The Standard - 2016 July 15 - Friday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX  NO. 153  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  FRIDAY : JULY 15, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Marcos slams media ban

Asean gagged: ‘Usual suspects’ blamed By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan A FORMER Philippine representative to the United Nations on Thursday brushed aside the failure of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to issue a joint statement on the Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling on the West Philippine Sea, describing such a document as “irrelevant.”

“We should no longer expect in the future that there will be an Asean statement on China,” said former undersecretary and permanent representative to the UN Lauro Baja. “A statement [from Asean] is becoming irrelevant.” Baja was reacting to the decision of Laos, the chair for the Asean summit this July, not to issue any joint statement on the tribunal’s ruling

invalidating China’s nine-dash line claim in the West Philippine Sea. Baja said the reason there was no statement was the failure of the 10 Asean members to reach a consensus. “A statement cannot be issued even if only one member objects to it,” Baja said. Vietnam agreed to issue a joint statement but the “usual suspects”

such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos did not agree to one, he said. Baja suggested that the Philippines no longer include the Asean in its dealings with China, given the lack of unity among the 10 member-states. “The Philippines should [instead] concentrate among individual Asean members. Don’t strive anymore for Asean statement,”

Baja said, noting that it was the fourth time that Asean failed to issue a joint communique about the West Philippine Sea. But Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said a joint statement from Asean was still important. “We already have full support of many of the international community members. But it will also

CHINA TALKS EYED Duterte taps FVR to start discussions By Rey E. Requejo and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

FOREIGN Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said Thursday the Philippines remains open to bilateral talks with China and President Rodrigo Duterte himself asked former President Fidel Ramos to serve as the country’s special envoy to start the dialogue. But, speaking hours before Duterte made the request at a dinner hosted by his college cronies, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned such talks should not include joint development of the West Philippine Sea as that would be a violation of the Next page Constitution.

Sunset at the Square. This photo taken on July 13, 2016 shows a child waving a Chinese flag during the daily flag-lowering ceremony at sunset in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The Philippines urged Beijing on July 14 to respect an international tribunal’s ruling that rejected Chinese claims to most of the South China Sea, and said it would raise the issue at a regional summit. AFP

Sangyaw festival a success

Robredo, Bautista deny ‘secret’ meeting By Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja COMMISSION on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista denied Thursday that he secretly met with Vice President Leonor Robredo shortly after the Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, ordered her to answer charges of fraud in the last election.

In a statement, Bautista called as “malicious” suggestions that he had a meeting with Robredo after a video of showing him and Robredo at a private party hosted by socialite Baby Cruz at the Urdaneta Apartments in Makati Tuesday night. Bautista said he was among the several personalities invited to a party attended by at least 30 guests, including Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Mo-

rales and United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg. The video was posted on the Facebook page Dayaang Matuwid, which said Robredo met Bautista on July 12, eight hours after the high tribunal ordered her to reply to the electoral protest filed by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Both Bautista and Robredo are respondents in the case. Next page

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Duterte sets 1st foreign trip By John Paolo Bencito

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s first foreign trip as head of state will be to Laos for the turnover of the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, a senior cabinet officer said Thursday. “Maybe Laos because traditionally, the first state visit is to Asean neighbors,” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said in a chance interview. Malacañang, meanwhile, announced Duterte will skip the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia this weekend to concentrate on domestic issues. “The President wishes to stay close to his countrymen in the

China... From A1

“I would like to respectfully ask former President Fidel Ramos to go to China and start the talks,” Duterte told fellow alumni of the San Beda College of Law who hosted a testimonial dinner in his honor at the Club Filipino in San Juan City. But Ramos, president from 1992 to 1998, said he was uncertain whether the incumbent president was serious or was just making a joke. “I think he just made that in jest because I’m busy writing my legacy for young people and China is only one of my areas of interest,” the former president said. “I have not seen the offer. I was out of range when he said it.” But Yasay, who was preparing to go to Mongolia for the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting, said he would also urge the 51 leaders there to support the arbitration ruling that invalidates China’s nine-dash line claims. “We are open to making sure that we will have bilateral talks with China in the implementation of this decision of the arbitral tribunal,” Yasay said in a radio interview. He added that the government is still formulating the next steps to make sure that the decision will be carried out peacefully. But Carpio warned the government would be violating the Consti-

Robredo,... From A1

Bautista admitted seeing Robredo during the party, but denied they had a lengthy talk. “All I’d said was hi and she responded hello,” Bautista said. “It was a social gathering. The members of the diplomatic corps were there. We didn’t talk about politics… I just said hello to the VP.” Robredo also denied a secret meeting. “There was no such secret meeting. We just attended a dinner party. Maybe, there were about 40 people. One of the guests was the Comelec chairman. I do not remember any incident that we talked to one another. I think, we just greeted one another, but we did not talk,” she said. She described suggestions of a secret meeting as “very malicious.”

first few months of his presidency,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a text message to reporters. Instead, Duterte asked Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay to represent him in the event, which will gather 53 leaders from Asia and Europe. The announcement came after the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued its ruling rejecting as groundless China’s claims over much of the

disputed South China Sea. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou has said publicly that discussion of the issue will not be welcome at the summit. At the same time, China Thursday threatened a “decisive response” to any provocations in the South China Sea, following an international tribunal ruling against its extensive claims in the disputed area. The Asian giant has reacted furiously to the verdict issued by the PCA tribunal in The Hague, which on Tuesday sided with the Philippines in its ruling that China had no grounds for its claims in the strategically vital waterway. “If anyone wants to take any provocative action against China’s security interests based on the award, China will make a decisive

response,” foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Thursday. He said the tribunal had been “unlawful” and the ruling would “not have any effect on China’s existing policy.” China has insisted that it will ignore the decision while warning its rivals that increasing pressure on the issue could turn the resourcerich waters into a “cradle of war.” It justifies its sovereignty claims by saying it was the first to have discovered, named and exploited the sea, and outlines its claims for most of the waterway using a vague map made up of nine dashes that emerged in the 1940s. Those claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. China has also in recent years built giant artificial islands capa-

ble of hosting military installations and airstrips in the Spratlys archipelago, one of the biggest groups of features in the sea. The Philippines brought the case against China in 2013, asking the court to find that Beijing’s claims to much of the territory in the sea are invalid and violate the UN’s Convention on the Law of the Sea. Aside from stating that China’s historical rights were without “legal basis,” the tribunal ruled that its artificial island building and the blocking of Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal were unlawful. Beijing boycotted the PCA proceedings, saying the court had no jurisdiction to rule on the issues, and has mounted a huge diplomatic and publicity drive to try to discredit the tribunal and its decision. With AFP

tution if it enters into an agreement with China for the joint development of the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. Carpio said the Constitution mandates that the government protect its EEZ, including the West Philippine Sea, which the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled belongs to the Philippines. Carpio said the 381,000 square kilometers of marine space that the court awarded to the Philippines do not overlap with China’s EEZ. “The Constitution says that the state shall protect its marine wealth in the EEZ and reserve its use exclusively—use and enjoyment—to Filipino citizens,” Carpio said, in an interview over ANC’s Headstart. Carpio said President Duterte cannot enter into agreement for a joint development with China within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. “It’s prohibited by the Constitution,” he said. Nonetheless, Carpio admitted that the Constitution allows the government to contract foreign companies to drill, and be paid for the service, but not through a joint development. “It cannot be a joint development state-to-state because that is our sovereign territory,” Carpio said. Since the PCA has upheld the freedom of navigation and overflight afforded to all nations, Carpio expressed optimism that other naval

powers like the United States will do their part in enforcing the law. “That part of the ruling will be enforced by the naval powers. They’ve already said that,” said Carpio, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to establish sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea. Carpio expressed hopes that China will comply with the international court’s decision, just like the other 95 percent of losing parties in the PCA’s arbitration cases. He said compliance would take time because China must prepare its populace to accept the PCA decision. “It will take time, but it will happen in the end. So we have to look at this from a very long-term perspective,” he said. With the PCA award, Carpio said the Reed Bank may be the country’s replacement for Malampaya, a natural gas field from which the country gets most of its supply. The Malampaya supply is expected to ran out in about a decade. Tension in the area rose in 2015, after the Philippine Navy found a large steel marker bearing Chinese inscriptions and hundreds of yellow buoys in the waters near the Reed Bank. “The ruling says the Reed Bank is ours. We will send there our survey ships again and please don’t harass them anymore. We will have to say that because we will have to alert them that we are sending our survey ships,” Carpio said.

While communication lines with China remain open, Manila should take some steps before meeting with Beijing, the magistrate said. “We will have consultations with Asean friends—those who are also prejudiced by the nine-dash line but they are now free from the nine-dash line. We consult our friends and allies, and then we talk to China,” Carpio said. The Philippines should also discuss with Beijing steps for establishing a code of conduct for fishing in the Scarborough Shoal, which has been awarded as a common fishing ground, Carpio added. “Let’s sit down with them first because the tribunal says it’s common and we have to lay down the rules for common use so there will be no skirmishes and no fighting by fishermen,” Carpio said. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Thursday the government’s “no-gloating” policy was the best tack to take. “If the Palace is curbing its enthusiasm, then it is a mature and reasoned reaction which contrasts sharply to the tantrums thrown by other parties,” he said. “We’re calm and collected. Compare this to other countries who are sending gunboats. What does this say? Let me quote a Chinese saying: ‘He who strikes the first blow admits he’s lost the argument’.” With Macon Ramos-Araneta

“As far as I am concerned, I do not remember any exchange between us. I just said ‘hi’ either when I entered or when I left… I can’t remember. But we never talked,” Robredo said. She said she and Bautista were just both invited to the dinner party. Even her daughters—Aika, Tricia and Jillian—were at the event, she added. “The dinner was over when I arrived there so I had to eat alone,” she said. Marcos had earlier sought to nullify Robredo’s proclamation for alleged poll fraud. On Tuesday, a Supreme Court insider disclosed that the justices deliberated on Marcos’ poll protest and decided to require Robredo to comment on the allegation that her election was tainted with irregularities. While the Court’s spokesman

Theodore Te admitted that the tribunal had acted on the Marcos, protest, he declined to offer any specifics. In a media briefing, Te said he was only authorized to announce that the tribunal will issue a resolution on this matter in due course. The PET is composed of the same 15 Supreme Court justices as its members. In his protest filed June 29, Marcos questioned the election results in 39,221 clustered precincts in 25 provinces and five cities all over the country involving some nine million votes. Marcos lost to Robredo by a margin of 263,473 votes in the final and official tally of votes. He garnered 14,155,344 votes while Robredo got a total of 14,418, 817 votes. Marcos sought the nullification of about a million votes cast in three provinces—Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao—over

claims of massive cheating. Marcos also asked the PET to order the reopening of ballots and manual recount of about eight million votes in 23 provinces and five cities. Marcos sought the annulment of the proclamation of Robredo as vice president and his declaration as duly elected vice president. It was earlier learned that the case has been raffled to Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the last appointee and known buddy of former President Benigno Aquino III, who has vowed to stop Marcos from becoming vice president. Caguioa and Aquino were classmates from elementary to college at the Ateneo de Manila University. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court in January, Caguioa was Aquino’s chief presidential legal counsel and then secretary of justice.

Asean... From A1

be important for the Asean to have a unified statement,” Yasay said in an interview. Yasay said that after the lawyers interpreted the 501-page ruling, the Department of Foreign Affairs will then submit its findings to President Rodrigo Duterte so they can chart the proper course of action. “The objective for us is to implement and we should implement the arbitral tribunal decision and we will do this through peaceful negotiations. But we must fully understand the implication and coverage of that decision, it will take just a matter of few days. This is the time for us to really be restrained in our comments,” he added. Asean has often been split on issuing joint statements commenting on the South China Sea dispute for fear of antagonizing China, which has become an important trade and investment partner for many of them, especially for poorer Indo-Chinese countries which also depend on China for financial aid for infrastructure development. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced in April this year that Beijing had reached a four-point consensus with Brunei, Cambodia, and Laos, by which they agreed that disputes over “some Nansha (Spratly) islands and reefs are not an issue between China and Asean and should not affect China-Asean relations.” They also agreed that such territorial disputes “should be resolved through dialogues and consultations by parties directly concerned,” rather than multilaterally. With AFP

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Marcos slams ban on reporters THE camp of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday deplored the media ban imposed by Smartmatic during its “clarificatory presentation” of the Automated Election System before the Manila Prosecutors’ Office. Lawyer Adrian Aumentado, counsel of former Abakada Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz, Marcos’ political adviser, said it was highly irregular why Smartmatic would want to bar the media from attending the presentation of the AES when the case filed was all about transparency. He insisted that excluding the media from the presentation was tantamount to denying the public’s right to know the processes used in their election. “We are for transparency and that is what this case is all about, and we just find it highly unusual that the media would be excluded from such presentation when it is after all a clarificatory hearing,” Aumentado said. The panel of prosecutors also expressed surprise during the hearing. When a member of the Smartmatic team said they were merely concerned about the logistical and practical requirements if members of the media were around, the panel said such would not be a problem since they could always arrange for a place for everyone including the media to be accommodated. This developed after Smartmatic personnel, instead of filing their Rejoinder to the complaint filed against them, filed a manifestation and motion to hold a clarificatory presentation to explain the AES and the other technical aspects of the case without the presence of any other party including the media. Aumentado also expressed surprise that Smartmatic would be the one to initiate a clarificatory presentation when the initiative should be coming from the panel of prosecutors. He also asked to be given time to file their opposition and/or manifestation to the motion. The panel, however, said the move would give them a chance to clarify certain technical aspects of the case without prejudice to whatever motion the former Senator’s counsels may file on the matter. They then set the clarificatory presentation to July 21, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. Dela Cruz filed charges against Smartmatic for “intentionally altering computer data without permission and altering and interfering with the functioning of a computer and computer network by inputting, deleting and altering computer data and program without right or authority.” Macon Ramos-Araneta

Briefing. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno briefs reporters at the Budget Department on Thursday. JOHN PAOLO BENCITO

Ombudsman indicts Binays for graft THE Office of the Ombudsman has indicted former vice president Jejomar Binay for nine counts of falsification, four counts of graft and one count of misuse of public funds before the Sandiganbayan for the allegedly overpriced, P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II. Binay’s son, ex-Makati City Mayor Erwin Jejomar Binay, was also charged with two counts of graft, falsification of public documents and misuse of public funds. The Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecution recommended a bail of P24,000 for each count of falsification of public documents, P30,000 for each count of graft and P40,000 for misuse of public

funds for the Binays’ provisional liberty. The camp of former vice president Jejomar Binay lashed out at Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales for being biased and a protector of the Liberal party in filing the charges against him and his son. In a statement, Binay’s spokesman Joey Salgado said Morales allowed herself to be a political tool of the previous administration whose political allies committed graft for using funds from the illegal Disbursement Acceleration Program. The charges stemmed from the time the older Binay was mayor of Makati. The Ombudsman claims

that the Binays connived with other city officials to award the contract to Mana Architecture and Interior Design Co. for the first and second stages or the design stage of the Makati City Hall Building II. “Despite its failure to deliver the approved plans and specifications under the contract,” MANA was able to receive a payment of P11,011,294.77,” the Ombudsman claims. The Ombudsman also upheld its indictment to hold the Binays liable for the construction stage of the project by awarding to Hilmarc’s Corp. from 2007 to 2011 three contracts worth P11.486 million through “simulated public biddings.” According to Morales, the

construction of the parking building began even without approved design standards, contract plans, cost estimates, detailed engineering and programs of work. The Commission on Audit earlier reported that the construction of the P2.28-billion Building II was irregular from budgeting to the execution. As a result, there was misuse of public funds. Moreover, the Office of the Special Prosecutor said father and son approved the payment release to Hilmarc’s despite full awareness that its accomplishment report was “baseless” due to the absence of supporting documents. Rio N. Araja, Maricel V. Cruz and Vito Barcelo

Palace appoints Jacinto, Cui-David MALACAÑANG on Thursday announced that a musician and a former lawyer of the daughter of alleged pork-barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles are its new appointees. The Palace said musician and businessman Ramon Jacinto is now Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs and Information Technology Communications with the rank of Undersecretary. Lawyer Lanee Cui-David, a product of the San Beda College of Law and former legal counsel of Napoles’ daughter Jean Catherine Napoles for her tax-evasion cases, is now deputy commissioner for the information technology group of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Jacinto campaigned for Duterte. He has business interests in real estate, retailing and manufacturing under the RJ Group of Companies. He is an economics graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, and he also took up law at the University of Santo Tomas. Cui-David, senior partner of the Cui David Buenaventura law firm, handled the cases of Napoles after a former high-profile legal counsel withdrew from all of her cases. Due to possible conflict of interest, David said, she had separated from the law office and withdrew from all BIR cases. The other new appointees were Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Gen. Arthur Tabaquero and Raymundo de Vera Elefante as Undersecretary for Finance, Ammunitions, Installations and Materials of the Department of National Defense John Paolo Bencito

CHARITABLE TRADITION. In pursuance of its core value of “malasakit”, The Wong Chu King Foundation (WCKF) recently kicked off its annual initiative to help underprivileged students of Tikay Elementary School in Malolos, Bulacan. A total of 325 nursery, kinder and grade one pupils received school kits consisting of a backpack containing notebooks, various school supplies and food packs. In middle photo are (L-R) WCKF coordinator Ms. Cristina Villanueva, WCKF volunteers Ms. Sophia Gonzalo, PDir. Melito Mabilin (Ret.), PDir. Rodrigo de Gracia (Ret.) and Mr. Noel Navarro together with students, faculty and staff of Tikay Elementary School.

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CHR creates probe panel By Rio N. Araja

Stop the killings. Human rights advocates raise clenched fists to condemn the spate of killings of suspected criminals during a media briefing in Quezon City on Thursday. EY ACASIO

DBM to junk Abad’s bottom-up budgeting By John Paolo Bencito THE Duterte administration decided to junk the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) program of the previous administration and dismissed the system as useful only as a “political tool” but “a waste of funds,” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Thursday. “That is really a political tool by the administration. When I saw it, it’s now down to the barangay level,” Diokno told reporters in a press briefing, explaining that the Internal Revenue Allotment mandated by the Local Government Code is more than enough. “The first major change is to discontinue the [BUB] because that was really politicized by the previous administration. When I saw

it, it’s not going down to barangay level... That’s frittering away important government resources,” Diokno said. “We could have used [BUB funds] for more effective projects... I think it’s a no-brainer, it’s a waste of funds,” he said. Diokno said the Internal Revenue Allotment mandated by the Local Government Code has ballooned to P486 billion and that

should be enough for local projects. “I recognize IRA as an unconditional grant, P486 billion to be exact. That’s a lot of money on a formula basis. Its released to them automatically. They are supposed to do basic health services, social services, devolved responsibility of local governments,” Diokno said. Diokno noted that the government has spent P74 billion for 54,000 BuB projects during the Aquino administration and yet it has not spent enough for infrastructure that would have brought more meaningful economic development. “We have to make up for the past neglect of infrastructure,” he said, adding that building roads has more economic impact than government office buildings. Diokno also explained that while

the Supreme Court has outlawed lump-sum allocations, which the public calls pork barrel, in the budget, it is perfectly legal for lawmakers to identify their priority projects because Congress, after all, is the paladin of the government purse. He said lawmakers can identify their favored projects during the budget deliberation process but doing so after the budget has been enacted would be violative of the high court’s decision. “Congressmen and senators are supposed to authorize the budget. [They] have a right also to identify projects that they see their people need in their districts,” Diokno said, reiterating that there is actually no definite amount allocated for lawmakers.

THE Commission on Human Rights created on Thursday a task force that will investigate extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals as human rights advocates slammed the Duterte administration for the spate of killings over drugrelated cases. Commissioner Gwen Pimentel Gana said Task Force Extrajudicial Killings will look into the summary executions of robbers, snatchers, drug users and pushers, and other lawless elements after the CHR expressed concern over human rights violations. “Our role here at CHR is to closely monitor human rights violations. This prompted us to form a task force,” she added, urging victims of human rights violations to file complaints before the commission. Gana announced the formation of the task force as rights advocates slammed the Duterte administration for the spate of extrajudicial killings. Max de Mesa, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Alliance national chairperson and Citizen’s Council for Human Rights convenor, said the President’s campaign for peace and order has only resulted in an alarming rise in summary executions. “Stop the bloodshed,” he said. “At least 251 people have been victims of extrajudicial killings from May 10 to July 13.” Arbitrary killing of suspected offenders violates the right to due process and denies them the right to a fair trial, he said. “We believe that summary methods violate the right to life, and will not solve the country’s crime and illegal drug problem,” he said. “It will only exacerbate the problem of lawlessness and violence.” With Macon Ramos Araneta

Palace: Drug war a success THE Philippine government on Thursday hailed its war on drugs a “success” as police confirmed killing nearly 200 people in a two-month blitz that has outraged rights groups. President Rodrigo Duterte’s office released a statement calling for authorities to “seize the momentum” of the anti-drug campaign, which has also led to a spate of vigilante killings that one media group said had claimed roughly 200 more lives. “Anti-drug campaign a success,” said the title of the statement, released by Presidential Spokesman Martin Andanar. “While the campaign against drugs is far from per-

fect, a generation of Filipinos have been saved from this scourge of society and destroyer of lives.” His statement was issued as the national police released figures showing that officers had killed at least 192 people they said were involved in drugs from May 10 to July 10. Duterte won the May 9 elections in a landslide after campaigning largely on a platform to eradicate crime within six months by unleashing security forces with shoot-to-kill orders. He vowed on one occasion during the campaign that 100,000 people would die, and so many bodies would be dumped in Manila Bay that the fish there would grow fat from feeding on them.

The killings since the election indicate his campaign promises that thousands would die during his six-year term may not have been hyperbole. Major TV network ABSCBN said it had recorded 339 “drug fatalities” between May 10 and July 12, based on police and media reports. The ABS-CBN’s tally includes almost 100 people who were gunned down by unidentified men or simply found murdered. Images of people killed in police anti-drug operations, or corpses found with signs saying things like “I am a drug pusher” or “I am a drug addict,” have become daily fare in the local newspapers. AFP

Better alive than dead. About 800 suspected drug users and pushers surrendered to the Malabon Ciy Police, admitting that they wanted to reform their lives amid the killings of suspected drug personalities. ANDREW RABULAN

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AFP plan: Credible defense By Florante S. Solmerin

Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday vowed to pursue the next phase of the military modernization program from 2017 to 2022 which focuses on having a credible defense and on securing maritime territory. “In the long run, we will still follow our modernization because it jibes with long-term plans like having credible deterrence to secure our territory, maritime plan especially now that we have more water territory,” Lorenzana said. The first phase of the AFP modernization used up P81 billion for the purchases of the jets and warships, Lorenzana said, expressing gratitude to the former administration. The Defense chief said resupply missions to a Marine contingent in Ayungin Shoal will continue following a UN tribunal decision upholding the Philippine position in a maritime dispute with China. He made this statement Wednesday after noting that the scheduled resupply for Ayungin Shoal, slated for last week, was cancelled pending the ruling of the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration. Lorenzana said the mission was scrubbed to avoid giving the impression that the Philippines was trying to provoke China. “There was a scheduled resupply sometime last week, but we postponed it because of the impending ruling to avoid giving the impression that we are trying to provoke China. I don’t know when the next resupply will be but definitely we are going there to resupply them by any means,” the DND chief stressed. The Philippines has Marine units deployed in Ayungin Shoal, Pagasa (Thitu) Island, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Parola (Northeast Cay) Island, Patag (Flat) Island, Kota (Loaita) Island, Rizal (Commodore) Reef, Likas (West York) Island, and Panata (Lankiam Cay) Island. At 5 p.m. July 12 (Manila time), the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration handed down its decision on the case which invalidated China’s claim over its “historic rights” to the disputed waters, stressing that its ‘Nine-Dash-Line’ claim has no legal basis. The ruling also added that China violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone through meddling with Philippine fishing and oil exploration in the region, allowing the illegal entry of Chinese fishermen into the disputed waters and causing harm to marine environment in the region through its massive reclamation activities. With PNA

Arms show. National Police Director General Ronald de la Rosa shows off the Minimi NK3 5.56M Squad Automatic Weapon from Arsenal-DND Philippines during the opening of the 24th Defense and Sporting Arms Show at the Mega Trade Hall, SM Mega Mall, Mandaluyong City. MANNY PALMERO

Health workers lose bid for amparo By Rey E. Requejo

THe Court of Appeals has affirmed its decision denying the petition filed by several physicians and health workers for the issuance of the privilege of the writs of amparo and habeas data to stop harassments, threats and surveillance activities being carried out against them by state security forces. In a three-page resolution, the CA’s Seventh Division through Associate Justice Victoria Isabel Paredes dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by the petitioners seeking the reversal of its decision issued last Dec. 10, 2015. The CA stressed that the petitioners failed to raise new arguments that would warrant the granting of their petition. “We have carefully reviewed our decision vis-a-vis the motion for reconsidera-

tion, and we found that the issues raised in the present motion and the arguments advanced in support thereof are mere rehash of those already considered and passed upon, and no new issue or substantial argument has been presented to justify the reversal or modification of the assailed decision,” the appellate court ruled. Associate Justices Magdangal M. de Leon and elihu Ybanez concurred with the ruling. The petitioners include Dr. Darby Santiago, chairman of the Health Alliance for Democracy; Imelda Gerali, registered nurse and administrative officer of the Samahang Operasyong Sagip, member of HeAD; Rebecca Abelong, member of Kilusang Mayo Uno; Neil Ambion, media liaison officer of KMU; Renato C. Asa, member of KMU; and other health advocates.

