Businessmirror April 3, 2016

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BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business Sunday, April 3, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 176

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HIGH AND DRY The cool placid waters of Lake Sebu in Surallah,

South Cotabato, belie the massive drought being experienced by the region, which prompted the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to declare the entire province under a state of calamity. The long dry spell brought about by El Niño has affected 33,080 hectares of farms in Central Mindanao. ED DAVAD

‘Shame’ drive for politicians posting on trees B H E Correspondent

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ASINLOC, Zambales— Netizens in Zambales who have had enough of candidates violating the law against posting campaign materials on trees are now fighting back with a negative campaign via the social media. Dan Eclevia, a public-school teacher here who is also page administrator of the Kasolibay (Zambal for neighbor) online community, said their group is initiating a “shame” campaign to help prevent further damage to roadside trees used for posting campaign materials. “We’re taking pictures of the posters nailed or stapled on trees, and posting them on social media, with the appeal for residents not to vote for the violators,” Eclevia said. “It’s really a shame that these politicos wanted us to vote them into power, when they cannot even follow simple rules such as this.” The posting of campaign materials on trees, as well as other non-designated posting areas, like S “S,” A

PHL intl liabilities still outnumber total assets T

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HE Philippines continued to see an upward trend in overall assets placed abroad, but is still outnumbered by the country’s international liabilities at the end of 2015, recent central bank data showed.

The Philippines’s foreign-investment position showed an improvement at the end of 2015, but remained in a “net liability” position during the period, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported. The central bank announced that the country’s net-liability position hit $29 billion in end-December 2015. This was lower than the $29.6 billion seen in the previous quarter of the year. A country’s international invest ment position (IIP) is the

VEGGIE FARMERS GROW ‘EDIBLE GOLD’ IN UPLAND VIZCAYA MINING VILLAGE

S “L,” A

US job-seekers return at fastest pace since before Great Recession

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ASHINGTON—Americans are flooding back into the job market at the fastest pace since before the Great Recession, encouraged by steady hiring and some signs of higher pay. The flow has halted, at least temporarily, one of the economy’s more discouraging trends: The sharp decline in the percentage of people either working or looking for work. That figure fell last year to a four-decade low. The pickup since then suggests that nearly seven years after the recession ended, Americans are finally more confident that they can find jobs. In March nearly 400,000 people began job hunts, though not all found work. Their searching lifted the unemployment rate to 5 percent, from 4.9 percent. Employers added 215,000 jobs, the Labor Department said on Friday, a solid figure, but not enough to keep up with the new job-seekers. Since last September, 2.4 million people have either found jobs or started looking. The proportion

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 45.9890

U.S. job creation index Percentage of U.S. workers who say their employers are hiring new people minus percentage who say their employers are letting people go.

30

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30%

26%

Correspondent

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2008

ON a farm tour, OceanaGold (Philippines) Community Relations and Communications Manager Nericel Langres is enthralled by the large heads of cabbage grown on a hillside in Tucod, Cabarroguis, Quirino, while young Nonie takes her photos. Farmers dub their vegetable crops “edible gold.” LEONARDO PERANTE II

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Source: Gallup Graphic: Staff, Tribune News Service

of Americans working or looking for work, known as the “participation rate,” has increased to 63 percent during that time, from 62.4 percent, a 38-year low. “The rise...over the past six months has been truly astounding, suggesting that the job market is finally pulling discouraged workers off the sidelines,” said James Marple, an economist at TD Bank.

