The Standard - 2016 February 7- Sunday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX  NO. 360  3 Sections 24 Pages P18  SUNDAY : FEBRUARY 7, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SUNDAY TRAFFIC CHAOS FEARED

14 PINOYS DIE IN IRAQ BLAZE By Vito Barcelo and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

ARBIL, Iraq—A fire at a hotel in the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region killed 19 people and injured dozens more on Friday, officials said. Fourteen of the dead were from the Philippines, while three Iraqis,

a Palestinian and another person of unknown nationality also died, said Saman Barzanji, director-general of the Arbil health department. Dozens more were injured and taken to hospital in Arbil, said Fakher Harki, the department’s spokesman. The Department of Foreign Affairs said they are still trying to identify the Filipinos who died in the fire. “Initial report we received from our embassy in Baghdad says that

14 Filipinos are among the at least 19 people who died in a fire that struck Capitol Hotel in Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement on Saturday. “[The] embassy is in touch with Kurdistan Regional Government to ascertain the identities of Filipino victims. [The] acting ambassador [is] flying to Erbil to personally lead the effort,” he added. Malacañang said it is saddened by the deaths of the 14 Filipinos

and it is working with Iraqi authorities to bring home the remains of those killed in the tragedy. In a radio interview on Saturday, Undersecretary Manuel Quezon of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office said they received a DFA update saying it had already dispatched personnel to go to Arbil. “We are very sad about this. It’s a terrible way to die. There were many of them and it was, I believe, in a massage center,” Quezon said

over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. “We would like to get more details and do everything that is possible to bring our countrymen home and, of course, to look at every possibility to assist their families at this time of sadness and need,” he said. Asked for more details of the repatriation, he said the families should wait for a while because the DFA has just dispatched the people who will facilitate the repatriation. Next page

KILLER BLAZE. An Iraqi ﬁreman works at a burnt room of the four-star Capitol Hotel in Arbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish region, where 14 Filipinos and ﬁve others of different nationalities died. AFP PHOTO

YOUNG KARTER ON THE RISE

MORO REBELS ATTACK GOVT PROJECT By Francisco Tuyay

THE Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters resumed attacks on military installations in Central Mindanao and attacked a government project in Maguindanao, wounding an Army officer, the military reported Saturday. Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the Army’s Sixth Infantry Divi-

sion, identified the wounded officer as Capt. Jimmy Amoloy, who was grazed by bullet in the forehead. Amoloy, one of the officers of the 22nd Mechanized Company of the Second Mechanized Battalion, was deployed to secure a government project at Sitio Dagading, Barangay Tee in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao when his unit was fired upon by BIFF rebels at

about 4:30 p.m. Friday. In the initial exchange of fire, Amoloy was hit prompting his men to extract him and send him to the headquarters of the First Mechanized Brigade for medical treatment. “The BIFF rebels fired at the army troopers because they are preventing the entry of development in the area,” Petinglay said in a text message. Next page

S U N d ay : f e b r U a r y 7, 2 0 1 6

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10 SULU FIGHTERS ACQUITTED By Vito Barcelo

THE Malaysian high court dropped the charges against 10 of the 26 Filipinos accused of being members of a terror group and waging war against the Malaysian king, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

DEADLY QUAKE. Taiwanese rescue worker escorts a victim away from the building that collapsed in the city of Tainan after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the island nation on Saturday. (Story on B5) AFP PHOTO

14 Pinoys... From A1

Ambassador Elmer Cato, the country’s envoy to Iraq, flew to Arbil from Baghdad on an aircraft provided by the United Nations to help identify the victims and attend to the concerns of some 1,000 Filipinos living in the northern Iraqi region of Kurdistan. “The incident is now under investigation. We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and will do everything we can to bring them home as soon as possible,” Cato said as he announced the incident on his Facebook account. Nawzad Hadi, the governor of Arbil province, said preliminary information indicated that the cause of the fire was an electrical problem in a sauna. The fire took place at the fourstar Capitol Hotel where rooms

Moro... From A1

Reports said the BIFF rebels that figured in the clashes were under BIFF commanders known as Bungos, Abusaiden, Kagui Tatang and Uztadz Roman. A back hoe and excavator owned by the project contractor was damaged due to intense gunfire from the BIFF rebels. Additional forces from the 1st Mechanized Brigade were dispatched to the construction site to augment the troops securing the

cost from $100-$240 per night. The hotel’s website says it has a 740-square-meter (2,580-square-foot) spa that includes saunas and a pool. Photos and video posted on social media showed dark grey smoke pouring from windows on the top floor of the building. The Kurdistan region in north Iraq has largely been spared the deadly violence that plagues other parts of the country. The region is frequently visited by tourists from other areas of Iraq and various countries in the region. A hotel fire in Sulaimaniyah, another city in Iraqi Kurdistan, killed 30 people in July 2010. The city’s hospital said people from 12 different nations died in that fire, including some who jumped to their deaths from upper-floor windows while trying to escape the flames. Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the DFA quickly repatriate the 17 Filipinos killed in the fire. development project. The fighting sparked a day after military authorities enforced strict security measures in Sulu amid intelligence reports that the Abu Sayyaf had recruited jihadists to stage test bombings in the island of Jolo. Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, said this prompted high-level security measures after six reported recruits of ASG bandits were sighted in Jolo to conduct the test missions. Arrojado said Abu Sayyaf recruits belonging to the group of Majan Sajidjuan, alias Apo Mike,

“The DFA must do everything possible to repatriate the remains of the deceased OFWs the soonest time. That is the best thing we can do to assuage the grief of their families,” said Marcos. “To the families of these OFWs, I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies,” he added. Marcos also urged the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to fast-track the release of the benefits and assistance due to the families of the deceased OFWs. “OWWA should immediately coordinate with the DFA to establish the identities of the victims and process the necessary documents so the benefits for their families can be readied even as the repatriation efforts are ongoing,” said Marcos. An active member of OWWA is covered by insurance for the duration of his employment contract. This includes P100,000

for death due to natural cause and P200,000 for death due to accident. Legal heirs of a deceased OFW are entitled to receive an additional P20,000 for funeral expenses. In addition, survivors of a deceased OFW are entitled to education assistance consisting of P5,000 for elementary, P8,000 for high school and P10,000 for college per school year, as well as livelihood assistance amounting to P15,000 which is given to the surviving spouse. Marcos has been pushing for better government support for OFWs in recognition of their contribution to our economy paid for by their personal sacrifices and hard work. He noted that according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas figures, OFW remittances reached almost $23 billion from January to November of 2015, contributing to an estimated 10 percent of our country’s Gross Domestic Product.

were monitored roaming in Jolo. “Apparently, the recruits were instructed by Apo Mike to conduct bombings in Jolo,” Arrojado said. Reports said the targets of bombings by the ASG were commercial establishments, Jolo Cathedral, Jolo market, ports, naval vessels, entertainment centers frequented by military and police, Coast Guard Stations and business sites. Parallel to bombings of government vital entities and private enterprises, the ASG were also ordered to initiate roadside bombings, specifically along the JoloTagbak routes, aimed at military convoys.

However, the Court found prima facie evidence against the 16 other Filipinos and were ordered to present, through their lawyers, evidence in their defense. One of them, identified as Totoh Bin Hismullah, who was earlier identified as a Filipino was found by the court as a Malaysian citizen. Thus only 26, and not 27 Filipinos, stand accused of being terrorists, the DFA said. The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said Judge Stephen Chung of the High Court of Kota Kinabalu ordered the 16 to present evidence in their defense “to rebut the Prosecution’s evidence.” The court accused the Filipinos of waging war against the Malaysian king and being members of a terrorist group in connection with the Lahad Datu incident that took place in February 2013. The Court gave the prosecution 14 days to file an appeal on the dismissal of the charges. If no appeal is filed, the 10 Filipinos, including the Malaysian national, will be released and eventually sent home. The determination made by the Court is only preliminary and based on the evidence presented by the prosecution. A verdict on the culpability, if any, of the 16 remaining accused will not be rendered until the defense has completed the presentation of its evidence, which is expected to begin later this month, the DFA said. All 26 accused Filipinos were assisted and represented before and during the trial by Malaysian lawyer N. Sivananthan, whose services were arranged by the Philippine Embassy and paid for by the Philippine government. They were part of a group of over 200 Filipinos, many of them armed, who arrived in Lahad Datu in Sabah, Malaysia, in February 2013 to assert the country’s territorial claim to the eastern part of the island. The group, which came from TawiTawi and was sent by the late Jamalul Kiram III, one of the claimants to the throne of the Sultanate of Sulu, engaged Malaysian security forces in a standoff that lasted for days. Over a dozen people were killed when the standoff erupted into violence.

The report said the homemade bombs to be used by the recruits were made by ASG bomb experts Muamar and Abu Jihad. Arrojado said that while they are still verifying the authenticity of the reports, security has been fortified at the supposed targets and other establishments to deter the bomb attacks. He said the bombing threat may be meant to be a diversionary move by the extremists to impair the ongoing operations against them in the province. On Friday, elements of the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion discovered an unexploded fragmen-

tation grenade at a nearby military post in Patikul, Sulu. The explosive device was found at about 5:45 a.m. a few meters away from the Tagbili Detachment. “It was believed that the grenade was hurled at around 5:45 a.m. when the sentinel heard something drop, falling from the rooftop, but when he searched the area at that time found nothing until its discovery at daybreak,” Arrojado said. On Tuesday, an additional Marine battalion was mobilized in Sulu as part of the government’s security preparations after the Bangsamoro Basic Law failed to pass in Congress.

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PALACE: NO NEED FOR VALTE TO QUIT By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Palace on Saturday said there is no need for Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte to resign because of the service she has done for the Aquino administration. “It’s a temporary leaving for a temporary commitment for a temporary period and should not imperil our overall service and commitment to the administration,” said Presidential Communication Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III. Quezon said Valte did the proper thing even as United Nationalist Alliance spokesperson Mon Ilagan said Valte should resign “if she’s still confused as to her job description all these year.” “Well, as you can see, Abi has not been doing the briefings for some time. As she herself said, she took a leave of absence without pay to help the candidate she believes in. I believe this is the correct and proper thing to do, considering

that she wanted to devote herself full-time,” Quezon said. “Now, on the part of the statements of Mr. Ilagan, I think there is confusion there. What is at stake, what was at stake—and this was the reason for the statements of Ms. Valte—is that there was a free speech question,” he said. “So, of course, what Mr. Ilagan is trying to do is your standard political gambit of trying to confuse the issue,” he said. On Valte’s Facebook page, she posted a link of an article where Ilagan said that Valte should resign. “Hahaha! This is rich, coming from the camp that has been campaigning for the last five and a half years while holding on to their positions in government,” Valte said in her post. “In true UNA fashion, they have taken a public issue such as censorship and twisted it to suit their needs, completely sidestepping the question of whether it is legal or not. [But] why am I even surprised?” Valte said.

YOUTH SUMMIT. United Nations Children’s Fund country manager Lotta Sylwander (right of center) joins dozens of youngsters who gathered for the Global Youth Summit at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday. MANNY PALMERO

POE REGAINS LEAD IN LATEST POLL By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Vito Barcelo

INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe regained the top spot in the latest voter preference survey, the Pulse Asia reported on Saturday. According to the survey, conducted from Jan. 24 to 28 among 1,800 registered voters with biometrics nationwide, 30 percent of Filipinos said they will vote Poe to be the next President. “The latest Pulse Asia survey is both overwhelming and humbling. It echoes the voice of the people who trust and believe in my capacity to be a leader no matter what hurdles are thrown my way,” Poe said in a statement. “The Filipinos will always be my inspiration to stay the course and work harder, especially now that the official campaign period is about to commence. I am ready to serve and work to bring the change that the Filipinos deserve,” she added. The data puts her ahead of Vice

President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance with 23 percent while former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II of the Liberal Party and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of PDP-Laban tied with 20 percent. The Binay camp reiterated that the most important survey is on election day and stressed that the election is about poverty, unemployment and hunger and not about surveys. “This election is about poverty, hunger, and unemployment that persist despite claims of economic growth and the importance of a decisive and experienced president to urgently address these issues,” Atty. Rico Quicho, VP spokesperson for political concerns, said.

As the campaign progresses, the numbers will be fluid but what will be constant for us is the Vice President’s direct contact with our people, Quicho said. Poe’s running mate Senator Francis Escudero also continued to lead the vice presidential race among classes D and E from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. “Only Senator Poe and Vice President Binay experience marked movements in their presidential voter preferences between December 2015 and January 2016,” the Pulse Asia survey stated. Across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, Poe is leading among those from Class D (32 percent) from Luzon (39 percent). However, voters in Mindanao support the candidacy of tough-talker Duterte with 48 percent. In Luzon, both Poe and Binay shared the lead with 33 percent and 32 percent while Roxas led in the Visayas with 32 percent followed by Poe with 26 percent respectively.

Pulse Asia said Poe gained nine additional percentage points while Binay lost 10 percentage points during the period of December 2015 to January 2016. Poe also gained 10 points in Luzon and 11 points in the Visayas. The pollster said support for Binay’s candidacy declined by 14 points in the Visayas region and 16 percentage points in Mindanao. “There are no marked movements in the voter preferences of former DILG Secretary Roxas, Davao City Mayor Duterte, and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago at this time,” the Pulse Asia stated. Escudero remained the top contender for vice president with 33 percent, followed by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with 23 percent. Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor Robredo got 18 percent while Senator Alan Peter Cayetano received 14 percent. “Electoral support for these candidates remains constant between December 2015 and January 2016,” the pollsters stated.

For the senatorial candidates, on average, Filipinos have 10 preferred candidates for the Senate while more than half, or 56 percent, already have a complete senatorial slate. “Thirteen out of 52 senatorial bets have a statistical chance of winning in May 2016,” the pollster stated. Their favored senatorial bets for the 2016 elections are Senator Vicente Sotto III with 68.8 percent, former senator Francis Pangilinan 65.6 percent, former senator Panfilo Lacson 63.3-percent, Senator Ralph Recto 59.9 percent, Senator Franklin Drilon 58.8 percent, former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri 54.9 percent, Senator Sergio Osmeña III 54.8 percent, former senator Richard Gordon 48.6 percent, former justice secretary Leila de Lima 48.2 percent, Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao 46.9 percent, Senator Teofisto Guingona III 41.4 percent, former Akbayan Party List Rep. Risa Hontiveros 41.4 percent and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian 37.7 percent.

‘NO BASIS TO IMPLICATE ROXAS’ By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

TEST RUN. Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista supervises two young voters who joined the poll body chief in testing the facility lay-out of polling places that will be used in the May elections. JANSEN ROMERO

BUSINESSMAN Robert John Sobrepeña was only mounting a counter-offensive when he suggested that Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas should also be investigated over his supposed involvement in anomalous train maintenance and service contracts. “It’s simply a counteroffensive on the part of Mr. Sobrepeña and his friends,” Presidential Communication Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said in a radio interview. “It is very easy to accuse but, of course, there is no basis for these accusations,” Quezon said, adding that Sobrepeña, owner of MRT Holdings Inc., was just shifting the blame to the government. “I believe it would be fair to say that Mr. Sobrepeña and his company will of course do everything possible to shift the blame for what is the real cause of the problems,” he added. Quezon was reacting to the statement of Sobrepeña urging the Ombudsman to investigate Roxas for the allegedly anomalous

procurement and maintenance service contracts signed by the Department of Transportation and Communications during Roxas’ watch. Sobrepeña specified the contracts awarded to Philippine Trams Rail Management and Services Corp. after a Senate panel report implicated Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and other officials for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Sobrepeña said that if Abaya was just two days on the job when he signed the maintenance contract between the DoTC and PH Trams, then that means the vetting process for the transaction happened during the term of Abaya’s predecessor, Roxas. Roxas was transferred to the Department of the Interior and Local Government following the death of Jesse Robredo on Aug. 18, 2012, but he assumed his new post only on Oct. 19 the day that the MRT maintenance contract with Sumitomo Corp. expired. That contract had originally expired in July 2010, but was renewed four times on a sixmonth basis, subject to DoTC approval.

