The Standard - 2016 July 20 - Wednesday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXX  NO. 158  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  WEDNESDAY : JULY 20, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

240 courts to clear backlog of drug cases

CASE DISMISSED

High Court votes 11-4 to drop GMA plunder case

‘Keep the faith in the justice system’. File photo shows former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo upon her arrival at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City for an overnight medical checkup. LINO SANTOS By Rey E. Requejo

Rody rejects China condition for talks

THE Philippines said Tuesday direct talks with China over their maritime dispute were unlikely to start anytime soon due to Beijing’s refusal to accept an international tribunal ruling on the South China Sea. The UN-backed tribunal said

last week there was no legal basis for China’s claims to most of the strategic, resource-rich waters. Beijing has staunchly rejected the verdict. “At this point in time, I am not sure whether negotiations can be pursued,” Philippine Foreign

THE Supreme Court has dismissed the remaining plunder charges filed against detained former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo before the Sandiganbayan and ordered her release from hospital detention after almost four years. Voting 11-4, the Court on Tuesday granted Mrs. Arroyo’s petition for a dismissal of the case halfway through the trial due to the failure of

the prosecution team to present sufficient evidence to establish her guilt. In effect, the Court acquitted Mrs. Arroyo of the plunder case

filed by the Office of the Ombudsman during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, over the alleged misuse of P366 million in intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The Court also dismissed the case against Mrs. Arroyo’s co-accused, former PCSO budget and accounts manager Benigno Aguas. Arroyo, under hospital arrest since 2012, thanked the Supreme Court justices for acquitting her. Next page

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US, Australia vow to keep sea lanes, skies open SYDNEY, Australia—US and Australian troops plan to step up training so they are fully prepared to answer challenges in the Pacific, US Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday amid rising tensions over Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea. Speaking in Sydney after meeting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Biden said the two nations were a “genuine brotherhood” committed to “making sure the sea lanes are open and the skies are free for navigation.” “They are the life bloodlines

Rody... From A1

Secretary Perfecto Yasay said Tuesday. Yasay and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi discussed the possibility of bilateral talks on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit in Mongolia last weekend but made no headway. “Let the dust settle some more and let’s see how we can open up the road for this kind of negotiation,” he said in an interview with the ABSCBN network. The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled Beijing had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights to exploit resources in waters up to 340 kilometers beyond its coast, called its exclusive economic zone. The fish-rich Scarborough Shoal, which lies about 230 kilometers from the Philippine coast, is a “traditional fishing ground” that should be open to Filipino, Chinese and other fishermen, the tribunal said. China seized the shoal in 2012 after a brief stand-off with the Philippine Navy. Manila lodged suit at the tribunal the following year. China is prepared to discuss Filipino access to the Scarborough Shoal but warned “if you will insist on the ruling... then we might be headed for a confrontation,” Yasay said. President Rodrigo Duterte’s “first and foremost” priority is to regain access to the Scarborough Shoal for Filipino fishermen, Yasay said. “Let’s do it one step at a time. Let’s manage it on that basis,” Yasay said. “We have asked China to exercise restraint and sobriety in this regard, that we maintain the status quo for now in terms of not taking aggressive actions... not coming out with any provocative statements,” he added. Duterte said last week that he would send former President Fidel Ramos to China to start talks on the ruling. Beijing, which justifies its extensive claims by saying it was the first to have discovered, named and exploited the sea, has said that the tribunal ruling cannot be the basis of any discussions. In the long term, Yasay said Manila had not ruled out the possibility of giving China a role as a contractor when the government moves to exploit the resources, including natural gas, in its exclusive economic zone. In a forum Tuesday, former Foreign secretary Albert del Rosario said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations need to come up with an equation to deal with states that obstruct a firm response to China’s expansion in the disputed areas of the South China Sea. Sara Susanne Fabunan, AFP

of commerce and the economic growth worldwide,” Biden said in the wake of last week’s ruling by a UN-backed tribunal against Beijing’s claims in the disputed waters. Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, despite rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbors—most notably US ally the Philippines, which took the case to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. The United States, like Australia, has no claims of its own in the South

China Sea, but insists that all shipping has a right to pass through seas it regards as international waters. “We also discussed the steps that Australia and the United States are taking so our troops can train more together and increase our interoperability so that we are fully prepared to respond to any challenges, any challenges, in the Pacific with a united front,” Biden said. “It’s important we stand together,” he added, as he stressed that the United States was a Pacific power

and intended to remain so. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Beijing has informed Manila about the test landing of civilian aircraft on Mischief Reef, which the Chinese have grabbed and converted into an artificial island. He said it was a defense attaché who informed him of the test landings a day before the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration junked China’s “9-dash line” as illegal and said it was no basis for its claims

to most of the South China Sea. He said Beijing even sent an official letter informing Manila of the test landings. China has repeatedly said it will not honor the arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines and warned it will continue to build facilities on the artificial islands. But Manila and its allies led by the United States have warned China to stop its reclamation activities, particularly on Scarborough Shoal. AFP, Florante S. Solmerin

240 trial courts to ease backlog of drug cases Case...

From A1

“Keep the faith in the justice system,” Arroyo’s statement read. “First and foremost, to God Almighty be all the glory and praise. Through His kindness and mercy, justice and righteousness have once again prevailed over injustice and wrongdoing.” Arroyo also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for allowing the plunder suit to “take its course totally unhampered.” The Palace also welcomed the decision. “The Supreme Court has spoken ... Let us respect and abide by the High Court’s decision,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a text message. A spokesman for Aquino, who had gone after Arroyo relentlessly while he was president, declined to comment on the Court decision. “I’m sorry I cannot help you,” said former Communications secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a text message. Another former spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, did not reply to text messages. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said she would study the filing of a motion for reconsideration, saying they did not expect the acquittal. “We were surprised. We are disappointed,” she said. Court spokesman Theodore Te said the justices ordered the immediate release of Arroyo and Aguas. The 11 justices who voted for the dismissal of the plunder charges were Presbitero J. Velasco Jr.; Teresita J. Leonardo-de Castro; Arturo D. Brion; Diosdado M. Peralta; Lucas P. Bersamin; Mariano C. del Castillo; Jose P. Perez; Jose C. Mendoza; Bienvenido L. Reyes; Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe; and Francis H. Jardeleza. Those who dissented were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno; Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio; and Justices Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa and Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen. Te did not say when the ruling would be served to the parties. He said the decision would be released along with the separate dissenting opinions from Sereno and Leonen, and a separate concurring opinion

from Brion. Arroyo has been under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City since 2012 in connection with the plunder case. The case involves the alleged misuse of P366 million from the PCSO intelligence fund from 2008 to 2010. Arroyo has been detained for almost four years since October 2012. In her petition, Arroyo sought the reversal of two Sandiganbayan resolutions dated April 6, 2015 and September 10, 2015 that denied her demurrer to evidence plea. “Not a single exhibit of the 637 exhibits offered by the prosecution nor a single testimony of the 21 witnesses of the prosecution was offered by the prosecution to prove that [Arroyo] amassed, accumulated, or acquired even a single peso of the alleged illgotten wealth amounting to P365,997,915.00 or any part of that amount alleged in the Information,” Arroyo’s petition said. The Supreme Court ruling came after it granted her pleas for several furloughs. In December, the Court allowed the ailing former president a holiday furlough and allowed her to spend Christmas and New Year with her family at their residence in La Vista, Quezon City. In March, the tribunal also allowed her to celebrate her 69th birthday with her family in the same residence on April 5. The Court also granted Arroyo relief earlier this month and allowed her to vote in her home province in Pampanga during the May 9 elections and also granted her plea to undergo dental procedures for four days at the clinic of her dentist in Makati City. Earlier, the Court stopped the trial of Arroyo’s remaining plunder case by issuing a status quo ante order on the proceedings of the First Division of the anti-graft court, the Sandiganbayan. The order was extend three times. Lakas-CMD president Martin Romualdez welcomed the Court ruling, saying it was “good for justice and the rule of law.” “The SC decision is good for the rule of law and the country’s democracy,” Romualdez, president of the Philippine Constitution As-

sociation (Philconsa), said. He lauded the justices for showing fairness in delivering justice to Mrs. Arroyo. “We have been saying from the beginning that she was a victim of political persecution and her acquittal proved this. The plunder case stemmed from her exercise of her right as President to take part in the government,” Romualdez added. “She has suffered enough during her incarceration. Her critics must respect the ruling,” Romualdez added. Outgoing Speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he was happy for the former president. “This is a welcome development to put closure on the case,” Belmonte said. Reps. Karlo Alexei Nograles of Davao City, Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental and Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City also said the Court ruling must be respected. “It is time to set her free without any delay. I wish the decision came sooner,” Nograles said. Benitez said that the Duterte administration would be a good time for the former leader to roll up her sleeves and return and to her legislative functions in Congress. Tambunting noted that the decision was based on the lack of evidence against Arroyo. “While others may debate this finding, we must acknowledge that in thus speaking, the Supreme Court has written the final chapter to this story. And no matter if it may grind slowly, the wheels of justice in our country still turn,” he said. Senator Panfilo Lacson said he supported the decision to free Arroyo, even for purely humanitarian reasons, given her poor health and age. Senator Francis Escudero said “the rule of law demands nothing else” than to respect the decision. “I respect the decision of the Court as everyone else should, whether they agree with it or not. Respect for the rule of law demands nothing less,” said Escudero in a text message. He also dismissed speculation that the Court decision was influenced by Duterte’s statements on the case. With Rio N. Araja, Macon Ramos-Araneta, John Paolo Bencito and Maricel V. Cruz

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has designated 240 trial courts nationwide to speed up the trial of cases involving illegal drugs amid the Duterte administration’s intensified anti-drug campaign. Court spokesman Theodore Te said there were at present 128,368 pending drug-related cases being heard nationwide by 715 regional trial courts, 65 of which had been designated as special anti-drug courts. Te said the designation of more courts to handle drug cases would entail the fielding of additional prosecutors from the Department of Justice as well as defense counsels from the Public Attorney’s Office. Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno had suggested to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguire II to appoint more prosecutors and PAO lawyers for the additional courts to avoid delays in the resolution of drug cases, Te said. “By its action today, the Court has effectively authorized all the 955 organized trial courts across the country to hear, try and decide drug cases,” Te said. He noted that guidelines on the speedy resolution of drug-related cases would soon be released. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte urged all sectors in the country to join him in the fight against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country. A source in Camp Aguinaldo said Tuesday that two lieutenant colonels and two majors were among the 13 personnel at Army headquarters who tested positive for drug use. “One of the lieutenant colonels is assigned at the Army Hospital in Fort Bonifacio,” said the source, who asked not to be named because he lacked the authority to speak on the matter. Just recently, Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano administered a surprise drug test to about 3,000 personnel at Army headquarters, with 13 testing positive for illegal drug use. Army spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao declined to comment, except to say that six of the 13 showed negative results in confirmatory tests. Earlier, Hao said any Army personnel with confirmatory drug test results would be dismissed from the service immediately. Unannounced drug tests are ongoing in different branches of government including the military and police since President Duterte assumed power on June 30. With Florante S. Solmerin, Rio N. Araja and Sandy Araneta

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Talks with communists to be held next month

After the presentation. President Rodrigo Duterte makes a phone call to Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari after the Peace Roadmap presentation by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process in Malacañang on Monday night. With him is National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

Sandiganbayan: Binays may not leave country FORMER vice president Jejomar Binay and his son, dismissed Makati mayor Junjun Binay, may not leave the country after the Sandiganbayan issued a hold departure order against them along with 19 others in connection with criminal charges filed against them over the alleged anomalous construction of the P2.28-billion Makati parking building. The anti-graft court’s Third Division said the Binays and the other respondents in the case would only be allowed to leave if they were able to secure approval from it. The court ordered the Bureau of Immigration to include the names of the Binays and the other respondents in the bureau’s Hold-Departure List. The anti-graft court’s Third Division said the issuance of the HDO

against the respondents was to render them “at all times amenable to the writs and processes of the Court.” Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and Third Division chairwoman Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Third Division members Associate Justices Samuel Martires and Sarah Jane Fernandez signed the HDO. Aside from the Binays, also listed in the HDOs are former city ad-

ministrator Marjorie De Veyra; former city legal officer Pio Kenneth Dasal; former budget officer Lorenza Amores; Former city central planning management heads Virginia Hernandez and Line dela Peña; former BAC head Giovanni Condes; Former BAC vice chair Ulysses Orienza; Former BAC Secretariat head Manolito Uyaco; former BAC Technical Working Group chairman Rodel Nayve; former city engineers Mario Badillo, Arnel Cadangan and Emerito Magat; former city accountants Leonila Querijero and Cecilio Lim III; former acting city accountant Raydes Pestaño; former city treasurer Nelia Barlis; former General Services Department officer Norman Flores, Orlando Mateo from Mana Architecture and Interior

Design, Co.; and Efren Canlas of Hilmarc’s Construction Co. The two Binays allegedly conspired with the other city officials to be able to award a contract to Mana Architecture and Interior Design Co. for the design of the Makati City Hall Building II project without public bidding as alleged. But the camp of the Binays shrugged off the HDO, with their counsel, Daniel Subido, saying that such had no legal bearing on the cases being heard by the antigraft court against his client. “A Hold-Departure Order is a necessary consequence of the mere filing of an Information in the Sandiganbayan. It is applicable to all,” Subido said. Maricel V. Cruz

THE formal negotiations with the communist rebels were again pushed back to the third week of August to effect the release of 11 JASIG-protected detained consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, Peace Process Adviser Jesus Dureza said Tuesday. “In case of the CPP, the formal talks have been firmly set on August 20 to 27 by the panel led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello,” Dureza told reporters. “We look forward to engaging with our counterparts on the other side of the table by August 20.” Dureza said there could be a release “of some 11 leaders of the CPP/NPA/ NDF who are presently detained and who will participate in the talks.” But he said that while he could not reveal their names, President Rodrigo Duterte “has already directed Justice Secretary [Vitaliano] Aguirre to comply with the legal procedures to effect the release of those in the list.” “[The] courts will make a determination in the end because some still have cases pending their temporary release,” Dureza said. Saying that the NDFP was prepared to engage the government in the peace negotiations, Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison had earlier said they would work with the government negotiators “based on the assumption that previous signed statements are affirmed and 109 political prisoners are released ahead of more than 400 others.” Sison said further that the rebel group’s armed wing, the New Peoples’ Army, would not lay down its arms and would continue with the protracted war in the countryside. In a speech before members of the Air Force in early July, Duterte said he was willing to issue safe-conduct passes and grant political amnesty but “only to four top leaders” of the Communist Party of the Philippines who are in jail, “as long as the rebels lay down their arms and give way to the peace process initiated by the government.” Duterte likewise stressed that he was not ready to release everyone unless the talks between the government and the reds were “successful.” John Paolo Bencito

PH, China to fight drug lords

Duterte fan. Dennis Mendoza is shown making miniature dolls of President Rodrigo Duterte in his

workshop in Libertad, Pasay City, on Tuesday. Mendoza, an avid Duterte supporter, makes personalized toys that costs from P800 to P5,000. DANNY PATA

DESPITE the kinks in relations as a result of their maritime disputes, China and the Philippines have agreed to work out an anti-narcotics plan of action to address the trafficking and proliferation of illegal drugs. In a statement released on Tuesday, China said it was ready to work out a specific plan with the Philippines in curbing the proliferation of drugs here. “China has expressed explicitly to the new administration China’s willingness for effective cooperation in this regard, and would like to work out a specific plan of action with the Philippine side,” Chinese Embassy in Manila spokesman Lingxiao Li said. Li’s statement came after President Rodrigo Duterte blamed China over some of its officials’ alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Li said China fully understood that Duterte had already made a pronouncement that he would give priority to the efforts to crack down on drug-related crimes. “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 the waters off Subic. Li said China had a shared responsibility to fight all drug-related crimes. “Illicit drugs are a common enemy of the mankind. Fighting against all drugrelated crimes is a shared responsibility of all countries in the world,” Li said. He denied the accusations against China and stressed that, in fact, the Chinese government had been firm in its efforts to punish all criminals. “The Chinese government has been firm and severe in drug control and in punishing all drug criminals in accordance with the laws regardless their nationalities,” Li said. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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Dureza welcomes Moro convention proposal By John Paolo Bencito

Senate honors. Senators and Senate employees gather at the entrance of the upper house upon the arrival of the urn containing the remains of former senator Helena Benitez who passed away July 14 at the age of 102. EY ACASIO

5 MY seamen abducted By John Paolo Bencito

FIVE more Malaysian seamen on board a tugboat were abducted by suspected Abu Sayaff gunmen in waters between Tawi-Tawi and Sabah on Monday afternoon, Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza reported Tuesday. “They [Abu Sayyaf] took again five more Malaysians in Lahad Datu,” Dureza said at a press briefing in Malacañang. Dureza said the five Malaysians were on board the tugboat T/B Serudong 3 and barge Serudong 4 which were traveling from Sandakan to Semporna when they were intercepted by the militants around 4 p.m. of Monday.

“When Malaysian authorities recovered the said boats running unmanned in the vicinity of Lahad Datu, Sabah bordering Tawi-Tawi, the crew were already missing and believed to have been abducted,” said Dureza. He identified the victims as Abdurahim Bin Summas, Tayudin Anjut, Mohammad Ridzuan Bin Ismael, Mohammad Jumadil Bin Rahim and Fandy Bin Bakran.

Dureza said the Duterte administration maintains that the Abu Sayyaf will have to answer for the crimes they have committed, but stressed that a “comprehensive approach” is needed to ensure that criminality stops in southwestern Mindanao. “While we address the armed force accordingly by military might and force, you have also to address the community, the enabling environment that provided this kind of an upsurge of criminality which is so, so even barbaric,” Dureza said. “Deal with the community, deal with force with those who commit criminal acts and address it on a calibrated level. You cannot just bomb everybody there because it’s a whole community that’s involved,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dureza revealed that Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari has offered to help the government in addressing the criminality of Abu Sayyaf militants. “There is an effort now by the group of Chairman Nur Misuari. I talked with him today. He called me over the phone and he said that he’d like to do coordination with our military forces on the ground because they’d like also to help in addressing the criminal acts committed by the so-called Abu Sayyaf Group,” Dureza said. Dureza’s phone call to Misuari was a day after the MNLF chairman’s conversation with President Rodrigo Duterte over the administration’s comprehensive peace roadmap.

THE government welcomes moves to convene an assembly of Moro leaders to craft a “more inclusive” enabling law to replace the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law that failed to pass during the 16th Congress, Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said Tuesday. “Whether they call for a convention [or ] they [just] meet together, that is something that we will welcome but we leave that to the Bangsamoro to determine,” Dureza said as he announced President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of a new “Road Map to Peace” plan on Monday. He said the new plan will cover the government’s engagement with the Bangsamoro, the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front and other rebel groups, like the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army. ”There will be inclusivity, henceforth, under the Duterte Roadmap for Peace where all the Bangsamoro factions, groups will have to come under one roof so that there will be inclusivity in the implementation of all these agreements,” Dureza told the media. Under the new road map, the government will reconstitute the Bangsamoro Transition Commission envisioned by the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro that the government signed with Moro Islamic Liberation Front. But Dureza said the reconstituted BTC should also represent the Moro National Liberation Front of Nur Misuari who signed a peace pact with the government in 1996 and other Bangsamoro groups, including the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao created by Republic Act 9054.

‘PH needs structural change’ ALBAY Rep. Joey Salceda voiced his support of moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, saying the country needs the “structural change” for political stability to attract more investments to create more jobs and help solve poverty. Salceda, who was guest at a recent media roundtable in Manila, said he intends to co-author the bill on Charter Change filed by Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez immediately. Charter Change towards federalism is among the items atop the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration, next to the fight against drugs, criminality and corruption. A noted economist and economic adviser to former Philippine presidents, Salceda was governor of Albay for three terms, and won the province’s second congressional seat in the last elections. He is credited for bringing down his

province’s poverty incidence from 32 percent in 2006 to 24 percent in 2015, the lowest in Bicol. “Charter Change will lead to political stability which leads to more investments which will in turn lead to more jobs, that will help the poor,” Salceda stressed. He said he agrees with the popular opinion that the country needs to reexamine the Constitution and make it more relevant and responsive to present-day realities. A federal government setup, through a revision of the Constitution, he added, “will promote political security in troubled areas of the country, and achieve peace and political, and economic stability.” Federalism, he pointed out, can offer rare opportunities for peace and to unite the country’s diverse ethnic, cultural and religious groups, particularly in Muslim Mindanao.

Plague proportions. A member of the United Filipino Consumers picketed the Bureau of Customs office at the Port Area in Mankal to urge new Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to unleash an all-out war against smugglers and their enablers at the bureau. LINO SANTOS

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Watchdog sues Palawan mayor By Rio N. Araja AN ANTI-CORRUPTION watchdog filed on Tuesday graft charges against Palawan’s Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron before the Office of the Ombudsman over a supposed purchase of heavy equipment worth P263,200,000. In a complaint, Danilo Hassan, president of ZeroTolerance.Org also included in the charge sheet the bids and awards committee members Aileen Cynthia Amurao, Tiburcio Magay, Arnel Pedrosa, Alberto Jimenez and George Vasquez; city administrator Elena Vergara, BAC’s mandatory team Joven Ciriaco Baluyut, Rolly So and Sergio Red; city treasurer Jerome Padrones; BAC’s technical working group members Enrico Gabayan, Carlos Abogado, Ricardo Lagrada, Rosemarie Bacatan, Roneson Sendaydiego and Tita Murcia. The case arose from a loan agreement of P300 million entered into between the city government and Land Bank of the Philippines on the financing of the acquisition of brand-new heavy equipment in September 2015. On Jan. 26, 2016, BAC conducted a bidding for the procurement of heavy equipment, but declared a failure of bidding for several items under four purchase requests due to the absence of bidders. Last Feb. 2, the mandatory review team recommended to consolidate all items into one purchase requests with a combined cost of P263,200,000. Hassan said the respondents violated the law. Based on the result and recommendations of the mandatory review team, the number of units of heavy equipment to be purchased was reduced from 60 to 45. On March 15, the procurement was awarded to RDAK Transport Equipment Inc. A week later, Bayron issued a notice to proceed with the procurement of seven six-wheeler dump trucks, eight 10-wheeler dump trucks, one hydraulic excavator-type truck, two motorized road graders and one unit of bulldozer. On April 29, Vergara and Padrones issued a P140,721,774.28 check to RDAK Transport Equipment Inc. as partial payment. According to Hassan, the check was dishonored.

Intolerant. The anti-corruption group Zero Tolerance Org. represented by Danilo Hassan files an affidavit of complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman against Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron with 16 other officials for graft and corruption case involving irregularities in equipment purchases valued at P263 million. MANNY PALMERO

SC upholds Madrid protocol vs piracy By Rey Requejo THE Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed the Philippines’ accession to an international agreement on intellectual property rights without the Senate’s concurrence. Voting 13-0, the SC dismissed the petition questioning the validity of former President Benigno Aquino III’s ratification of the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks in 2012. The SC junked for lack of merit the petition of Intellectual Property Association of the Phil-

ippines. It also directed IPAP to pay the costs of the suit. The SC justices rejected the assertion of IPAP that the Madrid Protocol is a “treaty” that requires the concurrence of the Senate. It ruled the accession to the Madrid Protocol to be valid because Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario deemed it to be an “executive agreement.” The agreement “does not thus require Senate concurrence,” said SC spokesman Theodore O. Te told reporters. The SC upheld the “exercise of discretion” of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to determine

whether an agreement should be considered an executive agreement or a treaty, as provided under Section 9 of Executive Order No. 459, series of 1997. “The Court sustained respondent DFA secretary’s determination that the Madrid Protocol was an executive agreement not requiring Senate concurrence,” Court’s spokesperson Theodore Te said, in a media briefing. The tribunal’s decision cited Article XVIII, Section 25 of the 1987 Constitution that allows the President to enter into an executive agreement and not necessarily a treaty.

