The Standard - 2015 March 31 - Tuesday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX  NO. 47  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  TUESDAY : MARCH 31, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Sandigan keeps Jinggoy assets frozen

PNoy should go to House investigation

‘NO-ELECTION’ SCENARIO SEEN Next page

Monday drama. Members of the Urban Poor Association staged their annual Calvary of the Poor in front of the Quiapo Church on Monday ahead of Good Friday. DANNY PATA

Easter candy dreamland

Thais crush Pinoys

A16

T U E S d ay : M a R C H 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Napoles, husband indicted in tax case By Rey E. Requejo THE Justice Department has approved the indictment of Janet Lim Napoles and her husband Jaime for tax evasion before the Court of Tax Appeals for allegedly failing to pay P61.18 million in taxes. The case against Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the pork barrel scam, was based on a complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue in 2013. During the preliminary investigation, the Napoles couple denied that they owed the government taxes for 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, but a Justice Department panel led by Assistant State Prosecutor Allan Mariano found no basis in their defense and instead upheld the findings of the BIR. The bureau had accused the Napoles couple of a willful attempt to evade taxes. The BIR also found that Mrs. Napoles deliberately failed to supply correct and accurate information in her income tax return for those years. Taxable years 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009 and with willful failure to file her ITRs for taxable years 2010, 2011 and 2012. Jaime Napoles was also charged for not supplying the correct and accurate information in his ITR for 2009 and for his failure to file returns for 2004, 2006, 2008, and from 2010 until 2012. “Information gathered during investigation disclosed that spouses Napoles during the years 2004 to 2012 were able to purchase and register in their names various real properties, a number of motor vehicles, several insurance policies and club shares. They also invested millions of pesos in various new corporations,” the BIR complaint said. Acquisitions by the couple included condominium units in Cityland Mega Plaza and the Discovery Center, and parcels of land in Pangasinan and Kidapawan City. The Napoleses also have insurance policies with Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd., Philippine American Life & General Insurance Co., Inc., and Philippine Axa Life Insurance Corp., and have purchased vehicles that include a Ford Lincoln Navigator, Honda Civic and Porsche Cayenne. The BIR records also showed Janet Napoles’ total acquisitions came to P4.17 million in 2004, P22.29 million in 2006, P4.35 million in 2008, P9.84 million in 2009, P6.33 million in 2010, P5.64 million in 2011 and P6.89 million in 2012. However, these were made with an income of only P195,800 in 2004, zero in 2006, P100,744 in 2008 and zero in 2009, as shown in her ITRs. Mrs. Napoles did not file any returns from 2010 to 2012. On the other hand, her husband had total acquisitions worth P1.42 million in 2004, P5.51 million in 2006, P0.78 million in 2008, P9.25 million in 2009, P2.1 million in 2010, P1.17 million in 2011 and P3.65 million in 2012. The BIR also found that he did not file any ITR for those years except in 2009, during which he declared nothing. The BIR complaint was filed in 2013, but the Justice Department was only able to issue the resolution Monday due to the demise late last year of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela, who conducted the preliminary investigation on the case. Earlier this month, the department filed a separate tax evasion case before the Court of Tax Appeals against the couple’s daughter, Jeane, over alleged non-payment of taxes amounting to P17.88 million.

New aircraft. Members of the Air Force take a look at one of the three newly acquired aircraft inside Villamor Air Base on Monday. DaNNy Pata

Automation problems could scrap 2016 polls By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Maricel V. Cruz

AN election lawyer warned Monday there might be no election in 2016 if the Supreme Court scraps the P268 million contract for the repair and refurbishment of 81,000 vote counting machines. Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said the decision of the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the contract might cause “unreasonable delay” and greatly affect the timetable of the Commission on Elections to prepare for the 2016 national polls. In the worst-case scenario, Macalinatal said, the Court could nullify the contract, forcing the Comelec to hold another bidding. Even if another bidder wins, he added, Smartmatic is not expected to disclose its technology to the winning bidder. “If this happens, we can say goodbye to an automated election or [have] no election at all in May 2016,” he said. Macalintal also discounted manual elections because the Automated Election Law does not allow the conduct of a manual count unless lawmakers amend the rules. The lawyer said the Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order on the ComelecSmartmatic contract was “highly impractical.” “It will unreasonably delay the diagnosis of these machines and might affect the timetable of the Comelec to prepare for the 2016

national elections,” he said. The Comelec should have six months to complete the diagnostics and repair process, and there are only 12 months left before the local and national elections, he said. He urged the Court to immediately lift its TRO so that the refurbishment process could continue. “The diagnosis and maintenance of these PCOS machines could be undertaken by Smartmatic pending final decision on the said petition so that if SC says the contract is valid, then no time is lost in diagnosing and maintaining these machines,” Macalintal said. On the other hand, if the Court declares the contract invalid, the country faces the prospect of having no elections in 2016, unless the law is amended to allow a manual count, he said. Last week, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez admitted that there was a possibility that the agency might return to manual voting if the PCOS contract is struck down. But he added that the probability of a manual count was low. “There are plenty of scenarios.

That’s why we had an emergency meeting to firm up Plans A to Z,” he said. Jimenez said the Comelec is looking into the possibility of getting its own IT experts to refurbish the machines instead of commissioning Smartatic or holding another public bidding. On Dec. 23, 2014, the Comelec en banc decided to forgo public bidding and awarded a negotiated contract to Smartmatic-TIM for the refurbishing project. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, however, challenged the negotiated contract before the Supreme Court and said the law requires a public bidding. Lawmakers voiced concern over the possibility that the elections might not be held in 2016. House Deputy Minority Leader Silvestre Bello III of 1-BAP party-list and Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro agreed with Macalintal. But Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr., vice chairman of the House committee on electoral reforms and suffrage, disputed Macalintal’s warning. “I do not think a no election scenario will happen. The Supreme Court knows that it has to decide immediately on the repair or refurbishing issue of thePCOS machines,” Barzaga said. “I am positive that the Supreme Court will sustain the validity of the contract after hearing the oral argument of the parties.” Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, a member of the minority bloc, said that whether through automation or a manual count,

the 2016 elections should proceed as scheduled. “The Constitution is higher than any law and it mandates us to elect our leaders at a definite date. So whether the elections in 2016 will be done through automation or manually, it does not matter. We should carry out the constitutional mandate,” Albano said. The Comelec said last week that reverting to a manual count was better than postponing the 2016 elections. “Manual elections are better than no elections,” said acting Comelec chairman Christian Lim “Having no elections will be unacceptable to many.” Lim said deferring the national elections might trigger a “civil war” even as some lawmakers who have been supportive of Smartmatic said Comelec officials could be impeached for failing to hold automated elections as mandated by the law. But Jimenez said the poll body will do everything possible to ensure automated elections in May next year. “A return to manual elections is not as rosy as some may think. It is not a nostalgic return to paradise as one would like to believe,” Jimenez said. He said reverting to manual polls would mean additional costs to pay public school teachers, poll clerks and administrative staff, among others. “This is aside from the return of the threats of vote-buying, ballot-snatching and vote-padding and shaving,” Jimenez said.

T U E S d ay : M a R C H 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

NEWS

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Military: Strength of BIFF halved By Francisco Tuyay THE military claimed to have reduced the strength of the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters by half as it ended a month-long offensive that has already caused the dislocation of more than 120,000 residents of Mindanao. “We have accounted for 139 enemies killed, 53 wounded and 12 captured,” AFP chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang said on Monday. “They are now splintered into small groups to evade the pursuing soldiers,” Catapang said, adding that the military will continue mopping-up operations against the smaller groups while the government undertakes development projects in areas that used to be controlled by the BIFF. “Effective (March 30), the allout offensive against the BIFF would be ended,” he added of the operations that started February 25. But he stressed the military will continue to pursue the extremists who have fled to the highlands and the Liguasan Marsh. “We are now entering the new phase of our operation which is peace and development. I want to emphasize that still, we will continuously deploy forces to secure communities and deny the BIFF entry into their former enclaves in Maguindanao,” Catapang said. Catapang said that the military will coordinate with the regional government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the province of Maguindanao for the safe return of the residents back to their homes. “Now that we have driven out the armed BIFF members and the small group of terrorists led by Basit Usman, we will focus our attention in rebuilding the affected communities,” he said. “We will help the LGUs, other government agencies, and the national government as a whole in delivering public services to the people. We will support the implementation of development projects that are intended to spur the economic activities in these areas,” he added. Catapang said the military sympathizes with the people who were affected by the offensive and the military will help local government in building Maguindanao, which bore the brunt of the operations, into a highly-developed area where people enjoy peace, progress and prosperity.

Exodus. Vessels carry passengers headed for Puerto Galera from Batangas, and from Puerto Galera to Batangas, as the exodus from the cities to the provinces continues. VEr NoVENo

AFP receives aircraft bought from Spain THE military officially took delivery on Monday of the first of three Spanish-made C295M cargo planes after the aircraft passed inspection and test flights, according to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. Gazmin, Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr. and Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado led military officials who joined the aircraft’s acceptance and christening at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Monday. “The public can be assured that there was transparency in the procurement process that was conducted and that the terms and conditions in the concluded contract agreement are advantageous to the government,” Gazmin said during the ceremony. “Consistent with the AFP Modernization Program, we decided to procure three units of the Casa C295M medium lift fixed-wing aircraft through public competitive bidding, and we expect the delivery of the second aircraft in February 2016 and the third aircraft in June 2016,” he said. “Air transport has always been an essential part of our air operations in the military. Its importance plays a key role in the operational readiness of the Philippine Air Force, especially in the movement by air of troops, and their equipment and supplies,” he said. The first C295 aircraft, which

can carry 71 passengers, 50 paratroopers, or up to 20,000 lbs. of cargo, arrived in the country on March 22, said Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya, adding that the cargo plan will be turned over to the 220th Airlift Wing based in Cebu. The C-295 is made by the Spanish firm Airbus Military and was developed from the transport aircraft CASA/IPTN CN-235. The C-295 made its maiden flight in 1998. The first order came from the Spanish Air Force. The C-295 is in service with the armed forces of 15 countries with 121 C295s contracted and 94 in service. The C-295 is a candidate to replace the Canadian Forces’s DHC-5 Buffalos. The aircraft, along with the C-27J Spartan, is a candidate to replace the Indonesian Air Force’s Fokker F27s and the Peruvian Air Force’s Antonov An-32s. In November 2011, the Australian Department of Defence issued a request for information on the C-295 and C-27J as a replacement for Australia’s retired de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou. In July 2012 Poland ordered an additional five C-295s, this order made the Polish Air Force the second largest single operator of the C295, flying 16 aircraft.[12] In January 2013, Airbus reported that a total of 28 C-295s had been sold during 2012 in what was described as a “bumper year”.

Testing. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, left, leads the breath-analyzer testing of provincial bus drivers to detect those under the influence of alcohol. MaNNy PalMEro

‘PNoy should go to House probe’ By Maricel V. Cruz

LEFTIST lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc insisted Monday that President Benigno Aquino III appear before a congressional panel investigating the covert Mamasapano operation in which 44 police commandos were killed. In a letter to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. dated March 30, the seven-member bloc listed 20 questions they would want to ask the President whom they said had consistently lied about the failed operation. “In light… of the findings of the Senate committee on public order and the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry, it is necessary for the House of Representatives to investigate... issues raised but not completely resolved by the said bodies… An analysis of both the Senate and BOI reports will lead to the conclusion that it is only the President himself who will be able to shed light on these matters,” the group said in the letter. Belmonte, however, refused to budge from his decision not to invite the President to attend the hearings set for April 7 and 8. “We certainly cannot insist on the Presidents presence legally. I believe most of the points raised by Makabayan bloc have already been answered by the President in his various pronouncements,” Belmonte told the Manila Standard. The joint House committees on public order and peace, reconciliation and unity, chaired by Reps. Jeffrey Ferrer of Negros Occidental and Jim Hataman-Salliman of Basilan, respectively, will resume the probe next week after more than 100 House members signed a resolution urging them to do so.

But Ferrer also rejected the demand of the Makabayan bloc to invite Aquino to the hearings. “I will respect their decision if they will be the one to invite the President, but as for the committee on public order and safety, the issue has already been resolved,” Ferrer said in a text message. Hataman-Salliman said the joint panel will not entertain any motion to invite the President during next week’s hearing. “That’s out of the question, Hataman-Salliman said. “We already decided on that in the first hearing (in February). In fact they have raised the same motion and it was objected to by the chair.” The Makabayan bloc’s 20 questions center on the President’s decision to allow his friend, then suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima, to participate in the planning and execution of the covert Mamasapano operation, as well as the extent of the US involvement in the mission. The questions are: 1. Why did you authorize or allow the participation of then PNP Chief Alan Purisima in Oplan Exodus even though you were fully aware that he was already suspended at that time? 2. If he were only an “expert adviser,” why did you say that you ordered him to coordinate with PNP OIC [Deputy Director General Leonardo] Espina and AFP Chief of Staff [General Gregorio

Pio] Catapang and that he did not follow said order? 3. Why didn’t you, as the commander-in-chief, direct Espina and Catapang to support the SAF, instead of delegating the task to a suspended official? 4. When you let a suspended official head an operation, received reports from him, and ordered the SAF director [Director Getulio] Napeñas to report to him, did you not violate the chain of command? 5. Did you not violate the suspension order issued by the Ombudsman against Purisima when you allowed the latter to head the operation? 6. What did you and Purisima talk about during the Jan. 9 meeting at Bahay Pangarap, after Napeñas left and before Purisima told Napeñas, “Sabihan mo na ang dalawa [referring to Secretary Manuel Roxas II and PNP OIC Gen. Espina] kapag andun na. Ako na ang bahala kay Catapang”? 7. How many times did you text Purisima and other officials about the operation on Mamasapano? What are the contents of these messages, if any? Was there an instance that you made voice calls to Purisima and other officials on the matter? We also request for the transcripts of these voice calls. 8. You said that you were irked at Purisima because you could not make sense of his conflicting texts. Why did you not call him to clarify matters? Why did you not call other officials such as General Catapang and AFP generals involved in the rescue or even Secretary Roxas or General Espina to know what was happening? 9. You were aware of the probability of “pintakasi,” that the SAF troopers will be attacked by any and all armed locals in the area. Why did you not order coordination with the CCCHH even just hours before the operation was launched? – With Sandy araneta

t u e s d ay : M a R C H 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

CA won’t budge on Binay case By Rey E. Requejo and Joel E. Zurbano

THE Office of the Ombudsman suffered another setback on Monday when the Court of Appeals denied its bid to suspend the hearings on the petition of Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay assailing the suspension the Ombudsman imposed on him. During the hearing on Binay’s petition, the Ombudsman, through Assistant Solicitor General Hermes Ocampo, asked the appellate court to stop its hearing pending a resolution of the Ombudsman’s petition with the Supreme Court against its issuance of a temporary restraining order and Binay’s petition. “We filed a motion to suspend the proceedings on the grounds of judicial courtesy, considering last week, March 25, respondent Ombudsman filed a petition for certiori before the honorable Supreme Court,” Ocampo told the magistrates composing the CA’s Sixth Division. “While the SC has not issued a TRO [temporary restraining order], we respectfully invoke the limited and qualified application of the doctrine of judicial courtesy,” Ocampo said. He said the proceedings with the appellate court hearing would render the petition with the high court “moot and moribund.” Ocampo made his statement even as Binay asked his opponents and the ruling Liberal Party not to involve the Philippine National Police or any law enforcement unit in dirty politics. “Every time I see members of the PNP posted around City Hall, I cannot not help but feel pity for them,” Binay said during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony. “They are merely obeying orders from their superiors, but they are in fact being used to break the law instead of enforcing it.” Binay’s appeal came after Vice Mayor Romulo Peña Jr. met with members of the Makati City Police and Southern Police District in a command conference over the weekend. The meeting was attended by SPD deputy director for administration Senior Supt. Elmer Jamias; Makati Police head Senior Supt. Ernesto Barlam; Jaime Santos, deputy chief of the Makati Police for administration; and several police community precinct and substation commanders.

Tradition. A group of women chant the “Pabasa,” the traditional Lenten singing of verses on the passion and death of Jesus Christ in a house on A. Luna St. Malinao, Pasig City. MANNY PALMERO

Sandigan keeps Jinggoy’s assets frozen By Rio N. Araja THE Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division on Monday stood firm on its decision to freeze the assets of Senator Jinggoy Estrada worth at least P183 million. Associate Justices Roland Jurado, Alexander Gesmundo and Maria Theresa Dolores Estoesta rejected Estrada’s plea to stop the garnishment of a Wrangler jeep, a Range Rover, a Chevrolet Suburban, a Nissan Homy, a Honda CRV, a Foton Tornado 2T, a Ford Mark III van, four condominium units in San Juan City, one unit in Tagaytay City, and another unit in Quezon City’s One Beverly Place. Also included in the writ of garnishment were a townhouse, a house, four residential

lots in Quezon City’s Loyola Grand Villas and Corinthian Hills, three parcels of agricultural land in Lipa City, and over P15 million worth of shares of stock in Estrada’s name and in the name of his wife Presentacion and daughter Janella Marie. The total amount of Estrada’s assets covered by the attachment was equivalent to the P183-million kickback that he allegedly received from his pork barrel fund funneled to the ghost projects of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles. “As movant has not filed a counter bond and as his arguments hereon are unmeritorious, there is therefore no compelling reason to lift the attachment while the main case is still pending,” the Sandiganbayan’s

order read. “With regards to motions in general, the Rules of Court require only that motions be heard; it does not direct the court to order the filing of comments or oppositions to the motion before the motion is resolved.” To reverse its February writ of attachment or garnishment would be grossly unfair to the prosecution, the court said. “On the other hand, borrowing the words of the Supreme Court, ‘allowing the discharge of the attachment at this stage of the proceedings would put in jeopardy the right of the attaching party to realize upon the relief sought and expected to be granted in the main or principal action. It would have the effect of prejudging the main case’,” the court said.

Palace denies selling out Sabah By Sandy Araneta and vito Barcelo

Repair binge. Department of Public Works and Highways personnel dig up Andrews Avenue in Maricaban, Pasay City on Monday, one of several projects started simultaneously in Metro Manila during the Holy Week. AviTO C. DALAN

MALACAñANG said it is not selling out the country’s claim on Sabah amid reports that the government is courting Malaysia’s support for its case against China’s nine-dash line claim in the West Philippine Sea pending before a United Nations tribunal. Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said a note verbale recently sent to Malaysia referred to the “features in the South China Sea and their implications on the extended continental shelf (ECS) claims” of the country and had nothing to do with the Sabah issue. “The Philippines has excellent relations with Malaysia in the context of our friendly bilateral relations. Our two countries have been for years exchanging ways on how to address the issue of the ECS in the South China Sea,” Jose said in a statement sent through presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. “The note verbale that was written about was part of this process. Sabah is not in any

way part of the note,” Jose added. In a separate text message, Lacierda flatly denied insinuations that the country downgraded its claim on Sabah to ensure Malaysia’s support in the arbitration case against Beijing. “There’s absolutely no basis to that report,” Lacierda said. Earlier, VERA Files said a quid pro quo has been reached through the note verbale which was reportedly sent to a representative of the Malaysian Embassy last week, days after the visit of Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. The Philippines reportedly said in the note that it will be “reviewing” its 2009 protest against a joint submission made by Malaysia and Vietnam to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf wherein Kuala Lumpur made its claim from Sabah. Manila questioned the joint submission before the UN as it effectively declared Sabah to be part of Malaysian territory.

T u e s D AY : M A R C H 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

House arrest for Arroyo backed by Indie bloc By Maricel V. Cruz The house Independent Bloc led by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has rallied behind a resolution filed in Congress calling for the house arrest for former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Romualdez said he was hopeful that Arroyo would be finally allowed soon to stay at her residence at La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City or in Lubao, Pampanga pending the resolution of her plunder case. Romualez was referring to house Resolution 1908, of 1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, that seeks to express the sense of the house to allow Arroyo house arrest due to her debilitating medical conditions as per advised of her doctors. At least 80 lawmakers have already signed hR 1908, said Bello as a number of lawmakers would want a humanitarian consideration for Arroyo. Bello, a former justice secretary, said he believes that by placing the ailing Arroyo under house arrest at her residence at La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City “will help a lot to improve her poor health condition.” Besides, Romualdez said the ailing Arroyo has not yet been convicted of any crime. Romualdez and his group had earlier visited Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. The group said that Arroyo lamented her plight, saying the former leader does not want anybody to suffer the same fate as that of her. Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza stressed detention is not something Arroyo would wish on political enemies and critics

‘Noynoying’ redux. Cause-oriented groups stage their annual ‘Calvary of the Poor’, a re-enactment of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, highlighted by a play on President Aquino’s indecision (Noynoying) on crucial issues. EY ACASIO

Urban poor groups hit out at PNoy’s inaction By Macon Araneta

The urban poor on Monday called on President Benigno S. Aquino III to act on their covenant in 2010 as they staged their annual “Kalbaryo ng Maralita,” a re-enactment of the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Garbed in black and white, members of the Urban Poor Associates and Community Organizers Multiversity marched from Liwasang Bonifacio (Plaza Lawton) to Plaza Miranda. The Kalbaryo was highlighted by a play in which President Aquino must decide whether he would continue the sufferings of the poor by nailing them to the cross using a

big hammer, or end their suffering by removing the nail piercing the “actors” hands. Rosalio Obnamia, a leader of the Nagkakaisanang Mamamayan ng Legarda who played the role of the President, noted they have been patiently waiting for Mr. Aquino to act on their agreement. While the President has built micromedium rise buildings for 10 families,

he said there are still 95 families that are left without homes in estero de San Miguel. Aries Aquino, a leader in Manggahan Floodway, urged the President to speed up the construction of buildings for the 900 families. Since the construction began in 2013, he said only two buildings have been built. While they are not calling for his resignation, Aquino said they appealed to the Chief executive to discern this holy Week and find in his heart to attend to their problems. Meanwhile, in observance of the Lenten season, a woman personifying Mother earth carrying a wire mesh shaped into a cross and filled with plastic trash was at the center of the Senakulo organized by waste

advocates in front of the Quiapo Church. With “Plastik: Pasakit kay Inang Daigdig” as its theme, the street play showed how the people’s uncontrolled consumption and disposal of plastics is steadily dirtying and destroying the environment. Aileen Lucero, ecoWaste Coalition coordinator, said this is a factual representation how our Mother earth is bearing the brunt of our wasteful consumption of plastic bags and other expendable packaging. “The thoughtless use of plastic disposables from carry bags to water bottles and their reckless disposal in the streets, waterways, waste burners and dumps pose a heavy burden for Mother earth akin to carrying a cross,” she said.

Pinoy options in Yemen limited By Vito Barcelo

Golden leaf. Farmers of Reyna Mercedes in Isabela enjoy a good harvest of tobacco leaves. REVOLI CORTEZ

ALL flights to and from Yemen have been suspended, limiting the options of Filipinos to flee from the escalating war but to avail themselves of the government’s mandatory repatriation program, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said. The DFA said that Filipinos who want to leave the war-torn Yemen were advised to contact the Philippine embassy in Riyadh soonest because government-assisted repatriation is now the only means of travel out of Yemen. All commercial flights in Yemen have already been suspended after Saudi Arabia, along with 10 other nations, launched sweeping air strikes to blunt the lightning advance of houthi rebels in Sanaa. The DFA appealed to an estimamed 700

Filipinos in Yemen to leave immediately due to the unstable situation in their host state. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the rapid response team (RRT) under the Office of the President is “ready for deployment anytime” to Yemen to help repatriate Filipino workers there. Baldoz added that the government’s program for the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Yemen was still in force. “Yes, it is mandatory, but many of workers are not ready to leave. We hope this time they can be easily convinced,” she said. Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia ezzedin Tago is now in Yemen to oversee the operations of the crisis management team and ensure the safety of Filipinos there, most of them nurses, household service workers, engineers, technicians and mechanics, according to Baldoz.

t u e s d ay : m a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

news editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Workers’ tax-free bonus to free up P30b—solon By Maricel V. Cruz

Plastic poison. Environmentalists stage a street play in front of Quiapo Church on Monday March 30 to

draw attention to the daily sufferings of Mother Earth which they say is drowning in plastic garbage. DANNY

eMPLoyeeS will enjoy higher mid-year benefits starting June, with the effectivity of the implementing rules of the new law raising to P82,000 the maximum amount of obtainable tax-free bonuses, a ranking House member said. “We expect an additional P30 billion to be put into the pockets of public and private sector employees, in terms of productivity and performance incentive pay, loyalty award, gifts in cash or in kind, 13th month pay, Christmas bonus and other benefits of similar nature,” House Deputy Majority Leader and Makati City Rep. Mar-Len Abigail Binay said. “Many state agencies and private firms traditionally distribute these perks starting June, by way of midyear bonuses, so the money should starting coming in soon enough,” Binay said. Binay is one of the principal authors of Republic Act 10653, which increased to P82,000 from P30,000 the ceiling for tax-exempt bonuses that may be received by employees every year. Malacañang approved the new law on Feb. 12. Revenue Regulation 3-2015, which sets the implementation rules of the law, takes effect on Apr. 1. the Bureau of Internal Revenue

published the order on Mar. 16. Binay has been batting for highly progressive taxation that would put more income at the disposal of Filipino families, whom she said “tend to be more productive spenders than government.” She recalled that Malacañang drew up the highly controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program precisely because government agencies were found to be overly slow-moving when it comes to spending. In the DAP, the funds that state offices failed to spend fast enough were immediately impounded by Malacañang, and then splurged on pet projects. “If this is the case—that many government departments are inefficient spenders anyway—then we might as well give the money back to the families of salaried employees who are now being slapped up to 32 percent in withholding income taxes,” Binay said. She is also author of bills seeking to exempt from income taxes all night shift differential and overtime pay received by employees. As proposed by Binay in House Bills 2836 and 4682, all overtime and graveyard shift wages will be expressly excluded from the computation of the gross taxable income of all workers, regardless of their hourly pay rate.