Still, the participation rate was 66 percent before the recession began. The drop has fueled concerns that the recession rendered millions of Americans essentially unemployable, held back by deteriorating skills or a lack of available jobs nearby. The increase in the past few months provides hope that’s not the case. S “J-,” A

ABARROGUIS, Quirino—Hillside farmers in this gateway town to a gold-copper project operated by OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. (OGPI) at the mining village of Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, are now into large-scale vegetable farming. What used to be idle contours have been converted into productive vegetable gardens planted with organically grown vegetables. With rolling terrain, the contour-farming villages of Tucod and Dingasan are also known for growing bananas, cassava, citrus and corn in enormous volume. Many see the substantial daily food requirement of the OGPI Didipio operations a good prospect that has encouraged many local farmers to shift to organic-vegetable production from traditional rice farming. Farmer Cornelio Sebastian, who cultivates plots of cabbages in Barangay Tucod, claims that the favorable semitemperate climate, paved-road network provided by the mining company and a potential market for his crops would always be available right in his backyard. S “V F,” A

n JAPAN 0.4087 n UK 66.0770 n HK 5.9292 n CHINA 7.1312 n SINGAPORE 34.1215 n AUSTRALIA 35.2460 n EU 52.3539 n SAUDI ARABIA 12.2650

Source: BSP (1 April 2016 )

NewsSunday A2 Sunday, April 3, 2016

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Liabilities… difference between a nation’s overseas assets and its overseas liabilities. If the country’s IIP position is a “net liability,” it means there were more liabilities held during the period compared to foreign assets. The BSP attributed the $600-million decrease in the country’s net-liability position to the growth of external financial assets during the quarter. These assets included loans extended by local banks to foreign financial consumers and Filipino corporates’ deposit abroad. Direct investments also played a part in the improvement, as Filipino companies’ capital places in equity abroad, helped increase the

Shame…

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country’s dollar assets. Lending to nonresident affiliates and the positive adjustments, due to price and foreign-exchange movements also help lessen the net liabilities of the Philippine IIP. The improvement in the country’s IIP could have been larger and more significant if not for the growth in total external liabilities during the period. The larger liabilities was due largely to higher bank loans from abroad. Across sectors, only the central bank recorded a net external-asset position as of end-2015, due largely to its $80.7-billion reserve assets. The other major sectors—local

C  

lampposts and waiting sheds, is a violation of the Fair Elections Act, which require candidates to post materials only in designated public places, like plazas, markets and barangay centers. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also considers it a violation of Republic Act 3571, which prohibits the cutting, destroying or injuring of planted or growing trees along public roads, plazas and parks and other public ground. The act imposes a penalty of prison correctional (six months plus one day) to the minimum of prison mayor (six years plus one day) to violators. In line with this, Comelec Resolution 6166 deputized a task force, which includes the DENR, the Department of Public Works and Highways, Metro Manila Development Authority and other agencies, to remove campaign posters found in public places outside designated posting areas. At the start of the campaign season, DENR Region 3 Director Francisco Milla Jr. also announced that they would remove “without hesitation” campaign materials found nailed or stapled to trees. Milla explained that the tree’s bark serves like the human skin, which acts as a first line of defense against disease. “When you pierce it with a nail or a staple, it opens up the whole tree to diseases,” he said. However, the provincial DENR

office here said they do not have enough manpower to do the task of removing posted materials from trees along the length of the national highway in Zambales. Elmer Elbo, who drives passenger vans here, observed that most of the materials posted on trees are posters of candidates for national positions, as their campaign period started earlier than that for local candidates. “Around 80 percent to 90 percent of the posters and banners you see on the roadside are for national candidates,” he said. Eclevia said this aggravates the situation because the national candidates are looked upon by the locals as their political leaders. “But by posting campaign materials on disallowed areas, they are setting a bad example to the public,” he said. Lawyer Eric Ebarle, a former provincial board member, also urged netizens here to post photos of violators regardless of personal ties. “Walang kaibigan, kapatid, incumbent—dapat lahat mai-post,” he said. Eclevia said his group would also ask other local online communities to adopt Kasolibay’s shame campaign. “We want to save the trees. And in the process, what do we know? Maybe we can change the mind-set of some politicos to be more responsible for their actions and be better example to others,” Eclevia said.

banks, the government and other sectors—posted net external-liability positions. The net external positions of the BSP and the other sectors registered improvements. The BSP continued to account for the largest share of the Philippines’s total external-financial claims on the rest of the world at 52.4 percent. The BSP’s external financial assets totaled $81.3 billion, slightly higher than the $81.2 billion recorded as of end-September 2015. The change in the monetary authority’s total external financial assets mirrored the growth in GIR for the period.