Belmonte shuns ‘super majority’ By Maricel V. Cruz

PCSO donation. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II (center) hands over the symbolic key of a brand new ambulance from the PCSO Ambulance Donation Program to Army Col. Nelson Dancel (right) Commanding Officer of Fort Magsaysay Station Hospita in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, during a simple ceremony held recently at the PCSO head office in Mandaluyong City. With them is PCSO assistant general manager for Administrative Sector Lauro Patiag.

FORMER speaker and Quezon City Feliciano Belmonte Jr. may opt to be part of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives for the incoming 17th Congress. “We were reduced and raided deliberately by the new majority. Our number now is 35 LP lawmakers. There is no reason to join the supermajority [because we may end up being left out there],” Belmonte told reporters following a meeting with his Liberal Party allies in Quezon City Tuesday afternoon. But once elected as the House minority leader of the new Con-

gress, Belmonte said he would be a “a responsible and lead fiscalizer” in supporting the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). “I am taking the challenge to be a responsible and lead fiscalizer and I will perform my job as opposition leader,” Belmonte, an LP vice chair, said. Belmonte said talks that the LP would join the so-called “supermajority” of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, representative of Davao del Norte and PDP-Laban secretary- general, did not prosper after the LP membership “was reduced significantly.”

The supermajority of PDP-Laban is also composed of the Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, the National Union Party, and the 57 allied party-list groups. Belmonte said he hopes some independent members of the Lower House will also join them, adding there are still uncertainties that his group will be able to be formed into a ‘solid’ minority. He said he fears Alvarez may ask some members of the supermajority to join a “fake opposition group” similar to a “company union” to prevent a genuine opposition group in this Congress.

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A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

Invitation to Bid for the Supply and Delivery of CCTV Equipment under ITB No.PB16-023ANG The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming rebidding for the Supply and Delivery of CCTV Equipment under ITB No. PB16-023ANG. Brief Description

Va r i o u s S u r v e i l l a n c e / C C T V E q u i p m e n t

Deliver y Period

W i t h i n s i x t y ( 6 0) c a l e n d a r d a y s f r o m t h e e f f e c t i v i t y d a t e specified in the Notice to Proceed

h e t o t a l A B C i s T h r e e M i l l i o n F i f t y -T h r e e T h o u s a n d F o u r Approved Budget for T H u n d r e d S e v e n t y - S i x P e s o s & 2 0 /10 0 ( P 3 , 0 5 3 , 47 6 . 2 0) , t h e C o n t r a c t ( A B C) : VAT- E x c l u s i v e , Z e r o - R a t e d Tr a n s a c t i o n . S o u r c e o f Fu n d s:

I n t e r n a l l y Fu n d e d

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before 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, 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. All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities

Schedule

1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

July 20, 2016 to August 10, 2016

2. Pre-Bid Conference

July 28, 2016 (Thursday), 2:00 p.m.

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids

August 10, 2016 (Wednesday), 2:00 p.m.

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

August 10, 2016 (Wednesday), 2:00 p.m., onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Procurement Section, upon payment of the non-refundable cost for the sale of bidding documents amounting to Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00). Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders.Prospective bidders should present to Finance Section located at the Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from the Procurement Section or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids. In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC)shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been postqualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1. In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper. 2. The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

Romero’s ouster from House sought By Maricel V. Cruz

A PETITION to disqualify 1-Pacman party-list Representative Michael Odylon “Mikee” L. Romero from holding office has been filed before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal. In a 13-page petition for quo warranto filed last July 15, a certain Felix Aguilar Jr. of Brgy. Pines, Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental claimed that Romero is ineligible to sit as a member of the House “since he is not a bonafide member of the sectoral party he intends to represent.” “Records disclose that [the] respondent, who claims to be the first nominee and chairman of the Board of Trustees, is not a member of the marginalized sector which 1-Pacman seeks to represent in Congress,” the petition said.

Republic of the Philippines MUNICIPALITY OF CABUGAO Ilocos Sur Office of the Bids & Awards Committee

Runway repaired

Invitation to Bid for the

By Joel E. Zurbano

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee through the Procurement Section, Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City at Tel No.: 892-5073 local 401. (SGD) GLECY B. DANGA Chairperson Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC)

(TS JULY 20, 2016)

PUBLIC INFORMATION SHEET FOR DIRECT USE AS FOOD AND FEED, OR FOR PROCESSING PROPOSAL FOR DIRECT USE AS FOOD AND FEED, OR FOR PROCESSING Bt11 x DAS-59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21 1.

Applicant’s Name Syngenta Philippines, Inc.

Applicant’s Address 12th Floor, Two World Square, # 22 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, 1630 Philippines

Telephone Number/ Facsimile Number, E-Mail Address of the Applicant Tel. +63 2 370 2100; Fax: +63 2 856 9260; E-mail: c/o ba_cau.duong@syngenta.com

Name of Responsible Officer/Authorized Representative Duong Ba Cau, President and Commercial Unit Head, Philippines Felipe S. dela Cruz, Jr., Country Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Seeds, Philippines

Description of the Regulated Article for Direct Use Bt11 x DAS-59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21 is a stack corn hybrid developed by conventionally crossing B11, DAS-59122-7, MIR604, TC1507, and GA21 corn. Bt11, DAS-59122-7, MIR604, TC1507, and GA21 are transgenic corn events developed through modern biotechnology. Bt11 contains Cry1Ab gene which provides protection against Asiatic corn borer (ACB). It also contains pat gene which codes for the production of the enzyme phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase (pat) which confers tolerance to glufosinate. DAS-59122-7 contains the genes Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1 which provide protection against rootworm. MIR604 contains the mCry3A gene which encodes the mCry3A protein that provides protection against rootworm and the pmi gene which allows the positive selection for the recovery of the transformed plants. TC1507 corn contains the Cry1F gene from Bacillus thuringiensis var aizawai. It produces the Cry1F protein that when ingested by the insect, acts by selectively binding to specific sites on the lining of the midgut of susceptible insects causing gut paralysis and eventual death due to bacterial sepsis. Event TC1507 also produces the PAT protein from S. viridochromogenes which provides tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicide. GA21 contains the mepsps (modified 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) gene which confers tolerance to glyphosate.

If to be imported, Country (ies) of Origin of the Regulated Article United States and/or Canada

Brief Summary of Potential Effects on Human and Animal Health and the Environment Bt11 x DAS-59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21 corn has been adequately assessed to demonstrate its safety as food and feed; and its safety to the environment. Compositional and nutritional analyses show that Bt11 x DAS59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21corn is substantially equivalent to and as safe as conventional corn. Bt11, DAS-59122-7, MIR604 and TC1507 are very specific on the control of the target insects such as ACB and rootworm but are not known to affect non-target organisms. Studies conducted show that the proteins produced in the Bt11 x DAS59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21 hybrids (Cry1Ab, pat, Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1, mCry3A, pmi, Cry1F, and mepsps) do not have homology to any known mammalian toxin and allergen. There is no evidence that these proteins will interact to form new toxin or allergen. In addition, the modes of action of these proteins are distinct and no interaction has been detected. Moreover, the overall concentrations and patterns of expression of the Cry1Ab/pat, Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1/pat, mCry3A/pmi, Cry1F/pat, and mepsps proteins are generally similar between Bt11 x DAS-59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21 and single events Bt11, DAS-59122-7, MIR604, TC1507 and GA21. Furthermore, Southern analyses demonstrated that the stack hybrid has stably inherited the introduced genes from the parental Bt11, DAS-59122-7, MIR604, TC1507 and GA21 inbreds, respectively, in a predictable manner. Therefore, based on compositional/nutritional analyses, allergenicity and toxicity studies specifically conducted to assess its safety and from the data available from the scientific literature, Bt11 corn, DAS-59122-7 corn, MIR604 corn, TC1507 corn and GA21 corn are substantially equivalent to and is as safe as the conventional corn, except for its built-in resistance to corn borer, rootworm and glyphosate herbicide. In addition, studies have shown that that they do not pose risk nor cause harm to non-target insects, animals and humans. To date, Bt11 x DAS-59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21 has passed the thorough evaluation of various regulatory institutions and has received approvals for propagation or release into the environment in 3 countries and approvals for import in 9 countries.

Brief Summary of Potential Benefits Bt11 x DAS-59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21 corn will be imported as grains for direct use as food, feed, and for processing in the Philippines. Since Bt11 x DAS-59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21 will be a traded commodity, the society will be the main beneficiary in case importation will be required to supply the industry with grains of corn and corn products to feed millers, for use in poultry, livestock, aquaculture, and other industries.

Countries Where Approvals Have Been Granted (for FFP; for Commercial Propagation)

Country Canada Colombia Japan Korea Mexico Philippines South Africa Taiwan United States

Use Feed Propagation Food Feed Food Propagation Food Feed Food, Feed, and Processing Food, Feed, and Processing Food, Feed, and Processing Food Propagation, Food, Feed and Processing

Date of Approval July 20, 2011 August 8, 2011 January 27, 2016 April 14, 2016 February 2, 2011 August 8, 2011 April 26, 2013 November 2, 2011 November 3, 2011 August 3, 2011 March 24, 2014 July 27, 2012 June 10, 2011

HRET rules provides that a verified petition for quo warranto contesting the election of a House member on the ground of ineligibility shall be filed with this Honorable Tribunal within fifteen (15) days from June 30 of the election year or the date of the actual assumption to office, whichever is later. The petition against Romero said there is no proof that Romero shares the advocacy of 1-Pacman (One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals), formerly 1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group, Inc. or 1JMAG.

The group, the petition, claims to be an “organized group of citizen whose residences are in Region IV, Philippines, and whose subsistence and means of livelihood depend largely on agriculture and its extension industries; to wit: farming, fishing, livestock and poultry raising and services in the transport sector involved in the movement and marketing of agricultural and fishing products.” “Respondent did not show any proof that he shares the advocacy of 1 PACMAN—being an organization of agricultural workers residing in Region IV, whose subsistence and means of livelihood depend largely on agriculture, the petition pointed out, referring to Romero who has emerged as one of the richest members of the House of Representatives and the youngest billionaire in Asia.

Supply & Delivery for the Procurement of Two (2) Units Garbage Compactor (Reconditioned) of LGU-Cabugao, Ilocos Sur 1. The Local Government Unit of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, through the R.A. 7171 intends to apply the sum of Three Million Pesos (Php. 3,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) of the projects to payments under the contract for Contract No. 16-08-001. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 2. The Local Government Unit of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur now invites bids for Supply & Delivery of Garbage Compactor. Duration of the project is required for 30 calendar Days. Bidders should have completed at least 50% of the approved budget which is similar to the project to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders. 3. 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”. 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from Local Government Unit of Cabugao and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on July 20, 2016 – August 10, 2016 until 10:00 a.m from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos Only (Php. 5,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. 6. The Local Government Unit of Cabugao will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 27, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Brgy. Hall, Brgy. Rizal, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. 7. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before August 10, 2016 until 10:00 a.m. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. 8. Bid opening shall be on August 10, 2016 at 02:00 P.M. at Brgy. Hall, Brgy. Rizal, Cabugao Ilocos Sur. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Opening of Bids

\ The public is hereby invited to submit their comments to the BPI Director (within 60 days from date of publication) on the Proposal for the Importation of Bt11 x DAS-59122-7 x MIR604 x TC1507 x GA21 corn for direct use as food and feed, or for processing

Bid Evaluation Post Qualification Notice of Award Signing of Contract Notice to Proceed

July 20, 2016 – August 10, 2016 until 10:00 a.m July 27, 2016, 10:00 a.m @ Conference Hall August 10, 2016 @ 02:00 p.m @ Conference Hall, Mun. Hall, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur August 12, 2016 August 15, 2016 August 17, 2016 August 19, 2016 August 22, 2016

9. The Local Government Unit of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur 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.

Director Bureau of Plant Industry San Andres, Malate, Manila Telephone Number 521-1080 Fax Number 521-1080 E-Mail bpibiotechsecretariat@yahoo.com Approved for Publication: ___________________________ (SGD) VICENCIO R. MAMARIL, PhD OIC Director Bureau of Plant Industry Date: July 15, 2016

10. For further information, please refer to: SGD. ENGR. HERMES A. ASIT LGU- BAC- Secretariat Tel No. 077-728-5128, Fax No. 077-728-5565 SGD. CRESCENCIO MARCOS C. FORMOSO BAC- Chairman

(TS-JULY 20, 2016)

( T S - J U LY 2 0 , 2 016)

AIRPORT authorities have completed the repairs for the damaged runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport but airliners expect more flight delays as a result of the “disturbance.” The affected flights on Monday, according to the Department of Transportation, include 53 departing planes, 76 arrivals, with eight international flights and four domestic flights canceled. Hundreds of passengers also experienced inconvenience and were dismayed when their flights were diverted to Clark International Airport in Pampanga on Monday, saying they stayed there for more than five hours. At least 22 flights were diverted to Clark. Ed Monreal, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, said the runway is open for normal operation Tuesday but there could sill be delays “because of time for aircraft turn around.” Monreal said the MIAA decided to close the major runway to give way for the repair work of a damaged runway measuring fourinch deep pothole to ensure the safety of aircraft and passengers. He added the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines issued a notice to airmen declaring the closure of Naia runway from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on July 18. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific issued apologies to the passengers affected by the closure of the Naia main runway, saying “It was a ‘force majeure’ and was not fault by the airlines.” PAL spokesperson Maria Cielo Villaluna told The Standard that it suffered revenue losses because of what happened and as a result of the emergency situation at the Naia.

w e d n e s d ay : j u ly 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

P100-m agri machines rusting—Piñol By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Agriculture Secretary emmanuel Piñol said yesterday P100 million worth of agriculture equipment is “rusting” in the compound of the DA in tupi, South cotabato.

Grace. Students give their all in the street dancing competition of the Subanen Festival in Ozamiz City on Saturday. The festival is held in honor of the Birhen sa Cota, the patron saint of Ozamiz City. The Subanen are the indigenous peoples living in Mount Malindang in Misamis Occidental and the Zamboanga Peninsula. LAnCE BAConGuis

Piñol said some of the equipment were bought four years ago, while the rice and corn harvesters and tractors were about a year old. He said he already directed internal audit Service chief Danny luna to come up with a report on this misuse of government funds and assets. “in the meantime, i have directed that the equipment be immediately rehabilitated, repaired and repainted and distributed to the farmers or local government units,” the secretary said. “i will also ask lawyers of the department to study this case and determine the administrative and criminal liability of the officials behind the procurement and non-distribution of these machineries,” Piñol concluded. “The oic Director carlene collado, who is manning the regional post until the appointment papers of the incoming Regional Director Milagros casis are signed by President Rody Duterte, said the machinery were not distributed because the farmers could not come up with a 15-percent cash equity which the Da required from them as

their counterpart,” he said. Piñol, quoting collado, said the cash equity will go to the dealer of the equipment. “collado said that in the guidelines issued by former agriculture secretary Proceso alcala, the farmers or farmer group were supposed to shoulder 15 percent of the cost of the equipment with the Da paying for 85 percent,” he said. Piñol earlier said he wanted to scrap the farmers’ 15 percent equity on farm machinery. “We will scrap the 15 percent equity [on farm machines and equipment] because farmers cannot afford it. instead, it will be 50:50 and will be payable in four years,” he said. “They will pay half of the equipment’s cost because we will roll it over. but that will be spread over four years. The farmers agreed to this,” Piñol added. He said that currently, the government does not procure on installment or partial payment process. “Honestly, i do not understand why farmers have to be asked to make the complete payment for machinery procured by the government,” Piñol said.

NGCP places Luzon grid on seven-hour yellow alert By Alena Mae s. Flores THE luzon Grid was placed on yellow alert for seven hours Tuesday due to insufficient generation capacity as several power plants went offline, system operator national Grid corporation of the Philippines (nGcP) said. For its part, the Energy Department stated it is closely monitoring the power supply situation in luzon following the forced shutdown of the 122-megawatt South luzon Thermal Energy corp. coalfired power plant and the 300M block b of the ilijan natural gas-fired power plant. The nGcP issued the yellow alert notice from 10

a.m. to 4 p.m. of July 19. as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, the luzon Grid’s available capacity stood at 9,981 MW, while the demand reached some 9,479 MW. “The luzon Grid went on yellow alert due to lower level contingency reserves brought about by insufficient power supply,” the nGcP said. Power distributor Manila Electric co. coordinated with its interruptible load Program participants to augment the supply. as of 11:30 a.m., some 158 customers expressed commitment to deload a total of 320 MW. “The DoE constantly reminds the public to practice

energy efficiency and conservation measures,” the department said. Meralco said the following plants remain to be out: Pagbilao 2 (382 MW), Malaya 1 (300 MW), Malaya 2 (350 MW) and angat Main 2 (50 MW). calaca 1, on the other hand, is still limited to 180 MW output (out of 200 MW). as a result of the unavailable capacity, Meralco said, net reserve in the luzon Grid at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday stood at 245 MW and 64 MW, respectively. Meralco said it has advised customers under the interruptible load Program to use their own generator sets should the need arise.

Annual reunion. Pedrito Dy (center), a survivor of the July 16, 1990 killer earthquake

that hit the City of Baguio, was buried under the Hyatt Hotel rubble for 16 days before he was rescued by the two men with him in the picture. DAViD CHAn

Barangay chief, 1 civilian shot dead in Calbayog City By Mel Caspe Tacloban ciTy—Police chief Supt. Elmer beltejar, acting Eastern Visayas regional director, condemned the killing in calbayog of barangay chairman Francisco cano, 58, and chito Rabe, 34, single, of barangay East awang.

cano was allegedly one of the drug personalities who voluntarily surrendered to the calbayog city Police Station of the Samar Provincial Police office. The shooting incident that transpired at about 10:50 a.m. Sunday at P-5 barangay nijaga was perpetrated by two unidenti-

fied suspects, who also wounded Ramil Macarato, 32, jobless and a resident of barangay Guin-on. The victims were on their way home to barangay Guin-on on a motorcycle when the suspects on another motorcycle (marked Honda XRM with no plate number) shot the victims

in different parts of their bodies and f led. cano and Rabe were immediately brought to our lady of Porciuncula Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival, while Macarato was brought to EVRMc Tacloban city for medical treatment. Recovered

from the crime scene were eight pieces of fired cartridge of cal .45 and three slugs. The cadavers of the victims were taken to St. Jude Funeral Homes, barangay capoocan, calbayog city. The police are conducting follow-up investigation relative to the incident.

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

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

CRACKS IN OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY

[ EDI TORI A L ]

AT THE MERCY OF IGNORANT MEN THE murder last week of Pakistani social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch at the hands of her own brother was a grim reminder that many women today are still at the mercy of backward and ignorant men who believe that a woman’s place is in the home. Baloch, only 25, was strangled Friday at her family home in Multan in the Pakistani province of Punjab, reports say. “I am proud of what I did,” her brother said after he was arrested. “I drugged her first, then I killed her. She was bringing dishonor to our family.” Dishonor, in this case, came in the form of photos of herself that Baloch posted on Facebook, images that by most modern standards can only be described as tame. By the mores of a conservative Muslim society, however, they were regarded as nothing short of scandalous. Baloch, whose real name was Fauzia Azeem, cultivated an outrageous public persona, recently promising to perform a public striptease if the Pakistani cricket team won a major tournament, the Associated Press reported. She built up a social media fan base of 40,000 Twitter followers and more than 700,000 followers on her Facebook page. In videos that quickly went viral, she gyrated to a popular rap song, and in her postings, spoke of female empowerment in a country where hundreds of women are murdered by family members every year in so-called honor killings. Most recently, Baloch became embroiled in public scandal when she posted selfies with a prominent cleric in a Karachi hotel room during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. In one picture, she wore the cleric’s trademark fur-lined hat. The cleric said he had met her to discuss the teaching of Islam, but the government suspended him. In the aftermath, Baloch said she received death threats, but the Interior Ministry refused her requests for protection. For Baloch’s brother, this was the last straw. “I planned this after her scandal with the mufti and was waiting for the right time,” he said, adding that he expected to be remembered for bringing honor to his family and by earning his place in heaven. “Girls are born to stay home and follow traditions. My sister never did that,” he said. “I want to inspire women.” An independent human rights commission in Pakistan estimates that as many as 212 women were killed in the name of “honor” in the first five months of 2016. Worse, the perpetrators of this violence are seldom brought to justice. If a man kills his wife, sister, daughter or even mother for “transgressive” behavior—falling in love or laughing loudly in public—that he feels bring shame on him or his family, another member of his family can “forgive” the culprit as the law allows, and the killer goes scot-free. The backward mentality that allows such barbarism against women to exist may seem far removed from our daily reality, but underneath the thin veneer of civility and modernity, it lurks. On a popular noontime show earlier this month, Senator Vicente Sotto III suggested that a woman that a male friend had taken advantage of was to blame because she drank with him. Shaming the woman on national TV, he also called her out for wearing “short shorts.” Blaming the victim is never acceptable, whether you are a backward, narrow-minded brute in the Punjab—or a nationally elected senator in Metro Manila who ought to know better.

SANITY RETURNS LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES WE HAVE a tradition to uphold, after all. And with Gloria Arroyo out of jail soon, will Noynoy Aquino start doing time behind bars, just so we don’t break the streak? The Supreme Court yesterday threw out the plunder case filed against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for lack of evidence and ordered her immediate release. By doing so less than three weeks after the instigator of the charges had stepped down

from Malacañang, the high court was saying this to the nation, on behalf of the entire Judiciary: “We only charged her because we were afraid of ending up like Corona. But we knew, like everyone with half a brain did, that there was really no case against her.” Arroyo, after all, was formally accused of plunder in October 2012, soon after Aquino ordered the deed done in his third State of the Nation Address. Earlier, in May that same year, Aquino sent the chilling message to the Judiciary that anyone who would stand in his way as he pursues the cases against Arroyo would suffer the same fate of Chief Justice Renato Corona—whom

he had impeached, convicted and removed by Congress using billions of public funds. (No one knew at the time that Aquino had bribed Congress by diverting nine percent—by his own admission—of the P145billion DAP fund to the pet projects of members of Congress to get Corona removed. Different strokes for different departments, obviously.) But Aquino, blinded by his vengefulness, did not even see to it that the charges against his predecessor could be made to stick. And in the nearly four years that the president’s men tried to use the case of Arroyo’s marginal “OK” on a PCSO order to release funds to aid distressed

I think Aquino, for being monumentally stupid, deserves to go to jail like his two immediate predecessors.

