The Standard - 2016 May 30 - Monday

VOL. XXX NO. 107 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONDAY : MAY 30, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Respect UN ruling, Duterte tells China

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NO POST FOR LENI

‘That never entered my mind,’ Duterte declares

By John Paolo Bencito

DAVAO CITY—President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday night that it never crossed his mind to give Vice President-elect Leni Robredo a Cabinet post because he was too busy giving jobs to friends to whom he owes a debt of gratitude.

Duterte’s remarks came despite assurances from his inner circle that Robredo would not be a wallflower in the incoming ad-

ministration.

But Duterte rejected suggestions that he put a premium on friendship over qualifications,

and said it was his limited ‘‘spheres of influence” that kept his choices to his province mates, former classmates and friends.

Speaking to reporters for the first time after being declared the president-elect by Congress, Duterte admitted that he had not considered Robredo, the Liberal Party candidate, for anything.

“That never entered my mind actually,” he said.

Pressed for further comment, Duterte appeared irked. “Why

should I talk to her?” he asked.

“I have not considered anything for her because I’m more worried where will I place friends [to whom] I [owe a] debt of gratitude,” Duterte said. “I should not be looking beyond my borders yet.”

He added that he had to look out for “the party guys” who were loyal to him all along, and who contributed to his election victory.

Robredo won the vice presidency over Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by a narrow margin of 263,473

votes, amid allegations of poll fraud.

In an interview Saturday, Robredo dismissed the accusations from the Marcos camp, adding that she would not demand from Duterte any Cabinet position unless she is asked to do so.

“For me, I don’t have the right to demand from him any Cabinet portfolio. But if he will be asking me for a preference, I will be saying so. But the authority to appoint or give additional jobs, it’s the sole Next page

No room in Cabinet. Vice President-elect Leni Robredo waves to her provincemates from a motorized banca which joined the fluvial procession in honor of the Holy Family in Calabanga, Camarines Sur on Saturday.

Warriors stay alive, beat OKC in Game 6

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‘Marcos robbed of .5-m votes in Quezon’

By Christine F. Herrera A DAY before Congress proclaims the president and vice president, a witness from Quezon province revealed that some 500,000 votes were shaved from the tally of independent vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and were added to the votes of his rival, Camarines Sur

Rep. Leni Robredo, who won by only 263,000 votes in the official count.

Robredo is set to be proclaimed today by Congress as winner in the vice presidential race.

Several hundreds of thousands of votes were also deducted from the votes of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe and transferred

to the administration’s presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II, the witness said.

The witness said the vote shaving and vote padding were done in a warehouse that he was told to set up in Lucena for the “covert dagdagbawas operation” run by the Liberal Party and Smartmatic personnel.

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authority of the president. Whatever he decides on, I would respect that,” Robredo said in her hometown, Naga City.

A spokesman for Duterte’s transition team, Peter Laviña, had earlier said that Robredo would have a role to play in his Cabinet.

Duterte’s running mate, losing Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, also said Duterte wanted to talk to Robredo and that he was looking at giving her a job in anti-poverty.

“I think from Day 1, he has been thinking about what [job to] give the vice president-elect,” Cayetano said.

Duterte’s reaction Saturday night was a contradiction to these claims, however.

“I’m still busy. Why would I place myself in jeopardy? Why would I put myself in an awkward position when I am not ready to offer anything to her?” he said.

In the same interview, the president-elect blasted critics for criticizing his choice of Cabinet appointees, who are mostly his province mates from Davao, friends or classmates, calling the allegations of favoritism “very stupid.”

“Look. I’m not from Forbes [Park]. If I lived there, I should have studied in Ateneo, La Salle or in UP from grade school to college— I’m not like that.”

He described himself as a probinsyano with limited “spheres of influence.”

“You do not appoint somebody you do not trust. But you also have to know the person, enough of his character and his capacity and his honesty,” Duterte said.

Duterte said that he is set to name more members to complete his Cabinet, but announced on Saturday night he already offered positions to former national treasurer Leonor Briones to head the Department of Education and Benjamin Diokno to retake his old post at the Department of Budget and Management.

Briones, professor emeritus of Public Administration at the National College of Public Administration & Governance at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, has yet to accept the offer.

Diokno, former Budget secretary in the Estrada administration, is a professor of economics at the University of the Philippines.

Briones and Diokno are expected to meet with Duterte in Davao.

Duterte said he cannot travel to Manila before the oath-taking because of prior commitments so he offered to get them tickets.

Duterte promised to name more appointees on Tuesday for the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Land Transportation Office, Department of National Defense, Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Science and Technology.

Duterte added that he wanted a military man to head the LTO, the DND and the BoC to “instill discipline within its ranks.”

For DoST and DoH, Duterte is eyeing someone from the career ranks while for the Tourism, he is keen on retaining Aquino Cabinet appointee Ramon Jimenez in view of his good record.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, president of the PDP-Laban under which Duterte ran for president, said the Cabinet announcements were not cast in stone.

“If they are very controversial, they may be changed before June 30,” Pimentel said in an interview with radio dzBB. Known for working late because of his “nocturnal” habits, Duterte said he would start his working day at 1 p.m. every day.

He also confirmed he would skip his proclamation at the House of Representatives on Monday.

Duterte also denied he would be setting up a “Malacañang of the South” in Davao, saying he would be going back to his home province only to rest.

“I’m not supposed to work here. I might go home everyday, if my last flight is 9 p.m., I’m already here by 12 a.m. At least, I’m asleep by then and by 8 a.m., take off to Manila then by 9 a.m., I’ll be there [at Malacañang],” Duterte said.

His day would then start at 1 p.m. because he would be reviewing papers.

Duterte also ruled out living in Malacañang Palace, saying it was haunted by five ghosts.

Duterte earlier said he would rather sleep on a plywood cot than spend the night in the centuries-old presidential palace, which has long been the country’s seat of power.

Asked if this was one of his “outrageous” statements that media and the public should not believe, he said he was being serious.

Duterte also said he had some problems with the Presidential Security Group, which began monitoring his actions since last week.

“An official talked to me, and said, Mayor we don’t have any problem with you, being the President. But our work is mandated by law.

We have to protect you, that’s our mandate under the law,” Duterte recounted.

In an interview with The Standard, incoming PSG chief Col. Rolly Bautista said “they will adjust to the preferences of the presidentelect.”

“While there are already arrangements, we’re trying to make him understand our role,” he said.

In the same interview, Duterte said he would not attend his proclamation Monday.

“I have not attended any proclamation in my life,” he said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Sunday they had extended their invitation to Duterte, saying his presence would be “a symbol that we are a working democracy.”

He said, however, that Duterte’s absence would have no legal effect on his winning the presidency. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Digong: China must respect UN decision DAVAO CITY—President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said China must abide by the ruling of the United Nations tribunal on the arbitration case lodged by the Philippines against Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over the entire South China Sea. While China has snubbed the UN proceeding, Duterte said it must respect the decision of the tribunal, which is expected to be handed out soon.

“If there’s arbitration, I expect China to follow,” he said.

Duterte said he will be working closely with China, in particular in building railways to ease commuters’ woes, but this does not mean his administration will abandon its maritime claims.

“Just because you are building me a railway doesn’t mean I’m abandoning Scarborough Shoal,” he said.

“I told you, that is ours, you have no right to be there in our EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone.] Whether you believe it or not, [that’s] fine by me, but that will be the predicate of any further discussions about those territories of ours,” Duterte added.

Duterte also said he did not believe in President Benigno Aquino III’s flagship infrastructure vehicle, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program, saying it was too slow.

He said the country was confronted with a crisis in crime as well as in its infrastructure.

“My crisis begins with Edsa,” he said, referring to Metro Manila’s main highway. “And the other crisis is that there are a lot of drugs and we are fighting them on so many fronts.”

“My first big project is establishment of railway for

‘Marcos...

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The alleged cheating was carried out by intercepting the transmissions of the results from the precincts to the municipal official board of canvassers.

“The IT personnel hired by the Liberal Party were the ones who transmitted the intercepted results after the vote shaving and vote padding were done,” the witness said.

The witness, a municipal hall official, whose mayor was an LP official, was presented to the media by poll watchdog and civil society group Council on Philippine Affairs (Copa), headed by Pastor Saycon.

The witness, who requested anonymity and preferred to be called “Ka Bert,” covered his face with a mask for security purposes. He is a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo.In a news conference at the residence of Saycon in Ayala, Alabang, Ka Bert recounted that a month before the May 9 polls, he was told by the LP mayor to find a warehouse that would be converted into a “war room” or command center for monitoring purposes.

“At first I thought it was for monitoring only and so I never [saw] malice [in] the mayor’s order,” Ka Bert said.

He said the mayor and the people from Smartmatic rejected the first warehouse he found because it was far from the voting centers.

“They said they needed a place that was close to the voting centers so I found them a place near the city hall, which was also close to the voting centers,” he said.

Several computers, TV monitors and other office equipment were

Filipinos. If there are people who want to help, of course why not?” Duterte said.

He acknowledged that the government did not have the funds to pursue a major rail project, but said he would work with trading partners—including China— to realize this goal.

“It’s Manila-Nueva Vizcaya then Manila-Sorsogon, Manila to Batangas, and the whole Mindanao,” he said.

In one of his controversial statements during the campaign, Duterte said that if China were to build a railway for the Philippines just like the ones they built in Africa, he’s willing to set aside disagreements over their territorial claims.

“Build us a rail for Mindanao, build us a railway from Manila to Bicol, [and] I will be happy. Let us not fight.

Build us a railway because no nation on earth ever progressed without a railway,” Duterte said in April.

The outgoing administration said Sunday that the US was never involved in the country’s decision to file a case against China before the UN tribunal.

“In all that we witnessed, we see no evidence of that allegation [that the US has been involved in the South China Sea arbitration case versus China],” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in an interview over state-run radio station dzRB. He was reacting to China’s statement that the South China Sea case was “a legal monstrosity” that “reeks of influence from the United States.”

China’s Ambassador to The Netherlands Wu Ken said they will not accept an “invalid arbitral award” while insinuating there was interference from Washington in the arbitration process.

“How can a non-contracting state which selectively ignores the provisions of the convention present itself as a judge for the convention?” Wu asked. John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta

brought in, he said.

“One week before the elections, I was surprised that at least nine vote counting machines or VCMs arrived and nine IT personnel, hired

by LP’s Mar Roxas also came. Five of the nine IT personnel were from Smartmatic and the four others were from Quezon province,” the witness said.

“I thought at first the VCMs were intended to replace those that will conk out,” the witness said.

“On the day of the elections, after 5 p.m., I was shocked to see the IT people becoming busy operating the VCMs and started tinkering the machines and to my dismay, started changing the results, the figures, the votes. The total number of votes were the same except that the votes for Robredo and Roxas had been padded from the votes that were shaved from their opponents,” the witness said.

“When the VCMs started to get transmissions from the precincts, I asked the IT people why were there transmissions coming in because I knew that from the voting precincts, the transmissions should go straight to the transparency server of the [Commission on Elections].

They told me that it was they who would transmit the votes,” he said.

Ka Bert said he personally saw how votes transmitted from the voting precincts were being changed before they were transmitted to the transparency server.

He added that even the votes of Duterte were shaved and transferred to Roxas. He said the votes of Binay and Poe were also reduced in favor of Roxas.

“But the biggest reduction was made against Marcos because some 500,000 of his votes were given to Robredo. For Duterte it was about

300,000 votes, for Binay, about 200,000 and Grace Poe, too,” he said.

In the Certificate of Canvass for Quezon province, Robredo won with 385,164 votes over Marcos’ 173,394 votes.

He said a staff of Roxas was the one who gave money to the IT guys for the operation.

“I recognized him as a Roxas guy because every time Roxas would visit our province, he was with the advance party who was arranging the itinerary of the secretary,” Ka Bert said in Filipino.

He said the LP and Smartmatic IT personnel used “jammers” to intercept the results and the Board of Election Inspectors from the precinct level to the municipal and provincial thought they had successfully transmitted the results.

“They did not notice that their transmissions had been intercepted and hijacked,” the witness said.

He said he started to become suspicious when the VCMs began arriving and was given the consistent answer of “stop asking questions, this is an order from the top.”

Ka Bert said he decided to expose the election cheating because he could not stomach how the whole election system was bastardized in his area.

In fact, he said, four of the IT personnel, who manned the VCMs in the Lucena warehouse would join him in testifying when needed.

“They are also willing to testify and they have many documents to prove that indeed the illegal transmission of votes from all over Quezon province, and the vote shaving and vote padding happened,” Ka Bert said.

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LP members urged: Join majority THE superiority in numbers of the ruling Liberal Party will soon diminish as President Benigno Aquino III wants its members to join the majority but those who will choose to be in the opposition or the minority will lose their membership, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte revealed Sunday.

Man on the spot. Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who is seeking a senatorial seat, is under fire from netizens and human rights groups for describing members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as “worse than animals.”

Flag Day. Philippine flags are placed on display at the Rizal Park in Manila during Flag Day as the nation marks the start of

the commemoration of National Flag Day, which culminates on June 12 and coincides with the celebration of the Philippines’ Independence Day. MANNY PALMERO

Villafuerte proposes ‘grand coalition’ CAMARINES Sur Representative-elect Luis Raymund Villafuerte on Sunday proposed a “grand coalition of parties” in the House to finally push the long-overdue shift from the unitary presidential to the federal form of government via Charter change in the incoming Duterte administration.

But House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of the ruling Liberal Party expressed reservations over the regions that he said were so impoverished to stand on their own financially.

He said it was best for the

administration of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte to first lay down its cards on how to go about shifting to the new system.

“I think [Duterte] is planning to form a consultative commission, or he has already done that but we don’t know the details,” Belmonte told dzBB radio.

“We really want to know more about it even before the constitutional convention convenes.”

Villafuerte said only a structural switch in govern-

ment could pave the way for a genuine devolution of powers from the so-called Imperial Manila to the provinces and cities, and which would allow the country’s economic overdrive to truly trickle down to the countryside.

“A grand coalition of proadministration and opposition political parties to spearhead the federal shift has assumed greater urgency,” Villafuerte said.

Under the Constitution, any amendments to the 1987 Charter could be introduced through one of three modes:

through a duly-elected Constitutional Convention (ConCon), Congress convening itself into a Constituent Assembly (ConAss) or a People’s Initiative (PI).

Villafuerte, a three-term Camarines Sur governor from 2004 to 2013, is a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party, which was the mainstream political party that forged a coalition agreement after the May 9 polls with the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, which had carried Duterte to electoral victory.

Christine F. Herrera

He made his statement even as Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is wooing President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to back him as Senate president and not Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., the president of Duterte’s PDP-Laban, sources from Duterte’s camp said Sunday.

“President Aquino prefers that LP would go with the majority as a group and support President-elect Duterte and vote for Pantaleon Alvarez as Speaker,” Belmonte announced over radio dzBB. “Since the majority of the LP members would be with the Alvarez majority, that will become the LP, the majority,” Belmonte said.

Those LP members who would choose to be opposition and go with the minority need not retain the name LP or be associated with the majority LP, Belmonte said.

“Ang LP na nasa majority, yun na ang LP,” Belmonte said.

This was because Duterte wanted the LP members to switch parties first before they could belong to the majority, since the incoming President did not want an LP-majority and LP-Minority, the Speaker explained.

However, Belmonte said it was earlier agreed with Alvarez that the LP would be allowed to join the majority coalition as the LP and need not switch parties.

The negotiations on the issue were ongoing and these would be pursued after the proclamation, the Speaker said.

Belmonte said he had not decided yet on whether he

would contest the speakership to bag the minority leadership.

“That is just one of my options. But at the moment, the number one option of the Liberal Party is to be cooperative with the new administration,” whe said.

He said the party as a whole wanted to be part of the majority.

And the reason the majority of the LP members wanted to belong to the majority coalition was because they wanted the administration not to forget their districts in terms of projects, Belmonte said.

The others, he said, wanted to “advance their career by getting better positions.”

“We are almost 290 and not all would be given positions,” he said.

Only about 56 positions and committee chairmanships were up for grabs in the House that would be divided among 292 members.

Belmonte could not help but reveal he felt betrayed by his party mates.

“Yes, in a sense I felt betrayed because some of them are pretty close to me. But outside of that, I know that that’s the reality of Philippine politics.”

He also revealed that he did not want to run for reelection but that he was overruled by the President “who asked me to run.”

Belmonte said President Aquino was also “realistic” and that he had no false expectation that the LP would remain the ruling party.

Christine F. Herrera and John Paolo Bencito

SSS ‘midnight perks’ slammed A COALITION of labor groups on Sunday slammed the “midnight perks and benefits” being planned for Social Security System president and chief executive Emilio de Quiros, chairman Juan Santos and other top executives once the salary and benefits restructuring scheme is approved by its board.

The Nagkaisa Coalition said De Quiros stood to get an increase of P500,000 from the SSS coffers in his monthly pay alone once the SSS-proposed compensation and position classification system in all government-owned and -controlled corporations and other government financial institutions was approved.

Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said De Quiros would also get an additional P300,000 in benefits and privileges.

But around 1,000 rankand-file workers would not get any increase.

“In the light of the very recent veto action of President Benigno Aquino III to the proposed P2,000 pension increase for 2.4 million pensioners, we strongly oppose the plan to increase the salaries and benefits of SSS top executives including De Quiros and SSS chairman Juan Santos,” Nagkaisa said in a statement.

“As paying members and as representatives of the millions of SSS paying members, we demand that Mr. De Quiros and Mr. Santos be severed from SSS in order for the plan to be stopped. It is unjust for De Quiros and Santos to tinker with it to enrich themselves at the expense of the workers’ blood money.”

Drafted by the Good Governance Commission for the Government-Owned and

-Controlled Corporations, EO 203 was signed by President Benigno Aquino III and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa on March 22, 2016, “adopting a compensation and position classification system and a general index of occupational services and for the GOCC sector covered by Republic Act No. 10149, and for other purposes.”

Tanjusay said they learned that De Quiros and Santos were actively lobbying in the SSS board and among the SSS’ rank-and-file workers for the immediate approval of the SSS-proposed CPCS before the Duterte administration assumed office on June 30.

The salary and benefits restructuring plan came after SSS’ top management turned down a plan to extend the maternity leave in the private sector from 60 to 78 days to 100 days. Rio N. Araja

Preparation. An employee of the Department of Education’s head office in Pasig City

arranges a tarpaulin in preparation for the reopening of classes on June 13. MANNY PALMERO

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Dureza, Bello to visit Sison

By John Paolo Bencito

DAVAO CITY—Incoming peace process adviser Jesus Dureza and labor secretary-designate Silvestre Bello will go to Oslo, Norway in mid-June to meet communist leader Jose Maria Sison in a bid to revive the stalled peace negotiations, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday night.

Duterte, who has offered Cabinet posts to nominees of the communist movement, admitted that he could no longer offer a “coalition government” to Sison and his comrades because it would jeopardize the bureaucracy.

But Duterte said he will try to be “inclusive” as possible and is willing to free detained communist negotiators and other political prisoners if the talks restart.

Duterte is betting on his close friendship with Sison, his former

university teacher who fled to European exile nearly 30 years ago, to bring a swift political settlement to a rebellion that has killed about 30,000 people by official count and impoverished vast swathes of the country.

“I have commissioned [Dureza] to go to Oslo and one of the Scandinavian countries and do the preliminary talks there for a broader framework of the [talks] and to maybe accompany [Sison] in going home,” Duterte told reporters here.

“I maybe president then [and] maybe I may give him a safe conduct pass and those in prison, like [Sison’s fellow communist leaders Benito and Wilma] Tiamzon [who can be freed] because they will have to participate in peace talks,” Duterte said.

Formal peace negotiations with the communist movement stalled in 2011 after the communist umbrella organization, the National Democratic Front, withdrew from the talks because the Manila government refused to grant safeconduct passes to Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Sison, the Tiamzons and other negotiators.

The communist rebels’ demand for the reactivation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees for Sison and other

NDF political consultants incarcerated by the Aquino administration.

The names were on a list compiled during the Estrada administration and stored in an old computer floppy diskette that got corrupted and could no longer be retrieved.

Duterte said that he may allow a release of all political prisoners and the drafting of a new list.

Bello, who will reprise his former role as chief NDF negotiator, said there won’t be any preconditions for the resumption of the peace talks to help end the longest-running communist insurgency in the region.

“I’m very confident that the peace negotiations will resume. I made it very clear to him that if we will resume the peace talks, it should be without any precondition,” Bello told The Standard. With AFP

Memorial Day. Ambassador Philip Goldberg lays a wreath in memory of American and Filipino soldiers who died in the Philippines during World War II at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City on Sunday, which coincides with Memorial Day in the US. DANNY PATA

Police kill more drug suspects POLICE have killed three drug suspects in a shootout, officials said Sunday, the latest such deaths after the election of tough anticrime firebrand Rodrigo Duterte as president.

A spate of recent criminal killings by police has spiked fears of an extrajudicial crackdown in the country after Duterte vowed to stamp out crime by all means necessary.

Police were called to the home of a suspected drug dealer on the tiny island of Banacon in Bohol province before dawn Saturday when gunfire broke out between the suspect and police, leaving the accused and three associates injured.

The accused drug trafficker Rowen Secretaria and two unidentified men were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital, while the fourth was treated for gunshot wounds, local police officer Roel Lagora told AFP. “The armed men shot at the raiding team several times, prompting the latter to defend themselves and return fire,” Lagora told AFP by telephone, reading an official account of the incident.

Police have killed 12 other drug suspects across the country in the past week, while unknown gunmen murdered two other men linked by police to illegal drugs.

Duterte has warned security forces will kill tens of thousands of criminals, part of a campaign pledge to eradicate the scourge of drugs that many voters rated as their top concern. AFP

MTRCB can’t censor Rody

By Rio N. Araja THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board said on Sunday it does not have the power to censor televised news conferences of Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte, who is known for his use of cuss words.

“In reponse to queries, the MTRCB formally informs the public that under Section 7 Presidential Decree No. 1986 and its implementing rules and regulations, the agency’s jurisdiction does not cover ‘newsreels,’ i.e., straight presentation of events or straight news reporting,” Chairman Eugenio Villareal said.

“Examples are live media briefings or conferences, such as the recent evening media conference of the incoming chief executive, and on-thespot news, like running reportage of a hostage crisis,” Villareal added.

The law clearly intends to “give premium to the right to free speech and information,” Villareal said.

The agency cannot curtail press freedom, he said.

The MTRCB, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and individual networks “have their own self-regulatory and ethical guidelines for the purpose,” he added.

The Punisher and Pacman. President-elect Rodrigo Duterte poses with boxing icon and newly elected Senator Manny Pacquiao, who visited Duterte in Davao City on Saturday. AFP

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Misuari’s point. Moro National Liberation Front Chairman Nur Misuari stresses a point during an interview at his mountain lair in Indanan town, Jolo. President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said in a news conference on May 26 that he will visit Jolo to talk to Misuari. AFP

cyber Payment to water Asean security gets firms placed on hold new boost

By Sandy Araneta

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice has advised the Department of Finance to defer payment of P82.4 billion to water concessionaires Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water Co. Inc. because a case involving the two utility firms remains pending before the Supreme Court.

In a five-page letter to Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, the DoJ advised the DoF not to act yet on the demand of Manila Water and Maynilad for payment of P79 billion and P3.44 billion, respectively, for supposed losses they incurred in the postponement of the increase in their basic charges.

The DoJ declined to take a stand on the legality and validity of such claims by invoking the sub judice rule, which prohibits comments and disclosures on matters pending with courts.

The Justice department cited a pending case in the Supreme Court filed last year by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares and Isagani Zarate seeking to stop payment of the claims.

“Hence, by settled policy and practice, the Secretary of Justice does not render opinion or give legal advice on matters that are considered sub judice. For the Secretary of Justice to rule on your query would constitute an unwarranted intrusion into the exercise of judicial powers and functions pertaining to the

Supreme Court, a separate and coordinate branch of government, and could subject this department to criticism or in some instances, if applicable, indirect contempt,” the DoJ said in an opinion signed by Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III. “It is our considered view that, at the present state of events, the proper and most prudent course of action for the DoF to take is to maintain the status quo and hold in abeyance any action on the claims filed by MWCI and Maynilad, while waiting for the ruling of the

Supreme Court,” it said.

In the SC petition filed in August last year, militant lawmakers asked the high court to declare unconstitutional Article 12 of the government’s concession agreements with the two utilities, which provided for the submission of disputes to arbitration and contains the express waiver of the State’s right to appeal.

Petitioners alleged that this agreement violates the Constitution, including the provision on the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review and the State’s duty to subject monopolies to strict regulations, as well as Republic Act 6234, or the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Charter, since arbitration effectively takes away the MWSS’ power and duty to regulate the water system.

House OKs bill banning JBC members’ reappointment THE House of Representatives has unanimously ratified the bicameral report on the bill banning the reappointment of members of the Judicial and Bar Council to the same position.

The ratified report on House Bill 6040 and Senate Bill 2419 will be forwarded to President Benigno Aquino III for enactment into law.

