The Standard - 2015 May 07 - Thursday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 79  3 Sections  32 Pages  P18  THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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AFP changes tune on Basit Usman

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PNoy leaves for Chicago, Canada

‘COMELEC’S ABAS TO DO BIDDING OF MILF’ Next page

Drill. A Japanese Coast Guard Bell helicopter lifts an “injured” pirate from a vessel during a drill between Japanese and Philippine coast guards off Manila Bay. DANNY PATA

What’s on in cinemas this week

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Restored ‘Insiang’ back in Cannes

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‘Social justice provisions in BBL need to be refined’

By Macon Ramos-araneta

THE social justice and human development provisions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) need to be refined and fine-tuned, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, one of the leaders of the Peace Council created by President Benigno Aquino III, said Wednesday.

Senate hearing. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces Chief Gregorio Pio Catapang are sworn in on Wednesday during the Senate hearing on the alleged irregularities in the procurement of equipment for the military’s modernization program. Lino SantoS

Muslim lawyers ask: Who is Sheriff Abas?

By Francisco tuyay and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

TWO days after President Aquino appointed Sheriff Abas as an elections commissioner, neither the Palace nor the Commission on Elections has released any biographical information about him, sparking speculation that his appointment was a political accommodation to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

This view came from the Muslim Bar Association of the Philippines (MBAP), which said Abas, a Comelec provincial director in Maguindanao before his new appointment, was reportedly a cousin of MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

“We do not question the appointment of the President of anyone, we just want to raise a question: why now?” said Sultan Firdausi Abbas, MBAP president.

Noting that several competent Muslims have been named to the Comelec in the past without being questioned because most of them were known to the public as effective public servants.

Of Abas, he said, “It appears he is unknown.”

Abbas added that “the little information” they had was that he was closely related to Iqbal.

The number of questions about the new commissioner

spurred Oblate priest Eliseo Mercado Jr. to crowd source information about Abas, who is known to be a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and was once a regional director of the Civil Service Commission.

“Many are asking me if I know him personally,” Mercado posted in his public query about Abas.

People who wrote in described Abas as “a young lawyer” who studied at Notre Dame University in Cotabato City, and that he was the son of Maguindanao public school principal Mildred Abas.

But even Mindanao folk wondered if there was any truth to the claim that he was Iqbal’s cousin.

Abas was appointed to the Comelec along with its new chairman, former Philippine Commission on Good Government Juan Andres Bautista, and former Cadiz City mayor

Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon, as commissioner.

On Tuesday, Abas failed to show up for the Comelec’s en banc meeting.

MBAP’s Abbas said Abas’ appointment to the Comelec seemed like a strategy to secure victory for the MILF in the parliamentary race in the Bangsamoro.

“If this is the case, then the pronouncement that this [BBL] as entered into for the benefit of the Bangsamoro and Filipinos at large for peace and for the development of the country at large in nothing but a bunch of lies,” Abbas said.

He added that if Iqbal had a hand in Abas’ appointment, this would be tantamount to nepotism.

A former Comelec chairman on Wednesday questioned Bautista’s competence to lead the poll agency.

In a report posted at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines website, former Comelec chairman Christian Monsod said Bautista may be a good lawyer but he has no background on election law.

“While he is a good lawyer, he has not been an election lawyer,” the former Comelec executive said in a CBCP News interview.

Monsod said Bautista has a good background in law as dean of the Far Eastern University’s Institute of Law and enjoys a good reputation as an honest

person, but he said being an election lawyer was a critical qualification fo the position.

Monsod also questioned if Bautista had sufficient management experience, because being Comelec chairman was “primarily a management job.”

Bautista will join six other lawyers in the Comelec, which faces a management problem rather than a legal one, Monsod said.

Asked if the new appointees would have enough time to learn the ropes, Monsod said they will have a “very short learning period.”

He also offered Bautista some unsolicited advice.

“They should immediately connect with their field organization because credible elections are delivered from the ground level,” Monsod said.

Asked what Bautista should do with the controversial automated elections, Monsod said the Comelec commissioners should consult their field personnel and let them recount their personal experiences on automation and how people feel about it.

The former Comelec chairman also said watchdogs should truly “act as watchdogs and not lapdogs”--without mentioning any names.

“I think people know who I am referring to and I call on them not to agree with everything that Comelec says,” he added.

In a report submitted to the Senate, Davide said the law is replete with references to social justice.

For example, he said, the article on the economy and patrimony provides that the “Bangsamoro government’s economic policies and programs shall be based on social justice.”

Another article on general principles and polices asserts that social justice shall be promoted in all phases of development and facets of life within the Bansamoro.

The concepts of human security and human development encompassing human rights and freedoms are also well covered by the BBL. Still, Davide said, the Peace Council recommended an additional article in the law defining social justice in accordance with the Constitution.

Davide who heads the Cluster on Constitutionality, Form and Powers of the Government, was among the private citizens tapped

by President Aquino to review and study the controversial measure.

The BBL was drafted by peace panel chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and presidential adviser on peace process Teresita Deles representing the government, and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohaquer Iqbal.

Despite provisions alluding to social justice, the Peace Council underscored the need to make the law more readable.

“The Cluster, therefore, saw only the need for some refinement and fine tuning of certain provisions,” read the report of the Peace Council which was presented by Davide on Wednesday to Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chairman of the Senate local government committee.

Davide said the Cluster recommends the inclusion of a definition of terms, such as “Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples” and “Fusaka Inged.”

Due to special concerns raised regarding these indigenous people, the Peace Concil invited tribal leaders to join cluster deliberations on their rights.

Marcos, whose committee is deliberating on the BBL, assured indigenous people their rights would be protected under the Bangsamo.

“I believe an all-inclusive peace process will be incomplete if the indigenous people are left out,” Marcos said.

He said he had met earlier with various indigenous groups to listen to their complaints and grievances.

He added that his committee would also take into account the Peace Council’s recommendations before coming out with a final draft of the law.

In its report, the Peace Council said the BBL has provided a venue for genuine representation in the Bangsamoro parliament by reserving seats for sectors on the margins who do not have the opportunity to be heard.

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Stop K-12 program, lawmakers urge SC By rey e. requejo and Macon ramos-araneta LAWMAKERS petitioned the Supreme Court Wednesday to stop the implementation of the K to 12 Law that adds two years to high school, arguing that the law is unconstitutional.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo party-list Reps. Gary Alejano and Francis Ashley Acedillo became the third group to petition the Court to strike down the school-related law.

The petitioners said the law failed to comply with the Constitution because the program was implemented without consulting the people who would be affected by the new 12-year basic education program.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Education Secretary Armin Luistro and the Department of Education were named respondents.

In their petition the lawmakers said the government implemented the program based on a “few isolated academic papers”

from private individuals, in the belief that it would benefit the country.

They also said there was the possibility of the mass termination of about 85,000 college workers because there would be no incoming college freshmen for at least two years.

There was also no attempt to study or evaluate the capacity of poor and middle-class families to pay for an additional two years in school, they said.

“Undoubtedly, many of these families and the students themselves, majority of whom live below the poverty threshold and are barely able to make both ends meet, would be compelled to forego these additional years of schooling and just drop out of school…If the respondents Luistro and Department of Education think that by just making senior high school free and available, all high school students will continue in their studies and avail of the same, their expectations are not grounded on reality,” the petition said.

Weather disturbance. A weather forecaster points to a satellite image of Tropical Storm Noul, which is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday and will be named “Dodong.” Manny PalMero

Comelec told: Consider hybrid

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE opposition bloc on Wednesday supported Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’ call to Congress and the Commission on Elections to consider using a hybrid electoral system.

Romualdez had said Congress need not amend the law because the poll automation law provides for a combination of manual and automated election systems.

House Deputy Minority Leaders Reps. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna and Silvestre Bello III also urged newly appointed Comelec chief Andres Bautista to scrap the controversial P268-million Comelec-Smartmatic contract.

Romualdez, head of the House Independent Bloc,

had earlier proposed proposed Congress must prepare for manual counting in the precinct level and automated canvassing of votes.

The opposition bloc backed Romualdez’ call even as the Comelec said partylist organizations, coalitions and new political parties had until May 8 this year to file their registration and manifestation of intent to participate in next year’s elections.

In a statement, Comelec commissioner Luie Tito Guia said the commission en banc decided to move

the deadlines to give it ample time to process applications or submissions. “[This will also] allow political parties, party-list groups and their nominees more time to reflect, decide and plan their political participation,” Guia said.

In his support to Romualdez’s advocacy, Colmenares, a lawyer, said the Makabayan Bloc, which is allied with the House minority bloc, will file a resolution “urging the Comelec to institute this [hybrid] preparations immediately.”

Bello, also a lawyer and a former justice secretary, said “it is imperative for Comelec to prepare for any eventuality because the elections should push

through as scheduled so that the will of the people will prevail.”

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, House contingent head for the minority bloc of the Commission on Appointments, also batted for the hybrid system as it follows the new election patterns in other First World democratic countries, particularly in Germany, where a reversal to manual elections was adopted because of the imperative need to ensure openness and transparency in every step of the election process.

Albano said the downside in automated elections was the lack of openness and transparency in the counting or canvass of votes and its transmission to the municipal, city, pro-

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Military changes tune on Basit Usman

By Florante S. Solmerin THE military on Wednesday said fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were the ones who killed bomb maker Adbul Basit Usman after it tussled with the rebel group over the matter.

“After our verification, we learned that Basit Usman entered an MILF area,” Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said.

“Elements from the MILF

then accosted him so he could be brought to the MILF Central Committee, but Basit Usman resisted and that triggered a firefight that resulted in his death,” Cabunoc said.

On Monday, AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. initially said that Usman’s own men could have killed him because of the bounty on his head.

He said the infighting over the $1-million reward from the United States government and the P6.3 million reward from

the Philippine government for Usman’s capture could have triggered a shootout among his men, and that led to Usman’s death and the death of five other people.

He said the shootout took place before noon on May 3 in Muti vilage in Guindulungan, Maguindanao. But he did not directly dismiss the possibility that Usman was killed in a firefight between MILF forces who responded to the burst of gunfire because of the shootout.

vincial and national board of canvassers.

“No one really knows what the count is after the voting at the precinct level until these so-called automated results are finally released to the public,” Albano said.

Earlier, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. vowed to call an all-party caucus as earlier proposed by Romualdez to help the Comelec prevent a no-election scenario next year.

“We need to consult and put together all possible options we can have and take the best choice or decision to ensure that noelection scenario in next year’s midterm polls will not happen,” Romualdez said earlier. With Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC In compliance with the Memorandum Order dated 03 April 1998 of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), BAYANTEL publishes herewith its applicable Foreign Currency Adjustment (FCA) to be collected from BAYANTEL subscribers of its local exchange service. The FCA shall be added to BAYANTEL’s approved Monthly Recurring Rate (MRR) under Case No. 95-390, as modified under Case No. 97-055.

LOCAL SERVICE RATES (In Philippine Peso)

Effective 18 MAY, 2015

FCA

RES

BUS

Trunk 1 & 2

Trunk 3 & up

211.77

445.18

892.69

587.31

NTC Determined FX rate (for February 2015): P44.60 to US$1.00

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NBI closes in on drug ring

By Rey E. Requejo and Sandy Araneta THE alleged recruiters of Mary Jane Veloso, the overseas Filipino worker whose execution in Indonesia for drug smuggling has been suspended, may have been providing drug mules to a West African narcotics syndicate since 2011, according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Hope in words. Two young Cebuano boys wait for their turn to get inside the M/V Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating a, which returned to Cebu after three years. The vessel carries 5,000 books from 60 countries which are for sale at a discounted price. RALPH PIEZAS

UP failed to use DAP funds properly

By Rio N. Araja DESPITE funds from the Disbursement Acceleration Program, the University of the Philippines was not able to upgrade and modernize facilities in its campuses in Quezon City, Manila, Los Baños, Cebu, Mindanao and the Visayas in 2012, according to the Commission on Audit.

In a report released yesterday, the COA said the low utilization of funds resulted in failure to complete 46 infrastructure projects of UP system, such as the construction of new buildings and renovation.

Out of the P1.290 billion received by UP from the Commission on Higher Education, only P361.8 million was spent as of Dec. 31, 2013.

“The slow implementation resulted in unspent funds of P928.7 million, contrary to the DAP’s objective of fast tracking expenditures to improve the country’s

competitiveness,” the report read.

Delays in the completion of different projects in various campuses “deprived the government of the benefits the projects could have offered.”

The state university received P1.8 billion in DAP funds in 2011 up to 2013, including P1.2 billion from CHED for the implementation of 46 infrastructure projects.

Because of the university’s delay or a snail-paced procurement process, only a minimal 28 percent or P361.8 million was used.

Based on submitted proposals for the 46 infrastructure projects, UP’s Diliman, Los Banos, Open University, Mindanao, Manila, Baguio City, Cebu City, and Visayas campuses were supposed to benefit from DAP. Also supposed to be included were the university’s system administration and general hospital, a P197.9-million faculty and staff housing project and purchase of magnetic resonance imag-

ing and CT scan devices “and other urgently needed equipment.”

According to CoA, the university’s two-nationwide disaster risk, exposure, assessment and mitigation (DREAM) project failed to completely use its P437million allocation.

“Initial evaluation of the accomplishment reports as of Dec. 31, 2013, after 23 months of project implementation, disclosed fund utilization of P389,758,781.79 or 89 percent out of the P437,571,250.04 project fund,” CoA said.

The COA recommended that UP evaluate the extent of implementation of the projects and expedite the implementation of projects already in the pipeline before the issuance of the Supreme Court’s nullification of DAP. It also urged officials and research project proponents to identify and evaluate the deficiencies in project implementation and arrest the causes of delays.

“It appears that [Ma. Kristina Sergio] and [her boyfriend Julius] Lacanilao have been in the radar of the [National Bureau of Investigation] since 2011,” De Lima told reporters on Wednesday.

She said the couple and a West African identified only as “Ike” started as drug couriers or drug mules and later on became recruiters.

De Lima said records of the NBI revealed that the two allegedly smuggled illegal drugs to Malaysia and there is a “strong indication” that Ike is a member of a West African drug syndicate involved in smuggling heroin to several countries.

De Lima said she will inform the Indonesian government of this development in the formal request to access Veloso.

“The teams could possibly go to Indonesia and Malaysia to pursue this lead,” she added.

In fact, De Lima said more 10 more victims of Sergio and Lacanilao have surfaced and filed charges of human trafficking and illegal recruitment against them before the NBI. The two were already charged before the DOJ in connection to Veloso’s case.

After being placed under protective custody of PNP, they were put under arrest last Tuesday and brought to the DOJ for inquest proceedings since their alleged offenses are considered as “continuing crimes.”

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, chief of the DOJ’s prosecutorial arm, said a resolution on the charges against the two would be released Thursday.

Meanwhile, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. maintained that the government continues to work for a permanent reprieve or commutation of Veloso’s death sentence.

Coloma said President Benigno Aquino III is not angry at Mary Jane’s mother Celia for claiming that the government failed to work for Mary Jane’s acquittal over the past five years and only attended to her case at the last moment.

Aquino off to 4-day US, Canada trip

By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III left the country on Wednesday for a working visit to the United States and a state visit to Canada, vowing to bring more trade and investments, promote a more open and stronger trade relations, and attract more tourists to the Philippines.

In his departure speech, Aquino stressed that “both these huge economies are our partners in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and, as the host-economy of APEC this year, we intend to advance a more open, more stable and more positive transformation market in the Asia-Pacific. ” “We will take this oppor-

tunity to further strengthen our efforts towards a common goal as well as generate interests from businessmen of the United States and Canada to expand their investments in our country,” said Aquino.

Aquino, who is leading a 98-member delegation, said his first stop will be in Chicago, for a brief but a successful working visit, on May 6.

He will meet with heads of big companies, including those from the US Chamber of Commerce and US-ASEAN Business Council.

The President noted that the United States is the third major trading partner of the Philippines, and the Philippines intends to strengthen its trade with the US.

“Now that the economies of our two countries are booming, we will express our preparedness to make the most of being with them and show that the Philippines is truly more open for business,” said Aquino.

He will also meet the Filipinos community in Chicago.

“We were informed Chicago has the largest population of Filipinos in the Midwest United States.”

“Of course, we will gift them with the good news borne of the reforms we have initiated over more than four years. We will tell them that the Philippines is really different and we will surely achieve our high hopes by continuously adhering to good governance,” related Aquino.

Anxious mother. Cecilia Veloso, mother of death convict Mary Jane Voloso, gets emotional during a liturgical thanksgiving at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. MANNY PALMERO

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Shipping trade lib okayed on 2nd reading

By Maricel V. Cruz

Sea-jacking scenario. Philippine Coastguards board a ship during a simulation of a sea jacking scenario as part of the combined PhilippineJapan maritime exercise off Manila Bay on May 6, 2015. A dozen of coastguards from China, Australia, and Vietnam observed the combined exercise aimed at interoperability. AFP

Napoles’ lawyer takes the fall; arrest order lifted

By Rio N. Araja THE Court of Tax Appeals has lifted the arrest warrant of arrest it issued on Jeane Catherine Napoles for failure to attend her arraignment on a P17.46-million tax evasion case.

The tax court’s Third Division granted the urgent motion filed by Napoles’ lawyer, Stephen David, to lift the arrest order and reinstate her P25,000 bail bond.

The court earlier forfeited Napoles’s bail and issued a bench arrest warrant for snubbing her arraignment on April 29.

David said he would ensure that Napoles would attend legal proceedings.

“I advised her not to appear before this court as it was my honest belief that the arraignment will not push through due

to our pending motion, he said. he took the blame for Napoles’ non-appearance, saying she was just within the premises of CTA in Quezon City.

The court has yet to resolve the motion for judicial determination of probable cause of Napoles, daughter of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles accused of plunder and graft for alleged involvement in the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam.

“Under my solemn oath, I would like to inform you that Napoles intended to attend her

arraignment. In fact, she was already within the premises of the CTA compound when I told her not to go as it was my honest belief that the hearing will be cancelled,” David said.

“She was residing in the United States but she decided to came her to face the charges. It only shows that she has no intention of disobeying the court.”

Associate Justice Lovell Bautista asked David why he must not be sanctioned for such act.

David pleaded not to be fined and apologized. he told the tax court that Napoles would appear on her arraignment on May 27.

Last year, the justice department sued the younger Napoles for tax evasion over failure to pay over P17 million in taxes for ownership of pieces of property in the US and the Philippines.

Because of non-settlement, her

tax deficiency ballooned to P32 million.

In another development, the Court of Tax Appeals reset the arraignment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona for the seventh time on six counts of tax evasion.

The suits stemmed from Corona’s failure to include in his statement of assets and liabilities (SALN) his condominium unit and property at Fort Bonifacio.

The government alleged Corona did not pay his taxes worth P120,498,219.52, inclusive of surcharges and interest for nine years.

• Oriental Mindoro Gov. alfonso Umali asked the antigraft court to reverse its April 20, 2015 decision finding him guilty of graft, saying the court made a mistake.

• Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla wants to go through a medical checkup at the PNP General Hospital due to pain on his back and heels.

The house of Representatives approved on second reading Tuesday night an administration measure seeking to liberalize the entry of foreign vessels between ports in the country.

In a viva voce voting, the house approved house Bill 5610 or an act allowing foreign vessels to transport and co-load foreign cargoes for domestic transshipment and for other purposes.

One of principal authors of the measure, Las Piñas City Rep. Mark Villar, chair of the house committee on trade and industry, said that liberalizing the carriage of cargoes by foreign vessels within Philippine waters would benefit the Filipino people.

“Various studies showed that the high cost of domestic shipping services is attributed to the lack of meaningful competition in the industry. In fact, recent data from the Maritime Transport Authority provide evidence of concentration of domestic operation in the hands of few players, and this lack of competition is exacerbated by a restrictive cabotage policy as foreign vessels are not allowed to engage in inter-island shipping,” Villar said.

Another author of the measure, party list Rep. Sharon Garin, vice chair of the house committee on ways and means, said that measure also favors the local traders and consumers as they benefit from lower cost of domestic shipping services with the approval of the bill.

Garin said the measure intends to promote competition in the shipping industry by allowing foreign vessels to transport passengers and cargoes between ports within the country’s waters.

The co-loading refers to arrangements between two or more international or domestic sea carriers, whereby a sea carrier bound for a specified destination agrees to load, transport and unload the container van cargo of another carrier bound for the same destination.

Repair work no sin vs UN law—DFA

By Vito Barcelo The Department of Foreign Affairs admitted that the Philippines did some minor “repairs and maintenance” works in the occupied islet in the disputed West Philippine Sea, but clarified it was done within the country’s exclusive economic zone allowed under the international law.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said that it was merely maintenance and renovation works of the airstrip on Zhongye Dao or Pagasa islet, adding the structures were built before the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002.

“It is within the country’s exclusive economic zone which is allowed under international law unlike the massive land reclamations by China which are far from its

territory and grossly violates the law,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said that the structures were built after the DOC but repairs and maintenance are allowed.

“Massive reclamation is not. Building on features in terms of massive reclamation is not allowed. That is in violation of not only the DOC but the UNCLOS,” he said.

The DFA official made the statement in response to China’s allegation that the Philippine has carried out massive construction on these islands and reefs for years, building military and civilian facilities such as airports, docks and barracks.

The Philippines has occupied 10 islands and reefs in the disputed Spratly islands off the South China Sea, the biggest being Pag-asa Island, where troops and civilian villagers have lived for many years.

Folklore. Philippine mythical characters are featured in the latest souvenir stamps that

are sold for P150 apiece. Filipino folk literature abounds with stories of nuno sa punso (goblin of the mound), sirena (mermaid), Si Malakas at Maganda and diwata (fairy).

DANNY PATA

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Pag-IBIG Fund going paper-less

Floating bookstore. MV Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating bookstore, attracts visitors in Cebu. The ship has over 5000 titles to choose from and staff from 60 countries to entertain the Cebuanos and tourists. Ralph piezas

Block Internet predators—priest By sara susanne D. Fabunan

InstallIng computer filters could mean more innocent lives saved from cyber pedophiles and sexual predators, an Irish missionary said on Wednesday.

Irish missionary Fr. Shay Cullen who is based in Olongapo City lamented in a statement that the local telecommunication firms ignore a requirement to install computer filters, even as news of sex crimes against minors shock the Filipino public daily.

“They have made no statement of compliance with the law …

Horrific crimes against children are being done and continue daily over the internet. Filters have not been set up or installed as the law says,” Cullen said.

“Child and adult pornography is available to children daily on their pads and cell phones. The dirty

work of Australian Peter Scully and his local helpers was made possible because of uncontrolled internet access,” Cullen said.

The priest, who also serves as founding chair of Preda -- a foundation fighting for the protection of women and children from sex slavery since 1969 as well for the promotion of human rights, peace, and nonviolence in the Philippines, blasted telcos for their failure to comply with the Anti-Child Pornography Law of 2009.

The law explicitly orders the Internet service providers (ISPs) to install a software to block the transmission of child porn images and videos showing kids forced to do live sexual

acts on camera, Cullen said.

“Criminal pedophiles pay to watch children being abused and raped. Some order they be tortured and killed,” he said.

The Columban missionary wondered why officials of the National Telecommunication Commission are “looking the other way” in their refusal to enforce the law.

“Now, we see the likely result of this connivance and colluding between big business and government officials … The dirty work of Australian Peter Scully and his local helpers was possible because of uncontrolled internet access,” he reiterated.

Cullen said Australian Peter Scully produced videos of a screaming 18-month old child being tortured and murdered.

“You need to be of strong heart if you watch it,” he added.

Sec. 5 of R.A. 9775 enumerates the duties of an Internet Service

Provider (ISP) as follows: (a) Prevent access or transmittal of child pornography materials by any person and shall install a blocking system to prevent access to such materials; (b) Within seven days, report the presence thereof, as well as the particulars of the person maintaining, hosting, distributing or in any manner contributing to the Internet address, to the proper authorities; and (c) Preserve such evidence for purposes of investigation and prosecution by relevant authorities.

It specifies that an ISP shall, upon the request of proper authorities, furnish the particulars of users who gained or attempted to gain access to an Internet address, which contains child pornography materials, adding that an ISP that will knowingly, willfully and intentionally violate the provision will be penalized accordingly.

Pag-IBIG Fund President and Chief Executive Officer Darlene Marie Berberabe has clarified some concerns against the move of Pag-IBIG to do paperless/checkless transactions in the Fund’s multi-purpose loan program. Previously, an MPL was disbursed through checks.

The move now is towards issuance of cashcards where the loan proceeds will be credited so that the member need not go back to PagIBIG offices to claim the check and to go to a bank to encash the check, Berberabe said.

The objective of Pag-IBIG in these checkless multi-purpose loan transactions, Berberabe explained, is to provide convenience to Pag-IBIG members and security of the transaction.

Second, the more efficient process also means savings in transportation cost for the member. Third, the checkless transaction reduces the prevalence of other people making business out of re-discounting the checks, or even the loss of checks. Fourth, Pag-IBIG is compliant with the national government’s initiative towards electronic transactions for convenience, safety and security.

Berberabe made the clarification amidst reports that some employees in the private sector are complaining of the new policy of Pag-IBIG to issue either a Land Bank Cash Card or Citibank Prepaid Card—depending on the preference of the member— for the proceeds of a Pag-IBIG member’s MPL loan. The news report cited the need for an employee to take a leave of absence from work to open an account with either Land Bank or Citibank branch.

Berberabe said, however, that the information is not accurate as the member only needs to fill up the application form for his chosen card and submit it together with the MPL application form at the Pag-IBIG branch where the loan is filed, then Pag-IBIG Fund does the rest of the process.

She said that account opening in the banks is not needed. The cashcard is a pre-paid or debit card.

“The checkless transaction is beneficial to Pag-IBIG members in many ways. The loan proceeds is directly credited to the Cashcard or Prepaid card, thus, saving a 3-day time for check clearing in banks. They also save cost in transportation going to the Pag-IBIG branch to pick up the check, which is part of the previous process. Pag-IBIG members may also directly use the Card at thousands of merchants nationwide that have point-of-sales terminals, to pay for their purchases,” Berberabe said.

‘Tap LGUs to stop rail theft’

By Macon araneta

Flights diverted. Four commercial flights were diverted or rescheduled on Tuesday

evening due to a problem in the air traffic facility at Clark International Airport. Flights of Tiger Air from Singapore and Seair were diverted to the NAIA terminal while flights of Cebu Pacific and Asiana Airlines from Seoul were re-timed and landed at Clark Wednesday morning. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said that the Doppler Very High Frequency Omni-Range navigational guidance system bogged down. eRiC apOlONiO

THE Philippine National Railways should study the possibility of asking the help of local government units (LGUs) to prevent heft of railroad tracks, Senator Cynthia A. Villar said on Wednesday.

PNR officials have earlier admitted that informal settlers living near the railroad likely stole track materials and sold these.

