The Standard - 2016 June 26 - Monday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX NO. 134 3 Sections 24 Pages P18 SUNDAY : JUNE 26, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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TOP COP BLASTS DRUG CODDLERS By F. Pearl A. Gajunera, John Paolo Bencito and Francisco Tuyay

DAVAO CITY—Among the 35 mayors who are being probed for their alleged involvement in the narcotics trade are mayors in the provinces of the Davao region, incoming Philippine National Police directorgeneral Chief Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa said Saturday.

Incoming PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa

“There are mayors involved in drugs in the nearby provinces of Davao region, just around Davao City,” Dela Rosa told journalists here after Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu submitted a list of politicians in his province who are also supposedly involved in the illegal drug trade. Dela Rosa did not identify the mayors but warned the “narcopoliticians” that he will soon be going after them and they will be treated just like ordinary criminals.

“Those mayors who can feel that their new [chief of police] is hard-headed and won’t follow their orders, then, it’s them,” said Dela Rosa, adding that he will purposely assign his men to the narco-politicians to catch them. He said that as soon as he sits down as the new PNP chief, he will have a major revamp and will personally pick 15 new regional directors who have the courage to fight government officials involved in illegal activities. Dela Rosa said that the existing

15 regional directors have failed to do their jobs because the drug situation in our country is still the same. Earlier this month, Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte revealed that there are politicians as well as three generals who are into illegal drug activities. Duterte even warned the generals to resign from their posts while he is not yet the president or he will humiliate them publicly. One of the local leaders who was being tagged as being involved in narco-politics was Mangudadatu who submitted his own list of suspects as he vowed to help in Duterte’s anti-narcotics drive. At the same time, Mangudadatu filed libel raps against media groups that claimed he and his brothers Khadaffy and Jong were among the drug lords in Maguindanao. “In the list that I submitted to President Duterte, there are local Next page

JAKARTA BAN PROMPTED BY ABDUCTIONS THE Indonesian transportation ministry banned Indonesian-flagged vessels from sailing to the Philippines, the transport ministry said, after yet another violent kidnapping in the strife-torn waters between the two nations. The Indonesian ministry announced the ban as Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder sought a meeting with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to discuss the Abu Sayyaf Group’s kidnapping and eventual killing of two of their nationals. “This hijacking issue is a serious matter and cannot be tolerated anymore,” said Antonius Tonny Budiono, directorgeneral for sea transportation of Jakarta’s transportation ministry. The transport ministry issued a notice informing all harbor masters they were “strictly prohibited from issuing permits to all Indonesian-flagged vessels bound for the Philippines, without exception.” The ruling was issued after the government confirmed seven Indonesian sailors were kidnapped at gunpoint earlier this week, and were being held hostage by an unknown group. It’s the third time this year Indonesian sailors were abducted in the Sulu sea, a vital waterway that’s seen a spike in seaborne crime like armed robberies and kidnappings. Next page

Anti-drugs drive. Incoming National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa reiterated his upcoming campaign against narco-politicians as Quezon City police killed a suspected drug pusher in a gunfight at a remote area of the University of the Philippines in Quezon City. AFP PHOTO

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A2 Jakarta...

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To prevent any commercial vessels from breaching the ban, Indonesia will also ramp up marine patrols in its waters bordering the southern Philippines, Budiono added. It’s not yet clear how significantly trade will be affected by the ban, but it could severely disrupt the flow of goods from Southeast Asia’s largest economy—including natural resources like coal— to the Philippines. The Sulu and Celebes seas form a key waterway between Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, and are used for the passage of 55 million metric tonnes of goods and over 18 million people per year. Last month, the three countries agreed to launch a coordinated patrol of the waters after the recent surge of kidnappings. The Indonesian sailors abducted this week were towing a coal barge through the Sulu sea when their tugboat was attacked by gunmen. “The government will do everything possible to free these hostages,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters. Sulu, a southern archipelago, is a known hideout of Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants who have earned millions of dollars from kidnappings in recent years. A spokesman for the foreign ministry said he could not confirm whether a ransom demand had been made, or if Abu Sayyaf was responsible for the abductions. Earlier this year the group kidnapped 14 Indonesian sailors, holding them in their stronghold in the southern Philippines. They were later freed but there was no information on whether a ransom was paid. Meanwhile, the Canadian ambassador was in Davao City on Saturday for an activity in celebration of the 149th anniversary of Canada Day on July 1 and expressed hope to meet with Duterte. But the President-elect was set to leave for Cebu City to attend a thanksgiving party with his supporters in Central Visayas. Reeder said he was looking to meet with Duterte soon even as the envoy urged the government to press its operations against the Abu Sayyaf and make them pay for the killings of Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall. The two Canadians were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf from a resort in Samal Island last September along with Filipina Marites Flor and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad. The bandits had beheaded Ridsdel and Hall after ransom for their release was not paid and released Flor on Friday, but Sekkingstad remains in their custody. AFP

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DAESH ISSUES PR VIDEO FOR SOUTHEAST ASIANS By John Paolo Bencito

THE terrorist Daesh, or the so-called Islamic State, released for the first time a propaganda video for Islamists in Southeast Asia and declared a “pivot to Asia” with Abu Sayyaf extremist Isnilon Hapilon as one of their leaders. The video showed three men, speaking in Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia and Filipino, beheading three people whom Daesh believed to be spies. The three men in the video also addressed IS supporters in their home countries and warned that whoever stands in the way of their holy war in what they called Khatibah Nusantara, which is presumed to be the Daesh’s socalled province in Southeast Asia.

“If you cannot go to [Syria], join the mujahideen in the Philippines,” said a man identified as Malaysian militant Mohamad Rafi Udin. Udin called upon IS supporters to kill non-believers and look for Abdullah al-Filipini, whom security forces later identified as Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. “Kill them wherever you meet them. If you have a car, hit them. Use your weapons and knives to stab them in the

chest,” Udin said. One of the men, who had his words subtitled in Filipino, said: “We are slaughtering these [apostates] and tomorrow, our brothers in your land will slaughter you. We will use the language of swords and bullets. We will continue to fight and wage war against you, terrorize you and put fear in your hearts.” Another man in the same video spoke in Filipino and urged his “brothers” not to hesitate in their fight, trying to downplay the “tactics” of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. “Take care and be strong, do not be swayed by the deceptive tactics of the newly elected [President Rodrigo] Duterte. May he be cursed by Allah,” he said. Only on Friday, Duterte said the kidnappings and beheadings

perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf must stop and he would soon confront the extremist group. “I don’t want to pick up a fight with anybody, but there will be a time. I have to confront Abu Sayyaf. It’s not yet forthcoming... Their kidnapping must stop. It has given us a very bad image,” Duterte said. Duterte also warned his fellow Mindanaoans not to join the bandit group, saying he would unleash a war on them. “Never be a member of that Abu Sayyaf because there will be a reckoning one of these days,” he said. Incoming National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said meanwhile that he cannot comment yet about the IS threats directed to Duterte, saying that he has yet to assume the post.

HYBRID TRAIN. Passengers board the hybrid electric train that was developed by the Department of Science and Technology during a test run on Saturday. The train has capacity of 220 passengers and can run 60 kilometers per hour. DANNY PATA

Top... From A1 officials engaged in illegal activities in the province, but I can’t tell you how many but surely there are,” Mangudadatu said. Mangudadatu vehemently denied the allegations about him being involved in the illegal drug trade, saying that they are baseless accusations. “I will not take this sitting down. Our legal team is working on it. There is a law against it and that is the cybercrime law,” he said. Mangudadatu also revealed during the oath-taking ceremony that at least 20 individuals involved in the illegal drug trade

have sent surrender feelers to his office. Mangudadatu, a member of the Liberal Party, had expressed his support for the President-elect’s campaign against illegal drugs. Meanwhile, in Quezon City, three drug suspects, including two members of the Joselito Gonzales drug group, were killed after they fought it out with drug enforcers during a raid on their lair Friday night. Chief Inspector Enrico Figueroa, head of the District of AntiIllegal Drugs special operations task group, identified the suspects as Darwin Moralla, 30, a certain Vergel/Rigor, both members of the Joselito drug group and one still unidentified.

Figueroa in his report said that the drug deal occurred at a small shanty situated at the UP Arboritum near Fael compound in Barangay UP Campus. Recovered from suspects were three pieces of .38 revolver with ammunition, P10,000 in marked money, several sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia. He said the incident occurred after narcotics agents accompanied by an informant established a drug deal with the drug group, but Vergel sensed the presence of the police and tried to flee. The group scampered in different direction but the police caught up with them and killed the suspects who fired guns at the pursuing cops.

Figueroa added that five other drug suspects were able to escape in the ensuing firefight. Reports said that the neutralization of the three drug suspects were the result of the information provided by drug personalities who surrendered to authorities last week for fear of their safety. Dozens of suspected drug pushers have already been killed in a span of two months after President-elect Rody Duterte highlighted his campaign promise to rid the country of illegal drugs. At least 300 drug users and dealers in Quezon City turned themselves to the police ahead of the massive anti-illegal drug campaign by the Duterte regime.

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COMELEC ROW RILES PPCRV By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE head of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting admitted on Saturday that they have long known about the differences among officials of the Commission on Elections and have long been affected by the festering row.

BEAUTIES OF MANILA. Newly crowned Miss Manila Cristelle Tolentino (third from left) greets well-wishers after her coronation along with her court consisting of (from left) fourth runner-up Joanna Marie Rabe, second runner-up Ganiel Akrisha Krishnan, first runner-up Mercegrace Raquel and third runner-up Kristel Guelos. PNA PHOTO

CHINESE FISHERS PAY P9M IN FINES TUGUEGARAO CITY—The 10 Chinese fishermen who were arrested for poaching last month have paid a compromise fine amounting to P9.093 million, settling their administrative cases filed before the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The amount paid is unprecedented in the Cagayan Valley region and marks the first time provisions of the recently enacted Republic Act 10654, which amended the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, were enforced. The Chinese were aboard their fishing vessel M/V Lady Luck 020 when they were apprehended by elements of the BFAR and Philippine Coast Guard manning the BFAR patrol vessels MCS 3010 and MCS 3007. The Chinese were apprehended last May 25 in the vicinity of Babuyan Claro in the Calayan Group of Islands, Cagayan province. The fishermen were identified as Liang A. Gui, Su Jia Ying, Zhang Ceng Fu, Wang Sheng Li, Shun Ji Ting, Zhuo Dao Jie, Wang Jia Yuan, Zhao Lian Zhau, Ye Xiao Jian, and Xie Yong Feng. BFAR Cagayan Valley regional director Dr. Milagros Morales expressed her appreciation at this development and said the hefty fine shall serve as deterrent to other poachers. BFAR director Asis G. Perez, in his order dated June 20, 2016, based his decision to accept the respondents’ offer for compromise on Department of Agriculture Administrative Order 10 and the Administrative Code of the Philippines. The amount collected, which was remitted to the National Treasury, includes the penalties imposed for violation of other provisions of the Fisheries Code, specifically the ban on coral exploitation and the ban on muro-ami and other methods destructive to coral reefs. PNA

TAGUIWALO’S CCT REVIEW BACKED By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—Businessmen who attended the economic forum here on Tuesday have backed the call of incoming Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo to review the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer program. Taguiwalo said she was surprised that the business community agreed with the need for a review of the government dole, called Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, to develop more sustainable assistance program for the poor. “I was really happily surprised that the business community sees the need for a more

sustainable program for the poor, rather than just retaining the 4P’s,” Taguiwalo said. She said the suggestion of the business community will create a good impact on President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s programs. During the business forum, businessmen presented to Duterte their top 10 actionable recommendations and one of them is to review the CCT program because it only promotes “dependency on the government.” They noted that giving the poor opportunities to learn skills and get jobs is “a longterm intervention that teaches them to catch fish rather than to give them fish.”

Taguiwalo said that when she assumes office as DSWD secretary, she will review the benefits and the downside of the 4Ps. “I will review the 4Ps, what are its benefits to the poor and what are its problem areas,” she said. “The point here is 4Ps is a bridge program [and] we need to ensure its sustainability, like jobs and health among others,” Taguiwalo added. She said that she would also like to look at the implementation of 4Ps since there are reports of selectivity. The 4Ps has purportedly benefited around 4.6 million Filipinos with a total budget of P62.7 billion.

HUMAN RIGHTS MARCH. Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chito Gascon leads other human rights activists in deploring incidents of involuntary disappearances and torture during a Freedom March along Commonwalth Avenue in Quezon City. MANNY PALMERO

“We are already affected by that [row] even before,” said Henrietta de Villa, chairperson of the PPCRV which is the Comelec’s citizen’s arm. “As public officials, they are mandated to take care of the elections which is very important so they have the responsibility to work together. They should agree on a way how they can have a dialogue,” De Villa said, commending Comelec employees for their exemplary performance. “Huwag naman ipilit nila kung ano gusto nila at pakinggan ang isa’tisa [They should not insist on what each of them want and they should listen to each other],” De Villa said, noting that some commissioners she did not identify should learn to control their pride. “The Comelec rank and file are good. They work very hard in delivering orderly elections. I must commend them,” she said. She also commended Commissioner Christian Robert Lim for his role in the last May 9 elections. “We usually go to Comm. Bot,” she said, using Lim’s nickname. “At least, he already knows elections. He just works and doesn’t take things personally.” De Villa made the remarks after six commissioners publicly issued an open memorandum assailing the leadership of Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista. “It would be better if they will just talk about their differences. No problem cannot be overcome by dialogue. Because each one has to realize that they have to act together,” De Villa said. Among the issues raised in the memo of the six commissioners are the manner in which the weekly en banc meetings are conducted, the failed mall voting project and the delays in compensation of the teachers who served as election inspectors. But Bautista only shrugged off the memo and dismissed the claims as “old news.” “This is old news. I have prepared a response and met with several commissioners about this already,” he said in a text message. On Thursday, the six other commissioners issued a strongly worded memo asking Bautista to explain why there was a delay in the release of honoraria for the board of election inspectors and other poll workers. Bautista also shrugged off their assessment that there was a failure of leadership in the poll body. “I find the phrase ‘failure of leadership’ ironic after the May 2016 elections, which most believe was the fastest, most organized and successful elections in Philippine history,” he said. Bautista added, “Was the holding of nationwide presidential debates after 24 years a manifestation of failure of leadership as well?”