A part from police and military officials, the petitioners named former President Benigno Aquino as respondent in the case. A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty, and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission. The writ of habeas data is a remedy available to any person whose right to privacy in life, liberty or security is violated or threatened by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, among others. In its Dec. 10, 2015 decision, the CA ruled that the petitioners failed to mention Aquino’s involvement in any incident narrated by them. The appellate court also held that the petitioners have not provided any clear information on the identity of the person or persons responsible for the purported threats and alleged surveillance on them.

CPR training nationwide pushed By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Nine-hour fire. Firemen and employees wait outside a shopping mall along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City that was hit by a nine-hour fire. Probers are still looking for the cause of the fire which damaged an estimated P10 million worth of goods. EY ACASIO

IN LINe with the Department of Health’s observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial called on Filipinos to learn basic life support techniques such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Ubial said all Filipinos, and not only health workers, should be involved in solving health problems. Thus, the DoH will conduct a pilot project for CPR training, she related, and some schools hosted training on CPR Day last April. She also said the DoH will implement the Samboy Lim Bill or the CPR Bill that makes CPR training a requirement for graduation. The bill only needs President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature to make CPR training mandatory for elementary and high school students as part of the basic

education curriculum. The bill was named after basketball player Samboy Lim as a reminder that cardiac arrest can happen even to physically fit people such as athletes. Lim collapsed in the middle of an exhibition game featuring former Philippine Basketball Association superstars in 2014. The health chief said demonstrations in schools, provided by the DoH and its partners, will also be scaled up to train students on the practical use of CPR. “There should be a mannequin. everyone who sees the video should actually perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” Ubial said. She also said the DoH plans to increase the number of barangay health facilities in schools for emergency evacuations. These centers are needed to separate the ill and vulnerable from healthy evacuees and give them privacy, Ubial added.

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Rody keeps Naia execs on alert PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to take commercial flights in regularly shuttling between Manila and Davao would allow him to personally check on the improvements done on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. This is the observation of Senator Ralph Recto, who said that if the chief executive board flights in the Naia terminal “then such will serve as presidential inspection tours” on the nation’s premier air gateway. “If he becomes a Naia regular then he can see for

himself if services are being improved. He will also see first hand the things which need to be done,” Recto said. “This will have at least 37 million unintended beneficiaries,” Recto said, referring to the expected number of passengers who will use Naia’s four termi-

nals this year. Recto said President Duterte will be able to find out for himself “if X-ray machines are working, if toilets are clean, if queues are short and move fast, if air conditioning works, if baggage carousels are moving, and there are enough taxis for passengers.” With him as regular Naia user, “then perhaps congestion around and above Naia will now be attended to,” Recto said. “With the right mix of incentives and occasional invectives from Duterte, Naia can transform from

world’s worst to best,” he added. The senator conceded that these problems will take time and money to solve but if you have the president experiencing the inconveniences then surely work will be done on a faster pace. Even if President Duterte will alternately take private planes and commercial jets in going home to Davao City, this will be enough to “audit” Naia passenger care services, Recto said. The senator said government has enough money “to keep Naia’s ceilings from falling down or air

conditioners from conking out” as they repeatedly did over the past years. Government, he said, collected P10.4 billion from Naia passengers and airlines in 2015. Out of this, government netted P5.44 billion: P1.22 billion as its 20 percent share from gross income, P1.27 billion in tax payments, and P2.94 billion in net profit. About a third of Naia’s gross income came the P550 international terminal fee and the P200 domestic terminal fee paid by passengers.

In addition, Naia is a “major collection point” of travel taxes. Bulk of the P3.85 billion travel tax collections in 2014 were paid by passengers who boarded flights in Naia, Recto said. Travel tax rates range from P2,700 for a first class passenger to P1,620 for an economy seat to P300 for an OFW dependent. Recto also pointed out that a significant portion of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ P6.6 billion gross income in 2015 came from Naia aviation activities.

Binay urges traders: Help rebuild Makati By Joel E. Zurbano

Cleanup drive. Malabon City workers remove waterlilies to declog a river in Malabon on Thursday. ANDREW RABULAN

CA junks libel suit vs ex-Customs chief THE Court of Appeals has upheld a resolution of the Department of Justice that dismissed the libel complaint filed by an oil company against former Bureau of Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales in 2010. In a 19-page ruling written by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, the CA’s Special Ninth Division denied

the petition filed by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. against Morales. The CA upheld the ruling of the DOJ dated Feb. 13, 2012 and March 17, 2015. Shell, through its vice president for Communications Roberto Kanapi, anchored its complaint-affidavit dated Aug. 16, 2010 on the alleged libelous statements of Mo-

rales during an interview with Erwin Tulfo over radio station DZXL on Jan. 18, 2010. During the interview, Morales accused Shell of committing fraud in declaring its imported petroleum products as “tetrapropylene,” a lubricant, instead of its correct classification as unleaded gas. Shell filed a complaint for libel before the Makati City

Prosecutor’s Office but it was denied. This prompted the oil company to seek redress before the DoJ and later elevated the case to the appellate court. “Morales cannot be accused of libel for he was merely stating the position of the government,” the CA ruling said. PNA

MAKATI Mayor Abigail Binay on Thursday appealed to businessmen to help her government rebuild and restore good governance in the city. The mayor was invited to induct the Rotary Club of Manila’s new board of directors and officers led by president Teodoro Ocampo. In her speech at the New World Hotel, Binay said there was a need to rectify what she called the damage caused by the previous administration. “We need to rebuild our city. We need to rebuild governance in Makati. We need to undo one year’s worth of inefficiency, neglect and misuse of government resources,” she claimed. Binay said she was dismayed to find the city-run hospital lacking in the most basic needs such as hospital gloves and reagents, while its patients have suffered for months due to the breakdown in airconditioning. “For so many years, the Ospital ng Makati never experienced shortages in supplies and medicine. Hospital facilities were well-maintained. The hospital even garnered recognition from the International Standards Organization or ISO,” she

said. She said she has directed the concerned offices to rectify the situation. Binay said that after only two weeks in office, her administration has uncovered irregularities and violations of the law in the promotion and hiring of government employees. “These were promotions not based on merit, but based on political connections. There were hirings made not based on competence, but by blood and political relations to the appointing authority and his operators. Hundreds were included in the government payroll, but their exact functions, assignments and whereabouts were not clear, if they reported for work at all,” Binay said. “The Rotary Club of Manila, for almost a century now, has been relentless in its mission to uplift the lives of poor and disadvantaged Filipinos. Your organization has helped rebuild the lives of countless victims of calamities in various parts of the country. You have also successfully supported core programs of Rotary International, including its noble goal to eradicate polio. Indeed, you have done yourselves proud,” Binay said.

Immigration reforms proposed By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER Speaker and Quezon City Rep. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has sought to reorganize and convert the Bureau of Immigration into a commission to institute reforms in the country’s present immigration system. Belmonte, in filing House Bill 162 otherwise known as the “Philippine Immigration and Registration of Foreign Nationals Act,” stressed the need for Congress to pass a law that will expand the Bureau’s jurisdiction for the domestic and external interests of the Philippines. “The Bureau of Immigration should be clothed with a renewed mandate to deliver world-class im-

migration services that will promote the country’s image in the international community as a safe tourist destination and a potential investment site,” said Belmonte. Under the bill, the Commission shall be administered by the Board of Commissioners headed by the commissioner as chairperson and four deputy commissioners as members and shall all be appointed by the president. The bill provides that the Board of Commissioners shall have the power to deport, revoke immigration status, recognize Philippine citizenship by birth or marriage, issue and revoke all visas, declare indigency and legalize residence in accordance with law. The measure states appointed deputy commissioners shall be as-

signed by the commissioner to supervise relative to the operations of the different divisions in terms of regulation, border control, enforcement and management support. Immigration officers shall have the power to exclude foreign nationals that are not properly documented, search for foreign nationals on any vessel believed to be used to illegally bringing foreign nationals into the Philippines, the bill states. They can also act as control officers with authority to prevent the exit of passengers not complying with departure requirements, it adds. Moreover, the Commission shall have field offices in each of the administrative regions including the National Capital Region.

Two tigers’ tale. Zoo owner Manny Tangco introduces two cubs

named Tiger Duterte and Tiger Leni at the Malabon Zoo Aquarium and Botanical Garden on Thursday. ANDREW RABULAN

f r i d ay : j u ly 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

news

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DPWH extends GenSan road network

Writing for Peace. Center for Peace and Conflict Studies executive director, Dr. Emma Leslie (right), together with Institute of Bangsamoro Studies executive director Abhoud Syed Lingga (2nd from right) officially launch the book entitled Peace is for Everyone: Bangsamoro stories of hope, survival, pain and resilience on Wednesday at the Em Manor Hotel in Cotabato City. OMAr MANGOrSi

PDEA burns P1.77-b shabu

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

The Philippine Drug enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police on Thursday burned P1.77 billion worth of dangerous drugs at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite. PDeA Director General Isidro Lapeña and PNP Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa led the destruction of the seized contraband. “Majority of the burned shabu, weighing 180,903.10 grams, were dug up in a beach resort in the farflung area of Claveria, Cagayan last July 3, 2016,” said Lapeña. ”We want the public to witness the destruction of dangerous drugs seized by drug enforcement officers in order to allay public apprehensions that these illicit substances are being reused, recycled or sold back in the streets,” he said, adding that the destruction of illegal drugs was also his first only two weeks after he took over the PDeA’s leadership. A total of 400,356.25 grams of assorted pieces of drug paraphernalia

composed of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and expired medicines; and liquid shabu weighing 66,250 milliliters were burned to prevent reconstruction. Lapeña lauded the efforts of the regional trial courts in the cities of Antipolo, Quezon, Makati, Pasay, Manila, Pasig, Parañaque, Taguig, Marikina, Valenzuela, Camiling, Tarlac, Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, Guagua in Pampanga and San Fernando in Pampanga, for the swift prosecution and disposition of drug cases that led to the prompt destruction of these illegal drugs and substances no longer needed as evidence in court. “There is no looking back, we started strong in this war and we will finish stronger,” Dela Rosa said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Directorate for Operations of the Philippine National Police, Chief Supt. Camilo Cascolan, admitted that Project “Tokhang” of the PNP is only being conducted in slum areas because they are still finding a legal basis for entering high-end subdivisions. Cascolan said that the PNP has tasked a group to conduct “Tokhang” on big subdivisions, but they are hampered by the lack of a legal leg to stand on. Meanwhile, he said, all police chiefs will be evaluated weekly based on their performance of the “Tokhang” operations. he said Dela Rosa himself will lead the evaluation. “If their performance rating will be low, in a matter of six weeks they will be relieved,” Cascolan said. Police Chief Supt. elmer Cruz Beltejar, Region 8 acting regional director, lauded the operatives of PNP Region 8 Anti-Illegal Drugs Operation Task Force and the Sogod Municipal Police Station who neutralized an ex-PNP member allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade on Wednesday afternoon in Barangay Zone 1, Sogod, Southern Leyte. The operatives conducted a buy-

bust operation against ex-PNP Member PO1 emmanuel Salon, 39 years old, listed on the PNP Drug Watchlist in PRO8 and classified as a high-value target of the Regional Anti-Drug focus team. Three PNP personnel were wounded and were taken to Sogod District hospital and the RTR hospital, while the body of the suspect was brought to the funeral parlor in Sogod. The injured policemen will be awarded the “Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting.” Over in Bulacan, policemen killed two pushers in a shootout in Barangay San Pablo-Sta. elena Diversion Road early Thursday morning. In Bataan, two suspected drug dealers were killed in an encounter with the police on Wednesday night in Barangay Pagalanggang, Dinalupihan. David Cayanan, who ranked high in the town’s drug watchlist, and Arnel Cayanan opened fire on policemen during a buy-bust operation and were killed in the ensuing gun battle. Police said the two were members of the Cayanan Brothers Robbery holdup and Drug Group. With Mel Caspe, Florante S. Solmerin, Butch Gunio and PNA

The Department of Public Works and highways office in Region 12 has integrated a vital road into General Santos City’s 19.6-kilometer circumferential road network. DPWh Region 12 director, engineer Reynaldo Tamayo Sr., said Thursday the road from the junction of the Digos-Makar highway to the junction of the Filipino-American Friendship Avenue has been declared by their central office as part of the national road network. Tamayo said the move, which mainly expanded the coverage of the circumferential road, was based on Department Order No. 140 issued last June 27. The road will be under the supervision of the South Cotabato II District engineering Office, he said. “Its declaration as part of the primary road network will result to additional budgets for future maintenance activities like asphalting and other improvements, such as widening and construction of additional lanes, upgrading of road shoulders, and the installation of drainage systems and guardrails,” Tamayo said. DPWh-12 opened the P1.135billion road network’s northern section last April following the full completion of its two vital components—the Silway bridge and the expansion of a portion of the 10.5-kilometer road section in Barangay Apopong in General Santos. The northern section starts at the diversion road along the Digos-Makar highway in Barangay Katangawan and stretches to Sinawal road on the General Santos-Isulan highway in Barangay Apopong. The circumferential road stretches to the western part of the city through the diversion road in Barangays Apopong and Sinawal to the city airport road in Barangay Fatima. The diversion road from the city airport to the fishport complex in Barangay Tambler is being constructed. PNA

Poverty in Samar island down to 25% in two years, says Piñol By Mel Caspe CATBALOGAN CITY, SAMAR—Department of Agriculture chief Manny Piñol yesterday said the Duterte Administration will work to cut poverty incidence in Samar Island, whose three provinces were the Top 3 poorest in the country, by half in two years. “This is urgent. Our target is, if you now register a 50-percent poverty incidence, we will have to cut it down to 25 percent, not during the entire incumbency of President Duterte, but only in two years,” said Piñol. The DA chief was in Catbalogan to meet local leaders, farmers and fishermen groups in the eastern Visayas, as part of his promise to return to Samar to improve the lot of Samarnons. Before his assumption as DA chief, he vowed to transform the island into a major food producer of the country. Piñol said the DA will provide free palay seeds good for two croppings, a working irriga-

tion system, pre- and post-harvest implements and technical assistance for inter-cropping. “I want to see Samar thriving with coconuts and cacao and coffee. I also would like to inform you that we are supporting tree farming and we will pay a monthly honorarium for those who would want to engage in it, I will meet with environment Secretary Gina Lopez on the 19th to discuss this program,” Piñol concluded. however, during his visit, dubbed as “Aragtubang,” Piñol warned local leaders and regional officials of the DA not to make the department a milking cow and urged them to give the farmers what is due them. “No nonsense plans this time, no Farm to Pocket Roads, come up with validated data-bases of farmers and include their locations and lot numbers. The farmers should be insured by the government. I will help you and I will give you all the funds that you need, provided we will do things right,” he stressed.

Price spike. World gold market prices have spiked from P1,600-P1,750 per gram a few

months ago to P2,020-P2,040 per gram. Photo shows a gold trader weighing and checking the purity of 98.4 grams of gold worth P179,000. DAViD CHAN

F R I D AY: J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

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OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

SAVING FACE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

[ EDI TORI A L ]

TRADE IMPLICATIONS FISHING, mineral exploration and other commercial activities in the West Philippine Sea must be viewed in a different light from the hostile positions taken by claimants in the disputed water. That may be difficult to achieve at the moment given the embarrassment created by the landmark ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on China. The Philippines and other nations contesting the disputed West Philippine Sea, however, should strive to keep trade relations with China open and stable given the clout of the world’s second-biggest economy. It may be too early to impose one’s will over the expanse of the Asian sea—one of the world’s most strategic shipping routes—following the international court ruling. Just the same, the protagonists in the area, especially the Philippines and a defiant China, must be cautious in their next move and wait for the right time to explain their respective agenda. The Philippines has said it is not in a hurry to resume oil and gas exploration in contested parts of the sea pending a thorough understanding of the decision. The Philippines has had success in the exploitation of natural gas in waters near Palawan province and minor oil discoveries over the northwestern part of the island. This commercial activity should resume in the near future and it will not be counter-productive if Filipino companies invite their China counterparts in a joint exploration scheme. The Philippines has exercised restraint over the West Philippine Sea when it imposed a moratorium on oil and gas drillings in the West Philippine Sea. China should consider the Philippines’ self-restraint as an act of good faith and move forward in developing similar commercial activities under a formal arrangement. Fishing by Filipinos over the previously “disputed waters,” meanwhile, should resume unhampered and with no intimidation from contesting claimants, as long as the activity does not endanger the ecosystem as The Hague decision correctly pointed out. The Philippines and China have been trading partners since the olden days. They should remain that way and further the relation in the face of global trade headwinds.

SO NOT THE HERO LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES IN THE hot months in the middle of 2012, in the disputed (but never really tense) Scarborough Shoal, thenPresident Noynoy Aquino sent the newly acquired Philippine warship BRP Gregorio del Pilar instead of a civilian Coast Guard vessel to arrest Chinese fishermen earlier reported to be engaged in illegal fishing. That was the start of an incident that became known as the

Scarborough Standoff, which ended with the de facto loss of a rich, traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen—and the takeover by the Chinese of an area right at our doorstep due west of Zambales province. If you’ve forgotten what happened in those tense months in Scarborough (known to our fishermen as Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc), then you probably wouldn’t be as lavish in your praise of Aquino’s supposed role in our long-running territorial dispute with China. It was Aquino who escalated the crisis with China because he wanted to show off his new

warship; it was he—and the Philippines—who lost face when the Chinese didn’t leave Panatag after a US-brokered deal that involved “simultaneous withdrawal” of all vessels from both sides. By rights, Aquino should be charged with treason for the loss of Scarborough to the Chinese, who have not left the area since. The favorable ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration should not extinguish Aquino’s culpability in escalating the crisis because of his wrong-headed belief that he could stare down the Chinese in Panatag. So, if you’re still convinced

Aquino was actually acting against his own country’s interest the whole time in the territorial dispute.

that Aquino was the “architect” of the landmark ruling by the arbitral court based in The Hague, please remember: If Aquino had not militarized the Scarborough conflict and given the Chinese a reason to set up a permanent base there, we would probably not have needed to file a case the following year. But Aquino messed up big time in our dealings with China, beginning with his adamant refusal to punish his people for the killing of eight Chinese tourists at the Rizal Park in August 2010. It was Aquino who thought that calling the Chinese names like “Nazis” would make the Americans rush to our aid in the Spratlys, which the US never did.

It was Aquino who refused to conduct parallel negotiations with China even while the PCA case was going on, as lawyers familiar with arbitral cases encouraged him to do. And it was Aquino who sent Senator Antonio Trillanes to China as back-channel negotiator with the senator’s “politburo contacts,” that only resulted in tourist and fruitexport bans from Beijing. Aquino is not the hero in the PCA ruling. Far from it: He was actually acting against his own country’s interest the whole time.

*** Sass Rogando Sasot, a Filipino honor student at Leiden College in The Hague, has come up with a hilarious (if totally imaginary) dialog between a sober person and a CHexit advocate. It’s so funny, I just have to share it here, with some editing for space: Sober Mind: What do you mean by CHexit? CHexit: I want China to exit the West Philippine Sea! Sober Mind: The Tribunal decision didn’t say anything about that. So how

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would you achieve what you want? CHexit: I will ask the US to help us. Sober Mind: Help you what? CHexit: Help me kick them out of the West Philippine Sea. Sober Mind: So, you want war? CHexit: YES! I want dead Chinese! I want them dead! I want them out of the West Philippine Sea! Sober Mind: Let me get this straight. You want the United States to send their soldiers to die for you and spend the money of their taxpayers so that you can achieve what you want? Continued on A10 Rolando G. Estabillo Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

A DANGEROUS and scary scenario is developing in the South China Sea. With its setback from The Hague arbitral court ruling, China is trying to save face by ramping up its defiance with an air zone defense over the disputed area to assert its sovereignty. To what extent will the Xi Jinping cabal go to save face after The Hague court declared illegal China’s nine-dash line claiming nearly the entire South China Sea? The Chinese politburo is made up of China’s top military leaders who control the People’s Liberation Army. Clearly, China does not want to tangle with the more modern US aircraft carriers with their full complement of jetfighters on deck. The danger here is a miscalculation in the sky between Chinese aircraft and US jetfighters scrambled from US aircraft carriers plying the strategic waters. The US maintains the skies over the South China Sea are international air space. So are the sea lanes used by commercial cargo vessels. Some wars were sparked by an isolated incident. “Remember the Maine” was the battle cry sparked by the1898 mysterious explosion of the ship USS Maine at Havana harbor in Cuba that started the SpanishAmerican War. Aside from its own strategic interest to prop up the beleaguered regime of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, the US wanted to contain the spread of communism and its domino effect in Southeast Asia. A reader commented that the US is in the South China Sea because of its own strategic interest even if it’s not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. That may be true, but the US interest in Southeast Asia serves the Philippine interest as a deterrent to China’s aggressive moves to dominate the region. Certainly, the Philippines cannot stand up to the military might of China. But with US presence in the region, China will have to think twice before attacking its smaller neighbors. Recall that China did not have the guts to encroach on Philippine waters when the US Seventh Fleet was based in Subic naval base in Zambales while a squadron of modern aircraft was based in Clark Field, Pampanga. The Chinese started creeping up on us after the Senate, in a landmark vote, booted out the Americans from both Subic and Clark. Filipino fishermen who were driven out of their traditional fishing grounds near Scarborough Shoal by Chinese gunboats exalted and started going out to sail, prompting the Duterte government to call for restraint. Meanwhile, the name of former President Fidel V. Ramos has cropped up as being considered by President Rodrigo Duterte as special envoy to Beijing. This is a good move. FVR has the stature to patch things up with China if the Chinese 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

F R I D AY: J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

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OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

SAVING FACE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Aquino was actually acting against his own country’s interest the whole time in the territorial dispute.

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LESSONS LEARNED

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO WHEN an international court or tribunal hands down a judgment, expect not a sheaf of papers but a tome. That was exactly what we got from the Permanent Court of Arbitration that ruled on our plaint against the People’s Republic of China. Arbitration is generally classified as an alternative dispute resolution method—“alternative” to formal adjudication. In international law, however, arbitration has been a fecund source of doctrine, and the pronouncements of many arbiters and umpires have made it to the corpus of international law classics, cited by most learned treatises on the subject. A slam dunk—that is how many commentators have described the victory of the Philippines, because almost all of its submissions found favor with the tribunal. And that was not really because the PROC chose to recuse itself from the proceedings. China’s position—expressed in official statements, policy declarations, unilateral pronouncements—was carefully and diligently paid heed. The arbiters also did what most courts in the Philippines would not do: Ask independent researchers to supply it with detailed reports on the facts. China claimed exclusive rights to exploit marine resourc-

FILIPINO PENSIONER HORACE TEMPLO WE HAD to temporarily set aside, in the heat of the last presidential campaign period, the resolution of major problems that our active and retired workers face daily such as low wages, stagnant pensions, and the “endo” practice of employers to terminate—instead of regularizing—a worker’s employment at the end of his usual six-month contract. We had the comfort then, anyway, of having all of the five presidential bets taking the same populist side on how to solve them. The exception was PNoy’s anointed candidate, who chose to adopt his position in vetoing the P2,000 increase in the Social Security System’s pensions that Congress had already passed. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has won the presidency, and now we are waiting earnestly the implementation of his actions to these problems the way he had earlier promised. Meantime, my senior citizen friends and I would continue to browse over the electronic book copy of “Blas Fajardo Ople: Philosopher King,” which is a collection of quotations of the late

es in the contested area on the basis of “historic title.” Even before the Philippines went to court, the Chinese had retrieved from their archives ancient maps with strange markings and even stranger configurations that, they claimed, clearly showed that all the contested portions of ocean, islands, islets, shoals and reefs were appurtenances of the Middle Kingdom. For some time, we were flustered, but what more is one to expect from a kingdom that has always thought itself to be at the middle of the world and everything and everyone else as marginal, including “barbarians” claims to rights? Of course, there is the very good point made by Justice Antonio Carpio—who should be receiving plenty of national acclaim for his scholarly contribution to the Philippine case—that we are not even sure that those maps show what they purport to show, having been plotted centuries before cartography became a science! One has only to remember that charming scene from the original “King and I” (the Yul Brynner version) screenplay where Lady Thiang, chief wife, uses an ideological map to show, by sheer magnitude, the might of Siam in contrast to the misery of Burma! Geographical hogwash, but politically useful! We did no less, of course, and Tony Carpio had an armful of maps himself. But the tribunal ruled that his-

The tantrums of the Chinese, even if it should be the rabid ‘nationalism’ of a humongous nation with which we deal, should not tempt us into a position of misplaced reticence.

toric title would not stand in the face of express provisions of conventional (treaty) law— such as the articles of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The coastal state by provision of positive law enjoys sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone that not even claims resting on historic title may trump. This is certainly an affirmation of the positivity of modern law. Rosalyn Higgins, at one time president of the International Court of Justice, has argued persuasively for the conception that international law is to be thought of not so much as a set of rules but of processes

by which decisions in the international arena are made. Considered thus, the Unclos was a process by which nations of the world (with the notable exception of the USA) agreed on a regime for the world’s waters. The vagaries of historic recall cannot stand in the way of those processes by which the global community arrives at consensus! There are many other notable findings of fact and statements of the law that are better developed in specialized discourses. Such is the finding that the features in the disputed area does not qualify as islands and are incapable of generating an exclusive economic zone of their own. When is a formation an island and when is it not? Here, one sees how even geography’s definitions yield to the characterizations of law in the conduct of human affairs. While it seems that the arbiters made us of habitability and the capacity to sustain prolonged human occupation as criteria, that triggers very interesting questions in light of decisions of the ICJ and other international tribunals that have made pronouncements on the degree of “effective occupation” necessary to consolidate a claim to sovereignty over a non-habitable island! But now, it seems, we are pursuing a policy of placation, with President Digong planning on making a trip to China,

I hope, not to apologize that we won the battle. To ask for sobriety and charity in victory is all very well. There is no point to useless provocation. But the tantrums of the Chinese, even if it should be the rabid “nationalism” of a humongous nation with which we deal, should not tempt us into a position of misplaced reticence! We won, and most countries of the world that have spoken out have called on China to abide by the judgment. It contributes greatly to the cause of world peace when a people who have nurtured the myth that theirs is the “Middle Kingdom” are taught the political implications of that to which Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage (though ill-fated) gave practical demonstration: that the earth is round, and that there can be no middle kingdoms, really! The British saw their empire shrink, their monarch reduced to a figure-head. It was the same thing with Spain’s dreams of a global empire. And Europe, after Brexit, is less sure of itself now and more aware of the tenuousness of the vision of One Europe. The Chinese have to learn that important lesson, too —because when they do, the world will be better off. Catering to myths by flattery is never a good idea! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

KA BLAS OPLE’S VISION Ka Blas that his daughter Susan had compiled from his essays, columns, and speeches. There is a lot to learn from that book. Clearly, if Ka Blas were still alive today, he would be siding with President Digong in resolving our problems. Ka Blas has become our most outstanding labor secretary while in the service of former President Ferdinand Marcos during the early years of his Martial Law. Known for picking only the best and the brightest to serve in his cabinet, FM did not err in appointing Ople on the basis of his reputed intelligence, writing skills, and grasp of labor issues. His greatest achievements, according to Ka Blas himself, was in authoring the Labor Code of the Philippines that until now protects the rights of our workers, and in launching the overseas employment program that has improved the lives of millions of Filipino families. The Labor Code created the Employees’ Compensation Commission, which now provides sickness, disability, death and rehabilitation benefits that result from work-related illnesses and injuries. To support the overseas employment program, Ka Blas cre-

ated the tandem agencies Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration. He also launched the country’s manpower development program through the National Manpower and Youth Council. It is now the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. He initiated the payment of the 13th month pay and the Cost of Living Allowance that ordinary workers now enjoy. Because of him, unionists have maintained their rights to self-organization and collective bargaining, and settle their labor disputes at the National Labor Relations Commission in a non-adversarial and non-litigious process. His accomplishments, all together, have raised the labor department from a mere bureau to a major force in national affairs. His brilliance and leadership were recognized by the international labor community. Consequently, it elected him president of the 60th International Labor Conference in Geneva, Switzerland in 1975. In 1953, Ka Blas joined the Magsaysay-for-President Movement, headed its Executive Planning Committee, and wrote speeches for Nacionalista

Party candidates. Thereafter, he worked under Labor Secretary Terry Adevoso while also reporting directly to President Ramon Magsaysay as his technical assistant on labor and agrarian affairs. He was appointed by President Cory Aquino to help draft the 1987 Constitution. He was later elected senator in 1992, reelected in 1998, and became Senate President briefly from 1999 to 2000 before eventually accepting the appointment of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as foreign affairs secretary in July 2002. He died abroad while on a diplomatic mission on Dec. 14, 2003. Ka Blas joined the policymaking body of SSS—the Commission—as an ex-officio member representing government during his incumbency as labor secretary from 1967 to 1986. Strangely, he first joined it as a management representative in 1966. But unknown to most of us —and even to Susan, perhaps —he had almost succeeded in merging SSS and the Government Service Insurance System through a bill that he authored at the Senate. This was enacted into law as Republic Act No. 7699 or the “Portability Law” on

May 1, 1994. Its Section 1 reiterates the often-declared “policy of the State to promote the welfare of our workers by recognizing their efforts in productive endeavors and to further improve their conditions by providing benefits for their long years of contribution to the national economy.” But this section is unique in its mandate on what must be done later— “Towards this end, the State shall institute a scheme for totalization and portability of social security benefits with the view of establishing within a reasonable period a unitary social security system.” Sadly, nothing has been done to establish that “unitary social security system” despite the passage of a reasonable period—22 years—since the enactment of the Portability Law. The best that SSS and GSIS could do was totalized their members’ creditable years of contributions and paid pro-rata pensions. If President Digong really wants to, he can finish establishing in the next six years the unitary social security system that Ka Blas had envisioned a long time ago. All he has to do is merge SSS and GSIS.

F R I D AY: J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THE decision or award given the Philippines is stunning in its scope and clarity and breathtaking in its regional and global implications. At 5 p.m. on July 12, The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, at 117 years old, the oldest global institution for the settlement of international disputes, gave the Philippines its biggest legal victory ever in any international arena, and China, its biggest and most humiliating setback in its campaign for international maritime and economic supremacy and unbridled territorial expansion. Not since 1521 when Filipino warrior Lapu-Lapu defeated Portuguese explorer Magellan in the now famous Battle of Mactan nearly 500 years ago, has the Philippines won so convincingly a moral and legal victory of global import. To me, there are two basic issues in the Philippines vs. China maritime case filed in January 2013. The so-called ownership by China of some 80 percent of the South China Sea by “historic title,” and the issue over seven reefs or rocks occupied by China but which rocks and reefs are claimed by the Philippines as part of its sovereign maritime resources to which it alone is entitled to exploit, by reason of its

So not... From A9 CHexit: America loves us! They will defeat China!

Sober Mind: But you know that the world will become very unstable if the US launches a war against China, right? CHexit: I don’t care! I want China out of West Philippine Sea! Sober Mind: So you would rather have World War 3 rather than talk to China and work on how you can reconcile your interests? CHexit: Are you pro-China? You are a traitor! I want China out of West Philippine Sea! We won our case. The world is behind us. What are you afraid of? Sober Mind: Don’t you think the world wants you to negotiate with China rather than go into war with

HIGH CRIME IN THE HIGH SEAS 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. These seven islands/rocks are: Mischief Reef or Second Thomas Shoal, Cuarteron Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Gaven Reef (North), Johnson Reef, Hughes Reef, and Subic Reef. The tribunal rejected China’s claim to entitlement to these rocks. However, Chinese activities on these rocks such as reclamation, construction of artificial islands, installations and structures “do not constitute ‘military activities,’” the tribunal concluded. The tribunal declares that “Scarborough Shoal, Gaven Reef (North), McKennan Reef, Johnson Reef, Cuarteron Reef, and Fiery Cross Reef, in their natural condition, are rocks that cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own. Accordingly, “they generate no entitlement to an Exclusive Economic Zone or continental shelf.” Under the United Nations Conference on Law of the Sea (Article 121, Unclos)—there are three kinds of features above the water—island, rock, and low-tide elevation. An island is a naturally formed area of land surrounded by water and above water at high tide. An island is entitled to 12-nautical mile territorial sea, 200 NM Exclusive Economic Zone or Continental Shelf. A rock is a reef mainly below water but have rocky formations that protrude above water at high

tide. But it cannot sustain human habitation or economic life on its own. Such a rock is entitled at most to 12 NM TS but not to EEZ or CS. LTE are reefs or artificial islands which are not visible or above water at high tide. They are submerged in the water most of the time. They have no TS, EEZ or CS. The Hague tribunal absolutely rejects China’s nine-dash line theory by “historic title” that enables it to claim 80 percent of the South China Sea. “The tribunal notes that historic rights are, in most instances, exceptional rights. They accord a right that a State would not otherwise hold, were it not for the operation of the historical process giving rise to the right and the acquiescence of other States in the process. It follows from this, however, that the exercise of freedoms permitted under international law cannot give rise to a historic right; it involves nothing that would call for the acquiescence of other States and can only represent the use of what international law already freely permits,” says the 500-page unanimous decision of the five PCA judges ruling on the Philippine case. Prior to the Unclos, the decision recalls, “the international legal regime for the oceans recognized only a narrow belt of territorial sea and the vast areas of high seas that comprised (and

them? CHexit: No! The world wants us to defeat China! China is evil! We are the David that the world is waiting for to defeat Goliath! And no negotiation! It’s either our way or war. Sober Mind: Okay, so let’s say the US went to war with China. And the US won. How will the Philippines repay the US? CHexit: They don’t need to be repaid. The US will not do that. I love the US. US loves me. So we love each other. The US will die for me! Sober Mind: What’s this? Romeo and Juliet? CHexit: No. It’s the battle of good against evil. We are good. China is evil. So we will win! Sober Mind: So, why didn’t you

release Arroyo when a UN body said that she was being arbitrarily detained and her continued detention is a violation of international law? CHexit: Huh? Why would we release her? It would be against justice! Sober Mind: So, you can choose not to follow international law if it’s against your national interest and your beliefs about what’s legitimate or not, but China cannot do the same? CHexit: Yes! Because our interests are legitimate. China’s interests are not legitimate. Sober Mind: So how many dead Filipinos can you take before you realize that you are absolutely stupid? CHexit: “Ang mamatay ng dahil sayo!”

#FAILOCRACY

still comprise) the majority of the oceans. Under this regime, nearly all of the South China Sea formed part of the high seas.” This portion of the decision renders bogus, null and void, and an absolute lie China’s claim of sovereignty—in terms of territory and right to exploit resources—over 80 percent of the South China Sea. SCS is part of the high seas. It is owned by mankind, not by the Chinese. Sneers the PCA decision: “For much of history, therefore, China’s navigation and trade in the South China Sea, as well as fishing beyond the territorial sea, represented the exercise of high seas freedoms. China engaged in activities that were permitted to all States by international law, as did the Philippines and other littoral States surrounding the South China Sea. Before the Second World War, the use of the seabed, beyond the limits of the territorial sea, was likewise a freedom open to any State that wished to do so, although as a practical matter the technological ability to do so effectively has emerged only more recently.” “Historical navigation and fishing, beyond the territorial sea, cannot therefore form the basis for the emergence of a historic right,” says the PCA. In effect, the PCA is telling the Chinese: “Just because you have been allowed to use the ocean for a period of time, as all other na-

tions have been, does not mean the ocean belongs to you.” Mischief Reef is not entitled to a 12 NM TS nor to EEZ or CS for China. It belongs to the Philippines because it is part of Manila’s EEZ and CS and China violated the Philippine EEZ and CS. In this connection, China, said the tribunal, also violated the Philippine EEZ and CS by banning fishing on waters surrounding rocks and reefs which part of the Philippine EEZ and CS. It also violated the Philippine sovereign rights (which is basically right to exploit) over “the non-living resources of its continental shelf in the areas of the Reed Bank.” Reed Bank is supposed to be rich in oil and gas. The tribunal also found China guilty of doing harm to the environment in the South China Sea. Chinese vessels harvested “endangered species on a significant scale,” have been harvesting giant clams “in a manner severely destructive of the coral reef and ecosystem,” and that “China was aware of, tolerated, protected, and failed to prevent the aforementioned harmful activities.” Because of repeated violations of the Philippines’ EEZ sovereign rights and destruction of endangered species in the South China Sea, China, to use a metaphor, has been found by the Court of multiple murder and rape. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Saving... From A9 leadership is willing to deescalate tension in the region. We hope FVR does a better job than Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who was tapped by former President Benigno Aquino as special envoy to China at the height of the Scarborough Shoal standoff. Ramos’ hand was rumored to be behind Duterte’s presidential run. Being named special envoy to China would validate that suspicion. Generel Hermogenes Esperon, the Armed Forces chief of staff under Ramos, is now one of the top men in Duterte’s inner circle. New ‘Iron Lady’ for Britain Britain is going to have a new prime minister in the aftermath of its referendum vote to leave the European Union. Member of Parliament Theresa May is being looked at as the new Margaret Thatcher. “Theresa May is not someone you want to tangle with. But she’s good,”said one Conservative MP of the former Home [Interior] Secretary who at this early is being described as the new “Iron Lady.” PM David Cameron stepped down last week after failing to muster the votes that would have kept Britain in the European Union. At least, it will be another Conservative government to take charge of Britain after Brexit.

CHONG ARDIVILLA

F RI DAY : J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Day, Johnson men to beat in Open

NBA players (from left) Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James speak onstage during the 2016 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Record purse up in Ironman THE premier triathlon race to hit local shores – the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship presented by Ford – blasts off Aug. 7 in Cebu, offering the biggest prize money ever put up in the country. A total of $75,000 will be at stake in the hotly anticipated race with a whopping $14,000 going to the champions in the professional category. Big prizes also await the rest of the Top 10 pro finishers. The runner-up will get $7,000 while the next eight placers will receive $4,500, $3,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $1,250, 0$1,000 and $750, respectively. Prizes will also be handed out to the Top 3 finishers in the Filipino Elite division of the event backed by Cobra Energy Drink as title sponsor, and Ford as presenting sponsor, and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. Close to 3,000 participants from 43 countries, led by a crack roster of pros will answer the starting gun in the centerpiece 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run race set to start and end at Shangrila-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City. “This will be the biggest triathlon in the history of the Philippines,” said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, founder of event producer SEI. Uytengsu and SEI’s partners and sponsors are leaving no stone unturned to make the event, held outside Australia and New Zealand for the first time, a resounding success. “We’re truly privileged and also pressured because this is the chance for the Philippines to shine and show what we can do, together with our Aussie and Kiwi friends and show how we do it in the Philippines. We’ll show them why triathlon is more fun in the Philippines,” said Uytengsu.

TROON—All eyes were on golf’s so-called ‘Big Four’ as the 145th British Open started at Royal Troon on Scotland’s west coast on Thursday, with Dustin Johnson in the best shape. Beautiful early morning sunshine greeted the first players to tee off, with local hero Colin Montgomerie hitting the first shot of the championship at 6:35 am local time (0535 GMT) in front of enthusiastic galleries. Now 53 and seen as one of the best players never to win a major, Montgomerie came through qualifying for this year’s Open. Playing in a group with Luke Donald and Australia’s Marc Leishman, Montgomerie did not start well, however, finding a greenside bunker and eventually carding a double-bogey six.

Conditions are expected to remain fine throughout Thursday, with wetter and windier conditions forecast to come in from the Firth of Clyde on Friday and Saturday. Laid-back American Johnson comes into the championship fresh from finally winning a major at the US Open last month and he shares the status of favourite with world number one Jason Day of Australia. “The game’s in good form, and I’ve got a lot of confidence in it, so we’ll see what happens,” said Johnson, who gets his first round underway at 2pm local time (1300 GMT). By then, the rest of the ‘Big Four’ -- Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy -- could all be finishing their opening rounds as they each tee off before 10am. AFP

NBA stars James, Melo call for end to violence LOS ANGELES—Four NBA stars issued a plea for an end to the violence in America on Wednesday with LeBron James calling on athletes in all sports to use their influence make their cities safer. James delivered his message of hope at the opening of the annual ESPN awards show, taking the stage alongside fellow NBA players Dwyane Wade, of the Chicago Bulls, Chris Paul, of the Los Angeles Clippers and Carmelo Anthony, of the New York Knicks. “Tonight we’re honouring Muhammad Ali, the GOAT (greatest of all time),” James said. “To do his legacy any justice, let’s use this moment as a

call to action for all professional athletes to educate ourselves, explore these issues, speak up, use our influence and renounce all violence. “And most importantly, go back to our communities and invest our time our resources. Help rebuild them, help strengthen them, help change them. We all have to do better.” The NBA players were reacting as many Americans took to the streets in the past sev-

eral weeks in a series of protests against police brutality and perceived racial bias. Protesters were demanding answers over the killings of two black men by police in two days, Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana. “It is time to look in the mirror and ask ourselves ‘what are we doing to create change?” James said at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The killings of the two black men was followed the slaying of five police officers on Friday when gunman Micah Xavier Johnson opened fire during a protest rally in Dallas, Texas. Wade said the shootings on both sides has to end, decrying not only

the killing of black Americans but the retaliatory shootings of the police officers in Dallas. “Racial profiling has to stop,” Wade said. “The shoot-to-kill mentality has to stop. Not seeing the value of black and brown bodies has to stop. But also retaliation has to stop. - ‘Endless gun violence’ “The endless gun violence in places like Chicago, Dallas, and not to mention Orlando. It has to stop, enough. Enough is enough.” Anthony was the first to speak. “We cannot ignore the realities of the current state of America,” said Anthony. “The events of the past week have put a spotlight on the injustice, distrust, and anger that plague so many of us. AFP

Guidicelli keen on vying in Cobra tourney ACTOR Matteo Guidicelli will be showcasing his skills on a different stage when the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, featuring some of the world’s top triathletes, unfolds on Aug. 7 in Cebu. “This is one triathlon that I don’t have to do but look forward to doing,” said Guidicelli, who will be literally rubbing shoulders with triathlon’s elite in the continental showcase being held in the Philippines for the first time and powered by the country’s leading energy drink. Sponsored by Cobra, the 2016 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific competition has drawn a banner field of 2,900 entries, led by Australian defending men’s champion Tim Reed and Australia-based Caroline Steffen, the reigning women’s champ and considered the “Xena” of

triathlon, of Switzerland. Expected to share the spotlight in the grueling one-day competition are Aussie Tim Van Berkel, who went toe-totoe with Reed last year before placing second in a thrilling down-the-wire finish, and veteran Craig Alexander, a three-time Ironman world champion. Providing Steffen stiff challenge in the women’s pro division is New Zealander Kathryn Marie Haesner, who placed fourth in the 2015 edition and has three straight top five triathlon finishes earlier this year in a build-up to the Cebu event offering a total of $75,000 (over P3 million) in cash prizes. Carrying the colors for the Philippines in the pro division is Manila-based Dan Brown, a trainer-coach and married to Ani de Leon-Brown, the first

Filipina to compete in the taxing Ironman world championship in Kona, Hawaii. A total of 50 slots will also be up for grabs in the blue-ribbon event in the various age group categories to next year’s World Ironman 70.3 championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee. “We have been a partner of the Ironman 70.3 for the past eight years,”Hubert Tan, Asia Brewery, Inc. Senior Vice President Commercial Division, noted. “And for the first time, the Asia-Pacific championship will be held outside of Australia and in the Philippines. We celebrate and share this welldeserved success with everyone behind Cobra Ironman.” “The sport embodies the qualities of hard work, endurance, and perseverance that we associate with our (Cobra) brand,” Tan, himself a triathlon enthusiast, added.

Matteo Guidicelli – Looking forward to Cobra 70.3 Ironman Triathlon in Cebu.

F RI DAY : J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Gin Kings release collectible figures

First time in PBA history. Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. recently released limited edition collectible figures of Barangay Ginebra

San Miguel Gin Kings JayJay Helterbrand, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa and Greg Slaughter. Simply collect five (5) seals of Ginebra San Miguel or Vino Kulafu or any three (3) caps of Primera Light Brandy, GSM Blue and GSM Blue Flavors to purchase a collectible figure for only P150 at any Puregold and GSMI partner outlets nationwide. Promo runs until Sept. 15. For more details and updates on “Bring Home the Kings” promo, check out the official Facebook page of Ginebra San Miguel www.facebook.com/ barangayginebra, log on to www.ginebrasanmiguel.com or call the customer care hotline at 632-2564.

GINEBRA San Miguel Inc. recently released, for a limited period only, collectible figures of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ stars team LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa, JayJay Helterbrand and the Gin Kings’ twin towers Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar. “This is the first time in Philippine basketball history that we will have collectible figures of the PBA players, particularly of the Barangay Ginebra players,” said. Ginebra San Miguel brand manager Paolo Tupaz. “Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is of the most beloved basketball teams in the PBA which has inspired Filipinos with their never-say-die spirit. Through the collectibles, fans can now own an important part

Saso cards a 73, keeps share of world golf lead YUKA Saso found the going rough, battling windy conditions in the afternoon and carded a one-over par 73, but still held on to a share of the girls’ 15-17 years’ division lead with American Yui Kawamato after the second round Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) of the IMG Academy Junior World Championships at the La Costa Resort and Spa Legends course in Carlsbad, California. Saso, competing here just for the second time, could only produce a single birdie on the par-5 12th against two bogeys, compared to her eight-birdie 68 start and was lucky to have remained on top with Kawamato, the San Diego native, who took advantage of the calmer winds in the morning with a four-under 68, at 141 through 36 holes. The 15-year-old Saso, however, appeared to be the only one among the 35 players in the Philippine

contingent sponsored by Philippine Airlines left with a chance for a victory as those playing in the 54-hole lower divisions fell too far behind to contend. Bernice Ilas made the biggest move among the PH bets with a two-under 70 to barge into the Top 10 from 26th in the girls’ 1314 years competition at The Country Club in Rancho Bernardo. But with a 144 total after an opening 74, the former 7-8 years’ division winner was still 11 shots behind

Riona Higa of Japan, who shot 68133, going to the final round. Coco Ong was the best-placed PH bet at solo sixth in the girls’ 6-years-and-under following a 64129, but she was 27 shots off another Japanese leader, Mao Nagamine. Annyka Cayabyab also rallied with a two-under 70 that included a hole-in-one on the third hole but can only improve her placing in the girls’ 11-12 at Sycuan ResortOak Glen to 18th and facing a

14-stroke deficit. The boys bets couldn’t do any better with Miko Granada (70-137) sharing 14th place in boys’ 7-8 years at Oaks North for the worthiest showing on the second day. All eyes will be on Saso in the final two rounds as she tries to prove her mettle against a talented international field as about 20 players are within five shots or less off the joint leaders. “I had a hard time getting it close to the pins today because of the winds, I just tried to minimize my errors,” said Saso, who placed 14th the first time she played in the 13-14 years’ division two years ago. “It’s hard to force it because one mistake can lead to a big score.”

of the team’s history.” To avail of the collectibles, just buy any GSMI product. Every five (5) seals of Ginebra San Miguel or Vino Kulafu or any three (3) caps of Primera Light Brandy, GSM Blue and GSM Blue Flavors entitles customers to purchase one collectible figure for only P150 at any Puregold and GSMI partner outlets nationwide. “Bring Home the Kings” promo is ongoing until September 15. For more details and updates on “Bring Home the Kings” promo, check out the official Facebook page of Ginebra San Miguel w w w.facebook.com/ barangayginebra, log on to www.ginebrasanmiguel.com or call the customer care hotline at 632-2564.

Foton PH eyes semis FOTON Pilipinas is looking to come up with at least a semifinal finish when it competes in the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship from Sept. 3 to 11 at the Alonte Sports Center in Binan City. Team manager Alvin Lu yesterday bared that hopes are high on the Tornadoes, who vowed to go all out to surpass the 7th-place finish registered in Vietnam by Petron in the previous edition last year of this prestigious continental tourney, where the best Asian club teams collide. Foton Pilipinas had already kicked off its preparation and will switch to a higher gear once imports Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher arrive next month. So far, showing up consistently in their twice-a-week training sessions are reinforcements Aby Marano of F2 Logistics, Jen Reyes of Petron and Rachel Anne Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga of RC Cola-Army. Foton stars Santiago, Angeli Araneta, Patty Orendain, Maika Ortiz, Ivy Perez and Rhea Dimaculangan are also training regularly, proving that they are serious in giving other teams a very good fight.

