The Standard - 2016 June 20 - Monday

VOL. XXX  NO. 128  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  MONDAY : JUNE 20, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Comelec hit after accused flies out

A2

US SHOWS POWER Two aircraft carriers in West Philippine Sea

This US Navy photo shows a flight formation of Boeing F/A-18E and F Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and 9 above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the West Philippine Sea. Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the West Philippine Sea, defense officials say, as Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. AFP

TWO US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the West Philippine Sea, defense officials said Sunday, as Manila, Washington’s close ally, faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. The US Pacific Command said the USS John C. Stennis and USS Ronald Reagan, among the world’s largest warships, began conducting air defense drills, sea surveil-

lance, and long range strikes on Saturday.

The command said the operations marked America’s continued presence in the Asia-Pacific

as China expands its maritime strength and engages in massive island building activities in disputed waters.

“No other Navy can concentrate this much combat power on one sea...It was truly impressive,” said US Rear Admiral Marcus Hitchcock, carrier strike group commander.

US Defense Secretary Ashton

Prayer warns vs ‘culture of death’ A MANDATORY prayer will be offered during masses in Manila before new government officials take office on June 30, calling on them to shun the “culture of death” and to lead with a “spirit of heroic sacrifice.”

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila has issued an “oratio imperata” for government officials, which will be recited nine days before the assumption into office of the country’s newly elected leaders, including President-elect

Rodrigo Duterte, who has vowed to wipe out crime by killing more suspected criminals and to reinstate the death penalty.

“Bless our leaders with true reverence for human life and unyielding opposition to the culture of death,” reads the oratio imperata for government officials.

Reginald Malicdem, chancellor of the Manila archdiocese, said the call to prayer is also in accordance to the proposal of the Catholic Bishops’ Confer-

ence of the Philippines.

In a circular to the archdiocese’s priests, chaplains, superiors of religious communities and Catholic schools, he said the oratio imperata “is to be prayed at the prayer of the faithful of all masses” from June 21 to 29.

A church ally, Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, said Sunday he would push for a new law that would impose a minimum jail term of 40 years for heinous crimes, instead of death.

Next page

Carter visited the Stennis in April as it sailed off the Philippines near the disputed area where China has expanded islets and reefs into islands capable of supporting airfields and other installations.

The Philippines has been improving its defense ties with the US, its longtime treaty ally and former colonial ruler, to help

boost the ability of one of Asia’s weakest armed forces.

The US exercises synchronized the activities of over 12,000 sailors, 140 aircraft, six combatants and the two carriers, said Hitchcock.

The command said the drills were meant to promote freedom of navigation and overflight in the region’s Next page airspace and waters.

PNoy veto to worsen job scam vs nurses

A4

M O N D AY : J U N E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A2

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Marcos hits Comelec after respondent flies

By Christine F. Herrera

THE camp of losing vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday blasted the Commission on Elections [Comelec] and the Bureau of Immigration for doing nothing to stop a Smartmatic employee facing charges in court from leaving the country.

Marcos’ political campaign adviser Abakada Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz said he was angry after he learned during Friday’s preliminary investigation of the case at the Manila Prosecutor’s Office that one of the respondents, Smartmatic’s Mauricio Herrera, had already left the country and is now in his home country of Panama.

Herrera flew to Panama despite Smartmatic’s earlier assurances that none of the respondents had plans to leave the Philippines.

Dela Cruz, who filed the complaint against Smartmatic and Comelec officials for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act, demanded answers from the poll body and the

bureau for their failure to put Herrera and other respondents on the Immigration watchlist.

Earlier, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon called for the issuance of a hold departure order against the respondents after she learned that one a Smartmatic technician had inserted an unauthorized script into the transparency server that was used to count and post unofficial results from the May 9 elections.

Dela Cruz noted that until now, neither the Comelec nor the Bureau of Immigration has acted on the request for a hold departure order against the respondents.

The other respondents in the case, namely Smartmatic personnel Marlon Garcia, a Venezuelan national and head of the technical support team; Elie Moreno, an Israeli national and project director and Neil Banigued, member of the technical support team; and Comelec IT experts led by Rouie Peñalba, Nelson Herrera and Frances Mae Gonzalez were present in the proceedings and submitted their respective counter-affidavits.

The respondents were charged with violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which prohibits “intentionally altering computer data, without right and altering and interfering with the

functioning of a computer and computer network by inputting, deleting and altering computer data and program, without right or authority.”

Dela Cruz pointed out that shortly after the unauthorized alteration of the script of the transparency server, the lead of Marcos over his closest rival started to taper at a uniform rate, which experts said was close to being statistically impossible, until his lead was eventually overtaken.

Marcos is set to file an election protest before the end of the month.

The next hearing on the case is scheduled for July 4 when the camp of Marcos is expected to file their reply to the counter-affidavits of the respondents.

Dela Cruz said he had a strong case against the respondents, since Garcia has admitted to altering the script without permission from the Comelec en banc.

Voters line up in this file photo of the May 9 polls. Vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is filing an election protest before June 30 to contest his close loss to Liberal Party candidate Leni Robredo, accusing the government of vote manipulation.

Prayer...

From A1

“Our alternative [to death] is tantamount to locking up a convict and throwing away the key,” he said in a statement.

“Just the same, we categorically maintain that raising the certainty of punishment as opposed to increasing the severity of the penalty itself is the strongest deterrence to potential offenders.”

A lifetime imprisonment

could deter the commission of more crimes, he said.

“If there is a 100 percent assurance of being apprehended and imprisoned for committing a crime, fewer people would do so,” he said.

Atienza said he would file a bill defining a new mode of life imprisonment for serious offenders after Congress opens in July.

Under Atienza’s pro-

posed measure, anyone who found guilty of any grave crime will be sentenced to “qualified reclusion perpetua.”

The lawmaker said the death penalty being proposed by Duterte has long been abandoned by at least 140 countries, including the Philippines.

“The problem with the death penalty is that it leaves no room for rectification. We cannot bring a dead convict back to life even if another party later on confesses to having

committed the crime for which the convict had been wrongfully condemned,” Atienza said.

Under qualified reclusion perpetua, such a convict would stay in prison for an absolute minimum of 40 years, and would only be eligible for parole upon reaching 70 years old.

Atienza said under the present set-up, the Revised Penal Code imposes reclusion perpetua or a simple life term of 30 years to 40 years in prison with the convict becoming eligible

US...

From A1 “(This) has been a great opportunity for us to train on how we would operate multiple carrier strike groups in a contested environment,” said US Rear Admiral John Alexander, another carrier strike group commander.

The US Navy said it has been conducting dual carrier strike group operations for several years in the West Philippine Sea, the South China Sea and the East China Sea, where China has a separate dispute with Japan over small islands.

Philippine Defense Department spokesman Peter Galvez said the exercises showed that the US was “resolute” in fulfilling its often repeated “ironclad commitment” to defend the Philippines.

“We welcome the strong cooperation and partnership we have with our friends and allies ... in light of (the dispute) where our legitimate rights have been overstepped,” he said.

The Philippines is awaiting a ruling from an international arbitration tribunal against China’s claims to most of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims to the strategic waterway, through which pass some of the world’s most active shipping lanes. AFP

for temporary parole after serving just half of the term, or after 15 to 20 years of imprisonment.

“But under our proposal, all these allowances [good conduct or loyalty allowances] and the benefit of reduced sentence for preventive detention would not apply to convicts sentenced to qualified reclusion perpetua,” he added.

Atienza said his proposal, if passed, would compel convicts to perform productive labor and indemnify their victims or relatives of their victims through their earnings.

Also on Sunday, a youth group expressed alarm that more local government units and their respective police forces are trying to duplicate Duterte’s Oplan Rody (Rid the Streets of Drunkards and Youth) in an effort to curb vice and petty crime.

The Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan or SPARK has asked city officials to suspend the implementation of their ordinances and make them in tune with recent societal changes brought about by programs of the national government such as the K-12 program of the Department of Education as well as the student employment program of the Labor Department which began in 2009.

Oplan Rody is reportedly in full swing in the cities of Quezon City, Las Piñas, Manila, Pasay, Caloocan,

Malabon, Mandaluyong and Makati.

Recently, the cities of Bacoor in Cavite and Lipa in Batangas have also activated their long-standing ordinances to prohibit minors outside their homes from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Police in Mandaue City in Cebu province also intend to implement a curfew ordinance passed in 1999.

The mayor of Baguio City has also publicly expressed his support for Oplan Rody.

“On one side, we admit that local government units have the responsibility to curb petty crime and vice but then again it counteracts other programs that the national government has implemented only recently,” said Joanne Lim, member of the National Secretariat of SPARK. The Dilim an-based activist lamented that the city mayors and police have mindlessly and indiscriminately enforced their “Jurassic” ordinances in an effort to get on the good side of the next administration without taking into account the day-to-day struggles of commuting and working students.

“If Oplan Rody’s implementation in Metro Manila systematically and indiscriminately victimized students in the past weeks, how much more if implemented as well in the cities and municipalities around Metro Manila where they are enrolled and employed,” Lim said. Rio N. Araja

M O N D AY : J U N E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A3

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Farmers push for return of levy fund THE Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and the claimants movement Coco Levy Fund Ibalik sa Amin or CLAIM on Sunday pushed for the creation of a Genuine Small Coconut Farmers’ Fund and a “Small Coconut Farmers’ Council” to protect the P72 billion in coco levy money held by the government and “to ensure that cash and other socio-economic benefits go to small coconut farmers.”

In a statement, KMP secretary-general Antonio Flores said “establishing small coconut farmers’ control over the funds is crucial for the legitimate owners to benefit from their own money that includes cash and other social benefits.

“It is a political necessity and a moral obligation to create a ‘Genuine Small Coconut Farmers’ Fund to be administered and managed by a ‘Small Coconut Farmers’ Council mainly composed of small coconut farmers themselves to protect the rights and interest of small coconut farmers.

“These mechanisms will prevent a repeat of the state-sponsored plunder and continuing denial of the coco levy fund to coco farmers.”

Coconut farmers claim that the coconut levy fund was forcibly taken away from them during Martial Law. CLAIM’s Arvin Borromeo said the farmers’ fund and council would ensure that the coconut farmers’ money would not be depleted.

“The coco levy fund collection was a scam, a nationwide extortion and schematic plunder orchestrated by the Marcos-Cojuangco clique,” Borromeo said. Sandy Araneta

‘PNP’s crime crackdown followed Rody’s victory’ THE Philippine National Police intensified its operations against crime and illegal drugs and executed many criminals after President-elect Rodrigo Duterte started leading in the May 9 elections, Malacañang said Sunday.

“As declared by the PNP, it has intensified its efforts on the anti-crime and anti-illegal drug fronts,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told the state-run dzRB radio.

“The Aquino administration did its duty of equipping the PNP with enough equipment and improving its crime prevention capability and just like the citizenry, would be pleased to see the PNP continuously improve its performance.

“My understanding is that they

reported about the statistics of their anti-drug operations throughout the year, and it seems what they pointed out is that it was nearly equal the number of arrested or killed during the period after the elections compared with those in the first five months of 2016.

“And likewise, according to the statement I have seen, they themselves said this is part of their intensified campaign. We should acknowledge their efforts to fulfill those duties.”

Almost half of the deaths of criminals during the police anti-drug operations between Jan. 1 and June 15, 2016, happened after the May 9 elections when Duterte, known for his uncompromising style of fighting drug pushers and syndicates, emerged as the possible winner.

PNP spokesman Wilben Mayor said in their record of 68 individuals with suspected drug links killed by law enforcers during the period, 31 met their end after the election victory of Duterte, which was an average of one a day.

More than 17,000 people had also been arrested during the period, Mayor said.

“The intensity of the opera-

tions against illegal drugs, which he [Duterte] is really, really against, has been pushed by the PNP. That’s why our police are focused on illegal drugs, which is priority number one of the incoming president.”

Mayor said the slain suspected drug traders and pushers were killed in legitimate police operations.

“The reason why those suspects were killed is because there’s a shootout between the police and the suspects. They followed operational procedures. There was imminent danger on their part,” Mayor said.

Of the 31 slain suspects, 12 were from Central Luzon, eight from Southern Tagalog and five from Central Visayas. Sandy Araneta

Sunday in Tondo. Danilo Narce and his wife play with their six children on Sunday, Father’s Day, at the Baseco Compound in Manila. DANNY PATA

‘Comelec set bad precedent on SOCEs’

Selfie. A father takes a selfie of his family at the Bagong Nayong Pilipino at the Luneta on Sunday. DANNY PATA

THE Commission on Elections should expect future elections to be marred by requests for extensions from candidates and political parties after it extended the period for filing Statements of Contributions and Expenditures by candidates, a former Comelec chairman said Sunday.

Sixto Brilliantes said the Comelec set a bad precedent with its decision.

“Now, who is going to believe in the deadline that the Comelec will set in the next elections? Nobody. They will just think they can ask for an extension,” Brillantes said.

He said those who would

request an extension would cite the case of the Liberal Party and its presidential candidate, Manuel Roxas II, to justify their appeal.

“They will simply use the reasoning that the Comelec granted the request of the LP in 2016. Why not us?” Brillantes said.

On Thursday, the Comelec voted 4-3 to move the June 8 deadline for filing SOCEs to June 30 after the LP and Roxas asked for an additional 14 days to do so.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez noted it was not the first time that the poll body had extended the deadline for SOCE filing.

He said the Comelec also extended the deadline for filing SOCEs in the 2013 elections, which was then under Brilliants, from June 12, 2013, to May 12, 2014, and to June 30, 2014.

Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 says all candidates and political parties must file their respective SOCEs 30 days after election day.

But Brillantes said the difference was the provision of penalties for late filing in the 2013 elections.

“In their decision now, they did not impose any penalties to late filers. It’s like they are forgiving the late filers altogether,” Brillantes said. PNA

A4

m o n D AY : j u n e 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘Nursing scams to worsen with veto’

By Christine F. Herrera Lawmakers on sunday warned that the illegal practice of “ false volunteers”—where nurses are forced to accept regular clinical jobs while given meager pay—would worsen after President Benigno aquino III vetoed a bill that would have increase the entry-level pay hike of government nurses.

Remembering Rizal. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada leads a wreath-laying ceremony at the shrine of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal to mark his 155th birthday on Sunday. DANNY PATA

NUSP dares Licuanan to resign

By Sandy Araneta The militant group National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) on Sunday challenged Commission on higher education chairperson Patricia Licuanan to resign despite her fixed term that will expire in 2018.

NUSP spokesman Kevin Castro said Licuanan’s decision to stay on as head of the commission also ties the hands of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte from appointing a successor whom he trusts.

Castro, who described Licuanan as an enemy of Filipino students, accused the CheD chairperson of supporting the commercialization of the country’s educational system that has resulted in an-

nual tuition increases and budget cuts.

“Licuanan has been at the forefront of the ongoing neoliberal attacks on the youth’s right to education. It is very insensitive of her to blurt out such unthought of remarks given that under her supervision, six students, including Kristel Tejada, had been killed by the commercialized educational system she immensely approves of,” he said.

“CheD has been an agency of lies and deceit under Licuanan’s tutelage. They keep on deceiving the students that the government is doing its mandate to make education accessible to all, but what they actually do is to be persistent in deregulating education. This has to stop,” Castro said.

Castro noted that when Licuanan assumed the chairmanship in 2010, the

average annual tuition was at P30,000P50,000. however, the figures have already doubled to P60,000-P100,000 in 2015, he aded. he said Licuanan has approved annual increases in tuition and other fees while slashing the budget of state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Castro said for academic year 20152016, at least 59 SUCs suffered slashes in their budget, including the University of the Philippines which was dealt with a P2.2-billion budget cut.

Meanwhile, some 304 private higher education institutions were allowed to hike their tuition and other school fees for the academic year 2016-2017.

Ang Nars Rep. Leah Paquiz, one of the principal authors of the Comprehensive Nursing Law of 2016, lamented that Aquino had failed to consider equally important provisions in the bill that guarantee protection and security of tenure for nurses.

“We felt this bill is one way of eliminating the abuses and oppression committed against our nurses. This is not just about salary. This is about the welfare of our nurses, some of whom are living in shanties. We are giving them a living wage—a decent wage—and protection,” she said in an interview over dzBB. “With the veto, the oppression will continue in the hospitals. The practice of false training which is really unnecessary will continue,” Paquiz added.

Gabriela Rep.-elect Arlene Brosas said more than pay hikes, the bill seeks to provide better and fairer nursing conditions by outlawing nefarious work modalities such as the exploitative “volunteer work” scheme where nursing graduates are forced to provide full time clinical work without any compensation.

Brosas described the presidential veto, done days before Aquino steps down on June 30, as “midnight cruelty.”

“The law would have benefitted public health care for Filipinos as it will have mandated the government to assign a nurse for every barangay, every school, and every workplace, make hospitals ensure safer nurse-to-patient ratios and make nursing a humane and decent career by banning contractual, job order, OJT and volunteer job positions,” she said. earlier, Communications Secretary herminio Coloma Jr. defended the veto, noting that Aquino had already increased the minimum base pay for entry-level nurses through executive Order No. 201.

The eO raised the total guaranteed annual compensation of government nurses from P228,924 to P344,074, Coloma said.

SEC sues firm in Ponzi scam

By Rey E. Requejo The Securities and exchange Commission has filed more charges against executives of One Lightning Corp., a direct selling and investment firm shut down for allegedly duping clients of P500 million, for creating a new entity to continue its operations.

In a complaint filed before the Department of Justice, SeC enforcement and investor protection department director Jose Aquino said the officials of One Lightning continued to publicly offer and sell investment contracts without any permit through a new company called FDS Forward Direct Selling Corp.

Among those who were charged were One Lightning president Terrence Kenji Ito and chairman Theodore Yuji Ito as well as incorporators Aldus Renier Tubiera, Joanary Roxas and Jake Ryu Oprecio.

The SeC already issued a cease and desist order against the operations of One Lightning and has filed a syndicate estafa

case against the company before a Pasig City regional trial court, which issued warrants of arrest and hold departure orders against the respondents.

“Under the pretext of being a multi-level marketing company, the respondents offered huge returns to investors who would participate in their investment program through the purchase of certain cosmetic and health products,” the SeC said in its complaint.

“The scheme employed by the said corporatiom was clearly a Ponzi scheme which they tried to hide to trying to appear as a multilevel networking company engaged in the marketing of cosmetic and health products,” it added.

A Ponzi scheme is a type of investment scam where profits would come from money plowed in by investors.

Aquino explained that investors were enticed by the offer of respondents to pay 28 to 30 percent profit share income and return of investment after about three months.

Catch of the day. A Muslim woman sells grilled tuna on Palanca St. in Quiapo.

MANNY PALMERO

m o n D AY : j u n e 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A5

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Solons back extra perks for police officers

Anti-crime tracking device on PUVs sought

By Rio N. Araja

Reelected lawmakers have vowed to push for the passage in the 17th congress of a measure mandating the installation of monitoring devices in public utility vehicles to protect passengers from abuses and crimes.

every PUV in the country will allow operators to detect, monitor and investigate the route and the movement of all bus, truck, PUV units within their company, real-time.

“The satellite-tracking feature of the GPS keeps employees honest. The knowledge that they can be tracked by a GPS discourages drivers from making inappropriate pit stops, spending time idle, or padding travel time by going on alternate routes,” Olivares said.

He said the measure shall protect the innocent PUV drivers who may also be victimized at times, and more importantly, the riding public who, also have to deal with the great inconveniences entailed by Metro Manila traffic.

Under the measure, installation of CCTV and global posi-

tioning system (GPS) tracker in all PUVs is required before operation in any road or highway.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, in coordination with the Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communication Technology (DoST-ICT) and Department of Trade and Industry Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTIBPS) is mandated to provide the specifications for the CCTV and GPS tracker.

In coordination with Land Transportation Office, the LTFRB is tasked to maintain and manage an archive for all CCTV recordings of PUVs, which are subjects of a complaint and those involved in vehicular or traffic incidents.

REELECTED Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. of Camarines Sur is batting for additional allowances for the police officers, instead of an increase in the wage of a rookie policeman to P50,000.

Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of Cat- measure, also known as Public Andaya, a former Department of Budget and Management secre- anduanes said he would refile Utility Vehicle Monitoring Act, tary and former House committee House Bill 6439, which the seeks to ensure the appropriate on appropriations chairman, said House of Representatives has and proper delivery of transport the Duterte administration may approved on second reading, services.

House Bill 6439 substituted face a possible financial concern to protect the lives, rights and over the wage increase, if ap- properties, passengers, drivers House Bills 1992, 3543, 3704, and operators against criminal 3755, 5228 and 6051 of Reps. Arproved. nulfo F. Go of Sultan Kudarat, The government is already im- and unlawful acts.

“The presence of CCTV cam- Eric D. Olivarez of Paranaque plementing the four-year salary increase for government officials eras and other monitoring devic- City), Mariano Michael M. Vees such as GPS tracking devices larde, Jr. of BUHAY party-list, and employees, he added.

Andaya, an ally of President- in public utility vehicles such as Jose L. Atienza of BUHA and elect Rodrigo Duterte, said to give buses, trucks, UV Express vans, Winston Castelo of Quezon additional allowances is more among others, will prevent pos- City.

Olivarez said the mandatory viable than to increase the take- sible crimes,” Sarmiento said.

He said the passage of the installation of GPS device in home pay of every police officer.

“We are just at the beginning of a four-tranche salary increase to end in 2019. The grant of more allowance is a wiser approach,” he said.

According to the Camarines Sur lawmaker, the Aquino administration has already started with the implementation of an executive order for wage increase to all government personnel, including men in uniform, this year.

“All options are being considered including raising the allowances, instead of salaries. Bottom line is increase in take-home pay,” he said.

On the other hand, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III reechoed Andaya’s stance, saying he would welcome a proposal to give additional allowances for the teachers, soldiers and several others.

“Not salary [increase], but take home pay and to include others soon,” he added.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte’s running mate in the last May 9 national elections, said the Duterte administration was considering a P5,000 minimum monthly wage for a police officer 1.

A PO1 receives P14,800 monthly salary, plus an allowance for a Beetle-mania. Vintage Volkswagen cars are paraded around Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City as enthusiasts celebrate World Volkswagen total of P22,000.

Day on Sunday, June 19, 2016. MANNy PAlMeRo

Protect marine resources—senator

Mobility. An amputee drives a tricycle along the busy stretch of Roxas Boulevard in Manila to get to his destination, unhampered by his handicap. ey ACASIo

ALARMED by experts’ findings that the seas will be turned into “virtual deserts” by 2050, Senator Cynthia A. Villar said she has been pursuing legislations to balance the need to increase marine life production and the need to protect the sustainability and biodiversity of our oceans or marine waters.

Villar said she has been pushing for environmental protection especially the marine environment.

Together with the House of Representatives, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, fisherfolks and their communities and other concerned individuals and organizations, Villar said they worked hard to ensure the passage of a law on fishing.

In her speech during the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary 32nd National Convention, Villar stressed that the amended law will level the fishing legislation at par with other countries, particularly with regards to conservation measures regarding threatened aquatic species, highly migratory species,

and other marine resources.

Based on the 2010 Census of Marine Life, 90 percent of the large fish are already depleted due to over fishing. She cited reports on the extinction of giant fishes in our country.

“According to the study, overfishing has almost wiped out 59 big fish species such as the green bumphead parrotfish, the African pompano, the giant grouper, and the mangrove red snapper,” said Villar.

But the Nacionalista Party senator expressed hope that this condition can be averted with the strict implementation of the provisions on our new Fisheries Code that imposes strict monitoring of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“In the past, we have heard incidents when some commercial fleets have been able to fish in municipal waters, which are reserved for municipal fisherfolks. There were also some incidents when fish catch was under reported,” said Villar.

M O N D AY : j u N e 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

DA chief to enlist street dwellers’ services DAVAO CITY—The incoming secretary of the Department of Agriculture will enlist the services of street dwellers in highly urbanized cities to do the greenhouse farming to make them productive and promote food sufficiency.

This will also be a step towards reducing poverty incidence of the country’s growing population, said incoming DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

But first, Piñol said, the new administration will embark on a nationwide feeding program through “Lugawan” which is anchored on the President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s principle: “No one must sleep hungry.”

Piñol said this could be a venue to develop a data base of people, who have become unproductive and stay only in the streets. These people especially their children are vulnerable to insecurity.

Duterte as mayor of Davao Cty had an ongoing Lugawan program at Rizal Park for street dwellers although some other people who cannot buy food go to the park to eat at sunrise and at sundown.