Filipinos abroad to convict her, nothing happened. Now the court is saying that the previous administration never had a case against Arroyo, just as most legal experts believed. After all, if Aquino and his men had the goods on the ex-president, they would have certainly secured a conviction, with all the resources that they had against whatever legal defense she could put up. But they didn’t have a case. All Aquino and his taxpayer-paid lawyers had was enough power to keep Arroyo incarcerated; they didn’t have enough juice to convict her. *** The four-year jailing of Gloria just to make Noynoy happy will go down in history as a textbook example of the harm that a

president can do, if he decides to go on a personal vendetta. This is why no one should ever be elected again to that high post who cannot look beyond partisan politics—someone, for instance, who will forsake the use of the Philippine flag in favor of the symbol of his political party. This is not to say, of course, that previous presidents should not be made to account for the wrongs they did while they hold office and enjoy immunity from suit. What it does mean is that the pursuit of justice should be left to the courts and not be turned into vin-

dictive state policy. Aquino, for example, should be made to account fully for anomalies that happened during his term, like the DAP scandal and the SAF 44 massacre—as he, in fact, has already been called to account for in court by various groups. But his successor, Rodrigo Duterte, must not even comment on these legal actions because they should remain strictly non-partisan endeavors. And the courts should never again be threatened by Malacañang to do its bidding on pain of suffering the Corona treatment. If the courts had

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

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been left to decide Arroyo’s cases without interference and threats from the Aquino administration, it’s safe to say that they would have been thrown out long ago. There’s also the fact that a president needs to focus on so many problems that require his attention simultaneously. Only a chief executive as vengeful and petty as Aquino will consider it a priority to jail and convict his predecessor, when he should be doing more important things like building roads and bridges. 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

“IT’S more fun in the Philippines,” so says our tourism come-on slogan. We want to host the next Miss Universe beauty pageant in Manila, following Philippine representative Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach’s winning of the 2015 title in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pia has proposed the idea to President Rodrigo Duterte during a courtesy call in Malacñang. If the country gets to host the pageant, it won’t be the first time the Miss Universe contest will be held in Manila. But are we ready to receive hordes of tourists and officials of the Miss Universe pageant when we cannot even fix the huge cracks in the main runway of the international gateway? In a way, these huge cracks on the airport runway reflect the sad state of Philippine aviation and tourism. Domestic and international flights coming into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were diverted to Cebu’s Mactan airport and Clark Field in Pampanga. Departing flights were canceled or delayed for hours to the consternation of passengers who were not allowed to deplane. Can you imagine being in a plane sitting on the runway for nearly 15 hours and you can’t even walk to stretch your legs? I found myself in this situation once. I had fits of anxiety and a near-serious case of claustrophobia. It’s bad enough many foreign airlines like KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways and Swissair have stopped flying to Manila because of security concerns due to poor communications and navigation equipment. American carriers TWA, United and Pan Am have also bypassed Manila, leaving only Delta airlines servicing Manila to several major points in the US like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, New York and Washington DC. The Duterte administration has a new tourism secretary. We hope Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo will not be too focused in just coming up with a new catchy tourism slogan. The country’s airports, not just the Naia, need to be upgraded like other airports in Asia. The country’s airports and public transport system deteriorated under former Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya during Aquino’s six-year term of under spending on government infrastructure projects. Filipinos leaving Naia feel a mix of awe and embarrassment when they arrive at modern airports in Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. With money collected from the airport terminal tax and travel tax, passengers have a right to expect a better airport from the government. What one gets instead are grief and inconvenience, including from the “tanim bala” (bullet planting) scam by some airport security perContinued 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

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OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

CRACKS IN OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY

[ EDI TORI A L ]

I think Aquino, for being monumentally stupid, deserves to go to jail like his two immediate predecessors.

ONLINE

can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

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A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

ERADICATE JUETENG TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO SANTA Banana, President Rodrigo Duterte won’t mind being compared to Idi Amin, the “butcher” of Uganda, who reportedly killed 10,000 people, violating their human rights. This leader was soon deposed and killed. Does not the President know that Idi Amin was accused of eating the hearts of his enemies after killing them? That’s Duterte’s way of justifying his campaign against illegal drugs. He even said that if policemen were brought to court accused of violating human rights and convicted, he’ll pardon them. As President, he implements and executes the law. It’s the courts that give people due process. I admire the fact that Duterte walks his talk, especially when it comes to criminality, illegal drugs and corruption. But I also said that at the rate that law enforcement agencies are implementing the President’s directive, the culture of violence and impunity has indeed developed. So many alleged drug pushers are killed; we don’t even know if these are the result of shootouts or summary killings. Thus, while the President is committed to end crime, illegal drugs and corruption in office, as a lawyer, he must also realize that impunity must not be the norm here. This must be balanced with the rule of law and due process. President Duterte must realize that when he took his oath of office as President, he vowed to protect and defend the Constitution, and also do justice to every man. We still live in a democracy. *** President Duterte has said that the government campaign against illegal gambling, or “jueteng” as it is known in the Philippines, can wait after the menace of illegal drugs is terminated. Jueteng is so pervasive that local government executives, police and the military get corrupted. Santa Banana, jueteng can even make mayors, governors and congressmen. Even parish priests partake of the profit of

jueteng lords. In fact, in some areas in Luzon where jueteng is prevalent, the radio stations even relay the results of the day in the morning and in the afternoon. This is particularly true in the Ilocos, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Bicol. Some so-called jueteng lords are known and in fact were investigated by Congress. Nothing concrete has been done to prosecute them. The reason: these jueteng lords also have the political clout needed to win elections. And some politicians have come out with the excuse that going against jueteng would displace so many people whose jobs include collecting bets. In fact, in many places, jueteng is the only form of activity or entertainment to break boredom and monotomy. Those who bet just P1 to P5 can hope to win up to P100 to P200. I was even told that in municipalities in Tarlac or Pampanga, if jueteng were stopped, people would protest. Everybody is involved.

It’s just as bad, and just as pervasive.

*** The President was illadvised in appointing folk singer Freddie Aguilar as head of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts. Aguilar doesn’t have the credentials to head such a body. This is reserved only for people who know what culture and the arts mean. Aguilar is known only for his folk song “Anak,” which has been translated into several languages. In fact, the appointment of Aguilar to such a prestigious position is as bad and even could be worse than when singer Aiza Seguerra and her partner were appointed culture and arts advisers. Santa Banana, the appointment of Aguilar is even null and void. Republic Act 7356 man-

AEGLE AND LONG LIFE I HAVE always believed that I will have a long life, meaning I will live longer than the average life span of the Filipino, which is 68 years and seven months, according to the World Health Organization. I am 67. I don’t have any sickness or disease. I haven’t had any major health problem, any major surgery, no heart problem, no stent, no heart bypass, no kidney problem, no dialysis mode, no transplant of any vital organ. Considering my parents’ genes, my having reached 67 is a wonderful achievement. My father died at the age of 45, of cirrhosis or liver cancer. He was a drinker. My mother died at 54, also of cirrhosis. She was not a drinker. In other words, we are prone to liver disease. My brother, also a journalist, who came next to me, died at the age of 55, of heart attack. A much younger brother died at age 37, also of heart attack. Both were drinkers. Our genes, it seems, are prone to heart problems, in addition to liver failure. I have overcome the average of my parents’ life expectancy—50. I have exceeded, rather easily, my two deceased brothers’ average lifetime–46. I believe I should live long. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. Each vice easily reduces one’s age by three years. So add six years to my 67. I should reach 73. Consider too that spectacular advances in medicine should be good enough to add five years to one’s life span. So I should live up to 78. My not smoking and drinking, however, does not guarantee long life. Some younger men shunned drinking and smoking all their lives and just dropped dead. Maybe, it is our work, our environment, and also, the food we eat that send seemingly healthy people to a premature tete-a-tete with the Lord. I think I will reach 80. I came to this conviction after I was introduced to Aegle by my good friend of many years, Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin. Aegle is not the new name of the Philippine eagle. Nor a girlfriend I am currently enamored with. “Aegle” is supposedly the Greek goddess of radiant health. Bobby has invested P500 million in two world-class wellness facilities—at his City Club at the center dates that only the board of the NCCA can elect the chairman. The rationale of this law is to create and independent body free from politics. After all, the NCCA is mandated to name national artists in visual arts, music, literature, sculpture and dance. That’s the reason why NCCA is now chaired by national artist Felipe de Leon. Duterte should consult his advisers before making appointments so he can avoid mistakes and embarrassment.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ of the Makati Business District, and at his 500-hectare Balesin Island resort complex and members-only club in the middle of the Pacific Ocean 59 nautical miles and 20 minutes by jet from Manila. “There is nothing quite like it in this world,” Bobby tells me of his wellness facilities. The facilities and equipment of the Aegle Wellness Centers are state-of-theart, the latest, and probably the most expensive in wellness equipment and Thalassotherapy. Their locations are strategic, the first in Makati, the Philippines’ business center, and the other, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Designed and built by Rico Sison, with construction personally monitored by the father-and-daughter tandem of Bobby Ongpin and Anna Bettina Ongpin, the Balesin Wellness Center is a masterpiece of art and medical science. Equipment and location aside, what makes the two Aegle Wellness Centers the best and the only one of their kind is the team of specialists assembled by Ongpin. They are among the world’s best and experts —in preventive medicine, anti-aging, and regeneration medicine. Only a client or a patient’s stubborn refusal to be healed—or to get well or become healthier and enjoy a long life and option for slow death in “nameless gnawing pain”—can sabotage their efforts. I have known Bobby for 40 years. I covered him when I was business writer and editor, first when he was the youthful chairman and CEO of then-giant professional services organization SGV, second, as the powerful minister of trade and industry of strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos, and third, as a savvy entrepreneur and visionary businessman who has pioneered a number of enterprises in investment management, property, gaming, and resorts, aside from being one of the most sought-after directors of among the largest companies in the Philippines and in the region. Bobby has almost always been forthright with his facts and views. He conveys a man so full of himself

If we recall, when some so-called national artists were named sometime ago, the NCAA objected. They did not pass through the NCAA board. *** Some have been talking a lot about federalism as the answer to problems in Mindanao. With federalism in place, they say, the Muslims in Mindanao will have their voice heard by the central government. The call for a new structure of government like federalism is something

and full of passion and hard work. He is a tough and persistent negotiator but he is not one to put one over you. “He brings out the best in you,” exults daughter Anna who last May took over as president of Alphaland Corp., the company behind Aegle Wellness Centers, City Club in Makati, Balesin Island Club in Quezon province, Alphaland Makati Place, and a number of unique, high-end projects. Anna has a bachelor’s degree in political science, from Wellesley College, America’s top college for women. Alphaland is developing a 1,000-hectare better-than-Boracay resort island called Patnanungan, 22 nautical miles from Balesin. On it will be developed the Balesin Gateway International Airport complete with a 2-km airport to take in jumbo jets from places like Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, “everywhere,” says Bobby Ongpin. Balesin Gateway will bypass Manila’s horrendous traffic and horrific terminals for overseas guests of Balesin island and Aegle to enable Alphaland to cash in on the booming $500-billion-a-year wellness tourism business. I have tried Ongpin’s Aegle Wellness Center, three times, in December, in March, and July this year. I have had three blood tests. In my first test at the Aegle Wellness Center at City Club, it was disclosed that I have a healthy heart and the testosterone of a man at age 37. I am in relative good health. In terms of health and body functions, I am younger than my age. Still, my reaching 80 is not a cinch. It will require a lot of effort, dedication, and discipline. This is where Dr. Benedict Francis Valdecañas, the medical director of the Aegle Wellness Centers, comes in. He advises me two things—to exercise at least three times a week, like taking a two-km walk, brisk walk, better, every other day. And watching my diet. Says Dr. Valdecañas: “Health and long life are about genetics and the environment.” And discipline, if I may add. Going to Aegle ensures that we approach all three—genetics, environment, and discipline, with seriousness. biznewsasia@gmail.com

that should be studied. The Philippines has tribal roots composed of so many tribes speaking numerous dialects. So, how can we have a federal form of government when we can not get all Filipinos from different regions to speak the same dialect? Lest I am misunderstood, I’m an advocate of a parliamentarian form of government. We are the only nation in this part of the world that still has a unitary system. I’m not against federal-

ism, but to have a federal form of government just to solve the Muslim problem defeats the constitutional mandate that a government must serve the national interests for the greatest number of people. That would be simply foolish! Thus, to those politicians and advocates of federalism, I say that let’s not jump into things. I support the Constitutional Convention so all delegates can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this proposal.

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

SIMPLIFYING GOVERNMENT SO I SEE LITO BANAYO ONE of the main arguments against changing the present form of government from a centralized, unitary form, to a federal system is that it just adds another layer of bureaucracy. Given the people’s aversion to the labyrinthine ways by which bureaucracy makes things more difficult than they should be, one can understand the currency of this concern. One has to start with the electoral system. We elect far too many officials, many of whom just sit and collect salaries, apart from using their power to make more on the side. The voter elects a mayor, vice mayor, anywhere from six to eight councilors per district. Then he elects a governor, a vice governor, and provincial board members. Concurrently for national officials, he elects a president, vice president, 12 senators, a congressman, and a party among those accredited by the Comelec to participate in the party list system. In a separate election, he votes for a barangay chairman and his six kagawads. Let’s first tackle the local officials: The lowest unit is the barangay, headed by a chairperson plus his kagawads, and until we abolish the same, a Sangguniang Kabataan representative, elect-

Cracks... From A9 sonnel. While this scam seems to have been stopped and now under control, one never knows when these scums will again rear their ugly heads. We hope it doesn’t happen when we are hosting an important international event like the Miss Universe beauty pageant. Then there’s our horrendous traffic jams that made a soonto-be president curse even Pope Francis for aggravating the problem during his papal visit. There must be other national endeavors we can spend money on other than hosting an inter-

ed by the “youth.” Since this is the governance unit closest and likely more relevant to the public, it will be difficult to abolish the barangay system. But let’s do away with the Sangguniang Kabataan. After all, the voting age has been lowered to 18. Let us begin by stretching the terms of elected officials to a uniform six years. Three years is too short; with a recall mechanism, the six-year term of an elected official could be shortened anyway, if necessary. My next proposal is to abolish the municipal and city councils. In my City of Manila, and I guess the same is true all over, these councilors meet only twice each week, ostensibly to produce ordinances and ratify initiatives of the mayor. In Manila, there are 36 elected councilors, at six per district, and add to that the selected president of the Association of Barangay Chairs. There are about 12 to 14 barangays in a typical municipality. Big cities are the exception, but even here, you see no rational explanation for the numbers disparity. Manila has 897 barangays. Cebu City has 80. The latter has some 700,000 voters; the former some 800,000 voters. Manila has six congressional districts; Cebu has two. See the incongruence? My proposal is to make the barangay chairs automatically comprise the municipal council or board. Review the number of barangays (in Manila there are barangays with just about 200 voters—one precinct actually);

rationalize the same such that with big cities, the most number of barangays should be about a hundred. In these big cities, let the barangay chairs, at proportionate district level representation, take turns at serving as legislators for two years out of their six-year term. For municipalities with less barangays (and this is the norm), the chairpersons could serve as ordinancemakers for the entire term. Next, abolish election of provincial board members. Make the mayors comprising the province serve as the provincial board. Just like a board of directors, where “stockholders”, in this case the principal “stakeholders” are the policy makers. Again, if the province has far too many municipalities, such as Pangasinan, or Bohol, termsharing could be implemented. The elected vice mayor and vice governor automatically act as the presiding officer in these boards or councils. Block voting for mayor and vice mayor, governor and his vice, and even the president and his vice president should be enshrined in a new Constitution. Because if we go federal, there will be a “regional” or “state” government, where we shall elect a state legislature in charge of policy apart from the executives who shall implement. Thus the need to simplify government from the electoral level. Otherwise, there will simply be far too many elected officials cluttering the ballot, as well as making the taxpayer

national beauty pageant. Money to be spent on the Miss U pageant can be better put to use in upgrading our airports, creating jobs, building shelter for the homeless who are rounded up whenever we host international events so they won’t be seen on the city’s streets. As cruel as it may sound, this is like sweeping dirt under the rug. Reading the local newspapers, visitors will also be appalled at the daily vigilante and police killing of suspected drug pushers in line with President Duterte’s set deadline of eliminating crime and illegal drug

trafficking within six months. International human rights groups have expressed their concern that some of those summarily executed could be innocent and just be collateral damage resulting from carrying out the President’s take-no-prisoners campaign against drugs. Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach did the country proud for winning the Miss Universe title. But hosting this beauty pageant could just be another diversion from the harsh realities of life in the Philippines and the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

#FAILOCRACY

pay for chair-borers and many who make a profession out of spewing useless saliva. Now we go to the national legislature: My proposal is for a unicameral legislature elected at large representing the regions or states. Assume we have the following states: Northern Luzon (Regions 1 and 2 minus Pangasinan); the Cordillera; Central Luzon this time including Pangasinan; NCR; Southern Tagalog; Bicol; Mimaropa; Eastern, Central and Western Visayas (the old set-up with Negros Oriental as part of Central Visayas); Northern Mindanao; Southern Mindanao; and two Muslim states (one for the islanders and another for the mainland people). That makes a total of fourteen. (The number and configuration will need to be debated by the constitutional convention delegates). Let each state or region elect 5 legislators each on a state-wide basis. That makes for 70 legislators comprising a National Assembly. The elected vice president of the federal republic sits as presiding officer. The president (and his vice) elected at large by the people, similar to the French semi-parliamentary model shall be in charge of defense, national security, currency and monetary system, foreign affairs. He shall choose a Prime Minister from among the members of the national assembly, which shall then ratify his choice. That Prime Minister will be in charge

of day-to-day management of the economy, to encompass infrastructure, economic and other agencies of government. (The proposal mirrors the set-up when Ferdinand Marcos chose Cesar Virata as Prime Minister, and ratified by the Batasang Pambansa). The Constitution must define the meaning, purposes and sectoral representation for the party-list. This should not be left to Comelec nor the Supreme Court. Until otherwise amended, the number of parties should be limited, and in the National Assembly, to a fifth of the elected state or regional representation. Less government, the better for us all. It also simplifies elections. The voter ticks off his choice of president, that automatically counts in his vice presidential team-mate. Then he elects 5 assemblymen. One party-list choice. One governor and/or city mayor, automatically counting in their vice(s). One municipal mayor with his vice mayor as well. Three years after, he elects his barangay chair and the six kagawads, in alternating three year electoral exercises. Thinks of how much simpler government would be, with the people exercising their democratic right of free choice as well. Think of how much we can save in salaries, allowances, not to mention the ubiquitous pork barrel or “earmarks.” Politics in this country will perhaps be a little boring, but who the hell cares?

Sanity... From A9 It is no coincidence that it took Aquino two years before he realized that he should do something apart from pursuing Arroyo and her men: Those were the same two years that his administration did nearly nothing but stockpile public funds in the biggest underspending binge this country has ever seen. It was only after Arroyo was incarcerated that Aquino started to look beyond his nose and consider the problems of the nation. By then, of course, he had already thrown away a full third of his term. This, then, is the true cost of Aquino’s vengefulness: He sacrificed a big portion of his term just to get the woman he believed was his political nemesis behind bars, never mind if he ran roughshod over the timorous courts or fed the basest urges of a craven Congress. In the end, he couldn’t even come up with a case strong enough to convict. I think Aquino, simply for being so monumentally stupid, deserves to go to jail like his two immediate predecessors.

CHONG ARDIVILLA

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Russia’s status hangs by thread MONTREAL— International Olympic Committee (IOC) members were set for emergency talks Tuesday to decide Russia’s status for the Rio Olympics after an investigation found rampant state-run doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and other events.

Rio wants everyone RIO DE JANEIRO—Brazil said it hopes that “all countries” will take part at next month’s Rio Olympics, after a report revealed rampant Russian state-run doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and other major sporting events. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) subsequently called for all Russian competitors and officials to be banned from the Rio Olympics after a probe for WADA found the FSB secret service helped “the statedictated failsafe system”. “I hope that all countries and athletes will be present, the Brazilian government hopes that all will be present,” said Brazilian sports minister Leonardo Picciani. AFP Russia operated a state-dictated doping system during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and other events, an independent investigator said in a report likely to lead to demands for Russia to be completely banned from the Rio Games. AFP

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY Caraga Region Butuan City INVITATION TO BID FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF PEST CONTROL CHEMICALS FOR NFACARAGA REGION FOR CY 2016 The NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY, through its Corporate Budget for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR PESOS & 79/100 (Php 671,774.79) being the aggregated Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the supply and delivery of pest control chemicals of NFA Caraga Region for CY 2016 as follows: LOT NO.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

UNIT

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT (ABC)

QUANTITY REQUIRED

PER UNIT

TOTAL AMOUNT

BIDDING FEE

A L U M I N U M PHOSPHIDE

1 kg/ flask

269

Php 2,290.91

Php 616,254.79

Php 1,000.00

C O U M AT E T R A LY L PASTE

1 kg/ pack

Php

920.00

Php 14,720.00

Php 500.00

IMADACLOPRID

1 liter/ bottle

Php 6,800.00

Php 40,800.00

Php 500.00

The active ingredients must be duly registered with FPA/BFAD for use to control stored product pests and the pesticide shall have been officially tested, validated and recommended for use by NFA TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT (TRSD), Philippine Sugar Center Building, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Delivery of the goods is required within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed within the immediate last two 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 (ITB). Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders on July 20, 2016 - August 9, 2016 (working days only) from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable bidding fee for every lot as specified in this Invitation. National Food Authority Caraga Region will hold a Pre-bid Conference on July 27, 2016 at 11:00 A.M., 2nd Floor, Rudy Tiu VIII Bldg., J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City. Only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications. Bid must be submitted to the address below on or before August 9, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Late bids shall not be accepted. Bid opening shall immediately follow at 10:01 A.M. at same venue in the presence of the Bidder or Bidder’s authorized representative.

Knight, Brown kick off Fit Week

By Maxine Lagman

PHOENIX Suns guard Brandon Knight and former NBA player Dee Brown jumpstarted NBA Fit Week at this year’s Gatorade NBA Training Center at Gatorade Hoops Center, Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, with the end goal of teaching basketball skills and promoting a healthy lifestyle among elite Filipino athletes and coaches. For the third consecutive year, the Gatorade NBA Training Center continues in gathering experts in basketball and fitness to highlight the importance of a healthy and active living through three pillars: be active, eat healthy and play together. Knight will teach college basketball players techniques and ways to improve their lifestyle and Brown will share his coaching philosophies with professional and collegiate coaches. “Having had the opportunity to work in the NBA, WNBA, and NBA D-League, I look forward to sharing my coaching knowledge and providing valuable insights on fitness and conditioning to help athletes and coaches elevate their games to the next level,” said Brown. Following his retirement, Brown served as a coach for different team

in the past years. He was an assistant coach for the Pistons in 2011 to 2013, the Sacramento Kings in 2013 to 2015 and the Denver Nuggets this year. “As a coach, I make sure that drills, making shots and playing defense are as important as taking care of the body. To become a great athlete, you have to take care of your body,” added Brown on Monday at the press conference at NBA Cafe, SM Aura. On the other hand, 25-year-old Knight was keen on sharing his passion for basketball with Filipino fans. “I think that’s why we’re here—to share this message where young kids, here, and all over the world, on just how important it is to be fit. Take care of your body, eat the right foods and get a proper rest. You got to do this things to be a successful athlete,” Knight said. Knight was acquired by the Phoenix Suns along with Kendall Marshall in a three-team trade. NBA Fit Week will also include an interactive fan event featuring Globe Telecom’s sports ambassadors at the BGC Ampitheater on July 20 and an NBA Cares Clinic for 13-year-old boys and girls from Special Olympics Philippines at TriNoma Activity Center on July 21.

The National Food Authority 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: Ms. Hyde Beth M. Pascual Information Officer III BAC Secretariat Head National Food Authority Caraga Regional Office 2nd Floor Rudy Tiu Bldg. VIII, J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City TEL NO. (085) 815 3284 (085) 225 6701 FAX NO. (085) 342 7898

(TS-JULY 20, 2016)

(SGD) PROCOPIO B. TRABAJO II Acting Assistant Regional Director Chairperson BAC

NBA Philippines managing director Carlo Singson (center) is shown with Brandon Knight and coaches Dee Brown and Craig Brown. PETER PAUL DURAN

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) called for all Russian competitors and officials to be banned from next month’s Games and other events after the report unveiled what IOC president Thomas Bach called “a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sports and on the Olympic Games.” A probe by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren for WADA found Russia’s secret service helped “the statedictated failsafe system” carried out by the Moscow sports ministry and sprawling into 30 sports over five years. “The scale of what was happening requires Russia be banned from the Olympics and Paralympics,” said British IOC athletes commission member Adam Pengilly. When asked if no ban imposed could mark the beginning of the end of the IOC, former skeleton competitor Pengilly replied, “it certainly has that potential.” WADA’s executive committee said the IOC and the International Paralympics Committee should “decline entries, for Rio 2016, of all athletes submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the Russian Paralympic Committee.” It also called for Russian officials implicated in the scandal to be sacked and for “Russian government officials to be denied access to international competitions, including Rio 2016.” McLaren said the coverup started in 2010 after Russia’s “abysmal” results at the Vancouver Winter Olympics and continued until 2015 after the Sochi Games. It included the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow and 2013 World University Games in Kazan. President Vladimir Putin made the Sochi Games a showcase event and spent more than $50 billion staging the Games. Russia, which strongly denies any state involvement in doping, is already banned from international athletics by world governing body IAAF because of doping exposed last year. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Big Dome hosts PBA All-Stars THE much-awaited Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Weekend, held annually during the middle of Philippine Basketball Association season, is set to happen at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in August, after a contract signing between PBA and Uniprom, Inc. was held on July 5 at Novotel Manila Araneta Center. PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa and Officer In Charge-Chief Operating Officer of Uniprom, Inc. Irene Jose inked the agreement, which heralds an exhilarating weekend of festivities for families who will be watching at the Big Dome – the home of PBA. This year, the PBA has elevated its game by showcasing not just its PBA superstars, but also its players from the PBA DLeague, Batang PBA, and the PBA Women’s Tournament. Aside from a basketball clinic for kids, the traditional friendly match between PBA Giants and PBA Stalwarts is sure to amuse the crowd. There will also be exhibitions and special performances by PBA players and coaches culminating in the anticipated All-Star Game, a showdown of the league’s star players using various game formats.

