The Standard - 2016 July 19 - Tuesday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX NO. 157 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 TUESDAY : JULY 19, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Private companies tapped for beauty tilt

CHINA SEALS AREA FOR WAR GAMES

BEIJING will close off access to part of the South China Sea for military drills, Chinese officials said Monday, after an international tribunal ruled against its sweeping claims in the waters. An area off the east coast of China’s island province of Hainan will host military exercises from Tuesday to Thursday, China’s maritime administration said on its website, adding that entrance

was “prohibited.” The area of sea identified is some distance from the Paracel islands and even further from the Spratlys, with both chains claimed by Beijing and several other neigh-

boring states. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague last week ruled that there was no legal basis for Beijing’s claims to much of the sea, embodied in a “nine-dash line” that dates from 1940s maps and stretches close to other countries’ coasts. Manila—which lodged the suit against Beijing—welcomed the decision, as China dismissed it as

a “piece of waste paper.” Despite Chinese objections, the European Union weighed in on the subject at a regional summit this weekend, with President Donald Tusk telling reporters that the grouping “will continue to speak out in support of upholding international law,” adding that it had “full confidence” in the PCA and its decisions. China pressured countries in

the Asean bloc of Southeast Asian nations not to issue a joint statement on the ruling, diplomats said. Beijing held military drills in the South China Sea just days before the international arbitration court ruling, state media reported. China has rapidly built reefs in the waters into artificial islands capable of military use. Next page

Courtesy call. Miss Universe 2016 Pia Wurtzbach takes a selfie with President Rodrigo R. Duterte after a courtesy call at Malacañang Palace on Monday. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

Duterte to confront China on drugs

Tax privileges for errant businessmen to be cut

By John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte vowed to remove tax exemptions for businessmen who used their connections to build a fortune at the expense of the government and the environment.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday night that he would confront China about the involvement of Chinese officials in the illegal drug trade once “bigger issues” such as the country’s territorial dispute over the South China

“These elitists living off the fat of the land, they’re doing nothing but transacting online,” Duterte said in Filipino during a gathering of his San Beda College of Law classmates at the Palace Sunday night. Next page

Sea are settled. Duterte’s statement came as a recent Social Weather Stations survey showed that a majority of Filipinos distrusted China. “When I come face to face with them, I will tell them all that is bothering me,” Duterte said in Filipino at a gathering of his San Beda College of Law classmates in

Malacañang. Duterte recently accused five police generals of protecting three big-time Chinese-Filipino drug lords. At the Palace, he also noted that four Hong Kong nationals were arrested when police raided “floating shabu laboratories” in waters off Subic. Next page

T U E S D AY : J U LY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

A2 China... From A1

In a separate message on its website, the maritime administration said last week that four out of five lighthouses built atop islands and reefs in the sea have been activated, and a fifth would be put into use soon. In Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is still verifying reports that a Chinese nuclearcapable bomber plane flew over the disputed Scarborough Shoal, on July 15, three days after the PCA ruling. “We have to get first an official report on the incident from the concerned agency,” said DFA spokesman Charles Jose. In its official Twitter account, China’s State Council Information Office posted a photo of H-6K longrange nuclear-capable bomber over Scarborough Shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island. The photo was also posted to People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s account. A former Interior and Local Government secretary on Monday said the Philippines must be prepared to go to war with China. “The Constitution bars us from using war as a policy instrument. But if we are attacked, if war is brought to our doorstep, then we have to be prepared as a nation to defend ourselves,” said former DILG secretary Rafael Alunan, during the Samahang Plaridel, Kapihan sa Manila Hotel. “We have the constitutional duty to defend ourselves in case we are attacked. And we need to have the means for that. Our procurement all these years, has not been guided by national interest. Our national defense planning was haphazard. The procurement was the cheapest, not minding the quality. This is wrong and this has to change completely,” Alunan said. Alunan said that China is also prepared to go to war, but not against the Philippines, but against the United States and Japan, which have agreements with the country regarding its defense. “If these end up clashing in the seas, we have to be prepared to defend here on land. If war breaks out between China and the US, we will be on the side of the United States because of the Mutual Defense Treaty. By that time we will be considered an enemy,” he added. To avert a conflict, Alunan said that the Philippines must first be part of a process to prevent a shooting war with China, and that differences must be settled peacefully. President Rodrigo Duterte has said he is ready for talks with China to try to solve their maritime dispute, after his government won an international arbitration case that challenged Beijing’s vast claims. This could be the first step towards a diplomatic solution to tensions that have been building up since China expelled Filipino fishermen from Scarborough Shoal in 2012, and built seven island outposts on disputed reefs. China said the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration is “null and void” because the tribunal has no jurisdiction in this case. Testing the waters in the wake of the ruling, Filipino fishermen tried to gain access to Scarborough Shoal, a tiny uninhabited outcrop, but were blocked by China’s coast guard. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that “if anyone challenges China’s rights and interests by taking provocative actions” based on the ruling, “China will surely make a resolute response.” Sara Susanne Fabunan, Sandy Araneta, AFP

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Duterte tells classmates that it’s lonely at the top Duterte...

From A1

“They were cooking shabu on board Chinese-registered ships,” Duterte said. “[We will deal with this] at the proper time, but not now.” He promised to exercise restraint in his dealings with China. The Philippines recently won its arbitration case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which invalidated China’s nine-dash line claims. In an SWS survey conducted from June 24-27, 51 percent of 1,200 respondents said they had “little trust” in China, while 19 percent said they were undecided. Only 27 percent said they had “much trust” in Beijing. SWS said China’s net trust rating has been positive in only seven out of 39 surveys from 1994 to 2016, ranging from the “neutral” +3 in September 2002 to the record-high “moderate” +17 in June 2010. The second quarter SWS survey, with sampling error margins of ±3 percent, was conducted a little more than two weeks ahead of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s July 12 ruling on a case filed by the Philippines against China in 2013. On Monday, former secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government Rafael Alunan said the illegal drug trade in the Philippines is now a national crisis, and the government and the

public must understand it to know what they are up against. “This is national security crisis and we better understand what we are up against so we can do something about it,” Alunan said in a forum. “The illegal drugs industry is a P500 billion a year business and 30 percent goes to bribery to police, and national and local officials, including the criminal justice system. That’s P150 billion [for bribery]. That is no joke. That’s enough money to control the government and to ensure continuity of your business,” Alunan said. Reports said that there are about 85,000 drug users and pushers who have surrendered nationwide to the government. “We have to clean house. I do not know if a law is needed or legislation is needed to be passed. But I think every branch of government, every level of government, every institution must have regular or periodic drug tests for everybody,” he said. “Whether you are talking about the executive or legislative branch, or judiciary, including the uniformed services, we all need drug tests. And anybody who fails it should be ejected and charged in court. That’s one thing that we need to do to fight this drug menace,” he said. Lawyer Persida Acosta, chief of the Public Attorneys Office, reiterated her support for President Rodrigo Duterte and the Philippine National Police to rid

the country of drugs addicts and pushers. As the death toll in the police campaign against drug abuse rose, Acosta said in most cases, those who were killed were resisting arrests. “They will fight. Police only kill the suspects if they fight during a legitimate operation,” Acosta added. The Philippine National Police has recorded close to 200 drugrelated deaths since President Rodrigo Duterte won in the May elections and PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, considers the rising number of killings as an “accomplishment.” Data from the PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management said some 192 individuals were killed in drug operations from May 10 until July 10. The highest number of deaths was recorded by the Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A) with 57 suspects killed. At second was the Central Luzon Police Regional Office (PRO-3) with 46 deaths. Third highest drug-related deaths came from Metro Manila with 21 persons killed in police operations in two months. “We consider that as an accomplishment if they are part of legitimate police operations,” Dela Rosa said. Maintaining that the killings were legitimate, Dela Rosa blamed the drug suspects killed for resisting arrest.

SONA preparations. Workers from the House of Representatives start cleaning the session hall in preparation for the first State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on July 25, 2016. MANNY PALMERO

Tax...

From A1

“Corruption will stop and I will take away their tax-exempt privileges. They will all pay,” he said. During the campaign, Duterte accused his rival, administration bet Manuel Roxas II of being supported by billionaire businessman

Eric Gutierrez, CEO of SR Metals Inc., a mining firm that was the subject of a Senate investigation for the allegedly illegal shipment of nickel ore amounting to P28 billion. Gutierrez has been accused of using his connections to get tax exemptions for his businesses. The company was fined P7 million in 2007 but managed to continue operating in the Agusan

mines when it elevated its case to the Court of Appeals, then the Supreme Court, where they lost. But Duterte said the company continued to operate despite a Supreme Court order that it stop operations. Duterte said he would also go after logging companies that fail to live up to their commitment to rehabilitate the areas they exploit.

By John Paolo Bencito

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday opened up for the first time about his new life as the country’s chief executive, suggesting that it was lonely to be on the top. Speaking to the Philippine delegation to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Duterte said if he were given another chance, he would rather not be the country’s President. “After all the mesmerizing activity, after the clapping of the hands, you find yourself and you go out after a Cabinet meeting at around three or four in the morning, I tend to ask, ‘Why did I come here?’ But if I’m a mayor, I can do whatever I want,” Duterte said. The President, 71, said he was having trouble supporting two families with a salary of P160,924 a month. “If I were to go back in time, I won’t get into this,” Duterte said, saying he had costs associated with old age. “You have to work everyday and the salary is too low. I have two families in Davao. How will they share that? I don’t even get an allowance. No more happiness,” Duterte said in Filipino. But Duterte reminded the athletes that serving the country was a rare opportunity that they should cherish. “Not everybody is given the honor to serve this country. You are given the opportunity to be part of the team, or to be working for the government and that honor is very distinct,” he said. Before running for the presidency, Duterte served as the long-time mayor of Davao City, first becoming officerin-charge vice mayor after the People Power Revolution. He then won the mayoral seat from 1988, serving until 1998. In 2001, he ran again for mayor in Davao and was again elected for his fourth term. He was reelected in 2004 and in 2007. “You’re supposed to plant trees. Now if I don’t see those trees, I’ll cancel your paper,” Duterte said. “Let us all follow the law and not try to bend it,” he said. The President also vowed to look into the intelligence and discretionary funds of mayors and local chief executives to get rid of a source of corruption. John Paolo Bencito

T U E S D AY : J U LY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PH ready to host Miss Universe THE private sector has agreed to shoulder the cost of hosting the Miss Universe beauty pageant here next year, the Department of Tourism said Monday. Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo made the announcement after her meeting with reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach at her department in Makati City. Teo made the announcement even as Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie KittilstvedtRomualdez, Miss Philippines-International in 1996, welcomed the country’s possible hosting of the next Miss Universe beauty pageant, saying it would be a big boost to tourism and encourage new investments. “If we will be able to host the next Miss Universe pageant in the country, this will make the Philippines a venue for more international events that would surely boost the tourism industry and attract additional investments,” Romualdez, wife of former Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez. The Tourism Department had earlier said that President Rodrigo Duterte had “approved in principle” the hosting of the Miss Universe beauty pageant in the country, but it had yet to confirm with the Miss Universe Organization. “We are really hopeful that the President will grant our request, especially now that the private sector has come together to shoulder the production cost of Miss Universe,” Teo

said in her speech. “This undertaking would practically entail no expense on the part of the government.” Teo said she was “overwhelmed” by the presence of the reigning Miss Universe, stressing that it was she who had “taken up the cudgels and leadership to make this happen.” “If this translates to reality, our tourism industry stands to gain tremendously,” Teo said. “I’m so proud and grateful for the full support she is giving us in our effort to host the coming Miss Universe contest in the country.” Wurtzbach said that she was “happy to be back home” since her last visit to the Philippines was during the coronation night of the Miss Philippines pageant in April. “It’s always been a dream of mine to be ambassador for the Philippines and to promote tourism. I will continue pursing that goal of being an ambassador as I go throughout my reign and visit different countries around the world,” Wurtzbach said. “It’s no secret that it’s my personal dream and the dream of majority of the Filipinos that someday we’ll see the Miss Universe [pageant] held here and we’re keeping our fingers crossed.” PNA, with Maricel V. Cruz

Breakfast forum. Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida Acosta stresses a point during the Samahang Plaridel’s Kapihan sa Manila Hotel with former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan (right) and Rep. Ashley Acedillo on Monday. LINO SANTOS

No shanty demolition without relocation PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte says he will not allow the demolition of squatter shanties if there is no available relocation site for their residents. “During my time [as mayor of Davao City], there would be no demolition without relocation,” Duterte said in a speech in Malacañang on Sunday during the fellowship dinner for the graduates of the San Beda College of Law in 1971 and 1972. “Kasi kung walang ma-

puntahan, sirain mo ang bahay... ano parang aso? Eh saan pupunta yung mga tao? Where will they find another shelter?” Duterte said. He recently reorganized 12 line agencies under the helm of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco to respond to the administration’s anti-poverty initiatives—including the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council under Vice President Leni Robredo—to

address housing concerns particularly in the urban areas. Duterte said his administration would ensure sustainable relocation initiatives for squatters who will be affected by the government’s development efforts. He likewise vowed to raise funds to ensure their welfare. “I would be very generous to them. I’d look for money,” Duterte said. Data from the HUD-

CC in 2012 showed that more than a third of all Filipinos could not afford proper shelter, with more than 3.1 million squatter families living in Metro Manila alone. Some 23 percent stay in government land, 22 percent in private properties, 15 percent in danger zones including the streets, bridges, riversides and along railroad tracks, and less than 40 percent on infrastructure sites. John Paolo Bencito

Bill to force govt agencies to tap and use solar power

Protest. Students gathered in Mendiola, Manila, on Monday against the K-12 program and called on President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately stop it and let the Grade 11 students graduate and continue their tertiary education. LINO SANTOS

THE government could save P1.2 billion a year from electricity use by tapping abundant solar power, outgoing Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Monday. He raises that possibility in a bill requiring government agencies to spearhead the use of renewable energy by installing solar panels in public buildings. Recto has filed Senate Bill 268, the “Solar Energy in National Government Offices Act,” which mandates the Department of Public Works and Highways together and the Department of Energy “to build and retrofit” government buildings and offices with a system harnessing solar energy. “For a sun-drenched country like the Philippines, solar energy is the most abundant and fast-toinstall power source,” Recto said. “Clean and cheap.” Last year, government offices were projected to have spent P12.9

billion on electricity, or a monthly bill of more than P1 billion. Based on Recto’s proposal, the solar energy systems to be established will initially supply at least 10 percent of the power requirements of government agencies. To finance the solar power program, Recto said, the government may tap idle funds like the P182.29 billion in royalties from the Malampaya gas being pumped in Palawan. Recto said building up solar power to account for 10 percent of the energy used by government offices would result in annual savings of P1.2 billion, “an amount the Duterte administration can re-channel to social services such as schools and hospitals.” “To cut red tape and corruption, the administration is letting the sunshine into government offices. It can also tap sunlight to cut utility costs in these offices,” Recto said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

T UE S DAY : J ULY 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Quiapo hot spot. Women folk of Manila’s Quiapo district watch as 150 of their neighbors who are suspected drug users surrender to authorities at the Islamic Center on Carlos Palanca Street on Monday. DANNY PATA

Rody: I’ll be like Idi Amin By John Paolo Bencito

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte urged law enforcers to press on with the ongoing war against drugs and not mind growing concern over human rights violations, adding that he expects to retire with the reputation of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Conceding that law enforcers would likely be charged in court for human rights violations, Duterte vowed to pardon lawmen who may get into legal trouble so long as they are doing their job honestly and not fabricating evidence. “I tell all policemen: Do not lie to me. I will shoot you. You do your job. Do not invent lies. Do not fabricate evidence. I will hear you. And if you’re telling the truth, you tell me,” Duterte told his classmates at the San Beda College of Law during a fellowship dinner in Malacañang on Sunday. “The President can grant pardon, conditional or absolute. Or

grant amnesty with the concurrence of Congress. I will use it, believe me,” he added. In another tirade filled with his usual hyperbole, Duterte doubled down on a promised campaign of widespread killings and said he wouldn’t listen to “bleeding hearts.” “I will retire with the reputation of Idi Amin,” he said, referring to the late African ruler whose 19711979 regime was characterized by large-scale rights abuses that killed thousands of Ugandans. “I am not afraid of human rights [concerns.] I will not allow my country to go to the dogs,” Duterte said. “Why will I give you a [due] process? I am the president. I don’t

give you [due] process.” The former city prosecutor encouraged law enforcers, who may be charged for substantial or procedural violations of due process, to tell their accusers that they were only obeying the orders of the President. “[Tell them] that’s the order of Mayor Rody. You tell the judge, the [prosecutor], the Ombudsman even [the Commission on] Human Rights... I have something in hand: The right or power of the president [to pardon],” he said. Human rights groups had repeatedly lashed on the spate of killings of alleged drug dealers since the President assumed office last month. The deaths recorded of those allegedly behind the drug trade in the country already numbers 136 deaths, according to reports cited by the International Commission on Jurists since June 30, the day of Duterte’s inauguration, until July 11. With AFP

DoH aims for taller Filipinos after 5 years HEALTH Secretary Jean RosellUbial said she will address the continuing problem of stunted growth among Filipino children and aimed to make Filipino children taller over the next five years by stepping up intervention during the first 1,000 days of life. During a visit to Tacloban City over the weekend, Ubial lamented that about 33 percent of 14 million Filipino children are suffering growth failure when they reach five years old due to poor nutritional intervention. “It takes time to address the problem of stunting. Our target is to bring down the percentage to less than 30 percent in five years,” Ubial said.

“Our call to all mothers is to breastfeed their child during the first six months and practice proper supplemental feeding from six months to two years.” The first 1,000 days, according to the health chief, is very critical considering that achieving proper height can be done from conception until a child reaches two years old. “We can’t improve the stunting after 1,000 days unlike underweight, which can be addressed through 120 days of feeding,” she added. The critical period are 270 days from conception until birth, 180 days from birth to sixth months, and 550 days before the child’s second birthday.

Lacson goes after false witnesses By Macon Ramos-Araneta TO PROVIDE a remedy to innocent people wrongly charged on perjured testimony, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson filed a bill that would impose on the false witness the same penalty that would be imposed on the person he is accusing. Lacson, who himself was persecuted for crimes that were later dismissed, lamented false testimonies and sworn statements sometimes used to support malicious complaints to harass and persecute others are becoming prevalent.

“This pernicious practice is aimed not only to harass innocent persons but also to put them behind bars and make their families suffer,” said Lacson. He noted that because of these untruthful and inconsistent statements, “we have witnessed how some men were robbed of their youth and freedom for a long period of time only to be freed later on account that the reason for their incarceration was based on a ‘polluted source’,” he said in Senate Bill 253. Worse, he said, some of those who “encourage, induce or even force a person to assert falsehood

under oath” are public officials and employees—with some public prosecutors suppressing facts and concealing witnesses who can vouch for an accused’s innocence. Lacson’s bill, which seeks to amend Articles 180 (False testimony against a defendant), 183 (False testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn affirmation) and 184 (Offering false testimony in evidence) of the Revised Penal Code, also provides for perpetual disqualification from public office or employment for public officials or employees who facilitate or induce false testimonies.

Condolences. Filipinos and French expatriates light candles at the

Alliance Française to condole with the victims of the terror attack in Nice, France where 84 people were killed.

t u e s D AY : j u lY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Pump prices cut by P0.75; Energy sees downtrend By Alena Mae S. Flores

Jailhouse rock. Inmates of the Quezon City Jail take part in a song-and-dance competition as part of the government-initiated development and reformation program. At least 600 inmates will be seeing action during the yet to be scheduled contest. MAnny PAlMERo

Lina, 4 other Customs execs rapped for graft By Maricel V. Cruz Former Customs Commissioner Alberto D. Lina is facing graft charges before the office of the ombudsman on the complaint of a businessman who accused Lina of causing injury to a private company. In his complaint, mannage Resources Trading Corp. president Lawrence Daniel Sy also named Run After the Smugglers program (RATS) executive director Erwin mendoza, Revenue Collection monitoring Group (RCmG) deputy commissioner Arturo m. Lachica, Ruling and Research Division-Legal Service chief Reynaldo N. Yacat, and Ruling and Research Division legal officer Francis T. Tolibas as respondents to the case.

Based on the complainant, the BOC officials, together with private respondents Roberto Cola, Jesus Arranza, and William Ranaga who were identified as officials and members of the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute, unlawfully imposed additional requirements on his shipment last April thereby delaying its release by almost two months. Sy said his firm’s shipment of 4,929.383 metric tons of deformed steel bars through m/W

Well Faith arrived at the Port of Subic on April 23, 2016 but was held because of an Alert Order from the Intelligence Group of the BOC. He claimed that the alert order was prompted by letters from PISI president Roberto Cola sent to the BOC, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bureau of Product Standards alleging that the steel shipment was illegal for being substandard and having improper documentation. But Sy said the DTI-Zambales provincial director Leonila T. Baluyut issued a provisional Import Commodities Clearance certificate on the shipment dated April 18, 2016 while the BPS issued a final ICC on may 19, 2016. Despite clearance and a test result number conducted by the metals Industry Research and

Development Center), “mRTC was refused and denied the final assessment by the Bureau of Customs at the Port of Subic which prevented payment of taxes for the formal entry of the shipment” supposedly because the alert order is still in effect. Sy said he was under contract with Topway Builder Inc. to supply and deliver the 4,929.383 mT of steel bars for the agreed price of P154,582,200 but because of the delay the buyer eventually backed out of the deal and transacted with another supplier. “In sum, the action of Com. Lina, in conspiracy with Attys. mendoza, Lachica, Tolibas, and Yacat and private respondents Cola, Arranza, and Ranaga, gave unwarranted benefits to other companies in the same line of business specifically those under PISI,” the complainant said.

PumP prices declined by P0.75 per liter for kerosene and diesel and P0.55 per liter for gasoline effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Eastern Petroleum Corp., Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, PTT Philippines, Seaoil Philippines and Flying V issued separate advisories of the oil price cut. Other oil companies are expected to follow suit. Energy Department director melita Obillo said the price rollback was due to continuing oversupply of petroleum products in the world market “Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will decrease the prices of gasoline by P0.55 per liter and diesel by P0.75 per liter effective 6 a.m. of July 19, 2016,” Phoenix said in its advisory. Energy Department spokesman Wimpy Fuentebella said on Friday that international global oil prices are going down. “The good news is there is a possibility that oil prices will go down because of oversupply. So the trend is downward. But the trend is going down, so hopefully it will continue to go down,’’ he said. Fuentebella said oil prices react to the foreign exchange movements, additional discovery of oil rigs in America, supply disruptions in Nigeria, among others. “But in the end the volatility is being monitored by DOE…so we are looking at sana good news for us all, for the consumers,” he said. The official said the department is still considering proposals for oil stockpiling. “It’s more on policy question, what we will do about it. Still being studied that is a proposal that was carried over from the previous administration,” he said. “We are considering all options, what would be the best for the country,” Fuentebella said. The Philippines imports more than 90 percent of its fuel requirements. Last July 12, the oil firms cut gasoline prices by P0.80 to P0.90 per liter to reflect the movement of world oil prices.

NBI ‘invites’ Duterte-tagged drug lord been specifically tasked to “verify” if the businessman and the person tagged as head THE National Bureau of Investigation has of the drug triad in the country who is being issued an invitation to Cebu-based busi- protected by the so-called “narco-generals” nessman Peter Lim who was implicated by are same person. President Rodrigo Duterte in the illegal drug “Since Peter Lim came forward to talk to trade in the country. the President and clear himself, then the orAfter meeting with Justice Secretary Vital- der there is really for Peter Lim—together with iano Aguirre II, NBI director Dante Gierran the agencies—to prove that he has nothing to disclosed that Lim was scheduled to appear in do with drugs. But if there is involvement, the NBI headquarters in manila, but failed to then the police agencies and the NBI will file do so because he was not feeling well. the necessary case against Peter Lim for preGierran said Lim was then expected to ap- liminary investigation,” Aguirre said. pear before the NBI instead at a latter date this Aguirre said the President has directed him week. “to use all the resources of the department to Aguirre, for his part, stressed that the NBI’s go after drug lords, and cases of graft and corparallel probe of Lim was prompted by the ruption and heinous crimes.” businessman’s meeting with President Duterte, When asked if there is a need for the Dewho recently announced that a certain “Peter partment of Justice to issue a lookout bulletin Lim” was among the biggest illegal drug opera- against Lim, Aguirre said there is a need first Hoodlums. Quezon City policemen escort two of their colleagues identified as PO1 tors in the country. for “preliminary findings on his alleged in- Ronald Clarin and PO1 Edgar Allan Co during a press conference held at Camp Karingal. The hooded cops were arrested for robbery and extortion. MAnny PAlMERo The Justice secretary said the NBI has volvement in drugs.”

