The Standard - 2016 May 20 - Friday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX NO. 97 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 FRIDAY : MAY 20, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Purisima ordered arrested for graft

SMARTMATIC SNUB STYMIES CONGRESS

Contractor gives no reason for not attending probe By Christine F. Herrera, Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos Araneta

AN ELECTION watchdog and information technology experts on Thursday hit the lastminute cancellation of a Senate hearing on the unauthorized introduction of a new script in the transparency server of the automated election system (AES). The Mata sa Balota led by Rodolfo Javellana Jr. as well as IT experts lawyer Ivan Uy and Edmund Casiño said it was highly questionable for the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System (JCOC-AES) to postpone the hearing in the Senate, simply because the Commission on Election’s IT service provider, Smartmatic, would be unable to attend. Uy said Senator Aquilino Pimentel III’s reason for cancelling the hearing was “flimsy,” since it was the Comelec, and not Smartmatic, that had control over the elections. Pimentel, chairman of the joint panel, earlier said it would be “useless” if the investigation was pursued Thursday without Smartmatic, which backed of the hearing at the last minute. Uy insisted the hearing could proceed since it was the Comelec that needs to answer the more important questions on the holding of the elections including the system employed in the exercise. “I think the JCOC should have proceeded with the hearing because most of the questions we have can be answered by the Comelec because the official logs and the people running this election are supposedly the Comelec,” he said. The leaders of Mata sa Balota were among those that filed a class suit againt Smartmatic, the Comelec and poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting for allowing a Smartmatic technician to introduce a new script into the transparency server that was used to tally and report Next page unofficial results.

Out with the old. Police and security personnel replace the Philippine flag at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Thursday as part of the preparations for the proclamation of new president and vice president of the Philippines. MANNY PALMERO

Dominguez changes mind, accepts Finance post fered a job in the new president’s Cabinet, but had turned it down “for personal reasons.” DAVAO CITY—A former AgriA member of Duterte’s transition culture secretary and close friend team, Dominguez last week preof incoming President Rodrigo sented the incoming government’s Duterte had a change of heart eight-point economic agenda. Thursday and accepted the post Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s desigas Finance secretary after initially nated press secretary, gave no reason turning down the post. for Dominguez’s change of heart. Carlos Dominguez III, who Also named Thursday to the headed the finance committee of Cabinet was lawyer Vitaliano Duterte’s presidential campaign, Aguirre II, who was tapped to had been one of the first to be of- head the Justice Department.

By John Paolo Bencito and Rey E. Requejo

Confirming that he had accepted the post, Aguirre vowed to give priority to cases involving illegal drugs and corruption when he takes over the department in July. “We will spare no one; we will investigate regardless of who is involved,” he said. Aquirre also vowed to clean up the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, which has been embroiled in scandals involving illegal drugs and special treatment for influential inmates.

He said Duterte had already given him several instructions, but they have yet to discuss specifics. Among the cases pending with the Justice Department are criminal charges against 90 commanders and members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups tagged in the death of Special Action Force commandos during the Mamasapano clash in January last year. Next page

F R I D AY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

LP loses hold of Senate; 12 winners proclaimed The Commission on Elections proclaimed yesterday the top 12 winners in the senatorial race—Senate President Franklin Drilon (LP); former Tesda Director Joel Villanueva (LP); reelectionist Senator Vicente Sotto III (Nationalist People’s Coalition); former senators Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon and Jose Miguel Zubiri, all independent; world boxing champ Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao (United Nationalist Alliance); ex-senator Francis Pangilinan (LP); former Rep. Risa Hontiveros (Akbayan); Caloocan Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian (NPC); Senator Ralph Recto and former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (LP). After the victory of Drilon and Recto in their reelection bid, the successful comeback of Pangilinan, and the victory of Villanueva and De Lima, there are now six LP members in the Senate. The other member of the ruling party is presidential cousin Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV. While Hontiveros belongs to the party-list Akbayan, she ran under the wing of LP in the last three elections, and is likely to add to the LP

numbers, which will reach seven. Still, Drilon would need 13 senators under his fold to remain at the helm of the Senate. Political observers say, moreover, that the victory of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential race can spark political realignments in the Senate. They add that the Senate presidency may not go to Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDPLaban) president Aquilino Pimentel III or Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who belongs to the Nacionalista Party. The NP, led by its founding president, former Senate president. Manny Villar and his wife, incumbent Senator Cynthia Villar on Monday forged an alliance with Duterte’s PDP-Laban. Duterte was appointed PDPLaban national chairman before he filed his Certificate of Candidacy for president in October. Pimentel is the party’s president. Aside from Cayetano and Villar, the other NP member in the Senate is Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who also lost in the last vice presi-

dential race. Pimentel had earlier said he is open to the Senate leadership, but he is not anxious to get it. “If called to serve in that capacity, it’s my duty as PDP-Laban president to push for the governance agenda not only of my party, but also of my president,” said Pimentel. “But ultimately, that will depend on the collective will of my colleagues in the Senate,” said Pimentel, whose term ends in 2019. While Cayetano has been offered a post as secretary of Foreign Affairs or Justice under a Duterte administration, he can assume the post only after a year following his election defeat. UP political science professor Prospero de Vera said either Pimentel or Cayetano would be able to cobble together a majority coalition. De La Salle University political analyst Richard Heydarian said he expects LP to lose the Senate presidency to PDP-Laban (Pimentel) or other non-LP candidates, and end up as the main opposition party. “Though they did well in the Senate race, I expect them to lose the Senate leadership,” he added. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino said he’s not quite sure that the next Senate president could be either Pimentel or Cayetano. He said they will have major roles in the coming Senate since both are senior legislators and both have the trust and confidence of the newlyelected president.

Smartmatic...

“With the hearing intending to clarify the alteration of the script in the transparency server, which impacts significantly on the sanctity and integrity of the electoral system, Smartmatic officials owe the public a clearer explanation, rather than a cursory excuse, why they can’t participate,” he said in a statement. Marcos said Smartmatic has been quick to claim that the change was merely cosmetic and did not in any way alter the results of the elections. “If that is so, we expect them to be the ones eager to take advantage of the opportunity which the hearing is providing to settle the issue.” “I hope Smartmatic would not make similar excuses should another hearing be scheduled. Otherwise, it would give more ground to concerns that the alteration of the script did cause more than just a cosmetic change,” said Marcos. The cancellation, Pimentel said, came after officials of Smartmatic sent a letter that they will not be able to attend the hearing at the Senate, citing the proclamation of elected senators at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. Pimentel said the Smartmatic promised “to attend in some future date.” Smartmatic is the technology provider of the Comelec in the automated election this year, a role it played in 2010 and 2013. Last Wednesday, Marcos submitted a demand letter to the Comelec asking the poll body to allow his team of experts to conduct an audit of the transparency server and the central server of the poll body used

in the elections. In a three-page letter addressed to Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista, Marcos noted that the poll body has yet to answer his legal team’s letter dated May 17, 2016 asking the Comelec to shed light on the introduction of a new script into the transparency server around 7:30 p.m. of May 9. Marcos said what is clear is that Smartmatic introduced the new script in breach of the pertinent protocols and without prior clearance from the poll body. He said the implications of such a change, and the admitted breach of protocols “are gravely disconcerting to say the least.” Worse, Marcos said it cast doubts on the process and raised various questions. “In view of these doubts and questions, and the admitted tampering of the transparency server including the breach of protocols relating thereto, I am formally requesting this honorable commission to permit my team of IT experts and programmers, within three days from receipt hereof, to conduct an audit of the transparency server and the central server under the close supervision of this Commission and its technical personnel,” Marcos said in his letter. Among others, Marcos noted that the alteration removed the only security feature of the data, causing hash codes to change. Because of this Marcos said there is no assurance the data was not altered on other occasions. If a single person can introduce “cosmetic changes,” Marcos wondered how can the public be assured the same person or other persons

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Sandy Araneta

THE once powerful Liberal Party is on the brink of losing its grip on the Senate leadership following the entry of seven non-LP members among the winning senators and the defeat of the party’s presidential candidate, Manuel Roxas II.

From A1

Casiño, for his part, said the lastminute excuse of Smartmatic to not attend the proceedings may be considered a sign of guilt. He added that if Smartmatic was really interested in attending the hearing to clarify issues regarding its unauthorized actions, it could have easily sent representatives. “Smartmatic has a big organization they can easily send representatives because not all of the corporation is required to attend. Are they not professional enough to send their lawyers to face the Senate probe so that time is not wasted?” Casiño said. “The apparent reluctance of Smartmatic to attend the hearing is another proof that it is part of a conspiracy to subvert the true will of the Filipino people,” Javellana said. “The joint investigation is very crucial and important and the backing out of Smartmatic is questionable,” he said. Javellana said his group will pursue the electoral sabotage complaint it earlier filed against the Comelec, and PPCRV and Smartmatic officials. “They must be made answerable. That’s why we are pursuing the case, even up to impeachment, just to find out the truth,” Javellana said in Filipino. Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the JCOC hearing because of a last-minute notice from Smartmatic.

“I don’t know about the LP but in terms of numbers they still have around six or seven and as such would play a role in the Senate leadership race,” he said. Drilon, also LP national vice chairman, said it is still “premature” to talk about a change of leadership. As usual, political butterflies in Congress are expected to jump ship to secure key positions. Regardless of their political parties, senators would definitely join or form an alliance with PDP-Laban. The Palace on Thursday congratulated the Comelec for proclaiming the new senators and party-list representatives. “We join the people in expressing joy that the Comelec properly accomplished its role as the national board of canvassers in the election and in the proclamation of senators and party-list representatives,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement. “This is a validation of having a stable and vibrant democracy in our country,” Coloma said. Topping this year’s senatorial race is Drilon, vice chairman of the Liberal Party, with 18,607,391 votes. At a close second with 18,459,222 votes is Villanueva, a first-time senatorial candidate, adopted by the administration party. Sotto of the Nationalist People’s Coalition stands at third place with 17,200,371 votes, followed by two independent candidates, former senators Lacson (16,926,152 votes) and Gordon (16,719,322 votes). did not introduce substantial changes to the script or that the data was not affected as a result. Noting that the poll body only admitted the alteration of the script of the transparency server after his camp raised the issue, Marcos said it also raised questions about the central server of the Comelec over which the political parties and candidates have no direct access. Marcos pointed out that the supposed discrepancy where “ñ” was displaying “?” occurred only in the transparency server and not in the vote counting machines, the Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS), the election returns (ER), and the ballots when they are part of the same system. “Could it be that the transparency server was loaded with an entirely different program that was not presented to the political parties and candidates?” Marcos queried. Lawyer Jose Amor Amorado, head of the internal quick count operation of Marcos, said the audit will settle the issue on whether the script change was indeed merely cosmetic or if it was more than that. The Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting had earlier denied the hash code in the transparency server had changed but when a video of the change circulated online, they were forced to admit it later on. The camp of Marcos presented a graph showing how the insertion of a change in the script or system coincided with the steady drop of his lead until he was overtaken by administration candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo at 3:08 a.m. on May 10.

Dominguez... From A1

The department is also conducting a preliminary investigation on the money laundering case stemming from the $80.9-million stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh Bank and laundered to the country. State prosecutors immediately welcomed the imminent appointment of Aguirre. Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said Aguirre’s appointment would be “a very positive move.” “Attorney Aguirre has a vast experience in the practice of law and is an esteemed member of the bar and respected in the legal profession. We are elated to hear his appointment and we will give him our wholehearted support in his plans and programs to enhance the delivery of justice to our people,” Arellano said, in a text message to reporters. Acting Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas said he respects the decision of Duterte to appoint Aguirre as his replacement. “Whoever is chosen as the next secretary of Justice, all I have for him are my very best wishes for a fruitful stint—all in the name of service to the Filipino people,” he said. Aguirre, who was head of Duterte’s legal team during the campaign, was a classmate and fraternity brother of the incoming president at the San Beda College law school. He graduated on top of his class and passed the bar exams in 1971 as one of the top notchers with a rating of 85.25 percent. His father, the late municipal Mayor Alfaro Aguirre, was chairman of the Liberal Party for nearly 40 years. Aguirre became prominent when he served as lead counsel of Hubert Webb in the Vizconde massacre. Aguirre was also deputy counsel for the Feliciano Commission’s fact-finding investigation on the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 where he conducted the direct examinations of now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and other mutineers who participated in a failed takeover of a Makati City. In 2012, he was one of the private prosecutors tapped in the impeachment trial of the late former Chief Justice Renato Corona. He earned the ire of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the hearings when he covered his ears over the senator’s “shrill voice.” Meanwhile, priest-turned-mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr., who shaped Duterte’s national campaign, declined to serve as his Interior secretary. “To be nominated or shortlisted for the secretary of Interior and Local Government would be a great honor for me, since not all will be given the chance to lead the department,” Evasco said in a statement posted on Facebook. “But I would like to clarify that I am not, and will not be interested [in] any Cabinet post. I will always be grateful for the offer, and I will always serve our newly elected president and the Filipino people in some other way, base on my capacity and skills,” he added. He said he would remain available to help Duterte in a low-key capacity wherever his skills and capacities would be applicable.

F R I D AY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Purisima ordered arrested for graft

Proclamation. Ten of the newly elected senators are proclaimed at the PICC on Thursday. They are, from left, Leila De Lima, Sherwin Gatchalian,

Risa Hontiveros, Migs Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, Franklin Drilon, Richard Gordon, Manny Pacquiao, Francis Pangilinan and Ralph Recto. Senators Tito Sotto and Panfilo Lacson did not show up. LINO SANTOS

270,000 inspectors still to be paid honorariums SOME 270,000 teachers who did work as Board of Election Inspectors in this year’s elections are still to be paid their honorariums totaling P1.21 billion, a lawyer said Thursday. Gregorio Larrazabal, a former Commision on Elections official, said the inspectors found their “cash cards” empty after the Comelec changed the scheme for paying them “at the last minute.” “Thousands of BEIs have not yet been paid,” Larrazabal said. ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said the complaint being received by his office about the nonpayment of the teachers’ honorariums were coming from all over the country.

The election inspectors were supposed to be paid P4,000 each in honorariums and P500 in transportation allowances for a total of P1.21 billion. “The complaint about the empty cash cards is widespread across the country,” Tinio told The Standard. “The teachers are complaining. They say they worked fast but were not paid fast.” At least 20 teachers belonging to ACT Teachers on Thursday

picketed the Philippine International Convention Center where the Comelec is canvassing the votes. Larrazabal said the existing payment scheme was efficient until the Comelec changed it. He said there were delays in the payment of election inspectors in the past, but the number of complaints had been insignificant. “In many municipalities there is no [Landbank] branch, so how can the [election inspector] convert the card into cash?” Larrazabal said. “Did you know that some [election inspectors] have to pay more than P500 to get a ride

from their municipality to another municipality just to cash the card? “Worse, after spending money to hire a vehicle to go to the bank, many [election inspectors] are told by the bank that there is no money in their cash cards.” Said Benjie Valbuena, ACT national chairman: “The election is over but our teachers who served as [election inspectors] and support staff remain unpaid. They risked their lives and sacrificed a lot. This delay is dreadful after many of them ended up tired and hungry since no meals were served them and no transportation services were available.” Christine F. Herrera

THE Sandiganbayan on Thursday ordered the arrest of dismissed Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima for graft. The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division said there was probable cause to try Purisima for graft and justifiable reasons to order his arrest as well as the arrest of his co-accused. Purisima’s case arose after he tapped Werfast Documentary Agency Inc. as the Philippine National Police’s courier service provider for all firearms license applications despite its failure to comply with government regulations. The Office of the Ombudsman cited Werfast’s failure to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to obtain authority from the Department of Transportation and Communications to operate a delivery service, and to seek accreditation from the Department of Science and Technology in 2011. Purisima’s co-accused are dismissed Police Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, retired Police Director Gil Meneses, and dismissed Firearms and Explosives Office officials Chief Supt. Napoleon Estilles, Senior Supt. Allan Parreño, Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Senior Supt. Melchor Reyes, Supt. Lenbell Fabia, Chief Inspector Sonia Calixto, Chief Inspector Nelson Bautista, Chief Inspector Ricardo Zapata Jr., and Senior Inspector Ford Tuazon. The Sandiganbayan also ordered the prosecution of Werfast’s incorporators Mario Juan, Salud Bautista, Enrique Valerio, Lorna Perena and Juliana Pasia. Rio N. Araja

Panelo’s appointment as spokesman criticized

Press conference. Vitaliano Aguirre, tapped to be the next Justice secretary, speaks to reporters after meeting President-elect Rodrigo Duterte at a hotel in Davao City on May 18, 2016. AFP

CEBU CITY—Maribojoc, Bohol Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr. said presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte was sensitive to public sentiment and might not push through with the appointment of some of his chosen Cabinet members. Evasco, Duterte’s campaign manager, made the statement when asked by The Standard about the appointment of Salvador Panelo, who served as a lawyer of the Ampatuan clan over the infamous Maguindanao massacre, as presidential spokesman. He made his statement even as the National Press Club of the Philippines on Thursday called on Duterte to reconsider the appointment of his lawyer Panelo as his spokesman. Group president Paul Gutierrez reminded Duterte that Panelo was the lawyer of the members of the Ampatuan clan, the principal suspects in the Maguindanao massacre case that took the lives of 58 people, including 32 journalists,

on Nov. 23, 2009. Journalists would find it difficult working with Panelo, Gutierrez said. “Definitely, the members of the press would find it hard to interact and work with a press secretary whose main client were the suspects in the wholesale murder of the members of the press that has outraged the entire world,” he said. During a press conference at the Wellcome Hotel in Cebu City, Evasco also said he had not been offered the post of secretary of the Interior Department. Evasco was a rebel priest who was later elected mayor of Maribojoc town in Bohol. He said he would like to thank the Cebuanos for giving Duterte more than a million votes especially in Cebu City, where Liberal Party mayoral candidate Tomas Osmeña dumped LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II for Duterte. Junex Doronio and Rio N. Araja

f r i D AY : m AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

New US ambassador named By Vito Barcelo THE White House announced the nomination of the first Asian-American ambassador to the Philippines even as tensions continued to mount in the South China Sea after the Pentagon complained that two Chinese fighters “unsafely” intercepted a US spy plane in international air space. The White House announced the appointment of career Korean-American diplomat Sung Y. Kim as new United States envoy to the Philippines to replace Philip Goldberg, whose tour of duty ends this year. “I am pleased to announce that these experienced and committed individuals have decided to serve our country. I look forward to working with them,” the White House quoted Obama as saying in a statement on key US government appointments. The White House statement said Kim is a career member of the US foreign service holding important positions. He is special representative for North Korea Policy and deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State, positions he has held since 2014. Previously, he served as US ambassador to the Republic of Korea from 2011 to 2014, special envoy for the Six Party Talks with the rank of Ambassador from 2008 to 2011, and director of the Office of Korean Affairs in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs from 2006 to 2008. Kim was political-military chief at the US Embassy in Seoul from 2002 to 2006. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1988, Kim has also held positions at posts in Hong Kong, Japan, and Malaysia. Prior to joining the foreign service, Kim was a Deputy District Attorney in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, master of law degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and juris doctor degree from Loyola Law School. Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense said it was reviewing a May 17 intercept of a US maritime patrol reconnaissance aircraft by two tactical aircraft from the People’s Republic of China. “Initial reports characterized the incident as unsafe,” said Pentagon spokesman Major Jamie Davis said in a statement Wednesday, without giving additional details.

Hot seat. Former bank branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito confers with her legal lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Rene Saguisag during the continuation on Thursday of the Senate investigation on the $100 million that was stolen from a US bank account of the Bangladesh Bank and laundered in the Philippines. LINO SANTOS

Senators hit for ‘red-scare tactics’ By Christine F. Herrera, Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja LEFTIST lawmakers on Thursday slammed “hawkish and ultra-rightist” Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and returning Senator Panfilo Lacson Jr. for atttempting to derail the resumption of the stalled peace talks with the communist National Democratic Front via red-scare tactics. “As in the past, and this early, the antiquated cold-war, red-scare tactic is once again being resurrected as [a] bogey to frustrate the resumption of the peace talks with the NDF, the release of political prisoners and the possible appointments of left personalities in the Cabinet of Presidentelect [Rodrigo] Duterte,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said. “These ultra-rightist and hawkish elements are desperate and despicable considering the openness and optimism of both the Duterte camp and the NDF to immediately return to the negotiating table, discuss and seek solutions to the root causes of the nearly five decade old armed rebellion in our country,” he added.

Zarate and his fellow Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares called on the people to actively push for the immediate resumption of the stalled peace talks between the incoming administration Duterte and the NDF “in response to the resistance of ultra-rightist elements represented by Senators Antonio Trillanes and Panfilo Lacson and individuals identified with social democratic groups.” Colmenares accused Trillanes and Lacson of sowing paranoia through their redscare tactics. “The senators who are airing these supposed fears should instead throw their support for the peace talks and stop sowing paranoia,” Colmenares said. The progressive solons called on all “patriotic and peace-loving Filipinos to rally behind this fresh wind of finding a political settlement and lasting peace in our country.” “Specifically, we call on the members of the Church, the academe, people’s organizations and non-government organizations to be in the forefront of this peace endeavor,” the two lawmakers said in a joint statement. The Bayan Muna solons also called on this “peace constituency” to be on guard

against the efforts by hawkish and fascist elements to undermine, derail and even sabotage the resumption and conduct of peace process under the new dispensation. “They did it before, there is big possibility that they will do it again now. Thus, it is important that all the peace stakeholders should be actively engaged in this renewed peace initiatives,” Zarate said. But beneficiaries of the government dole expressed alarm at the possibility that communist leaders would be appointed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development At a news conference, Aleta Tolentino, lawyer of the Parent Leaders composed of over 1,000 4Ps recipients in Metro Manila alone, said while they welcome presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte fs eightpoint economic agenda, an appointment of a communist as DSWD secretary is disturbing. “The [dole] recipients reject such appointment because CPP, in the past, did not support the program,” she told The Standard. “CCP believes the program is a wasteful program, and that it perpetuates the poverty of people.”

Drug dealer slain in Bulacan Felicitations. Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev speaks to journalists after calling on Presidentapparent Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City. AFP PHOTO

By Florante S. Solmerin A SUSPECTED drug pusher was abducted by four unidentified men after attending a court hearing in Malolos City and was later found dead at a vacant lot in a nearby town in Bulacan, acting provincial police director Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr. said on Thursday. Caramat identified the dead man as Ramonito Nicolas Mendoza, alias Don Ramon, 45, a resident of Bocaue town, whose body was found by village watchmen at 5 a.m. at a vacant lot in Macam Street in Barangay Taal. “[The] dead body was hogtied and wrapped with packaging tape all over

his face. He also sustained gunshot wounds in the chest and head. A piece of cartoon paper hung on his neck with the words ‘Don’t immitate me. I am a drug pusher’,” Caramat said. Caramat said Mendoza was last seen at the Malolos City courthouse after attending a hearing at Regional Trial Court Branch 8. He was abducted around 1 p.m. by four men on board two gray and red sedans while on their way back to prison. Aside from involvement in drug-pushing, the police said Mendoza was also a principal suspect in the murder of one Ernesto Navarro, alias Batong, and frustrated murder of John Lloyd Navarro in Barangay Biniang 2nd, Bocaue.

f r i D AY : m AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

VP Binay hits out at anti-graft agency

Morales inhibits self from Dutertes’ cases

By Vito Barcelo

By Rio N. Araja

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday criticized the Office of the Ombudsman for being biased and for disregarding the evidence they presented to the court, but expressed confidence that the graft cases filed against Binay will be dismissed. “It is very well known by many that the Ombudsman is not fair to VP Binay. It ignored the evidence and due process for VP Binay, while it did nothing to pursue cases against allies of the current administration,” VP Binay’s political spokesperson Rico Quicho said. “In a fair and impartial venue, we are confident that the so-called cases against the VP will be dismissed for being frivolous and baseless. We shall exert all legal remedies to prove the Ombudsman wrong,” he said in a statement. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said that the charges against Binay would have to be filed in court after the end of his term, as the vice president is immune to suits while still in office. “Because he is an impeachable officer and because of jurisprudence, even if he is alleged to have committed the offense or offenses when he was not yet impeachable, we have to defer the filing of the case until after he becomes a non-impeachable official,” Morales said. Binay faces five plunder and graft complaints before the Ombudsman over the alleged anomalies involving the Makati Parking Building II, Makati Science high School Building, University of Makati, a Fort Bonifacio property, and over an allegedly anomalous land deal between the Alphaland and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, where Binay is long-running president.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio morales on Thurday said she was staying away from the criminal cases filed against presumptive President Rodrigo duterte and his daughter, davao City mayor sara duterte-Carpio, because of family ties.