He said this will be copied on national scale but the targeted people will have to be registered for data base. He, however clarified that the program does not promote “dole-out principle.”

Piñol, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, targets July 6 to start the “Lugawan” in one of the public parks in Manila.

According to him, the data base will be used to identify and locate these people and train them for livelihood particularly on the agriculture innovative technology offered by an Israeli investor. This will make them productive and self-sufficient.

Piñol, said the project does not require vast lands so it could be in any vacant lots nearer to the targeted beneficiaries.

Last year, the project was discussed with the mayor, who then offered one area in Mintal for one module of the agricultural greenhouse with a size of 272 square meters as pilot area.

Piñol introduced to Duterte, Eyal Ben Ari, president of the Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry and owns GurLavi Corporation, which brings the Greenhouse Israeli Agro-Innovative Technology in the Philippines.

The Greenhouse Israeli AgroInnovative Technology is a solution aimed at helping the country’s agricultural sector increase quantity and quality of crops.

Greenhouse is practiced by growers in different parts of the world and possible in all types of climatic conditions. He said it is widely practiced in Israel due to scarcity of water and land.

Power rate cut. Meralco recently announced that overall electricity rates this June went down by P0.13 per kilowatthour for its residential

customers. Households consuming 200 kWh each will experience a reduction of around P25 in their electricity bill. Meralco Public Information Office head Joe Zaldarriaga explains that the overall rate decrease was due to the downward movement in the generation charge, which more than offset a higher transmission charge. Meralco also reiterated some safety tips to help prevent accidents this rainy season.

Lina used his position to ease out rival firms

By Christine F. Herrera

Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina has never divested himself of his business interests and instead used his position to ease out his competitors to allegedly amass and corner multibillion-peso contracts for his companies that have direct dealings with the bureau, ignoring accusations of clear conflict of interest, according to lawyer Harry Roque Jr. , a congressman-elect under the Kabayan party-list.

Lina is now facing charges of plunder, graft and corruption, criminal conflict of interest, dishonesty, grave abuse of power and criminal neglect lodged with the Ombudsman and Manila courts, said Roque, lawyer for Annabelle Margaroli, authorized representative of Omniprime Marketing Inc., a competitor of Lina’s E-Konek Pilipinas Inc. Roque’s allegations were denied by Customs media head, Belle Maestro, who on Sunday said: “He [Lina] has divested all his assets that were in confict with his role as Customs commissioner.”

On April 29, 2015 or days after assuming his post on April 24, 2015, Lina made this pronouncement in his first press conference: “I will divest myself from businesses that are directly dealing with the BOC to avoid conflict of interest. I will sell all my and my family’s shares to all the logistics companies under the Lina Group of Companies.”

Lina even named the six of the 17 companies that have been directly transacting with the

bureau. These were E-Konek Pilipinas, 2100 Customs Brokers, LGC Logistics, U-Freight Philippines, Inc., New-Ocean Inc. and Air 21.

“According to the law, I think I have 60 days to divest from these companies. My lawyers are studying which of the companies I would have to divest from. I may have to divest myself from all of my businesses, including those that do not even directly do business with the BOC,” Lina had said.

“I love this country more than anything else. I will do my job here at the best of my ability with all the expertise I have gained in the past 35 years of my life. I will give it to you.

I will serve this country. Every peso we generate will go to the people. I would like to help this country generate those pesos so our poor people will have money to spend, build more hospitals, build more roads,” Lina declared.

But a week after he made his promise, Lina started running after his companies’ competitors, Roque said.

“It took Lina only two weeks

[after he assumed office] to cancel a P650-million contract that had undergone two rigorous public biddings to make his company E-Konek, the service provider of the Bureau of Customs, to continue reaping the benefits,” Roque said.

Lina replaced reformist Commissioner John Philip Sevilla “under controversial circumstances,” Roque said.

Roque said Lina granted clearance to the release of broadcasting equipment belonging to the GMA Network handled by two of his corporations—2100 Customs Brokers and U-Freight—allegedly using fake import permits.

He said Lina also refused to act on charges that 2100 Customs Brokers and U-Freight and another of his companies, the Nague Malic Magnawa & Associates were linked to missing 771 shipments of airplane parts for the airline company Zest Air worth at least P1.5 billion.

Lina owns 96.47 percent of EKonek and remained chairman and major stockholder of his 16 other companies.

Based on Securities and Exchange Commission documents, of the 17 companies that Lina owned, six have continued to reap benefits from their direct transactions with the bureau.

As of Jan. 14, 2016, SEC records show Lina, his family and crony former Customs commissioner Guillermo Parayno Jr. remained in control over E-Konek Pilipinas Inc., 2100 Customs Brokers, Inc., UFreight Philippines, Inc., Nague Malic Magnawa & Associates,

LGC Logistics Inc., Air 21 Global, Inc., New Ocean, Linaheim Corporate Services Inc., Linaheim Travel & Tours Inc., Dynamic Outsource Solutions, Inc., UBE Media Inc., Waste & Resource Mgt. Inc., Solar Lina Energy System Corp., Go 21 Inc., Integrated Waste Mgt. Inc., Lina Farm and Food Services Corp. and Credit Solutions and Business Alliances Inc. “Lina’s decision to unceremoniously cancel the contract was a clear case of conflict of interest. He and his conspirators are thus liable for graft,” said Margaroli, in a 30page complaint-affidavit.

“The cancellation by Lina was a grave instance of a criminal conflict of interest, manifest illegal partiality and malevolent bad faith because it benefited E-Konek Pilipinas, Parayno and Lina himself and his family, as he has a 96.47 percent stake in the company,” Margaroli pointed out.

Parayno was E-Konek’s president and was hired by Lina as his IT adviser in the bureau, Margaroli said.

Margaroli said the unwarranted benefits, which the cancellation of the bidding procedure for the NSW 2 Project upon his assumption as Customs commissioner bestows upon his very own E-Konek Pilipinas, a losing bidder in such procurement, was “patently abject.”

E-Konek Pilipinas, she said, stood to benefit from the continuous use of the current customs electronic or mobile system as a Value-Added Service Provider or VASP.

M O N D AY : j u N e 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Incoming Galera mayor faces tourism challenges

Cops nab man in extortion attempt on Catholic bishop

By Robert A. Evora

LEGAZPI CITY—Sorsogon City police arrested on Saturday a man suspected of extorting money from a bishop of the Catholic Church in Barangay Bibingcahan, Sorsogon City.

PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro—The incoming mayor of Puerto Galera, declared by the United Nations in 1973 as “Man and the Biosphere Reserve,” will face tourism challenges when he assumes office at the end of this month, residents said.

Outgoing chairman Rockey D. Ilagan of Barangay Sabang, an international dive site, was elected mayor on May 9 on a campaign pledge that he “would bring back the old glory days of Puerto Galera as one of the world’s major tourist destinations.”

“But, it’s not a walk in the park for Mayor Rockey when he takes over his new post. There’s a lot of house cleaning to do when he assumes office on June 30, but certainly he will prevail over it,” says King Marasigan, his chief-of-staff.

Mayor Ilagan will tackle, among other numerous complaints being regularly aired by resort owners and residents, the neglected and illmaintained fresh water supply system, frequent brownouts, high taxes and fees, unsafe sea transportation system, slow internet service, and poor garbage collection.

“There is uncollected garbage and trash along the beaches and roads,” said Kees Koornstra, an expatriate from The Netherlands and a long-time resident of this municipality.

Other issues are the stalled construction of the multi-million peso waste-water treatment plant and environmental issues, such as lack of landfill areas or dump sites for waste management and effective garbage collection.

But Koornstra, who served in the Royal Dutch Navy for seven years, said he is fully supporting the incoming administration of Ilagan to “make Puerto Galera a better place.”

Ilagan will meet with resort owners, hotel and restaurant managers and members of Puerto Galera Business, Tourism and Trade Enterprises Association and other allied organizations to get their cooperation and to thresh out longtime and festering complaints being aired by them.

Mayor Ilagan presented to national officials the challenges facing the town’s tourism industry that “drove away tourists that spent so much money that made the travel industry so lucrative in the past.”

He got the support from the heads of concerned national offices who assured the new administration that they would help the LGU to immediately address the issues besetting the resort town.

A police report identified the suspect as 26-year-old Leo F. Funtanares, a nurse and resident of Sitio Arasyang, Barangay Union, Gubat, Sorsogon. He reportedly took money

from Bishop Arturo Bastes, a resident of the Roman Catholic Home for the Clergy in said barangay.

The report said Funtanares went to the office of the bishop on May 3 and said that he was having a relationship with one of the staff member-priests of the latter.

On May 13, the suspect returned and threatened to expose his relationship with the priest if Bastes did not give him P10 million. On May 25, Funtanares lowered his “offer” to P5 million.

Because of the threat, the bishop decided

to give P25,000 on June 1 and told the suspect to come back after two weeks for a second payment.

On June 14, through his representative, Bastes decided to inform the SCPS, which immediately set up an entrapment operation against Funtanares.

Recovered from the suspect was an envelop containing P25,000 and two receipts from Bastes and signed by the suspect, indicating that he had received the amount from the bishop. PNA

Kids at play. Young boys catch fingerlings as they play at a seafood wharf at Barangay Sineguelasan in Bacoor City of Cavite. EY ACASIO

Palawan govt to give away solar power kits

Truffles. A girl poses with truffles, which are in season in Baguio City, on her palm. DAVID CHAN

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY— The Palawan provincial government will start the distribution of 27,200 solar home system units on June 23.

Provincial information officer Gil Acosta Jr. said Friday that the distribution of 2,000 units will initially be done in southern Palawan, in distant barangays in the municipality of Brooke’s Point.

Homes that are not connected to the grid and cannot be reached by power supply coming from the Palawan Electric Cooperative will receive the solar home system units.

The 2,000 systems were purchased by the provincial government for P78,880 from D. Light.

PNA

A8

ADELLE chuA EDITOR m O n D AY, J u n E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

opinion

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Wrong on so many counts THE resignation by Elections Commissioner Christian Robert Lim as head of the Commission on Elections Campaign Finance Office speaks volumes about the divisions within the poll body over its 4-3 decision to extend the deadline for candidates to file their statements of contributions and expenditures.

Lim, who was in the minority, had voted to reject the extension sought by the erstwhile ruling Liberal Party and others who failed to meet the original June 8 deadline. He and two others—including Chairman Andres Bautista—were outvoted in a move widely seen as an accommodation to the LP, which has had a six-year record of implementing the law only when it suits its purposes.

The reasons for Lim’s opposition to the extension were clear and well argued.

“The policy shift is not acceptable,” Lim said. “To grant the request for

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

extension would not only be unfair to other candidates and parties who complied within the prescribed period but also would be a reversal of the Commission’s own resolution on the matter.

Republic Act 7166, he added, very clearly states the following: “Every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall, within thirty (30) days after the day of the election, file in duplicate with the offices of the Commission the full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election.

“No person elected to any public offices shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures herein required.

“The same prohibition shall apply if the political party which nominated the winning candidate fails to file the statement required herein within the

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

period prescribed by this act.”

Moreover, the Comelec itself had earlier warned all candidates and parties that the June 8 deadline was “final and non-extendible.”

Tellingly, the LP’s Manuel Roxas II was the only presidential candidate who failed to file his SOCE on time; the LP itself was similarly delinquent.

This failure means nothing to Roxas, who lost the election, but would have meant that the party’s winning vice presidential candidate, Leni Robredo, would be unable to take office because of her party’s failure to submit its SOCE by the June 8 deadline.

All that, however, is now moot, since four of the seven commissioners—Commissioners Rowena Guanzon, Arthur Lim, Al Pareño and Sheriff Abas—voted to grant the LP an extension up to June 30 to comply with the law.

The accommodation will affect not only the aftermath of this year’s Rolando G. Estabillo Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

electoral exercise, but the conduct of future elections as well, since candidates and political parties may take this decision as a sign that they, too, can disregard the law with no dire consequences.

This disregard for the law was perhaps epitomized by Roxas himself, who failed to file his SOCE, citing “voluminous number of receipts that have to be scanned and attached to the document.”

Shortly after asking for an extension, the erstwhile candidate could have buckled down to make sure his paperwork—already late—was submitted with no further delay. Instead, he embarked on a nationwide tour to thank those who helped him during the campaign, and documented his stops with a GoPro camera on Facebook and Twitter.

If only Roxas and his LP cronies took their SOCE obligations half as seriously.

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

M O N D AY : J u N e 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

LegaL education in focus

When an average of 75 percent of bar examinees fail, year in and year out, who or what is to blame? Can the bar examination system be condemned for being unreasonably difficult? Or, should the bar examiners be faulted for their manner of questioning and checking? Is it right to heap the blame entirely on those who failed? What are law schools accountable for?

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Arturo D. Brion made his listeners grapple with these questions in his address to the 1,731 new lawyers during their oath taking. As he congratulated them, he quickly added that he could not help but think of the 4,874 who failed and the parents or spouses who supported them through their eight years of education to finish a law degree.

On the question of whether the bar examinations are unreasonably difficult, he said he looked closely at more than 60 post-World War II exams given by the Supreme Court and—with the exception of some years—the level of difficulty has been more or less, uniform. Lowering the standard of the qualifying exam for lawyers just to make way for more passers is not the answer, Justice Brion said. A certain level of competence is needed in lawyers for the cause of justice, he said. Further, he added that regional integration which includes the practice of law, demands that our lawyers be competent enough to face and contend with lawyers from the Southeast Asian region. The standards of legal education must, in fact, be raised to enable our lawyers to compete, he said.

Is it then the fault of bar examiners that the average passing percentage is only about a quarter of the total number who take the bar exams? A survey among bar examiners will tell one that they endeavor to be as reasonable and generous as possible but the bigger majority of examinees simply have serious problems in the

english language, adequate knowledge of the law, and ability to apply the appropriate laws in the cases presented to them in the essay exams.

Where lies the problem of high failing rates in the bar exams then and what could be the solution? Justice Brion sees a disconnect in the legal education system. While the practice of law and admission to the legal profession is within the Supreme Court’s authority, the Legal education Board—the governing body that regulates legal education—is under the executive Branch of government. A lot needs to be done to strengthen the Legal education Board’s flimsy structure, Justice Brion said.

Law schools must justify their existence with the performance of their law graduates, in the bar exams and later, in the practice of law.

What cries out for serious examination, Justice Brion said, is whether law schools have the competence to deliver legal education. To drive home his point, Justice Brion cited statistics. Of the 130 law schools that fielded candidates in the 2015 bar exams, 28 had a zero percent passing rate, that is, not one of their bar candidates passed. Another 28 law schools registered a passing rate of only 10 percent or less. Thus, he stressed, of the 130 participating law schools, 56 or 43 percent had passing rates of only 10 percent or less.

In the best performers bracket, Justice Brion said, only three law schools had passing rates of 70 per cent and above, and only 10 law

Last-minute mess-up Can you believe this guy?

It’s President BS aquino’s last few days in office before stepping down on June 30, and yet he’s still doing damage to the country. He vetoed salary increases for our underpaid and hardworking nurses who should have received P25,000 salary. This is why many of our nurses are leaving to work in hospitals abroad. Three months ago, President aquino vetoed a P2,000 hike in SSS pension for retired workers which, if it had been approved, could help cushion the high cost of living and medications of senior citizens.

Then, what did noynoy do? He signed salary increases for SSS officials who are already highly paid.When asked during a TV interview what he would miss most when he leaves office, aquino without batting an eyelash, said “my bosses.”

Oh yeah? He will miss screwing them. Except for his yellow crowd of supporters, the Filipino people won’t miss him at all. I don’t really enjoy bashing Pnoy, particularly since he’s on his way out but I can’t help it when he says the most outlandish things when he could have just kept quiet. For example, he flew to Sulu with a phalanx of presidential security guards and said he had at one time considered placing Sulu and Basilan under martial law because of the rampant lawlessness. So why didn’t he? Why only now when his days in office are numbered?

The President was in Sulu following the beheadings of

two Canadian hostages by the kidnap-for- ransom abu Sayyaf Group. Meanwhile, Jolo, Sulu Mayor Hussein amin claimed some military officials are in cahoots with the aSG and even getting a share of the ransom money exacted from the victims’ relatives. There is loose talk of such connivance, but this is the first time a local government official has confirmed it during a television news interview. This is a serious allegation that must be looked, into although a Western Mindanao Command spokesman has denied amin’s allegation.

On Wednesday last week, President aquino, in a phone call to incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, offered his help. What “expertise” can Pnoy give when he could not help himself during his six years of stumbling and bumbling along his “tuwid na daan”(straight path)? aquino said Digong (in a rare moment of being polite?) accepted the help so that the incoming president, said BSa, won’t have to “reinvent the wheel.” Pnoy has learned to say a lot of american catch phrases to pass himself off as a knowledgeable president when actually he’s clueless about the presidency.

What President coddles the likes of Budget Secretary Florencio abad, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio abaya and agriculture Secretary Proceso alcala, and retains them in his Cabinet despite widespread allegations of incompetence and corruption? abad could face charges for conceptualizing the illegal DaP funds that allotted millions of pesos to senators while alcala has been indicted by the Ombudsman for the alleged

smuggling of rice, garlic and the spike of other agricultural products in the market. abaya of course is being blamed by the suffering commuters for the daily breakdown of the Metro Rail Transit and awarding its maintenance contract to an undercapitalized company without any track record in train repair servicing. The non-delivery of vehicle license plates by the Land Transportation Office—which is also under abaya’s DoTC —should have been reason enough to sack the LP acting chairman and chief campaign fund raiser.

How will BS aquino’s sixyear presidency be remembered? Sadly, the ones that come to mind are the Mamasapano massacre of 44 PnPSaF commandos by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Moro national Liberation Front siege of Zamboanga City, the slow relief and rehabilitation in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda, distribution of the illegal Disbursement acceleration Program funds, the push for the constitutionally flawed Bangsamoro Basic Law, the daily breakdown of the MRT and the “tanim bala” (bullet planting) in passengers’ baggage at the ninoy aquino International airport (naia), just to name a few.

Fortunately, we do not have to suffer another State of the nation address from noynoy trumpeting his fictional accomplishments and paying tribute to his household help. are we being too hard on Pnoy? not at all. He brought all this upon himself. You are what you have wrought, and you reap what you sow. These are just two quotes appropriate in summing up aquino’s six years in power.

schools yielded a passing percentage between 50 and 69 percent. Thus, he said, of the 130 participating law schools in the 2015 bar exams, only 13 law schools or 10 percent can say that half of their bar candidates passed. he then asked, what should the concerned agencies do with these non-performing law schools? At the very least, he said, the public must be made aware of the performance of the different law schools. By giving wide publication of how law

schools performed, prospective students of law would be fairly warned. For instance, for law schools with zero up to 10-percent passing rates only, the public would know that they run a 90- to 100per cent risk of failing the bar exams if they enrolled in such law schools. The time to warn the public must begin now with the outcome of the 2015 bar exams, Justice Brion said.

For, indeed, it is no mean feat to spend money for an eight-year law course then spend some more for review.

For those who fail more than once, they have to, again, review as many times as they take the bar exams, or take refresher courses, if they have failed the exams a third time. Law schools must justify their existence not by the money they bring in for the schools’ owners but with the performance of their law graduates, in the bar exams and later, in the practice of law.

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Email: ritalindaj@gmail. com Visit: www.jimenolaw. com.ph

M O N D AY : J u N e 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

ImpunIty most unkInd pensées fr. ranhilio callangan aquino President Benigno Aquino iii used the term “culture of impunity” to refer to the brazen thievery of his enemies. the zeal with which he and his henchmen caused the people he disliked to be sent to the slammer was meant to convey to the nation the righteousness of a regime that was going to extirpate all corruption from national life. Of course, it was only later that the nation would hear the supreme Court declare that it was most unrighteous and criminal for government funds to have been misused the way the now-infamous disbursement Acceleration Program did. it was not too long before we all witnessed the impunity with which friends were instantaneously cleansed of all iniquity by the expedient of a presiden-

tial declaration that they had done no wrong, in contrast to the haste with which warrants of arrest and orders of commitment are issued against foes.

But “impunity” refers to something else these days—far more insidious, more gravely threatening and, without a doubt, most unkind. it refers to the marked—and alarming—increase in victims of extra-legal, extra-judicial executions and enforced disappearances. it refers to the lifeless bodies found in a growing number of places in the Philippines, supposedly in a determined bid to cleanse the Philippines of the dregs of humankind! it is rightly characterized as a “culture of impunity” because it is encouraged at the highest levels. the capture, “dead or alive,” of drug lords, drug dealers, the other criminals has been unequivocally endorsed. Generous rewards are promised, and bounty is held out. Of course, there

iF GridlOCk on the streets bedevils us in Metro Manila, and even Metro Cebu, think about traffic in the air as well.

Ours is a nation of islands, which makes travel by land cumbersome. The few roros that are available, which connect luzon through Bicol and on to eastern Visayas and Mindanao, takes days. so does going the western seaboard route, which services mostly cargo from Panay to Metro Manila via Batangas. in this day and age, air travel is the only way to connect to our islands, whether for business or leisure. Unfortunately, government has been unprepared for the quantum leap in domestic travel.

Our airport terminals (four if you include the small domestic terminal now used by budget airlines) are so congested that there are times when passengers have to sit on the floor while waiting for their delayed planes. Ground services are appalling. to top it all, all incoming and outgoing planes from naia terminals 1 to 4 plus private planes using general

hire and those who, eager for the bounty, shoot whoever may be in the cross-hairs are as disgusting as those they adjudge unworthy of life.

But the heavier price we pay which makes the prevailing culture of impunity most unkind is the demise of the institutions of law and the procedures that legal history evolved. it took a long time for us to traverse the awfully long distance from the irrationality of trials by combat, to the dreadfulness of trials by ordeal, preceding the final ordeal at the stake, the blatant injustice of star Chamber proceedings, the horrors of the inquisition and its reliance on the capacity of inquisitors to identify practitioners of witchcraft and partisans of heresy to the many times tedious but assuredly more rational proceedings in our courts today. Vigilantes do not need courts; they despise courts.

Vigilantism is the diametrical opposite of procedural and substantive fairness.

Ultimately, the regrettable culture of impunity that is slowly but steadily taking root devalues human life— for if persons, no matter that they may be suspected of trafficking contraband—are exterminated no differently as are household or agricultural pests, what, ultimately, do we value? Have we taken to that perilous path that allows us to decide which lives have worth and which do not? And precisely because anyone may be suspect—with or without sound reason—are we ultimately better off? Will this present culture of impunity really make us sleep more soundly at night, or keep us rather nervously awake, in dread of every footfall we may hear? no, the culture of impunity, this culture of death, cannot be the wellspring of national re-birth! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

traffIc In the aIr

so i see lito banayo

are takers. And so, the body count increases at an alarming rate. it is rightly characterized as a “culture of impunity” because it f lourishes by encouraging Filipinos to think that they are safer when the niceties of criminal procedure and those pesky “technicalities” called “the rights of the accused” are skirted by simply abducting shady elements and then sending them off, without further ceremony, to kingdom come!

And that is why we should be alarmed at the “salvaging spree” that has overtaken the nation. When, without compunction, vigilantes, bounty-hunters, thugs and ruffians may now kill the “disgusting elements” of Philippine society, what we succeed in doing is diverting national disgust from the entire spectrum of criminality, training our sights exclusively on those whose bodies turn up—hog-tied, bludgeoned to death or riddled with bullets. Guns for

aviation have to use one runway. there are times when you have to wait for almost an hour inside the plane as it queues for that precious privilege to take-off, after being no. 7 or so in the priority list. And then again, you sometimes worry about encircling Metro Manila several times before being allowed to land, not only because your timetable is delayed, but heaven forbid if a pilot miscalculation might get one plane colliding with another as they both circle above. so what can be done?

Public-Private Partnership proponents as well as department of transportation and Communications “thinkers” have been talking about so many options: (1) Clark in Pampanga as an alternative international airport. it has two parallel runways, but because these were designed by the American military for fighter jets, they are quite close together, so verily you can use only one runway at a time for today’s big planes. Besides, you need to hasten the travel time between Mabalacat to Manila, which is about 80 kilometers apart. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo unveiled

a north rail project, but that has gone to seed due to corruption allegations and resulting judicial delays; (2) Sangley in Cavite, a proposal favored by DOTC’s Abaya. it will require lengthening the present runway, also a hand-me-down from the American naval base, and a connecting highway from Cavite City to Parañaque, although Cavitex has shortened this to kawit; (3) Ramon Ang’s proposal. the top honcho of san Miguel has proposed building a super-structure of four parallel runways on reclaimed and yet-to-be-reclaimed land in Manila Bay itself, fronting las Piñas, part of which is the scandal-rendered PeAAmari reclamation project which he salvaged from the thai partners of Filipino quick-buck artists. this writer, being no expert in the field, could only hope that the new government decides soon on which of the three options, or more, could be jumpstarted to serve our fast-increasing air travel requirements in the coming five-, 10-, even 50year period.