Raterta rules Clean-Up Run FILIPINO pride prevailed when marathon stalwart Luisa Raterta won the 21-kilometer race for women in this year’s Manila Bay Clean-Up Run, even as the Kenyan trio of Eric Kibiwott Chepsiror, Jackson Chirchir, at Abraham Klimo, made short work of their Filipino rivals in the men’s division. This was the second time the Sta Rosa-Based running coach emerged victorious in the MBC event, after capturing the 42K pennants in previous marathons. In the 10 km race, Richard Salano, Reynaldo Villafranca, and Gilbert Laido earned gold, silver,

and bronze medals respectively, together with Lani Cardona, Marcose Dichoso, and Michelle Gilbuena, who triumphed in the women’s division. Among the 5km racers, Mervin Duarte, Christopher Ulboc, Immanuel Camino, Joneza Sustituedo, Catherine Bristol, and Celia Rose Jaro emerged winners. And in the 3 km run, James Darelle Arcuna, Michael Icao, and Pernille Siason took first, second,a nd third, along with their counterparts female Jenilyn Taller, Rachelle Ann Beltran, and Mariette Rementilla. DZRH Operation Tulong and Land Bank

jointly won the award for Biggest Delegation, fielding 487 and 449 runners, respectively. Sofitel Philippine Plaza gave the fun run a novel spin when its 10-strong team for the 5-kilometer race showed up in their service uniforms and emulated the famous “course des garcons” or waiters race popular in European marathons. The 2016 Manila Bay Clean-Up Run was a project of Manila Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with the cities of Manila and Pasay, with support from Enervon, Petron, M. Lhuillier, Silka Papaya, Tapa King, Shakey’s, 555 Tuna, Kenny Rogers, Maynilad Water, and Lizalis.

Luisa Raterta (center) is flanked by beauty queens during the awarding ceremonies of the Manila Bay Clean-Up Run, where she won the 21-k race.

FRIDAY : JULY 15, 2016

Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE Regional Office IV-A B. Morada Avenue Interior, Lipa City, Batangas

NO PLATE

SUNRISER

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YAMAHA

DANILO LONGA

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VM6296

YAMAHA

GAUDENCIO CATINDIG

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VM6452

YAMAHA

ABSCONDED

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YAMAHA

JAYSON FEDERICO

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NOTICE OF DISPOSAL The LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE is inviting offers for public bidding by way of sealed bids the following impounded motor vehicles for disposal on an “As is Where is” basis; ITEM NO.

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EURO

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8249NA

SKYSTAR

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ARVIN REY MESIAS

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SAMY VILLASIS

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UK6847

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TB2893

YAMAHA

KENNETH BAYANI

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BP2901

SUZUKI

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OF3132

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RE3917

WD2540

PJ2034

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PU4031

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MHIKO BRUCELIS

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AV1214

KAWASAKI

PINLEY GLEN PADILLA

VG3875

YAMAHA

JOEY ARANETA

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YAMAHA

LEONARIO ESPELETA

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9859DU

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ACTIVITY 1.

Availability Form

Bid

Submission of Sealed Bids

Opening of Bids

DATES

VENUE

Thursday, July 18, 2016

LTO Regional Office IV-A, B.Morada Ave. Interior, Lipa City

Monday, July 25, 2016 (8:00am -1:00pm)

LTO Regional Office IV-A, B.Morada Ave. Interior, Lipa City

Monday, July 25, 2016 (2:00pm)

LTO Regional Office IV-A, B.Morada Ave. Interior, Lipa City

Bid tender should be properly addressed as specified below: FRANCISCO P. RANCHES JR., CESO VI Chairman, Committee on Disposal of Unclaimed Impounded Motor Vehicle Old City Hall Compound, B. Morada Ave., Lipa City, Batangas The LTO reserves the right to reject any or all bid offers, or any part thereof or to wave any required formalities an accept offers most advantageous to the interest of the LTO.

(SGD) FRANCISCO P. RANCHES JR., CESO VI Assistant Regional Director Chairman,Committee on Disposal of Unclaimed Impounded Motor Vehicle (TS-JULY 1/8/15, 2016)

A14 SPORTS

Pacquiao open to comeback GENERAL SANTOS—Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao has declared he still has the passion for the sport and may come out of retirement, although there are no plans for a fight this year. Pacquiao, 37, a newly elected senator in the Philippines, told AFP on Wednesday night that his top priority was his political career but that his love for boxing had not diminished. “When you put your passion and your dedication in one sport, you cannot say you’re leaving that sport if your passion is there,” Pacquiao said in an interview in his hometown of General Santos. “Boxing is always my passion and I grew up (as a boxer). The Lord helped me (make) a name in boxing history.” Pacquiao added he was still physically fit to return to the ring. “I am still strong. I am still young,” he said. Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, said on Tuesday that the eight-divi-

sion world champion planned to fight on either October 29 or November 5 as a main event bout in Las Vegas. But while leaving open the option of a comeback, Pacquiao said he had not made such plans nor discussed arrangements with Arum. Pacquiao retired after winning a unanimous decision in April against American Timothy Bradley. He said he wanted to hang up his gloves to focus on his political career. After serving two terms as a congressman in the House of Representatives, Pacquiao was elected to the Senate in May. Pacquiao has previously said he eventually wants to become president. AFP

Santo. Tomas, FEU jins debut in MVP-Meralco tilt UAAP powerhouses University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University make their debuts in the men’s seniors’ division as the MVPSFMeralco Philippine Taekwondo League resumes action at the SM City Center Point in Sta. Mesa, Manila Saturday, Bracketed in Group C, the UST jins, UAAP runners-up last season, and their FEU counterparts, who placed third in the meet, take to the mat at 1 p.m., ushering in five matches of the event organized by the Philippine Takewondo Association and supported by the MVP Sports Foundation and Meralco. UST then returns to face College of St. Benilde at 3 p.m., while FEU takes a crack at CSB at 5:30 p.m. winding up the day’s schedule of the tournament also backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission. In Group B matches in the women’s senior division, the Lady Blazers try to bounce back from their opening-day loss at the SM Bicutan mall two weeks ago in their 2 p.m. battle with the Lady Tigresses, who then tackle the Lady Tamaraws at 4:30 p.m. following a 30-minute break before the match. Over the weekend at the SM Masinag mall in Antipolo, National University nipped Ateneo, 13-12, in Group C, while San Beda College routed Far Eastern University, 49-18, in Group B in the women’s senior division. The Red Cubs also asserted their mastery in the men’s junior division, sweeping their matches in Group A by beating Juan Sumulong Memorial College, 46-27, and Ateneo, 53-43, respectively. A Taytay-based school noted for its strong taekwondo program, Juan Sumulong humbled Ateneo, 43-21, rounding out play in the event serving as a spawning ground for future taekwondo talents, who one day can compete for the country in international competition.

FRIDAY : JULY 15, 2016

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Iloilo to host Milo Marathon national finals By Peter Atencio THE city of Iloilo will serve as the official venue of the 40th National Milo Marathon finals on Dec. 4. This is the first time that a city in the Visayas has been chosen to host the last stage of this premier running event, which will see two-time champion Rafael Poliquit and Olympian Mary Joy Tabal coming back to defend their titles in the men’s and women’s divisions. “This is the first time that we will bring the national finals outside of Luzon. Because we wanted to bring our most elite event closer to Filipinos down south. Also, runners in Metro Manila can experience better scenery and race with less traffic,” said Milo Sports marketing manager Andrew Neri. Poliquit and Tabal, who is preparing to see action in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, are expected to make matters interesting for their rivals and earn another chance to compete in an international race. They won the men’s and women’s titles in the national finals last year, which was held for the first time outside Metro Manila at Clark Field in Angeles City, Pampanga. Organizers also recently sponsored their stint in the 2016 Boston Marathon as part of their prize. The races will now be sanctioned by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association starting this year and the route of the national finals had been measured with the help of the PATAFA and the IAAF, through course measurer Dave Cundy. PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico has given his blessings to members of the national team to participate outright in the national finals and forego the need to qualify through the elimination legs. The first leg out of a total of 14 regional races kicks off in Dagupan on July 17, followed by the second leg in Tarlac on July 24. Then, it heads off to Metro Manila on July 31, and Batangas on Aug. 7.

Proponents of the National Milo Marathon make a toast during the event’s launching. They are (from left) Robbie De Vera, Milo Sports Executive; Sherilla Bayona, Business Executive Manager for Beverages; Rio Dela Cruz, race director; PSC Commissioner Arnold Augustin; PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico and Milo Marketing Manager Andrew Neri. LINO SANTOS

Gonzales kicks off PH’s Davis Cup bid vs Taiwan FRESH from his win in an International Tennis Federation tournament in France, Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippines’ Davis Cupper Ruben Gonzales jumpstarts the host’s bid when he plays Chinese Taipei’s Ti Chen, opening the second round of the Asia/Oceania Zone Group II Davis Cup tournament at Philippine Columbian Association courts in Paco, Manila. Francis Casey Alcantara, meanwhile, will face Liang-chi Huang on the same day for the second singles’ match. Wimbledon doubles finalist Treat Huey and junior standout Jeson Patrombon have been nominated to battle against Jui-Chen Hung and Chieh-fu Wang on Saturday’s crucial doubles’ match. “I’m very confident about the team’s chances against Chinese Taipei. Everyone is in excellent shape after competing extensively in international tournaments the past months and have done well. Treat is coming off a semifinal stint in Wimbledon and Ruben just won an ITF Fu-

tiff for the right to move to Group “I’ve gained a lot of confidence 1 of Asia-Oceania next year. (after Wimbledon) and I think Meanwhile, Huey is eager to it’s going to be an exciting match bounce back after falling short in especially that we lost to them Wimbledon. last year,” said the Fil-American Huey had a dream run, reach- Huey on Tuesday at the Philiping the men’s doubles’ semifinals pine Sportswriters Association of the prestigious tournament Forum in Shakey’s Malate. Asked about his boys’ preparawith Max Mirnyi before bowing out to french duo Pierre-Hagues tions for the Davis Cup, non-playHerbert and Nicolas Mahut in ing captain Carl Sta. Maria said: the championship match. “I don’t think they can be more tures tournament in France. Now, he is raring to continue his ready than what they are right Nino and Jeson have been very stellar run of performance in the now. They are match-fit, tournaactive also. Of course, we have Davis Cup slated July 15 to 17. ment-fit.” Peter Paul Duran the home court and home crowd advantage, as well. The goal is to move back to Group 1 of Asia Oceania Davis Cup competitions and I like our chance of achieving that,” said Cebuana LhuillierPhilippine Davis Cup team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier. The Philippines and Chinese Taipei have met in seven previous encounters, with the Filipinos holding a slim 4-3 advantage, but have lost the last three ties. The winner of this second-round Davis Cup match will face the winner of the Thailand-Vietnam Members of the Phili and Chinese Taipei Davis Cup teams are shown.

Inspiring more Filipinos LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG

THE Milo National Marathon is introducing a lot of firsts to make this year’s 40th edition a bigger and better one. For the first time, it is partnering with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association under the leadership of Philip Ella Juico, making sure

that this year’s races will be managed professionally by official and international standards. Milo and race officials are also making sure that race environment is safe for all runners by providing enough hydration and fielding more marshals for assistance. Andrew Neri, Milo Sports Marketing Manager, said they have launched an information campaign to educate participants in equipping themselves to better

prepare for their runs, like in the aspect of nutrition and technical skills. More than 200,000 runners participated last year in all their races in the eliminations nationwide. Neri hopes to surpass that number this year, “as we continue to inspire more Filipinos to take up running and be at their best.” Of all the beauties that envelope this prestigious event, the most important for me is the social component wherein participants

are encouraged to bring their old shoes which in turn, will be donated to selected public schools. Some 60,00 pairs of shoes have already been given out to beneficiaries. And Milo execs are expecting an additional of more than 10,000 for this year. Milo has also expressed support for a sports clinic project for street children, which I am putting in the near future. It’s already in the works and more stakeholders in sports are more

than willing to do their share. *** Some active members of the Philippine Olympians Association have gathered yesterday to provide moral support to the national athletes competing in the Rio Olympics this August. Most of the Rio Olympians area already abroad training but, the POA still managed to get their message across. “It’s all about going for excellence. I think we

have to continue doing our role of inspiring the youth and the athletes who are already there. It’s the more important role that we can play,” said Akiko Thompson-Guevarra, who is acting president of the association. The POA is composed former national athletes who participated in the Olympics. It has a yearly gathering to continue camaraderie among themselves and help maintain the Olympic spirit.

F R I DAY : J U LY 1 5 , 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

BaliPure’s Gretchel Soltones, shown here scoring against two defenders, bested more fancied players for the MVP plum, including BaliPure teammate Alyssa Valdez, Pocari Sweat’s Myla Pablo, Michele Gumabao and National U’s Jaja Santiago and Air Force’s Judy Ann Caballejo and Joy Cases.

Knights live up to favorite tag, crush Arellano Chiefs By Peter Atencio

THE Letran Knights finally showed the stuff that made them champions in a Thursday game at the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan. The Knights’ defense worked wonders in the final period as they the managed to almost shut down the prolific Jiovani Jalalon in an 89-79 win over the Arellano University Chiefs. This gave the Knights their third win in four games, while the Chiefs fell to their first loss in three outings. Jalalon showed the way with

17 points for the Chiefs, but he was held to just two points by the defensive stops of JP Calvo and McJour Luib in the final period. Calvo and Luib forced Jalalon to commit a maze of errors in the last 1:45 and this helped the Knights move away by as much as 12 points. Luib’s triple handed Letran an

85-73 spread. The 6’8” Bright put Games Today Rey Nambatac pow- (The Arena in San Juan) in 20 points and 20 ered the Knights with 12 noon San Beda vs CSB rebounds, along with 22 points, while Luib 2 p.m. EAC vs Mapua two assists in powering 4 p.m. Lyceum vs JRU had 17 points and Jerthe Altas to their secrick Balanza made 12. ond win in four games. “Credit to the boys, they exThe Stags absorbed their sececuted the game plan. Lumalabas ond loss in three games. na ang tunay na laro ng Letran Akhuetie banged in seven in na nag-champion. Ito na ang the second period as the Altas pinakamagandang laro nila in went on to move away, 44-37. four games,” said Knights’ coach Then, he was at the forefront in Jeff Napa. the fourth, scoring eight as the Meanwhile, big man Bright Altas kept the Stags at bay and Akhuetie registered his first limited them to seven points in double-double for the season as the last period. he led the University of Perpetual “Buti na lang nanalo kami kaHelp Altas in stopping the San hit masama laro namin,” said AlSebastian Stags, 76-61. tas coach Jimwell Gican.

Meralco faces a rebuilt Phoenix as PBA opens shop By Jeric Lopez AFTER a lengthy two-month break, the Philippine Basketball Association is back in action. The 41st season of the PBA continues as the season-ending 2016 Governors’ Cup kicks off with an intriguing double-header, featuring two squads considered as contenders and two teams looking to see some improvement after disappointing campaigns last conference. In the conference opener, Meralco goes head-to-head with revamped

Meralco will face a rebuilt Phoenix, Phoenix Petroleum at 4:15 p.m., folwhich was involved in lowed by a clash between Games Today tons of trades in the offStar and Mahindra in the (Smart Araneta Coliseum) season as well as a coachnightcap at 7 p.m. at the 4:15 p.m. - Meralco vs. Phoenix ing change. Smart Araneta Coliseum. 7 p.m. - Star vs. Mahindra The Fuel Masters, now Following a successful campaign in the Commissioner’s Cup coached by Ariel Vanguardia, will have wherein they reached the semifinals new faces on their roster such as recently for the second time in franchise his- acquired Ronjay Buenafe, Simon Enciso, tory, the Bolts are looking to capitalize Norbert Torres and Mark Borboran. Phoenix also acquired veteran gunand continue their growth. They will parade returning im- man Cyrus Baguio in exchange for port Allen Durham and Iran’s Mo- two future second-round picks. Like hammad Jamshidi as its Asian im- the other Phoenix newbies, he is expected to suit up right away as well. port to reinforce them.

Along with those newcomers, Phoenix will have help from import Marcus Simmons and Asian import Lee Kwan Hee. The Hotshots also made some moves in an attempt to get better. Though they will once again have resident import Marqus Blakely back in harness to lead the team, Star now has vastly improving guard RR Garcia for more firepower. Star will take on a Mahindra team that has James White as its import and Iran’s Iman Zandi as its Asian reinforcement.

Soltones is Shakey’s V-League best player SHE might have failed to help carry BaliPure to a dream championship but Gretchel Soltones achieved a personal milestone, bagging the coveted MVP honors in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference. “I feel happy winning this award but this is not what I expected because all I wanted was to help the team make it to the semis and then finals,” said Soltones, also the reigning NCAA MVP from San Sebastian College. Norming 15 hits a game from the elims to the semis, the powerhitting, jump-serving ace bested more fancied players for the coveted plum, including BaliPure teammate Alyssa Valdez, Pocari Sweat’s Myla Pablo, Michele Gumabao and National U’s Jaja Santiago and Air Force’s Judy Ann Caballejo and Joy Cases. “But we’re not fortunate enough to make it to the finals although we’re still thankful to be in contention for third and being blessed to get the MVP award,” said Soltones. She will head the roster of players to be cited in the season-opening conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s tomorrow as the Water Defenders try to finish off the Laoag Power Smashers in their battle for third. Air Force also guns for its first VLeague championship as it clashes Pocari Sweat in Game Two of the Finals at the Philsports Arena.

FRIDAY: JULY 15, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Hilton returns to PH. Resorts World Manila continues the third phase of its expansion, with the recent topping out ceremonies for Hilton Hotel Manila. The first five-star hotel in the country back in the late 1960s, Hilton Hotel Manila makes its return this time setting up shop in the country’s pioneer integrated resort. Shown are (from left) Casas + Architects managing partner Carmelo Casas, Datem president Leverito Espiritu, RWM chief operating officer Stephen Reilly, RWM president and chief executive Kingson Sian, Hilton Worldwide SE Asia Pacific Design and Projects director Andrew Meier, Hilton Worldwide regional general manager Peter Webster, Datem vice president for engineering Morris Agoncillo and EELHI area manager Joel Jacobe.

SMC selling 49% of power unit By Alena Mae S. Flores

SAN Miguel Corp. said Thursday it is selling a 49-percent stake in affiliate South Premiere Power Corp., the independent power producer administrator of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant, to Manila Electric Co.

San Miguel confirmed it was in talks with Meralco “for a possible investment of up to the extent of 49 percent by Meralco in South Premiere.” The conglomerate said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the sale was subject to the resolution of the pending case initiated by South Premiere against Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. “SMC plans to sell 49 percent of power generating plant. By doing that, we are sure to have market for our power because our offtake agreement is up to 2022,” San Miguel

president Ramon Ang told reporters. Meralco is the country’s biggest power distributor with over 5.8 million customers in its franchise area. San Miguel sold its stake in Meralco to JG Summit Holdings Inc. in 2013. “So far we have agreement with Meralco on Ilijan and Mariveles. So far, that’s it,” Ang said. Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan and Ang recently forged a first joint venture in power generation. Meralco Powergen Corp., a subsidiary of Meralco, acquired a 49-percent stake in Mariveles Power Generation Corp., a whollyowned subsidiary of SMC Global Power Holdings Inc., the power arm of San Miguel. Meralco president Oscar Reyes earlier said “talks are very preliminary” on the Ilijan IPPA contract sale. South Premiere won the contract as the independent power producer administrator of the Ilijan plant during a bidding conducted by PSALM in 2010 with an offer of $870 million. South Premiere has an ongoing dispute with PSALM over the Ilijan contract. The dispute arose from interpretations of certain provisions related to generation

payments under the Ilijan IPPA agreement. PSALM advised South Premiere on Sept. 4, 2015 that it was terminating the Ilijan IPPA agreement because of the latter’s alleged failure to settle the alleged outstanding generation payments. PSALM was demanding payment of unpaid obligations amounting to P6.6 billion from South Premiere. The Mandaluyong City regional trial court issued last year a preliminary injunction in favor of South Premiere, enjoining the government from further proceeding with the termination the IPPA contract for the Ilijan natural gas power plant. PSALM called on the performance bond in the form of a stand-by letter of credit of South Premiere with ANZ Bank in the amount of $50 million. South Premiere filed a complaint before the court on Sept. 7, 2015 to nullify the termination notice of PSALM and the drawing of the standby letter of credit “for lack of factual and legal basis.” The TRO previously issued in favor of South Premiere prevented PSALM “from disposing in any manner of the payment

Trader of fake cigarettes falls in Isabela AUTHORITIES arrested a trader selling counterfeit Mighty and Marvels cigarettes to a sari-sari store in Barangay Barucboc, Quezon, Isabela on Wednesday. The Bureau of Internal Revenue and law enforcement agencies have been vigilant against dealers of fake products over the past few months. These traders do not pay taxes and elude contribution to the economy, according to authorities. Barangay officials said the trader was arrested, after a store helper went to the barangay hall of Barucboc and sought the assistance of ‘tanods’ to report that a dubious male tried to sell cartons of suspicious cigarettes to the storeowner’s daughter, who held the suspect by pretending she was buying the items. Barangay officials immediately proceeded to

the store and caught Arnel Contado Altavano, 33, in the act of selling fake Mighty and Marvels menthol and full flavor variants to the sari-sari store. A Mighty Corp. representative came by the store and confirmed that the cigarette variants were indeed counterfeit. The suspect, a resident of Barangay Manano, Mallig, Isabela, was arrested and subsequently turned over to the Philippine National Police station in Quezon town for violating section 155, in relation to section 170 of Republic Act 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code. Authorities cited the law as the basis for filing a criminal case docketed as No. INQ-II04-2016G-00036 and Criminal Case no. 16214 at 12th MCTC Malling, Quezon, Isabela. The suspect, however, was released from police custody after posting a P10,000 bond

recommended by the provincial fiscal. Tax officials warned counterfeiters, individuals and business establishments against the sale and distribution of fake cigarettes or any counterfeit products. Mighty Corp. representatives have coordinated with authorities from Customs, BIR, National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police for the arrest of unscrupulous individuals and businesses trying to sell counterfeit cigarettes in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and various parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

received from ANZ under the performance bond except as directed by the Court.” The court also prohibited PSALM from treating South Premiere “as being an administrator in default and from performing any act to pursue the collection of supposed unpaid generation payments.” It also prohibited the agency from collecting “VAT on generation payments for Meralco nominations under the Meralco-National Power Corp. power supply contracts to service Sunpower and Ecozone requirements.