Back to school. Maintenance personnel of a public school in Payatas, Quezon City start repairing damaged chairs in preparation for the school opening in June. MANNY PALMERO

Ako Bicol tops winning party-list groups By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan AFTeR the proclamation of 12 senators, the Commission on elections also named 59 party-list groups who won in the recent polls. Ranked first is Ako Bicol Political Party with 1,664,975 acquiring three seats in Congress. Second is Gabriela Women’s Party with 1,367,795 acquiring two seats; One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals or 1Pacman with 1,310,197 votes (2 seats); fourth placer is Act Teachers Party-list with 1,180,752 (2 seats); Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines with 988,876 (2 seats); Kabalikat ng Mamamayan with 849,393 (2 seats); Agri-Agra na Reporma para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement with 833,821 (2 seats); Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta with 780,309 (2 seats); Buhay hayaan Yumabong with 760,912 (2 seats); Abono Party-list with 706,689 (2 seats); Anak Mindanao Party-List with 706,689 (2 seats).

Party-listers that acquired one seat in Congress are: Cooperative Natcco Network Party, 671,699; Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party, 608,449; Bayan Muna, 606,566; Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, 593,748; An Waray, 590,895; Citizens Battle Against Corruption, 555,760; Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga Bisaya Owa Mangunguma Inc. with 495,483; Advocacy for Social empowerment and Nation Building through easing Poverty Inc. with 494,725; Advocacy for Teacher empowerment through Action Cooperation and harmony Towards educational Reforms Inc. with 475,488; You Against Corruption and Poverty, 471,173 votes; Democratic Independent Workers Association Inc., 46,794. Trade Union Congress Party , 467,275; Abang Lingkod, Inc, 466,701; LPG Marketers Association, 466,193; Alliance of Organizations Networks and Associations of

the Philippines, 434,856; Social Amelioration & Genuine Intervention on Poverty, 397,064; Butil Farmers Party, 395,011; ActsOverseas Filipino Workers Coalition of Organizations, 374,601; Anakpawis, 367,376; Ang Kabuhayan, 348 533; Angkla: Ang Partido ng mga Pilipinong Marino Inc. 337,245; Ang Mata’y Alagaan, 331 285; 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural energy Inc. 329,627; Ang National Coalition of Indigenous Peoples Action with 318 257; Arts Business and Science Professionals, 301 457; Kabataan Party-list with 300,420; Bagong henerasyon with 299,381; Ating Agapay Sentring Samahan ng mga Obrero Inc. 294,281; Serbisyo sa Bayan Party, 280,465; Magdalo Para sa Pilipino with 279,356; Una ang edukasyon with 278,393; Manila Teachers’ Savings and Loan Association Inc. 268,613; Kusug Tausug, 247,487; Aangat Tayo, 243,266; Agbiag! Gimpuyog Ilocano Inc. 240,723; and Ating Guro, 237,566.

Morales’ inhibition is grounded on the fact that Manases Carpio, the son of her brother-Davao City Regional Trial Court Lucas Carpio, is the husband of Duterte’s daughter, she added. Sara and Manases are both lawyers. The mother of Sara’s husband is Court of Appeals Justice Agenes Reyes-Carpio. even before the May 9 national and local elections, Morales said she has already inhibited from investigating the plunder, technical malversation and graft charges filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV against Duterte. “I have been inhibiting in cases involving the Dutertes, involving Sara, involving presumptive President-elect Duterte even before he became president-elect,” she stressed. On May 5, Trillanes filed the complaint, accusing the older Duterte of hiring 11,000 ghost employees in 2014, using the city’s money of P708 million. Morales said she stayed away from the ongoing investigation into the complaint of direct assault filed by the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines against Sara, who mauled sheriff Abe Andres in the middle of his implementation of a court’s demolition order in a slum area in Davao City in 2011. The group filed a separate case for grave abuse and misconduct against Duterte and son Paolo, who were then the city’s vice mayor and councilor, respectively, for their rude hand gestures in public to defend Sara’s attack on Andres. Despite her inhibition, Morales said the Dutertes are not yet of the hook. The Ombudsman will still pursue the investigation on cases against the presumptive President filed by Trillanes, she added. “I think relationship is not a factor in the disposition of cases or in the investigation of cases. he knows that I am impervious to any influence,” she pointed out. She said the Ombudsman as an institution will uphold its mandate to investigate any public official accused of administrative or criminal offense whether he or she has the immunity from suit or not.

f r i D AY : m AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Trader steels itself against iron ‘cartel’ Can a newly established firm engaged in steel imports compete with established competitors in the Philippine market? Mannage resource trading Corp. is finding out that it’s not that easy to enter the market. MrtC in a statement on thursday said it was mulling over the filing of libel and damage suits against the Philippine Iron and Steel Industry president roberto Cola after MrtC’s importation of 4900 metric tons of rebars from China was blocked by the trade group. When the shipment arrived last April at Subic port, PISI sought an alert and requested the Bureau of Customs to seize the shipment, claiming it had no Import Commodity Clearance and the shipment is substandard. BoC granted the request. MrtC president Lawrence Sy argued that the shipment had a provisional ICC, formerly called conditional release, issued on April 18. It obtained an approval of its logo design last Dec. 22, 2015 and had complied with all the requirements of the law. this was ascertained by BoC Subic. Sy stressed that they made sure that the quality of the bars is far superior than those available in the local market prior to leaving the port in China. Philippine national Standard for grade 230 of rebars indicates a benchmark of +/- 6 percent of 3.702 kg or a minimum weight of 3.479 kg per six meters. these rebars are usually used for housing development. MrtC claims that its laboratory tests prior departure from China shows a less than -.5 or a 3.4 kg for every 6 meters. the company started to buy rebars of various logo designs that are available in the market to check the standards and the tests show that a number of these rebars fall between -7 to -15, way below the standard imposed by the DtI. Moreover, the length of the bars is usually shorter as well. this means that consumers are shortchanged and the quality likewise sacrificed. Ian Kwok, a director of MrtC, says the government has set the threshold value for rebars at US$260/mt. MrtC has declared its value at $270/ mt or $334/mt CIF. the value is higher because production uses a higher quality of billets used in its manufacture. thus,

the imported rebars cannot be classified as dumping because of its higher cost. MrtC further explained that the threshold value of steel billets imported for the manufacture of rebars in the Philippines is pegged at US$240/mt. In an incident report made by the Philippine Steelmakers Association early this year, the declared value of a shipment by roberto Cola of steel billets from russia was $205/mt, much less than the threshold value of government. An expert from the Federation of Philippine Industry recommended to the Customs that the declared value was within range and that the tariff is 0 percent. According to the PSA, it was correct for the BoC to reimpose the 3 percent tariff but the value was still underdeclared. Sy explained that when they were starting the business, they had to take pains in knowing the nitty-gritty of the industry and they are morally bound to inform the public of these details as the cost of rebars in the Philippine market is now ranging between US$550$600 per Mt. Sy said they engaged in the business but will not shortchange the public by selling substandard products. MrtC said Cola and his group have captured the market and are trying to do everything to prevent newcomers from coming so they can keep the price of steel in the country very high. MrtC lamented that some government officials may be in cahoots with PISI since their shipment which complied with all the requirements stipulated and are within the standards specified by law continues to be held without any legal basis. MrtC said they are ready for a challenge to test rebars in the market against their shipment. they have purchased from hardware stores and stockpiled the rebars from different companies to prove that their rebars are far superior. Apart from the libel and damage suit they will be filing, they have also sought the advise of lawyers if their case can also be elevated before the newly created Philippine Competitive Commission. the trade rivalry can be a test case for the Duterte administration, MrtC said.

Poster kids. This photo taken on May 18, 2016 shows children posing for photo next to a campaign poster of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte at an informal settlers area in Davao City in Mindanao. Selling coconut wine in one of the shantytown drug heartlands of Duterte’s hometown is a lot easier than a few years ago. AFP

Airport, Interpol join forces vs nuke smugglers the Manila International Airport Authority has forged an agreement with the International Criminal Police organization to monitor movements of suspected international and local smugglers. the move was also made to strengthen border control which is part of an intensified international campaign against illegal trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials. the airport authority said security personnel have started training on how to detect smuggled nuclear and radioactive materials under the supervision of the Interpol’s radiological nuclear terrorism Prevention Unit. An initial exercise held on May 17 and 18 where the luggage of arriving and departing passengers were strictly screened. the exercise, dubbed operation Conduit, involved the use of specialized portable radiation detection equipment of the Interpol placed at passenger movement areas at terminal 3—including the screening checkpoints and the immigration area. these devices trigger an alarm if passers-by are positive of radioactive material. “It’s two-day exercise only. But it’s the coordination mechanism in place that makes the collaboration sustainable,” said MIAA spokesman Dave de Castro. A mobile facial recognition system was also set up that identifies people involved in nuclear trafficking or with cases recorded in the Interpol database. results of the operation showed that no baggage or passenger was found to be with radioactive material during the conduct of the exercise. training was also provided to local enforcement agencies involved in airport operations on nuclear trafficking and coordination procedures in such cases. MIAA general manager Jose Angel honrado thanked the Interpol for forging collaborations that strengthen border control at primary gateways of the country. Joel E. Zurbano

Quake drill focuses on Guadalupe ‘collapse’ By Joel E. Zurbano Another metrowide earthquake drill will be conducted by the Metro Manila Development Authority next month and motorists as well as commuters will do well to brace for traffic along epifanio de los Santos Avenue and other major roads. one of the scenarios to be simulated during the drill is the collapse of Guadalupe Bridge along edsa in Makati City and the quick arrival of rescuers at the site to save the victims from drowning while others scour the water for survivors. “Imagine the Guadalupe Bridge collapsing with several people plunging into the Pasig river below as a magnitude-7.2 earthquake jolts Metro Manila,” said lawyer

emerson Carlos, chairman of the MMDA, who initiated the event, which aimed to prepare the people in the event a big one hits the metropolis. Carlos said the June 22 shake drill which will start at 9 a.m. will test the effectiveness of the oplan Metro Yakal Plus, the government’s disaster contingency plan. “With the success of the first Metro Manila Shake Drill last year, we would like to challenge ourselves to do better and be better prepared in the event of a catastrophic earthquake,” said Carlos during a meeting with various religious groups last Wednesday. Carlos said the drill would also be an opportunity for government agencies and private rescue groups to fine-tune the protocols in the disaster response plan.

During the simulation of the Guadalupe Bridge collapse scenarios, the MMDA chief said traffic on the outermost northbound lane of edsa will be in a standstill for approximately an hour. “So this early, we are appealing to motorists and the riding public to please bear with us. this drill is meant to save lives in the event of the ‘Big one’,” he said as one of the assumptions during a strong earthquake hitting the metropolis would immobilize 70 percent manpower and equipment for disaster response. Carlos said that MMDA will be permanently placing 20foot container vans in the four quadrants in Metro Manila where command and control centers will be set up to facilitate the deployment of resourc-

es and rescue personnel. At present, the east Quadrant command center is located at Lrt-2 train depot in Santolan, Pasig City; north Quadrant at the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City; South Quadrant at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City; and West Quadrant at the Intramuros Golf Course in Manila. the vans, which will be guarded 24/7 by MMDA personnel, contain medicines, extrication equipment, tents and other materials needed for rescue and emergency response, said Carlos, who reiterated that the quadrants are not evacuation sites. he called on those who will be participating in this year’s shake drill to identify an open space safe enough serve as evacuation centers.

f r i d ay : m ay 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

AFP-NPA clash in Davao kills 4 By Florante S. Solmerin

Three rebels and a soldier were the latest casualties in the government’s anti-insurgency campaign against the government even as peace talks preparations have already underway between the camp of Presidentelect rodrigo Duterte and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s ArmyNational Democratic Front in Davao City.

The hanging leaves. A farmer dries and cures prime Virginia tobacco leaves in Ilocos Sur. DAVID CHAN

Tawi-Tawi, Sulu may face crisis as trade border remains closed By Vito Barcelo TAWI-TAWI and Sulu in Mindanao face an imminent humanitarian crisis as Sabah border remains closed to traders due to the kidnapping incidents where four Malaysian crewmen were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, triggering short supply of food to more than 50,000 people in the two island provinces. Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said this matter should be studied in depth by all Philippine government agencies concerned to find a viable solution to the situation. Meanwhile, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government has sought the national government to in-

tervene without delay to reopen the border for trading, as prices of basic commodities have soared, with 25 kilograms of rice selling now for P1,100 from P620. ARMM’s Social Welfare Secretary Rahima Alba said around 25,000 households in Tawi-Tawi have been on survival mode because of the blockade. “What we are doing is to immediately help those affected by the Malaysian government’s blockade,” Alba said in a statement. “The provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, including Basilan, import a significant volume of prime commodities from Sabah, Malaysia,” Alba said, adding that with the blockade, prices of rice, noodles, canned goods and other commodities has doubled.

Judge escapes slay try anew CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—A trial court judge from Cagayan de Oro City escaped a second attempt on his life early Thursday morning. Judged Emmanuel Fasal, his driver and two police escorts, were negotiating the winding road in Upper Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City on their way to Malaybalay City, Bukidnon when one of two still unidentified men threw an explosive device at their vehicle’s windshield and then opened fire. A resident of Gusa in Cagayan de Oro, the judge alternates duties in this city and in Malaybalay. Two months ago, Fasal also survived an attack, this time as he was on his way home from a hearing in Malaybalay City. Fasal’s driver, Rene Celestial, said

Thursday’s attackers wore hooded sweaters similar to those worn by joggers. Cagayan de Oro police chief Superintendent Faro Antonio Olaguera said the attackers fled on board a motorcycle toward the city when Fasal’s escorts fired back on them. The judge’s car was struck by several bullets that failed to penetrate the vehicle’s body. Its windshield was also undamaged. In the wake of the attack, Olaguera said he ordered the activation of checkpoints and the inspection of hotels, inns and lodging houses. He added he has doubled Fasal’s security detail and would offer a reward for information leading to the attackers’ arrest. PNA

According to Captain Rhyan Batchar, public affairs chief of the 10th Infantry Division, the casualties were from a series of encounters Wednesday between soldiers of the 60th Infantry Battalion NPA rebels in Sitio Booy, Barangay Pinamuno, San Isidro, Davao del Norte and in Sitio Tugpahan, Barangay Imelda, Laak, Compostela Valley. The first encounter in Booy at around 11:45 a.m. lasted for two hours. Two rebels and a soldier were killed while two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 200-meter detonating cord, blasting caps, subversive documents, a cellphone, and some personal belongings were recovered. The second clash in Tugpahan at around 2:50 p.m. led to the recovery of three M16 rifles and another IED. The third encounter at around 5:50 p.m. happened during clearing operations in Booy. It led to the death of another rebel and recovery of an AK-47 rifle.

F R I D AY: M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

A PLATEFUL OF PROMISES

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A STURDY ECONOMY PRESIDENT-IN-WAITING Rodrigo Duterte, like his predecessor President Benigno Aquino III, is inheriting a sturdy economy. Duterte will have the luck of leading the Philippines in the next six years with solid economic fundamentals. The economy under the Aquino administration persevered amid a global slowdown. The gross domestic product in the last six years expanded despite falling exports and the torpor of the Aquino administration. The economy is doing relatively well, growing faster than the economies of China and the rest of Asia in the first quarter of 2016. The GDP expanded 6.9 percent in the first three months, the fastest quarterly growth in nearly three years. The overall economy registered growth despite agriculture’s 4.4-percent contraction in the wake of the severe El Niño drought. The international community will watch how the Philippine economy will fare under the incoming administration of Mr. Duterte. The new chief executive should strive to make the nation investor-friendly, keep the general economic policy intact and introduce reforms that will lead to freer trade. Mr. Duterte, for one, should auction and speed up critical infrastructure projects that the Aquino administration failed to deliver. The construction of more toll roads, bridges, airports and seaports will instantly create jobs and induce consumption. Upon their completion, these projects will ease the flow of goods and services from the countryside and hopefully achieve an inclusive economic growth that will benefit poor farmers and fishermen. The new president could also take a second look at mass housing, the construction of which will certainly bolster the economy. The poverty incidence remains high as many Filipinos still cannot afford to own a house. Mr. Duterte can dovetail his campaign promise to fight crime and lawless elements with sound economic fundamentals and reforms. Creating job opportunities through investments and increased infrastructure spending will trim the poverty incidence, which in turn, will reduce the crime rate.

SCHIZOPHRENIC LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THESE days, I keep getting a flashback of that early photograph of Leni Robredo waiting for a bus at a spot of highway where no bus ever stops. And even if Robredo becomes a fixture of our crazy national political scene in the decades to come, perhaps even making it all the way to the top as president someday, I think I will never forget that staged, made-

for-propaganda photo. The good news this week in the contentious, still-unresolved race for the number-two spot is that Robredo has agreed to Bongbong Marcos’ call for an audit of the automated election system. The bad news is, she wants to be proclaimed the winner before any audit of the computer system is done. Truth is, I liked it better when Robredo declared herself the winner in the hotly contested vice presidential contest—a declaration she and her camp later (and expectedly, given Robredo’s split political personal-

ity) denied. If Robredo insists that she won even before she is proclaimed, after all, we know exactly what her position is: inflexible and uncompromisingly opportunistic. But if Robredo continues to say that she has indisputably won and simultaneously attempts to retain her goodygoody image, that’s when the trouble starts. It’s that bus-stop photo all over again. We’ve had our share of toughas-nails female politicians over the years, of course; the reigning Ronda Rousey of Philippine politics is still around, and her

I’d be wary of Leni, if I were Bongbong or any other politician who wants to go head-to-head with her in the future.

name is Senator Miriam “I eat death threats for breakfast” Defensor Santiago. I’d give Santiago the title over the other Iron Lady of local politics, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, because while Miriam may have fallen ill, she has not been sidelined by detention like Gloria was. Even the soft-spoken Cory Aquino was a master of political hardball. Despite her prim and proper exterior, Cory was often immovable in the positions she took and could not be persuaded even by the bombs and gunfire of a whole generation of coup plotters. But Robredo seems to be consciously striving to be different from these very successful women politicians, despite

her obvious steely resolve. It appears that Leni wants us to believe that she is considerate, giving and motherly, an advocate of the theory of political “soft power,” even if her actions proclaim her to be more of the traditional politician that her late husband Jesse used to rail against. I’ve actually met and observed Leni Robredo up close for a couple of hours, before she was even a gleam in the eye of Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas, who “discovered” Jesse’s widow when they failed to convince Grace Poe to be Rox-

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

as’ running mate. In real life, Robredo does exude an aura of gentleness that could, on the surface, be interpreted as weakness. The truth, as we would all learn later, is that Robredo has more in common with Santiago, Arroyo and all the other hard-boiled woman politicians whom I have met. I think she just wants us to think that she’s not that way—just like she wants us to think that she’s like the rest of us, waiting Godot-like for a bus that will never, ever come. I’d be wary of Leni, if I were Bong-

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

bong Marcos or any other politician who wants to go head-to-head with her in the future. Just like I’d be careful of anyone, man or woman, who’s able to make both Aquino and Roxas believe that she was just some convenient “panakip-butas” for Poe and then succeed where both had failed. *** Maybe it’s just me, but I worry that the outgoing president must be taking his own sidelining and ever-diminishing role in the national scene very, Continued on A11

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

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

WE DIDN’T expect much of B.S Aquino and we didn’t get much in his six-year term. But presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte might have put too much pressure on himself by promising too much even before he has stepped into office. First was to end criminality in the first two to six months of his administration. That may be possible in a small town like Davao City but not in the whole country where there’s check and balance by the legislative and the judiciary. You may be a runaway elected president but arresting a runaway crime in that short period of time may be overreaching your goal. Aquino, his complacent Department of Interior and Local Government and an equally inept Philippine National Police, allowed crime to surge making it difficult to dismantle just like that. Carnapping, kidnap for ransom and drug trafficking have become major industries of criminal syndicates. These activities will probably withstand Duterte’s six years in office. Or maybe outlast him in his lifetime. Nevertheless, we wish the new president well and hope he succeeds at least in reducing the crime stats dramatically. Even if he does employ draconian measures like the extrajudicial killings he employed in Davao City when he was mayor? Never mind what the human rights advocates say. What about the victims of crimes and their right to justice? Too often, their plight has become cold cases because the wheels of justice in this country grind so slowly. The return of the death penalty for the perpetrators of heinous crimes could be the key to Duterte’s drive to arrest the surging crime rate. The shift to federalism and the parliamentary system are two other Duterte proposals worth considering. These would require constitutional amendments and submission to a plebiscite if and when it passes muster in Congress. Former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who’s on 12th place in the senatorial race is opposing the return of capital punishment. For sure, there will be others in the Senate and in the House who do not share Duterte’s extreme measure to curb crime. Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia impose the death penalty in cases of capital crime and on drug trafficking. In Indonesia, an alleged Filipino drug trafficker, Mary Jane Veloso, has been spared from the death by musketry pending the outcome of the court case in Manila against her recruiter who she claimed planted the drugs in her suitcase. The bane of not having a two-party system is now evident with the transfer of political turncoats to the winning PDPLaban party of Duterte. Congressmen are now flocking to Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, the prospective House Speaker, who has been with Duterte at the outset of the campaign. Duterte has named possible appointments to his Cabinet including Carlos “Sonny’ Dominguez as Finance secretary and Perfecto Yasay, Jr. as acting Foreign secretary. Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

F R I D AY: M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

A PLATEFUL OF PROMISES

[ EDI TORI A L ]

I’d be wary of Leni, if I were Bongbong or any other politician who wants to go head-to-head with her in the future.