Meanwhile, what could be done to relieve the present

congestion in our naia gateway with its single runway (to be precise, there is a short perpendicular runway which is hardly ever utilized)? that is, while waiting for a more long-term solution.

For starters, why not remove all general aviation from the airport complex?

Private plane owners with their private hangars can be made to relocate, whether in sangley for the meantime, or Fernando Airbase in lipa, or even Plaridel in Bulacan. And either travel by chopper from Metro Manila or by land, for all the commercial air-travel consumer could care. now that will take great political will, because the general aviation users are the rich and famous, the oligarchs, economic and political, who control our rent economy, but then again, if digong duterte can’t make them move, no one else can. that should relieve runway use by some 15 percent of load. Which is not enough.

Then again, there are shorthaul domestic flights which use smaller planes. They require a shorter runway, say 2.2 or 2.5 kilometers. now how about constructing another runway for such traffic

somewhere in the Parañaquelas Piñas vicinity? if government has to entice private subdivision dwellers to move to other parts, and meanwhile relieve themselves of the noise emanating from plane takeoffs and landings, why not? surely there are other open spaces nearby which can substitute for their present dwellings, with enough inducement from government? if we can do that, we relieve the present naia runway of another 30 percent to 35 percent of its current traffic.

Meanwhile, we should plan, bid, and build an international airport that could serve our air traffic needs for the next 50 years, just as Japan did with narita, Hongkong with Chep lap kok, singapore with Changi, and even faraway kazakhstan has done. it’s all about planning and the corresponding political will to get things done. seeing beyond the tip of one’s nose, and thinking beyond the needs of the present into a future that takes shape so fast. And most of all, displaying utmost political will —the kind that rodrigo duterte promised when he said “change is coming.”

M O N DAY : J UN E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Cleveland nears first title in 52 years OAKLAND— Long-suffering Cleveland fans, who have not cheered a major sports champion since 1964, are on the brink of seeing the drought end thanks to the LeBron James-led NBA Cavaliers.

Marseille violence leaves hard lessons MARSEILLE, France—The Pizzeria du Sud was selling record amounts of beer to England fans when a group of Russians in near-military formation burst into square near the Marseille seafront.

The beatings, broken bottles, tear gas, court cases and diplomatic shouting that followed came as a stark warning ahead of Russia’s third Euro 2016 match on Monday against Wales.

French authorities have declared the game in Toulouse at high risk of hooligan trouble.

Marseille meanwhile has still not recovered from its battle with thugs.

“We’ve never sold so much beer,” said Karim Ledun, who was waiting tables at the pizzeria when the Russian fans targeted English fans in what prosecutors called an orchestrated “hunt”.

“To start with there were just English fans in the square,” said Ledun, 24, who was working at the pizza restaurant in the Vieux Port area.

Suddenly around 150 Russians arrived.

“When they saw they were outnumbered by the English fans they went round the edge of the square and grouped together. Then we saw chairs flying...”

Tear gas was flying and baton-wielding police lost control.

The difference between the two groups of fans was striking, Ledun told AFP. “The Russians were in free fight clothes and were wearing cage-fighting t-shirts, gloves and masks.

“Unlike the English they hadn’t been drinking because they were running around and fighting.

“The English took a battering! Later on we found four English men hidden in our kitchen.”

Steve, a former British Marine in his forties, told how he got “a smack in the back of the head”. AFP

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers meets the press during media availability as part of the 2016 NBA Finals on June 18, at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Dartmouth delivers Royal fanfare for Queen ASCOT, United Kingdom – Queen Elizabeth II celebrated the final day of Royal Ascot in dream style as Dartmouth took the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes to give her a belated 90th birthday present in her favored sport.

The monarch – for whom Dartmouth was the final chance of a win as her other runners in the most prestigious race meeting in England had failed to find royal favor – made the last of her previous

22 visits as a winning owner when Estimate won an epic Ascot Gold Cup in 2013.

The victory was memorable too for winning trainer Michael Stoute who equaled his late great rival Henry Cecil’s post-World War II record of 75 winners at the Royal meeting.

Master Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien set a personal record of seven winners at the meeting as he recorded a final day dou-

ble and with 55 winners under his belt the 46-year-old has time enough to equal the mark of Cecil and Stoute.

His stable jockey Ryan Moore also had a day to remember, after a forgettable Friday, as he rode a treble for the third time in his career at Royal Ascot and ended the week with six winners.

He did though miss out on the queen’s winner as he opted for the other Stoute runner.

Britain’s Andy Murray reacts after winning a point against Croatia’s Marin Cilic during their men’s singles semi-final match in the ATP Aegon Championships tennis tournament at the Queen’s Club in west London on June 18. Murray won the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. AFP

She greeted the victory with a grin of delight alongside her racing manager John Warren in the Royal Box but then had to survive a stewards enquiry for possible interference with Irish raider Highland Reel.

“This is the Olympics to even have a horse run here let alone win is fantastic,” said Warren, after the queen had stepped up to receive the trophy from her granddaughter Princess Beatrice. AFP

Murray faces Raonic LONDON—Andy Murray moved a step closer to a record fifth Queen’s Club title as the defending champion battled into the final with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Marin Cilic on Saturday.

Murray was pushed hard by Cilic but eventually subdued the Croatian in a tense two-hour semi-final and will face Milos Raonic for the trophy on Sunday after the Canadian third seed defeated Australia’s Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-4.

The 29-year-old Scot’s primary aim is to hone his grass-court game with Wimbledon starting in just over a week, but he would also relish passing John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Roy Emerson and Boris Becker as the sole owner of the most Queen’s crowns.

“There have been many great players over the years who have played here so if I can do better than them and win a fifth title, then it is a good sign, but I’m certainly not taking anything for granted,” Murray said.

Reaching his fifth final of the year will be hugely encouraging for Murray in the week he reunited with coach Ivan Lendl, two years after they originally parted ways. AFP

Trying to fulfill the dream that brought him back to Cleveland from the Miami Heat two years ago, James will power the Cavaliers into a winner-take-all NBA Finals showdown Sunday against the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

James was drafted by the Cavaliers and led them to the 2007 finals, where they were swept by San Antonio. In 2010, James left for the Miami Heat, winning two titles and making four finals before returning in 2014 vowing to make the Cavaliers a title team.

“I came back for a reason, and that is to bring a championship to the city of Cleveland,” James said.

“That has been one of my goals. But I don’t add too much pressure on it. I go out and trust what I’ve been able to do, the work I’ve put into it, my teammates have put into it.”

James scored 41 points in consecutive games to spark Cleveland triumphs and pull the Cavaliers from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series into a seventh game.

It’s only the third time a team down 3-1 has gone the distance and no such team has ever claimed the crown.

“To be in Cleveland, even when we were down 3-1, it was eerie how optimistic they were. It really was,” said Cleveland’s Richard Jefferson. “It was the messages – ‘We believe in you guys, keep going, we’re just so proud of you.’ It’s very encouraging to be part of that.”

It’s the love of a town for a team that could bring Cleveland a thrill it has not enjoyed since the 1964 Browns won the NFL crown in the pre-Super Bowl era.

“I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can be a part of something that’s very special,” said James, a former prep star in nearby Akron.

“I don’t think people imagined it this way, the route that we’ve taken, and that’s fine.

Every day is not a bed of roses and you have to be able to figure out how to get away from the thorns and the pricklers and things of that nature to make the sun shine.

“If we take care of business, that’s something that our city hasn’t had in a very long time.” AFP

M O N DAY : J UN E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

McEnroe and Lendl renew rivalry on sidelines LONDON—John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl will renew one of the most bitter rivalries in tennis on Sunday as the two coaches watch Milos Raonic and Andy Murray slug it out for the Queen’s Club title.

McEnroe, recently hired as Raonic’s coach, and Lendl, in his second spell coaching Murray, engaged in a feud lasting over a decade when they were players and now they are back in opposition 24 years after they last glared at each other across the net.

They met 36 times from 1980 to 1992, with Lendl winning 21 of their encounters including a famous fightback from two sets down in the 1984 French Open final.

Those grueling battles forged a lasting enmity, to such an extent that in his autobiography, McEnroe said Lendl was “a very strange guy, to put it charitably – with an odd, harsh demeanor – kind of bullying and babyish at the same time”.

The old enemies are on much better terms these days but, given the contrast between the icy Lendl and the emotional McEnroe, there will be plenty of eyes trained on the courtside coaching box at the Wimbledon warm-up event on Sunday.

Lendl, an eight-time Grand Slam winner, has returned to working with Murray two years after the United States-based Czech called time on a successful spell that saw the Scot win two Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal.

Intrigued by the 56-year-old’s success with Murray, and Boris Becker’s even more fruitful partnership with world number one Novak Djokovic, seventime Grand Slam champion McEnroe decided he wanted to have a crack at coaching as well and Raonic brought him on board this week.

The colorful 57-year-old appears to have made a positive first impression on world number nine Raonic, who is through to his first Queen’s final.

Fittingly, the old foes are back in combat 26 years after Lendl beat McEnroe in the Queen’s semifinals in what proved to be one of the last matches in their great rivalry.

But defending champion Murray, who is bidding to win a record fifth Queen’s title that would surpass a group including McEnroe, refused to be caught up in the coaching talk. AFP

Shane Lowry of Ireland plays his shot from the 14th tee during the third round of the US Open at Oakmont Country Club on June 18, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. AFP

Lowry leads US Open OAKMONT, United States—The US Open was left finely poised late Saturday when fading light forced third round play to be called off with Ireland’s Shane Lowry leading a chasing pack all primed to pounce.

A total of 32 players out of the 67 who made the cut were unable to finish their rounds before nightfall.

They will head back out at 7 a.m. Sunday morning to finish up and then have a break before the final 18 holes get underway.

The clubhouse lead was held

by South Africa’s Branden Grace, who had a four-under 66 for a total of one-under par.

That was two shots better than world number one Jason Day who clawed his way back into contention on the back of a 66 and young American Bryson DeChambeau, who had a 70.

“I stayed patient, I took my chances when they came my way and I actually hit the ball

15 out of 18 greens. Gave myself plenty of chances. I missed a few, but I made up for a few of the long ones,” Grace said.

Day said that “physically and mentally” it could be tougher on those players who would have to get up at the crack of dawn to finish their rounds.

“I think I have given myself an opportunity of getting there,” said the Australian, who won his first major at last year’s PGA Championship.

Out on the course when the horn was sounded to end play it was the bearded Lowry who was best placed, standing at five-under and leading the field by two with four holes left to play.

“This is exactly where you want to be. I’ve been beat-

ing myself up over the last six months trying to get in this position. I’m here now. I might as well enjoy it while I’m here,” he said.

Next best was American Andrew Landry, the first round leader who again belied his world ranking of 624 to stand at three-under after 13 holes.

“I think I did a really good job out there. No nerves, very comfortable,” said Landry of his afternoon’s play in what was for him elevated circumstances.

English veteran Lee Westwood, Spain’s Sergio Garcia and halfway stage leader Dustin Johnson were all on two-under, each with a handful of holes to play.

It was a dramatic day of rapidly-fluctuating fortunes which started with Johnson ahead by one only for three others – Westwood, Landry and finally Lowry – to take the outright lead in turn.

The famed Oakmont course, soaked and softened by torrential rains during Thursday’s opening round, turned fiery and fierce under a hot sun and matching par became the order of the day.

Only six players were left in red figures by the end of the day.

The big shock early on was that four-time major winner Rory McIlroy failed to make the cut for the first time at a major in three years.

The 2011 US Open champion went out in 31 and looked poised for a charge, but he inexplicably fell apart on his back nine, a 40 giving him a 71 and at eightover he was on his way home.

Other notable casualties of the cut were six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson, who saw his dream of clinching a career sweep of all four majors once again shattered, 2013 champion Justin Rose and an out-of-form Rickie Fowler who ended at 11-over.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth did make it through, but, after a hot start, he went off the boil and finished at four-over, leaving him with a mountain to climb to defend his crown.

“Got off to a dream start for moving day, and then just kind of boned a wedge, kind of put a bad swing on a pretty stock shot that killed momentum. I went double-bogey, bogey,” he said. AFP

Hamilton refuses to blame Baku track for qualifying crash BAKU, Azerbaijan—Lewis Hamilton insisted that it was his own mistake that caused him to crash out of the third session of qualifying for Sunday’s European Grand Prix in Baku.

The defending world champion quelled concerns over the track in the Azerbaijani capital on Friday, and refused to blame the set-up after his error gave him just 10th place on the grid, while Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg stormed to pole position.

Hamilton’s accident happened as he came out of a narrow complex of corners around Baku’s Old City walls, where he clipped a barrier at turn 11. The impact broke his front suspension.

“I don’t think Baku bit me, I think I tried to take too much and I tried to bite it – and it didn’t work,” he said.

“It’s me, it’s nothing to do with the track and nothing to do with the team. I just wasn’t driving well.”

Hamilton had topped all three practice sessions, but admitted he was off-form when it came to qualifying.

“I’ve not too much to say,” the Briton said.

“I just wasn’t on it.

“It’s a fine line between being on it and not being on it and today was just one of those days.

“I don’t have an answer for it, but I will try and make up for it tomorrow. It’s always difficult, but I’ll give it my best shot.

“The other times were not my fault, but today was my fault so apologies for the team and I’ll try and make up for it.”

He added that overnight changes to his set-up had made him feel uncomfortable with his car.

“I wasn’t getting the groove – one corner was good, one corner was bad. It was the most uncomfortable I have been in the car for a long, long time. I can’t really express or understand it exactly.

“I just couldn’t get into any rhythm. I’ll try to get away from the hustle and bustle here, as early as possible, and get a good night’s sleep.

“Then I’ll come back tomorrow and try and pick it up.”

Rosberg warned that he still expects a serious challenge for victory from Hamilton, who he leads by nine points in the drivers’ standings.

The German took advantage of the world champion’s calamitous day to claim his third pole of the season.

“Of course, it’s going to be Daniel (Ricciardo) and Sebastian (Vettel), Kimi (Rai-

kkonen) and Lewis,” he said, when asked who would challenge him on Sunday.

“Never forget him. He can always come back from 10th as he has shown many times this year “I’m sure the race is also going to be very exciting,” said Rosberg. “It’s one of the easiest tracks to overtake, so I think there’s going to be a lot of changing places.

“Probably a lot of safety cars too, and restarts. So it should be a good show.”

Rosberg added that, as a Mercedes driver, he hoped Hamilton could climb through from 10th, but he had reservations.

“On the one side, I’m excited for my team colleagues because they want to have a one-two and it’s still possible tomorrow, but it’s going to be more difficult now for sure. AFP

M O N DAY : J UN E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Fil-Ams to represent Guam in Rio

By Peter Atencio

TWO Fil-American tracksters will join the national contingent that will represent Guam at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in August.

According to the Pacific Daily News, the Guam National Olympic Committee announced that high school sprinter Regine Tugade and 800-meter runner Joshua Ilustre have been granted two universality spots in athletics.

The 18-year-old Tugade, a beauty queen in her school and is going to the US Naval Academy in college, is entered in the women’s

100-meter and 200-meter dash.

She was in the Philippines last year and saw action in the Philippine National Open in Laguna.

“I’m very humbled to be given this opportunity and I’m really excited to be able to represent our island,” Tugade, whose parents are Ilocano, said in an interview with the Guam-based newspaper.

Tugade only learned that she

will be part of the team on Thursday night.

She graduated from John F. Kennedy High School this year.

Tugade set five high school track and field records — in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, long jump and triple jump.

Three Guam national women and junior track and field records in the 100 meters (12.26 seconds), 200 meters (25.28) and 400 meters (57.89) also belong to her.

Recently, Tugade was appointed to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and from there she will continue her athletics’ career.

On the other hand, Ilustre, who recently won a gold medal in the

1,500-meter open at the Micronesian Championships, was stunned when he learned that he will go to Rio. Recently, he also won silver at the 2012 Oceania Championships in Australia in the men’s 1,600-meter relay, under-20 division, with teammates Nicolas Raval, Jordan Tingson and Rey John Flores.

“That goal is finally coming into fruition,” Ilustre said in an interview with PDN. The two runners will join Benjamin Schulte and Pilar Shimizu, who were named to the two universality spots in swimming, and Dr. Peter Lombard II, who qualified on merit in mountain biking.

Marcial loses via split decision BAKU, Azerbaijan- The Philippines will have to be content with two boxers in the Rio Olympics as the last hope for another athlete in boxing--Eumir Felix Marcial--bowed to Abbas Baraou of Germany in the World Qualifying Event at the Sardachi Oklympic Stadium Saturday afternoon.

It was a split decision as the judges from Algeria and Azerbaijan gave the German rounds 1 and 3 (28-29), while the Iranian judge awarded rounds 1 and 2 to Marcial (29-28).

Marcial was lured into

a slugfest which was exactly what coaches Nolito Velasco and Romeo Brin warned the 20-year-old Zamboanga City native not to get into.

Baraou had previously knocked out his opponent from New Zealand on opening day and the coaches saw that his forte was fighting up close.

Seeded no. 1 in the welterweight division here and ranked by AIBA as no. 5 in the world, the Filipino boxed well in the second round, attacking mostly from a distance.

All three judges gave him

that round.

But somehow in the third, he decided to fight toe to toe and exchange punches with Baraou.

On Thursday, Ian Clark Bautista also lost in the first round of preliminaries to Jose Kelvin de la Nieve Linares of Spain, 28-29.

“Eumir claims he somehow lost his legs in the third. We were all shouting for him to keep his distance but he said he couldn’t. I don’t understand it,” said a dejected Ed Picson, ABAP executive director and delegation head here. AFP

r ee tBfeotr fP o r oPgrroegsrse isns G i na m G ianmgi,nEgn, tEenr t a e irnt ami e nn mteannt da n A SAu rSeuB Nda tNi oant i o Bnu iBl duiinl dgi n g

Invitation to Bid Procurement of Three - Year Contract Invitation to Bid forfor thethe Procurement of Three (3) (3) - Year Contract forfor Janitorial Manpower Services of Casino Filipino – Tagaytay under Janitorial Manpower Services of Casino Filipino – Tagaytay under ITBITB No.PB16-012TAG-05 No.PB16-012TAG-05 Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders its forthcoming The The Philippine Amusement and and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in itsinforthcoming public bidding for Procurement the Procurement of Three (3) -Year Contract for Janitorial Manpower Services of Casino Filipino public bidding for the of Three (3) -Year Contract for Janitorial Manpower Services of Casino Filipino – – Tagaytay under ITB PB16-012TAG-05.

No. PB16-012TAG-05.

Tagaytay under ITB No. Description Brief Brief Description

(3) -Year Contract for Janitorial Manpower Services of Casino Filipino – Tagaytay ThreeThree (3) -Year Contract for Janitorial Manpower Services of Casino Filipino – Tagaytay Location Location

Address Address

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders its forthcoming rebidding The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in itsinforthcoming rebidding for for the Procurement (3)-Year Private Security Agency Services for Satellite Operations Group (SOG) 1 Winford Satellite the Procurement ThreeThree (3)-Year Private Security Agency (PSA)(PSA) Services for Satellite Operations Group (SOG) 1 Winford Satellite ITBPB16-064COR-06.

No. PB16-064COR-06. underunder ITB No. Description Procurement Procurement of Three (3)-Year Private Security Agency (PSA) Services for SOG 1 Winford Satellite BriefBrief Description of Three (3)-Year Private Security Agency (PSA) Services for SOG 1 Winford Satellite Delivery ScheduleFor aFor a period of three (3) yearscommencing the effectivity specified inNotice the Notice Delivery Schedule period of three (3) yearscommencing fromfrom the effectivity datedate specified in the to Proceed to Proceed

a period of three (3) years commencing fromeffectivity the effectivity date specified the Notice to Proceed.

For aFor period of three (3) years commencing from the date specified in theinNotice to Proceed.

Internally Funded Internally Funded

Bidder should completed, within the two last (2) twoyears (2) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract Bidder should havehave completed, within the last before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to Project. the Project. description an eligible bidder is contained in Bidding the Bidding Documents, particularly, similar to the The The description of anof eligible bidder is contained in the Documents, particularly, in in Section II. Instructions to Bidder.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nonSection II. Instructions to Bidder. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in Implementing the Implementing Rules Regulations of Republic Act (RA) discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Rules and and Regulations (IRR)(IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as“Government the “Government Procurement Reform 9184, otherwise known as the Procurement Reform Act”.Act”.

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

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification Award of Contract All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and and Award of Contract be governed bypertinent the pertinent provisions of R.A. andIRR. its IRR. shallshall be governed by the provisions of R.A. 91849184 and its schedule of activities is listed, as follows: The The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities Activities 1. Issuance the Bidding Documents 1. Issuance of theofBidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 2. Pre-Bid Conference

Schedule Schedule 20, 2016 to 11, July2016 11, 2016 JuneJune 20, 2016 to July 28, 2016, Tuesday, JuneJune 28, 2016, Tuesday, 2:00 2:00 P.M. P.M.

3. Deadline forSubmission the Submission and Receipt of Bids 3. Deadline for the and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

July2016, 11, 2016, Monday, July 11, Monday, 2:00 2:00 P.M. P.M. July2016, 11, 2016, Monday, onwards July 11, Monday, 2:00 2:00 P.M. P.M. onwards

Complete details ofproject the project are indicated thedocuments bid documents which willavailable be available to prospective bidders at the Complete details of the are indicated in theinbid which will be to prospective bidders at the rd rd Branch Procurement Section,(3 ) Floor, Casino Filipino – Tagaytay, Km Aguinaldo 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay Branch Procurement Section,(3 ) Floor, Casino Filipino – Tagaytay, Km 60, Highway, Tagaytay City City uponupon payment of a non-refundable cost for the sale of bidding documents in the amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos payment of a non-refundable cost for the sale of bidding documents in the amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (PhP25,000.00).

(PhP25,000.00).

Prospective bidders download the Bidding Documents of charge the following websites: Prospective bidders may may also also download the Bidding Documents free free of charge fromfrom the following websites: www.www. pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit provided that bidders paynon-refundable the non-refundable pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids bids provided that bidders shallshall pay the bidding fee later not later the date of submission the submission of bids.

Pre-bid Conference is open all prospective bidders. bidding fee not than than the date of the of bids.

The The Pre-bid Conference is open to alltoprospective bidders. rd Prospective bidders should present to Finance Section, ) Floor, Casino Filipino – Tagaytay, Km Aguinaldo 60, Aguinaldo Prospective bidders should present to Finance Section, ThirdThird (3rd) (3 Floor, Casino Filipino – Tagaytay, Km 60, Highway, Tagaytay the Cost for Sale the Sale of Bidding DocumentsSlip which be secured the Branch Highway, Tagaytay City City eithereither the Cost for the of Bidding DocumentsSlip which may may be secured fromfrom the Branch Procurement Section a copy of ITB this in ITB in effecting payment forBidding the Bidding Documents.

All bids be accompanied Procurement Section or a or copy of this effecting payment for the Documents.

All bids mustmust be accompanied bid security in of any the acceptable and the amount stated in Clause ITB Clause by a by bidasecurity in any theofacceptable formsforms and in theinamount stated in ITB 18. 18.

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

In accordance Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Branch In accordance with with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Branch and Awards Committee (BBAC), CF-Tagaytayshall a non-discretionary non-discriminatory measure based Bids Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC), CF-Tagaytayshall use ause non-discretionary and and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in event the event twomore or more bidder post-qualified on sheer luck luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the that that two or bidder havehave beenbeen post-qualified and and determined as bidder the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having determined as the having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the the LCRB, based onfollowing the following procedures: LCRB, based on the procedures: In alphabetical order, the bidder one rolled paper.