“After having met and fully discussed the subject matter in a conference committee on the disagreeing provisions of SB2419 and HB6040, the Conferees agreed to adopt the Senate version in toto,” Rep. Susan A. Yap (2nd District, Tarlac) said.

Yap, author of HB 6040, is optimistic that the proposed Judiciary Independence Enhancing

Act will become law this 16th Congress.

“The proposed measure seeks to ban reappointments of members in the Council as it is quite probable that in a member’s desire to be reinstated, one would give in to the pressure induced by the executive,” Yap said.

The conferees on the part of the Senate are Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Juan Edgardo Angara and Joseph Victor Ejercito.

On the part of the House of Representatives, conferees are Yap and Reps. Niel C. Tupas Jr. (5th District, Iloilo), Silvestre Bello III (Party List, 1-BAP), Francis Gerald A. Abaya (1st District, Cavite), and Evelina G. Escudero (1st District, Sorsogon).

The regular members of the Judicial and Bar Council, a Representative of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, a Professor of Law, a Retired Member of the Supreme Court, and a Representative of the Private Sector are appointed by the President for a term of four years with the consent of the Commission on Appointments.

Yap said the proposed Judiciary Independence Enhancing Act should further enhance the independence of the judiciary by insulating it from political pressure, providing equal opportunity to hold public office in the judiciary and promote better administration of justice in the country. CH

COUNTRIES in the Asia-Pacific region must strengthen cooperation on cyber security not only to protect themselves but also their citizens, Malacañang said on Sunday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. made the statement as Malacañang welcomed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ adoption of the Philippine proposal to create a cyber security group amid the increasingly technology independent world.

“We welcome the expression of support from the neighboring countries of the Philippines. It is important for countries to deepen cooperation in strengthening cyber security due to the rising violations and abuse by lawless elements of digital technology,” Coloma said on state-run radio station dzRB. “ These bad elements exploit, through digital technology, the situation and violate various laws of different countries.

The cyber security law will give protection to the victims who would violate the laws because these violations would affect many areas, not only in national defense, but also in economy, and the privacy of individuals, as well,” said Coloma.

Defense ministers of the Asean adopted recently the proposal made by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on the creation of the cyber security working group during a meeting in Laos.

The cyber security group, to be created within the framework of the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMMPlus), will promote practical cooperation in addressing cyber security challenges.

Asean dialogue partners include Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

M O N D AY : M AY 3 0 , 2 0 1 6

A6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SC junks Agham raps vs miner

By Rey E. Requejo The Supreme Court has overturned an environmental protection order issued by the Court of Appeals against LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. accused of violating mining and forestry laws for allegedly leveling a “mountain” to build its seaport in Zambales.

Biking Day.

Hundreds of biking enthusiasts gather on Sunday in Quezon City to exercise as they celebrate the ‘Quezon City Bike Day, Share the Road Exercise.’

They are also pressing for the city government to provide for a ‘bike lane.’

MANNY PALMERO

Agri fund program good until 2022

By Macon Araneta AN AGRICuLTuRAL program designed to extend funding to small farmers and fisherfolks has just been given a new lease on life, according to Senator Cynthia Villar.

The Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund will be good up to year 2022 as a result of President Benigno Aquino’s signing into law the enabling measure known as Republic Act 10848, which took effect May 23, 2016.

“We are confident that with the strict guidelines now in place, ACEF will be effective and will only work for the benefit of legitimate farmers,” Villar said. under the law, 80 percent of the fund will be

set aside as loan to micro and small enterprises with minimal interest. Only P5 million per cooperative and P1 million per individual will be released strictly for the acquisition and establishment of agri-based production and post-production, and processing, machineries, equipment and facilities to achieve modern agricultural practices.

Villar, chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food and principal sponsor of the measure, said this law is needed to help farmers and fishermen improve their production and competitiveness, especially with the Asean economic integration.

“In our hearings, we were able to pinpoint the reasons why ACEF failed to deliver on its promised objectives. These lessons

served as guideposts in coming up with a program that will truly work for the noble intention of improving the competitiveness of the agriculture sector,” Villar said.

The law amends Republic Act 8178 as amended by RA 9496, otherwise known as “An act replacing quantitative import restrictions on agricultural products, except rice, with tariffs, creating the ACEF, and for other purposes.”

The new law mandates that funds shall be set aside and released to provide the necessary credit to farmers and fisherfolks cooperative and associations, and micro and small scale enterprises, for the acquisition and establishment of production, post-harvest, and processing machineries, equipment and facilities.

Climate petition pushes for CHR action PETITIONERS in the landmark human rights complaint on climate change are pressing for the Commission on Human Rights to summon the 47 oil companies for allegedly endangering the people’s lives and livelihoods and the future generations.

Anna Abad, Climate Justice Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said the petition against the fossil fuel companies worldwide, seeks investigation into, and accountability of, these companies for climate impacts.

The complaint is the first of its kind in the world and is being brought forward by typhoon survivors, advocates and nongovernmental organizations, including Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

The petitioners are supported by more than 31,800 Filipinos out of the more than 128,000 global online supporters.

Abad described the petition as a big, bold step for the Philippines as it is at the forefront of campaigns on climate impacts.

“But this courageous undertaking can only succeed with the unifying support of government agencies, communities, civil society organizations and other human rights institutions from all over the globe,” she said.

The petitioners submitted to the CHR copies of their petition in compliance with CHR’s May 10, 2016 Order, which also enjoins the respondents to answer within 45 days upon receiving their copies.

“We demand justice. These big oil companies should acknowledge their accountability for the impacts of their irresponsible business activities on the lost homes, lives and livelihood of those that are at the mercy of climate change,’’ said

Abad.

“Filipinos are among the most vulnerable and we hope that the investigation of the CHR will finally be able to right some wrongs,” Abad said.

Last May 10, the CHR directed the petitioners to reproduce and submit copies of the petition, including supporting exhibits and annexes, for sending out to the 47 companies. These companies were accused of being part of fhe 90 legal entities that have contributed the lion’s share of cumulative global CO2 and methane emissions to the earth’s atmosphere, as identified by peerreviewed scientific research.

The petition covering climate change and human rights was brought to the CHR initially in September 2015. By December, the CHR announced that it will open an investigation in 2016 using a National Inquiry approach. Macon Araneta

Family Day.

Children enjoy playing at concrete slides in Manila’s public playground.

MANNY PALMERO

In an en banc decision penned by Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, the high court ruled that contrary to the CA’s findings, LAMI “did not cause any environmental damage” that may harm the inhabitants of Sta. Cruz, Zambales, and nearby towns in neighboring Pangasinan.

The high court set aside the appellate court’s Sept. 13, 2013 amended decision and reinstated its original decision on Nov. 23, 2012 that denied the issuance of the writ of kalikasan.

The CA originally denied the petition filed by Agham party-list, led by former Rep. Angelo B. Palmones, but subsequently granted the group’s appeal, stressing that scraping off land for port reclamation removed a barrier against tropical depression that frequents the area.

According to the SC, the appellate court failed to provide any basis to support the reversal of its decision. It also said that Agham continued to fail to present evidence warranting the issuance of the writ of kalikasan.

The high court stressed that Agham failed to prove its claim that LAMI violated the Revised Forestry Code and the Philippine Mining Act. For one, the decision noted that LAMI was able to secure the proper permits to clear the trees within the port site.

It found the mining law was inapplicable to this case as LAMI did not conduct any actual mining activity on the port site. Agham also did not present any evidence of violations, and only “alleged in very general terms that LAMI was destroying the environment” without conducting any scientific study or submitting expert testimony.

“Even the facts submitted by Agham to establish environmental damage were mere general allegations,” the SC noted.

The tribunal observed that when the party-list group failed to prove violations of law, it “shifted its focus” on the claim that LAMI flattened a mountain. However, several government entities belied that a mountain existed, with the Mines and Geoscience Bureau concluding that it was only an “elongated mound.”

M O N D AY : M AY 3 0 , 2 0 1 6

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Family of 3 dies in road mishap in Zamboanga

See if it fits. Juiamen

Balambag buys uniforms for his five-yearold son in the two-day Diskwento Caravan organized by the Department of Trade and Industry in Cotabato.

School will open in two weeks.

OMAR MANGORSI

By A. Perez Rimando

2 Cebu town execs face raps over appointments

By Rio N. Araja TWO mayors from Cebu province have been indicted over their questionable appointment of personnel.

The Ombudsman indicted Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas for nepotism or violation of Section 59, Chapter 8 Title 1 Book V of Executive Order No. 292, of Administrative

Code of 1987.

It ordered the filing of the case against Mayor Teresito Mariñas before the Sandiganbayan when he appointed his brother, Aniceto

Mariñas, as human resources management officer in 2007.

The mayor issued a July 2007 order, designating his brother to a position in the local government.

The Ombudsman invoked Administrative Code of 1987, stating that “all appointments in the national, provincial, city and municipal governments, made in favor of a relative of the appointing or recommending authority, or of the chief of the bureau or office, or of the

persons exercising immediate supervision of him, are hereby prohibited.”

Meanwhile, Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado was charged by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan for the unlawful appointment of Danilo Capangpangan, an engineer, as the general services officer of the municipal government in 2011.

Alegado is facing one count of violation of Article 244 of the Revised Penal Code.

CAMP ABELON, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur—A husband, wife and their son from Zamboanga City were killed when the car they were riding rammed into a parked cargo truck Friday afternoon in Tigbao town, this province, police said.

A belated police report received here by Sr. Supt.

Michael Nicolas, police provincial director, identified the fatalities as Ricky Alejandro, 42. his wife Gay-Gay, 38, and son Jeron, 5. They were residents of Barangay Pasonanca, Zamboanga City.

The family car, a metallic Toyota Vios, was being driven

by Arvin P. Climaco, 28, also of Pasonanca. Climaco tried to overtake a cargo truck at Barangay Nilo in Tigbao when he lost control of the steering wheel, swerved to the right lane and rammed a parked 10-wheeler truck.

The strong impact caused Alejandro, his wife and child to be thrown off their car and land on the concrete road. All sustained serious head injuries and fractured arm bones and were declared dead on arrival in a Pagadian City hospital where they were taken by concerned passers-by.

Climaco, who suffered broken ribs, was reportedly given 50-50 chance to survive by attending physicians.

Both vehicles involved in the accident are now at the Tigbao Municipal Police Station.

Palawan province to grant loans to two cooperatives PUERTO PRINCESA CITY— In a bid to further strengthen “cooperativism” in Palawan, the provincial government is set to award financial support to two more cooperatives under the loan assistance program that is implemented by the Provincial Cooperative Development Office.

PCDO Officer Victoria Ladica said Saturday the San Vicente Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative and the Coron School of Fisheries Multi-Purpose Cooperative will be awarded loan assistance on May 31 through the Livelihood Credit Assistance Program of the provincial government, headed by Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez.

The SVEMPC will be awarded P100,000 to expand its consumer’s store and lending program.

The CSFMPC, on the other hand, will receive a loan assistance of P500,000, through the Sulong or Sustained Livelihood Opportunities and Growth program.

The said cooperative will use the loan assistance to enlarge the operation of its canteen and its consumer store.

Ladica said that at present, two more cooperatives that are undergoing the PCDO’s validation for loan application also stand to receive loan grants still under LICAP. These are Butil Multi-Purpose Cooperative in the northern town of Taytay and the San Vicente Market Vendors Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

The loan grants shall be returned by the cooperatives to the provincial government with no interest. PNA

Bless this bell. Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of the Diocese of San Fernando, La Union blesses the San Pedro Bell at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Bauang, La Union. CHRISTINE JUNIO

M O N D AY : M AY 3 0 , 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDitoR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

lady in waiTing BacK channEl alEJanDRo DEl RoSaRio

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Stalin’S ghoSt THE 2016 elections culminate today with the proclamation of the incoming president and vice president, after Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, completed its official count Friday.

When the last Certificate of Canvass was counted, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte emerged as the new president, with an overwhelming 16,601,997 votes, some 6.6 million more than the nearest candidate.

The Liberal Party’s candidate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, was declared the winner in the vice presidential race by a much narrower margin, with a total of 14,418,817 votes, or just 263,473 ahead of the nearest contender, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom President Aquino had earlier vowed to stop.

Given the President’s promise “to try his best” to stop Marcos, the senator’s camp has raised questions throughout the counting process.

But when it questioned reports of irregularities in the overseas absentee voting, the Commission on Elections brushed these aside, and even warned voters against filing “frivolous” complaints.

In the evening of Election Day, after the polls had closed, a technician from the Comelec’s IT provider, Smartmatic, introduced a new script into the transparency server that was receiving and reporting unofficial results. Following the unauthorized insertion, Marcos’ 1-million vote lead over Robredo vanished in a matter of hours.

When the Marcos camp questioned the illegal introduction of the new script, the Comelec played down the incident, describing it as “a cosmetic change” to correct a misprinted “ñ” character in some names, and expected the public to take its declaration as gospel truth.

The Comelec also rejected a request from the Marcos camp for a thorough system audit to ascertain that no other changes had been introduced. The Comelec’s reason for “deferring” the Marcos request was that it would get in the way of the official count that was going on in Congress—suggesting that it did not matter how legitimate those votes were, as long as they were counted.

Another statistical indicator of possible fraud was the high number of undervotes—3.2 million—in the vice presidential race. This statistic meant that 3.2 million voters who stood in line on Election Day had voted for a president but not a vice president—certainly an unlikely phenomenon given the closeness and the polarized nature of this particular contest.

Without investigating the matter, the Comelec sided with the Robredo camp, and immediately declared that undervotes were common and not an indication of fraud.

The Marcos camp says the search for truth will continue—suggesting it will contest the election result. Such a process is likely to be long and arduous, but worth doing just the same, since the Comelec has failed to address the legitimate questions raised about the electoral process.

Without holding our election officials accountable, it would be easy to slip into the cynical view held by the late Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

“It is enough that the people know there was an election,” Stalin said. “The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.”

The peTulance of nescience pEnSéES fR. Ranhilio callangan aquino He is truly wise, socrates reportedly taught, who recognizes his ignorance. But when nescience is petulant, and stupidity strikes an arrogant pose, you have an affliction more hopeless than an end-stage malignancy!

That is the case with those who piously invoke “the separation of Church and state” whenever they disagree with Church

pronouncement or teaching.

Here is one very simple counsel: When you do not want what the church teaches, do not listen—and deal with your conscience yourself, or go, shop for some other church, and wrestle with the issue of your personal integrity! But do not, in the name of sanity, quote the Constitution when the best you can manage is a mangled version of its intendment. in the first place, the exact provision of the Constitution is: “The separation of Church and state shall be inviolable.”

First, it does not make of

the Philippines an atheistic or agnostic state, not even a secular state, if by secular is meant “shorn of all religion.” second, what is enunciated is a state principle. As such it neither creates rights, establishes status nor imposes obligations. A policy guides the Legislature in the formulation of law, the executive, in the law’s implementation, and the judiciary, in the crafting of jurisprudence. But a policy, by itself, is not self-executing! tracing the American ancestry of our own constitutional provision on

A9

nowhere is it said that religion has no part in public life and that churches must desist from pronouncement on state matters.

Church and state, the Us supreme Court recalled in Everson v. Board of Education (1946) that the bedrock of the First Amendment was the realization “that

individual religious liberty could be achieved best under a government which was stripped of all power to tax, to support or otherwise to assist any or all religions, or

to interfere with the beliefs of any religious individual or group.” The First Amendment was then crafted to stay the interfering hand of the state in matters religious—not to silence the Church, much less to expel it from the public sphere. it is wrong to read French anti-clericalism into the genealogy of our own Constitution. it is under the Bill of Rights that there are to be found the executory provisions on Church and state, and these are conveniently laid down under three clauses. The non-establishment

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-

clause forbids the establishment, by law, of a state religion. The point must be belabored, in view of pervasive “affected ignorance,” that it is the state that is forbidden from legislating a religion. Nowhere is it said that religion has no part in public life and that churches must desist from pronouncement on state matters! Yes, it surely goes in one direction only, because that is what the Constitution ordains. The free exercise clause guarantees “forever” (yes, Kuya eddie, the Constitution does say “forever”)

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

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can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

the free exercise of religious profession and worship—and when church doctrine insists on the sacredness of life and opposes abortion publicly, and when the church believes that marriage is the indissoluble union of man and woman and opposes samesex marriages vehemently, the church is exercising its constitutionally guaranteed right! Finally, the no religious test clause proscribes the use of a religious test for the exercise of civil and political rights. Where you Continued on A10

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

it’s all over but the crowning. Barring unforeseen developments in the canvassing of votes for vice president, Camarines sur Rep. Leni Robredo is it.

As a woman belonging to another party, Robredo, a lawyer by profession, should serve as counterfoil to loose cannon President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. The incoming president said earlier he would rely on his defeated VP running mate Alan Peter Cayetano to temper his often-controversial statements.

Robredo, on the other hand who said she was willing to work with Digong and would accept the DsWD Cabinet post if offered, might not be the willing No.2 person if she sees Duterte being irrational. The vice president, especially if the president comes from another political party, potentially turns into an opposition figure. This is the reason why in the United states, the president and vice president are elected together from the same party for harmony and continuity in case the head of state dies in office or is impeached.

The widow of the late DiLG secretary Jesse Robredo burst into the national scene when he perished in a plane crash off the coast of Masbate. instead of accepting the position of judge offered

by President Aquino, Leni opted to strike it on her own running against the candidate of the Bicol political dynasty of the Villafuertes. she defeated Nelly Favis Villafuerte for the Camsur congressional district.

Robredo it seems was destined for bigger things. When Aquino’s ruling Liberal Party could not convince senator Grace to team up as the running mate of LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas, Leni was courted and conscripted for the VP post. she defied the odds and poll surveys which had placed her behind senator Francis escudero and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. she outpolled three fellow Bicolanos— escudero, Honasan and trillanes— for the VP post.

President-elect Duterte and VP Robredo will be proclaimed in Congress today by the National Board of election Canvassers after it had removed all doubts she is the winner, by some 200,000 votes, over Marcos.

Who knows if the rising Camsur political star might even succeed the mercurial president from Mindanao? if it’s really written in the stars, Robredo’s widow, who initially did not want to foray into politics might find herself as the country’s third woman president after Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. in a way, Aquino and Arroyo were accidental presidents. Cory was catapulted to the presidency by the People Continued on A10

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

M O N D AY : M AY 3 0 , 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDitoR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

lady in waiTing BacK channEl alEJanDRo DEl RoSaRio

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Stalin’S ghoSt THE 2016 elections culminate today with the proclamation of the incoming president and vice president, after Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, completed its official count Friday.

When the last Certificate of Canvass was counted, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte emerged as the new president, with an overwhelming 16,601,997 votes, some 6.6 million more than the nearest candidate.

The Liberal Party’s candidate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, was declared the winner in the vice presidential race by a much narrower margin, with a total of 14,418,817 votes, or just 263,473 ahead of the nearest contender, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom President Aquino had earlier vowed to stop.

Given the President’s promise “to try his best” to stop Marcos, the senator’s camp has raised questions throughout the counting process.

But when it questioned reports of irregularities in the overseas absentee voting, the Commission on Elections brushed these aside, and even warned voters against filing “frivolous” complaints.

In the evening of Election Day, after the polls had closed, a technician from the Comelec’s IT provider, Smartmatic, introduced a new script into the transparency server that was receiving and reporting unofficial results. Following the unauthorized insertion, Marcos’ 1-million vote lead over Robredo vanished in a matter of hours.

When the Marcos camp questioned the illegal introduction of the new script, the Comelec played down the incident, describing it as “a cosmetic change” to correct a misprinted “ñ” character in some names, and expected the public to take its declaration as gospel truth.

The Comelec also rejected a request from the Marcos camp for a thorough system audit to ascertain that no other changes had been introduced. The Comelec’s reason for “deferring” the Marcos request was that it would get in the way of the official count that was going on in Congress—suggesting that it did not matter how legitimate those votes were, as long as they were counted.

Another statistical indicator of possible fraud was the high number of undervotes—3.2 million—in the vice presidential race. This statistic meant that 3.2 million voters who stood in line on Election Day had voted for a president but not a vice president—certainly an unlikely phenomenon given the closeness and the polarized nature of this particular contest.

Without investigating the matter, the Comelec sided with the Robredo camp, and immediately declared that undervotes were common and not an indication of fraud.

The Marcos camp says the search for truth will continue—suggesting it will contest the election result. Such a process is likely to be long and arduous, but worth doing just the same, since the Comelec has failed to address the legitimate questions raised about the electoral process.

Without holding our election officials accountable, it would be easy to slip into the cynical view held by the late Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

“It is enough that the people know there was an election,” Stalin said. “The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.”

The peTulance of nescience pEnSéES fR. Ranhilio callangan aquino He is truly wise, socrates reportedly taught, who recognizes his ignorance. But when nescience is petulant, and stupidity strikes an arrogant pose, you have an affliction more hopeless than an end-stage malignancy!

That is the case with those who piously invoke “the separation of Church and state” whenever they disagree with Church

pronouncement or teaching.

Here is one very simple counsel: When you do not want what the church teaches, do not listen—and deal with your conscience yourself, or go, shop for some other church, and wrestle with the issue of your personal integrity! But do not, in the name of sanity, quote the Constitution when the best you can manage is a mangled version of its intendment. in the first place, the exact provision of the Constitution is: “The separation of Church and state shall be inviolable.”

First, it does not make of

the Philippines an atheistic or agnostic state, not even a secular state, if by secular is meant “shorn of all religion.” second, what is enunciated is a state principle. As such it neither creates rights, establishes status nor imposes obligations. A policy guides the Legislature in the formulation of law, the executive, in the law’s implementation, and the judiciary, in the crafting of jurisprudence. But a policy, by itself, is not self-executing! tracing the American ancestry of our own constitutional provision on

A9

nowhere is it said that religion has no part in public life and that churches must desist from pronouncement on state matters.

Church and state, the Us supreme Court recalled in Everson v. Board of Education (1946) that the bedrock of the First Amendment was the realization “that

individual religious liberty could be achieved best under a government which was stripped of all power to tax, to support or otherwise to assist any or all religions, or

to interfere with the beliefs of any religious individual or group.” The First Amendment was then crafted to stay the interfering hand of the state in matters religious—not to silence the Church, much less to expel it from the public sphere. it is wrong to read French anti-clericalism into the genealogy of our own Constitution. it is under the Bill of Rights that there are to be found the executory provisions on Church and state, and these are conveniently laid down under three clauses. The non-establishment

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-

clause forbids the establishment, by law, of a state religion. The point must be belabored, in view of pervasive “affected ignorance,” that it is the state that is forbidden from legislating a religion. Nowhere is it said that religion has no part in public life and that churches must desist from pronouncement on state matters! Yes, it surely goes in one direction only, because that is what the Constitution ordains. The free exercise clause guarantees “forever” (yes, Kuya eddie, the Constitution does say “forever”)

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

the free exercise of religious profession and worship—and when church doctrine insists on the sacredness of life and opposes abortion publicly, and when the church believes that marriage is the indissoluble union of man and woman and opposes samesex marriages vehemently, the church is exercising its constitutionally guaranteed right! Finally, the no religious test clause proscribes the use of a religious test for the exercise of civil and political rights. Where you Continued on A10

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

it’s all over but the crowning. Barring unforeseen developments in the canvassing of votes for vice president, Camarines sur Rep. Leni Robredo is it.

As a woman belonging to another party, Robredo, a lawyer by profession, should serve as counterfoil to loose cannon President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. The incoming president said earlier he would rely on his defeated VP running mate Alan Peter Cayetano to temper his often-controversial statements.

Robredo, on the other hand who said she was willing to work with Digong and would accept the DsWD Cabinet post if offered, might not be the willing No.2 person if she sees Duterte being irrational. The vice president, especially if the president comes from another political party, potentially turns into an opposition figure. This is the reason why in the United states, the president and vice president are elected together from the same party for harmony and continuity in case the head of state dies in office or is impeached.

The widow of the late DiLG secretary Jesse Robredo burst into the national scene when he perished in a plane crash off the coast of Masbate. instead of accepting the position of judge offered

by President Aquino, Leni opted to strike it on her own running against the candidate of the Bicol political dynasty of the Villafuertes. she defeated Nelly Favis Villafuerte for the Camsur congressional district.

Robredo it seems was destined for bigger things. When Aquino’s ruling Liberal Party could not convince senator Grace to team up as the running mate of LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas, Leni was courted and conscripted for the VP post. she defied the odds and poll surveys which had placed her behind senator Francis escudero and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. she outpolled three fellow Bicolanos— escudero, Honasan and trillanes— for the VP post.

President-elect Duterte and VP Robredo will be proclaimed in Congress today by the National Board of election Canvassers after it had removed all doubts she is the winner, by some 200,000 votes, over Marcos.

Who knows if the rising Camsur political star might even succeed the mercurial president from Mindanao? if it’s really written in the stars, Robredo’s widow, who initially did not want to foray into politics might find herself as the country’s third woman president after Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. in a way, Aquino and Arroyo were accidental presidents. Cory was catapulted to the presidency by the People Continued on A10

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

M O N D AY : M AY 3 0 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

everyman

Hansel

By Cesar Barrioquinto ROCHELLE and I watched as the vet and his aide laid Hansel on the operating table. The cat was on a drip, and the vet was checking out the intravenous connection. Satisfied it was good, he then took out the dextrose and prepared the serum that would put him to sleep; then he injected it. When he next readied the serum that would stop the cat’s heart I looked at Rochelle; then I left the room and returned to Reception.