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

F R I D AY: M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

PRESIDENT PRESUMPTIVE PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO MAYOR Rodrigo Duterte is no longer presuming that he will be the next president. He is acting as the incoming president, and he has started announcing who the members of his government will be. It was not, as some had expected (or hoped!), a clean sweep, with a totally fresh slate. I do not think that would have been ideal, either. We have always had to grapple with the problem of lost “institutional memory” that follows when you purge government of all vestiges of the preceding administration. PNoy did that, and we have had a government that hobbled along for the past six years because, rejecting all that had come before, the Yellow Gang wanted to re-invent the wheel. Moody’s and other credible financial institutions, however, have set the records straight: the supposedly healthy economy that is the legacy of Mr. Aquino is actually the harvest of Mrs. Arroyo’s studied and scholarly economic leadership! In one interview, Mayor Digong told his listeners that he was not comfortable with the title “President,” and preferred to be called “Mayor of the Philippines.” Charming, but definitely not allowed. The Philippines is not a township, and that just might suggest what Mayor Digong should be working on: the mighty and formidable shift from being an effective, salutarily autocratic city mayor to being president of the Philippines—in a system of government where checks and balances is jealously guarded and very much alive— who has made bold promises. On the issue of contractualization, I am unqualifiedly on Mayor Digong’s side. Entrepreneurs have long been allowed to circumvent the law by “contractualization”— keeping employees really essential to their enterprises just under the period that allows them tenure, and then rehiring them after some interstice, or outsourcing in order to avoid the costs of benefits to regular employees. And so, it is only spite and contempt I have for the tycoons and the Makati chaebol who think it their prerogative to determine who should lead the Philippines. What the elections should have made clear is that the nation wants to be governed this time from Davao (which represents everything outside Manila) and not Makati! These brats recently took to the airwaves to warn against aggressive action on contractualization. They issued dire prognostications

about stunting the economy if corporations are stopped from exploiting the working class (in the guise of providing them with job opportunities!). In a non-inclusive economy—such as ours that the Makati gangs helped PNoy put in place— that means: hurting corporate interests and the erosion of the profit embankment on which our oligarchs are perched! I hope Mayor Digong makes short shrift of their warbling and goes full speed ahead with every administrative and legislative weapon to lay siege on this fortresses of exploitation. I have my issues with the death penalty, serious ones, but that will be for another column. It is clear, however, that Davao’s hotels are now fully booked with would-be vassals of every stripe and color, eager to raise their right hands to swear to a new allegiance, which makes one wonder whether these despicable opportunists have any real allegiance at all! It is not correct of course to assume that the President and the Legislature pursue diametrically opposed values. That would bring the Republic to a standstill.

Duterte should now work on the shift from being an effective, salutarily autocratic city mayor to being president—who has made bold promises.

But it is good to have legislators who have the wisdom and the moral courage to stand up to the President so that nevermore shall we have the specter of congressmen filing articles of impeachment as mercenaries of the President. On the other hand, incoming president Digong has, I am convinced, the charisma—which is an essential quality of leadership—to draw the critical collaboration of the legislature to support the priority items on his agenda, such as the revision (not mere amendment) of the Constitution. His overtures to the CPPNDF-NPA are welcome. This long-running war of attrition, the longest-running insurgency, must come to an end. But Joma Sison, it seems to me, is being as delusional as PNoy, if he thinks that there is a national clamor for his return to the Philippines. There is none. The longing for an end to the skirmishes between NPA and government troops does not in any way translate into an ea-

STILL WAITING FOR A PENSION INCREASE MY SENIOR citizen friends and I—and even those who didn’t vote for presumptive President Digong Duterte—anxiously awaited the announcement of his priority plans for the first six months of his six-year administration. These we heard from his Davaoeño transition team members Peter Laviña and Carlos Dominguez, who were certainly articulate. Former Davao City Councilor Laviña started by restating the presumptive president’s campaign promises to fight drugs, criminality, corruption, and poverty. He then proceeded to tell us that a federal form of government would be pursued via a “major rewriting” of the 1987 Constitution. This would include easing the restrictions for foreigners to own land, public utilities, and educational institutions and exploit our natural resources. He concluded by assuring us that lasting peace in Mindanao and elsewhere in the country would be achieved through negotiations with the revolutionary Left and Muslim rebel organizations. Former Cabinet Secretary Dominguez, for his part, revealed the presumptive president’s eight-point economic agenda which addresses taxes, infrastructure, social services, and rural development. Specifically, the current macroeconomic policy would be continued but public-private partnerships would be accelerated to create more jobs and inject economic activity in the country. The rest of the eight-point economic agenda consisted of the usual economic objectives to attract foreign direct investments by easing economic restrictions, enhancing competitiveness of doing business, and developing the rural areas by providing support services to small farmers. He was easier to understand, of course, when he announced that the “Davao model” would be made the standard in granting business licenses at the shortest possible time. A few of the priority plans gerness for Joma’s return, nor even support for the CPP-NPANDF. And before we talk about releasing NPAs held in prisons, and offering their leaders government positions—which Jalandoni petulantly informs us they are not too eager to accept, proposing instead that they nominate non-NPA candidates (which defeats the entire purpose of Mayor Digong’s offer!), it will be well to remember that hundreds, thousands perhaps, of ordinary Filipinos were snatched

FILIPINO PENSIONER HORACE TEMPLO sounded more familiar and easily understood by us, but they did not please us. Labor contractualization, for instance, would be banned but only starting in the undated future. PhilHealth’s coverage would be expanded, but for what? It is now universal, and excludes no one anymore. What PhilHealth needs is an enhancement in its support value. Even in Davao City, patients still pay out-of-pocket at least 40 percent of hospital confinement bills, and all of outpatient bills. The unlegislated conditional cash transfer program would be indexed to inflation. What? This means that the maximum cash benefit of P1,400 per family would be increased by only P70 if inflation turns out to be 5 percent. You would understand us, we are sure, why these priority plans have given us a nosebleed after we tried understanding and appreciating them. The eight-point economic agenda would be formalized later by the National Economic and Development Authority into more intricate plans, complete with general objectives, specific programs and projects, measurable targets, budgets, and timetables. It might even identify the countries from where huge foreign funding would come as soft loans, assistance or technical grants. By then, our presumptive president’s priority plans would really be above our comprehension. Alas, nothing was mentioned about pensions. In particular, both Davaoeños missed out the P2,000 increase in pensions of the Social Security System, which the unsuccessful senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares has painstakingly filed as a bill for years. Both Houses of Congress eventually approved it last year, but a clueless PNoy defiantly vetoed it, consistent with his refusal to increase pensions durfrom their horrified families in many a barrio or hamlet in the Philippines in the dead of night, hurriedly tried before “revolutionary courts” and mercilessly executed. Killing fields have been discovered; many will still be uncovered. The NPAs have blood on their hands, and a policy of placation may not exactly be just. We who remained on this side of the law are not the offenders, and they who took up arms against the law are not necessarily the nation’s champions.

ing his administration except for a token 5-percent increase. The P2,000 increase would bankrupt the SSS by year 2029 because there were no funds for it, he said. He even pitted the 31 million active members against the two million pensioners by concluding that it would benefit only a few but jeopardize the many. He was wrong, of course. Bankruptcy is certain only if SSS and government do nothing but watch the pension fund deteriorate year in and year out. The “Daang Matuwid” solution is to raise now the contributions of active workers to pay the additional pensions of the elderly, widowed and disabled, assuring them that they, too, would receive their pensions someday from the younger workers then. Isn’t this also how new taxes are raised from city dwellers to finance the construction of roads and bridges in the countryside? Of course, to provide adequate pensions, the inevitable solution is to apply contributions on the entire salary—and not capped at P16,000—with the workers’ contribution rate raised to equal their employers’ present rate of 7.37 percent. Total contributions would then be 14.74 percent of the entire salary. Why are SSS pensioners crying for a P2,000 pension increase while their counterparts in the Government Service Insurance System are happily enjoying their pensions? It is simple. Government employees contribute 9 percent of their entire salary to GSIS and their employers add 12 percent, for a total of 21 percent. We cannot continue pretending to be blind to the obvious. Private sector workers also deserve a pension system similar to that of the GSIS, which could be immediately achieved by merging SSS with GSIS. By the way, as we fuss on these issues, the fiduciary employees, officers and board members of our pension institutions are poised to award themselves performance bonuses again. Do we have to wait longer before we could get that P2,000 pension increase? All the same, I join an eager nation in welcoming the renewal of national life that Mayor Digong has promised, but I hasten to add that it just is not reasonable to expect of one man—even if he be mayor of the Philippines —to bring about that change that must perforce involve the conversion of our very own jaded souls! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph. rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

F R I D AY: M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

DUTERTE, THE AMERICANS, THE CHINESE, AND THE COMMUNISTS

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ PRESIDENT Duterte has three main priorities: one, kill drug lords and those guilty of heinous crimes like rape and murder; two, extricate something practical and profitable from the Philippine territorial claim in the West Philippine Sea; and three, share power with the communist rebels to bring to an end the longest communist insurgency in the world. Relatedly, for the Muslim separatist rebels, President Rody offers nothing short of federalism—a concept grand as a vision but mind-boggling in its execution. Priority No. 1—drugs, is a no brainer. The facts are stark and disturbing: Consider the following: • 1.7-million Filipinos are drug addicts. • 20 percent of the country’s 43,000 barangays are hit by drug-related crimes • Drug lords live like kings at the National Penitentiary. • Low-level drug cases clog court dockets and delay justice. • Higher purity methamphetamine from Mexico supplanting less pure Chinese-sourced methamphetamine. • Bulk shipments still come from China, largely controlled by Chinese organized criminal groups. • Drug couriers use flights to the Philippines both to smuggle drugs into the country and to trans-ship

drugs to other countries. • More West African drug syndicates use airports to smuggle methamphetamine into the Philippines for onward distribution throughout Southeast Asia. • Latin American drug trafficking groups now operate locally. • Casinos should be included in money-laundering controls. “Philippine authorities are faced with multiple challenges, including the expansion of Mexican-based trafficking organizations, ongoing domestic methamphetamine production, and confronting drug trafficking in rural areas where little state presence exists,” says a recent US State Department report on narcotics in the Philippines. The West Philippine Sea claim brings into sharp relief two of the biggest and most strategic partnerships of the Philippines—the United States and China. The Philippines is often perceived as a lackey of America. But America has little money to give away. China, on the other hand, has plenty of money. However, of late, it has been on a territory-grabbing spree. US-Philippine relations are based on strong historical and cultural links and a shared commitment to democracy and human rights. The Philippines is a major non-Nato ally of the US which means that if the former’s

A plateful... From A9 His appointment of Rep. Mark Villar as secretary of Public Works and Highways, however, has raised a lot of eyebrows because of the possible conflict of interest. The son of land developer magnate Manny Villar and Senator Cynthia Villar, already the richest senator, would have advance information where highways and government infrastructure projects would be constructed thereby giving undue advantage to the family’s Vistaland real estate empire. Recall that former Senator Manny Villar was taken to task by Ping Lacson and Jamby Madrigal in the Senate. Jamby is out but Ping Lacson is back and there’s no doubt he will keep an eye on the Villars, who may just pull another Daang Hari caper. While Filipinos would like to see the end

#FAILOCRACY

territory is invaded, America will come to its defense. The Manila Declaration signed in 2011 reaffirmed the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty as the foundation for a robust, balanced, and responsive security partnership. Some four million US citizens —including Grace Poe—are of Philippine ancestry. More than 220,000 Americans live in the Philippines. Nearly all Philippine presidents, with the possible exception of Ferdinand Marcos and the incoming Rodrigo Duterte, were pro-Americans. Marcos was ousted by the Americans in 1986. The US still has to warm up to Duterte and is concerned with his previous human rights record. The US is the Philippines’ second largest investor, after Japan. Bilateral trade is more than $25 billion. US is the Philippines’ third largest trading partner. Meanwhile, using its so-called nine-dash line map, China has occupied seven reefs claimed by the Philippines as part of its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. EEZ does not grant sovereignty but ownership and exclusive economic use of the fishes, minerals and other resources under the waters covered by the EEZ. The seven reefs are: Subi, Gaven, Fiery Cross, Cuarteron, Johnson, Huges and MisChief.

of Muslim rebellion in the Mindanao and the communist insurgency nationwide, not many of them are in favor of Duterte giving Cabinet positions to exiled communist leader Jose Ma. Sison and his group. Living the good life in Utrecht, The Netherlands since peace talks between the Communist Party of the Philippines and the government of the late President Corazon Aquino broke down in the 80s, Joma is willing to return home, although still wary what a Duterte presidency would be like. Well, the military is just as wary about the good faith of Sison. Three government troopers were recently killed by the New People’s Army in an ambush on Negros island even as the Duterte people and Sison’s confederates were exploring a new round of peace talks and the role of Sison et all in the new government.

China’s nine-dash line map grabs 80 percent of the Philippine EEZ. Manila has sued Beijing for these territorial grabs. The International Arbitral Tribunal on the Law of the Sea is expected to issue a ruling anytime now. The ruling could be favorable to the Philippines but China has said it won’t honor the decision. Duterte is particularly pissed with China’s occupation of Scarborough Shoal. Scarborough is clearly Philippines territory, having been ceded to Manila by the US in the 1990 Treaty of Washington. According to Justice Antonio Carpio, Scarborough Shoal, being a regular island, is entitled to a 12-mile territorial sea around it. This amounts to 155,165 hectares of maritime space—more than twice the land area of Metro Manila which is 63,600 hectares. Duterte wants an explanation, particularly from Senator Antonio Trillanes whom he blames for the loss of Scarborough, after the latter made 16 visits to China. Duterte says he can take all kinds of garbage and insult but not the loss of territorial land or waters. President Obama, on the evening of May 17, called Duterte to congratulate him and stressed the two countries’ shared commitments to democracy, human rights, rule of law and inclusive

Schizophrenic... From A9 very badly. This is the only reason I can think of for the latest outburst from Malacañang, where President Noynoy Aquino declared that he can “hold [his] head up high” because of all the accomplishments he’s done in his six years in office. The trouble with Aquino, as he prepares to leave his exalted post, is that he fails to realize that he has become irrelevant. And that whatever publicity he seeks to gain for himself, now that the voters have basically repudiated him by rejecting his chosen successor, only highlights his irrelevance. I can understand that Aquino must be miffed by the fact that the media is filled, on a daily and hour-

economic growth. For his part, Duterte told Obama in effect he will initially joint the western alliance in opposing China’s South China Sea territorial claims. But if nothing moves, he might be forced to talk turkey with China, on a bilateral basis, “if there is no wind to move the sail” in still waters. As for the power-sharing with the Reds, well in Economics 101, there are three factors of production—land, labor, and capital. With the CPP taking over four departments—Agrarian Reform, Natural Resources and the Environment, Labor, and Social Welfare and Development, the communists have, in effect, taken over land and labor, or 60 percent of what makes the economy moving and productive. Included in the takeover are the bureaus, agencies and financial institutions, like the Land Bank, Cocobank, and even the Development Bank of the Philippines. Also, the four departments have more positions than the total NPA regulars and communist cadres. DENR alone has 19,500 people; DAR 12,600, and DoLE and DSWD 2,500 each. So overnight, our communist friends have become employers, bankers and capitalists. Change, indeed, is coming. biznewsasia@gmail.com

ly basis, with what Rodrigo Duterte did and didn’t do. After all, for the better part of those six years, it was Aquino who was the focus of that kind of wall-to-wall media coverage, good or bad. But Aquino was never known for his gracefulness or class. And so, instead of fading back quietly into the obscurity that was his lot for most of his adult life, he makes increasingly desperate calls for attention, even if he can only manage to do that these days by making the same outrageous and unbelievable claims that he has been making throughout his term. Give it a rest already, Mr. Soonto-be-Ex-President. Nobody really wants to listen to you or what you have to say anymore; live with it.

CHONG ARDIVILLA

F RI DAY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

College volleyball stars join PSL All-Filipino Conference A BIG wave of collegiate stars will be taking their careers to the next level when they compete in the 2016 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference women’s volleyball tournament starting June 18. Mika Reyes, Cyd Demecillo, Kim Fajardo and Kim Dy, stalwarts of reigning UAAP champion De La Salle University,

will banner the bumper crop of talents who will be campaigning in the country’s most prestigious league this year. Open spiker Ara Galang is also expected to join her La Salle teammates, but she has yet to decide whether to go through the draft or just wiggle her way as a direct hire of F2 Logistics, which will be bannered by

Republic of the Philippines Regional Trial Court National Capital Judicial Region Branch 140, Makati City IN RE: PETITION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THERESE CLAIRE ANCHETA REAMBONANZA BY SPOUSES ALLAN V. DEL MUNDO AND FLORDIVINA A. DEL MUNDO WITH APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF NAME OF THE ADOPTEE FROM “THERESE CLAIRE A. REAMBONANZA” TO “THERESE CLAIRE ANCHETA DEL MUNDO”.

S P. PRO C N O. M -793 3

SPOUSES ALLAN V. DEL MUNDO AND FLORDIVINA A. DEL MUNDO Petitioners x---------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER This is a petition for adoption filed by petitioners ALLAN V. DEL MUNDO and FLORDIVINA A. DEL MUNDO, praying that after due notice, hearing and publication, judgment is to be rendered declaring Therese Claire A. Reambonanza as the legitimate child of the petitioners and that her name be changed to Therese Clarie Ancheta del Mundo. Petitioners allege that they are of legal age and residing at Block 37 Lot 02 WalingWaling Street, Zone 7, Pembo, Makati City. They were married on December 18, 2010 in Makati City. The adoptee Therese Claire A. Reambonanza was born on May 18, 2005 at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City. She is the illegitimate child of petitioner Flordivina with Jay-R Benedicto Reambonanza. The minor’s biological father is fully aware of the petitioners’ intention to adopt the minor and executed his Affidavit of Consent dated December 28, 2015. The minor, who is now ten (10) years old, executed an Affidavit of Consent dated January 20, 2016 for her adoption by the petitioners. They also allege that prior to the petitioners’ marriage, petitioner Allan has a good relationship with the adoptee Therese Claire since he would look after adoptee whenever petitioner Flordivina would go to work. Petitioner Allan became close to the adoptee and treated the latter as his own daughter. The adoptee began to call him “Daddy” since then. After the petitioners got married, they continued to shower the minor with love and attention and provided for her needs. They further allege that they have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to adopt under the law. Finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is set for hearing on June 2, 2016 at 8:30 in the morning at the Session Hall of Regional Trial Court, Branch 140, 10th Floor, Makati City Hall, at which place, date and time, any or all persons opposed thereto may file their petition. The Court Social Worker is hereby ordered to prepare and submit a report on the adoptee, her biological father and the adopters within sixty (60) days from receipt of the Order pursuant to Section 12, paragraph 5 of A. M. No. 02-6-02-SC. The petitioners are directed to coordinate with the assigned Court Social Worker for the conduct of the required home and study reports. The petitioners are also directed to furnish the Office of the Solicitor General with a copy of the petition and its annexes. Let copies of this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General, Philippines Statistics Authority, The Local Civil Registrars of Makati City and Quezon City and the Social Worker of the Regional Trial Court, Office of the Clerk of Court, Makati City. The petitioners are also directed to publish this Order in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks to be chosen by raffle, all at their expense. SO ORDERED Makati City, January 25, 2016 (SGD) CRISTINA F. JAVALLERA-SULIT Judge Copy furnished SR. ACP ALLENE TORRES-PENA LCR OF QUEZON CITY Office of the City Prosecutor Ground Floor, Annex Building 17th Floor Makati City Hall, Makati City Quezon City Hall Compound, Q.C. ATTY. ARLENE D. BANOCNOC (Counsel for the Petitioners) No. 1807 Tramo Street, Pasay City

LCR OF MAKATI CITY 3RD Floor, Makati City Hall Makati City

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City

COURT SOCIAL WORKER RTC-OCC Makati City

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY –CRD 3rd floor, Vibal Building Times Street cor EDSA West Triangle, Quezon City

RTC-OCC-PUBLICATION RTC, Makati City ( TS - M AY 13, 20 & 27, 2016)

CALATAGAN, Batangas—Clyde Mondilla sustained fearsome form from tee to green and set a new course record of eagle-spiked eight-under 64, threatening to blow away the field with a seven-stroke lead over Elmer Salvador and Jhonnel Ababa halfway through the ICTSI Calatagan Invitational here yesterday. Coming off a bogey-free 67 Wednesday to share the opening round lead with a pair of unfancied bets, Mondilla stormed ahead early with an eagle on the par-5 opening hole then gunned down seven birdies the rest of the way to negate a bogey on No. 5, the only black mark in a sterling 36hole card at the Calatagan Golf Club.

Office Address:

F R E N O . 1114 8

Website:

NOTICE OF E X TR A- JUD ICIAL SALE OF RE AL PROPERT Y/ IES UNDER ACT 313 5 (AS AMENDED ) UPON ex tra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118 and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate Mor tgage executed on Januar y 3, 2014 by SPOUSES PAUL JERICHO R . DE LEON AND NOENA VIRG IN IA E . DE LEON, mor tgagor / s with residence and postal address at Unit 115 Kauia / Kauai Tower Ohana Place, Almanza Dos, Alabang Zapote Road, Las Piñas Cit y and Unit No. 26 & 27 2 / F Pine Crest Building 2, Aurora Blvd., cor. Balete Drive, Quezon Cit y in favor of BPI FAM ILY SAVINGS BANK , INC., mor tgagee / s to satisf y the mor tgage debt in the amount of P4,678,4 61.6 6 as of March 31, 2016, inclusive /exclusive of interest, penalties, at torney ’s fees and other charges together with all the law ful fees and expenses of foreclosure sale, the Ex- Of ficio Sherif f of the Regional Trial Cour t of Quezon Cit y and / or his duly authorized Deput y Sherif f, hereby announces that on June 1, 2016 bet ween the hours of 9 : 0 0 A .M. to 4: 0 0 P.M., at the Of fice of the Clerk of Cour t & Ex- Of ficio Sherif f, Regional Trial Cour t, Hall of Justice Bldg., (beside, Quezon Cit y Hall) Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon Cit y, will SELL through public auction to the highest bidder and for cash, in Philippine currency, the following described real proper t y / ies with all the improvement / s existing thereon, to wit :

CONDOM IN IUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 0 0 4 -2014 01418 5 Registr y of D eeds, Quezon Cit y “ PINE CREST BUILDING 2 FLOOR UNIT NO. UNIT AREA UNIT T YPE BALCONY AREA DRYING AREA CAGE TOTAL 2/F 26 20.81 STUDIO 4.13 4.0 0 28.94 SQ.M in the diagrammatic floor plan appended to the enabling or master deed of the condominium project annotated on Transfer Cer tificate of Title No. N -324780 ; N -324781 which embraces and described the land located Aurora Blvd., cor. Balete Drive, Quezon Cit y, with an area of Seven Thousand Six Hundred Sevent y-Seven and Fif t y-Two (7,677.52) Square Meters.”

CONDOM IN IUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 0 0 4 -2014 014187 Registr y of D eeds, Quezon Cit y “ PINE CREST BUILDING 2 FLOOR UNIT NO. UNIT AREA UNIT T YPE BALCONY AREA DRYING AREA CAGE TOTAL 2/F 27 21.0 0 STUDIO 0.0 0 4.0 0 25.0 0 SQ.M in the diagrammatic floor plan appended to the enabling or master deed of the condominium project annotated on Transfer Cer tificate of Title No. N -324780 ; N -324781 which embraces and described the land located Aurora Blvd., cor. Balete Drive, Quezon Cit y, with an area of Seven Thousand Six Hundred Sevent y-Seven and Fif t y-Two (7,677.52) Square Meters.” All sealed bids must be submit ted to the undersigned on the aforesaid Of fice on the above stated date and time.

Quezon Cit y, Metro - Manila, May 2, 2016

( Sgd. ) FRUCTOSO L . LO JA Sheriff IV ( Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VI and Acting Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff WARNING It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sherif f ’s Sale on or before the date of the auction sale under penalt y of the law.