1. In1.alphabetical order, the bidder shallshall pick pick one rolled paper.

2. The bidder would the paper a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark be declared asfinal the final bidder 2. The luckylucky bidder who who would pick pick the paper with with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shallshall be declared as the bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract. having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

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

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee thru the BBAC Chairperson, Ms. Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee thru the BBAC Chairperson, Ms. MarieMarie Yvonne C. Sevilla, Casino Filipino – Tagaytay, KmAguinaldo 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay Tel (046)413-1506 No. (046)413-1506 Yvonne C. Sevilla, Casino Filipino – Tagaytay, Km 60, Highway, Tagaytay City, City, Tel No. locallocal 438. 438.

(SGD)MARIE YVONNE C. SEVILLA (SGD)MARIE YVONNE C. SEVILLA Chairperson Chairperson Branch and Awards Committee (BBAC) Branch Bids Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC) Casino Filipino - Tagaytay Casino Filipino - Tagaytay

INVITATION FOR THE PROCUREMENT THREE (3)-YEAR INVITATION TOTO BIDBID FOR THE PROCUREMENT OFOF THREE (3)-YEAR PRIVATE SECURITY AGENCY (PSA) SERVICES FOR SATELLITE PRIVATE SECURITY AGENCY (PSA) SERVICES FOR SATELLITE OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG) 1 WINFORD SATELLITE (REBIDDING)UNDER OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG) 1 WINFORD SATELLITE (REBIDDING)UNDER PB16-064COR-06 ITBITB NO.NO. PB16-064COR-06

44 44

Approved Budget The annual the project is Nine Million Hundred Eighty-Nine Thousand Hundred Approved Budget for thefor the The annual ABC ABC for theforproject is Nine Million ThreeThree Hundred Eighty-Nine Thousand Eight Eight Hundred Four Four Contract (ABC): and 16/100 (PhP9,389,804.16), VAT Exclusive, Transactionand total ABC for three Contract (ABC): PesosPesos and 16/100 (PhP9,389,804.16), VAT Exclusive, Zero Zero RatedRated Transactionand a totala ABC for three (3) (3) amounting to Twenty-Eight Million One Hundred Sixty-Nine Thousand Four Hundred Twelve yearsyears amounting to Twenty-Eight Million One Hundred Sixty-Nine Thousand Four Hundred Twelve PesosPesos and 48/100 (PhP28,169,412.48), VAT Exclusive, Transaction. and 48/100 (PhP28,169,412.48), VAT Exclusive, Zero Zero RatedRated Transaction.

Source of Funds: Source of Funds:

r ee tBfeotr fP o r oPgrroegsrse isns G i na m G ianmgi,nEgn, tEenr t a e irnt ami e nn mteannt da n A SAu rSeuB Nda tNi oant i o Bnu iBl duiinl dgi n g

No. of Personnel No. of Personnel

Casino Filipino – Tagaytay KmAguinaldo 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay Casino Filipino – Tagaytay Km 60, Highway, Tagaytay City City Delivery Schedule Delivery Schedule

Celebration. Bernadette Pons (left) and Carmina Aganon of Petron celebrate after scoring a point against Foton in the 2016 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference Saturday in San Juan. The Tri-Activ Spikers won, 25-19, 25-17, 25-21.

(TS JUNE 20, 2016) (TS JUNE 20, 2016)

Approved BudgetThe The annual in amount the amount of Five Million Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand Approved Budget annual ABCABC is inisthe of Five Million OneOne Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand ContractSeven Seven Hundred Fifty-One Pesos 44/100 (PhP5,124,751.44).

Exclusive, Zerofor for the the Contract Hundred Fifty-One Pesos and and 44/100 (PhP5,124,751.44).

VAT VAT Exclusive, Zero(ABC) Rated Transaction a total inamount the amount of Fifteen Million Three Hundred Seventy(ABC) Rated Transaction or a or total ABCABC in the of Fifteen Million Three Hundred SeventyThousand Hundred Fifty-Four Pesos and 32/00 (PhP15,374,254.32) a period FourFour Thousand Two Two Hundred Fifty-Four Pesos and 32/00 (PhP15,374,254.32) for afor period of three (3) years, Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction of three (3) years, VAT VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction Source of Funds Internally Internally Funded Source of Funds Funded Bidders should completed, thethree last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar Bidders should havehave completed, withinwithin the last (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar the Project.

The description an eligible bidder is contained the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to thetoProject.

The description of anofeligible bidder is contained in theinBidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding willconducted be conducted through competitive bidding procedures a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion to Bidders.

Bidding will be through openopen competitive bidding procedures usingusing a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified the Implementing and Regulations of Republic Act (RA) otherwise known as“Government the “Government as specified in theinImplementing RulesRules and Regulations (IRR)(IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184,9184, otherwise known as the Procurement Reform Procurement Reform Act”. Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least percent interest Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty sixty percent (60%)(60%) interest or or outstanding capital belonging to citizens the Philippines, to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations outstanding capital stockstock belonging to citizens of theofPhilippines, and toand citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of of similar or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138. whichwhich grantgrant similar rightsrights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RAto5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract be governed All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall shall be governed by by the pertinent provisions of R.A. and its IRR. the pertinent provisions of R.A. 91849184 and its IRR.

NU tries to stay in hunt Games today (The Arena, San Juan) 1 p.m. – IEM vs Cignal (Spikers’ Turf) 4 p.m. – Iriga vs UP (V-League) 6:30 p.m. – Baguio vs NU (V-League)

NATIONAL University seeks to nail the first of two wins it needs to force a playoff for the last semifinal berth as it takes on ousted Baguio today even as University of the Philippines tries to stay in the race against also-ran Iriga in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Bulldogs are raring to atone for their sorry five-set setback to the Air Force Jet Spikers last week where they squandered a 2-1 set lead and lost the next two sets, falling to 2-3 and on the verge of elimination.

But ranged against Baguio in the 6:30 p.m. main game, NU is expected to cruise past the winless squad and rejoin Laoag at fourth at 3-3 heading to their final matches in the single round elims of the season-opening conference of the league where it all started.

NU and Laoag will have UP as their final elims opponent.

But the Lady Maroons are also trying to keep their slim hopes for a playoff alive.

Despite toting a 1-3 card, the Diliman-based squad could still make it via backdoor with a sweep of its last three matches in the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Pagara vs Mexican

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WORLD Boxing Organization’s no. 1-ranked Jason “El Activities Schedule Activities Schedule Nino” Pagara battles Mexico’s 1. Issuance ofBidding the Bidding Documents 20, 2016 to July 11, 2016 1. Issuance of the Documents JuneJune 20, 2016 to July 11, 2016 Abraham Alvarez in a main supporting bout at the San 2. Pre-Bid Conference 28, 2016 (Tuesday) 10:00 2. Pre-Bid Conference JuneJune 28, 2016 (Tuesday) 10:00 a.m.a.m.

Mateo Events Center in Cali3. Deadline forSubmission the Submission and Receipt of Bids 11, 2016 (Monday) 3. Deadline for the and Receipt of Bids July July 11, 2016 (Monday) 3:003:00 p.m.p.m. fornia on July 9 on a fight 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids 11, 2016 (Tuesday) onwards 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids July July 11, 2016 (Tuesday) 3:003:00 p.m.p.m. onwards card headlined by unbeaten Complete details the project are indicated the bidding documents willavailable be available to prospective bidders Complete details of theof project are indicated in thein bidding documents whichwhich will be to prospective bidders at theat the Procurement Department, payment the non-refundable feethe forsale the sale of bidding documents the amount of Twenty- younger brother Prince AlProcurement Department, uponupon payment of theofnon-refundable fee for of bidding documents in theinamount of TwentyThousand Pesos (PhP25,000.00).

Five Five Thousand Pesos (PhP25,000.00). bert Pagara, who clashes with Prospective bidders download the Bidding Documents free of charge the following websites: www.PAGCOR.ph another Mexican, the heavyProspective bidders may may also also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from from the following websites: www.PAGCOR.ph and www.philgeps.net and be mayallowed be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders paynon-refundable the non-refundable feethe forsale the of sale of bidding and www.philgeps.net and may to submit bids provided that bidders pay the fee for bidding documents not later the date the submission of bids.

The Pre-bid Conference is open all interested bidders.

Prospective handed Cesar Juarez. documents not later than than the date of theofsubmission of bids.

The Pre-bid Conference is open to all to interested bidders.

Prospective PAGCOR Corporate Office, Manila bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located the Sixth(6 Floor,Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New New WorldWorld Manila Bay Bay bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at theatSixth(6 The 28-year-old Alvarez, Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Fee Slip which may be secured Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Fee Slip which may be secured from from PD orPD or a copy of ITB this inITB in effecting payment forBidding the Bidding Documents.

All Bids be accompanied bid security in of any a copy of this effecting payment for the Documents.

All Bids mustmust be accompanied by a by bidasecurity in any theof the who was born in Arizona acceptable and the amount stated ITB Clause acceptable formsforms and in theinamount stated in ITBinClause 18 18 but now fights out of Sinaloa, PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders forexpenses any expenses incurred the preparation Mexico, has had an up-andPAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any incurred in theinpreparation of their bids. of their bids. down career in his 21-9-1, In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards 10 knockouts’ record and is Committee (BAC) 3 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is Committee (BAC) 3 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” the event that or two or more bidders post-qualified and determined asbidder the bidder having the Lowest coming off a six-round unan“DRAW LOTS,” in theinevent that two more bidders havehave beenbeen post-qualified and determined as the having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: imous decision over Jonas In alphabetical the bidders pick rolled one rolled paper.

Olivas last June 11 and also 1. 1.

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

The lucky bidder who would pickpaper the paper a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark be declared asfinal the bidder final bidder having 2. 2.

The lucky bidder who would pick the with awith “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall shall be declared as the having won by a first-round knockthe LCRB and recommended for award the contract. the LCRB and recommended for award of theofcontract. out in a scheduled eightPAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any and Bid, to and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at time any time PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any prior prior to to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability the affected bidder or bidders. round bout against Victor contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to thetoaffected bidder or bidders.

PAGCOR House, Rivera on May 16, 2015.

Please address all communications the Bids and Awards Committee thru Room PD, Room Second (2 Floor, PAGCOR House, Please address all communications to thetoBids and Awards Committee thru PD, 203, 203, Second (2 Floor, Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel 524-3911, No.: 524-3911, 521-1542 223 or 617.

13301330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 521-1542 locallocal 223 or 617.

Prior to that, Alvarez lost by stoppage in five consecutive ALBERTO R. VILLARAMA SGDSGD ALBERTO R. VILLARAMA Chairperson Chairperson fights between 2012 and 2014 and Awards Committee (BAC) Bids Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 3 3 (TS JUNE 20, 2016) (TS JUNE 20, 2016) against top-class opponents.

The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: The schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

th)

.

th)

.

nd)

nd)

M O N DAY : J UN E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Macaraya hopes to bring winning magic to SSC five COACH Egay Macaraya has a touch of championship magic in him wherever he ends up with. He hopes to bring it to the San Sebastian Stags.

Macaraya, who has steered San SebastianCavite and Centro-Escolar to multitudes of titles in the NCAA-South, MMCAA and NAASCU and Cafe France to a PBA D-League crown last year, however, said his first goal is to restore the winning attitude in the Stags when NCAA Season 92 opens on Jan. 25 at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

“I want to get that winning attitude back in this team before we think of anything,” said Macaraya, a former SSC alumnus, who took over from Rodney Santos early in the year.

After making it to the Final Four three years ago, the Stags went on a pair of losing seasons that saw them finishing eighth with a 5-13 record two years back and seventh with a 6-12 slate last year, changing coaches twice.

Now, San Sebastian hopes Macaraya will be

the answer to its woes.

Winning though will not come easy for the Stags as they not only parted ways with pro-bound Bradwyn Guinto, their pillar of inside strength, they also lost a talented Ranzelle Yong, who tore a ligament that cost him the whole season.

And they almost lost Michael Calisaan, the team’s primary scoring source who figured in a vehicular accident last month.

Thankfully, Calisaan lost only some teeth and was spared of a major injury.

Now the lanky, agile 6’5” wingman is out of the hospital and back in practice.

“We were very thankful nothing bad happened, it was really a blessing for us,” said Macaraya of Calisaan, who will come off the bench when they take on St. Benilde on Sunday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Tony Lascuña will be coming into the P2 million event toughened up by a Top 15 finish in last Sunday’s Queen’s Cup in Thailand.

Lascuña, Mondilla seek no. 3 at Forest Hills tilt

Naughty ‘n Nice. Fighters Roxy “Roundhouse” Michaels (top) and Shelly “Aphrodite” DaSilva compete

during “Lingerie Fighting Championships 21: Naughty ‘n Nice” at the Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino in Nice, California. Michaels won the bout. AFP

TONY Lascuña and Clyde Mondilla brace for a fierce showdown as they target win No. 3 on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, which resumes Wednesday with the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo, Rizal.

But while Mondilla is coming off a three-week rest following a joint fourth finish at Eagle Ridge Invitational, Lascuña will be coming into the P2 million event toughened up by a Top 15 finish in last Sunday’s Queen’s Cup in Thailand.

Still, the rigors of playing four tough rounds in Thailand then competing with the local aces with hardly enough time to rest could take their toll on the 46-year-old Lascuña, who held off a rallying Japanese Ryoma Miki to snare the ICTSI Eagle Ridge crown by one.

That was the ace Davaoeño’s shotmaker’s second victory in the season after romping off with a four-stroke victory over Korean Hyeok Park Jun at Luisita last April.

Mondilla has also posted two wins – in back-to-back fashions, ruling the Manila Masters in a playoff triumph over Jobim Carlos and dominating the field in the Calatagan leg of the circuit

Dewey Blvd. denies Radio Active a 2nd straight win FOURTH favorite Dewey Boulevard foiled Radio Active’s attempt of notching a second straight win in the Philippine Racing Commission Triple Crown, surprising racing fans by winning the second leg of the series at the Metroturf Racecourse in Malvar, Batangas recently.

Owned by Herminio S. Esguerra and trained by Ruben S. Tupas, the three-yearold colt posted 1:52 (13’-22’-24-23’-28’) for the 1,800-meter journey under the guidance of Jonathan Hernandez, who was however, fined

P1,000 by the stewards for grandstanding before reaching the finish line.

The win was worth P1.8 million for Dewey Boulevard.

Corresponding prizes were awarded up to fourth place and to the winning breeder, Herma Farms and Stud, also owned by Esguerra.

First-leg winner Radio Active of SC Stockfarm Inc. pocketed P675,000 as runner-up.

Coupled entry Underwood (third) and

Space Needle (fourth) earned P375,000 and P150,000, respectively.

The series was launched in 1978, with Native Gift winning the first two legs and Majority Rule denying him the sweep. Only 10 Triple Crown champions were crowned since then: Fair and Square in 1981, Skywalker (1983), Time Master (1987), Magic Showtime (1988), Sun Dancer (1989), Strong Material (1996), Real Top (1998), Silver Story (2001), Hagdang Bato (2012), and Kid Molave (2014).

sponsored by ICTSI and organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. But the rising Del Monte star struggled a bit at Eagle Ridge, finishing six strokes behind Lascuña in the seventh leg of annual circuit backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade, Sharp and Champion A host of others, however, are also in hot pursuit of the top P360,000 purse, guaranteeing four days of top-level action on a tough, windy course hosting a PGT leg for the first time in six years.

They include Carlos, Jay Bayron, Jhonnel Ababa, Jerson Balasabas, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Cassius Casas, Marvin Dumandan, Mhark Fernando, Zanieboy Gialon, Charles Hong, Benjie Magada, Rey Pagunsan, Mars Pucay, Justin Quiban, Micah Shin, Elmer Salvador and Orlan Sumcad.

Frankie Miñoza is also in the fold along with Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Japanese Yuta Sudo and Koichi Minami and Koreans Charlie Chang, Song Hyup Hong, Kim Chang Yeon, Thomas Kim, Brian Kim, Park Chan Jung, Park Jun Song and Park Min Ung and American Chris Oetinger.

LOTTORESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0 P16M

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

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK M O N DAY : J UN E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

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

Children sprint out of the starting Alaska arch during the Alaska Family Fun Run at McKinley West, Bonifacio Global City during Alaska Milk Day last weekend.

Fostering healthy habits

By Homer Vidal

THE whole nation ran, jogged, walked and danced the Zumba in four cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in celebration of Alaska Milk Day last weekend.

They came to McKinley West, Taguig; SM City Naga; SM Seaside Cebu and SM City Davao to join the Family Fun Run at 5 a.m., the milk toast held at 6 a.m. and a Zumba session, which started at 6:30 a.m. Free breakfast was served to all participants.

Alaska Milk Marketing Director Blen Fernando said the program which encourages people to start the day with exercise and a nutritious breakfast continues to grow every year.

“People look forward to it. It just keeps growing bigger every year.

We started with just a family fun run for 3,000 a few years ago. This year more than 12,000 registered nationwide and many more came to run and dance. We hope this event helps people remember to exercise and drink milk regularly throughout the year,” said Fernando.

Alaska donated the same number of cans of Alaska Milk to Children’s Hour, a fundraising organization that helps other organizations make the lives of disadvantaged children better.

The power breakfast consisted of Alaska Milk paired with

champorado and pandesal filled with Alaska condensed milk. The “Alaska Gatas for Breakfast” campaign wants everyone to start the day right with exercise and a nutritious breakfast.

“The effort to foster healthy habits among individuals and families—through the combination of exercise and proper nutrition—is Alaska’s way of helping the public stay fit, healthy and strong,” said Fernando.

Alaska wants today’s children and their parents to get off their couch, leave their gadgets for the day and engage in physical activity.

“We are not limiting the participants. Everyone is welcome. They can just walk in and join the run and the Zumba session. Every segment of society joined us. We have blind runners, children and toddlers. This just keeps growing,”

Alaska Milk Marketing Director Blen Fernando (center) leads the Milk Toast during the celebration of Alaska Milk Day at McKinley West, Bonifacio Global City last weekend.

said Fernando.

Jogging groups, walking groups, neighborhood exercise groups, of-

fice mates as well as families and friends took advantage of the safe and secure venue for the fun run.

TNT scrambling to find replacement for NBA veteran

By Jeric Lopez

JASON MAXIELL

TALK ‘N Text is forced to scramble for a new import for the upcoming 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. After securing the services of National Basketball Association veteran Jason Maxiell last week, the Tropang Texters now have to replace him after he was officially measured by the PBA over the

import height limit of 6’5”.

The former longtime Detroit Piston starter was officially measured at 6-foot-5 11/16 in two measurements at the PBA office late Friday, declaring him ineligible to play due to his excess in height.

This is certainly a huge blow for Tropang TNT, which is hoping that the former NBA standout can help turn around its subpar performance this season.

The development isn’t exactly

that of a surprise as Maxiell was listed at 6-foot-7 during his stint in the NBA several years ago.

Talk ‘N Text management was already aware that there’s a chance he might exceed the height limit but still took a chance to find out given Maxiell’s credentials and capabilities.

With this, Talk ‘N Text and Phoenix are the two teams that are still in search of the right import, while the others are already settled with their respective rein-

forcements.

After Maxiell was officially declared over the import height limit, TNT management immediately got back to the drawing board and is now burning the lines to find a replacement as prolific as the hulking veteran.

Only Mahindra and Blackwater are allowed to have imports beyond 6’5”, with 6’9” as the limit, due to their poor performances in the first two conferences.

B1

MONDAY: JUNE 20, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Foreign debt rises 3% to $77.6b

By Julito G. Rada

FOREIGN debt increased 3.1 percent to $77.6 billion as of end-March 2016 from a year ago, on foreign exchange fluctuation and new borrowings by the private sector, data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

Bangko Sentral said outstanding external debt increased $2.3 billion from $75.3 billion registered in March 2015. It said on a quarterly basis, the figure was also higher by $166 million than $77.5 billion in December 2015.

External debt refers to all types of borrowings by Philippine residents from non-residents. It includes the foreign debt of both the government and the private sector.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a statement that despite the increase in foreign debt, “key external debt indicators remained at very comfortable levels in the first quarter.”

He said gross international reserves of Bangko Sentral continued to exceed the external debt level. Gross international reserves climbed to $83 billion as of end-March 2016 from $80.5 bil-

lion a year earlier.

Tetangco said the foreign debt stock rose in March from a year ago, because of net debt availments amounting to $2.1 billion and foreign exchange revaluation and other adjustments in previous periods, which were partially offset by a decline in non-resident investments in Philippine debt papers.

Data showed public sector external debt amounted to $38.9 billion, or 50.1 percent of total debt stock, which declined from $39.1 billion a year ago.

Private sector debt, however, climbed to $38.7 billion or 49.9 percent of the total from $36.2 billion in March 2015.

Bangko Sentral said obligations to foreign banks and other financial institutions accounted for

32.6 percent of outstanding foreign debt, while borrowings from multilateral and bilateral creditors represented 31.5 percent.

Borrowings in the form of bonds/notes held by non-residents accounted for 29.4 percent, while the 6.5 percent balance was mostly owed to foreign suppliers/ exporters.

Foreign debt stock remained largely denominated in US dollar (63 percent) and Japanese yen (12.4 percent).

Tetangco said the external debt ratio stood at 21.9 percent of gross national income and 26.5 percent of gross national income as of end-March. The Philippine economy grew 6.9 percent growth in the first quarter.

The debt service ratio, which relates principal and interest pay-

ments to exports of goods and receipts from services and primary income, rose to 5.9 percent in March from 5.3 percent in December 2015, but remained below the international benchmark range of 20 percent to 25 percent, according to Bangko Sentral.

Bulk or 81.6 percent of the country’s external debt continued to be largely medium- to longterm debt, or those with original maturities longer than one year.

This means that foreign exchange requirements for debt payments are well spread out and more manageable, Bangko Sentral said.

The weighted average maturity for all MLT accounts stood at 16.9 years. Public sector debt had a longer average term of 22.8 years, compared to eight years for the private sector.

PSe comPoSite index Closing June 17, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,622.07 57.60

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing June 17, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.445

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.350 LOW P46.470 AVERAGE P46.418 VOLUME 529.000M

P427.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank

AllHome opens in Cebu. Villar Group chairman Manny Villar (sixth from left) leads the ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of AllHome Cebu. AllHome, a one-stop shop for homebuilders and designers, is under All Value Holdings Corp. Shown with Villar are (from left) AllHome operations manager Jay Ilagan, IT chief technology officer Paul Ambas, Starmall Cebu mall head Net Tecson, Starmall operations head Florence Bernardo, AllHome president Benjamarie Serrano, marketing director Camille Villar, Masterpiece Asia Properties Inc. president Jerry Navarrete, AllHome operations head Roy Fernandez and production head Earl Millanes.

P36.35-P43.45 Unleaded Gasoline

THE peso is expected to settle at 50 against the US dollar before the end of the year, as the US Federal Reserve prepares for an interest rate hike, a bank economist said over the weekend.

Bank of the Philippine Islands’ lead economist Emilio Neri Jr. said in a report the peso would more likely hit 50 than 45 against the greenback through 2017.

“Despite recent appreciation pressure, the peso is expected to revert towards the 50 handle as the Fed raises rates within the year with more follow-through actions in 2017 despite market expecta-

tions for the opposite,” Neri said.

“The most recent dot plots show that all members of the FOMC [Federal Open Market Committee] are in favor of at least one rate hike, which could force the peso to weaken towards the end of the year,” Neri said.

The US Fed kept interest rates unchanged last week, but hinted it could still raise rates for the remainder of 2016. Reports said six of the Fed’s 17 policymakers projected just one increase this year.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen said there was a need to see clear signs of economic strength before lifting rates. A sharp slowdown in US hiring in May cast doubts about

the strength of the labor market.

The Fed also said the economy would grow only 2 percent this year and in 2017, or 0.1 percentage point lower than previously forecast for each year. Yellen was uncertain on the timing of the rate increase.

Neri said the plan of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte about aggressive infrastructure spending would invoke a sharp increase in importation of capital machinery which would lead to a bump up in dollar demand, also causing the peso to weaken.

He said traditional sources of dollar liquidity might remain this year, such as remittances from over-

seas Filipinos and business process outsourcing receipts, “but these may not be enough to compensate for the surge in importations.”

“All in all, the peso is seen to reverse from its recent trend to end the year closer to the 50 handle than 45,” Neri said.

The peso closed at 46.445 per greenback on June 17, weaker than 46.43 per dollar a day ago.

Economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia and the Pacific earlier projected that the peso might trade between 48 and 49 a dollar this year, taking into consideration the volatility in the global financial markets.

today

P24.75-P29.60 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene

BPI economist expects peso to hit 50 a dollar

By Julito G. Rada

oPriceS il P

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, June 17, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.3510

Japan

Yen

0.009593

0.4446

UK

Pound

1.420400

65.8370

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128889

5.9741

Switzerland

Franc

1.036699

48.0520

Canada

Dollar

0.771248

35.7481

Singapore

Dollar

0.741730

34.3799

Australia

Dollar

0.735900

34.1097

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651957

122.9209

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266738

12.3636

Brunei

Dollar

0.738989

34.2529

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028361

1.3146

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.6208

Euro

Euro

1.122900

52.0475

Korea

Won

0.000853

0.0395

China

Yuan

0.151706

7.0317

India

Rupee

0.014858

0.6887

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.243962

11.3079

New Zealand

Dollar

0.704200

32.6404

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030912

1.4328 Source: PDS Bridge

MONDAY: JUNE 20, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

JUNE 13-17, 2016 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp.

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

3.95 46 108.70 97.20 37.65 3.28 1.40 14 18 7.00 1.77 598.50 0.570 87.05 0.92 15.00 23.00 53.50 106.5 265 32.05 201 1374.00 65.20 1.55

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp.

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

46.4 3.9 0.83 2 12.58 58.5 189.00 21.5 140 186 16.8 47.2 2 5.12 11.3 9.800 7.18 5.25 7.73 1.73 22.15 64.1 11.98 15.00 5.61 2.320 239.00 33.00 1.86 3.31 38.65 27.2 27.75 6.6 325.00 0.270 4.43 3.41 11.66 3.09 11.64 6.00 1.74 2.77 4.24 4.17 216.2 2.5 0.147 1.67 2.49 207 4.64 0.88 30.50 1.27

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

0.385 73.70 15.90 1.16 6.27 0.360 0.350 839 7.93 12.92 5 5 6.50 0.220 1431 6.31 83.40 6.19 6.83 7.55 0.69 15.5 0.490 6.5 3.3 0.0320 1.470 1.820 2.62 78.70 2.2 961.50 1.18 0.80 187.000 0.3150 0.2000 0.320

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

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

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

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

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

7.660 7.40 1.29 2.190 0.280 38.350 3.36 5.19 5.73 5.73 0.500 1.00 1.030 0.134 0.600 58.55 0.800 0.156 0.97 2.04 1.27 4.41 0.087 0.2550 0.455 41.00 9.52

Value

FINANCIAL 3,232,400.00 5,823,660.00 1,009,867,615 532,570,082.50 6,960,345.00 206,710.00 394,390.00 1,788,726.00 18,554,486.00 584,458 266,000.00 485,070.00 868,780.00 1,350,184,913.00 538,140.00 4,817,750.00 1,472,015.00 18,009,105.50 709,462.00 1,149,992.00 21,399,265 546,978,180.00 848,435.00 53,823,204.50 47,750.00 INDUSTRIAL 9,566,100 437,618,560.00 4,379,000 17,585,830.00 1,144,000 942,720.00 12,066,000 24,092,970.00 9,500 119,370.00 920 53,820.00 300 55,351.00 2,110,000 55,532,475 220 44,761.00 4,150 780,616.00 2,622,200 44,730,252.00 496,200 23,572,385 11,822,000 23,795,900.00 2,166,200 11,412,491.00 143,800 1,651,316.00 14,831,900 145,400,563.00 6,864,700 48,948,547.00 101,544,900 538,198,258.00 1,253,800 9,523,322.00 39,000 67,790.00 7,981,300 178,033,430.00 1,034,510 67,138,544.50 59,300 716,226.00 397,100 5,898,070.00 558,600 3,149,402.00 6,524,000 15,130,470.00 2,144,910 501,301,878.00 5,300 174,900.00 46,000 86,700.00 37,000 120,180.00 2,600 99,340.00 12,699,900 345,514,855.00 3,650,500 99,219,180.00 1,267,600 8,289,867.00 1,738,940 548,597,974.00 1,090,000 298,600.00 32,000 141,450.00 28,966,000 99,888,720.00 40,183,300 447,886,512.00 12,000 36,890.00 32,300 372,470.00 7,607,600 45,423,002.00 1,072,000 1,814,120.00 925,000 2,563,500.00 5,891,000 24,995,460.00 9,000 37,470.00 16,200 3,478,666.00 1,508,000 3,772,180 9,700,000 1,441,570.00 4,387,000 7,291,340.00 8,920,000 22,497,670.00 9,233,810 1,377,387,922.00 494,000 2,271,700.00 16,936,000 15,025,690.00 900 27,450.00 1,097,600 1,792,650.00 HOLDING FIRMS 4,190,000 1,576,950.00 7,654,850 561,634,337.00 16,170,000 335,274,820.00 197,000 223,920.00 102,900 619,996.00 23,809,000 9,222,500.00 2,640,000 928,450.00 1,853,380 1,522,737,163.00 7,364,100 57,261,719.00 14,390,200 185,021,020.00 47,200 236,000.00 13,500 67,500.00 1,395,100 9,052,924.00 1,900,000 416,550.00 571,680 817,907,235.00 20,600 132,111.00 34,057,370 2,841,808,606.00 98,200 607,858.00 267,000 1,814,911.00 5,647,500 42,484,794.00 1,166,000 806,320.00 14,720,200 223,194,528.00 90,000 44,100.00 152,146,700 971,332,237.00 35,000 113,710.00 14,900,000 478,200.00 147,322,000 187,119,970.00 5,601,000 10,175,800.00 135,000 351,780.00 1,433,020 113,473,590.00 45,000 96,130.00 1,229,320 1,185,378,755.00 303,000 353,680.00 236,000 191,330.00 87,820 16,197,150.00 3,780,000 1,169,850.00 3,970,000 783,790.00 38,320,000 12,631,400.00 PROPERTY 488,500 3,752,888.00 100 740.00 16,191,000 20,271,270.00 4,500,000 10,830,100.00 2,190,000 598,600.00 58,707,400 2,211,273,330.00 8,220,000 26,716,090.00 45,800 237,601.00 13,800 79,088.00 6,100 35,051.00 18,237,000 9,156,700.00 34,000 34,000.00 637,000 690,040.00 23,950,000 3,144,430.00 266,175,000 161,461,340.00 29,067,200 1,624,792,434.00 1,870,000 1,491,160.00 160,000 24,760.00 11,821,000 11,445,150.00 71,501,000 143,447,840.00 94,000 117,610.00 145,391,000 763,735,070.00 9,162,000 855,410.00 240,000 63,050.00 1,380,000 629,800.00 6,000 247,945.00 2,420,600 23,029,961.00 848,000 128,200 9,625,410 5,532,710 185,400 65,000 278,000 127,500 1,051,300 82,500 148,000 810 1,589,000 15,750,980 549,000 321,100 64,000 340,310 6,820 4,390 671,100 2,746,380 620 825,160 31,000

JUNE 6-10, 2016 Close Volume

Value

4.06 45.7 103.50 95.00 37.55 3.18 1.40 14.1 17.72 7.30 1.78 620.00 0.550 85.5 0.95 14.94 24.00 52.30 98.1 262 31.75 198.5 1380.00 65.20 1.59

1,258,000 162,400 15,190,650 6,999,040 308,700 164,000 1,110,000 108,000 4,395,300 3,100 119,000 2,060 1,549,000 15,066,010 115,000 393,100 2,200 1,804,450 8,570 12,270 1,668,200 3,592,690 375 10,735,670 202,000

5,008,190.00 7,399,045.00 1,629,534,814 671,691,855.00 11,564,890.00 506,980.00 1,546,110.00 1,520,970.00 77,684,412.00 22,619 215,380.00 1,256,100.00 855,550.00 1,310,637,096.00 108,520.00 5,889,790.00 51,650.00 95,565,740.00 869,499.50 3,202,904.00 52,712,420 717,740,892.00 517,555.00 691,423,057.50 311,820.00

46.5 4.01 0.85 2 13 59.9 170.20 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 38.85 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 30.50 1.25

15,283,100 5,225,000 497,000 24,963,000 89,400 610 800 2,018,600 4,210 8,620 2,180,900 473,700 8,694,000 2,057,605 261,100 39,557,700 5,847,600 88,041,800 2,978,500 57,000 17,422,600 1,201,700 77,700 721,500 2,365,900 10,202,000 2,831,500 24,300 61,000 98,000 3,100 10,641,100 7,148,100 1,809,700 1,044,500 4,430,000 51,000 1,280,000 38,124,300 105,000 24,700 6,377,800 4,997,000 728,000 9,057,000 88,900 7,860 558,000 16,940,000 4,566,000 52,746,000 6,698,450 108,000 21,721,000 1,100 1,954,000

720,237,155.00 19,615,240.00 426,230.00 49,122,990.00 1,063,566.00 33,889.00 136,165.00 44,125,260 775,540.00 1,667,289.00 38,923,628.00 22,511,635 18,274,900.00 11,677,118.00 3,005,612.00 399,752,154.00 42,934,935.00 498,487,133.00 22,205,221.00 97,030.00 399,052,320.00 62,129,141.00 950,062.00 10,991,952.00 13,540,770.00 23,662,130.00 667,875,074.00 853,955.00 126,230.00 318,340.00 120,365.00 296,519,975.00 209,198,105.00 11,913,776.00 327,583,642.00 1,183,450.00 220,800.00 4,599,290.00 450,692,266.00 325,000.00 285,408.00 34,179,175.00 8,861,110.00 2,043,380.00 38,406,700.00 438,120.00 1,701,970.00 1,397,420 2,547,310.00 7,826,190.00 134,106,920.00 1,340,205,709.00 500,990.00 19,919,230.00 33,570.00 2,478,220.00

0.385 74.85 15.98 1.16 6.00 0.370 0.365 830 7.83 12.88 5

17,840,000 11,028,750 24,930,800 443,000 87,100 22,820,000 5,550,000 1,864,460 15,736,200 25,588,900 17,200

6,866,000.00 848,201,329.00 393,774,186.00 500,680.00 520,920.00 8,471,750.00 2,073,100.00 1,585,482,710.00 125,175,988.00 334,400,852.00 87,300.00

6.49 0.235 1420 6.47 83.50 5.04 5.9 7.73 0.69 15.56 0.490 6.3 3.58 0.0320 1.280 1.840 2.68 79.00 2.13 965.50 1.15 0.80 184.000 0.3050 0.2050 0.325

4,825,200 970,000 621,620 156,000 29,279,230 1,200 100 9,881,100 1,209,000 22,086,700 1,033,000 230,543,800 3,000 152,400,000 128,000 6,316,000 3,000 1,769,900 69,000 1,283,340 463,000 261,000 148,950 14,130,000 2,630,000 25,150,000

31,029,354.00 217,140.00 895,247,525.00 998,102.00 2,478,117,717.50 6,159.00 590.00 77,281,583.00 836,310.00 350,336,678.00 496,370.00 1,474,948,173.00 11,140.00 4,879,100.00 165,160.00 11,515,640.00 8,040.00 140,552,195.50 148,930.00 1,256,021,670.00 537,450.00 210,720.00 27,164,114.00 4,334,800.00 527,150.00 8,446,550.00

7.800 7.55 1.25 2.300 0.270 37.100 3.29 5.19 5.98

740,400 12,600 44,439,000 4,832,000 7,120,000 61,325,600 13,864,000 167,900 200

5,832,404.00 87,925.00 52,726,480.00 11,539,470.00 1,961,500.00 2,336,275,550.00 46,087,820.00 866,196.00 1,171.00

0.510 1.00 1.100 0.131 0.540 67.75 0.790 0.155 0.97 1.99 1.28 4.4 0.090 0.2850 0.460 41.90 9.19

34,001,000 144,000 2,825,000 27,270,000 59,887,000 30,501,950 2,727,000 20,000 17,953,000 129,723,000 706,000 242,163,000 13,880,000 2,360,000 1,850,000 54,600 1,535,200

17,153,020.00 144,860.00 3,184,190.00 3,642,330.00 33,368,980.00 2,039,829,893.00 2,160,510.00 3,100.00 17,760,510.00 259,234,300.00 903,430.00 1,093,172,460.00 1,260,710.00 595,360.00 886,500.00 2,339,435.00 13,675,427.00

STOCKS

JUNE 13-17, 2016 Close Volume

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

29.65 1.64 3.09 25.45 0.91 6.55 1.010 5.280

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.26 49.4 1.25 0.640 11.36 31.5 5.90 0.0580 2.82 99.5 9.88 1.91 6.55 3.42 960 2284 6.35 21.55 1.15 60.8 13.06 167 11.5 0.0100 9.62 0.325 1.6000 2.35 11.98 7.72 3.30 1.04 20.00 0.570 1.95 2.97 4.01 2.820 12.68 4.83 2.41 8.99 120.00 24.55 2030.00 0.440 1.150 43.40 79.75 6.41 3.00 0.570 1.97 3.4 0.355 6.590

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0042 2.46 4.58 11.80 0.228 7.2700 7.3200 0.62 0.495 8.88 0.940 0.295 0.265 0.285 0.0150 0.0160 1.87 4.99 2.7 0.5800 1.2700 0.0110 0.0100 4.07 9.21 4.62 0.0130 129.00 4.01 0.0120

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure & Resort Pref.

MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

49.1 540 540 116.5 117.5 540 6.4 1.07 111.8 1037 1110 1038 106.4 114 79.5 80 77 76.5 78.5 77 75.5 76.95 2.25

Leisure & Resort Warr.

3.130

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

3.91 3.49 4.8 16.6

First Metro ETF

125.6

JUNE 6-10, 2016 Close Volume

Value

9,889,700 289,431,075.00 277,000 443,930.00 128,000 396,050.00 115,019,800 2,911,555,135.00 6,936,000 6,149,230.00 7,700 49,585.00 2,522,000 2,534,370.00 21,187,200 111,702,519.00 SERVICES 338,100 2,473,782.00 539,390 26,392,389.50 117,000 149,880.00 9,245,000 5,673,810.00 27,300 330,200.00 57,900 1,722,360 66,138,600 364,358,978.00 70,270,000 4,047,410.00 7,365,000 20,907,740.00 4,098,850 403,276,679.00 3,200 31,487.00 139,000 283,020 530,400 3,396,561.00 5,000 17,250.00 380 364,600.00 595,285 1,366,310,150 597,100 3,753,874.00 83,700 1,803,735 205,000 233,750.00 6,652,820 281,338,705.50 137,300 1,784,782 200 33,565 40,500 465,470.00 116,100,000 1,217,800.00 4,004,000 38,567,301.00 70,560,000 23,190,050.00 9,676,000 15,534,380.00 147,000 346,520.00 64,500 779,992.00 287,300 2,181,392 2,336,000 7,742,080.00 11,000 11,510.00 11,400 226,388 87,000 50,010.00 313,000 614,600.00 114,379,000 309,985,000.00 15,185,000 60,553,500.00 35,733,000 103,962,020.00 154,300 1,970,832.00 96,000 465,000 99,000 238,460.00 3,645,900 29,584,158.00 1,410 168,530.00 534,900 12,926,305.00 707,860 1,428,264,485.00 33,380,000 14,357,300.00 171,755,000 182,942,130.00 10,965,700 459,713,635.00 6,440,920 516,348,843.00 3,966,000 25,506,592.00 47,377,000 135,945,960.00 15,878,000 9,015,650.00 10,000 18,980.00 8,421,000 28,809,830.00 150,000 50,200.00 213,900 1,361,721.00 MINING & OIL 7,301,000,000 31,819,400.00 8,556,000 20,844,550.00 1,405,000 6,403,890.00 165,100 1,767,776.00 720,000 165,570.00 161,200 1,172,881.00 162,100 1,175,562.00 3,207,000 2,013,310.00 3,740,000 1,808,200.00 62,400 547,818.00 103,757,000 96,897,800.00 1,460,000 432,800.00 309,050,000 82,437,050.00 13,340,000 3,836,150.00 654,600,000 9,619,500.00 385,500,000 5,869,800.00 2,162,000 4,066,110.00 26,324,000 128,033,200.00 1,894,000 5,062,740.00 29,000 16,880.00 400,000 499,570.00 58,800,000 592,900.00 7,000,000 71,100.00 62,000 250,570.00 29,160,300 259,388,533.00 45,103,900 222,283,094.00 245,100,000 3,184,900.00 1,480,450 190,879,376.00 3,874,000 15,783,170.00 98,100,000 1,092,000.00 PREFERRED 2,262,600 112,272,497.50 16,540 10,432,255.00 10,600 5,716,000 920 104,158.00 500 58,760.00 1,180 631,040.00 8,800 56,320.00 428,000 461,290 17,730 1,972,432.00 28,990 31,251,450.00 160 177,600.00 17,225 17,815,980.00 400 42,560.00 6,000 683,500.00 80,480 6,302,612.00 161,240 13,049,027.00 26,600 2,035,040.00 324,470 24,773,955.00 71,770 5,636,222.00 333,500 25,976,599.50 366,360 27,964,030.00 595,000 45,682,980.00 63,000 142,020.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 1,980,000 6,164,870.00 SME 5,790,000 22,863,170.00 42,000 148,850.00 46,423,000 201,913,100.00 11,449,300 182,334,552.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 50,100 6,208,113.00

Value

29.00 1.63 3.08 24.25 0.9 6.39 1.010 5.320

8,879,800 1,152,000 192,000 85,350,400 12,194,000 19,100 2,508,000 61,848,300

263,158,225.00 1,882,820.00 589,780.00 2,166,426,950.00 11,060,520.00 117,510.00 2,568,920.00 330,034,077.00

7.23 50.2 1.26 0.590 11.3 28.5 5.26 0.0580 2.86 100 9.89 2.05 6.76 3.50 960 2370 6.38 21.55 1.15 61.5 13.20 164 11.5 0.0100 9.60 0.340 1.6500 2.48 11.8 7.80 3.51 1.01 20.00 0.580 2 2.48 4.00 2.810 12.5 4.98

574,700 1,138,950 82,000 3,876,000 10,100 20,300 102,651,600 189,040,000 12,155,000 6,963,430 100 791,000 794,400 38,000 1,750 277,990 2,433,800 67,200 819,000 6,686,220 399,500 1,680 51,800 17,700,000 5,052,900 127,580,000 39,841,000 95,000 66,800 2,013,000 19,448,000 41,000 8,200 65,000 380,000 79,667,000 24,038,000 35,346,000 2,729,900 80,100

4,161,013.00 57,398,325.50 109,970.00 2,269,800.00 109,092.00 575,820 513,886,550.00 11,223,410.00 35,433,410.00 691,745,088.00 989.00 1,573,270 5,310,219.00 143,990.00 1,680,000.00 666,298,590 15,467,606.00 1,451,335 946,000.00 415,563,870.00 5,385,260 261,429 598,592.00 176,610.00 48,558,598.00 42,354,350.00 16,142,150.00 227,700.00 784,770.00 15,555,731.00 66,981,210.00 44,640.00 159,296 37,360.00 758,060.00 198,680,710.00 96,718,600.00 99,041,000.00 46,934,844.00 395,168

8.65 119.00 24.80 2054.00 0.435 1.010 42.30 81.15 6.26 2.74 0.580 1.99 3.4 0.355 6.550

10,500 19,420 614,900 1,540,240 69,550,000 239,626,000 30,326,200 7,182,370 1,489,200 33,132,000 5,717,000 43,000 3,938,000 4,900,000 1,118,852

90,835.00 2,328,914.00 13,137,310.00 3,189,457,350.00 30,750,350.00 251,024,640.00 1,289,375,020.00 586,322,238.00 9,370,728.00 90,417,780.00 3,416,360.00 84,170.00 13,331,760.00 1,312,150.00 1,427,895.00

0.0047 2.31 4.52 12.46 0.235 7.8000 7.3500 0.63 0.475 8.46 0.930 0.310 0.265 0.285 0.0150 0.0150 1.86 4.87 2.67 0.6000 1.2800 0.0110 0.0110 4.08 8.40 4.60 0.0130 129.30 4.03 0.0120

5,437,000,000 4,903,000 814,000 12,800 9,770,000 31,200 69,300 1,825,000 2,030,000 596,800 272,522,000 10,000,000 165,600,000 13,990,000 1,049,000,000 292,300,000 3,370,000 39,903,000 1,132,000 413,000 1,146,000 121,900,000 35,300,000 95,000 27,824,800 34,286,000 369,300,000 3,691,200 4,109,000 285,800,000

24,743,700.00 11,367,790.00 3,587,140.00 154,630.00 2,253,390.00 239,410.00 514,392.00 1,164,830.00 965,950.00 5,194,318.00 241,391,170.00 2,950,800.00 42,919,000.00 3,863,400.00 14,041,900.00 4,238,100.00 6,143,760.00 184,322,210.00 2,953,480.00 243,200.00 1,443,690.00 1,285,880.00 383,200.00 386,060.00 218,787,633.00 150,671,700.00 4,921,400.00 480,563,362.00 16,703,450.00 3,221,600.00

50 539.5 536

1,871,060 114,750 66,570

93,905,152.00 61,079,275.00 35,427,630

124 535 6.5 1.09 110.5 1028 1086 1037 106 113.3 79.85 80.5 76.5 78.5 78.6 76.55 77 76.8 2.5

195,800 18,530 69,000 3,097,000 220,000 33,640 210 20,690 1,690 4,533 19,180 89,870 4,700 26,550 105,400 56,840 259,380 227,570 78,000

23,897,600.00 9,866,150.00 442,350.00 3,413,380 23,774,510.00 34,929,630.00 228,830.00 21,270,020.00 179,210.00 501,186.00 1,515,373.00 7,305,646.00 358,700.00 2,052,525.00 8,236,072.00 4,384,515.00 19,975,785.00 17,502,168.00 189,370.00

3.030

2,691,000

8,367,150.00

4.07 3.3 3.03 16.64

10,963,000 25,000 849,000 17,174,200

45,323,150.00 84,300.00 2,624,290.00 287,490,652.00

123.1

163,190

20,403,247.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Lepanto `A’ Cyber Bay Corp.

Philodrill Corp. `A’ Premium Leisure Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Prime Media Hldg Megaworld Prop.

VOLUME 7,301,000,000 654,600,000 385,500,000 309,050,000 266,175,000 245,100,000 171,755,000 152,146,700 147,322,000 145,391,000

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings JG Summit Holdings Ayala Land `B’ Double Dragon Ayala Corp `A’ PLDT Common Universal Robina Globe Telecom Metrobank SM Investments Inc.

VALUE 2,911,555,135.00 2,841,808,606.00 2,211,273,330.00 1,624,792,434.00 1,522,737,163.00 1,428,264,485.00 1,377,387,922.00 1,366,310,150.00 1,350,184,913.00 1,185,378,755.00

MONDAY: JUNE 20, 2016

B3

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

Mitsubishi certification.

The Board of Investments awards the certificate of registration to Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. for the production of 200,000 units of its Mirage/Mirage G4 model under the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy Program. Shown is BoI governor Henry Co (third from left) handing the certificate of registration to MMPC president and chief executive Yoshiaki Kato (second from right). With them are (from left) Trade assistant secretary Rafaelita Aldaba, BoI governor Lucita Reyes, Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. and MMPC executive vice president Shigeru Ogura.

Megaworld boosts rental income

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. said it expects to end the year with 1.2 million square meters of leasable space, as it continues to ramp up office and retail developments.

Megaworld executive vice president Kingson Sian said the company was set to complete 114,000 square meters of office space and another 105,000 square meters of retail space this year.

“This year we will breach

the one-million-square-meter mark, split between office and retail and by 2017-2018, we will breach the one-million-squaremeter market for office alone,” Sian said.

He said by the end of 2016, Megaworld would have 851,000

square meters of office space and 341,000 square meters of commercial and retail space.

Sian said the company would easily roll out the office, retail and residential developments as components of integrated township projects.

Megaworld currently has 21 integrated urban townships across the country covering around 3,061 hectares in terms of land area.

Twelve of them, or more than half, are in the provinces covering 2,807 hectares while the remaining nine are in Metro

Manila spanning 254 hectares.

Megaworld earlier committed to provide the market at least 100,000 square meters of office space and another 60,000 to 70,000 square meters of retail developments annually until 2019.

Megaworld increased its 2016 rental income target to P11 billion from the original target of P10 billion.

Megaworld said 11 malls and commercial centers would be completed in McKinley Hill, Uptown Bonifacio, McKinley West, The Mactan Newtown,

Iloilo Business Park, ArcoVia City, Southwoods City and Makati City by end of the year.

The company’s malls and commercial centers primarily cater to the group’s increasing residents and BPO workers within its townships.

The company’s offices and retail spaces enjoy an occupancy rate of around 99 percent across the developments.

