The Standard - 2016 July 13 - Wednesday

VOL. XXX  NO. 150  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  TUESDAY : JULY 12, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Ex-Health secretary accused of graft

A4

OSG DEFENDS COPS Amid killing spree, police to be shielded from probes

By John Paolo Bencito

THE government’s top lawyer on Monday called on police to continue their campaign against illegal drugs and promised to shield them against any congressional investigation as the bodycount of suspected drug pushers continued to pile up.

“We will not allow anybody to derail this effort of the PNP [Philippine National Police] and its officers to implement the order of our President to stop this… drug menace in our society,” said Solicitor General Jose Calida in a press conference.

“I am here to encourage the

PNP not to be afraid of any congressional or Senate investigation. We will defend them,” he said.

“The Office of the Solicitor General will be the first line of defense. We will assess whether the investigation is really in aid of legislation. If it is not, then

we will advise the PNP not to attend,” he added.

Police have confirmed killing more than 110 suspects since President Rodrigo Duterte won elections in May promising a law-and-order crackdown that would claim thousands of lives and fill funeral parlors.

As the official death toll has mounted, human rights lawyers have expressed deep concerns that the war on crime was spiraling out of control while opposition lawmakers have called for a congressional inquiry into the spate of killings.

Next page

Japanese help. A day before the release of a verdict by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the case filed by the Philippines against China, the Japanese Coast Guard PLH02 Tsugaru docks at the South Harbor on Monday, July 11, ready to take part in a three-day joint maritime law enforcement exercise with the Philippine Coast Guard, the 6th Joint Maritime Law Enforcement, which will be staged off Manila Bay. It aims to further enhance the capabilities of Philippine Coast Guard and the Japanese Coast Guard to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea and to acquire skills in conducting airlift rescue operations. DANNY PATA

Threat to Sierra Madre investigated

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan A DAY before a UN arbitration court releases its ruling on the West Philippine Sea dispute, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is verifying reports that China is out to destroy the BRP Sierra Madre in response to the ruling in The Hague.

Refusing to comment further, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said that they will

confirm reports that a defense ministry spokesman in Beijing had said they would “sink or tow” the Sierra Madre, which was purposely grounded on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. “We’ll try to check the veracity of the report,” Jose said.

In response to the ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal, a commentary by a Chinese defense spokesman published in the official People’s Daily said that although Beijing has been

exercising patience over the issue, it is committed to defending its socalled 9-dash line territory.

“The story of the Renai Shoal [shows] China is fully capable of dragging away that Philippine vessel hanging in there,” People’s Daily said. “But for the stability of the South China Sea, China offers goodwill and patience and has always shown high restraint.”

China was, however, committed to defending every inch of its territory, the commentary said. Next page

De Lima says she will not be intimidated

A2

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

A2

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

De Lima vows to push probe of drug killings

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Leila de Lima on Monday vowed to push for a Senate inquiry into the spate of killings of suspected drug pushers as she fended off attacks from the Duterte administration.

“I will not be intimidated. I will still push my proposal to conduct Senate inquiry unless I will be overruled by a majority of my colleagues,” De Lima said in a press briefing.

De Lima said she was baffled by the reactions of the government over her plan to conduct a thorough investigation into the series of killings, most of which she said carried the telltale signs of summary executions.

“If the police are confident that all these cases of killings of drug suspects were aboveboard, they should welcome all inquiries being conducted,” she said.

Reacting to threats from Solicitor General Jose Calida to file a case against her, De Lima retorted: “What case are they going to file against me? That I’m also involved in drugs? I won’t be surprised [if] they will start labeling me a protector and coddler [of drug lords]. It’s crazy!”

She also debunked Calida’s allegations that she was calling for a probe to gain media mileage.

“That’s not for him to say that.

I’m sure of myself,” De Lima said.

“I’m sure that in filing the resolution, that it’s in aid of legislation. I know what is the nature of a Senate inquiry, I have read the rules. It’s in the Constitution. It is a Senate inquiry in aid of legislation. It will be broad,” De Lima said.

She also said the Senate has contempt power if the police snub her investigation.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, said Calida cannot stop De Lima’s probe.

“While we laud and support the campaign against illegal drugs, the Senate cannot sit idly on allegations of extrajudicial killings that saw a spike in the recent months,” Drilon said.

“We will assert our constitutional duty to investigate illegal,

unjust, improper, or inefficient acts committed by any public official in order to strengthen our existing laws... and to further aid the campaign of the President against illegal drugs,” Drilon said.

He said the Senate is mandated by the Constitution to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation. He said that the Senate is authorized to conduct investigation of “malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance in office by officers and employees of the government, its branches, agencies, subdivisions and instrumentalities.”

“We will not hesitate to invoke the power of the Senate to compel the attendance of witnesses and resource persons if such attendance is necessary for the Senate to perform its constitutionally mandated function,” Drilon added, He underscored that the Supreme Court, in the case of Senate v. Executive Secretary, upheld

this power when it ruled against Executive Order 464 in 2006, deciding that attendance of witnesses and resource persons “is compulsory in inquiries in aid of legislation.”

The Senate chief said that Calida’s remarks “undermine the independence of the Senate and our very own democracy.”

“I am alarmed by the remarks made by Calida. His remarks were uncalled for and reek of arrogance, unbecoming of a solicitor general,” Drilon said.

“What is he afraid of?” he added.

Drilon said that the Solicitor General “should not interfere nor impede any legislative inquiry of the Senate.”

“As a lawyer, he should be aware that the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the power of the Senate to conduct investigations as constitutional and legitimate,” Drilon said.

Drilon also said that Calida’s action is not only an affront to the power of the Senate, but also compromises the effort of the President to foster transparency and accountability under his presidency. With Francisco Tuyay

Dead on the spot. Barangay Tugatog, Councilman Napolito Jojo Sarto, an anti-drug advocate, lies dead after motorcyle-riding gunmen opened fire in M.H. Del Pilar, in Malabon City on Monday. ANDREW RABULAN

Threat...

From A1

Since 1999, the Philippine Navy grounded an old US-built landing craft on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The ship is occupied by a dozen military personnel.

The shoal in the Spratly Islands chain is also claimed by China, which calls it the Renai Shoal.

China has repeatedly asked for the craft to be removed but the Philippines has refused, triggering a Chinese blockade of the

shoal in 2014.

A group of Filipino activists called “Kalayaan Atin Ito” has been on a voyage to the disputed areas of the South China Sea to show China that some islands there belong to the Philippines.

“We are not nationalists, we are patriots. We have to do something to show the Filipino people that this belongs to us so we can continue to travel there and our fishermen can fish there, like they have always done,” Kalayaan’s coordinator Vera Joy Ban-eg said.

On Tuesday, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The

Hague will hand down its final ruling on the case brought by the Philippines asking the international court to invalidate China’s ninedash line policy, a horse-shaped line found in old Chinese maps supposedly showing Beijing’s territory in the West Philippine Sea. The case has been a three-year battle since the Philippines lodged its case in January 2013 before the Arbitral Tribunal.

In a recent television interview, political analyst Richard Heydarian said most legal experts agree that the Philippines will likely win the arbitration case.

He also said that assuming the verdict is favorable to the Philippines, it would be appropriate if President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration would release a strong statement about complying with the ruling.

“We hope we can get the court to nullify China’s nine-dash line claims of course, and, at least, critique China’s reclamation activities by clarifying the nature of disputed land features, most of which are atolls and low tide elevations that can’t be occupied if beyond your exclusive economic zone and continental shelf,” Heydarian told GMA News. With Sandy Araneta

OSG...

From A1 In response to the criticism, Calida insisted on the legality of the police killings and suggested that the campaign has not gone far enough.

“To me, that is not enough,” Calida said of the killings so far. “How many drug addicts or pushers are there in the Philippines? Our villages are almost saturated [with drugs].”

Duterte, who took office on June 30, has repeatedly warned that drastic action is needed to stop the Philippines from becoming a narco-state.

A lawyer and a former prosecutor, Duterte has urged law enforcers to kill those they believe are involved in the drug trade, as well as other criminals.

In one of the deadliest single incidents, police reported killing eight “drug personalities” during a predawn raid on Saturday in a small southern town.

As in the other cases, police said they were forced to shoot after encountering resistance.

One of the nation’s top human rights lawyers, Jose Manuel Diokno, warned last week that Duterte had “spawned a nuclear explosion of violence that is spiraling out of control and creating a nation without judges.”

Former senator Rene Saguisag, a prominent human rights lawyer during the martial law years, also criticized Duterte’s statements naming and shaming alleged drug lords and police officers ahead of a formal investigation.

“Do we still probe and have a trial as part of due process? Useless, it seems to me,” Saguisag wrote in an online column last week.

Calida, a Duterte appointee, said he would protect police from or during congressional probes, while emphasizing it was up to critics to prove allegations of abuse rather than base inquiries on speculation.

At the same press conference, PNP Director-General Ronald dela Rosa said police should not be intimidated by possible harassment suits for killing drug suspects, saying they would get the full support of the Duterte administration.

“You won’t be left to fend for yourself,” Dela Rosa said, addressing his officers in Filipino. “I despise extrajudicial killings. I don’t want that. What I want are legitimate operations. If you make a mistake, you will be held accountable, but if you are engaged in legitimate operations, we will defend you.”

Calida said that presumption of regularity must be applied to all police operations, adding that the burden of proof rests on those who make claims that some policemen commit extrajudicial killings.

“He who alleges must prove. If you are alleging that there is ‘salvaging’, you must prove it. Otherwise, the presumption of regularity will apply,” he said.

Calida also said police should not be afraid of congressional inquiries in aid of legislation, saying there are already “too many laws.”

“There is no need for another investigation allegedly in aid of legislation,” he said.

But the Commission on Human Rights, one of the staunchest critics of the President over the conduct of anti-drug operations, said he was applying a double standard by investigating police generals that he said were protecting drug lords but killing petty pushers who “deserve to die.”

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

A3

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Lawmakers hopeful on P80m LAWMAKERS on Monday expressed hope that the P80 million in pork barrel funds to be allocated to each lawmaker will be used following Supreme Court guidelines.

And former speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. agreed with incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that it would be improper to call pork barrel funds “pork.”

“Projects are going to be specified in the budget. It is not pork,” Belmonte said in a text message.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said the lump-sum congressional allocation will be identified through line-item budgeting and therefore will not be a source of corruption.

He said “Thank you, if that is true” on the reported P10-million increase for each legislator.

He said the pork barrel funds were needed by congressman to implement the needed programs and projects in their districts.

Belmonte also welcomed the increase in congressional entitlements.

“I am appreciative of the gesture of President [Rodrigo] Duterte,” Belmonte said.

Alvarez confirmed last week that P80 million in congressional entitlements would be given to each congressman under the soon-to-be-proposed P3.3trillion national budget for 2017.

Alvarez, the representative of Davao del Norte, said lawmakers would still exercise power to submit, propose and identify projects for their legislative districts in next year’s national budget, but appealed not to call their entitlement pork barrel.

“Congressmen will be allowed to propose projects needed in their districts so it can be included in line budgeting,” Alvarez said earlier.

He also said the new national budget would no longer contain lump-sum allocations after the Supreme Court declared it illegal in 2013. Maricel V. Cruz

Workshop. From left, Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Secretary Leni Robredo, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II attend a Cabinet orientation workshop in Malacañang on Monday. Robinson Niñal/PPD

Prosecutors want Romero indicted for graft THE Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila has recommended the indictment of billionaire and elected party-list Rep. Michael Romero and two other former officials of Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. for qualified theft, and for taking company funds for transactions that turned out to be non-existent.

In a resolution dated July 1, 2016, prosecutors found probable cause

to hold Romero, former president of Harbour Centre, along with Edwin Jeremillo, former chief operating officer and Felicia Aquino, former cashier, liable for qualified theft for issuing 18 Harbour Centre checks on April 27, 2007, amounting to P3.4 million payable to nonexistent payees.

No bail was recommended for their release.

Based on the complaint filed

by Harbour Centre, the three conspired to issue 18 checks in one day, with each bearing the amount of P200,000 supposedly for “marketing expenses” and payable to National Food Authority/ or Felicia Aquino.

It was Romero and Jeremillo who signed and issued the checks.

The prosecutors noted that the transactions for which the checks were issued appeared

to be non-existent because no evidence was presented to show that NFA had any transactions with Harbour Centre.

The prosecutors also found that all checks were not cashed by the NHA but by Aquino herself.

She claimed that she delivered the amount to another person, Ramon Olvina, but he denied in a sworn statement that he received the money. Rey E. Requejo

Arroyo pleads on graft case

Gridlock. The traffic was hardly moving shortly after a sudden downpour at high noon on Edsa and Kamias on Monday. EY ACASIO

FORMER president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday petitioned the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the graft charges filed against her in connection with the failed $329-million national broadband deal.

In three separate documents filed with the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division, Arroyo’s counsels said there was no need to present counter evidence from her camp because the prosecution’s own evidence was “weak” as it failed to prove her “guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”

“Reasonable doubt, according to the Supreme Court, is the inability to let the judicial mind rest easy upon the certainty of guilt after a thorough investigation of the whole evidence,” Arroyo says in her plea.

“The prosecution’s evidence does not meet this exacting standard. In fact, the prosecution’s evidence does not even come close to meeting this standard.”

Arroyo also disputed the prosecution’s allegation that the national broadband network deal between the Philippine government and the Chinese company Zhing Xing Telecommunications Equipment Inc. was overpriced by more than 50 percent. Maricel V. Cruz

t u e s D AY : J u LY 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

A4

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Alvarez supports drug test for solons

Second Cabinet meeting.

Secretary of the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. confers with President Rodrigo Duterte before the start of a Cabinet meeting at Malacañan Palace’s State Dining Room on Monday. In the foreground is Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.

MALACAÑANG PHOTO

By Maricel V. Cruz

Former Health chief, 2 others face charges OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales found probable cause to charge former Health Secretary Enrique Ona and two other DoH officials for the anomalous bidding of the P392.2-million contract to modernize the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in 2012.

Aside from Ona, former Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa and Assistant Secretary Nicolas Lutero III were also indicted before the Sandiganbayan for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The Ombudsman also found Ona, Herbosa and Lutero guilty of grave misconduct and were ordered dismissed from the service and meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office with forfeiture of retirement benefits.

In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible

to a fine equivalent to respondents’ one year salary.

The charges were based on the finding that in September 2012, the three allegedly connived to give unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to a disqualified contractor.

Five bidders joined the public bidding for the project with two bidders, EM Cuerpo Inc. and Specified Contractors & Development Inc. (SCDI), declared as post-disqualified for failure to comply with the DoH’s detailed estimate requirements.

Aggrieved, the SCDI, the second lowest bidder, filed a motion

for reconsideration that was eventually denied by the special bids and awards committee.

On Aug. 23, 2013, a notice of award was issued to the third lowest bidder, Northern Builders Inc. No protest as provided under Republic Act No. 9184, or the “Government Procurement Reform Act,” was filed by the SCDI. In August 2013, the SCDI filed a letter-complaint before the Office of the President alleging anomalies in the procurement project and Ona subsequently requested Lutero to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the matter.

On Sept. 13, 2013, Ona instructed the chief of R1MC, Dr. Joseph Rolando Mejia, to provide an update on the procurement project.

Three days later, or on Sept. 16, 2013, Herbosa sent a letter to Mejia “enjoining him to nullify or set aside the issuance of the Notice of Award to

[NBI] and to continue with the postqualification of SCDI.” But on Sept. 30, 2013, Ona issued a cease and desist order to Mejia pending investigation of the SCDI complaint.

In December 2013, the DoH conducted a rebid for the project.

In its resolution, the Ombudsman said that when the SCDI did not file any protest or appeal, “the SBAC’s resolution had become final and respondents could no longer intervene and issue a cease and desist order.”

Morales said that “while Ona had the power to investigate any infractions or violations committed by its employees, including the members of the SBAC, this does not mean that he could simply invalidate and declare null and void the proceedings and decisions made by the SBAC without observing the provisions of R.A. No. 9184.” PNA

INCOMING speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday said his leadership will prioritize the proposed mandatory drug testing of all members of the House of Representatives in keeping with the intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Alvarez said he supports the proposal of Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers to require all lawmakers and all their employees to undergo a drug test to ensure that the socalled “House of the People” will be a “drug-free” workplace.

“I fully support the drug test,” Alvarez said, stressing that he will consult with his colleagues as soon as he is elected speaker of the 17th Congress.

“After July 25, I have to get the consensus of the House members,” Alvarez, the representative of Davao del Norte, said.

Barbers stressed that drug test should be mandatory to show to the public that lawmakers have nothing to hide.

“The House of Representatives should underscore its commitment, support and participation to antidrug policies, programs and projects by ensuring that its own workplace is a drug-free institution,” Barbers said.

“All members shall submit to the mandatory drug test before assumption to office and regularly every year thereafter,” Barbers said, stressing that the mandatory drug testing aims to support Duterte’s fight against drug-related crimes.

In pushing for a mandatory drug test in the Lower House, Barbers proposed that those who will be tested positive for illegal drug use will not get their monthly salaries and other benefits until proper action is taken on them.

6m new voters expected

By Vito Barcelo THE Commission on Elections is preparing to register at least six million new voters for the barangay and youth council elections on October 31, bringing to more than 60 million the number of registered Filipino voters.

Of the six million expected registrants, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said two million are expected to be 18 years old and older while the remaining four million will be 15 to 17 year olds.

“Those are just the numbers on how many we expect to apply for registration. But in practice, they may not all sign up,” Jimenez said, add-

ing that there are already 54.363-million registered voters, as of the last elections.

Jimenez reiterated that applicants for voter registration may personally file their applications for registration at their respective city or municipal offices daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. of July 15 to 30, in accordance with Comelec Resolution No. 10148.

The registration is open to first-time voters—both in regular and SK polls— as well as those who have been deactivated for failing to participate in at least two consecutive elections.

Registrants for barangay elections must be at least 18 years old by the time of

the elections and residing in the barangay where they intend to vote for at least six months by election day.

SK elections will coincide with the barangay polls.

Around 42,000 barangays will be holding SK elections and 10 positions are up for grabs per barangay, including SK chairman.

The SK elections were originally scheduled for October 2013 but were postponed following calls for the SK Reform Act which was signed into law last January.

The SK Reform Act has an anti-political dynasty provision and raised the age requirement from 15 to 17 to 18 to 24 to allow youth officials to legally enter contracts and be held liable.

Surprise visit. Solicitor General Jose Calida is escorted to the weekly flag-raising ceremony at the Philippine National Police’s Camp Crame headquarters in Quezon City where he encouraged policemen to press on with their anti-narcotics operations.

MANNY PALMERO

t u e s D AY : J u LY 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

A5

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Pimentel relives Sabah dream

By Joel E. Zurbano Former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel is eyeing Sabah as one of the federal states to be created under the Philippines’ federal form of government.

“Sabah is ours and many countries recognized it,” said Pimentel during a Lecture on Federalism held at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City Monday.

Pimentel said that Sabah belongs to the Philippines and there are documents to prove this claim; Malaysia is just a lessee, he added.

The country, under the federal system, will create 11 federal states, while keeping a presidential form of government and increasing the number of elected senators from the present 24 to 81.

There will be four states in Luzon— Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol and another four in Visayas—Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, and Minparom, covering Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental, Palawan and the Kalayaan Islands, Romblon, Marinduque while three in Mindanao—Northern Mindanao, which may be subdivided into Northwestern and Northeastern Mindanao; Southern Mindanao, Bangsamoro.

The National Capital Region will be the capital of the Federal Republic of the Philippines, just like the Washington D.C. in the United States.

Pimentel explained the system is necessary to allow government resources to be distributed equitably to each province in the country.

“It is a system of sharing power,” he said.

Pimentel is the founding chairman of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino—Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the political party of President Rodrigo Duterte who is also strongly pushing for a federal system of government.

Under the proposal, the president and the vice president will be elected with a sixyear term of office without reelection, unlike the present system where they are voted separately, while senators will no longer be elected nationwide.

There will be 66 senators for the 11 federal states and Metro Manila will also have six senators, and nine more to represent overseas Filipinos. In all, there will be 81 senators under the federal system.

Federalism, according to Pimentel, will accomplish two major things—cause the speedy development of the entire country by unleashing the forces of competitiveness among states; and second, dissipate the cause of rebellion in the country, particularly in Mindanao.

On federalism. Former chief Justice Reynato Puno (left) and former Senator Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel Jr. take turns delivering their speeches during the Philconsa Lecture on Federalism at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City. LINO SANTOS

Party-list asks SC for one more seat

By Rey E. Requejo

ThE Supreme Court has been asked to order the Commission on Elections to proclaim one more seat for the Gabriela Women’s Party-list, over and above the two seats in the house of Representatives that the Comelec already given to the militant group.

In a petition, the Gabriela Women’s party-list chairperson Emerenciana “Emmy” De Jesus , asked the SC to proclaim that it is entitled to one guaranteed seat and two additional seats or one more winning seat under the party-list system.

The group said the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when it issued Resolution No.008-16 last May 19 on the party-list groups entitled to a seat in the house.

The petitioner stressed that the assailed resolution deprived it of one additional

seat in the party-list representation when it committed a mathematical error in computation that resulted to Gabriela being given only two seats instead of three —or one guaranteed seat and two additional seats.

“Petitioner maintains that the promulgation of the said resolution resulted in its deprivation of one additional seat in the party-list representation. The Comelec promulgated the assailed resolution with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or in excess of jurisdiction in defiance of the formula prescribed by the honorable Court in the Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency [Banat] vs Comelec in 2009,” the petition said.

The militant group argued that under the Rules of Procedures, the Comelec en banc has until June 21 to resolve their motion but until now has failed to do so.

“The subsequent inaction of the Comelec en banc on the pending omnibus motion filed by petitioner until the lapse of the period to which it is required by law to resolve the same, and the consequent substantial injury that resulted therefrom are valid grounds for the Supreme Court to step in to remedy such manifest injustice,” it said.

The petitioner said the poll body made a mathematical error when instead of using 59.5 (Gabriela garnered 4.2245 percent of the total votes X 59.5 less 12 guaranteed seats for party-list groups that garnered at least two percent of the total party-list votes equals to 2.0066375), used 59 in the formula as an expression of the 20 percent Constitutional requirement of the total number of representatives in the Lower house, thereby arriving at 1. 985515 instead of 2.0066375.

Gasoline cheaper by P0.90/liter

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Ambulance donation. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II ( second from right) hands over the symbolic key of a brand new ambulance under the PCSO Ambulance Donation Program to Philippine Regulatory Commission chairman Teofilo Pilando Jr. (right) during a simple ceremony held recently at the PCSO head office in Mandaluyong City. With them are PCSO’s Assets & Supply Management Department manager Reena Yumina Yason (left) and assistant general manager for Administrative Sector Lauro Patiag. JOSEPH MUEGO

ThE country’s oil firms cut gasoline prices for the second consecutive week by P0.80 to P0.90 per liter starting Tuesday to reflect the movement of world oil prices.

The oil firms, however, did not reduce diesel and kerosene prices.

Energy Department director Melita Obillo said the latest oil price rollback was due to continuing oversupply of petroleum products in the world market.

Among the companies that issued the price advisories are Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Petron Corp. Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, PTT Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Eastern Petroleum and Flying V. Last July 5, the oil firms also cut gasoline prices by P0.60 per liter and kerosene by P0.20 per liter which reflected the impact of Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The Energy Department earlier said there is a continuing threat of supply security since 99.9 percent of the total oil requirement of the country is imported.

The department said that aside from weather, political factors from supply sources will affect security of supply.

It said it is important to encourage industry players to increase investments in order to ensure supply security, improve market competition and consequently, reasonable prices.

The department said it will continue to seek investments in the industry, especially foreign investors to explore investing in oil refinery.

