The Standard - 2015 March 03 - Tuesday

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK VOL. XXIX NO. 19 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 TUESday: MaRCH 3, 2015 www.manilastandardtoday.com mst@mstandardtoday.com

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Senate okays extra powers for PNoy

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Donaire: Man on a mission

NO SAYING SORRY Lacierda: Lapses, yes, but no need for President to apologize Next page

Big gun. Members of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division fire a 105mm howitzer into a rebel encampment somewhere in Maguindanao province last weekend. The military is fighting suspected coddlers of alleged Islamist bomb-maker Basit Usman. MARK NAVALES

Experience pleasures of summer

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Bong asks permission to see son

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By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo THE head of the congressional ad hoc committee tackling the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) on Monday asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to speed up her department’s investigation into the Jan. 25 Mamasapano debacle, and to file charges against those responsible for the death of 44 police commandos.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the chairman of the panel, said the members of his committee agreed that they will not vote on the BBL until the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) surrenders its members who were involved in the massacre and the Justice Department files charges against them.

“Now, the DOJ has conducted a comprehensive investigation and Secretary De Lima has said that she will finish by April 2.

We are requesting the secretary to fast track this because what will happen to the BBL if no charges are filed? I have always said that we require peace with justice,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez earlier broached the idea of special sessions on the BBL in June so that it could be passed in the same month before Congress adjourns.

Rodriguez proposed special sessions because his panel would be unable to meet its June 11 deadline to pass the measure after the police board of inquiry delayed the submission of its findings on the Mamasapano incident.

Hearings on the BBL in both the House and the Senate have been suspended in the aftermath of the Mamasapano incident on Jan. 25.

De Lima had earlier given her investigative panel 60 days to submit their report and recommendations.

De Lima on Monday would neither confirm nor deny reports that a member of the MILF was among the vital witnesses in its ongoing investigation.

She said the identity of the witnesses would not be disclosed at this time so as not to jeopardize the investigation.

“I cannot confirm nor deny who is our witness or witnesses that we have. But what I can say is that these are these are very vital witnesses, but we cannot name them yet at this point,” De Lima said.

Earlier reports indicated that an MILF member, a veteran combatant of the group and allegedly close to wanted Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino terrorist Basit Usman, talked to De Lima and investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation in an undisclosed place in Mindanao last week.

De Lima along with the NBI personnel and state prosecutors who were part of the joint task force created to investigate the Mamasapano encounter went to Mindanao to conduct interviews of witnesses as part of the probe, though they were not able to go to the encounter site due to clashes between government troops and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a splinter group of the MILF.

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No saying sorry, Palace insists on Mamasapano

By Joyce P. Pañares, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon R. Araneta

THE Palace said Monday there is no need for President Benigno Aquino III to apologize for the Mamasapano debacle that left 44 police commandos dead.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said while there were lapses in the operation, Aquino’s involvement was purely on the policy side of the mission to neutralize international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

Lacierda said the Palace does not agree with the call of Senator Sergio Osmeña III for the President to say “I am sorry” over the fiasco in Mamasapano.

“The President deals on the policy level.

What is the policy on that? We fight terrorism. We promote peace. We make sure that we alleviate poverty. I think there is nothing irregular and in fact, it should be a policy for our country to fight terrorism,” he said.

“On the operational level, however, we’ve seen lapses in the operation and for that particular instance, there is the board of inquiry and the Senate to go through the details of the operation itself,” he added.

Pressed for a categorical answer, Lacierda offered an analogy.

“The categorical answer is that the

President deals with the policy level. Let me give you an example: the policy is to promote public infrastructure. If for instance, a bridge collapsed and the construction workers died as a result of the collapse of the bridge... The President does not involve himself in the building of bridges or in the operation of neutralizing a terrorist,” he said.

Lacierda said it is up to the police board of inquiry to find out whether the President’s decision to involve then suspended Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima in the planning and execution of the operation against Marwan contributed to the death of the Special Action Force troopers.

Sacked SAF head Dir. Getulio Napeñas ealier said the President knew of the “time on target” operation where the military would only be informed once the police commandos already arrived in Mamasapano, and in the process even Cabinet members were kept in the dark about the mission.

“Obviously, we’re talking here in hindsight. The briefing, the operational plan, one has to discuss who crafted the operational plan. We would assume that there was some vetting on that,” Lacierda said.

“We’re all spitballing here. We’re all talking hindsight where everything is 20/20. We don’t know what really happened prior to those situations before that.

So that’s the role of the BOI to look into that. It’s so easy for us to say, with benefit of hindsight, why did the President do

this or why did Napeñas not do this, or why did Purisima not do that?” Lacierda added.

Osmeña, who served as Aquino’s campaign manager in the 2010 presidential elections, described Aquino as a “superhard-headed” person who listens only to his friends.

“Unfortunately, you (Aquino) have to prove you’re innocent because you are already guilty as far as the Filipino people is concerned,” Osmeña said.

In the House of Representatives, lawmakers supported Osmeña’s call for Aquino to apologize for the fiasco.

Reps. Jonathan de la Cruz of Abakada party-list, Silvestre Bello III of 1-BAP party-list and Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list said President Aquino should have offered such a “gesture of humility” to placate public anger over the incident.

“That should have been done from the very start,” De la Cruz said, adding that Aquino should have done what the late US President John F. Kennedy did in the immediate aftermath of the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba in 1961, which was to accept full responsibility.

Bello, a member of the House minority bloc and former peace negotiator, said the call of Osmeña was “understandable.”

“In a few months d president shall bcome a lameduck. Expect a reallignment of political forces and you will witness the politicians previously identified with [former president Gloria Arroyo] who migrated to a greener pasture [President

Aquino], migrating again,” Bello said.

But Palace ally, Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal, a House deputy majority leader, said the President has done enough to acknowledge fault.

“I have a problem with people presuming to know more..., telling the President what he should and should not do. I have a problem with the non-stop blame game, but we cannot blame all these so-called experts for weighing in,” Banal said. “The President has already acknowledged enough.”

On the other hand, former Tarlac governor Margarita Cojuangco said saying sorry would not bring back the 44 police commandos who died in Mamasapano.

Cojuangco, wife of President Aquino’s uncle, former Tarlac congressman Jose Cojuangco, said even an apology would not calm down an angry public. She said the President should resign instead.

Archbishop Oscar Cruz agreed.

“How do you say sorry to the children who were left fatherless, to the parents whose sons all lost their lives?” he said. “It would appear that they were betrayed. So how can you say sorry for that?”

In the same public forum, Cruz said he considered Mamasapano a turning point in the incompetence of the President.

“You could see in this shameful episode in the history of the Philippines that the commander-in-chief did not act as a commander,” Cruz said, recalling that the President wasn’t around when eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in a hostage taking in Luneta in 2010.

Visitor from Malta. Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing troops the line escorted by Air Force Chief Jeffrey Delgadoupon upon his arrival in Manila Sunday night for a seven-day visit to the Philippines. AVito C. DAlAn

Video showing Napeñas briefing called ‘smoking gun’ THE video showing Philippine National Police Special Action Force commander Getulio Napenas Jr. briefing officials a day after the Mamasapano incident is the “smoking gun” that shows President Benigno Aquino III’s involvement in the debacle, a law school dean said on Monday.

“This is the smoking gun,” Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, dean of the San Beda Graduate School of Law, said in an interview with radio station dzMM. “It is very clear that the Presi-

dent was briefed, that he knew what was happening and that he agreed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines be informed only on the time Napenas recommended that they be informed,” Father Aquino said.

“He cannot claim he did not know what was happening,” he told broadcaster Ted Failon, adding that the video should be included in the ongoing congressional investigations as well as other agencies.

“If they do not include it, this is willful omission of necessary

evidence,” the priest said of the video which shows Napeñas briefing Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and other security officials.

The video was taken a day after the Mamasapano incident when the President and his aides were still silent about a number of briefings that were held at Bahay Pangarap at the Malacañang compound last January.

Father Aquino said Napenas was well aware that then Phil-

ippine National Police chief Alan Purisima was already suspended and he would not followed such illegal orders if he did not know that the President was backing the suspended PNP chief.

“How could a suspended PNP chief give orders unless he has consent of his superior, who is the President himself?” the law dean asked.

Father Aquino made the remarks as concurrent investigations are being conducted by the PNP, both houses of

Congress, the Department of Justice and the Commission on Human Rights.

The Aquino administration and its allies have been criticized of trying to “yellowwash” the investigation in a bid to proect the President from blame.

Senators, like Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, have even cleared the President of responsibility even before the chamber began its probe whose public hearings were terminated last week.

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Malacañang: BBL is bigger than massacre

By Joyce P. Pañares, Macon R. Araneta and Maricel V. cruz MALACAÑANG insisted on Monday that the Bangsamoro Basic Law is “bigger than the Mamasapano incident” and should be passed within the term of President Benigno Aquino III and the Palace may even call a special session of Congress to ensure the passage of the controversial measure.

“We do not see ourselves looking at the BBL being passed by the next administration. This is an important piece of legislation,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at the regular Palace media briefing.

“The situation is very difficult right now, the emotional sentiment is very high. It seems like finding peace is an uphill climb once again. We must point that just and lasting peace is what we all want,” he said.

Government chief negotiator Miriam Ferrer, who had earlier floated the idea of passing the bill by June 11, said Aquino is even open to calling a special session to ensure that the bill is passed before his last State of the Nation address.

“That (holding of special sessions) is an option. We want the measure passed by June.

That’s our target,” Ferrer said.

But House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II echoed the

earlier remark of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and said the House of Representatives will likely not pass the BBL as drafted by the Palace.

“I do not think it will work,” Gonzales said of the Palace’s suggestion that a special session of Congress be called.

“We agreed that what we are going to approve is a constitutional BBL. We need to amend the proposal to ensure its constitutionality,” Gonzales said, referring to the consensus agreed upon by both leaders of the Senate and the House during their meeting Monday.

“To insist on what had been submitted by the Palace is not possible and realistic,” Gonzales said. “We are hoping to approve the proposal before the sine die adjournment on June 11.”

Aside from Gonzales, those who attended the meeting were Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Sen. Ralph Recto and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on the other hand, said he will resume hearings on the BBL only after they get the results of the investigation on the Mamasapano incident conducted by the PNP Board of Inquiry, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Senate “Perhaps, that’s enough material already,” said Marcos, chairman of the senate local government committee, which is deliberating on the BBL.

Danish visitors. Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito welcomes Speaker Mogens Lykketoft of the Danish Parliament and other delegates during their visit to the Senate on Monday. Ey AcAsio

Holi. Filipino and Indian participants cover a reveler in colored powder during an event marking the Indian festival of Holi, the Festival of Colors, in Manila on March 1. Holi is celebrated as a welcoming of Spring and a celebration of the triumph of good over evil as people chase each other and playfully splash colorful paint, powder and water on each other. AFP

9 more BIFF rebels die in Maguindanao clash THE Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters suffered nine more dead fighters on Monday even as the military seized a factory for making improvised explosive devices, officials said.

The number of displaced residents also mounted as the fighting between government troops and BIFF fighters in the remote communities in Maguindanao entered its seventh day.

The military said the body of nine BIFF rebels were recovered by Army troopers in Datu Unsay, the site of bloody fighting between the military and BIFF rebels last Friday.

The military offensive against the BIFF also resulted in the seizure of a factory for making improvised bombs following the capture of a BIFF camp owned by Mohammad Ali Tambako in Dasikil village.

Colonel Melquiades Feliciano, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, spearheaded the assault that led to the discovery of the bomb factory.

“Our troops successfully seized a bombmaking facility after assaulting the enemy positions yesterday,” Feliciano said.

“The enemy was able to escape but the

equipment and materials that are used to fabricate home-made bombs were left behind.”

Feliciano made his statement even as Senen Bacani, a member of the government negotiating panel for the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said President Benigno Aquino III will issue an executive order this month creating a task force that will disarm private armed groups in the areas that will form part of the proposed Bangsamoro political entity as well as other areas in Mindanao.

Bacani said that would be in keeping with the commitments made under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

“The MILF will undergo a decommissioning process, and the government will disarm all other private armed groups in the area who are potential threats to the Bangsamoro,” Bacani said.

In the House, Rep. Terry Sidon on Monday slammed the military’s “all-out offensive” against the BIFF, which he said had led to the displacement of over 20,000 people in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

“The Aquino administration is calling it an ‘all-out offensive’ but that’s a big understatement. What’s happening in Mindanao right now is an all-out war, and no amount of euphemism can hide that,” Ridon said.

“Since the offensive began last week, there have already been multiple reports of government troops indiscriminately firing upon

Senate okays emergency powers for President

By Macon R. Araneta THE Senate has approved on third and final reading a joint resolution granting President Benigno Aquino III special powers to address a potential power shortage this summer.

Senator Sergio Osmeña III, chairman of the committee on energy and the sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 12, said the measure would authorize the President to address the projected imbalance of power supply and demand in the Luzon grid, particularly in the months of April and May. He said the resolution pro-

posed “a more efficient way to solve the power crisis in a much cheaper way” than what the Palace earlier recommended.

He said the President would not be given blanket authority under the resolution nor would his actions be exempted from existing laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. “The resolution is not mandatory and would enable production from hydro and gas plants to be tweaked,” Osmeña said.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, author of the resolution, said that it was important for the country to avert a critical electric-

ity situation due to the expected effects of the El Nino phenomenon, the 2015 Malampaya turnaround and continuing outages of power plants, which could affect both businesses and ordinary homes.

“If we did not act, then it would have been a great inconvenience and grave disservice to our citizens, especially ordinary Filipinos who will have to endure the summer season without electricity,” he said.

Drilon said that the resolution was part of efforts “to establish a clear energy agenda and to address the growing concern over the perceived inability of the

country’s power sector to keep up with the growing demand that is intricately linked to the Philippine economy’s immense economic growth.”

While the average electricity demand was projected at 8,700 megawatts (MW), Osmeña said, the highest demand of power on the hottest day and hour in April and May would peak at 9,000 MW. “Having 9,000 MW guarantees a brownout since a certain number of power plants break down while some go on scheduled maintenance because no power plant could operate continuously the entire year,” Drilon said.

fleeing civilians and bombing communities in both Maguindanao and North Cotabato.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Rodolfo Albano III welcomed the plan of the House leadership to resume the hearings on the Mamasapano bloodbath that resulted in the killing of 44 police commandos on Jan. 25.

He proposed the conduct of marathon hearings.

Feliciano said the terrorist Abdul Basit Usman, who escaped from his hideout somewhere in Mamasapano and who was now being hunted down by government troops, was being coddled by bandits from two BIFF groups.

He said the new BIFF leader Mahammad Ali Tambako, who had initiated violent activities against the civilians in Maguindanao and North Cotabato, was one of Usman’s top protectors.

He said the other BIFF leader protecting Usman was Kagi Karialan who had at least 100 fighters under his command.

Feliciano said Karialan was responsible for the attack on the MILF and the civilian communities at the Boliok Complex and in Bolol, both in Pikit in North Cotabato, that displaced 25,000 people.

He said five foreign nationals believed to be members of an international terrorist organization were seen moving with Usman to evade the troops pursuing them.

Francisco Tuyay, Joyce P. Pañares and Maricel V. cruz REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT President Benigno S. Aquino III has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the ad interim appointments of the following ranking officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines: Al I. Perreras and Glenn G. Macasero – Brigadier General The public may submit any information, written report or sworn complaints or oppositions in forty (40) copies on the above appointments to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, DiosdadoMacapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 551-7532, 831-0893, 831-1824, 834-2706, 831-1566 and 834-2713.

02 March 2015.

ARTURO L. TIU Secretary (MST-MAR. 3, 2015)

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IN BRIEF 15 Safeway Bus units suspended THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Monday placed the Safeway Bus Co. under a 30day preventive suspension after one of its units figured in a road mishap that killed a 14-year-old girl in Quezon City on Sunday.

At least 15 units of Safeway Bus Co. have been covered by the suspension, board member Ariel Enrile Inton Jr. said.

The agency’s enforcement team confiscated the yellow plates of the suspended buses and required the company to subject the bus units to test of road worthiness at the LTO. Its drivers were ordered to undergo drug test and mandatory road safety seminar.

Rio Araja

Termite Gang men killed in Cavite Children play on a wooden fishing boat as the sun sets in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. AFP

Revilla asks Sandigan permission to visit son DETAINED senator Ramon Revilla Jr. has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to visit his son, 26-year-old Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla, who is in hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest.

Initial reports say the younger Revilla was cleaning his government-issued gun Saturday night at their Muntinlupa residence when he accidentally pulled the trigger.

He was rushed to the Asian Hospital where he underwent a two-hour operation. He is now recovering at the hospital’s inten-

sive care unit.

“He was a little bit sorry,” according to Revilla’s spokesman, lawyer Raymond Fortun. “He told me he had made a mistake.”

But talent manager Lolit Solis, a close friend of the family, said Jolo had been depressed for some time about what had been hap-

pening to his father.

The elder Revilla has been at the PNP Custodial Center since June last year on plunder charges.

He is accused of dealing with the non-government organizations set up by Janet Lim Napoles using his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations.

“Because of his current detention, Sen. Revilla does not know, and is anxious to know, the true condition and status of Jolo,” the senator’s motion said. The senator appealed for compassion as he was said to be “distraught” over what happened to his son.

The Sandiganbayan has asked government prosecutors to immediately comment on the senator’s motion.

Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Carmelo Valmoria, head of the National Capital Region Police Office of the PNP, asked the Revilla family to cooperate with a probe to determine whether the wound was indeed self-inflicted or the result of foul play.

Medical records will also be used in the investigation. “This is part of our standard operating procedure,” Valmoria said.

Joel E. Zurbano, Nelson Flores

New fiscals expected to lower DOJ backlog ONE hundred eighty-one new state prosecutors have been promoted and appointed by Malacanang to lessen the backlog of cases of the Department of Justice.

In an omnibus appointment paper transmitted to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on February 24, President Aquino made official the designation of the prosecutors from various NPS offices nationwide.

“We are delighted by the release of this latest batch of prosecutors who are badly needed in our delivery of prosecutorial and related services all over the country,” De Lima said in a statement.

“This makes the DOJ’s goal of having a zero backlog policy of its cases more achievable, and ultimately improve the administration of the criminal justice system in the country,” she added.

De Lima said the appointments would allow the NPS to perform its job more competently and efficiently. “They would share the heavy workloads that are currently pending before DOJ offices and various courts nationwide.”

Last year, 122 new prosecutors were also added to the NPS, which is headed by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

Rey E. Requejo

Presidential sister Kristina Bernadette Aquino salutes women members of the QCPD police force at the start of the Women’s Month Celebration. MANNY PALMERO

A SHOOTOUT Sunday night between policemen and two armed men believed to be members of the notorious bank robbery-holdup “Termite gang” had resulted in the death of two suspects in Nacoor City, Cavite, city police director Superintendent Rommel Estolano said Monday.

The suspects who had no identification card with them, died on the spot, Estolano said.

They were the same group that robbed an RCBC Bank and carted away P1.5 million in cash last December, police said.

Two guns and a knapsack containing tools for digging and bolt cutter were recovered from them.

Florante Solmerin

Gasoline costlier by 15c THE country’s oil firms raised the price of gasoline

by P0.15 per liter but cut the price of diesel by P0.40 per liter and kerosene by P0.80 per liter effective Tuesday.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Eastern Petroleum Corp., PTT Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Phoenix Petroleum Corp. issued separate advisories of the latest price adjustment.

Last February 24, most of the oil players increased the price of gasoline by P0.85 per liter, P1 per liter for kerosene, and P0.80 per liter in diesel.

Prior to the latest adjustment, diesel sells from P27.90 to P31.20 per liter and gasoline from P37.80 to P43.35 per liter. Prices vary depending on the brand, location, market forces, among others. Alena Flores

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Indonesian court sets review of Pinay case

By Vito Barcelo

The Philippine government expressed hopes that a court in Yogyakarta, Indonesia would commute the Filipino convict’s death sentence to life imprisonment, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said.

In a huddle. Senators Cynthia Villar and Juan Edgardo Angara huddle together during the Senate session Monday. The approval of emergency powers for President Aquino is main item on agenda. EY ACASIO

Mental Health Center chief ousted OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales has dismissed from service the chief of the National Center for Mental Health for defying a suspension order issued by the anti-graft office.

Bernardino Vicente was found guilty of gave misconduct for refusing to carry out orders of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Vicente also was meted

the accessory penalties of forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service.

Records showed that in September 2008, the Office of the Ombudsman issued a preventive suspension order against NCMH Chief Administrative Officer Clarita Aguilar.

As head of the center, Vicente was directed to enforce the suspension order.

In August 2009, Vicente was again directed to impose the order and submit proof of compliance after the Office of the Ombudsman denied Aguilar’s motion for reconsideration.

Ten months later, the Office of Legal Affairs wrote Vicente informing him that

the preventive suspension order is immediately executory and that failure to enforce the order is a ground for disciplinary action.

Once again, Vicente failed to comply with the directive of implementation and compliance. Moreover, Vicente allowed Aguilar to make use of housing privileges while she was under preventive suspension. Nelson Flores

The Philippine government is trying to prevent the execution of a Filipino woman, who faces death by firing squad in Indonesia for drug smuggling, DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said.

The Filipino woman was arrested at Yogyakarta airport in April 2010 carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin on a flight from Malaysia.

A district court in Yogyakarta will review the case of the Filipino convict to determine if her death sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment or not, Jose said.

“The process is already under way after Indonesia’s Supreme Court transmitted the Filipina’s case records to the lower court,” Jose said during a press briefing.

“We are hopeful that after completion of review, there will be a commutation of the death sentence,” the DFA official said.

The review was undertaken following a request from the Philippine government in a bid to save the the Filipino from execution by firing squad.

All death penalty cases in Indonesia are entitled to at least one judicial review even if the conviction has already been upheld by the Supreme Court.

“We have one more

remedy in this case so let us wait for the outcome,” Jose said. “We are taking this one step at a time.”

A total of 805 Filipinos are detained abroad for drug-related offenses, and Filipino drug couriers were put to death in China through lethal injection.

In a related development, the Labor department on Monday warned of a recruitment agency operating globally as an immigration services provider that lured Filipino job seekers to work in Europe and the United Kingdom.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that ICS Global Visas, Inc., with parent company in UK has reportedly collapsed.

“Global Visas was in the limelight this week, following its reported “collapse”. It had victims here in the Philippines, particularly in Luzon, Cebu and Mindanao. We have checked with our DOLE regional office in Cebu which reported that some of the victims filed cases of estate and illegal recruitment against the company upon learning that Global Visas maintained offices in Cebu,” Baldoz said.

The Labor department has already filed charges of illegal recruitment and estafa against the Global Visas in Cebu.

‘Ex-lawmaker can’t join senators as cell mates’

By Nelson Flores THE Sandiganbayan on Monday rejected a motion of former congressman Edgar Valdez of Apec party list to be detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame together with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla who, like him, are facing plunder and graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Instead, the anti-graft

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court’s 5th Division ordered Valdez to be detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City once his medical condition improves.

Valdez was rushed to the PNP General Hospital, also in Camp Crame, immediately after he surrendered last week due to high blood pressure and diabetes. Valdez also told the court about a bullet lodged in his spine.

The former lawmaker’s

medical condition prompted him to ask the anti-graft court to order his detention at the PNP Custodial Center.

But the court expressed belief that Valdez’ illness is temporary.

“In view of the foregoing interim medical condition of the accused, his attending physician at the PNP Hospital is directed to inform the Court of the medical condition of the accused within 48 hours from receipt of the person of the accused…

Once his condition improves, the order of commitment shall be given effect,” the court, in its resolution, said.

Valdez faces one count of plunder and seven counts of graft for allegedly pocketing P57.78 million worth of kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel from 2004 to 2010. He is said to have funneled the funds to non-government organizations (NGOs) allegedly owned

by Janet Lim Napoles, the

suspected scam mastermind.

Valdez was among the second batch of lawmakers charged earlier this month by the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the scam.

The other former lawmakers charged before the Sandiganbayan were incumbent Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Samuel Dangwa of Benguet, Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro and Rodolfo Plaza of Agusan del Sur.

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Port congestion eased—Palace The congestion at Manila ports has been resolved, Malacañang said on Monday.

Cargo trucks queue up along Roxas Boulevard on their way to the Port Area. EY ACASIO

3-strike rule for DPWH bidders in place

By Vito Barcelo The Department of Public Works and Highways has adopted a threestrike policy procedure that will penalize its erring private contractors who take part in public bidding for national infrastructure projects.