Jobs…

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Martin Nyholt, 61, of Apex, North Carolina, recently began looking for work again after retiring from IBM last May. He is looking for a part-time position, but would take a “simple job” that pays $10 to $15 an hour if it is full-time. He wants less pressure than existed in his former projectmanager position. “I’ve kind of run out of TV shows that I want to watch,” Nyholt said, outside an employment center. “Every additional month I go is money that’s going to be coming out of [savings] and that’s a negative there.” Economists estimate that at least half of the decline in the participation rate is a result of ongoing retirements by the vast baby-boom generation. That demographic trend could overwhelm the return of younger workers, keeping the participation rate flat or pushing it lower in the coming months. The extra job-seekers also give the Federal Reserve (the Fed) additional flexibility in the timing of future interest-rate increases, economists said. If employers have more potential workers to choose from, they won’t be forced to raise wages as quickly, a step that can push up inflation. The Fed raised rates for the first time in nine years last December. Most economists don’t expect Fed policymakers to move again until June. AP

Veggie farmers… C  

“With all of these favors, farmers like us can grow ‘edible gold’ in our farm yards,” Sebastian said. With thousands of mining employees fed from breakfast to dinner, the Australian mining firm has reaffirmed support to the production of high-value crops in the nearby villages. To ensure food self-sufficiency in the mining village, the company committed to continue supporting a sustainable vegetable-growing program that would benefit local farmers. “Like the launching of tissue-cultured bananas in the mining village, the company is keeping its support to the production of high-value crops in the Didipio Valley and neighboring villages,” OGPI Senior Vice President for Communications and External Affairs Chito Gozar said. As part of its continuing efforts to ensure a productive and healthy community, the firm is revitalizing the program to encourage more villagers, including teachers and students, to plant nutritious vegetables and fruits right in their own backyards. The scheme is seen not only to ensure residents of a continuous supply of homegrown crops, but also meet the vegetable and fruit requirements of mining workers, especially now that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has granted the renewal of OGPI’s Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement exploration permit that allows the mining firm to expand its exploration program over the broader region around Didipio. “It is exactly for this reason that we initiate hands-on seminars among our local farmers to educate them further on proper production and postharvest handling of high-value crops grown in many areas of the town, a hand-reach away to our dining tables,” Gozar said. Aside from the farm-to-market roads constructed by the mining firm in surrounding villages, Gozar said the upland farmers now find it more convenient to transport their harvest because of the all-weather main road which is not only designed to deliver mineral concentrates, but also serves as a major access road for agricultural products produced by the nearby villages.

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San Miguel, Tarlac co-op ask ERC for approval of supply contract B L L