Investments in the Philippine downstream oil industry sector reached P49 billion in 2015 from P38 billion in 2010 while the number of industry players increased to 249 last year from 181 in 2010.

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

A6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Labor memo sets end to ‘endo’

By Vito Barcelo

LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III has directed all labor law compliance officers nationwide to strictly monitor and inspect establishments with contracting and subcontracting employment scheme, in line with the government’s plan to reduce the practice of contractualization or “endo.”

The Labor chief issued a memorandum order directing the officers to enforce the Labor Laws Compliance System and

also instructed its Bureau of Working Conditions to draw up profiles of contractors and subcontractors based on results and

or findings from LLCOs. Associated Labor Unions’ policy advocacy officer Alan Tanjusay said the labor group hopes that this step leads to a momentum that result in its promised total elimination of contractualization, “Endo” or “555” precarious work arrangement.

Tanjusay said the labor group welcomed Bello’s initiative to reduce the practice of “endo” by at least half in the first six months of the Duterte administration.

Bello said that cutting by 50 percent the “endo” practice will be the challenge he will give to the officials in the department.

The memorandum also obliged regional directors to submit a comprehensive report to the DoLE secretary related to violations of existing labor laws and complaints of “endo” submitted by affected workers.

DoLE regional offices are also required to submit profiles of contracting and subcontracting arrangements

from companies.

“All documents shall be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Social Protection, on or before July 15,” he said.

Bello noted that the undersecretary for Social Protection shall have overall supervision over the activities he stated in the memorandum.

To fully iron out technical aspects and issues surrounding contractuali-

NBI tests personnel for illegal drug use

Against illegal drugs. Caloocan

City Mayor Oscar Malapitan (third from left) talks to the confessed illegal drug users who surrendered to the local government.

They were accompanied by their village chairman who vowed to stay away from illegal drug activities and help the city government to eradicate the vice. JUN DAVID

By Sandy Araneta

INC-produced film victorious in Madrid

FIRST INVITATION TO BID Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BISELCO), through its Bids and Award Committee is inviting all prospective Bidder to pre-qualify and to Bid for the supply and delivery of the following materials and equipment: Lot No.

Item

1

Fuselink

2

Description

Quantity

Units

Assorted Ratings

Transformers, Pole Type, Single Phase, Oil Immersed

ABC 45,600

50 kVA

2

pieces

37.5 kVA

2

pieces

25 kVA

2

pieces

15 kVA

2

pieces

10 kVA

10

1,159,100.00

pieces TOTAL

1,204,700.00

The criteria to be used by BAC in the eligibility of the prospective bidders shall be a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” basis. As such, non-submission of any of the eligibility requirements will result in the disqualification of the prospective bidder.

The complete schedule of activities are as follows: No.

zation, a workshop is scheduled on July 18 to 19 with labor officials and other stakeholders.

“All industries will benefit [from this], from shopping mall employees to workers from private companies even media and broadcasting companies,” Bello said.

The labor group said that the department should hire additional LLCOs as there are only around 500 LLCOs tasked to enforce labor laws and labor policies.

Activities

Schedule

1

Issuance of Bid Documents

July 12, 2016

2

Submission and Opening of Bids

July 22, 2016

3

Announcement of Winning Bidder

July 25, 2016

Complete set of bidding documents may be obtained at BISELCO BAC Secretariat through e-mail address biselco79@yahoo.com or mobile number 09159551913; upon payment of nonrefundable fee of 5,000.00 pesos. Bids shall be submitted at BAC Secretariat, Busunga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc., Bgy. 6, Coron, Palawan.

BISELCO BAC reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to annul the bidding process, declare a failure at any time prior to the contract award, or not to award the contract, without thereby incurring any liability, and makes no assurance that a contract shall be entered into as a result of the bidding. Likewise, the BISELCO BAC assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

Noted by: (Sgd.) ENGR. SELWIN Y. ALILI BAC Chairman/TSD Manager

(Sgd.)RUTH L. GALANG General Manager (TS-JULY 12 , 2016)

“WALANG Take Two” (No Second Take), a Filipino independent movie produced by the Iglesia Ni Cristo, emerged victorious at the recently concluded 2016 Madrid International Film Festival, winning awards for Best Film and Best Cinematography in a Foreign Language Film in ceremonies held in the Spanish capital on July 9.

The first film produced by the INCinema Production, “Walang Take Two,” beat top films from all over the world at the film festival that ran from July 2 to 9 in Madrid.

The talents behind the groundbreaking film also won nods at the MIFF, with cinematographer Giancarlo Escamillas cited during the awards ceremony and director Carlo Jay Ortega Cuevas nominated for Best Director in a Foreign Language Feature Film.

Another Filipino director, Joel Lamangan, was likewise nominated for the same award.

The two major awards bagged by “Walang Take Two” at the MIFF add to the recognitions previously bagged by INCinema Production’s maiden of-

fering. It previously won two major awards at the World Film Awards in Jakarta: the Platinum World Award for Cuevas and the World Newcomer Filmmaker of the Year. It was also nominated for Best Picture.

Cuevas also won as Best Director in a Foreign Film at the London International Film Festival earlier this year.

INC Minister Pepito Acuesta, the INC minister-overseer for Europe, received the awards in Madrid on behalf of the film’s cast and crew. Acuesta thanked God for the acclaim given to the INC-produced film, and expressed the Church’s gratitude to filmfest organizers for “recognizing” the film.

Acuesta also thanked INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo for the support and guidance extended to the film’s cast and crew, who were composed of INC members, most of whom had little or no experience in filmmaking.

“Walang Take Two” was written and directed by first-time filmmaker Cuevas and was released in Philippine cinemas in September 2015.

THE National Bureau of Investigation on Monday began drug testing on all employees of the bureau, both agents and non-agents, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s program to rid the country of drug users and dealers.

Sources in the NBI said that around 1,000 employees in the bureau were being tested for illegal drugs.

As of press time Monday, no employee of the NBI tested positive for drugs.

The source said the one handling the testing is the Office of the Deputy Director for Investigation.

The source said that a urine testing was being conducted by the NBI’s chemist to determine if an NBI personnel is positive or negative for illegal drugs.

Other ways to conduct drug testing in the Philippines include blood test.

In the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, drug testing is also being conducted through hair follicle tests, to detect the presence of illegal drugs.

Earlier, nine police officers have tested positive for illegal drug use following a surprise drug test conducted Friday.

Philippine National Police Director-General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the nine officials were from PNP regional offices.

Dela Rosa declined to name the officials pending a further confirmatory test to verify the presence of methamphetamine or shabu and THC metabolite or marijuana in their urine samples.

Should the nine cops again test positive for drugs, they will face administrative and criminal complaints.

The results of the confirmatory drug tests may be released in two to three days, Dela Rosa said.

The PNP chief also said he was alarmed over the findings of the initial test. “I have zero tolerance on drugs, tapos mayroong 9 nag-positive. Mataas ito, alarming ito.”

Dela Rosa himself underwent the drug test on Friday alongside 2,405 PNP personnel from the national headquarters, regional offices and police districts, including 75 high-ranking officials.

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

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

1,595 drug users, dealers surrender in Bicol region LEGAZPI CITY—Since the Police Regional Office 5 launched “Operation Tokhang,” which involves going from door-todoor in neighborhoods of suspected drug users and pushers, 1,595 drug pushers and dependents have surrendered in various police stations in the Bicol region.

Through Operation Tokhang, culled from the Visayan term that means to knock on doors and make an appeal, the police were able to visit 898 houses around Bicol.

The campaign is an offshoot of “Project Double Barrel” wherein law enforcers go around suspected havens of illegal drug activities to get both high-value targets—the “big personalities”—and the “streetlevel” ones.

Chief Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, 15th director of Police Regional Office 5, said the number of individuals who surrender is an indication of Bicol police’s “eagerness” to stop the drug menace within the shortest possible time.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippine National Police Chief Director-General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa gave the police a sixmonth deadline to eliminate the drug scourge.

The 1,595 from the six Bicol provinces of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Catanduanes and Albay included 1,375 drug dependents or users, 82 classified pushers and 138 known as both users and pushers.

The regional office was also able to arrest 41 suspected drug peddlers and kill nine suspects who engaged in a shootout with PNP operatives during their buy-bust operations.

During Operation Tokhang, Bicol police was also able to confiscate 78 plastic sachets with 10,967.92 grams of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), 12 assorted firearms and three hand grenades. PNA

Breaking bread. Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa joins around 600 drug users and pushers who voluntarily surrendered upon his visit to Balanga, Bataan on Friday. MANNY PALMERO

Soldiers rescue teacher forced to marry captor

By Florante S. Solmerin

A TEACHER who claimed she was abducted and forced to marry a Muslim man was rescued on July 9 while government security forces were conducting a routine checkpoint in Barangay Tagbak, Indanan, Sulu.

Major Felimon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the rescued kidnap victim as Ratina Abubakar, 23, a teacher

at Kanlagay Elementary School.

Tan said Abubakar screamed for help while inside a Mitsubishi Strada just as troops of the 41st Infantry Battalion were

manning a checkpoint.

He said Abubakar told the soldiers she “was forcibly taken by her captors, identified as Lauril Susulan, Basar Saudan, Jipy Susulan, Salim Susulan and Salma Saudan.”

“During the initial debriefing, Abubakar disclosed that at around 6 a.m. on June 20 she was on her way to school when she was forcibly taken by the group of Salim Susulan and later brought to the Barangay Hall in

Kanlagay, Kalingalan Caluang, Sulu,” Tan said.

“Abubakar further disclosed that she was held captive by Salim for several days and that she was forcibly married to him according to Muslim rites on June 27, 2016,” he added.

After the interview, the military turned over the victim to her family. The suspects were brought to the Indanan Municipal Police Station for the filing of appropriate charges.

Authorities arrest suspected Abu member in Sipadan kidnap

Leisurely pace. A tourist in San Narciso, Zambales uses a three-wheeler vehicle as he strolls among the trees. SONNY ESPIRITU

ZAMBOANGA CITY —Combined police and military operatives have arrested an alleged Abu Sayyaf Group brigand involved in the kidnapping of 21 people in Sipadan, Malaysia 16 years ago, an official announced Monday.

Senior Insp. Helen Galvez, local police spokesperson, identified the arrested suspect as Edward Lee Pisan alias Salih Abdulla Jainal, 52,

a resident of Barangay Camino Nuevo, this city.

Galvez said Pisan was arrested around 4:45 p.m.

Saturday near a shopping mall along La Purisima Street, Barangay Zone III, this city.

Galvez said Pisan has a standing warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with no recommended bail issued by a court of Parang, Sulu.

She said Pisan was

involved in the kidnapping of 21 people—10 Europeans and 11 Asians—on April 23, 2000 in Sipadan Dive Resort in Malaysia.

She said the arrested suspect is a follower of the late ASG leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot.

The ASG brigands herded the hostages to the hinterlands of Sulu where they were released in batches months later.

A8

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR T U E S D AY, J U LY 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION [ EDI TORI A L ]

HOW THEY LIVE THE secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government has ordered a lifestyle check on members of the Philippine National Police.

The objective is to identify and root out those who have amassed questionable wealth and who are living beyond their means. If they spend more than what their salaries at the police force afford them, the assumption is that they are engaged in illegal activities.

The check comes at a time when five police generals—three in active service and two who have retired—were named by President Rodrigo Duterte as protectors of those engaged in the illegal drug trade. The National Police Commission has begun its investigation on the three active generals, since relieved of their posts but who continue to insist they are innocent.

No doubt, the naming and shaming of the top cops—not just any cop—has had an effect on all members of the police force, whether or not they themselves are engaged in similar activities, drug-related or not.

Then again, the term “lifestyle check” is not entirely new. We have heard this many times before, ordered by higher officials to ensure that employees of a certain agency do not unduly enrich themselves by virtue of their office.

In our experience, however, such checks have not been anything more than knee-jerk reactions to controversies. They have often been announced in response to public indignation —more for immediate effect rather than a longterm transformation. After a while, when the collective attention has been trained on the next controversy, lifestyles go unchecked again. And the happy days continue.

Exactly in office for two weeks, President Duterte has shown extraordinary resolve in running after errant cops especially as they contribute to the public menaces of illegal drugs and crime. Will this continue for the rest of his term, until the PNP is rid of so-called bad eggs, or will this be, as was the case with his predecessors, good only as an initial shock-and-awe technique?

We welcome the lifestyle check on members of the police, and look forward to when it extends to other agencies and branches of government.

We will, moreover, watch out for how exactly this campaign will be different from the numerous times it had failed in the past. This difference will determine whether the lifestyle check would eventually stop because its objectives have been met, or whether it was a nice idea that sadly could not be sustained.

The Standard Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 8325556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.thestandard.com.ph; E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

ONLINE

DOGGED DE LIMA LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES IF SENATOR Leila de Lima wants to put a shingle outside her Senate office identifying herself as “Dogged Defender of the Previous Administration,” I’m not going to hold it against her. She’s still, in my opinion, more grateful to her former benefactor than, say, Franklin Drilon—who hogged the power and the pelf distributed to top allies of the past government, only to turn sheepishly silent in the aftermath of Rodrigo Duterte’s victory.

However, this early, I’d suggest that De Lima choose her battles a little better. Because at the rate she’s going, she only appears intent on covering her own behind as she goes about her new duties as the foremost advocate of the old, discredited regime that clearly bankrolled—and supposedly engineered— her Senate win.

When, for instance, De

can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Lima began talking about the rights of the accused and the rule of law apropos of the various roundups and rub-outs of drug suspects, some people’s eyebrows took off heavenward. Wasn’t this the same Leila de Lima, they said, who as justice secretary defied an order of the Supreme Court allowing former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad —and who had Arroyo chased all the way to the airport to physically bar her from leaving?

Rule of law and suspects’ rights? Tell me another, Leila.

And when De Lima took up the cudgels for the five police generals, accusing Duterte of violating the right of the so-called “narcogenerals” to due process, there was more snickering in the background. And it came from people who remembered that De Lima (again, as justice secretary) had led highprofile raids at the New Bilibid Prison, where two of the big-time drug

In Leila’s desire to protect the hand that fed her, she should be careful not to bite off more than she can chew.

lords Duterte himself had linked to the generals continue to ply their trade.

If De Lima was not just engaged in covering up her own failings at the national penitentiary, the critics said, she would, at the very least, wait until Duterte backs up his charges with evidence.

But she just had to react right away, fueling suspicion that she was antici-

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

pating that the probe of the Bilibid VIPs would eventually lead to her Senate doorstep.

And, finally, when De Lima pooh-poohed the charges brought up against Noynoy Aquino as “politically motivated,” she elicited howls of laughter from those who still remember the part she played in the threewoman tag team that tore Chief Justice Renato Corona to shreds on the president’s behest. De Lima joined the esteemed ladies who headed the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit in giving substance to the politically-motivated charges dreamed up by Aquino—who took care of larding the House and the Senate to impeach and convict Corona.

In the end, Corona was convicted on unimpeachable charges of not declaring his piddling dollar accounts, and not because De Lima and her fellow furies succeeded in making real crimes stick.

No wonder Leila fears Continued on A11

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

T U E S D AY, J U LY 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A CAUSE FOR CONCERN TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte needs to be careful in his war against illegal drugs. I must admit, however, that he has the political will and resolve to fulfill his vow. He promised to prevent the country from being ruled by narco-politics.

The President has publicly named five generals of the Philippine National Police as protectors of the drug trade. It is likely he has access to all valid intelligence reports given his position. I won’t be surprised if he has enough proof to convict the generals— three in active service, two retired.

Nonetheless, the rule of law and due process presumes that every man—alleged criminals included—are innocent unless proven otherwise by a court of law.

This is also true insofar as the 23 local executives allegedly coddling drug dealers are concerned. Duterte is a lawyer; I am sure he is well aware of this.

What bothers me more is the spate of killings of alleged drug dealers nationwide.

The suspected pushers allegedly engage law enforcers in shootouts and encounters. Some are accused of grabbing the guns of cops while they were in the latter’s custody.

There are also reports of vigilante killings of alleged drug pushers.

It does seem that this culture of violence and impunity started

by Duterte’s war on drugs is spinning out of control. Will the Philippines end up as the killing fields in the region?

Considering the fact that we still live in a democracy where the rule of law and due process are held sacrosanct, all these killings of alleged drug dealers must

be balanced by awareness of human and civil rights due everyone under the law.

This is why I do not believe that Duterte’s promise to end the drug menace between three and six months cannot be achieved. We still live in a democratic space and the President must not sacrifice the rule of law just because he has a promise to fulfill. The end can never justify the means. *** It has also been reported that the total number of drug addicts, pushers and d e p e n d e nt s - tu r n e d pushers who have surrendered or been arrested by authorities have already risen to more than 3,000 na-

The spate of killings tells us that the administration may be willing to sacrifice the rule of law just to fulfill a promise.

tionwide. They are reportedly packed in already-congested jails.

What to do with them is one problem—local governments must also feed them.

Another problem is how to rehabilitate them. Isolating them or making them dance the zumba for detoxification will not rehabilitate them. They must become useful and productive citizens again.

This is where the real problem begins.

The national government and the LGUs do not have enough facilities to rehabilitate drug addicts. We also do not have enough psychiatrists and psychologists to help them.

DUTERTE KEEPS HIS PROMISE TO DEVELOP MINDANAO LONG before President Rodrigo Duterte even considered running for the highest office in the land, his native Davao City has always been considered an ideal location for the tourism and food industries. Its pristine land and beachfronts, as well as its firstclass hotels, have attracted tourists for several decades. Fresh fish and the famous durian are associated with the city.

There was a time when Davao City was a dangerous place because of the random killings and kidnappings perpetuated by local communist rebels. Fortunately, Duterte put a stop to all that when he was the city mayor. Under his watch, Davao City became a safe, clean and efficient city worthy of emulation by other local government units.

Today, Davao City remains a popular destination for many, as confirmed by the numerous daily flights to this hub.

Davao City is the heart of Mindanao. It has an ideal port, and it is very proximate to southern trading posts in Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, and even East Timor. Its direct access to the Pacific Ocean and its proximity to Australia add to its strategic importance. The current tension in the West Philippine Sea brought about by Communist China’s illegal territorial claims in the area also underscores the value of Davao City as an alternate local and international port area.

Unfortunately, its existing port facilities have not caught up with the demands of the current maritime industry.

Seeing the potential of Davao Rehabilitation is a longterm process; it is not achieved overnight.

As I said earlier, getting rid of the drug pushers is only one-half of the problem. As long as there is a demand for illegal drugs, the dealers will continue to provide the supply. Drug lords belonging to the Chinese triad and the West African syndicates, who have already made the country a transshipment point of illegal drugs, know this.

Let’s go back some 40 years ago when drug lord Lim Seng was executed through firing squad. Did that stop the resurgence of illegal drugs in 80s and 90s? It did not. Demand remained high.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA City in this light, then-Mayor Duterte brought up the idea of developing his city into a strategic maritime hub, complete with state-of-the-art facilities far more advanced than in existing ports in the country. He wanted a Bonifacio Global City and a Subic Bay free port combined in Davao City. The city council shared Duterte’s aspiration.

Last year, Mega Harbour Development Corp., a firm headed by businessman Reghis Romero II, took interest in Duterte’s idea and submitted its proposal to undertake a P39-billion Davao Coastline and Port Development Project. Mega Harbour’s proposal was subjected to a Swiss challenge. Under this system, Mega Harbour, as the original proponent, is allowed to match any challenger’s bid.

Mega Harbour’s plan covers 200 hectares, from the existing Santa Ana Wharf up to the Bucana area where the city’s river flows out to the scenic Davao Gulf. More specifically, four islands off the coast of Davao City will be reclaimed.

The first island will be developed as a modern port capable of accommodating any sea vessel. Its berthing length of approximately 2.5 kilometers will make it the longest in the Davao region.

A mixed-use development plan is envisioned for the second and third islands. This plan will include

*** Just when we thought that the infamous pork barrel system had been killed by the Supreme Court, through its declaration that it was illegal, here we go again under the Duterte administration. Congressmen will be getting as much as P80 million from the previous P70 million.

Senators will get their usual P200 million or even more.

The P80 million for the House of Representatives consists of P50 million for socalled “hard projects” or infrastructure—a P10 million increase from previous years—and P30 million for “soft projects” like scholarships and

a commercial-use component.

These three islands will be inter-connected and will have a common access to the mainland.

About five hectares in either the second or third island will be given to the city government for use as office buildings.

The fourth island will be a residential community. Being residential in character, it will not be connected to the other islands, and it will have its own access to the mainland.

As in similar projects, Mega Harbour will secure the necessary permits from the city government, and from government agencies including the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the National Economic Development Authority, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Mega Harbour expects the project to generate employment opportunities in Davao City, especially for the residents in the affected areas near the coastline.

The company also believes that the project will create a new green and urban cityscape, and will make Davao City and nearby areas more commercially viable.

Mega Harbour says the project will be completed in three years, and with no cost to the government.

Upon the insistence of thenMayor Duterte, Mega Harbour agreed to provide sufficient relocation for affected families.

Towards this end, Mega Harbour will build tenements for the affected families, which will be located near the reclamation areas, particularly in Agdao and

medical assistance.

To be sure, these allotments will no longer be in lump sums. They will be identified before the enactment of the 2017 national budget.

But it’s still pork barrel, the same dog but with a different collar. It’s still political patronage at taxpayers’ expense.

In effect, there would be no real change if this pushes through. What would happen, then, to the change that was promised us? Change in Congress? That’s a lot of baloney! *** President Duterte made a lot of disturbing statements about the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Moro National Liberation Front and

Continued on A11

the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Duterte said that if the people reject his push for federalism, he will have the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which is constitutionally flawed, and consider it a mere local law. He would give the MNLF the same benefits as the MILF would get.

What? Have a law that is bound to be challenged before the Supreme Court enacted?

Duterte also said that the Abu Sayyaf is not criminal. Not criminal, Mr. President, when the Abus kidnap, behead and terrorize people?

The Abus are more than criminals—they are savages and terrorists!

The government must deal with them as such.

T U E S D AY, J U LY 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

DISCERNMENT AND THE FAMILY EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA IN THIS final article of the series of columns I have been writing on Amoris Laetitia, the apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis, I summarize and reflect on the last two chapters of that important document.

In Chapter 8 entitled “Guiding, discerning and integrating weakness,” the Holy Father invites us to dispense mercy and pastoral discernment in situations that do not fully match what the Lord proposes. The Exhortation utilizes three important concepts: guiding, discerning and integrating, which are fundamental in addressing fragile, complex or irregular situations. The Pope devotes sections on the need for gradualness in pastoral care; the importance of discernment; norms and mitigating circumstances in pastoral discernment; and finally what he refers to as the “logic of pastoral mercy.”

This chapter is important.

The Pope reiterates that “the Church’s task is often like that of a field hospital.” Here, the Holy Father revisits the findings of the Synods on controversial issues. He reaffirms what Christian marriage is and adds that “some

forms of union radically contradict this ideal, while others realise it in at least a partial and analogous way.”

The Church, he reminds us, “does not disregard the constructive elements in those situations which do not yet or no longer correspond to her teaching on marriage.”

With regard to “irregular” situations, the Pope states: “There is a need ‘to avoid judgements which do not take into account the complexity of various situations’ and ‘to be attentive, by necessity, to how people experience distress because of their condition.’” And he adds: “It is a matter of reaching out to everyone, of needing to help each person find his or her proper way of participating in the ecclesial community, and thus to experience being touched by an ‘unmerited, unconditional and gratuitous’ mercy.” And further: “The divorced who have entered a new union, for example, can find themselves in a variety of situations, which should not be pigeonholed or fit into overly rigid classifications leaving no room for a suitable personal and pastoral discernment.”