Villar noted that rail tracks are vital public installation that should be secured at all times.

She said some metal

parts of the tracks have been stolen, which could be the cause for the rails to be detached.

“It will work for the benefit of constituents when LGU officials help secure rail tracks servicing their district,” she added.

If PNR cannot deploy manpower to patrol its tracks, local police assistance is needed to secure the railways, especially the ones in populated areas, she said.

The senator, chair of the senate committee on government enterprises, said the PNR should also look into the way they conduct

routine inspections to assess the structural integrity of the tracks, bridges and station facilities.

“Is this handled by competent people? How frequent do they conduct inspection of the tracks?” she asked.

She backed the decision of the PNR to temporarily suspend its operations to make way for a thorough inspection of the railroad tracks.

While it will cause inconvenience to the riding public, she said inspection is needed while an extensive investigation is underway.

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news

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15 recall bets in Puerto quit race, claim they were duped

Under repair. The bell tower of Cebu City’s Basilica Minore del Santo Niño that has stood since the 1500s is under repair. It was destroyed during the October 2013 earthquake; city officials are restoring it using its original stones. RALPH PIEZAS

Cebu board suspends town mayor; vice mayor takes over CEBU CITY—Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica on Tuesday assumed his position as acting mayor of the southern Cebu town of Dumanjug after the Cebu Provincial Board placed Mayor Nelson Garcia under suspension for six months for abuse of authority and misconduct in office.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said the suspension of Garcia was implemented on Monday.

The order was served by Cebu

Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega, together with personnel from the Cebu Provincial Police Office, past 3 p.m. in Garcia’s office.

The order was received by Garcia’s secretary because he was not around when the Cebu Capitol team arrived.

“In light of the foregoing, respondent Mayor Nelson Gamaliel Garcia of the Municipality of Dumanjug, Cebu is hereby directed

to comply with the decision of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu suspending him from office for six months effective upon receipt of this Order, and, thus, enjoined from performing the duties and discharging the functions of his office during his suspension,” read Davide’s two-page order.

Garcia filed a motion for reconsideration on the decision of the PB but was denied during its regular

session last week.

Garcia said he would appeal for Davide to reconsider his order, because he believed that the governor was only deceived by the PB. He said he would also be filing an appeal with the Office of the President on the decision rendered by the PB. Davide said Garcia’s appeal with the Office of the President does not prevent the decision to become executory. PNA

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Fifteen of the 46 mayoralty candidates for the May 8 recall election in this city withdrew their certificates of candidacy with the Commission on Elections last Tuesday, saying “they were duped and did not know they were running for mayor at all.”

The 15 candidates from barangay Bancao-bancao claimed they were deceived by some individuals who had prodded them to sign documents, purportedly from a pro-poor organization that would provide them some benefits.

Mary Grace Fontanilla, the group’s spokesperson, said: “a certain Luan approached us last April 21, gave us forms from a pro-poor organization granting benefits to indigent families and told us to go to the City Coliseum the next day.”

At the city coliseum, Fontanilla said they were given certificates of residency and told to sign a form with documentary stamps that were thereafter filed at the city Comelec office.

Fontanilla said they were even told to change their family names if they started with letters A and B. Others were ordered to adopt their maiden names or the middle names of their husbands in the submitted forms.

Afterwards, they were told to wait in a room where they waited for two hours and later given P500 each, “pamasahe daw po namin pauwi,” (for transport fare going home)” Fontanilla added.

After three days, they were surprised to hear over a local radio that they could be jailed because of the forms they filed at Comelec. They were shocked to know that they were running for mayor in the May 8 recall election, Fontanilla said.

To straighten things out, Fontanilla said they sought the help of their barangay chairman who provided legal assistance.

The Comelec said it was ready for the recall elections, deploying almost 400 Philippine National Police and Marines, said Comelec commissioner Arthur Lim.

Fire guts central market in South Cotabato town

Home bound. Fishermen on small boats sail home to the shores of Medina, Misamis Oriental after an overnight fishing trip on Camiguin island. At the background is Mount Hibok Hibok. OMAR MANGORSI

AT LEAST P5 million worth of property was lost after part of the central public market of Surallah town in South Cotabato was razed by fire early Wednesday morning.

Fire Senior Inspector Rupert Christian Balicol, Surallah fire marshal, said the blaze, which broke out past 3 a.m., gutted some 15 stalls selling dry goods, textiles, rice and school supplies.

“Based on our initial assessment, about 25 percent of the entire market area was destroyed,” he said in a radio interview.

Balicol said they immediately responded after receiving a fire call around 3:30 a.m. and declared the fire out an hour later.

The fire “originated from two textile and dry goods outlets and spread quickly to the other stalls,” he said.

Aggravating the situation, he said, were liquefied petroleum gas tanks and even pyrotechnic devices in some of the stalls.

Among the possible causes they are looking at were faulty electrical connections, a candle,or even arson.

Balicol also said their initial damage estimate only covered the destroyed stalls. “We’re still waiting for the damage declarations from the affected stall owners.” PNA

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OPINION [ EDI TORI A L ]

APOLOGIES CELIA Veloso, the mother of Mary Jane Veloso, is speaking more calmly now.

Mixed reactions greeted her family’s return from Indonesia on May 1, after they received the good news that Mary Jane’s execution had been deferred. The mother proceeded to attend a Labor Day gathering and expressed her anger and disgust at the Philippine government for its inaction on her daughter’s case.

Immediately, the Veloso family seemed to lose the public sympathy they had enjoyed just the day before, when Filipinos were united in hoping that Mary Jane’s life would be spared. After Mrs. Veloso’s remarks at the rally, citizens on social media called her an ingrate; the sentiment was that she was a fool for saying what she did because her daughter was not yet completely out of trouble.

Others allege that militants had incited the beleaguered woman into saying those “ungrateful” words, even after top government officials did what they could to spare the migrant worker’s life. President Aquino did speak with his counterpart, Indonesian president Joko Widodo.

In the end, Mrs. Veloso apologized for her outburst and said she only acted that way because of the severe stress she had undergone in the past few months. She had perhaps been reminded that she should never antagonize the people who could do something to bolster her daughter’s case.

But only a person incapable of empathy will tag the old woman an ingrate. Imagine the past five years for her and her entire family. Even if she were mouthing unkind words, the knowledge of her extended ordeal – as a mother and grandmother – should have been enough to let her words pass.

The Philippine government has assured the Veloso family of its continued efforts, all in view of eventually proving that she was a mere trafficking victim and not part of any drug ring. Her alleged recruiter, Maria Cristina Sergio, is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.

There are several others who have come forward to say they have similarly dealt with Sergio.

Apologies must be made for the apparent lack of urgency shown in the earlier stages of Mary Jane’s case. Apologies should be offered for the credit grabbing and the attempt to make it appear as though the temporary reprieve was the handiwork of one man. Finally, apologies should be made for the greater sin of not creating conditions good enough such that workers have to go out of the country and take insane risks just to earn money and provide for the family.

But there should be no apologies for the feeling of hurt, betrayal and neglect by those who expected their government to help them, but were left holding the bag.

THE MISSING ABAS LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES FOR all I know, the Aquino administration has decided to go to extremes with its policy that it doesn’t matter what the real names of the Moros it deals with are. But to name an elections commissioner who is not only unknown and who carries a suspiciously familiar name but who is also invisible may be taking this “alias” thing a bit too far.

And yes, I get that the

Commission on Elections has always had a Muslim commissioner ever since President Ferdinand Marcos named Liningding Pangandaman to the poll agency in 1973. But previous Muslim election commissioners were definitely more prominent – and certainly more visible – than Sheriff Abas, one of the three new commissioners named to Comelec by President Noynoy Aquino.

The virtual invisibility, both before his appointment and since, of Abas has spawned speculations about the true purpose of putting him there.

After all, when even James Jimenez, the Comelec spokesman, says he has no idea of who Abas is – or even where he can be found, because he did not appear on the first day that he was supposed to work – you really have to wonder.

Malacañang was no help at all in the matter of shedding light on Abas, either. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma admitted, in a text message, that he has “no information” about the missing new commissioner.

This newspaper, upon investigation, found that Abas was supposedly a regional

If it is true that Abas is closely associated with the MILF, then his appointment becomes even more suspect.

director of the Civil Service Commission and former chairman of the Bangsamoro Business Club, a group that first emerged after the signing of the government’s

Framework Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Abas is also said to be from Cotabato City, and is reportedly known to have conducted election-related seminars to officials of the MILF. (There appears to be no truth to reports that the new commissioner, as one newspaper reported, is a nephew of MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, who is also allegedly known as Datucan Abas. For the matter of that, the alias-loving Iqbal himself has never admitted that his surname is Abas – or what his full name really is, at this late date.)

But if it is true that Abas is closely associated with the MILF, the Aquino adminis-

T H U R S D AY : M AY 7, 2 0 1 5 T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

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OPINION OPINION

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ADELLECHUA CHUA ADELLE CHUA ADELLE EDITOR EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph M O N D AY, A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 5 lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

EDITOR

VIEWFROM FROM VIEW MALCOM MALCOM ATTY.HARRY HARRY ATTY. ROQUE JR. ROQUE JR.

THE HAS OUR DIVIDE ON COMMISSION FREEDOM ON HUMAN OF RIGHTS EXPRESSION MADE A DIFFERENCE?

[ EDI TORI A L ]

SEVILLA’S GENIE

EMBLEMATIC of the hypocrisy and mismanagement that have become the hallmarks of this administration, the chief of the Bureau of Customs, John Phillip Sevilla, resigned last week with disturbing allegations AN INTERESTING development of political pressure and attempts to turn his agency into a milking cow to raise campaign funds for favored in media law is the widening gap becandidates in the 2016 elections. tween American and European jurisSevilla was the third Customs commissioner HANOI, am in capital of diction Vietnam—I on three areas of the freedom of to leave the agency under the administration of Vietnam as a privacy, resourcehate person in a and semiexpression: speech liPresident Benigno Aquino III, who has made the fight nar on “National Human Rights Comabilities for Internet service providers. against corruption the touchstone of his leadership. missions: Experiences from the Region” On the issue of privacy, American Sevilla’s two predecessors had left the bureau amid sponsored by theinsists Konrad jurisprudence thatAdenaer public Stifperallegations of corruption, tarnishing Mr. Aquino’s claims tung. I accepted the invitation because of sons, or celebrities, have given the of good governance. Sevilla took over in December 2013 a long desire to evaluate the affectivity of public a right to inquire even into with the promise of cleaning up what is widely perceived our own Commission of Human Rights theiritsprivate lives. The Europeans, on as the most corrupt agency in the bureaucracy. since establishment through the 1987 the other hand, insist that celebrities That promise came crashing down less than two Constitution 28 years ago. This invitation such gave as Princess of Monaco years later with Sevilla’s resignation. finally me to theCaroline opportunity to finalsupermodel Naomi Campbell are In announcing his resignation, Sevilla said he was lyand conduct this long-delayed study. entitled to some sort parbeing pressured to appoint certain people to “very The starting point hasoftoprivacy, be the very ticularly where aspects of theirthat private sensitive” positions ahead of the 2016 elections, and high expectations of the people the admitted that he could not finish the job of ending lives will do not to protect any debate CHR help contribute promote and hucorruption at the bureau. man rightsissues. in the country when they on public “I don’t compromise on morality,” the resigning created it inspeech, the Constitution Its On hate Americanitself. jurisdicCustoms chief said. “The law is clear on what is first Chairperson Bautista, tion,head, adopted by us, Mary maintains that allowed and [what is] not.” should be ofcredited for safeguarding the because the primacy that we have In its first statement following the resignation, the independence of the constitutional body accorded to freedom of expression, Palace conspicuously ignored Sevilla’s allegations, from political interference.

Congress thenis the only limitation on free speech and simply announced his replacement, a person took the appointment of the Chair and where there is a clear and present dancomments on FB posts—manythe of Commissioners BBL, underscored theCommission moral right from the private sector with extensive interests of the ger of that the state a rightNone to prethem betray the pathetic ignorance a State to itshas integrity. of in several brokerage-related companies. A Palace should be submitted for conformation vent.

European jurisprudence, on the PENSÉES behind them. But again, they to are the these points of social justice theory spokesman assured the public that there would be Commission on Appointments. other hand, has been less tolerant of red flags that invite close scrutiny,Rightfully if and moral theology were addressed no conflict of interest, as the new Customs chief, so, the Supreme Court ruled FR. RANHILIO hate speech.

In Wingrove vs.

UK, the only because, in their sheer irratioby the posted comments.

The Alberto D. Lina, would divest himself of his interest that Chairperson Bautista and her comCALLANGAN European Court athose decision of nality, they sound the alarm to the in his brokerage company—but said nothing of his bishops were rather reminded that missioners were notupheld among public AQUINO a local court to were orderpedophiles. theneeded removal of holdings in at least 10 other corporations. intellectual bankruptcy that makes officers whose appointments consome priests They an anti-Muslim In shameanothThe announcement did little to engender firmation Congress.

Thisit insulated the werebyalso toldtarpaulin. that was FIRST, a disclaimer. One national er case, members Otto-Preminger Institute v. confidence. chair andfor thebeen Commission ful them to of have involved daily, through an online post, atAre we expected to believe that Sevilla’s replacement from political interference.

Austria, samescandal. It human rights court in thethe Pajero would be tributed to me the statement that would truly divest himself of all his lucrative The Constitution enumerates powless bothersome merely to the laugh off banned the showing of a film that apthe Chief Justice had, in effect, prebusiness interests to take a job in the government ers ofsuch theto Commission.

These include the obvious illogicality, but if this peared be anti-Christian although judged the Binay case by her line of We can and oughtpower in an administration with only a year left? Or is his investigate, the power issue is to how our ortoa of good it allowed the countrymen, public reading its questioning at the oral argument. appointment part of efforts that Sevilla resisted to summons, cite in contempt andbetter, powerfail to part In of them, reason (or, to raise the bar of script. both cases, the European I made no such statement. Somemake sure the ruling party stays in power after 2016? ask assistance fromthat any branch of governto of do Human so!), demonstration of Court Rights did not use one did call me up however for public discourse and Aquino’s first Customs commissioner, who ment.

Here, we have a serious obstacle in a dreadful want in thoughtfulness the clear and present test. Instead, it an interview on the subject. I gave resigned under a cloud of suspicion when 2,000 task ofreasonability evaluating performance set more stringentthe and should make of us opted for a less strictthe test, the so-called him onIy curt replies though he container vans vanished from the bureau in 2011, the Commission.

For while the courts and fearful of democracy’s future inthree-pronged test, that is, speech may standards for the DOJ did attempt, by leading questions, was a close associate of Lina. whose performance may prevails, be meadeed.

When be infringed if irrationality there is a law, it has to make me agree with him on Lina was also Customs chief during the previous sured in terms on of case disposal and/if or its exchange in public anything frightful is possible! a legitimate governmental purpose, this assessment—an enticement I administration, before he left abruptly as part of the conviction rate, the CHR can only investiin broad strokes the hisspaces. andbut if itTracing is proportional to the purpose steadfastly resisted. I made clear: “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who abandoned the gate to prosecute. toryhas ofno thepower condonation doctrine in sought beofpromoted.

I did not think it was right for me Arroyo government over an election-related scandal In this the to case Carino Ivs.pointed Commission of jurisdiction, out that to comment on on-going proceedThe third area of jurisprudence divergence is for on in 2005, and who now hold considerable influence in Human Rights, Court defined it has beenthe inSupreme our ings. What I did, however, was whether Internet Service Providers the Aquino administration. the full extent of the Commissions’ invessome time now—carried over from write a Facebook post on the docAdministration allies in the Senate have been fulsome should incur liability for matters “pubtigative powers: “The function ofand receiving it impossible for a genuine democAmerican jurisprudence, that it trine of condonation. Justice Adolf in their praise for Sevilla, but have shown none of their evidence and ascertaining therefrom the lished” on their sites.

The Americans, racy to long endure.

When Archactually has roots in our democratic tration’s partner in its effort to get the as of yesterday, there is still no word anao to approve the BBL, by whatsurveys show that Aquino’s poll offinvestigation survey data Azcuna with was dismissive elections the first to comment: usualremains eagernessundiminished. to launch a congressional facts of a controversy iswas notnot a judicial maybe because Ialmost alladvocating ISPsfuncare bishop Soc Villegas issued a stateconvictions.

Bangsamoro Basic Law approved, from Malacañang about the missing ever means thought thattoI had captured numbers areavailable. continuing to plumb statements about He just continuing Theinto reality, as survey after survey allegations of corruption in the Bureau of Customs, tion, properly speaking.

To be considered based in the US, want full immunity, ment* on draft BBL, an almost the perpetuation of this piece of juthenshown, his appointment becomes Sheriff – whoofhas not reported * * thedespite thestill doctrine succinctly.

He agreed particularly since Aquino such a probe might such, theEurope, faculty of evidence unfamiliar depths his do the“friendly work governance, Com- new, has is that is even just expose while and apparently the and rest common comment was: “Bakit risprudence.

Ireceiving was however arguing more suspect.

After all, a pro-MILF for work, despite the enormous The Bases Conversion and Develwith my analysis that the doctrine forces” rather than political opponents. making factual conclusions in a controverthe campaign to ang simbarely keeping his head above the munications Secretary Herminio efforts, I expect of the world -as evidenced by the “Manakikiaalam na naman that it was not unreasonable and has that its is roots in our there can be nocan doubt that Sevilla mustnow be Comelec Comelec commissioner influproblems that facing asisitunderstanding opmentintensify.

Authority at it again, suf- was there synila must beinaccompanied by authority further Coloma says “there waters ofBut negative acceptability and Declaration”, opt consistently forthe conditional bahan isdito?”.

Nowhere had fact been apencouraged—or compelled—to name names and of popular sovereignty.

That note of of applying the law to those factual concluence not only the regular elections prepares to conduct the 2016 presifering serious legal setbacks at the There is no popularity. And there is nothing significant room for improvement liability.

This means ISPs should have any other serious option analysisfor of the arguplied by the High Court.

The comprovide a detailed account of what he knows.

His failure sions to the end that the controversy may I from consider priceless! but he important, elecdential elections a mere yearascerhands ofreally. two ment ofBut its private Aquino, historydeveloperand the advanced, no serious examiliability if Ithey notice illegaland... [a] need to concurrence, continually that can do, itMILF-specific seems, to reverse ments got have labeled me aof lackey of to do so would be a betrayal of the morality he claims be decided or determined authoritatively, The next day, I wrote an extended toral exercises like the upcoming tain now.the needs of our people.” partners dueofnation largely to the arrogance and rebuttal of the reasons the Binays, a fraud, a charlatan— ity of their content and they failed to “stickiness” the popular percepthe trend. led to his resignation, and the public service he vowed finally and definitively, subject to such aparticle for Abas this paper—and earned a plebiscite on the BBL. I certainly hope that surand ignorance of the agency’s head. adduced.

Nothing more than an pathetic actually, if hilarious, beremove it. tionmind thatthe he is a failure as President Aquino seems hell-bent It istosignificant Malacanang uphold whenthat he took office at the BureauWhat of Customs. peals or modes of review as may be prolot of flak for it. on I do not attack on bishops priests. The cause they were attacks not If you think this ishisallmouth too speculafaces soon, so that everyone reasBCDA been slapped down and by the There does not appear toon beme, an end are against doing is toand continue making public seems toInhave abandoned the stratopening about corruption vided by law.

This function, to repeat, the criticism, butis I am alarmed thathas thehim.

Archbishop, in a personal capacity, on my argument.

In stark contrast to the increasing divergence between tive, then it becomes the obligation sured that he actually exists and that Supreme Court in its battle against Iofsee no reason why Aquino’s numappearances is still egy ofinfluence pretending to ignore re- Mr. peddling in thethe bureau, Sevilla hasto prove Commission does not have.” kind that I got he is symptomatic a more discussed necessity were of Prof.

Gatthe and the new Jemy world.

Of of theof administration, all an the thatamount is hisvery real name. they might SM Land in a case involving letAquino the surveys genie outwhich of the show bottle, and working, no of much It continent is thisthe lackposts of prosecutorial powers would improve inthe the comingofa inclusiveinOrcontrol andthatbers sults the insidious malady is lethal toInc. ness, warned against equating peace dula of the University of Asia and doubletalk from him or his former employers now more, to tell us more about its new as well name Iqbal to the Comelec, if democracy: intolerance for dissent! irreversible decline in his popular- the possessor of game-changing enin Mindanao withonthe Continuedon onA11 A11 Continued A10passage of Continued can election put it back in.

Muslim commissioner.

But dorsement the goal is topowers. get theThere voters Mindisofgood reason to ignore Continued on A10 If subsequent ity.

Where once the palace shrugged

THE REAL THREAT

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OPINION

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INVESTORS WANT EVICTION STOPPED BOXING icon Manny Pacquiao had it coming. Pacquiao attributed his loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who won their match via unanimous decision, to an injury in his right shoulder.

And now the Nevada sports authorities want to sanction Pacquiao for not informing them of his injury. The sanction could come in the form of suspension or even a ban from boxing.

Many are wondering why Pacquiao or any of those people handling him did not mention the shoulder injury, which was the proper thing to do under the boxing rules.

That Pacquiao now complains he was “sabotaged” in that his defeat was caused by his shoulder injury reminds me of politicians after elections. They cannot accept defeat; they complain they were cheated.

That’s why I voice the opinion of many that Pacquiao should now retire. He has nothing more to prove after being an eightdivision champion. With his billions, he can now retire.

This is why the Public-Private Partnership program is losing steam.

*** Baguio Regional Trial Court judge Cecilia Corazon Archog set today a hearing on the joint petition of the Camp John Hay Development Corp. and most of its 1,631 locators, investors, unit owners and sub-lessees.

These investors’ rights must be respected because they acted in good faith. They were not a party to the controversy between the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the Bob Sobrepeña-owned CJHDevco.

This petition came after the RTC sheriff posted notice in all the properties now in the possession of investors to vacate the premises by May 20, 2015. The CJH investors found it strange that they would be included in the notice of eviction after Archog herself, in affirming the decision of the Arbitration Tribunal which was created by her to settle the dispute, said that “as to the list of sub-leaders and/ or vested right holders, THEY WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW ON OBLIGATIONS AND CONTRACTS.” (caps mine).

And if we look at the Philippine Civil Code, under the Law on Obligations and Contracts, Articles 1385 provides “An order for mutual restitution cannot include properties currently in the possession of third persons who acted in good faith.” That’s clear and plain enough.

This is why I think it is strange that RTC sheriff would now want investors evicted by May 20.

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO The developer also questioned why the P1.42 billion from the BCDA was deposited in escrow with the RTC when the final award mandated that upon payment to CJHDevco, the developer would vacate the Camp. The developer said that the escrow deposit did not represent “payments as contemplated under Rule 39 under the Rules of Court, which outline the execution, satisfaction and effect of judgments.”

Rule 9 of Rule 39 states clearly that where judgment involves a demand for money, the party required by court to make these payments in a writ of execution “shall pay in cash, certified check… on any other form of payment… directly to the judgment obligee (in this case, CJHDevco) or his authorized representative is present at the time of the payment,” Santa Banana, why then did the RTC accept the payment in escrow which is conditional?

It does seem strange that while the developer presented to the BCDA a program for relinquishing their property, complete with a transition period to help government administrators gradually take over operational and management control over restaurants and hotels so that they can continue servicing customers, the BCDA denied the offer.

If President Aquino’s PublicPrivate Partnership Program (PPP) is losing steam, blame it all on characters like BCDA president Arnel Paciano Casanova, who thinks he will be at BCDA forever at the rate he’s treating developers. *** Moro Islamic Liberation Front leaders claim that the killing of Filipino terrorist bomber Basit Usman was done by MILF commanders. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, on the other hand, says that it was done by a government agent, a bodyguard of the terrorist with a $1-million bounty on his head. The military added that the bounty would go to a civilian.

Now, which is which? From all the reactions and comments coming from Malacañang, it would appear that President Aquino believes the MILF more; Palace spoksmen said that the killing of Usman by the MILF was an indication that the Moro rebels want to help in confidence-building in the pursuit of peace.

I don’t know which version to believe. What I find difficult to believe is why Malacañang is now speaking for the MILF, when the killing of Usman in fact clearly shows that the MILF has been coddling Usman all these years. The fact that Usman was in the company of MILF rebels points to this fact.

DOES IT REALLY MATTER? BEFORE Mary Jane Veloso got a stay of execution from the Indonesian government on April 29, the whole nation was gripped with suspense, knowing that she would be executed via firing squad. Then, the whole country woke up the following morning with the news that somehow at the very last minute, the Indonesian government found a reason to stay the execution.

Upon hearing the news, public euphoria was palpable—and rightly so. The bottled-up emotions of the public, not knowing whether all the efforts exerted by the country could save her, erupted with relief like a volcano. Everytime a Filipino imprisoned overseas is in danger of being executed, the people and government shift to high gear to find ways to try to save the life of that citizen. It is a great Filipino trait. This has happened before when another Filipino convicted in China was executed for drug trafficking in spite of efforts mounted by the country to save her.

As of this date there are about 87 Filipino citizens languishing on death row in various countries all over the world. In very few instances, some of these lives will be saved but sadly however, these Filipinos will be executed unless their sentences could be commuted to life imprisonment. When it is a matter of government policy to send our womenfolk to richer countries to work as domestics, we have to be prepared to pay the price which sometimes could be stiff.

Breakdown of the family is one clear example. The beatings, the rapes, and the working conditions fit for a slave are stories that we often read in the papers. Yet we continue to send our people abroad, calling them present-day heroes for the billions of dollars remitted to the country.

How far should the government continue with this? How many more Mary Janes do we need before the government starts reviewing this policy for a possible change? In this

THE MISSING...

tragic case, did the government do enough so that her case did not have to reach this stage? I do not believe so.

Perhaps we are lucky that this case happened in Indonesia, a country that has always been very close to us. At least Indonesia, wanting to find a way to grant a stay, found one. That is one reason that Mary Jane is still alive. If she were in a Chinese jail, there is no doubt that she would have been executed.

There is reason to be grateful to the Indonesian government for giving Mary Jane a glimmer of hope. Let us not therefore spoil it with our penchant for credit-grabbing.

Does it really matter who or which group was responsible?

If the President somehow did his part by going straight to the top of the Indonesian government and talking to them.

Let us give him the credit.

The efforts of the nongovernment organizations both here and Indonesian that worked tirelessly should also be commended. The media which kept the story alive also deserve congratulations.

The important thing is that a chance has been given to Mary Jane and I hope that we will not mess up the opportunity like the suggestion of one congressman to exchange Maria Cristina Sergio, the alleged recruiter of Mary Jane for her because according to him, Mary Jane was just a victim.

Needless to say, this congressman has the brain of a cockroach and the sophistication of a grasshopper. The case is not that simple. Going over this case, there is a lot of blame to throw around to both the Philippine and Indonesian Police as to how the case was investigated.

