The Standard - 2016 February 1 - Monday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX NO. 354 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONday : FEBRUaRy 1, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Roxas: Duterte using me

aDminiStRation giveS up on bbl By Christine F. Herrera

THE government’s chief peace negotiator admitted Sunday that the Bangsamoro Basic Law was dead and urged the next administration to pick up where the Aquino administration left off.

In an interview over radio dzBB, Miriam Coronel Ferrer, who headed the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said there was no hope that Congress would pass the Palace-backed BBL with only three session days left. She also urged the MILF not to use its 10,000 firearms during the coming elections. The MILF has committed not to wage war and to continue observing the ceasefire, and urged government troops not to engage the rebels in firefights. Despite appeals from President Benigno

Aquino III, only 50 of 292 lawmakers showed up at the plenary last week, bogging the BBL down by the lack of a quorum. Ferrer said without the BBL, the MILF could not be compelled to surrender their 10,000 firearms. Only 79 high-powered firearms have so far been turned over to the government as part of the decommissioning process under the peace deal. Also without the BBL, Ferrer said, the Palace could not release the agreed P70-billion block grant intended for development

projects in Mindanao. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong of Lanao del Sur earlier gave up on efforts to get their colleagues to attend sessions to pass the BBL. “Today, with a heavy heart and a disturbing sense of foreboding, I close the book of hope for the passage of the BBL,” Balindong said in a privilege speech. “Fifty-one public hearings, 200 hours of committee-level debates and eight months of consultations are all put to waste—thrown into the abyss of Next page

Clearing operation. Soldiers patrol a rice field during a clearing operation against Muslim renegades in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao, in this file photo. AFP

Santiago still top choice of students

‘PNoy stupid for relying on incompetents’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Juan Ponce Enrile mocked President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday, saying he was stupid for depending on incompetent officers to lead the Mamasapano operation in January last year, and being the first Philippine president to abandon his troops to be

slaughtered. The President has consistently blamed dismissed Special Action Force commander Getulio Napeñas for the deaths of the 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, calling him stupid and incompetent. But Enrile said in a radio interview on dzBB that it was the President who

was stupid for depending on someone he later considered incompetent. He also hammered at the President for keeping his Cabinet and the military in the dark about the operation to neutralize two high-profile terrorists. “He took it upon himself. He thought he could do it, but he was incompetent,” Enrile said in Filipino. Next page

m o n D AY : f e b r u A r Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘PNoy...

From A1

Pollution in the city. Smog engulfs Metro Manila around 7 a.m. on Sunday. Ver NoVeNo

US warship sails near island, draws protest WASHINGTON—A US warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea Saturday to assert freedom of navigation, drawing a protest from Beijing, officials said. “We conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea earlier tonight,” Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said in a statement. Davis said the guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur made the “innocent passage” off Triton Island in the Paracel island chain, which is claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. No Chinese navy ships were in the area at the time the US destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of the tiny 1.2-square kilometer island, he said. The operation was conducted “to challenge excessive maritime claims of parties that claim the Paracel Islands,” Davis said. While the United States takes no position on the various claims to the island, it does not recognize any claimant’s right to its territorial waters. Beijing quickly responded, saying the move violated Chinese law and urging the United States to maintain peace. “The US warship, in violation of relevant Chinese laws, entered China’s territorial waters without authorization. The Chinese side has taken lawful surveillance, vocal warnings and other related measures,” China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement. “We urge the US side to respect [and] abide by relevant

Administration... From A1

uncertainty and darkness. This is the lowest and saddest day of my legislative work.” “There’s one more week left. But it’s not wise to pin our hopes [on that],” Ferrer told dzBB. She was particularly saddened that only 50 congressmen were present at the session hall last week. “Can you believe that? There were more than 200 legislators who were absent,” she said. It did not help that members of the opposition kept questioning the quorum and who were active in the sessions just to raise these objections. “The intention was really to stop the BBL from moving forward,” she said. Among the 40 amendments to the BBL, the MILF had wanted some 28 provisions reinstated, but these were reject-

ed by the House special ad hoc committee on the BBL chaired by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. Ferrer said it was the hope of the MILF that the 28 rejected provisions be reconsidered during the period of amendments in the plenary. “The problem is, we did not get there [period of amendments] because those who oppose the measure consumed the time for the sake of opposing it,” Ferrer said. She cited the case of Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, who spent the most time questioning every single provision of the BBL. Lobregat also delivered the longest “turno en contra” speech against the BBL last week. Ferrer said it was the obligation of the next administration to continue implementing the peace agreement. However, she said there was no stopping the next administration if it chose not to do so. A spokesman for Presi-

Chinese laws, to do more things conducive to Sino-US mutual trust and regional peace and stability,” the statement said. China refers to the islands as the Xisha archipelago. China claims virtually all of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have partial claims. China has asserted its claims by rapidly building artificial islands in another South China Sea island chain, the Spratlys, raising tensions in the region. Port facilities, air strips and military buildings have gone up on the built-out islands, prompting US warnings that it would assert its rights to “fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.” In October, the US Navy sent a guided missile destroyer within 12 nautical miles of the Spratlys to press home the point. Davis said Saturday’s mission was conducted with no notice given to any of the countries laying claim to the Paracels. “This operation challenged attempts by the three claimants—China, Taiwan and Vietnam—to restrict navigation rights and freedoms around the features they claim by policies that require prior permission or notification of transit within territorial seas,” Davis said. “The excessive claims regarding Triton Island are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention.” Davis added that while the United States takes no position on sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, “we do take a strong position on protecting the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all countries. All maritime claims must comply with international law.” AFP dent Benigno Aquino III said Sunday that the President has ordered that extra efforts be made to ensure that a peace agreement with the Muslim rebels is carried out even after his term ends in June. Aquino had ordered “consultation and meetings with the stakeholders as well as meaningful action so we can continue the peace process,” his spokesman Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters. Aquino had hoped to pass the BBL to seal the peace accord with the MILF, but opposition from lawmakers delayed its passage. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles had told him that her office would be meeting concerned parties especially the MILF to firm up the mechanisms and the transition for when the peace deal is implemented, Coloma said. “We need to do all that is possible to ensure the full implementation of the comprehensive agreement... be-

yond this administration,” he quoted Deles as saying. Senate President Franklin Drilon said the Mamasapano massacre had made passing the BBL difficult. “Let’s put the record straight. We were on the way to the approval of the BBL. The committee hearings were going smooth until the Mamasapano incident took place,” Drilon said. More than 60 people—including 44 police commandos—were killed on Jan. 25, 2015 when the PNP Special Action Force clashed with Muslim rebels, including some belonging to the MILF, which was talking peace. “We did our best but you can operate only in a political environment conducive to the passage of this bill,” Drilon said. “Unfortunately, after the Mamasapano incident, the environment became very toxic. I can say that I think the BBL is the 45th victim in Mamasapano,” he said. With Sandy Araneta and AFP

In planning the covert police operation to get Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and local bomb maker Basit Usman, Enrile said the President did not even talk to his Cabinet. Instead, he deliberately compartmentalized Oplan Exodus to himself, then suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima, and Napeñas. In doing so, he hid his involvement behind Purisima, Enrile said. In last week’s reopening of the Mamasapano investigation, Enrile said the President could be held criminally liable for his actions—and inaction—during the Mamasapano massacre. “He will be charged the moment he stepped down. That’s for sure,” Enrile said. Ferdinand Topacio, a member of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, told The Standard that their group is considering filing criminal charges against Aquino in connection with the deaths of the SAF 44. He said those charges will be filed after Aquino steps down as President and loses his immunity from suit. Senator Grace Poe, who chaired the Mamasapano hearings, said the findings in their committee report remains the same—that the President is ultimately responsible for the killing of 44 police commandos by Moro rebels in Mamasapano in January last year. Enrile said the President and his lawyers should study the “sins” he enumerated in his opening statement in last Wednesday’s hearing. Reacting to the claims that Napeñas was pinned down in the hearing, Enrile challenged the government to go after the former SAF chief. “Try to charge him and he will be acquitted. Once he is charged, his lawyers will ask for an amendment of the information to include the President,” Enrile said. Enrile also chided Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Teofisto Guingona III for acting as the President’s lawyers during last week’s hearings. Last week, Drilon said nothing in the testimony showed that the President actively participated in the planning of Oplan Exodus. Guingona added that the President merely acted based on the information provided to him by Napeñas, which turned out to be wrong. But Enrile said if this was the kind of President the country has, then he should be dumped.

“We have intelligence funds,” he said. He also said he no longer needed to call Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma to testify, because he had already established the President’s role in planning and monitoring Oplan Exodus. Enrile said he has in his possession new evidence in the form of an audit report on Oplan Exodus. Without elaborating, he said some people tried to suppress the information in the report. In a radio interview, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the PNP should release an official statement explaining the legal basis for the assistance it sought from the United States if it has nothing to hide. It should also specify the extent of that involvement and address allegations that a drone operated by US forces was used. He said the executive branch would have some serious explaining to do about the US role in Mamasapano. Leftist groups accused the US of sacrificing the lives of the SAF 44 to get international terrorist Marwan. “The Mamasapano operation was funded and directed by the US. The US provided initial intelligence as well as real-time intelligence. US personnel were present at the tactical command post and were in a position to call the shots because they had control of real-time information coming from their drone. The involvement of the US in the police operation is of course illegal and is not covered by any existing treaty or agreement,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said the cooperation between the two countries in the Jan. 25 operation to arrest Marwan fell within the scope of the Visiting Forces Agreement the two countries had signed. But Bayan slammed the US Embassy in Manila for insisting that US involvement in the counter-terror operation in Mamasapano was consistent with the legal framework of both countries. “The US cannot even cite the VFA as basis for its intervention because it supposedly does not allow direct US involvement in combat operations. The reality is that the US, in many countries, has violated domestic and international laws in the name of the war on terror. The US does not respect national sovereignty. We’ve seen this in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen. They are doing the same thing here,” Reyes said. With John Paolo Bencito

m o n D AY : f e b r u A r Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Roxas says Duterte is using him ADMINISTRATION standard bearer Manuel Roxas II on Sunday slammed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for allegedly using him to gain more points for the presidency.

Feast day. Revelers in the Santo Niño procession adorn their floats with images of the young Christ as performers don colorful costumes for the parade from Pasay City to Manila’s Quirino Grandstand to toast the feast of the Santo Niño. EY ACASIO

Santiago still the top choice of students SENATOR Miriam Defensor“Campus surveys are the pulse of Santiago has no political adver- the youth vote, a decisive factor in the tisements but she remains the top presidential elections,” said Santiago choice of the students of the Uni- who is running under her own party, versity of the Philippines at Los the People’s Reform Party. Baños and other young people. If the UPLB survey was any indiSantiago said Sunday she was cation, she said, an overwhelming elated that students seemed to con- majority of the young voters would sider her the only choice in the May shade the circle next to her name in elections as seen in the results of the the ballot. various presidential surveys. Santiago received 86 percent of “When a candidate leads a sur- the votes in the polls by the UPLB vey, it means that she is doing University Pulse Survey Research something right in her campaign,” Program from November to DeSantiago said. cember 2015. “But when a candidate is almost Santiago was followed by Libunrivaled in a survey, that means eral Party standard bearer Manuel the voters see something wrong in Roxas II, who got 6 percent of the the other choices.” votes, and Senator Grace Poe, who Since the filing of Certificates of received 5 percent. The remaining Candidacy in October, Santiago 3 percent of the respondents said has been the preferred presidential they had yet to choose a president candidate in all the campus polls. for the May 9 elections.

In November last year, Santiago was chosen by 66 percent of the respondents in the mock poll of political science students. The senator also led the surveys at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, where she got 64 percent of the votes; University of Santo Tomas (66 percent), Ateneo de Manila University (37 percent), UP Manila (59 percent), and University of Northern Philippines (36 percent). The Commission on Elections estimates that some 20 million or 37 percent of the voters in the May polls will be 18 to 35 years old, giving the candidate wielding the youth vote enough numbers to win the elections. Santiago said her scores in the pre-election surveys could only go up as election day neared. Macon Ramos-Araneta

He made the comment after Duterte mocked him for being a “zombie” and doing “monologues” after Super Typhoon “Yolanda” ravaged Eastern Visayas in 2013. “Mayor Duterte is just fourth in the [presidential] surveys,” Roxas told reporters in Siquijor. “He said before that he didn’t want to talk with the candidate in the fourth spot, but now he’s in fourth place.” On Saturday, Duterte taunted Roxas and called him “crazy” for claiming that he was “all work and no drama” in his latest political ad, picking up the administration standard bearer’s alleged “photo-shopped” pictures to bash him. “He’s claiming that he’s no drama, but if he is not crazy, he ate rice in a cup. How stupid can you get? A cup is for water, a plate is for eating rice,” Duterte said in Paco, Manila. “If he does not really engage in drama, he should not be in that commercial to begin with.” The latest January 2016 survey by the Manila Broadcasting Co. showed Duterte was statistically tied for the lead with 27.86 percent of the votes while Senator Grace Poe had 28.59 percent. But in another January 2016 preferential poll by the survey firm Social Weather Stations, Roxas placed third with 21 percent while Duterte had 20 percent behind first placer Vice President Jejomar Binay with 31 percent. Senator Grace Poe was second spot with 24 percent. In the SWS survey, Roxas and Poe were already “statistically tied” in the presidential race. In his latest political ad, Roxas appeared to take a shot at Duterte when he said he was not a bully. “Why Mar? I don’t have drama and not asking for pity. And I’m not a bully and an abuser. Most importantly, I will not steal from you. No drama, just work,” Roxas said in the 20-seconder ad. Duterte disagreed: “What is he saying no drama? I was there on Day 2 of Yolanda. He was there during the storm but he was not in his element. He looked like a zombie who didn’t know what to say, so he had monologues all the time.” Roxas also took the opportunity to criticize Vice President Jejomar Binay whom he accuses of spreading lies against him. “I have done everything and I know what I can do more for our country,” Roxas said. “The vice president is saying all sorts of things. It’s better for him to answer the corruption charges against him: the overpriced hospital and the overpriced buildings. That’s what he needs to do.” John Paolo Bencito

Escudero slams inaction on lumad problem SENATOR Francis Escudero on Sunday criticized the officials of the National Commission on Indigenous People for their alleged inaction on the plight of the lumad and other indigenous people. He said the NCIP officials should have been at the forefront of the fight for the rights of the indigenous peoples. “But I have yet to hear their indignation over the crimes being done against the lumad in Mindanao,” said Escudero, the frontrunner in the vice presidential race.

He criticized the NCIP officials for not doing anything to respond to the problems of the lumad. He said the Education Department and the Department of Social Welfare and Development were much better because they were the ones helping the lumad whose rights were being trampled on. He urged President Benigno Aquino III to appoint NCIP officials who would fight for the rights of the indigenous people in the country. He made the call as the three-year term of the

current batch of NCIP commissioners were set to expire on Feb. 20. Escudero said the next crop of NCIP officials should see to it that R.A. 8371, The Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997, was fully implemented. “We have a good law concerning the rights of our [indigenous people]. We just have to ensure the strict enforcement of Republic Act 8371,” he said. A total of 68 indigenous people have been killed under the Aquino administration, and 53 of them were lumad in

the Caraga region. Members of the Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion and a paramilitary group have been accused of masterminding the harassment, killing and forced evacuation of the indigenous people in Mindanao. Escudero, head of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said he was also looking into the alleged involvement of some mining companies in the driving away of indigenous people from their ancestral land. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Flavor of the month. As the Year of the Monkey gets under way next week, Chinatown in Binondo continues to offer ‘tikoy’ in various flavors to choose from. DIAnA B. nOChE

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Spraying against Zika. A flight attendant for an international airline sprays a combination broad-spectrum disinfectant cleaner, virucide, anti microbial and sanitizer inside the aircraft she is working in amid concerns over the Zika virus. ERIC APOLONIO

Pregnant women told to guard vs Zika virus

THE Department of Health has advised the public, especially pregnant women, to seek immediate medical help should they experience symptoms of Zika virus infection, dengue or any similar illnesses. “Whether it be Zika or dengue or any other form [of mosquitoborne diseases], consult a doctor, especially if pregnant,” said department spokesman Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy in an interview. Lee Suy said seeking medical help is important for pregnant women in order for them to protect themselves and the babies in their wombs. He also advised the public to refrain from self-medicating if they suspect infection. “We should not self-medicate be-

cause this may only worsen our condition, thus making the cost of medication more expensive,” he added. Lee Suy also called on the public to clean up areas where aedes mosquitoes may live and breed, to prevent the spread of Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses. He said that while the current outbreak of the Zika virus has not yet reached the Philippines, it is important to be pro-active in keeping the environment clean. Lee Suy emphasized that community clean-up activities will

help eliminate not only the threat of Zika virus but also of other mosquito-borne diseases. He also reminded people to guard against mosquito bites two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset, when aedes mosquitoes often strike. In terms of severity, the symptoms of Zika are more serious compared to dengue. These include rashes, fever, conjunctivitis (redness of the eyes) and other influenza-like signs. However, the DoH said that Zika virus has a lower mortality rate compared to dengue. What is alarming about the Zika virus is its capability to cause microcephaly among babies born from infected women, he explained.

Babies suffering from microcephaly have small brains and shorter lives. Meanwhile, international airlines operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals have started spraying broad-spectrum disinfectant cleaner, virucides, anti-microbials and sanitizers inside their aircraft amid concerns over the spread of the Zika virus. The airlines were responding to the call of health authorities to ensure the safety of the public. But quarantine officers assigned at the airport said that the public should not worry about mosquitos carrying the Zika virus because they will not live long enough to make the trip to Manila. PNA, Eric Apolonio, Rio Araja

El Niño threatens 60m worldwide

Market tension. Vendors at Cloverleaf Market in Balintawak, Quezon City go about their daily routines on Sunday even as city hall prepares to close the 60-year-old establishment for various violations. The owners and vendors of the market are protesting the planned closure. EY ACASIO

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

EL NIÑO threatens the health of some 60 million people worldwide, mostly in high-risk developing countries, according to the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization. WHO Emergency Risk Management and Humanitarian Response Department director Richard Brennan said the health implications of phenomenon are usually more intense in developing countries with less capacity to

reduce the consequences of such emergencies. “From Ethiopia to Haiti to Papua New Guinea, we are seeing the damage from El Niño. We believe the impact on public health is likely to continue throughout 2016, even after El Niño winds down,” said Brennan. He said governments must invest now in strengthening their preparedness and response efforts to prevent unnecessary deaths and illnesses.

Tougher penalties soon vs pilferers By Macon Araneta CUSTOMS and other government employees found pilfering balikbayan boxes or extorting money from overseas Filipino workers in exchange for the release of hand-carried or shipped cargo would soon face longer jail time and higher fines. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Sunday said the increased penalties are part of the features designed to protect OFWs and other travelers in the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act that will be soon sent to President Aquino for his signature. The bill, Recto said, does not only increase the taxexempt value of balikbayan boxes to P150,000 but also provides “stronger sanctions against dishonest government who [prey on] balikbayan boxes.” According to Recto, Section 1431 of the CMTA provides the penalty of six years to 12 years imprisonment and fines of P500,000 to P1 million on government employees found guilty of extorting money from balikbayans bringing home cargo. Additional penalties include forfeiture of all benefits due from service in government, perpetual disqualification from public office and prohibition from exercising the right to vote.

M O N DAY : F E B RUA RY 1 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SC decision sets off fear of IPR violations By Rey E. Requejo MORE intellectual property rights cases pending before the courts are now facing dismissal while the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines should expect the problem of piracy to worsen as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the registration of two similar trademarks, IPR advocates warned on Sunday. The warning came after the Court of Appeals’ Former Ninth Division was forced to “recall” and “set aside” its earlier ruling against Taiwan Kolin Corporation Ltd. over a trademark case involving Class 11 registration and upheld its case against Filipino firm Kolin Electronics Co., Inc. due to SC’s questionable ruling allowing the registration of two trademarks by using the so called “intelligent buyer” doctrine. Keci has an existing trademark protection for “Kolin” for its electronic products having been registered with the IPO, but the Taiwanese TKCL wanted the same registration for the same name for its similar electronic items under Class 11, but it was denied by the IPO and even originally by the CA’s Ninth Division where TKCL appealed. However, in its amended decision issued on Jan. 14, 2016, the CA’s Ninth Division was compelled to reverse its earlier ruling in deference to the decision of the SC’s Third Division, which also involved the two electronics company, wherein the high court did not thoroughly discuss the merits of the case, but dwelt on the intelligent buyer rule in resolving the case.

CNY-ready. A worker puts the finishing touches to a paper dragon at a Chinese temple in Caloocan City as part of the preparations to usher in the Chinese New Year on Feb. 8, 2016. ANDREW RABULAN

Rural areas gain wider access to Internet By Macon Araneta FREE Wi-Fi is going nationwide as wireless Internet access points are soon to be installed in public places such as town plazas, parks, government offices, health centers, transport terminals , train stations, seaports and airports in a bid to spur economic development, Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo said. World Bank studies have shown that every 10 percent increase in broadband Internet penetrations translates to 1.38-percent increase in a country’s gross domestic product growth. “We are looking forward to providing connectivity through our private sector partners especially in the rural areas,” said Montejo. With Internet connectivity readily available, he said, the lives of our people would be enhanced due to better access to weather information, education, agricultural resources, commerce, e-government services, as well as employment through online jobs. The DoST-Information and Communications Technology Office’s free Wi-Fi Internet Access in public places project will include in its roll out class one and two municipalities to better reach the class three to six municipalities, the original target beneficiaries of the project. Undersecretary Louis Casambre of the ICT Office said the decision to include class one and two municipalities initially stemmed from the low participation in the procurement of providers for the original 967 beneficiary municipalities. “We will also be including class one and two municipalities in order to better reach classes three to six, the ones who need Internet connectivity the most.” The total number of beneficiary municipalities now stands at 1,435. The providers cited the low price of Allocated Budget for Contract for the various municipalities.

Romualdez dares presidentiables to present climate change agenda WITH the presidential elections just three months away, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez challenged presidential candidates to outline their climate change mitigation plans so that the electorate can choose a leader that will help the country adequately prepare for the negative impact of climate change. “We are the fourth most disaster-prone country in the world according to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [UNISDR] and the Centre on the Epidemiology of Disasters [CRED],” said the member of the House Commitee on Climate Change.

“Our countrymen need a leader who has concrete plans to address climate change. We cannot elect someone who is clueless in disaster mitigation and management; this would imperil the lives of an already poverty-stricken citizenry,” Romualdez said. The UP-trained lawyer lamented how climate change is not among the major issues in the elections and stressed that the next administration should prioritize climate change adaptation plans as it would be both “foolish” and “costly” to leave the fate of our disaster-prone country to chance.

“The Philippines was struck by 274 natural calamities from 1995 to 2015. The only countries to be hit by my more natural disasters are the United States, China, and India. Only a heartless fool would not heed the warning of this new normal. Indifference would be severely costly,” added Romualdez, who is vying for a seat on senate. Romualdez recalled how Typhoon “Yolanda,” which hit his home province in November 2013, strengthened his resolve to continue pushing for a more proactive policies on climate change. Typhoon Yolanda was one of

the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, and is considered the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, resulting in the death of at least 6,300 people in the country, 5,370 of which in Leyte alone. “The property and infrastructure damage caused by Typhoon Yolanda is estimated at 89.6 billion pesos. While I am confident that we can recover from this huge loss, I am afraid that nothing will completely ease the pain and suffering we experienced, especially by the thousands of Leyteños whose family, relatives, friends and neighbors died because of this tragedy,” the Leyte native said.

M O N D AY : f e b r u A r Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

P10-taxi fare cut okayed By Rio N. Araja AFTER a 50-centavo fare cut for public utility jeepneys, the riding public can now expect a “permanent” P10-fare reduction for taxis in Metro Manila and the other regions, an official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said on Sunday. Ariel enrile inton Jr., LTFRB board member, said the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association inc. has already agreed with a permanent P30 taxi fare rollback on flag-down rate due to a “dramatic” plunge in the prices of fuel. “i have just talked to PNTOA president Jesus Manuel Suntay about the flag-down rate reduction, and he has already agreed,” he told The Standard. LTFRB is set to take up the separate petitions of Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel iway for a fare reduction for taxis and public utility buses soon. The board members—inton and Ronaldo corpus—will also resolve a motion for reconsideration seeking the reversal of a March 2015 board decision granting a provisional P10 rollback in the taxi flag-down rate. PNTOA earlier bucked the petition. in recent news conference, Suntay and vice president Leo carlo San Juan said the flag-down reduction was illogical despite a big-time rollback in the prices of pump products. Suntay said taxi drivers were no longer earning that much due to traffic. in August 2015, PNTOA filed a petition for the reduction of the waiting time fare rate for taxis. ”The petition has not yet been acted upon,” San Juan told The Standard.

Contrast. Skyscrapers dot the metro skyline, towering over Manila’s Baseco compound where the poorest but vote-rich people, mostly informal settlers, call their home. VER NOVENO

On-site housing for informal settlers sought Vice presidential frontrunner Senator Francis “chiz” escudero vowed to push for an on-site resettlement program for Metro Manila’s informal settler families to provide them with decent housing without having to relocate them to areas where jobs and livelihood opportunities are scarce. Since around 70 percent of the estimated 3,000 hectares occupied by iSFs are owned by the state, escudero said the government could build mediumrise residential buildings on these lands for the same families. “Kung magtatayo ng mga condominium na apat na

palapag bawat isa, ibig sabihin three-fourths o 2,200 ektarya ang mababakanteng lupa na maaaring pakinabangan bilang karagdagang kalye upang solusyonan ang malalang trapiko. Gaganda at aayos pa ang tirahan ng ating mga kababayan,” escudero pointed out. The veteran lawmaker said on-site resettlement could address the housing problem of the poor not only in Metro Manila but also in other urban centers around the country where residents seeking employment gravitate. “Through on-site resettlement, you will be able to upgrade

and rehabilitate blighted slum urban areas and at the same time minimize displacement of dwellers in said areas where they have enough access to basic social services and livelihood,” escudero said. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority placed at 2.8 million the number of informal settlers living in the National capital Region as of 2010, or about 556,526 families. in 2013, the Department of the interior and Local Government identified some 104,000 families residing in areas considered as danger zones, such as railroad

tracks, garbage dumps, canals, rivers and creeks. On-site development could be costly, but escudero said the government is capable of implementing the project given the huge amount of savings it incurred during the last five years due to public underspending. “Mahigit P700 bilyon ang hindi nagastos ng gobyerno mula pa noong 2011. May kasabihan tayo na ‘pag gusto laging may paraan, pag ayaw palaging may dahilan.’ Madaling gumawa ng dahilan at madali ring hanapan ng paraan kung gusto talaga,” escudero said.