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AN Miguel Energ y Corp. (SMEC) and Tarlac Electric I Cooperative Inc. (Tarelco I) are asking the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to approve their power-supply contract (PSC). “Tarelco I and SMEC respectfully pray that this commission approve with finality the powersupply contract between SMEC and Tarelco I, and allowing Tarelco 1 to pass on the cost of such purchased power to its customers,” the companies said in their joint 14page application that was posted on the ERC web site. Tarelco I said power demand in the areas it services has exceeded its contracted supply in 2013 by 3.22 megawatts (MW). With large industrial customers still being constructed, there is a need for additional supply, it said. As of December 25, 2013, energy was being supplied by the Masinloc Power Partners Cp. Ltd. (MPPCL) (14.36 MW), and GNPower Mariveles Coal Power Plant (GMCP) (20 MW), with a total PSC of 35.56MW, Tarelco I said. “However, due to the inflow of large industries and the steady increase of captive customers’ load, there was a need to increase supply. Back then, Tarelco I’s actual demand was 37.58 MW. With a deficit of 3.22 MW, this prompted Tarelco I to request its existing suppliers for additional increase in contract capacity. However, no extra supply was available,” it said. Thereafter, Tarelco I requested SMEC to supply the former with 5-MW capacity, since SMEC was once a supplier prior to GMCP. SMEC agreed to a three-year PSC renewable yearly up to December 25, 2016. Under the agreement SMEC provides Tarelco I 5 MW of capacity that is being sourced from the Sual power plant in Pangasinan. SMEC is the Independent Power Producer Administrator of the 1,000 MW coal plant. Though the supply contract is in effect, it still has to be approved by the ERC. Separately, both signed another PSC for a 10-MW supply that will be sourced from SMC’s 300-MW coal plant in Bataan. “To ensure the security of supply for Tarelco I’s customers, and to cater to the increasing demand of incoming big loads, Tarelco I signed a power-supply contract with SMPC [San Miguel Consolidated Power Corp.-Limay Bataan-2x150 MW coal-fired plant] with a 10-MW baseload and is subject of a separate application with the ERC. “This serves as a replacement for SMEC’s expiring 5-MW supply contract by December 25, 2016, or when SMPC becomes commercia l ly ava i lable, t hen the power-supply contract from SMEC is automatically terminated,” they said.

Sunday, April 3, 2016 A3

Clark International Airport starts ‘resurrection’

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HE Clark International Airport in Pampanga is slowly “resurrecting.” Thanks to the increasing demand for passenger and cargo connectivity in areas north of Metro Manila. Badr Abbas, Emirates Airlines senior vice president for commerc ia l operat ions-Fa r East, said the air port “remains viable,” even as the airline stopped its direct Clark-Dubai f lights, which were replaced with a cir-

cular Dubai-Cebu-Clark route. “Whenever we start any destinations, we look at the passenger and cargo demand, so we believe that is sufficient in Clark,” he said. “We believe there is enough passenger and cargo demand, and we believe

it will be a successful operation.” He noted that the airline decided to launch the circular service as “75 percent of the overseas Filipino workers living in the Gulf, like United Arab Emirates [UAE], Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, are actually from Central and Northern Luzon, and Clark airport is very near.” “This is also one advantage and reason for starting our circular services...also Cebu, so that people living in the Visayas and Mindanao will benefit to our services,” Abbas added. There are at least close to a million Filipino workers in the UAE and more than 2.5 million Filipinos are

working in the Gulf area. “With this new circular service, we also see a growth in the number of passengers flying from the Philippines, Cebu and Clark, particularly—to Dubai and beyond Dubai... connecting to our 150 destinations throughout the network, especially to 39 destinations in Europe and 16 destinations in the Middle East and several destinations in Africa, and also Americas,” Abbas said. “Clark and Cebu become the Emirates’s 151st and 152nd destination on our ever-expanding global network, which spans 80 countries across six continents and this new circular service opens Clark to more opportunities, both

for business and leisure.” “Another aspect of this operation is also bringing in more tourism into the country and to help the economy, and also help the Filipino cargo exporters, because on our flights, we have 14 tons going and coming on both ways, this will help the cargo exporters,” Abbas added. Emirates’s circular flight was launched on March 30. Using a two-class Boeing 777-300ER, the service provides travelers from both Cebu and Clark with convenient and fast connections to destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas, via Dubai.

DOE OKs grid-impact studies for 8 power-generation projects Fire hits UE

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HE Department of Energy (DOE) has approved the applications of eight power companies for the conduct of grid impact studies (GIS) for their planned power projects. Latest data from the agency’s web site showed that their proposed projects could generate 273 megawatts (MW) of power capacity. A clearance for the conduct of a GIs is necessary for a power company before it can proceed with the construction of its power-generation project. The eight companies plan to put up nine power projects—six solar, two battery storage and

the remaining hydro. The biggest solar-power project on the list is Sun Asia Energy Inc.’s proposal for a 60-MW generation plant. It will be in Toledo City, Cebu. This is followed by a 50-MW Vista Alegre solar-power farm project of Amatera Renewable Energy Corp. in Bacolod City. Roxas Green Energy Corp. also plans to put up a 30-MW solarpower plant in Nasugbu and Tuy in Batangas. R aslag Cor p. has proposed the construction of a 13-MW solar-photovoltaic power plant in Mexico, Pampanga.