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OPINION

WHO WINS FROM BREXIT? CHINA By Michael Schuman

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS THE incoming social welfare secretary says she is not inclined to institutionalize the government’s conditional cash transfer program. While we wonder how University of the Philippines professor Judy Taguiwalo could assert this when her would-be boss, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, himself said he would continue the government-sponsored dole program, we find her pronouncement comforting nonetheless. At the very least, one person gets the literal translation of “pantawid”—as it is used in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program—a temporary measure, something to tide one over until better times come along. “Why would you institutionalize a stop-gap measure?” Taguiwalo said. Under the 4Ps program, families belonging to the “poorest of the poor” are given cash incentives on the condition that they send their kids to school and avail themselves of health services offered in their communities. The premise is that the government simultaneously works towards providing sustainable employment for the recipients of the dole. One day, they would no longer need the assistance as they provide for their own needs. This makes sense—in principle. In practice, however, some recipients have been known to squander the cash on non-essential goods. Worse, the justconducted elections provided an opportunity for the providers of aid—the incumbent administration party—to get on the good side of the recipients, who just happened to be registered voters as well. In fact, it was not at all uncommon for Liberal Party bets to be conveniently present at some 4Ps event at any point in the country. And until now, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has not been able to fully account for the billions in taxpayers’ money that had been appropriated for the dole. Taguiwalo did not say the program would be ended immediately. It is enough to know that she, of all people, acknowledges it is but temporary, a “bridging program” that would help the poor until they are given more and better options to live. With barely four days to go until a new administration takes over, it is a good time to clarify expectations people might have of the “change” that is promised. To experience change is not to see something appear or disappear; it is, instead, being able to do something when one has been powerless before. Let’s hope Filipinos, desperate and hungry for real change, don’t mistake the convenient bridge for the destination.

TRUMP’S WILLING ACCOMPLICES IN A speech in Harlem on “breaking down barriers” for American blacks, Hillary Clinton touched on gun violence, unequal treatment in the criminal justice system and other matters familiar to anyone who casually follows the news. But she also cited the disproportionate effects of asthma, which is more than twice as likely to land a black kid in the hospital as a white kid. “Just imagine with me, for a minute, if white kids were 500 percent more likely to die from asthma than black kids,” Clinton said. “Five hundred percent.” Blacks are a key component of the Democratic coalition.

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OPINION

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ADELLE CHUA

If you don’t like Clinton or blacks or politics, you might call Clinton’s remarks pandering. But leave aside whether her remarks were motivated by personal ambition or genuine concern (although the two are perfectly compatible). Clinton cared enough about this particular Democratic constituency to know information that a casual (white) consumer of news typically wouldn’t. She wants black votes. And, not coincidentally, she has made it her business to acquire a more than cursory knowledge of black issues. There are many dumbfounding aspects of Donald Trump’s candidacy. Perhaps his open

bigotry, persistent childishness and easy contempt for truth can’t help but eclipse all others. But his comprehensive lack of curiosity about issues near and dear to his most vital supporters is nonetheless remarkable. That conservative interest groups tolerate, and even excuse, his obvious lack of concern for them is no less fascinating. Trump’s meeting with conservative evangelicals in New York earlier this week provided a striking illustration. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee served as Trump’s mediator with the group, translating Christian conservatism into a Queens vernacular.

The presumptive Republican nominee’s signature remark on religion this week was a spiritual nod to birtherism. “We don’t know anything about Hillary in terms of religion,” he said. (Clinton’s well-known Methodist faith requires no birth certificate.) But Trump’s reflexive demagogy may be no more telling about the cultural currency of his campaign than his casual ignorance of his own supporters. At the meeting with Christian conservatives in New York, Huckabee set the tone early, assuring Trump that he would be graded on a spiritual curve. “I don’t think anybody here expects you to be theological today. I want

to put you at ease,” Huckabee said. “This is not a pastoral search committee.” Trump successfully avoided theology. He promised, while highlighting his triumphs with evangelical voters, to appoint conservative justices to the Supreme Court, referenced the prohibition on political endorsements by tax-exempt organization such as churches (“the Johnson amendment, whatever you want to call it”) and pledged to get Americans to say “Merry Christmas.” The vague shout-out to the Johnson amendment, which he repeated, vaguely, was his sole concession to preparation. The remainder of the meeting was a

typically Trumpian competition among logorrhea, lies and stupidity. On Iran: “Nobody knows what’s going on.” On Clinton’s agenda: “We’re going to end up being a Venezuela if she gets in, for a lot of different reasons.” On urban poverty: “And through various incentives and lots of other things, including spirit and training, we’re gonna get things straightened out.” Yes. Spirit and training and incentives and lots of others things. Did the people in that room, many of whom had risen to

leadership positions in institutions, enjoy being treated like idiots? During the primaries, Marco Rubio at one point called Trump a “con artist.” He was half right. There’s little artistry to Trump’s work. He’s too lazy to research, let alone appreciate, his marks. “And we’re going to be incredible for evangelicals, for Christianity and for other religions,” he said to the evangelicals, riffing like a jazz musician restricted to a single monotonous note. The professional religious hucksters who interacted with Trump and who have been selling their services to Republican

candidates for years went along with the thin charade. This hardly means every Christian conservative will. As one wrote to Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson: “You get racism, misogyny, torture and an authoritarian as commander in chief, but you’ll get to hear ‘Merry Christmas’ in stores.” However, millions will support him, and millions of others will follow. This particular con requires a legion of accomplices, ranging from the cynical to the self-deluded. Trump may be supremely selfish, but he recognizes he’s not in it alone. Bloomberg

THE United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union is creating a lot of losers: London’s finance industry. British Prime Minister David Cameron. The pound. The grand cause of European integration. But out of all of the market turmoil and uncertainty will emerge at least one big winner: China. In the short term, of course, China’s struggling economy may take a hit from the chaos in the EU, its second-largest trading partner. A smaller, less-stable European market and more cash-strapped consumers aren’t good news for Chinese exporters. Over the longer term, though, Brexit is almost certainly in China’s economic and political interests. Even a fully united Europe—burdened as it is by debt woes, high costs, overbearing bureaucracy and, in some cases, dubious competitiveness—has had a tough time competing and contending with China. Now fractured, the EU can’t help but pose less of a counterweight to China’s rise on the world stage. Remember why the European Union was formed in the first place. Proponents like to stress the EU’s mission to promote peace and democracy. More practically, a key goal of unification was to enhance the region’s clout in the global economy. The varied nations of Europe understood that they’d be much stronger if they forged a common market with shared institutions and even a regional currency, the euro, than if they tried to compete as independent units. Europe hoped to evolve from a collection of rich but contentious states into a giant economic bloc on par with the US and more recently, China. In reality, Europe has struggled to fulfill that ideal and has suffered for it. Persistent nationalism has repeatedly limited its ability to forge a common front on both trade and geopolitical issues. Nowhere has this failure been more obvious than in Europe’s relations with China. As a whole, the EU should in theory wield significant power in pressing Beijing to open its markets and play fair on trade. Instead, European nations have routinely squandered that advantage by competing with each other for Chinese investment and favors. Shortly after the UK’s Cameron fawned over visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping last year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel showed up in Beijing, seeking her own business deals. The opportunities for China to divide and conquer —both to strike better bargains and to undercut complaints about its own market-distorting behavior—will only increase now that Europe’s second-largest economy has gone its own way. European businesses would certainly have been better served if the EU could have cobbled together a common policy towards China.While Chinese companies have gone on a major shopping spree in Europe—even buying stakes in beloved football clubs— Merkel, on a recent visit to Beijing, was left griping that foreign firms deserved to “enjoy the same rights and privileges as domestic companies” in China. If she and Cameron and Europe’s other leaders had locked arms and fought for those rights together, they’d Continued on A6

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OPINION

WHO WINS FROM BREXIT? CHINA By Michael Schuman

[ EDI TORI A L ]

EDITOR

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OPINION

By Francis Wilkinson

ADELLE CHUA

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

OPINION

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CALASIAO NATIVE SERVES ABOARD A US NAVY STEALTH SHIP EVERYMAN By Heidi McCormick BATH, Maine—A 1998 Calasiao National High School graduate is serving aboard a US Navy destroyer that, while more than 600 feet long, looks as small as a fishing boat to enemy radar. Petty Officer 1st Class Stanley Paramio is a Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical) aboard the Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, USS Michael Monsoor, currently under construction at a shipyard in Bath, Maine. A Navy Gas Turbine Electrician operates, repairs and performs organizational and intermediate maintenance on electrical components of gas turbine engines. “I really enjoy the work I do every day,” said Paramio. “It’s a good feeling when you know that your work is important and vital to the mission.” For the first time in 25 years, there is true competition for control of the seas, Navy officials assert. Monsoor has been designed to combat the threats of today as well as those of coming decades. Looking more like a spaceship than a surface ship, Monsoor has

By Jovan Matic BELGRADE—It’s June 25, 1991 and I am waiting for my luggage at the airport in Ljubljana, the capital of the Slovenia Socialist Republic, one of the six republics that make up the country of Yugoslavia, where I was born. I am a journalist working for Radio Yugoslavia and a small Parisian radio station and am surrounded by fellow passengers who just flew in from Belgrade, the federal capital. It is two years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and for several years now nationalism, fueled by economic hardship, has been on the rise in my country along ethnic lines. The regional government in Slovenia has just surprised Belgrade by announcing its split from Yugoslavia, a day earlier than planned. The move has left me and my fellow passengers at the Ljubljana airport in a bit of a fix —will our luggage appear in the national section as usual, or the international section, as befits a flight from another nation? As we wait to find out, we crack jokes about our predicament. No one, including me, thinks that our country—a multi-ethnic land that has lived in peace since World War II—is about to disappear, consumed by an explosion of fratricidal bloodletting unseen on the continent since that war. After a while our luggage appears in the national section— apparently the Ljubljana airport authorities have put off the practical side of independence for a bit. I go out into the streets of Ljubljana with a colleague, the late Xavier Gautier who was

a unique wave-piercing inverted bow that increases speed and stability by cutting through the water. The ship was also built with an innovative design that dramatically reduces its radar signature, giving it the advantage of stealth, something generally associated with military aircraft, and not with Navy destroyers. The second ship of the class, which will ultimately include three ships, Michael Monsoor has advanced technologies in nearly every area including energy efficiency, main engines, weapons systems, shipboard electronics and sensors. When at sea, the ship will stand ready for a variety of missions including attacking targets on land— it carries cruise missiles and features two advanced gun systems capable of firing long-range projectiles more than 70 miles—hunting and tracking submarines, airspace surveillance, and providing support to special operations forces such as US Navy SEALS. “The sophisticated new technology incorporated aboard this ship, combined with its multimission capabilities, will ensure it is a relevant and integral part of our battle force for years to come,” said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, prior to the ship’s christening

ceremony. The Zumwalt-class also helps the Navy be more green. It is the first US Navy ship built with an innovative integrated power system, which provides power to virtually all ship’s needs, including the main engines, electrical and combat systems and other onboard equipment, according to Navy officials. This allows for significant energy savings and ensures that the ship can be outfitted in the future with high-energy weapons and sensors as they are developed. “This extremely capable warship is a lasting tribute to the ship’s namesake, Petty Officer 2nd

Class Michael Monsoor, whose bravery and sacrifice serves as an example for each of us, every day,” said Capt. Scott Smith, the Monsoor’s commanding officer. “The sailors selected for duty on the Monsoor are the best in the Navy; when combined with the advanced technological and multimission capabilities of the ship, they will ensure it is a relevant and integral part of our battle force for years to come.” With a crew of less than 150 sailors, Sailors aboard the Monsoor must specialize in a range of skills to keep each part of the destroyer running smoothly, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from caring for fellow crewmembers to maintaining engines and handling weaponry. “The best part of serving aboard Michael Monsoor is the people I work with,” said Paramio. “Everyone here is very helpful and always eager to share their knowledge.” “My service in the Navy and aboard Michael Monsoor has taught me to hold myself to higher standard,” said Paramio. (McCormick is a communication specialist of the US Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs.)

THE DAY MY COUNTRY DIED

The federal Yugoslav army at the border between Croatia and Slovenia, July 3, 1991. AFP working for the Figaro daily. We find a festive city, decorated already with the new flags of the Republic of Slovenia. The beer is flowing freely, laughter fills the streets, the future seems radiant. Looking back on it now, the joy we found that day seems surreal— Slovenia’s independence was the first crack that would eventually see Yugoslavia shatter, leaving more than 130,000 people dead. The following day Xavier and I figure that the best way to see independence is to see what’s happening at the borders of the new country. At the SezanaFernetti border post, we see that the signs announcing entry into the Republic of Yugoslavia have disappeared. The Yugoslav flags have been replaced by the new Slovenian tricolor. There is not a hint of tension. Around 10 a.m., we get to the Ponte Rosso square in Trieste, bathed in warm June sunshine.

Our day seems to be going according to plan. And then I learn that war has broken out in my country. “There’s gunfire back home,” an Italian tells me in Serbo-Croat. Xavier and I run back to the car and race back toward the border crossing, where there is now a long line of cars blocked by panicked Italian police, some of them carrying automatic weapons. We won’t be able to cross back here, we have to find another border crossing, less wellknown. Once back inside Slovenia, we see an abandoned T-84 tank of the Yugoslav Army, the JNA on the side of the road of the first village that we pass. It is the first visible sign of the war that will grip the Balkans over the next decade. The village children are climbing all over it, delighted at their unexpected find. The villagers tell us that the Yugoslav

soldiers, 18-year-old conscripts, simply abandoned it on the road. The villagers know that I am Serb by my dialect, and the federal government in Belgrade is opposed to Slovenia’s independence and has ordered the JNA army to secure the border crossings. But the fact that I am Serb doesn’t elicit the slightest aggressivity on their part, a startling courtesy that I would find time and again during Slovenia’s short-lived war, including from soldiers. At our hotel, journalists are glued to radio and television news. Reports of clashes are coming in from throughout the small alpine republic. War, an actual war that everyone thought impossible, is breaking out in the country. The next morning, sirens wail across the city—the war jets of the federal army are in the sky. Civilians run toward shelters, fear and anger in their eyes. It’s at this moment that I realize that we’ve crossed a point of no return. My country is going to disappear. Xavier, who has covered wars before, suggests we go to the airport, as he is convinced that federal forces are going to try and take control of it. We try to reach it for hours, trying this street and that road. We finally get through in the late afternoon. The place where only 48 hours before I waited for my luggage, joking, is now deserted, except for a group of mostly local journalists. JNA’s Mig-21s fly at a low altitude, surveying the place. We watch them from the roof. We also

WHO WINS... From A5 have had a much greater chance of success. Now instead, a truncated common market in Europe will undercut the global competitiveness of its companies. European firms—frombig banks to tech start-ups—would be much better positioned to take on rising Chinese champions if they were able to capitalize on a full-fledged Europe-wide market. Politically, too, Brexit can only widen China’s scope for action. As China challenges the West’s cherished institutions and ideals, fromnavigation rights to human rights, the importance of defending those rules and values is rising steadily. A united EU could have presented a serious check to Beijing’s growing assertiveness. We’ve already seen the alternative: When the US expressed concerns last year about China’s plans to set up a rival to the World Bank, the Europeans stumbled over themselves to sign up, undermining any hope of extracting concessions from China’s leaders. By choosing “leave,” British voters demonstrated an unfortunate short-sightedness about how the world is changing and how hard it will be for any country with global ambitions to go it alone. With Brexit, both the UK and Europe are losing a lot more than a partnership. They’re losing their best chance to stay relevant in a greatly altered world order. Bloomberg see Slovenian troops deployed on the ground. I manage to find a working telephone and call my radio station in Belgrade. While I’m talking to them, there is a burst of automatic gunfire. I stick the receiver outside the window, so my colleagues in Belgrade can appreciate the seriousness of the situation. It’s war. We can’t see anything amid the gunfire, which lasts for a good 40 minutes. Then silence. Nothing moves, the night falls and there begins a torrential downpour. We are stuck here for the time being. A group of journalists sets out to find food and drinks. The remaining hacks establish a ‘base’ in the office of the airport manager, where we follow the news on television. The news makes no mention of the clashes at the airport. Xavier suggests that we spend the night here. The war in Slovenia would last only 10 days, after which the Yugoslav forces withdraw from the newly independent country, with some 60 people killed. A short war and in hindsight fairly painless war. But it was only the start of the Balkan nightmare. Xavier and I would then head to Croatia, where a sizeable Orthodox Serb minority was opposed to the independence pushed by the Catholic Croat majority. That war would kill some 20,000 people and last until 1995. In Bosnia, more than 100,000 people would be killed. Then would come the Kosovo war and the bombing of my hometown Belgrade by Nato forces. And it all started in Slovenia, where on a warm June afternoon I wondered where to collect my luggage. AFP

