The Standard - 2016 June 04 - Saturday

VOL. XXX  NO. 112  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  SATURDAY : JUNE 4, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

JAPANESE ENVOY OFFERS SUPPORT

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RODY CURSES UN Offers no apology to ‘vultures’ in media

By John Paolo Bencito

DAVAO CITY—President-elect Rodrigo Duterte launched a profanity-laced tirade against the United Nations while criticizing it for being too weak to fix problems in the Middle East and Africa.

In a seemingly unprovoked attack on the UN at a Thursday night press conference, Duterte vented his anger in response to a question about foreign media groups that were critical of him.

“That’s the trouble here, they’re always raising fears about this or that United Nations convention,” Duterte said, even though the journalists’ criticism had not been linked to UN protocols.

“F--- you UN, you can’t even solve the Middle East carnage... couldn’t even lift a finger in Africa… [where they are] butchering the black people there. shut up all of you.”

Duterte, 71, had been incensed by the criticism of foreign and local media groups to his comments earlier in the week that corrupt journalists were legitimate targets of assassination.

Explaining his stance on corrupt jour-

nalists, Duterte said on Tuesday that one murdered reporter who was a vocal critic of his leadership deserved to die.

Duterte refused to apologize on Thursday and warned the media: “Don’t f--- with me.”

Later, however, he promised his attitude would change once he becomes president, and told reporters he was just enjoying his remaining days as “a rude Next page person” while he still can.

Heat of the moment. President-elect Rodrigo Duterte rants against journalists during a press conference in Davao City on June 2. Duterte announced on Friday that he would no longer hold press conferences and will just rely on government television network PTV-4 for his public information needs. AFP

NEW PEACE TRACK PUSHED

By John Paolo Bencito

DAVAO CITY—The new government’s incoming peace negotiator Silvestre Bello III said Friday the Duterte administration will explore “a new track of negotiation” to speed up peace talks with the communists.

Bello’s statement came as the National Democratic Front said that they will insist that the incoming government junk the country’s military treaties with the United States in the Philippines as a “non-negotiable” condition for peace talks, despite the recent sea row with China.

“We will see if we can find a new track of negotiation in which key issues would be discussed simultaneously so we can fast-track things,” Bello said in an interview.

Talks with the left have been ongoing since the Ramos administration, but they have never succeeded in ending the communist insurgency.

NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili said Thursday that a junking of Visiting Forces Agreement and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US would be one of their conditions for reaching a truce with the incoming government.

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PIMENTEL EXPECTS SMOOTH SAILING

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JAPAN OFFERS PH HELP IN SEA ROW

By Vito Barcelo

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday congratulated President-elect Rodrigo Duterte for his victory as he urged the incoming president to push for multilateral talks in settling the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Katsuyuki Kawai, special advisor to Abe, went to Davao to extend the Japanese prime minister’s congratulations to Duterte and conveyed Japan’s “constant support” to Manila’s move to bring its disputes with China before an international tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.

“I personally talked with your presidentelect regarding the South China Sea issue. I personally think that a multilateral dialogue will be very important and very beneficial for all the countries which are engaged to that issue,” Kawai told reporters in a press conference at the Japanese Embassy.

Duterte had earlier said that bilateral talks would be the likely diplomatic track to be followed in the effort to untangle the territorial conflict with China in the disputed waters.

However, incoming Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said the statement should not be taken as policy statement, because he is not yet president.

The Philippines and China are contesting sovereignty over a small group of rock formations known as Scarborough shoal in the South China Sea, about 124 nautical miles

off the main island of Luzon.

A variety of conflicting claims over islands and other formations in the South China Sea have set China against the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Some of those disputes have drawn the United States to press China over the sovereignty claims in the resource-rich maritime area.

Tension has risen in the past several years over worries China is becoming more assertive in its claims to the seas, believed to be rich in oil and gas and straddling shipping lanes between East Asia and Europe and the Middle East.

Duterte said he would wait for the final decision of the court on Manila’s case, but at the same time pursue bilateral talks with China if current efforts prove futile.

Kawai said Japan respects the rule of law and the pursuit of peaceful resolution of the conflicts through arbitration—a position long held by the Philippines.

He also briefed Duterte on the G7 leaders’ declaration in Japan where they reaffirmed the importance of resolving dispute

by peaceful means, including arbitration.

Kawai said he and Duterte “reached consensus” on three points: Reaction to the ruling of the arbitral tribunal is very important; freedom of navigation must be maintained; and Japan and Philippines should promote cooperation in security area.

Kawai, meanwhile, said there was no standing invitation from Abe for Duterte to go on a state visit to Japan, but said he believes both leaders “will be able to build good chemistry with each other” if they meet in the future.

“Mr. Duterte is very frank and sincere and also a very decisive new leader as well as our prime minister. So if they meet each other in the future, they will be very good friends so I hope that day is coming soon,” Kawai said.

In Washington, US President Barack Obama asked Congress to ratify contentious UN maritime rules Thursday, hoping to strengthen his hand in a dangerous stand-off with Beijing over the disputed South China Sea. Addressing the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, Obama said that Congress should approve UN rules designed to peacefully resolve maritime disputes.

Obama’s presidency has seen escalating diplomatic and military tensions over Beijing’s claim to territory throughout the South China Sea. It is also pivotal to China’s effort to transform the focus of its navy from coastal defense to a “blue water navy” capable of projecting power across the region. With AFP

Center of attraction. President-elect Rodrigo Duterte clarifies a point to journalists in Davao City on June 2 after he warned

journalists he would be unable to guarantee their safety, brushing off criticism over his previous comments that murdered corrupt reporters deserved their fate. AFP

Peace...

From A1

“From the very beginning, we have always stood on the basis of principled self-respect and national sovereignty. We cannot allow the presence of US military bases here,” Agcaoili said in a press briefing.

At a Tuesday press briefing, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines would not rely on the US, its longstanding ally, in dealing with Beijing over their territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea. However, the country will remain “an ally of the west,” hon-

oring its commitments with its long-time ally, he said.

Ratified by the Senate just eight years after casting a historic vote in 1991 that evicted the US bases, the VFA allows combat exercises between American and Filipino troops each year.

The Edca, on the other hand, permits the US to build structures, store as well as pre-position weapons, defense supplies and materiel, station troops, civilian personnel and defense contractors, transit and station vehicles, vessels, and aircraft for a period of 10 years.

In a Skype interview, Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison con-

firmed he will return to the country within the next three months —ahead of the resumption of formal peace talks between the government and communist movement.

“I will be surrounded by people I trust. On Duterte’s side, he will make sure that there will be no upsets in the peace negotiations,” he said.

Sison has not returned to the country since 1987 when he left to live in exile in the Dutch city of Utrecht, after the collapse of the first peace talks between the rebels and the government under the late President Cory Aquino.

Sison will remain as chief po-

litical consultant of the NDF, the communist party’s political wing, which represents the Communist Party, the New People’s Army and their allies in the talks.

Luis Jalandoni will remain chairman of the NDF peace panel. Sison’s wife, Juliet, will be among its members.

Sison said that the resumption of the formal peace talks will focus on discussions on a comprehensive agreement on socio-economic reforms.

At the same time, Sison said there would be no need to integrate the NPA, the communists’ armed wing, into the military or the police.

Rody...

From A1 “I am not yet president. Just wait. I’m really a rude person. I’m enjoying my last time as a rude person,” Duterte told reporters.

Describing himself as a “caterpillar,” Duterte said he will “blossom into a butterfly.”

“I’m telling you how I’m going to behave. There’s going to be a metamorphosis. Suddenly from a caterpillar, it blossoms into a butterfly,” he said.

Duterte, whose controversial remarks have outraged various groups, also promised the public that they will see a toned down Duterte when he takes his oath as president.

“I have to tone down on my cursing.

That [is]… going to be history. I have to concentrate more on what happens to this country and to develop it and to make it progress along the way. And there’s a lot of things which I have to do to complete [the task],” he said.

Some 174 journalists have been murdered since the Martial Law regime was lifted three decades ago.

The United Nations has made no recent criticism of Duterte, who has been mayor of Davao for most of the past two decades and will be sworn into office on June 30.

But in 2008, then-UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Philip Alston highlighted concerns about unsolved murders in Davao.

“A death squad operates in Davao City, with men routinely killing streetchildren and others in broad daylight,” Alston said in a report.

Human rights groups have accused Duterte of links to the so-called Davao Death Squads, which they say have murdered more than 1,000 people.

Duterte has variously denied and acknowledged links to them.

But he has been unequivocal that thousands of criminals will be killed when he takes office and unleashes security forces in an unprecedented war on crime.

One of Duterte’s main election campaign pledges was to end crime within six months of taking office.

Duterte courted further controversy by wolf whistling a female journalist, then responding to her husband’s outrage by insisting he was not sexually harassing her.

Duterte minced no words on journalists, saying he offered no apologies to the “vultures” in media.

He began by saying that there were three kinds of journalists: the crusaders, the mouthpieces of vested interests, and the lowlife who extort money and destroy reputations.

“Do not ever think that I am here to beautify journalists. That is not my business. Now, in the matter of killings of journalists, it happens everywhere,” Duterte told reporters.

“There are crusaders telling the truth—they hit big businesses and those who cannot tolerate the truth. They do not accept money and what is important to them is their profession and telling the truth to the whole world.

“The second one is the mouthpiece of vested interests—it could be mining, it could be anything. Something like an agent for whatever and those engaged in a business or enterprise which needs to be defended. They are also publicists and PRs. “The third [are] the low life of journalists—they are the ones who travel and accept money from illegal sources like jueteng and in return, keeping their mouths shut. They receive money from those guys whose greed is unlimited.

They are paid hacks. Now, they ask for more if there’s nothing coming their way.

They talk more and destroy people and families—and they die. With AFP

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Hopes high for confirmation SOME of the Cabinet appointees of newly proclaimed President Rodrigo Duterte are not popular, but Senator Aquilino Pimentel III hopes the powerful Commission on Appointments will confirm them.

He expects the unknown appointees, to breeze through the commission because of Duterte’s popularity.

“Actually, he has named some unknown personalities that we still have to find out the background of some of these people, and that’s a good sign,” said Pimentel, president of the PDP-Laban party where Duterte is chairman.

He made his statement even as the head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office on Friday wished his replacement the best.

“I wish him all the best. I am prepared to assist him in terms of ensuring a smooth transition,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a message to his successor Martin Andanar Andanar, a television anchor, will be appointed head of the PCOO, which supervises the government’s media organizations.

Pimentel also said he did not see any problems with the composition of Duterte’s official family.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said he hoped the incoming Cabinet would perform well because most of the appointees were known in their respective fields. He said some of them had already served the government.

Pimentel said Duterte was not likely to give Vice President-elect Leni Robredo any Cabinet position.

“The president is not under any obligations to offer a Cabinet position to the [incoming] vice president.

The Constitution says that if ever the VP is given a post, he or she does not have to go through confirmation, that is all,” Pimentel said.

But Angara expressed optimism Robredo would eventually be given a Cabinet post.

“We should not rush the incoming president because there are still plenty of vacant positions in the Cabinet and other agencies. The President can even create a new agency to accommodate the vice president,” he said. Macon Ramos-

Araneta and Sandy Araneta

Caravan. Members of the Office of Muslim Affairs hold a caravan along the streets of Manila on Friday in anticipation of the coming Ramadan or the Holy Month of Fasting. DANNY PATA

Cayetano disagrees with Rody’s wolf-whistling SENATOR Pia Cayetano, a women’s rights advocate, on Friday said she supports President-elect Rodrigo Duterte but disagrees with his “catcalling.”

Duterte whistled at GMA anchorwoman and news reporter Mariz Umali when she asked him how he would deal with Cabinet members who would fail to perform in his administration.

He drew flak from several media and women’s organizations as a result.

Cayetano, an outgoing senator, made the statement in response to twitter users

who asked about her stand on Duterte’s wolf-whistling during a press conference in Davao City.

“I support the president, but I don’t agree with the whistling,” tweeted Cayetano, an elder sister of Senate Majority Leader Alan Cayetano, Duterte’s defeated running mate.

She replaced her brother Lino as representative of the lone district of Taguig City.

Replying to more tweets, she said: “I don’t condone catcalling. Period. Back-

read please to see my other statements.”

Cayetano, who heads the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, also said she “can’t answer for” Duterte as she was not his spokeswoman.

“What I say to the president, I will tell him personally, not on Twitter,” she said.

For failing to respond when asked if she still supported Duterte, Cayetano received this message: “So that’s it, no strong statement of disagreement. It’s so sweet of you ma’m.” Macon Ramos-Araneta

Labor groups hail Maglungsod

Exhibit. In celebration of Independence Day on June 12, Philippine Postal Corp. in cooperation with SM City Manila, launched the Philpost Heroes and Legends Exhibit on Friday. LINO SANTOS

VARIOUS labor groups on Friday welcomed the remark of an incoming labor official that he would put an end to contractualization once Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte assumed office.

Former Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglungsod said he would talk to Duterte to certify as urgent a bill in Congress that would make contractualization illegal.

The Nagkaisa labor coalition said ending contractualization was among the issues being advocated by the Duterte administration.

Maglungsod, who was chosen by Duterte to be an undersecretary in the Department of Labor and Employment, vowed to end contractualization in labor.

Also known as “endo” (end of contract) or “5-5-5”, contractual work is the hiring of workers for only five months. This is to avoid making them

permanent employees once they have worked for six straight months as provided by law.

Contractual workers have no security of tenure and benefits and are paid low wages compared with regular workers.

“The mayor president-elect made it clear to stop contractualization. The department order legalizing contractualization must be abolished immediately upon Mayor Duterte’s assumption of office,” Maglungsod said.

He said that in the 14th Congress, as a representative of the Anakpawis party-list, he authored a Regular Employment bill which, he said, he would suggest that Duterte to certify as urgent to oppose contractualization.

He also said he would fight for increased wages and coordinate with big business in implementing a reasonable and just wage hike. Vito Barcelo

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Miriam: Politics despoils my soul

By Macon Araneta

Great Plebeian. A worker

spruces up the monument of 19th century revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, also known as the Great Plebeian, in Caloocan City ahead of the 118th Independence Day celebration on June 12.

MANNY PALMERO

Taguiwalo rejects Soliman’s ‘hypocrisy’

By John Paolo Bencito DAVAO CITY—Contrary to her controversial predecessor, the incoming Social Welfare Secretary Dr. Judy Taguiwalo promised Friday that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte will not hide street dwellers when foreign dignitaries visit the Philippines.

“I don’t think the incoming president is going to hide the urban poor communities [when] international dignitaries are here.

We very much criticize that,” Taguiwalo told radio dzMM. Taguiwalo said that doing so is “mere hypocricy” and she will refrain from doing such actions when she assumes office at the

end of June.

Taguiwalo pointed out that while the government’s conditional dole program, more popularly known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will continue, it is still a temporary solution to the rooted problem of poverty in the country.

Saying the 4Ps is just a “bridg-

ing program” that seeks to assist the “poorest of the poor” until they find stable sources of income, she said that the incoming administration will cut the gaps in the program to address effectively to those who needed the program most.

“What we want to look at is the implementation. There are reports of selectivity. Not everyone who really needs the program are being reached. There is still an element of patronage there. We also want to check if it is being used to campaign as well as used for antiinsurgency,” she said.

Taguiwalo’s outgoing predecessor in the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Corazon Soliman was heavily

criticized over allegations that the agency cleared street dwellers during the visit of Pope Francis and during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Manila.

Soliman and DSWD came under fire when 100 homeless families were brought to a resort in Batangas during the visit of Pope Francis in January, supposedly to attend a seminar. But the social welfare chief maintained the families were provided assistance, including shelter and employment opportunities.

Soliman vehemently denied such allegations, saying that “they are not hiding homeless people as poverty itself cannot be cloaked.”

SAYING she intends to fully recover from her illness, the cancer-stricken Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said she is rethinking the political life because it is “very soul-devastating.”

Santiago did not elaborate in a statement she dictated to her secretary but she said she was buoyed by the prayers and greetings she received on her social media accounts after she was reported to have been admitted to the intensive care unit of the Makati Medical on May 31.

Santiago’s husband, former Commissioner Jun Santiago, said the senator developed pneumonia, a complication of the lung cancer that she has been battling for the past two years.

But the senator is now in stable condition and is on her way to recovery, her husband said.

The senator was discharged from the ICU and returned to her own private room on Thursday.

She first announced in July that she was suffering from lung cancer. But still, she managed to crack joke about her cancer and said her enemies might be happy because she might die and then they could get rid of her.

“On the other hand, I might survive and I’ll get rid of them,” said Santiago, adding that she’s very over her cancer since she’s entering another dimension of human life.

Santiago also said she was taking a “miracle drug,” which has the effects of chemotheraphy, in the hope of arresting the cancer.

Despite feeling the symptoms, Santiago filed her Certificate of Candidacy for president in October last year and joined the race for the country’s highest elective post. She occasionally appeared in various speaking engagements, mostly with the youth as her audience.

River data stream launched

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Public Works and Highways said casualties from floods will soon be minimized with the launching of its Steamflow Management System website that would monitor the flow of rivers during and after heavy rains.

The DPWH said that through monitoring of the flow of rivers in the event of heavy rains or typhoons, residents living in flood-prone areas would be immediately informed on the possible flooding to avoid casualty.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said the department has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development

Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability for the project that will transform DPWH’s current stream flow data sets into digitized format.

The DPWH public portal will serve as a source of open data for monitoring and management of river flows in the country, incorporating measures to flood mitigation and management.

“For a while now, access to river flow information is limited and has been only available upon request. With the launching the SMS website, we will have accessible records and maps of river flow stations initially from river gauging stations in Regions 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12,” Singson said.

The SMS website, which will be handled by DPWH Bureau of Design - Water Projects Division (BODWPD), is expected to be fully operational by October 2016.

“It will eventually operate on a nationwide scale and will be beneficial in terms of water resource regulation, flood control and management, in localized disaster risk planning, and in coming up with water resources development plans across the country,” added Singson.

The USAID Be Secure Project was requested by DPWH to provide technical assistance in advancing the data gathering technology through the Streamflow Management System website.

The making of a president. A woman examines one of the photographs at the

SMX Convention Center in Pasay City as part of an exhibit called ‘Duterte, The Making of a President.’ DANNY PATA

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CA: Smartmatic-TIM won bidding

By Rey E. Requejo The Court of Appeals has reversed and set aside the temporary restraining order issued by the Manila City court enjoining the implementation of a resolution by the Commission on elections declaring Smartmatic-TIM Corp. as winner in the lease of votecounting machines in the recently concluded elections.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Melchor Sadang, the CA’s Ninth Division granted the Comelec’s petition assailing the issuance of TRO by Judge Cicero Jurado of Manila City Regional Trial Court, Branch 11, enjoining the poll body from implementing its resolution declaring Smartmatic TIM as the bidder with the lowest calculated responsive bid for the lease of the VCMs for the May 9 polls.

The appellate court ruled that respondent judge committed grave abuse of discretion in issuing the TRO. “The Order dated July 16, 2015 of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 11, Manila is reversed and set aside and said court is permanently enjoined/prohibited from enforcing said order. The complaint for injunction of plaintiff Agan Montenegro Malagasa and Co. is dismissed,” the CA Hazard. During the rainy season, this creek full of garbage along Lapu-Lapu Avenue, Malabon City is a sanitation problem that causes stressed. floods. ANDREW RABUlAN Smartmatic-TIM provided more than 92,000 vote-counting machines after winning the two separate public biddings conducted by the Comelec.

Prior to the resolution’s implementation, it was questioned before the Manila City RTC by Agan Montenegro MalaBy Sara Susanne D. Fabunan going President Benigno Aquino III which Philippines or overseas. The only thing, increases the tax-exempt value of items sent I guess, he [Duterte] should try to imgasa and Company (AMMC), one of the plement is to make sure that the jobs are A CAThOLIC Bishop on Friday lauded the by OFWs to their families back home. prospective bidders.

The CMTA increases the tax exemption decent, and that OFWs are well-protectnew law increasing the tax-exempt value Acting on AMMC’s petition, Judge ceiling from P10,000 to P150,000 a year, ed,” he said in a statement posted on a of items sent by migrant workers to their

Jurado issued a TRO on July 16, 2015 enfamilies, stressing that such a development provided that the goods are not in commer- CBCP website. joining the Comelec from implementing Quoting the Scalabrinians’ founder, was "advantageous" to overseas Filipino cial quantities. its assailed resolution. ‘‘With increased tax exemptions custom Blessed Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, Prigol workers.

This prompted the Comelec through Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos of the officials don’t have to strictly inspect ba- stressed that “‘Migration is a right, but the the Office of the Solicitor General to file bishops’ Commission on Migrants and likbayan boxes, and so stealing some items duty of the State is protection." a petition before the CA assailing the “The Government, the Department of Itinerant People said such new law is cer- or destruction of balikbayan boxes will be ruling of Judge Cicero, arguing that the avoided,’’ Santos said.

Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Overseas tainly a “good news” for the OFWs. lower court committed grave abuse of Relatedly, while incoming President-elect Employment Administration and other “It’s a relief and assurance for our discretion in issuing the TRO. OFWs as they can pay less to send ba- Rodrigo Duterte cannot stop Filipinos from concerned state agencies should protect the It also stressed that the petition filed likbayan boxes and they can send more seeking employment overseas, Portuguese Filipino migrants, especially when they are

by AMMC is infirmed and that the reto their loved ones,” Santos said on the Fr. Paolo Prigol, head of the Missionaries overseas,” the priest added. spondent was not entitled to injunctive Prigol cited common OFW complaints website of the Catholic Bishops Confer- of St. Charles’ Apostleship of the Sea in the relief.

Philippines, said the administration should about abuse overseas, neglect by the deence of the Philippines.

Associate Justices Celia Librea-LeagoSantos was referring to the signed Repub- include in its agenda the protection of the ploying agencies, and scant assistance from government agencies during emergo and Amy Lazaro-Javier concurred lic Act 10863 or the Customs Moderniza- overseas Filipino workers.

“You are free to find a job here in the gencies and repatriation. with the ruling. tion and Tariff Act (CMTA) signed by out-

Tax-exempt value of balikbayan boxes hiked

Vatican: Lipa Marian apparition has ‘no supernatural origin’

By Ferdinand G. Patinio

Anti-child abuse. From L-R: Dr. Dinah Palmera Nadera, a researcher from the Psychological Support and Children’s Rights Resource Center (PSCRRC); Dennis O Brien, the country director of Plan International; Dr. Tess Galang and Dr. Sucelle Czarina Deacosta from the Psychological Support and Children’s Rights Resource Center during the Oplan International Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children and Adolescents in Metro Manila Discussion Forum held at Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City. The Philippines ranked fourth among nine nations with the highest number of child prostitutes, with estimates ranging from 60,000 to 100,000 victimized. MANNy PAlMERo

A CAThOLIC Church official said they will follow the decision of the Vatican on the alleged Marian apparition which happened more than 60 years ago in Lipa City, Batangas.

According to Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Socrates Villegas they will obey what the holy See has said.

“Rome has spoken. The case is closed.

We all obey. We always obey the holy See,” Villegas said in a text message.

The Vatican has issued a decree stating that the reported apparition of the Virgin Mary to a Carmelite nun, Teresita Castillo or Teresina, at the Carmelite monastery in

Lipa, Batangas in 1948, has no “supernatural origin.”

Lipa Bishops Mariano Gavial and Ramon Arguelles have both declared that the Marian apparition was worthy of belief.