By Rey E. Requejo

t u e s D AY : j u lY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Leni cites INC housing projects New “Housing Czarina” Vice President Leni Robredo plans to look at successful housing projects all over the country and use these as models in the housing programs to be pursued by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council during her watch.

examples of these projects, according to the new hUDCC chairperson, are the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s different resettlement sites all over the country. Appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte last week, Robredo sat

down with INC executive Minister Bro. eduardo V. Manalo and informed the latter that she would be visiting the Church’s various resettlement sites, particularly its eco-farming and resettlement sites in Leyte, Agusan del Sur

Robredo’s view. Vice President Leni Robredo joins children with disabilities during a photo exhibit titled ‘See What I Can Do’ sponsored by SM Cares in partnership with UNICEF and the Camera Club of the Philippines. The exhibit is in line with the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week held at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. LINO SANTOS Republic of the Philippines Office of the President NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 3 Office Address: Telephone Nos. Email Address:

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-2467/766-4839, 673-0630 niabaneimoafs@yahoo.com

Telefax No. (044) 766-2467 TIN 000-979-570-000

INVITATION TO BID FOR SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF MIN. 8 HP DIESEL ENGINE WITH PUMP INCLUDING ACCESSORIES 1.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, through the General Appropriations Act of CY 2016 intends to apply the sum of TWO MILLION NINE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE PESOS (P 2,917,671.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for NIAR3-2016-STW-5. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 now invites bids for SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF OF MIN. 8 HP DIESEL ENGINE WITH PUMP INCLUDING ACCESSORIES 1. Delivery of the Goods is required to Sixty (60) Calendar Days. Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding 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 is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

(ii) Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184. 4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Mondays to Fridays. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on July 07, 2016 to August 03, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, and August 04, 2016 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 21, 2016, 10:30 A.M. at NIA – R3 Office, Conference Room, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 12:00 P.M. (PST) of August 04, 2016. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause Error! Reference source not found.. Bid opening shall be on 3:00 P.M. (PST) of August 04, 2016 at NIA – R3 Office, Conference Room, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. 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.

All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 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: BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608

(SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO Chairman, Bids and Award Committee

A brief description of the type(s) of Goods should be provided, including quantities, location of project, and other information necessary to enable potential bidders to decide whether or not to respond to the invitation. (TS-JULY 19, 2016)

and Oriental Mindoro, to see if these could be replicated in other parts of the country. “Sabi ko nga gusto kong mabisita yung isa. Baka pwedeng gawing inspirasyon [I said I want to visit one so I can draw inspiration from it],” said Robredo, who discussed her plans to reduce the housing backlog, among others, during a meeting with Manalo on July 12 at the Church’s central office in Quezon City. Robredo plans to address her agency’s 1.4 million housing backlog and the construction of additional 5.5 million houses needed in the country. The INC has numerous housing and livelihood projects in the Philippines. These resettlement sites have been put up as part of the Church’s Lingap sa Mamamayan initiative, the INC’s comprehensive outreach program. Aside from the resettlement sites in Leyte, Agusan del Sur and Oriental Mindoro, the INC has also put up housing

and livelihood projects for indigenous peoples in Camarines Norte and South Cotabato. earlier this year, the INC put up housing projects for the B’laan tribes in South Cotabato, which was launched together eco-farming and onsite livelihood projects. A similar project was put up for Kabihug families in Paracale, Camarines Norte. The INC community project includes 300 housing units to serve as permanent shelters for Kabihug families as well as livelihood facilities such as a 20-hectare calamansi orchard, an eco-farm, and a 300-square-meter fishdrying plant. According to INC general auditor Glicerio B. Santos Jr., the INC’s Lingap sa Mamamayan initiative “is a yearround program of the INC executive Minister Brother eduardo V. Manalo that has been actively providing material and spiritual help to Iglesia and non-Iglesia members all over

the country.” “We envision an expansion of this initiative through the participation of our brethren from other socio-civic and religious groups so we can have a bigger impact on poverty reduction,” the INC official explained. “The housing component of our outreach activities is part and parcel of our holistic approach to our outreach activities, which also include onsite livelihood programs so that our brothers and sisters in need will not only have roofs over their heads, but also the means to put food on their tables.” Santos added that Brother eduardo V. Manalo has directed the Church to step up its regular and continuing outreach programs to needy communities all over the country so that these can dovetail with Duterte’s call for the whole country to support government efforts to uplift the welfare of the people.

Flights rescheduled, diverted as Naia runway closes for repairs By Joel E. Zurbano AIRLINe passengers were inconvenienced after the Manila International Airport Authority announced the emergency closure of the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday afternoon to allow the repair of a damaged and soft portion of Runway 24. The MIAA made the announcement after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued a notice to airmen declaring the closure of the Naia runway from 4:30 pm to 11 pm on Monday. “Flights within this period will either be re-timed, diverted or canceled. The estimated time of departure (eTD) of certain flights from the outlying stations have been revised to ensure arrival in Manila takes place from 6:30 am onwards,” the MIAA stated in its advisory. Some international flights of the Philippine Airlines and domestic flights of Cebu Pacific Air

(CeB) were affected by the sudden closure of the runway. The following PAL flights were given new departure and arrival schedules, as follows: PR 119 from Vancouver to Manila, new eTD: 3:20 am local time, July 18, new eTA (estimated time of arrival): 6:45 am MNL time, July 19; PR 103 from Los Angeles to Manila, new eTD: 2 am local time, July 17, new eTA: 6:30 am, Manila (MNL) time, July 19; PR 105 from San Francisco to Manila, new eTD: 2:30 am local time, July 17, new eTA: 7:35 am MNL time, July 19; PR 657 from Riyadh to Manila, new eTD: 5:20 pm local time, July 18, new eTA: 6:40 am MNL time, July 19. PAL officials said several domestic and international flights have already been diverted to Clark International Airport earlier Monday due to the ongoing pavement repair work on Runway 24. Passengers are advised to call the PAL hotline (02) 855-8888 to get the

latest update on their flight schedules. Cebu Pacific also advised passengers to expect cancellations and delayed flights on Monday (July 18) and Tuesday (July 19). In its advisory, the CeB stated that passengers of Cebu Pacific and Cebgo flights traveling from 4 pm of July 18 to 11:59 pm of July 19, 2016 may avail any of the following options without penalties: rebook their flights for travel within 30 days from original departure date; full refund or travel fund. Due to the temporary runway closure, the following CeB flights have been canceled on July 18: 5J 973/974 Manila-Davao-Manila; 5J 014/015 Manila-Dubai-Manila; 5J 022/023 Manila-Doha-Manila; and on July 19: 5J 039/040 Manila-Sydney-Manila. “We sincerely hope for our passengers’ understanding, as this situation is due to factors beyond our control. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our priority. We will provide updates as soon as available,” the CeB said.

FVR Sermons Vol. 11 launching set The Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDeV) and the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. are set to launch “For A Better Philippines–World,” Volume 11 of a series of compilations of selected “sermons” from FVR’s column “On empowering The Filipino People” in the Manila Bulletin every Sunday. The book launch will be held today (Tuesday) 3:30 p.m. at the AFP Museum, Camp General emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. As with earlier volumes in this series, Volume 11 will be launched in time for the next State of the Nation Address, the first one by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, scheduled on July 25, 2016 at a Joint Session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa. “For A Better Philippines-World” is FVR’s battlecry

reflecting our aspirations for a better future for our country, and for the global community of nations. he makes sure that we are aware that achieving an improved quality of life is the responsibility of each and everyone of us—starting from our elected leaders to the man/woman-on-the-street. The book is part of RPDeV’s continuing education advocacy and publications program in line with its four main program areas, namely: enduring peace in the Asia-Pacific region, sustainable development, socioeconomic diplomacy, and democratic governance. Government officials, sectoral representatives, educators, journalists, veterans, and other concerned Filipinos are cordially invited to join us at this book launch today at Camp Aguinaldo.

CYAN MAGENTA YELL

T U E S D AY : J U LY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

DoJ junks raps vs 15 who kept lumad in Davao City By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has dropped criminal charges filed against 15 human rights advocates for allegedly detaining some 700 lumad at an evacuation center in Davao City. The DoJ overturned its earlier resolution approving the prosecution of the 15 for kidnapping and serious illegal detention. The Justice Department instead reinstated the finding of the provincial prosecutor’s office that dismissed the case for lack of probable cause. Manuel Quibod, lawyer of the 15 respondents, welcomed the development. The case was earlier filed before the Davao Regional Trial Court, Branch 10, which has already issued the warrant for the arrest of the 15. But the arrest was put on hold due to the pending motion for reconsideration at the DoJ. The 15 respondents were Rev. Jurie Jaime, Bayan Southern Mindanao Region secretary general Sheena Duazo, Karapatan SMR secretary general Hanimay Suazo, Ryan Laniba, Tony Salubre, Jimboy Maciano, Gabriela Davao secretary general Mary Ann Sapar, Jaja Encosio, Pedro Arnado, Pasaka SMR chairperson Kerlan Fanagel, Sr. Stella Matutina, Sr. Restita Miles, Isidro Andao, Kharlo Manano, and Save Our Schools Network spokesperson Rius Valle.

Facing east. The Parambuan cave and terrace on Suluan island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar faces the Pacific Ocean. MEL CASPE

Authorities nab Abu man facing 9 counts of murder By Florante S. Solmerin

MILITARY and police arrested Sunday an alleged Abu Sayyaf Group member facing multiple murder charges during a manhunt operation in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said Monday. Acting CIDG director Chief Superintendent Roel Obusan identified suspect

as Hadji Biki Adbdala alias Hadji Hassan. Obusan said combined

elements of the CIDG Region 9 based in Zamboanga and the Intelligence personnel of Armed Forces of the Philippines were able to trace and pinpoint the location of the suspect and cornered him after a brief pursuit at around 2:20 p.m. According to CIDG regional chief Senior Supt. John Guyguyon, Adbdala has been elusive in several entrapment operations

against him. “But this time, we were able to corner and arrest him.” The ASG, which operates in Basilan and Sulu, is involved in high-profile kidnappings of local and foreign targets. The group usually beheads its victim once ransom money is not delivered to them. Just recently, the bandits beheaded two Canadians—John Ridsdel and Robert Hall—after their

families failed to deliver P300-million ransom for each for their safe release. Still in danger of possible beheading is Kjartan Sekkingstad, a Norwegian. The bandits already released Marites Flor, Filipina fiancé of Hall. The four were abducted by armed men in September 2015 at a resort in the Island Garden City of Samal and were brought to Sulu.

Thousands begin Davao-Manila Sona trek By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

Meeting the staff. ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia (4th from left) introduces the new set of ARMM Cabinet members during the regional employees’ flag ceremony. OMAR MANGORSI

DAVAO CITY—Around 5,000 individuals gathered Monday to begin their journey from Davao City to Manila to show support for President Rodrigo Duterte in his first State of the Nation Address on Monday. Gabriela Women’s Party-list 3rd nominee, Bai Ali Indayla, said that the participants aim to personally submit to Duterte their 10 points Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Agenda that they have created for the actionable peace for Duterte’s 1st 100 days in the service. Indayla said that the participants will conduct a rally of support to Duterte outside the Batasang Pambansa during his Sona. “There will be a program outside the Batasang Pambansa, just like what happened to his inauguration,” she She said that they expect to meet the President after the event to personally talk to him about certain issues in Mindanao, concerning peace. One of the issues that the group would like to address Duterte is the militarization in the country. Indayla said that despite Duterte’s term, the Armed Forces of the Philippines still continues the “Oplan Bayanihan.” “Maybe because Duterte’s administration still does not have a concrete plan on how to solve the armed conflicts in the country,” she said “We know that Duterte is pro-peace and we support it.”

T u E s D AY: j u LY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

In sea dIspute, ChIna Can Choose Its hIstory

[ EDI TORI A L ]

CosmetiC efforts

By michael schuman

The meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach during the beauty queen’s courtesy call at Malacañang no doubt makes an interesting picture. The reigning Miss Universe, who won the crown in December, came with organizers of the pageant to convince the President of the merits of conducting the contest here. Miss Universe was last held in the Philippines in 1994. After exchanging niceties about how they were, the first President and the first Miss Universe from Mindanao and Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo talked about how the cooperation of the private sector would ensure that the event would entail no expense on the part of the government. Teo added that if the plans push through, parts of the pageant will showcase the country’s top tourist destinations like Boracay and Palawan. All this sounds fine and would no doubt create a spike in the tourism industry here. The bigger question, however, is whether we can showcase more than just our stunning natural resources and Filipino hospitality. The memory of what happened in November 2015, when the AsiaPacific economic Cooperation summit was held here, is still fresh in our minds. At the time, the previous administration hoped the APeC summit would be an opportunity to showcase the strides that the Philippines has made. But in its effort to smooth traffic in Metro Manila for the sake of the visitors, the government suspended classes and work for a few days, closed some roads and rounded up street children to hide them from view. A flyover constructed for the purpose was not finished on time, and the comings and goings of the delegates affected flight schedules. The airport, once dubbed by travelers as one of the worst in the world, received some cosmetic touch-ups—but these did not last.

solving the traffiC mess lOwDOwn jOjO a. ROblEs

It’s not as “sexy” a topic, in the newspaperman’s sense of that word, as either the campaign against illegal drugs or the territorial dispute in the south China sea (or West Philippine sea, if you like). But for the sake of the suffering millions who want something done about the problem, right now, let’s talk about the horrendous traffic situation. Or, rather, let’s talk about why the traffic situation, a hot-button

topic before and immediately after the May elections, has been disappearing from the headlines. Because like a suspected drug pusher, that’s what happened to the issue—all of a sudden, it seems, all talk about traffic seems to have mysteriously vanished. The last anyone ever heard about traffic was that the new Duterte administration was asking special or emergency powers from Congress in order to solve the mess with the draconian powers that government is expected to require for the job. Immediately afterward, lawmakers in both Houses of Congress duti-

fully announced that they were filing draft laws to give President Rodrigo Duterte the legal cover he needed to do it. After these initial noises, nothing more was heard. Duterte has not yet even named a new chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, whose principal job is to solve the problem; instead, the holdover official from the previous administration continues to in that position in an “officer-in-charge” capacity, ensuring that nothing will change in the meantime. And yet change—or, really, improvement—in the traffic situ-

If Duterte can fix the traffic problem, he will convince everyone in Metro Manila that change is really coming.

ation is what we’ve been told to expect from this new, toughtalking administration. After all, one of the main reasons why the people of Metro Manila overwhelmingly thumbed down calls to continue on the straight path of the past government was that its author had long decreed that traffic was a good thing—it was a sign of economic progress. The truth is, as late as two years ago, yet another study has put a peso value on the cost of traffic. And it’s definitely not a positive economic figure. According to the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the monstrous daily traffic jams in Metro Manila cost P2.4 billion a day in foregone income and productivity losses, or around

P800 billion a day. According to Jica, which conducted the study in 2014 upon the request of the national Economic and Development Authority, the cost of traffic could reach as high as P6 billion a day by 2030. Anyone who gets stuck in Metro Manila’s traffic on a daily basis knows that the cost in pesos doesn’t even begin to give the complete picture of the situation. no one can really quantify the cost in quality of life and to personal and public health of the usual two to three hours each way spent by millions of workers,

students and other Filipinos in horrible, mostly non-moving traffic. *** The same Jica study offered solutions to make a dent in the traffic problem. These include transferring the Manila north Harbor and the ninoy Aquino International Airport to Batangas and sangley Point in Cavite, respectively. “since domestic shipping is primarily from the south of Manila, there would be savings in ship operating cost if they dock at Batangas rather than at north Harbor. This would also trigger a shift of cargo

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

OnlInE

can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

movements away from Manila and provide a volume of exportable twenty-foot equivalent (container) units that may entice foreign vessels to call at Batangas Port,” Jica said. “Thus, this would free up north Harbor, which has an area of about 600 hectares, for possible conversion into a mixed-use waterfront property development. For the City of Manila, it represents an opportunity to revitalize the city and regain its old glory,” Jica added. Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

An OlD saying tells us that those who can’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. In China these days, a more relevant adage might be: Those who choose to learn only certain lessons from history are doomed. That’s the upshot of China’s reaction to a ruling from a tribunal at The Hague rejecting its claims to much of the south China sea. Government officials and state news media unleashed a blistering torrent of vitriol in response, deriding the whole proceeding as a “farce” and a “brutal violation” of international law. That attitude is an outgrowth of a historical narrative propagated by the Communist Party’s leadership—one that may be politically convenient at the moment, but that ultimately threatens to undermine China’s rise. The Middle Kingdom, in this telling, had long been victimized and humiliated by predatory foreign imperialists, which today still scheme to prevent the nation from assuming its rightful place in world affairs. The storyline stretches back to the crushing defeats dealt to the Qing dynasty by aggressive Western powers in the 19th century, and continues to Japan’s even more embarrassing invasion during World War II. President Xi Jinping likes to remind people of these outrages. last year’s celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the war was accompanied by a tidal wave of anti-Japan propaganda. In a speech, Xi said that victory “put an end to China’s national humiliation of suffering successive defeats at the hands of foreign aggressors in modern times.” The same narrative is now being adapted for the south China sea dispute. In early July, an editorial in the state-run China Daily, entitled “China Will not swallow Bitter Pill of Humiliation,” linked today’s maritime squabbles to past indignities at the hands of the West. “The days have long passed when the country was seen as the `sick man of East Asia,’ whose fate was at the mercy of a few Western powers,” it said. The Hague tribunal, according to the People’s Daily, “degenerated into a political tool of external powers.” There’s no denying the mistreatments inflicted on China during its past times of weakness. However, this narrative of woe is only one version of China’s modern history. There’s another, no less valid narrative that Beijing chooses not to talk about very much. It may not whip up nationalist fervor, Continued on A11

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

T u E s D AY: j u LY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

In sea dIspute, ChIna Can Choose Its hIstory

[ EDI TORI A L ]

CosmetiC efforts

By michael schuman

solving the traffiC mess lOwDOwn jOjO a. ROblEs

If Duterte can fix the traffic problem, he will convince everyone in Metro Manila that change is really coming.

OnlInE

can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

t u e s D AY: j u lY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

An AnomAly At the DPWh ThaT was a masterstroke on the part of President Duterte, trying to convince former President Fidel V. Ramos to be a special envoy to conduct back channel talks with China. This is in the aftermath of the decision of the Permanent Court of arbitration’s decision on the territorial dispute in the South China Sea. The question is whether FVR would accept the task, given that he is already 88 years old. Yes, we won our case at the UN arbitration court, which ruled that China’s nine-dash-line claim to nearly the entire South China Sea is illegal. The court also said that China’s territorial claim is against International Maritime Law. But China has refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings even as it is a signatory to the Unclos. It also said the decision was null and void. If FVR accepts the job—Mission Impossible, I call it—he won’t even able to start talking with China about the PCa’s decision. While diplomatically China may accept FVR as special envoy of the Duterte government, its doors are already closed, and will remain closed, to the idea of negotiation. What, then, can FVR negotiate, when China has become an immovable object on the issue? Tensions over the China issue will continue and there’s nothing we can do to stop. So, what now? *** I got hold of information about an anomalous transaction at the Department of Public Works and highways. Obviously, former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson was not aware of this because the amount involved is only P44 million—below his authority to approve at P50 million. Still, this anomaly can only indicate the magnitude of irregularities that have made the DPWh one of the most corrupt government agencies. This anomalous project is called “DPWh Contract ID No. 16000052-CY2016” on the annual operation and maintenance of traffic signal facilities in 56 intersections along Manila North Road Bulacan to Tarlac Section and Jose abad Santos, Guagua and Lubao, Pampanga Section. The pertinent invitation to bid was posted on the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGeps) on March 29, 2016. On March 31, 2016, one arthur Q. Santos, head of the Bidding and awards Committee of DPWh Region III, also placed an ITB advertisement in the Manila Times and made the official bid documents available at the DWPh Region III Office so that interested bidders can participate. a review of the Philgeps-The Manila Times ITB notices versus the official bidding document

shows a glaring discrepancy. The ads state that the contract is “civil works,” categorized as “construction project.” The official bid documents, however, state that the contract is for “delivery of goods and services.” Thus, the Philgeps and the Manila Times ads, through no fault of the publication, misled potential bidders into thinking that they are not qualified to bid because “civil works and construction projects” require a Philippine Contractors accreditation Board license and a DPWh Contractor Registration Certificate, thereby limiting the number of bidders.

Corruption lies in the ‘small’ things.

