The Standard - 2016 June 11 - Satursday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX  NO. 119  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  SATURDAY : JUNE 11, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

YASAY CHIDES TOP UN OFFICIAL

WHAT’S THE RUSH? Lina deﬁes Purisima on new Customs law

By Christine F. Herrera

CUSTOMS Commissioner Alberto Lina on Friday defied the order of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and proceeded with the “hasty passage” of the implementing rules and regulations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Asian Terminals Inc., one of two international freight handlers that criticized the move, described Lina’s actions as “oppressive” and violative of the constitutional rights of stakeholders, and warned that the country would pay the price if the IRR of the new law is not scrutinized carefully. On Thursday, Purisima had ordered all outgoing officials under the Finance department “to clear all pol-

icy actions with the transition team of incoming Finance secretary Carlos Dominguez.” But Lina proceeded with a hearing on the IRR at the bureau Friday without informing the Duterte team. The hearing was initially scheduled for two days, on June 9 and 10, but the bureau changed that to just one fullday hearing.

In his Thursday directive, Purisima said: “Operationalizing professionalism means that our job until the end of June is to make life as easy as possible for the incoming team to hit the ground running on day one. “We hope to give the incoming economic team all the information and resources they need to have an even more successful six years than we had. Their Next page success is our success.”

1,805 sections in one day. Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina wants to ram through hearings on the implementing rules and regulations for the new Customs Modernization and Tariff Act—a law with 1,805 sections—all in just one day. DANNY PATA

BAYAN: PROBE LP FUNDS USE By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta

DAVAO CITY—A militant group on Friday urged the outgoing administration to declare the public resources and funds it allegedly used to run the campaign of Liberal Party bets in the May 9 elections, saying its “brazen use” of government resources in the campaign should be considered an election offense. “The Liberal Party and Mar Roxas should declare how much Noynoy Aquino contributed to their campaign by way of government resources and public funds,” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-

general Renato Reyes, referring to LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II and President Benigno Aquino III by their nicknames. “The Comelec should at least look into this matter now,” Reyes said, accusing the poll agency of turning a blind eye to irregularities committed by the ruling party, including the rampant use of the government’s dole program and its “bottom-up budgeting” for partisan purposes. “How many of the rallies and assemblies that mobilized 4P’s beneficiaries were actually funded by taxpayers? How many local sorties were funded by the LGU beneficiaries of the BUB program?” Reyes asked. Next page

CONGRESS NEEDS TO OK DEATH PENALTY

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BE CIRCUMSPECT, YASAY TELLS BAN

By John Paolo Bencito

DAVAO CITY—The international community should take the statements of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte with a grain of salt while he’s still mayor of Davao City, incoming Foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay said Friday, after UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon condemned Duterte’s “apparent endorsement” of summary executions. Duterte’s remarks, which have smarked outrage among media groups and the international community, were taken out of context, Yasay said. He also chided Ban for reacting to Duterte’s pronouncements, saying that until he has been sworn in, his remarks should not to be taken as official policy. “He is still mayor of Davao City and not yet president so anytime he says something it’s not an official pronouncement or policy of the president,” Yasay told CNN Philippines. He said Ban should have been more “circumspect.” On Thursday, Ban voiced opposition to Duterte’s “apparent endorsement” of extrajudicial killings. Speaking before the international press during the UN Correspondents Association Directory Reception in New York, Ban said that he was “extremely disturbed” by Duterte’s recent remarks regarding attacks

against Filipino journalists. “I unequivocally condemn his apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killing, which is illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms. Such comments are of particular concern in light of ongoing impunity for serious cases of violence against journalists in the Philippines,” Ban said. The UN chief also pledged to continue to stand up for the rights of journalists. Yasay took Ban to task for raising the issue publicly. “I think if the [secretary-general] is really interested to pursue these concerns, he should have coursed it through government channels,” he said. “My understanding is that he [Ban] should not have made these statements in response to an individual or private citizen’s statements rather than a pronouncement of policy,” he added. Before Ban’s statement, UN special rapporteurs on freedom of expression and

on summary killings criticized Duterte for saying the journalists who were killed were corrupt. In a statement coursed through reporters, Duterte defended himself, saying their statements were based on the wrong premise. He also denied saying corrupt journalists deserved to die. “I never said that killing journalists is justified because they are involved in corruption,” Duterte said. “I do not condone nor tolerate killing of journalists regardless of the motive of the killers or the reason for their killing,” Duterte said. “My duty as president is to uphold and enforce the law and I will pursue and prosecute these killers to the hilt in accordance with law, and I will be—as I have been—protective of the rights of journalists, and for that matter of any citizen, of the republic.” Duterte had previously criticized the United Nations for failing to stop killings in the Middle East and Africa, adding that the international organization should not force its “code of conduct” on him. “I never signed anything which says I have to behave … in this manner or in that manner,” he said. During the election campaign, Duterte also slammed the UN for “bamboozling us to obey,” climate change agreements while failing to impose sanctions on industrialized countries who have caused greater damage on the environment.

A mansion, not a palace. Vice President-elect Leni Robredo is eyeing the newly refurbished Boracay Mansion, a sequestered property in New Manila, as her office, after rejecting the Coconut Palace in Pasay City due to the high rent. MANNY PALMERO

Bayan: ... From A1

On the last day of SOCE submission, Roxas failed to submit his campaign expenditures citing “voluminous number of receipts that have to be scanned and attached to the document.” His election lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, maintained that there was no violation of the law if his client failed to file his SOCE on time. “There’s no problem. It was just a late filing. There was no violation of the law. He will still file [the SOCE] and the worstcase scenario [is] to pay a fine,”

Macalintal said. On Thursday, Roxas and his camp filed a letter of request asking the Comelec for a 14day extension of the period of SOCE submission. Reyes however, urged the poll body to look further into Roxas’ poll contributions, saying that they haven’t done so in the longest time. “Should these not be counted as contributions to the LP campaign by no less than the national government?” he said. On Friday, outgoing Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto described as “ludicrous” the claim by a Comelec spokesman that LP candidates who

won during the May 9 elections would not be able to assume their positions due to the party’s failure to file its mandatory statement of contributions and expenditures. “If the LP has not submitted SOCE, the Comelec may impose a fine on the party. But for a Comelec member to say that members of the party cannot assume office is ludicrous,” Recto said in a text message to The Standard. Recto, who earlier denied signing any resolution supporting Senator Aquilino Pimentel III as the next Senate president, said he submitted his SOCE on time. “I did not receive any contri-

bution from LP,” he said. The reelected senator said he was studying his options, including the possibility of joining the minority bloc with Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Francis Escudero. Senator-elect Leila de Lima said she saw no problem for the winning candidates. The law provides that once the SOCE is filed by the political party, the winning candidates can assume office. “The Liberal Party still has 20 days to complete and submit its SOCE so LP candidates can assume office on June 30,” said De Lima. “We’re confident that LP will be able to comply.”

What’s... From A1 ATI and the International Container Terminal Services Inc. said they fully supported the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, but protested the manner by which Lina haphazardly wanted to finish the IRR on the new law—which has 1,805 sections—in just a single public hearing. The two international freight handling companies at the Port of Manila sent separate letters of protest, questioning the abbreviated public hearings and the short period allowed to stakeholders to come up with position papers on the IRR. ATI executive vice president Andrew Hoad said the ATI objected to the conduct of the public hearing for being “premature, irregular, hasty and violative of ATI’s constitutional right.” He said the promulgation of the IRR and any proceeding leading to it including the hearing should only take place after the effectivity of the CMTA, “i.e., not earlier than June 14, 2016.” ICTSI also wrote the Customs bureau Friday seeking a series of public hearings on the provisions of the CMTA, which it noted was a law composed of 1,805 sections. “We strongly recommend that the next public hearing be conducted at least three weeks from today and that the stakeholders, including our company, be granted the same period of time to submit our comments on the draft IRR,” ICTSI Regional Legal Manager for Asia Pacific Lirene Mora-Suarez said in the letter. Hoad noted that “when the bill was approved in both houses [of Congress] there were two versions, one for each house. It was only after the CMTA was signed by the President and after its publication in the Official Gazette about [June 6 to 7, 2016] when the public had access to the consolidated version that is the CMTA now.” The President signed the CMTA into law on May 30. Without waiting for the new law to be published in the Official Gazette, Lina two days later issued a memo allowing Manila North Harbour Port Inc. to engage in international trade, violating the rules against impairment of contracts, a Bureau of Customs official said. The BoC official, who requested anonymity, said the MNHPI had an existing contract with the Philippine Ports Authority granting it an exclusive concession to operate only in “domestic trade.” The MNHPI, owned by San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang after he bought the firm from 1Pacman Rep.-elect Mikee Romero, was “conspicuously absent” and did not send a representative to the hearing. “At the very least, therefore, ATI and other stakeholders are entitled to that 15day notice period before the law becomes finally effective, which is its full opportunity to be informed, to review the new law as signed and assess its impact on its business and activities,” Hoad added. Hoad said that the CMTA should take effect only on June 14 and “no earlier than that, assuming it was published upon approval of the President on May 30, 2016.” “It is only upon the effectivity of a law that legal rights and obligations become available to those entitled by the language of the statute,” he said. “With all due respect to the bureau, should our request be denied, please consider this letter as our formal protest in the haphazard and unreasonable speed by which this present Bureau of Custom’s administration is trying to pass and issue the CMTA’s IRR, notwithstanding the change in administration in 20 days,” ICTSI’s Mora-Suarez said.

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Death penalty needs a law THE restoration of the death penalty will require the enactment of a law by Congress, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said Friday. She made the statement after incoming President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to impose the death penalty against heinous crimes particularly robbery with rape within the next six months. He also vowed to carry out at least 50 executions a month to serve as a strong deterrent against criminality. “I think our leader is realistic enough to know that the legislative process must be undertaken before he can even implement the death penalty,” Sereno said when sought for comment after delivering a speech at the Supreme Court’s founding anniversary. “Let’s see. Congress is soon to open, and the political will and the logic of such a move those may be evident in the months to come.” Sereno made her statement even as incoming Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III set a three to four months to pass the Death Penalty Law in the Senate under the 17th Congress. But returning Senator Panfilo Lacson had his misgivings. “It might be difficult because that will take long debates on the floor,” said Lacson who might preside over the hearings on the restoration of the capital punishment, being the chairman of the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs. Meanwhile, a human rights group on Friday called on Duterte to reconsider his plan to restore capital punishment because it does not deter criminals. “The death penalty is not the answer either by lethal injection or public hanging,” Amnesty International Philippines chairman Ritzlee Santos III said in a television interview. “It’s a must for President-elect Duterte to recognize the government’s obligation to respect, protect and uphold human rights.” Sereno said the judiciary would ensure that the constitutionally identified values of the people were affirmed. Rey E. Requejo, Macon Ramos-

Araneta and John Paolo Bencito

Strolling in the park. The Rizal monument is illumined by lights as park goers enjoy a stroll at the park on Thursday night. DANNY PATA

Lacson says Senate will not be a rubber stamp DESPITE joining the “Supermajority” to support the legislative agenda of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Leila De Lima said Friday the Senate will not be a rubber stamp of the incoming Duterte administration. Lacson said the President could not stand in the way of their mandated duty. “We will exercise our subpoena powers not to mention the power to cite for contempt any person who defies our authority under the Constitution,” Lacson, an independent candidate who joined the Liberal Party in the May

9 elections, said in a text message. He made his message even as Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said the Supreme Court had been doing its job to rid its ranks of rotten eggs and would continue to do so. Sereno made her statement following Duterte’s criticism of judges selling temporary restraining orders. She said that while the high court was aware of the corruption problem in the judiciary, it “has been unrelenting” in cracking the whip on erring judges, court employees and lawyers.

De Lima said they were not elected by the people just to be a rubber-stamp Congress. She was reacting to Duterte’s warning to lawmakers against stopping his fight against drugs and criminality by conducting congressional investigations. Duterte had reportedly told some congressmen, including incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, not to make the mistake of conducting a congressional inquiry on his anti-crime campaign once it got off the ground. Macon Ramos-Araneta and

Rey E. Requejo

Robredo gets better rating

Environmental initiatives. Members of the Green Thumb Coalition welcomed President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s environmental initiatives, including a stop to illegal mining, at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Friday. MANNY PALMERO

DAVAO CITY—More Filipinos placed their trust in Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte days before the May 9 elections, but they trusted Vice President-elect Leni Robredo better, the results of the latest Social Weather Stations survey revealed Friday. The survey, conducted via faceto-face interviews with 4,500 validated voters nationwide, showed Duterte earning a “moderate” +26 net trust rating, with 54 percent saying they had “much trust” in him for a gain of 7 points from the December 2015 survey. But those who said they had “little trust” in the president-elect declined to 28 percent from 31 percent in December 2015. Duterte’s net trust rating had been largely “moderate” in December (+16), January (+13), February (+17),

March 4-7 (+26), March 30 to April 2 (+29) and April 18 to 30, when he earned his first “good” rating (+30). Robredo fared better with a net trust rating of +45, with 61 percent saying they had “much trust” in her against 50 percent in December. The number of respondents who said they had “little trust” went down to 17 percent from 21 percent in December 2015. Robredo’s net trust rating improved to +29 net last December, after which it stayed “good” between January and May. The SWS categorized net trust ratings of at least +70 as “excellent”; +50 to +69, “very good”; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”; +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “bad”; -50 to -69, “very bad”; and -70 and below “execrable.”

John Paolo Bencito

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DSWD plantilla under review

Antistudent.

Members of the League of Filipino Students burn a seal of the Commission on Higher Education to protest its decision to allow colleges to increase their tuition and other fees for the coming school year. MANNY PALMERO

By Rio N. Araja

DepEd starts looking for Grade 11 students By Sandy Araneta and John Paolo Bencito MALACAÑANG disputed on Friday the claim of Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon that more than a million students have apparently chosen not to enroll for Grade 11 which the government will start implementing in the school year that will begin next week. But while outgoing Education Secretary Armin Luistro FSC said he was not worried about the number of Grade 11 students, the Department of Education admitted that it is now holding “childfinding” activities all over the country to persuade parents to enroll their children in the public school system.

“I estimate that there are now more than a million students enrolled in Grade 11 schools nationwide in both public and private SHS,” Luistro said in a statement released through the Palace. “The encoded enrollees of Grade 11 students in the DepED database is at 509,000 as of 10 a.m. [Friday] morning. Of the 11,000 [senior

high school] students, only around half have submitted their list of enrollees,” said Luistro. “I am not worried about the enrollment more than the technical challenges we are facing in our first-ever online enrollment system,” he said. “Absent any technical glitches, we should be able to reach 80 percent submission by this weekend. On or before Friday June 17, we would be able to present a more solid report on the enrollment statistics for the first cohort of SHS students,” Luistro added. But DepEd Assistant Secretary for Governance and Operations Jesus Lorenzo R. Mateo told The Standard that the agency is now knocking on doors to persuade parents and students to enroll in

Grade 11 this school year. “DepEd schools division offices plus public and private senior high schools are conducting child-finding activities and social advocates to encourage students to enroll in Grade 11 for this school year,” Mateo said, tacitly admitting low enrollment thus far. “Some students may be waiting for the start of the classes before they enroll, and the 11,000 plus public and private SHS are ready to accomodate them,” he added. First done last school year, “child-finding” activities involve members of the barangay, teachers and parents going houseto-house to urge parents and students to enroll in the nearest school.

INCOMING Social Welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Friday said she will review the plantilla of the Department of Social Welfare and Development after she discovered that while the agency had 29,000 workers, it only had 2,000 permanent employees. “We have 29,000 workers at the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but only 2,000 are employees,” said Taguiwalo whom President-elect Rodrigo Duterte named as his DSWD secretary as a nominee of the National Democratic Front. “I want to look at this because several of my students at the University of the Philippines said they [were employed under a] memorandum of agreement only so I want to look into this,” she said. “I’ve been announced as secretary only for 10 days so I am still in process of reviewing. I have yet to receive the report of [outgoing] Secretary Corazon Soliman,” she said. Taguiwalo also pledged to deliver prompt and immediate aid to the public. “Timely and nurturing service because I know the services are there but the timing is quite late. Right now drought is almost over but the help on the farmers is not yet there,” she said when asked what would be her focus as DSWD chief. But she denied saying in a radio interview that Soliman was a hypocrite. “I was talking about the policies and action.” She was referring to a June 3 radio interview when she vowed that she would never hide street dwellers just so they will not be seen by visiting dignitaries as was done during the visit of Pope Francis and the summit of AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation nations.

Qatar emir pardons Pinoys By Vito Barcelo FIFTEEN Filipino overseas workers were pardoned by Qatari emir Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in observance of the holy month of Ramadan, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday. Those granted clemency, as practiced in Qatar, are often those who have served a substantial portion of their sentences, the DFA said. “The Emir of Qatar has proven once again the essence of Islam by granting them clemency. Indeed, it is good news for the entire Filipino community living not only in Qatar but in all Middles East countries,” the DFA said. The emir usually issues pardons twice a year, during Ramadan and the Qatari National Day in December. The granting of pardons during Ramadan is practiced across the Gulf and is usually made around the time or during Eid’l Fitr, which is the celebration of the end of Ramadan. The Philippine Embassy in Qatar is co-

ordinating with the Search and Follow-up Department under the Ministry of Interior to facilitate the early repatriation of the pardoned Filipinos. The Muslim world started Ramadan on Monday when the new moon was spotted Sunday evening by Islamic scholars. Muslims follow a lunar calendar and a moon-sighting methodology that can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart. The Muslim faithful spend the month of Ramadan in mosques for evening prayers known as “taraweeh,” while free time during the day is often spent reading the Quran and listening to religious lectures. Each day for the month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Even a sip of water, coffee or a cigarette can invalidate one’s fast. There are exceptions to fasting for children, the elderly, the sick, women who are pregnant, nursing or menstruating, and people travelling.

Book launch. President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the launching of a book

trumpeting the government’s achievements in its peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front despite the congressional defeat of the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

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Bulacan, Cavite farmers picket DAR By Sandy Araneta

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas staged on Friday a protest at the Department of Agrarian Reform office in Quezon City and lambasted President Benigno Aquino III for the DAR-brokered real-estate deal between the President’s uncle, eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. and former Local Government secretary Mar Roxas’ relatives, the Araneta family. More than 200 farmers from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and Silang, Cavite led by the KMP yesterday held a send-off protest against what it described as “President Aquino’s anti-farmer Department of Agrarian Reform [DAR]” and called for an immediate halt to the land-use conversion of two “Spanish-era estates that are epitomes of a fake land reform and fake independence.” The farmers from San Jose Del Monte are protesting what they described as a DAR-brokered real estate deal between Cojuangco and Roxas’ relatives. More than 300 hectares of land are allegedly being land-grabbed from the farmers for the construction of the Metro Rail Transit – 7’s intermodal depot with its commercial and residential components. On the other hand, the farmers from Barangays Tartaria and Lumil in Silang town are now facing threats of eviction in the more than 350-hectare Aguinaldo Estate owing to plans to convert the agricultural land into a high-class residential and tourism zone by the heirs of the late President Emilio Aguinaldo that include Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya, another Liberal Party stalwart. Incoming DAR secretary and KMP chairman Rafael Mariano said that “to this day, the Aranetas, a big landlord family of Spanish origin, continue to control tens of thousands of hectares of land in Bulacan and other parts of the country.” “This is worsened by the irony that the heirs of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, who claimed so-called independence from Spanish colonialism, are now leading the land-grabbing and eviction of farmers in Cavite,” says Mariano. On the other hand, a Liberal Party lawmaker on Friday expressed hope that the appointment of Mariano as the next Agrarian Reform chief will bring the much needed reforms in the agency for the benefit of the Filipino farmers.

No man’s lands. A group of farmers from San Jose Del Monte Bulacan and Silang Cavite on Friday called on the government, particularly the Department of Agrarian Reform, which it accused of implementing a ‘bogus’ land reform, to review and stop the land-use conversions of two Spanish-era estates. MANNY PALMERO

CA orders reinstatement of 2 LBP execs THE Court of Appeals has ordered the reinstatement of two high-ranking officials of Land Bank of the Philippines who were dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman for involvement in the allegedly anomalous sale of Meralco shares owned by the state-owned bank and the Social Security System to a private company several years ago. In its decision, the CA’s ninth Division through Associate Justice Amy LazaroJavier granted the petition filed by LBP president Gilda Pico and senior vice president Carel Halog even as it reversed and set aside the Ombudsman decision dated Oct. 21, 2015. “The complaint against petitioners... is ordered dismissed,” the appellate court said. “Petitioners are ordered immediately reinstated to the posts from which they

were respectively dismissed... The Ombudsman... and all persons acting in its behalf are immediately and permanently enjoined from implementing its decision,” the CA ruled. Associate Justices Celia Librea-Leagogo and Melchor Sadang concurred with the ruling. The anti-graft body had found Pico and Halog, along with several SSS officials liable for graft for approving the block sale of its Meralco shares worth P5.699 billion to Global 5000 with a downpayment of only P1.133 billion. The Ombudsman held that the LBP gave unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference to Global, a firm with doubtful financial capacity and no track record to undertake the sale. Records show that the LBP officials entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement

(SPA) without any negotiations and that it was undertaken in a matter of 10 days. In its resolution, the Ombudsman found Pico, Halog ang several others guilty of administrative charges, and ordered their dismissal from service. Siding with the petitioners, the CA ruled that Pico and Halog should be reinstated because their “role in the execution of the SPA is not one that tarnishes the image and integrity of the LBP as a banking institution.” “The SPA was reasonable as it was framed, possibly no longer reasonable now, due to the seven years that have passed. But that is not the issue regarding petitioners’ present plight of having been dismissed from the service. In this present opportunity, this court will act where fairness and rightful compassion are,” the appellate court stressed.

Aquino receives new ambassadors

Men of steel. University of the East Law Department Dean Amado Valdez (right) and Manage Resource Trading Corp. president Lawrence Daniel Sy announce that they filed a complaint at the Ombudsman against Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina for violating the Anti Red Tape Act of 2017 regarding the shipment of approximately 5,000 metric tons of deformed China-made reinforcing steel bars consigned to MRTC which arrived in Subic on April 20, 2016. DANNY PATA

AMBASSADORS-DESIGnATE from Cuba, Samoa and Finland presented their credentials to President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday and expressed hope for continuing good relations with the Philippines. Among those who presented their credentials to the President were Faalavaau Perina Jacqueline Sila-Tualaulelei of Samoa, Ibete Fernandez Hernandez of Cuba and Petri Juhani Puhakka of Finland. In his message at the event held in Malacañang, Aquino said their tours of duty to the Philippines have come at an opportune time after the Philippines strengthened its capability and rehabilitated its image both locally and abroad. “Indeed as we witness the evolution of the very framework by which our world functions and as we continue to confront

issues that are increasingly less parochial, it is critical for each and every nation to be ready to fulfill its responsibilities as members of the community of nations,” the President told the new ambassadors. “I’m proud to say that in this regard the Philippines is readier than ever before.” Aquino also said he was confident that the new ambassadors will continue to build on relations with his successor after the latter assumes office on June 30. The friendship between the Philippines and countries they represent as well as the collective commitment to serve their peoples must endure beyond the term and the leader, he noted. “I’m confident that you will continue to work together towards creating a global landscape that can empower and uplift each and everyone of our citizens,” the President said. Sandy Araneta

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MMDA app checks illegal towers BoC auction set next week By Vito Barcelo THe Bureau of Customs would auction off next week a Jaguar sports car, top-of the-line mobile phones, plastic resin and other imported merchandise worth P24 million seized at the Manila International Container Port. The bureau, the government’s second largest revenue generating agency, said the proceeds from the MICP auctions have reached P92.857 million in January to March, with an additional P60.586 million in April. “As of June 2016, MICP has disposed of 475 containers through public auction,” the BoC said in a statement. The disposal of the 78 containers is in line with provisions of Section 2601 to 2610 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, the bureau said. Also up for auction are paraffin wax, plastic resin, used household goods, flexibags, industrial grade refined, bleached and deodorized coconut oil, C2S offset paper, compressors, hot rolled steel wire rod, and high density polyethylene resin. “Public viewing of merchandise and pre-bid conference for qualified bidders is on June 13, 2016,” the BoC said.