Recently, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Roman Curia sent a communique to the Lipa Diocese reiterating that Pope Pius XII already ruled in 1951 that the apparition had no supernatural origin and that no miracle occurred. “her being the mother of Jesus is our first and constant reason for honoring her,” Villegas said.

The Lingayen-Dagupan prelate added, “We do not need apparitions to honor the Blessed Virgin.” PNA

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Makati senior citizens get cash gift today MoRE than 72, 800 senior citizens of Makati City will receive their mid-year cash gifts beginning today, the city’s information office announced Friday.

For 2016, Makati has allocated P410 million for the cash gift and centenarian incentive under the BLU Card program of the city’s Social Welfare department.

The yearly cash gift, given in two equal installments every June and december, varies according to specific age groups, as follows: P2,000 for senior citizens aged 60 to 69 years old; P3,000 for those 70 to 79 years old, and P4,000 for those aged 80 and above.

Thus, the first age group this June will receive P1,000, the second group, P1,500, and the third group, P2,000.

The simultaneous distribution will start today at the covered court of Barangay West Rembo, the East Rembo Elementary School for Brgy.

East Rembo, the Benigno “ninoy” Aquino High School for Brgy. Comembo, the Rizal Elementary School for Brgy. Rizal, and the Bangkal Elementary School for Brgy. Bangkal.

The distribution scheduled on June 6 will be done at the covered courts of Brgys. Urdaneta, Forbes Park and Carmona, F. Benitez Elementary School for Brgy. Singkamas, and at the barangay halls of Brgys. Pinagkaisahan and northside. on June 7, the cash gift will be given at the barangay hall of Brgy. Magallanes, and at the Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School for Brgy. Guadalupe Viejo; while on Wednesday, the distribution will be done at the covered court of Brgy. dasmariñas, and La Paz Elementary School for Brgy. La Paz. Joel Zurbano

Frisking.

Caloocan City Police conduct Oplan Galugad at Barangays 8 and 12 in Caloocan City.

The activity was led by Police Supt.

Ferdinand Del Rosario, city police officerin-charge in collaboration with the city’s Social Welfare department.

ANDREW RABULAN

Customs cracks down on drugs shipped in parcels

By Joel E. Zurbano

The Customs bureau at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is implementing stricter measures for monitoring and inspecting incoming parcels after it foiled an attempt to smuggle illegal narcotics into the country.

Customs district collector Edgar Macabeo said he ordered his men to more strictly inspect all in-coming parcels at the Central Mail Exchange Center and other Bureau of Customs houses after a failed attempt to smuggle 1.4 kilograms of marijuana leaves and 251 tablets of Ecstasy from California, United States; and Amsterdam, The netherlands.

“Every parcel has to be examined thoroughly after

it passes through the x-ray machine before it is released,” Macabeo said.

He disclosed that the smugglers tried to slip the contraband into the country through the naia by declaring the parcels containing them as computer parts and used kids apparel. He, however, added that since the parcels laden with marijuana leaves and illegal narcotics arrived last May 11, nobody came to claim it so

they decided on Wednesday to check it out.

Macabeo said unscrupulous persons try to send illegal merchandise through parcels to easily avoid being arrested.

Three months ago, Macabeo’s men seized P2 million worth of Ecstasy and methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

A parcel, supposed to be containing amino supplements, was also found with 960 Ecstasy tablets worth P1.44-million.

Smugglers also used a bicycle to conceal 53 grams of shabu from Quezon City en route to Saudi Arabia, while another 16 grams were discovered inside leather shoes bound for Europe.

Authorities said Ecstasy was a Class-A drug, an artificial stimulant popular among clubbers. They added those who take the drug experience a rush of energy that makes them alert, excited and happy.

However, those taking the drug can feel anxious or get panic attacks, and develop confused episodes, paranoia or even psychosis.

Some 200 ecstasy-related deaths have been reported in the United Kingdom since 2006.

Just recently, five attendees in a “rave party” in Pasay City died allegedly after ingesting a lethal synthetic party drug composed of Ecstasy and other prohibited substances.

Six suspected drug peddlers were arrested in sepa-

rate operations in Pasay City and Parañaque City a few days after the tragic event.

They are Joshua Habalo, Sergeoh Villanueva, Marc deen, Martin dimacali, Thomas Halili and Eric Valbuena. national Bureau of investigation forensic expert Rommel Papa said traces of methylenedioxymethamphetamine methyl homolog and methylenedioxy cathinone were found in the body of one of the two victims they autopsied.

“Based on the autopsy report several specimens were taken including blood, liver and the brain, kidney, stomach contents and the presence of MdMA methyline homolog and methylenedioxy cathinone was detected in the deceased,” Papa said.

House bill urges restaurants to donate their leftover food

By Maricel V. Cruz A MindAnAo lawmaker on Friday urged Congress to pass a law directing all restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, fast food chains and other similar food establishments to donate all surplus or leftover but still edible foods to charitable institutions or foundations for the consumption of needy people.

Rep. Mary Elizabeth Ty delgado of Surigao del Sur, said her proposal will ensure that no food will be wasted and that the problem of hunger will be addressed. delgado, author of House

Bill 6511 filed during the 16th Congress which will end on June 30, said the Constitution mandates the State to implement measures that would alleviate national poverty and reduce food wastage. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Trade and industry.

She cited a law passed in the French Parliament banning supermarket and other food establishments from throwing away or destroying unsold food. They were mandated instead to donate left over or unsold food to charities.

“Poverty incidence in the country is high and causes malnutrition among many

Filipinos. Many people in our country are malnourished because they do not have money to buy food for themselves and for their family,” delgado said.

She said one of the causes of poverty is unequal distribution of income. other causes of poverty are lack of quality education, lack of jobs, corruption, natural calamities and over population.

“The effect of poverty is malnutrition. Majority of Filipinos who experience financial difficulties in purchasing food are now settling for cheaper but less nutritious food. Even relief centers are giving these kinds of foods,” delgado stressed.

Marginalized. A person with disablity begs alms from passing motorists on Connecticut Street in Greenhills, San Juan on Friday. LINO SANTOS

s at u r d ay : J u N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

CDO welfare office to DILG: implement minors’ curfew

By Lance Baconguis

Cagayan de OrO City—the City Social Welfare department here has asked the department of interior and Local government to order the city’s 80 barangays to implement the curfew ordinance for minors in their respective communities.

The city-wide curfew for children 15 years old and below is based on a 1994 city codified ordinance. The ordinance, however, is outdated and needs to be updated to comply with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act or Republic Act 9344 and RA 10630.

The curfew hours are between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The exception is for the eve of the town fiesta, Charter Day and other local holidays for the City of Ca-

gayan de Oro, Christmas, New Year, All Souls Day, All Saints Day, Good Friday, Holy Thursday up to the Resurrection day immediately following, or those who are going home from school classes, civic or religious gatherings or social occasions.

Teddy Sabuga-a Jr., the CSWD chief, said the lack of cooperation and implementation of barangay captains is one of the reasons why the curfew law has not been effective.

“We need their [barangays officials] help in rescuing these minors caught loitering in the streets during the curfew hours. We [CSWD] could not do it on our own,” Sabuga-a told reporters in a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Under the City Codified Ordinance Chapter 108 or the Curfew for Minors section 485, “No person below fifteen (15) years old shall roam, nightclubs, cocktail lounges, massage clinics, beer houses, discotheque joints or saloons, cabarets or liquor stores or stands, gambling places, plazas, parks, recreation halls, billiard halls, parlors, bowling alleys, theater lobbies, sidewalks, hotels, and all other similar establishments, after ten o’clock (10:00) post meridian, and before five o’clock (5:00) ante meridian.”

An ordinance filed at the city council, The Enhanced Parental Responsibility Ordinance (Epro) is still waiting for approval.

“The City Codified Ordinance is outdated, the Epro will answer the need for the curfew, the penalties that parents will face include community service, church attendance, reproductive health, school responsibility,” Sabuga-a said.

Sabuga-a added that they have removed the cash penalty because some cannot afford it, but said that parents are prevented from using poverty as an excuse for child neglect.

“Now that President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has announced the nationwide curfew, we would like the DILG to put a teeth into the law and put the barangay officials to act and implement it,” Sabuga-a said.

Happy days. Boys from Sabangan, Mt. Province jump into the water during the last days of vacation. DAVID CHAN

Mosque, schools to rise in massacre town

By A. Perez Rimando COTABATO CITY—A mosque and school buildings will rise in Barangay Tukalinapao, Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.

The village was the scene of the Jan. 25, 2015 battle between the Philippine National Police Special Action Force commandos and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Slain in the encounter were 44 SAF members, 18 MILF and BIFF followers and five civilians, the ARMM Bureau of Public Information said.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the ARMMfunded mosque, costing some P50 million, is being built along a newly concreted farm-to-market road in Tukalinapao by uniformed but non-combatant engineering personnel of the Maguindanao-based Army 6th infantry division.

He said the regional office of the Department of Education is funding the construction of nine school edifices in different Mamasapano villages which were entirely damaged during the fire fight even as thousands of displaced families had earlier returned to their respective homes with Army and Marine security.

DepEd regional Secretary John Magno said the new school buildings, now almost 90 percent completed, would enable close to 1,500 elementary and high school students to return to the learning centers when school year 20162017 opens on June 13.

Butuan mayor faces graft over fertilizer fund scam

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman filed on Friday graft raps against Butuan City Mayor Leonides Theresa Plaza and eight other officials before the Sandiganbayan for their involvement in the fertilizer fund scam.

Also facing trial are exvice mayor Angelo Calo, Salvador Satorre, Adulfo Llagas, Arthur Castro, Rodolfo Evanoso, Bebiano Calo, Danilo Furia and Melita Loida Galbo.

Butuan received P5 million in 2004 as part of its allocation for the implemen-

tation of the farm inputs and farm implements program of the Department of Agriculture.

To implement the project, Plaza signed an April 14, 2004 document covering the procurement of 3,333 bottles of liquid organic fertilizer costing P1,500 per liter.

A week later or on April 22, 2004, Plaza, et. al. awarded the project to Feshan Philippines Inc. Also on the same date, Feshan was paid its first installment of P3.1 million with the remaining balance of P1.7 million

paid on May 31, 2004.

The Commission on Audit issued a notice of disallowance observing that local officials committed blatant procurement violations, such as the unlawful resort to Direct Contracting without complying with the requirements of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform, reference to specific brand names; overpricing as suitable substitutes selling at lower prices were available in the local market.

The CoA found fertilizers of the same quality costs only P125.00 per liter.

Waiting game. Hundreds of senior citizens in Cotabato City wait at the lobby of city hall to get their pension worth P500 per month. OmAR mANgORsI

S AT U R D AY : J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

ENDING TURNCOATISM

[ EDI TORI A L ]

DENIABILITY THURSDAY night’s press conference in Davao City was preview to what a Duterte presidency would look—and sound—like. A defiant Rodrigo Duterte faced the cameras again and said he would never apologize for his earlier comments on journalists and would never change the way he was for anybody and for any reason.

“Don’t f... with me,” he said to the media, some members of which have suggested boycotting him in protest of his statements.

Two evenings before, Duterte had angered many by saying that the reason journalists were being killed in this country was that they were corrupt.

They had it coming.

The highlight of the evening, however, was not the unpresidential ranting against journalists but the emerging pattern of communication from Mr. Duterte and the media.

Experts would do better in observing the man over an extended period of time, but here’s what we have noticed so far: Mr. Duterte—or the persona he creates—defines what the news would be instead of answering the questions the people really want to ask.

His statements may be construed as offensive and even incendiary but they still leave enough room for him to change course or deny that he meant what he said. His defenders or he himself would just make it appear as though he was joking, was misunderstood or that the public was not paying any attention—their fault, not his.

Case in point: the wolf whistling.

In the earlier press conference, Duterte whistled in direct response to a female reporter’s question. Two days later, he said anybody could whistle and that whistling was not of a sexual nature. In fact, he asked: how can a woman be sure I am whistling at her when there are many other people in the room?

And then there are the journalists. On Tuesday he said those who were killed were the rotten ones, but on Thursday he made the effort to group journalists into three: the crusaders, those with vested interests because they are public relations consultants, and the extortionists.

Still, in succeeding sentences, he went back to generalizing. “All journalists ask. All.” We are beginning to think that the president-elect is not some candid, loose-canon foul-mouthed people’s politician with a heart of gold. He is, in fact, more intelligent, sober calculating than he would have us think.

WOMEN UNDER SIEGE POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO I SAID I wanted to respect the decision of the Filipino voters despite all my reservations on now President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. I wanted to be fully supportive of his presidency. I chose to hope that his words and actions during the campaign were mere posturing and that he would be the president that will bring real change (as he promised) to the entire

nation, especially those who are economically, socially, and politically marginalized.

I tried to keep quiet the weeks after it was quite clear that Duterte won the elections.

However, it is becoming harder and harder to be truly supportive of an incoming president who continues to spew curses like these were the most natural thing in the world, whose favorite words seem to be “I will kill you,” and who can not even accord women the respect we deserve as a matter of right.

Duterte again earned the

ire of not a few when he catcalled media personality Mariz Umali in front of many other journalists during a press conference. I watched the incident several times because I could not get over the fact that an incoming president could be that crass.

It dismayed me that other journalists and people in the press conference laughed at Duterte’s antics like it was a funny joke. I am sure that many in the room were Umali’s friends, even. Did they not see anything wrong with what the president-elect did? Did no one

A9

This incident spoke volumes about how women are considered in this country.

even think that Umali was being sexually harassed by the soonto-be most powerful man in the country? Was no one offended?

This incident spoke volumes about how women are considered in this country.

It showed how strong sexism remains in this place that ranks as among the best when it comes to gender and development.

Duterte’s actions and the reactions of those present betray a mindset that considers women as second-class citizens.

As expected, Duterte’s defenders were quick to exonerate him and rationalize his abusive behavior. His spokesman, lawyer Salvador Panelo, said that what the president-elect did was a

compliment. How could an act that sexually harassed a woman be considered a compliment? Perhaps the good lawyer can spend some time to read about women’s rights, sexual harassment, and yes, “The Women Development Code of Davao City” passed in 1997 under the watch of his boss, the incoming president, Rodrigo Duterte.

Section 8. 11. of Davao City’s GAD Code under Other Forms of Sexual Harassment includes whistling. This is exactly what Duterte did to Umali.

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-

Does the president-elect even know this and that he may have violated this ordinance meant to protect women in his own city? It should be noted that this cat-calling incident happened in Davao City where the ordinance is in full effect. If the good former city mayor cannot follow this law, how can we expect others to?

Other Duterte die-hard supporters pointed out that he is not yet the president and so we should let this slide.

The thing is, whoever does something like this, whether the president or a

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

jobless “tambay sa kanto,” the act is wrong and cannot be justified.

Yes, Duterte is technically not yet the president. And he already feels entitled to do this to a woman. I hope things do not get worse when he is already actually in Malacañang.

Umali is a respected journalist, a personality in her own right. If she can be subjected to such harassment, what more the ordinary women who are powerless and without the resources to fight against abuse?

Continued on A11

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Ron Ryan S. Buguis

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Finance Officer

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Maan Ilustre Advertising and Marketing Head Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

IT’S A sad scene everywhere for the Liberal Party and its titular head, President Benigno Aquino III. Sources reveal that in Malacañan Palace, Aquino has been busy packing his personal belongings in crates in anticipation of his exodus from the palace to his home in Quezon City. Many of Aquino’s sycophants in the LP who used to frequent the palace when the yellow party was in power are no longer around.

If Mar Roxas, the LP bet for president, won the presidential election, the daily scenario at the palace these days be different. A banquet would be held every day, and the LP sycophants would still be rubbing elbows with LP leaders preparing the political blueprint for another LP administration. The face of Aquino’s spokesman will be a regular feature of the daily television news.

In the House of Representatives, many LP congressmen have moved over to Duterte’s political party, the PDP Laban.

While PDP Laban only had one senator in the Senate prior to the May 2016 polls, the party expects to take in enough defectors from the LP in time for the start of the Duterte administration.

Local government officials once professing complete loyalty and devotion to Aquino and the LP are desperately seeking a connection to the new administration.

The same may be said of many Aquino appointees who are entitled to stay in office beyond June 2016. They used to be very vocal against Duterte. Now, they are conveniently silent, filled with the hope that by shutting up, the new administration will not remember their anti-Duterte tirades, and allow them to keep their jobs.

Many judges and prosecutors are now identifying themselves as Duterte supporters or, at least, as natives of Davao City.

Quite a number of Aquino appointees who used to proudly exhibit in their offices their photographs with Aquino no longer display them. “Selfies” taken with Mar Roxas which used to be stored in the laptops of many government officials and employees have long been deleted.

Aquino no longer attends press conferences. The attendance in whatever assemblies he still calls has dwindled immensely.

With the exception, perhaps, of Leni Robredo, the LP vice presidential bet who was proclaimed winner by Congress under questionable circumstances, and outgoing House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., many LP bigwigs have conveniently shed their ties with the party. To them, the LP has become a bad word or name. Invoking it these days is bad for their politics.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

ENDING TURNCOATISM

[ EDI TORI A L ]

DENIABILITY THURSDAY night’s press conference in Davao City was preview to what a Duterte presidency would look—and sound—like. A defiant Rodrigo Duterte faced the cameras again and said he would never apologize for his earlier comments on journalists and would never change the way he was for anybody and for any reason.

“Don’t f... with me,” he said to the media, some members of which have suggested boycotting him in protest of his statements.

Two evenings before, Duterte had angered many by saying that the reason journalists were being killed in this country was that they were corrupt.

They had it coming.

The highlight of the evening, however, was not the unpresidential ranting against journalists but the emerging pattern of communication from Mr. Duterte and the media.

Experts would do better in observing the man over an extended period of time, but here’s what we have noticed so far: Mr. Duterte—or the persona he creates—defines what the news would be instead of answering the questions the people really want to ask.

His statements may be construed as offensive and even incendiary but they still leave enough room for him to change course or deny that he meant what he said. His defenders or he himself would just make it appear as though he was joking, was misunderstood or that the public was not paying any attention—their fault, not his.

Case in point: the wolf whistling.

In the earlier press conference, Duterte whistled in direct response to a female reporter’s question. Two days later, he said anybody could whistle and that whistling was not of a sexual nature. In fact, he asked: how can a woman be sure I am whistling at her when there are many other people in the room?

And then there are the journalists. On Tuesday he said those who were killed were the rotten ones, but on Thursday he made the effort to group journalists into three: the crusaders, those with vested interests because they are public relations consultants, and the extortionists.

Still, in succeeding sentences, he went back to generalizing. “All journalists ask. All.” We are beginning to think that the president-elect is not some candid, loose-canon foul-mouthed people’s politician with a heart of gold. He is, in fact, more intelligent, sober calculating than he would have us think.

WOMEN UNDER SIEGE POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO I SAID I wanted to respect the decision of the Filipino voters despite all my reservations on now President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. I wanted to be fully supportive of his presidency. I chose to hope that his words and actions during the campaign were mere posturing and that he would be the president that will bring real change (as he promised) to the entire

nation, especially those who are economically, socially, and politically marginalized.

I tried to keep quiet the weeks after it was quite clear that Duterte won the elections.

However, it is becoming harder and harder to be truly supportive of an incoming president who continues to spew curses like these were the most natural thing in the world, whose favorite words seem to be “I will kill you,” and who can not even accord women the respect we deserve as a matter of right.

Duterte again earned the

ire of not a few when he catcalled media personality Mariz Umali in front of many other journalists during a press conference. I watched the incident several times because I could not get over the fact that an incoming president could be that crass.

It dismayed me that other journalists and people in the press conference laughed at Duterte’s antics like it was a funny joke. I am sure that many in the room were Umali’s friends, even. Did they not see anything wrong with what the president-elect did? Did no one

A9

This incident spoke volumes about how women are considered in this country.

even think that Umali was being sexually harassed by the soonto-be most powerful man in the country? Was no one offended?

This incident spoke volumes about how women are considered in this country.

It showed how strong sexism remains in this place that ranks as among the best when it comes to gender and development.

Duterte’s actions and the reactions of those present betray a mindset that considers women as second-class citizens.

As expected, Duterte’s defenders were quick to exonerate him and rationalize his abusive behavior. His spokesman, lawyer Salvador Panelo, said that what the president-elect did was a

compliment. How could an act that sexually harassed a woman be considered a compliment? Perhaps the good lawyer can spend some time to read about women’s rights, sexual harassment, and yes, “The Women Development Code of Davao City” passed in 1997 under the watch of his boss, the incoming president, Rodrigo Duterte.

Section 8. 11. of Davao City’s GAD Code under Other Forms of Sexual Harassment includes whistling. This is exactly what Duterte did to Umali.

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-

Does the president-elect even know this and that he may have violated this ordinance meant to protect women in his own city? It should be noted that this cat-calling incident happened in Davao City where the ordinance is in full effect. If the good former city mayor cannot follow this law, how can we expect others to?

Other Duterte die-hard supporters pointed out that he is not yet the president and so we should let this slide.

The thing is, whoever does something like this, whether the president or a

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

jobless “tambay sa kanto,” the act is wrong and cannot be justified.

Yes, Duterte is technically not yet the president. And he already feels entitled to do this to a woman. I hope things do not get worse when he is already actually in Malacañang.

Umali is a respected journalist, a personality in her own right. If she can be subjected to such harassment, what more the ordinary women who are powerless and without the resources to fight against abuse?

Continued on A11

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Ron Ryan S. Buguis

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Finance Officer

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Maan Ilustre Advertising and Marketing Head Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

IT’S A sad scene everywhere for the Liberal Party and its titular head, President Benigno Aquino III. Sources reveal that in Malacañan Palace, Aquino has been busy packing his personal belongings in crates in anticipation of his exodus from the palace to his home in Quezon City. Many of Aquino’s sycophants in the LP who used to frequent the palace when the yellow party was in power are no longer around.

If Mar Roxas, the LP bet for president, won the presidential election, the daily scenario at the palace these days be different. A banquet would be held every day, and the LP sycophants would still be rubbing elbows with LP leaders preparing the political blueprint for another LP administration. The face of Aquino’s spokesman will be a regular feature of the daily television news.

In the House of Representatives, many LP congressmen have moved over to Duterte’s political party, the PDP Laban.

While PDP Laban only had one senator in the Senate prior to the May 2016 polls, the party expects to take in enough defectors from the LP in time for the start of the Duterte administration.

Local government officials once professing complete loyalty and devotion to Aquino and the LP are desperately seeking a connection to the new administration.

The same may be said of many Aquino appointees who are entitled to stay in office beyond June 2016. They used to be very vocal against Duterte. Now, they are conveniently silent, filled with the hope that by shutting up, the new administration will not remember their anti-Duterte tirades, and allow them to keep their jobs.

Many judges and prosecutors are now identifying themselves as Duterte supporters or, at least, as natives of Davao City.

Quite a number of Aquino appointees who used to proudly exhibit in their offices their photographs with Aquino no longer display them. “Selfies” taken with Mar Roxas which used to be stored in the laptops of many government officials and employees have long been deleted.

Aquino no longer attends press conferences. The attendance in whatever assemblies he still calls has dwindled immensely.