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OPINION

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WHAT IF THIS BABY WERE MINE? By Ozan Kose CANAKKALE, Turkey—The baby is the first dead body I see when I get to the beach. He looks like he is nine or 10 months old. He is dressed warmly and was wearing a hat. An orange pacifier is attached to his clothes. Near him floats a child of eight or nine years. Next to them a woman. Their mother perhaps. I take a few photos. I walk along the beach. I see the body of another child on a rock. Later, I will have nightmares, I will spend hours not being able to speak. But at the moment, I don’t really feel anything, to be honest. The Turkish police are collecting the bodies. They drowned the night before in the waters off this coast. There are so many bodies. I can’t count them all. For the moment, none is taking care of the dead baby. I return to him and stay there, for about an hour, silent. I have a baby boy who is five months and a daughter who is eight years old. I ask myself what I would do if this were my baby. I ask myself what is happening to humanity. I have been in Turkey’s Cannakale region for several days. It’s a coastal region on the Turkish side of the Aegean Sea, where thousands of refugees from Syria, Iraq and elsewhere have gathered hoping to catch a boat to the Greek island of Lesbos, just across the waters. The day before I was in the woods with dozens of migrants who had been cheated by the smugglers. They paid a small fortune to board a boat for Greece, but the boat that was to carry them across turned out to be much smaller than promised. Afraid of drowning, the migrants refused to get on board. The smugglers threatened them with firearms. The migrants, warming up by campfires as they waited to find another boat to take them to the promised land of Europe, were happy to see me, to share their problems with me. The children kept asking their parents, “So when are we going to get onto a boat?” Were some of those people with whom I spoke in those woods on board the overcrowded boat that sank in calm weather overnight between Friday, Jan. 29 and Saturday, Jan. 30 a few hundred meters from the coast? Definitely. Maybe. Difficult to say. That Saturday morning I am awakened around 7 a.m. by sirens of numerous ambulances. My hotel is right next to the coast guard base. I realize right away that something serious must have happened. When I get to the base, a boat docks. Bodies in plastic bags are taken off. I count around ten. There are also numerous surviContinued on A6

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NO DRAMA THE Liberal Party’s presidential candidate, former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, has released a new advertisement portraying himself as bland and unexciting. There are no back stories, no catchy campaign slogans, no compelling human-interest angle behind his presidential run. Roxas was born into a well-to-do family and was educated in the best schools here and abroad. Nothing heroic, poetic or heart-tugging with that. And now this man with the rather uneventful background is asking us to vote for him so that he could continue the “daang matuwid”— correct it or improve on it, if needed. Roxas’ argument is compelling in its correctness. Filipinos have, for numerous times, been fooled by narratives. Perhaps this finds root in our fascination with movies and telenovelas. We believe in archetypes—that certain types of people are bound to behave in a certain way. We ascribe labels, perhaps to facilitate how we receive and store information in our heads and eventually decide if they are worth our support or not. And always, we fail. All too soon, we discover that those candidates we have lionized, with stories we have romanticized, are like you and me—fallible and inconsistent, with good traits coexisting with the bad. It is time to learn from what Roxas is telling us—running a country is not a job for protagonists and superheroes. It is, in fact, a mean challenge to level-headed, intelligent yet humble individuals who can carry a genuine conversation with a head of state as he or she can with the man on the street. Devoid of drama—indeed. The problems of this nation will ultimately be addressed by a balance of thinking and doing, deliberation and decisiveness. There is just one thing odd about Roxas’ admonition: its lack of sincerity. He comes up with this message after contriving drama all these months—driving pedicabs, carrying sacks of rice and shedding tears— and finding these have not gotten him anywhere in the polls. The hypocrisy debunks the credibility that comes from the meat of the message. So let’s heed it and take it further. No drama, sure, but no lies, as well.

SILICON VALLEY SHOULD JOIN THE WAR ON TERRORISM By John McCain ISLAMIC State and other terrorist groups espouse a primitive ideology and rely on medieval tactics, but they use distinctly modern tools: social media and communications platforms designed to evade our most advanced efforts to fight terrorism. By taking advantage of widely available encryption technologies, terrorists and common criminals alike can carry out their agendas in cyber safe havens beyond the reach of our intelligence agency tools and law enforcement capabilities. This is unacceptable. Americans, of course, need access to technology that keeps our personal and business communications private, but this must be balanced with concerns over national security.

Some technologists and Silicon Valley executives argue that any efforts by the government to ensure law-enforcement access to encrypted information will undermine users’ privacy and make them less secure. This position is ideologically motivated and profit-driven, though not without merit. But, by speaking in absolute terms about privacy rights, they bring the discussion to a halt, while the security threat evolves. Top cryptologists have reasonably cautioned that “new law enforcement requirements are likely to introduce unanticipated, hard to detect security flaws,” but this is not the end of the analysis. We recognize there may be risks to requiring such access, but we know there are risks to doing nothing. To be clear, encryption is often a very

good thing. It increases the security of our online activities, provides the confidence necessary for economic growth through the Internet, and protects our privacy by securing some of our most important personal information, such as financial data and health records. Yet as with many technological tools, terrorist organizations are using encryption with alarming success. For example, “end-to-end” encryption—which allows communications and data shared across devices and platforms to be seen only by the individual holding the receiving device—protects information even from a lawful court order backed by probable cause. Apple, Google and other companies have recently made this level of encryption the default setting on many phones and operating systems. The result

will be digital crime scenes to which law enforcement has no access. Encryption technology is easy to get hold of and doesn’t require much sophistication to use. Islamic State knows this, and keeps close tabs on which technologies to direct its followers to in order to evade government surveillance. A recent article in the journal Foreign Affairs called it “the first terrorist group to hold both physical and digital territory: in addition to the swaths of land it controls in Iraq and Syria, it dominates pockets of the Internet with relative impunity.”

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This isn’t just a problem in Iraq and Syria. The jihadists’ followers and adherents use encryption to hide their communications within the US FBI Director James Comey recently testified that the attackers in last year’s Garland, Texas, shootings exchanged more than 100 text messages with an overseas terrorist, but law enforcement is still blinded to the content of those texts because they were encrypted. In October, President Barack Obama announced that he would not seek legislation requiring government access to such data—a capability that would have been

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routine for law enforcement before the age of advanced encryption. The administration is instead asking for the industry’s voluntary assistance in modifying technology to meet our security needs. Progress in this outreach to industry has been made, Comey said in November, and “venom has been drained out of the conversation.” But this is not enough. Efforts to eliminate cyber safe havens must not be marked by the same half-measures that have defined this administration’s military fight against Islamic State. The president needs to define a coherent strategy to address the increasing use of

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encrypted communications by those who wish America and its allies ill. This would mean building coalitions, domestically and internationally, to update laws and international conventions that allow law enforcement agencies across the world lawful access to digital criminal evidence. As part of this effort, Congress should consider legislation that would require US telecommunications companies to adopt technological alternatives that allow them to comply with lawful requests for access to content, but that would not prescribe what those systems should look Continued on A6 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

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OPINION

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S U N D AY, F E B R U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

OPINION

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THE MOSQUITO FROM HELL By Natalia Ramos SALVADOR DE BAHIA, BRAZIL—Infernal heat fills the waiting room of the pediatric neurology department, a heat against which the few fans buzzing away on the wall seem powerless. Seated on the chairs are mothers and couples. The babies that they cradle with such love will probably not be able to speak, or walk, or develop normal intellectual abilities. I and the rest of the AFP team are in Salvador de Bahia, in Brazil’s northeast. It’s one of the Latin American regions most affected by the Zika virus, which is spread by mosquitoes and when caught by a pregnant woman is suspected of causing microcephaly, a congenital condition where the head is smaller than normal and the brain under-developed. The virus has so far spread to 26 countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean and health authorities have warned it could affect up to four million people on the continent and spread worldwide, with first cases already reported in Europe. It breaks my heart to see these children and their parents at the Sister Dulce, a Catholic hospital in Salvador, where a non-governmental organization provides care for the poor. Each case of microcephaly is unique and the degree of the damage depends on the zone of the brain that is affected. But it’s not an exaggeration to say that each of these babies will become a handicapped child and then adult, in families that have very few resources to take care of them. A couple agrees to talk to us. “When he was born, it dropped on us like a bomb,” says Mateus, the father. “I had so many dreams for him. I wanted him to do sports, to play, to be healthy and strong…”

Kleisse and Mateus with Pietro at home, January 2016. AFP In his arms is little Pietro, their first child. “I caught Zika in my fifth month of pregnancy,” says Kleisse, the mother. The symptoms seemed benign—fever, headache, pain in the joints. “I went to the doctor and was told that there was no risk, neither for the baby or me. But when he was born on Nov. 22, we were told he has microcephaly and we understood that he would never be normal.” As they speak to us, the two parents tenderly caress their little boy. The next day, we go to their house. They live in a favela, one of Brazil’s myriad of poor neighborhoods. Although theirs has electricity and basic public services, it’s still a favela, with houses piled up on top of each other, dogs in the street, small bars and shops. There are no parks, no libraries, no public transport. And no med-

ical facilities. ‘Democratic’ virus? Their house is narrow and warm, devoid of any decorations except for a few family photos. In the main room there is a television and a fan. Kleisse explains to me that running water is often cut here, so people stock up. In such a tropical climate, stagnant water is a favorite habitat for the mosquitoes that carry Zika. That’s one of the cruelties of this virus—the speed with which it has spread in Brazil is partly due to the lack of basic public services and the high number of people living in poverty. Later, an official with the Bahia health authorities would tell us that it’s a “democratic” virus that can afflict anyone, no matter their social class. But even he will admit that there are more chances of contracting it by people who live in non-air-

conditioned houses, in winding streets infested by mosquitoes, where water is stocked up because of incessant cuts. “If I had known, I would have paid more attention, I would have protected myself with anti-mosquito spray,” says Kleisse. “Mosquitoes have always been a problem here, and now this.” “They are mosquitoes from hell,” cries out her husband. Another couple that we met lives three hours away from the hospital. Who will pay for their trips? For the moment, they can carry their baby in their arms. But what will they do when he becomes bigger? They are a young couple of modest means. They couldn’t talk to me for too long because they had to catch the next bus to return home. One of the delicate issues raised by this virus is the question of abortion. In Brazil, abortion is

only allowed in extreme cases— if the mother’s life is in danger, if the pregnancy is a result of rape, or if the fetus is afflicted with anencephaly. Microcephaly is not on the list of accepted conditions. Women afflicted with Zika cannot, for the moment, decide for themselves whether they’ll continue the pregnancy or not. At least in theory. Because, as for a lot of things, it all depends on your social class. “Abortion is already free in Brazil,” a celebrated doctor said recently. “It’s just a matter of money to have it performed in reasonable conditions. The rest are lies and hypocrisy.” Countries advise to put off pregnancies Brazil is a country with a huge Catholic population and its conservative parliament is looking to tighten the already strict anti-abortion legislation. Those attempts sparked massive demonstrations by women last year. But to be honest, many Brazilian women would not choose to abort even if they knew that their baby will be born handicapped. Some at the Salvador hospital told me so themselves. The virus—which at the moment has no treatment—has sparked a lot of panic in Brazil and neighboring countries, as it has spread with alarming speed. Some Latin American countries are advising couples to avoid getting pregnant altogether for the moment. I will remember the microcephalic children that I saw for a long time. During my reporting trip to Bahia, I received numerous messages from my friends. Like me, they don’t plan to have kids until they have established a career and they are worried by what they are reading in my stories. “Am I never going to be able to become a mother?” asked one. AFP

WHAT... From A5

SILICON... From A5

vors, including women and children. I get closer. They are from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. They are all in a state of shock. They tell me that the weather was good, that the sea was calm, but that there were too many of them on the boat. It was a small tourist boat, with a capacity for 20 to 30 passengers. When it sank, it was carrying more than 100 refugees, each of whom had paid 1,200 euros to the smugglers to get on board. Police take the survivors to question them and I decide to get closer to where the sinking took place. The boat went down less than a kilometer from the coast, near the village of Bademli. When I get to the spot, I see the half-sunken wreck that’s now floating some 50 meters from shore. The beach is covered by life jackets, personal effects and the bodies spat out by the cold Aegean waters. Including that of the baby at whose side I now sit. As a photographer, I have covered riots and attacks. I’ve seen dead bodies. But this, this is the worst of them all. I look at his tiny body and I ask myself why. Why this interminable war in Syria. Rage fills me. Rage against all the politicians who have caused this, against all those smugglers who send people to their deaths. Eventually a policeman comes, lifts the baby and puts him in a plastic bag. He too is crying. Bloomberg

like. This would allow companies to retain flexibility to design their technologies to meet both their business needs and our national security interests. Such a proposal would be similar to legislation enacted in the 1990s that ensured law enforcement agencies are able to lawfully wiretap without mandating how those systems ought to be designed. We have to encourage companies and individuals who rely on encryption to recognize that our security is threatened, not encouraged, by technologies that place vital information outside the reach of law enforcement. Developing technologies that aid terrorists like Islamic State is not only harmful to our security, but it is ultimately an unwise business model. The threat posed by the status quo is unacceptable. The use of technology by terrorist groups to recruit members, spread hateful ideology and plot attacks will only expand. But, just as Islamic State’s growth through the establishment of safe havens in Iraq and Syria was not inevitable, the group’s ability to use technology to the same end does not need to be either. Bloomberg

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

TAKE OUT THE ‘EPAL’ POSTERS —GROUPS ENVIRONMENTALIST group Ecowaste Coalition on Saturday called for efforts to keep “epal” and other illegal campaign materials for the May elections out of the streets by recycling or repurposing them. The group, a partner of the government-led “Basura-Free Elections” advocacy and the civil society Green Thumb Coalition, stressed that candidates should help protect the environment from waste and toxic materials by abiding with the Commission on Elections Resolution 10049. The resolution stated that the Commission has directed, among other things, the removal of epal, unsafe and illegal campaign materials outside the authorized common poster areas and has consequently tapped the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metro Manila Development Authority as lead agencies for the “Operation Baklas.” “We ask concerned candidates not to wait for DPWH or MMDA personnel to remove their errant campaign materials. At the same time, we appeal to those who will take out unlawful materials such as tarpaulins to remove them with care so the same can be recycled or repurposed,” said Ecowaste coordinator Aileen Lucero. She added that reusing or recycling tarpaulins is a sure way of reducing the volume of campaign waste that are burned, buried in dumpsites or thrown in waterways. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson ordered all regional directors to start on Tuesday removing and tear down all unlawful election materials posted in areas which are not the officially Comelec designated posting areas. He ordered the removal of election propaganda materials posted on bridge approaches, road and bridge railings, road signage, chevrons, crib walls, ripraps, and in other similar public structures within the road right-of-way limits. Singson also ordered his men to dismantle election propaganda materials posted alongside or in all ongoing or recently completed DPWH projects. “This is our way of supporting the “anti-epal” campaign or the citizens’ call on politicians not to use government projects as accessory resources to drumbeat their accomplishments at the expense of taxpayers’ money,” said Singson. Joel E. Zurbano

SUNDAY ROAD EVENT SEEN TO SNARL TRAFFIC By Joel E. Zurbano

AUTHORITIES advised commuters and motorists to brace for traffic gridlock Sunday morning due to the closure of Roxas Boulevard in connection with the Road Sharing event to improve public transportation and air quality in the community. Lawyer Emerson Carlos, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, said his agency came up with a decision to close to vehicular traffic the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from Pasay City area to Manila to give way for the event dubbed as “KalyeShare” spearheaded by the Bayanihan sa Daan Movement. “The southbound portion of the Roxas Boulevard would be closed to traffic starting 6:30 a.m. up to lunch time,” said Carlos. The MMDA said motorists com-

ing from Manila going to southern part of Metro Manila should take Osmeña Highway and Quirino Roads, instead of Roxas Boulevard. From Padre Burgos Street, motorists may also take Orosa Street right to Kalaw Avenue left to M.H. Del Pilar Street left to Quirino Avenue and right to F.B. Harrison Street to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. The event will start at exactly 7 a.m. and expected to affect traffic on major roads from Edsa Extension in Pasay City to the Manila Hotel in Manila.