Public works Secretary Rogelio Singson issued Department Order No. 17, enforcing the 3-strike policy that will also apply to suppliers and consultants involved in procurement of goods and services for his department.

For the first strike or violation

of bidder, the BAC shall issue first warning; for the second strike, a second warning; for the third strike in a 12 month period, which is considered an offense, the contractor will be suspended from participating in any DPWH bidding process for the period of one (1) year; and, for the second set of 3 strikes, a 2-year suspension.

Singson instructed the DPWHBidding and Awards Committee Chairpersons to serve a written notice for every violation of participating bidder, and give them five days to show cause why they should not

be sanctioned.

“The BAC will evaluate and determine within seven days if the bidder’s reason is valid. The BAC must also maintain a tally of violations of each bidder and submit notarized reports to the Procurement Service for evaluation,” he said.

The procurement service, on the other hand, will be responsible in monitoring the violations of the 3-strike policy in all procurement undertaken in the entire Department and shall recommend to the Secretary the necessary sanctions in coordina-

tion with the Legal Service.

Failure on the part of DPWHBAC members and other concerned personnel to submit a complete and verified 3-strike report shall also be sanctioned provided for under Civil Service rules and regulations He said that contractors found to be violating the rules will be blacklisted and face possible criminal charges.

He said contractors doing business with the department must maintain a good track record to be able to continue participating in public biddings.

Abaya gets Senate ultimatum over MRT

By Macon R. Araneta SeNATOR Grace Poe on Monday asked Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph emilio Abaya to submit within five days a progress report on committed deliverables to upgrade and rehabilitate the Metro Rail Transit over repeated system malfunctions amid fare increases.

“Our commuters have long been aggrieved, and any further delay in the accomplishment of vowed upkeep and upgrade is certainly unacceptable. We must hold accountable all those negligent in carrying out their duties,” stressed Poe. Senator JV ejercito and several congressmen are scheduled to go today to the Supreme Court to seek temporary restraining order against the fare increases for MRT and LRT. At the same time, the Senate committee on Public Services, sub-committee on transportation will conduct a public hearing on the fare hike imposed by the Philippine National Railway and its modernization and rehabilitation plan.

Poe said that MRT suffered another glitch amid rush hour on Feb. 27, causing

a southbound train to stop abruptly.

A series of malfunctions continued to endanger risk the safety and welfare of MRT passengers.

The Department of Transportation and Communications closed MRT operations from 9 p.m. of Feb. 28 to 12 noon of March 1 to give way to rail replacement works.

Poe also asked the DOTC to find ways to hasten the repairs to protect the commuters.

During the Feb. 2 Senate public services subcommittee on transport hearing led by Poe, Abaya presented MRT-3 rehabilitation deliverables with target dates: rail replacement, to be completed

by September 2015; signaling system upgrade, September 2015; radio communications upgrade, November 2015; supply of traction motors, October 2015; consulting services, April 2015; ancillary system, April 2016; supply of OCS roadrail vehicle, May 2016; supply of grinding machine rail vehicle, May 2016; total replacement of signaling system, October 2016; conveyance facilities, January 2016; and general train overhaul, June 2017.

In session. Senators Grace Poe, Aquilino Pimentel III and Francis Escudero mind their business during the Senate session on Monday. EY ACASIO

The Office the President said coordination among the Cabinet Cluster on Port Decongestion, the Technical Working Group of various agencies and the private sector resulted in the normalization of the situation in the ports.

It said that in the past three weeks, “the ships with berthing schedules were accommodated accordingly” while ships that arrive unscheduled“ were able to dock within 24 hours to 60 hours from arrival.”

It said that “since November 2014 more cargo has been moved at a faster rate than prior to the congestion.” ”By February 2015, the benefits of a fully decongested port is in place,” it said.

In May last year, utilization rate at the ports stood at 105 percent but it went down as a result of the expanded truck ban that the Manila City government implemented from February to September last year.

The Office of the President said current utilization rate at the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) was already about 79-84 percent, an improvement compared to the situation in the middle up to the third quarter of last year.

“Resolution of the congestion at the port of Manila was a long process which was complicated by many factors such as ship scheduling, loaded and empty container handling and the truck ban hours.”

It cited that “although most of the solutions were implemented early in the last quarter of 2014, the sheer volume of the backlog needed several months to be resolved” referring to the Christmas holidays, Typhoon “Amang”, the feast of the Black Nazarene and the Pope’s visit.

It even cited that “there was a time that the ports and all the container yards were flooded with empty containers.” ”As of the end of February 2015, this is no longer the situation. The enhanced truck ban hours and routes have ensured efficient flow of cargo without causing traffic congestion,” it said. ”We would like to thank the Metro Manila Development Authority, all the local government units, government agencies and stakeholders involved for their cooperation and support who united to resolve this problem and bring it to this successful close,” it said. PNA

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news

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Typhoon victims assured of $74m food aid

By Vito Barcelo

Palawan’s come-on. Local and foreign tourists enjoy a boat ride in the world famous Underground River of Palawan. ROLAND JUMAWAN

New fire trucks for LGUs, airports

By Florante S. Solmerin and Eric B. Apolonio

As the nation marks Fire Prevention Month, several local government units and domestic airports have been assured of brand new firefighting trucks and ambulances, authorities said.

The Bureau of Fire Protection will get 17 more new fire trucks and 3 brand new ambulances from the Japanese government while the the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will farm out 41 fire trucks in all commercial airports except six of them.

According to DILG Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas III, the units will be officially

turned over Tuesday to ocal government units (LGUs) in Visayas.

The recipients are Guian, Hernani and Borongan City, all in Eastern Samar; Basey, Western Samar; Tanauan, Palo, Kananga, Babatngon, Ormoc City, and Tacloban City, all in Leyte; President Roxas, Capiz; Estancia and Iloilo City, Iloilo; Sipalay and Hinoba-an, in Negros

Occidental; Cabucgayan), Biliran; and Bantayan, Cebu.

The DILG has allocated P2.5 billion for 244 units of 1,000-gallon capacity fire trucks and for 225 500-gallon capacity fire trucks.

“The ideal ratio is one firetruck for every 28,000 Filipinos and we are still looking for means to achieve that ratio,” Roxas said.

The procurement of 469 firetrucks is already at its post-qualification stage.

The CAAP for its part received 13 brand new fire trucks out of 41 units that arrived at the Batangas Port.

Another batch of 28 units will arrive within the year.

CAAP Deputy Director for Operations Rodante Joya said

that the fire trucks are funded by a P1.3 billion under a contract won by Wisconsinbased Oshkosh Corp.

CAAP manages 84 airports in the country with 41 of them operating commercial flights.

CAAP director general William Hotchkiss III said the agency’s board of directors unanimously approved the procurement of 41 units of brand new industrial type airport rescue firefighting vehicles for all major commercial airports in the country except those in Naia, Clark, Cebu-Mactan, Subic and Poro point.

Joya added that the government is upgrading fire trucks and other communi-

cation equipment and facilities on government-run airports to conform to global aviation standards.

The Caap-operated airports had an inventory of 97 fire trucks purchased in 1968 with 17 units now out of commission due to lack of spare parts.

Hotchkiss pointed out that the deployment of the fire fighting vehicles is part of the upgrading of the Emergency Services Unit of CAAP to make airports become compliant with the International Civil Authority Organization (ICAO), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union international standards.

Zambo gets first-of-its-kind bottled water project

By Antonio P. Rimando ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga Sibuga—A bottled water company has inaugurated the first of its kind water project in Western Mindanao at the the Zamboanga Economic Zone and Freeport Authority.

Albi A. Marquez, ZEZFA information officer, said the project occupies a 2,000-square meter area plus a 1,000-square meter standard manufacturing building inside the 5,000-hectare ZEZFA Industrial

Park. The firm seeks to ultimately supply the bottled water needs of this highly urbanized metropolis and those in other WM cities and municipalities apart from nearby Basilan.

Marquez was informed by Cliff C. Reynera, proprietor of the new locator Eco Bottling Enterprises that the manufacture of bottled water “consists of collecting water from a suitable spring water sources which abound in the mountainous portions of the ZEZFA, after which the spring liquid is processed

in compliance with the standards of known brands and requirement mandated by the Bureau of Food and Drugs.”

Reynera explained that “the process for the production of bacteria-free, clean palatable bottled water was developed by known brands in the country. It consists of a simple process involving physical operations of setting, filtration and ultra violet radiation treatment.”

He said the plant will be capable of producing some 625,000 bottles

a year of three different sizes of 350 ml, 500 ml and one liter bottles – with the 350ml bottled water bottled water producing up to 50 percent, and the 500 ml and one liter bottled water turning out 40 and 10 percent shares, respectively.

The highly mechanized company will initially employ 25 personnel, said Reynera who added that the treatment of raw water from the source “involves a series of filtration and treatment before filling it on poly-ethelene terephthalate or PET bottle containers.

THE Philippines will receive $74 million in food and humanitarian assistance from the World Food Program to help feed millions of poor Filipinos, particularly those affected by the recent calamities.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said that the WFP Executive Board unanimously approved the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation for the Philippines during the First Regular Executive Board Session on February 10 at the WFP Headquarters in Rome.

The food grant is good for three years and cover 408,000 beneficiaries, the WFP said.

The program reinforces the long-standing partnership between WFP and the Philippines in addressing the food security and nutrition and humanitarian assistance requirements of those most in need, such as the recent typhoons Haiyan and Hagupit that struck the country, it said.

Meanwhile, the Kilusang Mayo Uno welcomed the findings of the United Nations’ special rapporteur Hilal Elver on the right to food, that there is widespread hunger in the country despite the Aquino government’s claim of economic development.

At the same time, the labor group said the passage of the Right to Adequate Food Bill—which will create a Commission on the Right to Adequate Food, set targets in hunger and poverty reduction, and recognize food as “a legal entitlement” —is limited.

“The UN special rapporteur on the right to food is right: hunger continues to be widespread in the country. We hope she would help debunk the Aquino government’s lie that there is inclusive growth in the Philippines,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

The labor leader said that legal guarantees for the right to food, would amount to nothing without the creation of decent jobs through the implementation of genuine land reform and national industrialization.

Labog said that an immediate cause of the widespread hunger and poverty in the country is the government’s failure to generate decent employment for Filipinos, having relied on foreign investors to create jobs in the country.

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opinion [ EDI TORI A L ]

An intolerAnce of critics At a restaurant in Moscow in early 2014, travel show host Anthony Bourdain spoke with Boris Nemtsov about, among other things, the latter’s investigative report of the just-concluded Sochi Winter Olympcs held in the country.

It was an odd choice for the Winter Games, Nemtsov said, because Sochi was the warmest place in Russia. The Olympics went on to become the most expensive Games to date, on which the Russian government spent over $50 billion.

“This is a country of corruption,” Nemtsov told Bourdain, as he acknowledged the risks he faced for speaking out about his government, specifically against the president, Vladimir Putin. He knew about other critics who had been imprisoned or killed, even as there have been no official links established between these acts and Mr. Putin.

A year later, Nemtsov is dead. On Friday, Feb. 27 he was gunned down while walking on the street with a female companion. He was supposed to lead an anti-government rally in a few hours. He is one of the many, in Russia and in other countries, who pay the price for daring to speak out against many ills.

Here at home, no such physical harm on critics of the national leadership take place. A lesser misfortune befalls them – that of being branded as enemies of reform, enemies of peace, and enemies of whatever supposedly lofty goal this government seeks to achieve.

The latest to be branded as enemies are those who continue to prescribe caution on the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in its current form. Prior to the Jan. 25 deaths of 44 Special Action Force members at the hands of Moro Islamic Liberation Front/ Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters men in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, there have already been concerns on the constitutionality of some of the provisions of the law. What happened in Mamasapano merely highlighted these concerns especially since the deaths point to an apparent lack of sincerity of the MILF, with whom the government is talking peace.

The Palace has also issued a statement saying that President Aquino need not apologize for what happened, because he has nothing to apologize for. Anybody who believes that the President must say sorry must, indeed, be an enemy of the straight and narrow path that he champions.

Media organizations who do not fawn on the President and sing him praises are portrayed as agents of his political enemies, making a living out of the act of criticizing.

But if it were a choice between dubbed an enemy and staying silent, we would much prefer the former. The tag, after all, is just a choice of word by an infantile mind who believes everything is about him.

The democracy which Mr. Aquino claims his parents fought for is founded on a healthy respect for other points of view and differing opinions. Alas, the President refuses to recognize this fact. He is as simplistic as he is paranoid that those who are not for him are out to get him.

Never sorry lowdown jojo A. robles WHAt does President Noynoy Aquino have in common with undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.? One thing, at least: they are both obsessed with protecting a perfect record – of never losing in the ring, for Mayweather, and of never admitting a mistake and apologizing, for Aquino.

And so it was foolish of Senator Sergio Osmena III to ask Aquino, whose campaign he ran in the 2010 elections, to say

he’s sorry for the Mamasapano massacre. As Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in response to Osmena’s proposal yesterday, there is really nothing for the President to be sorry for.

Apologizing, after all, is just not how Aquino rolls, as they say. the man will probably allow himself to be swept from power and placed in a hospital for extended confinement (this country’s preferred method of dealing with its ex-Presidents) before he admits to being wrong and apologizing for some act he committed or for which he is ultimately responsible.

Not for Aquino are any shows of weakness and/or responsibility similar to those displayed by John F. Kennedy after the Bay of Pigs fiasco and Jimmy Carter in the aftermath of the Desert One debacle. In both cases, both Presidents immediately accepted blame for botched armed adventures they directed from the White House – invading Cuba with a paramilitary force to oust Fidel Castro in 1961 in the case of Kennedy and attempting to end the Iran hostage crisis during Carter’s watch in 1980.

Closer to home, as Osmena pointed out, Aquino’s predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued a blanket apology for the “Hello, Garci” election scandal that rocked her administration

Aquino has a pathological distaste for accepting responsibility for the bad stuff that happens during his watch.

and hounded it until she finally stepped down in 2010. But that was Gloria, Lacierda would probably say; Aquino, who has had his share of dubious decisions with decidedly deleteri-

ous effects during his less than five years in office, has nothing to be sorry about.

Indeed, since the August 2010 Rizal Park hostage crisis that left eight Chinese tourists dead, Aquino has never admitted any error or accepted responsibility for any wrongdoing. The Chinese, who have demanded an apology from Aquino almost from the day after the killings happened, have already given up asking after they realized that the President they call “the smiling dog” made it clear that he (or even his top people in charge of the failed rescue operation at the park) didn’t do anything wrong.

I’ve watched Aquino closely since that bungled rescue and I am forced to admit that he never really did apologize for

T u e S d aY : M a R c h 3 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION adellechua@gmail.com

adelle chua EDITOR

A9

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

PhiliPPines and France, climate change allies

anything since then: not for the government’s disastrous response to super-typhoon Yolanda, not for conceiving the Disbursement Acceleration Program after bleeding the regular pork barrel funds dry, not for anything else that his administration has done wrong, regardless of who says he is in error, including the Supreme Court itself.

Aquino has never fully comprehended the concept of command responsibility as explained by Harry Truman, the American President

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who famously said that “the buck stops here,” at the presidential office.

(Strangely, Aquino has never had a problem claiming achievements that are not his, like increased economic growth through improved remittances from overseas Filipinos or the growth of the BPO industry, which his predecessor made a top priority.)

I suspect that Aquino truly believes that he is being wrongly blamed for things that go wrong during his watch, even when the responsibility is clearly his, as in the case of the slaughter of

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the 44 Special Action Force commandos last Jan. 25. As his favorite Freddie Aguilar slacker song goes, “ako ang nakikita, ako ang nasisisi, ako ang laging may kasalanan.”

Of course, even the most Yellow of Aquino’s supporters will not concede that Aquino has become infallible upon his assumption of the presidency. But they will always insist, like their idol himself, that everything being blamed on him is someone else’s doing, and never Aquino’s fault.

Continued on A11

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Thankfully, last week, the country had some good news as we saw President Aquino rise up to the occasion on the important issue of climate change.

This was during the visit of French President Francois Hollande that went very well and will have positive national and international consequences.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Climate Change Commission should be congratulated, too, especially Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Climate Change Commission Vice- Chair, Secretary Lucille Sering.

They were eloquent and firm in their speeches last Thursday during a forum at the National Museum hosted by Hollande, about why climate change was important for us.

In the same forum, expertly moderated by Marco Lambertini, the Director General of the World Wide Fund for Nature International (WWF International), one of the most effective and innovative global environmental organizations, Albay Governor Joey Salceda argued persuasively that strategic investments in climate change adaptation were critical if this challenge was to be overcome. My wife is from Albay and I can definitely attest to the practical visionary that is Governor Joey.

In the same forum, Senator Loren Legarda, veteran champion of the environment and our most prominent advocate of addressing climate change and disasters, articulated what was at stake in this first ever-state visit of a French President to our country. She pointed out the consequences of climate change: “extremely harsh weather events, flooding, declining fish catch, water scarcity, declining agricultural harvests, exacerbating health issues, extinction of animal and plant species, displacement of people, and even the demise of low-lying areas, among others.”

Senator Legarda also cited how the Philippines is at the top of the list of the Global Climate Risk Index of 2015 – which lists those countries most severely affected by weather-related disasters like storms, floods, and heat waves.

She was also clear about what needs to be done globally, imploring the world’s largest economies to deliver their concrete commitments on greenhouse gas emission reductions. According to her: “This is not the time for restraint or for wagging the finger of indictment. This is the moment for collective action.”

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Rolando G. Jojo Estabillo Publisher A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Jojo A.L.Robles Editor-in-Chief Ramonchito Tomeldan Managing Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Chin Wong/RayJoel S. Eñano Associate Editors P. Palacios News Editor Francis Lagniton CityCity Editor Francis Lagniton Editor Arman Armero Senior Deskman Arman Armero Senior Deskman Romel J. Mendez Art Director Leo A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Roberto Cabrera Chief Romel J. Mendez ArtPhotographer Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

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OPINION adellechua@gmail.com

Why PNoy caN’t say ‘I’m sorry’ I FIND it strange that neither Social Weather Stations nor Pulse Asia has EmIl P. come out with poll jURAdO surveys during the last quarter. These two firms usually come up with trust and acceptance ratings of high public officials including the President, as well as updates on presidential hopefuls.

My sources tell me that the reason is Mamasapano.

This is the clash that resulted in the slaughter of 44 police commandos. With the ensuing public outrage over the deaths of the Special Action Force members, the Palace has reportedly asked the survey firms to defer the publication of their results. *** I recall that when President Aquino assumed power in 2010, his uncles were interviewed on television.

Former Tarlac Rep. Peping Cojuangco and former Senator Agapito Aquino said that their nephew was hard-headed to a fault, and proud. He could be obstinate and unwilling to listen to reason. If he is convinced he is doing the right thing, he would listen to nobody.

TO THE POINT

These observations from the President’s relatives are now validated by facts. In his more than four years in office, there have been many instances where the President has shown these traits.

Recall how he refused to find fault with his allies for the Luneta hostage crisis. Recall, too, how he made sure his immediate predecessor, former President Gloria Arroyo, would go to jail – and remain there, despite her co-accused being already out on bail and despite the fact that she is suffering from a debilitating illness.

Mr. Aquino ensured that Mrs. Arroyo’s appointed chief justice would be impeached and removed from office, even to the point of using the Priority Development Assistance Fund and that mongrel called the Disbursement Acceleration Program to obtain the support of lawmakers.

That’s single-mindedness, all right. *** That Mr. Aquino still refuses to say he is sorry for the slaughter of the 44 commandos is another example of his pride and arrogance. His idea of comforting the wives and families of those killed was to say that his father was also killed and thus, he knew how they felt.

And now even the President’s former campaign manager and political ally, Senator Sergio Osmena III, is calling on the President to apologize. But I know he will not do it. He is so much like his mother, former President Cory, who will never acknowledge any mistake. That will be something beneath him -- a haciendero.

The President is so proud and single-minded that despite the duplicity shown by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in connection with the Mamasapano clash, he’s bent on pushing the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. The bill, however, is riddled with constitutional infirmities.

Santa Banana, the MILF will even be granted an appropriation of P75 billion. It’s like winning the lotto.

The President wants peace at all costs! *** The forthcoming Senate committee report on the Mamasapano clash, after a series of hearings and executive sessions, will be an acid test for Senator Grace Poe. I admired Poe’s handling of the Senate hearings which indicated independence of mind despite attempts of people involved in “Oplan Exodus” to take the bullet for the President. People around the President tried very hard to erase his accountability and culpability as Commander-in-Chief of the PNP. I realize that it might be very difficult for Grace Poe to lay the blame on the President since she is with the administration party and with Senate President Franklin Drilon, who has become a Malacanang lackey.

This is why I say it’s an acid test for her.

We who have seen for ourselves the hearings on how “Oplan Exodus” began, and who realize the duplicity of the MILF, know that the buck should stop with President Aquino. Not even former SAF chief Getulio Napenas’ attempt to assume all the blame will erase this.

stIll Not gettINg It rIght THERE’S good news and there’s bad news for the victims of supertyphoon BONG C. Y o l a n d a , AUSTERO particularly those who have still been unable to rebuild their homes, or at least put together some semblance of a shelter for their families after the howling winds and the storm surge destroyed everything on that fateful morning of November 8, 2013.

The good news is that 15 months after the supertyphoon wrecked havoc and devastation across the Visayas, government is finally releasing direct financial assistance to victims under the Emergency Shelter Assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The total amount that government is now willing to give to the victims of the supertyphoon is a staggering amount that reaches tens of billions of pesos. The amount released recently just for Western Visayas reached P1.5 billion pesos. Based on media reports, families whose houses were totally wiped out, destroyed, or leveled to the ground, would receive a low of P30,000 to a high of P70,000 each,while those with partially damaged houses would receive a smaller amount.

Okay, so we all know that this was exactly the plea of People Surge, the alliance of victims of the supertyphoon who even went to Manila and submitted their request at the gates of Malacanan Palace last year. They were snubbed and their request for financial assistance to the victims and the homeless was deemed impractical. In his trademark response to questions that annoy him, the President of the Republic scolded the leaders of the movement for not thinking clearly and for being unrealistic, saying that releasing that kind of money was not as easy as the victims thought.

Senator Panfilo Lacson even branded the victims as communists who were out to destabilize government.

But let us not get anymore into the reasons for the sudden change of heart of the Aquino administration. The generosity may be a little late, but it can still be of great help to the victims many of whom have not fully rebuilt their houses or still live under temporary makeshift houses.

The bad news, however, is that the guidelines that define who are qualified to receive the shelter assistance has been met with large-scale indignation. From an objective perspective, the intent is quite clear and reasonable – only those

ARE WE THERE YET?

who are gainfully employed with incomes below P15,000, those below the poverty threshold of the region, and those who have not received similar assistance from other agencies are the only ones qualified. When resources are limited, it makes sense to make sure that these go to those who truly need it the most. Unfortunately, this is not the way mindsets go in this country where everyone thinks of himself or herself as a victim who deserves as much help as everyone else.

What aggravates the whole situation is the seeming lack of coordination with local governments, most of which are complaining about not having been consulted by barangay health workers or DSWD employees on the ground. In many cases, the local officials are themselves the ones agitating people to complain about not being in the list of recipients. And so, all over the Visayas today, there is widespread grumbling and anger directed at the DSWD for the alleged snafu in the selection of those who got the highly coveted “green forms” (the Disaster Assistance and Family Access Card).

Once again, we have a situation where instead of being praised and congratulated for helping the victims, government is actually getting more flak.

In the words of many people in Leyte who were “disenfranchised” from the list, “it would have been better if the government didn’t help anymore since we did not expect them to do that anyway.”

It’s not really a fair comment because there really are many people who would really still benefit from the shelter assistance, but on the other hand, not totally incomprehensible since many of the global donors did not impose the same preconditions when the granted aid in the immediate aftermath of the supertyphoon.

All of these problems could have been avoided if government response was quicker; a year ago, it would have been a lot easier to distinguish those who really needed help the most. Also, a more collaborative approach where everybody – local governments, community organizations, church organizations, etc – is consulted and involved would make communication efforts more effective. And of course, a little more empathy on the part of government would really go a long way. Scolding people and brushing their complaints and questions off and accusing them of being opportunists – as some DSWD local officials in the Visayas have been reportedly doing – does not help.

If that Senate committee report is the forthcoming rebranding says otherwise, we can only as CNN Philippines of 9TV conclude that Grace Poe has become after a new group led by former just another politician.

Ambassador Antonio Cabangon If that Senate *** Chua took over the company and A full-page advertisement of the committee report says partnered with Time Warner Inc. Presidential Commission on Good otherwise, we can only Nine Media Corp. President Government, which marked its 29th Benjamin Ramos said that 9TV conclude that Grace would be rebranded soon as CNN anniversary last February 28, caught my attention.

Poe has become just Philippines, the second CNN The ad listed all the PCGG affiliate in Asia. CNN Philippines another politician. remittances to the Bureau of is the latest addition to a family Treasury under the administration that includes CNN Turk, CNN of President Aquino from 2011 to IBN, CNN Chile, and CNN 2014 as follows: P268 million in Indonesia.

2011, P467 million in 2012, P632 Last August 23, Solar million in 2013, and P1.57 billion in 2014. Likewise, News Channel was renamed 9TV and Solar News the ad listed the highlights of how PCGG achieved its Organization became 9News, marking the erstwhile 2014 figure.

Roberto S. Benedicto channel’s thrust to reach a wider The ad identified its total recoveries from 1986, audience and strengthen its presence. when it was created, to 2009 (P95.2 billion), and from Cabangon Chua’s media empire now includes 2010 to 2014, P76.2 billion.

Business Mirror and tabloid Pilipino Mirror as well I must commend Dean Andy Bautista as PCGG as DwIZ 882 AM and 97.9, Natural FM through Aliw chairman for a job well done. Another achievement Broadcasting.

CNN-Philippines would be available on free-to-air that does not appear in the ad is Dean Bautista’s ability TV in Manila RPN-TV9, Cebu RPN-TV9, Davao RPNand commitment to make PCGG corruption-free.

TV9, Zamboanga RPN-TV9, Baguio RPN-TV12, and *** An interesting development in Philippine media Bacolod RPN-TV8.

T u e S d aY : M a R c h 3 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

adellechua@gmail.com

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA Senator aquilino Pimentel III wants a law granting his fellow politician – Sarangani representative and world boxing champion emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao – exemption from paying any income tax on his US$80-million purse in his welterweight title bout against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. set for May 2 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, nevada. Pimentel says Pacquiao deserves the tax exemption “for the honor he gave to the Philippines, and for promoting the country.” If the Pimentel measure pushes through, Pacquiao will be exempted from paying the Bureau of Internal revenue (BIr) a multi-million peso figure, enough to help in rehabilitating typhoon-devastated Leyte. at present, Pacquiao has tax problems to resolve with the BIr. according to BIr Commissioner Kim Henares, Pacquiao has not been paying the correct amount of taxes on his income from his boxing matches abroad. although Pacquiao claims that he already paid the Internal revenue Service of the United States all taxes due under american law, Henares correctly insists that Philippine tax laws still apply to him.

Pacquiao apparently does not realize that there are only two sure things in life – death and taxes. even if Pacquiao has done much to promote the Philippines on the world boxing map, and although he has made many Filipinos proud of his accomplishments in the ring, Pacquiao, like every Filipino who earns an income whether at home or abroad, must pay his share of the cost of running the government.

Philippine... From A9 French actress Melanie Laurent, an environmental activist who joined the Hollande party, echoed this: “The environmental crisis is not a problem for tomorrow but for today. . . We have done so many outstanding things: we’ve traveled to the moon, we’ve put an end to world wars, we’ve eradicated diseases. The same strength can save us.

More than anytime before, we should do it together.”

The words of these magnificent women were not lost on both the Presidents of France and the Philippines.

In the Thursday forum, President Hollande forcefully communicated his personal and France’s commitment to address climate change effectively and to make the Paris conference a success with the adoption of a good international agreement on climate change.

He pointed out how the world is now facing a decisive choice: “either we close our eyes and close our future or generate such awareness that we will enable humanity to win.” on the Philippines, Hollande said.”Why did we come to the Philippines? Because we are friends, because it is a country France always supported. It is the country that can best embody climate destruction in the world.”

President Hollande, as reported by rappler (I was there and listened to the French version of his speech), spoke also of the French principles of equality and justice: “For decades and decades, we have used the resources of the planet to generate wealth and guarantee our prosperity while leaving behind so many poor people. Because of how we destroyed the planet, our first duty is to be fair vis-a-vis countries that precisely did not do anything irreversible for the planet.”

Later in the meeting of the two heads of state, President aquino, pointed out that

A11

Tax exempTion for an absenTee congressman The progressive tax system obtaining in the Philippines postulates that one who earns more money must pay more in taxes, regardless of whether or not the taxpayer concerned has done much to promote the country in the international scene. That is why Pacquiao has to pay taxes in millions of pesos, while ordinary office workers pay only a very small fraction of what the boxing champion coughs out for taxes.

The basis for the Pimentel proposal itself already invites a legal challenge to its validity because it amounts to class legislation favoring a particular individual with financial benefits too large for the government to ignore. Class legislation is prohibited by the equal protection clause of the Constitution.

Like Pacquiao, many Filipino athletes have done much to promote the Philippines, but unlike Pacquiao, they have not gotten any multi-million peso break from the government. Chess grandmaster Wesley So, who lacked sufficient support from the Philippine government, and who now plays for the United States, never got one. the family of Michael Martinez, who represented the Philippines in the figure skating competition in the recent Winter olympics, had to scrounge for financial help to finance his continuing training abroad. What makes Pacquiao so different from So and Martinez to deserve a windfall from Senator Pimentel?

There is also the question of whether or not Pacquiao has truly done the country and its people a lot of good.

While Pacquiao has done much in pro-

fessional boxing to make Filipinos proud of him, he is a miserable disappointment as a member of the House of representatives. His attendance record is dismal – he attended only 4 of the 70 sessions held in 2014 – because he was busy training abroad for his boxing matches, or was abroad for those bouts. Sure, Pacquiao can justify his absenteeism through certifications from House officials that he was out on official business, but at the end of the day, a congressman is expected to attend most House sessions not only to enact legislation but to oppose legislation that may be inimical to the people. In fact, that is what he is paid to do. as if his boxing commitments were not time-consuming enough, Pacquiao also joined the professional basketball league as a playing coach. that ate up whatever time he may have left for congressional work. His constituents in Sarangani may not know it but Pacquiao has shortchanged them as a public servant who is expected to be present in the sessions of the House.

There is also the matter of congressional debates which Pacquiao has not been too interested to join. In the old days, legislators who hardly said anything in the sessions were called members of the House Committee on Silence.

Pacquiao does not seem to consider his duties and responsibilities as a congressman important enough to merit his full attention. His inexcusable absenteeism notwithstanding, no important piece of legislation can be attributed to him. In fact, Pacquiao’s absenteeism is akin to graft.

the world can no longer “be paralyzed by debates over the obligations of individual countries; all of us must do everything we can, in the quickest and most impactful way possible.”

In their joint statement entitled the Manila Call for Climate action, read by Senator Legarda and Marion Cotillard – the oscar award-winning French actress who was also in Hollande’s delegation -- Presidents aquino and Hollande made a strong appeal: “Less than a year ahead of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (CoP21) which will take place in Paris in December 2015, the outcome of which will affect the lives of billions of people, we call upon the international community to conclude a universal, equitable and ambitious climate deal, in line with the specific recommendations set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to preserve our planet as a livable place for future generations. From Manila today, we hope to make history together in Paris in December and not simply watch history unfold.”

Presidents aquino and Hollande pointed out the kind of accord that must be achieved in Paris: “We need an agreement negotiated and accepted by everyone and for everyone, an agreement that takes all differences in situations into account, and aims at bridging varying perspectives to hasten collective action. We need an agreement that reduces emissions, creates economic opportunities and equips us to manage the associated risks that are already locked in the foreseeable future.”

In the Manila Call for action, the link between the Philippines and climate change is emphasized: “as we meet in the Philippines, where people have endured an unprecedented series of extreme weather events in the

The anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices act states that a public officer is guilty of graft when he causes any undue injury to anybody, including the government, through manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence. His neglect of duty and his preference for the boxing ring and the basketball court instead of the session hall of the Batasang Pambansa should be enough reason to charge him with graft.

There is likewise the issue as to whether or not Pacquiao, a billionaire, even needs the tax exemption in the first place. Members of Congress are reputed to be very wealthy, and Pacquiao is officially the wealthiest among them. The media consistently report the lavish and opulent lifestyle of Pacquiao, his family, and his close friends. This is enough to warrant the conclusion that Pacquiao does not need the tax exemption Pimentel wants to hand to him on a silver platter.

Since Pacquiao’s salary is paid by taxpayers all over the country and not just by those from Sarangani, taxpayers as a whole have a right to demand that he work for that money. Since Pacquiao is obviously unable to attend to his duties as a congressman, then he should resign from public office and let someone else do the legislative work for the people. That is the decent thing to do under the premises. Delicadeza demands it.

Perhaps, the only time when Pacquiao will start to take his job in Congress seriously is when he will no longer be physically fit for the ring. That date will depend on Mayweather.

last few years, we are reminded that while the developing countries have contributed least to climate change, they are the ones that suffer the most from climate change impacts. While we face similar threats and shared vulnerabilities, we have also varying strengths and capacities to address these challenges. However, we believe that our vulnerabilities and exposure to climate-induced hazards can be reduced. In the face of these, the people of the Philippines have shown extraordinary resilience.”

Finally, the joint statement of France and the Philippines, which I think the Philippine delegation should now consider its instructions for the year long climate change negotiations, called for climate solidarity and justice, and climate cooperation in the form of financial and technical solidarity.

It is fitting that President Hollande ended his historic trip to the Philippines in Guiaun, Samar, ground zero of typhoon Yolanda/ Haiyan. In that town, visited for the first time by a foreign head of state, Hollande complimented our countrymen: “I want to come here all the way from France to your place, Guiaun, to show to the entire world… how brave you are, how strong you are and how resilient you are.” There too, Hollande promised: “The world will act for you ... we want success in Paris.’

For me, a good climate agreement is one with ambitious mitigation and adaptation goals backed up by adequate means of implementation, recognizes the link between climate change and human rights, and establishes climate justice and accountability mechanisms. With the Philippines and France working together, how can we fail?

Facebook page: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylav

Never.. From A8

In fact, the only reason why the various probes of the Mamasapano killings have stalled is because not one investigating body – not the House, not the Senate, not the various Boards of Inquiry – wants to pin the blame on the President. never mind if he was all over the incident, from its planning to its bloody execution. they know aquino has a pathological distaste for accepting responsibility for the bad stuff that happens during his watch. and like all of the other enablers of this immature, irresponsible middle-aged man who became President but who cannot admit error, they are to blame, as well. *** and I wish I could sympathize with akbayan rep. Walden Bello, when he is bitch-slapped by that palace spokesman called Lady Gaga for wavering in his belief that aquino is “the best President we ever had.” Unfortunately, I can’t, simply because Bello cannot now claim that he is against aquino’s recent actions, when he aided and abetted the President’s dubious decisions before.

By now, Bello must know that aquino demands total blind loyalty from his allies. and if he wants to remain the President’s ally – and not be humiliated by presidential attack dogs like Valte – then he should just smile and applaud.

T UE S DAY : M A RCH 3 , 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

NLEX at Panagbenga. The NLEX CheerDance troupe show off their final pyramid pose during the 2015 Panagbenga Festival Parade of the Stars in Baguio City. They were joined by the NLEX Road Warriors (inset), headed by Coach Boyet Fernandez and NLEX Team Manager Ronald Dulatre. ROMAN PROSPERO

Donaires pick Pacman to win

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

FIVE-DIVISION world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and his father/trainer Dodong Donaire both believe that eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao will dominate undefeated poundfor-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their multi-million dollar showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2.

Nonito Donaire, who will make his eagerly awaited ring return against Brazil’s William Prado in a World Boxing Council North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight title fight in the “Pinoy Pride 30” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on March 28, told the Manila Standard/

Viva Sports that Mayweather “has never faced a guy like Manny, while Pacquiao also hasn’t faced a fighter like Floyd.”

He added: “If Pacquiao doesn’t go out there and give Mayweather a chance to study him, he should be fine. While Mayweather has

speed, Pacquiao is explosive and comes at you from different angles.”

The 2012 Fighter of the Year, who was also No. 5 in the Ring Magazine poundfor-pound rankings that year, predicted that Pacquiao will dominate Mayweather with his speed and power.

Donaire noticed that Mayweather has slowed down and doesn’t move as well as he used to and he has been getting caught more often as seen in his first fight against Marcos Maidana, who roughed him up.

“Pacquiao lunges in and reaches you like he did against the much taller Chris Algieri, so catching Mayweather won’t be a problem,” said Donaire.

Dodong Donaire Sr.

agreed with his son. “I’ll pick Manny because he’s got the speed, he’s smart and as long as he is not going to fight inside, where he has to look out for the right counter of Mayweather, he should prevail.”

He advised Pacquiao to “move side to side, make Mayweather go crazy and look bad.”

At the same time, the trainer said Mayweather is not happy facing southpaws, “especially since Manny throws punches from different angles.”

However, Donaire Sr. cautioned Pacquiao “don’t look for a knockout, just use your speed, in and out movement and you will confuse Mayweather and win by decision.”

Nadal ends title drought with Argentina win BUENOS AIRES (AFP)—Rafael Nadal won his first title in nearly nine months on Sunday, beating Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-1 to win the Argentina Open.

Nadal’s triumph was his first since he won a ninth French Open title at Roland Garros last June.

It was Nadal’s 65th career crown on all surfaces, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the Open Era all-time list led by the 109 titles of American Jimmy Connors.

He broke out of a tie for fifth with Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras.

“They have an impressive history,” Nadal said of Sampras and Borg. “That’s why it is an honor to be compared to them.”

He claimed his 46th career claycourt title, second-most in the Open Era behind the 49 of Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas.

Most importantly, the victory showed

Nadal is headed in the right direction.

The Spaniard, who battled injury last year after his Roland Garros triumph, exited early in Qatar and fell in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open in January.

He had fallen to fourth in the world after a semi-final loss to Italian Fabio Fognini in Rio de Janeiro last week, the first time he hasn’t figured in the top three since August 2013.

With this win, he’s projected to return to third in the world, again overtaking Britain’s Andy Murray.

“I’m coming off a season that has not been easy -- injuries, accidents,” said Nadal, who had to cope with wrist trouble and an appendectomy in 2014.

“The beginning of this year has been a bit tricky after some time out, but little by little we have found positive feelings.”

NADAL

Nietes not bothered by change in foe WORLD Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion, who will be inducted into the Flash Elorde Hall of Fame on March 25, is not bothered by the change in opponents for his March 28 title defense at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Nietes (34-1-4, 20 KOs) was initially scheduled to face Luis Ceja of Mexico, before the chairman of the WBO Championship Committee informed the champ’s promoter/manager Michael Aldeguer of ALA Promotions, that he would have to negotiate for a mandatory title defense against Francisco Rodriguez Jr. with Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions.

Then, Aldeguer found out from Zanfer, that Rodriguez was not ready to fight Nietes on March 28, and suggested another one of his fighters, Gilberto Parra, who has an impressive record of 17 knockouts in 19 wins with 2 defeats.

“My training has been steady. I will focus on my opponent’s movement and style,” Nietes said.

Having watched tapes of Parra’s fights, Nietes noticed that he varies his style.

“Sometimes he comes in and sometimes he tries to box. I’ll study his style and make the necessary adjustments. If he comes in, I will knock him out with a counter-punch.”

Nietes’ trainer Edmund Villamor told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports after previewing the fight tapes, said: “Parra adopts a different style from fight to fight, sometimes he runs and sometimes he comes forward aggressively, he won’t pose a problem. We will prepare to catch him if he runs and counter if he comes forward. Donnie is moving well and there’s no problem with his stamina because he is disciplined.”

Ronnie Nathanielsz

T UE S DAY : M A RCH 3 , 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Rockets surprise Cavs in overtime HOUSTON (AFP)--James Harden finished with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Houston Rockets edged the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-103 in overtime on Sunday.

Terrence Jones tallied 19 points with seven rebounds and Donatas Motiejunas scored 16 points for the Rockets, who won all their five-game homestand NBA contests.

LeBron James struggled at times, missing two free throws that cost Cleveland the game late in overtime.

He finished with a gamehigh 37 points despite shooting 15-of-35 from the floor and three-of-11 from beyond the arc.

Kevin Love had 21 points and Tristan Thompson recorded 14 points with a season-high 19 rebounds for Cleveland.

Patrick Beverley drained a three-pointer before Josh Smith made two free throws to give the Rockets a 104-100 lead with 2:21 left in overtime.

James hit a wide open three pointer with under a minute left, then he squandered an opportunity to win the game late.

James was fouled by Smith with four seconds left, but the four-time MVP missed both free throws and Harden made a free throw at the other end with under a second on the clock to close out the scoring.

“I didn’t come through for my teammates tonight,” James said. “The guys put us in position to win the game and I didn’t come through for them.”

Centennial III (left) of Judes Echauz leaves its rivals behind.

Centennial III reigns in Subic-to-Boracay race JUDES Echauz steered Centennial III across the finish for a win, edging defending champion Hong Kong’s Reichel/Pug 76 Jelik in the sixth Standard Insurance Subic-to-Boracay Race Sunday afternoon off Boracay in Malay, Aklan.

After sailing a highly and tactical battle, Centennial III topped the IRC Racing Class, with a time 27:37:39, while Frank Pong’s Jelik was a close second with 27:45:06.

The race was a 200-mile ISAF Cat 3 offshore one and started off the Lighthouse Marina Resort, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, last Saturday noon.

Depending on the size of the boat, the race takes between 20

to 40 hours.

Finishing third was Malaysia’s Ulumulu, skippered by Troy Yaw and Jeremy Koo with 28: 11:52, while highly regarded Hong Kong sailor Geoff Hill and his Antipodes placed fourth with 28: 13:32.

American Race Officer Jerry Rollin said Ragamuffin 90-Dubois 90 Custom-designed and skippered by David Witt,

arrived fifth with 28: 37:48 and veteran campaigner and 2013 winner Karakoa, led by Ray Ordoveza, was sixth overall with 28: 42:44.

Action in the waters of Boracay won’t stop upon completion of the SBBR as sailors will splash back into competition with the Boracay Cup Regatta, which started yesterday up to March 6.

Stakes in the race are high as, according to Commodore Ricky Sandoval, chair of the organizing committee, of the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing, it will be part of the basis for yearend honors in the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit.

Winners in the SBBR and the

Boracay Cup Regatta will earn precious points in the race for the AY skipper and Yacht of the Year honors.

The twin event is organized by the Philippine Sailing Association and Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen’s Sailing Club, in cooperation with the Subic Bay Yacht Club, and The Lighthouse Marina Resort and in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Department of Tourism, Philippine Coast Guard, and Municipality of Malay.

Sponsors include Cebu Pacific, PLDT Alpha , Resort World Philippines, Tanduay, Seawinds Resort Boracay, Business Mirror and Manila Bulletin.

Sports execs propose 2 world-class sports centers

By Peter Atencio CLARK Field, Pampanga—Not one, but two proposed sites will be developed as world-class sports complexes and training facilities for national athletes in the next 50 years.

This was the consensus reached by a five-member technical group, headed by Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, following an ocular inspection done on two areas offered in Pampanga and Tarlac.

All plans—short-range (five years), medium-range (10 years) and long-range (50 years)--got the nod of all parties concerned, with House Committee on Youth and Sports Development Chairman Rep. Anthony del Rosario (first district, Davao del Norte), vowing to work on approving Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao, BCDA project manager Tomas Macrohon and Rep. Anthony legislation to support the undertaking. del Rosario inspect the map of a proposed training facility. PETER ATENCIO “We have to talk to the President (Be-

nigno Simeon Aquino III) and the DBM (Department of Budget Management) about this. P1 billion is OK. Spend it for a year, and get another P1 billion. Ayaw naman natin biglain,” said Guiao after a lunchtime meeting at the Clark International Airport Corporation offices.

A big convoy of sports officials, legislators and government administrators from the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the CIAC first visited part of a 50-hectare land overlooking the Sacobia River inside Clark Field, Pampanga.

Then, they went to Capas, Tarlac and were welcomed by protesting farmers and informal settlers as they inspected a barren, 34-hectare farm estate being administered by the BCDA. Cojuangco said he found the Sacobia area to be an ideal facility for training athletes in watersports like swimming, rowing and dragonboat, sailing and multisports events like triathlon and duathlon.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T U E S D AY : m A r c h 3 , 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

PH polo tourney opens SAN Miguel and Globalport are out to provide the early fireworks as both teams want nothing but resounding wins in the opening of the 2015 Globalport Philippine Polo Championship today in two venues in Batangas.

Reinforced by Argen- Asian region. tineans Mariano Obregon That’s also the target of and Santi Lujan, Iñigo Zobel’s San Games Today Mikee Romero’s Miguel when it (Calatagan, Batangas) Globalport is 2:30 p.m. • Globalport takes on Los Taslightly favored maraos at 3:30 vs Polo Escape over Polo Escape 3:30 p.m. • San Miguel p.m., with the vs Los Tamaraos when they clash former deterat 2:30 p.m. mined to add the The fourth member of Globalport tournament to Globalport is long-hitting its growing list of titles.

Adrian Garcia, known for With Zobel scoring two his all-around game. early goals, San Miguel With all six participating won the Philippine Open teams—the other two are Polo Championship last Tang Polo-China and Thai- year by beating Globalland’s King Power—playing port, 9-4. only two games in the elims, Romero said they have Romero said they ought to already put that loss behind start strong to boost their them and are eager to avenge confidence. the defeat at San Miguel.

“We have to play smart Romero’s optimism is to achieve our goal which understandable following is to win convincingly. If a positive session the other we win by a big margin, our day. desire to win the title will “The chemistry is almost also increase,” said Romero, there,” he added. who once again showed his Like Globalport, San persuasive power by luring Miguel is also beefed up some of the richest and in- by Argentineans Gregorio fluential businessmen in the Gelosi and Guillermo Cav-

Proponents of the EARTH Day Run 2015 are shown here, namely (from left) Atty. Gia Ibay, Head, Climate Change & Energy Programme, WWF for Nature; Gregg Yan, Communications Manager, WWF; AJ Cabrera, Marketing Associate, FOX International Channels PH; Rio dela Cruz; Eric Centeno, Sales Director / Head of AdSales, FOX International Channels PH.

Casey, Poulter share lead PALM GARDENS—Englishmen Ian Poulter and Paul Casey shared the lead Sunday night as the US PGA Tour’s raindelayed Honda Classic hurtled toward a manic Monday finish.

Both Poulter and Casey were at seven-under par, Poulter through the first seven holes of his fourth round and Casey through nine holes when darkness

University of the PhiliPPines Manila The Health Sciences Center

invitation to aPPLY FoR ELiGiBiLitY anD to BiD The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) hereby invites UPM-PGH registered suppliers and interested parties to participate in the bidding for the supply of the following commodities as funded

by UPM and PGH Fund 104-101 and 648-101: Contract Duration

approved Budget

Dropping / opening until 9:00 aM/10:00aM

Supply & Delivery of Contrast Media

One (1) Year Contract

Php 45,248,301.40

31 March 2015

Paper Print with Use of Print Server

One (1) Year Contract

1,620,000,00

31 March 2015

Additional Radiologic & External Beam Radiotheraphy Supplies

One (1) Year Contract

3,335,008.00

31 March 2015

Description

Rotary Microtome

Single Bid

779,238.00

31 March 2015

Staining Machine

Single Bid

1,800,000.00

31 March 2015

High Carousel Type Tissue Processor

Single Bid

1,800,000.00

31 March 2015

Phacoemulsification Machine with Anterior and Posterior Vitroctomy Machine

Single Bid

4,900,000.00

31 March 2015

Tilt Table

Single Bid

1,120,000.00

31 March 2015

Cooking Gas (Negotiation)

One (1) Year Contract

3,105,000.00

31 March 2015

Chemicals & Reagent (Pharmacy)-Rebid

One (1) Year Contract

7,240,576.68

17 March 2015

2.

Interested parties should have a Certificate of PhilGEPS Registration to be able to participate in the bidding.

3.

Prospective bidders should have undertaken a similar project within the last two (2) years amounting to at least 50% of the Approved Budget for the Contract. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use the non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Postqualification of the lowest calculated responsive bid shall be conducted.

4.