The remaining two solar projects are the 10-MW power of V-Mars Solar Energy Corp. and another 10-MW plant of SJC Solar Power Corp., both will be in San Jose, Nueva Ecija. Meanwhile, AES Philippines Power Partners Co. Ltd. is putting up two battery energy-storage facilities with a capacity of 40 MW each in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. AES had said that the energystorage project would strengthen the Luzon grid by providing fast response ancillary services, like frequency regulation. This solution is especially valu-

able to island grids facing challenges in instantaneously matching supply and demand across a smaller pool of resources. Energy storage can perform this function more effectively than traditional grid resources, resulting in cost savings and lower system-wide emissions. Hedcor Benguet Inc., meanwhile, has plans to pursue its 20MW Kabayan 1 hydroelectric-power project in Benguet. In 2015 over 13,000 MW of power capacit y f rom var ious power projects were approved by the DOE for the conduct of the said study.

RCBC pushes for more Japanese investments

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I Z A L Com me rc i a l B a n k i n g Cor p. (RCBC) and Resona Bank, the leading bank for small and medium industries in the Kansai and Osaka area, have spearheaded the thrust for a greater share of Japanese investments in the Philippines. To date, 55 Japanese companies have established their facilities in the Philippines, following the tie-up agreement they entered into in 2012. RCBC has noted the increase in employment in local communities, as well. In their latest campaign, Yasuhiro Matsumoto, first senior vice president of RCBC’s Japanese Business Relationship Office, accompanied Trade Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. to the Philippine Investment Opportunities Forum held in Osaka, Japan. At least 350 corporate clients attended the forum that was organized by the Resona Foundation for Asia and Oceania, with coorganizers Osaka Prefecture government, the Osaka Municipal government, the Kansai Economic Federation, the Osaka Foundation for Trade and Industry, and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce Industry. This was also supported by Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro), the Resona Bank and the Kinki Osaka Bank. Cristobal highlighted the Manufacturing Resurgence Program of the Philippines and gave as an example the Comprehensive Auto Resurgence Strategy, which provides a package of fiscal and nonfiscal incentives to qualified participants. He said this aims to capture a bigger share of the regional automotive-manufacturing industry in the future. He said the automotive industry has a known multiplier effect across various industries, particularly for shipping and laborintensive manufacturing operations. Cristobal added that the Philippines is being primed to be Japan’s manufacturing hub in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations area, as the Philippines actively seeks trade preferences in key export markets. This is supported by trade preference agreements with the world’s largest

LONG WAIT OVER Barangay Bangkal Preschool nonteaching-staff member Nelly Bisperas is all smiles, as she counts the

back allowance released by the city government of Makati, through the orders of Mayor Romulo Peña. Bisperas, who has been in the service for 30 years, took home P86,700, the highest among the first batch of recipients.

importing countries, such as the European Union (EU) and the United States, under their respective Generalized System of Preference. By setting up manufacturing facilities in the Philippines, companies are able to avail of duty-free market access to the EU and the US. Cristobal also cited the improvements in Philippine competitiveness, improvements in the business climate and ease of doing business. He stressed the advantages of a young Philippine

population with a median age of 23 years that could provide topnotch workers over the next three decades, in contrast with other Asian neighbors with an aging population. Matsumoto highlighted the success secrets of companies operating in the Philippines. As RCBC’s key senior officer focused on Japanese clients, Matsumoto had seen and supported the entry and growth of Japanese companies, especially in export processing zones.

Manila campus B J L. M

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IRE broke out at the University of the East’s (UE) Manila campus on Saturday, damaging at least two buildings before it was finally declared under control by firemen before noon. The fire broke out at exactly 9:35 a.m. at the third floor of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) building. Sources said there was ongoing construction activity at the third floor. There are people working in the building and are using welding equipment. People inside the campus were immediately asked to leave the premises after the fire broke out. More than 20 fire trucks responded to the the fire, which was declared under control at around 10:38 a.m. “We heard a loud explosion. Then the fire alarm rang. Students and faculty members started to panic. The security guards assisted those who were going out of the premises,” said Redgie Buates Pico, an employee at the Office of the Curriculum and Development Instruction (OCDI) in UE told the BusinessMirror. Pico was at the Administration Building when the fire broke out. The fire reached Task Force Charlie, the highest alarm level, in just an hour after it broke out, as it engulfed the entire third and fourth floors of the CAS building. It quickly spread out, affecting the nearby College of Engineering building, which was also severely damaged. A photo shared by a student to a group in Facebook also shows that that the chapel near the CAS building was damaged, but the structure remained intact. The two buildings were recently renovated and all rooms in the buildings are air-conditioned, as part of the UE Administration’s facilities improvement program. Firef ighters estimated the damage at P22 million. No casualties were reported. There was no classes, although the enrolment for freshmen college students is ongoing, when the fire broke out. Arson investigators have yet to determine what triggered the fire. The fire happened a day after the Faculty Center of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City caught fire.

Power company bags ‘advanced rating’ award from Integrity Initiative

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EAM Energy Corp.(TEC) was given the highest possible rating by a private-sector group, which reviews and validates the ethical business practices of private and public entities. “With the advanced rating given by the Integrity Initiative, we are only one of 14 private companies in the Philippines to receive such a distinction from among the more than 2,600 signatories to the integrity pledge,” said John Alcordo, chairman and CEO of TEC.

The Integrity Initiative (II) has conducted an audit on the internal and external business processes of the power company in dealing with employees and external stakeholders, including government regulators and host communities. TEC scored a total of 270 points in the audit, well within the 223 to 296 points required in order to be recognized at the advanced level by the II. Alcordo explained that consis-

tent with the power company’s mandate as the nation’s growth partner, the advanced rating shows that TEC is doing its share in promoting a culture of business integrity which helps the country improve its global competitiveness in order to attract new investments. “We wish to thank the Integr it y Initiative for recog nizing our effor ts at f ur ther improving our cor porate gover nance e f for t s. By pa r t ic ipat i n g i n this, we are helping promote

t he Phi l ippines as a desired v e nu e for i nv e s t me nt s , not only in the energ y sector, but for var ious industr ies as wel l,” A lcordo added. “As our company deals regularly with various stakeholders, including partners in government, both at the local and national levels, it is important that all our dealings are conducted with the highest of ethical standards in mind” he added. T he II was for med by the

Makati Business Club (MBC) and European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) in 2010 to create a culture of integrity, where both private and public sectors commit to ethical business practices and good corporate governance and work together to achieve a levelplaying field that benefits both producers and consumers. TEC, a partnership between Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Marubeni Corp., is one of the

largest independent power producers in the country, with more than 2,000 megaWatts (MW) of insta l led generating capacit y nationwide. TeaM Energ y operates two clean coal facilities. The 735 MW Pagbilao Power Station in Quezon and the 1,218 MW Sual Power Station in Pangasinan. It also has a 20-percent stake in the 1,200-MW natural gas-fired plant in Ilijan, Batangas. Lenie Lectura

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A4 Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

editorial

Economic planning for immediate action

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Called by the DTI as the Comprehensive National Industrial Strategy (CNIS), the plan calls for the raising of the growth rate of our GDP, from the current annual average of 5 percent to 6 percent to 7 percent to 9 percent in the next six years. What makes the plan credible is that it goes down to specific sectors to realize the national objective. The plan calls for the increase of the annual growth rate of the Agricultural sector, from the current 1 percent to 3 percent; the Services sector, from 6 percent to 8 percent; and the Industrial sector, from 6 percent to 10 percent. The plan identifies industries suitable for expansion on the basis of their forward and backward linkages, for maximum impact on related subsectors; and their laborintensity, for their employment-creating capacities. In Agriculture, the specific focus of attention will be rubber, coconut, mangoes and palm-oil production. In Services, it will be tourism and construction; whereas in Industry, it will be manufacturing (automotive, aerospace parts, information technology, foods, garments, furniture, tools and shipbuilding, among other industries). Are the growth rates realistic? They seem to be on the high side for agriculture, where nature, like El Niño and powerful typhoons, continues to hold sway. For industry, especially for manufacturing, much will depend on fiscal and monetary incentives. A downward push for tax rates will be useful, but rock-bottom or negative interest rates drive corporate cash into fixed-income securities, instead of into new ventures or the expansion of existing ones. For Services, which has been the leading sector of the economy in the last three decades, the growth rate seems eminently attainable. The next administration will be well-advised to absorb the plan, as incomplete as it is (lacking an investment component, for instance) into the core of the development program for the next six years. In fact, perhaps, we do not need to wait that long. The present National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) can already announce its support for it. Under the leadership of Dr. Emmanuel F. Esguerra, a respected independent-minded academic economist, the Neda’s endorsement will speed up the integration of the CNIS into the next National Development Plan. The DTI has long stood out as a top-performing agency of the government. Under newly appointed Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., it has remained steadfast to its tradition, perhaps, even exceeding it here and there. We congratulate the secretary, his Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo and Assistant Secretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, and their obviously talented and hard-working staff, for serving their countrymen and countrywomen well.

BM GRAPHICS: ED DAVAD

FTER years of hearing top government officials haranguing us with short-term reviews by well-paid rating agencies saying we are the best-performing economy in this part of the world, it is heartening to see a government department relying on hard work to bring the national economy to a level responsive to our aspirations. We are referring to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) presenting to us in a recent forum a plan for the rapid expansion of the GDP in the next six years, 2016-2022.

TABS may have stabbed the brokers and port stakeholders T

HE country’s two biggest private cargo-handling operators, Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), implemented on March 16 the Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) in the Port of Manila (POM) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP), despite strong objections on the part of customs brokers and all port stakeholders.

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Judge Pedro T. Santiago (Ret.) Benjamin V. Ramos Adebelo D. Gasmin Frederick M. Alegre Marvin Nisperos Estigoy Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Dante S. Castro

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Gospel

S, A , 

This controversial system was reportedly the idea of then-Cabinet Secretary and now acting Foreign Affairs head Jose Rene D. Almendras, who was then the head of the Cabinet Cluster on Port Congestion to address the acute port gridlock that happened sometime in 2014 up to the late months of 2015 in the POM and the MICP brought about by some factors, one of which is the truck-ban ordinance issued by the City of Manila. Under the TABS, customs brokers transacting with the POM and the MICP must enroll in the system as user to enable them to release their cargoes from ATI and ICTSI, and to return their empty containers back to said cargo-handling operators. To use the system, a customs broker must choose an available slot in the system, where a corresponding time is indicated for the release or return of containers. For every successful booking, a customs broker must pay P300 or P1,000 per container. A broker will also be fined P1,625 per container, as late penalty fee, if his delivery truck arrived beyond two hours from the booked time; and P3,251 per container, as no-show penalty fee, if his delivery truck arrived beyond three hours from the booked time. In case of arrival beyond three hours from booked time, a customs broker will be required to book again, forfeiting his previously paid booking fee and paying anew another