Carlos ordered the deployment of 60 MMDA traffic enforcers to manage traffic and guide motorists along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard. “With this event we hope we may be able to generate the interest and support from the road users and society as well,” he said. Carlos said the outermost lane will be used by pedestrians while the second and third lane will be designated for bicycles. The innermost lane will be for the demonstration of the Department of Science and Technology’s hybrid electric road train. He also said 100 MMDA bikes will be lent to the public for free, provided that the bikers will present an identification card. The Bayanihan sa Daan Movement leads the event with the support of the national government together with the Corporations, Institutions, Organizations and Civil Society Groups.

Tony Opposa, Bayanihan conceptor, said that this is about showing how we can improve public transportation. Around 3,000 people are expected to join the event, Opposa said. Opposa said the group’s mission is to improve public transportation, gives space for people to walk on and bicycles to ride on and lastly, to improve the air quality of the city. The group seeks to transform the roads of the country to become roads designed to move people in a way that is safe, efficient, convenient, reliable, and affordable. The exercise will demonstrate the effectiveness of road sharing, a necessary step in the shift towards a bicycle-friendly Philippines, the group said. The group cited a study which showed that 90 percent of air pollution in Metro Manila is caused by motorized vehicles.

RUN, GORDON, RUN. Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon approaches the finish line during the Millions Volunteer Run for 3K and 5K on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. AVITO DALAN

CALL THIS CABBIE ‘HONESTO’ By Jun David

e-PASS RELOADED. The company behind the electronic toll collection service, e-Pass, and

BPI have renewed their partnership that was marked with a two-month raffle promotion where those reloading were given the chance to win Acer gadgets. From left: third place winner Jennifer Paulino, e-Pass representatives Anne Machuca, Arlo Espino, and Rene Banzon, grand prize winner Miguel Nanawa, third place winner Ernesto Perez, representative of second prize winner Alfredo Andaya, and third prize winner Marloun Sejera. Second prize winner Aida Florescio was not shown in the photo.

A TAXICAB driver showed his pure heart and his good moral character by returning the baggage which contained cash, valuable items and documents which were left by his passengers, a French national and a Belgian inside his cab at the airport. Arnolfo M. Bado, a driver of Rosemarie taxi, went to the Caloocan City Hall where he had entrusted the baggage. The driver claimed his passengers hailed his taxicab somewhere along F. Lacson, Legarda, Manila and the two asked him to take them to the Manila

International Airport Terminal III, to catch their plight at about 4 a.m. Upon reaching the air port, he said the two walked casually leaving their baggage behind. He said he had waited for them to return, but after more than one hour an airport security guard ordered him to leave the area. When he reached the garage at Felomena St. Barangay 13, Caloocan, he saw three big backpacks inside the compartment. He said he went to the PIO-Caloocan to surrender the baggage. They were received by Miss Liza Valderama, a PIO officer in charge.

When the baggage was opened at the PIO, it was discovered to contain P34,000 cash, a camera, various foreign currency, Hong Kong dollars worth about P2,500. The passengers were identified as Victor Mark Marvancher, a French national, and his companion named Gregoire Patrick Pesters, a Belgian. Valderama said she would contact the French Embassy regarding the two foreign nationals’ belongings. Bado said he had overheard from the conversation of his passengers that they were going to Puerto Princesa.

SUNDAY: FEBRUARY 7, 2016

NEWS editorial@thestandard.com.ph

RECTO WARNS PALACE, DBM NOT TO ACT UNILATERALLY ON PAY HIKE SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Saturday urged Malacañang to consult with leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives before finalizing its plan to adjust the salary of government workers this year without an enabling law. Recto said the Budget and Management has agreed to adopt his proposal for executive action on the grant of the first tranche of salary adjustments for state workers as spelled out in the proposed Salary Standardization Law IV. “With the bicameral committee still deadlocked on SSL IV, it is but proper for the Executive Department to step in and ensure that our government workers will receive the pay hike contained in the 2016 national budget,” the senator said. But Recto cautioned Malacañang against unilateral implementation of the pay adjustments without consultation with Congress leaders, saying “points agreed upon during the legislative deliberations must be included in any presidential order implementing the pay hike.” Foremost of these issues, he said, is non-reduction of so-called Magna Carta benefits currently being enjoyed by government workers. “Both the Senate and the House invested so much time and effort in polishing the [SSL4] bill that it is just proper that improvements agreed upon be incorporated into whatever order the President will issue on salary standardization,” Recto pointed out. “It can still be a unilateral act but consultative in so far as the process is concerned. The institution that appropriated the money must be consulted by the coequal branch that will spend it,” he added. “Congressional leaders are just a phone call or a text away. Pwede mag-Skype pa nga,” he said. Recto added, “no harm will be done if the DBM will also solicit the view of heads of departments whose employees might be affected by the vague language of a few sections of the proposed SSL IV.”

FOR GOOD LUCK. Shoppers look for lucky charms at a store along Ongpin Street in Manila’s Chinatown on the eve of the Chinese New Year.

EY ACASIO

‘KEEP PRICES STEADY’ By Alena Mae S. Flores

GOVERNMENT Watch (formerly Consumer and Oil Price Watch) is urging the Department of Trade and Industry to continue monitoring prices of basic goods and commodities to ensure that they reflect the price cuts in oil products. Oil prices went up last week but analysts said the price hike was not sustainable owing to the oversupply of oil products in the world market. The watchdog, in a statement, lauded DTI for its continuing efforts to bring down prices of basic goods and commodities. Consumers’ advocate Raul T. Concepcion has been vigilantly keeping tabs of power and oil prices. According to the latest meeting of the National Price Coordinating Council Meeting called by Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal, oil prices have significantly gone down since 2014.

In 2015 alone, prices of gasoline, diesel, household LPG and kerosene recorded a total price rollback of P1.53 per liter, P7.10 per liter, P3.09 per kilogram and P8.32 per liter, respectively. From a high of P50 per liter in 2014, the price of gasoline went down to P31 per liter to P38 per liter. From P30 per liter, diesel went down to P17 to P29 per liter while household LPG went down to P550 per cylinder from an alltime high of P800 per 11-kilo cylinder. “Government Watch is very happy with the way DTI is conducting its strict monitoring of oil

and basic products as the lower prices will redound to the benefit of consumers,” Concepcion said. Concepcion said that while Government Watch is now focused on monitoring government developments especially the crucial 2016 national elections, it is still advocating lower oil prices to benefit consumers. Based on the latest Price Monitoring Data of the DTI, prices of commercial rice are lower by P1 to P2 compared to last year except for special rice which remained at P50 per kilo. Cooking oil prices also declined by P2 to P4 compared to last year. Cooking oil lapad size is currently at P24 while long-neck size is at P48. Prices of pork, chicken and beef are also generally stable while fish prices also remained stable except for bangus which went up by P10 compared to last year. Prices of vegetables also remained stable but prices of fruits saw an increase by P20 compared to last year except for lakatan and latundan which remained stable.

Prices of flour also went down due to lower prices of wheat and competition in the market. Meanwhile, prices of manufactured basic necessities and prime commodities remained stable although it has not gone down due to high trucking costs. “Lower oil prices should not only be reflected in the price of transportation and basic goods and commodities alone but also the cost of power,” according to Government Watch spokesman Pete Cura said. Cura urged DTI to continue to monitor the price and supply situation of basic necessities and prime commodities including trucking rates which increased due to the port congestion as it has been affecting the price of manufactured goods. Trucking rates have been going down since July 2015 but rates are still higher compared to preport congestion levels (P17,000). Trucking rates went up to as high as P29,000 but went down in January due to low demand and decrease in oil prices.

PPI SUPPORTS UN CALL FOR MEDIAMEN’S SAFETY

AGAINST CHILD ABUSE. Marking the National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on Feb. 8-13, women and children along with child groups and advocates gather to express outrage over the growing number of Filipino children who fall victims of sexual abuse and exploitation during a protest rally held at the Quezon City Hall grounds. JANSEN ROMERO

THE Philippine Press Institute, also known as the national association of newspapers and considered the oldest professional media organization in the country since 1964, joins the United Nations in its call for safety and welfare of journalists and media workers at an ongoing forum in Paris. Worldwide, media organizations and their partners have put to the fore discussions on safety in the context of economic and press freedom. Enabling a violence-and-impunity-free society makes (for) an independent media and stronger democracy. On the local front, the PPI in a statement said it has always encouraged owners and publishers of its member-newspapers to protect their media employees by providing enough remuneration and resources to be able to function well, considering the Philippines is one of the most dangerous places for media workers. The situation admittedly is far from ideal but necessary steps have already been taken to make safety as a priority newsroom mechanism and an employment right that secure tenure and defend the otherwise volatile press freedom in the country, PPI said.

SUNDAY: FEBRUARY 7, 2016

Roderick T. dela Cruz EDITOR business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS AIRFREIGHT HEIRESS REINVENTS SHOPPING

Shopinas.com founder and chief executive Sheila Lina (third from right) and other partners of Ureka Forum

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

SHEILA Lina, the 30-year-old daughter of Customs commissioner Alberto Lina, put off her Hollywood dream and returned to Manila in 2009 to help in the family business. Her father is now in charge of

the Bureau of Customs, the agency tasked to collect import duties to support government finances. The petite airfreight heiress supervises the family’s latest company Air21 Global Inc., analytics and consultancy firm Dun & Bradstreet Philippines Inc. and homegrown electronic commerce platform Shopinas.com, which she formed herself. Shopinas.com, the online unit of Air21 Global, connects sellers and shoppers, providing a convenient and secure online marketplace where anyone can buy and sell items such as shoes, bags, accessories, personal care products and gadgets. Before she came to help in the family business, Sheila and her sister Donna May established Ube Media LLC in Los Angeles, which produced films, TV shows and

corporate videos. Donna May still runs the company, which relocated to the Philippines later. “I worked as a film producer. I set up a film production company, Ube Media LLC in Los Angeles together with my sister,” Sheila says in an interview. Sheila has always been fascinated by digital technology. “If not managing Shopinas/Air21, I would probably have started another company, this time in the burgeoning digital therapeutics and wellness space. I’m very interested in how technology can help us live healthier and more contented lives,” she says. She wants to help develop the Philippine online market, the reason why she co-founded Ureka Forum, the largest e-commerce circuit designed to give Filipino small and medium enterprises the opportunity to grow their busi-

nesses through e-commerce. Members of the Ureka Forum consortium include Air21, Shopinas, AMTI, DragonPlay, the Trade Department, Panahon TV, PLDT Smart SME Nation, Janette Toral and GeiserMaclang. Sheila, a business major graduate abroad and an actor by heart, formed Shopinas.com in 2009 when she came back from her pursuit of Hollywood dream. She got the idea of Shopinas.com when entrepreneurs using social media platform Multiply tapped the services of Air21 to pick up the products and deliver it to customers. She says she saw the need for hassle-free online transactions for both entrepreneurs and consumers six years ago. “So around 2009, our family business is in logistics and I saw that Multiply was using us as a logistics provider of choice, but that time, it would happen online. The entrepreneur would say, can you deposit in my bank account and then I’ll deliver it. I’ll let Air21 pick up and deliver so that’s part of the idea. Why can’t we build another platform where all are included,” Lina says, in recalling

how she came up with the idea for Shopinas.com. She says Shopinas.com now provides end-to-end solutions where one can upload products with price and the system will basically take care of processing the payment and the deliveries. “So essentially what you have to ask the entrepreneur is to market your store and to fulfill the orders,” she says. “We have our payments options, we have our logistics included,” she says. Shopinas.com holds office at the same warehouse in Paraque City used by Air21 as headquarters. Shopinas wants to help entrepreneurs build their own online market using their creativity on how they want to advertise their store or their products, she says. Sheila says unlike other online market platforms where the sellers’ pages are in standard format, Shopinas.com sellers can design their own page and decide on how their products are displayed. She says unlike other e-commerce websites that are customerfocused, “for us in Shopinas, we’re a bit more curated. We’re very entrepreneur-focused. If you want

to control the feel of your brand, you can’t do that on other online market,” she says. “We give the entrepreneur the freedom if they want to brand their site. If they want to do other things, they have that flexibility,” she says. Sheila says Shopinas.com also aims to instill good entrepreneurial mindset among the sellers. Entrepreneurs are required to submit all necessary documents before they are allowed to use the platform of Shopinas.com, to make the transactions legitimate and compliant with the Bureau of Internal Revenue guidelines. Shopinas.com earns through commissions from the transactions. “We charge commission, and there are certain withholding tax that we hold, so we have to ask them to give us certain forms,” she says. “One of the things that we distinct ourselves is we have a very stringent criteria in terms of which kind of entrepreneur gets on board so they have to submit all their registration, all their documentary compliances and TURN TO B3

SUNDAY: FEBRUARY 7, 2016

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

UK EXPAT ‘DISRUPTS’ MERALCO By Alena Mae S. Flores

A BRITISH expatriate is introducing ‘disruptive technologies’ to transform the operations of power distributor Manila Electric Co. amid the changing technology landscape and evolving consumer needs.

Behind the company’s ‘disruption’ is chief technology adviser Gavin Barfield, 37, who is tasked to ensure readiness during the digital age and drive Meralco’s 2021 vision of a smart grid. “Traditionally technology has always disrupted industries and forced businesses to change their models to remain relevant. But what has changed is the pace of adoption,” he says, noting that it took radio 38 years to have 50 million subscribers, but it took Angry Birds only 36 days to get as many. Barfield says the entry of the third IT platform such as Internet of things, cloud, mobility, social media and big data is pushing Meralco to re-vamp its technology solutions. “A new generation of customers is coming in. Things such as fax, branches, paper mail etc. are no longer relevant to them. When you stop being relevant to your customers, you have a problem,” he says. Barfield, who was appointed in Meralco in October 2014, is heavily involved in defining the company’s technology strategy, improving IT operations and guiding major projects. He is in charge of introducing ‘disruptive technologies’ or innovations that are designed to transform businesses. Barfield, who holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Loughborough University (UK), helped formulate Meralco’s technology vision 2021 and is spearheading the company’s drive towards digitalization. He has worked in the Philippines since 2007, as a key advisor to government agencies in energy market developments and regulatory issues. He was involved in the design and development of both the Singapore National Energy Market and the Philippine Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. As a foreigner, Barfield says people were initially wary of his involvement in Meralco. “It’s been a big move from consultancy to working inside a company like Meralco. But I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and the warmth everyone has shown. Initially people were wary. We have very few foreigners in the organization and I certainly stand out. But soon people could see that I was approachable and had some valuable experience to share,” he says. Barfield says people began to recognize the unique experience he brought through 15 years in the electricity industry, three market de-regulations and his previous involvement in developing the Philippines and Singapore energy market and his work for the Energy Department and Energy Regulatory Commission on energy policy and retail competition. “I have been gently challenging

Meralco chief technology officer Gavin Barfield

the team and setting Meralco on a new innovations roadmap. This is centered around new technologies [like Cloud, mobility] plus a consolidation of our innovations and a drive towards new platforms. such as our customer platform to deliver new products and services digitally,” he says. Barfield says ‘disruptive technologies’ are affecting all industries, and companies that are unable to cope are at risk of being left in the dust. “Previously capital intense industries were immune from new competition but the likes of Facebook, Uber, AirBnB etc. has proved that new technology can provide alternative business models that disrupt traditional industries,” he says. “Our customers are changing. A new generation of connected, digitally savvy consumers are expecting more convenience, more services and more transparency. We already offer the facility for customers to pay online but recognize there are improvements that can be made to make the process easier and to enable customers to pay using other methods,” he says. Barfield says Meralco’s customers “are at the heart of what we do to ensure we deliver value and recognize customers’ needs.”

