The Standard - 2016 February 20 - Saturday

VOL. XXX NO. 10 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 Saturday : FEBruary 20, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Pay hike for state workers gets nod

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WHAT PEACE DEAL? Govt peace panel chief slams NDF for ‘half-truths’

By Sandy Araneta and Florante S. Solmerin

THE government’s chief negotiator with the communist rebels on Friday chided the chairman of the National Democratic Front panel for telling “half-truths” and denied that President Benigno Aquino III had rebuffed a peace deal between the two sides.

“He’s not telling the whole story,” said government peace panel chair Alexander Padilla, in response to NDF peace panel chairman Luis Jalandoni’s claims that a signed peace pact was snubbed by the government in 2014.

“There was no peace deal,” Padilla said.

“What Mr. Jalandoni is referring to was not an agreement.”

Padilla said in December 2014, there were reports of peace talks resuming between the government and the NDF. “We clarified then that what was happening was, a group of private individuals we consider ‘friends of the process’ was shut-

tling between the two parties to explore possible parameters for restarting the talks at the earliest possible time. It was this private group that initialed a proposed agreement subject to approval by the two panels,” he said.

The government chief negotiator confirmed that the “government was studying that proposal and was prepared to discuss it with the NDF panel in January 2015” until the Mamasapano massacre.

Padilla said in February 2015, the private group again went to Utrecht and returned with another proposal from the NDF to resume the talks, this time with a stronger

demand for the release of hundreds of its leaders and followers in detention, the withdrawal or dismissal of cases against their detained alleged consultants, and other preconditions.

With the NDF asserting even more than its usual demands, the initiative did not pan out, he said.

“The NDF’s usual strategy is to use the negotiations to get as many concessions as it can from government without giving anything in return. In spite of this, [the government] continued to pursue all possibilities for the resumption of talks, Padilla added.

Next page

Fighter jet escort. President Benigno Aquino III peeks out the window of Philippine Airlines Flight PR001 to look at the Korean-made fighter jet that escorted him from the Pacific Ocean to Manila after attending the US-Asean summit in California.

Binay demands charges vs Roxas

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Palace shows off new jets amid sea row

By Sandy Araneta IN a display of the country’s newfound military capability, two Air Force FA-50 fighter jets escorted the plane carrying President Benigno Aquino III and his delegation from the United States, over Polillo Island as the aircraft made its approach before landing at the Ninoy Aquino In-

ternational Airport Friday morning.

“The fighter jets took off from Clark Field air base. They made contact with the presidential flight at 6:37 a.m., which eventually landed at 7:05 a.m.,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. “The two jets were delivered November 2015 as part of the AFP modernization program. Delivery of the

remainder of the full squadron will be completed in 2017,” Coloma said.

In a press briefing, Coloma made clear that PR 001 wasn’t escorted due to any threat to the President amid an ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea. He said it was common practice in other countries to give escort honors to returning heads of state. Next page

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State workers to get pay hikes

By Sandy Araneta

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Friday signed Executive Order No. 201 to grant a raise for government employees, as well as additional benefits for civilian and military, and uniformed personnel, amounting to P57.9 billion.

Youth for sovereignty. A leader of the League of Filipino Students and Kabataan party-list protests the Chinese deployment of surface-to-air missiles in disputed waters of the South China Sea. LINO SANTOS

What...

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“We tried two more times in 2015, based on proposals offered by our Norwegian facilitator to the parties, but to no avail. On the first one, the NDF said they needed more time to consult the ground while the RNG [Royal Norwegian Government] and the government waited. On the second one, the NDF expressed its reservation on the RNG’s facilitation process for generating goodwill measures that would benefit the people,” he said.

Padilla recalled that in an in-

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Coloma said it was the first time in a long while that it was possible for the Philippines to do so.

“This kind of welcoming, it’s a common practice because the President is also the commanderin-chief, and this is also practiced in other states, since it gives escort honors [to the President] when his vehicle enters the air space of our country,’’ Coloma said.

He said the President aggressively pushed for the acquisition of the jets under the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program.

Aquino came from the US where he attended the Asean-US Summit hosted by US President Barack Obama in Sunnylands.

At the same time, reports said China deployed a surface-to-air missile system on Woody Island, which is part of the Paracels claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

At the close of the summit on Tuesday, Obama said he and the leaders of Southeast Asian countries discussed the need to ease tensions in the South China Sea, and agreed that any territorial disputes there should be resolved peacefully and through legal

terview in July 2015, Jalandoni reiterated the NDF’s demand. “The group’s return to the negotiating table still depended on the release of political prisoners and peace consultants… and returned to the protracted and immoveable regular track,” he said.

Padilla challenged the NDF to go beyond its usual practice of making unreasonable demands then putting the blame on the government for the failure to resume talks.

“It is high time for the CPP/ NPA/NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and the NDF) to change its tactic of making impossible

demands and blaming the government for the failure to resume peace talks. They have used this tired old rhetoric to cover up for their continuing violence on the ground and their strategy to use the peace process to get as many concessions as they can from government without giving anything in return,” the chief negotiator said.

“Instead of continuing to wage armed conflict against our democracy, the CPP/NPA/NDF must seek ways to deliver peace, especially to the communities on the ground that have been sorely affected by their armed struggle,” Padilla said.

means.

However, a joint statement agreed on after a two-day summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the Sunnylands retreat in California did not include the specific mentions Washington had been seeking regarding China and its assertive pursuit of territory in the South China Sea. On Friday, the Foreign Affairs Department said the Philippines is gravely concerned over the deployment of missile systems in the disputed territories.

“Such actions negate China’s earlier commitment not to militarize the South China Sea,” the DFA said in a statement.

China insisted that it has had military forces in the Paracels “for many years.”

But the Philippines said China’s actions were “a clear violation” of the Declaration of Conduct and other Asean-China statements.

“They put into question the good faith of China to work with Asean for the early conclusion of the CoC, and to cooperate in the efforts of all parties to find ways forward on the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with Unclos [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea],” the DFA said.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi insisted that China’s “limited and necessary self-de-

fense facilities” on its islands in the South China Sea were consistent with international law.

He said that non-militarization is certainly in the interests of all parties, but non-militarization should not be just about one single country.

The US has been directly challenging Chinese maritime claims in the region by sending warships and military aircraft within the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit surrounding Chinese-administered islets.

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday again demanded that there should be “no militarization” of the South China Sea. “But there is every evidence, every day that there has been an increase in militarization of one kind or another. It is of serious concern,” he said.

Also on Friday, students led by the leftist League of Filipino Students and Kabataan Partylist trooped to the Chinese Consulate to demand a stop to military provocations.

“China should stop the military provocations and war-mongering!

This aggression of the Chinese government is not acceptable.

Their claims to the disputed territories are merely based on a warped sense of history,” said LFS National Chairperson Charisse Bañez. With Vito Barcelo

EO No. 201 provides for the implementation of the first of the four tranches provided for in the proposed Salary Standardization Law 2015 or SSL 4 that has not been enacted by Congress.

“Authority to implement the first tranche is given in RA 10717 (or the 2016 General Appropriations Act) which provides a budget of P57.9 billion. The President approved and signed the EO upon his arrival this morning from his participation in the Special Asean-US Summit and a working visit in Los Angeles, California,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said.

The pay hikes would ensure that the compensation structure of government personnel is comparable with the prevailing rates of the private sector to attract and retain competent and committed civil servants, Coloma said.

To do this, the EO revised or updated the existing Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS) to: • Raise the minimum salary for Salary Grade I from the current rate of P9,000 to P11,068 to make it even more competitive with the market rates; • Bring the compensation of government personnel closer to their private counterparts to at least 70 percent of the median of the market for all salary grades; • Eliminate overlaps in between salary grade allocations of government personnel to recognize differences in duties and responsibilities of the position; • Maximize the net take home pay of government personnel through the inclusion of additional benefits; and • Strengthen the performancebased incentive system in recognition of government personnel who play a greater role and carry a heavier responsibility in attaining performance targets and delivering results.

“For the military and uniformed personnel, the compensation adjustment strategy shall be aligned with the objective of mitigating the fiscal crisis building up in their pension system and pursuing the pension reform,” Coloma said.

Among the additional benefits are the hazard pay of all military and uniformed personnel, he said.

This will be raised from the current rate of P240 per month to the following rates—starting Jan. 1, 2016, to P390 per month; by Jan. 1, 2017, to P540 per month; by Jan. 1, 2018, to P690 per month; and by Jan. 1, 2019, to P840 per month.

Congressional leaders failed to resolve their differences over Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s proposal to index retired uniformed officers’ pension to the SSL. The House of Representatives panel said the indexation was not funded under the 2016 budget.

Aquino also said the measure would bloat the financial requirements of the government.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has certified the availability of more than P57 billion in funds under the 2016 General Appropriations Act for

the first tranche of the SSL, Coloma said.

The SSL covers some 1.5 million government employees. Its implementation is spread out across four years.

During the time of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the executive prerogative to raise the salary of state worker was invoked four times, in 2001 and yearly between 2006 and 2008.

In 2001, Arroyo issued Executive Order 22 granting a 5 percent increase over monthly salaries of civilian and uniformed personnel.

In 2006, Arroyo issued Administrative Order No. 144 granting additional compensation of P1,000 to government employees.

The following year, she signed Executive Order No. 611 granting a 10 percent increase in basic monthly salaries of civilian government personnel and likewise increasing the subsistence allowance and hazard pay of military and uniformed personnel.

In 2008, Arroyo approved the increase of 10 percent over the basic monthly salaries of civilian, military and uniformed personnel through EO No. 719.

President Joseph Estrada also exercised this prerogative, issuing EO 219 in 2000, which grants salary adjustment to all government personnel.

During the time of President Corazon Aquino, three EOs were issued-one in 1986, and two in 1987, all of which hiked government sector pay.

Under Republic Act No. 6758, known as the “Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989” and PD 1597, the Chief Executive was granted the power to revise the compensation and classification system and approve the grant of additional allowances and other fringe benefits to employees of the national government.

Liberal Party leaders on Friday said the salary hikes for government employees was not aimed at countering the backlash against the President for vetoing a P2,000 increase in monthly pension payments to members of the Social Security System.

“We are happy that unlike what our critics are saying that the administration doesn’t know compassion or do not have a heart is a complete lie,” Rep. Barry Gutierrez, a spokesman for Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II told reporters Friday. “Even if Congress had a hard time passing the new [Salary Standardization Law 4], what the President has done is to sign an executive order and let our government employees have their salary increases.

“This is not an issue of appeasing someone but to understand what is the proper thing to do. When PNoy vetoed the SSS, there is a clear basis.

He’s protecting the welfare of many, more than 30 million would lose SSS pensions if the President approved that bill.”

“In this case, there is money available and… we just want to increase the salary of our government employees and the President has done it. He doesn’t need congressional action,” he said. With John Paulo Bencito

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Honest candidates preferred by voters ONE in every four Filipinos will support a presidential candidate with an “untarnished reputation,” the opinion polling firm Pulse Asia said in its latest survey released Friday.

“For a little over one in every four Filipinos (28 percent), the most important reason why they are supporting a particular presidential candidate is because of said candidate’s having an untarnished reputation or a reputation for not being corrupt,” Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said Friday.

Pulse Asia also said workers’ pay and illegal drugs were the top issues Filipinos would like their preferred presidential candidate to address immediately once he or she assumed office as the next president of the country.

“The most often mentioned national issues which Filipinos would like their preferred presidential candidate to act on at once upon assuming the presidency are increasing the pay of workers (38 percent) and curbing the widespread sale and use of illegal drugs (36 percent),” the polling firm said.

The second cluster of urgent issues that should be addressed immediately by the presidential candidates includes controlling inflation (30 percent), fighting corruption in the government (30 percent), reducing poverty (29 percent) and creating more jobs (26 percent), Pulse Asia said.

Fighting criminality (24 percent) and enforcing the rule of law (20 percent) make up the third group of urgent issues that a presidential candidate must deal with immediately when he/she wins.

A total of 1,800 registered voters nationwide were provided a list of possible considerations that they may have in choosing a presidential candidate, showing that 28 percent of Filipino voters would support a presidential bet who has a reputation for not being corrupt.

According to Pulse Asia, this opinion is shared among

all geographic areas (27 to 32 percent) and Classes D and E (25 to 29 percent).

The second most often mentioned reason for voting for a particular candidate is having a clear program or platform of action (14 percent) and extensive experience in governance (12 percent).

Other reasons such as being knowledgeable in the management of government (9 percent), being helpful (6 percent) and being religious (6 percent) are the other reasons that the respondents cited for voting for a presidential bet.

Being involved in a political dynasty and nationalism are the least reasons that Filipinos would vote for a particular candidate reeking the presidency.

But for the camp of Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, who is being blamed for the onerous procurement of maintenance providers for the beleaguered MRT-3 by former general manager Al Vitangcol, they are sure that the administration bet won’t have his long years in public service and reputation get soiled just by the on-going MRT-3 scuttle. “[Roxas] has been in public service for over two decades, he’s been in the congress, he’s been in the senate, he’s been in the cabinets of three presidents. In 20 years, what scandal or corruption issue marred the name of Secretary Mar Roxas? None, right?”

Rep. Barry Gutierrez told reporters at the Liberal Party’s headquarters on Friday.

“In fact, he’s probably the only candidate whose running now who can both claim a long record in public service more than two decades and very extraordinary, a long record all that time, wasn’t involved in any single corruption case.”

Gutierrez then shot back at Vitangcol who accused Roxas and Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya of “gross and inexcusable neglect.” John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta

Justice for all. Speaking at the meeting of Filipino-Chinese businessmen at the Manila Hotel Friday, Vice President Jejomar Binay

complains about the prevailing selective justice and vows to take serious steps to respond to the needs of all Filipinos. DANNY PATA

Binay urges charges against LP bet Roxas THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday challenged the Ombudsman to file charges against Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II who was linked by former MRT3 general manager Al Vitangcol to an anomalous MRT contract.

Binay’s spokesman Rico Quicho said the Ombudsman’s charges against the Binays were politically motivated and part of the Aquino administration’s black propaganda against them.

“The revelations made by former MRT general manager Vitangcol the other day exposes the Ombudsman’s predisposition to look the other way when administration and LP personalities, in this case no less than Mr. Mar Roxas, are

involved,” Quicho said.

“We look forward to facing these frivolous charges [against the Binays]in a fair and impartial court.”

Mon Ilagan, another Binay spokesman, said Binay had vowed to streamline the process of releasing calamity funds to ensure that help would reach victims on time unlike the teka-teka approach of Roxas in which millions of pesos worth of calamity assistance did not

reach the beneficiaries while food rotted in warehouses.

Roxas was the Interior secretary when Super Typhoon “Yolanda” struck the Visayas and killed 8,000 people.

Ilagan said the thousands of typhoon victims continued to suffer because local government units were ill prepared for emergencies.

Quicho said the filing of the case against dismissed Makati Mayor Junjun Binay before the Sandiganbayan was simply a procedural consequence of the erroneous and biased resolutions of the Ombudsman.

“The bias and partiality of the Ombudsman is beyond dispute. It has played loose with the law and the Constitution in persecuting the Vice President and his family

and those in the opposition,” Quicho said.

Earlier, Vitangcol tagged Roxas in the allegedly anomalous $12-million maintenance service contract deal for the mass transit system.

Vitangcol filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court to support his motion for reconsideration. He challenged the Ombudsman’s decision to file graft charges against him over the awarding of the MRT3 interim maintenance contract without public bidding in 2012.

In his affidavit, Vitangcol accused Roxas, who was then Transport secretary, and his successor and party mate Joseph Emilio Abaya of deliberately ignoring the procurement requests for MRT3.

Vito Barcelo

Sotto says UNA to go for Poe

Nueva Ecija meeting. Senator Grace Poe answers questions from the academic community of Araullo University in Cabanatuan City Friday. JAY MORALES

CABANATUAN CITY—The Nationalist People’s Coalition, the country’s second biggest political party, will likely throw its support behind presidential candidate Grace Poe when it announces its stand in the first week of March, reelectionist Senator Vicente Sotto III said here Friday.

Sotto said he was informed by Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy II, the NPC chairman, that the majority of their members were inclined to support Senator Poe and her running mate Senator Francis Escudero.

Poe and Escudero are running as independent candidates in this year’s elections.

“Majority of the members of the NPC will go for Grace. We are just waiting for the final or official statement that will come from either Gov. June Dy or [NPC] president Gigi Agabao,” Sotto said.

“I’m just speaking on behalf of some of the members that I have talked to. What I know, what I have sensed, what I heard is that they will stay with Grace.”

Poe on Friday said former Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno, a close friend of President Benigno Aquino III, was not an official

part of her campaign, but she welcomed his support. “[But] as long as [the support from him] is being done in a legal and proper manner, we are very much thankful,” Poe told reporters at the Harvest Hotel here.

She welcomed the reported recruitment by Puno of his fellow Masons in the bailiwicks of the ruling Liberal Party to support her presidential bid.

Sotto said it was not the disqualification cases against Poe that was preventing the NPC from making an early decision on whom to support.

“To be very candid about it, what Jun Dy told me is that they’re just collating the reports that they gathered from the nationwide members of NPC but generally, the sense of the majority is that they want Grace,” Sotto said.

The frontrunner in the senatorial race conceded this was the first time that the NPC failed to make an early stand on whom to support for the country’s top position.

“They have so many friends. As for me, all the presidentiables are my friends,” Sotto said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Comelec readies ‘face-off’

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan IT’S all systems go for the first ever presidential debate as five candidates vying to become the country’s next president prepared for what Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista called a “ face-off” in Cagayan de Oro on Sunday.

Attend to our future. Students of the University of Santo Tomas, all members of the Rise for Education Alliance, in Manila put up a declaration of their protest against tuition and other school fee increases. DANNY PATA

Aquino to leave P6.4t debt

By Rio N. Araja ASIDE from a host of problems, President Benigno Aquino III will leave the next president P6.4 trillion in outstanding debt, P4.16 trillion of which was borrowed during his term, the Freedom from Debt Coalition said Friday.

At a news conference, FDC president Dr. Eduardo Tadem said Aquino has even eclipsed former President Gloria Arroyo as the biggest borrower among the country’s presidents from 1986 to the present.

“Divided among the projected 103 million population, each Filipino now owes a sum of P62,235.26, plus P4,251 in government-guaranteed debts,” Tadem said.

According to World Bank data, the

Philippines had a debt of $66,383,249,000 in 2011 which steadily ballooned to $69,874,337,000 in 2012, $66,870,514,000 in 2013 and $77,658,912,000 in 2014.

Since 1986, Philippine presidents have merely continued such dependence on debt and non-prioritization of the welfare of the people because of blind adherence to the prescriptions of multilateral financial institutions, Tadem said.

Tadem said Aquino is the “biggest loan addict” and Filipinos should “rise up and stage an electoral insurgency against debt and its role in perpetuating poverty and inequality.”

Noted economist Walden Bello, who served as congressional representative of the Akbayan party-list and is now seek-

ing a Senate seat, said it is criminal that debt payments should get the first cut in the national budget even before funds are appropriated for social and economic services.

“This vicious cycle of debt and ballooning social debt will continue as long as the government resorts to new borrowings to pay for old loans, including those tainted with fraud and corruption, and with existence of the law on automatic appropriations for debt servicing,” he raised.

For 30 years from 1986 to 2015, the continued implementation of the policy on automatic appropriations for debt servicing has resulted in an average of 27.21 percent of the annual public revenues automatically earmarked for interest payments.

In an ambush interview, Bautista said every presidential candidate will be given 1.5 minutes to answer the issue and 30 seconds for rebutting other candidates.

“This is like a face-off,” Bautista said. “All systems go for our first-ever debate. This is the first presidential debate that will happen outside Metro Manila and in our history,” Bautista said.

He said he received no notice of withdrawal from presidential candidates Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance; former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II of the Liberal Party; independent Senator Grace Poe, Senator Miriam Santiago of the People’s Reform Party and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“There are five candidates and the candidates will be asked a question and then the second candidate will be asked to respond to the answer,” the poll chief said.

“It will have a very interesting format patterned after international best practices.

Basically, we learned it from the CNN Republican debate,” he added.

The debate will be held at the MiniTheater Building of the Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro and will be moderated

by GMA news anchor Mike Enriquez and Jessica Soho and co-hosted by John Nery of Inquirer.

Bautista said there will be four topics to be discussed: economic development, peace and order, track records, and some Mindanao issues.

The Comelec earlier said that the venue has a capacity of 500 attendees. The debate will be aired from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

On March 20, the second leg of the presidential debates will be held in the Visayas and will be sponsored by the TV5 and the Philippine Star.

The April 24 presidential debate in Luzon will be hosted by ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin while the lone vice presidential debate to be held in Metro Manila on April 10 will be sponsored by CNN Philippines and Business Mirror.

‘Pacquiao can fight and run’

By Rey E. Requejo

WORLD boxing champion Manny Pacquiao cannot be disqualified from running for the Senate in the May 9 elections even if the April 9 fight with Timothy Bradley pushes through, an election lawyer argued Friday.

Noted election lawyer Romulo Macalintal stressed there is nothing in election laws that would justify the disqualification of Pacquiao if he pushes through with the fight.

“The scheduled April 9 bout of Manny Pacquiao cannot be a ground to disqualify Pacquiao as candidate for Senator in the May 2016 elections,” Macalintal said.

“There is no provision in election laws that would justify any complaint to disqualify

him just because of the said boxing event,” he added.

Macalintal came to the defense of Pacquiao after former congressman and fellow senatorial candidate Walden Bello said Commission on Elections Resolution 9615 issued in 2013 has expanded the definition of “political advertisement” to include media appearances in shows that are not covered by the Comelec hour.

“This globally and nationally televised fight a month before the elections would mean hours and hours of coverage before, during, and after the fight. This media attention, supplemented by national pay-per-view television coverage during the fight, would be massive free advertising,” Bello argued.

“It would give him a tremendous advantage against most of the other candidates in the race for the Senate,” he said, implying that Pacquiao should postpone the fight or risk being disqualified.

However, Macalintal insisted that if there is any violation of election laws, a criminal complaint has to be filed and only after conviction can Pacquiao or any candidate be disqualified from seeking public office either by election or appointment.

Macalintal added that even if there is any offense that Pacquiao would be violating under Philippine laws, it could not be imposed because the fight will be held in Las Vegas where Philippine courts have no jurisdiction.

Attending to garbage. Commission on Elections Chairman Andres

Bautista and Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Emerson Carlos inspect the election materials that were seized after they were found to be posted in illegal areas. MANNY PALMERO

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A5 Escudero pushes pro-gay measures

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

La Union beauties. Naguilian town in La Union presented on Thursday this year’s crop of town beauty queens. They are (from left) fourth runner-up Orlyn Tabas, second runner-up Leslie Diego, Miss Naguilian Basi 2016 Junea Junio, first runner-up Jonryl Navora and third runner-up Joanna Rimando. CHRISTINE JUNIO

Pay distortion stumps Roxas in school forum

By John Paolo Bencito LIBERAL Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II found himself stumped by the issues raised by private school officials during a forum hosted by the Coordinating Council on Private Educational Associations on Thursday.

When asked if he could consider giving private school teachers subsidies to mitigate the shortage of private school teachers, Roxas could only say he was open to the possibility, but there would be technical or legal hurdles to the suggestion.

“It’s hard. What my father taught me is to not say anything when I’m not sure,” said Roxas, the only presidential bet who made it to the forum organized

by the federation.

Roxas was responding to a request for government subsidies so that private school teachers would not be tempted to transfer to public schools which now has higher wages.

“Maybe the solution is to let more teachers graduate, right?

Because in that way, we could equalize the supply and demand of teachers,” Roxas said.

Cocopea executive direc-

tor Rene Salvador San Andres lamented that private school institutions could not keep pace with the salaries offered by government schools because of the objections usually made against tuition increases of small private educational institutions.

San Andres said the government should also help small private schools, even in the form of teacher subsidies to equalize the wage distortion between private and public school teachers.

The group said 70 percent of tuition fees collected by private schools goes to teachers salaries, but the government’s only intervention would be in the form of the Teacher’s Salary Subsidy if the school offers the Govern-

ment Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or the Educational Service Contracting/Education Voucher System for basic education; or the newly passed United Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education for Higher Education.

“Teachers in the private sector are helpless because the government has a salary standardization law,” San Andres said.

“But when the government has decided to increase the salary [of public school teachers], a lot of our private schools cannot because we only depend on tuition money. And every time we try to reach that, there would be opposition. This is our lifeblood, private education is particularly hit by this,” he added.

CABANATUAN CITY—Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged the government on Friday to take proactive steps to safeguard the rights and welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by passing the anti-discrimination bill.

“I ultimately believe that each and every Filipino should have equal rights, access to basic social services, and should be protected from all kinds of discrimination,” Escudero said.

In 2014, Escudero co-authored Senate Bill 2358, also known as the Anti-Discrimination bill, along with his presidential running mate Senator Grace Poe, which makes any form of discrimination a “crime against humanity and human dignity.”

The bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or belief, sex or gender or sexual orientation, language, disability, educational attainment and other forms of discrimination.

Citing a basic principle in social justice that those who have less in life should have more in law, the veteran legislator said the LGBT community, a sector of society that is often neglected, is also repeatedly stigmatized by different discriminatory remarks.

Meanwhile, Escudero traded barbs with Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas whom he criticized for failing to deliver more development of Capiz province despite his closeness to President Benigno Aquino III. While campaigning in Roxas City on Wednesday, Escudero took potshots at Roxas, who said the Liberal Party standard bearer could have done more for his own province due to his “closeness” to two former presidents as well as the incumbent president.

Escudero said residents of Capiz were lucky because for a long time, their “son” has been close to former presidents of our country for three terms.

“If we are to sum it all—the term of President Erap, the term of President Arroyo, which was more than nine years, and the term of President Aquino, it’s more than 15 years, and your only son is close to the one sitting in Malacañang,” said Escudero.

But Roxas lashed back at Escudero and called him a “saling pusa,” or third-rate competitor, in the forthcoming election.

“Why did he have to be personal?” Escudero said. “If he wins the presidency, no matter how farfetched it could be, would he be that sensitive? What if somebody from your province criticizes him?

HRW: Fight rights abuses

By Sandy Araneta THE government should investigate and prosecute current and former government and security force officials implicated in past abuses, rights watchdog Human Rights Watch said Friday.

“The routine failure to prosecute serious abuses— including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances—makes it more likely those abuses will continue in future administrations,” said Carlos Conde, HRW Philippines Researcher.

“The Philippines is slated to hold presidential elec-

tions in May. Pursuing justice for human rights abuses should be a priority of the next president, not just a response to the efforts of foreign police investigators,” Conde said.

Human Rights Watch issued the statement in response to reports that a former member of a Philippine police task force linked to serious human rights violations has been deported by the United States, opening the door for the Philippines to address a legacy of impunity for rights abusers.

Regor Cadag Aguilar, 42, was a member of the task force from 1998 to 2001

and assigned to conduct surveillance on politicians, political leaders, businessmen, and journalists.

One subject of the surveillance went missing and is presumed dead; another “political figure” was murdered; and an undetermined number were tortured allegedly on orders of Aguilar’s superiors, Conde said.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement justified Aguilar’s deportation on evidence that included his admission that members of the unnamed task force had abducted, tortured, and murdered targets of surveillance.

Remove the stockpile. Tondo residents and environmental activists protest the continued stockpiling of coal at the Port Area in Manila and demanded that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources remove the dump. MANNY PALMERO

s at u r d ay : f e b r u a r y 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A6 Transport group seeks P1 rush-hour jeep fare hike

By Rio N. Araja ThE 1-United Transport Koalisyon on Friday filed a “rushhour fare” petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, seeking a P1 additional jeepney fare for the first four kilometers in Metro Manila between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., and between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., except on a Sunday and a national holiday.

In a four-page petition, 1-Utak national chairman Vigor Mendoza II urged Chairman Winston Ginez to consider his proposal.

“Public utility jeepneys during the rush-hour period incur higher operating cost compared to non-rush hour in terms of fuel consumption, wear-and-tear of the vehicle, longer working hours and driver’s fatigue. Accordingly, it is necessary to compensate the operator and driver for the higher cost of operations, and give incentive for the drivers to work during these stressful hours.”

If Uber Systems Inc. and GrabCar drivers have been allowed by the LTFRB to charge surge pricing during rush hours, why can’t the government allow jeepney operators and drivers to also impose an additional P1 rush-hour fare? he asked.

“In the same token in the exercise of their right to equal protection, PUJ operators and drivers must be treated in the same manner and be allowed to charge a rush-hour rate,” Mendoza’s petition read.

The transport leader said jeepney drivers deserve such fare hike not only in the National Capital Region, but also those in Regions 3 and 4.

“By analogy, if an employee is made to work overtime, he is paid an extra 25 percent of the base pay, 30 percent if work is required during his rest day, 10 percent for nighttime differential and 100 percent during holidays,” he pointed out.

“We propose a P1 additional fare for the first four kilometers during the rush-hour period as indicated above. This is just 14 percent of the current minimum fare of P7.”

Passengers could well afford the added P1 rush-hour fare, he said.

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Transparency group sues PCSO’s Maliksi for plunder

By Florante S. Solmerin

A group who calls itself Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment on Thursday filed a plunder case before the office of the ombudsman against philippine Charity Sweepstakes office chairman Irineo “Ayung” Maliksi in connection with the controversy over the operation of the governmentsponsored small-town lottery game.

“The crux of the controversy in this complaint is the issuance of a moratorium directly by respondent sometime in June of 2015, which implemented for

the stoppage of the Small Town Lottery operations and the non-approval of the pending applications for franchise of the said STL,” FATE president Jen-

nifer S. Castro said.

Castro said the two-month stoppage had incurred PCSO a loss of P15 billion. her group had earlier sued Maliksi for alleged 30 ghost consultants and for allegedly giving unwarranted favor in the amount of P2.151 million to cover the medical expenses of a PCSO driver.

Maliksi could not be reached for comment.

In the plunder case, Castro said Maliksi issued the moratorium without the consent of the Board of Directors. The board later overruled this.

“The moratorium was issued based on the allegation that the revenues brought in by STL operators in PCSO are incorrect or lacking. This, aside from the fact that this is just being use as a front for jueteng.”

In his previous statements to the media, Maliksi explained he issued the moratorium based on results of the investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation alleging that STL was being used as front by jueteng operators. “however, the investigation that Maliksi mentions has been denied by the NBI,” Castro said.

Order of Sikatuna. In Los Angeles, President Benigno S. Aquino III gives a Conferment of the Order of Sikatuna to Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. MAlACAñANg PhOtO BuReAu

Ombudsman Morales wants zero backlog by 2018

Courtesy call. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez exchanges pleasantries with El Shaddai Servant Leader Bro. Mike Velarde.

OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales said various initiatives of the Office of the Ombudsman have led to significant accomplishments, adding that it aims to have zero backlog by year 2018.

Despite a 2-percent increase in new cases filed, the number of cases awaiting action by the court has decreased by 16 percent, she said.

Speaking before the recent Metrobank Foundation Professional Chair for Public Service and Governance, Morales credited the agency’s effort to strengthen its institutional capacity and increase

work efficiency, including the rationalization of the functions of various bureaus, the filtering of complaints filed, and assessment of processes of key government agencies in terms of risks and vulnerability to corruption.

The efforts resulted in the resolution of 6,707 administrative and criminal cases in 2015, she said.

“The Ombudsman is concerned not only about the disposition of complaints filed before the Office. It still has to mind cases it filed with the Sandiganbayan and regular courts as well as its task of promoting awareness on

good governance and campaigning for sound public administration,” Morales said.

Recognizing that the most important stakeholder in the battle against corruption is the Filipino people, the Ombudsman has also taken steps to mobilize broader support for its work.

“A paradigm shift in people’s perspective is needed to make most effective the reforms installed in various institutions,” she said.

“One does not need to be a member of the civil service or to hold an appointive or elective post in government to be a public servant.”

s at u r d ay : f e b r u a r y 2 0 , 2 0 1 6

A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Carigara farmers get mill facility

By Mel Caspe CARIGARA, Leyte— The Department of Labor and Employment turned over two corn mill facilities for the farmers of Barangays Tigbao and Baruguhay Sur here on Friday.

The two corn mill facilities worth P540,000.00 will benefit more or less 200 members of the Tigbao Farmers Association and Baruguhay Sur Farmers Association, including the Municipal Farmers Association Municipality of Carigara.

In the turnover ceremony, Bernardita Navarra, chief labor officer of DoLE Regional Office VIII, mentioned that the establishment of the corn mill facilities is the result of the approved project proposal during DoLE and Army partnership in 2015.

The 19th Infantry Battalion and 8th Civil Military Operations Battalion achievement during the conduct of Bayanihan Team Activity soldiers were proven active partners in bringing basic social services to the people.

Under this scheme, social issues are identified and are subsequently communicated to concerned government agencies for appropriate actions.

Out to dry. A fisherman dries his fish in Barangay Balud, Barugo, Leyte. MEL CASPE

Drunk cop injures, points gun at Calapan residents

By Robert A. Evora

CALAPAN CITY—Despite the existing gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections, a drunken policeman, brandishing his service pistol, sowed terror in the heart of this city Thursday night.

Five of the civilian victims, including a six-year-old boy, intimidated by PO1 Percival P. Poral, a native of Iloilo City, complained before the Calapan Police Station that they were bodily harmed by the drunken police officer. He also threatened to kill them.

P/Supt. Jonathan P. Paguio, Calapan City police chief, identified the four complainants as Joel P. Atienza, 23, of

Barangay Ibaba East, Reynel C. Miraples, 39, of Barangay Salong, Junjun G. Morales, 22, of Barangay Calero, and Erwin G. Alon, 37, of Barangay Ibaba West, said they were punched and kicked by Poral while pointing at them the latter’s service pistol.

Calapan City Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan directed the provincial police office

to “relieve immediately Poral from Calapan and institute administrative proceedings and file appropriate criminal charges, if necessary, against the police officer.”

“I won’t tolerate this ugly incident to happen again in this city, which is considered as one of the most peaceful cities in the country. A policeman like Poral has no place in Calapan City,” the irate Mayor Panaligan said.

The incidents happened successively in three separate public places in this capital city that night and were witnessed by several people.

“That bad behavior of a police officer [referring to Poral] only tainted the good image of the Philippine Na-

tional Police as protector of the people,” residents said.

It happened, one after the other between 10:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. that night, near Chowking in the commercial district of Barangay San Vicente, in nearby Calapan City public market and the crowded city plaza.

Provincial officials of the Comelec here said the prohibition on bearing and carrying firearms and other deadly weapons are already in effect since Jan. 10 and ends in June 8, this year when the incidents happened.

In Calapan City plaza, Alon said while he was waiting for a relative, Poral arrived on a motorcycle at 10:25 p.m., cursed at him

and punched him twice.

The policeman then pointed his gun at the sixyear old boy who witnessed the incident.

Then Poral told Alon to go with him at the police station.

The police officer kicked the victim again on his left leg when he was about to board the motorcycle.

At the police station, Poral punched and kicked Alon again in the presence of fellow policemen. Other police officers tried to stop Poral from harming Alon but to no avail. Poral is reportedly a close relative of a ranking police official assigned with the office of the provincial police director in the province.

Baguio groups push passage of local environmental code

Parched earth. In Tuba, Benguet, farmers get a reprieve from El Niño in the form of rainshowers. DAVID CHAN

BAGUIO CITY—Environmentalists want the city council to pass the pending proposed ordinance providing for the city’s environment code considering that it was the product of extensive public consultations in order to spare the environment from further damaged.

Former councillor and chairman of the Baguio Regreening Movement Erdolfo Balajadja said it now depends on the incumbent councilors whether to approve the measure with amendments considering the need to put in place the needed programs to preserve and protect the city’s environment from deteriorating.

Among the salient points of the city’s environment code include the collection of user fees from the use of the different parts in the city, the implementation of a total ban on mining and quarrying the conduct of

regreening activities and other related activities to sustain the city’s environment for the same to be passed on to generations.

He said several elections have passed but the code had not yet been passed thereby posing a serious threat to the city’s environment because individuals and groups might take advantage of the situation.

However, some councilors said the proposed environment code contains provisions that run counter to the provisions of existing and pending ordinances. This is why they say proponents of the said code must remove such conflicting provisions to guarantee the immediate passage of the measure.

Councilor Betty Lourdes F. Tabanda said matters in relation to the imposition of building height limit should be left to the city land use plan and updated

zoning ordinance, issues relative to ecotourism and tourism development must be left within the jurisdiction of the approved tourism code while matters on the regulation of pyrotechnics and fireworks displays by private and government organizations should be left to the jurisdiction of the ordinance to be passed whether or not to regulate or totally ban the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials in the city.

The council agreed to calendar the discussion of the environment code for second reading after publication starting Feb. 29, 2016 to allow individual councilors to submit their proposed amendments, particularly those conflicting provisions with that of existing approved and pending ordinances, in order to guarantee the passage of the measure the soonest.

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

THE LATEST SURREAL ARGUMENTS FOR GRACE POE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

‘WHY ONLY ME?’

THE former general manager of the Metro Rail Transit 3, Al Vitangcol, this week asked the Supreme Court to tell the Sandiganbayan to stop trying him for graft with regard to the troubles of the rail line traversing Edsa.

Vitangcol is in trouble because one of the incorporators of PH Trams, the company that was engaged by the agency to undertake maintenance of the MRT, is his wife’s uncle. He says the Sandiganbayan is zeroing in on the conflict of interest issue when in fact, his former superiors Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and, before him, Secretary Manuel Roxas II, among others, should be held equally accountable for the decrepit state of the MRT. Hundreds of thousands of commuters use the MRT every day despite the fact that it has been poorly maintained, with one malfunction or other occurring regularly. In 2014, a train derailed and slammed into the barriers and onto the street below, injuring dozens.

The issue has been a sore point among residents of the capital. And now Vitangcol says he is being sacrificed to placate the public’s feelings as the more culpable officials are getting away despite their gross and inexcusable inaction, if not willful and deliberate manipulation of the events and processes related to the maintenance of the rail system.

Meanwhile, those from the camp of Roxas and Abaya dismiss this as political vendetta—squid tactics that are convenient especially now that Roxas is running for president.

In some respects, Vitangcol is in a better place than his former superiors.

He at least acknowledges that there is a mess over at the MRT, and he was part of the group responsible for it. Where he is unfortunate is in the fact that he is “only” a Vitangcol. He is small fry compared to the names of his big bosses who should be protected at all costs.

The former GM likely does not relish the idea of being the fall guy, but somebody has to play the part. This is how it is: In the public transport sector, in police operations gone awry, in the illegal disbursement of public funds, there are other fall guys languishing in jail—or bad esteem—alone for the sins of the many.

They are not any less guilty or any more deserving of leniency. This should teach all of them a lesson to not participate in shady transactions in the first place. It’s always going to be their necks out there, not anybody else’s.

KNOCK PACQUIAO OUT POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO RELIGION ends where public service begins. Boxer and top absentee member of the House of Representatives Manny Pacquiao has been in the news for days now stemming from his slur against LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people) as being “worse than animals.”

The boxing icon has been severely criticized not only by

the LGBT community but also by human rights advocates, gay and lesbian celebrities, and even by some big names in sports.

His multi-million dollar contract as endorser of a popular sports brand has been terminated following an online campaign asking Nike to drop Pacquiao. The company said that it is against any form of discrimination and Pacman’s words were “abhorrent.”

True to form, despite the obviously half-hearted apology, Pacquiao continues to stick by his anti-LGBT statements, even using bible verses to prove that

he is right and speaks only of the “truth.”

I do not expect Pacman to change his position on the matter, and that is all right with me IF such position is not imposed on others, and IF he can respect others with differing views as his equal. This is a democracy, after all. As such, differences in perspectives will naturally surface and this is healthy for thorough analysis of things. The important thing is the manner by which we deal with differences.

We should be able to peacefully co-exist despite these. Live and let live, as they say.

A9

Do not vote for Pacquiao.

However, arrogantly saying that gays and lesbians are worse than animals is a low blow. Even in boxing, there are prohibited blows. This time, Pacquiao crossed the line. His words speak volumes about his intolerance of people whose beliefs are different from him. There is a word for this—BIGOTRY. The Pacman just revealed what a bigot he is.

Regarding the LGBT as worse than animals is discrimination of the highest order. Rephrasing his statement, he was actually saying that those in the LGBT community are NOT human beings, not even animals (because they are “worse than animals”).

I wonder, what kind of creatures are LGBTs in Pacquiao’s world?

Last I heard, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trans, and all other shades or manifestations of sexual identities and orientations, including heterosexuality are characteristics of human beings. No one is higher or lower, and all persons possess the same inherent, inalienable, indivisible, and universal human rights.

Human rights. Does Pacquiao know about and understand human rights?

Does he subscribe to the idea that everyone, regardless of sex, sexuality, etc. has the same rights as his? He

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

has been a lawmaker for many years and lawmaking is very significantly about respecting and promoting the rights and welfare of our citizens.

Has he learned? Or is the concept of rights alien to this world class, icon of a boxer?

If he has learned, then he should be promoting, not degrading and violating the human rights of the LGBT community.

But then again, we must remember that he holds the record of being among the top absentee members of the HOR

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

having attended only FOUR sessions in the entirety of last year. He might have had very little opportunity to learn about human rights. We also must be reminded that amidst the clamor for the passage of the right-based reproductive health bill then, he voted NO because of religious reasons. Pacquiao is not only anti-LGBT, he is also antiwomen’s human rights.

And there is more. This legislator, when asked about his absences in the House, even ridiculed the work of Continued on A11

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

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

RECENT arguments raised in favor of Senator Grace Poe in her four disqualification cases pending before the Supreme Court have reached surreal proportions.

It will be recalled that these cases assert, among others, that Poe is not a naturalborn citizen of the Philippines, and that for this reason, she is not qualified to run for president in the May 2016 elections. The 1987 Constitution mandates that only natural-born citizens may be elected president.

As pointed out by the parties questioning Poe’s citizenship, the 1987 Constitution defines a natural-born Filipino citizen as one who is a citizen of the Philippines from birth. This inevitably means that since Poe is admittedly a foundling, or one who is unable to establish the vital circumstances surrounding her birth, Poe is not a naturalborn Filipino citizen. Poe’s adversaries also maintain that since the 1935, 1973 and 1987 charters do not even mention foundlings, there is no presumption under any of them that foundlings are natural-born citizens.

Last week, this column revealed that it is well-settled in Philippine jurisprudence that adoption does not confer Philippine citizenship on the adopted.

If the rule were otherwise, an alien can easily circumvent Philippine laws on citizenship by getting his alien child adopted by a Filipino parent. The rationale: what may not be done directly cannot be done indirectly.

If an adopted child does not acquire the citizenship of any of its adopting parents, the same rule should apply to a foundling—the foundling cannot acquire the citizenship of those who found it. Again, if the rule were otherwise, an alien can easily circumvent Philippine laws on citizenship by making arrangements for his alien child to be “found” by a Filipino citizen. That arrangement will be an easier way to circumvent the law because “getting found” involves less expenses than “getting adopted.”

For their part, Poe’s allies have resorted to surreal, unorthodox arguments which appeal to the emotion rather than to legal reasoning. For instance, they repeatedly insist that a ruling against Poe is an act of discrimination against foundlings in general, and that foundlings should not be faulted for their inability to establish the circumstances of their birth.

Their arguments are completely untenable.

To insist that only natural-born citizen of the Philippines can run for president is not to discriminate against foundlings; it is to insist that the Constitution be obeyed. Nobody forced Poe to run for president. Since Poe is running for president on her own free will, she must comply with the requirements for the Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

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

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

THE LATEST SURREAL ARGUMENTS FOR GRACE POE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

‘WHY ONLY ME?’

THE former general manager of the Metro Rail Transit 3, Al Vitangcol, this week asked the Supreme Court to tell the Sandiganbayan to stop trying him for graft with regard to the troubles of the rail line traversing Edsa.

Vitangcol is in trouble because one of the incorporators of PH Trams, the company that was engaged by the agency to undertake maintenance of the MRT, is his wife’s uncle. He says the Sandiganbayan is zeroing in on the conflict of interest issue when in fact, his former superiors Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and, before him, Secretary Manuel Roxas II, among others, should be held equally accountable for the decrepit state of the MRT. Hundreds of thousands of commuters use the MRT every day despite the fact that it has been poorly maintained, with one malfunction or other occurring regularly. In 2014, a train derailed and slammed into the barriers and onto the street below, injuring dozens.

The issue has been a sore point among residents of the capital. And now Vitangcol says he is being sacrificed to placate the public’s feelings as the more culpable officials are getting away despite their gross and inexcusable inaction, if not willful and deliberate manipulation of the events and processes related to the maintenance of the rail system.

Meanwhile, those from the camp of Roxas and Abaya dismiss this as political vendetta—squid tactics that are convenient especially now that Roxas is running for president.

In some respects, Vitangcol is in a better place than his former superiors.

He at least acknowledges that there is a mess over at the MRT, and he was part of the group responsible for it. Where he is unfortunate is in the fact that he is “only” a Vitangcol. He is small fry compared to the names of his big bosses who should be protected at all costs.

The former GM likely does not relish the idea of being the fall guy, but somebody has to play the part. This is how it is: In the public transport sector, in police operations gone awry, in the illegal disbursement of public funds, there are other fall guys languishing in jail—or bad esteem—alone for the sins of the many.

They are not any less guilty or any more deserving of leniency. This should teach all of them a lesson to not participate in shady transactions in the first place. It’s always going to be their necks out there, not anybody else’s.

KNOCK PACQUIAO OUT POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO RELIGION ends where public service begins. Boxer and top absentee member of the House of Representatives Manny Pacquiao has been in the news for days now stemming from his slur against LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people) as being “worse than animals.”

The boxing icon has been severely criticized not only by

the LGBT community but also by human rights advocates, gay and lesbian celebrities, and even by some big names in sports.

His multi-million dollar contract as endorser of a popular sports brand has been terminated following an online campaign asking Nike to drop Pacquiao. The company said that it is against any form of discrimination and Pacman’s words were “abhorrent.”

True to form, despite the obviously half-hearted apology, Pacquiao continues to stick by his anti-LGBT statements, even using bible verses to prove that

he is right and speaks only of the “truth.”

I do not expect Pacman to change his position on the matter, and that is all right with me IF such position is not imposed on others, and IF he can respect others with differing views as his equal. This is a democracy, after all. As such, differences in perspectives will naturally surface and this is healthy for thorough analysis of things. The important thing is the manner by which we deal with differences.

We should be able to peacefully co-exist despite these. Live and let live, as they say.

A9

Do not vote for Pacquiao.

However, arrogantly saying that gays and lesbians are worse than animals is a low blow. Even in boxing, there are prohibited blows. This time, Pacquiao crossed the line. His words speak volumes about his intolerance of people whose beliefs are different from him. There is a word for this—BIGOTRY. The Pacman just revealed what a bigot he is.

Regarding the LGBT as worse than animals is discrimination of the highest order. Rephrasing his statement, he was actually saying that those in the LGBT community are NOT human beings, not even animals (because they are “worse than animals”).

I wonder, what kind of creatures are LGBTs in Pacquiao’s world?

Last I heard, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trans, and all other shades or manifestations of sexual identities and orientations, including heterosexuality are characteristics of human beings. No one is higher or lower, and all persons possess the same inherent, inalienable, indivisible, and universal human rights.

Human rights. Does Pacquiao know about and understand human rights?

Does he subscribe to the idea that everyone, regardless of sex, sexuality, etc. has the same rights as his? He

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

has been a lawmaker for many years and lawmaking is very significantly about respecting and promoting the rights and welfare of our citizens.

Has he learned? Or is the concept of rights alien to this world class, icon of a boxer?

If he has learned, then he should be promoting, not degrading and violating the human rights of the LGBT community.

But then again, we must remember that he holds the record of being among the top absentee members of the HOR

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

having attended only FOUR sessions in the entirety of last year. He might have had very little opportunity to learn about human rights. We also must be reminded that amidst the clamor for the passage of the right-based reproductive health bill then, he voted NO because of religious reasons. Pacquiao is not only anti-LGBT, he is also antiwomen’s human rights.

And there is more. This legislator, when asked about his absences in the House, even ridiculed the work of Continued on A11

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

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

RECENT arguments raised in favor of Senator Grace Poe in her four disqualification cases pending before the Supreme Court have reached surreal proportions.

It will be recalled that these cases assert, among others, that Poe is not a naturalborn citizen of the Philippines, and that for this reason, she is not qualified to run for president in the May 2016 elections. The 1987 Constitution mandates that only natural-born citizens may be elected president.

As pointed out by the parties questioning Poe’s citizenship, the 1987 Constitution defines a natural-born Filipino citizen as one who is a citizen of the Philippines from birth. This inevitably means that since Poe is admittedly a foundling, or one who is unable to establish the vital circumstances surrounding her birth, Poe is not a naturalborn Filipino citizen. Poe’s adversaries also maintain that since the 1935, 1973 and 1987 charters do not even mention foundlings, there is no presumption under any of them that foundlings are natural-born citizens.

Last week, this column revealed that it is well-settled in Philippine jurisprudence that adoption does not confer Philippine citizenship on the adopted.

If the rule were otherwise, an alien can easily circumvent Philippine laws on citizenship by getting his alien child adopted by a Filipino parent. The rationale: what may not be done directly cannot be done indirectly.

If an adopted child does not acquire the citizenship of any of its adopting parents, the same rule should apply to a foundling—the foundling cannot acquire the citizenship of those who found it. Again, if the rule were otherwise, an alien can easily circumvent Philippine laws on citizenship by making arrangements for his alien child to be “found” by a Filipino citizen. That arrangement will be an easier way to circumvent the law because “getting found” involves less expenses than “getting adopted.”