Cu sparkles in Bowling World Cup center finals KEVIN Cu, a 24-year-old Philippine team member, sizzled with a 12-game series of 2739 pinfalls to outshine his veteran rivals in the recent second center finals of the 2016 Bowling World Cup national championship. Cu finished 28 pins ahead of Nicco Olaivar (2551) in the men’s division to pace the second batch of national finalists in the prestigious individual competition. Lara Posadas also scored a surprise by topping the ladies’ division ahead of seasoned campaigners Mades Arles, Liza Clutario and Liza del Rosario. Posadas carded a 10-game series of 2109 at Astrobowl Alabang. Arles tallied 2090 at Commonwealth, while Clutario and Del Rosario scored 2047 and 2007, respectively, at Coronado Starlanes. Other leading finish-

ers in the men’s group were Anton Alcazaren, who shot 2511; Jay R. Tan (2451), Joebert Buenafe (2445), Scott Uy (2393), Jeffrey Carabeo (2381), Boy Roman (2367), Stewart Ngo (2360) and Raoul Miranda (2348). Del Rosario and former world champion Biboy Rivera bagged last year’s national title to represent the Philippines in the internationall finals at Sam’s Town, Las Vegas. The national finals will be held on August 13-14 at Coronado Lanes (Starlanes), August 16-17 at Paeng’s Midtown and August 19 at SM North EDSA.

The men’s and women’s winners in the national finals will carry the Philippine colors in the international event on October 14-23 at Hao’s Bowling Centre in Shanghai, China. Four Filipinos, led by sports great Paeng Nepomuceno, have won the Bowling World Cup International plum. Nepomuceno is the only four-time winner so far in the world’s toughest individual kegfest. The other BWC titlists were Lita dela Rosa, Bong Coo and C.J. Suarez. The other national finalists after the second center competition: Men – Jules Pedrajas (2254), Rene Rodelas (2206), Jomin Wong (2170), Simple Villajin (2245), Gilbert Virata (2088), Ronnie Javier (2079), Rodel Tungala (1993), Ronald Cruz (2315), Dumo Bejare (2142), Rodante Unay (2020), Kurt Mendoza (2096), RJ Alsuiza

(2060), Paul Sia (2161), Nichole Andrew Jimeno (2039), JP Macatula (2322), Ren Cremen (2209), Art Gamolo (1783), Boyet Delfino (2192), Paul Eluna (2263), Jansen Collantes (2192), Lito Mondragon (2224), John Christopher Dee (2223), Francis de Leon (1995), Andy Sta. Ana (1780), Lawrence Ang (2069), Evaristo Feliciano (1927), Ruel Bucao (2148), Reuel Rallos (2144), Robert Plucena (2205) and Rjay Lorenz Magana (2164). Ladies – Cielet de Leon (1778), Evelyn Gamboa (1577), Arlene Bucao (1522), Jo Anne Bonifacio (1662), Chato Martinez (1508), Ofelia San Jose (1496), Louise Sophia Santarin (1489), Cita Yumul (1642), Andy Bea (1438), Liza Pabico (1623), Glen Cadag (1563),Tina Veranga (1786), Cindy Edquilane (1511), Lani Quilatan (1154), Mildred Estrellado (1469) and Ofelia Ireberri (1383).

Members of the Smokey Mountain baseball team are shown during practice at the former dumpsite in Manila. AFP

Blu Girls fall to Australia THE Cebuana-Lhuiller backed RP Blu Girls dropped its first game in the championship round robin of the Women’s World Softball Championships, losing to third-ranked Australia, 1-11, in the 31-nation tournament held in Softball City, Surrey, Canada. The Filipinas are in the company of second-ranked USA, Australia, and world no. 6 China in Group 2 of the championship round robin stage. “It’s unfortunate that we have been included in the bracket of all powerhouse teams, but this will not stop our girls from playing their hearts out and trying to pull off an upset. The experiences of playing against these top teams will go a long way to our goal of qualifying and contending for a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said ASAPHIL president Jean Henri Lhuillier. The perennial Southeast Asian champion Blu Girls next play China on Thursday (Manila time) and USA on Friday (Manila time). In other games, France routed India, 9-2; Japan blasted Chinese Taipei, 6-1; Austria edged Greece, 5-4; Equador beat Uganda, 4-2; and Israel overpowered Switzerland, 11-8.

‘Field of Dreams’ offers baseball hope in PH TEENAGER Piolo Perez swings his bat on a baseball field built atop the Philippines’ most notorious trash heap, sending home run balls crashing through the shanties mushrooming on the outfield. Inspired by a Hollywood film starring Kevin Costner about a farmer who builds a baseball diamond on his cornfield, Manila’s huge landfill nicknamed Smokey Mountain has its own “Field of Dreams” to stop its youth going astray. “If it weren’t for baseball, I’d still be picking trash,” Perez, a scrawny 15-year-old catcher, told AFP in between swinging at pitches in Sunday training. Like his 60-plus teammates, Perez, used to collect recyclable materi-

als from the truckloads of rubbish from around the nation’s capital of 12 million people that is dumped on the seafront district. But he now has a sporting scholarship thanks to a baseball and softball programme, run by a charity group and local business people. Poverty is widespread in the Philippines, with one in four Filipinos earning a mere $1.30 a day, but the conditions at the Smokey Mountain squatter colony are especially dire. Smokey Mountain, which got its name because of the acrid smoke that rose from decomposing waste at the rubbish dump, was officially ‘closed’ by the government 20 years ago. It cleared some of the land to build five-storey apartment build-

ings for the 15,000 ‘garbage gleaners’ that lived and worked there. But authorities left much of the rubbish behind, and the dumping continued illegally. New shanties sprouted and the whole area came to be known as Smokey Mountain. Now the original grass-overgrown 20-hectare (49-acre) dump rises like a parody of the Boston Red Sox’s “Green Monster” wall off third base. The cramped and bumpy field, the size of three basketball courts, is ringed by rapidly spreading squatter shanties. Close by is a murky open sewer that empties into Manila Bay. A home run almost always entails losing the ball to the foulsmelling water or sending it crashing through the ramshackle houses.

- Baseball team instead of gangs Many Smokey Mountain residents still depend on gleaning trash to make a living despite efforts by the government and civic groups to wean them away from the activity. Baseball—and softball for girls —has proved a successful option for youths aged 7-18, said Marvin Navarro, community development director for the Manila branch of Junior Chamber International, a key sponsor. “It’s also a way to get them out of the negative aspects of the community such as drugs, gangs and stealing,” Navarro told AFP. Though overshadowed by basketball, baseball has deep roots in the Asian country, a US colony for

nearly 50 years before winning independence in 1946. The programmes began when civic groups looking to help out slum residents found children playing rudimentary baseball at the old dump using improvised bats and gloves fashioned out of rubber sandals and cartons. “It was just flat land which was full of garbage, not really conducive for the sports, so talks were made... to really convert this lot into a proper sports field,” Navarro said. A government agency let the team use the lot for free, and corporate sponsors including US firms operating in the Philippines cleared the field and provided uniforms and playing equipment.

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China packs Rio team with veterans By Ronnie Nathanielsz

CHINA, which beat Gilas Pilipinas to gain the sole slot to the Rio Olympic Games in the FIBA Asia Qualifying Tournament in Changsha-Hunan last October, will be bannered by a slew of veterans according to a report by Fiba.com. It said China’s head coach Gong Luming will lean on the majority of players who

won an Olympic berth with only two players that did not figure in the victory last

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE EVENT REGULATED FM PASS- THROUGH FOR TROPICAL STORM AMANG IN VISAYAS AND SABOTAGE INCIDENTS IN MINDANAO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES FOR SETTING TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

October—Sui Ran and Zou Yuchen. Sui is a point guard who stands 6’3 ½” while Zou is a 6’10” center who had what was described as “a meteoric rise” to the senior team after playing for China at the FIBA Asia Under 18 Championships some two years ago. One of China’s rising stars who is expected to generate a lot of interest is Zhou 12.

13.

ERC CASE NO. 2016-003 RC

14.

NGCP has not recovered any amount from its I n d u s t r i a l All-Risk (1AR) Insurance Policy procured from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the year 2015 as compensation for the damage and cost it incurred in the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao. Thus, NGCP files the instant FME Claim Application to recover the cost it incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao.

15.

In support of said Application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following: NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. (RA) 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).1 Under RA. 95112, NGCP was granted a franchise to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines. On 15 January 2009, NGCP assumed the transmission functions of TRANSCO, including the operation, management and maintenance of the nationwide electrical grid.

FME/ REGION

A. Tropical Storm Amang in Visayas

On or about 15 to 19 January 2015, Tropical Storm Amang entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) with maximum winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 130 kph. Due to its intensity and heavy rainfall, NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in the Visayas area were damaged causing widespread power interruption over the area. A copy of the Certification dated 7 April 20015 issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is attached to the Application as Annex “A.” After the occurrence of Tropical Storm Amang, in compliance with Article X of the RTWR, NGCP filed with the Commission a Force Majeure Event (FME Notice dated 31 March 2015, a copy of which is attached as Annex “B” of the Application.

On or about 13, 18, and 26 January 2015, sabotage incidents occurred in Maguindanao, Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat, respectively, causing damage to NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in Mindanao. Copies of the Progress Report dated 14 January 2015 from Pagalungan Municipal Police Station, Extract Copy of Police Blotter dated 10 April 2015 issued by Pikit Municipal Police Station, and Special Report dated 30 January 2015 issued by President Quirino Police Station are attached to the Application as Annexes “C,” “D,” and “E.”

After the occurrence of the sabotage incidents, in compliance with Article X of the RTWR, NGCP filed with the Commission an FME Notice dated 10 April 2015, a copy of which is attached as Annex “F” of the Application.

Immediately after the devastation of Tropical Storm Amang in the Visayas and occurrence of sabotage incidents in Mindanao, NGCP started the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its damaged transmission assets and other related facilities in Visayas and Mindanao. As a result, NGCP incurred additional costs for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of the said damaged transmission assets.

20,683,181.96

Sabotage Incidents in Mindanao

3,005,425.84

Total

23,688,607.8

16.

Under Section 1.3(a) of the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR), an FME isdefined as a “typhoon, storm, tropical depression, flood, drought, volcanic eruption, earthquake, tidal wave or landslide; or an act of public enemy, war (declared or undeclared), sabotage, blockade, revolution, riot, insurrection, civil commotion or any violent or threatening actions.”

10.

Amang was categorized by PAGASA as a “Tropical Storm” in its Certification dated 7 April 2015. On the other hand, the bombing incidents in Mindanao are clearly acts of sabotage considering that unknown perpetrators unlawfully destroyed NGCP’s transmission assets using improvised explosive devices. Therefore, Tropical Storm Amang in the Visayas and the sabotage incidents in Mindanao fall within the definition of an FME in accordance with Section 1.3 of the RTWR.

11.

In relation to the occurrence of Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao and pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the same RTWR, NGCP is allowed to recover the cost it incurred in the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao through an FM Pass-Through Amount.

NFAV

Grant Provisional Approval to implement and bill the EM Pass-Through Amounts to Visayas and Mindanao customers starting February 2016 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered, as follows:

Visayas

2016

1,049,732.95

Visayas

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

0.46

0.19

0.15

0.14

0.13

PhP/kWh

0.0010

0.0004

0.0003

Mindanao PhP/

PhP/kWh

17.

18.

2016

kW/mo. 0.05 0.0001

2017 0.02

2018 0.02

0.00005 0.00004

2019

0.13

PhP/kWh

0.0010

0.0004

0.0003

2018

2019

Mindanao PhP/

2016

kW/mo. 0.05

PhP/kWh

0.0001

0.02

0.00004

Although the instant FM Pass-Through Amounts are not included in NGCP’s Third (3rd) Regulatory Reset Application, the same can be recovered pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTVVR where NGCP is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of damage sustained by its transmission assets and other related facilities as a result of the FME. A copy of the FM PassThrough Amount Computation is attached to the Application as Annex “G.” Further, the FM Pass-Through Amounts under this Application did not breach the Force Majeure Threshold Amount (FMTA) of PhP0.0341/kWh in accordance with the RTWR. A copy of the FMTA Computation is attached to the Application as Annex “H.”

20.

Also, NGCP considered the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Tropical Storm Amang and Sabotage Incidents in Mindanao, given that NGCP would have normally fully recovered the return of capital on said assets for the duration of their economic lives had these assets not been damaged or destroyed by said incidents. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

21.

NGCP moves for the issuance of a provisional approval for the immediate recovery of the FM PassThrough Amounts pursuant to Section 3, Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

22.

NGCP needs to immediately recover the actual expenses incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities. The occurrence of the aforementioned FMEs in Visayas and Mindanao required massive capital infusion, the recovery of which is urgent in order to avoid any financial strain in the operation of NGCP and to allow the continuous provision of transmission service to the grid customers.

23.

The timely implementation of the FM Pass-Through Amount will allow the equal or even spread of the increases or decreases in tariffs from the initial implementation of the recovery of the cost.

24.

A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Agnes F. Dela Cruz, Head, Tariff Design and Billing Management Division, Revenue and Regulatory Affairs, in support of the instant Application, is attached as Annex “I.”

25.

In compliance with Rule 6 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, NGCP’s compliance with pre-filing requirements for the instant application is attached to the Application as Annex “J” and series.

0.02

0.00005 0.00004

2020

0.02

0.00004

Approve the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX amounting to PhP23,688,607.80 incurred by NGCP for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities due to Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao as FMEs;

Approve, after due notice and hearing the proposed FM Pass-Through Amount to be collected from the Visayas and Mindanao customers starting February 2016 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered;

Approve and Allow the recovery of the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao amounting to PhP1,049,732.95, given that it would have been fully recovered by NGCP if these transmission assets and other related facilities have not been damaged or destroyed by FME Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao;

Exclude the proposed Pass-Through Amount from the side constraint calculation; and

For other relief deemed just and equitable under the premises.

The Commission has set the Application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on the following dates and venues:

NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts for the years 2016 to 2020 to allow the recovery of the CAPEX incurred relative to the FME Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao pending the reset process for the Transmission Services for the Fourth Regulatory Period.

19.

2017

DAT E

TIME

VENUE ERC Mindanao Field Office, Mintrade Bldg., Monteverde Ave., cor. Sales St., Davao City

PA R T I C U L A R S

31 August 2016 (Wednesday)

Ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.)

01 September 2016 (Thursday)

Two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.)

ERC Visayas Field Office, St. Mary’s Drive, Banilad Cebu City

Expository Presentation for Visayas Stakeholders

05 September 2016 (Monday)

Two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.)

Pre-Trial Conference and Evidentiary Hearing

06 September 2016 (Tuesday)

Two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.)

ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

2020

0.02

2020

0.14

24,738,340.75

NGCP proposes the Force Majeure (FM) Pass- Through Amount, in PhP/kW/month, as additional network charges in the Visayas and Mindanao starting the billing period of February 2016 to December 2020, or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered, computed as shown in the table below:

2019

0.15

3,005,425.84

1,049,732.95

2018

0.19

21,732,914.91

2017

0.46

Total

PhP/kW/mo.

FORCE MAJEURE EVENT CLAIM 9.

FME CAPEX (in PhP)

Amang in Visayas

B. Sabotage Incidents in Mindanao 6.

Declare the Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao as Force Majeure Events (FMEs);

Tropical Storm

STATEMENT OF FACTS 4.

PhP/kW/mo.

The total cost NGCP incurred as additional FME Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao is Twenty-Three Million Six Hundred Eighty-Eight Thousand Six Hundred Seven and 80/100 Pesos (PhP23,688,607.80). Further, the recoverable value of the assets destroyed by Tropical Storm Amang in the Visayas (Net Fixed Asset Value) is One Million FortyNine Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty-Two and 95/100 Pesos (PhP1,049,732.95). The breakdown of the expenses4 is shown in the table below:

On 12 January 2016, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) filed an Application for the approval of its Force Majeure Event Regulated FM Pass-through for Tropical Storm Amang in Visayas and Sabotage Incidents in Mindanao, with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority.

some United States squad at the Staples Center on July 24 and two days later at the Oracle Arena in Oakland prior to their clash in Rio on August. In a confidence-boosting tune-up tournament in Kunshan, Yi Jianlian was outstanding in wins over Montenegro, Germany and a France “A” team to pocket the 2016 Sino-European Men’s Basketball Championships.

PRAYER NGCP prays the Commission to:

FM PASS-THROUGH AMOUNT COMPUTATION

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

26.

Thereafter, within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of the FMEs in Visayas and Mindanao, NGCP files the instant FME Application, in accordance with Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.3 of the RTWR.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

57th overall pick by the Grizzlies. Among the players considered crucial for China, which attempts to bounce back from five straight defeats in the 2012 London Olympic Games, will be point guatrd Guo Ailun, veteran center/ power forward Yi Jianlian, Li Gen, Zhou Peng and the emotional sparkplug Zhai Xiaochuan. China will face the awe-

Within three (3) months after the occurrence of Tropical Storm Amang and sabotage incidents in Mindanao, NGCP filed before the Commission an FME Notice dated 31 March 2015 and an FME Notice dated 10 April 2015, respectively, pursuant to Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 of the RTWR.3

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OE THE PHILIPPINES, Applicants. x----------------------------------------------------x

Qi, a 7’1” center who played particularly well last year and made the All Star Five. Zou could be following in the footsteps of Yao Ming after he was chosen as the 43rd pick by the Houston Rockets for whom Yao Ming played with distinction until injuries forced the giant center to quit. Another NBA draftee is Wang Zhelin who was chosen as the

Jurisdictional Hearing and Expository Presentation

Continuation of Evidentiary Hearing

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired. All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the Application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the Applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon. . All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from the Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman, JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners, ALEREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEEINA PATRICIA A. MAG PALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA,, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 21st day of June 2016 in Pasig City. ATTY. TTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO 1 2

3 4

Republic Act No. 9136 entitled, “An Act Ordaining Reforms in the Electric Power Industry, Amending for the Purpose Certain Laws and for Other Purposes” Republic Act No. 9511 entitled “An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for Other Purposes” Annexes “B” and “D” of the Application Exclusive of Permit Fees (TS-JULY 20/27, 2016)

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LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

PHL places surprise 2nd behind Iran By Peter Paul Duran

Alaska Power Camp coach Rafael Galos tells how school children of Tacloban responded to the basketball camp held in two elementary schools in the city. Beside him is NCFP Executive Director Jason Gonzales. LINO SANTOS

RC Cola, F2 Logistics lead PSL BATANGAS CITY—RC Cola-Army and F2 Logistics crushed their respective foes to remain in control of the 2016 Philippine Superliga (PSL) AllFilipino Conference women’s volleyball tournament Tuesday at the Batangas City Coliseum here. The Lady Troopers demolished Generika, 25-13, 27-25, 25-19, while the Cargo Movers dominated reigning champion Petron, 25-15, 19-25, 25-19, 25-9, in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by KLab Cyscorpions, Mueller, Asics and Mikasa with TV5 as official broadcast partner. It was RC Cola-Army and F2 Logistics’ sixth straight wins, sharing between them the lead and earning a truckload of confidence entering

their blockbuster showdown on Saturday. Rachel Anne Daquis knocked down 10 kills and a pair of blocks to finish with 13 points to go with the 13 hits of Jovelyn Gonzaga as the Lady Troopers came up with a strong start and an even stronger finish to clobber the Lifesavers in just 77 minutes. For the Cargo Movers, rookie sensation Ara Galang led the charge with 12 points while Cha Cruz, Mika

in the third and fourth Reyes, Aby Marano and Games Saturday Kim Dy pouring in nine (FilOil Flying V Center) sets. Fajardo, who finmarkers apiece. 2:30 pm – RC Cola-Army vs F2 Logistics ished with 29 excellent “It’s still a very long 4:30 pm – Petron vs sets, ignited a quick way to go,” said F2 Logis- Standard Insurance-Navy tics coach Ramil de Jesus, 6:30 pm – Amy’s vs Cignal 16-7 rally entering the second technical timeworried that his team might be peaking too soon. “We still out of the fourth set. They never need to do some more adjustments looked back. Aiza Maizo-Pontillas delivered 10 because other teams are out to get us. Petron will surely bounce back. of her team-high 11 points on kills to lead Petron, which absorbed its And we have to be ready for that.” During the crucial stretch of of second setback after losing to RC the match that lasted 95 minutes, the Cola-Army two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the league awarded Cargo Movers looked like legitimate Jen Reyes of Petron a golden tickchampionship contenders. Kim Fajardo, arguably one of et, making her the fourth Filipina the country’s brightest playmakers to compete in the FIVB Women’s today, did a tremendous job dis- Club World Championship set at tributing the ball, leaving the Pe- the Mall of Asia Arena from Oct. tron defense guessing, especially 18 to 23.

Pocari Sweat thirsty for more Shakey’s V-League titles ITS next Shakey’s V-League stint won’t come in three months, but Pocari Sweat is already beefing up for another crack at the championship. “We know it will not be easy but we will give it our best shot to go for it again,” said Pocari Sweat team manager Eric Ty, moments after the Lady Warriors turned back the Air Force Lady Jet Spikers, 29-27, 18-25, 25-21, 25-19, in a sudden death match to claim the league’s Season 13 Open Conference crown on its very first try at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City Monday evening. He was referring to the Reinforced Conference set in October after the Collegiate Conference which fires off July 30. In fact, the Lady Warriors have already

signed up Fil-Am setter to beef up their already formidable roster, headed by Open Conference Finals MVP Myla Pablo, team captain Michele Gumabao, Elaine Kasilag, Gyzelle Sy, Siemens Dadang and Lutgarda Malaluan, who helped deliver the championship for Pocari Sweat. “We have high hopes in the Reinforced Conference as well as optimism after our victory in the Open Conference,” said Ty. Coach Tai Bundit of multi-titled Ateneo, who missed the whole of the Open Conference due to previous commitments, is also set to return for Pocari when it kicks off its drive for No. 2. Before the Reinforced Conference, however, the league, where it all started, holds its second tournament—the Collegiate Confer-

ence—with National U hard-pressed against a slew of talented teams out to foil its backto-back title drive. Pocari, then Philips Gold, also benefitted from its decision to jump from the other league to the Shakey’s V-League since it did not only win a title, it also gained better television exposure with the league’s recent multi-year partnership with ABSCBN, which aired all the games live on its free channel ABS CBN Sports and Action Channel 23. “It helped us in so many ways,” said Ty. Meanwhile, interim coach Rommel Abella proved that with the right mix and motivation, the Lady Warriors could overcome the odds, including the star-studded BaliPure side in the Final Four, and eventually the Lady Jet Spikers.

THE Philippines might have been dethroned atop the Asian Schools Chess Championships in Iran on Monday, but the National Chess Federation of the Philippines is contented with the performance of its young chess prospects. The 15-player Philippine team finished second overall behind host Iran, which had more than a hundred players in the tournament. The PH contingent, though, still managed to haul a total of nine medals which included six golds, three silvers and one bronze in the 17-team tourney. “Akala ko nga hindi aabot ng ganoon (medal count). We were expecting to win just one gold. Suwerte na kami,” said NCFP Executive Director Jason Gonzales during the team’s appearance at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum in Shakey’s Malate. Responsible for adding two golds and a silver to the Philippines’ medal count is 14-yearold Jia Doroy who played in the U-17. The promising Agusan del Sur native as well as the entire 15-man team returned Monday from their sterling performance in Tehran. Meanwhile, school children of Tacloban, Leyte received a much-needed helping hand from Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) which conducted its Alaska Basketball Clinic for two elementary schools in the city hard-hit by Typhoon Yolanda. Almost two hundred fifty students of Anibong Elementary School and Don Vicente Quintero Memorial School were treated to a nutritious Gatas for Breakfast and then taught the fundamentals of basketball by Alaska’s basketball coaches on July 14 and 15. Alaska Power Camp coach Rafael Galos said after Tacloban was badly hit by Typhoon Yolanda more than two years ago, assistance for the improved well-being of the children is needed. Their recovery from the typhoon was not fast enough. AMC does not only aid through added nutrition in milk alone but also lessons for an active lifestyle. AMC aims to build awareness about the importance of outdoor play and sports and instill the importance of daily breakfast to support the children’s daily activities according to Galos.