Palace vows orderly polls; gun ban violations on the rise the gun ban policy. in Resolution 10047 promulMALAcAñANG on Sunday gated last Jan. 28, the comelec pledged to do everything it can amended its ruling which said to ensure an orderly and honest that only senators and congresselections amid a new ruling by men who are not candidates in the commission on elections this year’s polls are allowed to exempting incumbent lawmak- carry firearms during the elecers from the gun ban while the tion period. comelec considered the opinnumber of violators has risen to 500 since the ban took effect ion of its law department acting director Maria Norina Tangaroon Jan. 10, 2016. “The Philippine National Po- casingal who said although the lice will help being a deputized congressmen have filed their agency of comelec in the imple- cocs, they are also not yet conmentation of the amended poli- sidered resigned from office. Some officials who are authorcies regarding the gun ban,” said communications Secretary Her- ized to carry firearms during the election period include the minio coloma Jr. comelec has exempted in- president, vice president, cabinet cumbent senators and congress- secretaries, the chief justice and men including those running for justices of the Supreme court posts in the May elections from and the Ombudsman.

By Sandy Araneta

People’s sentiments. Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos takes advantage of his speaking invitations like this recent meeting with vendors at the Marikina City Public Market to listen to the true voice of the Filipino people that serve as his guide on how to help them achieve a progressive future.

M O N D AY : f e b r u A r Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Southern Leyte’s coral transplants help fight vs climate change By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAn CITy—A transplantation site for corals is being established off the waters of Southern Leyte to protect its species against the effects of climate change. “The project will serve as a climate change adaptability measure by saving corals from imminent destruction due to high levels of siltation, pollution, and other factors,’’ said Rio Cahambing, provincial consultant on marine tourism and resource management. Cahambing said the coral plantation is ‘’5,000 square meters (0.5 has) and consists of 1,250 coral cuttings planted at two-meter intervals, at depths between 15 to 20 meters.’’ ‘’The project uses the staghorn coral specie (Acropora cervicornis) which is a branching, coral with cylindrical branches ranging from a few centimeters to over two meters in length and height,’’ he added. This specie, according to Cahambing, is considered the fastest-growing specie among the hard coral family. ‘’These same coral species will be transferred to a more hospitable area where they are more likely to thrive, hence, their physical relocation or transplantation,’’ she said in a media statement. Located at the fish sanctuary in the village of San Antonio in Tomas Oppus town in the province, the coral transplantation site is said to be the first in Eastern Visayas and the entire Visayas regions, according to Lloyd Tria of Life Time Dive Center, whose group has helped in putting up the project. Known for pioneering coral transplantation in the Philippines, Tria and his team have established same coral transplantation projects in the municipalities of Tukuran, Labangan, Pagadian City, Dumalinao, Tabina, all of Zamboanga Del Sur, and Buug of Zamboanga Sibugay in Mindanao.

We were here. Visitors take selfies with Taal Volcano at the background. DANNY PATA

PNP includes C. Luzon in poll watchlist area By Ferdie G. Domingo CABANATUAN CITY—The entire Central Luzon— consisting of seven provinces, 14 cities, 116 municipalities and 3,102 barangays—has been included in the list of socalled Election Watch List Areas of the Philippine National Police less than five months before the synchronized national and local elections. Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin, PnP regional director for Central Luzon, said five cities and 27 municipalities in nueva Ecija, the region’s largest

province; three cities and 21 towns in Bulacan, one highly urbanized city, two component cities and 19 towns in Pampanga, one city and 11 towns in Bataan,

one city and 17 towns in Tarlac, one HUC and 13 towns in Zambales and eight towns in Aurora have been identified as included as areas of concern. Lacadin said the inclusion of all the provinces in the EWAS list is a departure from the previous 31 cities and towns identified earlier this month by the PnP Regional Office 3 based in Camp Olivas, Pampanga. The 31 were based on histories of political violence and intense political rivalries. The previous list was presented by Lacadin during the first regional joint security coordinating center conference attended last Jan. 11 by

officials from the Commission on Elections, the PnP and the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based at the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in nueva Ecija. The original list includes the towns of Baler, Dingalan and Maria Aurora in Aurora; Dinalupihan and Limay in Bataan; Baliuag, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Meycauayan, San Ildefonso, San Miguel and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan; Aliaga, Bongabon, Cabiao, Gen. Tinio, Licab, Pantabangan, Quezon, San Antonio, San Leonardo, Sto. Domingo, Talavera, Talugtug and Zaragoza and the cities of Cabanatuan, Gapan and Muñoz in nueva Ecija.

‘Completion of Mindoro road to boost economy, tourism’ By Robert A. Evora

Fighting form. Spider boxers entertain spectators as they battle for a title in Kidapawan City. GEONARRI SOLMERANO

PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro —The completion this year of the P1.93billion Mindoro Island Circumferential Road, the second and final stage of the interconnection of the two Mindoro provinces, will boost the island’s economic and tourism activities, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways said. The coastal road, which starts at the northern tip of Puerto Galera, this province, and Abra de Ilog, in Occidental Mindoro, has a length of 20.33 kilometers that will pass through Mt. Talipanan and several rivers situated on the island’s mountain borders. Barangay chairman Rockey D. Ilagan, of Sabang, Puerto Galera, said the “opening of the mountain borders is beneficial to both provinces of Mindoro in terms of the development of the

tourism industry and the handling of goods and services.” After staying for several days in Puerto Galera, foreign tourists proceed to Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, to hibernate in Apo Reef. “In going there, they take the dangerous boat ride to Abra de Ilog and again take a land trip to Sablayan,” explained Ilagan. He also explained that the completion of the circumferential road has been “much-awaited since Puerto Galera will benefit from it since two seaports, the Balatero and Muelle ports, will cater to rolling cargos, loaded with agricultural products, coming from Occidental Mindoro.” The first circumferential road, the 37-kilometer Bulalacao-Magsaysay mountain road connecting the southern part of the two Mindoro provinces had been completed two years ago and now being used by traders and islanders in the area.

M O N D AY : F E B R u A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

opinion

ADELLE chuA EditoR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

is poe pnoy’s plAn b?

[ EDI TORI A L ]

BacK channEl alEJandRo dEl RosaRio

What aquino is good at DESPITE a three-year economic slowdown since 2013, there is no truth to the canard that the Aquino administration can do nothing right. If the last six years have taught us anything, it is that President Aquino and his minions are extremely good at obfuscation, finger pointing and misdirection. Faced with the undeniable fact that the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) has dropped off—from a peak of 7.1 percent in 2013, to 6.1 percent in 2014, and to only 5.8 percent in 2015—the government turned to obfuscation. Instead of admitting there is a problem, administration officials spoke instead of a “sixyear moving average” that hid the truth from the public. They also called the slower growth an “encouraging result” that is “in line with the government’s commitment to growth that is both inclusive and sustainable.” But there was more bad news last week in the form of a searing indictment from the international watchdog Human Rights Watch that President Aquino has failed in his six years in office to deliver on his promise “of a rights-respecting Philippines.” In its 2016 World Report, the group minced no words in detailing the ongoing killings of prominent activists, indigenous leaders and journalists that have gone unpunished under Aquino’s watch. The group also highlighted the administration’s campaign to round up hundreds of poor and homeless street people—among them many children—and detain them during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to hide them away from the visiting international delegates. “While Aquino’s presidency has had a mixed record on rights issues, ultimately he has failed to make the institutional reforms to ensure a lasting positive human rights legacy,” the group said. The administration’s approach to damage control was simple: blame someone else. In this case, it was the courts that were responsible for the snail-paced dispensation of justice in human rights abuse cases, a presidential spokesman said. “The delays in litigation of pending human rights violations are mainly due to systemic weaknesses in the criminal justice system that the Supreme Court is addressing,” the Palace official said. The spokesman also did, as President Aquino is wont to do in such cases, bring up his own experience of losing his father during the Martial Law regime, as if this created some form of kinship with murdered activists, indigenous community leaders and journalists. It was a clear attempt to misdirect public attention to the real cause of the problem—an executive department that is not serious about ending such abuses, and has in fact even flouted and violated international conventions on human rights. After all, this is the same administration that was condemned by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for its illegal detention of Aquino’s political opponent, former President Gloria Arroyo. But perhaps the most personally embarrassing moment for the President last week was the decline in the country’s standing in Transparency International 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index, to 95th among 168 countries, a 10-place drop from its previous ranking, from putting the Philippines behind Indonesia. This meant more people perceived the Philippines to be corrupt in 2015, even though President Aquino has made his Daang Matuwid anti-corruption campaign the centerpiece of his administration. Critics of the administration quickly jumped on this, saying it proved that Daang Matuwid was both shallow and artificial—and selective in its application because the President has consistently shielded his friends and allies from liability. But never underestimate this administration’s ability to spin. A spokesman for its presidential bet this year said the Transparency International report merely highlighted the vulnerability of the “gains” that the administration has made in fighting corruption, and the need to continue Daang Matuwid—code for voting for the ruling party’s candidate. So never let it be said that this administration is good for nothing. Like its leader, President Aquino, it is highly skilled in dodging responsibility and accountability. What remains to be seen, however, is whether these skills are sufficient to keep President Aquino and his cohorts out of jail when his benighted term finally comes to an end.

Another job Accomplished pEnséEs fR. Ranhilio callangan aquino About two years ago, I wrote, in this column, that my dad, Justice Hilarion Lolarga Aquino, was winding up his term as pioneer chair of the Legal Education board, the regulatory agency of all law schools. It turns out that he stayed on for two more years, by virtue of the settled holdover doctrine, because no

chairman had been appointed —until recently. Three days ago, Emerson Aquende, former dean of the Aquinas university School of Law and presently Integrated bar of the Philippines governor for Albay, was sworn in by the Chief Justice as the second LEb Chair. Daddy was in attendance at his good friend’s swearing-in ceremony. He could not be more pleased to pass the baton to Emerson of whom he is very fond and whose self-effacing character, despite his excellence as a law professor and competence as

an administrator, have been clear to all who have had the good fortune of working with him. Not too many know the Legal Education board. It does not supervise as many institutions as does the CHED, for one, and my father is not one to trumpet his achievements, or cause fanfare about his projects. but the nation has the right to be assured that public funds were not wasted on Dad’s salary and that of the members of the board. I am sure that as he takes his leave of his colleagues and the members of his staff at

My father may hobble a bit now, but there is no stopping him.

LEb, sentiments of gratitude for the cooperation and respect that he received from other members of the board fill his aging heart. Among these are retired Court Administrator Zinaida Elepano, professor Manny riguera, Dean Fe Anonuevo and CHED’s Dr. Carmelita yadao-Sison (herself a lawyer) who sits in representation of Chair Patricia

Licuanan. Past members of the board included Dean Antonio Abad and new lawyer Justin Sugcang, the first—and so far, only—student representative. Dad counts among the greatest blessings of incumbency wonderful, supportive and truly loving colleagues. on the family’s behalf, I sent them text messages of gratitude for having cooperated with my father, and

I received from all of them very kind sentiments not only of esteem but affection above all for my father. Among the first things Dad had to do was find LEb an office, after having managed to get the board going in peripatetic fashion— moving as “informal settler” first from the Justices’ Lounge of the Court of Appeals, to one corner of the Philippine Judicial Academy. Soon after the appointment of other members, the LEb promulgated the Policies and Standards for Legal Education in the Philippines,

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, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

achieving a splendid balance between the prescription of minimum standards and safeguarding the academic freedom of law schools to structure their own curricula. My father believes in reasonable regulation, but he is not a control freak—and one thing that law deans throughout the Philippines will long remember was his constant openness to dialogue and to consultation. Centers of excellence in legal education received recognition—the law schools that had distinguished themselves particularly by their

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

standing in bar Examination results. And in one grand ceremony held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the LEb, in partnership with the Philippine Association of Law Schools—the association of law deans that has been the LEb’s invaluable partner— established the Law Professors’ Hall of Fame and recognized outstanding law professors. It also conferred posthumous honors on distinguished legal academics who have gone on ahead. Visits of law schools were regular— Continued on A11

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

Forty-Four PNP-SAF commandos were killed in Mamasapano but the story refuses to die. It will continue to haunt President benigno Aquino III long after he leaves office. The inquiry into the incident is far from over, according to Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile who said “God willing, I will pursue the search for the truth and justice.” The veteran lawmaker will be 92 on Feb. 14. Enrile gave his post-Senate hearing views last Saturday at the 365 Club breakfast group at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Makati. reacting to reports he was stonewalled from the truth because Palace allies shielded the President, Enrile said he felt he had presented enough evidence to prove PNoy’s active involvement in the planning of oplan Exodus, the illfated police operation in rebel-infested Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Someone compared the successful uS commando operation inside Pakistan to get international terrorist osama bin Laden with the poorly planned Mamasapano mission inside MILF territory to capture Malaysian bombmaker Marwan. In the bin Laden case, President barack obama monitored the entire secret operation and made sure no one among the raiders was left behind. Helicopters flew in the uS commandos under cover of darkness and then plucked the raiders to safety after killing the Al Qaeda leader. There were no helicopters in the exit plan of Aquino who was waiting in nearby Zamboanga for the delivery of Marwan’s head. What about the stand-down order from the President which Aquino allies swore never happened? Enrile said the whole cover-up was a charade, stage-managed by Executive Secretary Paquito ochoa and Cabinet Secretary rene Almendras. Although present at the Senate, the two did not testify but were seen talking to some of the military officials during breaks in the seven-hour hearing. Senator Grace Poe, the Senate committee chair on public order, tried to cut short Enrile’s presentation and questioning of witnesses but for Senator bongbong Marcos who insisted his “sister” allow JPE to continue even as AFP top brass and ex-PNP-SAF commander Gen. Getulio Napeñas blamed each other for the fatal foulup at Mamasapano. At the end of the hearing, Palace allies and AFP officials made it appear Napenas was solely responsible for not coordinating the police operation with the military. Enrile assured Napeñas he was willing to be his legal counsel and he hoped those who “perjured” themselves will also appear as lawyers for the President in the case he will bring against Aquino Continued on A11

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

M O N D AY : F E B R u A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

opinion

ADELLE chuA EditoR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

is poe pnoy’s plAn b?

[ EDI TORI A L ]

BacK channEl alEJandRo dEl RosaRio

My father may hobble a bit now, but there is no stopping him.

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

A10

M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Politics is local A PuNstER once said that candidate statements can pasTor be categorized apollo into three: mean, quiboloy meaningless and the motherhood. The first is often delegated to surrogates. And in this election we see proxies constantly piercing their adversaries’ statements for weaknesses as if to deflate their numbers one pointed quote at a time. Meaningless are most of the statements dished out by their propaganda machine. Their daily press release is a puree of a recycled advocacy, garnished with new quotes, and sprinkled with Googled facts. Motherhood statements are the refuge of those who can’t offer specific solutions to problems. This bias for the sweeping is due to the fact that they’re safe, they resonate across the voting spectrum, and they can’t be reviewed for lack of particulars. Well, in this age of trolls, they can’t even be lampooned for lack of material. This is the classic “less talk, less mistake” stance. so if a wannabe thunders “I will pave all roads in the country,” it is a catch-all message that can be blasted across the archipelago, no matter how disparate the road conditions are each in region. Or if another promises “Jobs for all!” he or she avoids the nuances of the unemployed data, which disaggregates the age group, the geographical location, and even the educational attainment of the This archipelago jobless picture. of 105 million souls Motherhood statements are for is far from being the intellectually homogenous. lazy. They don’t require study and need no research. so why tailor-fit a jobs agenda for the rural folk when it can be covered by the “jobs-for-all” pledge? Or why create a retraining plan for the jobless half-a-million college graduates, or for the overseas Filipino workers who might soon head home due to the falling prices of the oil churned out by their host countries, when their concerns are captured by an all-purpose slogan? The problem with a motherhood statement is that it is a classic cluster bomb, with its “to whom it may concern” payload. But what this election need are smart bombs with precise targets. Candidates, who spend millions on polling data, should realize by now that this archipelago of 105 million souls is far from being homogenous. The demands of each province are different from another. truck traffic might be the headache of one city but for another it is the lack of cargo movement which is hampering its growth. One town may be crying out for more roads but a port is what its neighbor needs. One could be drowning water while drought is the other’s quagmire. same with regions. The development strategy for one cannot simply be carbon copied by another. The problem with some nascent platforms of some candidates is that they treat the whole country as monolith made of the same material on which they can chisel their promises. Hence, the one-size-fitsall prescription to all problems. It is also our mistake why the candidates’ solutions are on top of being uniform lack particulars as well. For too long we have allowed them to dictate their plans when we should be demanding what we want. Instead of being initiators of programs, we have become mere receivers of their intentions. We think the national plans they offer are enough when they should be localizing their programs. We’ve always been content with the bottomline when the

plumbline

Economic growth isn’t EvErything By noah smith WHEN you say that the golden days of growth are over, expect to get lots of attention, especially if you’re a prestigious economist. Robert Gordon, a professor at Northwestern university, has been going around for several years making exactly this case. He now has a book, “The Rise and Fall of American Growth,” summarizing his argument in magisterial detail. Gordon’s main thesis is that the low-hanging fruit of technology has, essentially, been picked. He argues that a small handful of Great Inventions—electricity, the internal combustion engine and a few others—propelled growth to dizzying speeds from about 1870 through 1970. But there are only so many big important ideas like this to be discovered. this may be the case. With technology, you never really know what’s out there to discover until you find it. Perhaps we will soon invent self-improving artificial intelligences that will rapidly uncover deep truths and invent magical technologies of which we can now only dream. Or maybe the technology party really is drawing to a close. But regardless of its validity, I think that Gordon’s idea has a little more popular appeal than it ought to, for two reasons. The first reason we are too eager to believe Gordon is that when we consider the impact of technology, we think in terms of how much it changes our lives. But utility—the satisfaction we derive from goods and services —isn’t the same thing as growth. The inventions of the 19th and 20th centuries altered the very shape of human life in rich countries. Material scarcity was effectively vanquished. starvation was eliminated, and almost all people now have shelter. Grueling manual labor, which defined human life for millennia, is now rare. This has all been possible thanks to the Great Inventions Gordon names. And these

improvements can’t be repeated— food, shelter and security are basic human needs, and once you fill them, other life improvements will probably seem incremental by comparison. But growth isn’t the same thing as life satisfaction. Economists generally believe that humans have a decreasing marginal utility of wealth, meaning that each successive increase in material abundance matters less than the last. Buying your first car is a lot more life-changing than buying your 10th car, even though both add the same amount to gross domestic product. The same principle applies to technological progress— inventions that take us from the brink of starvation to prosperity and security will seem more important than what comes after, even if both add the same to GDP. That can create the illusion of stagnation. the second reason I think we’re too willing to believe Gordon is that technology isn’t the only thing that makes society better. the quality of government matters, too. some governments rob from their citizens. Others try to control the economy. But the best ones run efficient public services, provide public goods like infrastructure and research funding and minimize the harmful effects of regulation. the difference between a good government and a bad one can be enormous—just look at south Korea versus North Korea. In economics models, the quality of government is included in measurements of productivity, but it’s not the same thing as invention and scientific discovery. There’s a good argument that quality of government in North America, Europe and Japan improved dramatically in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Government became steadily more participatory and less predatory. Bureaucracies became more professional. spending on infrastructure dramatically

brass tacks are more important. Presidential candidates should be localizing their platforms—up to the city or town level if possible. For example, a candidate can issue his to-do list for this city, complete with where this road or school will be built, how many cops will be deployed, and make this his social contract with that place. This performance pledge he binds himself to and must redeem when elected. The advantage of localizing platforms is that it transforms general rhetoric into specific programs. It familiarizes a candidate with the development demands of a place. It break downs the national blueprint into local plans . It benchmarks what he will do for a locality. Residents of towns and cities should start demanding from national candidates their plan for their place. They can even impose this requirement: No local platform, no right to campaign. Locals can add this demand : If you want our votes, then show us your plan for our place first.

increased, funded by taxes. Public services such as urban sanitation —which Gordon counts among the Great Inventions, but which is dependent on government efficiency—curbed disease and improved health dramatically. Health and safety regulations helped as well. Public education greatly increased the skills of the workforce. Libertarians often portray the state as a parasite, but there is a good argument that big government—and, more importantly, good government— was responsible for a significant amount of the growth in developed nations between 1870 and 1970. That kind of improvement was probably a one-off. unlike science and technology, government probably has an upper limit of effectiveness. You can only transition from being North Korea to south Korea once. That means that some of the productivity slowdown we have observed may be due to our success in improving how we govern ourselves. so when we evaluate Gordon’s thesis of technological slowdown— which might not prove correct— we should be careful of making these two errors. We should remember that growth isn’t the same thing as improvement in life satisfaction; the former is actually a lot easier than the latter. And we should consider the possibility that government quality, as much as technology, is what has stopped improving. Both of these caveats should make us a little less pessimistic. Good government and the end of brutal manual labor and starvation are good things to have under our belt. Bloomberg

ouT of The box riTa linda v. jimeno Atty. Jimeno’s column will resume next week.

If the latter would look like a bill of public works projects, then the better. As they say, details bare familiarity. This is reversing the electoral dynamics. Instead of the candidates doing all the talking, locals can start doing all the demanding. A grassroots platform is the best antidote to motherhood perorations. Here’s a tip to candidates: Anyone who can painstakingly cobble together a town-by-town program of action will be looked upon kindly by voters. In a tight elections, going micro, pinpointing programs, customizing a platform to local needs might just provide the winning edge. If you’re looking for a comparative advantage start by composing your plans for each and every town. Don’t just rely on an all-encompassing “balance Luzon” programs. Go specific. You may not be able to do a house-to-house campaign. But you can do a town-by-town listing of plans. The adage “all politics is local” applies to all. Especially to those gunning for the highest office.