For their part, Poe’s allies have resorted to surreal, unorthodox arguments which appeal to the emotion rather than to legal reasoning. For instance, they repeatedly insist that a ruling against Poe is an act of discrimination against foundlings in general, and that foundlings should not be faulted for their inability to establish the circumstances of their birth.

Their arguments are completely untenable.

To insist that only natural-born citizen of the Philippines can run for president is not to discriminate against foundlings; it is to insist that the Constitution be obeyed. Nobody forced Poe to run for president. Since Poe is running for president on her own free will, she must comply with the requirements for the Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

A10

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

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE BOGEY OF FREEDOM BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN A POLITICAL adviser with foresight should tell the candidates to present to our people what they achieved rather than talk on the subject of bogus freedom that only the rich and the corrupt politicians savor with much gusto.

This we have to remind Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda and those fringe political loonies from the Left because indicting the Marcoses of their so-called “sins of the past” without presenting what they have accomplished since that great political swindle in 1986 is only heightening the specter of their defeat.

The President’s support has become the kiss of death.

When the candidate stands before our people to solicit power, nicely called “election,” even those of this good-fornothing administration, should present their credentials.

That burden doubly becomes imperative because they no longer seeks to be enthroned but are seeking an extension for their stay in power. They cannot go on badmouthing the candidacy of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., for that would be an admission of the kind of political animals that have been lording over our political system for more than three decades now. They cannot forever tell our people to hold on to an empty bag deceptively called “freedom.”

Performance is the byword, and that cannot be compounded by a litany of claims of pretending to be honest.

When Lacierda said that there is now a specter of “a return of the dictatorship,” such statement conveys two ominous meanings: one, that Bongbong Marcos is likely to win the vice presidential race; and two, that he is now perceived by our people as their alter-

native choice. Bongbong is not even talking about the many achievements of his father as president, but is simply presenting what he accomplished since he himself became a public servant from a governor, congressman and now as senator. This we hasten to say because for the last six years, people are wondering why they were gifted with a non sequitur but made popular by what many are now saying as gun-for-hire poll survey. They ask what crime have they committed to be punished by giving them a leader who holds a record of not having accomplished anything as congressman and as senator and given a hefty budget of P13 trillion to fatten the oligarchy and the corrupt politicians of his own specie.

Maybe we can say Bongbong Marcos became popular by circumstance.

But his popularity was partly brought about by the incompetence of the administration that came to power after the ouster of the so-called “dictator.”

Maybe Bongbong need not inherit that circumstance of what his father has accomplished that to this day remains unsurpassed and useful to our people, but certainly, wisdom, industry and foresight are far different from rhetoric.

They are virtues that run deep into the veins of the man, and our people are no longer willing to gamble again their future on candidates who could only mouth motherhood statements, or worse, expose himself as a consummate demagogue and charlatan.

Bongbong is simply talking about his own achievements.

The freedom which the yellow hypocrites keep on repeating is for the glibtongued political hustlers because after Edsa I, the foremost question one asks is: what now? Where has the so-called freedom gotten them? They realize that freedom cannot be limited to their right to open their mouth, to write what they have in mind, to cast their vote for the candidates of their choice or to go to Church.

Freedom must be made tangible like widening their economic opportunities, providing them health and security, and in letting them feel that democracy is not limited to their act of voting.

Freedom presented in abstract is like giving them something they could not see, feel or taste. Abstract freedom is one of syllogism intended to keep an

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

THE ILAGAN AND BROCKA CASES

THIS is the second of three columns on Supreme Court decisions that have Senator Juan Ponce Enrile as a protagonist, either as a respondent accused of violating the human rights of citizens or as a petitioner invoking constitutional rights against the state. In the cases I discuss in this column, Ilagan vs. Enrile and Brocka vs. Enrile, as he was in the Aquino and Padilla cases discussed in the first column of this series, the senator is the principal respondent as defense secretary and minister of defense of the Marcos dictatorship.

In 1985, Attorney Laurente C. Ilagan was arrested in Davao City by elements of the PC-INP and detained at Camp Catitipan on the basis of a Mission Order allegedly issued by the Ministry of National Defense.

Subsequently, two other lawyers were arrested and detained on the basis of a Mission Order.

A petition for habeas corpus was filed by and on behalf of the three detained attorneys on the ground that their arrests were illegal and violative of the Constitution, since arrests cannot be made on the basis of Mission Orders and that there appears to be a military campaign to harass lawyers involved in national security cases. The petition also contended that their detention was improper arrest, and that no preliminary investigation

has been conducted.

In this case, the government argued that the detained attorneys were arrested on the basis of a Preventive Detention Action (PDA) issued by the President on Jan. 25, 1985; that the Writ of habeas corpus is suspended as to them by virtue of Proclamation No. 2045-A. Subsequently, they further argued that the petition for habeas corpus had been rendered moot and academic by virtue of the filing of an Information against them for Rebellion, a capital offense, before the Regional Trial Court of Davao City and the issuance of a Warrant of Arrest against the three detainees.

In a unanimous decision, the Court, through Justice Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera, stated that the remedy is not a petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus but a Motion before the trial court to quash the Warrant of Arrest, and/or the Information on grounds provided by the Rules or to ask for an investigation/reinvestigation of the case. The Court further stated that habeas corpus would not lie after the Warrant of Commitment was issued by the Court on the basis of the Information filed against the accused.

As a result, the petition for Habeas Corpus was dismissed for having become moot and academic.

The Court pronounced

that the three detainees were now detained by virtue of a Warrant of Arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court of Davao City in relation to the criminal case for Rebellion filed against them before said court.

The Ilagan doctrine has been roundly criticized for being anti-democratic.

Unfortunately, it is still routinely invoked by prosecutors to justify detention of accused even when the original arrests were illegal. A few years ago, in the celebrated case involving 43 health workers illegally arrested in Morong, Rizal, the Court of Appeals justified the workers’ continuing detention citing this unfortunate precedent.

The Ilagan decision, rendered in 1985, was one of the last decisions of the Supreme Court before the Edsa revolution.

The Brocka vs. Enrile case, decided in 1990 by a different Supreme Court, illustrates the change of regime and what a difference democracy makes.

The case started on Jan. 28, 1985 when movie director Lino Brocka and theater director Behn Cervantes, both icons in their artistic fields, were arrested along with their companions (this included Howie Severino of GMA-7, then a teacher at the Ateneo de Manila High School), were arrested by elements of the Northern Police District following the forc-

ible and violent dispersal of a demonstration held in sympathy with the jeepney strike called by the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO). Thereafter, they were charged with Illegal Assembly before the RTCQuezon City. Without prior notice to their counsel, Brocka, et al. were subsequently charged with Inciting to Sedition.

In their petition for habeas corpus, Brocka, et al. as petitioners, contended that respondents’ manifest bad faith and/or harassment are sufficient bases for enjoining their criminal prosecution, aside from the fact that the second offense of inciting to sedition is illegal, since it is premised on one and the same act of attending and participating in the ACTO jeepney strike. They maintain that while there may have been a complex crime from a single act (Art. 48, RTC), the law does not allow the splitting of a single act into two offenses and filing two informations therefor, further, that they will be placed in double jeopardy.

The main issue raised before the Supreme Court was the legality of enjoining the criminal prosecution of a case. And in a unanimous decision, the Court granted the petition and enjoined the criminal prosecution of Brocka et al. for the second offense of inciting to sedition.

Continued on A11

empty mind busy.

The premonition is clear that they have been compelled to change tactics to thwart the specter of Bongbong winning this coming election. In fact, the issue about his chances of winning the vice presidential race has become the most talked-about issue than of the candidates for president, one of whom is supposed to succeed this good-for-nothing administration. Most frightening is that presidential candidate touted

by PNoy as his candidate is rating rather poorly that poll surveys have become desperate in manipulating their figures because people have become cynical.

Thanks to the wonder of social media for creating a deadly equalizer of refuting their system of mindconditioning designed to justify cheating and electoral fraud.

This is most apparent as it now wants to bet on another horse believed to

have a better chance of winning but would not want the people to know for fear they would withdraw their support once they know that candidate is being supported by the administration. In short, his support has become a kiss of death. In fact, it is not why Solicitor General Florin Hilbay is arguing on the eligibility of Grace Poe to run for president, but see it as a sign that this administration is supporting Poe’s candidacy, which reason why Roxas is now sweating. Solgen Hilbay should stay neutral. It is only in case of doubt that he should intervene in favor of the government, which is for him to protect and uphold what the Constitution provides, and not for him to allow its violation by misinterpreting or distorting the Constitution.

Finally, this regime is using every trick of the trade to entice our people to vote for their candidates.

Although approved way back in 2014, Republic Act 103678 or the Act of Providing Reparations and Recognition to Victims of Human Rights Violations is now being used to gather support from the former Maoists rebels.

The administration wants to use as bribe money the so-called compensation using taxpayers’ money to coincide the election to pay mendicant rebels who could no longer make their lives useful after their failed adventurism. The decision to marshal them is to encourage them to rant once again anti-Marcos slogans.

But as they rub it in, many of our people are turned off because their motive is self-serving. In fact, the issue has become divisive because many of our soldiers who fought to contain the Maoist insurgency are questioning the justification of compensation when that bloody civil war was initiated by them, that the imposition

of martial law was upheld as constitutional, and that no person was convicted for human rights violation including the Marcoses.

The problem has become complicated because the soldiers, who fought in defense of the motherland also suffered casualties, and bore the scars about the cruel and brutal nature of war, were visibly left out.

Interestingly, Bayan Muna’s lone candidate for senator has been trying to elude being closely identified to those loonies because he feels they are not helping his chances of winning but on the contrary, causing him to seeking deeper into the quagmire. Many of our people have kept their distance because they see the giving of bribe as an attempt to hinder the choice of the people for an alternative candidate that would allow them to escape from the clutches of demagoguery and charlatanism. rpkapunan@gmail.com

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OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

CHINA HUNTS FOR ALIENS AND SCIENTISTS

By Adam Minter THIS week, China announced that it’s relocating 9,110 villagers to make way for a giant telescope that—among other tasks—will search for extraterrestrial life.

Once the unlucky residents are gone, the government will get down to the real business of the world’s largest radio telescope: attracting the scientific talent necessary to transform China’s economy.

That won’t be easy. China leads the world in sending students abroad, with the very best often remaining there. Chinese science and engineering students are more likely than those of any other nationality to stay in the US after completing their PhDs. The reasons include China’s endemic cronyism in academic appointments and funding, a closed, censored Internet that cuts research-

The latest... From A9 presidency embodied in the Constitution. Restated, one who wants to join a competition must abide by the rules governing the competition. This also means that the rules of the competition cannot be bent to accommodate a single participant.

It isn’t Poe’s fault that she is a foundling, but then neither is it the fault of the parties questioning her citizenship. It’s just that the Constitution has been worded in such a way that its enforcement inevitably results in banning foundlings from running for the presidency.

That seems arbitrary at first glance, but then, as discussed in the last Tuesday’s article, virtually all of the requirements and limitations recited in the Constitution (such as the minimum age for specific public offices) are arbitrary. Despite its arbitary provisions, what makes the Constitution nonetheless acceptable to everybody is its binding effect on everybody in the Philippines, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, foundlings or otherwise.

Last Tuesday, the Office of the Solicitor General manifested to the Supreme Court that foundlings should be considered natural-born citizens because this is implied from the delib-

The Ilagan... From A10 According to the Court, Brocka, et al. have clearly shown the circumstances to show that the criminal proceedings had become a case of persecution, having been undertaken by state officials in bad faith. The Court added that the hasty filing of the second offense, premised on a spurious and inoperational PDA, certainly betrayed the re-

ers off from the global scientific community, and a governmentdriven science culture.

In recent years, China has tried several different tacks to remedy this brain drain and advance a culture of innovation. In 2008, the government established the 1,000 Talents program to entice gifted scientists with big salaries and budgets. But top researchers have been reluctant to give up academic appointments back home, and the program has been wracked by allegations of fraud.

Another strategy is to throw money at the problem. Between 2004 and 2014, China increased its R&D budget by an average of 23 percent annually, and in 2012 overtook Europe in the proportion of its GDP that goes to research. But this boost masked a significant problem. According to a 2014 analysis by Nature, China has historically spent very little erations of the 1934 Constitutional Convention, the assembly which drafted the 1935 Constitution. The OSG added that the silence of the 1935 Constitution on the citizenship of foundlings means that the framers of the charter saw no need to explicitly say so, and that it is safe to as sume that the parents of foundlings are Filipinos.

Surprisingly, the OSG said that foundlings are a discreet minority entitled to special protection, and that to exclude foundlings from exercising fundamental political rights is unjust and discriminatory, and is a wrong way to interpret the Constitution.

It was likewise contended that the implied protection afforded to foundlings under the 1935 Constitution was carried on to the 1973 Constitution and the 1987 Constitution. Citing statistics, the OSG opined that the statistical probability that a child born in the Philippines between 1965 and 1975 are natural-born citizens is 99.83 percent.

The late Chief Justice Enrique M. Fernando was also mentioned by the OSG. According to the OSG, Chief Justice Fernando once paraphrased a famous scholar and said, “The Constitution is not silently silent, it is silently vocal.” spondent’s bad faith and malicious intent to pursue criminal charges against Brocka, et al. It further noted—“. . . the tenacious invocation of a spurious and inoperational PDA and the sham and hasty preliminary investigation were clear signals that the prosecutors intended to keep Brocka, et al. in detention until the second offense of “Inciting to Sedition” could be facilitated and justified without

of its R&D on basic research and instead focused on projects that can bring quick, tangible results (like consumer products). That’s not the kind of cutting-edge research that brings the best and the brightest to Shanghai.

China’s science bureaucrats are also eyeing foreign models. The US has provided one instructive example, especially following World War II, when generous immigration policies and ample funding for everything from space exploration to the Human Genome Project lured top European scientists. More recently, the multibillion-dollar Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland has attracted top particle physicists and engineers from around the world.

Thus the massive radio telescope that will soon displace thousands from the Chinese countryside. It will do much more than search for aliens. As the largUnfortunately for Poe, the foregoing arguments of the OSG may be well-meaning, but they are speculative and unfounded.

As early as 2000, the Supreme Court categorically declared in Integrated Bar of the Philippines v. Zamora that in the interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Philippines, what controls is not what took place in the deliberations of the Constitutional Convention; what controls is the intent of the people who ratified the Constitution. This is so because the Constitution does not derive its force from the constitutional convention which framed it, but from the sovereign Filipino people who ratified it.

So which should prevail?

Should it be the text of the 1935 Constitution which does not contain anything to the effect that foundlings are natural-born citizens, or should it be the deliberations of the 1934 Constitutional Convention which, according to the OSG, imply that foundlings are natural-born citizens? Following the Zamora doctrine above, the text of the 1935 Constitution, and not the deliberations of the 1934 Constitutional Convention, should prevail.

(To be continued on Tuesday)

need of issuing a warrant of arrest anew.”

I have a personal story about the Brocka case. One of those arrested with the film director was Al Alegre, a close friend and house mate at the “House of Being,” an apartment in Katipunan Avenue that several of us philosophy teachers, students and alumni shared in the early 1980s. Because Al was also detained, I attended the bail hear-

est telescope of its kind, by far, it’s likely to provide fundamental insights into basic questions of astronomy and cosmology. In short: If you’re a radio scientist, especially a Chinese one, that’s the place where you can do cutting-edge research.

Other ambitious projects are in the works as well. Last fall, China announced that it will begin work on the world’s largest particle accelerator—a successor to the Large Hadron Collider—in 2020.

State media quoted Gerard’t Hooft, the 1999 winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, saying the accelerator “will bring hundreds, probably thousands, of top class scientists” to China.

And the payoff isn’t just economic. The prestige and status that accrue to countries that succeed in science is something China’s leaders covet. Days after a US-based team announced it had confirmed

Knock... From A9 lawmakers, saying that bills do not address people’s needs.

For the life of me, why did he run for the position? Someone should remind him that he applied for the position of a lawmaker, not some executive post that should implement programs. Clearly, Pacquiao is a misfit in the House.

If this guy was an ordinary worker, he would have been fired a long time ago for gross negligence in the performance of his duties. Instead, people’s money was used for his salaries and entitlements.

Pacquiao is supposed to be a public servant. Instead, he acts and speaks like a servant of his church. This is where it gets even trickier because there is a world of difference between the two. In his church among other adherents, they can impose their religious beliefs.

But in public service, bigotry should not be allowed.

The public is the entire citizenry, religious or not. The object of public service is public welfare and here, no preference should be made in terms of religion or any other distinction. No one religion or church should be favored by the State, and there cannot be a State religion. These are embodied by ings in that case and was able to witness two great women lawyers—Judge Miriam Defensor Santiago and defense counsel Haydee Yorac, both also UP Law professors at that time—in action. That experience inspired me to take up law and to become a human rights lawyer.

In the next column, I will summarize two cases where, this time, we see a twist: Minister Enrile, no longer the

the existence of gravitational waves, Chinese scientists proposed three separate, highly expensive projects to extend the country’s space research. The Communist Party’s official newspaper ran an editorial simply titled, “Why did we miss the gravitational waves?” Clearly, the intent is not to miss the next big discovery.

There’s no guarantee that any of these projects will succeed, of course. President Xi Jinping’s ideological crackdown has hurt the spirit of free inquiry in China, while the scientific establishment remains highly politicized, slow to make decisions and without clear leadership. Even so, China now has the financial might and the experience to create scientific instruments and projects that will attract the best and brightest researchers. The rest of the world should brace for the competition. Bloomberg the Constitutional provisions on the Separation of Church and State. Thus, while the right to practice one’s religion is respected, religious tenets should not be imposed on non-adherents because they have equal rights to practice their own, or not practice any.

People like Pacquiao seem unable to delineate their functions as public servants from their religious functions. And this results in bigotry. Religion should end where public service begins.

The problem is, Pacquiao wants to be promoted to the Senate. Are we going to allow a non-performer who has openly despised lawmaking, someone who has no respect for the rights of others, to occupy a Senate post? Are we again going to waste people’s money on a misfit? Are we voting for a bigot in the Senate?

As the LGBT community and Nike have knocked out Pacquiao, the electorate should once and for all send him the message that he is unfit for the Senate. Knock him out again. Do not vote for Pacquiao. bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook martial law administrator, now invokes constitutional rights that were denied those he had custody of during the Marcos years. Enrile vs. Salazar and Enrile vs. Sandiganbayan are the names of those cases and the lessons they impart says a lot about rule of law, or lack of it, in the Philippines.

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LeBron leads Cavs past Bulls; Clippers stun Spurs

McIlroy opens strong at Northern Trust Open

LEBRON James scored 25 points, grabbed nine rebounds and passed out nine assists Thursday to spark the Cleveland Cavaliers over Chicago 106-95, handing the Bulls their fifth consecutive loss.

RORY McIlroy’s first taste of Riviera Country Club went off without a hitch Thursday while any competitive advantage Jordan Spieth was supposed to have quickly vanished in the opening round of the Northern Trust Open.

World number three McIlroy blasted his way to a four-under par 67 in his tournament debut while American Spieth, the reigning Masters and US Open champion, slumped to one of the worst rounds of his career on a course he has played more than 30 times in five previous visits.

Riviera is considered a shotmaker’s course and while fourtime major champion McIlroy had his game in high gear, Spieth did not as his eight-over 79 resulted in a 12-stroke swing between two of the sport’s brightest young stars.

“It is just a day to forget and I won’t think much on it,” said Spieth, who shared fourth at Riviera last year.

World number one Spieth is 16 strokes back of clubhouse leader Camilo Villegas, who shot a sizzling 63.

The first round was halted because of darkness with 14 players still on the course. It will resume early Friday followed by the start of the second round.

Americans Chez Reavie, Bubba Watson and Luke List are tied for second after shooting five-under 66s.

McIlroy headlines a group of seven who finished their first rounds in a tie for fifth.

The 26-year-old Northern Irishman is switching up his preMasters schedule, which is why he decided to enter this week’s $6.8 million US PGA Tour event.

Thursday was the first time in his seven seasons that he has played a round on the US west coast swing.

“It is always nice to come to a historic golf course,” McIlroy said. “I just wanted to get a good start. I didn’t want to put myself behind the eight ball early.”

McIlroy finished with five birdies, one bogey and 12 pars on the 7,349 yard, par-71 layout.

One of his best holes of the day was the par-four seventh, where he stuck his approach shot from 143 yards to three feet, setting up a birdie. AFP

Kyrie Irving added 19 points, while Tristan Thompson contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds and Kevin Love produced 15 points and 15 rebounds for the host Cavaliers (39-14).

Chicago beat Cleveland in two prior meetings this season, the first in the season opener and the other last month, just one day after Tyronn Lue replaced Dave Blatt as coach.

“In the first two games we didn’t match their intensity and got beat,” James said. “Today, I think we answered the call.”

Cleveland’s win streak stretched to four games and their overall margin atop the Eastern Conference improved to 3 1/2 games over Toronto.

“I thought our physicality won the game,” Lue said.

“I thought we were physical at every position.”

At 27-26, the Bulls fell into a tie with Charlotte for the final two East playoff berths, only one half-game ahead of Detroit.

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James, who hit 11-of-19 shots from the floor, passed Moses Malone (9,435) for 19th on the alltime baskets list.

James jammed in a slam dunk off a lob pass from J.R. Smith for a 65-48 lead

and celebrated by dancing with the crowd.

Bulls star Joakim Noah has expressed his annoyance with James dancing in the past, but Noah was out with an injury as was Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic.

Derrick Rose led Chicago with 28 points while Spain’s Pau Gasol added 14 points and nine rebounds.

“We’ve got to stay together through the good, the bad and the ugly -- and it’s the ugly right now,” Rose said.

Australian Matthew Dellavedova scored seven points in 16 minutes for the Cavaliers after missing the past five games with a hamstring injury.

James was lamenting the loss of Brazilian center Anderson Varejao, his teammate for eight seasons with the Cavaliers who was traded to Portland on Thursday as part of a deal to obtain guard Channing Frye from Orlando.

“That’s the worst part of the business right there, when you lose a brother, a teammate,” James said.

In Los Angeles, San Antonio’s six-game winning streak came to an abrupt end as the Clippers romped to a 105-86 win at the Staples Center. AFP

LeBron James (no. 23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots against the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

Nadal advances to quarterfinals in Rio tennis RAFAEL Rafael Nadal won through to the quarter-finals of the clay-court event in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, beating compatriot Nicolas Almagro in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.

The troubled Mallorcan is the top seed in what is his second tournament since being humbled in the first round of the Australian Open.

Beaten in the semi-finals in Buenos

Aires last weekend by Dominic Thiem, Nadal found world number 53 Almagro rather more accomodating, although he only advanced after one hour, 40 minutes on court.

It was Nadal’s 14th victory in 15 meetings with Almagro and he will face Oleksandr Dolgopolov in the next round after the Ukrainian beat another Spaniard, Inigo Cervantes-Huegun, in three sets.

Pacquiao random chess unfolds today THE P2 million-rich Bobby D. Pacquiao Random Chess Festival unwraps today at the SM Mall in General Santos City.

Organized by the Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, the tournament hopes to promote and develop the system of play introduced by the late American chess genius Bobby Fischer, which according to the first Filipino Asian Grandmaster is best suited for Filipinos.

Torre said the tournament,

which is named in honor of Manny Pacquiao’s younger brother, will serve as a followup to the highly-successful Manny Pacquiao Random Chess tournament which was held twice, the last held in December at the same venue.

The tournament will adopt a slightly different format for the team and individual competitions.

“Each team shall be composed of four regular players and without alternate unlike the one held under the auspices of Congressman Manny,” Torre said.

“Also, participating players must have an average ELO or NCFP rating 2100 or below based on the January 1, 2016 ranking.”

Registration of entries, which started February 17, will be accepted until the coaches meeting to be held today. Preference will be given to early registrants.

A top prize of P500,000 and a championship trophy await the winner of the team championship with the runner-up going home richer by P280,000 while the third placer will take home P170,000.

The 14-time major winner, who won the title in the Olympic host city in 2014, is joined in the next round by compatriot David Ferrer.

Seeded two, Ferrer overcame the loss of the opening set to beat fellow countryman Albert Ramos 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and set up a meeting with Thiem—the tournament winner in Buenos Aires last week—in the last eight. AFP

Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand plays a shot against Yen Mei Ho of Malaysia during their women’s singles quarter-final match at the Badminton Asia Team. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Ateneo tossers eye victory no. 5 Games today (Mall of Asia Arena) 8 a.m. – UE vs NU (Men) 10 a.m. – UST vs FEU (Men) 2 p.m. – AdU vs Ateneo (Women) 4 p.m. – UST vs NU (Women)

Duathlon champ. Team Standard Insurance dominated the 2015 Duathlon Series Championships by winning the team championship trophy, handed by organizers to Standard Insurance chairman Ernesto Judes Echauz (fifth from right) and Coach Michelle Anne Tibagacay during a simple ceremony Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, recently. Members of the champion team are Robeno Javier (Elite), Allen Santiago (19-year-old below) Jerwyn Banatao and Joey Delos Reyes. Members of the team include (from left) Julius Delos Reyes, Carlo Pedragosa, Dante Cagas and John Topia.