Most of the pets in Animal House that night of Dec. 27, 2015, were dogs; their owners were there for nothing more than their regular checkups. Rochelle and I were there for different reasons: I to get my cat killed and Rochelle, from PETA, to assure me it was the right thing to do.

“He went well, Cesar,” she said after emerging from the Operating Room. “You did the right thing.”

It was almost midnight. Earlier that day Rochelle had been sending out frantic text messages asking me to return to Animal House after I agreed to have Hansel put to sleep as a result of his injuries. I had to be with him for the last time, she said, and assured me she’d be there for me. She then sent a GrabTaxi to pick me up at the office, and soon I was on my way to sign the cat’s death warrant.

HANSEL’S troubles began on Dec. 22, 2015, the day he disappeared; it happened apparently after one of the workmen who had been doing some repairs on the house left the gate open, giving him his chance to sneak out. I noticed he wasn’t there when I checked up on him, his sister Gretel and mother Kris after waking up and before going to the office. I feared for him, and my fear proved true at 1:05 a.m. on Christmas Day, when I found him outside after I stepped out for a breath of fresh air.

He had been walking unsteadily, groggily, as if he might keel over any time; it appeared someone had whacked him.

I instantly remembered what Rochelle had texted on the 23rd, when I told her Hansel had gone missing. “Get him in by tomorrow. Fireworks and firecrackers can disorient, frighten, kill him,” she said. “Stupid kids can torture animals just for fun.”

I scooped him up and took him inside, put him down in the outer kitchen where, for the first time, I noticed that his mouth and left eye looked strange. He drank copious amounts of water from the drinking vessel, and then ambled off and disappeared under the sink.

At 6:13 p.m. I texted Rochelle from the office and told her about Hansel. Then, around half-past 10, when I got home, she panicked when I told her I found Hansel sitting in the sala and appearing to be in great pain. Gretel was passing by just as I entered the room: she hissed at him but gave him a wide berth before running off.

Rochelle sent a GrabTaxi for me and Hansel and said she’d be in Animal House later to meet us. There we agreed he must be confined so we’d know what best to do for him, and on my way home, after thanking her for doing everything in her power to help, I hoped for the best but feared the worst for Hansel.

Rochelle texted the bad news in the early morning of Dec. 26—and right after saying a cat beater was on the loose

lady... From A9 Power that toppled President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 while GMA as vice president succeeded as president when Joseph Estrada accused of plunder was ousted by a second people uprising at Edsa.

Will a twist of fate also propel Leni Robredo to the presidency like Cory Aquino and Arroyo?

Whether written in the stars the petulance... From A9 allow Tomas, or Jose or Juan to express himself freely and without restraint on policies and practices of government with which he does not agree, but you forbid Fr. Tomas, Bishop Jose or Pastor Juan from doing so because they are clerics, you are using a religious test, in blatant violation of the Constitution!

In this jurisdiction, the

in my neighborhood: “He has a fractured jaw and skull and three of his molars are damaged. Might have eyesight problems.” Thirty minutes later: “I’m sorry, Cesar, but I’m leaning towards putting him to sleep. He’s on a drip and the prognosis is guarded. He’ll be immobile for weeks, could be months. And the fracture may or may not heal after giving him the best of care.”

HANSEL came into my life on Feb. 28 last year—the day he was born. Weeks before, a pregnant cat had started lounging at the gate outside and begging for food. I started feeding her, but a neighbor had me alarmed when she asked no one in particular when and where the cat would pop as she watched me feeding her one day. That meant the cat had no home, so on Feb. 27 I took her in. The next day she popped, delivering two kittens in a box filled with old newspapers in the outer kitchen.

I told Rochelle—a friend whose advocacy I’d been supporting for close two years—about the cat and her litter, and she wished me luck, said she’d help me get them neutered after about six months. She also texted me now and then to inquire about the cats, and eventually asked me when I’d finally get around to naming them.

I got around to doing that one Saturday—my day off—and for no particular reason named the cat Kris and her kittens Hansel and Gretel. It didn’t take long before I realized that Kris was nonchalant, Gretel shifty and Hansel spontaneous and friendly. Hansel was the only one who greeted me when I came home and sat on my lap purring while I relaxed in my rocking chair, and the only one to meow outside my door to get me out of bed before noon to go to the office. He was my buddy.

As she promised, after six months Rochelle dropped by in a GrabTaxi one morning in August 2015 to have the cats neutered. She had earlier lent me a cage—she calls it a carrier—to put the cats in when the time came to have them spayed, but only Kris and Gretel were in it when she came over after Hansel, suspicious, eluded me while I was trying to cage all three for the trip to Animal House. She returned the two cats after three days along with a sack of cat food, three food pans and three cat toys. “Take care of them, Cesar,” she said.

I did. Kris remained nonchalant and Gretel wary, but Hansel grew bolder and increasingly assertive.

Kris used to bully him and Gretel during their regular roughhousing, but around October 2015, when Hansel and his sister were eight months old, he turned the tables on his mom and eventually had her running off one day after she thought she could try the same stuff on him. He also started challenging the tomcat outside the gate that had started coming over to beg for food.

Then he disappeared.

ROCHELLE defended her suggestion to put Hansel to sleep for the better part of December 26. But the next day she flew off the handle after I said I didn’t want to be in Animal House to see Hansel being put to death. “At the worst possible time you choose to be a selfish coward. Our intention is to make him as comfortable as possible given what he’s been through,”

she texted. Later: “How nice and comfortable it must be being available only when life is a bed of roses.”

I apologized to Rochelle three times; then I told her we’d be able to put the paper to bed before 9 p.m., and maybe she could send a GrabTaxi to the office to take me to Animal House. “Thanks for coming to your senses.

And thanks on his behalf,” she texted. A little after nine a taxi picked me up.

I waited a little for Rochelle. When she arrived someone led us to the cage where Hansel was, and when he saw me he meowed and rose to his feet despite his obvious pain. Soon, a vet came over and an aide picked up Hansel’s cage to take him to the operating room, and while Rochelle dutifully followed I dragged my feet; I wished I had wings to fly away from there.

I thought Rochelle had sensed my discomfort, but if she did she didn’t show it. Hansel was still on a drip inside the cage, and when they took him out and laid him on the table he reminded me of a rag doll. He stretched out involuntarily when the vet injected the sleeping serum, and when he readied the heart stopper I quit the room.

“Let’s go home, Cesar. It’s late,” Rochelle said after she left the Operating Room and joined me in Reception, and after assuring me that Hansel went well.

“I can’t thank you enough, Rochelle. I owe you a lot,” I said.

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“I do. You were a big help and you paid for everything.”

“I didn’t. PETA did. Any decent animal organization would’ve, but let’s go home. It’s late.”

I sat in my rocking chair when I arrived home and thought about Hansel, recalling how he meowed and stood up despite his pain when he saw me. It hurt me to see him go, but then I realized the relief made available to him to stop his suffering would not be available to a human placed in the same circumstances.

I recalled how he sat on my lap purring while I relaxed in my rocking chair. I thought about him during the bedlam on New Year’s Eve and recalled Rochelle’s admonition to get him in quickly after I’d reported him missing.

“Happy 2016 to you and those around you,” Rochelle texted at 1:20 a.m. on New Year’s Day. “May it be a year of great happiness, good health, and renewed hope.”

“Likewise, Rochelle. Thanks,” I texted back.

“How are the girls?”

“Kris and Gretel are okay.”

“Good. And now that you know that a cat beater is on the loose, don’t encourage either of them to roam, please.”

“I won’t. Thanks. I miss Hansel.”

“I know. But you put an end to his suffering. That’s an amazing gift anyone—human or animal—could ever wish for.”

“Thanks.”

“I think Hansel forgot he was in pain during the short time you were there.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll never forget how Hansel woke up once he heard your voice. Thanks for coming to see him—and sorry for calling you a selfish coward.”

Cesar Barrioquinto is a copy editor.

or not, Philippine political history is replete with stories of vice presidents who went on to become president. Call them spare tires—just a breath away from the presidency. Carlos Garcia, for one, succeeded Ramon Magsaysay who perished in a plane crash.

Incoming President Duterte has made known he does not want to live in Malacanang because it’s haunted and cursed with bad spirits.

Without validating this fear, Cory Aquino’s presidency was besieged with at least two attempted military coups and she was afflicted with cancer even after leaving Malacañang.

Joseph Estrada was driven out of the Palace by the Pasig, unable to finish his term.

Gloria Arroyo was stricken with a serious spinal column ailment, arrested and placed under hospital detention.

Duterte said he would fly home to Davao whenever he can. That would be pushing the law of averages on the safety of air travel. Not that anyone would want something bad to happen to the President but he himself is taking unnecessary risks. Digong might as well have a Malacañang of Mindanao in Davao. He is the first Philippine president from Mindanao.

Apparently you can take Duterte

out of Davao but you can’t take Davao and the small-town thinking out of him.

Heaven forbid but lady-inwaiting Leni Robredo might not have to wait long if the peripatetic president does not stay put and hold office at the Palace, his official residence and work place. I am sure Leni does not also want to ascend to the presidency at the expense of another person’s life.

relation between Church and State has been characterized in binding jurisprudence, the Estrada v. Escritor doctrine penned by Chief Justice Reynato Puno, as “benevolent neutrality.” Here, then, the controlling metaphor is not the “wall of separation” for which the Americans have fondness, just as their concept of judicial review is not as ample as ours!

By benevolent neutrality is meant that the State

accommodates the Church when such accommodation does not run contrary to law or to public policy. This means that as a matter of constitutional right, there can be church services and worship in public places, even in government offices, as long as there is no discrimination of any religious denomination or sect and as long as service to the public is not thereby impaired.

The Constitution is a rather

condensed set of propositions— with plenty of history, political philosophy and juridical theory packed into its laconic sections.

Its provisions can be recited verbatim by almost anyone, but it definitely is not a document for the stupid! It has often taken the collective wisdom of fifteen men and women of the Supreme Court to tell us what it means, and for legal historians and scholars to tease out its varied implications. And so,

will the chatterboxes who keep invoking “separation of Church and State” when they cannot get the Church to march according to their insane beat please keep their peace, study more assiduously and part their lips only when they have been exorcised of the truly evil spirit of nescience? rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

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WHO rejects calls to move Olympics over Zika fears GENEVA—The World Health Organization has ruled out any change in timing or the location of the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, shunning a call by doctors and scientists to shift the event over the Zika virus.

An open letter addressed to the global health body signed by 150 international doctors, scientists and researchers Friday had called for the August Games to be moved or delayed to help prevent the spread of Zika virus.

Holding the Games in Rio, the second worst affected city in Brazil, would be “irresponsible” and “unethical” and could risk spreading the virus to “poor, as-yet unaffected places” like Africa and South Asia, said the letter.

Zika, which can cause birth defects including a devastating syndrome known as microcephaly in which babies are born with unusually small heads and brains, can be introduced to a new region when a local mosquito picks it up from an infected human.

If it lives long enough, the mosquito then infects people it subsequently takes blood, starting a vicious cycle.

But the WHO said moving the Olympics would not have a major impact on the spread of Zika.

“Based on current assessment, cancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus,” it said in a statement late Friday.

Brazilian authorities on Saturday also said the Games would proceed as planned, with the health ministry saying it would continue to follow the guidance of the WHO, which has deemed the risk of Zika infection in August— the middle of winter in Brazil—to be “minimal”.

Nearly 1,300 babies have been born in Brazil with irreversible brain damage since the mosquito-borne Zika began to spread there last year.

The virus can also cause adult-onset neurological problems such as GuillainBarre Syndrome, which can cause paralysis and death.

“An unnecessary risk is posed when 500,000 foreign tourists from all countries attend the Games, potentially acquire that strain, and return home to places where it can become endemic,” experts from the United States, Britain, Canada, Norway, the Philippines, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, and Lebanon, among others, had stated in their letter. afp

Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Sergio Ramos (C) lifts the trophy as Real Madrid players celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match over Atletico Madrid at San Siro Stadium in Milan. afp

Real Madrid crowned Champs League kings MILAN—Cristiano Ronaldo could not contain his pride after firing Real Madrid to their 11th Champions League success on Saturday with a decisive, and pre-planned, penalty in a 5-3 shoot-out over Atletico Madrid.

After two scoreless periods of extra time following a 1-1 draw, the city rivals were forced to spot-kicks.

And after Atletico defender Juanfran’s penalty came off the post, Ronaldo sparked wild celebrations at Milan’s San Siro stadium after stepping up to confidently sweep his effort past Jan Oblak.

With 16 goals in the competition, Ronaldo has finished the top scorer for the second time after his 17-goal haul in 2014.

Although he missed out on matching his previous record, his pride was plain to see.

“An unbelievable night,

to win my third Champions League on penalties again, to be the top scorer in the competition again, I’m so proud,” said the Portuguese star, who won the trophy with Manchester United in 2008 —when he missed a penalty in the shootout—and with Real in 2014 when Atletico crashed to a 4-1 extra-time defeat.

“We work hard during the season to win this amazing trophy, so I’m so proud of my teammates, of the fans, families, of the coach.

“It’s my second year I scored more than 15 goals.

The person with the season scoring record in this compe-

tition is me, with 17 goals (in 2014).

“And this year 16; or 17 with the penalty. What more can I ask for ?”

Two years after reviving Real’s bid for a 10th title, Real captain Sergio Ramos bundled home a close-range opener after just 15 minutes only for Yannick Carrasco to force extra time when he came off the bench to level for Atletico 11 minutes from the end.

Real spurned chances to secure the trophy in both periods of extra time, but kept their composure throughout a tense penalty shoot-out that went their way when Juanfran hit the post.

Ronaldo, he appeared to suggest, was never likely to miss.

“To be honest, I was confident I would score, I said to Zidane before the penalties, ‘put me the last one because I feel I’m going to score the win-

ning goal, and this is what happened,” he said.

“I’m so proud to score the winning goal and to win the Champions League again.”

Ronaldo capped the celebrations with the trademark removal of his shirt, revealing a still muscular and toned physique, although after spurning a couple of real chances, the 31-year-old admitted his performance was far from perfect.

“It maybe wasn’t the best one, but who played unbelievable tonight? No one. It’s tough. It’s the end of the season, you don’t have power in your legs that you have at the beginning of the season.”

Zidane becomes just the seventh footballer to win the trophy as coach and player. In 2002, the Frenchman’s stunning volley was the matchwinner in a 2-1 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow. afp

Djokovic marches on; Williams wins

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Britain’s Aljaz Bedene during their men’s third round match at the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris. afp

PARIS —Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams both swept into the last 16 at the French Open on a rain-hit Saturday in Paris, while Dominic Thiem confirmed his status as an outsider to win the men’s title.

French hopes of a first home win in 33 years, meanwhile, were dealt a heavy blow when sixthseed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired with a groin injury in the first set of his match with Ernests Gulbis.

Djokovic, who can become just the eighth man to win all four Grand Slam

tournaments should be emerge triumphant next weekend, beat Britain’s Aljaz Bedene 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 just before the light became too poor to play in.

The Serb, winner of the last three Grand Slam tournaments, has seen his chances of adding the French title considerably improved by the shock injury withdrawal of nine-time champion Rafael Nadal.

“It was important to finish this evening,” was Djokovic’s relieved comment on his late show before thanking the umpire

for keeping the action going despite the gloom.

Williams, seeking an Open-era, record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title, was a set up and about to tackle a second set tie-break against France’s Kristina Mladenovic when a thunderstorm sent everyone scurrying for cover.

On the resumption, more than two and a half hours later, the top seed and defending champion needed five match points to finish the job going through 6-4, 7-6 (12/10) with Ukraine 18th seed Elina Svitolina next in

her line of fire following her victory over former champion Ana Ivanovic.

“It was tough, but it’s part of the game. You just have to be ready for it,” Williams said of the bad weather.

“I feel like I made a tremendous amount of errors.

But, you know, I feel like she kind of forced me to.

She forced me to go for it, and unfortunately, I wasn’t hitting great today.”

Thiem was already done and dusted ahead of the rain, downing German teenager Alexander Zverev 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the fourth round. afp

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Mondilla seeks 3rd win in a row CLYDE Mondilla guns for a rare three-title romp on the Philippine Golf Tour, heading a stellar field slugging it out in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational beginning tomorrow (Tuesday, May 31) at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club’s Aoki course in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

Aldeguer offers Jimenez a rematch with Villanueva ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer has done the right thing by offering Mexico’s Juan Ignacio Jimenez a rematch whenever he is ready, against King Arthur Villanueva, who won the vacant WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title with a bizarre decision made by referee Dan Nietes in the Donnie Nietes-Raul “Rayito” Garcia WBO light flyweight undercard at St. La Salle Coliseum late Saturday in Bacolod City.

Referee Nietes credited Villanueva with a fourth-round knockout over Jimenez when the Mexican was out cold after a deadly clash of heads.

Jimenez who had won his last three fights went after Villanueva from the opening bell and waded into the Filipino with both hands flailing. Jimenez wound up a flurry in the second round to drop Villanueva, who moments later dropped his foe with a vicious right hand.

Both fighters engaged each other in what looked like a waterfront brawl before Villanueva wobbled Jimenez with a solid punch that shook his foe.

Villanueva went after Jimenez at the start of the fourth round and trapped him in the red corner and prepared to throw a flurry, but instead their heads clashed, dropping Jimenez who was out cold and had to be revived by the ring doctor, who used an oxygen mask to revive the badly hurt and concussed Mexican.

In an inexplicable decision granting Villanueva a fourth-round knockout that raised a howl of protest from the Jimenez camp, Aldeguer admitted it was a wrong decision and offered the Mexican a rematch when he’s ready. Ronnie Nathanielsz

Clyde Mondilla used the eight-day break honing his skills further, keen on keeping the streak going that started with a playoff victory over rookie pro Jobim Carlos at Eastridge early in the month.

Nietes goes 15-0 against Mexican foes

By Ronnie Nathanielsz DONNIE Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion, kept his conquest of Mexicans going with a scintillating performance Saturday against former two-division world champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia from whose identical twin brother Raul Garcia Hirales, he won his World Boxing Organization light flyweight title at the St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City on Oct. 8, 2011.

While the first fight saw an excited and nervous Nietes, who claimed he couldn’t sleep before that title

fight, struggle to win, although it ended in lopsided fashion, the clash against “Rayito” Garcia, saw him put on a dominating performance in which he dropped the Mexican twice in Round 3 and forced him to quit on his stool before the start of Round 6, a victim of Nietes’ vicious blows to the body throughout.

The opening stanza was a feelingout round for Nietes, who was able to sneak in a couple of probing good body shots before continuing in Round 2, but lulling Garcia into a false sense of security.

Picking up the tempo in Round 3 and cheered on by the sell-out

crowd, mainly of hometown fans, Nietes landed a big right hand followed by a right hook that hurt Garcia and then hammered him with a thundering left hook that dropped him for the first time in his career.

Chicago referee Celestino Ruiz appeared to spend too much time asking Garcia whether he was okay, which gave the Mexican time to recover, but as the referee signaled them to continue, Nietes ripped Gracia with another classic right straight that dropped the challenger for the second time, giving the Filipino an automatic 10-7 round.

Garcia glanced at his corner be-

fore being saved by the bell.

Nietes kept the pressure on Garcia, but didn’t charge in recklessly while it became clear that the end was near for the Mexican, who wilted under the wicked body shots of the champ and the left hook that he had perfected in training under the watchful eye of veteran mentor Edmund Villamor.

The 34-year-old Nietes, who entered the ring with his pet python around his neck, systematically strangled Garcia to register his 10th successful defense of the 108-pound belt and upped his unbeaten record against Mexicans fighters to 15-0.

Bayking, Del Rosario share top net honors BLISS Bayking racked up a two-title romp for the third straight week while Marcus del Rosario posted a win and a runner-up finish in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis tournament at the Maasin City and Capitol Tennis Club in Maasin, Leyte over the weekend.

Bayking overpowered Alexa Milliam, 6-1, 6-1, to annex the girls’ 14-and-under crown then mastered top seed Tracy Llamas, 6-0, 6-0, for the 16-U title as the San Carlos City ace duplicated her feats in the Dumaguete and Bohol legs of the annual, nationwide circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

Bayking earlier survived Zethley Alferez in their thrilling semis duel in the 16-U class, leaning on her strong fore-

hand and superb baseline game to eke out a 7-6(4), 3-6, 10-7 decision.

The second seeded Del Rosario, on the other hand, upended No. 1 Francis Hidalgo, 6-2, 7-5, to snare the boys’ 16-U plum but the rising NCR star failed to match Bayking’s feat when he dropped a 6-0, 7-6(7) decision to Norman Enriquez in centerpiece 18-U finals of the Group 2 tournament backed

by Asiatraders Corp., exclusive distributor of Slazenger, and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“Bliss has the materials to become the next star and Palawan Pawnshop will continue providing the support and motivation through our series of ranking tournaments nationwide,”

San Carlos City’s Bliss Bayking (right) displays her trophies and medals as she poses with fellow winner Marcus del Rosario (center) and host and local organizer Embet Aya-ay during awards rites of the PPS-PEPP Maasin leg in Leyte over the weekend.

said Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro, who also cited Del Rosario and the other surprise winners in the 22nd leg of the circuit.

The third ranked Alferez of Cebu wore down Llamas in the semis,

7-6(6), 2-0 (ret.), then blasted No. 2 Shyne Villareal, 6-1, 6-1, to clinch the girls’ 18-U crown while Milliam, from La Carlota, took the girls’ 12-U diadem with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Aaliyah Badalan.

The 23-year-old rising used the eight-day break honing his skills further, keen on keeping the streak going that started with a playoff victory over rookie pro Jobim Carlos at Eastridge early in the month. He followed it up with a convincing eight-stroke romp over Jhonnel Ababa at Calatagan two weeks ago.

“I want to improve more and win again so I practiced a lot during the break,” said Mondilla, who has piled up four victories in a young pro career.

The rest of the elite 82-player starting field are also coming into the P2 million event upbeat of their respective chances, including Tony Lascuna, the last player to string three straight victories in 2014 in Bacolod, Riviera and Manila Southwoods.

“Clyde is on a roll but we’re all ready to stop him,” said Lascuna, runaway winner at Luisita last March but who struggled in the next four legs, including in Calatagan where he wound up third, nine shots off Mondilla.

The former three-time Order of Merit champion, however, hopes to finally flash the putting touch that has hampered his campaign in this year’s tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Carlos, meanwhile, is back in the fold after skipping the Calatagan stop of the circuit organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., raring to atone for his loss to Mondilla and resume his hunt for a breakthrough win.

Jay Bayron and Elmer Salvador, joint fourth with Japanese Syotaro Onuki in the last leg, are also tipped to contend for the top P270,000 purse along with Rufino Bayron, Ferdie Aunzo, Cassius Casas, Michael Bibat, Marvin Dumandan, Mhark Fernando, Charles Hong, Mars Pucay, Gerald Rosales, Orlan Sumcad and Arnold Villacencio.

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Valdez-less Bali Pure opens bid Games today 1 p.m. – Cignal vs Bounty Fresh (Spikers’ Turf) 4 p.m. – Air Force vs Bali Pure (Shakey’s V-L) 6:30 p.m. – Laoag vs Iriga (Shakey’s V-L)

PRE-SEASON favorite BaliPure kicks off its campaign today (Monday) minus top hitter Alyssa Valdez and several key players as it clashes with a souped-up Air Force side in the second playdate of the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

Valdez along with reigning NCAA MVP Gretchel Soltones and Alyssa Eroa will sit out their 4 p.m. duel with the Air Spikers as they are currently in London for a series of camp and exhibition matches and will return only on June 8, leaving the Water Defenders with a decimated roster.

Team Iriga City also makes its debut in the country’s premier women’s volley league, sponsored by Shakey’s and organized by Sports Vision with Mikasa and Accel as chief backers, as it collides with Team Laoag at 6:30 p.m.

Games are shown live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23.

The Power Smashers, led by Mylene Paat, Katherine Villegas, Wenneth Eulalio and Relea Saet, fell to the National U Lady Bulldogs, 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 21-25, in Saturday’s opener but are expected to bounce back against Iriga side.

NU and Pocari Sweat, which routed University of the Philippines, 25-18, 2514, 25-22, also Saturday, show the way in the early going of the single round elims with the top four teams advancing to the crossover semifinals.

Sultan keeps PH super flyweight title

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

JONAS “Zorro’ Sultan of the famed ALA stable of Cebu retained his Philippine super flyweight title with a spectacular fifth-round knockout of game but unranked challenger Rommel Oliveros in the undercard of a terrific “Pinoy Pride 36” fight card at the St. La Salle Coliseum before a sell-out crowd in Bacolod City on Saturday night.

Oliveros was ready to exchange punches with the aggressive, hard-hitting Sultan before the champion nailed Oliveros with a perfectly timed, explosive right straight to the jaw that sent the challenger crashing to the canvas to be counted out at 2:13 of the fifth.