5.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification, Award of Contract and Performance Security shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Bidding documents containing general conditions and specifications including the schedule of pre-bid conference shall be issued starting 03 MarCh 2015 at the PGH Purchasing Office any time during office hours upon payment of a non-refundable amount to be determined upon issuance to the UP -PGH Cashier’s Office. A Pre-Bid Conference is scheduled on 17 MarCh 2015, 9:30 o' clock in the moring at the Bidding Room, Purchasing Office, PGH. Only prospective bidders who have required the bidding documents shall be allowed to attend the Pre-Bid Conference.

6.

Sealed bids in duplicate copies shall be received on or before 9:00 aM of 13 MarCh 2015 for Cooking Gas (negotiation); 17 MarCh 2015, for Chemicals & reagent (Pharmacy) and the rst for 31 MarCh 2015 at the UP Manila Internal Audit Office, 8th Floor, Central Block Building, PGH, Manila. Late bids will not be accepted.

7.

Sealed bids will be opened on 13 MarCh 2015, 17 MarCh 2015 anD 31 MarCh 2015 at 9:30 a.M. at the Bidding Room, Purchasing Office, 2nd Floor, Right Service Wing Bldg., near Ward 8, Philippine General Hospital, Taft Avenue, Manila by the Bids and Awards Committee I in the presence of the attending bidders.

8.

The University of the Philippines Manila hereby reserves the right to reject any/and or all proposals, or to waive any formality therein and/or accept the bids or not to make an award as may be considered most advantageous to UP Manila.

9.

For further information, prospective bidders may call the BAC-I Secretariat and look for Mrs. Lolita Alvarez at Tel. Nos. (02) 525-4359/554-8400 local 3020/3025/3026.

advertising Department

521-8507 (DL); 521-8340 (Fax); 521-4887 loc. 303

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

EARTH Day Run 2015, powered by National Geographic Channel, will be introducing new and exciting changes to mark its sixth year as one of the biggest running events in the Philippines. With RunRio at the helm, Earth Day Run 2015 is expecting 20,000 runners to participate on April 26, 2015 at the Mall of Asia Open Grounds, with the addition of 5,000 runners for its Baguio leg.

Support from the registration of all participants will help raise money for portable solar powered lighting kits that will be sent to communities in Mindoro, a project of NGC’s environmental partner, World Wildlife Fund for Nature.

These portable solar powered lighting kits will provide light and electricity to the Tawbuid Mangyan tribesfolk and Forest Rangers’ camps that are not directly connected to power grids. The lighting kits eliminate the use of highly-flammable kerosene to light up their homes and gives them access to a safe, stable and sustainable energy source that gives more opportunities for community development and advancement.

NGC’s Earth Day Run has consistently helped in promoting sustainable living and supporting environmental advocacy utilizing the popular platform of running in its six years of operation. As a result, participation in Earth Day Run has increased year on year, allowing NGC to contribute significantly to various environmental causes.

eXtraJUDiCial settleMent of estate Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Josefina e. rayMUnDo-PoZon was extrajudicially settled among her heirs as per Doc. No. 169; Page No. 35; Book No. XIX, Series of 2014 before Notary Public atty. leticia M. amon.

(Mst-feB.. 17/24 & Mar. 3, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines Metropolitan Naga Water 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City

Goods-2015-002 Submersible Pumps and Motors (Brand New) P.R. # 15-02-0044 MNWD, Naga City

invitation to BiD for the sUPPly anD Delivery of sUBMersiBle PUMPs anD Motors (BranD neW) The MetroPolitan naGa Water DistriCt (MnWD) through its approved Corporate Budget, intends to apply the sum of foUr Million fifty-seven thoUsanD three hUnDreD thirty-tWo Pesos (Php 4,057,332.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the sUPPly & Delivery of sUBMersiBle PUMPs anD Motors (BranD neW), ContraCt referenCe no. GooDs-2015-002. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The MNWD now invites bids for the sUPPly & Delivery of sUBMersiBle PUMPs anD Motors (BranD neW). Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) CalenDar Days. Bidders should have completed, within the last two (2) years, from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a single 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.

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

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the MNWD and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below starting from 8:00 AM – 12:00 NN and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders starting on tUesDay, MarCh 03 to MarCh 23, 2015, from the Office of the BAC Secretariat c/o Planning and Design Division, 2nd Floor MNWD Building, MNWD, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City, and upon payment of non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of five thoUsanD Pesos (Php 5,000.00).

The MNWD will hold a Pre-BiD ConferenCe on MarCh 10, 2015 at 1:30 PM at 2nd Floor, Conference Room, MNWD Building, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before MARCH 23, 2015 at 1:30 PM at the Office of the BAC Chairman c/o Planning and Design Division, Second Floor MNWD Building, MNWD, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

BID OPENING shall be on MARCH 23, 2015 at 1:30 PM. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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

For further information, please refer to: ENGR. MELVIN B. MACARAIG Planning and Design Division MNWD Compound, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City Tel. No.: (054) 472-1685 local 119; Fax No.: (054) 473-9288 E-mail address: mnwdbac@yahoo.com

(SGD.) MELVIN B. MACARAIG BAC Chairman

Dean iMelDa G. PeÑa Chair- Bids and Awards Committee (MST-Mar. 3, 2015)

pace through 54 holes.

Undaunted by the quick turnaround, Casey launched his fourth round with back-to-back birdies, then added birdies at the fourth and ninth.

Poulter regained a share of the lead when he stopped the rot with a birdie at the par-three seventh, where his tee shot left him three feet from the pin. AFP

For fast ad results, please call

Taft Avenue, Manila Tel. No. 554-8400 Loc. 3025/3026; 526-4359 E-mail Address: bac1.upm@gmail.com

1.

halted play on a marathon day at PGA National.

The long day must have felt even longer to Poulter after he let a three-shot thirdround lead evaporate early in the fourth, dropping three shots in two holes with a double-bogey at the fifth and bogey at the sixth.

That opened the door for Casey, who had birdied two of his last three holes in the third round to lie six off the

Earth Day Run slated

(MST-MAR. 3, 2015)

Baldwin, netters at Forum THE national teams in basketball and tennis headline Tuesday’s special session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin makes his very first appearance in the weekly forum as he discusses the plans and programs to be undertaken by the national men’s team as it prepares for the FIBAAsia Men’s Championship campaign that serves as qualifier to the2016 Rio Olympics.

Accompanying him is Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Deputy Executive Director for International Affairs Butch Antonio.

Meanwhile, also appearing in the session aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is the PH Davis Cup team, led by administrator Randy Villanueva and members of the squad seeing action in the Asia-Oceania Group II tie against Sri Lanka.

Completing the special guests’ list are Azkal player Chieffy Caligdong, Pru Life UK’s Belle Tiongco, and Spears-Sports president Albert Almendralejo as they talk about the Football For A Better Life Program.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T U E S D AY : M A R C H 3 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Desperation mode

By Jeric Lopez

Games Tuesday

BARAKO Bull aims to keep its spot in the upper half, while three other squads in the lower bracket face a must-win situation today in the final playdate of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup before the All-Star break.

On a roller-coaster ride in their last several games, the Energy Colas (4-3) shoot for a fourth-place tie when they play woeful cellar-dweller San Miguel Beer (1-6) at 7 p.m. in the main game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The appetizer two hours prior is an intriguing match-up between Kia Motors (3-5) and Alaska (2-4), which are at

(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. • Kia vs. Alaska 7 p.m. • San Miguel vs. Barako Bull

But that won’t come easy as the Beermen will come in on desperation mode as they badly need to win to keep their chances of making the quarterfinals alive. ‘’We need to show conninth and 10th places, respec- sistent urgency,’’ said Barako tively.

Bull coach Koy Banal. ‘’’Yung After going 3-0 to start the willingness ng players on conference, the Energy Co- both ends, dapat laging nanlas, who are still in relatively a doon for us. Our goal is to good position, have lost three remain in the middle of the of their last four games and a pack and we need this win to win is essential to keep their stay where we are.’’ place in the upper half.

Both squads are coming o f f

tough defeats in their recent setbacks.

Barako Bull yielded to Rain or Shine, 103-91, last Friday, while San Miguel Beer suffered yet another crushing blow as it lost to Purefoods, 113-105, in overtime last Sunday.

Before Kia Motors coach Manny Pacquiao left for Los Angeles last Saturday after his squad tasted a 115-104 drubbing at the hands of Blackwater, the fearless world champion egged his squad to continue aiming high as they are in the thick of things and are in contention for a playoff spot. ‘’Iyong encouragement na laging sinasabi namin sa kanila, dadalhin nila ‘yun. Kailangan lang ulit yung kumpiyansa sa isa’t isa para mag playoffs,’’ said Pacquiao.

Marc Pingris (left) of Purefoods sticks to SMB’s Arizona Reid like a leech, as his Hotshots’ teammate Alex Mallari looks on in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. Purefoods won, 113-105.

SONNY ESPIRITU

Easier to be a Pope than be a PBA Commissioner REY JOBLE

THE LINK

JB Baylon has worked with the PBA as a governor for the old Coca-Cola franchise for 10 years and would have been a league chairman had the owners of their basketball team didn’t agree to sell its basketball team.

So when his name cropped up as among the candidates to become the next PBA commissioner, Baylon was asking whether it’s another episode of “someone who has never been.”

“At first natawa ako when I saw my name there. I thought when I left the PBA, I will remain to be a fan,” said Baylon during a telephone conversation. “My second reaction was ano ba ito?

Pinaglalaruan ba ako because before, I was supposed to be chairman pero hindi natuloy. Now, someone wants me to become the next commissioner?”

Even his boss at Nickel Asia, where Baylon works as an executive, was also asking how serious he is about becoming the next commissioner.

“Honestly, I wanted to retire at Nickel Asia. But when my boss, Mr. Gerard Brimo (CEO and president) asked me, ‘you’re not serious, right? I told him it’s my dream job. But it’s not a question of ‘Do I have to do it? It’s more of a question of ‘how do I do it right?” added Baylon.

A team owner called up Baylon trying to pursue him to consider the position. For the former Powerade Pilipinas team manager, it makes the matter more complicating for him.

“Mas nakunsensya ako to give it serious consideration.

Lalong tumindi ‘yung dilemma,” he added.

For Baylon, a commissioner’s job is more delicate than any other people who has high stature in the society and should he become the next commissioner, it would be his most challenging role ever.

“It’s because it’s easier to become a Pope than to become a commissioner. The commissioner could be infallible, while the Pope is not,” he added.

In the end, Baylon has decided to seriously consider the position.

“It won’t be offered to you, because from the start, you would have declined right away kung talagang hindi ka interesado. I’m seriously considering it (becoming a PBA commissioner),” added Baylon.

Baylon had seen the PBA reaching greater heights over the last five years under the leadership of Chito Salud.

“Ibang klase ‘yung nangyari sa PBA the past five years under Commissioner Chito. The PBA is now the premier league in a country, where basketball is the premier sport,” said Baylon. “The next commissioner should just re-energize the base and how would they deepen. In fact, as far as situation is concerned, mas maganda nga ‘yung katayuan ng PBA kaysa sa NBA because the PBA isn’t competing with anyone now. Sa NBA, marami silang kalaban because in America, baseball is the favorite past time.

Sa Pilipinas, basketball is the premier sport.”

Whoever will become the next commissioner, Baylon believes he/she will have an easier time because the framework had already been laid out by the board as far as restructuring the PBA is concerned.

“It seems the board has already laid out the framework. Normally kasi, the CEO would push the board to do it, but in the PBA, it seems the board had already set the direction of the league. The next commissioner should not worry about so much, because he/she doesn’t have to look at the past or what the previous commissioner has achieved. He/she should bring his own shoes.”

What if he becomes the next commissioner?

“My only promise is, it’s going to be fun,” added Baylon.

EXTR SETT

Notice that th late RAYM was settled heirs 169; Book of 201 Public M. Am

(MST-FEB.

REPUB by the A

AH CHA A.C. TE

x--------

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications

De La Salle is king of chess; Lady Tams top distaff side Final standings: Men—DLSU 40.5, AdU 37.5, UST 33.5, FEU 30.5, NU 30.5, ADMU 23.5, UP 17, UE 11.5.

Women—FEU 44, DLSU 43, UP 31.5, NU 27.5, UST 23, AdU 21, UE 17, ADMU 17.

DE LA SALLE hammered out a 3-1 victory over Adamson University to end a decade-long wait for the men’s division crown at the close of the UAAP Season 77 chess tournament Sunday at the Henry Sy Sr. Bldg. inside the DLSU campus.

NM Jerad Docena and Franz Grafil starred for the Green Woodpushers in the final round, frustrating the Falcons’ bid to clinch their first title in 25 years.

With 40.5 points, La Salle annexed its seventh title overall to tie University of Santo Tomas as the second winningest squad, behind Far Eastern University’s 14, and the first since 2004-05 season, with John Paul Gomez leading the way.

Docena was named the tournament Rookie-Most Valuable Player in the men’s division.

Adamson, with 37 points, achieved a second consecutive runner-up finish. The Growling Tigers finished 33.5 points in third spot, while the

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

deposed champion Tamaraws are out of the podium, crashing to fourth place with 30.5 points.

The Lady Tamaraws, meanwhile, ended the Lady Woodpushers’ fouryear reign in the distaff side, spoiling the Taft-based school’s bid for a rare championship double.

Despite a 1.5-2.5 loss to La Salle in the 14th round, FEU gained enough cushion to bag its second women’s crown with 44 points. The Lady Woodpushers settled for second place with 43 points.

The much-anticipated top-board duel between WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Janelle Mae Frayna ended up in a draw, but the Lady Tamaraws secured the championship after Shania Mae Mendoza defeated fellow WFM Cherry Mae Mejia in Board 2.

Frayna, who beat Fronda in their first round meeting, took home the season MVP honors, while Mendoza bagged the Rookie of the Year plum.

Among the gold medalists in the men’s division are IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Ateneo (Board 1), La Salle’s Docena (Board 2), Adamson’s Kevin Labog (Board 3), UST’s Christian Flores (Board 4), La Salle’s Nigel Galan (Board 5) and Justin Corpin of University of the Philippines (Board 6).

TO:

TOLL REGULATORY BOARD

D c S 6

2/F Integrated Bar of the Phils. Bldg., Dona Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City

P U 1

NOTICE OF TOLL RATE IMPLEMENTATION (TARLAC-PANGASINAN-LA UNION EXPRESSWAY) In accordance with the Toll Concession Agreement by and among the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Toll Regulatory Board and Private Infra Dev Corporation, the following pre-accepted toll rates, inclusive of VAT, are hereby approved for implementation starting on March 17,2015 at 12:01 a.m.

TARLAC-PANGASINAN-LA UNION EXPRESSWAY (TPLEX) La Paz to Urdaneta Proposed Toll Rates (VAT Inclusive)

La Paz 30.00 58.00 79.00 99.00 164.00 216.00

Victoria 28.00 49.00 69.00 134.00 186.00

Gerona

21.00 41.00 106.00 158.00

Paniqui

20.00 85.00 137.00

Moncada

65.00 117.00

Carmen

Urdaneta

52.00

Class 2: Buses and trucks with 2 axles and a height of more than 7 feet; light vehicles with more than 2 axles and a height of up to 7 feet (vehicles with trailers)

ENTRY/EXIT La Paz Victoria Gerona Panigui Moncada Carmen Urdaneta

La Paz 76.00 145.00 197.00 247.00 410.00 540.00

Victoria 70.00 122.00 171.00 334.00 464.00

Gerona

52.00 102.00 264.00 394.00

Paniqui

50.00 213.00 343.00

Moncada

163.00 293.00

Carmen

Urdaneta

130.00

CIass 3 : T rucks with 3 or more axles and a height greater than 7 feet

ENTRY/EXIT La Paz Victoria Gerona Panigui Moncada Carmen Urdaneta

La Paz 91.00 175.00 237.00 296.00 492.00 648.00

Victoria 84.00 146.00 206.00 401.00 557.00

Gerona

62.00 122.00 317.00 473.00

Paniqui

60.00 255.00 411.00

Moncada

195.00 351.00

C 7

F 7

GREET

Class 1: Cars and jeepneys, including taxis, vans, pick-ups, etc. or vehicles with 2 axles and an overall height of up to 7 feet

ENTRY/EXIT La Paz Victoria Gerona Panigui Moncada Carmen Urdaneta

R D 6

Carmen

Urdaneta

156.00

Any interested expressway user shall have the right to file, within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of the first publication of this notice, a petition for review with the TRB at the 2nd Floor, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Building, Dona Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

By Authority of the Board:

You notice/s verified PETITIO Issuanc Asset P from th Villegas bank a Comme Comme with Ea Chang and Ea Pachec related under A prays, Preserv any tra conceal after du enjoinin withdraw subject asset p accoun to be su the Anti

If no period, judgme and its

WIT Judge o Philippin

(Sgd.) ATTY. EDMUNDO O. REYES, JR. Executive Director (MST-FEB. 24, MAR. 3 & 10, 2015)

(MST-FEB.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T U E S D AY : M A R C H 3 , 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

M

an on a ISSION

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

FIVE-DIVISION world champion and 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire arrived in Manila early Sunday morning and said he is man on a mission, ready to put on a show when he appears on ALA Promotions-ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Pride 30 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on March 28.

Arriving with Nonito was his father/trainer “Dodong” Donaire, while Nonito’s wife Rachel, who is expecting their second child in May, stayed behind in the US. (See related Donaire stories on A12) Donaire, who is returning to the super bantamweight division, where he was highly successful, will face William Prado of Brazil in a comeback fight following his crushing sixth-round stoppage at the hands of the much bigger and stronger featherweight champion Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters of Jamaica.

Donaire, who has been training at his father’s Boxing and Fitness Gym, in Oakland, California, looked sharp and has sparred with three different fighters, but said that lightweight Jesus Partides “gave me some great sparring.”

On Monday, he joined longestreigning Filipino world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and undefeated super bantamweight

Obviously motivated because of his disappointing loss to Walters, Donaire said he wants “to put on a really fine performance” against Prado, who has a record of 22-4-1 with 15 knockouts.

Prince Albert Pagara in a big, Pinoy Pride press conference at Gloria Maris, Gateway Mall.

Nietes will defend his title

Donnie Nietes (left), ALA president Michael Aldeguer (center) and Nonito Donaire are shown during the launching of the Pinoy Pride 30. SONNY ESPIRITU

against Mexican Gilberto, who has an impressive record of 17 knockouts in 19 wins, while Pagara, who is ranked No. 7 by the International Boxing Federation, also has a tough battle on his hands against Mexico’s North American Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Rodolfo “Fofo” Hernandez, who has an impressive record of 24 knockouts in 26 wins with five losses and a draw.

“I am excited to be here to finally train

and fight. Aside from a little jet lag, I’m great. So far, so good,” said Donaire.

Donaire said he is ready in terms of training and would put the finishing touches to his preparation at the famed ALA Gym in Cebu for two weeks after doing some promotional work with ABS-CBN. Obviously motivated because of his disappointing loss to Walters, who was in trouble late in the second round, but was saved by the bell, Donaire

LOTTO RESULTS

Centennial III reigns supreme TURN TO A13

Desperation mode TURN TO A15 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

said he wants “to put on a really fine performance” against Prado, who has a record of 22-4-1 with 15 knockouts.

Donaire will be making his first appearance in a fight since April 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum, where he scored a smashing fourth- round TKO over Raul Martinez to win the IBF/IBO flyweight titles, dropping Martinez four times en route to the win, with boxing fans once again looking forward to seeing him in action.

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

TUESDAY: MARCH 3, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

PSe comPoSite index Closing March 2, 2015

8000 7500 6840 7500 6180

7000

BUSINESS

5520

6500

4860

6000 4200 3860 5500

7,773.92 43.35

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing MARCH 2, 2015 45

P44.090

44

CLOSE

43 42 41

HIGH P44.090 LOW P44.170 AVERAGE P44.129 VOLUME 378.300M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.80-P43.35 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P27.90-P31.20 Diesel P35.40-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, March 2, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.0820

Japan

Yen

0.008360

0.3685

UK

Pound

1.544100

68.0670

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128951

5.6844

Switzerland

Franc

1.049318

46.2560

Canada

Dollar

0.800384

35.2825

Singapore

Dollar

0.733837

32.3490

Australia

Dollar

0.782473

34.4930

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

116.9284

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

11.7546

Brunei

Dollar

0.731154

32.2307

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000078

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030941

1.3639

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.0019

Euro

Euro

1.119400

49.3454

Korea

Won

0.000909

0.0401

China

Yuan

0.159500

7.0311

India

Rupee

0.016197

0.7140

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.279174

12.3065

New Zealand

Dollar

0.755116

33.2870

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031836

1.4034 Source: PDS Bridge

Ortigas skyscraper.

Magnusson Klemencic Associates, locally represented by Pimentel & Associates Engineering Consultant, describes The Royalton at the P25-billion, 10-hectare Capitol Commons mixed-used complex in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, as one of Metro Manila’s safest residential structures. The Royalton, one of Ortigas & Company’s forays into the luxury segment of the real estate industry, received MKA’s certification after meeting local code standards and following enhanced strength, robustness, detailing and serviceability design considerations. A structural report by MKA says the tower will be able to withstand strong wind and seismic forces after using the performance-based seismic design process.

Investment pledges reach P755.9b—PSA

INVESTMENT pledges approved by seven government agencies for tax incentives hit P755.9 billion in 2014, up 0.2 percent from P754 billion in 2013, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Monday.

Data from the PSA showed domestic investments climbed 18.5 percent to P569 billion, while foreign investments fell 31.8 percent to P186.9 billion.

The investments were approved by seven promotion agencies, including the Board of Investments, Clark Development Corp., Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, BoIAutonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.

The PSA said the total investments approved in 2014 were expected to generate 283,354 jobs, 74.9 percent from 161,998 recorded in the previous year.

Proposed investments of foreign and Filipino nationals in information and communication technology sector reached P39.7 billion, up by 28 percent from P31 billion in 2013.

Japan contributed the largest share of approved foreign investments in 2014, accounting for 19.1 percent or P35.7 billion.

The Netherlands committed P32.8 billion or 17.5 percent, and the United States accounted for 17.4 billion or 9.3 percent.

Jennifer Ambanta

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

T-bill rates drop on low inflation

By Jennifer Ambanta

THE government on Monday raised P20 billion from the sale of Treasury bills, as investors offered lower interest rates in line with a low inflation outlook.

Interest rates for the 91-day and 182-day Treasury bills dropped while the yield for 364-day debt instruments barely moved up.

National Treasurer Roberto Tan said the decline in interest rate meant the market still needed an investment facility to park its assets, after the government rejected the offers for the Treasury bills in the previous auction.

“We rejected all bids in the previous T-bills auction and I think the market is still looking

B3

for yields,” Tan said.

The sale of Treasury bills is one of the sources of financing for the government, as it continues to incur a budget deficit this year. It also uses the proceeds to pay for debt settlement.

Tenders for the 91-day or threemonth securities reached P28.289 billion, or more than three times the original offering of P8 billion.

Tan said the strong bids for fixed-income securities showed the market was optimistic on

Pure Foods sells shares, raises P15b

inflation and policy stance of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

“They bidded aggressively because of the low inflation outlook,” he said.

Inflation rate decelerated to 2.4 percent in January this year from 2.7 percent in December last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

British bank Standard Chartered said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas might reduce the current policy rates in the coming months, if inflation rate fell below 2 percent.

Data from the Treasury showed the interest rates for the 182day or six-month debt papers dropped 5.9 basis points to 1.699 percent from 1.758 percent in the previous auction.

B4

MWSS inaction dismays Maynilad

TUESDAY: MARCH 3, 2015

B2

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Monday, March 2, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

2.7 75.3 99.4 105.2 63 2.3 4.2 19.6 31.6 22.5 1.01 92.9 1.65 30.5 99 140 392 59 146.8 1700 130 2.8

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. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

42.6 6.1 1.66 2.3 17.98 17.2 15.8 56.8 4.57 39.5 14 12.98 8.15 12.34 17 27.1 90.5 0.014 15.74 9.4 0.98 199.8 10.98 79 45.45 30 90 14.7 317 5.37 14.48 7.5 14.5 7.03 6.68 8.1 275 2.25 0.191 2.5 2.68 188.6 5.5 1.3 26 2.17 0.7 61.6 31.85 2.16 7.39 3.29 2.05 747 11.34 84 5.34 0.23 1060 7.1 59.8 5.29 6.55 0.9 19.9

1.55 63.5 67.5 82.5 50 1.9 1.1 14.5 23.2 6.84 0.175 69.35 1.2 20.45 76 119 276 41.5 105.1 1281 116 2.25

Close 4.09 69.8 111.00 96.45 46.6 2.41 2.60 16.2 25.5 7.70 0.520 92.55 0.96 18.40 83.45 95.30 355 46.1 160 1347.00 70.20 3.1

High

Low

FINANCIAL 4.1 4.09 69.8 68.85 111.00 108.90 98.95 96.45 46.9 46.55 2.48 2.41 2.58 2.50 16.28 16 26 25.5 7.99 7.60 0.520 0.510 94 92.95 0.96 0.96 18.36 18.36 84.00 82.00 95.30 95.30 355 350.2 46.3 45.95 162 159.9 1390.00 1340.00 70.20 70.00 3.02 3.02 INDUSTRIAL 45 44.4 1.88 1.85 1.1 1.08 2 1.99 8.32 8.11 18.84 18.8 21.2 20.1 57.1 56.9 1.76 1.71 13 12.96 18.620 18.12 10.88 10.80 8.94 8.80 10.60 10.46 19.46 17.8 29.85 29.2 103.7 102.6 0.4800 0.4700 14.70 14.70 6.76 6.56 0.610 0.610 220.60 215.80 10.46 10.38 38.05 38.00 51.90 51.90 31.7 31 30.35 28.4 8.300 8.080 280.20 277.60 4.58 4.5 10.44 10.22 4.3 4.01 10.80 10.50 3.99 3.95 2.68 2.60 5.80 5.67 6.7 6.45 205 205 1.86 1.77 0.180 0.174 1.55 1.55 2.37 2.26 217.80 212.6 4.49 4.49 0.73 0.72 23.95 23.00 1.60 1.53 HOLDING FIRMS 0.480 0.480 58.00 56.80 24.00 23.15 1.42 1.31 7.12 7.00 2.92 2.76 2.92 2.8 725 717 9.78 9.52 15.80 15.60 4.64 4.50 0.415 0.365 1215 1180 6.38 6.37 67.00 65.50 5.5 5.39 9.1 8.91 0.71 0.69 15.14 15.06 0.59 0.59 5.53 5.33 5.25 5.15 0.0420 0.0420 0.730 0.730 2.5 2.5 78.50 77.40 2.80 2.80 899.00 875.00 1.23 1.20 0.94 0.93 108.00 107.00 0.6300 0.5500 0.2700 0.2600 0.330 0.330 PROPERTY 10.100 9.950 10.00 10.00 1.07 1.04 1.330 1.290 37.00 36.20 4.49 4.3 5.16 5.03 6.03 6.03

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

4.1 69.8 110.00 98.95 46.55 2.45 2.50 16.1 26 7.99 0.510 93.6 0.96 18.36 84.00 95.30 355 46.1 162 1384.00 70.10 3.02

0.24 0.00 -0.90 2.59 -0.11 1.66 -3.85 -0.62 1.96 3.77 -1.92 1.13 0.00 -0.22 0.66 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.25 2.75 -0.14 -2.58

102,000 28500 4,695,590 1,109,360 10,700 341,000 381,000 15,300 170,800 16,700 1,638,000 2,738,670 26,000 2,200 69,300 1,000 3,050 135,100 804,830 285 39,950 13,000

44.7 1.85 1.1 2 8.11 18.8 21 57 1.71 13 18.620 10.84 8.90 10.48 19 29.5 103.4 0.4700 14.70 6.73 0.610 217.00 10.38 38.00 51.90 31.5 29.9 8.090 280.00 4.5 10.44 4.01 10.80 3.96 2.66 5.80 6.7 205 1.8 0.174 1.55 2.37 217.8 4.49 0.73 23.00 1.59

0.68 -0.54 -0.90 0.00 -0.12 0.00 -0.94 0.00 -2.84 0.00 2.99 0.00 0.56 -1.13 -0.52 1.20 0.19 -4.08 0.00 1.51 0.00 -1.27 -0.19 -0.13 -0.29 -1.10 3.10 -0.12 0.00 -1.75 2.15 -10.89 0.37 0.00 -0.75 0.00 4.69 0.00 -2.17 -0.57 0.65 4.87 -0.09 -4.87 1.39 10.58 3.92

1,279,500 8,000 214,000 140,000 9,400 293,100 377,000 101,950 267,000 31,600 2,167,100 6,603,200 38,483,300 251,500 37,100 5,162,600 280,000 90,000 98,300 530,200 47,000 763,830 1,123,900 1,100 3,800 1,413,400 1,106,100 69,000 191,410 320,000 1,634,600 10,000 32,300 775,000 2,753,000 243,700 14,500 190 131,000 6,440,000 1,000 3,476,000 2,161,660 24,000 452,000 800 165,000

0.480 58.00 23.30 1.42 7.10 2.89 2.83 725 9.7 15.70 4.64 0.370 1213 6.37 67.00 5.5 9.03 0.7 15.1 0.59 5.41 5.15 0.0420 0.730 2.5 78.10 2.80 897.00 1.23 0.94 108.00 0.5500 0.2650 0.330

2.13 2.02 -2.10 0.71 0.00 2.48 -4.71 1.12 -0.21 -0.63 1.31 0.00 2.80 0.00 0.00 2.04 1.01 0.00 -0.13 0.00 0.19 -0.96 0.00 1.39 4.60 0.77 0.00 1.93 0.82 -1.05 0.93 -6.78 3.92 0.00

50,000 1,150,510 11,669,400 14,000 83,400 932,000 98,000 276,610 4,800,500 12,286,800 405,000 14,360,000 88,025 650,200 2,727,460 1,100 7,814,700 261,000 60,327,308 2,520,000 63,598,600 30,300 1,000,000 44,000 21,000 55,850 4,000 315,750 194,000 135,000 3,730 86,943,000 990,000 3,300

10.000 10.00 1.04 1.300 37.00 4.49 5.12 6.03

0.00 0.00 -2.80 -3.70 2.07 4.66 1.39 0.00

1,230,500 100 380,000 473,000 7,739,700 1,299,000 51,600 100

1221528.5 -159,789,876.00 51,316,091.50 24,500.00 25,700.00 60,976.00 3,525,580.00 102,000.00 47,408,750.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

2 2.51 1.5 0.201 0.98 1.09 2.25 1.77 1.6 6.34 5.3 0.180 0.74 4.45 24.8 2.06 3.6 19.62 1.02 6.66 1.96 6.5

1.22 1.21 0.97 0.068 0.47 0.87 1.22 1.18 1.19 2.8 3.12 0.070 0.4 2.5 18.72 1.45 2.9 14.1 0.58 3.05 0.87 4.37

3.25 43.7 1.09 12.46 14 0.1640 4.05 71 12.3 3.28 9 1700 2008 9.04 2.02 118.9 5.8 0.017 0.0653 2.2800 6.99 9.67 2.85 2.2 1.97 2.45 14.46 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.6 107 11.3 3486 0.710 2.01 48.5 74

1.55 27 0.59 10 8.28 0.0960 2.97 44.8 10.14 1.99 4 1080 1580 7.12 1.2 94.4 4 0.012 0.026 1.560 1.95 5.82 1.15 1.1 0.485 1.42 10.14 0.35 0.36 14.54 5.2 81 4.39 2572 0.250 0.26 32.2 48

Close

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

Empire East Land Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

High

Low

Close

0.96 1.25 0.98 0.144 0.460 0.900 1.65 1.68 1.36 3.86 5.32 0.126 0.5100 6.47 28.00 1.76 3.20 19.76 0.9 7.28 1.090 7.150

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.97 0.95 0.97 1.24 1.10 1.14 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.146 0.144 0.145 0.465 0.455 0.460 0.900 0.900 0.900 1.71 1.65 1.71 1.71 1.65 1.71 1.37 1.34 1.35 4.02 4.02 4.02 5.56 5.44 5.56 0.127 0.122 0.127 0.5600 0.5200 0.5300 6.92 6.53 6.92 29.40 27.50 28.80 1.78 1.75 1.75 3.20 3.19 3.20 19.70 19.40 19.60 0.91 0.88 0.89 7.27 7.08 7.27 1.090 1.010 1.040 7.240 7.050 7.150 SERVICES 6.25 8.2 6.25 7.8 61.9 64.1 62.5 64 0.690 0.710 0.700 0.700 12.52 12.54 12.52 12.52 10.80 10.90 10.60 10.60 0.1090 0.1130 0.1100 0.1110 4.25 4.25 4.2 4.2 90 90.5 89.5 90 10.44 10.48 10.2 10.46 1.75 1.75 1.74 1.75 5.90 5.93 5.90 5.90 1086 1061 1061 1061 1905 1930 1890 1930 6.30 6.33 6.30 6.30 1.55 1.63 1.55 1.62 112.1 114 112.1 114 16 16 16 16 0.015 0.015 0.014 0.014 0.275 0.290 0.275 0.280 1.3800 1.4000 1.3500 1.3800 2.83 2.93 2.78 2.8 9.70 9.70 9.34 9.39 1.97 1.96 1.96 1.96 1.45 1.82 1.43 1.64 0.700 0.710 0.700 0.710 2 2.01 2 2.01 10.2 10.38 10.18 10.38 0.370 0.370 0.355 0.365 0.520 0.530 0.500 0.510 18.26 18.04 18 18 4.63 4.70 4.60 4.70 97.00 97.00 97.00 97.00 13.66 1368.00 13.34 13.66 3162.00 3160.00 3086.00 3100.00 0.590 0.610 0.580 0.590 1.630 1.670 1.640 1.650 39.40 39.90 38.80 39.35 85.00 87.00 83.60 87.00 9.95 10.00 9.80 10.00 0.71 0.71 0.69 0.70 6.98 7.09 6.99 7.01 0.375 0.385 0.370 0.380 1.370 1.400 1.230 1.370 MINING & OIL 0.0053 0.0054 0.0053 0.0053 2.91 2.92 2.92 2.92 9.97 9.98 9.93 9.98 10.82 10.82 10.82 10.82 0.265 0.265 0.265 0.265 7.2000 7.7 7.7 7.7000 1.03 1.05 1.02 1.05 0.9 0.9 0.88 0.9 7.57 7.75 7.55 7.60 2.82 2.89 2.81 2.87 0.360 0.360 0.355 0.360 0.260 0.265 0.255 0.260 0.265 0.265 0.260 0.265 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 0.0160 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 5.93 6.07 5.9 5.94 29 29.7 28.75 29.4 3.2 3.29 3.21 3.29 0.7100 0.7500 0.7200 0.7300 2.310 2.370 2.300 2.370 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 5.87 5.86 5.86 5.86 8.2 8.3 8.15 8.25 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.61 0.015 0.016 0.015 0.016 155.60 161.00 155.70 159.50 3.82 4.35 3.95 4.35 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 PREFERRED 65.8 70 65.7 68 504 504 501 504 507 509 509 509 108.5 110 110 110 501.5 503 500 500.5 6.19 6.2 6.19 6.19 1.03 1.04 1.02 1.04 106 106 106 106 75.5 76 75.5 76 78.5 89.5 79.65 81.95 80.4 81.55 81 81.55 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.200 4.190 4.000 4.000 7.71 7.89 7.72 7.86 65 68.95 64 68.95 11.18 11.46 10.8 10.96 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 125.1 126 125 126

1.04 -8.80 -1.02 0.69 0.00 0.00 3.64 1.79 -0.74 4.15 4.51 0.79 3.92 6.96 2.86 -0.57 0.00 -0.81 -1.11 -0.14 -4.59 0.00

4,234,000 168,410 65,000 5,203,080 630,000 4,000 2,161,000 2,161,000 796,000 1,000 42,115,200 1,220,000 109,000 2,495,700 1,867,800 423,000 114,000 16,154,200 656,000 16,100 1,759,000 7,007,300

283,410.00

24.80 3.39 1.45 0.00 -1.85 1.83 -1.18 0.00 0.19 0.00 0.00 -2.30 1.31 0.00 4.52 1.69 0.00 -6.67 1.82 0.00 -1.06 -3.20 -0.51 13.10 1.43 0.50 1.76 -1.35 -1.92 -1.42 1.51 0.00 0.00 -1.96 0.00 1.23 -0.13 2.35 0.50 -1.41 0.43 1.33 0.00

1,984,300 -631,437.00 319,380 131,000 11,400 -125,400.00 133,166,000 -55,443,952.00 28,420,000 4,480.00 781,000 659,490 620,796.00 27,300 85,000 135,100 -295,160.00 1,299,725 25,295 29,590,205.00 146,600 3,903,000 451,410 -8,271,848.00 100 63,300,000 89,020,000 -272,800.00 243,000 165,000 3,676,237 5,000 1,745,000 80,650.00 112,000 4,000 4,234,700 410,000 167,000 3,000 6,000 60 5,820.00 440,000 500,700.00 172,820 -4.00 2,484,000 16,555,000 1,621.00 10,736,400 -215,452,375.00 1,765,980 -12,143,368.00 5,045,300 477.00 503,000 1,273,000 -619,383.00 560,000 94,000 -11,340.00

0.00 0.34 0.10 0.00 0.00 6.94 1.94 0.00 0.40 1.77 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -6.25 0.17 1.38 2.81 2.82 2.60 0.00 0.00 -0.17 0.61 -1.91 6.67 2.51 13.87 0.00

74,000,000 21,000 253,700 1,100 1,780,000 4,600 1,121,000 264,000 115,900 8,971,000 70,000 6,130,000 2,570,000 48,800,000 400,000 1,371,800 5,931,500 2,268,000 463,000 546,000 10,100,000 7,600,000 5,000 556,500 198,000 64,100,000 1,016,130 1,557,000 500,000

3.34 0.00 0.39 1.38 -0.20 0.00 0.97 0.00 0.66 4.39 1.43

46,638,648 1,650 10 6,070 2,460 15,100 1,467,000 80,390 1,695,230 32,010 -2,106,830.00 50,960

-4.76 1.95 6.08 -1.97

2,583,000 315,300 1,150 3,109,700

-5,005,600.00

0.72

6,230

1,251.00

9,700.00 46,000.00

64,067,863.00 1,150,028.00 243,740.00 0.00

MST 31.75 2.51 0.88 1.25 9.58 14.6 9.82 21.5 0.82 17.3 5.98 9.05 4.25 8.68 8.61 12.2 48.9 0.0097 12.8 2.05 0.32 150.8 8.55 48.5 16 20.35 12 10.1 246 4 11.56 5 9.94 4.33

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

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

Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor 4.88 RFM Corporation 2.28 Roxas Holdings 210 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 1.7 Splash Corporation 0.102 Swift Foods, Inc. 1.6 TKC Steel Corp.

1.37 Trans-Asia Oil 111.3 Universal Robina 1.58 Victorias Milling 0.550 Vitarich Corp.

9.01 Vivant Corp.

1.33 Vulcan Ind’l.

44.4 1.86 1.11 2 8.12 18.8 21.2 57 1.76 13 18.080 10.84 8.85 10.60 19.1 29.15 103.2 0.4900 14.70 6.63 0.610 219.80 10.4 38.05 52.05 31.85 29 8.100 280.00 4.58 10.22 4.5 10.76 3.96 2.68 5.80 6.4 205 1.84 0.175 1.54 2.26 218 4.72 0.72 20.80 1.53

0.46 45.75 21.95 1.6 6.3 1.8 1.04 508 7.470 47.25 4 0.144 706 5.3 36.7 3 3.95 0.58 12.96

0.470 56.85 23.80 1.41 7.10 2.82 2.97 717 9.72 15.80 4.58 0.370 1180 6.37 67.00 5.39 8.94 0.7 15.12 0.59 5.4 5.2 0.0420 0.720 2.39 77.50 2.80 880.00 1.22 0.95 107.00 0.5900 0.2550 0.330

5.4 5.35 0.0550 0.84 2.9 88 3.5 866 2.2 1.39 156 0.285 0.245 0.510

4.06 4.5 0.027 0.355 2.36 54.5 1.5 680 1.04 0.85 58.05 0.158 0.150 0.295

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ 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

9.03 26.95 1.99 2.07 35.3 6.15 6.1 5.6

5.51 12 0.99 1 23.7 4.41 5 2.8

8990 HLDG 10.000 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 10.00 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.07 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.350 Ayala Land `B’ 36.25 Belle Corp. `A’ 4.29 Cebu Holdings 5.05 Cebu Prop. `A’ 6.03

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

SHARES 12,334,981 81,272,359 226,776,013 180,401,507 255,641,111 240,876,815 1,000,735,607

40,392.00 5,068,883.00

67,070.00 1,840,370.00 53,348,468.00 90,230.00 7,000.00

0.87 11.46 0.435 1.6

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `B’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SSI Group 0.59 STI Holdings 7.78 Travellers 0.305 Waterfront Phils.

1.04 Yehey

0.0086 5.45 17.24 25 0.325 12.8 1.2 1.73 10.98

0.0028 1.72 11.48 9.43 0.225 6.2 0.5 0.76 4.93

0.46 0.455 0.730 0.024 0.026 8.2 48.85 3.35 1.030 3.06 0.021 0.023 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.042 420 9 0.016

0.385 0.3000 0.2950 0.012 0.014 1.960 14.22 1.47 0.220 1.24 0.016 0.017 4.02 7.8 6.5 0.031 123 4.3 0.0087

-293,505.00

44.1

26.3

-30,734,595.00

9,300.00 -137,156.00 -489,000.00

60 116 511 9.04 9.67

30 102 480 6.76 5.82

6,965,748.00

77.3 78.95 81.85

74.2 74.5 75

2.42 10.96 35

0.0010 LR Warrant 2.4 Double Dragon 7.74 IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

119.6

94

14,458,330.00

-239,712.00 336,150.00 115,810.50 8,550.00 -345,000.00 9,520,208.00 8.00 80,817,177.00 1,111,734.00

-16,898,135.00 -9,230,286.00 -902,580.00 -123,439.00

-34,600,688.00

21,241,410.00 -1,914,420.00 -282,478.00 -28,557,558.00 -728,120.00 802,840.00 1,185,000.00 875,687.00

-6,150.00 -33,630.00

355,500.00 -62,987,914.00 107,760.00 32,400.00

34,133,122.50 -148,984,845.00

-15,835,105.00 10,683,216.00 545.00 -96,250.00 57,332,965.00 -3,817,267.00 2,557,708.50 -9,343,875.00

-24,303,286.00

129,000.00 75,934,520.00 4,387,110.00 -14,654.00

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

Benguet Corp `A’ 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’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C

First Metro ETF

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,036,828,559.18 1,633,508,524.198 2,236,441,598.444 1,127,345,801.656 1,775,744,446.245 400,731,101.443 8,248,292,484.067

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,773.13 (up) 14.81 INDUSTRIAL 12,81.79 (up) 9.48 HOLDING FIRMS 6,832.57 (up) 61.94 PROPERTY 3,095.94 (up) 37.51 SERVICES 2,208.91 (down) 8.48 MINING & OIL 16,547.99 (up) 2226.64 PSEI 7,773.92 (up) 43.35 All Shares Index 4,524.79 (up) 26.18 Gainers: 98; Losers: 67; Unchanged: 56; Total: 221

122,522,690.00

2,020.00 -28,253,856.00

681,369.00

153,000.00

112,576.00 1,703,950.00

101,400.00

-1,701,348.00 21,328,985.00 -2,324.00

-23,500.00

-192,230.00 27,640.00 15,000.00 45,480,166.00

2,542,958.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

2GO Group'

7.8

24.80

Phil H2O

4.01

TA Petroleum

4.35

13.87

City & Land Dev.

1.14

-10.89 -8.80

Lorenzo Shipping

1.64

13.10

Unioil Res. & Hldgs

0.5500

-6.78

Vivant Corp.

23.00

10.58

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.014

-6.67

Primex Corp.

6.92

6.96

Manila Mining `B'

0.0150

-6.25

Benguet Corp `A'

7.7000

6.94

Victorias Milling

4.49

-4.87

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.016

6.67

LR Warrant

4.000

-4.76

IRipple E-Business Intl

68.95

6.08

ATN Holdings B

2.83

-4.71

Trans-Asia Oil

2.37

4.87

Suntrust Home Dev. Inc.

1.040

-4.59

Roxas Holdings

6.7

4.69

Greenergy

0.4700

-4.08

TUESDAY: MARCH 3, 2015

B3

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Pure Foods sells shares, raises P15b

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SAN Miguel Pure Foods Co. Inc., a unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., has successfully raised P15 billion from the sale of preferred shares amid strong demand from institutional and retail investors, the company’s underwriters said Monday.

SB Capital and Investments Corp. president Ricky Galang said the entire P15 billion worth of shares, including P10 billion in primary offering and P5 billion to cover oversubscription, had been sold ahead of the March 5 deadline.

“The offering was well oversubscribed. The entire P15 billion was sold,” Galang said in a mobile message. The offering period started Feb. 16 The preferred shares, which carry a dividend rate of 5.6569 percent a year, will be listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange on March 12.

San Miguel Pure Foods plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to refinance outstanding preferred shares worth the same amount.

Other underwriters of the preferred shares offering were BPI Capital Corp., China Banking Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and Standard Chartered Bank San Miguel Purefoods is currently on expansion mode after recently announcing plans to venture into the biscuits and snack foods businesses with the acquisition of a local biscuits maker La Pacita.

The company in January said it was buying out joint venture partner Hormel Netherlands B.V. to

New Hitachi products.

Hitachi Air Conditioning Products Philippines Inc. launched its new air conditioning products during its recent dealers convention at the SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia.

Hitachi showed its top-of-the-line products, such as the 6HP IVX DC Inverter VRF System now used by a major convenience store chain nationwide. Other products presented during the event were the Window Type with ‘Full DC Inverter,’ Inverter Slim Floor Mounted, IVX DC inverter and the Taiwan-made Royal Inverter Split Wall Mounted Type, showing Hitachi’s wide array of products for both residential and commercial markets.

become the full owner of a Vietnamese food processing company.

San Miguel Pure Foods over the next two to three years plans to spend P8 billion to P10 billion in capital expenditures to expand its domestic and overseas businesses.

San Miguel Pure Foods is in talks with potential partners for acquisition plans and has started identifying target foreign companies.

San Miguel Purefoods on the domestic front plans to build 10 new facilities this year to expand the production capacity of flour mills, nuggets, hotdogs, feed mills and poultry businesses.

Net income of San Miguel Pure Foods in the first nine months of 2014 stood at P2.7 billion, flat year-on-year, due to adverse impact of port congestion.

Consolidated revenues, however, inched up four percent to P74.4 billion from a year ago, driven primarily by its agro, milling and dairy businesses.

Operating income rose 18 percent to P4.3 billion, as favorable selling prices, lower wheat costs and improved availability of key raw materials resulted in better margins to the company, while tempering the adverse impact of the Manila port congestion and typhoon Glenda on operations.

Globe-Huawei deal. Ernest Cu (second from left) president and chief executive of Globe Telecom Inc., and David Wang, (second from right), president of Huawei Wireless Product Line, formalize an agreement for Globe to use the SingleSON solution on its network, the first in the world to adopt the technology. The agreement signed during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain will enable Globe to effectively manage a more complex network and deliver on its promise of superior customer experience.

Market climbs on selective buying THE stock market climbed Monday on selective buying, boosted

by China’s interest rate cut for the second time since November and better-than-forecast US economic data over the weekend.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 43.35 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,773.92 on a value turnover of P8.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 98 to 67, with 56 issues unchanged.

Ayala Land Inc., a major property developer, advanced 2.1 percent to P37. Parent Ayala Corp., SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr., the Aboitiz Group and Megaworld Corp. are joining forces to bid for the government’s largest infrastructure project—the P123-billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike project.

The four were finalizing the details of the partnership before sub-

mitting the bid for the project.

Megaworld, the biggest lessor of office spaces, gained 1.7 percent to P5.56, while Sy’s SM Investments Corp. climbed 1.9 percent to P897. SM Prime fell 0.8 percent to P19.60.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest lender, rose 1.1 percent to P93.60, while Semirara Mining and Power Corp. of the Consunji Group surged 2.5 percent to P159.50.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the biggest telecommunications firm, declined 2 percent to P3,100.

The rest of Asian markets rose Monday, with investors watching several key events this week, including political gatherings in China, a meeting of the European Central Bank and the release of US jobs figures.

Shanghai added 0.79 percent, or 25.99 points, to close at 3,336.29 and Hong Kong advanced 0.26 percent, or 64.15 points, to 24,887.44.

Tokyo climbed 0.15 percent, or 28.94 points to end at 18,826.88, Seoul closed 0.55 percent higher, putting on 11.01 points to 1,996.81, and Sydney gained 0.51 percent, or 30.12 points, to 5,958.88.

The People’s Bank of China on Saturday cut interest rates by 25 basis points, citing “historically low inflation” among the factors behind its decision.

The move is the latest aimed at helping the economy regain its luster after it grew in 2014 at the slowest pace since 1990. Last month the central bank cut the percentage of funds banks must hold in reserve to try to boost lending. With AFP

ATN Solar to build power line in Rizal

By Alena Mae S. Flores ATN Philippines Solar Energy Group Inc., or ATN Solar, has asked permission from the Energy Regulatory Commission to construct a dedicated 34.5-kilovolt transmission line for its proposed 30-megawatt solar power plant in Rodriguez, Rizal.

“Today, our legal counsel advised us that ATN Philippines Solar Energy Group Inc. has concluded its hearing with the Energy Regulatory Commission on its application for authority to develop, own and operate a 34.5-kV dedicated point-to-point line and associated assets for its proposed 30-MW Solar PV Power Plant...,” ATN Holdings, ATN Solar’s parent, said in a disclosure.

ATN Holdings was the former Jabpract Mining and Industrial Corp. incorporated on February 17, 1961. It was primarily engaged in mining and oil exploration.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 1996 approved the change in corporate name from JMIC and primary purpose from mining to a holding company engaged in real estate, land development and health care services.

ATN Solar’s 30-MW solar power plant, according to papers filedd with ERC, is designed to contribute to “the growing demand for power in the Philippines.” The solar plant is estimated to cost $42 million, which the company plans to finance through 70 percent debt and 30 percent equity.

B4

BUSINESS BSP may reduce rates on dropping inflation—British bank

By Julito G. Rada BRITISH bank Standard Chartered said Monday the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may reduce the current policy rates in the coming months, if inflation rate falls below 2 percent.

“We see a higher possibility of policy rate cuts if inflation stays persistently below the 2 percent to 4 percent target set for this year,” the bank said in a report.

Standard Chartered said in February, inflation rate likely remained unchanged at 2.4 percent, supported by lower prices of oil. The Philippine Statistics Au-

thority is set to release the February inflation data on March 5.

“We expect inflation to have been unchanged at 2.4 percent [year-on-year], representing a 0.1 percent [month-on-month] increase. Energy inflation likely continued to drop due to lower crude oil prices,” the bank said.

It said electricity prices fell 11.3 percent in January from a year ago, and had been on a steady downtrend since the 5.4 percent increase in October 2014.

“Similarly, prices of fuels and lubricants fell 13.1 percent y/y, following a 0.2-percent increase in October 2014. Meanwhile, food in-

flation has remained above the levels seen in 2012 and 2013,” it said.

Inflation rate decelerated to 2.4 percent in January from 2.7 percent in December last year. It was also slower than the 4.2 percent recorded in January 2014 and was the slowest since it settled at 2.1 percent in August 2013.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. earlier said inflation in February likely accelerated from January due to higher electricity and water rates coupled with the rebound in prices of oil in the world market.

Tetangco said February inflation likely settled in the range

of 2.2 percent and 3 percent as higher cost of power and water as well as the recovery in oil prices implied some upward inflation pressures.

Crude prices fell by almost 50 percent in 2014 to less than $50 a barrel, after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries moved to defend market share amid a global glut.

Local pump prices also dropped, translating to lower transport fares and cheaper electricity rates.

Oil companies in the latter part of February raised pump prices

by P0.85 per liter for gasoline and

P0.80 per liter for diesel. Shell also raised the price of kerosene

by P1 per liter. The price increases took effect on Feb. 24.

Phoenix Petroleum said the increase reflected the continued upward movements in the prices of refined petroleum products in the world market.

Meanwhile, power distributor Manila Electric Co. hiked electricity rates by P0.84 per kilowatthour, translating into an increase of P168 for small households consuming 200 kWh per month.

The higher power rates in February came after three consecutive months of price reduction.

MWSS inaction dismays Maynilad

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

WEST zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. on Monday expressed dismay over the refusal of state-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to implement the decision of an arbitration panel to Payroll partner. Employees of the National Electrification Administration will soon be receiving and increase water rates. withdrawing their salaries conveniently following a recently-signed agreement between NEA and Philippine Maynilad said the company was suffering substantial damage due to the delayed implementation of the tariff increase.

“The decision was rendered by an arbitration panel that Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System helped constitute, pursuant to a dispute resolution process that MWSS itself designed and imposed on Maynilad as part of the concession agreement for the west zone,” said Maynilad president Ricky Vargas.

“That is why Maynilad is completely puzzled and dismayed by MWSS administrator Gerry Esquivel’s and chief regulator Joel Yu’s sudden aboutface and refusal to keep their word and to honor the decision of the arbitration panel. This is after they repeatedly assured us that MWSS would respect the results of their own government-mandated arbitration process, regardless of whichever party won. That is why their refusal to honor the decision is totally shocking and completely

unfair,” Vargas said.

The International Chamber of Commerce ruled in favor of Maynilad last year to implement a higher tariff, including passing the income tax to consumers.

The appeals panel’s decision translates to an average increase of P3.06 per cubic meter.

The appeals panel, however, has yet to issue a separate ruling on the case filed by Ayalaled Manila Water Company Inc. MWSS deferred the ruling on new water rates pending a decision on a similar case involving Manila Water.

“They are now telling us they will not implement the panel’s decision against MWSS because the decision of another panel in their arbitration with Manila Water Company Inc. over their east zone water rates may be decided in MWSS’s favor. But we have nothing to do with that other arbitration, and MWSS knew that having two different decisions were a possibility from day one,” Vargas said.

Veterans Bank. PVB will soon manage the payroll service of all NEA employees and install an offsite ATM within the NEA office. Shown sealing the agreement are PVB chairman Roberto de Ocampo (right) and NEA Administrator Edita Bueno.

PSE ready to take over bond market

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Monday it is finalizing the terms for the acquisition of Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp., which operates the bond exchange market.

PSE president Hans Sicat said in a news briefing the company recently completed the conduct of due diligence and was in now in a discussion with the Bankers Association of the Philippines for the final terms of the offer.

Sicat said while both parties earlier agreed to a baseline valuation of P2.25 billion for PDEX, the final terms could still change, depending on the outcome of the due diligence and discussions with BAP.

He said once the discussion with BAP was completed, the PSE over the next two to three weeks would be ready to send the final terms of the offer to all shareholders of PDS. “We will give them one month to accept [the offer],” Sicat said.

Sicat said the PSE was hopeful it would secure regulatory approval and PSE shareholders approval on the transaction by May. PSE earlier expressed interest to acquire a majority interest in PDS in line with its plan to merge the equities and fixed-income market exchanges.

PSE already owns a 20.89-percent interest in PDS. BAP, which owns 28 percent interest in PDS, as well as San

Miguel Corp. and Golden Astra Capital have agreed to sell their shareholdings in PDS to PSE. Other major shareholders of PDS are Singapore Stock Exchange (20 percent), Tata Consultancy Serves Asia (8 percent), Computershare Technology Services (8 percent), The Philippine America Life and General Insurance Co (4 percent), Financial Executive Institute of the Philippines (3.1 percent), Social Security System (1.5 percent) and Investment House Association of the Philippines (1.1 percent).

A merger of the equities and fixed income market exchanges is being pushed to expand the volume of trades and improve the country’s capital markets.

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 3 , 2 0 1 5

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

The grandma experiment HOW do you set up a computer that’s so easy that even your CHIN WONG grandma can use it?

This was the challenge I set out to meet last week, when I set up a PC for my mom.

Now 87, my mom certainly qualifies as a test subject, having never used a computer in her life (they used typewriters and adding machines when she was still part of the workforce).

Right off the bat, let me say that this is an ongoing experiment, and that what I report here are just initial findings. What I found encouraging was that after a 15-minute session where I showed her how the mouse worked and how she could use it to point and click at things, she was able to answer a Skype call from my brother in Canada and place a call herself, without any intervention on my part.

The hardware was a secondhand Dell computer, with an AMD Neo X2 dual core processor, 4 gigabytes of RAM and 400GB of storage.

Hardly a speed demon by today’s standards, but good enough to do the job.

On the software side, I installed Ubuntu 14.10, the latest release of the popular (and free) Linux distribution (www.ubuntu.com). To keep things simple, I used the operating system’s built-in Unity interface, which puts a launcher on the left side of the screen. To reduce the chances that she would inadvertently launch a program she did not need, I removed all the icons on the launcher save for two – one for Skype and the other for Firefox. Using the Unity Tweak Tool (available in the Ubuntu Software Center), I cranked up the size of the launcher icons to the maximum. I used the same tool to enable her to both open and minimize windows using the launcher icons, to save her the trouble of having to navigate to the smaller window controls.

On Firefox, I used the Tiles page to set up sites I thought she would most likely want to visit to save her the trouble of typing in the URLs. Initially, she had some difficulty controlling the pointer with the mouse, but with some practice, she soon got the knack of it.

Some initial observations: 1) The Unity interface seems to be well suited to beginning users, as long as you set it up for them. By removing unneeded icons from the launcher, I was able to hide the underlying complexity from my mom—but still access the full power of the operating system to maintain her system. In hindsight, I should have also used the Ubuntu Tweak Tool to enlarge the mouse pointer for better visibility—something on my to-do list for my next visit.

2) For real beginners, a simple game will quickly enhance mouse skills. In my mom’s case, I plan to install a Mahjongg solitaire game so that she can have fun while getting used to the mouse. This experience also highlights one of the key advantages of a tablet over a computer— a touch screen is so much more intuitive than a mouse.

3) To make things easier to manage, I plan to install an application that will enable me to remotely control her computer. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use a cross-platform program called TeamViewer (www.teamviewer.com), which is free for personal use. The program runs on Windows, Macs or Linux computers, so I can use my Linux box at home or my MacBook Air when I’m on the road to keep an eye on her computer—or even to install software I think she might need. I can also use the same system to do some remote troubleshooting as required.

While the Windows and Mac versions of TeamViewer are easy to install, the Linux version requires some extra work. I found a useful guide in itzgeek.com (http://bit.ly/1aIkUNI), however, that worked well for Ubuntu 14.10.

4) The same flexibility of the Unity interface enables me to add applications to the launcher as my mom needs them. I figure I’ll be doing that soon. In our last conversation, she asked me to teach her how to use e-mail. For this, I already have a program picked out—Geary (also available through the Ubuntu Software Center), a lightweight email client that simplifies access to Gmail accounts. If she wants to use Facebook, though, she’ll have to talk to my kids.

Column archive and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

Digital life

B5

Otto hires oil rig to drill in Palawan

By Alena Mae S. Flores

OTTO Energy Philippines Inc., a whollyowned subsidiary of Otto Energy Ltd. of Australia, has tapped Maersk Drilling to drill the Hawkeye-1 exploration well under service contract 55 southwest off Palawan.

“Securing a drillship of the capability of the Maersk Venturer for the drilling of Hawkeye-1 in third quarter of 2015 is a major event for Otto. We are now finalizing preparations to begin drilling,” Otto chief executive Matthew Allen said in a disclosure to the Australian Securities Exchange.

Maesrk Venturer rig, considered one of the most modern and advanced drill ships in the world, has the required capability to drill the Hawkeye-1 exploration well.

The exploration well has been designed to reach the top of target reservoir about 1,000 meters below the sea bed and intersect the gas oil contact to prove the presence of the oil leg.

Maersk Venturer was commissioned in 2014 and was built at the Samsung Heavy Industries yard in Korea.

The Hawkeye prospect has a gross prospective resource best estimate of 112 million barrels, with a net prospective resource estimate of 74 million barrels for Otto.

SC 55, located in the southwest Palawan basin, covers 9,880 square kilometers. It is a deep-water block in the middle of a proven regional oil and gas fairway that extends from the productive Borneo offshore region in the southwest to the offshore Philippine production assets northwest of Palawan.

Otto also said the board of Red Emperor Resources NL signed an agreement to take a 15-percent stake in the highly prospective SC 55.

Red Emperor, based in Australia, is a natural resource exploration company with oil and gas interests in the frontier state of Puntland, Somalia and the Repub-

lic of Georgia.

The company said Red Emperor’s entry, along with the $24.5-million funding committed

by BHP Billiton and the expression of interest received in January 2015 from PNOC Exploration Corp. for a further 15-percent working interest, ensured that Otto was fully funded and mitigated significant financial risk associated with the drilling of Hawkeye-1.

Otto said PNOC-EC’s 15-percent working interest in SC55 was subject to approval by the Office of the President of the Philippines.

Otto will hold a 45-percent interest in SC 55; Otto Energy Investments Ltd., 33.18 percent; Red Emperor, 15 percent; and Palawan 55 Exploration and Production Co., a subsidiary of Trans-Asia Petroleum Corp., 6.82 percent.

“Otto would like to welcome Red Emperor to the SC55 joint venture. Along with our existing joint venture partner, TransAsia Oil and Energy Development Corp. and PNOC-EC, the SC55 joint venture looks forward to delivering the highly important Hawkeye-1 exploration well on behalf of the Philippine Department of Energy,” Allen said.

Listing ceremony. Sun Life Financial Inc. held a special bell ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange to celebrate its 150th founding anniversary, 120th year in the Philippines and its 15th listing anniversary. SLF listed its shares at the PSE in March 2000. Shown during the ceremony are (from left) SLF Philippines director Rafael Alunan III; SLF Philippines director Aleli Quirino; SLF Philippines Director Oscar Orbos; SLF Philippines director Melito Salazar; SLF Asia chief financial officer Benedict Sison; SLF Philippines president and chief executive Rizalina Mantaring; SLF Asia chief operating officer Fabien Jeudy; PSE president and chief executive Hans Sicat; SLF Philippines director Oscar Reyes; PSE director Edgardo Lacson; and PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran.

More companies plan to add workers in 2nd quarter—BSP survey

By Julito G. Rada MORE companies expect to hire additional employees in the second quarter of this year in line with the expansion of the economy, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said in its latest survey.

Results of the Bangko Sentral’s quarterly business expectation survey showed the employment

outlook index increased to 25.6 percent in the first quarter of 2015 from 24.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014.

“This is consistent with expectations of sustained growth of the economy. This indicates expectations of an overall increase in the number of new employees to be hired for the second quarter of the year,” Bangko Sentral said.

The survey, conducted from Jan. 5 to Feb. 10, 2015, covered 1,523 companies nationwide.

Among the sectors, companies in the construction are the most upbeat in their hiring intention, followed by those in the industry.

“Record-high indices were registered in the industry sector, particularly in electricity, gas and water and manufacturing sub-

sectors,” Bangko Sentral said.

About one in every three respondent firms in the industry sector or 32.5 percent indicated expansion plans for the second quarter this year.

Among subsectors, agriculture, fishery and forestry indicated expansion plans while those in manufacturing were steady from a quarter ago.

Meanwhile, respondents said ma-

jor business constraints in the first quarter were domestic competition (cited by 53.1 percent of respondents) and insufficient demand leading to low sales volume (27 percent).

The percentage of businesses that identified the two constraints continued to decline. “The easing of these business constraints indicate that business conditions are improving,” Bangko Sentral said.

TUESDAY: MARCH 3, 2015

B6

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Govt must decide soon on new airport MANY observers and analysts consider the adminisRUDY ROMERO tration of Benigno S. Aquino III as the most indecisive where public-sector investment is concerned, noting that only in the past year, more than halfway into PNoy’s term, has the Public-Private-Partnership started to move. Perhaps nothing epitomizes the indecisiveness, in the eyes of the observers and analysts, more than the project to establish an airport to provide relief to aging, overworked Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

True, movement between the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport—a part of the sprawling former Clark Air Base complex— has been improved with the completion of the Clark-North Luzon Expressway interconnection project. But, other than that, nothing has been done to make rapid movement of passengers and cargo between DMIA and Metro Manila a realistic possibility for the near future. The high-speed train service proposed by past administrations was accepted by the Aquino administration as the best of all DMIA-Metro Manila transportation ideas, but no effort has been made since 2010 to revive the project after its scandal-marred past.

The former US Navy airstrip at Sangley Point keeps on being mentioned as a possible alternate to NAIA. But it has been all talk. The Aquino administration has done next to nothing to advance the idea of international and domestic flights landing in Sangley Point to take pressure off NAIA. In the meantime, the Aquino administration has focused on the airport named after PNoy’s father. The makeover of four-decadesold NAIA Terminal 1, which will slightly raise the terminal’s handling capacity, is scheduled to be completed next month. After a decade of legal wrangling, the facilities of Terminal 3 were made available to selected international airlines.

The result of this indecisiveness and inaction is that, as 2015 begins, the NAIA complex continues to take the brunt of traffic between Manila and foreign destinations. Cebu City’s Mactan Airport and Davao City’s Bangoy Airport have provided some relief, but NAIA is still the heavily pressured workhorse.

Can the government afford to muddle through and let the present situation persist, with NAIA continuing to bear the brunt of this country’s international air traffic? If the volume of the traffic will not increase or will increase only slightly--an unrealistic expecttion—it can. But the volume has been rising steadily at a fairly fast clip— NAIA Terminal 3 has exceeded its capacity earlier than projected — causing muddling-through to cease to be an option. Given the long lead time needed for the completion of any airport project, a decision on the alternate to NAIA is urgently needed.

At least two other possible sites for an alternate to NAIA have been proposed from time to time. One is in Bulacan, the other in Quezon.

Because having to start from scratch would entail far higher government expense, serious discussion has been limited to DMIA and the Sangley Point facility.

The problem with DMIA has been discussed above. Until a rapidtransit system is installed that will bring international and domestic passengers to and from Metro Manila, the Clark facility will not be a viable alternative to NAIA. There is no point in being able to get passengers reasonably rapidly to Balintawak if they are going to be stuck in EDSA and Caloocan traffic. New international airport projects like Paris’s Charles de Goulle, Taipei’s Chiang Kai-shek and London’s Heathrow were successful because of the high-speed rail and road facilities that were put in place simultaneously. As already indicated, the proposed Northrail line to DMIA has virtually become a nonstarter.

That leaves Sangley Point as a possible alternate airport for NAIA, assuming that the government is serious about preparing for the day when NAIA will no longer be able to operate efficiently on account of excess capacity.

Sangley has a number of factors in its favor apart from its being already in place. The most important is its being far closer to Metro Manila than DMIA. Another factor--a not an important one—is the fact that traffic to and from Metro Manila does not have to traverse EDSA. A third factor is that it is easier and less expensive for the Department of Public Works and Highways or a PPP concessionaire to put in place a rapid-transit roadway from Cavite City to Metro Manila. Personally, I think that Sangley Point is a sounder proposition.

It appears, at this point, that the odds are in favor of DMIA being selected as the alternate airport to NAIA. Whether this is true or not, one thing is beyond doubt. Given the lead time involved, the government—Pnoy’s or the next one—has to reach a decision on an alternate international airport without further indecision and delay.

The Philippines’ future credibility as a major airline destination is hanging in the balance.

BUSINESS CLASS

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

Metrobank says profit down 11%

By July G. Rada

METROPOLITAN Bank and Trust Co., the country’s second-largest lender, said net income in 2014 declined 11 percent to P20.1 billion from P22.5 billion in 2013 on lower trading gains.

Metrobank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday core businesses remained strong, especially loans and deposits.

“The strong performance in the bank’s core business was driven by robust growth in loans and deposits, and relatively stable spreads amidst the low interest rate environment and tough competition,” the bank said.

“Metrobank’s recent investments in its branch network, coverage expansion, and internal system enhancements were catalysts for its sustained balance sheet growth,” the bank added.

Deposits increased 17 percent to P1.2 trillion, providing the bank with stable low-cost funding

to fuel its healthy loan expansion.

“Building on the momentum from previous quarters, loans and receivables further accelerated to close the year at P759.5 billion, or 24-percent growth with the commercial segment posting the strongest year-on-year increase,” it said.

Total resources hit a new high of P1.6 trillion, up 16 percent from last year’s P1.4 trillion. Net interest income increased 20 percent to P45.8 billion and contributed 61 percent of the bank’s total operating profit from 48 percent in 2013.

Metrobank reported a noninterest income of P29.6 billion, consisting of P8.9 billion in ser-

vice charges and commissions, P3.2 billion from trading and forex gains, and miscellaneous income of P17.5 billion.

Miscellaneous income included the sale of non-core assets as well as foreclosed properties.

The bank kept Operating expenses at a reasonable level with recurring cost growth under 6 percent. Asset quality continues to improve with non-performing loans ratio dropping to a low of 1.0 percent, while NPL coverage increased to 165 percent.

The bank reported provisions for credit and impairment losses of P4.8 billion.

Metrobank in 2014 opened 64 branches to increase its domestic presence to 920 branches, still the largest in the industry. More than half of the network is located outside Metro Manila, placing the bank in a position to better service the demands of the regional growth areas of the economy. The bank has 2,100 automated teller machines nationwide.

PhilRice farm. A staff of the Philippine Rice Research Institute vermicomposting facility demonstrates to Hilal Elver, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (fifth from right) the mechanical sieving of vermicast ready for packing as organic fertilizer. PhilRice has embarked on mass producing vermicast from farm waste, primarily rice straw, to be used in the research institution’s experimental farms. Elver was on a mission in the Philippines to assess the efforts being made in the country to achieve food and nutrition security.

Foreign firms oppose VAT refunds

By Othel V. Campos THE Joint Foreign Chambers is supporting the position of the Trade Department to establish a system for tax incentive management and transparency under House Bill 2942, especially provisions that are considered anti-foreign investments.

The group said in a letter to the Congressional committee on ways and means that incentives are granted for private purposes, and not for public purposes as intended by the amounts in the appropriations law.

“We are not aware of any country in the world that includes the

amount of fiscal incentives granted in its annual appropriations law,” JFC said in its letter The group also expressed concern the requirements imposed under the bill would cause additional burden to foreign investors and not be good for the country’s national competitiveness.

It cited the issue on value added tax claims, a decade-long concern that has hounded foreign investors and affected business confidence.

The Trade Department stressed in a position paper that the refund system was an “operational nightmare to the Japanese and Euro-

pean investors.” VAT refunds are provided for under the General Appropriations Act. Foreign investors are trying to recover more than P15 billion worth of pending claims for VAT refund, including investments by local companies.

At least half of the P15-billion claim was made by the Philippine Banana Growers Exporters Association.

Another is the case of San Roque Power Corp., which invested in a power project upon the prodding of the national government in exchange for duty- and tax-free importation of capital equipment as an incentive.

t u e s D aY : M a r c H 3 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

B7

China’s wealthiest to take part in meetings

US Secretary of State John Kerry gestures as he meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on March 2 in Geneva. The meeting came amid continuing tensions over Ukraine and US calls for a full probe into the murder of a prominent opposition figure in Moscow. AFP

Kerry, Lavrov meet over crisis in Ukraine KIEV—US Secretary of State John Kerry was to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva for talks on the Ukraine crisis Monday, less than a week after accusing Moscow of lying to his face over the conflict.

High-stakes talks between Kiev and Moscow are also set to get under way Monday aimed at resolving a bitter gas dispute which threatens deliveries to Europe, after Russia began direct supplies to parts of separatist-held eastern Ukraine.

As relative quiet held on Ukraine’s front lines, Russia’s foreign minister looked set for tense discussions with Kerry, who last week said Moscow officials had engaged in a “propaganda” campaign and lied “to my face” over

supplying troops or weapons to rebels.

Efforts to implement a tattered ceasefire that began on February 15 between Russia, Ukraine and the proKremlin rebels are expected to top Monday morning’s agenda.

Kiev security officials said Sunday there was no fire after midnight on Ukrainian positions and no Ukrainian soldiers had been killed over the past 24 hours.

Security spokesman Andriy Lysenko, however, said eight soldiers were injured after rebels shot at Kiev’s positions late Saturday, including from a tank and a grenade launcher. Journalists mourned the killing by mortar fire of a Ukrainian photographer.

Despite a drop in the number of truce violations, it was “too soon to tell if we are in any way out of the woods,” a State Department official traveling with Kerry told reporters.

“At this point a further pullback of heavy weapons is what’s required.

There are continued violations of the agreement that we’ve also noted,” the staffer said.

Following the shaky start to February’s European-brokered peace plan, both sides have begun to pull back some heavy weaponry from the front line, with rebels claiming Sunday that they would complete the pullback by the end of the weekend.

Monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe or OSCE have reported weapons movements on both sides but say it is too early to confirm a full pullback.