By Joel E. Zurbano

The Metro Manila Development Authority on Friday launched a mobile application aimed to stop illegal towing operations. “There’s the good thing in it, there will be an active participation with the public. It’s a free download app,” MMDA Towing and Impounding chief Victor Nuñez said. ”With this app, there will be no more overpricing. It will show the exact distance in kilometres from the point of origin to the ultra so the owner of the towed vehicle will know how much to pay,” Nuñez added. MMDA Chairman emerson Carlos said the “iTow application,” through the Pureforce Citizens app, will be available for all smartphones, both in android and ioS platforms, to pro-

vide an online venue dedicated to towing operations. He said the agency came up with the new mobile application in a bid to stop illegal towing operations. “Motorists will now have extra protection against illegal towing operations through this app. As such, they can immediately report or complain of anomalous activities,” Carlos said. users of the iTow app can report illegal towing operations directly to the MMDA Command Center and motorists can also ask for assistance in any emergency, particularly on the road, through the app. The areas initially covered

by the app are those included in the Mabuhay Lanes, where the agency has been conducting operations against illegally parked vehicles. Based on the regulations, the Mabuhay lanes should be cleared of any kinds of obstructions 24 hours a day. The 17 Mabuhay Lanes are alternative routes to the 23.8-kilometer epifanio de los Santos Avenue. These cover the cities of Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati, Manila and Quezon City. They also include secondary roads going to shopping destinations in Metro Manila such as Baclaran in Parañaque, Greenhills in San Juan, Divisoria, and Carriedo in Manila. Carlos said the app, incorporated in the Pureforce emergency response System, will rely primarily on the closed-circuit television cameras of the MMDA as

well as reports sent in by traffic enforcers and field personnel, particularly in areas where there are no surveillance cameras. Traffic enforcers, as well as accredited private towing companies, will be provided with tablets with the app which is linked to MMDA’s Metrobase. Photos of vehicles to be towed must be taken using the tablet, then sent to Metrobase for verification. If the vehicle must be towed, a reference number will be sent to the tow truck operators / traffic enforcers by the dispatcher from Metrobase. The public can download the app for free. on Wednesday, the MMDA announced that 25 out of the 377 towing firm personnel tested positive for drug use. The drug test is in line with the agency’s new policy

to stop extortion and other illegal activity involving towing firms. Carlos said the towing personnel found to be using illegal drugs were immediately terminated by their respective companies and were put on blacklist and are now banned from entering the MMDA impounding area. Two weeks ago, the MMDA suspended the accreditation of Arcson Towing Services following the complaint of Kristen Ann uy Baron who claimed that two men took the keys of her car because it was illegally parked at Savemore Broadway in Quezon City. Baron said the two men asked P4,000 from her or risk being impounded at ultra in Pasig but she refused. At present, there are 30 accredited towing firms and more than 100 tow trucks operating in the metropolis.

Street beat. A Metro Manila Development Authority constable dispatches a tow truck on Friday in Makati City. The agency has launched the iTow application to protect motorists against illegal towing operations. DANNY PATA

4 drug suspects nabbed in Valenzuela By Jun David Four persons including a 28-year-old woman were arrested in separate anticriminality and drug operations in Valenzuela City Thursday. roel Ancheta, 29 of Concepcion St. Lingunan was nabbed by elements of the Detective Management unit along Pinagbayanan St. at 1:30 p.m. with a fan knife protruding from his waist. When frisked, Ancheta yielded from his pocket a small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing an undetermined quantity of suspected shabu.

At 1:30 p.m., elements of the Valenzuela police led by Insp. Gina Farinas flagged down Wilson Bulos, 40 of Macalangerona, Tarlac on MacArhur Highway, Barangay Malanday for not wearing a helmet while driving a motorcycle that had no license plate. The suspect left his motorcycle and fled, prompting the police to give chase. When cornered, Bulos yielded a transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu. In Barangay Marulas, law enforcers from the Valenzuela Police Station AntiIllegal Drug Special operations Task Group conducted

a drug operation at 9:30 p.m. They arrested Mark Marvin Bautista, 34, and rose reyes, 28, both from Philippine Gun Club St. Police led by Po3 Christopher Sacobos confiscated from the suspects two plastic sachets containing an undetermined quantity of shabu and an unsealed plastic sachet with traces of suspected shabu. Valenzuela police chief Senior Supt. Audie Alolor Villacin said the arrested suspects will be charged with violation of republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 before the City Prosecutors office.

Exhibition. Philippine Air Force planes on Friday rehearsed a flyby at Luneta Park in preparation for the 11th Independence Day celebration on Sunday which will be attended by President Benigno Aquino III.

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Authorities ramp up anti-drug operations By Florante Solmerin and Mel Caspe

Spewing ash. Mount Bulusan in the Eastern Philippines spews ash and steam high into the sky on Friday. PHIVOLCS photo

3 Mindanao regions record highest school dropout rate By A. Perez Rimando

COTABATO CITY—Three Department of Education regions in Mindanao recorded the highest student dropout rates in the country last school year, a recent government survey said. The Philippine Statistics Authority listed the three as Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Central Mindanao (Region 12) and Southern

Mindanao (Region 11). The PSA said ARMM—composed of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan Sulu and Tawi-Tawi —registered the biggest dropout

rate at 14 percent, adding ARMM also submitted the nation’s lowest literacy rate at 72.1 percent. Region 12—also known as Soccsksargen or South Cotabato, (North) Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos—had a dropout rate of 12.3 percent while Region 11 ( Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, and Davao Oriental) ranked third with a dropout rate of 12.2 percent. According to the Functional

Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, ARMM and Regions 11 and 12 “even surpassed the national average of student dropout rate of 10 percent.” DepEd noted that ARMM continues to rank lowest among the agency’s 17 regions in the annual National Achievement Test for elementary and high school students, largely attributing it to the region’s unstable peace and order problem.

AT LEAST three suspects were killed in a series of operations while 53 others were arrested in Bulacan and Leyte this week as authorities continued their crackdown on the illegal drug trade. Bulacan Provincial Police director Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr. said they killed three and arrested 48 in “one big time operation” in Angat, Bocaue, Bulacan, Baliwag, Bustos, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Malolos City, Marialo, Meycauayan, Sta. Maria, San Miguel, Norzagaray, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, Pulilan, and City of San Jose Del Monte. These operations were implemented by virtue of 24 search warrants issued by different local courts. “A total of 170 pieces of heatsealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu, six firearms, 18 ammunitions and four units of undocumented motorcycles and other drug paraphernalia were confiscated,” Caramat said. Meanwhile, in Leyte, a buybust operation conducted by the Region 8 office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday resulted in the arrest of five people including a guard of a sub-provincial jail facility. Director Laurefel P. Gabales led the operation on Diversion Road, Pawing, Palo, Leyte. Arrested were Renato Saratan, Caesar Quijano, Evelyn Suarez, Ronilo Ruiz, and Kevin Mark Kapas. Saratan works at the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail. Taken from the suspects were two plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, weighing approximately 623 grams and with an estimated market value of P4.9 million. Various drug paraphernalia were also seized from the suspects.

Envi group welcomes push for renewable energy By Lance Baconguis CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY —Aksyon Klima on Thursday welcomed the plan of the incoming administration to push for renewable energy and review the proposed coal-fired power plant projects. The incoming chief of the National Economic and Development Authority, Ernesto Pernia, announced in television last June 2, 2016 that there should be a gradual move towards more renewable energy. “President Rodrigo Duterte should have clear policies within his first 100 days on the urgent need to shift to clean renewable energy,”

Marita Rodriguez, AK lead convenor said. AK is an alliance of civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations for the promotion of climate-sustainable policies. It lobbies for climate change mitigation and adaptation. AK also led policy discussions on climate related issues, which have resulted in policy recommendations on Philippine negotiating positions and submissions to the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change. “It took the outgoing Aquino administration his entire six-year term to issue a resolution to formulate a

policy on coal power plants,” Rodriguez added. Rodriguez said that under the Aquino presidency, nine coal power plants were added to the then existing eight almost doubling the installed capacities of coal in the country’s energy mix from 4,260 megawatts when he started in 2010 to 7,850 MW now. “The Aquino administration has also approved an additional of more than 20 coal-fired power plants to be constructed in the next few years,” Rodriguez added. Electricity generation from coal is a major source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses that cause climate change.

Waving the flag. Employees of the Office of the Regional Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao raise the Philippine flag in preparation for the celebration of Independence Day on Sunday. OMAR MANGORSI

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

MORE OF THE UNEXPECTED

[ EDI TORI A L ]

KEEPING WATCH WE HAVE a name for transactions made by government officials who are about to leave their posts but who want to secure some form of benefit for themselves or their allies just before other people take over. Recall how President Benigno Aquino III took his immediate predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to task for naming Supreme Court Associate Justice Renato Corona chief justice shortly before she stepped down. A midnight appointment, he cried. Mr. Aquino did all that was within his power to make life not just difficult but miserable for Corona. At the 2010 presidential inauguration, Mr. Aquino acknowledged those who were on the stage with him except the chief justice. Two years later, Corona was impeached, tried, convicted and removed from office upon the instigation of Aquino, who went as far as providing a P50-million incentive for every senator who would convict the chief justice despite the fact that the numerous grounds for impeachment had been whittled down into Corona’s failure to declare everything he owned in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. Corona died this year, most likely still a broken man. Mr. Aquino says he should never have been appointed chief justice; we say it’s sheer vindictiveness for a Supreme Court decision adverse to the Cojuangco-Aquino family that owns Hacienda Luisita. Curiously, Mr. Aquino never said a word when in February 2015, the man he named chairman of the Commission on Elections, Sixto Brillantes, signed a deal with Venezuelan company Smartmatic to repair 82,000 voting machines for use in this year’s elections three days before his retirement. It took the Supreme Court to halt this anomalous transaction by declaring the deal null and void. Smartmatic is the same company that gave us woes in last month’s polls. Doubts continue to linger about the reliability of the election results with reports of wide-scale manipulation of votes to favor the administration. The Comelec has played down such accusations. Now another Aquino appointee, Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, is accused of issuing an order last week to allow Manila North Harbour Port Inc. to engage in international trade just weeks before a new administration is set to take over. The company has an existing agreement with the Philippine Ports Authority to engage only in domestic trading. A Customs official told this newspaper that Lina had railroaded the hearing on the implementing rules and regulations of the law identifying which agencies are under the jurisdiction of the bureau and whose which are not. The PPA is under the Department of Transportation and Communications while Customs is under the Finance Department. Lina’s appointment had been problematic to begin with because of his private interest in a number of firms transacting with Customs. He said he had divested himself of his holdings —but we only have his word to take for this claim. On this issue, we have yet to hear word from the Palace, which styles itself as the enemy of midnight transactions in its pursuit of the straight path—except when those involved come from its own ranks. Transition periods are generally uncertain times; people do not know which old or new standards apply and in the frenzy do not often keep track of what the outgoing officials are doing to further their interests or save their skin. We can reduce the uncertainty by keeping watch over what the outgoing officials are doing —and making sure they are held accountable for it not too long into the future.

LESSONS FROM HISTORY POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO ONCE again, June 12th is upon us. This year, we face June 12th under a newly elected national leadership that many hope will move the country forward. Yet, we need to look into our past to decipher the landmarks that will help chart our future. The past—our history—tells us who we are. It reveals our character as a people, as social classes and as individuals. It

lets us walk with ordinary individuals who did extraordinary things even as they were vulnerable to human failings. It is through their examples good and bad - that we can find ourselves and, hopefully, make ours, a better nation. History matters—the big problem, particularly with the history of the Philippine Revolutionary period, is that it is so full of myths and misunderstandings, that the lessons it is supposed to teach are misunderstood, or taken the wrong way. When these lessons are applied—as they so often are—to

contemporary society, the result is disunity instead of unity. Anyone who grew up with a Sibika at Kultura education will know these terms: The Great Plebian, The Revolt of the Masses, The Miseducation of the Filipino. They will also have been ingrained with certain basic assumptions—the assumptions that the Katipunan was a national government—that the Revolutionary Army was a well evolved military machine like our modern military— and most importantly, that the elites, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, hijacked the revolt of the poor

No organization can exist without either starting from a low level of complexity, or being quickly evolved by a much higher evolved organization into a functioning one.

masses. This man, Emilio Aguinaldo, while considered a hero officially, was really a traitor because he betrayed the leader of the Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio (who was actually the first president) out of greed, sold out the Filipinos to the Spanish at Biak na Bato, and later ordered the assassination of his best general Antonio Luna while later swearing allegiance to America after being captured. Sounds familiar? The problem with these assumptions is that they are exactly that—virtually unfounded assumptions that are based more on ideological wishful thinking rather than historical fact. A quick study of the generals of the Revolution will reveal that

many of them were middle-rank Spanish local government officials—mayors, small-time judges, local government functionaries, and low ranking native soldiers—and the occasional school teacher or student (Artemio Ricarte and Flaviano Yengko). This means that MOST of the generals of the revolution were, like Aguinaldo, “local elites.” More than this, Bonifacio was himself a local elite, his father being native principalia and he himself became what nowadays call a “yuppie”. He worked for a foreign firm as a clerk (show-

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ing he was far from uneducated or illiterate), he was a member of La Liga Filipina and Philippine Freemasonry (showing he was far from poor), and he married into Caviteño local gentry (the Alvarez clan that would later lead the Magdiwang council). So, Bonifacio wasn’t really “the great plebian”—we just like to dress him up as such to fit our rich-oppressing-the-poor narrative. Far from hijacking the revolt of the masses, the local elites led the revolt, forming their own local councils and gathering their own local armies,

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“Game of Thrones” style. This brings us to the assumptions about government and military organization. Most assume that the Katipunan was the same as our modern government, and that the revolutionary armies functioned just like our modern military. This is not only untrue, it makes no sense. No organization can exist without either starting from a low level of complexity, or being quickly evolved by a much higher evolved organization into a functioning one. Continued on A11

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LAST Tuesday, this column suggested that many ought to expect the unexpected when Rodrigo Duterte assumes office as president of the Philippines. Weeks ago, Duterte expressed his displeasure at certain members of the diplomatic corps for their meddling in the internal concerns of the country, in manifest violation of International Law. During the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, many foreign dignitaries assigned to the Philippines indiscriminately gave statements to the local news media about what the Aquino administration should do about the internal affairs and concerns of the Philippines. Sadly, President Aquino tolerated their breach of international law. Their undue interference in Philippine affairs was quite obvious last year when the Aquino regime tried its best to promote the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law, which was drafted by Aquino hirelings, and which was awaiting the approval by Congress. The BBL was a clandestine attempt on the part of Malacañang and its treasonous allies to dismember the Republic of the Philippines and create a Bangsamoro sub-state in the heart of Mindanao. Fortunately, Senator Bongbong Marcos stopped it in the Senate. It was bad enough that the BBL divided the Filipino people. What aggravated the situation was that several ambassadors publicly expressed their support for the BBL, and said that it was good for the Philippines. No wonder Duterte is pissed with many foreign dignitaries stationed in the Philippines. Even the United Nations was not spared Duterte’s wrath. After the UN criticized Duterte for his unorthodox views on human rights, Duterte hit back by citing the UN’s failure to maintain peace in Syria and Iraq, and to attend to the refugee problem confronting Eastern Europe. Truth to tell, what has the UN done, anyway? Aside from its miserable failure in Syria, Iraq, and Eastern Europe, the UN was unable to contain the North Korean threat to world peace, or to help the Dalai Lama regain freedom for Tibet, or to eradicate the tribalism that continues to divide and impoverish many African countries. Despite the endless expensive international conferences held by UN agencies like the World Health Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization, poverty, hunger, disease, and violence continue to stalk the world. In addition, almost all UN officials travel the world in luxurious comfort and convenience. Expensive Unicef cards are sold all over the world, usually in November, ostensibly to help feed starving children in developing countries and in areas Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

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OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

MORE OF THE UNEXPECTED

[ EDI TORI A L ]

No organization can exist without either starting from a low level of complexity, or being quickly evolved by a much higher evolved organization into a functioning one.

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A10

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OPINION

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RECTIFYING THE DAMAGE BACK BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN WHEN communists commit an error, they carry out what they call rectification process. Presidentelect Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte must also carry out the same to correct the blunders committed by the Aquino administration, specifically for vandalizing the Constitution as when it reduced the country to one big US military base; for locking the Filipino people in a situation where we would be permanently girding for war with China; and for adopting a foreign policy that unmistakably is a carbon copy of the US policy for the Asia-Pacific region. Instead of seeking retribution, incoming President Duterte should abrogate the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US. Its abrogation is warranted much that the Supreme Court decision declaring as constitutional the reinstallation of the US military bases in this country could be used as a judicial precedence to permit future lackeys, in the likes of Aquino administration, from entering into an agreement allowing other countries to establish their own military bases here. For as long as we have foreign military bases in our soil, the country can never formulate its own independent foreign policy. Maybe the new president is blasphemous and sacrilegious in his choice of words, but he knows far better than his predecessor. As a lawyer, Duterte could see the implication in allowing the reinstallation of the US bases. Other than providing no time limit for the Americans’ stay, the agreement gave the US the blanket authority to select the place and the number with a premium that our Senate would have to ratify it as mandated by our Constitution. The abrogation of Edca is the easiest way to escape the dilemma. It would simply be treated as though we never entered into a military agreement with the US so that nobody could cite the opprobrious decision of the

Sereno Court as jurisprudence. Paradoxically, that would spare outgoing President Aquino, his pro-American cabal and those justices who acted more as political sycophants from possible charges for culpable violation of the Constitution just to accommodate the wishes of a foreign broker which unmistakably is tantamount to a betrayal of public trust. Benigno Simeon Aquino III knew that by bringing our dispute with China to the Permanent Court of Arbitration would give the US the leverage to continue its provocative patrol in the South China Sea. The perception about the naval presence of the US in the South China Sea can never be doubted because the Philippines being strategically adjacent to China would forever seek the protective cover of the US. In short, all these could lead the country to a possible proxy war with China.

For as long as we have foreign military bases in our soil, the country can never formulate its own independent foreign policy.

This explains why incoming President Duterte would have difficulty redrawing our foreign policy. A decision now to disallow the US bases or to unilaterally drop the case could antagonize the US because that would expose its continued presence in the South China Sea redundant. Nobody would believe that its continued patrol in the area is to secure the freedom of navigation. Rather, the whole military infrastructure it built would be exposed as a façade to contain China. Once the PAC comes out with a decision, our position to reach a direct and peaceful settlement

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA THE Pope begins chapter one of Amoris Laetitia (Joy of Love), his apostolic exhortion on the family, with his reflections on the Holy Scriptures, which unfolds as a meditation on Psalm 128 (which appears in the Jewish wedding liturgy as well as that of Christian marriages). The Bible “is full of families, births, love stories and family crises,” he begins. This tells us to reflect on how the family, not as an utopian institution, but one that has been confronted from the very beginning with sin, division, hatred when the relationship of love is soured by 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 experiences difficulties or suffering. For it shows them the goal of their journey...” Yet from the inception there was love between the husband and the woman. According to the Pope, this idyllic picture of the family is the embodiment of the primordial divine plan clearly spoken of by Christ himself: “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female?” (Mt 19:4). We hear an echo of the command found in the Book of Genesis: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Gen 2:24).” The Pope then makes the case for the creation of our dispute with China would become more difficult. Neither could we enforce a favorable decision nor expect the US to stand by its commitment. The country would be placed in a situation that would be wholly advantageous to China. Right now, it controls almost all of the islands, and has the capacity to drive away our fishermen who have traditionally considered the area their common fishing ground. Former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario surprisingly said that the Philippines can pursue direct negotiations with China even after PAC has rendered it decision. He said: “I think it’s only a matter of timing. …bilat-

‘IN THE LIGHT OF THE WORD’ of male and female based on the clear statements that may be drawn from the Book of Genesis. The first, he explains, which Jesus para- phrases, says that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (1:27). It is striking that the “image of God” here refers to the couple, “male and female.” He then asks the rhetorical question: Does this mean that sex is a property of God himself, or that God has a divine female companion, as some ancient religions held? He emphatically answers the question in the negative for the reason that the Bible rejects as idolatrous such beliefs, found among the Canaanites of the Holy Land. God’s transcendence is preserved, yet inasmuch as he is also the Creator, the fruitfulness of the human couple is a living and effective “image,” a visible sign of his creative act. He extols the couple who begets life for, according to him, it is like a true, living icon—not an idol like those of stone or gold prohibited by the Decalogue—capable of revealing God the Creator and Savior. By way of analogy, the couple’s fruitful relationship becomes an image for understanding and describing the mystery of God himself, for in the Christian vision of the Trinity, God is contemplated as Father, Son and Spirit of love. The triune God is a communion of love, and the family is eral negotiations… must be geared towards the conclusion of the arbitration…We must await the decision before we start talking with China, otherwise, the judges are going to think twice about what it is that we’re doing right.” But did it not come to Del Rosario’s mind that direct negotiations with China, using as the starting point the decision of the PCA, could be rebuffed because that would amount to a demand that China abide by the ruling which it stated at the outset not to submit to the jurisdiction of the PCA or recognize its decision. Perhaps, Del Rosario was thinking that after the release of the decision, the Philippines would be able to secure

its living reflection. If the parents are in some sense the foundations of the home, the children are like the “living stones” of the family, the Pope writes. On the importance of children to a family, he says that the presence of children is a sign of the continuity of the family throughout salvation history, from generation to generation. In other instances in the bible, he points out that the family is the place where children are brought up in the faith. As such, parents have a serious responsibility for this work of education. He then reminds us that children are not the property of a family, but have their own lives to lead. He cites the example of Jesus as a model of obedience to his earthly parents, placing himself under their charge (cf. Lk 2:51). But he also warns that children’s life decisions and their Christian vocation may demand a parting for the sake of the Kingdom of God (cf. Mt 10:34-37; Lk 9:5962) as what Jesus himself, at twelve years of age, tells Mary and Joseph that he has a greater mission to accomplish apart from his earthly family. Yet the idyllic picture presented in Psalm 128 is not at odds with a bitter truth found throughout sacred Scripture, that is, the presence of pain, evil and violence that break up families and their communion of life and love, the Pope says. And this thread of suffering and bloodshed runs

through numerous pages of the Bible, beginning with Cain’s murder of his brother Abel. In all of these, we can see that the word of God is not a series of abstract ideas but rather a source of comfort and companionship for every family that experiences difficulties or suffering. In the end, the Pope extols the importance of labor which makes possible the development of society and provides for the sustenance, stability and fruitfulness of one’s family. This being said, we can appreciate the suffering created by unemployment and the lack of steady work. Yet in the midst of all these sufferings, Christ proposed as the distinctive sign of his disciples the law of love and the gift of self for others, the Pope writes. He then exhorts every family to look to the icon of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Its daily life had its share of burdens and even nightmares, as when they met with Herod’s implacable violence. This last was an experience that, sad to say, continues to afflict the many refugee families who in our day feel rejected and helpless, he laments. In the light of the Word, in the example of the Holy Family’s fidelity before their own exile, journeys, struggles and suffering, today’s families can find also consolation and hope.