ATENEO shoots for its fifth straight victory as the defending two-time champion takes on a struggling Adamson University side today in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Gametime is at 2 p.m., followed by an interesting match-up between National University and University of Santo Tomas at 4 p.m.

With reigning MVP Valdez leading the way, along with middles Bea de Leon, Maddie Madayag, Amy Ahomiro and setter Jia Morado, the Lady Eagles streaked to four straight wins this season and 22 consecutive since March of 2014.

Ateneo, the league’s top spiking team, is coming off a 25-19, 25-21, 25-21 conquest of Katipunan neighbor University of the Philippines last Sunday.

The Lady Falcons, on the other hand, bowed to the Lady Maroons, 24-26, 27-25, 20-25, 19-25, last Wednesday to drop in a tie with the Tigresses in sixth place at 1-3.

Philracom issues new rules on horses THE Philippine Racing Commission recently passed two resolutions regarding imported horses that seek to address the issue of low racehorse population.

Resolutions 6-2016 and 132016, said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, “will level the playing field among participating horses” and also “ease the burden on horseowners” who have invested in acquiring hors-

es from abroad.

A large pool of horses is necessary in order to craft exciting and fair races that will attract racing fans and sustain the sport. At the moment, while there are some 2,000 registered

racehorses, not all of them race at any one time. Usually around a third of the population is sidelined due to injury, illness, suspension, or on vacation to rest.

There is also attrition due to poor performance, death, or other causes.

The new rules ease restrictions on the racing of imported horses. Among the significant rules passed by the Commission are that only Thoroughbreds

below eight years old based on their foaling date are allowed to race; that the Northern Hemisphere ruling on foaling dates shall apply; that only the firstplace prize money and prize money earned from stakes races shall be considered as their earnings.

Imported horses shall also be governed by the same rules as locally-bred horses except in races with specified conditions.

Covered under these new rules are previously-purchased imported horses that have not yet won any local races.

These rules are deemed effective for five years from the date of approval and are subject to review after.

“We have to innovate,” said Sanchez, “if we are to make races more interesting, and this is one way to ensure we have a sizeable pool of competing horses.”

Petron Tri Activ kart Tiu, Millet seek drag-race repeat wins meet set on Sunday AFTER testing the waters in Saturday’s practice session, the country’s finest karters are expected to take the necessary adjustments to ensure highly competitive machines that will boost their chances for the titles at stake in the kickoff of the 2016 Petron Tri Activ Karting Season on Sunday at the Carmona Racetrack.

Automobile Association of the Philippines Steward Jun Espino will declare the race open as he will be joined by fellow stewards Dennis Espino and Popong Andolong, and Clerk-of-Course Gabby Intengan to ensure a fair and safe conduct of the races and implementation of the rules and regulations in this event sanctioned by the AAP and sponsored by Petron, Petron Blaze 100 Euro 4, Petron XCS, Petron Ultron, Petron Xtra, Petron Sprint, and Yokohama the official tires.

Competing karters will battle each other in two rounds of action as they dispute the titles in the Minirok XCS, Formula Cadet Novice/ Expert Ultron and the X30 Petron Tri-activ divisions, with Round 1 set Sunday morning and Round 2 scheduled in the afternoon.

Young kids, who had been

tagged as the “Future of Philippine Karting” will take the spotlight in both the Minirok XCS and the Formula Cadet Novice/Expert Ultron classes.

Though Jarred Kim is favored in the Minirok XCS, the hunt for the title is expected to be exciting and closely contested as he goes up against equally tough rivals Rap Rap Gutierrez, Joaquin Garrido, Zach David and Constantin Reisch.

Last season’s Formula Cadet Novice Ultron champion Inigo Anton could also face tougher challenge against Constantin Reisch, William Go, Maveric Corpuz, Kristine Yokoyama, Miguel Angeles and Khazart Romoff as they move up in the Formula Cadet Expert Ultron class.

But the main focus will be the premiere X30 Petron Tri-activ division which will be an open race among Eagle Cement teammates Jacob Ang and Eduardo Coseteng Jr., Bianca Bustamante, Keon Romoff, Eduardo Coseteng, Dylan Arambulo, Jerry Choi, Sean Smith and Tai Zulberti.

For more info, call the Carmona Racetrack, c/o Rose Feria at 845-0745, 889-3389, 845-3287 and 845-4142 or visit website www.asiankarting.net.

DRAG racers return to Pampanga to continue their quests for the titles at stake today (Saturday) for the second leg of the 2016 Philippine Drag Racing Championship at the Clark International Speedway.

Muliti-titled Jonathan Tiu of JCTBlanche Racing and Arvin Jay Millet of TEMZ eye their second straight victories in their respective classes after dominating the kickoff leg of this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by M&H, Sparco and Aguila Auto Glass.

Tiu hopes to makes it another

1-2 finish for JCT-Blanche Racing, together with teammate Jonathan Young in both the Quick 8 and M&H Super Pro classes.

And if his winning Nissan R35 will be tuned to its best form, Tiu might try to surpass his existing Philippine drag racing all-time fastest record of 8.806 seconds set in 2014.

Millet, on the other hand, seeks another triumph in the premier Pro class to fortify his bid for the overall crown.

Also favored are Marky Baquiran, Stephen Esguerra and Terrenz Hormillosa.

Baquiran guns for a repeat of his

feat in the Expert class over Lennel Diaz and Clint Tan. Esguerra also aims for a second consecutive triumph in the Sportsman class over Jeff Licudine and Joseph Uy, while Hormillosa looks forward to another win in the Hotstreet division over Jon Matthew Cu and Troy Cabrera.

For further details, contact the Batangas Racing Circuit, c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 7295365 and Mobile 0932-8604522, or like the the event’s Facebook account, www.faceboo.com/ClarkInternationalSpeedway

Dance for Health.

Indak [24]7 shows off their signature group symbol after winning their second straight championship title at the recent Dance for Health 3. The annual dance competition is arranged

by Healthway Medical. A total of eight different teams battled on the dance floor for the the crown and the prize of P75,000.

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Ronda PH unfurls in Butuan BUTUAN CITY—The LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016 unfurls today with the staging of the Mindanao Leg starting with the 158.32-kilometer Stage One that will start and finish at the Butuan City Hall here.

Reimon Lapaza, the pride of the host city and who topped LBC Ronda Pilipinas two years ago, and the Navy-Standard Insurance riders, headed by team captain Lloyd Lucien Reynante, Ronald Oranza, Joel

Calderon and Jan Paul Morales will be the riders to watch.

“We trained hard for LBC Ronda Pilipinas alone,” said Reynante in Filipino on the eve of Ronda’s sixth edition presented by LBC and LBC Ex-

AT TE NTIO N W H AT:

STA K EH O L D E R S C O N S U LTAT I O N FO R T H E P RO P O S E D D E M O N S T R AT I O N O F S I T E R E M E D I AT I O N O F P O P S C O N TA M I N AT E D S I T E BY D E E P S O I L M I X I N G

W H E N:

24 FE B R UA RY 2 016 , 9: 0 0 A M

W H E R E:

O FFI C E R ' S C LU B , A I R FO RC E C I T Y, C L A R K A I R B A S E , PA M PA N G A FO R D E TA I LS , P L E A S E C O N TACT T H E FO L LOW I N G: C L A R K D E V E LO PM E N T C O R P O R AT I O N: E nv i r o n m e n t a l Pe r m i t s D e p a r t m e n t 2 / F B l d g. 2127, C P G a r c i a S t r e et , C l a r k Fr e e p o r t Z o n e, Pa m p a n g a Te l N o.: (0 4 5) 5 9 9 - 9 0 0 0 l o c a l 8 6 5 / 4 9 91137 t o 3 8 e m a i l: R m a g at @ c l a r k .c o m . p h L l C H E L T EC H N O LO G I E S I N C.: U n i t 14 0 3 P r e s t i g e To we r C o n d o m i n i u m F. O r t i g a s J r.

Rd.,O r t i g a s C e nte r, Pa s i g C i t y.

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Standard Form Number: SF-INFR-05 Revised on: July 29, 2004

Republic of the Philippines Local Government Unit BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Gregorio del Pilar, lIocos Sur

press, sanctioned by PhilCycling and sponsored by Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation, Petron and Versa Radio-Tech 1 Corp. with Maynilad and NLEX as minor sponsors.

Lapaza and his Cycleline team confirmed months ago that they will join, but surprisingly declared they’ll skip the event Thursday night.

They changed their minds again yesterday when host Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand “Jun” Amante interceded.

“We’re here to support not just our Butuan City riders like Lapaza but also LBC Ronda Pilipinas as a whole,” said Amante.

LBC Sports Development head and Ronda project director Moe Chulani, for his part, was happy with the development.

“We’re expecting a very exciting race with Lapaza expected to make Butuan City proud,” said Chulani.

Lapaza made a name for himself for topping the 2014 edition of this annual race and pocketed a cool P1 million for his feat.

Also participating is Ranlean Maglantay, a native of Marbel, South Cotabato and who is the youngest entry at 18 years old.

ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

: : :

Construction of Municipal Farmers Building II Poblacion Sur, Gregorio del Pilar, lIocos Sur Demolition of Existing Building, Excavation for Structure, Structural Conc., RSB, Steel Decking(Slab), Masory Works, Etc ..

Approved Budget for the Contract ( ABC ) Source of Fund Contract Duration

: : :

Php 9,980,000.00 RA 717 Two Hundred Sixty Five (265) C.D.

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given that the Philippine Life Financial Assurance Corporation [formerly known as Asianlife Financial Assurance Corporation] Stock Certificate No. 15 for 3,499,999,998 shares issued under the name of Eujo Phils. Incorporated was declared lost per “Affidavit of Loss” dated 5 February 2016 registered in the Notarial Register of Atty. Le Iris T. Lucido as Doc. No. 271, Page No. 56, Book No. I, Series of 2016.

( T S - F E B . 13 , 2 0 , 2 7, 2 016)

( T S - F E B . 13 , 2 0 , 2 7, 2 016)

Biliran-Leyte del Norte-Leyte del Sur Office Address: Website:

Name of Contract Location Brief Description

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given that the Philippine Life Financial Assurance Corporation [formerly known as Asianlife Financial Assurance Corporation]Stock Certificate Nos. 06 and 16 for 1 and 2,097,484 shares respectively, issued under the name of Eusebio H. Tanco were declared lost per “Affidavit of Loss” dated 9 February 2016 registered in the Notarial Register of Atty. Le Iris T. Lucido as Doc. No. 295, Page No. 60, Book No. I, Series of 2016.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT OFFICE

INVITATION TO BID The Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the hereunder contract:

Maglantay, whose father Randy is a motor mechanic, will vie not just for the top purse worth P50,000 for the LBC leg champion, but also the P25,000 prize given to the Petron Local Hero plum.

“I’m thankful to LBC Ronda Pilipinas for giving me the opportunity to compete,” said the shy Maglantay in Filipino.

Butuan will also host Stage Two, a criterium before the race proceeds to Cagayan de Oro for Stage Three, another criterium, on Tuesday.

Ronda will be at the scenic Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich next for the individual time trial Stage 4 on Thursday before capping with the Stage Five criterium in nearby Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Ronda has also included a mountain bike race in each of every leg.

From Mindanao, action shifts to the Visayas for the Stage One criterium in Bago City, Negros Occidental on March 11, with Iloilo hosting the next stage with another criterium on March 13. Stage Three will be a road race from Ilolilo to Roxas City on March 15 while Stage Four will be another criterium race for the ITT in Stage Five, both in Roxas on March 17.

NIA Road, Marasbaras Tacloban City, Philippines www.nia.gov.ph

Tel. No. (053) 323-6210 Fax. No. (053) 323-7204

InvItatIon to BId no. 05-2016 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Biliran-Leyte del Norte-Leyte del Sur Irrigation Management Office, Marasbaras, Tacloban City through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2016 intends to apply the sum corresponding to the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payment for the following contracts listed hereunder.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) now invites bids for:

Prospective bidders should posses a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract, have completed a similar contract with a ‘value of at least 50% of the ABC, and have key personnel and equipment (listed in the Eligibility Formats) available for the prosecution of the contract. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fall criteria in the eligibility Check/ Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct postqualification of the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility/Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Biddi~ Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its implemeJting Rules and Requisition (IRR).

The Schedule of BAC activities is as follows: BAC Activities

Schedule

1. Issuance of Eligibility Forms & Bid Documents

February 19 -March 7, 2016 Municipal Hall,G. del Pilar, lIocos Sur

2. Pre -Bid Conference

n/a

3. Receipt and Opening of Bids

March 7, 2016 @ 10:00 A.M. Municipal Hall,G. del Pilar, Ilocos Sur

4. Bid Evaluation

March 10, 2016

5. Post Qualification

March 14, 2016

6. Notice of Award

March 18, 2016

7. Notice to Proceed

March 22, 2016

Bid Documents shall be available at the BAC Office, Municipal Hall, Gregorio del Pilar, lIocos Sur upon payment of the prescribed non-refundable fee.

The Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

The Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive al) y defectls contained therein and accept such as maybe considered most advantageous to the municipal government.

CONTACT PERSON: (Sgd.) LANI M. TUMBAGA BAC Secretariat Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar

4. BNLSL-LCB-16-2016 – Improvement and Construction of Diversion Works, Canal, Farm Level and Road System of San Juan CIS, Baybay City, Leyte

Approved Budget

Duration

11,280,001.40

150 cd

8,196,801.88

120 cd

5,670,000.18

105 cd

18,900,001.23

210 cd

Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184. Bids received in excess of ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification.

Interested bidders may submit a Letter of Intent together with the Class “A” documents addressed to the Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee, NIA, Biliran-Leyte del Norte-Leyte del Sur Irrigation Management Office, Marasbaras, Tacloban City.

The schedules of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities 1. Issuance of Bid Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Receipt and Opening of Bids

Schedule Starting February 19, 2016 February 26, 2016 March 9, 2016

Time 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m 10:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested bidders from the address above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of P10,000.00 for Contracts above P5.0M up to P10.0M and P25,000.00 for Contracts above P10.0M up to P50.0 M to the Cashier.

NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: EDWIN T. BRIONES National Irrigation Administration Marasbaras, Tacloban City (053) 323-6210 (Sgd.) EDWIN T. BRIONES BAC Chairman Noted:

Approved by: ( T S - F E B . 2 0 , 2 016)

Item/Description 1. BNLSL-LCB-03-2016 – Construction of Canal, Farm Level and Road System of Sap-ang CIP, Silago, Southern Leyte 2. BNLSL-LCB-13-2016 – Completion and Construction of Diversion Works, Canal and Farm Level System of Capiñahan CIP, Naval, Biliran 3. BNLSL-LCB-14-2016 – Desilting Works of Diversion Works and Construction of Canal Lining of Maac CIS, Sogod, Southern Leyte

(Sgd.) LUIS G. GANNAD BAC Chairman

(Sgd.) GLORIA A. SEVILLA Division Manager A, EOD Concurrent Capacity, Leyte IMO (TS-FEB. 20, 2016)

RC Cola, F2 clash for PSL solo lead Games Today: (Malolos Sports and Convention Center) 1 p.m. • RC Cola-Army vs F2 Logistics 3 p.m. • Foton vs San Jose Builders

FIRST-DAY winners RC Cola-Army and F2 Logistics clash for the early lead when the 2016 Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference women’s volleyball tournament visits the Malolos Sports and Convention Center in Malolos City today Action starts at 1 p.m., followed by the 3 p.m. encounter between Foton and San Jose Builders, who are both chasing their first win in this prestigious inter-club tournament bankrolled

by Asics, Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller and Grand Sports with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

“It’s going to be the second time for the league to play in the historic city of Malolos, which produced a score of volleyball players.

We’re glad to welcome the PSL and some of its Bulakenya players back to our city,” said mayor Christian Natividad.

“We hope that they will have a grand time and inspire our youth to do well in sports, particularly in volleyball.”

Tagged as the heaviest contender for parading a solid roster of seasoned and established stars, the Lady Troopers lived up to the hype as they dominated the Toplanders in their first game since taking a three-conference hiatus, 25-17, 25-9, 25-22.

Honey Royse Tubino, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rachel Anne Daquis spearheaded the assault, while ageless playmaker Tina Salak, middle blocker Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo and spiker Joanne Bunag provided the veteran leadership for RC ColaArmy, which is looking to nail its fourth title in this highly competitive tourney.

But RC Cola-Army coach Kungfu Reyes dismissed talks about a potential title run.

“It’s still premature,” said Reyes, knowing that powerhouse sides like Petron, Cignal and Foton as well as a club team from Thailand are all threatening to halt their parade. “Mahaba pa ang liga. Marami pang puwedeng mangyari. We have to be prepared and work hard if we want to win another title.”

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Beach Volley Republic goes to Cagayan SPORTS Tourism gets another boost as the third leg of the Beach Volleyball Republic women’s tournament goes to Cagayan, Isabela over the weekend.

The duo of Charo Soriano and Alexa Micek will be back for the Feb. 20 and 21 meet as they go for a second straight title after ruling the second leg of the event held in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. Five teams are already confirmed of joining the two-day tournament including the pair of Melissa Gohing and Gretchen Ho, Bea Tan and Gie Gervacio along with a couple coming from Guam.

It was through the effort of Soriano that the year-long meet will be going to Cagayan, where he family is a known political power.

“This is a way of inculcating the culture of showcasing sports talent of prime athletes in a beach setting,” said Gabriel Lingan, business development and marketing chief of Cagayan Economic Zone Authority or CEZA. He was joined in the forum presented

by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. by Lemuel Castro, CEZA head technical assistant.

A prize money of P35,000 goes to the champion of the meet aimed to promote sports in Cagayan province.

“Perhaps only a few knows that there are a lot of beaches in Cagayan. That’s why by holding the third leg of the Beach Volleyball Republic, we want to promote the province as a beach destination both to our countrymen and tourists alike,” added Castro.

Participating players will involved themselves in volleyball clinics, coastal clean-up, and mangrove planting as part of their activities outside of the actual competition.

Elite rip importless Aces

By Jeric Lopez

BLACKWATER took down a powerhouse team, which might still be nursing a broken heart.

The Elite provided a scintillating showing in pulling off a 107-101 upset victory over Philippine Cup finalist Alaska for its second straight win in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Balanced scoring was the key as Blackwater had six players

scoring in double-figures.

Continuing his consistent scoring spree, Carlo Lastimosa, for the third straight time, led the Elite with his game-high 24 points, to go with two rebounds and three assists, while import MJ Rhett was just as impressive as he registered a triple-double of 18 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists.

With this surprising good

A driving Vic Manuel of Alaska slams into Blackwater’s JP Erram in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Elite, 107-101.

Standing by his beliefs INSIDE SPORTS RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

WE sure as hell don’t wish to get into a joust with Filipinos who are lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender, but at the same time, we believe the torrent of criticism on eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao for his condemnation of same-sex marriage and the decision of Nike to terminate its relationship with him is simply too much.

How could Nike, which runs sweatshops in Asia and pays young people slave wages and forces them to work under inhuman conditions and suffer verbal and physical abuse, act in such a high-handed manner as though the company was God’s gift to humanity?

Our own reaction, at least in the Philippines is, let’s all switch to adidas which may well be a better brand.

But what is most distressing are the comments of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to Ring Magazine, which ironically styles itself as “The Bible of Boxing” in which he damned Pacquiao’s anti-gay

while guards Raphy start, Blackwater, Games Today Reyes and Mike which capitalized (Alonte Sports Center, Biñan Laguna) on the absence Cortez each added 3 p.m. • Mahindra vs. San Miguel of Alaska import 10 markers each.

5:15 p.m. • NLEX vs. Star Rob Dozier due As early as the to an undisclosed injury, now opening minutes, Blackwaholds a 2-1 slate, good for solo ter, through its aggressiveness, second place at the moment for took control early, opening up a the young franchise’s best start double-digit lead right away, 22in the league.

10, in the closing minutes of the “A win is a win and we’re hap- first quarter. py with this one,’’ said BlackwaThough Alaska fought back ter coach Leo Isaac. ‘’We now and inched within just a single have to continue on with this point, 50-51, at the half, Blackand improve even more.’’ water was really determined to Reil Cervantes was also on make its upset bullet count as it target with 21 points for the Elite regained command with a solid and Bam Gamalinda scored 12, second half.

statements as “reprehensible” and expressed the hope that the public doesn’t equate his views with the promotion for his third fight with Timothy Bradley on April 9.

Arum sought to distance Pacquiao’s views from anyone involved in his fight on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“The only way you do damage control is he apologized and we move away from the possibility that anybody would think we or Bradley or anyone connected to the fight believes in what he did say. And if (Pacquiao) believes it, it’s unfortunate but that’s his belief. You can’t really affect somebody who is saying things that you don’t believe in but is part of their religious beliefs.”

Bottom line, it’s all about the money. Arum wants to protect his financial interest in the fight and make sure that a fight which most boxing media and fans failed to appreciate as the best possible fight for Pacquiao, doesn’t take a major hit in payper-view numbers without conceding that even before the furor over Manny’s remarks broke out, the fight failed to excite too many boxing fans.

We must remember that Pacquiao was articulating his

beliefs anchored on his understanding of the scriptures and God’s word in the Bible, which has, in the last few years, turned his life almost totally around and made him a good and decent husband and father, who has cast aside the evils of womanizing, gambling and other vices precisely by his adherence to God’s word .

While his blunt categorization of couples in same-sex marriages as being worse than animals was indiscreet to say the least, considering his stature as a national sports hero and someone who is seeking a seat in the Senate and who aspires to someday be the president of our country, for lesbians who married in the confines of a permissive society in the United States to blast Manny as an “ignorant, bigoted hypocrite,” was just as uncalled for as the remarks of Pacquiao, which they condemn.

Surely, those who exercise the freedom to marry people of the same sex or to engage in sex must recognize Pacquiao’s right to bare his feelings about something he feels strongly about considering the religious environment in our country.

His position on same-sex marriages is consistent with his stance on the Reproductive

Health legislation which he opposed in congress and which he believed was being foisted upon us by international agencies and giant western pharmaceutical companies looking to peddle their birth control paraphernalia.

We recall one of the most articulate Catholic priests in Sri Lanka, Fr. Noel Cruz, who many years ago preached against birth control in the guise of trying to contain poverty by pointing out that God created man and woman with two hands which they could put to good use to earn a living.

It was at the same time, an indictment of sloth and mendicancy which regrettably our own government pursues through its dole outs to the poor.

There have been those who have condemned Manny for his absences from congress which fails to recognize the reality that many congressmen show up for the roll call and then disappear. This was evident in the failure to pass the BBL for lack of a quorum. We are aware that while Pacquiao may have been absent from the house of representatives, he was often spending his time in Sarangani province, the district he represents, educating the poor on the importance of protecting the environment and at the same time seeking ways and means to make their

lives a little bit better.

We know that he has bought land in the province and built homes for the poor and homeless which cannot be said of others in congress, who have raped the treasury through such corruption-riddled programs as the infamous PDAF and DAP and done nothing for their constituents.

We need to remember that Manny Pacquiao, by his incredible exploits in the ring, earned our country and people the respect it deserved at a time when the Philippines was looked down upon by the international community.

Manny single-handedly restored our people’s pride which is more than we can say for those who condemn him. How very short indeed are our individual and collective memories.

The fact that Pacquiao apologized for hurting the sensibilities of the LGBT community but continued to be virtually crucified for his remarks which reminds us that Jesus Christ himself was crucified by his own people.

We are not for one moment even remotely suggesting that Pacquiao and Jesus Christ can be measured in the same light, but there is a message somewhere in this example of people turning against one of their own who was previously worshipped and glorified.

Manny’s decision to stand by his word is what sets him apart from politicians who haven’t the guts to confront the truth or those, who believe it may affect their chances in the forthcoming elections and stay away from the fray.

As Aquiles Zonio wrote on philboxing.com: “A good leader isn’t afraid to take a stand, no matter how unpopular, for the sake of the truth. A true leader will always uphold what is right in the eyes of God.” As respected journalist Leslie Bocobo stated on Facebook —“Manny Pacquiao wrapped himself with our flag, not hypocrisy. He awakened the Filipino’s pride even to the least amongst us as he competed in the ring, win or lose.

He may not be perfect, but who is? But on this note I ask what good has Vice Ganda and Boy Abunda given the country thru the power of television?

Entertainment? At the expense of the Filipino youth? By giving them the wrong set of values?

Not so much with Boy Abunda, but this Vice Ganda is the epitome of everything that is immoral, scandalous, obscene, dirty, uncouth, ugly, rude, shallow and stupid.”