M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

‘Kurot sa Puso’ (1) THE single biggest medium for political messages these days, and in the last four national elections since 2004 is the television advertisement. In part because some 97 percent of urban households have access to television, be it their own or their neighbors’, and largely because of its audiovisual capability, television is the medium by which to sell a “product,” through a “narrative.” This is true not only in the Philippines but all over the world, North Korea obviously excluded. The party or the political candidate is the product that must sell. In turn, the candidate’s character, advocacies and stand on major issues is the grist with which a creative mind, in tandem with communications strategists, writes the narrative that should appeal to the television audience, that is, the voter or their family influencers. Creative advertising seeks to come up with a story, a narrative that attracts either the mind or the heart. Rational choice or emotional connection. In the Philippines, the standard formula has been the emotional connect, and the narrative spun is one that ought to tug at the voter’s heart. We call that “kurot sa puso” in our dialect. “Kurot sa puso” is not easily defined. There are no stereotypes or “perfect” templates. “Kurot” may be found in a narrative that is poignant. It can also be found in one that is happy. The formula sought is always the emotional connect, in a country where most people tend to be

more emotional than rational. Go back to history. Quezon’s fiery oratory appealed to the emotions more than Osmeña’s sobriety and substance. The “first” Roxas was a firebrand and very eloquent, and defeated Osmeña as well. Magsaysay was a “dashing hero” the way the CIA propagandists spun his persona and character, just as they vilified the taciturn Quirino with a fake narrative about a golden “orinola.” The first Macapagal’s “poor boy from Lubao” narrative brought him to Malacañang. He retired to a mansion in the elite’s Forbes Park, after the colorful “Anac ti Batac” (with the beautiful “Rose of Tacloban” as his major campaigner) Ferdinand Marcos marched to the palace by the then-not-yet-stinking river. Marcos stayed for more than 20 years, 14 of which were under authoritarian rule, where propaganda took over journalism and story-telling. But his political rival, Ninoy Aquino, whom he imprisoned for seven years came home after Boston exile, to die. Nothing could be more powerful an emotional bond as the death of a “martyr.” Ninoy’s death became the kurot sa puso that catapulted his widow Cory to power. After Cory, it was a rather staid, seemingly dull persona, Fidel Valdez Ramos, who ascended. Those were times when TV ads were not yet allowed, and the messages were purveyed through “free” media. The “Steady Eddie” brand sold versus the “businesssavvy” Danding Cojuangco,

is poe... From A9

bearer. She hasn’t directly attacked Aquino although she has criticized Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya for the Metro Rail Transit mess. The President, however, has refused to fire Abaya from the Cabinet despite Poe and the public’s clamor. Enrile also asked why Poe’s initial committee report on the Mamasapano incident was not made public although she said Aquino was “ultimately responsible” for the botched police operation. For sure, the Poe-Escudero tandem will deny Poe is PNoy’s Plan B because Roxas is lagging in the poll surveys. Malacañang and the Liberal Party are also expected to

after he loses his immunity on June 30, 2016. “Grace Poe is Aquino’s Manchurian candidate,” said Enrile in a reference to the movie of the same title. The film revolves around a conspiracy by sinister forces to have their man win the White House. Such a person is sometimes referred to as a “Trojan horse” or the gift the Greeks left behind to get inside the heavily fortified walls of ancient Troy. There is a growing suspicion about Poe being Aquino’s “secret” candidate aside from Mar Roxas, the ruling Liberal Party’s official standard

another... From A9 and Dad did not allow his 80 and so years to stand in the way of personally visiting law schools, dialoguing with law deans, members of the faculty and with students. Schools with dismal records got warnings; some were sanctioned, but downgrading if not phasing out law schools has never been dad’s priority. It just is not part of his character. So hand-in-hand with a relentless enforcement of the promulgated policies and standards were seminars held nationwide, by region, for all law professors. In the first round of seminars, it was legal education—strategy, content, curriculum, delivery and innovation—that was the topic. Throughout these regional seminars law deans and professors not only sat to listen to lectures. They freely exchanged experiences with each other. Not

the “politically-savvy” (and labeled “trapo”) Monching Mitra. Actually, the stronger narrative was that of Miriam, who was “fire and brimstone” against corruption, and could have made good TV material. After FVR, Erap, the “para sa masa” candidate trounced Joe de Venecia, who hardly had a narrative to sell. It was in 2004 when TV ads became the 80-percent medium. GMA, seeking legitimate election, could no longer use the “Nora Aunor look-alike” fantasy that sold her like a hotcake with the voters when she stood for senatorial reelection in 1995. Since she was now “president,” her handlers decided to target the voter’s mind because her main competitor, the actor FPJ was all heart—in speech whenever he had to level-up from perennial silence, or in television spots. But for the tale of the Garci tapes, history would have recorded a campaign where rational beat emotional. In 2004 as well, the third Roxas, nicknamed Mar (the second was his father, the late Senator Gerardo Roxas), won via a catchy, happy jingle as background to the fantastic tale of “Mr. Palengke.” He was Numero Uno in the senatorial elections, and from then on, it seemed there was no stopping the man in his quest for his

“entitlement”, his “herencia”— the presidency. In 2010, the “kurot” was the death of Tita Cory in 2009. Before that political gamechanger, it seemed like “poor boy from Tondo” who, through “sipag at tiyaga” became a billionaire and thence Speaker and Senate President, Manny Villar, would be the next president of the Republic. Tagging behind him were “cute kilabot ng mga kolehiyala” Chiz Escudero, the former FPJ spokesman who could outtalk anybody and everybody, sounding profound even. And the comeback “ex-convict” president deposed by Edsa Dos, raring for political vindication, Erap, mismo. Mar Roxas was single digit in 2009, the year before elections, despite having topped the senatorial elections five years before. Cory, who was “made” president by Ninoy in 1986, in turn made Noynoy president in 2010. The “kurot sa puso,” the emotional bond, still resonated with the voters more than 26 years after a bullet in the cranium sparked a political revolt. Noynoy’s campaign odyssey is a curious case. When he announced he would run in September, after a month of keeping the public in suspense, his numbers went up to a stratospheric 54 points, with Villar, Chiz, Erap, Loren, Gibo and Mar biting the dust. Mar agreed to be Noynoy’s veep, and by October, both were doing the 50s. Noynoy’s handlers celebrated too early. They rolled out insipid

ads financed by very giddy supporters. The “Sulo” or torch parade of a gaggle of movie celebrities, “parang naghahanap ng aswang sa gubat.” There was even a Pinoy-rap ad. Both with little strategic message. Feeling “panalo na!” Just as the campaign began, the pollsters announced the January survey: Noy was 36, but Villar had caught up, at 34, on the heels of a barrage of TV ads in November and December that reinforced the “poor boy” image, and catchy jingles that tug at the heart. Change of crew, change of communications strategy, change of tactics started on Valentine’s Day 2010. Noynoy’s numbers firmed up. The bleeding, from awesome 54 in October to worrying 36 in January, was stanched. By early April, the gap between Noy and Manny V had widened, the latter’s numbers sliding towards Erap. Mar’s case was otra cosa. He remained high up in January, with focus completely on his president versus the competition. His handlers probably thought their gig was done. The applause for his “heroic” sliding down for Cory’s son was deafening at that point. Smug and over-confident. Binay was persistent. His ads struck a chord, both to the mind (ganito kami sa Makati…) and to the heart (ulila…anak-mahirap). From single digit at the start of the game, he beat Mar Roxas who was in the stratosphere at the beginning.

decry this claim as pure canard and intrigue meant to advance the agenda of certain presidential rivals. But why are Poe and Escudero soft on Aquino? Voters have yet to hear the two self-professed “independent” candidates say anything really critical of Aquino. Lest this corner is accused of being partisan, let me say I won’t waste my vote on any of the presidential candidates. The real contest is in the vice presidential race, where voters have more and better choices. Passage Three people in the field of sports, journalism and economics passed away last week. Basketball legend Carlos

Loyzaga died at the age of 83 in Australia where he had settled. Known as the “Big Difference” when he led the Philippine team to a third place finish in the 1956 Rio de Janeiro FIBA world basketball championship, Caloy also starred for the San Beda College Red Lions and the Yco Painters. He also coached the Philippine team that won the Asian Basketball Championship (ABC) in Seoul in 1967, beating host and arch rival South Korea. Cayetano Paderanga Jr. was the former head of the National Economic and Development Authority under President Noynoy Aquino and also his mother, the

late President Cory Aquino. He taught economics at the Ateneo and the University of the Philippines. He resigned as Neda director from the present Aquino Cabinet because of lingering illness. He was 67. Cipriano Spurling Roxas was the former editor-in-chief of Manila Standard. His mother, the late Marguerite Spurling, was an American from Los Angeles, California. “Zip,” as Roxas was known to friends and colleagues in media served as press officer at the Philippine Consulate in Toronto, Canada, Philippine News Agency correspondent in Los Angeles and later in Washington DC during the Marcos years. He was 76. Rest in peace, Zip.

so i see Lito banayo

only the lectures were valuable. The exchanges were fruitful, and LEB brought the seminars to the law schools and law professors where they were. In the second round, LEB took up the topic of Legal Education and Social Contexts. And once more, legal academics were invited to go beyond codal and statutory provisions as well as jurisprudence and to leave behind such crude techniques as rote memorization to be able to teach law in a “truly grand manner.” Last year, it was Asean Integration with which the regional seminars concerned themselves and what this meant for legal education. Law deans and professors dealt with the concept of Outcomes-Based Education as a possible paradigm for legal education in the Philippines. Recently, Dad caused the constitution of a committee of law deans to thoroughly re-work—beyond “patchwork repairs” the law curriculum in the Philippines.

(To be continued)

Dad retired from the Judiciary as a justice of the Court of Appeals some years ago. He bows out now from the Legal Education Board and we his family stand tall in the confidence that he has served in his best lights, and leaves a legacy of honor and dedication. His is the satisfaction of the assurance that the work he and his colleagues have done will be wisely continued and improved on by Chairman Emerson Aquende who, without a doubt, has Daddy’s full support. My father may hobble a little now, and a cane is indispensable these days. But there is no stopping him—he looks forward to resuming what he had to leave off some years ago: teaching law, the passion of a lifetime! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

m o n day : F e b rua ry 1 , 2 0 1 6

A12

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Warriors squeak past lowly 76ers LOS ANGELES - Golden State’s Harrison Barnes drained a three-pointer with two-tenths of a second left Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time) to lift the Warriors to a 108-105 victory over the 76ers in a duel of the NBA’s best and worst in Philadelphia. Up by 24 midway through the third period and by 15 with 5:42 remaining, the reigning champion Warriors appeared headed for a predictable win over the lowly 76ers. But they had to fight to the wire

to improve to 43-4, matching the 1966-67 76ers for best 47-game start in NBA history while the current Sixers fell to 7-41. While Philadelphia’s feisty fight-back fell short, it lent drama to a night on which the marquee

match-up between Cleveland and the San Antonio Spurs belonged entirely to the Cavaliers. LeBron James scored 29 points and the Cavs dominated San Antonio 117-103 to consolidate their spot atop the Eastern Conference with 34 victories in 46 games. They have now won four straight since dropping their first game under new head coach Tyronn Lue, who took over a week ago after the surprise dismissal of David Blatt.

Going into the game, Cleveland were 0-3 against the top two teams in the West, having fallen at San Antonio earlier this month and lost twice to Golden State. But they took full advantage of the absence of Spurs star Tim Duncan and the fact that San Antonio forward LaMarcus Aldridge was in foul trouble much of the night. With their new-look offense firing, the Cavaliers shot 64 percent in the second quarter and led 66-49 at halftime.

Kyrie Irving (2) of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket against Boris Diaw (33) of the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 30 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

Suhr sets women’s Techies find ways to monitor concussion WASHINGTON—A number pole vault record technology startups are devising NEW YORK—Reigning Olympic champion Jenn Suhr of the United States broke her own women’s world indoor pole vault record Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time) by clearing 5.03 meters at the Golden Eagle Invitational meet. Suhr set the record at Brockport State in suburban Rochester, breaking the mark of 5.02m she established on March 2, 2013 at the US championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. That effort made her the second woman in the world to crack the 5m mark after Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva. The 33-year-old won at London with a clearance of 4.75m after having taken a silver medal at Beijing in 2008. It’s a good omen for the season for Suhr ahead of this year’s world indoors, which will be on home turf in March at Portland, Oregon. AFP

creative new ways of detecting concussions in pro and amateur athletes, using apps, tablets and sensors to monitor the often debilitating brain injury. Sports organizations increasingly are looking for better concussion detection methods, and a sense of urgency has grown with the release of the 2015 film “Concussion” starring Will Smith on the problem of chronic brain injury suffered by American football players. Although some concussions may be unavoidable in contact sports, an important concern is getting a rapid diagnosis to keep an injured player off the field, to avoid potentially severe secondary impacts. Also key is followup, to determine when a player is ready to return. When players take a hit, “they will always say they are fine,” said Adam Gross, chief executive of

Cheerleaders. The Memphis Grizzlies dance team performs dur-

ing the game against the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 30, in Memphis, Tennessee. AFP

Bethesda, Maryland-based startup RightEye, which has developed a one-minute eye-tracking test that helps reveal the extent of trauma to the brain. “This is a tool that could keep parents from sending their kids (with concussions) back on the field.” RightEye says its test—with a specially configured computer

that monitors how quickly the eyes follow moving objects—can be useful for monitoring someone recovering from a concussion. Eye movement offers insight into brain health and brain trauma, and can also help detect other disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, according to the company. AFP

World swim body suspends Mexico LOS ANGELES—Swimming’s world governing body FINA announced on Saturday at its bureau meeting in Budapest that it had temporarily suspended the Mexican federation over Guadalajara’s withdrawal as host of the 2017 World Championships. It was not immediately clear how FINA’s action would affect Mexican swimmers’ hopes of competing in the Rio Olympics this year. “In accordance with FINA Rule C 12.1.1, FINA temporarily suspended the Mexican Swimming Federation for not fulfilling contractual obligations concerning the cancellation of the 2017 FINA World Championships in Guadalajara,” the governing body said in a statement. In other business on Saturday, FINA announced it had hired the firm of top sporting official Francois Carrard “to assess and review FINA corporate governance and, based on this assessment and review, to provide, if needed, recommendations for improving the corporate governance policies, processes and structures of FINA.” That move is to comply with the International Olympic Committee’s Declaration on Good Governance in Sport, FINA said. AFP

Los Angeles hosts 2017 NHL All-Star weekend NEW YORK—Los Angeles was named Saturday as the host city for the 2017 National Hockey League AllStar Game, with two days of events set to be staged at the Staples Center next January. The home arena of the Los Angeles Kings, winners of the Stanley Cup twice in the past four years, will host a skills contest on Jan. 28 on the eve of the NHL’s 62nd mid-season showcase of elite talent. Next year’s NHL All-Star Game will be the third to be played in Los Angeles, having been previously hosted by the Kings in 1981 at the Forum and 2002 at Staples Center, where a team of World AllStars beat North America 8-5. The announcement came on the eve of this year’s NHL All-Star Game in Nashville, Tennessee. It features a new tournament format of three 3-on-3 games among teams representing each of the league’s four divisions. AFP

m o n day : F e b rua ry 1 , 2 0 1 6

A13

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Mimosa ready for PAL Interclub

This handout photo taken and released by Lagardere Sports shows Jordan Spieth of the US playing a shot during round three of the Singapore Open at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. AFP

No. 1 Spieth stays in golf contention; PH’s Tabuena, too SINGAPORE—World number one Jordan Spieth stayed in the hunt for the SMBC Singapore Open title Saturday after narrowing the gap to leader Song Young-Han of South Korea before fading light halted play. The American had two more holes to complete and trailed Song by three strokes at the Sentosa Golf Club when the horn sounded for the remaining flights to return to the clubhouse. Three other players are also hot on the heels of the South Korean in the $1.0 million tournament. China’s Liang Wen-Chong trails by a stroke, and Japan’s Shintaro Kobayashi and South African Keith Horne by two. Filipino Miguel Tabuena is at no. 4 in a tie with Hideto Tanihara

and Shintaro Kobayashi at nine under, just a stroke behind Spieth. The last flight that included Song completed only 13 holes, and a total of 15 players will return to the Serapong Course on Sunday morning to resume play before the start of the final round. Spieth, 22, had a mixed day, playing the remaining 12 holes that were carried over from Friday after play was halted due to inclement weather. The Texan finished the round with three birdies and two bogeys.

“The bogey did hurt on the last,” said the US Open and Masters champion before heading for the penultimate round. Spieth is playing without regular caddie Michael Greller, who is recovering from an ankle injury sustained at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii earlier this month. His agent, Jay Danzi, is standing in as Greller’s replacement. “I made all my putts inside six feet yesterday but missed five or six today. I’ve just got to get comfortable on the shorter length putts,” said Spieth, who is playing in Singapore for the first time. “These kinds of delays (due to bad weather) have happened before, in professional and college golf, you have to get used to it. Gotta be prepared to play a lot of golf.”

MIMOSA Golf and Country Club in Clark, Angeles, has promised to put its best foot forward when it plays host to the men’s regular and senior events of the Philippine Airlines Interclub golf tournament beginning Feb. 25. Following the lastminute pullout of Fontana Korea Golf Club, Mimosa has made it 36-hole course available for the more than 1,000 players competing in two events spread over 10 days. “We’re currently sprucing up the course in time for the competition,” said Mimosa course consultant Jelly Palmes. “We’re expecting the greens to be faster than what they are now.” The Mountainview is the harder of two 18-hole

courses that will be used. From the championship tee, it measures 7,303 yards. It features narrow fairways, rolling terrains and an island green. “It’s a ball striker’s course,” said Jobim Carlos, one of the top players of the returning Canlubang squad. “It has a challenging layout.” The Acacia and Lakeview plays much shorter at 6,546 yards, although its opening hole -- a monstrous 445-yard, par-4 – will immediately test one’s readiness. The seniors’ event will kick off action on Feb. 25 with Canlubang and Luisita expected to renew their storied rivalry. After a two-day break, the 69th edition of the regular event begins on March 2.

Rookies seek Xterra Albay spotlight CAMERON O’Neal, Hsieh Chung Sing, Taylor Charlton and Lizzie Orchard go all-out in pursuit of big Xterra debut against some of the world’s top off-road triathletes in the second staging of the event unfolding Feb. 7 in Albay. O’Neal, a United Airlines pilot and coach-member of Guam national triathlon team, and Hsieh, Titan Triathlon’s Hong Kong team standout, set out for a big finish in the men’s side of the event hosted by the Province of Albay with City of Legazpi, Municipality of Daraga and Bayan ng Sto. Domingo as venue hosts. Charlton, a multi-event athlete who vied in athletics, rugby, soccer, cricket and tennis before moving to triathlon, is the other rookie expected to crowd the favorites for top honors in the world’s premier off-road triathlon with the majestic Mayon Volcano as backdrop. But they will be up against a crack field headlined by last year’s Asia-Pacific Xterra Series champion Bradley Weiss, who is all-geared up for his defense of

the crown in the swim-bike-run competition sponsored by 2Go Express as the official logistics and courier partner, Columbia, Finisher Pix and David’s Salon. Aussies Ben Allen, a 14-time Xterra World Tour titlist, and Brodie Gardner, a cross triathlon specialist, Charlie Epperson of Guam, last year’s Singapore National Triathlon winner, Michal Bucek of Slovakia and local bet Joseph Miller, who placed third overall in 2014 Xterra Philippines, toughen up the field, each raring to foil the South African champion’s repeat bid. A wide open battle is also seen in the women’s side with last year’s titlist Flora Duffy opting to skip this year’s staging to concentrate on her buildup for the Rio Olympics. That leaves veteran campaigners Jacqui Slack of Australia and Mieko Carey of Guam to dispute the top honors with New Zealand’s Orchard, a runner-up in the grand finale of Xterra Asian Tour in Malaysia, looming as the darkhorse in the event backed by Shotz Sports Nutrition, DOT/

Zou scores rousing comeback win By Ronnie Nathanielsz CHINA’S heralded two-time Olympic and three-time world gold medalist Zou Shiming made a rousing comeback after his loss to Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng in an International Boxing Federation world title fight with an eighth-round TKO of previously undefeated Brazilian Natan Santana Coutinho to recapture the WBO International flyweight title at the Oriental Sports Center in the bustling City of Shanghai, China. The 34-year-old Zou Shiming hurt Santana with a flurry of punches in the fifth round, but couldn’t put him away although

he continued to dominate the Brazilian with excellent combinations and accurate punching that had the predominantly Chinese crowd calling out his name and cheering wildly. The popular Chinese fighter caught Santana against the ropes in the eighth round as he kept up the pressure and after a series of unanswered punches, Thai referee Sawaeng Thaweekoon called a halt at 2:17 of the round. It was the 21-year-old Santana’s first setback which dropped him to 12-1 with 10 knockouts, while the 34-year-old Zou, whose career has been fashioned by Top Rank’s Bob Arum, improved to 7-1 with 2 knockouts.

AFP News quoted Arum who said: “Zou’s performance in this fight was outstanding. I really want to test Zou again with another top contender in the Spring. If he passes that, we will have him fight for a world championship by the end of the year.” Zou himself in a post-fight interview remarked: “The homecoming was great. I really fed off the energy of the crowd. I’ve taken 10 months off to rest, spend time with my family and even found a little reality TV fame, but my heart never left the ring. Today I fought patiently and got into a rhythm. (Coutinho) is young and has a powerful right hand, but once I got into a rhythm I Zou Shiming of China celebrates after winning against Natan Coutinho of Brazil was able to control the fight.” in their WBO international flyweight boxing title bout in Shanghai. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK the existence of hard rocks with ultimate tensile strength of over 60 Mega Pascals, which is beyond the rock cutting capability of available cable trenching machines;

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONDUCT OF DESKTOP STUDY AND HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY FOR THE WESTERN ROUTE OF THE VISAYAS-MINDANAO INTERCONNECTION PROJECT (VMIP), WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Significant quantity of unexploded ordnance from the Battle of Surigao Strait in 1944 which consist mainly of torpedoes and high explosive shells likely to remain in the seabed; and

Increase in the overall cost estimate given that the recommended cable route is 70km, a distance that is longer compared to the shortest cable route option 1 which is only 30km in distance;

13. Considering the foregoing, NGCP deemed it necessary to continue with the study by exploring a western route for the connection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids to arrive at a more prudent investment decision that is beneficial to all the stakeholders;

ERC CASE NO. 2015-201 RC

14. Thus, this application.

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), Applicant. x-------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND SCOPE OF WORKS 15. This project involves the conduct of Desktop Study and Hydrographic Survey for the interconnection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids considering the western route option;

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

16. The primary goals of the Desktop Study are the following: • Assess the risks in the study area; • Describe the landing sites for the proposed submarine cable interconnection; • Present information that may impact the survey and actual implementation of the proposed interconnection; • Present information that may affect system maintenance; • Summarize the survey, installation and operational permits to be required; and • Define the boundaries of the area to be surveyed.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 13 November 2015, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed with the Commission an application for the conduct of desktop study and hydrographic survey for the western route of the Visayas-Mindanao Interconnection Project (VMIP), with prayer for the issuance of a provisional authority. In the said application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following:

17. The Hydrographic Survey aims to obtain the following results: • • •

THE APPLICANT 1.

NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. NGCP is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. (R.A.) 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA);

Under R.A. 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 a HighVoltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and and Related Facilities, and For Other Purposes,” 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;

One of NGCP’s functions and responsibilities enumerated in Section 9 of the EPIRA is to improve and expand its transmission facilities; consistent with the Philippine Grid Code (PGC) and the Transmission Development Plan (TDP) to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system, provided that NGCP shall submit any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities for approval by the ERC;

In accordance with its mandate to ensure and maintain the quality, reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Grid, NGCP seeks the immediate approval from this Commission for the immediate implementation of the proposed Visayas-Mindanao Western Route (Cebu NegrosZamboanga Del Norte) Interconnection Project - Phase I, subject of the instant Application;

The interconnection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids was first conceptualized in 1984 through the study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The study envisioned to link the three (3) major grids into a single national grid. The stages of the project were: (i) the Leyte- Cebu 230 kV Alternating Current (AC) High Voltage (HV) Interconnection Project; (ii) the Leyte-Luzon 35okVHVDC Interconnection Project; and (iii) the Leyte-Mindanao 250 kV HVDC Interconnection Project (Interconnection Project);

•

Determine the feasible routes for the proposed submarine cable interconnection; Assess engineering risks along the possible cable routes; Identify parameters and methods for the design and implementation of the submarine cable laying; and Determine other factors that should be considered in the detailed design of the project.

18. The figure below shows the chart of the strait between the Sulu Sea and the Bohol Sea with suggested survey corridor. The area to be surveyed covers possible cable routes from the islands of Cebu and Negros towards Mindanao.1

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

STATEMENT OF FACTS

In 1996 the National Power Corporation (NPC) initiated the implementation of the Interconnection Project. In July 2001, Norconsult International A.S. of Norway completed the feasibility study and detailed design report. However, the Philippine Government deferred the implementation of the Interconnection Project. In 2004, the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) jointly with the Department of Energy (DOE), revived the implementation of the proposed Interconnection Project. Unfortunately, the Philippine Government did not carry out the project;

In 2011, the DOE directed the NGCP review the previous studies and update the assumptions of the Interconnection Project. Thus, on 14 March 2011, NGCP filed an application for the approval of the conduct of the feasibility study for the implementation of the Interconnection Project docketed as ERC under Case No. 2011-037 RC. In an Order dated 15 August 2011, the Commission granted the application. Thus, NGCP immediately conducted a new feasibility study;

Project Cost Estimate and Target Completion 19. The Desktop Study was completed in July 2014, while the target completion of the Hydrographic Survey is in June 2016. The total estimated cost of the Project is PhP152,462,757.16 inclusive of reformed value added tax and permit fee; 20. The Department of Energy, in a letter dated 2 March 2011, directed NGCP to lead and conduct the study relative to the Project and include such venture in the Transmission Development Plan (TDP). In addition, the Commission, in its Decision dated 15 August 2011 in ERC Case No. 2011-037 RC, ruled that the interconnection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids is necessary to open more investment opportunities in Mindanao both in terms of additional power generation and industrial loads; 21. Consequently, a 2,400 MW of additional capacity is expected to be injected in the Mindanao grids from the following power plants:

POWER PL ANT

NGCP engaged the services of China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI) to conduct the System Study to review the design and technical aspects of the interconnection Electronic; and of the Geophysical Services Limited - Asia (EGS Asia Ltd.) to conduct the hydrographic survey between the areas of Southern Leyte and Surigao Del Norte. On the other hand, NGCP conducted the preengineering activities, such as transmission route survey, geologic investigations, and data gatherings;

FDC Power Plant

4 0 5 M W by 2 016

GN Power Coal

4 5 0 M W by 2 017 15 0 M W by 2 018

Therma South Coal

3 0 0 M W by 2 015 15 0 M W by 2 017 15 0 M W by 2 018

S M C D av a o C o a l

15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0

Southern Mindanao

200 MW

Results of the Hydrographic Survey for the Eastern Route 9.

EGS Asia Ltd. surveyed three (3) cable route options, as follows:

C A PAC I T Y

a. Option 1 (Esperanza - Bilaa); b. Option 2 (Cat-Iwing - Bilaa via Dinagat Island); and c. Option 3 (Cat-Iwing - Bilaa);

MW MW MW MW

by by by by

2 015 2 016 2 017 2 018

22. In the feasibility study commissioned by NGCP, it was revealed that the proposed Visayas-Mindanao eastern interconnection from Leyte to Surigao would encounter several significant environmental risks and perils as enumerated above. Thus, NGCP deemed it essential to consider an alternate route by exploring the western route for the connection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids; 23. With the expected substantial excess capacity in the Mindanao grid due to the upcoming power plants and the possible deficiency in the Visayas grid, power sharing of reserves must be immediately effected between them. These exchanges can only be realized through the implementation of the Visayas-Mindanao interconnection project. Thus, as an initial step, and similar to other significant projects in the power industry, NGCP must initially conduct of a feasibility study to determine the best and safest route for the cables and landings of the interconnection; 24. With provisional authority, NGCP may immediately commence the implementation of the conduct of a feasibility study of Visayas-Mindanao western interconnection from Cebu Negros-Zamboanga Del Norte; 25. Acopy of the JudicialAffidavit of Engr. Fernando S. Javier, Head of the Mindanao System Planning Division, Transmission Planning Department of NGCP, is attached to the application as Annex “B”; 26. It most prays of the Commission that: 10. Upon completion of the surveys, it was found out that there are seismic hazards in the Surigao Strait which may limit the possible viability of the cable route options. Thus, Option 1 (Esperanza - Bilaa) was immediately ruled out. The figure below shows the topography of the Surigao Strait and the identified geophysical hazards;

Immediately issue an Order provisionally approving the implementation of the VisayasMindanao Western Route (Cebu Negros-Zamboanga Del Norte) Interconnection ProjectPhase I; and

Approve, after notice and hearing, the application for the implementation of the VisayasMindanao Western Route (Cebu Negros-Zamboanga Del Norte) Interconnection Project Phase I.

The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on 19 February 2016 (Friday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City. 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. The 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.

11. EGS Asia Ltd. concluded that Option 3 (Cat-Iwing - Bilaa) has advantages over Option 2 (CatIwing - Bilaa via Dinagat Island) because the former only has two cable landings and eliminates the construction of an overhead transmission line. Similarly, it will free NGCP from the difficulty of acquiring right-of-way at Dinagat Island due to several mining sites;

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman, JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 25th day of January, 2016 at Pasig City.