Stravinsky makes sweet music in PCSO maiden race THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE

STRAVINSKY edged out four other juveniles to win the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office 2YO Open special maiden race held last Saturday (July 16)

at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite. Ridden by Jonathan Hernandez, Stravinsky won by three lengths to earn the P600,000 for his owner Atty. Narciso Morales. Street Sign 2nd, Kid Solis 3rd, Foolish Princess 4th, Magic Wallet 5th and last. Time for 1,200 meters: 1:15 (24’-23’-27).

PCSO’s next race is the National Grand Derby on Aug. 14 at Metroturf. The mile race is open only to 2YO PCSO maiden race runners of 2015. *** Joseph Y. Dyhengco’s Atomicseventynine copped the fourth leg of the Philippine Racing Commission’s Imported/ Local Challenge series

on Sun. (July 17) at Santa Ana Park. The import ridden by AP Asuncion came in twoand-a-half lengths ahead of second placer Holly Bear. Eugenie 3rd, Our Angel’s Dream 4th, and Giant Rainbow 5th and last. The 5th leg of this series is Philracom’s next offering, on Aug. 21 at San Lazaro, coinciding with the 8th

Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Racing Festival. *** The New Philippine Jockeys Academy is open to applicants at this time. Wannabe apprentices should be 16 to 21 years old, at least high school graduates, no taller than five feet six inches and weigh no more than 45 kilograms. Applicants are re-

quired to take an entrance examination. For the documents needed, please visit the NPJA page on Facebook. The application period ends on Sept. 23, and screening and interview of applicants is on Sept. 26. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter :@gog irlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember.

A16

W E D N E S DAY : J U LY 2 0 , 2 0 16 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

Mahindra Enforcers import James White (33) deﬁes the defense of Star Hotshots big man Ian Sangalang. Mahindra guns for a piece of the early tournament lead when they battle the GlobalPort Batang Pier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mahindra targets lead

Kobe sees perfect fit in Omaha

By Jeric Lopez

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

CAN Mahindra follow-up on its tremendous opening act? The Enforcers surely hope so as they go a for a second straight win and a piece of the early tournament lead even as two powerhouses battle each other in their debut in the continuing 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Following its stunning upset of Star in its opening game last week, Mahindra (1-0) looks to prolong its good start when it tackles GlobalPort (0-1) at 4:15 p.m. in the opening game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Hours later, a clash of titans fol-

Pocari thirsty for more SVL titles TURN TO A15

lows as Tropang TNT and Commissioner’s Cup champion Rain or Shine do battle at 7 p.m. in the main event. With new deputy coach Chris Gavina in tow, the Enforcers shocked the loaded Hotshots, 100-92, in overtime

last Friday in their Unlike Mahindra’s Games Wednesday first game of the (Smart Araneta Coliseum) initial success, Glotournament to have 4:15 p.m. - GlobalPort vs. balPort wasn’t as forthe kind of start tunate as it lost its first Mahindra 7 p.m. - Talk ‘N Text vs. that they’ve long game last Saturday Rain or Shine desired. to Barangay GineIt was just one win bra, 93-81, despite 26 but Gavina nonetheless warned points from Stanley Pringle. the rest of the league that MahinComing off a championship dra is one very dangerous team. in the Commissioner’s Cup, the “We showed great effort in Elasto Painters aim on starting our first game. Our early win this new quest with a bang when is a big confidence booster for they go up against the hungry us,” said rookie tactician Gavi- Tropang Texters. na. “We want to let everyone Rain or Shine will rely on resee that we also belong in the turning import Dior Lowhorn league.” to provide more muscle inside Mahindra import James while Talk ‘N Text will parade White led the Enforcers as he fresh import Mario Little along scored 22 points to power his with returning Asian import squad to victory. Michael Madanly.

China packs Rio team with vets TURN TO A14

EIGHTEEN-year-old slam-dunking sensation Kobe Paras is in Omaha, according to his dad Philippine Basketball Association legend Benjie Paras. The young paras said he has “found the perfect fit with the Blue Jays” which he said has “a great community. Kobe whose interview was shown on YouTube said he visited the gym which “ really excites me and I want to go to the gym more and more.” After what he described as “an amazing journey” Kobe said he is going to “a better place and a new chapter and can’t wait to be wearing the Blue Jays jersey.” He thanked the Creighton University coaches led by Greg McDermott “for trusting me and seeing my talent.” He said that at Creighton “its about being one family and selfless” and recalled that Cathedral High School where he made a name for himself was like that.” We spoke to Benjie Paras who was at the Los Angeles airport waiting to board his flight for Manila after seeing off Kobe to Omaha. He told The Standard “Kobe is now in his dorm in Creighton University. He’s very excited.” Kobe revealed that while he was forced to withdraw from UCLA after the school tweeted his visits and showed his meeting with teammates on the Bruins squad prompting his elder brother and highly successful showbiz personality Andre Paras to claim “it was all politics.”

WEDNESDAY: JULY 20, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandardtoday.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

Foreign reserves hit record $85b By Julito G. Rada

FOREIGN reserves hit a record $85.28 billion in June, as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas revised the data amid the rise in gold prices and fluctuation in exchange rates. Data from Bangko Sentral showed the gross international reserves in June were revised upward from the earlier estimate of $83.97 billion, following the sudden spike in gold prices as investors sought the safety of the bullion market. Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a news briefing Tuesday noted a marked improvement in the price of gold overseas. Gold price reached a two-year high, as investors sought safe-

haven assets amid concerns over Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. Data showed the price of gold climbed to more than $1,300 per troy ounce in June from less than $1,200 in the previous months. Tetangco said the revision pushed up the GIR to an all-time high in June, eclipsing the $85.268 billion registered in January 2013. It was also above Bangko Sentral’s target of $82.7 billion this year. The country’s foreign reserves exceeded its foreign debt esti-

mated at $77.6 billion as of endMarch. This means that the Philippines is a net lender to the world. Bangko Sentral said at $85.28 billion, the GIR in June could cover 10.3 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and income. It was also equivalent to 5.9 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4.3 times based on residual maturity. Short-term debt based on residual maturity refers to outstanding external debt with original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on medium- and long-term loans of the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12 months. GIR ended 2015 at $80.66 billion, up from $79.54 billion a year

ago. Bangko Sentral said earlier reserves were expected to reach $82.7 billion by end-2016, or equivalent to nine months worth of imports. Bangko Sentral said the sustained balance of payments surplus would support the rise in GIR, which is used to stabilize the exchange rate. Bangko Sentral accumulates dollar holdings to prevent the rapid appreciation of the peso against other currencies. Bangko Sentral said the BoP was expected to yield a surplus of $2 billion in 2016, or the same level in 2015. The current account is also expected to register a surplus of $5.8 billion this year, equivalent to 1.9 percent of gross domestic product, slightly higher than the actual $5.7 billion registered in 2015.

PSe comPoSite index Closing July 19, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

8,036.01 49.76

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing July 19, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.940

44.00

43.00

HIGH P46.780 LOW P46.940 AVERAGE P46.844 VOLUME 575.150M

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 Tuesday, July 19, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate

Boost to fishing. Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol (left) awards to the fishers of Maasim, Saranggani one unit of 30-footer twin engine fiber glass boat, which aims to provide livelihood to three fishing families. The boat will also be used for Bantay Dagat initiatives in the coastal areas of Maasim. Mayor Aniceto Lopez (right) receives the award in behalf of the beneficiaries. Piñol was in SOCCSKSARGEN on July 18 presenting to the local chief executives of the region the new policies and directions the Department of Agriculture will implement under his leadership. He also awarded P192 million worth of agri-fishery assistance and projects during his visit.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.7570

Japan

Yen

0.009421

0.4405

Pound

1.325800

61.9904

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128971

6.0303

Switzerland

Franc

1.018123

47.6044

Canada

Dollar

0.772618

36.1253

Singapore

Dollar

0.742115

34.6991

Australia

Dollar

0.759000

35.4886

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652379

124.0173

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266731

12.4715

Brunei

Dollar

0.739372

34.5708

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028637

1.3390

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.7302

Euro

1.107700

51.7927

Korea

Won

0.000882

0.0412

China

Yuan

0.149211

6.9767

India

Rupee

0.014897

0.6965

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.251572

11.7628

New Zealand

Dollar

0.711300

33.2583

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031319

1.4644 Source: PDS Bridge

MPIC backs commons rail station between Trinoma and SM By Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Pacific Investments Corp. is pushing for a single common station that will link Metro Manila’s overhead train system in Quezon City. “We endorsed that idea, it’s an excellent idea on the part of DoTC [Department of Transportation and Communications]. We’ve always advocated that, of course at the end its up to the other group to decide,” MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said. Pangilinan said a single com-

mon station that would linking Light Rail Transit Line 1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and the planned MRT7 would be more efficient and convenient to commuters. He proposed the location of the common station in the middle of the SM and Trinoma malls. The Transportation Department under the Aquino administration had proposed to build two common stations, one near SM North Edsa and the other beside Trinoma Mall, owned by Ayala Land Inc.

The agency’s strategy of building two common stations aims to resolve a conflict with the SM Group. SM Prime Holdings Inc. earlier secured a Supreme Court stay order, barring the department from transferring the location of the common station to the Trinoma Mall. The Transportation Department decided to relocate the common station to Trinoma from SM North, citing P1 billion worth of savings the government would realize from the transfer.

Under an earlier agreement between SM Prime and state-run Light Rail Transit Authority, the common station would be situated beside SM North Edsa. SM Prime already paid the government P200 million for the naming rights of the proposed station. MPIC and Ayala Corp. lead the Light Rail Manila Consortium, which won the contract for the LRT 1 Cavite extension project, including the design of the common station. LRMC earlier proposed to Transportation the construction

of an interim station between SM City North Edsa and Trinoma to connect the existing LRT1, MRT3 and the planned MRT7. “The idea is to have just one station that will be ideal for us and for everyone because all the lines will just meet in that station. It has to be within that triangle of Trinoma and SM,” MPIC president and chief executive Jose Ma. Lim said. Lim said if the proposed interim station concept became acceptable, it could later become a part of the permanent station.

WEDNESDAY: JULY 20, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, July 19, 2016

52 Weeks

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3

20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 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 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 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 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 6.66 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 9.66 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3 3.52 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 3 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.9 3.79 47.5 46.5 115.50 114.00 99.45 98.10 38.1 38 4.06 4.06 1.93 1.39 15.44 15.1 20.3 19.72 2 1.97 0.630 0.580 94.5 93.45 0.96 0.94 14.9 14.8 60.00 58.90 100.5 100.1 289 278 32.3 32 204.2 199 1435.00 1420.00 66.95 66.00 1.74 1.5 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp. 45 45.4 45.1 Agrinurture Inc. 3.7 3.74 3.6 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.84 0.84 0.82 Alsons Cons. 2.03 2.03 2 Asiabest Group 12.54 14.2 12.54 Bogo Medelin 51.1 53 52 Cemex Holdings 11.1 11.12 10.82 Century Food 16 16.28 16 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 158 230 160 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 21 21 20.5 Concepcion 49.8 50 49.8 Crown Asia 2.16 2.19 2.14 Da Vinci Capital 5.75 5.87 5.72 Del Monte 12.3 12.4 11.78 DNL Industries Inc. 9.600 9.780 9.580 Emperador 7.28 7.39 7.28 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.79 5.86 5.65 EEI 9.26 9.26 8.80 Euro-Med Lab 1.8 1.69 1.69 First Gen Corp. 24.75 25.5 24.75 First Holdings ‘A’ 69.45 69.95 69.55 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.00 12.00 12.20 Holcim Philippines Inc. 15.20 15.20 15.10 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.8 5.85 5.73 Ionics Inc 2.380 2.430 2.350 Jollibee Foods Corp. 246.00 249.80 247.00 LMG Chemicals 1.94 1.9 1.85 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.7 3.7 3.54 Macay Holdings 35.00 34.40 33.00 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.15 27 26.9 Maxs Group 28.8 29.5 28.4 Megawide 8.02 8.75 8.12 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 308.20 310.40 308.60 MG Holdings 0.275 0.280 0.275 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.40 4.70 4.40 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.45 3.45 3.44 Petron Corporation 11.02 11.08 10.96 Phil H2O 3.05 3.35 3.1 Phinma Corporation 11.66 11.66 11.58 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.40 6.45 6.35 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.64 1.65 1.63 Pryce Corp. À’ 3.24 3.34 3.27 RFM Corporation 4.22 4.30 4.22 Roxas Holdings 3.9 3.9 3.9 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ 209 212 212 Splash Corporation 3.03 3.04 3.03 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.150 0.153 0.149 TKC Steel Corp. 2.32 2.59 2.33 Trans-Asia Oil 2.55 2.57 2.53 Universal Robina 200 201.2 199.8 Victorias Milling 4.68 4.64 4.26 Vitarich Corp. 1.04 1.07 0.99 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.30 1.35 1.30 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. À’ 0.395 0.390 0.380 Aboitiz Equity 80.50 83.20 81.20 Alliance Global Inc. 16.04 16.36 16.10 Anglo Holdings A 1.33 1.45 1.30 Anscor À’ 6.18 6.18 6.10 ATN Holdings A 0.385 0.410 0.375 ATN Holdings B 0.370 0.410 0.370 Ayala Corp À’ 885 890 884 Cosco Capital 7.9 7.9 7.85 DMCI Holdings 12.60 12.86 12.76 F&J Prince ‘A’ 6.1 6.11 5.96 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 6.90 6.90 6.75 Forum Pacific 0.255 0.250 0.250 GT Capital 1549 1569 1548 House of Inv. 6.46 6.47 6.39 JG Summit Holdings 85.75 86.20 85.60 Keppel Holdings À’ 5.3 6.41 6.37 Keppel Holdings `B’ 5.23 5.8 5.4 Lopez Holdings Corp. 7.99 8 7.5 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.73 0.73 0.72 LT Group 15.98 16 15.9 Mabuhay Holdings À’ 0.520 0.520 0.500 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 7.2 7.3 7.2 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.08 3.13 3.13 Pacifica À’ 0.0340 0.0340 0.0330 Prime Orion 1.990 1.980 1.940 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.65 2.70 2.70 San Miguel Corp À’ 78.00 78.50 77.80 SM Investments Inc. 1004.00 1014.00 1004.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.25 1.26 1.24 South China Res. Inc. 0.93 0.92 0.91 Top Frontier 187.000 189.000 180.000 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3250 0.3400 0.3300 Wellex Industries 0.2020 0.2060 0.2020 Zeus Holdings 0.320 0.325 0.310 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.940 7.940 7.850 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.20 6.81 6.81 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.35 1.39 1.27 Araneta Prop À’ 2.350 2.350 2.270 Arthaland Corp. 0.285 0.285 0.280 Ayala Land `B’ 40.250 40.200 39.900 Belle Corp. À’ 3.38 3.41 3.37 Cebu Holdings 5.11 5.03 5.03 Century Property 0.550 0.55 0.530 City & Land Dev. 1.03 1.03 1.03 Cityland Dev. À’ 1.110 1.090 1.050 Crown Equities Inc. 0.133 0.135 0.133 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.700 0.700 0.680 Double Dragon 62 67 63 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 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 Vantage Equities

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

SHARES 25,452,166 162,131,880 162,779,112 107,683,794 640,068,907 580,024,356 1,696,767,504

3.79 47.35 114.40 98.90 38 4.06 1.38 15.2 19.7 1.98 0.600 93.5 0.96 14.8 59.30 100.3 278 32.25 198.7 1435.00 66.95 1.49

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.88 47.5 115.30 99.00 38.05 4.06 1.70 15.44 20.25 1.97 0.580 94.35 0.96 14.8 59.85 100.1 289 32.2 202.2 1420.00 66.90 1.52

2.37 0.32 0.79 0.10 0.13 0.00 23.19 1.58 2.79 -0.51 -3.33 0.91 0.00 0.00 0.93 -0.20 3.96 -0.16 1.76 -1.05 -0.07 2.01

24,000 39,700 1,352,300 1,860,460 51,200 39,000 10,912,000 145,700 709,100 99,000 2,643,000 2,389,140 159,000 114,900 66,000 1,000 1,910 19,900 1,380,780 175 75,130 3,152,000

45.25 3.61 0.83 2.01 13.5 53 11 16.28 190 21 50 2.18 5.72 12.3 9.620 7.30 5.70 9.10 1.69 25.2 69.85 12.20 15.10 5.76 2.350 248.00 1.9 3.6 34.00 26.9 28.4 8.59 309.00 0.280 4.40 3.45 11.08 3.35 11.66 6.45 1.64 3.31 4.29 3.9 212 3.03 0.151 2.40 2.55 200 4.6 1.01 1.34

0.56 -2.43 -1.19 -0.99 7.66 3.72 -0.90 1.75 20.25 0.00 0.40 0.93 -0.52 0.00 0.21 0.27 -1.55 -1.73 -6.11 1.82 0.58 1.67 -0.66 -0.69 -1.26 0.81 -2.06 -2.70 -2.86 -0.92 -1.39 7.11 0.26 1.82 0.00 0.00 0.54 9.75 0.00 0.78 0.00 2.16 1.66 0.00 1.44 0.00 0.67 3.45 0.00 0.00 -1.71 -2.88 3.08

1,466,800 1,093,000 315,000 1,656,000 63,600 960 44,822,300 3,928,500 34,340 7,936,300 51,500 2,670,000 648,800 108,000 5,441,100 5,958,000 19,797,800 1,158,100 5,000 3,815,700 102,590 42,800 43,600 350,100 2,207,000 722,680 9,000 97,000 27,500 741,300 154,600 3,284,500 93,460 210,000 42,000 605,000 1,217,900 27,000 8,400 1,334,200 257,000 1,131,000 226,000 20,000 190 735,000 10,740,000 13,742,000 2,603,000 1,650,840 5,000 17,718,000 976,000

0.390 83.20 16.32 1.35 6.11 0.410 0.405 890 7.9 12.80 5.96 6.85 0.255 1560 6.47 86.00 6.37 5.8 7.5 0.73 15.94 0.500 7.25 3.13 0.0330 1.980 2.70 78.00 1010.00 1.26 0.92 189.000 0.3350 0.2060 0.310

-1.27 3.35 1.75 1.50 -1.13 6.49 9.46 0.56 0.00 1.59 -2.30 -0.72 0.00 0.71 0.15 0.29 20.19 10.90 -6.13 0.00 -0.25 -3.85 0.69 1.62 -2.94 -0.50 1.89 0.00 0.60 0.80 -1.08 1.07 3.08 1.98 -3.13

1,220,000 3,675,670 9,992,100 1,106,000 14,600 28,850,000 6,200,000 346,520 593,700 3,942,100 25,500 121,600 480,000 124,890 17,500 2,172,180 1,400 20,700 2,164,400 2,000 7,968,000 145,000 36,928,500 64,000 29,300,000 347,000 53,000 122,970 506,050 143,000 70,000 18,440 17,250,000 970,000 2,950,000

7.860 6.81 1.30 2.280 0.285 40.050 3.41 5.03 0.540 1.03 1.050 0.134 0.690 63

-1.01 -5.42 -3.70 -2.98 0.00 -0.50 0.89 -1.57 -1.82 0.00 -5.41 0.75 -1.43 1.61

399,300 2,000 1,083,100 922,000 360,000 12,608,100 3,596,000 1,000 6,480,000 33,000 46,000 2,130,000 6,176,000 2,674,830

439,070.00 40,578,429 -53,326,637.50 38,100.00 48,720.00 -167,200.00 -46,260.00 89,340.00 -3,100,400.00 -273,243.50 453,370.00 170,650 87,117,889.00 -52,200.00 21,702,845.00 28,680.00 577,160.00 -218,800.00 176,038,860.00 -18,766,410.00 -20,900.00 -1,529,935 -385,790.00 -2,900.00 6,120.00 -24,469,557.00 18,970,007.00 -8,787,712.00 -675,728.00 31,000,425.00 2,088,245.50 -195,658.00 -496,370.00 -12,962,624.00 -7,400.00 33,050.00 -4,598,140.00 -1,264,660.00 9,328,169.00 844,868.00 1,942,260.00 8,961,998.00 50,530.00 1,563,290.00 -8,540.00 1,515,000.00 -84,490.00 102,400.00 -84,534,273.00 6,060.00

191,064,841.00 -56,570,332.00 -18,340.00 33,800.00 -255,999.00 -255,999.00 47,201,418.00 20,010.00 28,437,440.00 23,375,228.50 4,148,283.00 2,673,576.00 83,877,373.00 58,500.00 -750,096.00 80,703,315.00 33,550.00 8,080.00 6,300.00

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.81 1.40 0.00 0.00 3.09 -1.10 0.42 1.43 -0.58 0.61 1.01 0.00 0.00 0.52

1,764,000 70,000 14,391,000 4,896,000 2,000 15,362,000 2,070,000 430,000 2,810,000 2,200 110,100 2,472,800 618,000 546,000 5,631,000 2,421,000 875,000 6,929,800

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

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 1.6 4.8 1600 5.95

70.5 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 0.017

17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 3.2 95.5 1 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 1.95 3.1 0.650 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Yehey

4.25 1.11 0.00 -4.41 -0.18 -1.45 -1.69 8.51 -1.03 0.81 4.71 0.00 1.21 0.00 -0.71 -9.09 6.90 2.41 19.72 -5.88 -2.13 -0.21 -6.76 2.86 -3.45 -0.16 3.19 0.67 -3.32 0.00 1.69 0.00 1.05 -2.50 -2.96 -0.17 1.56 0.00 1.07 -0.82 -0.37 -1.11 0.00 0.65 -0.28 -0.47 -3.43 -4.41 0.51 0.56 -9.09 -5.56

888,300 -1,343,689.00 132,100 1,000 8,581,000 -650,920.00 600 109,000 9,395,100 3,700,068.00 413,390,000 2,825,530.00 2,186,000 2,860.00 499,910 -13,217,639.00 20,000 219,100 20,620.00 74,555 -49,758,810.00 175,700 381,500 541,290.00 300 1,120,000 22,930,660 3,978,149.50 5,798,300 42,470 -97,694.00 23,000,000 363,000 64,130,000 214,400.00 3,692,000 117,000 3,600 371,600 661,707 109,000 50,000 -92,250.00 200 118,000 6,000 4,331,000 -1,363,930.00 16,505,700 24,864,951.00 17,398,000 992,100.00 22,500 17,400 4,000 2,330 51,430.00 285,800 -43,968.00 113,065 55,512,740.00 1,750,000 12,380,000 -685,980.00 4,803,100 21,632,330.00 199,860 8,583,527.00 253,700 -64,000.00 7,872,000 -4,232,410.00 9,224,000 23,000 3,952,000 -3,651,170.00 50,000 42,200

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

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

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atok-Big Wedge À’ Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp À’ Benguet Corp `B’ 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

-2.44 -2.42 1.86 0.00 0.00 10.77 4.63 -1.61 0.00 0.00 1.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.69 3.23 -2.42 -1.40 0.00 2.52 0.00 -7.69 0.00 -2.06 -2.64 0.00 0.08 -2.73 0.00

172,000,000 12,000.00 126,400 -1,293,990.00 78,000 -8,760.00 1,300 640,000 455,000 115,700 -349,632.00 478,000 296,000 2,500 38,847,000 -3,904,620.00 300,000 32,230,000 630,000 2,500.00 134,200,000 68,100,000 3,958,000 -500,790.00 94,227,703 178,000 30,000 463,000 21,800,000 5,500,000 28,000 947,400 1,727,818.00 6,995,000 -3,320,720.00 56,800,000 328,030 3,476,375.00 471,000 17,200,000