From available media reports, it was the Department of Foreign Affairs that represented the interest of Mary

Jane when she was investigated. Reports have it that there were language problems during the investigation and trial.

The trial was also swift if we compare it with the way we do it here. There seems to have been little effort to track the drug traffickers responsible for recruiting Mary Jane.

Instead, with Mary Jane caught with the 2.6 kilos of heroin, it was an open-andshut case.

A good and thorough investigation however would have shown that Mary Jane could not have been a hard-core member of the drug smugglers. And if there is one country that should understand this, it should be Indonesia because like us, the country also sends its womenfolk to toil as domestics in other countries.

They can also become victims of abuse and crime. This was shown in a much-publicized trial of an Indonesian domestic helper by a cruel employer from Hong Kong and the execution of another in Saudi Arabia.

In the Asean region, there is the association of all the Police agencies called ASEANPOL. It appears that our DFA did not use this organization to help in investigating the case of Mary Jane. Had coordination between the Indonesian Police and our Police been made, it is possible that her case would have turned out differently.

Human trafficking is one of the eleven crimes defined by the United Nations as transnational. To fight it, countries must cooperate. This cannot be solved by one country alone because this crime is committed across borders and the victims are more often than not willing victims, which makes it hard to detect and stop.

Only when problems arise do authorities find out about the case. Would the persecution of Sergio and Lacanilao do the trick and save Mary Jane? Let us hope so.

Ultimately, the ideal solution is for people to find work here instead of working as domestics overseas.

February to rescind BCDA’s 1996 lease contract with it developer-partner, owing to the agency’s serial violations of their original memorandum of agreement and subsequent revised agreements covering the development and management of Baguio City’s former American military facility in Camp John Hay. BCDA’s wrongheaded leadership has cost the government a whopping P5 billion, representing the P1.42 billion monetary award ordered by PDRCI and the developer’s proposed 2011 settlement package consisting of an upfront P500 million plus P3.3 billion more spread over

10 years, and another P150 million in annual rentals until the lease expires in 2046.

The Baguio regional trial court also handed down last April 14 a writ of execution to implement the PDRCI decision, which required BCDA to cough up P1.42 billion in exchange for CJHDevCo’s withdrawal from CJH. Still, the pugnacious BCDA president Arnel Casanova has refused to pay CJHDevCo and has been bullying John Hay’s 1,631 sub-lessees to vacate the former camp even if they are third-party investors “in good faith” who are protected by law. What a jerk.

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

From A9

prime property in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, while an arbitration tribunal has rescinded the agency’s contract with Camp John Hay Development Corp. in Baguio.

The Supreme Court cut down BCDA last month for “grave abuse of discretion” with its “unilateral cancellation of (a) perfected contract” when it reneged on a 2010 commitment to conduct a Swiss Challenge on the developer’s unsolicited proposal for the development of the 33.1-hectare Bonifacio South Pointe property near Forbes Park. In CJHDevCo’s case, the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. decided last

T H U R S D AY : M AY 7, 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE DIVIDE... From A9

SAVE THE WORLD, GIVE UP ON NATURE

By Mark Buchanan THE typical approach to environmentalism involves finding ways for humans to live in harmony with nature. But what if that’s wrong? What if our destiny is to leave nature behind? It’s a radical idea, but it’s worth a moment of reflection.

A group of respected economists and environmentalists from the Breakthrough Institute in Oakland, California, recently published a document they call the Ecomodernist Manifesto. One of their ideas is a doozy: Humanity’s best hope to thrive in the future—and solve environmental problems such as climate change—is to evolve to the point where we are no longer constrained by nature.

Their approach to the environment goes far beyond cost-benefit calculations. In contrast to many economists, they don’t see nature merely as a resource on which one can place a value. Rather, they see it as priceless, a deep source of joy and beauty, part of what makes life worth living. Their concern is that it can no longer support the growth of human activity. “Human flourishing,” they write, “has taken a serious toll on natural, nonhuman environments and wildlife.”

Their solution: Isolate ourselves from nature, or “decouple” our economic activity from it. Rely even more on technology, yet find some way to keep it from grinding nature to bits.

How? First, encourage the further concentration of human populations

within the cities where more than 50 percent of us already live. If, say, more than 80 percent dwelled in such centers of economic productivity and per-capita energy efficiency, humanity’s consumption of resources could be rationalized, leaving countryside spaces less populated and, at least potentially, available for nature.

True, cities require vast flows of energy and food that must be produced somewhere, which brings the Ecomodernists to their second point. We’ll need to intensify activities such as farming, energy extraction and forestry, so they occupy less land and interfere less with the natural world. This idea runs directly counter to the views of many environmentalists, who champion a return to more decentralized ways of living.

Finally, to make decoupling happen, we must find new and more potent sources of clean energy, including safer technology for nuclear fission and, if possible, nuclear fusion. That’s because energy is a key resource for decoupling.

We can, for example, replace human labor and land requirements with energy-intensive farming, or use energy to desalinate seawater, reducing human demands on natural freshwater sources.

I’ll admit that I find this view of “leaving nature behind” somewhat alarming. Living with nature has more direct emotional appeal to me. Even so, there’s an undeniable coherence to the Ecomodermist arguments. Preserving

nature, while also ensuring that people thrive, would seem to require some kind of separation. Short of moving humans into outer space, it’s hard to see how that can happen without human activities becoming more concentrated, intensive and contained.

On the other hand, I wonder if the Ecomodernists overstate the possibilities for leaving nature behind. Even if we do flock into cities, find unlimited, clean sources of energy, and learn to use energy more efficiently than ever, our total energy consumption may well keep growing as we find new ways to use it. Basic physics demands that more energy use always means more waste dissipated to the environment in one form or another—heat, pollution, environmental damage.

So leaving nature behind, in the sense of freeing it from our impacts, might not be so easy. Can we really sequester all the damaging aspects of our activities, collecting them up like trash and neutralizing them in a set of small repositories, out of sight, and even outside of nature? That would be great. It also seems a little fantastic. Bloomberg

MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ Mr. Suarez’ column will resume this week.

A FAIRY-TALE FIGHT SO WE bought into the hype and shelled out thousands to watch a snoozefest and not the gladiatorial battle we’d paid to see.

But it wasn’t our fault; it was great hype, carefully crafted, with the implication that this was the genuine product, an epic battle between the top two fighters of the sport, an event that would decide once and for all who deserves the title of pound-forpound king.

Instead, we got scammed. Floyd Mayweather Jr. ran and hugged his way to a $178- million payoff. Manny Pacquiao, in the ring with an undisclosed shoulder injury, threw fewer punches than usual and lost. The silence in the packed theater where I watched the fight was palpable, a thick blanket of shock, dismay, and numbness. Everyone was speechless; this was not the outcome we’d been led to expect.

Nothing, of course, is ever a sure thing, and it would be naïve to assume that what’s promised in such a situation will be what’s delivered.

However, Pacquiao’s loss was a letdown to his fans all over the world, more so after he seemed to be unable to accept defeat, instead pointing to the torn shoulder – a make-or-break injury that should have been revealed, especially with betting on the line – conspiracy, and sabotage to excuse his dismal failure to execute an effective plan against Mayweather’s vaunted defense.

It’s just too bad that the narrative arc that had been painstakingly built

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE up took an unexpected turn. Had it been taken to the desired conclusion, it would have been a mythic tale. All the elements were there: a hero, a quest, and evil dragon. All that was needed was the happy ending to create a fairy tale, a dream come true.

Four days after the fight, our social media feeds still scream shoulda, woulda, coulda. Mayweather was the clear winner! No, Manny was! Fighting the match in hindsight won’t change the reality of Mayweather’s victory, unpalatable as it is.

The question is, where does the narrative go from here?

An online news item says that Mayweather wants to start a feeding program in the Philippines and put up a boxing gym together with Pacquiao to develop talent for the international arena.

Now that’s interesting. Manny himself would not be at the pinnacle of the sport today if someone hadn’t encouraged him to go to Los Angeles.

As his luck would have it, he landed in Wild Card Gym and met Freddie Roach. The rest is fistory. Without Roach, there would be no Pacquiao the future boxing Hall of Famer and a living legend.

The young boxers of today need

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and deserve that same chance. The sport has always had fighters with immense potential. Imagine where the careers of Gerry Peñalosa, Rolando Navarrete, or Luisito Espinosa might be now if they had had the guidance of a phenomenal mentor, a talented manager, and a savvy promoter.

If Pacquiao and Mayweather join forces in putting up a boxing gym, they could create a fighting style combining the aggressive offense of the former and the slippery defense of the latter. Add flexibility and the ability to strategize on the spot, and a boxer thus trained would be nigh undefeatable.

It took six years for the alleged Fight of the Century to happen that turned out to be a dud. But teaching young people new skills and enabling them to chase their dreams for a better future will never be a loss, from any angle. The MayPac Gym is something that should be turned into a reality.

This narrative, then, can evolve: after seeing the good example set by the pious knight who was sent to slay him, but failed, the evil dragon mends his ways, and joins the knight in his travels around the kingdom helping people until they both grow old.

From the scam of the century, this could turn into a tale of redemption in the ring. And that would be the happiest ending of all. *** Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Blog: http://jennyo. net

late, the United States opted for the rule on “net neutrality”, or the rule that content providers should not be allowed to pay for faster access to the Internet. There is no such zeal in defending this neutrality in Europe.

While these divergences are indeed healthy as indicative of diversity in views, what is worries me is that these European jurisprudence may be invoked by despots to limit the scope of freedom of expression. To illustrate, European countries, when they were negotiating the Genocide Convention, succeeded in criminalizing the mere incitement to genocide arguing that in order to prevent genocide, the international community should already prohibit mere incitement. To wait for an actual genocide to happen would be too late.

The US disagreed and said that only incitements, where clear and present danger could arise, should be prohibited.

An ordinary person inciting the mass destruction of people should not be penalized for the mere utterance of the words. But if members of armed security forces or an armed group uttered the same words, then it could be prohibited and penalized. The rationale is freedom of expression protects, precisely, unpopular speech. This, in turn is premised on the assumption that all speech forms part of the free marketplace of ideas that people turn to discern the truth and form their opinions.

Conceivably, authoritarian regimes may penalize incitement to terrorism, even absent a definition, in the same manner that incitement to genocide was provided in the convention. If these regime were to do this, only despots can define what terrorism is and the criminalization of both incitement and acts of terrorism may be used to curtail civil and political rights.

A consequence of the divergence in the area of hate speech is the nature of the prohibition. The three-pronged test of the Europeans appears to prohibit hate speech as if they were in the nature of malum prohibitum, or that mere utterances of hate speech should be penalized. The danger here of course is if liability is based solely on the utterances made, then people may not speak freely about their thoughts, which would then limit what we seek to have: a robust and free discussion of issues.

The saving grace appears to be in the test of proportionality applied by the Europeans. While they tend to legitimize prior subsequent punishment, the penalties imposed range only from fines to suspension of the right to practice journalism as a profession. Under no circumstance has the European Court of Human Rights sanctioned a subsequent punishment in the form of imprisonment. This is still confirmation that the Europeans still value freedom of expression as it has not deemed incarceration as a proportional means to promote racial harmony.

Where do we go from here? The Philippines has been faithfully adhering to American jurisprudence, and for good reason. If the Americans were able to persuade us to adopt their jurisprudence on freedom of expression, perhaps it can convince other jurisdictions, including the European Court, to do so. Lets hope so.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

China Open wins 2015 Yeh Bros Cup

Zach Randolph (50) of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors’ Daymond Green in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The Grizzlies won, 106-90, to level their series with the Warriors, 1-1. AFP

Atlanta, Memphis rebound in playoffs ATLANTA—The Atlanta Hawks downed the Washington Wizards 106-90 on Tuesday to even their NBA second-round playoff series at one game apiece.

DeMarre Carroll led the Hawks with 20 points and Al Horford and Paul Millsap scored 18 apiece for top-seeded Atlanta as they pulled level in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference set.

“Defense was the difference,” Carroll said. “It is defense that gets us going, and the intensity was a lot better.”

Millsap and Horford combined for 11 assists, with Millsap pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds as the Hawks made the most of the injury absence of Wizards point guard John Wall.

Wall missed the game with a wrist injury suffered in game one of the series, in which the

Wizards shocked the Hawks 104-98.

Wall, who had posted four straight double-doubles, was scratched from game two less than an hour before tip-off.

“The swelling was too much for him to handle today,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said.

Ramon Sessions, starting in place of Wall, led the Wizards with 21 points. Bradley Beal finished with 20 points while Paul Pierce and Otto Porter had 15 points apiece for a Washington team that suffered their first defeat of these playoffs.

The Wizards will try to regain the series lead when they host game three on Saturday.

In Western Conference ac-

tion, Memphis point guard Mike Conley shook off the lingering pain of a facial fracture to lead the Grizzlies to a 97-90 victory over top-seeded Golden State on the Warriors’ home floor in Oakland.

-- Series tied-The Grizzlies knotted the series at one game apiece as they handed the Warriors their first home defeat since late January.

Conley had missed three games since he was hurt in game three of the Grizzlies’ first-round win over Portland, when he took an inadvertent elbow to his left eye.

He admitted that his 27 minutes on the floor felt more like 50.

But with a clear plastic protective mask over his stillbruised face he scored 22 points, and his defensive effort helped limit Golden State’s newly crowned NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry to 19 points.

“I thought Mike Conley had tremendous heart,” Grizzlies coach David Joerger said.

“Day-in, day-out he’s gotten a little bit better, but you never have the expectation that he’s going to go back in and be who he was two weeks ago right away the first night out.”

Conley got a scare midway through the second quarter when Draymond Green hit on his protective mask trying to force a jump ball.

“I got hit a couple of times and after that I knew what it felt like and just kept playing through it,” he said.

Zach Randolph scored 20 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Marc Gasol and Courtney Lee added 15 points each for the Grizzlies, who took full advantage of 20 Warriors turnovers.

Memphis will try to take the lead in the series when they host game three on Saturday.

AFP

ON April 15, 2015 China Open wins the 2015 Yeh Bros Cup in SYLVIA LOPEZ ALEJANDRO Shangahi: Sun Shaolin, Hu Linlin, Li Xiaoyi, Liu Jing, Hou Xu, Kang Meng and Chen Gang (coach). Second place went to Red Bull: Wang Yuewu, Kuang Yuegang, Simon.

Notable bridge columnist of the New York Times Mr. Philip Alder wrote this interesting column: A Turning Point at the Yeh Brothers Cup. The Yeh Brothers Cup took place in Shanghai from April 8 to Sunday. After 10 rounds of 10- board matches, the field was reduced to eight teams, from 28, for the quarterfinals. The two Amercian entries failed to make the cut.

The 48-board final was between China Open (Hou Xu, Liu Jing, Kang Meng, Sun Shaolin, Hu Linlin and Li Xiaoyi), which had qualified for the quarters by 0.28 victory points, and Red Bull (Liu Li, Lu Yiping, Wang Yuewu and Kuang Yuegang from China, and Bauke Muller and Simon De Wijs from the Netherlands).

China Open took a 27.5 international match point lead after the first third, but the next session saw Red Bull move ahead by 11.5 imps. China Open regrouped and had a 1.5-imp advantage with six boards to be played. The diagramed deal, Board 43, effectively decided the match.

North ♠ Q65432 ♥KQ8 ♦109 ♣76 West East ♠ J10987 ♠K ♥ AJ943 ♥10765 ♦2 ♦ J43 ♣ A10 ♣KQJ53 South ♠A ♥2 ♦AKQ8765 ♣9842 In the given auction, De Wijs (South) opened one diamond, Li Xiaoyi (West) used a Michaels Cue-Bid to show at least 5-5 in the majors, Muller (North) passed, Hu (East) invited game with three hearts and South jumped to five diamonds, which was doubled by West.

What did West lead?

If West has started with his trump and East had not covered dummy’s nine with his jack, the contract could have been down three. Understandably, though, West selected the spade jack. South took East’s singleton king with his ace and led his heart. Now West would have done best to duck, but that play was nigh impossible to find. West took the trick, cashed his club ace (East signaled with his king) and led another club.

East overtook with his jack and shifted to a low trump.

Declarer, confident that West was short in diamonds, played low from his hand. It did not gain a trick, but was a fun play. The contract was down one.

At the other table, Sun (South) upgraded his hand by opening one club, which promised at least 16 points. Lu (West) doubled to show a major or minor two- suiter. Kang (North) responded one diamond, indicating 5 to 8 points. Then Liu Li (East) made a very strange bid: two diamonds. Why did he not jump in hearts or clubs, which would have been “pass or correct”? West would have passed with that suit or bid higher without it. South shut eyes and rebid three no-trump, which was passed out.

What did West lead?

We can see that the defenders could have taken the first six tricks, and even a spade-jack start could have defeated the contract. But West chose his fourth-highest heart, so South ran for home with one heart, one spade and seven diamonds.

Plus 100 and plus 400 gave China Open 11 imps on the board en route to winning the match by 108 imps to 101.5 and banking the $150,000 first prize. The runners-up received $36,000.

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yahoo.com

SMART/PH jins vying in world tilt ELEVEN of the country’s finest taekwondo athletes banner the SMART/MVP Sports Foundation National Team which will vie for gold and glory in the 2015 World Taekwondo Championships scheduled on May 12 to 18 in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

The well-prepared jins, who will pit their skills against the best fighters from 79 other countries are finweight Jenar Torillos, flyweight Francis Aaron Agoko, bantamweight Lorenz Chavez, featherweight Benjamin Keith Sembrano, lightweight Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison, welterweight Christian Al Dela Cruz

and heavyweight Kristopher Robert Uy in the men’s division and finweight Irene Therese Bermejo, flyweight Levita Ronna Ilao, bantamweight Pauline Louise Lopez and middleweight Kirstie Elaine Alora in the women’s division.

Philippine Taekwondo Association OIC Sung Chon Hong is the head of delegation.

The other officials are Tem Igor Mella, team manager; Jun Ho Ko, men’s team coach; Roberto Cruz, women’s team coach; John Paul Lizardo, trainer; and Roland Campos and Ricardo Santiago Jr., international referees.

The prestigious tournament serves as a tune up for the Filipinos, who will see action in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore next month.

“Our athletes have trained hard for this event,” says Hong. “We’ll try our best to bring home medals.”

The Filipinos have always been considered among the top contenders in international taekwondo competitions such as the world event. But there are other tough campaigners from countries like Korea, China, Spain, Iran, Turkey, Chinese Taipei and the United States.

Lorenz Chavez (left), one of the Filipino campaigners, delivers an ax kick against a Korean in a previous international event.

t hurs day : m ay 7 , 2 0 1 5

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

PH volley team optimistic in Asian Under-23 Games Today (Philsports Arena) 10:00 a.m. -- Maldives vs Macau (battle for 11th-12th places) 12:00 noon -- Japan vs India 2:00 p.m. -- Chinese Taipei vs South Korea 4:15 p.m. -- China vs Philippines 7:00 p.m. -- Thailand vs Iran

Bicol Region’s Raynand Mark Sanchez (left) soars as he tries to block the attempt of Fernando Caoile of the National Capital Region during the sepak takraw secondary division match between their two teams during the 2015 Palarong Pambansa in Tagum, Davao Del Norte.

Pampanga bet shatters triple-jump mark 5 times

Republic of the Philippines

Province of Bataan Municipality of Limay

By Peter Atencio TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte—Martin James Esteban was in a zone yesterday, shattering the same record five times on Day 4 of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa here.

The 17-year-old Esteban already shattered Mark Harry Diones’ five-year old 14.4-meter mark on his first attempt in the secondary boys’ triple jump action in the athletics’ meet of the games at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex Stadium.

It all started when he leaped 14.54 meters. But it did not there.

He went on to clear 14.55 meters, 14.66 meters and 14.68 meters on his next three tries.

It ended when the high school graduate from Balitucan National High School in Magalang, Pampanga came up with

a 15.01-meter performance on fifth attempt.

“Pinaghandaan ko po ito. I gave it my best. I want to go to Brunei to compete and represent my region,” said Esteban, who is seeking a slot to the national team taking part in the seventh ASEAN School Games in Brunei late this year.

It was Esteban’s second triple jump crown after he took the title with a 14.31-meter feat last year.

Five meet records have been broken so far, with the Region IV-A team of Regina Castrillo, Nichole Reah Pamintuan, Bela Magtibay and Suzanne Himor

ripping the three-year-old course record in the 4x50-meter medley relay of the secondary girls’ swimming.

They beat the National Capital Region in 2:08.41, better than the old mark of 2:09.09 of the Big City bets in 2012.

Esteban’s efforts handed Region III one of its four gold medals in a 4-3-4 gold-silver-bronze tally.

The National Capital Region emerged on top with 21 golds, 21 silvers and 12 bronze medals, with Southern Tagalog Region IV-A behind (15-9-17) and Western Visayas in third (14-1217).

Albay to stage tourist-friendly games LEGAZPI CITY — Albay will host the 2016 Palarong Pambansa with a most welcome twist -- a touristic adventure for participants and guests in the different venues of the week-long games, scattered around the most scenic places in the province.

Sports facilities for the Palaro are presently being constructed in various strategic sites of Albay’s three districts, all with a panoramic vista of the near perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano, now included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites tentative list.

The facilities have an outlay of P850 million, P700 million of it from the national government approved by President Aquino

THE Philippines will march into the quarterfinals of the 1st Rebisco Asian U23 Women’s Volleyball Championship powered by PLDT Home and Smart Live More beaming with optimism.

For a team that was assembled only three weeks ago, advancing to the quarterfinals is already a major achievement, giving the crew behind it contentment and satisfaction.

“Forming a competitive team is not an overnight process,” said the Philippines’ coach Roger Gorayeb, whose wards will clash with reigning FIVB World U23 champion China at 4:15 p.m. today at the Philsports Arena for a win that would send them to the semifinals of this prestigious continental tourney backed and aired exclusively

by TV5.

“If we want to have a strong national team, we need eight years or more.

Masyado ng malayo ang agwat ng ibang bansa sa atin. Japan is very far, as well as Thailand, and even Vietnam. These countries waited patiently and spent millions just to develop their young players,” he added.

early this year. Albay shells out the P150 million as counterpart.

The games’ main venue is the Albay Sports complex, in Guinobatan town, which will have an international standard oval track and a grandstand that could accommodate thousands of spectators.

Palaro 2016 also opens door to a titillating and mouth-watering culinary adventure for visitors.

Albay’s cuisine now occupies a big role in the province’s tourism program, attracting huge crowds. They received overwhelming raves at the recent Madrid Fusion Manila, a global food fair held at the Mall of Asia.

Governor Joey Salceda said while the Palarong Pambansa is

primarily a sports event under the Department of Education, it is also an opportunity for Albay—a leading tourism destination in the country—to showcase its hospitality and its global standard tourism sites to the sportsfest’s participants and guests.

Some 15,000 delegates from the country’s 17 regions are expected to join 21 Palaro events, apart from friends, families and visitors.

“My guidance to Team Albay, the 2016 Palaro technical working group, is to design a ‘multi-venue’ layout, that shall distribute participants in different sports sites around the province; so they can enjoy our global standard tourism areas while competing,” said Salceda.

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID ========================================================================

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Municipality of Limay through the GENERAL FUND AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL FUND Budget CY2015 invites registered Suppliers/ Dealers/Distributors to apply for eligibility and if found to be eligible to bid, hereunder projects/ contracts. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Amount of Bid Name of Project Location Source of Approved Docs FUNDS Duration Budget Cost (ABC) Supply and Installation Brgy. Poblacion, Limay, Bataan GEN FUND 246,080.00 500.00 of Roller Blinds 45 days (Chocolate Brown/ Duo/Combi) at Sangguniang Bayan Building Supply and Delivery of 282,945.60 500.00 Construction Materials Sitio Bliss, Brgy. GEN FUND 10 days Saint Francis I, for Holding Pen Limay, Bataan and Septic tank for Slaughterhouse Supply and Delivery 5,000.00 of I.T. Equipments and Lamao National SEF FUND 45 days 2,130,504.32 High School, Office Furnitures for Brgy. Lamao, Consultancy Service Limay, Bataan in Management and Supervision of Various Infrastructure Projects for all Public Schools Brgy. Reformista, Supply and Delivery 386.740.00 500.00 Brgy. Poblacion, GEN FUND 10 days of Painting Materials Brgy. Wawa, for Basketball Courts Limay, Bataan School 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, 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.

Interested Bidders may obtain further information from the Office of the BAC Secretariat, Municipality of Limay, Bataan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address below during office hours (8am to 12 noon and 1pm to 5pm).

The Bids and awards Committee (BAC) of the Municipality of Limay will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 08, 2015, 2:00P.M. atLimay Municipal Building, 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 May 19, 2015 until 1:00PM and to be opened at 2P.M. of the same day at the Limay Municipal Building. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any acceptable forms and in amount stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR of RA 9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the bid opening.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The municipality of Limay 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: (Sgd.) RONIE LATANAFRANCIA BAC TWG Tel. No. (047)6138026 (TS-May 7, 2015)

(Sgd.) ROMARIO C. PANANGUI BAC Chairman

2.1.3.5 Republic of the Philippines

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

Tel. Nos. (632) 929-66-26 to 29 (632) 929-62-52 929-66-20 929-66-33 to 35 929-70-41 to 43

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER No. 2015 - 06 SUBJECT : Providing for the Revised Organizational Structure and Functions of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Pursuant to its Approved Rationalization Plan Pursuant to Executive Order No. 366 dated 04 October 2004 in re: Directing a Strategic Review of the Operations and Organizations of the Executive Branch and Providing Options and Incentives for Government Employees Who May Be Affected by the Rationalization of the Functions and Agencies of the Executive Branch, and in compliance with the Rationalization Plan of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on 02 May 2013, the organizational structure and functions of the MGB are hereby revised for the guidance of all concerned: Section 1. Organizational Structure The MGB’s organizational structure shall consist of a central office and fifteen (15) regional offices, as well as district and other pertinent offices that may be hereinafter created.

The Director shall be the Chief Executive who has the prime authority and responsibility to carry out the mandate, and discharge the powers and functions of the MGB, under the supervision and control of the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Records Management Section

The function/s of the Records Management Section shall be as follows: • Receives and releases records/documents; • Undertakes maintenance of records/documents; and • Acts as the overall custodian of government records/documents.

It shall have the following sections:

2.1.7.2

2.1.4.1

The function/s of the Coastal and Offshore Geological Survey Section shall be as follows: • Conducts offshore geological surveys (including geohazard assessment); • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of coastal geological surveys (including geohazard assessment); • Conducts Research and Development on marine geology (including environmental geology, geo-technology and impacts of climate change); and • Provides coastal and offshore geological survey services.