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

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Fishers entitled to PerKs —dole By Vito Barcelo FISHerMeN are now entitled to receive 13th month and overtime pay as well as other benefits similar to other workers, according to Labor Secretary rosalinda Baldoz. Baldoz issued Department Order no. 156-16 that provides the rules and regulations governing the working and living conditions of Filipino fishermen on board fishing vessels engaged in commercial fishing operations. “This is a boon to our fishermen in the commercial fishing industry since the order sets employment standards, such as minimum wage, holiday and premium pay, overtime pay, night shift differential pay, paid service incentive leave and 13th month pay,” Baldoz said. The order also applies to fishers, captains or masters on board Philippine-registered fishing vessels engaged in commercial fishing operation in Philippine or international waters. “They are also entitled to paid maternity, paternity, parental and solo parents leave, including paid leave of 10 days if they are victims of violence,” Baldoz said. She said the engagement of Filipino fishers must be bound by an agreement in a language or dialect understandable by the workers.

seafarers day. international Maritime organization secretary-general Ki tack lim, dotC secretary Joseph emilio aguinaldo abaya and sM Cares

president annie garcia join thousands of Filipino seafarers during the observance of the 2016 international seafarers day on saturday, June 25, 2016 at the sMX Convention Center, Mall of asia in Pasay City. ey aCasIO

SEAFARING INDUSTRY NEEDS MORE WOMEN—IMO chIEF Calling it the “untapped sector,” the secretary-general of the United nations international Maritime Office on Saturday pushed for the increased involvement of women in the seafaring industry saying they are the key to the growth of the industry. Speaking during the International Seafarers Day at the SM Convention Center in Pasay City, IMO SecretaryGeneral Ki Tack Lim said the seafaring industry should work towards attracting more women since they have proven to be as equally competent as their male counterparts. “The importance of women as a huge source of safer sea voyage human resources cannot be overstressed. The shipping world cannot afford to ignore such rich and still largely untapped source of quality recruit,” Lim

told some 5,000 marine officers, students and their families who attended the event, sponsored by SM Global Pinoy Program. The Philippines is the world’s capital source of seafarers with some 367,000 Filipino seafarers deployed all over the world but women make up only 2 percent of the world’s maritime workforce of 1.3 million. Lim said the greater participation of women in the seafaring industry is of vital importance given the fact that the demand for seafarers is expected to fur-

ther increase in the coming years. “Looking ahead, the demand for global fleet for seafarers is increasing and predicted to rise even further attracting seafarers particularly officers,” he said. Maritime Industry Authority Deputy Administrator Gloria Banas agreed saying that based on their feedback and evaluation of female cadets and officers in the maritime industry, women have shown a lot of capabilities that make them at par with men. “The thrust is really gender equality in all professions and that includes the crewing industry and women have been starting to make their presence felt because of their commitment and dedication to their jobs,” she said. The primary considera-

tion, she added, is their accommodation in the ships since seafaring has been a male-dominated profession since the beginning. “With the issue of accommodation being addressed, we don’t see any reason why more should not join the industry because they have proven to be an asset in any ship,” Banas stated. Lim also lauded the investments and programs carried out by the Philippine government, through the MArINA to make sure it remains to be the crewing capital of the world. “This country has made huge collective investments in maritime education and in training over the recent years and the highly specialized training facilities you have put in place showed the commitment you have to retain the so-called crewing capital of the

world,” Lim pointed out. The event, attended by around 5,000 seafarers and their families, marked the first time the IMO head was present in the country. As a specialized agency of the united Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented. Organized in 1948, the IMO currently has 171 member states and three associate members. This year’s theme is “At Sea For All” which highlights the indispensability of the seafarers and the shipping industry to people all over the world.

ProPosed housing law awaits Pnoy’s aPProval By Maricel V. Cruz

PrIde MarCh. lgBt groups troop to the rizal Park in Manila on saturday, June 25

to celebrate Metro Manila’s 22nd Pride March. the Filipino lgBt community expressed sympathy for the 49 people who were massacred by a lone gunman in orlando. it also demanded the equal rights for the lgBt members in the country. daNNy PaTa

A MeASure strengthening the government’s housing program is expected to be signed into law next week by President Benigno Aquino III whose term ends on Thursday. House Bill 4116 entitled “Balanced Housing Development Program Amendments Act” authored by reelected congressmen Leopoldo Bataoil of Pangasinan, Arlene Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands and Jose Tejada of Cotabato, seeks to amend republic Act 7279 or the “urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.” Bag-ao said the bill aims to include developers of subdivision and condominium projects to contribute to the so-

cialized housing program. Section 3 of HB 4116 now includes residential condominium units as part of the “socialized housing” undertaken by the government or the private sector, she added. under the measure, the Balanced Housing Development of Section 18 shall also be amended wherein 15 percent of the total subdivision area and 5 percent of the condominium area will be allocated for socialized housing at the option of the developer. The Housing and urban Development Coordinating Council and the National economic and Development Authority shall jointly determine and set separate socialized housing price ceilings. HuDCC and Neda are also

mandated to review and revise the housing price every three years to match the economic conditions of the country. They shall also review and adjust the required percentage of compliance for both subdivision and condominium projects on the 5th year after the effectivity of the Act. Moreover, violators of Section 18 imposes penalty of not less than P10,000 but not more than P500,000 for the first offense and cancellation of license for the second time. Lastly, the National Housing Authority and private owners or developers are required to give highest priority to education facilities in the basic services as stated in the amended Section 21 of HB 4116.

SUNDAY: JUNE 26, 2016

NEWS editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PARTY-LIST INSISTS MAY POLLS MESSY By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

THE Confederation of Non-Stock Savings and Loan Associations (Consla), now the Alliance of Non-Stock Savings and Loan Institutions (Ansli) stood firm on its allegation of vote manipulation during the last election, saying that its evidence is unassailable. Retired Col. Ricardo L. Nolasco Jr. Consla party list’s first nominee, said both the Commission on Elections and its citizen arm, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting are dutybound to explain not only to its supporters but also to the Filipino people the discrepancy in their canvassing of votes for the sake of a transparent and truthful elections. “How can votes canvassed by the PPCRV from the Comelec Transparency Server, which essentially are the same votes canvassed by the Comelec in its official canvass, churn out completely different results?” asked Nolasco, a multi-awarded and bemedalled officer who served the military for almost 30 years. Nolasco was referring to the conflicting results released by the PPCRV and the Comelec with regard to the total number of votes it received during the last May 9 elections. The former Air Force official said the final official tally of votes by Comelec showed that it garnered only a total of 213,814 votes and ranked number 54. However, based on the PPCRV’s quick count that was

shown on its Twitter feed as of May 11, 2016, Consla had already garnered 555,896 votes as of May 11, 2016. The Comelec results, he said, came as a surprise to Consla party-list because statistics-wise, it could have easily garnered votes that are double or even triple that number. Nolasco noted that Consla, whose primary advocacy is to empower Filipinos through self-help and micro entrepreneurship, represents a million-strong group of men and women who are members of the 58 non-stock savings and loan associations. Their members, he added, belong to the marginalized sectors of the military, police, teachers, market vendors, employees and workers of the government and private sectors such as call cen-

ters, malls, oil refineries, mines and other industries who also have their families, dependents and friends who signed individual Manifesto of support to Consla party-list. He also underscored the overwhelming reception and support of marginalized groups and voters located as far as Calayan Island in the north, Kalinga Province, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Bicol region, and Davao with whom they had the privilege to present the party-list’s seven-point social and economic reforms agenda with the initiative of providing financial empowerment at the grassroots of Philippine economy via the propagation of non-stock savings and loan associations that will provide financial assistance

to spur the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises and other community-based livelihood projects as the focal point. Nolasco said the group’s call for an investigation by the Comelec of the discrepancy was based on a “reliable third-party information” showing indications of “irregularities” in the canvass of votes in the May 2016 election for party-list representatives and of the overwhelming support of marginalized groups. Nolasco was referring to the sworn-affidavit executed by Arnold Arriola of the Buhay Partylist, also a party-list candidate in the election, attesting to the anomalous result of the May 9 election. In his sworn affidavit that he voluntarily executed, Arriola attested to the fact that on or about

10:40 p.m. on May 9, 2016, he was able to take photographs of the partial and unofficial votes for party-list groups generated by the PPCRV Quick Count. Based on his statements, he managed to take the photographs as Rommel Bernardo of the PPCRV browsed through the results of the canvassing of votes for party-list groups on his workstation and showed them to him. One of Arriola’s photos shows that Consla garnered 342,513 votes from 68,626 clustered precincts, results of which were culled from the Comelec Transparency Server. The same photo also shows that Consla ranked number 17 among 115 contending party-list organizations with the stage of completion of transmissions stated to be at 74.18 percent.

PCSO GRANT. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II (third from left) turns over a check for P25

million to Compostela Valley Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy (third from right) for the purchase of a computerized tomography scanner (CT scan) machine for the Compostela Valley Provincial Hospital. The turnover ceremony was held at the charity agency’s head office in Mandaluyong City on June 23. With them are (from left to right) PCSO’s executive assistant to the GM Noy Consolacion and assistant general manager for Charity Sector Larry Cedro; provincial legal officer Richard Liban; and provincial economic enterprise officer John Edward Coloma . JOSEPH MUEGO

PARAÑAQUE SETS BOOK LAUNCHING AT SOLAIRE ON JUNE 28 A LANDMARK coffee table book on Parañaque City is set to be launched on June 28, 2016 at the Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Resort and Casino along Aseana Avenue, Parañaque City. This was announced by Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez who describes the book published by Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. as “a fitting celebration of our rich history and heroic past, cultural heritage and traditions, our religiosity and dynamism as a people and as a city.” Written over a span of two years by Melandrew T. Velasco and his MTVi book team, the coffee table book has been assembled to provide the reader not only with a guide to the landscapes of the city but to acquaint them with the colorful history and impressive development of the former Spanish-era pueblo as well. The author is the family

biographer of former President Fidel V. Ramos. He has also penned biographies of illustrious men and women in the country and has published books for the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDEV). This book on Parañaque City is his third venture into coffee table books for local government units following earlier books namely: “Pasay: A Royal Kingdom’s Evolution to a Travel City” published in December 2013 and “Nueva Ecija: New Era of Peace and Progress” in March 2015. “Parañaque: From A Pueblo to A Mega City by the Bay” is divided into chapters starting off with Parañaque’s history and its famous historical infrastructures and relics. A chapter dedicated as a tribute to Parañaque’s leaders precedes the chapter on the city’s newly reelected executive, Mayor Edwin Olivarez. Aside from providing the mayor’s

profile, it likewise tackles the Bagong Parañaque program of government that has reaped for the city recognition and awards in local governance. Because cultural traditions are important in the development of the community, the book has a chapter on the city’s most cherished

customs such as the Sayaw ng Pagbati, Caracol Festival, Lambat Festival, Komedya, Bulungan sa La Huerta and the internationally famous Sunduan Festival. Readers will get to know Parañaque’s art and homegrown artists. A chapter on the city’s food specialties and places where one can indulge in

a unique culinary experience is also included. Of paramount interest is the book’s chapter on the new Parañaque and its transformation into a tourism and trade center. The chapter identifies to the reader delightful places that reinforce why Parañaque is more than just a city. The book ends with a brief write-up on those who supported the publication of the remarkable coffee table book: Generika Drugstore, MacroAsia Corp., Pagcor, Solaire Resort & Casino, Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. S & R Membership Shopping, Columbia Airfreight Complex Corp., Tiger Resort, Leisure & Entertainment Inc., PCCIParañaque, Miascor Logistics, PLDT, Maynilad, BF Parañaque Entrepreneurs & Business Club Inc., Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Philippines, Meralco, City of Dreams, Asean City, Ayala Malls, Azure Urban Resort Residences, SM and San Miguel Corp.

SUNDAY: JUNE 26, 2016

Roderick T. dela Cruz EDITOR business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

INDIAN SOFTWARE GIANT ESTABLISHES MAKATI BASE By Othel V. Campos

AN INDIAN software giant has established a base in the Philippines to take advantage of its buoyant economy and help local companies leapfrog to cloud technology. Ramco Systems Pte. Ltd., a leading enterprise software provider on cloud, mobile and tablets, entered the Philippine software market as Ramco Systems Inc. to address the growing number of local and multinational companies requiring technology services to grow their businesses. The Philippine unit, based at the 40th floor of PBCom Tower on Ayala Ave. in Makati, would focus on offering cloud human resource and global payroll and logistics software to local clients. It is Ramco’s fourth office in the region and 21st globally. Ramco, which is headquartered in Chennai, India, also has offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. Ramco Systems vice chairman and managing director P R Venketrama Raja said “a buoyant economy and drive to embrace disruptive technologies is driving enterprises in the Philippines to invest in latest technologies.” “We are opening an office in Manila to enable local enterprises to leapfrog to cloud technology and derive significant business benefits. Given the excellent technical manpower in Philippines - it will also serve as a base for addressing our clients in the Asean region. With focus on innovation and cloud, we look forward to becoming the region’s most favored cloud enterprise software provider,” Raja said. Eight months prior to setting-up an office in Manila, Ramco has already landed six major contracts with Philippine companies for cloud and related services. Among them are Max’s chain of restaurants, AAI Worldwide Logistics, the Ayala Group and First Bal-

Ramco Systems vice chairman and managing director P R Venketrama Raja (left) announces the opening of a base in the Philippines.