Item/Description

Approved Budget for Contract (Php)

Duration

1. HSRIP Contract #01-2016– Construction of Main Canal, Canal Structures and Service Road, Villaba, Leyte 2. HSRIP Contract #02-2016– Construction of Main Canal, Canal Structures and Service Road, Matag-ob, Leyte 3. HSRIP Contract #03-2016– Construction of Main Canal, Canal Structures and Service Road, Matag-ob, Leyte 4. HSRIP Contract #04-2016– Construction of Main Canal, Canal Structures and Service Road, Matag-ob, Leyte 5. HSRIP Contract #05-2016– Construction of Main Canal, Canal Structures and Service Road, Matag-ob, Leyte 6. HSRIP Contract #06-2016– Construction of Main Canal, Canal Structures and Service Road, Matag-ob, Leyte 7. HSRIP Contract #07-2016– Rehabilitation of Agay-ayan CIS and Construction of Irrigation Facilities at Lat. B, Kananga, Leyte 8. HSRIP Contract #08-2016– Rehabilitation of Hibulangan SRIP Due to Typhoon Damages, Villaba, Leyte

11,543,333.48

240 cd

( T S - M AY 6 ,13 & 2 0 , 2 016)

SPOUSES PAUL JERICHO R. DE LEON AND NOENA VIRGINA E . DE LEON Unit 115 Kauia / Kauai Tower Ohana Place, Almanza Dos, Alabang Zapote Road, Las Piñas City and Unit No. 26 & 27 2 / F Pine Crest Building 2, Aurora Blvd., cor. Balete Drive, Quezon City

11,685,309.03

210 cd

10,675,391.55

210 cd

11,836,751.92

240 cd

11,658,057.68

210 cd

11,170,375.76

240 cd

11,987,936.43

240 cd

10,325,415.16

210 cd

The Prospective Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project whose value must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government procurement Reform Act”. Prospective Bidders are not allowed to participate if they have negative slippage in their on-going contracts. Individuals with Special Power of Attorney (SPA) are not allowed to transact and participate in the procurement utilizing another construction firm. The pre-bid conference shall be open only for those who have purchased the Bid documents. The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities

Schedule Starting May 2, 2016

Time 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

2. Pre-bid Conference

May 11, 2016

10:00a.m.

3. Receipt and Opening of Bids

May 23, 2016

2:00 p.m.

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents to eligible bidders from the address above and upon payment of non-refundable amount of P15,000.00to the Cashier. The NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. (SGD)GLORIA A. SEVILLA BAC Chairman

Copy furnished : BPI LEGAL AFFAIRS AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION DIVISION AT T Y. CESAR BERNARD R. COLOMA 14 TH Floor, BPI Bldg., Ayala Ave., cor. Paseo de Roxas St., Makati City

Tel. No. (053) 323-7596 TIN 000-916-415

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Region 8, Marasbaras, Tacloban City through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites Domestic Contractors, registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), to bid for the hereunder contracts of Hibulangan SRIP. Bids received in excess of ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1. Issuance of Bid Documents

Noted: (SGD) ROMEO G. QUIZA Regional Manager

minal Services, Inc. “If he continues to putt that way, no one can beat him,” said Lascuna, pointing to Mondilla’s eight long putts, including that eagle feat from two-pin length distance following a solid 3-iron tee shot and a superb 3-wood second shot. In a separate flight, Salvador hit four birdies after 13 holes but dropped a stroke on the next and settled for another three-under card in tie with Ababa, who bogeyed No. 15 for a closing 36. Lascuña’ winner here when the circuit, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., made its last stop in 2013, continued to struggle with his balky putter and missed at least four birdie chances, finishing with 71 and laying eight shots adrift at 139.

Meralco routs GlobalPort five

INVITATION TO BID No. 15-2016

Interested par ties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title / s to the said proper t y / ies and the encumbrances thereon, if there be any. In the event that public auction should not take place on said date due to for tuitous event or if the same be declared a non-working holiday, it shall be held on June 8, 2016 at the same time and place without fur ther notice.

“My driving, iron game and putting clicked which further boosted my confidence,” said Mondilla, who had earlier hoped to just duplicate his opening round feat but instead found himself shattering the previous course best of 66 set by Ababa in the Philippine Golf Tour event in 2011. Thus he stormed ahead

NIA Road, Marasbaras Tacloban City, Philippines www.nia.gov.ph

S P O U S E S PAU L J E R I C H O R . D E L E O N AND NOENA VIRGINIA E. DE LEON Mortgagor / s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

at 13-under 131, seven shots clear off Salvador, who shot a second straight 69, and Ababa, who slowed down with a 70 after a 68 for 138s. “I’m overwhelmed with my game and I hope to keep it going in the last two rounds,” said the 23-year-old rising star from Del Monte, seeking to become the first back-to-back winner of this year’s circuit following his playoff win over absentee Jobim Carlos at ICTSI Manila Masters at Eastridge two weeks ago. So awesome was Mondilla’s form that he dominated veterans Tony Lascuna and Mhark Fernando for the second straight day with Lascuna citing Mondilla’s superb putting as key to his backto-back title bid in the sixth leg of the PGT sponsored by International Container Ter-

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 8, Tacloban City

B P I FA M I LY S AV I N G S B A N K , I N C . -versus-

Cherry Rondina. “These La Salle players will not go through the draft because they already played as direct hires of Meralco in the Grand Prix last year,” explained PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara. “Same for Laure and Rondina who will enter the league as direct hires of Foton.”

Mondilla sets course mark 64, pulls away

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT N AT I O N A L C A P I TA L J U D I C I A L R E G I O N O F F I C E O F T H E E X- O F F I C I O S H E R I F F QUEZON CIT Y Mortgagee,

the Lady Spikers together with veterans Cha Cruz, Stephanie Mercado and Aby Marano. Another former Lady Spiker in Carol Cerveza will also see action. She, however, signed up with Grand Prix champion Foton together with University of Santo Tomas stars EJ Laure and

(TS-MAY 20, 2016)

FRANCIS Glorioso unloaded 29 points and Keenan Victor Lim as Meralco shook off a firsthalf stupor to beat Globalport comfortably, 82-64, last Wednesday in the 2016 CloudfoneBatang PBA 16&Under basketball tournament at the Philippine Science High School gym in Quezon City. The Batang Bolts started slow, trailing 16-10 after the 10 minutes and 34-31 at the half. But behind Glorioso and Lim, Meralco found their rhythm in the third period to finish breaking away. Riko Loeis Bernardino led Globalport with 16 points. In other games, Batang Star rallied from a 2117 first quarter deficit to turn back NLEX, 6152, while Phoenix opened a 42-33 lead going to the fourth quarter and the outsteadied Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 54-50. Reynald Yante had 12 points for the Hotshots and Allen Herrera 10, while the Batang Road Warriors got 15 points from Kent Ervan John Unigo, 14 from John Robert Diones and 11 points from John Eriksson Soller. Phoenix was paced by Elmar Marsonia with 21 points, while Barangay Ginebra got 14 points from Stacey Tibayan and 11 from Ragel Glennard Enorme. Scores: STAR (61) – Yante 12, Herrera 10, Garcia 8, Plamenco 7, Lim 7, Quilinguen 7, Capispisan 5, Estrella 2, Nonan 2, Cajayon 1, Palacielo 0, Limbo 0. NLEX (52) – Unigo 15, Diones 14, Soller 11, Rivera 7, Lopez 3, Reguera 2, Rosano 0, Tibe 0, Morales 0, Manimtim 0, Mamaril 0, Ventura 0. Quarters: 17-21; 37-31; 45-40; 61-52. Second Game: PHOENIX (54) – Marsonia 21, Damaso 8, Unidad 7, Macaspac 6, Tiu 5, Mostoles 4, Candelaria 1, Filio 1, San Juan 0, Perez 0, Dauag 0, Roldan 0.

F RI DAY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

MMA offers glory

Between the legs. Atletico Mineiro’s Patric (right) controls the football against Sao Paulo’s Eugenio

Mena (left) during their Libertadores Cup 2016 football match at Independencia Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on May 18. AFP

BANGKOK, Thailand—When he was just seven Dej earned a paltry $2 for his impoverished family every time he got into the ring as a child Muay Thai boxer. Thirty years on, he pulls in a six figure salary as a mixed martial arts champion and is preparing a title defense in Thailand, a country with a proud kick-boxing heritage that is wary of modern cage fighting. Thailand’s famous Muay Thai has long provided a route out of poverty for some of the country’s poorest kids, who are drilled for the brutal contact sport from a young age. Most never make it big. But for those who do, fame and comparative fortune await, even if the physical costs are often high. Now the growing international clout of MMA is offering an even greater lure to Muay Thai fighters

Djokovic targets first French Open crown PARIS—Twelve months after his latest bid to complete a career Grand Slam was thwarted, Novak Djokovic targets an elusive French Open title with time and history threatening to conspire against him. The world number one was left in tears in 2015 when Stan Wawrinka unleashed a battery of single-handed backhand winners to all corners of Court Philippe Chatrier on his way to a shock Paris title. Djokovic turns 29 on Sunday and will be playing Roland Garros for a 12th time where he remains the overwhelming favorite to secure a trophy which would also place him halfway to the first calendar Grand Slam since 1969. But tennis is littered with great names whose Grand Slam pedigree endured shattering reality checks on Roland Garros’s unforgiving crushed red brick surfaces. Pete Sampras won 14 majors but 13 times the great American

tried to win the French Open and 13 times he failed. Stefan Edberg also made 13 fruitless visits while Djokovic’s coach Boris Becker tried nine times. John McEnroe also flopped, the four-time US Open and three-time Wimbledon winner having to console himself with a runners-up spot in Paris against Ivan Lendl in 1984. Djokovic, with 11 majors under his belt, has come closer than all of them. He has been runnerup three times and a semifinalist on four occasions. His record in 2016 reads 37 wins and just three defeats although two of those came on clay – against Jiri Vesely in a freak Monte Carlo openinground exit and a loss to Andy

Murray in last weekend’s Rome final. “All in all, it was very good two weeks after dropping out in Monte Carlo early. I needed these kind of results, winning one tournament and playing finals is great,” said a weary Djokovic who has won the last three majors. “I got what I was looking for, a lot of matches, and confidence and I spent a lot of hours playing on the clay, which now, leading up to Roland Garros is exactly what I need. Hopefully it’s going to help me perform well in Paris.” An extra motivation for the Serb is knowing that he is just a little over $300,000 short of becoming the first player to earn $100 million in prize money.

World number two Murray is shaping up as Djokovic’s greatest threat. He may be 8,000 points behind in the world rankings, but the former US Open and Wimbledon winner has developed a taste for clay relatively late in his career. His 6-3, 6-3 win over Djokovic at the Foro Italico came on his 29th birthday. It was the first title in Rome by a British player since Patrick Hughes in 1931 and ended Djokovic’s 17-match winning streak against top 10 opponents. Murray’s three career titles on clay have all been in the last 12 months – Munich and Madrid in 2015 topped off by Rome. He has also steadily improved in Paris with three semifinal runs in his last four appearances, losing a five-set epic to Djokovic in 2015. AFP

—and that has ruffled the feathers of traditionalists in Thailand who fear the all-action sport may one day eclipse the kingdom’s venerated boxing style. “I haven’t fought in Thailand for years,” Dej, who is now based in Singapore and whose full name is Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, told AFP during a recent visit to a Bangkok gym. “But I’m still a Muay Thai fighter at heart so I’m delighted to be doing it here.” In recent decades MMA has gone from a niche sideshow to a multibillion dollar industry and one of the world’s fastest growing sports, with Asia no exception. Many cage fighters are trained in Muay Thai, a technique that uses fists, elbows, knees and kicks and offers versatility to an MMA fighter’s arsenal. AFP

Equestrian to miss mark after horse falls ill TOKYO—Japanese equestrian rider Hiroshi Hoketsu, 75, is to miss out on becoming the oldest ever Olympic athlete after his horse fell ill with a cough, officials said Thursday. Hoketsu was set to break the 96-yearold record of Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who was 72 years and 280 days when he won his sixth Olympic medal at Antwerp 1920. Hoketsu, who turned heads as the oldest athlete at London 2012, had been keen to compete at the Games in August in Rio, in what would have been his fourth Olympics. But he had to ditch his bid after his horse, Brioni W, developed a cough, Japan Equestrian Federation spokeswoman Azusa Kitano told AFP. “Unfortunately I have given up on the dream of competing in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, because I don’t want to make undue demands on my horse,” Hoketsu said in a statement released by the federation. “For now, I’d like to concentrate on helping the horse get better.” Hoketsu’s previous mount, Whisper, competed with him at the last two Olympics, but she was euthanised in 2013 after an infection following surgery. AFP

Kessel sparks Penguins past Lightning WASHINGTON—Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin each scored one goal and set up another to spark the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 4-2 National Hockey League playoff victory Wednesday at Tampa Bay. The Penguins, seeking their first NHL crown since 2009, seized a 2-1 lead in the best-ofseven Eastern Conference final, which continues Friday in Florida. The Penguins-Lightning survivor will face the Western Conference winner, either the San Jose Sharks or St. Louis Blues, in the Stanley Cup Final. “We’re doing the right things,” said Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, who made 26 saves. “We’re trying to play

fast, use our speed and make them have to play in a rush.” Since dropping the series opener on home ice, the Penguins have bounced back with a hustle the Lightning have been unable to match. “We just wanted to stick with it and raise our intensity level a little bit,” Murray said. “And that’s what we’ve done.” Left wing Hagelin scored on a rebound with 10 seconds remaining in the second period to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Playmaker Kessel forced a turnover and skated down the wing, then fired a shot off Tampa Bay goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Russian made the save but Hagelin was in front of him

for the rebound and the Swede swatted the puck into the net. Pittsburgh outshot the Lightning 21-6 in the second period, dominating play before breaking through in the dying seconds. Kessel doubled the Penguins’ lead 5:16 into the third period, the US right winger finding the net for his seventh goal of the playoffs. “He has got an absolute missile (of a shot),” Murray said of Kessel. “You never know on which side it’s going to go and it’s coming quick.” But only 14 seconds later, Tampa Bay finally solved Murray as Lightning center Tyler Johnson pulled the hosts within 2-1 with 14:30 remaining. AFP

Here comes the boom. Mike Bolsinger (46) of the Los Angeles Dodgers

pitches during the first inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 18, in Anaheim, California. AFP

F R I D AY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Guiao: My players did not give up By Jeric Lopez

AFTER four long years of waiting, the balloons finally fell and the champagne was finally poured for Rain or Shine. It was a grueling journey, but the Elasto Painters got back to the Promised Land, ending their title drought in the Philippine Basketball Association by capturing the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup championship Wednesday night against the gritty Alaska Aces. Rain or Shine went through a sketchy start in the conference and needed to change their import thrice before peaking at the right time en route to a wellearned championship ride, finishing off the Aces, 4-2, in their best-of-seven titular showdown to claim the Commissioner’s Cup hardware. For Elasto Painters’ team owners Terry Que and Raymond Yu, the long wait made winning the franchise’s second championship extra

special, acknowledging all the heartbreaks the team suffered in the last several seasons after winning its initial title in the 2012 Governors’ Cup. “Masayang masaya talaga kami. Talagang very proud ako na nagchampion na kami ulit,” said Que. “Talagang para sa amin ito.” “The last time we won a championship was in 2012 and that was an Olympic year. Ngayong 2016, another olympic year so mukhang suwerte sa amin ‘to,” said Yu. “When we felt na mananalo na and makukuha na namin ‘yung championship, parang natanggal na ‘yung pressure.” Yu further expressed his joy saying that after four heartbreaking losses in the finals in the past several seasons, it was high time

Players, supporters, coaches and owners, led by Terry Que and Raymond Yu, are shown during the awards rites of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

that they won one again. “We’ve been the runner-up in our last four finals appearances. Finally, we’re happy that we got another championship,” added Yu. Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, who listed his seventh overall championship as a head coach, said that the path wasn’t the easiest for the Elasto Painters, especially in the fi-

nals where they zoomed to a comfortable 3-0 lead before Alaska won two in a row to impose some threat. “Pasalamat talaga ako sa players kasi ako medyo gumi-give-up at times. Sabi ko, baka hindi natin kaya at napakagaling ng Alaska. It is a great organization. Hindi namin maisip na masi-sweep namin sila and hindi nga talaga namin na-

sweep pero nakuha namin ‘yung championship,” said Guiao, who lost just over a week ago in his re-election bid as Congressman in Pampanga. With his consistent play throughout the finals, Rain or Shine star Paul Lee was a huge factor for the Painters in their title conquest. For this, he was deservingly named the Finals’ Most Valuable Player. For him, the feeling of being a champion again, instead of a runnerup, is priceless. “Ginawa ko talaga lahat para makatulong sa team at para makuha itong championship na ‘to,” said a jubilant Lee. “Sobrang saya sa pakiramdam na nag-champion na kami. Nakakasawa na rin ‘yung puro runner-up so alam ko kung gaano talaga namin kagusto na mag-champion na ulit.” Even Rain or Shine governor Atty. Mert Mondragon wasn’t able to contain his satisfaction at what the Painters accomplished as he, like others, also detailed all their pain that led to their gain.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources MINES AND GEOSCIENCES BUREAU

Tel. No. (+632) 928-8642/928-8937 Fax No. (+632) 920-1635 E-mail: central@mgb.gov.ph

North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Philippines

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID

One (1) Lot Enhancement and Maintenance of Server System ITB No. 2016-05-026 P.R. No. 2016-04-432

One (1) Lot Information Technology Parts, Accessories & Periph ITB No. 2016-05-028 P.R. No. 2016-04- 408

1. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2016 intends to apply the sum of Twenty Million Pesos (PhP20,000,000.) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for One (1) Lot Enhancement and Maintenance of Server System. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected during opening of bids.

1. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2015 intends to apply the sum of Five Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP5,250,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for One (1) Lot Information Technology parts, Accessories & Periph. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected during opening of bids. The MGB now invites bids for procurement of:

The MGB now invites bids for procurement of One (1) Lot Enhancement and Maintenance of Server System. Delivery of the Goods is required within the period specified in the bidding documents upon receipt of Notice to Proceed (NTP). Bidders should have completed, within Five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II (Instructions to Bidders). 2. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138. 3. Interested bidders may obtain further information from MGB and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours, from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from May 19 to June 07, 2016 at the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Four Thousand Pesos (PhP4,000.00).

One (1) Lot Information Technology parts, Accessories & Periph: • Thirty five (35) Units High End Desktop Workstation Computer 2. Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) days upon receipt of Purchase Order (PO). Bidders should have completed, within Five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II (Instructions to Bidders). 3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. 4. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138. 5. Interested bidders may obtain further information from MGB and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours, from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. 6. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from May 19-June 07, 2016 at the address below and upon payment of a non- refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Four Thousand Pesos (PhP4,000.00).

Preview of specifications can be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (Phil-GEPS).

4. The MGB will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 27, 2016, Friday at 2:00PM, at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7. The MGB will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 27, 2016, Friday at 2:00PM, at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on June 08, 2016, Wednesday, on or before 1:30PM. Late bids shall not be accepted. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration or any other bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on June 08, 2016, Wednesday, 2:30PM, at the Office of the MGB-Bids and Awards Committee. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. 5. The MGB reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. 6. For further information, please refer to: HOWELL M. MAPOY Head, Secretariat Bids and Awards Committee North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. 667-6700 loc. 153 or 156 E-mail: bac@mgb.gov.ph Website: www.mgb.gov.ph

(TS-MAY 20, 2016)

(SGD) Engr. JUANCHO PABLO S. CALVEZ Chairman, BAC

9. Bid opening shall be on June 08, 2016, Wednesday, 2:30PM, at the Office of the MGB-Bids and Awards Committee. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. 10. The MGB reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. 11. For further information, please refer to: HOWELL M. MAPOY Head, Secretariat Bids and Awards Committee North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. 667-6700 loc. 153 or 156 E-mail: bac@mgb.gov.ph Website: www.mgb.gov.ph (TS-MAY 20, 2016)

(SGD) Engr. JUANCHO PABLO S. CALVEZ Chairman, BAC

Kyla betters clocking By Peter Atencio KYLA Richardson, now a scholar for University of Southern California in Los Angeles with twin sister Kayla, did well in the women’s 100-meter dash of the California Interscholastic FederationSouthern Section Division 1 meet recently. Bouncing back from a hamstring injury, she clocked a season’s best time of 11.85 seconds, according to results posted in the meet’s official website. Her performance allowed her to improve on her personal best of 11.93 seconds three years ago. Kayla, who is trying to qualify for the Olympics, also had a good time in another heat when she finished in 11.89 seconds. The 17-year-old Kyla is showing her best form after recovering from an injury she sustained while running for Team Philippines in the 4x400meter relays during the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Last month, Kyla took the century dash in 12.10 seconds during a meet in Arcadia. She was fifth in the 200-meters in 24.57 seconds, which was slower than the 24.12 seconds she registered in 2012. On the other hand, Kayla’s time put her in second place in her heat. She had a 24.15-second feat in the 200-meters, which is near the 23.20 seconds Olympic qualifying standard. Last month, Kayla finished in 24.09 seconds during a meet in Norwalk.

F R I D AY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Romero: PH athletes must get full benefits REPRESENTATIVE Mikee Romero (1Pacman Partylist) intends to go around and connect with the athletes and coaches to know whether they are getting the benefits they are entitled to under Republic Act. 10699. “I just want to make sure that they are getting what’s due to them because I heard that some of the benefits have yet to be implemented fully,” said Romero a couple of hours before taking his oath as one of the new faces in the House of Representatives Thursday. Romero said national athletes and coaches should be treated with high regard because they spend blood, sweat and tears during training in their quest to give the country sporting glory. “They put the country in the sporting map because of the sacrifices they made so it’s just natural that we treat them very well,” said Romero. “Our athletes are our national treasures.” R.A. 10699 is an act expanding the coverage of incentives granted to national athletes and coaches. While Romero is fully aware that athletes who made it to the podium in international events like the SEA Games and Asian Games get their monetary rewards, he received disturbing reports that some benefits are yet to be fully implemented, including getting affordable housing loans. Under RA 10699, national athletes should be prioritized in national housing programs, affordable “pabahay” loans and other housing opportunities subject to the guidelines and qualifications set by the National Housing Authority or the Home Development Mutual Fund. Romero said they are also entitled to existing livelihood programs being undertaken by various government agencies. Athletes are also entitled to 20 percent discount from all establishments like transportation services, hotels and other lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers and purchase of medicine and sports equipment.

Duterte invited to FIBA tourney. President-elect Rody Duterte (center) was visited by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

executive director Sonny Barrios (second from left) in Davao City Thursday to personally hand to him the letter of SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, inviting the Chief Executive to grace the coming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila in July. With them are (from left) SBP board member and regional director Boy Cua, SBP legal consultant Edgar Francisco and Mayor Duterte’s executive assistant Christopher ‘Bong’ Go (right).

Rizal Sports Complex to undergo a facelift By Peter Atencio

THE Rizal Memorial Sports Complex will undergo a facelift before the end of the year. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Ricardo “Richie” Garcia said plans are already afoot to improve the condition of the baseball field, while putting up additional facilities as well. With more than enough cash in its present budget, the PSC plans to install an artificial turf in the baseball stadium, plus two squash courts

Ruiz to ofﬁciate Nietes-Garcia By Ronnie Nathanielsz THE World Boxing Organization has appointed Celestino Ruiz of Chicago as the referee for WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes’ title defense against Mexico’s Raul “Rayito” Garcia in Bacolod City on May 28. WBO Asia Pacific head Leon Panoncillo informed The Standard that Ruiz previously served as third man in the ring when Nietes demolished former WBC Silver champion Sammy Gutierrez in three rounds at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 30, 2013. Ruiz has refereed two, four-round bouts this year and came under fire from Ted Sares on boxing.com for the manner in which he handled what Sares described as “a historical and wonderful fight between Kohei Kono and Koki Kameda” on Oct. 16, 2015.