Sultan is the younger brother of former PABA and World Boxing Foundation welterweight champion Dondon Sultan.

He won the super flyweight title with a unanimous 12-round decision over Rene Dacquel on the top-rating Viva Sports boxing show “The Main Event” at the Mandaluyong Sports Center on July 11, 2015.

In his last fight in Osaka, Japan, Sultan won by a rousing second-round TKO over Tatsuya Ikemizu, who suffered only his second loss as against 13 wins with 7 knockouts. Sultan caught him with a cracking overhand right in a scheduled eight-round bout in Osaka on March 27, 2016.

With the win, the 24-year-old Sultan, who entered and left the ring with the customary cape and mask of “Zorro,” improved to 11-3 with 7 knockouts.

The 20-year-old Oliveros dropped to 6-3 with 1 knockout.

Jordan Spieth hits a shot on the 18th hole during the Third Round of the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. AFP

Spieth grabs 1-stroke lead at Dean & Deluca WASHINGTON—World number two Jordan Spieth fired a five-under-par 65 to seize a one-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the US PGA Dean and Deluca Invitational.

Spieth, who defends his US Open title next month at Oakmont, found only four fairways but suffered his only bogey in 29 holes at the 18th to put the 22-year-old American on 12-under 198 entering the final round at Colonial.

Ryan Palmer and Webb Simpson shared second on 199, Simpson after a bogey of his own at 18. Harris English, Kyle Reifers and Martin Piller were on 200 with Jason Dufner on 201, Chris Stroud on 202 and Matt Kuchar, Patrick Reed and India’s Anirban Lahiri -- the only non-US player

in the top 10 -- on 203.

Spieth arrived in Fort Worth after a last-day fade kept him out of the title hunt at the Byron Nelson Championship in nearby Dallas, his hometown.

Add that to his last-nine meltdown to lose the Masters and a missed cut at the Players Championship and it’s easy to see how the Texan would love to capture his first PGA win in his home state to build confidence and momentum ahead of the US Open.

“I started having more fun, even when it wasn’t going great,” Spieth said.

“My attitude, even when a shot wasn’t going great, was as good as it has been since the Masters.”

But Spieth has not broken 70 in the last round since February and has been under par only once in the last round in his past five tries.

“Fairways are going to be key for me to put aggressive swings on my golf shots,” Spieth said.

“I feel like I’m striking the ball well, just trying to stay consistent. Hopefully a few under in the score we post tomorrow is good enough.”

After opening with a threefoot birdie putt, Spieth sank an 11-foot birdie putt at the par3 fourth and closed the front nine with a 12-footer fot birdie.

Spieth chipped in from 32 feet for a birdie at the par-5 11th, then left his approach at the par-4 12th inches from the cup for a tap-in birdie to grab the lead at 12-under.

He added a six-foot birdie

putt at the par-3 16th but missed a nine-footer for par at 18 to settle for a one-shot lead.

Simpson made six birdies and three bogeys but his threefoot par miss at 18 dropped his from the final pairing, leaving Spieth with a pal, Palmer, in the final pairing. They are frequent practice partners and both Texans.

“Everybody will be rooting for both of us to play well,” Spieth said. “It will be exciting.”

Palmer, 39, seeks his fourth career PGA title, the first since the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii.

This is Palmer’s first time at Colonial since the death of his father Butch last August in a traffic accident.

“I’ve thought about him all week,” Palmer said. “This was his favorite tournament.

He has been with me all day, all week. We’re going to go out there tomorrow and give it our best.” AFP

Messi to go on trial in Spain for tax fraud BARCELONA—Argentina star Lionel Messi, one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, goes on trial in Barcelona on Tuesday for allegedly defrauding Spain of over four million euros in unpaid taxes.

After winning a league and Cup double with Barcelona, the five-time World Player of the Year and his father will confront in court the accusations that have dogged him since June 2013.

The trial will run until June 2 -- the day when Messi is due to testify along with his father.

The court appearance comes just days before he joins his Argentina teammates for the Copa America in the United States.

Argentina take on defending champions Chile in their first game of the tournament in California on June 6.

Messi and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, are accused of using a chain of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on 4.16 million euros ($4.7 million) of Messi’s income earned through the sale of his image rights from 2007-09.

They have been charged with three counts of tax fraud.

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a jail sentence of 22-and-a-half months for Messi and his father if they are found guilty, plus fines equivalent to the amount that was allegedly defrauded.

But any such sentence would likely be suspended as it is common in Spain for first offences carrying a sentence of less than two years.

Under Spanish law, a defendant is not obliged to attend the full trial if prosecutors seek a jail sentence

of less than two years, which means Messi may only show up on June 2 for his testimony.

The football star and his defence team have argued that the player’s father handled his finances without reporting to him, and that the striker was not aware of any wrongdoing.

“My dad handled the cash,” Messi said in September 2013 when he was questioned by a judge investigating the case at a court in Gavia, a town on the outskirts of Barcelona where the footballer lives. AFP

M O N DAY : M AY 3 0 , 2 0 1 6

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Lady Troopers nail Challenge Cup tiara

LOTTO RESULTS

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

P16M

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

By Peter Atencio

JOVELYN Gonzaga had doubts.

But her trust in her teammate Nene Bautista carried RC ColaArmy A to a 21-18, 18-21, 15-13 stopping of Foton Toplander’s Patty Orendain and Cherry Ann Rondina Sunday at the Mall of Asia Sands in Pasay City.

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

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF VARIOUS LOTS ASSORTED GROCERY FOOD AND NONFOOD ITEMS AND CLEANING MATERIALS FOR CAFETERIA OPERATIONS UNDER ITB NO. PB16-009PAV The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public re-bidding for theSupply and Delivery of Various Lots Assorted Grocery Food and Non-Food Items and Cleaning Materials for Cafeteria Operations under ITB No. PB16009PAV. Brief Description

Lot

Description

1

Assorted Grocery Food

2

Assorted Grocery Non - Food

3

Cleaning Materials

Delivery Schedule:

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

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC):

The total ABC is Two Million Five Hundred Eighty-Two Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-Seven Pesos (PhP2,582,847.00).

The ABC for each of the Three (3) lots are as follows : Lot

Description

Approved Budget (VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction)

1

Assorted Grocery Food

Two Million Forty Three Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Two Pesos (PhP2,043,792.00)

2

Assorted Grocery Non - Food

Four Hundred Thirteen Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty Pesos (PhP413,820.00)

3

Cleaning Materials

One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Two Hundred Thirty Five Pesos (PhP125,235.00)

Total Approved Budget

Source of Funds:

Two Million Five Hundred Eighty Two Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Seven Pesos (PhP2,582,847.00)

Gonzaga’s kill shots off Rondina shattered a 13-all deadlock, handing the Lady Troopers the lead en route to winning the women’s crown of the 2016 Philippine Super Liga Beach Volleyball Challenge.

Bautista stood at the net when Rondina finally slammed a placement shot past her and it landed outside the line, giving the Toplanders the crown.

It was Gonzaga’s fourth beach volleyball title since 2013 when she and Fiola Ceballos claimed a threepeat in the Nestea tournament, while playing for Central Philippines University.

“Target namin si Patty (Orendain). Sa third set, si Rondina na, mataas kasi ang percentage ng shots niya,” said Gonzaga.

In the second set, Gonzaga, who is from Sta. Teresa, Guimaras, Iloilo, began doubting herself when Rondina’s kill off her allowed the Toplanders to move ahead, 20-19.

Orendain then scored on an attack to hand them the second set,

sending the game into a deciding third, where Gonzaga unleashed her heroics to give the Lady Troopers the win.

Gonzaga’s road to the finals with Bautista was fueled when they got past Petron XCS bets Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Bang Pineda, 21-11, 21-15, in the semis.

Nene Bautista (right) of RC Cola scores against the defense of Foton’s Patty Orendain. ROMAN PROSPERO

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

NOTE: Bidders may bid on any or all lots.

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. 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”.

INVITATION TO BID FOR SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ASSORTED, BREADS, PASTRIES/CAKES, DESSERTS, FOR VIP BAR OPERATION UNDER ITB NO. PB16-013CEB The Philippine Amusement And Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Is inviting all interested bidder in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply & Delivery of Asstd. Breads, Pastries/Cakes, Desserts for VIP Bar Operation under ITB No. PB16-013CEB.

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.

Brief Description

Supply & Delivery of Asstd. Breads, Pastries/Cakes, Desserts for VIP Bar Operation under ITB No. PB16-013CEB

Delivery Schedule

Initial delivery is within seven (7) calendar days from the acknowledgement date of the Notice to Proceed while the remaining balance shall be delivered a staggered basis or otherwise advised. Subsequent deliveries of items shall be based on the table of calendar of deliveries with a seven (7) calendar days written advance notice.

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC):

The ABC for the project is in the amount of Two Million Three Hundred Seventy Thousand Three Hundred Eight Pesos (Php 2,370,308.00), VAT Exclusive, ZeroRated Transaction.

Source of Funds:

Internally Funded

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Schedule May 30, 2016 to June 20, 2016 June 6, 2016 1:00 p.m June 20, 2016 11:00 a.m June 20, 2016 11:00 a.m onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Branch BAC Secretariat CF-Pavilion upon payment of the nonrefundable bidding feebased on the following matrixfrom the address below: Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000.00 and below More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders.Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the 5th Floor of Casino Filipino-Pavilion, Manila Pavilion Hotel, U.N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from the BSU-PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

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

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

2.

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

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

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

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee thru the BBAC Secretariat, Casino Filipino – Pavilion, Manila Pavilion Hotel, U.N.Avenue, Ermita, Manila, Tel No. (DL) 400-4153, (Fax) 522-13-83 and (TL) 523-8691 to 97 local 170.

(SGD.) ARTURO JOEL T. GONZALEZ IV Chairperson Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC)

(TS-MAY 30, 2016)

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

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

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference

Schedule May 30, 2016 to June 20, 2016 June 7, 2016, 3:00pm

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids

June 20, 2016, 3:30pm

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

June 20, 2016, 3:31pm

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidder at the Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat Section (BACSS), acting as the BAC Secretariat, upon payment of the non-refundable cost for the sale of bidding documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00) Prospective bidder may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidder shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidder.

Prospective bidder should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth(6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del PilarStreet corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila or at the Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat Section, Casino Filipino Cebu (BACSS, CF-Cebu) either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from BASD/BACSS of CF-Cebu or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids. In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 Tie-Breaking Method, the Branch Bids and Awards Committee, Casino Filipino Cebu (BBAC, CF-Cebu)shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1.

2.

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

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

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

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee, thru BACSS, 3rd Level, VIP 5, Casino Filipino Cebu, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, Salinas Drive, Lahug Cebu City. Tel No.: 032-268-4989 or 2326272 local 5265.

(SGD.) JOEL G. CANTOS Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC)

(TS-MAY 30, 2016)

Gunshot wound kills NBA rookie NEW YORK—New Orleans Pelicans rookie guard Bryce Dejean-Jones died on Saturday from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Police told the Dallas Morning News and Des Moines Register that the 23-year-old was killed early on Saturday after kicking open the door of a Dallas apartment and being shot by a man inside.

Authorities said the man, who had been sleeping before the forced entry, fired from inside his bedroom after DejeanJones kicked the door to the room. He collapsed in an outer hallway and died at a hospital.

“It is with deep sadness that the Pelicans organization acknowledges the sudden passing of Bryce Dejean-Jones,” the team said in a statement. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A16

M O N DAY : M AY 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 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

Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors drives against Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in game six of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. AFP

Klay, Steph save Warriors WASHINGTON—Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry saved the season for defending NBA champion Golden State, sparking a stunning fourth-quarter rally to beat host Oklahoma City 108-101 and avoid playoff elimination.

Thompson scored a career playoff high 41 points, including an NBA one-game playoff record 11 3-pointers in 18 attempts, and NBA Most Valuable Player Curry added 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Warriors leveled the best-ofseven Western Conference final at three wins each.

“I’m so proud of everybody,” Thompson said. “We were down almost the whole game. We never gave up and our resiliency got us through. We kept our composure.

We knew if we didn’t get it done we were going home.”

The winner of Monday’s game seven at Oakland will advance to the NBA Finals, facing the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers when the best-of-seven championship series opens Thursday.

But after squandering a 3-1 series lead by botching a golden chance to advance at home, the Thunder must win on a court where the Warriors lost only twice all season.

“We can’t hang our heads. We have another game to play,” Thunder guard Russell Westbrook said. “Win or go home. Simple as that.”

- Among their greatest wins -

Trailing 89-81 with nine minutes remaining, the Warriors closed with a 27-12 run—19-5 over the final seven minutes and 12-2 in the last three — in a thriller Thompson and Curry ranked among their greatest wins.

“It has to be because of the situation,” Thompson said. “Everybody probably counted us out. It was great fun to play with that fire, that emotion.”

“This was a huge win for us,” Curry said. “Doesn’t win us a ring -- we don’t want to pop the champagne or anything. It ranks right up there for sure because we’re still alive.”

Thompson scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter for Golden State and added two more clutch 3-pointers in the period after a brief pep talk from Curry before the last quarter began.

“Steph told me, ‘This is your time. Show what you can do out there,’” Thompson said. “I tried to take that to heart.”

Thunder star Kevin Durant made four turnovers in the last 99 seconds and Westbrook lost two more in the dramatic final moments.

“They got their hands on some balls, but for the most part we tried to make the right plays, make the right decisions, especially down the stretch,” Westbrook said.

- Thunder ‘stagnant’ late Thunder coach Billy Donovan wanted to see more players involved in those key plays.

“We just didn’t help each other enough in those situations,” Donovan said. “They made big plays coming down the stretch and we got a little stagnant.” AFP

REAL MADRID CROWNED CHAMP

RC COLA WINS PSL CHALLENGE CUP TIARA

TURN TO A11

TURN TO A14

Blatche ready to go full speed

By Peter Atencio ANDRAY Blatche is expected to be in top form today (Monday) for the Gilas Pilipinas team, while Los Angeles Lakers’ Jordan Clarkson will be around to watch the players drill.

Gilas coach Tab Baldwin said this as the Philippine National Men’s Basketball Team began getting ready for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament through closeddoor practices at the Shangrila Hotel inside the Fort in Taguig.

“I talked to him. I think he’ll be ready to go full speed,” said Baldwin of Blatche, who arrived Friday evening.

The players will also get to wear their new uniform sets, which are called Nike Vapor basketball uniforms, unveiled last Saturday at Kerry’s gymnasium, the place where Gilas trains.

Baldwin said he would have wanted Clarkson to join the practice and the team as well.

But, seeing the Fil-American guard of the Los Angeles Lakers on the floor for the Philippines will not be possible since the Olongapo-born Clarkson is technically an American citizen. AFP

MONDAY: MAY 30, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Duterte faces arbitration claims

By Darwin G Amojelar

THE administration of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte will inherit over P12 billion in compensation claims from conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. after the previous government failed to honor existing contracts.

The infrastructure unit of Hongkong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd. earlier filed separate arbitration cases against the Aquino administration because the regulator refused to implement rate adjustments for its water and toll road businesses.

“For water business the claims by end of this year would be in the region of P7 billion and for the toll road business [it] is heading toward P4 billion,” Metro Pacific chief financial officer David Nicol said.

Manila North Tollways Corp. and Cavitex Holdings Inc filed compensation claims through an arbitration tribunal for the overdue tariff increase of 15 percent for the North Luzon Expressway and 25 percent for Cavite Expressway.

Maynilad Water Services Inc., meanwhile, received a favorable award in its arbitration of its 2013-2017 water tariff, which the Manila Water Sewerage System continues to ignore.

“We continue to face regulatory uncertainties with a number of our business facing overdue tariff adjustments—particularly of our water and toll road operations where if left unresolved, continued capital expenditures on water projects and road constructions would be constrained,” Nicol said.

He added MPIC was mindful of these indicators of increased regulatory risks in the Philippines when considering new investment opportunities.

MPIC president and chief executive Jose Ma. Lim said the company was seeking P1.9 billion in claims for the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Project for government’s failure to deliver additional light rail vehicles and the required fare.

Light Rail Manila Corp., the operator of LRT, plans to increase fare by 10 percent in August this year.

“Under the concession we are entitled for those shortages, but the government has either rejected in full or in part most of our claims. In this particular we have decided to wait for a new administration before deciding our next move if we should go to mediation, but we don’t want it to be elevated to arbitration,” he added.

MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan is optimistic the issues would be resolved so that the new government would have a clean slate.

“They have a bit of inventory to deal with from the Aquino administration,” Pangilinan said.

Despite these, Pangilinan said profit in 2016 would likely show a modest growth from 2015 despite the unpaid claims.

“The main reason for this lies in the expiration of Maynilad’s income tax holiday at the end of 2015. Offsetting that will be cost control and volume gains in all verticals along with higher dividends from our investment in the power sector, arising from an increased stake in Meralco and decreased leverage at Beacon,” he added.

Sugar production tops ‘16 target of 2.1 m tons

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales SUGAR production has surpassed the target of 2.1 million metric tons for the current crop year, the Sugar Regulatory Administration said over the weekend.

SRA policy and planning manager Rosemarie Gumera said sugar production already reached 2.2 million MT as of May 25, The sugar crop year in the Philippines begins September and ends August of the following year.

“Production was slightly higher than what we expected, but we do not expect it to increase significantly until the crop year ends since only one sugar mill in Luzon remains in operation,” Gumera said.

SRA earlier said production for crop year 2015 to 2016 was expected to reach 2.15 to 2.19 million MT. The target volume, however, was lower than the actual harvest of 2.32 million MT in last crop year. It was also lower compared to the earlier forecast of 2.25 to 2.35 million MT.

SRA said to ensure enough supply of sugar in the domestic market, it allowed the importation of additional 33,000 MT of sugar this year.

SRA administrator Ma. Regina Martin said the volume would be on top of the 133,000 MT of sugar imports earlier allowed by the agency.

SRA allowed sugar producers and traders to import as much as 133,000 MT of sugar to replace the volume that would be shipped to the United States.

The Philippines received a regular US sugar quota allocation of 142,000 MT raw value for crop year 2015 to 2016 under the tariff-rate quota system where the Philippines is one of the countries that could export to the US at a low tariff.

Martin said for the additional requirements, only sugar traders who exported in the US would be allowed to import.

“The sugar will come from Thailand. This will be done in a staggered basis until June of this year,” Martin said.

Employment outlook. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo (right) and director of economic statistics department Rosabel Guerrero preside over a press briefing Friday on the results of the Second Quarter 2016 Business Expectations Survey. Story on B4. LINO SANTOS

MONDAY: MAY 30, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

MAY 23-27, 2016 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. Bright Kindle Resources Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. 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 `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.81 46.2 104.00 95.00 38.2 2.95 1.43 9.11 14.26 17.3 7.18 1.83 607.00 0.570 85 0.96 14.90 24.00 50.25 102.3 262 31.8 196.6 1410.00 64.15 1.56

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medellin C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Conc. Aggr. `A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab. First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour Mabuhay Vinyl Corp.

Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

45.45 3.4 0.9 1.91 12.38 55.55 200.00 21.8 190 17.48 46.5 2.18 4.62 10.78 9.600 7.39 5.66 7.40 1.7 22.45 68 12.50 15.04 5.75 2.260 236.60 43.00 3.3 39.90 27.2 24.5 6.67 301.80 0.280 4.59 3.39 11.50 3.07 11.62 5.21 1.63 2.7 4.25 2.3 4.49 220 2.5 0.153 2.00 2.52 201.8 4.78 0.9 31.50 1.26

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ F&J Prince ‘B’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ LT Group Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.425 75.90 15.30 1.12 5.97 0.380 0.380 831 7.75 12.60 5.1 5.01 6.40 0.231 1440 6.20 82.70 4 5.2 5.6 7.94 0.69 14.06 0.480 5.99 3.4 0.0320 1.290 1.820 2.65 75.90 2.25 966.00 1.19 0.90 166.000 0.3200 0.2030 0.340

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Centennial City City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld Prop.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’

7.800 7.01 1.19 2.400 0.270 36.850 3.32 5.15 0.520 0.98 1.010 0.129 0.520 53 0.810 0.150 0.97 1.94 1.27 4.60 4.4 0.094 0.2900 0.460

Value

FINANCIAL 7,527,240.00 4,923,415.00 725,435,085 377,711,676.00 22,774,550.00 739,220.00 2,155,980.00 4,555.00 651,044.00 22,669,762.00 112,051 1,501,720.00 644,830.00 1,127,390.00 1,013,898,179.50 33,610.00 2,741,130.00 308,670.00 54,013,228.00 758,610.50 2,292,102.00 11,166,910 2,268,614,730.00 964,320.00 14,777,996.50 188,360.00 INDUSTRIAL 15,115,400 688,039,505.00 2,646,000 8,864,070.00 1,017,000 902,580.00 72,499,000 143,656,870.00 192,700 2,407,662.00 4,050 236,735.00 90 18,000.00 6,000,200 131,307,365 10,060 1,907,722.00 987,300 17,279,696.00 2,400,800 110,434,725 1,736,000 3,786,790.00 1,575,000 7,352,900.00 146,500 1,576,146.00 9,929,600 95,960,911.00 2,369,000 17,422,756.00 26,056,300 148,301,244.00 606,200 4,443,845.00 23,000 38,590.00 16,256,700 360,543,425.00 423,230 28,718,909.50 96,200 1,191,074.00 1,634,800 24,581,522.00 1,972,900 11,528,715.00 8,017,000 18,607,410.00 2,562,600 603,637,898.00 2,143 90,085.00 100,000 329,810.00 2,400 95,590.00 6,070,400 167,400,195.00 4,824,900 118,061,435.00 1,736,600 11,856,293.00 2,519,890 787,360,120.00 2,120,000 582,750.00 55,000 232,750.00 2,711,000 9,224,620.00 19,568,600 221,841,578.00 1,000 3,070.00 40,900 474,818.00 6,077,100 32,005,262.00 2,266,000 3,752,580.00 848,000 2,300,430.00 4,638,000 19,728,370.00 4,000 9,200.00 21,000 90,010.00 14,990 3,262,444.00 2,344,000 5,869,470 13,380,000 2,047,410.00 24,879,000 45,739,770.00 5,284,000 13,216,280.00 10,650,820 1,508,090,166.00 19,000 89,170.00 18,149,000 16,243,350.00 3,000 95,100.00 1,166,000 1,482,990.00 HOLDING FIRMS 21,820,000 8,901,050.00 16,440,030 1,226,764,403.00 39,875,500 590,715,596.00 521,000 602,040.00 111,700 668,576.00 96,160,000 36,017,550.00 12,150,000 4,552,350.00 2,000,030 1,656,569,675.00 6,654,300 51,047,154.00 28,975,200 367,444,540.00 418,200 2,089,654.00 12,000 60,090.00 5,046,500 31,668,177.00 2,650,000 617,660.00 551,425 784,605,645.00 287,400 1,752,309.00 31,302,990 2,649,614,564.00 144,000 562,540.00 11,500 59,802.00 15,000 84,000.00 9,003,300 69,835,196.00 388,000 269,830.00 20,278,900 288,471,448.00 20,000 9,600.00 218,026,200 1,317,081,309.00 55,000 196,610.00 41,800,000 1,338,800.00 329,000 431,650.00 2,700,000 4,872,560.00 227,000 617,740.00 1,080,670 79,809,938.00 21,000 46,600.00 1,207,070 1,165,036,240.00 362,000 425,580.00 231,000 197,370.00 34,100 5,457,529.00 8,670,000 2,755,550.00 5,430,000 1,121,290.00 311,120,000 97,417,700.00 PROPERTY 807,400 6,171,230.00 1,000 7,021.00 10,923,000 12,680,420.00 10,067,000 23,333,600.00 2,260,000 589,600.00 73,972,700 2,685,887,710.00 19,583,000 64,178,340.00 73,600 376,826.00 13,600,000 6,999,090.00 54,000 52,560.00 15,000 15,060.00 10,030,000 1,302,150.00 15,377,000 8,172,190.00 14,011,250 749,140,126.00 1,072,000 831,220.00 1,440,000 218,890.00 12,637,000 12,217,090.00 45,697,000 88,909,000.00 877,000 1,108,130.00 3,000 13,800.00 168,025,000 727,785,970.00 143,610,000 14,643,650.00 340,000 95,550.00 2,040,000 954,450.00 1,915,000 107,100 7,016,950 4,061,780 598,000 251,000 1,516,000 500 46,100 1,318,200 15,600 805,000 1,060 1,967,000 11,907,570 35,000 184,300 13,000 1,069,990 7,720 8,640 353,200 11,515,540 685 228,620 122,000

Close

MAY 16-20, 2016 Volume Value

3.74 45.95 102.00 92.20 38 2.95 1.54 9.5 14.3 17 7.49 1.86 600.00 0.600 84.4 0.97 15.00 24.00 51.00 102.4 268 31.5 192.6 1370.00 64.50 1.59

6,761,000 67,600 12,461,550 11,797,660 469,000 141,000 717,000 400 44,800 4,135,300 28,400 10,864,000 630 2,065,000 19,646,430 231,000 279,100 36,200 1,013,140 11,630 6,090 1,281,400 462,850,233 470 498,390 494,000