The true nature of the contract stated in the official bid documents —“delivery of goods and services” —does not impose the same rigid requirements. In this regard, the DPWh violated the implementing rules and regulations of Republic act 9184, which reads: “the provision of the IRR are in line with the commitment of the GOP to promote good governance and its effort to adhere to the principle of transparency, accountability, equity, efficiently and economy in its procurement process. It is policy of the GOP that procurement of infrastructure projects, goods and consulting services shall be competitive and transparent and shall go through public bidding.” My gulay, because of the misleading advertisement, only three entities showed interest to bid. This prevented other bidders from proving their capability and using their resources. another violation, which is very blatant, of Ra 9184 was when DPWh Region III specified on the bid documents the brand name of goods and equipment to be used for the subject contract (aldridge traffic controllers and Swarco LED modules). Rule VI-18 states that “reference to brand names shall not be allowed.” Because of the reference to specific brands, one of the three bidders, abratique & associates, decided not to join the bidding. The other bidders were KIV Marketing and Traffic Safety and Construction Corp. Despite the highest calculated bid, KIV was awarded the contract. KIV is the exclusive distributor of

Communist ChinA’s rogue-stAte mentAlity IT WaS an illegal undertaking at the outset. When China seized Philippine-claimed shoals in the West Philippine Sea years ago, it engaged in plain and simple bullying. after seizing the shoals and constructing artificial structures on them, the communist government in Beijing enforced its claim through military might and intimidation. Chinese warships began driving away anyone who went near their artificial structures, and Chinese fighter jets confronted any aircraft that entered the air space above the structures. The biggest surprise was for Filipino fishermen who earned their living around the shoals. Chinese ships drove them away from what, since time immemorial, have always been considered traditional fishing grounds for Filipinos. Those fishing grounds are clearly within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to which, ironically, Beijing is a signatory. China alleged that it has a historic right over those shoals claimed by the Philippines; ancient Chinese maps suggest that Chinese presence had been in the area for the longest time. Manila, however, debunked that claim by producing an ancient Philippine map which includes those shoals. Since this Philippine map is older than the oldest Chinese map, it clearly rebuts China’s cartographic claim. In addition, those disputed shoals are more proximate to Luzon than they are to mainland China. This fact alone dilutes China’s position. Beijing’s story is also belied by recent history. When the United States still maintained military bases in the Philippines, Clark air Base in Pampanga and Subic Bay

Naval Base in Zambales in particular, american military aircraft and warships frequented the shoals in the West Philippine Sea now claimed by China. On many occasions, the US Marines conducted regular training exercises in the area. During that period, Beijing never protested and just kept silent. Now that the US bases in the Philippines are gone, and now that the puny navy and air force of the Philippines are left defending the region, China flexes its military muscle and seizes those shoals on the hollow claim that the area belongs to China by historic right. Good grief! China even redrew the map of the South China Sea and marked its new territories with the now-infamous nine-dash line boundaries. The new map ignores the EEZs of the Philippines and neighboring countries. It also unilaterally converts the South China Sea into Beijing’s private lake. With no military might to enforce its rights, and having had enough of China’s bullying, the Philippines brought its case to the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of arbitration based in The hague, in the Netherlands. Nations which resented Beijing’s bullying lauded the move. China, however, refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings on the ground that it has sovereignty over the disputed shoals. anticipating a ruling against it, China announced that it does not recognize the arbitration court, and that it would not abide by its ruling. In legal theory, China is bound

to participate in the arbitration case because it is a signatory to the Unclos. Beijing has not offered any plausible explanation for its refusal to participate, other than its self-serving political propaganda carried by the international media. Through whole-page advertisements published in Philippine newspapers since 2014, China repeatedly promotes itself as a peaceloving and cultured country. The stupefying advertisements use euphemisms like “peace,” “dialogue,” “cooperation,” and “understanding” to give the impression that China is a peaceful and law-abiding nation. What hogwash! Last week, the arbitration court ruled in favor of the Philippines and declared that China’s territorial claims are in violation of international law. according to the arbitration court, China has no historic right to the contested shoals, and Beijing’s flaunted nine-dash line demarcation is unjustified. as expected, China was furious, denounced the decision, and refused to abide by it. China likewise called the arbitration court all sorts of names, and questioned the court’s competence and integrity. Beijing’s offensive language is a typical example of the propaganda a communist government resorts to whenever it runs out of valid arguments. anyway, Beijing’s communist propaganda may work with its regimented and brainwashed citizens, including those in hong Kong, but it fails to convince Filipinos and the citizens of nations which observe the rule of law. The world’s eyes are now focused on China. Will it abide by international law, or will it go back to its wicked ways as a rogue, outlaw state when it was not yet a member Continued on A11

aldridge and the authorized distributor of Swarco, brands specified in the contract. at the time of the bidding, KIV was not listed as a DPWh contractor with active and legitimate PCaB licenses required for the DWPh civil works projects. The two aforementioned major violations of the procurement law merit serious review by the Duterte administration and investigation. In fact, with these violations of the law, I believe that the entire project should be scrapped in the interest of transparency and competitiveness. The entire bidding process was flawed from the start, which makes the contract null and void. I had admired former DPWh Secretary Singson for trying his best to rid the graft-ridden DWPh of corrupt officials. To a certain extent, Singson succeeded. But it’s obvious that since Singson was already on his way out, corrupt DWPh officials tried to pull a fast one on him. This may well be the test for DWPh Secretary Mark Villar, given the vow of President Duterte to rid the country of graft and corruption. President Duterte has said the three

most corrupt agencies are the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Land Transportation Office. he may as well add the DPWh to the list, because it is rotten to the core. This anomalous transaction has already reached the attention of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales. Given the blatant violations of the Procurement act, the Ombudsman must file a case of graft and corruption against those involved, including the bidders that participated in this project. The amount may not be as big as the more controversial cases we know. But we must remember that it’s the small things that breed corruption in government. *** There are pluses and minuses in Du30’s campaign against illegal drugs. The President’s commitment and political resolve to eradicate the illegal drugs menace within three to six months is certainly a plus. The police, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Drug Enforcement agency are now doing their jobs. The ranks of the

Philippine National Police are being cleansed. But there are more minuses. The President has given marching orders to the police and other law enforcement units to go against illegal drugs. With this, a culture of violence and impunity has developed. Many of those reported to be in the drug trade are reported to engage the police in shootouts and then killed. The culture of vigilantism has also come about. alleged drug pushers, which include the police, are also killed. I still believe that the police cannot just summarily kill anybody involved in the drug trade. I am prolife and I believe that everybody, even criminals, enjoys rights. The fact is that the campaign against illegal drugs appears directed against the poor. The Duterte government must remember that there are also drug users and dealers in gated subdivisions. The President must prove that his campaign against crime, illegal drugs and corruption is not selective. he must show to us that the affluent are not exempt.

t u e s D AY: j u lY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Slam dunk, Soft landing in WeSt PhiliPPine Sea The arbitral award handed down last week by a tribunal convened under the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China/West Philippine Sea dispute presented in his first week of office an immediate and consequential test for President Rodrigo Duterte. In my view, the new Philippine President passed the initial test. So far there is calm in the seas in dispute and more importantly calm in the streets of Beijing and Manila. Slam dunks are spectacular but if the aerial artist lands badly, it would not be remembered. Indeed, in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines won a legal slam dunk; thankfully, the soft landing so far preserves that win. But the next steps are critical. Regardless of any possible policy changes still unfolding from the Aquino-Duterte transition, the court’s decision is legally binding on both the Philippines and China. And although international law comes with few direct enforcement mechanisms, the world and our country are not entirely without remedies. Justice Antonio Carpio, who has brilliantly provided much of our thinking around this dispute, has written in the Wall Street Journal that, in some ways, the arbitral decision is self-enforcing. Now that the legal status of the SC/ WPS maritime zones are clear —high seas for a significant part, exclusive economic zones for many of the countries with little overlap given the finding that the region has more rocks than islands—maritime powers

can act accordingly whether is it refusing to abide by no-fly zones imposed by China or using sea passages allowed in high seas as well as exclusive economic zone. For the Philippines, the constitutional and legal implications are clear. The areas of the SC/WPS that are our exclusive economic zone are reserved solely for Filipinos. We must bear that in mind when contemplating any joint development agreement. In addition, even if a legal framing that is constitutionally compliant can be found, such development must be approached with caution. As Professor Diane Desierto, one of the world’s and the country’s top international legal expert and scholar, has observed and articulate in a Facebook post: “Make no mistake about ‘joint development agreements’ for petroleum and natural gas resources in the South China Sea. Those who are most vocal in proposing it for the Philippines, know exactly that multibillion dollars are at stake—and the big question is whether those billions actually go to real Philippine development that will be sustainable and accountable. entering into these agreements also makes the Philippines vulnerable to disputes over contract or treaty claims of foreign investors. There is a Philippines-China bilateral investment treaty with compulsory investor-State arbitration. The Philippines should be careful that it does not end up being taken to multibillion dollar arbitration by patriotic Chinese investors.” how then can we move

Solving... From A9 The study also proposed that converting Clark into the country’s main airport hub will not be feasible, given the additional commuting cost for passengers from and to Metro Manila. “It is proposed therefore, that a new study be initiated to find a replacement for Naia within a short radius of 50 km and to examine the full range of costs. Redeveloping Sangley combined with an access system may turn out to be cheaper,” Jica said. The agency is also pushing for more secondary mass transit lines, as well as a possible Mega Manila Subway System to address the growing commuting requirements of major central business districts, such as the Manila Bay area, Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas, North Triangle, FTI and Ala-

Communist.. From A10 of the United Nations? Meanwhile, how will the Philippines enforce the ruling of the arbitration court? A military option is out of the question because the Armed Forces of the Philippines is not in a position to wage war against the communist giant. This leaves diplomacy as the only practical option available to Manila. Since international public opinion is currently against China, Manila should pursue quiet talks with Beijing for the purpose of giving Beijing a graceful exit. Manila’s diplomats for this purpose should not include the likes of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who is considered by political analysts as pro-Beijing. If the diplomatic option fails, Manila can still take solace in the knowledge that Beijing will suffer

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA forward? China boycotted the legal proceedings from the beginning and has long said that it would not abide by the court’s decision. We should not expect Beijing to simply decamp from the artificial islands it has just built, so it will fall to concerned states to reinforce the legitimacy of this decision. What is important is that we have succeeded in defending our legal rights over the disputed islands. We should continue our diplomatic initiatives, securing the support of our Asean partners, United States, Japan, India, the european Union, and other countries. They are neutral on the region’s sovereignty disputes and are firmly supportive of the legal process, engaging in their own public diplomacy effort bolstering the decision. China of course has been engaged in coalition-building efforts of its own—with less success, it seems. Although the Philippines was optimistic in winning the arbitration, few expected such a total victory, winning all our major points. Legally, it is the best scenario that could be imagined. But such a complete victory also poses it own challenge. Now that the ruling has arrived, as one observer pointed out, the Philippines and our new President have been thrown a geopolitical curveball.

bang. The agency also stressed the need to make the operations of more than 35,000 jeepneys and 5,000 buses plying Metro Manila routes more efficient to meet the requirements of a modern metropolis. Since the release of the Jica study, the makers of the navigation app Waze have declared Metro Manila as the metropolis with the worst traffic on earth. If that isn’t a crisis situation requiring immediate government action, I don’t know what is. Of course, right now, the Duterte government may be concerned with other things that it believes deserve higher priority than the traffic mess. But if it can spend some time fixing the situation on our streets, it will convince everyone in Metro Manila that change is really coming. from a serious credibility problem in the eyes of the world community if it does not comply with international law. The communist country that it is, China is very concerned about its international image. Being vulnerable in that aspect, China may be compelled to ease up on its position. Of course, only time will tell. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay should stop giving press conferences about the case. even before the arbitration court arrived at its decision, Yasay has been making public statements which suggest that he is afraid of displeasing Beijing. Restraint and sobriety in the aftermath of our court victory may be prudent, but a public display of pessimism by the nation’s top diplomat during a joyous occasion for the Filipino people is uncalled for.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay has been criticized for his somber demeanor when he spoke before the press after the arbitral award was released. his call for “all those concerned to exercise restraint and sobriety” was interpreted as a sign of weakness. Worse, some even described Secretary Yasay as being saddened by our victory. This is hogwash in my view. Secretary Yasay’s statement and his tone were in fact exactly just right. Unpopular at first, his words and actions were the most reasonable to take. Indeed, as I immediately said when the decision came out, the next step for us is to do nothing. In fact, we should hope that all those concerned should, at least for the next several weeks, do nothing. As Inquirer’s John Nery observed, “One thing Filipinos will watch out for is the rhetoric that will come out of Beijing. It is good that calls for war are being censored. It is not unexpected that Chinese officials will repeat the standard line about “ancient rights” and “indisputable sovereignty.” It is only logical to expect the new Chinese facilities, built on reclaimed land in the Spratlys, to remain in place, and for Beijing to defend its presence and purpose as civilian in nature. It is entirely likely that China will once again raise the possibility of imposing an air defense identification zone, or take the United States to task for conducting naval patrols in or near disputed areas. But as long as the language we’ve heard before is the same language we will hear in the next several weeks, the Philippines will see this as encourag-

In sea... From A9

ing. It is the nearest equivalent to China doing nothing.” In the meantime, we should prepare for re-engaging with China on both bilateral and multilateral fronts. This time, we have the arbitral tribunal’s decision as leverage. hopefully, former President Fidel V. Ramos will lend his gravitas to this important mission. he is the right man for the job as he knows the meaning of win-win solutions. For the moment, we should forget about joint development or commercial agreements with China on the resources of the West Philippine Sea. Let’s start instead with something so doable and also urgent—bilateral cooperation on the protection of the marine environment. This is non-controversial, within the Constitution, and can rebuild trust. As I will write in the next couple of columns, the arbitral tribunal ruled that China has not done well by the marine environment. Perhaps, they can rectify this by cooperating with us to rehabilitate the fisheries, reefs and other ecosystems affected by their actions. Among others, the Philippines, China and other countries can take up the suggestion of Justice Tony Carpio (which was also suggested earlier by environmental lawyer Tony Oposa) to make the whole area a marine peace park for a hundred years. Yes, from a slam dunk to a soft landing, the West Philippine Sea conflict can be resolved in a win-win manner. Facebook Page: Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

other territorial disputes, for instance with Japan and India, but heeding its lessons would that keep Beijing’s neighbors actually benefit China over the wary of its intentions. And economically, China would long term. That story goes like this: By be well served by reciprocatcooperating with the US and ing the openness of its trading its allies, China transformed partners to Chinese business itself into the world’s second- by treating foreign firms more largest economy and a rising fairly in its own market. That superpower. Its rapid devel- would help forestall the antiopment would never have China protectionism now risbeen possible if the US hadn’t ing in the west. The problem for Xi is that opened its market to Chinese exports. Companies from the he benefits too much from US, Japan and europe have in- the rhetoric about China’s chong ardivilla vested heavily in China, creat- past victimization. By taking ing jobs and importing know- a stand against foreign aghow. The US security presence gressors, he can present himin east Asia—the same one self as a defender of Chinese Beijing considers an intoler- interests, the man righting able constraint—has generally all the wrongs of the past 200 kept the peace in the region, years. Widespread support allowing China to focus on be- for the government on social media and in the press shows coming rich. If Beijing chose this his- just how well that strategy is torical narrative, then its ap- working. But Xi’s fixation on the proach to the South China Sea would probably look dif- history of China’s humiliaferent. It would seek to peace- tion is threatening to swamp fully negotiate with its neigh- the history of China’s coopbors and work closely with the eration. In the end, history is U.S., Japan and others rather what you make of it. Which than characterizing them as narrative China chooses may saboteurs of Chinese interests. determine how the story The same would be true with ends. Bloomberg

T UE S DAY : J ULY 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Calls for Russia ban sparks tension LOS ANGELES — World sport leaders were on edge Sunday awaiting a report on allegations of widespread state-sponsored doping in Russia that US and Canadian anti-doping officials say could warrant a full ban of Russia from the Rio Olympics.

Live webcast to highlights Ironman Aspac THE Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships presented by Ford will be aired live via streaming when it is held Aug. 7 in Cebu City, marking the first time that such webcast of a premier triathlon will be done in the country. The organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. said the live broadcast of the event over the internet using the streaming media technology will give triathlon fans and enthusiasts outside of Cebu the rare chance to get to feel the action in the keenly-awaited swim-bike-run featuring some of the world’s top triathletes. SEI is targeting 2 million viewership worldwide. For live streaming, courtesy of Globe Telecom, log on to www.ironman.com. Close to 3,000 triathletes from 43 countries, led by an elite roster of pros, will slug it out for top honors at Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa with titleholders Tim Reed and Caroline Steffen heading the cast in the men’s and ladies sides. The Cobra Ironman 70.3 will also feature 2,869 equally determined competitors in the Filipino elite, CEOs, age groups and relay divisions. Produced and organized by SEI and backed by Cobra Energy Drink as title sponsor, the tournament is putting up the biggest prize money ever at $75,000 and the highest points earned. The winner in the pro category will receive $14,000 while the runner-up will pocket $7,000 and the next eight placers will get $4,500, $3,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $1,250, 0$1,000 and $750, respectively. The blue-ribbon event has generated so much interest since it was announced that Cebu will be the home of the 2016 Ironman 70.3 AsPac. When registration was opened last October, the 2,900 slots in the elite 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run race were sold out in just 28 minutes. Tim Reed and Caroline Steffen head chase for Ironman 70.3 As-Pac honors

DanceSport holds midyear ranking tourney THE DanceSport Council of the Philippines will hold the 2016 DSCPI Midyear Ranking and Competition on July 23 at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena, Pasig City. DSCPI President Becky Garcia said there are 296 DanceSport athletes all over the Philippines, who will compete in the ranking com-

petition supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Flawless, Michelle Lee, Muebles Italiano, Manila Pianos Inc., Caruso Ristorante Italiano, Vitug Beach Resort, Villa Brockman, Giordano, Retro DCG-FM 105.9 and The Greenery Bulacan.

PH Blu Girls bow to the Netherlands THE Cebuana-Lhuiller backed RP Blu Girls will advance to the championship round robin of the Women’s World Softball Championships despite losing to Netherlands, 2-7, in the 31-nation tournament held in Softball City, Surrey, Canada. The Filipinas’ back-to-back wins against Czech Republic (10) and Pakistan (7-0) assured them of a spot in the next round of the world softball tilt. “We have achieved our goal of advancing to the next round with some of the best teams in the world. I’m confident that our team will keep on fighting and improving and hopefully pull off an upset or two. This experience will go a long way towards our goal of qualifying and contending for a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said ASAPHIL president Jean Henri Lhuillier. The RP Blu Girls, perennial Southeast Asian champions, will join Australia, USA or Brazil, and China or Cuba in Group 2 after finishing as no. 2 team in Pool F of the tournament. Games will start on Tuesday (Manila time). In other games, New Zealand beat Italy, 8-7; Peru routed Kenya, 10-3; Brazil overpowered Israel, 19-0; Australia blanked Serbia, 13-0; and Mexico blasted Switzerland, 19-0.

Six World DanceSport Federation licensed adjudicators Liudmila Zakrzhevskaia from Kyrgyzstan, Chi Keung Simon Mok from Hong Kong, Young-Tak Park from Korea, Boon Lan Ivy Por from Malaysia, Mary Yeh from Chinese Taipei and Igor Jagersky from Slovakia will attend the competition.

Philippine Adjudicators Edgardo Borromeo, Crisaldo Rendon and Julie Plummer are also there. Tickets are available at the DanceSport Training Center, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City and at the entrance of the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena on July 23.

Geluz, Bernardo bag titles LOCAL bet Elvin Joseph Geluz and De La Salle-Zobel’s Denisse Bernardo fashioned out a pair of straight-set victories to rule their respective divisions in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional tennis tournament at the Imus and Mabolo Tennis Club in Cavite yesterday. The top-seeded Geluz drew inspiration from the home crowd and dominated No. 2 Angelo Aparte, 6-2, 6-3, to clinch the boys’ 16-and-under crown while the third-ranked Bernardo upended fancied Gab Zoleta via the same scoreline to snare the girls’ 14-U plum in the Group 5 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop with Slazenger as presentor. Top seed Blanche Lagrisola actually posted the lone twin title romp in the four-day tournament which drew over 200 entries as the Sta. Rosa, Laguna ace trounced Cindy Nuguit, 6-2,

6-2, to nail the girls’ 16-U plum then scored a 1-0(ret.) win over Zoleta to run away with the 18-U diadem in the tournament hosted by ITC president Robert Bautista. No. 1 Marcus del Rosario, however, clipped Geluz, 6-3, 6-2, in the semis of the 18-U side then survived unranked Marvin Marquez’s gritty stand to hack out a 7-5, 7-5 to bag the title in the premier division of the four-day weatherdelayed sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball. “With three local talents emerging as winners only motivates us to host another leg in Imus, which has a wide base of tennis talents,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Although Russia is already banned from international athletics because of a doping storm, European Olympic Committees (EOC) president Pat Hickey said he was “shocked” by a call for a blanket ban of Russia before the findings of Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren’s investigation are made public on Monday. “My concern is that there seems to have been an attempt to agree an outcome before any evidence has been presented,” Hickey said on Saturday. “Such interference and calls ahead of the McLaren Report publication are totally against internationally recognized fair legal process and may have completely undermined the integrity and therefore the credibility of this important report.” Hickey said that Beckie Scott, the Canadian chairman of the WADA athletes commission and an International Olympic Committee member, had sent out an e-mail appeal to back a letter from the US and Canadian anti-doping agencies to IOC president Thomas Bach. “This letter calls upon the IOC to instigate a wholesale ban of the Russian Olympic Committee team in Rio 2016. “This unprecedented call for such a ban is based on what the US and Canadian national anti-doping agencies say are the findings of the independent McLaren Report.” Hickey said the McLaren report was meant to remain confidential until its publication, but that the e-mail and letter showed that “both the independence and the confidentiality of the report have been compromised”. Hickey’s concern was welcomed by Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko on Sunday—and echoed by other European sports leaders. Mutko told TASS news agency that Hickey “is quite right when he says that the move by USADA puts in question the independence and the confidentiality of the investigation by the WADA commission”. “Now it’s clear what will happen after the report by McLaren: a news conference and pressure on Russia.” AFP

T UE S DAY : J ULY 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Waseem outclasses PH’s Oliva By Ronnie Nathanielsz VASTLY experienced former world title challenger Jether Oliva has been totally outclassed in a World Boxing Council flyweight Silver title fight by Pakistani fighter Muhammad Waseem at the Millenium Hilton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. Waseem, who entered the ring with an unbeaten record of 3 knockouts in 3 fights, completely dominated Oliva, who had a record of 23-6-2 with 11 knockouts, raising serious questions about his physical and mental condition going into the fight. Two judges scored a 120-112 shutout, while the third judge had Waseem the winner, 119-113. It was an inexplicable loss for the vastly more experienced Oliva, while Waseem took a major step up in class. The WBC reported: “Waseem showed his very able boxing skills to dominate the experienced, durable Oliva over 12 rounds.” Waseem’s promoter Andy Kim of AK Promotions said it was a huge win for Waseem. “I am happy for him. We are a step closer to our goal of him becoming a world champion after Roman Gonzalez announced that he will move up to fight WBC super flyweight champion Carlos Cuadras on Sept. 10 for the WBC super flyweight title held by Cuadras. Nicknamed “The Falcon,” Waseem swooped down on Oliva after the first two evenly matched rounds and dominated the rest of the way. The 28-year-old Waseem trained under Floyd Mayweather’s uncle Jeff Mayweather for one month in preparation for the Oliva fight. Waseem won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and a gold medal at the 2010 Combat Games.

Chess, basketball at PSA Forum CHESS and basketball cover today’s session of the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate. National Chess Federation of the Philippines secretary general Jayson Gonzales talks about the PH team’s campaign in the coming Olympiad and the recent Asian Schools meet in Tehran, Iran to cover the chess part of the 10:30 a.m session. Meanwhile, coach Rafael Galos of the Alaska Basketball Power Camp and and Alaska Milk public affairs assistant manager Ceciĺle Jacela take care of the basketball side in the public sports program aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Captain of French Davis Cup team Yannick Noah (2ndl) and members of French Davis Cup team celebrate with their fans after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France (L) defeated Jiri Vesely of Czech Republic at Davis Cup quarter-final match Czech Republic vs France in Trinec. AFP

Tsonga spearheads France into Davis Cup semifinals PRAGUE—Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sent France into the Davis Cup semi-finals after beating Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic on Sunday to hand his team an unbeatable 3-1 lead in their quarter-final. On the hard court of the Werk Arena in Trinec, world number 10 Tsonga beat 50thranked Vesely 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-5 in three hours and 28 minutes. In their quest for a first Davis Cup title since 2001, France will now face either the United States or Croatia in the semi-finals in September. In a clash of the teams’ number-one players, the 23-year-old Vesely took the first set on a single break and both held on to their serves in the second, which went to Tsonga, 31, in a tie-break. A dominant Tsonga then broke Vesely’s serve for the first time to win the third. In the fourth set, Tsonga survived three break points in game six and broke again five games later to win the rubber and the tie.

“With the experience I have, I knew that even despite a poor start it’s not over, it goes on, the rubber is long,” Tsonga told reporters. “But I really had to work hard to win today.” “The game was extremely hard, he’s a very experienced player,” Vesely told Czech Television. “It’s harder to play when you’re 2-1 down, I gave it my best, I felt much better today than on Friday, maybe because I had absolutely nothing to lose. “I’m sorry about the second set, I played well and if I had managed to win maybe things would have been different, but it’s hard to tell.” On Friday, the Czechs took the lead in the tie as world number 78 Lukas Rosol stunned Tsonga 6-4, 3-6, 4-6,

7-6 (10/8), 6-4. Lucas Pouille, ranked 21st, then swept past Vesely 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 7-5 to put France level on his Davis Cup debut. And in Saturday’s doubles rubber, Wimbledon champions Mahut and Herbert beat Radek Stepanek and Rosol 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to hand France a 2-1 lead. French captain Yannick Noah said he had no preference when it comes to the semi-final rival. “Whatever team we face, I sincerely think that if we arrive well-prepared, ready, in our best shape, we will win the Davis Cup,” he said. Meanwhile, Kyle Edmund won his second singles rubber of the weekend to steer Davis Cup champions Great Britain past Serbia on Sunday and into a mouthwatering semi-final clash against Argentina. Edmund, ranked at 67 in the world, justified his position as his country’s top player in the absence of Wimbledon champion Andy Murray to see off Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) on the back of 39 winners for an unbeatable 3-1 lead.