With the exception, perhaps, of Leni Robredo, the LP vice presidential bet who was proclaimed winner by Congress under questionable circumstances, and outgoing House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., many LP bigwigs have conveniently shed their ties with the party. To them, the LP has become a bad word or name. Invoking it these days is bad for their politics.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

HUWAG KANG MAGNANAKAW BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN Part III WHEN Senator Bongbong Marcos demanded for a systems audit of the Commission on Elections and how the Smartmaticoperated counting machines work, those idiots forgot that they cannot raise the defense of selfincrimination in the event the suspicion is verified that there was an anomaly in the counting.

Rather, when the Comelec rejected the demand saying Marcos might use that as evidence against them, the poll body failed to realize that it assumed the role of an arbiter with authority to lay down the rules that the electoral exercise would be fair, honest and clean. It goes without saying that it is duty-bound to explain why the aggrieved candidates lost in the election.

An audit of the system is the only way to convince the Filipino people that they elected a demagogue for a VP. Only those who refused to participate in the election can be denied that right.

If the Comelec acted the same way to brush aside the demand for a systems audit as though it were acting as a referee in a cockfight, the referee would have been killed right there and then. This we say for even among gamblers there is chivalry and honor in their profession.

The slightest transgression of the sacred rules could quickly result in the betting of the cheater’s life.

Thus, when the Comelec assumed the role and allowed the hasty proclamation of the alleged winner by a rubber-stamp Congress, and then we might as well say adios to this land of the monkeys.

The Comelec is under obligation to explain to every candidate how the system works because it is in knowing that would convince him why he lost.

If the alien braggart that now controls the outcome of the election result could claim the counting was the fastest in the world, there is no reason it could not carry out the fastest recounting of the votes.

Failure to do that would give the people the right to brand the last election as rigged and call the proclaimed vice president an impostor.

The Filipino people who did not vote for Leni Robredo would not violate any law for showing their disrespect. To deny them that right would only deepen the divisiveness between the traitorous oligarchy and the disenfranchised poor. As this column predicted, the votes against the hypocritical administration was a protest vote. Mar Roxas only has to blame himself for his indefatigable loyalty to the hypocrites who persist in asserting that they have the monopoly of morality.

The cheating exacerbated the people’s anger because they see the Comelec and the PPCRV taking turns in justifying the alleged victory of the demagogue. If the pious hypocrites hated President Marcos by branding him a dictator, at least he was honestly elected by the people to bestow on him the mandate to govern.

In the case of Noynoy

Once again, we are being compelled to idolize one whom the majority of the people never voted into office.

Aquino, many could not believe he won in the 2010 despite barely having credentials as congressman and senator. Many believe he was only voted into office by the same computer machines that elected the demagogue. Noynoy is no different from his mother Cory Aquino. She refused to conduct a recount of the ballots to prove that Marcos rigged the election on February 9, 1986.

She could have done that to verify their claim. On the contrary, she discontinued the counting soon after she realized that the result would confirm that Marcos won.

The infamy of 1986 is being repeated; once again, we are being compelled to idolize one whom the majority of the people never voted into office. The subjugation of our people has been made easy by the use of cheating machines programmed to make sure that only lackeys of the oligarchy and the US im-

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA SIGNED by Pope Francis last 19 March 2016, Amoris Laetitia brings together the results of the two Synods on the family convened by His Eminence in 2014 and 2015. The Apostolic Exhortation makes reference to a wide variety of relevant sources, including final Reports of the two Synods, documents and magisterial pronouncements by his predecessors, and his own catecheses on the family.

As is now his practice, the Pope also recognizes the contributions of various Episcopal Conferences around the world.

With this column, I start a series on this important document, with the purpose of helping Catholics understand its teaching.

My hope of course is that non-Catholics, who care about the family, would benefit as well from the exhortation.

Amoris Laetitia is remarkable for its extensiveness and richness in detail. With 325 paragraphs distributed over nine chapters, it is a reservoir of apostolic teaching. The first seven paragraphs are introductory, basically recognizing the complexity of the issues besetting present-day families in the varied spheres of family life which, as the Pope says, is in urgent need of thorough study. The Pope said that interventions of the Synod Fathers make up [form] a “multifaceted gem,” “a precious polyhedron, whose value must be preserved.” Nonetheless, perialists win. The systematic cheating has reduced our supposedly democratic electoral system to one of farce, with the Comelec serving as the spokesman of Smartmatic and the PPCRV confirming the result as authentic like that of the bishop’s cathedra.

When Bongbong Marcos, during his privilege speech, elaborated how his votes evaporated overnight in the first day of counting despite the overwhelming lead of almost one million, he was rudely interrupted

by Senator Bam Aquino who insisted that Marcos show proof he was cheated. Aquino forgot that the Comelec and its co-conspirator, the PPCRV, was withholding the evidence from the people. Even idiots could logically question how the demagogue was able to overtake the lead from Bongbong unless from 8:00 p.m. up to 7:00 a.m. all the votes that

A SERIES ON AMORIS LAETITIA

he cautions that “not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions of the magisterium.” The Pope clearly states that we need above all to avoid a sterile juxtaposition of demands for change and the general application of abstract norms. He writes: “The debates carried on in the media, in certain publications and even among the Church’s ministers, range from an immoderate desire for total change without sufficient reflection or grounding, to an attitude that would solve everything by applying general rules or deriving undue conclusions from particular theological considerations.”

Chapter One is entitled “In the light of the Word.”

The Pope begins with various passages of the Scriptures that illustrate families, births, love stories and family crises. He gives his reflections on how the Scriptures present the family in relation to their faith in Jesus Christ.

In his meditations, The Pope tells us that the family is not an abstract ideal but rather like a practical “trade,” which is carried out with tenderness, but which has also been confronted with sin from the beginning, when the relationship of love turned into domination. Hence, the Word of God “is not a series of abstract ideas but rather a source of comfort and companionship for every family that experiwere counted were in favor of the demagogue and none for Bongbong.

When it was also revealed that an officer of Smartmatic changed the script of the Comelec transparency server, and those who saw it demanded an investigation, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista immediately came to the defense of Smartmatic, saying that the breach did not alter the vote count. Bautista missed the point because it is not the alteration of the result in the counting that is being questioned but the breach of security. The act of changing the script was done without the knowledge of the Comelec. As one would say, the voters aside from being denied their receipt they could use as evidence, the operators of the voting machines were operating it like a “one- armed bandit.”

It must be observed

ences difficulties or suffering. For it shows them the goal of their journey...”

Chapter 2 focuses on “The experiences and challenges of families.” The Pope identifies the present situation of contemporary families, from migration to the ideological denial of differences between the sexes (“ideology of gender”); from the culture of the provisional to the antibirth mentality and the impact of biotechnology in the field of procreation; from the lack of housing and work to pornography and abuse of minors; from inattention to persons with disabilities, to lack of respect for the elderly; from the legal dismantling of the family, to violence against women. In essaying these present-day challenges, he draws heavily from the writings of the two Synods.

Chapter 3 is about “Looking to Jesus: The vocation of the family.”

This chapter is dedicated to some essential elements of the Church’s teachings on marriage and the family and how these teachings call on the family and married life to nurture a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Most importantly, it stresses the immutable Church teachings of indissolubility, the sacramental nature of marriage, the transmission of life and the education of children.

Chapter 4 tackles “Love in marriage.” This Chapter is dedicate to the themes of love in marriage as illumined in St. Paul’s Hymn

to Charity in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This is an inspired exegesis of the Pauline text describing human love in absolutely concrete terms. Its one of the most beautiful chapters, from lyrical perspective, in this document.

Chapter 5 is entitled “Love made fruitful.” This portion is a treatise on the love’s fruitfulness and procreation. It focuses on the spiritual and psychological perspectives of welcoming new life, about the waiting period of pregnancy, about the love of a mother and a father.

Chapter 6 provides “Some pastoral perspectives” The Pope delves on pastoral perspectives aimed at forming solid and fruitful families according to God’s plan.

Drawing extensively from the Final Reports of the two Synods and the catecheses of Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II, the Pope reiterates that families should not only be evangelized, they should also evangelize. In his discussions, he approaches the various stages of family life starting with the preparation of the engaged for marriage; with the accompaniment of couples in the first years of married life, including the issue of responsible parenthood; and also with certain complex situations and crises, knowing that “each crisis has a lesson to teach us; we need to learn how to listen for it with the ear of the heart.”

Continued on A11

that prior to the election, there was a frenzy of poll surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia and many fly-by-night poll surveys that were obviously funded by this pretending-to-be-honest administration to condition the minds of the people that their demagogue has finally overtaken the lead from an overwhelmingly popular choice, Bongbong Marcos. That mind conditioning was telling; the yellow horde would not settle for less and would make sure that their candidate wins. From there they would proceed to “Plan B” by ousting the expected winner Digong Duterte. According to Yen Makabenta, if the election was not marred by rigging, Bongbong could have easily won by more then three million votes.

Despite the intricate preparation to ensure the

victory of their candidate, the yellow horde however failed to anticipate that the incident would expose them as cheaters. Bongbong won 46 percent of the votes cast in the National Capital Region or Metro Manila with Robredo garnering only 29 percent, and the nibbling opportunist Cayetano getting 13 percent. In fact, Bongbong obtained a higher percentage votes than Duterte who got only 43 percent.

The win of Bongbong in the NCR is significant because any national candidate who wins in Metro Manila is likely to win the election. Results here are a reliable barometer. Many shook their heads when Bongbong lost because he even obtained a higher percentage vote than Duterte. This leads them to conclude that Robredo’s victory is what we call in the vernacular “pinilit.”

Continued on A11

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

INDONESIA’S DANGEROUS TRASH TAX

By Adam Minter INDONESIA is drowning in

plastic trash. Bottles pollute its beaches, bags congest its waterways and instant-noodle cups overflow its garbage bins. It’s only getting worse: By 2019, Indonesia will generate about five percent more trash than it did in 2014, and about 15 percent of that will be plastic.

Fixing this problem has become a priority for lawmakers.

In February, they slapped a tax on plastic shopping bags. This month, they’ll consider one on plastic containers, including drink bottles. It’s a simple solution—and it’s likely to cause much more misery than the mess it’s designed to clean up.

The problem is Indonesia’s contaminated water. In 2015, only half of city residents had

access to piped water, and only two percent of urban areas had access to sewage lines and treatment facilities. Industrial pollution is rife. In rural areas, about 37 million people drink from what the World Bank characterizes as “unprotected sources.”

Boiling water often takes care of the problem in the countryside. But there’s no boiling away industrial chemicals, leaving urban dwellers with few good options. Many turn to bottled water, transforming what the West views as a luxury into a necessity—an essential public service not provided by the government.

Demand is strong. About 30 percent of the population relies on bottled water regularly.

Between 2009 and 2014, sales increased by12.5 percent an-

Ending... From A9 In particular, Belmonte has no choice but to remain with the LP. He will look like an obvious opportunist if he metamorphosized from a die-hard Aquino minion to a Duterte supporter. Since Pantaleon Alvarez of PDP Laban is sure to be the next house speaker, Belmonte has no place in the new administration.

By 2013, the LP had become synonymous with unmitigated abuse of power, large-scale corruption, anomalies, incompetence, misplaced priorities, and even scandals.

The LP’s unmitigated abuse of power was demonstrated in its clandestine attempt to dismember the Republic of the Philippines through the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law drafted by Aquino stooges and a Mindanao secessionist leader who refused to reveal his real name. Fortunately, Senator Bongbong Marcos exposed that pseudo signatory and almost single-handedly stopped the BBL. An example of large-scale corruption identified with the LP is the shameless misuse of billions of pesos of public funds by a Congress dominated by LP members. The infamous Napoles incident exposed the extent of the involvement of LP legislators to illegal expenditures of public funds. It will also be recalled that in 2013, P136 billion of royal-

A series... From A10 Chapter 7 reflects on requirements “Towards a better education of children” As the title clearly suggests, this chapter focuses on the education of children: their ethical formation, the learning of discipline which can include punishment, patient realism, sex education, passing on the faith and, more generally, family life as an educational context.

Chapter 8 is on the important topic of “Guiding, discerning and integrating weakness.” Here the Pope calls on each one to practice mercy and pastoral discernment in situations that do not fully match what the Lord proposes. He uses

nually. Not all of that growth is driven by need (Jakarta has its share of Pellegrino-serving Italian restaurants). But much of it is, providing yet another example of urban growth outpacing the government’s ability to manage it.

And the government’s failure is largely the poor’s burden. In East Java, connecting a home to a piped water system costs between $150 and $300—a considerable burden in poor neighborhoods where people might earn only a few dollars a day.

Those who can’t afford such a lump sum must find water elsewhere, either by carrying it from a well (which may not be safe) or by buying it in bottles.

Over time, bottled water ends up costing considerably more than piped water, and thus eats up a significant share of a poor

family’s income.

As a result, even a modest tax on plastic containers could substantially harm public health.

A $0.02 tax on plastic bags has resulted in a 25-percent decline in usage at supermarkets, according to Indonesia’s environment ministry. That’s great.

But a similar decline in plastic bottle usage could have grim consequences: About a quarter of all deaths among Indonesian children under five are caused by diarrheal diseases, most of which result from unclean water. That would only get worse.

Ultimately, ensuring that environmental protection doesn’t come at the expense of the poor will require more than quickfix approaches. The government knows this. Since 2000, it has made considerable progress toward its goal of getting clean

ties from the Malampaya natural gas fund was unaccounted for by Aquino’s national treasurer, Finance secretary, and Budget secretary.

Anomalies identified with the LP are illustrated in the irregular purchase of government supplies and equipment. Some time ago, a whistleblower incriminated the defense secretary in the anomalous purchase of defective helicopters which were meant for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Aquino’s police chief is now facing graft charges for the anomalous designation of a particular courier service to deliver firearm licenses. This police chief once renovated his residence inside Camp Crame using supplies purportedly donated to him.

The incompetence of LP officials is seen in the notoriously unsafe and dilapidated MRT trains that ply the main thoroughfare of the metropolis. Traffic jams abound in the metropolis even up to the midnight hour. It was under an LP presidency when 44 elite policemen were massacred in Mamasapano in Mindanao by rouge bandits who have absolutely no tolerance for non-Muslims.

As for the scandals, attention is invited to last year’s LP meeting south of Manila where scantilydressed girls provided the main entertainment.

Indeed, the sudden collapse of

the LP, its overnight ouster from the corridors of power, and the anticipated departure of Aquino from Malacañang, are welcome news for many people.

Rodrigo Duterte’s big win as president has finally put an end to the seemingly interminable LP hold on power. In fact, many LP names have joined PDP Laban to curry favors from Duterte. That’s turncoatism plain and simple. It’s synonymous with political opportunism, and it’s disgusting.

Turncoatism was prohibited under Section 10, Article XII-C of the 1973 Constitution. The cited provision states that “no candidate for elective public office may change his political party affiliation within six months immediately preceding or following the elections.” That was an effective way of stopping turncoatism.

Sadly, that provision is not found in the 1987 Constitution. Its absence means that political turncoats are to be expected before and after every national and local election.

President Duterte can end turncoatism. He just has to prod his allies in Congress into enacting something like Section 10 above.

Since Congress is empowered by the Constitution to enact such a law, there will be no need to amend the Constitution in order to end turncoatism.

three very important verbs: guiding, discerning and integrating, which are fundamental in addressing fragile, complex or irregular situations. This is the most controversial chapter as here Pope Francis deals with communion for divorced and remarried Catholics.

Chapter 9 is on “The spirituality of marriage and the family.”

The Pope emphasizes the causal relations between spirituality and married life. Predicating from the pronouncements of the Second Vatican Council that lay spirituality “will take its particular character from the circumstances of… married and family life,” and that “family cares should not be foreign” to that spirituality, the Pope

laid down certain basic characteristics of this specific spirituality that unfolds in family life and its relationships. These characteristics revolve around the spirituality of supernatural communion, gathered in prayer in the light of Easter, spirituality of exclusive and free love, and spirituality of care, consolation and incentive.

In the next few columns, I will summarize and reflect on each of these chapters, culminating of course with a meditation on the Prayer to the Holy Family which is how the apostolic exhortation ends.

Facebook: tonylavs5 or Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

water and sanitation to all its citizens. The bad news is that it will need more than $57 billion to finish the job.

That won’t be easy. In the meantime, far simpler measures would go a long way. The quickest and cheapest is to support home-based decontamination products. A bottle of Air RahMat, an anti-microbial solution, costs about $0.30 and can decontaminate the average family’s water supply for a month. Indonesia’s government should be supporting such home and community-based solutions—including better education about hygiene—while it develops reliable water infrastructure over the long term.

That’s a better way to cut back on pollution than a regressive bottle tax. It would also save money—and lives. Bloomberg

Women... From A9 Sexual harassment is about power play. Men believe that they have the power over women, that they are entitled to do things to women without a care as to how women feel about their actions. Cat-calling and other forms of sexual harassment are attempts to show such power, to put women in their “proper place.” It is not about complimenting women—far from it.

Women who are sexually harassed are usually stressed out. They get scared. Because if men feel entitled to harass them, what else can they do to women?

The implications of Duterte’s actions against Umali cannot be ignored. It is a message to other men that it is okay, it is acceptable to sexually harass women. If he can do it, why can’t other men? It is pretty much along the line of his “Dapat mauna si Mayor” rape “joke,” and it is a very dangerous message.

I have been reading people’s reactions online and it is very upsetting. Many blame Umali for what Duterte did. Not a few cursed at her, insulted her. The victim continues to be blamed for the abuse committed against her. As early as this time, Duterte’s action has started to reinforce the thinking that if a woman is abused, she must have deserved it. And this is infuriating.

Women’s rights advocates who are or will be working closely with the incoming president has a big job to do. They should lecture Duterte on human rights, on women’s rights. It is not a time to keep quiet. If they are really pro-women’s rights, they will need to act and try to make the president-elect understand that if he continues committing such abuses, others will see this as acceptable behavior, follow him, and more women will probably be abused.

During his last press conference, Duterte was asked if he will change after he has officially been sworn into office. The answer was, no, never. If this happens, then the Filipino women will be put in a more precarious situation. The next six years may be most challenging for women’s rights advocates.

Filipino women will be under siege. We cannot allow our rights that we struggled for many decades be disrespected and violated. We must be vigilant. bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

Huwag... From A10 Similarly, it is given that Robredo will win in Bicol just as it is expected for Bongbong to win in the Ilocos region.

But considering that he won in the NCR, enjoyed a rather overwhelming edge against the demagogue in many provinces, plus the numerous command votes given him by various religious organizations (INC and El Shaddai, among others), they took it that in the aggregate, Bongbong is likely to win. Even columnist RigobertoTiglao was amazed to note that in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Basilan, Bongbong got zero. In Cebu where he consistently led in most campus surveys, he lost close to half a million votes. One must note those fantastic figures only reduced the victory of the demagogue to impossibility.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Johnson sets early pace at Memorial WASHINGTON—Dustin Johnson upstaged Jordan Spieth and Jason Day Thursday in the first round of the Memorial Tournament where the 2015 US Open runner-up shot a first round eight-under 64.

The hard-hitting American rolled in 10 birdies for a one-stroke lead over Brendan Steele who is alone in second with a 65.

World number one Day shot a six-under 66 with an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys while two-time major winner Spieth shot a two-un-

der 70 with five birdies.

Spieth was in a group with world number three Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.

Johnson tallied a pair of twos on his scorecard. He had one stretch of four straight birdies beginning at number 12 and two with three consecutive birdies.

His two bogeys came after he failed to get up and down from beside the green.

“I felt like I played well right out of the gates,” he said. “I hit it close on the first three holes and made all of them, so that’s always a good way to start your day.”

Day, Hudson Swafford, Danny Lee, Matt Kuchar and David Hearn each shot 66 as 79 play-

ers are under par following a day with perfect scoring conditions.

Day, of Brisbane, had his best finish here in 2009 when he tied for 27th.

“You just have to pick and choose when you feel comfortable and when you don’t feel comfortable and try to attack the course from there,” said Day, who plays the Muirfield Village course often.

“To be a Muirfield member and to play as poorly as I have in the past is frustrating and disappointing. This is one of the events you want to put on your resume.”

McIlroy shot a mixed bag 71 that included three bogeys and a double bogey on the tricky par-three 16th hole. AFP

Dustin Johnson hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during the first round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 2, in Ohio.

AFP

Kyrgios blasts AOC officials

SYDNEY, Australia— Fiery Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios on Friday pulled out of the Rio Olympics, blaming “unwarranted attacks” on him by Australian Olympic chiefs after he was warned to behave.

His decision follows fellow Australian Bernard Tomic making himself unavailable for Games selection last month after widespread criticism about his recent on-court attitude and behavior.

“Unfortunately, while I have expressed every intention of trying to win a medal for my country in Rio, it’s very clear to me that the Australian Olympic Committee has other plans,” the world number

19 said in a statement.

“AOC’s unfair and unjust treatment of me over the last four weeks, as well as the organisation’s crystal clear position on whether they want me to be a part of the Australian Olympic team, has solidified my final decision.”

His bombshell announcement follows a war of words with the AOC’s chef de mission Kitty Chiller, who had voiced concerns over selecting Kyrgios and Tomic due to their behavior.

She acknowledged Kyrgios’ decision in a brief statement Friday, adding that “in regard to selection every athlete in contention is treated equally and fairly”. AFP

Ireland to face Springboks DUBLIN, Ireland—Joe Schmidt believes he has enough “alpha males” in his injury-hit squad to ensure Ireland stand up to the Springboks in their three-test tour of South Africa later this month.

The Ireland head coach’s plans were disrupted on Wednesday with the confirmation that star fly-half Jonathan Sexton had undergone surgery for a shoulder injury sustained in Leinster’s Celtic League defeat

by Irish rivals Connacht last weekend, and will be out of action for three months.

Sexton’s Leinster team mates Luke Fitzgerald (knee ligament), Dave Kearney (groin) and Rob Kearney (hamstring) have also withdrawn from the squad.

Leinster No.10 Ian Madigan, who will join French club Bordeaux-Begles at the end of the tour, has been called up to fill the gap at fly-half.

Meanwhile Ulster’s Craig Gilroy and two of Connacht’s Celtic League final try-scorers have also been brought into the Ireland squad, with Matt Healy and Tiernan O’Halloran rounding off their sparkling seasons in dream fashion.

It’s far from ideal preparation for Ireland as they attempt to earn a first ever Test victory against the Springboks on South African soil, but Schmidt has backed Sexton’s understudies to step up to the mark when the series kicks off at Newlands, Cape Town, on June 11. AFP

Livingston bucks injury to star in Finals OAKLAND—Shaun Livingston injured his left leg so badly during a 2007 NBA game that there was talk of amputation and he needed months of rehabilitation just to walk again.

So when the defending champion Golden State Warriors needed a spark off the bench to fight off a Cleveland rally in Thursday’s opening game of the NBA Finals, it was no surprise Livingston had the grit and determination to see them through.

The 30-year-old American guard scored 20 points to lead seven double-figure scorers as the Warriors beat the Cavaliers 104-89, their reserves outscoring the Cavaliers’ bench 45-10.

“Obviously the game ball goes to Shaun Livingston,” Cavaliers star LeBron James said. “Came in,

Shaun Livingston of the Golden State Warriors answers questions from media after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One of the 2016 NBA Finals on June 2, at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

gave them a huge spark.”

“Shaun Livingston played out of his mind,” Golden State’s Klay Thompson said.

Livingston was a high school star who skipped college to turn professional and was taken fourth over-

all in the 2004 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, the first of nine NBA stops in his career. AFP

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Ronaldo potential terrorist target

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic serves the ball to Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych during their men’s quarterfinal match at the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 2. Fans get a chance to watch the world number one for just $22. AFP

Tennis fans watch Djokovic for $22 PARIS—Novak Djokovic, fresh from breaking the $100 million prize money barrier, aims for a place in a fourth French Open final Friday with fans handed the chance to watch the world number one for just $22.