the support from the international community. Del Rosario purposely avoided mentioning that China could equally demand, as a precondition for any direct negotiations, that we stop any reference to the PCA’s decision. That would be an embarrassment because the Philippines would be negotiating on the issue of pride than on the problem affecting our relations with China. While China can always say the door for direct negotiations remains open, it does not mean that conditions remain the same. Moreover, to shift for direct negotiations would adversely affect the US “pivot-to- Asia” policy because everybody knows it was behind our decision

to bring the case for international arbitration. In fact, it has divided the Asean member countries with the Philippines actively playing the part of the unwitting tool of the US in creating a wedge within the bloc. Notably, the problem in the South China Sea involves two issues. One is the issue pertaining to the conflicting claims over those islands, and the parties are identifiable. The second is the issue of freedom of navigation which applies to ships of all counties navigating that sea lane. However, the right to regularly patrol in the disputed sea lane would only apply when there is a threat to international Continued on A11

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CHINA HAS A ROBOT PROBLEM By Adam Minter THE story first turned up in mid-May: Foxconn, Apple’s favorite manufacturer, was replacing 60,000 of its workers with robots. Everyone from the BBC to Apple fan sites soon reported the ground-shifting news. There was just one problem: It was mostly false. Last weekend, a Foxconn spokesperson told Chinese media that the company hadn’t laid off anyone, much less replaced them with automation. That part of the story came from overly enthusiastic bureaucrats in Kunshan, a manufacturing town keen to promote itself as a hub for innovation. The incident seemed like an apt metaphor. Across China, officials are hoping that robots are the future. Thirty-six cities claimed last year that robotics was critical to their development. More than 40 govern-

More... From A9 devastated by war. Despite those international sales, many children remain starving in different places in the world. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was organized to promote literacy all over the world. Under the Florence Agreement sponsored by the Unesco and signed by many countries including the Philippines, no customs duties may be imposed on any newspaper, magazine, periodical, book or similar reading material imported into the Philippines even in commercial quantity. That treaty is completely ignored by the Bureau of Customs in the Philippines today. Ask anybody who buys foreign publications by mail. Try complaining about that to the Unesco. The procedure is bureaucratic. At best, one can get a refund on Customs duties, but he will have to sue the Bureau of Customs in court. Good grief! Duterte also said he would allow the late President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. For Duterte, it’s time to let go of the past and to move on. While the Marcos family welcomes this development, outgoing President Aquino opposes it, saying that the late strongman does not deserve burial in the hallowed

Rectifying... From A10 peace and requiring the major power, especially the members of the UN Security Council, to patrol the area. In this case, our dispute with China is confined to our claim in the Spratly islands. Our insistence for an Asean Code of Conduct has nothing to do with the freedom of navigation which we are now trying to raise after that incident in the Mischief Reef where

ment-funded robot industrial parks have recently opened or are in the works. Shenzhen, the southern Chinese tech hub, is now home to more than 3,000 robotics companies—up from 200 just two years ago. In theory, this should be great news for a country hoping to encourage innovation. In reality, it’s a sign that China has subsidized yet another investment bubble with capital that would’ve been better invested elsewhere. Unlike some previous bubbles, this one was preceded by actual market demand. A shrinking pool of workers and rising labor costs, combined with efforts to diversify the economy beyond low-end manufacturing, have already made China the world’s biggest market for robots. In 2014, it bought about 56,000 of the 227,000 industrial robots purchased worldwide— a 56-percent increase over the

previous year. In 2015, it purchased 66,000. The problem was that most of those robots were imported. So Chinese officials are now hoping to buy their way to global dominance. This year alone, 77 local governments have pushed policies to encourage robotics. Shenzhen hands out $76 million in annual subsidies to support the industry. Guangdong province is handing out $55 million this year. Then there’s all the investment in industrial parks, infrastructure and subsidies to companies that want to shift production away from high-cost humans. Inevitably, that kind of loose money attracts the wrong kinds of people. According to the Economic Observer, an independent newspaper, scams to snag subsidies are proliferating. Many companies with little or no experience in robotics

are receiving huge handouts that appear to accomplish little more than pad their bottom lines. One firm in Nanjing said that robot subsidies accounted for 65 percent of its net profit in 2015. And yet all this isn’t doing much to boost China’s homegrown robotics industry. Eightyfive percent of the robots sold in China are foreign-made, while those produced domestically are largely reliant on foreign components. China is especially far behind in producing the low-cost robots that would help smaller manufacturers struggling with rising labor costs. As the Economic Observer put it: “Most companies that include ‘robot’ in their name have virtually no sales at all.” This bubble, like all others, will eventually pop. Reports of subsidy abuse have alarmed the legitimate robotics industry, and the appearance of critical

grounds of the said cemetery. Although Aquino has the right to express his opinion about the late strongman, Aquino should not impose his opinion on Duterte. At any rate, Aquino’s personal opinion is effectively diluted by the millions of votes Bongbong Marcos obtained in the recent vice presidential election, which got him first place by a margin of more than a million votes on the first day of the canvassing. Instead of publicly expressing his displeasure for the elder Marcos, President Aquino should focus his attention on getting hard evidence on who was really behind the assassination of his father, the late Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Closure, not Aquino’s vindictiveness, is what the people want. Since Aquino will be unemployed soon, he will have enough free time to embark on this quest. Come to think of it, how come no serious effort was made during his term to ascertain the identity of the person behind his father’s assassination? As his father’s son, he should be very interested in ascertaining the truth. Accusing the elder Marcos of Ninoy’s assassination is one thing. Proving it is another. If Marcos’ alleged role in Ninoy’s death could not be proved under two Aquino presidencies, then

the constitutional mandate that every person is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved, should undoubtedly apply. Finally, there is the animosity between Duterte and the media, triggered by Duterte’s remark that some corrupt journalists may find themselves summarily executed much in the same way as drug lords and other henious criminals. What Duterte said appears to be an opinion at least and an aspiration at most. Being so, there is no reason why he should not be allowed to exercise his constitutional freedom to express himself. That there are corrupt journalists in the Philippines is something that cannot be denied. Many personalities in the media maintain a lifestyle that is not commensurate to their salaries and legitimate income. They live in plush villages in houses registered in the names of their relatives. Like many of the politicians they criticize, these media personalities ride in late-model, high-end luxury vehicles. They sport expensive jewelry, and they celebrate birthdays and special occasions at expensive places. Their children are enrolled in very expensive schools either here and abroad. Some of them are even able to run for public office after a few years of working in the media.

Lessons... From A9

Philippine navy arrested Chinese fishermen fishing in the area. Edca has been unduly stretched by the US to allow it to conduct regular naval patrol and reconnaissance flight in the disputed islands with unclear objective whether their presence is to secure those islands we are claiming or to ensure the freedom of navigation which is not covered by Edca. In fact, invoking freedom of navigation to conduct

regular naval patrol would lose its viability if the Philippines decide to scrap Edca. This explains why it was the Aquino government, not the US government, that invited the Japanese to join the US navy in patrolling the sea lane with the country merely watching offshore to the growing militarization of the South China Sea. rpkapunan@gmail.com

stories in a major newspaper hints at tacit state support for cleaning up the mess. Yet simply reining in subsidies won’t make China a robotics leader. Instead, the government needs to get more selective. Direct grants to companies should be discouraged, for instance. And basic research at universities and institutes, especially in promising fields such as artificial intelligence, should get more support. Above all, policymakers need to show more patience. Last week, President Xi Jinping announced his ambition for China to become “one of the most innovative countries” by 2020, along with a raft of policies to support scientists and engineers. It’d be terrific if that happened. But developing a culture of innovation takes more than deadlines and a firehose of subsidies. It takes judgment—and time. Bloomberg

The Vietnamese in the 1960s, the French in 1789 and the Americans in 1776 all started with prior evolved or evolving organizations that helped them succeed. The Filipinos had neither a highly evolved autonomous government that they ran, nor did they have a military organization that they staffed and commanded. Consequently they started with what they had—local governments of towns that were linked by the Freemasonry-inspired Katipunan (a secret organization closer to the Rotary or Lion’s Club than the vast government infrastructure) led by native mayors and ex-Spanish colonial army soldiers that drew on the Spanish Colonial Army itself for inspiration (hence the use of rayadillo uniforms and Spanish style ranks and military drill). Yet for all its aspirations to military professionalism, the reality was that the Filipinos were a tribal/warlord-style army. Each leader was semi-autonomous, generally friendly and cooperative to a point, yet poor at coordinating, and indecisive because they had to convene a ‘pulong’ to act, rather than having a proper hierarchical leadership of all factions. This inherent weakness and the Supremo’s inability to transcend it led to defeats in Manila and the eclipsing of the Manila Katipunan. The Caviteno Katipunan, in contrast, under the direct command of Kawit mayor Emilio Aguinaldo, was victorious against increasingly larger Spanish forces. Yet the fact remained that all throughout the Revolutionary period, the warlord-mentality—we still see this in government today, in the “compadre” system that makes Filipino politicians both the most friendly and at the same time among the most corrupt, and in the family-led bailiwicks of various “clans” from Makati and Parañaque, to Tarlac, Leyte and Ilocos—plagued the Filipinos. It is this, not the mythic despicable ambition and greed of Aguinaldo, that primarily led to the tragedies that overshadowed the Revolution— particularly, the arrest and execution of Andres Bonifacio, and the assassination of Luna. The power struggle over which Council (Pulong) would lead would eventually pit the self-effacing Kawit Mayor against the self-made yuppie Supremo, (Emilio preferred the brilliant Belgian-trained engineer Edilberto Evangelista to himself, and the Alvarez clan, knowing of Emilio’s fame, brought Bonifacio over to directly challenge him for leadership) and lead to Bonifacio’s tragic downfall. In the Phil-American War we see the cult/warlord-mentality rear its ugly head again in the Torres-del Pilar and Luna-Mascardo feuds. The weakness of the First Republic and its army was that Aguinaldo and Luna, due to time constraints, were unable to evolve the national infrastructure and military organization to limit, if not entirely eliminate the warlord nature of the Philippine Revolutionary Army, and make it truly professional capable of challenging the Americans. Even as the nation charts its course under a new leadership we would do well to look to the past with honesty and humility and learn its lessons, lest we, through willful or unknowing ignorance, be doomed to repeat it. bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Cavs try to pull level with Warriors LEVELAND— Defending champion Golden State and the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers rallied around underperforming stars on the eve of Friday’s turning point fourth game in the NBA Finals.

Tanduay beach volley 2nd leg set THE 2nd leg of the 2016 Tanduay Beach Volleyball Challenge starts Sunday at the multi-court sand lot of the Cantada Sports Center in Bagumbayan, Taguig City. Some thirty teams in both men’s and women’s divisions have signed up for the one-day event including teams from University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, Air Force, Parañaque and Cebu. Alex Aveda, referee from Cagayan de Oro, has flown in to help officiate in the event. This is part of Philippine Volleyball Federation president “Tito Boy” Cantada’s efforts to bring referees from the different regions to officiate in major events in Manila for the needed exposure. The event is sponsored by Tanduay Rhum, through its president Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr.

LUCIO ‘BONG’ TAN JR.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ cheerleaders perform prior to Game 3 of the 2016 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

Dubs’ fightback may come from bench CLEVELAND—A year after the Golden State Warriors made a change to the starting lineup that turned momentum in the NBA Finals, the reigning champions might turn to the bench again. Despite a 120-90 blowout loss to Cleveland on Wednesday, Golden State owns a 2-1 lead in the bestof-seven series entering game four Friday with the scene shifting back to California for game five on Monday. Last year, it was in game four at Cleveland when the Warriors inserted Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup and won three games in a row to claim the crown, Iguodala providing defensive heroics against Cavaliers star LeBron James and solid scoring to take NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors.

This year, Warriors coach Steve Kerr isn’t saying he plans to change anything, but as he noted Thursday, “Usually what happens is teams adjust after struggles.” Golden State’s most lopsided playoff loss in Kerr’s two seasons with the Warriors could be enough reason to look at moving Iguodala back into the starting five, possibly again in place of Australian center Andrew Bogut. “Wow, we just lost one game. Change the starting lineup?” Kerr said. “All this stuff about, ‘Oh, my God, what are we going to do?’ All we have to do is take stock. We’re up 2-1. We’re in pretty good shape. We haven’t played that well. Let’s play better.” That often comes with changing up matchups, which Cleveland

did when Kevin Love was forced out with a concussion. Richard Jefferson entered, James shifted roles and found his scoring spark and the Cavaliers ended a seven-game losing streak to Golden State. “It’s always just are we going to be better off matchup-wise or are we going to be better off with a certain rotation that allows one guy to guard somebody specifically on the other team?” Kerr said of lineup changes. “We watch the film and we make that decision.” And while Iguodala offers a faster lineup, Kerr likes the rebounding and shotblocking Bogut offers. “Boges has done a good job for us in the series,” Kerr said. “We didn’t feel like we had to match what they were doing because of their change in their starting lineup. We can always make a quick substitution. AFP

The Cavaliers trail the best-of-seven series 2-1 despite a 120-90 romp Wednesday that has many questioning Cleveland’s need for injured forward Kevin Love and why NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry of the Warriors has had only a so-so finals start. “What made it easier is we played harder. It didn’t have anything to do with Kevin,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. “He’s eager to play and we definitely need him back.” Trying to bring Cleveland its first sports champion since 1964, the Cavaliers used aggressive defense and physical play to remain unbeaten at home in the playoffs, but must win again to level the series ahead of game five Monday back in Calfornia. “It’s the same mindset,” James said. “We can’t afford to go down 3-1 and go into their building and give them confidence, so it’s a do-or-die game for us still.” Curry, the NBA scoring champion and steals leader as well as a recordsetting 3-point shooter, has struggled to find his rhythm and was overpowered by a blistering Cavs start in game three after two blowout home wins to open the series.AFP

Teen bowler grabs SM Bowling lead YOUTH and experience took separate routes to share honors in the May 2016 monthly championships of the 3rd SM Bowling Millionaire’s Cup 2016 held recently at the SM Bowling Center in Megamall and Cebu. Thirteen-year-old Norel Nuevo defeated Audi Castro, 235-214, in the premier Open Masters finals for Luzon held at Megamall to capture her second title in three weeks. Nuevo earned the first finals slot by defeating Khen Abad, 213-184, in the first semifinal match, while Castro booked his finals seat with a nail-biting 195-194 victory over Rowena Cabas in the other semifinal match. Nuevo topped the 8-game qualifying series with 1784, followed by Castro (1720), Cabas (1699) and Abad (1694) respectively. Nuevo made up for her earlier loss in the

semifinals of the Classified Masters where she finished third. In the Classified Masters finals for Luzon also held in Megamall, Bien Lozada finally nailed his first title by defeating Nelia Santos in the final match, 217-182. Lozada, who finished second in last month’s Open Masters finals, also topped the 8-game qualifying series with 1630. He booked his finals slot with a 210-192 thrashing of Khen Abad, while Santos subdued Open Masters champion Norel Nuevo, 231-199 in the other semifinal match. In the Vis-Min finals held at SM Bowling Center Cebu, Emi Osada became the first double winner of the tournament by capturing both the Open Masters and Classified Masters crowns. Osada first captured the Classified Masters title

with a when she beat Ging Francisco, 199-161, in the title match. The fourth seeded Osada earlier disposed of top seed Baby Bacon 228-162, while Francisco ousted Ronan Barredo, 201-193 in the other semifinal match to earn the spot in the finals against Osada. Osada then captured her second title the next day by topping the premiere Open Masters (Vis-Min) division with 219-204 victory over Ronan Barredo in the finals. Still ecstatic over her victory the day before in the Classified Masters, Osada topped the 8 game qualifying in the Open Masters, then ousted Joselito Longcanaya, 228-216 in the first semifinal match, while Barredo earned the right to face Osada, by ousting Baby Bacon, 225190. Longcanaya and Bacon finished third and fourth respectively.

Making history as the youngest bowler to lead in the SM Bowling Millionaires Cup, Norel Nuevo (middle) poses with her winning cash prize for the monthly final along with SMLEI Megamall Branch Head Alvin Beltran (left) and Isabella Manjon, Marketing Manager for SMLEI’s Education and Leisure Centers.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Chiefs make cage finals

Jacob Ang (center) emerged overall champion, winning both the Formula 125 Open Seniors and X30 titles over more experienced Macau top bet Joao Carlos Afonso (left) and third placer Tsang Tsz Him Kim of Hongkong (right) in the Macau kickoff of the 2016 Asian Karting Open Championships.

Pocari, Air Force seek semis Games today 1 p.m. – Air Force vs Bounty Fresh (S Turf) 4 p.m. – Baguio vs Pocari Sweat (V-League) 6:30 p.m. – Laoag vs Air Force (V-League)

UNBEATEN Pocari Sweat and Air Force try to formalize their stints in the semifinal round as they go for win No. 4 against struggling rivals in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan Saturday. Unscathed with three victories each, the Lady Warriors take on the winless Baguio Summer Spikers at 4 p.m. while the Jet Spikers tangle with the Laoag Power Smashers at 6:30 p.m. Both matches will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23 and on live stream on www.v-league.ph, according to the organizing Sports Vision. Pocari Sweat routed routed Laoag, 25-21, 25-16, 25-17, last week to stretch its win run to three while Air Force matched that hot start a 27-25, 25-19, 25-17 victory over University of the Philippines last Monday in the season-opening conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s. Michele Gumabao has been dishing out big games for Pocari, norming 18 hits in their first three outings while drawing equally solid outputs from Myla Pablo and Elaine Kasilag, who complete the team’s vaunted awesome threesome. “If we can sustain our aggressiveness in our attack, we’ll have a chance to succeed,” said Pocari coach Rommel Abella.

ARELLANO University turned to Jiovani Jalalon’s heroics in the endgame to win over the Jose Rizal UniversityB Heavy Bombers, 76-69, Wednesday in the semifinal round of the 22nd Fr. Martin Cup Summer Basketball Tournament at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola. Jalalon’s jumper and two charities in the last 1:08 allowed the Chiefs to move out of range after the Heavy Bombers came close, 72-69. The win put the Chiefs into a finals showdown with the Adamson University Falcons. In the women’s semis action, Ruth Tacula top-scored for 21 points, including a crucial driving shot in the last 1:08, helping put the University of the East to a 60-56 win over Far Eastern University. The Lady Warriors arranged a finals clash with the Adamson Lady Falcons, who toppled University of the Philippines, 75-64. Allen Enriquez showed the way with 12 points, while Zach Nichols had 11 for the Chiefs, who are seeking their second consecutive crown after taking the Division 2 honors early this year.

Ang crowned overall champ of Asian karting THE Philippines’ No.1 karter Jacob Ang showed the way against the best of Asia to clinch his first win in the kickoff of the 2016 Asian Karting Open Championship at the Kartodromo de Coloane Circuit in Macau, The 15-year-old Ang f launted his best form as he was f lawless even in the sharp curves to capture the titles in both the Formula 125 Open Seniors and X30 classes against the top bets from Macau, Hong Kong and China. Even with the heavy afternoon rains, he continued to exude confidence driving

consistently as he controlled the top spot throughout and even posted the day’s fastest laptime of 50.489 seconds on the 18th lap. Ang completed the 24-lap final race in 20 minutes and 21.910 seconds to claim the checquered flag 4.810 seconds ahead of Macau champion karter Joao Carlos Afonso.

Tsang Tsz Him Kim of Hong Kong copped the second runner-up honors in both the Formula 125 Open Seniors and X30 classes, while Lam Cheong Kwan of Hong Kong and Wong Man Chon of Macau ended fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Formula 125 Open Seniors. “Jacob definitely showed better maturity, discipline, wits and defensive strategy. But most of all, he showed that bigger heart to fight for the country’s honor,” said coach Edgen Dy-liacco. The Philippines also bagged two other titles courtesy of John

Morales’ father passes away By Ronnie Nathanielsz THE father/trainer of multititled champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales, Jose “Olivaritos” Morales passed away in the early hours of Thursday. He was 60. Himself a former boxer, Jose Morales was also the trainer of his son Diego Morales and current contender Ivan Morales. The elder MoralEs suffered a stroke on May 18 and remained in a coma for a week. He has lived in Tijuana, a hotbed of boxing in Mexico since 1974. World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman said he received the news of the passing of former boxer and prestigious trainer Jose “Olivaritos” Morales, just yesterday.

After a short pro boxing career, he established his gym in the Central and North Zone of Tijuana, directing the ways, means and futures of great fighters including Mauro “Betillo” Gutierrez, Luis Ramon “Yori Boy” Campas, Cesar Bazan, Jorge “Travieso” Arce, Antonio Margarito, Javier “Cobra” Mendoza, Jorge Paez Jr. and of course his sons Erik and Diego Morales, among so many others. Sulaiman said: “We will always remember Olivaritos Morales as a person devoted to boxing, but so very much more, as a great person. That wonderful smile, sparkling sense of humor and that endless reservoir of kindness from a handsome man, with a beautiful soul.

JOSE MORALES

Dizon and Khazart Romoff of Empire-Red Bull Racing Team. Dizon clinched the Formula 125 Open Juniors and the X30 Junior crowns after topping the Final race, 6.347 seconds ahead of Eagle Cement’s Eduardo Coseteng Jr. Mikey Jordan checked in third, while Bianca Bustamante and Keon Romoff wound up fourth and fifth, respectively. Khazart Romoff, on the other hand, ruled the Formula Cadet class over Inigo Anton and third placer Johary Suba, with William Go and Miguel Angeles checking in fourth and fifth, respectively.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Ardina is reserve candidate for Olympics By Peter Atencio

FORMER junior world golf champion Dottie Ardina could make it to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Ardina was given a notification as a reserve candidate for the Olympiad last Thursday. Philippine chef de mission Joey Romasanta said this after the Rio Olympics sports

entries department’s William Souza informed him of new developments. National Golf Association of the Philippines executive director Carlos Coscolluela, who was in a meeting with

Romasanta, was immediately informed of Ardina’s status. Ardina’s parents have already been notified and were provided the necessary documents organizers are asking for. The 5’2” Ardina will make it to the official list if any of the two qualifiers will withdraw or fail to confirm their participation. “It was a pleasant surprise

to learn that another golfer could make the list,” said Romasanta. Filipino golfer Miguel Tabuena is a sure entry with a ranking of 37 in the Olympic rankings. On the other hand, Angelo Que needs to keep his 53rd spot in the Olympic rankings when the qualification timeline finishes in July. Ardina has been seeing

action in the ladies’ professional gold association developmental competitions. She had four Top 10 finishes last year, missing the cut in five tourneys this season. Romasanta said they expect to have 11 Filipino qualifiers by the end of July. Tabuena and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz join other sure entries, which include

sprinter Eric Cray, table tennis player Ian Lariba, taekwondo jin Kirstie Alora, and boxers Roger Ladon and Charly Suarez. They are also waiting for the confirmation on the status of golfer Que, swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi, Roxanne Yu, Joshua Hall and Jessie Khing Lacuna, as well as boxers Mario Fernandez and Eumir Felix Marcial.