Financial Management Division

Accounting Section

The function/s of the Accounting Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes accounting procedures in the Central Office and provides accounting services; • Implements accounting and auditing rules and regulations; and • Reviews accounting policies and recommends measures for effective financial management.

2.1.4.2

Budget Section

The function/s of the Budget Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes budgeting procedures in the Central Office and provides budgeting services; • Implements budgeting rules and regulations; and • Reviews budgetary policies and recommends measures for effective financial management.

2.1.4.3

Financial Service Group

The organizational subdivisions and their major functions are as follows:

2.1.5

Central Office

The Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division (MSESDD) shall conduct the final evaluation/review, audit of implementation and Research and Development for the enhancement of programs on, promote best practices in and investigate incidents/complaints relating to mine safety and health, environmental management and social development.

The Office of the Director shall exercise overall management, supervision and control of all divisions and other units of the central and regional offices of the MGB; implement the MGB’s mandate of taking direct charge in the administration and disposition of mineral lands and mineral resources; promulgate rules and regulations, policies and programs relating to mineral resources management and geosciences development; and perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the DENR Secretary and/ or provided by law.

The Central Office shall have the following divisions: 2.1.1

Planning, Policy and International Affairs Division

Mine Safety, Environment And Social Development Division

The function/s of the Mine Environmental Management Section shall be as follows: • Conducts final evaluation of environmental management programs; and • Promotes best practices in environmental management.

2.1.5.2

Mine Environmental Audit Section

2.1.1.1

The function/s of the Mine Rehabilitation Section shall be as follows: • Evaluates mine rehabilitation plans for abandoned mines; • Conducts audit of implementation of environmental management programs for final mine rehabilitation; • Promotes best practices on final mine rehabilitation; • Conducts Research and Development on final mine rehabilitation; and • Investigates incidents/complaints relating to abandoned mines.

Policy Studies and Project Development Section

The function/s of the Policy Studies and Project Development Section shall be as follows: • Initiates/coordinates the formulation of policies for the effective and efficient implementation of programs/projects/activities; • Coordinates project development and evaluates project proposals for project identification, prioritization and implementation; and • Coordinates and maintains international cooperation and commitments on the development, management and conservation of the country’s mineral resources, and the promotion and development of geosciences.

2.1.5.4

Mine Rehabilitation Section

Mine Safety and Health Section

The function/s of the Mine Safety and Health Section shall be as follows: • Reviews mine safety and health programs; • Conducts audit of implementation of mine safety and health programs; • Conducts Research and Development on the enhancement of mine safety and health; • Promotes best practices in mine safety and health; and • Investigates incidents/complaints relating to mine safety and health.

2.1.5.5

Social Development Section

The function/s of the Information System Group Section shall be as follows: • Designs, installs and maintains the national and regional management information system in coordination with various units of the Central and Regional Offices.

The function/s of the Social Development Section shall be as follows: • Reviews social development programs; • Conducts audit of implementation of social development programs; • Conducts Research and Development on the enhancement of social development programs; • Promotes best practices in social development; and • Investigates complaints relating to social development.

2.1.2

2.1.6

2.1.1.3

Information System Group

Mineral Economics, Information And Publication Division

Mining Tenements Management Division

The Mineral Economics, Information and Publication Division (MEIPD) shall conduct policy studies on mineral economics and provide information on mining and geosciences.

The Mining Tenements Management Division (MTMD) shall undertake final evaluation of all mining applications, conduct audit of the disposition of mineral lands and resources, and manage the Mineral Rights Management System.

It shall have the following sections:

It shall have the following sections:

2.1.2.1

Mineral Economics Section

The function/s of the Mineral Economics Section shall be as follows: • Conducts policy studies relating to mineral economics (including production, demand and supply, prices and government share in mining) for planning, policy formulation and decision making purposes; • Provides information on the contribution of mining to the economy; and • Undertakes final evaluation of the financial and economic components of proposed mining projects.

2.1.2.2

Mineral Statistics Section

The function/s of the Mineral Statistics Section shall be as follows: Evaluates mineral statistical reports; and Undertakes market forecasting.

2.1.2.3

Mineral Information and Publication Section

The function/s of the Mineral Information and Publication Section shall be as follows: • Develops and implements a mining and geosciences communication plan; • Publishes information materials on mining and geosciences; and • Maintains the Central Office Library and website.

2.1.3 Administrative Division The Administrative Division (AD) shall undertake human resource, property and records management.

It shall have the following sections: 2.1.3.1

Human Resource Management Section

The function/s of the Human Resource Management Section shall be as follows: • Implements plans and programs on human resource management (including human resource development, civil service rules and regulations); and • Undertakes Research and Development on human resource management and other administrative concerns.

2.1.3.2

Cashiering Section

The function/s of the Cashiering Section shall be as follows: • Collects payments and receives funds; • Disburses funds; and • Acts as temporary custodian of payments and funds.

2.1.3.3

Property Management Section

2.1.6.1 Mining Permit Evaluation Section The function/s of the Mining Permit Evaluation Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes final evaluation and recommends approval or denial of mining permit applications; • Undertakes final evaluation and recommends approval or denial of operating agreements/assignments involving mining permits and mining permit applications; and • Evaluates appeals/motions for reconsideration in connection with the cancellation of/denial of applications for mining permits and denial of area status and clearance; and • Undertakes final evaluation and recommends approval or denial of Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility involving Exploration Permits.

2.1.6.2

Mining Contract Evaluation Section

The function/s of the Mining Contract Evaluation Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes final evaluation and recommends approval or denial of mining contract applications; • Undertakes final evaluation and recommends approval or denial of operating agreements/assignments involving mining contracts and mining contract applications; • Evaluates appeals/motions for reconsideration in connection with the cancellation of/denial of applications for mining contracts and denial of area status and clearance; and • Undertakes final evaluation and recommends approval or denial of Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility involving mining contracts.

2.1.6.3

Mineral Lands Survey Section

The function/s of the Mineral Lands Survey Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes final evaluation of applications for survey order and survey returns, and survey plans in areas within mineral reservations; • Verifies mining tenement boundaries in connection with mining applications and in cases of conflicts/adverse claims/oppositions in areas within mineral reservation; • Assists in the final evaluation of mining applications in relation to mining tenement boundaries; • Manages the national mining tenement control map; and • Reviews the deputation of Geodetic Engineers.

2.1.6.4

Mining Tenement Audit Section

The function/s of the Mining Tenement Audit Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes audit of the disposition and utilization of mineral lands and resources; and • Evaluates applications for renewal of the Exploration Period of mining contracts, and recommendations for cancellation of mining permits/contracts.

2.1.6.5

Mineral Rights Management System Section

The function/s of the Property Management Section shall be as follows: • Procures, distributes and stores supplies, materials and equipment; and • Acts as the overall custodian of government property.

The function/s of the Mineral Rights Management System Section shall be as follows: • Maintains the National Mineral Rights Management System (MRMS); and • Assists in the maintenance of Regional MRMS.

2.1.3.4

2.1.7

General Services Section

The function/s of the General Services Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes the maintenance of buildings and other improvements, equipment, and furniture and fixture; and • Provides safety, security, housekeeping and transport services.

Marine Geological Information Management Section

The function/s of the Marine Geological Information Management Section shall be as follows: • Acts as custodian of and manages marine geological data; • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of Information, Education and Communication campaigns on marine geosciences (including geology, geohazard, rocks and mineral deposits, hydrogeology); and • Manages a mineral sample library.

2.1.8 Lands Geological Survey Division The Lands Geological Survey Division (LGSD) shall manage the national geoscience programs on land geoscientific surveys (including geological mapping, mineral exploration, geohazard assessment, hydrogeological exploration and vulnerability assessment, and engineering geological and geo-environmental studies) and establishment of mineral reservations; conduct Research and Development on geosciences; and provide geological laboratory and information services.

It shall have the following sections: The function/s of the General Geology Section shall be as follows: • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of geological mapping, and other specialized studies involving stratigraphy, structural geology and tectonics, and geomorphology, among others; and • Conducts Research and Development on geosciences.

2.1.5.3

2.1.1.2

2.1.7.4

2.1.8.1

Mine Environmental Management Section

It shall have the following sections:

• Undertakes planning, programming and monitoring of implementation of central and regional programs/projects/activities; and • Provides planning standards and guidelines.

Marine Technical Services Section

The function/s of the Marine Technical Services Section shall be as follows: • Manages the operation and maintenance of survey vessel/s, and survey equipment and instruments.

2.1.5.1

The function/s of the Mine Environmental Audit Section shall be as follows: • Conducts audit of implementation of environmental management programs for exploration and progressive rehabilitation; • Conducts Research and Development on the enhancement of environmental management; • Validates ancillary environmental programs; and • Conducts investigations of special cases relating to environmental management.

The function/s of the Planning and Monitoring Section shall be as follows:

2.1.7.3

Coastal and Offshore Geological Survey Section

It shall have the following sections:

The Planning, Policy and International Affairs Division (PPIAD) shall undertake planning, programming, and monitoring and evaluation of programs/projects/ activities; initiate the formulation of policies; coordinate the development and implementation of programs/projects and formulation of policies; initiate, coordinate and maintain international cooperation and commitments; and coordinate the design and installation of and maintain the national and regional management information system.

Planning and Monitoring Section

Marine Mineral Exploration Section

The Financial Management Division (FMD) shall undertake financial analysis in support to planning, controlling and decision-making.

2.1.4

Section 2. Functional Statements

2.1 Office of the Director

2.1.7.1

The function/s of the Marine Mineral Exploration Section shall be as follows: • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of marine mineral exploration of offshore areas; • Conducts Research and Development on mineral deposits and exploration; • Evaluates the marine geological component of proposed mining projects; and • Provides marine mineral exploration services.

The function/s of the Financial Service Section shall be as follows: • Administers the internal operations of the Division; • Monitors the implementation of financial controls of the Central Office and consults the results thereof; • Provides/recommends financial insights to all segments of the Division to ensure that the day-to-day financial transactions are carried out in proper way; and • Reviews and consolidates budget proposals, budget accountability reports and financial accounts of Regional Offices.

The Regional Director shall primarily carry out the mandate and discharge the powers and functions of the MGB at the regional level, under the supervision and control of the Director.

It shall have the following sections:

Marine Geological Survey Division

The Marine Geological Survey Division (MGSD) shall undertake marine geoscientific surveys (including coastal/offshore geohazard assessment, mineral exploration and geo-environmental study), and Research and Development on geosciences, and provide marine geoscientific services.

2.1.8.2

General Geology Section

Economic Geology Section

The function/s of the Economic Geology Section shall be as follows: • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of mineral exploration (including characterization and modelling of mineral deposits); • Manages the establishment of mineral reservations; • Manages drilling equipment; and • Conducts Research and Development on mineral exploration.

2.1.8.3

Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Section

The function/s of the Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Section shall be as follows: • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of hydrogeological exploration and vulnerability assessment; • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of geo-environmental studies (including assessment of possible solid waste disposal sites and studies on climate change and other environmental impacts); and • Conducts Research and Development on hydrogeology and environmental geology.

2.1.8.4

Geohazard and Engineering Geology Section

The function/s of the Geohazard and Engineering Geology Section shall be as follows: • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of geohazard and risk assessment (including hazard modelling, and engineering geological studies); • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of relocation/resettlement and evacuation site assessment in support to disaster risk reduction and management programs; and • Conducts Research and Development on geohazard and engineering geology.

2.1.8.5

Geological Laboratory Services Section

The function/s of the Geological Laboratory Services Section shall be as follows: • Provides services on geological laboratory analysis of minerals/ores, rocks, soil, sediments, fossils, water and other types of samples; • Provides support services to satellite laboratories in the regions; and • Conducts Research and Development on analytical laboratory methods.

2.1.8.6

Lands Geological Information Management Section

The function/s of the Lands Geological Information Management Section shall be as follows: • Acts as custodian of and manages lands geological data (including remote sensing data); • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the conduct of Information, Education and Communication campaigns on geosciences (including geology, geohazard, rocks and mineral deposits, hydrogeology); • Manages the mines and geosciences museum; and • Conducts Research and Development on geological information technology and management.

2.1.9

Mining Technology Division

The Mining Technology Division (MTD) shall conduct Research and Development for the advancement of mining technologies; provide and coordinate mining technology support services; implement the technology transfer provisions of existing laws, and rules and regulations; implement the National Small-Scale Mining Program; and assist in the conduct of investigation of complaints (including illegal mining activities).

It shall have the following sections: 2.1.9.1

Mining Technology Development Section

The function/s of the Mining Technology Development Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes Research and Development on mine development and production; and • Provides mining technology support services.

2.1.9.2

Mineral Reserves Inventory Section

The function/s of the Mineral Reserves Inventory Section shall be as follows: • Supervises and provides support to the regional offices in the validation of mineral reserves of mining operations; • Conducts an inventory of mineral reserves; • Manages a mineral reserves information system; and • Undertakes Research and Development on mineral reserves.

2.1.9.3

Mine Evaluation and Enforcement Section

The function/s of the Mine Evaluation and Enforcement Section shall be as follows: • Conducts/Assists in the investigation of complaints (including illegal mining activities); • Evaluates the mine plan and design component of proposed mining projects; and • Implements the technology transfer provisions of existing laws, rules and regulations.

2.1.9.4

Small-Scale Mining Development Section

The function/s of the Small-Scale Mining Development Section shall be as follows: • Manages the implementation of the National Small-Scale Mining Program; and • Provides technical assistance on mining methods and mine safety.

2.1.10

Metallurgical Technology Division

The Metallurgical Technology Division (MeTD) shall develop metallurgical processes of beneficiating/extracting minerals/metals from ores; provide metallurgical and analytical services to the various mining stakeholders; and conduct audit of mineral processing operations.

It shall have the following sections:

T H U R S D AY : M AY 7, 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Barako gets lift from JC

By Jeric Lopez

AFTER squandering a 22-point lead in the first half, Barako Bull recovered its bearings down the stretch to turn back NLEX, 101-96, and start on a winning note in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

JC Intal came up huge in the fourth period as he hit crucial baskets and carried the Energy Colas on his shoulders in crunch time by scoring 14 of his 24 points in the final 12 minutes as he towed his squad to victory. He added 11 rebounds for a doubledouble.

Providing stability down low, 7-foot reinforcement Liam McMorrow likewise willed his way to game-highs of 33 points and 22 rebounds for Barako Bull.

The Energy Colas joined early victors Alaska and Glo2.1.10.1

balPort at the top with their 1-0 starts while the Road Warriors dropped to 0-1. ‘’Everybody stayed positive and we’re able to turn things around in the fourth,’’ said Barako Bull coach Coy Banal, who also commended the his two players who powered them to the victory. ‘’I think McMorrow will be a force in this league. JC (Intal) also gave us his 100 percent and he was a good influence to his teammates.’’

Heading to the last five minutes, the two teams were still tied,

Mineral Processing Research and Development Section

The function/s of the Mineral Processing Research and Development Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes Research and Development to determine the feasibility of upgrading and recovering minerals/metals; and • Prepares project proposals for Research and Development on mineral processing and extractive metallurgy.

2.1.10.2

Mineral Processing Service and Audit Section

The function/s of the Mineral Processing Service and Audit Section shall be as follows: • Provides services by undertaking various metallurgical bench and pilot laboratory tests on ores, minerals and metallurgical products/by-products; • Evaluates the mineral processing component of proposed mining projects; • Conducts audit on the compliance with the terms and conditions of Mineral Processing Permit; and • Assists in the investigation of illegal mining (including mineral processing operations).

2.1.10.3

Chemical Laboratory Service Section

The function/s of the Chemical Laboratory Service Section shall be as follows: • Provides services on chemical and physical analysis of minerals/ores and metallurgical products; • Participates in the conduct of metallurgical research projects; and • Conducts research and development on substitute and alternative procedures for rapid and cost effective analysis.

2.1.10.4

Mechanical-Electrical Service Section

The function/s of the Mechanical-Electrical Service Section shall be as follows: • Repairs and maintains various metallurgical and analytical equipment of the Division and other office equipment and facilities of the MGB; • Provides mechanical/electrical designs of equipment, machineries and infrastructure (including plans and layouts, specification, and bill of materials); and • Assists in the inspection of mechanical and electrical installations of mining operations.

2.1.11 Legal Service Division The Legal Service Division (LSD) shall provide legal services to the Central Office for the effective and efficient implementation of laws, rules and regulations and policies, relating to the administration and disposition of mineral lands and resources.

but Intal caught fire and led a key 12-5 run in the next four minutes to put Barako Bull on top 99-92 with 1:17 remaining.

A quick 4-0 run by NLEX on back-to-back baskets from Mac Cardona and Jonas Villanueva kept it alive as it made it a onepossession game with Barako Bull only ahead by three, 99-96 with 57.1 seconds left.

The Road Warriors had a chance

to inch closer but Asi Taulava threw the ball away with less than 40 seconds and McMorrow scored on a follow-up at the other end to make it 101-96 with 13 seconds left.

That placed the game in the bag for the Energy Colas.

Led by McMorrow’s huge presence down low, Barako Bull built a comfortabnle doubledigit lead, 29-19, at the close of the first frame.

PH Volcanoes reach finals BOCAUE, Bulacan – Sub Alex Aronson sparked the Philippine Volcanoes to a pulsating 20-17 come-from-behind victory in extra time over Singapore to advance to the finals of the Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 tournament last night at the Philippine Sports Stadium.

Down by 10 in the waning seconds of the second half, the Volcanoes went

to Aronson, who rose to the occasion by coming through with a try and a successful conversion to force the extension. He capped his heroics with the “golden point” in OT to lead the hosts to the huge triumph.

The Volcanoes set up a championship showdown on Saturday with Sri Lanka, which prevailed over Kazakhstan in the other match, 35-14.

It shall have the following sections: 2.2.2.1

General and Economic Geology Section

The function/s of the General and Economic Geology Section shall be as follows: • Conducts geological mapping, and other specialized studies involving stratigraphy, structural geology and tectonics, and geomorphology, among others; • Conducts mineral exploration (including characterization and modelling of mineral deposits); • Undertakes the evaluation of proposed mineral reservation; • Conducts validation and inventory of mineral resource; • Assists in the evaluation of mining tenements in relation to mineral exploration; and • Conducts Information, Education and Communication campaigns on geosciences (including geology, geohazard, rocks and mineral deposits, hydrogeology).

2.2.2.2

Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Section

The function/s of the Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Section shall be as follows: • Conducts hydrogeological exploration and vulnerability assessment; and • Conducts geo-environmental studies (including assessment of possible solid waste disposal sites and studies on climate change and other environmental impacts).

2.2.2.3

Geohazard and Engineering Geology Section

The function/s of Geohazard and Engineering Geology Section shall be as follows: • Conducts geohazard and risk assessment (including hazard modelling, and engineering geological studies); • Conducts relocation/resettlement and evacuation site assessment in support to disaster risk reduction and management programs; and • Undertakes geological scoping and review of engineering geological and geohazard assessment reports.

2.2.2.4

Geological Laboratory Services Section

The function/s of the Geological Laboratory Services Section shall be as follows: • Provides services on geological laboratory analysis of minerals/ores, rocks, soil, sediments, fossils, water and other types of samples.

2.2.3

Mine Management Division

The sections of the Division and their functions are as follows:

The Mine Management Division (MMD) shall undertake initial evaluation of mining and mining-related applications, monitoring of the disposition and utilization of mineral lands and resources, and survey of mineral lands.

2.1.11.1

It shall have the following sections:

Legal Review and Research Section

The function/s of the Legal Review and Research Section shall be as follows: • Advises on implementation of existing laws, rules and regulations and policies; • Assists in the formulation of laws, rules and regulations and policies relating to the administration and disposition of mineral lands and resources; • Assists in the review of contracts, agreements, permits and other related documents and concerns; and • Conducts legal researches and studies.

2.1.11.2

Investigation Section

The function/s of the Investigation Section shall be as follows: • Investigates and assists in the resolution of special cases and appeals; and • Assists in the investigation of illegal mining and administrative cases/ complaints; assessment of compensation for damages; and prosecution of violators.

REGIONAL OFFICE 2.2 Office of the Regional Director The Office of the Regional Director shall implement at the regional level the pertinent laws, policies, rules and regulations and programs; exercise the management functions of planning, organizing, directing and controlling; undertake Information, Education and Communication campaign; and perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law or delegated by the Director.

2.2.3.1

2.2.3.2

2.2.1.2

Administrative Section

2.2.3.3

Mine Safety and Health Section

The function/s of the Mine Safety and Health Section shall be as follows: • Evaluates mine safety and health programs and related permit applications; • Conducts monitoring of implementation of mine safety and health programs and compliance with other mine safety and health requirements; and • Investigates incidents/complaints relating to mine safety and health.

2.2.4.3

Social Development Section

The function/s of the Social Development Section shall be as follows: The Social Development Section shall have the following functions: • Evaluates social development programs; • Conducts monitoring of implementation of social development programs and compliance with other social development requirements; and • Investigates incidents/complaints relating to the implementation of social development programs.

Section 3. Repealing Clause All Orders, Circulars and other policies of the DENR inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 4. Effectivity This Administrative Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation and fifteen (15) days after registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register.

Recommended by:

RAMON J.P. PAJE Secretary

LEO L. JASARENO Director Mines and Geosciences Bureau

Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division

The Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division (MSESDD) shall conduct the evaluation and monitoring of implementation of programs and investigate incidents/complaints on mine safety and health, environmental management and social development.

It shall have the following sections:

2.2.2

The function/s of the Mine Environmental Management Section shall be as follows: • Conducts initial evaluation/validation of environmental management programs; • Evaluates annual environmental management programs and small-scale mining environmental management plan; • Conducts monitoring of implementation of environmental management

Geosciences Division

2.2.4.2

Mineral Lands Survey Section

The function/s of the Administrative Section shall be as follows: • Provides services on human resource, property and records management, including cashiering and other general services.

The Geosciences Division (GD) shall undertake land and marine geoscientific surveys (including mineral exploration, geological mapping, geohazard assessment, groundwater resource exploration and vulnerability assessment, and engineering geological and geo-environmental studies) and provide geological laboratory and information services.

programs and compliance with other environmental requirements; and • Investigates incidents/complaints relating to environmental management and abandoned mines.

Monitoring and Technical Services Section

2.2.4

Finance Section

The function/s of the Finance Section shall be as follows: • Provides budgeting and accounting services.

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

The function/s of the Monitoring and Technical Services Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes monitoring of the disposition and utilization of mineral lands and resources; • Validates mineral reserves of mining operations; • Undertakes mineral statistical analysis; and • Provides technical assistance to stakeholders.

2.2.1.1

Finance and Administrative Division

The Finance and Administrative Division (FAD) shall provide general administrative services pertaining to human and financial resources and property and records management.

LOTTO RESULTS

The function/s of the Mining Tenement Evaluation Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes initial evaluation of mining and mining-related applications; • Undertakes registration and maintains a registry of mining-related documents; • Investigates and assists in the resolution of conflicts/adverse claims/ oppositions concerning mining tenements; • Evaluates the financial and economic components of proposed mining projects; and • Maintains the Regional MRMS.

It shall have the following sections:

2.2.1

However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission barred him from taking the injection, claiming they were informed only a few hours before the fight.

One of Pacquiao’s leading sparring partners, former UFC fighter—middleweight Dashon Johnson, revealed after the fight that the sparring partners were sent home after Pacquiao hurt his shoulder during a sparring session.

In a Facebook post, Johnson said he was asked to remain quiet about Pacquiao’s injury.

“I just want to feel everyone in on all the rumors! We were asked not to mention anything to anyone, but yes, Manny got hurt during this camp with his right shoulder and it was messed up pretty bad.”

Mining Tenement Evaluation Section

The function/s of the Mineral Lands Survey Services Section shall be as follows: • Undertakes evaluation of applications for survey order and survey returns, and survey plans in areas outside mineral reservations; • Undertakes initial evaluation of applications for survey order and survey returns, and survey plans in areas within mineral reservations; • Verifies mining tenement boundaries in connection with mining applications and in cases of conflicts/adverse claims/oppositions in areas outside mineral reservations; • Assists in the evaluation of mining applications in relation to mining tenement boundaries; • Manages the regional mining tenement control map; and • Evaluates the deputation of Geodetic Engineers.

The Office shall have the following divisions:

Floyd... From A16

2.2.4.1

Mine Environmental Management Section

(TS-MAY 7, 2015)

A16

T H U R S D AY : M AY 7, 2 0 1 5

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

‘Suit vs Pacquiao won’t hold water’

By Dennis Principe

THE nature of his sport may save Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao from a class-action suit filed against him in a Las Vegas court, even as his lawyer said that the case won’t prosper.

Yesterday, Las Vegas residents Staphane Vanel and Kami Rahbaran filed a $5-million case against Pacquiao, Top Rank, Inc., promoter Bob Arum and adviser Michael Koncz for their alleged failure to disclose the Filipino boxer’s injury before his 12-round bout opposite Floyd Mayweather, Jr. last weekend.

The complaint states that “All members of the Class relied upon the misrepresentations and the non-disclosures in purchasing tickets; purchasing pay per view showings; and in making wagers

Region III bet shatters record 5 times TURN TO A13

on the Event.”

But Pacquiao’s lawyer Daniel Petrocelli believes the case will not hold water in court.

“It claims Pacquiao was injured (immediately) before the bout and that’s not true—he was injured (nearly a month) before the bout, was examined by doctors and cleared to fight and he was examined by the commission right before he fought,” said Petrocelli.

Meanwhile, in a telephone interview with The Standard, lawyer Melencio “Mel” Santa Maria, said

buying a ticket to a specific event, in this case an event that involved a Pacquiao fight, is similar to entering a contract. Santa Maria said buyers have reasonable expectations, but at the same time are presumed knowledgeable about the agreement they enter into.

“You know the nature of sports and his previous experience, things like that could happen. Ilang laban na ba si Manny? Going into that (fight), he has already a battered body so things like that can really happen to an athlete,” said Santa Maria.

Santa Maria added that once a ticket is bought, there is what he termed as “reasonable expectations,” wherein a ticket holder of a sporting competition usually assumes a 50-50 chance between two competitors.

But Santa Maria, the current dean of Far Eastern University’s Institute of Law, said such is not al-

Hawks, Grizzlies bounce back TURN TO A12

ways the case in boxing because of the nature of how it is played.

“Are these common things in boxing? Does it happen all the time?

If it does, then ‘yung reasonable expectations ng bumibili ng ticket, nawawala,” said Santa Maria.

Another factor which Santa Maria said may help Pacquiao overcome the case is the fact that the Filipino boxer gave Mayweather a tough fight that up to this day, there are those who are still not convinced about the American champion’s victory.

“It’s a manifestation of good faith.

He did not go in and take an intentional dive. There is no inkling on his part that he will be at a disadvantage because he knows that he can beat this guy,” said Santa Maria.

“Ibig sabihin, there was really a legitimate ground to say that there was 50-50 chance from the beginning.”

Manny Pacquiao, shown here throwing a right at Floyd Mayweather Jr. during their welterweight unification championship bout on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is being sued by Las Vegas residents for his alleged failure to disclose his injury before his 12-round bout opposite the American. AFP

Floyd OK to rematch

By Ronnie Nathanielsz IN A strange twist to the Manny Pacquiao injury saga, undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., who notched his 48th straight victory with a unanimous points’ decision over the eight-division world champion, said he is willing to give the Filipino southpaw a rematch sometime in 2016.

This would be after Pacquiao recovers from surgery for a tear in his right shoulder rotator cuff, which was aggravated in the fourth round of their showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last Saturday.

In a text message to ESPN’s Stephen Smith, Mayweather was quoted as telling Smith he is willing to have a rematch with Pacquiao.

The Filipino is scheduled to undergo surgery this week and plans to return to the Philippines, with his wife Jinkee and their five children this weekend.

Pacquiao suffered the shoulder injury in training camp, some three weeks before the fight, but decided to push through with the fight against the unbeaten poundfor-pound king after his condition improved following the use of a pain-killing numbing agent that was approved by the US Anti Doping Agency, which informed the Nevada State Athletic Commission about the Filipino’s condition and the medication he was undertaking.

Pacquiao said he was able to rest his shoulder in the final weeks of camp, even sending away his sparring partners, and was under the impression that he will be allowed to take an anti-inflammatory shot on fight night in order to numb the pain.

Turn to A15

THURSDAY: MAY 7, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

Forbes PH edition.

Forbes Media LLC and Summit Media Inc. launched the Philippine edition of Forbes magazine on Wednesday night at Makati Shangri La Hotel in Makati City. Shown during the launching of the magazine are (from left) Forbes Media chief executive for Asia William Adamopoulos, Summit Media president Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Forbes Media vice chairman Christopher Forbes, Megaworld Corp. chairman and chief executive Andrew Tan, Philippine Stock Exchange president and chief executive Hans Sicat and Forbes Philippines editor-in-chief Roel Landingin. LINO SANTOS

PSALM’s Ledesma suspended PSe c omPoSite

index

Closing MAY 6, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,873.64 45.57

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing MAY 6, 2015 46

P44.540

45

CLOSE

44 43 42

HIGH P44.500 LOW P44.555 AVERAGE P44.526 VOLUME 559.300M

P500.00-P650.00 LPG/11-kg tank P38.95-P44.55 Unleaded Gasoline P27.70-P31.00 Diesel

o

il P PriceS today

P32.40-P40.40 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, May 6, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.6260

Japan

Yen

0.008344

0.3724

UK

Pound

1.518000

67.7423

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129016

5.7575

Switzerland

Franc

1.078749

48.1403

Canada

Dollar

0.828295

36.9635

Singapore

Dollar

0.751145

33.5206

Australia

Dollar

0.794281

35.4456

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652379

118.3651

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

Brunei

Dollar

0.748335

33.3952

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030358

1.3548

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.1497

Euro

Euro

1.118500

49.9142

Korea

Won

0.000925

0.0413

China

Yuan

0.161129

7.1905

India

Rupee

0.015790

0.7046

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.277008

12.3618

New Zealand

Dollar

0.756086

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032636

11.9009

33.7411 1.4564 Source: PDS Bridge

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE board of Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. has placed president and chief executive Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. on preventive suspension for 90 days.

The PSALM board led by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima as chairman and outgoing Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla as vice chairman did not cite the official reason for the suspension.

But a source said the board based its decision on the complaint of employees over an alleged bidding irregularity on the procurement of Agus 6 hydroelectric plant in Mindanao.

PSALM vice pesident for finance Lourdes Alzona will act as the officer-in-charge.

Ledesma said he respected the decision of the PSALM board but had some reservations on the legal justification for the board’s action.

“I will have to clarify matters with the appointing authority. I am a presidential appointee, and I ultimately serve at the [pleasure] of the President,” he said.

Ledesma was appointed by President Aquino in September 2010, his first posting in government service. He was formerly with the international banking industry with over 20 years of experience.

PSALM employees filed a petition agains Ledesma after the Agus 6 bidding.

“We strongly believe, however, that Mr. Ledesma has been and is grossly remiss in his fiduciary duties and obligations as PSALM’s CEO by not delivering on his duties of due diligence and loyalty, and duty of confidentiality,” the employees said in their petition to the PSALM board.

The source said the PSALM board’s decision to suspend Ledesma was due to the concerns

raised on the Agus 6 hydro plant replacement of unit 4 generator and excitation system under a negotiated procurement.

The employees earlier alleged that Ledesma overturned the decision of the Bids and Awards Committee for a public bidding from a negotiated bid. They said Ledesma exercised unsound judgement and management decision and non-compliance to bid procedures.

The employees said no due diligence was conducted on the re-testing of unit 4 as recommended by the technical working group and that there was no consultation with the National Economicand Development Authority Investment Coordinating Committee or the Department of Budget and Management.

PH set to produce more billionaires—Forbes THE Philippines is expected to keep growing faster than the rest of Asia and produce more billionaires in the coming years, top executives of Forbes Media LLC, the publisher of Forbes magazine, said Thursday.

“We are quite bullish on the economy here. It is expected to outperform much of the region for several years to come,” William Adamopoulos, chief executive for Asia of Forbes Media, said in an interview at Makati Shangri La Hotel in Makati City, after the company launched its Philippine edition of the magazine a day earlier.

Forbes Media teamed up with Summit Media Inc. of the Gokongwei group to launch Forbes Philippines, a monthly magazine for business leaders, on Wednesday night at the

same hotel. The event was attended by business leaders, chief executives, entrepreneurs and government officials.

The editorial team of the Philippine edition is led by veteran business journalist Roel Landingin as the editor-in-chief and Lala Rimando as the managing editor. “From the folks that convened last night, you can see that the business community is welcoming Forbes with open arms,” said Adamopoulos, adding the maiden issue had attracted a good number of advertisers.

Forbes Media vice chairman Christopher Forbes said the Philippine business community’s reception of the Philippine edition of Forbes magazine “was very enthusiastic based on the crowd.”

The maiden issue had real estate tycoon Andrew Tan on the cover. Tan was one of the 11 billionaires in the Philippines ranked by Forbes as of March 2015.

“The number of billionaires across Southeast Asia is growing, part of it in the last few years in the Philippines.

With the growth of the economy, the rich list is often a barometer of economic success of a country,” said Adamopoulos. “If you are bullish on the Philippine economy as we are, then we expect to see that there will be more billionaires joining the ranks in the years to come.”

Adamopoulos said Forbes would also bring its Global CEO Conference in Manila for the first time on Oct. 12 to 14, 2015. “We will convene some 400 CEOs, business leaders and

tycoons from around the world, here in Manila,” he said.

Forbes Philippines, the 38th international edition of the magazine, had an initial circulation of 10,000 copies. The US edition is considered as an authority in ranking the world’s billionaires.

Forbes chairman Steve Forbes said in his column at the magazine the Philippine edition would chronicle the story of the Filipino economic miracle.

“At a time of seriously disappointing global growth rates, the Philippines has been an impressive and happy exception: GDP grew 6.1 percent last year and is expected to grow more than 6 percent this year and next,” Steve Forbes said.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

THURSDAY: MAY 7, 2015

B2

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Wednesday, May 6, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 104 63 4.2 18.48 31.6 9.5 890 1.01 99.4 1.46 30.5 75 94.95 137 361.2 59 174.8 1700 127.9

2.5 66 84.6 84.5 45.8 2.03 12.02 23.55 6.3 625 0.225 78 0.9 18.02 58 76.5 95 276 45 107.6 1200 66

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

8 70.9 112.50 102.90 46 2.04 15.38 22.15 7.40 792.00 0.490 93.65 0.98 18.20 31.50 76.90 94 319 45 167.1 1420.00 66.50

35.6 1.04 1.41 7.92 40.3 14.6 20.2 10.08 29.15

1.04 10.72 8.44 9.79 5.43 9.54 1.06 8.61 18.06 67.9 14 0.0076 13.24 3.12 168 8.65 34.1 2.3 16 24.4 16.2 7.62 250.2 3.87 9 3.7 9.94 3.03 2.22 1 4.72 1.65 6 201.6 4.1 1.67 0.122 1.02 2.01 143.4 0.670 9.01 1.39

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medelin Century Food Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

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

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

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp.

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

43.65 1.08 2.09 11.38 48.4 19.44 45 27.85 63 2.43 1.86 13.16 20.600 11.48 8.37 10.20 1.8 15.18 28.75 94.6 14.30 0.4250 14.00 6.17 211.00 10.2 35.00 2.7 52.00 24.65 27.55 7.770 263.60 4.27 9.80 4.5 11.60 4.00 2.33 2.4 5.10 1.92 6 196 4.15 1.72 0.166 1.37 2.24 220.8 0.72 21.10 1.35

0.45 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 1.4 1.6 600 7.390 14.18 2.6 1.15 0.144 818 5.3 46.6 4.96 3 3.52 4.43 0.59 12 0.580 4.22 4.5 0.036 1.23 0.450 2.26 66.7 709.5 1.13 170 85.2 0.200 0.173

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ F&J Prince ‘B’ Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Transgrid Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries

0.470 57.30 25.65 1.28 7.00 0.305 0.31 801 8.2 15.08 3.15 3.79 0.280 1315 6.39 74.00 5 5.16 4.8 8.9 0.71 15 0.66 4.54 5.1 0.0390 1.430 1.130 2.42 67.40 925.00 1.24 263.40 98.50 0.3750 0.2400

47 1.66 2.36 15.3 113 20.6 85 32 65.8 4.57 23.35 21.6 12.98 9.13 12.34 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 0.820 15.3 9.4 241 12.5 79 3.95 45.45 33.9 90 13.98 292.4 5.25 13.04 6.8 14.5 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.68 7.86 8.1 253 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.5 2.68 226.6 1.3 26 2.17

High

Low

FINANCIAL 7.99 7.85 70.85 69.5 112.50 110.10 102.80 100.50 46 45.55 2.10 2.03 15.38 14.9 22.2 22.05 7.40 7.40 785.00 781.00 0.455 0.455 94.4 93.3 1.09 0.97 18.24 18.24 30.65 30.60 76.60 76.30 93.5 93.5 319 315 45.45 45 167.1 166.1 1420.00 1410.00 66.90 66.80 INDUSTRIAL 43.6 43.3 1.09 1.06 2.1 2.08 11.32 11.3 66 54.4 19.7 19.42 67.5 55 27.85 25 63.2 62 2.48 2.32 1.86 1.77 13.2 12.9 20.850 20.3 11.50 11.38 8.34 8.01 10.50 10.20 1.85 1.81 15.22 14 28.75 28.25 94.6 93.4 14.30 14.30 0.4200 0.4200 14.20 14.20 6.2 6.02 211.00 207.00 10.26 10.12 36.65 34.00 2.79 2.52 52.10 51.95 24.7 24.45 28 27.2 7.780 7.670 264.00 262.00 4.28 4.26 9.98 9.80 4.71 4.1 11.60 11.58 4.00 3.96 2.34 2.22 2.38 2.26 5.11 5.10 1.95 1.91 6.39 6.39 195.9 193 4.2 4.2 1.7 1.62 0.165 0.162 1.37 1.37 2.30 2.22 221.6 213.6 0.72 0.7 20.80 20.50 1.40 1.35 HOLDING FIRMS 0.470 0.465 57.50 57.00 25.65 24.90 1.30 1.30 7.10 6.99 0.325 0.295 0.32 0.3 813 790 8.26 8.19 15.06 14.86 3.5 3.5 3.79 3.5 0.285 0.275 1330 1305 6.41 6.39 74.00 72.85 5.25 4.7 6.5 5.5 7.2 5.99 8.94 8.8 0.74 0.72 15.7 15 0.67 0.65 4.59 4.53 5.05 5 0.0390 0.0380 1.440 1.440 1.170 1.120 2.42 2.42 68.00 67.15 926.00 905.00 1.21 1.21 263.20 252.40 98.00 98.00 0.3800 0.3750 0.2450 0.2400 PROPERTY 8.880 8.710 0.77 0.72 40.30 39.80 4.18 4.13 5.2 5.1 6.45 5.75

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

7.93 70.5 111.00 102.00 46 2.10 15.3 22.05 7.40 785.00 0.455 94.4 1.07 18.24 30.60 76.40 93.5 318 45.05 167 1410.00 66.90

-0.88 -0.56 -1.33 -0.87 0.00 2.94 -0.52 -0.45 0.00 -0.88 -7.14 0.80 9.18 0.22 -2.86 -0.65 -0.53 -0.31 0.11 -0.06 -0.70 0.60

22,600 64,240 3,645,310 3,944,610 34,300 395,000 32,700 72,500 16,300 640 100,000 4,935,680 4,090,000 3,000 1,800 41,120 1,000 43,900 267,000 282,970 240 2,020

43.6 1.08 2.09 11.3 63.5 19.62 67.5 26.95 63 2.38 1.77 12.9 20.700 11.48 8.16 10.50 1.85 15.14 28.55 94 14.30 0.4200 14.20 6.19 209.00 10.2 34.00 2.78 52.10 24.65 28 7.700 263.00 4.27 9.90 4.71 11.60 4.00 2.24 2.34 5.10 1.91 6.39 194.9 4.2 1.66 0.162 1.37 2.22 218 0.7 20.50 1.36

-0.11 0.00 0.00 -0.70 31.20 0.93 50.00 -3.23 0.00 -2.06 -4.84 -1.98 0.49 0.00 -2.51 2.94 2.78 -0.26 -0.70 -0.63 0.00 -1.18 1.43 0.32 -0.95 0.00 -2.86 2.96 0.19 0.00 1.63 -0.90 -0.23 0.00 1.02 4.67 0.00 0.00 -3.86 -2.50 0.00 -0.52 6.50 -0.56 1.20 -3.49 -2.41 0.00 -0.89 -1.27 -2.78 -2.84 0.74

2,433,800 1,374,000 577,000 2,500 3,100 91,700 1,100 174,200 135,620 9,442,000 317,000 162,500 3,434,200 394,500 25,464,100 3,232,700 20,000 134,000 2,719,700 440,810 10,300 150,000 1,800 177,600 477,890 438,000 1,100 19,000 5,580 3,256,000 169,200 108,400 295,730 13,890,000 1,992,500 3,000 7,200 135,000 3,086,000 535,000 313,900 87,000 1,500 124,920 2,000 999,000 2,310,000 17,000 4,446,000 1,763,490 3,427,000 5,400 85,000

0.470 57.50 25.10 1.30 7.10 0.310 0.31 812 8.24 14.98 3.5 3.79 0.285 1320 6.40 73.55 4.8 6.5 7.2 8.89 0.73 15.54 0.67 4.56 5.05 0.0380 1.440 1.160 2.42 67.25 910.50 1.21 252.40 98.00 0.3800 0.2440

0.00 0.35 -2.14 1.56 1.43 1.64 1.64 1.37 0.49 -0.66 11.11 0.00 1.79 0.38 0.16 -0.61 -4.00 25.97 50.00 -0.11 2.82 3.60 1.52 0.44 -0.98 -2.56 0.70 2.65 0.00 -0.22 -1.57 -2.42 -4.18 -0.51 1.33 1.67

10,000 778,200 9,920,800 10,000 30,400 93,630,000 6,970,000 559,430 1,045,200 7,015,200 2,000 24,000 690,000 213,090 375,800 1,302,640 17,200 26,100 9,000 1,239,400 66,000 9,529,400 86,000 32,333,000 100,000 2,600,000 12,000 5,194,000 3,000 139,070 809,820 1,000 130 4,630 2,020,000 480,000

1,705,550.00 -132,745,395.00 -97,586,575.00 -228,950.00 137,550.00 -187,875.00 486,695.00 -1,921,507.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

7.1 1.54 1.97 0.201 0.98 1.09 0.305 2.25 1.87 1.8 5.73 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 3.6 20.6 1.02 1.96 8.59

4.6 0.89 1.1 0.083 0.445 0.85 0.188 1.4 1.42 1.19 4.13 0.090 0.325 0.39 23 2.57 21.35 1.64 3.08 15.08 0.69 1 5.69

Cebu Prop. `B’ 6.49 Century Property 0.9 City & Land Dev. 1.22 Crown Equities Inc. 0.156 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.465 Empire East Land 0.860 Ever Gotesco 0.183 Global-Estate 1.38 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.94 Interport `A’ 1.40 Megaworld 5.42 MRC Allied Ind. 0.122 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.3400 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.5000 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 25.00 Primex Corp.

7.01 Robinson’s Land `B’ 29.35 Rockwell 1.76 Shang Properties Inc. 3.30 SM Prime Holdings 19.90 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.76 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.000 Vista Land & Lifescapes 7.520

6 6 6 0.91 0.89 0.9 1.24 1.24 1.24 0.162 0.155 0.158 0.470 0.460 0.470 0.860 0.860 0.860 0.185 0.182 0.182 1.40 1.39 1.40 1.93 1.90 1.91 1.44 1.40 1.40 5.45 5.33 5.45 0.127 0.121 0.125 0.3400 0.3300 0.3300 0.5000 0.5000 0.5000 37.50 32.80 37.50 7.24 7.08 7.2 29.50 29.35 29.40 1.76 1.75 1.76 3.30 3.30 3.30 19.86 19.54 19.60 0.77 0.75 0.77 1.000 1.000 1.000 7.630 7.520 7.540 SERVICES 6.5 6.5 6.35 6.5 62.2 62.35 62 62 0.680 0.690 0.670 0.680 13.54 13.98 13.52 13.98 11.70 11.80 11.54 11.68 0.1020 0.1020 0.1010 0.1010 4.9 4.95 4.64 4.77 87 87.5 86.1 86.25 10 10 10 10 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 7.18 7.18 7.09 7.10 3.30 2.98 2.98 2.98 2212 2230 2180 2230 6.27 6.27 6.20 6.24 45.90 46.90 32.00 39.00 1.43 1.43 1.40 1.42 111 111.3 110 111 6.55 7.58 7.00 7.00 12.4 12.42 12.4 12.4 0.014 0.014 0.013 0.014 0.232 0.234 0.228 0.229 1.2500 1.2800 1.2600 1.2800 2.6 2.5 2.43 2.43 9.55 9.60 9.45 9.47 2.04 2.09 2.04 2.09 1.26 1.29 1.27 1.27 2.19 2.18 2.18 2.18 30.35 45.50 45.50 45.50 9.05 9.1 8.95 8.95 0.370 0.365 0.355 0.355 18.44 18.42 18.42 18.42 5.10 5.10 4.70 4.94 2.99 3 3 3 139.00 185.00 128.00 140.00 14.74 14.74 14.60 14.74 2884.00 2886.00 2848.00 2868.00 0.610 0.640 0.620 0.630 1.660 1.680 1.600 1.610 40.30 41.10 39.85 40.90 85.90 86.95 85.90 85.90 10.72 10.72 10.42 10.72 0.66 0.68 0.66 0.67 6.8 6.79 6.71 6.79 0.340 0.345 0.340 0.345 1.300 1.290 1.290 1.290 MINING & OIL 0.0053 0.0053 0.0052 0.0053 2.60 3.12 2.72 3.10 8.00 8.12 8.01 8.05 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 0.265 0.260 0.255 0.260 6.7000 6.7000 6.7000 6.7000 6.8000 6.8000 6.8000 6.8000 1.04 1.05 1.03 1.03 0.9 0.9 0.87 0.9 7.68 7.90 7.68 7.70 1.87 1.94 1.88 1.93 0.350 0.370 0.350 0.350 0.233 0.234 0.232 0.232 0.235 0.238 0.235 0.238 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0150 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 4.2 4.56 4.25 4.54 24.2 26.9 24.7 26.6 3.83 3.98 3.86 3.97 0.7100 0.7200 0.7100 0.7200 2.200 2.260 2.150 2.180 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 0.0140 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 4.50 4.50 4.45 4.48 7.15 7.2 7.06 7.08 1.67 1.73 1.59 1.6 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.016 164.50 165.50 16.50 163.50 5.7 6.31 5.7 5.8 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 PREFERRED 65 65 62.7 65 525 525 525 525 511 511 511 511 6.2 6 5.98 5.98 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.09 1066 1067 1060 1060 1045 1045 1043 1045 76.1 76.2 75.95 76.2 83.95 84 83.95 84 85 85.9 85.2 85.9 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.300 4.300 4.190 4.200 SME 9.2 9.59 9.1 9.5 8 8.44 8.4 8.42 75.9 75 73.5 75 9.3 9.29 9.12 9.23 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 128.9 129.2 127.6 127.9

-7.55 0.00 1.64 1.28 1.08 0.00 -0.55 1.45 -1.55 0.00 0.55 2.46 -2.94 0.00 50.00 2.71 0.17 0.00 0.00 -1.51 1.32 0.00 0.27

451,000 2,828,000 15,000 23,430,000 1,160,000 1,000 460,000 314,000 16,495,000 42,000 11,209,100 3,890,000 1,210,000 1,717,000 47,600 103,200 1,112,200 390,000 54,000 32,406,500 1,203,000 67,000 3,514,600

-306,000.00 -1,888,160.00

10.5 66 1.09 12.46 15.82 0.1460 4.61 99.1 12.3 2.6 9 4 2090 8.41 33 1.97 119.5 7 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 2.85 2.2 3.2 5.9 15.2 0.62 22.8 6.41 4 110.2 14 3486 0.710 2.28 48.5 90.1 11.6 0.87 10.2 0.490 1.6

1.97 32.5 0.6 10 9.61 0.0770 2.95 46.55 10.14 1.6 5.88 2.58 1600 5.95 30 1.36 105 3.01 8.72 0.012 0.036 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.69 1.1 2 1.05 8.7 0.34 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2726 0.380 0.32 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 6.45 0.305 1.04

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

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Melco Crown MG Holdings 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 STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.00 -0.32 0.00 3.25 -0.17 -0.98 -2.65 -0.86 0.00 0.00 -1.11 -9.70 0.81 -0.48 -15.03 -0.70 0.00 6.87 0.00 0.00 -1.29 2.40 -6.54 -0.84 2.45 0.79 -0.46 49.92 -1.10 -4.05 -0.11 -3.14 0.33 0.72 0.00 -0.55 3.28 -3.01 1.49 0.00 0.00 1.52 -0.15 1.47 -0.77

198,900 10,470 138,000 294,100 -581,434.00 17,976,700 -3,859,226.00 15,820,000 694,000 23,650.00 182,510 -783,539.00 7,700 50,000 28,900.00 106,900 1,000 124,570 -89,629,050.00 42,900 19,300 393,000 112,800.00 862,680 4,090,531.00 2,800 3,700 106,900,000 52,000.00 7,180,000 67,000 22,000 1,725,400 14,474,932.00 11,000 20,000 2,000 23,000 3,598,500 -3,144,146.00 300,000 1,000 19,700 20,000 20,320 87,364.00 88,600 270,976.00 104,400 -54,215,940.00 14,125,000 10.00 7,711,000 -168,320.00 4,291,800 -35,393,790.00 309,230 514,806.00 2,734,800 10,498,042.00 1,393,000 -105,840.00 568,600 569,120.00 50,000 11,000

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.2 1.73 10.98 4.2 0.48 0.455 0.475 0.023 0.026 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 8.65 9.43 0.236 6.5 6.98 0.61 0.78 5.99 1.08 0.330 0.2130 0.2160 0.014 0.014 3.660 20.2 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.00 19.23 0.63 0.00 -1.89 0.00 0.00 -0.96 0.00 0.26 3.21 0.00 -0.43 1.28 0.00 -6.67 8.10 9.92 3.66 1.41 -0.91 0.00 -7.14 -0.44 -0.98 -4.19 0.00 -0.61 1.75 0.00

46,000,000 816,000 592,900 3,100 1,550,000 800 20,000 433,000 494,000 1,400 20,882,000 1,200,000 1,640,000 700,000 200,000 200,000 979,000 14,233,900 8,133,000 473,000 1,210,000 5,100,000 700,000 107,000 135,900 1,862,000 48,500,000 1,081,200 3,004,300 24,100,000

70 525 515 8.21 12.28 1060 1047 76.9 78.95 84.8

33 500 480 5.88 6.5 997 1011 74.2 74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort PCOR-Preferred A PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C

0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.55 0.00 -0.56 0.00 0.13 0.06 1.06

173,360 4,740 500 63,000 100,000 1,400 100 218,190 8,870 24,850

-207,860.00 4,700.00

-4,030,200.00 6,664,532.00

MST

0.7 59.2 31.85 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 800 11.06 84 3.35 3.68 0.66 1380 6.68 72.6 8.9 5.29 6.66 9.25 0.9 18.9 0.73 5.53 6.55 0.0670 2.31 0.84 2.99 87 934 2.2 390 156 0.710 0.435 10.5 1.99 40 6.15 5.4 5.6

Close

6.01 0.91 29.1 4.1 4.96 2.8

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

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

SHARES 19,468,136 88,902,645 177,605,072 135,320,337 188,930,336 187,595,340 802,695,169

8.850 0.75 40.45 4.17 5.23 6.5

8.880 0.72 40.00 4.14 5.2 6.45

0.34 -4.00 -1.11 -0.72 -0.57 -0.77

236,500 2,112,000 4,883,800 5,605,000 43,900 100,200

-1,810,849.00

4,622,360.00 -1,175,030.00 12,226,083.00

29,240,105.00 -53,500.00 -198,550.00

542,888.00 405,290.00

-14,092,360.00 -2,970,750.00 -71,394,113.00 1,441,838.00 -994,200.00 -8,204,935.50

16,800.00

12,200.00 -17,971,402.00 -1,805,696.00

-9,428,210.00 -680,075.00 -544,369.00 -28,656,908.00 -700,260.00

19,970.00 -4,595,350.00 1,068,163.00

-23,756,278.00

-111,920.00

11,100.00 -25,164,692.00 1,248,000.00

-1,830,079.50 3,314,995.00 -170,800.00

899,900.00 199,614,990.00 -382,363.00 -35,217,352.00

40,647,865.00 620,410.00 15,464,549.50

2,172,780.00

3,948,886.00

-50,485,330.00

20,600.00

-1,583,095.00 -380,091,535.00

1,559,023.00 -67,332,190.00 19,547,330.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

10.96 15 88 12.88

2.4 3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Double Dragon Makati Fin. Corp.