The company seeks to attract five or four Inc. Ramco’s new office will employ lo- six new clients every quarter. “I think, we have generated cal innovators as the Philippine IT sector moves beyond business pro- enough interest. The first client we cess outsourcing – a pillar of econom- signed was about eight months ago ic growth in recent years – to include and then we rapidly signed similar deals. The Philipimplementation of pines is a good place cloud-based technolto do business and we ogy to transform local are positive we will enterprises in the area grow as the Philipof enterprise resource pine economy grows,” planning, human capisaid Raja. tal management and We are opening Ramco products global payroll, enterprise resource plan- an office in Manila are built for business of scales. Raja said ning and maintenance, to enable local their focus is on a repair and overhaul for enterprises to completely integrated aviation. leapfrog to cloud system for medium“Centered along technology. sized companies of our product line, our about $10 million to products have sys$15 million in revtems which actually enues. give ample visibil“There are SMEs ity and control of the that come to us. They enterprise to peopleknow that they are incentric sort of thing. Second, we are coming out of the vesting right by going to us, preparstrength of people management lo- ing for the growth they projected, so gistics which we will focus on here. when the time comes they grow big The Philippines is strong in ser- enough, they are prepared to take on vices. We can give support the BPO the challenges of integration through a reliable and efficient management sector needs,” said Raja.

system,” he said. With his steadfast focus on research and development and innovation, Raja has played a pivotal role in steering the Ramco Group to global recognition for quality products and services. His rich and diverse experience in various industries has been one of the driving forces behind the group’s evolution into a $1-billion conglomerate. Raja established Ramco Systems with a mission to create a world-class information technology company focused on enterprise management applications and emerging technologies. A part of the $1 billion Ramco Group, Ramco Systems focuses on innovation and culture to differentiate itself in the marketplace. It has more than 1,600 employees spread across 21 offices globally. Raja’s basic philosophy of “Technology keeps you ahead” and his rich and diverse experience in the IT sector have helped make Ramco Systems one of the top 100 enterprise solution providers in the world.

SUNDAY: JUNE 26, 2016

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

CYBERSPACE sweepers now detect more viruses than before, as the internet evolves into a network of human devices that can be wielded by those with malicious intent.

Global cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, which sweeps the internet for any new threat, says numerous malicious activities are detected even in developing nations such as the Philippines, as cyber criminals work beyond national borders. “Cyber criminals are constantly trying to find ways to compromise, hack or perform malicious activities,” Kaspersky Lab corporate communications manager for Southeast Asia Sanjeev Nair says over dinner at a restaurant in Makati City. Cyber criminals now have the power to control devices connected to the internet, from car engines to coffee machines, says Kaspersky Lab territory channel manager for Singapore and the Philippines Anthony Chua. This becomes possible with the rise of internet of things, which refers to the network of physical objects with connectivity features. “Even kitchen devices or appliances, refrigerators, aircons, all these are now computerized. They become smart devices. There were instances when they hacked into a coffee machine. Yes, they can do that,” he says. “Basically, everything is now connected to the [internet] router around the house and you can control mobile phones, laptops, devices,” says Chua. Nair says Kaspersky Lab tries to be one step ahead. “We always innovate, look at other angles. For example, we did research on connected cars. One of the hackers managed to hack into a jeep vehicle. It managed to shut off the engine while the car was moving along the highway, remotely. We are looking into that, we are looking into other things. We are looking at internet of things,” he says. Kaspersky Lab, which was founded in Moscow, Russia in 1997, provides security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. It has 270,000 corporate clients globally. “The company is growing. We have 3,300 highly qualified specialists operating in almost 200 countries and territories around the world,” says Chua. One of the threats detected in the Philippines is xDedic marketplace for compromised servers, according to Nair. “In the past two months, we have discovered threats, one of which is online market-based forum selling compromised servers or xDedic to cyber criminals. Basically, you are able to buy and sell compromised servers. People can use it for a lot of things, for example money laundering. You can use servers to hack or perform malicious attacks,” says Nair. Chua says the threat was detected not only in the Philippines, but also in 172 other territories and involving more than 70,000 servers. The Philippines ranked No. 48 in the list. Kaspersky Lab researchers discovered that cyber criminals can buy and sell access to compromised servers for as low as $6 each. The

CYBERSPACE SWEEPERS DETECT THREATS IN PH

Kaspersky Lab corporate communications manager for Southeast Asia Sanjeev Nair (left) and territory channel manager for Singapore and the Philippines Anthony Chua. xDedic marketplace, which appears to be run by a Russian-speaking group, currently lists 70,624 hacked remote desktop protocol servers for sale, it says. The Philippines is among the top 50 countries with hacked servers listed in xDedic. The servers’ legitimate owners, reputable organizations including government networks, corporations and universities are often unaware that their IT infrastructure has been compromised, according to Kaspersky Lab. Chua says in the Philippines, there were people and companies that became victims of these attacks. “We cannot disclose the victims. But there were, and there were attempts,” he says. Nair says cybersecurity is a growing industry, as more people buy smartphones with internet access and conduct financial transactions online. “We have seen spikes in iOS platform. We have seen spikes in Androids and other platforms,” he says. Smartphones can be compro-

mised when charged using a standard USB connection connected to a computer, Kaspersky Lab experts say. The company’s experts tested a number of smartphones running various versions of Android and iOS operating systems in order to understand what data the device transfers externally while connected to a PC or Mac for charging. The test results indicate that the mobiles reveal a whole litany of data to the computer during the ‘handshake’ including the device name, device manufacturer, device type, serial number, firmware information, operating system information, file system/file list and electronic chip ID. A global study by Kaspersky Lab also shows that cyberattack tools used against businesses in 2015 were different to those used against consumers. They included greater exploitation of legitimate software programs and malware being signed with valid digital signatures to keep malicious files hidden for longer.

Kaspersky Lab’s experts also observe a steady rise in the number of corporate users attacked by ransomware. In 2015, about 58 percent of corporate PCs were hit with at least one attempted malware infection, up three percentage points in 2014. One in three or 29 percent of business computers were exposed at least once to an Internet-based attack, with the exploitation of standard office applications seen three times as often as in consumer attacks. About 41 percent of business computers faced local threats, such as from infected USB sticks or other compromised removable media. Nair says this is why Kaspersky Lab increases its presence in the Philippines. “We are growing year by year in the Philippines. On the estimate in 2015, we are doing about $1.5 million. We are looking at a higher level in 2016,” he says. Meanwhile, another study by Kaspersky Lab shows that paranoid users are turning to a multitude of methods to keep their personal data away from prying eyes in the online world, including hiding their computers. The research shows 20 percent admit that they cover up their webcam, in an attempt to protect their privacy. “Useful in itself, it’s important to recognize that covering a webcam cannot prevent audio interception and protect users from being listened to by hackers or malicious groups,” the study says. The research also says 28 percent of internet users store their sensitive data on devices that have no Internet access, mistakenly thinking that this will guarantee the protection of their data. Another 18 percent of those surveyed admitted that they try to avoid using popular websites like Google and Facebook because of the personal information they gather, despite the fact that it

is normal practice for almost all websites to track users and collect some user data today. Moreover, 8 percent of paranoid respondents admitted to hiding their computers from other people, even though this will not help protect them from Internet threats. Nair says Kaspersky Lab provides solutions for consumers and enterprises. “Business is set to grow tremendously over the the next year. That’s the reason why we are here,” he says. “Ideally, everybody requires our services. We talk about cybersecurity. It is not something that one company needs, and the others don’t. It does not work that way.” The Philippines became a battleground against cyber criminals, when a syndicate illegally transferred $81 million from Bangladesh Bank to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. early this year. Nair says small businesses can lose hundreds to thousands to cyber criminals. “If you are a big business, the cost can be in millions. It depends on how you quantify cost as well,” he says. He says losses can be more than monetary. “You can lose precious data, privacy, credentials, contact numbers which are valuable as well. The biggest cost to any organization when it comes to these incidents is the reputation. One you lose the reputation, it will be very difficult to build it back,” he says. Nair says this is why Kaspersky Lab continues to research on latest developments. “For computers, mobiles phones, servers and corporate networks, we have solutions for that. We are also researching into all kinds of devices or internet of things. Apart from looking at that, we are also looking at human bio-hacking and chip implants. Our research team is all over the world. We have 43 researchers who are constantly researching on these things,” he says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

SUNDAY: JUNE 26, 2016

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

UP ALUMNA HOLDS TOP POST AT PROCTER & GAMBLE A UNIVERSITY of the Philippines alumna is now the highest-ranked and first Asian female president at American manufacturing giant Procter & Gamble Co. based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ma. Fatima De Vera Francisco, who graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 1989, joined P&G Philippines after college as the first female sales manager in over 50 years. She has lived and worked in the Philippines, Japan and the US. On Nov. 14, 2015, she was appointed president for global feminine care at P&G, responsible for over $4 billion in sales in 115 countries. She leads operations, innovation and brand building for a portfolio of iconic brands such as Always/Whisper, Always Discreet, Tampax and Naturella. Francisco has been recently recognized as one of the top ethnicminority role models worldwide in the inaugural UPstanding 100 Executive Power List by the Financial Times. She was ranked No. 25 in the list. Francisco was cited for her individual business and professional achievements, community involvement, commitment to diversity and influence within P&G. Among these, Francisco was recognized for developing structural interventions to enable more opportunities for success for Asians and Asian-Americans within the company.

Upon her citation, Francisco joins the ranks of fellow P&G executive and chief information officer Linda ClementHolmes, The Coca-Cola Company chairman and chief executive Muhtar Kent and MasterCard president and chief executive Ajay Banga. As the first Filipino female president in P&G, Francisco has led successful businesses across developed and developing markets, brand-building, innovation and operation for over 20 years. Her selection as one of the top 100 ethnic-minority role models demonstrates how her success at work and in the community highlights P&G’s continuous commitment towards diversity and inclusion. Published by the Financial Times, the UPstanding 100 Executive Power List recognizes the top executive Black, Asian and minority ethnic professionals working in the US, the UK and Ireland. Nominees were judged based on the individual’s professional and business achievements, how they have driven the ethnic-minority agenda within their community and workplace, and their influence within their organization. The list is a groundbreaking reflection and celebration of the work carried out by such professionals for a more inclusive business community.

P&G president for global feminine care Fama Francisco

FILINVEST ENVISIONS MIMOSA RENAISSANCE THE former Mimosa Leisure Estate is primed for a renaissance as Filinvest Land Inc. lays out its plans for a dynamic, mixed-use development on the sprawling 201.64-hectare property. As the winning bidder in the privatization of the estate, Filinvest recently signed the lease agreement with Clark Development Corp. to develop, manage and operate the estate for 50 years, renewable for another 25 years. “We are excited to implement our plans for the Mimosa estate. We envision this to be an urban renewal—the rise of a highly livable city that will offer countless opportunities for generations to come,” says Josephine GotianunYap, president of Filinvest Mimosa Inc., the new company formed by the consortium of Filinvest Development Corp. and Filinvest Land. To bring its vision to life, Filinvest has tapped the services of Broadway Malyan, an expert master-planner known for its portfolio of world-class and fullyintegrated cities across the globe. “With its global perspective and extensive experience, we know that Broadway Malyan is the right firm

to entrust with our vision for the Mimosa project,” says GotianunYap. The award-winning firm is behind projects such as the Emprasa Startup Valley in India, dubbed the City of the Future; and East Village in Calgary, which won the Canadian Architects/ Town Planning and Landscape Architecture Institutes’ joint award for Best Urban Design Plan in 2012. Broadway Malyan also created the master plan for Erith Park in London, which was recognized as London Regeneration Project of the Year 2016 by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Forward-looking master plan For the Mimosa estate, Broadway Malyan will apply its expertise in creating future-proofed, nextgeneration urban areas. Integrating Quest Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn) and the existing 36-hole golf course, the Mimosa project will be designed as a community-centric, year-round destination with varied offerings for both day and night users and visitors. Current and future developments will be harmonized utilizing a cohesive architectural theme with various elements and spatial

We envision this to be an urban renewal – the rise of a highly livable city that will offer countless opportunities for generations.

experiences that will increase the value of the development. The entire project will be implemented in accord with Clark Economic Zone’s overall objective of a green, smart and disaster-resilient development. “We want the development to be leisurely walkable so the master plan will pay close attention to the vehicular and pedestrian circulation,” Gotianun-Yap says. She says environmental impact

will be minimized through sustainability strategies such as preservation of the existing ecosystem and respecting the natural topography of the land. Balanced components The Mimosa project centers on a balanced mix of components including hotel and leisure offerings, offices, a retail and commercial district, a residential section, as well as amenities and open spaces that can attract a yearround market. The initial program is to add at least two more hotel locators, a retail area and numerous parks, bike paths and outdoor amenity areas. “With these in place, we will be in the best position to take advantage of the expected influx of guests with the rise in the meetings, incentives, conferences and events tourism market,” says GotianunYap. Planned mid-rise office buildings will target multinational BPO companies while the retail and commercial district will cater to hotel patrons, tourists, office workers, the surrounding local communities and the transiting market. To encourage people to stay

longer, the project will offer a good mix of residential offerings, rental units clustered around the hotels and golf course to achieve a resort village atmosphere. These will be complemented by public recreation facilities and open-space amenities that can be experienced all year round. “We are looking forward to carrying out these plans to fruition,” says Gotianun-Yap. “We will draw on our expertise in largescale township development and our experience in the hospitality industry to realize our vision for the Mimosa estate.” Filinvest is the developer behind the 244-hectare Filinvest City in Alabang, the 677-hectare Timberland Heights and 300-hectare Havila in Rizal and the 350-hectare Ciudad de Calamba in Laguna. It also signed a joint venture agreement with tBases Conversion Development Authority for a 288-hectare, mixed-use development in Clark Green City, Tarlac. The Filinvest Group, through Chroma Hospitality, currently manages over 1,000 hotel rooms under the Crimson and Quest hotel brands.

world

23 die in West Virginia floods

ISLAND. A person holds European country flags in an hand and a United Kingdom flag in another on June 25, 2016 in Lille, northern France. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said Britain’s planned departure from the european Union was “not an amicable divorce” but called for it to be quick. “i do not understand why the British government needs until october to decide whether to send the divorce letter to Brussels,” he told german public broadcaster ard late June 24, 2016. AFP

UN chief: eU still a solid partNer despite Brexit United nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday he expects the european Union to remain a solid partner for the United nations after Britain’s decision to leave the bloc.