Megaworld’s leasing income from malls, commercial centers and offices reached P8.73 billion in 2015, up by 23.4 percent from P7.07 billion in 2014.

SMDC, Federal Land Stock market likely to sustain gains team up in Makati SM DEVELOPMENT Corp, the residential unit of Sy family and Federal Land Inc., the residential arm of the Ty group, formed a 50:50 joint venture to develop a high-end residential tower in Makati City.

SM Development executive vice president and SM Prime residential business head Jose Mari Banzon said in a recent interview the 3,400-square-meter property along Ayala Ave. would be developed as a high-end residential development “We will not do justice to the property if we will not make this a premier, high-end development,” Banzon said.

The joint venture partners are still finalizing the details of the project, including the construction cost, number of units to be offered and selling price per square meter.

Banzon said the project was expected to be launched next year.

This is the first joint venture project to be undertaken by SM Development Corp., which has been developing condominiums for the middle-income market.

SM Development earlier said it planned to expand its portfolio by venturing into horizontal development and launch its first house and lot project in Pampanga this year.

The group’s plan to develop house and lot projects aims to address the massive housing backlog. Jenniffer B. Austria

STOCKS are expected to sustain their gains this week, as anxiety over the planned US rate hike and the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union eased, analysts said over the weekend.

“Given the Fed rate scare is off for now, the PSEi [Philippine Stock Exchange index] may maintain its uptick next week. In addition, as of this writing, the Brexit referendum vote due next week has been suspended due to the murder of a pro-EU lawmaker,” RCBC Securities market analyst Jeremy Yumul said.

Analysts said the US Fed’s decision last week not to raise key rates this month would continue to buoy investor confidence in emerging markets, including the Philippines.

BDO Unibank Inc. investment

strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the benchmark index could retest the 7,800-point level, after it pierced the 7,600 level last week.

“A break above the 7,800 could push the market to challenge the 8,000 levels. However, failure to break above the 7,800 levels could prompt some profit taking back towards the 7,500 levels,” Ravelas said.

The PSEi gained 112.13 points or 1.5 percent over last week’s five-day market trading to close at 7,622.07 on June 17.

Except for the services index which declined 0.4 percent, all major indices ended in the green led by financials (up 2.5 percent), industrial (up 2.3 percent) and mining and oil (up 1.7 percent).

The index started the week on the weak side after being haunted by the US Fed and Brexit referen-

dum scare. However, the market recovered toward the end of the week on favorable Fed decision.

Foreign investors were net buyers last week of P487 million, as total foreign buying reached P19.97 billion while foreign selling amounted to P19.48 billion.

Top gainers last week were gaming firms Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. which jumped 19.7 percent to P2.97 and Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which gained 12.2 percent to P5.90. Philex Mining Corp. advanced 8.9 percent to P9.21.

Heavy losers were DoubleDragon Properties Corp. which dropped 13.5 percent to P58.55 and Energy Development Corp. which declined 4.6 percent to P5.25. Globe Telecom Inc. lost 3.6 percent to P2,284.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B4

BSP seen to keep interest rate at 3%

By Gabrielle H. Binaday BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely keep the key interest rate at 3 percent on Thursday, a London-based think tank said over the weekend.

Capital Economics said in its Emerging Asia Weekly issue that Bangko Sentral was not expected to change the overnight reverse repurchase facility, following the launch of the interest rate corridor system on June 3.

“Following the shift to an interest rate corridor system last month, the central bank in the Philippines looks highly likely to keep interest rates unchanged at 3 percent on Thursday,” the think tank said.

Capital Economics said while consumer price inflation increased in May to 1.6 percent, it was still below Bangko Sentral’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

“And while inflation is likely to rise over the coming months as the low base caused by the fall in oil prices drops out of the annual comparison, it should remain relatively low for a while yet,” Capital Economics said.

It said the economy continued to grow at a decent pace, which meant there was little need for rate cuts.

The Philippines, along with three other Asian economies, is seen to have the best growth prospects in the region.

“The countries with the best prospects are those which are likely to experience the fastest nominal wage growth but also where consumers have low debt,” it said.

Customs transition. Customs officials wear plaid shirts as incumbent commissioner Alberto Lina (seated, sixth from left) welcomes incoming commissioner Nicanor Faeldon (seventh from left) during the Customs Collectors Conference where district collectors representing the country’s ports and subports convene on the bureau’s strategy plan to improve revenue performance.

PLDT set to expand international services

By Darwin G. Amojelar

TOKYO, Japan—PLDT Inc. said it plans to modernize its international services and set a revenue target of $50 million for its overseas unit this year.

“We want to pivot our business [overseas] which is largely legacy. Legacy means voice and text. It’s not easy journey but it is quite complicated because you will work with content providers. You might have platforms and you must have passed country regulation,” PLDT Global Corp. chief executive Alex Caeg said.

The PLDT Group has embarked on a three-year digital pivot in the Philippines that aims to transform its networks into most data-capable infrastructure delivering digital services.

PLDT teamed up with NTT Communications of Japan to bring to 240,000 Filipinos

residing in the East Asian nation an innovative service that bundles mobile internet with free calls and remittance services.

PLDT JP GK launched the new service called Smart World on April 15, 2016.

“Our new offering—Smart World—empowers the digital lifestyle of Filipinos in Japan through a mobile data SIM bundled with a pocket wifi in a monthly prepaid subscription,” Caeg said.

The prepaid subscription service allows subscribers to choose from four monthly base plans of 10GB + monthly freebies, 7GB + monthly freebies, 5GB + monthly freebies, or 3GB + monthly freebies. Prices start at 4,200 yen, excluding consumption tax.

“Japan is very mature digital market,” PLDT JP GK general manager John Palanca said.

PGC’s mobile virtual network operator business offers legacy traditional telecoms services in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, Guam, Macau and Taiwan.

Palanca said PGC planned to launch Smart

World service in these markets and other new markets.

Caeg said the company was targeting $50 million in revenues this year, up from last year’s over $40 million.

“If there’s improvement in our revenues, it would come from our digital and content offerings,” he said. “ I think we have to do better than $50 million this year,” Caeg said.

PLDT, partly owned by Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd. and Japan’s NTT group, earlier reported a net income of P6.22 billion in the January-March period, down by 34 percent from P9.48 billion a year ago.

The company blamed the decline in net income to the higher product subsidies and financing costs, and increased impairment charges related to the investment in Rocket Internet.

Core profit, which excludes foreign exchange gains or losses and other non-recurring income, dropped 22 percent to P7.21 billion in the first quarter from P9.28 billion last year.

Customs upholds alert order on imported steel bars

By Othel V. Campos THE Bureau of Customs recommended to uphold the alert order on the shipment of 5,000 metric tons of deformed reinforcement steels bars from China.

A Customs memorandum order issued on June 6 showed the Race Against The Smugglers group headed by the Customs legal department recommended to commissioner Alberto Lina that the alert be maintained until the case was fully investigated and tried to the full extent of the law.

The group headed by lawyer

Erwin Mendoza, acting director for legal service and executive director of Rats, said it was prudent to “thresh out the issues against the subject shipment, if warranted under the circumstances.”

The bureau issued the alert order on April 21 after the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute informed the Trade Department and Customs Bureau that the shipment of 5,000 MT of deformed reinforcing steel bars

by Mannage Resources Trading Corp. that passed through Subic in Zambales province lacked

permits.

It decided to maintain an “alert order,” preventing a food company from illegally importing P95 million worth of steel bars from China based on alleged “unworthiness” of the product.

The agency said it was keen on following Customs regulations to ensure that every case and transaction was aboveboard.

Mendoza also suggested to conduct a 100-percent re-test of the shipment as the first quality testing was seen compromised for lacking a witness, preferably the presence of a local industry expert.

The alert order on the shipment could not be lifted “until a 100-percent physical examination has been conducted,” he said.

“Due diligence, while it may be deemed dilatory to trade facilitation, might be something that could save lives. It is better to be safe than sorry,” he said.

Pisi, the local steel group, earlier filed graft charges against two Trade officials for allowing the entry of P95 million rebars importation despite lack of logo, proper import commodity clearance and import certificate.

M O N D AY : J U N E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

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

B5

EDC eyes 1,500-MW windmills

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ENERGY Development Corp., a renewable power producer led by the Lopez Group, plans to build six more power projects that will add 1,500 megawatts.

EDC received an approval from the Energy Department to conduct studies on six potential wind power projects in Luzon and the Visayas to determine their impact on the power grid.

Latest data from the Energy Department showed that EDC received approval for the 153MW Matnog 1 and 206-MW

Matnog 2 wind projects in Matnog, Sorsogon; 213-MW Iloilo 1 in Batad and San Dionisio and 500-MW Iloilo 2 in Concepcion, Iloilo.

The company was also granted approval to conduct the grid impact study for the expansion of the 183-MW Burgos wind project in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

EDC owns the existing 150-

MW Burgos wind project in Ilocos Norte which was successfully commissioned in November 2014 and is now considered the country’s largest wind power project.

EDC also received an approval to conduct the grid impact study for the 262-MW Negros wind project in Manapla and Cadiz.

EDC, an affiliate of First Gen Corp., is the country’s largest geothermal producer which expanded its renewable energy footprint to include solar and wind.

The National Renewable Energy Board recently sought an approval from the Energy Department for an additional 500-

MW installation target for wind projects under the feed-in tariff regime.

NREB proposed a lower feedin tariff rate of P6 to P7 per kilowatt-hour for wind projects under the third round of installation targets.

The Energy Regulatory Commission earlier granted a P7.40per-kWh feed-in tariff rate to Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp.’s 54-MW San Lorenzo wind power project in Guimaras, PetroWind Energy Inc.’s 36-MW Nabas wind project in Aklan and Alternergy Wind One Corp.’s 54-MW Pililla wind power project in Rizal under the second wave of wind projects.

The regulator granted a lower rate to the second wave of wind projects due to the recent developments in wind technology.

ERC earlier approved a feedin tariff rate of P8.53 per kWh under the first wave of wind installation target. Qualified projects include EDC’s 150MW Burgos wind project, NorthWind Power Development Corp.’s 18.9-MW phase 3 wind project and North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp’s 81MW Caparispisan wind project in Ilocos Norte.

The Energy Department increased the installation target for wind under the FIT system to 400 MW from 200 MW.

Garments exports expected to reach $1b

By Othel V. Campos THE Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines asked for government support to address roadblocks to the growth of garments and hard goods sectors.

Fobap president Robert Young said his group’s export sales of garments were projected to hit $1 billion, while those of hard goods were seen to reach $200 million in 2016.

Hard goods include furniture, handicrafts, home decor and decorative items.

“The direction of the Philippine garments industry is towards the middle to high-end [markets]. The basic ones are not really any more attractive to the buyers because of our obstacles and roadblocks that we have in the garment and furniture or hard goods industry,” he said.

Fobap said among the major roadblocks to the growth of garment and hard goods industry were high power cost, wages and financing.

Other Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam partly subsidize power, wages and financing cost of their dollar-earning industries, he said.

Young also underscored the need for the country to invest massively in infrastructure development.

“The internet speed is really the slowest in Asean. We are hoping that the new government can do something… [We also need] improved and upgraded port facilities. The port congestion is also killing these exports of ours,” he said.

Fobap also pushed for the establishment of more factories to meet import orders. The group sees garments exports increasing 20 percent in the first half of 2017.

Sinotrans-Uni-Ship partnership. Uni-Ship Inc. recognizes 11 years of partnership with principal Sinotrans Container Lines of China.

In 2005, Uni-Ship was appointed as the general agent of Sinotrans in the Philippines. Shown during the awarding of the token of appreciation are (from left) Sinotrans Shanghai business department general manager Yu Zhengbao, Sinotrans Xiamen branch general manager Liu Hai Peng, Sinotrans deputy general manager Liu Hong Bin, Sinotrans general manager Xu Qiumin, Uni-Ship chairman Jae Jang and Uni-Ship president Efren Caboteja.

Cloud summit to tackle digital transformation THE Philippine business sector has the potential to flourish faster and uplift the economy, if it embraces the digital technology, according to local cloud computing pioneer IP Converge Data Services Inc. IPC asked business executives, entrepreneurs and technology buffs to take part in the upcoming 2016 Philippine Cloud Summit under the theme “IoT: The Pinnacle of Digital” which will be held at SMX Convention Center at SM Aura Premier in Taguig City on June 29.

The summit aims to teach businesses on how to turn their companies into a digitally empowered workplace and to help

them harness the benefits to dayto-day operations, employee engagement and the bottom line.

“By now, every businessman must have realized how a digitally connected workplace translates into better performance and higher engagement across the organization. Real-time access to vital information is necessary when making mission-critical decisions. By embracing digital, the Philippine business sector has the potential to flourish faster and uplift the economy, in line with our country being dubbed as Asia’s Rising Tiger,” said IPC president Reynaldo Huergas.

Participants of the Philippine

Cloud Summit will gain the opportunity to listen to over 10 local and global thought leaders as they share their insights on the current state of technology in the business arena.

Among the speakers are KingYew Foong, research vice president and chief of research for communications service providers at Gartner, the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company and Kenneth Siow, head of strategic sales and business development – Asia at tech giant Google.

Other speakers will be from CloudSigma, Nexusguard, Imperva Incapsula, CR8V Web Services, Salesforce, Bluecloud

Australia, Smart Communications and PayMaya. Each will tackle various aspects of enterprise IT, focusing on infrastructure and security, workplace productivity and business mobility.

The event also marks a significant milestone in Philippine cloud computing with the launch of the Cloud Community of the Philippines, a vendor-agnostic community that will serve as a venue for sharing of ideas and best practices, whether technical or operational, among individuals who build, develop, maintain and use cloud computing infrastructure, platforms, and applications in the country.

MONDAY: JUNE 20, 2016

B6

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

DENR to strictly watch air quality

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Environment Department said it will strictly monitor and assess air quality in the country amid the thriving local automobile industry.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said a more stringent air quality monitoring was necessary as car sales hit record levels in recent years, with motor vehicles a major contributor to ambient air pollution.

“The increase in purchasing vehicles is one of the reasons why we have to become stricter in mon itor i ng the air quality and smoke emissions,” Paje said.

The Philippine automotive industry posted sales of 323,928 units in 2015, the highest ever and surpassing the previous record of 269,841 in 2014.

Paje said 70 percent to 80 percent of air pollution in Metro Manila was caused by vehicle emissions.

He said the Environmental Management Bureau had successfully installed air quality monitoring stations in each of the 17 local government units in Metro Manila.

“These monitoring stations broadcast real-time values of ambient air quality over the National Capital Region. The values from the monitoring stations are reported in comparison with the national air quality guidelines for health,” Paje said.

MA. ISABEL M. FERNANDEZ

GREEN LIGHT WHILE The Lion King is a childfriendly movie, it depicts themes commonly found in the monarchy of Europe’s early Middle Ages such as murdering for power, the envy from a relative, and the distinct difference between leadership styles of a benevolent king and a powerhungry one. However, what makes the movie great is how it shows the growth, strength and bravery of a kingdom’s successor amid adversity and a painful past.

Birth, death and betrayal The movie begins with the celebration of the birth of Mufasa’s son, Simba. He is born with the responsibility of ruling the kingdom after Mufasa’s reign. Simba grows up into a feisty child who looks forward to becoming king one day which he proudly brags about to his uncle, Scar. Little did he know, Scar wanted him and his father dead, so that he can be king instead. Although Scar failed to kill Simba on his first try, he succeeded killing his own brother and making his nephew disappear on his second.

Non-life insurers see double-digit growth

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE non-life insurance sector expects to post a double-digit growth in net premium this year, an industry executive said over the weekend.

Michael Rellosa, former president of Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association, told reporters the industry could replicate the 16.2-percent growth it posted in 2015 as long as no major catastrophe hit the country.

“The past two years have been friendly in the sense that we don’t have any major disturbances. So were able to add to our retailing income, add to our net worth,” said Rellos, who is also the president and chief

executive of Fortune General Insurance Corp.

Latest data from the Insurance Commission showed that net premium income of the non-life sector jumped 16.2 percent to P37.3 billion in 2015. Insurance commissioner Emmanuel Dooc said earlier this was a record year for the sector.

“This is the highest in the history of nonlife insurance. This is their banner year,” Dooc said.

Dooc said the expansion of the nonlife sector was pushed by the P11-billion net premium income it posted in the last quarter of 2015, compared to an average quarterly level of P8 billion.

The P7.2-billion premium income posted by the mutual benefits association also pushed the industry’s growth expansion.

“The performance of the MBA is nothing to

sneeze at. They are now a major contributor to our premium income,” Dooc said.

Dooc earlier said the non-life sector could grow to “P47 billion for 2016,” or a 26.01 percent increase from the figure recorded last year.

Dooc said together with the life sector, he expected the insurance industry to book P300 billion in net worth by the end of 2016.

“I will be very happy if we hit 300 billion [in 2016]. I think it is achievable,” he said.

Pira is composed non-life insurance companies in the Philippines and represents the collective interests of the group.

The association has around 90 members that provide 90 percent of domestic non-life insurance services sold in the Philippines. Pira members also account for a substantial investment in the Philippine stock market.

Energy fellowship.

Cleantech Venture expert and Asian Development Bank consultant Charles Cole Navarro delivers an overview on sustainable energy in the global context during Impact Hub Manila’s official launch of Fellowship on Sustainable Energy Solutions at Green Sun building in Makati City.

Impact Hub Manila teams up with Peace and Equity Foundation Inc. and WWF Philippines to provide entrepreneurs a chance to win more than P2.5 million worth of fellowship prizes, including P1.5 million in seed funding, skill development trainings, mentorship, access to stimulating workspaces and valuable networks.

EY ACASIO

Leadership lessons from The Lion King Afterwards, Simba runs away and is saved by Timon and Pumba. The two help Simba move on with his life and adjust to the jungle. The friendship between the three grow strong and they stick together for many years, living in their paradise. However, their lives are disrupted when Simba meets his best friend, Nala.

She begs him to return to Pride Rock and he agrees to do so after a magical conversation with his dead father. The truth behind Mufasa’s death is eventually revealed and after much fighting, Simba gains back the throne.

Mufasa vs. Scar’s leadership There were three key characters in the movie. They were Mufasa, Simba and Scar. In terms of leadership, Mufasa had been a great leader. Under his reign, Pride Rock was prosperous and peaceful despite the ironic fact that the herbivores were being ruled by the very animals that eat them. He showed strength, kindness, masculinity and wisdom.

He listened to his people and treated them well. In return, they adored and acknowledged him.

On the other hand, Scar’s reign

had ruined the lands. While the movie did not show how he ruled, he most probably did not care for the circle of life which Mufasa placed so much importance on, and allowed the hyenas to eat and terrorize the other animals. The hyenas suddenly had more power, and so the food chain had become unsettled. The land became barren of life, and the lionesses were struggling to find food.

Scar was a terrible leader. He showed no concern for the state of Pride Rock and his people’s wellbeing, he was envious of Mufasa even after his brother’s death and he clung onto his throne even with the famine. Fortunately, the land became prosperous once more after Simba became king.

Applying the Great Man Theory The interesting part in this movie was when Simba spoke to Mufasa’s spirit in the clouds. Mufasa kept saying, “Remember who you are.”

Was he implying that Simba was a born leader? It sounded like he did, and this sort of brings light to the Great Man Theory. The reigns of both Simba and Mufasa were good

ones. They also showed similar traits such as charisma, kindness, courage and intelligence.

However, Simba went through a lot of growth and struggles which could have shaped him into the leader he became. His leadership was most probably a product of inherited and cultivated traits. So, is Simba a leader that was born or made? In my opinion, he is both.

Leadership flaw Despite their differences and similarities, they all had a leadership flaw. Mufasa was too trusting of those around him, and did not delegate tasks properly to his people.

When Simba was in trouble, Mufasa would run to help him without asking for backup or informing any one else. It was obvious that his concern for his son often clouded his judgment. This is understandable but a leader must understand his or her priorities, and be able to juggle them properly. Mufasa had a responsibility to his people and his kingdom, but he often placed himself in danger without taking the necessary precautions.

In comparison, Scar was too apa-

thetic and selfish. He cared only for his position, and not for the responsibilities that came with it. On the other hand, Simba was a leader that let guilt and shame keep him down. He shirked his responsibilities and hid from his past for a number of years.

To conclude, watching the movie was a great experience. It was very nostalgic for me because I watched The Lion King many times as a child. It was one of my favorite movies and now, I can clearly remember why. The story is great and I can appreciate it better now because I can understand and relate to it more.

The author is a B.S. Applied Corporate Management student of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This reflection was written as part of the course requirement for Leadership in Organizaitons.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators.

M O N D AY : J U N E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

B7

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Bookseller discusses ordeal HONG KONG—The Hong Kong bookseller who broke his silence earlier this week about being blindfolded and interrogated in detention in China likened his ordeal to Cultural Revolution repression in an interview with AFP Sunday.

Lam Wing-kee is one of five booksellers who went missing last year, and who all worked for a Hong Kong publishing house known for salacious titles about leading Chinese politicians.

His story sent chills through Hong Kong, where the booksellers’ case has heightened fears Beijing is tightening its grip on the semiautonomous city.

He told Thursday how he was detained for months after being picked up in the southern mainland city of Shenzhen in October on a visit to see his girlfriend.

Lam, who was placed on suicide watch during his detention, broke bail Thursday and is refusing to

go back over the border, where he is under investigation for bringing banned books into the mainland.

Dressed in a neat blue shirt and cap, the 61-year-old told AFP how he felt terrified during his detention, where he was threatened with 30 years in jail and was harangued by twot men who said they had come from Beijing.

“They made me feel it was a Cultural Revolution denunciation,” he said, referring to the decade of torture, executions and public vilifications carried out under communist leader Mao Zedong across mainland China from 1966.

“They said we published, sold and mailed books to demean the

state leadership. We are reactionaries. [They told me] I could be jailed for 20 to 30 years until I die.

“It was made clear to me that their power was huge and does not require legal means.

“I was just sitting there watching them. When I said one thing they would say 30 things...banging the table.”

Lam says he was told that a “special investigation unit” was dealing with his case.

He was allowed back into Hong Kong for the first time Tuesday on the condition that he pick up a hard disk listing bookstore customers and return to the mainland Thursday. Instead, he decided to cut loose and break his silence.

“If worse comes to worst, I could die. [But] ‘civilians do not fear death, why threaten them?’,” said Lam, quoting an ancient Chinese idiom often used to describe fearless defiance of repressive regimes.

“I am a free man.”

Lam is staying with a relative and says he has not asked city authorities for protection.

“There is no use,” he said. “They cannot protect me forever.”

He has also turned down an offer from a pro-democracy politician to help him seek asylum in another country, saying he wants to remain in Hong Kong and continue to speak out.

Critics have accused the Hong Kong government of being a Beijing puppet that can no longer protect its own citizens, and are demanding to know what authorities have done to try to help the booksellers.

Lam led more than 1,000 protesters through the city centre Saturday over his detention.

He told AFP the Mighty Current publishing house, where the five booksellers worked, and its outlet the Causeway Bay Bookstore— which Lam managed—had been targeted as part of a wider crackdown to deter Hong Kong from

putting out political titles.

During his interrogation he was asked to hand over details of authors and customers, he said.

The case has spooked some Hong Kong bookshops into removing controversial titles from their shelves—but Lam says he will continue to sell them if he can.

“There are no banned books in Hong Kong,” Lam said.

“It’s a place with freedom of publication...there is a market.”

Since Lam went public, three of the other booksellers have cast doubt on his story.

One of them, Lee Bo, the only one of the group to have disappeared on Hong Kong soil, refuted Lam’s claim that he had told him he was taken to the mainland against his wishes.

The two other booksellers who questioned Lam’s version, Lui Por and Cheung Chi-ping, were quoted by proBeijing media as speaking from the mainland, where they are believed to still be under investigation. AFP

Thousands slam US military in Okinawa NAHA, Japan—Tens of thousands rallied Sunday on the Japanese island of Okinawa to protest against the heavy US military presence and violent crimes by American personnel that have angered residents for decades.

The demonstrators, claimed by organizers to total 65,000, gathered in the prefectural capital Naha, infuriated with the United States after a former Marine employed as a civilian base worker allegedly raped and murdered a young local woman in April.

The case has intensified the longstanding opposition to the bases a key part of the US-Japan security alliance on the sub-tropical southern outpost, a popular holiday destination for Japanese and increasingly for China and other Asian countries.