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,513,495,628.22 1,368,297,182.454 2,354,472,372.60 1,136,356,659.48 1,234,902,483.60 753,898,341.031 8,408,614,402.983

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,796.50 (DOWN) 7.71 INDUSTRIAL 12,428.12 (DOWN) 95.89 HOLDING FIRMS 7,038.45 (DOWN) 24.17 PROPERTY 3,202.20 (DOWN) 27.90 SERVICES 2,152.39 (DOWN) 4.50 MINING & OIL 15,483.16 (UP) 284.54 PSEI 7,873.64 (DOWN) 45.57 All Shares Index 4,541.98 (DOWN) 10.25 Gainers: 82; Losers: 99; Unchanged: 50; Total: 131

-2.33

333,000

3.26 5.25 -1.19 -0.75

4,339,700 700 400 520,400

-0.78

12,030

9,137,135.00 379,750.00

4,304,184.00

-3,635,498.00

-541,400.00 -164,790.00

900.00 -8,510.00 14,305,570.00 -2,350.00

26,284,030.00 -2,472,100.00

-154,730.00

242,860.00 67,600.00

-554,227.00 11,920.00 468,979.00 -185,112.00

-52,160.00 33,528.00

13,767.00 1,812,641.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Keppel Holdings `B'

7.2

50.00

Grand Plaza Hotel

39.00

-15.03

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

37.50

50.00

Easy Call "Common"

2.98

-9.70

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

67.5

50.00

Cebu Prop. `B'

6

-7.55

Manila Broadcasting

45.50

49.92

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0130

-7.14

Bogo Medelin

63.5

31.20

MEDCO Holdings

0.455

-7.14

Keppel Holdings `A'

6.5

25.97

Manila Mining `B'

0.0140

-6.67

Apex `A'

3.10

19.23

Jackstones

2.43

-6.54

F&J Prince 'A'

3.5

11.11

Da Vinci Capital

1.77

-4.84

Nickelasia

26.6

9.92

PhilexPetroleum

1.6

-4.19

Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

1.07

9.18

Transgrid

252.40

-4.18

THURSDAY: MAY 7, 2015

B3

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

EDC allots P3.8b for overseas prospects

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ENERGY Development Corp. of the Lopez Group is earmarking P3.8 billion for geothermal exploration projects in Latin America, with the bulk of the amount allotted for the Mariposa prospect in Chile, officials said.

“Peru and Indonesia spend will be minimal for this year. A big chunk for the international budget is for the Mariposa,” EDC chief finance officer Nestor Vasay said.

EDC president Richard Tantoco said the company was “excited” to begin its first major international drilling campaign in Chile in October, with plans to drill two to three wells.

“In preparation, we have begun drilling the top holes or the first 50 meters of the wells in our Mariposa concession in Chile. The installation of the anchor casings in the top hole sections of the well will reduce the time it will take to drill the full three-kilometer wells, which is critical as we only have five months of the Chilean summer starting October,” Tantoco said.

EDC vice president and managing director for Latin America Arman Lapus said the drilling aims to confirm the reserves of the geothermal field.

EDC has stakes in five concessions and filed 19 applications in Chile and Peru. The company, which acquired the local

subsidiaries of Hot Rock Ltd. of Australia, signed joint venture agreements with global renewable energy player Alterra Power Corp.

EDC also completed its survey activities in Graho Nyabu in Sumatra. The results of the initiative, which the company submitted in 2013, will be used by the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources for an upcoming tender on the Graho Nyabu concession.

“We are waiting for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to tender out the Grahu Nyabu concession in Sumatra,” Tantoco said.

EDC has established offices in Latin America and Indonesia and has been adding personnel.

EDC, an affiliate of First Gen Corp., has a generating capacity of 1,441 megawatts, including 1,159 MW of geothermal, 150 MW of wind, 132 MW of hydro and 4 MW of solar power.

Net income attributable to equity holders of the parent jumped 40 percent in 2014 to P9.2 billion from P6.6 billion posted in 2013.

Concepcion Midea to double 2015 sales

By Othel V. Campos CONCEPCION Midea Inc., a joint venture between the Concepcion Group of Companies and Midea of China, plans to double sales in 2015 to P700 million amid the increasing purchasing power of the middle class.

Concepcion Midea general manager Phillip Trapaga said the company posted impressive sales in 2014 despite the start of the operations just in May. “We’re shy of one year selling our products but we did good last year.

We’re expecting better sales this year, at most doubling our performance from 2014,” he said in a press briefing Wednesday in Makati City.

The company will be completing its line of white products, including the cost-effective inverter technology refrigerator and the new variable refrigerant flow airconditioners, as well as large and small kitchen appliances line-up.

The sales target if the company in 2015 is about less than 1 percent of the country’s P76.8-billion cooling and kitchen appliances market.

The companyplans to improve as one of the top three providers of consumer products in the next five years.

“We know that it will not happen overnight, but we are one of the most affordable brands with high regard for quality and durability,” Trapaga said.

The company has introduced cooling systems from window type to split type airconditioners. It plans to introduce this year floor standing, under ceiling and cassette type airconditioners.

Expressway partner. San Miguel Corp. and Citra Central Expressway Corp. tapped D.M.Consunji Inc. to construct Sections 1 and 2 of its Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project that will link the South and North Luzon Expressways through eight strategic interchanges. At the contract signing ceremony are (from left) DMCI chairman Isidro Consunji, San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang, DMCI president and COO Jorge Consunji and SMC vice president for procurement Susan Yu. The 14.82-km elevated expressway project is expected to cut travel time from Buendia to Balintawak from one hour and a half to only about 15 minutes once completed.

Market retreats; SM Prime declines

THE stock market retreated Wednesday on profit-taking and worries about surging oil prices and growing tensions over the Greek debt crisis.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 45.57 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,873.64 on a value turnover of P8.4 billion. Losers beat gainers, 99 to 82, with 50 issues unchanged.

SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. dropped 1.6 percent to P910.50, while unit SM Prime Holdings Inc., the biggest property developer, lost 1.5 percent to P19.60.

Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan declined 2.1 percent to P25.10, while Energy Development Corp., the largest producer of steam energy, fell 2.5 percent to P8.16.

Nickel Asia Corp., the biggest producer of nickel, surged 9.9 percent to P26.60 after reporting net profit in the first quarter of 2015 jumped 281 percent to P675.8 million year-on-year.

Sydney, meanwhile, tumbled 134.3 points, or 2.3 percent, to close at 5,692.2 after heavyweights Commonwealth Bank and Woolworths slumped on disappointing earnings updates.

South Korean shares lost 1.3 percent or 27.65 points to end at 2,104.58, and Hong Kong was trading 0.17 percent lower after see-sawing through the session. Tokyo was closed for a holiday.

Chinese shares bucked the trend, with Shanghai rising 1.35 percent by midday-recovering some ground after the index plunged more than four percent the previous session on worries over new share issues that tightened liquidity. With AFP

Manila

Standard

Form 2B (Revised June 2014)

TODAY 16th to 19th Floors, Fort Legend Towers 31st Street corner 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634 Statement of Condition (Head Office and Branches) As of March 31, 2015 AMOUNTS

ASSETS

CURRENT QUARTER

Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivables - Net Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Other Assets-Net TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable a) Interbank Loans Payable Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities TOTAL LIABILITIES

PhP

PREVIOUS QUARTER

319,026,652.89 2,903,650,954.15 3,047,260,541.29 638,118,767.83 937,593,424.70 309,309,856.63 163,316,187.66 12,440,816.63 20,505,559,501.53 2,068,393,879.10 18,651,360,614.93 214,194,992.50 101,688,147.94 206,244,020.76 8,580,679.85 665,620,394.42 29,818,409,946.28

420,542,243.82 3,963,137,228.14 1,660,285,867.36 1,260,669,171.76 597,571,978.70 311,944,135.53 200,045,573.25 12,440,816.63 17,540,941,311.05 313,770,858.96 17,464,372,615.82 237,202,163.73 113,790,996.00 212,072,100.40 9,052,183.41 1,070,137,631.52 27,372,631,237.57

51,451,289.98 20,277,501,530.56 1,326,868,720.00 1,326,868,720.00 1,895,679.19 133,908,751.53 1,428,853,738.57 23,220,479,709.83

32,132,706.32 19,011,389,413.08 89,440,000.00 89,440,000.00 0.00 361,682,730.75 1,360,143,048.62 20,854,787,898.77

2,533,200,985.17 68,601,268.03 3,996,127,983.25 6,597,930,236.45 29,818,409,946.28

2,533,200,985.17 38,255,173.03 3,946,387,180.60 6,517,843,338.80 27,372,631,237.57

PhP

44,700,000.00 893,774,648.36 732,220,280.30 5,609,514.75 1,093,999,481.64 1,324,244,611.30 657,965,106.60 666,279,504.70 16,218,741,702.17 17,621,006.96 20,330,911,245.48

44,720,000.00 887,393,106.99 217,175,824.52 7,876,388.26 407,613,319.20 1,307,091,932.84 647,804,600.37 659,287,332.47 20,344,533,409.86 262,811,551.87 23,479,215,533.54

PhP PhP

20,936,217,244.39 216,462,750.36

18,040,804,976.14 262,661,501.36

PhP PhP

440,792,982.95 2.11% 224,330,232.59 1.07%

446,996,685.64 2.48% 184,335,184.28 1.02%

PhP PhP

538,724,227.33 21,515,709.65

457,990,245.48 21,475,723.50

PhP

0.10% 1,258.63 0.00%

0.12% 0.00 0.00%

3.76% 4.44% 3.73%

4.08% 5.54% 0.77%

23.06% 22.32% 22.32%

25.57% 24.77% 24.77%

PhP PhP

PhP

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

PhP PhP PhP

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts Derivatives Others TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

PhP

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross Total Loan Portfolio (TLP) Specific Allowance for credit losses on the TLP Non-performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) c. Net NPLs d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses Ratio of DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to TLP (%) Gross Non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivable to TLP (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis a. Total CAR (%) b. TIER 1 Ratio (%) c. CET 1 (%) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) TAGUIG CITY ) S.S. I/We, ANDRE P. PAYAWAL and STEVE TSAI of the abovementioned Bank, do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above statement of condition are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.

(Sgd.) ANDRE P. PAYAWAL Chief Finance Officer, FVP (Signature Over Printed Name)

(Sgd.) WEN-HSIUNG TSAI a.k.a. STEVE TSAI President and CEO (Signature Over Printed Name)

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this April 27, 2015 affiants exhibiting to me his/their TIN 150-031-779-000 and 462-868-631-000.

Doc. No. 307; Book No. VII; Page No. 63; Series of 2015

(Sgd.) ATTY. MARY ANGELINE S. TOL NOTARY PUBLIC FOR TAGUIG CITY UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2015 16/F, Fort Legend Towers, Third Ave. corner 31st St. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City APPT. NO. 86 / ROLL NO. 51630 PTR NO. A-2368197/01-06-15/TAGUIG CITY IBP NO. 983176/01-06-15/CAVITE

B4

BUSINESS

School donation. The Philippine Football Federation teamed up with Philam Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of Philam Life, to reconstruct schools affected

by typhoon Yolanda in Samar, Leyte and Iloilo. The Philippine Football Federation is donating $250,000 to build at least 11 new classrooms in these areas. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (from left) Philam Life chief marketing officer Jaime Jose Javier Jr., Philam Foundation Inc. president Max Ventura, Philam Life chief executive Estelito Madrid Jr., PFF president Mariano Araneta and general secretary Ed Gastanes.

SMIC’s profit up 8% to P6.7b URC’s net income declines 3% to P3.2b FOOD producer Universal Robina Corp. said net income attributable to equity holders declined 3 percent to P3.2 billion in the second quarter of its fiscal year covering January to March from P3.3 billion recorded in the same period last year.

URC said in a financial statement filed with the stock exchange sales of goods and services rose 24.5 percent to P28.69 billion in the quarter from P23.03 billion a year ago. Cost of sales grew faster at 27.2 percent to P19.9 billion from P15.63 billion in the same period last year.

The company said in the first six months of its fiscal year, net income went up 4.3 percent to P6.49 billion from P6.22 billion in the same period a year ago, on the back of higher operating income.

URC said it generated consolidated sales of P55.64 billion in the six-month period, up by 21.6 percent from a year ago, as revenues from the branded consumer foods group increased 22.6 percent to P45.85 billion.

BCFG domestic operations posted a 15.7 percent increase in net sales to P29.64 billion from P25.622 billion in the first half of fiscal year 2014, led by the strong performance of the beverage division, which grew 23 percent Sales of snack foods also improved 8.2 percent, due to growth across salty snacks, bakery and chocolate segments.

Jenniffer B. Austria

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SM Investments Corp., the holding company of tycoon Henry Sy Sr., said Wednesday firstquarter net income grew 8.1 percent to P6.7 billion from a year ago, amid the aggressive expansion of core businesses.

SMIC, which has interests in banking, retail and real estate, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues rose 7.7 percent in the January-March period to P65.1 billion, while net income margin stood at 10.4 percent.

It said excluding extraordinary items, recurring net income increased 11 percent year-on-year in the first quarter.

“We are focused on expanding all our core businesses given the favorable economic outlook. Our expansion plans are geared towards meeting the needs of underserved cus-

tomers across the country and to positioning ourselves to compete effectively in each of our growing markets,” SMIC president Harley Sy said.

The conglomerate’s banking units accounted for 41 percent of net income while property delivered 40 percent and retail added 19 percent.

Retail operations under SM Retail Inc. registered a 6.5-percent growth in net income and sales, amounting to P44.9 billion and P1.3 billion, respectively.

The conglomerate said food retail business continued to expand in both urban and rural communities, adding 10

new stores in various parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

SM Retail had a total of 279 stores as of end-March, including 50 SM Stores, 40 SM Supermarkets, 43 SM Hypermarkets, 120 Savemore stores and 26 WalterMart outlets.

BDO Unibank Inc. reported a net income of P6.1 billion in the first three months of the year, an increase of 12 percent, as net interest income grew 9.3 percent.

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property development arm, posted a 176-percent increase in first quarter net income to P12.6 billion. SM Prime’s firstquarter sales grew 9 percent to P16.7 billion as revenues from retail and commercial spaces grew 10 percent to P9.4 billion.

The housing group recorded a 6.7-percent increase in real estate sales to P5.4 billion, with reservation sales rising 34 percent to P9.5 billion

Enfinity of Belgium investing P8b in PH solar power projects

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENFINITY Philippines, a subsidiary of Enfinity Global of Belgium, is spending P8 billion to complete solar power plants with a combined capacity of over 100 megawatts in 2015 and 2016.

Enfinity Philippines president Dennis Ibarra said the first four projects were being built in Clark

Freeport, Pampanga (20 MW), Concepcion, Tarlac (40 MW), Digos, Davao del Sur (40 MW) and Cavite (3 MW).

“All projects have secured a renewable energy service contract from the Department of Energy.

This month, all our solar projects have started construction and are seen to be completed by end 2015 or by March 2016,” Ibarra said.

He said the four projects would employ at least 1,000 workers, deliver 150 gigawatt-hours of green electricity annually and provide electricity to 100,000 homes in the Philippines.

Gino Van Neer, founder and chief executive of Enfinity Global, said the company was now aggressively pursuing the development of solar projects, following

the recent announcement of the Energy Regulatory Commission on the new feed-in tariff.

ERC expanded the solar installation target by 450 megawatts with a feed-in tariff rate of P8.69 per kWh. “This shows the commitment of the Philippines to solar energy and its contribution to sustainable environment. The Philippines will be

put on the map as a solar country following other countries in the region like Thailand, Malaysia, China and India,” Van Neer said.

The Philippines is considered one of Enfinity’s core markets for solar projects, he said.

The company expects to put up 500 MW of solar power projects in the Philippines in the next three years.

T H U R S D AY : M AY 7, 2 0 1 5

B5

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

MetroPac gives up MRT bid

By Darwin G. Amojelar

METRO Pacific Investments Corp. may scrap an offer to acquire a substantial stake in the owner of Metro Rail Transit Line 3, as the government pursues the buyout of the train system.

“I think the chances of an Metro Pacific earlier proMRT 3 [acquisition] are nil to posed a $524-million expansion zero. We couldn’t do anything,” of MRT 3, which was lower than Metro Pacific chairman Manu- the government’s $1.13-billion el Pangilinan told reporters. buyout plan. MPIC’s proposal is Pangilinan earlier said the still pending before the Transcompany could exercise the portation Department. option to acquire a substanTransportation Secretary tial stake in Metro Rail Transit Joseph Emilio Abaya had said Corp. led by businessman Rob- the government was still pursuert John Soing the MRT 3 brepeña, once buyout, even the governafter Congress ment approved did not approve the proposal The chances of an MRT the P53.9-bilto expand the allocation 3 [acquisition] are nil to lion MRT 3 system. in the 2015 zero.

Metro Pabudget for the cific signed a government’s cooperation takeover of agreement MRT. in 2011 with President various groups holding rights Aquino issued Executive Orand interests in MRT 3, includ- der No. 126 in 2013, directing ing MRTC, Metro Rail Transit the Transportation and FiHoldings Inc., Metro Rail Tran- nance Departments to buy out sit 2 Inc. and Monumento Rail MRT 3 from MRTC, pursuTransit Corp., giving the Pan- ant to the build-lease-transfer gilinan-led company an option agreement. to acquire 48 percent.

MRT 3, which runs along Metro Pacific has yet to exer- Edsa from North Avenue in cise the option.

Quezon City to Taft Avenue in State-run Land Bank of the Pasay City, is serving 500,000 Philippines and Development passengers per day, way beyond Bank of the Philippines hold its rated capacity of 350,000. an 80-percent economic interThe line has a fleet of 73 est in MRT 3 while the remain- Czech-made air-conditioned ing stake is held by creditors of rail cars, of which up to 60 MRTC. three-car trains operate daily.

Security Bank’s award. Security Bank bagged three awards during the 5th Asian Excellence Awards 2015 hosted by Corporate Governance Asia on April 10 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong. Receiving the awards are (from left) Security Bank vice president and investor relations head Ropi Dangazo, senior vice president and assistant corporate secretary Melissa Aquino and senior vice president and chief financial officer Joselito Mape. With them is Corporate Governance Asia publisher and managing director Aldrin Monsod (right).

Clark flights reduced due to lightning CLARK International Airport Corp. suspended nighttime flights until Friday, after a lightning hit and damaged the navigational aid of the airport.

CIAC said in a statement the arrival flights at Clark airport would be limited during daytime from May 5 to May 8, due to damaged navigational aids.

Flights were diverted A lightning reportedly struck the airport’s doppler very high frequency omnirange guidance system on Monday night.

CIAC asked for the public’s understanding for any flight

delays, diversion or cancellations.

“Passengers travelling through Clark are advised to directly contact their airlines for latest flight updates and travel arrangements,” CIAC said in an announcement.

The agency said it expected flights to return to normal schedule on May 9.

Airlines operating in Clark include Qatar Airways, Seair International, Cebu Pacific, Tigerair Air, Jin Air, Asiana Airlines, Dragon Air and Air Asia Berhad.

These airlines mount flights

to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Macau, Pudong, Incheon, Doha, Dubai, Davao, Cebu and Kalibo.

CIAC earlier said it had secured an approval from the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee to build a P1.2 billion low-cost carrier passenger terminal building in Clark.

The new facility, designed by Aeroport De Paris of France, can accommodate as many as 15 million passengers annually.

Darwin G. Amojelar, Jess Malabanan

Exporters: Bill on farm ventures threatens banana industry

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association on Wednesday expressed their concern over a proposed bill in Congress that aims to regulate agribusiness ventures in areas under land reform.

PBGEA executive director Stephen Antig said in a statement House Bill 5161 would unnecessarily allow interference by the government in private commercial transactions.

“At the local level, some ordinances tend to prevent the industry to grow and prosper while at the national level, a House bill waiting for deliberations might even kill the industry,” Antig said.

“Involving the govHouse Bill 5161, inernment in AVAs will troduced by Represenfurther increase the tative Teddy Baguilat, presently cumbersome proposed to make all House Bill 5161 agribusiness venture would unnecessarily regulatory requirements agreements subject allow interference by for investments in the Philippines, including to the approval of the the government in investments in agribusiPresidential Agrarian private commercial nesses in tandem with Reform Council. transactions.

ARBs,” Antig said.

AVAs refer to the en“If Congress is mindtrepreneurial collaboed to protect the interration between agrarests of ARBs who enter ian reform beneficiaries and private investors in the implemen- into contracts with the private sector, tation of an agriculturally-related busi- Congress should provide support servicness venture involving lands distributed es to these ARBs instead of mandating under the Comprehensive Agrarian Re- governmental approval of all contracts with them,” Antig said. form Program.

Antig said in 2014, the total land area planted with different varieties of bananas reached 441,951 hectares. Majority of the country’s banana production is in Mindanao, covering 243,450 hectares.

Cavendish for export accounted for 34 percent or 83,843 hectares of the total area.

Exports of Cavendish bananas grew 18.1 percent in 2014 to $1.136 billion from $962.58 million in 2013.

“Together with the workers’ families and relatives, more than three million individuals are dependent on the banana export industry for their basic needs and self-esteem. The industry also helps mould the future of two million children in Mindanao,” Antig said.

THURSDAY: MAY 7, 2015

B6

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

5 firms bid for e-trike project

bidding but only five submitted bids.

“This was probably because the requirements set

by DoE and ADB dictated the quality of the FIVE companies submitted bids bidder, ” Marcos said. for the supply and delivery of The first batch of 3,000 e-trikes will be rolled in the National Capital Region and Region 3,000 units of electric tricycles out 4 A and 4B. that are seen to jump-start the Land Bank of the Philippines, as conduit of the country’s e-vehicle industry, ADB, will collect and repay the multilateral lending for the deployment of the e-trikes. the Energy Department said institution The department is implementing the “Market Transformation through the Introduction Wednesday. of Energy Efficient Electric The five are Uzushio Vehicles Project,” or the Electric Co. Ltd. of Japan, E-Trike project, to help Mulan Electric Vehicle Co. the government ensure Ltd. of China, TECO Electric Awarding of supply energy security through the & Machinery Co. Ltd. of contract is expected promotion of energy-efficient Taiwan, CAMEC JB Corp. of the Philippines and Invenic either in late June or and clean technologies.

The project is expected to Inc. in joint venture with Jiang anytime in July. insulate stakeholders from the Siu Hansen Motor Co. Ltd. price volatility of imported “The DoE procurement of petroleum products. the 3,000 e-trikes will serve as The project, largely financed catalyst for the promotion and by the ADB and the Clean commercial deployment of e-trikes in the country,” Energy Undersecretary Technology Fund totaling $500 million, will be implemented for five years.

Donato Marcos said.

The project aims to deploy 100,000 e-trikes He said the bids would undergo technical review in the next two weeks while the financial nationwide to replace the same number of traditional gasoline-fed tricycles, reduce evaluation would follow shortly.

Marcos said the department after the the transport sector’s annual petroleum technical evaluation would submit its review consumption by 2.8 percent (equivalent to 89.2 to the Asian Development Bank to secure a “no million liters) per year and achieve 79 percent carbon dioxide foot print avoidance. objection notice.”

Each e-trike unit features a 3-kWh lithium“We are looking at awarding the project ion rechargeable battery, can negotiate flat and either in late June or anytime in July,” he said.

Marcos said around 21 companiesearlier uphill terrain, and comfortably seat up to five expressed interest to participate in the e-trike passengers.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ESTRELLA Z. GALLARDO FE M. JOSEPH EDNA B. CUYNO TERESITA I. HASMIN RAMON LUIS P. ARRIOLA Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Intramuros, Manila FIRST DIVISION IN THE MATTER OF REGISTRATION OF BISNES NI JUAN SECTORAL PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED SECTOR OF SMALL BUSINESSMEN

6.

SPP NO. 15-028 (PL) SPP NO. 15-022 (PLM)

LUIS T. ARRIOLA, Petitioner x-------------------------------------------------x

ORDER Acting on the verified petition for registration of “BISNES NI JUAN” filed on April 21, 2015 as a sectoral organization under the party-list system, the Commission (First Division) hereby sets this instant case for hearing on May 13, 2015, at 10:00 o’clock in the morning, Comelec Session Hall, 8th Floor, Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila.

To simplify the proceedings, petitioner is required to submit prior to the scheduled hearing the following: 1. The names of two (2) witnesses who shall be the Chairperson or President and Secretary General of the party, organization or coalition; 2. Judicial affidavits of the witnesses; and 3. Proof of publication Meantime, all evidence to be presented by petitioner shall be pre-marked including evidence to prove compliance with the jurisdictional requirements before the Clerk of the Commission on May 11, 2015, 10 o’clock a.m. Counsel shall manifest during the marking exhibits his/her appearance and the same be entered in the minutes. In no case shall representatives of parties, other than counsel, for purposes of marking be allowed. Further, counsel is requested to prepare his/her summary of exhibits as a guide during the marking/s thereof.

The Commission requires the petitioner to publish at its own expense in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation the following: 1.

2.

ROLANDO I. GONZALES PRIME P. PUYO ATTY. ARMANDO T. CRUZ ANDY MANATAD ALBINO L. SY LUIS ERNESTO PEREZ

The petition; and The instant Order of the Commission requiring the publication with the date of the scheduled hearing.

SO ORDERED: Given this 28th day of April 2015, at Manila, Philippines.

FOR THE DIVISION (SGD.) CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Presiding Commissioner REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila EN BANC

The constituency of BISNES NI JUAN is the NCR Region inasmuch as the same seeks to be registered as Party-List Sectoral Organization under the Prtylist Law (R.A. 7941) representing the marginalized and underrepresented sector of small businessmen; 7.

BISNES NI JUAN has existing Municipal, City and Provincial Chapter with Region I; 8.

The List of BISNES NI JUAN exisitng founding members and their addresses is attached herewith and made integral part hereof as ANNEX “A”; 9.

BISNES NI JUAN was duly organized at the City of Manila following a series of consultations and meetings; 10. In the organizational meeting held on the same day, the founding members elected by acclamation petitioner LUIS T. ARRIOLA, as President of BISNES NI JUAN, and , in a unaninous vote of confidence, authorized him to select and nominate the other party officers, to act as such until their replacements are elected in the manner provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws of BISNES NI JUAN. Original copy of BISNES NI JUAN Constitution and By-Laws is attached hereto and made integral part hereof as ANNEX “B”.

11. Thereupon, petitioner chose the following persons as BISNES NI JUAN officers, who were unanilously approved by the founding members and whose names and addresses appear below.

LUIS T. ARRIOLA President RAMON R. PIZARRO JR Vice President RAMON LUIS P. ARRIOLA Secretary General TERESITA I. HASMIN Deputy Secretary General NELSON S. SANTOS Treasurer FE M. JOSEPH Deputy Treasurer EDNA B. CUYNO Auditor 12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

BISNES NI JUAN is not a religious sect or denomination; BISNES NI JUAN shall not pursue its goal through violence or other unlawful means; BISNES NI JUAN shall uphold and adhere to the Philippine Constitution and obey all laws and legal orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities; BISNES NI JUAN is not supported by nor does it accept any financial contribution or material aids from the Philippine Government and any foreign government and their agencies or subsidairies.

Attached herwith are copies of BISNES NI JUAN General Platform and Program of Government and made integral part hereof as ANNEX ‘C’.