Far from being a bigot or a hypocrite, submission to the will of God demonstrates discernment brought about by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Kazakhs show might on Day 2

By Peter Atencio

DAET, Camarines Norte—Kazakh rider Oleg Zemlyakov conquered the feared, steep “Tatlong Eme” climbs along Quezon national park and still had enough energy on his tank to make a final dash to the finish at the close of the second stage of the 2016 Le Tour de Filipinas here.

Kazakh rider Oleg Zemlyakov raises his bike after ruling the second stage of the 2016 Le Tour de Filipinas.

The 22-year-old Zemlyakov arrived at the Vinzons Ave. finish line in five hours, eight minutes and 48 seconds to take stage honors.

Zemlyakov, who was set to clinch the first of two sprint honors when the first half of stage 1 before it was stopped because of heavy traffic due to road repairs in the final stages of the route, arrived 18 seconds ahead of teammate Yevgeni Gidich to make it a 1-2 finish for Kazakhstan.

The Kazakhs’ dominance on the second day came amid a mishap that took place midway in the race when Australian team Oliver’s Real Food Racing’s equipment van crashed into a tree as it passed a downhill road along Labo West in Camarines Norte.

This driver was not hurt in the accident.

A day earlier in San Pablo City, the same van was bumped by a cargo truck.

With his stage win, Zemlyakov, a native of Petropavl, North Kazakhstan, earned his first ever yellow jersey in a race, after taking his first King of the Mountain honors for his showing in Quezon National Park.

Gidich and Zemlyakov of Vino 4ever SKO, made their move in the final five kilometers while negotiating the flat roads of Talisay, leaving behind Jesse James Ewart, an Australian attached to local favorite 7-Eleven Sava Roadbike Philippines who eventually settled for third.

Ewart arrived with a three-man

group with Gidich and Terranganu’s Batmunkh Maral-Erdene.

“This is the first international race that the I have won. I am happy,” said Zemlyakov in halting English, after arriving in Daet town, best known for the surfing waves in nearby Bagasbas beach.

The Kazakhs rode aggressively from the start, leading a six-man charge in negotiating the Tatlong Eme located at the heart of the Quezon national park in Atimonan with local riders Rommel Hualda, Jay Lampawog and John Mark Camingao hot on his heels.

It was a tiring pace, but Zemlyakov hung on and stayed in front of a 12-man group when he took on a northeasterly route and reached the 132-km mark in Calauag, Quezon.

Filipino bet Marcelo Felipe, who finished sixth, kept within sight of the two Kazakhs until the last 15 kilometers into Talisay.

But faced with rough roads still being repaired in Sta. Elena, Felipe hung back and let Ewart continue the chase against the Kazakhs.

At this juncture, however, Zemlyakav finally merged with Gidich, who never left his side in the last 10 kilometers.

Ewart said he still happy with his third-place finish.

Marcelo, however, said he did not have strength left to keep with the Kazakhs in the final stretch.

Jawo, Ariza back Pacman

By Ronnie Nathanielsz FORMER Senator Robert Jaworski, the Living Legend of Philippine basketball, has come out strongly in support of eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in the face of attacks against him by lesbians, gays and homosexuals following his remarks condemning same-sex marriages.

Jaworski told The Standard he had sent a short message to Pacquiao and expressed the hope that he would read it.

The former senator, who listened to this reporter defend Pacquiao on ANC, said he was in total agreement with our position.

“How can you go wrong when you are speaking about God and his teachings?” Jaworski asked. “Pacquiao has the overwhelming support of the silent majority.”

He described the LGBT groups as “unfortunately callous with their venomous comments. I feel sorry for Manny.”

Jaworski reasoned that he is not a candidate (in the coming elections) and so he “could slug it out,” with these groups attacking Pacquiao.

“He must not let them impose on us. They confuse humanity. How

can you sleep together if you are both males? They don’t give birth so how can they multiply?” asked Jaworski, who condemned men kissing men and women kissing women in public, demanding that “they must not do this in front of our children.”

Meantime, Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza blasted Top Rank promoter Bob Arum for stating that Pacquiao’s comments on homosexuals and same-sex marriages was “reprehensible.”

He pointed out that to Arum, “Hollywood and Los Angeles friends are more important than Manny and the Filipinos.”

Ariza stressed: “There’s no loyalty with Arum. He’d do anything to separate himself and Top Rank from Manny, now. He doesn’t want the backlash because it’s always money to Arum. You are supposed to protect your fighter, but he knows Manny is on his way out so he wants to separate. It’s so sad ” “I get it,” said Ariza, in reference to what Pacquiao had to say and made it clear “we all have our beliefs. Pacquiao didn’t mean it (his statements) the way it came out to be. It’s just his religious beliefs. But Pacquiao sometimes doesn’t articulate things well, but that’s the honesty in him.”

SATURDAY: FEBRUARY 20, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Remittances hit record $25.8b

By Julito G. Rada

MONEY sent home by Filipinos working overseas increased 4.6 percent in 2015 to a record $25.767 billion from $24.628 billion in 2014, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.

Bangko Sentral said cash remittances in December grew 4.9 percent to $2.47 billion from $2.35 billion a year ago. This was also the biggest monthly inflow on record.

“Cash remittances from landbased and sea-based workers amounted to $20 billion and $5.8 billion, respectively… The continued deployment of skilled overseas Filipino workers remained

a key factor to the growth in remittance inflows,” Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, increased 4.4 percent last year to $28.483 billion from $27.273 billion in 2014. In December alone, personal remittances expanded 4.9 percent to $2.7 billion from $2.59 billion.

“The sustained growth in personal remittances during the year

was driven by the steady increase in remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more [by 4.4 percent] and from sea-based and landbased workers with work contracts of less than one year [by 5.3 percent],” Bangko Sentral said.

Bangko Sentral said the 2015 level represented 9.8 percent of the gross domestic product and 8.1 percent of the gross national income.

Preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration showed the number of deployed overseas Filipino workers in 2015 reached 1.8 million. Approved job orders for the year reached 835,247, of which 45 percent were processed.

These job orders were intended mainly for service, production, and professional, technical and related workers in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the country’s balance of payments swung to a deficit of $813 million in January this year from a $136-million surplus a year ago, after the government settled some of its foreign debt.

The January figure was also a sharp turnaround from the $481-million surplus recorded in December 2015.

“The $813-million deficit in January was largely due to payments by the national government for its maturing foreign exchange obligations and results of FX [foreign exchange] operations

of the BSP,” Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a text message.

“Based on latest data available, the $130-million net outflows recorded in BSP-registered foreign portfolio investments partly contributed to the deficit,” Guinigundo said.

Latest data showed that foreign portfolio investments or “hot money” posted a net outflow of $129.85 million last month, a reversal of the $592-million net inflow a year ago. It was, however, lower than the net outflow of $171 million in December 2015.

Bangko Sentral said the outflow was “mainly due to lingering concerns on China’s economic slowdown and the plunging global oil prices.”

PSe comPoSite index Closing February 19, 2016

8000 8340 7880 7420 6960 6500

6,792.06 56.81

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing February 19, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.665

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P47.630 LOW P47.690AVERAGE P47.665 VOLUME 490.000M

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

oPriceS il P today

Meralco suppliers. Manila Electric Co., the largest electricity retailer, signs power supply deals with Toledo Power Co. and Panay Power

P20.40-P23.80 Diesel

Corp. in Visayas to augment an expected deficit in its portfolio, especially during the dry season. Sealing the agreement are (from left) Meralco energy sourcing office head Ciprinilo Meneses, Meralco first vice president Ronnie Aperocho, Meralco senior VP Alfredo Panlilio, Meralco president and chief executive Oscar Reyes, Global business Power Corp. president Rolando Bacani, GBP executive vice president Jaime Azurin and GBP assistant vice president for business development Janssen dela Cruz.

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, February 19, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.5590

Japan

Yen

0.008832

0.4200

UK

Pound

1.433300

68.1663

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128576

6.1149

Switzerland

Franc

1.007252

47.9039

Canada

Dollar

0.728120

34.6287

Singapore

Dollar

0.712860

33.9029

Australia

Dollar

0.714898

33.9998

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657454

126.3859

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266702

12.6841

Brunei

Dollar

0.710328

33.7825

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028130

1.3378

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.9497

Euro

Euro

1.110300

52.8048

Korea

Won

0.000811

0.0386

China

Yuan

0.153445

7.2977

India

Rupee

0.014592

0.6940

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240385

11.4325

New Zealand

Dollar

0.661989

31.4835

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030089

1.4310 Source: PDS Bridge

BPI says net profit in 2015 almost flat at P18.23b BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest bank in the country, posted a net income of P18.23 billion in 2015, or almost flat from P18.04 billion in 2014.

The bank said in a statement Friday said its trading performance weathered a volatile year in 2015, with foreign exchange and securities tradings gaining P2.86 billion. Non-interest income, however, declined 1.2 percent to P20.72 billion.

“Total revenues rose by 6.4 percent to P59.36 billion, driven by net interest income, which rose 11.0 percent to P38.64 billion. Comprehensive income was P16.69 billion,

down 7.1 percent,” it said.

Operating expenses stood at P31.87 billion, or an increase of 6.4 percent, the same pace as revenues.

The bank’s cost-to-income ratio remained at 53.7 percent. Return on assets was 1.3 percent, down 0.1 percent from the previous year. Return on equity, meanwhile, was 12.3 percent, down 1.4 percent.

Both total loans and total deposits grew to record levels in 2015.

Total loans stood at P872.86 billion, up 9.1 percent on a 78-percent to 22-percent corporate-retail mix.

Gross 90-day non-performing loans were 1.6 percent of the total,

up slightly from 1.5 percent. Loan loss cover stood at 110.2 percent, not counting the value of collateral.

Total deposits stood at P1.28 trillion, up 8.5 percent year-on-year.

Current and saving account ratio at the end of the year was 72.3 percent.

The bank’s total assets at the end of 2015 stood at P1.52 trillion, 4.6 percent or P66.16 billion higher than the year-ago level.

Investment securities increased 6.7 percent to P295.18 billion year-on-year. The bank’s investment securities were mostly heldto-maturity at P244.81 billion.

Capital, net of all cash divi-

dends declared at yearend, reached P150.28 billion, up 4.3 percent. Capital adequacy ratio—a measurement of financial strength—ended at 13.6 percent, above the regulatory minimum of 10 percent. Common equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 12.7 percent.

BPI, the first bank in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia, is a commercial bank with an expanded banking license. BPI’s services include consumer banking and lending, asset management, insurance, securities brokerage and distribution, foreign exchange, leasing and corporate and investment banking.

Julito G. Rada

SATURDAY: FEBRUARY 20, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, February 19, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 34.1 2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 161 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 5.3

76 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 0.0670 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

49.55 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 0.030 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. IPM Holdings JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’

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

SHARES 8,276,554 101,420,785 176,933,965 197,725,129 211,702,447 904,233,022 1,600,769,891

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.98 2.89 44.9 44.8 102.00 99.95 90.60 90.35 36.5 36 2.70 2.52 1.48 1.40 14.3 14.02 16.6 16.5 6.65 6.62 1.78 1.7 566.00 566.00 0.500 0.480 79.4 78.4 15.10 15.00 52.85 51.20 97.4 96.9 275 267 34.5 34 144 141 1350.00 1315.00 56.00 55.00 1.49 1.47 INDUSTRIAL 42.55 43 42.5 4.77 5 4.79 0.69 0.69 0.69 1.46 1.46 1.42 10.3 10.3 10.1 190.00 200.00 200.00 17.36 17.58 17 40 55 45 18.52 18.72 18.22 39.55 39.3 39.1 2.06 2.06 2.03 2.27 2.29 2.16 11.52 11.6 11.38 8.600 8.660 8.490 7.30 7.31 7.29 5.70 5.94 5.70 6.50 6.76 6.49 20.3 21.2 19.52 58 60.1 58.7 13.96 13.98 13.90 5.56 5.54 5.45 2.380 2.300 2.350 220.00 220.00 217.60 27.15 27.15 27.15 1.8 1.9 1.85 3 3.37 3.37 26.5 26.9 26.5 15.76 15.8 15.5 5.8 5.88 5.8 322.00 322.00 320.00 4.00 3.95 3.95 3.11 3.3 3.12 8.95 9.28 8.85 3.19 3.2 3.19 11.48 11.38 11.38 3.75 3.75 3.62 1.47 1.58 1.48 2.82 2.85 2.7 3.78 3.78 3.75 134.5 143 134 2.45 2.46 2.39 0.153 0.157 0.151 1.07 1.06 1.01 2.10 2.13 2.10 190 190.1 187 4.71 4.88 4.7 0.64 0.66 0.63 22.50 22.50 22.50 1.03 1.04 1.03 HOLDING FIRMS 0.330 0.345 0.325 57.9000 58.3500 57.0000 14.62 14.80 14.60 1.05 1.07 0.95 6.00 6.01 6.00 0.240 0.244 0.231 695 695 688.5 7.35 7.43 7.2 12.00 12.40 11.98 4.85 4.85 4.85 4.70 4.75 4.75 0.225 0.255 0.230 1265 1270 1255 5.62 5.61 5.61 9.60 9.79 9.41 69.90 69.90 68.50 5.3 5.63 5.33 0.67 0.68 0.66 16.46 16.5 16.18 0.49 0.49 0.48 5.85 6.09 5.83 0.0300 0.0310 0.0300 2.210 2.270 2.200 73.10 72.20 71.35 2.3 2.44 2.44 845.00 850.00 823.00 1.06 1.06 1.06 0.81 0.78 0.78 148.000 147.500 144.900 0.2950 0.3050 0.2900 0.2150 0.2200 0.2020 0.310 0.315 0.310 PROPERTY 7.000 7.060 6.980 0.84 0.89 0.83 1.400 1.430 1.330 0.218 0.217 0.217 32.000 31.900 31.150 2.9 44.9 101.50 90.60 36 2.51 1.48 14.18 16.6 6.62 1.7 560.00 0.480 79.5 15.00 51.20 96.9 272 33.65 142.8 1325.00 55.30 1.46

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.93 44.85 101.00 90.40 36 2.60 1.40 14.2 16.5 6.65 1.78 566.00 0.480 79.05 15.00 52.40 96.9 274.6 34.1 141.7 1315.00 55.60 1.49

1.03 -0.11 -0.49 -0.22 0.00 3.59 -5.41 0.14 -0.60 0.45 4.71 1.07 0.00 -0.57 0.00 2.34 0.00 0.96 1.34 -0.77 -0.75 0.54 2.05

132,000 7,800 2,227,410 1,473,330 43,700 79,000 77,000 27,700 70,000 3,400 67,000 20 910,000 2,691,200 182,200 36,980 6,500 1,930 40,200 128,750 115 63,140 7,000

42.95 5 0.69 1.46 10.1 200.00 17.52 45 18.22 39.3 2.06 2.19 11.4 8.500 7.30 5.82 6.75 21.1 59.9 13.98 5.53 2.300 217.80 27.15 1.9 3.37 26.8 15.5 5.8 320.20 3.95 3.25 9.20 3.19 11.38 3.75 1.56 2.7 3.75 143 2.4 0.151 1.01 2.11 188.2 4.7 0.63 22.50 1.04

0.94 4.82 0.00 0.00 -1.94 5.26 0.92 12.50 -1.62 -0.63 0.00 -3.52 -1.04 -1.16 0.00 2.11 3.85 3.94 3.28 0.14 -0.54 -2.13 -1.00 0.00 5.56 12.33 1.13 -1.65 0.00 -0.56 -1.25 4.50 2.79 0.00 -0.87 0.00 6.12 -4.26 -0.79 6.32 -2.04 -1.31 -5.61 0.48 -0.95 -0.21 -1.56 0.00 0.97

1,629,900 4,391,000 98,000 427,000 200 90 192,400 400 171,100 6,100 819,000 4,381,000 57,700 12,875,900 2,360,600 15,911,400 1,806,800 13,658,500 517,530 4,300 68,400 1,786,000 1,864,110 1,300 12,000 2,000 436,700 2,305,600 31,700 106,780 16,000 2,990,000 19,589,000 3,000 1,000 746,000 1,014,000 772,000 60,000 42,210 226,000 3,710,000 43,000 1,454,000 1,853,070 17,000 1,836,000 3,000 68,000

0.325 57.3000 14.60 1.07 6.01 0.231 693.5 7.23 12.30 4.85 4.75 0.232 1260 5.61 9.79 69.00 5.57 0.66 16.3 0.48 5.9 0.0300 2.220 71.35 2.44 827.00 1.06 0.78 144.900 0.2900 0.2020 0.310

-1.52 -1.04 -0.14 1.90 0.17 -3.75 -0.22 -1.63 2.50 0.00 1.06 3.11 -0.40 -0.18 1.98 -1.29 5.09 -1.49 -0.97 -1.03 0.85 0.00 0.45 -2.39 6.09 -2.13 0.00 -3.70 -2.09 -1.69 -6.05 0.00

290,000 827,230 9,470,800 10,000 1,331,500 160,000 217,310 2,382,900 5,608,000 14,000 53,000 3,010,000 134,980 6,500 3,208,000 1,358,930 24,062,500 15,000 1,751,500 100,000 81,999,000 16,700,000 7,022,000 450,140 1,000 209,250 10,000 43,000 102,830 4,130,000 480,000 100,000

6.980 0.86 1.400 0.217 31.350

-0.29 2.38 0.00 -0.46 -2.03

213,000 3,968,000 505,000 40,000 7,551,100

-20,790.00 304,690.00 2,236,189 16,088,678.50

-615,626.00 75,700.00 0.00 35,676,970.00 963,970.50 -484,500.00 358,760.00 72,750 3,228,499.00 -2,774,760.00 41,835,155.00 7,790.00

958,382.00 180,760 -260,350.00 1,166,710.00 -354,414.00 -1,024,775.00 -12,125,191.00 -399,466.00 -4,957,182.00 -75,428,368.00 6,472,582.50 6,990.00 5,015,626.00

9,642,850.00 14,628,510.00 -19,152,688.00 -3,484,300.00 20,318,580.00 -2,655,000.00 -15,600.00 224,000.00 -18,820.00 -4,824,800.00

266,700.00 87,873,306.00 67,500.00

31,185,636.00

-6,851,855.00 -4,291,739.00 27,102,188.00 23,000.00 122,876,150.00 44,171,801.00 -43,612,160.00 -9,320,874.00 128,485,774.00 -130,460.00 -3,033,289.00 -40,780,070.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 2.6 7.67 4 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 3.32 3.2 95.5 1 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 1.6 4.8 2.58 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 6.5 1.91 1.95 3.1 0.650 6

0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 14.54 3 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Yehey

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

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

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum

70 120 515 111 1047 84.8

33 101.5 480 101 1011 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

First Gen G GLOBE PREF P MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

-700,102.00

1.34

1

-27,300.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

85,240.00 1,235,760.00

Close

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

High

VALUE 604,260,441.55 1,933,466,021.82 1,775,264,816.79 819,608,972.864 1,110,712,979.65 276,779,463.756 6,524,953,071.55

FINANCIAL 1,553.63 (down) 4.54 INDUSTRIAL 10,956.27 (up) 18.71 HOLDING FIRMS 6,396.15 (down) 55.90 PROPERTY 2,698.85 (down) 36.83 SERVICES 1,546.36 (down) 18.20 MINING & OIL 10,765.99 (donw) 34.96 PSEI 6,792.06 (down) 56.81 All Shares Index 3,917.29 (down) 21.74 Gainers: 68; Losers: 103; Unchanged: 45; Total: 216

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.05 4.45 0.550 0.96 0.115 0.435 24 0.830 0.92 1.54 1.24 3.5 0.091 0.2300 0.400 8.39 26.00 1.5 21.40 0.76 0.970 4.400

3.1 2.96 3.01 4.75 4.69 4.7 0.57 0.540 0.570 1.00 0.94 0.94 0.118 0.116 0.116 0.430 0.420 0.420 24.1 23.7 23.85 0.850 0.830 0.830 0.92 0.91 0.91 1.55 1.53 1.55 1.24 1.24 1.24 3.5 3.42 3.46 0.091 0.087 0.090 0.2300 0.2300 0.2300 0.405 0.380 0.395 8.45 8.39 8.39 26.70 25.45 26.00 1.5 1.49 1.49 21.40 21.05 21.10 0.76 0.75 0.76 0.990 0.940 0.940 4.450 4.510 4.390 SERVICES 6.45 6.5 6.45 6.5 54.5 55 54.3 54.3 1.17 1.18 1.18 1.18 0.495 0.500 0.485 0.495 4.52 4.58 4.23 4.27 0.0510 0.0510 0.0490 0.0510 3.18 3.18 3.14 3.18 83 82.95 81.7 82.55 1.57 1.48 1.48 1.48 5.96 5.90 5.75 5.90 2.65 2.70 2.65 2.70 990 958 957 958 1879 1879 1835 1840 6.81 6.83 6.68 6.68 1.14 1.19 1.17 1.19 58.9 59.9 58.85 59.35 11.96 11.74 11.74 11.74 0.0093 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 0.165 0.167 0.161 0.165 1.2200 1.2700 1.1800 1.2000 7.65 7.70 7.53 7.60 4.02 4.02 4.02 3.90 2.33 2.55 2.30 2.50 25.90 25.90 25.90 25.90 0.560 0.560 0.520 0.560 2.17 2.2 1.94 1.94 3.54 3.54 3.48 3.52 0.275 0.265 0.265 0.265 0.730 0.760 0.720 0.730 18.28 18.08 18.08 18.08 4.46 4.60 4.60 4.60 27.00 27.00 26.95 27.00 2278.00 2312.00 2228.00 2246.00 0.395 0.395 0.390 0.390 0.840 0.840 0.780 0.820 34.50 34.50 33.90 34.10 62.50 63.20 62.40 63.00 5.20 5.22 4.95 4.95 3.60 3.61 3.43 3.50 0.460 0.475 0.460 0.475 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51 3.88 3.88 3.78 3.81 4.930 5.020 4.500 4.900 MINING & OIL 0.0044 0.0045 0.0043 0.0043 2.07 2.20 2.03 2.07 4.45 4.52 4.45 4.45 11.30 13.00 11.30 11.30 0.219 0.222 0.215 0.222 0.6 0.61 0.58 0.61 0.440 0.440 0.430 0.430 7.39 7.39 7.12 7.25 0.710 0.720 0.690 0.710 0.285 0.295 0.290 0.295 0.315 0.340 0.300 0.315 0.320 0.350 0.320 0.320 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 0.013 0.014 0.013 0.014 1.91 1.92 1.8 1.81 5.15 5.1 4.88 4.97 2.46 2.49 2.4 2.45 0.5500 0.5400 0.5400 0.5400 1.2500 1.2700 1.2200 1.2500 0.0096 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 3.58 3.51 3.50 3.51 5.79 6.05 5.75 5.82 1.88 1.85 1.80 1.81 0.0120 0.0120 0.0110 0.0120 123.50 123.40 122.00 123.00 2.45 2.45 2.31 2.35 PREFERRED 53.5 54.9 54 54 118 118 118 118 522 520 520 520 112 112.4 112 112.4 1028 1028 1028 1028 82.2 82.3 82.3 82.3 78 78 78 78 76.5 77 76.7 77 78.75 79 78.4 78.4 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.490 2.500 2.370 2.400 SME 3.48 3.75 3.34 3.74 2.91 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.5 2.48 2.44 2.45 13.8 13.84 13.5 13.58 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 110.8 111.3 110.6 110.6

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

-1.31 5.62 3.64 -2.08 0.87 -3.45 -0.62 0.00 -1.09 0.65 0.00 -1.14 -1.10 0.00 -1.25 0.00 0.00 -0.67 -1.40 0.00 -3.09 1.14

6,875,000 4,932,210.00 21,000 3,320,000 -11,200.00 62,000 400,000 660,000 -86,000.00 413,200 6,137,910.00 222,000 930,000 23,193,000 -6,928,460.00 190,000 26,767,000 16,413,860.00 1,180,000 620,000 220,000 21,600 2,548,100 114,245.00 71,000 -22,500.00 8,016,800 -39,208,430.00 100,362,000 1,696,000 9,400.00 4,198,000 -49,630.00

0.78 -0.37 0.85 0.00 -5.53 0.00 0.00 -0.54 -5.73 -1.01 1.89 -3.23 -2.08 -1.91 4.39 0.76 -1.84 4.30 0.00 -1.64 -0.65 0.00 7.30 0.00 0.00 -10.60 -0.56 -3.64 0.00 -1.09 3.14 0.00 -1.40 -1.27 -2.38 -1.16 0.80 -4.81 -2.78 3.26 0.00 -1.80 -0.61

51,300 53,390 6,000 600,000 11,045,000 36,540,000 36,000 250,600 74,000 49,300 11,000 310 51,305 86,900 71,000 2,879,830 100 2,000,000 4,790,000 4,105,000 93,500 679,000 117,000 4,000 17,000 77,900,000 575,000 180,000 10,711,000 400 1,000 36,200 157,245 270,000 41,882,000 1,125,900 1,302,880 1,277,500 7,327,000 1,640,000 3,000 2,481,000 239,000

-2.27 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.37 1.67 -2.27 -1.89 0.00 3.51 0.00 0.00 8.33 7.69 -5.24 -3.50 -0.41 -1.82 0.00 1.04 -1.96 0.52 -3.72 0.00 -0.40 -4.08

130,000,000 295,000 104,000 -8,970.00 400 110,000 416,000 140,000 55,400 10,867,000 2,315,300.00 220,000 323,070,000 49,450,000 -815,500.00 148,100,000 210,700,000 1,048,000 11,329,600 5,052,679.00 96,000 22,140.00 1,000 212,000 1,000,000 42,000 4,887,000 -2,462,203.00 3,663,000 271,160.00 7,700,000 374,910 -25,280,490.00 192,000

0.93 0.00 -0.38 0.36 0.00 0.12 0.00 0.65 -0.44 -4.35

121,970 20,000 2,000 11,010 10,100 10,400 19,000 103,500 229,800 10,000

-3.61

328,000

7.47 -5.50 -2.00 -1.59

61,000 2,000 160,000 246,500

-0.18

887,711

-11,599,650.00 -1,000.00 9,384,880.50

20,239,245.00 10,550.00 26,231,119.00 -1,174.00 -256,560.00 120,000.00 24,220.00 -383,080.00

-21,880,440.00 532,650.00 -247,250.00 229,490.00 11,437,820.00 -1,395,510.00 -11,085,250.00 44,537,158.50 29,432.00 392,350.00 -36,800.00 -1,211,780.00

-169,960.50

-1,542,000.00 77,000.00

409,552.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

55

37.50

Melco Crown

1.94

-10.60

Mabuhay Vinyl

3.37

12.33

Wellex Industries

0.2020

-6.05

Manila Mining `A'

0.0130

8.33

Discovery World

1.48

-5.73

Manila Mining `B'

0.014

7.69

TKC Steel Corp.