70 525 120 515 8.21 12.28 111 78.95 84.8

33 500 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 101 74.5 75

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

0.90 0.09 -2.50 0.65 0.00 0.00 -0.18 0.00 -0.50 1.18 0.00 -1.02 1.86 0.00 0.00 0.00

271,570 20 18,000 40 915,600 125,000 510 7,500 53,710 6,500 110,200 209,540 12,550 13,100 315,600 13,000

2.31

603,000

15.42 4.36 0.12

14,210,600 -72,958.00 1,571,500 -111,380.00 2,836,400 -8,952,256.00

0.46

8,780

1.34

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

540.00

Alterra Capital Italpinas Xurpas

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,809.24 (UP) 13.50 INDUSTRIAL 11,640.71 (UP) 30.19 HOLDING FIRMS 7,925.73 (UP) 71.31 PROPERTY 3,634.96 (UP) 15.13 SERVICES 1,671.18 (UP) 4.65 MINING & OIL 11,241.39 (DOWN) 41.71 PSEI 8,036.01 (UP) 49.76 All Shares Index 4,845.98 (UP) 23.54 Gainers: 105; Losers: 85; Unchanged: 55; Total: 245

Empire East Land 0.810 Ever Gotesco 0.155 Global-Estate 1.10 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.94 Keppel Properties 4.99 Megaworld 4.99 MRC Allied Ind. 0.110 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.2800 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.485 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 40.95 Primex Corp. 14.4 Robinson’s Land `B’ 31.40 Rockwell 1.72 Shang Properties Inc. 3.28 SM Prime Holdings 29.70 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.99 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.050 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.800

0.810 0.800 0.810 0.155 0.150 0.155 1.12 1.08 1.10 1.96 1.94 1.94 4.80 4.80 4.80 5.06 5 5.06 0.111 0.107 0.110 0.2950 0.2800 0.2800 0.510 0.475 0.500 40.50 38.50 40.50 14.66 14.3 14.46 31.90 31.45 31.85 1.74 1.7 1.71 3.3 3.25 3.3 30.00 29.65 30.00 1 0.97 0.99 1.050 1.030 1.050 5.900 5.790 5.830 SERVICES 7.29 7.84 7.29 7.6 49.45 50 49.4 50 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 0.680 0.690 0.650 0.650 11.2 11.18 11.18 11.18 6.19 6.3 6 6.1 6.50 6.60 6.35 6.39 0.0940 0.1030 0.0950 0.1020 2.9 2.9 2.85 2.87 98.2 99.5 98.25 99 1.91 2 2 2 5.15 5.18 5.12 5.15 2312 2350 2294 2340 6.30 6.30 6.28 6.30 17.02 17.20 16.80 16.90 22.00 20.10 20.00 20.00 1.16 1.27 1.15 1.24 62.2 63.7 62.15 63.7 21.30 31.50 23.50 25.50 255 370 240 240 0.0094 0.0093 0.0092 0.0092 9.38 9.36 9.25 9.36 0.370 0.370 0.340 0.345 1.7500 1.8200 1.7600 1.8000 2.9 2.8 2.75 2.8 12.88 12.86 12.86 12.86 6.59 6.84 6.60 6.80 3.00 3.04 3.00 3.02 2.71 2.69 2.55 2.62 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 0.590 0.610 0.600 0.600 2 2 2 2 3.8 3.89 3.73 3.84 5.19 5.23 5.01 5.06 3.720 3.720 3.550 3.610 12 12 11.96 11.98 5.12 5.20 5.18 5.20 2.55 2.55 2.55 2.55 140.50 142.00 140.00 142.00 17.14 17.14 16.70 17.00 2138.00 2130.00 2116.00 2130.00 0.450 0.445 0.435 0.445 1.170 1.180 1.160 1.170 45.90 46.80 45.60 46.20 88.00 88.00 85.20 87.75 6.41 6.41 6.36 6.38 3.50 3.51 3.37 3.38 0.680 0.680 0.650 0.650 1.95 1.96 1.86 1.96 3.58 3.65 3.55 3.6 0.330 0.330 0.330 0.300 6.470 6.470 6.050 6.110 MINING & OIL 0.0041 0.0042 0.0040 0.0040 3.31 3.37 3.21 3.23 4.30 4.38 4.29 4.38 11.80 11.80 10.70 11.80 0.227 0.228 0.227 0.227 6.5000 7.42 6.5 7.2000 6.7000 7.7800 6.7000 7.0100 0.62 0.63 0.61 0.61 0.500 0.500 0.495 0.500 8.70 8.70 8.51 8.70 0.910 0.950 0.910 0.920 0.290 0.295 0.285 0.290 0.238 0.240 0.236 0.238 0.255 0.255 0.250 0.255 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0130 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 1.86 1.94 1.86 1.92 6.2 6.4 5.96 6.05 2.86 2.88 2.81 2.82 0.5500 0.5500 0.5500 0.5500 1.1900 1.2300 1.2000 1.2200 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 4.01 4.02 4.01 4.01 8.75 8.80 8.57 8.57 4.55 4.56 4.38 4.43 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 118.00 120.00 118.10 118.10 4.03 4.05 3.9 3.92 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 PREFERRED 50 50.8 49.55 50.45 545.5 546 546 546 120 117 117 117 541.5 545 545 545 6.1 6.1 6.09 6.1 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 112 111.8 111.8 111.8 78.5 78.5 78.5 78.5 80.5 80.5 80.1 80.1 76 77 76.1 76.9 79 79 79 79 78.3 78.3 77.5 77.5 78 79.5 79 79.45 77 77.7 77 77 77 77.1 77 77 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.600 2.700 2.580 2.660 SME 5.9 7 6.01 6.81 5.51 5.95 5.44 5.75 16.36 16.42 16.22 16.38 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 131.4 132 131.3 132

T op g ainerS VALUE 902,767,886.37 1,836,114,092.71 2,268,491,938.54 1,117,554,328.235 2,799,206,025.51 240,733,521.72 9,313,453,949.58

Low

0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 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

157,350.00

24,460.00 32,802,380.50

High

0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 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

1,094,667.00 42,000.00 -3,188,360.00 636,060.00

5,304,080.00 1,271,080.00 33,412,050.00

59,137,835.00 3,280.00 53,994,590.00 7,279,978.00

8,539,161.50 -2,106,000.00 -5,580,280.00 -588,750.00 -4,304,505 -15,341,190.50 -3,224,550.00 -2,408,604.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Bright Kindle Resources

1.70

23.19

Grand Plaza Hotel

20.00

-9.09

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

190

20.25

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0120

-7.69

Keppel Holdings `A'

6.37

20.19

Island Info

0.345

-6.76

Imperial Res. `A'

25.50

19.72

Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.5

-6.13

Alterra Capital

6.81

15.42

Euro-Med Lab

1.69

-6.11

Keppel Holdings `B'

5.8

10.90

Imperial Res. `B'

240

-5.88

Benguet Corp `A'

7.2000

10.77

Yehey

6.110

-5.56

Phil H2O

3.35

9.75

Anchor Land Holdings Inc.

6.81

-5.42

ATN Holdings B

0.405

9.46

Cityland Dev. `A'

1.050

-5.41

Boulevard Holdings

0.1020

8.51

STI Holdings

0.650

-4.41

WEDNESDAY: JULY 20, 2016

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

Miners welcome govt audit By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

THE Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said Tuesday its members are “ready for airtight audit.” “We welcome a technical, environmental and social development audit on our members,” said CoMP executive vice president Nelia Halcon.

Environment Secretary Regina Lopez earlier said the government would audit the operations of mining companies in the country. The audit will look not only on

the regulatory requirements but also on social and economic impact of mining operations. Halcon said the audit would reveal the highly positive and significant contributions of CoMP members on host communities as most of them were conducting programs and projects beyond compliance of the Philippine Mining Act and other relevant laws.

Clean water.

Boracay Water, a subsidiary of East Zone concessionaire Manila Water, visits elementary and high schools in the resort island to clean and repair wash areas, rehabilitate plumbing systems and even desludge septic tanks. Shown is Boracay Water general manager Mike Santos (center) leading the cleaning and rehabilitation of wash areas together with Boracay Water operations head Jennifer Vergara (right) and Yapak Elementary School principal Jake Sullano (left).

Market returns to 8,000; Aboitiz, ICTSI lead gainers STOCKS rebounded Tuesday, sending the benchmark index to a new 15-month high, amid hopes for fresh global economic stimulus. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 49 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 8,036.01 Tuesday. The bellwether hit a peak of 8,127.48 on April 10, 2015. The heavier index, representing all shares, also rose 23 points, or 0.5 percent, to settle at 4,845.98, on a value turnover of P9.3 billion. Fifteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. which advanced 3.4 percent to P83.20 and port operator International Container Terminals Services Inc. which gained 2.4 percent to P63.70. Security Bank Corp. added 1.7 percent to close at P202.20. Meanwhile, Asian stock markets mostly fell Tuesday on profit-taking following a week-long rally but Tokyo headed for a sixth straight gain as a weak yen boosted exporters. The rally in Japan’s export sector was enough to offset a more than 10-percent plunge in mobile giant Softbank, which was hammered after agreeing a $32 billion deal to buy a British chip designer. Hopes for fresh global central bank stimulus, coupled with forecast-beating readings on US jobs and retail sales, have injected some much-needed optimism after last

month’s shock British vote to leave the European Union. The upbeat outlook has also fed a surge on Wall Street that has seen the Dow and S&P 500 rack up multiple record closes. While Asian investors cashed in Tuesday, Chris Weston, chief market strategist at IG Ltd. in Melbourne, predicted further gains to come. “On current sentiment, it seems likely that any pullbacks will be shallow and a buying opportunity,” he said, according to Bloomberg News. “We will need to see good earnings, or the market is at risk of rolling over.” Hong Kong, which has climbed the previous six days, slipped 0.6 percent in the afternoon, while Shanghai ended down 0.2 percent. Sydney dipped 0.1 percent and Seoul was off 0.2 percent. Singapore shed 0.6 percent. However, Tokyo, which was closed Monday for a holiday, added 1.4 percent as exporters were lifted by the soft yen. The Japanese unit has retreated against the dollar in recent weeks on expectations the country will introduce new stimulus and other easing measures. In addition, positive US data have fanned expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate rise this year. The dollar was at 106.00 yen Tuesday afternoon, down from 106.14 yen but well up from the levels around 100 yen seen before the jobs report earlier this month.With AFP, Bloomberg

“All CoMP members have committed to the government’s national greening program and have planted 20 million trees from 2011 to 2014,” Halcon said. Halcon said most members also complied with ISO 14001, which contained criteria for environmental management system. “Majority of our members are already ISO 14001 certified and have been submitting timely re-

ports to Mines and Geosciences Bureau on their operations,” Halcon said. Halcon said local government units, non-government organizations and other line agencies conducted quarterly, semi-annual and annual monitoring. SDMP is a program which is planned and budgeted on a fiveyear cycle. Mining companies are obliged to allocate 1.5 percent of their total operating costs to social development in their host and neighboring communities. Halcon said an inter-agency audit team from the central office of MGB-DENR also evaluated on a yearly basis the various aspects of mining operations from safety and health to environmental and social development programs including solid waste management. “CoMP assures that our members continue to adhere to the law and are helping ease the sufferings of our countrymen where our areas of operations are,” Halcon said. “This is the reason why we have been reiterating our call to government to put a stop to irresponsible mining that affects responsible mining operations. It is the proliferation of these illegal operations which bring suffering. They do not contribute to the coffers of government; they do not help in the development of the communities; and are destructive to the environment,” Halcon said. Halcon said the chamber remained confident the audit would be transparent.

B4 Lower oil prices seen in Visayas

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. inaugurates its 90-million-liter capacity North Mindanao Import Facility at the port of Cagayan De Oro city. It is the first Shell terminal in the Philippines that is equipped to receive a medium range vessel. Boarding the vessel are (from left) NMIF terminal operations supervisor Anna Vergel de Dios, HK/TH/ PH supply operations manager Randy Anastacio, NMIF business opportunity manager Bryan Nazareno, logistics dealmaking manager for Southeast Asia Gus Mathay, vice president for trading and supply Dennis Gamab, PH marine technical adviser team lead Tony Tagacay, and PH facilities manager Mario Monsalud.

By Alena Mae S. Flores CAGAYAN DE ORO—Oil refiner Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. is optimistic the completion of its $80-million North Mindanao Import Facility will help lower fuel costs in Mindanao and Visayas. Shell formally inaugurated the NMIF, a fuel import and storage facility with a capacity of 90 million liters in the port of Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday. “It should [lower oil prices],” Shell country chairman Ed Chua said, adding the facility would reduce freight cost and delivery time to Mindanao and Visayas consumers. “With this facility, [products] directly delivered to Cagayan de Oro and Cagayan de Oro is really a very strategic location to deliver to Visayas and Mindanao. Lower cost and less double handling,” Chua said. The NMIF was constructed and commissioned in partnership with the Philippine Ports Authority. Shell built the facility primarily to ensure energy security for the country, especially for the millions of residents, motorists and consumers in Mindanao and Visayas. The facility’s proximity to these areas will provide a more reliable secondary supply and distribution hub after Shell Tabango’s facility in Batangas. Chua said the facility would allow Shell to increase the volume of petroleum products sold at lower cost. “At the minimum, this facility will also allow us to grow with the market,” Chua added. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, in a statement delivered by Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos, welcomed the completion of the facility. Cusi said NMIF had evolved into an import terminal for gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas products with a total storage capacity of 688.26 thousand barrels. Only 38,600 barrels of various petroleum products could be stored in the facility prior to the new depot.

Investments jumped to P186b in 6 months By Othel V. Campos

INVESTMENTS pledges registered with the Board of Investments doubled in the first six months of 2016 to P186.5 billion from P92.02 billion posted year-on-year, official data show Tuesday. “Sustained impressive investment performance validates the announced economic policy direction of the new administration. The challenge is ensuring that these investments benefit the poorest of the poor,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. The administration plans to embark on measures to make investments more inclusive through linkages of micro, small and medium enterprises to the agricultural sector and the marginalized geographic regions.

Transportation and infrastructure activities topped the 162 projects that are expected to create some 30,207 jobs when fully operational. Some 34 power generating plants and renewable energy projects accounted for 51 percent of the approved investments in the first semester. Investment commitments in the sector surged 402 percent to P95.95 billion from just P19.1 billion recorded in the same period last year. The power projects are ex-

pected to generate as much as 1,034.12 megawatts of power in most parts of Luzon, especially in Region IV-A where majority of the industries are located. These projects include Limay Premier Power Corp.’s P23.3 billion, 300-megawatt fluidized bed coal fired power plant in Bataan, and two renewable energy projects—the Bayog Wind Power Corp.’s P14.73-billion power plant with a generating capacity of 150 megawatts, and Cordillera Hydro Electric Power Corp.’s P12.18-billion power plant with a generating capacity of 60 megawatts. The transportation infrastructure sector placed second with P31.9 billion in investment commitments or 17 percent. Investments were higher by 282 percent from P8.36 billion approved during the same period in 2015. The transport projects include

GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp.’s P16.75-billion Cebu International Airport Project, a publicprivate partnership project involving the operation and maintenance of Cebu Airport Terminal 2; and Light Rail Manila Corp.’s P15.15billion Manila Light Rail Transit 1 Integrated Railway System Project, which will cover the operation, maintenance, and modernization of the existing light rail system. The development of low-cost and economic mass housing projects kept its position at third among the top contributors in the period, gaining 20 percent of the total investment commitments worth P24.39 billion. The manufacturing sector, whose growth drove the economy in the first quarter, was at fourth with P18.61 billion, up 9 percent from last year’s record of P17.14 billion.

PDIC invites investors in rehabilitating GSIS Family Bank By Julito G. Rada STATE-RUN Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., receiver of closed banks, invited interested investors to participate in the pre-qualification process for the rehabilitation of GSIS Family Bank. PDIC said in a statement Tuesday interested parties had until today to submit their letters of intent to rehabilitate the bank and the required supporting documents.

A 22-unit thrift bank, GSIS Family Bank was ordered closed by the Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier. It was taken over by PDIC on May 13, 2016. “Investors may be banks or non-bank corporations. Meanwhile, supporting documents include... list of shareholders and their respective shareholdings and nationalities [and] evidence of financial capacity,” PDIC said In case the investor is a con-

sortium, all the supporting documents for each member of the consortium are required to be submitted. PDIC said investors would be evaluated based on a set of prequalification criteria. Banks that intend to participate in the rehabilitation of the GSIS Family Bank will be required to have a minimum capital adequacy ratio of 12 percent before the acquisition and the capacity to infuse necessary capital to ensure that the 12 percent CAR requirement

is complied with, if it fell below 12 percent after acquiring GSIS Family Bank. Interested investor-banks must have no findings of unsafe and unsound banking practices and are not under the prompt corrective action framework of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. In case of foreign banks, they must be authorized to operate as a bank in the Philippines. “On the other hand, investors which are non-bank corporations must be authorized to do busi-

ness in the Philippines, profitable for the last three years of operation and compliant with foreign ownership limit/ceiling in a bank as stated in the General Banking Law,” it said. They should have capital of at least P2 billion or adequate to meet the capital requirement for the rehabilitation of GSIS Family Bank; current asset to current liability ratio of 2:1; and unqualified audit opinion by independent auditors on the results of operations for the last three years.

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

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

Okada eyes resorts, golf courses By Jenniffer B. Austria

Fake Pokemon Go invades play store ABOUT a month ago, we wrote about fakes and how Alibaba founder Jack Ma came under fire for saying that fakes are sometimes better from the original—a statement he has since qualified by saying his online portal has “zero tolerance” for fakes. But it’s obvious to many that Ma was trying to justify the reason why some people patronize knockoffs that end up getting sold in his site. People can debate to death the chicken-and-egg argument that fakes wouldn’t proliferate if people did not patronize them and vice versa, but there is no denying that counterfeit products are bad for business—legit business, that is. One of the biggest victims of counterfeiting is the movie industry, what with fake DVDs openly sold primarily in mini-malls and marketplaces and cheaply, too—P20-P25 compared to P250 up to P375 for the newest releases. No wonder even ex-government officials buy them, like BS Aquino political adviser Ronald Llamas who was caught buying fake DVDs by the dozens at Circle C Mall in Quezon City. Typically, the ex-president gave a preposterous alibi for his friend, saying Llamas was just “passing by.” Oh sure—he was so disinterested that he looked so engrossed in looking through the fakes. But we digress. A few days ago, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry sounded off about the detrimental effects of counterfeit products to business and ultimately, the economy. Aside from the health risks that counterfeit products pose (fake rice, fake medicines, fake milk, etc.), it also threatens the employment of Filipinos and turns off foreign investors from coming in. As pointed out by PCCI intellectual property committee chairman Jesus Varela, pirated products are bad for industries, brands, consumers and the government obviously because of lost tax revenues. Two weeks ago, people were treated to the spectacle of an armored personnel vehicle crunching confiscated fake branded eyewear and pirated DVDs in a ceremonial destruction at Camp Crame organized by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights. According to authorities, an estimated P2.8 billion worth of goods was confiscated from January to June this year, with products ranging from DVDs to watches to fake branded bags. And now—even Pokemon Go is being faked! According to a report by a software security firm, an app going by the name Pokemon Go Ultimate has infiltrated the Google Play store. Pokemon Go is that hugely popular augmented reality game for iOS and Android gadgets where a player has to hunt for Pokemon by walking around certain directions and distances to look for eggs. The Pokemon Go app makes use of GPS (Global Positioning System) to put the creatures in real landmarks through the Google Maps, and a player can find these virtual creatures through the use of the gadget. A lot of people are reportedly using the game to shed off extra pounds with al the walking around that has to be done. Pokemon Go Ultimate, however, is nothing but a malicious app that is installed as “PI Network,” which then freezes the phone or gadget—and the only way the phone can be restarted is by removing the battery. A report by Fortune says the malicious app would still be lurking inside, wreaking havoc on the system by generating fake ad clicks. Aside from Pokemon Go Ultimate, other fake apps include Install Pokemongo, Guide & Cheats for Pokemon Go and other copycats. So before you get so excited, make sure that what you are installing is Pokemon Go—the real deal, not the fake. ••• For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo. com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/happyhourmanilastandard. We’d be very happy to hear from you. Cheers!

JAPANESE billionaire Kazuo Okada is interested in developing resorts and golf courses in the Philippines aside from investing $2.4 billion in an integrated hotel and casino complex. Businessman Antonio Cojuangco said in an interview with reporters he would team up with Okada in his plan to develop other resorts within the country. Cojuangco is Okada’s joint venture partner in developing the 44-hectare Okada Manila, the newest and biggest integrated resort development that will open within Pagcor Entertainment City. Cojuangco spoke at the sidelines of the launching of Okada Manila as the official property name of the casino project. He said Okada was initially looking at Palawan as possible site for the resort development, as

well as Davao. “Mr. Okada wants total entertainment package for the whole family. So aside from hotel and its features, he is also going to be developing resorts in islands, golf courses in the country,” Cojuangco said. “That is why I joined him because I’m interested in tourismrelated projects. I don’t really gamble,” he said. Despite an expected oversupply of gaming facilities in the country, Cojuangco said the group was optimistic of recovering its $2.4-billion investments in two years. Cojuangco said the company

was also considering listing the casino venture withing two years. Tiger Resorts Leisure and Entertainment Inc. chief operating office Takahiro Usui said Okada had so much confidence in the Philippines. “The most important thing in this industry is hospitality and that what our chairman believes in and that is what we believe also. Why he chose this property is because of that. He believes and we believe hospitality in the Philippines is the most important thing and most successfully industry in the Philippine and we want to contribute to the Philippines through this industry,” Usui said. Okada Manila, which is slated to open before the end of 2016, will be the third integrated resort casino that will open in Entertainment City after Bloomberry Resort’s Solaire Resort & Casino and Melco Crown’s City of Dreams.

Samsung awards. Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. wins three awards at the Philippine Quill

Awards 2015 organized by the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines. Receiving the awards are (from left) Samsung Philippines’ online business product manager Erwin Oliva, e-commerce and innovation head Sophia Singanon, IT and mobile marketing head Nio Judalena, media head Barbie Ocampo, corporate citizenship head Arlita Narag and chief marketing officer Chad Sotelo.

BoP surplus of $418m recorded in June By Julito G. Rada THE balance of payments position in June remained in surplus at $418 million, higher than $241 million in May, driven mainly by foreign exchange operations of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Tuesday. The June figure was lower than the $485 million surplus a year ago and brought the balance of payments in the first half to a surplus of $634 million, significantly lower than $1.684 billion in the same period last year. Tetangco said in a briefing the surplus was also driven by net dollar deposits and income from investments abroad. It was partially offset by the government’s debt servicing. “The $2 billion target for BoP surplus this year remains doable due mainly to the expected sus-

tained foreign exchange inflows for the rest of the year,” Tetangco said. He noted marked improvements in the domestic financial markets, both equities and bonds, due mainly to positive developments overseas, especially in the United States and Japan. He said the stimulus program of Bank of Japan was providing positive sentiment to the Japanese economy. Tetangco said there would be minimal impact to the domestic economy coming from the recent exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. “The claims of Philippine banks on UK and EU just account for 0.6 percent of the total assets of the domestic banking system,” Tetangco said. The balance of payments summarizes the country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world, with a deficit indicating

that foreign exchange payments outstripping receipts and a surplus the reverse. Persistent surpluses help build up the country’s gross international reserves, an ample supply of which helps prop up the peso vis-à-vis the US dollar and keep domestic inflation at bay. Bangko Sentral in June last year revised downward the balance of payments projection this year to $2 billion from the earlier assumption of $2.2 billion made in December 2015 due mainly to the expected volatility in the global financial markets. Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a previous briefing while the global financial environment would remain volatile, the bullish business confidence was expected to support continued entry of foreign direct investments in the country.