After a rain-ravaged tournament saw only two hours of play on Monday and Tuesday, Roland Garros organizers have been battling to get back on schedule.

Usually, just the men’s semi-finals are played on the second Friday but this year all four semi-finals in the men’s and women’s singles are being staged with two on the Philippe Chatrier Court and two uniquely on the Suzanne Lenglen arena.

That has led organizers to offer 8,000 seats at 20 euros ($22.3) for Lenglen where Djokovic will face Austria’s Dominic Thiem after Samantha Stosur and Garbine Muguruza have completed the first women’s last-four clash.

In stark contrast, on Saturday and Sunday, the women’s and men’s finals will respectively be held, as tradition demands, on Philippe Chatrier.

Tickets for those matches, where Serena Williams could equal the Open era majors record of 22 titles and Djokovic can win a first Paris title and complete the career Grand Slam, were being sold late Friday for 555 euros ($620) and 1,330 euros ($1,483).

Roland Garros generosity was no doubt encouraged by the sight of a two-thirds empty Suzanne Lenglen court on Thursday where Thiem defeated David Goffin to make his first semifinal at a major and Kiki Bertens saw off Timea Bacsinszky to reach a maiden women’s last-four match-up.

Temperatures at a shivering 12 degrees did little to fill spaces and similar autumnal gloom is forecast for Friday.

World number one Djokovic, a three-time runner-up, is still seeking a first Roland Garros crown to secure a career Grand Slam.

The 29-year-old top seed, who already holds the Wimbledon, US and Australian Open titles, will start as overwhelming favorite against Thiem who he has defeated in straight sets in their only two career meetings.

Djokovic will be playing in his 30th Grand Slam semifinal and eighth in Paris while Austrian 13th seed Thiem is into his first at the majors. AFP

LONDON— Crist ia no Ronaldo’s presence makes Portugal a more significant potential target for terror attacks during Euro 2016, according to coach Fernando Santos.

France is on high alert ahead of the tournament, which starts on June 10, following the Islamic State group terror attacks in Paris last November that left 130 people dead.

“As everybody knows, Portugal is considered one of the high-risk teams due to the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo. But we are prepared for this,” Santos told reporters at Wembley after his side’s 1-0 friendly loss to England on Thursday.

“In reality, this will be the responsibility of the French security. Our fans will have to understand that at certain moments

we won’t be able to release our players as we would like.”

The United States warned its citizens earlier this week that the tournament will present “potential targets for terrorists”, echoing comments by French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

A three-time Ballon d’Or winner, Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo, 31, is one of the most famous names in world sport.

He sat out Portugal’s defeat by England, having played in Real Madrid’s Champions League final triumph over Atletico Madrid in Milan last weekend, but is expected to return for their final warm-up game against Estonia in Lisbon on Wednesday. AFP

Gatlin rules 100m, Ayana misses record ROME, Italy—Controversial American sprinter Justin Gatlin dug deep to edge to victory in the men’s 100m at Thursday’s Diamond League meeting, but Ethiopian Almaz Ayana just missed out on a new world record in the 5000m.

Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic 100m gold medalist who has served two doping bans, produced a savage dip at the line for victory by one-hundredth of a second in 9.93 seconds.

That dip was enough to deprive American teammate Ameer Webb, who had earlier won the 200m (20.04), a sprint double on a balmy night in the Italian capital.

Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut also dipped under the 10sec mark with 9.99.

“I executed this race and made it to the finish line safe and sound. I kept my composure,” said Gatlin, 34.

But it was not an American sweep of the event, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, in a season’s

best 10.87sec, outstripping English Gardner in the women’s race.

In a top-quality meet, Ayana fell just short of toppling compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba’s world record of 14:11.15 in the women’s 5000m, clocking a second-ever fastest time of 14:12.59.

There was also talk of a record attempt in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, but that petered out, Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto winning in 8:01.47, almost 8sec off Saif Said Shahin’s best.

“I tried to push it too hard, but it did not work,” lamented Kipruto.

Two Olympic champions who have dominated their events, New Zealand’s Valerie Adams and Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen, recorded victories in the women’s shot put and triple jump respectively.

Following up on her win in Rabat last week, Adams threw a season’s best of 19.69m as she continued to put last year’s injury woes that necessitated knee surgery behind her. AFP

Marquez, Lorenzo continue battle PARIS—Just 10 points separate Spaniards Jorge Lorenzo of Yamaha and Marc Marquez of Honda ahead of what promises to be another epic struggle at the fast and challenging Montmelo track at the Grand Prix of Catalonia on Sunday.

It will not be lost on current world champion Lorenzo (115 pts) or the 2014 winner Marquez (105 pts) that 15 of the last 19 winners here went on to lift the world crown.

And anyone who watched the pair overtake each other several times during the last lap of an Italian GP won last time out by a wafer-thin 0.019sec by Lorenzo will know a swash-

buckling show will likely be laid on for the locals.

“I’ve watched the Mugello last lap a few times since,” smiled Lorenzo on Thursday, referring to their Italian showdown.

“But here we are now. I’m going to be racing at home. I lived in Barcelona for many years and this is like coming home for me,” said Lorenzo, who is from the nearby island of Mallorca.

“The Italian GP was super important for the title and I’ll be fighting every inch of the way again.”

Lorenzo is targeting a third straight victory in the championship after clinching wins at Le Mans and in Italy and can claim

a fifth top-level win at Montmelo.

Catalan native Marquez may look tough when flying into corners but revealed a softer side when he admitted: “Nothing is more motivating than being in competition in front of a crowd of admiring fans.”

Marquez won here in 2014 and is doubly desperate to bounce back after he fell in last year’s edition. A win would put him back in charge of the championship race ahead of the France GP in two weeks.

Also in the mix is the veteran nine-times world champion Valentino Rossi, whose Yamaha M1 suffered a rare engine failure in Italy. AFP

Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez (left) talks to Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo following a press conference at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, on June 2. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Ginebra junks Jeffers for new import

By Jeric Lopez

BARANGAY Ginebra had a change of heart and decided to pick a new import instead of sticking with a familiar face for the upcoming Governors’ Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.

After announcing an earlier decision to retain Othyus Jeffers for the third con-

ference, the Gin Kings said recently that they needed a change and tapped wing-

man Drew Crawford as their reinforcement for the season-ending tournament.

Crawford is the son of veteran National Basketball Association referee Dan. Ginebra is hoping that the 6-foot-5 Crawford can elevate the team to the next level as scouting reports suggest that he can play multiple positions effectively.

When Ginebra tapped Jef-

fers as its import for the previous Commissioner's Cup, the team's management also said that he will also serve as the reinforcement for the Gin Kings for the Governors' Cup. However, the plan changed after Ginebra failed to list at least a win in the playoffs of the Commissioner's Cup and once again failed to make it past

the quarterfinals.

This decision was also influenced by the status of star center Greg Slaughter, whose availability for the Governors' Cup remains uncertain as he continues to have ankle problems.

With Slaughter's status still uncertain, an upgrade in size became a necessity for Ginebra.

Hence, the bigger Craw-

ford will now be in tow instead of the 6-foot-3 Jeffers, who was the smallest import in the previous conference.

The Governors' Cup starts on July 15, five days after the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament concludes.

The 25-year-old Crawford, who went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, last played overseas in Israel.

Kings to attend 3-on-3 finals

We are the champions. Macway Travel Club players and team officials proudly display their trophy after winning their

first MBL Open basketball title with an 89-83 win over Philippine Christian University. Photo shows team manager Erick Kirong (holding trophy) and consultant Braulio Lim with People’s Tonight sports editor Ed Andaya, MBL commissioner Anthony Sulit and the players.

THE Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings will attend the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 3-on-3 National Championships on June 5 (Sunday) at the SM North Edsa Sky Dome, Quezon City.

Participants from the 16 teams and fans can mingle with the Gin Kings in the event that starts at 10 a.m. and ends with the 5 p.m. awarding ceremony.

Admission is free.

Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. (GSMI), maker of the world’s no. 1 selling gin Ginebra San Miguel, hopes the Gin Kings’ presence will inspire the participants to excel and be a step closer to reaching their full basketball potential. GSMI provides opportunities to athletes through grassroots basketball initiatives that sustain their passion for the game and also teach the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Teams from Bulacan, Laguna, Tarlac, Pasig, Quezon Province, Las Pinas, Pampanga, Cavite, Cebu, Quezon City, Rizal, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Davao, Bacolod and Pangasinan will vie for the champion’s cash prize of P50,000, while the runner-up will receive P20,000.

The regional finalists hurdled nationwide qualifying tournaments in different barangays that drew hundreds of aspiring basketball players 18 years old and above. The regional winners also got the chance to watch the recent PBA Finals live.

Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors seek No. 3 vs Laoag spikers RAMPAGING Pocari Sweat tries to keep its win run going as it tangles with a resurgent Team Laoag today, Saturday, seeking a third straight victory in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Warriors hurdled their first two matches in contrasting fashions, sweeping the UP Lady Maroons, 25-18, 25-14, 2522, in last week’s opener of the league where it all started. They then turned back the National U Lady Bulldogs, 34-32, 17-25, 2325, 25-17, 15-11, in a thrilling duel between two of the Shakey’s-sponsored league’s fancied teams last Wednesday.

“We hope to sustain our momentum and win as many games as we can,” said Rommel Abella, taking over the coaching reins for the newcomers vice Thai mentor Tai Bundit.

Starring former La Salle star Michelle Gumabao,

Games today 1 p.m. • Air Force vs Cignal (S Turf) 4 p.m. • Air Force vs Baguio (V-League) 6:30 p.m. • Laoag vs Pocari (V-League)

Elaine Kasilag, Myla Pablo, Siemens Dadang, Lutgarda Malaluan, setter Gyselle Sy and libero Melissa Gohing, the Lady Warriors set out as the slight favorites against the Power Smashers, who tote a 1-1 card, in the 6:30 p.m. main game in the fourth playdate of the season-opening conference of the league backed

by Mikasa and Accel.

Air Force and Baguio collide in the 4 p.m. opener of another explosive twinbill aired live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

The Jet Spikers, who trounced an Alyssa Valdez-less BaliPure side last Monday, goes for a second straight win against the Summer Spikers, who

bowed to Team Iriga last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in the Spikers’ Turf, Cignal and Air Force clash for the solo lead as they square off at 1 p.m.

The HD Spikers outlasted the Bounty Fresh side, 25-18, 23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-10, while the Jet Spikers overpowered their Sta. Elena rivals, 25-21, 2518, 25-21, to force an early three-way tie for the lead with the idle Instituto Estetico Manila side.

The Phoenix Volley Masters grounded Navy, 25-22, 25-22, 27-25, on opening day.

But focus will be on Gumabao, who has dished out a pair of solid games, including a 27-hit performance against the Lady Bulldogs. That effort included 17 attack points and eight blocks.

“She’s our most consistent player thus far and we will continue to rely on her,” said Abella of Gumabao.

MVP. Philippine Volcano Lito Ramirez playing for the CBRE Makati Mavericks rushes past a defender in Rugby action.

Ramirez will likely win MVP honors after leading the Mavericks to a spot in the Plate Final when the Philippine Rugby Football Union crowns the 2016 SPI League champions this weekend at Nomads Sports Club, Paranaque.

Silver warns All-Star move OAKLAND—NBA officials are looking at moving next year’s All-Star Game from Charlotte in the wake of a North Carolina law stripping discrimination protections from the gay and transgender community.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, speaking just before the opening game of the NBA Finals between Golden State and Cleveland, said Thursday that alternate sites are being studied and a decision is needed by September.

“We are looking at alternatives,” Silver said.

“We are in the process of looking at other options. At the same time, we would be moving on if I didn’t think there were constructive discussions going on.

“I don’t see we would get past this summer

without knowing definitively where we stand.”

Silver said he met last month with business leaders working behind the scenes with city and state officials for a compromise due to what he called “enormous economic damage.”

“One of the core underlying principles of this league is diversity and inclusion. Where we choose to celebrate an All-Star Game, those values should be honored,” Silver said.

“We as a league want to make sure there’s an environment where the LGBT (LesbianGay-Bisexual-Transgender) community feels protected down in North Carolina. If we can work with the community to ensure those basic protections are given... we will see you all in Charlotte next February.”

S AT U R D AY : J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Martinez leads nationwide search for skating talent LOTTO RESULTS

By Peter Atencio

MICHAEL Christian Martinez, the country’s top figure skater who is considered a lock to represent the Philippines in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, has committed to help in the search of new talents.

Martinez said he is open to

help in the selection process for his possible teammates in the biennial meets by holding workshops, starting in Manila and Cebu.

“I do things so that I can impart my knowledge and experience to them. Because I have been doing this for a long time,” said Martinez during the launch of the Manila leg of the workshop

last Tuesday at the Aristocrat Restaurant in Malate, Manila.

Around 80 students are expected to show up om the event slated at the Mall of Asia (MOA) on June 15 to 17. After Manila, Martinez will proceed to Cebu for another two-day workshop.

Sports officials hope that those who will perform well in the workshops will eventually

become part of the national team and represent the country in the SEA Games.

CJ Suarez, Sports Manager of SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc., said figure staking lessons will be divided into three categories: beginners, the intermediate and the advanced.

Martinez will conduct one-onone sessions with the participants.

6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Lascuna clinches ICTSI PGT crown GEN. TRIAS, Cavite—Tony Lascuña picked up another victory on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, outgunning Orlan Sumcad and Zanieboy Gialon in the early going before thwarting a hot-charging Japanese Ryoma Miki in the closing holes to capture the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational crown on a closing 69 at the Aoki course here yesterday.

Tony Lascuna hoists his trophy after scoring another victory at ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational.

Oliva gets shot at WBC Silver flyweight title

By Ronnie Nathanielsz FORMER World Boxing Federation (WBF) Asia Pacific flyweight champion Jether “The General” Oliva of General Santos City gets a shot at the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver flyweight title at the Pavilion in Singapore against undefeated Muhammad Waseem (3W-0L0D) of Pakistan on July 17.

The bout was announced by Oliva’s youthful manager Jim Claude Manangquil of Sanman Promotions.

The 30 year old Oliva, who has a record of 24-52 with 11 knockouts, will face the 28 year-old Waseem in a bout promoted by Andy Kim of AK Promotion .

“This is the title vacated by the WBC after the controversial fight between Oliva’s stablemate Randy “Razor” Petalcorin and Omari Kimweri in Australia,” said Mananqul, referring to the hugely controversial split decision despite the fact that Petalcorin dropped Kimweri four times during the fight but none of which were called by the referee.

“I’m confident with Jether Oliva’s experience. I think that will be the key for him to get the victory,” he added.

Oliva is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jong Sabellina last May 22 in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The 29-year old orthodox boxer also just arrived from being a sparring partner in Japan last April.

Oliva won the WBF Asia Pacific flyweight title by unanimous decision over Jemmy Gobel last October 5 in Glan, Sarangani Province. He also took the WBF

Just one up over Sumcad and two ahead of Gialon at the start of the final round, Lascuna flashed vintage form at the front to take full control with a 34 but needed to hit a pair of clutch birdies to fend off Miki, who charged back from five down to tie Lascuna at 14-under with an eagle on No. 16.

But the veteran Davaoeño shotmaker birdied the par-5 hole two flights later to regain a one-stroke lead, putted from the fringe on the par-3 17th for another birdie and a two-shot cushion before fumbling with a three-putt mishap on the final hole to settle for a pair of 34s and a one-shot victory on a 15-under 273 total.

“I wasn’t aware that somebody was making a charge until someone told me before I teed off on No. 16. So I did the next best thing—go for a birdie,” said Lascuña after scoring a follow-up to his runaway triumph at Luisita Championship, where he beat Korean Park Jun Hyeok by four, last April.

Two flights ahead of the championship group, Miki, a rookie pro from Saitama, took the challenger’s role when Sumcad and Gialon faltered

with over-par cards at the front, rattling off five birdies in a sixhole stretch to move within two. The 25-year-old shotmaker then gunned another birdie on the 11th, flubbed a couple of chances in the next four before eagling No. 16.

But he settled for pars in the last two for a tournament-best 64 for a 274, snatching the runner-up purse of P260,000, still his best finish in five tournaments in the circuit sponsored

by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Sumcad, who seized control halfway through the P2 million championship organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., recovered from a disastrous opening 39 with a 33 for a 72 and finished third at 278.

Clyde Mondilla, who had moved within a win to duplicating Lascuna’s three-straight win romp in 2014 with victories at Eastridge and Calatagan, fueled his bid with a hot 33 start to close within two. But the Del Monte rising star stumbled with a double-bogey on No. 13 and wound up with a 37 for a 70, ending up at joint fourth at 279 with Jerson Balasabas, Joenard Rates, Jhonnel Ababa and Jay Bayron.

Professional boxing community opposes AIBA decision INSIDE SPORTS RONNIE NATHANIELSZ THE overwhelming approval of the proposal of AIBA president Dr. Wu Kuo-Ching in a special congress called by Dr. Wu to pass a resolution that would allow professional boxers to compete in the Olympic Games beginning in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games has resulted in a groundswell of opposition primarily led by the World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman, leading international promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank and several other former and current world champions such as heavyweight greats Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, legendary Mexican champion Julio Cesar Chavez, legendary Mexican Erik “El Terrible” Morales as well as renowned promoters like Lou Di Bella who minced no words when he blasted AIBA as “a disgrace.”

The opposition to the pro-

posal was initially voiced by the late WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman whose son took up the cudgels after his father’s death and continues to wage war against AIBA PRESIDENT Dr. Wu who, Mauricio suspects, is driven by the possibility of financial rewards should talented pro boxers enter the Olympics.

That’s why Dr. Wu courted eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao during a meeting in Doha, Qatar to fight in Rio, promising him a “wild card entry” in the junior lightweight division.

But he failed to reckon with the pervasive influence of longtime promoter Bob Arum or the 16 million fans who voted for Manny in the May senatorial elections who effectively demanded that Pacquiao honor his obligations to the people who voted for him.

Arum put it succinctly when he told us, “Manny owes an obligation to the people who elected him to the Senate and he needs to fulfill that obligation.

He has a lot of work to do in the

senate” unlike his two-terms in the lone district of Sarangani where he was bitterly criticized over his habitual absence.

His Hall-of-Fame trainer Freddie Roach who helped mould the career of Pacquiao alongside Arum expressed the hope that Manny would focus on his significant role as a senator.

In fairness to Pacquiao he made it clear the only reason that drove him to think about a stint in the 2016 Olympics was his burning desire to give the Philippines its first coveted Olympic gold and had absolutely nothing to do with money.

All things considered it was not a certainty that Pacquiao would win a gold medal in Rio because he won’t be eligible to compete in the 2020 Games in Tokyo since he will be above the 40 year age limit by then..

He would have to fight much younger men on a daily basis and would have to make weight every day which is a requirement in the Olympics. Used to overpowering his opponents in twelve rounds or less, Manny

will have to battle over three, three-minute rounds which would be a different proposition altogether and require him to pressure his opponent from the opening bell.

Scoring with the use of electronic devices and the random choice of the scorecards of three of the five judges may also raise questions about how much judges give to solid body shots as compared to pitter-patter punches that, in the minds of some judges at least, score points in favor of fighters coming out of the amateur ranks.

There is also glaring differences in how punches are scored between amateur boxing and the pros, all of which add up to concerns for pros who decide to compete in the Olympics.

As we ourselves maintain it would promote potentially dangerous mismatches between top professional boxers and far less experienced amateurs and in fact would be unfair to young men who have worked hard to progress through the qualifying rounds only to have to tangle

with tough pro boxers.

Here is a rundown of opposition to the AIBA plan.

Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis of Britain said ““Olympic boxing is built for amateurs and is the highest achievement you can get, alongside being world amateur champion. All of a sudden you could have a scenario where someone like former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, who won Olympic gold in Atlanta and has so much experience, could go up against a kid of 18 who has had just 10 fights.”

Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr: “Professional versus amateur boxers is a real crime.

It is attacking the very roots of boxing. It endangers the lives and careers of young talented [amateur\ boxers.”

Former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes: “Amateurs should not fight professionals. It won’t be a fair fight.

I would not do it. Removing the headgear from amateurs is a huge mistake. The idea is to make boxing safer, not to

let them get hurt due to commercial interests.”

Mexican legend Erik “El Terrible”Morales who fought Pacquiao three times, winning the first and losing the next two badly said “As an amateur, you are in a learning stage. At the end of the day, amateur fighters are not familiar on what professional boxing is. That would be a great disadvantage to happen in the Olympics. They don’t have the skills, the training [or] experience. I don’t understand this. Professionals have a lot of advantages over amateurs.”

Some promoters also weighed in.

Rodney Berman: “Pro boxers at the Olympics? About as stupid as it gets.”

The WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has taken a strong stand on the issue and announced that any of the top fifteen fighters in any weight division who competes in the Olympics will be banned for two years which means a major financial setback.

And that should hit where it hurts.

S AT U R DAY : J U N E 4 , 2 0 16

A16

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

Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors protects the basketball against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One of the 2016 NBA Finals on June 2, at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Warriors rip Cavaliers in NBA Finals opener OAKLAND—Defending champion Golden State overpowered the Cleveland Cavaliers with superior depth and defensive skill Thursday, leading the Warriors to a 104-89 triumph to open the 70th NBA Finals.

Warriors reserve guard Shaun Livingston scored a season-best 20 points, his career playoff high, to lead seven double-figure scorers for Golden State, which will host game two in the best-of-seven series Sunday.

“It’s all a feel, just being aggressive,” Livingston said. “It’s just staying confident in my shot, understanding my game, where the shots are going to come from and trusting it.”

On a night when Warriors star guard and NBA scoring champion Stephen Curry managed only 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the floor and Klay Thompson hit

Johnson sets early pace at Memorial TURN TO A12

only 4-of-12 for nine points, Golden State reserves outscored Cleveland’s bench 45-10.

“Their bench did an incredible job coming in,” said Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, who scored a gamehigh 26 points on 7-of-22 shooting. You look at the statistics and it speaks volumes about how they pushed the pace and made some tough shots.”

The Warriors won an NBA record 73 games this season but none when Curry and Thompson combined for fewer points.

“It’s not even about that. It’s about guys staying ready,” Thompson said. “Shaun Livingston played

out of his mind. Just the resiliency we played on the defensive end.

That’s what won us the game.”

Warriors reserve Andre Iguodala sparkled defensively on Cleveland star LeBron James and scored 12 points while Brazil’s Leandro Barbosa added 11 off the bench as the Cavaliers hit only 32-of-84 shots (38.1 percent) and surrendered 25 points off 17 turnovers.

“Give up 45 points off the bench and 25 points off turnovers on the road, it’s not good ingredients to win,” said James, who had 23 points and 12 rebounds but shot 9-of-21 from the floor.

Draymond Green had 16 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals for the Warriors while Kevin Love added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

“When Steph and Klay struggle like that, everybody else needs to

Tennis fans may watch Djokovic for only $22 TURN TO A13

pick it up,” Green said. “You just know other guys need to step up.”

The Warriors went on a decisive 15-0 run that began late in the third quarter, all but two points coming from reserves and much of the span coming while James, playing in his sixth consecutive NBA Finals, rested on Cleveland’s bench.