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Tabal... From A16

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID PR NO. 2016-0993 1.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna through the 2016 Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsodintends to apply the sum of Php 2,500,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply and Delivery Rescue Equipments for Official Use of CDRRMO. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites bids forthe following: QTY UNIT DESCRIPTION 1 unit Medium Hydraulic Cutter Specifications: Blade Opening: 223mm Maximum Cutting Force: 616kN Cutting Around Bar: 33mm Weight Including Hydraulic Oil: 14.8kg Dimensions (LxWxH): 726 x 211 x 163mm Unique Central Bolt System which can be tightened w/o using any special tool Blades are made high tensile, drop forged steel providing best performance for stability and sharpness 1 unit Combination Tool Cutting force up to: 387 kN Round Steel up to Ø : 32 mm Spreading force: 38-780kN Spreading distance: 365mm Pulling force up to: 48kN Pulling distance: 380mm Dimensions: 777x220x170mm 1 unit Rescue Ram Pushing Force: 135 kN Stroke: 300mm which includes Ram Extension up to 550mm Retracted Length: 450mm Extended Length: 750mm which includes Ram extension up to 1000mm Weight: 13kg Dimensions: 86 x 174mm 1 pc Extension for Rescue Ram (250mm) 1 unit Pump Motor Engine: Petrol Engine with 4.2 kW Max. Working Pressure: 700 bar Hydraulic Pump: High Performance 2-stage radial piston pump Flow 1st-2nd stage: min 3100-900 cc/min Flow 1st-2nd stage: min 6050-1700 cc/min Oil Tank Capacity: 4.8L usable oil quantity Weight: 42kg Dimensions: 485x440x445mm Engine and pump unit: fully protected by steel frame 2 pcs Coaxial Hose – 15m 1 set Chain Set 1.5m/3.0m pulling attachments and pulling chains 1 pc Tool Station 200x250cm tool station Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. In addition,bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138. Interested bidders may obtain further information from City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:30AM to 9:30 AM only. Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on thedate, time and address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php 5,000.00.

Former junior world golf champion Dottie Ardina, shown here during one of her local tournaments, will make it to the official Rio Olympic list if any of the two golf qualifiers will withdraw or fail to confirm their participation. Republic of the Philippines Office of the President NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Interim Eastern-Western Samar Irrigation Management Office Interim Catbalogan Samar Office Address: Telephone Nos. Website:

June 10 – July 1, 2016 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before the specified date and time. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF ELIGIBILITY July 1, 2016 REQUIREMENTS AND OPENING OF BIDS: 10:00 AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna PRE-BID CONFERENCE:

June 15, 2016 BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna Bid opening shall be on the same date and time for deadline of submission of eligibility requirements and submission of bids and shall be conducted at the Office of the BAC Secretariat. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address given above. Late bids shall not be accepted. TheCity Government of San Pedro, Laguna assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bid. Further, City Government of San Pedro, Laguna, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat San Pedro City Hall San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 847.1722

(signed) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

Email Address. bac_samar@yahoo.com TIN 000-916-415-010

INVITATION TO BID NO. 03-2016 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Interim Eastern-Western Samar Irrigation Management Office, Catbalogan City through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites Domestic Contractors, registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), to bid for the hereunder contracts. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. Approved Budget for the Contract (Php)

Duration

Cost of Bidding Documents

Baay-Binaliw CIS-L-01-2016-Repair/Improvement of Diversion Works, Canalization, Canal Structures & Terminal Facilities Calbayog, Samar

4,329,285.87

120 cd

P5,000.00

Roxas CIS-L-01-2016-Repair/Improvement of Diversion Works, Canalization, Canal Structures Calbayog City, Samar

6,738,346.21

180 cd

P10,000.00

Tagnao-CIS-L-01-2016 - Repair/Improvement of Diversion Works, Canalization, Canal Structures & Terminal Facilities Gandara, Samar

4,867,269.71

120 cd

P5,000.00

Cagpili CIS-L-01-2016-Repair & Stabilization of Concrete Canal, Canal Structures & Terminal Facilities Cagpili, Oras, Eastern Samar

2,879,808.06

120 cd

P5,000.00

San Policarpo CIS-L-01-2016-Repair & Stabilization of Concrete Canal, Canal Structures & Terminal Facilities San Policarpo, Eastern Samar

2,879,874.50

150 cd

P5,000.00

ITEM/DESCRIPTION

ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS:

DA Compound, Brgy. Guindapunan Catbalogan City, Samar (055) 251-2818 www.nia.gov.com

The ProspectiveBiddersshouldhavecompleted, withinfive (5) yearsfromthe date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar tothe Project whosevaluemust be at leastfiftypercent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184) otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. The prospective bidders must secure an Affidavit of Site Inspection and Certificate of Inspection before the purchase of bid documents. Prospective Bidders are not allowed to participate if they have negative slippage in their on-going contracts. Individuals with Special Power of Attorney (SPA) are not allowed to transact and participate in the procurement utilizing another construction firm. The pre-bid conference shall be open only for those who have purchased the bid documents. No more sale of bid documents after pre-bidding conference in order for the bidders to submit a highly technical and educated bid. The Schedule of BAC Activities are as follows: BAC Activities 1. Issuance of Bid Documents 2. Pre-bid Conference 3. Receipt and Opening of Bids

Schedule StartingJune 10, 2016 June 17, 2016 June 30, 2016

Time 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 09:00 a.m.

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents to eligible bidders from the address above and upon payment of non-refundable amount of Php10,000.00 for Roxas CIS and Php5,000.00 for Baay-Binaliw CIS, Tagnao CIS, Cagpili CIS and San Policarpo CIS to the Cashier. For qualified/eligible bidders, please take note that after qualified bidders has been determined, we prefer cash bond, cashier’s or manager’scheck and bank guarantee with the amount equivalent to two (2%) percent of the ABC of the contract and surety bond with the amount equivalent to five (5%) percent of the ABC of the contract as Bid Security The NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to the contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. SGD. RIZALINA B. GALLARDE BAC Chairman Noted: SGD. ALEJANDRO C. CULIBAR, D.M.

(TS-JUNE 11, 2016)

Officer In-Charge

(TS-JUNE 11, 2016)

On Monday, Tabal will bring some supporting documents regarding her participation in the Ottawa Marathon. The documents will reflect her performance in the event. “It’s more on asking PATAFA to reinstate me (to the national team). Included ‘yung list of competitions I joined since I resigned from the PH team and my certification from Ottawa,” said Tabal in an interview with The Standard regarding the contents of her letter to Juico and the executive board. The 26-year-old Tabal, who is supported by Motor Ace Philippines through Jonel Borromeo, said she is now inspired to do her best following her performance in Canada. The PATAFA was caught by surprise when Tabal made the Olympic qualifying standard in the Ottawa meet two weeks ago. This is because Tabal trained on her own and has quit the national team in December last year. Tabal trained under coach/triathlete Philip Duenas, Meanwhile, longjumper Marestella Torres-Sunang will now have to join qualifiers in Kyrgyztan and Kazakhstan in the coming weeks to assure herself of a place in the national team bound for Rio. Her Olympic status is now in jeopardy after she was given an universality slot to the games earlier. Torres-Sunang’s slot was given her on the premise that no other Filipino female athlete will qualify for the Olympics. If Tabal is been confirmed for Rio, TorresSunang’s universality slot will be cancelled.

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

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Metro Turf hosts 2nd leg of Triple Crown Series METRO TURF, the newest racetrack in the country today, will be the host of the second leg of the annual Triple Crown Series with nine exciting runners vying for the whopping total prize of P3 million. With the top prize of P1.8 million, the official entries are Dewey Boulevard (Hook And Ladder -Aboutthetown) to be ridden by Jonathan Hernandez, Guatemala (Kangoo-

Western City)—Kelvin Abobo, He He He (Keep Laughing-Cleft)— Louie Balboa, Indianpana (Eugene’s Third Son-Jacy’s Girl)— AP Asuncion, Radio Active (Lim Expensive Toys-Lacquaria)—John Alvin Guce, Underwood (Real Spicy– Kayumanggi)—Jesse Guce, Space Needle (Wando–Playwild)—Jeffril Zarate, Spectrum (Golden Pharaoh-Celestial)—Jeffrey Bacaycay, and Subterranean River (Quaker

Ridge-Magic Symbol)— Antonio Alcasid Jr. This race will be contested over the long 1,800-meter distance with the runnerup receiving P675,000, third placer P375,000, and fourth placer P150,000. Radio Active, owned by the SC Stockfarm, tries to grab his second consecutive win in this series for the best 3-year-olds in the land with regular rider John Alvin Guce

back on board. The colt was a runaway, longshot winner in the first leg at the other racetrack. Stablemates Underwood and Space Needle, second and third placers, respectively, in the first leg, are back to derail the ambition of Radio Active for a sweep. They are expected to come up with a new race plan and are expected to be the favorites here once again.

LOTTO RESULTS 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

Gilas PH braces for tough grind By Jeric Lopez

THE Europe-bound Gilas Pilipinas team braces for a grueling three-week training camp. Following a solid set of tune-up games against Iran this past week, Gilas Pilipinas now looks forward to an even tougher road ahead as it will now focus on getting better in Greece and Italy. The 14-man Gilas Pilipinas pool headed for Europe consists of Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abueva, LA Tenorio, Ryan Reyes, Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Ray Parks, Ranidel De Ocampo and Troy Rosario. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President and team backer Manny V. Pangilinan wished the national team all the best as it continues its preparation for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament this July 5 to 10, knowing how tough the training will be for Gilas heading to the big tournament ahead. “Safe journey to our Gilas Team. Tough training ahead for 14 unselfish men who love their country truly. Godspeed,” said Pangilinan in his Twitter account. National team coach Tab

Baldwin wants his team to drastically improve and address the remaining holes in its current level of play. “We still would like to address a lot of things at camp and we’re looking forward to reach our potential. This stay in Europe will help us a lot and allow us to discover ourselves and what we can bring to the table,” said Baldwin. Gilas Pilipinas will have scheduled practices and scrimmages against local clubs in both mentioned countries. Upon its return, it will have one last tune-up game on July 1 against Turkey at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, where the Manila leg of the OQT will be held. Prior to the team’s departure, Baldwin gave his wards a day off last Thursday as he knows it will be a long stretch for the team given the intensity of the training ahead. Last Wednesday, Smart Gilas worked its way to an 81-70 triumph over Asian rival Iran at the Araneta Coliseum in its first public appearance in a game.

Pambansang Tatluhan. Gilas Pilipinas center Andray Blatche (center) poses with participants of the 1st SBP 3x3 U16

Pambansang Tatluhan 2016 powered by TNT Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. Thirty-two teams (boys and girls division) from all over the country took part in SBP’s centerpiece grassroots development program.

Euro 2016 action on Sky Football Season Pass EXPECT to catch the world’s most intense football action in 2016 as SKY Football Season Pass HD features the 15th UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) EURO 2016 this June and July. Avid football fans can now score a coveted one-month season pass to catch all the action at home and roundthe-clock from 24 European teams in the UEFA EURO 2016. To be hosted by France for the third time, this years’ edition of the quadren-

nial tournament include to-watch-out for teams such as defending champion Spain, three-time champ Germany, powerhouses England, Portugal, Italy, and France. This year, the traditionally 16-team format expands to 24 and will see the debuts of teams from Albania, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, and Wales. Two-time champion France opens the UEFA EURO 2016 in a match against Romania. Don’t miss the thrilling matches all in high definition on SKYcable and Destiny

A memorable time in our lives INSIDE SPORTS RONNIE NATHANIELSZ AS millions of Filipinos and people around the world mourn the passing of unquestionably the greatest heavyweight boxing champion of all time in Muhammad Ali, we can take solace if not pride from the fact that we had a President, Ferdinand Marcos and his lovely wife Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who dared to dream that Filipinos deserved to witness two of the greatest heavyweight champions face off against each other in an epic trilogy that will be remembered forever. Of course, President Marcos wanted to show the world that the Philippines under martial rule, was blessed with peace and order, the economy was doing well and the people were contented. Certainly there were pockets

of people who took issue with the imposition of martial rule and the curtailment of some of the freedoms they enjoyed without the corresponding sense of responsibility. Considering the amount that it cost the Philippine government to stage the “Thrilla in Manila,” which we learned was $10 million and it matched what the “Rumble in the Jungle” between Ali and George Foreman cost the government of Zaire, it was a good deal and a sound investment because it showcased the Philippines to the rest of the world for weeks on end with major western media outfits, wire agencies and radio and television networks filing daily stories datelined Manila. People around the world then knew where Manila was, the kind of people Filipinos were and got a glimpse of our customs and traditions, as well as our scenic spots that opened up a whole new world to the uninitiated. Ali, a towering individual

with indescribable charisma and a fluent grasp of the English language and the facility of communication, carried the message of President Marcos wherever he went and that in itself was a major accomplishment. Ali told me on quite a few occasions about how much he admired President Marcos and his achievements as well as his vision for the country, which Ali appreciated more that some of the habitual critics in our own society and the elements of the western media, who frowned on martial rule and strongman leadership. The US government for one, appreciated the imposition of martial rule and the discipline that it developed in the conduct of business for one thing which enabled them to operate their enterprises without fear of labor unrest or similar disturbances in business and industry. However, when they could not get their way when they wanted to, they turned against

Marcos and the rest is unfortunate history. Filipinos were avid sports fans at that time and boxing was—and still is—one of their favorite sports. It was an era when Pancho Villa won the world flyweight title before some 40,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York and when Ceferino Garcia won the middleweight championship with a stunning seventhround knockout of American Fred Apostoli at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 2, 1939. Then, there was the remarkable Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, who won the world junior lightweight championship with a seventhround battering of American Harold Gomes at the inauguration of the Araneta Coliseum on March 16, 1960, before a crowd estimated at 26,000, who crammed into the coliseum and roared each time Elorde dropped Gomes, which was seven times in all. Fire trucks raced around the city with sirens blaring, people

Cable digital from June 11 to July 11. SKYbroadband subscribers and those who availed of the pay-per-view will get to watch the UEFA EURO 2016 on other gadgets anytime, anywhere via SKY On Demand. To subscribe to the SKY Football Season Pass HD, text SUBSCRIBE <space> 9-digit account number to 23662. The HD viewing is priced at P999 for a one month season pass. For instant and for more details, visit mysky.com.ph/footballseasonpass.

rushed into the streets to celebrate the singular achievement of a poor farmer’s son from Bogo, Cebu. Elorde reigned as world champion for seven years, three months and 10 days before losing his crown to the much younger Japanese Yoshiaki Numata, who ran all night long to eke out a points’ decision It was only last year that Elorde’s record as the longestreigning Fiipino world champion was surpassed by WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes, certainly one of the heroes of our time. The Ali-Frazier “Thrilla in Manila” reinforced the Filipinos love for boxing, which even today stands as one of the three most popular athletic disciplines alongside basketball and billiards. Just the other day, 64-year-old Efren “Bata” Reyes won the one pocket tournament in New Jersey, beating America’s No.1 Shane Van Boening, demonstrating some magical shots which he has long been known for, in the process. We remember Ali not merely

for his skill, his sense of humor, his caring and compassionate ways, but we are grateful that he lived, fought and died in our time, enriching us by his achievements and his legendary ways. We were privileged to be appointed as his Liaison Officer for the “Thrilla in Manila” and had the good fortune of spending two weeks with him in Kuala Lumpur for the title fight against British champion Joe Bugner, went to Honolulu to accompany him to Manila for the “Thrilla,” lived with him at the then Manila Hilton and remained with him throughout the day, chronicling his every move and latching on to every word he said. It was a memorable time in our life and we got close enough for him to call me “Brother,” while I called him “Champ.” We were distraught when Jim Gomez of the Associated Press, who had done a lengthy interview with us on our memories of Ali and the “Thrilla in Manila,” called us a few minutes after the interview to tell us, “while we were talking, Ali passed away.” Peace be with you my brother!

S AT U R DAY : J U N E 1 1 , 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

Jason Day of Australia watches his tee shot on the first hole during the final round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, even as Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (inset) walk down the fairway on the 18th hole. All eyes will be on the three in the coming US Open. AFP

Day, Spieth, McIlroy ready for showdown LOS ANGELES—World number one Jason Day will lead golf’s young stars in seeking to join a who’s who of champions produced by Oakmont when the rugged course in Pittsburgh hosts the 2016 US Open next week. Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus have all tasted major success at Oakmont. Johnny Miller delivered a sublime 63 to win the 1973 US Open there, where South African Ernie Els captured the first of his four major titles in a US Open playoff in 1994. Reigning US Open champion Jordan Spieth, recalling Argentinian Angel Cabrera’s “ball-striking clinic” en route to the title in 2007 —the last time Oakmont hosted the championship, said the course was not one to be trifled with. “You will have no crazy circumstances or bounces or this or that,” Spieth said. “The person who is in

Ang is overall Asian kart champion TURN TO A13

full control of their entire game will win this US Open.” That pinpoint control is something that Day, second-ranked Spieth and world number three Rory McIlry have struggled for at times this year, although each has posted a morale-boosting victory in recent weeks. Day was impressive in winning the Players Championship in May, the 28-year-old Aussie notching a second wire-to-wire victory of the season after leading start to finish at Bay Hill. Day’s impressive victory run over the past 10 months includes his first major title at the PGA

Championship last August, the Barclays and BMW Championship in last year’s US tour playoffs and the World Golf Championships Match Play. Spieth, who shot to number one in the world on the back of Masters and US Open triumphs last year, has struggled mightily at times in 2016—most notably with a final-round meltdown at Augusta National. But the 22-year-old American kept the pressure on Day with a US tour title at Colonial in May, then McIlroy ended a six-month victory drought with a triumph in the Irish Open. McIlroy, who rallied from a shot down with a brilliant finish at the K Club, also looked sharp at the Memorial Tournament—the last US Open tuneup featuring golf’s current top triumvirate.

Gilas PH braces for tough grind TURN TO A15

“Off the tee I was really good, and I feel like my putting improved a lot,” McIlroy said. “Time to get ready for Oakmont.” Once again the US Golf Association is gearing up for a US Open that produces “the most complete test in golf”. “The US Open is an examination of shot making, it’s an examination of strategy and course management, it’s an examination of nerves,” USGA executive director Mike Davis says. And in in the Oakmont course itself, the USGA has the perfect partner: a 7,219-yard, par70 layout with fairways narrowed by punitive bunkers—including the famed Church Pew bunker between the third and fourth fairways—and sloping greens so fast that the 1935 edition of the US Open inspired the invention of the Stimpmeter. AFP

Tabal, athletics’ execs meet on Monday By Peter Atencio LONG-DISTANCE runner Mary Joy Tabal will have a chance to personally air her side. Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said this after they summoned Tabal to come to Manila and meet them on Monday. “She will be in Manila for a meeting on Monday afternoon,” said Juico after emerging from an executive committee meeting of the PATAFA Friday afternoon. Tabal, who sent PATAFA a letter seeking reinstatement to the national team, will clarify some issues during their meeting. Juico said that no resolution is still in sight yet since the PATAFA is still confirming Tabal’s status with the International Association of Athletics Federations. Tabal arrived in Cebu Sunday night, with her supporters celebrating her participation in the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, where she placed eighth and passed the Olympic standard for marathon. But she did not make the PH national team outright going to the Rio Olympics outright as she was not a part of it. Turn to A14

SATURDAY: JUNE 11, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Sagawa-LBC partnership. SG Holdings Global Pte. Ltd., one of Japan’s largest logistics companies and parent company of Sagawa Express, signs a business cooperation agreement with LBC Express Inc. in what could be an initial step towards a joint venture. Shown during a news briefing at Marriott Hotel Manila in Pasay City are (from left) LBC Express chief marketing officer Javier Mantecon; SG Holdings general manager Manabu Kashima, SG Holdings director Akira Oyama, LBC Express president and chief operating officer Miguel Camahort, SG Holdings president and regional head Tomoki Sano, LBC Express senior vice president Charlie Villaseñor, Sagawa Express Philippines chief executive Lawrence Mendoza and LBC Express chief finance officer Enrique Rey. RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ

MetroPac revives MRT 3 bid PSe comPoSite

index

Closing June 10, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,509.94 26.71

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing June 10, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.130

44.00

43.00

HIGH P46.070 LOW P46.155 AVERAGE P46.119 VOLUME 535.400M

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

il P PriceS today

P24.75-P29.60 Diesel

Metro Pacific, the local unit of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would pursue the proposal to rehabilitate MRT 3 on its own. “We wish to clarify that while MPIC holds option rights to acquire all the interest of the Fil-Estate Group in MRT 3, there is no agreement on a partnership between MPIC and Mr. Sobrepeña in undertaking the rehabilitation and improvement of the MRT 3 project,” Metro Pacific said, referring to Fil-Estate and Metro Rail

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, June 10, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

45.9170

Japan

Yen

0.009339

0.4288

Pound

1.446100

66.4006

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128849

5.9164

Switzerland

Franc

1.037022

47.6169

Canada

Dollar

0.786225

36.1011

Singapore

Dollar

0.739372

33.9497

Australia

Dollar

0.742700

34.1026

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654914

121.9057

Rial

INFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said Friday it submitted a fresh proposal to rehabilitate Metro Rail Transit Line 3 under the administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. Transit Holdings chairman Robert John Sobrepeña. Metro Pacific said its own proposal would be the most beneficial solution to the problems plaguing the mass transit line. “Furthermore, we are advised that Mr. Sobrepeña has submitted an alternative proposal regarding MRT 3. Despite this, MPIC intends to pursue its own proposal with the new administration, which proposal it believes to be the most beneficial solution. It has in fact re-submitted its proposal and will of course give due regard

to the inputs from the incoming administration,” it said. Metro Pacific first submitted a proposal to the Transportation Department in 2011, offering $523-million investments to rehabilitate and upgrade MRT-3. The Aquino administration rejected Metro Pacific’s proposal and opted for an equity value buyout of MRT 3. The Transportation Department decided to pursue the buyout, but Congress did not approve the P53.9-billion allocation in the 2015 budget for the government’s takeover of MRT. President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 126 in 2013, directing the Transportation and Finance Departments to buy the private sector out MRT 3, pursuant to the build-lease-transfer agreement. Metro Pacific signed a cooperation agreement in 2011 with several groups holding rights and interests in MRT 3, including

MRTC, Metro Rail Transit Holdings Inc., Metro Rail Transit 2 Inc. and Monumento Rail Transit Corp., giving the First Pacific unit an option to acquire 48 percent. It did not exercise the option. State-run Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines hold an 80-percent economic interest in MRT 3, while creditors of MRTC own the remaining stake. MRT 3, which runs along Edsa from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, serves 500,000 passengers a day, way beyond its rated capacity of 350,000. The line has a fleet of 73 Czechmade air-conditioned rail cars. Metro Pacific said while it had option rights to acquire all the interest of the Fil-Estate Group in MRT 3, there was no agreement on a partnership with the Sobrepeña-led group. With Darwin G. Amojelar

Exports dropped for 13th straight month in April

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

Saudi Arabia

By Jenniffer B. Austria

0.266738

12.2478

Brunei

Dollar

0.736648

33.8247

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028393

1.3037

UAE

Dirham

0.272294

12.5029

Euro

1.131800

51.9689

Korea

Won

0.000864

0.0397

China

Yuan

0.152184

6.9878

India

Rupee

0.014983

0.6880

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247219

11.3516

New Zealand

Dollar

0.709800

32.5919

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031023

1.4245 Source: PDS Bridge

EXPORTS fell 4.1 percent yearon-year in April, marking the 13th straight month of contraction, as the fragile global economy led to lower demand for the country’s garments, chemicals and farm output, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show. PSA said merchandise exports went down to $4.25 billion in April from $4.34 billion a year ago. It was also lower than $4.6 billion registered in March this year. “The country’s export perfor-

mance remains subdued by external conditions but this period is also an improvement from last month’s year-on-year drop of 15.1 percent. The recovery in the sales of manufactured products, which grew by 2.1 percent in April 2016, is worth noting,” said Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra. Total exports in the first four months declined 7.3 percent to $17.4 billion from $18.8 billion in the same period last year. Electronic exports increased 1.9 percent in April to $2.3 billion and accounted for 53.1 percent of

the total export value during the month. Agro-based, mineral, forest and petroleum exports recorded revenue decline, as the weak global economy continued to drag demand from some of the country’s major trading partners such as the United States and China. This tempered solid gains in shipments to Singapore and Japan. Outbound shipments of petroleum products plummeted 85.4 percent to $395,000 from $2.7 million in April last year. Agro-based products and mineral products declined 11.1

percent to $256.57 million and 85.5 percent to $37.75 million, respectively. Significant losses to crops due to El Niño dry spell also contributed to the weaker sales of agro-based products. “The slow pace of global economic recovery has negatively affected trade in most countries. Given this situation, the country’s export sector will continue to remain sluggish in the coming months as manufactured exports, such as electronics, are not expected to significantly contribute to exports growth,” Esguerra said.