“You want to win for your country. When you know what is at stake -- I’m so pleased that I’ve won,” said Edmund. Britain go on to host Argentina in September after the South Americans reached the semifinals with a 3-1 win over Italy in Pesaro. Argentina have won the last three Davis Cup meetings between the two countries in 1981, 1989 and 2008 while Britain’s only win was in 1928 in the sleepy seaside town of Torquay. Edmund had defeated Janko Tipsarevic on Friday in the opening singles as the hosts, Davis Cup champions in 2010, paid heavily for not being able to call upon Novak Djokovic and Viktor Troicki, comfortably their top two players. Lajovic levelled the tie with a win over James Ward before Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Filip Krajinovic in the doubles. Argentina, who have never won the Davis Cup, saw Federico Delbonis defeat recentlymarried Fabio Fognini 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 on Sunday. AFP

Underwood stuns favorites, wins Philracom 3rd leg title JOCKEY Jessie B. Guce’s expectations were met recently when he rode longshot Underwood past two favorites at the last turn to win the P3-million 2016 Philracom Triple Crown Stakes Race third leg at the San Lazaro Leisure Park. With Guatemala scratched, only four contenders battled in the last event of the Philracom’s most important series for elite 3YO. In the end, Underwood, guided by star jockey Guce, ran on the inside to dash past Dewey Boulevard down the stretch and win by three lengths. The colt owned by Stoney Road

Horse Farm and trained by Dave de la Cruz earned the P1.8 million first prize for its connections. The breeder’s purse was claimed by Herma Farms and Stud, which bred Underwood from Real Spicy, a champion during his racing career, and dependable mare Kayumanggi. “Expected namin ito dahil sa distansiya at kumonti ang kalaban,” said Guce. Dewey Boulevard, the second-leg winner, placed second, while first-leg champ Radioactive ranked third. Homonhon Island was fourth and last.

The lead in the 2,000-meter race was taken by the fast-stepping Dewey Boulevard, followed two lengths off the pace by Radioactive, Underwood four lengths behind, and Homonhon Island last. This was the scenario until the far turn, when Radioactive and Underwood rallied to close the gap between them and Dewey Boulevard. Underwood first slipped behind Radioactive’s left, before picking up speed to sneak past Dewey Boulevard with 125 meters to go. “Expected kong maghahabulan sila at masundan ko lang sila, at ‘pag pinabayaan,

may bibitaw. Ako, nanood lang. Sa diretso ko na inabot,” said Guce. The Triple Crown is the ultimate test for 3-year-old, island born thoroughbred horses, having started its first leg in May, running a monthly series consisting of three legs. Meanwhile, another longshot in Pinay Pharaoh won the 2000-m Hopeful Stakes Race in 2:09. Organizers said there were no winners in the Pick 6 event of the day, with the carryover pool now at P553,929.68. The first set of the winner-take-all pool now stands at P2,365,797.65.

T UE S DAY : J ULY 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Paras chooses Creighton University By Ronnie Nathanielsz PORT MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF AGUSAN Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City 8600, PHILIPPINES Tel. Nos. (085) 342-5352, 342-6451, 815-3449 ; Fax No. (085) 815-4434 ; Email: pmo_nasipit@yahoo.com

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE PROVISION OF TEMPORARY SUPPORT PERSONNEL FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES OF PPA, PMO-AGUSAN 1.

The Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office of Agusan (PPA, PMO-Agusan), through the PPA Corporate Funds CY 2016 intends to apply the sum of Pesos: Two Million Nine Hundred Eleven Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Seven 68/100 (P2,911,387.68) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Provision of Temporary Support Personnel for Various Projects/Activities of PMO-Agusan. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The PPA, PMO-Agusan now invites bids for the Provision of Temporary Support Personnel for Various Projects/Activities of PMO-Agusan (see attached Annex “A” for Schedule of Requirements, including Statement of Experience and/or Professional Qualifications for Each Position). The contract duration is from September 1, 2016 up to December 31, 2016. Bidders should have completed, within the past ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the PPA, PMO-Agusan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (9:00 AM – 12:00 NN and 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM). A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders starting on July 19, 2016 until 5:00 PM of August 5, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Pesos: Five Thousand (P5,000.00) , exclusive of VAT. Address:

The Secretariat Bids and Awards Committee for Goods and Services PPA, PMO Agusan Port Area, San Francisco Street Butuan City 8600

This Office is not electronically-ready to handle documents, thus submission of bids/proposals electronically is not allowed. The PPA, PMO-Agusan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 27, 2016 at 9:00 AM at the PMO Agusan Administration Bldg., Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the address below not later than 9:00 AM of August 8, 2016. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on August 8, 2016 at 9:30 AM at the Port Manager’s Office, PPA PMO Agusan Administration Bldg., Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City. 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. 5.

KOBE Paras, the 6’6” slam-dunking, 18-year-old son of former PBA Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Benjie Paras has picked Creighton University in Omaha. After initially being introduced to his teammates in University of California, Los Angeles, Paras was inexplicably scuttled by the Admission Department, claiming that the Filipino failed REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 93, QUEZON CITY RE: PETITION FOR THE JUDICIAL DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF VIA MARIE RUBEN CABEL RODRIGUEZ FILED WITH THE NATIONAL STATISCTICS OFFICE, SPEC PRO NO. R-QZN-16- 05131 SP VIA MARIE RUBEN CABEL, Petitioner. x----------------------------------x

ORDER A verified petition was filed before this cour t by Via Marie Ruben Cabel praying that af ter due notice, publication and hearing, a judgment be rendered nullif ying the Cer tificate of Live Bir th on file with the National Statistics Of fice bearing the name of VIA MARIE CABEL RODRIGUEZ and the Cer tif icate of Live Bir th filed with the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City be maintained as the Bir th Cer tificate of the petitioner and the National Statistics Of f ice be directed to cancel in the f iles of Live Bir ths the Bir th Cer tificate of VIA MARIE CABEL RODRIGUEZ and that the one which ref lects the name of VIA MARIE RUBEN CABEL bearing Local Civil Registr y No. 87- 4 4861 be the one registered and be entered into the records of Live Bir ths of the National Statistics Of f ice. WHEREFORE, finding the Petition to be suf f icient in form and substance, let the same be set for hearing on 06 September 2016, Tuesday at 8:30 in the morning before this Cour t sitting at Room 126, Ground Floor, Hall

The PPA, PMO-Agusan 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:

SCHEDULE OF REQUIREMENTS List of authorized CY 2016 Administrative and Technical support personnel positions for outsourcing thru Manpower Service Provider:

Senior Engineer A Sr. Management Info System Analyst

MONTHLY SALARY

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

EXPERIENCE

TRAINING

Other REQUIREMENTS

24,423.00

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

4 Years in engineering works

8 Hours

CSC Eligibility preferred, knowledge in MS Office

24,423.00

Bachelor’s Degree relevant to the job

1 Year relevant experience

4 Hours relevant training

CSC Eligibility preferred, knowledge in MS Office

1 Year (Relevant)

CSC Eligibility preferred, Knowledge in MS Office

Clerk Processor A

13,833.00

4 Years college studies

Accounting Processor

13,833.00

4 Years college studies

1 Year (Relevant)

CSC Eligibility preferred, Knowledge in MS Office

Terminal Fee Collector

13,833.00

2 Years college studies

2 Year (Relevant)

CSC Eligibility preferred, Knowledge in MS Office

Draftsman A

Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioner in a newspaper of general circulation determined by raf f le pursuant to PD 1079. Furnish the Of fice of the Solicitor General, the Of fice of the Local Civil Registrar Of Quezon City and the Of f ice of the Civil Registrar General/Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly NSO) with copies of this Order and the verified Petition together with its annexes, all at the expense of the petitioner. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, May 26, 2016. (Sgd.) ARTHUR O. MAL ABAGUIO Presiding Judge

COPY FURNISHED: 1.

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

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

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

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

cols. x

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

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

cms.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan, through General Fund (Capital Outlay)2016 Budget intends to apply the sum of Two Million Nine Hundred Eighty Three Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Three Pesos (Php2,982,843.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Installation of Container Van & Septic Tank (REBID). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan now invites bids for Installation of Container Van & Septic Tank (REBID). Delivery of the goods is required upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours at eight o’clock in the morning to five o’clock in the afternoon.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on July 6-13, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00).

Pre-bid conference will be on July 12, 2016 at 9:00 AM at BAC Office 2nd Floor Municipal Bldg, Dinalupihan, Bataan.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before July 15, 2016 at 9:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

(Sgd.) Engr. RONALDO C. MONTERO Division Manager A, Engineering Services Division Chairperson, BAC for Goods and Services

No. of Positions SG

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

until it was revealed that “academic conditions of his admission” were not met. Coached by Greg McDermott, father of Chicago Bull’s Doug McDermott, Creighton finished last season with a 20-15 record, going 9-9 within their conference, the Big East. The team lost in round one of the Big East tourney and made it all the way to the quarterfinals of the NIT, before falling to Brigham Young University. They last made the US NCAA March Madness Tournament in 2014, the final season of Doug McDermott. According to Kobe’s dad Benjie, he checked out colleges in Oregon with his handler, but eventually “decided to

Installation of Container Van & Septic Tank GOODS 100-16-06-032 (REBID)

Ms. SHEERYL B. PEDEGLORIO Sr. Fiscal Examiner A / Acting General Services Officer A Head, Secretariat-BAC for Goods and Services Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office of Agusan Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City 8600 Tel. Nos. (085) 342-6451/342-5352 Fax No. (085) 815-4434 Email Address: pmo_nasipit@yahoo.com

POSITION

to make the grade, even though he had already surpassed the national grade and was eligible to play for any other NCAA Division 1 college. Paras was set to play for the UCLA Bruins,

13,833.00

2 Years college studies

2 Year (Relevant)

4 Hours relevant training

CSC Eligibility preferred, Knowledge in MS Office

2 Year (Relevant)

4 Hours relevant training

TESDA accreditation

Aircon Technician A

13,833.00

HS Graduate w/ relevant vocational course

Data Encoder

12,880.00

4 Years college studies

1 Year (Relevant)-

4 Hours relevant training

CSC Eligibility preferred, Knowledge in MS Office

Driver Mechanic B

12,880.00

HS Graduate w/ relevant vocational course

2 Year (Relevant)

4 Hours relevant training

TESDA accreditation

Building Electrician B

11,992.00

HS Graduate w/ relevant vocational course

2 Year (Relevant)

4 Hours relevant training

TESDA accreditation

2 Years college studies

Storekeeper C

11,992.00

Carpenter A

11,145.00

HS Graduate

2 Year (Relevant)

Utility Worker A

10,252.00

HS Graduate

( T S - J U LY 19 , 2 016)

Bid opening shall be on July 15, 2016 at 9:00 AM at BAC Office 2nd Floor Municipal Bldg, Dinalupihan, Bataan. 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. 9.

The LGU of Dinalupihan 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) AMELITA E. PEÑAFLOR BAC Chairman San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan (SGD) ARCELI SAMSON BAC Secretariat San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan (T S-J U LY 19 , 2016)

play for Creighton University in Omaha.” Basketball pundits believe Kobe will be tested by the big-name teams in the Big East Conference and his game is certain to grow playing for Creighton. Benjie told The Standard that Kobe, who finished his junior year playing for Cathedral High School, had several college teams showing interest in the highflying Filipino, who had won the FIBA 3x3 Slam Dunk contest in Jakarta with a spectacular series of dunks. Aside from UCLA, other schools that showed interest in Paras were Fresno State University and Arizona State University. Also showing keen interest in Paras were UC Irvine, California and UT-Arlington. “This is their style,” Benjie said, adding schools go public with players they’d like to recruit. “Kobe is working very hard and is subject to a tight schedule. He concentrates on his studies, makes sure he follows a proper diet and trains hard.” The Los Angeles Times reported that Paras’ coach William Middlebrooks said: “Kobe was very excited, about UCLA’s interest in him but the Admission Department’s refusal to accept his grades which were above the national average was a major disappointment.” Paras competed in the FIBA 3x3 World Championships in Indonesia and while his team failed to make it in the Under 18 competition, Paras won the Slam Dunk contest in spectacular fashion, beating taller and older players from Spain and the United States. Some of the toughest schools in the Big East Conference include Villanova, Xavier, Seton Hall, Providence, Georgetown, Marquette and Butler, among others. Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska. Its mascot is Billy The Bluejay and its colors blue.

T UE S DAY : J ULY 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Duterte hikes allowances of Rio-bound PH delegates ALL 12 athletes going to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics will have a bigger allowance. President Rodrigo Duterte said during a sendoff ceremony in Malacanang that their allowance for the entire trip will be raised from $1,000 to $3,000. He also added that the allowance of officials going to games will now be $5,000, from $3,000. Some of the athletes present during the ceremony were Kirstie Elaine Alora of taekwondo, Marestella Torres-Sunang of athletics and Ian Lariba of table tennis. The others are not in the country, training abroad. Duterte also promised to increase the financial assistance of athletes who are not only preparing for the Olympics, but for other international meets as well. The delegation was told by Duterte that they should not to be afraid of the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease that’s become a scare during the preparation for the Games. Meanwhile, the effort to produce topclass athletes takes a lot of planning. Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said this as they prepare to have a sendoff for long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang, marathoner Mary Joy Tabal and sprinter Eric Cray. “Having for the first time three entries for athletics in the Olympics does not come as a surprise to us,” said Juico, adding that their effort to reach the Olympics is “the fruit of all the hard work of these three athletes and valuable support of the government and the private sector.” Peter Atencio

F2, RC Cola take on separate foes BATANGAS CITY— Red-hot F2 Logistics and RC Cola-Army inch closer to a clean sweep of the first round when they tackle separate foes in the 2016 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference women’s volleyball tournament today (Tuesday) at the Batangas City Coliseum here. The Cargo Movers battle dangerous Petron at 2 p.m. while the Lady Troopers take on Generika at 4 p.m. in the first out-of-town matches this season of this high-level club league bankrolled by KLab Cyscorpions, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller and Senoh with TV5 as official broadcast partner. Then, in the nightcap, Foton tries to tighten its hold in the upper crust of the standing when it clashes with Standard Insurance-Navy at 6 p.m. Cong. Marvey Marano and Batangas City mayor Beverly Dimacuha will spearhead the rolling out of the red carpet to the league, especially to the players, who were products of this Southern Tagalog province like Dawn Macandili and Kim Fajardo of F2 Logistics and Ivy Perez and Rhea Dimaculangan of Foton. Games Today (Batangas City Coliseum) 2 p.m. • F2 Logistics vs Petron 4 p.m. • RC Cola-Army vs Generika 6 p.m. • Standard Insurance-Navy vs Foton

Preside Rodrigo Duterte is shown with Filipino athletes and sports officials during a sendoff ceremony for the 2016 Rio Olympics-bound PH team at the Rizal hall of Malacananag Palace on Monday. DANNY PATA

Black likes Meralco’s hot 2-0 Gov Cup start By Jeric Lopez

IT was one favorable weekend for Meralco. Carrying the momentum they got from a solid run in the Commissioner’s Cup, the Bolts are making their presence felt right away and are enjoying a rousing start in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. After two straight wins in the opening weekend of the seasonending tournament, Meralco quickly grasped the top spot with its 2-0 start after dispatching two quality opponents to start its campaign. In the tournament’s first game last Friday, Meralco dis-

posed Phoenix, 108-103, while it continued its winning ways with an equally impressive 10096 victory over Alaska last Sunday night to sweep its two outings in three days. Meralco coach Norman Black is very impressed so far with the performance of

his team in their first two victories. “It’s actually a very good start for us. It’s a good thing we’re able to survive this weekend. I was worried about these backto-back games for us,” said Black. “We’re very happy to get these wins and move on.” Black and his Bolts, however, are still focused on gradually enhancing their performances as the tournament moves along. “We still have a lot of things to improve on as a team,” said Black. One huge reason why Meralco is off to a blazing start is the monster play of import Allen Durham. Durham is averaging 34 points per game so far for the Bolts and his explosive game

is boosting Meralco’s overall performance. Left impressed by his reinforcement, Black couldn’t help but compare him to one of the league’s greatest imports of all time. “Durham is a thoroughbred. He reminds me of Bobby Ray Parks. He is a solid player and he has great attitude,” said Black. The same can’t be said for Phoenix, who also had two games in the conference’s first three playdates during the weekend but lost both to start the conference 0-2. The Fuel Masters played twice as well, but lost on both occasions to the Bolts and to defending champion San Miguel, 124-113, last Sunday.

Filipina golfer Guce rules Symetra Tour By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Guce

FILIPINA Clariss Guce, who made only three cuts on the LPGA women’s tour this year, put it all together over the weekend to win the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic for her first Symetra Tour title in Rochester, New York. Guce finished at 11-under 277 at Brook Lea Country Club to pocket the top prize of $30,000 to race to 12th on the money list from 84th, where the Top 10 will earn LPGA Tour cards. Guce, the 26-year-old former Cal State Northridge player ended with a flourish as she birdied the par-4, 14th and 15th holes, and finished with a sizzling birdie on the 18th. “It’s an amazing feeling especially

since I’ve been struggling quite a bit during the season. Being able to make a cut a couple of weeks ago and then to win here, I can’t even describe how fast this is happening,” Guce said. Guce was introduced to golf by her grandfather, while her model and inspiration is Tiger Woods. Guce prefers narrow courses, claiming they “force me to be more strategic with my shots.” Outside of golf, Guce said she likes playing basketball and prefers “explosive workouts.” Born in the Philippines, Guce speaks Filipino fluently and loves horse racing since her dad is a jockey. Surprisingly, she doesn’t eat vegetables while her favorite home-cooked meal is Caldereta.

T U E S DAY : J U LY 1 9, 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

Life begins

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson raises his Claret Jug, the trophy for the champion golfer of the 2016 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland. AFP

Cubs grab 5th victory in a row By Peter Atencio THE twin towers of the defending champion San Beda Red Cubs flexed their muscles in the shaded lane and the led the Mendiola-based cagers to a 97-72 blasting of the La Salle Greenhills Greenies Monday at the Arena in San Juan. Six-foot-three Fil-Jordanian Sam Abu Hijle banged in 18 points, while 6’6” Germy Mahinay delivered 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Red Cubs, who posted their fifth straight win in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors basketball tournament. Their efforts allowed the Red Cubs to remain in second spot, behind the solo-leading Arellano University Braves. Abu Hijle and Mahinay took charge during a decisive second period run, scoring a combined 13 points to lead the Red Cubs away from a close 21-19 first period count. They were ahead by 14 points when the second period was over, 47-33. Ace scorer Joshua Tagala had only five points and focused his efforts on stopping prolific Greenie Troy Malinlin, who was limited to two in the third as the Red Cubs moved away by 21, 72-51, at the end of the period. “We limited his touches. Tagala sacrificed his offense to defend on him,” said Red Cubs coach JB Sison. The Greenies, with Malinlin and Vincent David making 18 and 17 points, remained in third with their 3-2 slate.

TROON—At the age of 40, Henrik Stenson is hoping his long-awaited first major victory at the British Open on Sunday proves to be just the beginning. Stenson had long been considered one of the best players on tour never to have won a major but he put that right in the most spectacular fashion at Royal Troon on Scotland’s west coast. His major championship record-equalling low round of 63, featuring 10 birdies, on Sunday saw him beat American Phil Mickelson by three strokes with an overall score of 20 under par, the lowest ever total at The Open. “We’re only just getting started, aren’t we? You never know once you open the floodgates what might happen,” Stenson said later as he spoke to the media alongside the famous Claret Jug. The Swede said he had a feeling this would be his turn to win a major after seven previous top-four finishes, including as the runner-up to Mickelson in the British Open at Muirfield in 2013.

Paras chooses Creighton TURN TO A14

Forty “is the new 30”, he told Sky, and there was certainly something about the week for the older guard, with Mickelson, at 46, coming so close to being the oldest Open winner in nearly 150 years. Meanwhile, the 49-year-old American Steve Stricker finished in fourth. In contrast, the so-called ‘Big Four’ of Dustin Johnson, 32, and twenty-somethings Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy never really challenged in Troon, even if the latter ended up in a tie for fifth. Asked what he put that down to, Stenson replied: “I think the experience and the way links golf plays.” He also recalled Tom Watson’s near miss at the age of 59 down the Ayrshire coast at Turnberry in 2009. “So even a few guys that are a little bit older than I am have had

success at the majors and at The Open Championship. “But experience definitely plays a big part of it. Yeah, it was quite an old leaderboard for a change, I guess.” It wasn’t just Stenson’s long overdue first major victory, it was a first ever for a Swedish men’s player after some painful failures in past years. Jesper Parnevik was the last top player to come out of the Scandinavian country prior to Stenson but his bogey at the last at Turnberry on the final day in 1994 cost him glory and he blew the lead on the Sunday at Troon three years later. “Very impressive and congrats @henrikstenson, Sweden doesn’t have to wait no more!!,” Parnevik tweeted on Sunday. “I feel very privileged to be the one to hold this trophy,” Stenson added. “There’s been many great players from my country who have tried in past years and decades and there’s been a couple of really close calls. Jesper in particular twice. “He sent me a message, ‘Go out

Filipina wins in Symetra Tour TURN TO A15

and finish what I didn’t manage to finish,’ and I’m really proud to have done that, and it’s going to be massive for golf in Sweden with this win.” Olympic aim Stenson acknowledged that it will take some time for his victory to sink in, not least because of the manner of it. But he cannot relax for long. The final major of the season, the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol in New Jersey, begins earlier than usual this year, starting on July 28. That is because of the Olympics in Rio in August. And unlike the ‘Big Four’ and numerous other leading golfers who withdrew citing concerns about the Zika virus, Stenson will be at the Games. “I’m just happy to be part of it. It’s going to be quite an experience, I think,” he said last week. “I hope I can perform well, and hopefully get one of the medals, and hopefully the best one to bring home. I think it would be pretty cool to have that next to some of the other nice trophies I’ve managed to win.” AFP

TUESDAY: JULY 19, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS Govt plans to cancel unused frequencies By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE newly-created Department of Information and Communications Technology said Monday it plans to take back unused radio frequencies and distribute them to telecommunication companies as demand for Internet data continues to rise.

DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima said he ordered the National Telecommunications Commission to audit all radio frequencies to prevent “warehousing” of spectrum. Spectrum is the ‘real estate’ on which telecommunication operators develop their respective network to deliver services to customers.

The amount of spectrum assigned to a company impacts on the cost of building capacity, overall network performance, ability to offer new multimedia services and general customer experience of wireless services. “I don’t want public telecom entities to be warehousing frequencies without using it, but using it for speculative purpose. That is contrary to our Constitution,” Salalima said. “If there are erring telcos or any entities which are simply not using their frequency, then we will have to recourse to the law by revoking their assigned frequencies,” he said. Salalima said radio frequency was a scarce public resource and telecom companies needed to use it because of the blossoming use of data. He said frequency was “crucial” to the operation of the telecom companies, as evident in PLDT Inc.’s and Globe Telecom Inc.’s recent acquisition of the telecom assets of San Miguel Corp. “As to whether or not it’s prohibited or le-

gal, I’m [deferring] the conclusion to the Philippine Competition Commission,” Salalima said. Salalima, a former legal consultant of Globe, said he was not a part of the P70-billion joint acquisition of San Miguel telco assets by PLDT and Globe. “I was completely kept in the dark. I was never consulted,” he said. The deal between PLDT, Globe and San Miguel was sealed on May 30. PLDT and Globe filed separate cases against PCC after the latter declared that the P70-billion acquisition was not “deemed approved” and would need a review. PCC earlier said PLDT and Globe should be guided by Section 17 of Philippine Competition Act which provides that “an agreement consummated in violation of this requirement to notify the commission shall be considered void and subject the parties to an administrative fine of one percent to five percent of the value of the transaction.”

PSe comPoSite index Closing July 18, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,986.25 43.81

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing July 18, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.725

44.00

43.00

HIGH P46.670 LOW P46.880 AVERAGE P46.757 VOLUME 799.000M

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

oPriceS il P today

P24.75-P29.60 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, July 18, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Cemex Holdings IPO. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez (center) joins Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc.’s executives and Philippine Stock Exchange board members in ringing the bell during the P25.1-billion initial public offering and listing of CHP at PSE. Shown with Dominguez are (from left) PSE director Alejandro Yu, PSE chief operating ofﬁcer Roel Refran, Cemex president for Asia, Middle East and Africa Joaquin Estrada, CHP president Pedro Jose Palomino, PSE chairman Jose Pardo, PSE directors Ma. Vivian Yuchengco and Emmanuel Bautista and PSE president and chief executive Hans Sicat.