“I missed some shots and didn’t get a rhythm, but we’ll be able to find some adjustments for game two. Not worried about that,” Curry said.

“Just really proud of the way everybody contributed. You don’t win championships without the entire squad making an impact.”

Irving made a jumper and a 3-point play and Tristan Thompson scored off a rebound to pull Cleveland within 56-52 early in the third quarter. AFP

Garcia wants new training facility

By Peter Atencio TALKS on establishing a sports training center in Clark Field, Pampanga will be revived in the coming months.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ricardo “Richie” Garcia said he will gladly take part in the discussion with newly elected 1Pacman partylist solon Mikee Romero who had revived the initiative in the coming months.

“We wait for confirmation on the meeting he wants to have. The line is open,” said Garcia as he awaits for his replacement in the PSC. Romero is pushing for the creation of the Department of Sports and the need to purchase of up to 100 hectares of land which could be the site of a national training center in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Last year, talks to purchase land for the training bogged down, beset by issues surrounding the construction of a second tarmac inside the Clark International Airport facility, and the payment of a P150,000 per hectare rent.

But Garcia said that such a facility will help the country in its bid to contribute to the successes of Filipino athletes in international competitions.

The outgoing PSC chief said better results can be achieved if athletes can be trained in a place where they can be easily monitored.

“Even their food and their nutrition can be monitored. It is in a camp.

Hopefully, we can get an area that’s about 50 hectares,” added Garcia.

SATURDAY: JUNE 4, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Singapore Airlines milestone. Singapore Airlines celebrates its 50th year with an exclusive festive event at the residence of the Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines, where members of the diplomatic community and VIPs commemorated the strong ties between the two countries. Shown are Singapore Ambassador Kok Li Peng (center) with Philip Goh, Singapore Airlines regional vice president for Southeast Asia, and Carol Ong, Philippines general manager of Singapore Airlines.

DoF backs shift to green energy PSe comPoSite

index

Closing June 3, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,514.22 49.63

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing June 3, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.465

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.465 LOW P46.550 AVERAGE P46.493 VOLUME 407.400M

P427.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank P36.35-P43.45 Unleaded Gasoline

o

il P PriceS today

P24.75-P29.60 Diesel

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.5630

Japan

Yen

0.009187

0.4278

1.442700

67.1764

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128700

5.9927

Switzerland

Franc

1.010203

47.0381

Canada

Dollar

0.763650

35.5578

Singapore

Dollar

0.727114

33.8566

Australia

Dollar

0.722900

33.6604

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655126

123.6306

Saudi Arabia

Rial

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, chairman of the V20 Group, which now expanded to 43 countries most systemically vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, called for a rethinking of the global economy through V20 initiatives, like climate accounting and carbon pricing.

“Apart from its human costs— which ought to be a convincing enough reason for decisive global action in and of itself—climate change is a dead weight to the global economy. Business as usual no longer presents a strong busi-

By Othel V. Campos

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, June 3, 2016

Pound

THE Finance Department on Friday joined President Benigno Aquino III’s call for a sweeping review of the energy policy, setting the path for national approach away from carbon and toward green energy development. ness case for anyone. Shifting to clean, renewable energy is the best investment we can make for our future,” Purisima said.

“To this end, the V20 Group is developing concrete ways to reorder incentive structures governing human behavior in the global economy. Changing how we value and price the costs of human [in] action to climate change ought to make a green energy shift the only sensible choice to make for everyone,” Purisima said.

Purisima made the statement after the Climate Change

Commission issued a resolution signed by outgoing President Aquino calling for a review on coal plants in the next six months.

The Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, a newly-established policy research institution helmed by veteran advocates for people-centered energy, ecology and development, along with its affiliate organizations in civil society and communities in the Philippines, said this was a good step toward shifting away from dirty energy to a more sustainable and clean resource in the country.

Studies showed that climate change-related disasters claimed over 1.35 million lives and affected an average of 218 million annually over the past two decades.

Developing countries bear more than half the economic impact of climate change over 80

percent of its health impact, with annual climate change-related economic costs of $44.9 billion projected to increase ten-fold by 2030, he said.

Data from the Global Partnership for Preparedness, a group recently launched by V20 and several UN agencies, showed the global economic impact of climate change since 2005 breached $1.3 trillion.

Purisima earlier said in a keynote address at the Future of Asia Conference in Tokyo that climate change had already held back global development by close to 1 percent of the world GDP, based on studies.

Purisima also referred to a paper published in the scientific journal Nature estimating that overall economic production would fall by about 23 percent by 2100 if the climate kept changing under the current models.

UK’s Mclaren upbeat, eyes local distributor in PH

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

UK

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

0.266660

12.4165

Brunei

Dollar

0.724480

33.7340

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000073

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028106

1.3087

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.6774

Euro

Euro

1.115300

51.9317

Korea

Won

0.000843

0.0393

China

Yuan

0.151927

7.0742

India

Rupee

0.014868

0.6923

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241080

11.2254

New Zealand

Dollar

0.680900

31.7047

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030670

1.4281 Source: PDS Bridge

SPORTS car maker McLaren Automotive of the UK is looking at the growing economy of the Philippines to distribute the luxury brand.

Company officials arrived in the Philippines about three weeks ago in search for an exclusive distributor of the brand.

“They came here, talked to a number of potential dealers and they ended up with a shortlist of three of the biggest distributors in the Philippines,” UK Ambassador to the Philippine Asif Ahmad said Thursday.

He said McLaren officials noted that it was the only British car brand that had not reached the Philippine market.

With the entry of Aston Martin, Lotus and MG in 2015, there are now nine British car brands in the Philippines. The others are Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini, RollsRoyce, Bentley and Morgan.

Ahmad said he told told McLaren officials that the Philippines was a good market for pricey cars, with more people climbing the social ladder on increased purchasing power. He added affluent car enthusiasts would be more

than interested to buy and drive a McLaren.

Meanwhile, another British maker of consumer electronic and durable goods plans to make a grand entrance into the Philippine manufacturing sector.

The British company will put up a manufacturing facility in a industrial zone in Batangas, its second overseas manufacturing hub.

The consumer goods manufacturer is poised to make an official announcement of its plan and intentions for the Philippine market

by July 2016 The unidentified British com-

pany is a high-technology manufacturer of popular British appliance brand.

“Originally, their plan is to go to Mexico to further penetrate the American market. But it has chosen the Philippines and we are glad they did. It will be a huge boost to the Philippines,” Ahmad said.

The company has created about 30,000 jobs in its existing manufacturing center in Asia about seven to eight years ago.

Ahmad said the company had a lot of confidence in the Philippine manufacturing industry with its pool of talents.

SATURDAY: JUNE 4, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, June 3, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 0.640 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

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

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.8 3.72 45.7 45.05 104.50 103.20 94.60 93.80 38 37.8 1.44 1.43 14.3 14.1 16.98 16.76 7.18 7.18 1.94 1.94 610.00 610.00 0.550 0.540 86.5 85.1 0.95 0.94 15.00 15.00 51.20 49.65 263 257 31.5 30.75 203 201.8 1362.00 1355.00 65.00 64.30 1.58 1.54 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

45.8 46.3 45.6 Agrinurture Inc. 3.72 3.79 3.62 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.87 0.89 0.88 Alsons Cons.

1.97 1.97 1.93 Asiabest Group 11.98 11.98 11.5 Bogo Medelin 55.55 55.6 55.6 Century Food 21.25 21.45 21.25 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 198 198 196 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 18.48 18.5 17.76 Concepcion 46.8 47 46.8 Crown Asia 2.17 2.19 2.09 Da Vinci Capital 5.25 5.46 5.27 Del Monte 11.18 11.5 11 DNL Industries Inc. 9.670 9.700 9.650 Emperador 7.19 7.40 7.15 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.55 5.64 5.55 EEI 7.41 7.47 7.44 First Gen Corp.

22.75 23 22.55 First Holdings ‘A’ 67.8 68.3 66.9 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.26 12.22 12.22 Holcim Philippines Inc. 15.10 15.30 15.02 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.75 5.75 5.72 Ionics Inc 2.220 2.260 2.200 Jollibee Foods Corp.

230.00 235.00 229.80 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.21 3.38 3.22 Macay Holdings 39.90 39.90 38.50 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.5 27.85 27.5 Maxs Group 27.5 28.2 26.75 Megawide 6.53 6.6 6.51 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 311.00 316.00 308.60 MG Holdings 0.265 0.265 0.265 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.59 4.12 4.11 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.5 3.52 3.5 Petron Corporation 11.80 11.86 11.50 Phinma Corporation 11.54 11.64 11.54 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 5.27 5.30 5.12 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.67 1.82 1.68 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.75 2.84 2.78 RFM Corporation 4.27 4.27 4.25 Roxas Holdings 4.3 4.29 4.29 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 210 219 216.8 Splash Corporation 2.53 2.51 2.5 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.150 0.152 0.152 TKC Steel Corp.

1.75 1.80 1.75 Trans-Asia Oil 2.47 2.57 2.48 Universal Robina 196 200.6 198.8 Vitarich Corp.

0.89 0.9 0.88 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.25 1.26 1.25 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.400 0.400 0.380 Aboitiz Equity 76.45 78.15 76.45 Alliance Global Inc. 15.50 15.68 15.46 Anglo Holdings A 1.15 1.16 1.14 Anscor `A’ 6.05 6.00 5.98 ATN Holdings A 0.380 0.390 0.380 ATN Holdings B 0.380 0.385 0.385 Ayala Corp `A’ 844 850 840 Cosco Capital 7.89 7.92 7.8 DMCI Holdings 12.72 12.80 12.70 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

6.21 6.25 6.20 Forum Pacific 0.240 0.246 0.240 GT Capital 1405 1429 1403 House of Inv. 6.30 6.32 6.30 JG Summit Holdings 83.35 84.00 83.40 Keppel Holdings `A’ 5.59 5.4 5.4 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.9 7.89 7.7 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.69 0.7 0.69 LT Group 14.96 15.7 14.7 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 6.09 6.18 6.07 Pacifica `A’ 0.0320 0.0320 0.0320 Prime Orion 1.810 1.820 1.810 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.65 2.66 2.65 San Miguel Corp `A’ 76.50 77.95 76.40 SM Investments Inc. 955.50 975.50 960.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.19 1.19 1.19 Top Frontier 175.000 181.000 172.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3050 0.3100 0.3050 Wellex Industries 0.2010 0.2060 0.1980 Zeus Holdings 0.340 0.355 0.340 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.860 7.950 7.880 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.22 1.40 1.24 Araneta Prop `A’ 2.490 2.500 2.440 Arthaland Corp.

0.270 0.285 0.270 Ayala Land `B’ 36.900 37.150 36.500 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.12 3.19 3.09 Cebu Holdings 5.15 5.15 5.15 Century Property 0.510 0.51 0.500 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.000 1.000 1.000 Crown Equities Inc. 0.131 0.132 0.130 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.540 0.540 0.530 Double Dragon 55.35 56 55.45 Empire East Land 0.780 0.790 0.790 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil. National Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

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

Close

SHARES 8,885,466 60,269,679 86,741,878 1,115,978,100 155,111,057 664,288,096 1,096,157,945

3.74 45.5 102.50 93.70 38 1.44 14.2 16.78 7.18 1.9 610.00 0.550 86 0.94 15.02 50.00 264 31.25 202.4 1362.00 64.50 1.54

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.78 45.7 104.00 94.00 37.9 1.43 14.1 16.78 7.18 1.94 610.00 0.540 86 0.94 15.00 51.00 262 31.45 202.6 1358.00 64.50 1.58

1.07 0.44 1.46 0.32 -0.26 -0.69 -0.70 0.00 0.00 2.11 0.00 -1.82 0.00 0.00 -0.13 2.00 -0.76 0.64 0.10 -0.29 0.00 2.60

173,000 33,200 2,149,850 1,960,960 24,400 41,000 307,600 122,700 1,200 5,000 10 1,024,000 2,151,590 15,000 10,100 318,550 1,380 76,800 350,210 165 111,500 7,000

45.6 3.74 0.88 1.93 11.9 55.6 21.4 197 17.78 46.8 2.09 5.4 11.48 9.650 7.15 5.58 7.44 22.7 67 12.22 15.22 5.75 2.240 230.00 3.38 39.80 27.75 28.2 6.55 316.00 0.265 4.12 3.5 11.80 11.64 5.27 1.80 2.83 4.25 4.29 219 2.5 0.152 1.77 2.57 199.9 0.88 1.26

-0.44 0.54 1.15 -2.03 -0.67 0.09 0.71 -0.51 -3.79 0.00 -3.69 2.86 2.68 -0.21 -0.56 0.54 0.40 -0.22 -1.18 -0.33 0.79 0.00 0.90 0.00 5.30 -0.25 0.91 2.55 0.31 1.61 0.00 -10.24 0.00 0.00 0.87 0.00 7.78 2.91 -0.47 -0.23 4.29 -1.19 1.33 1.14 4.05 1.99 -1.12 0.80

1,609,200 3,983,000 46,000 1,444,000 3,100 250 372,700 360 293,200 97,100 1,584,000 350,500 149,500 2,041,900 508,200 13,866,900 21,300 3,028,600 57,930 2,000 35,400 287,000 607,000 917,380 4,000 3,000 196,100 2,009,100 231,900 260,940 2,850,000 22,000 115,000 9,168,000 34,800 296,800 2,956,000 292,000 2,523,000 10,000 3,410 168,000 670,000 712,000 2,536,000 1,853,550 1,562,000 421,000

0.390 77.90 15.68 1.15 6.00 0.385 0.385 845 7.89 12.76 6.20 0.246 1411 6.32 83.50 5.4 7.85 0.69 15.5 6.08 0.0320 1.810 2.65 77.95 973.50 1.19 181.000 0.3100 0.2000 0.340

-2.50 1.90 1.16 0.00 -0.83 1.32 1.32 0.12 0.00 0.31 -0.16 2.50 0.43 0.32 0.18 -3.40 -0.63 0.00 3.61 -0.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.90 1.88 0.00 3.43 1.64 -0.50 0.00

570,000 1,759,740 7,148,300 167,000 108,800 1,560,000 250,000 117,780 463,900 1,543,200 75,300 30,000 62,965 18,400 3,490,300 5,000 645,700 452,000 19,467,900 33,282,600 3,700,000 886,000 15,000 193,420 254,710 4,000 58,680 550,000 670,000 8,870,000

7.900 1.40 2.490 0.285 36.500 3.19 5.15 0.510 1.000 0.132 0.530 55.9 0.790

0.51 14.75 0.00 5.56 -1.08 2.24 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.76 -1.85 0.99 1.28

122,600 29,231,000 856,000 40,000 8,478,900 637,000 9,300 2,136,000 23,000 870,000 944,000 504,990 100,000

1,417,570.00 -1,158,818 26,649,850.00 4,260.00 -1,417,560.00

-340,540.00 -20,163,396.50 13,025,240.50 -357,820.00 181,940 50,710,772.00 -841,137.50 -36,297,510.00 -92,150.00 96,500.00 -1,686,695.00 140,380 53,500.00 -101,807.00 7,333,474.00 -761,475.00 -15,051,250.00 -5,211.00 26,832,725.00 -1,156,349.50 7,650.00 42,086.00 -235,250.00 -72,363,428.00 2,293,200.00 37,584,230.00 -134,515.00 -9,471,070.00 -164,500.00 3,051,610.00 -279,388.00 -472,232.00 138,940.00 126,000.00 319,630.00 720,330.00 -35,200.00 50,800.00 52,800,120.00 -89,000.00 7,800.00 42,906,829.50 28,745,664.00

10,535,225.00 923,833.00 9,471,224.00 252,220.00 -35,313,570.00 -6,387,952.00 339,837.00 -146,937,514.00 -24,091,159.00 89,600.00 2,540,662.00 78,466,965.00

-408,889.00 -713,580.00 10,000.00 -44,913,795.00 1,065,800.00 -61,500.00 -20,100.00 8,422,651.50

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.15 1.42 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

Global-Estate 0.96 Filinvest Land,Inc. 2.03 Keppel Properties 4.20 Megaworld 4.4 MRC Allied Ind. 0.090 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2800 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.490 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 44.80 Primex Corp.

8.62 Robinson’s Land `B’ 28.80 Rockwell 1.6 Shang Properties Inc. 3.14 SM Prime Holdings 24.80 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.89 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.000 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.200

0.00 -0.49 0.24 0.23 0.00 7.14 1.02 0.00 -1.39 0.69 1.25 -0.64 0.60 3.37 2.00 0.00

2,757,000 13,729,000 1,000 19,360,000 6,920,000 1,050,000 1,540,000 7,500 10,000 2,415,800 89,000 16,000 16,820,700 1,785,000 331,000 5,182,000

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 4 2720 8.41 70.5 1.97 119.5 7 5.8

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 2.58 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 4

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 2.53 1 15.2

6.5 1.91 1.01 0.650 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

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

Discovery World Easy Call “Common” Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Manila Bulletin Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

-1.08 -1.19 1.59 0.00 2.82 0.00 -0.66 0.05 0.00 4.79 9.32 -2.08 -0.61 3.00 4.42 0.00 -7.14 -1.12 0.10 -1.52 0.61 -2.61 0.00 -0.13 -5.07 -1.74 0.00 1.29 0.50 1.40 0.11 4.78 -1.13 0.41 1.54 -4.26 4.30 0.12 2.48 -0.32 -1.83 1.69 0.00 0.00 2.24

60,400 383,580 35,000 342,000 19,645,000 9,660,000 386,000 914,290 2,700 51,000 18,000 89,010 78,900 100 3,000 1,211,010 40,700 130 934,600 12,380,000 3,933,000 23,000 7,500 71,700 1,618,000 16,000 45,000 8,343,000 860,000 7,356,000 126,400 11,000 3,130 136,300 380,080 31,510,000 45,670,000 2,270,900 425,510 99,900 3,270,000 73,000 373,000 1,270,000 800

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `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 Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

2.38 -1.77 -1.15 -2.95 -2.75 0.00 -1.52 -5.10 0.35 1.12 1.69 -0.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.53 0.00 -0.38 0.00 -9.09 1.01 3.63 3.52 -2.17 0.00 -0.93 -1.78 9.09

277,000,000 63,000 86,000 -4,270.00 20,000 700 10,700 -73,700.00 1,760,000 560,000 15,300 75,680,000 23,140.00 90,000 6,480,000 1,060,000 5,300.00 119,000,000 9,900,000 127,000 48,910.00 4,174,000 -11,838,050.00 52,000 23,000 52,800,000 55,000,000 9,000 1,692,900 114,018.00 5,701,000 1,347,170.00 40,300,000 349,960 30,206,250.00 550,000 11,600,000

70 553 120 8.21 12.28

33 490 101.5 5.88 6.5

78.95 84.8

74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ First Gen G GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort PCOR-Preferred B 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

-1.80 0.00 0.42 0.00 0.00 1.49 0.00 0.51 -0.49 0.66 -1.29 1.83 -1.29 -0.13 0.00 0.00

372,930 4,000 60,500 1,100 499,000 20 500 4,650 28,300 500 2,130 3,660 80,300 31,750 161,170 1,000

1.04

93,000

0.25 -3.68 0.00 -1.68

685,000 28,000 89,000 4,070,200

0.00

9,210

1.34

1

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,697.17 (up) 8.15 INDUSTRIAL 11,694.84 (up) 89.85 HOLDING FIRMS 7,520.70 (up) 76.45 PROPERTY 3,213.36 (down) 3.22 SERVICES 1,556.53 (up) 9.67 MINING & OIL 11,070.22 (down) 2.24 PSEI 7,514.22 (up) 49.63 All Shares Index 4,491.73 (up) 26.99 Gainers: 100; Losers: 72; Unchanged: 52; Total: 224

Close

2.22 2.1 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

0.97 0.95 0.96 2.03 1.99 2.02 4.21 4.21 4.21 4.5 4.4 4.41 0.090 0.088 0.090 0.3000 0.2700 0.3000 0.520 0.490 0.495 46.50 41.80 44.80 8.5 8.5 8.5 29.40 28.55 29.00 1.63 1.56 1.62 3.12 3.05 3.12 25.15 24.90 24.95 0.92 0.88 0.92 1.020 0.990 1.020 5.250 5.200 5.200 SERVICES 7.38 7.38 7.25 7.3 50.5 50.9 49.9 49.9 1.26 1.36 1.28 1.28 0.590 0.600 0.580 0.590 4.25 4.40 4.20 4.37 0.0580 0.0590 0.0560 0.0580 3.01 3.03 2.96 2.99 96.5 97 96 96.55 9.55 9.55 9.55 9.55 1.88 2 1.97 1.97 3.11 3.42 3.40 3.40 2400 2400 2320 2350 6.53 6.54 6.49 6.49 23.30 24.00 24.00 24.00 1.13 1.18 1.18 1.18 58 58.7 57.6 58 15.40 15.66 14.30 14.30 197 197 194.8 194.8 9.60 9.61 6.30 9.61 0.330 0.335 0.325 0.325 1.6500 1.7100 1.6500 1.6600 2.3 2.3 2.24 2.24 11.9 12.1 11.52 11.9 7.51 7.51 7.50 7.50 3.35 3.36 3.17 3.18 1.15 1.13 1.12 1.13 0.570 0.570 0.560 0.570 2.32 2.42 2.3 2.35 3.98 4.01 3.94 4.00 2.860 2.970 2.890 2.900 17.98 18 17.98 18 4.81 5.04 4.84 5.04 124.40 124.50 123.00 123.00 24.25 24.35 24.05 24.35 1950.00 1985.00 1955.00 1980.00 0.470 0.485 0.445 0.450 0.930 0.980 0.920 0.970 42.00 42.10 41.90 42.05 78.55 80.50 77.80 80.50 6.24 6.24 6.20 6.22 2.73 2.75 2.68 2.68 0.590 0.600 0.580 0.600 3.34 3.36 3.34 3.34 0.345 0.355 0.345 0.345 6.700 6.850 6.700 6.850 MINING & OIL 0.0042 0.0043 0.0042 0.0043 2.26 2.22 2.15 2.22 4.35 4.31 4.27 4.30 0.237 0.230 0.230 0.230 8.0000 7.78 7.78 7.7800 7.4900 7.7500 7.4900 7.4900 0.66 0.68 0.65 0.65 0.490 0.490 0.460 0.465 8.53 9.00 8.55 8.56 0.890 0.900 0.870 0.900 0.295 0.300 0.290 0.300 0.248 0.248 0.246 0.247 0.265 0.265 0.265 0.265 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 1.89 1.89 1.87 1.88 4.2 4.29 4.14 4.2 2.62 2.62 2.55 2.61 1.3000 1.3100 1.3000 1.3000 0.0110 0.0100 0.0099 0.0100 0.0099 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 3.86 4.00 3.86 4.00 7.10 7.35 7.00 7.35 4.14 4.14 3.90 4.05 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 129.70 130.00 128.40 128.50 3.93 3.95 3.85 3.86 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 0.0120 PREFERRED 50 49.8 49.1 49.1 539.5 539.5 539.5 539.5 119.5 120 120 120 6.48 6.48 6.48 6.48 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.11 1074 1090 1090 1090 113 113 113 113 78.5 79 78.9 78.9 81.4 81.05 81 81 75.5 76 76 76 77.5 76.6 76.5 76.5 76.6 78 78 78 77.5 77.9 76.5 76.5 77 76.9 76.9 76.9 77 77.1 77 77 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.890 2.920 2.840 2.920 SME 4.01 4.08 4 4.02 3.53 3.53 3.4 3.4 3.06 3.06 3 3.06 16.68 16.98 16.4 16.4 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123 123.3 122.9 123

T op g ainerS VALUE 700,441,328.85 1,165,805,464.22 1,567,275,361.98 1,023,991,093.25 1,517,245,923.74 176,310,547.7305 6,222,867,449.94

Low

-3,685,470.00 -43,175,610.00 -23,400.00

-29,350,830.00 4,720.00 53,521,795.00 -13,763,388.00 -244,020.00

-32,311,670.00 -268,730.00 -23,029,263.00

-37,612,810.00

-14,432,784.00 4,801,375.00 231,000.00 -4,020.00 75,000.00 -915,550.00 -3,088,280.00 -416,180.00 1,099,560.00 273,600.00 -12,035.00 351,230,730.00 750.00 47,990.00 -4,381,450.00 6,526,639.00 -279,354.00 -848,890.00 -885,120.00 69,000.00

-10,974,055.00 -7,128.00

38,000.00 38,500.00

-360,200.00 -32,211,908.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

A. Brown Co., Inc.

1.40

14.75

Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

4.12

-10.24

Easy Call "Common"

3.40

9.32

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0100

-9.09

United Paragon

0.0120

9.09

Imperial Res. `A'

14.30

-7.14

Phoenix Semiconductor

1.80

7.78

Coal Asia

0.465

-5.10

Phil. Estates Corp.