SATURDAY: JUNE 11, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, June 10, 2016

52 Weeks

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

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

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 125 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 15.32 62.5 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 34.1 2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 9.66 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 390 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 49.55 3 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 3 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 751 1.13 0.93 170 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 4.12 3.9 45.7 45.5 107.40 103.00 95.20 94.60 37.7 37.5 3.18 3.18 1.45 1.40 14.1 14.1 17.9 17.66 0.73 0.73 1.78 1.78 0.560 0.540 86 85 15.00 14.90 24.00 23.00 53.70 52.30 102 98.1 262 262 31.9 31.6 200.2 198.4 1380.00 1375.00 65.30 64.20 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp. 46.55 47 46.2 Agrinurture Inc. 3.84 4.12 3.8 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.85 0.85 0.85 Alsons Cons. 1.97 2.04 1.94 Asiabest Group 13 13.4 12 C. Azuc De Tarlac 189.00 170.30 170.20 Century Food 21.75 21.85 21.5 Chemphil 171 165 160 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 191 193 189.1 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 17.7 17.88 16.98 Concepcion 47.7 47.75 47.7 Crown Asia 2.1 2.11 2.08 Da Vinci Capital 5.42 5.57 5.4 Del Monte 11.64 11.7 11.5 DNL Industries Inc. 10.180 10.200 9.800 Emperador 7.47 7.49 7.34 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.55 5.63 5.50 EEI 7.52 7.52 7.43 Euro-Med Lab 1.69 1.79 1.69 First Gen Corp. 22.5 23 22.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 66.6 66.75 66 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.24 12.24 12.20 Holcim Philippines Inc. 15.30 14.82 14.00 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.75 5.75 5.7 Ionics Inc 2.360 2.380 2.340 Jollibee Foods Corp. 233.00 238.00 230.00 Liberty Flour 34.00 34.05 34.00 LMG Chemicals 2 1.92 1.92 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.33 3.38 3.15 Manila Water Co. Inc. 28 28 27.6 Maxs Group 29.45 29.45 28.2 Megawide 6.56 6.56 6.5 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 311.40 314.80 308.00 MG Holdings 0.265 0.270 0.265 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.30 4.55 4.29 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.65 3.65 3.5 Petron Corporation 11.80 11.96 11.60 Phil H2O 3.01 3.02 3.02 Phinma Corporation 11.52 11.54 11.54 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 5.40 5.80 5.40 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.78 1.77 1.69 Pryce Corp. À’ 2.77 2.75 2.72 RFM Corporation 4.25 4.25 4.25 Roxas Holdings 4.15 4.17 4.15 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ 217.4 217.4 215 Splash Corporation 2.51 2.51 2.5 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.151 0.151 0.150 TKC Steel Corp. 1.70 1.75 1.69 Trans-Asia Oil 2.61 2.63 2.59 Universal Robina 199.5 201 193 Victorias Milling 4.68 4.7 4.6 Vitarich Corp. 0.9 0.9 0.89 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.29 1.27 1.25 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. À’ 0.385 0.390 0.380 Aboitiz Equity 75.40 75.40 74.50 Alliance Global Inc. 15.50 15.98 15.50 Anglo Holdings A 1.16 1.16 1.11 ATN Holdings A 0.370 0.375 0.365 ATN Holdings B 0.365 0.375 0.365 Ayala Corp À’ 823 838 815 Cosco Capital 7.93 7.97 7.71 DMCI Holdings 12.74 13.00 12.82 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5 5 4.9 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 6.48 6.49 6.43 Forum Pacific 0.235 0.235 0.235 GT Capital 1405 1433 1405 JG Summit Holdings 83.90 84.95 82.80 Keppel Holdings À’ 5.79 5.04 5.04 Lopez Holdings Corp. 7.8 7.8 7.6 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.69 0.7 0.69 LT Group 15.5 15.8 15.54 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 6.31 6.39 6.28 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.4 3.78 3.58 Pacifica À’ 0.0320 0.0320 0.0320 Prime Media Hldg 1.290 1.280 1.280 Prime Orion 1.840 1.840 1.840 San Miguel Corp À’ 79.50 80.00 78.90 SM Investments Inc. 965.00 974.00 962.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.17 1.17 1.15 South China Res. Inc. 0.80 0.80 0.80 Transgrid 185.00 185.00 185.00 Top Frontier 184.000 184.000 183.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3150 0.3150 0.3050 Wellex Industries 0.2010 0.2060 0.1980 Zeus Holdings 0.325 0.330 0.325 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.870 7.800 7.730 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.50 7.55 7.55 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.28 1.32 1.24 Araneta Prop À’ 2.330 2.430 2.300 Arthaland Corp. 0.280 0.285 0.270 Ayala Land `B’ 37.050 38.000 37.100 Belle Corp. À’ 3.29 3.33 3.2 Cebu Holdings 5.18 5.19 5.19 Century Property 0.510 0.51 0.500 City & Land Dev. 1.07 1.06 1.00 Cityland Dev. À’ 1.100 1.250 1.060 Crown Equities Inc. 0.130 0.133 0.131 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank First Abacus I-Remit Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC À’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

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

SHARES 19,440,834 72,590,231 65,215,631 145,977,016 174,593,395 948,718,189 1,429,712,566

3.87 45.5 104.90 94.60 37.4 3.11 1.40 14.1 17.7 0.73 1.78 0.560 85.05 14.96 24.20 53.35 102 262 31.85 198.4 1380.00 64.80

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

4.06 45.7 103.50 95.00 37.55 3.18 1.40 14.1 17.72 0.73 1.78 0.550 85.5 14.94 24.00 52.30 98.1 262 31.75 198.5 1380.00 65.20

4.91 0.44 -1.33 0.42 0.40 2.25 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.00 0.00 -1.79 0.53 -0.13 -0.83 -1.97 -3.82 0.00 -0.31 0.05 0.00 0.62

321,000 4,200 1,583,760 1,510,820 12,100 5,000 110,000 2,800 582,600 10,000 23,000 118,000 2,260,190 5,400 2,200 1,104,870 680 2,130 66,900 614,690 25 10,113,170

46.5 4.01 0.85 2 13 170.20 21.5 165 193 17.3 47.75 2.09 5.45 11.64 9.800 7.34 5.50 7.43 1.79 22.55 66.3 12.20 14.64 5.75 2.350 230.00 34.00 1.92 3.3 27.95 28.2 6.52 309.80 0.270 4.50 3.5 11.60 3.02 11.54 5.80 1.72 2.72 4.25 4.17 215 2.5 0.150 1.73 2.60 193.1 4.7 0.9 1.25

-0.11 4.43 0.00 1.52 0.00 -9.95 -1.15 -3.51 1.05 -2.26 0.10 -0.48 0.55 0.00 -3.73 -1.74 -0.90 -1.20 5.92 0.22 -0.45 -0.33 -4.31 0.00 -0.42 -1.29 0.00 -4.00 -0.90 -0.18 -4.24 -0.61 -0.51 1.89 4.65 -4.11 -1.69 0.33 0.17 7.41 -3.37 -1.81 0.00 0.48 -1.10 -0.40 -0.66 1.76 -0.38 -3.21 0.43 0.00 -3.10

2,910,200 1,552,000 93,000 10,622,000 13,400 800 303,100 270 530 615,600 45,700 1,941,000 208,500 19,300 5,158,100 252,100 15,880,200 58,900 11,000 3,070,500 272,760 46,200 37,600 258,600 1,549,000 415,750 1,600 3,000 8,000 622,800 706,200 119,600 199,530 50,000 29,000 6,000 11,219,800 1,000 3,300 2,113,600 629,000 123,000 2,159,000 1,900 1,160 37,000 980,000 566,000 783,000 1,498,720 7,000 2,049,000 135,000

0.385 74.85 15.98 1.16 0.370 0.365 830 7.83 12.88 5 6.49 0.235 1420 83.50 5.04 7.73 0.69 15.56 6.3 3.58 0.0320 1.280 1.840 79.00 965.50 1.15 0.80 185.00 184.000 0.3050 0.2050 0.325

0.00 -0.73 3.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.85 -1.26 1.10 0.00 0.15 0.00 1.07 -0.48 -12.95 -0.90 0.00 0.39 -0.16 5.29 0.00 -0.78 0.00 -0.63 0.05 -1.71 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.17 1.99 0.00

2,710,000 2,430,260 4,118,100 75,000 4,960,000 390,000 275,920 2,118,400 2,465,300 3,100 1,069,500 30,000 65,395 1,772,180 1,000 1,748,100 2,000 1,888,500 30,662,500 3,000 3,200,000 54,000 160,000 158,110 191,700 69,000 4,000 170 4,550 2,310,000 650,000 1,420,000

7.800 7.55 1.25 2.300 0.270 37.100 3.29 5.19 0.510 1.00 1.100 0.131

-0.89 0.67 -2.34 -1.29 -3.57 0.13 0.00 0.19 0.00 -6.54 0.00 0.77

93,400 3,500 5,857,000 774,000 3,580,000 13,074,100 4,117,000 300 1,670,000 81,000 2,295,000 3,570,000

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

High

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Cyber Bay Corp. 0.570 Double Dragon 70 Empire East Land 0.790 Global-Estate 0.99 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.98 Interport `A’ 1.31 Megaworld 4.5 MRC Allied Ind. 0.090 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.485 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 43.20 Primex Corp. 8.8 Robinson’s Land `B’ 29.10 Rockwell 1.63 Shang Properties Inc. 3.11 SM Prime Holdings 24.65 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.91 Starmalls 6.29 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.030 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.330

-5.26 -3.21 0.00 -2.02 0.51 -2.29 -2.22 0.00 -5.15 -3.01 4.43 -0.34 0.00 -0.96 -1.62 -1.10 1.59 -1.94 -0.19

16,074,000 5,096,840 137,000 1,572,000 20,158,000 151,000 38,056,000 350,000 590,000 400 1,021,100 514,900 171,000 22,000 20,597,000 633,000 2,100 232,000 3,551,200

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 2.6 7.67 4 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 12.5 0.017

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 1.6 4.8 2.58 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 8.72 0.011

-17,828,480.00 -3,948,622.50

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

209,242.00 616,016.00 -136,840.00 4,367,896.00

12.28 3.32 95.5 15.2

6.5 1.91 3.1 6

-979,340.00 8,460.00 -68,301.00 -15,410,696.00 10,800.00

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. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Manila Broadcasting 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

-0.69 -0.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.35 1.35 -1.69 -1.72 -2.06 3.54 0.00 -12.50 0.25 0.00 1.77 0.33 0.00 -3.59 -0.17 0.00 -0.21 4.62 0.61 -0.40 2.25 0.00 -0.85 5.26 1.22 -0.25 1.08 1.46 2.26 8.18 0.00 -0.48 0.00 -1.94 -0.24 -0.86 0.32 0.74 -1.69 0.29 9.23 -0.61

15,300 49,280 24,000 625,000 1,100 400 20,396,600 2,840,000 1,320,000 872,600 35,000 137,500 6,000 37,300 136,800 41,000 646,540 17,000 1,110 18,500 3,500,000 1,202,200 70,310,000 839,000 21,000 20,100 210,500 1,806,000 1,900 9,112,000 1,271,000 3,851,000 211,400 42,000 2,360 48,700 274,540 3,380,000 26,354,000 17,936,900 1,809,790 381,600 1,451,000 1,405,000 215,000 30,000 26,400

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 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 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 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 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

-2.08 2.21 2.49 -0.32 2.17 -0.68 -1.56 0.00 -1.86 0.00 3.33 0.00 3.64 0.00 0.00 0.54 -1.22 0.00 5.26 2.40 10.00 0.00 0.49 6.46 3.84 -7.14 -0.54 0.25 0.00

584,000,000 1,562,000 -1,071,000.00 289,000 -58,990.00 3,800 760,000 44,300 -321,508.00 266,000 360,000 1,700 18,399,000 9,850,180.00 830,000 38,570,000 3,550,000 142,800.00 112,700,000 128,500,000 -87,000.00 391,000 -207,270.00 5,502,000 4,858,720.00 45,000 239,000 216,000 27,500.00 8,500,000 12,800,000 8,000 12,343,800 3,490,106.00 7,983,000 133,000.00 5,400,000 -6,500.00 401,570 -10,232,754.00 983,000 -41,500.00 3,700,000

70 553 525 120 515 12.28 111 1047 84.8

33 490 500 101.5 480 6.5 101 1011 75

1.34

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

0.30 1.31 0.19 1.64 0.56 0.00 2.31 0.97 -0.62 0.66 2.48 0.64 -0.06 -0.26 4.17

191,400 11,770 300 15,000 7,530 160,000 50,900 15,075 10,700 2,000 10,000 10,550 31,400 97,740 12,000

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-2.57

300,000

3.5

12.88

5.95

-0.73 -2.94 -3.19 1.46

777,000 13,000 27,000 2,351,200

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-1.76

8,120

-12,300.00 169,035.00 -74,358,377 -23,414,850.00 18,775.00 -12,720.00 -3,426,266.00

-34,763,688.50 -4,724,206.50 -144,100.00 1,562,860 42,973,600.00 -15,659,457.50 -71,609,425.00 11,550.00 1,043,530.00 -2,776,955.00

-1,843,150 62,840.00 -57,880.00 6,477,771.00 -727,142.00 -9,185,391.00 13,457.00

-12,724,906.00 -280,383.00 -510,000.00 174,250.00

-1,750.00 -126,702,758.00 -27,600.00

11,550.00 -30,179,266.50 21,242,016.00

-101,663,725.00 4,023,570.00 8,252,894.00 -3,969,024.00 25,052,630.00 -44,147,993.00 193,500.00 13,250,558.00 23,301,295.00 6,400.00 -5,462,777.00 39,851,290.00 -31,450.00

132,000.00 179,327.00 22,650.00 -6,250.00 -2,330.00 132,155,245.00 -2,178,730.00 32,440.00 -69,770.00

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

0.570 0.530 0.540 70.8 64 67.75 0.790 0.790 0.790 0.99 0.97 0.97 2.00 1.96 1.99 1.28 1.25 1.28 4.53 4.38 4.4 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.480 0.460 0.460 42.50 41.90 41.90 9.19 8.82 9.19 30.00 29.00 29.00 1.66 1.63 1.63 3.12 3.06 3.08 25.65 24.25 24.25 0.91 0.89 0.9 6.39 6.35 6.39 1.020 1.010 1.010 5.330 5.220 5.320 SERVICES 7.28 7.3 7.23 7.23 50.25 50.7 50 50.2 1.26 1.35 1.26 1.26 0.590 0.600 0.580 0.590 11.3 11.3 11.3 11.3 28.4 28.5 28.4 28.5 5.19 5.45 5.11 5.26 0.0590 0.0590 0.0580 0.0580 2.91 2.92 2.8 2.86 102.1 101.8 98.65 100 1.98 2.05 2.02 2.05 6.76 6.82 6.60 6.76 4.00 3.50 3.02 3.50 2364 2388 2340 2370 6.38 6.43 6.38 6.38 1.13 1.16 1.13 1.15 61.3 63 61.5 61.5 13.20 13.38 13.00 13.20 170.1 170.1 145.1 164 11.52 11.52 11.34 11.5 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 9.62 9.61 9.50 9.60 0.325 0.345 0.325 0.340 1.6400 1.6600 1.6200 1.6500 2.49 2.48 2.48 2.48 11.54 11.8 11.52 11.8 7.80 7.80 7.55 7.80 3.54 3.65 3.43 3.51 19.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 2.45 2.52 2.42 2.48 4.01 4.03 3.99 4.00 2.780 2.840 2.770 2.810 12.32 12.5 12.08 12.5 4.87 4.90 4.97 4.98 110.00 123.00 115.00 119.00 24.80 24.85 24.50 24.80 2064.00 2080.00 2050.00 2054.00 0.435 0.445 0.430 0.435 1.030 1.060 1.000 1.010 42.40 43.15 42.10 42.30 81.85 82.50 80.95 81.15 6.24 6.40 6.24 6.26 2.72 2.78 2.72 2.74 0.590 0.600 0.580 0.580 3.39 3.45 3.37 3.4 0.325 0.355 0.330 0.355 6.590 6.630 6.520 6.550 MINING & OIL 0.0048 0.0048 0.0045 0.0047 2.26 2.47 2.26 2.31 4.41 4.79 4.48 4.52 12.50 12.46 11.52 12.46 0.230 0.236 0.230 0.235 7.4000 7.5000 7.3500 7.3500 0.64 0.64 0.63 0.63 0.475 0.485 0.475 0.475 8.62 8.70 8.46 8.46 0.930 0.940 0.910 0.930 0.300 0.315 0.305 0.310 0.265 0.270 0.260 0.265 0.275 0.285 0.280 0.285 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 1.85 1.91 1.81 1.86 4.93 4.95 4.8 4.87 2.67 2.67 2.55 2.67 0.5700 0.6000 0.6000 0.6000 1.2500 1.2800 1.2500 1.2800 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 4.06 4.11 4.05 4.08 7.89 8.46 7.87 8.40 4.43 4.72 4.33 4.60 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0130 130.00 132.50 129.20 129.30 4.02 4.17 4.02 4.03 0.0120 0.0120 0.0110 0.0120 PREFERRED 49.85 51 49.5 50 532.5 539.5 530 539.5 535 536 536 536 122 124 122 124 532 535 532 535 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.09 108 110.5 108 110.5 1027 1037 1027 1037 81 81 80.5 80.5 76 77 76.5 76.5 76.6 78.5 78.5 78.5 78.1 78.8 78.5 78.6 77.05 77.05 77 77 77 77 76.65 76.8 2.4 2.55 2.5 2.5 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.110 3.130 3.000 3.030 SME 4.1 4.15 4.07 4.07 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.13 3.1 3.03 3.03 16.4 17.06 16.5 16.64 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 125.3 125.2 123.1 123.1

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,443,699,211.302 1,170,627,767.888 1,231,719,099.45 1,688,243,647.019 1,986,358,097.815 263,715,524.3902 7,828,354,320.86

Low

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,693.51 (DOWN) 1.98 INDUSTRIAL 11,580.82 (DOWN) 183.43 HOLDING FIRMS 7,474.49 (UP) 14.11 PROPERTY 3,238.99 (DOWN) 26.96 SERVICES 1,607.96 (DOWN) 4.13 MINING & OIL 11,660.50 (UP) 111.62 PSEI 7,509.94 (DOWN) 26.71 All Shares Index 4,504.25 (DOWN) 15.82 Gainers: 84; Losers: 100; Unchanged: 51; Total: 235

-3,766,841.00 -3,633,020.00 6,400.00 15,728,670.00

-1,315,665.00 -25,700.00 -101,908,200.00 -209,250.00 -6,307,670.00 -7,280.00

22,247,728.00 20,360,883.50

-26,027,480.00 12,510.00 -12,235,239.50 10,690.00 0.00 1,920,800.00 -33,750.00 -1,650.00 3,890.00 -3,860.00 761,460.00 -24,050.00 13,840.00 208,200.00 -9,840.00 5,943,160.00 4,300.00 -6,503,330.00 47,642,605.00 14,795,313.50 6,260.00 24,740.00 58,000.00 -241,540.00 3,300.00

337,200.00

10,900.00 -688,500.00

10,500.00 1,845,166.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0110

10.00

Keppel Holdings `A'

5.04

-12.95

Waterfront Phils.

0.355

9.23

Easy Call "Common"

3.50

-12.50

Phil. Seven Corp.

119.00

8.18

C. Azuc De Tarlac

170.20

-9.95

Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

5.80

7.41

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.0130

-7.14

Philex `A'

8.40

6.46

City & Land Dev.

1.00

-6.54

Euro-Med Lab

1.79

5.92

Cyber Bay Corp.

0.540

-5.26

MJCI Investments Inc.

3.58

5.29

Phil. Realty `A'

0.460

-5.15

Omico

0.6000

5.26

Holcim Philippines Inc.