1.01

-5.61

Alterra Capital

3.74

7.47

Bloomberry

4.27

-5.53

Macroasia Corp.

2.50

7.30

Makati Fin. Corp.

2.75

-5.50

San Miguel'Pure Foods `B'

143

6.32

Bright Kindle Resources

1.40

-5.41

Phoenix Semiconductor

1.56

6.12

Marcventures Hldgs., Inc.

1.81

-5.24

Seafront `A'

2.44

6.09

SBS Phil. Corp.

4.95

-4.81

Cebu Holdings

4.7

5.62

Swift Pref

2.2

-4.35

SATURDAY: FEBRUARY 20, 2016

B3

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

Market dips, ends four-day advance STOCKS fell Friday, ending a four-day rally, as a renewed weakening in the price of oil dampened sentiment in Asian markets.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, lost 56 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 6,792.06.

The bellwether was also down 2.3 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also fell 21 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 3,917.29 Friday, on a value turnover of P6.5 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 103 to 68, while 45 issues were unchanged.

Only five of the 20 most active issues ended in the green, led by Lopez Holdings Corp., which climbed 5.1 percent to P5.57. Unit First Gen Corp. advanced 3.9 percent to P21.10.

Petron Corp. rose 2.8 percent to P9.20, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp. gained 0.9 percent to P5.90.

Port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. added 0.8 percent to close at P59.35.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets also traded lower Friday.

US crude fell below $31 a barrel as traders digested news that American stockpiles rose to the highest in more than eight decades.

While turbulence in Asian markets has abated this week with losses earlier in the year being partially won back, investors remain on alert over the global glut in crude and China’s economic outlook.

Since the start of the year, tumbling oil prices, concern about the slowdown in Asia’s largest economy and a sell-off in bank stocks sent some global stocks into a bear market.

Markets had received welcome support earlier in the week when oil prices jumped Wednesday following a pact between top two producers Russia and Saudi Arabia to pursue a coordinated strategy to limit output.

“Sentiment on the oil market has been a key macro driver for stock-market sentiment recently,” Ric Spooner, Sydney-based chief market analyst at CMC Markets, told Bloomberg News.

“Concerns about the potential for credit-market problems in the event of a lower-for-longer oil scenario are near the top of a fairly long list of macro factors worrying investors at the moment.”

West Texas Intermediate slipped 0.9 percent after rising in the past two days. Brent also fell 0.9 percent.

Asia markets were also depressed Friday by a fall on Wall Street Thursday, with Tokyo plunging 2.23 percent by the break on Friday as a stronger yen dented exporters.

With AFP, Bloomberg

Veritas-WSI deal. Victor Cheng (center), managing director of sales for Asia South region of Veritas Technologies LLC and Jing Laurente,

vice president for solutions division of Wordtext Systems Inc. shake hands to seal their companies’ partnership to relaunch Veritas Information Management Solutions in the Philippines. Also from WSI, one of the country’s top information technology distributors is Reina Putong (third from right), senior business development manager. With them are executives from Veritas Technologies, including (from left) Eric Velardo, technical sales and services, pre-sales division for Asean region; Victor Lim, senior manager; Benny Wong, professional services of Asean; Wee Pin Tan, Asia South Channel lead; Rosemary Phan, distribution success manager for Philippines and Vietnam; and Suchada Iamchula, partner marketing manager for Asean.

Pepsi inaugurates snack food factory

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SOFTDRINK manufacturer Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. has expanded into snack food production in line with its goal to become a premier food and beverage company.

PCPPI said in a statement it inaugurated its newest manufacturing facility in Cabuyao, Laguna that would initially produce Cheetos branded snacks for the local market.

“We are delighted with this opportunity to produce internationally-renowned snacks products for the Philippine market, as we move towards our vision of becoming a premier food and beverage company in the Philippines,” said PCPPI president Furqan Ahmed Syed.

Construction of the P650-million Cabuyao snacks plant started in March 2015 and was designed to be a world-class food manufacturing facility, fully compliant with the quality and safety standards set internationally by Pepsico.

Located within the Light Industrial Science Park, the plant has a land area of 9,800 square meters.

The opening of the plant was slightly delayed, as the company earlier projected its foray to snack food business to be ready for implementation by the second half of 2015.

PCPPI said the creation of the snacks-and-beverage franchise operations in the Philippines reflected PepsiCo’s on-

going drive to ensure the integration of its food and beverage portfolio across multiple platforms, including manufacturing and goto-market execution.

“We’re pleased to share the exciting variants of Cheetos at affordable price points and within reach of the snackloving Filipino consumers,” said Jika Dalupan, PCPPI vice president for corporate affairs and communications.

“By pairing our tasty snacks with our refreshing drinks, we are bringing together food and beverage brands that truly work better together,” Dalupan said.

PCPPI and PepsciCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies signed an agreement in 2015 for PCPPI to also manufacture one of PepsiCo’ s world-famous snacks brands locally in the Philippines.

Aside from Cheetos, other famous snack brands of Pepsico include Lay’s Ruffles, Doritos, Tostitos and Fritos.

PCPPI is a licensed bottler of PepsiCo Inc. and Pepsi Lipton International Limited in the Philippines.

It manufactures a range of carbonated and non- carbonated beverages that includes wellknown brands Pepsi-Cola, 7Up,

Mountain Dew, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana/Twister, Lipton, Sting, Propel, Milkis and Let’s Be.

SATURDAY: FEBRUARY 20, 2016

B4

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

IN BRIEF Red Emperor keen RED Emperor Resources NL of Australia may acquire part of the stake of Otto Energy Ltd. in gas-rich service contract 55 in southwest Palawan.

Red Emperor said in a quarterly report was advised by Otto Energy of its intention to exit from its joint venture in SC 55 “as part of its strategy to focus on its North American assets.”

“As a result, Red Emperor would have the option to maintain 15 percent participating interest in SC 55 or be assigned a percentage of Otto Energy’s interest on a pro-rata basis,” the company said.

Red Emperor said its interest could be increased by up to 22.5 percent to 37.5 percent.

Otto Energy as operator of the block owns a 78.18-percent stake in SC 55, while Red Emperor holds a 15 percent.

Palawan 55 Exploration and Production Corp. owns 6.82 percent.

“Red Emperor is considering its options and will advise the market accordingly,” the company said.

Otto Energy earlier bared plans for a “structured exit” from its Philippine assets despite seeking a two-year moratorium with the Energy Department.

Alena Mae S. Flores

UBP-Voyager deal UNION Bank of the Philippines and Voyager Innovations Inc, the digital arm of PLDT and Smart Communications Inc., signed an agreement to offer the bank’s retail loans portfolio through Lendr.

Under the agreement, UnionBank’s salary, personal automotive, housing and other customer loan availment will soon be within reach through mobile devices.

Lendr is a fully digital, multi-channel, telco- and bank-agnostic platform that financial institutions and credit providers can use to reach consumers planning to avail themselves of loans through a single online marketplace.

“In the fast-growing digital economy, innovation is the name of the game, and we are glad that UnionBank is seeing the vast opportunity for growth through digital lending with the help of Lendr,” PLDT, Smart and Voyager chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

“We are excited to work hand in hand to bring the best of Voyager’s FinTech innovations and UnionBank’s robust lending portfolio together for the benefit of Filipino consumers nationwide,” he said.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

Singapore Airlines bullish on PH mart

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Singapore Airlines Ltd. is optimistic about its prospects in the Philippines this year on strong domestic economy, its executive said.

“I think the outlook of the Philippine market is quite encouraging, I think the Philippine economy is one of those, which is relatively healthy. So, we are quite confident that the travel market will continue to grow,” Singapore Airlines executive vice president Mak Swee Wah told reporters after the airline’s 50 years anniversary event on Thursday night.

The Philippine economy grew 5.8 percent 2015, among the fastest in Asia, next to India, the People’s Republic of China and Vietnam.

Singapore Airlines operates 52 flights a week in the Philippines and plans to expand

operations due to the country’s strong domestic economy.

“We already have a quite big operations here together with our subsidiary with 52 flights and we hope to continue to be able to grow both in terms of frequency as well as high capacity aircraft and in future maybe other points to serve. I think that will be our main thrust to see how to continue our network,” Mak said.

“The Philippine market clearly is important. The travel market is healthy and the fact that we have been in the Philippines for 50 years and operating 52 flights a week that makes the Philippine important part of our network,” he added.

The airline flies to Singapore from Cebu, Davao, Kalibo and Manila.

Singapore Airlines also teamed up with Bank of the Philippine Islands to offer a special promo for the bank’s cardholders.

Under the partnership, BPI cardholders can avail of discounted all-in fares to over 50

destinations around the world.

Philippine Airlines on Wednesday said it signed a deal with Airbus Group SE to acquire six A350-900 jets worth $1.8 billion, with an option to buy six others, to support its international expansion.

Asia’s first airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for the order of six A350-900s for $1.83 billion, with six purchase options, worth another $1.83 billion, or for a total of $3.66 billion at the sidelines of Singapore Airshow.

The list price for each A350-900 aircraft was $304.8 million.

“After a thorough commercial and technical evaluation, we decided the A350 will best meet the requirements of our expanding operations,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said in a statement.

Bautista said the A350’s range capability was an important factor in the decision and would enable the airline to offer non-stop service on all premium long-haul routes.

Daikin campaign DAIKIN Airconditioning Philippines Inc., a unit of Daikin Industries Ltd., launched an aggressive campaign to penetrate the residential segment with the introduction of a cost-effective splittype units.

Daikin manager for sales operations Jed Caburian said the growing Philippine economy gave consumers the purchasing power to shift from window- to split-type air-conditioners “We want to raise awareness on the efficiency of using split-type, inverter technology units. Not are these units energy efficient, the system we’re using also adheres to environment and health safety measures,” he said.

With the new affordable units of 0.8, 1 and 1.5 horsepower units, the company is bullish of becoming the second biggest air-conditioning supplier to the residential segment in the next two years.

About 60 percent of the Philippine residential market for air-conditioning systems is still using window-type, while 40 percent has migrated to split-type units.

Hong Kong and the Philippines are the only countries in South Asia that are still using window-type air-conditioners.

Othel V. Campos

SSS salary loans THE state-run Social Security System said Friday total loan disbursements of the pension fund in Luzon almost reached P5 billion in the first 11 months of 2015.

The fund said over 287,000 SSS members in Luzon availed salary loans worth P4.94 billion from January to November last year.

SSS senior vice president for Luzon operations Group Josie Magana said about eight of out every 10 borrowers were regular employees and received a combined P4.33 billion in salary loan releases, or 88 percent of the total disbursements in Luzon.

Magana said SSS branches in Luzon disbursed P476.59 million for 36,315 voluntary members; P66.90 million for 4,073 migrant Filipino workers; and P64.17 million for 7,997 self-employed individuals within the first 11 months of 2015.

“The salary loan is one of the privileges extended to members who actively pay their SSS contributions,” Magana said.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

Fitness partner. A new haven for fitness enthusiasts opens down south of the Metro as Options Studio, a Pilates and Movement Studio, unveiled its newest branch at The Bellevue Manila, the premiere 5-star hotel in the Southern Metro. Leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening are (from left) Options Studio ambassador Daphne Oseña-Paez, B Hotels managing director Ryan Chan, first Filipino diplomate in whole medical systems and diplomate in integrative medicine in the American Association of Integrative Medicine Dr. Paolo Belosillo, Green Cross owner Nancy Co, Options Studio founder Ole Eugenio, The Bellevue Manila managing director Patrick Chan and Rotary Club senior adviser Antonio Lopez.

Group asks court to reconsider ruling vs GMO crops

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines Inc. urged the Supreme Court Friday to reconsider its decision banning field testing on genetically modified organisms.

CAMP in a position paper expressed dismay over the recent Supreme Court decision that permanently stopped the research on Bt talong.

The court also voided Department of Agriculture’s Administrative Order No. 08 and temporarily stopped the research, development and utilization of GMO technology.

AO No. 8 in 2002 sets the rules

and regulations on the importation and release into the environment of plants and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology.

“We urge the Supreme Court to review its decision, considering that its assumptions are outdated and its information based purely on ideology,” CAMP said.

“This decision will tend to perpetuate existing hazardous practices for agricultural pest control,” CAMP added.

The group said farmers use synthetic chemical pesticides on eggplants as often as every other day during the crop’s growth cycle.

“There is absolutely no justification to lump GMOs with toxic chemicals waste, the hazardous materials for which the precautionary principle was originally designed, CAMP said.

The group noted that the Supreme Court should allow Bt talong research to continue and let AO No. 8 to remain in effect until a new set of rules for GMO was formulated.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to nullify Administrative Order 8 is absolutely unjust. AO8 has a proven record of safe and effective use for the past 12 years,” CAMP said.

It warned that the Supreme Court’s decision would greatly

affect the operations of feed millers and the 400,000 Filipino farmers who plant GM corn.

“We call on the Supreme Court to allow AO8 to remain in effect until a new set of rules for GMOs is formulated so that R and D and utilization of GM technology can continue without interruption,” the group said.

“We need all the appropriate technologies, including GM technology, to produce sufficient and affordable food and feed, to protect our environment, to address the hazards of climate change, emerging pests and diseases, and to provide better lives to our farmers and their families,”it said.

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

B5

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Russia plans return to Mars and the moon MOSCOW—Visitors are rare these days to the museum of Russia’s Space Research Institute in Moscow, even though it holds gems like the model of the Soviet Lunokhod, the first ever space rover to land on the Moon, in 1970.

While the Cold War space race fired such cutting-edge projects, Russia’s planetary exploration has stalled for the past three decades— until now.

Under an ambitious plan with the European Space Agency, scientists have new hope of again sending missions to the Moon and to Mars.

“The last decade was truly difficult for us,” the institute’s director Lev Zeleny told AFP. Among the biggest blunders was the tragic Phobos-Grunt probe, which in 2011 failed to reach its planned course to one of the moons of Mars and crashed back to Earth over the Pacific Ocean.

“But now the program is entering a new stage for this decade.”

Next month, a Russian Proton rocket is scheduled to launch the first of two missions under ExoMars, a joint venture with the ESA, to snoop out possible life, past or present, to the red planet.

Zeleny’s hopes are high that this will return Moscow to its glory days of space exploration—if the project actually gets off the ground.

In the first mission, an orbital spacecraft will search for traces of methane in the atmosphere of Mars, which are possible evidence of biological activity.

For the second part in 2018, Russian engineers are to build a complex landing system to drop an ESA-built Martian rover to the planet’s surface, a platform not only to ensure a soft landing but also to serve as “a science lab in itself ” for inspecting the landing site, said Zeleny.

“If we manage this, it will be a major breakthrough,” he said.

The ambitious plan, however, has caused jitters among some observers and is dismissed as a pipe dream by others.

In January, the ESA already warned that the 2018 mission could be delayed due to cash flow problems. AFP

WORLD

Pope slams Trump’s vow to bar migrants VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis has questioned Donald Trump’s Christian faith over his vow to build a border wall to keep out immigrants, sparking a backlash from the Republican presidential candidate.

Fashion show. Indian Bollywood actress Yuvika Chaudhary takes

part in a charity fashion show in Mumbai on February 18, 2016. AFP

“Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian,” the pontiff told journalists Thursday during his return journey from a trip to Mexico.

He was responding to a question about the billionaire’s anti-immigrant stance.

“Vote, don’t vote, I won’t meddle.

But I simply say, if he says these things, this man is not a Christian,” Francis said.

“We need to see if he really said them and for this I will give him the benefit of the doubt.”

After initially launching into an audacious denunciation of Francis, Trump later softened his tone dramatically.

“For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful,” Trump said in a statement delivered on a campaign stop in South Carolina, which holds its Republican primary this weekend.

But hours later, at a town hall event, the real estate tycoon heaped praise on the pontiff.

“Oh, the pope is a wonderful guy,” Trump said, suggesting the media had hyped and exaggerated the tone of his earlier statement.

“I have a lot of respect for the pope. I think he’s got a lot of personality, he’s very different, a great guy, and I think he’s doing a very good job, he has a lot of energy.”

Trump said the pontiff was misinformed, unaware of the impact of the drugs coming into the United States and a range of security issues that make it necessary to build a wall.

The leading Republican presidential candidate also said he would welcome an opportunity to

meet the pope.

Trump has gained popularity by claiming Mexico is sending criminals to the United States, and last week he accused the pope of visiting the border between the two countries at the bidding of the Mexican government.

Francis was speaking after concluding a five-day trip to Mexico, where he delivered a mass before 300,000 people near the US border and decried the “human tragedy” of migrants fleeing violence worldwide.

In a highly symbolic gesture, the pontiff climbed a ramp facing the Rio Grande and looked out across the border into US territory, where hundreds of migrants waved at him.

Trump has vowed to build a wall on the US southern border to keep migrants from illegally crossing into the United States, a pledge that has caused a firestorm in the presidential campaign where immigration is a hot-button issue.

“If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS’s ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been president because this would not have happened,” Trump said.

The propagandists for ISIS—one of several names for the Islamic State extremist group that controls swathes of Syria and Iraq—have issued threats that their fighters will plant their flag on the top of St Peter’s basilica.

But Italian officials have insisted they have no knowledge of any credible threat to the Vatican or the pope. AFP

Assad warned over vow to retake Syria MOSCOW—Russia’s envoy to the UN on Friday warned long-term ally President Bashar al-Assad over his vow to retake all of Syria, saying he faced dire consequences if he did not comply with Moscow over the peace process.

“Russia has invested very seriously in this crisis, politically, diplomatically and now also militarily,” Vitaly Churkin told Kommersant newspaper, referring to an international agreement to cease the hostilities sealed in Munich last week.

“Therefore, we would like Assad also to respond to this,” he

said, adding that the Syrian leader’s stance “is not in accord with the diplomatic efforts that Russia is making.”

At their meeting in Munich, the 17-nation group backing Syria’s peace process agreed to work for a ceasefire, the lifting of starvation sieges and the resumption of talks.

In an interview with AFP last week, Assad defiantly pledged to retake the whole of the country, speaking before the plan for a nationwide “cessation of hostilities” in Syria was announced.

If Syria “follows Russia’s leadership in resolving this crisis, then

they have a chance to come out of it in a dignified way,” Churkin stressed.

“If they in some way stray from this path—and this is my personal opinion—a very difficult situation could arise. Including for themselves,” he warned.

“If they proceed on the basis that no ceasefire is necessary and they need to fight to a victorious end, then this conflict will last a very long time and that is terrifying to imagine.”

Churkin however also suggested that Assad’s comments were made for political impact. AFP

Still at it. Refugees and migrants wait on a ship of the Greek coastguard at the port of Mytilene, on the Greek island of Lesbos, after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey on February 18, 2016. AFP

B6

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

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

New activists say violence in Hong Kong is inevitable HONG KONG—A new brand of political activist is taking center stage in Hong Kong, pushing for violent protest and even independence for the city, where the case of disappeared booksellers has fueled mistrust of China.

A seemingly innocuous rally to protect illegal hawkers from health inspectors earlier this month descended into running battles with police in the worst clashes for decades.

Masked protesters hurled bricks, police fired warning shots and the streets were left

ablaze in the commercial district of Mong Kok. Leading the protest were young “localists”, a term coined for radical groups that grew out of the failure of the massive pro-democracy rallies in 2014 to win concessions from Beijing on political reform.

They say the recent

violence was borne out of frustration with authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing who refuse to listen to their views.

“Our way of protest is a forceful way and an effective way to put pressure on the Beijing government,” Edward Leung of Hong Kong Indigenous, created in 2015, told AFP. “A war or a battle is inevitable.”

The Mong Kok violence also came at a time of growing fears among the population at large that the semi-autonomous city’s

freedoms are ebbing away—an impression that has deepened with the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers known for publishing titles critical of Beijing.

Four of the men are now under criminal investigation on the mainland and the fifth says he is in China “assisting” authorities.

Protesters in Mong Kok drew the ire of Beijing, which branded them “separatists”.

Leung, a 24-year-old philosophy student, is unafraid of the label.

“Our ultimate goal is

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga

(Website: www.depedcalabarzon.ph)

CY 2015 Basic Educational Facilities Fund PROVISION OF sCHOOL fURNITURE 15% Regional Allocation

13

The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the Special Educational Fund intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected a bid opening.

Name of Project 1.

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC

Supply & Delivery of Sets of Notebook, Pencil & Ball pen for Elementary, Secondary & Senior High School

=P=26,926,541.36

The Provincial Government of Bataannow invites bids for the above listed Procurement.

Delivery of goods is requiredon or before the maturity date stipulated on contract.Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

er of Civic Passion, set up in 2012, says he does not want to see violence, but describes the riots as a watershed.

“Many protesters think it’s time to fight back,” says Wong, 37.

“In the end, maybe we have to face fighting the revolution.”

Leung was arrested during the Mong Kok street battles, which left more than 100 people injured, and faces a rioting charge alongside more than 30 other participants, with a maximum 10-year prison sentence. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Education Regional Office of Region IVA Gate 2 Karangalan Drive Cainta, Rizal

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE InvItatIon to BId no. Goods-013-2016

to build a Hong Kong nation,” he says, describing the group’s followers as predominantly 20-somethings, a mix of students, freelancers and the unemployed.

The localist movement is nebulous, mainly comprising small groups galvanizing support online, with activists keen to keep their identities secret.

But more established radical pro-democracy groups are also now aligning under the “localism” banner.

Veteran social activist Wong Yeung-tat, found-

INVITATION TO BID The Department of Education Regional Office of Region IVA intends to apply the sum of Fifteen Million Two Hundred One Thousand Pesos (PhP15,201,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to cover eligible payments under the contract for the Supply & Door-to-Door Delivery of School Furniture-CY 2015 Basic Educational Facilities Fund (Provision of School Furniture), as follows: Cluster

Ty p e o f Armchair

No. of pcs. Elem Armchair

No. of pcs. Sec Armchair

No. of sets Te a c h e r`s Ta b l e & Chair

to t a l B u d g e t ABC

I Batangas, Laguna, Lipa City

all wood

900

5 , 310

15 2

4,955,000.00

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

II Cavite, Calamba, C a v i t e C i t y, Quezon

all wood Steel & Wo o d

1, 5 3 0 1,12 5

3,230 400

14 8

4 , 9 91, 5 0 0 . 0 0

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committeeand inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

III Lucena C i t y, R i z a l

all wood

6,255

400

14 9

5,25 4,500.00

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

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000 and below More than 500,000 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million More than 10 Million up to 50 Million More than 50 Million up to 500 Million More than 500 Million

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 50,000.00 75,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataanwill hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 26, 2016 at 11:00 A.M atProvincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall beopen only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered on or before March 11, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, BalangaCity, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 and Bid Securing Declaration in standard form.

The winning bidder has the option to deliver the items requested by the end-user with higher technical specification & better technology provided it will be beneficial to the government & will not incur additional expenses on the part of the procuring entity.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid 2. Eligibility Check 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents 4. Request for Clarification 5. Opening of Bids

Schedule February 19 - 25, 2016

Delivery of the Goods is required within One Hundred Twenty (120) calendar days upon receipt of the Notice to roceed. Bidders should have completed within (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The decription of an eligible bdder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instruction to bidders.