0.3000

7.14

Liberty Telecom

3.18

-5.07

Arthaland Corp.

0.285

5.56

PremiereHorizon

0.450

-4.26

Mabuhay Vinyl

3.38

5.30

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

17.78

-3.79

Discovery World

1.97

4.79

Crown Asia

2.09

-3.69

PAL Holdings Inc.

5.04

4.78

Makati Fin. Corp.

3.4

-3.68

Harbor Star

1.18

4.42

Keppel Holdings `A'

5.4

-3.40

SATURDAY: JUNE 4, 2016

B3

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

Pepsi’s award. Pepsi-

Market advances; Aboitiz, URC rise

STOCKS ended the week on a high Friday, tracking a strong lead from New York ahead of the release of US jobs data that will shape expectations for the timing of the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate hike.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 49 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 7,514.22 Friday. The bellwether was up 8.1 percent since the start of the year.

The broader all-share index also climbed 26 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 4,491.73, on a value turnover of P6.2 billion.

Advancers led losers, 100 to 72, while 52 issues were unchanged.

Fourteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by LT Group Inc., the holding company of tycoon Lucio Tan, which climbed 3.6 percent to P15.50.

Universal Robina Corp., a food manufacturer, rose 2 percent to P199.90, while Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. added 1.9 percent to close at P77.90.

Meanwhile, most Asian stocks also traded higher Friday. With the start of June proving to be hard going, the focus is on Friday’s non-farm payrolls report from the Labor Department, which helps the Federal Reserve decide when to lift interest rates.

Expectations are high for a June or July hike after bank chair Janet Yellen last Friday said such a move could be justified “in the coming months,” citing continued US economic growth and a strengthening labour market.

US investors provided a perfect platform for their Asian counterparts with the S&P 500 ending at a seven-month high, with help from a rally in oil prices.

Tokyo ended up 0.5 percent and Shanghai also closed 0.5 percent higher, while Sydney gained 0.6 percent.

Hong Kong added 0.4 percent by the end while Singapore tacked on 0.4 percent in late exchanges.

The gains extended into Europe, where at the start of trade London climbed 0.6 percent, while Frankfurt and Paris each gained 0.3 percent. with AFP, Bloomberg

Cola Products Philippines Inc. senior vice president for national sales Domingo Almazan (third from left) holds the “Performance with Purpose” trophy conferred

by PepsiCo Asia, Middle East & North Africa for excellence in distribution in the Philippine market in 2015 in rites held in Hong Kong. With him are (from left) PepsiCo Asia Pacific vice president and chief financial officer Mannu Bhatia, PepsiCo Philippines beverages marketing head Michael Eric Rosales, PepsiCo Amena chief executive SanjeevChadha, PepsiCo Philippines country manager Maricelle Narciso and PepsiCo Amena senior vice president and chief finance officer Stefano Sartoretti.

Shell taps 2 banks to underwrite IPO

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp., a unit of Royal Dutch Shell Plc., hired two banks as underwriters for its planned initial public offering in the second half of 2016, according to a Thomson Reuters publication.

Thomson Reuters publication IFR said Shell tapped BPI Capital Corp. and JP Morgan as underwriters, although the size and timing of the offer has not been finalized.

IFR said the banks pitched a valuation of $3 billion to $5 billion for Pilipinas Shell, which would enable the oil refiner and distributor to generate between $300 million and $500 million in

proceeds by selling the required minimum public float of 10 percent.

Shell Philippines country chairman Ed Chua last year said the company was preparing for an IPO sometime in 2016.

“But timing should be good [for IPO as] the market should be conducive,” Chua said.

Chua said Shell had not determined what to do with the pro-

ceeds from the IPO yet, as the main objective was to comply with the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998.

The law requires oil refiners to list at list 10 percent of their shares in the local bourse.

Shell announced in 2013 a plan for an LNG import facility in Batangas that would be carried out by Shell’s Technology Centre Bangalore, which delivers advanced technical studies, projects and services for Shell around the world.

Chua said aside from market conditions, Shell was still reviewing the company’s financial performance in the wake of the slump in world oil prices.

The oil refiner raised concerns over the decision of the Commis-

sion on Audit to impose P53.14 billion in taxes on the contractors of the Malampaya gas-to-power project in northwest Palawan.

Shell was also forced to shut down its oil depot in Pandacan to comply with a Supreme Court ruling directing the oil companies to move out of the Manila residential district.

Other companies are also planning to conduct IPOs in the second half of the year.

Among the IPOs approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission this year are the P40-billion maiden share sale of Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., the P787-million share sale of Golden Haven Park Inc. and the P1.2-billion IPO of Philippine Primark Properties Inc.

International visitor arrivals increased 14% to 2m in four months

By Othel V.Campos INTERNATIONAL visitor arrivals increased 14.3 percent yearon-year in the first four months to breach the 2-million mark, led by the influx of East Asian tourists, the Tourism Department said Friday.

The department said East Asian countries accounted for 49.2 percent of total international visitor arrivals in the January-April period.

“These encouraging tourism figures can be attributed to the

department’s aggressive marketing activities, international events held in the country and the foreign markets’ increasing awareness of the product offerings of the different Philippine destinations,” said Tourism undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. Data showed the East Asian region remained the biggest source of arrivals with 1,020,434 tourists.

South Korea was still the biggest source of tourists from the region with 481,596 arrivals in the fourmonth period, or about 23.22 per-

cent of the total arrivals.

The department said except for Hong Kong and Macau, all countries from the East Asian markets posted increases, with China showing the biggest growth of 88.86 percent with total arrivals of 238,523 this year.

Another high-growth market was Taiwan which posted an increase of 28.94 percent over 2015.

The United States ranked as the second biggest market with 303,951 visitors, up by 7.2 percent from 283,577 arrivals in the same

period in 2015. This market constituted 14.7 percent of the total arrivals.

China was the third largest market, with 238,523 arrivals or an 11.5 percent share of the total arrivals.

Japan placed fourth, contributing 183,620 visitors or 8.9 percent of the total inbound traffic.

Australia ranked fifth with 88,496 arrivals, comprising 4.3 percent of the total.

Rounding up the top ten visitor markets are Taiwan with 71,656

arrivals; Canada with 68,288 arrivals; the United Kingdom with 63,039 arrivals; Singapore with 61,033 arrivals; and Malaysia with 48,835 arrivals.

Among the countries which posted substantial growth in inbound traffic to the Philippines in the four-month period were France with 23,980 tourists, up 24 percent; Germany with 35,639 arrivals or 20.9 percent growth; Sweden with 11,588 arrivals or 20.2 percent growth; and India with 29,578 arrivals, up 22.2 percent.

SATURDAY: JUNE 4, 2016

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

IN BRIEF 3 banks lose license THE Monetary Board, the policymaking body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, revoked the licenses of three banks.

The board in a circular posted on its web site it canceled the licenses of Banco De Oro Savings Bank Inc., a subsidiary of BDO Unibank Inc.; JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. Manila branch; and Cavitebased Rural Bank of Kawit Inc. “The surrender of the banking and trust licenses of Banco de Oro Savings Bank Inc. to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is part of BDO’s streamlining initiatives since the former has become an inactive subsidiary,” the board said.

The board said the bank would eventually be merged with another subsidiary of parent BDO Unibank Inc.— BDO Capital and Investment Corp.

The board, meanwhile, said the revocation of the banking license of Rural Bank of Kawit was effective upon the closure on Feb. 1, 2016 of the purchase of its assets and assumption of liabilities by Philippine Business Bank, a listed thrift bank.

The board also noted the surrender of the authority of JP Morgan Chase Bank Manila branch to conduct trust and fiduciary business. Julito G. Rada

Investments up 19% TOTAL investment pledges rose 19 percent to P26 billion in the first quarter this year from year ago level, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

Latest PSA data showed approved foreign and local investments increased P26 billion billion in the first three months of 2015 from P21.8 billion yearon-year.

The PSA said the figures were collated from seven investment promotion agencies, namely the Board of Investments, Clark Development Corp., Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, BoI-Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.

The Netherlands ranked first among foreign investors, committing P8.1 billion or 31 percent of the total. Japan and the United States ranked second and third, with investments of P4.4 billion and P3.7 billion, respectively. Gabrielle H. Binaday

Congress, PCC urged to review telecom sale

By Darwin G. Amojelar

A NON-GOVERNMENT organization urged Congress and the Philippine Competition Commission to review the P70-billion deal between duopoloy Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Globe Telecom Inc. and San Miguel Corp. that may restrict competition in the local telecommunications market.

The Foundation for Economic Freedom strongly urged the PCC to review the deal immediately and expeditiously, and take appropriate action as the facts warrant.

“The PCC should take into account that it is mandated by Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act to implement the national compe-

tition policy and prohibit anticompetitive agreements, abuse of dominant position, and merger or acquisition agreements that substantially prevent, restrict or lessen competition in the market,” FEF said.

The PCC said in a statement it would assert all its powers regarding the acquisition of San

Miguel’s telecommunications assets by PLDT and Globe.

FEF also asked Congress to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation and exercise its powers to amend, alter, or repeal the franchises of public utility operators when the common good so requires.

“We also urge Congress to liberalize key sectors in the economy and lift the nationality restrictions on foreign investments by amending the economic provisions of the Constitution, the Public Services Act, and sector-specific laws such as Republic Act No. 7925 or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines to provide consumers the benefits of the efficiency of market competition,” FEF said.

In as much as the telecom-

munications spectrum is a public and scarce resource that is allocated by the National Telecommunications Commission, the NGO called on the incoming NTC commissioner of the Duterte administration to review its spectrum allocation to serve the common good.

FEF’s statement came after PLDT and Globe entered a deal to acquire the telecom business of San Miguel to be able to access the powerful 700 megahertz owned by the latter.

The 700-MHz band, located above the TV broadcast channels, penetrates buildings and walls and covers larger areas.

Mobile wireless service providers in other countries have been using the spectrum to offer mobile broadband services.

NGCP supports bill SAN FERNANDO—National Grid Corp. of the Philippines urged the government to issue a legislation that will penalize violators of right-of-way.

National Grid spokesman Cynthia Perez-Alabanza said the move would help ensure that right-of-way issues such as building structures below transmission facilities were addressed.

“There’s pending bill,” Perez-Alabanza said.

National Grid, meanwhile, lauded local government units for supporting moves to address transmission tower bombings and other right-of-way issues not only in Mindanao but the entire grid.

National Grid also said various cities in Mindanao had unanimously stated their support for an earlier resolution of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Oriental condemning the spate of tower bombings.

Representatives of the Sangguniang Panglungsod of the cities of Dapitan, Oroquieta, Zamboanga, Cotabato, and Malaybalay acknowledged the detrimental effect of tower bombings, especially Tower 25 in Ramain, Lanao del Sur, which isolated the Agus hydroplants from the grid, to the already vulnerable socio-economic and peace and order situation of Mindanao.

Alean Mae S. Flores

MRT-3 escalators THE Transportation Department said it allotted P65.48 million to refurbish 34 escalators of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 over next eight months.

The agency said it awarded the refurbishment of 34 Mitsubishi-brand escalators to International Elevator & Equipment Inc. through the Department of Budget and Management’s procurement service.

IEEI holds proprietary rights to rehabilitate the second batch of escalators, being the brand’s exclusive distributor. It will undertake such works within 223 calendar days from the issuance of the notice to proceed.

The company will rehabilitate 34 escalators in the Araneta Center-Cubao, Shaw Boulevard, Boni, Buendia, Ayala and Taft stations.

“This project aims to provide relief to commuters—especially senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women,” the department said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

BoI seminars. The Board of Investments, the industry development and investments promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, is strenghtening further the awareness level of stakeholders on the latest government investment policies, regulations and procedures through five seminars throughout the country. Shown during one of the seminars are director Domingo Bagaporo (middle) and (from left) Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. market services department head Jose Antonio Vilar, executive director of investment ombudsman Maria Corazon Arancon, Revenue Officer IV Dely Cayetano and legal and legislative division representative Euvimil Nina Asuncion of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Purisima backs policy reforms of Duterte administration FINANCE Secretary Cesar Purisima on Friday extended his support to the policy reforms of the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Purisima said the country had sufficiently freed itself from structural and fiscal constraints that would enable the next administration to increase investments in infrastructure and social services for the mediumterm period.

Purisima said the past six years had built the right foundations, setting the stage for wider policy options to sustain growth.

With the next administration planning to double spending, raise the deficit ceiling and borrow more, Purisima extended his support, saying enough confidence and fiscal space had been amassed to enable the new government to support a more expansionary fiscal policy stance.

He cited the Philippines increased tax revenues by at least two-thirds from pre-2010 levels, raised the education budget by 125 percent, health by 336 percent, infrastructure by 360 percent and social services by 166 percent.

“For so long as the current growth trajectory is maintained, growth-inducing expenditures will keep having more and more room to comfortably expand,” he said.

Meanwhile, Purisima pushed for a holistic tax reform effort that could further spur longterm, equitable and inclusive growth without sacrificing the country’s macroeconomic position and push the tax effort to 16 percent of the gross domestic product.

“With the country hailed as the most upgraded investment-grade sovereign, the next administra-

tion is likewise in a position to tap the markets to finance aspirational growth requirements if needed,” Purisima said.

With a record debt-to-GDP level of 44.8 percent in 2015 and low weighted average interest rates, the Philippines had reasonable room to maneuver, he said.

Purisima is confident the incoming economic team has the experience and expertise to navigate a fiscally sustainable path in today’s lending environment.

“Awash with hope, the Philippines enters its best period yet,” he said. Gabrielle H. Binaday

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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WORLD Taiwan recalls Tiananmen TAIPEI—Taiwan held the island’s first ever commemoration in parliament Friday of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown as lawmakers urged the new government to address human rights issues in its dealing with China.

2 Koreas squabble over group defections SEOUL—The two Koreas stepped up a war of words Friday as tensions mounted over a series of North Korean defections and the South’s rejection of Pyongyang’s repeated offers of military talks.

Tensions have been running high on the divided Korean peninsula ever since the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January followed by a long-range rocket launch.

In the past month, a new source of friction has emerged with two cases of group defections by North Korean staff working in Pyongyang-run restaurants in China.

A dozen women and their restaurant manager arrived in Seoul in April, and three others from a separate restaurant followed them this week.

North Korea insists the staff were duped and effectively kidnapped by South Korean intelligence agents and are being held in the South against their will an accusation Seoul categorically denies.

“The allurement and abduction clearly proves that the puppet forces of south Korea are the most hideous human rights abusers,” a spokesman for the North Korean Red Cross said in a statement.

Referring to the latest case of the three women who had been working in a restaurant in the northern Chinese province of Shanxi, the spokesman said they were the victims of a sophisticated, “premeditated abduction”. AFP

It comes weeks after China-skeptic Tsai Ing-wen was sworn in as president, succeeding Ma Ying-jeou who oversaw an unprecedented eight-year rapprochement with Beijing.

Ties have rapidly cooled since Tsai won the presidency in January, with Beijing highly distrustful of her traditionally independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party.

In the past, Taiwan’s government has repeatedly urged China to learn lessons from the Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, in which more than 1,000 were killed according to some estimates.

But parliamentarians have never before gathered to voice their views.

A day ahead of the June 4 anniversary, senior lawmakers from the DPP and the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang were joined by human rights activists and exiled Chinese dissident Wu’er Kaixi as they observed a minute’s silence.

They also signed a motion proposed by DPP lawmaker Yu Mei-nu to demand the government “express Taiwan’s serious concerns over redressing the June 4 incident at the appropriate time” in future interactions between the two sides.

“Taiwan and China have very close ties, so the suppression of human rights that happened to Chinese citizens could also threaten human rights in Taiwan,” Yu said.

KMT lawmaker Chen Shei-saint broke partisan ranks to voice his support, saying democratization in China was “the biggest assurance for Taiwan’s security.”

Taiwan is self-ruling after splitting with China in 1949 following a civil war, but Beijing still sees it as part of its territory to be reunified.

Since Tsai took power Beijing has been pushing her to adhere to its “one China” concept.

Taiwan was left furious after its citizens were deported from Kenya and Malaysia to the mainland as part of fraud investigations, a move seen as a pressure tactic on Tsai. AFP

Water rising. This photo taken late on June 2, 2016, shows water rising near the statue of the Zouave and the Eiffel Tower at the Alma bridge in Paris. AFP

Prolific British pedophile facing life in jail LONDON—A British serial pedophile who preyed on impoverished children in a Kuala Lumpur slum and bragged about the abuse online faces life in jail on Friday when he is expected to be sentenced.

Richard Huckle, 30, who has pleaded guilty to 71 counts of child sex offences, including rape, targeted children while posing as a volunteer working with Christian communities in the Malaysian capital.

Huckle posted pictures of the abuse of boys and girls on website True Love Zone,

with the youngest victim believed to have been around six months old.

“He’s one of the most committed, manipulative, conniving pedophiles I have come across,” said Matthew Long of Britain’s National Crime Agency.

Huckle was snared by an Australian investigation on the dark web a hard-to-access part of the Internet often used for illegal activity.

The Old Bailey central criminal court in London heard earlier that he targeted poor

victims over nine years and was writing a guide to child abuse that he intended to publish for profit.

“Impoverished kids are definitely much easier to seduce than middle-class Western kids,” he said during an online chat.

He said he planned to “mold” one of his victims into a “perfect wife” so that he could get away with abusing more children.

Investigators have identified 23 victims 22 Malaysians and one Cambodian. Of the

offenses Huckle has admitted, 22 carry a discretionary life sentence.

The NCA has faced criticism after it was revealed they did not visit Malaysia until 16 months after Huckle’s arrest, and Malaysian authorities are pressing Britain for more information on his crimes.

Ong Chin Lan, assistant director of a special division dealing with such crimes, said late Thursday that Malaysian police still did not know the identities of Huckle’s victims. AFP

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Japanese boy missing in forest is found alive TOKYO—A missing seven-year-old boy who spent nearly a week sheltering in a hut after being abandoned by his parents in a bear-inhabited forest in northern Japan as a punishment was found alive on Friday, officials said.

Yamato Tanooka was discovered inside a military base by a soldier about 5.5 kilometers from where he went missing last Saturday, apparently unharmed and in good health.

Reports said he had taken shelter in the hut and found a tap to drink from but was hungry and was immediately given food when discovered.

After the emotional discovery, the boy’s contrite father appeared before the media and apologized for causing his son’s ordeal.

Yamato’s parents have been se-

verely criticized in social media for forcing him out of their car on a mountain road as punishment for misbehaving.

“A Self-Defense Force official who was on a drill found a boy whose age appeared to be seven,” said Tomohito Tamura, spokesman for police on the northern island of Hokkaido.

“There was no conspicuous external injury, and the boy introduced himself as Yamato Tanooka,” he told AFP, adding that his parents were reunited with him

and confirmed he was their son.

The boy “looked in good health” but was taken to hospital by helicopter for a check-up as a precaution, SDF spokesman Manabu Takehara said.

Yamato’s emotional father later bowed in apology when speaking to reporters outside the hospital where his child was being treated, in an appearance aired by public broadcaster NHK. “My excessive act forced my son to have a painful time,” said Takayuki Tanooka.

“I deeply apologize to people at his school, people in the rescue operation, and everybody for causing them trouble,” he added, thanking those who searched for him.

“The first thing I said to my son was, ‘I’m very sorry to have caused you to face this suffering because of

me,’” said the father, adding that his son nodded in return.

The parents originally told police their son got lost while they were out hiking to gather wild vegetables along with their daughter, but later admitted they had become angry with him for throwing stones at cars and people and had ordered him to get out of the car.

The local Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper said the boy had told police that on Saturday night he walked to the corrugated metal hut on the military base.

An unidentified SDF official told NHK that when the soldier opened the door of the structure he found the boy inside.

“When the official asked ‘are you Yamato?’ the boy said ‘Yes, I am’,” he said.

The boy was hungry so the soldier who found him gave him

something to eat, another military official told NHK. A still image shown on TV showed the boy wearing a baseball cap and T-shirt, holding some food and drink.

Nippon TV said there was a tap outside the hut that Yamato had been able to drink water from, and military officials told local media he had used two mattresses that were inside the hut to keep himself warm at night.

A local weather agency official told AFP that the lowest pre-dawn temperature recorded in the area located in the southwestern part of Hokkaido over the past week was 4.6 degrees Celsius.

Japanese media interrupted regular programs to broadcast the news of Yamato’s discovery in the case which has drawn huge attention.

The stunning development was the top trending item on Twitter in Japan.

“Wow, he was found!” read one tweet.

Ken Noguchi, a renowned alpinist who has climbed Mount Everest, tweeted: “If he survived by himself, it’s an unbelievable miracle.”

Others, also expressing amazement at the boy’s survival skills, said he has the right stuff to be an elite SDF soldier. AFP

250 migrants rescued after boat capsizes

Private opening. This is the general atmosphere during the Museum of Broken Relationships, Private Opening, on June 2, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Turkey says Germany is still an ally ISTANBUL—Turkey on Friday said Germany was still a key ally even after a parliament resolution recognizing the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman forces as genocide infuriated Ankara, predicting the spat would not lead to a sudden deterioration in ties.

Apparently seeking to keep the dispute from developing into a full-blown diplomatic crisis, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim emphasized the key BerlinAnkara relationship would continue.

The German lower house on Thurs-

day passed a non-binding resolution recognizing the mass killings of Armenians from 1915 under the Ottoman Empire as genocide, prompting Ankara to recall its ambassador from Berlin for consultations.

The dispute sparked alarm over the potential damage to relations between Turkey and Germany at a sensitive time when the sides are working together to implement a deal seeking to halt illegal migration to the EU. “Germany and Turkey are two very im-

portant allies. No one should expect that relations will suddenly deteriorate completely because of this decision or similar decisions,” Yildirim told a news conference before a visit to Azerbaijan.

“That doesn’t mean however that we will not react, that we will say nothing,” he added, pointing to a counter resolution passed by the Turkish parliament condemning its German counterpart.

“With this decision, Turkey’s relations with Germany have been seriously damaged,” he said. AFP

ATHENS—More than 250 migrants were rescued off the Greek island of Crete on Friday after their boat capsized and operations are continuing to find more survivors, the Greek coastguard said.