25,922,400.00 3,108,180.00 1,298,481,802 1,096,604,308.00 18,403,060.00 421,790.00 1,067,670.00 3,800.00 636,186.00 71,603,828.00 204,267 24,184,050.00 379,800.00 1,204,600.00 1,717,282,103.50 219,910.00 4,183,312.00 871,630.00 52,342,821.00 1,196,697.00 1,645,420.00 39,585,530 1,664,802,342.00 643,900.00 31,660,510.00 773,100.00

45.2 3.72 0.91 1.87 14 55.6 200.00 21.3 195 18 46 2.21 4.62 10.76 9.700 7.40 5.60 7.45 1.7 21.6 67.1 12.64 15.10 5.6 2.300 235.00 39.95 3.35 39.90 27.05 24 6.73 321.60 0.290 4.33 3.41 11.10 3.27 11.62 5.40 1.79 2.74 4.25 2.3 4.65 217 2.5 0.155 2.08 2.50 202.6 4.6 0.88 31.20 1.30

8,022,200 4,775,000 8,532,000 74,293,000 171,800 8,450 70 5,008,800 11,170 500,300 781,600 3,643,000 1,566,000 228,900 26,650,400 9,101,800 55,111,100 1,413,000 5,000 18,317,300 916,840 70,600 1,546,200 2,888,700 12,193,000 5,471,900 7,200 259,000 16,600 2,975,200 2,444,400 1,458,800 2,495,220 8,270,000 31,000 9,268,000 33,719,300 147,000 42,400 4,779,000 11,277,000 5,891,000 5,151,000 68,000 40,000 45,770 1,808,000 32,450,000 124,833,000 16,989,000 9,097,680 165,000 78,017,000 12,400 1,645,000

371,668,895.00 17,859,720.00 8,154,890.00 139,025,340.00 2,597,834.00 552,941.00 14,010.00 106,171,480 2,281,183.00 8,946,370.00 36,143,525 10,133,760.00 7,307,910.00 2,458,784.00 257,172,243.00 66,825,150.00 322,767,042.00 10,446,923.00 8,490.00 401,096,850.00 63,054,145.50 914,232.00 23,410,230.00 16,382,878.00 27,981,990.00 1,293,375,104.00 277,400.00 873,240.00 659,035.00 81,773,620.00 58,276,300.00 9,815,740.00 825,621,380.00 2,437,250.00 141,200.00 32,170,350.00 388,249,962.00 484,840.00 491,796.00 26,245,833.00 19,641,520.00 16,967,110.00 21,772,480.00 155,370.00 183,700.00 10,057,534.00 4,575,490 5,113,020.00 319,279,240.00 43,278,040.00 1,867,068,152.00 760,290.00 74,790,240.00 379,790.00 2,197,680.00

0.430 72.00 14.22 1.22 6.10 0.340 0.335 794 7.69 12.96 5.04

29,510,000 14,941,820 56,011,200 2,165,000 60,400 133,510,000 16,920,000 2,548,440 4,091,500 60,181,500 18,300

12,581,700.00 1,064,321,019.50 807,768,394.00 2,761,670.00 361,555.00 53,585,700.00 6,831,600.00 2,108,516,190.00 32,398,532.00 777,995,982.00 94,850.00

6.28 0.265 1380 6.30 92.55

7,209,100 2,940,000 773,025 56,000 21,495,130

44,234,493.00 774,120.00 1,107,760,230.00 355,850.00 2,011,611,597.50

5.2 5.35 7.65 0.69 13.9 0.470 5.9 3.69 0.0320 1.320 1.780 2.62 73.40 2.22 955.00 1.20 0.91 158.000 0.3200 0.2140 0.345

16,100 16,500 22,301,400 979,000 19,547,000 30,000 198,599,600 21,000 162,800,000 247,000 1,901,000 34,000 1,146,190 9,100 2,120,415 768,000 3,918,000 16,480 34,720,000 38,720,000 131,630,000

85,818.00 89,519.00 177,340,413.00 679,860.00 270,595,532.00 14,100.00 1,227,433,102.00 70,610.00 5,229,400.00 355,860.00 3,455,430.00 88,550.00 84,088,510.00 21,740.00 2,098,442,605.00 907,550.00 3,634,550.00 2,564,687.00 11,409,850.00 9,112,550.00 49,596,250.00

7.550 7.20 1.23 2.150 0.260 34.900 3.14 5.15 0.520 0.98 1.000 0.131 0.500 49 0.810 0.160 0.98 1.94 1.28 4.70 4.11 0.092 0.2700 0.460

2,179,900 17,700 27,596,000 17,943,000 2,380,000 85,566,000 5,702,000 36,200 12,224,000 101,000 52,000 22,230,000 67,146,000 8,011,100 3,269,000 1,770,000 13,059,000 122,073,000 256,000 26,300 265,165,000 18,040,000 3,110,000 5,793,000

16,370,599.00 128,098.00 35,093,830.00 41,511,530.00 633,250.00 3,086,191,025.00 17,652,340.00 187,490.00 6,466,100.00 101,790.00 51,060.00 2,968,540.00 35,899,440.00 388,393,815.00 2,672,400.00 282,780.00 12,998,220.00 236,169,710.00 329,970.00 123,580.00 1,141,272,780.00 1,622,810.00 910,800.00 2,944,745.00

STOCKS

MAY 23-27, 2016 Close Volume

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

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

48.00 8.5 29.00 1.59 3.13 24.80 0.9 6.4 1.040 4.960

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons Retail SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.31 50.95 1.28 0.620 11.42 4.16 0.0530 3.01 94.85 9.55 1.82 6.70 3.88 910.5 2188 6.59 21.20 1.18 58.5 15.04 11.98 0.0100 9.62 0.340 1.7000 2.56 11.48 7.74 4.50 1.12 2.73 20.00 0.580 2 2.36 3.95 3.550 17.48 5.05 2.42 124.00 23.90 1742.00 0.390 0.890 41.95 79.25 6.30 2.76 0.580 1.95 3.36 0.360 6.830

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0042 2.31 4.42 12.96 0.233 8.0000 7.7500 0.68 0.520 9.10 0.900 0.300 0.260 0.270 0.0140 0.0160 1.9 4.48 2.63 0.6200 1.3000 0.0110 0.0098 3.92 7.25 3.88 0.0130 128.40 3.99 0.0110

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

50.85 533 535 116.4 118 510 519 6.5 108 1050 1070 1027 107 112 79 81 76.5 75.6 76.75 77.2 76 76 2.61

Leisure & Resort Warr.

2.940

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

4.24 3.75 2.95 17.52

First Metro ETF

122

Value

Close

159,100 162,600 10,529,700 573,000 70,000 46,202,400 8,614,000 5,800 1,998,000 37,585,300

8,258,066.00 1,383,056.00 304,794,730.00 896,500.00 214,080.00 1,120,606,985.00 7,690,960.00 36,910.00 2,064,720.00 186,553,745.00 SERVICES 514,300 3,778,909.00 389,370 20,051,235.00 166,000 214,310.00 8,267,000 5,242,060.00 45,700 507,690.00 41,843,000 176,055,610.00 130,650,000 6,904,690.00 11,587,000 38,469,000.00 4,708,360 450,148,113.00 10,600 97,677.00 168,000 322,680 842,300 5,716,528.00 21,000 75,950.00 3,040 2,937,550.00 333,820 720,082,600 400,800 2,629,346.00 247,400 5,244,870 193,000 224,060.00 15,332,200 942,139,651.50 179,800 2,787,312 34,500 398,550.00 5,300,000 53,000.00 3,247,600 31,129,787.00 79,590,000 27,192,450.00 24,436,000 42,351,010.00 534,000 1,393,400.00 204,700 2,248,158.00 438,300 3,410,873.00 10,777,000 48,508,010.00 7,000 7,830.00 101,000 263,590.00 800 15,516 762,000 427,400.00 440,000 886,640.00 68,294,000 166,398,030.00 5,896,000 23,344,550.00 120,408,000 424,627,710.00 45,400 784,336.00 118,600 603,443 130,000 314,600.00 51,280 6,334,996.00 205,300 4,891,650.00 926,850 1,553,703,495.00 4,430,000 1,787,300.00 67,330,000 59,893,290.00 12,447,900 516,579,040.00 2,824,590 219,136,679.50 1,118,900 7,133,093.00 29,528,000 81,490,310.00 6,002,000 3,473,350.00 14,000 26,150.00 4,671,000 15,680,340.00 1,060,000 373,900.00 211,900 1,435,051.00 MINING & OIL 963,000,000 4,078,600.00 3,876,000 8,948,260.00 590,000 2,554,560.00 30,500 388,360.00 3,920,000 928,080.00 42,800 331,882.00 33,000 251,044.00 2,279,000 1,517,830.00 4,389,000 2,225,590.00 147,600 1,290,486.00 980,687,000 863,861,700.00 1,801,000 673,000.00 380,440,000 99,836,430.00 45,760,000 12,460,300.00 1,012,500,000 14,377,100.00 175,000,000 2,642,700.00 2,166,000 4,145,670.00 40,580,000 183,714,750.00 2,702,180 5,624,950.00 52,000 31,740.00 1,104,000 1,441,020.00 101,200,000 1,028,570.00 1,000,000 9,800.00 110,000 430,640.00 14,278,300 104,209,211.00 34,836,000 139,020,540.00 187,500,000 2,438,500.00 4,306,390 548,670,985.00 7,786,000 30,631,710.00 348,200,000 4,040,900.00 PREFERRED 2,213,700 114,160,489.50 19,360 10,208,700.00 3,100 1,685,900 10 1,164.00 30,160 3,558,880.00 50,000 25,500,000.00 23,130 11,981,600.00 55,200 347,581.00 69,810 7,457,265.00 32,910 34,340,870.00 60 63,800.00 38,770 39,731,700.00 31,450 3,359,750.00 910 101,810.00 1,000 79,000.00 97,090 7,858,090.00 406,400 30,947,545.00 221,160 17,264,307.00 57,040 4,413,622.00 566,300 44,141,168.00 235,660 17,857,402.00 295,320 22,459,196.00 94,000 258,470.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 674,000 2,042,980.00 SME 51,405,000 218,652,520.00 38,000 141,950.00 214,000 632,330.00 8,536,300 151,576,580.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 53,980 6,927,079.00

MAY 16-20, 2016 Volume Value

42.00 8.56 28.20 1.59 3.13 23.50 0.9 6.2 1.040 5.040

156,930 8,500 13,658,100 1,133,000 15,000 100,591,500 10,185,000 94,300 3,140,000 118,751,400

9,178,255.00 72,555.00 397,529,445.00 1,797,490.00 46,660.00 2,457,043,160.00 9,158,960.00 621,330.00 3,304,330.00 624,101,696.00

7.35 52.1 1.3 0.630 11.1 4.25 0.0550 3.08 92.65 9.55 1.88 6.95 2.80 970 2160 6.58 21.20 1.18 62.3 16.70 11.54 0.0110 9.69 0.340 1.6900 2.5 10.68 7.68 4.17 1.19 2.66 20.00 0.580 1.98 2.23 3.93 2.960 17.1 4.90 2.41 114.90 23.85 1660.00 0.395 0.880 41.70 77.65 6.58 2.84 0.580 1.94 3.37 0.350 7.000

376,500 1,251,070 133,000 16,169,000 5,200 24,082,000 102,710,000 3,433,000 3,020,950 36,800 761,000 406,900 5,000 1,290 320,480 936,700 3,300 629,000 9,444,090 831,200 83,600 71,200,000 3,631,900 298,500,000 45,184,000 1,816,000 261,700 134,700 6,972,000 60,000 48,000 19,100 1,354,000 533,000 23,752,000 9,025,000 79,853,000 527,000 141,200 18,000 157,790 271,700 746,140 17,380,000 40,882,000 23,249,400 5,621,580 8,629,300 60,121,000 18,106,000 272,000 5,076,000 2,110,000 3,080,600

2,816,867.00 66,388,031.00 174,450.00 10,372,570.00 60,644.00 108,744,590.00 5,786,550.00 10,520,650.00 281,966,472.00 350,520.00 1,442,840 2,839,563.00 14,030.00 1,243,600.00 714,674,760 6,226,935.00 71,600 748,240.00 597,810,869.50 14,498,484 964,096.00 711,460.00 35,100,131.00 104,641,300.00 82,401,660.00 4,535,770.00 2,719,168.00 1,049,463.00 31,993,690.00 68,470.00 127,030.00 388,167 828,840.00 1,074,710.00 54,607,250.00 35,994,020.00 236,011,150.00 9,089,408.00 713,371 43,420.00 17,679,260.00 6,414,190.00 1,277,401,585.00 7,084,100.00 36,948,780.00 975,078,020.00 446,932,420.00 55,846,966.00 175,954,640.00 10,758,410.00 546,540.00 17,385,650.00 800,050.00 20,891,976.00

0.0042 2.44 4.53 13.88 0.240 8.0000 7.6500 0.67 0.530 9.00 0.890 0.295 0.285 0.295 0.0160 0.0160 1.95 4.89 2.6 0.6100 1.3500 0.0110 0.0098 3.91 7.48 4.13 0.0140 127.00 3.9 0.0130

3,546,000,000 21,694,000 5,175,800 6,000 1,320,000 139,400 56,500 725,000 12,402,000 765,100 140,075,000 17,280,000 970,570,000 53,060,000 4,850,900,000 1,052,400,000 2,464,000 18,978,200 8,794,000 1,565,000 3,199,000 248,100,000 12,400,000 759,000 32,845,900 82,157,000 1,234,300,000 3,218,090 21,214,000 1,211,700,000

15,274,500.00 61,891,990.00 24,834,120.00 80,980.00 316,690.00 1,120,417.00 436,297.00 506,920.00 6,676,370.00 7,191,222.00 126,558,440.00 5,356,300.00 276,435,210.00 16,067,200.00 76,160,100.00 17,464,700.00 4,856,550.00 94,397,367.00 23,091,400.00 1,009,910.00 4,538,330.00 2,509,100.00 126,720.00 3,147,550.00 230,079,980.00 340,317,830.00 16,183,000.00 410,548,224.00 91,476,200.00 17,631,500.00

51.6 525 535 116.3 118 510 525 6.26 108.6 1075 1050 1020 106 106.1 79 81 76.1 77.5 77.3 78 75.5 75.8 3.7

3,197,440 19,750 62,760 1,210 145,240 35,000 28,150 50,000 122,100 1,665 1,265 4,565 19,240 4,500 10,000 153,690 2,900 13,410 60,120 76,750 646,160 74,580 290,000

165,224,255.50 10,369,070.00 33,576,600 140,723.00 17,117,730.00 17,850,000.00 14,811,210.00 316,372.00 13,310,893.00 1,762,995.00 1,351,550.00 4,660,580.00 2,039,095.00 497,288.00 790,000.00 12,340,204.00 220,560.00 1,039,245.00 4,664,227.00 5,984,500.00 48,678,536.00 5,636,225.00 1,039,970.00

2.880

578,000

1,716,300.00

4.03 3.94 3.01 17.38

86,302,300 170,000 464,000 14,795,700

665,804,598.00 633,250.00 1,388,180.00 266,528,896.00

119.8

109,550

13,411,496.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Manila Mining `A’ Ferronickel Abra Mining Lepanto `A’ United Paragon Zeus Holdings Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Philodrill Corp. `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Megaworld Prop.

VOLUME 1,012,500,000 980,687,000 963,000,000 380,440,000 348,200,000 311,120,000 218,026,200 187,500,000 175,000,000 168,025,000

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ JG Summit Holdings Security Bank Ayala Corp `A’ PLDT Common Universal Robina Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Aboitiz Equity SM Investments Inc. SM Prime Holdings

VALUE 2,685,887,710.00 2,649,614,564.00 2,268,614,730.00 1,656,569,675.00 1,553,703,495.00 1,508,090,166.00 1,317,081,309.00 1,226,764,403.00 1,165,036,240.00 1,120,606,985.00

MONDAY: MAY 30, 2016

B3

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

PAL wants to settle Kuwait row

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PHILIPPINE Airlines said it will ask the incoming Duterte administration to resolve a dispute with the Kuwaiti government over fifth freedom rights.

“We will revive our request and we will discuss it to the new administration. We are very hopeful that [under] the Duterte administration, there would be a defined aviation policy,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said.

Bautista earlier sent a letter to the Foreign Affairs Department

after Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation prevented PAL from exercising its right as a Philippine-designated carrier to avail of fifth freedom traffic rights.

Fifth freedom is the freedom to pick up passengers and cargo from a foreign country and carry them to a second country,

which is the final destination.

The rights are granted under the Philippine-Kuwait Bilateral Air Services Agreement of 1977, as amended in April 1995 and February 2009.

“Kuwait have enjoyed [their rights] for the last 20 years.

Now we want to take advantage of that right. We are not granted that right ,that is why we are asking the government and hopefully the new government will attend to [it],” Bautista said.

PAL launched a four-times weekly service between Manila and Kuwait (via Dubai) on Jan. 17 this year to serve the flight

needs of Filipinos in that state, using a 414-seater Airbus A330 every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The DGCA, however, only authorized PAL to carry passengers and cargo traveling solely between the Philippines and either Kuwait or Dubai.

The Philippines’ Civil Aeronautics Board suspended Kuwait Airways’ Bangkok-Manila fifth freedom privileges effective March 27 to address the imbalance.

CAB, however, permitted Kuwait Airways to increase its flights to Manila from six to

eight weekly, a move which PAL also vehemently opposed.

“We intend to exhaust all available avenues to resolve this issue. We urge the CAB to reconsider any grant of additional rights to Kuwait Airlines, until and unless PAL is granted its basic air rights as allowed under existing agreements,” PAL senior vice president and general counsel Siegfried Mison said.

The flag carrier is urging immediate resolution that will ensure equal opportunity for designated airlines and uphold the integrity of sovereign bilateral agreements.

Market likely to drop on valuation concerns

By Jenniffer B. Austria STOCKS are expected to move sideways this week, as valuation concerns and expectations of US interest rate hike give investors reasons to turn cautious over the short term.

“Next week, a probable month-end window dressing and the MSCI Philippine index rebalancing may guide stock flows. However, investors will also monitor global barometers, especially the ones for the June Brexit referendum and Fed rate hike,” RCBC Securities analyst Ralph Christian Bodollo.

The United Kingdom will have a referendum next month on whether it will stay in the European Union.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said while the market still had room to try the 7,500 to 7,625 levels in the near-term, technical indicators showed the market momentum was slowing down.

“Implications are that the market rally is losing steam and could be nearing a top. A confirmation break below the 7,350 level signals further weakness toward the 7000 to 7200 levels in the week ahead,” Ravelas said.

Analysts said with a Fed rate hike gradually being factored into prices, investors might start focusing on the economic momentum into the second quarter.

“With the incoming administration preparing its Cabinet line-up, institutional funds will wait for the final economic blueprint as reference, whether earlier initiatives from the outgoing administration will be upheld or improvised,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 112.65 points, or 1.6 percent, last week to close at 7,411.68 on May 27, on upbeat US markets and stable domestic condition.

Property index gained 5 percent last week, while mining and oil index fell 2.4 percent.

Rolling corn mill.

Manila

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala tests the rolling corn mill during the 17th Postharvest Standard TODAY Loss Prevention Week and 38th anniversary of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization on May 25, 2016. The corn mill allows the user to sort and clean white corn at a single pass. The machine is also capable of removing aflatoxin contamination in corn grits. Joining Alcala are (from left) PhilMech executive director Rex Bingabing, Dr. Michael Gragasin and deputy director Raul Paz.

BENGUET CORPORATION 7th Flr. Universal–Re Building 106 Paseo de Roxas, 1226 Makati City

PSE defers consumer index launching THE Philippine Stock Exchange has deferred the plan to launch a consumer stock index.

PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran said while the exchange previously considered introducing a consumer stock index to reflect the growing representation of the industry in the benchmark equity gauge, the move would require rebalancing or regrouping of the other indices.

Refran said the exchange was also focusing on introducing new products in the market such as the launch the dollar denominated securities trading that would allow trading and settlement in US dollar of securities listed and quoted in the local bourse.

PSE is also set come out soon with the proposed rules on infrastructure listing with the goal of attracting more initial public offerings.

These two new products are expected to boost trading and lure more companies to raise funds through the stock exchange.

“At the moment we are focusing on launching of new products in the market,” Refran said.

Among the consumer or consumer-related stocks listed with the PSE are Universal Robina Corp., Maxs Group Inc., Jollibee Foods Corp., Puregold Price Club Inc., Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., Pepsi Cola Products Philippines Inc., Century Pacific Food Inc. and Phil-

ippine Seven Corp.

There are currently six sub-indices in the exchange, including financial, holding firms, property companies, services, mining and oil and industrial.

First Metro Investments Corp. earlier expressed plan to launch an exchange traded fund that would track the consumer stocks listed with the PSE. First Metro said it was just waiting for the local bourse to launch the consumer index before it could launch its own ETF. First Metro said investors would be attracted to invest in an ETF tracking consumer-led stocks as the growth of the domestic economy was largely led by strong consumer spending.

Jenniffer B. Austria

ANNOUNCEMENT Notice is hereby given that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Benguet Corporation will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 3 o’clock in the afternoon at the Big Function Room of Manila Golf and Country Club, Inc., Harvard Road, Forbes Park, Makati City, Philippines.

The agenda of the meeting provides, among others: 1. For election of the Board of Directors; 2. Approval of Minutes of the last annual stockholders’ meeting held on May 28, 2015; 3. Approval for the re-appointment of Sycip Gorres Velayo and Company (SGV) as the Company’s independent external auditor; 4. Ratification of all acts, contracts, resolutions and proceedings made and entered into by the Board of Directors and/or the management for the preceding term; and 5. Such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and which are not known to management at a reasonable time, including the adjournment of the meeting for up to ninety (90) days from June 1, 2016.

By authority of the Board of Directors

(TS-MAY 30, 2016)

(Sgd.) HERMOGENE H. REAL Corporate Secretary

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‘Hello Asean.’ The Philippine Marketing Association launches Hello Asean, the theme of the 47th National Marketing Conference with Bloomberg TV Philippines as its partner. Shown at the launching are (from left) Shawn Yao, Bloomberg TV Philippines anchor; Nadia Tantuco, channel manager of Bloomberg TV Philippines; Ana Sevilla, head of channel management of Cignal TV; Kathrine Villena, head of content marketing of Cignal TV; Sienna Olaso, vice president, head of channel management, Cignal TV; Cristy Oreta, PMA treasurer; Pinky Yee, PMA president; Germaine Reyes, PMA executive vice president and NMC director; Faith Abano, NMC vice chairman and head of marketing and sales; and Vince Reyes, NMC staging production and exhibit chairman.

Q3 job outlook declines —BSP

By Julito G. Rada THE employment outlook and the number of companies with expansion plans in the third quarter decreased this year, a survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed over the weekend.

The Business Expectations Survey in the second quarter showed the employment outlook index for the next quarter declined to 23.8 percent from 27.2 percent in the last quarter’s survey.

“This indicates that more firms will continue to hire new employees than those that said otherwise, although the number of new hires could decrease compared to the previous quarter’s survey,” Bangko Sentral said.

The survey was conducted from April 1 to May 17, 2016, involving 1,482 firms nationwide.

Companies across sectors were less optimistic, except those in the wholesale and retail trade areas, which were more upbeat in their hiring intentions.

The percentage of businesses with expansion plans in the industry sector for the third quarter also decreased to 30.3 percent from 31.3 percent a quarter ago.

“The outlook was weaker across industry subsectors, except for the manufacturing subsector which recorded steady expansion plans. These developments are consistent with the lower outlook in the industry sector for the next quarter,” it said.

The same survey showed that business confidence turned more bullish in the second quarter this year due to the more optimistic outlook on the economy.

PH groups hit steel imports from China

By Othel V. Campos

AN anti-smuggling group called for more transparency on import standards testing following the questionable entry of some P95 million worth of suspected substandard steel products at the Subic Bay Freeport last month.

Fight Illicit Trade, or Fight IT, chairman Jesus Arranza questioned the legal basis of the Department of Trade and Industry in issuing a “provisional” import commodity clearance on the shipment of 5,000 metric tons of deformed steel bars (rebars) that arrived in Subic on April 25.

Philippine Iron and Steel Institute president Roberto Cola said the product sample testing of shipment from China was “done

in haste and utmost secrecy.”

“We understand that only three samples were tested and these samples were taken without a witness from the Bureau of Customs and an industry technical expert of the Federation of Philippine Industries,” Cola said in his letter to Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal on May 23, 2016.

PISI said that of the 500,000 bars that were imported, only three samples were taken and

tested without the usual and required presence of customs and Federation of Philippine Industries officials.

In contrast, locally produced steel of the same volume must have around 250 samples for testing.

PISI said it was “very concerned” about the practice since it had previously found instances where samples were replaced prior to testing.

Cola had said that in the October 2013 earthquake in Cebu and Bohol, collapsed buildings and houses were found to have substandard imported steel bars without the required logo, a mark that would identify the manufacturer.