“This is what I call ‘customercentric IT’, where everything we do is for the customer, directly or indirectly. We hope to upgrade our backend systems to improve efficiency and totally overhaul our digital customer engagement,” Barfield says. He says Meralco customers will soon be able to view their bill, pay easily, receive reminders, submit complaints and feedback, report outages and faults, view detailed consumption information and interact with Meralco through a variety of channels. “We are keen to attain the highest levels of service possible driven by advances in technology. This will encourage new industries to move to the Philippines or existing ones to stay. As we use technology to improve reliability and reduce cost, we hope to make the provision of electricity in the Philippines on par or better than our neighbors; encouraging more investment and providing more opportunities for Filipinos locally,” he says. Digital shift Barfield says telecommunication firms saw their traditional businesses such as fixed line, mobile calls and SMS drop when new overthe-top services like Whatsapp, Viber and Skype came in. The same

thing could happen to Meralco but Barfield says technology can instead be used to help the company “stay relevant in an ever changing world.” “We want to ‘disrupt ourselves’ and find new technology solutions and business models to ensure that our services are in demand. In the electric industry solar and battery storage technologies are the ‘Uber’ equivalents that could disrupt the traditional model and move Meralco to becoming a secondary or back-up supply. We need to start finding business models that suit consumers desire to self-generate but with the reliability and stability of the grid,” says Barfield. Barfield sees advances in technology “as an opportunity to improve our customer service, to open up new ‘digital channels’ that allow us to offer more products and services and to harness the advances in sensing, automation and analytics to provide a more efficient, cost effective and reliable service to our customers.” According to Barfield, Meralco is undergoing ‘digital pivot,’ a time when the company is assessing its operations and looking at ways to introduce technology to improve efficiency and better serve its customers.

“Part of the digital pivot is looking at our core operations and finding ways that we can improve our systems, digitalize our processes, automate further, utilize our data better and improve the service we provide to our customers,” he says. As a part of this digital pivot, Meralco is looking at new ‘technology enabled’ products and services that it can launch to meet customers’ needs and develop additional revenue streams, he says. Smart grid “By 2021, I would like to see Meralco fully embracing the smart grid. We have ambitious plans to roll out more ‘smart meters’ which provide customers with information on their energy consumption on an hour-by-hour basis. This is the building blocks for us to roll out new services like our k-load pre-paid electricity scheme and our planned post paid plus,” Barfield says. Barfield’s vision is to see more automation and efficiency in Meralco’s back-end processes enabled by smart scheduling or work and field force automation - through mobile devices in the next five years. “Data is growing fast and we will TURN TO B3

SUNDAY: FEBRUARY 7, 2016

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

UK... FROM B2

Cable cars at Tagaytay Highlands

park, a lounge garden and a rock garden. “Whatever your needs and inclinations are at any given time, the mountain-resort-like development is likewise a safe and secure haven. It is created to be a community that promotes kinship with nature and the environment,” says Lennie Mendoza, senior vice president of Tagaytay Highlands. Homeowners’ safety and wellbeing are top of mind at Sycamore Heights, Mendoza says. The gated community inside Tagaytay Highlands has 24-hour security and 24-hour emergency medical and fire-fighting teams. Mendoza says Sycamore Heights demonstrates a luxurious and elegant lifestyle tailored to one’s desire for utmost comfort and relaxation.

start to harness the power of big data to deliver insights to our customers and analytics to drive our business,” he says. Barfield believes that Meralco should be engaging with customers in a whole new way, by integrating digital channels such as the new MoVe app, new website, email and social media. Customers can self-serve through kiosks or their own devices and have access to a wealth of information, he says. “Advances in our network management should enable a true -selfhealing’ network when the system finds alternative routes to minimize disruptions to customers. We will be proactive in informing customer of issues so they don’t have to call us,” he says. “I would also like to see Meralco offer home automation services linked into the smart grid. So your appliances can be remotely controlled and can make decisions on when to run based on the price of power. We will also expand into solar, battery storage and electric vehicles,” Barfield says of his vision for Meralco. Barfield says technology has been moving at a very fast pace and there is a strong need to keep up with the ever-changing environment. He says Meralco is guided by chairman Manuel Pangilinan’s vision in making it “an Internet company with a power business.” Pangilinan, together with other executives went to visit Silicon Valley a few years ago to give them an ‘eye opener’ on how technology is impacting businesses worldwide. As a result, Meralco executives today are very much aligned on the need to constantly innovate and invest in new technologies, he says. Barfield also helped transform the energy sector in Singapore, where he met a number of challenges. “I could see that Philippines will be facing the same challenges that we went through in Singapore… I wanted to help and to make a difference. I believed I could contribute to Meralco’s future success,” he says. “With this new focus on technology and innovation the company will adapt to the times. Keeping customers’ needs in view and by constantly adapting and investing in the infrastructure Meralco will play a critical role in the future development of the country… I am excited about playing a part in Meralco’s future,” he says.

are no fake products. You will be more comfortable buying online,” she says. She says Shopinas.com does not offer cash-on-delivery payment scheme at the moment. As a small operational team, she says they can not afford the losses associated with the risks of COD. “At Shopinas.com, we purposely do not accept COD, even though we know it will dramatically increase sales,” she says. Sheila says to further support and empower Filipino entrepreneurs, Shopinas.com became one of the proponents of Ureka Forum which aims for the mass conversion of SMEs into online market players. “It’s great to be invited to be one of the proponents of the wonderful Ureka project because our vision at Shopinas is to empower

Filipino entrepreneurs to promote their business by doing online,” she says. “What would we like to do with the Ureka project is to make these invisible entrepreneurs visible by bringing them online. We in Shopinas.com have a built a platform and essentially what it does is combine three elements of e-commerce: online shop, payment gateway and logistics,” she says. Shopinas.com is participating in the second leg of Ureka Forum at Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City on Feb. 20, after the successful first leg in Baguio City. “In the first leg of Ureka Forum in Baguio, we were able to convert 33 entrepreneurs to bring their business online. Our target is 150 entrepreneurs for Iloilo’s forum,” she says.

Swiss funicular train system at Tagaytay Highlands

ONLY IN TAGAYTAY:

MOUNTAIN RAILWAY AND CABLE CARS A MOUNTAIN railway and Swiss-engineered cable cars are among the amenities that can be found in Tagaytay Highlands, a leisure development of the SM Group.

The 48-seat funicular train system and Swiss-engineered cable cars fetch homeowners and members of two exclusive golf clubs—the Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club and the Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club. Both clubs boast of 18-hole championship golf courses atop Tagaytay’s highest elevations. Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club operates the Swissengineered cable cars, while the Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club has the country’s first and only 48seat Swiss funicular system. Homeowners at Sycamore Heights, a premier private and exclusive Asian contemporary themed residential development of Tagaytay Highlands, are also entitled to the worldclass amenities at the golf and country clubs, including breathtaking rides in the Swiss cable cars. Situated 165 to 195 meters (541 to 639 feet) above sea level and on a lush land area, Sycamore Heights offers scenic views of Taal Lake and Volcano, Midlands Fairways and the Tagaytay mountain range.

An architect’s perspective of the architectural theme of Sycamore Heights Sycamore Heights takes pride in its Central Park where the community’s exclusive swimming pool is located, along with a children’s playground, a lawn for friendly sports matches, a tree

Artist’s perspective of the cenral park

AIRFREIGHT... FROM B1 they have to do certain types of documentary compliances with us,” she says. “One of the things that we want to do is to instill a sense of responsibility, because we want to make this very legal as a business,” she says. “SMEs may find our policies too stringent. However, it is to ensure that we only host legitimate businesses that are compliant with legal and regulatory requirements. We want to avoid cases of fraudulent sellers and give our customers peace of mind when they shop on our platform,” she says. While she is aware of the consequence of very stringent rules, Sheila says the company cannot lower its standards. “In lowering

court for afternoon frolics, a pavilion for social gatherings and a jogging path for those who maintain an active lifestyle. Other exclusive community pocket gardens are a bird watch

your standards there’s a high risk for fraud. There is a high risk of grey market. For instance, people are selling fake designer bags. These kinds of products, for me, do not reflect what we want to promote like Filipino creativity and the right way of doing business,” she says. “So for us, they will see there is a difference in terms of how we are perceived as an e-commerce player,” she says. Since Shopinas.com was launched in 2009, it has grown to a network of 200 sellers. A team of 11 professionals handles the needs of sellers as well as the software, business and financial aspects of the network. Shopinas.com has its own logistics partner and payment

gateways that facilitate financial transactions. “Our responsibility is really building the platform and making sure that the entrepreneurs are on it. You follow the policies and follow through in terms of whatever orders they have,” she says. Sheila says e-commerce penetration rate in the Philippines has a long way to go. She says one reason the bigger players are doing a lot better than the SMEs is because large companies spend substantial amount in advertising. She says Shopinas.com can help SMEs reach more consumers. “We’re building our reputation as reputable e-commerce player. We’re here to help the entrepreneurs and build a safe community of sellers. All the transactions in Shopinas.com are legal and there

world

SLOWER MIGRANT INFLOW PUSHED

FLEEING ALEPPO. Syrians fleeing the embattled northern city of Aleppo wait at Bab-Al Salama, next to the city of Azaz in northern Syria, near Turkish crossing gate. Nearly 40,000 Syrian civilians have fled a regime offensive near Aleppo as Turkey warned it was bracing for thousands of refugees. AFP

STOP SYRIA BOMBINGS, KERRY URGES MOSCOW WASHINGTON—US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Russia Friday to implement a ceasefire in Syria, saying its bombing campaign was killing women and children in large numbers and “has to stop.” “Russia has indicated to me very directly they are prepared to do a ceasefire,” Kerry told reporters, fresh from a trip to Europe focused on resolving the five-year Syrian conflict. “The Iranians confirmed in London just a day and a half ago they will support a ceasefire now.” “We will have a much better sense in the next few days of how serious each party is,” added Kerry, a day after he implicitly blamed Russia’s bombing campaign against the Syrian opposition for the collapse of peace talks in Geneva this week. Moscow, Damascus’s main ally, has stepped up bombing around the Syrian city of Aleppo in recent days,

facilitating a government offensive that has forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee to the Turkish border. Kerry accused the Russian military of using “dumb bombs.” “They are not precision bombs, and there are civilians, including women and children, being killed in large numbers as a consequence,” he said, during a joint news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Russian planes are also targeting hospitals and returning to bomb people rescuing those wounded in earlier air strikes, he added. “This has to stop”, Kerry said. “The Russians have made some constructive ideas about how a ceasefire in

fact could be implemented,” he added. “But if it’s just talk for the sake of talk in order to continue the bombing, nobody is going to accept that.” Kerry’s comments represent a clear shift in tone following a months-long attempt to cooperate with Russia over a way out of the Syrian crisis. Washington has accused Moscow of being “partly” responsible for torpedoing peace talks in Geneva on Wednesday that had barely begun. The US and Russia were chiefly responsible for the resumption of diplomatic efforts to end the war. After meetings in Vienna and New York in late 2015, regional and global powers within the International Syria Support Group—including Washington, Moscow, Riyadh and Tehran —are to meet in Munich next week to discuss a ceasefire in a war that has killed some 260,000 people and generated millions of refugees.

The diplomatic process was set in motion in December by a UN Security Council resolution passed by its 15 members, including Moscow. Mmeanwhile, Syria’s mainstream rebels risk total collapse after a Russian-backed regime advance that severed their main supply line to Aleppo city and threatens to leave them completely besieged there. Analysts said rebels and their international backers were left with few options to prevent fresh government advances, which came as fresh peace talks backed by the United Nations fell apart. “The trajectory for the rebels is downwards, and the downward slope is increasingly steep,” said Emile Hokayem, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Aleppo province was once a rebel stronghold, providing easy access to neighboring Turkey, a key opposition backer. AFP

ANKARA—The massive flow of migrants into Europe must be slowed with the help of Turkey and better screening of asylum applicants on arrival on the continent, the interior ministers of France and Germany said Friday. Speaking in Athens, the ministers warned again of a real “danger” of Europe’s Schengen border-free zone collapsing if its outer frontiers were not better protected by, among other things, boosting Greece’s capacity to sort “genuine” refugees from economic migrants. As the first port of call for migrants fleeing war, persecution and poverty across the Mediterranean from the Middle East, Africa and Asia, Greece has received the overwhelming majority of the more than one million arrivals in the last year. Most come from Turkey, which Europe accuses of doing too little to prevent migrant families setting out for Greece in overloaded boats that often sink, costing hundreds of lives since the crisis accelerated last summer. After meeting his Turkish counterpart in Ankara later on Friday, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Turkey had an “absolutely decisive” role to play in stopping migrants leaving its shores for Greece and in “readmitting illegal migrants who come to Europe from its territory”. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has come under fierce pressure to review her open-arms approach to migrants, will discuss the situation with French President Francois Hollande at a meeting Sunday in Strasbourg, diplomatic sources said. AFP

IMPLEMENT UN FINDING, ASSANGE URGES UK

LONDON—WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday urged Britain to let him walk free from Ecuador’s London embassy after a UN panel found that the anti-secrecy campaigner who faces a rape allegation in Sweden was “arbitrarily detained.” Speaking to a handful of supporters and a media scrum in a rare appearance from the balcony of the embassy where he took refuge nearly four years ago, Assange hailed a “victory of historical importance”. “How sweet it is! This is a victory that cannot be denied,” he proclaimed, waving a hard copy of the legal opinion and often seeming emotional. Assange has refused to go to Sweden for questioning fearing deportation to the US over WikiLeaks’ release of 500,000 secret military

files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Earlier, the 44-year-old Australian told journalists via video link that it was “now the task of the states of Sweden and the United Kingdom as a whole to implement the verdict”. The UN panel said Assange’s detention should end and that he should be able to claim compensation from Britain and Sweden. But both countries quickly dismissed the non-binding legal opinion, with Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond calling it “ridiculous”. Assange walked into the embassy in June 2012 to avoid the threat of arrest and extradition to Sweden, where he still faces a rape allegation. He has lived there ever since in a small office room with a bed, com-

puter, sun lamp, treadmill and access to a small balcony decorated with Ecuador’s flag. In a statement, the panel said it had adopted an opinion that considered Assange “arbitrarily detained by the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.” It added: “The working group also considered that the detention should be brought to an end and that Mr Assange should be afforded the right to compensation.” Britain and Sweden sharply condemned the panel’s findings and said they would change nothing. Hammond called Assange “a fugitive from justice.” “This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it,” the foreign secretary added. AFP

ILLEGALLY DETAINED. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds a

printed report of the judgement of the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on his case from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in central London. AFP

S U N D AY : f e b r U A r Y 7, 2 0 1 6

WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

7 KILLED IN TAIWAN BUILDING COLLAPSE TAIPEI—A powerful earthquake in Taiwan felled a 16-floor apartment complex full of families who had gathered for Lunar New Year celebrations Saturday, with at least seven dead and more than 30 feared trapped.