12. Although Option 3 is the best among the proposed options, EGS had the following reservations: a)

The existence of geophysical hazards consisting of an underwater volcano, fault lines and unstable rock slabs that pose seismic hazards, such as, fluidization of sediments, bulk ground displacement, strain on cable during passage of seismic wave, landslips and turbidity currents and tsunami.

Strong seabed currents ranging from 0.58 meter per second (m/s) to 2.00 m/s - these currents would certainly be sufficient to move either a bare cable or cable in shells. In any case, surface laying is not recommended. Generally, 0.50 m/s and below can be deemed safe for surface laying. On the other hand, cable trenching is likewise not recommended due to

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO 1

A c o p y o f t h e P r o j e c t D e t a i l s a n d J u s t i f i c a t i o n i s h e r e t o a t t a c h e d a s A n n e x “A n .

(TS-FEB. 1 & 8, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A14

SPORTS M ONDAY : FEBRUARY 1 , 2 0 1 6

Wesley plays to a draw

FILIPINO Grandmaster Wesley So played to a draw again, this time in 60 moves of a Gruenfeld Defense with Pavel Eljanov in the 11th round of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee in Holland. So is now tied from fourth and fifth places with GM Anish Giri, who also drew with Michael Adams in 42 moves of a Sicilian Defense. Playing the black pieces, So managed to keep the white king from moving towards the middle with knight c5 move. Magnus Carlsen is now a full point ahead for the lead with eight points. He used the Petrov Defense to outplay Yifan Hou in 54 moves. Hou quit when Carlsen pushed his white pawn to c3 to support his king at the fifth rank. Fabiano Caruana trails with 7 points after he drew with Shakhryar Mamedyarov in 45 moves of a Sicilian. Peter Atencio

Sismundo bows to Felix Jr. FILIPINO lightweight Ricky Sismundo lost a controversial split decision to world-rated Jose Felix Jr. on a Top Rank card at the Marriott Convention Center in Burbank, California on Sunday. Regarded as a Top Rank title contender, Felix Jr., who is 23 years old and is ranked No. 4 by the IBF and No. 7 by the WBO, was surprised by the solidly built Sismundo, who fights out of Yokohama under the name Mondo Harada. Reporting from ringside, Miguel Maravilla said Felix Jr. “won a questionable 10-round split decision, over the aggressive Sismundo, who kept Felix Jr. on the back foot all night long, but came up short” on the scorecards of judge Jonathan Davis, who had Felix Jr. ahead, 95-94, and Daniel Sandoval, 96-93. Veteran judge Max Deluca had Sismundo ahead, 95-94, despite being deducted a point by referee Zachary Young for hitting Felix Jr. after the bell in Round 6, in which Sismundo pressed forward “with big punches and kept backing the Mexican into the ropes.” Ronnie Nathanielsz

M O N DAY : F E B RUA RY 1 , 2 0 1 6

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Austria: Long rest good for SMB, Aces By Jeric Lopez

THERE are four full days of gap between Game 6 and the coming Game 7 of the 2015-16 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup Finals and San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria believes that it will benefit both protagonists. After finding themselves in a huge 0-3 hole, the Beermen are now on equal footing with the Alaska Aces, winning three straight and forcing a deciding Game 7 with the help of returning superstar June Mar Fajardo to the fray from his knee injury. With four full days to refresh and recover after playing a vital role in Games 5 and 6, Fajardo, along with his teammates and their opposition, is enjoying the good break and Austria believes it will be for the benefit of both LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG RESPECT is the operational word in the world of Martial Arts and I’m talking about the traditional martial arts. In muay thai, the ceremonial dance called Wai Kru is performed by fighters before the match to pay homage to their respective masters. In the old days of Filipino martial arts, students treat their teachers with reverence. Even when they become masters themselves, they are very careful not to offend their former teachers. Words spread out fast among martial artists when a student disrespects a master. And that offender becomes an outcast in the closely knit community. It used to be that respect must be preserved at all times. Sad to say, that’s not the practice anymore in the modern day of combat sports named Mixed Martial Arts. Money has become the more compelling force. *** When Master Emmanuel Sabrine hatched the Southeast Asian Fighting Championship, he had a dream/goal of providing a training ground for amateur fighters to showcase their skills. As president of the National Muay Thai and Kickboxing Council of the Philippines, Sabrine has envisioned a league where up-and-coming fighters can test their mettle before taking the more serious step of going professional and make MMA as their bread and butter.

Game Wednesday (MOA Arena, Pasay) 7 p.m.- San Miguel Beer vs Alaska

squads actually. ‘’I think it will be good for both teams,’’ said Austria. ‘’We’re having a four-day break and June Mar (Fajardo) is using that to recover, too.’’ Austria also pointed out that this long interval between the last two games of the best-ofseven war is the break that San Miguel is longing for.

‘’Kailangang kailangan namin itong mga days off na ito kasi three weeks din kaming walang pahinga halos,’’ he added. The break might also be beneficial for Alaska as it obviously needs to do some soul searching and adjustments heading into Game 7 after failing to clinch the championship in its first three tries. Should San Miguel go on to win Game 7, it will be the first team in history and in all of sports to accomplish the feat of winning a series from a 0-3 deficit.

Respect among PH martial artists “Mahirap maging full-time fighter. In this league, malalaman mo kung may career ka talaga sa MMA,” Sabrine once told this corner. Sabrine toiled hard for months to convince a Korean businessman to invest in the project. His benefactor believed in the project, aimed at discovering the Manny Paquiao of MMA. SAFC got going for several weeks, and the fighters, who came from all over the country were very excited about a league that provided them a regular venue and financial rewards on the side. A cage was even built at a classy hotel in Angeles City that served as home of the league. It has been going on very successfully until some opportunists entered the fray. Politicians and a group from another martial arts club used their influence to stop the operation of the league and it will not re-open until it is not turned over to them. Some of the personalities involved in the take-over attempt are good friends of Sabrine himself. One of them is a former student of his. And that makes it more painful for him. “Nakakalungkot talaga, mga itinuring kong kaibigan ang mga to. Pero ganu’n pa man, gusto ko silang pagbigyan dahil ang ginagawa ko ay para sa mga fighters,” said Sabrine. Sabrine, soft-spoken and mildmannered, has offered to co-organize the event in his effort to accommodate everybody. “I just hope maayos na ito. Para sa lahat naman ito so kung gusto nilang sumali, I just hope magkasundo sundo na lang kami.”

This corner hopes that Master Sabrine and the other group can finally come to terms to get the SAFC off the ground again. They are former fighters themselves and it’s easier to be on the same page. As what UGB’s Ferdie Munsayac would say: “For the fighters, by the fighters.” Don’t let the SAFC become a wasted opportunity. Respect is the word. *** Eduard Folayang continues to defy time with his recent victory in ONE Championship in Kuala Lumpur. The Landslide, one of Team Lakay’s famous members, dominated Japanese Tetsuda Yamada in three rounds for a unanimous decision victory. Folayang completely shut down Yamada, keeping the Japanese fighter at the long end of his straight right hands and occasional spinning back kicks. Folayang also landed various flush shots and stuffed numerous takedowns to earn the nod of the judges. His Lakay teammate, Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, was more emphatic with an electrifying first-round knockout over Malaysia’s Saiful “The Vampire” Merican. For their impressive victories, ONE Championship CEO Victor Cui said they are now assured of slots when the Asia-based MMA promotion goes back to the Philippines in April. It’s going to be another explosive MMA card at the Mall of Asia Arena. Filipino fans, are you ready?

Alaska’s Vic Manuel hounds SMB’s Chris Ross from behind in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. The two teams are now enjoying the second day of a fourday break prior to Game 7 on Wednesday.

Fists of boxing greats to be cast in stone

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

LEAVE it to Liza Elorde, the prime architect behind the Annual Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Awards to come up with a creative innovation every year. The Elorde family, headed by the matriarch Laura Elorde, said the annual rites, which will honor Filipino, international and world champions as well as those who contributed to the promotion of pro boxing, will be held this year on March 29 (Tuesday) because the traditional date coinciding with the Flash’s birthday on March 25 falls on Good Friday. The fists of the greatest Filipino champions of all time will be cast in stone during the ceremonies at the Sofitel Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel. An innovative and special highlight of the 16th edition of the annual rites, the most prestigious award honoring the greatest of Filipino professional and amateur fighters, is the inaugural “Casting of the Fist,” which will initially include champions headed by eight-division champ Manny Pacquiao, the longest-reigning undefeated champion, WBO light flyweight king Donnie “Ahas” Nietes Nietes, and former five-division world title holder Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire. They will be joined by other former champions, including junior lightweights Rolando Navarette, who won the title with a spectacular fifth-round knockout of Cornelius Boza Edwards, Rene Barrientos, who won

Baby Tams boost semis bid; Bullpups on a roll THE Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws improved their chances of making it to the semifinals of the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament. Jun Gabane, Eric Gabel and Xyrus Torres knocked in 12 points apiece for the Baby Tams as they smothered the Adamson Baby Falcons, 86-66, last Saturday at the Arena in San Juan. With their 7-5 win-loss record, they moved a game ahead of Adamson in the race for the last

Final Four semis berth. The Baby Falcons (6-6) are in fifth. Meanwhile, Justine Baltazar came up big again, delivering another monster game for the solo-leading National University Bullpups. The Bullpups are now two wins closer snaring an outright finals berth after their 70-54 crushing of University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons. Baltazar, who is among the leading contenders for the season MVP plum, had another double-double of 13 points and 19 rebounds.

The Bullpups marched to their 12th straight win, moving them closer to their chance of regaining the crown they lost two years ago. Aljun Melecio eked out 22 points, six rebounds and five assists as the La Salle Junior Archers whipped University of the East, 110-64, and assured themselves of a playoff for the twiceto-beat semifinal incentive. They moved up to 10-4 and have a two-game cushion over defending champion Ateneo, which won over Adamson, 82-73, in the race for the no. 2 seed in the playoffs. Peter Atencio

the crown with a classic unanimous decision over American Ruben Navarro, and two-time champions, brothers Gerry and Dodie Penalosa. “The casting will immortalize Filipino ring greats in the Elorde Hall of Fame museum, which will have a revered place in a permanent shrine inside the 3.5-hectare Elorde property,” said Elorde, referring to the property located along Sucat Avenue in Parañaque. Taking center-stage in this year’s Flash Elorde Memorial Awards, presented by the family of International Hall of Famer Flash Elorde, the undefeated junior lightweight champion who reigned for seven years, three months and 10 days will be 2015 light flyweight champions Randy Petalcorin and Rey “Hitman” Loreto, who capped the year with resounding wins in the first round. Petalcorin knocked down Chinese Yi Ming thrice in the first round to win the interim WBA crown on April 24, 2015 and finish the year with a 23-1-1- record, with 18 knockouts. Loreto knocked out heavily fancied Nikosinathi Joyi of South Africa with a brutal left straight to win in one minute, 30 seconds in the first round of their title bout in South Africa on March 22. Fight fans and members of the public interested to witness this historical “Casting of the Fist” and the awards night can contact the Elorde Sports Center at 8250625, 8264463 or 09172504156 for the purchase of tickets.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0

P16M

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A16

m o n day : F e b rua ry 1 , 2 0 1 6 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

Kerber learns to ‘just go for it’ MELBOURNE—Angelique Kerber said it feels like a second coming in her career after she won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, and also learned an important lesson: just “go for it”.

Germany’s Angelique Kerber sprays champagne as she celebrates her victory in the women’s singles final on day fourteen of the 2016 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Afp

dubs squeAk pAsy sixers turn to A12

AustriA: long rest good for both teAms turn to A15

The 28-year-old German, born in Bremen to Polish parents, broke through for her maiden major success at her 33rd attempt, shocking world number one Serena Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 and gaining a legion of new fans. She celebrated on Sunday by taking a swim in the Yarra river next to the Rod Laver Arena, in echoes of the dip American Jim Courier took after his 1992 championship win on the same court. After plugging away since turning professional in 2003, Kerber had a breakout year in 2015 when she won four tournaments, more than doubling her career total to seven. She had never gone beyond the semis at a major before but with a Grand Slam title now next to her name, she said it felt like a new chapter had begun. “Maybe it’s the second,” she said, when asked if it felt like a new career was beginning, adding that she had proven herself not just by beating Williams but also twotime champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals. “You know, when I won the first set, when I won against Azarenka, that showed me that I really am a good player and I can show it as well on the big courts,” she said. “I was not playing very good last year on the big tournaments. This is the first big tournament of the year, and I won it, the first Grand Slam.” Kerber is only the fourth player to conquer Williams in 26 Grand Slam finals, joining the American’s older sister Venus, Russian Maria Sharapova and Australian Samantha Stosur. - Mental toughness Her career plumbed the depths in 2011, when she lost 11 times in the first round before her game finally clicked and took her to the semi-finals of the US Open. Saturday’s stunning upset over Williams, a 21-time Grand Slam, champion sent Germany into a spin, with a host of sports stars hailing the achievement, along with Chancellor Angela Merkel. “With this win, you have not only fulfilled your big dream, but, 17 years after Steffi Graf, also the millions of tennis fans hoping for a German win at a Grand Slam tournament,” said Merkel. The elated Kerber, who lives in Poland, said she was proud of finally fulfilling the belief of family and friends that she could reach the pinnacle. Afp

MONDAY: FEBRUARY 1, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Meralco sales volume up 5.4% PSe comPoSite index Closing January 29, 2016

8000 8340 7880 7420 6960 6500

6,687.62 124.24

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JANUARY 29, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.650

44.00

43.00

HIGH P47.615 LOW P47.780AVERAGE P47.685 VOLUME 520.100M

P417.00-P627.00 LPG/11-kg tank P33.30-P40.75 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co., the country’s biggest power retailer, posted a 5.4-percent increase in sales volume in 2015, after consumer segments registered growth. “All segments are strong especially residential due to lower gen charges, low inflation, El Niño which meant higher temperatures, stable supply and a lot of our customer programs,” Meralco senior vice president Al Panlilio said over the weekend. Meralco has not released its full-year financial figures for 2015. Meralco, however, is forecasting a lower sales volume growth of 3 percent to 3.5 percent this year after a high base of 5.4 percent expansion in 2015. Meralco president Oscar Reyes earlier said the company’s sales volume growth was historically within the range of 3 percent to 3.5 percent.

Reyes noted that inflation had been at an all-time low, giving consumers a disposable income that increased their purchasing power. “Even businesses, because of the low inflation, the cost of doing business is lower. It leaves people with more money to spend on things that drives electricity,” he said. He added the “very peculiar” warmer weather from June to November last year also drove demand. “This is the first time that peak demand happened not during summer months but [in August],” he said. Reyes said the liquidity in the banking system also fueled de-

mand as “there is so much money available for construction of vertical and horizontal housing units.” Reyes expressed confidence the company was likely to hit its P18.5-billion full year core net income target this year due to higher sales volume. Meralco posted a core net income P18.1 billion in 2014, up 6 percent from 2013. Meralco already reported core net income of P15.8 billion in the first nine months of 2015, up 11 percent from P14.286 billion year-on-year. Reported net income also rose 13 percent to P16.1 billion from a year ago. Reported income is adjusted to exclude the effect of foreign exchange gains or losses, mark-tomarket adjustments, and other onetime, exceptional transactions. Meralco’s billed customers rose by 209,000 to 5.7 million in the first nine months, up almost 4 percent on year. Meralco expects group rev-

enues to increase in the next few year. Unit Meralco PowerGen Corp. expects this year the construction of three coal-fired power plants with a combined capacity of up to 2,255 megawatts. The projects include the 455-MW plant of San Buenaventura Power Ltd. in Quezon province, 600 MW by Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. in Subic and 1,200-by MW Atimonan One Energy also in Quezon. “Participation in power generation is highly strategic for Meralco. Without any generating capacity, Meralco would effectively be only a price-taker and a supply-taker. We look forward to building a portfolio of highly fuel efficient, highly reliable power generating facilities of up to 3,000 MW in joint venture with strategic partners,” Reyes earlier said. The San Buenaventura coal project is a joint venture between Meralco PowerGen and New Growth B.V., a unit of The Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand.

today

P20.40-P23.80 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, January 29, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.8230

Japan

Yen

0.008416

0.4025

Pound

1.435700

68.6595

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128327

6.1370

Switzerland

Franc

0.986388

47.1720

Canada

Dollar

0.712809

34.0887

Singapore

Dollar

0.700427

33.4965

Australia

Dollar

0.709019

33.9074

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657595

127.0942

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.7528

Brunei

Dollar

0.697983

33.3796

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027917

1.3351

UAE

Dirham

0.272316

13.0230

Euro

1.094000

52.3184

Korea

Won

0.000831

0.0397

China

Yuan

0.152082

7.2730

India

Rupee

0.014691

0.7026

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.237530

11.3594

New Zealand

Dollar

0.646496

30.9174

Taiwan

Dollar

0.029810

1.4256 Source: PDS Bridge

Toyota acquisition. Akio Toyoda (left), president of Toyota Motor Corp., and Masanori Mitsui, president of Daihatsu Motor Co., attend a joint news conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. Toyota Motor Corp. will aim to transform Daihatsu Motor Co. from a maker of small cars that used to deter their owners from going out on dates into a brand as valued as BMW AGs Mini. Bloomberg

PLDT cuts budget for overseas acquisitions, investments By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. has reduced its budget for acquisitions and investments overseas this year, as it prefers to team up with more over-the-top content players or Internet-related companies. PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said the company would spend less than $50 million for acquisitions or investments in other countries. When asked if the company

would achieve its target of acquiring four to five IT-related companies this year, Pangilinan said: “ I doubt it this year.” He said the company expected to have more OTTs as partners, instead. OTTs refer to Internetrelated companies that deliver text, images, audio, video and other services over the Internet. They include the likes of Viber, WhatsApp, Netflix and Google TV. PLDT earlier formed PLDT Capital, which aims to connect

the PLDT Group of companies with leading firms in Silicon Valley and around the world. PLDT Capital allocated an investment budget of $50 million last year to support PLDT business units, including Smart, ePLDT, Digital5 and Voyager to grow their portfolio of digital services in the Philippines and other developing economies. Of the total budget, PLDT Capital actually invested $20 million, including $10 million in Phunware, a US-based mobile devices

and application company; $5 million in Singapore’s Paywhere; and $5 million in AppCard. PLDT Capital will be supported by a team of strategists, engineers and product managers who will also be identified from the group. PLDT Capital formally started operations in El Segundo, within Los Angeles County in California and has presence in Silicon Valley. PLDT, partly owned by Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd. and Japan’s NTT group, reported a

net income of P25.3 billion in the January to September period last year, down by 9 percent from P28 billion in 2014. Core profit, which excludes foreign exchange transactions and other non-recurring items, also fell 5 percent to P27.08 billion from P28.86 billion a year ago. Third-quarter core profit amounted to P8.15 billion, down from P8.73 billion in 2014. Consolidated revenue was flat at P127.87 billion in the first nine months.

MONDAY: FEBRUARY 1, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW JANUARY 25-29, 2016 Close Volume AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

2.9 44.7 102.00 87.65 34.6 2.50 1.42 14.32 15.88 6.20 0.72 1.81 580.00 0.450 71 0.92 15.58 21.80 50.00 97.9 270 32.75 41.8 1260.00 56.90 1.45

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Bogo Medellin C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. À’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. LBC Express Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp. Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co À’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. À’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp. Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

41.6 4.33 0.63 1.27 9.5 39.1 145.00 15.58 105 33.1 19.72 40 2.08 2.29 11.82 8.100 7.34 5.48 5.58 18.4 55.8 11.84 14.30 5.08 2.250 205.20 7.44 25.00 1.7 2.99 39.35 24.3 13.7 5.5 310.00 4.04 2.95 6.50 11.50 3.50 1.35 2.32 3.80 2.43 6.34 138.6 3.95 2.49 0.146 0.98 2.10 193 4.64 0.6 22.50 0.98

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. IPM Holdings JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.290 58.5000 14.80 1.06 6.00 0.200 0.180 679.5 7.37 11.40 5.75 4.51 0.223 1290 5.34 9.53 67.00 3.36 5.25 0.54 15.9 0.48 5.5 0.0280 0.940 1.940 2.7 72.90 2.35 827.50 1.00 0.77 104.900 0.2650 0.2100 0.275

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ Cebu Holdings Centennial City City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport À’ Megaworld Prop. MRC Allied Ind.

6.760 7.00 0.72 1.050 0.219 31.400 2.37 4.6 0.500 0.91 1.020 0.118 0.390 20.9 0.790 0.149 0.89 1.48 1.16 3.57 0.076

Value

FINANCIAL 2,705,630.00 6,766,485.00 1,285,681,645 902,361,093.00 6,195,865.00 442,330.00 590,840.00 5,825,776.00 11,540,270.00 3,720 7,200 39,420.00 75,400.00 2,198,150.00 1,120,977,517.00 508,450.00 2,142,140.00 56,680.00 22,448,045.00 432,143.00 2,215,756.00 63,484,500 650,413,101.00 419,850.00 7,521,081.50 367,630.00 INDUSTRIAL 8,934,400 366,832,500.00 1,502,000 6,477,260.00 2,438,000 1,488,240.00 38,076,000 48,259,250.00 8,000 76,424.00 100 3,910.00 540 62,851.00 2,655,000 42,397,566 40 4,000.00 100 3,310.00 2,650,100 52,002,910.00 2,307,600 96,726,660 2,782,000 5,830,850.00 29,759,000 76,695,270.00 187,700 2,179,530.00 77,885,300 595,132,362.00 32,460,600 232,740,199.00 70,556,800 386,355,573.00 7,396,300 42,040,852.00 22,228,200 408,572,628.00 2,361,310 128,360,271.50 300 3,552.00 25,500 364,590.00 1,465,500 7,275,394.00 22,699,000 51,483,540.00 6,244,110 1,268,722,515.00 52,500 351,521.00 10,800 266,390.00 55,000 94,950.00 21,000 61,300.00 20,100 757,450.00 4,412,400 109,572,045.00 10,222,400 140,435,056.00 1,257,000 6,910,280.00 691,120 213,807,668.00 1,000 4,040.00 2,471,000 7,230,450.00 28,966,400 178,819,135.00 15,800 178,222.00 1,267,000 4,549,610.00 1,827,000 2,500,520.00 1,587,000 3,589,110.00 15,726,000 57,970,770.00 11,000 27,320.00 12,700 64,818.00 121,040 15,444,199.00 17,000 67,200.00 4,440,000 11,139,550.00 14,660,000 2,098,670.00 122,000 122,960.00 8,276,000 17,641,700.00 16,080,300 3,016,654,482.00 28,000 129,570.00 2,341,000 1,363,650.00 15,000 337,500.00 461,000 451,900.00 HOLDING FIRMS 1,370,000 398,500.00 8,630,970 490,230,480.50 46,649,300 660,653,496.00 309,000 309,620.00 140,400 842,380.00 1,530,000 297,950.00 580,000 105,600.00 2,046,280 1,359,565,285.00 10,989,900 79,992,738.00 72,099,300 806,962,808.00 20,100 101,075.00 410,000 1,666,910.00 4,010,000 781,730.00 1,099,195 1,372,593,935.00 15,000 80,100.00 15,324,700 144,989,503.00 8,943,020 564,359,300.50 2,000 6,720.00 14,366,300 74,169,046.00 3,740,000 1,892,740.00 42,246,200 669,949,298.00 70,000 33,700.00 243,846,500 1,323,701,692.00 133,200,000 3,681,800.00 20,000 18,500.00 12,478,000 24,533,240.00 97,000 255,900.00 7,158,350 479,852,950.00 2,000 4,410.00 1,514,760 1,199,728,800.00 212,000 212,220.00 169,000 120,360.00 620,110 57,694,904.50 9,920,000 2,508,200.00 1,980,000 387,940.00 4,530,000 1,214,470.00 PROPERTY 525,500 3,447,901.00 100 700.00 13,300,000 9,483,030.00 28,000 29,650.00 30,000 6,250.00 80,251,800 2,445,376,995.00 44,037,000 100,135,330.00 196,000 893,610.00 43,270,000 19,266,600.00 41,000 37,310.00 40,001,000 38,001,020.00 41,780,000 4,371,320.00 2,800,000 1,075,050.00 8,223,800 166,354,643.00 747,000 577,480.00 270,000 39,910.00 29,013,000 25,488,560.00 123,419,000 180,927,620.00 367,000 422,460.00 330,264,000 1,125,247,230.00 3,680,000 265,560.00

976,000 151,900 12,934,810 10,432,690 178,300 177,000 432,000 403,700 725,100 600 10,000 23,000 58,030 4,900,000 15,658,270 569,000 144,600 2,600 482,400 4,570 8,520 1,952,100 4,641,740 330 132,920 250,000

JANUARY 18-22, 2016 Close Volume Value 2.82 44.5 96.50 85.80 34.4 2.49 1.24 14.44 16 6.15

8,999,000 98,900 9,180,190 7,165,190 289,400 612,000 1,040,000 183,200 493,700 26,800

23,260,030.00 4,411,895.00 870,655,467 604,535,242.50 9,853,165.00 1,473,390.00 1,398,830.00 2,638,814.00 7,966,142.00 166,043

1.82 580.00 0.435 68.3 0.9 15.50 22.00 45.95 95 235.2 32.2 140 1250.00 54.60 1.5

35,000 160 930,000 20,189,950 160,000 123,900 17,600 1,900,100 2,500 23,530 1,714,900 7,307,680 865 59,250 36,000

61,500.00 94,050.00 387,350.00 1,387,350,416.00 144,000.00 1,896,922.00 387,200.00 85,809,015.00 239,920.50 5,635,602.00 55,467,200 1,048,133,941.00 1,101,230.00 3,258,173.00 54,350.00

40.55 4.23 0.69 1.21 9.6

4,738,300 763,000 109,000 2,004,000 58,400

190,009,585.00 3,200,760.00 76,770.00 2,407,760.00 540,898.00

110.00 15.9

1,500 1,342,400

156,850.00 20,239,564

36 19.44 42 2.13 2.77 11.18 7.500 7.07 5.38 6.13 17.9 52.35 11.50 13.52 4.85 2.110 198.00 7.1 27.20 1.86 3.05 40.65 24.7 13.78 5.57 307.00 3.90 2.9 5.56 11.50 3.60 1.35 2.18 3.70 2.64 5.14 119.8