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

46.8770

Japan

Yen

0.009492

0.4450

Pound

1.320400

61.8964

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128974

6.0459

Switzerland

Franc

1.018226

47.7314

Canada

Dollar

0.772738

36.2236

Singapore

Dollar

0.743273

34.8424

Australia

Dollar

0.759400

35.5984

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651113

124.2762

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

12.4992

Brunei

Dollar

0.740521

34.7134

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028637

1.3424

UAE

Dirham

0.272294

12.7643

Euro

1.105200

51.8085

Korea

Won

0.000879

0.0412

China

Yuan

0.149515

7.0088

India

Rupee

0.014901

0.6985

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.253485

11.8826

New Zealand

Dollar

0.714100

33.4749

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031370

1.4705 Source: PDS Bridge

Cemex set to invest $300m in building new cement factory By Jenniffer B. Austria Newly-listed cement producer Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. said Monday it will spend $300 million to build a new plant with an annual capacity of 1.5 million metric tons. Cemex Philippines president and chief executive Pedro Jose Palomino said the plant, scheduled to be operational by the second half of 2019, would be funded using the company’s cashflow. Palomino said the company was upbeat on the domestic econ-

omy after the new administration vowed to sustain growth across the country. “We think the Philippines is a growth case. We believe that what is happening now has no U-turn, and the growth pace could even be higher. Our goal is try to grow with the country and join the whole community in this growth,” Palomino said. He noted that Philippine cement consumption was among the lowest in the world at 240 kilos per person a year. Share price of Cemex gained

3.2 percent during its first listing day to P11.10 from an initial public offering price of P10.75 apiece. Palomino said the company was pleased with its offering after the international and local tranches of the IPO were oversubscribed. Cemex Philippines raised P25.13 billion in the Philippines’ biggest IPO since 2013. It offered over 2.3 billion shares, including 304 million shares to cover additional demand. The IPO shares represent 45 percent of the company’s capital stock.

Meanwhile, the successful IPO of Cemex Philippines is expected to encourage other companies that deferred their listing plans as well as lure more companies to list with the Philippine Stock Exchange. Several IPOs had been put on hold due to market volatility. They include Datem Inc., D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc., Philippine Primark Properties Inc. and TVI Pacific Inc. Cemex Philippines is the second company to list with the PSE this year.

PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran said the exchange wanted more companies to raise funds through the stock market amid favorable market conditions. PSE expects P200 billion worth of capital to be raised through the stock exchange, including IPOs, preferred shares offering, rights offering and private placements. The Philippine bourse is the second best-performing in Southeast Asia, gaining 15.5 percent year-to-date, next only to Thailand’s 15.8 percent.

TUESDAY: JULY 19, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Monday, July 18, 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 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 148

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 32

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

15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 1455 7.5 76 6.5 5.29 6.66 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 9.66 0.0670 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 156 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 2.26 837 5.3 49.55 3.43 3 3.52 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 3 0.030 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 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 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.82 3.64 47.5 46.75 114.50 113.50 99.50 98.80 38.1 37.9 4.06 4.05 1.38 1.36 15.2 15.1 20 19.3 6.81 6.80 2.02 1.98 0.600 0.570 94.85 93.15 0.96 0.92 14.8 14.78 59.55 58.65 104.9 100.3 278 276 32.3 32 199.2 198 1435.00 1435.00 66.95 66.25 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp. 45.4 45.4 44.9 Agrinurture Inc. 3.79 3.8 3.6 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.83 0.84 0.81 Alsons Cons. 2.02 2.03 2.01 Asiabest Group 12.16 13.4 11.5 Bogo Medelin 52.55 52.6 51 C. Azuc De Tarlac 220.00 220.00 210.00 Cemex Holdings 11.36 11.36 10.8 Century Food 16 16.1 15.98 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 150 158 150 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 20.9 21 20 Concepcion 49.85 49.85 49.7 Crown Asia 2.16 2.19 2.13 Da Vinci Capital 5.89 5.89 5.75 Del Monte 12.28 12.4 12.2 DNL Industries Inc. 9.640 9.640 9.530 Emperador 7.29 7.29 7.26 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.75 5.79 5.65 EEI 8.97 9.27 8.99 First Gen Corp. 24.5 25.1 24.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 69.8 69.9 69.45 12.00 12.00 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.00 Holcim Philippines Inc. 15.20 15.50 15.18 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.8 5.87 5.78 Ionics Inc 2.400 2.430 2.370 Jollibee Foods Corp. 250.00 250.00 245.00 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.9 3.9 3.54 Macay Holdings 35.50 35.00 34.90 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.25 27.5 26.95 Maxs Group 29 29.5 28.7 Megawide 8 8.1 7.9 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 311.00 311.60 308.20 MG Holdings 0.280 0.280 0.275 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.39 4.40 4.25 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.45 3.45 3.45 Petron Corporation 11.22 11.20 11.00 Phinma Corporation 11.68 11.70 11.66 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.40 6.40 6.30 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.65 1.65 1.62 Pryce Corp. À’ 3.15 3.3 3.1 RFM Corporation 4.20 4.22 4.20 Roxas Holdings 3.96 3.9 3.9 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ 209.4 215 209 Splash Corporation 3.03 3.03 3.03 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.151 0.151 0.149 TKC Steel Corp. 2.22 2.43 2.22 Trans-Asia Oil 2.55 2.57 2.52 Universal Robina 199.9 200.8 198.2 Victorias Milling 4.69 4.68 4.68 Vitarich Corp. 0.97 1.1 0.96 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.27 1.33 1.28 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. À’ 0.390 0.395 0.375 Aboitiz Equity 80.00 800.50 79.30 Alliance Global Inc. 16.30 16.38 15.84 Anglo Holdings A 1.33 1.33 1.30 Anscor À’ 6.05 6.20 6.05 ATN Holdings A 0.385 0.385 0.375 ATN Holdings B 0.375 0.370 0.370 Ayala Corp À’ 884 885 879.5 Cosco Capital 8 8 7.85 DMCI Holdings 12.76 12.80 12.58 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.95 6.12 5.86 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 6.83 6.90 6.72 GT Capital 1553 1557 1540 House of Inv. 6.45 6.46 6.46 JG Summit Holdings 85.65 86.00 85.20 Jolliville Holdings 4.15 4.35 4.33 Keppel Holdings À’ 5.3 5.3 5.06 Keppel Holdings `B’ 5.55 5.23 5.23 Lopez Holdings Corp. 7.9 8 7.86 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.73 0.74 0.72 LT Group 15.84 15.98 15.82 Mabuhay Holdings À’ 0.490 0.520 0.520 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 7.19 7.23 7.17 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.29 3.08 3.08 Pacifica À’ 0.0330 0.0350 0.0340 Prime Orion 1.970 2.010 1.970 San Miguel Corp À’ 78.00 78.25 77.85 Seafront À’ 2.4 2.40 2.22 SM Investments Inc. 1011.00 1009.00 1001.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.23 1.26 1.23 Top Frontier 188.900 189.870 185.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3100 0.3300 0.3100 Wellex Industries 0.2060 0.2020 0.2020 Zeus Holdings 0.305 0.335 0.310 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.900 7.950 7.900 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.32 1.39 1.31 Araneta Prop À’ 2.340 2.390 2.330 Arthaland Corp. 0.290 0.290 0.265 Ayala Land `B’ 40.700 40.600 40.100 Belle Corp. À’ 3.43 3.44 3.38 Cebu Holdings 5.02 5.11 5.02 Century Property 0.540 0.56 0.540 City & Land Dev. 1.06 1.06 1.03 Cityland Dev. À’ 1.050 1.110 1.110 Crown Equities Inc. 0.135 0.135 0.132 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.700 0.700 0.680 Double Dragon 62 62.9 61.45 Empire East Land 0.810 0.810 0.800 Global-Estate 1.07 1.12 1.05 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. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC À’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

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

SHARES 9,121,750 401,643,210 126,227,993 147,199,049 442,232,123 432,584,224 1,564,018,227

3.71 47.5 114.00 99.00 37.9 4.05 1.36 15.1 19.3 7.00 2.01 0.590 95 0.98 14.86 59.55 101 276 32.2 199.5 1470.00 67.00

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.79 47.35 114.40 98.90 38 4.06 1.38 15.2 19.7 6.80 1.98 0.600 93.5 0.96 14.8 59.30 100.3 278 32.25 198.7 1435.00 66.95

2.16 -0.32 0.35 -0.10 0.26 0.25 1.47 0.66 2.07 -2.86 -1.49 1.69 -1.58 -2.04 -0.40 -0.42 -0.69 0.72 0.16 -0.40 -2.38 -0.07

24,000 30,200 1,089,980 873,570 63,700 1,863,000 154,000 46,300 762,600 600 273,000 765,000 1,686,760 221,000 29,800 89,240 1,210 1,370 14,400 624,300 70 36,510

45 3.7 0.84 2.03 12.54 51.1 220.00 11.1 16 158 21 49.8 2.16 5.75 12.3 9.600 7.28 5.79 9.26 24.75 69.45 12.00 15.20 5.8 2.380 246.00 3.7 35.00 27.15 28.8 8.02 308.20 0.275 4.40 3.45 11.02 11.66 6.40 1.64 3.24 4.22 3.9 209 3.03 0.150 2.32 2.55 200 4.68 1.04 1.30

-0.88 -2.37 1.20 0.50 3.13 -2.76 0.00 -2.29 0.00 5.33 0.48 -0.10 0.00 -2.38 0.16 -0.41 -0.14 0.70 3.23 1.02 -0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.83 -1.60 -5.13 -1.41 -0.37 -0.69 0.25 -0.90 -1.79 0.23 0.00 -1.78 -0.17 0.00 -0.61 2.86 0.48 -1.52 -0.19 -0.04 -0.66 4.50 0.00 0.05 -0.21 7.22 2.36

2,686,700 -17,308,340.00 638,000 7,360.00 476,000 986,000 1,099,670.00 110,900 34,500.00 42,950 240 264,903,600 331,679,640.00 2,262,800 -11,800,246.00 2,320 6,798,000 822,530.00 86,200 687,205 3,012,000 -344,090.00 372,100 -78,300.00 147,300 737,552.00 5,273,500 -18,133,605.00 748,900 -844,610.00 7,631,000 26,097,483.00 1,953,400 -446,289.00 3,887,300 -7,711,390.00 142,900 679,694.50 2,000 464,400 -2,557,800.00 653,200 1,106,000 -926,980.00 775,780 -12,962,572.00 71,000 -17,750.00 3,900 867,700 -1,498,280.00 111,300 -831,285.00 780,100 1,830,761.00 171,440 -278,156.00 180,000 21,000 564,000 1,835,400.00 1,867,600 5,520.00 1,900 151,700 -4,410.00 593,000 8,100.00 556,000 684,510.00 3,902,000 -2,317,470.00 32,000 5,340 -564,308.00 5,617,000 3,636,000.00 3,120,000 8,348,000 -47,920.00 331,000 1,696,130 -10,528,619.00 3,000 64,197,000 925,640.00 328,000

0.395 80.50 16.04 1.33 6.18 0.385 0.370 885 7.9 12.60 6.1 6.90 1549 6.46 85.75 4.34 5.3 5.23 7.99 0.73 15.98 0.520 7.2 3.08 0.0340 1.990 78.00 2.4 1004.00 1.25 187.000 0.3250 0.2020 0.320

1.28 0.63 -1.60 0.00 2.15 0.00 -1.33 0.11 -1.25 -1.25 2.52 1.02 -0.26 0.16 0.12 4.58 0.00 -5.77 1.14 0.00 0.88 6.12 0.14 -6.38 3.03 1.02 0.00 0.00 -0.69 1.63 -1.01 4.84 -1.94 4.92

1,550,000 1,264,860 7,156,400 603,000 1,900 6,560,000 970,000 140,790 984,100 4,810,500 15,000 103,500 91,255 50,000 989,100 7,000 6,900 2,400 4,043,600 4,000 2,561,800 1,000 23,678,400 4,000 43,300,000 1,363,000 139,280 5,000 121,480 697,000 14,620 9,850,000 80,000 11,080,000

7.940 1.35 2.350 0.285 40.250 3.38 5.11 0.550 1.03 1.110 0.133 0.700 62 0.810 1.10

0.51 2.27 0.43 -1.72 -1.11 -1.46 1.79 1.85 -2.83 5.71 -1.48 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.80

240,700 4,571,000 400,000 1,200,000 16,230,900 1,268,000 39,300 4,496,000 46,000 5,000 8,540,000 14,775,000 917,090 144,000 33,956,000

268,035.00 36,161,271 -1,631,134.50

387,570.00 -3,420,250.00

-14,682,883.50 689,258.50 238,364.00 -80,210 -6,482,167.00 267,600.00

19,379,366.00 -37,939,602.00

7,400.00 68,523,345.00 -1,902,294.00 9,017,124.00 87,573,835.00 43,199,728.50

-7,837,433.00 -1,051,256.00 59,397,706.00 -44,200.00 -70,000.00 233,844.00 -9,478,010.00 6,250.00 8,080.00 -12,800.00 700,200.00

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

High

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.94 Interport `A’ 1.24 Keppel Properties 5.00 Megaworld 5.14 MRC Allied Ind. 0.107 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.2750 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.460 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 42.00 Primex Corp. 14.3 Robinson’s Land `B’ 31.40 Rockwell 1.74 Shang Properties Inc. 3.29 SM Prime Holdings 30.00 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.99 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.050 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.830

0.00 0.00 -0.20 -2.92 2.80 1.82 5.43 -2.50 0.70 0.00 -1.15 -0.30 -1.00 0.00 0.00 -0.51

11,254,000 9,000 1,500 23,273,100 5,610,000 610,000 1,120,000 7,600 35,600 950,100 484,000 29,000 6,984,400 2,046,000 920,000 6,222,000

10.5 66 1.09 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 0.63 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 5.8 12.5 0.017

17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 8.72 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 2.53 95.5 1 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 1.01 3.1 0.650 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN APC Group, 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’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. 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

0.14 0.10 9.68 -4.77 -3.13 -5.05 0.00 -1.90 -0.41 -6.83 2.79 0.00 -0.46 -0.52 0.00 -0.12 4.76 0.00 -1.74 50.00 50.00 0.85 1.08 0.00 0.00 1.16 3.57 -0.46 1.54 -1.32 -0.85 0.10 1.72 0.00 -5.71 2.37 0.27 0.33 -1.16 2.00 -1.06 -1.83 -1.02 0.00 -2.50 -0.11 0.17 0.47 -3.58 6.25 5.98 1.70 0.00 -0.31

77,800 65,600 16,260,000 -97,500.00 125,600 7,446,500 206,975.00 280,410,000 2,610,480.00 12,946,000 613,280 -34,764,007.50 15,300 33,000 250,500 5,000 200 39,670 10,372,980.00 58,100 704,900 -3,407,934.00 300 25,000 412,770 -9,481,776.50 2,113,500 21,210 70,631.00 500 7,000,000 315,000 20,970,000 -89,000.00 1,460,000 609,000 -14,100.00 2,000 180,800 291,856 164,000 3,000 800 97,000 6,000 10,697,000 -11,420,030.00 18,399,100 23,162,852.00 9,152,000 33,410.00 173,500 3,200 11,000 1,050 137,560.00 580,600 -124,218.00 98,535 9,694,680.00 1,000,000 8,150,000 229,190.00 1,361,500 26,630,510.00 1,508,730 16,017,282.50 223,800 4,815,000 -3,474,240.00 24,528,000 -340,000.00 16,000 6,868,000 -10,442,600.00 40,000 90,800 194,700.00

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 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 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

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

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atok-Big Wedge À’ Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp 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’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum United Paragon

2.50 1.22 -1.38 0.00 0.00 -1.52 1.64 0.00 0.00 1.11 0.00 -0.83 2.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.81 1.78 0.00 -0.83 0.00 8.33 -2.43 -0.46 -5.01 0.00 -1.91 0.25 0.00

260,000,000 352,600.00 389,000 166,000 -29,970.00 500 30,000 56,300 1,000,000 625,000 -48,940.00 1,400 23,565,000 -558,060.00 50,000 21,300,000 730,000 -17,500.00 3,800,000 200,000 382,000 17,668,600 -4,910,765.00 193,000 16,000 73,000 18,200,000 10,700,000 14,000 1,368,400 1,420,528.00 7,583,000 -5,638,410.00 38,500,000 412,550 -1,133,526.00 263,000 24,400,000

70 525 120 8.21 12.28 111

33 500 101.5 5.88 6.5 101

78.95 84.8

74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

1.01 -0.09 3.90 0.00 0.93 0.27 0.66 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.38 -1.27 -0.90 0.13

175,600 1,350 900 427,300 893,000 23,280 500 2,500 39,180 500 54,230 66,020 500 1,000 59,000

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

1.96

175,000

-2.48 10.81 -4.84 -0.85

3,137,300 43,000 1,236,900 586,000

-0.45

6,450

-61,100.00

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

5,520.00 5,871,952.00

3.5

12.88

5.95

10,886,710.00

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,795.74 (DOWN) 5.15 INDUSTRIAL 11,910.52 (DOWN) 45.48 HOLDING FIRMS 7,854.42 (DOWN0 12.30 PROPERTY 3,619.83 (DOWN) 36.52 SERVICES 1,666.53 (DOWN) 15.22 MINING & OIL 11,283.10 (DOWN) 73.56 PSEI 7,986.25 (DOWN) 43.81 All Shares Index 4,822.44 (DOWN) 18.86 Gainers: 99; Losers: 94; Unchanged: 49; Total: 242

1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

1.96 1.93 1.94 1.24 1.22 1.24 4.99 4.55 4.99 5.14 4.99 4.99 0.111 0.106 0.110 0.2900 0.2750 0.2800 0.490 0.465 0.485 42.00 37.60 40.95 14.54 14.32 14.4 31.50 30.95 31.40 1.76 1.72 1.72 3.28 3.22 3.28 30.00 29.55 29.70 1 0.98 0.99 1.050 1.020 1.050 5.850 5.780 5.800 SERVICES 7.28 7.3 7.24 7.29 49.4 49.6 49.35 49.45 0.620 0.700 0.620 0.680 6.5 6.5 5.9 6.19 6.71 6.71 6.50 6.50 0.0990 0.1010 0.0930 0.0940 2.9 2.93 2.85 2.9 100.1 100.8 98 98.2 9.84 10.18 9.8 9.8 2.05 2.01 1.91 1.91 5.01 5.19 5.10 5.15 3.22 3.22 3.16 3.22 974.5 970 970 970 2324 2350 2300 2312 6.30 6.33 6.28 6.30 17.04 17.30 16.60 17.02 21.00 22.00 21.50 22.00 1.16 1.16 1.16 1.16 63.3 63.5 62.2 62.2 14.20 21.30 14.40 21.30 170 255 146.2 255 11.7 11.8 11.8 11.8 0.0093 0.0094 0.0094 0.0094 9.38 9.39 9.30 9.38 0.370 0.375 0.365 0.370 1.7300 1.7600 1.6900 1.7500 2.8 3.02 2.6 2.9 12.94 12.94 12.88 12.88 6.49 6.62 6.51 6.59 3.04 3.05 3.00 3.00 1.18 1.17 1.15 1.17 19.98 20.00 18.02 20.00 0.580 0.590 0.590 0.590 2 2 2 2 4.03 4.03 3.8 3.8 5.07 5.20 5.01 5.19 3.710 3.850 3.710 3.720 11.96 12 11.9 12 5.18 5.12 5.12 5.12 2.5 2.55 2.54 2.55 142.00 142.00 140.00 140.50 17.46 17.68 17.00 17.14 2160.00 2148.00 2100.00 2138.00 0.450 0.450 0.440 0.450 1.200 1.190 1.150 1.170 45.95 45.90 45.50 45.90 87.85 88.00 87.90 88.00 6.38 6.45 6.36 6.41 3.63 3.65 3.50 3.50 0.640 0.680 0.640 0.680 1.84 1.95 1.84 1.95 3.52 3.62 3.53 3.58 0.330 0.340 0.330 0.330 6.490 6.500 6.470 6.470 MINING & OIL 0.0040 0.0042 0.0041 0.0041 3.27 3.32 3.25 3.31 4.36 4.30 4.25 4.30 11.80 11.80 11.80 11.80 0.227 0.227 0.227 0.227 6.6000 6.6 6.2 6.5000 0.61 0.62 0.59 0.62 0.500 0.510 0.490 0.500 8.70 8.72 8.52 8.70 0.900 0.920 0.890 0.910 0.290 0.295 0.290 0.290 0.240 0.241 0.238 0.238 0.250 0.255 0.250 0.255 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 1.86 1.86 1.82 1.86 6.09 6.26 5.93 6.2 2.81 2.87 2.8 2.86 0.5500 0.5500 0.5500 0.5500 1.2000 1.1900 1.1900 1.1900 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0140 0.0120 0.0130 4.11 4.02 4.01 4.01 8.79 8.90 8.72 8.75 4.79 4.69 4.50 4.55 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 120.30 120.50 118.00 118.00 4.02 4.1 3.94 4.03 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 PREFERRED 49.5 50 49.5 50 546 546 545 545.5 115.5 120 120 120 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.08 111.7 112 111.7 112 106.3 107 107 107 78.5 78.5 78.5 78.5 80.1 80.9 80.5 80.5 76 76 76 76 79 79 79 79 78 78.3 77.75 78.3 79 78 78 78 77.7 77 77 77 76.9 77 76.5 77 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.550 2.630 2.550 2.600 SME 6.05 6.08 5.72 5.9 3.33 3.77 3.69 3.69 5.79 5.76 5.4 5.51 16.5 16.5 16.22 16.36 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 132 132 130.3 131.4

T op g ainerS VALUE 584,223,781.42 4,445,614,493.58 1,129,130,219.80 1,218,004,049.49 1,051,017,250.05 239,485,045.74 8,703,551,289.40

Low

2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

9,758,685.00 293,050.00 22,010.00

3,281,260.00 2,253,849.00

28,472,025.00 -9,643,570.00 6,000.00 -8,581,723.00

8,051,450.00 -2,606,530.00 -2,041,876.00 -2,469,028

-77,320.00 -11,100.00 148,250.00 1,151,046.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Imperial Res. `A'

21.30

50.00

Discovery World

1.91

-6.83

Imperial Res. `B'

255

50.00

MJCI Investments Inc.

3.08

-6.38

Makati Fin. Corp.

3.69

10.81

Keppel Holdings `B'

5.23

-5.77

APC Group, Inc.

0.680

9.68

Melco Crown

3.8

-5.71

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0130

8.33

Mabuhay Vinyl

3.7

-5.13

Vitarich Corp.

1.04

7.22

Boulevard Holdings

0.0940

-5.05

STI Holdings

0.680

6.25

PhilexPetroleum

4.55

-5.01

Mabuhay Holdings `A'

0.520

6.12

Italpinas

5.51

-4.84

Transpacific Broadcast

1.95

5.98

Berjaya Phils. Inc.

6.19

-4.77

Cityland Dev. `A'

1.110

5.71

SSI Group

3.50

-3.58

TUESDAY: JULY 19, 2016

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

Market declines; Cemex up in debut THE stock market declined Monday on profit-taking to snap a sixday rally that saw the benchmark topping the 8,000-point mark this year. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 43.81 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,986.25 on a value turnover of P8.7 billion. Gainers edged losers, 99 to 94, with 49 issues unchanged. PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications company, retreated 1 percent to P2,138, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. fell 1.1 percent to P40.25. Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood company, lost 1.6 percent to P246. Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. gained 3.2 percent to P11.10 in its stock market debut after an initial poublic offering price of P10.75 a share. Asian stock markets, meanwhile, mostly rose again Monday following another record close on Wall Street, but gains were tempered by profit-taking following last week’s global rally. Hong Kong added 0.7 percent, taking its rally to six straight days, but Shanghai ended down 0.4 percent. Friday’s better-than-expected Chinese economic growth reading could not maintain buyers’ interest. Seoul added 0.2 percent and Sydney rose 0.5 percent, while Singapore put on 0.4 percent and Taipei 0.7 percent. Tokyo was closed for a public holiday. In early European trade London dipped 0.2 percent, Frankfurt added 0.1 percent and Paris gained 0.6 percent. Expectations that central banks around the world will introduce fresh stimulus for their economies lit a fire under equities and highrisk assets last week, while confidence was further boosted by another round of upbeat US data. Official figures Friday showed US retail sales beating forecasts, reinforcing the view that the world’s number one economy is getting back on track. The report came a week after a blockbuster reading on June jobs creation. The impressive figures have raised the possibility of a Federal Reserve interest rate rise before the end of the year—something considered highly unlikely in the immediate aftermath of Britain’s decision to leave the EU. With AFP

SMC’s 2 coal plants get initial clearance By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Department approved the request of SMC Global Power Corp., a unit of San Miguel Corp., to conduct a grid impact study on two proposed coal-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 928 megawatts. The department issued the clearance to SMC Global last month for the 600-MW plant in Barangay Ibabang Polo, Pagbilao, Quezon, and a 328-MW station in Barangay Danong, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. San Miguel, the country’s largest power company, has been aggressively looking at power projects to help address the country’s growing enery requirements.

San Miguel in June announced in June that it was putting up a coal-fired power plant in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The company signed an agreement with the ARMM, which is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to build a power plant to help provide long-term solutions to Min-

danao’s power crisis. San Miguel committed to build the power plant that will serve the entire ARMM region, which has an estimated 573,446 households, over the next two years. Only 30 percent of households in the region have electricity. Brownouts, especially during the dry months, are prevalent. San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang earlier said instability and the lack of infrastructure and stable power supply had made investors wary on the region. He said hoped San Miguel’s vote of confidence in the war-torn region would create much-needed jobs and entrepreneur opportunities, provide a major economic boost to ARMM and ease worries over

perceived investment risks. San Miguel said its investment in ARMM was in line with its strategy to locate facilities and production centers outside urban centers, creating strong “secondtier cities,” generating jobs and rebalancing the national economy by income and growth dispersal. The company is an active participant in the economic development of Mindanao. Ang earlier said San Miguel was looking at putting up three power plants with a capacity of 300 megawatts in the company’s planned industrial estate projects in Mindanao. Each industrial estate development covers about 2,000 hectares. The company has already bared plans for an industrial estate in Davao del Sur province.

Albay assistance. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (third from right) awards to the province of Albay one unit of mechanical rice transplanter under the Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture in Region V. The transplanter is among the assistance packages distributed by DA to the food producing provinces of the Bicol region in line with the national agenda of the Duterte administration to provide available and affordable food for all. Governor Al Francis Bichara (third from left) receives the transplanter in behalf of the Albay people. With them are directors Edgar Madrid and Elena delos Santos.

Mitsubishi’s 6-month auto sales jumped 21% to a record high By Othel V. Campos MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. said Monday sales in the first six months of 2016 rose 21 percent to a record 30,372 units. “We are excited to introduce updates on some of our bestselling models and at the same time come up with more affordable financing plans and promos,” said first vice president for marketing Froilan Dytianquin.

Mitsubishi attributed the robust sales to the stable economy, promotions and several financing options and the company’s extensive vehicle lineup. The company registered sales increase in all vehicle segments. Sales of passenger cars reached 10,083, up 26 percent year-onyear, led by the Mirage and Mirage G4. Sales of light commercial vehicles grew 17 percent to 19,421

units. The locally manufactured L300 and Adventure models remained the top choice among small entrepreneurs and migrant Filipino workers because of their value for money and low maintenance cost. Truck sales reached 854 units which, up 55 percent on year. Meanwhile, June sales reached 5,771 units, the highest monthly sale so far. Light commercial vehicles sales grew 21 percent to

3,629 units on year. Sales of trucks and buses jumped 50 percent from May figures while the new Montero Sport sold 1,146 units, or up 46 percent. Strong remittances from migrant Filipino workers contributed to the company sales, as well, especially for entry level multipurpose vehicles such as L300 and Adventure. With the exceptional first semester performance, Mitsubishi

said it was optimistic sales would continue to surge in the coming months. Dytianquin said the company would double efforts in the remaining six months to sell more than 65,000 units for the year. Mitsubishi is also focusing on improving and strengthening its after-sales support and customer service with the commitment to provide the highest satisfaction to all valued customers.

B4 7-Eleven posts 33% increase in profit By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE Seven Corp., the local franchise holder of convenience store chain 7-Eleven, said Monday net income rose 32 percent in the first half to P472.3 million from a year ago, boosted by election-related spending and aggressive store expansion. PSC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange retail sales of all stores increased 27 percent to P15.5 billion from P12.2 billion a year ago, as 148 stores were added to its network while 10 outlets were closed down. Same-store sales also increased by mid-single digit during the period, while operating margin as a percentage of revenue from merchandise sales eased to 5 percent from 5.2 percent in 2015. PSC’s store count reached 1,740 as of end June, up 23.8 percent from 1,405 from the same period a year ago. “The company is set to attain another milestone this year in terms of store count and profitability. While competition is likely to be more intense, PSC is the most capable to strengthen its position in the convenience store sector,” PSC said. The company said it aimed to “capitalize on its first-mover advantage and intends to benefit from the capacity-building expenditures over the last three years. It believes that the market will continue to grow as it enables the organization in achieving new heights.” Net income climbed 19 percent in the second quarter to P290 million while revenues increased 31.6 percent to P7.35 billion. The company said of the 1,740 current store network, 1,474 stores were in Luzon, 203 in the Visayas and 63 in Mindanao.

Entrepreneurship education. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Entrepreneurship Education for Community Development Program has grown into a movement that continues to uplift the lives of underprivileged Filipinos, helping create better livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurial careers through free technical, vocational and entrepreneurship skills education. To address the skills and job mismatch besetting the industry and workforce, Bayan Academy structured this year’s JPMC program to focus on developing high-tech, high-impact, in-demand hard skills. Shown are participants of the entrepreneurship education program.

BPOs expected to add 1m direct jobs by 2022 By Othel V. Campos

THE information technology and business process management industry set an ambitious goal to add a million direct jobs by 2022 under a new roadmap.

Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines executive committee chairman Benedict Hernandez said the IT-BPM sector was expected to hire 1 million more employees over the next six years. “Our ambition is to create another 1 million higher-value direct jobs in IT-BPM over the next six years. There’s also additional 3 million to 4 million indirect jobs created per 1 million jobs in our industry, according to research. So in total, we are looking at 4 to 5 million new jobs in the country,” he said during the media launch of Roadmap 2016 at

Makati Shangri-La hotel. He asked other sectors of the IT-BPM industry to share their thoughts on how to sustain the growth of the industry that would be a key component of the Roadmap 2022. “As we hit our targets for the original Roadmap 2016, we need to unveil a new industry game plan that will enable our country’s ITBPM sector to achieve continued remarkable growth and contributions to the economy. The global market and technology trends present significant opportunities for the Philippines,” he said. The Philippine IT-BPM sector is growing at more than twice the growth of the global industry over the last five years. With a 6-percent compounded annual growth, the global opportunity for IT-BPM is expected to grow from $166 billion to $250 billion by 2022. Frost and Sullivan partner Nitin Bhat said the roadmap would address concerns over digital transformation, automation and artificial intelligence and new delivery models. Frost and Sullivan is working with IBPAP

to create, polish and deliver the new roadmap by October 2016. “If you’re looking at the next years, there should be an upscaling of talents especially the low tier tasks that will be affected by automation. Although some parts can be automated, we still need people to design the processes. And those who will be affected should be upgraded to mid to high-level tasks,” said Bhat. He said it was one of the interventions that would be incorporated in Roadmap 2016. ITBPAP group is still working on industry targets for the next roadmap. The group said the share of voice services would likely gradually decline as data services continued to grow. ITBPAP has six vertical sectors represented by Animation Council of the Philippines Inc., Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, In-House Centers Council, Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines and Philippine Software Industry Association.

Aboitiz issues default notices to solar partner SunEdison By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Renewables Inc. issued default notices to joint venture partner Sun Edison Philippines Helios BV in San Carlos Sun Power Inc., which owns the 59-megawatt solar power plant in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. Aboitiz Power Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday subsidiary Aboitiz Renewables advised the issuance of default notice to SunEdison “because early this year, SunEdison’s parent company Sun Edison Inc. filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code.” Aboitiz Power assured the public it would exert all efforts

to protect its interest. “We are exercising our option based on the shareholder’s agreement with SunEdison,” Aboitiz Power president Antonio Moraza said in a statement. “The issuance of the default notices allows us to trigger the process aimed at protecting Sacasun,” he said. Moraza assured stakeholders that the company remained committed to the solar project. Aboitiz Power and Sun Edison already completed the solar plant in San Carlos City. The solar plant, the first solar facility of Aboitiz Power, is now delivering 82 gigawatt-hours a year of clean and renewable energy to the Visayas grid. The project started deliver-

ing energy to the Visayas grid on March 9, 2016, ahead of the March 15 deadline imposed by the Energy Department for solar power projects under the feed-intariff scheme. The project, however, is not included in the list endorsed by the Energy Department to the Energy Regulatory Commission for the FIT incentives of P8.69 per kilowatt-hour. Moraza earlier said any expansion in the same site might no longer be feasible because of lack of available land. “We would have to acquire or lease more land and am not sure if there is any available,” Moraza said. He said any expansion even in other parts of the country

would also need to wait for the government’s resolution on oversubscription for solar power projects. “FIT for solar is oversubscribed. Without FIT, solar is not viable…We will have to wait action of DoE [Department of Energy]. I am sure they will find a resolution to over subscription,” Moraza said. The SacaSun project sits on a 75-hectare property inside the San Carlos Ecozone in Barangay Punao, San Carlos City on the eastern side of Negros Island. The project’s construction started in August 2015, employing more than 4,000 workers. About 80 percent of the hired workers came from the host community of San Carlos City and

about a third or 1,500 of whom were women. The women assembled parts of the solar panels, while the men and technicians carried the assembled parts for installation in the solar farm. “Aboitiz Power is one of the country’s largest producers of renewable energy and our Cleanergy portfolio generates 1,263 MW, or close to 40 percent of our total net sellable capacity. This represents our commitment to support the government’s push for a balance of renewable and non-renewable power sources to address the country’s increasing energy demand,” Aboitiz Power chief executive Erramon Aboitiz said earlier.

T U E S D AY : J U LY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

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

The Mac problem DURING a recent visit to an Apple outlet, I thought that if I had to buy a laptop today, it would be the 13-inch MacBook Air. To put this in perspective, I have long ruled out a return to Windows for a variety of reasons. Take your pick: Windows 10, an intrusive operating system that some have called spyware; vulnerability to viruses and other malicious software; crazy licensing schemes aimed at making users pay and pay; and the tendency among manufacturers to load Windows laptops with crapware that just takes up space on the hard drive and annoys users by nagging them to buy the full version of a program they never wanted in the first place. If there were a Linux laptop on the market, I’d probably consider it, but PC retailers in this country seem intractably unwilling to offer this option to consumers here. So, I’m stuck with Apple, and the 13-inch MacBook Air seems to be the logical choice. It has a larger screen than the MacBook Air 11-inch that I’ve been using for the last two years, and 8GB of memory—twice as much as I had on my current laptop, and costs only P5,000 more than the 11-inch model. It’s also more attractive to me than Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook, which costs more and has no standard USB port—a real deal breaker for me. But the problem for Apple is that users like me are unlikely to buy a replacement laptop unless something goes terribly wrong with our current one—or if we suddenly win the lottery and have excess cash on our hands. Moreover, the “upgrade” path to the 12inch MacBook just isn’t all that compelling or attractive. This kind of situation might explain why, after bucking the general malaise of the PC market for so long, Apple is finally feeling the pinch on its Mac line, as detailed recently by market researchers IDC and Gartner in their second quarter reports. IDC reported that PC shipments in the second quarter totaled 62.4 million units, a year-on-year decline of 4.5 percent. Apple sales in the same quarter, however, came to only 4.42 million units, a year-on-year decline of 8.3 percent—a sharper drop than what the entire industry experienced. In contrast, three of the top five PC companies—HP, Dell and Asus—posted volume gains year-on-year, while market leader Lenovo, saw its shipments drop by just 2.3 percent. At the same time, IDC said, Apple’s market share dropped from 7.4 percent in the second quarter last year to 7.1 percent in the same period this year. “Apple continues to face an increasingly competitive market as it awaits a refresh of its PC lineup. As a result, shipments eaxperienced a decline from last year,” IDC said. Gartner reported similar figures. Worldwide PC shipments totaled 64.3 million units in the second quarter of 2016, a 5.2 percent decline from the second quarter of 2015, Gartner said. This was the seventh consecutive quarter of PC shipment declines, but Gartner analysts said the market is showing some signs of improvement—just not from Apple. Apple computer shipments came to 4.56 million units in the second quarter, Gartner said, 4.9 percent lower than its sales in the equivalent quarter in 2015. Again, HP, Dell and Asus posted gains, while Lenovo experienced a slight 2.2 percent decline. Observers say one reason for the recent declines is that Apple has not refreshed its Mac line in a while,” writes Kif Leswing in Business Insider. “Apple hasn’t updated its line of MacBook Pros or MacBook Airs since last spring, over a year ago. “And neither model has had a full redesign in years. The last time the physical look of Apple’s popular MacBook Air changed was six years ago, in 2010. The MacBook Pro has looked the same since 2012... “Apple has one new laptop model, the MacBook, a skinny and light computer, but that’s not an easy sell for many because it only has one USB port.” But Jonny Evans, writing in Computerworld, says even new Macs might not be enough to give the momentum back to Apple, given the industry’s shift to more mobile devices. That’s none too reassuring to users who still prefer a full laptop to a tablet or large smart phone to get their work done. Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

Fitch upgrades debt ratings of 4 PH banks By Julito G. Rada

GLOBAL debt watcher Fitch Ratings said Monday it upgraded the credit scores of four Philippine banks amid sustained economic growth and favorable operating environment. Fitch said it raised the longterm issuer default ratings of China Banking Corp., Philippine National Bank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and Security Bank Corp. to “BB+” from “BB” with a stable outlook. Fitch also upgraded the national long-term rating of PNB to ‘AA-’, in line with those of ChinaBank and Security Bank. “Fitch believes steady growth in the Philippine economy and enhancements to banking regulations over the last few years has strengthened the domestic operating envi-

ronment, notwithstanding longstanding structural issues, such as concentrated loan portfolios, developing corporate governance standards and family control and conglomerate ownership of the banks,” Fitch said in a statement. “We expect continued economic improvement and pro-active regulatory oversight alongside gradually-improving regulatory frameworks to benefit banks’ asset quality and ultimately their credit profiles through the cycle. This is an important factor underlying today’s ratings up-

grades,” it said. Fitch said the issuer default ratings of the four Philippine banks and the national long-term ratings of ChinaBank, PNB and Security Bank were driven by their viability ratings. Fitch said the upgrade of PNB’s national long-term rating reflected an improved credit profile relative to those of other Philippine entities. “The ratings reflect the banks’ higher growth appetite amid a broadly-favorable backdrop and their smaller but still meaningful local franchises as midsized banks in the Philippines. They also incorporate Fitch’s expectation that the banks will maintain broadly-steady asset quality, adequate capital buffers and stable funding and liquidity profiles as they grow and potentially gain market share,” it said.

Student empowerment. FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world’s largest

express transportation company and Junior Achievement Philippines continue their commitment to educate and train the country’s youth for global entrepreneurship through the 2016 FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge workshop. Shown is John Peterson (center), acting managing director of FedEx Express Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei as he leads FedEx volunteers in mentoring 400 students on the fundamentals of business, economics and entrepreneurship.

Govt raises P20b as T-bill rates fall By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE government raised P20 billion from the first auction of Treasury bills under the Duterte administration, as investors offered lower interest rates Monday. The Bureau of Treasury said it sold P8 billion worth of 91-day debt instruments, P6 billion worth of 182-day papers and another P6 billion worth of 364-day bills. Deputy treasurer Erwin Sta. Ana said the healthy auction performance reflected investors confidence in the Duterte administration. The auction was oversubscribed across all tenors with total tenders of P47.09 billion, exceeding the government offering of P20 billion. Interest rate on the 91-day or three-month debt facilities

settled at 1.447 percent, or 14.1 basis points lower than the previous rate of 1.588 percent. Tenders for the three-month debt papers reached P15.86 billion, nearly double the P8-billion offering. The yield on 182-day bills also decreased 17.5 basis points to 1.442 percent from the previous auction average of 1.617 percent as tenders for the six-month debt facility hit P18.34 billion, or more than thrice the P6-billion original offer. Interest rate on the 364-day eased 29.5 basis points to 1.63 percent from the previous average of 1.925 percent. Tenders for the one-year debt facility was more than double the P6-billion original offer at P12.89 billion. “The auction, which is the maiden issuance under the Duterte administration, attract-

ed considerable demand being more than twice oversubscribed,” the Treasury said in a statement. Meanwhile, the government spent P220.61 billion to settle debt obligations in the first four months, down by 15.34 percent from P260.59 billion a year ago. Data from the Treasury showed debt interest payments inched up 0.9 percent in January to April this year to P117.388 billion from P116.291 billion recorded in the same period last year. Interest payments to local creditors declined to P73.37 billion, while interest payments to foreign creditors rose to P44.01 billion. Payments for debt amortization dropped 28.5 percent in the four-month period to P103.22 billion from P144.30 billion recorded a year earlier.

TUESDAY: JULY 19, 2016

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

Simpler telco permits sought By Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Monday it is seeking partnership with local government units in building telecommunications infrastructure nationwide. Globe, a unit of Ayala Corp., wants to rationalize the permitting process to mitigate bureaucratic red tape and other political hurdles standing in the way of deploying telecommunication

infrastructure such as cell sites and fiber optic cables. If implemented, the partnership would enable the company to improve data connectivity at lower rates.

Duterte’s difficult legislative priorities THE administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has announced that its three priorities for the 17th Congress, which starts on July 25, are the conversion of the present system of government to a federalist system, the restoration of the death penalty and the grant of emergency powers to President Duterte for the solution of this country’s metropolitan traffic problems. The first priority item—the shift to federalism—will require an amendment of the Constitution, which in turn will require approval by the Filipino people in a plebiscite called for the purpose. The two other priority items can be made into laws by mere Congressional action. Because it will require submission to a national plebiscite, the shift to a federalist form of government will be the hardest of the three priority items. The restoration of the death penalty will also be difficult to sell because of its implications for human rights, religion, criminal rehabilitation theory and the Constitutional provision on cruel and unusual punishment. With its ‘supermajority’ in Congress, President Duterte should get his emergency powers with little difficulty. Involving, as it will, the handover of all but a few governmental powers from the present seat of government to the newly created federation components, a shift to federalism—with the concomitant losses and gainers of governmental authority—will be a tough sell to the nation. Uppermost in the minds of many Filipinos will be the thought of deterioration in the quality of governance and increased incidence of warlordism, divergence from national policy directions, abuse of the newly transferred powers, and political-dynasty building. Truth to tell, the people who are obsessed with the idea of a move to federalism are the politicians who desire access to revenues directly and not through DBM (Department of Budget and Management). Indeed, I dare say that if one were undertaken, a survey would find that Filipinos residing out of Mega Manila—in the provincial cities and municipalities—are not exceedingly dissatisfied with the present governmental structure. A pro-federalism Constitutional amendment would come into being if done through a constituent assembly—the two houses of Congress deliberating and voting together—rather than through a Constitutional convention, but, whichever route is taken, there is still the national plebiscite to reckon with. The Filipino people may well disapprove the proposed amendment. The death penalty has had an unstable history in the postwar era, its fate depending on the prevailing level of criminality and the state killing of capital-crime offenders. A death penalty proposal will meet opposition from formidable quarters: the Catholic Church, the human-rights folk and the groups who can see poverty—and the resultant inability to obtain good legal assistance—as the course of so many miscarriages of justice. But with its Congressional supermajority, the Duterte administration should be able to get the death penalty restored. There already is virtual approval of the proposal to vest President Duterte with emergency powers to deal with the nation’s urban transportation problems. The incoming Speaker of the House of Representatives has vowed speedy action on the proposal, and the outgoing Senate president has filed a bill intended to grant the Chief Executive the desired powers. Effective use of the powers will be welcomed by an urban population driven to desperation by the daily chaos on Mega Manila’s roads. Given the complex character of the government’s top-priority legislative agenda, the Duterte administration and the 17th Congress clearly have their work cut out for them. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

Globe chief commercial officer Albert de Larrazabal said the existing telecommunication infrastructure in a given locality, or lack of it, was often a direct result of the LGU permitting environment. “Securing different permits at LGU level could be very challenging, from the sheer number of permits to the different political personalities that mobile operators have to deal with,” de Larrazabal said. He added it took at least eight months to complete the permitting process, involving around 25 permits. “We would like to call on our local government executives to

partner with us in ushering the Philippines to become a digital nation,” de Larrazabal said. He said the city government of Manila was the first to respond to the company’s call for support, allowing the telecommunications operator to roll out fiber broadband technology in Binondo, providing world-class internet experience with speeds of up to 1 GBps to the world’s oldest Chinatown. The project will be completed in the third quarter of the year. Secretary Rodolfo Salalima of the Department of Information and Communications Technology said the agency

would draft an executive order to President Rodrigo Duterte, directing LGUs to process and approve permits and applications of all telecommunications company within three days from submission. Early this year, Globe launched a plan to create an internet superhighway nationwide. The plan aims to deploy fiber optics in 20,000 barangay by 2020 to provide ultra-fast internet access to around 2 million homes nationwide. Globe plans to deploy fiber optics in 1,000 sites before the end the year. So far, deployment of fiber optics has been completed in about 300 sites.

Career site. Education technology startup Edukasyon.ph and the Philippine Business for Education sign an agreement to provide industry-based information on careers for high school students through the ‘Career Conversations’ section of the website www.edukasyon.ph. Love Basillote (left), executive director of PBE, and Henry Motte-Muñoz, Edukasyon.ph founder, shake hands after signing the agreement on July 11, 2016. Edukasyon.ph empowers students by giving them choice, advice and convenience in discovering, selecting and applying to the school that will best equip them for their dream career.

Ayala Land named most honored firm AYALA Land Inc. was recognized as a Most Honored Company by New York-based Institutional Investor in its 2016 All-Asia Executive Team survey, as it ranked among the top in a list of over 1,500 Asian companies cited for corporate leadership and investor relations expertise. This year’s rankings surveyed 1,394 buy-side analysts—which include asset managers, hedge funds, and institutional and retail investors, as well as sell-side researchers from investment and commercial banks, stock brokerage firms and financial institutions that cover Asia. Buy-and-sell-side responses were tabulated separately to produce distinct rankings. ALI ranked first in various property sector categories this year, being named Best in Investor Relations both overall and by the Sell-Side, Best Analyst Days and Best Website overall. ALI president and CEO Bernard Vincent Dy was also awarded as

Best CEO by the Sell-Side, while chief finance officer Jaime Ysmael was named Best CFO both overall and by the Sell-Side. The company’s head for investor relations and compliance, Michael Garcia, was also cited among the top in the Best Investor Relations Professional category by the Sell-Side. The company’s leadership positions in the different categories earned for it the Most Honored Company recognition in acompetitive property sector, which is made up of 173 companies across Asia. ALI was in fact one of only three Philippine companies that made it to the Most Honored List, which also includes Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Universal Robina Corp. Institutional Investor is the financial industry’s most trusted source for research and rankings among top analysts and portfolio managers. Its annual All-Asia Executive Team polling, which runs from January to March, recognizes executives and IR programs

for their accountability and accessibility, commitment to increasing shareholder value, delivery of timely and accurate disclosures, and quick and thorough responses to requests from analysts and shareholders. “We thank Institutional Investor and the investment community for recognitions that underscore the value we place on good corporate governance. We are all the more motivated by their support and will continue to embed global standards in compliance and transparency as we work toward achieving our growth plans,” said Ysmael. ALI was also cited among the best companies in Asia by Institutional Investor in 2015, ranking high in the CEO, investor relations and analyst day polls as well. It was also recently named the Best Managed Real Estate Company in Asia by FinanceAsia in its Asia’s Best Companies 2016 awards, and recognized as a top developer at the BCI Asia Awards 2016.