“The Secretary-General expects the European Union to continue to be a solid partner for the United nations on development and humanitarian issues, as well as peace and security, including migration,” Ban said in a statement. Ban also expressed hope that Britain will keep exercising its leadership

in many areas including development. For the transition period that now begins for Britain to leave the EU, Ban said he trusts “Europe’s well-proven history of pragmatism and common responsibility in the interest of European citizens.” “at the Un, we look forward to continuing our work with the United

Kingdom and the European Union -- both important partners,” Ban said. “When we work together, we are stronger,” he added. Meanwhile, the world’s major central banks rushed Friday to deal with financial markets chaos arising from Britain’s shock referendum decision to quit the European Union. Britain has voted to leave the EU by 52 percent to 48 percent, sparking markets turmoil and the resignation of prime Minister David Cameron— who had backed the failed “Remain” campaign. The news sparked a raft

of announcements from the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, the Swiss national Bank and the US Federal Reserve, as they clambered to curb dizzying global stock market losses. The announcements stemmed losses on major European and US markets, with london falling just 3.2 percent, although Frankfurt fell 6.2 percent and paris 8.0 percent. But Madrid and Milan closed down more than ten percent down on jitters ahead of weekend Spanish elections. Wall Street was down

around 3 percent in afternoon trading. “The liquidity support promised by the Bank of England—and subsequently the ECB and Federal Reserve—appears to have been the main catalyst for the turnaround,” said Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell. in reaction to chaotic trade, the BoE swiftly announced that it was ready to pump £250 billion ($370 billion, 326 billion euros) to aid the smooth running of markets, declaring it will take “all necessary steps to meet its responsibilities for monetary and financial stability”. AFP

FlooDinG in the US state of West Virginia killed 23 people and stranded others who had to be plucked from rooftops and rescued from fast-moving waters, state officials said Friday. “The damage is widespread and devastating. our focus remains on search and rescue,” Governor Earl Ray Tomblin told a news conference after floods caused by a day of heavy rains. “i had planned to fly around the affected areas myself today but wasn’t able to, because all state aircrafts are currently being used for rescues,” he said. Tomblin gave a death toll of 14 from the disaster, but later Friday Jessica Tice, with the state’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management office, told agence France presse (aFp) that the toll had reached 23. The dead included an eight-year-old boy who was swept away while walking along a creek bank with his mother and sister, local news station WSaZ reported. His body was found after three hours of searching. at least six counties have extensive structural damage and about 66,000 people were without power, the governor said. US Senator Shelley Moore Capito said that she had been in touch with the White House about getting a disaster designation for the affected areas. “We’re pushing for the federal declaration -- i can’t imagine that we won’t get it,” she told Cnn. “We had a call today with FEMa (the Federal Emergency Management agency). They’re moving some of their assets in over the weekend,” she said. AFP

HigH UnemPloyment rate looms oVer sPain eleCtions Spain, which goes to the polls today in a repeat general election, is the eurozone’s fourth largest economy and one of the fastest-growing nations in Western Europe, although it suffers from high unemployment and debt. Spain’s gross domestic product (GDp) expanded by 3.2 percent in 2015 and growth has remained steady this year despite a political stalemate that has left the country without a government since inconclusive December elections. GDp expanded by 0.8 percent between January and March from the previous three months, higher than the average in the eurozone. acting prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative government predicts the economy will expand by 2.7 percent this year, then slow to 2.4 percent in 2017.

Spain in 2014 posted its first fullyear of growth since a 2008 property crash sent the economy into a tailspin. Consumer spending is up as is investment by firms while export growth, which help lift Spain out of recession, has lost some of its steam. Spain has benefited from favorable tailwinds that have propelled growth such as low interest rates set by the European Central Bank, a favorable euro exchange rate that helps exports, and falling oil prices that have reduced production costs. Spain is highly dependent on energy imports and the price of a barrel of oil has dropped to around 50 euros from the record highs of over 140 euros a barrel reached in 2008. But the Bank of Spain warned earlier this month that these beneficial conditions will progressively fade, leading to a slower pace of

economic expansion. The outgoing conservative government reduced the amount of compensation which companies must pay workers that they fire and created a new open-ended contract with a one-year trial period. The government and its backers argue these reforms helped lower Spain’s unemployment rate from a record 26.94 percent in the first quarter of 2013 to 21 percent in the first quarter of 2016. They say the flexibility it introduced especially helped the auto sector. Spain is the second-largest automobile producer in Europe after Germany. Critics charge that part of the fall in unemployment is due to the drop in the size of Spain’s total workforce as emigration has risen due to the lack of jobs. AFP

JOINING HANDS. french President francois Hollande (l) welcomes and shakes hand with United nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon at the elysee Palace in Paris on June 25, 2016 ahead of their meeting. AFP

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WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PACIFIC PROTEST. A group of kayakers, including members of Australia’s Pacific islander community, hold up letters spelling out “Stand up for the Pacific” after they paddled to a tiny beach outside Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Point Piper mansion (not in picture) in Sydney on Saturday, protesting against what they say is government inaction on global warming. Among protesters were members of the Tokelau community, some dressed in woven skirts, who sang about the ocean around their homeland, which is at risk of disappearing under the waves if climate change continues unabated. AFP

turkey firms up ties with hamas, israel Turkish President recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday met the leader of radical Palestinian group hamas for unscheduled talks following reports Ankara was close to agreeing a deal on normalizing ties with israel. Erdogan received the Dohabased hamas leader khaled Meshaal, whose group rules the Gaza strip, at the Ottomanera Yildiz Palace in istanbul, the official Anadolu Agency reported, quoting presidential sources. Turkish press reports have said israel and Turkey could hold final talks on normalizing ties on sunday but this had yet to be confirmed. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday there was a “large possibility” the negotiations would take place by the end of this month. Anadolu said Erdogan and Meshaal discussed how to ease the humanitarian problems of the Palestinians and how to bridge the differences between hamas and the other main Palestinian group Fatah. The report made no reference to the Turkish talks with israel. Previously tight relations between israel and key NATO member Turkey were significantly downgraded after israeli commandos staged a deadly predawn raid on a six-ship flotilla in May 2010 as it tried to run the blockade on Gaza. Two of Turkey’s key conditions for normalization—an apology and compensation—were largely met, leaving its third demand, that israel lift its blockade on the hamas-run Gaza strip, as the main obstacle. According to the hurriyet daily, a compromise has been reached with Turkey set to send aid for Palestinians via the israeli port of Ashdod rather than sending it directly to Gaza. AFP

britain exit from eu to benefit sinos—analysts Britain’s decision to quit the world’s largest single market presents China with a golden opportunity to seek better business terms with a more isolated UK, analysts said Friday, pointing out that London has not had its own trade negotiators for 40 years. “Now that the referendum has happened, i would imagine that China will be quick to seize the opportunities,” Guy de Jonquieres, senior fellow at the European Centre for international Political Economy, told Agence France Presse (AFP). if a departing Britain fails to secure good trade terms with the European union or other potential partners, he said, it would be “very vulnerable” negotiating with China. London and Beijing have both proclaimed a new “golden era” of relations between the former imperial power -- whose forces repeatedly invaded China in the 19th century -- and the rising Asian giant, now the world’s

second-largest economy. Last year two-way trade between them reached $78.54 billion according to Chinese Customs -- almost 14 percent of China’s total business with the Eu -- with the Asian country enjoying a surplus of more than $40 billion. A falling pound will of itself make Chinese exports more expensive in Britain. But since entering the European union in the 1970s Britain has had no trade negotiators, said de Jonquieres, noting that London’s eagerness to court China would give it “no leverage” with Beijing. “The British government has acted in a way that suggests it is prepared to a large extent to

woo China hard if not indeed to dance to China’s tune,” he added. “The idea that Britain on its own could negotiate a deal that gives it better access to China’s market is implausible.” Geo-strategically, he said, it was “an extraordinary opportunity to peel off a very close us ally, in fact the closest us ally in Europe.” Many foreign firms setting up in Britain in recent decades have done so partly to gain access to European markets, a benefit which could come under threat following Brexit, with clouds of uncertainty hanging over their future relationship. “it will be hard for (China), as an investor, to consider and make strategies for the Eu and Britain as a whole in future like how it did before,” Cui hongjian, director of department for European studies at China institute of international studies, told AFP. But Chinese investors are very “acquisition oriented” and will be looking out for bargains, said

Christopher Balding, professor of political economics at Peking university hsBC Business school. British finance minister George Osborne -- a prominent remain campaigner whose political future is now in doubt -- has long sought to promote London as a hub for international trading of China’s yuan currency. Britain was the first Western country to issue yuan-denominated sovereign debt and China’s central bank issued its first offshore yuan denominated note in London in 2015. But ahead of the vote John Goodrich, an editor for Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, wrote on its website: “An exit from the Eu would likely jeopardize that status.” London had the largest pool of yuan deposits in Europe, he said, “but the strength of the city as a financial hub outside the European union is uncertain.” AFP

‘China bloCked india from anti-nuke group’ iNDiA has blamed regional rival China for blocking its entry to a nuclear trade group opposed to the proliferation of nuclear weapons, after its members met in south korea with no decision on india’s bid to join. india wants to become a member of the 48-nation Nuclear suppliers Group (NsG) which works to prevent the sharing of technology that could spread nuclear weapons. New Delhi believes joining the NsG, which concluded a two-day meeting in seoul Friday, would give it better access to low-cost, clean nuclear energy, important for economic growth. But despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reported attempts to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping to support india’s membership, Beijing stood firm in its opposition. “The NsG plenary in seoul

earlier in the day decided against granting india membership of the grouping immediately,” Vikas swarup told Press Trust of india news agency. A three-hour discussion on india’s membership saw “procedural hurdles persistently raised by one country,” he said. One obstacle reportedly raised by China was that india is not a signatory to the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty -- a treaty on nuclear disarmament that india says is biased. “india singles out China for crushing NsG dream,” a front page headline in the hindustan Times newspaper said. Others said that China had been not alone in its opposition. The indian Express newspaper said: “No entry in NsG: india blames one country (China), others said no too.” AFP

PEACE. A Syrian Kurdish woman mourns at the grave of a relative at a cemetery in the Kurdish town of Kobane (Ain al-Arab) on Friday. AFP

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SPORTS

REUEL VIDAL EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

PONTILLAS, AGANON GIVE PETRON TRI-ACTIV DOUBLE-BARRELED THREAT

Petron Tri-Activ Spikers team captain Aiza Maizo Pontillas (8) hammers a quick spike before Jaja Santiago (3) of Foton can elevate to block her attack at the net. PETER ATENCIO

By Peter Atencio

AIZA Maizo Pontillas and Carmina Aganon provide an unstoppable two barreled attack for the Petron Tri-Activ Spikers.

Team captain Pontillas came up with a fiery performance as she scored 16 points to power Petron past the Foton Tornadoes in straight sets to grab the early lead in the 201 Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino

Conference women’ volleyball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena. Pontillas was steady throughout the game while Carmina Aganon provided the finishing touches to help the Tri-Activ

Spikers keep Foton led by Jaja Santiago and rookie Cherry Rondina at bay. Petron ended with a solid game to prevail in their 70-minute clash against the Tornadoes. Petron coach George Pascua commended Pontillas for the leadership that she is providing for the team. But, for Pontillas, an effective leader needs to be able to encourage her teammates to give their best. “Iniisip ko na hindi ako captain. Lahat dapat maging lider sa court,” said Pontillas. Pontillas scored two timely hits at the right flank in the third set to keep matters close, 16-all. Open spiker Aganon then delivered the crucial blows for reigning champion Petron Tri-Activ Spikers late in the game. Playing a more mature game on her second year with the team, Aganon’s spikes, mostly from the right side, allowed the Tri-Activ Spikers to clobber bitter rival Foton, 25-19, 25-17, 25-21. “Pinagtapos ko siya ng laro. Knowing her character dun siya effective,” said coach Pascua. The 5’11” Aganon delivered six points in the last set, including two kills off blocks by Carol Ann Cerveza. This allowed Petron to finally keep the upper hand, 19-16, and after breaking away from a 16all deadlock. “Hindi na ako kabado sa laro ko ngayon,” said Aganon who is in her second season with Petron. She joined the team after her stint with the National University Lady Bulldogs. The Tri-Activ Spikers share the early lead with the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, which turned back Cignal, 25-12, 23-25, 25-20, 25-11, in an earlier game. In another game RC ColaArmy Lady Troopers defeated Amy’s Kitchen-Perpetual Help, 25-19, 25-17, 25-18, last Tuesday. Pontillas as quicker and middle blocker and Aganon as outside hitter provide a virtually unstoppable two pronged attack for the Petron Tr i-A c t i v Spikers.

ALASKA ACES WILL PARADE EXPLOSIVE IMPORT IN 2016 PBA GOVERNORS CUP

By Homer Vidal

ALASKA Aces LaDontae Henton is the complete package. He is an explosive scorer who can drain outside shots with a smooth stroke or drive strong to the hoop to finish at the rim. He is a ferocious rebounder who gobbles up rebounds. Most important, he is a hard worker who works diligently at practices. Alaska Aces head coach Alex Compton is still in Europe with the Gilas Pilipinas squad leaving Alaska Associate Head Coach Louie Alas to run the practices. Alas liked Henton but advised caution. He said Henton was impressive at practice but

he prefers to reserve judgment until after they actually play games against other PBA teams. Henton spent four years in college with the Providence Friars. He was a member of the Big East All-Rookie team (2012), first team AllBig East (2015) and AP Honorable mention All-American (2015). A prolific scorer and a ferocious rebounder, he was one of only two players in school history to score over 2,000 points and grab more than 1,000 rebounds. Coincidentally, the Aces won their last two PBA titles with imports who played in the Philippines for the first time. Diamon Simpson helped Alaska win the 2010 PBA Fiesta

Conference. Rob Dozier helped Alaska win its 14th PBA title by ruling the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Henton was undrafted during the 2015 National Basketball Association Draft. Instead he went to Europe and spent a year in the Liga ACB in Spain, playing for Baloncesto Sevilla. He brings to the table not only his youth, lethal outside shooting skills and all-around talent but his leadership as well. After advancing to the PBA Finals and failing to win the title in four of the past five conferences, including the last three, the Aces hope Henton helps them finally break through and win their 15th PBA title.

LaDontae Henton dribbles at full speed during the Alaska Aces drills at the Gatorade Hoops Center last Friday, June 24.

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SPORTS

ARMAN ARMERO EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

LIONS IN VENGEFUL WIN VS KNIGHTS

The San Beda Red Lions pep squad performs during the opening ceremony of the 92nd season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. EY ACASIO

By Peter Atencio

IT’S PAYBACK time for the San Beda Red Lions. Facing a rival which halted their championship streak a year ago, the Red Lions played steady and in full control from start to finish to turn back archrival Letran Knights, 89-85 to open their campaign with a bang. Javee Mocon finished with 18 points, and American cager Davon Potts added 16 for the San Beda Red Lions in the opening match in the Knights, 89-85, in their opening match yesterday in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Red Lions quickly took charge in the first quarter, and spent the rest of the way fending off the Knights en route to the win that gave them a 1-0 headstart. The Knights’ setback spoiled the debut of former National University junior coach Jeff Napa, who replaced Aldin Ayo. Finally stepping out of the shad-

ows of his more prolific teammates who have graduated, the 6-3 Mocon was on fire right from the start, as he banged in seven points in the opening minutes. Coupled with the team’s fastpaced assault, the Red Lions took a 15-5 advantage in the first five minutes of action. “I got going when my teammates passed me the ball. I made my shots, and it started the team for the team,” said Mocon, who is in his junior year with the squad. Cameroonian big man Donald Tankoua and Mocon later led a 13-2 run which handed San Beda a 10-point spread midway in the period. Tankoua and Mocon tallied 11

points apiece at halftime, with the 6’6 Cameroonian hitting back-toback baskets in the final 3:49 of the second frame to give the Red Lions a 13-point spread. His drive off McJour Luib handed San Beda a 42-29 lead. With Tankoua controlling the boards with eight rebounds in the first half, the Red Lions wound up taking charge with 14 offensive boards en route to outrebounding the Knights, 56-46. Bollick, formerly of La Salle, played his first game in the league following his transfer two years ago, and opened his campaign with a trey in the 4:44 mark in the second period and finished with seven points. The Knights tried to draw

Games Today (San Juan Arena) 12 nn • Arellano vs Perpetual Help (srs) 2 p.m. • San Sebastian vs St. Benilde (srs) 4 p.m.•EAC vs Lyceum (srs) strength behind veteran Rey Nambatac, who despite suffering from cramps, carried Letran to within 56-57, in midway in the third quarter. Nambatac, however, had to be forced out of the court in the final two minutes in the last two minutes of the third, and didn’t see action in the fourth. The Knights= were led by John Quinto with 23 points.