400 2,029,400 2,022,000 2,321,000 81,084,000 549,900 74,875,300 6,792,500 47,534,300 2,262,000 21,835,100 4,896,500 18,000 10,900 1,307,400 11,937,000 4,366,350 192,100 1,400 193,000 49,000 10,700 8,492,100 1,482,700 4,496,300 956,150 16,000 1,664,000 20,107,300 36,500 2,805,000 1,132,000 1,039,000 2,700,000 11,000 9,200 120,250

14,300.00 38,673,744.00 84,923,545 4,666,370.00 215,029,780.00 6,138,586.00 527,754,658.00 48,643,148.00 258,810,874.00 13,006,255.00 400,219,290.00 258,087,901.50 207,216.00 151,388.00 6,444,167.00 25,045,500.00 871,067,086.00 1,405,026.00 38,190.00 334,820.00 142,720.00 384,940.00 204,470,495.00 20,682,770.00 25,038,432.00 292,146,504.00 62,560.00 4,905,340.00 110,550,960.00 403,840.00 10,094,200.00 1,504,240.00 2,220,140.00 10,245,390.00 26,360.00 45,943.00 14,361,979.00

2.58 0.136 0.90 2.08 184.4 4.55 0.58 22.50 0.99

3,732,000 4,270,000 96,000 5,421,000 10,947,740 1,049,000 3,634,000 8,000 120,000

9,676,870.00 578,190.00 87,560.00 11,245,180.00 2,000,028,008.00 4,772,950.00 2,185,510.00 180,000.00 118,530.00

0.290 54.4000 13.20 1.00 6.00 0.200

2,550,000 5,226,090 37,027,300 741,000 98,700 510,000

719,000.00 287,177,458.00 501,357,994.00 741,080.00 594,586.00 101,030.00

613 7.06 10.78 5.58 4.42 0.183 1225 5.60 9.50 60.00 3.35 5.04 0.53 14.62 0.48 5.24 0.0270 0.900 1.960 2.52 60.00 2.35 740.00 1.00 0.67 71.450 0.2300 0.1900 0.249

1,863,520 12,706,200 48,471,500 288,600 1,279,000 160,000 944,190 649,300 8,575,300 7,527,620 13,000 51,198,600 267,000 13,054,900 300,000 119,738,600 111,700,000 86,000 8,300,000 4,000 2,617,330 30,000 1,125,000 157,000 290,000 178,630 2,310,000 1,030,000 170,000

1,164,318,075.00 89,938,119.00 542,762,214.00 1,599,180.00 5,701,150.00 29,040.00 1,180,743,855.00 3,702,445.00 81,049,758.00 454,601,223.00 43,580.00 266,180,198.00 144,410.00 192,735,186.00 147,050.00 621,792,810.00 3,048,600.00 78,250.00 15,603,110.00 10,080.00 155,807,549.00 64,230.00 861,026,140.00 152,500.00 194,990.00 12,663,083.00 542,100.00 176,760.00 39,150.00

6.680 7.18 0.62 1.050 0.220 28.600 2.11 4.6 0.415

2,355,000 2,900 2,385,000 233,000 1,170,000 75,880,800 17,620,000 1,034,300 15,760,000

15,253,325.00 19,184.00 1,449,860.00 246,990.00 257,100.00 2,179,150,075.00 37,951,460.00 4,642,967.00 6,817,050.00

1.030 0.101 0.370 20.25 0.730 0.138 0.86 1.46 1.10 3.27 0.070

1,000 12,490,000 6,760,000 5,327,900 92,000 380,000 10,528,000 151,786,000 754,000 559,389,000 2,510,000

1,030.00 1,243,530.00 2,466,200.00 110,375,135.00 65,730.00 52,280.00 9,247,480.00 221,632,700.00 892,940.00 1,818,858,540.00 174,460.00

STOCKS

JANUARY 25-29, 2016 Close Volume

Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.2850 0.340 8.39 25.00 1.49 3.05 21.15 0.76 0.46 0.860 3.740

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons Retail SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils. Yehey

6.35 55.75 1.2 0.400 11.5 26 4.10 0.0410 3.3 77.1 9.5 1.58 6.02 3.19 989 1864 6.55 21.00 1.16 60.8 11.96 0.0078 0.147 1.3500 1.95 7.10 4.00 1.21 2.40 18.00 0.500 1.97 2.26 3.15 0.250 0.640 18.4 4.35 2.4 9 100.00 20.00 2220.00 0.385 0.750 33.00 59.05 5.00 3.20 0.390 3.84 0.340 3.750

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

0.0042 1.65 4.00 13.40 0.203 4.0000 3.2000 0.54 0.400 6.20 0.600 0.250 0.168 0.181 0.0098 0.011 1.72 4.1 2.42 0.4450 1.1000 0.0094 0.0091 3.35 4.07 1.48 0.0110 118.70 1.88 0.0075

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure & Resort Pref. MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

55.2 521 530.5 514 6.2 1.09 111 1023 1065 1025 105 108 80.5 83 79 78.5 79 2.56

Leisure & Resort Warr.

2.730

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

3.1 3.01 2.51 12.86

First Metro ETF

111.5

JANUARY 18-22, 2016 Close Volume Value

Value

680,000 1,730,000 198,800 18,152,600 12,526,000 175,000 96,212,000 7,469,000 4,680,000 2,478,000 68,243,000

151,330.00 563,950.00 1,669,320.00 439,277,325.00 18,773,950.00 526,650.00 1,992,533,249.00 5,576,290.00 21,530,000.00 2,100,280.00 254,756,220.00 SERVICES 515,600 3,264,940.00 139,370 7,595,069.00 49,000 55,660.00 4,270,000 1,598,950.00 107,100 1,128,450.00 500 12,420 96,154,000 371,314,660.00 97,700,000 3,928,200.00 1,087,000 3,609,290.00 2,556,930 195,968,729.50 10,600 100,604.00 536,000 804,660 570,500 3,443,788.00 1,000 3,190.00 840 802,550.00 488,000 881,178,540 307,900 1,997,261.00 167,000 3,507,000 305,000 340,310.00 6,231,230 375,364,111.50 35,400 406,360.00 58,000,000 455,800.00 65,880,000 9,104,770.00 6,083,000 8,599,760.00 17,000 34,100.00 1,411,600 10,008,948.00 1,476,000 5,862,670.00 3,000 3,670.00 52,000 120,550.00 11,700 218,015.00 40,000 20,000.00 227,000 437,850.00 434,195,000 806,905,600.00 18,039,000 55,267,690.00 1,190,000 300,150.00 20,028,000 12,526,410.00 403,700 7,369,204.00 10,000 43,550 186,000 435,040.00 169,900 1,526,305.00 23,550 2,377,480.00 460,946 4,212,318.00 1,040,875 2,218,190,150.00 14,290,000 5,602,000.00 383,553,000 267,148,070.00 4,954,900 164,949,780.00 10,781,790 624,368,012.00 7,796,000 37,169,360.00 74,025,000 213,985,340.00 11,900,000 4,724,950.00 2,058,000 7,690,490.00 80,000 25,850.00 677,000 2,491,160.00 MINING & OIL 489,000,000 2,009,800.00 699,000 1,093,400.00 978,000 3,901,160.00 16,100 207,429.00 650,000 131,470.00 50,000 200,000.00 2,000 6,400.00 423,000 217,800.00 42,100,000 16,628,050.00 83,900 502,400.00 159,665,000 97,629,265.00 3,430,000 815,430.00 33,810,000 5,583,560.00 7,710,000 1,429,270.00 184,300,000 1,810,940.00 192,600,000 2,056,300.00 3,357,000 5,443,540.00 80,739,000 319,257,930.00 2,955,000 6,682,390.00 370,000 166,300.00 1,391,000 1,492,390.00 12,200,000 127,800.00 1,000,000 9,100.00 379,000 1,239,060.00 4,323,000 17,303,170.00 5,188,000 7,108,850.00 60,000,000 622,450.00 1,920,610 227,804,990.00 623,000 1,162,040.00 116,000,000 807,400.00 PREFERRED 1,024,360 54,975,390.00 3,000 1,580,200.00 38,210 20,611,910 20,280 10,537,700.00 52,400 315,491.00 1,123,000 1,231,070 45,910 5,118,510.00 950 971,850.00 160 170,600.00 30,995 31,772,335.00 2,510 263,560.00 5,160 554,630.00 13,320 1,072,260.00 381,800 31,509,702.50 411,300 32,248,360.00 386,760 30,425,535.00 322,380 25,389,762.00 6,000 13,060.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 9,422,000 21,472,240.00 SME 51,100 158,220.00 72,000 183,120.00 2,327,000 5,736,520.00 4,426,800 54,178,150.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 306,560 32,229,114.00

0.2200 0.260 8.4 23.50 1.46 2.98 19.22 0.77 4.8 0.800 3.680

60,000 800,000 330,400 13,919,800 23,482,000 99,000 63,319,200 5,281,000 40,000 853,000 58,827,000

12,950.00 230,000.00 2,780,467.00 329,583,955.00 31,797,320.00 287,230.00 1,210,885,438.00 4,007,560.00 190,560.00 647,150.00 228,732,850.00

6.46 53.9 1.13 0.400 10.5

41,565,800 127,640 105,000 1,560,000 3,400

247,445,988.00 7,018,775.00 118,690.00 633,150.00 35,820.00

3.42 0.0380 3.3 76 9.38 1.59 6.04 2.35 955 1718 6.35

113,118,000 37,200,000 1,384,000 3,217,550 4,800 248,000 2,414,800 3,000 1,980 345,325 334,000

351,971,760.00 1,412,900.00 4,444,100.00 242,982,223.00 45,138.00 363,120 14,482,442.00 7,050.00 1,890,900.00 584,445,220 2,130,876.00

1.08 58 11 0.0077 0.119 1.3500

473,000 6,494,830 3,800 27,000,000 8,120,000 746,000

521,240.00 370,533,983.50 40,278.00 210,700.00 943,270.00 964,010.00

6.90 3.99

541,400 4,052,000

3,760,848.00 16,698,050.00

2.20 21.95 0.500 1.97 1.33 2.95 0.260 0.620 17.42 4.11 2.65 9.24 100.00 20.10 1990.00 0.405 0.580 32.85 58.20 4.82 2.50 0.385 3.5 0.330 3.460

266,000 10,500 27,000 34,000 123,457,000 14,810,000 1,910,000 10,822,000 2,331,200 113,000 11,000 2,647,800 10,300 223,700 474,955 1,500,000 274,684,000 5,591,800 8,488,520 9,445,000 29,107,000 185,890,000 1,440,000 400,000 293,000

532,730.00 232,215.00 14,290.00 64,770.00 159,764,820.00 46,000,510.00 480,500.00 6,558,280.00 42,436,130.00 483,150 29,080.00 24,485,800.00 1,031,600.00 4,475,173.00 726,770,980.00 604,600.00 141,848,510.00 184,994,980.00 504,870,073.50 45,099,940.00 74,415,500.00 67,968,800.00 4,990,660.00 126,450.00 957,240.00

0.0040 1.55 4.00 14.00 0.209 3.7900 4.9000 0.48 0.31 5.99 0.490 0.240 0.150 0.186 0.0096 0.012 1.45 3.55 2.1 0.4800 0.9600 0.0090

895,000,000 172,000 649,000 12,800 1,090,000 500 3,000 609,000 14,260,000 26,500 14,880,000 2,120,000 17,510,000 80,000 212,000,000 250,500,000 972,000 28,644,000 1,974,000 183,000 2,817,000 53,000,000

3,653,300.00 280,450.00 2,596,560.00 151,144.00 227,000.00 1,887.00 14,750.00 286,450.00 4,322,150.00 153,208.00 7,031,050.00 488,850.00 2,545,120.00 14,880.00 2,056,500.00 2,821,000.00 1,396,980.00 108,692,410.00 4,216,740.00 90,740.00 2,553,030.00 487,000.00

3.12 3.80 1.20 0.0096 120.00 1.8 0.0071

45,000 2,619,000 1,253,000 63,600,000 2,389,970 264,000 2,000,000

143,660.00 10,111,210.00 1,495,640.00 629,830.00 291,307,580.00 483,760.00 14,100.00

53.55 529.5 530.5 510 6 1.1 111 1020 1065 1026 104 106.5 80 82 78.4 79 78.6

750,390 1,200 10,780 3,374 1,293,700 2,000 2,000 900 350 23,320 283,870 22,900 15,970 184,890 441,510 351,660 295,370

41,000,466.00 632,900.00 5,690,055 1,953,900.00 7,849,679.00 2,200 222,000.00 918,180.00 372,750.00 14,724,575.00 29,466,470.00 2,444,800.00 1,274,258.00 15,058,618.00 34,570,644.00 27,781,752.00 23,286,847.50

1.300

1,155,000

1,426,690.00

3.12 2.53 2.02 12.3

97,000 32,000 1,232,000 11,673,600

297,380.00 80,340.00 1,772,400.00 139,691,022.00

101.2

67,170

6,834,152.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Melco Crown Premium Leisure Megaworld Prop. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Manila Mining `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Ferronickel Pacifica `A’ Filinvest Land,Inc.

VOLUME 489,000,000 434,195,000 383,553,000 330,264,000 243,846,500 192,600,000 184,300,000 159,665,000 133,200,000 123,419,000

STOCKS Universal Robina Ayala Land `B’ PLDT Common SM Prime Holdings GT Capital Ayala Corp `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Jollibee Foods Corp. SM Investments Inc.

VALUE 3,016,654,482.00 2,445,376,995.00 2,218,190,150.00 1,992,533,249.00 1,372,593,935.00 1,359,565,285.00 1,323,701,692.00 1,285,681,645 1,268,722,515.00 1,199,728,800.00

MONDAY: FEBRUARY 1, 2016

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

Market likely to stay above 6,500 level STOCKS are expected to move sideways this week, following a strong rally last week led by positive economic data and Japan’s stimulus program. RCBC Securities said the market’s movement this week would be crucial after last week’s exceptional ride, as a breakout would be seen as a strong buy signal, while any sharp decline would retest the the market’s recent low. Investor sentiment turned positive last week, after three weeks of pessimism brought about by falling oil prices and China’s economic slowdown. “A rebound in oil prices, the US Fed’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged and the Bank of Japan’s unexpected interest rate cut to below zero all helped boost sentiment towards global equities in general. At home, investors were further emboldened by strong fourthquarter GDP of 6.3 percent,” RCBC Securities said. F. Yap Securities investment analyst Jason Escartin said prospects this week would be datadependent, which could add more gyration on funds flow movement. Escartin said investors should also exercise caution on intraweek spikes, ahead of China’s Lunar New Year holiday. “Support at 6,600 will be tested, while a retracement towards 6,550 is not ruled out,” Escartin said. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, surged 7.7 percent last week to close at 6,687.62 on Friday, while the broader all- share index climbed 6.6 percent to 3,812.87, as investors welcomed the fourth-quarter growth of 6.3 percent. The market’s rally was also fueled by investors’ optimism, after the Bank of Japan surprised investors across the region with a negative interest rate policy. Despite the late rally, the PSEi was still down 3.8 percent since the start of the year, due to massive selloff at the start of the month. All major subindices ended in the green, led by holding firms (9.8 percent), property (8.9 percent), services (8.6 percent), mining and oil (4 percent), financials (3.5 percent) and industrial (3.3 percent). Foreign investors were net buyers by P2.58 billion last week, as total overseas buying reached P20.3 billion while overseas selling amounted to P17.75 billion. Foreign investors were still net sellers by P2.1 billion in January. Jenniffer B. Austria

Engineering competition. Four UP students emerged victorious in the 7th Industrial Engineering Competition among industrial engineering and engineering management students. The team bested other students from Southeast Asia in the competition held in Bandung, Indonesia on Jan. 9 to 17. Shown are UP-Diliman Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research students (from left) Dominic Aily Ecat, Arizza Ann Nocum, Daniel Roi Agustin and James Renier Domingo.

Roxas & Co. allots P579m for ’16 capex By Jenniffer B. Austria

ROXAS & Company Inc., the holding company of the Roxas group, earmarked P579 million in capital expenditures for fiscal year 2015-2106 to finance expansion of its real estate business. RCI said in a regulatory filing that of the P579-million programmed spending for 2015-2016, some P209 million would go for the completion of Anya Resort and Residences and P370 million for new projects. RCI said it planned to complete phase two of Anya Resort and start the hotel component of the project in the first quarter of 2016. It said in line with the plan to diversify its real estate portfolio, the company would aggressively pursue acquisition of new properties in greater Metro Manila for potential low‐to‐medium‐density residential development. The group also plans to open first five Go Hotels by the first half of 2016. The five Go Hotels will be located along Quirino Avenue in Parañaque City near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport; North Edsa, Timog Circle and Cubao in Quezon City; and in Malate, Manila. RCI’s property unit Roxaco Land Corp signed in 2013 a deal with Singapore’s Vanguard Hotels Group to build a minimum of five “Go Hotels” in Metro Manila and in select provincial destinations RCI said also aimed to increase its ownership in Fuego Hotels to 100 percent from current 75 percent and enlarge its property management operations through investment or partnership. It said for solar power venture, the company was set to complete the development of 30-megawatt solar power project in Nasugbu, Batangas by second quarter of 2016. RCI reported a consolidated net income of P135.1 million in the fiscal year ending September 2015, down 94 percent from last year’s net income of P2.28 billion, which included a one-time gain from partial sale of stake investments in sugar milling firm for P2.03 billion. Consolidated sales in fiscal year increased 25 percent to P250.4 million from P199.8 million a year ago, on higher real estate sales of Anya Resort and Residences phase 2.

Republic of the Philippines Depar tment of Environment and Natural Resources COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE

Office of the CENR Officer Masinloc, Zambales

N OTIC E O F B ID D IN G (L e a se o f Fo re s h o re /O f f s h o re L a n d) N o t i c e i s h e r e by g i ve n t h a t t h e D E N R - C E N R O a t M a s i n l o c , Z a m b a l e s w i l l a c c e p t o r a l o r w r i t t e n b i d s n o t l a t e r t h a n (10 : 0 0) o 'c l o c k A . M . o n M a r c h 0 9 , 2 016 f o r t h e l e a s e o f t h e t r a c t o f l a n d h e r e i n b e l o w d e s c r i b e d: Location

Binabalian, Candelaria, Zambales

Description

B o u n d e d o n t h e N o r t h by S o u t h C h i n a S e a & u n o c c u p i e d Fo r e s h o r e L a n d; S o u t h by S o u t h C h i n a S e a & u n o c c u p i e d Fo r e s h o r e l a n d; We s t by S o u t h C h i n a S e a; E a s t by S a l v a g e Z o n e

Boundaries

P o r t i o n o f L a n d: L i n e 1- 2: S . 2 2 ° 3 6 ' E ., 87. 5 3 m .; L i n e 2- 3: S . 8 9 °19 ' W., 2 51. 07 m .; L i n e 3 - 4 N . 01° 41' E . 91. 2 8 m .; a n d L i n e 4 -1 S . 8 8 ° 01' E . 214 . 8 5 m .

Area

20,000 square meters

Appraised

Land

: P10 ,70 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0

Va l u e o f

Proposed/Existing I m p r o ve m e n t s

: P39,80 0,0 0 0.0 0

A p p l i e d f o r by

B E N G U E TC O R P N I C K E L M I N ES , I N C R e p r e s e n t e d by : M r. L e o p o l d o S . S i s o n I I I P r e s i d e n t & C EO

A p p r ove d A n n u a l R e n t a l - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P 719 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 The right to lease the land will be awarded to the person of fering the highest annual rental, which shall not be less than three percent p e r c e n t u m (3%) o f t h e v a l u e o f t h e l a n d p l u s o n e p e r c e n t u m (1%) o f t h e v a l u e o f t h e p r o p o s e d a n d /o r ex i s t i n g i m p r ove m e n t s . I n o r d e r t h a t a p e r s o n m ay b e e n t i t l e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e b i d d i n g h e m u s t b e a qualified public land applicant, and must, before the commencement o f t h e s a m e , m a ke a d e p o s i t e q u i v a l e n t t o a t l e a s t t h r e e (3) m o n t h s’ r e n t a l . O n l y d e p o s i t i n c a s h , m o n ey o r d e r, t r e a s u r y w a r r a n t , c e r t i f i e d check or manager 's check can be accepted. A person bidding in r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a n o t h e r m ay d o s o u n d e r a d u l y exe c u t e d p o w e r o f a t t o r n ey. D u r i n g t h e b i d d i n g , t h e b i d d e r h a s t o m a ke a n a d d i t i o n a l d e p o s i t eve r y t i m e h i s b i d i s r a i s e d , t o c o m p l e t e t h e t h r e e (3) m o n t h s ' rental, other wise, such bid as raised shall not be accepted. The right i s r e s e r ve d t o r e j e c t a ny o r a l l b i d s .

R AY M O N D A . R I V E R A CENR Of ficer ( T S - J A N . 18 / 2 5 / F E B . 1/ 8 /15 / 2 2 , 2 016)

B4 Inflation to remain stable in two years BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said inflation is expected to be within the target range this year and next after dropping below the government’s official forecast of 2 percent to 4 percent in 2015. Tetangco made the projection in a letter sent to President Benigno Aquino III, explaining why the 2015 average inflation of 1.4 percent was lower than the government’s target range of 2 to 4 percent. “The latest baseline forecasts of the BSP indicate that inflation is likely to rise gradually and is expected to be within target in 2016 and 2017,” he said. “Inflation gained some momentum near the end of 2015, as the impact of recent typhoons led to increases in the prices of key food items, notably vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish. Inflation is also seen to be higher in 2016-2017 given the low 2015 base,” he said. He said improved demand from recovering economies could spark a rally in international oil prices this year. He said potential upside risks to the outlook were linked mainly to the impact of El Niño conditions and recent weather disturbances on food prices and utility rates as well as pending petitions for power rate adjustments. Downside risks, meanwhile, could come from slower-than-expected global economic activity. “We would like to assure the President and the Filipino people that the BSP is closely monitoring these developments that could pose risks to the inflation outlook. This is to ensure that monetary policy remains consistent with the economy’s momentum for sustained non-inflationary growth,” he said. Bangko Sentral is required to explain to Malacañang whenever inflation misses the official target set by the government. Headline inflation in January, meanwhile, will likely increase to 1.6 percent or 0.1 percentage point higher than the December inflation, analysts said over the weekend. Julito G. Rada, Gabrielle H. Binaday

PCCI Parañaque. Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez (left) presides over the induction of officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Parañaque headed by president Lolita Duria in a simple ceremony at the city hall. Olivarez underscored the vital role of PCCI-Parañaque in the realization of the city’s vision, economic issues and concerns affecting city’s development. Witnessing the event are councilors Wahoo Sotto, Bingky Favis and Jackie Bustamante and Rep. Eric Olivarez.

Toyota to hike local car parts production By Othel V. Campos

THE Toyota Group will manufacture more local parts, especially big plastic components, to comply with the requirement of the new automotive program of the government. Toyota Motors Philippines vice president for purchasing Richard Valdez said the cost of parts might go down with the incentives given to qualified auto parts suppliers under the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program. “There is a chance that parts will be less expensive in Thailand. But with CARS, we can localize those parts. We’re trying to localize at least 50 percent of the car’s body weight and we will be getting that from local suppliers,” he said. Large automotive parts that local suppliers are expected to produce in support the auto-

motive program include door trim, bumper, instrument panel, console box and body shell. Valdez said suppliers make door trim and bumpers but the designs should be altered to fit the requirement of CARS. Toyota itself will have to produce the big parts for those that cannot manufacture them. For suppliers that are currently servicing the needs of the Toyota, they may have to upgrade and create new parts. New suppliers must to undergo the rigors of multiple product testing that make take as much as six years before they can do business with Toyota. Valdez said Toyota auto part exports might not expand in 2016 due to declining sales in Indonesia and Thailand. Auto parts exports from both direct and indirect export suppliers totaled a little over $1 billion in 2015. Company data showed that auto parts exports of direct suppliers reached $820 million while those of indirect suppliers amounted to $182 million in 2015. Out of 92 direct suppliers of Toyota Suppliers Club, 14 are exporting to members of the Southeast Asian Nation, Japan, South America and the US.

The suppliers club in 2015 employ 34,500 workers with combined investments of P1 billion from 13 export suppliers. Toyota also accommodates exports from around 11 suppliers comprising of two small and medium enterprise and nine big enterprises. Approximately 60 percent of Toyota’s local supplier base are SMEs. Philippine HKR Inc., one of the accredited suppliers of Toyota Motor Philippines, earlier said it was spending P500 million to expand into the production of precision machine parts. The company recently applied for incentives with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. Peza approved the project, which will raise Philippine HKR’s export revenues by $15 million annually. The company committed to hire 44 employees to support the expansion project. Documents showed that Toyota Group was expanding their production capacity and their lines of production in phases. Eleven Philippine-based companies are under the Toyota Group export auto parts to Japan and other destinations.

Pointwest Technologies postpones P2-b initial public offering By Jenniffer B. Austria POINTWEST Technologies Corp., a business outsourcing company, has deferred its planned P2.08-billion initial public offering. Pointwest president Maria Cristina Coronel said in a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission the company decided to postpone the IPO pending the review of its first-half 2016 financial performance. Several companies that previously planned to go public this

year, including Datem Inc. and DM Wenceslao & Associates Inc., also delayed their listing plans because of current volatile market conditions. Datem, which planned to raise as much as P4.66 billion from the IPO, would likely push through with the initial offering in the second half of the year, while DM Wenceslao has noted firmed up its P12.3-billion maiden share offering. SB Capital & Investment Corp. president Emilio Federico Galang III in a text message

confirmed Pointwest’s decision to postpone the IPO. SB Capital is one of the the underwriters of the Pointwest IPO. Pointwest Technologies, according to the registration statement it earlier filed with the SEC, planned to sell up to 417 million common shares with an over allotment of 62.55 million common shares at the offer price of up to P4.35 per share. The company plans to use proceeds from the offering to finance the expansion of delivery centers within the Philippines

and US sales operations, development of digital products and the acquisition of applications and proprietary technologies Point West is a leading 100-percent Filipino-owned service company with a proven track record in the information technology and business process management industry. The company provides nonvoice, higher-value services to Fortune 500 companies and a growing number of firms in the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia. Established by pioneers of the

IT-outsourcing industry in the Philippines, the company has continued to be profitable every year since it started operations in 2003. From 2012 to 2014, the company maintained a compounded annual growth rate of 19.41 percent in net revenues. The PSE earlier predicted that eight to 10 companies would conduct IPOs this year. But because of adverse market conditions, PSE president Hans Sicat expects the IPO-bound companies to schedule their listing plans in the second half of the year.