Double life term for 3 in Edsa robbery-killing Retired Brig. General Manuel Mariano

Retired general bags Peace Awards Ret. Brig. General Manuel Mariano and wife Mrs. Lolit Mariano, bagged one of the most prestigious special awards, “Integrity In Action” in the Peace Awards held recently at the Manila Hotel. General Mariano is known to be an advocate of reforms. He cleansed the AFP LogCom and got rid of scalawags and grafters in the command, sharing a common vision and devoted to the idea that this nation very badly needs a strong- willed, dedicated and enlightened leadership. He co-authored the book, “the Power of Reform”, detailing the culture of corruption in the AFP LogCom and how he cleansed it almost single handedly and reaped the fruits of the Reform Program and thereby benefitted the recipients for the AFP, PNP, the out-of-school youths and its various outreach program. the PeACe AWARDS for “Integrity in Action”, was bestowed on Mariano as a deserving individual in his field of expertise that contributes to honesty, integrity and peace. together with his wife, Lolit Mariano, they are known for their continuing advocacy pursuits for humanitarian and religious communities. the Integrity Circles Movement, nominated the couple for the award which was long overdue as they remained bloodied but unbowed in their joint efforts to fight corruption.

By Rio N. Araja

THREE men have been given double life sentence by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for involvement in a bus robbery-hostage taking incident along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Balintawak eight years ago. In a 16-page order, Branch 215 Acting Judge Wilfredo Maynigo said Jojo Bacyaan, then 35; Ronnie Fernandez, and Ryan Guevarra were found guilty beyond reasonable in the killing of bus driver Lauro Santos and Renato James Veloso, Quezon National High School director, and robbing them and the other bus passengers on May 31, 2007.

Maynigo ordered the three men to indemnify the relatives of Santos and Veloso, director of the Quezon National High School at least P75,000 in civil damage, P50,836 in actual damage, P50,000 in moral damage, P30,000 in exemplary damage and the cost of litigation. Bacyaan, Fernandez and Guevarra were sentenced to life imprisonment

for robbery with homicide, and another life sentence for serious illegal detention “without mitigating but aggravated by the use of unlicensed firearm.” Assistant City Prosecutor Ramoncito Bienvenido ocampo Jr., Branch 215 trial prosecutor, said Bacyaan and Fernandez were immediately ordered transferred from Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, taguig City to the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City. on the other hand, Guevarra is already imprisoned at NBP for his participation in the slaying of Makati City Supt. Jovem Bocalbos, who was then moonlighting as a public utility vehicle driver on May 24, 2007, and the robbery of Bocal-

bos’ 13 passengers in taguig City. A JMK bus driven by Santos was cruising edsa-Balintawak when Bacyaan, Fernandez and Guevarra boarded, announced a hold-up and took away the cell phone units and other valuables of all the bus passengers. Bacyaan, Fernandez and Guevarra shot and killed Santos and Veloso, who tried to resist the robbery, court records showed. Responding policemen gave chase, but the three men boarded a Mitsubishi van in the area and held the passengers hostage. the Quezon City Police District said the three appeared to be high on drugs upon their arrest.

Shoe execs draw prison terms over behest loans tHRee executives of a shoe firm have been convicted by the Sandiganbayan of nine counts of graft for conspiracy to receive P36.9 million in behest loans forty-three years ago. In a March 26 resolution, the Sandiganbayan’s five-member Special third Division sentenced Leticia teodoro, Marfina Singian and Gregorio Singian, three former officials of the Integrated Shoe Inc. (ISI), to suffer an imprisonment of six years and one month to 10 years for each count of graft. But Dennis Pulma, clerk of court, said teodoro and the Singians have been given 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration to challenge the order. “the three appeared during the

promulgation,” he told the Standard. Despite their old age, teodoro and company showed up during the March 26 promulgation, he said. the anti-graft court said the former shoe company executives conspired with former officials of the Philippine National Bank, then the government’s depository bank, to secure loans of P36.8 million from 1972 to 1980 without any collateral. According to court evidence presented by the prosecution, ISI was able to get a five-year confirmed and irrevocable loan credit of P16.3 million from PNB in 1972 for the purchase of plant equipment despite a P1-million capitalization. Rio N. Araja

Collection deal. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has signed a memorandum of agreement with the United Coconut Planters Bank on the use of a collection service involving payments for air navigation fees and overfly charges as well as billings through the UCPB. ERIC APOLONIO

t u e s d ay : m a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Other faces of Mamasapano. Top ten graduates of the Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School in Tukanalipao, Mamamasapano town, Maguindanao receive four-year scholarships from ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman (rightmost). OMAR MAngORSi

Senate to probe row in Baguio’s John Hay By Dexter A. See

The Senate will look into the row between the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Sobrepeña-owned Camp John hay Development Corporation (CJhDevCo). Senator Francis Escudero said it would be best if the Senate could bring the officials of both organizations in one venue to talk about their issues. “Officers of BCDA and CJHDevCo talk a lot when they speak in different events,” he said. The controversy arose from the recent decision of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDCRI) defining the obli-

gation of the two parties in the mutual restitution of the original and succeeding agreements covering the operation of the 247-hectare John Hay Special Economic Zone. “We must put an end to the controversy because if we allow them to continuously discuss their concerns in public, their corporations might sink with them. They must shape up or

ship out,” Escudero added. The senator wants to know why both parties still trade barbs when the PDRCI has already rendered a final ruling on their dispute. “They should just await the judicial confirmation of the arbitral decision before taking the necessary legal steps,” the senator said. On February 11, the Makatibased PDCRI ordered the mutual restitution of the original lease agreement and succeeding revised agreements the two parties had entered into. It ordered CJHDevCo to return the economic zone to the government and directed the BCDA

to pay CJHDevCo P1.42 billion in lease rentals it had paid to the government since 1996. However, BCDA’s claim of over P3.4 billion against the developer on unpaid lease rentals was junked by the arbitral tribunal for lack of merit. Both parties filed separate petitions before the city’s Regional Trial Court (RTC) for judicial confirmation of the arbitral decision. They also asked for the issuance of the writ of execution so both parties would comply with their obligations. Instead of complying with the arbitral order, however, both organizations have engaged in a media war.

Santiago City bags hall of fame for tobacco control By Jessica M. Bacud SANTIAgO City in Isabela province has bagged the Hall of Fame for winning the Red Orchid Awards—a recognition from the Department of Health for the strict enforcement of tobacco control measures—for three years in a row. Mayor Joseph Tan said the “100% Smoke-Free Environment and Smoking Prohibition Policy” within the city government’s premises had contributed to the city’s recognition.

With or without that award, we will maintain our anti-smoking drive in the locale to become a Smoke-Free City,” he added. The city government received a trophy, a certificate and P500,000 in project grants to sustain its tobacco control activities. The DOH came up with the Red Orchid Awards to fight tobacco use and to work for a tobacco-free environment. Aside from lgUs, the awards also cover lgU hospitals, government offices and DOH Centers for Health and Development.

Everything is awesome. A student puts together a robotic car made by LEGO during a presentation at a school in Lapu Lapu City. He would control this car through a laptop. RAlph piEzAS

Look into black sand disposal, DOJ told By Rey E. Requejo A 72-yEAR-OlD lingayen resident has asked the Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal Mining chaired by Justice Secretary leila de lima to look into the inventory and disposal of magnetite stockpile (black sand) where illegal black sand mining occurred there from 2011 to 2013. “I am a 72-year old man who has gotten used to waking up every morning facing the lingayen Beach, but now fear that the view of the sea that I enjoyed for so many years may no longer be experienced by the next generations,” said Rolando , who also addressed his complaint to the Department of Justice and the Department of Environment and National Resources. Alexandra Mining and Oil Ventures Inc. and Xypher Builders Inc. were contracted by the provincial government, one after the other, to mine the coastal areas for black sand or magnetite. Rea asked the agencies to help dismantle the wall put up by the provincial government of Pangasinan to hide the black sand mining activity, which is illegal. The wall, he said, stands six feet high and is six kilometers long. The illegal mining was undertaken in proposed 18-hole golf-course project spanning the coastal barangays of Sabangan, Malimpuec, Capandanan and Estanza. magnetite stockpile has remained in Barangay Malimpuec, along with the heavy equipment used such as backhoes, trailers and trucks.

T u E S D AY : M A R c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

opinion

ADELLE chuA eDiTor

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

eagLe eYeS Dean TonY La ViÑa

The glorious cross of salvaTion

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Searching for anSwerS A Week after a Germanwings flight from Barcelona, Spain to Dusseldorf, Germany into the French Alps, the world cannot yet quite grasp the idea that the tragedy was not accident but a deliberate act of the 27-year-old co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz. Details of Lubitz’s supposed psychosomatic illness are coming out just now, and the emerging picture is devastating. Antidepressants were found in Lubitz’s apartment, and it was discovered he was suffering from “severe subjective burnout syndrome.” What is clear based on the findings from the voice recorder found at the crash site is that Lubitz locked the captain out of the cockpit when the latter went out, that he refused to open the door when the captain knocked, and that he alone caused the plane’s steep descent. Why, if Germanwings was a subsidiary of the giant airliner Lufthansa, had the company not been aware of any red flags with regard to Lubitz’s behavior? This was, after all, a young man who once ominously told his girl friend that one day the whole world would know who he was. Why did he have to include more than a hundred people in his plan to end his life? This enigma comes at a time when yet another airline mystery has not yet been solved. Malaysia Airlines flight 370, which disappeared March 8, 2014, has not yet been found. Global efforts to predict what might have happened to it, where the plane might be and what might have happened to the passengers, have not yielded any answers. Here at home, we are also still wondering what really happened in Mamasapano one Sunday in January despite the release of investigative reports from several bodies. As rational beings, we would always want to have an explanation for everything. We are unsettled when things happen for no reason at all. We are also aware that there may be several versions of the truth, often depending on the interests of those who speak it. The next few days will be quiet ones, supposedly spent in reflection and the search for answers. May this lull renew our determination and clear our perspective so that we would know which questions deserve immediate answers, and which answers we have to patiently wait for.

OutdOing COry LowDown jojo a. robLeS THe creation by President Noynoy Aquino of a “peace council” to spread the good word about his proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law has given me a serious Cory Aquino flashback. And the more I think about it, the more I remember how Cory tried to pressure the Senate during her term to extend the use by the Americans of

their military bases in Clark and in Subic by calling for mass actions which took the issue outside of Congress and onto the streets. The problem confronting Cory’s son these days is that he can’t very well call for protest actions to push for his pet law. That course of action is no longer open to the current Aquino – unless he really wants to find out if the people support his peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or not. Because like Cory’s probases rallies near the end

of her term, Noynoy’s peace council is nothing but a propaganda ploy and a pressure tactic. His creation of a so-called council of elders to look over the law’s provisions should be understood as nothing more than the seeking of a second opinion – or a third, actually, now that both the police Board of Inquiry and the Senate have given their verdict on the Mamasapano Massacre that blew away whatever chances Aquino had of having Congress give its usual rubberstamp approval to the BBL. Aquino desperately needs someone to be on his side because he feels, with a lot

what is the value of any recommendations that will be made by aquino’s council? nothing but propaganda.

of justification, that he only has the MILF itself and a handful of benighted loyalists like Senator Antonio Trillanes still rooting for

him. This is why any careful inspection of the membership of the proposed council will immediately reveal that the President wants it packed with people who will basically agree with whatever he says. Why, for instance, would Aquino nominate businessman Jaime Zobel de Ayala to his council, if he is not counting on Ayala’s family to “reimburse” him for all the contracts awarded to a conglomerate that never had it so good since the time Cory was President? Why would Aquino even consider appointing former Ambassador Howard Dee to this

body, if he didn’t believe that his sister’s father-in-law would support him no matter what? And why, if Aquino wanted true peace, would he name to his council the two Catholic bishops most identified with his administration, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas? What’s wrong with real independent senior clergymen like retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz

Standard TODAY Manila

and even Father eliseo Mercado, who has made it his life’s work to live among the Moros even if he is a Catholic priest? Malacanang has declared that Aquino’s peace council will merely provide inputs to Congress and the people, so that they will better understand the BBL that he desperately wants approved. This is a laudable motive, surely – except that it should have been done long before the Mamasapano incident, when most peo-

527-2057 (Credit and Collection). Fax numbers: 521-8340 (Advertising) 5275550. P.O. Box 2933, Manilaand Central 6406 P.O. Box 2933, Manila Post(Subscription). Office, Manila. Website: www. Central Post Office, Manila. Website:E-mail: www. manilastandardtoday.com manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: mst@ contact@thestandard.com.ph PublishedMonday MondaytotoSunday Sundaybyby Philippine manilastandardtoday.com Published Kamahalan Manila Standard Publishing at 6/F Publishing Corporation at 2 ndInc. Floor PJI canbe beaccessed accessedat: at: Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo Roxas, can Building, Railroad corner 20th de Streets, www.manilastandardtoday.com ONLINE www.manilastandardtoday.com corner PereaManila. St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. ONLINE Port Area, Telephone numbers MEMBER Telephone(connecting numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, MEMBER 521-8507 all departments), Philippine Press Institute 832-5558521-5581, (connecting all departments), (Editorial), (Editorial Fax) 521-7381 Philippine Press Institute The National Association (Advertising), 521-8507(Advertising), (MIS) 521-5591 (Editorial), 832-5546, 832The National Association of Philippine Newspapers of Philippine Newspapers (Sales and Distribution/Subscription) and

MST MST

PPI PPI

cYan MagenTa YeLLow bLacK

ple and even most lawmakers had not even heard of BBL. So what is the value of any recommendations that will be made by Aquino’s handpicked council? Nothing except propaganda. *** But given how the people have sunk Aquino’s once-stratospheric popularity ratings to record lows mainly because of his mishandling of both the BBL and Continued on A11

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

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Ma. Editha D. Angeles Advertising Manager Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

THe Lord Jesus Christ said to Nicodemus: As Moses lifted up a serpent so shall the son of Man be lifted up on the cross. In the Old Testament, the Jews, because of their rebelliousness, were bitten by poisonous snakes. But God told Moses to lift up a brass serpent and whoever would look at this brass serpent would not die from the poison but will be healed. Christ on the cross is analogous to the brass serpent that whosoever would look at him will not die but will find eternal life. Without the cross there can be no resurrection. God, in his infinite wisdom, willed his Son to go through the scandal of the cross in order to save humanity. God the Father set the price for our redemption. He alone determined how to buy people back from the penalty of their sins which is death. The cross is of primordial importance to our faith such that without the cross there can be no salvation. Jesus himself in one of his preaching told his disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.… In explaining the meaning of the Cross, Venerable Fulton Sheen said that the Christian law of life is to endure one’s cross, that is, we have to die in order to live. This does not mean physically dying on the cross but engaging in self-denial, mortification, the application of the cross in our lives. Yet man, because of his fallen nature, tends to escape from the cross. Just as the Israelites rebelled against Moses because they did not want to go through the difficulties of wandering in the desert, modern man finds the cross utterly abhorrent. More often than not, he tries every possible means to avoid the cross. When faced with suffering, modern man often resorts to violence, rebellion and illicit gratification in order to escape suffering. Man’s rebellion from the cross has compelled him to resort to euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, drug and alcohol addiction, abortion, divorce and other similar remedies only to escape mortification and suffering. But we all know that these Continued on A11

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

T u E S D AY : M A R c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

opinion

ADELLE chuA eDiTor

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

eagLe eYeS Dean TonY La ViÑa

The glorious cross of salvaTion

[ EDI TORI A L ]

what is the value of any recommendations that will be made by aquino’s council? nothing but propaganda.

of justification, that he only has the MILF itself and a handful of benighted loyalists like Senator Antonio Trillanes still rooting for

Standard TODAY Manila

MST MST

PPI PPI

cYan MagenTa YeLLow bLacK

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

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Ma. Editha D. Angeles Advertising Manager Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

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

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Unanswered shoUldn’t bishops also speak qUestions with respect and compassion? THERE are questions about the Mamasapano s l a u g h t e r EmIl P. of 44 police jURAdO commandos that cry out for answers. These were not touched by either the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry report or the Senate joint committee report. Why did President Aquino involve himself in the planning and tactical manuevers of the PNP-Special Action Force out to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Marwan and Filipino terrorist Abdul Basit Usman? As a civilian, he did not have the expertise for such a dangerous and sensitive mission. Mr. Aquino even allowed then-SAF chief Getulio Napenas and suspended PNP Chief, his best friend Alan Purisima, to coordinate with the military. In fact, Purisima and Napenas on the moring of Jan. 25 were texting the President on the details of the mission as if he were the best tactician and strategist. Another question that remains the subject of speculation is: Since the President already owned responsibility for the botched mission, why does he still refuse to apologize? Is it because by saying “I’m sorry,” he would be held liable and culpable under the law,, and as such he could face criminal and even civil liabilities after he steps down? President Aquino swore that God was his witness. Was he truthful and honest when he said that he purposely missed the arrival of the bodies of the slain commandos because he wanted to give space to the grieving families? I can’t buy that excuse. The President instead chose to be with his Japanese friends at the Mitsubishi plant inauguration. And why did Mr. Aquino put his friend Purisima on top of the crucial operation? Why, too, does Justice Secretary Leila de Lima insist that the President did not break the chain-of-command? This runs counter to an executive order issued by Fidel V. Ramos when he was President, precisely to set things right that the “Chain-of-Command” exists in the PNP as in other branches of the executive branch of government. *** Right from the start, I have wished that a Truth Commission, composed of non-partisan and respected members of the Judiciary and civil society, would be created to get to the bottom of the Mamasapano incident. I believe that only a Truth Commission can come up with the truth. We know now who are ultimately liable and culpable for the slaughter of the police commandos. As for justice, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel because of the attempts of the President’s lackeys and lapdogs to exonerate him from any liability or culpability. *** The Comelec says that there is a possibility that the 2016 elections may revert to the old manual system if the Supreme Court rejects the use of the 82,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan machines that have been used in previous polls. This threat was issued by the Comelec last week after the Supreme Court stopped the controversial P268-million diagnostic and repair deal the Comelec awarded sans public bidding to the Smartmatic-TIM consortium.

TO THE POINT

AS expected, our bishops have come up with a stronglyworded position BONG C. AUSTERO paper against divorce on account of moves to push a bill in Congress that seeks to legalize divorce in the Philippines. The bishops knew that the bill was dead on arrival at the committees, but they just had to assert themselves - perhaps because they really wanted to send a strong warning. No one in his right mind expected the divorce bill to actually get through Congress, particularly on the eve of a crucial national elections. The legislators who are championing divorce can huff and puff all they want, but let’s get real - most of them are scared of the Catholic bishops. Sure, there is no such thing as a Catholic vote in this country, but our bishops and the catholic organizations know how to play hard ball. When push comes to shove, such as when congressmen and senators become the object of relentless demonization at the pulpit, how many of them can do a Duterte - that is, take out a huge billboard in a major thoroughfare and mock a priest? And then there is the matter of the so-called Catholic guilt which is deeply entrenched in our DNA, thanks to 300 years of conditioning by the Spanish friars. Regardless of the strength of our convictions, how many among us can actually stand up to someone in a cassock and tell him his opinions smack of misogyny? Even if our senators and congressmen can withstand the pressure from priests, they can turn puny in the hands of their wives, who must maintain a stature in their communities through socio-civic and religious involvement. In the words of the usually brilliant and erudite Senator Serge Osmena, “I cannot favor divorce law, my wife might use it against me.” Obviously, divorce is not for happily married couples and those who have no plans of separating from their spouses and I doubt if the presence of a divorce law will encourage them to sever their marital ties either, but lest we forget, making logical deductions are not among the required competencies of our leaders. But then again, who are we really kidding? There’s hardly enough time left for the measure to get through the legislative rigmarole before Congress goes on recess. As it is, Congress is already crammed with bills that have been festering

ARE WE THERE YET?

in some committees for decades already, many of them, such as the Fair Competition Act, certified urgent and badly needed years ago. Let’s not even talk about the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill which as we all know would help rid us of unqualified and incompetent politicians whose only claim to power is their family name. And then there’s the Basic Bangsamoro Law, which will require intensive and passionate discussion. For these and many other reasons, I don’t think the divorce bill is going to be enacted into law in our life time. This being so, one wishes our bishops can take the time to speak with a little more empathy and compassion for those who truly need the protection and the solace that can be offered by a divorce law rather than scolding people and judging them. The statement of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines over the weekend was an indictment of people who find themselves victimized or trapped in unhealthy relationships. The statement basically said that people who cannot make their marriages work are immature people, or at least are people who are too lazy to work at their marriage. These are tough words for people who don’t know what it is like to be married; at least the majority of them, I’d like to think, since I know quite a number of priests who are actually married and have families on the side. “The supposed suffering that a spouse must bear owing to a failed marriage is more imagined than real and comes only upon one who does not make use of the remedies already available under existing law” said the statement. Those words not only represent intolerance but also ignorance as well. Contrary to what the bishops think, the supposed remedies are not really readily available. They take a lot of time, they cost money, and they fail at giving most victims the justice they so deserve, or at the very least, the opportunity to pursue second lease on life and happiness. In this season of reflection and recollection, and given what the country is going through at the moment, one wishes that our bishops lead the way in ushering in an atmosphere of openness and caring, indulging in dialogue that accentuates kindness and humility. Rather than condemn, we can teach. Instead of judging others, we can encourage reflection. There is a lot of space in our current situation for acceptance and respect for each other, even if we do not share the same opinions.

The TRO or Temporary than Smartmatic-TIM. But Restraining Order issued by Brillantes, who had an undying the Supreme Court is also a love affair with Smartmatic, wake-up call for the Comelec. would have none of it. Is the President The threat of reverting to the I have also called on old manual system certainly President and afraid of what will Congress forAquino cannot undo something illegal a new AES and against the law. since there was still enough happen after he While the TRO effectively time for the bidding, award steps down from stops the Comelec from for a new AES, training of proceeding with the diagnostic Comelec personnel and office? tests and repair of the 82,000 public information. But, the PCOS machines, the merits of President refused to listen. the case still have to be ligitated. Now, we are faced with If the Comelec reverts to the the return to the old manual old manual system, whose fault is it? Certainly, system, which can only favor the Aquino the fault lies with the Comelec for entering into administration. an illegal deal with Smartmatic-TIM. Will the people accept election results if their As far back as mid-2014, I have been will is not followed? Santa Banana, the Comelec pressing the Comelec to enter into a new deal and the President are pushing the country to the for another Automated Electoral System other edge!

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

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA A photogrAph of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis tolentino greeting Cavite governor Jonvic remulla recently made it to the news. Its caption states that tolentino will be running for senator under the pro-administration Liberal party (Lp) in May 2016. Apparently, no denials were publicly made by tolentino after that incident. the tolentino family has ruled tagaytay City for several decades, and still does. It has all the badges of a political dynasty – tolentino’s father was city mayor for 27 years; tolentino for 10 years; and his brother Abraham for nine years. his sister-in-law Agnes (Abraham’s wife) now holds the post. Abraham is the incumbent congressman of their district. the MMDA chairman has been in office since 2010. tolentino denies that his family is a political dynasty. how many relatives in public office are needed before a family is considered a political dynasty, anyway? Nevertheless, tolentino started campaigning since December last year during the Metropolitan Manila Film Festival – the annual pompous event organized by the MMDA (even if film festivals have nothing to do with the management of the traffic situation in Metropolitan Manila). the MMDA chairman required all cinema theatres in the metropolis to exhibit, before each and every film screening during the film festival, a long, tedious film clip featuring himself. Many people found the measure a clandestine act of pre-mature campaigning. Like many other senatorial bets to be fielded by the Lp in 2016, tolentino will

A11

MMDA’s TolenTino bADly wAnTs To be A senATor likely divert whatever time he has left in his incumbency to his nationwide political campaign. Should that become a reality, the people should demand tolentino’s immediate resignation as MMDA chairman – not only to prevent him from using his clout in the MMDA to promote his senatorial ambition, but also make sure that everyone in Metropolitan Manila gets full time public service from the MMDA leadership. In the meantime, taxpayers should monitor tolentino’s activities during the next six months. From now until the official campaign period, tolentino must refrain from joining “incidental” or “exploratory” trips and junkets to the provinces because his attention must be focused exclusively on the problems of Metropolitan Manila. Still, expect the lame duck president Benigno Aquino III to bring tolentino along in many of his presidential sorties in the countryside as 2015 slowly withers to 2016. Doh Secretary-designate Janette garin will join Aquino and tolentino in those countryside visits to court the national electorate. there are many issues which will stalk tolentino should he push through with his senatorial plans. For one, during tolentino’s incumbency in the MMDA, many unsuspecting motorists were either killed or seriously injured on account of numerous poorly lit traffic and road hazards along many major avenues in the metropolis. these hazards include the unlit islands, markers, and concrete slabs situated near the Katipunan-Aurora Avenue fly-over, across the Quezon Institute along rodriguez Avenue, and the side roads along Commonwealth Avenue,

all in Quezon City. tolentino likewise seems unable to understand the basics of traffic management, as seen in the useless U-turn slots along major avenues which he insists on keeping even if they create horrible bottlenecks. he also tolerates the presence of pedicabs at the segment of Quezon Avenue near the Napocor Building, in clear violation of traffic regulations. these pedicabs go against the flow of traffic, and do not have any lights on at night. there is tolentino’s penchant for siding with erring MMDA traffic enforcers. Last year, tolentino absolved a traffic enforcer on the sole basis of a quick video taken of a roadside altercation between the traffic enforcer and a motorist – without hearing the side of the motorist. It turned out that the traffic enforcer was a notorious bully along Banawe Street in Quezon City. Likewise, tolentino sees no need for MMDA traffic enforcers at nighttime – the time when many reckless and drunk drivers are on the roads. to him, traffic discipline is only for daylight hours. Last January, tolentino and Interior Secretary Mar roxas implemented an unannounced traffic re-routing scheme in the Ermita, Malate, Intramuros and port Area districts of Manila to “rehearse” for the state visit of pope Francis in the country. the “rehearsal” tied up traffic in Metropolitan Manila for twelve hours. It was the responsibility of tolentino, as MMDA chairman, to warn the motorists about the “rehearsal” but he did not do so. For the actual papal visit, tolentino spent p120,000 of public money on adult diapers for traffic enforcers who

Outdoing.. From A9

The Glorious... From A9

the Mamasapano carnage (the two issues are conjoined umbilically), I really understand why he can no longer appeal to the people, like his mother once did. then again, we all know how Cory’s last-minute pitch to save the American bases ended – with the refusal of the Senate to extend the bases’ leases. I also cannot understand why Aquino has decided to hitch his entire presidency to the BBL, with its one-sided provisions eagerly approved by his negotiating panel even before Congress was given a copy. And even after the fiasco in Mamasapano, Aquino has refused to give an inch, warning the people even to start counting body bags if his proposed law is not approved. So be it. But Aquino must realize that there is a huge chance that the BBL will not pass, and especially not within the deadline that he and the MILF want it passed. So I guess we will have to bear the pathetic sight of Aquino doing everything he can to have his pet legislation signed into law, over and above the objections not only of Congress but of the entire populace that has grown tired of his monomaniacal obsessions. At least Cory still had some popularity left near the end of her term to muster crowds to back her up when she sought the continued stay of the US bases. Noynoy doesn’t even have a popular following anymore, as proven by his failed call for people to wear his talismanic yellow ribbon in support of his presidency, at a time when his popularity had not even sunk to the abysmal depths that it now occupies. By the end of her term, Cory was as lame a duck politically as any president who had lost relevance in just a few short years. But judging from the hatred that her son now faces, I think it’s safe to say that Noynoy has finally outdone his mother.

invariably lead to tragic consequences. our Lord’s passion and death have shown us that without good Friday there can be no Easter; that without the cross there can be no joy of the resurrection. In another occasion Jesus said, when asked by the greeks, “truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” he who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. this is the essence of Christianity. remember that following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ is not easy. We cannot be fair weather Christians, that is, following Christ only when it is convenient for us and abandons him the first time we meet difficulties along the way. A true disciple cannot only walk through life into the kingdom of heaven; he has to pass through the narrow gate; the road less trodden. Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we are commanded by the Lord to embrace this cross, be it a difficult spouse, persecution, sickness, injustice or any other tribulation. What do we do in the face of the cross? Venerable Fulton Sheen advices us to unite these sufferings with our Lord on the Cross in order to purchase our eternal salvation. this is what is known as redemptive suffering. St. John paul II himself said that each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ. And on suffering Venerable Fulton Sheen muses: It is not so much what people suffer that makes the world mysterious; it is rather how much they miss when they suffer. they seem to forget that

refused to use the diapers in the first place. Whether or not the purchase went through a public bidding is a mystery. In May 2013, tolentino sent a letter to book author Dan Brown, protesting Brown’s description of Manila as “the gates of hell” in his fiction novel Inferno. tolentino should not fault fiction writers for the derogatory perspective they have of the philippine capital since he failed to do his job at the MMDA to begin with. other national capitals which are better off than Manila have been the subject of unflattering descriptions in other works of fiction, but their officials are not too onion-skinned to mind it. In the end, what can tolentino really do if people abroad do not find Manila to their liking? Suppressing free speech and press freedom, as tolentino seems to espouse, is not the solution to the woes of the metropolis. Last December, it was reported that tolentino may become the next chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). tolentino’s touted appointment was criticized because he has no extensive practice in election law, or experience in quasi-judicial work. his job in the MMDA is largely administrative work. More importantly, since his brother and sister-in-law are elective officials, a conflict of interest will arise if tolentino joins the Comelec. During her incumbency, president gloria Arroyo made the mistake of allowing Benjamin Abalos to head the Comelec. that was a clear conflict of interest since Abalos’ son, Mandaluyong City Mayor Ben-hur Abalos, was an elective official. that mistake should not be repeated.

even as children they made obstacles in their games in order to have something to overcome. Why, then, when they grow into man’s estate, should there not be prizes won by effort and struggle? Cannot the spirit of man rise with adversity as the bird rises against the resistance of the wind? Do not the game fish swim upstream? Must not the chisel cut away the marble to bring out the form? Must not the seed falling to the ground die before it can spring forth into life? Must not grapes be crushed that there may be wine to drink, and wheat ground that there may be bread to eat? Why then cannot pain be made redemption? Why under the alchemy of Divine Love cannot crosses be turned into crucifixes? Why cannot chastisements be regarded as penances? Why cannot we use a cross to become god-like? We cannot become like him in his power; we cannot become like him in his Knowledge. there is only one way we can become like him, and that is in the way he bore his sorrows and his Cross. And that way was with love. It is love that makes pain bearable.” god brings us trials, tests and struggles to strengthen us in our spiritual battles, not worthwhile is ever accomplished without some self-denial and mortification. It is said that a clay pot under the sun will always be a clay pot. But once it goes through the white heat of the furnace then it becomes porcelain. Yes, through the example of Jesus’ crucifixion we can find peace, joy and ultimately eternal salvation despite physical suffering which are but temporal and fleeting. Death losses its sting so long as we learn to face it with him. truly, god’s grace prevails over everything, even over death itself so long we bear it with our Lord.

T UE S day : M a rc h 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

A12

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

No. 34-ranked Verdasco stuns Rafa MIAMI—Fernando Verdasco upset second seed Rafael Nadal 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 Sunday in a third-round matchup of Spaniards to advance at the ATP and WTA Miami Open.

Polo kings. Members of Team Philippine, led by Globalport owner Mikee Romero (second from right), are shown

after beating Dubai in the Belo Polo Cup Sunday in Makati. Other members of the team are (from left) Mariano Obregon, Anthony Garcia and Miguel Diaz. With them are Belo Medical Group CEO and founder Dr. Vicki Belo and Shiela Romero.

Leonard’s hot finish carries Spurs SAN ANTONIO—San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard scored 15 of his game-high 25 points in a six-minute span of the fourth quarter Sunday, powering the reigning NBA champion Spurs over Memphis 10389. The defeat dropped the Grizzlies to 50-24 and into second place in the Southwest division, one loss behind the Houston Rockets. San Antonio won for the sixth time in seven games, improving to 47-26, sixth in the Western Conference and only three back of Houston with nine games to play in the regular season. French guard Tony Parker added 17 points, 15 in

the second half, while Tiago Splitter had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs, who never trailed. Zach Randolph led Memphis with 20 points Leonard and 13 rebounds while Jeff Green came off the bench to contribute 19 points and Marc Gasol scored 16 points for the Grizzlies. Mike Conley struggled, producing only six points on 2-of-11 shooting. The Grizzlies were down

70-66 entering the fourth quarter but San Antonio shot 72.2 percent in the final 12 minutes, Leonard leading the way in keeping the Grizzlies at bay. In Cleveland, Cleveland, LeBron James scored a game-high 20 points and added 11 rebounds with six assists Sunday as the Cleveland Cavaliers edged Philadelphia 87-86 for their 16th consecutive home triumph. Australian-born Kyrie Irving added 17 points while

Kevin Love had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who improved to 48-27 and stretched their Central division lead over Chicago to 2 1/2 games. Russian big man Timofey Mozgov scored off a rebound for the last of his 14 points to give Cleveland an 87-83 lead with 4:03 remaining. Robert Covington answered with a 3-pointer for the 76ers six seconds later with what turned out to be the last of the game’s scoring. From there, the 76ers missed their final five shots, four by Ish Smith, and four free throws as well while the Cavaliers missed their final six shots, three of them by James.

Nadal, a four-time Miami runner-up, leaves the Masters Series hardcourt event without a title again this year after his 11th appearance. Verdasco, ranked 34th, defeated Nadal for the second time in a row after losing their first 13 meetings, although that most recent prior meeting came three years ago in Madrid. “Obviously always beating a player like Rafa is one of the biggest victories that you can have in tennis,” Verdasco said. “It’s a huge victory and it’s always really nice to play in an almost packed stadium against one of the best players in hi story.” Also advancing with victories Sunday were world number one Serena Williams and Britain’s Andy Murray. Nadal saved a match point in the eighth game of

the second set trailing 5-2, but Verdasco closed out the shocker a game later with a return winner. The 14-time grand slam champion said after the defeat that his formerly untouchable game needs work and the mental side may now be his weak link. “I need to fix again the nerves, the self control on court. It’s not a tough issue to fix. I’m going to keep trying,” Nadal said. Murray won his 499th career match, downing Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round. The 27-year-old Scotsman, winner of the title in 2009 and 2013, would become the ninth active player to reach 500 victories if he wins his next match against South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, who eliminated Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 6-4. AFP

Jimmy walks away with Texas Open title SAN ANTONIO (AFP)-Hometown hero Jimmy Walker captured his fifth US PGA Tour title on Sunday, firing a two-under-par 70 final round to win the $6.2 million Texas Open by four strokes. Walker, who lives only a halfhour’s drive from the TPC San Antonio course, led by four shots when the day began and finished on 11-under 277 to defeat fellow Texan Jordan Spieth by that same margin. “It’s at home. It’s cool. You can feel the love from your friends and family,” Walker said. “It’s not everyday that you can win

in your hometown.” It was the second US PGA triumph of the season for Walker, who won his second consecutive Sony Open in Hawaii title earlier this year and also captured last year’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the 2013 Frys.com Open. Walker birdied the par-5 second and eighth holes but took bogeys at the fourth and par-3 seventh to make the turn level for the day. He began the back nine with a birdie from 16 feet but then missed a five-foot putt for par at 12 and took a bogey. AFP

Ealas: PH netters can be world-class RISING tennis siblings Miko and Alexandra Eala believe that Filipino homegrown players can excel in the world tennis scene in the near future. Both youthful national players are also known winners in the global tennis landscape after ruling various tournaments, like the Casely International Tennis Championship and the Little Mo International Grand Slam Championship, both in the USA. “I believe that homegrown Filipino tennis talents can excel internationally, because I am one. I broke the record for being the youngest Philippine junior tennis player to be ranked No. 1 for 10-under kids in the country when I was seven years and six months old,” said Miko, now 12 years old. “I was only eight when I won a grand slam in 2013. I won the Little Mo International Grand Slam Championship and my trophy was even taller than me at six-feet tall,” said Alexandra. “I competed in Colorado, New York and Florida and won, that’s why I really believe that we have the edge to excel in the international tennis landscape,” said Alexan-

dra, who uses Babolat AeroPro Drive Lite racquet. “I like the style of Babolat and my racquet is light and it lasts a long time.” Both players are supported by Babolat Philippines, under Technosports, Inc. President Guillermo Nocom. “These kids play hard for our country and they deserve all the support,” said Nocom. The Ealas are presently part of the Philippine junior tennis squad. Miko represented the country twice in Indonesia’s Southeast Asian Junior Championship and Singapore’s Southeast Asian Junior Tennis Tournament, both last year. “Today, I have 84 trophies and 32 medals,” said Miko, who is ranked No. 1 in the 12-under boys and 14-under boys in the Philippines in 2014. He began this year with the No. 1 ranking for the 14-under boys in Asia. Alexandra, at the age of nine, had already made it to the 12-under Philippine junior team. She also represented the country in Indonesia’s Southeast Asian Junior Championship and Singapore’s Southeast Asian Junior Tennis Tournament both last year.

Alexandra Eala in action at the Indonesia’s Southeast Asian Junior Championship.

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

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Chess exec hoping to produce another GM By Arman Armero

Football for a Better Life. The PRU-Life-backed Football for a Better Life program proved to be a big hit in Clarkﬁeld, Pampanga, host of the second leg in the nationwide series of a grassroots football development project. More than 500 kids and 21 teams, including some from Metro Manila joined both the football clinic, handled by former Azkal Chieffy Caligdong and English coach Chris Thomas, and the age-group tournament. Champion teams were Claret School (U-16); Basa FC (U-14 and U-12) and Claret in both the U-10 and U-8 categories. Next leg is set on April 22 in San Carlos, Negros Oriental. Photo shows Caligdong interacting with the kids in the football clinic.

Paeng wins no. 129 SIX-TIME world champion Paeng Nepomuceno flashed his usual deadly form anew as he ruled the 6th SCTBA (Summer Capital Bowling Association) Prima Pasta Eye Bowl for a Cause Championships for his 129th career Masters title last Sunday night at the Playdium Center in Quezon City. “I’m happy to have been able to hold my own against Philippine team members who are half my age,” said the 58-year-old Nepomuceno after he subdued top qualifier Kenneth Chua, 2-0 (236-221, 217-199) in the final match. The only four-time winner of the Bowling World Cup so far, the lefty Nepomuceno earned a shot at Chua by knocking out Paulo Darroca in a one-game shootout, 224-216.

“I would like to thank PRIMA and Alex Lim for the opportunity to play for them,” said Nepomuceno, who has won various Masters titles every year since 1972. Nepomuceno came in second out of 36 participants in the 10-game Masters eliminations with 2384 pinfalls, 49 pins behind topnotcher Chua (2433), as he rolled nine 200s, including big games of two 269, 267, two 247, 232 and 230.

Chua, Darroca and two others in the top five – Kevin Cu and Jeff Carabeo – are all members of the national team. Darroca finished third with 2351, followed by Cu (2340) and Carabeo (2334). Although he’s only two years short of turning into a senior citizen, Nep omuceno has managed to remain competitive and focused on bowling. He still vies in big local and international events. More important, he has become a a key member of the United States Bowling Congress’ coach-

ing staff, where he conducts lectures and classes for future instructors.

Best Center classes slated

First Megaworld Cup kicks off at McKinley stadium ASPIRING players and football fans in the corporate world and the business process outsourcing industry now have a chance to showcase their wares in an upcoming all-amateur football tournament for corporate teams and young professionals. The inaugural Megaworld Cup, spearheaded by leading real-estate company Megaworld Corporation in cooperation with the Corporate Football Association, will kick off this April at the worldclass McKinley Hill Stadium in McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio. Envisioned to promote camaraderie between companies and as a venue for recreation for employees, Megaworld Cup is open to all corporate teams and company-based clubs based in

Megaworld townships such as Eastwood City and McKinley Hill. Participating teams will be divided into two groups and will battle for the maiden crown in a single round robin using the 9-aside cup format. This format is

suited for amateur players with varying degrees of fitness levels and can be used to encourage more scoring goals from opposing teams, making the matches all the more exciting and pleasing to watch for both diehard

The world-class McKinley Hill Stadium

NATIONAL Chess Federation of the Philippines Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales said the country needs to produce another young grandmaster in the mold of Wesley So, as he exhorted the winners at the close of the 2015 National Schools & Youth Championship third Qualifying Round held at the PSC Athletes Dining Hall over the weekend. In his remarks during the awarding ceremony, Gonzales urged the young players to “train more and read more chess books to hone your skills.” “Tatlo ang aspeto ng chess: opening, middle game at endgame. Kailangang mapag-aralan niyo itong mabuti para mas maging handa kayo,” said Gonzales, a former Chess Olympian who is also the tournament director. Gonzales led the awarding of winners, together with NCFP Treasurer Red Dumuk and International Arbiter Gene Poliarco. The winners were (boys) Joseph Rafael Vergara (under-7), Del Emerson Dela Cruz (U-9), Jerome Angeles Aragones (U-11), Lee Roi Palma (U-13) and John Marvin Miciano (U-15). In the girls’ side, the winners were Alexandra Sydney Paez (U-11), Kylen Joy Mordido (U-13) and Jamaica Marie Lagrio (U-15). The top three winners in each category will join the other three top finishers in the first two qualifying rounds in the grand finals set April 6, also at the PSC Dining Area in the tournament organized by the NCFP, led by its president Prospero Pichay, the Philippine Sports Commissioner and the Philippine Olympic Committee. The winners in the grand finals, in turn, will represent the country in Singapore for the Asean Youth Chess Championship to be held in the first week of June.

and casual football fans. The top two teams from each group will advance into the crossover semifinals and afterwards slug it out for the trophy and the prestigious title as the first-ever Megaworld Cup champion in the finals. “Megaworld has always been committed to the growth of Filipino football as we believe that this is a sport we can definitely excel in. With the Megaworld Cup, we are giving more aspiring football fans and players a chance to showcase their skills and play the sport they love in a highly-organized tournament and in a world-class venue that is McKinley Hill Stadium,” said Megaworld First Vice President and Commercial Division Head Kevin L. Tan.

THE Best Center brings its awardwinning basketball clinic closer to the masses as it holds classes at the Caloocan High School beginning April 8. The Wednesday and Saturday classes, sponsored by Milo, will be held from 8 to 11 a.m., for students in Preparatory Levels 1, 2 and 3. Enrollment for the Ateneo classes is also in full swing for its Monday and Thursday classes in Preparatory Levels 1 to 6. University of Perpetual Help also opens its basketball classes for Levels 1 and 2 (12-years old and up) from April 6 to 30. Starmall in Alabang gets its turn on April 7 to May 1 for students enrolled in Levels 1 to 4 every Wednesday and Thursday. Amoranto Sports Complex also hosts students enrolled in Levels 1 to 4 on the same dates. April 8 to May 2 are reserved for students enrolled in Wednesday and Saturday classes at the Malate Catholic School for Levels 1 to 4. Xavier School will also host students in Levels 1 to 3 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Sunday classes are scheduled at the Lancaster New City for students in Levels 1 and 2. BEST Center founder and president Nic Jorge, a former national player and coach, also announced volleyball clinics will start on April 6 and will run until the 30th for Monday and Thursday classes in Starmall Alabang. Inquiries can be made at telephones 4116260 and 372-3065/66; E-mail bestcenterspors@gmail.com; or through Facebook: best center sports inc.

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

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

PH to host Asian rugby meet Republic of the Philippines Metropolitan Naga Water 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City

Goods·2015·003 Water Meter (Brand New, Class B) P.R. # 15-03-0075 MNWD, Naga City

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF WATER METER (BRAND NEW, CLASS B) The METROPOLITAN NAGA WATER DISTRICT (MNWD) through its approved Corporate Budget, intends to apply the sum of FOUR MILLION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY PESOS (Php 4,232,250.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the SUPPLY & DELIVERY OF WATER METER (BRAND NEW, CLASS B) CONTRACT REFERENCE NO. GOODS 2015-003. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The MNWD now invites bids for the SUPPLY & DELIVERY OF WATER METER (BRAND NEW, CLASS B). 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 tne 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 31 to APRIL 20, 2015, from the Office of the BAC Secretariat c/o Administrative Division, Ground 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 APRIL 7, 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 APRIL 20, 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 JTB Clause 18. BID OPENING shall be on APRIL 20, 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 (TS-MAR. 31, 2015)

By Peter Atencio

THE Philippines won the right to host Division 1 of the Asian Rugby Championship. Philippine Rugby Football Union Director Matt Cullen said the two-day tournament will be on May 6 and 9 at the brand-new Philippine Stadium in Bulacan. In a statement, Cullen said the tournament will feature the Philippine Volcanoes, the country’s national men’s rugby team against top-ranked teams from the region. The tournament will be the first international sporting event that will be held in the 25,000-seater Philippine Stadium—part of the world-class Ciudad de Victoria complex in Bulacan, owned by the Iglesia ni Cristo organization. “The Philippine Stadium was the key to

Nonito eager to resume training NONITO Donaire is eager to resume training for a planned return to the ring in July in Macau. The five-division world champion spoke to the Standard/ Viva Sports around 6 a.m. yesterday as he was on his way to the Manila International Airport for a flight to Las Vegas, looking forward to reuniting with his wife Rachel and their son Jarrel. Donaire said he will take a

Bids and Awards Committee

NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION

J.P. Rizal St. corner F. Zobel St., Makati City Tel. No. 870-1000 Fax No. 899-8988 www.makati.gov.ph

INTERIM NORTHERN SAMAR IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT OFFICE Catarman, Northern Samar

INVITATION TO BID

National Irrigation Administration Capitol Site, Brgy. Dalakit, Catarman, N. Samar (055)-500-9377 www.nia.gov.ph

NO.

Telefax No. 055-251-8274 TIN No. 000-916-415-064

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Interim Northern Samar Irrigation Management Office (INSIMO), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites Domestic Contractors, registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), to bid for the hereunder contracts. Bids received in excess of ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Pandango CIS Contract No. NSIMO #08-2015-Repair Extension of Concrete Canals & Canal Structures

Approved Budget for the Contract

Duration

Php 6,520,806.76

180 cd

NAME OF PROJECT AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION 18 units Brand New Patrol Motorcycles (71Hp) for the use of Makati City Police Department 16 units Brand New Patrol Motorcycles (27.6Hp) for the use of Makati City Police Department

INVITATION TO BID No. 05- 2015

ITEM/DESCRIPTION

IMPLEMENTING OFFICE

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT (ABC)

P7,859,988.00

P3,920,000.00

Surpass NCS/EMG/SEP System for the use of Ospitalng Makati

OSMAK

P2,240,000.00

Various supplies and materials for Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) and Government Internship Program (GIP)

PESO

P2,291,540.00

The MAKATI CITY GOVERNMENT, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites interested bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the above projects, with Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) indicated, inclusive of all taxes, such as, but not limited to, value added tax (VAT), income tax, local taxes and other fiscal levies.

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

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

A complete set of Bidding Documents will be available one (1) day after posting / publication of the above projects up to Closing Date (before the deadline of the submission of bids),weekdays only from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount stated on the issued order of payment to the City Government of Makati Cashier.

The BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 07, 2015 (02:00 P.M.) at PiodelPilar Conference Room, 21st floor, New Makati City Hall Building, F. Zobel Street, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City to discuss Eligibility Requirements and the Technical and Financial Components of these projects. However, only those interested Bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents are allowed to raise and submit queries or clarifications regarding the Bidding Documents.

Deadline of Submission of Bids shall be on or before April 21, 2015 (02:00 P.M.), atPiodelPilar Conference Room, 21st floor, New Makati City Hall Building, F. Zobel Street, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City.

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at Bid Opening.

Prospective Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project whose value must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government procurement Reform Act”. Prospective Bidders are not allowed to participate if they have negative slippage in their on-going contracts. Individuals with Special Power of Attorney (SPA) are not allowed to transact and participate in the procurement utilizing another construction firm. The pre-bid conference shall be open only for those who have purchased the Bid documents. The schedule of BAC activities is listed as follows:

PROJECT NAME

Issuance of Bid Documents (Date and Time Schedule)

Pre-bid Conference (Date and Time Schedule

Receipt & Opening of Bids (Date and Time Schedule)

1. Pandango CIS Contract No. NSIMO #08- 2015

Starting March 16, 2015 (8AM-5PM)

April 06, 2015 (10AM)

April 17, 2015 (9AM)

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents from the address above and upon payment of Php 7,000 to the cashier. The NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at anytime prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

(SGD.) NOEL G. DOSMANOS BAC Chairman

Opening of Bids shall be on April 21, 2015 (02:00 P.M.), at PiodelPilar Conference Room, 21st floor, New Makati City Hall Building, F. Zobel Street, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City. 7.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the said address. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The MAKATI CITY GOVERNMENT reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, or to reduce the corresponding ABC and Terms of Reference (TOR), without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please visit or contact:

NOTED: (SGD.) ALEJANDRO C. CULIBAR, D.M. Principal Engineer C/ Officer In-Charge (TS-MAR. 31, 2015)

the opponent would be and other contract details. He said the hard work he put into his preparation for the fight against Brazil’s William Prado, who he knocked out in the second round of their fight on Saturday, paid off and made a big difference, adding he is determined to continue his drive to once again win a world title. Ronnie Nathanielsz

LUNGSOD NG MAKATI

PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG

Telephone Nos.: Website:

couple of days’ off before getting back to training with strength and conditioning coach and longtime friend Mike Bazzel, who said the Filipino “was like a brother.” Donaire said he had been informed by Top Rank that he would be featured in a fight card at the Cotai Arena in Macau sometime in July, although he had no idea who

REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS

Republika ng Pilipinas Office of the President

Office Address:

securing the right to host the tournament. Upon inspection, the tournament officials were immediately impressed with this worldclass facility. We’re grateful for the incredible support that the INC has shown throughout the bidding process which thankfully resulted in the Philippines’ being awarded hosting duties,” said Cullen. The championship, formerly known as the Asian 5 Nations, is Asia’s premier competition for Rugby Union. The Philippines, ranked fourth in Asia, is the topranked team in Division 1, followed by Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Singapore. Over the last five years, the Philippine Volcanoes have consistently been ranked as among the most successful Philippine sports teams in Asia. They were the first Philippine sports team in over 50 years to participate in a World Cup by qualifying and competing in the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.

(SGD.) MS. VISSIA MARIE P. ALDON Chairperson (TS-MAR 31, 2015)

BAC SECRETARIAT OFFICE Makati City Government 9th Floor, New Makati City Hall Building F. Zobel Street, Brgy.Poblacion, Makati City Tel. No. 870-1000 loc. 1331; Fax No. 899-8988 website: www.makati.gov.ph

Rising Suns eye repeat BOASTING of an intact, talent-laden roster, Cagayan Valley sets out as one of the favorites when the Shakey’s VLeague unwraps its 12th season on Sunday with a heavy threegame bill kicking off the Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan. While the seven other teams are also teeming with talents, Cagayan coach Nes Pamilar remains upbeat of the Rising Suns’ chances although he stressed the need for his wards to impose their will and strength all throughout their campaign to reclaim the crown they won in Season 10 but lost to Philippine Army last year. “We have the chemistry and my players are so familiar with each other’s game since they’ve been together for years,” said Pamilar. “We only have to be consistently aggressive in all our games.” The Rising Suns, who are actually gunning for a second straight title after ruling the season-ending Reinforced Open Conference last year, hope to showcase their strength right in the opener of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera when they play the Fourbees of Perpetual Help at 12:45 p.m.

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

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

A thrill of a lifetime REY JOBLE

THE LINK

Stephanie Mercado of Shopinas defies the defense of Foton’s (12) Pamela Lastimosa and Ivy Remulla in a PSL game won by the Tornadoes to a 2517, 25-17, 25-17. ROMAN PROSPERO

Tiamzon-Orendain pair nd keys Foton’s 2 victory By Peter Atencio

THE Foton Tornadoes got big points from Nicole Tiamzon and Patty Orendain yesterday at the Arena in San Juan. Their all-around game propelled the Tornadoes to a 25-17, 25-17, 25-17 stopping of the Shopinas. com Lady Clickers in the resumption of Philippine SuperLiga AllFilipino Conference 2015. This allowed the Tornadoes to bounce back from their setback to the Petron Blaze Spikers last

Thursday in Binan, Laguna. Tiamzon, a 5’5” outside hitter from the University of the Philippines, struck with 19 points, while Orendain came up with 13 for the Tornadoes. Foton moved ahead on Tiamzon’s heads-up plays in the first set, allowing the Tornadoes to

climb the leaderboard with their second win in three games in a tie with the Lady Clickers, who got only five points from Stephanie Mercado and Charleen Cruz. “Since Day 1, iyung expectations ko sa kaniya na-deliver niya. Iyung attacks, pati iyung sa loob, depensa sa backline,” said Tornadoes coach Vilet Ponce de Leon of Tiamzon. A pair of kills from Tiamzon in the first set handed the Tornadoes a seven-point lead, 23-16. In the second set, the Lady Clickers threatened, 17-19, off

Cruz’s down the line spike. That was when Orendain came into the picture, scoring three points during a 6-0 windup as Foton went on to finish the game with an eight-point advantage. Shopinas stayed close, 14-15, behind Divine Eguia’s drop shot, but that was the time the Lady Clickers threatened, as Tiamzon and Cruz hit hard in the ensuing plays, dishing frontline spikes at the net as the Tornadoes went on to widen their edge, 21-14.

5 Jr. NBA campers selected from Mindanao By Reuel Vidal DAVAO CITY—Just three boys and two girls passed the strict selection process during the Mindanao Regional Selection Camp of the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska held last weekend at the University of the Immaculate Conception Bajada campus in this city. The five are Rozie Amatong, 11, Modern International Learning Center, Davao City; Rhea Ville Bausin, 14, Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, Davao City; Paolo Emanuel Antonio, 14, Stella Maris Academy of Davao, Davao City; Christopher Gonzaga, 14, University of the Immaculate Conception, Davao City; and Jeffy Malilim, 13, Corpus Christi School, Cagayan De Oro City. They will join qualifiers from the other regional camps at the National Training Camp at the SM Mall of Asia April 24-26 where the 2015 JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska all-star teams and national coaches will named. The qualifiers topped a huge

Five players from Mindanao qualified to the National Training Camp of JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska during the Regional Selection Camp at the University of the Immaculate Conception Bajada campus, Davao City. They are (from left) Rhea Ville Bausin, Christopher Gonzaga, Jeffy Malilim, Paolo Emanuel Antonio and Rozie Amatong.

field of talented boys and girls basketball players aged 10-14 years from all over Mindanao.

There will be one final Regional Selection Camp to be held at the PICC Forum, CCP Complex on

April 11 and 12. Boys and girls who wish to join the camp may register at www. jrnba.asia/philippines. The program is free. Among the best local basketball coaches in the country in Rodney Santos, Rhoel Gomez, John Ramirez, Chris Luanzon, Junjun Alas, Eric Dela Cuesta, Ish Tiu, Melissa Jacob and Raymon Mercader ran the camp and selected the national finalists. The participants were given vitals tests, skills challenges and basketball drills on the first day of the selection camp. Forty players with the highest vitals test and skills challenges scores on Day 1 returned for more intense drills and basketball team exercises on Day 2. The players then participated in competitive scrimmages to complete the final selection process. The coaches selected not just the best basketball players but also those who also exemplified the JrNBA/JrWNBA core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect.

WHAT would you feel when you have PBA Hall of Famer and four-time Most Valuable Player Alvin Patrimonio, former MVP Kenneth Duremdes and Senator Sonny Angara joining you in a benefit basketball game? How does it feel passing the ball to The Captain, or him feeding you for a bucket or setting up a screen to free you up from your man? How about Captain Marbel shooting at will and making those buckets with ease? Isn’t it a joy to watch and see these cage legends take over during crucial moments of the game, like they’ve done a thousand times while playing for their respective teams? And Senator Angara? Yes, the young Senator can play ball. He has those nifty moves to the basket and despite his busy schedule, has kept himself in shape playing competitive basketball for the Senate Defenders. At some point of our lives, everyone wants to be in the company of these gentlemen and for those who played with them or against them on that eventful Tuesday night at the state-ofthe-art University of Makati gym, it was a dream come true. It was a thrill of a lifetime. I grew up watching Patrimonio and Duremdes and marveled at how they played. It’s not surprising they became some of the greatest players ever in the PBA. But beyond their gifted skills inside the court, they too, are plain folks just like us. I was able to know them more and fortunate enough to befriend them. Like many of those who aspired to be in the company of these cage greats, I was also given opportunities either to coach them or compete against them. I would normally work on the sidelines, chronicling their exploits inside the court and jotting down notes at how they were able to play and compete at the highest level, but on this rare night, I was fortunate to become part of the action coaching Patrimonio—the third time I’ve done such “masquerading” as coach of a basketball team. There was Alvin, back in his competitive nature and sharing the same passion I had that night when I wanted to win so bad for my team, the Judge Juan Luna High School Alumni team. “Huwag tayong magpapatalo sa kanila, pare,” Alvin would tell the rest of the team. For each instruction I made, Alvin has been a keen listener. He tried to rally the players as we were down for most part of the game against the Duremdes-led Senate Defenders’ squad that also had, aside from Senator Angara, quite a number of commercial players, including Marlon Legaspi, who played for San Miguel Beer and Shell. We rallied, chopped down a 24-point deficit to just three right after Patrimonio buried his third straight triple in the final quarter before Duremdes took over at the other end and bailed his team out of trouble. The final score: 90-83. At least, the deficit somehow didn’t make me look like a bad coach. But more than the outcome, it was the significance of the event where the proceeds would be donated to JJLHS to raise additional mono bloc chairs for the graduation rites, that mattered. It was also this night when we paid tribute to a great Lunarian, The Skywalker Samboy Lim, an alumnus of JJLHS. Samboy’s physical presence wasn’t there as he has been sidelined for several months after falling into a coma, but everyone felt the spirit of this true gentleman of the hard-court. A caricature of Samboy was turned over to Alvin and Kenneth, a symbol of how much we care for JJLHS’s favorite son. A moment like this is hard to come by and you can’t blame all the people around who had this wonderful experience to savor every moment in the ‘Laro Para Sa Isang Silya.’ We were fortunate to have these great guys— Alvin, Kenneth and Senator Angara —ready to help out for a good cause.

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

Narubadin Weerawatnodom of Thailand (right) battles for the ball with goalkeeper Florencio Jr. and Gamba Badelic of the Philippines (left) during their football AFC U-23 Championship 2016 qualiﬁers at Rajamangala National stadium in Bangkok. The Thais won, 5-1. AFP

Painters wary of Bolts By Jeric Lopez

ONE team is back in familiar ground, while the other is looking forward to a new phase. Top seed Rain or Shine and Meralco go at it as they open up their intriguing best-of-five semifinal series in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. The regular semifinalists Elasto Painters will be tested by the up-and-coming Bolts, who are just in their second semifinal stint in franchise history, in Game 1 today at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Due to its

better playoffs’ experience and being the higherranked team, Rain or Shine is supposedly the favored team heading in. And though he acknowledges that their experience will be a huge factor, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao doesn’t think that his Painters is the better team. ‘’We are just a team with more experience and that will help us, but we’re not more talented than Meralco,’’ said Guiao.

On the oththat team.’’ Game Today er hand, Bolts’ (Semifinals, Game 1 - Smart Owning a coach Nortwice-to-beat Araneta Coliseum) 7 p.m. • Rain or Shine man Black advantage in vs. Meralco knows what the quarterlies ahead, finals, Rain wary of the firepower and or Shine made quick work experience that Rain or of eighth-seed Barangay Shine possesses. He ex- Ginebra, escaping with a pects nothing but a tough slim 92-91 squeaker courseries against the Elasto tesy of Jeff Chan’s gamePainters. winner and endgame hero‘’We know how strong ics last Saturday. Rain or Shine is. It’s going For their part, the Bolts to be really tough for us demolished sister team in this series,’’ said Black, NLEX by sweeping their whose Bolts are in their best-of-three quarters first semis appearance series, 2-0, when they since the 2013 Governor’s claimed Game 2, 91-85, Cup. ‘’They finished No. 1 in overtime after coming in the elimination round, back from a huge 20-point so that’s says a lot about hole last Sunday.

Foton claims 2nd win TURN TO A15

Thais crush Pinoys in football qualifier By Peter Atencio A SUPERIOR Thailand side pulled off a 5-1 win over the Philippines for its second straight win Sunday in the qualifying round of the Asian Football Confederation Under-23 Championship 2016 in Bangkok. Kasidech Wattayawong scored Thailand’s opening goal some 12 minutes before the game went into the break, according to the results on the tournament’s official website. Two minutes into the second half, Pakorn Parnmpak converted a penalty to double the lead, before substitute Chenrop Samphaodi registered the Thais’ third goal on the 56th minute. Later, midfielder Chaowat Veerachat handed the Thais a 4-0 lead when he attacked the Filipinos’ net in the 62nd minute. Another substitute, Inpinit Pinyo, scored on the 67th minute. Paolo Salenga managed to score the Filipinos’ consolation goal a minute before full time. Thailand now leads Group G. Korea earlier won over Cambodia, 4-1, and will meet the Thais on Tuesday to determine the group winners, who will make it to the tournament proper. Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams from all groups will join hosts Qatar at the AFC U-23 Championship 2016. The 16-team competition is also serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio.

No. 34 Verdasco stuns Nadal TURN TO A12

LOTTO RESULTS

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

TUESDAY: MARCH 31, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Ayala bares big expansion By Darwin G. Amojelar

CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said Monday it is preparing a five-year, multibillion-peso investment plan to fund its expansion in the transport and power sectors.

AC Infrastructure Holdings president and chief executive John Eric Francia said in a news briefing the company was now reviewing projects that would be committed between 2016 and 2020. AC Infrastructure is the infrastructure and power development arm of Ayala Corp. Francia said the five-year investment plan was still a work in progress. “It’s hard to peg a number. It really depends on the opportunities that we

see,” Francia said. “For now, based on what we have in terms of committed projects or confirmed projects back in 2011, we set out to commit a billion dollars of equity from Ayala Corp. to go into power and infrastructure projects,” he said. Francia said of the $1 billion equity investment, the company had already committed around 70 percent for power projects and 30 percent for infrastructure projects. “We got six power projects and three infrastructure projects. That’s Ayala’s commitment. It doesn’t include project finance and partners’ equity,” he said. AC Infra recently won three public private partnership projects including the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway, formerly DaanghariSouth Luzon Expressway project; the Automated Fare Collection System and the Light Rail Transit Line Cavite Extension.

Francia said AC Infrastructure was keen on participating in the bidding for the P170.70-billion North-South Railway Project – South Line, which would be implemented through PPP. “The PNR [South Line Project] to us is the most interesting one out of those big-ticket items. The subway is not yet approved,” he said. The bidding is scheduled in the second quarter of 2015, while the notice of award is expected in the fourth quarter. The construction will start by first quarter of 2016 while operation will begin by first quarter of 2020. The project consists of commuter railway operations between Tutuban and Calamba, Laguna. It also includes a long haul railway operation between Tutuban and Legaspi City, Albay and on the branch line between Calamba and Batangas and an extension running between Legaspi and Matnog.

PSe comPoSite index Closing March 30, 2015

7,899.41 21.45

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing MARCH 30, 2015 45

P44.800

43 42 41

HIGH P44.780 LOW P44.810 AVERAGE P44.796 VOLUME 340.600M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.27-P42.82 Unleaded Gasoline P27.40-P31.70 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P35.40-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, March 30, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate 10th year. SM Investments Corp. officials led by executive vice president and chief finance officer Jose Sio (fifth from right) ring the bell in the Philippine Stock Exchange to mark the company’s 10th year of listing and the opening of trades for the day. Also shown are (from left) PSE director Alejandro Yu; SMIC senior vice president for investor relations Corazon Guidote; SMIC SVP for corporate services Elizabeth Anne Uychaco; SMIC SVP for finance Franklin Gomez; SMIC SVP for investments portfolio Frederic DyBuncio; SMIC independent director Vicente Perez Jr.; PSE directors Edgardo Lacson, Eddie Gobing, Emmanuel Bautista and PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran.

Market rallies as index pierces 8,000-point level THE stock market rallied Monday on window-dressing for the end of the first quarter, with the benchmark index piercing the 8,000-point mark for the first time in early trading. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 21.45 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 7,899.41, after surging to an intra-day record of 8,007.98 on a value turnnover of P9.5 billion. Losers beat gainers, 106 to 74, with 74 issues unchanged. Conglomerate Ayala Corp. advanced 2 percent to P796, while unit Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest lender,

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

rose 1.3 percent to P102.60. Unit Globe Telecom Inc., the secondlargest telecommunications company, gained 1.9 percent to P2,040. International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, climbed 2.2 percent to P111.90, while Universal Robina Corp., the largest snack food maker, gained 1.9 percent to P225.40. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest bank, rose 1.2 percent to P98.45, while Energy Development Corp., the largest producer of steam energy, advanced 1.5 percent to P8.63. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the biggest telecom-

munications firm, closed unchanged at P2,830. Profit-taking negated the early gains of PLDT, which surged to an intra-day high of P2,922, to send the index past the 8,000-point level in mid-trading.

The rest of Asian markets mostly rose Monday after Wall Street’s gains at the end of last week, while Hong Kong and Shanghai were boosted by hopes for more Chinese economic stimulus. With AFP

Pitkin loses in Linapacan field

Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.7960

Japan

Yen

0.008391

0.3759

Pound

1.488900

66.6968

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128974

5.7775

Switzerland

Franc

1.041558

46.6576

Canada

Dollar

0.793966

35.5665

Singapore

Dollar

0.730353

32.7169

Australia

Dollar

0.776217

34.7714

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

118.8223

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

11.9456

Brunei

Dollar

0.727696

32.5979

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030945

1.3862

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.1974

Euro

1.089900

48.8232

Korea

Won

0.000906

0.0406

China

Yuan

0.160857

7.2058

India

Rupee

0.016001

0.7168

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.271518

12.1629

New Zealand

Dollar

0.755801

33.8569

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032060

1.4362 Source: PDS Bridge

Maynilad takes govt to another arbitration

TUESDAY: MARCH 31, 2015

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Monday, March 30, 2015

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

2.7 75.3 99.4 105.2 63 2.3 4.2 15.98 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 Citystate Savings 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 17.98 113 148 17.2 15.8 56.8 4.57 39.5 14 12.98 8.15 12.34 2.5 17 27.1 90.5 27 0.014 15.74 9.4 0.98 199.8 10.98 79 5.2 30 90 14.7 317 6.49 5.37 14.48 7.5 14.5 7.03

1.55 63.5 67.5 82.5 50 1.9 1.1 8.58 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 7.2 70.45 121.50 101.30 46.6 2.32 2.32 10 16.74 24.6 9.00 0.430 97.3 1.05 18.34 77.90 95.00 330 45.7 170 1440.00 69.10 3.03

Low

FINANCIAL 7.47 6.95 70.75 69.8 123.50 121.70 104.00 101.30 46.6 46.5 2.34 2.30 2.22 2.16 10 10 16.78 16.54 25.2 24.6 9.00 8.61 0.430 0.425 98.8 98 1.06 1.02 18.34 18.28 78.00 77.65 97.00 97.00 330 32 45.7 45.5 172.9 170 1440.00 1382.00 69.20 69.10 3.1 3.03 INDUSTRIAL 45.1 43.8 1.75 1.73 1.1 1.07 2.36 2.14 13 11.6 48.8 48.8 99.00 94.50 20.6 19.8 32 28.5 65.25 63.7 1.84 1.78 11.7 11.5 20.700 20.25 11.52 11.42 8.72 8.60 10.38 10.26 1.98 1.32 24.45 19.7 30.45 29.85 100.5 99.2 15.00 14.98 0.4600 0.4600 14.52 14.50 6.67 6.56 0.630 0.630 223.40 215.00 9.59 9.4 37.50 36.00 2.98 2.72 27.4 27.1 28.05 26.9 7.980 7.700 274.40 269.20 4.18 4.18 4.15 4.1 10.00 9.80 4.98 4.7 11.50 11.50 4.05 3.90 2.69 2.59 3.98 2.65 5.40 5.30 6.77 6.48 204 203 1.75 1.67 0.174 0.170 1.61 1.34 2.22 2.21 226.6 221.2 4.51 4.5 0.71 0.68 1.51 1.46 HOLDING FIRMS 0.475 0.465 59.20 57.10 27.45 46.50 7.16 7.16 1.70 1.70 2.92 2.78 2.8 2.8 800 787 9.18 8.97 15.60 15.38 3.2 3.15 4.54 4.49 0.335 0.315 1350 1324 6.30 6.30 72.50 71.30 8.79 7.63 0.81 0.78 16.6 16.3 0.67 0.64 4.95 4.87 5.2 5.2 0.0400 0.0400 0.680 0.680 2.48 2.48 68.25 67.50 918.00 899.00 1.26 1.19 0.94 0.93 102.00 100.00 0.4350 0.3950 0.2450 0.2390 0.325 0.310 PROPERTY 9.210 8.850 0.96 0.93 1.310 1.310 0.250 0.240 38.80 37.60 4.31 4.27 5.27 5.17

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

7.25 70.75 122.10 101.70 46.55 2.34 2.22 10 16.72 24.6 8.68 0.425 98 1.02 18.28 77.80 97.00 320.4 45.7 171.1 1435.00 69.20 3.1

0.69 0.43 0.49 0.39 -0.11 0.86 -4.31 0.00 -0.12 0.00 -3.56 -1.16 0.72 -2.86 -0.33 -0.13 2.11 -2.91 0.00 0.65 -0.35 0.14 2.31

1,947,655 17,480 2,261,690 2,083,740 70,400 63,000 230,000 200 10,100 242,700 15,800 570,000 6,385,040 67,000 170,700 354,570 190 710 231,100 291,970 65 29,450 15,000

43.8 1.73 1.07 2.14 11.6 48.8 97.00 19.9 32 63.7 1.78 11.6 20.250 11.50 8.63 10.28 1.98 20.05 30.4 99.2 14.98 0.4600 14.50 6.6 0.630 215.00 9.46 37.40 2.98 27.2 27.4 7.850 271.00 4.18 4.12 9.80 4.98 11.50 4.05 2.61 3.81 5.30 6.77 203 1.67 0.170 1.35 2.21 224 4.5 0.68 1.50

-1.57 -3.35 -2.73 -5.73 -8.52 -2.40 7.78 -3.16 9.59 0.00 0.00 -0.85 -0.25 1.23 1.53 -0.19 50.00 -14.68 0.66 -0.40 0.00 0.00 -0.68 -1.05 1.61 -1.10 -1.46 9.68 -1.00 1.12 -1.97 0.64 0.74 0.72 0.00 -0.41 -0.40 0.17 2.02 -10.92 29.59 -1.85 8.32 -0.20 0.00 -1.16 -4.93 -0.90 5.56 -4.66 -2.86 0.00

2,661,000 35,000 218,000 16,901,000 215,100 1,000 3,660 1,118,800 758,400 5,710 211,000 101,900 1,233,700 2,381,600 64,765,300 846,900 423,000 1,023,700 2,767,700 226,740 18,300 120,000 16,000 1,116,300 248,000 1,015,050 392,600 3,100 61,000 2,088,700 1,831,100 1,825,400 453,600 11,000 62,000 1,879,800 3,100 79,900 535,000 4,973,000 13,131,000 120,800 14,800 7,990 408,000 8,510,000 504,000 1,757,000 2,785,300 42,000 228,000 83,000

0.470 57.10 26.50 7.16 1.70 2.81 2.8 793.5 9.13 15.44 3.15 4.49 0.315 1324 6.30 71.90 8.7 0.78 16.3 0.64 4.87 5.2 0.0400 0.680 2.48 68.00 900.00 1.26 0.93 101.00 0.4000 0.2430 0.325

0.00 0.09 -1.67 1.27 -2.30 2.55 3.32 1.73 1.67 -0.90 0.00 -1.10 -5.97 0.23 0.32 0.84 -0.57 0.00 -1.45 0.00 -0.41 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.22 1.49 1.29 0.80 -4.12 1.00 -8.05 1.25 3.17

31,000 2,274,720 6,758,700 2,000 80,000 471,000 5,000 649,490 2,235,600 10,951,400 19,000 28,000 1,770,000 56,010 56,000 4,515,880 111,090 435,000 2,964,000 312,000 25,974,000 30,000 600,000 8,300 5,000 465,160 324,220 13,000 92,000 2,120 13,910,000 720,000 46,000

8.880 0.96 1.310 0.240 37.60 4.29 5.2

0.00 1.05 -4.38 -4.00 0.00 0.47 -1.70

4,442,300 30,000 2,000 260,000 12,711,100 3,555,000 152,900

1,031,668.50 27,047,857.00 6,559,330.00 -315,970.00 72,930.00 13,344.00 -2,336,930.00 304,836,183.50

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

2 2.51 1.5 0.201 0.98 1.09 0.370 2.25 1.77 1.6 5.3 0.180 0.470 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 0.175 1.22 1.18 1.19 3.12 0.070 0.325 0.4 2.5 18.72 1.45 2.9 14.1 0.58 3.05 0.87 4.37

3.25 43.7 1.43 1.09 31.95 14 0.1640 4.05 71 3.28 9 1700 2008 9.04 2.02 118.9 18.4 0.017 0.0653 2.2800 6.99 9.67 2.85 4.32 1.97 2.45 14.46 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.6 2.85 107 11.3 3486 0.710 2.01 48.5 74

1.55 27 0.92 0.59 18 8.28 0.0960 2.97 44.8 1.99 4 1080 1580 7.12 1.2 94.4 5 0.012 0.026 1.560 1.95 5.82 1.15 1.9 0.485 1.42 10.14 0.35 0.36 14.54 5.2 1.85 81 4.39 2572 0.250 0.26 32.2 48

Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport À’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty À’ 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

0.95 1.25 1.02 0.154 0.455 0.890 0.196 1.50 1.80 1.49 5.5 0.124 0.3400 0.5100 8.01 31.30 1.77 3.22 20.15 0.83 7.3 1.100 7.700

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.95 0.94 0.95 1.21 1.21 1.21 1.01 1.01 1.01 0.155 0.149 0.150 0.455 0.450 0.450 0.890 0.890 0.890 0.196 0.196 0.196 1.51 1.49 1.49 1.80 1.78 1.80 4.18 1.44 1.48 5.59 5.5 5.5 0.125 0.118 0.120 0.3500 0.3350 0.3500 0.5600 0.5000 0.5000 8.3 8.05 8.28 31.55 31.00 31.00 1.78 1.76 1.76 3.34 3.18 3.28 20.60 19.60 19.60 0.86 0.82 0.83 7.46 7.26 7.46 1.090 1.100 1.090 7.990 7.720 7.990 SERVICES 6.6 6.69 6.2 6.34 63 63 62.2 62.6 1.2 1.2 1.15 1.15 0.700 0.710 0.700 0.700 26.95 23.75 23.75 23.75 10.40 10.54 10.40 10.40 0.1200 0.1210 0.1120 0.1120 3.96 3.96 3.82 3.82 84.95 86.4 85.1 85.6 1.67 1.85 1.68 1.68 7.00 6.80 6.80 6.80 1000 1000 985 1000 2002 2060 2028 2040 6.49 6.55 6.40 6.55 1.54 1.57 1.53 1.57 109.5 112.6 110 110.5 6.51 6.51 6.51 6.51 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.242 0.247 0.220 0.230 1.2700 1.2700 1.2000 1.2100 2.94 3.04 2.75 2.93 8.75 8.78 9.02 8.37 1.98 2.05 1.95 2.00 2.29 2.25 2.25 2.25 0.680 0.690 0.680 0.680 1.99 1.97 1.4 1.97 9.06 9.17 9.06 9.17 0.370 0.370 0.360 0.360 0.530 0.510 0.470 0.490 18.04 18.38 18.08 18.38 4.60 4.55 4.55 4.55 3.17 3.11 3.04 3.04 110.00 110.00 108.00 110.00 13.46 13.54 13.36 13.54 2830.00 2922.00 2830.00 2830.00 0.580 0.600 0.580 0.590 1.520 1.500 1.450 1.450 41.00 41.70 41.00 41.45 84.55 86.50 84.00 85.50 10.26 10.46 10.30 10.40 0.72 0.72 0.71 0.71 1.85 2.02 1.87 1.87 6.97 7.08 6.88 6.88 0.355 0.335 0.350 0.355 MINING & OIL 0.0056 0.0057 0.0055 0.0056 9.00 9.00 8.85 8.86 0.260 0.260 0.255 0.260 7.1200 7.7000 7.45 7.7000 6.9800 7.0000 6.98 7.0000 1.13 1.15 1.07 1.09 0.91 0.9 0.89 0.89 8.08 8.28 8.09 8.10 2.01 2 1.73 1.9 0.450 0.450 0.415 0.415 0.230 0.230 0.228 0.228 0.236 0.236 0.234 0.234 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 4.98 5.15 4.96 5.1 28.15 28.6 26.75 26.8 3.96 4.05 3.84 3.85 0.7300 0.7400 0.7300 0.7400 2.070 2.080 2.070 2.070 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 5.54 5.85 5.85 5.54 7.57 7.65 7.4 7.4 2.59 2.6 2.48 2.48 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.016 161.50 163.00 160.90 163.00 4.1 4.18 4.06 4.08 0.0120 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 PREFERRED 63 63 61 61 507 508 506 506 522 525 523.5 525 115 115.2 115 115 506 506.5 506.5 506.5 6.22 6.24 6.24 6.24 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 111 111 110 110 1080 1080 1080 1080 1045 1045 1040 1045 76.1 76.1 76.05 76.1 84.4 84.4 84 84 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.910 4.000 3.780 3.840 SME 8.76 9.06 8.8 8.88 68.95 75 68.2 69 10.4 10.5 10.18 10.2 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 128 130.7 128 130.2

0.00 -3.20 -0.98 -2.60 -1.10 0.00 0.00 -0.67 0.00 -0.67 0.00 -3.23 2.94 -1.96 3.37 -0.96 -0.56 1.86 -2.73 0.00 2.19 -0.91 3.77

4,200,000 11,000 85,000 16,240,000 290,000 22,000 10,000 1,314,000 5,230,000 79,000 36,775,300 7,410,000 80,000 1,116,000 878,400 5,128,500 144,000 143,000 12,460,700 3,769,000 13,292,500 14,000 9,027,100

2,441,690.00

-3.94 -0.63 -4.17 0.00 -11.87 0.00 -6.67 -3.54 0.77 0.60 -2.86 0.00 1.90 0.92 1.95 0.91 0.00 0.00 -4.96 -4.72 -0.34 -0.34 1.01 -1.75 0.00 -1.01 1.21 -2.70 -7.55 1.88 -1.09 -4.10 0.00 0.59 0.00 1.72 -4.61 1.10 1.12 1.36 -1.39 1.08 -1.29 -1.41

639,100 30,090 41,000 129,000 1,500 9,254,400 86,520,000 641,000 402,920 935,000 82,000 480 130,830 169,200 152,000 1,817,310 8,800 700,000 24,530,000 605,000 65,000 1,330,500 80,000 13,000 30,000 79,000 1,477,100 910,000 705,000 6,300 18,000 204,000 80 915,900 219,190 479,000 18,717,000 2,367,200 1,103,670 2,021,900 2,427,000 44,000 1,304,000 60,000

0.00 -1.56 0.00 8.15 0.29 -3.54 -2.20 0.25 -5.47 -7.78 -0.87 -0.85 0.00 0.00 2.41 -4.80 -2.78 1.37 0.00 -7.69 0.00 -5.30 -2.25 -4.25 0.00 0.93 -0.49 -8.33

233,000,000 -560,000.00 291,500 8,940.00 900,000 20,800 6,900 -35,598.00 5,977,000 -52,420.00 1,240,000 56,500 -56,817.00 138,032,000 5,545,420.00 6,120,000 -341,800.00 1,780,000 3,200,000 8,100,000 5,300,000 15,000.00 1,891,000 -3,063,040.00 16,368,300 44,320,525.00 4,063,000 425,180.00 284,000 522,000 252,540.00 300,000 6,200,000 16,800 1,803,500 -3,026,978.00 1,065,000 1,412,090.00 34,400,000 30,000.00 508,150 12,266,325.00 49,000 23,900,000

-3.17 -0.20 0.57 0.00 0.10 0.32 0.00 -0.90 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.47

465,000 17,560 5,000 24,470 100 15,000 6,000 2,190 1,000 12,110 196,310 429,540

-1.79

257,000

1.37 0.07 -1.92

3,922,800 990 1,121,300

-1,868,495.00 34,150.00 3,460,540.00

1.72

13,490

-38,870.00

-55,870.00 1,960.00 -1,134,630.00 1,156,240.00 41,365,372.00 -148,680.00 74,250.00 23,984,600.00

MST Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ 4.88 RFM Corporation 2.28 Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 210 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. 1.33 Vulcan Ind’l.

44.5 1.79 1.1 2.27 12.68 50 90.00 20.55 29.2 63.7 1.78 11.7 20.300 11.36 8.50 10.30 1.32 23.5 30.2 99.6 14.98 0.4600 14.60 6.67 0.620 217.40 9.6 34.10 3.01 26.9 27.95 7.800 269.00 4.15 4.12 9.84 5 11.48 3.97 2.93 2.94 5.40 6.25 203.4 1.67 0.172 1.42 2.23 212.2 4.72 0.7 1.50

0.7 61.6 31.85 7.39 2.7 3.29 2.05 747 11.34 84 3.3 5.34 0.23 1060 7.1 59.8 6.55 0.9 19.9 0.75 5.4 5.35 0.0550 0.84 2.9 88 866 2.2 1.39 156 0.285 0.245 0.510

0.46 45.75 21.95 6.3 1.550 1.8 1.04 508 7.470 47.25 2.51 4 0.144 706 5.3 36.7 3.95 0.58 12.96 0.580 4.06 4.5 0.027 0.355 2.36 54.5 680 1.04 0.85 58.05 0.158 0.150 0.295

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

0.470 57.05 26.95 7.07 1.74 2.74 2.71 780 8.98 15.58 3.15 4.54 0.335 1321 6.28 71.30 8.75 0.78 16.54 0.64 4.89 5.2 0.0400 0.680 2.45 67.00 888.50 1.25 0.97 100.00 0.4350 0.2400 0.315

9.03 1.99 2.07 0.375 35.3 6.15 6.1

5.51 0.99 1 0.185 23.7 4.41 5

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings

8.880 0.95 1.370 0.250 37.60 4.27 5.29

6.68 8.1 275 2.25 0.191 2.5 2.68 188.6 5.5 1.3 2.17

High

31.75 2.51 0.88 1.25 9.58 40.2 15 14.6 9.82 21.5 0.82 17.3 5.98 9.05 4.25 8.68 1.01 8.61 12.2 48.9 16 0.0097 12.8 2.05 0.32 150.8 8.55 48.5 2.8 20.35 12 10.1 246 3.37 4 11.56 5 9.94 4.33

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

SHARES 14,133,785 153,123,997 78,373,368 142,045,526 162,840,220 495,406,325 1,050,981,801

352,804.00 -8,893,246.00

-1,323,810.00 -14,653,357.00 71,340.00 -193,475.00

0.87 2.95 11.46 0.435

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Macroasia Corp. Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SSI Group 0.59 STI Holdings 1.68 Transpacific Broadcast 7.78 Travellers 0.305 Waterfront Phils.

0.0086 17.24 0.325 12.8 12.7 1.2 1.73 10.98

0.0028 11.48 0.225 6.2 6 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

-2,446,310.00

44.1

26.3

-11,160,573.00 51,056,595.00

60 116 511 9.04 9.67

30 102 480 6.76 5.82

77.3 81.85

74.2 75

2.42

0.0010 LR Warrant

10.96 35

2.4 7.74

Double Dragon IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

119.6

First Metro ETF

5,661,615.00 -26,080.00 660,160.00 -147,582.00

-2,182,485.00 -299,500.00 163,680.00

-102,090.00 6,402,645.00 14,269,888.00 59,827,781.00 5,894,206.00 -78,228.00 2,362,035.00 -14,178,986.50 -27,000.00 41,400.00 -502,260.00

103,509,170.00 -401,902.00

25,009,400.00 -12,907,675.00 -6,554.00 -34,900,218.00 2,615,415.00

-46,000.00 -52,790.00 42,240.00 652,210.00 -411,936.00

-272,020.00 14,950.00

-48,000.00

319,633,258.00 139,500.00

71,147,332.00 -35,324,325.00

167,935,075.00 4,010,472.00 21,211,144.00

-933,395.00

150,446,998.50 -4,202,967.00 19,236,620.00

57,120.00 996,300.00 139,500.00 -3,830,104.00

206,353,220.00 6,013,300.00 -564,200.00

Abra Mining Atlas Cons. À’ Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp À’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum United Paragon 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 PCOR-Preferred A PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred C

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,300,416,452.25 2,238,497,602.97 2,002,780,028.705 1,384,118,366.50 1,697,762,320.252 841,286,751.908 9,513,212,852.08

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,865.11 (up) 7.59 INDUSTRIAL 12,770.48 (up) 32.44 HOLDING FIRMS 7,050.66 (up) 36.51 PROPERTY 3,142.82 (down) 18.52 SERVICES 2,106.07 (up) 7.74 MINING & OIL 15,721.27 (down) 182.56 PSEI 7,899.41 (up) 21.45 All Shares Index 4,550.21 (up) 3.81 Gainers: 74; Losers: 106; Unchanged: 47; Total: 227

40,982,980.00 254,200.00

19,690,752.00 -83,287.00

-3,093,362.00 134,400.00 -23,987,552.50

345,000.00 -370,000.00 167,818,330.00 20,064,303.00

-138,680.00 176,000.00

-5,292,783.00

-137,000.00 3,812,302.00 222,580.00

-36,720.00 6,535.00 3,228,822.00 183,866,890.00 -23,262,550.00 4,345,770.00 10,798,835.50 -8,817,910.00 -568,500.00 -5,057,296.00

-6,045,985.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Euro-Med Lab

1.98

50.00

Federal Res. Inv. Group

20.05

-14.68

Pryce Corp. `A'

3.81

29.59

Berjaya Phils. Inc.

23.75

-11.87

Liberty Flour

37.40

9.68

Phoenix Semiconductor

2.61

-10.92

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

9.59

Asiabest Group

11.6

-8.52

Roxas Holdings

6.77

8.32

United Paragon

0.0110

-8.33

Benguet Corp `A'

7.7000

8.15

Unioil Res. & Hldgs

0.4000

-8.05

C. Azuc De Tarlac

97.00

7.78

Geograce Res. Phil. Inc.

0.415

-7.78

Universal Robina

224

5.56

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0120

-7.69

Vista Land & Lifescapes

7.990

3.77

NOW Corp.

0.490

-7.55

Primex Corp.

8.28

3.37

Boulevard Holdings

0.1120

-6.67

TUESDAY: MARCH 31, 2015

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

Pitkin loses Linapacan field By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Department terminated the interests of Pitkin Petroleum Plc and RMA West Linapacan Pte Ltd. in block C2 of service contract 14 (West Linapacan) in northwest Palawan. The department advised Pitkin, a unit of Philex Petroleum Corp. and RMA that their interests in SC 14C2 in West Linapacan off northwest Palawan reverted to The Philodrill Corp., Oriental Petroleum & Minerals Corp., Linapacan Oil Gas & Power Corp., Forum Energy Philippines Corp., Cosco Capital Inc. and PetroEnergy Resources Corp. PetroEnergy, in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, said its participating interest in

SC 14C2 in West Linapacan now stands at 4.137 percent following the department’s approval of the re-assignment of the 58.29075 percent participating stake previously farmed out by the SC 14 C2 joint venture shareholders to Pitkin in May 2008. Pitkin then farmed out 29.14537 percent of the interest and the operatorship of the service contract in 2011 to RMA West Linapacan Pte Ltd. The SC 14C2 joint venture

partners earlier decided to terminate their farm-in agreement with Pitkin for its failure to comply with the conditions of the deal. The farm-in agreement required Pitkin to comply with the conditions, including the drilling of one well and final investment decision, 18 months after Pitkin received government approvals. Had this been strictly followed, Pitkin would have completed the phase two work program in December 2013. The program was extend to June 2014 and later to December 31, 2014. An independent assessment by Gaffney Cline and Associates showed the West Linapacan oil field had potential reserves ranging from 11.6 million stock tank barrels to 22.8 mmstb.

Digital tourism. Smart Communications Inc. and InnoPub Media teamed up with the Intramuros Administration and Fundación Santiago Inc.to give tourism in Intramuros a boost through wireless technologies. The digital tourism initiative involves development and installation of interactive markers in heritage and tourism sites of the oldest district of Manila. Shown signing the partnership are (from left) Fundación Santiago executive director Chaco Molina, Intramuros administrator Marco Antonio Luisito Sardillo III, InnoPub co-founder Max Limpag and Smart corporate publicity senior manager Nick Wilwayco.

Max’s likely to post profit this year By Jenniffer B. Austria RESTAURANT chain operator Max’s Group Inc. said it expects 2015 to be a banner year for the company, with revenues growing by double digits on election-related spending and full consolidation of the country’s two leading casual dining chains. Max’s president and chief executive Robert Trota said in an interview the company expects to post a net income this year after last year’s financial performance. Operations suffered from higher spending on store renovation and upgrade, as part of a comprehensive restructuring program. “We are anticipating a banner year for 2015. Historically, one year before the elections is good the restaurant business because of the election-related spending and we are well-positioned to service those needs,” Trota said. The Securities and Exchange

Commission in November approved the acquisition of Pancake House House of Max’s, which resulted in the latter’s backdoor listing with the Philippine Stock Exchange. Max’s in 2014 posted a consolidated net loss of P66.2 million and revenues of P4.86 billion, which included the full year operations of Pancake House and the two-month contribution of Max’s owned restaurants. Max’s on a pro-forma basis posted a net loss of P56 million in 2014 on revenues of P9.54 billion. Max’s chief finance officer Dave Fuentabella said 2014 was a transformative and preparatory period for the company, anchored on a series of marketmoving transactions, beginning with the acquisition of Pancake House Group, post-integration activities and a successful followon offering. “The results so far are in line with management’s expectations

owing to planned and focused efforts to rationalize operations of two iconic food chains,” Fuentabella said. Max’s this year plans to spend P500 million to roll out 80 to 90 stores, including 5 to 8 outlets overseas. “We are bullish about growth prospects moving forward as we see consumer buying power improving in the Philippines and across Asia in the next couple of years,” said Trota. “Operational integration is on track with the company’s overall development strategy, and we look forward to unlocking the potential of a larger group and to propelling our brands to the next phase of growth,” he added. Aside from top four brands, Max’s, Pancake House, Yellow Cab, and Krispy Kreme, Max’s also owns several restaurant brands, including Dencio’s, Teriyaki Boy, Sizzlin’ Steak, Le Coeur De France, Maple and Jamba Juice.

The joint venture partners had planned to re-develop the oil field after the area produced 8.5 million barrels in the past. West Linapacan A, discovered in 1990, produced over 8 MMbbls from 1992 through to early 1996 before being shut-in. The field had a peak production

rate of over 18,000 barrels of oil per day. West Linapacan B was discovered in 1993 and tests from the single well drilled on the structure flowed close to 2,900 bopd. The field, however, was never developed for commercial production.

Why must you be controversial, Bobby? FOR the friends and admirers and associates of RoRUDY ROMERO berto V. Ongpin, the past three years have been a time of dismay and disappointment. Why? The answer is summed up by one word: controversy. During the past three years the former Minister of Trade and Industry of the Marcos administration has been embroiled in one controversy after another. The controversies have been entirely of his making. The first of the controversies involved the sale by the Development Bank of the Philippines of its holding of Philex Mining Corp. common shares, with Roberto Ongpin--RVO to his staff--acting as broker. That should have been a perfectly normal transaction. What made it controversial? First, DBP did not need a broker--and thus did not have to pay a broker’s commission--because Philex Mining’s stock is one of the most sellable stocks in this country, because the media were then full of stories about businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan’s desire to acquire Philex Mining shares sufficient to complete his control of one of this country’s leading companies and because it would have been so easy for Pangilinan to pick up the phone and initiate a saleand-purchase discussion with his friend, the CEO of DBP. Second, Philex Mining is a Philippine Stock Exchange-listed stock and so the price of a share of Philex Mining stock is a known quantity at any time. In other words, a concrete basis for Pangilinan-DBP negotiations existed and there was no need for a middleman. There was no need for Roberto V. Ongpin’s intervention. Pangilinan and DBP’s CEO, Reynaldo David, were perfectly capable, by themselves, of arriving at the best deal possible. Third, because there was clearly no need for the payment of a broker’s commission to anyone, any such payment was at best immoral. Ongpin skirts the point when he insists that because every party--Pangilinan, DBP and himself--made money from the transaction, no one should have been heard to complain. The point, of course, is that the broker’s commission that was paid to him should have gone to the seller of the shares, namely, DBP. By allowing Ongpin to broker the deal, David and the members of the DBP board of directors deprived the bank of the opportunity to derive more income from the sale of the bank’s Philex Mining shares. Roberto Ongpin insists that in the DBP transaction he did nothing controversial. But the facts speak for themselves. Another controversy--the most recent one--in which Ongpin has embroiled himself is the transaction between his flagship company, Alphaland Corp., and Boy Scouts of the Philippines. The transaction involved the BSP property along Ayala Avenue Extension in Makati City. The Alphaland-BSP deal has been the subject of a Senate investigation, which brought out the involvement of beleaguered Vice President Jejomar Binay and whistleblowing former Makati City vice mayor Ernesto Mercado, the participation of an associate Alphaland company, the questionable valuation of the BSP property and the allocation of shares that appeared to partake of an illegal payment. BSP is a revered and necessary institution of this country. It guides and trains Filipino boys during the formative years of their lives. BSP needs the help and support of every Filipino. It deserves everyone’s goodwill and respect. The last thing it needs is to be fooled and shortchanged. Roberto Ongpin should not have involved himself in the affairs of an institution as fragile and vulnerable as BSP. He should have left well alone. There are numerous non-controversial opportunities for the deployment of your well-known, Harvard Business School-honed skills. Why must you be controversial, Bobby O.?

BUSINESS CLASS

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

BUSINESS Metro Pacific unit acquiring hospital in Zamboanga City By Jenniffer B. Austria METRO Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc., the hospital investment arm of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said Monday it will take over the operation of a 110-bed hospital in Zamboanga City. Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange MPHHI through wholly-owned subsidiary Metro Pacific Zamboanga Hospital Corp. signed a long term lease of the land, buildings and equipment of Western Mindanao Medical Center.

WMMC, which will be rebranded as West Metro Medical Center, is a hospital with a 25year history of service in Zamboanga. “The effectivity of the lease and the official opening of West Metro Medical Center are subject to several conditions precedent, including fulfillment of certain regulatory requirements,” Metro Pacific said. Under the agreement, MPHHI will install a new management team and will infuse capital to complete a four-story annex building which will increase the hospital’s capacity from 110 to

190 beds, making it the largest private hospital in the Zamboanga Peninsula. West Metro Medical Center will become the ninth hospital in Metro Pacific’s nationwide chain of private hospitals, the largest in the Philippines at 2,244 beds. Other hospitals in the Metro Pacific portfolio are Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital & Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, De Los Santos Medical Center, Davao Doctors Hospital, Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod and Central Luzon Doctors Hospital in Tar-

lac. Metro Pacific chairman Manuel Pangilinan earlier said the company’s hospital group planned to acquire 12 hospitals this year, which would bring its network of medical facilities to 20. The conglomerate said it was eyeing hospitals outside Metro Manila for possible acquisitions. It is also considering putting up satellite diagnostic centers to expand its network. The conglomerate is actively on the look out for investments in the healthcare sector after getting GIC, Singapore’s sovereign

wealth fund through its private equity arm, as its strategic partner for the hospital business. GIC in May agreed to invest P3.7 billion for an initial 14.4-percent stake in Metro Pacific’s hospital unit. The Singaporean fund will also advance to Metro Pacific some P6.5 billion through an exchangeable bond that it can swap for an additional 25.5-percent stake in NSHI in the future, subject to certain conditions. Aside from hospital, Metro Pacific also has investments in toll road, power generation and water utility.

Maynilad takes govt to another arbitration By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

WEST zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. has filed another arbitration case before the international arbitration court in Singapore against the government for its alleged refusal to implement a tariff increase. Metro Pacific Investments Corp., the parent firm of Maynilad, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Maynilad on March 27 served the government a notice of arbitration and statement of claim through the Finance Department. “Pursuant to the undertaking, the arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in Singapore before a three-man panel,” Metro Pacific said. Metro Pacific said in the demand letters Maynilad was claiming compensation from the government for revenue losses due to the delayed implementation of tariff increase. Maynilad earlier asked the government to pay P3.44 billion as sovereign compensation for revenue losses it incurred from Jan. 1, 2013 to Feb. 28 this year. Maynilad said in a letter to the Finance Department the amount would accumulate as long as MWSS administrator Gerardo Esquivel, Regulatory Office head Joel Yu and MWSS trustee Em-

manuel Caparas continued to “violate their plain legal duty” to implement a final and executory ruling. Maynilad won an arbitration case in December at the International Chamber of Commerce, allowing tariff adjustments. MWSS deferred the ruling on new water rates, pending a decision on a similar case involving east zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. MWSS said Maynilad’s claim had no basis. “In our view, there should be a ground to call for that guarantee. From our point, the P3.44 billion they are asking for has no ground. There is no lost revenue because of the design and tariff setting of the concession agreement,” Yu said. Yu said the water rate under the concession agreement was set at a level that would permit Maynilad to recover its investments not immediately but over the full term of the deal, or until 2037.