BASEBALL A WAY OF LIFE FOR UBUNGENS By Danny Simon BASEBALL is a way of life for the Ubungen family. The passion for the sport, considered as a national pastime of the Americans, was first embraced by Dennis Ubungen, a FilipinoAmerican who traces his roots in La Union, and his wife, Julia Marquez Ubungen, a school teacher, who hails from San Juan City. The elder Ubungens passed on their love for the sport to their sons Lorenzo and Florentino, while a brother and three other sisters are also into baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball. Because of the family’s passion for baseball, weekends and even breaks during school days are spent playing the game at the campus diamonds and at their neigh-

borhood in San Francisco, California, where Dennis, an academic counselor, graduated with a Masters Degree in Social Work and Bachelor of Sociology at the City College of San Francisco. Aside from Dennis, Julia and sons Florentino and Lorenzo are also employed as academic counselors in San Francisco. The Ubungen family are currently in the country for their yearly vacation here in Manila for a couple of months. While here, Florentino and Lorenzo are seeing action for separate local teams in the PSC Commissioners Cup. Florentino, Dennis’ eldest child, first played as a 13-year old teenager during a summer vacation. He went on to become a varsity baseball player for Laney College and College of Alameda.

“It’s like a homecoming. It’s always great to play here and feel the real camaraderie from friends and ralatives who supports our passion for the sport. In America, players come and go. It’s all about competition. But here, it’s all about family,” said Florentino during a break at the PSC Commissioners Cup. Lorenzo, a product of George Washington High School and Meritt College, also expressed his wish to play for the Philippine national team if the right opportunity comes. “It is always a pride playing for the country of my origin. Like my brother Florentino, we are always ready to represent the Philippines in international baseball competitions.” Dennis said he doesn’t

mind spending big amount of money in travelling to the country and back for the love of the sport and their country of origin. “My dad was also a baseball player and I followed his footstep as a catcher before I decided to focus in my career as an academic counselor. When my children grew up, I passed my bats to them. Later, they would mnake me proud as they scored homeruns during their playing stints in the Little League Philippines to the pro league Baseball Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission’s baseball programs -The Chairman’s and the Commissioner’s Baseball Cup. I’m really proud to see them play here and contribute whatever they can to share their passion for the sport.”

Filpino-American baseball players (from left) Florentino of team Thunderz and Lorenzo Ubungen of team IPPC Hawks pose with their father Dennis Ubungen after a game in the recent 2016 PSC Commissioners’ Baseball Cup at the Rizal Memorial baseball diamond. DANNY SIMON

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RIERA U. MALLARI EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Khaz Romoff pumps his ﬁst in the air after winning a race

KHAZ ROMOFF

TRAIN HARDER, GET FASTER Text and photos by Ramon D. Boado

EVERYTIME a good-looking kid shows promise on what he does, people always take notice. Especially when that kid is a speedster trying to show us that his need for speed is for real. Khazart William Hisoler Romoff, or Khaz to his friends and family, is a nine-year-old karter, who has transformed his passion for speed into a winning spree in the local karting scene all the way to the Asian level. His most recent triumph in Round 1 of the 2016 Asian Karting Open Championship Series (Formula Cadet) last June 4 and 5 in Macau is a living proof. “The Macau event was very memorable for me because it was the first time I won a kart race on international soil,” said Khaz, thanking his parents Santiago Clarence and Maria Arlyne, and siblings Keon and Kyaniah Marie for the support. “My goals are to train harder, get faster and do my best to win the next rounds of the series.” Khaz told The Standard that he comes from a family of racers. “It started with my granduncle, who passed on his knowledge and passion for motorsports to my

uncles, who, in turn, passed it on to their children; my cousins. But the person I would consider to be my biggest influence is my brother, Keon. He started karting before I did. Everytime I saw him drive his go-kart, I found myself wanting to race as well. If it wasn’t for my brother getting into the sport of karting, I probably wouldn’t have taken the sport either,” Khaz said. “I was always a fan of cars and motorsports. My brother and I would spend hours reading books and magazines on cars and Formula One. I also found myself fascinated with speed. I guess that’s why I decided to shift from martial arts to motorsports. I was winning tournaments when I was studying Tae Kwon Do. But something was missing. The rush, the speed, the roar of an engine was not there. Plus, my idol, Lewis Hamilton inspired me to take up the sport,” he added. He loved motorsport, and it loved

him back. The Paref Springdale School Grade 4 student is a multi-titled karter despite his youth. His first podium finish came two years ago when he placed runner-up in the 2014 Kartzone Superkart Series. After only a year of experience, he was finally crowned champ in the Honda Cadet Novice and MiniROK divisions of the 2015 Kartzone Superkart Open Championship, not to mention various championships in the Cebu Club race that netted from him an award from the 13th Annual Golden Wheel Awards Night on Feb. 27, 2015; and the Petron Tri-Activ 2016 Karting Series X30 Challenge, where he was Round 1, 2 and 3 champion, both in the Honda Cadet Novice and Cebu Club Races. His win streak continued in 2016, as he emerged Round 1 winner of the National Series in Palawan, again both in the Honda Cadet Novice and Cebu Club Race, before his triumphant campaign in Macau early this month. But despite his achievements, Khaz said he is still your regular kid, who enjoys kids’ stuff. “Just like other kids, I play videos games. Usually, these would be racing games which my brother and I would play on our PlayStation 4 and Xbox,” said Khaz. “I see myself as

someone who is happy. I enjoy being a kid and having fun. Yet, I am also a person who, when I set out to do something, I give it 100% focus and attention. As a racer, I am very much the same. I put in a hundred percent effort in my learning, training and understanding. You have to be all that, and more, especially with all the talented and skilled racers I am up against.” Khaz credits his coach Elson Carpio for this. During one of the kart races in Cebu, Carpio approached his parents and told them he would like to train him because he saw something in the way he drove and the potential to be really good. “He said if I trained right, it will catapult me to the front of the pack. Since then, Coach Elson has been constantly training me and I have gotten better and better. Also, my brother Keon races with me and pushes me to get better and faster. Everytime we train, my brother always reminds me to be patient and wait for the right time to make your move,” said Khaz, who wants to become a future Formula 1 champion

Khaz with his family

like his idol Hamilton. Khaz also revealed that racing has improved many facets of his life. “Just like life, you have to pay attention to everything to be able to learn and understand. Racing has taught me that and this has helped me in my school work and at home. And also, you have to be very patient with everyone and everything because you can’t always get what you want right away. Most of the time, you have to work hard to get what you want. As a student, you have to keep studying and learning to advance to the next grade. Khaz added: “In racing, you also have to keep learning and studying to be able to master the track and your kart setup. You also need to be fit to race. In school, you also need to be of sound mind and body in order to remain sharp. In racing, you have to remain sharp all the time; that also requires a sound mind and body. The only difference I see between racing and being a student is that a wrong answer in the classroom doesn’t send you crashing into the tire barriers.”

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

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

isahred @ gmail.com

WRITER

S U NDAY L I V ING

LIFE

Uashmama home and fashion products are made of virgin cellulose fiber that can be stretched and tanned to withstand washing and daily use

IS PAPER WASHABLE? IT IS, SAYS MARCO MARCONI

ive years ago, an Italian family-run business called “Le Sorelle” (The Sisters) from Montecatini in Tuscany, Italy, came up with the novel idea to add products made of washable paper to their existing line. Marco Marconi, the head of the family toyed with this idea having had an extensive background in leather and women’s footwear. After coming across a material called cellulose fiber, he spent years researching and experimenting on how this material could be used later on. As such, he eventually discovered “washable paper” through the use of virgin cellulose fiber. Like leather, this fiber can be stretched and tanned to withstand washing and daily use. The resulting material is something that looks and feels like leather but is much lighter and can also be washed and folded easily.

The beginning of something great Because of this, the Uashmama brand was born, delivering products that are 100 percent made in Italy by local artisans. They then chose the name Uashmama for their signature line of products made with washable paper – “uash” because this paper is washable and “mama” as a fitting tribute to the family’s matriarch. Starting with traditional bread bags, the Uashmama brand slowly gained a following in their community, with restaurants in the neighborhood becoming their first big clients. Soon after, customers at these restaurants started to take notice of the unique “paper bags” and demand for the products eventually grew. By and by, Uashmama has extended its product range to offering home, table, and fashion lines, with its iconic paper bag remaining to be its bestselling item not just in Italy, but in the different countries where it is now available.

Uashmama founder Marco Marconi (third from left) with the rest of Marconi family (from left) Emanuela, Gemma, Chiara, Giulia and Gaia

Aside from its physical stores in Italy and in Australia, Uashmama has also developed a presence online, attracting more buyers through its official online shops www.uashmama.com and www.uashmama.com.au. Unique and stylish, another reason why people love Uashmama is that it’s also proud to be eco friendly. The virgin cellulose fiber used is made from cultivation and not deforestation. They use vegetable dye to color the fiber and mimosa vegetable extract for tanning the leather components as opposed to chrome tanning. Equally admirable is their support for their community as they also wholeheartedly promote local artisans and provide decent employment in the town of Montecatini. Through the years, demand for washable paper has grown significantly, prompting several brands to come out with products

similar to Uashmama’s. Despite of this, the brand has remained to be the leader for washable paper products. Aside from being the pioneer in this niche market, its products’ quality continues to be superior compared to other brands. Use it your way Described to be “used for anything and everything” and “looks great anywhere”, fans of the Uashamama brand are happy to use it as a storage solution for their home, plant pot covers, bread bags, containers for fruits and vegetables, kitchen utensils, bathroom accessories, makeup brushes, towels, magazines, blankets, the list can go on and on. It really depends on your needs and imagination on how you want to utilize this cool, new product. In addition to being a great product for the home, Uashmama also has a chic line of handbags

Uashmama bags are durable enough to be used for work, school or travel

and backpacks that are perfect for those who like modern designs that are also highly functional. Great for work, school, or travel, everyone can find a Uashmama bag that’s perfect. Meant to support a greater amount of weight, expect Uashmama products to be infinitely more durable than the average paper bag. The company takes great strides to research and develop ways to constantly improve on their products. To maintain its quality, it is advisable to handwash Uashmama products – unroll it, then wash it with warm water, using a mild soap or detergent, then dry flat. Uashmama products with brighter colors should be washed separately. Uashamama bags can last for a long time (some say up to 10 years given the right care) and can be used in a variety of ways. However, it is important to note

that while they are washable, Uashmama products are not waterproof – when exposed to rain, water marks may form on them, especially on the lighter colors. These can be easily cleaned with a sponge and a bit of mild soap and water. Stylish, practical, safe, and eco-friendly – what more can you ask for? As consumers are becoming more discerning about the products that they buy for themselves and for their loved ones, a brand like Uashmama is definitely a godsend. It boasts form, function and so much more. Uashmama products are available online through www.uash-it.com. It is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by INEXPH Inc. You may also request for the catalog by emailing info@inexph.com or inquiring directly through their Instagram account @uashmama_ph.

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

LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

TURNING TRASH TO TREASURE

ith a brand name giving away a hint on what it is about, Junk Not! definitely proves that there are more things you can do to trash than just throwing them away. At the recent Manila FAME, Junk Not gained introduction to and contact with local and foreign buyers. “We asked the assistance of the local DTI offices in Laguna and Region IV-A because we needed a venue to market our products. Manila FAME gave us the exposure we looked for,” Willie Garcia, the brand’s founder, comments. She added that their trade show experience was tremendously positive, with a good amount of inquiries from foreign trade buyers. In fact, the brand has sale negotiations with buyers from the United States, the Netherlands, Italy and the Middle East underway. A small-scale brand hailing from Biñan, Laguna, Junk Not promotes and produces eco-creative products through refashioned and repurposed waste materials. Garcia says, “Junk Not is my little way to reverberate the belief that there is no such thing as waste, only resources that are out of place.” When the brand began in 2009, Junk Not produced fashion accessories such as earrings, necklaces, bags and purses made from woven foil wrapper and rolled papers. Four years after, Garcia, who is an interior designer, decided to focus on home furnishing, wherein she applies her practice of green interiors. Junk Not’s upcycling method was borne from Garcia’s desire to address the plastic waste pollution in the country. Her first step was teaching communities about proper waste segregation. “Ninety percent of solid waste materials are recyclable, and we can profit from it,” Garcia cites. “We teach the residents how to manually make braided strings and ropes and woven mats out of the junk food wrappers, sachets, and foil wrappers collected from community schools and sari-sari stores.” “Those ropes are the base materials for Junk Not’s upcycled products, and we buy the materials from them,” Garcia narrates. With pieces of reclaimed wood from old houses working as frames, the braided strings made of plastic waste are weaved into chair seat or back rest. Aside from plastic residual waste mitigation, Junk Not also advocates for community empowerment.

Small-scale enterprise Junk Not collects plastic waste and repurposes them into eco-creative home furnishings

The braided strings of food wrappers and sachets are weaved into chair seat and back rest, among others

Most of Junk Not’s products are handmade by a community of women from Cavite and Laguna. “Junk Not provides a means of livelihood for women by buying the raw materials from them,” Garcia shares. Junk Not also has a training and development program for these communities, in addition to the percentage of sales proceeds that they give back to the community. A pilot community in Taal Volcano was provided with workshops and programs sponsored by the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL) of the Department of Environment

and Natural Resources (DENR). Junk Not is also adopting communities to ensure the sustainability of their livelihood. With junk food wrappers, sachets, foil wrappers, water hyacinths, screws, magazines, and reclaimed wood, Junk Not is investing on numerous creative ways to transform regular and everyday waste into eco-creative products. The enterprise showcased their upcycled furniture, home and fashion accessories in the 63rd edition of Manila FAME under The Artisans VillageLaguna Pavilion and the OTOP Marketplace.

The Artisans Village is a partner province program that aims to help regular and new Manila FAME exhibitors market their products in the global export scene. It is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with LGUs (local government units) and different DTI regional and provincial offices that share CITEM’s aim to promote island crafts and celebrate Filipino craftsmanship.