Okinawa hosts about 26,000 US troops, more than half the total Washington keeps in all of Japan.

The demonstration was held at an athletics park under scorching heat. Police did not have an immediate crowd estimate.

It began with a moment of silence for 20-year-old Rina Shimabukuro, the murder victim, and a message from her father.

“Why my daughter, why was she killed?” said the message, read on his behalf. “My thoughts are the same as those of all the bereaved families that have met with suffering up to now.”

One protester carried a banner reading, “Murderer Marines.

Out of Okinawa”. AFP

Replacement. Cantopop singer Denise Ho performs during a free concert in Hong Kong on June 19, 2016, after cosmetics giant Lancome canceled a concert featuring a local singer who is critical of China. Many Hong Kong residents believe the Lancome promoted gig by pro-democracy activist Denise Ho was canceled after China’s state-run media criticized the French company for allowing her to perform. AFP

Spain joins forces with Bollywood to boost tourism MADRID—Spain is coaxing Indian movie makers to use its colorful fiestas and historic monuments as settings for their films, in a move to grab a bigger share of India’s fastgrowing overseas tourism market.

As part of its bid to lure visitors from the world’s second most populous country, Madrid will host next weekend the annual International Indian Film Academy awards, dubbed the “Bollywood Oscars”.

In global tourism, Spain ranks as the third most visited country, but it now wants to diversify its tourism base beyond the traditional northern European sun seekers that account for the bulk of its visitors.

Among the Bollywood stars who will attend the awards ceremony in Spain will be hunky Indian actor Hrithik Roshan, the green-eyed star of the 2011 coming-of-age movie “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, which was produced in close collaboration with the Spanish tourism promotion agency, Turespana.

The film about three friends on a pre-marriage road trip across Spain includes scenes at “La Tomatina” festival in the town of Bunol, where half-naked revellers hurl mushy tomatoes at each other, as well as at Pamplona’s San Fermin bull running festival.

With scenes also set in Barcelona,

Seville and the beaches of the Costa Brava, the movie was the first major Indian production to shoot extensively in various locations in Spain.

It was also the highest grossing Bollywood film of 2011.

“There was an immediate impact in the number of people requesting entry visas to travel to Spain,” the director of the London office of Turespana, Enrique Ruiz de Lera, who led the agency’s talks with the producers of the movie, told AFP. The year after its release, 60,444 Indians visited Spain, nearly double the 2011 figure, according to the industry and tourism ministry. Last year 85,000 Indians visited Spain.

Lonely Planet in 2013 launched a guide to Spain aimed specifically at the Indian market and travel agencies still advertise tours to the locations featured in the “Zindagi” movie.

India’s ambassador to Spain, Vikram Misri, said the film “was singlehandedly responsible for making Spain a household name in India and increasing tourism from India”.

Turespana suggested locations for filming but gave no direct financial aid to cover the cost of making the movie, Ruiz de Lera said.

Instead it helped secure permits to film at key sites and negotiate deals on hotel rooms and transportation for the crew to lower production costs. AFP

B8

M O N D AY : J U N E 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Commemoration. Tomasz Rak as Escamillo performs during the rehearsal of the open-air super-production ‘The Spanish Night with Carmen-Zarzuela Show’ based on ‘Carmen’ by the composer Georges Bizet, directed by Waldemar Zawodzinski and Ignaco Garcia, and conducted by Tomasz Szreder on July 16, 2015, at the Wroclaw Stadium. The show was staged as one of the major events organized to commemorate Wroclaw as the Capital of Culture 2016. AFP

Obama unlikely to be swayed EU referendum campaign resumes after MP murder

LONDON—Reeling from the murder of MP Jo Cox, the EU referendum campaigns resumed Sunday, with just four days to go until the critical vote that will shape Britain’s future.

The Remain and Leave camps suspended campaigning for three days after the killing of Cox on Thursday. A 52-year-old man has appeared in court charged with her murder.

But with the polls too close to call, leaders were to hit the television studios on Sunday to begin their final push for votes.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who wants Britain to stay in the European Union, said the country was facing an “an existential choice” from which there would be “no turning back”.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Sunday newspapers picked sides in their fi-

nal editions before the referendum.

The Mail on Sunday and The Observer gave their support to the Remain camp, while The Sunday Times and The Sunday Telegraph broadsheets backed quitting the EU. Resuming the campaign, Cameron said the British economy “hangs in the balance”, with trade and investment set to suffer in the event of a Leave vote and a “probable recession” that would leave the UK “permanently poorer”.

“If you’re not sure, don’t take the risk of leaving. If you don’t know, don’t go,” he wrote in The Sunday Telegraph.

“If we were to leave and it quickly turned out to be a big mistake, there wouldn’t be a way of changing our minds and having another go. This is it.” AFP

Floods in Indonesia kill 24 JAKARTA—Flash flooding and landslides in Indonesia have killed 24 and left more than two dozen missing, an official said Sunday, with mud avalanches burying people inside their homes.

Torrential rain since Saturday has triggered serious flooding across Central Java, with thousands of homes inundated, said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

“Initial data... shows the impact of the floods and landslides in Central Java has caused 24 deaths, with 26 others still missing,” Sutopo said in a statement.

Footage aired by local broadcasters showed villagers sitting on their roofs to escape the rising water, their cars and homes submerged in brown water.

The areas prone to landslides in the densely-populated province were the worst hit, with drivers swept off roads and dozens of homes destroyed by fast-moving walls of mud, rock and water.

In one district, five people were buried in their homes as a landslide swept through the village. In another, nine people were killed as they tried to clear rubble from a road.

WASHINGTON—Exasperated US diplomats are in open revolt over Barack Obama’s Syria policy, but radical change is unlikely in the twilight of his presidency.

More than 280,000 people have been killed. Millions more have fled their homes.

A relentless drumbeat of cluster bombs, barrel bombs, chemical bombs, murder, rape and torture has turned swaths of Syria to dust.

Humanitarian aid sometimes drips into the beleaguered cities, but when it does, President Bashar al-Assad’s regime makes sure “punishment” bombings quickly follow.

“The Assad regime’s actions defy all definitions of human decency,” said one US official.

There are ominous signs the regime is moving to strangle food production.

In Syria, “you think you’ve reached the bottom and then you hear a faint scratching from below,” another official said.

Through it all, the Obama ad-

Launching.

This handout picture released by the CNES and taken on June 18, 2016 in Kourou, French Guiana, shows the launching of Ariane 5 ECA , putting into orbit the Echo Star XVIII for satellite service provider Dish Network and BRIsat for Rakyat Indonesia bank. Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket launcher successfully sent two telecoms satellites, one for a US-based communications service provider and one for an Indonesian bank, into space on Saturday. AFP

ministration has insisted only Assad and his Russian and Iranian sponsors can end the madness.

But privately, even senior diplomats admit that their inability to stop five years of butchery has challenged their conscience. They say that whatever comes next, Syria will have left an indelible stain on their years in public service.

In a deliberately leaked memo, 51 serving US diplomats have now said “enough,” insisting that Obama has a moral obligation to stop the carnage.

To force Assad into real peace negotiations, they say, the 44th president must launch air strikes against the Syrian regime.

Such a policy, they argue, could increase the cost of Assad’s intransigence and perhaps stem the suffering.

The White House has quickly

signaled it is not ready to embark on such a 180-degree shift.

“The president has always been clear that he does not see a military solution to the crisis in Syria and that remains the case,” White House spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman said in response to the memo.

The White House has stuck fast to a credo borne from the folly of the Iraq war that the United States should not, indeed cannot, solve all the world’s crises.

Above all, Obama has tried to avoid entanglements in the Middle East, defining US interests in Syria as part of a counterterrorism effort to dismantle the Islamic State group.

That has left his Secretary of State John Kerry with an unenviable and probably impossible task of negotiating an end to the broader crisis with little or no leverage.

His counterparts in Moscow or Damascus know Obama’s reticence well, and have the upper hand on the ground, so see little incentive to deal. AFP

M ONDAY : J UNE 20, 2016

C1

ISAH V. RED 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

SIP & SAVOR

LIFE Savor crisp and clean Vietnamese fresh spring rolls at Streets of Saigon.

Molcajete's nachos at One Fifty Food Place are sumptuous as they are hearty.

FINDING COMFORT ON MAGINHAWA

THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

I

have always had a love affair with food. The aroma of sizzling garlic, the creamy texture of salted egg, the taste of crispy chicharon from Bulacan – it seemed to me that there was always something wonderful to eat, except for ampalaya, which I never developed a taste for.

I have, however, never written about food. I spent the past 13 years writing about politics, foreign affairs, and national security threats, all the while munching through a wide array of comfort food. Until today – or last week, to be precise, when the idea of dabbling into food writing came up.

Maginhawa Street, a strong contender for the title of Quezon City’s main food hub, has a place of pride in my go-to haunts for delicious dishes. It is a three-kilometer wonderland stretch for foodies who want to taste local and international cuisine, street-style.

Pakibalot Panciteria, a small, unpretentious stall with carinderia-style tables and chairs, pays homage to the humble pancit. Pakibalot serves bihon guisado, lomi, canton guisado and miki bihon, along with other Filipino and Chinese dishes. Next to rice, pancit is

Maginhawa Street comes alive at night, with colors that add to the street-style vibe.

almost always present in dining tables in the country.

The word is, in fact, derived from the Hokkien “pian i sit” which means something cooked conveniently fast.

According to celebrity chef Nancy Lumen, pancit is the “veritable Pinoy comfort food,” and Pakibalot certainly does not disappoint.

A few steps away from Pakibalot is one of many food compounds in the area – the One Fifty Food Place. The compound opens at 4 p.m., but any foodie worth his or her salt knows that the best time to go there is when the sun has set. The 600-square meter place that houses several food carts transforms at night – with colorful lights setting the ambience for a truly satisfying gastronomic experience.

Streets of Saigon is a straightforward food cart that

The humble pancit is the go-to comfort food at Pakibalot Panciteria.

promises authentic Vietnamese cuisine characterized by bright colors and clean flavors.

Its goi kuon or fresh spring roll does not scrimp on prawns, pork, and the staple vermicelli. The peanut sauce that is generously served with the spring rolls is the perfect foil to the taste of cilantro and mint. It also offers four kinds of pho – or traditional rice noodle soup – served with either chicken, pork, beef or seafood.

From Vietnam, diners at One Fifty food park will find themselves transported to Mexico, where street food traces its origin to the pre-Hispanic custom of not using utensils. The Molcajete Mexican Cantina serves nachos (which can compete with any of the more expensive Mexican restaurants in the metro), tacos, chili poppers, and spicy pork carnitas. The word molcajete, in particular, refers to the Mexican version of a mortar and pestle used to crush spices to make guacamole and salsas.

To me, however, there is one restaurant on Maginhawa that offers, literally, street food. Indonyaki started as a small stall serving ayam goreng or Indonesian chicken.

It was so small that all of its four tables were lined up along the sidewalk. It may not leave a good first impression if one is looking for fine dining comforts.

But the long line of vehicles parked in the area and the long

queue of customers willing to wait for a table or opting to take home their chicken instead are testaments to the delicious food that Indonyaki offers. The meat is tender and flavorful, and the deep fried rice flour topping makes the wait worth it.

Indonyaki has since expanded, adding a few more tables, still along the sidewalk, but it has remained true to its street cred.

Indeed, Maginhawa is a special place for me. It continues to offer diners something new, with stalls popping up alongside the original ones. And after a long day at work, after braving the horrible EDSA traffic, Maginhawa offers gastronomic comfort – a happy stretch of choices that call to you like old, dependable friends. joyce.panares@gmail.com

M ONDAY : J UNE 20, 2016

C2

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

MEALS & DEALS TREATS FROM CITI Make the most of your Citi Debit or Credit Cards and avail of the following great treats with partner establishments:

The ACF establishes the credibility of CCA Manila as an institution

C

CCA Manila gets ACFEF accreditation

enter for Culinary Arts (CCA, Manila) celebrates milestone on its 20th year by earning accreditation from the prestigious American Culinary Foundation-Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEF).

CCA Manila underwent a strict re-assessment in May last year before the accreditation was granted for the CCA programs that include Certificate in Baking and Pastry Arts Management, Diploma in Culinary Arts and Technology Management, and Bachelor of Science in Culinary Management by the ACF, the most prestigious and biggest organization of chefs and culinary professionals in the United States.

Based in North America with 225 chapters and more than 20,000 members in the US, ACF is sanctioned by the Council on Higher Education for Accreditation (CHEA), and is the only recognized organization to accredit culinary arts, baking and pastry programs in the US. Dr. Veritas Luna, CCA Manila managing director and Chancellor for Education, said that “The

accreditation underscores the fact that our key programs, strategies and other innovations to achieve the highest academic and professionalism standards are all heading in the right direction.

Through these, CCA Manila is again globally recognized for its high quality education system and excellent students.”

CCA Manila’s earning of the ACFEF “seal of approval” is significant as it underscores the proven quality of the program in terms of the curriculum, the faculty, instructional resources, support staff and organizational structure.

According to Luna, an ACF certification of chef instructors establishes the credibility of the faculty’s professional capabilities and also gives the chef added confidence about his skills – factors that are important to students as it reinforces the faculty because it highlights the chef instructors’ industry experience, educational background, training, relevance, and capability to train students.

The accreditation likewise validated CCA’s relentless pursuit for, and dedication to excellence as evidenced by the hard work and

passion of the entire CCA family from the management, the faculty and the student community.

An ACFEF accreditation establishes the high quality of CCA programs, bench-marked to international standards. Obtaining an accredited diploma will help students pursuing a profession in culinary arts or baking and pastry arts towards the path of a successful career. Upon graduation or completion of the program, students can earn an industry certification.

As CCA Manila celebrates its 20th year, it will continue to uphold its pride and legacy as the country’s foremost training ground for topcaliber culinary professionals as it positions itself to become Asia’s new hub for world-class chefs through innovative teaching and learning thrusts.

CCA Manila campus is at 287 Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, QC. For inquiries on diploma or short courses, call CCA Manila at 218-8566, or e-mail talktoccamanila@gmail.com.

Visit cca-manila.edu.ph.

Vikings Buffet Get 25 percent off on Vikings buffet vouchers for a minimum single-receipt purchase of four buffet vouchers bought from any Vikings buffet outlets nationwide. These vouchers have no expiration dates, but the month of December is excluded and users are advised to make prior reservations.

Satisfy your cravings and head to the following branches to purchase the Vikings buffet vouchers: SM Marikina, SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM BF Paranaque, Jazz Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City Bacolod, SM City Cebu and SM Lanang Premier Davao.

Sugarhouse Craving for something sweet? Indulge your sweet tooth and treat your family and friends to delicious desserts, cakes and pastries from Su g a r h ou s e !

Enjoy 25 percent off for a spend of at least P800 in select Sugarhouse branches using your Citi credit or debit card from now until July 31.

This offer is valid for dine-in as well as take-out in the following Sugarhouse branches: Glorietta 3, Power Plant Mall, SM Mezza Residences, SM Megamall, Greenhills Shopping Centre, Dela Rosa Car Park, Paseo Center, SM San Lazaro, SM North Edsa and Robinsons Magnolia. To know more about this sweet deal, log on to www.citibank.com.ph/lovetodine.

SEAFOOD SUNDAYS AT SPECTRUM C elebrate the richness of our seas with Fairmont M a k a t i’s S e afo o d Sundays at Spectrum from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m.

Gather with your friends and loved ones over a bounty of seafood delights specially dished-up for the occasion and prepared according to your preference: fresh, grilled, or tossed in pasta. Have a taste of the ocean from the wide-array of crustaceans, shellfish, scallops, and deep-sea favorites, but make sure to leave room for dessert with whimsical sweets and pastries inspired by the seven seas deck buffet tables.

Enjoy Spectrum’s Sunday Brunch at the Ranch for P2,777 nett per person. Pair this hearty fare with endless pouring of wines and sangria available with an upgrade of P1,000 nett.

Children from six to 12 years old get 50 percent off on the buffet price.

CCA Manila continues to uphold its legacy as a leading training ground for top-caliber culinary professionals

For inquiries and more information, call Raffles and Fairmont Makati’s Restaurant Reservations at 7951840 or email dining.makati@raffles.com.

M ONDAY : J UNE 20, 2016

C3

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Muslim Filipinos celebrate Ramadan

BY AYUNAN G. GUNTING

M

uslims worldwide are in the midst of Ramadan, the holy month of rigorous fasting, prayers and reconnecting with the Qur’an. In the Philippines, where Islam is the second largest religion, 60 percent of the Muslim population lives in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar calendar. It begins on the waxing of the hilal or crescent moon and runs for 29 to 30 days. A moveable event, Ramadan started on June 6. Eid-al-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast and the end of Ramadan is an important holiday in Islam. The Philippines is the first Catholic country to make it a public holiday, which will fall on July 8.

“Ramadan is much more than just abstinence from eating and drinking. It is a time to purify the soul, refocus our attention on God and practice discipline and sacrifice,” says Princess Omerah Lucman, former Secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Affairs.

One of the five Islam pillars, sawm, or fasting from 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. is observed.

“We also fast from negative thinking. Our eyes shouldn’t see anything bad. Our ears should not hear gossip or idle talk. We refrain from speaking hurtful and obscene words.

Our feet should not take us to places of materialism. Couples refrain from physical intimacy. We can then fully devote our time to strengthen our fate,” explains Lucman.

This is also the month to contemplate on one’s responsibility in this world. Some of the pressing issues for Muslims are the extremists who terrorize and execute innocent victims in the name of religion. In turn, the extremists’ beliefs desecrate the tenets of Islam.

Maranao delicacies are in demand during Ramadan

“We make a total commitment by submitting to the will of God. This is the real jihad, the holy war, against our own sins,” says Lucman.

During Ramadan, Muslims eat two important meals. Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal before the fajr, the morning prayers.

Lucman says her household gets up as early as 2:30 a.m. to load up energy for the day.

Two pieces of dates are essential to keep headaches and dizziness at bay as a result of low blood sugar during fasting. Their main dish is carbohydrates like rice and bread and some protein such as fish.

Dusk marks maghrib or night prayer time. The official cannon roar breaks the 14hour fast with the iftar, the evening meal.

Families and friends unite in Ramadan and enjoy the spread of local delicacies.

“We break the fast with dates and salad but it ends up with a fiesta. More important is the feeling of brother- and sisterhood,” says

Kuning or turmeric rice are served after iftar

Ramadan heralds the period of worship and discipline among Muslims

Lucman. Keeping the spirit of Ramadan in mind, the Muslims eat in moderation.

Other acts of worship are focused during this month: the shahadah, the declaration of faith; salat, the five daily prayers; zakat, or almsgiving; and the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.

In the middle of Ramadan month, Department of Education ARMM organized the Ramadan Night Activity at the ORG Complex in Cotabato City. The event called for Muslims to recharge their spirits.

“This blessed month has always been a time for a deep reflection and abstinence as we observe the month-long fasting and submit ourselves in devotion to the grace and mercy of Allah. We strengthen our faith, mind and character with each day of fasting, fervent prayers and acts of kindness,” says ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman.

Meanwhile, the Muslims are girding for the feast of Eid-al-Fitr. On this day,

the Muslims put on their finery, attend communal prayers and perform zakat alfitr (donating food to charity). They give gifts and cards inscribed with Eid Mubarak, meaning “A Blessed Festival” which is the Christian equivalent of “Season’s Greetings.”

The Maranaws prepare dishes to celebrate the occasion. Kuning or turmeric rice with bay leaves is served on such special occasions. Piyaparan is chicken or yellow fin cooked in coconut milk, shredded coconut meat and palapa, a garnish of caramelized shallots, ginger and chilli peppers. The Indo-Malay influence is evident in the beef rendang or beef kalderata with coconut cream and curry.

The celebratory desserts consist of dodol, made from violet rice, sticky rice flour, coconut milk, sugar and durian; tiyatug or rolled rice noodles, deep fried in sugar; and browa, small light sponge cakes.

Jolly and healthy back-to-school baon recipes It’s back-to-school time, and moms are now busy planning well-balanced but delicious meals for their growing kids who need plenty of energy and nutrition to fuel both mind and body while at school. A lot of mommies find this quite challenging, but the good news is they don’t have to be stressed out or be stuck with bland, repetitive baons with these easy-to-cook recipes courtesy of Jolly, the country’s leading canned vegetable brand. Every can of Jolly contains no artificial preservatives – only water, salt and citric acid are used. Jolly products are canned at the optimal point of freshness – ensuring a consistent quality of the vegetables. Ideal for students and busy moms, kids can be off to a flying start with these yummy and very healthy lunchbox treats from expert mommy bloggers.

half. Place one teaspoon of the filling and 1/2 teaspoon of grated cheese at the edge of the wrapper. Fold over into pockets until sealed well. Repeat the process until wrapper and filling is used up.

3) Deep fry the pockets until golden brown. Serve warm with ketchup.

SWEDISH MEATBALLS

By Mommy Peach of mommypeach.com

CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM POCKETS

By Mommy Luisa of artofbeingamom.com

Ingredients:

Ingredients: 2 cups Jolly Claro Palm Oil 1 piece white onion, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced 250 grams chicken breast fillet, boiled and diced 1 can Jolly Mushrooms Pieces and Stems (400g), drained and chopped ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 8-10 pieces spring roll wrapper ½ cup cheese grated Cooking procedure: 1) In a heated pan, sauté onion, garlic, chicken and Jolly Mushrooms in 2 tablespoons Jolly Claro Palm Oil. Season with salt and pepper.

2) Get a piece of the spring roll wrapper and cut it in

MEATBALLS 4 tablespoons Dona Elena Pure Olive Oil 1 large white onion, chopped finely 250 grams ground beef 250 grams ground pork 1 can Jolly Mushrooms Pieces and Stems, drained and chopped ½ teaspoon ground allspice ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 piece egg 2 tablespoon bread crumbs or all-purpose flour salt and pepper to taste

GRAVY 3 teaspoons butter 2 teaspoons all -purpose flour 1 piece beef cube dissolved in 3 cups water 1 can Jolly Cream of Mushroom Soup ½ cup sour cream salt and pepper to taste chopped parsley for garnish

Cooking procedure: MEATBALL 1) Heat Dona Elena Pure Olive Oil in a non-stick skillet and sauté onions until it becomes translucent.

Set aside.

2) Combine ground beef, ground pork, Jolly Mushrooms, sautéed onions, allspice, nutmeg, egg, bread crumbs, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well until combined.

3) Scoop ½ tablespoon of the meat mixture and roll the mixture into a ball. Do this with the remaining mixture.

4) Add the remaining Dona Elena Pure Olive Oil into the pan and fry meatballs in batches until golden brown.

Set aside.

GRAVY 1) Melt butter in the same pan, whisk the all-purpose flour until brown. Add beef broth and Jolly Cream of Mushroom Soup while whisking.

2) Continue whisking until the mixture is free of lumps. Add sour cream, salt and pepper.

3) Put the cooked meatballs into the pan and bring to a simmer while stirring constantly. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until meatballs are heated through.

4) Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

Make school time the perfect time to introduce kids to healthier eating habits with these delightful lunchbox ideas from Jolly, which carries a wide range of canned food varieties: Jolly mushrooms (the leading canned mushroom brand in the country, it contains an impressive 14mg of L-ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant that is uniquely found in mushrooms); Jolly Corn (the leading corn brand), including other vegetables like asparagus, garbanzos, green peas, pimiento, salted black beans, tomato paste and water chestnut.

Imported and distributed by Fly Ace Corp., one of the country’s leading food and beverage consumer goods companies, Jolly products are available in leading supermarkets nationwide. To know more ways on how to incorporate healthy nutrition in your daily menu, recipes are available at Jolly’s official website www.jolly.com.ph and FB page: Jolly Eats.

M ONDAY : J UNE 20, 2016

C4

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Warm welcome for Jodi and Thirdy

J

New Jolly Spaghetti endorsers

ollibee recently welcomed Jodi Sta. Maria and son Thirdy as the newest brand ambassadors for Jolly Spaghetti during the media launch held at the Ortigas Roosevelt branch. Jodi and Thirdy, who stars in the latest TV commercial for Jolly Spaghetti, shared their own personal experiences, from happy memories when she was a kid and to how she now enjoys the same bonding moments with Thirdy. The Jolly Spaghetti Sweet-Sarap Moments event also featured fun games for the media guests and their kids.

Mom first, actress second

Jodi remains simple even with her celebrity status and recent accolades for her stellar TV performances. Despite her busy schedule, she makes sure that spending quality time with Thirdy is her priority, just as her own mother did years ago.