PRAYER WHEREOF, premises considered, it is most repectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission En Banc that the instant Petition for Registration BE GRANTED. Consequently, the corresponding Certificate of Registration as a Sectoral Party-List Law (R.A. 7941) BE ISSUED in favor BISNES NI JUAN. Other just reliefs and equitable remedies under the premises are likwwise prayed for: City of Manila.

March 31, 2015 (SGD.) DANILO B. BANARES Counsel for Petitioner Suite 511 Marbella II, 2071 Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila PTR No. 4148881 Mar. 13, 2015 Mla. Roll No. 29011 IBP No: 0413 lifetime MCLE NOs. I-0013167, II-0008404 & III-0015687, May 26, 2010

IN THE MATTER OF REGITRATION OF BISNES NI JUAN SECTORAL PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE MARGINALIZED AND UNDER- REPRESENTED SECTOR OF SMALL BUSINESSMEN. LUIS T. ARRIOLA Petitioner x____________________________x PETITION FOR REGISTRATION Petitioner LUIS T. ARRIOLA, by counsel, to this Honorable Commission Wen Bnc, most respectfully states that: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Petitioner is a Filiino citizen, of legal age, married and a resident of Rm. 1506 Marbella II, 2071 Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila The name of the party-list sectoral organization, which the petitioner seeks to register, is BISNES NI JUAN composed of marginalized and underrepresented small businessmen.

BISNES NI JUAN seeks to represent the marginalized underrepresented small businessmen under Republic Act No.7941 (Party-List Law).

The principal headquarters and post office address of BISNES NI JUAN is at Rm. 408 Marbella II, 2071 Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila.

The names and addresses of the founding members of BISNES NI JUAN are the following:

NAME LUIS T. ARRIOLA NELSON S. SANTOS RAMON R. PIZARRO JR. JOHNNY NUÑEZ

1146 Antipolo St., Makati City 731 Tejeros Bliss, H. Santos St., Makati City B-9, L12-D,Biguay St., Mon-el Subd., Sucat, Parañaque City 856 F. Tirona St., Pob.2-A, Imus City, Cavite 12 Luke Villar Lourdes St. Teoville 3 Subd.

BFHomes, Parañaque City 12/F Chathan House ,116 Valero cor.

Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Makati City 8023 Honradez St., Brgy. Olympia, Makati City 3540 Paraiso St., Sta. Mesa, Manila 112 CDC Building, Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City Unit 8, Jolliland TownHomes, 670 A.EDSA, Pasay City 2264 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila

ADDRESS Rm. 1506 Marbella II, 2071 Roxas Blvd, Malate, Manila Rm. 103 Intramuros corporate Plaza, Cabildo cor. Recoletos St., Intramuros, Manila Pilar, Bataan 125 Santiago St., Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION AS TO NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, LUIS T. ARRIOLA, of legal age, Filipino, after having been fuly sworn to in accordance with law, do hereby depose and state: 1. That I am the petitioner in the above entitled case; 2. That I caused the preparation of the foregoing Petition for Registration; 3. That i have read and understand the contents therof and the allegations contained therein are true and correct of my personal knowledge and on the basis of the authentic documents in my possession; 4. I further certify that I have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in any other court, tribunal, or agency; that if I should thereafter learn later that a similar action or proceeding is pending before any other court,commission, tribunal, or agency, I hereby undertake to report that fact within five (5) days to this Honorable Commission.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affix my signature this March 31, 2015 at the City of Manila.

(SGD.) LUIS T. ARRIOLA Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 31st day of March, 2015, affiant exhibited to me his Passport No. EC0805865 issued on April 10, 2014 at Manila.

Doc. No. 48 Page No. 70 Book No. IX Series of 2015.

TS MAY 7, 2015

UK without Europe, or Europe without UK? THE attitude of the UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and RUDY ROMERO Northern Ireland) toward the Continent of Europe historically has been a mixture of arrogance and disdain, on the one hand, and concern and protectiveness on the other.

One of the most amusing manifestations of British arrogance toward the Continent was the headline in a leading London newspaper at the start of a really bad continent-wide winter storm, which read: “Fog closing in; Continent isolated.” Whatever arrogance persists in the British people’s collective psyche vis-avis their neighbors on the European mainland is doubtless partly the residue of the key role played by Britain in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in the 19th century and of Adolf Hitler in the last one.

Another potential display of British arrogance is at stake in the outcome of today’s general election to install a new Parliament.

The Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, has long been unhappy with Britain’s membership in the European Union and has indicated that a victorious Conservative Party will order the holding of a national referendum on the question of continued British membership in the EU. The Conservative Party’s major opponent, Ed Miliband’s Labor Party, favors continued British membership in the EU and is opposed to the holding of a referendum.

It is probably accurate to say that Britain generally is uncomfortable with the limitations and strictures that come with membership in a collective enterprise. It opted to stay out of the monetary union that went into effect in 1999 and immediately voiced its opposition to a fiscal union that would set limits on every EU member’s budget and expenditures. It is only in Britain that the euro does not circulate.

In its willingness to consider the idea of British withdrawal from the EU the Conservative Party has the support and encouragement of the recently organized UKIP (United Kingdom Independent Party). The Conservatives and UKIP think along the same lines on the parallel issue of immigration.

Miliband’s Labourites, on the other hand, favor continued British ties to the EU. Given the realities of contemporary geopolitics, Britain should not leave--nay, cannot afford to be outside of--the EU, argues Miliband. As things stand, Britain has already lost much diplomatic clout; unassociated with the EU, it would become even less influential in the world.

Which would be worse--a Britain without Europe or a Europe without Britain? Being one of its Big Three countries--the other two being Germany and France--the loss of British membership would be a big blow to the EU in terms of influence and world clout. An organization that encompasses Germany, Britain and France is a far more formidable entity than one that had only Germany and France as members.

The greater loss from Britain’s withdrawal from the EU would be Britain’s. From all sorts of standpoints--diplomatic, security, financial, trade and cultural--a British withdrawal from the EU, while not catastrophic, would be highly detrimental to Britain’s standing in the world and to the well-being of its people. Loss of the preferences and other competitive advantages enjoyed by EU members would be hurtful to a country that has always been one of the world’s greatest trading nations.

Is David Cameron’s party likely to prevail today, and is British withdrawal from the EU a strong possibility? The latest polls indicate that only a small margin separates the Conservatives and the Labourites, with another coalition government a real likelihood.

Then there would be the referendum to hurdle. Will the British people, at the moment of truth, vote to disassociate themselves from peoples whom they saved from tyrants three times in two centuries? They might.

But I’m prepared to bet that, after a careful review of all the attendant factors, the British people will decide that it is cold outside and that it is better to remain within the warm embrace of their fellow-Europeans.

BUSINESS CLASS

e-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

T H U R S D AY : M AY 7, 2 0 1 5

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Actor guilty in hit, run case

Manhattan at night. The Manhattan skyline is viewed on May 5 in New York City. In an effort to reduce Manhattan’s

carbon footprint, New York’s City Council is considering a bill that would limit the amount of external light commercial buildings may use when empty at night. If approved, the bill could alter the use of lights in nearly 40,000 structures and potentially change the iconic nighttime view of Manhattan. The controversial bill has received support from Mayor Bill de Blasio. AFP

MUMBAI—A judge on Wednesday convicted Bollywood superstar Salman Khan of killing a homeless man in a 2002 hit-and-run case after a night out drinking, rejecting his claim that his driver was to blame.

D.W. Deshpande found Khan guilty of culpable homicide and other charges for driving his Land Cruiser into a group of homeless men sleeping rough in suburban Mumbai, after the actor had spent the evening in an upmarket bar.

Khan had always denied being behind the wheel, but now faces up to 10 years in prison— potentially bringing the career of one of the Indian movie industry’s biggest box-office stars to a shuddering halt.

Khan looked dejected after hearing the verdict, his eyes downcast, according to an AFP reporter inside the courtroom, where lawyers were giving their submissions on sentencing. AFP

Somalia’s hapless rape victims MOGADISHU—After 14-year-

old Fatima was raped by a tuk-tuk driver, she was arrested, detained for a month and raped repeatedly by a police officer, according to the child and her aunt.

Sexual violence is widespread in Somalia and rarely prosecuted.

If anyone is punished at all it is often the victim, not the perpetrator.

“We are fighting to change that attitude of blaming the victims,” said Fartuun Adan, who runs the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center in the Somali capital Mogadishu, where survivors of sexual violence can find refuge, medical care and support.

“There must be consequences for men who rape,” she said, but instead those who report rape are frequently arrested

themselves.

When it comes to rape cases in the socially conservative Horn of Africa nation, blaming the victim is the norm—and there have been no consequences for Fatima’s uniformed attackers.

A slight girl no more than five feet tall, she lives in one of the squalid camps for the uprooted that dot the city. The UN children’s agency UNICEF says young women and girls in the camps are “systematically preyed upon,” frequently by armed personnel.

Last year the advocacy group

Human Rights Watch accused some members of the 22,000 African Union force in Somalia of rape and sexual exploitation.

When not attending the Islamic madrassa that substitutes for school, Fatima (not her real name) and her aunt would make and sell sweets.

One slow day she got in a motorized rickshaw or tuk-tuk with a plan to try selling her sweets in another part of town, but the driver took her to a quiet spot and raped her instead.

Hearing the commotion, police arrested both the girl and her attacker.

Soon afterwards the man was released and Fatima was accused of being a prostitute.

“The police arrested me, they blamed me,” she said, her voice a whisper. AFP

HK officials face trial over 2012 ferry tragedy HONG KONG—Two Hong Kong government officials charged over the city’s worst maritime disaster in four decades, which claimed 39 lives, will go on trial in late May, reports said Wednesday.

The case follows the jailing of two boat captains for the 2012 collision between a high-speed ferry and a pleasure boat following a gripping 60-day trial.

The two marine department officials had their case referred to a higher court in the southern Chinese city during a hearing at a magistrates’ court Wednesday, reports said.

Retired senior boat inspector Wong Kam-ching has been charged with “perjury” and marine department assistant director So Ping-chi with “misconduct in public office”, according to the city’s

judiciary website.

Both Wong, 60, and So, 58, are on bail and will face trial at the District Court on May 26, reports said. The duo were charged in March.

The collision raised questions over safety in the crowded waters of Hong Kong, one of the world’s busiest ports, with an inquiry pointing to a “litany of errors” that caused the disaster.

Victims could have had vital extra minutes to escape if the Lamma IV pleasure boat had been equipped with a watertight door, while several were actually left trapped when seats fell on top of them, the inquiry found.

Most of the 39 people including eight children, all from the Lamma IV, died at the scene of the October 1 crash in 2012. AFP

Manila

Standard

TODAY

METRO SOUTH COOPERATIVE BANK

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

040608 (Bank Code)

BALANCE SHEET

As of MARCH 31, 2015 ASSETS Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivables - Net Loans to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures-Net Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Non-Current Assets Held for Sale Other Assets-Net Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if any (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Due to Other Banks Bills Payable a) BSP (Rediscounting and Other Advances) b) Interbank Loans Payable c) Other Deposit Substitute d) Others Bonds Payable-Net Unsecured Subordinated Debt-Net Redeemable Preferred Shares Special Time Deposit Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities Net Due to Head Office/Branches/Agencies (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL LIABILITIES Stockholders’ Equity Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings Assigned Capital TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Guarantees Issued Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Securities Held Under Custodianship by Bank Proper Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts c) Advisory/Consultancy Derivatives Others TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) c. Net NPLs d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ Deferred Charges not yet Written Down Unbooked Allowance for Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Received

Account Code 108000000000000000 105150000000000000 105200000000000000 112000000000000000 195200000000000000 195250000000000000 195300000000000000 195350000000000000 195400000000000000 140050000000000000 195401000000000000 140150500000000000 195402000000000000 175150000000000000 148000000000000000 195452500000000000 195500500000000000 195501000000000000 150150000000000000 152000000000000000 155250000000000000 100000000000000000

Amount Current Quarter Previous Quarter 371,983.55 3,374,883.56 35,069,593.60 35,069,593.60 354,437,582.99 298,113,087.91 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 50,000,000.00 60,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 1,435,564,888.27 1,370,921,743.46 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,455,524,373.01 1,388,081,228.20 0.00 0.00 19,959,484.74 17,159,484.74 17,431,148,58 13,606,239.41 0.00 0.00 45,711,134.29 46,854,409.02 17,692,731.02 25,116,719.08 0.00 0.00 10,074,757.69 11,596,107.66 0.00 0.00 1,967,353,819.99 1,865,652,783.70

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

0.00 1,148,418,016.60 0.00 282,850,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 282,850,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5,763,094.50 61,632,598.51 0.00 1,498,663,709.61

0.00 1,138,504,418.19 0.00 232,400,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 232,400,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,997,528.24 33,684,799.15 0.00 1,409,586,745.58

335050000000000000 335100000000000000 315000000000000000 325200000000000000 300000000000000000 905000000000000000

351,727,044.80 11,072,368.23 105,890,697.35 0.00 468,690,110.38 1,967,353,819.99

349,193,714.44 780,178.00 106,092,145.68 0.00 456,066,038.12 1,865,652,783.70

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

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,206,306.98 4,206,306.98

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,677,591.46 4,677,591.45

499020000000000000 499300000000000000

1,462,057,693.41 6,533,320.40

1,394,614,548.60 6,533,320.40

499100500000000000 499150500000000000 499101000000000000 499151000000000000 499200000000000000 499400000000000000 499480000000000000 499500000000000000 499550000000000000

67,338,648.20 4.61 60,805,327.80 4.16 45.00 205,865,144.09 14.08 0.00 0.00

41,437,615.78 2.97 34,904,295.38 2.50 45.00 203,873,154.31 14.62 0.00 0.00

499050500000000000 499051000000000000 499350000000000000

21.53 10.16 9.00

25.88 13.46 8.00

499650500500000000 499650501000000000 499650501500000000 499700000000000000 499750000000000000

19.47 354.74 0.00 0.00 0.00

22.61 392.54 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

Republic of the Philippines ) MAKATI CITY ) s.s.

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

RODA L. CRUZ Finance Head

RENELIA V. ESTIOKO President

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 28 day of April, 2015 at Makati City, affiant exhibiting his/her/their Passport No.EB5924413 , issued at Manila City on July 13, 2012 and Passport No. EB6029990, issued at Manila City on July 25, 2012.

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Exhibition in Provence. A man looks at a painting entitled ‘Venise, le Bucentaure de retour au Môle, le jour de l’Ascension (The Bucentaur Returning to the Molo on Ascension Day), after the Ceremony of Wedding the Adriatic’ by Italian painter Giovanni Antonio Canal aka il Canaletto as part of the exhibition ‘Canaletto, Rome, Londres, Venise’ at the new art center Caumont in Aix-en-Provence, southern France, on May 5. ‘Canaletto, Rome, Londres, Venise’ exhibition runs from May 6 to Sept. 13. AFP

Holocaust Memorial top draw 10 years on BERLIN—Berlin’s

Holocaust Memorial, controversial when it opened 10 years ago, has become one of the city’s top tourist draws and confounded fears it would be a target of neoNazi protesters.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, inaugurated on May 10, 2005, after 17 years of emotional debate and a full six decades after World War II, now attracts nearly half a million visitors each year from across Germany

and around the world, director Uwe Neumaerker said.

The monument includes a vast undulating labyrinth of more than 2,700 gray concrete blocks spread over an area equivalent to three football fields, as well as a subterranean museum dedicated

to the testimony of Holocaust victims and survivors.

Critics of the project at the time called the design too abstract and worried that its prominent location in central Berlin between the Brandenburg Gate and the site once occupied

by Adolf Hitler’s chancellery would make it vulnerable to vandalism and exploitation by far-right skinheads seeking media attention.

“Nobody is asking these questions anymore—everybody just seems to accept that it’s there

and that it’s going to be there,” its US architect Peter Eisenman told reporters.

“I think that silence about the concerns is one of the most positive [examples] of the success of such a memorial.”

The speaker of the German parliament, Norbert Lammert, who serves on the board of the memorial, noted that its approval was the last major decision taken by lawmakers before the government moved to Berlin in 1999 from the old West German capital Bonn. AFP

Praise for premier’s Sudoku-solver code

Meeting in Beijing. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini meets with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Zhongnanhai Leadership Compound in Beijing on May 6. AFP

S I N G A P O R E — S i n g a p o r e’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed his computer programming skills after sharing on Facebook a Sudoku puzzlesolver code he wrote.

Lee, 63, a first-class mathematics graduate from the University of Cambridge in Britain, posted a screen shot of the code written in the C++ programming language.

Describing the program as “pretty basic,” Lee also posted a link which contained the full printout of the code and invited readers to tell him if there were bugs.

Lee first revealed his talent for coding in a speech at a technology convention last month.

“I used to enjoy this; it is a long time since I’ve done anything,” he said at the event, referring to the Sudoku code written a few years ago.

The Facebook post on the code has been shared nearly 15,000 times and had more than 42,000 likes by Wednesday afternoon, along with many comments praising Lee. “Wonder which other PM in the world does this?” said one Facebook user, Judith Oliver. AFP

Van Gogh painting fetches new high NEW YORK—A Vincent Van Gogh painting fetched more than $66 million at a New York auction on Tuesday, the most paid for a work by the Dutch post-impressionist artist since 1998.

According to the Sotheby’s auction firm, Van Gogh’s “Les Alyscamps,” which depicts a stand of autumnal trees, had been expected to go for around $40 million but ultimately an Asian collector paid $66.3 million after an intense bidding war between five potential buyers.

Also reaching the pricing stratosphere was a “Water Lilies” painting by French impressionist Claude Monet, which sold for $54 million, smashing Sotheby’s valuation of between $30 million and $45 million.

The most ever paid for a Van Gogh was in 1990, when his “Portrait of Dr Gachet” sold for $82.5 million in New York.

Adjusted to today’s dollars, that’s about $153 million.

Of the six Monet works offered at auction, “Le Palais Ducal,” painted in Venice in 1908, went under the hammer for $23.1 million, more than its estimated $15 million to $20 million.

And his “Bassin aux nympheas, les rosiers” sold for $20.4 million.

The two other Monet paintings found no buyer. AFP

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

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

LIFE

Hans Eckstein as Leading Man

Markki Stroem as Leading Man

Frenchie Dy as Mely

Bituin Escalante as Mely

Menchu LauchengcoYulo as Madre de Dios

Natasha Cabrera as Viva

Giannina Ocampo as Nena Babushka

May Bayot as Nanay

Astarte Abraham as Madre de Dios

Caisa Borromeo as Windang Woman

Kim Molilna as Viva

C U LT U R E

OPENING NIGHT How to become a leading lady H Jeff Flores as Bazooka Man Domi Espejo as Senyor Blangko

ow can an original Filipino musical combine comedy, drama, romance, action, deception, confessions, superheroes, supervillains, family and a maid?

Manila’s newest theater group Dalanghita Productions, in cooperation with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), proudly presents “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady: The Musical” from Carlo Vergara’s one-act play and graphic novel of the same title.

“Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” revolves around the two sisters named Mely and

Red Nuestro as Marakas Marko

Chesko Rodriguez as Popoy Pusakal

Viva who both yearn to fulfill their dreams.

Their relationship and rivalry as siblings become more complicated due to an unsettled past and a budding romance, all in the context of an ongoing war between superhero and supervillain teams. Being a maid is tough enough, but when Mely lands a job under a group of superheroes, she steps up to the unique challenge for the sake of her family. The musical takes us through the journey of the characters as they try to find their way in a world where superheroes and supervillains exist.

Red Concepcion as Itak-Atak

Nar Cabico as Senyor Blangko Vince Lim as Henyotik

Elliot Eustacio as Jeryc Sans Rival

Mikoy Morales as Henyotik

Kakki Teodoro as Ensemble

Raflesia Bravo as Ensemble

Gab Pangilinan as Ensemble

Brian Sy as Ensemble

Rhenwyn Gabalonzo as Ensemble

Alejandro Santos as Ensemble

Joshua Cabiladas as Ensemble

JC Santos as Ensemble

Continued on C2

THURSDAY : M AY 07 : 2015

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

OPENING NIGHT From C1

“Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” brings back the artistic team behind Zsazsa Zaturnnah ze Muzikal, which was a massive success with its multiple stage runs (the popular comic book and musical were adapted onto the big screen afterwards). The story of Carlo Vergara (creator of Zsazsa Zaturnnah), together with the music of Vincent de Jesus (Himala the Musical, Batang Rizal, Juan Tamad), is brought to life by director Chris Martinez (I Do Bidoo Bidoo, Kimmy Dora, Temptation Island…Live!).

The cast of “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” boasts the most talented and highly-respected artists coming from the theater, television and film industry.

Topbilled to play the various roles are Menchu Lauchengco Yulo (Madre De Dios – leader of Puwersa Pilipinas), Bituin Escalante and Frenchie Dy (Mely – maid of Puwersa Pilipinas), Kim Molina and Natasha Cabrera (Viva – Mely’s younger sister), Markki Stroem and Hans Eckstein (Leading Man – newest member of Puwersa Pilipinas).

Lending support are the multi-faceted actors from Manila’s different theater companies namely May Bayot (Nanay – Mely and Viva’s mother), Astarte Abraham (Madre De Dios - alternate), Giannina Ocampo (Nena Babushka), Caisa Borromeo (Windang Woman), Chesko Rodriguez (Popoy Pusakal), Jeff Flores (Bazooka Man), Nar Cabico and Domi Espejo (Senyor Blangko – leader of Kayumanggilas), Red Nuestro (Marakas Marko), Red Concepcion (ItakAtak), Elliot Eustacio (Jeryc Sans Rival), Vince Lim (Henyotik), Mikoy Morales (Henyotik).

The ensemble is composed of Kakki Teodoro, Raflesia Bravo, Gab Pangilinan, JC Santos, Brian Sy, Rhenwyn Gabalonzo, Alejandro Santos and Joshua Cabiladas.

The artistic and creative teams of “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” are as follows: Carlo Vergara (Creator and Writer), Vincent de Jesus (Musical Director and Composer), Chris Martinez (Director), Tuxqs Rutaquio (Production Designer), Lambert de Jesus (Technical Director), John Batalla (Lighting Designer), Nancy Crowe (Choreographer), Mara Marasigan (Assistant Director) and Ejay Yatco (Assistant Musical Director).

The production team is composed of Ansis Aldrich Tan Sy, Pertee Briñas and Claudia Fernandez (Producers), Jerome Aytona (Stage Manager), Mariko Yasuda (Production Manager), Gee Pelaria (Assistant Stage Manager), RJ Deniega (Assistant Stage Manager), Toots Tolentino (Publicist), Kristin Bonifacio, Chuckie Campos Juan, Oskie King, Juan Lorenzo Marco, Guio Martinez, Phillippe Palmos, Celina Peñaflorida and Juan Miguel Severo (Sales and Marketing), Prodbook PH (Social Media Manager), Chester Ng (Photography).

“Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” is set to open on May 7 and will run for four weekends until June 7, 2014. The show starts promptly at 8 p.m. (ThursdaySunday). Matinee shows (Saturday-Sunday) start at 3 p.m. All performances are at the PETA Theater Center located at No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Q.C. For bulk reservations, show buys, and inquiries, call or text at mobile number 0998-5311389 or email to dalanghitaproductions@gmail.com.

For tickets, please call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or via http://www.ticketworld.com.ph

Manila Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) serenade moms with their repertoire of timeless tunes under the baton of Maestro Rodel Colmenar on May 10, 7:00pm, at the Grand Atrium.

SETTING THE STAGE

A Dose of Culture for Mother’s Day Mother’s day is set to be even more special as ShangriLa Plaza stages a weekend full of endless pleasures for the most important woman in our lives.

First up, invite mom to watch the best films the region has to offer during the Asia on Screen Film Festival, which runs from May 8 to 12 at the Shang Cineplex.

Featuring award-winning titles from Australia, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, China, and the Philippines, the filmfest is a wonderful showcase of enriching cinematic offerings that affect, move, and inspire. Tickets are available at the Shang Cineplex at Php 100 per screening.

On May 10, 7:00pm at the Grand Atrium, let the acclaimed Manila Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO)

Watch the best films the region has to offer during the Asia on Screen Film Festival, which runs from May 8 to 12 at the Shang Cineplex.

serenade mom with their repertoire of timeless tunes under the baton of Maestro Rodel Colmenar. Backed by its solid passion for music, one of the country’s leading orchestras brings it breadth of styles to the Shang for a Mother’s Day weekend to remember.

Extend the celebration with the upcoming and truly scrumptious Shang Gourmet Strip Food Festival. Take mom on a delicious journey around the world – starting with an exploration of Asian Cuisine on May 15 to 17, and a tasty tour of American, Continental and European Cuisines on May 22 to 24 at the Shang’s East Atrium.

For inquiries, call 370-2500 loc. 593 or visit www. facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

THIS MONTH AT AYALA MUSEUM

THURSDAY : M AY 07 : 2015

LIFE glweekend @ gmail.com

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

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THE INTERNET IS CRAZY ABOUT THE ‘DADBOD’

BY ED BIADO

Not all of us can be Jared Leto and rock a lean, toned body well into our 40s. Some of us are Leonardo DiCaprios who sport jiggly chests and a little excess around the midsection, and are still able to date supermodels.

Except we’re not Leonardo DiCaprio and even if we’re fit and buff, we still wouldn’t be able to date supermodels. Because we’re not Leonardo DiCaprio.

Regardless, Leo’s current body is a hot trend on the Internet—and across college campuses in America—and it’s called the “dadbod.” This is characterized by an obvious lack of the coveted sixpack and well-defined muscles. The key for someone to be identified as having a dadbod is that he has to show indications that he once took care of his physique and has simply neglected the gym of late.

Which should explain the softening of his whole torso. Which goes to say that there must be some form under those newly puton layers of flab. Which further goes to say that dadbod does not equal obese. Think Aidan (John Corbett) in Sex and the City.

“To put it simply, the dadbod is just a well-crafted beer gut that can be gained

with years of poor drinking and eating choices, coupled with a lack of exercise,” explains The Odyssey website. Because who doesn’t want to snack on Cheetos and a couple of beers, right?

Because bedroom-fantasy-worthy celebrities like DiCaprio, Robin Thicke, Jon Hamm and every other aging entertainer who used to be hot when they were young, from Alec Baldwin to Val Kilmer, have almost simultaneously decided that they’re going to start embracing their curves, they left the Internet no choice but to collectively swoon and come to the realization that dadbod is the new hot bod.

People on social media are so obsessed that someone actually created an Instagram account dedicated to these modern-day Greek gods. There are dissertations upon dissertations published online analyzing the different aspects of the dadbod lifestyle—from diet, level of attractiveness and even whether or not they’re better in bed than the guy with the perfectly chiseled pecs, abs and guns.

An example, courtesy of NYMAG.com’s The Cut: “What’s great about dadbod sex is that you know you’re gonna have great postcoital snacks. Dadbod definitely has some cheese in the fridge.” And that’s probably true.