The death toll was rising in the historic city of Tainan, which bore the brunt of the 6.4-magnitude quake, as rescuers scoured rubble for survivors. An entire residential complex of four buildings containing almost 100 homes toppled, left on its side with twisted metal girders exposed and clouds of dust rising from the jumbled concrete. Among the seven dead was a 10day old baby girl, the National Fire Agency said—she was one of five people who were killed when the apartment complex collapsed. The other two victims were killed in different parts of the city by falling debris, the agency said.

Officials say they are unsure how many residents may still be inside, but media reports estimated at least 30 could be trapped. Around 400 troops have been mobilised to help the rescue effort. Residents at the 16-storey felled Wei-kuan Building told of their terror as the quake hit, with survivors pulled bleeding and crying from the ruins, some just in their underwear. “I saw buildings shake up and down and left and right,” said one resident. “The first and second floor just collapsed and I smelt gas and water was leaking,” he told local channel SET TV. Another man tied his clothes to-

gether to create a rope and lowered himself from his home on the ninth floor to the sixth floor below, Apple Daily reported. One woman told how she had fought her way out of her home. “I used a hammer to break the door of my home which was twisted and locked, and managed to climb out,” she told SET TV, weeping as she spoke. Rescuers have freed more than 200 people from the apartment complex, with over 40 of them hospitalised. Interior minister Chen Wei-jen said he feared there may be more people in the building than usual as family members would have returned to celebrate the Lunar New Year holidays next week. “Exactly how many people were there when the quake hit was not immediately clear,” said Chen. “We are concerned that most members of those families may have returned for the coming new

TRAGEDY IN TAIWAN.

This video frame grab taken and provided by CTI TV shows an aerial view of the collapsed building in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan following a strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake. At least seven died and more than 30 feared trapped. AFP

year holiday.” Officials said there were 256 people registered as living in the complex, which contained 96 apartments. Dazed and exhausted residents stood outside the toppled buildings, watching rescue workers free survivors—rom infants to the elderly, some strapped to stretchers—and carefully hand them down ladders. “(The building) shook up and down. I was terrified and my wife and I held each other. We thought we weren’t going to make it,” one resident told TVBS. Eight shelters have been set up around the city, with over 100 people taking refuge there. As Premier Chang San-cheng visited the disaster zone, one elderly woman wept, saying her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren were still trapped on the 15th floor, Apple Daily reported. President Ma Ying-jeou also visited Tainan to be briefed by city officials. AFP

N. KOREA READIES ROCKET LAUNCH SEOUL—Fuel trucks were spotted at North Korea’s main satellite center, according to a US think tank, however the group says it is unlikely Pyongyang has begun fueling the rocket it plans to launch in the coming weeks. The satellite images of the North’s Sohae complex on Wednesday and Thursday showed the trucks at fuel and oxidizer bunkers, the USKorea Institute said on its closely watched website, 38 North. “Contrary to recent reports, the presence of these tankers more likely indicates the filling of fuel/ oxidizer tanks within the bunkers than the fueling of the space launch vehicle”, the group said on Friday. “In the past, such activity has occurred 1-2 weeks prior to a launch event and would be consistent with North Korea’s announced launch window of February 8 through 24,” it added. Pyongyang has announced it will launch a satellite-bearing rocket sometime between February 8-25, which is around the time of the birthday on February 16 of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current supremo Kim Jong-Un. Citing an unidentified US Defence Department official, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun said Friday that US satellite data suggested North Korea may have already begun fueling the rocket in the face of wide-spread international condemnation. The North insists its space program is purely scientific in nature, but the United States and allies, including South Korea, say its rocket launches are aimed at developing an inter-continental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland. UN sanctions prohibit North Korea from any launch using ballistic missile technology. The imminent launch would constitute another major violation of UN Security Council resolutions following Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test last month. AFP

TRAVEL TRUMPS TRADITION IN YEAR OF THE FIRE MONKEY BEIJING—WHILE hundreds of millions of his Chinese compatriots pack into planes, trains, and automobiles to return to their ancestral homes for the Lunar New Year celebration, Zhang Hao, 30, is getting as far away as he can. “I decided to go abroad this year because my parents are pressuring me to marry,” he told AFP. Instead of making the 1,200 kilometer trek from Beijing, where he works as a designer, to his icy northern hometown of Harbin, Zhang booked a 20,000 yuan ($3,000) trip to Thailand for Feb. 6—one day before Chinese custom would dictate he ought to be with his parents. The festival, which compares

in importance to Christmas in the West, marks a time when far-flung family members return home for merriment and meals—according to tradition, they must be back by midnight on the eve of the new year. But rising individualism and financial independence are seeing more and more young Chinese choose to defy custom, while at the same time tourism and outbound travel are surging. “There was no choice” but to go abroad, Zhang said. “It’s mostly the generation who grew up in the 90s who are taking off because they were by their parents’ side the whole time they were growing up.” He is not alone. More than 30 percent of Chinese planning a break over the holiday, also

known as Spring Festival, say they are doing so because they want to “get far away from relatives” or feel that “spending New Year at home is getting boring”, according to a customer survey by Chinese travel planning and booking website Mafengwo. Growing numbers are also seizing the opportunity for tourism, despite slowing growth in the world’s secondlargest economy. The China Youth Daily devoted its entire opinion page to the issue on Friday, with writer Chen Fang saying that many people now resent going home because of boredom and stress, while children are less excited about customary gifts such as new clothing. AFP

MYSTICAL FRIAR. Angelo Cardinal Comastri prays in front of the mortal remains of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina as he arrives in procession at St. Peter’s Square. Pio was revered during his lifetime (1887-1968) and his popularity has continued to grow since his death, particularly in Italy, where mini-statues and pictures of the mystical Capuchin friar are common. AFP

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

SPORTS

REUEL VIDAL EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SMB, ALASKA, TNT

ARE TEAMS TO BEAT IN PBA 2ND CONFERENCE By Reuel Vidal

DID you like the historic San Miguel-Alaska championship battle in the past Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup? If you did then you’ll simply love the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup because along with defending champion Talk N Text Tropang Texters, the San Miguel Beermen and the Alaska Aces will be the teams to beat this conference. The Philippine Cup champion Beermen start their quest for their second PBA Grand Slam as they battle for the Commissioner’s Cup title the only crown that eluded them last season. They will of course be led by Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo who has been the most dominant player in the league the past two seasons. They will be reinforced by import Tyler Wilkerson a former teammate of San Miguel Beer FilAm players Chris Ross and Chris Lutz at Marshall U. Wilkerson should complement Fajardo because he plays the forward spot, can shoot from the outside or drive to the hoop to finish strong at the rim. Best of all the Beermen brought in Wilkerson early to avoid the mistake of last year’s Commissioners Cup campaign where they played catch up the entire first half of the conference on their way to early elimination. The Alaska Aces on the other hand brought in the one import who makes them even stronger at the defensive end. The longlimbed Rob Dozier provides the last line of shot-blocking at the rim for the fearsome Alaska pressure defense. This means the pesky defenders of Alaska—Ping Exciminiano, RJ Jazul, Chris Banchero and Calvin Abueva— can press as much as they want confident that there will be a long-limbed shot blocker to protect the basket.

San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo (left) defends the paint against Alaska Aces point guard RJ Jazul (31) while SMB teammate Brian Heruela looks on. Fajardo was a literal giant at both ends of the court as he led the Beermen to the 2016 PBA Philippine Cup throne.

The Aces, who were on the brink of winning the PBA Philippine Cup after posting a 3-0 advantage only to lose the last four games and the championship to the Beermen, will be the most motivated squad this conference. The Aces, with their fearsome pressure defense, were dominant the entire conference and were poised to capture the Philippine Cup title only to fall short of a win. That bitter experience should be enough motivation for the players to play even harder this conference. TNT do-everything forward Ranidel De Ocampo, who missed last conference due to injury, returns to action this conference. Additionally, the defending champion Tropang Texters brought back man-monster Ivan Johnson—who bullied the entire field last season as he

Alaska Aces import Rob Dozier (2) posts up against Meralco Bolts bruiser Reynel Hugnatan (21).

led TNT to the championship— as their import. Johnson led the Tropang Texters past the Elasto Painters in a bruising championship series. In that series Johnson knocked loose the front tooth of Paul Lee and levelled coach Yeng Guiao. Johnson drove into the paint, elbowed Lee in the face knocking loose Lee’s front tooth which clattered to the hardcourt. In another instance Johnson ran along the sidelines, went out of bounds and slammed into an unsuspecting Guiao, sending the Rain Or Shine mentor falling face first into the sideline seats. The other teams may be wise to Johnson’s rough-housing tactics though. The league already suspended the TNT enforcer for a game and fined him P50,000 for punching Blackwater Elite’s JP Erram and Frank Golla in a scuffle that marred their bruising, physical tune-up match at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center. Ironically, Johnson serves the suspension in the opening game of the Commissioner’s Cup between the Texters and the selfsame Elite on Feb. 10 at the Big Dome. Last year’s Commissioner’s Cup finalist, Rain Or Shine—led by the irrepressible Guiao—as well as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel —with its huge frontcourt of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar a conference wiser under the tutelage of coach Tim Cone—should provide plenty of challenge and could become one of four teams to advance to the semifinals.

Talk N Text import Ivan Johnson (44) battles San Miguel Beer counterpart Arizona Reid for ball possession (32).

JRNBA STARTS NATIONWIDE SWEEP WITH BASKETBALL CLINIC IN BUTUAN By Homer Vidal

Hundreds of boys and girls attend this year’s first open clinic of the biggest basketball development program in the country, the JrNBA/ JrWNBA Presented by Alaska in Butuan City. There were so many participants the clinic had to be broken into two separate sessions in the morning and in the afternoon.

THE biggest basketball development program in the country, the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska, started its nationwide sweep with an open clinic in northeastern Mindanao in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte. The open clinic was a huge success with 493 children participating in the morning session and 318 in the afternoon. Butuan came to national prominence during the late 1940s to the 1970s as the “Timber City of the South” because of its booming logging industry. Its economy has grown beyond that and now boasts not just of small and medium business entities but also large scale

enterprises which led to Butuan being reclassified as a highly urbanized city in 1995. After the visit in Butuan the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska went to Davao Jones Academy in Davao. The pool of basketball coaches was reinforced by coach of the Year alumni coach Rael Diaz who is based in Davao City. The program is a collaboration between Alaska Milk and the National Basketball Association. It aims to teach basketball nationwide and provide opportunities for those who want to pursue the sport as a vocation. JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska started Jan. 23 and will run until April 24. It will teach youngsters basketball fundamentals as well as core values of Sportsman-

ship, Teamwork, positive Attitude and Respect. It is free and open to boys and girls. The program consists of four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip. Other destinations for the skills clinics are Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Iloilo, Metro Manila and Puerto Princesa, and first-time locations in Batangas, Catanduanes and Cavite. The program will then hold Regional Selection Camps in Baguio, Davao, Cebu and Manila. The top 50 boys and 24 girls from the Regional Selection Camps will advance to the National Training Camp in Manila April 22-24.

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

ALBAY SHOWCASES SPORTS TOURISM POWER LEGAZPI CITY — Albay unleashes a grand display of its sports tourism power this year when it hosts several major international and national events, including the 2016 Albay Xterra Off Road Triathlon and Le Tour de Filipinas in February, and the 2016 Palarong Pambansa and Mayon 360° Ultra Marathon in April. Governor Joey Salceda said these events are sure to push further Albay’s strong tourism surge, this time powered by international and national sports tournaments, and bring hordes of multi-national athletes and foreign and local visitors alike to the province. Salceda said his province goes “full throttle” in 2016, the banner year of ‘Albay Rising’ sustainable development theme “through tourism, agriculture, small enterprises, education, health, social protection, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.” Albay hosts XTERRA OffRoad on Feb/ 7 for the second year now with more than 200 participants, over half of whom are foreign racers. Le Tour de Filipinas 2016, sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the Asian cycling Federation and the Philippine Cycling Federation, comes to the province Feb. 20 and 21 for the second time after seven years. XTERRA Albay once more comes with an irresistible offer, a finish line set just a stone’s throw from the grounds of the centuries old Cagsawa Ruins Park, now a National Cultural Treasure. The event ushers in the Cagsawa Festival celebration sponsored by Albay and Daraga town. The festival celebrates and highlights Albay’s rich history and culture of disaster resiliency. Le Tour, on the other hand has its own prime package. Cyclists will tackle its final 147-km lap circling around the breath-taking Mayon Volcano twice, which organizers describe as most enjoyable and awesome part of the race. On April 10 to 16, Albay hosts the 2016 Palarong Pambansa, which Gov. Salceda said will be presented as a sports tourism activity, the first in the history of the games, with the venues scat-

Participants, led by actor Onemig Bondoc, register for the 2016 Albay XTERRA Off Road Triathlon.

GMA-7 news anchor Kara David displays her bib number.

tered around scenic places of the province, all in full view of the majestic splendor of the near-perfect cone-shaped Mt. Mayon. Salceda said this year’s Palaro also comes as first for Albay since it was launched 68 years ago in 1948. Of its 81 provinces participating, Albay, es-

tablished in 1574 or 442 years ago, is the 20th most populous. This year’s national games, mandated under RA 10588 which provided clear guidance on competition for hosting, is also the first to be participated by 18 regions, counting in the newly established Negros Island Region.

The Mayon 360° Albay Ultra Marathon is set April 9. Contestants will run around the base of Mayon Volcano passing three cities and at least five towns. Now on its 6th year, the race is jointly sponsored by the province, the Liga ng mga Barangay, and the JCI Legazpi. It draws many foreign and local runners and visitors alike. The foreign teams joining Le Tour de Filipinas, now on its 7th year, come from Belarus, United Arab Emirates, Japan, the United States, Holland, Germany, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Laos. The local teams aiming to grab the title away are the 7-Eleven Road Bike Philippines, Kopiko Cebu Cycling Team and the PhilCycling National Under 23-Team. More than half of XTERRA Albay’s over 200 racers come from 15 countries, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, US, Guam, France, Hongkong, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland and Vietnam. Many of the country’s national figures, politicians and actors, are also expected to join the race, which last year drew some 5,000 guests to Albay.