It was the second migrant boat found in that area of the southern Aegean Sea since last week, indicating that people smugglers may be forging a possible new route.

At least four ships passing through the area picked up the survivors, who are expected to be taken to Crete, a coastguard spokeswoman said.

She said a major rescue operation was underway in the area, in clear but windy conditions about 75 nautical miles south of the island, but the number of those still missing is not known.

The spokeswoman had earlier said that “the number of people in distress could be counted in the hundreds”.

She added that “people are in the water, boats crossing the area have thrown lifebuoys and are moving to save the migrants”.

It was not immediately clear where the boat had left from or where it was headed, or the nationalities of those on board.

She said a passing ship spotted the sinking vessel off Crete, Greece’s largest island located in the southern Aegean Sea. The coastguard rushed two patrol boats, a plane and a helicopter to the scene.

About half of the 25-meter-long boat was completely underwater, the spokeswoman said.

Some 204,000 migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe since January, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

More than 2,500 people have died trying to make the perilous journey this year.

In the most recent deadly incident in the Aegean, four women and a child drowned in early April off the island of Samos.

The vast majority of deaths occurred on crossings between Libya and Italy, as migrant arrivals to Greece have fallen sharply since the EU entered into a controversial deal on March 20 with key transit country Turkey to stem the flow of migrants.

Before the influx of migrants to the Greek islands last year, a number of boats were intercepted or capsized further west in the Aegean in recent years, usually en route to Italy from Turkey or from North Africa. AFP

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PROPERTY PROPERTY

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA JOEL D. L ACSAMANA

EDITOR EDITOR

maannaa@ @ggm maaiill..ccoom m jjddllaaccssaam

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Qualimed sets up shop in Bulacan.

The QualiMed Health Network recently opened its newest facility, the QualiMed Hospital – San Jose Del Monte, which is a 105-bed level 2 general hospital, in Altaraza Town Center, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. The facility has capabilities for inpatient and outpatient healthcare. Inpatient services include admission in wards or private rooms, and intensive care facilities for adult and pediatric/ neonatal patients. Altaraza, is a 100-hectare mixeduse development of Ayala Land. Under its phase 1 development, it launched 564 Avida and Amaia units.

In the works is a 9,600-sqm GLA office building which will generate about 3,500 jobs upon completion.

QualiMed is a network of healthcare facilities owned and operated by Mercado General Hospital, Inc. (MGHI) in partnership with Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI).

Safety milestone. Construction firm DATEM Inc., JCL International and De La Salle Philippines recently marked 600,000 work hours without accident for the construction of the DLSU-Rufino Campus at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. The campus features a seven-storey building with 18 classrooms, an auditorium, a moot court, a library and discussion rooms. Shown in photo (from left) are: JCLI project manager Engr. Doroteo R. Jose; DATEM area manager Engr. Emerito M. Alcala; DATEM project manager Engr. James Oliver T. Bagang; DLSU chancellor Dr. Gerardo C. Janairo; JCLI manager Engr. Andy Ranola; DLSU in-charge-of-construction Carlos S. Rufino; DLSU associate vice chancellor for facilities management Engr.

Ronaldo S. Gallardo.

Less big city-centric. Serious property developers are building growth centers outside Metro Manila to set up residences, office spaces, and entertainment venues. They need more information about their buyers to meet a plethora of lifestyle, financial, and geographical needs.

Big data gives real estate players edge Cavite escape. Ara Vista Village, Picar Development’s flagship real estate property in General Trias, Cavite, is an ideal summer getaway for those who live near the area. A gated residential community with a 24/7 connectivity to the web, Ara Vista was master-plannned to have everything residents and visitors would need-- from a lively theme park and gym, to the church and an AMA Medical School that will be built soon inside the village. Hard to beat is the community’s spacious grand hall, which makes for an ideal venue for graduation or birthday parties, debut, wedding receptions, reunions, and other similar events.

PLDT recently rolled out a line-up of services, through its large enterprise group PLDT Alpha, to shore up the growing Philippine real estate industry Using its big data capabilities, PLDT Alpha Enterprise launched digital services, such as data insights, to help real estate companies validate their property developments and project designs better, and to have a deeper understanding of their target markets’ respective profiles.

These solutions could helpfully guide these companies to design and

tailor-fit the right properties for people in various areas.

“Real estate companies face the challenge of zeroing in on relevant market segments given the diversity of property buyers’ needs,” said first vice president & head of PLDT Alpha Enterprise, Jovy Hernandez. “They need to change the way they seek and use information so that they can offer development to the right target market more effectively.”

Big data enables the combination of several subscriber attributes which

can be used to gain insights into their socio-economic class, lifestyle, and mobility patterns. This can help the property developer in terms of design and pricing, such as identifying the size of the property per unit, and identifying what amenities and facilities will be relevant to the target market.

“Big data opens new possibilities that can change the way real estate firms do business and stay ahead of the competition by providing meaningful intelligence that can spur business growth,” said Hernandez.

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY

CHINESE FIRMS EYE PH FOR OFFICE SPACE Bright lights, big city. Setting up an office in the Philippines, the new gateway to Southeast Asia and beyond, makes sense for a growing number of corporate players in the mainland.

By Joel D. Lacsamana

WHITE, sandy beaches have been drawing Chinese tourists to the Philippines in recent years. But beyond the resorts, the nation is stirring – furiously – and becoming ever more attractive to Chinese companies, according to global commercial real estate firm JLL. As Chinese companies look for new growth channels outside of their home markets, overseas expansion is opening doors for nearby markets such as the Philippines, observed P. Ryan Isip, national director at JLL. “Chinese companies not presently in Manila are now opening offices here and all over the place,” he said. “They realise

that real estate is an essential dimension of corporate operations; it is important for boosting corporate image, workplace productivity, as well as attracting and retaining talent.

“Setting up an office in the Philippines makes sense, given the close proximity to China, and that opportunities for expansion in the market can serve as a gateway to Southeast Asia and more,” added Isip.

The sentiment was recently echoed by a Bloomberg report released earlier this year, which named the Philippines as the second-fastest growing market in Asia after China.“Compared to other countries in the region, the Philippines has a relatively large population, which boasts a growing middle-class and an increasingly professional workforce,” said Isip.

Low cost of doing business He added that “the cost of doing business is low, and the country has a very business-friendly environment; this is

proven by the huge presence of reputable foreign companies that already operate large back-office functions here.”

Tencent and DiDi Chu Xing who are exploring the Philippines, are among the latest Chinese companies to look into setting up operations in Manila, joining the likes of carmakers BAIC and Chery, global communications and telecommunications technology solutions provider Huawei, and China State Construction.

“Overseas growth is especially key for successful companies looking to increase their global reach and stay ahead of the competition, and this is especially true in China, where a slowing economy at home is being felt and the implications of this cannot be ignored,” said Steven McCord, head of research for North China at JLL. “Many well-known Chinese brands have thrived in the protected environment of the mainland,” he noted. “But they are now venturing out of the country into more competitive environments backed up by revenues from the past decade.”

Diversification is in Meanwhile, Chinese giants like Huawei and appliance manufacturer Haier have seen huge growth in China.

“Therefore, to sustain a certain level of growth, these companies are going overseas,” said McCord. “Being so close to the mainland, the Philippines is a logical place to do business, and the presence of Chinese firms is already being felt in office markets both locally and elsewhere in the region.”

Moreover, the 2015 list of the top Global Fortune 500 companies included 104 Chinese companies, 51 of which are based in Beijing, indicating that potential demand for Chinese expansion abroad appears healthy.

“Under the pressure of a slower economy, Chinese corporates are expanding in the Philippines because they have the ability to do so as part of their diversification,” said Isip. “They can only penetrate so much of their own market, while here they are presented with a new market and new opportunities.

Boots on the ground pay off Seaside hub wins property award honors.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), recently bagged the best retail development, best commercial development and best retail architectural design for SM Seaside City Cebu at the Philippine Property Awards. The development is part of SM prime’s 30-hectare complex at the South Road Properties, just a few meters from Cebu’s central business district. When completed, the project will include office and residential buildings, a conference and convention center, a 5-star hotel, an events center, and other community facilities. SM Seaside City Cebu is the 3rd SM mall in the Queen City of the South, and the 3rd largest in the Philippines.

Local attitudes should also support more Chinese investment in the country.

“Take for example, Chinese goods,” said Isip. “Chinese goods are welcomed in the Philippines, and we see imported goods from China readily gobbled up. As companies set up shop in the Philippines and establish a strong local presence, they will enjoy ready acceptance by the market.”

Isip added that the local ethnic Chinese population also plays well into the equation.

“There’s already a sizeable ethnic Chinese population here, so, we have an existing population that speaks some dialects of Chinese, and this makes it easier for parts of the community to communicate with people from mainland China,” explained Isip.

“On top of that, more tourists from China are flocking to our beaches, and these visits help to introduce more Chinese people to our culture and what we have to offer as a country, which can also be applied in a larger context to the business world.”

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C1

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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BERNADETTE LUNAS

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P oP CU LT U RE

LIFE

Sonix cases make a unique fashion statement with Jerome Salaya Ang’s 'Into the Unknown' collection

Jeffrey Rogador’s Holiday 2016 collection 'Prints and Patterns' complements the minimalist design of laptop bags from HK-based brand thecoopidea

Wireless personal activity trackers from Misfit debut at the 20th Philippine Fashion Week with Melchor Guinto’s 'Enigma' collection

beyerdynamic headphones accentuate this sophisticated piece from the 'Midnight Rose' collection of Filipino designer Randall Solomon

WEARAblE TEChnOlOgy

Power Mac center Presents the hottest digital lifestyle essentials at the 20th PhiliPPine fashion week

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n today’s digital age, wearable technology can already blur the line between tech and fashion. Though integrating tech in wearable apparel is still in its rudimentary stage, we’ve gone as far as wearing Google glass and smartwatches.

And while we wait for wearable tech to become mainstream, there are lifestyle gadgets that surely complete a person’s everyday fashion staple.

In the recently concluded 20th Philippine Fashion Week, premium Apple partner Power Mac Center collaborated with some of the country’s renowned fashion designers to showcase the hottest lifestyle tech that goes in union with their trendy collections.

The two-day fashion event highlighted Power Mac Center’s new digital lifestyle staples like iPhone cases, bags, and Apple Watch bands presented in a series of shows.

According to Joey Alvarez, marketing director of Power Mac Center, it is an honor to be the Official Technology Partner of the Philippine Fashion Week for the second time. “The visual feast it provides is the perfect backdrop for us to introduce our own ‘collection.’ This year, we made sure to carefully select functional pieces that complement the contemporary urban lifestyle,” he adds.

During the first day, Melchor Guinto’s “Enigma” collection featured Misfit sporty wearables. The wireless personal activity trackers that can record even cycling and swimming progress complements the designer’s edgy and sporty vibe. Randall Solomon’s “Midnight Rose” collection made use of beyerdynamic headphones that transport the women in bob cut hair into sci-fi movie characters with Parisian undertones. Global brand Sonix which specializes in fashion accessories for iPhones was highlighted by Jerome Salaya Ang’s collection “Into The Unknown” that closed the first day of the fashion affair.

Jerome Salaya Ang complemented with fashion accessories from Sonix

A model in a Sidney Perez Sio’s design carrying Moshi’s Codex laptop case

Cherry Samuya Veric’s 'Viva!' collection paired with Case-Mate’s fashion-forward bands for Apple Watch

On the second day, Jeffrey Rogador’s street wear “Prints and Patterns” collection lit up the runway with his modern interpretation of Philippine tribal patterns and textures.

The colors and linear designs of his collection blend perfectly with Hong Kongbased brand of laptop bags thecoopidea in backpacks, shoulder bags and hand bags. For Sidney Perez Sio’s “10,000 Joys and 10,000

Sorrows,” his pink hues and florals featured Moshi’s carryalls and gadget-carrying cases made from water-resistant fabric and vegan leather. Closing the Fashion Week was Cherry Samuya Veric with her “Viva!” collection inspired by the Sinulog festival. Her models wore tribal patterns in sequins and handcrafted leather together with Casemate Apple Watch Bands.

Power Mac Center is celebrating its 22nd anniversary through a series of lifestyle events anchored on the arts, music and fashion.

For more information about products and services, visit www.powermaccenter. com or their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube accounts.

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HARAmbE AND THE zoo SITUATIoN

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he online world is outraged that a zoo in the United States killed a rare gorilla to save a 4-year-old boy who reportedly “slipped” into its enclosure.

According to CNN, "Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard said he stands by the decision to kill 17-year-old silverback Harambe to save the child.” Officials say that tranquilizing the animal wouldn’t have been the right call as it would take a few minutes to take effect and the child was in immediate and grave danger.

We’re not going to argue if that was the best course of action. I’m sure it was a tough decision to make. After all, it was a unique situation and was supposedly the first incident of its kind in the exhibit’s 38-year history.

Within days of the incident, a Change.org petition calling for “Justice for Harambe” has accumulated close to 400,000 signatures.

The petitioners are asking for the zoo and related agencies to “hold the parents [of the child] responsible” for the death of the gorilla.

For its part, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent out a series of tweets, saying, “Yet again, captivity has taken an animal’s life. The enclosure should have been surrounded a secondary barrier to prevent this. Gorillas have shown that they can be protective of smaller living beings & react the same way any human would do to a child in danger. Even under the ‘best’ circumstances, captivity is never acceptable for gorillas or other primates & in cases like this it’s even deadly. This tragedy is exactly why PETA urges families to stay away from any facility that displays animals as sideshows for humans to gawk at.”

The concept of a zoo as we know it today has been in existence since 1828 with the launch of the London Zoological Gardens, primarily used for scientific study. It opened

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to the public in 1847 and since then, zoos began popping up all over the world for public consumption. Of course, zoos quickly became a place for entertainment.

During those times and perhaps, until recently, zoos have made sense as an educational venue for children and adults alike. In them, you see how animals behave and react to their environments and to humans. Going to a zoo as a child is an enlightening experience that gives one an appreciation of the animal kingdom that one wouldn’t have by only reading books and learning in school.

However, today, it seems that the zoo is an outdated concept. First of all, countless studies have proven that animals really do not do so well in captivity, especially in small cages or artificial environments found in city zoos.

In fact, plenty of city zoos have been called out for their poor maintenance and poor health of animal residents. Regardless of the quality of care zoo professionals give to the animals, experts still claim that the transition from being in the wild to captivity causes animals mental and emotional stress.

Second, we already have the Internet and TV shows dedicated to the exploration of wildlife, which are better because we actually get to see the animals in their natural habitat, albeit not physically. As educational materials, the documentation of animals in the wild allows us to see how they interact with, live, breed and survive in nature.

And third, there is an alternative to the modern zoo and it’s called a safari park. A safari park is a zoo-like establishment that allows visitors to observe animals freely roaming around. Here at home, we have two of those: the Calauit Safari Park in Palawan and the Zoobic Safari in Olongapo.

Even though safari parks still are not the best homes for wild animals, they’re not as stifling, stressful and unnatural as the typical zoo.

The bottom line is that wild animals are not meant to be in the middle of the city and certainly not meant to be in cages as exhibits for people to look at and derive entertainment from. We all know that, but why does it seem that we’re still clueless?

How many Harambes have to die for us to finally get the point?

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

Seventeen-year-old silverback gorilla Harambe AFP PHOTO

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' statement regarding the shooting incident at Cincinnati Zoo

Wear your ‘Jaws’ with Sperry footwear

efore Blake Lively excited us with her shark-bitten exposed thigh in her upcoming film The Shallows, Susan Backlinie already made an entire generation scared of the blue waters when she played Chrissie Watkins, the first shark victim of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster Jaws.

For Jaws’ 41st anniversary, fanatics will go gaga over the release of Jaws-themed

Sperry footwear. Yes! A shark bite on our shoe is just what we need to remind us not to go deep in the blue sea. Known for its popular boat shoes and the brand which actors actually wore on the first film, Sperry created the limited edition Jaws collection that is just too cool for school.

The collection is composed of six different designs that will make anyone reminisce the thriller film.

Anyone will need a bigger shoe rack once they lay their eyes on the designs– Jaws poster shoe that has different patterns on the left and right sides; Jaws’ very own bloody logo stamped on a white boat shoe; water-print seacoast sneaker; and a seacoast sneaker with shark teeth heel detail, among other designs. The best part is it’s available in both men and women sizes and the style is unisex so anyone can sport the freakishly

Striper sneaker with Jaws Logo heel detail

funky designs. Even the shoebox design will make you crave for a pair as it comes with the epic Jaws poster cover.

We don’t know about you, but after seeing the collection, we know exactly what footwear to wear on our next OOTD.

Shark-print Striper slip-on sneakers, Jaws Logo slip-on sneakers, Water-print Seacoast sneaker, and Seacoast sneaker with shark teeth heel detail

Jaws Seacoast Water in navy

The Sperry X Jaws Collection is already available in Sperry stores located at Bonifacio High Street, Glorietta 3, TriNoMa, UP Town Center, SM Fairview, SM North EDSA – The Block, SM Aura Premier, SM Mall of Asia, SM Southmall, Robinsons Place Manila, Ayala Center Cebu, SM Northwing Cebu, SM Seaside Cebu, SM Iloilo, SM Bacolod, SM Lanang – Davao, Centrio Mall – CDO and leading department stores nationwide.

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Dundee Adriatico emerged as the winner for this year’s #TrueWanderer and brought home a Royal Enfield Classic Chrome Black 500cc motorcycle and P100,000 worth of Wrangler merchandise Wrangler’s True Wanderer ambassador is Jericho Rosales

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EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH WRANGLER

n recognizing fearless Filipino souls eager for adventure, passionate with food and enthusiastic in taking photos, iconic American denim brand Wrangler once again introduced this year’s innovative digital campaign #TrueWanderer to encourage people most specially bikers to go off the beaten path and conquer new grounds.

With the support of the Department of Tourism, a bigger number of bikers around the country joined the digital competition.

Known as a devoted adventurer and biking enthusiast, Wrangler’s True Wanderer ambassador is Jericho Rosales along with popular travel blogger and culture advocate Ivan Henares.

DOT Marketing and Promotion chief executive Armand Sapitan was impressed, saying, “All the pictures that I saw are breathtaking. The reason why people travel is to enrich our spirit and nothing enriches

our sprit much better than meeting people along the way. More than taking photos, it’s really the immersion in the community (and) talking to people that give us the most impact – something that we will cherish in all of our lives.”

Out of the 10 finalists who finished their epic ride outs in Cebu, Bohol, or Palawan, Dundee Adriatico emerged as the winner for this year’s #TrueWanderer and brought home a Royal Enfield Classic Chrome Black 500cc motorcycle and P100,000 worth of Wrangler merchandise. The awarding took place at Brewery at the Palace, Uptown BGC last May 26.

Being adventurous is undoubtedly in Dundee’s blood – engaging in wall climbing, Brazilian Jiujitsu, surfing and wakeboarding, among many other sports.

The #TrueWanderer winner shares that his passion for riding motorcycles started in high school when a ride through the rocky

roads and river of his province made him realize how motorcycle riding can lead him off-the-beaten path to discover new places and experiences.

Dundee wandered to Palawan for fivedays, going around the beautiful seascape, blogging every kilometer of his journey along the way. He also got the chance to try Puerto Princesa’s exotic Crocodile Sisig the unusual woodworms, tamilok, and of course, the delicious Chicken Inasal. He made his way up to El Nido and Sabang, discovered the long stretch of beach in San Vicente and had an opportunity to take in the beautiful and picturesque Honda Bay as well. “When I arrived there, the beach had yet to be visited by people,” he shares. “It was literally empty. Since no one was there, I was able to play around with my bike,” he added.

To complete the unforgettable experience, Dundee also met interesting

locals with different personalities and fellow wanderers along the way. While he loves to go on adventures, he always makes safety a priority not just to avoid danger but to be able to continue doing the things he loves. The 32-year-old adventurer was really grateful for being named as the #TrueWanderer. This opportunity will allow him to go on even more adventures.

Long-winding roads and the exhilarating journey every ride brings – these are the joys experienced by the wanderers which cannot be taken away. “I believe True Wanderer would enable me to travel and see the beauty of this world and this country. At the same time, I believe it would enable me to take a step back, reflect and appreciate the things that really matter like family and friendship.”

The journey might be very tiring, but in the end, we know it’s all worth it. – Marjaleen Ramos

Ready for school with techie and trad items Kids will be going back to school a week or so from now, and they will be armed with smart phones, tablets, laptops and other gadgets that have since become staples in their school arsenal. But despite the tech invasion, it’s still cool to balance kids’ school stuff with traditional classroom must-haves in their back to school list.

Fortunately, techie and traditional items can be found in SM Accessories, with attractive products inspired by well-loved fictional characters. Flash drives take off from the lovable Disney duo of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, galactic Star Wars characters and all time super heroes from marvel. The attractive designs make sharing notes and files so much fun between classmates. On the other hand, there are hip power banks that can save the day in case gadgets run out of battery power. Kids can match the power banks with their smartphones to make a personal statement.

On the traditional side, SM Accessories offers colorful cases for pencils and crayons to help students get organized.

For nutritious baon, kids will definitely love the lunch boxes that sport favorite characters like Peppa Pig, adventurous Pororo, and forgetful but charming Dory.

With the numerous styles, sizes and designs to choose from, kids will love going to school with their stylish backpacks, messenger bags or trolleys – whichever they prefer. Even socks in fun designs are available.

How cool is that?

Be school ready with SM Accessories available at all The SM Stores nationwide.

Easy to carry Spiderman pencil case and writing set

#TEAMCAP or #TEAMIRONMAN?

Tech meets trad in Mickey and Minnie flash drives

Fun Dory lunchbox

Channel the Force with Star Wars smartphone case

Marvel’s credit card-style flash drive

Marvel super hero socks

Marvel and Star Wars tube power bank

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Manang Biring

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Un plus une

FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL COMMEMORATES 21ST YEAR

romoting French culture and honoring the excellence of Philippine cinema, the French Film Festival celebrates its 21st year of bringing best films and blockbusters to local audiences. Spearheaded by the Embassy of France to the Philippines, the Alliance Française de Manille and Institut Français, renowned films will be publicly screened from June 8 to 14 at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas and the Bonifacio High Street Cinemas.

Over the years, an increasing number of moviegoers have been attending the French Film Festival.

Last year, over 15,000 watched the film showings in Manila and Cebu.

The French film fest has been providing a venue for Filipinos to discover and appreciate French films, with the activity also aimed at strengthening the relations between France and the Philippines that began 21 years ago.

The film festival also supports the local film industry by screening and paying tribute to classic and contemporary Philippine films. The Ambassy of France in Manila has also been supportive of the local film industry and preserving Philippine film heritage by assisting up-and-coming local filmmakers in pursuing their projects and providing training and experience to these Filipino filmmakers abroad.

French Ambassador Thierry Mathou noted that 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.

A lineup of 17 French films released between 2014 and 2016 will be presented in this year’s edition of the film festival.

On June 12 during Philippine Independence Day, the spotlight will be on Filipino films with screenings for 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.

“We bring to the Filipino’s the best that the world has to offer – we give them options, we inspire them and we expose them to aspects of foreign culture and now we offer them that once-ayear chance to enrich themselves with the beauty that is French cinema” said Michael Tantoco

Huang, specialist Assistant to the CEO of the SSI Group, Inc. The red carpet will also be rolled out to formally open the French Film Festival in Manila on June 8 in honor of the cast and crew of Ma’ Rosa, a film by director Brillante Mendoza which competed at the recent Cannes Film Festival, and which earned Best Actress honors to Jaclyn Jose.