As natural as a mother’s love

Moms begin introducing solid food to their six-month-old babies

Cerelac is made of best ingredients and follows a strict production process

A mother’s love knows no boundaries and this is evident in every single thing she does for her child. When it comes to her baby’s health, she won’t settle for anything less than the best. When babies turn six months old, moms are faced with the challenge of introducing solid food to their little ones. This is necessary to support the additional nutritional requirements of older infants as they grow, such as iron, which helps keep babies active and full of vitality. With all the solid food products for babies available in the market, it comes as no surprise that mothers become extra discerning in choosing a natural choice to complement their baby’s nutrition. What goes inside a baby’s body can affect his life, so understanding the baby food’s contents and knowing how it is made is an absolute must. For 150 years, the makers of Cerelac products are committed to helping mothers shape the best lives for their babies, going as far as proactively informing them on the newest processes in manufacturing baby foods. They make sure that the produce used in making Cerelac is of the highest possible quality. With the understanding that solid food for babies have to be

treated more delicately as babies are more vulnerable than adults, the makers of Cerelac take great care in storing their ingredients before carefully selecting which ones to use. Cerelac uses the best ingredients and follows a strict production process to ensure the quality of the product and also to prolong its shelf life, eliminating the need for added preservatives while maintaining its natural goodness and nutrients. The process involves dry cleaning and pasteurization of its ingredients to remove all water content and microorganisms. This ensures that the freshness of the product is retained for long periods of time. It also safeguards the baby food from any harmful bacteria that may come into contact Cerelac comes in seven exciting flavors to help make meal times more nutritious and extra special for your bundles of joy. With no preservatives and packed with all the vitamins and minerals your baby needs to grow big and strong, moms can be sure that with every spoonful of Cerelac comes pure goodness, pure nourishment, and pure love. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/cerelac.ph

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

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

LIGHT UP HOMES WITH LOCALLY MADE LAMPS

he recent Manila FAME delivered some eye-catching lighting pieces that attracted trade buyers and guests from all over the world. Venzon Lighting’s newest star collection, the Cherry Blossom Pendant Lamps, marries natural materials, such as translucent capiz shells, with branches fashioned from aluminum. Whether clustered at an entrance foyer to welcome guests, or lined above a rectangular dining table, the Cherry Blossom Lamp designed by Cris Venzon creates an organic elegance and warmth to any room in the house. Venzon Lighting has collaborated with many industrial and interior designers like Stanley Ruiz, one of the Rising Asian Talents at the March 2016 Singaporean edition of Maison & Objet, and Jim Torres, Red Box Talents Grand Winner for home accents category in October 2015 Manila FAME, to produce every

season new lighting designs that are engineered for precision manufacturing. The contemporary-industrial Urban Pendant Lamp is designed by Schema’s Celia Gamboa Jiao, who has mastered the art of metal weaving, allowing her to create innovative and modern pieces that give character to various spaces. At Schema, lamps, furniture and home accents are not manufactured by machine, but handcrafted by artisans in their workshop, and as such, every piece is unique. Made from galvanized iron wire in powder-finish, the versatile Urban Pendant Lamp complements an industrial- or urban-themed environment and provides a modern addition to a traditional-style home. Native Crafts and Arts Industries, Inc. uses natural materials – bamboo and rattan peel – to create the Decima Pendant Lamp, which was featured in designer Ito Kish’s curated landscape Spring Forward,

one of the highlights of last April’s Manila FAME. The piece was designed by Napoleon Chan and Bernice Chan-Juan, with nature and simple elegance in mind. A veteran in the industry, Native Crafts and Arts Industries, Inc. has been making and exporting eco-friendly handicrafts for over 40 years to countries including the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Sweden, and Switzerland. Manila FAME, the country’s premier design and lifestyle event, is organized by CITEM, the export promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Philippine and international SMEs manufacturing home, holiday, and fashion products are encouraged to join Manila FAME in its 64th edition to be held in Oct. 20-22.

Urban Pendant Lamp designed by Schema's Celia Gamboa Jiao

For more information, log on to www.manilafame.com.

Venzon Lighting showcases eye-catching pieces made of local materials at the recent Manila FAME trade show

Send videos, snaps of pets to Bow & Wow

Brazilian model Vanessa Matsunaga with her dog

If you have inspiring or heartwarming stories about your pets caught on video or photograph, send them to Bow & Wow, the Philippines’ premier and all-natural pet store for dogs and cats, for its campaign that highlights that #LoveisFURever. Simply share a video or photo that briefly tells people your pet’s story, and how your furry friend makes you feel. A participating pet parent needs to email the photo or video entry featuring the pet to marketing@bowandwow.com.ph before June 30. A special Bow & Wow box filled with all-natural product picks for the featured pet is in store for the pet parent. Pets, as Bow & Wow phrases it, can offer “unconditional love… enthusiastic, tail-wagging, wet-nosed, so-happy-you’re-here, wait-by the-doortill-you-come home love, or 100 percent loyal love." Check out some heartwarming pet parenting stories on Bow & Wow The All-Natural Pet Store on YouTube. Listen also to some doting celebrity pet parents that include actress-model Bianca King, model Vanessa Matsunaga and husband Jun Sunga; TV personality/ model Patti Grandidge and hubby Jon Herrera, as they share the joys and challenges of raising pets. Share your pet parenting story now. Log on to the Bow & Wow website, www.bowandwow.com.ph. Turn to Bow & Wow to ensure that your four-legged home companions stay healthy and happy. Bow & Wow has the vision of transforming pet owners into pet parents. Check out the wide assortment of all-natural product finds at the store. Branches are located at Level 6 of Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City, lower ground floor

of Greenbelt 5, Makati City, 2nd floor, Al Fresco, Robinsons Magnolia, Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City, ground floor of Excelsior in Eastwood City, Libis, Q.C., and Ayala Center, Cebu. It is also open in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Jon Herrera and Patti Grandidge with their adorable pooch

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

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

Scandi collection features homey pieces in stylish minimalist design popular in Scandinavian homes

Furniture items under the Spazz collection are maximize space without compromising style, perfect for condo dwellers

'SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL’ WITH SB FURNITURE

ucked away at the third floor of Market! Market! is a furniture store that can turn out to be a homemaker’s best friend, as it offers a wide variety of choices that suit a particular taste or budget. SB Furniture, which happens to be the biggest furniture retailer and manufacturer established in Thailand, has been instrumental in turning many a dream home into reality for over four decades. Present in 20 countries around the world, the brand has been in the country for more than eight years, chalking up more than 1000 projects including the rooms in Ascott at The Fort. During an exclusive launch of three new collections with media guests, SB Furniture’s merchandising manager Jackson Cue disclosed that top-of-theline pieces go through multiple quality testing, and are of the European Standard Class 1 – which means all products do not have harmful chemicals and are also environment friendly. All SB products are also compliant with E1 (European Formaldehyde and Toxic Gas Emission) standards, he adds. One of the reasons why customers have kept gravitating to SB (which could stand for “simply beautiful” or “style on a budget”) is that it offers a wide variety of choices that reflects the personality of the consumer. For instance, the Patisia collection features vintage pieces in a classic white palette, while Scandi showcases stylish minimalism popular in Scandinavian homes. However, among the most popular nowadays is the Spazz collection, which targets condo dwellers as all the pieces maximize space without compromising style and the aesthetic aspect. According to Cue, pieces from the Spazz collection took into consideration the “current real estate situation” as the designs are for people living in smaller quarters. So it has a lot of multifunctional pieces,” he says, pointing to a bedframe that has builtin convenience outlets so one can charge smart gadgets right on the bed. Patisia, on the other hand, caters more to feminine clients, Cue continues, pointing to the predominance of pink shades in the showcase. “The Scandi Collection is our foray in the Scandinavian minimalist style – clean lines with striking colors and earth tones,” he continues. The Scandi Collection may be homey but combining pieces from the Spazz Collection creates a uniquely charming look, underscoring the flexibility of SB Furniture to transform a room when the correct pieces are mixed and matched. It also helps that SB has a team of inhouse designers who can be consulted – even by those who are not purchasing an item from the furniture store – drawing out the personality and preferences of a homemaker to help him decide on the pieces that are suitable to the space and of

SB can be likened to a friend who listens and considers what you want – and need – when giving advice, making the experience of furnishing your home that much easier and even more enjoyable

SB Furniture’s showrooms and stores are located in Bonifacio Global City (in photo), Makati, Alabang, Ortigas, Quezon City, Sta. Rosa and Pampanga.

SB Furniture Vice President for Operations Elvott Santos and SB Furniture Merchandising Manager Jackson Cue

course, the budget. The in-house designers also make it a point to conduct an ocular inspection of the space to better assess the suitability of certain furniture pieces that a customer may be eyeing. SB, in fact, can be likened to a friend who listens and considers what you want – and need – when giving advice, making the experience of furnishing your home that much easier and even more enjoyable. After making your selection, SB will deliver the pieces, and its technical specialists will install these for you, too. You can actually have your dream space all in one day, and

The SB Furniture BGC Team with SB Furniture Vice President for Operations Elvott Santos (front row, second from left) and SB Furniture Merchandising Manager Jackson Cue (second row, second from left)

make it last a long time. “We like it that our customers treat us like that stylish friend you always ask advice from for anything that has to do with your home. Someone who knows about design, who’s ready to help you with your vision, and who makes the entire experience easy and fun,” says Cue. Browsing through any of the showrooms can already give one ideas, what with its extensive product lines for living, dining, bedroom, and entertainment areas. The collections cover almost every aesthetic from sophisticated, metro modern, or

shabby chic – whatever floats your boat. “Right now, we have 10 showrooms and we are planning to expand, in the Metro manila area first and in nearby developing provinces like Sta. Rosa Laguna – where we have a branch – and in Pampanga,” Cue shares. For more information, visit www.sbfurniture.com.ph, or follow @sbfurniturephilippines on Instagram and Pinterest at sbfurnitureph. Check out its stores located in Bonifacio Global City, Makati, Alabang, Ortigas, Quezon City, Sta. Rosa, and Pampanga.

S UNDAY : J UNE 26, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

TAKLUB TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT AT 39TH URIAN AWARDS

ith only the most important prize of the evening remaining to be announced, Taklub came from behind and walked off with the Best Picture trophy at the 39th Gawad Urian Awards on Wednesday night at the Kia Theater in Cubao, Quezon City. The Brillante Mendoza ensemble drama about grieving survivors of typhoon Yolanda, topbilled by Superstar Nora Aunor, had to wait right up to the end of the show to take its first and only one trip to the stage, upstaging Jerrold Tarog’s historical epic Heneral Luna, which had grabbed the most awards including best director before the shocking final result of the night. Taklub, which was screened at the Un Certain Regard section of 2015 Cannes Film Festival and awarded the Ecumenical Jury Prize-Special Mention for its sensitive portrayal of individuals and communities working for life in the midst of suffering and death, lost out to Heneral Luna as the Philippines’ official entry to the 2016 Oscars Best Foreign Film category. Laszlo Nemes’ Son of Saul from Hungary, which was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2015 Cannes Main Competition, won the 2016 Oscar Best Foreign Film. This is not the first time that a Brilliante Mendoza or a Nora Aunor film was undeservingly snubbed by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) to be submitted for consideration to the Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film selection. Most glaring was in 2009

when Soxie Topacio’s comedy Ded na si Lolo was chosen over Mendoza’s internationally acclaimed Lola. Topacio’s Lolo, an APT Entertainment and Directors Guild of the Philippines co-venture, had only won a Golden Screen Award best motion picture (comedy or musical), while Mendoza’s Lola had scored widespread in-

ternational festival invitations and garnered several awards including best film. Thy Womb, Mendoza and Aunor’s first team up and highly acclaimed at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, was also snubbed in favor of Hannah Espia’s Transit as the Philippine’s official entry to the Foreign Language Film category in the

86th Academy (Oscar) Awards. Taklub, an intimate portrait of the emotional struggles of victims of real-life deadly typhoon, shot in documentary fashion in the actual center of the devastation, was produced by Mendoza’s Centerstage Productions and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the support of the Presidential

Communications Operations Office-Philippine Information Agency (PCOO-PIA). Praised for the remarkable controlled performance of the cast led by Aunor, Taklub is an important film that tackles the issue of climate change and government action to promote disaster risk and provide disaster relief. – Eton B. Concepcion

Best Actor John Lloyd Cruz

Best Actress LJ Reyes

Best Supporting Actor Bernardo Bernardo

Best Supporting Actress Ana Abad Santos

Natatanging Gawad Urian Awardee Romy Vitug

Winners’ circle. Gawad Urian top winners in a photo op after the awarding ceremony

Winners of the 39th Gawad Urian Awards Best Picture: Taklub Best Actress: LJ Reyes (Anino sa Likod ng Buwan) Best Actor: John Lloyd Cruz (Honor Thy Father) Best Supporting Actor: Bernardo Bernardo (Imbisibol) Best Supporting Actress: Ana Abad Santos (Apocalypse Child)

Best Director: Jerrold Tarog (Heneral Luna) Best Editing: Jerrold Tarog (Heneral Luna) Best Music: Jake Abella (Ari: My Life with a King) Best Sound: Mikko Quizon (Heneral Luna) Best Production Design: Ben Payumo (Water Lemon)

Best Screenplay: Robby Tantingco (Ari: My Life with a King) Best Cinematography: Pong Ignacio (Heneral Luna) Best Short Film: Wawa Best Documentary Film: The Crescent Rising Natatanging Gawad Urian (Life Achievement) Award: Romy Vitug

SUNDAY : J UNE 26, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF GOOD SHOWS ON FYI THIS JULY

he ultimate kitchen battle returns on Lifetime as MasterChef Australia takes it to the next level in Season 8 with more renowned international guest chefs, bright new talents and a load of exciting challenges. Judges Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris are back to share their own unique talent and insights with the latest bunch of MasterChef hopefuls. The top 24 contestants had better strap themselves in for a wild ride as the biggest of big name chefs enter the MasterChef arena to inspire and challenge them like never before. Don’t miss the exciting cook off on MasterChef Australia Season 8 premiering 8 p.m. on July 4. Global thriller, Zoo, is back for its second season premiering on July 6, same day as the US, and airing 10 p.m. Wednesdays. Based on the no. 1 bestselling novel by James Patterson, Zoo tells the story of Jackson Oz, a young renegade American zoologist who spends his days running safaris in Africa with his best friend, Abraham, who has a deep understanding of wildlife. Shortly after the waves of violent animal attacks begin, Oz begins to see a link between the strange attacks and his late father’s controver-

“Child Genius” host Leland Melvin with a child prodigy

“MasterChef Australia” judges Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris

Things are going to heat up fast in season 4 of “The Block” starting July 5

sial theories about impending threats to the human race. As the worldwide assaults become even more cunning, coordinated and ferocious, Oz and the others are

thrust into the race to unlock the mystery of the pandemic before there’s no place left for people to hide. Starting July 25, Monday at 9:30

p.m. and Tuesday to Friday at 9 p.m., things are going to heat up fast in season 4 of The Block. Eight couples are chosen to compete this season but only four of them are getting the keys to move in and start the renovation. Who will emerge victorious? Catch The Block as the couples move in to Melbourne this season and step up the renovation game. The battle of young geniuses commences for season two on Aug. 4. Airing Thursdays at 10 p.m., Child Genius, hosted by former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, and created in coopera-

Rome film fest in October

In agreement with the president of the Fondazione Cinema per Roma Piera Detassis, artistic director Antonio Monda offered some sneak previews of the 11th edition of the Rome Film Fest, which will take place from Oct. 13 to 23 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, and extend even further into the Italian capital. The Rome Film Fest will devote plenty of space to meetings with directors, actors, and leading cultural figures. Tom Hanks, winner of two Academy Awards for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, the protagonist of three decades of great cinema and of memorable blockbusters such as Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Apollo 13,