B7 PSA CITES SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES WINNERS FILIPINO gold medal winners in the 28th Singapore Southeast Asian Games and their ASEAN Para Games counterparts will be honored with citations for their exploits in the biennial regional meet during the Annual Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night presented by MILO and San Miguel Corp. Trackster Eric Shauwn Cray stood at the forefront of the country’s campaign last year by winning a double gold in athletics, including the 100-m century dash of which he became the first Filipino to win the sport’s centerpiece event. In all, the Philippines won a total of 29 gold medals. Meanwhile, veterans Ernie Gawilan (swimming) and Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta (powerlifting) spearheaded the 11-gold medal romp the Filipinos bagged in the eighth edition of the Para Games also held in The Lion City. Together, the gold winners make up the bulk of the long list of individuals and entities to be cited by the country’s oldest media organization in the Feb. 13 affair at the One Esplanade, with the Philippine Sports Commission serving as major sponsor. Twenty-eight others will also receive citations during the gala night starting at 7 p.m. and supported by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Basketball Association, Globalport, Rain or Shine, One Esplanade, National University, Maynilad, Smart, MVP Sports Foundation, SM Prime Holdings, Sen. Chiz Escudero, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Included in the list of citations are Olympian Michael Christian Martinez, archers Amaya Paz-Cojuangco and Jennifer Chan, marathoners Mary Joy Tabal and Rafael Poliquit, teenage cage sensation Kobe Paras, Batang Gilas, Perlas Pilipinas Dragon Boat team, karateka Kristina Charisse Santiago, riders Kenneth San Andres and Milo Rivera, Ernesto ‘Judes’ Echaus of sailing, shooter Hagen Alexander Topacio, and the Petron volleyball team The rest are weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Nesto Colonia, ALA Boxing Promotions, International Premier Tennis League, Manila North 3x3 team, MVP Sports Foundation, National University Pep Squad, Philippine baseball team, Philippine powerlifting team, Philippine Superliga, SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc.., tennis patrons Jen Henri Lhuillier, Oscar Hilado, Rommie Chan, and Hanky Lee, and the 2019 FIBAWorld hosting team. Highlight of the night is the awarding of the prestigious Athlete of the Year award to be conferred on co-winners Donnie Nietes, Nonito Donaire Jr., and Miguel Tabuena. Others to be honored are Gilas Pilipinas, Wushu Federation of the Philippines (NSA of the Year), Alyssa Valdez (Ms. Volleyball), Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo (Mr. Basketball), sports great Filomeno ‘Boy’ Codinera (Lifetime Achievement Award), and the 14 recipients of major awards, led by San Miguel superstar June Mar Fajardo.

PHOTOS BY RAMON D. BOADO

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

REiRA mAllARi EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

Miguel (kart 112) overtakes his rivals at the turn.

MIGUEL ANGELES

Miguel in action

Young karter on the rise

Miguel hoists his trophies

By Ramon D. Boado

MIGUEL Judd Mariano-Angeles looks like your typical seven-year-old kid. He swims, loves soccer, tinkers with his iPad on weekends and, believe it or not, still plays street games with his fellow Cebuanos. But the “typical” side ends there. Because unlike other typical kids, Miguel is a racer, a fast one at that. “I’m just a regular kid,” said diminutive Miguel, “But I drive at a high speed of 90 to 100 kph.” The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo De Cebu student is a two-time Cebu Club race Formula Cadet division champion, who took his talents to the Big City because his parents Michael and Eliza May Mariano-Angeles saw his passion for fast cars and need for speed an early age. Miguel’s father, after all, used to be a drag racer, and his influence rubbed off on the young competitor. “My dad has always been around cars. He always bring me to the tracks, he is a drag racer,” said Miguel, who soon found himself behind the wheel of a kart, like all great champions in the past did. “I choose karting simply because it’s fun,” said Miguel. Soon enough, he was winning races in Cebu, and then at the Batangas and Carmona racing circuits, becoming a champion in Mini-ROK Promotional Class in the Super Kart Open Championship at the Kartzone, and then achieving podium finishes in at the Formula Cadet Novice division of the Ultron ROK Karting Super Series 2015 and the Asian Karting Open Championship 2015 (Round 2). To further hone his skills, he joined the Asian Karting Open Championship (Round 3) at the Bira International Circuit Pattaya, where he placed second runner-up as a Formula Cadet, and the Macau Karting Grand Prix last December. But like all young racers, Miguel, who wants to be a Formula 1 driver and champion like his idol Lewis Hamilton, still has a lot to learn. “I’m kind, loving and just, but I lack patience sometimes. I want things done instantly which I’m willing to change someday. As a racer, I’m still learning. As a competitor I’m really driven to win, but sometimes my lack of patience is a handicap for me. Good thing my coach papa Els (Elson Carpio ) and my parents always remind me how to wait for the correct timing in racing,” said Miguel, who wants to further hone his driving skills with

constant practice and continuous participation in races. “Even though other competitors are way older than me, I still want to race against them. A lot of drivers in my category are already good and seasoned drivers and it is a privilege to be able to race with them,” said Miguel, who despite the glare of the lights and the thrill of the tracks, still finds time to prioritize his schooling. “In my school, our President Fr. Manuel Uy, Principal Annie Abucay, Athletic Director Enrico Navarro and my adviser Jiezyl Limpag recognize karting as a sport, and they also understand that that I have to be absent from school sometimes. My parents and I have to fly to Manila from Cebu at least three weekends in a month for me to be able to practice and join competitions, not including the international ones,” said Miguel. “Also, my personal tutor flies with us during this weekends so I can still study during my down times. My parents and I have a deal that I have to maintain my 90 percentile general average in school in which I do. Thanks to my supportive school and parents,” added Miguel, who is backed by Empire Racing Management, backers Triplewell Construction Corp., Ceramic Pro Phils., Auto Access, Hisoler’s Resort, Red Bull Racing, Dewytree, S-Oil, PTT International Trading. Miguel’s father said that racing contributed a lot to his son’s character. “His touchiness (being pikon) has been lessened a lot. Before, he easily loses his temper even in a simple game. Now, we can see a lot of improvements already, he is learning how to be patient and be a team player. He learns how to accept defeat and knows how to bounce back,” said Michael, who is also amazed at his son’s humility. “My rivals are all my friends. If they are better than me, then I will learn from them,” said Miguel. “I would like to thank God for all the blessings and talent He has given me. My Lolo Ramon, Lolo Rene and Lola Beth (Happy Birthday Lola), my family and friends.” With support from all fronts, Miguel could be a future racing champ destined for stardom.

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 7, 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 WRITER

life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

S U NDAY L IF E

LIFE

THE DIFFERENT PEAKS IN THE LIFE OF A MOUNTAINEER

Filipina mountaineer Carina Dayondon at the peak of Australia's highest point Mt. Kosciuszko

Dayondon recently conquered Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa—her fifth peak in the Seven Summits she's trying to accomplish

Dayondon climbing the summit of Mt. McKinley in North America

hat kind of satisfaction do mountaineers derive from climbing mountains and reaching their summit? Is it the thrill of adventure? Is it the bragging rights, or the recognition of being the first to reach a certain peak? Or is it the realization that something that seems impossible to surmount can be conquered? When Carina Dayondon reached the peak of Mt. Everest in May 2007, she was tagged as one of the first Filipinas—second to be exact—along with Noelle Wenceslao (first) and Janet Belarmino (third)—to conquer the highest mountain in Eurasia. Following that feat eight years ago, Dayondon, now 37 years old, went on to conquer four more of the world's seven summits: Mt. McKinley in North America (2006), Mt. Elbrus in Europe (2013), Mt. Kosciuzsko in Australia (2014) and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa (2015). After her most recent climb in October last year, she has two more peaks in order to be named the first Filipina to cross all seven summits—a challenge many mountaineers wish to accomplish. But Dayondon says she is no longer yearning to be the title holder for being the first Filipina to cross all the seven summits. Rather, the Bukidnon native wants to be recognized for “using my passion and mountaineering sport in inspiring the youth and empowering fellow Filipinas that they can reach their own summit.” Her personal summit This generation has seen more and more people from all walks of life climbing steep mountains and conquering the wilderness. Like many of these individuals, Dayondon was given an opportunity, albeit bigger, to scale the heights of one of the tallest mountains in the world. However, doing so meant conquering her personal summits first. “Back in 2004, an opportunity to be part of the team that will climb Mt. Everest came. I just graduated from college so I was torn between finding a job or heading to Manila

to join the team,” she recalls. “My parents were not supportive of my decision to join the team. Nevertheless, I told them that I will still go to Manila to find work.” When Carina arrived in Manila, she instead joined an expedition team led by former undersecretary Art Valdez of the Department of Transportation and Communications where possible employment with a stable allowance was offered. During this time, the team was already preparing for their Mt. Everest Summit—an expedition three years in the making. But challenges to this dream came to Dayondon when her father had to retire suddenly and use the retirement funds to start a business. Unfortunately, her family’s up-andcoming enterprise went bankrupt and led to the foreclosure of their home. As the fourth eldest child in a family of 14, and currently working on financing their expedition, Dayondon found it difficult to fund her siblings' education. “That was the lowest point in my life. Every night, I would cry because of guilt for not being there for my family, for not being able to send financial assistance even when I was able,” she shares. But the odds conspired in her favor when she and her colleague won the Island Paradise Adventure Race championship title. She was able to send P500,000 to her family in the province which also allowed her to stay with the team. Their employment at the Philippine Coast Guard as a regular non-officer also helped the team support their family and finance their training. Dayondon is currently serving in the Philippine Coast Guard with the rank of LTJG/1st Lieutenant and is assigned in the Officer Basic Education Training in Bagac, Bataan as a Tactical Officer. Finally in 2007, the Philippine Mount Everest team finally climbed one of the highest summits in the world. Aside from being the first Filipinas to reach the peak, Dayondon, Wenceslao and Belarmino were also recognized as the only three female in the world to scale the heights of Mt.

Everest by traversing the mountain from the North side (Tibet) and going down on the south side (Nepal)— logistically and financially demanding than the usual commercial climb. “It is true that we were privileged to stand at the highest point on Earth. But the journey to the top was not easy—it entailed a lot of discipline and sacrifice. We invested in a lot of hard work and a strong faith in God,” says Dayondon. She is also thankful for the support she and her team got from sponsors, particularly Primer Group through the latter's advocacy arm Center for Outdoor Recreation and Expedition which provided them Eddie Bauer outerwear clothing. A proof of Pinay power It is from that journey to Mt. Everest that Dayondon decided she wanted to climb all of the World’s Seven Summits. “Doing the Seven Summits is a continuity of showcasing the best of Filipino talents around the world, especially the Pinay power. In this way also, we can help inspire the young ones to explore their own summits and find a way to go beyond their limits,” she shares Beyond the thrill and the title, for a seasoned mountaineer like Dayondon, “the overall experience inspired me to do greater things in life, to believe in my own strengths and to trust that with God, nothing is truly impossible. No mountain is ever hard to cross unless you don’t start the expedition.” “As for me, I will continue to climb mountains, even those that we currently have in life.” While waiting for her next expedition, Dayondon plans to come up with fundraising activities targeted to Filipino women and create cancer awareness programs as inspired by one of her siblings who battled but later succumbed to the disease in December 2015. Help Dayondon and her team reach the last two of the world's summits. For logistical and financial support, contact her at 09175208085 and 09399175104 or send an email to carinadayondon@yahoo.com.

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

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KINDHEARTED KALS GIVE BANTAY BATA KIDS THE GIFT OF KIDZANIA MANILA

ast year, interactive kids’ city KidZania Manila launched the KidZania para sa Bantay Bata initiative with the aim of raising enough money to send kids from ABS-CBN Bantay Bata Foundation. Through selling Paskong Kai Saya ornaments (star-shaped capiz ornaments) at the main square, they were able to raise P174,000 that gave 160 underprivileged children the gift of Kidzania. The kids enjoyed exploring KidZania Manila and its various role-playing activities. With this unforgettable experience, they were able to discover their dream careers at the mini metropolis. “They were amazed by all the different features of the play city— the bank, newspaper office, and fastfood outlets that were so true-tAo-life, except that they are kidsized,” says social worker Evan Lyndon. “It was an inspiring experience, as the kids gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of what adults do and how society functions,” she adds.

The kids enjoyed working as newspaper correspondents, TV crew, chefs, doctors, and firefighters, among many Kidzania occupations. The best part of the experience is learning the value of each job, which can potentially affect what these kids want to pursue when they get older. “One of the most important values we always aim to teach kids is to care and share whatever blessings they have with others,” says Maricel Pangilinan-Arenas, State Governor of KidZania Manila. “It just goes to show that each of us can do something— no effort is too big or too small — to make the holidays bright for others, especially kids who are in need.” Kidzania Manila is one of the world’s most inventive, most awarded and fastest-growing kids' educational entertainment concepts. It has 21 locations in 18 countries, including the Philippines. For more information, visit manila. kidzania.com.

As on-cam and off-cam talents, the Bantay Bata kids get the chance to deliver important news at the ABS-CBN Studio in KidZania Manila

The sale of Paskong Kai Saya ornaments (star-shaped capiz ornaments) through the kindness of the play city’s visitors enables underprivileged kids to visit Kidzania Manila

Bantay Bata kids don their aprons and learn how to make cheeseburgers at the McDonald’s Burger Shop

The Bantay Bata kids show off the KidZos they earned at the play city

SHOP AT THE BODY SHOP AND SAVE A FAMILY

Alyanna Martinez, Erica Paredes and George De Fiesta

Mikaela Martinez enjoyed shopping for gift sets

Good friends Maricar Reyes-Poon and Alyanna Martinez

Alyanna Martinez

Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez gives back to nature and communities at The Body Shop

Alissa Martinez shows support for The Body ShopWaterAid partnership

hopping can be made even more meaningful when it becomes an opportunity to give back to nature and communities. This is what The Body Shop – long known for its values that include Community Fair Trade and care of the environment – sought to do when it partnered with WaterAid to provide safe water for 1,000 families in Ethiopia over the next 10 years. Any purchase of selected gift sets like the Frosted Plum Bath & Body range; Limited Edition Bath & Body products like Shimmer Lotion, Shimmer Mist and Sugar Scrub; and Limited Edition Winter Trend cosmetics can provide a family in Ethiopia with one day of safe water through WaterAid. So the more you buy, the more families that can be helped. On hand to support The Body Shop's advocacy with WaterAid were Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez, Maricar Reyes-Poon, Mikaela Martinez, and Alyanna Martinez and many others who also had a chance to know more about The Body Shop’s new collections. After all, products from The Body Shop are worthy gifts not only because they are of excellent quality but because they enable shoppers to give back to nature and communities. Founded in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick in Littlehampton, England, The Body Shop pioneered corporate activism, built on a philosophy that business can be a force for good. With its brand expression, "Beauty with Heart," the company continues to be focused on five core values; Against Animal Testing, Support Community Fair Trade, Activate Self Esteem, Defend Human Rights and Protect The Planet. All products are created using the finest ingredients sourced from the four corners of the globe, which are not tested on animals and are 100 percent vegetarian. In the Philippines, The Body Shop has over 55 strategically located stores nationwide in the 18 years that it has been around. Help transform lives in the world’s poorest communities through access to safe water. Choose one specially selected gift to provide one day of safe water for a family in Ethiopia. The Body Shop’s Gift Sets are available at all The Body Shop stores. The Body Shop now accepts SM Advantage Card for points earning and redemption, SM and Sodexo premium pass in all The Body Shop stores nationwide.

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

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Menchu Esteban, Beng Pimentel Puyat, Joanne Andrada and Jenny Leviste

Jenny Leviste and Menchu Esteban

Marian Martina Santos

ZONTA LADIES TURN SHOPPING INTO A WORTHY CAUSE

Zonta Club of Makati and Environs president Rosie Go and Zonta Club of Makati-Paseo de Roxas president Rebecca Bucad with Vivian Uy

Nini Layug and Roi Philips

ne of the activities that most – if not all – women enjoy is shopping. But what if this activity is also imbued with a noteworthy cause? This is exactly what the ladies of the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs did recently at Crate & Barrel Aura, where they turned shopping into a fundraising event with the ultimate goal of giving back. During the event, Crate & Barrel SM Aura Premier Store gave discounts for the benefit of Zonta Club of Makati and Environs’ Psychological Center for Sexually Abused Children. “Among our many goals, Zonta Club aims to promote gender equally, education, and skills training for our nation’s women,” says ZCME president Rosie Go. “Equally important to Zonta is ensuring these women’s health and safety. Our club tirelessly empowers women through service and advocacy,” she adds. Zonta’s Shop for a Cause project chair Beng Pimentel Puyat also expressed her gratitude to the SM Group and Crate & Barrel for “these unexpected blessings that came our way by providing the venue and sharing the proceeds” of the fund raising event. Crate & Barrel is the industry’s leading omni-channel home furnishings specialty retailer, known for its exclusive designs, excellent value, and superb customer service. In addition to a direct marketing division that services more than 90 countries, the company operates stores throughout the US and Canada as well as franchise locations in Dubai, Mexico, Singapore, Turkey, and Russia. In the Philippines, Crate & Barrel stores are located at SM Megamall, SM Makati, and SM Aura Premier.