FRIDAY: JULY 15, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Thursday, July 14, 2016

52 Weeks

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 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 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 20.6 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 6.75 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 15.32 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 3 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 7.5 76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 9.66 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 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 5.3 49.55 3.43 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 3 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 751 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 0.201

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.84 3.64 47.5 47 114.00 112.70 99.00 98.10 38.1 37.9 4.30 4.07 1.36 1.34 15.2 14.3 19.4 19.32 7.00 6.70 2.15 1.97 610.00 609.00 0.580 0.540 94.05 93 0.98 0.93 14.84 14.78 23.10 23.10 60.00 59.45 102.5 100 276 272.4 32.5 32.05 201 195.1 1420.00 1410.00 67.80 66.75 1.48 1.47 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp. 44.95 45.15 44.4 Agrinurture Inc. 3.84 3.9 3.77 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.85 0.85 0.82 Alsons Cons. 2.02 2.03 1.99 Asiabest Group 12.18 12.2 11.5 Century Food 16.22 16.28 16.08 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 151.5 158 152 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 21.4 21.5 20.3 Concepcion 48.2 50 48.7 Crown Asia 2.11 2.13 2.07 Da Vinci Capital 5.5 6.12 5.61 Del Monte 12.4 12.5 12.36 DNL Industries Inc. 9.730 9.730 9.620 Emperador 7.16 7.36 7.19 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.70 5.72 5.64 EEI 7.92 8.68 7.95 Euro-Med Lab 1.75 1.83 1.71 First Gen Corp. 24.9 25.2 24.8 First Holdings ‘A’ 70.3 70.35 69.7 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 11.94 12.02 12.00 Holcim Philippines Inc. 15.22 15.28 15.18 5.66 5.57 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.57 Ionics Inc 2.400 2.400 2.350 Jollibee Foods Corp. 249.80 250.00 249.40 Liberty Flour 41.95 41.00 41.00 LMG Chemicals 1.94 1.94 1.94 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.25 3.3 3.16 Macay Holdings 35.60 35.60 35.60 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.5 27.55 27 Maxs Group 28.5 28.5 28.3 Megawide 7.31 7.9 7.36 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 309.00 312.20 309.00 MG Holdings 0.280 0.275 0.275 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.40 4.39 4.39 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.44 3.45 3.45 Petron Corporation 11.10 11.10 10.78 Phil H2O 3.34 3.05 3.05 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.42 6.42 6.33 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.67 1.69 1.63 Pryce Corp. À’ 3.08 3.34 3.04 RFM Corporation 4.18 4.20 4.18 Roxas Holdings 3.89 3.96 3.86 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ 210 215 215 Splash Corporation 3.01 3.03 3.01 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.149 0.154 0.149 TKC Steel Corp. 2.16 2.30 2.14 Trans-Asia Oil 2.54 2.60 2.50 Universal Robina 200 200 199.5 Victorias Milling 4.4 4.69 4.48 Vitarich Corp. 0.96 0.97 0.95 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.28 1.35 1.28 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. À’ 0.400 0.410 0.390 Aboitiz Equity 78.80 78.85 77.70 Alliance Global Inc. 15.60 16.24 15.56 Anglo Holdings A 1.25 1.42 1.25 Anscor À’ 6.04 6.10 6.05 ATN Holdings A 0.370 0.390 0.370 ATN Holdings B 0.365 0.390 0.375 Ayala Corp À’ 876 877.5 863 Cosco Capital 8.01 8 7.85 DMCI Holdings 12.80 12.86 12.70 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.88 6.35 5.9 F&J Prince ‘B’ 6.59 6.5 6 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 6.75 6.90 6.80 Forum Pacific 0.250 0.250 0.245 GT Capital 1510 1540 1493 House of Inv. 6.45 6.45 6.45 JG Summit Holdings 85.65 86.00 84.90 Jolliville Holdings 3.69 3.74 3.74 Lopez Holdings Corp. 7.83 7.87 7.75 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.71 0.74 0.71 LT Group 16 16 15.86 Mabuhay Holdings À’ 0.490 0.520 0.510 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 7 7.15 7 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.3 3.31 3.31 Pacifica À’ 0.0320 0.0350 0.0320 Prime Orion 1.910 1.950 1.920 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.70 2.65 2.65 San Miguel Corp À’ 78.00 78.00 77.70 SM Investments Inc. 998.00 1005.00 970.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.21 1.23 1.20 South China Res. Inc. 0.89 0.94 0.87 Top Frontier 191.000 192.500 190.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3050 0.3100 0.3050 Wellex Industries 0.2010 0.2070 0.2000 Zeus Holdings 0.295 0.320 0.295 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.640 7.790 7.600 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.30 1.32 1.29 Araneta Prop À’ 2.280 2.350 2.230 Arthaland Corp. 0.290 0.290 0.290 Ayala Land `B’ 40.000 40.100 39.700 Belle Corp. À’ 3.44 3.44 3.38 Cebu Holdings 5.02 5.03 5.02 Century Property 0.520 0.56 0.510 City & Land Dev. 1.09 1.09 1.03 Cityland Dev. À’ 1.050 1.050 1.050 Crown Equities Inc. 0.131 0.139 0.130 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC À’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

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

SHARES 24,118,778 100,845,229 145,150,561 216,490,046 1,379,030,498 511,240,444 2,436,365,904

3.8 47.4 113.40 99.00 38 4.07 1.36 15 19.38 6.80 1.97 620.00 0.560 93.85 0.91 14.82 23.10 59.35 105 272 32.2 197.4 1410.00 66.75 1.5

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.8 47.5 113.00 98.80 38 4.09 1.35 15 19.32 7.00 2 609.00 0.570 94 0.98 14.8 23.10 59.90 102.5 276 32.3 199.1 1420.00 66.95 1.48

0.00 0.21 -0.35 -0.20 0.00 0.49 -0.74 0.00 -0.31 2.94 1.52 -1.77 1.79 0.16 7.69 -0.13 0.00 0.93 -2.38 1.47 0.31 0.86 0.71 0.30 -1.33

68,000 11,600 1,914,540 816,450 85,100 9,866,000 37,000 233,100 779,500 3,600 449,000 100 2,259,000 3,002,060 2,755,000 146,700 2,000 362,050 890 10,380 379,500 752,330 480 101,000 82,000

45.05 3.85 0.82 2.02 12.2 16.08 155.2 21 49.8 2.12 6 12.46 9.620 7.25 5.65 8.62 1.83 24.85 69.75 12.00 15.18 5.64 2.360 250.00 41.00 1.94 3.21 35.60 27.5 28.45 7.65 309.40 0.275 4.39 3.45 11.10 3.05 6.38 1.68 3.2 4.19 3.96 215 3.02 0.154 2.20 2.59 199.7 4.69 0.96 1.28

0.22 0.26 -3.53 0.00 0.16 -0.86 2.44 -1.87 3.32 0.47 9.09 0.48 -1.13 1.26 -0.88 8.84 4.57 -0.20 -0.78 0.50 -0.26 1.26 -1.67 0.08 -2.26 0.00 -1.23 0.00 0.00 -0.18 4.65 0.13 -1.79 -0.23 0.29 0.00 -8.61 -0.62 0.60 3.90 0.24 1.80 2.38 0.33 3.36 1.85 1.97 -0.15 6.59 0.00 0.00

1,136,800 927,000 448,000 3,094,000 300 2,535,100 1,240 8,103,600 34,100 1,232,000 7,090,800 28,600 1,263,200 7,701,000 17,732,000 4,641,400 3,000 1,306,600 100,030 33,700 149,100 559,900 2,074,000 580,410 400 3,000 45,000 10,500 752,800 364,500 2,439,000 230,390 20,000 30,000 5,538,000 2,382,500 25,000 3,482,700 190,000 3,950,000 172,000 4,000 1,060 726,000 1,680,000 3,686,000 7,552,000 954,610 20,000 5,381,000 368,000

0.410 78.85 16.00 1.33 6.05 0.385 0.390 875 7.91 12.70 6 6 6.90 0.245 1530 6.45 85.90 3.74 7.84 0.73 16 0.520 7.15 3.31 0.0350 1.920 2.65 77.90 1000.00 1.22 0.94 192.500 0.3100 0.2070 0.305

2.50 0.06 2.56 6.40 0.17 4.05 6.85 -0.11 -1.25 -0.78 2.04 -8.95 2.22 -2.00 1.32 0.00 0.29 1.36 0.13 2.82 0.00 6.12 2.14 0.30 9.38 0.52 -1.85 -0.13 0.20 0.83 5.62 0.79 1.64 2.99 3.39

1,280,000 1,333,360 39,501,486.50 13,099,200 71,605,416.00 1,403,000 1,400 14,580,000 2,160,000 -441,400.00 1,020,300 3,449,400 173,100 20,900 1,756,500 140,000 185,970 20,800 2,397,630 10,000 1,475,000 329,000 3,740,400 50,000 18,151,600 10,000 66,900,000 706,000 5,000 99,340 447,090 382,000 457,000 7,470 3,060,000 1,190,000 4,550,000

7.790 1.32 2.300 0.290 40.000 3.4 5.02 0.550 1.09 1.050 0.133

1.96 1.54 0.88 0.00 0.00 -1.16 0.00 5.77 0.00 0.00 1.53

12,609,500 1,399,000 1,179,000 950,000 16,794,600 1,682,000 2,000 16,343,000 120,000 5,000 18,870,000

387,530.00 -46,614,555 -7,352,133.00 25,250.00 4,506.00 -10,920,436.00

139,504,796.50

-9,857,701.00 1,614,450.00 -1,505,055 -9,494,768.00 1,999,516.00 6,445,485.00 806,290.00 -11,752,330.00 1,324,725.00 1,298,625 117,600.00 -48,600.00 -5,087,929.00 22,324,302.00 6,339,877.00 2,335,277.00 -4,790,815.00 -1,436,729.50 -1,791,878.00 27,900.00 -829,000.00 30,579,702.00

1,650,855.00 -6,200,520.00 468,937.00 -13,510,830.00 1,790,550.00 2,226,166.00 -18,869,444.00 99,000.00 -25,570.00 -208,550.00 -69,230.00 860,800.00 -7,830,829.00 24,000.00

-184,004.00 27,862,320.00 -28,950.00 -4,646,128.00 50,247,455.00 51,743,776.00 2,468,513.00 24,793,460.00 97,706,906.00

2,021,318.00 56,175,330.00

94,497,467.00 -6,500.00 -254,690.00 146,830,485.00 1,559,740.00 -17,250.00 -10,560.00

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

High

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

Cyber Bay Corp. 0.690 Double Dragon 62.85 Empire East Land 0.810 Ever Gotesco 0.150 Global-Estate 1.01 Filinvest Land,Inc. 2.00 Interport `A’ 1.24 Megaworld 5 MRC Allied Ind. 0.104 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.440 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 37.00 Primex Corp. 14.5 Robinson’s Land `B’ 30.60 Rockwell 1.73 Shang Properties Inc. 3.28 SM Prime Holdings 29.95 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.98 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.030 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.860

-1.45 0.32 0.00 3.33 0.99 -2.50 0.00 1.40 0.00 6.82 6.76 2.90 2.29 1.16 0.30 -0.17 0.00 1.94 -1.88

5,187,000 3,564,540 183,000 10,000 9,714,000 27,451,000 923,000 37,597,600 6,030,000 1,920,000 2,400 748,000 1,595,600 335,000 131,000 41,123,400 2,865,000 861,000 4,568,000

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 4 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 2.58 830 1600 5.95

70.5 1.97 119.5 7 0.017

17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 1 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 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 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom 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 Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Yehey

-0.68 0.82 0.00 1.69 0.00 3.08 -3.37 49.15 2.82 -0.90 0.00 0.00 1.60 0.00 6.97 -0.43 0.00 1.02 0.00 -2.56 0.00 0.58 1.10 -0.53 4.29 -0.56 16.73 0.00 -0.31 2.65 0.00 -0.50 0.73 1.89 -0.77 -0.50 -0.38 1.63 0.75 3.77 0.00 -1.11 0.00 -1.29 0.00 -0.16 -3.79 6.78 -1.04 1.75 -1.47 2.90

81,800 73,250.00 64,000 2,000 1,025,000 1,900 80,300 3,629,600 -1,708,052.00 1,213,700,000 -172,770.00 6,572,000 -1,061,710.00 235,020 -4,722,255.50 3,300 24,000 261,300 2,000 10 70,950 -40,596,990.00 146,800 470,100 -142,960.00 36,400 106,000 5,750.00 768,850 18,596,436.50 58,400 3,000,000 338,100 2,805,000.00 55,660,000 -127,500.00 3,791,000 21,760.00 1,852,000 -13,700.00 15,800 119,100 435,000 -156,000.00 116,000 23,000 14,298,000 -3,956,140.00 23,953,000 29,749,970.00 7,019,000 377,160.00 37,900 50,200 6,000 3,860 295,290.00 1,631,000 -2,261,522.00 115,770 50,086,860.00 3,080,000 6,090,000 1,464,700 3,525,525.00 491,950 4,676,511.00 3,168,300 -6,350.00 5,821,000 17,000.00 12,669,000 -1,633,940.00 1,000 2,686,000 -2,184,880.00 1,650,000 45,200

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 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 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 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 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

0.00 1.52 -0.69 1.32 4.76 0.00 2.00 -0.57 1.12 0.00 -1.22 1.96 0.00 0.00 -2.15 0.87 0.00 1.79 -1.67 -8.33 0.99 2.65 -13.01 0.00 -0.17 -3.36 0.00

279,000,000 528,000.00 1,832,000 2,053,090.00 400,000 -86,130.00 620,000 16,000 710,000 1,142,000 510.00 300 8,658,000 2,708,030.00 1,130,000 15,070,000 70,000 12,400,000 72,100,000 405,000 5,913,100 671,152.00 268,000 27,900.00 17,000 230,000 21,420.00 4,700,000 35,000 4,210,100 863,388.00 38,733,600 -23,827,643.00 6,200,000 113,830 7,612,063.00 660,000 97,460.00 56,400,000

70 553 525 120 515 8.21 111

33 490 500 101.5 480 5.88 101

1047 84.8

1011 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

1.22 -0.55 0.00 0.17 0.09 0.00 -0.27 -0.09 -0.29 0.25 -1.30 0.00 -0.13 0.64 -1.99 0.07

246,900 4,000 2,080 500 50 269,600 45,650 520 2,435 39,540 6,700 7,100 38,030 136,470 60,700 98,400

0.00

349,000

10.25 -0.27 25.56 -0.12

41,503,700 2,000 17,304,000 668,100

0.23

3,040

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

3.5

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

0.700 0.680 0.680 66.9 63 63.05 0.810 0.800 0.810 0.155 0.155 0.155 1.02 0.99 1.02 2.00 1.93 1.95 1.27 1.18 1.24 5.07 4.93 5.07 0.104 0.101 0.104 0.495 0.440 0.470 39.75 37.10 39.50 14.94 14.6 14.92 31.50 31.00 31.30 1.75 1.71 1.75 3.29 3.28 3.29 30.00 29.65 29.90 0.98 0.97 0.98 1.070 1.030 1.050 5.850 5.730 5.750 SERVICES 7.33 7.35 7.27 7.28 49 49.4 49 49.4 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 0.590 0.610 0.580 0.600 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.2 6.5 6.75 6.41 6.7 6.83 6.85 6.60 6.60 0.0590 0.0880 0.0580 0.0880 2.84 3.02 2.82 2.92 99.7 99.7 98.4 98.8 9.84 9.84 9.84 9.84 2.05 2.05 2.05 2.05 5.00 5.20 5.00 5.08 3.22 3.22 3.22 3.22 911 974.5 974.5 974.5 2314 2326 2290 2304 6.37 6.40 6.35 6.37 17.70 18.00 17.58 17.88 21.00 21.00 21.00 21.00 1.17 1.16 1.14 1.14 63 63.5 62.85 63 13.80 14.30 13.72 13.88 0.0091 0.0092 0.0092 0.0092 9.40 9.38 9.30 9.35 0.350 0.365 0.345 0.365 1.7800 1.8500 1.7400 1.7700 2.45 2.98 2.43 2.86 13 13.1 12.78 13 6.53 6.55 6.40 6.51 3.02 3.12 3.04 3.10 0.580 0.590 0.580 0.580 1.99 1.99 1.98 1.98 4.09 4.15 3.99 4.12 4.76 4.90 4.63 4.85 3.920 3.950 3.840 3.890 12 11.98 11.88 11.94 5.20 5.25 5.02 5.18 2.46 2.5 2.46 2.5 134.00 140.00 125.00 135.00 15.90 16.60 16.10 16.50 2088.00 2096.00 2074.00 2088.00 0.450 0.450 0.445 0.445 1.190 1.190 1.170 1.190 46.60 46.70 45.35 46.00 88.00 89.00 87.30 88.00 6.38 6.62 6.35 6.37 3.69 3.69 3.53 3.55 0.590 0.630 0.590 0.630 1.92 1.9 1.9 1.9 3.43 3.6 3.44 3.49 0.340 0.335 0.320 0.335 6.200 6.380 6.200 6.380 MINING & OIL 0.0040 0.0041 0.0040 0.0040 3.30 3.45 3.31 3.35 4.33 4.35 4.27 4.30 0.227 0.230 0.227 0.230 6.3000 6.6 6.3 6.6000 0.62 0.62 0.61 0.62 0.500 0.510 0.500 0.510 8.75 8.86 8.70 8.70 0.890 0.900 0.880 0.900 0.290 0.295 0.290 0.290 0.246 0.247 0.242 0.243 0.255 0.260 0.250 0.260 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 1.86 1.89 1.82 1.82 5.74 5.87 5.66 5.79 2.85 2.89 2.75 2.85 0.5600 0.5700 0.5400 0.5700 1.2000 1.2000 1.1800 1.1800 0.0120 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 4.03 4.11 4.06 4.07 8.67 8.93 8.70 8.90 5.38 5.40 4.51 4.68 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 121.00 122.00 120.80 120.80 4.17 4.19 4.02 4.03 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 PREFERRED 49.35 49.95 49 49.95 543 540 540 540 545 545 545 545 115.4 115.6 115.6 115.6 540.5 541 541 541 6.1 6.1 6.07 6.1 112 112 111.7 111.7 1121 1120 1120 1120 1022 1021 1019 1019 79.8 81 80 80 77 76.05 76 76 78 78 76.6 78 78 78 77.9 77.9 78.5 79 78.8 79 77.8 77.7 76.25 76.25 76.9 76.95 76.9 76.95 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.600 2.630 2.530 2.600 SME 5.17 6.48 5.6 5.7 3.67 3.66 3.66 3.66 4.46 5.7 4.39 5.6 16.44 16.5 16.36 16.42 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 130.3 130.6 130 130.6

27,942,775.00 1,711,370.00 -12,177,710.00 2,490.00 69,467,826.00 -10,400.00 -47,500.00 -592,200.00 32,164,600.00 298,748,655.00 7,444,869.00

8,970,240.00 -2,160,000.00

-1,626,260.00

-1,600,000 389,500.00 -1,580,000.00 -722,610.00 -6,879,330.00

68,830.00 -3,660.00 -6,255,750.00 1,816,490.00

T op L oSerS

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,792.20 (UP) 1.07 INDUSTRIAL 11,923.91 (UP) 5.58 HOLDING FIRMS 7,802.12 (UP) 32.32 PROPERTY 3,623.75 (UP) 3.92 SERVICES 1,653.18 (DOWN) 3.03 MINING & OIL 11,352.11 (UP) 25.34 PSEI 7,956.14 (UP) 12.12 All Shares Index 4,811.33 (UP) 7.95 Gainers: 121; Losers: 73; Unchanged: 48; Total: 242

0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

T op g ainerS VALUE 843,293,590.02 1,157,554,122.025 1,707,121,036.93 2,652,299,758.67 1,194,513,784.76 304,586,934.851 8,210,715,283.85

Low

Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Boulevard Holdings

0.0880

49.15

PhilexPetroleum

4.68

-13.01

Italpinas

5.6

25.56

F&J Prince 'B'

-8.95

Jackstones

2.86

16.73

Phil H2O

3.05

-8.61

Alterra Capital

5.7

10.25

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0110

-8.33

Pacifica `A'

0.0350

9.38

SSI Group

3.55

-3.79

Da Vinci Capital

9.09

Alliance Tuna Intl Inc.

0.82

-3.53

EEI

8.62

8.84

Bloomberry

6.60

-3.37

Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

0.98

7.69

TA Petroleum

4.03

-3.36

FEUI

974.5

6.97

Harbor Star

1.14

-2.56

ATN Holdings B

0.390

6.85

Filinvest Land,Inc.

1.95

-2.50

FRIDAY: JULY 15, 2016

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

Manila Water details expansion Connections I CAUGHT the movie adaptation of the classic novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, on television this week. It is one of those stories beloved by generations of readers— so beloved the makers of the film dared not stray from the core of the narrative. This is not a story of epic proportions. There is neither great tragedy nor grand adventure. It is not a story of limitless imagination. Rather, it is a story of the day to day, of family, friends, and relationships. In one of the story’s pivotal moments, two of the four March family sisters at the heart of the story share a final moment. Beth, who has always been the sickly one, turns to the sister who has always been her champion—Jo, the wild tomboy, the one with strong opinions and dreams about writing stories that will stir the passions of her readers. “I never had grand dreams like you, Jo,” Beth explained. “All I ever wanted was to stay at home.” When Beth dies, the family shatters for a short time. The quiet, shy one – she was the calm voice that kept the four sisters together. Their parents were protectors and advisers. But Beth, she was their glue. Glue In every group of people, there is a person who is the glue – the one who keeps people together, the one who somehow finds the time to make sure relationships stay strong. They are the connectors. They are invaluable in business and critical in politics. We love them and hate them. They force us to pay attention to all the things we sometimes forget. They demand we forgive when we are still angry, move forward even when we are still hurt. Without them, families and organizations would fall apart. In organizations, this role is often played by the head of the human resources department. In families, it is less clear cut. My earliest memories include her. Almost before I could properly hold a writing implement, I imagined how to draw her face. It was a very simple face: chubby cheeks, a button nose, a ready grin, eyes stretched to slits by her wide smile, porcelain skin, black hair all askew. Of course, I always ended up with a circle topped with squiggly lines, a semi-circle smile, and two upside down crescents for the eyes. But I always know who that was. She was my constant companion, my friend, my nemesis, my sister. This week is her birthday. She will spend it at work opening a branch of one of the chains she manages. The rest of us, her friends and her family, will find some way to get to wherever she is. Because, like it or not, she is our glue. Roles I am the first child of an eldest child. In my paternal family, I was the oldest of our generation of cousins. To everyone, I was Ate Maya, eldest sister, with all of the burden and authority that entailed. When we were with cousins, and even friends, I was Ate Maya. But when it was just us, the siblings, that got shortened to just “Mai.” There are many explanations for this but, I suspect, it comes simply from the fact that that is what she called me. She was the sibling who somehow kept our motley group balanced. She is the second child in the family, born a scant 15 months after I was. Like most middle children, she spent much of her childhood in competition with me, routinely dreaming up schemes to make sure that in the two sisters against one dynamic that is almost unavoidable

in a family of three girls and a youngest boy all born within 17 months of each other—which was our family dynamic for the 13 years separating the two boys—I would be the one against the two which she led. I was the bookworm. She was the performer, the natural dancer. I was the plain one. She was the pretty one. Our middle sister was the quiet one, the one who looked like our mom. She was the baby sister. The boy— well, he was special. There was never any comparison. Labels I never rebelled against the shorthand labels that the people around us gave us. I felt it was easy. That was who I was. I couldn’t be bothered to think about what to wear or what to do with my hair. I had two left feet and being good at mathematics somehow did not help my rhythm any. Sure, I could hold a melody but I was never comfortable in front of an audience. She was the colorful, social child – the one who made friends easily. She was the one who had an entire gaggle of girls following her around. I was the child sitting in a corner, absolutely amazed there were people who knew I existed. And while I knew some teachers liked me because I did well in exams, there were almost an equal number who despised me because I corrected them in front of my classmates and drew pictures and read storybooks while they were lecturing. But it was at home where the world became really uneven. In our household, my father was special. His job kept him away most of the time so the few times we actually had him home was special. We had this in common with the March family. And I was his favorite. My brother was special, of course. He was the boy. But I was the one my father talked to. I was his eldest, the one he engaged, the one he entrusted with his nuggets of wisdom. Balance My sister, she balanced me. She challenged me. All throughout her childhood, she made it her job to learn everything I learned and beat me at it. And the few times she couldn’t, she found something else she could be better in. And as much as she competed against me, she held me close. She knew all my friends and kept track of them. And she made sure I knew all her friends. She butted heads with me about everything but told me all her secrets. When we were very little, I used to call her the Social Welfare Administration. She routinely gave entire loaves of bread to children who looked hungry. Every beggar who knocked on our door were given everything she could lay her hands on. As she grew older, she tempered here decisions. But she is still always the first one who looks for the good in people, even those who hurt her. In our family, the girls are in Manila and the boys are in California. My brother and she always joke that they each have a younger sibling to nurture but I am the one they both run to. That’s not really true. She is our glue. She keeps us together. In a world that is constantly trying to tug people apart, people who are connectors, those who find ways to strengthen relationships—they are invaluable. In our family, she is the one. I don’t often tell her, but she is one of my heroes. Happy birthday, Enya! Readers can email Maya at i nt e g r at i o n s _ m a n i l a @ y a h o o. com. Or visit her site at http:// integrations.tumblr.com.