14.64

-4.31

Manila Broadcasting

20.00

5.26

Maxs Group

28.2

-4.24

AG Finance

4.06

4.91

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

3.5

-4.11

SATURDAY: JUNE 11, 2016

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

Market declines; Ayala Corp. advances

STOCKS fell for a second day, following losses in New York and Europe as traders fret over the state of the global economy, with potentially big market-moving events coming into focus. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 26 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 7,509.94 Friday. Despite the loss, the bellwether was still up 8 percent since the start of the year. The heavier index, representing all shares, also lost 15 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,504.25, on value turnover of P7.8 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 100 to 84, while 51 issues were unchanged. Seven of the 20 most active stock ended in the green, led by conglomerate Ayala Corp. which rose 0.9 percent to P830 and Union Bank of the Philippines which picked up 0.6 percent to P65.20. Meanwhile, most Asian markets traded lower Friday. After a healthy run of recent gains helped by rising oil prices, investors took a step back as the head of the European Central Bank (ECB) called for action to kickstart eurozone growth—which was taken as a sign its own arsenal is running low. Mario Draghi said the cost of delaying reforms would be “simply too high”. His comments follow an indication from Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen that it will likely not lift interest rates until the fourth quarter, while other central banks have either announced or are contemplating cuts. Attention is now on next week’s policy meetings of the US and Japanese central banks. The Bank of Japan earlier this year adopted a negative interest rate policy, following a similar move in 2015 by the ECB, in a bid to nurture investment. But the move has been criticized as being ineffective and some lenders say their bottom lines are being hit. Also, there are fears that a British referendum on its European Union membership on June 23 will see a vote to leave, which many fear could unleash a wave of turmoil across world markets. with AFP, Bloomberg

City living. Greenfield Development Corp. chairman and

president Jeffrey Campos hops on a treadmill during a media tour of Greenfield District in Mandaluyong City. The developer boasts of the masterplanned township’s orientation towards healthy city living with various facilities, amenities and locators that serve medical, fitness and wellness needs. LINO SANTOS

Golden Haven pegs IPO price at P10.50 By Jenniffer B. Austria

GOLDEN Haven Memorial Park Inc., the memorial park business of former senator Manuel Villar, on Friday set the initial public offering price at P10.50 per share. The final offer price of P10.50 was slightly lower than the P10.62 maximum price earlier set by the company. At this price, Golden Haven is expected raise up to P778 million in proceeds. “In connection with the initial public offering of 74,117,647 common shares of Golden Haven Memorial Park Inc., we would like

to advise the exchange that the company, after consultation with its issue manager and sole underwriter, has set the offer price at P10.50 per share,” Asian Alliance Investment Corp. president Jose Antonio Lichauco said in a letter to the Philippine Stock Exchange. Asian Alliance is the sole issue manager and underwriter for

Golden Haven’s IPO. Golden Haven posted a net profit of P151 million in 2015, up 4.5 percent from P144.6 million in 2014 as revenues increased 16.9 percent to P692.7 million from P594.7 million. Golden Haven is set to become the first company to conduct an initial public offering this year. It will also be the first company engaged in death care facilities to raise funds through the capital market. The company said it aimed to use the net proceeds from the IPO to expand existing death care facilities, products and services through land and site de-

velopment of undeveloped areas in existing memorial parks, land acquisition and construction and completion of new memorial chapels and crematory facilities at Golden Haven Las Piñas Park. Golden Haven will be the third Villar-owned company to be listed with the PSE. Villar’s two publicly listed companies are homebuilder Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. and mall and office developer Starmalls Inc. The local stock market is currently on an upward trend, amid expectations of a delay in US Federal Reserve interest rate hike and positive outlook on the domestic economy.

Philex’s new mine in Surigao del Norte gets international certificate By Anna Leah E. Gonzales PHILEX Mining Corp. said unit Silangan Mindanao Mining Corp. obtained an international certification for its pre-mining activities at Boyongan project in Surigao del Norte province. Philex said SMMC received an International Organization for Standardization 14001: 2004 certification for environmental management system from Certification International Philippines.

SMMCI is currently completing requirements for the feasibility study of the Boyongan project. “It is again a re-affirmation of our advocacy for responsible mining because we have raised the bar as our Padcal ISO certification is suited for an operating mine while that of Silangan is for the exploration stage which is a stage before actual operations,” said Philex Mining president and chief executive Eulalio Austin Jr., who also serves as chairman of

SMMCI. The certificate affirms SMMCI’s adherence to processes that comply with strict and internationally recognized environmental management system in all stages of project development, according to Philex. “This follows Philex Mining’s own Integrated Management System certification, ISO 12001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 for environmental and safety management systems, respectively, obtained from TUV Rheiland in

April 2015 and reflects the company’s overall commitment to environmentally-safe procedures across all its operations and exploration projects,” Austin said. SMCCI president and chief executive Yulo Perez said the ISO certification was a proof of Silangan’s hard work in establishing the culture of responsible mining. “This certification is a result of an actual audit done by an internationally accredited independent group. We are probably the first mining company who got

ISO 14001 certification prior to the actual mining,” Perez said. Perez said the certificate was in compliance with Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 2015-07, which required mining companies to secure ISO14001 certificate to enforce environmental compliance and promote responsible and sustainable mining. “We will continue to proactively develop the culture of responsible mining as we advance the project,” Perez said.

SATURDAY: JUNE 11, 2016

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

School cleanup.

Manila Doctors Hospital participates in this year’s Brigada Eskwela cleanup activity. Shown are MDH medical and non-medical staff as they assemble to repair, repaint and prepare classrooms in time for the opening of classes at Rafael Palma Elementary School in San Andres Bukid, Manila.

JG to invest $600m in petrochem plant By Jenniffer B. Austria

JG SUMMIT Holdings Inc., the investment company of tycoon John Gokongwei, on Friday disclosed a plan to invest another $600 million to expand its petrochemical plant in Batangas province. JG Summit president and chief operating ofﬁcer Lance Gokongwei said in an interview following the annual stockholders meeting the company had commissioned a study for the planned expansion of the naphtha cracker facility. The expansion project aims to boost ethylene production to 500,000 metric tons a year from the current annual capacity of 320,000 MT. The company expects to start the expansion project in 2017 and complete it by 2019. The petrochemical facility is operating

at 85 percent run-rate. The company aims to increase this to a range of 95 percent to 100 percent this year. The planned expansion is based on the company’s expectations that demand for plastic products would increase as the domestic economy continued to grow. JG Summit’s $1-billion naphtha cracker facility at a 250-hectare property in Batangas became fully operational in 2015. The facility is expected to deliver $1 billion in annual revenues for the group starting this year. “Given JGSPG’s positive performance and growth outlook moving forward, plans are underway to increase the naphtha chartering capacity and to diversify the cracker product portfolio further via the introduction of new extractions units to produce aromatics and butadiene,” JG Summit said. “With oleﬁns production expected to increase with an expanded cracker, additional polymer units capacity of producing higher value polyethylene and polypropylene resins are also being pursued,” it said.

Gokongwei said the company would finance the expansion project, using internally generated cash flow and borrowing. “We’re confident that through a combination of internally generated cash flow and borrowing, the petrochemical business will be able to fund this expansion,” Gokongwei said. Meanwhile, Gokongwei said the conglomerate was committed to support “action-oriented’’ President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s bid to further expand the economy. “In my personal capacity, as head of JG Summit, our group will continue to help the incoming president achieve his goals for the country,” Gokongwei said. Gokongwei did not answer queries on whether he was really offered the post of Finance secretary by Duterte. “The president has real mandate from the people. He got true love for the country and is action-orientated. He has selected a Finance secretary, which is [Carlos] Dominguez, who’s competent and trusted by both business community and the president,” Gokongwei said.

Suansing pushes reforms in car insurance “There is no corruption if there are no corruptors.” This was the statement made by former Land Transportation Ofﬁce chief Alberto Suansing in response to a group of nonlife insurance companies who asked the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterteto to clean up the LTO of corrupt ofﬁcials. Suansing, who served as chief of LTO and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board during the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, urged the insurance industry players to cleanse their ranks. Suansing, currently the secretary general of the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership, said in a statement the compulsory third-party liability insurance program for motor vehicles became a source of corruption and was taken advantage by unscrupulous insurance companies and agents.

The Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association earlier urged Duterte and incoming Transportation secretary Arturo Tugade to “search and destroy the minority of corrupt officials in the LTO victimizing the motorists.” Pira claimed that millions of motorists would benefit if Duterte and Tugade would fire the minority of errant officials at LTO who were behind the overpricing of the third-party liability insurance. Suansing said major reforms on CTPL insurance program could have been implemented by the outgoing LTO leadership if it had not been stalled by a temporary restraining order filed by some insurance companies that opposed the otherwise “ideal and appropriate” solutions to it. “The practice of over-pricing and non-payment of claims could have been eliminated and checked with the implementation of the RCTPL or reformed

compulsory third party liability program introduced by LTO late last year, but continued opposition of several nonlife insurance groups has stalled the said program,” Suansing said. Suansing said the RCTPL program would involve all bona fide insurance industry players and called on the insurance industry to cooperate and participate in the reform programs of the agency to help benefit the larger majority of the motoring public. The RCTPL program which was issued a permanent injunction by a Makati court last month provides a mechanism to streamline the issuance, processing and settlement of claims under the CTPL insurance required by law for vehicle registration. “Motor vehicle owners are still at the mercy of ‘fixer’ agents and unscrupulous insurers who connive to overprice the CTPL COCs sold to unsuspecting car owners, drivers,” Suansing said.

IN BRIEF FDIs hit $1.3b in 1st quarter NET inflows of foreign direct investments jumped 52.1 percent in the first quarter to $1.29 billion from $850 million a year ago, amid the rising investor confidence in the Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday. Bangko Sentral said in March alone, net FDI flows rose 59.1 percent to $364 million from $229 million in the same month last year. “The country’s sustained favorable economic performance as evidenced by 69 consecutive quarters of positive growth, and growth prospects for the year ahead, helped drive inflows in all FDI components during the period,” Bangko Sentral said. It said non-residents’ investments in debt instruments, consisting mainly of loans extended by parent companies abroad to their local affiliates, accounted largely for the increase in net FDI in March. The equity capital infusions during the period came mostly from Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, the Bahamas and Taiwan. These funds were channeled to financial and insurance; construction; accommodation and food service; real estate and manufacturing activities. Gabrielle H. Binaday

Travellers to invest P10b TRAVELLERS International Hotel Group Inc., a joint venture of Alliance Global Group Inc. and Genting of Malaysia, said Friday it will spend up to P10 billion this year to expand its integrated gaming and entertainment complex in Pasay City. Travellers president Kingson Sian said in an interview following the annual stockholders meeting that phase three of Resorts World Manila would involve the development of additional gaming and retail space and was expected to become operational by end-2017. Three more hotels are also expected to rise under phase three of the project, including Hilton Hotel Manila, the Sheraton Manila Hotel and Maxims Hotel’s new wing. The company earlier budgeted $400 million to $450 million for phase 3. Sian said the company also planned to start the development of phase 4, the last phase of Resorts World Manila in 2017. Phase 4 would involve the construction at least 1,000 hotel rooms and 20,000 square meters of retail space. Sian said once all phases were completed, Resorts World would have over 5,000 hotel rooms and 40,000 square meters of retail space. Jenniffer B. Austria

Factory output up 11% FACTORY production increased 10.8 percent yearon-year in April, indicating a strong demand at the start of the second quarter, the National Economic and Development Authority said Friday. The Philippine Statistics Authority said in its monthly integrated survey of selected industries the growth in the volume of production index in April accelerated from 8.9 percent in March and 1.8 percent a year ago. The value of production index also rebounded 6.8 percent in April 2016 from a 6.4-percent decline in the same month last year. “Manufacturing output grew stronger at the onset of the second quarter, driven by robust domestic activities during the election season,” said Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra. “A bullish business outlook is expected for the second quarter. Higher production volume is anticipated across manufacturing sub-sectors due to the typical increase in demand during summer season and enrollment periods,” Esguerra said. Gabrielle H. Binaday

MNTC to build drainage MANILA North Tollways Corp. said Friday it will spend P122.75 million for drainage enhancement and flood control projects at the southbound portion of North Luzon Expressway in Balintawak. The anti-flood project at the southbound portion of Balintawak is a part of the previously completed drainage improvement project along the northbound side of Balintawak Cloverleaf and Valenzuela southbound lane which amounted to P119 million. The project aims to mitigate flooding along NLEx especially during the rainy season. The flood control works at the Balintawak southbound, which will last for two months starting early June, include the construction of a 19-meter-long concrete box culvert and junction box to ease flooding along NLEx roadway. MNTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said that more than improving the existing drainage system, the company aimed to provide safe and convenient travel even during inclement weather conditions. Darwin G. Amojelar

Cebu Pacific holds seat sale LEADING carrier Cebu Pacific said it will mark the Philippines’ 118th Independence Day celebration with a system-wide seat sale, available for booking via CEB’s official mobile app. The grand seat sale is on offer until June 12, 2016 for several domestic and international routes except for long-haul and until June 18, 2016 for all long-haul routes, or until seats last. All promo fares are good for travel from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2016. “Cebu Pacific stands in unison with Filipinos all over the world in commemorating our country’s 118th Independence Day. We enjoin everyJuan to celebrate this significant national occasion with us, and to book flights early to avail of great air fare discounts to all our destinations,” said JR Mantaring, Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs. Passengers may now book flights for as low as P799 from Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, General Santos, Ozamiz, Pagadian, and Zamboanga to Manila. Flights to all other domestic destinations of CEB are also available for only P599.

Bicol to hosts island enclave

A LUXURIOUS residential island enclave called Ugen will soon rise in the Sibuyan Sea south of Bicol region. Ugen, a world-class master planned private island community, benchmarking the international standard for luxury living, is set to reinvigorate the landscape of the Bicol region. Ugen brand is inspired by the concept of ‘yuugen’ a Japanese aesthetic philosophy, that puts premium to subtlety and grace. Ugen will feature 67 multi-million dollar villas. “Ugen takes tourism to a level that has never been seen before in the region. Bicol and the Sibuyan have an ideal climate and the region has a hidden charm that is different from other destinations in the world. Ugen provides us an opportunity to share the wonders of nature and create something that has never been done before,” said Katsumasa Aikawa, Ugen director and chief executive of Enveron Realty Inc. “The ﬁrst of its kind in the country and in Asia, Ugen is designed to be a sustainable luxury retreat for the environmentally responsible home owner,” said Andrew Sparrow, director of development for Ugen.

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Smooth Euro 2016 promised PARIS—France vowed drastic measures to ensure the smooth running of Euro 2016 as strikes and terror fears threatened to overshadow Europe’s showcase football event, which kicks off Friday.

Boxing legend Ali laid to rest LOUISVILLE—Muhammad Ali will be laid to rest Friday, the culmination of a two-day farewell for the beloved boxing legend and civil rights hero who electrified crowds the world over. Thousands from near and far are expected to line the streets of Ali’s native city of Louisville in the southern US state of Kentucky to bid goodbye to the three-time heavyweight world champion who died last week at 74 after a decades-long battle with Parkinson’s. Starting at 9 am (1300 GMT), the funeral procession will wind through the city of 600,000 where Ali was born at a time of racial segregation. It will pass sites that were important to “The Greatest”: his childhood home, the Ali Center, the Center for African American Heritage which focuses on the lives of blacks in Kentucky and, of course, along Muhammad Ali Boulevard before arriving at the Cave Hill Cemetery for a private burial. Actor Will Smith who earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Ali on the silver screen and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will be among the pallbearers. An anonymous individual has pledged to cover the path to the grave with red rose petals. AFP

The action on the pitch starts when hosts France face Romania in the Stade de France in Paris at 1900 GMT, but industrial unrest and jitters over a potential terror attack have blighted the build-up to the tournament. As train drivers vowed to disrupt services to the stadium, President Francois Hollande said he would take “all necessary measures” to ensure the championships run without a hitch. “I will be paying close attention... and if decisions need to be made, they will be made,” Hollande said. “Public services will be provided... The whole of Europe will be watching.” Transport Minister Alain Vidalies warned that striking rail workers might be ordered back to work. Vidalies told Europe 1 radio the government would use “every tool available” to get fans to the opening match and “if we have to issue orders tomorrow (for trains to be driven), we

Arrival. . French Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem arrives at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris to attend the 2016 ‘Creative and Cultural Audacity Award’ (prix de líAudace artistique et culturelle) event on June 10, 2016. AFP

Israel bans Palestinians after attack JERUSALEM—The Israeli army said Friday it was temporarily barring Palestinians from entering Israel, stepping up the already tough restrictions announced after Palestinian gunmen shot dead four Israelis in Tel Aviv. An army spokeswoman told AFP that crossings to Israel from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip would be closed for Palestinians in all but “medical and humanitarian cases”. She said the closure would remain in force until mid-

night Sunday. A spokeswoman for COGAT, the defense ministry unit that manages civilian affairs in the West Bank, said about 10,000 Palestinian permit-holders were exempt from the ban and were being allowed into Jerusalem for Muslim prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque complex marking the first Friday of Ramadan. They would have to return home after worship, she said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet on Thursday

and announced a slew of punitive and deterrent measures against Palestinians in the wake of Wednesday’s shooting in a popular Tel Aviv nightspot, the deadliest attack in a months-long wave of violence. Among the measures, the government said it was revoking entry permits for more than 80,000 Palestinians to visit relatives in Israel during Ramadan. It also revoked work permits for 204 of the attackers’ relatives and the army block-

aded their West Bank hometown of Yatta, with soldiers patrolling and stopping cars as they entered and exited. The government also said it was sending two additional battalions amounting to hundreds more troops into the occupied West Bank. Newly installed Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman ordered that the bodies of the Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks would no longer be returned to their families for burial, a spokesman said. AFP

will do so.” And Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo promised that the rubbish that has been piling up in the capital for two days due to an ongoing strike would be collected, as hundreds of thousands of fans begin to arrive for the championships. “Of course, all the rubbish will be collected... it is already being collected today,” Hidalgo told French TV. Up to 90,000 police and private security guards will protect players and supporters the tournament, which is taking place just seven months after coordinated Islamic State attacks in Paris killed 130 people. The massive security operation got its first real test on Thursday when superstar French DJ David Guetta gave a free performance in the fan zone at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Some 80,000 spectators had to pass through two checkpoints and stringent security searches. AFP

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Venezuela’s food crisis triggers rising protests CARACAS—Jose Salazar is waving a fistful of Venezuelan bolivars in the middle of a Caracas street. “What do I do with this money?” demands the angry retiree and grandfather, one of dozens of Venezuelans who blocked an avenue in the capital Wednesday in protest against the food shortages ravaging the troubled country. Similar scenes have broken out on an almost daily basis in towns and cities across Venezuela, a oncebooming oil producer that has skidded to the brink of collapse as global crude prices have plunged. Salazar said he was looking for food for his family, but there was none to be found in the super-

markets. So he joined a spontaneous protest with other residents of Petare, an impoverished neighborhood in eastern Caracas, who were all facing the same predicament and venting their anger against leftist President Nicolas Maduro. “Get out Nicolas Maduro,” and “Referendum!” they shouted a reference to the opposition’s push to call a referendum on sacking the unpopular president. “We’re hungry. We want food. Expensive, cheap, imported, whatever. It doesn’t matter. But we need food,”

said protester Tairon Rincon. Police soon broke them up with tear gas and rubber bullets. But hours later another protest broke out in the middle class neighborhood of Los Ruices. Similar ones had erupted in the previous 24 hours in cities across Venezuela, including Valera, San Juan de los Morros and Porlamar, according to press reports. Sometimes the protests escalate into looting sprees. The Venezuelan Observatory for Social Conflict, a monitoring group, says 254 incidents of looting or attempted looting erupted in the first five months of the year. There were 2,779 protests over

shortages or interrupted water and electricity supplies in the same period, the group says. Food, medicine and basic goods like toilet paper, deodorant and diapers are all in short supply, and a drought and electricity crisis have exacerbated Venezuelans’ hardships. As the Petare protest flared, bus drivers were staging their own protest in front of the transportation ministry over the lack of spare parts for their vehicles. “Now we have problems getting batteries, tires, oil. The gasoline price has gone up. This business just isn’t bringing in enough,” said Alfonso Rangel. Drivers put signs outside the

ministry asking “Where are the tires and batteries, Mr. Minister?” “More than 70 percent of the fleet is off the road,” said protester Jose Luis Montoya. “The buses’ tires are all bald.... We’re risking our passengers’ lives and our own.” Maduro has long dismissed the center-right opposition as elitist, and their protests against his government as a capitalist conspiracy. But spontaneous protests like the ones by the bus drivers and the residents of Petare hit closer to home. Maduro himself is a former bus driver, and Petare is the kind of neighborhood that used to be bastions for the Socialist leader and his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez. But the crisis has badly damaged Maduro’s popularity, which is in the 20s halfway into his sixyear term. The scarcity of goods has sent prices soaring. Venezuela had the worst inflation in the world last year, 180.9 percent. The figure is on track to hit 700 percent this year, says the International Monetary Fund. AFP

New way found to fight climate change

Birthday. Royal fans with Union and Australian flags cheer at the barriers ahead of a service of thanksgiving for the 90th

birthday of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on June 10, 2016, which is also the Duke of Edinburgh’s 95th birthday. AFP

Fat diners not allowed in this eatery TOKYO—Japan’s first “naked restaurant” opens in Tokyo next month with draconian rules of entry podgy prospective diners will be weighed and ejected if found to be too fat. Following the lead of establishments in London and Melbourne, “The Amrita” Sanskrit for ‘immortality’ also has strict age restrictions, with only patrons

between 18 and 60 allowed in after they check in their clothes and put on paper underwear provided by the restaurant. “If you are more than 15 kilos (33 pounds) above the average weight for your height, we ask you refrain from making a reservation,” a list of rules posted on the restaurant’s website states, explaining that patrons

could be weighed if they do not appear to be within the correct weight range. Guests found to be “overweight” will be refused entry to the restaurant, which opens on July 29, and will not be entitled to a refund, its website points out. All payments must be made in advance on an online booking page. The list of rules asks visitors not to “cause a nuisance

to other guests” by touching or talking to fellow diners. Tattooed customers are barred from entry. Those who meet the restaurant’s entry requirements will be asked to lock away mobile phones and cameras in a table-top box. The restaurant owners were not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP. AFP

WASHINGTON—Scientists have turned carbon dioxide into stone in a matter of months by pumping it deep underground, offering a revolutionary new way of storing the greenhouse gas to tackle climate change. The pioneering experiment in Iceland mixed CO2 emissions with water and pumped it hundreds of meters underground into volcanic basalt rock where it rapidly turned into a solid. “We need to deal with rising carbon emissions. This is the ultimate permanent storage turn them back to stone,” said Juerg Matter, lead author of the study, which was published Thursday in the journal Science. Carbon dioxide is a key factor in global warming, and experts have long called for innovative “carbon capture and storage” (CCS) solutions. Previous attempts to inject CO2 into sandstone soils or deep saline aquifers have struggled, as they relied on capping rocks to hold the gas down triggering fears it could eventually leak. In contrast, the Carbfix project at Iceland’s Hellisheidi plant the world’s largest geothermal facility, which powers Reykjavik sought to solidify the CO2. The plant produces 40,000 tons of CO2 a year just five percent of the emissions of a similarly sized coal plant, but still significant. In 2012, they began pumping 250 tons of CO2 mixed with water underground. Scientists had feared it could take hundreds or even thousands of years for the mildly acidic liquid to solidify. But 95 percent of the injected mixture which they had tagged with tracer chemicals in order to check it didn’t leak out had become chalky white stone within two years. “It was a very welcome surprise,” said Edda Aradottir, who heads the project for Reykjavik Energy. Encouraged by the success, the company has scaled up the project and from this summer will be burying some 10,000 tons of CO2 each year, Aradottir said. “This means that we can pump down large amounts of CO2 and store it in a very safe way over a very short period of time,” said study co-author Martin Stute, a hydrologist at Columbia University’s Earth Observatory. “In the future, we could think of using this for power plants in places where there’s a lot of basalt and there are many such places.” Basalt makes up most of the world’s seafloors and approximately 10 percent of continental rocks, according to the study’s researchers. AFP

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PROPERTY PROPERTY maannaa@ @ggm maaiill..ccoom m jjddllaaccssaam

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA JOEL D. L ACSAMANA

EDITOR EDITOR

Magnet for investment. SM Prime Holdings Inc.

“Stevie” wonder. Property developer Sta. Lucia Land Inc. recently won a bronze Stevie® award in the category of innovative management in consumer product & service industries at the third annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.The Stevie awards recognize business innovation in the workplace in all 22 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. “Stevie” was culled from the Greek word for “crowned.” More than 600 nominations from organizations across the Asia-Pacific region were considered this year, and Sta. Lucia emerged as the only real estate company in the country to bag an award. The Sta. Lucia Group, through the publicly listed Sta. Lucia Land Inc., is a developer in cities outside Metro Manila such as in Bulacan, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Dagupan and Palawan.

(SMPHI) recently acknowledged that its E-Com complex in the Mall of Asia township is being developed to sustain business growth in the Philippines via an efficient working environment. David Rafael, senior vice president of SMPHI, said “companies are investing in the Philippines because of three things: world-class facilities, competitive labor cost, and its educated workforce. Maintaining that growth momentum means we have to keep these factors intact by creating infrastructure that is conducive to both entrepreneurs and the workforce.” The E-Commerce complex located within the Mall of Asia township is built around the concept. Comprised of One, Two, and Five E-Com Center, the district offers a good balance of accessibility, infrastructure, and lifestyle opportunities.

Sprucing up the QC CBD.

New haven. Ortigas & Company recently turned over

units of Lleida Tower to its residents in Circulo Verde, Quezon City. The fourth tower in the resort-inspired development between Pasig and Quezon City, Lleida is 24 storeys high with 22 levels dedicated to residences. It is the first in the series of towers inside Circulo Verde (which include Ibiza, Majorca, and Seville) to offer studio units. The smaller cuts, ranging from 21 to 95 square meters, beckon to young professionals, individuals, and empty nesters. Starter families also have options with its two- and threebedroom units.

The Araneta Group recently broke ground for the CyberPark Tower 2 (CPT2) at the Araneta Center in Quezon City. It is the latest project in the group’s redevelopment efforts of Quezon City’s premier mixed-use commercial business district. Present at the groundbreaking ceremony were the top executives of Araneta Center, Inc. (ACI), led by vice chairman Judy A. Roxas, and officers of Megawide Construction Corporation. The second PEZAregistered office tower to rise within the Araneta Center CyberPark Complex, the CPT2 is designed to meet the requirements of the offshoring and outsourcing industry. CPT2 is the second of the five office buildings planned in the Araneta Center’s CyberPark – a P15-billion master-planned office district.

Designing for the future. Daiichi Properties, recently teamed up with Gensler—an American design and

architectural firm—to design three of the former’s latest vertical developments: One World Place, World Plaza, and The Finance Centre in Bonifacio Global City. “Working with Gensler helped us understand what it is tenants really want from a building,” said Architect Reynaldo Ramon C. Fuentez Jr., VP for project management of Daiichi Properties. Gensler recently published their 2016 Design Forecast which contained insights from their global teams on how people will live, work, and play in the cities from this year up until 2025. The forecast lists more than 30 trends (centering on the community, workplace and lifestyle sectors), and six overarching meta-trends. Using these trends, Daiichi Properties is banking on World Plaza and The Finance Centre as edifices that will will redefine Bonifacio Global City’s urban landscape.

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY

GENTRIFYING THE

NEIGHBORHOOD

Multi-use hub. The Gentry’s central location is just what the doctor ordered for Makati CBD’s sociallyinclined and corporate-driven denizens.

lveo Land recently launched its new multiuse development in Makati, envisioned to become a convergence point in the Makati Central Business District.

The development’s design seamlessly integrates a residential tower and office building on top of a retail podium comprised of upscale commercial concepts. The Gentry, a 45-story residential structure, will be located within the Makati Central Business District, a few steps from the Ayala Triangle Gardens. Being both directly adjacent to the prominent Ayala Avenue and within Salcedo Village, the address brings access to all the major business and social conveniences within the city. “The Gentry will literally enable you to own a piece of the Makati CBD,” said Jennylle S. Tupaz, Alveo’s chief operating officer. The Gentry Residences is comprised of a mix of studio units at 30 sq.m., one-bedroom units at 54-65 sq.m., two-bedroom units at 95 sq.m., and three-bedroom units at 124-145 sq.m. The Gentry Residences will be turned over by 2022.

Boats for life. Standard Chartered Bank Philippines (SCB PH), in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) and Yellow Boat for Hope Foundation (YBHF) will donate thirty eight (38) fabricated boats to pre-selected beneficiaries of five typhoon Yolanda-stricken barangays in Catbalogan City, Western Samar. Catbalogan City was among the areas in Samar devastated by typhoon Yolanda in 2013. SCB PH launched the project to alleviate the plight of school children and address the boatmen’s livelihood. SCBH PH and PBSB are working with the Department of Education and schools that will benefit from the program. PBSP is implementing the project while the fabrication of the 38 fiberglass boats will be handled by the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation and Negrense Volunteers for Change.

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

P oP CU LT U RE

LIFE Jamaica and Kristel doing a Yin Yang pose

Clockwise from top: Rica, Jamaica and Kristel on a Pole Trio

Rica on Broken Ballerina

ThE WAy Of ThE POlE

decade ago, when people talked about pole dancing in the Philippines, it’s usually in the context of a strip bar or a scene in someone’s drunken stag party. Fast forward to today, it has become one of the most addicting fitness exercises in the metro practised by enthusiasts and professional pole fitness competitors. Aside from the benefits of a full exercise, people try it out because they want a liberating experience – it makes them feel sexy, or they saw a pole performance and they were captivated by it. More often than not, the ones who started out as students would become instructors and eventually end up competing in various pole dance competitions here and abroad. Such is the case in the recent win of three Filipinas who competed in the recently held SG Pole Challenge 2016. Beast Fam members and owners of Beast House Pole and Aerial Dance Studio, Jamaica Jornacion and Kristel de Catalina, bagged the champion title for the Doubles Professional category and emerged as Overall Pole Art champion. Meantime, another one of their members (who is also a student at their studio), Rica Ingco, took home the title for the Women’s Semi Professional Solo category. These talented women competed against different pole professionals from Singapore, Thailand, Hongkong, Japan, and even the Philippines. All of them started with pole dancing as just curious dancers who wanted to try out something new. Little did they know that it will eventually become one of their passions in life. “I really wanted to try it before. So, after pregnancy and quitting my office job, I started attending classes at Dance Station in Quezon City. I joined my first amateur pole dance competition where I won as champion on my fifth month of attending classes,” shares Kristel. She then started teaching on her seventh month of learning the form, teaching in

By TATum AnChETA PhOTOS By STAR SABROSO

different studios and eventually putting up her own studio with Jamaica. For Jamaica, dancing has been her profession for years and even competed and represented the Philippines in different international hip-hop competitions with her former dance teams Unschooled and the Philippine Allstars. This year’s win is not her first as she’s been competing since 2013 and has brought home titles as champion for Polestars Malaysia 2013, 1st Runner Up for SG Pole Challenge 2014 and another champion belt in the Hong Kong China Pole Championship 2015. “Kristel and I met a few years ago when we were both hip-hop dancers,” says Jamaica. “We were in the same group called Unschooled. I did pole dancing before her, then eventually invited her to train in our pole group which is Beast Fam.” Today, they’ve become business partners in Beast House Studio. Currently, Jamaica and Kristel are preparing for their next Pole Art competition in Spain in September. Rica is an account manager by profession and got interested in pole dancing after seeing Kristel’s pole routines on Facebook. “I liked the contemporary dance style that she used in her piece. I liked it so much that I watched it so many times up to the point that I have already memorized her choreography,” Rica tells The Standard Life. She first tried out classes at different dance studios nearest to her and eventually sought out classes taught by Kristel. “From taking classes twice a week, it became more often that I ended up taking classes almost five times a week!” she shares. “My desire to explore, learn more and progress faster led me to attending

classes at different studios and teachers.” Pole dancing is a full body workout that challenges your upper body strength and your ability to do acrobatic poses and at the same time move gracefully with the pole as if you don’t break a sweat. Believe me, I tried it for myself and this form of exercise is not just a fitness routine but also a kind of art work that drives a person to be better at every pose and trick. It’s sexy and liberating. It can also be very addicting. Even with the pole burns and bruises, pole enthusiasts just keep on and on with practice. The adrenalin and self gratification a person can get everytime she perfectly executes a routine drives one to push and do more. “Pole dancing is for everyone. No age, weight limit. No gender or dance background required,” says Jamaica. If you walk in to a pole dancing class, you will see people of different ages, in all shapes and sizes, men or women. You’d be surprised that American Greta Pontarelli at 64 years of age is a fourtime World Pole Art Champion and she only started pole dancing at 59 because she got scared of osteoporosis. Now, that is what we call aging gracefully! “It may not be that easy on the first try, but sooner or later you will get addicted to it once you practice and as you get stronger,” shares Kristel. Continued on C4

Rica doing the Handspring pose

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

The Ani-Com Park in Wan Chai features 30 life-sized sculptures of original ani-com characters

PERFEcT PLAcES FoR SELFIES IN HoNg KoNg

t’s no secret that one of the reasons why people like going to vacations is because they want to create unforgettable memories. Nowadays, an easy way to immortalize a wonderful vacation and save the memories for posterity is through photographs. For Filipinos visiting Hong Kong, there are six great destinations with amazing sights that offer Instagrammable and selfie-worthy photos without any need for filters. Yup, they’re that marvelously picturesque, so here goes:

High Island Reservoir East Dam

Shing Mun Reservoir

Ani-Com Park@Harbour “FUN”

This newly opened park located in Wan Chai celebrates Hong Kong’s booming animation and comic culture. Visitors will have the time of their lives snapping away with 30 life-sized sculptures of original local ani-com characters that portray unique ways of Hong Kong living. Then explore the rest of the district which offers a perfect blend of new and old streetscapes, as well as Eastern and Western cultures.

According to Skyscanner.com, this is a paradise for photography junkies. Just a few minutes away from a busy area in Kowloon is the deep-forested valley of Shing Mun Reservoir, a very popular place for leisurely walks. The tee-lined walkways and gurgling streams make for that perfect backdrop for bird watchers. Visitors can also test their patience as they wait to catch a glimpse of the area’s resident monkeys.

The millions-of-years-old rock formations, including the famous hexagonal volcanic columns that can be observed at close range, make the East Dam High Island Reservoir such an amazing sight. The scenery in this very popular ecological site is almost surreal with waves from the South China Sea crashing onto huge rocks along the coast. Small wonder then that the biggest reservoir in the city has been listed as one of the best unexpected photography spots around Hong Kong by Skyscanner.com.

Hong Kong Geopark

Long Ke Wan Street Art

Walking down the streets of Hong Kong is already a treat because of the graffiti-style art covering alleys and walls. Stroll down SoHo where you can feast your eyes (and your camera) on some of the most interesting street art you can find.

Located in East Sai Kung, the Long Ke Wan is arguably the best beach in Hong Kong with long stretches of white sand and crystal clear waters. Designated as an official campsite by the government and surrounded by a cape and two hills, the beach has been likened to the Maldives by travelers who have visited the place.

Not many realize that there is more to Hong Kong than just a financial hub or a corporate jungle. In fact, this world city has a lot of natural landscapes that adventurethirsty individuals can explore. One of the most inspiring “surprises” of the territory is the Hong Kong Geopark, formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions. A boat ride for a picture perfect view that winds through rock caves and beaches is enough to make the day of camera buffs. What’s more, foodies will also enjoy a Geo Gourmet feast in any of the restaurants surrounding Sai Kung town. For more on the wonders of Hong Kong, log on to DiscoverHongKong.com.

SM Supermalls salutes independence with Philippine flags On June 12, Filipinos all over the world will commemorate that day in 1898 when General Emilio Aguinaldo proudly held the Philippine flag aloft and read the Act of the Declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite, proclaiming the Philippines’ freedom from the tyranny of foreign conquerors. This year, all 58 SM Supermalls nationwide will unite in observing the country’s 118th Independence Day celebrations with numerous activities lined up until June 12. On Sunday at exactly 8:00 a.m., a simultaneous flag raising ceremony will commence in all SM Supermalls, with representatives from local government units, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, Boy Scouts of

the Philippines, the academe and the private sector joining the SM teams during the ceremony. This will be followed by a Freedom Parade inside every mall where participants will pass by the stores decked with their own Philippine flag displays. “Our heroes went into battle full tilt so we can have our independence, which we enjoy until today,” says SM Supermalls senior vice president for Marketing Jon Jon San Agustin, recalling that June 12, 1898, was the day the Philippine flag was formally raised as a symbol of our hardfought freedom. “This year, SM is reliving that important part of our history by holding activities that put emphasis on the significance of the event. It’s our way of celebrating with our communities,” he adds.

For many years, SM Supermalls has been engaging customers in Independence Day celebrations in recognition of its significant role and contribution to every community where an SM mall operates. The country’s largest shopping mall operator serves millions of customers daily, giving the company a great opportunity to push this event’s objective forward. As part of the celebration, shoppers can take advantage of a special one-day mall-wide sale dubbed as #PINOYFUNSALE until June 12, offering up to 70 percent discount on select items. For added fun, SM will be installing iconic Philippine Independence Day centerpieces that people can use as background for selfies and groufies.

All 58 SM Supermalls will observe Independence Day with various activities

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Irene Dujunco-Stacy, NJ Torres, Sam YG, Gino Quillamor, Svenson president George T. Siy, RJ Ledesma, Chef Roland Laudico, Svenson EVP Jacqueline Share-Siy, Sam Limbo and Philip Cu-Unjieng

@LIFEatStandard

Svenson president George T. Siy, Sam YG and PR and Media head NJ Torres

SvENSoN cELEbRATES 35Th ANNIvERSARY

Colleen Mijares, Gino Quillamor, Sam YG and Riki Flo Camille Co and Svenson's newest endorser Sam YG

Svenson 35th Black Fleet bus

venson, the Philippines' leading expert in hairloss solutions for men and women, recently marked its 35th year in the Philippines. For years, the company has been instrumental in providing technologically advanced non-surgical solutions to hairloss, baldness, and any scalp and other hair woes experienced by men and women. Armed with its team of hair and scalp experts, Svenson specializes in treating hairloss and scalp problems with correct diagnosis and effective treatments. The brand is trusted by celebrities and different personalities like Chef Roland Laudico, Philip Cu-Unjieng, Tessa Prieto Valdes, Chris Sneider, Gino Quillamor, RJ Ledesma and Sam YG, among others. A delectable dinner kicked off the celebrations with the intimate gathering graced by media guests and endorsers together with Svenson president George T. Siy and Svenson executive vice-president Jacqueline Share-Siy. Following the dinner, the fun continued inside the “Svenson Black Fleet” bus that took guests to Jason Derulo’s Manila Concert at the Mall of Asia Arena. Svenson’s years in the hair industry gives it the necessary expertise and background as well as technological capabilities to create solutions for its clients. As the company counts another year ahead, clients can count on the fact that “whether you’ve already lost your hair or you’re just starting to lose your hair, Svenson provides the best options for you.” For more information and updates about Svenson, follow on Facebook at Svenson PHL or visit the site at www.svenson.com.ph. To see more photos from the celebration, check out the #SvensonReimagined and #Svenson35years hashtags on Instagram.

Riki Flo

New ways to enjoy Lotus biscoff Belgian biscuit Lotus Biscoff traces a long history since the recipe was established in 1932. The caramel-flavored treat first made its rounds door-to-door in Lembeke on a signature red truck, traveledthe world as a favorite in-flight snack in the US, and became Europe’s favorite cookie with coffee. Today, Lotus Biscoff is taking on a new role – as an ingredient of different delightfully quick and easy-to-create dessert recipes. Since Lotus Biscoff biscuits contain all natural vegan ingredients, have minimal salt and are completely free from transfat, they serve as a healthier option to rather sinful-looking and tasty sweet treats. Here's one example of dessert made of Lotus Biscoff

LOTUS BISCOFF ICE CREAM You don’t need to be a baking master or have any special equipment to make this dreamy caramelized ice cream. It only

takes four ingredients, a few minutes of work, and a whole lot of waiting.

Ingredients (1½-liter container) ½ liter of concentrated fresh milk ¼ jar Lotus Biscoff Spread 8-10 coarsely chopped Lotus Biscoff biscuits ½ liter of heavy cream

Procedure Beat condensed milk with Lotus Biscoff Spread in a bowl. Add the chopped Lotus Biscoff biscuits and mix well. Whip the heavy cream into a stable whipped cream. Gradually fold the whipped cream into the sweetened milk mixture until you get a smooth texture and pour it into a container suitable for freezing. Freeze for at least four hours and preferably overnight. Before serving, make balls using an ice cream scoop or a regular tablespoon and serve. You can store for up to a week in a sealed container in the freezer.

Lotus Biscoff cookies are best enjoyed with a cup of warm coffee

Lotus Biscoff Ice Cream

Biscoff Minute Cake with Pineapple

Peanut Butter S'more Cake

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

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Sofia Guidote: the fiGure Skater princeSS

assionate, energetic, artistic and considerate. These are the traits that help young Filipina figure skater Sofia Guidote achieve her dreams. And these are the very qualities that make her an example of a modern Disney princess – much like the artistic and adventurous Rapunzel in the 2010 Disney movie Tangled. “I’m courageous and passionate like Rapunzel because as a figure skater, I endure long hours of training. Also, just like Rapunzel, I go through a lot of obstacles and difficulties,” shares Guidote. At the age of 14, Guidote already has to go through the challenge of juggling her time between training, school and other activities. But like her Disney peg, who turns a bad situation into an advantageous endeavor, the figure skating prodigy is creative and passionate enough to keep it tough when the going gets rough. Guidote has achieved a lot in figure skating since she started when she was five years old. She won her first local competition at Skate Manila in 2007, which then led to her clinching top honors in the Juvenile division at the 2009 Asian Regional Junior Figure Skating Challenge. Her hard work gave fruit to more awards and recognitions, notably a Bronze medal in the Novice A category at the 2013 International Skating Union Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy in Bangkok, as it marked the first time a Filipino skater has ever won a medal in the competition. Most recently, Guidote placed 4th among 21 figure skaters – the highest for a female competitor from Southeast Asia – at the 2015 ISU Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy. Being an inspiration to young girls, Guidote was chosen as one of the four talented girls from Southeast Asia who will be featured in Disney Channel’s “Dream Big, Princess” campaign. The three-year campaign celebrates the cherished stories of Disney princesses and highlights the aspirational qualities of each princess and seeks to connect them with today’s young women. The Filipina skater’s on-air feature has been airing on Disney Channel since June 1. The other series of features showcases 16-year-old YouTube singer/actress Janine Weigel (Playchompoo) from Thailand, 13-year-old water ski champion Aaliyah Hanifah from Malaysia, and 14-year-old Junior MasterChef winner Syifa Hasan (Afaf) from Indonesia. The girls share their inspirational stories and the princesses who inspired them to believe it’s possible to dream big – and it is Rapunzel for our very own Guidote. “Disney Channel is the home of our beloved Disney Princess movies and television series, and these timeless stories of adventure, courage and kindness teach girls that true beauty comes from within. We hope Sofia Guidote, just like Rapunzel her favorite Disney Princess, will inspire

ThE WAY... from c1

Pole dancing in Manila has had its share of intrigues due to competition – friends becoming foes, partners splitting studios, etcetera. “You cannot remove the ‘competition’ in any industry. It’s business; it’s ego. Competition is okay as long as it’s healthy,” says Jamaica. “We try to support some of the other studios’ events or projects if we can. We do not compete with them, we compete with ourselves.” According to her, for Beast Fam, they make sure that their instructors and staff get better at what they do and evolve and learn for their students’ and clients’ benefit.

By Bernadette LunaS

Sofia Guidote's creativity, energy and passion are the attributes that help her achieve so much in figure skating at such a young age

The 14-year-old Filipina figure skater is one of the four young talents in Southeast Asia to be featured in Disney's 'Dream Big, Princess' campaign this 2016 PHOTO BY AC BRIZUELA

Sofia's parents Manny and Kathleen serve as her support and inspiration

and empower a new generation of girls to pursue their heartfelt dreams,” says The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia’s Branded Media Content general manager Natasha Malhotra. Always a Disney fan, Guidote shares she was surprised when she found out she had been chosen as one of the featured modern Disney Princesses. Since pole dancing emerged in the scene globally, pole dance professionals have been trying to change the perception of people towards this dance and fitness form. Though historically associated with go-go dancers and strip bars, pole dance fitness competitions have paved the way for people to look at this art form with respect. And boy, once you try pulling yourself up on the pole, you will indeed look at anyone who can maneuver gracefully up and down that metal pole and in different aerobatic tricks with respect. “Almost all pole dancers especially the new ones have been fighting for the Pole Fitness-Pole Art – not to associate us with the ‘stripping’ issue, and I can’t blame them,” explains Jamaica who has been doing this practice for five years. “I love the sensual side of pole dancing, it’s athletic and has

But like a Disney story, Guidote’s life has not always been peachy. “Believe it or not, [there were lots of times] that I did want to give up [figure skating] but my family is always there to support me,” she relates. But Guidote always finds it within her to persevere and dream big. “Now when I think I want to give up I just continue an artistic side as well. I believe that when you are passionate with your craft you don’t box yourself (in),” she adds. She says that she respects her students who do pole dancing for fitness and also has high regard for those who do it because they feel sexy. “At the end of the day, what’s important is that they feel good about themselves and our community consists of encouraging and empowered women.” While some people still shy away from pole dancing, the number of gyms and dance studios that have been offering it as a form of exercise has grown exponentially, proving that this form of workout is not just a trend but already a common practice. For these women, pole dancing allows them to reach their dreams and bring pride to the Philippines.

[doing what I want] and then eventually I get it. So if I quit now I won’t be able to do it eventually.” Always dreaming big, the young ice skater says she makes it a point to challenge herself, test her limits and go out of her comfort zone. Right now, Guidote is working on perfecting her double axel, which she only started practicing two years ago, “but it's only this year that I’m really working on it.” When asked for her advice to young girls pursuing their dreams, Guidote says they should “never, ever give up.” “There is going to be a lot of ups and downs, so they need to prepare to make lots of sacrifices, learn discipline and remember why they started and why they love it and [picture] how it will work out in the end,” she concludes. Kids in Southeast Asia can also take inspiration from their favorite Disney Princesses through Disney Channel’s ongoing “Create a Dream” contest until June 30. They can log on to dreambigprincess.asia to create a "Dream Meme," a creative expression of their biggest aspirations using Disney Princessinspired images, fonts and icons. The most creative and inspirational memes stand to win the complete collection of Disney Princess dolls by Hasbro each week, as well as the Grand Prize – a magical holiday in Germany for a family of four, which includes guided tours and a stay in a fairytale castle.