M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

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

Repair of LRT-1 starts April By Darwin G Amojelar

THE private operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 will start replacing the rail track of the Southeast Asia’s old rail system in April this year. Light Rail Manila Consortium of Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said the re-railing of the 29 kilometers of LRT Line 1 would cover the northbound route from Baclaran to 5th Avenue. The project will complete the overall renewal of LRT-1’s tracks system. The Light Rail Transit Authority is about to complete the first phase of the project after

carrying out the replacement of the 23-kilometer southbound tracks in December on top of the eight kilometers already replaced in previous years. LRMC engineering director Rudy Chansuyco said the new rails were expected to be delivered in April this year. “Our target is to be done by the end of 2017 with new, modern tracks that will allow for

smoother rides for our passengers,” Chansuyco said. He said the re-railing would cover the systematic replacements of rails and other components to keep the LRT-1 line functioning at optimum quality and enable train speed to be increased from 40 kph to 60 kph.” Apart from smoother rides, the re-railing is expected to minimize wear and tear for the rolling stock and increase the reliability of the whole train system. Both will result in the increased life span of LRT-1. The project will also benefit communities in close proximity to the stations, as the new set of tracks will significantly reduce

the vibration and noise levels currently experienced. Chansuyco said the re-railing was just one of the programmed improvement projects that LRT1 would undergo. He added LRMC was also working on the rehabilitation of elevators and escalators, improvement of the stations, and restoration of old trains. New light rail vehicles are coming soon to augment the existing fleet. LRMC earlier said it would spend P10 billion to rehabilitate and upgrade the rolling stocks, railway stocks, train stations and signaling system of the LRT Line 1. LRMC is also set to construct

the 11.7-kilometer extension from the present end-point at Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite. Eight new stations will be built along the route, with the goal of easing traffic conditions in the Parañaque-Las PiñasCavite corridor. LRMC won the P65-billion LRT Line 1 extension project, with a premium bid of P9.35 billion in September 2014. Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp. controls 55 percent of the consortium, while AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. has 35 percent. Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure’s Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd. owns 10.

PNOC oil unit’s net net profit falls 41% By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-OWNED PNOC Exploration Corp. reported an unaudited net profit of P1.426 billion in 2015, down 41 percent from P2.43 billion in 2014. PNOC Exploration’s revenues also declined to P4.717 billion last year from P6.6 billion in 2014 following a decline in world oil prices. The company posted lower expenses of P587.749 million from over P1.1 billion in 2014. The oil and gas exploration of Philippine National Oil Co. receives the bulk of revenues from the Malampaya gas field in northwest Palawan, where it holds a 10-percent stake. Gas prices from the Malampaya field is indexed on the movement of world oil pries. Most oil and gas companies have been reeling from the impact of lower oil prices that started in late 2014. From a high of $100 per barrel at that time, world oil prices plunged to about $30 to $35 per barrel to date. PNOC Exploration president Pedro Aquino Jr. earlier said the company was looking at ways to mitigate the impact of low oil prices on operations. “We are currently experiencing some hiccups in our operations brought about by the sharp decline in the price of crude. But this does not deter us from pursuing our mandate to explore and develop new oil and gas sources,” Aquino said earlier. “Management is trying its best to alleviate the effects of crude oil price in our declining revenue by looking at other sources that could bring substantial income to the company,” he said.

Asean tourism forum. The tourism ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nation hold hands in a show of solidarity at the launch of the Cruise Southeast Asia Brand at the Hotel Sofitel culminating the highly-successful Asean Tourism Forum 2016. Shown (from left) are Primary Resources and Tourism Deputy Permanent Secretary Wardi Haji Ali of Brunei Darussalam, Tourism Ministers Dr. Thong Khon of Cambodia and Dr. Arief Yahya of Indonesia, Information, Culture and Tourism Vice Minister Chaleune Warinthrasak of Lao PDR, Assistant Chief Executive for International Group Yue Kheong Leong of Singapore Tourism Board, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. of the Philippines, Tourism and Culture Deputy Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin of Malaysia, Ambassador U Ye Myint Aung of Myanmar, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul of Thailand, Culture, Sports and Tourism Deputy Minister Dang Thi Bich Lien of Vietnam, and Secretary-General Le Luong Minh of Asean.

Bangko Sentral circulates new P100 bank notes By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas will start issuing the new 100-piso banknotes with stronger mauve or violet color today to make it more distinct from the 1000-piso bill. “This is in response to suggestions from the public to make it easier to distinguish from the 1000-piso banknote,” the bank regulator said in a statement over the weekend. Compared with the color of the existing 100-piso banknote in circulation, the new 100-piso bill will have stronger mauve or violet color on the obverse and reverse sides. However, all the other features of the banknote will remain the same. “The current 100-piso banknotes can still be used for daily transactions for payment of goods and services and will commingle with the new 100-piso banknotes with stronger mauve or violet color until supplies of the first version last. Henceforth, the BSP will be

The current P100 banknote (top) and the new bill (bottom) with stronger mauve or violet color.

printing the 100-piso with stronger mauve or violet color,” it said. Only the old banknote series (New Design Series, NDS), launched in 1985, will no longer be acceptable in daily transactions for

payment of goods and services and can only be exchanged for New Generation Currency banknotes with authorized agent banks and the Bangko Sentral until Dec. 31 this year. Bangko Sentral officials said people kept on complaining about the almost similar colors of the 100 and 1000-piso bills. But they said the bills’ other features could easily distinguish which is 100 and 1000. Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. earlier said Americans are seldom confused of their bills because they examine them carefully and thoroughly during payments. Senator Aquilino Pimentel had asked Bangko Sentral to explain why the P1000 and P100 banknotes were almost identical to each other. Several complaints from the public were reported earlier due to the similarity between the two banknotes, both known as the New Generation Currency.

MONDAY: FEBRUARY 1, 2016

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Insurance premium to hit P300b By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE insurance industry’s total premium is expected to reach P300 billion this year, following the robust growth in 2015, a top official of the Insurance Commission said over the weekend. Insurance commissioner Emmanuel Dooc said he would like to see the industry grow to P300 billion in 2016, after generating P233 billion in total premium in 2015. “I will be very happy, if we hit 300 billion [in 2016]. We need to increase over this year’s production by around P66 billion,” Dooc said. Dooc said while the Filipinos reached a certain level of financial literacy, the amount contributed by the mutual benefit associations in the total premium was significant last year. “You know if they [Filipinos] can now decide to buy variable products, they have achieved a certain level of financial literacy. Before, they were afraid to go into that, as you know, the variable Manila

Standard

TODAY

life, the underlying assets are equities, fixed bonds. So I don’t think they will be comfortable to go in there, unless they have knowledge,” he said. “But this is small segment. On the other hand, look at the extreme, the poor are now buying micro-insurance and here, MBAs contributed P7.2 billion. That’s very significant and if you consider that the average size of policy there, yet they are able to make that amount,” Dooc said. Latest data showed the insurance industry hit a total premium income of P233 billion in 2015, making it a banner year for the industry. Dooc said preliminary data showed total premium of the life and non-life insurance industry rose 18.2 percent to P233 billion in 2015 from P197.2 billion in 2014. This also topped the previous record of P198 billion in total premium recorded in 2013. Dooc said the life sector’s premium income in 2015 climbed 18.8 percent to P188.5 billion from P158.7 billion in 2014. The non-life sector also grew 16.2 percent to P37.3 billion from 32.1 billion in 2014. “This is the highest in the history of non-life insurance. This is their banner year,” Dooc said during the induction ceremony of the Philippine Life Insurance Association.

METRO SOUTH COOPERATIVE BANK

040608 (Bank Code)

IDC Centre, Zapote Street cor. Kalayaan Avenue, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Makati City

BALANCE SHEET

As of DECEMBER 31, 2015 ASSETS

Account Code

Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivables - Net Loans to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures-Net Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Non-Current Assets Held for Sale Other Assets-Net Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if any (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Due to Other Banks Bills Payable a) BSP (Rediscounting and Other Advances) b) Interbank Loans Payable c) Other Deposit Substitute d) Others Bonds Payable-Net Unsecured Subordinated Debt-Net Redeemable Preferred Shares Special Time Deposit Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities Net Due to Head Office/Branches/Agencies (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL LIABILITIES Stockholders’ Equity Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings Assigned Capital TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Guarantees Issued Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Securities Held Under Custodianship by Bank Proper Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts c) Advisory/Consultancy Derivatives Others TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) c. Net NPLs d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ Deferred Charges not yet Written Down Unbooked Allowance for Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Received

108000000000000000 105150000000000000 105200000000000000 112000000000000000 195200000000000000 195250000000000000 195300000000000000 195350000000000000 195400000000000000 140050000000000000 195401000000000000 140150500000000000 195402000000000000 175150000000000000 148000000000000000 195452500000000000 195500500000000000 195501000000000000 150150000000000000 152000000000000000

Amount Current Quarter Previous Quarter 6,479,511.86 496,495.01 47,276,761.93 47,276,761.93 481,030,140.11 423,613,623.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 20,000,000.00 20,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 1,817,687,702.64 1,653,422,850.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,871,460,985.23 1,693,032,812.76 0.00 0.00 53,773,282.59 39,609,962.74 27,653,237.75 29,132,480.73 0.00 0.00 43,433,524.34 43,623,636.23 21,081,884.11 15,219,645.31 0.00 0.00 11,603,534.64 9,934,191.18

155250000000000000

0.00

100000000000000000

2,477,246,297.38

2,243,719,683.49

208000000000000000 215000000000000000 220050000000000000 220100000000000000 220100001500000000 220100002000000000 220100002500000000 220100003000000000 295201500000000000 295202000000000000 220250000000000000 220300000000000000 230350000000000000 240050000000000000 240100000000000000 230850000000000000 200000000000000000

0.00 1,471,658,746.06 0.00 468,116,666.67 0.00 0.00 0.00 468,116,666.67 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5,757,309.61 56,593,583.86 0.00 2,002,126,306.20

0.00 1,512,003,678.72 0.00 181,650,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 181,650,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,806,897.72 40,387,852.45 0.00 1,738,848,428.89

335050000000000000 335100000000000000 315000000000000000 325200000000000000 300000000000000000 905000000000000000

403,095,524.15 -1,296,891.00 73,321,358.03 0.00 475,119,991.18 2,477,246,297.38

368,939,672.70 32,138,873.98 103,792,707.92 0.00 504,871,254.60 2,243,719,683.49

405000000000000000 410050000000000000 410100000000000000 415000000000000000 420000000000000000 425000000000000000 430000000000000000 495220000000000000 495250000000000000 495250500000000000 495251000000000000 495251500000000000 435000000000000000 440000000000000000 400000000000000000

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,268,307.91 4,268,307.91

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,267,612.91 4,267,612.91

499020000000000000 499300000000000000

1,877,994,305.63 6,533,320.40

1,699,566,133.16 6,533,320.40

499100500000000000 499150500000000000 499101000000000000 499151000000000000 499200000000000000 499400000000000000

128,721,907.35 6.85 122,188,586.95 6.51 45.00 174,547,184.64

130,411,690.99 7.67 123,878,370.59 7.29 45.00 208,628,871.81

499480000000000000

9.29

12.28

499500000000000000 499550000000000000

0.00 0.00

499050500000000000 499051000000000000 499350000000000000

16.90 15.59 7.00

19.03 8.84 9.00

499650500500000000 499650501000000000 499650501500000000 499700000000000000 499750000000000000

16.39 393.02 0.00 0.00 0.00

17.81 380.47 0.00 0.00 0.00

1/ Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

Republic of the Philippines ) Makati City

) s.s.

I/We, RODA L. CRUZ and RENELIA V. ESTIOKO of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. RODA L. CRUZ Finance Head

RENELIA V. ESTIOKO President

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 19th day of January, 2016 at Makati City, affiant exhibiting his/her/their Passport No.EB5924413 , issued at Manila City on July 13, 2012 and Passport No. EB6029990, issued at Manila City on July 25, 2012. Doc. No. 218 Page No. 45 Book No. LXXV Series of 2016

Enron: The smartest guys in the room

“WHAT makes people yearn for more and what makes it difficult for them to stop? How can we better manage ourselves in order to ben- RETCHELL LEONGSON-MORALES efit others? Why should we think REEN IGHT about our actions and how this affects others?” The root of all evil These are just some of the questions that came to me while watching “Enron: The smartest guys in the room.” And so many more concerns about how these people can think only of benefiting themselves, becoming more rich and powerful without considering others. I am amazed at how their story never ended with just earning millions of dollars but billions! The Bible speaks for itself and is very much true in this story. “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” The story centered on intelligence, arrogance, greed, manipulation and power. A perfect example on how money and power became the god that controlled the people involved. How they wanted to have more without even taking into consideration the effects of their actions and decisions to their stakeholders. They took actions that would merely benefit them, not the company, nor the clients. Their MAGENTA YELL intelligence was used to fool those who believed that they wouldCYAN earn from what was presented favorable to them. The executives manipulated the data and showed what was attractive to investors/ clients. It was all selfishness geared towards their richness and becoming more rich and powerful. Too much arrogance made them feel and think they would not be caught with what they were doing; it even seemed like they were not guilty of what had transpired. Groupthink Lay, Skilling, Fastow and all other executives got involved into a so-called groupthink, “a phenomenon developed in groups and marked by the consensus of opinion without critical reasoning or evaluation of consequences or alternatives. Groupthink evolves around a common desire to not upset the balance of a group of people by creating conflict, with creativity and individuality considered potentially harmful traits that should be avoided.” Groupthink fails to see potential problems because it focuses on satisfying the group and the present situation. It does not give the opportunity for actions to be scrutinized and thought of thoroughly mainly because individual critical thinking is not encouraged. There is the lack of taking and owning responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. Sadly, most traditional business schools solely focus on profit and fail to look into the responsibility of all stakeholders. It is more on profit maximization, and quicker ROI type of thinking—all goals and purpose directed towards making money. Starts from within It is very seldom that ethical development and considerations are taught and molded to the individual. This is where we too should remind executives or soon to be executives that they should look into the good of both internal and external stakeholders. Being ethical starts within us and we do have the capability and power to influence others to do so. It is good to be reminded that we have to do business the right, ethical and the lawful way. At the onset that you are planning to hide and manipulate data, keep in mind that there is something wrong with what you intend to do. As an individual, we should be able to carefully assess our decisions and actions. Is it right? Is it beneficial to others? How will others be affected with my actions and decisions? Will I hurt someone in doing so? As a follower, we should consider what we are following and not just listen to what is being presented to us. We must take the time to study, research and analyze the facts that are presented to us. Is it the truth? Is it lawful? Is this the right thing to follow, to do? As leaders, we should keep in mind that others are looking up to us. We are role models and that we are being followed. Our actions and decisions do not only affect others, but we also influence others. Lessons from the video I have thought of the following ethical considerations based on the video/story presented: · Data manipulation. They played with figures and the truth. They did not show what the real values were and what was really happening with the company. Data and values were sugarcoated to depict favorable performance. They even had complex financial statements that were confusing to shareholders and analysts. · Insider trading. Information and data should be given to all shareholders and clients/investors. If you have access to non-public information or there is something that you are keeping to yourselves and will benefit only those who know it, then this is illegal and unethical. · Justice, fairness and truth. The fact that they are manipulating data depicts that there is something wrong and unethical with what they are doing. But this did not stop them from doing so. They continued to hide company debts; they continued to show that they were performing well. They did not give their clients/investors what they should know. They misled these people for their own welfare. Moving forward, let us learn from what happened in the story. 1.) Let us be vigilant people and understand that if there is something “too good to be true” that is happening, this is not the case. The favorable performance may be manipulated or sugarcoated. 2.) It is better to have products and services that you actually see and feel rather than good figures without any basis at all. 3.) If we see that we want to hide something or manipulate processes and data, then we should not continue doing it. We must remain transparent and true to our clients/ consumers. 4.) Profit is not everything, be lawful and ethical first, then profit will follow. If you focus on profit, karma will take its toll on you, like what happened to the executives of Enron. God gives justice to everyone at His own right time. 5.) We should be ethical individuals, followers and leaders who weigh our actions and decisions, who consider the effects of our deeds and who always consider the welfare of others.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal she kept in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit her blog at http://pinkgolfer909.weebly.com/. The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Forest where Zika was found

Tourist influx fuels luxury developments in Bosnia

ZIKA, Uganda—Down winding paths through dense jungles, Gerald Mukisa kicks up the dry leaves noisily with his feet to provide warning sounds, noting that the late afternoon heat is “snake time”. The forest is calm. Only the sound of insects, birdsong and the rustle of monkeys in the jungle canopy above disturb the air. It was here in the thick woodland of Zika forest, some 25 kilometers from Uganda’s capital Kampala, that the mosquito-borne Zika virus was first discovered in 1947. The virus, linked to a surge in birth defects, is “spreading explosively”, World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan said this week. An emergency meeting on the outbreak is due on February 1. Mukisa, who has worked to guard the forest for the past seven years, only found out about the virus that takes its name two weeks ago. “A few people who live nearby the forest and have heard about it are getting worried,” he said. “Many others don’t know about it.” Days ago, the tropical Zika forest was a littleknown reserve visited only by bird watchers and scientists. “Students come every week, coming from all over the world,” said Mukisa, 50, proudly showing off a guest book with signatures and comments from the US, Canada, France and Germany, among other countries. “There are so many types of trees, and all sorts of birds.” Most local cases of the virus were mild, resulting in rash, fever, and red eyes in a small fraction of cases. Global health authorities barely took notice until an outbreak on the Micronesian island of Yap in 2007. An outbreak that began last year in Brazil has been blamed for a surge in birth defects with thousands of babies born with small heads, an incurable and sometimes fatal condition known as microcephaly. Uganda’s health ministry is keen to point out it has no known cases of the virus, and that the current Americas’ outbreak did not originate in East Africa. AFP

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina—With 360 villas and apartments around an artificial lake, swimming pools, a halal supermarket and a Muslim prayer area, the ‘Sarajevo resort’ is one of Bosnia’s most ambitious residential projects to date. It is one of dozens of real estate ventures in the picturesque hills surrounding the capital of the Balkan country that are specifically targeting visitors from THE Gulf states. The lush greenery of the country has in recent years become a magnet for wealthy Arabs looking to escape the Middle Eastern summer heat. The result has been a massive boost to tourism in what is one of Europe’s poorest countries. “People from the Gulf are attracted by the natural beauty, the presence of Islam and the

warmth of Bosnians,” said Tarek Al Khaja, Emirati co-owner of tourist and real estate agency Al Suwaidi and Al Khaja. “They feel welcome here.” Al Khaja, who opened his business three years ago in a Sarajevo suburb, said the housing and real estate market was in “constant growth”. Prices, he said, had increased “up to 100 percent in three years” in the Sarajevo region of Bosnia, a nation still rebuilding after its devastating 1990s interethnic war. In 2010 Bosnia began

phasing out visas for THE nationals of most Gulf countries and the number of tourists from the region has since steadily increased to 24,500 out of 360,000 visitors to the Sarajevo area last year, according to official figures. “They are not the most numerous, but these Gulf tourists spend much more than others, about 150 euros per day per person in addition to hotel costs,” said Asja Hadziefendic Mesic, spokeswoman for the Sarajevo tourist board. At the October opening of the Sarajevo resort, a 25-million-euro ($27-million) Kuwaiti investment, local schoolchildren waved the flags of both Bosnia and Kuwait as Bosnian Muslim political leader Bakir Izetbegovic hailed the country’s rivers and greenery. “Bosnia is a European

country... it has water, forestry, mining, and energy and tourism potential. Our brothers [from the Gulf] spotted this,” he said. About 20 kilometers away in Blazuj village, another residential area is being built by the Kuwaiti company Al-Diyar, which sold almost all of its luxury apartments in advance to Gulf nationals. “So far we have invested 14 million euros. The customers are different, there is no profile,” said director Abdullah Al-Kulaib.

INVITATION TO BID The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder requirement: Name of Requirement/ Brief Description Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Completion period

NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION Scout Reyes Street, corner Panay Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. (02) 374-3987 Fax. No. (02) 374-2505

Invitation to Bid for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Commissioning of Laboratory Equipment for the Project: Capability Enhancement for (PB 2016-02) 1.

The NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION (NTA), through the Corporate Operating Budget for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of PhP19,745,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), broken down by lots, Lot 1 – PhP9,700,000.00; Lot 2 – PhP7,500,000.00; Lot 3 – PhP1,345,000.00;and, Lot 4 – PhP1,200,000.00. Bids received in excess of the ABC for each lot shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The NTA now invites bids for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Commissioning of Laboratory Equipment. Delivery of the Goods is required for a period of 120 days. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

One (1) Lot Replacement of Electrical Panels at AHU Rooms and Power Center including Motor Control Center at BSP La Union Regional Office, as per BSP Terms of Reference and Approved Drawings

(i)

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

(ii)

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

Php36,800,000.00, VAT inclusive Within three hundred (300) calendar days reckoned from date stipulated in the Notice to Proceed to be issued by Facilities Management and Engineering Department (FMED)

Bidders should have completed from Y2011 to present a contract similar to the requirement. The Eligibility Check/Screening and Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria.

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.

All particulars and activities relative to Eligibility of Bidder’s, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-bid Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by Republic Act No. 9184 and its revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Work is set to begin in April on the complex at the foot of Bjelasnica, one of four mountains surrounding Sarajevo. The design includes thousands of homes, several hotels, a shopping mall and a hospital. One of the key drivers in attracting Arab investment has been the Bosna Bank International (BBI), founded in Sarajevo in 2000 by Gulf banks on Islamic banking principles, which organizes an annual conference to draw such finance to the Balkans. AFP

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE – HEAD OFFICE 1.

“We had those who knew nothing about Bosnia, who never set a foot here, even some who do not like nature, but they are buying,” he said, adding that the company was preparing another six similar projects. The grandest of the proposed ventures comes from Emirati company Buroj Property Development, which in October announced a 930-millioneuro investment to build an entire “tourist city” on a plot of 137 hectares.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the NTA and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during working days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on February 01, 2016 to February 22, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amounts respectively, as follows: Lot 1 – PhP10,00000; Lot 2 – PhP10,000.00 Lot 3 – PhP5,000.00; and, Lot 4 – PhP5,000.00

Activities

Schedule/Location

a. Issuance of Bid Documents

Starting 01 February 2016 (from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. only) Procurement Office, Room 212, 2/F, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila Tel. / Fax Nos. 306-2832; 708-7115 Starting 01 February 2016 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Main Complex, A. Mabini and P. Ocampo Sr. Streets, Malate, Manila Contact Person: Engr. Joel V. Buena, FMED Tel. No.: (02) 306-2396

b. Site Inspection

The NTA will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 10, 2016, 10:00a.m. at the 3rd Floor NTA Building, Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

c. Pre-bid conference

10 February 2016, 11:30 A.M. MR2A Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila

d. Opening of Bids

22 February 2016, 2:00 P.M. MR2A Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before February 23, 2016, 10:00 a.m.,at the 3rd Floor NTA Building, Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Bidding Documents.

The bidding documents are posted at the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the BSP Website (www.bsp.gov.ph). Prospective bidders may download the bidding documents from any of these websites; provided that bidders shall pay a non-refundable fee of Php25,000.00, at the address above prior to, or upon submission of their bids.

The pre-bid conference shall be open to interested parties. However, 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. To ensure completeness and compliance of bids, bidders are advised to send not more than two (2) technical and/or administrative representatives who will prepare the bidding documents.

The BSP assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses incurred in the preparation of bid.

The BSP reserves the right to reject any bid, declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract, annul the bidding process and reject all bids at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidders. (SGD) SILVINA Q. MAMARIL-ROXAS Chairperson

( T S - F E B . 1, 2 016)

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the NTA, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

Bid opening shall be on February 23, 2016, 10:00 a.m. at the 3rd Floor NTA Building, Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives, who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. 7.