By Melissa Cheok

MANILA Water Co. Inc. plans to provide water to industrial parks and offer sanitation services in Southeast Asian countries as it expands to meet a target of doubling earnings in five years. Manila Water has the expertise for industrial needs as it operates two of the largest industrial parks in the Philippines, Perry Rivera, chief operating officer for the company’s new business operations, said in an interview in Singapore. “We want to replicate in other Asean countries,” he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Entering markets outside the Philippines would help company president Gerardo Ablaza meet its goal to double earnings by 2020 from 2015, when net income rose 2 percent to P5.96 billion ($126 million). The company, one of two main water suppliers

in the greater Manila region, has branched out to other parts of the Philippines through six subsidiaries, which are all profitable, Rivera said July 13. Manila Water was unchanged at P27.50 at the close of trding in Manila to keep its gain this year to 13 percent. The Philippine Stock Exchange PSEi Index has advanced 15 percent in the period. Outside the Philippines, Manila Water distributes water in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh city. The company is also conducting pilot projects in Yangon, Myanmar, and Bandung in Indonesia, Rivera said. “While initially the capital cities

of Asean countries are attractive, they are also the most difficult to manage,” the executive said. “It is best to look at second-tier markets, prove you can make a difference and from there, you can look at other opportunities.” Manila Water in January signed an agreement to provide water and used water services to all real estate developments of sister company Ayala Land Inc. as well as its subsidiaries and affiliates. Manila Water said whollyowned unit Manila Water Philippine Ventures signed the agreement with Ayala Land’s 24 other subsidiaries and affiliates, including Cebu Holdings Inc., Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp. and Ayalaland Hotel and Resorts Corp. The Ayala Land Group earlier provided in-house water and used water services and facilities in it property development projects. Ayala Land and Manila Water are both majority-owned by conglomerate Ayala Corp. With Bloomberg

Reality game. April O’Neil (left), Ariana Nussdorf (center) and Julia Voth display their cellphones

while playing Pokemon Go on July 13, 2016 at Pershing Square in Los Angeles, California, one of a number of landmark locations across communities in southern California which served as gathering point for people playing the game. The location-based augmented reality mobile game was released on July 6th. AFP

Stock market gains; GT Capital climbs THE stock market rose Thursday after another record close on Wall Street overnight, with the Philippine Stock Exchange Index inching closer to the 8,000-point mark. The PSEi added 12.12 points, or 0.2 percent, to a year-high of 7,956.14 on a value turnover of P8.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 121 to 73, with 48 issues unchanged. The PSEi closed at an all-time high of 8,127.48 on April 10, 2015. GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty climbed 1.3 percent to P1,530, while Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan advanced 2.6 percent to P16. Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces and a unit of Alliance Global, gained 1.4 percent to P5.07. Philex Petroleum Corp. retreated 13 percent to P4.68, while

parent Metro Pacific Investments Corp. fell 2.1 percent to P7.15. Japanese stocks, meanwhile led a broad rally on Asian markets Thursday, posting a fourth straight gain, while the pound rose ahead of a key central bank meeting. The Nikkei index has now wiped out all the losses sustained after Britain’s shock vote to leave the EU, while the yen sank further as traders await details on promised government economic stimulus. The gains extend a global advance this week fueled by talk of growth-boosting measures from central banks and governments around the world. Hong Kong rose 1.1 percent but Shanghai ended down 0.2 percent, a day after China unveiled data showing imports and exports both fell last month, reinforcing worries about the slowing econ-

omy. The figures bode ill for Friday’s release of second-quarter economic growth figures, which is expected to come in at a sevenyear low of 6.6 percent, according to a survey by AFP. China’s yuan dropped to its lowest in nearly six years on the back of the trade data. The unit was at 6.6878 against the dollar Thursday—just off levels last reached in November 2010. “All eyes are on China’s economic data for the second quarter—if the numbers turn out to be weak, the yuan may depreciate beyond 6.7 per dollar,” Andy Ji, a foreign-exchange strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said. Elsewhere, Sydney edged up 0.4 percent and Seoul added 0.2 percent, while Wellington and Taipei also posted gains. With AFP

FRIDAY: JULY 15, 2016

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

Dominguez stops DBP merger IN BRIEF

Mining reduces poverty

THE Chamber of Mines of the Philippines on Thursday denied that mining companies cause suffering in their area of operations. CoMP made the statement after Environment Secretary Regina Lopez said “the poorest areas in the Philippines are mining areas.” “We do not cause suffering in areas where we operate contrary to Lopez’s belief. In fact, we ease these sufferings by complementing the government’s delivery of social services and by implementing our environmental protection and enhancement programs,” said CoMP executive vice president Nelia Halcon. The group cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that in 2015, the ten poorest provinces were Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Saranggani, Northern Samar, Maguindanao, Bukidnon, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga del Norte, Siquijor and Agusan del Sur. “None of these provinces play host to mining ﬁrms,” Halcon said. CoMP said another report from PSA showed that in 2012, the mining towns of Benguet in the Cordillera Administrative Region posted low poverty incidence. The group said poverty incidence in Itogon which hosts Benguet Corp. and Philex Mining Corp. was at 4.8 percent. In Mankayan, where the operations of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. is located, poverty incidence during the same period was at 6.2 percent. CoMP said in Tuba which hosts Philex Mining Corp., poverty rate was at 4.6 percent. Anna Leah E. Gonzales

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE Duterte administration will not implement the merger of the government’s two largest banks, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Thursday.

Dominguez told reporters the executive order issued by former President Benigno Aquino III to consolidate Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines would likely be repealed. “First, we are not going to implement it, that’s number one. If it has to repealed, then we’ll repeal it,” Dominguez said. Dominguez, who as Finance chief serves as Land Bank chairman, earlier

expressed strong opposition to the merger, saying the two banks were established for different purposes. “We will not implement it, because I really think you can not do it by EO, that’s number one. Number two, I am really not sure that you’re going to be serving the public right because these institutions were put up to address two different kinds of problems—the problem of the farmers and the problem of the industry,” Dominguez said. The merger of the banks is expected to create a mega bank with total assets of P1.71 trillion, based on end-2015 data, challenging local tycoons’ dominance in the banking sector. The merger would make the surviving entity (Land Bank) the country’s second largest lender in terms of assets. Under the merger, Land Bank will be

the surviving entity. Landbank is the country’s fourth largest bank in terms of assets (P1.14 trillion), while DBP has P465 billion and ranked seventh. The executive order issued by Aquino stated that the merger would enhance the financing of priority projects and sectors such as infrastructure, public services, agriculture and small and medium enterprises. “The merger of DBP and LBP will provide better access and extend quality financial services and products to more unbanked and underserved areas,” the EO stated. The Governance Commission on Government Owned and Controlled Corporations submitted in April to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Philippines Deposit Insurance Corp. a final business plan of the merger.

Philex seeks oil partner

PHILEX Petroleum Corp., a unit of Philex Mining Corp., said Thursday it may look for a new foreign partner in exploring the West Philippine Sea, after the country received a favorable decision from the international tribunal in the Netherlands over a territorial dispute with China. “I think we have to study ourselves, the decision and of course, we have to take our cue from the government. We don’t want to move without the government guiding us on what to do,” Philex Petroleum chairman Manuel Pangilinan told reporters Wednesday night when asked about the possibility of reviving talks with China National Offshore Oil Corp. to develop a part of the Recto Bank in West Philippine Sea. Pangilinan said Philex Petroleum had no communication with CNOOC for a long time, after the government ﬁled a case before the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration. He said Philex would need a foreign partner for the exploration of Recto Bank once it secured an approval from the government. “It’s a big [project]. Assuming there’s gas there, we will need a partner—foreign partner most likely,” Pangilinan said. The Malampaya natural gas discovery off northwest Palawan was developed by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V and Chevron Malampaya LLC. “I’m not saying it will be them but yes, we do need a foreign partner or partners,” Pangilinan said. Darwin G. Amojelar

PLDT investing P48b PLDT Inc. raised its capital expenditures this year to P48 billion to ﬁnance the transformation of its network from legacy to purely digital, a top executive said. “We have disclosed that this year the capex would be at around P43 billion and this week the PLDT board met and there’s a further allocation of $100 million on top of the P43 billion. So our spend for this year is gonna be in the neighborhood of P48 billion,” PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan told reporters Wednesday night. “Late last year, we are behind with our rival on our 3G [third-generation]. There was huge efforts in catching up. Today, I believe that we have a better network in 3G than Globe as well as there has been a signiﬁcant effort in building our LTE [long-term evolution] network and that’s proceeding very well,” he said. “Maybe for the past years or so we have been rather asleep, but I think starting this year, we will see more innovations, more progress and more activity that this digital world demands of us and customers demand of us as well,” Pangilinan said. Smart, the wireless unit of PLDT, unboxed its latest innovations that aim to change the way Filipinos connect, enrich their passions and ultimately optimize their digital life. Darwin G. Amojelar

Hot money nets $451m

FOREIGN portfolio investments or “hot money” posted a net inflow of $451 million in June, a reversal of the $522-million net outflow a year ago on sustained investors’ optimism, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday. The June figure was also a sharp improvement from the $73-million net inflow in May 2016. Total inflows in June climbed to $1.8 billion from $1.7 billion a year ago, while outflows declined to $1.4 billion from $2.2 billion. This brought foreign inflows in the first half to $580 million, lower than the $638-million net inflows a year ago. About 83.8 percent of investments were in Philippine Stock Exchange-listed securities. The balance of 15.7 percent were investments in peso government securities, while the 0.5 percent were invested in other peso debt instruments. Julito G. Rada

Dispute won’t affect ratings

The Philippines’ credit rating will not be directly affected by the maritime dispute with economic powerhouse China, Fitch Ratings said Thursday. Fitch said the South China Sea dispute, along with the East China Sea row between Japan and China, the cross-strait relations between Taiwan and the mainland and North Korea-related issues were causing geopolitical tensions in the region. “Maritime disputes in the South China Sea underscore the growing importance of geopolitics in shaping the international policy agenda of countries in the Asia Paciﬁc. Fitch Ratings believes shifts in the regional and global balance of power mean geopolitical risks will remain prevalent in the long term,” Fitch said. “These risks have the potential to cause signiﬁcant economic and political instability, though are not currently a direct ratings driver for sovereigns in the region,” it said. The International Tribunal on the Laws of the Sea based in The Netherlands ruled against China in a bitter row over territorial claims in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. The court concluded there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights within the sea areas falling within the so-called “nine-dash line.” The Philippines enjoys an investment grade score from Fitch Ratings, with a stable outlook. Julito G. Rada

Citi bags gold award. Citi Philippines wins the gold award for the tenth consecutive year from Reader’s Digest for the Card Issuing

Bank Category. Citi also won the Asia Trusted Brand award. Shown is Citi Philippines’ consumer banking head Bea Tan (third from left) receiving the gold award from Reader’s Digest group advertising and retail sales director for Asia Paciﬁc Sheron White (second from left). With them are Citi credit product management head Ramon del Rosario (left) and credit payment products head David Stoughton.

Paradigm shift for SMEs THE appointment of Go Negosyo executive director Ramon Lopez has buoyed up the hopes of small and medium entrepreneurs to have a fighting chance against giant businessmen who could easily gobble them up. Lopez is known for advocating an entrepreneurial mindset, believing that Filipinos have the opportunity to rise out of poverty. Realistically, however, SMEs—whose growth has been hyped-up with 99 percent of all registered businesses composed of these startups – cannot expect to become profitable in their first year of operation. However, success is not also impossible as these SMEs can float above the sea of competition if they learn the paradigm shifts necessary in building a strong foundation for their businesses. One thing that newbie entrepreneurs should know is that to go beyond survival, they have to go beyond the traditional, be abreast of changes in an evolving and every dynamic market, and think of ways to maintain customer patronage and loyalty. For one, they have to understand that selling is also science, not just art. Selling as an art means maximizing a team’s existing potentials and leveraging individual strengths. This involves emotional intelligence training, where a salesperson’s interpersonal skills, empathy and self-awareness are improved. Selling as a science means that increasing sales by growing

the pool of “performers” with the use consistent processes such as sales technology training utilizing customer relationship management solutions and other sales enablement tools. Next comes the realization that behavior triumphs over attitude. Why? Attitude is like words while behavior is action. Ergo, actions speak louder than words. A salesperson’s attitude should be complemented by his behavior. Talk must be supported by action. When a salesperson promises something to a customer, that promise should be matched with corresponding (immediate if possible) action. The last paradigm shift shows why competency is more valuable than knowledge. Knowledge is all in the mind; it’s about what a businessman thinks about, while competency goes a step further and applies that knowledge. Competency is also about choosing the right solutions to achieve business goals. It focuses on how a business owner makes sense of what he knows. Ideas and plans should be translated into action and smartly applied to the customer’s operations. Maximizing the right knowledge to stay on top of the game will make all the difference. Jennifer Ligones, president and chief executive of Third Pillar Business Applications Inc., shares that another factor that can help ensure that a business stays on a competitive level is through an effective customer CRM platform. “The relationships you build with your customers are far more valuable when aiming for sustainable growth. This is why businesses that put a customer-centric approach at their core take a lead in the industry: They create scalable solutions for their customers not only to keep them coming back but also to boost sales,” Ligones says. Third Pillar is known as an information technology consultancy company dedicated to providing best-in-class services and solutions. It is engaged in a strategic partnership with Salesforce

to help provide best-in-class CRM solutions to its customers. “These paradigm shifts, when complemented with the right business solution like a CRM, can help build a stronger foundation for upand-rising companies,” Ligones stresses. Salesforce’s CRM platform is a smart strategy to maximize a company’s proﬁtability by safeguarding its relationship with its customers. It is a cloud-based CRM solution that does away with expensive setup and maintenance costs. It may also be utilized using different devices like smartphones, tablets or laptops for added convenience. It also tracks all customer interactions, from calls, emails, meetings, presentations up to closing the deal. “It lets you work on one platform where everything works systematically. With a uniﬁed customer view, a businessman can have access to all the data businesses need to optimize his company’s performance for better strategic planning to win more customers and partners and keep them,” Ligones says, adding that this can ultimately improve the way an entrepreneur runs his organization. According to Ligones, Third Pillar always explores new ventures to help address the challenges that may come with success. This includes the partnership with Salesforce for CRM solutions. The company executive promises that they will continue to eye business development to help SMEs compete in the market, equipping stratups with the latest technologies that are at par with international standards. After all, every Filipino start-up business deserves this chance. ••• For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo.com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/happyhourmanilastandard. We’d be very happy to hear from you. Cheers!

F R I D AY : J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Japanese royals deny abdication TOKYO—Japan’s ancient monarchy was in tumult Thursday, with the imperial household insisting its aging emperor had no plans to abdicate after reports he wanted to step aside.

Winner. Sable Jade Robbert (front) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, reacts as she is crowned Miss Hooters International

2016 by Miss Hooters International 2015 Meagan Pastorchik during the 20th annual Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant at The Pearl concert theater at Palms Casino Resort on July 13, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

The respected national broadcaster NHK—citing palace and other sources—said Wednesday that Akihito wanted to pass the throne to his son. Any such abdication—the first since 1817—would be a severe jolt to a country where the 2,600-yearold royal family symbolizes stability and continuity. Media watchers say NHK and Kyodo News, which separately carried a similar report, would be extremely careful before committing on such an explosive story. But the Imperial Household Agency, the tradition-steeped government body that runs royal affairs, was categorical in its denial. “It is absolutely not true,” Vice Grand Steward Shinichiro Yamamoto told reporters late Wednesday. The emperor “has long refrained from discussing systematic issues out of consideration for his majesty’s constitutional position,” he told reporters. The throne, which Japan claims to be one of the world’s oldest, is held in deep respect by much of the public, despite being largely stripped of its mystique and quasidivine status in the aftermath of World War II. Akihito’s father, Hirohito, in whose name Japan’s military campaigns of the 20th century were prosecuted, was treated as a living god until defeat in 1945. While the role of emperor is now largely ceremonial, it remains in-

tensely important to right wingers, especially because of the monarch’s position at the apex of the native Shinto religion. Among their number is Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who at the weekend scored an election win that may give him the momentum to soften Japan’s pacifist constitution. An abdication—for which there is no modern legal precedent—could throw a spanner in the works, tying up legislators and preventing any such constitutional backsliding. Hidehiko Kasahara, professor of politics at Keio University, noted that Akihito has made clear his ceremonial workload is getting harder to perform. One of his sons in 2011 floated the idea of a retirement system for emperors after one of Akihito’s illnesses, and a weekly magazine in 2013 carried a report similar to the current wave of speculation. The emperor, who has suffered from numerous health issues, including prostate cancer and heart problems, himself spoke late last year of his growing limitations. He acknowledged making “mistakes” in his duties, which range from native Shinto religious ceremonies to visiting residents in regions hit by Japan’s frequent natural disasters. Akihito may also be cognizant of the public awkwardness of his father’s death from cancer in 1989. AFP

Jailed for hacking US defense firms LOS ANGELES—A Chinese national was sentenced on Wednesday in Los Angeles to three years and 10 months in prison for hacking American defense contractors to steal trade secrets on Beijing’s behalf. Su Bin, 51, who went by the names Stephen Su and Stephen Subin, was also ordered by a federal judge to pay a $10,000 fine. Su in March had admitted in a plea agreement with US authorities to conspiring with two unnamed military officers in China to try to acquire plans for F-22 and F-35 fighter jets and Boeing’s C-17 military transport aircraft. According to court documents, the trio managed to steal sensitive data by hacking into the computer networks of major defense contractors and sent the information to China Su, who ran a China-based aviation and aerospace company from Canada, was arrested in July 2014

and after waiving extradition was transferred to the United States to face charges. “Over the course of years, this defendant sought to undermine the national security of the United States by seeking out information that would benefit a foreign government and providing that country with information it had never before seen,” prosecutor Eileen Decker said in a statement. According to court documents, Su traveled to the United States at least 10 times between 2008 and 2014, working with his co-conspirators to steal the data. He admitted to sending emails to his two accomplices with guidance on which persons, companies and technologies to target. Once the data was stolen, Su admitted to translating it into English and then seeking to sell it. His spying activities have been lauded in China where the staterun media has described him as a

hero. “We are willing to show our gratitude and respect for his service to our country”, said a March editorial in the Global Times, a nationalistic newspaper with close ties to the ruling Communist Party. “On the secret battlefield without gunpowder, China needs special agents to gather secrets from the US,” it added. Washington and Beijing have repeatedly clashed over what the US describes as rampant cyberspying by the Chinese government on US industry. Last year, the US indicted five Chinese military officers on charges of cyberspying. In the 1990s, TaiwaneseAmerican Wen Ho Lee was accused of spying for the Chinese government, but eventually pleaded guilty to only one minor charge in an embarrassing debacle that ended in an apology from then US president Bill Clinton. AFP

Protest. This file photo taken on July 05, 2016, shows an activist

covered in fake blood to protest against bullfighting and bull-running during a demonstration called by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Anima Naturalis pro-animal groups in Spain. AFP

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

US to offer Russia pact against terror in Syria PARIS—The United States is to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint military action against the Al-Nusra Front and Islamic State extremist groups in Syria, the Washington Post reported Thursday. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was on his way to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin, did not deny the report, but refused to discuss the proposal in detail until he had been to the Kremlin. According to the Post, which cited sections of what it said was a draft agreement, US and Russian commanders would set up a joint command and control center to direct intensified air strikes against the groups. Currently, Russian forces in Syria are operating in support of Bashar al-Assad’s regime against a variety of rebel factions while a US-led coalition focuses its fire on the Islamic State jihadist group.

Any deal between the great power rivals would be controversial, since for many—including the critics of President Barack Obama in Washington—it would amount to a tacit acceptance of Putin’s efforts to shore up Assad’s regime. Kerry was due in Moscow later Thursday and was to hold talks first with Putin at the Kremlin then on Friday with his opposite number Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Asked if he wanted to comment on the reported US offer of a military pact, Kerry said: “I don’t right now. I’ll have comments. I’m going to Moscow, meeting with President Putin tonight, and we’ll have plenty of time to talk about it.” “I’ll give you all a sense of where we are,” he added. According to the Post, Kerry was to propose to Putin that Russia and the

United States set up a “Joint Implementation Group” or JIG to “enable extended coordination” between their militaries on the Syrian battlefields. Both the Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front are defined as terrorist groups by the UN Security Council, and they are not party to the much-breached ceasefire in place between Assad’s forces and more moderate rebel groups. But, while the Islamic State’s socalled “caliphate” has global ambitions, AlNusra—an affiliate of Al-Qaeda—has concentrated on battling Assad, fighting alongside other rebel groups backed by US allies. Any deal between Russia and the United States to fight both groups would in effect strengthen Assad’s position, and could undermine US efforts to press him to agree a negotiated political settlement to the civil war. AFP

Republic of the Philippines PROVINCE OF QUIRINO Cabarroguis -oOoBIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR Purchase of Aggregates with Binder for the Improvement/Rehab. of Various Provincial and Barangay Roads (Batch A) Contract No. 2016-024

July 15, 2016

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino, through the 20% Development Fund intends to apply the sum of P 1,000,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for 2016-024 Purchase of Aggregates with Binder for the Improvement/Rehab. of Various Provincial and Barangay Roads (Batch A). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino now invites bids for Purchase of Aggregates with Binder for the Improvement/Rehab. of Various Provincial and Barangay Roads (Batch A). Completion of the Works is required by 90 Calendar Days. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 AM to 4:00PM.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from July 15, 2016 to August 1, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (P5, 000.00). The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at the BAC Secretariat, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, upon payment of the applicable non-refundable fee. The Pre-Bid Conference shall open only to interested parties who have purchased the BD’s. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 18, 2016, 3:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, which shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before August 1, 2016, 3:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. 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. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD’s in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification.

The Provincial Government of Quirino 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) Engr. Dencio A. Pagbilao Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee Province of Quirino +639175007275 +639177756155

(TS-JULY 15, 2016)

Bastille Day. The La Defense business district is seen in the background as a Boeing C135 flies ahead of four Mirage 2000D jets during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2016. France holds annual Bastille Day military parades with troops from Australia and New Zealand as special guests among the 3,000 soldiers who will march up the Champs Elysees avenue. They will be accompanied by 200 vehicles with 85 aircraft flying overhead. AFP

Tutor teaches lessons in love

TIANJIN—Chinese university tutor Xie Shu’s core subject is Communist ideology, but he has diversified from the dry annals of political doctrine for a more hands-on subject: seduction. His “Theory and Practice of Romantic Relations” course at Tianjin University includes lectures on pickup techniques, self-presentation and how to entice the opposite sex. “How should you react when you’ve been rejected?” Xie asked his young charges at one lecture, in a cafe on the campus in the northern port city. “Clearly, don’t throw the roses that you bought the girl at her— keep calm.” Tianjin is China’s first university to integrate such a course into its curriculum, giving students credit towards their degrees for attending—an indication of slowly loosening social norms in China after decades of more straight-laced traditionalism. It also demonstrates officials’ increasing

concern over the social acumen of the country’s youth—many of whom grew up as pampered “Little Emperors” without brothers or sisters as a result of China’s onechild policy. “The generation of only children lack relationships with people their own age,” China’s most prominent sexologist Li Yinhe told AFP, adding: “A boy who has a sister might have a better understanding of how to interact with a girl.” At the cafe Xie flipped through Powerpoint slides, showing the boys how to “upgrade their look” by avoiding “tank tops and long shorts”, and urging them not to “ask girls questions like it’s a police investigation”. “Be courteous. Serve the girl before yourself. But don’t go overboard,

either,” he advised. His female charges, he suggested, should run their hands through their hair and “look the boy in the eye even if they feel intimidated”. Sitting towards the back of the pack, Zijun Qian, 23, who has never had a relationship, diligently typed up the teacher’s advice on her laptop. “When I learned that a class like this existed, I thought it was incredible,” she said. Xie occupies a particularly Chinese academic role as a fudaoyuan, who instructs students in Marxism-LeninismMao Zedong Thought as well as social counseling, but his authority on the issue of relationships is open to question. He is single, he admitted sheepishly. “I don’t have a wife or a girlfriend,” he laughed, “which is a bit embarrassing”. Many young Chinese entering university have little practical experience in matters of the heart.

Conservative attitudes are widespread and most simply have not had time to date in high school, due to the intensive study necessary to pass the dreaded “gaokao” exam, which determines college placement and is seen as a key to one’s future. Parents generally frown upon relationships that might distract their children from their all-important studies. As soon as students graduate from university, however, the opposite becomes true: families often push for them to marry quite quickly—preferably before 27 for girls and before 30 for boys—prolonged singledom can prompt taunts, concerns, and unrelenting pressure. Even as China’s economy boomed between 2000 and 2015, transforming material wealth, the average age for first time sexual intercourse declined only fractionally, from 22.7 years to 22 years, according to a study from the Renmin University Institute of Sexology. AFP

F R I D AY: J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

MOTORING

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FASTLANE 16th Henry Ford Awards open FORD Philippines is now accepting entries for the 16th Henry Ford Awards (HFA), the country’s premier award giving body that recognizes the work of journalists that drive the automotive industry’s progress in the country. Through the HFA, Ford Philippines celebrates and recognizes print, online and broadcast media practitioners who continue to drive positive change within the automotive industry through their stories. “For the past fifteen years, our annual Henry Ford Awards program has served as the platform to celebrate the hard work our media friends and partners do in the automotive industry. Beyond what manufacturers like Ford do in marketing their products, it is the media who have borne the responsibility of empowering our customers to know the truth behind every product through credible and honest reportage. This is the kind of integrity and passion

that the HFA seeks to honor every year,” said Joseph Ayllon, assistant vice president for communications, Ford Philippines. Ford has added three new categories to the Awards this year: Automotive Green Feature, for stories that show how green technology, energy conservation engineering or alternative fuel technologies truly help reduce carbon foot print; Smart Technology Feature, for entries that highlight a leading technology that makes the driving and passenger experience more convenient; and Best Automotive Magazine, which will award the best automotive print magazine that delivers accurate reportage of relevant news and trends that shape the Philippine motoring industry, automotive experts’ opinion, and comprehensive reviews of automotive products. This category will also consider a magazine’s overall layout and visual appeal.