Arranza, who is also the chairman of the FPI, confirmed that

no industry technical expert witnessed the inspection and testing of the questionable shipment consigned to Mannage Resource Trading Corp.

An agreement between the Bureau of Customs and the FPI requires the presence of representatives from both parties during the inspection of suspected smuggled shipment.

Arranza said the illicit practice cheated the consumers out of their hard earned money and threatened their safety and security.

“In recent natural disasters like the earthquake in Bohol and flooding caused by typhoons, many properties destroyed were found to be made up of substandard construction materials,” he said.

Infrastructure spending up sharply in Q1—Budget

By Gabrielle Binaday INFRASTRUCTURE and capital outlays spending of the government jumped 53 percent, or P36.3 billion, to P104.8 billion in the first quarter of 2016 from a year ago, the Budget Department said over the weekend.

Budget, in its latest expenditures report for the January-toMarch period this year, said infrastructure spending grew the fastest among the three major expense items, some worth of additional outlays.

The department cited the completed works of the Department of Public Works and Highways from its regular maintenance, re-

pair and rehabilitation operations of road networks nationwide.

Infrastructure projects of the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindana and the health facilities enhancement program of the Health Department also boosted infrastructure spending.

Contributing to the higher spending were the projects under the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, such as the purchase of ammunitions and acquisition of C130 aircraft and the construction of police stations and procurement of various equipment under the Capability Enhancement Pro-

gram of the Philippine National Police.

Infrastructure spending for the three-month period resulted in a 17-percent increase in expenditures to P591.5 billion.

“This is a significant improvement from the modest 4.5-percent growth posted in the year ago period,” Budget said.

“Spending for the month of January alone increased by 7.3 percent, reversing the 5.4-percent contraction recorded for the same month in 2015. Disbursements for the months of February and March, meanwhile, rose 22 percent and 23.2 percent, respectively—the fastest for the said months in the last six years,” it

added.

Personnel services contributed to the growth in disbursement, increasing 6.2 percent to P147 billion in end-March 2016, following the implementation of the first tranche of the Executive Order 201, or the Salary Standardization Law. Maintenance expenditures expanded 13.7 percent or P11.8 billion due to the implementation of social programs of the Department of Education and several projects of the Department of Health and the Interior.

Public spending in the first quarter, however, was short of P89.2 billion of the P680.7-billion target for the period.

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

PH to ride out higher Fed rate

By Siegfrid Alegado

THE Philippines has enough firepower to fight shocks including excessive capital outflows should the US raise interest rates and the global economy falter, central bank Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said.

“We will be able to ride out these eventualities,” Guinigundo said in an interview on Friday at his office in Manila. “Healthy” external payments position, low and stable inflation and a strong consumption-driven economy differentiate the Philippines from its emerging market peers and may make investors think twice about pulling out of the Southeast Asian nation, he said.

The health of the global economy took center stage once again with Group of Seven leaders on Friday pledging to use all available policy tools to boost demand, as the recovery remains moderate and uneven. With the Federal Reserve preparing

to raise US rates as early as next month, Philippine policy makers are seeking to assure investors concerned about the economic credentials of president-in-waiting Rodrigo Duterte.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may opt not to follow higher US rates and instead implement macroprudential measures to address risks in specific sectors, Guinigundo said. Still, policy makers have space to adjust rates as needed depending on the outlook for inflation and growth, he said.

The central bank last week cut its benchmark rate to a record-low 3 percent, narrowed the band around it, and introduced a new deposit tool, part of a new framework to strengthen policy transmission.

That was policy neutral and was intended to move low “sticky” market rates closer to the benchmark, Guinigundo said.

Policy makers will gradually increase the offer volume for the term deposit facility with the goal of shifting funds away from the overnight standing deposit facility, the deputy governor said while declining to give a specific amount.

“We want to have a longer hold on market liquidity,” Guinigundo said. The term deposits have seven- and 28-day tenors. Bloomberg

Apec auto dialogue. The 24th APEC Automotive Dialogue formally opens May 26, 2016 at the Makati Diamond Residences. Hosted by the Philippines through the Board of Investments, discussions at the APEC AD centered on the current status of the automotive industry in the Asia-Pacific and initiatives of the working group. Apec AD chairman and BoI executive director for industry development services Ma. Corazon Dichosa (second from left) leads the dialogue. Joining her are (from left) Apec secretariat program director Pavel Bronnikov, Apec committee on trade and investment chairperson Marie Sherylyn Aquia of the Trade Department’s Bureau of International Trade Relations and Apec AD vice chairperson and Federation of Automotive Industries of the Philippines president Vicente Mills.

Mitra Energy upbeat on Sulu Sea

By Alena Mae S. Flores MITRA Energy Inc. of Malaysia is upbeat on developing the Dabakan and Palendag prospects in the deepwaters of South Sulu Sea under service contract 56.

The prospects could contain nearly 30 million barrels of oil and around 2.5 trillion cubic feet of gas on a high estimate, according to a recent contingent resource assessment.

Mitra said the recent estimate report was conducted by Lloyds Register Senergy, an independent reserves evaluator.

Mitra, which owns a a 25-percent stake in service contract 56 covering the two prospects, said the reserves as of a given date were potentially recoverable.

Total E&P Philippines B.V. owns 75 percent of SC 56.

The Dabakan and Palendag prospects were found to have a high potential of 1.666 trillion and 838 billion cubic feet of

gas on a high estimate, respectively.

They have a best estimate potential of 367 billion cubic feet for Dabakan and 207 billion cubic feet for Palendag and a low estimate of 125 million cubic feet for Dabakan and 96 billion cubic feet for Palendag.

Mitra said based on the resource assessment report, the Dabakan prospect was estimated to contain a low, best and high potential of 1.1 million, 4.1 and 20.3 million barrels of oil.

The Palendag prospect, meanwhile, is estimated to contain, 700,000 barrels, 2 million barrels and 8.5 million barrels of oil, respectively.

“In addition to the discovered gas fields on SC 56, a portfolio of exploration prospects has been identified. Total is planning an exploration well on the key Halcon prospect [expected to be drilled in 2017], for which Total will carry Mitra’s 25 percent interest up to a gross well cost of $75 million,” Mitra said.

With Enderun Colleges Director for Sustainability Macky Maceda; Jaime I. Ayala, founder and CEO of Hybrid Social Solutions, Inc.; Anna Maria M. Gonzales, Sustainability Manager, Ayala Land Inc.; and Ritzi V. Ronquillo, head, Communication and Corporate Affairs of Holcim Philippines

Wipe every tear from every Filipino THE Enderun Extension and JCI-Manila recently held a Sustainable Enterprise Summit at The Tent at Enderun Colleges in Taguig. This highly significant event sought to gather top leaders and experts in the field, business professionals, entrepreneurs and students to discuss sustainability practices and principles, both as applied to business enterprise and to civil society.

I was privileged to be invited as speaker and panelist on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability strategies. I took the opportunity to showcase what the MVP Group of Companies in the Philippines has done in the realm of CSR and sustainability, the strategies it employed, the challenges it faced, as well as the success stories of each member company of the Group.

Any discussion on the CSR and sustainability efforts of the MVP Group would take up a whole summit in itself.

In all modesty, the CSR and sustainability projects of the Group have been cited for numerous awards and distinctions, both here and abroad, but we look to these awards and honors not as having the effect of resting on our laurels and slacking off, but, rather, as inspiration to do more, be more, and help more.

The Summit’s theme was based on what is known as the Triple Bottom Line or TBL of “People, Planet, Profit,” a term coined by business author John Elkington and oftentimes used in reference to CSR and sustainability. It was the Summit’s aim to encourage sustainable practices in business enterprises while maintaining profitability by “helping protect the environment and improving the lives of society.”

Attorney Joaquin Esquivas of JCI Manila

Enderun Colleges president Edgardo Rodriguez

I am reminded of how India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, captured the essence of what we all should strive to achieve as we build this nation through sustainable enterprise. In August 1947, on the eve of Indian independence and soon after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Nehru said that “The achievement we celebrate today is but a step, an opening of opportunity to the greater triumphs and achievements that await us.

The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means ending poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, our work will not be over.”

While our work in this country is indeed far from over, may all of those who read this resolve to wipe every tear, from every eye of every Filipino.

Miss Earth Philippines 2015 Angelia Ong

MONDAY: MAY 30, 2016

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BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Candy makers eye sugar imports

Toyota wants higher stake in PH coal plant

By Othel V. Campos

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Philippine Confectionery Biscuit and Snack Association asked the government to allow the importation of cheap sweeteners to make the local confectionery industry competitive.

The group led by William Lim presented major issues confronting the local confectionery industry during a meeting with Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments managing head Ceferino Rodolfo.

The group, composed of 19 producers of candies, snacks and other confectionery products, noted the huge disparity in the price of domestic sugar against imported sugar. Local sugar costs P2,500 per 50-kilogram bag compared with imported sugar at P1,200 a bag, it said.

The group said the price distortion was seriously affecting members as sugar was the main ingredient of a confectionery item. Sugar constitutes about 50 percent to 70 percent of a confectionary item, according to Lim. The group said an existing rule was preventing members from bringing in imported sugar despite existing regional trade treaties.

Lim said as imported confectionery goods were subject to zero duty, the market share of imported confectionery goods increased to 25 percent in 2015 from 5 percent in 2010.

Lim asked the Trade Department to formulate a solution by coming up with a policy allowing the confectionery industry to import sugar to supplement production requirements.

The group said the confectionery group was amenable to a win-win solution where part of production requirements would still be sourced from the domestic sugar producers as the group recognized the concerns of local sugar industry.

TOYOTA Tsusho Corp., the trading company of the Toyota Group of Japan, plans to increase its stake in the 210-megawatt Sarangani Energy coal-fired power plant in Mindanao.

JOANNE ASISTIN

GREEN LIGHT

Share/Save /Spend LAST March 13, we conducted our service learning project in Gawad Kalinga Villa Paraiso, Parañaque City. I was so excited about it. This will be my first time again to do something like this after almost six working years.

I belong to an awesome group of 10 persons. All of us were in the finance field and thus, we came up with an idea to revolve our service learning around our industry. At first, what we proposed was a financial literacy seminar to families. Due to constraints and other things, we finalized that it will be catered to kids aged 8 to 12 years. We chose GK Villa Paraiso, as one of our group mates has been supporting this community for a while.

Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. chairman and president Tomas Alcantara told reporters following the stockholder’s meeting that Toyota aimed to increase its stake to 35 percent.

“They have 25 percent, but they want to move up to 35 percent. We are both studying it but they have expressed interest in expanding their equity position in our company,” Alcantara said.

Alcantara said Toyoto Tsusho

wanted to conclude the transaction soon, especially with the completion of the first 105-MW unit and the start of construction of the second 105-MW unit this year.

“They are in a hurry. For SEC 2, pretty soon we will have an equity call,” Alcantara said.

He said the project cost for the second unit was around $300 million, of which 70 percent would be raised from debt and 30 per-

cent from equity.

“The math is that $300 million is the project cost, [and] $100 million is what you will have to raise.

Of that $100 million, $25 million is already Toyota Tsusho unless they allow themselves to be diluted or if they decide and we accept an increase in their participation, they will go up to 35 percent. We have not made up our minds yet,” Alcantara said.

The second unit of the Sarangani Energy power plant is expected to begin operating in 2018.

Alsons said it expected to award the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the second 105-MW unit within the next few days while construction would start within the year.

Saragani Energy’s first 105MW unit began operating in April, providing 105 MW of baseload power to more than three million residents of Sarangani province, General Santos City and other parts of Mindanao.

The Sarangani power plant will serve six million people in key areas in Mindanao once it reaches its full 210-MW capacity by 2018.

The $570-million Sarangani Energy power plant is the single largest investment in Sarangani province and the whole Region 12.

Luis Yson Jr., Alsons chief finance officer of Alsons. said he expected the company’s income to post a double-digit growth this year with the start of commercial operations of Sarangani Energy.

Farmers’ month.

Agriculture undersecretary Emerson Palad (right), assistant secretary Ophelia Agawin (second from right) and Region IV-B executive director Cipriano Santiago (left) award the certificates of recognition to the outstanding farmers and fisherfolk for their commendable impact on the growth and development of the Philippine agriculture during the Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month at the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City.

The awardees are (from left) Fidel Josue (fisheries), Demetrio de Ocampo (high value crops), Jerry Villanada (rice) and Leon Bonilla (corn).

Preparing for our SL project We focused our discussion on how to save. Since we will be involving kids, we thought of other ways their attention can be captured. We thought of piggy bank making. We searched for ideas on Youtube and found a video that used softdrink bottles as piggy banks.

Before meeting up, we were assigned to bring recycled 1.5-liter softdrink bottles each. We also divided our group to minigroups so that coordination can be easier. These mini-groups were program, logistics and food and games. I belong to the logistics and food group. Our mini-group was assigned to buy the prizes, to buy the art materials to be used, to order food from Jollibee, to create certificates and name tags for the participants, and lastly, to work around the budget.

Everything, we thought, was ready. On the day itself, we met in Makati so that we can go together in Parañaque. However, the place was kind of hard to find. It was not easy for us to commute to go there. Luckily,

one empty FX passed by and we hired him to directly transport us to the GK village. Though the village was out of his route, he still accompanied us. We said it will be for a good cause.

From the main street, you will still need to walk around 10 minutes to go to the village. As one of those assigned for food delivery, our main concern was would Jollibee be able to deliver inside the village? Or will we walk to the main street again then carry boxes of food going back to the village? That was the first thing we asked Ate Becca, our main coordinator. She was the one who accommodated us and took charge to gather the kids to attend to our program. Luckily, she said that Jollibee always delivers inside the village.

Teaching the kids The first question we asked the kids was: “What are your areams?” And I was surprised that most of them have definite goals in life—to be a nurse, doctor, etc. I was contemplating and realized that when I was their age, I think I did not have a spe-

cific desired occupation in life. I was amazed.

Another discussion that struck me was the needs vs. wants. Even today, I mix this one up. Our hosts, Abel and Krizel, were giving examples and the kids will tell if it’s a need or want. And their answers were not that bad for kids their age.

The kids were asked how much their daily allowance were. Some were hesitant to answer. Some got P50, others got P30, while others got less. And we taught them the 10-20-70 saving strategy. Seventy percent goes to your expenses, 20 percent to savings while the last 10 percent is for them to share.

I asked the kids if they will still allot the 10 percent for sharing?

Surprisingly, the kids said yes.

They share what they have left in their own way – with their younger siblings or to their parents. Our program ended with the piggy bank making where everyone was participating actively. Even the younger boys, who I thought were naughty, were designing their own bottle. We gave the kids Jollibee meals as our way of thanking them for participating.

Learning to share In this project, I’ve realized a lot of things. One of, I think, the most important lessons is to share. The kids taught me to not be selfish. Even if they were still not in the age of working and earning their own money, they know how to handle priorities on spending. They know their goals and they know how to give back to others. I believe these kids will be one of the most humble people I will meet in the future and I look forward to working with one of them in the corporate world.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal she kept in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit her blog at https://joanneasistin.wordpress. com/page/2/.

The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Sex toys selling like hotcakes LOS ANGELES—Chad Braverman is an early riser—you have to be to keep ahead as America’s top sex toy magnate, overseeing the production of tens of thousands of “pleasure products” a week.

Every day the 34-year-old gets up around dawn, jogs for 30 minutes and heads to work, where he runs the largest maker of vibrators, massagers, strokers and other R-rated gadgets in the United States.

Set in a sprawling industrial campus 15 minutes’ drive from Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, “Doc Johnson” is unrecognizable from its origins as a fishing tackle shop bought by Chad’s father and mentor, Ron, 40 years ago.

“I always say he still hasn’t told me what he does for a living, which is true. He’s never sat me down and told me what

he does,” jokes Chad, who has taken over as the de-facto head of the company.

Ron Braverman, 69, opened for business in Los Angeles in 1976, having spent time in the Netherlands, where his eyes were opened by the liberal attitude to what were then coyly known as “marital aids.”

Today, his 500-plus workforce pours six tons (4,450 kilograms) of molten materials every day into molds of penises, vaginas and other orifices, supplying retailers and individuals across the world.

The company makes a staggering 75,000 sex toys a week—many

lovingly finished off by hand, to employ a phrase largely redundant in the high-tech world of “intimate pleasure.”

The rise of Doc Johnson coincides with a period of unparalleled growth in the market, with sex toys moving from the edge of acceptable into big business.

Once the domain of seedy adult shops, vibrators can now be picked up at the health and wellbeing counter of the major retailers like WalMart and Rite-Aid. A marked shift to online sales has also helped the sector mushroom into a $15 billiona-year market in the US alone—with the growth projected to take revenue to $52 billion by 2020.

“We expanded with a lot of different products. We had many of the first items that were ever made,” says Ron,

sitting in a conference room which would be unremarkable except for the wall-to-wall butt plugs, vibes and intimidatingly large dildos on display.

Doc Johnson’s many innovations span from the “Palm Pal” in 1976 to the modern day “Tryst,” a silicone device for couples or solo fun, just awarded Cosmopolitan’s June sex toy of the month.

In the early days, almost every customer was male, whereas now at least half are women who, Ron says, are far more discerning consumers.

“People do a lot more research today about what they want and how they want to use it,” says Ron, who introduced Chad into the trade in his teens and started him full-time after he graduated in business from the University of Miami. AFP

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

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF FIVE (5) LOTS WINES AND TEN (10) LOTS PREMIUM SPIRITS UNDER ITB NO. PB16-051COR-05 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Five (5) Lots Wines and Ten (10) Lots Premium Spirits under ITB No. PB16051COR-05.

Wines

Brief Description

Lot

Quantity

1

137 bottles

Red Wine (AC: 11.50%)

Description

2

12 bottles

White Wine

3

15 bottles

Red Wine (AC: 14.50%)

4

15 bottles

Champagne

5

215 bottles

Red Wine (AC: 13.00%)

Spirits Lot

Quantity

1

108 bottles

Description

2

46 bottles

Scotch Whisky 750m

3

48 bottles

Brandy

Premium Brandy

4

33 bottles

Premium Cognac Extra Old

5

30 bottles

Whisky

6

388 bottles

Scotch Whisky 1L

7

45 bottles

Blended Premium Scotch Whisky

8

20 bottles

Blended Scotch Whisky

9

134 bottles

Fine Champagne Cognac

10

36 bottles

Fine Champagne Cognac Extra Old

*Bidders may bid on any or all of the lots Delivery Period

Within fifteen (15) calendar days from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

The total ABC is in the amount of Two Million Forty-One Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty Pesos and 83/100 (PhP2,041,780.83), VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

The ABC for each of the five (5) lots of wines and ten (10) lots premium spirits, VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction, were as follows: Wines Lot

Description

ABC VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

1

Red Wine (AC: 11.50%)

Thirty-Three Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-Three Pesos and 33/100 (Php33,793.33)

2

White Wine

Eighteen Thousand Pesos (Php18,000.00)

3

Red Wine (AC: 14.50%)

Fourteen Thousand (Php14,100.00)

4

Champagne

Thirty-One Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy-Five Pesos (Php31,875.00)

5

Red Wine (AC: 13.00%)

One Hundred Fourteen Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-Six Pesos 67/100 (Php114,666.67)

One

Hundred

Pesos

Spirits Lot

Source of Funds

Centenary. French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pay their

respects at a German cemetery in Consenvoye, northeastern France, on May 29, 2016, during a remembrance ceremony to mark the centenary of the Battle of Verdun. The Battle of Verdun, in 1916, was one of the bloodiest episodes of World War I. The offensive that lasted 300 days claimed more than 300,000 lives. AFP

Fine wines lurk in British war bunker HONG KONG—In high-rise, high-priced Hong Kong, even millionaires don’t always have room to store their fine wine collection at home, but a converted British war bunker offers space-crunched oenophiles the perfect solution.

Built by Her Majesty’s government in the 1930s to hold munitions, the “Little Hong Kong” bunker complex was the last Allied position to fall to the invading Japanese on 27 December 1941—two days after the surrender of the British governor.

Collectors may rest assured that this spirit endures, says Gregory

De ‘Eb, the company principal of Crown Wine Cellars.

“We have great feng shui here. Nobody died, last place to surrender— it was all good!” he explains.

The firm has converted the sprawling complex into state of the art wine storage. Six of the Central Ordnance Munitions Depot bunkers—each spanning some 1,000 square feet—have been painstakingly transformed into what he describes as “the Rolls Royce of wine cellars.”

Carved out of Hong Kong’s hills, protected by reinforced concrete and soil, the complex—

whose sensitive restoration even received a nod from Unesco—offers one of the most secure environments possible for wine.

“If you give us one bottle of 1982 Petrus that your grandfather gave to you [with] his signature on the top left hand corner, we make absolutely sure that your bottle will never be interchanged with any other,” said De’ Eb, a former diplomat.

“In 50 years time we will give that bottle back to you. It’s so important,” he added.

De’ Eb says the wine vaults were built in accordance with the US standard for gold bul-

lion, while the overall security at the bunkers drew inspiration from the methods employed by the diamond industry in his native South Africa.

Staff must wear wetsuits when entering the cellars—an antitheft measure to ensure nothing can be smuggled out in clothing, and some vaults require three people to simultaneously input codes in order to access them.

Clients are not allowed to enter the main storage warehouses, but can request to view their wine collection in small rooms, where they will be closely monitored by security cameras. AFP

Description

ABC VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

1

Premium Brandy

One Hundred Five Thousand Five Hundred Seventy pesos (Php105,570.00)

2

Scotch Whisky 750ml

Fifty-Five Thousand (Php55,200.00)

3

Brandy

Twenty-Two Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Pesos (Php22,720.00)

4

Premium Cognac Extra Old

Two Hundred Eighty-Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Pesos (Php288,750.00)

5

Whisky

Thirty-Three Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-Five Pesos (Php33,375.00)

6

Scotch Whisky 1L

Four Hundred Seventy-Four Thousand Hundred Fifteen Pesos (Php474,815.00)

7

Blended Premium Scotch Whisky

Two Hundred Seventy-Two Thousand Eight Hundred Twelve Pesos and 50/100 (Php272,812.50)

8

Blended Scotch Whisky

Thirty-Six Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Pesos (Php36,250.00)

9

Fine Champagne Cognac

Three Hundred One Thousand Fifty-Three Pesos and 33/100 (Php301,053.33)

10

Fine Champagne Cognac Extra Old

Two Hundred Thirty-Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Pesos (Php238,800.00)

Two

Hundred

Pesos

Eight

Internally Funded

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

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

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Schedule May 30, 2016 to June 20, 2016 June 7, 2016; 2:00 p.m.

June 20, 2016; 10:00 a.m.

June 20, 2016; 10:00 a.m. onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Procurement Department (PD), formerly the Bids and Awards Services Department (BASD), acting as the BAC Secretariat, upon payment of the non-refundable fee for the sale of bidding documents based on the following matrix: Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000.00 and below

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00

More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

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

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

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

2.

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

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

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

Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee through PD, formerly BASD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Telephone 524-3911, 521-1542 locals 223 or 617.

(Sgd.) CELESTINA R. ADOR Chairperson BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC) 4

(TS-MAY 30, 2016)

M O N D AY : M AY 3 0 , 2 0 1 6

B8 Longest rail terminal finally sees the light GENEVA—When Swiss engineer Carl Eduard Gruner came up with the idea to build the world’s longest rail tunnel under the Alps in 1947, he predicted the visionary project could be finished by the start of the 21st century.

He would turn out to be off by 16 years.

Gruner’s sketch and technical paper called “Journey through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) in the year 2000” planted the seeds for a venture that will be launched this week and aims to transform travel through the heart of Europe.

Constructing the 57-kilometer rail tunnel took just over 12 billion Swiss francs ($12 billion, 11 billion euros) and some 2,400 workers, according to Swiss government statistics.

More than 28 million tons of rock had to be excavated from the mountain near the Gotthard pass.

The bumpy road from Gruner’s initial idea to the official start of construction in 1999 included bureaucratic delays and concern over the project’s financial viability.

Switzerland’s federal government set up a committee in 1963 to look into the building of an alpine base tunnel but opinions were split over various proposals, before an official body eventually ruled in 1983 that the project was “not urgent.”

The momentum in favor of the GBT built again ahead of a 1992 referendum, which supported the project, but public outcry about the expense put work on hold.

Eventually, a November 1998 referendum closed the deal, when 64 percent of Swiss voters approved the final plans along with funding schemes, including a new road tax.

“It’s a big engineering achievement,” said Martin Knights of the London-headquartered Institution of Civil Engineers.

The tunnel runs from Erstfeld in the central Swiss canton of Uri, to Bodio in southern Ticino canton, and will shave the train journey from Zurich to Milan in northern Italy down to two hours and 40 minutes, roughly an hour less than it currently takes.

The new route also aims to make rail freight more efficient, including by supporting heavier cargo, which should reduce the number of diesel-guzzling trucks on the roads, in turn improving traffic and curbing pollution. AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Millions in never-ending vigil to bury their dead THE HAGUE—Nameless migrants laid to rest in unmarked scrubland, murder victims dumped in mass graves, desperate searches for the missing after natural disasters.

Around the world, millions of families wait in vain to bury their dead.

Rehearsal. Katharine McPhee performs during the 27th National Memorial Day Concert Rehearsals on May 28, 2016, in Washington, DC. AFP

“You cannot close the book on the life of a loved one if you do not know the truth, or what the reasons were, why people went missing,” said Salvadoran diplomat Augustin Vasquez Gomez His country, where some 8,000 people are still missing after years of civil war, has become one of the latest nations to sign a treaty pledging to support the work of the International Commission on Missing Persons In the Philippines, also a signatory to the treaty, there are still 2,000 missing after Typhoon Haiyan struck in November 2013.

And while finding and identifying the missing killed in conflicts or disasters is an age-old problem, no overall global figure has ever been determined.

The numbers are thought to be “staggering”— between 250,000 and a million in Iraq alone stretching back to the early days of the regime of former dictator Saddam Hussein, said Kathryne Bomberger, ICMP director general.

The organization, which finances its painstaking research through voluntary donations, held a recent seminar on its work as it moves its headquarters from Sarajevo to The Hague.

Born out of the conflicts in former Yugoslavia and set up in 1996 by then US president Bill Clinton, the ICMP has used sophisticated DNA matching techniques to identify more than 70 percent of the 40,000 who went missing in the Balkans wars.

Now it is shedding its ad-hoc status to become a recognized international organization—the only one dedicated exclusively to accounting for the missing.

It hopes to open a new lab in the Dutch city in the coming months, to complement its first one in Sarajevo which already has the capacity to handle up to 10,000 DNA cases a year.

Demand is growing. And as the conflicts in Syria and Iraq feed a new wave of refugees, hundreds of whom have perished at sea lacking any kind of documents, a new challenge is emerging.

After five years of civil war and a huge exodus from the country, there are an estimated 60,000 missing Syrians.

“There’s nothing we can do in Syria for the moment, but we’re already losing time in terms of collecting data from survivors,” Bomberger told AFP. AFP

Conservative reelected Iran speaker despite reformists’ win TEHRAN—Moderate conservative Ali Larijani retained the speakership of Iran’s parliament Sunday despite the major gains for the reformists in the February elections, benefiting from the credit gained by his support for last year’s nuclear deal.

Several lawmakers from the reformist camp broke ranks to vote against the head of their own List of Hope, Mohammad Reza Aref, who lost by 103 votes to 173.

February’s election was widely seen as a referendum on last July’s nuclear deal with world powers led by the United States, the signature policy of moderate President Hassan Rouhani.

Larijani’s support for its passage through parliament kept him out of the fierce debate that saw a string of hard-line opponents of the agreement lose their seats.

Reformists took 133 of the 290

seats in parliament. That fell short of a majority but it was more than the conservatives’ 125 seats.

The remaining seats are held by independents and representatives of religious minorities who are expected to give Rouhani a working majority to pass key reform legislation that eluded him in the outgoing conservative-dominated parliament.

Several leading reformists broke ranks to endorse Larijani in the

run-up to the speakership contest.

“Larijani can better direct parliament than Aref,” Gholam Hossein Karbaschi, the leader of one reformist faction, the Construction Party, told the Shargh newspaper on Tuesday.

Reformist former health minister Massoud Pezeshkian was elected first deputy speaker.

Two other reformists were also elected to parliament’s 12-member

governing board. Both are Sunni, a first since the Islamic revolution of 1979 ushered in Iran’s Shiite theocracy.

Larijani, who turns 58 on June 3, is the scion of a famed Shiite clerical family and a regime veteran.

He was a prominent figure in the elite Revolutionary Guards during the 1980-88 war with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and served as state broadcasting chief from 1994 to 2005. AFP

m onday : m ay 30, 2016

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TaTUm anCHETa EDITOR

BInG PaREL

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

BERnadETTE LUnaS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

E aT, dRInK , T R aV EL

LIFE The Arashiyama Bamboo groves attract couples for their pre-nuptial photo shoots

The 300-year-old teahouse Ichiriki Chaya is open by invitation only to powerful business and political figures

KyOTO PROTOCOl (PART 2)

K

yoto is such a romantic place to visit. The colors, the textures, and the stories of people you meet during your travel won’t even fit in the album on your Facebook or Instagram account. The place is so picturesque – I don’t even know where to store the thousand photos I took during my stay.

Last week, I wrote about the must-see temples and shrines within and near Kyoto. This time, I’m sharing the things that made me fall in love with Japan – the colorful stories in Gion, the sake that smoothly glides down your throat, and the aftertaste of whisky from the first single malt distillery in Japan.

Gion stories

Gion is known as Kyoto’s most famous geisha district and one of the most popular attractions for tourists. A stroll along its cobbled streets gives you a glimpse of the historic sites, shrines, temples, and the picturesque view of trees that lie along its canals. Almost every day regardless of the season, tourists flock to the area to get a glimpse of geiko (the term used to call geishas in Kyoto) or maiko (an apprentice geisha, usually under 20 years old).

While experts and historians still argue about the Hollywood depiction of geiko in Memoirs of a Geisha, tourists like myself can’t help but imagine beautiful Sayuri (played by Zhang Ziyi in 2005) gliding along the flagstone street of Hanami-koji. Hanami-koji Street is considered to be the best place to spot a geisha, the area that houses most of the historical and expensive ochayas (teahouses) in the area,

By TATum AnChETA open by invitation only to powerful business and political figures.

Geisha-spotting has become a sport as seeing one is very rare unless you pay for an expensive fee at the Gion Corner, a theater where maiko dancers perform seven kinds of performing arts. I was lucky enough to see one the second time I visited Gion during my stay but she walked so fast I didn’t even get to take a snap as she hurried inside an exclusive ochaya.

Hanami-koji Street houses the Ichiriki Chaya, the historical 300-year-old teahouse with its red walls said to have been frequented by the leader of the 47 ronin (wandering samurai) during the 18th-century before undertaking the Genroku Akō to avenge the death of their master in fulfillment of bushido (the samurai code of honor). Ring a bell? Yes, Keanu Reeves’ fictional film, 47 Ronin, is based on this legend.

Shimbashi-dori Street is the prettiest in all of Gion because of its well-preserved traditional buildings and the lines of willow trees that create a dramatic setting especially during sakura season. If you take a stroll along the pavements, you’d spot some couples taking pre-nup photographs in full-on kimono costume and strutting their “#MayForever” poses. A stroll beside the Shirakawa canal lands visitors to a stone monument inscribed with a poem by a great lover of Gion, the late poet, novelist and playwright Isamu Yoshii. The poem reads, “No matter what is said, it is Gion I love. Even when I sleep beneath my pillow, the water flows…” Every November 8 at exactly 11:00 a.m., maiko and

Jinrikisha oniisan or good-looking rickshaw guys at Arashiyama Grove

The stone monument beside the canal inscribed with a poem by the late poet Isamu Yoshii

The Gokougu spring has been there since ancient times, sake made from this water is smooth to the tongue

geiko from Gion offer flowers and prayers to the stone monument in memory of the poet.

The poem says so much about Gion; it resonates even to Filipinos who work in the area as entertainers. Since the late nineteenth century, Filipinos have been working as musicians, singers, and dancers in Japan.

And whether they just pour drinks in between dances or videoke songs or engage in other more “entertaining” activities, most of them have spent half if not their entire life in the city’s most famous entertainment district and have grown to love the colorful cityscape of Gion as if it was their own. I passed by a bar called “Love” which they say is one of oldest entertainment bars there and owned by a Filipina.

Gion is probably one of the best places to eat in Kyoto. The side streets cater to numerous shops and stores selling pastries, rice cakes, chestnuts, macha delicacies and ice cream. If you’re looking for the best okonomiyaki in Kyoto, Issen Yoshoku serves a distinct Kyoto style Japanese pancake.

Here you can dine in the funky and funny interior (with so many sexual innuendos from different illustrations on the wall decors) of

Mr. Nagatake, owner of the tea restaurant of the same name, taught us the art of preparing tea

the restaurant while seated beside a kimono-clad mannequin. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see a plastic statue of a man whose underpants is bitten off by a dog, hence exposing his lower body.

The night cityscape of Gion lights up the area, creating a magical place for any curious tourist. The best part to go to is the Pontocho Alley where you’ll find traditional shops and restaurants, some even a century old, passed down from one generation to the next. Tucked in the alley is the 45-year-old teahouse Nagatake. According to the owner of the same name, Nagatake means “long bamboo.”

The teahouse is quite expensive but Nagatake is an entertaining host and his wife cooks up good home-style Japanese food. Armed with customized potteries that he made himself, he prepared teas in different ways. Steeped in hot water, ice, small pots, and whisked in different kinds of macha. He says if you have good water, you’ll have a good cup of tea.

The Bamboo Grove of Arashiyama

Arashiyama is a little far from the center of Kyoto but there

are so many ways to reach it – whether by train, bus, or taxi, the sight of the mountainside is worth the distance.

The best time to go to this area is during the sakura blossom or the autumn season when the mountainside is enveloped in a colorful parade of pink, red or yellow. Locals come by to the Togetsukyo Bridge to relax and take a breather. The fresh air and the lovely chirping of the birds are good enough reasons to take a walk by the riverside.

Almost every corner you’ll chance upon good-looking buff guys in white shirts and shorts.

If we have our local “carrot boy,” here, they have their gorgeous and toned jinrikisha oniisan or good-looking rickshaw guys at Arashiyama. These muscled men will tour you around the picturesque scenery in their rickshaws. But a ride with these boys doesn’t come cheap; expect to pay ¥2000 (P800+) per person or ¥3000 for two for a 10-minute ride; ¥5000/¥8000 for 30 minutes; up to around ¥9000/¥15,000 (P6,446) for an hour.

Taking awesome solo selfies might be hard in the pathway of the Bamboo Grove as tourists Continued on C3

m onday : m ay 30, 2016

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

dId ThE Land down UndEr PUT mE UndEr? (ParT 2)

tipple tales By icy mariÑas

W

elcome back, dear imbibers, to the continuation of my adventures in Australia. In my last entry, I shared my experience in Sydney, as well as some information about the drinking culture in Australia. This time, I’ll tell you about my visit to Melbourne.

But first, a side note. One drinking custom that is markedly Australian is the “shout.” It basically means buying a round for your group, and once everyone has finished his drink, another one from the group will get a round and so on until everyone has bought a round. “Shouting” may seem like just your regular run-ofthe-mill thing of buying rounds for your group, but there are rules that need to be followed. It is considered bad form if you do not “shout” when it’s your turn to buy the round or if you buy cheaper drinks than what people in your group are already drinking without asking

Eu De Vie in Melbourne

them first. In a way, “shouting” also curbs binge drinking, as the rate of the entire drinking group hinges on the pace of the slowest person. It’s nice to know this when drinking in a big group.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I am impressed by the food and drinks in Australia. The people know how to do things well. The places I went to had both vision and execution. This is evident when I visited Magic Mountain Saloon where, bathed in red light, I enjoyed my first cocktail in Melbourne: The Armistice.

This crisp gin-based drink, described as “delicately balanced as a peace treaty between nations,” has strong notes of muscat grape liqueur and cherry bitters.

I also tried The Matador, a chilli-topped spicy tequila drink that is guaranteed to give you a swift kick or two.

The next bar I had the pleasure of visiting is now easily in my top three favorite bars ever: The Black Pearl. This bar, which has been around for nearly a decade and a half, has a very casual and laidback feel.

It is considered one of the best bars in the world and has won a multitude of awards (it has a shelf of plaques and trophies to prove it) and I can see why. Their in-house creations have been carefully curated and they are all spectacular. I also loved their menu, which is designed like an album of a baseball card collection.

The place was packed so I ordered a Bulliet and Briar (smooth, with just a perfect amount of tartness from the berries) from the bar and took them past the trademark arch and upstairs to the second floor bar, called The Attic. Here, the ambiance was more formal, a traditional speakeasy. The bartenders were cool and controlled the music. I had the Dos Hermanos (Calle 23 tequila, mezcal, and agave; well-balanced and smoky) and 28th Century (gin, lemon, white chocolate). This is definitely one of the places where I woud park myself and try all the drinks all day long. (Disclaimer: I am not an alcoholic, just a cocktail lover!)

Eu De Vie is another speakeasy I went to. True to form, it didn’t have a sign and I had difficulty finding it, even with the aid of the Google Maps. (I spent 30 minutes walking up and down the street staring into my phone’s GPS like a freak, till someone decided to go home and

The Armistice in Magic Mountain Saloon

exited the secret door.) It is also a multiawarded bar and its drinks are definitely up there in terms of quality. The Elk’s Own Horn (Rittenhouse, brandied cherries) is a dream.

I mentioned in the last column that I went to this continent to watch the Australian Open. And you’d think that this sport would be less fun than say, baseball or football, where spectators are drinking and loud. I’m going to burst your bubble because while of course during the matches people are respectfully quiet, there are food and beverage stalls in and around the stadium where you can drink before, during, in-between and after the games. I was fortunate enough to have access to the Kia Tent (one of the sponsors of the tournament), where there were freeflowing standards you could drink to your little heart’s delight: champagne, sparkling, red, and white wine, beers and ciders. It was great that people could have the pleasure of watching the game while drinking their favorite spirits.

I need to give a shout out to the other kind of liquid elixir: coffee. Melbourne seems to be the epicenter of the coffee

craze and like all the things I tried there, the coffee was fantastic. I had the coffee at Madamimadam, the palindrome brand that has an inkblot test as its logo. I had the Madam Reviver, which is described using words that hipsters love: handcrafted and small batch.

Australians love to drink and it is such a way of life that you can find great drinks wherever you go. A burger joint called Grill’d paired craft beers, wines and ciders with its burgers and schnitzel. I had Moet with ice at the Sheraton Melbourne, which was definitely a new experience. All around town, there were places to drink that would stretch your imagination. There were Ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails as well (loved the lemon-lime-bitters flavor). The list goes on and on.

Join me next week for the last installment of my Australian adventures. I will take you to a few wine estates and a distillery in the Yarra Valley area. Cheers!

Follow me on IG @sanvicentegirl and drop me a line for any questions and suggestions at dixiemarinas@gmail.com

Say hola to Gringo, your new amigo There’s a new food hub in Manila inspired by MexicanLatin cuisine that is set to be the favorite new amigo with its signature chicken and ribs.

Life is too short to not have good food and Gringo, a newly opened restaurant located at SM North EDSA, The Block, serves scrumptious MexicanLatin cuisine that makes diners feel as if they are on a feast. At Gringo, there’s no such thing as too much food with dishes will take the dining experience to a new level.

Gringo, according to Reagan Tan who is president and CEO of McWilson corporation and the person behind Honeybon Café and Tokyo Bubble Tea – is the friend you wish you had especially since he hosts the best parties and prepare a feast for friends.

Expect a variety of dishes in Gringo when it comes to taste and presentation, because surely, food needs to be Instagram worthy.

Gingo’s signature ribs, street tacos, Baked Mussels, crispy Nacho Grande and citrus cocktails

For starters, diners can enjoy the lip-smacking Baked Mussels covered in Mozarella – real cheesy goodness – to get their appetites going.

Gringo’s crispy Nacho Grande is everything nice put together in a big platter with a generous amount of serving that can be shared among friends or family. Worth your money and definitely delicioso!

While you’re at it, savor the meltin-your-mouth ribs glazed with the resto’s own barbeque sauce. This savory, sweet dish comes in half rack, full rack, and ribs muchos.

Gringo’s chicken is one of the most notable dishes on the menu.

It comes in Original (covered with Mexican-Latin spices rich in flavors) and Southern Spice in different herbs and spices with a

distinct Southern American flavor.

This flavorful dish is sure to keep anyone coming back for more. If that’s not enough, it also comes with sides of your own choice like Marbled Potato Salad, Mexican Rice, Okra and many more.

You can also try Gringo’s dishes with any of the sauces like lemon herb that can be used for any dish with different herbs and spices in a citrusy lemon flavor. The sauces also come in Hot and Spicy that will just keep you wanting more.

According to Louise Dizon, marketing manager of Gringo, their dessert, Mango Cream Sticky Rice, is something that diners won’t taste elsewhere. Because of its familiar taste and the mango and glutinous rice, it is often seen by many as very Filipino. However, it is in fact Mexican inspired.

Just like what the name of the restaurant stands for, this place is trendy with its cozy interiors and has a hip and modern feel to it that people of all ages will surely enjoy.

The ambience is inviting with a laidback feel and the friendly staff makes it a place for people to enjoy good food and relax.

If you want a good mix of savory, sweet, spicy and everything else in between for a Mexican-Latin cuisine, then Gringo is for you.

Food is more fun when shared so call your madre, padre, tio, tia, abuelo, abuela, amigo, amiga or just about anyone – and experience a real Mexican-Latin feast when you visit. Heaven is indeed a place on earth with these delectable dishes.

Gringo is set to open its second branch at The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. There are also plans to expand with more branches set to open in SM Megamall and UP Town Center within the year. – Eunice Cabuang You may also follow Gringo on Facebook (Gringochickenribs) and Instagram (@GringoPH) for more details. phoTo By STAr SABroSo

m onday : m ay 30, 2016

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

The placid waters of Lake Sebu is the perfect background for the T’Boli native

@LIFEatStandard

Paragliding in Sarangani

Sox IT To mE merCury rising

By BoB zozoBrado

W

hen people ask me what I know of SOCCSKSARGEN, I can only think of two things: Tuna and Manny Pacquiao.

One aquatic, the other erratic (as he goes from being a boxer to singer, evangelist, basketball player, absentee legislator, basketball coach, product endorser, senator and who knows what else in the future). But, going back to the topic at hand, the strange-sounding acronym is coined from the first letters of most of the provinces and cities of Region XII, in the southern part of the country – South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos.

Aside from this initial trivia, I really didn’t know much about the region. Then came to town the roadshow staged by Tourism industry members led by Nelly Nita Dillera, Department of Tourism regional director, and Michelle Solon, president of Go Sarangani Travel. They unveiled so many interesting things about

the region that are sure to attract those of us who are constantly on the lookout for new places to visit.

First up, they shortened the region’s acronym to “SOX,” for easier recall. Then they labeled the region as “The 12th Paradise,” inviting everyone to “SOX, Your Paradise, Now Open.” So, what is there to do and see after we say “Hello, Paradise?” A lot.

If it merited a multi-page feature in National Geographic, it must be interesting. I am referring to the T’Boli tribe, which is indigenous to South Cotabato and is known for its very attractive woven attire, with accents of beaded trinkets that are just as colorful. They give a cultural face to the region. They are known for their T’nalak weave, a traditional hand-woven cloth made of abaca fibers using three primary colors: red, black and the original color of the abaca leaves.

It is believed that the weavers see the intricate and creative patterns of the T’nalak in their dreams, and they cannot create a design unless they dreamed of it, which is why they are sometimes called the dream weavers.

What makes the T’nalak a cultural gem are the many beliefs attached to it. It is a prized possession at marriage. It is also used for childbirth, to ensure safe delivery. The cloth is also used for trading and whenever they sell

it, they put a brass ring around it to please the spirits. They also do not cut the cloth as it might cause them sickness.

Another attraction in the region is the placid Lake Sebu, over an area of 354 hectares, which is surrounded by rolling hills and mountains covered with thick rainforest. The lake itself is beautiful, idyllic and guaranteed to soothe frayed nerves by just being there to experience its tranquility. But for those who want more thrills, there are the seven cascading falls connected to the lake, most of which can be seen from the air through an exciting zip-line ride. The ride zips you through 740 meters from Falls #1 to Falls #5, and another 460 meters from Falls #5 back to the parking lot of Falls #2. Only these five falls are accessible to tourists as Falls #6 and Falls #7 can only be reached through long hours of trekking.

For more thrills, there is white water rafting in Sarangani, or more correctly named white water tubing because this one is done not with a raft or a rubber boat, but with the interior of a tire or tubing, or salbabida in local parlance. The tube which you ride on is attached to another tube where the guide rides. Because the flotation device is smaller, it allows more movement, thus affording more thrills and excitement for the rider.

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flock to the area any season of the year. The rows of bamboo are barricaded and visitors can only pass through the pathway. I was lucky to get invited behind the fence by a guy named Matsuyama who came from a generation of caretakers of the sacred grove.

They were having a picnic that afternoon celebrating with their family and friends as one of their sons just graduated from college.

They offered sake, and freshly cooked bamboo shoots that they unearthed from the ground while their son performed a kind of Japanese dance ritual, made for a man who is coming of age.

a mouthful of sake and whisky

If you will visit the famed Yamazaki Distillery, you better book online a month ahead as they only allow 20 visitors daily

Yamazaki Whisky Library houses over a thousand bottles of whisky around the globe

and the waiting list is always full. It was fully booked when I visited so I was only able to visit the museum, have whisky tasting, and drop by at the gift shop.

Inside the museum, you’ll get to learn about the history of Japanese whisky and Shinjiro Torii, the man who pushed the limits to create Japan’s first whisky.

With knowledge that he learned from the production of Scotch whisky, Torii sought Yamazaki, a

suburb of Kyoto, to build his first distillery. The distillery produces the best bottles of liquid gold in the market to date.

One highlight of the place is the Whisky Library that made me tipsy just by looking at it.

It houses thousands of whisky bottles from different parts of the globe – a dream library for whisky connoisseurs and whisky lovers. After touring the museum, visitors can partake of

Exciting white water tubing, with Manny Pacquiao in the lead

But the adventure tourism that has brought in many foreigners to Sarangani is paragliding. Last year, the province hosted the Paragliding World Cup where approximately 70 foreign and Filipino participants registered.

With the “push” given by our Department of Tourism, the region – with its perfect terrain for this sport – will soon be known as the Paragliding Capital of Asia.

There are many other interesting places to visit and things to do in SOX, the reason why Tourism industry members from the region are gung-ho

on their drive to attract more visitors. I, myself, was surprised to learn of all these beautiful attractions to discover in that part of the country, especially when I learned further that, even if I spend a week in the region, I will have something new to do or see every day.

This new information, indeed, whets my appetite for discovery!

I’m now firming up my travel schedule the rest of the year so I can swing by the region and will be able to say – SOX it to me!

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

yoUr MoNday CHUCKLE: doCToR To PaTIEnT: you are very sick.

PaTIEnT To doCToR: may I get a second opinion? doCToR aGaIn: yes, you are very ugly, too.

the whisky tasting counter. Since you’re inside the distillery, every shot is 100 percent cheaper than drinking your usual flight in a speakeasy bar.

When in Japan, you drink sake.

A trip to libation road in Japan wouldn’t be complete if you won’t try and learn about their national alcoholic drink. A visit to Fushimi, the central sake district, gives you an overview of sake production and its heritage. Just like whisky, production of sake also lies in good soil and water.

Fushimi’s underground water is perfect for sake production so a lot of breweries have set up shop here. Before you embark on museum hopping and sake tasting, there are a lot of activities that you can enjoy like taking a boat in the waters of Fushimi or dropping by some of the nearby temples and shrines like the famous Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine, with those red orange lines of torii that give respect to Inari, the god of rice.

Gekkeikan, one of the most popular sake companies in Japan, converted one of their old sake production houses as a museum where guests can learn how sake is made. The brand has been brewing sake for over 300 years and they’ve curated artifacts, from the first containers, first advertisements using both local and international figures, and old wooden machineries that ferment and create sake.

Japanese culture is very rich; the stories are endless and can be told countless of times but each experience is still very much unique for visitors. Almost everything the Japanese do is a work of art – from the architectural marvels of their temples and shrines, to the food that they serve on the table, the way they make their teas, sake, whisky, even the way they ferment their food. Even their toilets are works of art!

It’s worth coming back to over and again.

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Kinilaw na sugpo—one of the dishes available on ‘Lutong Bahay’ menu

@LIFEatStandard

Marriott Cafe turns the spotlight on the wide array of seafood that are sourced locally and sustainably

The TasTe of filipino heriTage

a

n expat living in the Philippines for a few years once told me that, unlike our neighbors in the region, the Filipino cuisine was “confusing.” And that while Vietnam is known for its fresh tasting fares and Thailand is popular for its deliciously spicy dishes, it is hard to distinguish the taste profile of our food offerings.

We have salted fish and meats, sweetened dishes, sour soups, steamed vegetables, savory roasted fares and ricebased desserts, among various others.

Blame it on the mixed cultures of our past conquerors and visitors, but despite labels such as “confusing,” “disconnected,” “a hodgepodge of fares,” we are proud of our culinary fare.

In celebration of the National Heritage Month this May, Marriott Manila’s all-day restaurant Marriot Cafe turns the spotlight on the diversity of Filipino food – whose flavors, ingredients, preparation, cooking techniques and presentation make them distinctly remarkable.

“We are featuring regional dishes all over the country and dishes like dinuguan, which are very popular with Filipinos but not so popular with foreigners so that we can make them experience how authentic our dishes can be,” Marriott Cafe sous chef Bryan Salarzon told The Standard Life.