“We are really, really pleased to congratulate Ms. Jaclyn Jose for receiving this honor,” said Laurent Legodec, Deputy Head of Mission of the French Embassy. “This shows that in the cinema field, we have much to exchange between France and the Philippines, we have much to share.”

Adding pizzazz to the event is Peugeot, the official premium transport partner of the 21st French Film Festival which will be made available to guests on the gala night.

Peugot Philippines president Glen Dasig said that the French Film Festival is a salute to the arts. For over 21 years, the French Embassy in Manila has been giving Filipinos a glimpse of French artistry via these beautiful works of modern art. Peugeot, which has a deeply rooted history in premium design, also churns out works of modern art. “Our goals are one and the same – to offer the best of France to the Filipino. We feel that we share a bond with the Embassy of France in this effort.”

A special screening of French director Maïwenn’s film, Mon Roi, will also be shown starring French actress Emmanuelle Bercot who won the Best Actress Award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

The Cinematheque Centre Manila of the Film Development Council of the Philippines will also screen a selection of French films throughout the week of the film festival. – Marjaleen Ramos For screening schedules, visit www.frenchfilmfest.com and share your French Film Festival story on social media using the hashtag #FrenchFilmFest21. You can also download the French Film Festival app powered by ThinkBIT on Apple Store and Google Play for film synopses, reviews, and screening schedules. 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.

Toute Premiere Fois

Five

Imbisibol

Encore Heureux

Bird People

La Ritournelle

From left: French Embassy’s audio visual attaché Martin Macalintal, special assistant to the CEO of the SSI Group, Inc. Michael Huang, counselor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs Yves Zoberman, deputy head of Mission and president of Peugeot Philippines Glen Dasig

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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AnDI MAnzAnO-REyEs shAREs EMOTIOnAl ORDEAl wITh cERvIcAl cAncER

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ndi Manzano-Reyes recalled her wedding to GP Reyes in 2013 as one of the most emotional moments in her life.

It was a celebration of her union with the man of her life, made even more meaningful with the presence of her mother Rose, who had just triumphed over cervical cancer.

“I was crying during my entire wedding,” she told The Standard in an interview during the launch of GlaxoSmithKline’s “You Can and You Will” campaign against cervical cancer, held recently.

“It was a moment made extra special because my mom had just finished her bout with cancer,” she added.

“It was five months before Andi’s wedding, when I experienced some bleeding. I was out with friends and I told them I had excessive bleeding. I initially thought it was going to menopause.” My friends told me it wasn’t normal so I called up my cousin who was (an) OB-Gynecologist. And he asked me to see him immediately.

“I had a pap smear and he [OB-Gyn] said he could already feel the tumor. I was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer Stage 1B2.

“Our life before was carefree, we’d travel a lot, eat out watch movies. I was one of those who never thought I’d have cancer because I eat right, I work out, so it really came as a surprise to me when I found out.”

Andi, eldest among five children, said her world crashed upon hearing the news.

“We are a very close family and we do almost everything together. I see my mom four times a week and we would always call, skype or facetime whenever I’m far away. So when she told us the news, I was devastated. My world crashed.”

So in between her wedding preparations, Andi dutifully accompanied her mom to the hospital.

“There were times I would go all the way to Antipolo to pick her up, drive her to the hospital and bring her home and go straight to work after. Seeing the injection and chemo go through her veins made my heart break every second.”

“It was so hard to see her that weak and helpless, losing hair little by little and her worrying about money, the kids, the grocery, her business… Seeing a loved one suffer has to be the worst thing, even worse than a break up, cause a break up you know you’ll heal but with cancer, you’ll never know.”

“It was the thought of losing her, so each day with her was so precious to me,” Andi recalled.

The chemotherapy sessions lasted for about three months, and thankfully Rose was able to beat the disease.

The frightening ordeal, Andi said, taught their entire family a very valuable lesson— that there are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from cervical cancer.

“Anybody can get cervical cancer so it’s better to get vaccine, to have screening, to get your pap smear every year. Do it not only for yourself but for the people you love.

In commemoration of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, research-based pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) furthers its advocacy to increase cervical cancer awareness efforts with the Power Over Cervical Cancer “You Can & You Will” campaign.

The campaign aims to encourage Filipinas to realize that they have the power to protect themselves and their dreams—simply by consulting their doctors and asking about ways to prevent cervical cancer.

“An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Getting cancer may be a distant concept for women who are well and at their prime, but they should be aware that even the healthiest can be at risk,” says, Dr. Leah Manio, GSK Medical Affairs manager.

In the Philippines, it is estimated that the financial cost of preventing cervical cancer through screening and vaccination could be 20 times more affordable than the cost

From left: Lyn Baxter, Jackielyn Cortez, Alexis Ventura, Rose Manzano, Andi Manzano, Abbygale De Leon, Loreann Villanueva, Dr. Christine Dizon and Dr. Leah Maño

Former beauty queen and Bravehearts Coalition president Abbygale Arenas-De Leon

Dr. Maria Julieta Germar Secretary Society of Gynecologic Oncology of the Philippines

GSK Philppines general manager Lynn Baxter

of treatment,” she adds.

“The power to protect yourself from cervical cancer is in your hands, and NOW is the best time to consult with your physician and have yourself screened,” Dr. Manio stated.

GSK remains true to its commitment of increasing access to preventive healthcare through its initiatives to improve access to information through its disease awareness efforts.

We may be living in an era where women not only rule our homes, they also run the world—from being leaders in the government to managing business enterprises, women now have more opportunities to realize their dreams.

The sad fact, however, is that every day, seven Filipino women die of cervical cancer, and may never get to complete their life goals, may be stripped of the chance to fulfill a successful career, start a family or even just find Mr. Right. All because of a disease, a kind of cancer that puts every woman at risk, regardless of race, age, lifestyle or socio-economic status.

Cervical cancer continues to be a major threat for Filipino women. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Filipinas. What’s worrisome is that two

in three Filipinas diagnosed with cervical cancer may die within five years. Since culturally, Filipinas are known to be caring and selfless for others but tend to dismiss concerns about themselves, those who may have contracted cervical cancer may have been diagnosed at a late stage, when the chances of recovery are slim.

Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop and spread in the cervix, the entrance between the vagina and the uterus. This is caused by persistent infection with the cancer causing human papillomavirus (HPV).

Up to 80 percent of women would be infected with HPV at some point in their lives.

It is an estimate, but is based on trends in health care institutions. Majority of HPV infections may come and go, some may clear spontaneously within two years , however, if the immune system is weak, the HPV infections may persist and may eventually lead to the development of cervical cancer .

The incidence of cancer-causing HPV infection is actually highest at the young ages of 15-19. One is at a greater risk of cervical cancer if one had her first sexual intercourse at a young age; have given birth multiple times; have or have had sexually transmitted diseases; have HIV or whose

immune system is weakened; a smoker; long-term use of oral contraceptives for five years or more and those who rarely or have not yet had any pap smear .

The World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (WHO-SAGE) on Immunization reiterates the importance of getting young girls protected through HPV immunization before their first exposure to HPV (i.e. before sexual contact), as young as 9 years old.

For older women, the risk of persistent infection with cancer-causing HPV (which is necessary for cervical cancer to develop) increases with age, and is highest when a woman is over 66 years old . Thus, screening is recommended starting age 21 to detect cervical abnormalities that precede actual cervical cancer. Studies further show that vaccination remains to be beneficial for older women to prevent HPV infections .

To know more about cervical cancer, visit the Power Over Cervical Cancer Page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/POCCPh) and the Pangarap Mo, Protektado page on Youtube (www.youtube.com/ProteksyonPortal) containing information and short films conveying how protecting oneself against vaccine-preventable diseases is one important step in the achievement of one’s dreams.

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MyStERy AND tRANSfoRMAtIoN to lIgHt IN 4 NEw SERIES oN ANIMAx

mix of mystery and transformation is in the air as Animax brings to its loyal viewers Young Black Jack, Yatterman Night, Blade Dance of the Elementalers, and In Search of the Lost Future first and exclusive this festive month of June.

Young Black Jack premieres June 6 at 10 p.m., two episodes back-toback. Young Black Jack is a Japanese anime television series based on the manga Black Jack by Ozamu Tezuka and is set in the 1960’s during the Vietnam War. The story revolves around Kuroo Hazama and his life as a surgeon even without a license.

As a young boy, a skilled surgeon named Dr. Joutarou Honma saved him from injuries incurred from an unexploded bomb. The episodes feature Hazama as he expertly deals with different types of people who require medical assistance. Follow the story as it reveals how Hazama came to be known as Black Jack.

Kuroo Hazama is voiced by Yūichirō Umehara. The anime series is directed by Mitsuko Kase, written by Ryōsuke Takahashi, and is produced by Tezuka Productions.

Yatterman Night premieres June 14 at 8 p.m., two pisodes back-toback. Yatterman Night springs from

“In Search of the lost future” premieres June 30

“Blade Dance of the Elementalers” premieres June 27

“yatterman Night” debuts on June 14

“young Black Jack” premieres June 6

the 1970s anime series Yatterman.

The Yattermen were considered the good guys as they battled the Doronbow Gang; but that was long before their successors became the tyrannous members of the Yatter Kingdom. After years of being the heroes, the Yattermen have now become corrupt and have led their people to become poor and desperate. Meanwhile, a young girl named Leopard finds out that she is a descendant of the Doronbow Gang’s leader. She resolves to alter the present Doronbow Gang in order to put an end to the Yattermen’s tyranny.

Yatterman Night is produced by Tatsunoko Production and is directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara.

Blade Dance Of The Elementalers premieres June 27 at 10 p.m., two episodes back-to-back.

Elementalers are pure maidens who have the power to contract spirits. In about a thousand years, a second male elementaler is born.

Kamito Kazehaya enters the Areishia Spirit Academy, which is headed by Greyworth, to train to become a fullfledged elementaler after being found to have the skill after a chance meeting with a maiden, Claire Rouge,

purifying herself by a lake. Kamito was accused by Claire of stealing her sword spirit. Now Claire wants him to become her own contracted spirit.

Blade Dance of the Elementalers is written by Takao Yoshioka and is produced by TNK Animation Studio.

In Search Of The Lost Future premieres June 30 at 8 p.m., two episodes back-to-back.

In Search of the Lost Future, or Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete in Japanese, features the story of the students at Uchihama Academy.

Strange things have been happening in the school campus including ghost

apparitions, tragic accidents, and unexplained disorders. The school’s Astronomy Club, of which Sou Akiyama is a member, was commissioned to investigate these incidents. Things become even more mysterious as a new transfer student arrives at the Academy. Is this transfer student the cause of all these weird events?

The anime series is written by Rie Kawamata and is directed by Naoto Hosoda. The series is comprised of 12 episodes.

Animax is seen on SKYCable Channel 46, Cignal Digital TV Channel 34 and Dream Channel 07.

Maricel, wilma deal with complicated love The lives of best friends Maricel and Wilma get even more complicated, with the former still refusing Pocholo’s advances and the

latter trying to get the approval of her fiancé’s family in the Kapamilya afternoon series We Will Survive.

Even though Maricel already

turned him down, Pocholo continues to express his love for her and still tries to win her heart.

However, even with his efforts,

“we will Survive” onscreen pairs Melai Cantiveros and Carlo Aquino (left) and Jeric Raval and Pokwang (right)

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Shed 5 Three tsps.

9 Silent-screen siren 13 Toledo’s lake 14 Toward shelter 15 Where buoy meets gull 17 Glance over 18 Haystack 19 Viennese dessert 20 Impala, e.g.

22 Surfaces

24 Hamelin pests 25 Writer — Hemingway 26 Tablecloth blotches 29 Hoard 31 Prickly evergreen 32 Eurasian range 33 Fleur-de- — 36 Rear, to Popeye 37 Side by side 40 Conquistador’s quest

41 — vadis?

42 Make orange juice 43 Postgame discussion 45 Unravels 47 Stubborn 48 A piece of the — 51 Honey holder 52 Plunders and pillages 54 Not in favor 58 Strategies 59 Mound 61 Hull plank 62 Piece of cake 63 While away 64 Noteworthy time periods 65 Musher’s conveyance 66 Furtive whisper 67 Mildewy DOWN 1 Chicken wire 2 Squid feeder 3 Polygraph flunker 4 Ivy gripper 5 They enable seers to see 6 Subs, on sonar 7 Jiffy 8 Lap dog, slangily 9 Citizens 10 Oak droppings 11 Enter traffic

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 , 2016

12 Liver pastes 16 Wildlife shelter 21 —Tucker of “Delta Dawn” 23 Daily trio 26 Hoops nickname 27 Trendy edible 28 Low voice 29 Fields of study 30 Polite word 32 Heavy hydrogen discoverer 33 Focal points 34 S&L assets 35 Ex-frosh 38 Do a roundup chore 39 Surpass 44 Pushed and shoved 45 Stag honoree 46 Shook awake 47 Tot 48 DJs’ gear 49 Umps’ decisions 50 Shadow 51 Barbecue pit need 53 Transport commercially 55 Ms. Teasdale 56 Vivacity 57 Newsroom post 60 MS polishers

the single mother stands by her decision to not allow herself to fall for her former friend to avoid getting hurt once again.

Meanwhile, Wilma’s love for Edwin is put to test as she continues to prove herself to her future in-laws. And with her fiancé’s support, she is more than determined to win their hearts and make them see the unconditional love she has for Edwin.

Will Maricel still not forgive Pocholo despite Jude (Josh De Guzman) being affected by their conflict? What should Wilma do to prove that she deserves to be

part of Edwin’s family? Will they still be able to have the perfect family that they have been dreaming of?

More exciting scenes are set to surprise the viewers in We Will Survive, the teleserye that shows however ugly the world gets, there is beauty in life as long as we are together, weekdays after Tubig at Langis on ABS-CBN or on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). Viewers may also catch up on the program’s past episodes on iWanTV.com and on skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.

SAt uRDAy : J uNE 4, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

K Rising tandem Juancho triviño and Louise de Los Reyes

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LouISE DE LoS REyES, JuANcHo tRIVIño IN ‘WAgAS’

apuso stars Louise de Los Reyes and Juancho Triviño star in this Saturday’s episode of Wagas featuring the love story of newlywed couple Japoy Lizardo and Janice Lagman.

Japoy is a famous taekwondo champion. The sport also became the means for Japoy and Janice’s friendship to develop into love.

The two met in 2000. Japoy was already a taekwondo cham-

pion then, while Janice was just starting to learn the sport. A competition in Korea created a spark between them and after 12 years of being friends, Japoy and Janice found themselves falling for each other.

One of the many things that challenged their relationship was when Japoy was disqualified from the World Championship due to a major injury. In spite of everything, Japoy would find strength

in Janice, who would wholeheartedly take care of him.

According to Japoy, he already knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Janice the very first time he told him he love her. And on May 8, the two taekwondo players exchanged vows in Tagaytay City as husband and wife.

Watch Louise and Juancho relive the love story of Japoy and Janice in Wagas, 7 p.m. tonight on GMA News TV.

Story of newlywed couple Japoy Lizardo and Janice Lagman in “Wagas”

Poor Señorita visits cooking Diva GMA Network’s Saturday morning show, Cooking Diva, will have a surprise visitor today. And she’s none other than the Poor Señorita, herself.

Rita Villon, Regine VelasquezAlcasid’s character in the primetime comedy series Poor Señorita

will face the actress that plays her in the series. Is this possible? Apparently it is, and the audience should watch what happens when the two face each other. The former CEO of Señorita Scents will talk about her life with the poor kids and her romance with Paeng.

Enter the villains of the series – Tita Deborah (Snooky Serna) and Piper (Valeen Montenegro) – who will make Rita’s visit to the house of the Cooking Diva even more riotous.

All that only this morning, in Sarap Diva, airing Saturday mornings after Maynila on GMA 7.

From left: Regine Velasquez, teri gian, Valeen Montenegro and Snooky Serna

the power of true love in ‘gRR tNt’

VJ and budding teen star Alex Diaz

Alex Diaz makes #youthinkyoucan

Something sweet is a sure way to bring excitement. This is how the inventive upgrade of Cadbury managed to give that new confection encounter.

The added new twist on the classic chocolate was a creative rendition that is aimed at creating a favorable change in the consumers’ behavior. And in the new leg of the campaign, budding teen star Alex Diaz and known beauty enthusiast and fashion blogger Arisse De Santos were introduced as Cadbury 5Star’s new ambassadors.

“Recently, I’ve been thanking God because right after I accepted the proposal, I’ve been offered many projects. So I really consider this as the bench mark in the progress of my career,” Alex shared.

To elevate the fun during the media launch at Glorietta Activity Center on May 27, challenges were given to the event’s guests. Carrying the official hashtag, #YouThinkYouCan, ambassadors Alex and Arisse, along with Patrick Sugui, Axel Torres, Markki Stroem, Ryan Sy, and Richard Juan, dared themselves to walk in a mini chocolate pool while dancing to the beat of the hit song “Running Man.” Indeed, Alex has already made a name in the entertainment industry. Aside from his regular exposure on We Love OPM, where Alex, Markki and Ryan were branded as Team Hotspot, a single under Star Music called “Must Be Like Crazy” is also keeping the one-time radio DJ busy.

But even if there’s a lot of agenda in his mind, Alex still manages to enjoy life just as how Cadbury 5Star is promoting.

“You just actually have to be yourself and never let anybody hinder your colors. Always shine as bright as you can and be a single color that you are no matter what the color is and never let anybody stop you. That is how you’ll be able to think you can,” Alex shared with The Standard. – Angelica Cruz

A couple has proven that no matter what happens, if two people are meant for each other, they will end up together.

Text mates Zhai and Eugene Laroco met in 2003, fell in and out of love three times until Zhai was diagnosed with Leukemia, which paved the way for their everlasting love.

Today, Zhai is cancer-free and living the life they both dreamt for each other, with their three-month old child named Uno. Find out what Zhai and Eugene went through to make them realize what they really mean to each other and how the power of prayer and true love brought them back to life.

Gandang Ricky Reyes Todo na Toh (GRR TNT) visits smile specialist Dr. Edgar Dungo once more to see how he brought self confidence back to a

“gRR tNt” and beauty guru Ricky Reyes

patient who needed full denture.

A teen beauty queen was caught by our hair police because of a crime she committed to her crowning glory. Once again, beauty guru and host Ricky Reyes will save her hair through the newest technology called Soft Wave Treatment, which brings back life to dull and over treated hair.

And since June is the month of weddings, GRR TNT goes around the metro to scout for wedding essentials like the perfect gifts and mementos for both the bride and groom. A premier wedding planner will take us to the best location and venue for the most important day of your life, and where to get your dream wedding cake too.

GRR TNT produced by Scripto Vision is aired 9 a.m. on GMA News TV every Saturday.

Indian chef gaggan Anand in cNN’s ‘talk Asia’

This month CNN’s Talk Asia gets up close and personal with Chef Gaggan Anand, whose eponymous restaurant in Bangkok has been named Asia’s best, two years in a row. Anand has established his reputation by cooking what he describes as “progressive Indian cuisine” and made his restaurant a top dining destination. Mixing molecular gastronomy with his love for comfort food, the Kolkata native aims to take his customers on a journey back to the memories of his childhood.

Anand speaks to CNN’s Saima Mohsin about his art and how he got into molecular gastronomy. During the one-on-one interview, the Indian chef also opens up about his distaste for the pretentious, his role as a new father, and his plans for the future.

Talk Asia airs at 10 a.m.; 12:30 pm.: and 11:30 p.m. on CNN International today.

cNN’s Saima Mohsin (left) and talk Asia’s chef gaggan Anand

sat urday : j une 4, 2016

C8

IsaH V. red EDITOR nICKIe WanG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

silver anniversary. aBs-CBn executives Charo santos, Malou santos, Olivia Lamasan, and ruel Bayani with the “MMK” staff celebrate the drama anthology’s 25 years of featuring real-life stories

‘MMK’ cElEbRaTEs 25 yEaRs Of chROnIclIng lIvEs Of fIlIpInO pEOplE ISAH V. RED

s

ince 1991, Maalala Mo Kaya has been a part of every Filipino home. Each episode has featured reallife story that brought laughter and tears, strengthening the ties that bind every Kapamilya around the world.

Week after week, the program has never failed to deliver unique stories that inspired viewers and encouraged them to have hope, and allowed them to learn some life lessons. Each letter read by Charo Santos has been a chronicle of the struggles and different experiences of Filipinos of different generations and all walks of life. No other television program has made this much impact on the life and culture of Filipinos as a people.

Year 2016 is a special milestone as MMK celebrates 25 years of being the Filipino people’s diary. To mark its silver anniversary, the program launched a year-long celebration to thank viewers for their continued support, and to pay tribute to all the people who have been part of its success.

The celebration kicked off in ASAP on May 29, which brought together some of the letter senders who shared their life journeys, accompanied by some of the artists who gave life to their stories, including Dawn Zulueta, Gina Pareño, Bea Alonzo, Kathryn Bernardo, and Nora Aunor.

The ASAP special also featured a teaser on the upcoming MMK’s commemorative album – a collection of songs that have touched viewers, and soon to be made available in all record stores nationwide.

tV executive and “Maalaala Mo Kaya” host Charo santos

the country’s longest running drama anthology marks another milestones at it celebrates its silver anniversary

Charo santos (center) with Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, sarah Geronimo, and Martin nievera, who led the all-star tribute to MMK’s 25 years

Concio with young stars (from left) daniel Padilla, janella salvador, elmo Magalona, and Iñigo Pascual

Viewers can also review the program’s colorful history by visiting the website mmk.abs-cbn.com to reminisce the narratives, teachings, and personalities featured in MMK. A timeline called “MMK Through the Years” and a section called “MMK 25 Memories” showcase the most memorable episodes that made a mark on the hearts and minds of its viewers. In another section called “iKwento,” fans will be able to send their life stories to Charo by writing a letter or uploading a video for a chance to be featured in the program.

Netizens can also join in the celebration by posting “Life Lines” on their social media accounts, shareable artcards and video clips containing the most unforgettable lines from different episodes. Check out @MMKOfficial on Twitter and Instagram or www.faceboook.com/ MMKOfficial.

To show its heartfelt gratitude to all its letter senders, MMK will bring them together in “MMK Kamustahan,” where they will get a chance to interact with Charo and catch up with one another.

The first get-together will be held

in Davao on July 9, with another leg in Luzon in August.

Santos will also reach out to other parts of the globe, delivering inspirational talks to overseas Filipinos in the “Kwentuhang Kapamilya” series. Global Kapamilyas will be given the opportunity to share their experiences living and working abroad. “Kwentuhang Kapamilya” will kick off in Madrid, Spain on June 26, and proceed to Hong Kong on July 24. Other legs include New Jersey, USA on Sept. 9, Alberta, Canada on Sept. 11, and Japan on Oct. 16.

Join MMK as it celebrates its 25th anniversary by visiting mmk.abscbn.com. Exclusive anniversary merchandise is also now available at the ABS-CBN Store (www.abscbnstore.com). For updates, just follow @MMKOfficial on Twitter and Instagram or “like” www.faceboook.com/MMKOfficial.

Don’t miss the longest-running drama anthology in Asia, MMK, every Saturday on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Catch its latest episodes on iwantv.com.ph or skyondemand.com. ph for Sky subscribers.