Affordable protection AS AN industry pioneer in synthetic oils, Motul oils and lubricants were developed to provide lubrication for modern day sophisticated engines, while assuring fuel savings and automotive efficiency. To better serve the needs of the motoring public, Motul is now offering its line of 100 percent fully synthetic motor oils at an affordable price. The Multigrade Plus Mineral group 2 base oil in 10W40 viscosity now retails for only P290/liter; Multipower Plus semi-synthetic group 3 base oil in 15W40 viscosity now at only P400/liter and the Multipower Plus techno-syntheses 5W40 and 10W40 viscosity retailing at P450/liter. The Multipower Plus semisynthetic oils are perfect for gasoline and diesel powered sedans and AUV’s and Motul’s anti-deposit and anti-black sludge power

help maintains a clean engine, and has properties for anti corrosion, anti-foam properties that protects both the oil and engine from unwanted elements the car accumulates from usage. Motul’s patented synthetic technology that has been tested in actual conditions to provide ultra lowfriction for more horsepower, incredibly smooth and almost no noticeable drop in rpms when shifting and instantaneous engine revs with noticeable gains in horsepower.

BMW GROUP’S NEW HQ

UNDER ONE ROOF BMW GROUP Classic has completed the move to its new headquarters located on a historic site. The company archive and the vehicle collection, the workshop and the customer center together with the parts service for classic automobiles and motorcycles are now located together in an ensemble of buildings in the district of Milbertshofen in Munich. This situates the history of the BMW Group in a new home during the centenary year of the company and at the same time roots it in its historic location. The site at Moosacher Straße 66 measuring around 13,000 square meters includes one of the first production buildings of what was at that time still a fledgling company. It was preserved during the restoration work, as was the heritage gatehouse, which is today a listed building, and now forms the entrance to the history of the BMW Group. “Now we have everything under one roof and this provides us with the ideal conditions for maintaining our historic heritage,” commented Ulrich Knieps, Head of BMW Group Classic. “We have already been able to manage the first major events like the Concorso d’Eleganza

Villa d’Este, the Mille Miglia and the Festival of Speed from our new site. And the event venue has already proved its worth, for example at the press conference to celebrate 100 years of existence of the company.” The new location for BMW Group Classic also provides a touchpoint for owners and fans of classic vehicles of the brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce with information and services relating to the preservation and care of their automobiles and motorcycles. Vehicles and numerous other exhibits from the comprehensive collection of BMW Group Classic are presented in the historic production hall. The facilities and event spaces created there can also be booked for events. Guided tours are offered to give participants an overview of the new venue and provide

information about the history of the company. Café “Mo 66” is open to visitors and gives them a vantage point looking directly into the glass vehicle workshop of the BMW Group Classic Centre. At its new location, BMW Group Classic has significantly expanded opportunities for staging activities relating to the history of the company and its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce. Questions about the history of the company, brands and products are answered in the BMW Group Archives. The teams responsible for communication with the media and for marketing now also carry out their work in the new centre alongside the specialists involved in organizing events and exhibitions. The staff of the BMW Group Classic Centre has a long track record of experience, expertise, and passion. They work on the preservation and restoration of historic automobiles and motorcycles, and offer support for purchasing or selling a classic vehicle. The offering of BMW Group Classic also includes the loan of classic vehicles and the parts shop. The range of parts offered comprises more than 55 000 items and it is continuously growing. Owners of collectables on four wheels and two will benefit from this supply of original spare parts.

Civic Modulo lineup enhanced HONDA’S automobile business unit in the Philippines adds three new sportier versions to the Civic line-up with the introduction of the Civic 1.8 E CVT Modulo, RS Turbo Modulo, and RS Turbo Modulo Sport variants. Since its launching through the Philippine media last April, the Civic has already accumulated over 2,300 reservations. HCPI responds to the positive feedback the Civic received from the market by amplifying its aggressive sporty appeal. Designed and engineered to enhance the customer’s Honda experience, the Civic Modulo variants are equipped with Modulo genuine accessories for both the exterior and interior. The three All-New Civic Modulo variants sport a Front Under Spoiler, Side Under Spoiler, Rear Under Spoiler, Exhaust Pipe Finisher (1 pair

for the RS Turbo Modulo and RS Turbo Modulo Sport variants), and a Modulo emblem. Inside, these three Modulo variants are each equipped with a Side Step Garnish. The 1.8 E CVT Modulo Variant also gets an additional Deck Lid Spoiler, while the RS Turbo Modulo Sport Variant is made more distinctive with its 17-inch matte

black Modulo Alloy Wheels. Customers are sure to enjoy the Modulo genuine accessories, which have undergone rigorous testing to ensure the best quality. Modulo genuine accessories also come with a three-year warranty. Under the hood, the RS Turbo Modulo and RS Turbo Modulo Sport variants are powered by a DOHC VTEC Turbo Engine that

delivers a maximum torque of 22.0 kg-m at 1,700--5,500 rpm, and a maximum power output of 173 PS at 5,500 rpm. The 1.8 E CVT Modulo variant is equipped with a 1.8 liter engine, which produces a maximum torque of 17.4 kg-m at 4,300 rpm, and a maximum power output of 141 PS at 6,500 rpm. Both engines are mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) developed under Earth Dreams Technology. The RS Turbo variants are equipped with paddle shifters for an even sportier driving performance. At the recent Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Eco Run, the All-New Civic RS Turbo recorded an impressive result of 27.56 km/L, which highlights its powerful driving performance with uncompromised fuel efficiency. HCPI is now accepting reservations for the All-New Civic Mod-

ulo Variants, with the following suggested retail prices: RS Turbo Modulo Sport: Php 1,510, 000; RS Turbo Modulo: Php 1,445,000; 1.8 E CVT Modulo: Php 1,143,000. The All-New Civic is also available in 1.8 E (Php 1,088,000 SRP) and RS Turbo (Php 1,398,000 SRP) variants. Customers may choose from the following colors for the All-New Civic: Cosmic Blue Metallic (new color) Midnight Burgundy Pearl (new color) Lunar Silver Metallic White Orchid Pearl (additional Php 20,000) Rallye Red (RS Turbo, RS Turbo Modulo, RS Turbo Modulo Sport variants only) Modern Steel Metallic (1.8 E CVT and 1.8 E CVT Modulo variants only)

F R I D AY : J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MOTORING SPEED LIMITERS

FOR TRUCKS AND BUSES Text and photo by Dino Ray V. Directo III

DUE TO sheer neglect or ignorance of the law, countless lives and damage to property amounting to millions of pesos have been lost due to accidents involving speeding trucks and buses. To curb this road menace, the government has enacted laws to minimize, if not eradicate such deadly occurrences.

Complimenting safety guidelines and measures set by the government in our main thorough fares are the various technologies to counter erring bus and truck drivers who drive like speed demons. One such product was launched recently, Autokontrol Speed Limiter which enables bus and truck operators to control the speed of their vehicles by way of Geo tagging. Autokontrol can provide directions to the engine to travel at only specific speeds for specific areas making sure that when the trucks or buses enter a highly urbanized area they remain within safe speeds at all times. Because Autokontrol manages the throttle of the engine, it is has also been certified as an efficient emission

control. The bus and trucks have better emissions and improved fuel efficiency. A seal and cable system ensures that the gadget is not tampered with and can be monitored and controlled by any government agency. Autokontrol speed limiters is a fly by wire technology used worldwide for years and have produced fuel savings where the vehicles have been used on long distance operations, cleraner emmissions and safer travel through the use of speed controls. Autokontrol Ltd. has been providing such services in over 40 different countries, having been in the business of developing and fitting of speed controls and vehicle speed control technology for the

A gadget like the speed limiter can save lives.

past 30 years. Autokontrol speed limiters have worldwide certification in countries that have already established speed control legislation such as Egypt and India. The Philippines has just recently passed a bill for

speed controls on trucks and buses at the bicameral committee level and is waiting for presidential signature to become law. Every Autokontrol speed limiter is affordable, costing as low as tracking devices with no recurrent

cost and any that is installed by TSS carries a warranty of 150,000 km or 3 years. According to Autokontrol data, a leading haulage company in Nigeria, ABC Transport Plc, was able to reduce major accidents involving its fleet by 40% by installing speed limiters on 30% of its vehicles. Also, British Gas, a British fuel company, achieved a 10% saving in fuel consumption by installing speed limiters on their vehicles, while Angus Council achieved a 4.4% fuel consumption saving on 65 Renault Clios, over the first three months of installation. WHO and the Global Road Safety Partnership have consistently advised that speed limiters be introduced in every country, because these devices not only help in extending the lifespan of vehicle engines, a fact now known to most leasing companies, but also help in reducing fleet downtime as well as insurance costs. Autokontrol is distributed by AutoKontrol Philippines Corporation at 341 G. Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. You can also contact them at autokontrol@pioneertrucks.ph.

Motorists are also at risk during flash floods Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III Flash floods that occur each year pose a significant threat to Filipino motorists. We are the lucky ones considering that flash floods have only caused damaged to property, unlike in the United States where an average of 75 lost their lives due to these severe weather conditions. Areas such as the Lagusniland in Manila, Banawe in Quezon City and the Maysilo in Mandaluyong City are low lying areas that have poor drainage systems and are notorious for flash floods. For motorists caught in a heavy rainfall, the single worst decision that you can make is driving your vehicle into floodwaters of unknown depth. It is easy to miscalculate the depth of floodwaters particularly at night and in poorly lit road networks. Driving through rains and flooded streets are made even worse by unmarked road repairs which are prevalent among erring contractors. According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

(MMDA), flash flood events occur in a localized area, with some severe flooding affecting passage of vehicles and the roads a danger to motorists in a matter of hours. According to the MMDA, here are points to consider during heavy rain and when floods are imminent: • Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and potential stalling.

• A foot of water will float many vehicles. • Two feet of rushing water will carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups. In a report conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, water 1 foot deep typically exerts 500 pounds of lateral force on a vehicle. Once your vehicle is floating, the floodwater becomes your steering wheel. If that water is moving, your vehicle could be swept away,

tipped on its side or flipped. Rising water can enter your vehicle in a manner of minutes, even seconds.The best advice we can give is to never drive through flood waters of unknown depth. As the National Weather Service has campaigned for years: “Turn around, don’t drown!” If you are stuck in your vehicle underwater, you need to act quickly: • Find a pocket of trapped air, usually against the rear window or roof. • Roll a window down slowly, take a deep breath and be ready to swim. • If the window won’t open, break the window with a rescue tool (Swiss Army knife, for example). Driving through floods is a big mistake Don’t be too confident when wading through floods even if you are driving an SUV. If floodwater is powerful enough to float and/or trap your vehicle, trying to wade through it is a recipe for disaster. Just six inches of flowing water can knock you off your

feet. If you slip and fall face first, you might drown before you come to and is particularly dangerous situation for babies and small children. Flowing at just 15 kph throug water exerts the same force per unit area as air blowing at EF5 tornado wind speeds, according to Dr. Greg Forbes, severe weather expert for The Weather Channel. Water moving at 30 kph has the pressure equivalent of wind blowing at 790 mph, faster than the speed of sound .Forbes says the fastest flood water speeds are thought to be around 67 mph, which may occur in steep, elevated terrain. In general, awareness of the weather can save your life in a flash flood. You can monitor flooded areas by listening to the radio by way of weather bulletins or find a weather app on your smartphone to receive flood watches, warnings and what areas to avoid. Next time there is a risk of flash flooding, take it seriously. Stay safe, drive cautiously and be defensive on the road. Don’t be the topic of the six o’clock news.

F R I D AY : J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

isahred @ gmail.com

WRITER

DEST IN AT IONS

LIFE

TACLOBAN’S

SANGYAW FESTIVAL

A BIG SUCCESS BY ROBBIE PANGILINAN

acloban City’s celebration of the 127th Sangyaw Festival was a big success. The month-long festivities capped off with the inauguration and oathtaking of Mayor-elect Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez and the members of the local city government on June 30. Three years after the destruction brought about by super typhoon Yolanda, the city kicked off the annual festival in honor of its patron Señor Sto. Niño de Tacloban on the first of June. The celebration featured socio-cultural events for every Taclobanon and guests for the whole month of June. That include agro-trade fairs, nightly barbecues with live shows by Calla Lily, 6 Cycle Mind, Banda ni Kleggy, Parokya ni Edgar, Aegis, Itchyworms, Rocksteady, Regine Velasquez, Side A, Yeng Constantino, the REO Brothers, Kitchie Nadal, and Wolfgang. It also featured a ballroom dancing, the search for Ms. Tacloban 2016, the 8th Sangyaw Awards night, and the most awaited “Parade of Lights.”

On June 29, 10 barangay contingents and 10 school contingents participated in the Parade of Lights that has become a symbol for the city’s resilience and hope. “Resilient, Vibrant for a Better Tacloban—this was the theme of the festival this year. Through the beautiful lights showcased by the barangays and schools, no doubt, Tacloban showed the world its strength and beauty,” said Romualdez, who takes the position held by her husband, Alfred Romualdez, in the last nine years. In one of the nightly concerts, Sofia, the 16-year-old daughter of Cristina and Alfred, surprised her parents and thousands of viewers with her performance at the annual Sangyawan Music Festival on June 28. Dubbed the “Next Phenomenal Teen Star,” Sofia said her performance was her gift to her mother, the second female mayor of the city. “I will continue the seed we planted in Tacloban. With our leadership, the city will continue to flourish,” said the new mayor.

Tacloban City lit up in June as the province celebrated its 127th Sangyaw Festival with a lineup of fun, colorful and notable festivities

The inauguration and oathtaking of Mayorelect Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez capped off the month-long celebration in Tacloban

Beautiful lights paraded to showcase Tacloban's vibrancy and resiliency amid the calamities that struck the city

A beach party for Mother Nature You may as well call it the country’s definitive a beach party. For the past decade, tens of thousands of party people from all over the archipelago have been trooping to southern Mindanao for the Sarangani Bay (SarBay) Festival, the country’s biggest beach party. And just like the Bay’s mouthwatering tuna which have found their way to the world’s plate, this long stretch of white in Gumasa Beach in Glan sizzled once more

in the event’s 11th installment, but with a unique twist. Themed #SarbayEvolution, this year’s version celebrated the innovations it has embraced through the years, most notably its advocacy for environmental sustainability. Sarangani First Lady and Provincial Tourism Council President Michelle LopezSolon said this year’s edition was more than the usual beach party, which, more often

Ultimate Frisbee, among other physical activities, tested the mettle of guests and locals during SarBay Festival

than not, harms the coastal ecosystem. She said that the third day of SarBay was devoted to coastal clean up activities and environmental projects. Five civic organizations joined “I Love Clean SarBay,” the program this year to help maintain the ecological balance of the Bay’s coastal ecosystem. Some 100,000 bangus (milkfish) fingerlings were released into the Bay after the two-day festival in cooperation with Spectrum, Conrado-Ladislawa-Alcantara Foundation Inc. and Smart Communications. Still part of this year’s environmental advocacy is the e-trash bag given as part of the environmental fee given upon entrance. Every kilogram of gathered garbage submitted by every person has an equivalent token given by SarBay corporate partners Globe, Talk N’ Text, 2Go, and Coca-Cola. The Bay Bodies 2016 will turn on the evening heat as babes and hunks strut down the catwalk in their swimwear, while the Talk and Text-sponsored Foam Party wrapped up the first night featuring the sultry duo of Natalia Moon and Luane de Lima known as DJ Lunatics.

The country's biggest beach party, Sarangani Bay (SarBay) Festival once again attracted thousands of party people to celebrate the province's beauty and advocacy for environmental sustainability

Day Two began with the SarBay Swim-Bike-Run for the Environment, a triathlon which tested the mettle of the local “Iron Men”. Both days included beach volleyball and football, skim boarding, Ultimate Frisbee Competition, fire dancing exhibitions, and Zumba with the Legendz, Gen. Santos City’s home-grown league of dance instructors. Curtains closed with a Globe Telecoms-hosted evening party with deejays Cathy Frey, Jennifer Lee, Ron Poe and Italo, and Franco band rocking the night away. Local stakeholders also launched the cruise tour of the

Bangsi Watercraft Service which sailed around the coastal towns around Sarangani Bay. Once a best-kept tourist secret, Gumasa has become one of the country’s most sought-after getaways because of its unspoiled talcum sand, minus the madding crowd of popular beaches. A Best Tourism Event Awardee from the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines for several years now, SarBay Fest is organized by the Provincial Tourism Council and supported the Provincial Government, the Department of Tourism Region 12 and the Municipality of Glan.

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LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

A ‘POCKETABLE’ TRAVEL COMPANION BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

hey say travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer, but wouldn’t it be nicer to earn more than experience and memories whenever you venture out to some other parts of the world? Acknowledging the universal love of traveling, Maybank Philippines goes out of its way to offer its credit card holders the best of both worlds while they explore all corners of this world. Maybank Platinum MasterCard sure knows how to be the ideal travel companion one would love to have in his pocket as it offers amazing perks that allow for rewarding as well as safety features that ensure worry-free and convenient traveling and spending. “We’ve taken extra step for our Maybank Platinum cardholders by expanding the world of travel in two ways,” said Maybank Head of Marketing Maria Tanya Medina. On one hand, cardholders can earn miles for Asia Miles and KrisFlyer Miles for all their purchases anywhere in the world. For every P50.00 spent using the Maybank Platinum MasterCard, cardholders earn one Asia Mile or one KrisFlyer Mile, which they can use for a wide network of airlines including Singapore Airlines, Virgin Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, among a couple more others. On the other, every purchase using the credit card from any merchant outside of the Philippines earn the cardholders one percent cash back rebate credited back to their card. Aside from miles and cash rebates, Maybank Platinum MasterCard cardholders

can also enjoy regional treats, which are programmed for all Maybank banks across Asia. “Being a regional bank we are present in all ASEAN countries, and being part of such large network of branches all around the region, we are able to partner with different merchants to offer our cardholders discounts and privileges,” shared Medina. This means, Maybank Philippines cardholders have cross-border privileges offered at the bank’s partners in the region. “For instance, when you use your Maybank credit card at Universal Studios in Singapore, you get 10 percent off the entrance fee,” explained Medina. Being partnered with MasterCard, Maybank Platinum MasterCard cardholders can also enjoy MasterCard’s Priceless Cities program, which offers exclusive access to some of the most coveted places and events around the world. “MasterCard has identified key cities around the world to enjoy cultural dining experience and other experiences that normal tourists do not enjoy,” said Mastercard Philippines Vice President Judith Dayrit. In an interview with Medina, she said Maybank Platinum MasterCard is geared towards their affluent to high net worth clients such as business owners and CEOs. “That’s the reason why it’s more eschewed towards travel-related [perks] because that’s the profile of the clients: they travel extensively. They will benefit from these treats because they’re already used to earning miles, it’s like an extra add-on for them,” Medina told The Standard Life.

The best of both worlds. Maybank Platinum MasterCard offers miles and cashback rebate perks to cardholders whenever they use their credit card for purchases

Travel and shop anywhere in the world without worry as Maybank's credit cards have safety and security features that protect cardholders from fraud

Maybank and MasterCard join forces to give the best travel experience to their customers. From left: MasterCard Account Manager Rochelle Mayuga, MasterCard Philippines Vice President Judith Dayrit, Maybank Cards and Unsecured Lending Marketing Head Tanya Medina, Maybank Cards and Unsecured Lending Head Eden Estrella, MasterCard Philippines Vice President Mike Miranda, and Maybank Marketing Officers Kyle San Diego and Samantha Alberto

On top of rewards and privileges, the credit card boasts of its safety and security features. To ensure the safety of the cardholders, every Maybank credit card contains an EMV-compliant chip to help prevent fraudulent transactions. No matter where they are in the world, an SMS is sent to the customer’s mobile phone after every transaction when they use the credit card. This allows cardholders to track their purchases and protects them from unauthorized transactions. Further security measures are in place with Maybank Secure Online Shopping

(MSOS), which requires cardholders to enter a one-time password received via SMS before an online transaction at 3D secure websites—this ensures that nobody else can use one’s credit card to shop online. “Not a lot of people talk about that, but fraud is a really big problem in the credit card industry and we’d like to think that Maybank credit card is one of the, if not the most, secured card in the market today,” enthused Medina. To learn more about Maybank Platinum MasterCard, visit www.maybank.com.ph, and like Maybank Philippines on Facebook.

Guests prefer Rieseling Boracay hotel Rieseling Boracay Beach Resort has been recognized as the top performing beach hotel in Boracay. That is according to guests who posted their reviews on social media. Skyjet Airlines, Manila’s boutique airline, also recognized Rieseling Boracay as one of the hotel partners of the inter-island aircraft. Rieseling Boracay Beach Resort is a place for relaxation. It creatively combines comfort and privacy to pamper each guest. The beachfront resort is designed to reflect the Filipino lifestyle. The interiors of its suites are uniquely decorated with indigenous furnishings. The resort is situated away from the area where the crowd hang out and make a festive noise at night, and even during

the day. Its pleasant ambience makes it a perfect hideaway soothing and calming to the stressed nerves of guests. However, through the access either on the beachfront or roadside, guests can walk to the WhiteBeach. Bulabog Beach is the island’s watersports capital, noted for its attractive, laid-back community vibe. This is one of the world’s windsurfing and kite surfing hubs, Rieseling Boracay Beach Resort is located at Bulabog Beach, Boracay island, Malay town, Aklan please contact; Landline: +63 36 288.2505; Mobile: +63 919.994.4992; info@rieselingboracay.com, Instagram: @rieselingboracay, Facebook: Rieseling Boracay

Rieseling Boracay hotel guests get to enjoy comfort and privacy while staying in the resort situated away from the crowd but near to the beauty of the island paradise

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LIFE

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Puppetry, dance, music theater and other art performances are currently presented at the International Arts Festival in Hong Kong

The world’s largest annual multi-sport festival, Arnold Classic Asia Multi-Sport Festival, is coming to Hong Kong on August 19 to 21

SUMMER SPELLS FUN IN HONG KONG

hese next few months mean a lot of family bonding. With the kids out of school, there’s no better time to go on that exciting vacation together. Hong Kong, where their summer sun is a great alternative to our rainy weather, might just be the perfect place to head to. The city is booming with thrilling events and activities for tourists and locals to experience. The season’s lineup starts with the International Arts Carnival, an annual event to encourage an interest in the arts in children, young people, and their families. Several performances of different forms of art such as puppetry, dance, clown theatre, music theatre, magic, and more will be presented throughout the summer until Aug.7.

This year’s opening program is the spellbinding and beloved tale of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Other programs in the season include a laugh-out-loud version of Romeo and Juliet, performed by clowns, and a captivating show that combines magic with enthralling acrobatics. There are even museum tours, workshops, and parties to further establish enjoyment for the arts. When wanting more interactive fun, visit a theme park that both kids and parents will love. Everyone can once again visit the iconic Lai Yuen, formerly Hong Kong’s largest family entertainment venue from decades past. Until Aug. 7, Lai Yuen Super Summer will be open for fun-filled activities

and games in an indoor and outdoor setting at the AsiaWorld-Expo. Expect exciting mazes, interactive games, crafts, science experiments, T-shirt- making workshops, electric go-karting, bumper cars, and an indoor inflatable obstacle course, and more. Book your package tickets for HK$140.00 at laiyuen.hk. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet one of the biggest boy groups in Asia and the Kings of K-Pop. On July 22 to 24, South Korean boy group, Big Bang, will be holding a concert and interactive fan meeting at AsiaWorld-Expo. Don’t miss the chance to get up close and personal with the boys. Book your tickets at hkticketing.com.

Sports fans are also in for a treat. The world’s largest annual multi-sport festival is coming to Hong Kong on Aug. 19 to 21 at the AsiaWorld-Expo. The Arnold Classic Asia Multi-Sport Festival is set to present all kinds of live sports action, fitness seminars, and opportunities to meet your favorite sports stars. Get ready to witness thrilling and adrenaline-pumping live sports events such as bodybuilding, wrestling, martial arts, and more. It’s just the start of summer in the city, and there are already so many exciting things to check out. Don’t miss a summer of fun and sun at Hong Kong. Log on to DiscoverHongKong.com for more information.