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

Bidding is open to all Cooperatives only subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders on February 23, 2016 at DepED Region IV-A BAC Secretariat (Supply Office) located at Gate 2 Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal, upon accomplishing a Bidder’s Information Sheet and payment in cash of a non-refundable fee by the interested bidders to the DepED IV-A Cashier.

Cluster

Approved Budget for the Contract

Cost of Bid Documents

I

Php4,955,000.00

Php5,000.00

II

4,991,500.00

5,000.00

III

5,254,500.00

10,000.00

Only bidder’s that purchased the Bidding Documents will be allowed to submit Bids.

The DepED IV-A procurement activities for the above bidding requirements shall be as follows: Issuance of Bidding Documents

February 22,2016 to March 8, 2016 5:00pm

Pre-bid Conference

February 23,2016 at 10:00 am RDs Conference Room

Submission & Opening of Bids

March 8, 2016 at 10:00 am

Refer to date of Opening of Bids February 19 – March 11, 2016 March 01, 2016 March 11, 2016

The Provincial Government of Bataanreserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, BalangaCity, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph

(TS-FEB. 20, 2016)

Bids received in excess of the ABC per Cluster shall be automatically rejected at Bid Opening.

(SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC CHAIRMAN

Prospective bidders are strongly encauraged to order from the PhilGEPS website: www. philgeps.net for them to be included in the Document Request List of the Project.

Bids must be delivered to the address stated herein on or before March 8, 2016 at 10:00am.

All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representative/s who choose to attend the opening of bids at the address, date and time stated herein. Late bids shall not be accepted .

The DepED Region IV-A reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract or annul the bidding process without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

( T S - F E B . 2 0 , 2 016)

(SGD) ANN GERALYN T. PELIAS BAC Chairman

Obama to visit Cuba in March WA S H I N G T O N — Barack Obama will next month become the first US president to visit Cuba in almost a century, championing engagement with the Communist-ruled island and burying one of the last vestiges of the Cold War. The White House hopes the trip will be a “Berlin Wall” moment, crowning a policy they see as being among Obama’s greatest foreign policy achievements.

“Next month, I’ll travel to Cuba to advance our progress and efforts that can improve the lives of the Cuban people,” the US leader said in one of a series of tweets.

Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to the Communist-controlled island March 21-22.

The last American leader to visit Cuba while in office was Calvin Coolidge in 1928—before television or air travel was commonplace.

In the generations that followed Cuba became synonymous with crisis and threat for Americans—from the disastrous CIA-backed invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961 to a Missile Crisis the following year that terrified the nation.

For Cubans, antagonism with a superpower neighbor led to a crippling economic embargo that still makes everyday life difficult.

Since coming to office in 2009, Obama argued that engagement would do more to change Cuba than embargoes and isolation.

“We tried it one way for 50 years,” said top Obama foreign policy advisor Ben Rhodes.

“We had an embargo.

We had democracy funding. And you did not have a promotion of human rights on the island.”

In December 2014, Obama made a shock announcement that he and Raul Castro had been in secret talks on a rapprochement.

The pair then met in April 2015 in Panama, making Obama the first sitting US president to meet a Cuban leader since Dwight Eisenhower in 1956.

Diplomatic relations were restored in July.

AFP

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PROPERTY jdlacsamana@gmail.com

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

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CONDO TRANSFORMATION.

The Vantage, Rockwell Primaries’ first high-rise development in Kapitolyo, Pasig City, allows condo homeowners to convert their second room to a den, nursery, an entertainment room, or even into their home office.

Rockwell Primaries recognizes the need for a more flexible condo unit that will cater to a client’s lifestyle. Enter The Vantage’s one and twobedroom units that can be transformed into the space that one needs. The onebedroom unit whose sizes range from 40 – 43 sqm, is slightly larger than the normal sizes of 1BR units.

Homeowners have the option to move around more, and personalize each nook and cranny according to their liking. The two-bedroom unit provides more freedom for residents to get creative and transform their second room as well. The Vantage will be turned over by 2020.

SEARCH FOR THE NEXT REAL ESTATE KING Philippine Realty TV (PRTV), a local real estate television show, recenty launched the “Search for the superstar sellers.”

PRTV partnered with real estate developer 8990 Holding Inc. to challenge budding real estate sales professionals who can sell the most number of properties.

The show is calling out to interested and potential sellers, to participate in the competition as an avenue to jumpstart a promising career in real estate sales.

Reality realty In three months, contestants from Metro Manila and Pampanga will go head-to-head as they try to outwit, outhustle, and outsell each other to the most number of 8990 Holdings’ Deca Homes residential developments within the contest period.

“Contestants will find them-

selves learning not just about the product they are selling, but also what it takes to be an effective and successful real estate sales person,” said 8990 Holdings Development Corp. president and CEO Januario Jesus Atencio III. Participants will receive training in real estate sales such as digital marketing strategies from some of the country’s top digital marketing experts and real estate online platforms.

They will also be given opportunities to widen their network through open house events and various other strategic selling initiatives.

The winning competitor will win incentives, such as a chance to own a house and lot from Deca Homes, and perks that will help them launch their career in real estate sales. ““I’d like everybody who is

interested in a real estate selling career to actually look at this program that we’ve partnered with Philippine Realty TV,” said Atencio. “This is a novel way of looking at how sales is in the life of an agent, going out everyday and trying to market a product.”

Do you have what it takes?

Anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for finding the right homes for potential buyers is welcome to apply, Prior selling experience and a broker’s license are not necessary.

Applicants must also be willing to sell Deca Homes properties and be featured on Philippine Realty TV, which airs on the ABSCBN News Channel (ANC) and The Filipino Channel (TFC).

Contact Realty Emporium through the following numbers: 436-3210 or 0917-8465066.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS. Philippine Realty TV executive director John Aguilar (from left); host Tessa Prieto-Valdez; and 8990 Holdings (Deca Homes) president and CEO Jesus Atencio III.

8 ADRIATICO CAPTURES MANILA’S CHARMS.

Eton Properties, the property arm of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies, is banking on 8 Adriatico, a 42-storey development at the corner of Padre Faura and Bocobo Streets in Manila, to convince buyers of a lucrative investment.

As a modern residential condominium, the project positions itself as a place for those who want to feel the city’s heritage, while offering an excellent opportunity to invest as prices are expected to increase later in the year when Eton officially launches its selling activities for its Move-InReady projects. 8 Adriatico’s units range from residential studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom as well as SOHO (Small-Office-HomeOffice) units.

GREEN CAMPUS. De La Salle Philippines recently launched the DLSU-Rufino

campus at Bonifacio Global City. The development is set to be registered with the Philippine Green Building Council’s BERDE Program for eventual certification as an educational institution that promotes environmentally-sound construction practices. At the project ground-breaking were (first row, from left to right): Joey Sanchez, project manager, Net Pacific; Manny Tating, structural engineer, Meinhardt; Caesar Marasigan, project-in-charge, Shinryo Phils.; Doroteo Jose, project manager, JCL International; Ray Suplido, DLSU, President; Charlie Rufino, DLSU board of trustee; Anna Maria Sy, managing director, CS Design; Ronaldo Gallardo, project manager, DLSU; Humpty Bucalan, manager, IEEI; Fernando Juan, Sr, structural engineer; Meinhardt; ( At back, from left to right): Jay Anthony Javelana, sales manager, Pag-asa Steel; Calum Swinnerton, President, JCL International; Jun Casipit, project manager, Shinryo Phils.; James Oliver Bagang, project manager, DATEM,Inc.; Emerito Alcala, BGC area manager, DATEM, Inc.; Melody Doliente, project coordinator, DLSU; Luther Maynard Sim, associate architect, CS Design; Mick Espiritu, architect, CS Design; and Robby Raymundo, President, Net Pacific.

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY EMPOWERING HOME BUYERS. Zipmatch co-founders, John Dang; Kyle Wiltshire; and Chow Paredes field questions from the media.

‘I’LL TAKE THAT ONE!’ The press get a kick out of the ZipMatch Virtual Reality Googles.

By Joel Lacsamana

ONLINE real estate marketplace ZipMatch recently launched a 360 Virtual Reality service for the Philippine real estate scene at the SM Aura Premier.

This could be just what the doctor ordered for real estate professionals, developers, and home sellers: they can use this newfangled technology to do on-demand viewing of residential projects, or model units for homebuyers without needing to make the actual, physical “tripping.”

ZipMatch is the first company in Southeast Asia to use virtual reality for real estate in the region.

Among ZipMatch’s 360 Virtual Reality service first movers are Ayala Land Premier, Amaia Land, Anchor Land, and Crown Asia.

This makes the Philippines the first in Southeast Asia to have a database of 360 Virtual Reality moving images of primary and secondary real estate projects.

The product launch was led by the ZipMatch co-founders Chow Paredes, John Dang, and Kyle Wiltshire.

“We see this new-age technology as an opportunity to empower both home seekers and real estate sellers in the homebuying process,” said Pare-

VIRTUAL REALITY PROPERTY VIEWING NOW IN PH, SEA ‘Immersive’ experience for real estate sellers, buyers

des. “When compared to high-quality images or 3D videos, 360 Virtual Reality provides a more immersive and experiential property viewing, making each home seeker feel that he or she is physically at the property itself.

“Tripping” A significant step to buying a home, not only in the Philippines, but in almost every country in the world, is to do a “tripping.” The seller shows the buyer around the property for sale or rent. If the property is being pre-sold, or if it has not yet been built or is currently under construction, sellers crank out model units or scale models (which costs thousands to millions of pesos), and even throw in architect floor plans to help clients visualize their next home.

Sure, one can view photos and videos in listings and seller websites, but homebuyers tend to “experience” the actual property itself. Studies say that certain buyers need visual support before making a decision.

Property viewing is often the

INVESTMENT, FIRST-TIME HOME

STA. Lucia Land Inc. (SLLI) recently unveiled the amenity area of the Mediterranean-inspired towers of Sta. Lucia Residenze in Sta Lucia City, a business and leisure hub straddling the eastern part of Metro Manila including Pasig, Marikina, Antipolo and Cainta.

SLLI partnered with Royale Homes, the exclusive marketing arm for Sta. Lucia Residenze, for the inauguration of the amenity area highlighted by its swimming pool (See photo).

“Today’s gives our buyers, particularly those who have family members working abroad, an update of what’s happening now with the project,” said Matilde Robles, president of Royale Homes. Sta. Lucia Residenze’s Santorini is a condominium project that is also operated as a hotel. “Our target market is mostly made up of young professionals living in the area who aspire to live outside of the family home for the first time,” said Robles.

turning point where a broker or a sales agent make a sale, or end up drowning their sorrows at a nearby bar.

Property viewing can also be viewed as an opportunity for individual sellers to recruit unrepresented buyers into their professional brand as real estate experts.

Whether they are selling condos in Makati, townhouses in New Manila, or house and lots in Laguna or Cavite, property viewings is a good marketing platform for sellers who want to charm clients with their knowledge of a product, the neighborhood, and the real estate market.

Virtual Reality “Tripping” Since the debut of Oculus Rift, the adoption of virtual reality technology has become popular in the US and other developed countries. Samsung, Sony, HTC and Facebook have invested in the technology to allow people to explore interactive viewable content using headsets. Even if the content was viewed via computer, mobile screen or on viewer headset, virtual reality replicates a

physical environment that simulates sensory experience enough for users to evoke the emotions investors of this technology wishes to get from its clients.

“Ayala Land Premier continues to look for opportunities to improve the customer sales experience,” said Mike Jugo, Ayala Land Premier sales head. “The ZipMatch 360 Virtual Reality is an innovative tool that allows clients to view our model units at their convenience -- anytime or anywhere in the world.”

The real estate innovation will be available for subscription under ZipMatch Pro, a toolbox specifically catered for brokers, sales agents, developers and real estate sellers. Using this feature, ZipMatch Pro subscribers can browse, select, and showcase their properties from ZipMatch’s moving images of properties in 360 degrees taken from major cities all over the country, including Metro Manila, NCR, Metro Cebu and Bacolod.

The moving images of properties for sale or rental can be accessed by

two means: subscribers can access them and show them to clients via desktop, or mobile device on their users accounts on the company’s mobile-responsive website.

For brokers who wish to bring a more immersive experience, they can set up virtual reality access using a pair of ZipMatch 360 VR goggles. Home seekers who view a featured property can actually access not just one room, but all rooms of a featured property as if they have stepped into an entirely different section of the home.

Mobile “Virtual Office” To address the user demand for mobile access, the company soft launched the ZipMatch Pro app in December 2015. The app, which can now be downloaded for free on Google Play, allows Android users to access 360 Virtual Reality content.

ZipMatch Pro subscribers on a premium plan have the capacity to download their choice content that they can access offline, meaning without needing to be on an Internet connection or under a data plan.

ZipMatch aims to release an iOS version of the app in the next few weeks.

The company is also developing a mobile version via the ZipMatch Pro app. This will allow subscribers to work while on mobile or on-the-go. Android users will also be able to uploading property listings, and purchase on-demand leads on the app.

“The mission of ZipMatch is to empower home buyers, right?

In the same way, we also aim to empower the seller side of the real estate industry, more specifically our real estate professionals,” said Paredes. “We believe that our real estate professionals play a pivotal role in creating a healthy, open, sustainable marketplace of wellinformed, savvy home seekers.”

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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

P OP CU LT U RE

LIFE

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WHO CARES WHAT PACQUIAO SAYS? THE GIST

BY ED BIADO Unlike the online mob, I’m not angry at the boxer Manny Pacquiao for expressing anti-gay sentiments. That is his opinion; and no matter how invalid and perhaps uneducated, he has the right to have and say it.

In the words of the great Evelyn Beatrice Hall, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

I may not be willing to die for Mr. Pacquiao, but I recognize that in a democratic country such as the Philippines, he – like the rest of us – has the freedom to flaunt his ridiculousness.

Mr. Pacquiao is a celebrity, an idealized image of a man put on a pedestal by the people who idolize him. He has an enormous stage, being known worldwide as one of the best boxers of this generation. He is an athlete, a very rich one, at that. And all his fame and money have gotten him to where he is – on the brink of

being a senator of the republic whose words resonate, reverberate and echo until four news cycles later.

Now, people of the Philippines, he is your creation. He was able to say what he said because you – we – gave him the opportunity to do so. No one will care about the bigoted thoughts of an unknown. We care because it’s this one person who many of us think so highly of. Some even refer to him as a national hero.

How can he say such despicable things, then? Why does he stand for something so hateful? How can he possibly have such a rudimentary and flawed understanding of biology? Of human sexuality? Of animal sex? Sorry to break it to you, but Mr. Pacquiao is not a scientist. He does not know that homosexual behavior has been observed in apes, fruit flies, sheep, penguins, mallard ducks, elephants, frogs and many, many other animals.

It’s not his fault that he does not know that. He’s a boxer. I’m not saying that boxers are unlearned. What I’m saying is that as a boxer who has had such an impressive career, I’m certain Mr. Pacquiao has no time to read about the sex lives of animals. During his tenure as congressman, he has the worst attendance record. He doesn’t even have time to go to Congress to attend to his duty of lawmaking.

Instead of being angry, we should just try to understand Mr. Pacquiao.

His thoughts are not original. Plenty of people think like him. Maybe right now, he’s being celebrated in those circles. Some label his statements as “gay slur.” Global athletic wear brand Nike, which immediately terminated the boxer’s endorsement contract following his “abhorrent” comments, believes it’s “discrimination.” I think it’s ignorance. Like most bigoted people, Mr. Pacquiao might just be coming from a place of ignorance.

But as ignorant as he is, he is in a position of power. Because we put him there. It is our adoration as fans that has allowed him to display and amplify his homophobia. If he is able to hurt us, it’s because we let him. If he is able to offend us, it’s because we gave him the privilege to do so.

His effect on us – how we think, how we feel – is proportional to our perception of him.

Which is why I’m not affected. I don’t care. Because I don’t care about him and anything that comes out of his mouth. Mr. Pacquiao’s views are irrelevant to me. And if you feel any negativity toward him and what he said, then you should stop caring about him, too. Don’t think about him.

Don’t acknowledge that he matters.

And for the love of all things fair and just, don’t elect him as senator.

I’m @EdBiado on Twitter and Instagram

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Nichols Airport Hotel's Roof Bar offers a breathtaking view of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

UNIQUE DATE IDEA:

PLANE SPOTTING

Movie marathon, picnic in the park, and a fivecourse dinner in a trendy restaurant… these are all romantic date ideas for couples who want to spend fuss-free quality time together. These dates are sweet, charming and budget-friendly (if planned accordingly). But these dates are also becoming quite predictable.

Dating is the time to impress your significant other or the person you are interested in, and nothing impresses a date better than a new experience, especially if it is a unique one. So instead of the usual bank-breaking set dinner in a fancy restaurant with the view of the street, bring them to the rooftop bar of the mid-priced travelers’

Prawns

hotel, Nichols Airport Hotel.

Is your date a fan of planes or the sweeping view of the metropolis? Nichols Airport Hotel Roof Bar, located on Quirino Avenue in Parañaque City, is considered as one of Manila’s best kept secrets that offers a great view of the city.

From the hotel’s rooftop bar, guests can see the entire length of Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s runway, same with the planes that taxi, takeoff and land. Meanwhile, to the north of the hotel is a great view of the Makati skyline. Nichols Airport Hotel Roof Bar is rated by website planespotting-hotels.com as one of the best hotels in the city for plane spotting.

Bring your date to the Roof Bar to enjoy a great view and delicious food

While you and your date revel in the breathtaking view, you two can also indulge in the al fresco bar’s sumptuous food and cocktails that claim five-star hotel quality, sans hefty menu prices.

“The quality of the food at the Nichols Airport Hotel is way above what you would expect from a midpriced hotel. Unlike five star hotels where the emphasis on the cuisine is making it new and daring, Nichols serves comfort food,

Steak

familiar, well-loved dishes that are done to absolute perfection. The menu covers a wide range of tastes and preferences,” Nichols Airport Hotel said in a statement.

For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 851-8348 or text 09178508624.

Check out its website http://www. nicholsairporthotel.com.ph for more details about the hotel and the rooftop bar.

ANSWER THE CALL OF THE (RE)BOOTY WITH DEUS SEX MACHINA

BY CARL CUEVAS

I

can still remember my first time. It felt pleasantly painful and by the time it was done, I wanted more.

This is what happens when you let a group of bored, horny and unpaid writers loose on various topics that make you laugh out loud, and in some instances make you wince and face palm at the absurdity of what you’re hearing.

Curious? Enter Deus Sex Machina (DSM), the Philippines’ premiere (and only) comedic erotica live reading event. What started out as some tease among friends on social media ended up as one happy little accident for everyone’s pleasure.

No topic is spared from being twisted into different positions and perspectives for DSM. One of the first few sessions I saw featured a too-close-for-

comfort bromance between two Katipuneros, while another led us to a “choose your own adventure” story featuring a famous Sesame Street couple. Previous editions of DSM have consistently ruined pleasant childhood memories for everyone by featuring pieces about popular characters such as the Power Rangers, Transformers, Star Wars, and Harry Potter.

One writer even made a piece of erotica in the structure of Dr. Seuss literature!

For its seventh inning, DSM goes all the way by performing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Huseng Batute as part of this year’s “Fringe MNL.” This show features new authors using rebooted, previouslyloved prompts of earlier DSM editions such as martial arts, the presidentiables, a very famous presidential sibling, rap battles, and even Disney musicals.

Deus Sex Machina is not for the faint hearted or for the weak of stomach, neither is it targeted for those who subscribe to a highly moralistic system as the jokes can be quite beyond risqué PHOTO BY GARRICK BERCERO

PHOTO BY GARRICK BERCERO

PHOTO BY GARRICK BERCERO

Be warned, though. Deus Sex Machina is not for the faint hearted or for the weak of stomach. Neither is it intended for those with a stringent moral system. And quite obviously, it is for adults only given the mature topics and humor that can go beyond risqué.

PHOTO BY DALE AMON

If we got you intrigued and interested enough, “Deus Sex Machina 7: Fringe with Benefits 2: Rebooty” (yes, that’s the complete title because the writers wanted something long and tongue-twisty) is happening on February 25, 2016, 9:00 p.m. Get your tickets via Ticketworld for only P250.

PHOTO BY DALE AMON

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

EPIC HOT WHEELS AT TOY KINGDOM

O

ver 400 designs and 30 themes are just waiting to be collected

by Hot Wheels enthusiasts this 2016. The rules of the road are certainly bound to change with the US die-cast toy cars maker continuing to create innovative products that never fail to thrill boys of all ages.

In its more than four decades of existence, Hot Wheels has evolved into a lifestyle brand that has remained steadfast in its commitment to be better, go faster and jump higher. This year, Hot Wheels is upping the challenge as its new campaign aims to empower boys of all ages with exhilaration and achievement through customization and competition, imagination and hacks, cool cars and a daring attitude, encouraging enthusiasts to not just make it awesome but “Make It Epic.”

Hot Wheels isn’t just a toy; it can be the ride of a lifetime. Kids can channel their creativity when they build their own Track Builder System, jam with friends and Connect Your Sets to fun and imaginative storytelling. Play is epic with city and off road challenges with the Speedtropolis and Autolift Expressways.

But there’s more, with popular action characters and superheroes (as well as villains) from Star Wars, Marvel, DC Comics, Justice League, Nintendo, Fast & Furious and many others in a die cast Hot Wheels vehicles. Entertainment goes on high speed with cars in over 50 designs to collect.

Two epic events are also roaring ahead this 2016 as Hot Wheels and Toy Kingdom brings Epic Race, a national toy car race this summer, and Epic City Track Building Metropolis – a first record-breaking attempt of the biggest Hot Wheels City in the Philippines in September. Check out the nearest Toy Kingdom for more details or like Make it Epic Philippines on Facebook.

For more on the latest and hottest designs, visit www.HotWheels.com. Hot Wheels race buddies are available at all Toy Kingdom Express outlets in SM Stores and Toy Kingdom Stores in most SM Supermalls.

Kick-start your collection with this new and improved Track Builder System

Raphael Iñigo definitely had an epic free play ride at the Hot Wheels Super Score Speedway track set

The Auto Lift Expressway that lifts cars two by two for an amazing race skyward!

Batman vs.

Superman

HW Exotics Bentley Continental Supersports

Better, faster, and higher with the Super Spin Storm high-speed track set

GRABEXPRESS TURNS INTO ADVENTURE TIME’S FINN AND JAKE Cartoon Network and Grab have teamed up for an awesome partnership, calling in the Adventure Time gang to join in the fun. For a limited period only, your goodies will be delivered by bikers dressed up as Finn riding on a bike designed as Jake.

Since Grab’s popularity has ballooned in the Philippine market, it has since extended its services to GrabCar where you can book private cars to go to your destination in the Metro; GrabBike, which are motorcycle taxis best booked during rush hours; and GrabExpress, for those days when you want something

Speedtropolis Playset

Muscle Mania ’15 Dodge Charger SRT

Spiderman on Hot Wheels

million pay-TV homes. Catch Finn and Jake’s adventures on Adventure Time during weekdays at 3:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on Cartoon Network via SKYCable Channel 43, SKYCable HD Channel 178, Cignal Channel 35, Cignal HD Channel 110, Destiny Cable (Digital) Channel 43, Destiny Cable (Analog) Channel 51 and Cable Link Channel 26, Dream Satellite Channel 15.

Download Grab from the App Store and the Google Play Store to enjoy hassle-free commuting. For more information, please visit www.grab.co.

delivered and you have no way of getting your goods around the city.

This February, Manila’s roads will be turned into the magical Land of Ooo once you hit up Grab App with GrabExpress and type in the Adventure code ADVENTURETIME. The code however does not guarantee you will get Finn or Jake, but it will be a surprise when you do, and you will get exclusive items from the show once the duo appears. The promotion is valid from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. until February 26.

Cartoon Network is available in 31 countries throughout Asia Pacific and is currently seen in more than 85 Get your goodies delivered by Adventure Time's Finn and Jake

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

This year, Art Fair Philippines is hoping to beat its record of 16,000 visitors from the previous fairs

T

THE GRANDEST ART FAIR PHILIPPINES

he art world puts the spotlight on Makati as it holds the biggest Art Fair Philippines yet. The exhibits lined up the walls of three floors of The Link in Greenbelt since the opening last February 18. And if you haven’t visited yet, make sure to catch it until tomorrow and get to see 40 galleries presenting contemporary art creations that will leave anyone inspired and in awe.