The Da Vinci Code, and Bridge of Spies, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Meryl Streep, winner of three Academy Awards for Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, and The Iron Lady, who has worked with directors such as Fred Zinnemann, Woody Allen, Sydney Pollack, Robert Zemeckis, and Clint Eastwood, among others, will talk about the great Italian actresses who influenced her, first and foremost Silvana Mangano. David Mamet (awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his play Glengarry Glen Ross, author of House of Games and Heist, and screenwriter for dozens of films including The Untouchables by Brian De Palma and

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Vulcan high priestess 5 Kareem — -Jabbar 10 Music genre (hyph.) 16 Nay sayers 21 Assns. 22 Nerve, in combos 23 Ink ejectors 24 Like a good cake 25 R&B’s — Braxton 26 Gold Coast, today 27 Shellfish 28 Scoreboard posting 29 Bilked 31 Comic — Howard 33 Gives it a go 35 — Dhabi 36 Second — 37 By mouth 40 Literary compilation 41 A Ponderosa son 42 “My Gal” of song 45 PC screen 46 Drain, as energy

48 50 52 54 55 57 58 59 60 62 66 67 69 71 72 74 76 78 79 80

San Francisco hill Test scorers Rings up sales They need a PIN Mongol dwelling RSVP word Ceremonies Hideous giant A Beatle Stretch autos Black, to Donne Bonding Papal bull, e.g. A.D. coiner Trees, often Hard water? Barely scraping by “— Giovanni” Franc’s successor Weasel-family members 83 Shallow dishes 85 Nail-groomer 88 “Crazylegs” Hirsch

89 Action flick highlight 90 Greenhouse 93 Ballot choice 95 About 3 feet 97 Nine-digit ID 98 Brawls 100 — kwon do 101 Echo’s beloved 106 Sporty trucks 108 Pros 110 Frozen dessert 112 Sock it — —! 113 Dreaded assignment 115 Space lead-in 116 Rushes off 117 Fermented milk 118 Croon 120 Thailand, once 122 Incites Rover 123 Noose 124 Took advantage of 128 Mao — -tung 129 Gasp of delight 130 Grammy category 131 FBI acronym 132 “Sink” or “swim” 133 Umbrella spoke 135 Pre-weekend shout 137 One way to read 139 Souffle ingredient 140 Longest bone 142 Seance sound 144 Finger clacker 148 Las Vegas flush 150 Spiteful sort 153 — couture 155 Prefix for “trillion” 156 Gauzy fabric 157 Forbid 158 Basso Simon — 159 Runner Zatopek 160 Lieu 161 Stones schlepper 162 Two-Oscar Dianne 163 “— Me Amadeus” DOWN

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Bib wearers Figurehead’s place Hindu god of fire Depleting Bank sitters Command Pairs 40-cup brewer Sand, silt and clay Four-bagger “ER” setting Liquid amts. Party thrower Horse — Stacking up “Mister Ed” actor Hide — hair Dressing-down Weather map line Plays guitar Animal quackers? Klutz’s mutter Snakes lack them — day now Jeweler’s lens Wing it (hyph.) Metal fastener It may be airtight Drop a hint (2 wds.) Walk the picket line Revival shout Shores up Feel crummy Provides, as service Water, in Baja Ottoman Bogus butter Hawaiian wreaths Jason’s wife Scents Have a premonition Menacing sound Vodka cocktails Signifies Actress — Hartman Customer

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Hannibal by Ridley Scott) will attend an onstage conversation, in his double role as film director and screenwriter; Don DeLillo (a key figure in post-modern American narrative, a keen observer of the transformations taking place in American society) will talk about the relationship between cinema and literature, and about his passion for Italian master Michelangelo Antonioni; Daniel Libeskind, the protagonist of Deconstructivist architecture (who designed the Jewish Museum in Berlin and the project to rebuild the World Trade Center in New York). He will discuss the relationship between the seventh art and

About, datewise Handbag logo Family mem. Swiss cheese hole Matt Dillon’s deputy Result Necessities Ocean birds Narrow inlet Jedi knight trainer — de corps Add fertilizer Chief exec. Fake it Jeans go-withs Vigoda and Fortas Balkan capital Kayak’s kin Sealy rival Bwana, in India Clink glasses Indiana neighbor “Westworld” name Out of commission Only PC memory unit Lobby furnishing Most relaxed Prevents Be a couch potato (2 wds.) Sock style Less bright Sections of Earth’s crust Good, to Pedro Peace goddess Brainy Carbon-14, maybe Left in a hurry Delhi VIP Close-call comment Verne captain Clapton of “Layla” Gossip — — carte Drowse off Big Ben numeral So far — — know

tion with American Mensa, features the most extraordinary and gifted children as they prep for the battle of the brains. The nation’s brightest young minds are tested for over ten weeks on their knowledge in math, spelling, geography and current events. With a $100,000 college fund and the title of Child Genius 2016 at stake, the kids – and their families – will stop at nothing to make it to the top of the class. Lifetime™ is available on SKYCable Ch 65 and Lifetime™ HD Ch 199; Cable Link Ch. 223; Dream Satellite Ch 28; Destiny Ch 44.

architecture, and about his love for Paolo Sorrentino’s films. The Auditorium Parco della Musica has been the heart of the Rome Film Fest since 2006 with the red carpet and the screening rooms. Like every year, the Fest will involve many other locations in Rome: starting with the Cinema Village - where a temporary structure seating 800 people will be set up - it will include other movie theatres across the city, from the centre to the suburbs. The Fest will also take place in some of the most important cultural venues of the Italian capital, and will feature a special red carpet in Via Condotti, in collaboration with the eponymous association.

SUNDAY : J UNE 26, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

HBO’S ‘GAME OF THRONES’ SEASON FINALE PREMIERES IN ASIA THE SAME TIME AS THE US The season six finale of HBO’s epic series, Game Of Thrones, premieres the same time as the US, 9 a.m. tomorrow, exclusively on HBO, with a same day 9 p.m. primetime encore. The series will also be available on HBO GO. Titled “The Winds of Winter,” the season finale is written by D.B. Weiss and directed by Miguel Sapochnik, also responsible for this week’s phenomenal penultimate episode, “Battle of the Bastards.” As Game Of Thrones concludes its sixth season, binge viewers can relive the excitement by streaming all six seasons of the series anytime anywhere on HBO GO, or watching all ten episodes back to back on HBO Signature’s July 9 and 10 weekend marathon, from 12 p.m. daily. Based on George R.R. Martin’s popular book series A Song

A scene from the phenominal HBO original series, “Game of Thrones”

Emilia Clarke (left) and Peter Dinklage (right) in the latest episode of the Miguel Sapochnik directed series

of Ice and Fire, HBO’s Emmy® and Golden Globe award winning fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power in a vast and violent kingdom. The HBO se-

winner Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Aidan Gil-

len (Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish), Diana Rigg (Lady Olenna Tyrell), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Jonathan Pryce (the High Sparrow).

Prison mayhem in action-packed ‘Riot’

Show band Arpie & The Multivitamins takes center stage at Hard Rock Café

Shows at Hard Rock Café

Hard Rock Café’s (HRC) amazing line-up of performers include pop-rock band Part 3 tonight, show band Arpie & The Multivitamins tomorrow, while Inner Voices takes the center stage on Tuesday. Area One dishes out the greatest hits of The Beatles on June 29, while you enjoy a super retro musical party with Kudos Love 80s

ries has won 26 Emmys®, among many other awards. Returning series regulars on Game Of Thrones this season include: Emmy® and Golden Globe

on Thursday. Hard rockers can also enjoy the best burgers from around the world as HRC recently launch its World Burger Tour that features the best local burgers from around the world. HRC’s World Burger Tour menu is available until the end of July 2016. All shows start at 9:00 p.m.

It’s payback time in the action-packed Riot starring Matthew Reese along with Dolph Lundgren. The film is about a man who deliberately throws himself into prison to kill another prisoner who murdered his wife. Jack Stone (Reese) purposefully orchestrates a bank robbery in order to be thrown into prison with the notorious Russian kingpin, Balam (Chuck Lidell). More than just a mob criminal, Balam is a very cunning and dangerous man who controls the police force from behind bars. His cell is a lavish private room built specifically for him, inaccessible to most in the depths of the prison structure. However, Stone eventually finds an ally with a fellow prisoner played by Lundgren. Surrounded by his loyal henchmen and guards in his sectioned off fortress, Balam doesn’t know Jack is coming for him to avenge his family, whom Balam murdered in cold blood. Riot opens in cinemas on June 29 from CrystalSky Multimedia. Check out the film’s trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=FZKW5V8hW5o

A scene from the film “Riot,” which opens on June 29

Matthew Reese (right) is the main hero in the action film, “Riot”

Chris Columbus is producer of ‘The Young Messiah’ At the heels of blockbuster movies from Chris Columbus such as Gremlins, Home Alone 1 & 2, Mrs. Doubtfire, Percy Jackson films and the Harry Potter franchise is the faith-based epic The Young Messiah which he produced under the direction of Cyrus Nowrasteh. Columbus once again demonstrates his acumen for nurturing and cultivating young talents in The Young Messiah, replicating his feat from the highly successful Harry Potter franchise by casting then unknown talents such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in lead roles. Columbus now brings the young Adam Greaves-Neal at the center of The Young Messiah as the child Jesus along with an impressive supporting cast that includes Sean Bean, Sara Lazarro, Vincent Walsh, Clive Russell, Jonathan Bailey and Christian McKay. The Young Messiah is based upon Anne Rice’s novel Christ the

A scene from “The Young Messiah,” a moving film that centers on the life of young Jesus Christ

Lord: Out of Egypt in which the author imagines a year in the life of the young Jesus. In the movie, Jesus’ parents, Mary (Lazarro) and Joseph (Walsh) bear the responsibility of raising Jesus. Rice, in her Facebook page previously revealed that she was brought

to tears upon seeing the film for the first time stating, “I support it with all my heart. The writing, the directing, (and) the cast are an author’s dream of fidelity to the spirit of the book and book’s concerns for biblical and historical accuracy. I’m so happy to share this.”

The inspiring story of Jesus as a young boy in The Young Messiah sees Greaves-Neal as Jesus embarking on a journey from Egypt to Nazareth after he miraculously brings someone back to life. When King Herod (Bailey) orders the death of the child, Roman centurion Severus (Bean) is tasked to find the family across the desert. Young Jesus then turns to his parents for answers as he grapples to understand His own divinity. But how do they explain God to his own son as they worry about his safety at the same time? “This movie really hangs on a young child,” says Nowrasteh on casting Adam. The director decided to send Columbus a tape of Adam along with tapes of other boys that they were considering for the lead role and Columbus’ response was immediate, “He said that no one else came close to Adam.” Adam, just nine years old at that time, naturally took on the role with-

out feeling overwhelmed. “I just think, I’m a boy that can do great and surprising things,” he shared on how he tried to play the role. Sean Bean in turn says that his character is also of importance to the story. “He sees Jesus and his family, he’s out and about on the streets and city all the time, and then he answers to Herod, who sits there on his throne surrounded by concubines and debauchery. Eventually, he has a big change of heart when he decided who he can be loyal to. And that’s to Jesus ultimately. You could say he’s the first convert to Christianity, he epitomizes that.” “There’s a huge audience for faith-based films and this is the original story of one of the greatest people to have ever lived,” concludes producer Chris Columbus. Discover a year in Jesus’ childhood in The Young Messiah when it opens in cinemas on June 29, from Pioneer Films.

SUNDAY : J UNE 26, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ A STRAIGHT GUY’S FORAY INTO THE ‘BEKI’ WORLD ISAH V. RED

ow far will you go for your family and for the woman you love? For Conan, he would do anything—even pretend to be gay and work in a beauty salon. GMA Public Affairs proudly presents Conan My Beautician, the newest comedy series that promises to be part of the Filipino family’s Sunday viewing habit. Premiering this afternoon, Conan My Beautician sees the refreshing tandem of Kapuso actor Mark Herras and 2013 Ms. World Megan Young. Coming from a family of talented barbers, Conan is played by Mark, a straight guy who is forced to work in a beauty salon in Manila after his family is forced to escape from their hometown and his mother is hospitalized. While on the outside he projects the vivacious and most talented beautician at Salon Paz, Conan remains a straight guy inside. In fact, he soon finds himself falling in love with Ava. Conan My Beautician is expected to reveal further the versatility of Mark, Starstruck’s firstever Ultimate Male Survivor. This will be the first time Mark is playing a sensitive role and while he admits that he is still getting used to the idea, he is nonetheless grateful that he is given a very challenging show where he is the lead actor. “Sobra po akong nagpapasalamat, especially sa GMA for trusting me once again na ipakita ‘yung kaya kong ipakita and after a very very long time, ngayong lang ulit ako nabigyan ng role na talagang iikot ‘yung story sa akin,” Mark shared. For Megan, who is also a Starstruck alumna, Conan My Beautician will be her first foray in comedy. “I don’t think I remember doing a come-

The Beauty and the Beki: In “Conan the Beautician,” Mark Herras (left) plays a gay-acting straight guy named Conan, his love interest is Ava, played by Megan Young (right)

dy [show] ever in my whole career so that’s a big thing for me. It’s exciting, it’s fun, and I’m looking very much forward to it,” Megan said. Completing the stellar cast of Conan My Beautician are today’s most talented comedians –Cacai Bautista, Jerald Napoles, Betong Sumaya, Boobsie, Tetay, Vangie Labalan, Lotlot De Leon, Jay Manalo, Chlaui Malayao, Antonette Garcia, and Balang. Directed by Adolf Alix, Jr. with Rember Gelera, and penned by award-winning writers headed by Rody Vera with Zig Dulay, Eljay Deldoc, Michael Cardoz, and Jerome Zamora, this riot of a comedy from GMA Public Affairs airs every Sunday on GMA at 5 p.m. beginning today.

Sing Philippines Youth Choir in ‘Art 2 Art’

The Sing Philippines Youth Choir (SPYC) that recently serenaded LRT 2 commuters with a musical flash mob will be featured in Art 2 Art today. The episode airs 3:30-4 p.m. on radio via DZRH (666 khz on the AM band), on cable television via RHTV (Channel 18 on Cignal Cable) and online live streaming at http://dzrhnewstelevision.tv. The show may also be viewed through the Facebook account DZRH News Television. Chinggay Bernardo, manager of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Cultural Exchange Department, tells Art 2 Art host Lisa Macuja how the flash mob came about. Apparently, it was part of a music camp organized by Bernar-

The cast of GMA-7’s upcoming dramedy: (from left) Gerald Napoles as Greg, Betong Sumaya as Mimi, Balang and Cacai Bautista as Chika La Chaka

do’s department and the Philippine Madrigal Singers (MADZ) in May. Music camp participants, selected among applicants from the provinces and Metro Manila, formed the second batch of the choir. They also performed in a concert at the CCP on June 5 as a culminating activity. In the Art 2 Art episode, SPYC representatives Miggi Angangco and Pauline Arejola share their experiences at the music camp. Other members in performing Why I Sing join them later. Art 2 Art is produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company. For inquiries, please e-mail art2artdzrh@ gmail.com. On Facebook, check out the account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on the show’s episodes.