According to Pope Francis: “Discernment must help to find possible ways of responding to God and growing in the midst of limits. By thinking that everything is black and white, we some-

Dogged... From A8 political power backing trumped-up charges—she’s seen, up close, how lethal that combination can be.

But then, perhaps De Lima is just trying to live up to her reputation as a pit bull for the Yellow regime in reacting the way she does. After all, the wildly successful Leni Robredo approach involving coy smiles, fluttering eyelids and off-shoulder dresses is, sadly, not a weapon in Leila’s arsenal.

Still, prudence should have told De Lima to keep her silence, Drilon-like, until she had the goods on Duterte. But perhaps she is still nursing a hangover from her DOJ days, when she could just bark at anyone she wanted, secure in the knowledge that her master Aquino was at the other end of her leash.

You’re on your own now, Leila. In your desire to protect the hand that fed you, be careful not bite off more than you can chew.

Unless, of course, you’re really in danger of joining your former boss in jail, something that could happen sooner than anyone thinks. In which

times close off the way of grace and of growth, and discourage paths of sanctification which give glory to God. Let us remember that “a small step, in the midst of great human limitations, can be more pleasing to God than a life which appears outwardly in order, but moves through the day without confronting great difficulties.”

Discernment is also emphasized by the Pope on the issue of communion for divorced and remarried Catholics. In footnote 351 of Amoris Laetitia, which has been described as the footnote “heard throughout the world,” Pope Francis indicates situations when divorced and remarried Catholics might ”in certain cases” be helped by the sacraments. Pope Francis then calls on confessors: “I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber, but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy.” I would also point out that the Eucharist “is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”

In Amoris Laetitia, The Holy Father recalls the Church’s reflection on “mitigating factors and situations” regarding the attribution of responsibility and accountability for actions; and relying on St. Thomas Aquinas, he stresses the relationship

case, bark and bite away. *** If De Lima is Aquino’s loyal pit bull, Duterte seems to have found his own Rottweiler to engage her in a dogfight. PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa came out swinging against the senator yesterday, telling his troops not to let up in the fight against illegal drugs, despite the “legal harassment” they are encountering from the senator and others.

The tough-talking police general told members of the national police during the weekly flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame not to be intimidated by De Lima and her fellow critics. The PNP, Dela Rosa said, should let him and Solicitor General Jose Calida take care of their legal defense.

“I am here to encourage the PNP not to be afraid of any congressional or Senate investigations,” said Calida, who also attended the ceremony. “If there is a ‘fiscalizer,’ I am the neutralizer and the defender of the PNP.” Bato against Leila. Sounds like a match to me.

between rules and discernment by writing: “It is true that general rules set forth a good which can never be disregarded or neglected, but in their formulation they cannot provide absolutely for all particular situations. At the same time, it must be said that, precisely for that reason, what is part of a practical discernment in particular circumstances cannot be elevated to the level of a rule.”

Finally, the Exhortation treats “The logic of pastoral mercy.” In order to avoid misunderstandings, Pope Francis strongly reiterates: “To show understanding in the face of exceptional situations never implies dimming the light of the fuller ideal, or proposing less than what Jesus offers to the human being. Today, more important than the pastoral care of failures is the pastoral effort to strengthen marriages and thus to prevent their breakdown.”

In the ninth and final chapter of Amoris Laetitia, “The spirituality of marriage and the family,” the Pope delves on marital and family spirituality, which “is made up of thousands of small but real gestures.” On this, the Pope says that “those who have deep spiritual aspirations should not feel that the family detracts from their growth in the life of the Spirit, but rather see it as a

Duterte... From A10 in Ecoland.

Davao City, of course, will have its share of obligations under the proposed agreement. Once the new port is completed, and in order to avail of tax incentives, Davao City will seek the approval of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to convert the port into a special economic zone, similar to the ones operating in Subic Bay and in Cagayan.

On April 12, 2015, the city council approved the project. Weeks later, on June 21, Mayor Duterte and Mega Harbour signed the pertinent Joint Venture Agreement.

In his presidential campaign earlier this year, Duterte promised the electorate that well-intentioned projects will be undertaken towards the economic development of Mindanao. The Davao Coastline and Port Development Project is one of Duterte’s steps towards keeping his campaign promise.

Analysts believe that the rest of the country will likewise benefit once this port project is completed. In that event, the crowded ports in Manila Bay

path which the Lord is using to lead them to the heights of mystical union.” Everything, “moments of joy, relaxation, celebration, and even sexuality can be experienced as a sharing in the full life of the resurrection.” He then speaks about prayer in the light of Easter, of the spirituality of exclusive and free love and God’s fidelity, the spirituality of care, consolation and incentive. On this the Pope tells us that “all family life is a ‘shepherding’ in mercy. Each of us, by our love and care, leaves a mark on the life of others.” It is a profound “spiritual experience to contemplate our loved ones with the eyes of God and to see Christ in them.”

Finally, the Pope affirms: “No family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love … All of us are called to keep striving towards something greater than ourselves and our families, and every family must feel this constant impulse.

Let us make this journey as families, let us keep walking together. (…) May we never lose heart because of our limitations, or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us.”

Facebook Page: Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

will be decongested because consumer goods intended for Mindanao need not be coursed through Manila’s piers anymore. The same may be said for Mindanao products like fruits and fish meant for the export market. Less travel time means less overhead expenses, and in a robust market economy, this inevitably translates to lower prices of goods and prime commodities.

Davao City residents predict that the new economic landscape that will ensue once the port project is completed will create an economic boom in the region. Traders will put up factories and offices. Businessmen will open stores, restaurants, and other commercial establishments.

The economic boom will reduce unemployment and address the poverty situation in the area.

Duterte’s Davao City port project, the first to be implemented under his administration, is an indication that the new president means what he says, and will deliver on his campaign promises. If Duterte keeps up this pace, then the Philippines may well be on its way to economic recovery, which should be welcome news during these optimistic post-Aquino times.

T UE S DAY : J ULY 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Rio puts final touches on games

Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (center) lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates (from left) midfielder Danilo Pereira, defender Bruno Alves, forward Ricardo Quaresma, defender Ricardo Carvalho, defender Pepe, midfielder Joao Moutinho, midfielder Andre Gomes and midfielder Joao Mario after winning the Euro 2016 final football match against France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. AFP

Davis Cup team leads PSA guests THE Philippine Davis Cup team, led by Wimbledon semifinalist Treat Huey, banners a long line of guests in today’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Huey will be joined by teammates Ruben Gonzales, Jason Patrombon, and Francis Casey Alcantara, along with Philippine Tennis Association vice president Randy Villanueva as they talk about their campaign in the July 15 to 17 meet against Chinese-Taipei.

Also appearing in the weekly forum aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented

by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. are participants of Ang Liga Football collegiate league together with commissioner Ariel Serrantes.

RIO DE JANEIRO—Rio de Janeiro hosts the Olympic Games in less than four weeks, but crime and economic crisis mean the party-loving Brazilian city is glum and struggling to find its vibe.

Stadiums are just about ready and local businesses, hammered

by Brazil’s deep recession, look forward to the arrival of an estimated 500,000 tourists.

For an already sports-mad city, the Games -- the first ever held in South America -- will be a delight. Some 10,500 athletes will compete over 19 days in 42 disciplines, with Brazil targeting a top 10 place in the medal count.

The setting for the globe’s most watched event will be breathtaking: sailors dueling below Sugarloaf Mountain, sprinters battling under the gaze of the Christ the Redeem-

er statue, and beach volleyball players scrambling on the sands of Copacabana.

Given Rio’s brilliance at annual carnival week, the opening ceremony in the famed Maracana Stadium on August 5 is likely to be spectacular.

But violent crime, 11 percent unemployment, fears about the mosquito-borne Zika virus, and embarrassing stumbles during infrastructure preparations have many Brazilians grumbling that the Olympics are little more than a costly distraction.

“The Olympics soak up the money that could be used on improving the life of people in Rio, rather than making cosmetic changes,” said Felipe, a 32-year-old lifeguard on Copacabana beach, who did not want to give his last name.

Continued on A13

A Euro of giant-killers, Ronaldo and hooligans PARIS—The European Championship ended Sunday with Portugal’s stunning victory over France in the final -- the last shock in a tournament of giantkilling romance, vicious and gentle fans, the rise of Antoine Griezmann as an international star and Cristiano Ronaldo stretchered off in tears and still winning.

Euro 2016 was not a classic for football purists but pure joy for anyone who revels in sporting upsets. For France, Euro 2016 was an antidote to terror attacks and weeks of social unrest until the final. Russian hooligans tested the hosts’ security forces but Irish Republic fans sang their way into the hearts of French police.

Shocks galore Expanded to 24 teams for the

first time, some had expressed fears that the little nations would not be up to it. But Iceland, Wales and Portugal answered UEFA’s prayers.

Iceland beat England 2-1 in the last 16 in one of the biggest shocks in football history. Iceland scorer Ragnar Sigurdsson said England “panicked”. English Football Association chief Martin Glenn could not understand

why England are so “brittle” on the international stage.

Wales, built around powerful Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale, lost to England but still reached the semi-finals with determined, entertaining football that swept aside Russia and Belgium with domineering 3-1 wins.

It took the class of Cristiano Ronaldo to outgun his Real teammate in the last four.

Northern Ireland also put on a gutsy show to reach a quarterfinal against Wales.

France and Portugal rode their luck in early games but there was no doubting they deserved their semi-final wins over Germany and Wales respectively.

Portugal started as 25-1 outsiders to win the tournament but pulled off the final glorious upset. They lost Ronaldo, who was

stretchered off after 25 minutes, and soaked up France’s pressure for 109 minutes before Eder powered a shot past France’s captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Ronaldo produced one of the goals of the tournament with a sublime backheel against Hungary. France’s Dimitri Payet also produced a spectacular shot in the opening game against Romania.

Xherdan Shaqiri’s scissors-kick goal for Switzerland against Poland could also be a candidate for goal of the tournament.

The 108 goals in 51 matches gave an average of 2.11 goals a game, below the 2.45 of Euro 2012 and the 2.7 at the 2014 World Cup. But there were records. Ronaldo equalled French legend Michel Platini’s nine goals in Euro tournaments. AFP

France clinches Olympic berth TONY Parker helped France book a spot at their second consecutive Olympic basketball tournament after Les Bleus defeated Canada 83-74 on Sunday for a last-bus ride to Rio. The San Antonio Spurs point guard led all scorers with 26 points, sinking a dagger three and a layup plus five free throws in the last three minutes to put paid to Canadian Olympic ambitions.

Coach Vincent Collet later revealed Parker’s partner was due to deliver their second child over the next few days and the player would fly to the United States to be with her when she gave birth.

France’s joy at winning the qualifying tournament in the Philippine capital was tempered as the world’s basketball govern-

ing body FIBA announced Sunday they had been drawn in a group containing the defending champions the United States.

“It’s gonna be tough. There are a lot of good teams there,” Parker said of the prospects for the French, who finished in sixth place at the 2012 London Olympics.

France’s shooting guard Nando De Colo, who won the Most Valuable Player award at the Manila tournament, said the key to the win over Canada had been forcing their younger rivals to play the half-court game.

“We knew that they are very good players, they are athletic and they run the court, so the first one (coach) Vincent mentioned for that game was stop the fastbreak,” De Colo said.

De Colo shot 22 points, adding five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Parker’s ex-Spurs protege Cory Joseph led the Canadians’ losing effort with 20 points and six assists to go with four rebounds and three steals.

However the slasher Toronto Raptors guard also turned the ball over seven times.

Only 12 countries have qualified for the Rio Olympics men’s basketball tournament starting on August 6.

Brazil automatically qualified as the hosts while the US got a place as the FIBA basketball World Cup champions and seven others were awarded a spot by becoming regional champions or runners up.

Boris Diaw of France drives to the basket against Tristan Thompson of Canada in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The French won, 83-74, to clinch a slot in the Rio Olympics.

T UE S DAY : J ULY 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Boracay native bags kiteboarding bronze

Christian Tio flips in mid-air en route to his bronze-medal finish in the Under-19 Kiteboarding Youth Cup World Championships in Costa Brava, Spain.

DESPITE being the youngest competitor in his bracket, Christian Tio soared for bronze at the Under-19 Kiteboarding Youth Cup World Championships in Costa Brava, Spain.

The 15-year-old Boracay native had to battle unfavorable conditions, but pulled through in time to knock out his Quarter Final competitor.

He, however, failed to surpass eventual second placer Roman Giulano due to sporadic winds in the Semis.

Swiss Maxime Chabloz, meanwhile, came away with the gold medal to rule the weeklong KYC junior championships.

Tio, the former two-time world number two and first Philippine

Blu Girls stun Czech rivals in World Cup THE Philippines pulled off a shock 3-2 reversal over No. 10 Czech Republic to post back-to-back triumphs after a string of setbacks in the World Cup of Softball XI at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex’s Field 3 in Oklahoma City Sunday.

The victory came on the heels of the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls’ 2-1 victory over No. 19 Venezuela Saturday, ending the No. 23-ranked team’s five consecutive losses in the annual even which features the best softball teams in the world.

The Blu Girls also slugged

it out with world No. 3 Australia in a fierce contest before yielding a 2-3 loss.

“Our girls have started to show their potential in the last three games. It was indeed a strong comeback from those losses as they humbled Venezuela and Czech Republic and nearly scored a big upset over world No. 3 Australia,” said

Rio... From A12 “They’ve sanitized everything, without the poor, and made it nice for foreigners.”

- Ready to roll? Rio has defied doomsayers to open all the sporting facilities on time. But there have been worrying hiccups.

Asaphil president Jean Henri Lhuillier.

He added that the two wins augur well for the Blu Girls’ campaign in the World Women’s Softball Championships in Surrey, Canada on July 1524 with the twin tournaments serving as part of their fouryear plan towards qualifying and competing in the Tokyo

Construction of the velodrome was so delayed, following bankruptcy of the main contractor, that authorities had to scrap a full-scale test event -- the dry run at the facility.

A much-touted coastal cycle path, part of the city’s Olympic-legacy beautification, collapsed when it was hit by an Atlantic wave, killing two people, and there

Olympics in 2020.

The WWSC meet will feature world class teams from Japan, USA, Australia, Canada, Chinese-Taipei, China, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Italy, Czech Republic, Puerto Rico plus a host of others.

“Our goal is to make the Top 10 in the World Championships. We will fight hard in each game and learn f rom the experience,” said Lhuillier. “We’ll build from all these stints towards contending and making it to the Tokyo Games.”

are already potholes in a new road along the spectacular shoreline.

Guanabara Bay, where sailing and windsurfing events will take place, is literally a giant cesspool, filling daily with the raw sewage of half the city. Sailors are concerned about infections from what Brazilian researchers say is a drugresistant super bacteria. AFP

athlete sponsored by Red Bull, moved up from the U-17 category to the U-19s by organizers, owing to his above-average skill level.

Defying the age discrepancy, the young athlete managed to snare the no. 1 seed among his fellow competitors in his first Junior world title competition since the loss of his father and coach Chris Mohn.

Tio is looking forward to making a mark at the Pro World Kite Tour after his successful stint at the U-19s, under the tutelage of his new coach, Fil-Norwegian Fabio Ingrosso.

But the kiteboarding prospect feels the need to go back to his beloved Bulabog Beach first for a much-deserved break.

Peter Paul Duran

PH bows to Japan IX in AsPac opener CLARK—Host Philippines, represented by first-timer Sarangani, started its bid in the Asia Pacific Intermediate Baseball Tournament on a losing note, yielding to fancied Japan, 0-8, on a rainy Monday at Clark International Sports Complex at The Villages here.

Still adjusting to competition at this level, the Sarangani batters couldn’t hold fort on defense in the fateful second inning, where they allowed the Japanese to rack up a sevenrun binge from which they couldn’t recover.

Taisei Okui and Taketo Ikenaka pounced on successive passed balls by Phl to open scoring for Japan.

Yuma Hara made it 4-0 with a two-run double before Suguru Taniguchi dashed home while the Pinoys were picking off Seiya Matsushita.

Hara scored off a balk then Issei Yoshizaki drove in Komin Toda as Japan put the game beyond Phl’s reach in the first game of the tournament sponsored

by Mister Donut and the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Maganda naman ang pinakita ng mga bata (They played well) considering this is our first time and we played Japan, which is used to playing in the World Series,” said coach Lord Ken Naval, whose Sarangani team is being cheered on by a contingent of supporters led by Gov. Steve Solon, Vice Gov, Elmer De Peralta, Maitum, Sarangani Mayor Alexander Bryan Riganit and Provincial Board members along with parents.

“We did our best.

We were hitting their pitches but just couldn’t translate it to runs, and we had some catching errors,” he added.

Gonzales wins doubles’ title in France PHILIPPINE tennis is in an upswing.

Following the exploits of Treat Huey, who made a historic semifinal finish at the recently concluded Wimbledon Open, another member of the Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine Davis Cup, Ruben Gonzales, did the country proud by winning the doubles’ crown of an ITF Futures tournament in France.

“This is another good news for Philippine tennis. Ruben and Treat have shown the past week that Filipinos can be a force to be reckoned with in tennis. I’m so happy that our Davis

Cup players are peaking at he right time and are showing that they are ready for the coming battle against Chinese Taipei. I’m very confident that our boys will perform well and win this match. Our goal is to move back to the Group 1 of Asia Oceania of Davis Cup competitions,” said Jean Henri Lhuilier, team manager of the Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine Davis Cup Team.

Gonzales won the title with his partner from the USA, Catalin Gard, after defeating the tandem of Marc FornellMestress of Spain and

Lamine Quahab or Morrocco 2-6, 6-3, 10-7.

Gonzales is part of the Cebuana Lhuilier-Philippine Davis Cup team that will go up against 2015 tormentor Chinese Taipei.

Other members of the team are world Top 20 doubles’ player Treat Huey, former world junior standouts Jeson Patromnon and Francis Casey Alcantara. Nonplaying captain is Karl Sta. Maria.

The match with Chinese Taipei is slated on July 15 to 17 at the Philippine Columbian Association after the draw on Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine Davis Cup team member Ruben Gonzales (left) with team manJuly 14. ager and Philippine tennis supporter Jean Henri Lhuillier

T UE S DAY : J ULY 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Injuries bug SMBeermen lowing a grueling camp and grind with Gilas Pilipinas.

With all these, San Miguel certainly has a mountain to climb in defending its crown.

Unlike their past campaigns, the Beermen won’t exactly be tagged as a pretournament favorite this time as their loaded and deep roster is plagued by injuries.

In other news, Talk ‘N Text top rookie Moala Tautuaa hurt his right shoulder in the Texters’ tune-up game against Phoenix last week.

The severity of his injury is still yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, the Meralco Bolts and the Phoenix Fuel Masters open hostilities of the PBA Governors’ Cup on Friday at 4:15 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, before Mahindra and Star Hotshots tangle at 7 p.m.

By Jeric Lopez

SAN Miguel Beer is the defending Governors’ Cup champion in the Philippine Basketball Association, but injuries may make its title defense a lot tougher.

Heading to the seasonThe two veterans underending tournament, which went similar arthroscopic opens this Friday, the Beer- surgeries last weekend to fix men are dealing problems in their with various inju- Opening Games Friday knees and are ex(Governor’s Cup) ries to key players pected to be out for 4:15 Meralco vs Phoenix and would have 7 p.m. Mahindra vs Star more than a month to make do with as they recuperate. what they have once the In addition, Marcio Lasball starts rolling. siter, who battled severe flu Even with resident import the past month that cost him Arizona Reid back in harness, a spot in the National team, is San Miguel Beer is expected still not 100 percent though he to miss the services of injured is already seeing action for the big men Arwind Santos and Beermen in tune-up games.

Gabby Espinas to start the Chris Lutz and Yancy De Governors’ Cup. Ocampo are also experienc-

Santos

ing back problems, but both are expected to be ready and play through pain once San Miguel’s campaign starts.

There’s also a possibility that San Miguel Beer superstar and two-time reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo may take a couple of games off to rest fol-

Casimero defends title against Briton INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero will make a voluntary defense of his title against unbeaten Briton Charlie Edwards, a former member of the British amateur boxing team sometime in September at the Manchester Arena in London, according to his co-promoter Sammy Gello-ani.

Gello-ani told The Standard that it’s a “voluntary defense and an activity fight,” which is being negotiated by international matchmaker and promoter Samson Lewkowicz and Sean Gibbons.

He said Casimero has begun some light training because the fight is some months away.

The 23-year-old Edwards defeated Phil Smith during their English Flyweight Championship bout at the Manchester Arena on Nov. 21, 2015, in Manchester, England and is unbeaten with a record of 7-0, with 3 knockouts.

He followed this up by winning the vacant World Boxing Council International flyweight Silver title with a lopsided shutout decision over 10 rounds against Luke Wilton last Feb. 27, in a fight where Edwards hurt both his hands.

Casimero regained the world title with a dominating fourth0round knockout of Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng. Ronnie Nathanielsz

SPIN.PH ed’s mother dies

Republic of the Philippines Philippine Rural Development Project Invitation to Rebidding for the Construction and Improvement of San Joaquin-Cadayakan FMR Identification No.PRDP-IB-R003-AUR-01-000-000-2015-R1 July 12, 2016

VIOLETA Quiroz Catacutan, mother of SPIN.PH Editor-In-Chief Dodo Catacutan, died on Sunday due to a lingering illness.

She was 80.

She is survived by husband Eduardo Sr., children Edith, Dodo, Edwin, Liezl, and Sonny, brothers Tony and Filemon Jr., in-laws, and grandchildren.

Her body lies at the family home in San Vicente, Apalit, Pampanga.

Interment will be on Thursday after a 9 a.m. mass at the St. Peter’s Parish Church in Apalit.

1.

The Government of the Philippines (GoP) has received a Loan from the World Bank towards the cost of Philippine Rural Development Project and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Loan to payments under the contract for the Construction and Improvement of San JoaquinCadayakan FMR / ID No. PRDP-IB-R003-AUR-01-000-000-2015-R1.

2.

The Provincial Government of Aurora, implementing partner of the Department of Agriculture, now invites bids for the Construction and Improvement of SanJoaquin-Cadayakan FMR. Completion of the Works is required by 185 calendar days.Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184 (R.A. 9184), with some amendments, as stated in these bidding documents and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the applicable procurement guidelines of the World Bank. The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification. The Estimated Project Cost for this project is Twenty Five Million Forty EightThousand Pesos, (PhP 25,048,000.00).

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee, BAC Office, Provincial Capitol Building, Baler, Aurora and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Mondays to Fridays.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from July 12, 2016 to August 15, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 5,000.00).

Bulls win. Chicago’s first-round pick Denzel Valentine drives to the basket,

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the PRDP website (http://www.daprdp.net) provided that bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

PH Aquathlon Championships on Sept. 11

As part of the transparency measures being instituted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) the bidders can virtually visit the site of the above-described subproject at http://www.daprdp.net where geotagged base photographs on 50 meter interval and track are viewable. The DA, however, requires that all potential contractors who will be awarded contract under the project shall have undergone geotagging training provided by the PRDP Program Support Office.

6.

7.

8.

9.

The Provincial Government of Aurora will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 3, 2016 at 10:00 A.M at Governor’s Office Conference Room, Capitol Building, Baler,Aurora, which shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered on or before August 16, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the Governor’s Office Conference Room, Capitol Building, Baler, Aurora.

Opening of Bids at Governor’s Office Conference Room, Capitol Building, Baler, Aurora. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration or bid security in the amount of Php501,000.00, in the form of Cash or Cashier’s/ Manager’s Check or Bank Guaranteeissued by a Universal or Commercial Bank. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The Provincial Government of Aurora reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: (SGD) SIMEON A. DE CASTRO Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee Provincial Government of Aurora Provincial Capitol Compound, Baler, Aurora Cellphone Number: 0908-814-0832 (TS-JULY 12, 2016)

leaving his Philadelphia defender behind during the NBA Summer League.