T U E S D AY : J U LY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

France to fall silent for victims of truck attack NICE—France was set to hold a minute’s silence on Monday to honor the 84 victims of the Nice truck attack, but a period of national mourning was overshadowed by bickering politicians. Church bells will toll across the country, and the country will fall silent at midday, a now grimly familiar ritual after the third major terror attack in 18 months on French soil. French investigators have yet to find the links between attacker Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian, and the Islamic State group that claimed responsibility for the carnage, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told France’s RTL radio. “We cannot exclude that an unbalanced and very violent individual” has been “through a rapid radicalization, committed to this absolutely despicable crime,” he said. Six people were in custody on Monday including a 38-year-old Albanian suspected of providing Lahouaiej-Bouhlel with a pistol he used to fire at police during the attack. Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was shot dead after zigzagging a 19-ton truck through a crowd of tourists, locals and families enjoying a fireworks display in the Riviera city of Nice on Bastille Day. Mangled bodies were left strewn across the Riviera city’s seafront in the grisly attack by a man described by those who knew him as a loner with a history of violence and depression. The attack comes eight months after IS jihadists killed 130 people across Paris, and 18 months after three days of terror at the Charlie Hebdo weekly and a Jewish supermarket killed 17. Former president and main opposition leader Nicolas Sarkozy said Sunday that “everything that should have been done the past 18 months was not done”. “We are at war, outright war. So I will use strong words: it will be us or them,” he said. While previous attacks saw grand displays of national unity, any semblance of cohesion quickly unraveled after the Nice massacre and Sarkozy joins a long line of opposition politicians who have criticized the government. Cazeneuve described the politicians as “shameful”. AFP

Gunman in Baton Rouge shoots dead 3 policemen WA S H I N G T O N — A black veteran shot three police officers dead Sunday in the Louisiana capital of Baton Rouge, in a bloody act reminiscent of the recent slayings in Dallas to avenge the African Americans killed by law enforcement.

Competitor. Jade Hammond of South Africa competes in the 20th annual Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort on July 13, 2016, in Las Vegas. AFP

More than 100 nude women pose against Trump CLEVEL AND—More than a hundred women stripped and posed naked with mirrors in Cleveland, answering a photographer’s call to blend art with politics and portray Donald Trump as unfit for the White House. They gathered on the eve of the Republican National Convention, where the brash New York billionaire will be anointed the party’s nominee for president after

winning a raucous primary race despite alarm from the party establishment and the country at large about his divisiveness. “He is a loser,” photographer Spencer Tunick told AFP after the sunrise shoot in which 130 women took part. One hundred of them will be featured in the picture to be unveiled shortly before the November 8 election. The installation took place on private property

in sight of the arena where the convention kicks off on Monday, the focus of multiple groups of protesters expected to take to the streets this week. The owner gave permission, said Tunick, and so while public nudity in Cleveland is illegal, it was not possible for police to intervene. Entitled “Everything She Says Means Everything,” the photo art featured

women of all shapes, colors and sizes participated, holding up mirrors toward the arena. Tunick’s website said the mirrors reflected “the knowledge and wisdom of progressive women and the concept of ‘Mother Nature’... onto the convention center, cityscape and horizon of Cleveland.” The artist is well known for his sometimes startling images of nude people.

But Tunick told AFP he thought it was his most political shoot ever, saying he felt compelled to take action. Just voting against Trump at the ballot box in November was not enough. “I have two daughters and a wife,” he said. “I can’t believe the language and rhetoric of hate against women and minorities coming from the Republican Party.” AFP

The shooting, which also wounded three other officers, took place in a city scarred by racial tensions and protests against police brutality since the July 5 death of Alton Sterling, a black man shot at point-blank range by white policemen. Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson told reporters the gunman behind the shooting—widely identified by US media as Gavin Long, 29—was killed and there were no suspects at large. The motive was not immediately clear. A troubling picture emerged of the shooter, a former Marine whose Iraq tour lasted from June 2008 to January 2009. Long legally changed his name last year to Cosmo Ausar Setepenra, claiming to be a member of the Washitaw Nation, a group of African Americans claiming to be a Native American nation in the United States. Setepenra’s Twitter feed, which was filled with posts targeting white people, said he had traveled to Dallas, and he posted videos of himself traveling there. “Violence is not THE answer (its a answer), but at what point do you stand up so that your people dont become the Native Americans...EXTINCT?” he wrote in a July 13 post. But one of the officers killed by Long-Montrell Jackson—was black. The other two were identified by US media as Matthew Gerald and Brad Garafola. One of the wounded officers “is in critical condition fighting for his life as we speak,” Edmonson said. The other two officers were in stable condition. “To me, this is not so much about gun control as it is about what’s in men’s hearts,” said Edmonson, who like some of his colleagues who spoke in the press conference, was clearly shaken. “And until we come together as a nation, as a people, to heal as a people, if we don’t do that and this madness continues, we will surely perish as a people.” The shooting took place along a highway near police headquarters around 8:40 am (1340 GMT), after officers responded to a call about a man carrying a rifle. The suspect was dressed all in black and, some reports said, wore a mask. A witness told local media the gunman carried what appeared to be an AR-15 assault-style rifle. AFP

T U E S D AY : J U LY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Rehearsal. Actors perform during a rehearsal of the play “La Dictatura de lo cool” (The Dictatorship of the cool) directed by Chilean director Marco Layera, on July 17, 2016, at the Gymnase Aubanel in Avignon during the 70th edition of the Avignon theater festival. AFP

New raids against coup plotters ISTANBUL—Turkey’s security forces launched fresh raids Monday in a relentless crackdown against the suspected plotters of a coup that left more than 290 dead, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mooted reintroducing the death penalty to punish them. Erdogan faced down the coup bid late Friday by elements in the military disgruntled with his 13year rule. But Turkey’s allies have warned him against excessive retribution as the authorities round up the perpetrators. The justice minister has said around 6,000 people have been detained so far in the investigation into Friday’s coup that Erdogan has blamed on his arch-enemy, USbased preacher Fethullah Gulen. Early Monday, special Istanbul anti-terror police units raided the prestigious air force military academy in the city in search of new suspects, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Meanwhile, authorities have also detained General Mehmet

Disli, who conducted the operation to capture Turkey’s chief-ofstaff Hulusi Akar during the standoff, an official said. Reports had said that a total of 36 generals had been detained so far. The Dogan agency reported Monday that 10 of them had now been remanded in custody by the courts. Erdogan has urged citizens to remain on the streets even after the defeat of the coup, in what the authorities have described as a “vigil” for democracy. New demonstrations of support were held throughout the country on Sunday night, AFP correspondents said. Thousands of pro-Erdogan supporters waving Turkish flags filled

the main Kizilay Square in Ankara while similar scenes were seen in Taksim Square in Istanbul, AFP photographers said. According to Anadolu, 1,800 additional elite special police forces have been drafted in from surrounding provinces to ensure security in Istanbul. Eleven soldiers suspected of involvement in the coup were detained Sunday at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport, with authorities firing warning shots in the air, a Turkish official said. Clashes also erupted at an air base in the central city of Konya between security forces and putschists trying to evade arrest. Leaders including US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have urged Turkey to follow the rule of law in the wake of the coup. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini stressed on Monday that the rule of law needed to be protected for the sake of the country. NAFP

EU says Turkey must protect rule of law BRUSSELS—Turkey must protect the rule of law as it cracks down after the failed coup, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday, as the bloc said it looked like the government had prepared a list of people to arrest beforehand. “We are the ones saying today rule of law has to be protected in the country, there is no excuse for any steps that take the country away from that,” Mogherini said as European Union foreign ministers met in Brussels. “As we have been the first ones to say that in that tragic night [of Friday’s coup attempt], the democratic and legitimate institutions needed to be protected,” she told reporters. “Today we will say together with ministers that obviously doesn’t mean that rule of law and the system of checks and balances in the

country does not count. On the contrary, it needs to be protected for the sake of the country. “So we will send a strong message on that.” Would-be EU member Turkey carried out fresh raids on Monday as the EU ministers were meeting, prompting growing international concern over the scale of the crackdown. Judges and military commanders are among 6,000 people who were arrested over the weekend as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vows to stamp out the “virus” of the coup plotters. The EU commissioner dealing with Turkey’s long-stalled bid for membership of the bloc meanwhile said it appeared that the government had already prepared a list before the coup of people to be rounded up. AFP

Rape victim raped again by same men

Performance. Dancers wearing new bikinis perform in front of passers-by and a line of photographers during a promotional flash mob event on a square outside Shinjuku station in Tokyo on July 18. AFP

NEW DELHI—An Indian student was recovering in hospital after being gang-raped by a group of men, including some charged with sexually assaulting her three years earlier, an officer said Monday. Police in Haryana state were hunting for the five, who are accused of abducting the 21-year-old student of the lowest Dalit social caste from outside her college before drugging and raping her in a car. The student was found unconscious in the bushes on the side of a highway Wednesday night in Haryana, which borders New Del-

hi, in the country’s latest shocking sexual attack. Haryana deputy superintendent of police Pushpa Khatri said the student, who is still in hospital, has identified all five men—two of whom are currently on bail awaiting trial for raping her in 2013. “She has identified the five accused and two of them were involved in the gang-rape of the student in Bhiwandi district in 2013,” Khatri told AFP. “We have formed several teams to arrest the accused.” The woman’s family has accused the five of threatening them in the

lead-up to Wednesday’s attack, demanding that they withdraw the rape case lodged after the 2013 assault. “The accused were constantly threatening us to compromise outside the court. They even offered us a hefty amount for settlement. But we didn’t agree,” the victim’s brother was quoted by the Hindustan Times as saying. The family also alleged they were forced to move to Rohtak district in the state from a neighboring district after the 2013 attack because of harassment by the accused. AFP

TUESDAY : J ULY 19, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

isahred @ gmail.com

WRITER

A RTS, CU LT U RE , T ECH & MEDI A

LIFE

QR CODE REVIVES HISTORY OF THE MANILA HOTEL

Blast from the past. The Heritage Museum at Roma Salon showcases various memorabilia—from furniture and furnishings to books and photos—that are part of and tell the story of the rich history of The Manila Hotel

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

f The Manila Hotel could talk, it would probably share the stories of prominent personalities who visited and stayed in its rooms and the significant events that transpired in its ballrooms and halls. Since opening its doors on July 4, 1912, The Manila Hotel has been known as the “Address of Prestige” in the Far East to prominent people—presidents, royalties, public figures and rock stars—and other discriminating guests who loved and wanted to experience the grandeur of the Grand Dame. As a national landmark in the City of Manila, officials of the hotel thought it was only apt to share the rich history of the hotel in celebration of its 104th anniversary in a modern way via a QR (Quick Response) code tour and a pop-up heritage museum. “It is our obligation as management of The Manila Hotel to showcase and highlight the great events that transpired here and the grand aspirations that have been realized here through photos and videos,” shares The Manila Hotel President Atty. Joey Lina. To view the photos and watch the videos, one only needs to download the free Manila Hotel app and scan the 20 QR codes strategically scattered around the hotel—both in historic spots and new areas. Each QR code tells a story of a notable event that happened or a personality who visited the hotel through a multimedia presentation that will appear on the gadget after scanning the code. The Heritage Museum, meanwhile, is an exhibit of memorabilia that are once stored in The Manila Hotel archive and are only made public for this occasion. Photos of events that happened in the premises and within the vicinity of the hotel as well as the real furnishings, such as those once belonged in the MacArthur Suite, are

The QR codes imprinted on brass plates are displayed alongside the memorabilia that were once part of the notable events that happened in the hotel

on display and available for public viewing at the Roma Salon. Corporate Communications Vice President Nian Rigor told The Standard Life that the memorabilia on exhibit have always been with the hotel but never put together nicely in one room— until now. “The archives room is like a per request basis. If a guest knows that it exists, a guest can request a Manila Hotel staff for a tour,” explains Rigor. The hotel management initially planned to mount the exhibit until end of July only, their anniversary month. However, because of the positive response of guests, they are extending the Heritage Museum until end of August. “When we were setting it up and people saw it over the weekend, they were requesting us to extend it because they really appreciated what they saw for the

‘It is our obligation as management of The Manila Hotel to showcase and highlight the great events that transpired here and the grand aspirations that have been realized here through photos and videos,’ – Atty. Joey Lina, The Manila Hotel President.

Manila's Grand Dame has been home to presidents and royalties, and witness to many important events in Philippine history

very first time,” relates Rigor. And if after August there’s still public interest for the memorabilia display, Rigor says “We might keep them on display but maybe just move them in other area.” The QR codes, on the other hand, will be permanently scattered in public areas of the hotel after the exhibit to allow guests to easily access them. To further make the QR code tour and

Some of the furniture and furnishings in The MacArthur Suite which once took up the entire West Wing of the fifth floor

Heritage Museum a rewarding experience, The Manila Hotel treats those who scan at least four QR codes to a special room rate of $104++ per room per night. The promotion includes an overnight stay in a Superior Deluxe room and complimentary buffet breakfast for two persons at Café Ilang-Ilang. Booking period is until July 31. For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 527-0011 local 1175 to 1178.

TUESDAY : J ULY 19, 2016

LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

GREAT SELFIE RAID IN METRO MANILA

Korean MYX VJ Sunny Ku visits SM Megamall and SM North Edsa to promote Huawei GR5's features and advanced technology

allrats were in for a treat as Huawei gave away GR5 units for free during the very first GR5 Great Selfie Raid. They flocked to follow Korean MYX VJ Sunny Kim as she roamed SM Megamall and SM North EDSA and took selfies and groufies using the Huawei GR5 and challenged them to unlock the unit with its fingerprint technology. Five lucky winners received brand new Huawei GR5 smartphones. The Huawei GR5 boasts an advanced touch technology that lets users unlock their phones, take amazing photos, and do so much more in a matter of 0.5 second by simply using the 360-degree fingerprint sensor at the back panel. With its 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras in f/2.0, this phone enables users to take photos like a pro. Its special filters will enhance the details and colors of each picture. In addition, its Good Food photo filter will reveal and bring out the natural appeal of a delicious meal.

Sunny poses for a groufie using Huawei GR5's 5MP camera and special filters that let's users take self and group photos like a pro

It also has a 5.5-inch screen that features a wide and vibrant full HD display coupled with an impressive Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, 2GB RAM, Android 5.1 Lollipop and 3,000 mAh battery that will let users enjoy non-stop quality entertainment, run multiple applications and seamless gaming. Huawei GR5 is

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro

for portable primetime entertainment The long wait is over for Filipinos wanting to get hold of the world’s first multimedia tablet with a built-in projector ever since they’ve had sneak peeks of this device. Lenovo announced the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is now within everyone’s reach as it debuts at selected Lenovo retail stores nationwide. With its new 70-inch projector screen, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro vastly improves the experience of watching Hollywood blockbusters or Filipino movie favorites, playing video games, and browsing the Web. Comparing with the previous version of the Yoga tablet, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro flaunts an optimized projector placement and is now 180-degree rotatable to beam life-sized images onto a wall or ceiling – images that are significantly

brighter, offering an immersive cinematic experience. At 299 pixels per inch, the onboard 10.1” QHD (2560x1600) screen is considerably sharper, and renders richer colors with its Smart Display technology. Tablet users can also immerse themselves in cinema-worthy sound without headphones through the Yoga Tab 3 Pro’s powerful inbuilt JBL sound bar and Dolby Atmos technology – an industry first for tablets. To achieve greater sound clarity and a louder output, the sound bar is also fitted with four front-facing speakers that are fine-tuned with Wolfson Master Hi-Fi technology. Sleek and exquisite, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is carefully assembled with premium materials such as aluminum and a leather-

Flash Plus 2 3GB RAM with more capacity When Flash Plus 2 arrived on the scene, we got heads turning. But who’s ready for something that pushes the regular further forward than ever? From Indonesia, to Malaysia, up to Thailand and east to the Philippines and Vietnam, the Flash Plus 2 has been making its incredible mark with features like the Fingerprint Scanner, high-quality audio capabilities and premium camera functions. In keeping with the huge demand for the phone that’s sweeping the regionas Flash launched its 4th Flash Sale for all

those who still haven’t had the chance to get their hands on this groundbreaking device. Its previous sales have sold out within an hour; with Indonesia selling over 1000 units within 30 seconds; The Flash Plus 2 3GB is available at Lazada’s Best Brands Sale. Selling price is at P8,490.00. Both Luna Silver and Venus Gold will be available. For more information, please visit www.flash3c.com

Flash Plus 2's functions and features have attracted a huge demand among mobile phone users in Asia

like fabric back, while maintaining its ultra-slim design. Splash-proof and perfectly balanced for an uncompromised holding experience, the tablet truly shines in a sea of lesser tablets, given its versatility and long battery life of 18 hours span cycle to deliver more power a user needs in a day. It also comes loaded with Smart Window 2.0 for enhanced multitasking, so entertainment lovers as well as professionals can now do more things, faster. The Yoga Tab 3 Pro allows users to run a background app as well as two windows on top, with the added benefit of a phone apps layout to easily fit everything on one screen. Email, news, YouTube – enjoy them all at once.

available in all Huawei concept and partner stores for P10,490.00. After the successful Metro Manila run, the GR5 Great Selfie Raid will visit various malls in Pampanga, Calamba and Cavite, Metro Davao and Metro Cebu to give everyone a chance to bring home their very own Huawei GR5 phones.

Tune Up Express for iPad and Mac Keep your Apple devices up and running as Power Mac Center’s Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) is offering “Tune Up Express,” a complete iPad and Mac maintenance program. For the whole month of July, customers can avail of total tune ups for Apple devices at special discounted rates of up to 60 percent. Services include Mac/mobile resource inspection, external cleaning, reformatting, software restoration/update, and service assessment with recommendations, packaged for the iPad (at P999.00), MacBook (at P2,499.00), or iMac (at P2,999.00). The promo is applicable to both in-warranty and out of warranty devices, except those that were purchased more than four years ago. “Think of your Apple device as a car. In the same way that cars need periodic preventive maintenance, it is essential to have your iPad or Mac checked by experts every once in a while to ensure optimum performance,” said Power Mac Center Marketing Director Joey Alvarez. Tune Up services may be availed at Power Mac Center Apple Premium/ Authorized Service Center branches at Abreeza Mall Davao, Cebu Business Park, Festival Supermall, Glorietta 5, NorthEast Square Greenhills, SM Aura Premier, SM Megamall, and The Annex at SM City North EDSA. Customers who will purchase any of the Tune Up Express services are also entitled to join the raffle for a chance to win premium products. Raffle entries are accomplished in-store. The promo period is until July 31 and the draw will be held first of August. Winners will be notified via registered mail and through the contact details they provided. More information about the program may be obtained by contacting Power Mac Center at (02) 725-4PMC (4762) or via email at serviceupdate@powermaccenter. com. Details on products and services are available at the website www.powermaccenter.com or on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

TUESDAY : J ULY 19, 2016

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

PLDT HOME GIVES KIDS MORE REASONS TO LOVE TELPAD

ollowing its partnership with Disney, PLDT HOME Telpad – the Filipino family’s all-in-one entertainment device and kids’ favorite gadget at home – adds another content platform to its growing portfolio. After the inclusion of 50 free Disney games, e-books, and apps including fun puzzle games like Frozen Free Fall and Where’s My Water? 2, and story theatre apps like Disney Princess: Story Theater, PLDT HOME Telpad now features another children’s classic, Batibot. More than 200,000 Telpad subscribers, many of whom grew up watching Batibot, can now let their children enjoy lessons from the homegrown educational TV show through a mobile application. Launched last year by PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, the Batibot educational app can now be found in the Telpad’s

Knappsack store under the ‘Games’ category. Designed specifically for kids in kindergarten up to Grade 3, the Batibot app features fun-filled games that help develop essential thinking skills. Children can learn basic concepts like matching, sorting and grouping. They are shown how to identify shapes, colors, numbers, the alphabet, and letter sounds, and can also practice tracing letters with the proper strokes. The Batibot app, which can be downloaded on Android devices for free, also supports early literacy by nurturing children’s love for storytelling. Developed in collaboration with the Community of Learners Foundation (COLF) and start-up partner OrangeFix, the Batibot app is the first learning app in Filipino that is aligned with the national kindergarten curriculum of the Department of Education.

Today's children will get to know Pong Pagong and other beloved characters in the hit TV program Batibot as PLDT Home brings the classic show to Telpad

The Batibot app has interactive features like the classic game “Alin Ang Naiba,” where children are asked to identify what is different from a group of objects and pictures. Kindergartners can also practice writing by tracing letters on their device, and sing along to Batibot songs via the app’s videoke feature. Meanwhile, the “Kuwentong Batibot” feature provides children with access to stories in Filipino, with the aim of establishing a firm foundation for early and emergent literacy. “Beyond watching their favorite shows and movies and playing exciting and educational games, the Telpad’s upgraded suite lets kids expand their learning horizons

with apps like Batibot,” PLDT VP and Home Marketing Director Gary Dujali said. “The Telpad serves as a digital portal designed to be part of a child’s upbringing, and Batibot is an ideal avenue to help enrich it.” Families can easily upgrade their PLDT Home DSL plan to a Telpad plan by adding as low as P500 to their monthly subscription. With a Telpad plan, they can enjoy a landline, HOME DSL connection, speed boost, and quad-core tablet. For more great offers for kids, visit pldthome.com, like PLDT HOME’s official Facebook page, and follow @pldthome on Twitter and Instagram.

The 2016 edition of Manufacturing Technology World will see more than a hundred manufacturers and distributors showcasing their industrial equipment and technological innovation

Society of Manufacturing Engineers is set to host the Robotics Competition for Engineering students

Experts are predicting that machinery and industrial equipment manufacturers will soon move to the Philippines in the coming years due to steady growth in GDP and manufacturing output in recent years. In fact, according to the latest report of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the renewed confidence of foreign investors shifted their mother production facilities and regional manufacturing plants to the country. Some of these foreign investors are from Japan, U.S.A, South Korea, Singapore, Britain, Germany, Netherlands and Taiwan. With this, local manufacturers need to equip themselves with the latest machinery and solutions to help their business keep up. They can do so at Manufacturing

seminar aims to be a continuous development for the stakeholders in the industry along with the Robotics Competition, which will take place in the event. Aside from the challenge and education experience it gives, this serves as a partnership between students and industry leaders as well. “SME is proud to be a part of an event like this because it does not only connect people in the manufacturing sector; it also acquires opportunities for continued growth and awareness to the technological advancement. That is why it has become a privilege for us to hold activities like these. It does not only benefit the industry, it also empowers the current and future individuals of the sector,” Rostico Morales, Chairman of the Society of Manufacturing

Latest in industrial machinery and automation Technology World, an expo for the industrial sector, which will happen on Aug. 18 to 20 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, SM Mall of Asia Complex. “This is the 23rd year of the show and we are excited to present a showcase of more than a hundred manufacturers and distributors of industrial equipment and technological innovation,” says Jing Lagandaon, chief operating officer of Global-Link MP Events International, Inc., organizers of the show. “There have been a lot of developments in the country’s manufacturing sector and we are really looking forward to what this growth can bring.” In addition to the exhibiting of products, the Manufacturing Engineering Seminar will be featured once again by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). This

Engineers – Manila Chapter, said. Manufacturing Technology World will also cover other sectors through its incorporating shows including Metal, Hardware and Woodmach Philippines (industrial automation and hardware products), and PHILTRONICS (electronics and semiconductors). It will hold alongside Transport and Logistics Philippines (supply chain solutions) and Automechanic Philippines (aftermarket parts and accessories). The show is open from 10a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and interested trade visitors may pre-register at www.globallinkmp.com to get a complimentary one-day visitor pass. For more information on the event, contact the organizers at (02) 893-7973.

TUESDAY : J ULY 19, 2016

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

INTERIOR DESIGN TIPS

FOR BUSINESSES WITH SMALL SPACES

mall offices have their pros and cons. On one hand, rent and utilities are lower. Small spaces also tend to be more intimate, fostering close ties among the employees. However, the layout has to be planned carefully to allow staff to work in comfort. Ample storage is yet another concern. “Though interior design mainly solves problems like making the most of small offices, it also helps businesses boost branding and create deeper connections with customers,” said Jas Ancheta, a principal designer of Design Trilogy. So that businesses are able to maximize their small spaces while ensuring quality customer experience, Jas shared the following tips. When Design Trilogy styled the Harringtons Lifestyle Auction and Showroom, they made sure that each piece stood out while remaining in harmony with one another. The arrangement gave guests an idea of which items would go well together in their homes.

Scale and proportion

Observing proper scale and proportion is one of the most important steps in making a room visually appealing. Bulky furniture often makes a room look smaller than it is. If the furniture is too small, the room will look cluttered. Jas added that having a focal point in the room is important. Whether it is a piece of furniture or an artwork, it will energize the space.

Illusion of space

Lines and colors help visually enlarge a small office. Using vertical lines make the ceiling look higher while horizontal lines widen a room. Light-colored walls or curtains create the illusion of a bigger, more open area. Strategically placed mirrors also serve as a quick fix to visually expand an office. They are especially useful in small retail spaces, Jas said.

Mood and productivity

Dramatic lighting may highlight features of a room, like a piece of art, but this

Interior designer Jas Ancheta suggests having a focal point--may it be a furniture or an artwork--in a room to energize the working space

shouldn’t sacrifice proper illumination to ensure productivity. Sound insulation—an often overlooked aspect of office design—is also important to minimize unwanted noise, especially in restaurants. Light colors can make an area look bigger and more open. Jas and her colleagues from Design Trilogy—Chelsea Go and Lia Ong— graduated from the Philippine School of Interior Design. They have worked with a diverse set of clients including SM, Unilab Foundation, Slice n’ Dice, and Harrringtons Lifestyle Auction and Showroom. To learn more about Design Trilogy, log on to www.designtrilogy.wordpress.com. You can contact the group at +63 905 229 4597 or e-mail design3logy@gmail.com

Choosing the right furniture and furnishing size that will match the room's space helps in making it visually appealing

Proper illumination is vital in ensuring productivity among workers

TechBox Gadgets on sale As an exciting treat for gadget enthusiasts and smartphone aficionados, TechBox is now offering up to 80 percent markdowns on selected smartphones and digital accessories, with discounted prices starting as low as P25.00. TechBox, a mobile and digital accessories retailing company, began its operations in 2013, operating Lenovo concept stores and multi-brand kiosks in the Philippines. In the last quarter of 2015, TechBox opened its branches at key malls in the metro, including

Gadget aficionados stop by TechBox Robinsons Antipolo to check out the latest gadgets on sale, with discounted prices starting at P25.

Robinsons Galleria, SM Megamall and SM North Edsa. Today, TechBox has a total of 69 outlets nationwide, and is investing in an inline, multi-brand retail presence this year. “This season’s mid-sale is our way of thanking our loyal customers who have made TechBox their go-to store for gadgets and mobile accessories,” says Mitsuru Kikunaga, TechBox chief executive adviser. “We are likewise excited to bring the TechBox brand to more locations in the Philippines in the coming months,” he adds.

Shoppers flock to a TechBox kiosk in SM Pampanga, offering up to 80 percent off on a number of phones and other gadgets.

T UES DAY : J ULY 19, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Angelica dela Cruz in a scene from”Whistle Blower”

German film and Academy award winner “The Lives of Others”

BENILDE HOLDS HUMAN RIGHTS FILMFEST

he first BenildeFilm Human Rights Film Festival, featuring critically acclaimed and independently produced films, was held at the De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts (SDA) Cinema from July 11 to 14. “Bayani Ba ‘To: Heroism x Pag-Ibig,” a talk and screening organized by the DLSCSB Digital Filmmaking Program and DAKILA - Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism, opened the event. DAKILA is a group of artists, students and individuals committed to working together to creatively spark social consciousness formation towards social change. Director Gil Portes gave a glimpse of his latest work, Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli, a biopic based on the life of 19th century religious revolutionary leader Apolinario dela Cruz. Historian John Ray Ramos also talked about heroism during the forum. They were joined by DAKILA education officer Ralph Eya, scriptwriter Eric Ramos and associate director Armand Reyes in the panel discussion. The film, which top bills Aljur Abrenica as Hermano Puli, is set to open in cinemas in September 2016. The Act of Killing, a 2012 documentary that focuses on the 1965 Indonesian massacres, was screened on July 12. It won the European Film Award for Best Documentary, Asia Pacific Screen Award, and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 86th Academy Awards. Its 2014 companion piece, The Look of Silence, also directed by Joshua Oppen-

heimer, was shown on the same day. The documentary, which revolves around a middle-aged Indonesian man and his confrontation with his brother’s murderers, was nominated at the 88th Academy Awards for the same award. The German film The Lives of Others, Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006, was shown on the third day of the festival. The seductive political thriller, directed by Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, is set before the fall of the Berlin Wall and deals with an ambitious spy from East Germany’s State Secret Police and his personal involvement with the couple he keeps tabs on, a renowned pro-Socialist playwright and his stunning actress-girlfriend. The screening of the Oscar-winning film was followed by Adolph Alix Jr.’s Whistleblower, a complex tale of corruption where journalists run an expose on government officials’ dubious transactions. The film stars Nora Aunor, Cherry Pie Picache and Angelica Panganiban, among others. Batas Militar: A Documentary on Martial Law in the Philippines closed the festival with a special screening last July 14, 3 p.m. The documentary is a narrative of the Martial Law years, made alive by exclusive interviews, numerous photographs, and rare film and video recordings of the era. The critically acclaimed account highlights that particular period in the country’s history and the lessons Filipinos learned and need to learn again. Producer Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, a broadcast journalist and documentary filmmaker, graced the event.

The Act of Killing, a 2012 documentary from Indonesia

Batas Militar: A Documentary on Martial Law in the Philippines

Historical drama Hermano Puli

Nora Aunorin Adolf Alix’s “Whistle Blower”

Indonesian documentary “The Look of Silence”

Two-week indie film festival at CSB The Digital Filmmaking Program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLSCSB) presents the Sixth CineSB Independent Film Festival (CineSB6) until July 29 at the college’s School of Design and Arts (SDA) Theater. The event highlights the finest works not only of Benildean filmmakers, but of students and artists from all over the country. It likewise screens local films from foreign competitions to encourage young producers and directors to explore unique ideas and offer fresh perspectives. This year’s celebration opened the The Benilde Film Mavericks 7 p.m. last night. Featured movies were by the college’s graduates, such as Carl Chavez (Yes Mami), Robert Martesano (Sa Pagtunod It Adlaw), Martin Mayuga (Babuyan), Cheska Salangsang (Saan Man Ngunit Dito), Ogie Tiglao (Luntiang Paraiso), and Anya Zulueta (Ang Di Masabi).

As in the past, a variety of activities are lined up, to include: The Chair, a competition of thesis works from Benilde film students; Harvest Moon, an exhibition of short film projects from undergraduates; Twenty Quatro, an inter-school 24-hour guerrilla filmmaking contest; Indie Ani, a show of outstanding short films coming from different schools in Metro Manila; and Cinema Rehiyon, a showcase of works filmmakers from the rest of the archipelago. In addition to screenings, competitions, and exhibitions, there are scheduled fora which cover documentary filmmaking, independent film funding, cinematography, and production management with film professionals delve into the different aspects of being a filmmaker, whether indie or mainstream. Coreen “Monster” Jimenez, director of Kano: An American and His Harem and writer of Apocalypse Child, will speak on

the challenges and opportunities for Filipino documentary filmmakers on Thursday, July 21. QCinema Festival Director Ed Lejano, Cinema One Originals Festival Director Ronald Arguelles, and Tuko Film Productions, Inc., Buchi Boy Entertainment, Inc., Artikulo Uno Productions, Inc. (TBA) producers Fernando Ortigas, E.A. Rocha and Vincent Nebrida will discuss funding films in the Philippines on Monday, July 25. Award-winning cinematographers Neil Daza and Lee Briones will conduct a master class on cinematography on Wednesday, July 27. Finally, producer Bianca Balbuena, well known for producing Lav Diaz’s Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis and Antoinette Jadaone’s That Thing Called Tadhana, will have a production management lecture on July 28. Classic indie film favorites are featured in Pinoy Espesyals. To be screened are Mario Cornejo and Coreen Jimenez’s Apocalypse

Child (today), Jun Lana’s Anino sa Likod ng Buwan (Wednesday, July 20), Carlo Encisco Catu’s Ari (Thursday, July 21), Randolph Longjas’ Star na si Van Damme Stallone (Friday, July 22), Lawrence Fajardo’s Imbisibol (Monday, July 25), Carl Joseph Papa’s Manang Biring (Tuesday, July 26), Pepe Diokno’s Kapatiran (Wednesday, July 27), and Chuck Gutierrez’s Iisa (Thursday, July 28). All shows will be at 7 p.m at the SDA Theater. Admission is free to all daytime screenings and film fora. Seats are on a first-come, first-served basis. Prior registration is required. Visit the festival’s Facebook page at CineSB for details. Pinoy Espesyals tickets are P150.00, with a discounted price of P100.00 for students and senior citizens. For more information, contact Hann Marcelino, CineSB6 Advertisement and Promotions Officer, at hannmarcelino@ gmail.com or 0905-5809446.

T UES DAY : J ULY 19, 2016

EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Most Trusted TV News Presenter, Jessica Soho

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED

Manny Pacquiao remains the Philippines Most Trusted Sports Personality

Toni Gonzaga is named Most Trusted Entertainment / Variety Show Presenter

TV’S MOST TRUSTED PERSONALITIES

ulti-awarded news anchor and veteran radio host Mike C. Enriquez, adds another distinction to his illustrious career after being named as the Philippines Most Trusted Radio Presenter at the recent Readers Digest Trusted Brands 2016 awarding ceremony. “I heard it was the first time they gave out this award so I am very honored, Enriquez told media after receiving his award. “Being called ‘Most Trusted’ is very humbling since this one is from the Reader’s Digest Survey, which is in itself a very trusted award giving body. This is a result of a survey conducted from among its readers and not an award that you can apply for. They just send you a letter one day to inform you that you have been named by their readers as the one they believe in most,” he said with pride. Enriquez can be heard on Super Radyo

DZBB’s programs – Saksi sa Dobol B, Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide, and Imbestigador Sa DZBB. He is also one of the anchors of GMA’s flagship news telecast, 24 Oras, and hosts the investigative public affairs program, Imbestigador. His advice to aspiring journalists? “Don’t mind the pay. Don’t mind the long hours… and have a passion for the truth. Just stick to the truth and nothing will be too difficult.” “You speak well when you speak the truth and you speak from the heart,” he said. For the sixth straight year, Jessica Soho was once again was named Most Trusted TV News Presenter, while Toni Gonzaga was named Most Trusted Entertainment / Variety Show Presenter. Filipino boxing champ and now Senator Manny Pacquiao remains the Philippines Most Trusted Sports Personality.

Now on its 18th year, the Trusted Brands 2016 awarding ceremony was held on June 30, at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig. “For the past 18 years, we have been surveying the people of Philippines and consumers in major markets across Asia, about which brands they depend on, believe in and that they expect to provide premium value and exceptional service,” notes Walter Beyleveldt, Reader’s Digest managing director, Asia Pacific. “Every survey we ask thousands of people – both our readers and a representative sample of consumers in each market – to tell us which brands they consider worthy of their support, custom, and their trust. Not only have we learnt which brands consumers follow, we have discovered a lot about what trust means and how it wins the hearts of people across Asia.”

Mike C. Enriquez is Philippines Most Trusted Radio Presenter

‘Ignacio De Loyola’ premieres on July 23 Another source of Filipino pride is coming home. Ignacio de Loyola, the first-ever Filipino produced movie screened at the Vatican, will finally be seen by Filipinos as it premieres on July 23 at The Theatre at Solaire Resort and Casino, Paranaque City in a fund-raising dinner organized by the alumni of Ateneo de Manila University for the benefit of the Jesuit Infirmary and Jesuit Scholastics in the Philippines. The special screening of the Jesuit Communications (JesCom)produced full length independent film on the life of the Society of Jesus’ founder St. Ignatius of

Spanish actor Andreas Munoz as the Society of Jesus founder St. Ignatius in the biopic “Ignacio de Loyola”

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Sci-fi energy source 7 Angkor — 10 Yummy 14 Like old butter 15 — — premium 16 Livy’s year 17 Gasoline rating 18 Peoria’s st. 19 Picnic spoiler

20 It may follow a pink slip (2 wds.) 23 Brain parts 26 Thing, in law 27 Swiss capital 28 “— Lang Syne” 29 In a snit 30 Freeway clogger 31 Three before V 32 Dovetail

33 In the fresh air 37 Blow it 38 “The Greatest” 39 Elf-sized 40 — Appia 41 Sells in shops 43 Maximum 44 Gomez’s hairy cousin 45 Hex, halved 46 Metal for plating 47 Honor in style 48 Downpour 51 Stockholm airline 52 Fire chief’s suspicion 53 Favorite pub or tavern (2 wds.) 56 Poker pair 57 Big truck 58 NYSE alternative 62 Beef 63 Sonnet kin 64 Papa Hemingway 65 Dogmas 66 Writer — Buntline 67 Painters’ garb DOWN 1 Expert 2 Resinous deposit 3 Diligent insect 4 Cleaned a fish 5 Labyrinth builder of myth 6 Yemeni port

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 22 23 24 25 29 30 32 33 34 35 36 42 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 55 59 60 61

Dispensed with Mercator’s tome Dusting powder Brides toss them Walking — — Edible bulb English poet For free Subsided Hologram maker Bizarre Say without thinking — Vanilli Let know (2 wds.) Less cloudy Overly solemn Dorm climbers The same as above Wolfed down Bears witness Earmarked Raisin center Turbaned seer Dueler’s steps First-stringers (hyph.) Sarcastic Frighten Golf club item Change for a five Solstice mo. Invite Gal. fractions

Loyola will start at 4 p.m., and will have a live performance of the musical scoring, composed by the Ryan Cayabyab, featuring the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ateneo Chamber Singers, under the baton of Gerard Salonga. Ignacio de Loyola takes a modern approach on the story of the very first Jesuit who is known as the “Saint of Second Chances.” It narrates the story of a sinner who realizes that the greatest battles are fought within -- the choice between violence and mercy, anger and forgiveness, hope and despair, darkness and light. Ignacio was a world-

ly soldier who gave up his dreams of knighthood after being crippled in battle. Eventually, he found the Jesuit order during his recovery. For tickets and inquiries to the July 23 special screening at Solaire Resort and Casino, call the Jesuit Communications office at (632) 4265971 to 72 and look for Cathy Cardoz or Cynthia Estrella. For more information, visit the ANC website, news.abs-cbn. com/anc or follow its social media account on Facebook and Twitter (@ANCALERTS) and the movie’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook. com/ignaciomovie/).

T UES DAY : J ULY 19, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

‘MINUTE TO WIN IT’ IS BACK

WITH LAST MAN STANDING EDITION

ne does not need a special talent or extraordinary intelligence to be a millionaire, because in Minute to Win It, only a certain level of skill is required to win a cash prize and change your life. The country’s most excited game show is back to serve up fun and exciting challenges that will surely be enjoyed by every Filipino family via a competition-centric edition called “Last Man Standing,” where the fittest survive and get the biggest cash prize. On Mondays and Wednesdays, seven players – different celebrities and personalities from different fields and even ordinary Kapamilya players – will clash in a series of five challenges with no time limit, using only ordinary objects that can be found at home. The player who is last to accomplish or cannot finish the challenge will be eliminated after each challenge, until only two players remain. These players will go straight to the Head-to-Head Challenge on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where they will again battle it out in five nerve-wracking challenges. The competition will be kicked up a notch because each challenge is timed at one min-

“Minute to Win It” celebrity players Richard Yap, Melai Cantiveros, Eric Nicolas, Jericho Rosales, Maja Salvador, Kapamilya player Marjan Nassiri and Coleen Garcia

ute and has a corresponding cash prize. The player who gets the bigger amount of cash will play the Ultimate Challenge, where he or she will be given the chance to win the P1 million-jackpot prize. The lucky winners from Tuesday and Thursday will also get to raise more money as they will face off in another thrilling Head-to-Head Challenge on Friday. The player who emerges victorious will be named the “Ultimate Last Man Standing.” And in a single week, one lucky player

can get as much as P2 million if he successfully fulfills two Ultimate Challenges. Playing in the game show’s pilot episode on its first two days are Richard Yap, Jericho Rosales, Maja Salvador, Coleen Garcia, Melai Cantiveros, Eric Nicolas, and Kapamilya player Marjan Nassiri. Bringing in the thrill on July 20 and 21 are Arci Munoz, Daniel Matsunaga, Joey Marquez, Denise Laurel, Baron Geisler, Negi, and Rachel Daquis. Who among them will be declared the

“Ultimate Last Man Standing”? Will one of them win P1 million? The return of the exciting game show is made even bigger by ABS-CBN because of the success of its first season that aired from 2013 until 2014. The Philippine edition scored a number of firsts in the history of the franchise around the world, including being the first version to air daily and being the first version to air for more than a year. The Philippines’ Minute to Win It also made waves as its mix of regular, head-tohead, and junior editions were replicated by other countries such as Cambodia. Meanwhile, ordinary viewers have the chance to play and clash with their favorite celebrities by playing as a Kapamilya Player in the game show. It is open to male and female players, 20 to 50 years old, and can perform physical challenges. To join the auditions, watch out for updates on TV or from the official social media accounts of the program. Don’t miss Minute to Win It beginning July 18, Mondays to Fridays on ABS-CBN. For updates on the program, visit www. facebook.com/minutetowinitPH.

New chapter of KimXi The much-awaited Philippine fiesta in the United Kingdom would write a new milestone with the stars of widely followed Kapamilya teleseryes to the two-day annual fiesta on July 16 and 17 at the Apps Court Farm at Waltonon-Thames, Surrey near Hampton Court Palace. Just as Filipinos in London think they have seen everything, The Filipino Channel (TFC) and Philippine Centre brought a different twist to the annual fiesta with the lead stars of Born For You, the well-loved Pangako Sa ‘Yo, and the recently concluded The Story Of Us and more Kapamilya stars to Apps Court Farm. Chiu and Xian Lim or KimXi, were there as part of their “Story Of Us: Tsouristas Global Trip” on July 17. This was the second time, the popular love team performed on the London Barrio Fiesta. Meantime, Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona performed on on July 16 for the

first time to give Filipino fans a glimpse of what is to come in their serye Born For You which is also, like The Story Of Us, partly shot, overseas. Joining the thrilling love teams were Martin Nievera, Darren Espanto, and Jodi Sta. Maria plus Negi on July 17. Vina Morales, and Robin Padilla plus Negi, joined the new love team on July 16. While the “32nd London Barrio Fiesta” leveled up to bring the entertainment to a higher plane, the tradition continueed for some as London Barrio Fiesta returned to its home of Apps Court Farm. ABS CBN Europe. Middle East and Africa Regional Marketing Head Maribel Hernaez shared, “While we want to bring a new kind of entertainment every year which we are delivering via three of ABS-CBN’s toprating teleseryes and their wellloved stars, we also recognize our kababayans’ clamor to bring the London Barrio Fiesta to its

PPO’s historic concert at Carnegie Hall

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the country’s leading professional orchestra, made history when it performed at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 18. Playing to a full house, it was the first time a Filipino orchestra performed in the United States. The project was spearheaded by former PPO Music Director/Principal Conductor Olivier Ochanine. The concert included impressive performances by pianist Cecile Licad and violinist Diomedes Saraza. The Carnegie Hall concert

was presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in cooperation with Philippine Airlines (the official carrier of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra), Smart Infinity, Rustan Commercial Corporation, One Meralco Foundation, with the support of PLDT Smart Foundation, Federal Land, Inc., Metrobank Card Corporation, Ayala Corporation and Ayala Land. Proceeds from the concert would go to a housing project of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) in Tacloban for typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) victims. (Photo by Joseph Pe)

home of five years– the Apps Court Farm.” Hermano Mayor Joseph Pariñas added,” Ït is not only about what we can deliver but also how we can bring the annual fiesta they look forward to, in the manner and in a place that feels like home to them already.” Adding more milestones to this year’s “London Barrio Fiesta” is the launch of ABS-CBN Foundation Europe to enable kababayans to reach out to their less fortunate kababayans across sectors. TFC and Philippine Centre’s “London Barrio Fiesta” are all about giving the kind of engagement and outreach kababayans want and need and the 32nd installment is promising to deliver just that - the much-anticipated staging of the Philippine fiesta in UK, the way they remember it back home and more. For more information visit londonbarriofiesta.com or emeakapamilya.com

Fashion and design show “Project Runway”now on its fifth season

‘Project Runway’ back on the ramp This month, TLC treats the audience to make them like to walk the runway or simply take that vacation they’ve been dreaming of. If you are someone who is into fashion and design, then it’s perfect to watch the fifth season premiere of Project Runway All Stars. Get to see 13 of television’s most memorable and talented designers at 9:55 p.m. every Thursday. If you are the adventurous type who plans your vacation with the

whole family and thinking of other ideas on how to spend it, watching the all new series Buddy’s Family Vacation will spare you from thinking about it, because Buddy Valastro gets you covered by sharing his family adventures driving across America, going on food trips and many more in an RV. Catch the season premiere on July 20 and see their awesome Valastrostyle vacation every Wednesday at 8:05 p.m.

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s new music director Yoshikazu Fukumura

PPO’s new music director Yoshikazu Fukumura, the new music director of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, said he aims to make the PPO one of the top five orchestras in Asia.

He praised the PPO for possessing a higher quality and level than many orchestras in Asia. Fukumura was introduced to the media in a press conference on July 6 at the Hotel Jen.

Fukumura began his term in May 2016 and will conduct his first concert as PPO Music Director in September when the PPO opens its 2016-2017 season. (Photo by Orly Daquipil)

T UES DAY : J ULY 19, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

“The Greatest Love” creative manager Ricky Lee (fourth from left) with the family drama’s main cast members (from left) Arron Villafor, Matt Evans, Dimples Romana, Sylvia Sanchez, Andi Eigenmann, Joshua Garcia, and Rommel Padilla

ISAH V. RED

A MOTHER’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

fter its Twitter-trending teaser trailer earned rave reviews and hundreds of thousands of views online, Kapamilya’s newest family drama The Greatest Love finally comes to television soon on ABS-CBN to tell an unforgettable and extraordinary story of a mother’s selfless love. Much of the hype and excitement surrounding the series is brought about by its trailer’s heart-rending plot twist: a mother suffering from sudden but profound memory loss that she is unable to recognize her own children fighting in front of her. The series is led by an ensemble cast composed of Sylvia Sanchez, Nonie Buencamino and Rommel Padilla, as well as Dimples Romana, Matt Evans, Arron Villaflor, and Andi Eigenmann. Sylvia plays Gloria, a woman who, throughout her life, has given unconditional love to the people around her. Through the years, Gloria has become a doting and selfless mother to Amanda (Dimples), Andrei (Matt), Paeng (Arron), and Lizelle (Andi). However, a long-kept secret will shatter their once happy family, leading Gloria’s children to leave her one by one. As Gloria struggles to keep her family together, she starts to show symptoms of dementia and begins to lose pieces of her memory. Her mission – to bring back the love her family once had for each other – becomes even more difficult as she races against time and tries to gather her memories before they are completely wiped out. With scenes set against the picturesque Quirino province, The Greatest Love is directed by Dado Lumibao and Mervyn Brondial. According to the series’ creative manager, legendary writer Ricky Lee, The Greatest Love is not just about Gloria’s brain condi-

Sylvia Sanchez as Gloria in the new family drama

Arron Villaflor plays Paeng, one of Gloria’s children

Andi Eigenmann returns to TV drama as Lizelle in the new soap

tion, but also about the “figurative dementia” of her kids. “If you come to think of it, Gloria’s children are also suffering from memory problems. They forget that a mother is always going to be a mother. When you have lost in life, when people have forsaken you, when you have nowhere to go, there is that one person you can always run to and who will always accept you no matter – that is your mother,” Ricky said. “Many children have ‘dementia.’ They don’t remember that their mother loves them very much even when they get repri-

manded or if they get separated. In the end, a mother’s love is limitless,” he added. Is there hope for Gloria to bring her family back together? Will she ever find happiness with the people she loves? Will she completely lose her identity, as well as the secrets she has kept in her heart all these years? But before showing Gloria’s journey to motherhood, the series retraces her great love story in its first week showing young Gloria (Ellen Adarna) falling in love with boatman Peter (Ejay Falcon) and being forced to marry mu-

sician Andres (Junjun Quintana). Joining the cast of The Greatest Love are Tonton Gutierrez, Alec Bovic, and Joshua Garcia. Adding star power to the series is Megastar Sharon Cuneta, who recorded the theme song of the series, “The Greatest Love of All, with the ABSCBN Philharmonic Orchestra, marking her first time to record a new version of a song for a teleserye. Don’t forget to watch “The Greatest Love” soon on ABS-CBN. For updates, like www.facebook.com/thegreatestlovetv.