Since it started in 2013, Art Fair Philippines’ visitors have increased and more galleries are participating in this annual showcase, making the Philippine contemporary art scene more accessible to the public eye. This year, the organizers are hoping to beat their record of 16,000 visitors from the previous fairs. “This is an initiative that really illustrates our belief in Filipino creativity and artistry. More importantly, it gives us a chance to make (art) accessible to

Stephanie, Galerie Anna, Gallery Kogure, Gallery Orange, J Studio, MO_Space, Nunu Fine Art, PABLO, Paseo Art Gallery, Pinto Art Gallery, Salcedo Private View, Secret Fresh, Silverlens, TAKSU Gallery, The Crucible, The Drawing Room, Tin-Aw Art Gallery, Vinyl on Vinyl, West Gallery, Yavuz Gallery, and YOD Gallery.

“Every year more and more people look forward to this cultural showcase, which we believe mirrors the vibrant and burgeoning art scene in Makati. Makati is a place with a creative energy that is steadily building through the years – and through major initiatives such as this, we are able to put it on the map as one of the most exciting destinations to explore,” adds Dy. During the opening, artists and students as well as celebrities and society art patrons flocked at the three floors of The Link. The two

Gallery Vinyl on Vinyl presents Arkiv Vilmansa's work at Art Fair 2016

everyone – from the professionals who work and play in Makati to the younger millennial generation who have since come to appreciate the diversity of the global art scene,” says Meean Dy, senior vice president of Ayala Land and group head of Strategic Landbank Management.

This year, the fair is co-presented by Ayala Land, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Platinum, Julius Baer, and Bench, together with major sponsors Make It Makati, Ayala Land Premiere, and Volkswagen.

Participating galleries include 1335Mabini, Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea, Archivo 1984 Gallery, Arndt, Art Cube, Artesan Gallery + Studio, ArtInformal, Art Verite Gallery, Avellana Art Gallery, Blanc, Boston Art Gallery, CANVAS, Edouard Malingue Gallery, Equator Art Projects, Finale Art File, Gajah Gallery, Galeria Cayon, Galleria Duemila, Galerie Michael Janssen, Galerie

Fun and interactive art spaces in Art Fair Philippines

Two floors of Art Fair at The Link are lined with collections of paintings, photography, sculptures, video and new media creations

floors are lined with collections of paintings, photography, sculptures, video and new media creations while scheduled talks are conducted on the third level and will hosts guest speakers who will touch on art history, art market, and contemporary art practices.

Power couple Alfredo + Isabel Aquilizan lead the Special Exhibits of the fair together with Mark Justiniani, Martha Atienza, Nona Garcia, At Maculangan, Raffy Napay, Mac Valdezco, and Pamela Yan Santos.

Inventive mediums are widely used for the art pieces this year

For more information about the city that makes it happen, visit www.makeitmakati.com or like and follow MakeItMakati on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Art Fair Philippines runs until February 21, Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Link’s carpark (levels 5, 6 and 7), Parkway Drive, Ayala Ave., Makati City.

SAt uRDAy : F EbRuA Ry 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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SOlEnn’S luxuRIOuS InDulgEncE

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ctress, model and singer Solenn Heussaff may be one of the most recognized faces in the Philippines, what with a new movie, an upcoming wedding with fiancé Nico Bolzico and a slew of billboards across the country. Yet, she insists she is just like any other woman who barely has any time for herself.

“I get up early in the morning and make a todo list,” says Solenn. “It’s hard juggling the things I have to do everyday. In 24 hours, I find myself going to magazine and TV shoots, interviews, meetings and appearances. But sticking to my list and keeping track of my schedule are a few ways to get everything done before going to bed. I’m pretty old school that way.” At the end of the day, she makes it a point to treat herself to something indulgent as a woman.

For many women, this treat means a shopping spree on payday weekends, or an occasional trip.For SolennHeussaff, she indulges right in the comfort of her own home. “I love treating myself to a nice long bath at the end of a tiring but very fulfilling day. There’s nothing like soaking in a tub

or lathering myself in sweet, perfumed scents. It totally relaxes me.”

The new LUX Perfumed Bar Soap and Body Wash Collection allows women to treat themselves for a little bit of luxury when they feel they deserve it. “My bathing ritual starts by pouring a coin-sized amount of body wash on a puff which I rub until I get a luxurious lather before I massage it all over her body,” she adds. “It’s the simplest and most decadent thing any woman can do as a treat to herself for a job well done!” Made with fine fragrances and crafted by perfume experts from New York, London and Paris, LUX offers different scents to choose from such as Magical Spell, Soft Touch, White Impress and Love Forever.

With the new LUX Perfumed Bath Collection, every busy day will now be celebrated with an indulgent #LUXnight that every woman deserves.

Try new LUX Perfumed Body Wash 100ml for P55 (SRP) and LUX Perfumed Bar Soap 110g for P39 (SRP.) To know more about #LUXnights, visit www. houseoflux.com.ph

‘Game of Thrones’ new season

English actress Sophie turner as Sansa Stark in HbO’s Game of thrones

Game Of Thrones begins its ten-episode sixth season in Asia at the same time as the US at 9 a.m. on April 25, with a same day primetime encore at 9pm – only on HBO / HBO GO. Based on George R.R. Martin’s popular book series A Song of Ice and Fire, HBO’s hit Emmy®winning fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power in a vast and violent kingdom.

The ensemble cast for the fifth season included Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj C o s t e r - Wa l d a u , Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Aidan Gillen, Kit Harington, Diana Rigg, Natalie Dormer, Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner.

Executive producers, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger, Bernadette Caulfield; coexecutive producers, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, GeorgeR.R. Martin.

the Lux perfumed bath collection

One StAr WOrld tOur At the Center Of GrAvity SkAte PArk Center of Gravity in partnership with Converse Philippines recently held the Philippine Premiere of the One Star World Tour video at the Center of Gravity Skatepark located at Eaton Centris.

The Converse skate team tour video was filmed in four weeks in four regions (Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and Latin America) and was filmed and edited by Richard Quintero and Ben Chadourne.

Featured Converse global ambassadors were Zered Basset, Jason Jessee, Ben Raemers, Aaron Herrington,Louie Lopez, Kenny Anderson,FrankGerwer, Sammy Baca, Eli Reed, Sean Pablo, Mike Anderson , Jake Johnson,Al Davis, Tom Remillard ,Don Nguyen, Bobby De Keyser,SageElsesser, Andrew Brophy, Jerome Campbell, Carlos Cardenosa, David Stenstrom and Remy Taveira.

The film is now available for public viewing thru the You tube channel by clicking https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4QIScHxidNQ

Attendees at the Philippine premiere of One Star World tour

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SAt uRDAy : F EbRuA Ry 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

MalOu SanTOS IS nEw STaR CREaTIvES COO ABS-CBN Corporation announced the appointment of Malou Santos as the chief operating officer (COO) of Star Creatives, effective February 15, 2016.

As COO, Malou will continue to provide leadership, management, and vision to ensure that Star Creatives continues to dominate the entertainment industry through its production of high-caliber films, primetime drama, and multi-platform Filipino music.

She will also continue to strengthen Star Music, the music arm of ABS-CBN, through live events production, radio programming, and artist development and management.

Under Malou’s leadership, Star Cinema cemented its reputation as the leading film studio in the country that has produced quality films catered to Filipino preferences. Its market leadership has been proven through its dominance of the local box office.

The top 10 highest-grossing Filipino movies of all time were all produced by Star Cinema, including Beauty and the Bestie, the highest-grossing Filipino film in history and A Second Chance, the highest grossing non-Metro Manila Film Festival local film of all time.

Star Cinema has also expanded its distribution system to reach not only local audiences but also Filipinos all over the world.

Malou is a principal player behind the success of Asia’s longest-running and award-winning drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya and other world-class primetime dramas such as Pangako Sa ’Yo, Forevermore, The Legal Wife, Princess and I, Lobo, Magkaribal,Maging Sino Ka

FAmAS nEw oFFIcERS

Movie and Television Review Board (MTRCB) commissioner Francia C. Conrado was elected president of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences, Inc. (FAMAS) during the reorganization meeting at the Bay Leaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila last Saturday.

She replaced Angelo “Eloy” Padua, who was elected chairman of the board.

The other officers are Alice H. Reyes, 1st vice president; Efren Montano, 2nd vice president; Tess Tan, secretary; TitaArcilla, Treasurer; JunDadulla, auditor; Benedict Abaygar, PRO; Brian Lu and RichelDorotan, marshalls.

The Board of Trustees includes Juan Asuncion, DionyBulong, Aristeo Garcia, Edgar Godin, NerJedaliz, ClesRambaud, Ariel Tabag, Art Tapalla and Jun Velasco.

Conrado is a TV host of Global News Network’sTsismax aired every Thursday at 12 nn., Friday, 6 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m.

FAMAS under the late former Tourism Attache Arturo M. Padua made several reforms in the Philippine movie industry in producing quality films.

Padua was the father of chairman Angelo Padua.

FEBRUARY 21, 2016 television top gun malou Santos

Man, and Imortal, among others.

She is a recipient of the Communication Excellence in Organizations (CEO Excel) Award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines in 2013 for her masterful use of communication in the course of her remarkable work to fulfill Star Cinema’s mission, to share stories of inspiration and hope to all Filipinos.

ABS-CBN’S top guNS iN Metro SoCiety Cover The three pillars of leadership of ABS-CBN in their first magazine cover together. Gabby Lopez, Charo Santos – Concio, and Carlo Katigbak come together for a historical feature commemorating the succession from one passionate leader to another, and what it takes to be at the helm of a company that is truly in the service of the Filipino.

In other special features, join us as we celebrate local entertainment. We delve into the world of film and what makes these pieces of fiction so moving to transport the audience through time, into different worlds of drama and action and romance and comedy.

We look into the past with a story of film restoration and take a peek into the future of the industry as we introduce you to the young producers, directors and actors that have made names outside the norms of pop culture, truly focusing on talent and hard work rather than relevancy and a fan base

in our On The Verge Section.

This month has many interesting

Gabby Lopez, charo Santos – concio, and carlo Katigbak on the cover of metro magazine

reads on what is new around the metro. Our Dining section features

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

1 6 10 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 34 36 37

71 74 75 78 81 82 83 84 86 87 89 93 94 95 96 97 100 102 103 104 108 109 110 111 112 113 115 116 117 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE 118 120 ACROSS 40 Very, in Veracruz 121 Bar beer 41 Even one 123 Latch onto 42 Not masc.

124 Clear as mud 44 Race by, as clouds 125 Took steps 48 Opposite of “paleo” 127 Old Rome’s emblem 49 Goal 129 Zahn or Abdul 50 10-4 buddy wds.)

Not just some 53 “— — -A-Lula” 131 Ballroom number 55 Iron source 136 Wernher von — 56 Mr. Schwarzenegger name Buenos — 58 Not imaginary 138 Dentist’s request 59 Dork 142 Says decidedly 61 Mountain chain 143 Vassals 63 Handyman’s supply 144 Beauty’s swain 64 In a crazy way 145 Cherries in chocolates 65 Tarzan’s title 146 Faithfulness 66 Sitting Bull’s foe 147 Church feature 67 Like table salt 148 Totality 69 Jack’s companion 149 Capp of the comics 70 Not for 150

“Got it!”(2 wds.)

Si, to Maurice Husked corn Curbed Embroider, maybe Happy-hour letters Stein filler Kind of hog Ms. Hagen of films Cochise was one Bellyaches Lummox Heavy metal Ibsen heroine Play boisterously Walden dweller Pulp tree Moolah Hangouts for hens Hobby knife (hyph.)

Wind-borne silt Caesar’s river Literary miscellanies “—, peel me a grape” Abby’s sister Emulates Galen Black gem Nanny’s charge Einstein’s birthplace Catches some rays Hotfoot it 35mm camera Iota Not defy “— — tree falls . . .”

Cattails Sheep loser of rhyme (2 Tornadoes at sea “The Sound of Music” Chaucer’s month Reflection Puts forth White oak of California March composer Blisters Ms. Zellweger Do the trick Emerson opus Hit the hay

Bondi and Bourke, a restaurant featuring elevated comfort food, which is the brainchild of Australian Chef and owner Wade Watson. Delicious steaks, fresh oysters, and scrumptious meat pies are in this Legaspi village gem. In the mood for something a little more relaxed? Make sure to leaf through our Entertaining with Flair section featuring the Chi Spa at the Edsa Shangri La hotel, perfect to cap off the relaxing day.

Of course, no issue would be complete without the many socials that hit the city and allow me to paint the town red. Head on over to our party hopper section and get an all access pass to Tommy Hilfiger’s launch of tennis star Rafael Nadal as its new face as well as a big surprise for Presy Lopez.

Enjoy the February issue of Metro Society and the annual Entertainment features.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2016 151 Bobby of Indy fame 152 “Blue Velvet” star 153 Scallions’ kin DOWN 1 Rookie socialites 2 Like blue moons 3 Microbiology gel 4 Downy 5 Like a standoff 6 High spirits 7 Virginia caverns 8 Bullfight bravos 9 Spars on ships 10 Mice and lice 11 Oversized birdcage 12 Whodunit, for one 13 Bear constellation 14 Watches carefully 15 Menotti hero 16 Quibbles 17 Revenuers (hyph.)

18 River near Barcelona 19 Improvised bed 21 Baby food 31 Outdoor disguise 33 Surrounded by 35 Norm 37 Art school subj.

38 Despot who fiddled 39 “First — — harm” 42 Know somehow 43 Diminish 45 Keep on going 46 Press for 47 Moose or elk 49 What is more 50 Surrender territory 51 Loses hair 52 England’s Isle of — 53 “Uncle Miltie” 54 Trimmed the hedge 57 Hodgepodge 58 Approve, as treaties 59 Winter airport need 60 Beat the rap 62 — spumante 64 Pineapple island 66 Wine server 68 Mark a page (hyph.)

69 Plantation drink 71 Crimson Tide st.

72 Shoot from the — 73 “Mystic River” star (2 wds.)

76 Spillane gumshoe 77 Wilts 79 Depot info 80 Male parent 82 Sleep restlessly 85 Thole fillers 88 Mil. ranks 90 Sheiks, usually 91 Tunnel digger 92 Rock-strewn 94 Feast with poi 98 Practical joke 99 Gave the pink slip 100 Urban map 101 Dame — Chaplin 102 Brickmaker’s oven 103 Pantry item 105 Primitive weapon 106 Bedtime story 107 — — aching back!

109 Frat letter 111 Mouthful 114 Important decades 115 Law (abbr.)

116 Ted of “Nightline” 119 Attacks on a castle 121 Lobby furnishing 122 The preferred evil 123 Janis or Scott 124 Lock horns with 126 Sassy 127 Cliff dwellings, now 128 Famed viol.

129 Elephant of kid lit 130 Gauguin’s prop 131 Minn. neighbor 132 Omnia vincit — 133 Rhett’s hangout 134 Amazon source 135 Ominous sign 137 Ramble around 139 Trick 140 Ms. Dinesen 141 Makes a bet

the newly-elected officers of the prestigous Famas

Ella Cruz in TErEsiTa’s branCh opEning Young actress Ella Cruz (center) assists TeresitaRazon (second from left), founder of “Teresita’s of San Fernando” at the ribbon cutting ceremonies of its 11th branch at the lower ground floor level of SM Manila.

Known for its home-cooked, and affordable Kapampangan dishes, Teresita’s continue to expand in many key cities in Manila and Cavite with recent openings at SM North EDSA Annex, SM BF Paranaque, and SM Light Mall.

Assisting them during the ribbon cutting were Jess Razon(left), Paulo Razon(second from right), marketing and business development head, Nozarc’s, Inc., operator of Teresita’s and Ryan Razon(right), president of young actress Ella cruz (center) Nozarc’s, Inc..

SAt uRDAy : F EbRuA Ry 20, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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‘SuRVIVING El NIño’ oN GMA NEwS tV

P An aerial view showing unharvested and dried rice fields in barangay New Antique in M’lang, North Cotabato. the dry spell in M’lang, North Cotabato has already caused the drying of irrigation systems and big cracks in the fields, causing extreme hardship for the farmers. (Photo courtesy of Greenpeace)

ositioned at the front lines of climate change impacts, the Philippines is plagued by food and nutrition security concerns—a growing emergency. The worsening impact of climate change and the unpredictability of extreme weather events, such as typhoons, El Niño events or drought, are putting unnecessary stresses on the coping mechanisms of farmers who provide food for Filipinos.

This February, GMA News TV airs a very timely documentary that highlights the need for our country to address the disastrous impacts of El Niño. Produced by the environmental group Greenpeace, Surviving El Niño tells the story of how Filipino farmers confront the challenges of climate change and of the need to shift to a more climate-resilient ecological farming.

Set against the backdrop of a developing El Niño, the story follows a number

of farmers who are into organic and inorganic farming from different parts of the country—Bohol Sorsogon, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and North Cotabato. The compelling drone shots that capture the breadth of the ill effects of El Niño on our fields include those shot in Mindanao by GMA news anchor RaffyTima.

As the National Elections draws near, this documentary also calls for the next president to prioritize food and agriculture by developing policies and programs to help transition the country’s farming system towards a more climate-resilient ecological agriculture, as well as equipping farmers with timely and localized weather information and an early warning system to enable farmers to plan well.

Greenpeace’s Surviving El Niño” premieres on Philippine TV, 5:30 p.m. today on GMA News TV.

ChIz happy hEaRT anD hIs TwIns aRE vERy ClOsE Sen. Chiz Escudero is gland that his “Dear Tita Heart and Daddy, Thank wife, Heart Evangelista and his twins, you for being kind and for teaching me Chesi and Quino, are getting along fine. how to act properly. I am sorry that In fact, according to Chiz, because of sometimes I don’t follow you. I am the narrow age gap between Heart and happy that I have both of you. Love, the twins, their bonding is deeper.

Chesi,” says Chesi in her letter.

Heart turned 31 on Feb. 14 and at her Heart said she was really touched by young age, she knows what the kids are the letter. into these days, including the songs they Chiz is happy because he always think prefer to listen and sing along with. of his children’s welfare.

“Mas nagkakasundo sila siguro kasi “Sa ngayon kasi nasa mura pa simas malapit yung edad ni Heart sa lang edad, mas ako ang nagdedesisyon anak ko kaysa ako,” Chiz revealed in para sa kanila. Pero, kabilang palaan interview recently. gisa pagdedesisyon ko ang mga anak Recently, Heart share with her follow- ko. Maskina noong nagpakasal ako ers on her Instagram account the letter- kay Heart. Tinanong ko rin sila,” the Chesi wrote to her and Chiz.

Senator says.

Happy family: Senator Chiz Escudero and Heart Evangelista with twins Chesi and Quino

ACADEMy-AwARD NoMINAtED ‘RooM’ IN CINEMAS Now

T

he highly acclaimed tearjerker film Room, about a mother and son’s chance at freedom after being imprisoned in a sound-proof shed for seven years is now in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

Based on the international bestselling bookof the same title written by Emma Donoghue, director Lenny Abrahamson brings the highly suspenseful and emotional story Room to the big screen. Room is a unique and unexpectedly tender exploration of the boundless love between a mother and her child under the most harrowing of circumstances.

Room tells the extraordinary story of Jack (Jacob Tremblay in a breakout performance), a spirited five year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted Ma (Brie Larson, who won Best Actress in this year’s Golden Globe Awards for here performance in the movie).

Like any good mother, Ma dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical—they are trapped—confined to a windowless, 10-by-10-foot space, which Ma has euphemistically named “Room.” Ma has created a whole

universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment, Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life. But as Jack’s curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma’s resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world.

Room also stars three-time Academy Award® nominee Joan Allen and Academy Award® nominee William H. Macy.

Director Lenny Abrahamson remains faithful to the novel while bringing Jack, Ma and their entirely singular world to heart-pounding and intensely cinematic life.

“Room” demonstrates the triumphant power of familial love even in the darkest of circumstances, and is sure to take its place among the most emotionally affecting films to ever explore the bond between parents and children.

Abrahamson, says Room is an extraordinary novel – deeply original, harrowing, full of moments of almost unbearable tension, but also – and this is what is so special about it – profoundly life-affirming. From the moment I read it I wanted to make it for the screen and so I am truly delighted to be working with

Emma on the film adaptation.’

Emma Donoghue, who lives in Canada, began writing the screenplay as soon as Room (her seventh novel) was published. She is overjoyed to be making the film with her fellow Dubliners Abrahamson and Guiney. ‘It wasn’t just Lenny’s award-winning, im-

peccably honest films that won me over, but a ten-page letter he sent me, describing with passionate intelligence his vision of how to translate my novel into cinema.

As an Irish company with strong international relationships, Element has a track record of combining artistic integrity and com-

Jacob tremblay and brie larson in the critically acclaimed dramaa, Room

mercial appeal, which gives me confidence that Room is going to be something very special.’

Get your tissues ready for a unique bonding experience when Room now in cinemas.

Trailer link: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=YkAkNIkbk8&feature=youtu.be

SAT URDAY : F EBRUA RY 20, 2016

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ WILL CLARK AND LEAH FIND THEIR WAY BACK INTO LOVE?

Nadine Lustre

ISAH V. RED

D

estiny will always find a way to bring back old lovers together as the hit Kapamilya show On the Wings of Love top billed by James Reid and Nadine Lustre nears its finale on Feb. 26.

On the Wings of Love has turned into a phenomenal hit among Filipinos worldwide since it premiered in August 2015 captivating audiences with the heartfelt love story of Clark and Leah.

Critics and fans alike praised how the show championed OFW issues by delving into thorough research to properly depict it in On the Wings of Love.

As such, the show consistently garneredhigh ratings, beating its

rival program. Avid viewers who want to catch-up and do marathons watch it via iWant TV, catapulting On the Wings of Love in the catch up service’s list of most watched programs.

Even the show’s merchandise and scrapbooks rule best sellers list, proving how the show is a big hit among Filipinos of all ages in the country and abroad.

On the Wings of Love related events such as the OTWOL Spread The Love Tour, Kapamilya Krismas3, and other mall shows here and abroad also score record breaking attendance.

With On the Wings of Lovedrawing to a close, viewers are hooked on the last remaining days to find out if Clark and Leah will eventually reconnect and pick up the pieces to start over again.

Fans are also excited to see what will push Clark and Leah to fly back to San Francisco, the place where their love story all began.

But with Simon revealing his true feelings for Leah, things will get more complicated, especially since Simon will be with Leah in San Francisco.

How will Simon’s presence in San Francisco affect Clark and Leah’s long-awaited reunion? Will San Francisco play a vital role to make the old lovers find their way back into love?

With the string of achievements of On the Wings of Love for six months now, its lead stars James and Nadine are also further cementing their status as the Philippines’ hottest love team.

In fact, James and Nadine’s first major concert Jadine Love,today sold out in just one day after it was announced in December. Official merchandise will also be available during the concert at ABS-CBN Store booths at the Red and Green lobbies of Araneta.

Due to the clamor of Jadine fans overseas, James and Nadine will even hold a Jadine Love World

Tour presented by TFC in March.

James and Nadine are set to heat up Europe and the Middle East as they visit Doha (March 18), Dubai (March 19), London (March 26), and Milan (March 27).

Through On the Wings of Love, James and Nadine have also been recognized by various awardgiving bodies. This year, James is nominated in the Nickelodeon

James Reid

Kids’ Choice Awards for Favorite Pinoy Personality, while Nadine led the MYX Music Awards race with six nominations including Favorite Artist and Best Music Video Award, among others.

Don’t miss the last days of “On the Wings of Love,” weeknights after “Dolce Amore” on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

James Reid and Nadine Lustre sign an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN

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MUST WATCH FILM IN CINEMAS abused dozens of young parishioners over the course of 30 years. Fully aware that taking on the Catholic Church in Boston will have major ramifications, Spotlight editor Walter “Robby” Robinson (Michael Keaton), reporters Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) and Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), and researcher Matt Carroll (Brian d’Arcy James) begin delving more deeply into the case.

As they confer with victims’ attorney Mitchell Garabedian (Stanley Tucci), interview adults who were molested as children, and The cast of the astonishing true to life film Spotlight

By the time you read this, Spotlight’s run in cinemas could be over. When the Academy Awards nominated film opened a week ago, the response of the audience was less than lukewarm. I guess, the Filipino movie audience has not grown to be more discerning and has not become more sophisticated, to say the least.

If they are attuned to the times, not only in the Philippines, but also in other parts of the world, they should be interested since the film tackled on a very delicate issue – child molestation by Catholic priests in Boston.

Spotlight tells the astonishing true story of the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Spotlight” team of investigative journalists, who in 2002 shock the city and the world by exposing the Catholic Church’s systematic cover-up of widespread pedophilia perpetrated by more than 70 local priests.

When newly appointed editor Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) arrives from Miami to take charge of the Globe in the summer of 2001, he immediately directs the Spotlight team to follow up on a column about a local priest accused of having sexually

Rachel McAdams

Mark Ruffalo

pursue the release of sealed court records, it becomes clear that the Church’s systematic protection of predatory priests is far more widereaching than any of them ever imagined.

Spotlight, the most flattering big-screen close-up of the journalism profession since 1976, when turned Bob Woodward and Carl Berstein into matinee idols with All the President’s Men, starred Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.

Spotlight is exclusively distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation.