The Standard - 2015 May 15 - Friday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 87  3 Sections  32 Pages  P18  FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Valenzuela fire deaths reach 72

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Focus on sea dispute, PH asks US

PNOY: POE WILL CONTINUE GAINS Next page

Aquino’s choice? Senator Grace Poe questions Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya over the poor maintenance of the MRT 3 that had led to accidents in this file photo taken last year. President Benigno Aquino III has virtually endorsed Poe to replace him in Malacañang.

First drive: Peugeot 208 GTI

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Sarangani sizzles with biggest party

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PNoy gives virtual nod to Poe

By Sandy Araneta and Macon Araneta

President Benigno Aquio III virtually endorsed Senator Grace Poe as possible standard bearer of the administration coalition for the 2016 presidential elections.

Honorary doctorate. President Benigno Aquino III delivers a speech in Malacañang on Thursday after receiving a Doctor of Humanities Degree, Honoris Causa, from the Tarlac State University. Malacañang Photo Bureau

VP Binay breaks silence, lashes out at AMLC

By Vito Barcelo, Macon RamosAraneta and Sandy Araneta VICE President Jejomar Binay accused the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of misleading the Court of Appeals said Thursday the agency misled the Court of Appeals by falsely claiming he had no other source of income other than his government salary.

“I do not have 242 accounts. Only five accounts included in the freeze order are under my name. And all the funds in these five accounts were acquired legally. They are not hidden wealth. AMLAC is really wrong,” Binay said.

Binay also belied the AMLAC’s report that his only source of income was his government salary, saying his accounts also included income and savings before he joined the government.

“The AMLC claims that my government salary is my only source of funds and it does not match the amounts in my bank accounts. This is not true,” the Vice President said.

“My accounts include income and

savings before I joined the government.

We also have businesses that are already decades old. We pay taxes. Even legal campaign contributions, which have been reported to the Comelec, were described as ill-gotten by AMLC. AMLC is again wrong,” he added.

“AMLC even included the bank accounts that have already been closed.

AMLC is definitely wrong,” he added.

Binay also lamented the release of the supposedly confidential report, saying that it was one-sided and did not yet include his answers to the findings.

“With the leak of the AMLAC report, it is clear that my detractors are willing to violate the law in their bid to destroy me,” he said.

The Vice President expressed dismay that even AMLC has fallen victim to “fiction writers and manghuhulas (fortune tellers).”

“You have fiction writers and manghuhulas not only in the Senate. You can find them in the Anti-Money Laundering Council,” he said.

Two legal experts on Thursday said the disclosure of the AMLC report could be the basis for criminal prosecution.

Ranhilio Aquino of the San Beda Graduate School Of Law and Pacifico Agabin of University of the Philippines College of Law said the AMLC provides for a confidentiality rule and prohibits revelation of an AMLC report and “any other information in relation thereto.”

“There is confidentiality in respect to the report of the covered institutions.

On the part of the AMLC, the confidentiality is in relation to judicial and prosecutorial processes,” Aquino said.

AMLC also provides secrecy on the issuance of a freeze order by a court in response to an AMLC petition, he said.

“The freeze order is meant to prevent the suspected person from dissipating the assets--selling, transferring, alienating or concealing them. This is the reason for the confidentiality requirements in the law,” Aquino said.

Aquino said the confidentiality rule under the latest version of the law, Republic Act No. 10365, applies to AMLC and “covered institutions” or the banks, stockbrokers and investment houses that are obligated to report to the council. With Rey E. Requejo

Aquino said Poe has the characteristics of a successor who can continue his reform agenda and preserve the gains of his administration.

“We have worked hard to bring the country to where we are now – we have invested blood, sweat and tears. These accomplishments have to be made permanent,” the President said in an interview with Bombo Radyo.

“And to my mind, Senator Grace is really one of the people whom we can count on to continue what we have started, one of the people who can really continue this,” he added.

The President, however, admitted that discussions with Poe have not yet been finalized.

“Once there is clarity, we will let you know,” he said.

In a recent state visit to Canada, the President was asked if he was open to a Poe and Mar Roxas tandem.

“I’m open to all possibilities. Wait, let me correct that, almost all possibilities. There are those I cannot consider who will be able to continue the reform agenda,” Aquino said.

Roxas, the presumptive standard bearer of the Liberal Party, has been lagging behind Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay in recent surveys of possible presidential bets.

Poe, for her part, lamented this early that some political opponents might resort to questioning her citizenship even if she has yet to make a categorical statement on her 2016 plans.

“It’s sad that others have to resort to the same issue on citizenship the way that they did with FPJ,” said Poe, referring to her father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Her father ran in the 2010 presidential elections, but lost to now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo.

The late actor’s citizenship was also questioned during the campaign period but the Supreme Court ruled in his favor.

“The qualifications for higher office is the same for that of a senator,” she said.

Poe said she had always been forthcoming about the circumstances of her birth and that she was adopted by the late actor and his wife, veteran actress Susan Roces.

Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said PDP-Laban is also rooting for Poe, but as vice president of Davao City Mayor Rodolfo Duterte.

“PDP-Laban is even considering her to be the runnig mate of Duterte because that would be a good balance,” Pimentel said, even as he admitted that he has yet to discuss the proposal to Poe. “No formal talks yet but I’m telling you within the party, her name is one of the favorites to be approached as a running mate of Duterte,” Pimentel added.

Poe on Wednesday said she continues to hold “consultative talks” across the country, especially after “the President said they want it (decision on standard bearer) sometime in June or at the end of June.”

“Still, we cannot see what will happen in the coming weeks due to many consultations. Right now, during the lapse of several weeks, we (Aquino and Poe) only had one talks, and we don’t know how many talks they had in the lower level. So let us see,” Poe said.

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Valenzuela fire toll reaches 72

By Jun B. David

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) confirmed Thursday that at least 72 factory workers died in a fire that razed a slippers factory in Valenzuela City before noon Wednesday.

Firemen and police retrieved 58 bodies in the ruins of the Kentex Manufacturing Inc. warehouse on Tatalon Street, Barangay Ugong.

Thirteen others have yet to be extracted from the debris.

In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said the charred bodies were taken to a morgue near Maysan Barangay Hall for forensic processing and identification by the police.

Gatchalian said only three of the recovered dead bodies were identified since all the remaining victims were burned beyond recognition.

The three were identified as Leah Ballesteros, Josie Tee and Tristan Ong King, said to be the son of one of the factory owners.

Gatchalian said the local government will extend aid to the victims of the fire, including the hospital bills incurred by more than 30 survivors in different hospitals and burial expenses of the deceased.

He said the Family Help Desk was organized by the local government in Barangay Maysan to assist and provide trauma counseling for the grieving families.

The mayor added it was too early to point fingers and they will wait for the results of the investigation but assured the public that those liable for the tragedy will be punished.

Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina, who was at the same conference, said the police would help the BFP to trace who would be charged with negligence and to find out if the National Building Code was violated.

“Someone will he held accountable for the death of the workers, be it accidental or deliberate. We have yet to determine what actually happened so that we will be able to clearly define what case should be filed,” Espina said.

Initial reports said welding sparks ignited a chemical substance that created a ball of fire that spread quickly to the nearby building where some 200 workers were.

The City Fire District head of Valenzuela City has been relieved pending an investigation of the fire.

Espina has ordered the fielding of 40 forensic experts personnel at the fire scene to assist the BFP in retrieving and identifying the charred bodies.

Forty other police personnel were fielded in the area to prevent looting and to preserve evidence at the scene.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who visited the scene Thursday, said he has ordered the agencies under his department to conduct a thorough investigation to determine why 72 people were trapped inside the factory. With Francisco Tuyay, Sandy araneta and Vito Barcelo

Hole in the nose. A Cebu Pacific A320 flight to Puerto Princesa City landed safely at 5:12 pm on Thursday after the airline reported a hole on the nose of the plane. The plane was later grounded for maintenance work. Eric Apolinio

‘BBL passage will cause court challenge’ GDP grew

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon ramos-araneta LAWMAKERS warned Thursday that railroading the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) might only cause it to be challenged before the Supreme Court.

The leader of the independent minority bloc, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, reminded his colleagues that the BBL must pass the test of constitutionality.

“This measure must be approved in consonance with the Constitution and existing law,” Romualdez said.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. agreed with Romualdez, saying it would only be a waste of time and effort if Congress approves the measure that does not address constitutional issues hounding it.

Belmonte also maintained the BBL that will be approved in the House will be amended.

In fact, he said, the 75-man ad hoc panel on the BBL had already

prepared a working draft of the measure that would be the subject of voting next week.

“The BBL as proposed by Malacanang as is will not be entertained in the House and so we have worked on the amendments,” Belmonte said.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr., a member of the ad hoc panel, said the failure of the committee to remove any unconstitutional provisions in the law would lead it to be questioned before the Supreme Court.

“Whether the BBL is half-baked, fully- baked or even over-baked, I anticipate that the BBL shall be questioned before the Supreme Court. At any rate, prudence dictates that all issues pertaining to the constitutionality of any provision should be carefully examined by the ad hoc committee as well as during the debates in the plenary,” Barzaga said.

Reps. Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental, Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela and Terry Ridon of Kabataan

party-list said the amended version of the BBL should not only be constitutional but also address the roots of armed conflict in Mindanao.

“A BBL that does not address the roots of the conflict is not what the Moro people deserve. It will be no different from an ARMM that also did not address the roots of the conflict,” Ridon said.

Benitez and Albano said input from legal and constitutional experts should be included in the amended version of the BBL. “BBL in whatever form will be questioned in the Supreme Court. It is best that legal experts are part in the drafting of the bill,” Benitez said.

A staunch opponent of the BBL in the Senate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, warned the passage of the BBL could worsen the energy crisis in Mindanao since the Bangsamoro government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would control Lake Lanao, a source of hydro-electric power.

Body bags. Policemen and firemen in Valenzuela count the body bags on the ground following a fire in a slipper factory there that killed 72 people. Manny PalMero

fastest in 4 decades, PNoy says

By Sandy araneta THE Philippines’ gross domestic product grew by 6.9 percent in 2014, the fastest expansion in the region next to China, President Benigno Aquino III said in a radio interview on Wednesday that was aired on Thursday.

By comparison, the GDP grew by a robust 7.2 percent in 2013 because it had been an election year in which political spending provided an extra boost to the economy.

Last year’s expansion averaged 6.3 percent per quarter, Aquino said.

“We will reveal these [the figures] on the upcoming SONA [State-of the-Nation Address],” Aquino told Radyo Bombo Philippines.

“But let me give an example: Number one, the average GDP growth, or gross domestic product rate, is 6.3 percent. During the past 40 years, this was the highest rate of growth.”

Aquino said if GDD growth reached 7 percent to 8 percent this year, that would be the highest in the past 60 years.

“So, this has been the fastest growth rate,” Aquino said.

GDP measures a country’s total economic production and reflects the total market value of all the goods and services produced by the economy at a certain period.

Since 2010 the Philippines has enjoyed satisfactory performance in terms of GDP growth, with an average growth rate of 6.3 percent from 2010 to 2013.

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Aquino: No time to waste on MJ’s mother

By Sandy Araneta

Manila’s Finest. About 500 new policemen from the National Capital Region Police Office raise their hands as they acknowledge their assignment to the Manila Police District on Thursday. DANNY PATA

PH urges more focus on Spratlys

By Vito Barcelo THE Philippine government called on the US government to urgently give more focus to recent developments in the South China Sea and provide substance to its Asia re-balance policy.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario made the appeal at the launch of the US-Philippines Strategic Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. even as President Benigno Aquino III said the UN may resolve the matter by next year.

“The South China Sea dispute is the most important issue today. ” Del Rosario said, citing growing international support to halt infrastructure activities in the South

China Sea. The US-Philippines Strategic Initiative, a joint project by CSIS and the ADR Institute, aims to highlight the enduring alliance “through sustainable and strategic engagement on high-impact global and regional issues.”

Del Rosario stressed it will continue to pursue peaceful means in defending its rights in maritime disputes even though the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal may not decide on the case Manila filed by

against Beijing until the first or second quarter of next year.

Aquino said during an interview over radio station Bombo Radyo Philippines that the Arbitral Tribunal is set to hold a hearing in July to decide if it should handle the Philippines’ protest against China.

In a notice posted on its website, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) said that aside from looking into the admissibility of the claims raised by the Philippines in its protest, the hearing in July will also address the objections raised by China, saying the PCA has no jurisdiction over the case.

“The Arbitral Tribunal will conduct a hearing in July 2015 to address the objections to jurisdiction set out in China’s Position Paper.

The Arbitral Tribunal will also consider other matters concerning its jurisdiction and the admissibility of the Philippines’ claims,” the PCA said.

During Bombo Radyo’s interview conducted the other day and aired yesterday, Aquino is confident that the UN Arbitral Tribunal would give a decision backing the Philippines’ stance on the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

“There are those who say, even if the decision comes out, there is no power of enforcement. That’s correct. But, several of those who are involved in the disputes say they conform to international law. The international tribunal would be the one who decides, ‘this is what the law means and this would clarify who are following the law and who are violating it’,” said Aquino.

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III said he will no longer “waste time” on the mother of Mary Jane Veloso, who is facing the death penalty in Indonesia after she fell victim to a foreign drug syndicate.

“If the mother thinks we did not do enough, for me I won’t waste my time arguing with her,” Aquino said during an interview with Bombo Radyo Philippines held in Malacañang on Wednesday, and aired yesterday.

“What is important to me is, what can we do more to help save the life of Mary Jane, especially for her children,” Aquino said.

Aquino also rebuked the mother, Celia Veloso, saying that they have been trying to work on Mary Jane’s case since 2010, contrary to the what the mother has been saying.

“We have an obligation to take care of the welfare of the Overseas Filipino Workers, and we have been working on Mary Jane’s case since 2010. It was also very clear that in 2011, we have been engaged in talks (with Indonesia) for Mary Jane,” Aquino stressed.

Aquino stressed that Mary Jane’s legal woes in Indonesia started even before his term, but his administration still extended all forms of assistance to the Filipina migrant worker.

Still, Aquino said Malacañang will not demand an apology from Mary Jane’s mom.

At the same time, Aquino clarified that the government did not arrest the Veloso’s alleged recruiter, but were given protective custody when after she claimed that her life was in danger because of Veloso’s case.

“Now, she is saying where is the warrant of arrest? I think that’s wrong,” said Aquino, adding that several victims filed a case against the recruiter while she was in government custody.

Veloso’s alleged illegal recruiters, Maria Kristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, admitted to local authorities that they are part of an international drug syndicate responsible for the drug trafficking charges that put Veloso on death row.

Victims score Dinky anew

By Sandy Araneta CALAMITY victims from the Eastern Visayas trooped to Mendiola Bridge in Manila on Thursday and urged President Benigno Aquino III to rescind a memorandum of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that deprives them of housing assistance from the government.

Members of the the Sagupa Sinirangan Bisayas, Kusog Sang Pumuluyo sa Panay, Peoples Surge and Anakpawis submitted a petition signed by 22,000 people asking Aquino to rescind

DSWD Memorandum Circular 24 on the government’s Emergency Shelter Assistance program.

The typhoon victims submitted the petition as Malacañang announced that the World Bank awarded Secretary Corazon Soliman for “promoting social accountability as a means to eradicate poverty and promote inclusive growth.”

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Soliman received an award for leadership in social accountability from the Global Partnership for Social Accountability, which is

funded by the WB. “Secretary Soliman walks the talk,” Coloma quoted World Bank Country Director Motoo Konishi as saying. “She translates the practice of social accountability and transparency into concrete strategic activities, which she implements with great commitment and passion.”

But Coloma made no mention of the gathering of calamity victims at the Mendiola Bridge, a stone’s throw from Malacañang, who deplored Soliman for imposing “unreasonable conditions” that deprive them of assistance under ESA program.

Power to the people. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (center) and his wife Yedda (in light blouse) hand a check for P105,000 that the International Emergency Development Aid, represented by country director Jude Acidre (3rd from right), and Invictus Microfinance Inc., represented by loan officer Bea Javelosa (right), extended to Tacloban City Barangay 104 residents as part of a women’s livelihood program. VER NOVENO

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Koko finds peso bills confusing

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel lll on Thursday asked the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to explain the similarities between the P1000 and P100 banknotes, which have been resulting in confusion.

“The BSP should explain why they are too similar and state if there are plans to improve the situation,” said Pimentel, president of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino- Lakas ng Bayan.

Pimentel issued the call in the wake of what he called “numerous complaints” from the public about confusion arising from the strong similarity between the P1000 and P100 banknotes, known as the New Generation Currency.

In a statement, Pimentel said the public have been complaining that the design of the P1000 and P100 bills are very similar or almost identical.

He said the public have also been saying that once the P1000 and P100 are crumpled or have undergone normal wear and tear, they become more similar.

Under the new Central Bank Act (RA No. 7653), he noted the BSP may call for replacement notes of any series or denomination which are more than five years old. For the coins, replacement can be made after more than ten years.

BSP records showed that as of Dec. 31 2014, the agency issued 22.553 billion pieces of coins valued at P25.833 billion and 3,393 billion pieces of banknotes valued at P903.406 billion.

PNoy open to peace gab revival with Reds

By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has reiterated that his administration remains open to peace talks with the communist rebels but insists that they must show sincerity before negotiations can resume.

“Our government is always open to peace talks (with the Communists). But, we must see their sincerity,” Aquino said during an interview with Bombo Radyo Philippines held in Malacañang on Wednesday.

Talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPANDF) bogged down after the latter sought the release of its consultants who are detained on various charges.

Aside from the issue on the consultants, President Aquino said the communist organization had offered a special track so that the talks could resume but it later backtracked.

He recalled that a few months ago, he learned from his peace adviser that instead of sticking to their list of major demands, the rebels made more unrealistic demands that were impossible to meet.

Aquino said they will just wait for the communist party’s sincerity in order that they could look forward to the peace negotiations, and not only for the benefit of the communist party’s but for the benefit of the whole nation.

“If they could show their sincerity, why not start the talks again?” said Aquino.

In 1986, the administration of President Benigno Aquino III’s mother, the late Corazon Aquino, declared a 60-day ceasefire with the CPP-NPA. The talks, however, bogged down in 1987.

Talks resumed during the Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo administrations.

But in August 2004, the NDF withdrew from the negotiations, accusing the government of not exerting efforts in convincing the US and other western allies to remove the CPP-NPA-NDF from their list of terrorist organizations.

The NGC bills, launched by the BSP in December 2010, will be the currency in circulation starting in January next year.

The BSP will no longer have liability over old banknotes which have not been exchanged by December 2016.

However, the BSP claimed that the NGC series is user friendly and allows easy identification of each denomination because of the dominant color retained, using distinct and primary inks.

The BSP said it has also introduced in the new banknotes several security features such as the intaglio-printed front side of the currency to give an embossed feel and help the visually-impaired differentiate each denomination.

Big numerals corresponding to the denominational value are also printed on both sides of the NGC banknotes in addition to new and enhanced security features to protect the currency against counterfeiters.

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CBCP: Climate, poverty linked

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

The social action arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has underscored the strong link between climate change and the worsening poverty in the country.

Caritas Philippines executive Secretary Fr. edwin Gariguez stressed that poverty cannot be reduced without addressing the alarming issues of climate change.

“Clearly, climate change and its ensuing extreme weather impact are hurting the most vulnerable countries, like the Philippines,” Gariguez said in a position paper during the Caritas Internationa-

lis General Assembly in Rome.

“In terms of social groups, small farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples,women and children are identified as the most vulnerable sectors affected by climate change as it threatens both their lives and livelihood.

Climate change-induced disasters spell indescribable miseries to our people.” Gariguez cited as example how Super Typhoon

Yolanda (haiyan) caused widespread devastation in the Philippines, pushing 5.6 million poor people further into extreme poverty as their sources of livelihood were wiped out by the disaster.

The total cost of destruction is estimated at 700 million euros.

“More likely, super storms such as haiyan, will be experienced by vulnerable poor communities particularly in the Pacific where ocean warming is being observed which is like to cause more extreme weather events.” Gariguez further explained during the assembly, which would elect a new Caritas Internationalis president this week with Cardinal Antonio Luis Tagle as one of the two nominees.

Gariguez said climate change

also causes irreversible damage to agriculture and marine resources, which again poses threats to food security.

And since climate change likewise disturbs the balance in ecosystems, the CBCP official added its harmful effects on human development such as loss of biodiversity, spread of infectious diseases, urban air pollution, water scarcity, and landslide vulnerability.

“If we quantify the price we pay for climate change…study shows that economic cost is greater than the losses caused by two world wars and great depression of the 20th century. And of course, in the whole economic equation, it is the poor people and poor countries who are to

bear the greater share of the burden,” he emphasized.

Currently, the church through its social action arm NASSA/ Caritas Philippines is advocating sustainable agriculture and reforestation among its concrete initiatives to address the issue of climate change and its impact on poverty.

It also actively supports the campaign for climate justice, reduction of carbon emission, promotion of renewable energy, and opposition to coal-powered plants.

“Clearly, climate change is a moral issue that we in the Church cannot remain passive bystanders,” the Goldman prize awardee for grassroots environmental activism said.

Tollways enhance anti-flood measures

Drainage enhancement. Construction crew members of the North Luzon Expressway rush work on the pumping facility and water

detention tank along Balintawak Cloverleaf, aimed at flood mitigation along the area. Officials said the Manila North Tollways Corporation is undertaking the project as part of the firm’s drainage enhancement system of the NLEX. As the photo shows traffic in the area is unhampered even when construction is going on. Target completion is June 30 this year.

Speaker vows to get House to approve info freedom bill

By Maricel V. Cruz hOuSe Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has vowed to spearhead a campaign in Congress for the passage of the Freedom of Information bill.

Belmonte assured that the proposed transparency measure will get a popular support from lawmakers.

“Things are moving. I am very confident it (FOI) will see the light of day in this Congress,” Belmonte told reporters.

Belmonte said while the discussion on the measure has been sidestepped to make way for other priority measures such as the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Charter change, among others, this does not mean that the FoI bill will not be approved at all.

Last March, the house committee on appropriations, chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro ungab, unanimously approved the budget component

of the FoI bill.

One of the proponents of the measure, Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting said the approval of the budget aspect of the measure is “one giant step forward in our wish to have a freedom of information law in this country.”

With the approval of the proposed measure, the substitute FOI bill is expected to be delivered back to the Committee on Public Information before it gets transmitted to the plenary for second reading.

Section 9(b) of the FOI bill provides that all government agencies are now required to publish and regularly update its own Freedom of Information Manual in full containing the necessary information regarding the contact information of key offices and personnel, the type of information it holds and the procedures on how they shall be accessed.