Delta is still Latin Americans preferred airline For the second consecutive year, thousands of Latin American customers voiced their preference for Delta. Delta received the award for best United States airline to Central America, South America and Mexico at the 2016 World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony held in Lima, Peru “We are honored and humbled by the preference and loyalty that thousands of our customers have shown by taking their time to vote for Delta,” said Nicolas Ferri, Delta’s vice president – Latin America and the Caribbean. He added, “To be recognized by our industry peers with a prestigious award like the WTA is important, and it becomes even more significant when it also represents the opinion of our customers. These awards increase our resolve to continue working every day to be the best U.S. airline in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our commitment to our customers and to the region could not be stronger.” World Travel Awards are awarded based on an online voting process open to the

The Delta team receives the airline's second WTA recognition as the preferred US airline in Central America, South America and Mexico

public, who must select their preferred U.S. global airline in each category. Delta won its first World Travel Award in 1996. With more than 1,600 weekly flights between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, serving 32 countries and 55 destinations in the region, Delta has invested in understanding its customers’ needs. The airline has focused its efforts on what is most valuable to

customers to grow closer to the Latin markets, strengthening the quality of its products and providing a more reliable service for regional travelers. “We are changing the game as an industry-leading global airline, and Latin America is a key tenet for our international expansion strategy,” shared Ferri. “Along with our alliance partners GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes in Brazil, Aeroméxico

in México and Aerolíneas Argentinas in Argentina, we are building an unparalleled footprint, providing our customers with an extensive network of benefits across the region.” The WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, WTA is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality.

Newest meetings and events package

Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria turns meeting to a success with its Meetings and Events package

There are a thousand reasons to plan and book your next meetings and events at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. For a limited time only, Crowne Plaza offers Whole Day Meetings and Events Package at P1,000.00 nett per person. This is inclusive of buffet lunch, morning and afternoon snacks, welcome fruits, snack attack (nuts, chips, and hearty alternatives), bottled water, and complimentary use of an LCD projector. Take advantage of this great deal and earn IHG Business Rewards points for every confirmed booking. This offer is available for meetings and events happening from Aug. 1 until Sept. 30 with

minimum guarantee of 30 guests. Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria stays true to its commitment that Your Success Matters by being the business expert that turns meeting to a success. From your weekday business rest to weekend family staycation, Crowne Plaza got it covered. Available now until Aug. 31, stay in a Deluxe Room on weekends (Friday to Monday) for only P5,099.00 nett and on weekdays (Tuesday to Thursday) for only P5,799.00 nett, inclusive of buffet breakfast for two. For more information and reservations, please call 633-7222 or email mnlcp@ihg.com.

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BOHOL, UP CLOSE

Bohol’s famous limestone mounds, popularly known as Chocolate Hills, as seen from the Viewing Deck, 217 steps above the ground

MERCURY RISING BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

he only time I learned a little bit more about Bohol was when I had my first job straight out of college. The job was with an international airline and the province was part of the territory I had marketing supervision on. From my younger years until then, all I knew about Bohol was the Blood Compact or Sandugo (Visayan for One Blood) between Spain, the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Bohol chieftain Datu Sikatuna. This dramatic episode was to seal the first ever treaty of friendship between the Spanish conquistadores and the Filipino natives. Even with that airline job, I would get to visit Bohol only on day trips, to meet with some travel agents and a few potential travelers. I never got to see anything else of the province. Some three years ago, I had to escort a foreign dignitary on another day trip to the province, although this time, we were on a helicopter that hovered over the island’s topography, for us to get a

better idea of the development in its white sand beaches. Since we were already up there, we decided to fly over the world-famous Chocolate Hills. That was all I saw of Bohol. A few days ago, a very good friend treated me to an allexpense paid trip to the province as his advance birthday gift for me, knowing fully well that I am still a stranger to the place. He also invited a few other close friends of ours to join in on the fun. Naturally, I jumped at the golden opportunity and joined the small fun-loving group on a three-day holiday in The Land of the Blood Compact. This time, I made sure I’d get to have a closer look of the attractions Bohol is known for. First on the itinerary was an evening cruise along Loay River where tourists are enthralled by the sight of thousands of fireflies inhabiting some trees. After a sumptuous buffet dinner on the riverboat, our group prepared ourselves for, what everybody told us, a magical night. The darkened boat sailed along the river at a leisurely pace, and we were reminded not to use our camera’s flash when we see the fireflies. Sure enough, after a few minutes of sailing, we saw a large tree festooned with what looked like a million flickering miniature Tivoli lights. A similar sight showed itself on the other side of the river, and another one a few meters beyond, and yet another

one, etc. There were about eight trees like that throughout the cruise. These magical sightings made for a beautiful evening! We set off early the following day as we had to travel more than an hour to get to Carmen town, where the Chocolate Hills are. We had a very efficient, knowledgeable and effective tour guide, Cathlynne Guigue, who could talk a blue streak about anything and everything--politics, culture, comedy, history, music, social events, geography, anything under the sun. We even teased her that what she knows could make her eligible for the position of Tourism Secretary. When we got to our destination she gave us two options---to content ourselves with the view of the hills from the ground, where our van was going to park, or climb the 217 steps to the Viewing Deck, for the 360-degree view of the 1700plus limestone hills, spread over an area of 50 square kilometers. I decided to push myself to the limit and conquered the 217 steps for that priceless view of the world-famous hills. It was an awesome feeling, one of those precious moments when I am overwhelmed by the sight of God’s creation. I could sit there the whole day and wouldn’t get bored. Everywhere I turn, those cute little mounds showed me how special I am for having been born into this wonderful world.

Tarsiers in various stages of rest during the day are scattered around Tarsier Sanctuary

Another attraction I heard so much about was the Man-Made Forest, which is between Carmen town (Chocolate Hills) and our next stop, the Tarsier Sanctuary. Since it was along our way, we decided to stop and experience the splendor of this much talked about forest, 1800 hectares planted with mahogany trees. Driving through it was surreal because the green, refreshing canopy formed by the trees over the road made me feel like I was on my way to a secret Shangri-La, as described by James Hilton in his book, Lost Horizon. When we finally got to the Tarsier Sanctuary, we were repeatedly told by Cathlynne, our guide---no loud conversation, no flash cameras, and we must not touch the Tarsier or anything near it. These are nocturnal animals and are in various stages of rest during the day. They are also loners and position themselves very far from one another. If their routine is disturbed, they commit suicide by banging their head on the tree trunks. Aware of such warnings, we walked through the forest-like Sanctuary silently and carefully, making sure we do not shake any branch or leaf along our path. Just a few steps from the entrance, we right away saw one, fast asleep. A few meters away, there was another one, wide awake, but we had to be careful not to disturb it as we

didn’t want it to commit suicide before our eyes. Even with such big round eyes, these lovable creatures can’t see anything on both sides of their faces as they have straight vision. But such deficiency is compensated for by a very sensitive sense of smell and hearing in a body frame which is only five or six inches long. A fun adventure, similar to those extreme rides at any of the amusement parks in the US, was our trip to Balicasag Island. We were on a small speedboat, which had to tackle humongous waves along the way. Tossed several feet up in the air many times by the waves, the boat would fall down on the rough sea with a loud thud, accompanied by a big splash of sea water. This went on for about 15 long minutes. Scary, but fun… and very wet! This visit to Bohol finally made me acquainted with everything I needed to be familiar with, as far as the island’s tourist offerings are concerned. Well almost, as I still have to try all the delicacies the province is known for, but that will have to be for another topic, another day. Meantime, as the Boholanos would say, “Salamat Jamo” to my host and dear friend, Johnny Litton, and to our efficient tour guide, Cathlynne Guigue, for this chance of seeing the province up close. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

YOUR FRIDAY CHUCKLE BARACK OBAMA: A good wife always forgives her husband when SHE is wrong. The Man-Made Forest’s mahogany trees provide a refreshing canopy over the Road

F RIDAY : J ULY 15, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Cannes Best Actress Jaclyn Jose with Director Brillante Mendoza, John Paul Duray, Mon Confiado, and assistant director Raymund Ribay Gutierrez.

‘MA’ ROSA’

AT SM CINEMAS NATIONWIDE

a Rosa, Brillante Mendoza’s film that recently brought honor to the Philippines at the recently concluded 69th Cannes Film Festival in France, is showing at selected SM Cinemas nationwide. The film not only competed at the festival’s Official Selection, but also gave us much to celebrate when lead actress Jaclyn Jose won the Best Actress award for her exceptional performance in the film. Prior to its run, Ma Rosa had special screenings at SM City Davao, SM Megamall, the S Maison Cinema at the Conrad, and Light Mall where government officials, film lovers, corporate executives, and the media gathered together to find out why the film received a five-minute standing ovation when it was premiered at the Palais Main Theater at the Cannes Film Festival, and why Jaclyn Jose won the award over acclaimed actresses like Isabelle Huppert, Marion Cotilliard, and Charlize Theron. These included Presidential Com-

Julio Diaz and Baron Geisler

munications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, and Solar Entertainment CEO Wilson Tieng. National Artist Bienvendio Lumbera was among the film lovers who attended the film together with directors Quark Henares and Elwood Perez, and the French Embassy’s Martin Macalintal. Corporate Executives Annaise Fagrante of Samsung, Lans Bularan and Sonia Tejada of Shell, Solar Entertainment’s Butch Ibañez and Joey Alvarez and AG Constantino of Power Mac also attended the event. And they were not disappointed. Director Mendoza and members of the cast led by Jaclyn Jose, Julio Diaz, Baron Geisler, Jomari Angeles, Mon Confiado, and Aaron Rivera welcomed them. Ma Rosa spotlights poverty in a Filipino Family where the family matriarch Rosa (Jaclyn Jose), owns a small community convenience store connected to their home in the slums of Metropolitan Manila.

National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera with his wife Cynthia and daughter, SM SVP for Marketing Ms. Millie Dizon and Director Brillante Mendoza

Together with her husband, Nestor (Julio Diaz), they use their convenient store as cover-up for selling illegal narcotic, Methamphetamines. Their fate changes when their neighbor sets them up for a police raid, leading to the couple’s arrest. This is a ploy for extortion. Backed against the wall, Rosa seeks help from her children, Jackson (Felix Roco), Raquel (Andi Eigenmann), and Erwin (Jomari Angeles) as they do the daunting task to buy their parent’s freedom. The film also stars Mark Anthony Fernandez, Mon Confiado, Neil Ryan Sese

Kath Sison and Monique Suzara of IFlix with Quark Henares and Director Brillante Mendoza

and Baron Geisler who all played as cops in the movie. Ma Rosa is Director Mendoza’s 4th film to be shown at Cannes, the first one was Serbis in 2008, which was nominated for the coveted Palme d’Or (Golden Palm). In 2009, Brillante won Best Director at Cannes for his film Kinatay, and in 2015, his movie Taklub was given the Ecumenical Jury-Prize Special Mention. Distributed by Solar Entertainment, Ma’ Rosa, is showing in SM Cinemas nationwide.

Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office

F RIDAY : J ULY 15, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

PEOPLE ¼

are talking about

are not talking about

AlDub first anniversary

Manny Pacquiao

Many people predicted, especially those who were threatened by their astronomic rise, that Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza’s tandem would last only for a few months, and that the fever surrounding their surprise yet manufactured love team would eventually die naturally. As we can see, the indescribable spark between the two is very much visible and it generates rabid and diehard loyalist every single day.

After his absence at the orientation at the Senate, the Pambansang Kamao is planning to take a break at the Senate, even before he could actually perform his real duty as an elected legislator to prepare for his next fight. How thick Manny’s skin has to be? We understand that he has developed a thick face due to boxing but that doesn’t give him the license to act he’s embattled in the ring all the time. He’s got some serious job to do and he seems very oblivious to it.

Myrtle Sarroza

Xian Lim

Little did many people know that apart from being active as a cosplayer, the former PBB Teen housemate also excels in the academe. In fact, Myrtle is down to her last semester at the University of the Philippines and is hoping to graduate with a cum laude honors. Since, stardom seems elusive for her, we are definitely sure that she’s got brighter future than her contemporaries.

Kim Chiu defended her onscreen partner against bashers saying that her partner is a multi-talented star. True enough, in his recent performance at the Kia Theater, Xian proved that he is a lot of things - he sings, dances and plays multiple musical instruments. We can’t argue on the fact that he’s multi-hyphenated celebrity. But the real question is: Has he mastered any of those skills?

Honor Thy Father Ten months since its release, the John Lloyd Cruzstarrer film is still making waves on international scene. Honor Thy Father has recently won Best Asian Film in Switzerland. This recognition came just a few days after Cruz won Best Actor at the New York Asian Film Festival for the same film. It’s obvious that critics and international audiences see something in the film our Filipino audience have failed to notice.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 40 42 43 46 48

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Arroyo 5 Chocolate bean 10 Armor-crushing weapon 14 Pitcher Nolan — 15 Rolling, in a way 16 Shout from the bridge 17 Mendicant’s shout 18 Parting word 19 Cowgirl

— Evans 20 Briefcase contents 22 Finished (3 wds.) 24 Grooves 26 Faculty honcho 27 Well-bred 30 Used a finger bowl 34 Left Bank pal 35 Munchies 38 Espresso with milk 39 — Fernando

Fixed gaze TV band Ship of 1492 Turbaned seer Opposite of “paleo” 49 Most furtive 51 Wheedle 53 Surmounting 55 Clucks 56 Rough, as a dirt road 60 Woodsy 64 Rani’s wear 65 Pulitzer category 67 Icicle site 68 Bridge section 69 Floating hotel 70 Sufficient, in verse 71 Called the butler 72 Poem of lament 73 Cooped up DOWN 1 Bubble — 2 Jean Auel heroine 3 Choke the fire 4 Advertising circular 5 Reproves 6 Respond to an SOS 7 Fleece a sheep 8 Audibly 9 R-month food 10 White lily 11 Whaler of fiction

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016

12 Merry king of rhyme 13 Got a load of 21 Wishes undone 23 Shadow 25 Ribs, slangily 27 Big breaths 28 Click “send” 29 Dingbat 31 Hurt a little 32 Fred Mertz’s wife 33 Friday’s creator 36 Cornfield sound 37 Big name in cheese 41 Representative sent on a mission 44 Ripping open 45 “The Thin Man” pooch 47 Black as night 50 Start walking 52 Out like a light 54 Jeopardy 56 Gorby’s realm 57 AutoZone competitor 58 Mom’s mom 59 “Great” dog 61 Windmill blade 62 Bard’s river 63 Kid in “Aliens” 66 Ryan of “Sleepless in Seattle”

Kris Aquino Just when we were really beginning to believe that she is ready to leave showbiz, she goes out to meet with ABS-CBN executives to plan out her TV comeback. We told you, she can’t turn her back on showbiz. It’s already deeply entrenched in her DNA. So, the next time she says she’s taking a break from the limelight, expect that she would be gone for a few weeks and she’ll be back on TV sooner than you expected.

F RIDAY : J ULY 15, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

‘HANGGANG MAKITA KANG MULI’S’

TOUCHING FINALE

MA’s Afternoon Prime series Hanggang Makita Kang Muli comes to its touching finale today. Kapuso viewers followed the intriguing drama about a feral child who was isolated from human contact from a very young age, and has little or no experience of human care, behavior, or, crucially, of human language. Bea Binene reveals playing the role of Ana is the most memorable for her. She is thankful for the viewers’ and netizens’ support and positive feedback for her performance considering this is her most challenging role so far. “Lahat masasabi ko po na memorable mula sa pagiging aso hanggang sa naging malinis at maayos ako. Hindi ko makakalimutan yung feeling na hindi ko na kailangan pang mag-make up para maging feral child. Marami rin akong natutunan sa show especially yung hirap na pinagdadaanan ng isang feral child, hindi lang physically, psychologically, emotionally, etc. Kaya kailangan mas maging grateful tayo sa blessings na nasa atin kasi we’re very lucky. Kahit may problema tayo sa buhay ay meron pa rin pa lang mas worse pa yung pinagdadaanan kaysa sa atin.” She is likewise grateful to GMA Network for entrusting her the role of Ana and to director Laurice Guillen for her guidance all throughout the show. Derrick Monasterio, on the other hand, says it’s an honor to play the role of Calvin. He has learned many things while doing the soap and he hopes that through his role he was able to impart the values of sympathy and compassion to others. “Yung pagiging kind ni Calvin, especially sa creatures. Feeling ko naapektuhan ko ‘yung tao kung paano maging kind-hearted sa mga creatures na wala sa tamang pag-iisip. Feeling ko ‘yun ‘yung pinaramdam ko sa mga tao. At sana ‘yun ‘yung na-feel nila.” As the series comes to an end, will Ana finally be reunited with her real parents Evelyn (Angelika dela Cruz) and Larry (Raymart Santiago)? Will Odessa (Ina Feleo) remain evil till the very end? Catch the finale of Hanggang Makita Kang Muli this Friday after Magkaibang Mundo on GMA Afternoon Prime today.

Radio reporter Nimfa Ravelo

DZBB reporter wins Journalism Award

DZBB reporter Nimfa Ravelo recently received the Manila Rotary Club 2016 Journalism Award as Radio and Television Female Broadcaster of the Year. Nimfa is a veteran broadcast journalist who has worked as a radio reporter for 23 years. She is currently assigned as DZBB’s Senate reporter and she also hosts a weekend program on GMA’s flagship radio station. Her interviews are often quoted by print and new media. Upon receiving her award, Nimfa said that she is now even more committed and more inspired to continue striving for excellence in her work.

Derrick Monasterio and Bea Binene recall memorable experience in “Hanggang Makita Kang Muli” shoot

Kenny Rogers coming FOR FINAL WORLD TOUR

across-the-board hit that reached Grammy Award-winning superthe Top 5 in the Billboard Country star Kenny Rogers will treat local Albums sales charts, and which also fans to an awesome array of morecharted in the Top 15 of the Billboard than-five decades of hit songs in a 200. The first single from the album, one-night concert on Aug. 11 at the “I Can’t Unlove You,” also became a Smart Araneta Coliseum. Ovation huge chart hit. Productions is presenting the show. In 2007, Rogers completed a tour The musical event is part of the of the United Kingdom and Ireland, Asian leg of Rogets’ world tour. Afduring which he told BBC Radio 2 ter Singapore on Aug. 6 and Bangdisc jockey Steve Wright that among kok on Aug. 9, The Gambler’s Last his catalog of hit songs, his favorite Deal, which celebrates his hugely was “The Gambler.” successful and colorful career spanAs an actor, Rogers has also perning close to 60 years as the singer, formed in a variety of movies and songwriter, actor and record protelevision shows, most notably the ducer heads to Manila. title roles in Kenny Rogers As The To be featured as special guest is Gambler and the MacShayne seAmerican country singer Linda Davis ries as well as his appearance in The in her debut performance in Manila. Muppet Show. Considered as one of the most Kenny Rogers As The Gamble bepopular entertainers and topcame a ratings and critical success selling artists in the music and that spawned four sequels. It won a recording industry, Rogers has Best Edited Television Special Edcaptivated millions of music lovdie Award and garnered two Emmy ers from all over the world with his universal appeal, marvelous songs, Actor and singer-songwriter Kenny Rogers in concert at the Big Dome nominations (for cinematography and editing of a limited series). distinctive voice, inspiring perforOn Sept. 25, 2015, Rogers anmance, and gift for storytelling. His other hits include “Someone Who Though he has been highly successful Cares” “You And I,” “Love Song” and “Don’t nounced on NBC’s Today program that he was retiring from show business after a fiwith country audiences, Rogers has chart- Fall In Love With A Dreamer.” ed more than 120 hit singles across various Rogers established an amazing mark in nal tour to spend more time with his wife genres, topped the country and pop album the music industry when he charted a re- and twin boys. He launched The Gambler’s charts for more than 200 individual weeks cord within each of the past seven decades Last Deal final world tour on May 13 in in the United States alone and has sold (‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, 2010s). Mahnomen, Minnesota, followed by shows more than 120 million records worldwide. His feat of selling more than 120 million in major cities in the United States and The pop superstar has endeared himself to records worldwide landed him on the list Canada and selected capitals in Europe and countless fans across the globe with his wonder- of the Top Ten Best-Selling Male Solo Art- Asia, including the Philippines. The tour is ful performances of songs from his catalog of ists of All Time, according to the Recording expected to run until 2017. Kenny Rogers Final World Tour In Manila 24 no.1 hits, such as “The Gambler,” “Lucille,” Industry Association of America (RIAA). “Coward Of The Country,” “Ruby, Don’t Take He was voted the “Favorite Singer of All is presented by Ovation Productions. TickYour Love To Town,” “Lady,” “Islands In The Time” in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both ets are priced at P7,920, P6,865, PP5,810, P4,755, P3,700, P2,640 and P1,060.and are Stream,” “She Believes In Me,” “We’ve Got To- USA Today and People magazine. night,” “Daytime Friends,” “Through The Years,” Later achievements include the 2006 re- available, at all regular Ticketnet outlets “You Decorated My Life” and “Buy Me A Rose.” lease of the album, Water & Bridges, an and online at www.Ticketnet.com.ph.)

F RIDAY : J ULY 15, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Mr. Pure Energy: Gary V stages the fourth leg of his anniverssary concert at the Kia Theater

‘GARY V PRESENTS’ AT KIA THEATER ISAH V. RED

HE fourth and most exciting installment of Gary Valenciano’s critically acclaimed and commercially successful Gary V Presents series is set to happen today and tomorrow at the Kia Theater, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. Gary V Presents is mounted for the fourth time due to insistent public demand and to commemorate his 33rd anniversary in the business and the 30th anniversary of his management company, Manila Genesis Entertainment and Management Inc. Gary’s career has been a major source of inspiration amongst countless Filipinos. He is one of the country’s most influential and most accomplished musical artists. He has conquered film and television. He is a credible product endorser. And he is able to sustain and further strengthen his massive popularity for over three decades. As the countdown to Gary V Presents drew nearer and as a treat to his loyal fans, Manila Genesis mounted an amazing Gary V memorabilia exhibit at The Activity Center, Level 1 of Gateway Mall in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. The exhibit, which runs till tomorrow, showcases Gary’s awards; legendary costumes; magazine covers; concert and movie posters; merchandising materials such as Gary V mugs, t-shirts, and notebooks; never-before-seen photos; and vintage vinyl and cassette records, among many others. These rare collectible items will surely evoke a sense of nostalgia and pride to every Gary V fan from then until now. Gary, who was MTV’s Dance Icon Of The Year in the recently concluded MTV Music Evolution that happened at the SM MOA Open Grounds, Best Male Performer Of The Year by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Awards for his collaborative work with Martin Nievera, Lani Misalucha, and Regine Velasquez in the smash hit Valentine concert Ultimate, and

recipient of the coveted Concert Of The Year for Arise: Gary V 3.0 in the PMPC Star Awards For Music, have gathered a fabulous sampling of the industry’s finest singers in Gary V Presents. Directed by Gary with son Paolo Valenciano and with musical direction by Mon Faustino, Gary V Presents is a mustsee musical extravaganza that will feature Gary with his personal choice of new and up and coming artists, which consists of The X-Factor Philippines season one top finalist Allan Silonga of the all-male vocal group Daddy’s Home; world music singer Bullet Dumas; award-winning theater actress Carla Guevara-Laforteza; the talented singers of The Voice Of The Philippines such as season one grand winner Mitoy Yonting, season one grand finalist Janice Javier, season one finalist RJ Dela Fuente, and season two finalist Timmy Pavino; Star In A Million season two grand finalist at R&B singer Jimmy Marquez; award-winning recording artist at singer-songwriter Kiana Valenciano; and suklay diva and internet sensation and Katrina Velarde and classical-pop singer Lara Maigue of TV-5’s top-rating series Trenderas. To spice up the line-up, singer-songwriter Abby Asistio will be featured as the concert’s opening act. These artists come from a range of different musical stylings such as pop, R&B, jazz, musical theatre, and contemporary folk. With a roster like this, Gary is sure to surprise the audience with his classics, rearranged to specifically highlight the talent of each of the featured artists in the concert. With such diversity in his chosen artists, the audience is surely in for an unforgettable treat. Gary V Presents is for the benefit of the scholarship and diabetes programs of Shining Light Foundation Inc. For ticket inquires call Ticketworld at 911-5555 or contact 0917-5413389 and (632) 5350786. For more details, visit www.garyv. com, like GaryValencinaoOfficial on Facebook, follow Gary V. on Twitter (@ garyvalenciano1), Instagram (@therealgaryv), and YouTube (Gary Valenciano/ Gary V TV); like ManilaGenesisEM on Facebook, and follow Manila Genesis on Twitter (@manila_genesis), Instagram (@manilagenesis), and YouTube (Manila Genesis TV).