Jocelyn Calalang, Girlie Dayrit, Vicky Wieneke and Yaying Dragon

GREENING TOGETHER, GROWING BETTER 1ST PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENT SUMMIT SET Renowned leaders of government, the church, environment, civic organizations and academia will be on hand to serve as resource speakers during the 1st Philippine Environment Summit to be held from February 9 to 11 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia. The 3-day event will showcase programs and projects, as well as breakthroughs and innovations that contribute to the social and economic advancement, while protecting the environment. Expected to attend are President Benigno Aquino III, Luis Cardinal Tagle, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, and internationally renowned environmental activists Dr. David Suzuki and Dr. Vandana who were also invited as speakers. Leading presidential aspirants in the upcoming May elections will also be asked to present their

From left: Green Convergence summit coordinator Tessa Oliva, DENR ASec Corazon Davis, Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corporation VP Danilo Panes, Green Convergence president Dr. Angelina Galang, DENR USec Jonas Leones, TPB’s Joanne Cuenta and Energy Development Corporation president and COO Richard Tantoco

environmental agenda. This year’s theme of “Greening Together, Growing Better” aims to disseminate information on the developments, achievements, challenges, programs and projects in relation to food safety,

environment and natural resource protection and conservation and sustainable economy; strengthen and energize networking between and within the public and private sector and within and across various sectors

Project chair Beng Pimentel Puyat with Barbara Lichaytoo and Vivian Uy

Cora Tan and Olga Severino

and groups, formulate policy recommendations; and showcase convergence initiatives between and /or among government, civil society, business, and other sectors of society. The Summit is co-organized by the Green Convergence – a large coalition of environmental and developmental organizations, networks, faith-based groups and individuals – in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Also supporting the event are the Energy Development Corporation, Tourism Promotions Board, Foundation of the Philippine Environment, PTFCF and TransAsia Renewable Energy. “In celebrating the advancements in environmental protection achieved through private and public initiatives, we hope to create an opportunity for all sectors to unite and collaborate,” says Green Convergence president Dr. Angelina Galang.

“The 1st Philippine Environment Summit is a call to government and the Filipino people to unite in accelerating the drive towards national sustainable development,” she added. The summit will have plenary sessions in the morning and breakout sessions in the afternoon, and a simultaneous three-day exhibit where eco-friendly products and services will be showcased. Another highlight of the event is an awards ceremony recognizing LGU ecochampions. It concludes with the environment movement’s resolution for specific desired actions by the most influential sectors – government and business – that will protect the environment in pursuit of sustainable development in the Philippines. To register for participation, join the exhibits, or know more about the 1st Philippine Environment Summit, call 225 7330 or visit greenconvergencephil on Facebook.

S U N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Dreamscapes

'Contemplation' – mixed media on glass and paper

Consul Betty Chua, Consul Helen Ong, Ching Cruz, Tina Cuevas, Consul Fortune Ledesma, and Leo Espinosa in full support of Mav Rufino

Alfredo Roca, Alejandro Padilla, Ambassador Luis Calvo of the Embassy of Spain, and Frank Evaristo

ONCE UPON A DREAM ity of solitude.” In the past 18 years, she has created a ripple of excitement among art and literary cirhave always woncles and a growing audience of dered how our comFilipinos and expats who crave plicated mind works creative nourishment. “I have alduring our state of ways loved art. It has been quite sleep. I don’t know if you will agree with this #INTHEMOMENT a struggle to find time to paint columnist, but have you BY FRANCIS DE LEON and write, to work in the corporate world, do my volunteer ever woken up already fidgety after dreaming about walking or work for Red Cross and to juggle multiple running long distances (or in some cases, responsibilities at the same time,” she added. Marivic explained how she has managed going about your daily work routine)? In contrast, have you ever experienced feel- to pursue her creative endeavors all these ing utterly relaxed and rejuvenated after years. “It is a matter of balance – tapping my dreaming about a beautiful place with lucid inner resources and spirituality, nourishing my soul, harnessing the creative energy, and landscapes and calming scenery? So, it seems our brain is working as hard effective time management.” Entitled “Luminescence – Dreamscapes asleep as we are awake. When we have these dreams, it's far too easy to forget them or let 2016,” the exhibition, which runs until them slip through the cracks – especially today, was recently presented by the Penif we don't have the cognitive know-how insula Manila with opening cocktails at to process them. As far as this columnist is The Gallery. The exhibit features 35 mixed concerned, I always prefer dreams where I media artworks and a collection of soft or am afloat beautiful landscapes and calming practical art, and one-of-a kind-accessories: hues of the sea. It just puts a smile on my face lamps, furniture, screen dividers, bags, pillows, clocks and limited edition items. Pro(while asleep and definitely when awake). Thankfully, there are some amazing tools ceeds from sales will benefit the Child Proavailable out there that can help track and tection Network Foundation. Through her masterpieces, Marivic ininterpret our dreams. Start by maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our tends for her audience to see and appreciate thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and the nuances of light and how beautiful and the environment that surrounds us. Begin pristine the ideal world is. "I would like the collectors of my art works to feel that sense by simply practicing mindfulness. One such lady whom I have the privilege of beauty, peace and tranquility,” she shared. Amidst the chaos of our busy, multiof knowing must have practiced mindfulness in line with her 18th solo exhibit screen, and ever-exciting lives, mindfulness – mixed media Filipino artist and writer helps us return to a more centered self. BeMaria Victoria Rufino. I mean, how could ing mindful will help us make better decishe have managed to paint the colors in her sions, listen more, and above all, be present. "Painting is my form of prayer and medimind? To paint with all the colors of the imagination definitely takes mindfulness tation. When I am painting, I am on a high(aside from having sheer talent, of course). er plane, a different dimension. Friends As she expressed, “Nature is the master- have said that my paintings are spiritual.” As for this columnist, I have observed piece and I am just the instrument of the Divine Artist. I paint my dreams and they that Marivic Rufino’s works of art resonated are often memories of the future and deja from being mindful, once upon a dream. Follow me on Twitter or Instagram @ vu images. They are composites of places I have seen and not yet visited. Painting is my francis_deleon8 or email: deleon_francis@ refuge from the world and I love the seren- yahoo.com. PHOTOS BY LORNA LLANES

Albert del Rosario, Mav Rufino, Gretchen del Rosario, and Tina Jacinto during the welcome reception

Greg Domingo, HSBC's Wick Veloso, Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno, and Babe Romualdez

Rio Alma with Mav Rufino

Nina Webb, Teresa Prieto and Sandy Moran

Franco Laurel and Tessa Prieto-Valdes

Nini Licaros, Consul Evie Costa and Myrna Yao

Mme. Agnes Roscigno and Gemma Cruz

Gerry and Virginia Lane, and Gerry Carreon enjoyed the cocktail reception at The Gallery

Remy Besinga, Marissa Fenton, May del Rosario, and Yvette Carrion

Miguel Realmonte of Argentina with the woman of the hour Maria Victoria Rufino during the opening of her 18th solo exhibit at The Manila Peninsula

Glenn Gale and Joseph Calata

SUNDAY : F EBRUA RY 7, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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Ryan Reynolds in an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name

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DEAD POOL’ PICKS UP AN R-16 RATING

T Radical: Reynolds as Wade Wilson , a superhero in a red suit

Deadpool is a mercenary who was subjected to an experimental regenerative mutation

he local classification office, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) rated Deadpool as R-16 due to strong violence and language including sexual content and graphic nudity. Deadpool director Tim Miller couldn’t agree more as with all other R-ratings across the globe. Along with Deadpool fighting in the buff, the film’s torrid scenes between Wade and Vanessa, and Deadpool’s non-stop and off-color verbal stylings, all contribute to the film’s R-rating. “I think the R-rating allows us to have a level of reality that wouldn’t be possible with a PG-13,” says Miller. “I also think it’s an important step in the expansion of the genre. There’s a type of film that can only be made with this rating, and that really expands the boundaries of the stories comic book movies can tell.” As fandom gets ready for Deadpool on Feb. 10, the filmmakers remain convinced the time is right for this unique movie event. “When comic book movies first appeared, they had to be ‘tentpole’ movies, which had to appeal to the broadest possible audience,” Miller

says. “Deadpool was always meant to be an edgy film, and the time is right for it. The genre of superhero and comic book films is wider and it feels like it’s time to do a film like this, that sort of pushes the boundaries a little further.” Deadpool is Wade Wilson, an elite Special Forces operative turned mercenary. An expert marksman, swordsman and martial artist, and proficient in several languages, Wilson was diagnosed with terminal cancer, threatening to cut his days of being a hired gun short. Approached by a secret experimental program, Wilson was presented with a choice: take part in their twisted experiments for a chance to cure his cancer, or bear the pain of imminent death. But the shadowy facility didn’t exactly cure Wade’s cancer... What they did was activate dormant mutant genes that infused Wade with regenerative healing powers. In fact, the procedure advanced Wade’s cancer, leaving him permanently disfigured but incapable of death, the perfect cocktail for an unhealthy mind. Dubbed “The Merc with a Mouth”, Deadpool is a pop culture-literate antihero unique amongst comic book characters in that he can

break the fourth wall and flip superhero conventions The character’s accessibility is defined partly by his twisted sense of humor. “It really draws you in,”Ryan Reynolds notes. “Deadpool has this bright, optimistic outlook on life, even though his life is pretty shitty. I mean, he’s become horribly disfigured from the experiments that gave him his powers. And, he can’t find love and he’s more than a little insane.” Bringing the exploits of an unconventional superhero to life sometimes created an equally unexpected vibe on set. Notes Stan Lee, “When you see Tim Miller and Ryan Reynolds working together, they are both so in sync; they see the movie the same way. It’s though they’re playing a game and each one of them is doing his job so magnificently. When I did my scene in Deadpool, I didn’t even know I was working. When it was over, I said, ‘When do we start?’ and Tim said, ‘You’re finished.’ That’s how effortless he makes it seem.” Deadpool lands on Philippine screens either in 2D or IMAX screens from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. on Wednesday.

POWER MAC CENTER PRESENTS ‘CINEMANSANAS’

remier Apple reseller Power Mac Center launches Cinemansanas, a campaign for aspiring and established artists who have vision in storytelling through film in the digital age. Cinemansanas is the second installment of Pixelworx, Power Mac Center’s advocacy of recognizing artists who break the standards of the art scene. It is celebrated with a series of workshops, live demos, and an ultimate art challenge. This year, Cinemansanas dares artists to defy convention and create a short film using Apple devices. The digital short competition calls for short film entries with the theme “Designing for a Bold New World.” Entries may be executed in any form, i.e., documentary, narrative

fiction, and the like as long as they are original and shot and edited using Apple devices. The contest has two main categories. The Student Category is open to all officially enrolled High School and College/University students while the Professional Category is for local residents. All finalists in the Student and Professional categories will qualify to win the People’s Choice Award. Power Mac Center aims to honor the brightest and best local talents in contemporary creativity further by participating at the Adobo Design Awards Asia (ADAA) Open/Theme category: Digital Short Film. Student entries are automatically eligible to win the much-coveted ADAA recognition (Student category) while professionals will have to pay a nominal fee of Php500 for their category.

“Power Mac Center challenges everyone to reconnect with their inner artist. We need a new breed of storytellers now and with the amazing things you can do on the iPad and iPhone, the only limit is your creativity,” said Joey Alvarez, Marketing Director of Power Mac Center. The Student Category Diamond Award winner will receive P30,000.00 worth of Power Mac Center Gift Cards, while the Professional Category Diamond Award winner will take home P50,000.00 worth of Power Mac Center Gift Cards. Runners-up in both categories will get Power Mac Center Gift Cards and products as well. Meanwhile, special prizes await winners of the Adobo Design Award for Digital Short (Student and Professional categories) and the People’s Choice Award.

The deadline for submission of entries is on March 20. For the registration form and full contest mechanics, visit www.powermaccenter.com. As in the previous year, PixelworxCinemansanas will feature a series of workshops led by brand ambassadors, as well as live demo sessions in select Power Mac Center stores. This year’s workshops will showcase some of the country’s premier figures in the film industry. The chosen Pixelworx ambassadors are Erik Matti for Direction, Yam Laranas for Cinematography, Ricky Lee for Scriptwriting, and Mario Cornejo and Monster Jimenez for Film Production. It is a rare opportunity to have these distinguished film artists sharing their unconventional way of visual storytelling to equip participants

with valuable skills that can help in their own filmmaking. Apart from the workshops, also scheduled are in-store activities featuring live demonstrations of apps used for filmmaking. Topics include Digital Filmmaking with iMovie, Musical Scoring with GarageBand, and Final Cut Pro X for Mac OS. This will show how Apple devices can be used as instruments in crafting in any chosen medium, particularly in creating film masterpieces. Interested participants may check the Power Mac Center social media accounts for the online registration announcement. For more information, visit any Power Mac Center branch, or go to www.powermaccenter.com or call 855-8888.

S UNDAY : F EBRUA RY 7, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

ALDEN RICHARDS IMPARTS VALUES TO HABITAT COMMUNITY

Habitat for Humanity Philippines Ambassador Alden Richards in a reading session with home partner children

A day of smiles: Alden Richards with the home partner children of Habitat for Humanity

n Jan. 29, Alden Richards, Habitat for Humanity Philippines Ambassador, spent time with home partner children to teach them values formation through a storytelling activity dubbed, “A day of smiles”. And full of smiles it was with the children surprised and overwhelmed with joy to see their admired celebrity spend time with them despite his busy schedule. One fortunate Habitat home partner family was even personally visited by Alden himself at home; sharing stories and time about their previous living conditions and how their life has improved since moving into their new home. “More than an obligation, it’s what I want to do, especially every January, during my birthday. It’s a way of giving back to the people,” Alden explains. “I feel happy every time I get an opportunity to help others. Nandito kasi heart ko, whenever I help sa mga nangangailangan.” “It’s my first time to do storytelling... [When you see] The kids listening and see them smile, in the midst of all the stress of every day, it’s the least that we can do to give them a light moment (sic),” he adds. When asked what he gets out of it, he said that “It makes me more of a person, the real Alden, a real human being (Sic). It’s a break from all the showbiz and our busy schedule. At least an hour or two with the Habitat families, nakaka-eject ako for [a while]. I can be a volunteer, I can help people.” Adding more delight to the community and making them feel more loved, Alden treated the children and their parents to McDonald’s meals. The Habitat community (known as “Bistekville 1” in Bgy. Payatas in Quezon City) is home to more than 250 families previously living in unsafe informal settlements and doubling-up in rental housing. This time last year, Alden also held his “Birthday Build” in the same community to celebrate by sharing with others – volunteering his time to build homes. “Alden’s support to our advocacy is truly admirable. He has dedicated time, energy and resources to helping his fellow Filipino brothers and sisters in need,” Charlie Ayco, managing director and CEO of Habitat Philippines said.“His generosity is an example to all of us in how we can help build a better Philippines.”