The NTA 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: CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, DBA National Tobacco Administration Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. 372 3188; cclnta@yahoo.com Fax No. 373 2095 Website Address:nta.da.gov.ph (SGD) CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, DBA Chairman, NTA-BAC

(TS-FEB. 1, 2016)

M O N D AY : F E R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

cEsAR bARRiOqUiNtO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Present. The female cast of ‘Transparent’ attend the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Syria peace talks off to bad start ‘The Birth of a Nation’ tops Sundance festival LOS ANGELES—”The Birth of a Nation,” a drama about a 19th-century slave revolt in Virginia, swept the top prizes at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday. The movie, acquired earlier this week by Fox Searchlight for a record-shattering $17.5 million, won the grand jury prize and the audience award at the prestigious festival held in Park City, Utah. The dual awards mark a major victory for filmmaker Nate Parker, who wrote and directed the movie about Nat Turner, who led a slave rebellion in 1831. It also comes at a time when Hollywood is under fire for its lack of diversity in the list of actors and filmmakers nominated for Oscars this year. “Thank you, Sundance, for creating a platform for us to grow, in spite of what the rest of Hollywood is doing,” Parker, who is black, said

as he accepted the grand jury prize for his film already being touted for a 2017 Oscar. The US documentary grand jury prize was awarded to “Weiner,” a behind-the-scenes portrait of disgraced US politician Anthony Weiner as he attempts a comeback by running for mayor of New York. The audience award in that category went to “Jim: The James Foley Story,” a documentary about the US journalist slain by the Islamic State group in 2014. In the world cinema category, the grand jury prize for a drama went to “Sand Storm,” an Israeli film that follows the struggle of women in a Bedouin village, while the audience award went to “Between Sea and Land,” a Colombian movie about a man afflicted with an illness that confines him to his bed, and his mother who cares for him. AFP

GENEVA—The future of the biggest push to date to end Syria’s brutal civil war looked highly uncertain Sunday with the main opposition group threatening to walk away before the planned peace talks even begin in earnest. Representatives from the umbrella body for mainstream opposition groups, who arrived in Geneva late Saturday, are refusing for now to enter the hoped-for talks with President Bashar alAssad’s government. The High Negotiations Committee, set to meet with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura on Sunday, are demanding that humanitarian aid first gets through to besieged towns, that bombing of civilians ceases and that hundreds of prisoners are released. “If the regime insists on continuing to commit these crimes, then the HNC delegation’s presence in Geneva will not be justified,” coordinator Riad Hijab warned in a statement in Arabic posted online

Saturday. “The delegation will inform de Mistura of its intentions to withdraw its negotiating team if the UN and world powers are unable to stop these violations,” he said. Highlighting the dire humanitarian situation, Doctors Without Borders or MSF Saturday said 16 more people had starved to death in Madaya, one of more than a dozen towns under blockade by regime or rebel forces. More than 4.5 million people with “immense humanitarian needs” are living in areas extremely hard to access because of fighting, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. On Friday, the scheduled start of a planned six months of talks,

protesters in Geneva highlighted the plight of ordinary Syrians with “siege soup” of grass and leaves. The war that has killed more than 260,000 people since 2011 is a complex conflict sucking in—on different sides—Turkey, Iran and Gulf states and also Western countries and, since September, Russia. A fresh spat between Russia and Turkey, two of the many outside powers embroiled in the conflict, erupted Saturday after Ankara accused Moscow of violating its airspace two months after it shot down a Russian jet. The chaos in Syria has allowed the extremist Islamic State group to overrun swathes of Syria and also Iraq, giving it a launchpad to launch attacks the world over, most notably in Paris on November 13 with 130 dead. Half of Syria’s population have fled their homes, forcing million to seek refuge in neighbouring countries and also in Europe, where the influx is proving to be a major political and social headache. AFP

Novice MPs take office in Myanmar NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar—In a modest dormitory in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, novice MP Tin Thit recites a poem he has penned called “No Retreat”, steeling himself to enter Myanmar’s parliament carrying the dreams of a nation left traumatized by army rule. A poet, editor, activist—and now newly elected MP—he is among the hundreds of political newcomers poised to take their seats Monday in the country’s most democratic legislature in generations, following the huge November landslide win by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy.

“This is our era,” the newly minted NLD lawmaker told AFP on Saturday as he prepared for a lastditch round of parliamentary training organized by his party, brushing off concerns about his and his colleagues’ lack of experience. “This is our responsibility. We will just do the job we have to do,” he said. The new parliament marks a momentous political shift for a country that was held in the chokehold of oppressive junta rule for decades. Many of the NLD MPs have served prison time in Myanmar’s long struggle for democratic

change. They are a diverse bunch, counting singers, lawyers and businessmen among their ranks. But few have any experience of the cut and thrust of Myanmar’s complex parliamentary process. They will need to show the country’s 51 million people that they can deliver the “change” that was virtually the sole message of Suu Kyi’s triumphant election bid. And that will not be easy. While the junta handed power to a quasi-civilian reformist government in 2011, the Southeast nation remains blighted by poverty and corruption. AFP

Another casualty. Turkish gendarmes put the body of a child into a body bag on a beach in Canakkale’s Bademli district on January 30, 2016, after at least 33 migrants drowned when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece, Turkey’s staterun Anatolia news agency reported. AFP

M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

E AT, DRINK , T R AV EL

LIFE C

hinese New Year is one – if not the most – important celebration for Chinese people. For them, a good start will lead to a good year, hence the festivities and activities observed are geared to usher in a lucky and prosperous new year. Here in the Philippines, many Filipinos have adopted this tradition, primarily because we have a huge Chinese population and, as a people who love to take a shot at something that would probably bring us luck, we take our chances and do what the Chinese do in hopes of being as lucky as many of them are. If you’re looking for a place to welcome the Year of the Fire Monkey on an auspicious note, here are some of the places where you can go to celebrate with your family.

CITY OF DREAMS MANILA: DOUBLE CELEBRATION

February is a special month for integrated casino resort City of Dreams Manila as it is celebrating its first anniversary and Chinese New Year with a month-long promotion of premium Chinese and global food specialties. Symbolic New Year fares are currently on offer at Crystal Dragon until Feb. 22. For P3,690++ per person, for a minimum of four to six diners, or P5,690++ for a minimum of six to 10 persons, you and your companions may indulge in Prosperity Salmon Fish Yu Shang with Fruit Salad that symbolizes success, Steamed Cod with Baby Cabbage in Supreme Soy for abundance, and Wok-Fried Glutinous Rice and Wild Rice with Barbecue Pork Meat Wrapped in Lotus Leaf that symbolizes unity. Meanwhile, Nobu Manila curates hot and cold ala carte dinner selections from Feb. 1 to 29 that include 600 grams of Whole Live Bamboo Lobster Sashimi Nobu Three-Way, Oh-Toro Karashi-Su-Miso, and Whole Live Red Lapu-Lapu Two to Four Ways, among others. Regional Chinese ala carte specialties, such as Braised Pork Trotters in Brown Sauce and Stir-fried Longevity Noodles, will be served up at Noodl8. Chinese sweet treats that are ideal for gifts or for sharing can be purchased at Café Society. Diners in participating outlets will feel luckier as they will receive gift certificates in hong baos for their single receipt purchase worth P4,000. For restaurant reservations, call (02) 800-8080 or email guestservices@cod-manila.com. Continued on C2

REVELRIES TO WELCOME THE YEAR OF THE FIRE MONKEY

M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

REVELRIES TO WELCOME THE YEAR OF THE FIRE MONKEY From C1

@LIFEatStandard

DIAMOND HOTEL: SUMPTUOUS TREATS AND LUCKY CHARMS

CROWNE PLAZA MANILA GALLERIA: EMBRACING THE GOOD LUCK

In the heart of Ortigas CBD, another hotel welcomes the good fortune that the Year of the Fire Monkey brings. On February 8, a traditional Lion and Dragon Dance will be going around the hotel to spread good luck and fortune all year round.

Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria’s newest culinary expert Chef Peter Yeung prepared traditional yet healthy favorite Chinese dishes at Xin Tian Di for their Chinese New Year Set Menus. The restaurant’s signature Koi Fish Tikoy (Nian Gao) is also available for preselling until February 8 for only P1,088++. If you purchase the Koi Fish Tikoy you instantly get a “Tikoy Loyalty Card” that gives its user a 50 percent discount on a lunch buffet for two to four persons at Seven Corners, or a 50 percent discount on a dim sum lunch buffet for two to four persons at Xin Tian Di.

Prosperity, luck and power come together in one place and it’s inviting you to come over. Diamond Hotel welcomes the year of the fun-loving monkey with delicious treats at its in-house buffet restaurant Corniche. Enjoy traditional Chinese dishes such as Chinese Roasted Suckling Pig, Steamed Grouper,

For booking and reservations call 633-7222 or email fandb.reservations@ihg.com.

MAKATI SHANGRI-LA HOTEL: TRADITIONAL FESTIVITIES

DISCOVERY HOTELS: DISCOVER THE COUNTRY

Once you have greeted everyone kung hei fat choi, the next thing you must do is start ticking off your 2016 travel bucket list. On Feb. 5 to 7, Discovery Hotels will present its limited-time promotions at the 23rd PTAA Travel Tour Expo. You don’t need to brave the traffic just to relax as Discovery Suites offers special suite deal packages starting at P4,000++ inclusive of high-speed internet access, buffet breakfast for two at Restaurant 5 and cocktails at Serendipity Lounge. Or re-discover Makati when you stay at Discovery Primea, whose TTE rates start at P9,000++ inclusive of highspeed internet access, gourmet breakfast for two at Restaurant Tapenade and cocktails at the Gilarmi Lounge.

If you can’t resist the cold Tagaytay breeze, drive to Discovery Country Suites and enjoy a relaxing view of Taal Volcano from the outdoor Jacuzzi at the garden. Special rates start at P5,100++ inclusive of Verbena Country Breakfast for two, wine and cheese at sundown, and a bedtime treat of warm milk and cookies. Delight in the sun, sand and sea at Discovery Shores whose TTE packages start at P10,500++ inclusive of buffet breakfast for two at Sands restaurant and round trip Caticlan airport transfers. Or fly to Coron, Palawan and stay at Club Paradise for P7,613++, which is inclusive of buffet breakfast for two at Ocean restaurant. Visit www.discoveryhotels-resorts.com for more details.

MANILA HOTEL: GRAND DAME’S GRANDIOSE CEREMONY

Start the Lunar New Year with flair and fervor at The Manila Hotel as it dresses up for the occasion. Hanging Chinese lanterns and red flowers are sure to delight visitors on Feb. 7 while they witness a special Lion and Dragon dance and fireworks display at the Grand Lobby. After the revelry, they may share an

authentic Cantonese Lauriat dinner prepared by Chef Sun Bing with family and friends at the Mabuhay Palace. A special blessing for prosperity and good health will be given to all guests as feng shui expert Master Joseph Chau Kam Shing together with his son Master Vittorio Chau will share their fortune predictions for the Year of the Fire Monkey. Ticket prices are P2,888 for adults and P1,888 nett for children (aged 5 to 12 years old). In addition, each ticket entitles guests to a copy of Master Joseph Chau’s book, Feng Shui Essentials. For inquiries and reservations, contact (02) 527-0011 local 1175 to 1179 or visit www.Manila-Hotel.com.ph.

MARCO POLO ORTIGAS: LUCKY 10

Luck comes in 10 as Marco Polo’s Lung Hin restaurant celebrates the Chinese New Year with two auspicious 10-course set menus featuring food items that represent good fortune and good health. The Good Fortune set menu, priced at P2,500++ per person, is composed of Suckling Pig Combination Platter, Steamed Dried Scallop, Sea Moss and Winter Melon in Oyster Sauce, Deep Fried Taro Prawns (appetizers), Pumpkin Puree Soup with

Peking Duck, Chinese Prawn Salad, Assorted Dimsum, Mango Pudding, and Glutinous Rice Cake (tikoy), from Feb. 5 to 9 for P2,150 nett per person. Buffet diners on Feb. 8 will be treated to a Lion and Dragon Dance by the Philippine Ling Nam Athletic Federation and a 10-minute feng shui consultation with Angel Macalino (for every P5,000 nett spent at the lunch buffet). Feng shui charms, luck enhancers and guide books from Frigga Charmed Life by Marites Allen will be available at the hotel lobby today until Feb. 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Seafood (palate cleanser), Baked Lapu-Lapu, Stir-fried Sea Cucumber with homemade XO sauce, Crispy Pigeon Stuffed with Abalone, Morel, Dried Shrimp, and Glutinous Rice (main course), Deep Fried Lotus Buns, and Crystal Custard Dumplings (desserts). Guests who wish to satiate their palate with lavish seafood dishes may opt for the Good Health set menu that is available for P3,000++ per person. The menu comes with sumptuous and healthy servings of Lotus Root, Sea Moss, Matsutake, Sea Conch, Sliced Abalone and Lung Hin’s Signature Stone Pot Seafood Rice. Tempting desserts of Deep Fried Lotus Buns and Snow Lotus Soup will serve as a sweet and special end to the meal. To know more about Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Lunar New Year offerings, contact (02) 720-7777 or email manila@marcopolohotels.com.

Makati Shangri-La hotel marks new beginnings and new opportunities for prosperity and good luck with traditional Chinese treats and activities. Usher in the Year of the Fire Monkey by watching the Lion and Dragon dance and fireworks display on Feb. 7 at 11:00 p.m. and on Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m. A meal with the family is a must do for the Chinese during this occasion, and Shang Palace got this covered with its special set

For reservations, call (02) 528-3000 ext. 1121.

menus available on Feb. 7 and 8 for P2,288++ (Gold), P3,688++ (Platinum), P4,688++ (Jade) or P6,688++ (Diamond) per person. Each set features a variety of appetizers, soups, desserts and a main course. If dim sum is what you and your family prefer, head over to Isabela Ballroom from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. for the Festive Dim Sum Buffet for only P1,688++ per diner. To keep the bond of your family stronger and stickier, enjoy Makati Shangri-La’s nian gao (tikoy) that comes in shapes of prosperity fish and traditional gold bar in mango or peanut flavors, available until Feb. 8. Call restaurant reservations at (02) 814-2580 or e-mail rric.slm@shangri-la.com for inquiries.

MANILA PAVILION HOTEL: CHINESE SPECIALTIES AT SEASONS

If it’s Chinese food trip that you want, head over to Manila Pavilion Hotel as it welcomes the Year of the Fire Monkey with a special Oriental-themed cuisine at its interactive lifestyle restaurant, Seasons. Executive chef Giovanni Sias and his team whip up Chinese

specialties including Lion’s Head Meatballs, Jiaozi, nian gao (tikoy), long noodles, and symbolic fruits and vegetables that usher in prosperity, good luck, and fortune for the whole year. The special Chinese buffet is available at a discounted rate. On Feb. 8, bring your entire family to the hotel lobby before 6:00 p.m. to take part in the traditional Lion and Dragon dance performance, coin shower and gastronomic surprises at the Oriental food fest. For more details, log on to www.waterfronthotels.com.ph or call (02) 526-1212.

MARRIOTT HOTEL: LUCKY FISH AND LUCKY JEWELRY

The sweet and sticky Chinese New Year treat nian gao (tikoy) is believed to bring unity and good luck to both the giver and receiver, while the koi fish is a symbol of longevity, success and prosperity. These two lucky icons come together in Marriott Hotel Manila’s

double prosperity Ti-koi fish. You can spread good luck with this gift priced at P1,188. The auspicious gift set is available until Feb. 13. To add a fashionable twist to the traditions of the Lunar New Year, the hotel is partnering with award-winning jewelry artisan Ann Ong to showcase her latest and luckiest designs for this year. Her handcrafted bags and intricate jewelries, which are believed to bring good energy and prosperity to the bearer, are displayed and sold at Marriott’s lobby. For inquiries and advance orders, call (02) 988-9999.

PINOY PRIDE IN HONG KONG

If you prefer to celebrate the Chinese New Year abroad, head over to Hong Kong and show your support for Iloilo’s Tribu Panayanon that will showcase our diverse cultural heritage and powerful drumbeats

at Hong Kong’s highly anticipated Chinese New Year Parade on Feb. 8 in Tsim Sha Tsui. Organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade is a celebratory kick-off for the Year of the Fire Monkey. With the theme “Playground of the World, Party of the Year,” Tribu Panayanon – which was the grand slam champion in the 2015 Dinagyang Festival – will be performing together with 29 groups including 11 international performing dance troops from France, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain and the USA. The city streets will come to life with wonderful performances, vibrant costumes, magical illuminated floats and the Year of the Monkey mascot. Continued on C3

M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

A Little Lesson in Booze History (Part Two) UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

TIPPLE TALES BY ICY MARIÑAS

et’s pick up where we left off on this journey through time and dive into the Prohibition era. We tend to look at the past fondly, and it’s easy to think that Prohibition happened because of boring killjoys just wanting to end the party. But looking deeper into history shows us a more well-rounded account of what was happening and why people thought that Prohibition was a good idea.

UNTOLD STORY

The brewing business grew throughout the end of the nineteenth century. With the popularity of lager beer brought in by German immigrants and technological advancements in communication (telegraph) and transportation (railroad) and refrigeration, it’s not hard to believe that beer surpassed distilled spirits as the principal source of alcoholic beverage in America by 1890. It was practical to have lots of different bottles of spirits in a bar/saloon, but not really practical to carry different barrels of brews from competing breweries. Now these big breweries wanted to maximize profits and to do that, they built so many saloons to offer their wares (one saloon for every 150-200 people). The accessibility of drinking places, entertaining bartenders, freebies offered by saloon owners (who got compensated by “Big Brew”) to entice customers proved too much for people to refuse. This kind of over-the-top drinking culture wasn’t good for society. People really went overboard with their drinking and were being jailed for public intoxication; fathers were absent because they spent all their time in saloons. The reaction of “dry” activists seems reasonable, considering the circumstances. It’s a cause and effect situation that resulted in unintended consequences.

Like I mentioned last week, The Prohibition Act was borne out of good intentions. (We all know that’s what the road to hell is paved with, so can just imagine where I’m going with this.) However, it actually caused more harm than good. Some of the most popular movies (The Untouchables) and TV shows (Boardwalk Empire) are set in this iconic time period. I think apart from the solid acting and production design, what people take away from their viewing experience is the violence and a crash course on how organized crime and corruption flourished. The prohibition of alcohol did not stop people from wanting to drink, or making a buck. Bootleggers, who made and sold homemade booze (hooch, moonshine, bathtub gin), saw the opportunity to capitalize on the demand for intoxicating liquids. And because these were illegal substances, they were not regulated and the people who made them could not be held liable if what they produced was inferior or even deadly. People would get sick from tainted hooch and they would have no legal recourse. In some cases, these alcohol poisonings would result in death.

PROHIBITION LEGACY

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, blood and death. There were good things that have come out of this period as well. The influence of the Prohibition period is felt in this modern world through

Beer delivery in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 6, 1933, the day before it became legal to sell 3.2 beer

the resurgence of speakeasies that have peppered the world’s nightlife scene, among other things. Necessity really is the mother of invention. People couldn’t go to regular bars (because they were non-existent) so speakeasies were created to take care for the demand for a safe space to enjoy a tipple or two. This innovation – the secrecy and exclusivity – basically set up a model in bar concepts. And the badtasting, unregulated, homemade booze needed to be mixed with other ingredients to mask the unsavory taste, giving birth to more cocktails (like the Screwdriver).

Customers at a Philadelphia bar after Prohibition's end, Dec. 1933

THE END OF PROHIBITION

The Great Depression of 1932 made the legalization of liquor more appealing, because that would create more jobs. Coupled with a clamor to lift the alcohol ban, Congress adopted a resolution for a 21st Amendment that would repeal the 18th (which started this whole experiment), and the Prohibition Act was abolished on December 5, 1933. You can just imagine the parties after the booze ban was lifted. I’m pretty sure they were partying for days after that. One would think that the cocktail culture would just soar after the Prohibition Era, but World War II put a damper on that. It wasn’t until the Tiki Bars of the 1960s and 1970s that the cocktail scene had another shot at the limelight. That’s next week’s lesson. Come back to learn more about how the Tiki Bar revived the drinking culture and what went on after that. See you then, dear imbibers. Cheers! Follow me on Instagram @sanvicentegirl

From C2

The one-stop entertainment and leisure destination Resorts World Manila welcomes luck in this year of the Fire Monkey with its month-long Imperial Festival ongoing until Feb. 28. RWM’s The Plaza in Newport Mall will be transformed into Manila’s little Chinatown today, complete with Chinese New Year treats for the whole family. Shoppers will also get lucky as a Lunar New Year mall sale, featuring enticing discounts from participating tenants, is on offer from Feb. 5 to 8. Guests will also be treated to a Lion and Dragon Dance performance at the Newport Mall on Feb. 9. They may also have

Welcome the Year of the Fire Monkey with special blends from Johnnie Walker

REVELRIES TO WELCOME THE YEAR OF THE FIRE MONKEY RESORTS WORLD MANILA: CHINESE FOOD AND GOODS

Johnnie Walker Red Label Year of the Fire Monkey Special Pack P499 SRP (700 ml)

the chance to win special prizes in the Lucky Ang Pao Promo at the Newport Mall, the Lucky Fortune Cookie Giveaway at RWM’s signature Cantonese restaurant Passion, and Cinema Roulette at the Newport Cinemas which happens on any day during the festival. Visit www.rwmanila.com or call (02) 9088833 for more details.

ne of the most celebrated events the world over is the Chinese New Year, with families and friends getting together to usher in prosperity and joyful times ahead. This year, the Lunar New Year celebrations will fall on February 8. As always, there’s nothing like a Johnnie Walker to liven up the merriment, and the top blends designed in this year’s lucky colors are also perfect as tokens. The Johnnie Walker Red Label Year of the Fire Monkey Special Pack illustrates the celebrated zodiac sign and features a limited edition Johnnie Walker Red Label bottle. Its vibrant “light-up” design reflects the upbeat spirit of the Year of the Fire Monkey. The distinct color of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, known as the brand’s “celebration blend,” symbolizes prosperity and is designed to cater to special occasions. It is highlighted by a multi-layered combination of sweet fruit flavors that finishes with Johnnie Walker’s signature smoke. The Johnnie Walker Red Label Year of the Fire Monkey Special Pack and Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve are available at leading supermarkets. For more information, you can visit the Johnnie Walker Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JohnnieWalker. And remember: Drink responsibly.

SOFITEL PHILIPPINE PLAZA MANILA: 10 SECRETS TO HAPPINESS In this side of town, the Sofitel presents bountiful feasts that hopefully bring not just luck but at the same time happiness for its guests throughout the year. Through Spiral’s Chinese culinary artisan, Chef Michael Tai, Sofitel brings the 10 secrets to happiness in a culinary interpretation of prosperity, longevity, friends, faith and fortune. The 10 Secrets to Happiness menu is available until the 10th of February. From abalones, scallops, fish, and crabs, partake of these popular dishes that are traditionally served during the Lunar New Year. On the 3rd of February, a unique activity will commence at Spiral as it welcomes a fashionable year with the works of Albert Andrada whose designs made pageant headlines recently with his inspired interpretation of the Philippine

national costume and evening gown worn by Miss Universe 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. A fashion show will showcase a jewel-toned collection that will turn Spiral into a Lunar New Year runway as guests enjoy the culinary secrets to happiness. For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 832 6988 or email H6308-fb12@sofitel.com.

NEW WORLD MANILA BAY: DELICIOUS TREATS AND FUN ACTIVITIES As a fitting way to welcome the year of the funloving monkey, the New World Manila Bay Hotel prepares a lineup of enjoyable activities for the whole family. The colorful ceremonies start on New Year’s Day at 11:00 a.m. with a traditional Lion and Dragon dance, coin tossing and lighting of the firecrackers at the main lobby. Meanwhile, people born in the Year of the Monkey can enjoy a complimentary lunch or dinner buffet with a minimum of two paying

companions at Market Café on Feb. 8. Other Chinese New Year diners in the restaurant can try their luck at the spin-a-wheel of fortune and enjoy special fortune cookies courtesy or the God of Fortune who will be roaming around. From today until Feb. 11, Li Li Chinese Restaurant’s Hong Kong master chef Andy Chan serves up a 10-course prosperity lunch and dinner set menu for P23,888 or P36,888 for 10 persons, featuring authentic Cantonese dishes

perfect for reunion dinner with the family. The set menu includes Suckling Pig with Jelly Fish, Braised Dried Oyster with Sea Moss, Wok-Fried Prawns with Dried Fungus in Black Bean Sauce, Pan-Fried Cod Fish in Champagne Lemon Sauce, Baked-in-Bouillon Scallop with Shrimp Mousse and Crab Roe, and Braised Whole Abalone and Sea Cucumber in Premium Oyster Sauce. Call (02) 252-6888 for inquiries and reservations.

M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

The opening number at the welcome dinner featuring the song I Love the Filipino Smile

@LIFEatStandard

The attractive photo-op spot at the Plenary Hall Lobby

The rousing finale of the opening ceremonies received a standing ovation from the ASEAN crowd

DAZZLING FILIPINO SMILE Many times in the past, when I attend international conventions here in Manila hosted by our MERCURY RISING country, I hear foreign BY BOB ZOZOBRADO visitors rave about how we stage our events, making them feel really welcome. The opening ceremonies of the recently concluded 35th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) was no exception. A marching band greeted guests outside the PICC main entrance, and colorful higantes (giants) posted themselves at the lobby. Dancers, in their radiantly attractive costumes representing all the ASEAN countries, did their respective routines along the entire length of the pathway, from the PICC Lobby to the Plenary Hall. Most of all, the grand musical production numbers on stage were of epic proportions. I marveled at the skill displayed by the internationally acclaimed El Gamma Penumbra when, at a click of a finger, they easily formed an exact replica of a tourist landmark of each of the ASEAN countries. Such talent! That’s why, when I bumped into some colleagues from the other ASEAN countries on our way to the opening ceremonies, I

Tourism Promotions Board COO Domingo Ramon “Chicoy” Enerio III, World Trade Center senior VP and general manager Pam Pascual and me

Dancers from Brunei Darussalam greet delegates along the pathway to the Plenary Hall

proudly told them, “When the Philippines hosts a welcome party, be ready to be dazzled and awed!” Sure enough, after the event, I bumped into them again and they asked me, “Where do you, people, get these beautiful ideas?’ I readily declared, “You’re in the Philippines, my friend” and flashed a dazzling smile. This year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum, staged by our Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, the ASEAN Tourism Association and TTG-Asia, was a tremendous success. It attracted almost 3,000 visitors from 74 countries, with the events covered by 100 foreign media from 37 countries, and another 100 participants from local media. For the TRAVEX, which is the most anticipated part of the annual ATF, a record number of 880 sellers and 600 buyers registered. Aside from these impressive numbers, a very important tourism issue was taken up by the Tourism Ministers of the 10 member countries during the week-long event. Positioning and promoting itself as a single destination, ASEAN targeted the region’s big neighbors as a strategy to raise inbound tourism volume as fast as possible. Aside from Japan and South Korea, the Tourism heads also met with China, Russia, and India which form part of the so-called BRICS economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, all emerging markets and investment destinations that have been posting enormous economic growth for more than a decade.