WEDNESDAY: JULY 20, 2016

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

Concentrix to invest P2.8b in BPO centers By Othel V. Campos

BUSINESS process outsourcing company Concentrix Corp. said Tuesday it is investing P2.8 billion in new delivery centers in the Philippines that will hire 14,000 BPO professionals over the next three years. Concentrix president Chris Caldwell said the US company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Synnex Corp., decided to aggressively expand in the Philippines to tap the world-class talent pool available in the country. “Our expectation is that organically, we’ll start to increase our size in the Philippines in the next three to six months. That will happen not only in Metro Manila

but in the provinces as well. We’re quite excited of the opportunities that lay ahead of us,” he said at the soft opening of Concentrix’s new site in Libis, Quezon City. The new facility will contribute 6,000 employees to the Concentrix’s current workforce of 20,000. The company said the expansion would involve hiring 14,000 more individuals in the next two years as a part of the plan to even-

tually double the manpower to 40,000 in the years ahead. The company is spending P1.4 billion in the new site at Tera Tower in Bridgetowne Business Park along C5 in Quezon City. Another P1.4 billion will be allocated for expansion to four more sites in the next three years. The new site covers 11 floors for operation and back office work and a dedicated recruitment hub on the ground floor. The company said it would open two more sites in Metro Manila this year, as demand for voice and non-voice services continued to grow. Concentrix services 400 companies worldwide, mostly Fortune 500 companies. The Philippine facilities serve 56 companies or one-eighth of the total. Concen-

trix also has facilities in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Naga and Cebu. Data from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority showed Concentrix registered five expansion projects in 2015. “These are huge projects, including this very site. Concentrix is one of the top ten investors in Peza,” said Peza head of corporate communications Elmer San Pascual. About 1,300 business process companies currently operate in 252 information technology parks under Peza. Concentrix employs 70,000 individuals in 90 delivery centers across 25 countries. It also has a large delivery footprint in India, Europe, Asia-Pacific and North and South America.

Most competitive. General Trias mayor Antonio Ferrer (eighth from left) holds the plum as the first placer among first and second-class municipalities in economic dynamism category given by the National Competitive Council during the 4th Regional Competitiveness Summit at Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The locality also won third place in overall competitiveness, trailing Cainta and Taytay, Rizal. With Ferrer are other officials of General Trias.

Vehicle insurance fraud reaches P1b annually By Gabrielle H. Binaday VEHICLE insurance fraud reaches more than P1 billion a year, a non-life insurance group said Tuesday. The Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association said the industry was losing millions to motor car insurance fraud committed by individuals or organized groups. Pira said car insurance fraud had many forms, ranging from fake car theft, fake car crashes and fake car repairs. “Fraud involves deception, betrayal and lies. It is often done in secret, by individuals, or by organized groups. It is an act that costs our industry at least a

billion pesos in motor car insurance losses alone every year by our conservative estimate,” Pira chairman on technical committee on motor car insurance Arturo Reyes said during the first car insurance summit in Pasay City. Reyes said while a study about car insurance fraud remained to be conducted, actual losses could be much higher than his “conservative” estimate. “Pira has yet to conduct a study on the actual state of fraud in the Philippines. Yet, I am willing to bet my one-month’s salary that if such a study is done, the result will be much higher than our present guess estimates,” Reyes said. Reyes said fraud accounted

for more than 10 percent of the entire losses in motor car insurance. “But this only accounts for those insurance companies paid for but did not know to be fraudulent. It still does not include those detected as fraudulent and were not paid. As you know, our laws do not recognize attempted fraud. Although we catch a lot, we could not do anything against these fraudsters,” he said. Top insurance executives and experts in detection and prevention of car insurance attended the “Motor Car Summit: Fighting Insurance Fraud” in Pasay City. Insurance deputy commissioner Vida Chiong said insur-

ance fraud was victimizing both claimants and insurance providers. “Both insurer and policyholder bear the cost of fraud,” Chiong said. She said the Insurance Commission was recognizing the growing problem of fraud and issued a circular ordering all companies to formulate anti-fraud plans. It is a growing problem not only in the Philippines but all over the world, with losses amounting to more than P50 billion a year. The Philippine National Police - Highway Patrol Group said in a presentation it recovered 74 vehicles involving insurance fraud from 2014 to 2016.

Govt asks SMC unit to settle P12-b debt By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. is asking for a payment of P12.3 billion from a unit of San Miguel Corp. that administers the output of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant in Batangas province, government sources said Tuesday. Sources said the total obligations of South Premiere Power Corp., the independent power producer administrator of Ilijan plant, reached P12.3 billion from June 2010 to April 2016. The total included P4.6 billion in disputed claims and P7.8 billion in undisputed claims. “The undisputed amount starting December 2012 is now P7.8 billion, from P6 billion as per the demand letter in the case,” the source said. The amount covers the accumulated shortfall in South Premiere’s payment of monthly obligations. South Premiere has an ongoing dispute with PSALM over the Ilijan contract. The dispute arose from interpretations of certain provisions related to generation payments under the Ilijan IPPA agreement. PSALM advised South Premiere on Sept. 4, 2015 that it was terminating the Ilijan IPPA agreement because of the latter’s alleged failure to settle the outstanding generation payments. PSALM sent letters to South Premiere as early as Sept. 10, 2013 and Oct. 20, 2014 demanding the company to immediately settle unpaid obligations. These were not settled and remained uncontested by South Premiere. The power privatization arm of the government earlier said it had strictly followed the computations based on the IPPA agreement and that its rightful claims were valid and not erroneous. PSALM said South Premiere’s own computation of payments was “erroneous, as SPPC unilaterally and erroneously applied prices which were inconsistent” with the Ilijan IPPA agreement. PSALM said its collectibles from South Premiere were a part of the privatization proceeds needed to liquidate the financial obligations of National Power Corp., pursuant to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act. San Miguel announced plans to sell a 49-percent stake in South Premiere to Manila Electric Co. but this would likely require government approval. “On the part of the government, we maintain that any disposition made by SMC will be subject to the claims of PSALM unless otherwise adjudged by the ours,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Melania Trump’s turnished debut CLEVELAND—Melania Trump— until now only a minor presence on the campaign trail—found herself in the midst of an embarrassing plagiarism controversy Tuesday after a prime-time defense of her husband Donald that appeared to be lifted in part from a speech given by Michelle Obama. No sooner had the poised, 46-year-old former model delivered her speech to cheering delegates at the Republican National Convention than the unmistakable similarities to a passage from Obama’s speech to the 2008 Democratic convention came to light. In both passages, the women are introducing themselves to the American public by speaking of the values that have shaped their lives. “My parents impressed on me the values: that you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise. That you treat people with respect. They taught me to show the values and morals in my daily life. That is the lesson that I continue to pass along to our son,” Melania Trump said. “And we need to pass those lessons on to the many generations to follow. Because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.” In her speech, Michelle Obama said: “And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them. “And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children—and all children in this nation—to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.” Trump’s senior communications adviser, Jason Miller, issued a statement that sidestepped the plagiarism question while not denying it. AFP

Islamist suspicion rises after German ax attack WUERZBUR, Germany—Authorities said Tuesday they strongly suspected an Islamist motive in an ax and knife attack carried out on a German train by a 17-year-old Afghan refugee that seriously wounded four members of a family from Hong Kong.

Premiere. Actress Katherine Castro attends the premiere of Universal Pictures’ ‘Jason Bourne’ at The Colosseum at Caesars’ Palace on July 18, 2016 ,in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

The assault on a regional train near the southern city of Wuerzburg Monday left two of the victims in a critical condition, said Joachim Herrmann, the interior minister of Bavaria state. The teenage assailant was killed as he tried to flee. “We hope that those who were gravely injured make it,” Herrmann told ZDF public television. The assailant had arrived as an unaccompanied minor in Germany, Herrmann said. A hand-painted flag of the Islamic State group was found among the belongings of the Afghan refugee, who had been staying with a foster family in the region. “It is quite probable that this was an Islamist attack,” said a ministry spokesman, adding that the assailant had shouted “Allahu akbar” [God is greatest]. However, he stressed that the investigation was ongoing and that the teenager appeared to have acted alone. The assault happened around 9:15 pm (1915 GMT) on the train that runs between the town of Treuchlingen and Wuerzburg in Bavaria. An eyewitness who lives next to the railway station told DPA news agency that the train, which had been carrying around 25 people, looked “like a slaughterhouse” with blood covering the floor. The man, who declined to give his name, said he saw people crawl from the carriage and ask for a first-aid kit as other victims lay on the floor inside. “The perpetrator was able to leave the train, police left in pursuit and as part of this pursuit, they shot the attacker and killed him,” a police spokesman said. Herrmann later said that the teenager was shot when he attacked police while trying to escape the scene. A special police force unit happened to be nearby and was able to mobilize quickly, Herrmann added. The four seriously injured victims are members of a family from Hong Kong, authorities in the southern Chinese city said Tuesday, adding the immigration department was providing them with assistance. Germany has thus far escaped the kind of largescale jihadist attacks seen in the southern French city of Nice last week, in which 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel used a truck to mow down people leaving a Bastille Day fireworks display, killing 84. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group. In May in Germany, a mentally unstable 27-yearold man carried out a knife attack on a regional train in the south, killing one person and injuring three others. Early reports had suggested he had yelled “Allahu akbar” but police later said there was no evidence pointing to a religious motive. He is being held in a psychiatric hospital. AFP

Generals jailed as concern grows over crackdown ANKARA—Turkey jailed over two dozen generals, including a former air force chief, on suspicion of planning the coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as Ankara Tuesday stepped up a relentless crackdown despite international concern. Erdogan has denounced the coup, which left more than 300 dead on all sides, as a treacherous bid to oust him from power devised from the Pennsylvania compound of his arch-enemy, the USbased preacher Fethullah Gulen.

But with the authorities detaining over 7,500 people so far in a massive legal crackdown, Turkey’s EU and Nato allies have urged Ankara to keep the rule of law in place. Erdogan’s suggestion that the death penalty in Turkey could be reinstated has sent shudders throughout Europe and sparked warnings such a move would be the nail in the coffin of its already embattled EU bid. An Ankara court late Monday placed under arrest 26 former

generals suspected of planning the coup, including former Turkish air force chief General Akin Ozturk, whom some Turkish media have painted as the mastermind of the plot. The generals have now been jailed ahead of their trials, a date for which has not been sent. They have been charged with crimes including seeking to overturn the constitutional order, leading an armed group and seeking to assassinate the president.

In his statement to prosecutors, Ozturk denied he was the coup ringleader. “I am not the person who planned or led the coup. Who planned it and directed it, I do not know,” state-run news agency Anadolu quoted him as saying. Turkey’s treatment of the coup suspects has alarmed its allies, especially after the suspects were paraded before the media and shown being subjected to rough treatment. Anadolu published images of

Ozturk and other suspects on the stairs inside the Ankara court house, staring blankly into the camera with their hands tied behind their backs. Ozturk has looked tired and haggard in images published by state media, with one of his ears heavily bandaged. The interior ministry said almost 9,000 people, including nearly 8,000 police but also municipal governors and other officials, had also been dismissed in a widening purge. AFP

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Tributes. People look at the tributes at the new makeshift memorial for the victims of the deadly Bastille Day attack at the Promenade des Anglais on July 19, 2016 in Nice, after it was moved from the pavement of the road to the seafront so that the street can be re-opened. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the truck attack that killed 84 people on France’s national holiday, a news service affiliated with the jihadists said on July 16. Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, 31, smashed a 19-ton truck into a packed crowd of people in the Riviera city celebrating Bastille Day, France’s national day. AFP

France debates emergency laws Bahrain rebuffs allies over opposition ban DUBAI—Bahrain has rebuffed its British and US allies over a controversial ban on the kingdom’s largest opposition group, insisting it will brook no interference in its internal affairs. The tiny but strategic Gulf state, a former British protectorate and home base of the US Fifth Fleet, has been racked by persistent unrest since its Sunni rulers bloodily suppressed an uprising by its Shiite majority in 2011. Western governments have repeatedly appealed publicly for reform and reconciliation, but those calls have gone unheeded and in recent months the crackdown on dissent has intensified. On Sunday, a court dissolved Al-Wefaq, the largest faction in parliament before 2011, accusing it of fanning violence in Shiite

areas. The ruling was condemned around the world, by Iran as well as Western governments and the United Nations. But Bahrain was unrepentant, issuing a statement late on Monday hitting back at its Western allies. “Such statements and positions are unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of the kingdom of Bahrain, and in the decisions of the Bahraini judicial process, which provides all necessary standards of justice, fairness, transparency and independence,” the foreign ministry said. The “statements are unjustified and only give encouragement to groups which support extremism and terrorism,” it added. AFP

PARIS—French lawmakers were Tuesday to debate extending the country’s state of emergency for a fourth time after the massacre in Nice amid mounting criticism of the government’s response to a slew of terror attacks. President Francois Hollande had planned to lift the measures this month but changed tack after the carnage wrought by a truck driver in a crowd leaving a Bastille Day fireworks display. The ruling Socialists have proposed a three-month extension but government sources told AFP that they would cede to the demands of the conservative opposition to keep the draconian security measures in place until the beginning of 2017. In contrast with the shows of unity that prevailed after the previous such attacks, the government has been pilloried by the opposition in the wake of the Nice assault, which came nine months before presidential and parliamentary

elections. Seventy people were still hospitalized in Nice on Tuesday, 19 in critical condition. On Monday, investigators said that 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, who used a 19ton truck to mow down people, had shown “recent interest” in jihadist activity. Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said there was no evidence of Bouhlel’s allegiance to IS but a search of his computer “showed a clear, recent interest for the radical jihadist movement.” In the two weeks prior to the attack Bouhlel carried out near-daily internet searches for IS propaganda videos and readings from the Koran, Molins said.

The father-of-three also searched for information about the terror attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 dead, and the Paris suburb of Magnanville where a police couple was killed last month. Both attacks were linked to IS. His computer contained pictures of corpses and fighters posing with the IS flag. The Nice attack came 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. Thirteen of the 84 victims have yet to be identified. Unlike the perpetrators of the Paris attacks, Bouhlel, a petty criminal with a history of violence and depression, did not travel to the Middle East for training or jihad. In March, Bouhlel received a suspended sentence for “armed assault” after beating a driver with a nail-studded plank in an episode of road rage. AFP

26 dead in tourist bus crash in Taiwan TAIPEI—A Taiwan bus taking mainland Chinese tourists to the airport for their flight home caught fire and crashed Tuesday, killing all 26 on board as desperate passengers struggled in vain to escape. Footage on local media showed the bus, with flames shooting from the front, had rammed into an expressway barrier near Taipei. The footage showed thick plumes of smoke and burned-out wreckage at the roadside. A police spokesman said the bus had caught fire before it crashed into the barrier but gave no reason. “All the people on the bus died,”

an official from the National Fire Agency told AFP. “At this stage it is still not clear why no passengers escaped from the bus. Prosecutors and police are investigating the cause of the accident,” she added. One image in Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post newspaper showed two men trying to smash the bus windows with fire extinguishers as the doors of the vehicle remained shut. A firefighter at the scene said there were no survivors still calling for help when they arrived. The tour group of 24 people,

eight men and 16 women, was from China’s northeastern city of Dalian, Taiwan’s interior ministry said. A Taiwanese driver and Taiwanese tour guide were also killed, the National Fire Agency confirmed. The group had been on their way to Taipei’s main Taoyuan airport at the end of an eight-day trip around the island. They were scheduled to take a 4:30 pm flight back to Dalian after arriving in Taiwan last Tuesday. The accident happened shortly before 1:00 pm. AFP

Kite surfing. Amateur and professional kitesurfers are pictured in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira Department, Colombia, on July 4, 2016. In Cabo de la Vela, a remote destination in the extreme northeast of Colombia. AFP

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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

rmed with more than three decades of experience, high-end jewelry label Royal Gem is a new entrant in the local jewelry industry. Beneluxe Trading Corporation—the jewelry arm of Metro Gaisano Group of Retail Stores—rebranded the 30-year-old Metro Jewelry brand to Royal Gem in a bid to give identity to its luxury line. The company also operates low-range Smythe & Co. that caters to the young market and the mid-range brand MyGold for those who are starting to collect jewelry. “Metro Jewelry started in 1982, before I was born,” shares Merill Tiffany Gaisano, Royal Gem's resident gemologist and the third generation of Cebu-based Gaisano family who founded Metro Department Stores among other companies under the Metro Group of Companies. She continues, “Now we’re renaming it from Metro Jewelry to Royal Gem to differentiate ourselves from other brands we’re carrying and to convey that message that our market is mainly for the empowered women.” It obviously took the management some time to give their high-end line its own name, but the officials share that after conducting studies last year, they found out that giving identity to the range would help it cement its ground in the market— especially in Luzon and Metro Manila where it is still considered an underdog. Initially, five stores of flagship Metro Jewelry will be renamed Royal Gem—these are located at Metro Department Stores in Ayala Center Cebu, Alabang Town Center, Market! Market!, Marquee Mall and Metro Legazpi. “But eventually we will transition to changing Metro Jewelry to Royal Gem and some to MyGold and Smythe & Co.,” notes Marketing Manager Francesca Zosa. Zosa also shares that they are looking into establishing stand-alone Royal Gem stores at Glorietta Mall and Solaire Resort and Casino. Each flagship Metro Jewelry store that will be turned into Royal Gem has more than 100 square meters of space to house its wide assortment of diamonds, colored stones, South Sea pearls and gold, among others—which they source from all over the world, but mostly in Asia. “We source topaz and sapphire in Thailand, our diamonds are from India. We also get from Cambodia and Sri Lanka,” says Zosa.

FAS HION & BE AU T Y

LIFE A NEW NAME IN THE

JEWELRY MARKET BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

Royal Gem—previously named Metro Jewelry—is a line of luxury jewelry composed of pieces made of gemstones, South Sea pearls, diamonds and gold

Their partner manufacturers in Japan and Italy design the Royal Gem's jewelry pieces. Zosa shares they even have a collection that has the same manufacturer as Bulgari. From humble beginnings with its first store in Cebu where there were only two showcases of mostly gold-plated jewelry that cater to religious locals, Royal Gem now carries all categories, according to Gaisano. “Our assortment is aspirational, basically catering to all sorts of women who want to have their own set of gemstones,” adds Zosa. A huge chunk of Royal Gem's market

are women 30 years old and up. Jewelry prices range from P50,000.00 to as much as P20 million. The luxury jewelry line has six main collections. The Enchanted Collection takes cue from romance and nature as it combines lustrous pearls with diamonds. Basic studs for everyday wear and experimental pieces for more dressed up occasions comprise the Pristine Collection. The Decadent Collection, on the other hand, is a colorful range composed of jewelry made of amethyst, citrine, blue topaz,

peridot, rose quartz, garnet, aquamarine, morganite, opal, turquoise and jade. Jewelry that can be worn with basic jeans and t-shirt are included in the galaxy-inspired Celestia Collection. The Imperiale Collection is composed of vibrant gemstones such as stunning red rubies, majestic green emeralds and cool blue sapphires. And the show-stopping Ultra Collection features carat stones and one-of-a-kind pieces that are suitable for special occasions. According to Zosa, items in the six main collections will be changed quarterly. Emeralds, among other vibrant gemstones, comprise the Imperiale Collection

Royal Gem's resident gemologist Merrill Gaisano and Marketing Manager Francesca Zosa

18k rose gold lavaliere necklaces set with amethyst, citrine and rubelite gems—a piece from Decadent Collection

Royal Gem jewelry range from classic pieces to contemporary collections

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LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

PAMPER AND EMPOWER

von Fashions and Avon Skin So Soft match their best products that pamper and empower—pamper with revitalizing body care and empower with perfectly fitting intimate apparel. Marketing Director Jean Reyes says, “At Avon, we believe that an empowered woman is the most beautiful woman there is. That’s why we design our products with the intention of empowering women to embrace, enhance, and celebrate their unique beauty. Now we’re bringing together two of our number one brands – Avon Fashions and Skin So Soft—to form powerful duos that provide the best care for a woman’s curves—whatever her personal style or skin needs may be.”

Care for Your Curves to get a vibrant glow Colorful accents plus an instant glow will make you feel both vibrant and radiant. Embrace your curves with the Heather Underwire Brassiere (P425) and Heather 7-inPanty Pack (P650) that feature playful, natureinspired designs in cool, bright hues. Complete the look with Skin So Soft Soft & White Radiant Glow Whitening Hand & Body Lotion (P299), which moisturizes with marula oil and visibly whitens instantly after one application. Care for Your Curves to Feel Flawlessly Feminine Match gorgeous prints with firming technology to bring out flawless confidence and highlight your femininity. The

Charlotte Underwire Brassiere (P425) and Priscilla 7-in-1 Panty Pack (P650) wrap your curves in dainty floral designs made of microfiber for a smooth, figurehugging fit. Compliment this intimate apparel with Skin So Soft Soft & White Cellulite Minimizer and Whitening Hand & Body Lotion (P299) that combines Triple Firm Technology—which helps reduce the appearance of cellulite, and marula oil which leaves skin whiter and feeling soft and smooth after one application. Care for Your Curves to Be Confidently Whiter Full support plus whitening protection will make you feel confidently whiter. The Joanna Underwire Full Cup Brassiere (Sizes 34B/36B/38A=P425; Sizes 36C/38B/40B=P480) that offers U-back support and full comfort, now available in bigger sizes to fit all curves. Pair the bra with Skin So Soft Soft & White Glutathione with SPF 15 Whitening Renewal Hand & Body Lotion (P370). Glutathione fully moisturizes in just 12 hours and leaves skin noticeably whiter in 3 days. It lightens dark areas caused by overexposure to sunlight and environmental skin stressors and protects with SPF15. Care for Your Curves to Enjoy Exquisite Softness Dainty lace and intense moisutre will leave you feeling exquisitely soft. The Penelope Underwire Brassiere (P425) and Mylene 7-in-1 Panty Pack (Sizes: S/M/

Avon combines its Intimate underwear line and Skin So Soft brand in its Care for Your Curves campaign that aims to pamper and empower women

L=P650; Sizes XL/XXL=P699) feature intricate lace details and matching floral designs. Pair these intimates with longlasting 24+ hours of luxurious moisture

by using Skin So Soft Silky Moisture Ultra Moisturizing Body Lotion (P299). Products mentioned are available from Avon Ladies nationwide.

Care before you color

Caronia Salon Care range

Trusted for decades and passed on from one generation to another, Caronia has provided Filipinas a way to express who they really are through their colorful nails. Whether you’re a glitter kind of girl or you just simply want the colors to match with your outfit, the country’s pioneer and leading nail polish brand has a wide collection of vibrant colors to add more style to the already fashionable you. But, what is “style”, really, if your nails aren’t totally clean? How can you go on if your manicure is chipped? Good thing Caronia—as always—is here to save the day with Caronia Salon Care.

As the country’s leading expert in nail care, Caronia gives you these mani-pedi essentials to help you prepare your nails before applying colorful nail art on them. The Salon Care comes in three variants: the Caronia Nail Polish Remover, true colors stand out. You can easily wipe away the leftovers from your previous manicure using the Cuticle Remover, and Cuticle Sanitizer, which help clear the way for a gentle mani-pedi experience and sees to it that your Caronia Nail Polish Remover for a smoother color application. Then, rub some of Caronia’s Cuticle Remover to get rid of overgrown

cuticles and achieve a cleaner palette. And lastly, use Caronia Cuticle Sanitizer to disinfect your nails for a healthierlooking polish. The Caronia Salon Care lets you be as stylish as you want without ever worrying about your colors chipping off. Because if you trust only the experts in nail care, you can #KeepThingsColorful and be stylish any time of the day. Caronia Salon Care is available in four sizes: 30mL, 60mL, 125mL and 250mL in major retailers, supermarkets, department stores, and drug stores nationwide.