Sares reported that the bout was “tainted by the overbearing referee when he hit a new low in the seventh round by threatening to stop the fight if either fighter committed another foul,” saying that Ruiz “may have cemented his inglorious place in the Boxing Hall of Shame with that one.” However, the WBO clearly has faith in the ability of Ruiz and his appointment hasn’t been questioned either by the Nietes camp or that of challenger Garcia, the identical twin brother of Ramon Garcia Hirales, from whom Nietes won the title in Bacolod City on Oct. 8, 2011. The judges named by the WBO are veteran Robert Hoyle of Las Vegas, Nevada, Mike Fitzgerald of Wisconsin and Thailand’s Pinit Praysab. The WBO supervisor is veteran referee Genaro “Gino”Rodriguez.

near the tennis center. More floor space will also be allocated to the gymnastics’ area so that athletes can train better. A better weightlifting gym will also be put up by the agency. “Approved na lahat ito. Ang kagandahan, hindi problema ang budget dito,” said Garcia, adding that the PSC currently

has a budget of P1.4 billion, money it gained from six years of saving up. The PSC chief said this is seed money for the purchase of land to be utilized as a national training center for athletes. The same funds can be used by the new set of PSC officials in their grassroots program for national athletes preparing for international competitions. So far, the agency will also leave behind a legacy of giving national athletes an increase in allowances through its priority program.

They have also provided incentives to athletes who have won medals in international meets and have helped differently abled athletes in their campaigns abroad. Garcia is confident that the incoming Rodrigo Duterte administration will be able to order the new Philippine Gaming Corporation Chairman Andrea Domingo to give the PSC its 5% remittance from its gross income. The remittance will strengthen the PSC’s budget and help strengthen the implementation of its many programs.

Lady US breeder gears up for World Slasher Cup. Highly respected American lady

gamefowl breeder Tammy Shive of Green River Farm in Kentucky is all set for the upcoming 2016 World Slasher Cup-2 with her partner Pao Malvar of Sunhaven Gamefarm in Tarlac. Together, they will pit their entries using Shive’s famed Sweaters. One of the top sources of breeding stocks by Filipino rooster-raisers, Shive visited the Philippines in 2014 to attend the International Gamefowl Festival and from then on, created quite an impression in the local cocking scene. During that trip, Tammy forged a partnership with Malvar. Hosted by the Pintakasi of Champions, the renowned “Olympics of Cockfighting” will be held from May 26 to June 1 at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum. The forthcoming Slasher event will have two separate 2-cock elimination days on May 26 & 27; followed by the semis on May 28 and 29. On May 30 and 31, there will be a 4-cock pre-finals for those with scores of 2, 2.5 and 3 points. The 4-cock grand finals take center stage on June 1, wherein all undefeated entries with scores of 3.5 or 4 points will lock horns for the championship.

A16

F R I DAY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 16 RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Curry stars as Dubs bounce back OAKLAND—Steph Curry scored 28 points as the Golden State Warriors roared back to life in their Western Conference finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder with an emphatic 118-91 victory on Wednesday.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Curry seized control of the contest with a spellbinding thirdquarter points blitz as the Warriors squared the series at 1-1 heading into Sunday’s game three in Oklahoma City. The 27-point blowout victory preserved Golden State’s remarkable season-long record of never having suffered backto-back defeats. “Our ball movement was a lot better tonight. We got it going side to side and set screens and found easier shots and thankfully they went down,” a relieved Curry said. “That’s the way we’ve got to play going forward.” Curry meanwhile played down what looked like a swelling on his right elbow which appeared after he tum-

bled into the stands. “We’ll get freshened up and get ready for another dogfight on Sunday,” Curry said. “That’s what this series is going to be about—who wants to be more physical.” Warriors coach Steve Kerr paid tribute to Curry’s virtuoso display. “He’s the MVP for a reason and he knows he didn’t have his best night in Game One. He came out and played exceptionally well,” Kerr said. “Business as usual. This is what he does.” “They were playing well and they had some momentum; I just know we made some stops and Steph got loose,” Kerr said. “That’s what Steph does, when he can find some space

and make a few threes in front of the home crowd it’s a huge boost.” Asked how he had felt watching Curry run riot, Kerr replied: “I feel great joy. It’s true.” Kerr meanwhile said he would have no difficulty motivating his team for the challenge of facing Oklahoma City on the road. “We knew we needed to win tonight badly and we responded well,” Kerr said. “Now we’ve got to go there and play well and it’s a tough place to play. I don’t think we’ll have any problem getting ‘appropriate fear’ from our guys.” ‘Must do better’ Thunder coach Billy Donovan agreed Curry’s flurry changed the game. “I thought we were in good shape and then they hit us with that flurry,” Donovan said. “Obviously we let Curry get loose a few times and we need to do a better job in that area. They played very well.” AFP

FRIDAY: MAY 20, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Asean labor ministers. Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (left) is shown with other labor ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations during the opening ceremony of the 24th Asean Labor Ministers Meeting at Don Chan Hotel in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

GDP grew 6.9% in 1st quarter By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE Philippine economy expanded 6.9 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, the fastest in nearly three years, as the robust growth of services and industry sectors made up for the contraction in agriculture output. “This robust performance of the economy increases the likelihood of achieving the official GDP [gross domestic product] growth projection of 6.8 to 7.8 percent for full-year 2016, despite the weak agriculture and fishery sector,” Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra said in a news briefing in Quezon City. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the GDP growth in the first quarter was faster than 6.5 percent in the fourth quarter and 5 percent in the first quarter of 2015. The economy grew 5.9 percent in 2015. “We are leaving the Philippines in a much better place than when we first found it. The long night

of vicious cycles is over,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said. Purisima said this marked 69 straight quarters of growth and 17 consecutive quarters of at least 5 percent of GDP expansion. “The running 6-year growth average of 6.2 percent percent is our fastest streak since 1978,” he said. Purisima said the 6.9-percent growth in the first quarter was also the fastest among the five largest economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and outpaced the 6.7-percent growth of China, the first time in 27 years. The gross national income, which factors in remittances from other countries, grew 7.6 percent

in the first quarter, the highest since the third quarter of 2013. “With the country’s projected population reaching 102.6 million in the first quarter of 2016, per capita GDP grew by 5.2 percent from 3.2 percent in the same quarter of 2015. Per capita GNI grew by 5.8 percent and per capita household final consumption expenditure grew by 5.3 percent,” PSA said. Data showed the services and industry sectors grew 7.9 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively in the first quarter while the agriculture sector declined by 4.4 percent, the fourth consecutive quarterly decline since the second quarter of last year. PSA said on the demand side, growth was investment-driven, with significant contribution from investments in durable equipment. Household consumption rose 7 percent in the first quarter amid record unemployment rate, while government consumption increased 9.9 percent. Construction also grew 12 percent, as public construction recovered.

“All these investments give us confidence that the economy will continue to perform well in the succeeding quarters of the year and beyond,” Esguerra said. Esguerra said election-related spending contributed to the growth in the first quarter and would continue to contribute in the second quarter. He said a 7-percent growth in the second quarter was “very much within the realm of possibility.” “Overall, the growth prospect of our economy for the next quarters is encouraging. Growth in the second quarter of an election year is usually stronger than in the first quarter. Barring a significant drop in business confidence in the second half, the economy seems to be on track in meeting the fullyear target of 6.8 to 7.8 percent,” Esguerra said. Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte pledged to retain the economic priorities of the outgoing administration of Benigno Aquino, policies that led to the nation’s first investment-grade ratings and its best period of growth since the 1970s.

Budget deﬁcit jumped 328% to P74b in March THE government’s budget deficit widened by 328 percent in March from a year ago, as revenue collection fell and government expenditures soared ahead of the national elections, data from the Bureau of Treasury show. The Treasury said the government incurred a budget shortfall of P74.4 billion in March, up from only P17.4 billion registered in the same month last year. This brought the total budget deficit in the first quarter to P112.5 billion, or 236 percent higher than the shortfall of P33.5 billion a year earlier. It also surpassed the programmed deficit of P99.6 billion for the period by 13 percent. The government set a deficit ceiling of P296.2 billion for

the whole of 2016. Netting out interest payments, the government registered a P38.6-billion primary deficit in March and P9.9 billion primary deficit in the first quarter. The Treasury said revenue collection fell 8 percent in March to P157.8 billion. “Year-to-date revenues, however, is still up by 2 percent year-on-year,” it said. Revenue collection in the January-March period rose to P479 billion from P470.5 billion a year earlier. This was 17 percent short of the P573.7-billion target collection for the period. The Bureau of Internal Revenue saw collection rise 9 percent in March to P105.7 billion in March, bringing the agency’s three-

month collection to P330.2 billion, up by 8 percent from a year ago. The agency, however, missed by 21 percent the P415.8-billion target collection for the period. Customs collection fell 9 percent to P32.4 billion in March and 2 percent to P90.5 billion in the first quarter. The Bureau of Treasury posted a 34-percent drop in collection to P24.9 billion in the first quarter. Revenues from other offices also tumbled 38 percent yearon-year to P8.6 billion in March. Collection in the first quarter was flat at P33.4 billion. Government spending accelerated 23 percent to P232.2 billion in March and 17 percent to P591.5 billion in the first quarter. The Trea-

sury said actual expenditures still missed the programmed spending of P673.3 billion for the quarter. The Budget Department said the growth in expenditures was led by the front-loading of agency budgets and faster rate of disbursements in the run-up to the elections. “The increase was brought about by the comprehensive release of the budget at the start of the year, allowing agencies to get a head start on carrying out programs and projects immediately,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said. Debt interest payments increased 18 percent year-on-year due to coupon payments of new and re-issued benchmark bonds and accounts. Gabrielle H. Binaday

PSe comPoSite index Closing May 19, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,427.33 106.97

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing May 19, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.800

44.00

43.00

HIGH P46.750 LOW P46.950 AVERAGE P46.855 VOLUME 764.800M

P427.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.15-P42.25 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P23.75-P28.60 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, May 19, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.5960

Japan

Yen

0.009076

0.4229

Pound

1.459700

68.0162

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128798

6.0015

Switzerland

Franc

1.012658

47.1858

Canada

Dollar

0.767342

35.7551

Singapore

Dollar

0.723903

33.7310

Australia

Dollar

0.722800

33.6796

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

123.5968

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

12.4243

Brunei

Dollar

0.721293

33.6094

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028106

1.3096

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.6864

Euro

1.121900

52.2761

Korea

Won

0.000842

0.0392

China

Yuan

0.152910

7.1250

India

Rupee

0.014896

0.6941

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247219

11.5194

New Zealand

Dollar

0.673800

31.3964

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030519

1.4221 Source: PDS Bridge

FRIDAY: MAY 20, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Thursday, May 19, 2016

52 Weeks

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 0.92 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 0.74 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 148 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 32 15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 34.1 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 9.66 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 390 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 3 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 170 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 4.6 3.4 46.25 46 105.50 104.70 93.50 92.80 38.2 37.5 3.00 3.00 1.52 1.43 14.3 14.1 17.8 17.3 0.7 0.7 2 1.9 605.00 600.00 0.600 0.540 88.65 84.75 0.97 0.97 15.00 14.50 24.50 24.50 52.25 51.40 102.4 102.4 273 270 32 30.95 193.5 190.4 1370.00 1370.00 66.10 65.20 1.62 1.52 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp. 46.8 46.8 45.95 Agrinurture Inc. 3.73 3.73 3.58 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.91 0.93 0.91 Alsons Cons. 1.94 1.97 1.85 Asiabest Group 13.62 16.88 13.5 Bogo Medelin 67.1 70 60 C. Azuc De Tarlac 189.00 215.00 200.00 Century Food 21.05 22.1 21.05 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 198 205 195 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 17.84 18 17.82 Concepcion 46.25 46.45 45 Crown Asia 2.22 2.28 2.2 Da Vinci Capital 4.65 4.68 4.65 Del Monte 10.72 10.8 10.72 DNL Industries Inc. 9.680 9.890 9.640 Emperador 7.10 7.39 7.13 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.92 5.92 5.71 EEI 7.37 7.41 7.34 First Gen Corp. 22.25 22.3 21.3 First Holdings ‘A’ 69.45 69.45 68.8 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 13.30 13.30 12.70 Holcim Philippines Inc. 15.20 15.50 15.20 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.75 5.75 5.6 Ionics Inc 2.270 2.320 2.250 Jollibee Foods Corp. 235.00 235.80 231.20 Liberty Flour 40.95 43.90 35.00 LMG Chemicals 2.28 2.17 2.17 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.58 3.6 3.45 Macay Holdings 39.65 39.95 37.50 Manila Water Co. Inc. 28 28 27.5 Maxs Group 23.75 24.1 23.5 Megawide 6.6 6.6 6.55 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 333.00 335.00 323.00 MG Holdings 0.290 0.305 0.290 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.48 3.48 3.41 Petron Corporation 11.60 11.60 11.30 Phil H2O 3.3 3.27 3.02 Phinma Corporation 11.62 11.64 11.52 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 5.56 5.52 5.40 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.62 1.84 1.65 Pryce Corp. À’ 2.73 2.83 2.69 RFM Corporation 4.25 4.25 4.24 Roxas and Co. 2.54 2.59 2.28 Roxas Holdings 4.65 4.71 4.65 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ 216 221 216 Splash Corporation 2.55 2.54 2.49 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.157 0.162 0.156 TKC Steel Corp. 2.20 2.39 1.90 Trans-Asia Oil 2.54 2.55 2.51 Universal Robina 206.6 206.4 201.6 Victorias Milling 4.6 4.6 4.6 Vitarich Corp. 0.91 0.94 0.89 Vivant Corp. 31.25 31.25 31.20 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.36 1.39 1.28 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. À’ 0.410 0.430 0.415 Aboitiz Equity 70.90 71.25 70.70 Alliance Global Inc. 14.58 14.70 14.54 Anglo Holdings A 1.25 1.29 1.22 Anscor À’ 6.00 6.00 6.00 ATN Holdings A 0.360 0.390 0.365 ATN Holdings B 0.360 0.395 0.375 Ayala Corp À’ 840 845 805 Cosco Capital 7.9 8.15 7.77 DMCI Holdings 13.02 13.10 12.94 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 6.24 6.26 6.19 Forum Pacific 0.270 0.270 0.265 GT Capital 1430 1431 1422 House of Inv. 6.39 6.39 6.39 JG Summit Holdings 92.80 93.75 92.85 Lopez Holdings Corp. 8.08 8.08 7.78 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.7 0.71 0.69 LT Group 13.86 13.86 13.68 Mabuhay Holdings À’ 0.465 0.470 0.470 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 6.25 6.25 6.07 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.34 4.1 3.34 Pacifica À’ 0.0320 0.0330 0.0320 Prime Media Hldg 1.330 1.530 1.360 Prime Orion 1.800 1.830 1.800 San Miguel Corp À’ 74.00 74.00 72.00 Seafront À’ 2.13 2.23 2.14 SM Investments Inc. 1006.00 1008.00 984.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.16 1.17 1.16 South China Res. Inc. 0.95 0.95 0.86 Transgrid 190.00 190.00 190.00 Top Frontier 157.700 157.900 141.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3300 0.3450 0.3200 Wellex Industries 0.2320 0.2400 0.2160 Zeus Holdings 0.395 0.385 0.345 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.500 7.900 7.480 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.69 7.50 7.04 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.23 1.26 1.22 Araneta Prop À’ 2.260 2.280 2.070 Arthaland Corp. 0.265 0.285 0.270 Ayala Land `B’ 36.300 36.700 35.350 Belle Corp. À’ 3.12 3.14 3.1 Cebu Holdings 5.1 5.22 5.22 Century Property 0.530 0.54 0.520 City & Land Dev. 0.99 0.98 0.98 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC À’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

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

SHARES 16,424,845 97,412,398 144,915,511 128,007,967 211,227,238 1,855,917,295 2,468,171,093

3.44 46.3 105.00 94.00 37.5 3.00 1.49 14.3 17.7 0.7 1.98 610.00 0.600 88.3 0.97 15.00 24.20 52.25 102.4 270 30.95 193 1370.00 65.05 1.6

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.88 46 105.00 93.00 38.2 3.00 1.44 14.2 17.48 0.7 1.9 600.00 0.570 85.5 0.97 14.90 24.50 51.70 102.4 270 31.95 191.6 1370.00 65.40 1.59

12.79 -0.65 0.00 -1.06 1.87 0.00 -3.36 -0.70 -1.24 0.00 -4.04 -1.64 -5.00 -3.17 0.00 -0.67 1.24 -1.05 0.00 0.00 3.23 -0.73 0.00 0.54 -0.63

4,178,000 2,000 1,607,450 2,632,410 70,100 50,000 179,000 8,100 232,200 1,000 458,000 200 561,000 3,106,730 1,000 125,300 4,700 522,580 20 1,050 324,200 1,889,330 120 67,360 85,000

45.95 3.7 0.93 1.87 14.1 63.95 200.00 21.75 200 17.9 46.45 2.22 4.65 10.74 9.750 7.13 5.75 7.40 21.4 69.2 12.70 15.50 5.6 2.290 233.60 39.95 2.17 3.6 39.95 27.55 24.1 6.55 325.20 0.290 3.48 11.50 3.27 11.52 5.49 1.80 2.76 4.25 2.28 4.65 220 2.51 0.156 1.91 2.53 204 4.6 0.89 31.20 1.34

-1.82 -0.80 2.20 -3.61 3.52 -4.69 5.82 3.33 1.01 0.34 0.43 0.00 0.00 0.19 0.72 0.42 -2.87 0.41 -3.82 -0.36 -4.51 1.97 -2.61 0.88 -0.60 -2.44 -4.82 0.56 0.76 -1.61 1.47 -0.76 -2.34 0.00 0.00 -0.86 -0.91 -0.86 -1.26 11.11 1.10 0.00 -10.24 0.00 1.85 -1.57 -0.64 -13.18 -0.39 -1.26 0.00 -2.20 -0.16 -1.47

1,929,100 297,000 211,000 22,398,000 140,400 1,970 40 548,400 700 82,000 900 230,000 93,000 83,800 9,741,800 593,000 9,276,900 604,600 3,308,100 161,240 38,400 370,900 736,600 1,156,000 802,110 2,100 23,000 48,000 5,500 469,700 1,008,200 800 885,550 240,000 55,000 3,718,600 36,000 6,000 2,069,200 6,534,000 869,000 166,000 67,000 30,000 4,230 659,000 1,520,000 14,819,000 469,000 2,089,000 6,000 7,781,000 600 788,000

0.415 71.05 14.56 1.22 6.00 0.370 0.385 806 7.77 13.00 6.20 0.265 1430 6.39 93.25 7.9 0.69 13.7 0.470 6.12 3.69 0.0320 1.360 1.830 72.00 2.14 985.00 1.16 0.94 190.00 157.900 0.3200 0.2230 0.355

1.22 0.21 -0.14 -2.40 0.00 2.78 6.94 -4.05 -1.65 -0.15 -0.64 -1.85 0.00 0.00 0.48 -2.23 -1.43 -1.15 1.08 -2.08 10.48 0.00 2.26 1.67 -2.70 0.47 -2.09 0.00 -1.05 0.00 0.13 -3.03 -3.88 -10.13

1,870,000 3,310,350 9,676,200 464,000 23,000 28,040,000 2,900,000 409,720 994,200 10,162,600 598,700 50,000 149,230 16,000 4,178,710 3,510,100 46,000 2,152,500 30,000 19,908,600 10,000 17,900,000 116,000 236,000 188,670 4,000 326,760 134,000 162,000 20 3,740 2,140,000 7,530,000 13,820,000

7.900 7.20 1.23 2.200 0.270 36.000 3.11 5.22 0.530 0.98

5.33 -6.37 0.00 -2.65 1.89 -0.83 -0.32 2.35 0.00 -1.01

366,800 13,700 2,678,000 3,001,000 500,000 14,857,000 1,065,000 3,000 2,403,000 6,000

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

High

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Cityland Dev. À’ 0.970 Crown Equities Inc. 0.133 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.520 Double Dragon 49 Empire East Land 0.820 Ever Gotesco 0.168 Global-Estate 0.99 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.94 Interport À’ 1.32 Keppel Properties 4.60 Megaworld 4.28 MRC Allied Ind. 0.088 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.2900 Phil. Realty À’ 0.500 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 68.60 Robinson’s Land `B’ 29.65 Rockwell 1.6 Shang Properties Inc. 3.13 SM Prime Holdings 25.10 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.9 Starmalls 6.4 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.070 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.480

3.09 0.00 0.00 -0.41 0.00 -3.57 -1.01 1.03 -1.52 2.17 -0.70 3.41 -3.45 -3.00 -31.49 -2.02 0.00 0.00 -3.59 0.00 -3.13 -2.80 -6.93

2,000 1,270,000 2,901,000 2,813,500 73,000 20,000 1,900,000 11,800,000 10,000 10,000 38,417,000 5,260,000 300,000 1,025,000 84,430 2,920,300 193,000 1,000 12,042,200 1,449,000 10,500 109,000 18,634,700

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 0.017

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 95.5 1 15.2

6.5 1.91 3.1 0.650 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

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

-0.67 -0.66 -0.76 -4.55 -0.46 0.00 1.30 -0.16 0.00 0.00 -0.71 -1.03 -0.36 0.00 0.00 -1.79 1.75 -3.08 0.00 0.00 8.96 6.40 8.70 0.19 -1.92 0.47 -12.85 0.00 -1.29 -2.51 10.37 -0.23 -2.97 0.00 0.00 0.42 -1.39 1.20 0.00 0.24 0.96 -1.59 -6.44 -1.64 -2.51 1.49 0.00 -1.36

36,200 169,540 51,000 1,391,000 2,970,000 3,420,280.00 8,690,000 1,030,000 33,820.00 418,270 17,817,535.00 1,100 12,000 44,600 34,750.00 270 41,055 -32,973,960.00 262,800 54,000 3,690,610 -96,028,352.50 102,800 560 -5,790.00 6,900,000 710,000 4,832,198.00 109,150,000 1,838,900.00 6,976,000 -34,300.00 718,000 -99,950.00 100 1,100 257,000 10,000 63,000 2,624,000 1,892,340.00 2,492,000 1,878,010.00 32,173,000 17,729,090.00 108,900 24,100 2,000 150 60,700 -101,930.00 109,655 -66,417,360.00 1,470,000 6,611,000 527,980.00 4,747,900 65,921,925.00 302,050 -1,021,990.50 396,200 13,356,000 -2,365,360.00 541,000 12,000 177,000 261,350.00 410,000 96,750.00 532,600

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 12.7 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 6.5 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

0.00 -18.94 -8.40 -0.14 0.81 -4.21 -3.70 -1.10 0.00 0.00 -8.20 -7.94 -5.88 -5.56 1.02 -1.97 -0.76 -4.69 -2.10 0.00 -10.91 8.42 0.84 -4.15 0.00 -0.62 -5.58 -6.67

139,000,000 129,000.00 5,723,000 -689,880.00 756,800 -122,486.00 900 30,000 12,300 2,838,000 670,000 27,531,000 4,914,380.00 11,400,000 -21,700.00 193,140,000 7,620,000 120,000.00 929,400,000 156,700,000 117,000.00 288,000 3,481,100 -10,584,186.00 1,786,000 -56,000.00 194,000 786,000 40,700,000 6,400,000 58,000 5,361,400 -828,787.00 14,180,000 -301,390.00 45,500,000 243,030 -5,427,823.00 2,541,000 -14,700.00 259,300,000 3,000.00

70 553 525 118 120 515 8.21 12.28 111 1047

33 490 500 101 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 101 1011

78.95

74.5

2,476,811.00 720.00

1.34

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

-0.58 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.38 1.54 0.91 -0.09 0.00 0.00 1.28 0.00 1.30 0.47 -0.13 6.76

189,630 11,410 11,950 190 59,000 17,930 2,700 16,000 50,500 305 1,400 10,000 110 15,360 218,230 35,110 16,000