The Bulls won, 83-70. AFP

THE quest for glory in the run-swim-run multisport of aquathlon will commence at the Camayan Beach Resort in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in the 1st Philippine Aquathlon Championships on Sept. 11 at 6 a.m.

The 4-in-l event’s race courses will be composed of REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 93, QUEZON CITY RE: PETITION FOR THE JUDICIAL DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF VIA MARIE RUBEN CABEL RODRIGUEZ FILED WITH THE NATIONAL STATISCTICS OFFICE, SPEC PRO NO. R-QZN-16- 05131 SP VIA MARIE RUBEN CABEL, Petitioner. x----------------------------------x

ORDER A verified petition was filed before this cour t by Via Marie Ruben Cabel praying that af ter due notice, publication and hearing, a judgment be rendered nullif ying the Cer tificate of Live Bir th on file with the National Statistics Of fice bearing the name of VIA MARIE CABEL RODRIGUEZ and the Cer tif icate of Live Bir th filed with the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City be maintained as the Bir th Cer tificate of the petitioner and the National Statistics Of f ice be directed to cancel in the f iles of Live Bir ths the Bir th Cer tificate of VIA MARIE CABEL RODRIGUEZ and that the one which ref lects the name of VIA MARIE RUBEN CABEL bearing Local Civil Registr y No. 87- 4 4861 be the one registered and be entered into the records of Live Bir ths of the National Statistics Of f ice.

WHEREFORE, finding the Petition to be suf f icient in form and substance, let the same be set for hearing on 06 September 2016, Tuesday at 8:30 in the morning before this Cour t sitting at Room 126, Ground Floor, Hall

2

of Justice Building, Quezon City.

Any reason having or claiming any interest, under the entries sought to be changed, may file his opposition thereto, appear on said hearing and show cause in writing, if any, why the petition should not be granted.

Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioner in a newspaper of general circulation determined by raf f le pursuant to PD 1079.

Furnish the Of fice of the Solicitor General, the Of fice of the Local Civil Registrar Of Quezon City and the Of f ice of the Civil Registrar General/Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly NSO) with copies of this Order and the verified Petition together with its annexes, all at the expense of the petitioner.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, May 26, 2016.

(Sgd.) ARTHUR O. MAL ABAGUIO Presiding Judge

COPY FURNISHED: 1.

EGARGO PUERTOLL ANO GERVACIO GARRIDO L AW OFFICES Counsel for the Petitioner R m. 210 Senor Ivan de Palac io B ldg. D iliman, Q uezon Cit y

2.

Via Marie Ruben Cabel Petitioner N o. 21 Esc aler St reet, Loyola H eight s, D iliman, Q uezon C tiy

3.

Of fice of the Civil Registrar General Philippine Statistics Authorit y (For mer ly N ational St atistic s O f f ic e) East Avenue, Q uezon Cit y

4.

Lo c a l Ci vil Re gi st r a r of Quezon Cit y Q uezon Cit y H all C ompound

5.

cols. x

Of fice of the Solicitor General 13 4 A mor solo St., Legaspi V illage, M akati Cit y

(TS - July 5, 12 & 19, 2016)

8

cms.

a 2.5-Km run-1 Km swim-2.5 Km run as Standard Distance, and a 1 Km run-600 meter swim-1 Km run as Sprint Distance, taking place at the Carnayar Beach Resort, SuBic and the llanin Forest Reserve.

The event will have national championships for high-school level and college level participants, the Youth & Junior competition (athletes born in 2001 to 2002 will be considered for 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina), the Age-Group Para-Aquathlon (for athletes with disabilities) and Open Age Age-Groupers competition.

At stake in the event supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Camayan Beach Resort, Subica Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department, Subic Holiday Villas, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, RaceDay, SBR.ph, Multisport, Kikay Runner, SWIM and DZSR Sports Radio 918 are cash prizes worth P3,000, P2,000 and Pl,000, plus medals for the Top 3 Overall Male/Female winners, and medals for Top 3 winners of age categories, as well as the Inter-School and Para-Aquathlon.

The awarding ceremony will be held at the Camayan Beach Resort at 9:30 a.m.

Registration is ongoing with early bird entry fees at Pl,000 for Youth participants, Pl,500 for Junior and individual age-group participants and P2,500 for the 2-man Relay until July 31.

T UE S DAY : J ULY 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

Que skipping Olympics due to Zika concern

By Peter Atencio FILIPINO golfer Angelo Que has withdrawn from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics because of concerns over the Zika virus.

His pullout came after three of the world’s top four players also pulled out, with golf poised to return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence.

Que, who is no. 55 in the Olympic rankings, confirmed his decision in a letter sent to the National Golf Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Olympic Committee through chef de mission Joey Romasanta.

“It’s a great honor and opportunity to be part of the Olympics. But there are many factors that contributed to my decision.

The biggest is my concern on the Zika virus. I have put a lot of thought on this. My family will always come first,” said Que in an email which reached Romasanta.

Romasanta said there will be no replacement for Que, following communications with the camp of the NGAP. “We have to respect the decision. Because there are athletes who want to be in the Olympics. But, once family matters become a concern, you have accept and respect their decision,” stated Romasanta.

The NGAP, he said, is looking into the possibility of bringing in Antonio Lascuna if he is eligible.

On the other hand, Dottie Ardina was earlier picked as a replacement in case Que backs out.

But, Ardina also backed out, citing the same reasons as Que. Because of this, Miguel Tabuena, who is ranked no. 37, will be the only Filipino golfer going.

So far, US Open champion Dustin Johnson has also withdrawn from the Rio Games on Friday because of concerns over the Zika virus.

Miguel Tabuena (right), the reigning Order of Merit champion and winner of this year’s kickoff leg at Anvaya has not seen action since placing eighth at ICTSI Manila Masters last May as he competed abroad, including at the US Open and a number of tournaments on the Asian Tour.

Tabuena toughens up ICTSI Negros golf cast BACOLOD—Miguel Tabuena returns to the Philippine Golf Tour, raring to slug it out with the local aces, not only to stop Tony Lascuña’s three-leg run but also seek a second victory in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic unfolding Wednesdayat the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here.

The reigning Order of Merit champion and winner of this year’s kickoff leg at Anvaya has not seen action since placing eighth at ICTSI Manila Masters last May as he competed abroad, including at the US Open and a number of tournaments on the Asian Tour.

Though he failed in those bids, the 21-year-old shotmaker has

gained a lot in terms of experience and toughness and remains the player to watch in the upcoming 72-hole championship, perhaps next to Lascuña, who swept the last three legs at Eagle Ridge, Forest Hills and Bacolod.

“It’s nice to know that Miguel is playing. It will be great to compete with him again and the rest of the field,” said Lascuña after

pulling off a stirring win at ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge where he battled back from three shots down and edged Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Micah Shin of the US in a playoff Saturday.

Also re-joining the hunt is rookie pro Jobim Carlos, who showed a lot of promise after losing in sudden death to rising Del Monte star Clyde Mondilla at Manila Masters at Eastridge only to dish out mediocre games in his next two tournaments.

But Tabuena and Carlos will surely firm up the already formidable field vying for the top honors in the P1.5 million tournament serving as the 10th leg of this year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Meanwhile, Lascuña, Tabuena and Carlos head the select roster of pros seeing action in today’s (Tuesday) pro-am tournament where they will be paired with amateur guests and officials of the event’s host and chief backers, Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade, Sharp and Champion.

Other pros in the pro-am field are Mondilla, looking to nail a third victory after scoring backto-back at Eastrdige and Calatagan, Jay Bayron, Orlan Sumcad, Charles Hong, Joenard Rates, Michael Bibat, Rene Menor, Cassius Casas, Jhonnel Ababa, Rufino Bayron, Mars Pucay, Jerson Balasabas, Justin Quibam and Elmer Salvador.

Kayoed Pagara is doing fine

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Football for a Better Life slated. Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental hosts the inaugural stop of the

10-leg, nation-wide Football for a Better Life program on Aug. 6 and 7, featuring football clinics conducted by Azkals Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran and Simone Rota, and pocket football competitions on the second day of the event, presented by Spears Activation and PR, Azkals Foundation and Pru Life UK, in cooperation with local government units and local football associations. The project, now on its second year, is a feeder program for the men’s national team and includes the training of the current under-14 national team, coached by Chieffy Caligdong, Project Director of the series. Photo shows Spears’ Albert Almendralejo, Aguinaldo, Pru Life UK CFO Lee Longa, Rota and Bahadoran at the PSA Forum, where the project was presented to the media.

ALA Promotions’ president Michael Aldeguer, who was with Prince Albert Pagara at the Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California announced that Prince Albert Pagara is not in danger.

“Albert is fine. He just got discharged from the Emergency Room. The attending doctors advised he could fly back to the Philippines on Monday,” Aldeguer said. “All the tests, including CTScan, came back negative. The doctor also advised not to have Albert participate in any contact sports for at least two weeks.”

Pagara, who dropped Cesar Juarez with a classic left hook in the dying seconds of the first round, was in turn battered by the rugged Mexican in the seventh round and dropped by a fourpunch flurry at the start of the eighth.

He was counted out as he lay prostrate on all fours.

“It was unfortunate that Albert Pagara suffered his first career loss tonight. But on a positive note, we are very grateful with the crowd turnout.

We had exciting bouts from the first bout down to the main event and tickets were sold out,” said Aldeguer.

The youthful ALA Promotions president noted: “Overall, it was a successful show—achieving ALA Promotions, ABS-CBN Sports and The Filipino Channel’s thrust to stage world-class boxing events all over the world. We are excited to do an even bigger show later this year at a bigger venue in StubHub Center in Los Angeles on September 24.”

The longest-reigning Filipino world champion in Donnie Nietes will defend his WBO junior flyweight title against mandatory challenger Moises Fuentes or move up to flyweight to challenge WBO/WBA champion Juan Francisco Estrada.

T U E S DAY : J U LY 1 2 , 2 0 16

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

‘The best is yet to come’ Red Cubs storm to 4th victory

By Peter Atencio JOSHUA Tagala struck hard as the defending champion San Beda Red Cubs stormed to their fourth triumph, this time at the expense of the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas, 95-63, Monday in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association junior basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

For a second straight game, the six-foot Tagala scored in double digits (15 points) and was ably aided by Sam Abu Hijle, Prince Etrata and Carlo Obenza as they combined efforts helping the Red Cubs keep their firm grip on the lead.

The Red Cubs quickly moved away by nine in the first period, 2415, before taking a 17-point spread, 51-34, halftime.

Coach JB Sison said it was their adjustments with their outside shooting that keyed the win.

“He (Tagala) made some plays. Naga-adjust kami sa kanila. Iyung outside shooting namin, OK. But it was still a team effort, especially in setting up our outside shots,” said Sison.

Abu Hijle banged in 12 points and nine rebounds for the Red Cubs, who led by as much as 32 points.

Earlier, Jose Rizal University finally posted their first triumph after three losses, stopping winless San Sebastian, 68-60.

The Light Bombers gifted new coach Victoriano Lazaro with a win.

Lazaro replaced Nathaniel Gregorio.

Jairuz Torre provided a gamehigh 14 points for the JRU Light Bombers, who improved to 1-3.

Andy Murray: I still feel like my best tennis is ahead of me, that I have an opportunity to win more. AFP

LONDON—Andy Murray has warned world number one Novak Djokovic his best is yet to come as the Scot aims to follow his second Wimbledon crown with a sustained run of success.

Murray clinched his third Grand Slam title as he brushed aside Canada’s Milos Raonic with an imperious 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2) victory in Sunday’s final.

The 29-year-old is the first Briton to secure multiple All England Club titles since Fred Perry in the 1930s and only the 12th man to win Wimbledon more than once.

Having suffered painful defeats in eight of his previous 10 Grand Slam finals, the world number two has set his sights on using Wimbledon as a springboard for even more success in the coming years.

“I still feel like my best tennis is ahead of me, that I have an opportunity to win more,” Murray said.

“The last three months have been some of the best I’ve played in my career in terms of consistency.

“Everyone’s time comes at dif-

Portugal rules Euro 2016 TURN TO A12

ferent stages. Some come in their early 20s, some mid 20s. Hopefully mine is still to come.”

Murray has reached all three Grand Slam finals in 2016, losing the previous two in Australia and France to Djokovic.

But Djokovic showed rare signs of vulnerability in his shock Wimbledon third round loss against Sam Querrey and Murray believes he has an opportunity to establish himself as the sport’s preeminent force at a time when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have struggled with injuries and inconsistent form.

“I obviously would have loved to have won more. Like I said earlier, the guys that I’ve been playing against are the best three players of all time potentially,” Murray said.

“I put myself in a position all of the time in these events to win

them. I’ve learnt not to be afraid of failing.

“If I want to add to three slams, I’m going to have to find ways to win against them.”

Proud As well as chasing down Djokovic, Murray’s says his main motivation to keep winning is to make his family proud following the birth of his daughter Sophia earlier this year.

“It changes your life. Obviously having a child, it gives you a different perspective. It also has given me a little bit of extra motivation to work hard, train hard, and do all of the right things to give myself a chance to win these events,” he said.

“A lot of people have said when Roger had kids, he started playing some of his best tennis. Novak, the same thing. I feel more motivated than ever just now.”

Since becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon for 77 years in 2013, Murray had been stuck in a rut in the majors, losing three finals and three semi-finals.

Coping with back surgery late

French cagers headed to Rio TURN TO A12

in 2013 and then the end of his partnership with coach Ivan Lendl left Murray had a low ebb and he admitted it was a sweet moment to get back to the top at Wimbledon.

“I’m just really happy I managed to do it again after a lot of tough losses in the latter stages of the slams over the last couple of years,” Murray said.

“To do it twice here, an event where there is a lot of pressure on me to perform well, I’m very proud.

“From where I was kind of at the end of that year after I had the surgery, yeah, it’s been quite a long, long road back.”

Crucially, Lendl returned to Murray’s side last month and the Scot, who has won all 12 of his matches since then, paid tribute to the contribution of the man who also oversaw his previous major victories.

“I do think he’s a leader. I trust in what he says, mainly because of the results we had the last time we worked together. I’ve played my best tennis under him,” Murray said. AFP

B1

TUESDAY: JULY 12, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS Construction boom. Construction of new high-rise

buildings in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig continues, amid robust office space demand from business process outsourcing companies and multinational corporations. Fort Bonifacio has emerged as a premier central business district and top urban destination in the Philippines.

MANNY PALMERO

PSe comPoSite index Closing July 11, 2016

8300 7840 7380

Philweb gets monthly game license renewal

By Jenniffer B. Austria

STATE-RUN Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. approved the request of Philweb Corp. for a monthly extension of its online gaming license until President Rodrigo Duterte clarifies his position on online gambling.

Philweb, an online gaming company led by former trade minister Roberto Ongpin, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its gaming license which expired on July 11 was renewed for a month or until Aug. 10.

Share price of Philweb dropped 13.7 percent to P16.40 Monday.

Philweb also furnished the exchange a copy of Pagcor’s letter to company president Dennis Valdez.

“This has reference to you request July 8, 2016 for extension of Philweb IPLA contract with Pagcor on a month-on-month basis or other short-term basis until the presentation regarding Philweb can be provided to the president and his directive regarding online gaming can be clarified,” Pagcor acting chairperson Andrea Domingo said in a letter to Philweb.

“In the exigency of the service and in order to prevent loss of revenue to the government, please be informed that the request for extension of the Philweb IPLA contract due to expire July 11 is granted and hereby extended from July to August 10, 2016,” Domingo said.

Trading of Philweb shares resumed Monday. The company sought for a three-day

trading suspension of its shares last week, due to “unverified material information” which affected its business.

The trading suspension was extended for another two days pending the company’s negotiations with Pagcor regarding license renewal.

Prior to the trading suspension, stock price of PhilWeb fell 22.1 percent on reports that President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to stop online gambling.

PhilWeb currently operates a network of 268 Pagcor e-Games cafes with a total of 8,839 gaming terminals nationwide. Most of these e-Games are in Metro Manila, Quezon, Batangas and Balesin Island which is owned by the Ongpin group.

Most e-Games cafes operate 24 hours a day.

PhilWeb earlier said it planned to raise at least P6 billion from the sale of treasury shares through private placement.

IC pushes mandatory calamity insurance pool

By Gabrielle Binaday THE Insurance Commission said Monday it will “definitely” push for the mandatory catastrophe pool insurance that will assist households and small and medium enterprises in times of calamity.

Insurance commissioner Emmanuel Dooc told The Standard he would push for the signing of a draft executive order mandating a compulsory insurance for

middle-class residential buildings and SMEs. “Definitely, yes. I mentioned it to the secretary [of Finance] but he was just listening. I’ll pursue it now that he is in the office,” Dooc told The Standard in a text message.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said he would study the proposal first, when asked about mandatory insurance.

The draft executive order, when

signed into law, will require all households and SMEs to get insurance protection from possible damages caused by disasters, such as earthquakes and floods.

Under the proposed catastrophe insurance pool, the pool of insurers will underwrite the policies according to their corresponding subscriptions to the pool, which represent their exposure to the risks undertaken.

The proposed draft EO was recommended by the Finance De-

partment to the Office of the President last year. Former President Benigno Aquino III, however, did not sign the EO. Dooc said while the EO was the fastest process to implement the insurance pool, the commission was also open to legislative measures.

“The immediate need is for an issuance of an EO to accelerate the process, but in the long term we will need a legislation,” Dooc said.

6920 6460 6000

7,865.27 93.75

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing July 11, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.310

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P47.045 LOW P47.310 AVERAGE P47.163 VOLUME 600.900M

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

oPriceS il P today

P24.75-P29.60 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, July 11, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.0950

Japan

Yen

0.009940

0.4681

UK

Pound

1.295500

61.0116

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128912

6.0711

Switzerland

Franc

1.018953

47.9876

Canada

Dollar

0.766695

36.1075

Singapore

Dollar

0.743384

35.0097

Australia

Dollar

0.756100

35.6085

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

124.9204

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266553

12.5533

Brunei

Dollar

0.740631

34.8800

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028377

1.3364

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

12.8240

Euro

Euro

1.105400

52.0588

Korea

Won

0.000870

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.149633

7.0470

India

Rupee

0.014897

0.7016

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.248139

11.6861

New Zealand

Dollar

0.729100

34.3370

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031027

1.4612 Source: PDS Bridge

TUESDAY: JULY 12, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Monday, July 11, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 4 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 30.5 75 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 8.7 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

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

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

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 148 20.6 125 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 32 15.32 62.5 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 34.1 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 0.66 1455 76 5.29 6.66 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 9.66 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 1.15 2.26 0.152 837 49.55 3 3.52 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 3 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 1.48

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.82 3.69 47.5 46.75 115.30 113.60 99.00 98.35 37.95 37.75 4.10 4.05 1.34 1.31 9.04 9.04 14.5 14.2 19.08 18.86 6.80 6.70 2.28 1.88 600.00 600.00 0.570 0.530 91 89.6 14.98 14.8 24.00 23.80 57.50 57.00 105 105 268 265 32.1 31.55 196.6 191.4 1350.00 1350.00 65.70 64.90 1.5 1.48 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

44 45.5 44 Agrinurture Inc. 3.89 4.03 3.8 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.85 0.86 0.83 Alsons Cons.

2.03 2.03 1.99 Asiabest Group 12.1 12.2 12 Bogo Medelin 55 52.5 52.5 C. Azuc De Tarlac 220.00 220.00 220.00 Century Food 22.65 23.75 22.9 Chemphil 155 153 152.1 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 150 155 149 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 17.92 20 17.52 Concepcion 47 47.5 46.8 Crown Asia 2.16 2.2 2.08 Da Vinci Capital 5.35 5.49 5.32 Del Monte 12.54 12.58 12.36 DNL Industries Inc. 9.700 9.920 9.730 Emperador 7.35 7.40 7.32 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.50 5.58 5.48 EEI 7.65 7.69 7.62 Euro-Med Lab 1.69 1.85 1.84 First Gen Corp.

24.05 25 24.1 First Holdings ‘A’ 69.45 70.3 69.45 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.20 11.90 11.90 Holcim Philippines Inc. 15.20 15.28 15.18 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.54 5.6 5.54 Ionics Inc 2.400 2.550 2.360 Jollibee Foods Corp.

244.80 252.00 245.80 Liberty Flour 38.00 42.00 38.45 LMG Chemicals 1.87 1.87 1.85 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.29 3.2 3.15 Macay Holdings 36.00 35.95 35.05 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.2 27.55 27.2 Maxs Group 28.5 29.05 28.65 Megawide 7.04 7.3 7.1 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 311.40 316.00 312.00 MG Holdings 0.290 0.295 0.280 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.25 4.30 4.30 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.43 3.45 3.42 Petron Corporation 10.28 10.36 10.00 Phinma Corporation 11.46 11.64 11.46 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.25 6.35 6.23 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.64 1.65 1.62 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.9 3 2.88 RFM Corporation 4.19 4.19 4.16 Roxas Holdings 3.98 3.99 3.86 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 213.8 213.8 212 Splash Corporation 2.58 3.04 2.58 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.150 0.152 0.150 TKC Steel Corp.

1.86 2.43 1.83 Trans-Asia Oil 2.49 2.54 2.45 Universal Robina 200 204 200.6 Victorias Milling 4.4 4.4 4.4 Vitarich Corp.

1 1.01 0.95 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.34 1.41 1.34 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.390 0.420 0.395 Aboitiz Equity 78.00 79.80 78.50 Alliance Global Inc. 15.26 15.30 15.20 Anglo Holdings A 1.45 1.44 1.30 Anscor `A’ 6.01 6.10 6.02 ATN Holdings A 0.370 0.375 0.360 ATN Holdings B 0.390 0.385 0.385 Ayala Corp `A’ 844 865 845 Cosco Capital 7.69 7.85 7.79 DMCI Holdings 12.50 12.86 12.60 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.33 5.4 5.34 F&J Prince ‘B’ 5.7 5.7 5.7 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

6.55 6.59 6.46 Forum Pacific 0.222 0.222 0.222 GT Capital 1470 1495 1475 JG Summit Holdings 84.25 85.50 84.10 Keppel Holdings `A’ 5 5.05 5.04 Keppel Holdings `B’ 5.51 5.55 5.55 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.7 7.78 7.55 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.69 0.71 0.69 LT Group 15.98 16.1 15.96 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.480 0.520 0.520 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 6.82 7.15 6.86 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.33 3.1 3.09 Pacifica `A’ 0.0330 0.0330 0.0320 Prime Media Hldg 1.230 1.240 1.240 Prime Orion 1.910 1.930 1.890 San Miguel Corp `A’ 78.25 78.25 77.70 Seafront `A’ 2.26 2.28 2.20 SM Investments Inc. 987.00 1002.00 987.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.21 1.23 1.19 South China Res. Inc. 0.93 0.93 0.90 Top Frontier 190.000 193.000 189.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3000 0.3050 0.3000 Wellex Industries 0.2000 0.2090 0.2030 Zeus Holdings 0.290 0.300 0.290 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.550 7.600 7.500 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.32 1.34 1.28 Araneta Prop `A’ 2.180 2.250 2.160 Arthaland Corp.