Furniture show. Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo (second from right) closely looks at one of the furniture pieces of Calfurn Manufacturing Philippines Inc. displayed during the recent Philippines International Furniture Show at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. He is joined by (from left) Calfurn chairman Erdy Feliciano, Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. Calfurn is currently exporting to US, Canada, Australia and Europe.

Panglao airport seen completed in 2017 By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Transportation Department said it expects to complete the construction of the P3.36billion new Bohol airport in Panglao Island in 2017, which will accommodate 1 million more passengers annually. “Another world-class airport will soon rise on the island of Panglao, to cater to the steadilyincreasing number of tourists in Bohol. It will be developed as an ‘eco-airport’ or one that features env ironmenta lly-sustainable technologies, in line with the province’s eco-tourism branding,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said. The new Bohol airport, which was recently awarded to the Japa-

nese joint venture of Chiyoda Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp., is set to begin construction before the end of the dry season and is scheduled to be completed in 2017. “In a country filled with tourist hotspots on islands separated by seas, it is vital to develop and modernize our airports not only to better service our passengers, but to also enable economic growth for our people,” Abaya said. Meanwhile, Abaya said the Kalibo International Airport’s new wing was now open for passengers in time for the peak period. “As always, we expect a high volume of visitors to Boracay in the next couple of months, so the

new section will help meet this peak period demand,” Abaya said. The arrival area of the new wing opened Thursday, while the departure area will start operating on March 31. Ten new checkin counters were added. The nearly-4,000 square meter expansion, with a price tag of P44.3 million, will accommodate additional 800 passengers at any given time. All domestic flights will be transferred to the new wing of the terminal, while international flights will remain in the original portion of the PTB. Abaya also announced the start of regular night flight operations at Laguindingan airport, the gateway to Northern Mindanao.

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

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

Brave GNU world WHEN I wrote about free software guru Richard CHIN WONG Stallman last week, I didn’t realize I would have the opportunity to hear him speak just a few days later. Fortuitously, I got that chance when I attended the RightsCon Southeast Asia Summit at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Hotel, where Stallman was a guest speaker. The summit, which drew 600 participants from over 50 countries, focused on protecting human rights online and fighting for an open Internet, which seemed to be a good fit for Stallman, who remains an activist at the age of 62. His talk, entitled “Brave GNU World,” was a play on the free operating system that became the centerpiece of his free (as in freedom, not as in zero-cost) software movement. Stallman began his talk with the four essential freedoms that computer users ought to have: the freedom to run a program; the freedom to study and change it in source code form; the freedom to redistribute exact copies of it; and the freedom to distribute modified versions of the program. Some highlights from Stallman’s talk last week: On the dangers of proprietary software and devices: Proprietary software is very often malware. It has malicious functionalities such as spying on the user. This is a real malicious functionality that i-Things have, that enables stores to track a person around the store. The Amazon Swindle sees which book and which page is being read and tells Amazon. Blu-ray discs are designed to stop people from copying and sharing. That’s a malicious functionality known as DRM, digital restrictions management, also called digital handcuffs. Now watch out. People on the enemies’ side call DRM digital rights management. If you use that term, you’re taking the enemy’s side. In general you should never use a device that was designed to take your freedom away unless you have to hand the necessary tools to break the handcuffs. Even worse, there are back doors that allow nasty things to be done by remote command. The Amazon Swindle has a back door for deleting books. We found out about this when Amazon remotely deleted thousands of copies of 1984 by George Orwell in an Orwellian act. Then there are devices that are jails for their users, which restrict the installation of applications. Apple pioneered this... but Microsoft followed the same path. There’s an even worse back door in Windows which allows Microsoft to forcibly impose software changes. This is known as a universal back door. There are universal back doors also in the Amazon Swindle, and in nearly all portable phones. Don’t just say Linux The appropriate name for it is GNU+Linux. Please call it that. You’ll find that most people call the whole thing Linux, which is giving us none of the credit, attributing our work to (Linus) Torvalds, which is not nice to us. But there’s more at stake... You see, Torvalds doesn’t agree with the free software movement. He doesn’t believe that you deserve freedom in your computing. He doesn’t believe you deserve to have control over the programs you use. He says he’s happy to use proprietary software as long as it’s convenient and reliable. He has the right to promote his views, but he is not entitled to use our work as his platform to oppose our views, which motivated the work. Steer clear of Ubuntu Unfortunately, nowadays if you find a version of GNU+Linux, it may not be free...The worst one perhaps is Ubuntu. Ubuntu is one of the rare examples of free software that spies on the user. And in addition, it has many non-free programs. So let’s push back on Ubuntu and make Ubuntu clean up its act. I urge people in free software events, above all, don’t recommend or install Ubuntu. You shouldn’t ever recommend or install a distro that is not totally free. Open source is not the same as free software Say free software. If you say free software, you are spreading the idea that this is about freedom. If you say open source, you’re helping to bury the idea of freedom. I get messages from people every week who say they appreciate what i’ve done for open source, which means they have no idea what it is that I stand for. I’ve seen articles that called me the father of open source. So I wrote a letter to the editor and said if I’m the father of open source, it was conceived through artificial insemination using stolen sperm without my knowledge or consent. Teaching free software in schools It’s crucial for schools to teach free software. Unfortunately most schools teach proprietary software and lately I’ve been hearing students find that they fail their classes unless they run proprietary software. We need to organize and make those schools change. It should be illegal to teach proprietary software in school because that’s implanting dependence in society. It’s counter to the social mission of schools. Teaching proprietary software in schools is like giving the kids cigarettes. It’s trying to get them hooked and that’s why many proprietary software companies offer discount versions and gratis versions of their non-free software to schools. They want the schools to help make the students addicted. And the teachers will use twisted excuses like these are the programs you’ll find others using. It’s like saying everyone else smokes so you should too.

Digital life

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

BDO cleared to buy rural bank in Davao By Julito G. Rada

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest universal bank controlled by tycoon Henry Sy, can now proceed with the acquisition of Davao City-based One Network Bank Inc., the country’s largest rural bank, after getting the approval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. “Please be advised that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has approved the acquisition by BDO Unibank Inc. of One Network Bank Inc.,” BDO said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday. BDO signed an agreement in December 2014 to acquire ONB, a rural bank with 105 branches and micro-banking offices in Mindanao and Panay Island. ONB is majority-owned by the Consunji Group and is headed by Victor Consunji as chairman and Alex

Buenaventura as president. ONB had total assets of P28.1 billion, net loans of P19.7 billion and deposits of P17.9 billion as of end-September 2014. BDO earlier said the addition of ONB to the BDO Group would give BDO access to new market segments in Mindanao and Panay Island, which were among the bank’s target growth areas. ONB, formed in 2004 through the consolidation of Network Rural Bank of Davao del Sur, the Rural Bank of Panabo of Davao

del Norte and the Provident Rural Bank of Cotabato, is the largest rural bank in the Philippines in terms of assets. It has a branch in Makati City and a fleet of 135 automated teller machines in Mindanao, including in 17 localities where it is the sole provider of financial services. “The combination of ONB’s regional presence and BDO’s financial muscle is seen to create new opportunities for growth. This partnership will enable ONB clients to access BDO’s strong balance sheet and expanded banking solutions, while providing BDO inroads to new market segments previously underserved by commercial banks,” BDO said in a previous statement. It said the move was also in support of the Bangko Sentral’s thrust to promote inclusive banking through countryside branching and lending.

Unilever’s awards. Unilever Philippines, beat thousands of entries from the country’s biggest

corporations, to prove its excellence in strategic communications by taking home 13 citations at the recently concluded 13th Philippine Quill Awards, the country’s most prestigious awards in business communication. The company, known for its commitment in sustainable growth, was recognized for its brand’s various media relations, advertising, marketing, corporate social responsibility, graphic designs and advocacy programs. Shown are the communications and marketing team of various Unilever brands, headed by Gina Lorenzana, vice president for marketing, personal care.

Pagcor remits P5-b dividends to govt STATE-RUN Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said Wednesday it remitted P5 billion in total cash dividends to the National Treasury, the first time it reached the amount in nearly three decades of existence. Pagcor chairman and chief executive Cristino Naguiat Jr. said the P5 billion was “the biggest amount in a single check ever issued by our corporation in its history.” Naguiat said with this year’s remittance, the state-owned gaming firm had fully settled all remaining arrears in cash dividends that were incurred by the previous ad-

ministrations since 2005. He said with the recent P5 billion remittance, Pagcor’s total cash dividends to the National Treasury under the current management hit roughly P11.5 billion. The remittance maintained Pagcor’s position as one of the government-owned and –controlled corporations belonging in the elite “billionaires’ club” or agencies that consistently remitted cash dividends of at least P1 billion to the government. Naguiat said the purpose of declaring dividends was to be able to return good earnings to the shareholders of a company. “Pagcor’s

shareholders are the Filipino people. We are giving back to them the fruits of a well-run GOCC,” he said. Naguiat said it was only during the term of the present management that Pagcor started remitting cash dividends to the government. Apart from cash dividends, the corporation also remits, on a monthly basis, the 50-percent government share from Pagcor’s earnings to the National Treasury. “Our total remittances to the National Treasury in 2014 alone amounted to P14.2 billion,” he said.

TUESDAY: MARCH 31, 2015

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

GMA pays P1.2-b dividends THE board GMA Network Inc., the second-biggest broadcasting company in the Philippines, approved the declaration of cash dividends of P0.25 per share, payable on May 19, 2015 to shareholders on record as of April 24, 2015. The dividends totaling P1.215 billion represent a payout ratio of 120 percent in relation to the company’s 2014 net income. GMA has

returned a total of P15.456 billion to its shareholders since its initial public offering in 2007. “2014 was both challenging and

rewarding. On one hand, our consolidated revenues dropped 8 percent to P11.939 billion, while net income settled at P1.010 billion primarily due to the absence of political advertisements,” said GMA chairman and chief executive Felipe Gozon. “On the other, our efforts to efficiently manage our costs resulted in a flat operating expenses of P10.569 billion with a 7 percent reduction in our production

cost without compromising the quality of our programs,” he said. Gozon said he was optimistic for 2015 due to marked improvements seen at the onset of the year. “If the first three months are any indication, it reinforces our view that it will be a much better year for the company. Likewise, we see exciting times ahead for our viewers as we launch new, game-changing programs in the

coming months,” he said. GMA sustained its lead in viewer-rich Urban Luzon and Mega Manila for the full year of 2014. Based on data from the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, GMA cemented its total day household shares supremacy in the two areas, while leading across all dayparts including the highly contested primetime slot.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Irrigation Administration

InvItatIon to BId for Supply and delIvery of JumBo tISSue (lot 1) and paper towel (lot 2) under ITB No. 03-28-2015 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Jumbo Tissue (Lot 1) and Paper Towel (Lot 2) under ITB No.03-28-2015.

LOT

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

97,911 Rolls of Jumbo Tissue

Paper, Tissue Paper, Jumbo 12 Rolls per Box, White, 100% Virgin Pulp, Soft and Tensile, Durable, Minimal Fiber, Odorless(Chlorine & Ammonia Free), Min. of 2 Ply with perforation (Ply must stick together and not deplying), Grammage : Min. Thickness of 16/32GSM, Weight: 900G per Roll with Core, Dimension per Sheet: 90mm X 230M, Total Length per Roll: 310 Meters X 2 Ply, Individually packed/sealed per roll for hygienic purposes, Presentation: Brand and specification, total and number of sheets and size should be printed on the box 104,544 Packs Towel

of Paper

Paper Towel, 175 pulls, 200mm X 215mm, 1 Ply

TOTAL ABC FOR THE PROJECT (VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction) Source of Funds:

APPROVED BUDGET (ABC) PER LOT (VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction)

DELIVERY SCHEDULE

The complete schedule of deliveries is provided in Section VI (Schedule of Requirements) of the Bidding Documents which will commence from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed Two Million Six Hundred Thirty-Nine Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty-Six Pesos (PhP2,639,736.00)

The schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

Schedule March 31, 2015 to April 20, 2015

2. Pre-Bid Conference

April 7, 2015, 11:00 a.m.

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids

April 20, 2015, 2:00 p.m. April 20, 2015, 2:00 p.m. onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Bids and Awards Services Department, upon payment of the non-refundable bidding fee based on the following matrix from the address below:

Approved Budget for the Contract

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00

: : : :

NIS-EXTN-D 1-20 15-0 1 Improvement of Lateral F, SDA Municipality of Quezon, Nueva Ecija Concrete canal lining including clearing and other necessary lining components (i.e joint filler & sealant)

Package No. Project Name Location Scope of Work

: : : :

NIS-EXTN-D 1-2015-02 Improvement of Lateral F-1, SDA Municipality of Quezon, Nueva Ecija Concrete canal lining including clearing and other necessary lining components (i.e joint filler & sealant)

e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : PhP 17,100,481.49 f. Contract Duration : 230 cal. days g. Min. PCAB ARC Size Range (Irrigation & Flood Control) : Small B 3.

a. b. c. d.

Package No. Project Name Location Scope of Work

: : : :

NIS-EXTN-DI-2015-03 Improvement of Lateral F-IA, SDA Municipality of Quezon, Nueva Ecija Concrete canal lining including clearing and other necessary lining components (i.e joint filler & sealant)

5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25,000.00

Package No. Project Name Location Scope of Work

: : : :

NIS-EXTN-D 1-20 15-04 Improvement of Lateral J, SDA Municipality of Licab, Nueva Ecija Concrete canal lining including clearing and other necessary lining components (i.e joint filler & sealant)

e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : PhP 17,128,965.42 f. Contract Duration : 230 cal. days g. Min. PCAB ARC Size Range (Irrigation & Flood Control) : Small B

Prospective bidders should be PhilGEPS Registered and have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two (2) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding, and have key personnel and equipment (owned, leased or under purchase) available for the prosecution of the project. The list of minimum equipment requirement is indicated in the Eligibility Forms. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted. All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions ofR.A.9184 and its Implementing Rules & Regulation (IRR). The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows: 1. Posting of Invitation to Bid (PhiIGEPS, NIABulletin Boards)

April 01 - April 07, 2015

2. Issuance of Bid Documents

April 01, 2015 - April 20, 2015 until 12:00 PM

3. Pre-Bid Conference

April 08, 2015 @ 2:00 PM

4. Deadline of Submission of

April 20, 2015 @ 12:00 PM

5. Opening of Bids

April 20, 2015 @ 1:00 PM

Bid Documents (BD’s) will be available to prospective bidders upon payment of nonrefundable fee to the Cashier in the amount shown below: PACKAGE NO NIS-EXTN-O 1-20 15-0 1 NIS-EXTN -01-2015-02 NIS-EXTN -01-2015-03 NIS-EXTN -DI-2015-04

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders. Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from the BASD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids. In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final LCRB, based on the following procedures: In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper. The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee 1 thru the BASD, Room 203, Second Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 524-3911, 521-1542 local 223/571. (SGD) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and awards Committee (BaC) 1

a. b. c. d.

4. a. b. c. d.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR.

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Package No. Project Name Location Scope of work

e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : PhP 4,727,830.07 f. Contract Duration : 230 cal. Days g. Min. PCAB ARC Size Range (Irrigation & Flood Control) : Small B

Eleven Million Nine Hundred Forty-One Thousand Two Hundred Eighty-One Pesos (PhP11,941,281.00) Internally Funded

Activities

a. b. c. d.

e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : PhP 4,408,775.76 f. Contract Duration : 230 cal. days g. Min. PCAB ARC Size Range (Irrigation & Flood Control) : Small B

1. 2.

INVITATION TO BID No. UPRIIS-DI-CW-201S-01

1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

CLSU Cmpd. Science City of Muñoz, N. Ecija (044) 456-0043/ 456 73 46 www.nia.gov.ph

The National Irrigation Administration- Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS), Division I, Science City of Muiioz, Nueva Ecija, through the CY 2015 Regular Allocation projects intends to apply the hereunder Approved Budgets for the Contract to payment of the corresponding contract packages below. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 1.

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million

Office Address: Telephone Nos.: Website:

Nine Million Three Hundred One Thousand Five Hundred Forty-Five Pesos (PhP9,301,545.00)

NOTE: Bidders may bid on one or both/all lots.

500,000.00 and below

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) UPPER PAMPANGA RIVER INTEGRATED IRRIGATION SYSTEM

. The NIA-UPRIIS assume no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. It is likewise,reserve the right to reject any or all bids, or any part thereof, to waive any defect in the bid/s received without thereby incurring any liability to· the affected bidder or bidders, and to accept such bid/s considered most , advantageous to the government. The decision of the BAC in the evaluation of bidslquotatiomis’ final. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in. lIB. Clause 18.1. Bids will be- opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. NIA-UPRIIS res.erves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul th~ 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 additional information, please refer to: \VILFREDO C. RAMOS Chairman, Bids & Awards Committee Head, Operations· Unit NIA-UPRIIS, Division I CLSU Compound, SCience City ofMufioz, Nueva Ecija Fax No. (044) 456-0043 Tel. No. (044) 456-7346 Email Address·: niaupriis_divisionl@yahoo:com’ Approved by: Noted by ,

(SGD.) WILFREDO G. RAMOS Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (TS-MAR. 31, 2015)

(ts-mar. 31, 2015)

AMOUNT PhP 5,000.00 PhP 25,000.00 PhP 5,000.00 PhP 25,000.00

(SGD.) FREDDIE M. TOQUERO, Ph. D. Manager, Division I, NIA-UPRIIS

Oceana expands ecology efforts OCEANAGOLD (Philippines) Inc. , now among the country’s more active mineral producers, is adopting more measures to help in the greening of the countryside and preserve the ecological integrity of the immediate environs of its mine site. Top among the measures under study by the company is the growing and propagation of vetiver grass in its Didipio mine aimed at helping dispose leachate and effluent in pond. The grass will also help in the future rehabilitation and re-greening of the tailings of storage facility. “We have been planting vetiver since 2008 in Didipio even before mine operations and we have found the grass is useful and effective as agent for slope protection, soil erosion prevention and landslide control and mitigation,” Chito Gozar, OceanaGold senior vice president for communications and corporate affairs, said. He said the vetiver grass helped rehabilitate Didipio mine site to a stable landscape. This encouraged OceanaGold to venture into planting vetivers at its storage facility using PVCpipe type pontoons with fine nets underneath. The first sets of vetiver planted at the facility yielded positive results. OceanaGold uses green production technology on its processing operation and does not use harmful chemicals that might cause skin irritation or any health issues, “but still the company continues to look for innovative ways to make its ponds cleaner and habitable by aquatic life,” Gozar said. OceanaGold tailings were analyzed for toxicity characterization leaching procedure and were found to be non-hazardous where majority of heavy metals are below laboratory detection limits. The mine also has slight alkaline ore and rocks, which have very low potential for acid mine drainage generation. Continuous monitoring showed no indication of acid mine presence within the mine.

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

Re p ub li c of t h e Phi li p p i n e s D e p a r t m e nt of Tr a ns p o r t at i o n a n d C o m muni c at i o ns C I V I L AV I AT I O N AUT H O R I T Y O F T H E PH I L I PPI N ES O f f i c e of t h e D i r e c to r G e n e r a l

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

WORLD

C I V I L AV I AT I O N AUT H O R I T Y O F T H E PI D L I PPI N ES C I RCU L A R N O. 0 6 - 15 , S E R I ES O F 2 015

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

W H E R E A S, i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r N o . 31 d a t e d O c t o b e r 1, 2 012 a s i m p l e m e n t e d by D O F - D B M - N E DA J o i n t C i r c u l a r N o . 1- 2 013 d a t e d J a n u a r y 3 0 , 2 013 o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f B u d g e t a n d M a n a g e m e n t a n d N a t i o n a l E c o n o m i c a n d D ev e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y a n d p u r s u a n t t o R e p u b l i c A c t N u m b e r 9 4 9 7 o t h e r w i s e k n o w n a s t h e " C i v i l Av i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y A c t o f 2 0 0 8 ", t h e C i v i l Av i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s (C A A P) h a s b e e n c r e a t e d a s a n i n d e p e n d e n t r e g u l a t o r y b o d y w i t h q u a s i - j u d i c i a l a n d q u a s i l e g i s l a t i v e p o w e r s a n d p o s s e s s i n g c o r p o r a t e a t t r i b u t e s; W H E R E A S, t h e S c h e d u l e o f Fe e s a n d C h a r g e s w h i c h a r e b e i n g i m p l e m e n t e d u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f C i v i l Av i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s (C A A P) a r e t h o s e p r o v i d e d f o r u n d e r D e p a r t m e n t O r d e r N u m b e r 2 0 0 2 - 5 7; . W H E R E A S, t h e r a t e s o f t h e O f f i c e o f t h e F l i g h t S u r g e o n a n d Av i a t i o n M e d i c i n e (O F S A M ) u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f C i v i l Av i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s (C A A P) h av e n o t b e e n i n c r e a s e d a n d r e m a i n e d u n c h a n g e d o v e r t i m e; W H E R E A S, S e c t i o n 17 - S c h e d u l e o f Fe e s a n d C h a r g e s s t a t e s t h a t " T h e A u t h o r i t y s h a l l a d o p t a n d publish its schedule of fees and charges. The Authorit y shall hold such public hearings or consultative m e e t i n g s w i t h s t a ke h o l d e r s i n t h e i n d u s t r y b e f o r e a d o p t i n g i t s s c h e d u l e o f f e e s a n d c h a r g e s . T h e A u t h o r i t y s h a l l n o t r ev i s e i t s s c h e d u l e o f f e e s a n d f i n e s m o r e o f t e n t h a t o n c e ev e r y t h r e e (3) y e a r s "; W H E R E A S, S e c t i o n 15 - S e t t i n g o f Fe e s a n d C h a r g e s s t a t e s t h a t " T h e B o a r d , a f t e r c o n s u l t a t i o n with the Director General, and af ter public hearing, shall determine, f ix, impose, collect or receive r e a s o n a b l e c h a r g e s , f e e s , d u e s o r a s s e s s m e n t s i n r e s p e c t o f av i a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e s , l i c e n s e s , a n d a l l o t h e r a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o r p e r m i s s i o n s a u t h o r i z e d t o b e i s s u e d u n d e r t h i s A c t a n d a l l s e r v i c e s p e r f o r m e d by t h e A u t h o r i t y. A l l c h a r g e s a n d f e e s s h a l l b e f o r m a l l y p r o m u l g a t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e C o d e o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s o r a ny a m e n d m e n t o r s u c c e s s o r t h e r e t o . P e n d i n g t h e p r o m u l g a t i o n o f s u c h n e w s c h e d u l e o f c h a r g e s a n d f e e s , t h e c u r r e n t c h a r g e s a n d f e e s o f t h e ATO s h a l l c o n t i n u e t o a p p l y ";

Joint operation. South Korean Marine amphibious assault vehicles ﬁre smoke shells to land on the seashore during a joint operation by US and South Korean Marines in the southeastern port of Pohang on March 30. The drill is part of an annual joint exercise to enhance the combat readiness of the US and South Korea supporting forces in defense of the Korean Peninsula. AFP

Two on flight decks ordered after disaster SYDNEY—Australian airlines must ensure that two crew are on the flight deck at all times, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said Monday in response to the Germanwings disaster. Investigators believe co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked his captain out of the cockpit of Flight 4U 9525 and deliberately steered the Airbus A320 into a French mountainside last week, killing all 150 on board. “The government has been in discussion with the airlines over the last couple of days and there has been an agreement that airlines in Australia will move immediately to adjust their flight operation procedures to ensure that there are always two people on the flight deck,” Truss told reporters. “The airlines will be acting immediately to implement this change and we’d expect to see this policy in place within hours on our major airlines.” Last week the European Aviation Safety

Agency recommended that at least two people be present in the cockpit of planes at all times following the loss of Flight 4U 9525, which French officials say appears to have been a case of suicide and mass killing. Many European airlines have since moved to implement the so-called “rule of two” which is already standard in the United States, while Canada has also ordered its airlines to impose the regulation. In Australia, Truss said the new arrangement would apply to all aircraft which can seat 50 people or more, and would mean that a flight attendant must sit in the cockpit if one of the pilots needed to leave the flight deck for any reason. “There are now quite a number of cases, perhaps more than a dozen over the last 30 or 40 years, which are thought to be aircraft crashes resulting from pilot suicide,” Truss said. “It’s very, very difficult to intervene in all of these circumstances because they are different in every case, but we certainly need to be sure that we’re taking every possible step to make sure there isn’t an incident of this nature in Australia and that global aviation is as safe as possible.” AFP