80,610.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-1.02

155,000

-94,786,970.00 1,334,630.00

3.5

12.88

5.95

-33.88 -2.96 0.33 -5.43

10,829,000 627,382.00 32,000 46,000 3,346,300 -5,677,948.00

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-1.45

11,610

-216,910.00 46,250.00 65,609,462 17,066,730.00 562,335.00 -101,660.00 -91,870.00 -85,500.00 -15,923,486.00 16,940.00 -2,619,914.50 3,621,740 9,530,881.00 -38,675.00 -13,266,350.00 10,340,480.00 7,396,420.00 -4,645 147,840.00 -531,464.00 52,815,561.00 -57,869.00 -19,292,005.00 437,236.00 329,520.00 -3,923,425.50 5,030,884.00 1,294,589.00 193,830.00 -51,367,248.00

-1,190,435.00 15,426,805.00 5,205,046.00 34,800.00 11,107,772.00 -9,067,400.00 -362,220.00 -280,470.00 598,780.00 185,070.00 155,720.00 -145,130,230.00 -352,420.00

59,739,906.50 9,932,942.00 306,850.00 38,283,865.00 -888,322.00 -13,270,514.00 -681,524.00 -17,525,630.00 73,872,125.50 1,671,549.00 7,127,360.00 52,522,354.00 364,800.00 5,408,423.00 22,465,215.00

69,000.00 54,750.00

4,860.00 -5,880.00

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

1.000 1.000 1.000 0.133 0.132 0.133 0.530 0.510 0.520 49.7 48 48.8 0.820 0.820 0.820 0.162 0.162 0.162 1.00 0.98 0.98 1.96 1.88 1.96 1.34 1.30 1.30 4.79 4.60 4.70 4.3 4.23 4.25 0.091 0.088 0.091 0.2800 0.2800 0.2800 0.510 0.485 0.485 102.90 46.00 47.00 29.65 28.20 29.05 1.63 1.59 1.6 3.13 3.13 3.13 25.10 24.20 24.20 0.91 0.88 0.9 6.4 6.2 6.2 1.050 1.020 1.040 5.550 5.100 5.100 SERVICES 7.45 7.5 7.4 7.4 52.85 52.85 52.4 52.5 1.31 1.31 1.28 1.3 0.660 0.660 0.610 0.630 4.37 4.40 4.30 4.35 0.0580 0.0580 0.0570 0.0580 3.07 3.18 3 3.11 93.1 93.1 92.3 92.95 9.55 9.55 9.55 9.55 1.81 1.81 1.81 1.81 7.00 6.98 6.95 6.95 970 960 960 960 2234 2240 2210 2226 6.65 6.65 6.60 6.65 1.18 1.21 1.18 1.18 64.4 64.4 63.1 63.25 17.10 18.00 17.00 17.40 195 193 180 189 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 9.67 9.67 9.57 9.67 0.335 0.370 0.320 0.365 1.7200 1.8300 1.6900 1.8300 2.3 2.8 2.25 2.5 10.3 10.32 10.32 10.32 7.80 7.80 7.65 7.65 4.25 4.29 4.20 4.27 22.95 20.05 20.00 20.00 0.600 0.600 0.590 0.600 2.32 2.33 2.28 2.29 3.98 3.98 3.88 3.88 2.700 3.150 2.700 2.980 17.56 17.54 17.08 17.52 5.05 5.14 4.90 4.90 2.41 2.41 2.41 2.41 115.00 115.00 111.00 115.00 23.75 23.85 23.30 23.85 1724.00 1722.00 1700.00 1700.00 0.415 0.420 0.410 0.420 0.890 0.900 0.880 0.890 41.80 42.00 41.65 41.90 78.20 80.00 78.30 78.95 6.27 6.28 6.17 6.17 2.95 2.98 2.75 2.76 0.610 0.620 0.600 0.600 1.99 1.95 1.86 1.94 3.36 3.42 3.36 3.41 0.370 0.390 0.370 0.370 7.350 7.350 6.950 7.250 MINING & OIL 0.0043 0.0043 0.0042 0.0043 3.01 2.90 2.32 2.44 5.00 5.00 4.50 4.58 13.90 13.88 12.02 13.88 0.248 0.250 0.250 0.250 8.5500 8.4 8.19 8.1900 0.540 0.560 0.510 0.520 9.10 9.70 8.90 9.00 0.910 0.930 0.880 0.910 0.300 0.335 0.300 0.300 0.305 0.300 0.280 0.280 0.315 0.310 0.290 0.290 0.0170 0.0170 0.0150 0.0160 0.0180 0.0180 0.0160 0.0170 1.97 2 1.97 1.99 5.08 5.08 4.88 4.98 2.62 2.8 2.6 2.6 0.6400 0.6600 0.6100 0.6100 1.4300 1.4900 1.4000 1.4000 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 0.0110 0.0098 0.0098 0.0098 3.92 4.29 3.85 4.25 7.14 7.20 6.76 7.20 4.10 4.42 3.71 3.93 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 128.50 128.50 127.60 127.70 4.3 4.41 3.9 4.06 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0140 PREFERRED 51.9 51.95 51.35 51.6 525 525 525 525 535 535 535 535 116.3 116.3 116.3 116.3 118 118 118 118 527 525 525 525 6.5 6.6 6.04 6.6 1.1 1.11 1.1 1.11 110.9 110.8 109 110.8 1020 1020 1020 1020 110.3 110.3 110.3 110.3 78 79 79 79 77.2 77.2 77.2 77.2 77 78 78 78 75.1 75.8 75.3 75.45 75.6 75.7 75.5 75.5 3.7 3.95 3.69 3.95 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.950 2.980 2.920 2.920 SME 11.04 12.5 6.7 7.3 3.72 3.7 3.61 3.61 2.99 3 3 3 18.06 18.46 17 17.08 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123.8 123 122 122

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,173,450,782.58 1,491,127,863.489 2,165,788,990.5639 1,418,170,656.335 1,136,102,209.382 295,727,811.0456 7,828,192,714.5949

Low

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,683.15 (down) 14.73 INDUSTRIAL 11,800.93 (down) 146.32 HOLDING FIRMS 7,489.98 (down) 96.23 PROPERTY 3,132.99 (down) 57.51 SERVICES 1,470.59 (down) 11.72 MINING & OIL 11,442.46 (down) 258.92 PSEI 7,427.33 (down) 106.97 All Shares Index 4,423.77 (down) 52.56 Gainers: 66; Losers: 127; Unchanged: 52; Total: 245

27,854,215.00 5,389,290.00 7,840.00 83,694,800.00 90,000.00 7,175.00 -22,502,415.00 71,620.00 -83,938,465.00 8,160.00 -23,036,102.00

-6,775,792.50

-4,620.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

AG Finance

3.88

12.79

Alterra Capital

7.3

-33.88

Phoenix Semiconductor

1.80

11.11

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

47.00

-31.49

MJCI Investments Inc.

3.69

10.48

Apex `A'

2.44

-18.94

NOW Corp.

2.980

10.37

TKC Steel Corp.

1.91

-13.18

Island Info

0.365

8.96

Manila Broadcasting

20.00

-12.85

Jackstones

2.5

8.70

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0098

-10.91

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

4.25

8.42

Roxas and Co.

2.28

-10.24

ATN Holdings B

0.385

6.94

Zeus Holdings

0.355

-10.13

Swift Pref

3.95

6.76

Atlas Cons. `A'

4.58

-8.40

ISM Communications

1.8300

6.40

Lepanto `A'

0.280

-8.20

FRIDAY: MAY 20, 2016

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

What’s really important

IT IS the week after the national elections. Already there are criticisms concerning the actions of presumptive president-elect Duterte. In the news and social media, election-related stories are slowly giving way to other matters. And while life goes on for many of us, those who fancy themselves influential or in power, or maybe just concerned enough, are busy trying to develop guidelines and mini-agendas for the incoming administration. These lists are important because, as long as six years seems to be, a clear list of priorities is necessary if government is to get anything truly substantial accomplished. In my own little corner of the world, busy is the operative word, and choices are the theme of the moment. Choices Of course, we make choices every day. From that first choice of what time to wake up in the morning to that final choice of when to call it a day, we are making choices. We seldom see all of these things as choices, of course. For the most part, we go from one activity to another much like a leaf floating on moving water. Just the other day, I commented, only half in jest, that my life is essentially ruled by my calendar. To my great consternation, there are many days when I am the sort of person who runs from meeting to meeting because that is what other people have put on my calendar. That, of course, is not all of the story. Part of the reason some of my days seem ruled by appointments simply comes from previous larger decisions —either accepting responsibility, or making suggestions that turned into projects or accountabilities, or simply not pushing back hard enough when my name somehow shows up on some list. Of course, I know, intellectually, that I need to build slack time into my work hours. I know that the truly great accomplishments only get done if there is time on my calendar for them. The challenge, obviously, is being able to practice what I know is right. Paths Almost a lifetime ago, I had a conversation with a friend who had made a comment about their president. My friend worked for one of the largest companies in the country. Their president was a mover and shaker in the business world. In addition to his job, he had civic organization responsibilities, speaking engagements, and directorships. He was the sort of president who was hired not only for his capabilities but also for his network of influential contacts. But my friend’s observation was telling. She said his day was a matter of being shuffled from one event to another by his secretary. That, I then told myself, is a situation I would not want to be in. At the time, I figured it would be easy to avoid such a life. I had no desire for jewelry or designer clothes. I had no great ambitions concerning becoming famous, or influential. My desires were simple and my most costly goals simply had to do with travel and food. With such low expectations, I figured I would be safe enough. Chasing money or fame or influence would not drive my choices. The reality, though, is more complex. I remember once interviewing Narayana Murthy, who

explained that his decision to go home to his native India and there begin a business was a result of what, in retrospect, was an almost random event—being stopped while on a train journey. Without that series of events that put him on that train at the time when the train was stopped, he would not have founded Infosys. So there are these seemingly insignificant events that lead us on to entirely new paths. Take for example the series of events that landed me in the health policy area. I was about as far away from health and public health policy as it was possible to be. While I am an actuary, I worked in the life insurance industry and then in a consulting firm concentrating primarily on retirement plan valuations. A series of events let to my meeting a former undersecretary of health who asked me to help craft what was to become the original PhilHealth law. He somehow got me to attend a first meeting—saying it was, after all, going to be held in UP, my alma mater—mere minutes from where I live. He promised I would only need to talk about the basic concepts of insurance—nothing more. That meeting somehow morphed into more meetings, more conversations, and more projects. Today, completely outside of any early thoughts I had about where my career would take me, public health policy has somehow become a significant part of what I do. Priorities Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t regret being in the public health policy area. I think those of us who work in the field have the opportunity to make a real difference—one that helps many people. Similar seemingly small, innocuous events have led me to found companies, lead companies, and end up teaching. None of these endeavors are matters I regret. But I must say I have days when I ask myself what I ended up missing. As a management professional, I often find myself in discussions concerning millennials—about what many perceive as their sense of entitlement, their unrelenting focus on their own lives and their personal goals. Now, I understand that there are certainly large goals worth sacrificing personal goals for. But I must say I wonder about the seemingly automatic assumption that employees should make personal sacrifices for their companies. Managers bemoan the lack of work ethic or lack of corporate loyalty—and sometimes they are right—especially when they talk about applicants who have a required salary but have no explanation about the value they will bring to their jobs. However, I must say that, at the end of the day, a job is really a just a job. I would never advice anyone I care about to choose the job over their health or family. I know that I have sometimes done both and have realized what the problem is. The problem is that there are both subtle and explicit pressures to devote time to work. Your health, your little children—they don’t pressure you. But, your job will not keep you warm at night, or wipe your tears when you are sad. For my money, that is one thing millennials actually get right. There are things vastly more important than the job. Readers can email Maya at i nt e g rat i o n s _ m ani l a @ y ah o o. com. Or visit her site at http:// integrations.tumblr.com.

Robinsons’ partner. HappyFresh, Asia’s leading online grocery company, announces a new

strategic partnership with Robinsons Supermarket, a subsidiary of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc,. redefining grocery shopping experience in the Philippines. As HappyFresh’s first partner, Robinsons Supermarket will launch 20 branches in Metro Manila. Sealing the partnership are (from left) Jody Gadia, general manager, Robinsons Supermarket Corp.; Robina Gokongwei-Pe, president and chief operating officer, Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc.; and Ms. Isabel “Pao” Barrientos, managing director of HappyFresh Philippines.

MNTC increases income to P922m By Darwin G. Amojelar

MANILA North Tollways Corp. said on Thursday net income rose 35 percent in the first quarter of the year, boosted by higher vehicle traffic volume at North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway.

The tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. reported a net income of P922 million in the Januaryto-March period from P682 million year-on-year. The company attributed the higher net income to the increased toll revenues for the period, which expanded 30 percent to P2.56 billion from P1.97 billion in 2015 as a result of traffic growth and the inclusion of the SCTEx toll revenues which started on October 27, 2015. Average daily traffic for the NLEX reached

more than 214,000 daily vehicle entries, higher by 10 percent against the same period last year. “Traffic growth can be attributed to the opening of the Karuhatan Interchange [Segment 9], and lower fuel prices,” MNTC said. Vehicle traffic at the SCTEx during the quarter reached 43,000 daily, up 18 percent from 37,000 daily entries in 2015. MNTC earlier filed an arbitration case against the government for failure to increase toll since 2013. The operator of NLEx was seeking a P3-billion compensation as of end-2015 for the alleged inaction of the Toll Regulatory Board on lawful toll adjustments due since Jan. 1, 2013. MNTC filed a petition with TRB in September 2014 for a bi-annual toll adjustment that was supposed to start on Jan. 1, 2015, as stipulated under the concession agreement. The new petition is on top of the previous filing in 2012 for a toll increase scheduled in January 2013. The rate would bring the cumulative toll adjustment to 15 percent, of which 12 percent was long overdue.

FRIDAY: MAY 20, 2016

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

Filinvest joins city development.

Executives of Filinvest Land Inc. led by president and chief executive Josephine Gotianun-Yap (standing fourth from right) join the recent groundbreaking rites for Clark Green City in Tarlac province. President Benigno Aquino III (seated, center) is the guest of honor at the milestone event hosted by Bases Conversion Development Authority. The groundbreaking marks the ofﬁcial start of the development of the 9,450-hectare Clark Green City.

International visitors increased 15% in Q1 By Othel V. Campos

International visitor arrivals increased 15 percent year-on-year to hit a new record in the first quarter, the Tourism Department said Thursday. Data showed the volume of visitor arrivals from different countries reached 1.6 million in the January-March period. In March alone, arrivals increased 11.9 percent to 510,270, following a 20.4-percent growth in February and 13.2-percent rise in

January. South Korea remained the top source of visitors in the first quarter, with 383,544, or 23.9 percent of total arrivals. It was followed by the United States with 231,233 visitors, China with 184,512, Japan with 143,624 and Australia with 67,265. Arrivals from China surged 98.3 percent while visitors from Taiwan increased 24.9 percent. Other high-growth markets in the first quarter were India with 23.7 percent, France with 123 percent, Spain with 30 percent and Sweden with21.1 percent. Meanwhile, international visitor receipts rose 14.9 percent to P58.96 billion in the first quarter. Tourism activities in March alone grew 6.9 percent to P18.3 billion. Average daily expenditure of foreign tourists reached P4,933.59 in the first quarter. Average length of stay of visitors was estimated at 9.48 nights. South Korea was the top spending market with receipts amounting to P4.09 billion. It was followed by the United States with P3.1 billion and Australia with P1.46 billion. Arrivals at international airports accounted 496,709 or 97.3 percent of total inbound visitors in March. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport welcomed 353,538 visitors or 69.3 percent of total visitor volume while Cebu welcomed 72,915 visitors or 14.3 percent and Kalibo received 52,903 visitors or 10.4 percent. Clark received 14,282 visitors. The department said cruise tourism became one of the fastest growing tourism segments in March. About 2,946 visitors arrivals were recorded at the port of Manila and 7,256 visitors arrived at the ports of Palawan during the month.

IN BRIEF Regus takes over Ascott offices OFFICE space provider Regus said Thursday it will take over the management of Ascott serviced offices at Glorietta 4 in Makati City. Regus also announced new business center opening in Taguig, following the center openings in Clark, Manila and Cebu in December last year. The Ascott Makati Business Center has more than 2,000 square meters of flexible workspace in the heart of the commercial and business district. “As the global economy becomes more unpredictable and volatile, Filipino businesses and entrepreneurs are looking for flexible real estate solutions for their operations. Our proven model is in greater demand, allowing companies of all sizes to set up quickly without the costs and risks of managing their own infrastructure,” said Regus Philippines country manager Lars Wittig. Regus said with the two latest additions, it now has 24 business centers providing workspace solutions for both local and international companies looking for office spaces and business facilities in the Philippines. Roderick T. dela Cruz

BoP posted surplus in April THe Philippines posted a balance of payments surplus of $184 million in April, lower than $380 million a year ago, data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show. “The BoP surplus for April could be traced mainly to FX [foreign exchange] deposits of the national government and income from BSP operations,” Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a text message. “This helped to further reduce the cumulative deficit for the year. With the good GDP release today and continued buoyancy in the domestic financial markets, we expect a reversal in the overall BoP cumulative position to a surplus going forward,” Tetangco said. The April data was also lower than the $854-million surplus in March this year. BoP summarizes the country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world, with a surplus indicating that foreign exchange inflows exceed payments. Persistent surpluses help build up the gross international reserves, an ample supply of which stabilizes the currency and inflation rates. Julito G. Rada

Roxas Holdings raises P1.1b SUGAR producer Roxas Holdings Inc. raised P1.117 billion from a stock rights offering amid strong demand from investors, according to the underwriter that handled the transaction. BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said in a text message the rights offer shares were taken up, with some investors even asking for more shares. Roxas Holdings offered 266.753 million rights shares to eligible shareholders at ratio of one right share for every 4.33 common shares owned at P4.19 apiece. Offer period started May 12 and ended May 18. The offer shares came from the unissued capital stock of the company. Net proceeds from the fund raising activity will be used to partially pay the loan obligations that partly funded the acquisition of bioethanol producer San Carlos Bioenergy Inc., purchase an additional 8-megawatt turbine generator for sugar milling and reﬁning and install a heavy-duty pressure feeder to the sugar plant milling equipment. Jenniffer B. Austria

Fed rate hike good for PH

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Thursday the likelihood of the US Fed increasing interest rates next month will be good for its trading partners, including the Philippines. “The Fed affirmed its earlier posture that their next actions would be data dependent,” Tetangco said in a text message. “That they appear to now be more hawkish and thus less concerned about global economic slowdown is positive for global trade, especially for its trading partners including the Philippines,” he said. Latest reports from the US said the Fed would likely increase interest rates in June if the economic data supported that move. The Fed, however, said it would continue to look for signs the economy, employment and inflation were firming before taking further action, Tetangco said this development further confirmed that the strength of the Philippine economy could be sustained for the moment without additional support from monetary authorities. The peso and the local stocks fell Thursday, following the release of the Fed report. Julito G. Rada

Cement sales increase 12% CEMENT sales increased 12.8 percent in the ﬁrst quarter to 6.43 million metric tons from 5.7 million MT a year ago, on the back of strong construction. The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines said in a report the good weather in the ﬁrst quarter also contributed to the rise in cement consumption during the period. CeMAP president Ernesto Ordoñez said the continuation of the public-private partnership projects was also a factor behind strong cement sales. Cement sales increased 14.3 percent last year to a record 24.36 million MT from 21.3 million MT in 2014. Cement manufacturers also increased their capacity utilization to 85 percent in 2015 from 65 percent in 2014 as demand for the product continued to rise. The Trade Department said there was enough volume to supply the requirements of the construction sector. Othel V. Campos

Port cargoes improve 6% STATE-RUN Philippine Ports Authority said Thursday cargo volume grew 6 percent in the first quarter, amid strong international trade. Data from PPA showed cargo throughput reached 50.1 million metric tons in the January-March period, up from 47.1 million MT in the same period last year. Foreign cargo volume increased 7 percent to 27.2 million MT in the first quarter from 25.4 million MT last year. Domestic cargo volume also expanded 5.5 percent to 22.9 MMT from 21.7 MMT. PPA said bulk of the cargo volume came from Manila and North Luzon with 20.9 million MT, followed by Southern Luzon with 10 million MT, Visayas with 7.7 million MT and Northern and Southern Mindanao with 11.6 million MT. Container traffic, however, fell 9.8 percent to 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units in the first quarter from 1.4 million TEUs a year earlier. Passenger traffic increased 16.6 percent to 15.8 million from 13.2 million last year. Ship calls went up by 15 percent to 104,094 in the first quarter from last year’s 90,448. Darwin G. Amojelar

F R I D AY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

EgyptAir flight feared crashed CAIRO—An EgyptAir flight from Paris with 66 people on board vanished from radar screens on Thursday with a Greek aviation source saying it had crashed into the Mediterranean between the Greek islands and the Egyptian coast.

Transfixed. A young boy watches a model parading an outfit by Australian label Aqua Blu during a showing of their collection at Fashion Week Australia in Sydney on May 19, 2016. AFP

Changes urged to avoid mass deaths from bugs LONDON—Ten million people could die every year from 2050 onwards unless sweeping global changes are agreed to tackle the increasing resistance to antibiotics, which can turn common ailments into killers, a report warned Thursday. Commissioned by the British government, the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance set out steps to fight the emergence of “super bugs” as infections become immune to existing drugs, allowing minor injuries and common infections to become deadly. “It needs to be seen as the economic and security threat that it is, and be at the forefront of the minds of heads of state,” wrote Jim O’Neill, the economist who led the review. The overuse of antibiotics should be reduced by cutting the vast quantities of medicines given to farm animals, improving diagnoses to stop unnecessary prescriptions, and a global public awareness campaign, the paper urged. At the same time, researchers should be encouraged to develop new antibiotics through a global fund for research and rewards for those who manage to develop new drugs. The cost of the measures was estimated to be $40 billion (35.6 bil-

lion euros) over ten years—far less than the cost if the growing problem is not addressed. “There is no excuse for inaction given what we know about the impact of rising drug resistance,” the paper said. Governments will face the cost “sooner or later”, it added. “They can either do so proactively by taking action now and pay less for better outcomes, or remain unprepared and end up spending much more taxpayer money on far worse outcomes further down the line.” The paper argued that the response could be funded through countries’ health budgets or through taxes on pharmaceutical companies that do not invest on antibiotic research. O’Neill, an economist known for coining the term “BRIC” to describe large emerging countries and who was asked by the British government to chair the review, noted that one million people had died of antimicrobial resistance since the review started in mid2014. The World Health Organization has already warned antimicrobial resistance may result in “a return to the pre-antibiotic era,” when millions of people died in pandemics before drugs were discovered that could treat them. AFP

There were no immediate reports of the discovery of any debris but both Egypt and Greece said they had dispatched aircraft and naval vessels to the area on a search-and-rescue mission. Twenty-six foreigners were among the 56 passengers, including 15 French citizens, a Briton and a Canadian, EgyptAir said. France called a crisis meeting of top ministers as Prime Minister Manuel Valls said “no theory can be ruled out” to explain the plane’s disappearance. The Islamic State jihadist group has been waging a deadly insurgency against Egyptian security forces and last October claimed the bombing of a Russian airliner flying home holidaymakers from the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, which killed all 224 people on board. EgyptAir said contact was lost with the flight about 280 kilometers north of the Egyptian coast. The Greek aviation source said the

flight had disappeared from Greek radar at around 0029 GMT. “It crashed around 130 nautical miles off the island of Karpathos,” the source told AFP, referring to an island northeast of Crete. The official said the last communication with the pilot was three minutes before the plane disappeared, and that there had been no distress call. EgyptAir Holding Company vice president Ahmed Adel also said there had been “no distress call” before it vanished. EgyptAir had said military search and rescue had detected a “distress message,” but the army denied detecting any such message. A tweet on the airline’s official account said Flight MS804 left Paris at 11:09 pm (2109 GMT), “heading to Cairo [and] has disappeared from radar”. Further tweets in Arabic said contact was lost at 2:45 am Cairo time (0045 GMT), when the plane was just inside Egyptian airspace and at an altitude of 37,000 feet. AFP

F R I D AY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

Atomic bomb images presented WASHINGTON—Days after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, an Army leader briefed a group of top government officials at the Department of War in Washington. The officer, Major General Leslie Groves, carried with him a bundle of photos that may have shocked even those war-hardened men. In fine resolution, the blackand-white pictures depicted the two mushroom clouds that defined the course of modern history, and showed what was left of the Japanese cities after the megablasts of August 6 and 9, 1945. Groves had directed the Manhattan Project, in which physicists including Robert Oppenheimer designed and created the world’s first nuclear bombs. “If you were a cabinet secretary, or one of the few who received this briefing, think of the sense of ... awe and dread,” Michael Krepon, cofounder of Washington think tank the Stimson Center, said this week as he showed AFP the historic images. “There’s no defense against this bomb.” The institution has had the photographs since the 1990s, but Krepon last year decided to gift them to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. After negotiations about how the photos would be displayed, they will be sent to Japan in the coming weeks. “Not many people get to see this at the Stimson Center, it truly belongs I think with them as part of the historical record, so I reached out,” Krepon said of the collection of 20 or so images. The photographic gift comes at a historic moment. On May 27, President Barack Obama will become the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, where he will pay his respects at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. US officials have stressed there would be no apology for the city’s devastation. To this day, historians and politicians debate whether the horrendous civilian toll justified hastening the end of World War II. AFP

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Nato to finalize details of plan against Russia BRUSSELS—Nato foreign ministers meet Thursday to finalize the alliance’s biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War to counter what they see as a more aggressive and unpredictable Russia.