MAYOR RODRIGO DUTERTE IN ‘WANTED: PRESIDENT’ KNOWN as “The Punisher” and Davao’s “Dirty Harry,” Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte does not mince words. He has been known to lace his speeches with expletives, and his controversial statements are often quoted in the headlines. In Wanted: President tonight, the longtime mayor faces anchor Mel Tiangco as they talks about his alleged human rights’ abuses and the so-called Davao Death Squad. When Tiangco asks Duterte about how he intends to rid the country of drugs,

crime and corruption in six months, Duterte replies, “It could be bloody.” Duterte also defends his stand on the death penalty, saying that it is for “retribution” rather than “deterrence” and that federalism is the “only way that the Moro people can be pacified.” To achieve peace, Duterte says he plans to give leftist leaders cabinet positions. Watch more of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s interview in Wanted: President 9:30 p.m. on GMA tonight.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE 1 6 11 16 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 34 36 37

ACROSS Latin dance Viking’s bay For a song Rim Protruding window Cruise ship Gives personally Sahib’s place Usher’s beat Cover story Archipelago dots Pew occupants Soccer goal Contact (2 wds.) — nova “Bop — You Drop” Natural resource Lissome

39 Boadicea’s people 41 Lyrical 43 Universe 45 Out in front 47 Wet lowland 49 Declares openly 51 Seem likely (2 wds.) 54 Zen riddles 55 Privy to (2 wds.) 56 Hot info 60 Fermi or Caruso 61 “Sherry” singer Frankie — 62 Woodwind player 64 — Dawn Chong 65 It may be rare 66 Vacuum tube 67 — up (got smart) 68 — Island Red

70 71 73 74 75 77 78 79 80 82 83 84 87 88 89 93 94 95 97 98 99 100 101 103 104 106 107 108 110 111 112 113 115 116 117 120 122 124 128 129 131 133 135 136 138 140 142 144 145

Hosp. areas Unruffled Worked with nails Thick with trees Deep-six Corn servings Poe quoted one Kitchen mix-ups? Technical words Walked the floor Belgian, perhaps Rural setting — and Clark Prepare an apple Pirate’s quest Soup or salad Call, as an elk Put the — on 56, to Flavius Be in accord Mitten or sock wools Statesman of old Athens Lady’s title — generis Olduvai Gorge fossil finder Carpet of yore Portable Job rights agcy. Barely scrapes by Momma’s partner Overcast Calculus pioneer Obey the alarm Political shake-up Fall Hard sell, maybe Andes ruminant “— Lama Ding Dong” Pamplona shout Almost grads Buy by mail Iridescent gems Hair goop Permitted by law Salsa singer — Cruz Aleut language Groovy Hem and haw Player’s rep

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016 146 147 148 149 150 151

Silly prank John Denver’s home Hombre’s address Avoid taxes “Phantom of the —” Formation flyers DOWN 1 Chestnut steeds 2 Archangel of light 3 El — (Peru volcano) 4 — Paese cheese 5 Not — — to stand on 6 Freight train unit 7 Left at the altar 8 Pungent veggie 9 CSA defender 10 Tiny amount 11 Swindles 12 Big headache 13 China’s Zhou — 14 Lime cooler 15 Furtive whisper 16 Whitecap 17 Single-strand molecule 18 Common phrase 19 Explosive, for short 20 Sammy and Danny 31 Kindergarten refrain 33 Saudi neighbor 35 PC screen images 38 “Goodfellas” gang 40 Tristan’s love 42 Traveled like Hiawatha 44 FICA number 46 Mediocre writers 48 Corduroy rib 50 Null and — 51 Attack on all sides 52 Emcee’s remarks 53 Gown 54 Subatomic particles 55 Peer Gynt creator 57 Carve a canyon 58 Heron or egret 59 Future flowers 61 Contenders 62 Fixed the squeak 63 Jogs

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte takes the hot seat on Wanted: President 66 Bard’s forte 67 Henry VIII’s six 69 Convention site 72 Hair-raising 73 Prima — evidence 74 Merchandise 76 Prolonged gaze 78 Singer Lou — 79 Steel additive 81 Ford lemon 82 Holly’s “— Sue” 83 Boxcar riders 84 “— — of do or die” 85 Vicious elephant 86 Knickknack 87 Sleek sleds 88 Protozoan’s “legs” 90 1950s record 91 Squashed circles 92 Counts the minutes 94 Cookie cooks 95 “Nightline” host 96 Many Vietnamese 99 Yard tool 100 Weakens gradually 102 More skilled 105 Conger catcher 106 Sheer fabric 107 Pompeii art 109 Fleshy mushroom 111 Come before 112 Java neighbor 114 Long overcoat 115 Making public 116 — -mache 117 Painted tins 118 Relish tray item 119 Nut for pies 121 Plied a gondola 123 Jeweler’s lens 125 Slack-jawed 126 Rations out 127 Like a hermit 130 A whole lot 132 “Miami Vice” cop 134 Pantyhose woe 137 Wedding words (2 wds.) 139 It may be fragile 141 Snooze 143 WNW opposite

Incognito: Coco Martin as Paloma in the action drama

Ang Probinsyano star Bela Padilla

‘FPJ’S ANG PROBINSYANO’ HITS NEW ALL-TIME HIGH TV RATING ABS-CBN’s action-drama series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano opened the month on a high note as the show hit a new all-time high national TV rating on Feb 1. The Coco Martin-starrer scored 45.9 percent nationwide versus its rival show Little Nanay with only 18.1 percent, according to data from Kantar Media. Viewers watched how Cardo, still disguised as Paloma, gunned down the syndicate’s leader, Olga (Gina Pareno). As he continues his mission, Cardo chases after the yacht that carries Carmen (Bela Padilla) and risks his life going against goons on his own. Don’t miss the action-packed scenes in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, weeknights on ABS-CBN. For more information about the program, visit the official social networking site of Dreamscape Entertainment Television at Facebook.com/DreamscapePH, Twitter.com/DreamscapePH, and Instagram. com/DreamscapePH.

SUNDAY : F EBRUA RY 7, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Xian Lim, Vilma Santos, Angel Locsin and director Joyce Bernal glam up for Everything About Her pictorial

From C8

EVERYTHING VILMA SANTOS BATANGAS Governor Vilma Santos-Recto is back where she is happiest…. on camera. Currently, she is starring in Star Cinema’s Everything About Her that also stars her future daughter-in-law Angel Locsin and matinee idol Xian Lim. The film debuted on screens on Feb. 3 and up until today, Vilmanians or not, and fans of both Angel and Xian have been filling to capacity theaters that screen it. And why not? Vilma appears very rarely in movies since she became a politician. She doesn’t appear in a daily soap opera as well. Understandably, her fans miss her badly and when she finds time to face the cameras, they scramble for tickets to the cinemas where the film is screened. In the movie, Vilma is Vivian, a powerful, but very strict CEO of a big company. During a doctor’s check-up, she learns that she has cancer, and is then assigned a nurse

(Angel) to take care of her. While taking care of Vilma, Angel must also convince Albert (Xian Lim), Vivian’s son, to come home from the US and live with them. In November 2014, Vilma confirmed that she and Angel were going to do a movie. The movie was also supposed to star Luis Manzano, Vilma’s son and Angel’s boyfriend, but he decided not to accept it to protect their relationship. Directed by Joyce Bernal, Everything About Her is Vilma’s most challenging role thus far as she isn’t playing the usual roles assigned her. I met Vivian Sarabia (of Sarabia Optical) recently and she thought Vilma’s character in the film has been pegged on her. In the film, Vilma is Vivian Rabaya (the last names rhymes with Sarabia), though the actual Vivian doesn’t have cancer and she isn’t as strict as the Vivian in the movie.

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SENATOR GRACE SAYS, ‘DON’T LOOK DOWN ON SHOWBIZ FOLK’ WHEN asked if there’s anybody from show business she would tap for a cabinet position if she’d win the elections, Senator Grace Poe said she is sure she could find a qualified person for the position. “My basis for choosing members of my Cabinet or any position in government should be integrity, competence, professionalism, and the ability to be able to deliver at the time in hand,” Sen. Grace said in a forum held by a major daily. “Whether from showbiz, male or female, they are welcome to serve in my administration as long as they have those attributes,” added the senator. As the adoptive daughter of Fernando Poe, Jr. and Susan Roces, two of the most popular and highly respected personalities in show business, Grace grew up with showbiz folk around her, so that’s why she knows the ins and outs of the business. She feels bad when people from other fields consider people from show business inferior. But the senator believes that if a person has dedication, industry and integrity in his or her job, it doesn’t matter if they come from show business. “Hindi dapat maliitin kung anumang sek-

tor, sektor ng magsasaka, sektor ng kultura o ano pa man,” she said. She even mentioned Vice Mayor Isko Moreno of Manila and Commissioner Dingdong Dantesof the National Youth Commission as examples of showbiz folks that have made their mark as public servants. “I think we’ve seen Isko Moreno (running for senator in Grace’s party), who has started out really literally from Smokey Mountain. And as you know, he earned his way being a public servant, being an actor, studying, serving in local government and being where is he now,” the senator said while adding,“Dingdong Dantes, is in the National Youth Commission, and when I spoke to him, he is very knowledgeable about what’s happening in the youth sector.” Sen. Grace believes that people in show business have great potentials because they know how to connect with the masses and with politicians. “And I think this is also for our friends in show business, some of them are great communicators, they have compassion, and they can really help Sen. Grace Poe concluded.

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JOANNA AMPIL IN ‘ART 2 ART’ INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed actress and singer Joanna Ampil is the featured guest in Art 2 Art’s first episode for the month, airing on Feb. 7. Shuttling between her commitments in Manila and abroad, Ampil sits down with host Lisa Macuja for a look-back at her multi-faceted career that started at age 17 when she played the lead in Miss Saigon in London in 1993. Macuja and Ampil are actually sharing a role in Ballet Manila’s forthcoming production titled Rebel. The former dances as Inang Bayan (Motherland), while the latter takes on the musical voice, in Martin Lawrance’s ballet based on Spartacus that derives characters and events from the EDSA People Power Revolution. Ampil, who is also a recording artist, will sing a number for Art 2 Art listeners and viewers. Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Art 2 Art is aired every Sunday, 3:30 to 4 p.m., on DZRH (666 khz on the AM band), on cable television via RHTV (Channel 18 on Cignal Cable) and online through DZRH Live Streaming. For inquiries, please e-mail art2artdzrh@gmail.com. On Facebook, check out the account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on Art 2 Art episodes.

West End star Joanna Ampil

Balladeer Edward Benosa

EDWARD BENOSA IS LANI MISALUCHA’S GUEST ON Feb. 14 and 15, singer and recording artist Edward Benosa gets the biggest break of his career when he guests in the show of Lani Misalucha. The show is titled Love Catcher at Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theatre for the benefit of the Cancer Alleviation Network on Care, Education and Rehabilitation (CANCER). It will also feature the female trio Baihana with the world-famous Philippine Madrigal Singers. Edward will sing “Di Man Lang Nagpaalam” and another OPM number. He doesn’t have a duet with Lani, but the mere honor of sharing the same stage with her is already a major thing for an upcoming artist like Edward. For him to be included in the concert lineup is definitely a big break. “Malaking bagay po talaga,” acknowledges Edward. “Wala akong duet with her, pero sobrang sarap ng feeling na I’ll be on the same stage as The Nightingale. Para sa akin, isa siya sa pinakamagaling na babaeng singer. I’m really honored na makapag-perform sa concert niya. Di ko na-expect na now, sa ganito ka-early na stage ng career ko, na makapag-perform ako sa ganito kalaking singer natin.” Edward met Lani, who’s a label-mate in Star Music, when they performed in a show

featuring Star Music talents at 19 East. Lani, being the biggest star, was the finale number. Edward recalls how starstruck he was when he met her backstage, in the dressing room. He couldn’t even say anything. All he could manage was to ask to have a picture taken with her. Edward recalls how that first meeting went. “Starstruck ako. Tulala. Wala akong nasabi,” he laughs. “Na-intimidate at naoverwhelm ako, na ang saya. Isa siya (Lani) sa mga tinitingala ko. Sobrang blessed ako na makita siya, ma-meet at ngayon makasama sa concert. Sa ginagalawan namin na mundo, sobrang na-a-appreciate namin na mga baguhan ang tinitingala namin na artists at ang work na ginagawa nila.” Newcomers, like Edward, automatically become better artists when they work with people like Lani, which is why he is looking forward to sharing the stage with her. In the future, he hopes they would get the chance to do a duet, but until then, he will take what he can get and continue to improve himself so that when that big break comes, he will be ready. For now, you can catch more of Edward and his music by following him on social media, at facebook.com/realedwardbenosa, @realbenosa on Twitter and realbenosa on Instagram.

SunDAy : F EbRuA Ry 7, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

KapusO KEEps naTIOnwIDE

The cast of primetime drama Little nanay

RaTIngs lEaDERshIp In JanuaRy

24 Oras hosts Vicky Morales, Mike Enriquez and Mel Tiangco

Jessica Soho

roadcast leader GMA Network welcomed 2016 in a position of strength as it continued to rule in nationwide TV ratings in January, according to the industry’s most trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. Driven by its lead in the daytime blocks, GMA garnered 37.5 percent in NUTAM (National Urban Television Audience Measurement) in January (with the dates of January 24 to 31 based on overnight readings), up 2.2 points from ABS-CBN’s 35.3 percent and up 29.3 points from TV5’s 8.2 percent. GMA also continued to be the most watched channel across all timeblocks in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, where most of the urban TV households are found. Urban Luzon accounts for 77 percent, while Mega Manila increased its urban population share to 60 percent effective January 2016. In Urban Luzon, GMA posted a total day audience share of 42.5 percent, higher than ABS-CBN’s 30.1 percent by 12.4 points and TV5’s 7.4 percent by 35.1 points. The Kapuso Network was also largely ahead in Mega Manila with 44 percent, leading ABSCBN’s 27.4 percent by 16.6 points and TV5’s 7.8 percent by 36.2 points. Compared to its rival ABS-CBN, more Kapuso programs entered the top 30 programs (including specials) list in NUTAM, Urban Luzon and Mega Manila. The reality sitcom Pepito Manaloto took the

Comedy Queen AiAi delas Alas

top spot in Urban Luzon; while multi-awarded news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho emerged no. 1 in Mega Manila and led the list of Kapuso shows in NUTAM. Magpakailanman, Eat Bulaga, Marimar, 24 Oras, Ismol Family, Sunday Pinasaya, and Little Nanay also ranked among the top-performing programs in January. Completing the list are Because of You, That’s My Amboy, Celebrity Bluff, Wowowin, 24 Oras Weekend, The Half Sisters, Karelasyon, Kapuso Primetime Cinema, Vampire Ang Daddy Ko, IMBG 20 I Am Bubble Gang, Wish I May, Wanted: President, Buena Familia and i-Witness. Nielsen has a nationwide urban sample size of 2,000 homes; while in Mega Manila, it increased its sample size to 1,200 homes effective this year. As the leading ratings service provider, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement service boasts a total of 31 clients/subscribers including eight local TV networks, four regional clients, two blocktimers, and 17 media agencies. GMA subscribes to Nielsen along with TV5 and Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Ebiquity-Faulkner CBN Asia and TAPE Inc., and major advertising and media agencies such as Dentsu Aegis Network (Carat, MediaforceVizeum, Dentsu), GroupM (Mediacom, Mindshare, MEC and Maxus), Omnicom Media Group (OMD, PHD and M2M), Zenith Optimedia, and StarcomMediavest. Continued on C7

Ryan Agoncillo

Michael V

Mel Tiangco

Megan young as Marimar