W H E R E A S, t h e o b j e c t i v e o f t h e i n c r e a s e o n f e e s a n d c h a r g e s i s f o r t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o r e c o v e r i nv e s t m e n t s a n d s e r v i c e s r e n d e r e d , a s w e l l a s t h e c o s t o f M a i n t e n a n c e a n d O t h e r O p e r a t i n g E x p e n s e s ( M O O E ) t o p r o v i d e b e t t e r a n d m o r e e f f i c i e n t s e r v i c e s t o s t a ke h o l d e r s; W H E R E A S, o n M a r c h 3 , 2 011 , t h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s o f C A A P t h r o u g h i t s R e s o l u t i o n N o . 2 011- 013 a p p r o v e d t h e r e q u e s t o f M a n a g e m e n t t o c o n d u c t p u b l i c h e a r i n g s o n t h e R ev i s e d Fe e s a n d C h a r g e s f o r a l l C A A P I m p o s e d Fe e s a n d C h a r g e s , s u b j e c t t o i t s f i n a l s u b m i s s i o n a n d a p p r o v a l; W H E R E A S, t h e N o t i c e o f P u b l i c H e a r i n g / C o n s u l t a t i o n r e l a t i v e t o t h e p r o p o s e d i n c r e a s e i n t h e Fe e s a n d C h a r g e s o f t h e O f f i c e o f t h e F l i g h t S u r g e o n a n d Av i a t i o n M e d i c i n e w a s p u b l i s h e d i n t w o n e w s p a p e r s o f g e n e r a l c i r c u l a t i o n , s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e M a n i l a T i m e s a n d M a n i l a S t a n d a r d To d ay o n J u n e 16 a n d 2 3 , 2 014; W H E R E A S, t h e C o m m i t t e e o n t h e R ev i s e d Fe e s a n d C h a r g e s h e l d P u b l i c H e a r i n g s / C o n s u l t a t i o n s o n t h e P r o p o s e d R a t e s o n J u l y 7 a n d 14 , 2 014 a t t h e C i v i l Av i a t i o n Tr a i n i n g C e n t e r a n d e n c o u n t e r e d n o o p p o s i t i o n f r o m t h e s t a ke h o l d e r s; W H E R E A S, p u r s u a n t t o i t s m a n d a t e u n d e r s e c t i o n 15 a n d 17 o f R e p u b l i c A c t 9 4 9 7, t h e C A A P B o a r d , af ter consultation with the Director General and af ter Public Hearings, has approved the implementation o f t h e s c h e d u l e i n c r e a s e i n f e e s a n d c h a r g e s o f O f f i c e o f t h e F l i g h t S u r g e o n a n d Av i a t i o n M e d i c i n e (O F S A M ) f o r i t s M e d i c a l , L a b o r a t o r y a n d D e n t a l S e r v i c e s , u n d e r t h e h e r e u n d e r r u l e s a n d g u i d e l i n e s; PA R T 10 D E F I N I T I O N O F T E R M S Authority CA AP CA AP Board Director General D OTC Medical, Laborator y and Dental Ser vices OFSA M

R e f e r s t o t h e C i v i l Av i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s A c r o ny m f o r C i v i l Av i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s T h e B o a r d o f t h e C i v i l Av i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s T h e D i r e c t o r G e n e r a l o f t h e C i v i l Av i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y o f t h e P h i l s . A c r o ny m f o r D e p a r t m e n t o f Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d C o m m u n i c a t i o n s R e f e r s t o m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s av a i l a b l e a t C A A P

A c r o ny m f o r O f f i c e o f t h e F l i g h t S u r g e o n a n d Av i a t i o n M e d i c i n e

PA R T I I . G E N E R A L P R O V I S I O N S S e c t i o n 1. A P P L I C A B I L I T Y The charges prescribed herein shall be applicable to all ainnen and all other persons who wish to av a i l o f m e d i c a l , l a b o r a t o r y a n d d e n t a l s e r v i c e s o f O f f i c e o f t h e F l i g h t S u r g e o n a n d Av i a t i o n M e d i c i n e (O F S A M ) . Section 2. OTHER FEES AND CHARGES The fees and charges prescribed herein shall not prejudice the right of the CA AP to impose and collect s u c h o t h e r r e a s o n a b l e c h a r g e s a s m ay b e d e t e r m i n e d by t h e D i r e c t o r G e n e r a l f o r t h e u s e o f s u c h Medical, Laborator y and Dental Ser vices. W H E R E FO R E , R E S O LV E D a s i t i s h e r e by R E S O LV E D, t h a t t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f t h e D i r e c t o r G e n e r a l t o i m p l e m e n t t h e h e r e u n d e r r ev i s e d f e e s a n d c h a r g e s o f t h e O f f i c e o f t h e F l i g h t S u r g e o n Av i a t i o n M e d i c i n e e f f e c t i v e 0 1 M a y 2 0 15 i s h e r e by A P P R O V E D, a s f o l l o w s: CA AP SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES R E L AT I V E T O M E D I C A L , L A B O R AT O RY A N D D E N TA L S E R V I C E S

Jailing of man for growing beard slammed by group BEIJING—A six-year prison sentence reportedly given to a man in China’s mainly Muslim Xinjiang region for growing a beard was “absurd”, an overseas group said Monday as accounts of the penalty disappeared online. Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the exile World Uyghur Congress, said the case was “typical of the political persecution” faced by Uighurs, the mostly Muslim, Turkicspeaking minority group that calls Xinjiang home. “This is a case that would not happen in any other country in the world,” Raxit said in a

statement. “It is unacceptable and absurd. It exposes China’s hostile attitude and crisis of governance.” He added: “If a Chinese person grows a beard, it is a personal fashion he is allowed to choose freely. If a Uighur grows a beard, he is a religious extremist. “China’s goal is to use judicial means to force Uighurs to accept Chinese people’s traditions and give up their own way of life.” On Sunday the China Youth Daily reported that a court in Xinjiang’s desert oasis city of Kashgar sentenced a 38-yearold Uighur man to six years in jail for growing a

beard, while his wife was given two years for veiling herself. The man “had started growing his beard in 2010” and his wife “wore a veil hiding her face and a burqa”, the paper said. Both practices are discouraged by local authorities. The couple were found guilty of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, a vague accusation regularly used in the Chinese judicial system. An employee of Kashgar’s propaganda department declined to confirm the report on Monday, telling AFP: “I know nothing about this.” AFP

PA R T I I I . R E P E A L I N G C L AU S E A l l p r ev i o u s O r d e r, R u l e s a n d R e g u l a t i o n s o r p a r t s t h e r e o f, w h i c h a r e i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a ny o f t h e p r o v i s i o n s h e r e o f a r e d e e m e d a m e n d e d , r ev o ke d o r m o d i f i e d a c c o r d i n g l y. PA R T I V. E F F E C T I V I T Y T h i s C i r c u l a r s h a l l t a ke e f f e c t u p o n p u b l i c a t i o n i n t w o (2) n e w s p a p e r s o f g e n e r a l c i r c u l a t i o n i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a n d t h e s a m e s h a l l b e e f f e c t i v e f i f t e e n (15) d ay s a f t e r t h e l a s t p u b l i c a t i o n . A P P R OV E D:

LT G E N W I L L I A M K . H O T C H K I S S I I I A F P ( R E T.) Director General AT T E S T E D BY:

AT T Y. A B D I E L DA N E L I JA H S . FA JA R D O C o r p o r a t e E xe c u t i v e O f f i c e V ( T S - M A R . 31, 2 015 )

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

CESAR bARRioqUinTo EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Vow to pound Yemen rebels SANAA—Saudi-led warplanes bombed Yemen’s main international airport and a renegade troop base in the capital Sunday, as Arab leaders vowed to pummel Iranianbacked rebels until they surrender.

Nuclear talks race toward deadline LAUSANNE—Foreign ministers from major powers pressed their Iranian counterpart on Monday as they sought to slot into place the final but also the trickiest pieces of a deal curtailing Teheran’s nuclear program as Tuesday’s deadline loomed. Britain’s Philip Hammond said as he became the last of the foreign ministers to arrive in a rainy Switzerland that they “believe a deal can be done”. “But it has to be a deal which puts the bomb beyond Iran’s reach,” he said. With time of the essence, US Secretary of State John Kerry, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Hammond and the top diplomats of Russia, China, France and Germany are meeting for the first time since November. They have set a deadline of midnight on Tuesday to agree the outlines of a deal that they hope will put an Iranian nuclear bomb out of reach and end a crisis that has threatened to escalate dangerously for the past 12 years. German Foreign Minister FrankWalter Steinmeier said that after 18 months of negotiations, they were in the “endgame”. Iran’s lead negotiator Abbas Aragchi said they were in the “final phase”. But Aragchi also said the talks were “very difficult” while Steinmeier cautioned that the “final meters are the most difficult”. The framework deal, if it can be hammered out, is meant to be finalized by June 30. But opponents have already been lining up to say it stops short of ensuring Iran gets the bomb. These include US President Barack Obama’s Republican opponents and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the “dangerous” deal. “I just don’t understand why we would sign an agreement with a group of people who in my opinion have no intention of keeping their word,” US House Speaker John Boehner told CNN. AFP

Duet. Singers Madonna (L) and Taylor Swift perform onstage during the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards which broadcasted live on NBC from The Shrine Auditorium on March 29 in Los Angeles. AFP

The raids on the country’s main airport came just hours after UN workers were evacuated following deadly fighting that has sent tensions soaring between Tehran and other Middle East powers. India and Pakistan also moved to airlift their citizens from the chaos-wracked country. Yemen’s President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi has urged his Arab allies to keep bombing until the Huthi Shiite rebels are defeated, branding them Iran’s “puppet”. His Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin said there could be “no negotiations and dialogue” with the rebels “until the legitimate government has control over all Yemeni lands”. Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi said at a regional summit in Egypt the offensive would last until the rebels “surrender” their weapons and withdraw from areas they seized. The Huthis and allied renegade military units have overrun much of Yemen and prompted Hadi to flee what had been his last remaining refuge in the main southern city Aden for Saudi Arabia. Dozens of people have been killed in days of clashes in Aden, dimming prospects of Hadi returning any time soon. At least 38 people were killed Sunday near the oil region of Usaylan in southern Shabwa province after tribesmen attacked rebel positions, security and tribal sources said. In the capital, witnesses reported three loud explosions and a large fire when Sanaa International Airport was bombed during a fourth night of Saudi-led air raids. “This was the first time they hit the runway” since the campaign began, an aviation source said. A civil aviation official at the airport later told AFP repair work on the runway had begun. More than 200 staff from the UN, embassies and other organizations had been flown out from Sanaa Saturday. A jumbo jet took off from Hodeida in western Yemen Sunday with nearly 500 Pakistanis on board, including Islamabad’s ambassador, officials said. India said it had received permission from the Arab coalition to airlift out its stranded citizens and would also send a ship. AFP

Cook slams ‘dangerous discrimination’

Having a good time. Guests enjoy the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards After Party on March 29 in Los Angeles. AFP

WASHINGTON—Apple chief Tim Cook slammed what he called a wave of “dangerous” laws in several US states that he said promote discrimination and erode equality, in an editorial published Sunday. Cook—one of the most prominent chief executives to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality—wrote in the Washington Post that so-called “religious freedom” laws passed in several states threaten to undo progress toward greater equality. “There’s something very dangerous happening in states across the country,” Cook wrote in the editorial. “These bills rationalize injustice by pretending to defend something many of us hold dear. They go against the very principles our nation was founded on.”

Cook’s comments follow the adoption of a controversial law in the state of Indiana last week that critics say would allow businesses to deny service to homosexuals on religious grounds. The law, which takes effect July 1, makes no mention of gays or lesbians. But activists say it makes it legal for businesses whose owners reject homosexuality on religious grounds to turn away LGBT customers. Eighteen other states have adopted similar laws, including Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas, all of which ban same-sex marriage. Cook said such laws erode fundamental rights and make no sense for business owners. “America’s business community recognized a long time ago that dis-

crimination, in all its forms, is bad for business,” he wrote. “On behalf of Apple, I’m standing up to oppose this new wave of legislation—wherever it emerges.” Cook, who was baptized as a child, said he has “great reverence for religious freedom,” but said faith should not be used as a tool to discriminate. “The days of segregation and discrimination marked by ‘Whites Only’ signs on shop doors, water fountains and restrooms must remain deep in our past,” he added. “We must never return to any semblance of that time. America must be a land of opportunity for everyone.” Cook repeated his earlier statement that “Apple is open for everyone” and said he hopes more people will join his campaign against intolerance. AFP

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

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

LIFE EASTER CANDY DREAMLAND ➜ TURN TO NEXT PAGE

TUESDAY : M ARCH 31 : 2015

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

From C1

NEW WORLD MAKATI HOTEL PRESENTS EASTER CANDY DREAMLAND Guests are invited to join the bunny hop to New World Makati Hotel’s Easter celebration. The fun for guests begins with a cool summer retreat in the comfort of plush and stylish accommodation. Starting at PHP6,000 per night for a Superior room, families enjoy complimentary Internet access, buffet breakfast for two and two tickets to the Easter Candy Dreamland activity happening in the ballroom on Sunday, 5 April 2015. Kids in their best candy costumes are invited to enter the ballroom as it turns into an entertaining Candy Dreamland with sweet surprises and activities. Guests can enjoy hearty snacks, classic confections and summer refreshments as they make their way through the various game booths and play areas, with special prizes and giveaways, plus a live performance of the most popular children’s songs of today by A-Live. Other enjoyable ways for guests to obtain tickets to the Candy Dreamland include making use of the special Easter brunch offers at the hotel’s signature restaurants. Executive Chinese Chef Wong Kam On invites families to spend fun quality time while sampling a wide variety of freshly cooked Xiao Long Bao, Barbecue Pork Puffs and other dim sum specialties at Jasmine, the only hotel restaurant in the Philippines included in The Daily Meal’s list of 101 Best Hotel Restaurants around the World in 2014. Priced at PHP1,500 per person, the unlimited dim sum lunch comes with one ticket to the ballroom activity. The Café 1228 Easter brunch offers guests an upgraded buffet experience with a healthy salad station, an imported cheese selection with gourmet appetizers, local and international cuisines, grilled specialties and mouthwatering Lechón, plus desserts for PHP2,500 per person. Two adults enjoying the Easter brunch will receive one ticket to the Candy Dreamland activity. Rates include service charge. For more information and reservations, please call 8116888. 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.

Kids can enjoy Easter egg painting at the Alice in Wonderland world at the Open Park.

Kids can dress up as their favourite storybook or fairy tale characters and join the magical Storybook Parade happening at 11a.m.

EASTWOOD CITY PRESENTS ONCE UPON AN EASTER WONDERLAND

astwood City is inviting all families and kids to start their own storybook adventure as it brings this year’s biggest and most anticipated Easter celebration, Once Upon an Easter Wonderland on April 5, 2015. Once Upon an Easter Wonderland brings to life popular children’s stories and fairy tales in seven eye-catching Storybook Worlds, each bursting with fun kiddie activities, fantastic treats and other magical surprises. The fun begins even earlier this year as registration starts at 10a.m., with the Storybook Parade happening at 11a.m. and Storybook Worlds opening at 1p.m.

START YOUR OWN MAGICAL ADVENTURE AT SEVEN STORYBOOK WORLDS

Children can kick off their storybook adventure by coming in their best fairy tale costumes and join the enchanting Storybook Parade, which starts at 11a.m. and will feature different fairy tale characters and adorable mascots including Eastwood City’s very own Easter, Woodluck, Cyburp and E-Walk. The first 100 registrants for the Storybook Parade get a free At 1p.m, children can start their journey and explore the seven Storybook Worlds. Kids can fall down the rabbit hole into a topsy-turvy world of wonders at Alice in Wonderland at the Eastwood Mall Open Park, where they can also enjoy a coloring party, create their own bunny hat and dabble in an Easter Egg painting activity. They can also watch an Alice in Wonderland: A Children’s Musical from Kids Act Philippines at 6:30p.m. They can then fly off with Peter Pan and the Pirates at the Eastwood Mall

Atrium, where they can enjoy exciting encounters with pirates. Kids can make their own Pirate Pizza, walk the shark plant and fly like Peter Pan. Young girls, meanwhile, can have a royally good time with a magical transformation and enjoy a princess make-over with jewelry making, hair and make-up bar and nail art at Cinderella’s Royal Ball at the 2nd floor of Eastwood Mall. Over at the Eastwood Central Plaza, young tykes can enter Pinocchio’s Toy Land, where gigantic fun awaits with inflatables and a Playpark. Sweets-lovers can find their way across a forest full of candy-licious delights at Hansel & Gretel’s Candy Forest. Located at Eastwood Citywalk 2, the candy forest promises bewitching fun with plenty of free sweets and a mini garden maze challenge. Kids hungry for more adventure can show their bravery at Mulan’s Adventure at the Fuente Circle. Through different activities such as archery and cultural activities like Trace your Zodiac, kids can become a legend like Mulan and learn more about Chinese culture. More enchanting adventures await kids at the Jack & the Beanstalk at Eastwood Mall Open Park Wing (near House of Wagyu). Kids can start their own heroic journey, climb a beanstalk, milk a cow, enjoy a pony ride and count golden eggs to win great treasures.

EXPLORE MORE FAIRY TALE ATTRACTIONS

After discovering the seven Storybook Worlds, children and their families can hunt for the giant Easter Eggs hidden across Eastwood City and get a chance to win exciting prizes at the Eastwood City’s

Easter Egg Hunt Online Promo. These works of art were created by art students during the Giant On the Spot Easter Egg Painting contest held last March 26, 2015. They can also watch Alice in Wonderland: A Children’s Musical, another world-class children’s musical production from Kids Acts Philippines based on classic fantasy novel by Lewis Carroll, at 6:30PM at the Eastwood Mall Open Park. Parents looking to have their children join Eastwood City’s Once Upon an Easter Wonderland can get an Easter Wonderland Storybook for only P600 at the designated registration booths on Easter Sunday. Entrance tickets are also available for purchase starting March 27 at the Eastwood Mall Concierge or from Ticketnet Online at www.ticketnet. com.ph and will entitle bearers to one Easter Wonderland Storybook. The Storybook admits one child and one adult companion and gives bearers access to the seven Storybook Worlds and to the different kiddie activities and freebies. Megaworld Citibank cardholders can also get a free entrance ticket to Once Upon an Easter Wonderland. The first 100 cardholders to present their Megaworld Citi card and one valid ID at the Eastwood Mall Concierge can get a Storybook claim stub. This stub can then be presented on Easter Sunday, April 5 at Eastwood Mall Concierge for cardholders to claim their free Storybooks. For more information on Eastwood City’s Once Upon an Easter Wonderland, please call the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Concierge at 709-9888, 7090888 or 0917-8380111 or visit www. megaworldlifestylemalls.com.

TUESDAY : M ARCH 31 : 2015

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

EXCITING EASTER EXPERIENCES AWAIT AT CITY OF DREAMS MANILA Dreamy staycation offers at Nobu paired with an Afternoon Tea experience and delectable delights complete a rewarding Holy Week Holiday

he newest integrated resort and entertainment destination by the bay -- City of Dreams Manila – offers an ideal escape nestled right within the city during the Holy Week. From luxurious staycation packages at its modern Japanese-themed hotel, Nobu, Traditional High Tea at Crystal Lounge, an Easter Interactive Station at Café Society, as well as many exciting giveaways, guests are guaranteed a memorable and pleasurable holiday.

NOBU HOTEL

City of Dreams Manila guests can immerse themselves in the Nobu experience with the Deluxe room overnight package for two at PhP 7,000 net from March 27 to April 5. Nobu Premier, Nobu Executive and Nobu Suite accommodations are priced at PhP 8,000.00, PhP 10,000.00, and PhP 15,000.00, respectively. These are inclusive of taxes and service charge and breakfast for two at the Nobu Manila restaurant.

CRYSTAL LOUNGE

Also starting March 27 until April 5 is the afternoon tea experience at Crystal Lounge, Crown Towers’ vibrant and elegantly-appointed lobby lounge. From 3pm to 6pm daily, tea aficionados can enjoy a wide selection of teas paired with savory and sweet treats with the Traditional English High Tea Package at PhP 1,180++ per person. Guests have the option to choose between English Breakfast, Earl Grey Tea, or coffee to go with sandwiches such as

Smoked Salmon, Chives and Horseradish on Brioche; Egg Mayonnaise Wrap; and Ham and Cheese Sandwich with Mustard Seed on Multigrain Bread, which will be delightfully followed by Raspberry Cheesecake; Marguerite Passion Fruit Profiterole; Egg Vanilla Caramel Macaroon; Vanilla Mango Swallow Egg Glass; Assorted Chocolate Glass; and Honey Madeleine. Pass around items include Plain, Raisin and Mandarin Scones with Clotted Cream, Wolfberry-Strawberry Jam and Orange Cinnamon Marmalade; Bunny Carrot Cake and Sacher Cake; as well as Smoked Ham Mushroom Quiche and Barbecue Pork Pastries further provide patrons with delectable choices for an enjoyable afternoon experience. During this period, Crystal Lounge will likewise offer the a la carte menu for those who wish to sample the venue’s signature selections.

CAFÉ SOCIETY

As the newest dining establishment within City of Dreams Manila, Café Society’s Eas-

ter Interactive Station will have dark, milk and white chocolate fountains where guests can skewer a selection of fruits, marshmallows and cakes as well as sprinkle their treats with various toppings for PhP 150 each. Assorted Chocolate Tablets such as Caramelized Hazelnut, Candied Orange, White Pearls; Caramelized Almond, Mini Marshmallow, Milk Pearls; and Candied Orange, Walnuts, Dark Pearls, will also be available for PhP 360 per 100 grams. Easter Chocolate Lollipops will likewise be offered at PhP 100. Café Society’s Easter Interactive Station will be open at 10am to 10pm from Sunday to Thursday and 10am to 12mn on Friday and Saturday. City of Dreams Manila is the city’s ultimate staycation destination this Easter with its exceptional accommodation and delectable dining offers. For more information, or to make hotel and restaurant reservations, guests can call (02) 8008080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com.

THE BEST BEACHES YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO BY ED BIADO

Last Friday’s edition of The Gist included the item “mainstream beaches in summer” in the list of too-trendy things that should be retired. Of course, we can’t just leave it at that without providing alternatives. So this writer got in touch with a travel expert—Agoda Philippines PR manager Charisse Vilchez—for recommendations on exciting beach destinations that remain unspoiled and perfect for muchneeded R&R this summer.

TICAO ISLAND, MASBATE

Char offers, “Known as one of the most underrated beaches in the country, Masbate has a lot to offer. Ticao Island Resorts offers a number of activities such as scuba diving, horseback riding, island tours, and even immersion in local village life.” The resort’s beach restaurant also has “a superb menu for the most discerning palate.” The Beachfront Cabana, complete with nightly full board meals, is available starting at P 4,200.

SIPALAY CITY

“Aside from diving, there are other leisure activities such as kayaking, trekking and bird watching to include in your itinerary,” Char says of one of Negros Island’s best-kept secrets. Punta Bulata White Beach Resort & Spa has a one-kilometer stretch of white sand beach and is an access point to Danjugan Island, known for its colorful marine life. Their deluxe king room with breakfast books for P3,900. If you want a room with a view of the sea, that will set you back P4,300.

SIQUIJOR ISLAND Salamangka means “magic” and the resort of the same name on the island the perfect word to describe the beautiful white sand island. The area also boasts the Natural Flowing Spring, Salagdoong Man-made Forest, Camabugahay Falls, and over 40 natural caves. Stay at Salamangka Beach and Dive Resort, “where luxury and adventure meet.” For P4,800, you can get the bay view loft while P8,000 snags you the ocean view loft.

CAGBALETE ISLAND, MAUBAN, QUEZON

More and more people are talking about the pristine beach of Cagbelete in Mauban, Quezon. Drawn by the promise of solitude and peace, travelers love walking along its quiet beaches, which are known for their unique ripples left by undulating waves. Char suggests booking a room at Dona Choleng Camping Resort, saying that the property is “perfect for big groups or couples, the property offers comfortable rooms, nice nipa cottages and even tents for the brave ones!” For the Balinese Hut good for eight, rates start at P3,200.

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 3 1 : 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

STAYING IN THE CITY: Where to go and what to do in Metro Manila for Holy Week BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

oly Week is many things. For some, it’s a few days of exchanging your (sometimes) maddening urban life for a relaxing vacation somewhere secluded and preferably a couple of miles from home and work. For others, it’s a glorious week of movie marathon or book marathon, or whatever you want to do but don’t have much time for on weekdays or weekends. For many, it’s a time for quiet reflection and meditation to attain a renewed spirit. It’s the longest break for many workers, so there’s always a pressure we impose on ourselves to make it count. But truth is, you don’t have to drive out of the metro or fly out of the country to make the most out of the holiday, because Holy Week is, perhaps, the best time to stay in the city. Fewer people, less traffic! Can’t go of town? Won’t go out of town? Indulge in the staycation packages--complete with room accommodation and Easter activities--offered by hotels in Metro Manila for Holy Week instead.