Speaking at the UN Security Council Friday, the OSCE’s envoy to Ukraine Heidi Tagliavini said the current situation was at a “crossroads” where the risk of further escalation remained high despite “encouraging signs.”

Fighting in Ukraine has killed at least 5,800 people since last April.

With the relative hiatus in fighting on the ground, the focus will also be on three-way gas talks set for Monday between the energy ministers of Ukraine and Russia, together with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic.

Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom threatened last week to cut deliveries to Ukraine over a dispute related to Moscow’s move to supply gas direct to separatist areas and then demand that Kiev pay for it.

Rebel leaders in east Ukraine said that Kiev had suddenly ceased gas supplies, and asked for access to gas from Russia.

Ukraine’s national gas company Naftogas stopped pumping gas to the separatist areas last month, saying it could not deliver due to a damaged pipeline, but then added that deliveries resumed a few hours later.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of perpetrating a kind of “genocide” by denying energy to four million people living in territories hit by a humanitarian crisis.

The Kremlin appeared to soften its rhetoric, however, after the European Union unveiled plans Wednesday for a continent-wide single energy market, with the goal of diversifying the bloc’s energy sources and decreasing its reliance on Russian gas. AFP

BEIJING—Five of the 10 wealthiest people in Communist-ruled China are due to take part in two major political meetings starting this week, government websites show, highlighting the influence of the country’s mega-rich.

Super-wealthy delegates to the “two sessions” are often the focus of public attention, with some criticized for showing off their influence or lobbying for favorable policies for their own industries.

The website of the National People’s Congress or parliament shows that among the top 10 of publisher Hurun’s 2014 China rich list, thirdplace drinks tycoon Zong Qinghou, fifth-placed Pony Ma of Internet giant Tencent, and Lei Jun, the head of mobile phone upstart Xiaomi, who took tenth spot, are all delegates.

Solar energy tycoon Li Hejun—listed in joint third place last year but now described by Hurun as China’s richest man—and sixth-ranked Robin Li of Chinese search engine giant Baidu, are both in the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a parallel debating body, the latest membership list showed.

Both chambers are part of the Communist-controlled machinery of government.

Capitalists and landowners were persecuted in the early days of the Peoples’ Republic of China, with entrepreneurs only officially allowed to join the Communist Party during the 1990s leadership of Jiang Zemin under his “Three Represents” theory, which called for more open membership.

Membership of either the NPC or CPPCC is a sign of political approval in China, with fallen officials regularly expelled before they are formally prosecuted.

Ling Jihua, who was once a protege of former president Hu Jintao but is now under investigation for corruption after his son was killed in a Ferrari crash in Beijing, was removed as a vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and stripped of his membership on Saturday along with two other disgraced cadres, the official Xinhua news agency reported earlier.

The New Culture newspaper, based in Jilin province, reported that among China’s 100 richest people, 15 were NPC delegates and 21 CPPCC members.

The total fortune of the 36 was more than 1.2 trillion yuan ($191 billion), it added—more than the gross domestic product of Vietnam. AFP

Emperor penguins thrived after the ice age SYDNEY—They prefer freezing conditions but Antarctica’s emperor penguins may have struggled with the cold during the last Ice Age when temperatures cooled, a study suggested Monday.

Researchers looking at how climatic changes have affected the highly cold-adapted penguin—the tallest and heaviest of all penguin species—over the last 30,000 years suggest that there were only three populations in the last ice age.

But as temperatures have warmed up since then, the species has flourished and there are now seven times more of the penguins in many more locations, said joint lead researcher Jane Younger.

“We hadn’t really thought

about the fact that it would be too cold for them in the past,” Younger, a PhD student at the University of Tasmania, told AFP. “They live through life in minus 30 degrees Celsius now so they are pretty cold adapted.”

By examining the genetic diversity of modern and ancient penguin populations, scientists from the universities of Tasmania, Southampton and Oxford in Britain, and the Australian Antarctic Division were able to estimate their numbers over time.

They found that numbers began increasing over the last 12,000 years when temperatures rose by an average of about 15 degrees Celsius and as the amount of sea ice around Antarctica began to reduce.

Younger said the warmer temperatures likely gave penguin chicks a better chance of surviving the winter—when temperatures would have dropped to minus 45 degrees Celsius during the ice age.

Too much sea ice could have also reduced the locations for breeding, while a shrinking of the ice would have allowed them easier access to the open ocean to feed, she said.

“We were actually really surprised by this. What we had thought was that the ice age, because there was so much more sea ice, which they need (to breed), and because they are so cold-adapted, that this would probably be a good thing for them,” she said.

Emperor penguins, which can get heat stress with temperatures above zero, breed during the winter, with the males keeping the egg safe and warm during the cold months.

“What happens occasionally is that the egg will get dropped onto the ice, and these days they can usually get the egg back and it will be alright if it was not out too long,” Younger said.

“But the temperatures during the ice age were about 15 degrees colder so... if the egg was dropped it would have been in pretty serious danger almost straight away. And the same thing once the chicks have hatched out of the egg, they need to be kept warm throughout the winter.” AFP

Recording Artist Sonya Isaacs performs during Sam’s Place—Music For The Spirit—at Ryman Auditorium on March 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP

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CESAR bARRioqUinTo EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

world

Irate N. Korea fires missiles SEOUL—North Korea fired two missiles into the sea and vowed “merciless” retaliation Monday as the US and South Korea kicked off joint military drills denounced by Pyongyang as recklessly confrontational.

Officials arrested over HK protests HONG KONG—Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers were arrested and then released Monday over their involvement in mass protests for free elections, the latest step in a widespread investigation that has been accused of seeking to intimidate activists.

Police have vowed to investigate the “principal instigators” of the street blockades that ended in December when rally camps were cleared.

Albert Ho and Helena Wong, both of the Democratic Party, voluntarily turned themselves in at Wan Chai police headquarters Monday morning on the request of the police.

Both were holding small paper yellow umbrellas—the symbol of the democracy movement—as they went into the police station while supporters carrying umbrellas and placards shouted “We want universal suffrage”.

“Today Albert Ho and myself were formally arrested,” said Wong after she was released.

She said that during questioning police showed her a video and two Facebook photos taken during the protests to illustrate that she had participated in an “unauthorised assembly”. Ho said he was questioned over the same allegations.

Both Wong and Ho said the possibility of future charges remained.

“I think this is a kind of political prosecution against those who fight for true democracy,” Wong added.

Police had no immediate comment.

A number of protest leaders have already been arrested and only to be released without charge—including prominent student leaders Joshua Wong and Alex Chow—in a controversial procedure which some say is harassment.

The street protests, which began in September and lasted for more than two months, kicked off after Beijing said that candidates for the 2017 vote for Hong Kong’s next leader would be vetted by a loyalist committee.

Campaigners have described the decision as “fake democracy”, but Hong Kong’s leadership says that any public vote must take place within Beijing’s framework and has granted no concessions over the election process.

Police have said they reserve the right to prosecute those who have been released. AFP

Recording Artist Becky Isaacs performs during Sam’s Place—Music For The Spirit—at Ryman Auditorium on March 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP

The annual exercises always trigger a surge in military tensions and warlike rhetoric on the divided peninsula, and analysts saw the North’s missile tests as a prelude to a concerted campaign of sabre rattling.

“If there is a particularly sharp escalation, we could see the North orchestrating some kind of clash on the maritime border,” said Jeung YoungTae, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul.

The missile launches came with a stern warning from the nucleararmed North Korean People’s Army or KPA that this year’s military drills would bring the peninsula “towards the brink of war”.

The South Korean defense ministry said the two Scud missiles were fired from the western port city of Nampo and fell into the sea off the east coast—a distance of nearly 500 kilometers.

UN resolutions prohibit any ballistic missile test by North Korea, and ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok said Pyongyang appeared intent on triggering a “security crisis”.

“We will respond sternly and strongly to any provocation,” Kim told reporters.

The Japanese government said it had issued a strong protest to the North given the danger such missile launches posed to aviation and shipping.

Missile tests have long been a preferred North Korean method of expressing anger and displeasure with what it views as confrontational behaviour by the South and its allies.

“The situation on the Korean peninsula is again inching close to the brink of a war,” a spokesman for the KPA General Staff was quoted as saying Monday by the North’s official KCNA news agency. AFP

Solar plane passes new test ahead of planned world tour ABU DHABI—A solar-powered plane made a third successful test flight in the United Arab Emirates on Monday ahead of a planned round-the-world tour to promote alternative energy.

Organizers hope that Solar Impulse 2 may head off around the globe as early as Saturday but caution that the launch is dependent on the weather, even in the relatively cloudless Gulf.

The hour-long test flight was the plane’s third from the UAE capital Abu Dhabi’s small Al-Bateen airport, but the first for Solar Impulse chairman Bertrand Piccard, the descendant of a family of Swiss scientist-adventurers.

The pilot reported no problems, mission chiefs said.

“Hopefully next weekend, if the weather is good, we will be in the air going 35,000 kilometers to the

east until we come back here,” Piccard told AFP. The project is the fruit of 13 years of research and testing by Piccard and Andre Borschberg, two Swiss pilots whose idea was initially ridiculed by the aviation industry.

Their plane is powered by more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings which, at 72 meters (236 feet), are almost as long as those of an Airbus A380 superjumbo.

The light-weight carbon fibre aircraft weighs only 2.3-tonnes, about the same as a family 4X4 or less than one percent of the weight of the A380.

The two Swiss pilots aim to demonstrate that “clean technology and renewable energy can achieve the impossible,” Piccard said.

The world tour will see the plane fly from Abu Dhabi to Muscat in the neighbouring Gulf sultanate of Oman before crossing the Arabian Sea to India.

It will then head on to Myanmar, China, Hawaii and New York.

Landings are also earmarked for the midwestern United States and either southern Europe or north Africa, depending on weather conditions.

“From the operation point of view, this part of the world and the Middle East is the best location for us to start because it gives us the possibility to fly over India and China very early in the season,” said Borschberg.

“It also gives us the possibility to be back in summer with relatively good weather,” he told. AFP

A handout picture released by the Solar Impulse project shows the solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 flying over the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi on February 26, 2015. The plane made a third successful test flight in the United Arab Emirates on March 2, ahead of a planned round-the-world tour to promote alternative energy. AFP

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

LIFE

EXPERIENCE THE PLEASURES OF SUMMER

AT THE MANILA HOTEL

TRAVEL

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reaming of a perfect holiday getaway for the summer but don’t have the time to go far? Well, you don’t need to travel the miles just to enjoy the sizzling summer sun, the soaring tropical trees, the shimmering view of the bay and an outsized swimming pool where you can have endless fun. “Whether it’s with friends or family, you can celebrate the long summer at the heart of the city with The Manila Hotel’s sensational packages for the season.” said Dr. Enrique Y. Yap, Jr., Executive Vice-President of The Manila Hotel.

As we get excited to the fun times summer will surely bring, it’s also the time of the year once again to salute our graduates with a special treat. Celebrate with an appetizing feast at the Café Ilang-Ilang or the Mabuhay Palace with the rest of your friends! This March, all graduates dining in groups of five will get one complimentary buffet or set menu upon presentation of a valid school ID or diploma.

Also, as a treat for the 2015 graduates, the Grand Dame celebrates success as this year’s graduates deserve to harvest the fruits of their labor. With our Salute to 2015 Graduates Room Package, available from March 1 to March 31, 2015, graduates can book their next holiday at the Grande Dame with their family and batch mates and get an overnight stay at a Superior Deluxe room with a complimentary breakfast buffet the following day for two for only PhP6, 500.00 NET. For food lovers, on top of the room accommodation and scrumptious breakfast buffet, they can also enjoy an epicurean dinner adventure at the famous Café Ilang-Ilang for two for PhP12,000.00 NET. For inquiries and reservations, patrons can call 527 0011 local 1175 to 1178 or email resvn@ manila-hotel.com.ph.

Continued on C2

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

TRAVEL

Pool Bar Drinks

DEDON Chairs

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uring the Lenten break, take time with your family to take a tour of the most iconic and historic churches in Manila. Be enthralled with the Gothic architecture of the Basilica of San Sebastian, the only all-steel church in Asia, Walled City’s Manila Cathedral and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Agustin Church. Visit Quiapo’s Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, Malate’s Our Lady of Remedies Parish and Ermita’s Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guidance.

Guests can book the Easter Escape Room Package from April 01 to April 06, 2015. For PhP6,300.00 NET per room per night, the package includes staying in one of The Manila Hotel’s well-appointed Superior Deluxe rooms with complimentary buffet breakfast at the Café Ilang-Ilang for two persons as well as PhP1,000.00 spending money to sample the Hotel’s restaurant offerings. For inquiries and reservations, patrons can call 527 0011 local 1175 to 1178 or email resvn@ manila-hotel.com.ph. On Easter Sunday, April 05, 2015, for PhP2,952.00 NET per person, you and your loved ones can take a mouthwatering brunch at the famed Café Ilang-Ilang making any celebration truly unforgettable.

“For more than a hundred years when we first served ice cream to our guests, we definitely knew that we are not just scoop-

ing it out of some container and handing it to you – we decided to make ice cream for you fresh every day.” said Nian LiwanagRigor, Assistant Vice-President for Public Relations and Corporate Communications. Ages one to ninety-nine can take pleasure in our sinful Ice Cream Summer Collection that is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth because these old favorites are far from the old-fashioned ones. One can enjoy 12 scoops of different ice cream flavors with a selection of sauces and sprinkles when you order the Ice Cream Dreamers or you may want to try a sweet and cool mix of tapioca pearls, pandan and ube gulaman doused with coconut cream and milk topped with pinipig called Guinomis. Visit our restaurants to sample these mouthwatering delights or for more information, call our Food and Beverage Team at 527 0011 local 1260 or 1261.

Patrons wanting to experience a five star escapade can avail the Summer in the City promotional package from April 22 to May 31 for PhP6,500.00 NET per night. Guests can enjoy an overnight accommodation in one of the Hotel’s Superior Deluxe rooms and enjoy PhP1,000.00 spending money to sample the Hotel’s Pool Bar offerings. A royal treatment also includes a 45-minute foot reflexology session at The Manila Hotel Spa. Booking period is from April 15 to March 30, 2015.

Pool at night

At the end of the day, relax and unwind at the swimming pool or at the sun deck as you sit back in any of the luxurious DEDON orbit chairs that line the upper deck while enjoying cocktails from our pool’s wet bar overlooking a spectacular view of Manila Bay. From 03:00PM to 06:00PM during Mondays to Sundays, order your favorite beverages and get another serving for free.

Positioned as the true heart of the Philippines, The Manila Hotel is the country’s premier five-star and flagship hotel. It is

NEW WORLD MAKATI HOTEL OPENS PRESS CLUB

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he Press Club is soon to open on the newly renovated fourth level at New World Makati Hotel.

Veering away from conventional boardrooms, New World Makati Hotel presents a modern workspace conducive for seamless and collaborative business meetings for today’s savvy businessmen.

The Press Club’s stylish and sophisticated interiors allow guests to be part of an equally innovative and functional experience.

Offered are six spacious Press Rooms ranging from 50 to 108 square meters, complete with amenities and tools tailored to the guests’ needs.

With a range of meeting setups to choose from, including U-shaped, Round Table, Theater-style or Classroom seating, guests may freely connect with colleagues and embark on a healthy exchange of ideas.

The pool deck provides guests with a refreshing atmosphere and scenic view where they can step outside to take a breather or welcome inspiration and nourish creative thinking in between sessions. At any time of the day, guests may visit the common lounge area to enjoy snacks, treats, and a drink or two to fuel the day’s activities.

Today’s movers and shakers are invited to make use of the Press Club at New World Makati Hotel starting March.

For more information, please contact the catering sales department directly at 811 6888 extension 3280 or visit www.newworldhotels.com.

For the latest news, events, room and dining offerings, follow New World Makati Hotel at www.facebook.com/NewWorldMakatiHotel or at Twitter and Instagram @ newworldmakati.

located at One Rizal Park, Manila. For more information, call 527 0011 or visit www.manila-hotel.com.ph; follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheManilaHotel and on Twitter @ManilaHotel and Instagram @manila_hotel.

Contact: Rain Chinchilla dela Rea, Corporate Communications Executive +632 527 0011 local 1382 d.delarea@manila-hotel.com.ph

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

FAMILY

BUSINESS TRAVELERS ARE KING

BY ED BIADO People who travel on business spend most of their days at hotels and on planes. Some estimates say that work-related trip expenses account for a third of all the money spent on traveling. Business travelers are frequent flyers, global jetsetters and hotel repeat customers. And according to the Global Business Travel Association, 2015 will be seeing more movement from this bunch.

It is for this reason that the hospitality industry is getting increasingly influenced by the needs and wants of business travelers.

Expedia reports that millennials are traveling for work more than older generations and this forcing industries to keep up with the times in an effort to be more attractive to the younger travelers. Mobile bookings are only expected to be more dominant over traditional means as hotels get more tech-savvy.

Removing the middle man from the equation, some properties are also experimenting with streamlined check-in procedures that bypass the front desk. For example, the Hilton is beginning to roll out a keyless entry program while Marriott has an app that allows for mobile check-in and check-out.

American Express Global Business Travel reveals that, in choosing a hotel to book, business travelers first consider the property’s brand and have a selection of “go-to” options, making them less likely to try something new. Because this kind of traveler requires a nofuss stay, brands are important as they ensure consistency, security, convenience and accessibility. Properties that are part of hotel chains also tend to be updated with trends and have amenities and features that productivity-driven business travelers appreciate, like free Wi-Fi, flexible work spaces and mobile bookings.

The AmEx insight is consistent with Agoda.com’s findings. A survey conducted by the hotel-booking Web site found that business travelers are the least likely to spend a lot of time looking for different accommodation choices. A full 73 percent of the group only looks at one to 10 properties before making a decision—this is 10 percentage points higher than leisure travelers.

According to the same Agoda report, traveling business people are also the least likely to read customer reviews, with only 57 percent saying that these are “important” in choosing where to stay. (Sixty percent of solo travelers, 63 percent of families with older children and couples, and 66 percent of families with younger children feel the same way.)

Among those surveyed, Japanese business travelers were the least likely to rely on reviews: 59 percent said reviews didn’t matter. This was followed by Australian (53 percent), French (51 percent), UK (46 percent), and American (39 percent) business travelers. Interestingly, the same demographic from the Philippines were on the opposite end of the spectrum—80 percent of Filipino business travelers said that reviews are important.

FIVE FINANCIAL FITNESS TIPS TO GET YOUR ACCOUNTS IN SHAPE

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HUMAN NATURE’S 3-STEP BABY CARE SYSTEM CENTERS ON TOUCH THERAPY AND PLAY TIME

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uman Nature Co-Founder and President Anna Meloto-Wilk shares that switching to cloth diapers led their family to use fewer chemicals at home and she noticed that there were not a lot of natural products available in the Philippines. “And what was in stores were imported and more expensive,” she relates.

Her initial discoveries inspired her and her sister, Camille Meloto, to start Human Nature.

DID YOU KNOW: Human Nature, the Philippines’ largest genuinely natural personal care, cosmetics, and home care brand, started with one mom’s decision to use cloth diapers?

Today, Human Nature’s host of all natural products include the 100% Natural Nappy Cream, the first and only Philippine-made all natural diaper rash cream. It also has a 3-step baby care system that melds the power of touch, play, and the advantages of using only the purest, most natural products on baby.

STEP 1: CLEANSE AND CALM

Before you begin pampering your tiny tot, make sure that the bath water is comfortably warm by using your forearm (this area is more sensitive than the hands) to test the temperature. Next, pour a small amount of Human Nature Natural Baby Wash on a soft cloth to begin baby’s bath.

“We dilute the 3 to 4 pumps of the wash in maybe a cup or so of water and use that to clean our baba. What’s nice is that we don’t have to use a lot to get her clean. Which means it’s even less drying on her skin,” shares PJ Mariano-Capistrano, a college

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veryone has been there – we pledge to lose weight, eat less, exercise more, gain muscle, and get enough rest. But it’s not just physical fitness that we need to mind. Financial fitness is just as important if we want to secure our well-being, quality of life, and of course, our future. Think it’s hard to get financially fit?

Here are five easy steps from UTrade you can take to get started on this road.

Measure yourself. Just as you need to measure your vital statistics before any fitness regimen, it’s equally important to know where you stand on the financial scale. Take stock of your earnings, spending, debt, and investment and create a series of goals.

Save more. Weight gain happens when calories taken in are more than calories burned; conversely, savings decrease when money spent overtakes money set aside.

instructor and mom to 6-month old Likha. “Since birth, my daughter has had sensitive skin, reddens and gets irritated easily. Her pediatrician recommended a pricey international cleanser brand. We found that Human Nature is the only other wash that’s comparable to it.”

Human Nature Natural Baby Wash contains lavender, rosemary and chamomile extracts which soothes the skin and scalp as it cleans.

TIP: Bath time is play time for most babies – be prepared for smiles and giggles when you tickle baby by gently trickling water onto her tummy or help baby discover cause and effect by showing her how her feet & hands can create a splash.

STEP 2: MOISTURIZE AND NOURISH

After bathing, gently wrap baby in a towel and give him a nice cuddle.

Carefully lay baby on a flat, padded surface and apply Human Nature Baby Lotion on baby’s body.

Just a little of this easy to spread, non-greasy all natural lotion is enough to protect baby’s skin from dryness, flaking, and itchiness. It naturally seals in moisture and is enriched with the purest sunflower oil, cooling aloe vera, and nourishing avocado oil.

“Since we started using Human Nature’s wash and lotion, Josefina never gets diaper rash and she smells good all day. Walang maasim smell!,” relates mother of two and entrepreneur Desiree Berjamin-Pante.

STEP 3:

PROTECT AND NURTURE

For parents, comforting a crying baby by cuddling comes naturally and infant massage is an extension

Give up a daily or weekly item – it can be as simple as a daily coffee at a designer coffee house or a lunch out at work and replace them with homemade snacks. The savings can then be used for future goals, whether it’s for a trip or for your future.

Start investing. Gym memberships, workout outfits, even time off to get fit have their financial fitness equivalents. Start looking into investment products that can give more bang for your buck compared with a bank.

UTrade is an online stock brokerage that allows you to invest in a variety of products depending on your budget and your goals.

Diversify your portfolio. The best results are seen when you change up your routine, and even when you reward yourself every now and then. The same goes for investing, and even with supplementing your income.

For example, you can turn hobbies into income-generating activities. For your in-

of this impulse. Massaging baby regularly has numerous benefits.

The Mayo Clinic reports that it can help baby relax, reduce crying, strengthen baby’s immune system, and create a secure attachment between parent and baby.

Berjamin-Pante adds that incorporating Human Nature’s 3-step system in their routine has given her more time to bond with her 18 month old baby, Josefina. “After using the wash and lotion, we practice the I-love-you massage using Human Nature Baby Wonder Oil.” Human Nature Baby Wonder Oil is great for baby massage because it is made of 100% premium-grade sunflower oil. Sunflower oil also helps prevent skin infections and reduces bumps from insect bites.

Human Nature’s host of Baby Care products have been tried, tested, and loved by real moms.

They are Eco-cert certified and provide the purest, most natural care that’s 100% free from harmful chemicals such as phthalates, sulfates, mineral oil and parabens.

And because love knows no compromise, we highly encourage you to make the switch… naturally.

With Human Nature’s readily available Baby Care line, nurturing and caring for your babies has never been this easy!

To learn more about Human Nature products and advocacy or to learn how to be a dealer, visit www. humanheartnature.com or your nearest Human Nature Branch, or call (02) 224-2222. You may also visit Rustan’s Supermarket, Shopwise, Beauty Bar, select Robinson’s Supermarkets, Landmark Department Stores and Sesou Nature Source for a select line of Human Nature products.

vestments, your UTrade advisor can assist you in other financial products to invest in, making sure your long-term goals are met.

Look at the long term. Fad diets and pills will not benefit you in the long run. Likewise with being financially fit. Save at least 20% of your salary and reserve at least 3 months’ worth to cover for emergencies. Invest in long-term instruments such as stocks as well to ensure a nest egg for your retirement.

An example of a long-term investment is UTrade’s SIP or Stock Investment Program.

It allows clients to regularly invest a fixed amount on chosen Philippine stocks for a year or for a longer period. Since it does not rely on current pricing, the investment becomes profitable in the long term the returns are based on the cumulative average cost.

Just follow these financial fitness tips and you will be well on your way to a healthy financial future.