The actress related that she and Thirdy can spend hours upon hours just talking about anything, especially over their favorite Jolly Spaghetti.

They often order “C3,” the Jolly Spaghetti and Chickenjoy combo, for delivery or drive-thru.

“Sa hapagkainan, that’s where the bonding happens. Nakakatuwa si Thirdy when you spend time with him. He’s a very opinionated child. Baka pwede siyang maging lawyer,” Jodi proudly added.

Celebrity mom and certified Jollibee fan Jodi Sta. Maria proud to share endorsement experience with son

Batang Jollibee at heart

Jodi confesses to being a certified Batang Jollibee, even before she got into show business. Her mother worked hard to raise Jodi and her siblings, but made sure to devote her Saturdays to quality time over her children’s favorite Jollibee treats.

“Every Saturday, iti-treat niya kami sa Jollibee sa may Landmark food court,” Jodi recalled. “Talagang masasabi ko na kinalakihan ko si Jollibee. At hindi lang ‘yon, kasi bawat party, bawat celebration, talagang naging part siya ng family namin at ng pamilyang Pilipino.”

Growing up, Jodi said she would often order Jolly Spaghetti and Jolly Hotdog, and it became staples in her bonding moments with her mom. Now that she’s a mother herself, she wants to pass on the same joyful experience to Thirdy. The 10-yearold kid loves the cheesy, meaty, and sweetsarap flavors of Jolly Spaghetti.

“Wala akong nakilalang bata na gusto ng maasim na spaghetti,” the actress remarked candidly. “Especially Filipino children.

I believe na nakuha ng Jollibee ‘yung manamis-namis na timpla na hinahanaphanap ng bawat batang Pilipino.”

Jolly Sweet-Sarap Moments

Perfect choice for Jolly Spaghetti

Jollibee likewise is equally happy and excited to welcome Jodi and Thirdy to the family.

“Jodi and Thirdy are the perfect endorsers for Jolly Spaghetti,” said Kent Mariano, Jollibee assistant vice president for marketing. “Despite Jodi’s celebrity status and hectic schedule, she believes in making even the smallest of moments count when it comes to strengthening her bond with Thirdy and her family. Jodi’s own story and personal experiences of bonding with her mom and now with her son is something that many Pinoy families can relate to. We at Jollibee have always proud to be part of such memorable moments.”

The latest TVC features Jodi reminiscing her bonding moments as a kid with her mom, and fast forward to the present, Jodi letting Thirdy experience the same happy moment while enjoying their favorite Jolly Spaghetti.

Jollibee's assistant brand manager for Jolly Spaghetti Luis Berba (center)

M ONDAY : J UNE 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

C5

From left: Local artist Gary V, Gab Valenciano, Nadine Lustre and James Reid highlight this year’s MTV World Stage global series, “Music Evolution Manila”

T

MTV MUSIC EVOLUTION MANILA 2016 PUTS PHILIPPINES ON THE SPOTLIGHT

he Philippines will once again make its mark on the global entertainment scene as local and international pop icons gather together to perform in one of this year’s biggest music events, the MTV Music Evolution Manila 2016. Presented by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), this event will be on June 24, at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Pasay City.

With the theme “Can’t Stop Movin!”, the MTV Music Evolution 2016 presents the amazing evolution of pop music and its dance influences that will definitely keep the fans moving all night long.

Headlining this year’s MTV Music Evolution is iconic international pop band and prolific hit-maker One Republic, with L.A. grown electric dance trio Far East Movement, Billboard Hot 100 Artist, American singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha and one of Korea’s favorite K-pop idol female groups Apink.

Also sharing the stage are Filipino artists, like Pinoy pop superstar father and son tandem Gary V. featuring Gab Valenciano and pop darlings and favorite teen love team, James Reid and Nadine Lustre. Hosting the event will be MTV Asia VJs Alan Wong and Hanli Hoefer along with MTV Pinoy VJs Yassi Pressman and Andre Paras.

Now on its second year, MTV Music Evolution Manila 2016 is expected to gather thousands of fans from different parts of the globe in a grand one-night only live celebration of pop music like never before.

The Philippines will also be highlighted in a global live telecast reaching an international audience of more than three-quarters of a billion households in over 160 countries under the MTV World Stage global series.

The MTV Music Evolution Manila 2016 proves once again that the Philippines is not only a premier global destination for arts, culture, leisure and adventure, but is also one of the world’s top destinations for world-class entertainment.

To know more, visit www.mtvmusicevo. com or www.tpb.gov.ph.

American Albanian artist Bebe Rexha

American pop rock band One Republic

Electric dance trio Far East Movement

South Koreans Park Cho-rong, Yoon Bo-mi, Jung Eun-ji, Son Na-eun, Kim Nam-joo and Oh Ha-young or collectively known as Apink

Ejay Falcon hints role in new series

From left: Paolo Avelino, Ritz Azul and Ejay Falcon

New Placenta for Men endorser Ejay Falcon recently came back from Europe, where he joined co-stars Paulo Avelino and Ritz Azul for a shooting for a new television series, The Promise of Forever.

The former PBB big winner hinted that his role in the upcoming project would be much different from his character in the mature teleserye Pasion de Amor.

The cast finished shooting scenes in Amsterdam, Prague, and other cities in Northern Europe. As a matter of fact, they had a courtesy call with Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa, Jr. who later on

posted their photo on his personal Facebook account.

Ejay took a break from his commitments with Psalmstre, the maker of New Placenta, to give way for the shoot of the upcoming teleserye. The promdi hottie has been actively participating in the company’s Free Hugs nationwide promo, a uniquely conceptualized meetand-greet event intended to promote good vibes by sharing hugs to loyal patrons of Psalmstre products, namely, New Placenta, Olive-C, and Glutamin.

The Oriental Mindoro native will be

the main antagonist of the love-triangle themed story, which will try to prove that love is beyond forever. According to ABSCBN, the new TV series also aims to share the Filipino culture with other nationalities. It also said that this is another first in Philippine TV history.

Meanwhile, Ejay admitted that he enjoyed doing the ‘free hug’ project conceptualized by Psalmstre chief executive officer Jim Acosta. He added that it was able to bring him closer to his fans, the lifeblood of his career. He even suggested to do the same during his promo tours abroad.

C6

M ONDAY : J UNE 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Dennis denies break up with Jennylyn Insecurity towards the new batch of young male stars is not Enchong’s cup of tea.

“I’ve passed that stage already. Compared to them, I’m more matured and experienced. There’s no reason for me to feel that way. My prime concern at this point is how to last long in the business. Being an actor entails a lot of discipline and I’m aware that I still have a long way to go,” Enchong states.

D

ennis Trillo denies the circulating rumor that his romantic relationship with Jennylyn Mercado (though there was no formal admission from them) is now over.

“Honestly, we’re okay at this point. I really don’t know where these news are coming from,” he avers.

Speculations started when some of their followers allegedly noticed that both of them erased photos they posted on their respective Instagram accounts.

“Well, as far as I can remember, I haven’t erased any. And it doesn’t mean that because you’ve erased photos, your relationship is already on the rocks. That’s the problem sometimes…misinterpretation. Some people readily jump into conclusion without knowing the details first. Then, they will comment. That sparks trouble.

“I appreciate our fans’ concern for us but the fact remains they don’t know what’s exactly happening between me and Jen. How would they know when they’re not with us 24/7, right?

Sometimes, it’s just a product of their imagination. This is the reason why Jennylyn and I prefer to keep what we share right now in private.

When you’re on low profile, things are peaceful.”

It was recently reported that they went on a trip together to Maldives.

“Yes! Maldives is a dream place. It’s perfect for a family vacation. It’s also an ideal romantic spot. We really had a good time together there.

“Actually, we didn’t really plan to go there.

It was one of those spontaneous moments.

Rumored couple Jennylyn Mercado (left) and Dennis Trillo’s (right) relationship is “not on the rocks”

Sometimes, you’ll see a beautiful place in a picture and instantly, you get mesmerized.

Right there and then, you decide to fly. You know, it’s more exciting!”

As her contract with GMA is nearing expiration, there are rumors spreading that Jen might not renew and instead, move to the rival network. Any reaction?

“To be honest, I don’t want to comment or say anything about it. It’s better if she’ll be the one to answer queries regarding that.

I don’t want to be dragged into the issue since she’s the one concerned. At the end of the day, she will be the one to decide if she’ll stay or not although personally, I prefer that she still chooses to be a Kapuso. But as I’ve said, it’s up to her,” ends Dennis. ******** Now that he’s on his tenth year in showbiz, Enchong Dee wishes to have some

changes in the projects he does on screen.

“As much as possible, I want to veer away from the usual boy-next-door roles,” he says.

“Of course, I know it will be hard since I will always get associated with the cutesy stuff I normally do. So, probably, I will alternate my projects. I can make one the fans like, then follow it up with something I really want to do. I guess that’s fair enough, right?

Many ask if part of the change he wants is to do daring roles.

“Why not? I’m 27 years old. If the role calls for me to be fat, then, I will be. If it requires me to have abs, then I will work on it. Nudity? Well, I will think about it first.

“Not because I said I’m ready for daring roles it means I can just strip on screen. Of course, I have to consider the story first--if it’s really a vital component. That’s part of being an actor. It’s our responsibility to evolve and hone our craft.”

******** According to Dina Bonnevie, the showbiz industry ought to come up with more socially relevant movies like her latest project Magtanggol with Tom Rodriguez and Ejay Falcon.

“First and foremost, it’s about human trafficking. It highlights Filipinos who are sent abroad as labour force. It’s a fact that the Philippines is one country that exports a lot of people as main products. We produce the best workforce,” she avers.

The title Magtanggol is symbolic of the action the film wants to draw from the viewers after watching it.

“I think the main thrust of the movie is to protect. But what will you protect? Your advocacy which is unlawful, that thing which you want to happen in your life but would surely hurt the people around you or guard your dignity as well as your family’s and country as a whole?”

The articulate actress is confident that socially relevant films create waves most especially in international film festivals.

“Look at Ma ‘Rosa. It also dealt with human trafficking and Jaclyn (Jose) won as Best Actress, a huge feat indeed being the first time it happened,” says Dina.

‘Alamat’ wins Best of Festival award

GMA-7’s groundbreaking show “Alamat” serves up colorful stories

GMA Public Affairs’ animated anthology series Alamat wins for the country its first-ever Best of Festival Award at the 2016 US International Film & Video Festival (USIFVF).

Considered as the Grand Prix of the USIFVF, the Best of Festival Award is presented to an outstanding entry among the Gold Camera winners in each production type. Alamat earlier earned the Gold Camera Award in the Entertainment: Children category for

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Kind of toast 6 Price tag 10 Iridescent gem 14 Jump for joy 15 Nonstop 16 Painted tinware 17 Doctrine 18 In — of 19 Pays with plastic 20 Put into motion

22 Prospectors’ dreams 23 Pipe bowl, maybe 24 Sugarbush tree 26 Honda rival 30 Divas and birds 32 Keep occupied 33 Alaska’s first capital 34 Indy area 36 Sanskrit dialect

37 “M*A*S*H” site 38 Gruff 39 Yon maiden 40 Farm machine 41 Biathlon weapon 42 Alter a dress 44 Make the ears ring 45 Hurons’ kin 46 Item for Parton 47 A U you know 49 Parson 54 Staff member 55 Natural impulse 57 Lettuce 58 Smirk’s kin 59 Planet half the size of Earth 60 Call for takeout (2 wds.)

61 Vortex 62 Ant at a picnic 63 Command to Fido DOWN 1 Physics starter 2 Suit, briefly 3 Fontanne’s husband 4 Roquefort hue 5 Embassy staffer 6 “People” person 7 Classical poet 8 Date regularly 9 Play about Capote 10 Filmdom’s T.E.

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016

Lawrence 11 Compact “must” (2 wds.)

12 Toward shelter 13 More or — 21 Cooked — — turn 22 Links org.

24 Carpentry joint 25 “Diana” composer 26 Shrill barks 27 Delhi nannies 28 Tough to budge 29 So far — — know 30 Alarm 31 Edge past 33 Repairs a pump 35 Numerical suffix 37 Petruchio’s shrew 38 Estuary 40 Plankton 41 Juntas 43 Mean and nasty 44 Loud clamor 46 Farrow “sister” 47 Story 48 Went hotfoot 49 Bosses, briefly 50 Daytime drama 51 Carryall 52 Mr. Kazan 53 Foul-smelling 55 Game official 56 “Norma —”

its “Alamat ng Bayabas (The Legend of the Guava)” episode.

Alamat’s winning episode, produced by a team led by Public Affairs Program Manager (now Asst. Vice President) Jaileen F. Jimeno, is the pride of the Kapuso network now. “We have millions of Philippine culture-based stories waiting to be told, and we want Filipino children to know more about these stories. We want them to believe that one must be good, fair, and kind. At the same time, we want

them to believe in magic. We want to encourage them to be imaginative.”

“I am proud that a Filipino product like Alamat is appreciated here and abroad,” Jimeno added.

The series began airing in 2015, featuring Philippine myths and legends that mirror Filipino culture. Voiced by various Kapuso personalities, the groundbreaking show also marked the first time that GMA’s Post Production Team embarked on a full-length animation.

M ONDAY : J UNE 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

K

C7

‘Ku’te’ celebrates a different kind of love

u’te, produced by PRO.PRO with story and direction by Ronaldo “Roni” M. Bertubin and screenplay by Romualdo Avellanosa, celebrates a different kind of love. It will be screened at the World Premieres Film Festival Philippines.

Ku’te tells about the relationship of Emong, a hardworking young man who works as a production assistant, and his sister, LenLen, a girl with Down syndrome (DS).

Johan Santos plays Emong and Marielle Therese, who is really afflicted with DS, plays LenLen : The director says, “My inspiration for this movie is a friend who I worked with for a production outfit. He told me about his sister who has Down syndrome. This co-worker of mine handang gawin ang lahat para itaguyod ang kapatid. Then I added some other elements for people to understand and realize what it is like to have a family member with DS. These are collective stories that I learned from friends, acquaintances, even strangers na may kapatid, kakilala, kamag-anak na may DS, pero iba-iba ang level ng pang-unawa at pagmamahal nila.”

He emphasizes, “Through this movie, gusto kong patunayan sa la-

Johan Santos (right) and Marielle Therese (left) play bother and sister in a film that put spotlight on people afflicted with Down Syndrome

hat na bigyan lang ng pagkakataon, they can be assets and not liabilities, na ang mga taong may DS ay may kakayahan. di man kasing galing ng tunay na artista, pero totoo sa kanilang bawat kilos at galaw.

“As a director, it was a great challenge for me and the rest of the cast to work with Marielle.

This young lady is very talented.

She easily understands and picks up instructions very well. I’m sure people will be affected by her.”

Santos reveals, “The role is very challenging for me on two major levels, first is being the brother of Lenlen. During the whole course of the shooting, Marielle as LenLen

was cooperative, kind, sweet, no tantrums whatsoever. I give credit to her mom who takes good care of her. Second was my character.

Emong is gay and he’s hopelessly devoted and in love with Roldan, played by Nico Gomez. “ Gomez quips, “More than the subplot of our love story, the most important love celebrated and embraced in this movie is the love Emong and Lenlen share. It was both an eye-opener and heartwarming. No other love can comes close to the love that this brother and sister share. “ Also in the movie are Maya Samson as Meding and Adrian Ramirez as Jeff.

Direk Roni wishes that people will support Ku’Te. “This is my dream. Pangarap kong sana mabigyan ng pantay na pagkakataon ang lahat, sana makita ang kakayahan ni Marielle, maramdaman ang kanyang pangarap, mata at puso ang gumagalaw sa kanyang inosenteng pananaw sa lahat.”

He ends, “I pray that this movie opens a lot of eyes and stirs a lot of hearts. Lahat ay may pantay na karapatan at tayo, who are supposedly normal and able, we must not only embrace and love people with Down syndrome, it

is imperative that we defend and protect them from people who are abusive and capable of doing evil deeds to the differently-abled.”

Supporting director Bertubin to realize his advocacy movie Ku’te are Bounty Fresh ( Chooks to Go ), Wang Chu King Foundation (Mighty Corporation) Don Benito’s and Rebisco.

The World Premieres Film Festival - Philippines, mounted and organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), will be held from June 29 to July 10.

This distinct film festival highlights cinematic achievements from countries all over the world through film cultural exchange partnerships with the FDCP. It is the next step in the FDCP’s Film Cultural Exchange Program whereby FDCP partners with Embassies and their cultural arms in the country for events showcasing the cinemas of various nations.

Ku’te’s official screening schedules are on July 1 (6 p.m.) Gala Premiere, SM North EDSA Cinema; July 3 (7 pm), SM North EDSA Cinema; July 4 (7 p.m.) SM North EDSA Cinema; July 7 (5 p.m.) SM Megamall Cinema; July 8 (5 p.m.) SM Megamall Cinema and July 10 (7 p.m.)SM Megamall Cinema.

‘Agent Carter’ star in AsiaPOP Comicon Manila The hype is real. AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2016 (APCC Manila) announced its first Hollywood celebrity guest to invade the second installment of the biggest pop culture convention in the country.

Slated on Aug. 26 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, APCC Manila revealed no less than Agent Carter herself, Hayley Atwell, as its first Hollywood celebrity headliner. Atwell also played Peggy Carter in the first two Captain America films.

The British-American actress has been in the industry for more than a decade now.

With more additions on the way to this epic roster, APCC Manila 2016 also revealed its initial lineup of Cosplay Authority Global Challenge (The CAGE) cosplayers: including Ani Mia, Lindze Merritt, Riddle, and Yugana Senshi Uon. They are joined by artist Simone Legno of tokidoki, who is all set to bring the brand’s crazykawaii cool style to the event.

Legno is the world-famous artist and graphic illustrator best known for being one of the brains behind art giant tokidoki, through which he has collaborated with names such as Karl Lagerfeld, LeSportsac, Onitsuka Tiger, Marvel, and Hello Kitty, among others.

For the cosplayers, Mia currently writes for Otaku USA magazine, covering topics relevant to the cosplay hobby, in addition to travelling all over the world as a judge in costume contests and appears in different media. Merritt combines her degrees in fashion, business, and aesthetics with her hobby. She has been featured in numerous magazines through the years.

A reality TV star, Riki LeCotey, aka Riddle, was one of the most popular characters in reality TV series Heroes of Cosplay, as well as the creator of Cosplay for a Cause, a charity outfit; while Yugana Senshi Uon is one of the newest rising stars on the cosplay scene, having started just a few years ago. Despite this, she has gained recognition all over Southeast Asia for her creative costume renditions, appearing in magazines and conventions.

Unique Content

For this year, APCC Manila has expanded from being more than a comic con as it

chance to get autograph and photograph sessions with the celebrity headliners and more, with tickets to be announced soon.

For more information and event updates, please visit www.asiapopcomiccon.com/ manila and official Facebook Page www. facebook.com/apccmanila.

Taloi Havini: Artist’s Talk

Hayley Atwell also known as “Agent Carter” in Marvel universe

will incorporate more elements of pop culture by integrating the existing comic con format with pop culture lifestyle trends, where beauty makeup artists, fashion influencers, unique children play zone, sporting section, digital and social media activation will tap into various segments of consumers to make it one great experience under the same roof.

“The energy of fans from the Philippines and in Asia is nothing like we’ve seen before. It’s these sorts of things that excite us to bring the best pop culture experiences in the world to this colorful country. This year we shall be bringing unique content where we can go beyond the usual movies, music, animation, gaming, toys and cosplay and offer fun elements within beauty, fashion, sports, lifestyle, digital activation and F&B; making it truly a pop culture carnival not witnessed before in the country” said Abdulla Mahmood, director of Marketing and Business Development at Al Ahli Holding Group.

During its first run last year, APCC Manila featured a powerhouse Hollywood guest lineup that included Avengers star Paul Bettany, Game of Thrones actress Nathalie Emmanuel, Arrow heartthrob Colton Haynes, and Adventure Time voiceover genius Jeremy Shada, along with a roster of internationally- acclaimed cosplayers and artists.

For three days, visitors from all over

the world dropped by to see the latest and greatest offerings in pop culture: exclusive merchandise, memorabilia exhibitions, even a life-sized Hulkbuster armor and an exclusive never before seen footage from Captain America: Civil War.

Cosplay Competition

For the second time too, APCC Manila is proud to partner with The Cage, the world’s biggest and first- of-its-kind cosplay competition. It aims to promote the spirit and craftsmanship of cosplay through costume and prop-making workshops, as well as provide a platform for cosplay enthusiasts and fans to compete on an international level.

It is currently inviting the best cosplay talents around the region to join the competition. The grand champion in the Open category will be determined by an impressive panel of expert judges from various areas of cosplay and will receive a recordbreaking payout of up to $10,000. The Cage also has a Kids category to cater to the younger audience.

“We were off to a good start last year with AsiaPOP Comicon and The Cage competition. Now that we’ve seen just how hungry the Philippines and the entire region is for pop culture, we’re going to come back, even bigger and grander this time around.

Watch out for more surprises,” Mahmood added.

At APCC Manila 2016, fans will get a

Taloi Havini, an artist known for her involvement in cultural heritage projects, exhibitions, research and community development in Australia and Melanesia, will hold a talk on June 23, 3 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD).

Her interdisciplinary work in ceramics, photography, print, video and mixed media deconstructs the politics of location and the intergenerational transmission of Indigenous Knowledge Systems.

In her research, Havini engages with living cultural practitioners, Oceanian material collections and archives. She often responds to these experiences and sites of investigation with experimental ceramic installations, print, photographic and video works.

Havini will talk about her work ‘Beroana’ and currency in liminal spaces of exchange.

The MCAD is at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts (SDA) Campus, Dominga Street, Malate Manila.

For inquiries and reservations, contact us at 230-5100 loc. 3897 or atmcad@benilde.edu.ph.

M ONDAY : J UNE 20, 2016

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Newest Kapamilya love team offers new kind of ‘kilig’ ISAH V. RED

A

BS-CBN and Dreamscape Television Entertainment proudly present the newest love story that will prove destiny exists, Born for You, with the newest love team of Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona, which premieres tonight.

The series is Janella’s first romantic-themed series and Elmo’s first-ever teleserye on the Kapamilya network. Being the first in both of their careers make the two lead stars excited and thankful for their upcoming show.

“I am very happy to be with ABS-CBN and very blessed to have what I have right now. But I am also nervous about what people are going to expect. Still, I believe in what I and Janella can offer,” said Elmo.

“There is little pressure but more excitement. When I was reading the script, I could already imagine how good the show is,” Janella added.

Aside from the kilig moments, the audience is also in for a huge music treat as the pair will not only showcase their acting skills, but also their musicality with performances that will surely delight fans.

“Music is so close to my heart and when I learned that my character Kevin is really passionate about music, I loved him instantly,” said the new Kapamilya actor.

“This soap gave me the opportunity to play instruments, something that people have not seen before,” said Janella, who in the series plays the ukulele.

Born for You was shot in Japan, highlighting some scenic spots,

Kapamilya stars Elmo Magalona (left) and Janella Salvador (right) are billed as the next big love team

like the world-famous Mount Fuji and Shibuya Crossing.

And even before its premiere, the show already received praises from the audience for its quality and promising story. The netizens are also abuzz with the kilig the experience while watching the first episodes of the series that has become a consistent trending topic on social media.

The story revolves around Sam (Janella) and Kevin (Elmo), two people destined for each other.

The show features the concept of the red string of fate, which says that an invisible string connects two destined people that are set to meet each other wherever they are in the world.

Their love for music will bring Sam and Kevin together, but it

might also be the reason for their budding romance to be cut off.

What fate awaits Sam and Kevin? How will their parents’ past affect their destiny? Will the string that connects them be broken?

Joining the stellar cast are Ariel Riveral, Vina Morales, Ayen Laurel, Bernard Palanca, Gina Pareño, Freddie Webb, Jimboy Martin, Joj Agpangan, Francis

Magundayao, Smokey Manaloto, Ogie Diaz, Katya Santos, DJ Durano, Alfred Labatos, Kyline Alcantara, Paulo O’hara, Neil Coleta, and Young JV. Born for You airs after Dolce Amore on ABS-CBN and ABSCBN HD (SkyCable 167).

Sky subscribers can catch up via iWant TV and skyondemand. com.ph.

Present at the “Born For You” press launch to show support for the JanElmo top-billed series are cast members (from left) Ariel Rivera, Vina Morales, Freddie Webb and Gina Pareño