0.270 0.275 0.275 Ayala Land `B’ 38.200 39.200 38.900 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.32 3.34 3.27 Cebu Holdings 5.11 5.17 5.03 Century Property 0.510 0.52 0.500 City & Land Dev. 1.00 1.40 1.03 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.050 1.250 1.020

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

Close

SHARES 12,433,747 137,675,708 105,168,714 171,647,736 329,301,510 280,957,856 1,077,503,259

3.68 47.5 112.80 99.00 37.8 4.09 1.34 9.04 14.5 18.86 6.80 1.91 628.00 0.530 90.9 14.94 22.25 57.00 105 270 31.6 191 1340.00 65.15 1.49

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.8 47.5 115.20 98.80 37.95 4.10 1.31 9.04 14.26 19 6.80 2.08 600.00 0.560 90.85 14.86 23.80 57.50 105 265 31.7 196.4 1350.00 65.65 1.48

3.26 0.00 2.13 -0.20 0.40 0.24 -2.24 0.00 -1.66 0.74 0.00 8.90 -4.46 5.66 -0.06 -0.54 6.97 0.88 0.00 -1.85 0.32 2.83 0.75 0.77 -0.67

303,000 20,100 2,182,400 1,271,920 27,400 62,000 114,000 800 3,550 474,100 3,100 1,422,000 100 2,171,000 3,105,930 155,800 3,900 49,700 100 300 85,000 649,410 100 74,820 220,000

44.3 3.9 0.83 2 12.12 52.5 220.00 23.55 152.5 149 20 47.5 2.09 5.37 12.56 9.740 7.38 5.50 7.67 1.85 24.3 69.85 11.90 15.20 5.55 2.440 250.00 42.00 1.85 3.15 35.80 27.5 28.85 7.3 312.00 0.285 4.30 3.45 10.10 11.64 6.35 1.62 2.96 4.16 3.98 212 2.99 0.151 2.25 2.52 201.4 4.4 0.97 1.35

0.68 0.26 -2.35 -1.48 0.17 -4.55 0.00 3.97 -1.61 -0.67 11.61 1.06 -3.24 0.37 0.16 0.41 0.41 0.00 0.26 9.47 1.04 0.58 -2.46 0.00 0.18 1.67 2.12 10.53 -1.07 -4.26 -0.56 1.10 1.23 3.69 0.19 -1.72 1.18 0.58 -1.75 1.57 1.60 -1.22 2.07 -0.72 0.00 -0.84 15.89 0.67 20.97 1.20 0.70 0.00 -3.00 0.75

4,050,100 -102,995,775.00 2,958,000 -182,900.00 950,000 1,667,000 300 200 10 4,661,100 -72,326,065.00 90 590 7,201,600 36,200.00 33,500 237,250 4,136,000 273,490.00 150,300 32,070.00 129,100 993,762.00 3,507,900 5,937,693.00 2,017,100 -3,829,120.00 13,811,000 -14,934,246.00 117,700 117,963.00 26,000 3,430,500 10,345,910.00 579,520 24,367,423.00 1,000 273,900 -3,041,442.00 261,500 -152,900.00 3,208,000 100,380.00 963,190 70,205,036.00 1,900 17,000 41,000 5,400 169,800 3,521,925.00 430,500 4,535,670.00 2,258,800 5,555,607.00 142,840 8,491,494.00 1,140,000 10,000 3,693,000 7,832,040.00 10,004,400 -51,080,556.00 1,200 2,881,300 -12,824,150.00 488,000 400,000 1,430,000 0.00 17,000 36,070.00 170 4,307,000 -244,240.00 760,000 24,659,000 -1,554,400.00 2,170,000 518,230.00 424,921,942 21,000 -39,600.00 22,933,000 410,580.00 2,456,000 40,350.00

0.415 79.20 15.26 1.30 6.09 0.360 0.385 850 7.81 12.70 5.36 5.7 6.47 0.222 1485 85.30 5.05 5.55 7.76 0.71 15.96 0.520 7.02 3.09 0.0330 1.240 1.920 78.45 2.27 999.00 1.23 0.90 193.000 0.3050 0.2090 0.300

6.41 1.54 0.00 -10.34 1.33 -2.70 -1.28 0.71 1.56 1.60 0.56 0.00 -1.22 0.00 1.02 1.25 1.00 0.73 0.78 2.90 -0.13 8.33 2.93 -7.21 0.00 0.81 0.52 0.26 0.44 1.22 1.65 -3.23 1.58 1.67 4.50 3.45

7,660,000 1,884,230 3,877,800 3,264,000 11,000 2,100,000 40,000 246,990 572,200 2,311,100 20,400 100 89,400 20,000 100,360 2,710,340 1,600 100 1,513,500 164,000 4,652,700 220,000 58,208,500 8,000 7,400,000 20,000 1,738,000 118,880 77,000 464,350 2,004,000 167,000 2,710 590,000 130,000 1,070,000

7.520 1.34 2.240 0.275 39.100 3.33 5.17 0.520 1.15 1.020

-0.40 1.52 2.75 1.85 2.36 0.30 1.17 1.96 15.00 -2.86

322,400 4,804,000 437,000 30,000 11,443,800 882,000 11,300 2,740,000 702,000 655,000

485,960.00 94,047,393 -6,498,235.00 -872,600.00

-4,151,120.00 -35,700.00 53,000.00 103,826,802.00 256,307.00 113,420 7,971,084.00 -2,608.00

90,860,152.50 7,707,856.00 66,500.00 686,565.00 1,760,662.00 4,066,418.00 103,283.00 46,346,890.00 35,031,974.50 -995,268.00 12,788,894.00 91,590,201.00 19,200.00 640,816.00 106,013,495.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

Crown Equities Inc. 0.132 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.670 Double Dragon 60.8 Empire East Land 0.790 Global-Estate 0.99 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.98 Interport `A’ 1.24 Keppel Properties 5.00 Megaworld 4.65 MRC Allied Ind. 0.106 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.435 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 37.30 Primex Corp.

11.86 Robinson’s Land `B’ 30.10 Rockwell 1.77 Shang Properties Inc. 3.3 SM Prime Holdings 27.50 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.94 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.020 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.570

0.00 1.49 1.15 1.27 -1.01 1.01 -0.81 0.00 4.30 2.83 6.90 0.00 2.87 1.33 0.00 0.00 2.91 4.26 0.00 2.33

1,640,000 4,751,000 801,960 2,299,000 1,992,000 12,165,000 458,000 4,200 64,857,000 8,900,000 31,000 400 583,700 5,214,200 145,000 156,000 17,106,800 14,492,000 342,000 13,389,100

-26,400.00 -68,000.00 5,597,812.50

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 8.72 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 3.2 95.5 1 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 1.95 3.1 0.650 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

0.00 0.82 -6.20 0.00 1.64 -2.56 2.06 3.45 -2.39 0.46 2.40 -8.29 -2.34 -6.56 0.17 0.00 -2.89 -12.68 0.00 1.61 4.33 2.63 -1.71 -2.13 0.43 0.00 0.61 0.00 -2.55 -1.22 -1.89 5.00 5.16 0.00 2.01 5.82 2.41 -2.56 -0.83 -0.58 0.00 -5.11 -13.68 0.00 0.00 1.68 1.45 0.00 -0.47 2.19 1.75 0.00 3.03 0.32

160,600 148,900 3,000 598,000 800 62,300 16,277,500 76,440,000 2,283,000 276,430 600 11,000 410,300 10 99,200 63,900 933,200 400 36,000 1,093,370 78,100 10 5,000 23,000,000 340,000 27,980,000 2,389,000 287,000 7,400 520,800 664,000 33,000 100 8,000 12,000 32,892,000 20,495,000 66,780,000 22,700 47,700 5,000 5,150 1,981,300 127,990 3,040,000 29,829,000 2,819,100 3,115,240 282,200 994,600 928,000 611,000 20,000 533,800

-774,657.00

70.5 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 12.5 0.017

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

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

-2.44 0.57 -0.68 0.00 0.00 -8.32 -1.31 0.00 0.00 -1.14 -1.12 1.75 0.00 2.00 0.00 -7.14 0.00 0.36 -1.08 -1.72 -3.28 9.09 0.00 -2.00 0.80 2.42 8.33 -0.74 2.57 -9.09

176,000,000 1,174,000 -510,510.00 1,000 11,900 840,000 50,100 5,800 1,604,000 65,000.00 2,018,000 -20,930.00 2,300 15,412,000 2,768,200.00 840,000 12,820,000 4,330,000 -763,000.00 5,500,000 500,000 336,000 5,121,000 1,475,999.00 334,000 19,000 656,000 3,000,000 100,000 17,000 2,758,600 8,393,876.00 5,854,000 762,340.00 12,400,000 193,770 10,804,099.00 415,000 -224,940.00 28,500,000

70 553 120 8.21 12.28 111 1047

33 490 101.5 5.88 6.5 101 1011

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ First Gen G GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

3.59 1.31 0.00 -0.96 0.00 0.09 -0.10 -0.26 1.96 0.38 0.00 0.00

263,300 50 260 48,500 4,000 10,070 50 12,150 10,670 5,990 131,370 142,700

-3.40

450,000

42.11 -5.16 -4.23 1.49

37,723,000 3,197,270.00 9,000 937,000 211,760.00 1,597,600 -3,670,466.00

0.70

12,680

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

66,224,700.00 520,550.00

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,781.75 (up) 16.60 INDUSTRIAL 11,851.80 (up) 101.42 HOLDING FIRMS 7,717.13 (up) 90.09 PROPERTY 3,501.88 (up) 83.00 SERVICES 1,653.73 (up) 6.11 MINING & OIL 11,321.80 (down) 11.37 PSEI 7,865.27 (up) 93.75 All Shares Index 4,757.17 (up) 43.27 Gainers: 131; Losers: 73; Unchanged: 43; Total: 247

Close

0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

0.132 0.131 0.132 0.690 0.670 0.680 61.8 60.8 61.5 0.810 0.790 0.800 0.99 0.97 0.98 2.00 1.98 2.00 1.23 1.19 1.23 5.00 4.60 5.00 4.89 4.68 4.85 0.110 0.101 0.109 0.465 0.435 0.465 37.30 37.00 37.30 12.2 11.96 12.2 31.00 30.05 30.50 1.78 1.74 1.77 3.3 3.2 3.3 28.50 27.70 28.30 0.99 0.93 0.98 1.020 1.000 1.020 5.740 5.580 5.700 SERVICES 7.35 7.4 7.35 7.35 48.6 49.2 48.6 49 1.29 1.27 1.21 1.21 0.610 0.610 0.590 0.610 11 11.18 11.18 11.18 7.04 7.05 6.85 6.86 6.78 7.00 6.75 6.92 0.0580 0.0610 0.0580 0.0600 2.93 2.94 2.85 2.86 98.5 99.3 98.55 98.95 9.6 9.83 9.83 9.83 2.05 2.07 1.88 1.88 5.12 5.15 4.90 5.00 975 911 911 911 2356 2400 2304 2360 6.36 6.39 6.35 6.36 18.00 18.10 17.40 17.48 24.05 21.10 21.00 21.00 1.14 1.14 1.14 1.14 62 63.5 62.95 63 12.92 13.90 12.90 13.48 152 156 156 156 11.7 11.7 11.5 11.5 0.0094 0.0093 0.0092 0.0092 9.35 9.39 9.37 9.39 0.340 0.345 0.330 0.340 1.6500 1.7200 1.6300 1.6600 2.45 2.6 2.32 2.45 13.34 13.34 13 13 6.56 6.70 6.30 6.48 3.17 3.17 3.11 3.11 2.60 2.77 2.60 2.73 19.00 19.98 19.98 19.98 0.580 0.580 0.580 0.580 1.99 2.03 2.03 2.03 3.78 4.09 3.79 4 4.57 4.76 4.55 4.68 3.900 4.170 3.750 3.800 12.08 12.1 11.98 11.98 5.20 5.20 5.15 5.17 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 137.00 137.00 125.00 130.00 19.00 20.00 16.38 16.40 2094.00 2116.00 2030.00 2094.00 0.455 0.460 0.445 0.455 1.190 1.210 1.170 1.210 44.90 45.65 44.95 45.55 84.00 84.55 83.50 84.00 6.41 6.45 6.33 6.38 3.65 3.75 3.55 3.73 0.570 0.590 0.570 0.580 3.42 3.46 3.39 3.42 0.330 0.340 0.330 0.340 6.280 6.530 6.200 6.300 MINING & OIL 0.0041 0.0041 0.0040 0.0040 3.48 3.59 3.48 3.50 4.40 4.37 4.37 4.37 11.80 11.80 11.00 11.80 0.230 0.235 0.230 0.230 7.0900 6.99 4 6.5000 7.6500 7.5500 6.8200 7.5500 0.62 0.66 0.62 0.62 0.500 0.510 0.495 0.500 8.80 8.90 8.64 8.70 0.890 0.890 0.870 0.880 0.285 0.300 0.290 0.290 0.248 0.255 0.248 0.248 0.250 0.265 0.250 0.255 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 0.0140 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 1.87 1.9 1.82 1.87 5.53 5.67 5.51 5.55 2.78 2.83 2.7 2.75 0.5800 0.5700 0.5700 0.5700 1.2200 1.2400 1.1800 1.1800 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 4.00 4.04 3.90 3.92 8.75 9.00 8.76 8.82 4.55 4.76 4.58 4.66 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 121.90 123.00 121.00 121.00 3.89 3.99 3.82 3.99 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 PREFERRED 47.3 49.95 48.5 49 536 543 543 543 115.4 115.4 115.4 115.4 6.26 6.26 6.2 6.2 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.07 111.9 112 111.7 112 1021 1020 1020 1020 76 76 75.8 75.8 76.5 78 76.5 78 78 78.3 78 78.3 77 77 76 77 77 77 77 77 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.650 2.700 2.530 2.560 SME 3.8 5.7 3.97 5.4 3.68 3.65 3.49 3.49 4.49 4.5 4.3 4.3 16.12 16.5 16.18 16.36 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 127.9 129 127.9 128.8

T op g ainerS VALUE 816,594,949.93 1,721,895,595.525 1,861,608,744.43 1,596,005,179.87 1,783,440,911.07 134,493,359.318 8,137,725,994.95

Low

0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

1,501,133.00 -32,030.00 -87,600.00

20,400.00 -9,920.00

Close

15,701,090.00 3,690.00 123,007,530.00 -966,800.00 70,850,075.00 -191,400.00 49,222,870.00 21,658,126.00

-24,819,289.00 -18,000.00 88,470.00 16,155,607.50 -24,800.00 -41,857,280.00 272,140.00 13,876,389.00

91,840.00 6,650.00 6,340 817,810.00 -31,500.00 -37,462,900.00 -11,073,690.00 -39,143,110.00 375,885.00 -2,745,622.00 -26,677,920.00 -45,500.00 -11,046,380.00 117,087,410.00 -14,560,047.00 -389,650.00 -762,830.00 380,452.00

11,042,820.00 -301,392.00

-566,720.00 -3,722,950.00

-10,304.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Alterra Capital

5.4

42.11

Philweb.Com Inc.

16.40

-13.68

TKC Steel Corp.

2.25

20.97

Grand Plaza Hotel

21.00

-12.68

Splash Corporation

2.99

15.89

Anglo Holdings A

1.30

-10.34

City & Land Dev.

1.15

15.00

United Paragon

0.0100

-9.09

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

20

11.61

Benguet Corp `A'

6.5000

-8.32

Liberty Flour

42.00

10.53

Discovery World

1.88

-8.29

Euro-Med Lab

1.85

9.47

MJCI Investments Inc.

3.09

-7.21

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0120

9.09

Manila Mining `B'

0.0130

-7.14

I-Remit Inc.

2.08

8.90

FEUI

911

-6.56

Mabuhay Holdings `A'

0.520

8.33

Acesite Hotel

1.21

-6.20

TUESDAY: JULY 12, 2016

B3

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

Negros bank closed THE Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas closed another financially-ailing rural bank based in Negros Oriental, the 12th lender closed since the start of the year.

The board prohibited Rural Bank of Siaton (Siaton, Negros Oriental) Inc. from doing business in the Philippines. The bank was placed under the receivership of Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. The state-run agency took over the bank the following day.

Rural Bank of Siaton is a single-unit rural bank at Km. 50, National Highway, Poblacion Siaton, Negros Oriental.

Latest available records show that as of March 31, 2016, Rural Bank of Siaton had 1,301 accounts with total deposit liabilities of P46.6 million.

Total insured deposits amounted to P40.7 million or 87.3 percent of total deposits.

Earlier, the board closed 11 rural banks due to their unsound financial condition. These included New Rural Bank of Binalbagan (Negros Occidental) lnc., Rural Bank of Amadeo (Cavite) Inc., Government Service Insurance System-owned GSIS Family Bank, and Surigao City Evergreen Rural Bank Inc. Julito G. Rada

DTI meets industries THE Bureau of Philippine Standards will meet with industry associations and other stakeholders of steel, flat glass and cement industries today and on July 12 in the Trade and Industry Building in Makati City.

The Consumer Protection Group and BPS will review trade policies on products under mandatory certification, particularly on sampling, inspection, and testing.

“The DTI engages its stakeholders in dialogues to review the implementing guidelines relative to inspection, sampling and testing of steel bars, equal-leg angle bars, flat glass, and, cement,” said Trade Undersecretary Victorio Mario Dimagiba.

He said his group would continue to open communication lines with the industry sector and further promote transparency to ensure that only safe products were sold in the market.

“Initially, we are discussing with the industries of steel bars, equal-leg angle bars, flat glass, and cement.

Then in the following months, we’ll meet with the industries of other products that are under the BPS Product Certification Scheme,” he added.

Othel V. Campos

Norway’s state fund omits Aboitiz Power

By Alena Mae S. Flores

NORGES Bank Investment Management, which manages the Government Pension Fund Global of Norway, or GPFG, named Aboitiz Power Corp. as the first Philippine energy company to be excluded from the list of companies that could avail of investments from the fund because of its exposure to coalfired power plants.

Norges Bank decided to exclude 52 companies from the GPFG, after an assessment of the new product-based coal criterion.

The exclusions follow a first round of analysis and further exclusions will follow in 2016.

“Where thermal coal is a significant part of a company’s business

activities, the company may be excluded from the fund. The new criterion states that coal power companies and mining companies who themselves, or through other operations they control, base 30 percent or more of their activities on coal, and/or derive 30 percent of their revenues from

coal, may be excluded from the GPFG. Coal in this case refers to thermal coal,” the bank said.

Norges Bank manages the GPFG, set up in 1990, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, which owns the fund on behalf of the Norweigan people.

The capital from GPFG is being invested in a diversified mix that will give the highest returns within the guidelines set by the ministry.

Norges Bank announced their new investment criteria effective February 1, 2016. It excluded from its investment portfolio companies with more 30 percent revenue exposure to coal and mining.

Aboitiz Power was on the initial list of NBIM on April 14, 2016 but the power firm said the bank already divested its investments in the first quarter.

“There was no impact on company performance or share price at the time. AP will continue to engage with Norges Bank as its revenue mix changes given its pipeline of renewable energy projects and other investments,” it said.

Aboitiz Power said it remained committed to provide reliable and reasonably-priced power with the least possible adverse effects on its environment and host communities.

Aboitiz Power is currently one of the largest renewable energy providers in the Philippines with over 1,200 megawatts of hydro, geothermal, solar and biomass power. It also owns a coal plant in Davao and is building another one in Subic and Cebu. It holds a stake in the Pagbilao coal plant expansion project in Quezon and another in Misamis Oriental.

Duty Free sales flat DUTY Free Philippines Corp. expects flat sales in 2016 due to road and stores improvements affecting store operations.

“I think we’ll have the same sales as in 2015. For one, our store, the one at Terminal 3 Landside, is still closed because of road construction and the one within Cebu Airport has just opened,” said Duty Free chief operating officer Lorenzo Formoso.

Sales in 2015 generated as much as $210 million with chocolates still the fastest moving and bestselling product, said Formoso.

He added the 2015 sales were not expected due to several factors, such as corporate events and a few stores were constnatly doing repairs.

“That’s why we’re on-off on several occassions,” he said.

Chocolates sales hit $100 million with the rest of products in-store sharing in the remaining $100 million sales. Othel V. Campos

DSWD-Coca-Cola deal. The Department of Social Welfare and Development signs an agreement with Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines Inc. to include its micro-entrepreneurship training program, the 5by20 Sari-sari Store Training and Access to Resources Program, in the roster of livelihood opportunities made available for 4Ps beneficiaries. Shown signing the agreement are (from left) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority women’s center chief Maria Clara Ignacio, DSWD NCR regional director Vincent Andrew Leyson, Coca-Cola Philippines vice president for public affairs and communications Adel Tamano, and Coca-Cola Philippines sustainability manager Gilda Maquilan.

Stock market tops 7,800; SM Prime, Megaworld lead gainers THE stock market rallied Monday as a stronger-than-forecast jump in US jobs provided some much-needed optimism after the hammering caused by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 93.75 points, or 1.2 percent, to 7,865.27 on a value turnover of P8.1 billion. Gainers beat losers, 131 to 73, with 43 issues unchanged.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. advanced 2.9 percent to P28.30, while Ayala Land Inc. climbed 2.4 percent to P39.10.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which into toll roads, wa-

ter and electricity distribution, and hospitals gained 2.9 percent to P7.02, while Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, jumped 4.3 percent to P4.85.

Tokyo, meanwhile, led a surge in Asian stock markets following Friday’s data showing the world’s biggest economy registering a surge in new posts last month.

The data also lit a fire under US and European shares, which were also boosted by hopes for fresh central bank stimulus.

The Labor Department said 287,000 jobs were created in June, 112,000 more than expected and a sharp improvement on May’s

11,000 that had raised fears of a potential recession.

The news saw all three main indexes on Wall Street surge, while European markets also rallied.

Tokyo’s Nikkei was the standout performer in Asia on Monday, with a landslide victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party providing extra support.

The victory fueled speculation for a fresh round of stimulus, reportedly worth as much as 20 trillion yen ($120 billion), to kickstart the stumbling economy.

Nintendo was the star, soaring more than 20 percent on news that its smartphone game Poke-

mon Go debuted at the top of the gaming charts. The gains built on a nine percent rise Friday.

The Japanese market ended 4 percent higher.

Hong Kong rose 1.5 percent, Shanghai added 0.2 percent and Seoul gained 1.3 percent. Sydney jumped 2 percent after the ruling conservative party won last week’s general election, bringing an end to uncertainty that had put the country’s AAA sovereign rating at risk.

“Investors are basically welcoming the victory of Abe’s ruling coalition,” Daisuke Uno, chief market strategist of Sumitomo

Mitsui Banking, told AFP. “But the question is whether or not stock prices can keep up this pace.”

The positive mood fanned buying throughout Asia, which suffered sharp losses last week on worries about the impact of Britain’s shock June 23 decision to break away from the EU. The upbeat start to the week also saw high-yielding currencies rise, with the South Korean won up more than one percent against the dollar, Indonesia’s rupiah 0.6 percent higher and Malaysia’s ringgit also rising more than one percent. With AFP

B4 PAL set to open new routes to China

By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines is expanding its operations in China to serve the rising number of tourists bound for tourist destinations in the Philippines, a top executive said Monday.

“We have mounted several charter flights from different cities of China to Kalibo [Aklan]. We are carrying a lot of tourists from China to Kalibo.

We have also charter flights to China from Cebu and Puerto Princesa. These are not regular flights but charter flights. This is to stimulate the market and if the result or the response of the market is positive, we can consider mounting regular flights,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said.

“We are also looking at the possibility of flying to Chengdu and we are looking at more frequencies to China,” he said.

PAL flies to Shanghai, Xiamen, Jinjang, Guangzhou, Beijing, Macau and Hong Kong.

Data from the Tourism Department showed the number of Chinese tourists to the Philippines jumped 80.8 percent to 285,348 in the first five months of 2016 from 157,830 in the same period last year.

PAL earlier said it planned to revive flights from Manila to New Delhi via Bangkok through fifth-freedom rights.

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

PAL started Manila to Osaka and Taipei on June 25 through fifth-freedom rights held by the Philippines.

PAL also has a fifth freedom traffic right to Kuwait via Dubai, but the Kuwaiti government does not allow the country’s flag carrier to exercise the entitlement.

Franchise expo. The Philippine Franchise Association announces the holding of the week-long Franchise Asia Philippines 2016 on July 20 to 24 at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Shown during a media briefing at Kaya Korean Restaurant in Makati City are (from left) Franchise Asia Philippines 2016 international franchise expo chair Sherill Quintana, PFA president Alan Escalona, PFA chairman emeritus and Blims Lifestyle Groups Inc. chairman Samie Lim, PFA director and Franchise Asia Philippines 2016 marketing chair Elizabeth Pardo- Orbeta and Franchise Asia Philippines 2016 overall chair Richard Sanz.

April investments hit a record $2.2b

By Julito G. Rada

FOREIGN direct investments hit a record $2.2 billion in April, following the acquisition of a 20-percent stake in Security Bank Corp. by The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. This brought the total net inflows of foreign direct investments to $3.5 billion in the first four months, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday.

Data from Bangko Sentral showed net inflows of foreign direct investments in April surged 476 percent from $382 million registered a year ago, following the fresh investments made by BTMU and other foreign banks in the Philippines.

Rosabel Guerrero, director of Bangko Sen-

tral’s department of economic statistics said the April FDI figure was a record high on a monthly basis, “from the time we adopted BPM5 [Balance of Payments Manual, 5th Edition].”

Bangko Sentral said investors remained optimistic in the Philippines “as the economy continued to post strong growth and show even better growth potentials.”

The April figure also exceeded the March net inflow of $364 million. This brought net FDI in the first four months to $3.5 billion, up from $1.233 billion a year earlier.

“The bulk of the net inflows during the month was in the form of debt instruments, or lending by parent companies abroad to their local affiliates to fund existing operations and business expansion, which amounted to $1.3 billion, more than four times the $276 million a year ago,” Bangko Sentral said.

Net equity capital placements amounted to $825 million, as gross equity capital place-

ments surged 20 times to $839 million from $39 million, while withdrawals remained low at $13 million.

Most equity capital placements came from Japan, the United States, the Netherlands, Germany and Taiwan. These were channeled to financial and insurance, real estate, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and administrative and support service activities.

Reinvestment of earnings by non-resident investors stood at $74 million during the month.

Security Bank said in April it received a capital investment of P36.9 billion from BTMU representing 20 percent ownership of the voting stock in Security Bank. BTMU is now the second largest shareholder of Security Bank, while the Dy Group remains the biggest shareholder with majority voting control.

FDI net inflows hit $5.72 billion in 2016, missing the official target of $6 billion, on lower reinvestment of earnings and debt instruments.

First Metro expects GDP growth of 7% on robust demand FIRST Metro Investment Corp., the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, said Monday it expects the Philippine economy to grow between 6.5 percent and 7 percent this year.

First Metro president Rabboni Francis Arjonillo said robust domestic demand, election-related spending in the second quarter, remittance inflows, business process outsourcing receipts and the planned higher spending of the Duterte administration would support economic growth in 2016.

“We remain optimistic on the performance of the Philippine economy for the rest of the year.

With the anticipated 6.5 to 7 per-

cent GDP growth, the country is expected to continue its rapid growth,” Arjonillo said in a news briefing in Makati City.

He said the Philippines would continue to outperform its peers in the region and buck headwinds coming from the volatile global economy and financial markets.

First Metro’s GDP target is within the Duterte administration’s estimate of 6 percent to 7 percent growth this year.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno announced last week the revision of the target from 6.8 percent to 7.8 percent made by the Aquino administration.

Arjonillo said the country’s fiscal position remained healthy

while the growth-supportive monetary policy was expected to persist even after the change in leadership.

The gross domestic product expanded by 6.9 percent in the first quarter. Economists said growth could be higher in the succeeding quarters under the plan of the Duterte administration to ramp up spending.

The economy grew 5.9 percent in 2015, missing the government’s official target of 7 percent to 8 percent, pulled down by the Aquino government’s anemic fiscal spending. However, the Philippines remained one of the fastest-growing economies in the region.

Arjonillo said the growth of

remittances, one of the backbones of economic growth for the past few years, would be tempered by the impact of low oil prices, especially in the Middle East. Remittance growth is seen this year between 2 percent and 4 percent.

“Clearly, the Philippines has emerged as one of the highestperforming economies in Asia, running up to six years of strong growth and remained resilient in the face of global economic and financial markets turbulence,” Arjonillo said.

DBS Bank of Singapore earlier kept its growth forecast for the Philippines this year at 6.3 percent.

“At this juncture, we maintain

our 2016 GDP growth forecast at 6.3 percent. There are some upside risks to our 2017 GDP growth forecast of 6.3 percent, given the upward revision in fiscal deficit,” DBS said.

DBS said a moderation in private sector investment could offset the growth-boosting measures set by the new government.

Credit watchdog Standard & Poor’s Rating Services slightly raised the growth forecast for the Philippines this year to 6.1 percent from the earlier estimate of 6 percent, despite the turmoil brought about by the recent exit of United Kingdom from the European Union and slowdown in Chinese economy.

Julito G. Rada

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

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

Where to, DICT? IT’S early days for the newly minted Department of Information and Communications Te c h no lo g y (DICT). In the midst of a six-month transition that will see the absorption of all existing ICT-related units, the new department is probably still finding its legs.

It isn’t too early, however, for the DICT’s first secretary, Rodolfo Salalima, to articulate the directions that his department will take, and to let us know where his priorities lie.

Salalima, a classmate of President Rodrigo Duterte during their San Beda days, was named DICT secretary in June.

A brief perusal of his background shows that Salalima, a lawyer, is certainly qualified to lead the department, which is tasked to formulate and carry out policies aimed at developing ICT in the Philippines.

Before he was named DICT secretary, Salalima served as the president of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators, Inc. and board director of the Telecoms Infrastructure Corporation of the Philippines. He was also a member of the executive committee of the National ICT Advisory Council.

In 2011, Salalima was tapped as the Asia Pacific representative and one of the vice chairmen of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council Working Group for the Amendment of the ITU Constitution and Convention based in Geneva, Switzerland.

In 2015, the UP Law Center published his book, “Telecommunications in the Information Revolution,” a compilation of laws and jurisprudence on telecommunications and insights into the fundamental issues of the internet revolution.

Salalima began his 40-year-old career in ICT as the board director and corporate and chief counsel of Radio Communications of the Philippines (RCPI) and as vice president and head of legal and human relations of International Communications Corp., which became Bayan Telecommunications Holdings, Inc. (Bayantel).

But most people who are familiar with the telecommunications industry will associate Salalima with Globe Telecom, one of two giant carriers that have dominated the market by acquiring smaller competitors and blocking the entry of larger ones that might upset the applecart.

At Globe, Salalima served as senior vice president for corporate and regulatory affairs until his retirement in 2008. Salalima’s association with Globe did not end with his retirement, however.

The company has engaged the services of the Salalima, Castelo and Ungos law firm, which argued in favor of the Globe’s acquisition of Bayantel and opposed rebates or refunds for consumers who do not get the broadband speed they are promised.

It was Globe, too, along with its rival in the duopoly, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), that threatened to tie up Australia’s Telstra in lawsuits if the company pursued its $1 billion joint venture in the Philippines to offer them real competition. Telstra pulled out of its joint venture talks with San Miguel Corp. in March 2016, and SMC announced in May that it would be selling its telecommunications assets—most notably its right to operate in the coveted 700-megahertz spectrum frequency—to Globe and PLDT. Given all that has gone before, we can probably be excused for wondering what sort of policies will the new DICT secretary pursue.

For instance, will the new DICT secretary encourage true competition in the industry that will give consumers more affordable and better choices?

Or will he fall back on what he has done at Globe, and protect the existing players to the detriment of their customers? Will the DICT aggressively protect consumer rights, or will it seek to appease service providers?

These are questions the DICT secretary ought to answer even at this early stage.

Under the existing duopoly, it’s been widely accepted that internet service in the Philippines is among the slowest in the world, even though we pay more for it than most folks.

The 1st quarter 2016 State of the Internet report from Akamai Technologies does little to change this impression, with the Philippines tied with India at the bottom of 15 Asia-Pacific countries in terms of average connection speeds. Only 18 percent of Philippine internet users connect at speeds above 4 Mbps (compared to 23 percent in India) and a paltry 2.7 percent connect at speeds above 10 Mbps.

Clearly, the existing duopoly has not served Filipino internet users well. The new DICT chief needs to tell us how he will improve this dismal picture.

Sheet1 Internet Connection Speeds in Asia-Pacific Average Average Peak connection Connection speed Speed % Above 4 % Above 10 (Mbps) (Mbps) Mbps Mbps South Korea Hong Kong Japan Singapore Taiwan Thailand New Zealand Australia Malaysia Sri Lanka Vietnam Indonesia China India Philippines

29.0 19.9 18.2 16.5 14.8 10.8 10.5 8.8 6.4 5.4 5.0 4.5 4.3 3.5 3.5

103.6 110.3 84.6 146.9 83.1 69.6 49.8 43.8 46.3 35.4 34.1 110.2 31.0 25.5 29.9

97% 94% 92% 91% 93% 96% 91% 78% 68% 71% 55% 46% 44% 23% 18%

84% 66% 65% 65% 57% 39% 33% 23% 11% 4.5% 4.9% 3.0% 2.1% 4.8% 2.7%

Source of Data: 1Q 2016 State of the Internet, Akamai Technologies

Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

% Above 15 Mbps 69% 48% 44% 43% 33% 15% 15% 10% 3.1% 1.6% 0.8% 0.8% 0.4% 2.0% 1.0%

B5

PPA earmarking P6b to expand govt ports

By Darwin G. Amojelar

STATE-RUN Philippine Ports Authority said it is spending P6 billion this year to expand government-owned ports nationwide.

The port authority said the P6 billion budget would finance locally-funded projects, such as the upgrade and rehabilitation of ports in Iloilo, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga.

PPA said as of end-March, it had completed nine infrastructure projects worth P313.03 million.

PPA said it was also installing vessel traffic management system in ports of Roxas in Oriental Mindor, Iloilo, Davao and Zamboanga.

VTMS has the capability to identify vessels and to strategically plan their movement, which is critical for the safety, security and environmental protection of

the country’s ports and harbors.

PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said the agency was prioritizing the safety in port operations and value-added services in different ports for the convenience of passengers and better efficiency and productivity for cargo operations.

“I am also ordering the review of the current permitting processes of the agency and will personally look for ways to further reduce the burden in getting permits from PPA,” Santiago said.

Santiago said he also asked private sector service providers in different ports to fix all defective facilities and put them in optimum level to reduce unneces-

sary expense that was oftentimes passed on to passengers, resulting in higher ticket prices and logistics cost.

“We are trying to rationalize everything that will translate to the convenience of passengers, cargo owners, logistics service providers and also to all PPA personnel,” Santiago said.

PPA earlier reported a net profit of P1.93 billion in the first three months of 2016, down by 7 percent from P2.07 billion in the same period last year.

The port authority’s gross revenues declined 6.1 percent to P3.19 billion in the first quarter from last year’s P3.4 billion.

Revenues from port operations dropped 6.3 percent to P3.16 billion, while profits derived from storage shrank to P208.62 million from P651.07 million.

PPA’s fund management income improved 6.5 percent to P24.49 million from P23 million last year.

Shell’s awards. Shell companies in the Philippines received top honors during the International Association of Business Communicators 2015 Philippine Quill Awards and the Philippine Association of National Advertisers 2016 Panata Marketing Effectiveness Awards. The Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2015 and the 48th Shell National Students Art Competition both received a Quill award of excellence, while Shell’s Oil Spill Drill program, Access to Energy Project, the Integrated Support to Indigenous Peoples program and the Shoreline Communities Onwards to Resiliency program all received a Quill award of merit. Shown are members of Shell communications team as they receive trophies at the IABC Quill Awards.

DA vows to boost tilapia production

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Monday the government will improve the country’s tilapia industry to meet demand from other countries.

Piñol said while there was a great demand for tilapia and bangus, there was hardly enough supply sent to the US. He said William Go, one of owners of food exporter Seafood City, noted the strong demand for both marine products. “ Our timetable for the turnaround of the Philippine tilapia industry is one year. By that time, we will start our effort to earn the status of being one of the world’s top tilapia producers,” Piñol said.

He said employees of the Bu-

reau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources workers would be sent to AquaFarmingTech for a one-month exposure and training.

“I have directed BFAR to provide funding for the improvement of the hatchery facilities and the purchase of modern laboratory equipment,” he said.

The Naujan tilapia hatchery in Oriental Mindoro is capable of producing up to 150 million fry per year. Actual production, however, reaches only 3.5 million fry a year.

He said in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, the National Freshwater Fish Research Center was still breeding Niloticas species, which produces only 40-percent males.

“In tilapia farming, males are preferred because they

grow faster while the females are smaller because they spend their energy producing eggs,” Piñol said.

“Worse than the neglect for the fish breeding stocks is the injustice on the highly-skilled and talented workers. most of whom are fisheries graduates and many of them holding Masters degree,” Piñol said.

Piñol said workers in the facilities were receiving only P500 per day on a ‘no work, no pay set-up.’

“I directed undersecretary for Fisheries Eduardo Gongona to make sure that the qualified [workers] be given regular positions while those who do not possess the eligibility should be assisted so they too would receive the pay that they deserve,” Piñol said.

B6

TUESDAY: JULY 12, 2016

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

Splash readies share delisting

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Homegrown personal care maker Splash Corp. has decided to delist its shares from the Philippine Stock Exchange, nearly nine years after it became a public company.

Splash said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board unanimously approved the delisting of the company’s shares to avoid telegraphing its business plans to competitors.

The low trading volume of the company’s shares over the last two years as well as the weak response of the investing public to the ongoing share buy-back program were also cited as reasons for the

Can Secretary Gina become flexible?

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s choice of head of the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) was one of the Cabinet appointments very eagerly awaited by the nation. This is explained by the fact that BMG (Bureau of Mines and Geosciences) is a component of the DENR and the mining industry is regulated by BMG. During the election campaign, President Duterte took a position critical of the Philippine mining industry.

The new Chief Executive could have gone one of three ways in his choice of Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.

He could have chosen a number of the existing DENR hierarchy, such as an undersecretary, in the interest of continuity. Or he could have brought into the DENR a person of the conciliating type—someone who could settle all existing disputes, put an end to all discord and maintain an atmosphere of stability within the Department. Or he could have brought in a person with an enforcement mindset—someone who would seek to enforce the law strictly and punish establishments and people who violate DENR rules and regulations.

President Duterte has chosen the third option. He has appointed as Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Regina (Gina) Lopez, a person with well-known views on the environment, particularly on the Philippine mining industry.

Of all the Cabinet-level appointments he has made, President Duterte’s appointment of Gina Lopez as Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources has undoubtedly been the most controversial. This has nothing to do with Gina Lopez’s intellectual capability or academic qualifications or professional record or work habits: the new Secretary is a member of the family of sugarindustry and ABS-CBN fame, was educated at good schools in this country and abroad, is honest and has an ample track record of involvement with NGOs (non-government organizations) in socio-economic and cultural causes. It has to do with the position that Secretary Lopez has taken publicly on the issue of mining, more specifically responsible mining.

Secretary Gina has famously stated that there is no such thing as responsible mining. “Responsible mining is an oxymoron,” she has said. In Secretary Gina’s view, there is no mining operation in this country that has not left a trail of despoliation of the environment and damage to the economy and the host communities.

Interested observers and people involved with the mining industry believe that the appointment of Gina Lopez as Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources is the most ill-advised appointment that President Duterte has made to date. The head of a Cabinet department must enter into his or her duties with an open and flexible mind, they say, but how can Secretary Gina do a good job of running DENR with a closed mind where the Philippine mining industry is concerned? Placing Gina Lopez at the helm of DENR (and, by extension, BMG) is akin, they say, to placing a wolf inside the chicken coop.

Will relations between Secretary Gina and the Philippine mining industry turn out to be stable? Or does a period of confrontation and discord lie ahead?

The mining-industry folk say that the answers to those questions are in the new DENR head’s hands. Given her expressed negative attitude toward irresponsible mining—nay, to mining in general— they are inclined to be pessimistic.

Can Secretary Gina become flexible and accommodating as she proceeds to discharge her duties? At this point that certainly does not look possible. But who knows?

As my Spanish-speaking friends would say, vamos a ver.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

company’s decision to initiate the delisting procedure.

Splash said it would conduct a tender offer to 158.449 million publicly-owned common shares, representing approximately 26.66 percent of the corporation’s issued and outstanding common stock, at the price of P3.10 apiece.

The transaction is worth P491.4 million.

The tender offer price of P3.10 per share represents a 20.15 percent premium over the stock’s closing price of P2.58 on Friday.

Trading of Splash shares were halted for one hour on Monday to give investors time to digest the disclosure.

Established in 1985, Splash has grown from a P12,000 backyard business into one of the country’s leading personal care products manufacturer that has established market presence in more than 20 countries in Asia, Middle East and North America.

To finance expansion and acquisitions, Splash conducted an IPO on Nov. 15, 2007 and raised nearly P2 billion in proceeds from selling 223.85 million at an offering price of P8.98 apiece.

The company in 2009 created a new revenue stream by going into the direct selling business.

It marked its entry into the food business with the purchase of an

80 percent equity of Barrio Fiesta Manufacturing Corp. in August 2011 and followed it with the purchase of Moondish Foods Corp. in September 2012.

Splash in 2015 reported a 13fold increase in net income to P160 million from P12 million a year ago. Revenues jumped eight percent to P3.78 billion from P3.49 billion in 2014.

The sales increase came mostly from higher revenues generated from the personal care business for both the domestic operations, which grew 12 percent, and the international operations which registered a sales increase of 13 percent.

Watershed protection.

Employee volunteers of Manila Water Co.Inc. take part in a tree-planting activity under its TokaToka campaign for environmental protection in celebration of Philippine Arbor Day 2016 at the La Mesa Watershed Reserve in Quezon City. Manila Water has consistently organized and participated in treeplanting events in its commitment to protect the environment, especially the watersheds that provide raw surface water.

Sky Cable names Ventosa as new chief THE pay television unit of ABSCBN Corp. appointed a new chief operating officer, replacing Ray Montinola.

Sky Cable Corp. named Antonio Ventosa as its new COO in February and will be responsible for the company’s overall business strategy and operations.

Ventosa joined ABS-CBN in 2006 as head of marketing and moved to lead several business subsidiaries of the group, including Studio 23, Creative Programs Inc., ABS-CBN Publishing, DTT TV+ channels.

Most recently, he was appointed officer-in-charge for ABS-CBN Corp.’s access business.

He led the transformation of

several brands and subsidiaries in the group, including the change of Studio 23 and launch of ABSCBN Sports and Action in 2014, the launch of Jeepney TV in 2013 for Creative Programs Inc. and DTT TV+ channels in 2015 and ABS-CBN Publishing’s shift to digital.

Prior to joining ABS-CBN, Ventosa was with the Leo Burnett Group for over 20 years as managing director of Leo Burnett Manila and president of Black Pencil and Arc Worldwide.

Under his leadership, SKY is expanding nationwide with its recently launched direct-to-home service, branded as SKYdirect.

“With the launch of Sky Direct,

our Kapamilyas anywhere in the country can now share the Sky experience,” he said.

The company is investing P250 million to roll out DTH service in 251 cities and municipalities until next year.

He is also steering the company’s aggressive expansion of the broadband business, branded as SKYbroadband, which has grown twice the rate of the industry’s.

The company now offers unlimited broadband service bundled with a prepaid access to SKYcable and is keen on increasing the market take-up of its videoon-demand service—SKY On Demand. Darwin G. Amojelar

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

B7

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Talks set for anti-IS fight BAGHDAD-Pentagon chief Ashton Carter flew into Baghdad Monday for talks on the fight against the Islamic State group and the strategy to recapture Iraq’s second city Mosul from the jihadists.

Carter is set to meet Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on the unannounced visit his fourth to Iraq since beginning his job in February 2015.

His trip comes two days after Iraq announced the recapture of a base to the south of Mosul that is seen as an important step toward the eventual battle for the city, which has been under IS control since June 2014.

More than two years after IS overran large parts of Iraq as well as territory in neighboring Syria, Carter wants to highlight successes, even as the jihadists have fought back with devastat-

ing attacks in Iraq and abroad.

But the jihadists are still capable of carrying out devastating attacks even as they are pushed back, including a bombing in Baghdad earlier this month that was one of the deadliest to ever hit the country.

“What I’ll be discussing with Prime Minister Abadi and our commanders there are the next plays in the campaign, which involve the collapse and control over Mosul,” Carter told reporters aboard a military plane ahead of his visit.

The ultimate goal, he added, was “the recapture of all of Iraqi

territory by the Iraqi security forces, but of course Mosul is the biggest part of that.”

The Qayyarah airbase, which Abadi announced Saturday had been recaptured, is located 60 kilometers south of Mosul and can serve as a launchpad for future operations to recapture the city.

US defense officials say the campaign’s first “10 plays” have been successfully completed in the US-led counter-IS campaign in Iraq and Syria.

These steps include the recapture of several important cities across the two countries, including Ramadi in Iraq and AlShadadi, a town in northeastern Syria previously considered a strategic IS stronghold.

Carter and President Barack Obama have been criticized for the pace of the campaign, which

began in autumn 2014 and got off to a slow start, particularly in war-torn Syria, where the United States had few assets on the ground to provide targeting information.

The Pentagon has announced a series of measures to speed up the war, including a revised mission to train anti-IS rebels in northern Syria and extra advisers for Iraqi forces.

Coupled with coalition air support, the results have seen the IS group losing roughly half its territory in Iraq and about 20 percent of its Syria claim.

But the jihadists have struck back against civilians as they lost ground.

On July 3, IS carried out a devastating bombing targeting shoppers in Baghdad, killing 292, many of whom were burned alive, and sparking widespread

anger among Iraqis, some of whom have accused the government of not doing enough to protect them.

Four days later, the jihadists struck a Shiite shrine north the capital, leaving another 40 dead.

Carter will meet with US troops including Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, the commander of the US-led operation against IS, and Iraqi Defence Minister Khalid al-Obeidi.

About 4,000 US troops are in Iraq, mainly to train local forces.

The Pentagon chief will also phone Massud Barzani, the de facto president of Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

The United States has pledged $415 million to help Kurdish peshmerga fighters as they join the fight for Mosul, moving in from the north. AFP

Hundreds join funeral of murdered critic

Official visit. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (L) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau review the guard of honor ahead of their meeting in Kiev on June 11, 2016, during Justin Trudeau’s first official two-day visit in Ukraine. AFP

Plane leaves for penultimate leg of world tour SEVILLE, Spain—The Solar Impulse 2 left southern Spain on Monday on its way to Egypt for the penultimate leg of the solar-powered airplane’s landmark round-theworld journey.

The experimental aircraft took off from Seville at 6:20 am (0420 GMT) for a flight that should last about 50 hours and will take it over the Mediterranean Sea. Swiss national Andre Borschberg was at the controls for the journey that will

pass through through Algerian, Tunisian, Italian, Maltese and Greek airspace. Solar Impulse is to land in Cairo on Wednesday.

The plane, which is no heavier than a car but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747, will then set out for Abu Dhabi on the final leg of its voyage. It took off from the United Arab Emirates capital on March 9, 2015 with the aim of promoting clean, renewable energy.

Solar Impulse is being flown

on its 35,400-kilometer trip around the world in stages, with Borschberg and his Swiss compatriot Bertrand Piccard taking turns at the controls of the single-seat plane.

Applause broke out on June 23 when the aircraft touched down in Seville after its pilot, Piccard, made the first solo transatlantic crossing of a plane with only solar power.

The exhilarated 58-year-old told AFP at the time he had thought a lot about aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh, the

first man to fly solo across the Atlantic, during the 6,765-kilometer flight.

“I met him when I was 11, we were both at the Apollo 12 take-off, and for me Lindbergh is one of these heroes who did what no one thought was possible,” Piccard said by phone.

Borschberg piloted a 8,924-kilometer flight between Japan and Hawaii that lasted 118 hours, smashing the previous record for the longest uninterrupted journey in aviation history. AFP

PHNOM PENH—Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral Monday of a prominent Cambodian political commentator who was gunned down in broad daylight, as the country’s premier vowed a thorough investigation.

Kem Ley, a well regarded political analyst and grassroots campaigner, was shot dead on Sunday as he drank coffee at a convenience store attached to a petrol station in the capital Phnom Penh.

The slaying of the 46-year-old has shocked the nation and comes as tensions boil between strongman premier Hun Sen and the country’s political opposition.

Buddhist monks led a large crowd, many wearing black and white, at a temple in Phnom Penh where Kem Ley’s body was laid out, covered by Cambodia’s national flag and strewn with flowers.

One distressed mourner cut his arm with a razor blade in front of the victim’s body, according to an AFP journalist at the scene, in an act of protest at the silencing of the respected analyst.

Police say they have arrested the gunman, who identified himself as Chuob Samlab an unlikely Khmer name which translates as “meet to kill” and confessed to killing the analyst over an unpaid debt.

But the suspect’s apparent motive and his name have been questioned by activists in a country where the rule of law is threadbare and criticism of powerful figures carries great risk.

Hun Sen on Monday described the murder as “a heinous act” and ordered authorities to bring anyone behind Kem Ley’s murder to book.

“I hope people will let authorities conduct their work thoroughly and avoid turning this tragedy into a political case which will lead to a troubling situation,” Hun Sen said.

“I hope that other politicians will not politicize this case to incite (people), that would lead the nation into chaos,” he added.

Police could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Washington led the international outcry over the murder of a well-known anti-government critic. AFP

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

B8

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Memorial. Flowers, cards, balloons and candles pile on top of police cruisers outside the Police Headquarters memorial for the officers killed in the recent sniper attack in Dallas, Texas,

on July 10, 2016. The gunman, who opened fire on Dallas officers during a protest against police brutality, leaving five dead and seven others wounded, told negotiators he wanted to kill white cops, the city’s police chief said July 8. AFP

‘Killer plotted bigger attack’ Journalist charged over draconian law BANGKOK—A Thai journalist and four activists were charged Monday under a draconian law banning criticism of the junta’s new constitution which will be voted on in a referendum next month.

Taweesak Kerdpoka, a reporter with the news outlet Prachatai, was arrested on Sunday morning alongside four members of the New Democracy Movement, one of the few activist groups that dare to challenge the military since generals seized power two years ago.

“Their actions were violating the referendum bill article 61 clause 2,” police colonel Amnuay Pongsawat, from Ban Pong district in central Ratchaburi province, told AFP.

He did not elaborate on how their actions had broken the law, but the men face up to ten years in prison if convicted.

The clause outlaws critical discussion of the junta’s new draft constitution, which if passed will become Thailand’s 20th in less than a century.

Prachatai editor Chiranuch Premchaiporn said Taweesak was traveling in the same car as the activists to report on their activities.

Police stopped the car and found documents that they deemed were in breach of the referendum law.

“He is a reporter that covers human and environmental rights,” she told AFP. “He was just doing his job.” AFP

DALLAS—The Dallas gunman was plotting a major bomb attack, authorities said Sunday, urging calm as hundreds of people were arrested in weekend protests in US cities over police violence against African-Americans.

Demonstrators marched demanding justice for two black men shot dead by cops in Minnesota and Louisiana, their dying moments captured in video that went viral online.

Peaceful marches attracted large crowds in major US cities, but became especially unruly in St. Paul, Minnesota and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where police killed the two men.

Scores of people were arrested in both cities on Saturday and Sunday.

The demos come days after black army Afghan war veteran Micah Johnson, 25, used a highpowered rifle to kill five police officers and wound seven in a sniper attack at a protest in Dallas, Texas late Thursday.

Johnson said before he was killed that he wanted to murder

white cops in revenge for the black deaths.

Seeking to restore calm, President Barack Obama, scheduled to speak in Dallas at an interfaith memorial service Tuesday, cautioned protesters against casting all police as racially biased.

The Dallas community’s “unity is reflective of who we are as Americans” during these trying times, said Obama, speaking Sunday in Madrid.

The president, who cut short his European visit, will meet privately in Texas with the families of the five fallen police officers and those wounded.

At least 48 people were arrested Sunday in Baton Rouge, local media said, hours after Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said that 102 protesters had been arrested in late

Saturday demonstrations.

Among them was Black Lives Matters activist leader DeRay McKesson, who livestreamed the incident. He was released on bond Sunday.

“The only people that were violent last night were the Baton Rouge police department,” McKesson told reporters outside the jailhouse.

Gautreaux however said that one officer was injured late Saturday.

Protesters will not be “allowed to incite hate and violence, to engage in unlawful activities,” said Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.

On Sunday police in armored cars and clad in riot gear confronted a crowd in what began as a peaceful march, the local The Advocate newspaper reported.

Police even used an ear-splitting, high-pitched siren in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Despite the tension, harsh words and arrests the protest remained peaceful, The Advocate said. AFP

N. Korea threatens US missile system SEOUL—North Korea threatened Monday to take “physical action” after Washington and Seoul announced they would deploy a sophisticated US antimissile defense system to counter the growing menace from Pyongyang.

Seoul and Washington on Friday revealed their decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the South following recent North Korean missile and nuclear tests.

The two allies have not yet revealed exactly when and where

the system, which fires projectiles to smash into enemy missiles, would be deployed but said they were in the final stage of selecting a potential venue.

“The DPRK will take a physical counter-action to thoroughly control THAAD... from the moment its location and place have been confirmed in South Korea,” the artillery bureau of the North’s military said in a statement, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea’s military, which has “sufficient latest offensive

strike means”, will take “more merciless and powerful successive corresponding measures against the US keen to ignite a war by deploying THAAD”, it said.

It also warned the South of “miserable self-destruction” as a consequence of deployment of the THAAD system.

“We once again warn the enemies that it is the steadfast will of the KPA to make merciless retaliatory strikes to reduce south Korea to a sea in flames, debris once an order is issued,” the statement said. AFP

Onstage. Selah Sue performs on stage during a concert at Les Deferlantes Festival in Argeles-sur-Mer, southern France. AFP

TUESDAY : J ULY 12, 2016

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

A RTS, CU LT U RE , T ECH & MEDI A

LIFE

Handcrafted products and fabrics made by indigenous communities are featured in 'Dayaw: Culture and Art Exhibition'

T

hrough this year’s celebration of Rustan’s for the Arts, Rustan’s, the purveyor of style and design for the home as well as staunch supporter of the arts, celebrated Filipino talent and the finest of the Philippines with a showcase of handcrafted products and fabrics made by indigenous communities.

This proudly Pinoy initiative, supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Senator Loren Legarda, a tireless advocate for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, kicked off with a grand exhibit, titled Dayaw: Culture and Art Exhibition, on June 21 at Rustan’s Makati.

During the opening night, Legarda said weaving is not merely a pastime or a livelihood activity as each thread signifies the values of diligence, patience, hard work and love for culture that these indigenous communities continue to embrace and live by. She further explained that we are a historically plural and multi-ethnic society with 110 IP groups, and that each

community possesses its own traditional knowledge and practices that have shaped our story as a Filipino people. Thus, it is through these cultural efforts that we preserve and celebrate these traditions.

Encouraging newfound appreciation for our weaving traditions, Rustan’s also hosted live demonstrations for the public at Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La on June 25 and 26, and June 22 to 26, respectively.

From the meticulous process of making cotton thread, to the unique weaving techniques and patterns of indigenous tribes, the live exhibits brought to light our proud cultural heritage.

Guests were able to see first hand the fine craftsmanship that went into some of the finer weaves through the following exhibits: Traditional Ga’dang Cloth Weaving and Accessories Making, Traditional Tikog Mat Weaving, and Traditional Bagobo Beads Making and Embroidery.

Along with the exhibit, Rustan’s highlighted proudly local designs in its Filipiniana line, aptly titled, Our Very Own (OVO), composed

‘Weaving is not merely a pastime or a livelihood activity as each thread signifies the values of diligence, patience, hard work and love for culture that these indigenous communities continue to embrace and live by,’ – Senator Loren Legarda, protection of indigenous peoples advocate

C1

APPRECIATING

‘OUR VERY OWN’

Traditional clothes showcase the Filipino weaving techniques

Filipino weaver demonstrates the meticulous process of traditional Tikog Mat Weaving

Indigenous people advocate Senator Loren Legarda (third from left) shows her support for Rustan's exhibition. Joining her are former Chief Justice Art Panganiban, Zenaida Tantoco, Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., Donnie Tantoco and Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez

of home accents and fashion.

Discover beautiful, luxe pieces— from delicate, capiz accessories to polished wood accents— which can help seamlessly bring together the spaces of the home.

Complementing the efforts to elevate proudly Pinoy designs, Rustan’s highlighted as well the limited edition home collection

by National Artist Benedicto Cabrera, “Rustan’s X BenCab”

Collection.

This collection featured “Sabel,” one of BenCab’s most beloved and enduring subjects. The images of Sabel, inspired by a real-life scavenger whom the artist photographed and sketched in 1965, is presented in porcelain plates, mugs, cushion covers, fans, decorative trays, and utility boxes. The entire collection becomes a stunning display of the legendary artist’s touch and vision.

As part of its Independence Day Promo, Rustan’s offered a free Theo&Philo pouch of Chocolate Covered Mango Sprinkled with Coconut for minimum purchases worth P3,500 at Rustan’s Our Very Own. There were unique finds and promos from Delonghi Coffee, Breville, Bosch, Hurom, Theo & Philo, Ditta Sandico and Barong II, all partners in this proudly Filipino campaign.

TUESDAY : J ULY 12, 2016

C2

LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

THE ARTS

YOUNG OPERA SINGERS’ CHALLENGE

BY BERNADETTE ANDREA CATALAN

T

otally Tinio, a tribute for the late national artist Rolando Tinio, challenged young opera singers to go beyond their own understanding of Tinio’s original translation and to inject character using the Filipino language.

“Translations extended not only to the classical text but to the librettos (script) of opera,” says Frankie Aseniero, a veteran tenor who worked with the late Tinio. Aseniero shared Tinio’s love for the country that he translated the classics of world repertoire to his language.

Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., one of the consistent moving institutions for opera supports young opera singers in encouraging more Filipinos to listen to opera. Dr. Jaime Laya, a Filipinas Opera Society Foundation trustee shared how Filipinos’ love for opera should be felt just as during the Marcos era.

For his part, Jaguar Cars, Inc. Chairman and President and Filipino music and culture advocate Wellington Soong says, “We’re not just about selling cars, we want to go beyond that and to share with you, culture and arts as a part of lifestyle.” In a light moment shared during the event, he said how he wanted to be known for more than just selling cars, he wanted to be known for something more significant.

The intimate presentation showcased Tinio’s translation of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Dies Bildniss Ist into “Anong Rikit, Anong Ganda”; Charles Gounod’s Salut!

Demeure chaste et pure into “Mutyang Kay Bini at Dalisay”; Giacomo Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro into “O Tatay kong kay Buti”; Edouard Laló’s Vainement, me bien-aimee into “Di Dapat, Aking Pag-ibig”; Rogers and Hammerstein’s I

'Phantoming for them' by Ed Brendon Enclona of Technological University of the Philippines

Christian Nagano, Nohmer Nival, Frankie Aseniero, Myramae Meneses and Jade Riccio perform Nessun Dorma translated into 'Di Maaaring Makatulog' by Rolando Tinio

Have Dreamed into “Yakap Mo’y Aking Napangarap” and other famous works by William Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov.

The original translations were performed by Aseniero along with Nohmer Nival, tenor; Christian Nagaño, tenor; Jade Riccio, soprano; and Myramae Meneses, soprano, respectively.

“It is my life!” says Aseniero, who is considered the primary mover of this occasion. In an interview, he shared that this event aims to reintroduce opera to Filipinos and to widen the range of singers available to the audience.

'Sa Aking Pagtatapos' by Bayani Jamesson Galera of University of the East

Opera is regarded as the “total art form” that combines music, singing, drama, and in some cases, dance. The catch for this type of art performance is to move the audience through the singer’s emotions.

“You don’t perform and record it, it is a one-time big time performance. It is either you hit or miss it,” explains Nival.

For a long time, this type of art was sapped by the dominance of international music in the country. But with efforts of The Philippine Opera Company, Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. and opera enthusiasts, the art of opera is being brought back to the country.

'Sagut kada Nanang ken Tatang' by Florence Eduarte of University of the Northern Philippines

Raffa Ronquillo playing the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana

'Let The Colors of my Heart Fill Me' by Jemima Joy Pelayo of Technological University of the Philippines

Fantasies to realities The Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC) is once again turning young students into masters. True colors will unfold as this year’s Shell NSAC encourages the transformation that will make a difference from just a mere fantasy into a creative reality.

Shell companies in the Philippines are proud to celebrate Shell's 49th year in its goal to continue the spirit of innovation through establishing a significance and mark in today’s art scene through its social investment and social performance program – Shell NSAC. “Shell continues to pursue a nation with an inspired group of youth with future energy

visions. As a pioneer for energy and gas technology, Shell creates an arena for young innovators on arts and design to take up current issues such as the energy challenge, and spread their wings and soar high,” said Lans Bularan, Shell Social Investment and Social Performance manager.

The leading energy company encourages the youth to become a BenCab, a Jose Joya, an Ang Kiukok, a Sanso, or transform into their metamorphosed selves towards who they want to be.

The Shell NSAC is open to all college students enrolled with at least 12 units in a recognized Philippine school in the school year 2016 – 2017. With this year’s theme,

“Metamorphosis,” participants can submit their works in Oil/Acrylic, Watercolour, Sculpture, and Digital Fine Arts (Print).

Grand prize winners will each be awarded a cash prize amounting to P60,000, while the second and third place winners will receive P40,000 and P30,000, respectively.

Submission of provincial entries will be on August 29, 30, and 31 at any Shell depot and installation outside Metro Manila.

They can also submit their entries at any of the following centers: Gallery Orange, 9-A – 10-A, 2/F Art District, Main Bldg., Lopue’s, Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Museo Iloilo, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City.

Metro Manila-based contestants must bring their entries on Sept. 8, 9, and 10 to Shell House, 156 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

Other partners and sponsors of the Shell National Students Art Competition include Shell FuelSave, Shell Advance Motor Oils, Shell Rimula, Air21, Canson Artist Papers, Winsor & Newton, Liquitex, National Book Store and Ayala Museum.

To know more about the contest, log on to www.shell.com.ph/shell_art. Students may also inquire with the fine arts department or the student affairs office of their respective colleges and universities.

TUESDAY : J ULY 12, 2016

C3

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

TECH

Samsung VR headsets provide an immersive virtual reality historical tours in Manila's plazas

T

Guests at BenCab in Two Movements exhibit use Samsung tablets and S-Pen to edit the artworks on display

DIGIFY-ENABLED SAMSUNG PROJECTS WIN AT PHILIPPINE QUILL AWARDS

wo of Samsung Philippines’ innovative projects with Digify Inc., a techno-creative R&D lab and a subsidiary of GMA New Media, Inc., gained recognition from the prestigious Philippine Quill Awards, mounted annually by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.

The Award of Merit under the Special Events category was given to BenCab in Two Movements, an interactive art exhibit at the Yuchengco Museum that ran from October 2015 to mid-January 2016.

Digify was tasked to help in the ideation and execution of the exhibit as part of the celebration of National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera’s 50th anniversary as a luminary in the visual arts. The exhibit

highlighted BenCab’s handpicked works that captured the dance movements of London-based Chinese dancer San Lee and Polish dancer and choreographer Paulina Wycichowska.

Digify developed several components to the exhibit. Android-based curatorial apps provided curatorial information about BenCab’s chosen artworks. The apps were integrated to Google’s text-tospeech feature and Augmented Reality powered by Digify. A Tablet Wall, a set-up of 10 Samsung tablets on a wall, featured studies of Wycichowska’s dance all sketched by BenCab. A tap on the image shown on the tablet triggered a dance movement for about five seconds, with each image having its unique set of movements. A Tribute Wall enabled guests

to select an artwork, use editing tools to color using Samsung’s S-pen SDK, and write a personalized message that guests could submit for display on the digital TV to become part of the gallery. Lastly, a Dance With Me app using an Xbox Kinect allowed users to calibrate their position and movement and gain control of the 3D animation of Wycichowska on the Smart TV screen, which responded to the user’s actual movement.

The Plazas of Manila interactive exhibit received an Award of Merit under the Corporate Social Responsibility category.

The exhibit was part of Samsung’s “Culture Connect” initiative, done in collaboration with renowned landscape architect Paulo Alcazaren, the Yuchengco Museum and Digify. The exhibit, which ran from Aug.

27 to Sept. 28 highlighted the historical and cultural significance of plazas in Manila with the use of Augmented Reality on Samsung’s latest digital tablet and Smart TV technology.

Samsung tapped Digify as the development and design partner for the projects in recognition of the latter’s expertise in augmented reality and sensor technologies. Digify deployed proprietary technologies for said projects that integrated mobile devices and television to deliver a unique, innovative and immersive experience.

Both projects were part of Samsung’s thrust to promote Philippine heritage and culture, and revolutionize the museumgoing experience through the use of cutting-edge technology.

Shopping for digital accessories with Hive Mind Digital Walker, the metro’s go-to gadget store for the coolest tech accessories, understands that when it comes to accessories for precious gadgets, customers want nothing but the best. But not everyone has the time or patience to go through catalogs of items. This is the reason Digital Walker has recently come up with a new concept store that offers nothing but the best-selling gadgets in the market—Hive Mind.

Hive Mind is a forward-thinking concept store designed with the most discerning techies in mind. The concept involves creating a tech hub that houses nothing but the best-selling premium accessories today, to make it easier for anyone to find the right one for the job.

The selection is based on the demands of Digital Walker’s customers. From each category, the 10 most sought-after accessories as well as the top 10 brands make it to the store.

“To this day, peer recommendation is still among the best ways to know exactly how a product performs,” shares Charles Paw, CEO of Digits Trading Inc. “We are lobbying on purchase history to narrow down the selection to only the best. It’s like listening to thousands of tech enthusiasts and taking their choices to make it easier for others to find the right gadget.” “In the social setting, hive mind refers to an entity composed of a large number of individuals who share their knowledge and opinions with each other to come up with a collective

Hive Mind serves as a hub for sought-after tech accessories based on the demands of Digital Walker's customers

intelligence. It is purposeful and is meant to serve the general public. The same can be said about our store,” Paw adds.

The first Hive Mind is located on TriNoma Mall’s third level. Featuring colors and a layout that are reflective of the guiding principle behind the brand, its

design allows its staff to quickly replace the accessories based on new data provided by Digital Walker.

To know more about Hive Mind and its offerings, visit www.hivemindph, like Digital Walker on Facebook or follow @ digitalwalkerph on Instagram and Twitter.

Catch the Guava highlights ‘Juan Tamad’ sitcom

Filipino-made mobile game Catch the Guava

To further improve the gaming experience of every Juan, one of the hottest and biggest Filipino-designed mobile games recently had a major update. Catch the Guava, a mobile game for Android and iOS, now has fresh new graphics, more content, more gameplay modes and a better tiering of in-game items available for sale inside the app.

Developed and published by Synergy88 Digital, Catch the Guava was co-produced with GMA 7 to highlight their weekly sitcom, Juan Tamad, starring Kapuso actor Sef Cayadona. In less than three months since it was introduced, the game managed to acquire around 500,000 downloads.

New characters are introduced in the app to keep Juan company under the Guava Tree, including Guapple the Gnome and a dog named Bantay. New costumes are also available for Juan, such as the Katipunero attire, beach outfit, GMA Kapuso shirt, and the Barong Tagalog. The game also promotes famous Filipino tourist spots like Rizal Park, Manila City Hall and Boracay; where Juan is shown idly sitting and waiting for the guava to fall on his mouth.

“No other game has had this much traction and engagement when we launched it” said Mon Macutay, director of Publishing and Marketing at Synergy 88 Digital. “Catch the Guava has enjoyed

tremendous support from the community and we’d like to thank all players who played the game. We’re proud to be ‘up there’ in the rankings charts with major global titles such as Clash of Clans, Temple Run, and Words with Friends.

And we owe it to the community and the players to continuously improve their gaming experience.”

Catch a preview of the revamped “Catch the Guava” at https://youtu.be/dHH-TvisOI0.

To download and play this entertaining and proudly Filipino-made mobile game wonder, search “Catch the Guava” on the Google Play store or go to https://goo.gl/FNmc28 now.

TUESDAY : J ULY 12, 2016

C4

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

MEDIA

EXPERIENCE ARCHITECTURE THROUGH THE BOOK STOP

I

BY BERNADETTE ANDREA CATALAN PHOTOS BY AC BRIZUELA

n a bid to present architecture, considered the “Mother of all arts,” to the public, WTA Architecture + Design Studio partnered with Instituto Cervantes, Tosot Airconditioner Philippines, Pacific Paints Philippines, and Omni Electrical and Lighting to launch The Book Stop.

The Book Stop initiative is a public library where individuals can read books and where people could get books in exchange of donating one. The initiative’s purpose is not only focused on the introduction of architecture to the masses but to also keep the demand for books higher. The Book Stop is an opportunity for possible developments in architecture.

“Maybe the structure of the library can make the library interesting and engage the community,” says William Ti, principal architect of WTA Architecture + Design Studio.

Recognizing that many may not appreciate the concept of “architecture” in one sitting, The Book Stop makes it more accessible to the public. “We stay for two months, so that people will be attached,” says Ti. According to official records, The Book Stop initiative receives 500 to 1,000 visitors per month.

“The Book Stop is a network. There will be multiple book stops,” informs Ti. There will be three more Book Stops. The Book Stop in Plaza Roma, Intramuros will transfer to San Sebastion this month, another pop-up bookstore will be at Bonifacio Global City during the last week of August and another one at UP Diliman in September. The project also plans on setting up a pop-up library in Meycauayan City in Bulacan soon.

WTA Architecture + Design Studio makes architecture more accessible to people

The Book Stop, which is a public library where people can read books, aims to introduce architecture and keep the demands for books higher

Rhian Ramos on the cover of FHM for the first time

Rhian Ramos on the cover of FHM Philippines July 2016

Rhian Denise Ramos Howell is a British Filipino beauty. People first took notice of her back in 2006 when she landed the main female role in GMA’s Captain Barbell. From then on, she started doing various things in the field of showbiz, from showbiz news to horror movies.

On her 10th year in show business, Rhian Ramos finally graces the cover of FHM Philippines. One of the hottest TV stars today says she finally agreed to do it because, as Rhian herself says, “I now don’t feel shy to put my body in a magazine that is read by, what I would say, the kind of readers that I now want to reach [out] to.”

In the July issue of FHM, the team travels to France where ace photographer

Mark Nicdao captured mesmerizing images of Rhian among the tall grass and blooms inside a French chateau in some of the most beautiful photographs featured inside the magazine.

“We are thrilled to have Rhian in our pages,” says Allan Hernandez, acting editor-in-chief of FHM. “She’s been on the list of FHM 100 Sexiest for several years now, and this year she’s Top 5. It’s about time we featured her.”

On the other pages of the issue, an FHM editor opens up about his depression and how he’s learned to deal with it, while timeless actor, Ian Veneracion, gives words of wisdom to those who have no idea how to make girls swoon over them.

Also inside the magazine are tips for men on how to get women without

being a complete douche bag and an exclusive feature on a 20-yearold hacker who launched the biggest government data security breach in Philippine history.

FHM Philippines is available on newsstands and in bookstores, convenience stores, and supermarkets nationwide. A digital edition of FHM is also available for download on mobile devices through Apple Newsstand, Buqo, and Zinio.

For more details, visit www.fhm.com.ph.

For your daily dose of the hottest babes in the country, visit FHM Philippines on Facebook or follow FHM Philippines on Twitter @FHMphil and on Instagram @ FHMphilofficial.

Direk Wenn’s final project is out And he went all-out for it.

Direk 2 Da Poynt, the blockbuster biography and memoir of the late film and TV writer/director Wenn Deramas is now available at National Book Store and Powerbooks nationwide. The book was his labor of love for two full years and the last project he completed right before his sudden passing in late February this year.

“Buong buhay ko ang nasa libro. Lahat ng mga hindi nila alam.” Deramas said in an interview last year. “Lahat ng mga hakahaka nila tungkol sa akin. Pati love life, binigay ko,” he added.

The 153-page book traces the director’s rags-to-riches story, covering everything from his childhood in a single-parent household to his first job as a waiter in a restaurant to his early struggling years in ABS-CBN to his ascent as the country’s top box-office director.

“’Pag nabasa mo ‘yong libro, iiyak ka, tatawa ka... Basta binigay ko kung ano yung pwede kong maitulong sa mga katulad ko na gustong may mapuntahan din. Very inspiring yung libro ko,” he added.

In fact, one of the highlights of the book is a collection of 40 nuggets of wisdom about life, career and love from Deramas.

The book also features testimonies about the director from colleagues and close friends like Vice Ganda, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Claudine Barretto. It also contains never-before-seen photos.

“Direk 2 Da Poynt” is published by VRJ Books, the new publishing label of VIVA Communications, Inc. Other VRJ Books titles are Conversations Pa More, a collection of iconic interviews by veteran entertainment journalist Ricky Lo with some of the country’s top stars; the biggest-selling book in the country this year featuring the hottest multi-media love team,

Director Wenn Deramas shared his inspiring story in his last project—a 153-page biography and memoir

JaDine, Team Real: Your All-Access Pass Into James Reid and Nadine Lustre’s World, and the

re-release of Marcelo Santos III’s blockbuster first novel, Para Sa Hopeless Romantic.

T UES DAY : J ULY 1 2, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

W

ith a vision to bring back nationalism and the true meaning of being a Filipino, sports broadcaster Chino Trinidad was roused to put up a platform – Pilipinas HD – for the great stories of our forefathers.

The veteran sports broadcaster came up with the idea of creating a channel that is purely about the Filipinos – culture, ways, traditions, heroes, etc – through sports, its victories and defeats, realizing each and every Filipino has a story to tell.

“Sports taught me how to appreciate our athletes without condition. But the moment is fleeting. After a victory, after a defeat, their story is forgotten,” Trinidad tells The Standard in an interview.

“I realized we needed a platform that will celebrate who we are as Filipinos,” the sports broadcaster exclaims.

Trinidad elaborates that he is tired and sick of the news, television, and social media that tell nothing but crime, violence, and negativity that drown stories that should be fed to the masses instead of those unsavory tales.

“Enough of the negativity, enough of the showbiz slapping each other. There are hundreds of Filipino sports heroes whose exploits we don’t even know of. Who knows of a Teófilo Yldefonso, who knows of a Miguel White? These are men who are not just athletes, but Filipinos who died for their country,” says Trinidad.

After the two-year process of putting up the platform that stemmed from wanting to produce stories he knew were worth telling, his “passion-project” finally became a reality.

On the question of how this channel is any different from other lifestyle channels, the broadcaster says Pilipinas HD, in its truest sense, is a movement.

“First and foremost, we’re not here to compete. If this was merely profit-driven, I don’t think it would even get off. We don’t need eyeballs. We’re just here to tell stories.

This one, it digs deeper into who we really are. That’s why it’s HD, for a ‘higher definition’ of a true Filipino,” the broadcaster concluded.

The launching event, held at BGC, was also attended by then actress-singer Lirio Vital; Mon Fernandez, a Philippine basketball legend and commissioner of the

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

C5

CHINO TRINIDAD’S

NEW CRUSADE

BY ANNE RENEE SUAREZ PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

Sports broadcaster Chino Trinidad (center) joined by pals painter Jun Aquino (right) and sculptor Fred Caedo (left)

Actress and Kundiman singer Lirio Vital

Philippine Sports Commission under President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration, Recah Trinidad, painter Jun Aquino, and sculptor Fred Caedo, to name a few.

Pilipinas HD will be available for free in SkyCable and Cignal until today only.

Local. Chino Trinidad presents Pilipinas HD, a new platform that is purely about the Filipinos

Fil-Persian Bench model competes at Mr. World 2016

BY ETON B. CONCEPCION Will Sam Ajdani be the first Filipino and Asian Mr. World titlist?

Two years since the 25-yearold, 6-foot-2 Bench model was named Mr. World Philippines 2016 by CQ Global Quest under director Cory Quirino and Mr. World Philippines chairman Arnold Vegafria, Ajdani will finally represent the country at the 9th edition of the Julia Morley-owned male pageant.

Ajdani, a fitness coach and presently finishing a Masters degree in Information Technology at the University of the East, was born in Iran to an Iranian father and Filipino mother and moved, to Laguna, the Philippines, at the age of 14.

Blessed with an exotic face and great body, women swoon over the tall hunk wherever he goes and this led him to be discovered in the modeling world four years ago.

“Believe in yourself. I believe we all came to this life with a purpose and somewhere deep within us, we have a voice telling us what it is we are here for. No matter what this voice is telling you, find the courage to go in that direction. Once you do that, life becomes more meaningful. Take a

Model Sam Ajdani flies to London to represent the Philippines at the Mr. World 2016

step today and let tomorrow take care of itself. Today you have the opportunity to do more, to give more, and to be more. Always do the right thing. Live your life on ethics rather than rules,” Ajdani said in one of his posts on Facebook.

“I never thought and never even dreamed of it. It wasn’t part of my plan but it happened. My agent encouraged me, and I thought about it overnight. I know I don’t like competitions much, but let’s

see what happens,” Ajdani said on his sudden stint at male pageantry.

Ajdani will compete against 50 delegates from all corners of the world aiming to top the first runner-up finish of model and national rugby player Andrew Wolff in Mr. World in 2012 and follow in the footsteps of Mister International 2014 Neil Perez (PO2 Mariano P Flormata, Jr.) and Manhunt International 2012 June Macasaet.

The Mr. World pageant started in 1996 and has been dominated by European and Latino candidates. Christopher Celis (1996), Rico Lee Miguel (1998), Roderick Salvador (2000), Marco Antonio Tamayo (2003), Emmanuel Mago (2007), Alvin de Joya (2010) and John Spainhour (2014) all competed in Mr. World without success. Nicklas Pedersen of Denmark is the reigning Mr. World (2014).

Mr. World, dubbed the “Search for the World’s Most Desirable Man,” will consist of five challenges in talent, fashion and style, extreme challenge, sports and multi-media.

Mr. World 2016 finals will be held at the Southport Theater & Conference Center, Southport, United Kingdom, on July 19.

C6

T UES DAY : J ULY 1 2, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

BANAUE MICLAT-JANSSEN

A

DIRECTS ‘THE FEMALE HEART’

s a prelude to the forthcoming silver anniversary in the arts next year of the multi-talented and award-winning artist Banaue Miclat-Janssen, she helmed the UP Playwrights’ Theater production of Linda Faigao-Hall’s The Female Heart.

The play opened on July 1 and rans until July 10 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater in UP Diliman.

The cast of “The Female Heart was composed of Chase Salazar as Adelfa, Al Gatmaitan as Anghel, Peewee O’Hara as Rosario, Sheryll Ceasico as Rosario (alternate), Mark McKeownas as Roger, and Ina Azarcon–Bolivar as young Adelfa.

The story begins at the Smokey Mountain in Manila, a 170-acre garbage mound in which nearly 30,000 people scrape together a meager life. Anghel and his mother Rosario make ends meet by gathering and reselling scrap metal and other useful trash from the refuse that surrounds them.

Anghel’s sister Adelfa is one of the few teenagers from Smokey Mountain who is able to attend high school.

Upon hearing Adelfa’s valedictory speech, Anghel convinces her to continue with her education in college. He tells her he will be able to pay for her tuition by taking a job as a dance instructor or D.I. at a fancy hotel. In reality, he is actually earning the money for Adelfa’s schooling by working as a “macho dancer” in Manila’s red light district.

When Anghel falls ill as a result of his sex work, Adelfa places a listing in a catalogue of mail order brides in an attempt to secure the money needed to pay for Anghel’s medical care. She strikes up a correspondence with Roger, a real estate broker with anger management issues living in Brooklyn, and arranges to marry him on the condition that he sends $300 a month to Rosario and Anghel to pay for her brother’s treatment in a private facility.

Initially, Adelfa sees the trade as a fair one, but as she is confronted with Roger’s anger and violence, the deal she made to save her brother turns sour.

Miclat-Janssen assembled a formidable artistic team for The Female Heart in Jem Javier (translation), Gio Potes (dramaturgy), Azarcon–Bolivar (assistant direction), Io Balanon (set design), Carlo Pagunaling (costume design), JM Cabling (movement

Multi-talented and award-winning artist Banaue Miclat-Janssen

“The Female Heart” is poignant story of the desperate choices two siblings make to escape life in the infamous garbage dump community called Smokey Mountain

design), Ricardo Lorenzo (sound design), and Garrett Picardal (lights design).

Unlike all of the other productions staged at the Guerrero Theater, the set design and execution for “The Female Heart was ‘theaterin-the round.’

A UP Theater Arts graduate, under the tutelage of Professor Emeritus Tony Mabesa, and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting degree

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Mural base 6 — pie 11 Like some raps 14 Something else 15 Pull — — one 16 Sooner than 17 Valuable viol.

18 Ancient navigational aid (2 wds.)

20 “Bali —” 21 Diner sign 23 — — costs 24 Is and was 26 Polish 28 Meshes, basically 30 Snake juice 31 Steered a raft 32 Galahad’s quest 33 Apply a patch 36 Floors

37 Raise, as voltage 38 Blue Triangle org.

39 Modicum 40 Artificial person 41 Ice skating event 42 Polite address 43 Arrive (2 wds.)

44 Rummaged for food 47 Monster 48 On — — (riding high) 49 Desert dweller 50 Pasture 53 Mug (3 wds.)

56 Looks like a lecher 58 Riviera summer 59 When pigs fly 60 Talk-show host 61 “— Rosenkavalier” 62 Garbo or Bergman 63 Smart-mouthed DOWN 1 Mild oath 2 Sundance Kid’s girl 3 Like a mummy, perhaps 4 Mermaid’s domain 5 Bought by mail 6 Tilts 7 ETs’ craft 8 Roofer’s gunk 9 Hobby ender 10 Rubbing alcohol 11 Alpha followers

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2016

12 13 19 22 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 49 51 52 54 55 57

Where Asia begins Mr. Haggard Pipe part Sit-up targets Festive nights Abundant meal No future — — Gaiter Plains state Indy 500 sound Mold (2 wds.)

Crooks Linen color Hornet kin Be an omen of Tall tale Roomy sleeves Sand-painting people — bonding Aunt, in Madrid Well-known Spout rhetoric Weatherman Al — Jacques, in song Made top honors Geologic time divisions Like a hearth Small number Gladiator’s hello Clean water org.

holder from the Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (Brooklyn College-CUNY), Miclat-Janssen won an Aliw Award for Best Performance for a New Concept Production for Ginugunita Kita, a Best Actress Award from the Metropolitan Opera Getty Awards for Supernumeraries for Salome, and a Best Actress citation from New York University’s First Run Film Festival for

Clarissa de los Reyes’ Giving Care. She has also recently released the album Ginugunita Kita with Jesse Lucas on iTunes and Spotify.

Miclat-Janssen has done plays in various languages - English, Filipino, Spanish, Japanese, and some Filipino dialects.

She has performed in different countries including Germany, Japan, and has done performances off-Broadway and at the acclaimed Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center in New York. She has also acted in films, which have been shown in international film festivals in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Korea, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and others.

As a director, Miclat-Janssen has worked with UP’s Dulaang Laboratoryo, Musical Theater Philippines, and most recently, for the first Fringe Manila in 2015, Joshua Lim So’s Palanca Award-winning play, Tungkol kay Angela under Destiyero Theater Commune. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts, College of Arts and Letters in UP Diliman.

Indeed, Miclat-Janssen has been connecting her heart, mind and soul into a holistic process in order to become a much more meaningful artist through this directorial project of The Female Heart.

The play was produced by special arrangement with the Filipino-American playwright and Elaine Devlin Literary, Inc., 411 Lafayette Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

T UES DAY : J ULY 1 2, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C7

‘MARS’ CELEBRATES 4TH ANNIVERSARY

J

Mars forverer. Camille Pratts and Suzi Abrera-Entrata

uly marks the fourth anniversary of GMA News TV’s Mars, and hosts Camille Prats and Suzi Abrera-Entrata are treating viewers to a week-long of fun-filled episodes.

Yesterday, Chynna Ortaleza and Cogie Domingo dropped by the show to share what they had been up to lately. Fresh from giving birth, Chynna showed how to make bibs from baby’s old clothes. Cogie, meanwhile, is set to make a comeback in showbiz. Upon his request, he will be taught how to cook Asian pork stew.

It will be a big Tuesday today as Mars celebrate its fourth anniversary. Stand-up comedians Tetay and Pepay add fun to the show with their crazy antics. Camille and Suzi will also pick the winners for the Wacky Face-Off contest and will even try to imitate the wacky expressions by the show’s Facebook followers. And since it’s a special day, a

mysterious chef will give instructions to the guests as they cook a new dish.

The stars of GMA’s latest Afternoon Prime series, Sinungaling Mong Puso, join the show on Wednesday. Sherilyn Reyes-Tan, JC Tiuseco, and Stephanie Sol talk about the TV adaptation of the 1992 blockbuster movie.

On throwback Thursday, Camille goes back to the character that propelled her to stardom: Princess Sarah. See how Camille looks 20 years after her iconic movie role. As a bonus, Sarah will be joined by Ms. Minchin, which will be brought to life by Suzi.

Kapuso actor Dion Ignacio, meanwhile, shows off his handyman skills as he makes a chicken wire magazine rack. Another Kapuso hunk, Juancho Triviño, will prepare veggies and beef packets.

Catch all these on Mars this week, 7 p.m. on GMA News TV.

30 new hopefuls in Miss Chinatown Fil-Chi Media Productions Incorporated (Chinoy TV), in cooperation with Miss Chinatown Foundation, introduces 30 young, spirited and talented men and women as this year’s official candidates for the Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Philippines pageant, co-presented by Oriental Group and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated.

Now on its 3rd year, the coveted search in the Chinese-Filipino community has come down to 15 boys and 15 girls, ages 18 to 26 years old, who personify unity in diversity and an effort to stay true to opulent traditions while adapting to the changing times.

In what is set to be a month-long journey, the candidates will compete to represent the excellence of the Chinese-Filipino youth in areas such as leadership, the arts, entrepreneurship and academics. Two will emerge as ultimate victors who will each be taking home 500,000 pesos worth of prizes.

Unity in diversity

Timely challenges in relations between two different yet vibrant nations have ignited a parade that transcends a show of beauty and charisma. More importantly, the Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Philippines 2016 candidates will be endorsing an advocacy of

The official candidates vying for the titles Mr. and Miss Chinatown 2016

oneness and a developed sense of belonging at a time they are needed the most.

This pageant serves as an eye-opener, that through the union of two cultures and making the best of both, there can be unity in diversity.

“By emphasizing this advocacy, we can expect more from the candidates this year in terms of their vision and commitment throughout the course”, promises Alvin Kingson Tan, President of Fil-Chi Media Productions.

Month-long events

Leading to the main event in a month’s time, Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Philippines 2016 had a Talent Competition last Sunday at The Lucky Chinatown Mall where select candidates showcased their creative takes on personal skills. Later there will be a Cultural Costume Competition on July 17 at Eastwood Central Plaza, to flaunt the fusion of traditional and

modern Chinese-Filipino through colorful ensembles; and a Swimsuit Competition x Fashion Show on July 20 at the Chaos, City of Dreams Manila.

To conclude, the candidates will be facing off in the grand coronation night set to happen on July 31 at the Resorts World Manila, to be directed by Paolo Valenciano, and will air exclusively on the home of Kapamilyas, ABS-CBN, on Aug. 7 after Gandang Gabi Vice.

Angel Locsin Smart Padala’s brand ambassador Smart Padala, the remittance brand of PayMaya Philippines (formerly Smart eMoney, Inc.), launches today its new campaign with Angel Locsin as its brand ambassador as part of efforts to further strengthen its leadership in the remittance service industry.

The new campaign aims to reinforce the brand message of Smart Padala, which is PadaLapit.

Based on data from the first National Baseline Survey on Financial Inclusion released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas mid-2015, it is estimated that on average, Filipinos take around 22 minutes to reach the nearest financial services touch point. It also costs an average of P43 for a roundtrip fare.

With 15,000 Smart Padala centers nationwide, there is a Smart Padala center in almost every municipality so users do not need to travel, spend for the fare, and consume time just to send or receive money remittances. Smart Padala makes home feel closer by sending the remittances of family breadwinners to their loved ones in the most accessible, convenient, and secure manner. These centers include the recently launched Smart Padala International flagship stores that enable Filipinos to receive the remittances of their loved ones abroad.

“Since the brand was launched over ten years ago, Smart Padala has been enabling our countrymen to send and receive money anywhere in the country in a fast, easy, secure, and affordable manner. With this campaign, we reaffirm and strengthen this ‘PadaLapit’ brand that has

Radio jocks Chris Tsuper and Nicole Hyala join Angel Locsin (center) at the launch of Smart Padala’s new campaign

made us a fixture of Filipino life,” said Benjie Fernandez, co-COO of PayMaya Philippines and COO of Voyager Innovations.

Known to be a family-oriented celebrity and an advocate of various causes, Angel Locsin was chosen by Smart Padala as the ideal ambassador for the brand as it intensifies its push for financial inclusion.

“Angel Locsin represents the family and service-oriented values of Smart Padala. Aside from being a devoted daughter, she also supports advocacies such as the Philippine Red Cross and women’s rights. We’re happy to welcome her to the Smart Padala family,” said Lawrence Ferrer, vice president and head of Domestic Business at PayMaya Philippines.

“I’m proud to be the new ambassador of Smart Padala. Naniniwala ako sa brand dahil malaki ang naitutulong ng Smart Padala sa mga manggagawa at pamilyang Pilipino.

By representing the brand, I hope to help in Smart Padala’s mission to uplift more lives and communities,” said Angel Locsin.

On top of enabling mobile money remittance, Smart Padala also fosters entrepreneurship in the community.

“The backbone of our business is our army of Smart Padala community partners.

Part of our mission is to help families and communities by providing micro-entrepreneurship opportunities. Anyone can be our partner and open a Padala center — all they need is a cellular phone, our basic business documentary requirements, and the driving passion to be of service,” said Paolo Azzola, managing director and coCOO of PayMaya Philippines.

PadaLapit Lang with Smart Padala With 15,000 Padala centers nationwide,

sending money to loved ones anywhere in the country can be as simple as buying mobile load from a nearby sari-sari store.

To make mobile money more inclusive, Smart Padala launched last year its PickUp Anywhere service, which allows users to send money to anyone, regardless of mobile network, to be redeemed at any Smart Padala center nationwide.

It also launched promos such as Padalang Padalow for lower customer service fees and incentives to Padala partners.

“Smart Padala is truly a Filipino brand. It has made its mark not only as the global pioneer in mobile money but as an inclusive financial services enabler, making lives easier for the unconnected, unbanked and uncarded. We are committed in bringing this vision of bridging the digital divide through relevant services such as Smart Padala,” said Orlando B. Vea, president and CEO at PayMaya Phiippines.

PayMaya Philippines is the digital financial services unit of PLDT and Smart Communications (Smart), under the Voyager Group. Aside from Smart Padala, among its innovative services include: PayMaya, the leading over-the-top digital payments app in the Philippine market; PayMaya Business, suite of solutions for businesses of any size; and Smart Money, the pioneering mobile money service linked to the Smart SIM and mobile phone. To know more about Smart Padala, visit www.smartpadala.ph and like its official Facebook page, www. facebook.com/SmartPadalaPH.

T UES DAY : J ULY 1 2, 2016

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

MARIAN

TO TAKE ANOTHER BREAK FROM SHOWBIZ

BY ENNA HERMOSO PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

A

few months after her showbiz comeback, Marian Rivera said that she would be taking another break to focus more on taking care of her daughter.

In a press launch for Johnson’s Milk+ ats held on July 5, the Kapuso Primetime Queen told the members of the press that she wanted to be a hands on mom to Zia. And she will be very selective in accepting assignments from her mother network since she wants to spend more quality and quantity time with her daughter with Dingdong Dantes.

When she returned to work, Marian was instantly given a new assignment as host of Yan Ang Morning!, a lifestylemorning talk show that allows viewers as well as the studio audience to participate and be involved in everything that Marian does in the program.

In the show, she has a cooking segment, DIY projects and activities, and a segment where she even try the latest workouts and fitness trends.

“I’m glad that they (GMA Network) still give me projects that can showcase

a different side of me,” Marian said in vernacular.

The Kapuso star was also ecstatic to reveal that the show, which is designed for just one season will be extended for two more weeks.

“The management wanted to extend the show that’s why our viewers will still see us for a few more weeks,” she revealed.

Meanwhile, Marian will also play as “Ynang Reyna Minea” alongside her husband Dingdong , who will play as Raquim, in the 2016 remake of Kapuso fantaserye, Encantadia. Dingdong played the role of Ybrahim/Ybarro in the series’ original version.

Although offered with another soap scheduled to start taping in September, Marian said she wouldn’t have the time to accommodate additional projects.

When asked if she is willing to let Zia enter show business, Marian said that she wants to let the kid enjoy a normal life away from the limelight.

The Johnson’s Milk+Oats on July 5 at the Market! Market! also marked the first public appearance of the 7-month-old Zia.

Marian Rivera cuddles up to baby Zia at the latter’s first public appearance on July 5

Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera at the Johnson’s Milk+Oats launch held at Market! Market! in Taguig City

Tired of adulting? Try Cartoon Network This month, celebrate the thrill of adolescence as our favorite characters from Supernoobs and Clarence take on adventures in their respective schools and communities.

Join 12-year-old, nerdy best friends Kevin, Tyler, Shope and the Roach as they face the harrowing halls of their middle school and survive microcosmic assassins infecting earthlings bent on destroying the super-tastic world of Supernoobs. Catch the epic collision of the evils of the universe with the evils of adolescence weeknights at 6:15 p.m.

Meanwhile, for a lighter and funnier take on things, follow Clarence, a spirited, optimistic and quirky eight-year-old who is always excited about everything. For him, daily life is a funny, thrilling adventure because everything is amazing. Celebrate the best of childhood with his epic dirt fights, awkward crushes, trampoline

Talk about middle school and see “Supernoobs” fight evil viruses

combat, sleepover pranks and more.

Catch the brand new episodes of Clarence, weekends at 9:15 a.m.

Don’t miss the brand-new episodes of these

See the best in everything in “Clarence”

awesome shows this July only on Cartoon Network.

Cartoon Network is available on SKYCable Channel 43, SKYCable HD Channel 178, Cignal Channel 35, Cignal

HD Channel 110, Destiny Cable (Digital) Channel 43, Destiny Cable (Analog) Channel 51 and Cable Link Channel 26, Dream Satellite Channel 15.