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T U E S D AY : M A R C H 0 3 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

Ed Uy of Where is Ed Uy thanked her mom for the special Hamonado recipe that helped him win as a Cook Off runner up.

He received a brand new Samsung Smart Oven.

Samsung Digital Appliances Brand Ambassadors, Chef Ernest Gala and couple Chef Rolando and Jac Laudico, with the Cook Off champion Karina Ramos.

SAMSUNG HOSTS THE GRAND COOK-OFF

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t was a day to celebrate the country’s culinary heritage as Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp.

(SEPCO) recently staged its second Samsung Digital Appliances Grand Cook Off. Held at the Galastars Culinary School, the Grand Cook Off saw local bloggers show off their cooking prowess by creating their signature Filipino dishes.

The Grand Cook Off is Samsung’s way of recognizing internationally-acclaimed Filipino cuisine richness and innovativeness, as well as the value of food in bringing the family together.

“We at Samsung recognize the importance of delicious yet healthy food at home. We are happy to showcase our Digital Appliances, which all together play an integral part on bringing Filipino families closer as they share the same passion for health and food,” says Samsung Business Unit Head for Digital Appliances Victor Filart.

Samsung Refrigerators and Smart Ovens are among the digital appliances line-up that were utilized during the cook off. In fact, all the contestants stored their ingredients in Samsung Refrigerators few hours before the start of the actual cook off to ensure the freshness of every ingredient that they hand-picked for the competition.

Samsung Refrigerators, with a warranty that lasts up to ten years, are equipped with digital inverter technology. It also provides space efficiency through various flexible storage solutions. Furthermore, it offers a wide range of capacities and features perfect for every Filipino household.

The Samsung Smart Oven, also used by the contestants during the cook off, provides families with healthier cooking options through the Slim Fry Function, which allows food to be cooked with

less or even zero oil. It also has the Grill and Convection Features, making it an all-in-one kitchen solution. It features a ceramic enamel interior which makes it rust-proof and easy to clean. One of the contestants, mom blogger Lariza Garcia made sure that her Relyenong Amplaya was cooked to perfection with the help of the Smart Oven.

The cook off was graced by Samsung Digital Appliances Brand Ambassadors who also served as guest judges –culinary power couple Chef Rolando and Jac Laudico, and famed culinary star Chef Ernest Gala. They also offered their expert opinions on cooking and shared some advice as they went around to interact with the contestants.

It was evident how each dish held significance to the contestants, some being family recipes passed down from one generation to another, while others being their favorite dish often prepared for their loved ones.

“The dish that I’ve decided to prepare for today’s cook off is Ginataang Manok.

It may sound simple but I consider it one of our family favorites. I’m excited to share it with everyone and I hope they would love it too,” says Karina Ramos of Digital Filipina who prepared Ginataang Manok with smoked coconut husk.

Following a short deliberation, the judges first selected the three runner ups who each won a Samsung Smart Oven. One of the runner ups is a firsttimer cooking contest participant Ed Uy of Where is Ed Uy for his Hamonado.

Mom blogger Lariza Garcia of Mom’s World of Arts and Happiness along with John Michael Bueno of Kumagcow also both won a Smart Oven. They prepared Relyenong Ampalaya and Chicken Binakol, respectively.

It was the Ginataang Manok of Karina Ramos that won the judges’ heart and taste. Hailed as the Samsung Digital Appliances Grand Cook Off Champion, she took home the grand prize of a brand new Samsung 2-door Inverter Refrigerator and Php 20,000.00.

According to the judges, among all the dishes in the competition, the Ginataang Manok had the best flavor. It had a unique, smoky flavor that he has not yet tasted before from a traditional ginataan dish.

The event capped off with everyone sharing not only the food but also unique stories and experiences cultivated from their own households. It became a day of celebration highlighting the Samsung Digital Appliances’ core principle of providing innovative products that perfectly cater to the ever-evolving Filipino homes.

A self-confessed kitchen geek, Karina Ramos, was hailed as the Samsung Digital Appliances Grand Cook Off Champion.

Victor Filart, Samsung’s Business Unit Head for Digital Appliances, shares how Samsung Digital Appliances play an integral role in every Filipino household.

Contestants prepared their ingredients which were stored using Samsung Refrigerators.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

MCJIM GET REAL TALK TACKLES THE STATE OF OPM

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hree of the most respected names in the local music industry today including rapper Gloc9 and music icon Jim Paredes talked on the state of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) in the first-ever “Get Real Talk” at the Far Eastern University (FEU) Auditorium on Feb. 24.

McJim, a staunch advocate of OPM, by creating interest in OPM among the youth envisions to breathe life into our local music industry, as it brings together MTV Pinoy, FEU and its MASSCOM Society headed

by President Luigi Dimayuga.

With this, the brand aims to help the Filipino youth to identify themselves with and listen to OPM music like how past generations loved the likes of Apo Hiking Society, VST, Company, and Hotdog.

To share their first-hand knowledge and experiences in the music industry, McJim invited guest speakers including prominent figures on the local music scene like Jim Paredes of APO Hiking Society, label manager Jinno Mina, and recording artist Gloc9 who is behind “Sirena,” “Lando” and “Upuan,” among others.

McJim also wants the youth to understand that there should be no stopping OPM from producing international hits today like it used to before, and that can only happen when the

youth themselves will patronize local Filipino music.

“OPM can take the world by storm again, as in the success of the classic Aguilar hit ‘Anak,’ and like what the Koreans are doing right now. But we must remember that the first step to achieve global success is local support as what McJim is doing as early as the 80s,” said talent manager and music producer Chris Cahilig who served as the facilitator of the series of talks covered by MTV Pinoy.

McJim aims to shed light on the true state of OPM on the local music scene by tapping no less than the most involved segment of our society—the youth.

“McJim Classic Leather’s line of service has succeeded where

McJim also wants the youth to understand that there should be no stopping OPM from producing international hits today like it used to before, and that can only happen when the youth themselves will patronize local Filipino music

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a very few has. Its commitment to world-class quality and originality has earned the respect and love of Filipinos. Indeed, McJim products have become part of the lives of Filipinos through the years just like how OPM has been influencing us,” said Cahilig.

The guest speakers and performers themselves are fellow McJim users, and they echo the brand’s philosophy and causes out of high respect for its dedication that goes beyond quality leather products. “I am thankful that there are brands like McJim Classic Leather who support our advocacy to enliven OPM, he added.

The talk served as an avenue to promote the latest original songs of 1:43, the voices behind the 5th Star Awards for Music song of the year “Sa Isang Sulyap Mo” and hit song “Ang Say-Saya” and “Hayop sa Ganda.” Fifth Dynamics, JBK, and Neo Domingo will likewise give sizzling performances.

McJim believes that appreciation for local music should start with the youth and McJim’s support for Filipino music an even be traced back to the glory days of Jose Mari Chan and Randy Santiago, up to contemporary artists like award-winning boy band 1:43. Last year, McJim held its very own Dreams Get Real talent search which discovered emerging recording artists Fifth Dynamics, JBK, and Neo Domingo.

Newlyweds Senator Chiz Escidero and Heart Evangelista Armida signs her book, behind her is daughter-in-law Bibeth Orteza Siguion-Reyna

Susan Roces buys the book while son in law Neil Llamanzares waits for his turn

Movie directors Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes with writers Nelson Navarro and Mario Hernando

Armida with Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada

Roughly two years in the making, ‘Armida’ gives readers a glimpse of the fascinating and sometimes rebellious life of the influential 84-yearold Siguion-Reyna

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1 McJim Dreams Get Real champion Neo Domingo gives FEU students a sizzling performance. 2 Award-winning artist Gloc9 excites the crowd with his all-out performance. 3 Music producer Jino Mina shares his more than a decade-long experience in the music industry during McJim Get Real Talk at the FEU Auditorium last February 24. 4 Music icon and APO Hiking Society member Jim Paredes says that Filipinos are at their best when they are true to themselves. 5 Music icon Jim Paredes, multi-awarded rapper Gloc9 and music producer Jino Mina share their insights on the true state of OPM, claiming that it is not dying. 6 Award-winning rapper Gloc9 shares his struggles when he was just starting out in the business during the McJim Get Real Talk at the FEU Auditorium last February24. 7 The panel during the McJim Get Real Talk at the FEU Auditorium, composed of OPM icon Jim Paredes, rapper Gloc9, and music producer Jino Mino, advises the youth to patronize OPM for it to flourish. 8 Boy band 1:43 performs their award-winning single “Sa Isang Sulyap Mo” for the FEU community. 9 Promising OPM band Fifth Dynamics serenades the crowd with their charttopping song “Anyare” during the McJim Get Real Talk at the FEU Auditorium last Feb. 24. 10 McJim Dreams Get Real winner, vocal trio JBK, sings for the FEU crowd. 11 Boy band 1:43 will give a sizzling performance during McJim at “Get Real Talk” at the Far Eastern University (FEU) Auditorium. 12 McJim Dreams Get Real talent search winner vocal trio JBK will entertain students of FEU during the McJim at “Get Real Talk.” 13 McJim Dreams Get Real talent search winner Neo Domingo will make FEU students fall in love with his music. 14 OPM band and McJim Dreams Get Real talent search champs Fifth Dynamics will perform their chart-topping songs during the talk. 15 Jim Paredes of the legendary APO Hiking Society will be one of the three guest speakers who will talk about the state of OPM. 16 Record-breaking artist Gloc9 will inspire the youth to appreciate Original Pinoy Music again.

ne of Philippine arts and culture’s finest women, launched her highly anticipated biography at Whitespace, Makati.

The launching of Armida Siguion-Reyna’s biography aptly titled, Armida served as a celebration of her legacy as a pillar in both showbiz and public service with prominent names from entertainment and politics attending the launch.

Siguion-Reyna is a multi-faceted icon in the Philippines with notable accomplishments as a singer, actress, producer, and MTRCB chairman.

She is best known for her musical TV show, Aawitan Kita, which is the longest-running musical TV show in the country that had bagged awards since it made waves on Philippine television.

Siguion-Reyna was also a leading voice on the issue of film censorship. As a liberal thinker, she called for the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to scrap film censorship and lauded independent filmmakers for showcasing their uncensored films abroad. She even joined an anti-censorship rally with National Artists including Bien Lumbera, Lino Brocka, and Ishmael Bernal among others – a fearless move that further carved Siguion-Reyna’s name as one of the best industry leaders.

Roughly two years in the making, Armida gives readers a glimpse of the fascinating and sometimes rebellious life of the influential 84-year-old Siguion-Reyna.

Each page of the biography is filled with rich details of her vibrant life told

by Siguion-Reyna herself side by side with an account penned by Nelson Navarro titled The Singer and Her Song.

“The book breaks the rules of how traditional biographies are presented, just as my mom has been doing throughout her life. It gives readers an inside view of her private thoughts about her public and professional relationships with behind-the-scenes revelations; her one true love, her fears, her strengths. It’s her backstory,” said Monique Villongco, Siguion-Reyna’s daughter who served as the book’s editor.

Armida Unfinished Memoir –The Singer and the Song is published by ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.

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SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

A HERO’S WELCOME FOR NEIL PERES

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olice officer Neil Perez was feted to a hero’s welcome when he returned recently from Ansan, Korea where he won as Mister International 2015. Perez paid Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada a courtesy call at the Manila City Hall on Friday afternoon.

Mayor Estrada declared Perez a proud son of Tondo for bringing honor to the city, to the people, his fellow policemen and to the whole country.

“You have set an example for the rest of our police enforcers, who think that once a policeman, there is no more hope. It’s a rare feat for a policeman to win in a male pageant. You could be an actor too and be idolized by our youth and surely women,” the mayor teasingly told Perez.

“Physical fitness is foremost a requirement in joining the police, you cannot qualify if you’re not fit and healthy, what is more important is that they serve truthfully, to protect, especially, our poor people. Like what President Magsaysay said ‘those who have less in life, must have more in law,’” Estrada said. He stood up and shook the hands of Perez who in turn gave the Mayor a hand salute.

From the Manila City Hall, Perez was given a victory parade starting in Intramuros, near San Agustin Church, to the Rizal Park, where he paid respect to the national hero Jose Riza.

He proceeded to the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay from there.

People from all walks of life, who are accustomed to beauty queens, welcomed and cheered the goodlooking cop. Officers of the Aviation Security Group who work at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were present to greet Perez,

their instructor and idol in the police service.

Neil Perez, whose real name is Mariano P. Flormata, Jr., dedicated his participation in the Mister International 2015 to the Fallen 44, seven of whom were his PNP batch mates. At the finals, when he heard his name called out the winner, an emotional Perez saluted several times in honor of his comrades killed in the bloody Mamasapano encounter. He was in tears as his victory was meant to be dedicated in the memory of the courageous cops.

When asked what has been his biggest disappointment in life, Neil answered in Filipino, “Unang-una ang

Neil Peres said his winning should encourage uniformed men to draw inspiration from the heroism and sacrifices of the Fallen 44 to become good law enforcers

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ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Roundup gear 6 Propeller arm 11 Open a barrel 14 Radius neighbors 15 “Them” author 16 Dash off 17 Go bad, as meat 18 It may have big ears (2 wds.)

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aking disappointment sa aking buhay ay ang ‘di ko paggalang sa aking magulang.

Kaya ko pinagsisihan ito dahil malaking bagay ang mahalin natin ang ating mga magulang, dahil sila ang pangalawang utos ng Diyos para sa ating mga Katoliko (My disappointment in life is when I disobeyed my parents. But I learned from it, that it’s important to respect your parents, and it is the second of the commandments of God for Catholics).”

The strategy to speak in his native tongue and an interpreter, the first for any Philippine delegate in an international contest, paid off as the judges, mostly Koreans, also do not communicate in English.

At the victory party held at One Esplanade, organized by Carlo Morris Galang of Misters of the Philippines pageant, Perez said he hoped that his winning could help in the efforts to encourage uniformed men to draw inspiration from the heroism and sacrifices of the Fallen 44 to become good law enforcers.

Perez, who was joined by his parents on the stage, thanked his supporters, his friends, PNP family and the media. He said that he would have no objection if ever the Mamasapano incident will be translated on screen, and would accept if offered to join the cast, as he believed the movie would be serve as inspiration for all the men in uniform, and as a tribute to the heroism of the SAF officers.

Perez also asked his supporters to extend the same support to the Mister Global Philippines Joseph Doruelo, a 20-year-old, registered nurse from Caloocan City, who is set to compete in the 2015 Mister Global pageant in Thailand on March 14.

—Eton B. Concepcio

TUESDAY, MARCH 03, 2015

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Argentina Hangs fire Movie Flamenco cry Some are liberal Rugged country Holy terrors Edible seeds Desdemona’s enemy Women with nieces Airline employee Forced through Cohesive entity Clutter Bartok or Lugosi Fast on the uptake Tongs Mule, for example Glance over Contented sounds — Picchu Flashlight carrier Salmon do it Dark line on Mars By heart Type of eagle Male guinea pig Afire Flight dir.

Cotton gin name

Art 2 Art host Lisa Macuja with singer-composer Bayang Barrios

ART 2 ART’ STARTS WOMEN’S MONTH National Women’s Month is celebrated in March

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tarting with the March 1 episode, Art To Art featured singer, composer and artist-advocate Bayang Barrios.

Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company and hosted by “Ballerina ng Bayan” Lisa Macuja, Art 2 Art is aired every Sunday, 3:30 to 4 p.m. on DZRH (666 khz on the AM band), on cable television via RHTV and online through DZRH Live Streaming at www.dzrh.com.ph.

Barrios belongs to the indigenous Manobo tribe of Agusan del Sur. As a member of the group Joey Ayala at ang Bagong Lumad, she helped introduce an alternative sound into the mainstream music industry. She became a solo artist in 1996 and has since been creating and recording music focusing on the environment, culture and women’s issues.

As a special treat, Barrios performed a song number with Andrew Barrios as guitarist.

Art 2 Art will also welcome the following guests for Women’s Month: Jeannie Javelosa and Chit Juan of the ECHOStore and ECHOSi (Sustainable Initiatives) Foundation; adult romance novelists Mina Esguerra and B. Wiser; and visual artists Menchu Arandilla, Marivel Mari-Galang, and Liz Tarnate of the United Women Artists Association of the Philippines.

For inquiries, please e-mail art2artdzrh@gmail. com. On Facebook, check out the account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on Art 2 Art episodes.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

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From C8

UNANG HIRIT MOUNTS FIRST ALMUSAL FESTIVAL

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Dr. Vicki Belo lands on Time Magazine’s newest issue citing her for the country’s efforts in medical tourism

This March, wake up to more fun, fresh, exciting, and informative mornings as the country’s longestrunning morning show, GMA Network’s Unang Hirit, launched the first-ever Almusal Festival.

The Unang Hirit barkada – Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Rhea Santos, Ivan Mayrina, Connie Sison, Suzi Abrera, Lyn Ching, Love Añover, Lhar Santiago, Luane Dy, and Tonipet Gaba – will treat viewers to daily servings of the biggest and latest news, weather update and traffic bulletins, must-try adventures, hottest trends, and scrumptious food.

They are reminding its audience of the importance of breakfast and that began yesterday morning.

The UH Almusal Festival launch highlighted some of the country’s best breakfast specialties like danggit, daing, tocino, tapa, and longganisa in a special boodle fight at the Luneta in Manila, Session Road in Baguio City, and Cebu Dancing Inmates Penitentiary grounds in Cebu City.

And with most Filipinos enjoying their breakfast with hot pandesal, Unang Hirit will also tap well known bakers as it aims to set a record via a “UH Giant Pandesal!”

The festivities continue until March 6 as UH Almusal Festival holds its special culminating activities at the Quezon City Circle, Calle Crisologo in Vigan City, and Davao People’s Park in Davao City.

Unang Hirit’s Almusal Festival airs 5 a.m. until Friday on GMA7.

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This week, 9TV’s Stories invites you to enrich your knowledge on animals, plants, and different universes.

In Amazing Plants, enter the world of plants and understand their complex processes and struggles. Find out how some predatory plants use trapdoors to catch prey, while the others shrink or give off certain smells to fight the enemy.

Together with experts in their field, discover the most amazing secrets of the world of plants and perceive them from a different light.

In the warm and fascinating world of puppies, study their breeding, behavior, and training. Moreover, receive practical advice on dog selection and how to cultivate long-term relationships with man’s favorite friend in Dogs: The Early Years.

Shift to the world of plants and animals and travel to the universe in Known Universe: Parts 1, 2, and 3. Delve deeply into The Big Bang Theory and start from the beginning by tracing back the biggest bangs that have arrived since.

Lastly, discover the possibilities of turning ordinary people into powerful weapons. As part of the spectacular Fight Science series, explore new ways of combat and challenge human fighting in Fight Science: Season 2: Fight Masters: Mixed Martial Arts.

Don’t miss Dogs: The Early Years on March 3, 8 p.m. today; Known Universe: Part 1 on Thursday at 8 p.m.; Known Universe Part 2 on, Friday, at 8 p.m.; and Known Universe: Part 3 on Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Fight Science: Season 2: Fight Masters: Mixed Martial Arts at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

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The cool voice and acoustic tunes of Aiza Seguerra will fill the air as she makes a rare appearance at KPub Trinoma in Quezon City on Saturday, 9 p.m., and on March 28, 10 p.m. at K-Pub Fort with the acoustic group Foxglove.

The award-winning performer will perform today’s chartoppers like hits from Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, as well as her greatest hits including “Pag Dating ng Panahon”, “With a Smile,” “Anong Nangyari Sa Ating Dalawa”, and “Open Arms”.

K-Pub is an exciting Korean barbeque dining concept at The Fort Strip in Bonifacio Global City and Trinoma in Quezon City. The restaurant serves high quality Korean barbeque dishes such as So Galbi, So Bulgogi, Samgyeopsal, and Seafood Pajeon at reasonable prices. The restaurant also features a stage with professional sound system and lights set-up and the largest LED screen in the country for a restaurant. It has hosted many international acts including CNBlue, B1A4, Alexander For more information or for ticket reservation, call 910-8858 or 754-1873 or text 0917 555 8858 for K-Pub Trinoma. For K-Pub Fort Bonifacio, call 8471961, 847-3098, or text 0917 821 4930. K-Pub Trinoma is located at the 3rd level Garden Wing of Trinoma Mall, while K-Pub Fort Bonifacio is located at The Fort Entertainment Complex in Bonifacio Global City.

TIME CITES VICKI BELO

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elo Medical Group, headed by Dr. Vicki Belo, is in the global spotlight once mofe for its innovation and achievement in cosmetic surgery and aesthetic dermatology.

This time, Time Magazine cited the clinic in the same issue that featured the 2014 Person of the Year: The Ebola Fighters.

Belo Medical Group is recognized for being at the forefront of the medical tourism industry. The article named the Philippines “the Rising Star of Beauty Tourism,” a $3 billion industry, thanks in large part to Belo’s contribution.

Belo Medical Group has been around for over 24 years and has successfully performed thousands of liposuction, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation procedures

others. It has grown into the preferred and most trusted name in the field.

The article noted that Belo Medical Group has “received the Platinum award from Allergen for being the Philippines’ top performing Botox treatment clinic for ten consecutive years (2007-2012). In 2010, it received the Reader’s Digest Platinum Awards as the Most Trusted Brand in Beauty Clinic Category. In 2014, it was a finalist at the ASEAN Business Awards.”

“My vision is to make the Philippines a world-renowned beauty destination,” says Belo. “We have continuously invested in raising the standards of quality in our procedures and patient care.”

Indeed they have, and the world is taking notice, putting the country on the map through Belo’s world-class services.

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T U E S D AY : M A R C H 0 3 : 2 0 1 5

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Dingdong plays a priest in new series on GMA 7

DINGDONG DANTES AND SUNSHINE DIZON

REUNITE IN NEW DRAMA SERIES SIMPLY RED ISAH V. RED Two of Kapuso network’s biggest stars are in a new series beginning this month. They are reunited after years of working with different actors, although both are in the same network.

This time, they will be both under the helm of Maryo J. Delos Reyes in the new series called Pari ‘Koy. According to the director, although he was on vacation, he did not have to think twice in accepting the project. “Pari ‘Koy is about inspiration and bringing out the best in everybody. [It’s like] trying to see what good values we can implant in people. I like that, I like doing that [kind of story]. I want to get the best out of people rather than see the worse in them.”

Delos Reyes also reveals that another reason why he chose to do the project is the chance to work again with Dingdong Dantes. “[It’s] because of Dingdong. I admire him as an actor. The one we did before, Pahiram ng Sandali, was a powerful drama. I felt very relaxed with him. Of course the line up of the cast brings me a lot

of excitement because I’ll be meeting talents na nakasama ko na before like Sunshine [Dizon], Gabby [Eigenmann], and of course the tres marias—Luz [Valdez], Chanda [Romero], and Dexter [Doria]—who have been with me since I started my career. And of course the young talents,” he said.

“I look forward to exciting tapings and collaborations with the whole team. I believe in their intergrity, talent and dedication to their craft. I hope we can create a good show that will touch the lives and hearts of several people,” he added.

Apart from the Kapuso youth-oriented series T.G.I.S, Sunshine and Dingdong last worked together in the top-rating telefantasya ‘Encantadia’ in 2006

Meanwhile, Sunshine Dizon expresses excitement on working again with Dingdong Dantes ffter almost a decade.

“I’m excited to work with Dong.

He’s one of my closest friends in the industry and I’m excited to see how he has grown as an actor,” Sunshine says.

Apart from the Kapuso youthoriented series T.G.I.S, Sunshine and Dingdong last worked together in the top-rating telefantasya Encantadia in 2006.

In Pari Koy, she will portray the role of Noemi, one of the people Father Kokoy (Dingdong) will get to interact with in the parish. According to Sunshine, she is happy to become part of a program like this, especially because of the moral values, which the show can impart to theudience.

“Pari Koy deals with different stories about triumphs and downfalls that mirrors what is happening in our society. Sa lahat ng mga nangyayari, hangad namin na magbigay inspirasyon. We aim to remind them to never lose hope and renew their faith,” Sunshine adds.

Also in the cast are Jeric Gonzales, Carlo Gonzales, JC Tiuseco, Rap Fernandez, Hiro Peralta, Jojit Lorenzo, Lindt Johnston, Jhiz Deocareza, and Jillian Ward.

Pari ‘Koy will be telecast this month on GMA Telebabad.

Sunshine Dizon is the other big star in the new Kapuso series this moth

Movie/TV director Maryo J. Delos Reyes has nothing but admiration for actor Dingdong Dantes. The two are working in a new series titled Pari ‘Koy

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