Photocall. Romanian actresses Maria Dragus (L) and Malina Manovici pose on May 19, 2016, during a photocall for the film ‘Graduation (Bacalaureat)’ at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. AFP

At a Warsaw summit in July, Nato leaders will signoff on the revamp wthat puts more troops into east European member states as part of a “deter and dialogue” strategy, meant to reassure allies they will not be left in the lurch in any repeat of the Ukraine crisis. Ministers will also discuss the growing challenges on Nato’s southern flank, from the conflict in Syria and Iraq to the instability across North Africa amid fears terrorist groups such as Islamic State can exploit the turmoil. In November, IS attacks in Paris left 130 dead and fellow jihadists followed that up with more killings in March in Brussels—home to Nato HQ, the European Union and a host of diplomatic and corporate offices. The EU is also grappling with the worst migrant crisis since the end of World War II and the bloc is anxious to increase cooperation with Nato to tackle the problem, notably trying to bolster the UN-backed government in Libya where IS has recently gained ground. EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini will join the Nato ministers on Friday to discuss the possibilities. Of the 28 Nato member states, 22 also belong to the EU where Mogherini is overseeing a review of the bloc’s global security strategy. US Ambassador to Nato Douglas Lute said Wednesday foreign ministers would have a “very sober discussion on dealing with Russia... which essentially has thrown out the rulebook.” “This is not the predictable partner we thought we had,” Lute said, adding: “We might not have a partner open to dialogue but we have to show Nato is always open to dialogue.” A focal point is the signing Thursday of an accession accord with Montenegro—yet another bone of contention, this time over the future of the Balkans, home to historic Slav allies and a key strategic interest for Russia. Russia’s intervention in Ukraine and its 2014 annexation of Crimea stung Nato into action after years of complacency and defense cuts following the fall of the Soviet Union. Moscow, however, says Nato is encroaching on its borders while Washington builds a European missile defense shield tha undercuts Russia’s nuclear deterrent. Mutual suspicion runs deep—former Nato deputy supreme commander Richard Shirreff warned Wednesday the West could find itself at war with Russia next year unless it boosted its defenses. His book, “2017 War With Russia,” is based on what the publishers said were Nato “war gaming scenarios”— in this case, Russia opening a land corridor to Crimea and seizing the Baltic states. AFP

‘Now or never to save Barrier Reef’ SYDNEY—Australia’s Great Barrier Reef could be beyond saving in five years without “now or never” funding to improve water quality as climate change ravages the World Heritage-listed site, scientists warned Thursday. The world’s biggest coral reef ecosystem is under pressure from not only climate change, but farming run-off, development and the coraleating crown-of-thorns starfish. The biodiverse side off the Queensland state coast is also suffering its worst bleaching in recorded history with 93 percent of corals affected due to warming sea temperatures. “The current management

regime for catchment pollutant run-off and climate change is clearly inadequate to prevent further decline,” James Cook University researchers Jon Brodie and Richard Pearson wrote in a paper published in the Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science journal. They added in a statement Thursday that without government funding of A$10 billion (US$7.2 billion) over the next decade to improve water quality, “the Great Barrier Reef will be in a terminal condition within five years”. “What’s happening is we’re seeing climate change ramp up much more quickly than most scientists... believed,” Bodie told AFP.

“One thing we can do is fixing water quality for the reef. For water quality management, I think it is now or never because we have to do the management now to give us some resilience against climate change.” Bodie said the poor water quality was due mainly to sediment from grazing lands, which causes water to be cloudy and affects the growth of coral and seagrass. Fertilizer run-off, particularly nitrogen, from the sugarcane industry was also causing crown of thorns outbreaks as the nutrients were fueling the growth of the predatory coral-feeding starfish, he added. AFP

Meeting. Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi (2nd L) talks to China’s Premier Li Keqiang (not pictured) during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 19, 2016. AFP

F R I D AY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

MOTORING

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FASTLANE Grand slam for Caltex FOR the third time in a row, Caltex Fuel Your School, the fuel-to-donate program of Caltex brand marketer Chevron Philippines, Inc.,is honored as among the country’s best corporate responsibility programs. The members of the prestigious International Association of Business Communications Philippine chapter bestowed the trophy to representatives of Caltex FYS project partners CPI and the American Chamber Foundation at the Philippine Quill Awards formal ceremony held recently at the Grand Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. Caltex FYS received the Merit award in the communication management division of the prestigious Philippine Quill, which comes right on the heels of winning the grand prize in education category at the 5th Amcham CSR Excellence Award, and the Silver Award in Anvil for 2015. Caltex Fuel Your School aims to promote learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math subjects in public schools. Its pioneering efforts last year helped 103,000 students and fulfilled the wish for STEM learning materials and equipment of at least 600 educators from the most disadvantaged senior-ready public high schools in Metro Manila. Caltex FYS also exceeded expectations, generating during its one month campaign 6.1 million digital impressions, with Caltex Facebook page raking in an additional 18,198 page likes, while Caltex FYS project reaped an impressive 36,149 likes.

Receiving the Philippine Quill merit award trophy are from left: Joel Gaviola assistant manager for Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron Philippines; Cherry Ramos, coordinator PGPA CPI, and Jun Salipsip, executive director of the American Chamber Foundation, Inc.

Power is nothing without grip HAVE you ever been stuck in a rut while exploring the great outdoors with your off-road SUV? When this happens, it makes you think why you invested in that over priced off-road tire while there’s a more affordable product out there that offers more control and grip at half the price? Wheel Gallery, the country’s foremost authority in anything about tires and wheels provides the ultimate solution to off-road exploration with the Saffiro MaxTrac All Terrain tire. This light truck and SUV tire features a wide center pattern rib for excellent steering response on wet or dry surfaces, with wide pattern blocks at the shoulder and four main longitudinal grooves for excellent drainage. The narrow grooves on the MaxTrac A/T improve traction and provide excellent braking performance and steering response in wet, dry or wintry conditions. Saffiro uses advanced pattern noise analysis for a computer-tuned design of pattern and pitch for minimized noise levels. The aggressive tread design delivers driving confidence and nimble handling off-road, while still keeping things quiet on-road.

Honda PH surprises with refreshed Accord

HONDA Cars Philippines, Inc., Honda’s automobile business unit in the Philippines announces a major refurbishing of its executive sedan. The New Accord is reengineered to carry a sportier and bolder look, sophisticated and premium finish, and dynamic driving performance to provide customers with exceptional ownership experience. Exterior-wise, the New Accord gets a more aerodynamic styling with its sharply creased and contoured hood and more pronounced front grille. Seamlessly complementing its new look is Honda’s Signature LED Lighting, which includes full LED headlights, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), Active Cornering Light and LED Multi-Projector fog lights. The rear also receives updates with new bumper and LED guide tail lamp design. On the side, new and sportier alloy wheel designs complete the look. The 3.5 V6 variant gets 18inch alloy wheels while the 2.4 variant gets 17-inch alloy wheels. Under the hood, Honda retained its revolutionary Earth Dreams Technology engines in the New Accord for improved fuel efficiency without sacrificing its aerodynamic driving performance. The 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 engine on the Accord is capable to produce maximum power output of 281 ps at 6,200 rpm. The 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 engine is still accompanied by Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) and comes with 6-speed automatic transmission

and paddle shifters for enhanced fuel economy. The 2.4-liter DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder model on the other hand, offers 175 ps at 6,200 rpm and comes with a 5-speed automatic transmission also with paddle shifters. For the New Accord, both variants are now equipped with cruise control and a Remote Engine Start Function that conveniently starts the vehicle engine and turn on its Intelligent Dual-Zone Climate Control System from the outside, which allows the cabin to cool even before entering the vehicle Inside, the New Accord features high level of luxury and craftsmanship with its ergonomic layout and comfortable seating matched with plush and high-quality materials. The New Accord’s center console and dashboard have been fitted with elegant piano black trimming for a more sophisticated finish. For its infotainment, the New Accord retains the dual screen set-up. To allow for more versatility and utility, the top screen or the intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with improved display resolution can now show

several information simultaneously such as trip computer, audio and compass. The bottom screen has been updated with Honda’s new advanced 7-inch touch screen display audio with navigation which is standard for both variants. These screens work hand-in-hand to operate the hands-free telephone function and audio streaming via Bluetooth connectivity which is now available in its 2.4 variant. The i-MID and advanced display audio can still be controlled easily via the controls mounted on the leather-wrapped steering wheel with wood accent. To provide uncompromised driver and passenger comfort, HCPI also retained in its latest Accord thoughtful features such as leather seats, power adjustable front seats, push start button, intelligent dual-zone automatic airconditioning, sunroof (3.5 SV Navi only), rear aircon vents, a pair of pull-up rear window shades, power operated rear windshield sunshade, and rear center armrest audio controls.

An auxiliary switch which was an exclusive feature to the 3.5 variant has been included in the 2.4 variant. This switch allows rear passenger has access to enable him to adjust the front passenger seat to his liking. In terms of safety, six airbags are now standard in both variants of the New Accord to ensure utmost safety of its customers. The LaneWatch Technology has been included in the New Accord’s comprehensive safety features. The LaneWatch technology help improve visibility of the driver’s blind spot. This can be activated by engaging the right turn signal or by pressing the LaneWatch button on the turn signal switch to view a constant real-time display on the vehicle’s i-MID. The New Accord’s wide array of passive and safety features include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), multiview reverse camera, front and rear sensors, and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS).

F R I D AY : M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MOTORING MUCH ADO ABOUT THE GTR Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

WHEN the Nissan GTR debuted in 2007 at the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan Motors Philippines invited a select number of journalists to attend the highly anticipated event. With then NMPI Marketing and Media Relations Director Raymond Tribdino (who is now Motoring Editor of Malaya) together with Col. Popong Andolong (currently spokesman of the Department of National Defense) of the Business Mirror and Charles Buban of the Inquirer, the four of us became part of motoring history as Nissan re-introduced Japan’s iconic supercar. Prior to seeing the actual GTR on stage at the Makuhari Messe, Nissan first showed a 15-minute video about how the GTR broke the record of Porsche at the famed Nurburgring, Germany. With a camera behind the seat of Nissan test driver Toshio Suzuki, the jam packed crowd at the Nissan booth witnessed and experienced how the GTR managed to break the lap record set by Porsche. Once the GTR crossed the line at 7:29:03, the crowd broke into a thunderous applause, and fireworks lit up the stage, with very loud music ushering in the R35 GTR with Nissan big boss Carlos Ghosn behind the wheel. I had goose bumps because after a long hiatus, the mighty GTR is back! After 2007, the Super Car World was never the same again as the

The next generation Nissan GTR gets a facelift and a more powerful engine.

Nissan GTR picked them off one after another. Now 10 years after that TMS launch, Nissan unveiled recently the 2017 version of its flagship variant. Although at first glance, the 2017 version looks similar to the 2016 variant, Nissan engineers argued that this supercar is the most significantly changed GTR since 2007. Off the bat, you’ll notice subtle styling changes, including a mostly new and more aggressive front end with Nissan’s signature "V-motion" grille, which has been slightly enlarged to provide better engine cooling and a matte chrome finish and an updated mesh pattern. A new hood, featuring pronounced character lines flowing flawlessly from the

grille, has been reinforced to enhance stability during high-speed driving. A freshly designed front spoiler lip and front bumpers with finishers situated immediately below the headlamps give the new GT-R the look of a pure-bred racecar, while generating high levels of front downforce. "The new GT-R delivers a heartpounding driving experience at all times, on any road, for whoever sits in the driver's seat. We have continued to push its performance boundaries to the limit – it's even more potent than before. At the same time, refinement has been added to take the driving experience to an entirely new level. We're proud to bring you what we feel is the ultimate GT-R that possesses

amazing performance, newfound civility and a rich racing history," said Hiroshi Tamura, chief product specialist, GT-R, Z and NISMO, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. The engine is the familiar 3.8 liter twin turbocharged V6, but now producing an additional 20 hp for a total of 565 horses. The additional power comes from extra turbo boost and individual ignition timing-control of the cylinders. Each engine is built by hand by one of the takumi: four individual craftsmen at Nissan's Yokohama plant who hand-build all GTR engines. Though the new GT-R is more powerful and the styling more aggressive, this model also promises to be the most comfortable. The

cabin is quieter thanks to Active Noise Cancellation, new sound absorbing materials, and an acoustic glass windshield. While the new car has a more rigid body structure for better handling, the ride is also smoother. Nissan Ph has long been teasing the local market about the availability of the GTR. Toti Zara, former Nissan Ph President announced last year that the planned launch was for the second quarter of this year. When asked about the GTR, Dax Avenido, Nissan’s marketing man would only answer, “soon”. With 100 plus R35 GTR’s rolling around the country, GTR fans can't help but ask Nissan: Kelan ba talaga kuya? (How soon?)

Verstappen: One for the F1 books Flying Dutchman breaks several records in Spain THE son also rises. Just days after completing his surprise switch from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, Max Verstappen rewrote history and put his name into the record books with a remarkable win in Spain. F1.com gives an interesting account of the Dutch who broke several records in the Spanish Grand Prix. “At 18 years and 228 days, Max Verstappen is the youngest race winner in F1 history. The Dutchman was two years and 210 days younger than the previous youngest winner, Sebastian Vettel. But Verstappen did not just become F1’s youngest winner, he also became the sport’s youngest race leader and youngest podium finisher – accomplishments he can add to his existing records as the

youngest F1 points scorer and the youngest driver to start a Grand Prix, both achieved last season. “Verstappen is the first Dutch driver to win an F1 race, and just the second to stand on an F1 podium. The other of course is his father, Jos, who scored two podium finishes in 1994 with Benetton. Verstappen is the first driver to win in his first race with a new team since Fernando Alonso won on his Ferrari debut in 2010. Max Verstappen is two years and 210 days younger than Sebastian Vettel was when he scored his first victory in 2008. “Max Verstappen is two years and 210 days younger than Sebastian Vettel was when he scored his first victory in 2008.

MAX VERSTAPPEN

Verstappen’s victory is the first time Red Bull have ever won a Grand Prix when Sebastian Vettel has not been in the team. The Dutch teenager’s victory also ensured the Spanish Grand Prix of a tenth different winner in the last ten years. No other race can boast such variety. For the first time this season Ferrari finished with both drivers on the podium. Kimi Raikkonen scored his second podium in a row – the first time he has taken consecutive rostrums since 2013 when he finished third and second respectively in Singapore and Korea with Lotus. Sebastian Vettel may have lost his record as F1’s youngest winner, but his record 9-race win streak remains intact as Nico Rosberg’s own

victory run was halted at seven. Mercedes win streak was also halted at 10 – one race victory shy of McLaren’s all-time record from 1988.Mercedes' double retirement was their first since the 2011 Australian Grand Prix. Mercedes' double retirement was their first since the 2011 Australian Grand Prix It was Rosberg’s first retirement since Russia last year, but more importantly, with Lewis Hamilton also going out, Mercedes recorded their first double retirement since Australia 2011. It was also the first time the Silver Arrows have failed to finish with at least one car in the points since the 2012 US Grand Prix, breaking a 62race point-scoring streak.

F R I D AY : m AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

TATUm ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

ST Y L E & BE AU T Y

LIFE

ExplICITly BOhEmIAn fOR BERShkA SpRIng/SummER 2016

ith the endless heat enveloping the metro, and even with the sporadic rains here and there, it seems like summer has filed for an extension and rainyday wear won’t leave our closet for a couple more weeks. That means more time to shop for Spring/Summer trends. The highlight on endless Pinterest feeds during the Coachella music festival season is bohemian, a style that never seems to go out of season. If you’re inspired by the endless fashion feeds from the music fest, which you didn’t get to attend but intently watched through Snapchat and Instagram feeds for every fashion update, you can still sport the look. Bershka’s collection for Spring-Summer 2016 offers a wide array of the rustic, raw and gypsy vibe in modern application. If you’ve been nursing that Coachella moodboard for the last month, go ahead and shop for the look and sport it for casual brunch with friends, during a stroll at the mall, or on your next Tinder date. Bershka’s Spring-Summer 2016 collection is overall eclectic and exudes a youthful vibe. For ladies and their teen line BSK, highlights are neutral and earth tone palettes in handmade aethetic inspired by pattern making. Just like the Coachella fashion trend, the collection features a lot of rustic textures in prints and embroidery with a lot of macrame, a form of textile-making where knotting is used rather than the usual weave or knit. Women can go glam like a tribal goddess with an African-inspired trend of asymmetric dresses and military Saharan jackets. For a casual Friday, there are also ribbed dresses, trumpet-end and wide leg pants. And if you’re not done with glamping on the beach, sport their ethnic prints with flowers and tie-dye in tank tops, dresses and kimonos. But if you’re heading out for an intimate night, choose from their array of lingerie-inspired sleep dresses. For the Bershka Man, Spring-Summer 2016 collection is infused with inpirations from technology, musical aesthetics and urban appeal. The color palette features a lot of earthy tones, off-white, browns, ochre, and terracotta along with khaki, powdery blue and navy. Unlike the women’s collection where prints and embroidery are prevalent, the men’s line focuses on clear non-printed textures. But, just like the women’s line, they are also paired up with the boho look complete with fedora, poncho, oversized shirts and trucker jackets in denim. In the Philippines, Bershka is located at Ayala Center Cebu, Glorietta 2, SM Aura Premier, and Mega Fashion Hall. Follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.

Bershka’s Spring-Summer 2016 collection is overall eclectic and exudes a youthful vibe

F R I D AY : m AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

EmbRAcE YouR ShApE wIth thE nEw Avon boDY ILLuSIonS

von, the number one direct selling company in the Philippines, is offering a solution to one of the biggest dilemmas faced by women when it comes to fashion: the bulge. It’s always a struggle for a lot of women to choose clothes that will not accentuate their bulges. Together with their newest ambassador – TV host, model and actress, Iza Calzado – Avon has introduced the Body Illusions shape wear, Body Illusions Light Control 2-in-1 Maxi Panty Pack, Monica Seamless Slimming Tank, Boyleg Control Shorts, High Waist Control Brief, Support Dress and Control Skirt. The inner body wear helps enhance the body’s shape in areas like the tummy, hips, and thighs for a smoother figure, and Avon has created specific wear for each problem area. The Body Illusions line has soft and lightweight pieces that feel like second skin underneath your clothes, so you won’t feel

like there’s an extra article of clothing that restricts your body movement. Its multidirectional fabric made of nylon and spandex provides maximum control, creating desired silhouette without the bulge. According to Jean Reyes, Avon Philippines director for marketing, Avon supports women and encourages them to embrace their bodies and to feel confident in wearing whatever they wish to wear. “We also understand some of the challenges women face, like awkward creases or unsightly bulges caused by illfitting undergarments. That’s why Avon Body Illusions is made of seamless, circular knit material and crafted specifically for Asian body types, to provide a snug fit and maximum control for the areas women worry about most,” she says, adding that “Iza is the perfect ambassador for this brand because she’s always effortlessly sexy and stylish in whatever she chooses to wear.”

Support Dress; Monica Seamless Slimming Tank and Boyleg Control Shorts; Body Illusions Light Control 2-in-1 Maxi Panty Pack; Control Skirt

'I can wear figure-hugging skirts and dresses without worrying about bulges,' says Iza Calzado

Today, every Pinay can also embrace Iza’s secret no matter what age or body type. “I love how Avon Body Illusions helps create a sexier figure that I can flaunt. The smooth construction makes it comfy to wear and invisible under any attire – no awkward creases or bulges,” shares Iza. “The lightweight fabric really does feel like a second skin, allowing me to move freely with complete confidence and not worry about the unwanted bulge here or there. Whether you’re off to the office in a high-waisted pencil skirt or stepping

out for date night in your favorite figurehugging dress, Avon Body Illusions will help create that smooth, flawless shape and give you the confidence boost you need!” she adds. To order, contact your Avon Representative. Visit www.avon.com.ph and like Avon Philippines on Facebook. Avon Brochure application is also available for download in Google Play or Apple Store, the app will connect you to a nearby Representative, so you can enjoy personalized service.

Say bye-bye to dead skin Take whitening to a whole new level with the new Belo Intensive Whitening Bar with Exfoliating Lemon Scrubs Following the success of the Belo Intensive Whitening line, the Belo Authority has come out with the new Belo Intensive Whitening Bar that combines exfoliating lemon scrubs with Kojic and Tranexamic acids that up the ante in the whitening game. The unique combination of Kojic Acid and Tranexamic Acid in the product has been clinically proven to whiten skin 64 percent better than products that contain Kojic Acid alone. The addition of lemon scrubs, which are microbeads of lemon peel and are natural exfoliators and 100 percent biodegradable, help scour away the outer layer of dead skin cells to improve

circulation and stimulate new cell growth. As a result, the whitening actives of the bar penetrate better into the skin because the dead and rough skin have been shed off. An avid user of the Belo Whitening Line is singer and actress Sarah Geronimo who says she is continuously surprised by all the beauty innovations Dr. Vicki Belo brings out in the market. “When Dr. Belo introduced me to the new Belo Intensive Whitening Bar with Exfoliating Lemon Scrubs, I was so amazed,” the singer said, adding that she loves the scent of the soap and the feel of the exfoliating lemon scrubs. “I love using this new soap!” Sarah exclaims.