Kristel and Jamaica executing the Doubles Trick Scale

SAt uRDAy : J uNE 11, 2016

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR

2 gold PANAta 2016 awards to GMA

MA is the only Philippine broadcast network to win gold in the PANAta Marketing Effectiveness Awards 2016, bringing home two gold awards for the “#GOManny: Pacquiao – Mayweather Fight” and “Champion Tapat Dapat Update” campaigns. The awards are given to organizations that have utilized various communication tools effectively in building their brand and creating a positive impact in society in the process. Bagging the gold in the Brand Marketing – Integrated Program – Promotions category of the PANAta Marketing Effectiveness Awards 2016, “#GOManny : Pacquiao – Mayweather Fight,” the Network’s multi-platform campaign for the historic Pacquiao-Mayweather boxing match, successfully rallied Filipinos all over the world behind Kapuso and the People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao. A gold award in the Advocacy Marketing – Single Medium (TV) category was also given to GMA’s campaign for “Champion Tapat Dapat Update,” which paid tribute to ordinary people who achieved extraordinary feats by staying true to their advocacies. Highlighting the virtues of what it means to be “tapat” – sincerity, honesty, integrity and commitment – GMA created 12 60-second short documentaries which revealed the inspiring stories of the passion, vision, struggles and victories of these individuals. The Network also garnered two bronze awards for the “GMA Share the Love” campaign in the Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards 2016. The multi-awarded “GMA Share the Love” campaign earned further distinctions with a bronze award in each of the Integrated Media and Family Oriented Brand categories at the Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards 2016, which recognizes brands with campaigns that create positive change in society while effectively delivering results.

team Kapuso: (From left) Jon Lara, Riza Garduque, Loi Ramos, Chelou Medina, Lizelle Maralag, Sher Arce, Mia Alcazar, Mona Nieva, Jeff tarayao, and Marvin Mencias

Espousing its commitment to Serbisyong Totoo, the Network, along with its socio-civic arm GMA Kapuso Foundation and various Kapuso personalities, partner advertisers and valued audience, shared an early Christmas with the survivors who have not experienced it since Typhoon Yolanda. GMA was the first to provide permanent housing for the survivors, with 403 newly built homes in the GMA Kapuso Village in Tacloban. Various local and international award-giving bodies including the PANAta Marketing Effectiveness Awards in 2015, as well as the Asia-Pacific Spark Awards and the Asia-Pacific Loyalty and Engagement Awards in the same year have lauded the “GMA Share the Love” campaign.

GMA Network’s Graham Empederado, Brian Camaya, Aileen young, and Phil Disini accept the awards from Asia Pacific tambuli Awards 2016

GSIS bares 2016 art tilt winners The Government Service insurance System (GSIS) on Monday announced the new crop of winning artists of the 2016 art competition held at the GSIS head office in Pasay City. Now on its 12th year, the 2016 art tilt drew the largest number of entries at over 800 artworks -- 95 entries for the Sculpture Category, 351 for the Representational Category, and 361 for the Non-Representational Category. In his message, GSIS President and General Manager Robert Vergara said, “As in prior years, you have once again risen to the occasion and honored the GSIS with your works of art. At least 250 new artists joined the competition this year, including a group of sculptors from Pampanga and 15 artists from the Bureau of Corrections, proving that art is universal, and the confine of a prison cell is no hindrance for artistic expression.” Fidel Sarmiento, president of the Art Association of the Philippines, the umbrella organization of art groups in the country and long-standing partner of GSIS in the conduct of the competition, for his part, thanked Vergara for his continued support to the annual competition. “Maraming salamat po sa inyong pagtangkilik hindi lang sa sining, kundi pati sa mga alagad ng sining”. Artist and judge for the representational category, Romulo Galicano echoed the same sentiment and added, “GSIS art tilt has become the biggest and the most anticipated visual art competition today.” The top three winners in the representational and non-representational (ab-

took 3rd prize with his work “Magkikita Tayong Muli”. In the sculpture category, John Paul Albert N. Dalisay of Cabautian, Davao City won the top prize for his work “Ecce Homo”. The second place went to Elmer Reyes of Bulacan for “Fishbone (Tinik)”; while it was a double victory for Samuel Penaso of Quezon City as he grabbed the third place for his work entitled “Naturescape”. “The quality of the artworks never fails to impress us every year, making the selection process ever more challenging for our esteemed judges,” PGM Vergara said. Distinguished artists and art enthusiasts comprise the 2016 GSIS art competition jury who included Camille Vergara, Romulo Galicano, Lourdes Coching-Rodriguez, Ambeth Ocampo, and Dr. Joven Cuanang, for the representational category. Entries for the nonrepresentational category were judged by Norberto Carating, Kathy De Guzman, Vergara, Fil Dela Cruz, and Prudencio Lamarroza. Judges for the sculpture category were Liza Periquet, Angela Hsu Gotuaco, GSIS GSIS officials during the Art Competition opening ceremony Senior Vice President Dionisio Ebdane Jr., stract) categories received P300,000.00, of Taytay, Rizal for “History of Art: The Luis Yee Jr. and Rosario Bitanga. P200,000.00, and P100,000.00. Avant Garde – One Subject Different ApThe winning entries now form part of In the sculpture category, the 1st, 2nd and proach” (2nd prize), and Edu Perreras of the GSIS art collection while all 807 entries 3rd place winners received P200,000.00, Angeles City, Pampanga for his entry en- may be viewed at the GSIS Museo ng SinP150,000.00, and P100,000.00, respectively. titled ”Piso-Pisong Panaginip” (3rd prize). ing in Pasay City until July 30. Five honorable mentions from each of the For the nonrepresentational category, The annual art competition, a corcategories received Php30,000.00 each. Samuel Penaso of Quezon City won 1st porate social responsibility program Winners for the representational catego- prize for his work “Future Scene (Remix”). of GSIS, has helped launch the careers ry are Wilfredo Cañete Jr. of Minglanilla, Leo T. Ayen of Naga City bagged the 2nd of many aspiring artists over the years Cebu for his work entitled “Fused Dimen- place for “The Art of Aurora” while Her- including Jun Impas, Max Balatbat, sions” (1st prize), Roman Angelo R. Cruz minigildo C. Pineda of Porac, Pampanga Lynyrd Paras, and Jaypee Samson.

SAt uRDAy : J uNE 11, 2016

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StuDENtS’ INSpIRINg StoRIES IN ‘gRR tNt’

Back to school means back to the daily grind most students go through. And what do some hard-up students do to make ends meet and reach their goals? Sisters Danica and Danilyn Cruzado who are both in High School cannot rely on their parent’s meager income to support their education. To make ends meet, the girls sell grilled items and use whatever profit they get for school needs. Watch the inspiring story of these sib-

lings out to prove that poverty is not a hindrance to pursuing one’s dreams. Meanwhile, Gandang Ricky Reyes Todo na Toh (GRR TNT) visits a former student of Ricky Reyes Learning Institute (RRLI) who shares her own inspiring story. She reveals how RRLI molded her into what she is now and tells how the institute can also help you find employment here and abroad. Smile dentist Dr. Edgar Dungo worked

on a patients’ problem giving him a new set of “wonder teeth” and helped him regain his confidence. GRR TNT’s Hair Police catches a student with unruly hair and helps her fix her mane to be more presentable in school. Catch all these at 9 a.m. today on GMA-7 NewsTV. Gandang Ricky Reyes Todo na Toh! (GRR TNT) is produced by Scripto Vision.

tV host and beauty guru Ricky Reyes

Model mom competes in Mrs. Asia International pageant 2016 Businesswoman Vivian Yano competed at Mrs. Asia International 2016 pageant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. Local franchise holder of Mrs. Asia International Philippines, Ovette Ricalde, who also owns franchise rights for the Mrs. Universe and Mrs. World pageants, picked the Adlay, Surigao del Sur native, a 46-yearold, mother and entrepreneur based in Japan. Yano was married to a Japanese who had passed away. Yano is actively involved in several civic projects, including the Inner Wheel Club, an organization that provides services to public and promotes friendship and interna-

tional understanding. Yano manages the VCY Trading Company engaged in financing and lending, real property, trucking and skin care services. “This is a great honor and opportunity to carry the flag of the country at the Mrs. Asia International Pageant. I’m happy to be chosen and I’m more than excited to be with other competing mothers in this annual search,” Yano said. Now a widow, she was one of the 2016 Model Moms Philippines awardees that include beauty queens and celebrities like Joyce Ann Burton, Daisy Reyes, Alma Concepcion, Desiree Verdadero,

Liz Alindogan, Raquel Monteza, Patricia Javier, Malu Barry, Rhea Santos and Crispina Belen. The Mrs. Asia International Pageant was established to promote today’s proud married women, their accomplishments and commitment to family and marriage. A lot of married women throughout the world are finding pageants as an opportunity to show the world that mothers can be positive role models. Mrs. Asia International gives a chance to open doors for married women around the world. – Eton B. Concepcion

Model and entrepreneur Vivian yano

Husband rapes sister-in-law

Meryll Soriano and Sunshine garcia in a scene from the “Bayaw” episode of “Ipaglaban Mo”

Joem Bascon plays a husband who rapes the sister of his wife in today’s episode of ABS-CBN’s hit legal drama, Ipaglaban Mo. Three sisters, Daisy (Meryll Soriano), Lani (Sunshine Garcia) and Flora (Anna Luna) have their romantic lives intertwined because of one man named Abner (Joem Bascon). Abner, who was Flora’s ex-boyfriend, currently lives with his common-law wife Lani while Daisy is a widow with a seven-year old son Pakoy (Jahren Dave Estorque). One night, Abner visited Daisy in her home waking her and her son from their sleep. After welcoming him inside, Abner suddenly pointed a knife at Daisy and shoved Pakoy away. With Pakoy watching, Abner undressed

cROsswORD puzzlE

answer PreVIOUs PUZZLe

ACROSS 1 Bottle top 5 The slow lane 10 — facto 14 Dendrite’s partner 15 Golfer Lorena — 16 Giza’s river 17 Beckoned 18 His and hers 19 Long-running tiff 20 Finger-paint 22 Take up, as a cause

24 Guy, in surfer-speak 27 Apparel 28 Dental hygiene chore 32 Whinny 35 It has a long arm 36 — incognita 38 Dearth of enthusiasm 40 Home of the Bruins 42 Watered silk

44 Heavy metal 45 Complaints 47 Parasite 49 — West (life preserver) 50 Subway hanger 52 Anonymous 54 Ms. Dinesen 56 Ward of TV’s “Sisters” 57 It goes around in circles (2 wds.) 60 Pub order 64 — - — -tat-tat 65 Non-aluminum foils 68 Washstand item 69 Bard’s river 70 Viking letters 71 Rotunda’s crown 72 Ring rocks 73 Archaeology find 74 Corrida shouts DOWN 1 Makes a collar 2 Reason to cram 3 Encrypt 4 Works clay 5 Molder 6 Freud, to himself 7 Clarified butter 8 Raise 9 Ocean game fish 10 Saturating

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 , 2016

11 12 13 21 23 25 26 28 29 30 31 33 34 37 39 41 43 46 48 51 53 55 57 58 59 61 62 63 64 66 67

Bakery buys Fishtail U.K. lexicon Iron oxide Pointed arch Carpe —! Register for (var.) Botch Livens up the punch Young screecher Feeling of loss Dwarf Luau numbers Regions “Et tu” time Citizens of Morocco Livy’s “Lo!” Return env. Believed Indiana cagers Border town On the blink Go wild over Ion source Russo or Magritte MP prey Wife, to a lawyer Uno, dos, — Old cloth Lamprey Compass dir.

Daisy and raped her. He hreatened to kill both of them after what he did if they told anyone about what happened. How long can Daisy keep her silence? Will this incident bring the sisters closer or will it tear them apart? Don’t miss the “Bayaw” episode of Ipaglaban Mo, directed by Ludwig Peralta after It’s Showtime today on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). Catch up via iwantv.com.ph or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers. For updates, follow @IpaglabanmoABSCBN on Instagram, @IpaglabanMoCh2 on Twitter, or like www.facebook.com/IpaglabanMoABSCBN on Facebook.

CNN ‘Road to Asean’ This month, CNN’s special series Road to ASEAN continues its journey to Myanmar to profile the country’s brewing beer market and growing fishing industry. Myanmar officially opened for business in 2013. For the first time in decades, foreign companies have started to tap into what was one of Asia’s most isolated countries. CNN looks into the growing beer market in the country and finds out why Heineken invested in a $60 million brewery near Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon, despite some of the lowest beer consumption rates in Asia. Myanmar is also rich in water resources but only a few farmers are equipped with the skillset for fishing. CNN also takes a look at how small steps in building rural aquaculture can transform local economies and potentially position the country to be a large player, both within the ASEAN region and on a global scale. Road to ASEAN airs Tuesdays within CNN Today at 6 a.m., CNNMoney view with Nina Dos Santos at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in News Stream.

SAt uRDAy : J uNE 11, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

‘Magandang Buhay’ consistent trending topic

ood vibes trend every weekday morning with “momshies” Karla Estrada, Melai Cantiveros, and Jolina Magdangal engaging viewers in fun and meaningful discussions about life in ABS-CBN’s morning talk show Magandang Buhay. With netizens actively sharing their thoughts and taking part in the discussion online, the program’s daily hashtags have also become consistent trending topics on Twitter nationwide. Some share opinions on the topic-at-hand while some comment on their favorite celebrity guests. “My best friend is my mom because every time we bond we pick on each other. Love you mommy,” said netizen @mariatricia04. “I always admire @DimplesRomana as a mom! Her parental skills are admirable. Her children

“Momshies:” (From left) Melai Cantiveros, Karla Estrada and Jolina Magdangal

are just so amazing. #MagandangBuhayBFFMom,” @jajafirmeza, a fan of the show said. There are also some who salivate when the momshies begin their cooking segment, while some simply find entertainment

in their uncanny chemistry. “It’s so fun to watch Magandang Buhay. Hahaha! The chemistry among the three hosts is beautiful, natural, and just funny. #AbsCbn #Kapamilya,” tweeted @ iamprincessle

Netizens also get kilig vibes when guests like KathNiel, Hashtags, Girl Trends, and the son of Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Donny, grace the “Magandang Buhay” stage. Even momshie Karla felt the love when she and Jose

Garcia, father of Coleen Garcia, were dubbed as the newest loveteam “KarJo.” “I’M SO KILIG WITH KARJO! KILIG!!! KATHNIEL-LIKE!” said @pseudonymous69. With its engaging topics and lesson-filled discussions, Magandang Buhay continues to increase its viewership across different areas in the country, according to data from Kantar Media. Keep watching Magandang Buhay, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). Watch also for the latest episodes free on iwantv. com.ph or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers. For updates, follow @_magandangbuhay on Twitter and Instagram or like the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OfficialMagandangBuhay.

Patriotic songs in ‘Ryan Ryan Musikahan’ special At a time when our nation braces for a fresh start with its new set of leaders, Ryan Cayabyab and the country’s most seasoned artists rouse nationalistic fervor through inspiring and heart-rending songs in Para sa Bayan: A Ryan Ryan Musikahan. Guest performers for the muchanticipated original Jeepney TV special are headlined by John Arcilla, acclaimed lead star of Heneral Luna and an accomplished stage actor, power-belter Bituin Escalante, rising diva Morisette Amon, and young singing sensation Darren Espanto. Joining them are former band front man and now solo artist Ebe Dancel, master guitarist LJ Manzano Te, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers, and actor-poet Juan Miguel Severo who created an original spoken word work to be performed alongside the Maestro just for this special. The special is the fourth in a series of revival specials of Ryan Ryan Musikahan, one of Philippine TV’s most awarded and most revered programs. It will be under the helm of iconic TV director, Johnny Manahan.

Para sa Bayan: A Ryan Ryan Musikahan will premiere exclusively on Sky Pay-Per-View today and will be up until June 30, in time for the 118th year commemoration of Philippine Independence. The special is an original production of Jeepney TV, the no. 1 local variety cable channel and home of timeless TV programs that bridge generations of Filipino viewers. To subscribe to a three-day access to Para sa Bayan: A Ryan Ryan Musikahan for only P199, visit mysky.com.ph/ryanryan-

musikahanparasabayan or text SUBSCRIBE<space>9-digit account number to 23662 or call (02) 3810000. The musical comes with a bonus content of Ryan Ryan Musikahan: Piyano at Gitara and behind-the-scenes feature of the Para sa Bayan: Ryan Ryan Musikahan. Jeepney TV is available on SkyCable channel 9, Destiny Cable Analog 41 and Digital 9. For updates, like Jeepney TV on Facebook (facebook.com/Jeepney TV).

Laughter in Asia’s Songbird’s home Laughter reverberates in Asia’s Songbird’s home today with her scene-stealing friends, Tetay who seems to steal the thunder from Regine Velasquez-Alcasid as host, Madam Aya de Beauvoir (Manilyn Reynes) from Poor Señorita and Madam Digna Molina

(Jaclyn Jose) from A1 Ko Sa’yo. Cannes 2016 Best Actress Jaclyn will prepare an Ilocano dish while Regine and Manilyn dish out songs to whet everyone’s appetite. It’s going to be a sumptuous lunch in Sarap Diva on GMA-7 after Maynila.

Cogie Domingo blindly in love with Maey Bautista Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and “Para sa Bayan: A Ryan Ryan Musikahan” guest artists

Kris, Jodi and Ian show why love is all we need

Love reigns this weekend among ABS-CBN TVplus users nationwide as it showcases the Star Cinema MMFF 2015 entry All You Need Is Pag-Ibig in the Kapamilya Box Office for P30. Families will see why love is really what people need in the exciting stories of people from all walks of life portrayed by Kris Aquino, Jodi Sta. Maria, Ian Veneracion, and more. Completing the family’s movie blockbuster fix are No Other Woman, Petrang Kabayo, and the Hollywood film My Soul To Take. Families also have a chance to catch-up on missed episodes of Dolce Amore via a marathon airing this weekend on KBO. To enjoy a movie bonding with

From left: teri Gian, Manilyn Reynes, Jaclyn Jose, Regine Velasquez and tetay

the family this weekend, load P30 on your ABS-CBNmobile prepaid SIM and use it to register by texting KBO30<SPACE>JUNE11 <SPACE> TVplus box ID and send to 2131. To know the seven-character box ID, press the INFO button of the TVplus remote control. Once a text confirmation is received, press SCAN on the TVplus remote control to activate KBO on the ABS-CBN TVplus’ 7th channel. For remote controls without a SCAN button, press the MAIL button. KBO logo will be displayed on the 7th channel after scanning. Good news also awaits new ABS-CBN TVplus users who purchased the ‘mahiwagang black box’ this June as it comes with a one-month free trial of KBO.

To avail of the free trial, text FREEKBO <SPACE> TVplus Box ID using an ABS-CBNmobile prepaid SIM. The Kapamilya Box Office (KBO) is the newest feature of ABSCBN TVplus that allows families to have more TV bonding moments at home via commercial-free weekend movie marathons for P30. Movies airing on KBO can also be seen via iWant TV on ABSCBNmobile. For users who don’t have an ABS-CBNmobile SIM, the SIM is available in any SM store, 7-Eleven branch, telco tiangge, and the ABS-CBNmobile store priced at P30. Users may also order through text by sending SIM DELIVERY to 2366.

Cogie Domingo and Maey Bautista will prove that love is indeed blind in the romantic episode of Wagas today. Cogie is Isyo, a blind construction worker from Quezon. Isyo was living a simple life providing for his family when an accident took his sense of sight. And since he is blind, his girlfriend left him too. Still, Isyo did not stop from working hard. With the help of some of his friends, he learned the ropes of construction work. While working, Isyo meets Chari-

tie. Aware that she is on the heavy side, Charitie has already accepted her fate that no one would be attracted to her and that she would end up as a spinster. But Isyo would alter this belief. He might be blind, yet Isyo saw true love in Charitie. Charitie, in return, has found the man who would not judge her based on her looks and who would accept everything about her. Catch this unique pair-up of Cogie Domingo and Maey Bautista on Wagas this Saturday, 7 p.m. on GMA News TV.

Cogie Domingo (left) returns to the small screen with Maey Bautista in today’s episode of ‘Wagas”

sat urday : J uNE 11, 2016

IsaH V. rEd EDITOR NICKIE WaNG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Screen villain now an environmentalist ISAH V. RED

e may be one of show business’s foremost screen villains, but there’s a new side of John Regala that he wants to impart to the public - his being an environmentalist. At present, he is the president and CEO of Project Green Evolution, Inc., which produces the Water Bonsai Organic Root Grower, a miracle powder for growing indoor plants. “That’s right,” he says. “With our product, growing bonsai plants in your abode has become far easier since you need not water or expose it under the sun. When you soak it in water and mix it with the powder, expect that your plant will grow. All you have to do is maintain it.” Curiously, how did he get into this? “I was hospitalized at the start of the year. There, I was visited by Edwin dela Torre who happens to be the inventor of the water bonsai in our country. He sought my help to promote the product. At first, I asked myself, ‘Why me?’ But after trying it myself, I got hooked to planting water bonsai. And, why not? It’s not only a hobby but an effective way of combatting indoor pollution.” More than this, the renowned screen baddie sees it as one practical way to generate a decent source of income. “Yes! Actually, that’s our main goal. That’s why we are pitching the project to various Local Government Units (LGU’s). We want it to be promoted to schools and universities. Then, there are also the barangays. We are in the process of choosing five municipalities as beneficiaries. “Imagine the income it would generate for the people. Actually, it’s a win-win situation for those who will engage in the project since if they don’t have prospective takers for their water bonsai, we will buy it from them. We will be the ones to sell and distribute the plants.” “I’m also thinking of our brothers who are in jail. This can be a great way to use their time wisely and earn. As for the elementary pupils I think it’s nice that at an early stage, we can teach them how to be nature lovers while earning extra income. Water bonsai planting also promotes family bonding, right?” John avers. On the showbiz side, John knows that there’s a huge potential for his latest business venture in the industry. “Oh yes, I’m aware that there are lots of stars who are plant lovers and this will appeal to them. The Water Bonsai Organic Root Grower is just P200.00 per sachet, which is very affordable. That’s why I talked to the Actors’ Guild and Film Academy of the Philippines to help me promote this. I’m optimistic that we can generate funds eventually which will be a great boost to us.” With his new advocacy as an environmentalist, John’s vision is for every home to have a plant. “Wouldn’t it be nice? We will all have our own little share in preserving Mother Nature, especially now that Climate Change is in our midst. In using Water Bonsai Organic Root Grower, we just don’t help save nature but create liveli-

Environmentalists: actor John regala (third from left) with fellow advocates of water bonsai plants that can minimize indoor pollution

hood and promote excellent health for everybody as well. It’s like Sagip-Kalikasan, Kabuhayan at Kalusugan.” Truly, John’s new title befits him: “Kontrabida sa Pelikula. sa Kalikasan ay Bida.”

Gerald Anderson finds his Ipanema Perfect Pair

Onscreen contravida John regala shows off a sachet of “miracle powder” used for growing indoor plants

Mall-goers and fans alike could not contain their excitement when Gerald Anderson, one of the hottest young actors today, took to the stage at the Trinoma Activity Center for the Ipanema Perfect Pair event, the last big summer splash of the fun, chic, and colorful Brazilian made sandals and flip flops. The crowd went wild as Gerald performed a number of hits, much to their delight and adoration. His presence coincided with the exciting dating game, the highlight of the day’s event, where one of three Ipanema Perfect Pair contestants, the

bubbly Nina Canares, won the chance to spend a romantic date with Gerald plus an exciting all-expense paid trip to the Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu. Adding to the summer romance feel with their catchy tunes were Aia de Leon and other talented Ukelele artists. A variety of fun booths also surrounded the venue, each one patterned after the Ipanema flipflop styles—Sweet & Dainty, Sexy Chic, and Bold & Artsy, all reflective of Ipanema’s fun, fashionable wearers: Nail Art & Foot Spa, DIY Flower Crown & Foot sticker tattoo, and a Make-up and Hair Styling booth. Indeed, the Ipanema Perfect Pair event with Gerald Anderson made the summer season a truly unforgettable moment to remember. Ipanema is distributed by ELRO Retail Corporation. Check out Ipanema Philippines on Facebook and www.elroretail.com

aia de Leon (center) of Imago performs during the Ipanema Perfect Pair event; (right photo) Gerald anderson and his “Perfect Pair” Nina Canares