MARCO POLO ORTIGAS MANILA

Hop on the fun at the country’s first and only sky hotel, Marco Polo Ortigas, which offers room package, dining treats, and fun activities to ensure families make the most out of the long weekend. The Easter Wonder Family room package, which rates start at P5,500 net, includes a choice of lunch or breakfast buffet for two adults and two kids (ages 12 years old and below), complimentary access to the Piccolo Kids Club play area, surprise turn-down gifts for the kids, and more. This promo is available today until April 5. On Easter Sunday, the hotel will gear up for a Hop and Hunt Easter Egg Event at the Piccolo Kids Club play area at 10:00 am, while a scrumptious brunch feast--available for P2,700 net per person--awaits diners at Cucina.

INTERCONTINENTAL MANILA Take it easy and treat yourself and your family to restful stay at InterContinental Manila Hotel which Holy Week room packages only costs P3,688++, inclusive of overnight in a Deluxe Room, two complimentary tickets to the Easter egg hunt (for guests staying on April 5), and other amenities. Cafe Jeepney will be serving sumptuous brunch buffet of local and international dishes for only P1,650++ per adult.

Hearty treats in the buffet spread include sushi and sashimi, tempura, Roasted Angus Beef, whole lechon, Hot Cross Bun, Eggs Benedict, Sting Ray Bicol Express, and Belgium Mussel Stew, among others. Diners will also receive two access tickets to the egg hunt which starts at 1:00 pm at the hotel garden and poolside. For inquiries, dial 793-7000 local 771 to 772 for restaurant reservations and local 373 to 377 for room reservations.

MANILA PAVILION HOTEL The long holiday does not need to end on Easter Sunday at Manila Pavilion as its ‘Relax and Recharge’ room promo is available until May 31. Book an overnight stay or two and get a free power bank for only P3,500 nett. Alternatively, guests can get the hotel’s free signature tumbler when they choose to book a room package with ‘Slumber

Tumbler’ which rates start at P3,200 nett inclusive of international breakfast for two at Seasons and other amenities, while ‘Room Only’ package is available at P2,800 nett. Both room packages are valid until June 30.

For more information, contact (632) 720-7777 or book online via www.marcopolohotels.com

For inquiries and reservations, call 526-1212 or toll free # 1-800-10-WFRONT8 (9376688), or visit www.waterfronthotels.com.ph

HOTEL JEN MANILA

EGG-stravagant buffet and EGG-citing activities await the whole family at Hotel Jen Manila on Easter Sunday. At Latitude, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, a wide spread of international fare and children’s all-time favorites are sure to keep everyone’s energy up for a day of fun and games. Buffet (inclusive of ticket to the action-packed line-up of Easter activities) is priced at P888 nett per person for adults and P500 nett for kids 3 to 11 years old. Children are invited to embark on a creative culinary adventure on Jen’s first ever Easter Cooking Activity that includes lessons on making your own pizza, cookie decorating, Easter wrapping, and more with Executive Sous Chef Dirk Fiedler. First 20 kids to sign up will be accommodated. For those who prefer to hunt for Easter eggs, Hotel Jen has also prepared an exciting hunt plus other egg-related activities such as building nest and egg painting.

HOLIDAY INN & SUITES MAKATI Stay in and dine in at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati to celebrate Easter. Spend a night in the hotel’s Deluxe Room for P3,488++ inclusive of one complimentary ticket to the Easter Party at Flavors Restaurant. Come April 5, treat the whole family to an exciting and gastronomic party at Flavors Restaurant starting at 1:00 pm. For

DISCOVERY SUITES

From today to April 12, families who are looking for a quick escape can stay in Discovery Suites’ Junior Suite for only P4,000 nett inclusive of buffet breakfast for two, 15 percent discount on food and beverage, complimentary Wi-Fi en suite, and other amenities.

only P1,497nett per adult, half the price for kids 5 to 12 years old, and free for 4 years old and younger, the whole family can feast on Hawaiian pizza, fish nuggets with tartar sauce, mini chicken cordon bleu, and more. For more information, dial 909-0888 local 7460 to 64 for room reservations, and 7421 or 7429 for Flavors Restaurant.

And on Easter Sunday (April 5), the premier hotel in the heart of Ortigas central business district offers the Easter Delight package where guests can stay in a Junior Suites inclusive of two tickets (P750 each) to the Easter activities and egg hunt, breakfast buffet for two at Restaurant 5, complimentary Wi-Fi en suite, and more for P5,200 nett. Families staying in with kids are sure to have a great time at The Hunt for the Dragon Egg Kiddie Party on Easter Sunday at 2:00 pm. The whimsical Easter encounter will feature the hunt for colorful dragon eggs, a merienda buffet with food carts, a magic show, face painting, and fun parlor games where each child is guaranteed a winner. For inquires and reservations, please call Discovery Suites at (02) 719-8888 or e-mail dsrsvn@discovery.com.ph

DUSIT THANI MANILA

The revelries at Dusit Thani Manila on Easter Sunday have no age limit as the hotel’s grand lobby turns into the wonderful Coney Island as stilt walker cum juggler, mime artists, and a roaming magician perform spectacular acts for everyone. For inquiries and reservations, please visit www. dusit.com with promo code BESTEASTER or call 238-8888.

For inquiries and reservations, please call (632) 7958888 or email food&beverage.hjm@hoteljen.com

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

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED

isahred @ gmail.com

SOLUTIONS FOR SMALL LIVING SPACES

ith the demand for affordable housing units on the rise, developers maximized available floor space at condominium developments to the smallest possible livable space. It isn’t uncommon for some units to be as small as 18-square meters, making it a cramped one for a starting couple. ErgoHome has come up with original lifestyle solutions to customize any space according to your needs with this in mind. The company’s President and CEO Philip KC Ng says, “ErgoHome was officially launched with the introduction of the ErgoSpace home furniture line. ErgoSpace will expand your small living room into a dining room, and/or a bedroom seamlessly in seconds, all within the same area. A seamless conversion and happy living maximizing your home investment through transformable space-saving modern furniture.” Ng says it is a fact that many condo units have small spaces that make it difficult for homeowners to fit furniture in the different parts of a house. “When you have a small space, storage is a problem, and movement is a problem,” Ng added. This is the motivation behind ErgoHome’s desire to create customized furniture to address the needs of small condo unit owners. It took ErgoHome three years to perfect the design for its multi-function furniture. Ng says it took them some time to find a mechanism that is safe and easy to operate that will realize their vision. “We had to study how to hide the bed,” he admits. “For many years, we couldn’t find the right mechanism. Most folding beds use a cheap mechanism, which easily snaps back when you pull it down, making safety an issue. We are not willing to compromise our product quality in this critical area.” It was not until they found a supplier for sturdy mechanism that they were able to come up with the functional pieces of ErgoHome. “We were finally able to develop a bed that can be hidden in a cabinet. We put our thoughts into a drawing, and from there we were able to make it into furniture,” he adds. From beds in cabinets, ErgoHome also has collapsible workstations that are attached to shelving units, an entire kitchen work area and cupboard hidden inside a cabinet, and even a dining table that materializes magically from the floor. “We can expand your space to three times as much easily with just the right furniture,” he declares. Most of the furniture we have developed has multiple uses. You can use the furniture when you need it, and when you don’t need it, you can make the furniture disappear,” he explains. To provide added value to clients, ErgoHome offers free professional consultation and 3D model design, to enable you to customize and visualize your space into your dream unit before it is actually made. Free delivery and installation of your furnishings are included to take away the stress of having to assemble and fit everything by yourself. To see how ErgoHome can magically transform your condo units into a spacious haven, visit its showrooms at SM Mall of Asia (+632)831-4110, SM Megamall, Cebu and Davao and soon, SM Aura.

When you have a small space, storage is a problem, and movement is a problem – Philip KC Ng

EDITOR

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

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

REASON GENESIS’ ARTISTS SING

anila Genesis Entertainment and Management Inc. is releasing a brand new song titled “The Reason We Sing” with the Easter celebration. The song was written and originally recorded by The First Call, arranged by Albert Tamayo and produced Gary Valenciano together with Mike Jamir. “The Reason We Sing” features the combined talents of some Genesis artists led by Valenciano, Julianne Tarroja, Kiana Valenciano, RJ Dela Fuente, Jordan Escusa, Abby Asistio, Felichi Buizon, Monique Lualhati, Katrina Velarde, Jhelsea Flores, and Ashley Campbell collectively known as AKA JAM, Acel Van Ommen, Maricel Laxa, and Ella Pangilinan among others. This project aims to solidify the reason why Genesis was established in 1986, exactly 29 years ago – to create content and represent and support artists who would use their skills and talents to excel in their respective fields and glorify God. “Oftentimes people forget the Giver of gift and the season is a timely reminder that Christ came so we may be forgiven of our sins. He has shared with the world a message of redemption and the resurrection’s restorative power. He carries for every life that needs to be set free from all the challenges that the world brings,” says Angeli PangilinanValenciano, president of Genesis, who joined the artists in the video. Angeli was a member of the band, Music and Magic, which was formed in 1979 to back-up the rising star Kuh Ledesma while partner Gina Valenciano-Martinez was one of the best dancers of Hotlegs in the 80s. After 28 years of creating productions that have won awards and citations, Manila Genesis produced in 2014, projects like ARISE Gary V 3.0, co-directed by Gary himself and son Paolo, which was dubbed Concert Of The Year by PMPC Star Awards for Music, the With You album that won Best Inspirational Album at the Catholic Mass Media Awards and for Gary the Best Male Recording Artist Award at the 27th Awit Awards (his

Manny Valera of DMV HAP with Lore Reyes and Peque Gallaga

DMV HOUSE OF ACTING & PERFORMING ARTS’ 1ST ANNIVERSARY Manila Genesis artists: RJ Dela Fuente, Abby Asistio, Ella Pangilinan, Maricel Laxa, Gary Valenciano and Julianne Tarroja

12th) and also the PMPC Star Awards for Best Male Star Of The Night. His daughter Kiana, took the Most Promising Female Artist Award at Magic 89.9’s Countdown for her song “Dear Heart” while Julianne Tarroja won the Best World Music Award at the Awit for her collaboration with Sitti, “Pansamantagal” as well as Best Collaboration at the Myx Awards with Quest, for a Gab Valenciano production of the song “Digmaan.” Gab Valenciano, meantime has been rocking the international online community with his selfie videos and short films. He was honored by YouTube recently as one of the top 70 content creators of the world having contributed choreography for Beyonce’s “7/11” music video which has hit over 170 million views as well as producing and directing the latest music video of Jessica Sanchez. Monique Lualhati of the phenomenal female vocal group AKA JAM made it to the top eight vocalists in the Voice Philippines, Season 2. Other recording projects include Silence/Noise by Paolo Valenciano, Ashes To Beauty by Julie Tarroja, the Life Songs album by Felichi Pangilinan-Buizon, When I’m With You by Abby Asistio, “Step Up” by AKA JAM, “He Carries Me With His Love” by RJ Dela Fuente, and “Panyo” by Acel.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 45 46 47 50 53 54 58 62 63 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Roy Orbison song 5 Important 10 Pitch a tent 14 Diva’s rendition 15 House 16 Toward shelter 17 A throng 18 Tears to pieces 19 Pro — (in proportion) 20 Reunion invitees 22 More sassy

24 25 26 30 35 36 37 38 41 43 44

One — — kind Talking bird Cop’s wheels (2 wds.) Where to see stars Email provider Coll. credits Surfer slang On the move Letting up Steal the scene Low card

Job-ad letters Germ killer Versatile (hyph.) Shah’s land Trial VIPs Makes a pit stop (2 wds.) Tree sprites “Peanuts” girl Memory glitch Toast topper Skunk’s defense Ohio Indians Patricia of “Hud” Mouthful One-pot dinners Cartoon chipmunk

DOWN 1 The Dalai — 2 Of an historic time 3 Japanese aborigine 4 Loft 5 Fiesta music 6 Homer Simpson’s dad 7 Voight of films 8 In a weird way 9 Amber, e.g. 10 Bottom feeder 11 Jai — 12 Give out sparingly 13 Fruit tree 21 Goodell’s org.

The artists themselves together with the new media team of Genesis conceptualized the #RiseGenesis project which has for its very first attempt at group collaboration as Genepeeps, (which the artists fondly called themselves) the single project “The Reason We Sing.” “The Reason We Sing” will be officially launched on the official YouTube Channel of Genesis on Easter Sunday (April 5). Prior to the launch of the music video, which was directed by Enzo Marcos with cinematography by Zach Sycip, the YouTube site of Genesis will feature inspiring testimonials from Kiana Valenciano and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan (pride and humility, Palm Sunday); RJ Dela Fuente (fear and courage, Holy Monday); Acel Van Ommen, Ella Pangilinan, and Abby Asistio (insecurity and identity, Holy Tuesday); Jordan Escusa and AKA JAM (hatred and love, Holy Wednesday); Julianne Tarroja (betrayal and forgiveness, Maundy Thursday); Felichi Buizon (suffering and healing, Good Friday); Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano (life and death, Black Saturday); and Gary Valenciano (hope, victory, and resurrection, Easter Sunday). For more information visit Manila Genesis’ official fan page on Facebook and its official website www. manilagenesis.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

23 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 39 40 41 42 44 48 49 51 52 54 55 56 57 59 60 61 64 65

Ottoman VIP Half a couple Committee Spacious “Miami Vice” actor Bow shape Greenhouse buy Word of parting Minolta rival Sidled past From — — Z Salami sellers Hole puncher Daring Get some sun — Bradbury of sci-fi “Puppy Love” singer Gets crowned Separate Lump of jelly, say Autobahn vehicle Bagpipes player Fictional governess Courtroom bargain Recover Shoe part Crusty dessert Embroider

It’s been a year. And now DMV House of Acting and Performing Arts (DMV HAPA) celebrates its anniversary this March. Owned by celebrity manager Manny Valera, the school offers acting workshops under Direk Lore Reyes and Jo Macasa. Among the guest speakers that shared their expertise in acting were Directors Peque Gallaga, Joel lamangan, Mel Chionglo, Gil Portes, Michael de Mesa and actors Jay Manalo, Richard Quan, and Ian Veneracion. In its first year, DMV HAPA has established a reputation as a credible and prestigious acting studio with four successful batches of acting workshops graduated. Among them were Regine Angeles of ABS_CBN’s Two Wives, award-winning child actor Adrian Cabido (Tyanak) and Teejay Marquez of (Dream Dad). The school also offers Voice lessons under Teacher Tony Carpio, Zumba under ZIN Lyn Tamayo, Guitar, Piano, Flute, Violin under Teacher Roy Asuncion. DMV House of Acting and Performing Arts is suitable for people who has potential and wants to learn the craft. “DMV HAPA is truly a blessing for us. It is not only a school but a place where students can enhance their personality. I think a person with great character could go very far. We are truly grateful to all the managers, producers, and their families who supported their talents and relatives to experience DMV acting workshops. For our second year, we strive to even be better, ” says Valera. Summer classes begin on April 10. For more inquiries contact DMV HAPA at 374-1361, 861-8586, 0927-8088231.

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

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

MEAL PLANNING MADE EASY

Monterey meat shops offer the best meat in town, which mothers need in their daily preparation of meals for their families

ood preparation will be stress-free when meals are well planned. For example, you can marinate a whole Magnolia chicken way ahead in a mixture of garlic, soy sauce and kalamansi then pop into the turbo broiler one hour before your family comes home. You can also slow cook the day before a hearty stew of Monterey beef cubes with vegetables like garlic, onions, bell peppers, carrots, celery and potatoes, all available from Monterey Meatshop Plus. Properly planned meals, aside from pleasing the senses and essentially satisfying hunger, help ensure that family members meet their daily nutrient needs. Planned meals help maintain the food budget and you, as the home maker, can really enjoy quality time with loved ones because you have considered well your resources- available time, capability as a cook and what you have in your kitchen. Here is a quick guide for planning meals: 1. Start with a weekly guide and begin with dinner and lunch plans. Breakfast plans are done last. 2. To make meals interesting, make

a food pattern according to protein type - pork, beef, chicken, seafood, fish or ground meat. Dinner and lunch should not have the same type of protein for one day so if it is pork for Monday dinner then you might want to have chicken for lunch. 3. Decide on the dishes, making sure you alternate dry with saucy/soupy type of dishes. If your main dish is dry for lunch then serve something saucy/soupy for dinner. If main dish for dinner is dry on a specific day (say Monday) then plan a saucy dish for dinner the next day (Tuesday). 4. After you have identified all the main dishes for the week, you can plan for accompaniments like vegetable dishes, soup and/or sauces. 5. Once the week’s menu is ready then it is time to list down all the ingredients you will need. Be sure to check what you have leftover in your pantry and freezer to avoid overbuying. When buying meat, you must look for quality meat. Monterey pork comes from grain-fed hogs that produce healthy, lean and parasite-free meat. The beef comes from Australian cattle fattened with grain for tender and wholesome beef cuts. Monterey meat is blast-chilled to stop

the growth of bacteria and thereby maintain its freshness. It is distributed in refrigerated vans to keep the temperature constant from the plant to over 500 Monterey Meatshops all over the Philippines. In the Meatshops, the meats are kept in chillers and freezers to maintain freshness and protect it from external elements and other possible contaminants.. Monterey Meatshop Plus also carries complementary products such as Magnolia Chicken, Magnolia Brown Eggs, San Miguel Purefoods products, vegetables, sauces and condiments for that one-stop kitchen solution store for your cooking needs. Selected Monterey Meatshop Plus branches also offer basic “Paluto” services and even “Ready to Eat” viands such as Adobo. Each Meatshop is manned by a staff of butchers and merchandisers extensively trained in the Monterey Meatshop School. Monterey Meatshop butchers will help you with your purchases and even make special cuts for you, but should you wish. Consider Monterey as a tool in helping you create wonderful meals for your family members and loved ones.

TESDA’S JOEL VILLANUEVA IN A SHOWDOWN WITH CHEF BOY LOGRO from C8

A makeshift kitchen in a covered court in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Antipolo City was where a showdown happened between Secretary Joel Villanueva, director general of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and media celebrity Chef Boy Logro. Some members of entertainment media witnessed the showdown. Villanueva whipped up his signature Capuccino to match Logro’s Sizzling Salmon Steak in Mediterranean Lemon Butter Sauce, which the two shared with the audience, including members of the entertainment press as their lunch treat. The friendly culinary exhibition dubbed “Idol ko si Sec, Idol ko si Chef ” was an opportunity for Villanueva to encourage residents of the barangay to be equipped with skills to help them find profitable employment. The organizers set up a makeshift kitchen where the Villanueva and Logro whipped up their coffee concoction and signature dish. Villanueva is a certified barista, while Logro, who also finished a tech-voc course, is one of TESDA’s career ambassadors and cooking show host.

Villanueva said he hopes Logro’s achievements would inspire the youth to get into tech-voc. “From humble beginnings, Chef Boy showed us where the tech-voc route took him, and how hard work paid off,” he said. TESDA has variety of course offerings that would match the interest of the young people thinking of taking tech-voc. Villanueva also attended the mass graduation of tech-voc finishers in Antipolo City. In Cainta town, the TESDA chief also graced the ceremony recognizing some 1,000 graduates of various tech-voc courses HHHHH As travelers are gearing up to leave for the provinces this Holy Week, Rescue5, the acclaimed Emergency Response Unit of TV5, will readily provide assistance through its 24hour “Gabay Biyahe” stations located in key terminals and thoroughfares across the metro. Until April 2 (Maundy Thursday), the Rescue5 team will be stationed at the Araneta Center Bus Terminal, while on April 1 and 2, the “Gabay Biyahe” stations will be at the Shell

gasoline station in Balagtas, Bulacan, North Luzon Expressway. Aside from first aid and blood pressure monitoring, other services such as free drinking water, calls and electronic device charging will also be available, through the generous support of following partners: Araneta Center, Maynilad, One Meralco Foundation, Pilipinas Shell, Smart Communications, and Radyo5. In the meantime, TV5 also provides motorists and travelers relevant tips and helpful reminders to ensure a safe journey to their respective journeys this Holy Week through Rescue5’s “Aksyon sa Kalsada” road safety plugs, which airs regularly on TV5, Aksyon TV and Radyo5 92.3 News FM. “We continuously promote safe road travel, since most of our rescue operations involve vehicular accidents. Aside from educating our Kapatids on road safety, our team of rescuer-journalists are ready to respond to emergency situations,” shares TV5 Public Service Head Sherryl Yao. Rescue5 can be reached via its hotline 9225155, Twitter account: @ RESCUE5PH, and Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RESCUE5PH.

Test Director General Secretary Joel Villanueva and Chef Boy Logro face off at Barangay Sta. Cruz in Antipolo City after the mass graduation of tech-voc trainees.

The face off resulted to a nicely brewed cappuccino and salmon steak that was shared both by the audience and members of the entertainment media

C8 Heart Evangelista’s new man is the Japanese Uncle Tetsu, a brand of cheesecake popular in Japan and now in the Philippines.

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

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ SIMPLY RED ISAH V. RED

HEART’S NEW ‘CHIZ’

Has Heart Evangelista found a new man? Wasn’t she just married Senator Chiz Escudero? Yes, indeed, to both. Heart has a new man and he brings with him a different kind of “chiz.” The man is “Uncle Tetsu,”the 66-year-old Japanese traveller behind the Uncle Tetsu Cheese Cake that has been popular for years. Uncle Tetsu Cheese Cakes can be seen in China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and the U.S. The Uncle Tetsu brand arrived in Manila last year and has since been delighting customers with its mouthwatering cheese cakes in stores at SM Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, SM San Lazaro, SM Bacoor, SM Manila, The Podium, and Alabang Town Center. It recently opened its newest branch in SM Megamall with Heart, its brand ambassador. “The popular Japanese Cheesecake brand recognizes Heart’s gentle, elegant, and multi-dimensional image as a reflection of the light, delicate, and flexible character of its cheesecake achieved through a tradition of careful selection of the finest and freshest all-natural ingredients.” Uncle Tetsu’s popular Japanesestyle cheesecake is made with premium cheese and butter as well as farm fresh eggs and milk. There are no preservatives added and each cake is freshly baked everyday. It has an elegant flavor with just the right amount of sweetness, plus a uniquely soft and melt-in-your-mouth texture. “Uncle Tetsu Cheese Cake is just perfect,” Heart raves. “It’s totally deli-

Vice Ganda holds another concert at the Amanita Coliseum in May

With Mitzi Uy, President of Cheesecake Wor , Walter Co - President C. Walter Company, Inc. and the opening’s emcee Phoemela Baranda

Heart with Mr. Co in front of Uncle Tetsu’s at SM Megamall

cious and filling but because it’s light and fluffy, it’s not heavy on the tummy. No wonder it has remained a favorite by many people in other countries, and has been embraced just as warmly by Pinoys. I’m so glad to be its brand ambassador in the Philippines.” Heart, after the ribbon cutting and photo ops, with Uncle Tetsu’s officers, joined the members of the press who were there for her. She greeted them all with her patented smile that glowed making her an outstanding apparition in a sea of mortals in the mall. She said of her recent role as a housewife, “I am very fulfilled. It’s something different but I love it.” No, the newlyweds have not gone on a honeymoon. “We’re still planning. We don’t know yet where we’re going. We have been to Paris, so it should be in a different country,” she said. As to their plans of having babies, Heart said, “No, not yet. I have made that clear even before we got married. Perhaps in 2016.” In the meantime, she is still a working housewife. She is in StarTalk and Sunday All Stars. “I should be starting in a new soap soon. Everything is under wraps yet. I’ll tell you when it’s on,” she said before saying goodbye to us. And she reminded me, “You should be in my next exhibit. Don’t forget!” Heart is also an artist having had four exhibitions already one was in Singapore last year. ★★★★★ Vice Ganda makes a grand comeback at the Araneta Coliseum for his fourth major solo concert titled Vice, Gandang-Ganda Sa Sarili sa Araneta: Eh di Wow!” on May 22. When asked about what to expect in his upcoming concert, the Kapamilya star said that it will shock the audience with its stage set in the middle of the Big Dome and the high-tech special effects showcase. Vice said, “The concert will not just require SPG (strict parental guidance), it will be SSSSSPG.” Vice’s last show at the Araneta Coliseum was the highest-earning concert staged by a local artist for 2013, I-Vice Ganda Mo ‘Ko sa Araneta. His two previous hit concerts were The Unkabogable Concert in 2011 and May Nag-Text… Yung Totoo: Vice Ganda sa Araneta! in 2010. Vice, Gandang-Ganda Sa Sarili sa Araneta: Eh di Wow! is under the production of Star Events and ABS-CBN Events, stage direction by Paul Basinilio, TV direction by Bobet Vidanes, and musical direction by Marvin Querido. Tickets for Vice’s upcoming concert are now available at Ticketnet outlets and at the Araneta Coliseum Box Office. Simply call 911-5555 or log on to www.ticketnet.com.ph. For more information, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/starrecordsphil, Twitter. com/starrecordsph and Instagram. com/Starmusicph.

Continued on C7