From the CollegeDadBods Instagram Robin Thicke

Leonardo DiCaprio

Jon Hamm

John Corbet as Aiden in Sex and the City

Jared Leto -- not a dadbod

THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE Kid Kulafu: A Movie Review

BY TROY BERNARDO

The much ballyhooed Fight of the Century may be over, revealing Manny Pacquiao to be one big cry-baby, but as a biopic, Kid Kulafu is still worth seeing.

The boy named Emmanuel spent the first few years of his life in the mountains of Bukidnon, dreaming of Bruce Lee, pretending to fight invisible enemies, and dodging very real ones: government troops and rebels of the National People’s Army. Thus began the untold story of a man who would later win 10 world titles in eight divisions, a man whose name would resonate in boxing rings all over the world: Manny Pacquiao.

This is exactly the story director Paul Soriano wanted to tell in Pacquiao’s biopic, Kid Kulafu, which traces the humble beginnings of the People’s Champ, from his childhood to his teen-age years, immortalizing his most difficult years on screen.

And Soriano does this well.

The movie, penned by Froilan Medina, begins on a rainy evening in Kibawe, opening with a violent brawl, a foreshadowing of the kind of occupation the child named Emmanuel would pursue. We are introduced to his parents, Rosalio (Alex Medina), who would eventually leave the family; and, Dionisia (Alessandra de Rossi), who ended up raising the children by herself.

From Bukidnon, we follow the family to General Santos, or GenSan, where Pacquiao begins training as a boxer under his uncle, Sardo (Cesar Montano), who also christens him Kid Kulafu, after the cheap liquor Sardo would get drunk on. We meet Mr. Dizon (Jake Macapagal), who would later introduce Kid Kulafu to the fighters of Digos. From there, we journey to Manila, where Pacquiao begins training in earnest.

“Vino Kulafu was like a sweetened cough syrup,” says Betsy Grozman, whose father used to manufacture the stuff. “It was popular, not only because of its alcohol content, but it was believed to have medicinal properties.”

The moniker turns out to be perfect.

There is nothing the young Pacquiao wants more than to solve his family’s problems; to help his mother Dionisia, who has health problems of her own; and to protect his family from the cruelty of poverty.

The symbolism is deliberate. If Pacquiao could melt into a kulafu, he could numb us from life and still help us solve our problems, becoming our own medicine — a role he has taken upon himself.

Besides, Kulafu was also a legendary Filipino hero who fought battles in tropical jungles — similar to Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Tarzan” – or distant lands, as illustrated in comic books by Francisco Reyes in 1933. Kulafu, the drink and the hero, represents power.

That deep, solid power permeates throughout the entire movie. The film, presented by ABS-CBN, Star Cinema and Ten17 Productions, engages the audience, even if the latter knows how the story ends.

Soriano manages to get excellent performances from his cast. Buboy Villar as the young Pacquiao is a knock-out, to say the least, playing the part with impeccable precision. His moves alone, for which he had to train with Mixed Martial Arts fighter and self-confessed Pacquiao fan Erwin Tagle, are so impressive that Villar actually becomes Pacquiao himself, mirroring the young Pacman down to every muscle, every tear, every bead of sweat.

Villar plays the young Pacquiao so well that audiences find themselves cheering for him every time he is in the ring. From the first sparring match arranged by his uncle, Sardo, to his stint at Digos where he begins to make a name for himself; from the town plaza fights to the bouts covered

by Ronnie Nathanielsz on radio, audiences clap alongside everyone in the film, even if everyone knows the glory Pacquiao would eventually attain.

Notable, too, is De Rossi’s performance as the feisty Dionisia who also had to slug it out through life. Now we understand her more, before all the gowns, the ringside antics and the young partner. Having gone through hell, she can very well enjoy the life that she has now in whichever way she wishes.

Same goes for Pacquiao.

In the end, Kid Kulafu proves how the Pacman truly deserves the accolades, the triumph he has received. Pacquiao has become a symbol, the proverbial David to life’s Goliath, the short Filipino who managed to beat opponents twice his size. And, his youth is echoed in millions of Filipinos who grew up penniless, parent-less, with the rest of the impossible odds stacked against them.

“Maybe 30-40 percent of my life is like Pacquiao’s,” says Mark Tura, 21, a Muay Thai coach at Elorde Elite in Legazpi Village, Makati. “I, too, grew up poor, hungry, and my mom didn’t want me to fight.

But for me, it was the only way to help my family.”

Eventually, Tura got into the National Team, passing through a grueling, win-against-all-others kind of test. As a coach, he is now able to help his family.

“I feel for Pacquiao,” he continues, “because I went through what he went through. I see him. I see me.”

In Pacquiao, we see ourselves. We’ve always rooted for the underdog. Maybe, in some ways, we are. We’re constantly fighting against things that are much bigger than us: a seemingly uncaring government that constantly robs us, a country quadruple our size, and global climate change. We struggle with paying the highest taxes in the region, having the slowest Internet in the region, one of the worst traffic jams in the world, among countless others.

Still, we continue fighting.

We’d like to see this Kid Kulafu spirit once more in Manny Pacquiao in the aftermath of his staggering defeat to Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas. Man up, Manny.

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

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

NOW SHOWING

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A GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON AT THE CINEMAS THIS WEEK

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

Hot Pursuit

Avengers: Age of Ultron

PG While the Avengers are on a hiatus from fighting hostile enemies, Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) create a dormant peacekeeping program named Ultron. However, their plan backfires when the self-aware artificial intelligence decides that humans are the real enemy.

HOT PURSUIT

R13 Officer Cooper (Reese Witherspoon), an uptight and by-thebook cop, is tasked to protect Daniella Riva (Sofia Vergara), the outgoing widow of a drug boss, as they race through Texas pursued by criminals and crooked cops.

BEYOND THE REACH

R13 John Madec (Michael Douglas), a powerful international businessman, goes on a hunting trip and hires Ben (Jeremy Irvine), a young tracker living in the southwest, as his guide through the Reach. While hunting for a bighorn, John accidentally kills an old man and asks Ben to shut his mouth about it. But when the latter refuses to do so, it leads to a sadistic game of cat and mouse as John decides to kill and hunt down Ben in the vast and hostile desert basin.

MAGGIE

R13 An American independent horror film about Maggie (Abigail Breslin), a teenage girl in the Midwest who falls victim to a strange disease that slowly turns those infected into cannibalistic zombies. In spite of the dangers she faces during her transformation, her loving father (Arnold Schwarzenegger) stays by her side.

MONSTERS: DARK CONTINENT

BIG GAME

R16 The sequel to the 2010 film Monsters, it begins 10 years on from the events of Monsters, and the Infected Zones have now spread worldwide. The Army drafts in more numbers to help deal with the new insurgency and proliferation of Monsters in the Middle East.

While on a hunting mission to track down a deer and prove his maturity to his kinsfolk, 13-year-old Oskari (Onni Tommila) instead finds the stranded President of the United States (Samuel L. Jackson) in an escape pod when terrorists shoot down Air Force One. Oskari and the US president team up to escape the terrorists and survive the most extraordinary 24 hours of their lives.

PG

Big Game

PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2

G Six years after the events of the first film, Paul Blart (Kevin James) heads to Las Vegas with his incoming UCLA college freshman daughter Maya (Raini Rodriguez) to attend a security officers’ convention. But while on vacation Blart faces yet more trouble when criminals plot to steal priceless works of art from their hotel.

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

R16 A thriller that follows Doug Martin (Nick Jonas) who, after starting an affair with Lena (Isabel Lucas), the young wife of an investment banker, finds himself embroiled in a scandal when Lena’s husband suspiciously dies and leaves a substantial life insurance policy.

SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE

CHILD 44

R16 A serial killer-thriller film based on Tom Rob Smith’s novel of the same title, the film chronicles the crisis of conscience for disgraced Soviet intelligence agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy) who uncovers a brutal series of child murders and teams up with General Mikhail Nesterov (Gary Oldman) to track down the serial killer whom everyone claims does not exist.

Child 44 Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Shaun the Sheep Movie

UNFRIENDED

R13 An American finds footage of a supernatural horror film that unfolds over high school student Blaire Lily’s (Shelley Hennig) laptop screen as she and her friends are stalked by an unseen figure that they can’t get rid of online.

Blaire and her friends discover the unseen online stalker is their friend Laura Barns (Heather Sossaman) who killed herself because of incessant online bullying a year earlier.

FAST & FURIOUS 7

PG In the seventh installment of the Fast & Furious film series, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), and the rest of the crew find themselves being chased by Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) who seeks revenge for what happened to his brother Owen Shaw.

YOUR PLACE OR MINE

GET HARD

Nailed for fraud and embezzlement, millionaire hedge fund manager James King (Will Ferrell) has 30 days to sort his affairs and prepare for jail. Desparate, he turns to his car washer Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart) to teach him how to toughen up to survive in prison, assuming he was incarcerated because he’s black. But James later discovers that his mentor has a clean record and never actually went to prison.

G Based on the television series of the same name, the film follows Shaun (Justin Fletcher), Bitzer (John Sparkes), and the rest of the flock as they take a day off to have some fun, only to end up in the Big City to rescue the Farmer and take him back to the countryside after he loses his memory from a blow to his head.

R13 A romantic comedy based on a Wattpad novel, it tells the story of total strangers Haley Saavedra (Andi Eigenmann) and Russell Sandoval (Bret Jackson) finding true love amid arranged marriages and one-night stands.

R16

Get Hard

Your Place or Mine

COMPILED BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

T H U R S D AY : M AY 0 7 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

OLIVIA WILDE’S SUSTAINABLE STYLE

Olivia Wilde in Golden Dress, P10, 990

H&M’s new Conscious Exclusive collection is proof of the fashion that can be created with more sustainable materials, using fabrics such as hemp, organic linen and organic leather to create pieces of great individual style. The collection, worn in the campaign exclusively by actress and humanitarian Olivia Wilde, will be available in around 200 H&M stores worldwide on April 16, as well as online.

This year’s Conscious Exclusive collection takes its inspiration from around the planet and focuses on the versatility of the dress. An organic linen and silk sleeveless gown with a glamorous cut is printed with hand-drawn images of birds. A black cocktail dress inTencel® and recycled wool features African influences, with rows of recycled sequins. Meanwhile, a sleeveless cocktail dress has a print inspired by Japanese ink-wash painting, and is made from organic hemp, organic silk and organic cotton.

Each piece in the collection is special, whether it’s the pilot jacket in Tencel®, reverse-like jacquard fabric with threads intentionally left loose, or the organic silk tuxedo blazer with sleeves slashed to the elbow to create a dramatic effect.

The use of more sustainable materials is varied and comprehensive, from the recycled beads on a flapper dress to the organic leather appearing in a minimalist leather jacket and stack-heeled sandals.

“I love the Conscious Exclusive collection at H&M, both for the look, and also for its ethics.

This is how all fashion should be: great style that’s naturally more sustainable,” says Olivia Wilde.

“I love the global influences in this Conscious Exclusive collection and the beauty of the handdrawn prints, made by one of our talented in-house designers. And Olivia Wilde is the perfect choice for this collection, because she shares H&M’s commitment to a more sustainable future,” says AnnSofie Johansson, Creative Advisor H&M.

The new H & M Conscious Exclusive 2015 collection includes 1 Zanzibar Top; 2 Wuji Blazer; 3-4 Sierra Top; 5 Jamia Dress, 6 Daia Suit and 7 Apunda Dress 1

In Wuji Blazer P5,490 and Chika Pants P4,490

In Bapoto Dress P10,990

Wilde in Jamila Dress, P2,990

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SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Nobela, a rock group from Cagayan de Oro, bagged the championship in the Pambansang Muziklaban

LARA QUIGAMAN CROWNS IBA’S GOODWILL ENVOY

M NOBELA TAKES ACT TO PULP SUMMER SLAM

F

or many aspiring amateur bands around the country, breaking onto their own local scenes is already quite a challenge. To play before thousands, alongside some of the country’s biggest and established acts, is a dream.

And to share the stage with local heroes and major international bands in one of the year’s biggest events, well, is almost impossible.

Almost. Jimmy Jin de Guzman, Mark Chester Crisostomo, Von Galdo, and Rozal Labandia, all from Cagayan de Oro, who make up Nobela, this year’s Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban champion, had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play with local and foreign rock and metal legends at the recent Red Horse Beer-Pulp Summer Slam XV: Angels Descend show.

The event, the longest-running metal festival in Southeast Asia, was extra special this year as it marked the first time since 2012 that Red Horse Beer, the country’s no. 1 extra strong beer, and top music publication Pulp magazine, joined forces to stage the Summer Slam at the Amoranto Stadium.

Major international metal acts s such as American metal core band Killswitch Engage, British acts Cradle of Filth and the legendary Carcass, American death metal

band Suffocation, post-hardcore band Escape the Fate, metal core group The Word is Alive, and Taiwanese metal band Chthonic were the headliners of the event.

Joining them were top local acts Greyhoundz, Slapshock, Quezo, Kjwan, Wilabaliw, Razorback, Pepe Smith, Ely Buendia, and of course, Nobela.

“At first, we only wanted to experience being in Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban--a national competition. It was chance for us to show our talent in CDO and outside our city,” said vocalist De Guzman. “But this is beyond the fulfillment of our dreams.”

By “this”, he meant all the opportunities that come with being Pambansang Muziklaban grand champion. Apart from sharing the stage with top local bands like Slapshock and Greyhoundz at the recent finals held at the Plaza Maestranza in Intramuros, Nobela also scored an exclusive recording contract and a music video deal with MCA Universal, along with P500,000 in prize money and other prizes from sponsors.

“It was a great experience during the Muziklaban. We found it most difficult to keep our composure playing before the bands we idolize,”said de Guzman.

On its 16th year, Red Horse

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ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Blunder 5 Conductor’s stick 10 Tankards 14 Medea sailed on her 15 Slur words 16 Perched 17 Nursery buy 18 Mirage sights 19 Basilica area 20 Square dance 22 Checkout gizmo 24 — de cologne

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Pub order Not secretively Brawls Glamorous wraps Pry open Portico Quiche base Banned bug spray Approves Beijing coin Swains Wildebeests Where Dakar is

2nd-century astronomer Place for a stud Dazzle Urged along Admired oneself Sewing kit Like some yogurt (hyph.)

Toolbox item Solar plexus Less than a drizzle NCAA Bruins Ex-UN member Cutlass kin Lettuce piece

DOWN 1 Nasty cut 2 Black-and-white snack 3 Pointed arch 4 Alfalfa and clover 5 Slayer of Grendel 6 Ladd of films 7 “Whether — nobler. . .”

8 Keats’ works 9 Non-brewed coffee 10 Etiquette 11 — Bator 12 Collapse 13 Drag ender 21 Breakfast grain

Pambansang Muziklaban continued to provide amateur bands from all over the Philippines a chance to make a name for themselves in the Pinoy rock scene.

This year, finalists also got a chance to learn valuable tricks of the trade from no less than some of the country’s premiere acts such as Slapshock, Razorback, Wilabaliw, Greyhoundz and Kjwan as Pambansang Muziklaban adopted a mentoring system for the competition.

From their mentor band Kjwan, led by Marc Abaya, Nobela gained new insights on performing, improving their sound, and even building their image.

While the band said that their recent victory had yet to fully sink in, they were already busy preparing to showcase their new learnings at the Red Horse Beer-Pulp Summer Slam show.

Undoubtedly one of the biggest events of its kind this side of the world, it’s an experience they know they will not soon forget.

“We want people to remember us as being aggressive on stage.

We always move about, we jump around, we put our heart into our music. We like to interact with the audience because for us, music is a way to send our message to the people,” De Guzman said.

THURSDAY, MAY 07, 2015

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Sitcom alien Yields to Fashion Twin Cities suburb Sing falsetto Misbehave (2 wds.)

Repair a wrong Dogpatch name Full of back talk Vitamin amt.

More strapped Arctic sea Car part Tickled pink Seek excitement Have a mortgage Amazon source 66 and I-80 Six to an inning Copperfield’s wife Rate of movement Friendly Fitzgerald of jazz Like Beethoven Marvy

iss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman led the coronation of Gng. Paynauen International Annabelle Macadaan Ramos Agliam who will be the ambassador of goodwill and tourism of Iba, the capital town of Zambales.

The pageant is part of the Paynauen Duyan Festival, which marks the town’s annual foundation day celebrations.

“Paynauen” is the old native Zambal name of Iba, which means place of relaxation.

Livening up the festivity was ABS-CBN celebrity Ahron Villena of Legal Wife fame who serenaded the runners-up of the pageant.

Also crowned were Portia Abrajano Alvarez (first runner-up), Eva Daco Bundang

(second runner-up), Wynne Irene Butaran Haney (third runner-up), Marylin Funiestas Leomo (fourth runnerup), and Liberty Lozada Smith (fifth runner-up).

The winners are natives of Iba based in various cities of the United States and have formed associations of Filipinos to support developmental programs in their hometown.

According to Iba municipal mayor Rundsted Ebdane, the Gng. Paynauen International 2015 pageant will support the town’s tourism projects, specifically the construction of a welcome arch, which will be among the tourist icons of the town.

Also joining the coronation is Iba first lady and Paynauen Duyan Festival overall chairman Daisy Ebdane.

Lara Quigaman with Gng. Paynaauen International Annabelle Agliam

Kapamilya star Ahron Villena serenades Gng. paynauen winners

T H U R S D AY : M AY 0 7 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

KAPUSO GAINS GROUND ONLINE G MA Network’s digital presence starts strong in the first quarter of 2015 with performance metrics of GMA’s websites and social media accounts registering the highest among its competitors.

According to Effective Measure, GMA’s official Entertainment website experienced the highest relative growth of 1310 percent in pageviews among local entertainment websites, while unique browsers grew by a phenomenal 1025 percent compared to the same period last year.

Netizens enjoy a continuous stream of updates about their favorite Kapuso personalities and programs via GMA Network’s Entertainment, Artist Center, and Community websites (www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment, www.gmanetwork.com/ artistcenter, www.gmanetwork.com/

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

C7

SPEKTACULAR TREAT FOR MOMS

GMA Network’s online portal and Entertainment index

community), including up-to-date episode guides, live social media feeds, interactive features, promos, and exclusive photos and videos.

GMA News Online’s (www.gmanetwork.com/news) pageviews increased by 72 percent in 2014 while its monthly average unique browsers grew by a commanding 158 percent versus last year.

Browsing through the GMA Network Portal on any device is also more convenient with its intuitive and mobile-friendly functionality. Content sharing is also made easier and faster with its social media-sharing feature.

At the end of the first quarter of 2015, GMA Network’s Facebook fans grew by 92.13 percent compared to 2014. GMA Network also led in terms of growth rate on Twitter with its follower base increasing

by 51.26 percent versus last year.

GMA News is also still the Philippines’ most-followed news organization on Twitter with 2.9 million followers. Its Facebook page, with 4.69 million likes, is also among the top pages in the country. With 114,000 users following its public chat, GMA News is also the top news organization on Viber.

For updates on GMA Network’s artists, programs, and events, visit the GMA Network Portal at www. gmanetwork.com and official social media accounts (facebook/gmanetwork, twitter: @gmanetwork, instagram: @gmanetwork) and for the latest news, log on to gmanetwork. com/news and official social media accounts (facebook.com/gmanews, twitter:@gmanews, instagram:@ gmanews, viber.com/gmanews).

Redefine your way of celebrating Mother’s Day by spending it in the magical place of Enchanted Kingdom (EK).

A mother’s duty involves 24/7 commitment and devotion, which makes it the toughest job in the world. So, on May 10, Enchanted Kingdom is one with the whole world in paying tribute to mothers as the world commemorates their special day for their unconditional love, care and support. As a way of giving back to the most important person in everyone’s lives, EK is offering an exceptional presents for this one special occasion.

Catch Dulce and The FORTEnors free concert at the Park, 6 p.m. at the Spaceport area.

Dulce and the Fortenors sing for the mothers.

Join EKids in a very special number for the moms with “Mother Like No Other”. This day will surely be filled with fun and exciting activities like MiniMom lookalike contest and EKids serenade for moms.

Date your mother and your family with the latest offering “spEKtacular Mother’s Day Promo” at Enchanted Kingdom. Get 1 FREE RDP for mothers / grandmothers for every purchase of 4 RDPs with Free family bucket meal PLUS 5 raffle coupons for a chance to win exciting prices! The Mother’s Day Promo is worth P3,000 only and valid for all weekends (Sat. & Sun) of May. Raffle draw is on May 31.

Experience an enchanting Mother’s date and give her a spEKtacular treat only at the country’s first world-class theme park - Enchanted Kingdom, where the magic lives on… & on!

Call (02) 830.3535 or log on to www.enchantedkingdom.ph for more details.

Fortenors will perform at Enchanted Kingdom with Dulce

MISS REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES PAGEANT IS BACK Miss Republic of the Philippines, the sash and title worn by the likes of famous beauty queens Eva Reyes, Minnie Cagatao, Suzanne Gonzales, and Evangeline Pascual when they competed in Miss World in the 70’s, will have a new titleholder in 2015 to be known during the pageant’s grand coronation finals set on Sept. 9 at the Solaire Resort and Casino Theater in Parañaque.

Modern Filipinas who possess beauty and brain, of good moral character and at least 18 to 25 years of age are invited to apply for screening starting in May up to July 2015 and to be conducted in all the different regions around the country.

Successful applicants will automatically become grand finalists and will be joined by other finalists coming from various overseas Filipino communities in USA, Canada, Austria, Italy, Germany, Spain, UK, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore.

Miss Republic of the Philippines PR consultant Romina Gervacio said that the pageant is unique in that it will award college and graduate school scholarships and the chance to travel extensively abroad for the winner who will promote her chosen platform. Miss Republic of the Philippines 2015 will embody the image of a modern Filipina in the global stage, act as ambassador of goodwill to promote national pride and cultural heritage, and contribute to the country’s positive image and economic progress.

Miss Republic of the Philippines aims to become a premier pageant to discover, develop and nurture Filipinas for them to achieve excellence and secure a bright future. The Miss RP organizers are committed to promote the spirit of achieving the best practices and highest standards in the pageant industry, and produce quality results in all areas of the competition.

– ETON B. CONCEPCION

C8 From left, FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos, Insiang's producer Ruby Tiong Tan, FDCP Executive Director Teodoro C. Granados, and FDCP Project Development Officer Quintin P. Cu-Unjieng

T H U R S D AY : M AY 0 7 : 2 0 1 5

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

RESTORED ‘INSIANG’ RETURNS TO CANNES premiere of the restored version is set to take place on June 24,.

FDCP was elated to hear of the film’s acceptance in this year’s ISAH V. RED Cannes Classics. Santos said, “Our country’s selection this year After nearly four decades, Na- for Cannes Classics with the late tional Artist Lino Brocka’s mas- National Artist Lino Brocka’s Interpiece Insiang will return to the siang is once more a great honor Festival de Cannes. It had the for Philippine cinema. This is honor of being the first Philippine truly a cause for celebration. It film ever to be shown as part of affirms the country’s efforts to the Directors’ Fortnight in 1978. preserve our audiovisual heritage.

Brocka’s restored film has been Brocka’s films have proven to be at selected for the Cannes Classics at par with the world’s pantheon of the 68th edition of the prestigious cinema classics that deserve to be celebrated to this day.” festival. lt premieres on May 16.

He continued, “With the PhilipThe Cannes Classics section of the festival is meant to showcase pine acceptance in Cannes Clasand rediscover old classics with sics, first with the restored version new or restored prints in celebra- of Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Lition of the heritage of cinema. The wanag in 2013, and now with the restoration of Insiang was accom- restored Insiang, the country has plished in partnership between gained the honor that validates the the Film Development Council path we have taken to give imporof the Philippines (FDCP) and tance to our national classics. Our Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema effort to preserve our country’s Project / The Film Foundation. It film heritage is vital and foremost, was completed at L’Immagine Ri- as these films play a crucial role in trovata Laboratories in Bologna, inspiring our film industry and Italy, after a long process to secure the present generation of Filipino filmmakers to pursue artistic exthe film elements.

National Archives of the Philip- cellence and maximize their crepines (NFAP), under the auspices ative potentials to emulate Brocka’s of FDCP, acquired the rights of example. Insiang leads the way the film following negotiations to the future of our country’s film between FDCP Chairman Bric- preservation projects. The fact cio Santos and the film’s produc- that in the last two years two of er, Ruby Tiong Tan, last year. On Brocka’s films has been selected her decision, she said, “I wanted for Cannes Classics shows that the to turn over the film as a Philip- world is hungry for his films to be pine cultural heritage product. I revived, given his great legacy and thought, if I have a masterpiece, contributions to world cinema.”

Cannes’ selection of the reshould I just hang it in my home, only for myself to enjoy? No, I stored Insiang pays homage to the should put that masterpiece in film’s international premiere in the museum, in the National Film 1978 when it was featured in the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs, or Archive, for the public to enjoy.”

Now state-owned, Insiang is Directors’ Fortnight. The section paving the way as a model for the is non-competitive, distinguished nation’s important films to be made by its focus on discovering indepublicly accessible. The Philippine pendent and innovative directors

SIMPLY RED

with a unique cinematic expression. The film was selected for the Quinzaine on recommendation of Pierre Rissient, renowned film critic, curator, programmer, distributor, editor, producer, screenwriter, filmmaker, and long-time artistic advisor of the Cannes Film Festival. Rissient, a long-time supporter of Philippine cinema, played a vital role in catalyzing its international recognition as a masterpiece.

Insiang centers on the story and struggle of Insiang (Hilda Koronel), a teenage girl living with her mother, Tonia (Mona Lisa), in the most notorious slum of Manila, Tondo. The oppressiveness of urban poverty leads Tonia to throw away the shackles of family responsibility, as she invites her young lover Dado (Ruel Vernal) to live with them.

Dado, however, turns his voyeuristic gaze on Insiang and defiles her. Scorned by her mother and unable to leave the miserable household, Insiang seeks freedom by plotting revenge against those who ruined her life.

But before the film created such a buzz on the international film scene, Insiang had a brush with the censors of Martial Lawera Philippines before it could even leave for Cannes. “Because of the social realities depicted in the film, they did not want it to go to Cannes. It was banned because it wasn’t showing the beautiful parts of Manila. They delayed the censoring process just so that it wouldn’t make it for the Cannes deadline,” Tiong Tan recalled.

But, as fate would have it, Insiang did make it to Cannes. A lastminute meeting with the censors was interrupted by street protesters demanding the release of the film, and with public pressure, they released it. Continued on C7

Hilda Koronel (Insiang) and Mona Lisa (Tonia), her mother

Mona Lisa as Tonia keeps a younger man Dado played by Ruel Vernal

Hilda Koronel plays Lino Brocka's Insiang at Festival de Cannes four decades ago

Now, Insiang is back in Cannes so are its stars Hilda Koronel and Rez Cortez who playes Insiang's suitor Bebot