The food promotion, dubbed Art-TasteTic, showcases “the best of Filipino cuisine” with a side dish of Filipino art, because while the 250-seater restaurant serves Filipino food favorites alongside dim sums and congee of the Chinese station and sushi and sashimi of the Japanese station, Marriott Manila invited Filipino contemporary artist Christian Regis to exhibit some of his artworks featuring Philippine festivals and popular heritage sites at the hotel lobby until the end of May.

By BernadeTTe lunas phoTos By sTar saBroso

Filipino food favorites such as Bulalong Batangas, sinigang and adobong manok sa gata await diners at Marriott Manila Hotel’s Marriott Cafe

“Food and arts collide here at Marriott Manila as we showcase the best of Philippine food and the best of Philippine arts,” says Marriott Hotel Manila director of Marketing Communications Michelle Garcia.

The vibrant colors and tempting aroma of Davao pomelo and shrimp salad, pako and lato salad, ensaladang mangga with crispy bagnet, tuna kinilaw, Bulalong Batangas, sinigang and sopas, line up the perimeter of Marriott Cafe. Kare-kare lovers are in for a treat as a station located in one corner lets diners make their own kare-kare using fish or meat and a choice of either the traditional peanut sauce or coconut-based sauce.

Appetizers have never tasted so good and sinful, among them chicharong bulaklak, kwek-kwek, lumpiang shanghai, crispy kangkong and tokwa’t baboy. The Philippines being a nation proud of its street food, Marriott Cafe also features pork gizzard skewers, chicken gizzard skewers and pork belly skewers – all of which pair perfectly with our local beers.

Quench your thirst with a glass or two of buko juice, buko pandan and gulaman available at the Samalamig station

The Fresh Catch of the Day station features buckets of crabs, shrimps, fishes and scallops that can be cooked depending on diners’ preference

Other local favorites include beef kaldereta, adobong manok sa gata, rellenong bangus and chopsuey. Because Filipino food is never complete without chicken inasal and lechon, the restaurant’s chefs, headed by executive chef Meik Brammer, also got the roast pig straight from the grilling station.

But the star of the buffet is the enticing array of fresh seafood at the Fresh Catch of the Day station. Diners are invited to grab a plate and take as much as they can from the buckets of crabs, shrimps, fishes, shellfish and scallops that are harvested daily from Navotas, and have them cooked by the chefs however they like it.

With these tasty viands, rice is undeniably mandatory.

Thankfully,

there are pinasingaw na kanin and kanin sa ginisang bagoong that would satisfy everyone’s carb cravings.

Put a sweet end to the meal with servings of buko pandan, leche flan, cassava cake, sapin-sapin, ube halaya, and halo-haloflavored gelato. Then wash them all down with fresh buko juice, or with melon, gulaman or buko pandan samalamig.

This Filipino food promotion is available until June 12. The buffet is available for dinner, starting at 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. To know more about the Philippine Heritage Month celebrations at Marriott Hotel Manila, call (02) 988-9999 or visit www.manilamarriott.com.

Catch the last days of summer with The Grove by Rockwell’s Tastes and Travels raffle promo!

Fancy a free trip to Bali or a relaxing staycation in Manila? Dine and shop at The Grove Retail Row until May 31 and get a chance to win an overnight stay in Aruga at The Grove or a trip for two to Bali.

The Grove by Rockwell will be raffling off two three-days, two-nights stays in a 2-bedroom suite at Aruga at The Grove and four round trip Cathay Pacific economy tickets to Bali in Indonesia.

For a single receipt of P500 at any establishment at The Grove Retail Row or a minimum purchase of P1000 at Rustan’s Supermarket, shoppers can avail of a raffle stub.

The promo is open to all The Grove

by Rockwell retail customers of legal age with a Philippine address. The first draw was held last April 18 and the second will commence on June 1. Raffle stubs can be dropped at the Redemption Booth located at The Grove sales lounge, The Grove by

Rockwell, at E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave, Ugong, Pasig City.

To know more about the raffle mechanics, visit The Grove by Rockwell on Facebook and @thegrovebyrockwell on Instagram.

m oNDAy : m Ay 3 0, 2016

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“Five” is a comedy film about a group of friends who take up the opportunity to live in Paris

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

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Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol,” a story of oFWs in Japan, is one of two local films featured in the festival

FREnch anD FIlIpInO ‘cInEma à l’hOnnEuR’

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he Embassy of France to the Philippines, the Alliance Française de Manille and Cebu, the Institut Français, the Alliance française de Manille and Cebu, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Ayala Malls Cinemas, SSI Group, Inc., and Central Square, present the 21st edition of the French Film Festival in the Philippines.

For 21 years, the French Film Festival in the Philippines has been offering an alternative venue for Filipinos to discover and appreciate a different kind of cinema, culture and language. While a loyal audience of cineastes and Francophiles has been following the festival annually, more and more casual moviegoers have been attending the French Film Festival, with over 15,000 recorded viewers in Manila and Cebu last year.

This year’s edition presents a line-up of 17 French films, released between 2014 and 2016, to be publicly screened in Manila from June 8 to 14 at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas and the Bonifacio High Street Cinemas. During Independence Day on June 12, the festival renews its tradition of putting the spotlight on Filipino films through the screening of two local films that have been featured at international film festivals in France: Lawrence Fajardo’s Imbisibol and Carl Joseph Papa’s animated film, Manang Biring.

Similar to last year, tickets for both cinemas are priced at P100 to cover the operational costs of the theaters and may be purchased at the cinema lobby or online through www.sureseats.com.

The Cinematheque Centre Manila of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will also screen a selection of French films throughout the week.

A greater appreciation for French cinema comes with a better understanding of the French language. Because of this, the Alliance Française de Manille will be offering a 10 percent discount for French language classes for every viewer of the French Film Festival at the Greenbelt 3 or Bonifacio High Street cinemas.

From there, the festival travels to Ayala Center Cebu and Abreeza Mall in Davao at the end of the month.

To formally open the French Film Festival in Manila, the red carpet will be rolled out on June 8 in honor of the cast and crew of Ma’Rosa, a

“Grand Central” is a multi-awarded French-Austrian romance film starring Tahar Rahim and Léa Seydoux

“Encore Heureux” is a 2016 French drama film written and directed by Benoît Graffin

“Belles Familles” is a comedy drama by acclaimed director Jean-Paul Rappeneau

film by director Brillante Mendoza selected in the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Competition.

French Ambassador Thierry Mathou said “the Philippines has made its mark in Cannes” through

the active presence of Filipinos in the prestigious festival, particularly with the screening of Brillante Mendoza’s Ma’Rosa in the Official Competition and Raymund Gutierrez’ Imago in the short film category.

He added, “By giving the Best Performance by an Actress Award to Jaclyn Jose for her role in Ma’Rosa, the jury showed the wealth of film creation in the Philippines.”

The glamor and prestige inspired by the Cannes Film Festival are brought to Manila’s red carpet event at Central Square by the SSI Group, Inc.’s collection of top French brands headlined by Lacoste.

The Peugeot Red Carpet Ride completes the experience as Peu-

geot Philippines provides a fleet to transport VIPs to Central Square.

A special screening of French director Maïwenn’s film, Mon Roi, will end the evening. For her role in the film, French actress Emmanuelle Bercot was given the Best Actress Award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

France, through its embassy in Manila, has remained supportive in efforts to preserve Philippine film heritage and assist up-andcoming local filmmakers in pursuing their projects and receiving training and experience abroad.

“In our two countries, culture plays a key role in the affirmation of national identity, and this is particularly true in the Philippines where cinema is a major part of society,” according to Ambassador Mathou.

“Despite the fact that cinema was popularized by Hollywood under the American period, French cinema remains the reference for independent movies.

This gives us a unique priority to support film creation in the Philippines,” he added.

In the absence of a co-production agreement between France and the Philippines, Filipino filmmakers may still benefit from French support through the Aide aux cinémas du monde (World Cinema Fund). Last year, Pepe Diokno, with his film Above the Clouds, was the first Filipino recipient of this fund.

This year, director Carlo Manatad and producer Armi Rae Cacanindin represented Asian cinema in Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde, a series of film production workshops organized by the French National Center for Cinema and Animation (CNC) and the Institut Français. Manatad and Cacanindin are currently working on their film A Wrong Season, which was inspired by the events of Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban.

For the screening schedule, visit www.frenchfilmfest.com. Share your French Film Festival story on social media using the hashtag #FrenchFilmFest21.

Film synopses, reviews, and the screening schedule are also easily available on your smartphone by downloading the French Film Festival app powered by ThinkBIT on Apple Store and Google Play.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/FrenchEmbassyManila.

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LIVIng SEpARAtE LIVES but REmAInS gooD fRIEnDS shTIcks JOsEph pETER GOnzalEs

D

espite the fact that they’ve already called it quits as a couple, it’s nice that Zanjoe Marudo and Bea Alonzo remained as friends. In fact, they were recently spotted together attending birthday parties of ABS-CBN and Star Magic executives. The Tubig at Langis male lead says, “Yes, Bea and I still communicate, especially through text messaging. We’re okay at this point. When we exchange text messages, it’s so normal. I can say that whenever we see each other in public, (let’s) say we have a mutual occasion to attend to, we’re not awkward.

We don’t feel afraid with each other’s presence. In short, we are comfortable, which I think is the best part.”

With this development, many of their fans ask if a future reconciliation is in the offing.

“Honestly, I don’t know. As of now, I cannot say. As I’ve said, what’s important is we’re not enemies.

We were able to maintain the friendship in spite of the fact that we’ve parted ways as sweethearts.

Let’s see. There are lots of possible things that can happen in the coming days.”

Given his positive outlook in handling things, it’s indicative that he has moved on already.

“Well, I don’t know. How would you know if one has really moved on? As for myself, I’m happy with the things that are presently happening in my life. I’m at peace with everyone and myself. Again, that’s what’s important there,” ends Zanjoe. ******** Jaclyn Jose recently brought huge honor to the Philippines after clinching the Best Actress plum at the 69th Cannes

Film Festival for her work in the movie Ma Rosa. This is the first time that a Filipino actress won in the prestigious international film fest. She stole the thunder away from established Hollywood acting stalwarts Charlize Theron, and Kristen Stewart and French acting icon Marion Cotillard.

The veteran actress wasn’t really expecting to bring home the bacon, so to speak. In her acceptance speech, she admitted: “I don’t what to say. I am so surprised!”

Despite her nervousness and surprise, Jaclyn didn’t fail to express her gratitude to her director Brillante Mendoza whom she has previously worked with in two critically acclaimed projects namely, Masahista and Serbis.

“He is such a brilliant director, a genius in the Philippines.”

At the end, the multi-awarded actress dedicated her award to the Philippines and its people.

“I would like to share this recognition to all the Filipinos who are here now---to my countrymen, to the Philippines!” Jaclyn stated. ******** With her pending 10-day vacation in UK and Italy, many of Eugene Domingo’s followers are curious if part of her agenda is to meet her alleged special foreigner friend.

“Should that really be the main reason? Meet a guy? And in Europe, huh!” she says.

According to the talented comedienne, she has company in her travel.

“I’ll be with a dear friend. And for the record, I’ve no one to meet there in particular. As to my special friend, let it just stay that way.

As far as I know, my vacation has nothing to do with said person.”

The former The Celebrity Bluff host reveals the vacation is for her to recharge.

“It’s just ten days so I have to make the most of it. It’s relaxation time for me and my friend,” Uge ended.

cROsswORD puzzlE 46 48 49 51 53

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Rapid transit 4 Bear constellation 8 Pantyhose shade 12 Charged particles 13 Hockey’s — Mikita 14 Window covering 16 Almost, in poems 17 Difficult to deal with (2 wds.)

19 Mock or knock 21 — de Janeiro

22 Rib, slangily 23 Seldom seen 25 Garage service 27 Pouring out 31 Unnerves 35 Fronton word 36 Pub sign (2 wds.)

38 Future fern 39 ORD guesses 41 Crack filler 43 Rabbit dish 44 Bronze coins

Ms. Burstyn Festive night Crowds in Beyond beautiful Gauge distance, with “off” 55 Trucker’s rig 56 Dweeb 59 Poet’s eye 61 Spurred on 65 Explorer or knight 68 Aloha in Rome 69 Dupe 70 Leaning Tower town 71 Technical sch.

72 Org. 73 Wagon pullers 74 Born as DOWN 1 — de vivre 2 Bridge bldr.

3 Casual top (hyph.)

4 Theater job 5 I-70 6 German coal region 7 Ear bone 8 Turtle-to-be 9 Zoom-in shots (hyph.)

10 Racetrack boundary 11 Middies’ sch.

Friends. bea Alonzo and Zanjoe marudo remain in good terms after their breakup

69th Cannes film fest best actress Jaclyn Jose

‘Doble Kara’ still tV’s top afternoon series Kapamilya afternoon series Doble Kara has kept its lead over rival shows and continues to draw viewers. It has hit another all-time high national TV rating recently.

The Julia Montes-led series conquered the afternoon programming on May 24 and won the hearts of the urban and rural viewers with a new all-time high national TV rating of 19.8, beating its rival shows with ease percent, according to data from Kantar Media.

Meanwhile, as the story continues, Kara (Julia Montes) has already accepted and moved on from the death of her daughter Is-

MONDAy, MAy 30, 2016

12 15 18 20 24 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 37 40 42 45 47 50 52 54 56 57 58 60 62 63 64 66 67

Host comedienne Eugene Domingo

Gary’s st.

Top NCO — be amazed!

“The Banana Boat Song” (hyph.)

— nous Univ. degrees Bounce Alma — Spinet, e.g.

London lockups Eminent Famous fountain Tacked Orange leavings Plugs Wire Health resort Verne’s sub commander Macbeth, for one Vitamin B component Blow, to a geologist Tolstoy title word Hunch Baseball honorees Crusty cheese Wine and — Loosen Period Smoking or —?

That, in Taxco

abella. Things will even get better as she meets Hannah, a girl from the orphanage where she works.

Along with the changes happening in her twin’s life, Sara also faces her own battle to make ends meet and give her daughter Rebecca the life she deserves.

Will Sara still be able to provide for her family alone? How can Hannah change Kara’s life?

Don’t miss the newest chapter of the top-rating afternoon teleserye Doble Kara, weekdays after It’s Showtime on ABS-CBN or on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Catch up via iWanTV or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.

Julia montes plays Kara and Sara in the top-rating series

m onDAy : m Ay 3 0, 2016

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Celebrating lifestyles with PhilStarTV.com

hilStar TV introduces a convenient way to celebrate lifestyle. Now, viewers can catch up on their favorite shows on PhilStarTV.com.

Designed with simple and userfriendly interface, PhilStarTV. com features every episode and segment of all PhilStar TV shows giving viewers access to their favorite programs anywhere, anytime. It also includes behind-thescene clips to give fans an inside look of the shows.

Launched in 2014, PhilStar TV is the lifestyle network of The Philippine Star and its shows are based on the newspaper’s well-loved sections, expanded to television.

PhilStar TV and PhilStarTV. com reinforce the newspaper’s strong presence in every media channel—from print to TV to digital—and its commitment to reach a wider audience and create more values for adver-

PhilStar TV is a lifestyle channel which shows are based on the newspaper’s wellloved sections expanded to television

tisers amid the ever-evolving media landscape.

“Crossing borders means reaching and gaining more audiences,” says The Philippine Star’s SVP for sales and marketing Lucien Dy-Tioco. “There have been

challenges, but thankfully, we came up with a brilliant print and TV positioning for our shows and we have successfully gained a bigger audience.”

PhilStar TV currently has three ongoing lifestyle shows.

Modern Living TV (MLTV), now on its fifth season of tackling living spaces and interior design with Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi and Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, airs on ANC every Saturday at 6 p.m. with replays at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday. Wheels with actor Matteo Guidicelli, and motoring journalists Kap Maceda Aguila, Ulysses Ang and Angel Rivero, tackles the latest in motoring and automotive and airs 10:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN Sports every Thursday.

Single/Single, the award-winning mini-series starring Shaina Magdayao and Matteo Guidicelli, depicts the changing lifestyles of millennials is now on its second season and airs on Cinema One every Sunday at 10 p.m. with replays every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Let’s Eat, a food reality series featuring the country’s top food and res-

taurants with hosts Spanky Enriquez and Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi, is set to make its second run this June.

With PhilStar TV’s print, TV and digital properties, Dy-Tioco says viewers can look forward to more engaging shows that aims to bring about interactions among like-minded people.

“We encourage our readers and viewers to speak their minds on matters that our programs tackle—living spaces, cars, financial literacy, health, dining, motherhood, and a lot more. With our expanded roster of platforms, we will build and foster new and progressive communities.”

PhilStar TV viewers can look forward to three more exciting programs soon – Trippies, At Home With Lucy and The Business Life. Keep logging on to philstartv.com for updates or follow @PhilStarTV on Instagram and Twitter.

Adam Levine reveals secret to his confidence

From Harry Potter to Walter mabry in the in the astounding caper thriller “now you See me 2, Daniel Radcliffe is mastering magic on the big screen

Daniel Radcliffe whips magic anew Best known for his role in the phenomenal worldwide hit franchise Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe enters the magic realm once again in the astounding caper thriller Now You See Me 2.

Directed by John M. Chu, Now You See Me 2 sees the master magicians known as the Four Horsemen return and elevate the limits of stage illusion to new heights to clear their names and ultimately expose the ruthlessness of a dangerous tech magnate.

One year after their astonishing Robin Hood-style magic shows win the public’s adulation and confound the FBI, the quartet resurfaces for a dazzling comeback performance that will make their previous escapades seem like child’s play. With the help of FBI Special Agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo), the Horsemen — J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and new addition Lula (Lizzy Caplan) — mount a meticulously planned surprise appearance, in hopes of exposing corrupt tech tycoon Owen Case (Ben Lamb).

But their scheme backfires, ex-

posing Dylan’s involvement with the Horsemen and sending all five of them back on the run. To regain their freedom and their reputations they are forced by wealthy recluse Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe) to recover an unimaginably powerful computer chip stolen by his treacherous former business partner — none other than Owen Case. The Horsemen soon find themselves once again squaring off against unscrupulous businessman Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine) and professional skeptic Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman) as they attempt to accomplish the most difficult heist of their careers — New addition Daniel Radcliffe joins the cast as Walter Mabry, a wealthy boy-wonder entrepreneur in hiding in a fabulous highrise apartment in Macau. “Daniel has displayed a lot of different sides throughout his career, but this playful, weird, demented side is something we’ve never seen,” explains Chu. What stood out for Radcliffe about the first film were the wide-ranging experiences of the accomplished cast.

“It’s such an amazing group of actors, all bringing such different things

from interesting and varied careers,” the actor says. “They seemed to be having such a great time together and that’s really compelling for an audience to watch.”

A mystery man with a complicated proposal for the Horseman, Mabry will not take no for an answer. His background may be high tech, but his passion is magic.

“Jon has done a fantastic job,” Radcliffe says. “To take on something of this magnitude requires real vision. He breaks down immense sequences into streamlined storytelling in a way that is wonderful to watch. There’s a crucial sequence in which the Horsemen have to steal something right under people’s noses. Jon created an incredibly cool, complicated scene that uses stage magic to pull off the heist in a way that hasn’t been seen before on screen.”

There is something about magic that reduces us all to children, believes Radcliffe. “Sleight-of-hand is very hard, but some of the best tricks in the world are so incredibly simple and effective.”

Now You See Me 2 opens June 8 in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films.

He is the lead singer of the Grammy Award winning band, Maroon 5, and Adam Levine has made a name for himself with a signature voice that is sure to sweep women off their feet. Maroon 5’s releases have gone gold and platinum, setting records for most no.1 singles and he’s been a judge on the Emmy Award-winning The Voice. He also starred in the indie film Begin Again, where his 222 Records label track Lost Stars was nominated for a Best Original Song at the Academy Awards.

While most women are swooned by the “Sexiest Man Alive” of 2013 with his hot looks and remarkable talent, men also aspire for the same kind of charisma and confidence that he evokes. Like most of us, Adam Levine, as a young adult, struggled to regain his confidence.

He suffered from severe acne breakouts, which took away much of his confidence and forced him to stay away from the crowd.

“I was just ashamed of my acne,” Adam shared. “I had horrible breakouts. I would hide from cameras, hide in my room. Acne just shows up and causes trouble and it messes with my confidence.” And even today, when his schedule gets busy, the stress can take a toll on his skin. “I am a very active person and it kind of lead to zits, which is unfortunate but a reality for me,” he chuckled.

“My life for now is unbelievably busy and I feel fortunate and blessed every day,” Adam said. He also shared that unlike most people’s belief about celebrities having to look so good on screen or otherwise, they also suffer from the same skin problems that make many people lose their self-confidence and hide away from many of the good things in life. “I always want to make sure that people understand that even though we are celebrities or successful, we are no different than anybody else.”

maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine shares his three easy steps to clear skin

Fortunately, America’s no.1 acne treatment system, Proactiv Solution, gave him the answer to his acne problems. Proactiv’s 3-Step System is dermatologistdeveloped and is designed to help clear existing acne and prevent future outbreaks, while gently taking care of the skin. “It is so great that there is something out there now, that is legitimate,” Adam added.

It takes no more than five minutes to complete this system, which is great for busy people like Adam Levine. Each Proactiv kit comes with a free Refining Mask that helps keep skin clear and acne-free. Formulated with sulfur, a proven acne-fighting ingredient, reaches deep into the pores where blemishes begin. The Refining Mask unclogs pores, pampers inflamed skin, and softens the skin’s texture.

Now with clear skin, Adam Levin no longer feels the need to hide. “It is game changer; it treats acne and treats your skin right,” Adam said. “As a guy, I don’t like a lot of male acne products. But with this, its three easy steps and you’re doing all you need to do.”

m oNDAy : m Ay 3 0, 2016

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

“Tiniente Gimo” is a modern retelling of the legend of “tik-tik” and “aswang”

ThE lEgEnD ThaT Is TEnIEnTE gImO ISAH V. RED

I

n Iloilo, circa 1950s, legend has it that a barangay captain in the town of Dueñas belonged to a clan of aswang. The leader of that clan was called Teniente Gimo, and he was believed to be responsible for the many unexplained deaths where the victims were found without their hearts and kidneys.

Teniente Gimo had a wife, Melba, and a daughter, Ella. According to the legend, Teniente Gimo’s men mistakenly killed Ella to be served as the main course at the town fiesta. This story makes for a good horror movie, but KIB Production and RMS Productions give us another interesting angle, combining horror with romance and comedy.

Based on the urban legend, the movie Teniente Gimo will show how Gimo had affected his daughter’s relationship with a young man named Victor.

Playing a major part in the conflict is a man named Gado whose angst towards Gimo intensified when his own family fell prey to the aswang. Also holding a grudge against Gimo is his former love flame, Ursula, who teams up with Victor in a mission to fight the aswang as well as other vile creatures called tik-tik and wak-wak. Joining them are Victor’s older friend, Bentong, and Lolo Ambo, a known nemesis of the said mythical creatures. This battle puts the entire community in total chaos.

Directed by Roland M. Sanchez, this movie employs proven cinematic technique (e.g. quick frantic cuts) that builds the suspense and provides jump scares.

The romance-comedy aspect of the film is enhanced by the well placed and carefully crafted hugot lines that today’s youth are so crazy about. The sequences are fast paced and the dialogues are realistically penned and drawn from everyday lingo and real-life experiences.

An old woman who claims to have witnessed all the things presented in the movie surrounding the life of Gimo in the ‘50s narrates the film. Finding out the identity of this old lady is expected to be interesting for the viewers.

Teniente Gimo stars John Regala in the title role, Julio Diaz, Mon Confiado, Suzette Ranillo, Eliza Pineda and Joshua Dionisio as the star-crossed lovers Ella and

John Regala (center) plays teh title role in the movie

Joshua Dionisio and mon Confiado in a scene from the comedy horror Directed by Roland m. Sanchez

Victor, and Kate Brios. It opens nationwide on June 1, distributed by VIVA Films.

Teri malvar is 2016 screen International Rising star asia awardee Honor Thy Father, Hamog, and Apocalypse Child are among the 15 films chosen to be screened at the New York Asian Film Festival.

Cinema One Originals teen actress Teri Malvar made waves in 2013 when she beat Superstar Nora Aunor in the Best Actress category during the 2013 Cine Filipino Film Festival. Three years later, the young actress is now a recipient of the 2016 Screen International Rising Star Asia award in the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).

The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) has also officially announced the 15 titles, which they described to be the “most cutting edge line-up yet,” to be screened from June 22 to July 9. Out of

the 15 promising films, three are proudly Pinoy made: Erik Matti’s religious crime drama Honor Thy Father, Ralston Jover’s noir youth drama Hamog (Haze), and Mario Cornejo’s sensual surfing film Apocalypse Child.

It can be remembered that Malvar also won Best Actress in the 2015 Cinema One Originals awards night. Director Ralston Jover’s Hamog, a story on the lives of four street children who are caught in a web of consecutive and unforeseen tragedies, reaped four recognitions including Best Editing, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and the coveted Jury Award.

Teri Malvar is recognized for her performances in “daring roles that have expanded the range of contemporary Philippine cinema.” She is best known for playing promising roles in Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita, Jover’s Hamog, and Ice Idanan’s Sakaling Di Makarating.

Rising star Teri malvar wins another acting award