Revolutionary shopping Shopee, the Philippines’ most userfriendly mobile C2C social marketplace, is making buying and selling online even easier by extending its Free Shipping and Cash on Delivery (COD) program until the end of July. Shopee is the first online marketplace in the Philippines that offers Free Shipping and COD on such a wide scale with the most number of sellers and pick-up locations. Since the program’s successful launch in April, the results have been most encouraging. The number of sellers and product listings has grown by over 40 percent and 60 percent, respectively. Currently more than 5,000 sellers are using the Free Shipping and COD program, and this number is set to grow even further by the end of the year. Macy Castillo, head of Commercial Business, explains, “It is designed to empower sellers — seasoned and new alike — to grow their businesses and meet their maximum entrepreneurial potential. We have observed that logistics challenges, like limited delivery and payment options, are strong barriers faced by people who want

to shop or start an online business. This program helps sellers by eliminating such challenges and in turn, reach out to more potential buyers.” Castillo also further points out how the program has tremendously benefitted sellers on Shopee, “We have seen countless users who started selling online as casual sellers on Shopee and later on grew to become professional sellers with their own online businesses. With Free Shipping and COD, Shopee sellers on average have managed to triple their sales and also gained more buyers nationwide as we see the number of orders from provincial areas increasing by three times. We decided to extend the program to reach out to even more users and empower them even further.” Castillo added, “Filipinos always enjoy a great bargain. We want our buyers to be able to fully enjoy the experience of shopping through the wide range of products available on our platform without having to worry about any additional cost. At the same time, selling on Shopee is absolutely free for sellers. Anyone can install Shopee, sign up for our Free Shipping program,

Shopee extends its free shipping and cash on delivery program until end of July

add a product in less than 30 seconds, and enjoy free shipping via our courier partners immediately.” Shopee offers a practical, fun and safe platform for everyone to buy and sell online. “We want to build a strong ecosystem, to be innovative and constantly evolve to give the best experience to our

users, and continue to establish ourselves as the number one mobile C2C marketplace in the Philippines,” Castillo concludes. Shopee Philippines is available for free in Apple App Store and Google Play Store and currently has 15 million installs across the region. For more information on Shopee, visit www.shopee.ph.

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

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

FIVE NON-NEGOTIABLE THINGS YOU DO BEFORE SLEEPING

here is more to sleep than what we were told while growing up. Getting only a few hours of sleep is guaranteed to affect your appearance – you get dark and puffy circles under your eyes and skin looks dull. There is truth to beauty sleep, after all. But aside from getting the required six to seven hours of sleep, there are other things you can do to ensure that you wake up with refreshed, glowing skin. Here are five non-negotiable things to do before sleeping:

When oil, sweat and bacteria mix, unsightly pimples and enlarged pores ensue. So cleaning your face is not an option, it is a must. Use a good makeup remover. You can also use baby oil or petroleum jelly. But to effectively scrub off makeup, good old tissue or cotton just won’t do. You need a product that won’t disintegrate after one or two wipes and won’t isolate all your makeup remover to one side. Cleene Cotton Rounds is the perfect candidate for this job. The cotton pads are bigger, allowing you to clean a wider area of the skin. It also spreads any liquid throughout its surface, perfect for those who use liquid makeup remover. And it’s made from high

Remove your makeup! Sleeping in one’s makeup puts the skin at risk of clogged pores.

quality cotton that can withstand even the most stubborn, waterproof makeup. Wash your face with water and a cleanser Washing your face with lukewarm water and a facial cleanser is a non-negotiable. It removes oil and dirt left by the makeup remover. You can step up your cleansing routine by using lukewarm water instead of tap water. It gently opens pores allowing your cleanser to remove deep-seated dirt. After massaging the product on your face, rinse it off with cold water to close your pores.

Cleansing is not enough, use a toner Using a toner after cleansing

is like closing a deal with a client. It takes off excess dirt that cleansers don’t successfully remove. Use any kind of toner that matches your skin type and, of course, your Cleene Cotton Rounds for a more thorough toning.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize Although our skin produces oil, we still need to use moisturizer. For people with dry skin, slathering on moisturizer after cleansing brings relief. It is also still recommended for those with oily skin. Overly active oil glands are aggravated by lack of moisture, causing it to produce more oil. And no matter what the skin type is, moisturizing daily (especially

with one that is also infused with SPF) helps keep premature wrinkles at bay.

Slow down ageing, apply an eye cream at night Usually, age is just a number, but at times, your age can reflect in your eyes, more specifically, under and on the sides of your eyes. You can slow down wrinkles that will make you look older by using an eye cream before you sleep. A good quality eye cream will not only lighten dark circles and de-puff your eye bags it also moisturizes the eye area, minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. For this, you can either use your hands or for better sanitation, use a couple of cotton buds.

Naturally Pinoy health and beauty fair In the past, Filipinos turned to nature to make themselves healthy and beautiful. Their natural remedies were in their backyard – fruits and vegetables were a natural source of vitamins, while common ailments were treated with teas and leaves. The Filipina’s beauty routine took a similar route – gugo and coconut oil for healthy lustrous hair, handmade herbal soaps for her skin, and the scent of flowers for her fragrance. Today’s technology has enhanced the natural way to health and beauty even more, and with it, more exciting products for contemporary lifestyles. Learn more about and enjoy all things beautiful, healthy, and Filipino at Kultura’s "Naturally Pinoy Health and Beauty Fair" at SM Makati, July 28 to 31; SM Megamall, Aug. 11 to 14; and SM Mall of Asia, Aug. 18 to 21. "Naturally Pinoy" is Kultura’s firstever fair, featuring new products, and a wide selection of locally-made food and personal care products, crafted with local ingredients such as Virgin Coconut Oil, Pili Oil, Coco Sugar, and local herbs.

Explore the different tastes of traditional Filipino delicacies with a healthy twist: Kickstart Coffee, Gourmet Farms Coffee, Malagos Chocolates, Healthy Pinoy, MSC and Pili & Pino. Indulge your mind and body with handmade soaps and essential oils from Flora Verde, Cocobody, Tropical Shop, Suds & Scents, Precious, and Daila. Uplift your spirit relaxing aromatherapy essentials from ATIN Reed Diffusers and Precious Pillows. Other participating brands are Cocolatto, Leslie Pili, Manila Chocolatier, Be Organic Soap, Casa de Lorenzo, Messy Bessy, Oryspa, Philippa Soaps, Pili, Esther 2:12, and Soak Artisan. All Naturally Pinoy Food and Personal Care products are available at selected Kultura stores located at SM Aura Premier, SM Makati, SM Megamall, the SM Mall of Asia, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Cebu, and at the newly opened SM Seaside City Cebu. Kultura boutiques are also located in Pico de Loro, Taal Vista, and the Molo Mansion, Iloilo. Visit its website at www. kulturafilipino.com.

Precious Herbal Pillow

Tropical Shop organic body butter

Homegrown label Kick-Start Coffee is made of beans sourced from Philippine farmers and partners around the globe

Healthy Pinoy Malunggay Infused Juice

iPHOTO

Award Of Excellence SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. received an Award of Excellence at the recently concluded Philippine Quill Awards 2016 of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines for “A Feast for the Eyes” International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) 2014 at Mall of Asia Arena. SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. stayed true to its commitment as it provided world-class entertainment to the Filipino audience by bringing in tennis celebrities like Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray, and Serena Williams for competition and exhibition games in a week-long celebration of tennis as one of the country’s favorite sporting events. The program reached almost 261,000,000 households worldwide— garnering international appreciation for the sport and its athletes. From left: Gab Abeleda, Ferdie Bondoy, Steph Henares, Clementine Apacible, Cosette Romero and Lexi Tan representing SMLEI and its PR agency, FleishmanHillard, respectively.

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

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

FIND YOUR FUN WITH CROCS

olorblock flats with slingback heels. . . feminine Isabella Sandals with soft, translucent straps . . . ankle strap wedges . . . vintage sneaker style slip-ons in camo patterns for men . . . pretty butterfly clogs and glitter flats for little girls. Crocs has definitely gone a long way since it launched its classic clog in 2002, evolving into trendier styles with new collections for men, women and children. Today, Crocs celebrates the fun of being different and encourages fans to “Find Your Fun” in every colorful pair of shoes. What hasn’t changed is the brand’s core molded footwear heritage. All Crocs shoes feature the Croslite material, a proprietary and revolutionary technology that give each pair of shoes the soft, comfortable, lightweight, non-marking and odor-resistant qualities that Crocs fans know and love.

Since it began in 2002, Crocs has sold more than 300 million pairs of shoes in more than 90 countries around the world. Globally, Crocs has more than 500 retail locations and continues Crocs Philippines now operates under its new distributor, Walk EZ Retail Corporation in partnership with the SM Retail, Inc. Crocs proves that more fun is on the way as it opens new branches with the ones in SM City San Lazaro and SM City Bacolod being the most recent. The Crocs stores have fixtures and displays that make way for an easy shopping experience. Crocs purchases now enable shoppers to earn points for their SM Advantage, Prestige and BDO Rewards cards.

Crocs Classic Clog

Crocband Butterfly Clog

Crocs features fun Mickey and Minnie Mouse designs for kids

Duet Max Clog

Get connected with Crocs through @CrocsPH on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. #FindYourFun #CrocsPH

Colorblock

Leigh II Ankle Strap Wedge

Isabella Sandal

Anna Ankle Strap

Swiftwater Clog

Swiftwater Flip

Coach Women’s Fall 2016 Collection A ‘magpie’ exploration of Americana, reimagined for urban life. Ice hockey and team sport uniforms, refereshed and made personal with abstracted varisty patches. Reconfiguring symbols of toughness with femininity and nostalgia, splicing familiar American archetypes with the gentle charm and character that suggests a previous life. Reassembling dream thrift finds with the eclecticism and juxtaposition of New York city style. The beauty of leather and shearling in a rough and ready state, with stitch and seam exposed. The honesty of craft. Re-contextualizing the familiar with a low-fi take on craftsmanship, luxury and their traditional reference points, resetting for a new conversation that could only be born of America.

Embellished Canyon Quilt Coach Swagger 27 in oxblood

Coach Women's Fall 2016 collection features leather bags inspired by urban Americana

Butterfly Applique Coach Swagger 27 in black

Butterfly Applique Coach Swagger 27 in blue-black

Classic Varsity Jacket in red

W EDNES DAY : J ULY 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

JAYA NEWEST ‘TAWAG NG TANGHALAN’ JUDGE

iewers are up for more huge surprises in It’s Showtime’s “Tawag ng Tanghalan” as Queen of Soul Jaya adds excitement to the most talked about competition in noontime and joins its stellar list of hurados. As the newest hurado, she will evaluate the performances

of aspiring singers from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila. Now that she is part the popular singing contest, the Queen of Soul is thrilled to share her knowledge and hone the talent of potential singing superstars. Kyla, Erik Santos, and Louie Ocampo have already been

Soul singer Jaya joins “It’s Showtime” as the latest hurado in the “Tawag ng Tanghalan” episode

introduced as Quarter Three’s newest hurados aside from Jaya. Don’t miss the talented Pinoy singers as they battle for supremacy in “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in the noontime variety show It’s Showtime, Monday to Saturday on ABS-CBN or ABSCBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Lifetime is best couch companion August brings forth lots of exciting shows to your TV screens. From the most-awaited season premieres, to more episodes of current favorite shows, Lifetime has got you covered. Season 2 of Zoo premieres this month, with thrilling action and adventure. The story of a group of experts that include a zoologist, a safari guide, and a reporter, investigating the mysterious and violent sudden behavior of animals all over the world continues to provide edge-of-your-seat excitement in its second season. This time around, the animals have become a bigger threat to the human race, and the stakes are much higher for the group of investigators. Tune in on the action Aug. 3, 10 p.m. Wednesday. The second season of Child Genius: Battle of the Brightest sees America’s brightest and most brilliant kids engage in mental battle. The show follows these gifted minds in a national intelligence competition, in cooperation with American Mensa, that spans eight weeks. Witness how these kids perform at intelligence levels almost double their age. But the show also takes a look at the relationship of these prodigies with their parents, who push them to

Follow the thriller “Zoo,” where violent animals attack humans

Reality series “The Block” is back for a new season

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

win. Child Genius: Battle of the Brightest Season 2 premieres 10 p.m. on Aug. 4, Tuesday. Catch the latest episodes of one of the most popular reality shows to date 8 p.m. Monday to Friday. MasterChef Australia is on its eighth season, with big-

of MasterChef Australia. Get inspired to design your home with The Block Season 4 every Monday at 9:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. The season’s new couples are set to hack it out and renovate a house—interior and exterior, room by room—

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Enjoyed the beach 5 Flower oil 10 Knock — — loop 14 Rajah’s spouse 15 Eucalyptus eater 16 “Blue Tail Fly” singer 17 In shape 18 Cove

“Child Genius: Battle of the Brightest” returns for a second season on Lifetime Network

19 Third-quarter tide 20 Worries 22 Noblemen 23 Form 1040 expert 24 — out (relax) 25 Himalaya summit 29 Green science 33 Change colors 34 Way, way off 36 Brownish tint

37 Onassis nickname 38 Small towns 39 The lady 40 Concorde fleet 42 Indigo dye 43 Driving hazard 45 Least involved 47 Ships abroad 49 Printer’s measures 50 Dust cloth 51 Clan leader 54 Utmost 60 MIT grad 61 Ease 62 Four Corners state 63 Ancient colonnade 64 Heater setting 65 Ike Turner’s ex 66 Noblemen 67 Out of style 68 Piggy-bank feature DOWN 1 Mlle. in Barcelona 2 Raise a red flag 3 PC system 4 Close resemblance 5 Japanese dogs 6 Music’s — Tennille 7 Fable 8 Pub orders 9 Two-timer 10 Wheedle 11 Again

ger challenges, bigger talents and bigger personalities. The new contestants take on signature MasterChef challenges, from the mystery box, pop-up restaurant, to celebrity chef, among others. Don’t miss their journey and find out who will win the coveted title

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

12 13 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 35 38 41 43 44 46 48 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 61

Actual Deadly snakes Dueler’s sword Help-wanted abbr. TV hookups Use Artgum Vice — Revises Jeer at Bird of prey Dark yellow Welcome Nomad dwellings Wk. day Low voice Saw-toothed mountains Junk email PC bye-byes Goal Checked for fractures (hyph.) To a smaller degree Opposed 1939 Lugosi role Court statement Landed Rev the engine Gas or tel. Prefix for second “—’ll be the day!” Increase the number

and sell it at the highest price. Whatever you’re in the mood for, Lifetime offers the best kind of entertainment this month of August. Lifetime™ is available on SKYCable Ch 65 and Lifetime™ HD Ch 199; Cable Link Ch. 223; Dream Satellite Ch 28; Destiny Ch 44.

W EDNES DAY : J ULY 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

WILL LOVI POE GET HURT AGAIN?

ll is well for Kapuso Premier Actress Lovi Poe. But it seems she will get hurt and cry a river again because of the pain love will give her. This is in the new GMA Primetime series Someone To Watch Over Me that goes on air next month. She will play the role of Joanna Mercado, wife of an Alzheimer’s patient. When her husband starts not recognizing her, Joanna feels he was abandoning her, not physically but psychologically. The only thing that he remem-

bers is his ex-girlfriend. For Lovie who is an awardwinning actress, the role is very challenging yet inspiring. “Actually, ini-imbibe ko na yung pain na nararamdaman ni Joanna para pagdating sa set ready na ako. Pero sobra akong nagpapasalamat palagi kasi sa lahat naman ng binibigay nila sa akin na projects, masaya ako dun. And the thought na they’re trusting me with this, is something I want to make sure that I give my best kasi hindi biro yung mga roles na binibigay nila sa akin,” exclaims the Kapuso actress.

From left: Tom Rodriguez, Max Collins, film and TV director Maryo J. delos Reyes and Lovi Poe

Tom Rodriguez plays an Alzheimer patient

Tom Rodriguez and Lovi Poe star in “Someone To Watch Over Me,” a new drama on Kapuso Network

After his trip to Europe with Carla Abellana and her family, Tom Rodriguez is now recharged and all set to play TJ Chavez in the new primetime series Someone To Watch Over Me. The series is about a man stricken with the disease and forgets to remember his wife but strangely recalls his liaison with another woman. For Tom, the role is far different

Max Collins inspired to work again

Whatever role you give her, she’ll make sure she can deliver. Whether it is a comic role or something that requires her to be physical agile in an action drama or emotionally draining role in a melodrama, Max will accept it wholeheartedly. She is also in the new primetime series Someone To Watch Over Me as Irene Montenegro, ex-girlfriend of someone afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. For Max, she feels the pressure yet at the same time she is excited to work on

this series because she feels this is an affirmation of what kind of an actress she is and that she is excelling in the field she has chosen to be in. “Masaya po ako kasi palagi akong may trabaho. Ito talaga yung gusto ko na as long as may work ako, I am happy. I am always excited to work. It just goes to show that the producers and the staff see something in what I do. Mahalaga yun sa akin,” says Max. Max will be with Tom Rodriguez and Lovi Poe. Maryo J. Delos Reyes directs.

Radio station’s job fair Providing its fellow Kapuso with opportunities for employment and small to medium-scale entrepreneurship, GMA Network’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB embarks on its second DZBB Trabaho Negosyo Fair until today at Star Mall Alabang. Over 100 companies are present at the Kapuso job and business fair, which aims to equip jobseekers with the necessary knowledge to start their own businesses. Attendees may also join the free Negosyo Seminars held throughout the duration of the fair.

The seminars are held in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and the UP Institute for Small Scale Industries (UP ISSI). There are Help Desks for those seeking advice from government agencies such as the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Statistics Authority, Business Permits and Licensing Office Muntinlupa, and the UP ISSI. The DZBB Trabaho Negosyo Fair is on the 4th Floor of Starmall Alabang from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m..

from those he has essayed previously. And because it is not familiar to him, he has started his own research about Alzheimer’s. “Right now, I am just trying to educate myself with this illness [Alzheimer’s] because it’s a very real thing pala. You know, just a few months before this, I had no idea. Like, ganito pala kabilis, ka-rapid yung disease na you

will be able to see the deterioration right away. For me, I even started doing mind exercises kasi I’m an over thinker and my hobby is to stimulate my brain. Kasi I love reading, I love studying, I love taking courses, I love doing many techniques. Kaya to prepare for a role that’s as heavy as this, it must be a superb one,” the actor says.

A+E Networks®Manila makes History

Mark your calendar as History Con, A+E Networks®’ History® Asia’s very firstever convention, will open in Manila on Aug. 25. This can’t-miss event is jampacked with activities and displays that will bring the channel to life and immerse visitors in the History® experience. Like the channel, History Con will be epic in scale and cover a broad range of genres and interests, with dedicated areas for the paranormal/sci-fi, survival and adventure, motoring, history and culture. The four-day ticketed event will be held at the World Trade Center and will be opened to the public. The convention passes are now available for sale at HistoryAsia.com/HistoryCon. “We are thrilled to make history with the conception of History Con, the biggest entertainment convention of its kind, in Manila. History Con reinvents the way we connect with our local audiences, as an onground extension of our brand that offers something for everyone, whether they’re our loyal fans who just can’t get enough of History, or they’re curious onlookers who are new to our brand. We’re creating an experience beyond the television screen to engage our visitors at a deeper level that allows them to feel, live and see history come alive in an entertaining way,” said Prem Kamath, deputy managing director,

A+E Networks Asia. History Con will feature a star-studded lineup of popular HISTORY personalities who will make appearances, sign autographs, host talks and conduct workshops. Fans will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with Ancient Alien’s Giorgio Tsoukalos; Storage Wars’ Brandi and Jarrod; Gangland Undercover’s Damon Runyan; Photo Face-Off’s Justin Mott; and the cast of Celebrity Car Wars, which includes several Filipino celebrities like KC Montero, Joey Mead King and Marc Nelson and professional car driver, Gaby Dela Merced. Visitors can take a 3D experience into our Solar System at the virtual reality booth with Oculus Rift, flex their muscles and take on other strongmen and women at arm wrestling, or get a ringside seat at Muay Thai and boxing demonstrations. Visitors will also be eligible to participate in raffle draws to win fabulous prizes. For the first time, fans will also be able to catch exclusive screenings of premiering History Shows. Tickets for HISTORY Con are priced from P200.00 and up and are now on sale online at HistoryAsia.com/HistoryCon. More details and updates about celebrity appearances and other activities will also be available on the History Con website.

W EDNES DAY : J ULY 20, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

With Rhian Ramos on the cover, FHM team describes the magazine as smarter, more sophisticated, sharper and cooler

RHIAN RAMOS

GOES #NOFILTER IN SEXY PHOTO SHOOT

he girl who grew up wearing boys’ clothes and considers herself as a late bloomer posed in a plunging black lingerie for the cover of FHM and put her curves on show in a number of revealing looks for the sexy spread shot entirely in France. The girl is Rhian Ramos. And she is this month’s Cover Girl of the popular men’s magazine. During the magazine’s press launch, Rhian told the Manila Standard that it was a seven-year courtship between her and FHM before this “dream project” finally

came together. Rhian was just 17 turning 18 when she was first approached by the magazine. But she wasn’t ready then. So, what made her decide to finally say yes to FHM team? Three things: she has learned to embrace her flaws; she feels sexier now and feels confident in her own body; and she likes the direction that the magazine is taking nowadays. “I just feel like the readers of FHM now are just the kind of guys that I would want to put myself in front of. I love their content, it’s intelligent and you could learn a lot -- there’s food and art and guys’ fashion,” she told us. “They’ve really shifted more for what the millennials will find sexy. Well not just the millennials though, what I mean is, you can find that version of sexy already everywhere and on the Internet.

Unlikely pair. Enchong Dee and Kiray Celis as lovers in Regal’s ‘I Love You to Death”

FHM redefined their definition of sexy and put a little more dreaminess into it,” Rhian added. The first-time FHM Cover Girl is very satisfied with the outcome of her shoot for the magazine. In fact, she revealed that all of the photos that ended up on the pages of the famous glossy were shot using natural lighting. Hence, the photos just required very minimal editing. “The beauty of shooting in Europe is that there’s like a natural filter, there were no lights needed for this [shoot], this is just the regular sunlight, and us frolicking around the forest in lingerie,” she said.

Dead on arrival

Regal Entertainment assembled a group of teenagers similar to a “mean girls clique” where there’s someone who is pretty but dumb, a girl who has a voracious appetite for food, an exchange Korean student who has a Japanese sounding name, another pretty girl who appears to be the group leader, and a not so attractive girl but excels in academics. The latter is played by Kiray Celis, and her character is the main protagonist in I Love You to Death, which also stars Enchong Dee. In the rom-com directed by Miko Livelo, Celis plays Gwen, the only member of the group

Cover Girl. Rhian Ramos lands on the cover of FHM’s July issue

who is single. But that changed when from out of the blue, Tonton (Dee) appears and offers her a marriage proposal. At the onset, Tonton’s motive is clear -- he just wanted to marry Gwen as soon as possible. Suddenly, he starts killing the people who disapprove of their union. And interestingly, those who just play a minor part in the movie, like the macho dancer during Gwen’s Bachelorette party and the wedding gown designer, are also eliminated via Tonton’s killing spree. On their wedding day, it is finally revealed that Tonton is already dead. This revelation prompts Tonton to kill Gwen’s friends, who are present at their wedding, except her parents. Once everybody is dead, the now monster-looking Tonton tells Gwen that he just wanted to marry her because of a promise that he needs to fulfill - they made a vow that they would marry each other when they grow up. Tonton died on the day when he decided to meet with Gwen. He tried to chase the motorcycle driver who stole Gwen’s bag. In the process, both Tonton and the biker faced a fatal accident and

died on the spot. This part of the movie explains why Tonton’s dead body kills people. He emerged from his grave when he heard Gwen’s wish, which is to have a boyfriend who is “patay na patay sa’akin.” And the only way to stop him from killing people is to put him back to his grave. With a storyline that’s confusing at the same time inconsistent, it begs the question whether or not Miko Livelo was possessed, too, when he was directing the film. I Love You to Death is pretentious and confused in many levels. Starting off with the characters inspired by most chick flicks up to simplest logic like playing bowling on high heels, which no bowling center would allow. The film is a rom-com in the guise of a horror flick. Tacky it is, right? The jokes, amid Celis’s perfect comic timing, are unapologetically passé. To emphasize my point, I Love You to Death is a product of a terrible writing and of imbecilic direction. Only a dimwit would buy its resolution because, in the general scheme of things, even horror and fantasy films should still have a little sense of logic and reality.