Helping hand. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell lends a hand to the Department of Education”s Brigada Eskwela on Thursday May 14 at the Cuneta Elementary school in Pasay City. Aside from helping repaint and clean the school, the Aussie embassy also donated materials to the school. DANNY PATA

The Manila North Tollways Corp, has embarked on a P119.32million drainage improvement program to reduce flooding along the North Luzon expressway.

The program includes the P69.32-million drainage improvement along the Balintawak Cloverleaf and the P50-million project in Valenzuela City.

The drainage enhancement works at the Balintawak Cloverleaf, which started on February 14 and will end on June 30, include the construction of a pumping facility and a sump or a water detention tank to mitigate flooding along the NLeX roadway in the area.

MNTC president and CeO Rodrigo e. Franco explained that, aside from improving the existing drainage system, the company aims to provide convenient travel despite inclement weather conditions.

“The welfare of motorists is our prime concern that is why we want to ensure safe passage for them during rainy season,” Franco said.

Franco also assured motorists of unhampered traffic, while drainage enhancement works are undertaken. Only one lane will be closed during the construction period, and patrol and traffic teams are ready to assist affected motorists. This is made possible due to a joint effort with the Tollways Management Corporation Metro Manila Development Authority and local traffic authorities.

The construction works cover four lanes of Balintawak northbound and are being done from Monday to Thursday, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

MNTC earlier enhanced the drainage system in Valenzuela southbound which also involved the construction of a pumping facility and a sump. The project was substantially completed in March this year, and is now due for final testing and commissioning.

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Malaysian terrorist joins Abus in firefight vs soldiers

By Florante S. Solmerin

Serene waters. Lake Dapao is located in the municipality of Pualas, Lanao del Sur. OMAR MANGORSI

Deped says no more tent classes for Leyte students

By Ronald O. Reyes

PALO, Leyte—Education officials in the Yolanda-battered province of Leyte assured the public that there would be no more classes to be held inside tents in the coming school year, which will begin June 1.

Leyte Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo said they are prepared for the opening of classes after the super typhoon levelled most schools in No-

vember 2013.

“We are already about 90 percent complete in rehabilitation...so far, almost all schools have been given repairs or new con-

structions. ” Firmo told The Standard.

Around 900 schools in the Leyte Division, the biggest in the country, were affected by Yolanda, 500 of which were partially or totally damaged.

For many months after the typhoon, classes were held in makeshift classrooms and tents.

“We have received about P80 million new funding from the national government,and repair

assistance from various non-government organizations continues,” Firmo added.

International and Philippine-based non-government organizations have been repairing damaged schools and constructing new, storm-proof classroom buildings in the province.

Firmo also called on the public to help the Deped on its Brigada Eskwela program from May 18 to

May 22. Brigada Eskwela involves maintenance and cleanup of schools a few days before the school year starts.

The education official also said they were “very much ready” for the implementation of the K to 12 program next year, with the first batch of students entering Grade 11 (senior high school) in 2016, adding that many people were still misinformed about its advantages.

Government troops overran a bomb factory after heavy firefight between soldiers and an estimated 30 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group killed at least four and wounded 10 Thursday morning in Sitio Project, Barangay Tuburan Proper, Hji Moh Ajul, Basilan.

Captain Roy Trinidad, chief of staff of Task Force Zambasulta (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi), said a Malaysian terrorist was with the bandits.

“Heavy firefight ensued that resulted to a run-andgun battle due to heavy resistance of the enemy from fortified position,” he added.

Citing a report by Colonel Rolando Bautista, commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan, Trinidad said the encounter happened between soldiers of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion and group of ASG leader Ustadz Abbas Alam Reyeg at around 8:25 a.m.

The firefight lasted for more than four hours before the bandits withdrew to an unknown direction.

Seven were wounded from the government side.

“The encounter site is a bomb factory of the ASG as evidenced by the various types of improvised explosive devices recovered.

Some are made in liquefied petroleum gas tanks, paint tin cans and pipe bombs,” he said.

“Two Shahada flags were also recovered from the ASG,” he added.

Mimaropa health officials offer HIV testing to specific groups

By Macon R. Araneta THE mobile testing teams of the Department of Health – MIMAROPA (Oriental/ Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) and provincial health offices of the region have focused their voluntary Human Immuno Virus (HIV) testing on college students, pregnant women, TB Patients in TBDOTS (Tubersculosis -Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course) facilities and inmates at the Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan.

Health officials led by Regional Director Eduardo

Janairo initially offered free HIV training to workers in entertainment and resto bars in the region. They also visited two Men having Sex with Men (MSM) organizations.

He said HIV testing is voluntary and confidential with pre-test and post-test counselling.

In targetting the youth, Janairo said the DOH AIDS and HIV Registry showed that HIV infection begins at age 15–24. The initiation to sex and drug use is between 14 and 19 years old.

It also noted that HIVrelated deaths have been on the rise among this group.

Janairo said pregnant mothers were also tested for HIV to be provided immediate medical attention to eliminate the chance of transmission to their baby.

He said persons with TB disease and persons with latent TB infection and contact with TB patients will be provided with routine HIV testing.

He cited the need for inmates to undergo HIV testing because prisons are highrisk environment for HIV transmission due to needle sharing and tattooing with homemade and unsterile equipment done by inmates.

Playtime. Kids run along the world-renowned Banaue rice terraces. DAVID CHAN

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ADELLE chuA ediTor F R I D AY, M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

opinion [ EDI TORI A L ]

Severe el Niño El Niño has officialy begun and Australian and Japanese scientists have agreed the weather phenomenon will have a “substantial” intensity when it lingers until late this year.

A moderate-to-strong El Niño is expected to wreak havoc on crops and deplete the water levels of major dams in the Philippines. Angat Dam, a major water supply, could reach the minimum operating level of 180 meters by the end of May, says the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

This level will reduce irrigation in Bulacan and adversely affect farm production.

Australian scientists said models were showing El Niño would likely increase intensity from September and had potential global impacts. The current pattern could also create drier conditions in indonesia, Papua New Guinea and parts of Southeast Asia.

Filipino farmers will be the first to feel the brunt of a strong El Niño. Similar dams in isabela, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan will have lower water reserves if the weather phenomenon as feared by foreign scientists persists throughout the year. These dams will reduce their water allocation for irrigation to conserve on water, until enough rains fill up the reservoirs.

El Niño may occur more frequently because of climate change. The specter has already prompted scientists around the globe to develop and test drought-resistant crops.

The government, thus, must give priority to funding research institutions involved in the development of crops that can withstand a severe El Niño. The Philippines, being a major agriculture producer, should be at the forefront of the research to give its farmers a fighting chance against extreme weather.

The government, in addition, should encourage the construction of more minidams to serve as catch basins and flood control mechanisms during the rainy season. Water is a precious commodity in times of drought. it should be conserved and efficiently used to offset El Niño and other abnormal weather patterns.

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The AMLC TreATMenT lowdowN jojo a. robleS ThE weapon of choice of the Aquino administration against its perceived enemies has been unsheathed. And the unleashing of the Anti-Money laundering Council on Vice President Jejomar Binay only means that it is time to go for broke to bring down the widely perceived early frontrunner in the 2016 presidential elections.

Previously, the AMlC’s vast powers to look into bank accounts and other financial records of foes of President Noynoy Aquino and his minions were used on Chief Justice Renato Corona and businessman Roberto ongpin. in both cases, investigations by AMlC were somehow made public even if they didn’t lead to anything except to generate propaganda mileage. of course, i’m aware that Aquino has denied having anything to do with the exposing of the Court

of Appeals order allowing AMlC to freeze a total of 242 bank accounts, insurance policies and other financial instruments supposedly belonging to Binay and people suspected of being his

i haven’t heard of an aMlC investigation that has led to the seizure of illgotten assets or the conviction of a money launderer.

“dummies.” But the fact that both Corona and ongpin – in the case involving the alleged “behest” loans granted to the businessman by the Development Bank of the Philippines – were subjected to the AMlC treatment provides an

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

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

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

eloquent rebuttal to the most strident of palace denials.

The use once again of AMlC as a tool to make perceived political foes cry “uncle,” this time against Binay, is a pitiful devaluation of a law that was originally intended to stop narcotics kingpins and terrorists from using the global financial system to hide their loot.

AMlC, after all, was created more than two decades ago through the Anti-Money laundering Act, to allow the Philippines to avoid being placed in the blacklist of the international Financial Action Task Force.

At that time, the world financial system was awash with dirty money being “laundered” through the banks by drug dealers, on the one end, and terrorist organizations who were receiving funds for their nefarious actions, on the other. The Filipino bankers and technocrats who pushed for compliance with FATF strictures by passing AMlA could never have imagined that the law would become the favored tool to bring down uncooperative politicians just two decades later.

Continued on A10

Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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

F R I D AY, M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

man Who Brought doWn Barings Warns on China

By William Pesek TWENTy years after bringing down a major British bank, Nick Leeson is sounding alarm bells about China. Unless the country reforms its stock markets, he warns, it’s only a matter of time until his earlier disaster repeats itself on a larger scale.

In 1995, Leeson was a 28 year-old master-of-the-universe wannabe running a trading desk in Singapore for Barings Bank. When markets turned against him, he tried to hide his losses with unauthorized trades -- trades that were enabled by the lax oversight on Singapore’s thenunderdeveloped exchanges. Eventually, Leeson’s losses mushroomed to $1.4 billion, shaking world markets and toppling a 223-year-old bank that held an account for Queen Elizabeth and financed the Napoleonic Wars. (Leeson, for his part, ended up in jail, where he wrote a book about his experience called “Rogue Trader.”)

Leeson is now warning that another asian market could be ripe for similar manipulation. “In Singapore it was all about systems not being there to handle the volumes that were coming in,” Leeson, now 48, told the South China Morning Post this week. In that sense, he suggests, 1990s Singapore bears a close resemblance to today’s China. as Leeson points out, China’s new stock connect plan -- which aims to link markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong -- has caused the country’s hectic trading activity to become even more frantic. Trading volume exploded within days of the plan’s debut last month. It hit a high of $38 billion on april 9, and has remained roughly twice what average transactions were before its introduction.

What troubles Leeson is that China’s market infrastructure may be getting overwhelmed by an avalanche of buy orders. There’s a mismatch between the flood of data on stock dealing and the ability of regulators to track who is trading what -- and how they’re doing it. That opens the door to all sorts of troubling (and potentially illegal) activity. “you have to keep pace with it and get ahead of the curve and typically [regulators] are behind it,” said Leeson. “Wherever you’ve got change or a need to consolidate [information], there are opportunities for wrongdoing.” He added that “anybody who is going to do something wrong is not standing still, whether that is cybercrime or anything else within the financial industry.”

Chinese regulators are starting to grasp the problem. On May 12, one day after Leeson’s warning, Securities and Futures Commission Chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing pledged to clamp down on “any unusual share movement.” But capital flows have accelerated so much -- with millions of mainlanders having signed up for multiple trading accounts each -- that it’s not clear if regulators will know where to start.

(President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on international media hasn’t helped matters. Shielded from the scrutiny of journalists, corporate China has become more opaque in its financial dealings.)

Unless Beijing builds a more open and predictable financial system at home, it will always be at risk of exporting its potential for instability.

That’s worth keeping in mind as China lobbies companies like MSCI Inc. to include its $7.8 trillion stock market on global indexes.

The indexes should wait until Beijing provides clearer proof of share ownership on its markets, crafts more predictable taxation policies, offers more hedging tools to traders and relaxes curbs on money flowing back into China. as long as China’s financial reforms lag, Beijing shouldn’t be given new channels to affect world markets.

If China’s stock markets are included on global indexes, it would allow China’s economic troubles -- data yesterday showed investment is now the slowest in 14 years and credit growth is weakening -- to spill over to other countries. It would also provide an opportunity for financial fraudsters in China to expand their operations. Bloomberg

the amlc.. From A8 There are two possible reasons why this administration decided to use aMLC’s draconian measures against Corona, Ongpin and now Binay. apart from the prohibiting the target of a money-laundering investigation from gaining access to funds, a court-approved aMLC freeze, if divulged to the media, also has the potential to destroy reputations – even if no irregularity is ever found, like in the cases of Corona and Ongpin.

The banks and business in general, even if such news sends chills down their collective spine, are powerless to stop

aMLC from snooping into their clients’ financial affairs despite the usual confidentiality which allows them to protect these customers. as for businessmen like Ongpin whose financial assets are frozen, even if they had merely been entrusted by other investors, they lose all access to these funds – and they can be bankrupted in the meantime.

In the current Binay-directed aMLC investigation, people like businessman antonio Tiu, majority owner of listed companies like Sunchamp, the damage could also be just as severe.

On the mere suspicion that Tiu was being used as a front for Binay, the trader could have al-

Fiesta time May is that 31-day summer of P119,707 and to its 7 directors, filipino month that we Filipinos love to an average of P1.191 million. celebrate daily with town fiestas, For the 3 corporations that pensioner sagalas, and Flores de Mayo and remitted the highest dividends horace Santacruzan processions. for 2014 - Philippine amusetemplo This year, we started to celment and Gaming Corporation at ebrate it on its very first day as a P10.13 billion, Land Bank of the peaceful Labor Day and a happy feast day of Saint Philippines at P6.25 billion, and Bases ConverJoseph, the Worker. sion Development authority at P3.2 billion – the But with the loss on May 3 of National Idol PBBs per capita that were awarded to employees Manny Pacquiao in his Fight of the Century were very unpredictable. against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and its aftermath For 2013, the Philippine amusement and controversies, the usual festivities that followed Gaming Corporation awarded its 11,928 workwere not as merry anymore as in previous years. force an average of only P7,868 per employee We can blame other factors for diverting our while BCDa gave its 156 employees an average of attention from celebrating May’s festivities - the P69,062. Landbank granted its 7,176 employees El Niño phenomenon and typhoon Dodong, the an average of P82,641 and its 5 directors, P1.496 Mamasapano massacre and the draft Bangsamoro million each.

Basic Law, and the emergence of Senator Grace Incredibly, GOCCs that are merely fiduciary Poe as a formidable opponent of Vice President of public funds and could not declare dividends Jejomar Binay in next year’s May presidential – Pag-IBIG, Government Service Insurance Syselection. tem and Social Security System – had also granted Except for the elite public servants who are generous performance-based bonuses. employed in profitable government-owned and For Pag-IBIG, its 3,339 employees got an avercontrolled corporations, very few are then cel- age of P103,141 but none for its directors. GSIS ebrating the rest of May as fiesta time. awarded its 2,635 employees an average of P52,262 Earlier, their present regulator - the Governance and its eight directors an average of P1.147 milCommission for Government-Owned and Con- lion. The 4,971 employees of SSS got an average trolled Corporations – has promised to approve of P49,961 and its eight directors, P1.340 million. their performance-based bonuses on or before May It was not so bad, either, for PhilHealth em31 provided that their corporations have submitted ployees who got an average of P32,111. the required documents before February 27.

PNoy – whether aware or unaware of these 2013 To be entitled to the PBB, their corporations PBB payments – has declared that GOCC employmust first be profitable, have achieved a weight- ees and executives deserve more. He then instructed ed-average score of at least 90 percent in their GCG to immediately review their benefits.

2014 Performance Scorecard, and have complied “I expect the review to happen in about a with GCG’s Good Governance Conditions. month’s time and we will seek to maximize the In any case, 49 GOCCs showed that they are benefits accruing everybody as empowered by the indeed profitable by turning over to PNoy last pertinent laws.”

Wednesday P36.36 billion in dividends. The Perhaps he was really pleased with the overall amount represented the national government’s performance of the GOCCs. Without a prepared share in their 2014 incomes. speech, maybe he got emotional after learning Boasting that GOCCs have turned over divi- that Manny has returned triumphantly to the dends worth P131.28 billion from 2010 to 2015 country like a victorious politician. compared to only P81.48 billion from 2001 to But most likely, it has dawned unto him that 2009, PNoy was obviously belittling President his presidency is now a year and a month away Gloria arroyo once again. from its end and his popularity with GOCC emWhile no employee and officer get zero perfor- ployees has reached rock bottom. He must do mance-based bonuses, the PBBs are not served on something to resurrect it. silver platters. They are earned based on forced Whatever PNoy’s real reasons were for raising performance ranking and monthly basic salary. the spirits of GOCC employees – not yet their ecoThose ranked in the top 10 percent perform- nomic benefits - it would somehow bring back that ers get two-and-a-half times their monthly basic missing fiesta feeling for the rest of the month. salary; the next top 25 percent performers get This should also invite the rest of the bureauone-and-a-half times their monthly basic salary; cracy to ask for the same fiesta treat from him. and the remaining 65 percent performers get one after all, is granting it not part of his campaign month of basic salary. wooing role in next year’s presidential election?

The GCG is implementing a transparent PBB system. Thus, GOCCs have no choice but to have their approved PBBs disclosed whenever they are pensees posted by GCG in its official Website.

For instance, the PBBs that were last granted in 2013 showed that the top 20 GOCCs awarded fr. ranhilio their employees a total of P1.983 billion and their callanGan directors, P43.499 million.

The individual PBBs varied widely from coraQUino poration to corporation.

Fr. Aquino’s column will resume on Development Bank of the Philippines gave the Monday highest PBB to its 2,204 employees at an average

ready suffered irreparable damage to his reputation – never mind that, just a few years ago, aquino himself was praising Tiu while citing his achievements as an outstanding young man and businessman. as for Binay himself, the sixmonth freeze order has the laudable (for the ruling Liberal Party, anyway) result of keeping him away from funds that he could use for his declared bid for the presidency in 2016, at least for half a year. If nothing comes out of the aMLC investigation, that is already a huge victory.

Given the weak showing in various popularity and acceptability surveys of prospective

LP candidates against Binay, that’s no small triumph. and if, as Senator antonio Trillanes has predicted, the freezing of Binay’s assets will make him withdraw from the race altogether, then that’s a real windfall. *** as I’ve said, I haven’t heard of an aMLC investigation that has led to the seizure of ill-gotten assets or the conviction of a money launderer. and if you believe reports that the government itself is the biggest money launderer of all in this country, washing clean dirty foreign cash through the casinos of the Philippine amusement and Gaming Corp., you really shouldn’t be surprised if aMLC,

for all its powers, has never really caught someone for perpetrating the crime it was created for.

If aMLC were really true to its mandate, it would have gone after all the members of both Houses of Congress linked to the pork barrel and Disbursement acceleration Program scandals.

But it never did, naturally, and for obvious reasons. aMLC is just another a tool reserved for use by the aquino administration against its enemies. and now that it’s been employed so successfully by this government, it’s easy to see how it will be used over and over again by those who will become its future masters.

F R I d aY, M aY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

VIRTUAL REALITY

Henry CojuangCo

TONY LOPEZ a good friend, Enrique “Henry” Cojuangco, will be laid to rest this morning in his native Paniqui, Tarlac. He died Tuesday, May 12, of aneurysm of the lower aorta. He was 74.

I didn’t have much dealings with Henry. I met him during times I saw, visited or had lunch with his elder brother, the legendary tycoon, Eduardo “danding” Cojuangco Jr., the chairman and CEo of San Miguel Corp. and Petron Corp. Henry, at one time, served as vice chairman of San Miguel Corp., the P1-trillion diversified beer, food, beverage, packaging, energy, and infrastructure conglomerate. danding has sold nearly all his holdings in SMC and left management and visioning to the hugely capable and today’s best CEo in the land, Ramon S. ang, SMC president.

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danding and Henry are uncles of President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco aquino III. danding’s father and Cory’s father were brothers. danding and Cory, mother of the President, are first cousins. during the times I met him, Henry came across as a genuinely warm, sincere and affable gentleman. He always had a ready smile and had an easy way with people. He couldn’t possibly be your enemy. He was not given to mouthing expletives nor to outbursts of rage. Tall, slim and handsome, he had the bearing of a person of means and distinguished lineage. But he dressed simply most of the times I saw and met him – polo shirt and dark or denim pants, and was extremely approachable.

Henry represented the political side of the danding Cojuang-

co power structure in Tarlac, their home province. danding has sent to masteral and Phd programs some 5,000 teachers of Tarlac. another 5,000 out of school youngsters are to be sent to college, free, starting with a batch of 1,000 this year. Up to 15,000 oSYs of Tarlac could benefit from this danding program.

Henry was a reluctant politician and was possibly just doing the wishes of his elder brother for someone to represent their Cojuangco side in Tarlac politics. Henry’s son, Enrique Jr. is the incumbent vice governor and will probably be elected governor in 2016. Henry was president of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and chairperson of the House committee on economic affairs.

In Congress, Henry authored a Fair Competition Bill, a measure to give the small man

and the small businessman a break in doing business. Upon learning of his death, Congress passed on second reading this week, the bill.

“Henry has been a staunch advocate and author of the Fair Competition Bill and will always be remembered for his dedication and very pleasant demeanor. We, his colleagues, hope to keep his memory alive by taking on his significant legislative advocacies,” said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.

Henry was very loyal to danding, always standing by him and keeping him company, especially during the months the latter was recuperating from a kidney transplant during which he visited him daily. danding is over the hump now.

He will sorely miss Henry. aneurysm is like a thief in the night. It attacks when you

least expect it. The same disease killed my eldest daughter, Myra, at the age of 37, in 2008.

I understand from doctors that you are born with the disease. aneurysm is a bulge in the weak area of an artery. It is supposed to travel in the body’s blood vessels. The patient has no idea that he or she has it, because it has no symptoms, except a few days, when you suffer from severe headache, or the moment the swelling breaks by which time you simply drop dead. Some people, like the former first gentleman, manage it quite well and are able to live their usual life span. as they say, good people die young. To the living, enjoy life.

Reduce your enemies, which is not to say you eliminate them.

Life is good but short.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

We’re all Smart. and dumB. SometimeS. By noah Smith RICHaRd Thaler, one of the founders of the field of behavioral economics, has written a book about the history of the subject he helped create. If you want to get a quick overview of the book’s main thesis, check out Thaler’s post at the New York Times’ Upshot blog.

Behavioral economics is an important advance. The most significant thing it did was to challenge the idea that economists could just dream up axioms of human behavior and proceed without looking at the evidence.

It cast much-needed doubt on the idea that markets are a magical force that will make a large number of irrational humans behave like one super-rational human when you average them all together.

There are a lot of people who are highly critical of the field.

Roughly, their criticisms fall into two categories, one of which is a good criticism and one of which is way overblown.

The good criticism of behavioral econ is that it’s very hard to go from the lab to the real world. Just because you can show the existence of an effect in the lab, with careful controls and powerful manipulations, doesn’t mean that the effect is going to show up in the real world. This, in fact, is one of the biggest and oldest problems with experimental psychology.

Because of this problem, developing real workable economic theories based on psychology has proven difficult. a little bit of progress has been made -- for example, the idea of making corporate savings plans opt-out instead of opt-in, in order to nudge people into saving more, has gained a lot of currency. It’s the idea of the “nudge” -- the title of a2009 book by Thaler and my Bloomberg view colleague Cass Sunstein -- where behavioral econ looks the most promising.

But here we come to the second criticism -- the bad one.

#FaILoCRaCY

People are way, way too afraid of the soft paternalism of nudges. one reason for this fear is that nudging sounds elitist. William Easterly, a celebrated development economist, expressed this fear when he tweeted: “Behavioral econ [Thaler] says we are too dumb to fix our own mistakes but smart enough to fix everyone else’s[.]”

Easterly later apologized, even though his tweet wasn’t particularly rude. The real problem is that he mischaracterized behavioral economics.

Behavioral econ isn’t about smart people knowing what’s best for dumb people. It’s about all people being smart some of the time and dumb at other times. or strong-willed some of the time and weak-willed at other times.

This is common in everyday life. If you’re on a diet, you probably rid your house of foods such as candy and cookies. You know that if you walk by the cookie jar, there will be days when you just won’t be able to resist -- or days when you’re

so distracted by other things that you won’t even bother trying to resist. getting rid of the cookies is what’s known as a commitment device. Commitment devices are an important idea in behavioral econ, and they’re definitely not about smart people versus dumb people -- there’s only one person involved! another reason people fear nudges is that they sound like the oppressive hand of big government. Financial engineer and Columbia University professor Emanuel derman expresses this fear when hewrites: [T]he liberal paternalist Nudgers of today, postmodern behavioralists, use their minor insights to suggest how government and authorities can simply tilt the pinball table so that people will do what authorities think is right.

But this concern, too, is misplaced. First of all, nudges are designed not to affect the behavior of rational people. If you think about your 401(k) contribution in a rational way, it won’t

make a bit of difference whether your plan is opt-in or opt-out -you’ll just save the amount that you want to save, and that will be that. only if you are suffering from a behavioral bias will the nudge actually nudge you.

Even more importantly, critics of soft paternalism should realize that people are already being nudged all the time, and not by government. The true masters of behavioral economics are marketers in the private sector. Marketers have been studying behavioral economics for ages, and have never had any compunction about using it to take your money.

Ever wonder why prices in stores are $9.99 instead of $10?

Behavioral economics. How about sales and discounts? Just raise the base price and treat the real price as a discount, and behavioral economics will make people more eager to buy.

That yogurt that advertises itself as fat-free? Check out how many grams of sugar it has. and so on. Bloomberg

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Toyota Alabang drivers ready for Vios Cup in Cebu AFTER a successful opening stint last March 21 and 22 at the Clark International Speedway, Toyota Alabang Motorsports will be looking to make a big mark once again as they set their sights on the 2nd leg of the 2015 Toyota Vios Cup on May 16 at 17 in Cebu City.

The team, behind its drivers Estefano Rivera, Bobby Domingo, Andres Calma, Miguel Diaz, and Rudy Bunag, will once again gun for top finishes after proving that they are one some of the drivers to beat in this year’s edition of the championship.

Rivera, after winning the first-ever race of 2015, right in his debut stint, is looking for an even better performance as he is one of the front runners in this year’s Sporting Class championship, alongside Calma.

Their teammate Domingo will be looking to give glory to Toyota Alabang as well after finishing impressively in the previous round.

Meanwhile, in the Promotional Class Championship, Spanish driver Diaz is looking to further bolster his results as he is currently front-running in the said class against celebrities Phoemela Barranda and Sam YG. Attempting to further give glory to the team is Rudy Bunag.

A send-off dinner and press event was held at Neil’s Kitchen in Westgate Alabang, which saw Toyota Alabang officers and administrators, including President Cesar T. Lee, wishing their drivers the best of luck.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Josephine Fruto Binalla was extrajudicially settled among the heirs as per Doc. No. 396, Page No. 81, Book No. 999 series of 2015 before Notary Public Atty. Virgilio R. Batalla of Makati City. ( T S - M AY 15 , 2 2 & 2 9 , 2 0 15 )

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Emmanuel Carriaga Cabezon was extrajudicially settled among the heirs as per Doc. No. 297-2015, Book No. III series of 2015 before Consul General Alan Albert Campbell Grummitt of the Philippine Consular Office, State of Queensland, Commonwealth of Australia. ( T S - M AY 15 , 2 2 & 2 9 , 2 0 15 )

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 215, QUEZON CITY PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OF THE SIMULATED CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF MINOR AZZA PAWAKI MAJUK Herein represented by her Biological mother, ZENAIDA PAWAKI MAJUK, Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR, CIVIL REGISTRY OF QUEZON CITY and NATIONAL STATISTICIAN, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, Respondents, x---------------------------------------------------x

BOBBY DOMINGO

ANDRES CALMA

Management, drivers and coaches of Toyota Alabang Motorsports are shown here duringa sendoff for the team. They are (from left) Mike Lee, Bobby Domingo, Hector Calma, Miguel Diaz, Andres Calma, Gregory Domingo, Toyota Alabang President Cesar Lee and Estefano Rivera.

Roger, Andy rip foes ROME—Roger Federer defeated Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas for the second time this month as the Swiss legend began his campaign at the Italian Open with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 win on Wednesday.

The second-round success in 80 minutes came just over a week after Federer beat the Uruguayan on clay in the final in Istanbul.

Olympic rings sold on ebay. This photo dated Sept. 16, 2000 shows windsurfers in front of Federer was tested all the way the Sydney Harbour Bridge with Olympic rings in place during a practice run for the Olympic comby Cuevas, ranked 24th in the petition. The giant Olympic rings that were a centrepiece of the 2000 Games adorning the Sydney world, with the second seeded Harbour Bridge, have been sold on ebay late on May 14, 2015 for AUD 21,100 (USD 17,200) after 33-year-old winning a tiebreak to being discovered gathering dust in a factory in Goulburn, 200 kilometres (124 miles) southwest seal the opening set in 45 minof Sydney. AFP utes.

A break for 3-2 in the second Notice is -hereby that the estate gave Federer seekinggiven his first titleofinthe Rome losing three lateafter Josephine Fruto Binalla times in the final in 14 previous was extrajudicially settled among THE National University Bullpups and the of the East, 53-45, with Marco Sario makappearances -- the lead which he thesurrendered. heirs as per Doc. No. 396,San Page Beda Red Cubs-A won over separate ri- ing 19. never Manila Patriotic School stopped SBC-Alavals Tuesday in the 21st Fr. Martin Summer 81,I’m Book 999 series of 2015 “INo. know not No. the favourite bang, 74-69, in another high school encounCup basketball tournament at the St. Placid likebefore I’ve been in other yearsAtty. for Virgilio R. Notary Public gymnasium inside the San Beda College- ter. the title here - but who cares, reBatalla of Makati City.

In the senior division action last week, Manila campus in Mendiola. ally?,” said Federer. the UE Warriors drew 14 points from Chris The Bullpups, behind John Lloyd Cle“I was focusing on getting mente and Neil Tolentino with 16 and 10 Javier as they edged the Ateneo Blue Eagles, through this round and I’m points, respectively, repulsed San Beda-B, 96- 78-66, in Group B. happy I won it. I lost last week in The NU Bulldogs demolished Polytechnic 71, for their fourth straight win in Group B of Madrid (to Australia’s Nick KyrUniversity of the Philippines, 102-65, with junior division.

Notice is hereby given that the the estate gios) and here a year ago holding Miguel Bonalos struck with 16 points and Ralph Napa firing 19, in Group A. of points the both late times.

Emmanuel Carriaga match The Far Eastern University Tamaraws Jeremy Mahinay added 13 as the Red Cubs Cabezon was extrajudicially settled “So right now I’m glad to go blasted among the nice heirs as the per Doc. No.St. Jude, 80-47, for their second win waylaid the Manuel L. Quezon Univerthrough.

It was to get four games in Group A of the secondary sity Stallions, 76-63, with Joel Lee Yu hit297-2015, victory tonight.”Book No. III series ofin2015 ting 10 points in Group B. action.

Andy Murray keptGeneral his clay- Alan Albert before Consul The Letran Knights flogged the Enderun In other junior games, Adamson defeatcourt purple patch alive, defeatCampbell Grummitt of the Philippine ed the Lyceum Junior Pirates, 76-65, with Titans, 75-55, in another senior match, while ingConsular Jeremy Chardy 6-4,State 6-3 to of ex-Queensland, Office, Wendell Binarao dishing out 24 points, University of Santo Tomas downed Adamtend his unbeaten record on the Commonwealth of Australia. while La Salle Zobel waylaid University son, 63-63, in women play. surface this season. AFP

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Bullpups, Cubs crush rivals

Case No. R-QZN 15-03580-SP

ORDER

Filed before this court is a verified Petition for cancellation of the Certificate of Live Birth of minor Azza Pawaki Majuk on File with the Quezon City Civil Registry filed with her mother, Zenaida Pawaki Majuk.

Finding the Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is given due course.

WHEREFORE, the Petition is set for hearing on June 25, 2015 at 8:30 in the morning before this Court located at the Annex Building of the Hall of Justice, Quezon City, at which date, time and place, all interested persons may appear and show cause, if any, why the Petition should not be granted.

Let copies of this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation in Quezon City, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks before the scheduled hearing, while a separate copy of this Order be posted on the Bulletin Boards at the main entrance of the Hall of Justice, Quezon City; the Civil Registry Office, Quezon City; and this Branch of Court at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of hearing, and further served, together with the Petition and its annexes, upon the petitioner, the Office of the Solicitor General, the City Prosecutor’s Office of Quezon City, the National Statistics Office, the Civil Registry of Quezon City, and the City Attorney’s Office, all at the expense of the petitioner.

Further, the petitioner is directed to coordinate with the Civil Cases-in-Charge for compliance with the aforesaid requirements before the hearing date.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, April 20, 2015.

(TS-May 8, 15 & 22, 2015)

ESTEFANO RIVERA

(Sgd.) RAFAEL G. HIPOLITO Presiding Judge

( T S - M AY 15 , 2 2 & 2 9 , 2 0 15 )

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

( T S - M AY 15 , 2 2 & 2 9 , 2 0 15 )

F RI DAY : M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Hawks, Warriors grab lead ATLANTA—Al Horford’s putback layup with 1.9 seconds left lifted the Atlanta Hawks to an 82-81 victory over Washington on Wednesday and within one win of advancing in the NBA playoffs.

The Hawks, the top seeds in the Eastern Conference, now lead the best-of-seven second-round series three games to two.

The Wizards will try to stay alive when they host game six in Washington on Friday.

Western Conference top seeds Golden State also moved within one win of advancing -- taking a 3-2 series lead over Memphis with a 98-78 romp in Oakland, California.

NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry drained six of the Warriors’ 14 three-pointers, following up his outstanding game four performance with another stellar display that included 18 points along with seven rebounds and five assists.

Klay Thompson scored 21 points for the Warriors, who will try to wrap up the series on Friday in Memphis.

It came down to the wire in Atlanta, where the Hawks and Wizards were tied with less than 30 seconds remaining.

Paul Pierce, whose buzzer-beating jump shot gave Washington a win in game three, tried to drive to the basket but saw the ball poked away by Atlanta’s Kyle Korver.

That set up a breakaway for the Hawks, with Horford and DeMarre Carroll exchanging three passes before Carroll’s layup gave Atlanta an 80-78 lead.

Pierce responded. Out of a timeout, Bradley Beal drove baseline and tossed the ball to an open Pierce who drained a three-pointer from the corner that put Washington ahead.

With the game on the line, Atlanta went to 21-year-old back-up point guard Dennis Schroder, who drove right for a layup that bounced off the backboard. AFP

SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease.

The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

001263

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF PRIYANKA DEVKISHAN CHAINANI to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139.

Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares:

14. My character witnesses are Jocelyn Pangan Romero and Anita De Jesus Enriquez both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at Room 308 ITC Building, 337 Gil Puyat, Makati and 1704 Baler Street, Santiago Village, Makati respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

1. My full name is PRIYANKA DEVKISHAN CHAINANI , but I have also been known since childhood as N/A or I have been N/A . judicially authorized to use the alias name(s)

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box):

2. My present place of residence is 2176 Fatima Street, San Miguel Village, City/Municipality of Makati Province of Metro Manila and all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence)

[ / ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ / ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ / ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ / ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ / ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years

SCN CASE NO. 000574 x-------------------------- x

PETITION

1989-1990 at No. 8977 Araga Street, San Antonio Village, Makati City 1990-2002 at 9559-C Taguig Street, J.P. Rizal, Makati City 2003-2010 at 24 Saturn Street, Bel-Air 2 Subdivision, Makati City 2010 to present at 2176 Fatima Street, San Miguel Village, Makati City 3. I was born on Jan. 11, 1989, in Makati City Philippines.

I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of India.

4. My father's name is Devkishan Chainani and he was born on March 11, 1958, in Jaipur, India. He is a citizen or subject of India. My mother's name is Harsha Devkishan Chainani and she was born on Jan. 26, 1963 in Kolkata, India. She is a citizen or subject of India.

5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which I derive an average annual income of P N/A , inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances.

My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A .

(Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained:N/A, (2) name of school: N/A and (3) years graduated: N/A] who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship.

Single , I was married on N/A in 6. My civil status is N/A. My wife's/husband's name is N/A and she/he was born on in N/A . She/he is a citizen or subject of N/A and presently resides N/A. 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have N.A. child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows:

Name

Jeff Teague (right) of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hawks won, 82-81, to seize a 3-2 lead. AFP

Inguito, Lopez best on 2 wheels THE launch of the 2015 motorcycle racing season ushered in a higher level of competition as the reigning champs suffered setbacks right on their first title-defense race, paving the way for John Emerson Inguito and Herbert Lopez to set the tone recently in the 2015 FDR Philippine Scooter Racing Championship Series and 2015 FDR Underbone King Championship Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

Inguito captured the 180cc PSR title of the 2015 FDR Philippine Scooter Racing Championship Series, while Lopez took his share of the spotlight in clinching the 150cc crown of the and 2015 FDR Underbone King Championship Series, which are part of the 2015 Motorsports Championship Season sanctioned by the Underbone and Scooters Racing Association, sponsored by FDR and Eneos, and supported by media partners Inside Racing Magazine, Motorsiklo Xklusibo @ DZME 1530, and Motorcycle World Magazine.

With defending champion Masato Fernando missing action, the hunt for the 180cc PSR turned into a tight three-way battle among Ingui-

to, James Mendez and Aljon Valencia, who took turns at the front seat throughout the eight-lap race that ended in a photo-finish.

When the smoke cleared, Inquito emerged champion by just a slim 0.271 of a second in beating Mendez, while Valencia checked in a close third, just 0.307 of a second behind Mendez.

Sharing the spotlight with Inguito are Gian Carlo Mauricio who copped the 160cc PSR plum over Jacq Buncio and Maiko Adapon; and RR Espiritu, who ruled the 130cc PSR class over runner-up John Edward Godoy and third placer Ruel Rubin.

But Inguito isn’t as lucky in the 2015 FDR Underbone King Championship Series, where he’s the reigning Underbone King as he checked in just 0.005 of a second behind after a tough neck and neck duel with champion Herbert Lopez.

James Mendez came three seconds behind Lopez to claim third place while 2013 champion Nino Fabian and Johnlery Enriquez finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Carlo Calderon emerged the 115cc.

Novice champion over James Amporias and Lorenz Villanueva.

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to India of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

Date of Birth N/A

N/A

Place of Birth Residence N/A

N/A

16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: Affidavit of Financial Support from Devkishan Chainani (Father) Affidavit of Financial Capacity from Devkishan Chainani (Father) Last 3 years Income Tax Returns of Devkishan Chainani (Father) Last 3 years Income Tax Return of Family Owned business, with complete SEC documents PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

Dated at San Juan, Metro Manila, this 28th day of January, 2015.

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of School

Place of School

Dates of Study

Think and Try

Makati City

06/91-03/92

Colegio de San Agustin Reedley Int’l. School Univ. of Prince Edward Island

Makati City Pasig City Canada

06/92-03/04 06/04-03/07 01/09-12/09

Raffles Designs Inst.

Makati City

Highest Grade Completed Nursery

Grade 9 High School One (1) Year College 2 n d Ye a r 07/12 to present AD di vp al no cme ad Course

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: Tagalog 11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of Child

Name and Place of School

N/A

N/A

Date of Enrollment N/A

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living.

I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of

PRIYANKA DEVKISHAN CHAINANI Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: 2176 Fatima Street San Miguel Village, Makati City Telephone Number: 403-7085

Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF MAKATI) S.S. I, PRIYANKA DEVKISHAN CHAINANI of legal age and a resident of 2176 Fatima Street, San Miguel Village, Makati City after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

PRIYANKA DEVKISHAN CHAINANI Name and Signature of Petitioner

SUBCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at Makati City, this JAN. 23, 2015.

(MST-May 8, 15 & 22, 2015)

F R I D AY : M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Roa shines as UST routs Rizal UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas proved too classy and strong as it demolished Rizal, 13-0, to underscore its title-retention drive in the women’s Club A division of the ninth Summer Grand Slam softball tournament at the Parade Ground at Clark Freeport in Pampanga yesterday.

Cristy Joy Roa waxed hot at bat early as she led a four-run homerun in the first inning. She blasted another homer in the second frame and had two RBIs to power the defending champions to an

abbreviated four-inning romp.

“I’m in top condition and just as motivated to play with my former team in high school,” said Roa. Despite the lopsided result, Jean Henri Lhuillier, president of the

Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL), expects surprises as action heats up in the next few days.

“This year’s Summer Grand Slam is heating up. The stronger teams are now stamping their class but it’s good to see a few surprises especially Adamson’s win over defending champions Chikara during the first day,” said Lhuillier, referring to Adamson Alumni’s 6-5 squeaker over Chikara of Brunei Wednesday.

“This will only get more exciting as the favorites face off, in-

cluding the Phl Blu Boys against the defending men’s champion Philippine Air Force. I’m also confident that we’ll be able to discover new world-class talents at the end of the tournament,” said Lhuillier.

The Blu Boys and the Airmen were slugging it out at presstime in what could be a preview of the championship.

The men’s national team is using the tournament as part of its buildup for next month’s SEA Games in Singapore.

The Philippines bagged the soft-

ball gold medal in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

The tournament, hosted by AsaPhil, will have a single round robin for the eliminations with the playoff format to be determined by the final number of teams.

The Open division champions will receive P30,000, the runners-up P20,000 and the third placers P10,000. The prizes in the club divisions are P15,000, P10,000 and P5,000 for the champion, runner-up and third place, respectively.

Monroe Jr. is a tough test for undefeated Golovkin ONE of the most exciting fighters today—Kazakhstan’s undefeated Gennady Golvkin—who stands and fights and doesn’t run or grab his opponents, defends his World Boxing Association, International Boxing Organization and World Boxing Council Interim middleweight titles against skillful Willie Monroe Jr. in Inglewood, California on Sunday (Manila time).

The fight will be telecast over Solar Sports beginning with the undercard bouts at 9 a.m.

Super Sport of South Africa believes that Golovkin’s reputation as boxing’s new “hitman,” comes under scrutiny again when he faces Monroe Jr.

ICTSI golf. Jay Bayron checks the line of his putt with his caddie on No. 18 at the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Golf Invitational.

Micah Shin sizzled in calm conditions at the Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club, firing a bogey-free 66 to wrest a two-stroke lead over Bayron. The lanky 6’1” Shin dished out an impeccable game off the tee he complemented with solid iron play and superb putting, netting him six birdies inside 14 feet, while saving pars in three times that he went out of regulation. On the other hand, the longhitting Bayron eagled the par 5, 554-yard No. 10 for the second straight day and went on to shoot a 69 for a 139.

The popular 33-year-old Kazakh fighter is undefeated in 32 pro bouts, 29 of them within the distance, but is expected to have a rough time against the 28-year-old southpaw Monroe Jr. However, the consensus is that Golovkin will retain his belts and reinforce his image as a merciless finisher.

The task won’t be easy as Monroe Jr., who has won 19 fights, six inside the distance, with only one loss to Darnell Boone in March 2011.

Monroe, who is ranked No. 2 by the WBA, enjoys a slight height and reach advantage and was impressive in beating Brian Vera in his last fight in January this year. Ronnie Nathanielsz

R e p ublic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Branch 144, Makati City ROXANNE DEL MUNDO

ANCHETA, Petitioner,

-VS-

SP. PROC.-NO. M-7780

RAMON JESUSITO MIGUEL V. SILOS III, and/or Administrator and Civil Registrar General, National Statistics Office, and/or the Local Civil Registrar of Makati.

Respondent, x--------------------------------------------------x

ORDER Before this Court is a verified Petition for Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce and/or Enforcement of Foreign Judgment filed by petitioner, Roxanne Del Mundo Ancheta, against respondent, Ramon Jesusito Miguel V. Silos III A.K.A. Ramon Valenton Silos.

The Petition alleges the following: that petitioner is of legal age, AmericanFilipino, and residing at #1 Ber-Rita Compound, Bayan Luma 1, Imus, Cavite; that respondent is also of legal age, Filipino, and residing at 41 Florida St., Merville Park, Paranaque City; that petitioner and respondent were married in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States of America on July 1, 2005; that petitioner and respondent were again married on January 31, 2008 at Sanctuario de San Antonio Parish, Forbes Park, Makati City; that the parties have two (2) minor children, namely, Noelle Anne Ancheta Silos born on December 16, 2008 and Bella Louise Ancheta Silos born on August 18, 2010; that due to their unhappy marriage and irreconcilable differences, petitioner filed for divorce before the Superior Court of California, Country of Alameda on May 7, 2013 which thereafter issued a Judgment of Dissolution dissolving the parties` marriage. Petitioner, then prays that the Judgement of Dissolution of Marital and Domestic Partnership Status and the resolution regarding support, custody and property be recognized in the Philippines.

Finding the Petition sufficient in form and in substance, set the hearing of this case on June 9, 2015 at 8:30 am before this Court located at the 10th Floor of Makati City Hall, Makati City.

Petitioner is directed to comply with the following; (1) send a copy of this Order and Summons to RAMON JESUSITO MIGUEL V. SILOS III at his last known address at 41 Florida St., Merville Park, Paranaque City, and submit proof of its compliance within ten (10) days from receipt of this Order, and (2) publish this Order together with the Summons once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation prior to the hearing, all at the petitioner`s expense.

Also, petitioner is given five (5) days from receipt hereof within which to submit proof of compliance that copies of the Petition and its annexes were sent to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) and the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) of Makati City.

Court Social Worker Preciousa Macapuso is directed to conduct a case study of the parties` minor children and submit the corresponding report at least three (3) days before the pre-trial.

SO ORDERED. City of Makati, March 31, 2015.

(Sgd.) LIZA MARIE R. PICARDAL-TECSON Presiding Judge (TS-MAY 8 & 15, 2015)

Pacman’s choice but jarring words DENNIS PRINCIPE

SportS Chat

FILIPINO boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has choice words for bitter foe Floyd Mayweather that may still fan whatever flame is left when it comes to a possible return bout.

Moments after he arrived from the United States Wednesday morning, Pacquao gamely answered every question thrown at him that mostly involved his boxing and political careers.

One question had something to do with Mayweather’s rant that admonished Pacquiao for revealing a shoulder injury that supposedly affected his performance during their May 2 welterweight battle in Las Vegas.

In a teaser of their interview released by Showtime, Mayweather castigated Pacquiao and called the boxer/lawmaker a “coward” and a “sore loser” bringing up the issue about his shoulder after the fight.

“Huwag na natin bigyan ng comment ‘yan, kasi ang mga ganyan, huwag

na natin patulan. Kapag pinatulan natin ‘yan, magiging ka-level lang natin sila,” said Pacquiao.

Meantime, Pacquiao believes he was still the winner in the eyes of those who saw his bout opposite Mayweather.

Now a dethroned champion, Pacquiao insisted during the mini press conference that he thought he won seven of twelve rounds after reviewing the tape and scored the fight himself.

Though Pacquiao had that feeling of certainty when it comes to the result of his match against Mayweather, the Sarangani congressman admitted he has already moved on and accepted the judges’ decision.

“Paulit-ulit ko pinanood at panalo tayo ng two points. Tanggapin na lang natin. At least, sa puso ng mga tao, panalo ako sa puso nila,” said Pacquiao.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed the medical procedure, said Pacquiao could start training six months after the operation and be back in the ring within nine months to a year.

Still, Mayweather remains adamant in his decision not to give Pacquiao a shot at redemption.

While Pacquiao is still open to a rematch with Mayweather, most fans at the moment seemed cold at the idea as shown by their response to various social media discussions.

CONFIDENT MILAN. One-time world title challenger Milan Melindo has admitted that he had too much confidence when he entered the ring against world flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico.

Melindo dropped a 12-round decision verdict to Estrada in a battle for the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization 112lb title two years ago in Macau.

“Sobra kumpiyansa ko noon kasi pakiramdam ko kaya ko siya. Pero ‘yun ang natutunan ko noon na dapat hindi masyado kumpiyansa,” said Melindo.

The 27-year-old Melindo (32-1, 12 knockouts), has since recovered from the defeat when he scored three straight victories.

Melindo’s last fight was an IBF title lightflyweight eliminator where he deci-

sioned Mexican Saul Juarez held in Cebu.

Melindo is now training at the famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood where he is preparing for another shot at a world crown against defending IBF ruler Javier Mendoza of Mexico.

The match will happen on May 30 in Merida, Mexico.

“May punching power siya and slugger din, pero kung tatakbo siya sa laban pinaghahandaan na din namin ‘yun. Ready kami kung ano man ‘yung style na ipakita niya sa laban naming,” said Melindo.

Melindo is joined by brothers Edito and Edmund Villamor, considered as the top two trainers of the ALA Boxing Gym in Cebu.

SPORTS CHAT ON RADIO. We are continuing our discussions in the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup as the season-ending tournament is set to switch to higher gear by next week.

Also to be tackled are the upcoming international events, involving Filipino boxers and the country’s preparations for the June SEA Games in Singapore.

F R I D AY : M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

A15 LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Orlando Johnson (right) of Ginebra fakes a shot against Barako Bull’s Rich Alvarez and Hyram Bagatsing.

Palanca, Araneta make golf semifinals PHILIPPE Palanca and Diana Araneta stunned their quarterfinal opponents yesterday to arrange Final Four duels with Korean foes in Division 1 of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines Chairman’s Cup at the Ayala South Links course in Las Pinas.

The No. 7 Palanca shocked the second-seeded Ira Alido, 2 up in the quarterfinals after winning on the last hole of his Round-of-16 match with Paqo Barro.

Araneta disposed of Marc Corrales and Burberry Zhang in succession to also clinch a semis ticket in the tourney hosted by JGFP chairman Gerry Handog through his group of companies, Cleanpak, Inc., IWSI, IWS Cleantech, Inc. and HIGDI, with the support of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc., Philippine Airlines and Philippine Golf Foundation.

Palanca meets Yong Jun Young, while Araneta battles Kim Hyung Joong in today’s semis with the winners disputing the title in the afternoon.

In Division 2, top seed Guilbert Purcia, Vito Manalili, Laia Barro and Gab Subido all advanced to the semis.

Purcia bundled out Chad Lazaro, 2 up in the Roundof-16 then won over Javi Lazatin 3&2 in the quarterfinals to claim a seat in the Final Four opposite Manalili.

Manalili first beat Matthew Abalos, 2 up in the Round of 16, then ousted Ice Miravite, 3&2, to book his place in the semis.

Barro first outplayed Israel Macatangay, 4&2, then bested Rev Alcantara 2 up in their quarterfinal meeting.

Purcia collides with Manalili, while Barro faces Subido.

Cagayan coach punches referee CAGAYAN Valley coach Alvin Pua punched a game official on Monday, spoiling his team’s 106-94 victory against Liver Marin in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Arena.

During a time out, a raging Pua walked toward the game officials—who at the time were huddling at the sideline near the timer’s table—and punched referee Benjie Montero in the face and body. The stunned game official did not retaliate.

Pua’s fellow team officials and Liver Marin assistant coach Banjo Calpito quickly interceded to prevent the incident from escalating.

This is not the first time Pua manhandled a game official.

The Cagayan Valley coach, who was ejected from the game, also faces heavy penalty from the PBA The Rising Suns broke the game apart in the third quarter then held off a late charge by the Commissioner’s Office.

Meanwhile, league leaders Alaska and Barako Bull, Guardians to seal their fifth win in eight games, which are currently tied at the top at 2-0, clash with securing their spot in the prolific foes, who happen to be quarterfinals of the league’s Games Friday the finalists of the last Comseason-ending tournament.

(Ynares Center - Antipolo City) missioner’s Cup, as both try to “It was just a misunderstanding,” said Cagayan Valley team 4:15 p.m. • Barako Bull vs. Talk ‘N Text win their third straight and remain on top.

7 p.m. • Alaska vs. Rain or Shine consultant Francis Rodriguez, The energized Aces will face adding the Rising Suns are still hard-pressed to win their last game against Cebuana off with another perennial contender Rain or Shine Lhuillier on May 25 to earn them a twice-to-beat ad- (0-1) at 7 p.m. in an explosive main event at the vantage in the quarters. A call that went against his Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

In the initial offering, the Energy Colas take team apparently triggered the incident that took place with 1:39 left in the second quarter and the Rising on a tough challenge from Talk ‘N Text (1-0) at 4:15 p.m. Jeric Lopez Suns ahead, 47-41.

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Army, PLDT mangle semis opponents THRUST into the Games Sunday spotlight off a star- 12:45 p.m. • PLDT vs Army studded roster, 2:45 p.m. • Meralco vs Cagayan Carmina Aganon responded with crucial hits in the last two frames as Army rallied to edge a tough-fighting Meralco side, 25-21, 21-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-9, at the start of the semifinal round of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Powerhouse PLDT Home Ultera sustained its hot form and ripped Cagayan Valley, 25-22, 25-14, 25-23, in the other semis clash to join Army in the early lead in the single round semis where the top two teams will clash for the crown in the seasonopening conference of the league sponsored

by Shakey’s.

Jaja Santiago, Gretchel Soltones and Alyssa Valdez, toughened up by their stint with national team in the recent Asian U-23 Championship, combined for 32 hits as the Ultra Fast Hitters dominated the Lady Rising Suns all throughout to fashion out the 74-minute victory, their eighth straight counting the seven wins they posted in sweeping the elims.

Earlier, Jovelyn Gonzaga fired a teambest 15 hits, Dindin Manabat added 13 markers and Rachel Ann Daquis, Honey Royse Tubino and Mary Jean Balse chipped in 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively. But it was Carmina Aganon who shone in the stretch, churning out six hits in the last two sets, helping the Lady Troopers turn a 1-2 set deficit into a victory.

“The good thing about this team is that any player, if called upon, is ready to play and contribute,” said Army coach Rico de Guzman, who dispatched Aganon only in the fourth set after the Power Spikers battled back from an opening set setback to sweep the next two.

Caligdong, British coach to hold football clinics in Cagayan de Oro WHEN former Azkals team captain and football icon Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong and British football coach Chris Thomas go to Cagayan de Oro on May 16 and 17, they will share their expertise to children living in resettlement areas built in the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong.

The two will be giving sports clinics as part of the Football for a Better Life program aimed at developing grassroots football in the country. The visit to Cagayan de Oro will be the fourth leg of the program’s 10-city nationwide tour supported by Pru Life UK Philippines.

The kids that Caligdong

and Thomas will teach are public school students, whose families were among the hundreds of thousands displaced by the storm.

Coach Percy Guarin, president of the Cagayan Misamis Oriental Football Association, said the presence of Chieffy and Coach Chris will boost the morale of the young footballers.

“Higit sa training ang hatid nila—inspirasyon,” (“They bring with them not just training but inspiration,” said Guarin.

Caligdong and Thomas will also oversee tournaments featuring 50 teams from within and around Misamis Oriental. These

teams will be fielding players in the Under-17 Boys, U-11, U-15, U-9, Ladies Open and Men’s Open categories.

“First time magkakaroon ng Men’s Open sa mga tournament na ginagawa ni Chieffy lately,” said Guarin.

Caligdong is looking forward to imparting his years of experience as a player, almost 10 years of which were spent with the national team.

“Excited kaming makilala ang mga player mula sa Cagayan de Oro at mga karatig bayan. Gagawin namin ang aming best para maging masaya sila at maging maganda Former Azkals star Chieffy Caligdong (right) and British ang outcome ng mga tourna- coach Chris Thomas shake hands prior to their Football for ment at clinic.” a Better Life sojourn in Cagayan de Oro.

F R I D AY : M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Rachel Ann Daquis signals to the Petron coaching staff as the team prepares to huddle in Game 2 of the 2015 Philippine Superliga women’s volleyball tournament All-Filipino Conference best-of-three finals. Daquis suffered cramps later, but the Blaze Spikers still completed a historic 13-game championship sweep. ROMAN PROSPERO

Lucky 13 victory nets Blaze Spikers PSL title th

By Peter Atencio

ABY Marano scored four crucial hits in the decisive fourth set to lift the embattled Petron Blazers Spikers to a four-set victory over the Shopinas Lady Clickers last night in Game 2 of the 2015 Philippine Superliga women’s volleyball tournament All-Filipino Conference best-of-three finals at the Cuneta Astrodome.

After the Blaze Spikers lost heavy hitter Rachel Ann Daquis to cramps, Marano came through with key plays that carried Petron to a 25-17, 22-25, 30-28, 27-15 tri-

umph—their 13th straight in the tournament without a single loss.

Daquis, who still earned the Most Valuable Player honors, left the court complaining of leg

Federer, Murray crush rivals TURN TO A12

cramps after playing from another tournament. She began feeling pain right after the Lady Clickers threatened at 16-17 off Rizza Jane Mandapat’s hit past Marano.

Petron coach George Pascua said Daquis’ absence did not worry him because Fille Cainglet-Cayetano was able to fill in the void.

A kill shot by Cayetano set the Blaze Spikers back on track, and so did a drop shot from Mary Grace Masangkay, handing Petron a 1916 lead.

That was when Marano came into the picture when she put Petron ahead by six, 22-16, with

her three kills.

Marano and Dindin Santiago-Manabat powered the Blazers to a 2-game sweep of their best-of-three finals series with 18 points apiece.

It was an amazing run for the Blaze Spikers, who finished the season with 13th straight wins.

Their 12th triumph came in Game 1, when the Blaze Spikers clobbered Shopinas, 25-18, 25-14, 25-19. “Nagbunga ‘yung sacrifice namin na mailagay sa history ng Super Liga na makuha ang title with 13 straight wins at back-toback champion pa,” said Pascua.

Hawks, Warriors grab 3-2 leads TURN TO A13

Narvasa named new PBA chief

By Jeric Lopez CHITO Narvasa will be the next Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the Philippine Basketball Association.

After thorough deliberation and interviews of qualified candidates, the PBA board picked the former Shell head coach and current head of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines to succeed outgoing PBA commissioner Chito Salud.

“We’re happy that we’re unanimous in our decision. He (Narvasa) has been informed already and he’s looking to helping the PBA,” said PBA chairman Pato Gregorio of Narvasa’s naming as the new commissioner/COO. As Narvasa is set to take over from Salud starting next season, the latter will move over to being the league’s first Chief Executive Officer.

Narvasa is now the ninth commissioner in league history.

He was chosen over other highly recognized basketball figures in PBA Operations head Ricky Santos, who will retain his position, Vince Hizon and Jay Adalem.

The league met its target of naming a new commissioner before May 15.

Narvasa will now oversee league operations as the 40th season winds up with the current season-ending Governors’ Cup.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK FRIDAY: MAY 15, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

GMA Network Inc. reported a net income of P408 million in the first quarter of 2015, up 25 percent from the P326-million profit it recorded in the same period last year. Shown during a news briefing are (from left) GMA Network executive vice president and chief finance officer Felipe Yalong, president and chief operating officer Gilberto Duavit Jr. and chairman and chief executive Felipe Gozon. MANNY PALMERO

PSe comPoSite index Closing May 14, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,831.44 23.09

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing MAY 14, 2015 46

P44.540

45

CLOSE

44 43 42

HIGH P44.520 LOW P44.650 AVERAGE P44.569 VOLUME 722.200M

P500.00-P650.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.65-P45.25 Unleaded Gasoline P28.00-P31.30 Diesel

o

il P PriceS today

P35.40-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, May 14, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.7610

Japan

Yen

0.008391

0.3756

UK

Pound

1.573500

70.4314

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129012

5.7747

Switzerland

Franc

1.090394

48.8071

Canada

Dollar

0.835911

37.4162

Singapore

Dollar

0.754831

33.7870

Australia

Dollar

0.810701

36.2878

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652379

118.7231

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

11.9363

Brunei

Dollar

0.751993

33.6600

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.029780

1.3330

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.1865

Euro

Euro

1.135100

50.8082

Korea

Won

0.000917

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.161176

7.2144

India

Rupee

0.015655

0.7007

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.278048

12.4457

New Zealand

Dollar

0.747775

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032646

33.4712 1.4613 Source: PDS Bridge

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Ang’s investment in GMA-7 in limbo

By Darwin G. Amojelar

BUSINESSMAN Ramon Ang’s bid to acquire

a minority stake in GMA Network Inc. is in limbo, as the majority owners of the broadcast network started talking to a new investor.

“At this point, our attitude is ‘wait and see.’ The ball is now in his [Ang’s] court,” GMA chairman and chief executive Felipe Gozon said in a news briefing, when asked about the update on Ang’s investment in the network.

“Since, I’m no longer sure, it depends now on the new suitor whether they would like to court us or not,” Gozon said.

Gozon clarified there was no fixed deadline on the closure of the transaction with Ang,

“but it should be done within a reasonable period which is not defined.”

Ang offered to acquire at least 30 percent of GMA for P10.80 per share. The Gozon, Duavit and Jimenez families own a combined 79 percent of the network. Ang’s offer was higher than the P9 billion offered by the PLDT Group.

Gozon said he had recent talks with a new prospective investor he declined to identify.

When asked if the talks with

the PLDT Group of Manuel Pangilinan could be revived, Gozon said, “anything is possible.”

The PLDT Group and GMA ended a third round of talks for a 34-percent stake in the broadcast company in February 2014. The talks fell through because of disagreement over regulatory risk-sharing.

Meanwhile, Gozon said the company would continue its manpower reduction program.

“One thing that we don’t want is to be over staffed. We have to maintain a lean organization. In regional office, [it is finished], but there would be more employees to be laid off in the main office,” Gozon said.

He said the company decided to cut workforce in regional offices because “the ratings and revenues are low.”

The network reported a net income of P408 million in the January to March period this year, or 25 percent higher than P326 million recorded in the same period last year.

“Our performance in the first quarter is a good indication that 2015 will be a much better year for our company. We are hoping to sustain this momentum throughout the year,” Gozon said.

Revenues amounted to P3.006 billion in the first quarter, up from P2.85 billion year-onyear. Airtime revenues grew 7 percent to P2.71 billion, while subscription and others fell 5 percent to P294 million.

Expenses rose 3 percent to P2.43 billion, due to the increase in production cost as the network continued to strengthen its programming content.

Industrial Bank of Korea opening PH branch

By Julito G. Rada STATE-OWNED Industrial Bank of Korea will soon establish a branch in the Philippines, after it became the fourth Asian bank to get a permit from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, following the passage of a law opening the banking industry to foreign capital.

IBK also became the second Korean bank to set up shop in the Philippines this year, after

Shinhan Bank of Korea whose application was approved in February.

“This is to confirm that MB approved last April 30 the application of the Industrial Bank of Korea to put up a branch in the Philippines,” Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said in a text message Thursday.

Available information online showed that IBK, established in 1961, is owned by the

government of the Republic of Korea and headquartered in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Industrial Bank of Korea provides various banking products and financial services to individuals, households, local governments, non-profit organizations, and small and medium sized enterprises in Korea.

It had a network of 641 branches, including 53 depositary offices in Korea; 15 branches

in China; and six overseas branches in other countries, as well as representative offices in New Delhi, India and Yangon in Myanmar as of end-2014.

IBK became the fourth Asian bank allowed entry in the domestic financial market this year by the BSP. The three others were Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. of Japan, Shinhan Bank of Korea and the Cathay United Bank of Taiwan.

FRIDAY: MAY 15, 2015

B2

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Thursday, May 14, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

75.3 124.4 104 63 2.49 4.2 4 18.48 31.6 9.5 2.95 1.01 99.4 1.46 30.5 75 94.95 137 361.2 59 174.8 1700 127.9 3.26

66 84.6 84.5 45.8 1.97 2.03 8.7 12.02 23.55 6.3 1.75 0.225 78 0.9 18.02 58 76.5 95 276 45 107.6 1200 66 2.65

Asia United Bank 71 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 112.60 Bank of PI 100.20 China Bank 48.15 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 2.51 Bright Kindle Resources 2.07 Citystate Savings 10 COL Financial 15.36 Eastwest Bank 23.2 Filipino Fund Inc. 7.40 I-Remit Inc. 1.69 MEDCO Holdings 0.445 Metrobank 92 Natl. Reinsurance Corp. 1.1 PB Bank 18.20 Phil Bank of Comm 29.50 Phil. National Bank 75.10 Phil. Savings Bank 94.5 PSE Inc. 315 RCBC `A’ 44.65 Security Bank 168.9 Sun Life Financial 1480.00 Union Bank 65.20 Vantage Equities 3.08

35.6 1.6 1.04 1.41 7.92 14.6 62.5 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 13.24 3.12 168 8.65 2.3 1.63 16 24.4 16.2 7.62 250.2 3.37 3.87 9 9.94 3.03 2.22 1 4.72 1.65 6 201.6 1.67 0.122 1.02 2.01 143.4 0.670 1.39

Aboitiz Power Corp.

42.3 Agrinurture Inc. 1.54 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.07 Alsons Cons.

2.08 Asiabest Group 11.5 Century Food 19.12 Chemphil 125 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 29 Concepcion 58.3 Crown Asia 2.25 Da Vinci Capital 1.78 Del Monte 12.78 DNL Industries Inc. 20.700 Emperador 11.42 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 7.76 EEI 10.00 Euro-Med Lab 1.9 Federal Res. Inv. Group 14.9 First Gen Corp.

27.15 First Holdings ‘A’ 88.2 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 14.12 Holcim Philippines Inc. 14.00 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.9 Jollibee Foods Corp.

211.40 Lafarge Rep 10.24 LMG Chemicals 2.52 Mabuhay Vinyl 2.79 Macay Holdings 52.00 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.75 Maxs Group 28 Megawide 7.6 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 263.20 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.29 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.2 Petron Corporation 9.50 Phinma Corporation 11.60 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.97 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.27 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.25 RFM Corporation 5.00 Roxas and Co. 1.81 Roxas Holdings 6.1 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 187.1 Splash Corporation 1.62 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.160 TKC Steel Corp.

1.36 Trans-Asia Oil 2.29 Universal Robina 211.8 Vitarich Corp.

0.68 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.32

0.7 59.2 31.85 2.16 7.39 2.27 3.4 3.35 800 11.06 84 3.35 5.14 0.66 1380 6.68 72.6 5.29 6.66 9.25 0.9 18.9 0.73 5.53 6.55 0.0670 2.31 0.84 87 3.5 934 2.2 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.45 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 1.210 1.4 1.6 600 7.390 14.18 2.6 4.25 0.144 818 5.3 46.6 3 3.52 4.43 0.59 12 0.580 4.22 4.5 0.036 1.23 0.450 66.7 1.5 709.5 1.13 0.93 85.2 0.200 0.173 0.310

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit 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 San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.470 57.95 24.50 1.30 7.10 1.50 0.295 0.29 800.5 8.24 14.56 3.2 4.34 0.270 1390 6.40 72.60 6 6.9 7.6 0.73 15.18 0.67 4.65 5 0.0380 1.380 1.170 66.50 2.96 898.50 1.30 0.86 93.50 0.3850 0.2210 0.305

10.5 1.99 2.07 40 6.15 5.4 1.54

6.01 0.91 1.29 29.1 4.1 4.96 0.89

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

8.600 0.79 1.300 40.05 4.15 5.25 0.9

47 5 1.66 2.36 15.3 20.6 125 32 65.8 4.57 23.35 21.6 12.98 9.13 12.34 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 241 12.5 3.95 4 45.45 33.9 90 13.98 292.4 5 5.25 13.04 14.5 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.68 7.86 8.1 253 3.28 0.315 2.5 2.68 226.6 1.3 2.17

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 71.2 70.6 114.00 111.60 100.90 100.10 48.2 48.05 2.50 2.32 2.07 2.07 10 10 16 15.5 23.45 23.2 7.40 7.40 1.69 1.69 0.440 0.435 94.2 92.3 1.09 1.09 18.22 18.20 29.00 29.00 76.70 75.00 94 93.5 317.8 315 45.1 44.7 169.8 165.3 1480.00 1465.00 65.40 64.90 3.08 3.07 INDUSTRIAL 42.6 42.05 1.55 1.46 1.09 1.06 2.08 2.04 11.88 11.52 19.3 19.2 127 127 28.8 27 58.3 58 2.3 1.99 1.8 1.76 12.96 12.88 20.700 20 11.54 11.36 7.90 7.76 10.30 10.00 1.9 1.7 14.72 14.2 27.8 27.15 89 88.1 14.10 14.10 13.86 13.86 5.9 5.7 211.60 210.60 10.26 10.18 2.5 2.49 2.76 2.75 52.55 52.25 25.15 24.65 28 27.55 7.6 7.55 268.80 263.00 3.94 3.90 4.21 4.1 9.70 9.44 11.60 11.20 4.05 3.93 2.27 2.25 2.29 2.15 5.05 5.00 1.92 1.8 6.7 6.7 190 188 1.62 1.59 0.160 0.158 1.28 1.28 2.29 2.25 214 207.4 0.73 0.67 1.30 1.29 HOLDING FIRMS 0.470 0.460 57.95 56.20 24.80 24.00 1.29 1.26 7.00 7.00 1.64 1.51 0.295 0.285 0.29 0.29 817.5 800 8.39 8.22 14.74 14.56 3.6 3.5 4.35 4.31 0.275 0.260 1410 1397 6.40 6.39 73.00 71.30 6.43 6.43 6.9 5.1 7.8 7.43 0.75 0.73 15.28 15.16 0.68 0.67 4.78 4.65 5.05 5 0.0380 0.0380 1.350 1.350 1.280 1.000 67.00 65.95 2.81 2.81 902.00 891.50 1.28 1.23 0.86 0.84 94.00 89.95 0.3900 0.3750 0.2240 0.2210 0.310 0.300 PROPERTY 8.740 8.550 0.81 0.75 1.350 1.290 40.45 39.95 4.15 4.01 5.25 5.18 0.9 0.88

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

71.2 114.00 100.40 48.15 2.50 2.07 10 15.7 23.3 7.40 1.69 0.435 94.2 1.09 18.20 29.00 75.00 94 317.8 44.95 165.3 1480.00 65.05 3.07

0.28 1.24 0.20 0.00 -0.40 0.00 0.00 2.21 0.43 0.00 0.00 -2.25 2.39 -0.91 0.00 -1.69 -0.13 -0.53 0.89 0.67 -2.13 0.00 -0.23 -0.32

49,590 5,888,690 8,818,160 79,900 6,000 6,000 200 45,700 242,300 3,100 1,000 100,000 2,423,970 10,000 6,400 500 97,680 20,180 1,060 75,900 481,420 155 9,940 40,000

42.4 1.55 1.08 2.04 11.52 19.2 127 28 58.05 2 1.76 12.9 20.100 11.42 7.80 10.00 1.75 14.2 27.3 89 14.10 13.86 5.9 211.40 10.2 2.49 2.76 52.55 25 28 7.6 268.80 3.90 4.1 9.68 11.60 3.93 2.26 2.16 5.03 1.92 6.7 188 1.6 0.160 1.28 2.29 211.8 0.67 1.29

0.24 0.65 0.93 -1.92 0.17 0.42 1.60 -3.45 -0.43 -11.11 -1.12 0.94 -2.90 0.00 0.52 0.00 -7.89 -4.70 0.55 0.91 -0.14 -1.00 0.00 0.00 -0.39 -1.19 -1.08 1.06 1.01 0.00 0.00 2.13 -9.09 -2.38 1.89 0.00 -1.01 -0.44 -4.00 0.60 6.08 9.84 0.48 -1.23 0.00 -5.88 0.00 0.00 -1.47 -2.27

2,323,000 113,000 328,000 837,000 7,100 219,900 200 157,400 2,460 19,938,000 57,000 9,200 4,279,400 1,664,400 47,760,200 239,400 141,000 66,000 9,844,500 324,950 1,100 12,000 663,400 1,994,160 311,800 31,000 39,000 19,900 3,245,800 192,100 31,700 311,070 150,000 5,296,000 3,516,300 14,600 415,000 361,000 305,000 483,000 34,000 1,000 6,770 17,000 1,940,000 8,000 1,411,000 1,612,230 303,000 663,000

0.470 57.25 24.05 1.29 7.00 1.51 0.285 0.29 810 8.38 14.70 3.6 4.32 0.265 1403 6.39 71.75 6.43 5.45 7.5 0.75 15.26 0.68 4.75 5 0.0380 1.350 1.040 66.95 2.81 900.00 1.28 0.84 90.00 0.3750 0.2290 0.305

0.00 -1.21 -1.84 -0.77 -1.41 0.67 -3.39 -1.72 1.19 1.70 0.96 12.50 -0.46 -1.85 0.94 -0.16 -1.17 7.17 -21.01 -1.32 2.74 0.53 1.49 2.15 0.00 0.00 -2.17 -11.11 0.68 -5.07 0.17 -1.54 -2.33 -3.74 -2.60 3.62 0.00

100,000 1,636,690 7,239,800 4,000 20,500 11,000 4,900,000 950,000 438,850 1,179,500 7,762,300 19,000 1,036,000 1,160,000 600,350 15,000 1,134,990 700 900 19,446,200 222,000 2,715,500 457,000 16,660,000 70,000 600,000 5,000 28,102,000 320,820 22,000 149,090 101,000 118,000 24,270 4,880,000 1,480,000 530,000

8.700 0.79 1.350 40.20 4.07 5.2 0.89

1.16 0.00 3.85 0.37 -1.93 -0.95 -1.11

59,300 3,361,000 119,000 7,167,200 3,967,000 323,100 2,319,000

-2,943,165.50 91,891,654.00 -34,758,218.00 -192,750.00

15,500.00 2,168,720.00

33,520,718.50

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

1.97 1.48 0.201 0.98 1.09 0.305 2.25 1.87 1.8 6.34 4.88 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 3.6 20.6 1.02 7.56 1.96 8.59

1.1 0.97 0.083 0.445 0.85 0.188 1.4 1.42 1.19 2.8 2.75 0.090 0.325 0.39 23 2.57 21.35 1.64 3.08 15.08 0.69 3.38 1 5.69

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 12.46 15.82 0.1460 4.61 99.1 2.6 9 2090 8.41 33 1.97 119.5 7 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 12.28 2.85 2.2 3.2 5.9 2.46 15.2 0.62 22.8 6.41 4 18 110.2 14 3486 0.710 2.28 48.5 90.1 11.6 0.87 10.2 0.490 1.6

1.97 32.5 1 0.6 10 9.61 0.0770 2.95 46.55 1.6 5.88 1600 5.95 30 1.36 105 3.01 8.72 0.012 0.036 1.200 6.5 1.69 1.1 2 1.05 1.8 8.7 0.34 14.54 3 2.28 8.8 79 4.39 2726 0.380 0.32 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 6.45 0.305 1.04

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 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

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 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

70 553

33 490

120 515 8.21 12.28 1060 1047 76.9 78.95 84.8

101.5 480 5.88 6.5 997 1011 74.2 74.5 75

Close

High

Low

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

City & Land Dev. 1.30 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.04 Crown Equities Inc. 0.159 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.445 Empire East Land 0.860 Ever Gotesco 0.181 Global-Estate 1.36 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.88 Interport `A’ 1.40 Keppel Properties 6.79 Megaworld Corp.

5.39 MRC Allied Ind. 0.123 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.3300 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.4650 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 29.50 Primex Corp.

7.28 Robinson’s Land `B’ 29.15 Rockwell 1.72 Shang Properties Inc. 3.30 SM Prime Holdings 19.52 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.75 Starmalls 6.99 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.010 Vista Land & Lifescapes 7.400

1.30 1.30 1.30 1.05 1.04 1.04 0.158 0.157 0.157 0.460 0.450 0.450 0.850 0.850 0.850 0.182 0.182 0.182 1.40 1.36 1.39 1.91 1.87 1.90 1.43 1.38 1.43 6.90 6.60 6.60 5.4 5.25 5.28 0.126 1.230 0.125 0.3300 0.3300 0.3300 0.4650 0.4650 0.4650 29.00 25.05 25.05 7.28 7.27 7.28 30.00 28.95 30.00 1.72 1.71 1.71 3.31 3.30 3.30 19.68 19.48 19.56 0.75 0.73 0.74 7.1 6.6 7.1 0.980 0.980 0.980 7.400 7.220 7.300 SERVICES 2GO Group’ 6.5 6.6 6.41 6.57 ABS-CBN 61.6 61.9 61.45 61.9 Acesite Hotel 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.05 APC Group, Inc. 0.690 0.690 0.670 0.680 Asian Terminals Inc. 13.8 13.8 13.8 13.8 Bloomberry 12.18 1.44 10.22 10.60 Boulevard Holdings 0.0990 0.0990 0.0980 0.0980 Calata Corp.

4.15 4.2 3.88 4 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 86.15 87.5 85.7 85.95 Discovery World 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.69 DFNN Inc. 7.00 6.99 6.80 6.80 Globe Telecom 2328 2510 2350 2504 GMA Network Inc. 6.20 6.20 6.15 6.20 Grand Plaza Hotel 28.50 28.00 26.00 28.00 Harbor Star 1.44 1.43 1.40 1.40 I.C.T.S.I. 111 110.8 108.5 109 Imperial Res. `A’ 7.00 6.02 6.02 6.02 IPeople Inc. `A’ 12.38 12.4 12.38 12.38 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.012 Island Info 0.250 0.255 0.235 0.235 ISM Communications 1.3000 1.3000 1.2600 1.2600 Leisure & Resorts 9.80 9.98 9.67 9.73 Liberty Telecom 2.09 2.10 2.10 2.10 Lorenzo Shipping 1.3 1.3 1.29 1.29 Macroasia Corp.

2.14 2.14 2.13 2.14 Manila Broadcasting 55.00 80.00 58.00 80.00 Manila Jockey 2 2 2 2 Melco Crown 9.71 9.78 9.18 9.46 MG Holdings 0.360 0.365 0.355 0.365 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 18.5 18.5 18.22 18.46 PAL Holdings Inc. 4.80 4.78 4.50 4.78 Paxys Inc. 2.95 3.05 3.05 3.05 Phil. Racing Club 9.49 9.01 9 9 Phil. Seven Corp.

138.00 138.00 130.00 130.00 Philweb.Com Inc. 15.88 16.94 15.70 16.94 PLDT Common 2830.00 2850.00 2822.00 2850.00 PremiereHorizon 0.670 0.680 0.660 0.670 Premium Leisure 1.740 1.750 1.660 1.740 Puregold 39.65 40.00 39.50 39.95 Robinsons RTL 82.35 84.90 82.35 83.80 SSI Group 10.60 10.86 10.60 10.80 STI Holdings 0.68 0.68 0.66 0.67 Travellers 6.67 6.7 6.56 6.69 Waterfront Phils.

0.330 0.340 0.340 0.340 Yehey 1.300 1.300 1.300 1.300 MINING & OIL Abra Mining 0.0052 0.0053 0.0052 0.0052 Apex `A’ 2.75 2.78 2.73 2.73 Atlas Cons. `A’ 8.10 8.13 8.05 8.05 Atok-Big Wedge `A’ 15.90 15.50 15.00 15.00 Basic Energy Corp.

0.255 0.255 0.250 0.255 Benguet Corp `A’ 7.0000 7.2400 6.8000 6.8000 Benguet Corp `B’ 7.4000 7.2000 6.8000 7.2000 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 1.06 1.06 1.03 1.06 Coal Asia 0.88 0.88 0.86 0.88 Dizon 7.78 7.98 7.79 7.79 Ferronickel 1.82 1.86 1.78 1.8 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.355 0.370 0.345 0.345 Lepanto `A’ 0.235 2.410 0.234 0.237 Lepanto `B’ 0.248 0.245 0.238 0.238 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0140 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 Manila Mining `B’ 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0140 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 4.12 4.12 4.08 4.08 Nickelasia 28 28 27.5 27.75 Nihao Mineral Resources 3.94 3.99 3.89 3.89 Oriental Peninsula Res. 2.140 2.110 2.090 2.090 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 Oriental Pet. `B’ 0.0140 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 4.44 4.44 4.39 4.40 Philex `A’ 7.02 7.02 6.95 6.98 PhilexPetroleum 2.29 2.49 2.15 2.17 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.016 Semirara Corp.

156.00 161.10 156.00 158.00 TA Petroleum 7.7 8.42 7.7 7.8 PREFERRED ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 62.9 63 62 62.8 Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 521.5 521.5 521.5 521.5 BC Pref A 26.25 39.35 39.2 39.35 First Gen G 119 120 119 120 GLOBE PREF P 520 520 520 520 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.19 6.19 6.05 6.05 Leisure and Resort 1.09 1.09 1.08 1.08 PCOR-Preferred A 1053 1080 1080 1080 PF Pref 2 1050 1050 1050 1050 SMC Preferred A 76.35 76.4 76.35 76.4 SMC Preferred B 84 84 84 84 SMC Preferred C 84.05 86.95 96.95 96.95 WARRANTS & BONDS LR Warrant 4.700 4.700 4.520 4.550 SME Double Dragon 9.98 10.2 9.98 10.04 Makati Fin. Corp.

10 9.89 8.5 9.89 IRipple E-Business Intl 70 70 66 66 Xurpas 9.55 9.68 9.55 9.59 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS First Metro ETF 127.1 127.4 126.7 127.4

0.00 0.00 -1.26 1.12 -1.16 0.55 2.21 1.06 2.14 -2.80 -2.04 1.63 0.00 0.00 -15.08 0.00 2.92 -0.58 0.00 0.20 -1.33 1.57 -2.97 -1.35

1,000 30,000 3,970,000 350,000 1,036,000 130,000 1,582,000 16,242,000 676,000 7,800 27,362,100 3,780,000 260,000 10,000 13,600 46,700 727,400 91,000 148,000 13,652,200 1,102,000 25,900 40,000 18,653,700

1.08 0.49 0.00 -1.45 0.00 -12.97 -1.01 -3.61 -0.23 0.00 -2.86 7.56 0.00 -1.75 -2.78 -1.80 -14.00 0.00 -7.69 -6.00 -3.08 -0.71 0.48 -0.77 0.00 45.45 0.00 -2.57 1.39 -0.22 -0.42 3.39 -5.16 -5.80 6.68 0.71 0.00 0.00 0.76 1.76 1.89 -1.47 0.30 3.03 0.00

40,600 18,190 30,000 136,000 300 91,404,300 15,900,000 2,049,000 562,580 12,000 495,800 168,850 28,800 1,200 320,000 1,500,320 600 700 23,200,000 15,740,000 142,000 615,400 8,000 17,000 5,000 66,580 115,000 3,114,100 640,000 312,800 4,000 3,000 25,000 490 447,400 120,885 2,802,000 46,038,000 2,133,400 613,490 6,544,600 238,000 2,121,300 130,000 19,000

0.00 -0.73 -0.62 -5.66 0.00 -2.86 -2.70 0.00 0.00 0.13 -1.10 -2.82 0.85 -4.03 7.14 -6.67 -0.97 -0.89 -1.27 -2.34 0.00 -7.14 -0.90 -0.57 -5.24 0.00 1.28 1.30

100,000,000 -93,600.00 64,000 156,200 -270,198.00 13,400 230,000 214,100 600 377,000 693,000 -8,600.00 2,800 7,734,000 -5,054,740.00 150,000 11,190,000 70,000 -4,760.00 43,800,000 6,500,000 -11,200.00 866,000 -470,740.00 4,016,900 13,919,820.00 1,386,000 -38,900.00 155,000 -27,170.00 8,100,000 500,000 214,000 601,800 647,237.00 6,581,000 1,371,140.00 6,500,000 1,076,930 -43,747,933.00 2,564,800 -13,485.00

-0.16 0.00 49.90 0.84 0.00 -2.26 -0.92 2.56 0.00 0.07 0.00 15.35

617,660 10 200 850 950 14,100 1,488,000 10,000 4,215 30,410 38,000 20,000

-540,050.00 14,325,360.00 -62,849,716.00

MST

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

SHARES 19,408,213 112,546,984 108,951,557 127,262,491 220,829,203 24,056,703 795,748,451

-5,874,976.00

-122,525.00 -3,064,992.00 154,450.00

39,327,630.00 -107,000.00 4,100.00

-192,820.00

23,220.00 30,880.00

23,328.00 -26,411,270.00 3,661,180.00 -131,292,161.00 685,318.00

43,080.00 -19,307,395.00 3,097,130.00

197,370.00 84,765,784.00 -19,418.00 -15,000.00 -2,025,950.00 -621,720.00 -85,120.00 17,885,060.00

-25,800.00 3,693,805.00 391,750.00 -113,000.00 712,119.00

859,060.00

-5,528,074.00 130,000.00

-45,691,727.00 -111,873,740.00

68,400.00 -27,697,840.00 3,164,882.00 -50,442,300.00

4,401,970.00

141,157,515.00 95,950.00 -31,004,510.00

-70,395,745.00 -48,910.00 -85,110.00 46,475,190.00

-86,740.00 -13,668,842.00

-75,801,855.00

-1,681,920.00

130,000.00 -18,595,355.00 1,254,730.00 -436,720.00 -1,170,550.00

6.98

0.8900

10.96 15 88 12.88

2.4 3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6

T op g ainerS VALUE 2,004,355,362.786 2,128,380,122.425 1,610,897,249.32 1,066,010,645.93 2,380,505,521.97 354,161,566.148 10,571,927,869.581

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,803.22 (up) 11.69 INDUSTRIAL 12,179.64 (up) 26.7 HOLDING FIRMS 6,979.72 (up) 0.56 PROPERTY 3,194.64 (up) 5.69 SERVICES 2,154.9 (up) 2.6 MINING & OIL 15,376.34 (up) 8.77 PSEI 7,831.44 (up) 23.09 All Shares Index 4,522.5 (up) 12.69 Gainers: 79; Losers: 106; Unchanged: 48; Total: 233

-3.19

570,000

0.60 -1.10 -5.71 0.42

1,988,400 20,200 2,050 676,800

0.24

5,800

3,249,885.00 -131,291,420.00

-29,821,017.00 -14,950.00

-4,140.00 -83,909,420.00 -24,750.00 105,300.00 -26,262,652.50 213,512,740.00

45,543,135.00

3,433,687.00

14,771,733.00

50,700.00 3,530,626.00 45,521,940.00 -6,700.00 20,534,820.00 -14,942,410.00 -20,377,081.50 17,027,668.00 -388,011.00

11,596,786.00

-233,980.00 3,444,881.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

BC Pref A

39.35

49.90

Keppel Holdings `B'

5.45

-21.01

Manila Broadcasting

80.00

45.45

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

25.05

-15.08

SMC Preferred C

96.95

15.35

Imperial Res. `A'

6.02

-14.00

F&J Prince 'A'

3.6

12.50

Bloomberry

10.60

-12.97

Roxas Holdings

6.7

9.84

Crown Asia

2

-11.11

Globe Telecom

2504

7.56

Prime Orion

1.040

-11.11

Keppel Holdings `A'

6.43

7.17

Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

3.90

-9.09

Manila Mining `A'

0.0150

7.14

Euro-Med Lab

1.75

-7.89

Philweb.Com Inc.

16.94

6.68

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.012

-7.69

Roxas and Co.

1.92

6.08

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0130

-7.14

FRIDAY: MAY 15, 2015

B3

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

Century drops suit vs. Okada The Grail IT CERTAINLY seems like a reasonable goal, being happy. It is especially MAYA BALTAZAR alluring because science HERRERA teaches us that, to a great extent, happiness is a choice.

Understanding happiness Davidson identifies four key elements of happiness: generosity, resilience, attention and goodness. Davidson’s four elements bear a striking similarity to the topics WHR covered in the 2015 report.

WHR 2015 focuses on four constituents of well-being: sustained positive emotion; recovery from negative emotion; pro-social behavior and generosity; and mind-wandering, mindfulness and affective stickiness or emotion-captured attention.

WHR 2015 explains that the ability to recover quickly from adversity is a critical component of wellbeing. The third component WHR studies relates directly to the quality of social bonds, which has a Happiness positive effect on well-being. Not surprisingly, WHR is a choice.

2015 reports that it is indeed possible to train the brain in order to improve such things as positive emotion, resilience and compassion.

These first three constituents are unsurprising to students of human behavior. It is the last constellation of factors that has been less discussed. WHR explains that individuals are less happy when their minds are wandering, that is, when they are not focused on a task. “Affective stickiness” is about the tendency to be stuck in an unpleasant situation, or to revert to old habits, even when they are intellectually recognized as unimportant. Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention and research shows that mindfulness training can both decrease “mind-wandering” and “stickiness.”

But we’re happy!

There are certainly many practical components of well-being. Certainly, many of these objective components involve factors partly even substantially out of our control. The WHR report focuses on life evaluation, an evaluation of an individual’s current life situation versus what the individual believes is a theoretical best life Two caveats need to be understood in analyzing this type of life evaluation.

First, the theoretical best life would be different from individual to individual.

The reason for this is that different people value different things. There will, clearly, be factors that will apply to most individuals. A certain level of physiological wellness and convenience would be common. This explains why such things as life expectancy and per capita GDP correlate closely with metrics of life evaluation. Also, while there are a few human beings who seem to thrive divorced from social interaction, man is hardwired to be a social being. It is then unsurprising that many studies show that supportive social structures are correlated with increased positive emotions and increased life evaluations.

The second caveat is that many countries actually score well in terms of reported emotion in spite of relatively low objectively measured levels of well-being. The reverse is also true. One of my best friends, for example, is Singaporean and we always laugh about the fact that Singaporeans consistently self-report as being relatively unhappy in spite of the fact that Singapore scores high on virtually every other measurable metric of well-being – economics, health, and infrastructure. By contrast, the Philippines, self-reports as happy in spite of fairly low scores on many objective metrics. The answer, of course, could be that Filipinos simply don’t have very high expectations. It could also be that Filipinos value the social support mechanisms highest of all and that is a metric the country scores very highly in.

Yes and no Part of the answer can be found in what neuroscience tells us. What international media have discovered about Filipinos is that we are incredibly resilient. When disaster strikes, Filipinos are remarkably cheerful and resilient.

Filipinos tend to get up and move on.

This is both good and bad. Certainly, the constant cheerfulness and the ability, nay the predisposition, to focus on the good and forget the unpleasant allows us to deal and survive even in the most difficult of situations. This resilience and resourcefulness stand us in good stead during difficult times. However, the predisposition to avoid dwelling on the unpleasant can often mean we gloss over problems.

The reality is that it takes staying power to create radical change. It takes powerful voices to inspire politicians to truly pursue change. Ironically, this ability to change things is something this country once showed the world it had the determination for. In the years before the Edsa revolution, a growing base of Filipinos nurtured their outrage and their beliefs and changed the leadership of the nation.

The real question is whether we are able to sustain a coordinated outrage against what seem to be smaller inconveniences – the lack of urban planning, the mismanaged transportation infrastructure, the telecommunication network that has been growing worse instead of better, a justice system riddled with holes.

When we look at the annals of the individuals who changed the world, little is written about their cheerfulness. Instead, individuals who change the world pair resilience with passion. In many cases, they pair resilience with a passionate intolerance, an inability to accept the world as it is, a zeal to remake the world.

For leaders in every walk of life, the lessons that need to be learned involve not only which things bring pleasure, they involve learning what goals are truly important. The WHR report touches on this. Mind-wandering is unpleasant. It is engagement that increases positive feelings. Pursuing momentary cheer is not a bad thing. But it is the great passions that will result in intense engagement.

In my elective on positive psychology and leadership, I explain that the real goal is to find that intersection between pleasure, meaning and abilities and to engage in that intersection. A personal mission, a personal passion, one that aligns with the work you do: that is the grail.

Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com.

IntegratIons

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CENTURY Properties Group

Inc., the listed property company of Ambassador Antonio E.B. Antonio, said Thursday it is withdrawing its complaint against the group of Japanese tycoon Kazuo Okada, after more than a year of disagreement over an aborted casino joint venture.

The disagreement between the two parties was settled amicably after a top level meeting involving Antonio, who is chairman of CPG, and Okada.

“We recognize that the disagreement between our companies was a result of a misunderstanding of the issues, which were clarified in our meeting with Mr. Okada,” CPG said in a statement.

“We are now taking the appropriate legal steps to withdraw the case, as we focus our attention to more constructive matters. We wish the Okada group continued success in its projects,” it added.

CPG said the reconciliation between two parties was reached without conditions.

Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment president Kenji Sugiyama welcomed CPG’s decision to withdraw the case against the Okada Group.

“The Okada Group thanks Century Properties for the opportunity to clarify and put the issues to rest. We take this opportunity as a big step towards moving forward with the development of the project, which we deem will be Asia’s best integrated resort that Filipinos will be proud of,” Sugiyama said.

Tiger Resort is a unit of Okada-owned Universal Entertainment Corp., which is pursuing the development of the 44-hectare Manila Bay Resorts.

Scheduled to open in 2016 at the Pagcor Entertainment City, the $2-billion Manila Bay Resorts is envisioned to become a world-class casino resort complex that will boast of luxurious hotels, classy restaurants, commercial facilities, hotels, residences, Vegas-style water fountains and an enormous indoor pool with real sand beach covered by a huge glass dome.

The complex will contain three hotels with a total of 2,000 rooms and 30,000 square meters of space offering 3,000 slot machines and 500 gaming tables.

The CPG’s decision to settle the issues with Okada came less than a month, after the property firm reported it filed notice of arbitration with the Hong Hong Kong International Arbitration Center against the Okada Group.

CPG investor relations head Kristine Garcia in an interview said company’s move to drop the case against the Okada Group would enable it to focus on planned developments, including tourism-oriented projects.

Insurance deal. Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company (Philam Life) signed an agreement with the National Confederation of Cooperatives Mutual Benefit Association to insure the borrower-members of the cooperative. NATCCO MBAI is the biggest federation of co-ops in the Philippines in terms of geographical reach, membership, financial capacity and array of services, reaching around 2.17 million individual members coming from over 600 rural and urban-based cooperatives. Sealing the agreement are (from left) NATCCO MBAI president Luis Carillo, NATCCO MBAI chairman Rustico Galang, Philam Life Corporate Solutions’ sales head Erwin Go and Philam Life senior agency manager Isagani Antonio.

Stock market extends rally STOCKS extended their gains Thursday after favorable firstquarter corporate earnings.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 23.09 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,831.44 on a value turnover of P7.3 billion. Losers beat gainers, 110 to 69, with 49 issues unchanged.

Asian markets mostly retreated Thursday following another set of below-forecast US data, with Tokyo taking the biggest hit as the yen advanced against the dollar.

However, the euro added to recent gains after data showing the eurozone economy picking up trumped worries about Greece’s ongoing debt

reform talks.

Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications firm, surged 7 percent to P2,492 after reporting a hefty net profit in the first quarter of 2015. Globe said Wednesday profit jumped 43 percent to P4.2 billion in the three-month period from P2.95 billion a year ago, on higher service revenues.

Globe, a unit of Ayala Corp., said core profit, which excludes foreign exchange and mark-tomarket gains and losses as well as other non-recurring items, also grew 25 percent to P4.18 billion in the January-March period from P3.36 billion in the same period last year.

Parent Ayala rose 1.8 percent to P815, while Semirara Mining and Power Corp. climbed 1.4 percent to P158.20.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp. slumped 12.6 percent to P10.64.

The company posted a net loss of P533 million in the first quarter of 2015, a reversal from a P1.46billion income year-on-year.

Tokyo, meanwhile, sank 1 percent, or 194.48 points, to 19,570.24 while Sydney eased 0.33 percent, or 18.6 points, to 5,696.5, although Seoul added 0.29 percent, or 6.17 points, to 2,120.33.

In afternoon trade Shanghai was 0.36 percent lower and Hong Kong was flat.

With AFP

FRIDAY: MAY 15, 2015

B4

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

Butt hurt over Mad Max

THE latest installment in the Mad Max franchise of Oscar-winning director George Miller is causing the testosterones of men’s rights activists to go apocalyptic, labeling the high-octane movie as “feminist propaganda.” That’s because Mad Max: Fury Road has actress Charlize Therone playing badass road warrior Imperator Furiosa, bent on a mission to rescue the five wives/slaves of bad, brutal Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), ruler of the Citadel. Furiosa, her hair shorn, takes the driver’s seat in the War Rig, barks orders at Max and packs a mean-looking gun.

Fueling the rage of these male activists is the hiring of Eve Ensler—she of the Vagina Monologues—as consultant in the film.

These butt hurt sexists can’t reconcile the idea of females getting thick into the action that requires grit and physical strength, not afraid to go downright nasty and dirty to get the job done.

One of the more vocal wrote off the movie as a “Trojan Horse that feminists and Hollywood leftists will use to (vainly) insist on the trope women are equal to men in all things, including physique, strength, and logic. And this is the subterfuge they will use to blur the lines between masculinity and femininity, further ruining women for men, and men for women.”

Hold it right there—women are expected not to have the same sense logic as men? Clearly a misogynist perspective from someone who many suspect has not even watched the movie that has received rave reviews, getting a 99 from Rotten Tomatoes. The post-apocalyptic images evoked by the raging inferno following explosions, road warriors and rebels and renegades on bikes are definitely adrenaline pumping—but the sexists don’t like it when they see women doing high-octane action in movies.

More sober guys are calling the male rights activists (should we call them male-ists or malers?) half-wits for asking men to boycott the movie which elevates the Mad Max series to new heights with actor Tom Hardy (sorry, Mel). And in case you didn’t know, Theron is in reality a warrior who has been fighting against pay inequality based on gender. She actually demanded that she be paid the same amount (in the vicinity of $10 million) as Chris Hemsworth (Thor) for the Snow White and the Hunstman prequel where she reprises her role as the evil Queen Ravenna. She got her demand pronto, no questions asked.

The message is that we just need to put our foot down, the actress shared. “This is a good time for us to bring this place to a place of fairness, and girls need to know that being a feminist is a good thing. It doesn’t mean that you hate men. It means equal rights. If you’re doing the same job, you should be compensated and treated in the same way.” Well said, girl! *** Calling Globe’s attention! While we are happy that you have snatched a wonderful deal with Disney to supply animation and happily-ever-after addicts with video-on-demand content – movies, videos, TV series—across multiple devices, please tell annoying telemarketers calling on your behalf to stop bothering Globe subscribers with postpaid subscription offers.

As one royally pissed buddy told one of these callers who always greet you with “Good morning/afternoon/day from the Wonderful World of Globe”—they should call non-globe numbers and offer the plans and whatevers to them—not to people who are already Globe subscribers. Surely they can tell from the number which telco is the provider—or can’t they?

Just the same, Globe is making a lot of people happy because they can now tune it to Disney Junior, Disney Channel and Disney XD on demand—anytime, anywhere. Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia managing director Rob Gilby hit it when he said that the unique collaboration will enable Disney fans in the Philippines to “take their favorite stories and beloved characters everywhere they go across their choice of devices.”

Now if I can only find out who dared to take my Donald Duck body pillow… *** For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo. com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/happyhourmanilastandard. We’d be very happy to hear from you. Cheers!

52nd SM mall. SM Prime Holdings Inc., one of the leading integrated property companies in Southeast Asia, opens SM City San Mateo in Rizal province. It is SM Prime’s 52nd mall, and fourth mall in Rizal, along with SM City Taytay, SM City Masinag and SM City Angono. The new mall provides an additional 80,043 square meters in gross floor area, giving SM Prime a total retail space of 6,612,813 sqm, the largest footprint in the country.

San Miguel earned P6b in first quarter

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said

Thursday first-quarter net income stood flat at P6 billion, as the P3-billion loss incurred by oil unit Petron Corp. tempered the strong performance of beer, packaging and food manufacturing subsidiaries.

San Miguel said in a presentation material posted on its Web site first-quarter net sales declined 18 percent to P159.2 billion from P194.9 billion posted in the same period a year ago.

Income from operations, however, grew 4 percent to P22.4 billion.

“Both its core businesses and power unit delivered solid results underlining the value of the company’s diversified and balanced portfolio that enabled it to cushion the impact of Petron’s weak performance,” San Miguel said.

Petron earlier reported an 88-percent drop in first quarter net income to P257 million from P2.22 billion a year ago, as net sales declined 31 percent to P86.7 billion.

The sharp decline in Petron’s income was largely due to the sharp drop in fuel prices and inventory losses.

San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. also reported a 1 percent decline in net sales to P19.75 billion, as off take volume went down by 7 percent.

SMC Global Power’s operating income improved by 3 percent to P6.8 billion despite lower bilateral volumes from the Ilijan plant as a result of the scheduled shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas facilities.

The conglomerate’s beer business under San Miguel Brewery Inc. registered a 20-percent growth in net income in the first quarter to P3.2 billion while net sales increased 8 percent to P18.8 billion.

Liquor firm Ginebra San Miguel Inc. also reported a 2-percent increase in net sales to

P3.66 billion, despite a 3-percent drop in volume. Income from operations jumped 115 percent to P94 million.

San Miguel Pure Foods Co. Inc. reported a 7-percent uptick in the first-quarter net income

to P911 million as net revenues climbed 4 percent to P25.1 billion.

The group’s packaging unit San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Group reported a 4-percent hike in net sales to P5.8 billion while income from operations grew 9 percent to P479 million.

Meanwhile, San Miguel realized higher contributions from San Miguel Infrastructure Holdings Corp. with the consolidation of South Luzon Expressway and Skyway starting March 2015.

Collectively, San Miguel Infrastructure delivered P2.9 billion in total revenues.

In BrIef

BSP keeps key interest rates

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday maintained the key policy rates unchanged for the fifth time since October last year, amid the manageable inflation environment.

It retained the rates at 4 percent for overnight borrowing and 6 percent for overnight lending. The reserve requirement ratios were also left stead.

“The Monetary Board’s decision is based on its assessment that current monetary policy settings remain appropriate given a manageable inflation environment,” Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said.

He said latest baseline forecasts continued to indicate that inflation would likely settle within the lower half of the target range of 2 to 4 percent for 2015 and 2016.

Inflation was at 2.2 percent in April and 2.3 percent in the first four months.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said inflation forecasts for 2015 and 2016 were slightly increased due to the threat of the El Nino dry spell. The inflation forecast for 2015 was changed to 2.3 percent from the 2.2 percent. Julito G. Rada

Semirara’s profit rises 24% SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. said Thursday net income after tax climbed 24 percent in the first quarter to P2.51 billion from P2.02 billion in the same period last year.

Semirara Mining said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that net of eliminations, coal and power contributed P657.01 million and P1.86 billion, respectively. “Both coal and Sem-Calaca Power Corp. were operating smoothly in the current period,” the company said.

Coal production recorded a one-percent decrease year-on-year to 2.33 million metric tons from 2.35 million MT a year ago.

Power generation arm Sem-Calaca Power’s power sales more than doubled to 1,014 gigawatt-hours from 489 GWh last year. “This resulted from higher availability at 84 percent from 48 percent, and average capacity improvement by 14 percent or 560MW compared to same period last year,” it said.

Semirara Mining said the volume of energy sold increased 131 percent to 982 GWh from 425 GWh in same period last year. Alena Mae S. Flores

Global Estate nets P139m PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. said unit Global Estate Resorts Inc., the country’s biggest developer of integrated tourism estates, posted a net income of P139 million in the first quarter, up 35 percent from P103-million recorded a year ago.

Consolidated revenues in the first three months increased 38 percent to P885 million from P640 million in the same period in 2014, as residential sales and hotel and service income rose from a year ago.

“It has been an impressive start of the year for Geri. We started 2015 with a robust sales performance across our projects. We are confident that Geri can sustain this strong momentum for the rest of the year,” said Geri chief finance officer Lailani Villanueva.

Real estate sales rose 35 percent year-on-year to P554-million in the first quarter, on strong residential sales in various estate projects including Boracay Newcoast in Aklan, Sta. Barbara Heights in Iloilo, Twin Lakes in Tagaytay, Southwoods City in Cavite-Laguna and Alabang West in Las Pinas City.

“The strong marketing efforts for our various projects across the country have certainly gained ground as far as revenues are concerned. With our vast land bank, we have more opportunities to tap to even further expand our developments,” said Geri president Monica Salomon.

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F R I D AY : M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

Hanging on under the skyscrapers

HONG KONG—Cheap, fast and frills-free, Hong Kong’s street restaurants have served up wellloved favorites from beef brisket to toast with condensed milk from roaring curbside burners for decades.

But the cheerful grassroots stalls—known as dai pai dongs in Cantonese—have dwindled to fewer than 30 in the city of seven million people, where they thrived after the Second World War before red-tape hurdles set in.

Offering the rare chance to eat outdoors, escaping the Asian financial hub’s air-conditioned high-rises, the eateries are a nostalgic throwback to Hong Kong’s past.

With no walls, cooks in the open, customers on plastic stools, melamine plates and bunches of chopsticks in tabletop jars, its a no-fuss formula that still draws customers day and night.

“I feel more comfortable sitting here in a dai pai dong. There is no restriction, I can talk about childhood or I can smoke here,” said Lau Yatkeung, 61, at a buzzing tarpaulin-covered stall in the working-class suburb of Sham Shui Po. “There is no reason to go to those fast-food chain restaurants. Young people there think you are out of date,” he added over a table of beers.

A few remaining strongholds still serve up homely Cantonese favorites: steaming bowls of noodle soups, strong milk tea, and french toast sandwiched with peanut butter.

It’s simple fare that’s easy on the pocket: diners can fill up on a plate of tripe or roast goose with rice for around $5 (4.40 euros), noodles with luncheon meat and egg for just over $3, or toast from only $1.

But their hey-day is long gone.

Following a post-war spike as mainland China arrivals drove up the British colony’s population, concerns over obstructions, nuisance and hygiene grew.

The former government stopped issuing new licenses decades ago and heavily restricted permit transfers. Owners were also paid to voluntarily give up their licenses.

Today, just 24 dai pai dongs remain, a decline that authorities attribute to “natural attrition.”

Facing calls for more to be done to preserve the stalls, the government targeted those in the skyscraper-encircled Central district five years ago to improve hygiene.

Services were beefed up with the laying of gas and new water pipes, electric cabling, waste water discharge pits and the road was resurfaced. Owners in turn revamped stalls that swell at lunchtime as dishes roll out of pint-sized cooking areas.

Restrictions on license transfers, once to spouses only, were also relaxed.

But uncertainty remains elsewhere.

“The future of dai pai dong is not optimistic” said Tsang Yau-lin in Sham Shui Po, whose blackand-white family photographs show the long history of the business first started by her father in the 1950s across the harbor.

“In the future two or three years, buildings around here will be destructed and dai pai dong will hold up the interest of some groups. So I think the dai pai dong will be relocated by the government to avoid obstructing construction.”

Home to thousands of restaurants from fancy to bare-boned, Hong Kong has 64 Michelin guide listings and some of the world’s best-known chefs have opened shop.

But at the tarmac stalls, folding tables and overhead fluorescent strips or bare bulbs are part of the ambiance, where fresh razor clams may be sat in a bucket on the floor before cooking as someone lights up at the next table.

Harry and Elders. Britain’s Prince Harry is escorted by Maori Elders as part of a Powhiri (welcome) during a visit to the Putiki Marae in Whanganui on May 14. Prince Harry arrived in New Zealand on May 9 for a week-long visit. AFP

Kenyan town savors saintly sex surge NAIROBI—Hundreds of prostitutes have flocked to a Kenyan town ahead of the beatification ceremony of an Italian nun, a key step towards sainthood, a report said Thursday.

“Who doesn’t need body gratification?

By the way, even Christians need sex,” one woman told The Star newspaper, in the central Kenyan town of Nyeri.

“It’s our turn to eat,” she said, using a popular Kenyan idiom meaning to make money. “We are waiting for those international visitors.”

Tens of thousands are expected to attend the Roman Catholic beatification ceremony on May 23 in Nyeri, a town some 150 kilometers north of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Irene Stefani, who died in Kenya of the plague in 1930, was an Italian member of the Consolata Missionary Sisters, helped the wounded in Kenya and Tanzania during World War I. A trained nurse, she was much loved by the people of the Nyeri district.

The newspaper said it had carried

out a “spot check” and found that “hotels are almost fully booked by the women.”

“The sex workers have already booked hotels for two weeks in advance,” The Star reported, saying the women had flocked from across the country to attend pre-beatification evening events.

Senior local government official John Marete admitted the town was full of “new faces,” while a Catholic priest in the town urged people “not to be diverted by earthly things.” AFP

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WORLD

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Japan ready for battle TOKYO—Japan’s cabinet was expected Thursday to approve a set of bills bolstering the role and scope of the military, as the pacifist country redefines its position in the increasingly roiled Asia-Pacific region.

The bills are a pet project of nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who says Japan can no longer shy away from its responsibility to help safeguard regional stability, and must step out from under the shade of the security umbrella provided by the United States.

The draft legislation, which will go before lawmakers in the coming months, formalizes a decision made by the cabinet last year to broaden the remit of Japan’s well-equipped and welltrained armed forces.

It would allow them to go into battle to protect allies—the so-called “collective defense”—

something now banned by Japan’s pacifist constitution.

“Protecting the peace and lives of its people is a country’s most important responsibility,” chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

“The security situation surrounding our country is extremely tense. So as to ensure peace and stability, we need to strengthen the Japan-US alliance and to enhance trust and cooperation among partners in the region.

“It is important to be ready for any eventuality.

The purpose of the bills is to strengthen the deterrent and prevent conflict from happening.”

Washington—which imposed the never-altered constitution on a defeated Japan during its post-World War II occupation—has long called for Tokyo to take on a more active role in their mutual security pact.

But the Japanese public is suspicious of anything that seems to lessen the commitment to pacifism, and insists its armed forces should only ever be used in a narrowly-defined defense of Japan.

Critics of the security moves say eroding this principle could see Tokyo dragged into American military adventures in the Middle East, a claim advocates reject.

Hundreds of people rallied in front of Abe’s office Thursday, holding banners condemning the legal changes.

“I don’t believe that enabling the Self-Defense Forces (military) to deploy abroad will lead to peace,” Takuma Anzai, 19, told Jiji Press.

“The bills will eventually serve as a green light to join an American war. It is clearly a violation of the constitution,” said 66-year-old Akemi Kitajima.

Abe also faces Chinese charges that he is remilitarizing Japan by stealth in a bid to return to its warring ways of the 20th century. The prime minister and his supporters deny this.

The legislation, which would overhaul 10 security related laws and create a new one, would pave the way for the military to deploy abroad on non-combat assignments such as disaster relief and UN peacekeeping missions. AFP

US, Cuba relations close to normal HAVANA—The United States and Cuba will hold another meeting in the coming weeks in Washington on reopening embassies, the latest step in their historic rapprochement, Havana’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Wednesday.

“In the coming weeks, there will be a new round of negotiations in Washington on reestablishing diplomatic relations and opening embassies,” he told AFP in an exclusive interview.

The exact date has not yet been set, he said.

The two sides have held several rounds of talks since the landmark announcement by US President Barack Obama and Cuba’s Raul Castro on December 17 that the former Cold War foes would restore full diplomatic ties severed in 1961.

The negotiations are being led by US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson and Cuba’s top diplomat for US affairs, Josefina Vidal.

In Washington, a State Department official said “we expect to meet next week,” adding no date has yet been set.

Rodriguez said the talks had made “considerable” progress on the issue of allowing the Cuban diplomatic mission in Washington to open a bank account, which it has not been able to do because of the trade and financial embargo the US has imposed on the communist island since 1962. AFP

Tour. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is given a tour of the Terracotta Army sculptures, a World Heritage Site, in the city of Xian in northwest China’s Shaanxi province on May 14. Modi began a three-day trip to China on May 14 by inspecting the Terracotta Warriors as a festering border dispute colors the relations between the Asian giants. AFP

Gay and ready to fight for HK stay HONG KONG—A gay British woman on Thursday launched a challenge against the Hong Kong government’s refusal to grant her a visa to live in the territory with her partner, calling the decision “discriminatory.”

Campaigners say the case is a landmark for the socially conservative southern Chinese city, which does not recognize gay marriage and only decriminalized homosexuality in 1991.

QT, as she is referred to in court, entered into a civil partnership in Britain in 2011 and moved to Hong Kong the same year after her partner was offered a job in the city.

However, after being denied a dependent visa, she is currently on a tourist visa and is not permitted to work.

“All I want is equal treatment,” she told AFP. “If our [heterosexual] friends can easily get a dependent visa, then why can’t we? I don’t want to be treated as a secondclass citizen.”

The former British colony does not explicitly rule out gay couples, but its immigration law states that only the “spouse” of a person permitted to work in the territory may apply for a dependent visa.

Heterosexual couples who are not married are not eligible for the visa either.

QT and her partner are not legally married, although gay marriage was legalized in England and Wales in 2013. AFP

Depp’s dogs facing death

Pose. Mexican actress Salma Hayek poses during a photocall for the film “Il racconto dei racconti” (Tale of Tales) during the 68th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southeastern France, on May 14. AFP

SYDNEY—Johnny Depp’s pet dogs Pistol and Boo have been ordered by Australia to “bugger off ” back to Hollywood or face being put down after he flew the terriers into the country illegally—as thousands signed a petition to save them.

The actor, who is in Australia to film “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” was given the grim warning by Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce on Thursday.

“Just because he’s Johnny Depp does not mean he’s exempt from Australian law,” Joyce told reporters as the hashtag #WarOnTerrier quickly became the top-trending topic on Twitter Down Under.

Australia has strict rules to keep disease at bay, requiring cats and dogs from the US to spend at least 10 days in quarantine.

But Depp appears to have ignored the rules, arriving in Brisbane last

month with the Yorkshire terriers in tow without declaring them to customs. The Hollywood star flew them in on his private jet.

“There is a process if you want to bring animals. You get the permits, they go into quarantine and then you can have them,” said Joyce, with customs authorities expected to seize the dogs imminently.

He said he became aware that Depp had the dogs with him after they were spotted being taken to a groomer.

“It’s time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States,” added the minister.

“He can send them back or we will have to euthanize them.”

Asked if his tough stance may affect Depp’s view of him, Joyce replied: “I don’t think Mr. Depp will be inviting me to the grand opening of the Pirates of the Caribbean.” AFP

F R I D AY : M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

MOTORING

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

FAST FASTLANE

Super luxury car

RR USHERS IN A NEW DAWN

Performance Intake from KDM As a performance oriented company, KDM feels that a high quality performance intake system is one of the best horsepower investments you can do to your vehicle. Based on KDM’s experience at the track, KDM’s air intake systems completely replace the factory air intake assembly with an aerodynamically engineered tube, where applicable, and an oversized conical air filter. It usually takes 90 minutes to install and most of KDM’s air intake technology is designed to deliver huge increases in power and acceleration that you will feel on your next drive.

KDM’s Air Intake Kits are built for many different vehicles and represent a dramatic improvement in acceleration and power by replacement filter alone; utilizes only aluminum molded tubes that can reduce air temperature and enhance the intake sound. The weakest link in the airflow “chain” robs a vehicle of its natural horsepower. Often that weak point is the factory air path leading to the Engine. K&N Air Intake Kits virtually eliminate air path restriction by replacing the air filter and the entire air path to the engine. The aerodynamically engineered tube drives a massive amount of air into an engine, which translates into POWER. For details on how to improve the perfor-

The 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn, one of the rarest cars in the world and an inspiration for the new RR Dawn.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the name of its forthcoming new car, a drophead that will be known as Rolls-Royce Dawn.

The car was unveiled to representatives of the marque’s 130-strong global dealer network at the 2015 Rolls-Royce World Dealer Conference in Los Angeles, California today.

“Our new Rolls-Royce Dawn promises a striking, seductive encounter like no other Rolls-Royce to date,” said Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Chief Executive Officer. “Dawn is a beautiful new open-top motor car with a

name that suggests the fresh opportunities that every new day holds – an awakening, an opening up of one’s senses and a burst of sunshine. It will be the most social of super-luxury motor cars for those beautiful people who wish to bathe in the sunlight of the world’s social hotspots.”

Rolls-Royce Dawn is the next step in the renaissance of RollsRoyce Motor Cars which began in 2003 with the launch of Phantom and subsequent introductions of Ghost and Wraith. It justifies the continuing investment of the BMW Group into the world’s pinnacle super-lux-

ury brand.

The new Rolls-Royce Dawn will revive another famous and rare Rolls-Royce name first used in 1949, but only ever applied to 28 very special drophead bodies between 1950 and 1954.

A new beginning for RollsRoyce at the time, the original Silver Dawn was the first Rolls-Royce to be offered with a factory-built body.

The drophead Rolls-Royces that carried the name Dawn continued to be coach-built for individual customers, ensuring their uniqueness and rarity.

‘Dawn’ perfectly expresses

the character of the new Rolls-Royce. In its tentative, inchoate, anticipatory state, dawn is the world coming to light from the ethereal dark of the night. The earlyday chill of dawn provides an erotic tingle on the skin, awakening the senses and passions as the day begins.

Like Eleanor Thornton, thought by many to be the inspiration behind the Spirit of Ecstasy, the Rolls-Royce Dawn will also prove itself to be the muse that leads its owner to believe that at the start of the day, anything is possible.

MMPC stages Mitsubishi Mirage Metro Challenge

PUTTING the Mitsubishi Mirage, Mirage G4, and their class-leading features to the test yet again, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation conducts the first-ever Mitsubishi Mirage Metro Challenge.

Celebrity team leaders with two other college student teammates form

six teams of three to go against each other in the hopes of winning and being dubbed as the first Mitsubishi Mirage Metro Challenge Champions. Celebrity team leaders include the beautiful actress, Ellen Adarna; rock legend, Rico Blanco; actor and singer, Markki Stroem; volley-

ball superstar, Gretchen Ho; internet action star, Ramon Bautista; and the lovely Cheats lead singer, Saab Magalona.

Highlighting the fun, practicality, and functionality of the brand, the Mitsubishi Mirage Metro Challenge brings about various challenges that require skill, intelligence, automotive capabilities, and use of the stand out features of the Mitsubishi Mirage and Mirage G4.

Follow the teams and witness them go through the challenges! The challenge begins on May 9 at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, continues on May 16 at the Bonifacio Global City, and ends

on May 30 at SM Mall of Asia. Points earned from each challenge and online votes will be accumulated to determine each team’s points.

The champion team takes home P100,000 each with the celebrity’s winnings donated to his/her charity of choice.

2nd place non-celebrity teammates receive P50,000 each, while the 3rd place non-celebrity teammates receive P30,000 each. The rest of the non-celebrity team members will receive a consolation prize of P10,000 each.

The challenges have been set and the teams are behind the wheel.

mance levels of your Korean, Japanese, European and American car or SUV, visit the I Love KDM shop at the Valley Fair Town Center, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Taytay, Rizal or log on to their Facebook page at I Love KDM Ph.

Mirage Metro Challenge Schedule: Date

Venue

Time

Week 1

May 9

QC Memorial Circle

2 P.M. – 6 P.M.

Week 2

May 16

Bonifacio Global City

2 P.M. – 6 P.M.

Week 3

May 30

SM Mall of Asia

2 P.M. – 6 P.M.

Family man wins new Honda Mobilio

Honda Cars Philippines concluded its Honda Mobilio 7 Smiles raffle promo and awarded a new Honda Mobilio to 32-year old Jose Antonio Goncero Jr. from Fairview, Quezon City whose name was picked out from 30,000 raffle entries from April 18 to May 2, 2015. From left: Vernadeth Hiyao, HCPI Market Planning and Research Department Head, Toshio Kuwahara, HCPI President and GM with the Goncero Family during the awarding of the Mobilio.

F R I D AY : M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

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RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MOTORING

MiLi gadgets for people on the go MiLi officials display their wide array of products (from left) Edbert Tiu of MiLi Philippines and Harry Zhu, CEO of Shenzhen Hali Power Industrial Company of China.

Text and photos

by Dino Ray V. Directo III

FIRST DRIVE: PEUGEOT 208 GTI

SOME LIkE IT

HOT

Photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

As a company known in the domestic market for its boxy and soccer-mom automobiles like the 3008 and the 5008, Peugeot has thrown a monkey wrench into the mix and introduced its hot hatchback-- the 208 GTi. Successor to the iconic 205 GTi, the 208 GTi, Peugeot says, has matured in terms of overall packaging for a much broader appeal. They are not just targeting the urban young professionals, but the older and more discriminating set.

The 208 GTi boasts a huge improvement in terms of power. With a turbo-fed 1600 cc 200bhp engine lurking underneath that curved hoodline, it is Peugeot’s most powerful hatchback yet, in fact more zippy than the 1600cc RCZ by a mile. The RCZ has the looks, but the GTi has the grunt to outpace the slew of hatchbacks out in the local market today. Unless of course Ford decides to bring in the Fiesta RS or Honda unleashes the Civic Type R, only then will Peugeot has a real fight in its hands.

This 2015 version GTi is lighter than the old 207 GTi, and has a more forgiving ride due to a softer suspension set up. This means the 208 GTi has a surprisingly comfortable ride, with the suspension

MiLi, a power solution company based in Shenzen, China, whose main core of business are stylish and compact power banks, introduced their latest product, the iData. The iData is a external storage device that allows you to store all of your music, movies and other important files on a convenient, swappable drive. Movies and pictures can be moved with ease between all your Apple devices and contacts can be backed up for safe access even when offline. This device was developed by MiLi in cooperation with Apple. MiLi is one of the few companies authorized by Apple to develop products that are compatible with their wide range of consumer communication products.

“We developed the iData to improve and expand the data storage of Apple iPhones. It can be a lifesaver in the sense that it provides you with an instant storage capability when you need it. Just plug the iData into your iPhone or Android phone, and you can free-up space, transfer data in a matter of seconds. It makes our digital lifestyle more convenient,” explains Harry Zhu, CEO of Shenzhen Hali Power Industrial Company, manufacturers of the MiLi brand. absorbing all the imperfections of the road.

Step back a bit to admire the exterior of this French hot hatch and you’ll notice the sharpened exterior, a subtle body kit, red brake calipers, chequered flag motif grille and a scattering of GTi logos. The sporty 208 doesn’t stand out from the crowd like the sexy RCZ, but it is attractive enough to warrant a second glance.

The GTi’s cabin is comfortable and pleasant, with leather seats, racing steering wheel and a high quality trim to round-off the sporty feel of the hatchback. Admittedly, the layout of the dashboard isn’t the best – some of the dials are difficult to read – but the 208 GTi is serene enough for an out of town journey with the family.

Overall, the 208 GTi is quick, fun to drive and extremely comfortable. I particularly like its useable nature and the fact it doubles up nicely as a family car. However, it does fall short of its chief rival at the moment, the Volkswagen Golf GTi. We found the soft set to be great for daily driving, but the lack of feel in the ride works against the GTi when it’s pushed hard. The problem is compounded by overweight power steering, which makes the car feel vauge and numb, making it difficult to judge how much grip the car has mid-corner. If you’re put looking for a hot hatch that doubles as a weekend warrior at the track but comfortable enough for the wife and kid, then the 208 GTi is the car for you.

F R I D AY : M AY 1 5 : 2 0 1 5

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

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FRIDAY : M AY 15 : 2015

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

FASHION

SMOLDERING SEAN Sean O’Pry walks the runway for Penshoppe

T

hree runways and a global fashion star set the stage to the unveiling of fashion powerhouse Penshoppe’s newest collections in its recent Denimlab Fashion Show at the SMX Convention Center Manila.

Top male model and new Penshoppe brand ambassador Sean O’Pry opened the style spectacle which saw the launch of Penshoppe’s Summer, Utilitarian, and Denim Collections which are all set to fire up the streets of Manila with sartorial goodness this season.

O’Pry opened the show in a striped sweater with green sleeves paired with distressed knee-length denim shorts.

The crowd screamed in delight as the Blank Space music video star walked the runways with cool and calm con-

fidence, made even more attractive by Penshoppe’s latest summer styles.

The Summer Collection featured playful pieces rendered in show-stopping brights and eye-popping designs. Tees, tanks, joggers and skirts in sorbet colors ruled the style scene for the ladies and were amplified with items in witty statements and quirky graphic prints. Fresh denim pieces from polos, vests, shorts, and distressed boyfriend jeans added some edge to the candy color-infused parade.

O’Pry closed the fashion show in an ensemble composed of a chill sweater, shirt, and biker jeans as models paraded the best of Penshoppe’s denim styles to fashion fans.

For more information, visit www. penshoppe.com The final run-through

Sean O’Pry owns the runway

The tough-chic Utilitarian Collection

The playful Summer Collection

Other fashion-forward takes on denim were also featured such as distressed and stonewashed styles. The segment also showed how Penshoppe’s signature denims come in a myriad of cuts and washes.

CALLING ALL BRIDES & DEBUTANTES Bridal and Debut Fair comes to SMX

U

pcoming debutantes and brides-to-be will have the chance to meet and talk to suppliers who could make their special day very memorable at the “Save the Date Bridal and Debut Fair,” to be held at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura from May 23-24, 2015.

“Dream weddings and debuts are not made in heaven; they are made by people who know what to do from top-to-bottom. These people are the seasoned and respected suppliers in the industry, and the

public will get a chance to meet and partner with them,” says fair organizer Ana Marie Tueres.

“We want the attendees to be able to find new ideas and services for their special milestone in a convenient and fun environment,” Tueres adds, stressing that the fair is being thoughtfully and thoroughly prepared for both attendees and exhibitors.

There will be Customer Rewards to spice up the affair, with treat bags to be given to preregistered attendees (registration

can be done online). There will also be hourly draws for door prizes.

Attendees will also have a chance to win a 4-day/3-night cruise from Malaysia to Thailand simply by booking with any three exhibitors at the fair. Other prizes include hotel accommodations, a 2-day/1-night accommodation in Boracay, spa treatments and other surprises.

Talks will also be held at the Pit Stop that will serve as the activity center and a forum to discuss the concerns and interests of brides

and debutantes. Prominent personalities in the industry talk about their craft and address attendees’ questions or concerns.

Vendors, on the other hand, will have an opportunity to professionally present their products and realize a return on their investment.

An alternate entrance and exit will be used for maximum exposure for exhibitors, says Tueres, who happens to be the founder of Solutions Events Management, a company that specializes in grand weddings, themed debuts and cor-

porate events including golf tournaments. This fair is the company’s inaugural trade exhibit, backed by 14 years of solid experience of good work done with countless clients.

Save the Date Bridal and Debut Fair takes place on May 23-24, 2015, 10am to 7pm, Function Halls 1 and 2, SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City.

Contact 932-0930, 0917-8242542, 0917-462-4940 or info@ savethedatefair.com for more information.

FRIDAY : M AY 15 : 2015

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

C3

THE BRITISH ARE COMING! F&F opens flagship store at Glorietta 3

BY TROY BERNARDO

A

ctually, the British have already arrived, and they’re at Glorietta 3. Britishinspired international fashion brand F&F launched its flagship store recently, making this the 9th F&F branch in the Philippines.

The launch, which was hosted by local style icon and blogger Nicole Anderson, also had a fashion show featuring the latest Spring/Summer collection with a Desert Safari theme.

Present at the launch were president of the SSI Group Anton Huang, assistant marketing manager for F&F International Franchise Alvina Wong, and head of marketing for F&F Global James Marshall, who delivered the welcome remarks.

F&F features laid back, utilitarian styles for its collections for Women, Men, and Kids, mirrored by the music of DJ Nix Damn P. The styles for

women, for example, have light and neutral-hued pieces with long waistcoats and flared trousers paired with bandeau tops. The return of the kimono is welcomed with the influence of street styles: statement dresses in modern patterns and boldly-colored accessories to match.

Menswear pairs distinctly inky blue colors and soft neutrals with orange accents on printed cotton sweaters.

For the children, there are tea party dresses with floral prints for girls, and layered textured knits and casual check shirts for boys.

F&F is located at Glorietta 3, Century City Mall, SM North Edsa, SM Clark, Wellworth Department Store at Fairview Terraces, Limketkai Mall Cagayan de Oro, Veranza Mall General Santos, and Ayala Center Cebu.

RALPH LAUREN’S GUIDE TO FRAGRANCES

BY ED BIADO

Choosing a new fragrance that’s right for you or a loved one is difficult enough. And it gets harder when you’re picking one out online without actually smelling anything and can only rely on keywords and phrases to imagine the scent on your skin.

So I was intrigued when I heard that Ralph Lauren had a fragrance-picking assistant on its Fragrance Bar website. Can answering a series of lifestyle-based questions really determine which fragrance suits me best? For as long as I can remember, perfume marketers have been associating scents with lifestyles, moods, personalities, activities and characteristics. Sometimes, they hit the mark. Sometimes, they don’t (largely because fragrances are a very personal and intimate thing).

That said, I decided to give the Ralph Lauren web tool a try to see how accurate my results will be – given that I already know which Ralph Lauren fragrances are my favorites.

Clicking on Discover Your Fragrance on the navigation bar, I was taken to the start of the quiz. First question: “Are you shopping for men or women?” My answer: “Men.” “Choose a dream experience.” I chose “The Great Outdoors.”

“Select an attitude.” I selected “Casual Chic” (naturally!).

“Strike the right note.” Obviously, it’s “Fresh” for me.

“Set the mood.” This is a bit tricky because “Effortless Seduction” and “The Thrill of The Chase” are both appealing to me.

But I opted for the first one.

“Ready to reveal your fragrance?” Definitely!

On the results page, I was presented with three recommendations. The first was Polo Red, followed by Polo Sport and Polo Blue. Like I said, I already have favorites and so the question is, did the quiz get it right? Well, I’m happy to report that it did two out of three. I have been in love with Polo Sport since high school, while Polo Blue for me is such a great weekend fragrance.

(On the flip side, I have no idea how Polo Red smells like but I’m guessing that I’m going to like it.)

There’s also the option to “discover your fragrance” by notes.

This is pretty straightforward. You simply have to click on the accords that you like best; you don’t even have to say if it’s for a guy or a girl. I clicked on fresh, woody, green and aquatic. And what do you know? Polo Blue and Polo Sport are the only two fragrances that matched, proving that the lifestyle-based quiz is legit.

Try it yourself here: www.ralphlaurenfragrancebar.com/finder/by-lifestyle.

F&F flagship store in Glorietta 3

Models donning the latest Spring Summer Collection of F&F

Assistant Marketing Manager for F&F International Franchise, Alvina Wong, Merchandise Manager for F&F Philippines, Missy, Head of Marketing for F&F Global, James Marshall and Merchandise Group Manager for F&F Philippines, Malen Alava

F R I D AY : M AY 1 5 : 2 0 1 5

C4

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

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

FASHION

FRESH PICKS FROM THE FLORENCE FLING

“People will stare. Make it worth their while.” – Harry Winston I was trying on the third outfit I had chosen from the racks when owner Tessa Nieto Villalon arrived for the shoot and interview.

Earlier, I had asked the shopgirl to ring up a striped ensemble and a printed shift dress. Cajoled into trying the latter by a friend who had accompanied me that day, I finally gave in. “Voila!” – that, too, had to go inside the hot pink Florence Fling shopping bag.

This brand keeps on converting my printaverse, stripes addict, I-only-wear-blackblue-white-grey-and-sometimes-red self into a happy, feminine, I-could-wear-certain-prints kinda girl.

Florence Fling just opened its first standalone store some two weeks ago on the 2nd Level, Bldg. A, SM Megamall. The shop’s interiors are inspired by modern European boutiques. Customers are greeted with feelgood scribbles on both the floor and walls.

The dressing rooms, on the other hand, are an ode to Havana. Colorful macaws, a giant pineapple and green ferns adorn the three cubicles respectively. One of the mirrors even tells you to “Go ahead gorgeous… spoil yourself!” Now how can you resist purchasing whatever it is you’re trying on? To complete the shopping experience, two comfortable pink couches line up both sides of the shop, which provide respite for your companions while you do some retail therapy.

Florence Fling’s latest collection is fun, feminine, and for all seasons. “The seasons don’t dictate my designs. I want women to be able to wear my clothes all year round,” says Tessa. “Any time you visit the store,

CLEAN CUT

you’ll find our basics (easy everyday wear), workwear, casual chic (party dresses) and formal wear. This is an exciting time for the brand as we are continually offering new designs and producing them only in limited numbers.”

This two-piece crepe dress (Dakota cocktail dress P3199) is cut in a sleek, figureenhancing silhouette. Little details like the soft gathering of the fabric on the front of the skirt and the loose knot on the top make the ensemble interesting. The top and skirt can be worn together (as shown) and can be matched with other pieces as well to create different looks.

THE BQP’S TOP PICKS TOP THAT

I absolutely love this jersey-striped top (Denisa P1299) in blue and cream. Pair it with white shorts, dark denim jeans or go nautical all the way and wear the striped skirt (with a slit), too. Three looks with one top equals versatility and value for money.

Fresh, fun and flirty. Get ready to sizzle in the Benita top (P1399). This cropped top with peek-a-boo back is perfect for casual days. Wear it with skinny jeans and gold accessories.

IN PRINT

At first, I found the circles on this dress a tad bold. You’ll never really know if a dress will look good on you until you try it on.

This number is now in my closet.

This look can take you from day to night.

Just add a blazer and opt for black heels for a fun office look. Wear the black ballerina top (Abby (1199), culottes (Pippin P1899) and flats for a relaxing night out.

What’s next for the brand? Women from the South should get excited as Tessa might open a boutique in our place really soon! For these and other fresh picks from The Florence Fling, you may visit the brand’s Facebook Page, which has links to their online store.

With a pocketful of glitter,

I just love the side pockets on the Jessie printed shift dress (P2499)

Follow me on Twitter, IG and Facebook. Visit https://www.facebook.com/thebusyqueenp for more interesting reads!

F RIDAY : M AY 15 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C5

SARANGANI SIZZLES WITH BIGGEST BEACH PARTY M anny Pacquiao and Kris Aquino were captivated by the long stretch of fine beach in the fringes of Sarangani province.

Largely unspoiled, Gumasa beach in Glan town is a vast expanse of powdery sand dubbed by sun worshippers as the “Boracay of Mindanao”, minus the madding crowd.

This placid getaway sizzles once more as Sarangani Bay (SarBay) Festival, arguably the country’s biggest beach party, unreels today until tomorrow.

Organized by the Sarangani Provincial Tourism Council, the multi-awarded beach event is now on its 10th edition and hopes to attract some 100,000 guests and participants during the two-day festivity.

Fun and adventure fires off with the 15-kilometer Swim Across the Bay Cross Channel Team Swim from Maasim to Glan. The threehour relay is regarded as among Asia’s longest and most extreme swim race, which will see the country’s toughest tankers.

Triathlete Ingemar Macarine known as the “Pinoy Aquaman” swam across the Bay to drum up interest in the beach event.

Art takes center stage with an inter-municipality Sand Sculpture Competition and the Pinta sa Baybayon where body painters will unveil their latest t works on human canvas.

The bay will be transformed into an aqua-sports playground with DJ Travis Monsod

events such as beach volleyball, football, ultimate Frisbee, jetski races, bancarera, skim boarding, and the Swim-Bike-Run Triathlon.

Spicing up the afternoons are drumbeating competitions, and Zumba sessions led by the Legendz, Gen. Santos City’s homegrown league of Zumba instructors.

The evening brightens up as fire-dancing exhibitions provide a sizzling prelude to the Bay Bodies where babes and hunks will strut their beach bods on the ramp, capped by a foam party.

The extravaganza draws to a close with the Summer Takeover presented

by Globe Prepaid, which will feature top bands Powerspoon and Quest, former FHM cover girl Ashley Rivera (aka Petra Mahalimuyak), and DJs Marc Marasigan, Travis Monsod, Deuce, and Wacky Massad, rocking the night away.

A post-festival coastal cleanup takes place on May 17 to ensure the cleanliness of the Bay, which is regarded as one of Mindanao’s gem beaches.

Named by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines as among the country’s Best Tourism Events, SarBay Fest is supported by the Provincial Government of Sarangani, Globe, San Miguel Brewery, Delimondo, KCC Department Store, Talk N Text, 2Go, Department of Tourism Region 12, and the Municipality of Glan.

For details updates, follow Sarangani Bay Festival on Facebook.

DJ Marc Marasigan

Saranggani holds Saranggni Bay Festival tomorrow and Sunday with activities like Zumba , Sand Art , and Evening Party

LET’S HAIR IT OUT FOR ABBY ASISTIO

B

ehind the stunning beauty and undeniable talent of Abby Asistio, lies a burden that has destroyed not only her confidence, but also her self-worth for as long as she can remember. Diagnosed with Alopecia at the tender age of 4, she started to lose hair as well as the twinkle of her eyes.

From partial hair loss (Alopecia Aeata) to its complete stage (Alopecia Ttotalis), Abby unfortunately had to go through the entire spectrum while growing up with people who didn’t understand. Though hats became her security blanket until she reached second year high school, she didn’t escape the attention of bullies who humiliated her in front of so many people by taking off her hat and exposing her bald head, which was her biggest source of insecurity. Friends be-

came her solace. They were very supportive and protective of her.

With the prodding of her school’s guidance counselor, Abby eventually decided to wear wigs to avoid the unwanted attention she constantly received. However, because of the lack of natural looking wigs in the market at that time, it became hard to choose the hairpiece that effortlessly crowns her face.

And while she was on the hunt for the perfect wig, she also had the chance to undergo treatment in the U. S. where she lived for a couple of years. Unfortunately, the treatments didn’t work. However, like the proverbial silver lining, she was blessed with a very supportive family and friends who helped her go through her ordeal. These friends became instrumental in her decision to embrace her baldness.

This life changing moment happened during her shoot for a music

video back in July 2012. Her wig wouldn’t stay in its place and uncannily made her think of taking off her wig in public. After a conversation with well-meaning friends, Abby was ready to take her wig off and inspire people to become who they want to be while staying true to their real selves. She then wrote the song “Beautiful” that expressed her love and support to the people who had the same fate as hers.

Her fired up spirit led to better things that included her audition in the first season of The Voice of the Philippines and her discovery of the Nuvohair Topical Scalp Lotion that gave remarkable results of visible signs of hair growth after just 5 months. Made of natural ingredients, Nuvohair successfully rejuvenated her hair and scalp and she hasn’t looked back since then.

This year, Abby will be one of the 80 artists out of 450 aspirants,

to participate in the “All that Matters Music Festival” to be held in Singapore from May 20 to 23. Expected to be graced by the most influential in the fields of digital, media, and entertainment, the event is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this May and shall give her the captive audience that she aims to inspire and uplift with her music and determination. In line with her advocacy, Abby shall also give the closing speech along with Angelica Galindez and will sing “Beautiful” during the National Alopecia Areata Foundation annual conference, June 25-28.

As the brand ambassador of Novuhair along with Kim Atienza, Abby shall continue to set her eyes on her role as the voice of people with Alopecia, as she continues to overcome her struggles for herself and her community one strand at a time.

Abby Asistio swears by Novuhair and feels good about herself now

F RIDAY : M AY 15 : 2015

C6

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

PEOPLE Apl.de.ap

...ARE TALKING ABOUT Gerphil Flores

Willie Revillame

...ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT

GERPHIL FLORES

The whole world will know her name.

That’s David Foster’s promise. Foster launched the careers of Celine Dion, Michael Bubble, and Josh Groban.

And he might just do the same to the 24-year-old classical singer. A lot of people remember Gerphil as the girl Kris Aquino disapproved of and was told to sing Charice’s songs instead during the semi-final round of Pilipinas Got Talent. Now it can be said, Kris definitely doesn’t have an eye, much less an ear, for a potential world-class talent. So, folks, who should we believe when it comes to talent? Foster or this Presidential sister who knows nothing but to talk about herself?

Sharon Cuneta

Rachelle Ann Go

James Reid

Look what hard work and training and genuine talent can do to one’s career. The now stage actress and singer is set to join the cast of Les Miserables as Fantine. Sure after conquering the Miss Saigon stage, receiving nothing but raves for her performance, Rachelle Ann is expected to impress critics with her stage presence and powerful vocals again. Some people say she’s the Lea Salonga of her generation, but that’s being unfair. They’re not the same on all counts.

50 52 54 55 58 60 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Fat fiddle 5 Huge, in combos 9 Bench sitters 13 Norway’s capital 14 Chef’s tool 15 Axiom 16 Kelly of “Pogo” 17 Chloroform kin 18 Mineral deposits 19 Did some camels 21 Yoko — 22 Forest grazers 23 Island off Italy

25 27 31 35 36 38 39 40 42 43 46 47 48

Struck silent Deli supply Has words?

Fragrant blossom Country addrs.

Declare invalid Mamie’s man Agreements Lemon cooler Liner levels Purse closer Dimensions Tycoon’s home

Robs (2 wds.)

Causes a blister Ocean flier Comet’s head Sponge off of Undamaged Kind of sax Dunce Brick material Flamingo color DEA agents Pay attention Sit for a portrait Insect pest Egad!

DOWN 1 Takes an oath 2 Meryl, in “Out of Africa” 3 Earthen jar 4 State-run game 5 Engineering sch.

6 Nymph who pined away 7 Actress — Davis 8 Pointers 9 Crushed, as grapes 10 Malta’s money 11 Helm position 12 Predicament 14 Many a cardinal 20 Yellowstone sight

It is easy enough to say that this show is trying to replicate the phenomenal success of My Husband’s Lover. But as they say, lighting doesn’t strike the same place twice and no amount publicity can change that. Probably, if the writers of the series had better imagination or perhaps just spent some ample time doing their research, this lesbian drama would be a hit.

But sorry, we are not buying your hidebound manner of storytelling.

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

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The young actor has just turned 22 and celebrated this special day with the less fortunate children in Mandaluyong. It’s a meaningful way to share his fame and fortune with the young ones that idolize him. It also let them know that a star of his stature has a soft heart for underprivileged sector of the society. But wait, why were there cameras and members of press everywhere? Well, it appears that this charity work is nothing but a publicity effort.

THE RICH MAN’S DAUGHTER

RACHELLE ANN GO

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

She took it to Facebook to deny she’s co-hosting a talk show with Boy Abunda. The new show was supposedly ABS-CBN’s response to GMA-7’s Wowowin, but Megastar clarified that there’s no such show in the offing. It was also revealed that Billy Crawford’s Your Face Sounds Familiar is the only show indicated in her contract.

Looks like the Kapamilya Network is having a hard time looking for a better project for her. It’s actually as difficult as Sharon getting back in good shape.

JAMES REID

WOWOWIN

Controversy and Willie Revillame go together, so when his new show debuted on TV last Sunday people were all waiting if he’d commit another blunder. While critics were keeping an eye on him, his supporters were jubilant to see their idol back on TV. And guess what? His show ended as the most watched program over the weekend. This tells us Wowowin has a future on GMA Network, unless Willie goes back to his old self, and you know what we mean.

SHARON CUNETA

Poker stakes Eco-friendly feds Soar Goes backpacking Vote in Connery and Penn Author — Nin Aggressive vine Lie dormant Metamorphic rock Poltergeists Bar sing-along Erwin of films Incomplete On the wane Anderson Cooper’s network Khartoum’s land Yokums’ creator Mixed bag Natural elevs.

Oscar-winner — Sorvino Jai — Garden pond fish Small fry Halloween mo.

MTV MUSIC EVOLUTION

MTV, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), today announced the addition of the final international hip hop act, Filipino-American rapper, record producer and dancer, Apl.de.ap who completes the performers’ line-up at the MTV Music Evolution 2015, at the historic Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park in Manila on Sunday. One of Philippines’ pride, Apl.de.ap will be bringing some of his own sounds, since he went solo in 2012, while remaining a key member of The Black Eyed Peas. The previously announced acts include Naughty by Nature, YG, DJ Mustard, Gloc-9 and Abra.

Hosted by MTV Asia VJs Alan Wong and Hanli Hoefer, the show premieres on-air on May 30 at 7 p.m. in the Philippines.

MTV Music Evolution 2015 will open its doors at 3 p.m. with the event commencing at 7 p.m.

The live music event brings to life the evolution of a music genre and enables young people to experience and discover how music styles and sounds have evolved over the years.

MTV Music Evolution marks its inauguration 2015 edition with a feature on hip hop, showcasing iconic and contemporary hip hop acts from both international and local music scenes on a single stage, while featuring the best of Philippine music and culture to international youth audiences.

F RIDAY : M AY 15 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

C7

LUCKY SKYCABLE SUBSCRIBER FLIES TO SINGAPORE From C8

The tricks audience will see in I-Bilib on Sunday include Flaming Iced Tea ad Cork Trivia

Raymond Solis, a SKYcable subscriber from Manila won an all-expense paid trip to Singapore to watch Asia’s Got Talent grand finals live at the Marina Bay Sands on May 7. Sponsored

by AXN, Raymond and his wife Tess watched the best contestants in Asia battle it out for talent competition glory.

Filipino fans cheered for home grown talents as they face-off against performers from Japan, China, and Mongolia. Performance groups El Gamma Penumbra and Junior New System, and singers Gerphil Flores and Gwyneth Dorado had the chance to show the entire world the skills and artistic prowess that can catapult them to stardom.

While Raymond and Tess got to take part in the grand final itself, fans here can still watch the finale on May 14 either in standard definition through AXN or in vivid high-definition on AXN HD – a channel exclusive only to SKYcable.

Only SKYcable offers its subscribers the best digital cable TV experience while providing the most fun-filled perks courtesy of its channel partners.

To subscribe and to know more about the SKYcable, AXN, and AXN HD, log on to www. mysky.com.ph, or call the 24-hour customer service hotlines at at 02-381-0000 for Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, and Rizal, 046-484-4701 for Cavite, 049-534-1555 for Calamba and Binan, Laguna, 02-520-8560 for San Pedro, Laguna, 044-693-5877 for Bulacan, 032-421-1818 for Cebu, 082-305-5456 for Davao, 074-442-4841 for Baguio, 034-432 0051 for Bacolod, 033-300-1210

Raymond Solis and wife Tess (third and second from left) win a trip to Singapore to watch Asia’s Got Talent finals at Marina Bay Sands courtesy of AXN

for Iloilo, 035-225-1010 for Dumaguete, and 083301-3134 for Gen. Santos City.

HHHHH Join Chris Tiu, James & Roadfill of Moymoy Palaboy, Jan Manual and Joyce Ching sa in their happy world of science Monday morning on GMA7.

Can iced tea turn to fire? That’s what the I-Bilib group will show the audience in the Burning Iced Tea Experiment.

Jan Manulel offers the show’s followers with a yummy trivia. She looks into the process of making Ilocos Chicharon. Is this a scientific process?

Have you seene a smoking bubble within a bubble? Watch out for it in Double Bubble Experiment.

It’s going to be another wet and wild adventure with James and Roadfill as they try to see for themselves the science involved in sliding on a giant 1,000 foot slide in Bilibabol Slidefest Challenge.

And do you want to know the history of “Salbabida?” Chris will tell us.

‘SHOWTIME’ DANCER PURSUES DREAM

S

he had a promising career as a dancer at a popular television show, but Margie Jurado chose to pursue her dream to travel around the world while working as a cabin crew of the country’s prestigious airline.

Margie was a pioneer and former entertainer of Showtime on ABS-CBN. She opted to quit and instead study at the Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute (CTHI), an international franchise of the Vancouver-based Canadian Tourism College (CTC).

“I want to work as an airline cabin crew and tour the world. CTHI has been a great help in helping me to pursue that goal,” Margie, who has travelled in many countries including Canada and Japan with Vina Morales and Vhong Navarro as a dancer, enthused.

Taking up travel and tourism at CTHI while still dancing occasionally on out of town events to support her studies, Margie knew her dream was a step away and the institute was her steppingstone.

CTHI, founded and owned by the country’s retailing and franchising stalwart Samie Lim, is now the choice of students and parents who are practical and know that a specialized school can give real-world training. CTHI prides itself that its parent company has been provid-

ing real-world quality tourism education in the last 30 years.

Lim, chairman emeritus of Philippine Retailers Association and Philippine Franchise Association, and the universally acknowledged ‘Father of Philippine Franchising’ said the demand for hotels and resorts managers and attendants, tour guides and food and beverage crew will surge, and CTHI is poised to become one of the major sources of future leaders of the industry.

“We offer specialization. Ninety five percent of schools in the country are offering courses that are flavor of the month, nursing or IT (information technology), or many others, that’s why students shift to different courses all over again, it’s a waste of resources and effort. With CTHI, we want to establish the Philippines as a tourist destination of choice, and Filipinos the managers of choice, with our one year specialized training and education,” Lim emphasized.

Like Margie, Marie Ann Barliso has been earning handsome income as one of the best employees of an online hotel booking company in Cebu City, but chose to continue her studies to climb up the employment ladder.

She was performing well as an employee at Expedia Inc., a Washington-based online travel agency

that allows users to book airline tickets, reserve hotel rooms, rent cars, join cruises, or avail of vacation packages at competitive prices.

Despite her stellar performance, however, her lack of diploma has blocked her drive and aspiration to become a respectable executive of the company she served.

“I worked with Expedia, which has an office in Cebu, for three years, but I could not grow because I have yet to finish my schooling. I have no diploma to show, hence I lacked the credentials for promotion,” she shared as she recounted her story with her hands folded and her head bowed.

“Your desire to become competitive in the international scene should be backed by a paper that represents yourself, not just the years of experience under your belt. It pushed me to really pursue my studies in the shortest possible time, but without compromising the quality of education I wanted to get,” Barliso stressed.

From its sole educational facility at the corner of EDSA and Reliance streets in Mandaluyong, CTHI- a learning institution at the heart of Mandaluyong City with facilities and professors that are seasoned in the hospitality and tourism industries- is set to establish its unit in Makati by the end of the year and will expand in the Visayas and

Sammie Lim, founder of Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute with students

Margie Jurado (center) swings from dancing to being an airline cabin crew

Mindanao regions next year.

“CTHI gives us the education we need at a cost that is practically lower because of the shorter diploma year. The quality of education here is at par with international standards, and I must say there are a lot of things I have learned here which I didn’t learn from the industry,” she shared.

Records show CTHI graduates enjoy more than 90-percent employment rate in the travel, tour-

ism and hospitality industries.

CTHI offers intensive on-thejob training through modulebased learning for one year to prepare students for immediate employment in the industry, in or out of the country.

For inquiries, please call CTHI hotline at (02) 4511642, 4511657, or send email to info@canadiantourisminstitute.com, or visit its website atwww.canadiantourisminstitute.com.

F RIDAY : M AY 15 : 2015

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ TV VIEWERS MAKE HISTORY BY VOTING EL GAMMA PENUMBRA AS THE FIRST EVER WINNER OF “ASIA’S GOT TALENT” ON AXN

1

4 May 2015, Singapore – Television viewers across Asia made history by voting the Philippine act El Gamma Penumbra the inaugural winner of “Asia’s Got Talent,” the thrilling hit talent competition series on AXN. Impressing audiences through shadow plays of meaningful stories, El Gamma Penumbra was declared winner in the 10th and concluding Grand Final Results episode that premiered this evening at 8.05pm first on AXN. The 12-strong El Gamma Penumbra team brings home the coveted “Asia’s Got Talent” title, the prize of US$100,000, and the opportunity to perform at Marina Bay Sands, where “Asia’s Got Talent” semi-finals, Grand Final and Grand Final Results shows were held. In addition, Jetstar added US$10,000 worth of flights to its network of 60 destinations across 16 countries in Asia as prizes, which were shared between the top two acts.

Their winning Grand Final shadow play to the song "Colors of the Wind" was a touching tribute to Mother Earth that conveyed the importance of conservation.

It brought judge Anggun to tears and earned David Foster’s praise for being “beautifully profound”.

Following the Grand Final episode that aired last Thursday, viewers’ votes were cast over four days via SMS, Facebook and the “Asia’s Got Talent” mobile app.

Towards the climactic end to this evening’s episode, El Gamma Penumbra and Mongolian throat singing band Khusugtun were revealed as the top two acts. Both reprised their Grand Final performances, El Gamma Penumbra with their tribute to Mother Earth while Khusugtun took viewers on their spellbinding vocal and instrumental musical “journey” through Mongolia, before the Filipino act was declared the winner.

In the Grand Final, El Gamma Penumbra also beat two other golden buzzer semi-final acts, the newly-engaged Chinese dancers Gao and Lin, and exuberant Filipino dance group Junior New System; together with five other acts voted by viewers into the Grand Final including Japanese dance group Triqstar; Filipino classical

singer Gerphil Flores; aspiring Thai rockers The Talento; 10 year old Filipino singer Gwyneth Dorado; and young Singapore tap dance group Dance Thrilogy.

El Gamma Penumbra was fast-tracked into the Grand Final at Marina Bay Sands as the joint golden buzzer decision of the judges from their semi-final shadow play performance around the theme of world peace. Prior to that, El Gamma Penumbra wowed with their first piece that told the touching love story of a couple and won Anggun’s golden buzzer in the judges’ auditions.

In addition to crowning the winner, all nine Grand Finalist acts featured in a dazzling medley of “Turn Up the Music” by Chris Brown.

Performing together for the very first time were “Asia’s Got Talent” celebrity judges including 16-time Grammy-winning Canadian musician and record producer David Foster; UK pop sensation and former Spice Girl Melanie C.; Indonesian rock icon and international recording artist Anggun; as well as Taiwanese-American pop idol and actor Van Ness Wu. The four stars sang a crowd-pleasing rendition of the catchy single ‘Let’s Groove’ by Earth, Wind and Fire. The special track is now available for download with all proceeds donated to the earthquake victims of Nepal.

David Foster was also reunited with his protégé, Filipino songstress Charice for a duet of the song “Lay Me Down’. Charice was the first Asian solo artist in history to make it into the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Anggun performed her signature hit song, ‘Snow on the Sahara’ complete with awe-inspiring orchestral accompaniment. The single was first released in 1997 in 33 countries worldwide, topped music charts in Italy and Indonesia, and made the top 20 in Finland, France, Japan, Spain and the US. Australian illusionist-escapologist Consentino, himself the runner-up of “Australia’s Got Talent” in 2011, also graced the occasion. Consentino had audiences transfixed with his breathtaking grand staged illusion for the first time in Asia.

The Grand Final Results show

brought the curtains down on “Asia’s Got Talent” which has made AXN the no.1 rated pay-TV channel collectively in Southeast Asia (which include Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines) and Taiwan, among all pay-TV audiences in its timeslot.1 Ang Hui Keng, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia said, “‘Asia’s Got Talent’ has been an incredibly thrilling success and the ratings speak volumes about the fantastic quality of the series. We thank our production partner FremantleMedia Asia, the judges for their hard work, all contestants for their efforts, as well as our partners for believing and supporting such a wonderful production.”

Paul O’Hanlon, Managing Director of FremantleMedia Asia said, "El Gamma Penumbra's powerful performance last week exemplifies the creative story telling we’ve come to expect from the shadow play troupe. Their ability to combine strong emotion with meaningful messaging that overcomes the barriers of language has, and will continue to, touch the hearts of viewers everywhere.

We congratulate them and thank all of the acts that have delighted and entertained us, awed and inspired us, and showed the world that Asia's Got Talent."

George Levendis, Head of International, Syco Entertainment said, "Congratulations to El Gamma Penumbra! And thank you to all of our brilliant partners and to the production team for all their passion and hard work in making this such a fantastic series."

Billed as the biggest talent competition in the world, “Asia’s Got Talent” features some of the region’s most breathtaking, jaw-dropping and mind-blowing performing artists competing for the coveted title. It is the 63rd adaptation of the Guinness World Record-breaking hit “Got Talent” format, which was created by Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and is co-produced by FremantleMedia. The “Got Talent” format is officially the most successful reality TV format in history and currently airs in 186 countries.

In the judges’ auditions of “Asia’s Got Talent”, each act had to receive at least three “Yeses” from the esteemed celebrity judging panel who then selected 24 of the most dazzling performances from 240 hopefuls from 15 territories across Asia. Those who made it into the semi-finals and the Grand Final gave their all to win the hearts and votes of viewers who ultimately decided the winner of “Asia’s Got Talent”.

“Asia’s Got Talent” spanned 10 weekly episodes, including five audition episodes, three semi-finals, a Grand Finals episode and the Grand Final results episode. In addition to enjoying the performances, audiences got to know about their favorite acts as “Asia’s Got Talent” told the life stories behind some of the most colorful individuals and groups in the competition.

“Asia’s Got Talent” was proudly presented by Marina Bay Sands, Big Cola, Pantene, Caltex, Jetstar, and GrabTaxi (also known as MyTeksi in Malaysia).

Marina Bay Sands is a premier partner of “Asia’s Got Talent”. As Asia’s leading entertainment destination and crossroads for global celebrities, Marina Bay Sands provides opportunities for local talent to shine on the world’s stage.

BIG is the exclusive beverage partner of “Asia’s Got Talent”.

With BIG Cola, ‘if you can dream it, you can do it’. Contestants and fans across Asia will be encouraged to ‘Think Big’ and ‘Dream Bigger’ in pursuit of their dreams.

Pantene, the World’s #1 Conditioner Brand* and exclusive haircare partner of “Asia’s Got Talent”, makes hair stronger inside and shinier outside, giving contestants their time to shine and be the world’s number one talent.

Caltex is the exclusive petroleum partner of “Asia’s Got Talent”. Caltex delivers a hassle-free experience to get people back on their journey quickly, so they can have more time and energy to do whatever matters most to them. By being a part of “Asia’s Got Talent”, Caltex wants to celebrate key moments of the contestants’ journey to stardom, providing viewers the opportunity to enjoy the journey with them.

Jetstar is proud to be the offi-

cial airline of the very first edition of “Asia’s Got Talent”. With more than 600 weekly flights to 22 destinations across 13 countries in Asia Pacific, Jetstar enables talent to fly further, connect with families and fulfil dreams.

GrabTaxi (also known as MyTeksi in Malaysia) is the official on-demand transit partner for “Asia's Got Talent”. From humble beginnings, GrabTaxi has grown to be the region's number one on-demand transit app with over 83,000 vehicles in 20 cities across 6 countries. As a local startup that is now on the global stage, GrabTaxi supports fellow Asian stars by providing them and their fans with safe and convenient rides to grab their dreams.

AXN is a leader of regionally produced original content in Asia, with notable ratings successes including four seasons of the International Emmy-nominated “The Amazing Race Asia”; the Asian Television Award-winning “Cash Cab Asia”; “The Apprentice Asia”; “Cyril: Rio Magic”; “Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition”; and the Asian Television Award-nominated “Cyril: Simply Magic”.

RELIVE THE “ASIA’S GOT TALENT” GRAND FINAL RESULTS EPISODE: MY, HK: Sat 16 May, 10.05pm / Sun 17 May, 5.45pm / Mon 18 May, 12.05pm WIB, BKK: Sat 16 May, 9.05pm / Sun 17 May, 4.45pm / Mon 18 May, 11.05am SG: Sat 16 May, 9.10am / Sun 17 May, 5.05pm / Mon 18 May, 6.55pm PH: Sat 16 May, 2.15pm / Sun 17 May, 8.40pm / Mon 18 May, 11.40am Learn more about “Asia’s Got Talent” at www.AXNAsia.com/ AsiasGotTalent Connect with the judges, hosts, and your favorite contestants through videos and photos, exclusively on the Asia’s Got Talent’s official Facebook page. Catch behind-the-scenes footage of the auditions only on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/asiasgottalent/ ➜ Continued on C7