiration, instruction and entertainment. With the growing demand for high quality home lifestyle entertainment in

Asia, HGTV is the first regional channel dedicated exclusively to the growing home and lifestyle category in Asia. HGTV offers a robust line up of top-rated programs about property, hybrid construction, design and extreme spaces. HGTV is part of Scripps Networks Interactive, one of the

world’s leading producers of lifestyle content. More information available on www.hgtv.asia or Facebook page www.facebook. com/hgtvasia.

To watch HGTV on SKYcable in high definition, tune in to Channel 246 (Mega Manila) or Channel 88 to watch it in standard

definition. HGTV is also available online via livestream on SKY On Demand if you are subscribed to the channel. Not yet on your plan’s channel line up? You can also choose to add HGTV to your SKYcable basic plan via SELECT for only P 50/month in Standard or High Definition.

The Cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri (second and fourth fromleft) joined by (from left) James Dumlao, SKy Programming Head, Shayne Grape, Eloi Balmoris, SKy Cable Chief Finance Officer and Derek Chang, Scripps managing Director for Asia.

sunday : m ay 15, 2016

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IsaH V. REd EDITOR nICKIE WanG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Iza Calzado in Bayo’s latest collection

Iza CaLzaDO BLOOms In sTyLE

Sampaguita, Waling-Waling, Doña Aurora, Magnifica, and Malakatmon. The original graphic prints are available in various flattering silhouettes perfect for the wardrobe transition the season calls for.

ISAH V. RED The featured blooms are chosen not only for their charm but for their stunning representation of the country’s natural beauty. or most people, summer translates The Philippine Lily is an endangered flower to two things: Dreamy getaways and that thrives only in the high altitudes of long walks at the beach. But for the the Cordillera Central Mountains while fashion lovers, the season is another the Ilang-Ilang of Luzon is treasured for its worthy excuse for one thing that will al- striking splendor and exceptionally delicate ways tickle their fancy: A new wardrobe. scent. Palawan’s sunny bright Malakatmon, This summer, on the other hand, local fashion comis further visual pany Bayo offiproof of the councially launches its Bayo has always been try’s rich, beautiful seasonal collection landscape. that reflects the passionate in advocating Gumamela bright, breezy air earned its spot local culture and of summer while on the list for its encouraging Filipinos sartorially paybright, colorful ing homage to the blossoms as well to be proud of their beauty of the Philas our national heritage. Last year, ippines. The global flower, the humble floral trend takes Sampaguita, for its its Holiday Heritage an original twist diminutive beauty. campaign featured with the brand’s Completing the newest line of decollection are the parols (Philippine signs, which gives royalties of Philipnod to the counLanterns) as the pine flora, Walingtry’s native floral Waling (also known inspiration for their charm. as the “Queen of Taking front and Philippine FlowHoliday collection center as the face ers”), Doña Auof the collection is rora which was first Bayo’s latest amfound in 1915 in bassador Iza CalMt. Makiling and zado who first lent her world-class beauty named after President Manuel L. Quezon’s to the brand in 2015. The actress and TV wife, and Medinilla Magnifica a popular personality perfectly embodies the clothing ornamental plant endemic to Luzon, Minlabel’s market: the graceful, beautiful, mod- doro, and Panay Islands. ern Filipina.

Bayo has always been passionate in advoThe collection, dubbed ‘Flowers of the cating local culture and encouraging FilipiPhilippines, is inspired by some of the na- nos to be proud of their heritage. Last year, tive flowers distinct to the county’s local its Holiday Heritage campaign featured culture. The line’s mix of soft and bright parols (Philippine Lanterns) as the inspiracolors with its artistic patterns flawlessly tion for their Holiday collection. takes anyone back to the elegance of the The brand uses its creative vision to create Filipino culture with its unique take on sartorial pieces for the modern Filipina muse. summer florals.

‘Flowers of the Philippines’ is the collection The summer collection features sev- that the brand will offer this summer. eral designs and patterns that represent Give your closet the much-needed dash of the beauty of eight local flora namely the color this season requires by checking out the Philippine Lily, Ilang-Ilang, Gumamela, collection in all Bayo stores nationwide.

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actress and Bayo’s latest ambassador Iza Calzado