According to Dr. Vicky Belo, making the new exfoliating variant of Belo Intensive Whitening Bar a part of your daily whitening habit will not only make your skin whiter, but also smoother and healthier. “Let our new intensive whitening bar do all the hard work. Take off the dead skin to let whitening in,” she states. For best results, use the soap everyday and pair it with Belo Intensive Whitening Body Cream. Sarah Geronimo loves the scent and feel of the new Belo Intensive Whitening Bar with Exfoliating Lemon Scrubs

F R I D AY : m AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Each bag features nature-related elements such as flowers, butterflies and leaves

Designer and emerging style icon Kiana Valenciano takes the lead as the over all style curator and creative team captain of Save My Bag collection

KIAnA VALEncIAno wAntS to SAVE YouR bAg

esigner handbags are nice to have. But the problem with these purses is that their prices – which range from expensive to outrageous – makes it unforgivable, not to mention crazy, to subject them to natural elements. Not to worry though, because here comes Save My Bag to the rescue. Save My Bag was envisioned by husband-and-wife tandem Stefano and Valentina Agazzi in Bergamo, Italy in 2013. The brand was born out of the need to protect bags by literally covering them with bags whose shapes are reminiscent of iconic purses such as Hermes Birkin and Celine. The Italian brand has been in the Philippines since 2015 when SM Malls, through its Little White Box concept store, featured some of Save My Bag’s designs. This year, Save My Bag taps local talents to come up with fresh, unique designs that would further attract the cool and aspirational set it targets. Designer and emerging style icon Kiana Valenciano takes the lead as the overall style curator and creative team captain of the special, bespoke and super chic Save My Bag collection, which according to her is made for “the generation of girls who are easygoing.” The launch, which also served as Valenciano’s formal entry into the glamorous world of fashion after studying at Raffles Design Institute and Central Saint Martins in London, turned the spotlight on her knack for spotting the latest trends and her

fresh, free-spirited yet functional attitude – an embodiment of the “cool beyond the rules” philosophy of Save My Bag. Helping the only daughter of Gary Valenciano and Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano realize her vision is award-winning designer and illustrator Daryl Feril. Feril was discovered in 2012 by USbased advertising agency AR New York which paved the way for him to work with top global brands and design studios in Asia, the US and Europe. For the collaboration, Feril transformed the lightweight, rainproof poly-lycra bags into his canvas where he rendered his art using acrylic paint. Each bag features nature-related elements such as flowers, butterflies and leaves. While the patterns are repeated, the illustrations are unique in every piece, thereby making them truly bespoke. Bag customization price ranges from P995 to P2,980 depending on the size. “It was such a fun experience working with Daryl for this unique, bespoke collection,” shares Valenciano. She adds, “I love collaborating with people who share the same creative and artistic vision, and I’m equally excited with how awesome the bags turned out, which I actually use every day.” The recent launching of the new designs coincided with the opening of the first Little White Box pop-up store on the third floor of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano

Kiana Valenciano with dad Gary

The young designer with award-winning illustrator Daryl Feril

Save My Bag was born out of the need to protect bags by literally covering them with bags whose shapes are reminiscent of iconic purses such as Hermes Birkin and Celine

The launch of Save My Bag is Kiana’s formal entry into the glamorous world of fashion

F R I D AY : m AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Round neck SS knots jersey top white, Fran Metallic twill skirt pumice, Tai Shopper Nappa bonded bag white and leather trainers

@LIFEatStandard

Drape top stretch mix rib top, tube skirt compact viscose black and Slap cotton trainers

Wool silk Gazar Marlborough jacket in pale sherbet yellow, wool silk Gazar Brad trouser, paper silk olly and leather trainers

COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY WITH JOSEPH SPRING SUMMER 2016

implicity, functionality and ease. These underpin London fashion brand Joseph’s Spring Summer 2016 collection that features directional pieces as seen in simple white cotton shirts; white jersey t-shirts; perfect sweatshirts; wrap skirts; men’s trousers; and a white plimsoll as foundation. Desirable essentials are developed from the most straightforward version to the most extreme, with the collection beginning and ending in the same place: An iteration of the uniform. The collection also explores the counter play of virile tenderness borne of classical romance with underlying tensions, with traditional notions of sex, gender and

power put under question and challenged, with contrasts running through all aspects of the collection. The subversive tension is emphasized with feminine decorative bows used in contrast to constricting nylon webbing ties that bring a semblance of functionality. Pure cotton and jersey are mixed with luxurious silk organza, nappa leather and hand-sourced vintage brocades. Closures and details are simplified, while colors evoke sensuality, even as the visceral experience underscores the concept of uniformity. For more on the latest collection from Joseph, visit the store located at L1 of SM Aura Premier.

Knit jersey Debardeur cotton tank in classic white with adjustable tie accents, Fran Viscose strip skirt Ecru and Slap cotton trainers

Dily’s Poplin stretch top, Poplin stretch Silvie skirt and leather trainers

Forever chic with Forever 21 Forever 21 pays homage to the iconic fashion era of the ‘90s with its summer collection that features The Atomics duo of rising model-musician sisters Piper Smith and Daisey Clementine. The sisters epitomize the carefree spirit and playful attitude of the 90s, with the collection triggering nostalgia for a decade that has become synonymous with grunge-punk, with tattoo choker

The new F21 collection is inspired by the carefree spirit and playful attitude of the '90s

necklaces, tie-dye shirts, daisy and sunflower prints, acid-wash denims and overalls highlighted in the new collection. The pieces for women feature colorful and neutral prints and patterns that are perfect for free-spirited women who like having fun with their dresses. Attitude is spelled out clearly with the lightweight knits for cool summer nights, attentiongrabbing swimwear, cut-off shorts, button-up shirts and jeans. The men meanwhile can fill their basic summer wardrobe with denims as the focal point paired up with tees, marled gray hoodies and distressed denim in jackets, jeans, shirts and shorts. So go on, throw on your favorite Forever 21 summer outfit and head for the beach, a summer concert or an outdoor party feeling absolutely chic. The Forever 21 Summer Collection is available in all Forever 21 stores located at SM Megamall, SM Makati, SM City Cebu, The Block North Edsa, Mall of Asia, Lanang Premier, Aura Premier, SM Fairview, SM Clark, Southmall and Seaside City Cebu.

f RIDAy : m Ay 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

bevy of beauties. Carousel Productions presents this year’s beautiful candidates of miss Earth Philippines at the poolside of Diamond Hotel

miss Philippines Earth 2016 frontrunners

46 bEauTIful ‘EaRTh WaRRIORs’ cOmpETE fOR 2016 mIss phIlIppInEs EaRTh TITlE

orty-six beautiful Filipinas who have a passion or have started advocating for a healthy planet have been selected as official candidates of Miss Philippines Earth 2016, the only pageant that focuses on the preservation and protection of Mother Earth. Oblivious to the summer heat, the lovely girls paraded in swimsuits at the poolside of Diamond Hotel on Monday afternoon and members of the press chose three head turners as the Darling of the Press, namely, Liza Cacho, a 23-year-old, executive secretary from Anda, Pangasinan (Gold medal); Imelda Bautista Schweighart, a 21-yearold, Theater Arts student at Meridian International and former Bb. Pilipinas Miss Photogenic from Puerto Princesa City (Silver), and Kiara Giel Gregorio, a 19-year-

old, student in Law, English Literature and Business at Greensward Academy in London (Bronze). Also chosen as the 10 finalists for the Miss Hana Shampoo special title were Schweighart, Gregorio, Loren Mar Artajos, 25, Nursing student of DMMSU from Laoag City; Maria Fatima Al-Sowyed, 21, Bachelor of Arts in English student of Dumaguete City; Anna Mae Cagurangan, 23, Legal Management graduate of Piat, Cagayan; Shannon Rebecca Bridgman, 24, of Rosales, Pangasinan; Melanie Mader, 24, Doctors assistant at Anshen Center in Vienna, Austria; Ellyz Santos, 23, BS Pharmacy graduate of Centro Escolar University from Laoang, Samar; Korina Christiene Reyes, 22, Business Management graduate of UP

Diliman of San Fernando City, and Jessica Madeline Zevenbergen, 19, college student of Murcia, Negros Occidental. Fulfilling their advocacy to help fight climate change through the 5R’s; Re-think, Reduce, Re-use, Recycle and Respect, this year’s candidates have started their community eco-activities. “A special “Earth Warrior” award will be given to the candidate with the most outstanding eco campaign, and another award for the municipality which exerts outstanding effort in combating climate change,” Lorraine Schuck, EVP of Carousel Productions. Reigning Miss Earth Angelia Ong successfully completed the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training under recent visitor US Vice President Al Gore, founder and chairman of the Climate Change Real-

ity Project signifying the Miss Earth organization’s continuing pursuance of effective platform to create environmental awareness on climate change. To highlight the relevance of this year’s Miss Philippines Earth pageant, the coronation night is set on June 12 at the historical Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite in conjunction with the celebration of Philippine Independence Day. The winner of Miss Philippines Earth 2016 will have the chance to aim for an unprecedented three-feat victory at the annual Miss Earth pageant after the Philippines’ rare back-toback win with Jamie Herrell and Angelia Ong in 2014 and 2015. The finals will be telecast on ABS CBN at 10 p.m., and on The Filipino Channel (TFC) with live streaming by Rappler.

A quiet party in the metro

The “Neonized” pool party at Golden Phoenix Hotel

party sans the noise. “Neonized” is a one of a kind silent Disco Head Phones party, a disco trend that started in Europe

It was not your usual nightlife party… Since night clubbing is a craze among the youth a.k.a. the “millennials” today, why not try a different way of partying? It’s partying but without noise. In a neon themed event held and presented by the Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila, they introduced to their guests a very unique way of partying in the Metro. Introducing “Neonized” a one of a kind silent Disco Head Phones party featuring Liberty Grounds’ international DJ Adri Malaki. The silent disco trend was started in Europe, America and Asia. And now in Manila, Golden Phoenix Hotel was the first hotel to hold a Silent Discothemed event. In collaboration with Liberty Grounds, an event production and artistic management company, they presented a creative way of partying through

a no-noise celebration. It was first in Golden Phoenix Hotel to hold a silent party in Metro Manila and in a hotel near the business districts. The party was held at the 7 th floor, poolside area of the Golden Phoenix’s Hotel, giving the guests the perfect vibe of a true summer party. As the guests wear their wireless headphones, the surrounding turned into a high-energy dance party yet without any noise. With the electronic dance music played in their headphones, all of the guests were psyched to dance to the tune of their own selection of beats from 9:00 in the evening and until 2:00 in the morning. Aside from great music and pool-party vibe, unlimited cocktails were available to satisfy the guests and it’s for free! The event was also joined by the Professional Models Association

of the Philippines, as the famous fashion designer Renee Salud, project director of the Modele Philippines, brought their models in the event to experience the silent rave happening in the Neonized event. After a long night of silent dancing and partying, party goers chose to spend their relaxation in Golden Phoenix Hotel. Over 280 rooms to offer and with very comfortable rooms and reasonable rates many guests book their accommodation in Golden Phoenix Hotel. To truly experience the unique party trend and at the same time spend an ultimate staycation, book your accommodation now at the Golden Phoenix Hotel visit them at Oceanaire Bldg., CBP D. Macapagal,, Sunrise Dr, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila. You may also call them at +63-02-683 2888 or email them at rsvnsales.goldenphoenixhotels@gmail.com

f RIDAy : m Ay 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

pEOplE ¼

are talking about

are not talking about

Baste Duterte

Baron Geisler

While his father is making headlines in and out of the country, the youngest son of the presumptive President makes a lot of women swoon in his latest 20-second viral video, which is now viewed more than a million times. The reluctant public figure was also a hot trending topic on Instagram and Twitter when netizens posted some funny including sexually suggestive memes and tweets about the 28-year-old Duterte. We guess Malacanang is ready for a hunky heartthrob resident, he’s definitely an upgrade.

There’s viral video on Facebook showing him going ballistic over a delayed script for an editorial campaign. The video was intended to be a social experiment but people, according to Baron, have taken it out of context putting him in a bad light. Baron was forced to react to this very ugly development and now plans to seek for an advice from his lawyer. Though it’s difficult to understand why there’s a need to go that far, it’s easy for people to believe that Baron indeed has an ugly reputation.

Marlo Mortel scarlet snow This adorable 14-month old- baby became an instant celebrity when photos of her and Hayden Kho appeared online. Scarlet is Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho’s daughter conceived through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), where Hayden is the biological father and an unidentified Mexican-American female was the surrogate mother. You see, not just her cute face can catch attention, also the story on how she came into this world is quite intriguing, too.

louis pre Jr. Who is he? Well, if you watch the 6:30 p.m. newscast on GMA 7, he’s the kid who made the 24 Oras theme song a dance craze via a video uploaded on social media. Louis, 15, just proved that breaking the Internet takes a lot of creativity and originality. Though his dancing skills can be compared to a rodent that got electrocuted, as early as now his video finds a copycat who attempts to break the internet, too, by dancing to the tune of TV Patrol theme song.

cROsswORD puzzlE deck Mont. neighbor Hits dead-center Billiards stick West Indies dance Mr. Kramden Census info Bagel choice Gone by Taverns Pianist Peter — Food court snack (2 wds.) 60 Honey source 64 Autobahn vehicle 65 Old war story 67 Sedgwick of the screen 68 Little chirper 69 Swedish import 70 Typical DeMille flick 71 Dross 72 Chemical compound 73 Salad bowl wood DOWN 1 Hearty laughs 2 QED part 3 Ottoman title 4 Apartment, often 5 Registers (2 wds.) 6 Feel crummy 39 40 42 43 46 48 49 51 53 55 56

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Zodiac span 5 Prickly flora 10 Red giant in Cetus 14 Encourage strongly 15 Charters 16 “We try harder” folk 17 Actress Madeline —

18 Helen, in Spain 19 Foul-smelling 20 Kind of electricity 22 Snowshoe basics 24 Havens 26 Overflow with 27 Seeing it as it is 30 Works hard 34 Throw in 35 Colander 38 Fortune-teller’s

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 25 27 28 29 31 32 33 36 37 41 44 45 47 50 52 54 56 57 58 59 61 62 63 66

Pilot et al. Doctrine Ms. Sanford of TV Xylophone kin A Karamazov Boxers’ milieu Says please Rainbow goddess Flutter, as wings Blur, as ink Hobo’s ride? A funny Murphy First veep Killer whales Beauty aid Charger Itinerary word Burstyn or Barkin It dazzles you — out (rescuing) All, in combos Mad Hatter guest Chicory Coin repository Recital pieces Ravens’ calls Let fly Glimmering Thin gold layer Enter data Opera tune Framework Gladiator’s greeting

He looks at the bright side of the breakup of his love team with Janella Salvador. He believes it will give him more opportunity to do the things he loves like singing and hosting. We wish him well and we will definitely keep an eye on him because we believe the breakup actually marked the eventual fall of his rising star. For any consolation, his going solo can make him available for more assignments in barangay fiestas and other rural events.

Daniel padilla He and his onscreen partner are already clear on any violation on election rules. But a lot of people can’t still forgive the young star for his rude behavior towards other voters and how he and his mother were given special treatment when they cast their votes. Not only that we feel sorry for the millions of young people who look up to him, we also feel sorry for the actor who obviously still acts as if he’s still the big star that he was a few years ago.

f RIDAy : m Ay 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

GmA NEtwoRk ExCEllENCE AwARDEE topS 2015 BAR ExAm

he Kapuso Network congratulates GMA Network Excellence Awardee Rachel Angeli B. Miranda who recently topped the 2015 Philippine Bar Examinations. In 2011, Miranda was among the recipients of the GMA Network Excellence Award, the Network’s corporate social responsibility initiative that instills excellence in education among the youth by recognizing outstanding graduating students who have shown exemplary leadership, stellar academic performance, and proactive social responsibility. Espousing the value of excellence throughout her academic career, Miranda, who graduated cum laude from the UP College of Mass Communication and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the UP College of Law, says joining GMA’s CSR program for education gave her a better understanding of what she could achieve. “When I was applying for the GMA Network Excellence Award, it was an evaluation of myself, of what I had been doing in

GmA Vp for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz, 2011 GmA Network Excellence Awardee Rachel Angeli miranda and GmA Chairman and CEo Atty. felipe l. Gozon

MassComm,” she explained. “And it helped me figure out the path that I was supposed to take and if I was ready to do the things that I wanted to accomplish.”

Jessy and JC continue to charm viewers Jessy Mendiola and JC De Vera continue to attract viewers nationwide. The two are the stars of Wansapanataym Presents: Just Got Laki, which has won the ratings game last Sunday. The values-laden series got a national TV rating of 28.5 percent and easily beat the rival show Ismol Family, which only posted 17.6 percent, according to data from Kantar Media. And as the story continues, Maki (JC De Vera) and his friends, Jimboy (Nico Manalo) and Paw-paw (Nicco Antonio), became online sensations after their dance video became viral.

Amidst their rising popularity, Ysabel’s (Jessy Mendiola) father asked her to find them and ask them to be their candy shop’s endorser. However, they have already eaten the last piece of the magic candy and may not turn into grown-ups anymore. What will they do to become adults once again? Will Ysabel be able to find them? Will their secret be finally revealed? Don’t miss the life lessons shared in Wansapanataym Presents: Just Got Laki on ABS-CBN or on ABSCBN HD (Sky Cable ch 167). Catch up on iWanTV.com or on skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.

“wansapanataym”’s ysabel and maki played by Jessy mendiola and JC de Vera

With an undergraduate degree in Journalism, Miranda says her interest in the law profession began after she studied media law as part of the curriculum.

During a courtesy call to GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon recently, the bar topnotch was given a warm welcome. “She has a bright future,” said

Gozon. “We are gratified that in our Excellence program, we choose the best and the brightest.” Gozon further advised Miranda, as well as other bar exam passers to excel in their endeavors. “There is no substitute for hard work. In law, it’s about preparation, preparation, and preparation,” he emphasized. When asked what she can offer as a lawyer, she says, “My passion to do work that is not only excellent, but also honorable.” “It’s not enough to be a lawyer, but you have to be a great lawyer and to carry with you the honor and excellence of your school and of your nation,” she furthered. Now that she has passed the bar, she hopes to champion human rights in her practice. “I certainly want to advocate for human rights, especially for freedom of expression because of my background in media,” she shared. For more information on the GMA Network Excellence Award, visit the website www.gmanetwork.com/excellenceaward.

Ariana Grande, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani perform in ‘2016 Billboard music Awards’ Billboard and Dick Clark Productions announced that Ariana Grande, Blake Shelton, and Gwen Stefani have been added to the star-studded lineup of performers at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. Grande is set to perform new music, and Shelton and Stefani will take to the stage for the awards show debut of “Go Ahead And Break My Heart,” a song they wrote and perform on Shelton’s new album If I’m Honest. The 2016 Billboard Music Awards will be broadcast LIVE from Las Vegas on Monday, May 23 8 a.m. on RTL CBS Entertainment HD. This year’s show, which will be hosted by hip-hop artist Ludacris and international music sensation Ciara, will showcase big performances, unexpected collaborations and much-discussed pop culture moments. These artists join previously announced performers Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, DNCE, The Go-Go’s, Demi Lovato, Shawn Mendes, Pink, “Kia’s One to Watch” Troye Sivan, Britney Spears, and collaborations with Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla $ign, and Nick Jonas with Tove Lo. Madonna will pay tribute to Prince. Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital songs sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. These measurements are tracked yearround by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on the reporting period of tracking dates March 23, 2015 through March 17, 2016 and Billboard chart dates April 11, 2015 through April 2, 2016. Since 1940, the Billboard charts have been the go-to guide for ranking the popularity of songs and albums, and are the ultimate measure of a musician’s success.

pop music darlings Ariana Grande and Rihana take centerstage at the 2016 Billboard music Awards on may 23

f riday : m ay 20, 2016

iSaH V. rEd EDITOR NiCKiE WaNG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ DaWn, PIOlO In a DIffEREnT kInD Of lOvE sTORy ISAH V. RED

ove is forever young with Piolo, Coleen, and Dawn In Love Me Tomorrow. For fans of the three stars on the ABS-CBN lot, the long wait is finally over. Piolo Pascual, Coleen Garcia, and Dawn Zulueta team up for the very first time in Star Cinema’s upcoming romantic drama. Directed by 2015’s mainstream breakthrough director Gino Santos from a screenplay developed and written Jeff Stelton and G3 San Diego, Love Me Tomorrow is a timely and empowering film that celebrates the enduring power of true love. Love Me Tomorrow is a love story involving JC (Pascual) who is on a journey in search of himself, a conflicted young woman Janine (Garcia), and Christy (Zulueta), a woman who rediscovers herself and what she is capable of. The movie asks if love could truly bridge gaps in age, status, and other aspects of life among the central characters. Fans are in for a very special treat with this much-awaited big-screen collaboration among Gino Garcia, Piolo, Coleen and Dawn, arguably three of the most talented and most accomplished artists in the industry today. Piolo is a popular film actor who is also very visible on television. His most recent works include such box-office smash hits such as 2014’s Starting Over Again in which he starred opposite multi-media star Toni Gonzaga. In 2015’s The Breakup Playlist, he was paired with Pop Star Princess Sarah Geronimo, and in Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis, which received wide critical and international acclaim this year, he was with fellow ABS-CBN talent John Lloyd Cruz. Coleen, on the other hand, is dubbed by both fans and critics as the “Millennial Lolita” due to her performances in the 2014 indie film #Y and most recently, Ex With Benefits in which she starred with Derek Ramsay. It should be noted that this is Coleen’s third film with Gino Santos who also directed her in both #Y and Ex With Benefits. Dawn is a seasoned performer having received awards for her performance. She made an amazing comeback when she starred in ABS-CBN’s phenomenal primetime series Walang Hanggan in 2012. She starred in a number of unforgettable supporting roles in such blockbuster films such as 2011’s Catch Me, I’m In Love and 2014’s She’s Dating The Gangster until 2015 when she starred opposite Richard Gomez and Bea Alonzo in the smash box-office drama The Love Affair.

Together, Direk Gino, Piolo, Coleen, and Dawn will weave a tale that shows how love could be forever young in surpassing the frivolities of flirtation and physical attraction. Love Me Tomorrow is showing in cinemas nationwide starting May 25.

The race to no.1 continues

The running joke among people working on television and the members of the press is: TV5 is currently the no. 2 network and why? Well, ABS-CBN and GMA Network are both claiming the no. 1 position. Naturally, that joke doesn’t elicit much laughter, especially from those who take the competition among networks as a serious business. Earlier this year, both the Kapamilya and Kapuso networks announced separately that they lead in nationwide ratings for January to December 2015 based on data from two different ratings providers. According to Kantar Media, ABS-CBN ruled nationwide ratings with an average nationwide share of 43 percent versus GMA’s 36 percent. Meanwhile, rival GMA, citing data from Nielsen, said it was the leading channel last year with 35.4 percent, higher than ABS-CBN’s 34.9 percent among urban households. However, the networks’ financial data tell a different story. We were able to compare the financial figures of ABS-CBN and GMA for 2015, and we arrived at some very interesting realizations. ABS-CBN had a net income of P2.545 billion and consolidated revenues of P38.278 billion. GMA closed the year with a net income of P2.126 billion and gross revenues of P13.727 billion. At first glance, ABS-CBN’s figures are bigger than GMA’s. But, ABS-CBN’s net income was actually only about 1.2 times bigger than GMA. This despite ABS-CBN’s consolidated revenues bigger than GMA. The total operating expenses of ABSCBN reached a whopping P34.686 billion, definitely higher than GMA’s P10.745 billion in 2015. While both companies’ expenses were higher than the year before, ABS-CBN’s rose by 14 percent while there was a minimal two percent increase in GMA’s spending. All things considered, these numbers are indicative of how a company manages its earnings and costs, which is driven by a lot of factors, ratings included. So, you can actually tell which network is more profitable than the other. And it appears GMA implemented stronger financial management and incurred more efficient costs also. Especially now that it’s been a lucrative year so far for these broadcast companies, it would be interesting to note what the trend will be like in the next couple of months.

“Love me Tomorrow” is a non-conventional love triangle between the characters dawn Zulueta, Piolo Pascual and Coleen Garcia play

(Clockwise) Coleen Garcia, dawn Zulueta, film director Gino Garcia and Piolo Pascual