Linking up with Travel Industry 'greats' Rajah Travel chairman Alejandra Clemente and Destination Specialists president Marget Fernan Villarica

These five countries with large populations and hefty dollar reserves, especially the neighboring three, remain a vast source of tourists for inbound travel to ASEAN. What made this year’s ATF more significant, differentiating it from those hosted by other countries in the previous years, was clearly expressed by DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Bengzon, Jr. when he said, “ATF 2016 marketed a fully integrated ASEAN brand experience to the world, deliberately key messaging our regional diversity as a brand-defining differentiator, whose visual idiom translates into a ‘complete tourism package’.” Registered delegates had the chance to view ASEAN exhibits and understand what makes this region a single, unified destination. However, we also had the chance to push further our country’s dazzling attractions because the delegates’ itineraries included heritage tours to interesting sites in the Ilocos, Cordillera and Southern Tagalog regions, and eco-adventure tours to enticing destinations in Palawan, Bicol, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental and Davao.

It was a great week for the country… and for Filipino creativity, talent and hospitality, which certainly will lead to a continuous increase in our tourist arrivals. A fitting tribute to what makes us “confidently beautiful, with a heart” is summed up in the song, I Love the Filipino Smile, composed by Jesse Lucas specially for the ATF 2016, with lyrics by Adriana Agcaoili, and performed during the opening ceremonies. Part of the song goes:

“…In times of victory or trial From the heart comes that radiant smile Always, the Filipino smile I love the Filipino smile The sun at its fiercest is no match For the soothing, healing Filipino smile The wind may howl and storms may rage Gently it breaks, peaceful, the Filipino smile…” Ready to be dazzled some more? Get hold of a copy of this song. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE: At breakfast, the husband asked his wife, “What would you do if I won in the lottery?” She replied, “I’d take half and leave you!” “Great,” said the husband. “Here’s $6. I won $12 yesterday. Have a nice trip!”

Ever after: Wedding traditions live on in Asia

ore than just an exchange of “I dos,” weddings offer a peek into a culture. Bridal trends may come and go, but local traditions in the Philippines and around Asia have been well preserved. Long-standing wedding traditions reflect and celebrate the rich heritage and cultural diversity of the region. Centuries-old cultural traditions live on in the Philippines. In Cotabato City, a 32-hectare Basilan model tribal village allows visitors to witness and appreciate the unique ethnicity of the Yakan, Tausog, Sama, Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranaw tribes, through various activities, including colorful wedding practices.

In Japan, instead of wearing a flowing white gown, the bride wears a beautiful silk kimono on her wedding day. Kimonos are often embroidered with purple iris flowers because the color represents love in Japan. The couple and both sets of parents perform the “san-san-kudo” (three-three-nine-times), wherein each person takes three sips of sake from three different cups symbolizing heaven, earth, and mankind. Weddings are a huge affair in Indonesia, where it is typical to have a thousand guests in attendance in one’s special day. Here, the bride usually arrives first, followed by the groom, who is received with greater attention. Before the reception starts, the couple must greet each guest individually as they pass through a receiving line.

For Koreans, pre-wedding traditions are as important as the wedding itself. From engagement and engagement parties to the groom’s gifting of a wild goose to his future mother-in-law, Koreans are known to spend lavishly on wedding affairs. The traditional Korean wedding is held at the bride’s family home, where the couple takes their vows in a ceremony called “kunbere.” The bride and groom bow to each other and seal their vow by sipping a special wine poured into a gourd grown by the bride’s mother. Discover more of Asia’s wedding traditions when you fly to these destinations via Cebu Pacific. Book now at www.cebupacificair.com.

In Asia, weddings offer a glimpse of the region’s rich cultural diversity. Instead of wearing a white gown, a Japanese bride wears a silk kimono with purple flower embroidery to represent love

M ONDAY : F EBRUA RY 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

AmAzing Women of History noted in ‘Joy’

avid O. Russell’s eighth feature film, Joy, probes four decades in the upward-moving life of a single-mom-turned-businessmagnate to explore how daring, resilient, and persistent ordinary people are to create extraordinary visions and moments. Starring Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence, it is based loosely on the life and rise of inventor and home shopping star Joy Mangano. The genre-blurring story of Joy follows the wild path of a hard-working but half-broken family and the young girl who ultimately becomes its shining matriarch and leader in her own right. Driven to create, but also to take care of those around her, Joy experiences betrayal, treachery, loss of innocence and the scars of love as she finds the steel and the belief to follow her once-suppressed dreams. The result is an emotional and human comedy about a woman’s rise – navigating the unforgiving world of commerce, the chaos of family and the mysteries. Joy opens on Feb. 17 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. Along with Joy Mangano, the following pioneering female inventors share the limelight in celebrating the exhilarating ride that Joy explores on their daring resilience and the persistence of their vision that carried them from the ordinary into being extraordinary, one of them is Filipino genius Fe Del Mundo. filipino scientist dr. fe del mundo: inventor of loW-cost incubAtor in 1941 (November 27, 1909 – August 6, 2011) Dr. Fe del Mundo was the first Asian woman and the first Filipina to be accepted at the prestigious Harvard University School of Medicine. Her specialization was on pediatrics, and she is best known among Filipinos as the designer of a low-cost incubator made of bamboo and other local materials. She published more than 100 articles in medical journals, and trained various medical practitioners in and out of the country. She was also the first Filipina to be conferred the rank of National Scientist in 1980. single-motHer bette nesmitH grAHAm inventor of correction fluid in 1951 (mArch 23, 1924—mAy 12, 1980) Born in Dallas, Texas, Bette Nesmith Graham, a single, divorced mother, working as a secretary at Texas Bank and Trust used to find it difficult to erase mistakes on her typewriter. Graham, who was also a talented painter, knew that with lettering, an artist never corrects by erasing a mistake, but by painting over the error. In 1951, she invented the first correction fluid in her kitchen, using tempera paint and an ordinary kitchen blender. She called the fluid Mistake Out. The name was later changed to Liquid Paper. germAn HouseWife melittA bentz inventor of modern coffee filter system in 1908 (JANuAry 31, 1873—JuNe 29, 1950) Born in Dresden, Bentz, an enterprising mother of two, was fed up cleaning and constantly wringing out stained cloth

filters, and scraping sludge off the bottom of unfiltered pots when she was making coffee. Bentz experimented with different types of paper and devised an easily disposable filtration system by laying a piece of paper over the perforated bottom of a brass pot.

Jennifer Lawrence and Edgar Ramirez as a young couple in the biographical comedy-drama film

britisH student emily cummins inventor of eco-friendly, solAr-poWered fridge in 2009 (FebruAry 11, 1987) British Inventor Emily Cummins is passionate about sustainable designs that have the ability to change lives. She credits her grandfather as her greatest inspiration. ‘He gave me a hammer and began to teach me how to make toys from scraps of materials found in his garden shed.’ Her entry into a sustainable design competition, a ‘pullable’ water carrier for water workers in Africa, earned her a Technology Woman of the Future award in 2006. mArJorie Joyner: tHe first blAck WomAn to receive A pAtent, for Her permAnent WAving mAcHine in 1928. (october 24, 1896— December 27, 1994) Born in Virginia, the granddaughter of a slave and slave-owner, Marjorie Joyner grew up in poverty and went onto become the first black woman to graduate from A.B. Molar Beauty School in Chicago. While making a pot roast one day, she noticed how long, thin rods held the pot roast and heated it up from the inside. She imagined a design using rods saying, “I figured you could use them like hair rollers, then heat them up to cook a permanent curl into the hair.” mAry Anderson inventor of WindsHield Wipers (1863-1953) Anderson was born in Green County, Alabama and moved west to Fresno, California, where she operated a cattle ranch and vineyard. In the winter of 1902, she visited New York and observed how dangerous it was when snow and sleet slowed down streetcars, obscuring vision. Anderson sketched a solution in her notebook: a ‘squeegee’ wiper on the outside of a windshield, connected to a lever on the inside. russiAn immigrAnt idA rosentHAl designs tHe modern-dAy brA in 1920s. (JANuAry 9, 1886—mArch 29, 1973) Ida Rosenthal was born in Rakow near Minsk, the eldest of seven siblings. When she was sixteen, she moved to Warsaw, where she worked and took classes in Russian and mathematics. She immigrated to America aged 18, following her fiancée William Rosenthal. They married and she opened a dress shop with her husband, working closely with another dress shop owner, Enid Bisset. At the time Bisset and others were making bandeaus for women who wanted to flatten the figure; this was the ‘flapper’ era, when the boyish look was fashionable. Rosenthal, who was voluptuous, deplored the fashion: “why fight nature?” she asked. She set about designing bras in different sizes and built them into the dresses she sewed, as cups, which separated and supported the breasts, ‘lifting’ instead of flattening.

AustriAn Actress Hedy lAmArr: pioneered Wireless communicAtion in in 1941 (November 9, 1914— JANuAry 19, 2000) Hedy Lamarr was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler in Vienna. During the 1920s, she moved to Berlin to study acting. Immigrating to America, she shot to stardom in Hollywood and was known as ‘the most beautiful woman in the world’. However, that wasn’t to be her greatest claim to fame! Her leading men included Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, and Spencer Tracy. But her accomplishments as a scientist are even more remarkable. During World War II, together with the composer, George Antheil, she developed a ‘Secret Communications System’ with the goal of helping to combat the Nazis. By manipulating radio frequencies at irregular intervals between transmission and reception, the invention was intended to form an unbreakable code to prevent classified messages from being intercepted by enemy personnel. It was meant for radio-guided torpedoes, and the pair gave it to the US Navy. Lamarr and Antheil received a patent in 1941, but the significance of their invention wasn’t appreciated until years later. It was implemented on naval ships during the Cuban Missile Crisis. What is fascinating is that the invention would eventually revolutionize mobile communications, paving the way for cell phones and fax machines. celebrAted cook rutH WAkefield inventor of tHe first cHocolAte cHip cookies in 1930 (JuNe 17, 1903—JANuAry 10, 1977) Ruth Wakefield was a trained dietician and food lecturer. In 1930, Wakefield and her husband bought a tourist lodge in Whitman, Massachusetts. Located at the halfway point between Boston and New York, many travelers paid a toll, changed horses, and ate home-cooked meals at the lodge. Wakefield’s lobster dinners and desserts were famous. In 1930, Wakefield was mixing a batch of cookies, when she added broken pieces of chocolate: the result was a tray of the first chocolate chip cookies. She called her creation Toll House Crunch Cookies. The recipe made its first appearance in the 1938 edition of Wakefield’s “Tried and True” cookbook. The cookies became massively

Lawrence as Joy and Ramirez as Tony

Lawrence as Joy Mangano, a self-made millionaire who created her own business empire

Robert De Niro and Lawrence in one of the scenes from Joy

popular and eventually, Andrew Nestle and Ruth Wakefield made an agreement—Nestle would print the Toll House Cookie recipe on its package, and Wakefield would be given a lifetime supply of Nestle chocolate! mArgAret knigHt inventor of tHe modern pAper ‘grocery’ bAg (FebruAry 14, 1838— october 12, 1914) Born in Maine and raised by a widowed mother, from a young age, Knight displayed a passion for inventing. At age 12, she observed a textile accident at the mill where she worked. She came up with a device that would automatically stop a machine if something got caught in it. Soon, her invention was being used in the mills. After the Civil War, Knight worked in a paper bag plant, which inspired her to create a paper bag that would make it easier to pack items. She designed the machine that automatically folded and glued the bottom of bags, creating the flat-bottom paper bags we still use today.

M ONDAY : F EBRUA RY 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

LEvi’S WRaPS UP 2015 With an EPiC yEaR-EnD PaRty

n epic year deserved an epic ending, which was what Levi‘s exactly had in mind when it wrapped up 2015 with a grand year-end party for all Levi’s lovers. No less than Charice Pempengco and international DJs like Major Lazer and Dillon Francis electrified the Palace Pool Club on Dec. 10, the night when Levi’s celebrated its successes of the past year—from organizing spectacular fashion shows to the wellhyped launches of its new collections. It was a priceless treat for all Levi’s lovers all night, especially when Charice, who was not on the list of performers that night, dazzled the crowd with her cover of Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” and gave the audience an adrenaline buzz. “Levi’s had a great 2015 and we wanted to end it with a bang. In a way, it was our treat to all our loyal customers who continue to patronize the brand and support all our events,” said Levi’s Marketing Lead Kaths Laudit of the company’s last happening for the year. Lending more glitz to the party were TV and radio host Sam YG, menswear blogger Mikyle Quizon, MYX Vj host and actor Alex Diaz, and some of the county’s top fashion and lifestyle bloggers. “This new year, people should expect more exciting events and, of course, more fashionable denim apparels. We will surely keep in step with 2016’s fashion trends without losing the identity that Levi’s is known for,” Laudit enthused. Two free Major Lazer tickets were given to all Levi’s customers—at select Levi’s stores—with a P3,000 single receipt purchase, inclusive of any men’s bottoms, women’s bottoms, or trucker jacket.

42 43 45 47 48

ACROSS 1 Rapid transit? 5 Searches 10 Green mineral 14 Just 15 Australian gems 16 What never to tell (2 wds.) 17 Fly the — 18 Head gorilla 20 Pay homage 22 Actor — Beatty

23 24 26 27 30 34 35 36 37 38 40 41

Drama prizes Things to crack Pub pint Plotted Oats container Not as loose Pelts Freud, to himself Tach readings Jungle charger Salmon variety Galleon cargo

01 MYX VJ and actor Alex Diaz with his friends during Levi’s epic year-end party. 02 Actor Julian Estrada with his friend during Levi’s epic year-end party at the Palace Pool Club. 03 Levi’s ends 2015 with a band after an epic year-end part at the Palace Pool Club last Dec. 10.(From L-R: Menswear blogger AJ Dee, international singer Charice Pempengco, Levi’s Marketing Head Kaths Laudit, former PBA player Paul Artadi, actor Julian Estrada, and Ripple’s Thons Edano) 04 International singer Charice Pempengco performs Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” giving the audience an adrenaline buzz. 05 The people behind the successful Levi’s year-end party at the Palace Pool Club last Dec. 10.(From L-R: Mari Litonjua of Eventscape, Levi’s Marketing Head Kaths Laudit, and Valykrie’s VP for Marketing Kim Liao.) 06 Levi’s wraps up 2015 with an epic ending at the Palace Pool Club last Dec. 10 where no less than Charice Pempengco and international DJs like Major Lazer and Dillon Francis electrifying the crowd. (From L-R: Gian Lazaro, Rey Ilagan, Ripple’s Thon Edano, Charice Pempengco, Levi’s Marketing Head Kaths Laudit, and celebrity DJ Tom Taus.) 07 The Levi’s team celebrates an epic year after organizing spectacular fashion shows to the well-hyped launches of its new collections. 08 Levi’s celebrated the end of 2015 with people who helped made the year a success. 09 Levi’s gave a well-deserved year-end party to people who helped the brand succeed in 2015.(From L-R: Ripple’s Thons Edano, actor Jualian Estrada, and former PBA player Paul Artadi).

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE

Amble or trot Browns lightly Reflects Pretentious talk Meyers of “Kate & Allie” 49 “— Marner” 50 Jim Croce’s “I Got — —” 53 Happy sighs 54 Milan’s La — 58 First aid item 61 Sheik’s cartel 62 Aware of 63 Banana cluster 64 Meat-grading org. 65 Kind of music 66 Downright mean 67 Warty critter DOWN 1 Musical genre 2 Familiar auth. 3 Freighter hazard 4 Prepares for print 5 Kind of lettuce 6 Had one’s say 7 All uncles 8 Wide st. 9 Compass pt. 10 Elbowed 11 Jai — 12 Casino supply 13 Mouse alerts

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

19 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 39 40 42 44 46 47 49 50 51 52 53 55 56 57 59 60

Customary functions Hobbling Maserati rival Spray can Thurmond of South Carolina Romantic isle Laughing matter Merriment Flora and fauna Needs an aspirin Spook Temper tantrum What’s- — -name Boys’ group member (2 wds.) Bridge expert Amo, —, amat Force through Split down the middle Avoids Lepton locale Taboo (hyph.) Freeway clogger Ocean color Lhasa — Helen of Troy’s mother Mil. school King — Saud Your, old-style

M ONDAY : F EBRUA RY 1, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

WINNERS – WISH 107.5 MUSIC AWARDS

ABS-CBN NAmeS Cory VidANeS Coo of BroAdCASt

BS-CBN Corporation announced the appointment of Cory Vidanes as chief operating officer (COO) of broadcast, effective today. Vidanes will continue to lead and oversee the total channel programming, artist development, on-air operations, events management, and overall revenue and profit delivery of Channel 2. Together with the Content Development Council headed by chief content officer Charo Santos-Concio, Vidanes will manage the development of new concepts for Channel 2 and the ABSCBN TVplus channels Yey, CineMo, and Knowledge Channel. She has been instrumental in making Channel 2 the most watched TV network in the country in 2015. Under her leadership, Channel 2 dominated the primetime block whole year round with shows such as The Voice Kids, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, Nathaniel, Pangako Sa ‘Yo, and Maalaala Mo Kaya.

Vidanes’ leadership is also marked by her commitment to public service. She has spearheaded the preparation and execution of the network’s relief operations and donation drives for victims of natural disasters, including the successful “Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na” campaign’s T-shirt fundraising and benefit concerts for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. She is a recipient of the CEO Excel Award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines in 2014 and was named one of People Asia magazine’s “People of the Year” in 2013 for her vital role in ABS-CBN’s achievements. She began her career in television at BBC2 in 1982. She joined ABS-CBN in 1986 as associate producer and was later appointed to various positions in the company – executive producer, assistant production manager, production manager, production director, head of TV production, Channel 2 head, head

Wish Promising Artist Jensen and the Flips Best Wish Cover Darren Espanto – “In Love Ako Sa’yo” Wishclusive Viral Video of the Year - Darren Espanto – “Chandelier” Most Wishful Fandom Darrenatics

Cory Vidanes will manage the development of new concepts for Channel 2 and the network's other channels

of broadcast, and finally, head of free TV. Vidanes completed an Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School in 2014. She graduated at Ateneo de Manila University where she majored in communication arts.

Wishers’ Choice – Young Artist of the Year - Maris Racal Wishers’ Choice – Female Artist of the Year - Morissette Wishers’ Choice – Male Artist of the Year - Jason Dy Wishers’ Choice – Wishclusive Performance of the Year – “Don’t Know Why” by Maris Racal Best Wishclusive Performance by a Young Artist Darren Espanto – “Chandelier” Beneficiary: World Vision Best Wishclusive Performance by a Group - 5th Gen – “Contagious” Beneficiary: Divine Mercy Mobile Center of Music and Arts Therapy Best Wishclusive Performance by a Female Artist Yeng Constantino–“Ikaw” Beneficiary: I Fight Against Human Trafficking

WBR Entertainment officials with GMA’s (from left) Gilberto R. Duavit, Willie Revillame, and Felipe L. Gozon

WBr eNtertAiNmeNt pArtNerS With GmA NetWork

BR Entertainment signed a co-production agreement with GMA Network Inc. for Willie Revillame’s varietygame show Wowowin which now airs daily beginning today. “Itinaon talaga natin ito sa umpisa ng taon because we are lining up the programs for this year. Ngayon, daily na from

Monday to Friday and I have no doubt na mami-maintain ni Willie ang ratings ng program. Napakasipag at pinapanood ko yung mga shows niya kaya alam ko,” said Atty. Felipe L. Gozon. WBR Entertainment’s Willie Revillame revealed that the success of Wowowin rests on the audience that never fails to support him and his program. He’s also looking

forward to bringing more smiles. “Ang bida kasi rito ay yung mga tao. Sila ang nagpe-perform at nagkukwento ng buhay nila. Ang hangarin ng programa ay magbigay pag-asa. Yung success ng programa, hindi lang ito dahil sa akin kundi dahil sa ating lahat kasi tulong-tulong tayo dito. Sabi nga sa Eat Bulaga, hangga’t may bata, may Eat Bulaga. Dito hangga’t may nalulungkot, may Wowowin.”

PRESIDENtIAl AND VICE PRESIDENtIAl INtERVIEWS

uper Radyo DZBB brings back its award-winning election special Ikaw Na Ba? and this time, featuring the presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2016 elections. Hosted by broadcaster Mike Enriquez, Ikaw Na Ba... The Presidential and Vice Presidential Interviews airs on GMA’s AM station, 9 to 10 a.m. Monday to Friday. In each episode, a candidate will take the hot seat and answer vquestions that aim to help voters scrutinize the candidates – from their political agenda to their personal lives. “We want to help our voting public make informed and intelligent choices,”

says Enriquez. “And as in previous elections, DZBB will be at the forefront this entire election period, and together with other GMA platforms, mount the most comprehensive, truthful and unbiased coverage possible,” he adds. In 2011, Ikaw Na Ba… The Presidential Interviews won Best Education Radio Program at the Catholic Mass Media Awards. Two years later, the CMMA conferred the same award to Ikaw Na Ba… The Senatorial Interviews. Ikaw Na Ba… The Presidential and Vice Presidential Interviews airs on DZBB 594 KHZ and is simulcast on all RGMA stations nationwide.

Best Wishclusive Performance by a Male Artist - Jason Dy “Stay With Me/See You Again Mash-up” Beneficiary: Food for the Hungry Philippines Wish Urban Song of the Year – “Milagro” by Jason Dy Beneficiary: Food for the Hungry Philippines Wish Alternative Song of the Year - “Move On” by Sponge Cola Beneficiary: Child Haus Wish Ballad Song of the Year “I Believe In Me” by Darren Espanto Beneficiary: World Vision Wish Original Song of the Year “Stuck” by Darren Espanto Beneficiary: World Vision Wish Young Artist of the Year Darren Espanto Beneficiary: World Vision Wish Female Artist of the Year - Morissette Beneficiary: Home for the Angels, Sta. Ana, Manila

Mike Enriquez hosts Ikaw Na Ba, a presidential and vice presidential candidates interview special

Wish Male Artist of the Year - Jason Dy Beneficiary: Food for the Hungry Philippines

M ONDAY : F EBRUA RY 1, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ FirsT Wish 107.5 Music AWArds A nighT oF Music And chAriTy

he first Wish 107.5 Music Awards (WMA) staged on Jan.26, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum was a huge success as thousands of Wishers and music lovers gathered to witness a spectacular evening celebrating Filipino music. Gerald Santos kicked off the program with his live performance of the Wish 107.5 Jingle. This was followed by a jaw-dropping poprock medley of Elvis Presley, Queen, and The Beatles hit songs performed by The Voysing, Jek Manuel, Sassa Dagdag, Juan Karlos Labajo, and Darren Espanto. The audience was further pumped up as Morissette and Darren Espanto shared the stage to sing a duet of Sia’s “Chandelier”. They had previously performed the song individually inside the Wish 107.5 bus, both of which were widely recognized and adored by fans and listeners. Singing classic love songs such as “Almost Paradise”, “Perfect Combination”, “Always”, and “Way Back into Love” – Leah Patricio, Maki Ricafort, Daryl Ong, Morissette, Paolo Onesa, and Beverly Caimen took the stage for a stunning duets’ medley. Another medley followed, with Marlo Mortel, Jason Fernandez, Brad Go, and Nyoy Volante crooning acoustic classics such as “Sound of Silence”, “Dust in the Wind”, “Tears in Heaven”, “More than Words”, and “Be With You”. Jessica Reynoso and Maki Ricafort also shared a duet of RNB/Motown hits. Capping off the performances were Leah Patricio and Beverly Caimen’s powerful duet of Beyonce’s “Listen”. A total of P1.1 million was given to six different beneficiaries personally chosen by the winners of the major award categories in the WMA. World Vision, the chosen beneficiary of Darren Espanto, who won four major awards namely Best WISHclusive Performance by a Young Artist for “Chandelier”, Wish Ballad Song of the Year for “I Believe In Me”, Wish Original Song of the Year for “Stuck”, and Wish Young Artist of the Year, received a

total of P 400, 000. Food for the Hungry Philippines received P300, 000 as Jason Dy’s selected beneificiary. Dy won three major awards – Wish Urban Song of the Year for “Milagro”, Best WISHclusive Performance by a Male Artist for “Stay With Me/See You Again” mash-up, and Wish Male Artist of the Year. Upcoming power vocal group 5th Gen’s beneficiary, the Divine Mercy Mobile Center of Music and Arts Therapy was granted a financial assistance worth P100, 000. 5th Gen took home the award Best WISHclusive Performance by a Group for their single “Contagious”. The wish-granting station also donated P100,000 to I Fight Against Human Trafficking, the chosen charitable institution of YengConstantino. The OPM star won the Best Wishclusive Performance by a Female Artist for “Ikaw.” Another P100,000 cash assistance was extended to each of the chosen beneficiaries of Sponge Cola and Morissette – Child Haus and Home for the Angels, Sta. Ana Manila, respectively. Sponge Cola’s hit single, “Move On” was hailed as the Wish Alternative Song of the Year. Meanwhile, Morissette was named as the Wish Female Artist of the Year. The presenters of the awards were the very own Wish 107.5 jocks Faye, Jelly Kiss, Ray Holiday, Flynn Rider,Alice, and Princess Leigh – accompanied by some members of the panel of judges, Isah Red, Sylvia Lichauco-de Leon, Cory Quirino, and Andre Alvarez. Real-life couple Robi Domingo and Gretchen Ho served as the hosts of the event. From the spectacular performances and announcing of the winners, to the granting of checks to charities the first Wish 107.5 Music Awards was indeed not just an ordinary awards night, but a triumphant evening of celebrating the “coolest musical experience” with great song performances and granting of wishes. The complete list of winners is on C7.

1 Darren Espanto (center) with judge John Lesaca (first from left) are joined by the Darrenatics 2 Morrissette and Darren Espanto performing onstage 3 Darren Espanto receiving his award for Best Wish Cover for the song “In Love Ako Sa’yo” 4 Marlo Mortel, Jason Fernandez, Brad Go and Nyoy Volante 5 JK Labajo and The Voysing in one of the prod numbers 6 The Standard Entertainment editor Isah V. Red as one of the Wish Awards judges 7 Wish 107.5 Music Awards hosts Robi Domingo and Gretchen Ho 8 Award presentors DJ Faye and Wish Awards judge Mr. Isah V. Red 9 Paolo Onesa, Beverly Caimen, Daryl Ong, Morisette, Leah Patricia and Maki Ricafort 10 Gerard Santos also provides entertainment for the Wishers at the Big Dome