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booking fee per container. “These fees imposed and collected by ATI and ICTSI, plus several glitches in the system, are like the massive burden on the shoulders of mythical Atlas, where customs brokers painstakingly shouldered and are continuously shouldering without the right to resist. Otherwise, there will be no transaction with ATI or ICTSI,” a broker lamented. According to sources from these two biggest ports, at least 2,500 containers are processed daily in the two ports. Assuming the number of containers is accurate, a mere P300 as processing fee per container would yield P750,000 daily. So, at seven days a week, four weeks a month and 12 months a year, P252 million will be netted alone from the release of cargoes from these ports. And since the same containers, when emptied, must be returned to the ports, then, in a year, at least P504 million net of value-added tax will go to the pockets and bank accounts of individuals whom the public doesn’t know. According to the gravely affected customs brokers, there is no law, or executive order, administrative order, a circular, much less a notice from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), authorizing the imposition and collection of the fees. Under current government procedures, insofar as the imposition and collection of port charges and all cargo-handling fees are concerned, an application must first be made with the PPA by a port cargo-handling operator, then a public hearing or consultation with stakeholders shall be conducted by the PPA to determine the merits of the application. If convinced, the PPA will issue a circular authorizing such fee or fees, with the same to be published before it will be effective.

N the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the12 and called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the

Port operations and cargo-handling activities are imbued with public service. With the seemingly continuous demonstrations of concerned port stakeholders over the implementation of TABS and the complaints about collection of fees, there is a need for our government to finally step up and investigate this matter. “Otherwise, if, indeed, the complaints of customs brokers and all stakeholders are true, then, as the title says,” according to a broker, “this TABS literally stabbed the brokers and port stakeholders, and will continue stabbing them.” To wit: n First, the implementation of TABS has no basis in law, hence, unlawful; n Second, the implementation of TABS is in derogation of the powers and functions of the PPA enshrined under Presidential Decree 857, or The PPA Charter, as amended; n Third, the implementation of TABS violates the pertinent provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code, as amended; n Fourth, the implementation of TABS is anathema to trade facilitation, unduly hampers the supply chain of goods to the grave peril of the economy; n Fifth, the implementation of TABS, more particularly the enforcement of enrollment fee and pointdeduction system, unduly enriched private respondents ATI and ICTSI to the grave prejudice of brokers and all stakeholders; and n Sixth, the implementation of TABS, more particularly the enforcement of late penalty and no-show fee, is unduly oppressive on the part of brokers and all stakeholders. To reach the writer, e-mail cecilio.arillo@ gmail.com.

nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.—JOHN 20:19-31

Voices

essMirror

opinion@businessmirror.com.ph • Sunday, April 3, 2016 A5

Lighten up, boys A

MAN in deep depression dialed the suicide hot line. He got Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) instead. “I want to end it all,” he said into the phone. “Life means nothing to me.”

F F

By Teddy Locsin Jr.

“You called the right place. Ending life is our business,” was the answer. “Thank God,” he said. “Allah, you mean,” said the voice at the other end of the line. “Whoever,” the man said. “Okay. This is where we meet. We will tell you what you will do,” the ISIS said. “Anything,” the man said. “All righteee! We’re good to go… No, wait,” the ISIS said. “Do you know how to drive a truck?” In the United States, China and the South China Sea, keep in mind: It is important to live your life by a motto. I picked the motto “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Unfortunately, my enemy is his own

worst enemy. So I have to invite him to my barbecues. “The guy who invented the first wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, was a genius,” Sid Caesar said. François: Do you know what kind of a bomb it was? Clouseau: The exploding kind. “My boy f r iend had a se x manual,” Victoria Wood said, “but he was dyslexic.” “I was lying there,” Victoria said, “and he was looking for my vinegar.” A class system is when you discriminate against someone who looks like you. Who discovered that we could get milk from cows? And what did

he think he was doing at the time? I said to my father, “Dad, i wanna get married.” He said, “All right. Who do you want to marry?” I said, “Miss Green.” And he said, “You can’t.” I asked, “Why not?” Dad said, “She’s your half sister. When I was young, I had a motorbike and got around a bit.” I said, “Okay. I’ll marry Miss White.” He said, “Forget about it. She’s your half sister, too.” I was depressed and I looked it. Mom noticed and asked, “What’s wrong with you?” I said, “I told Dad I wanted to marry Miss Green and he said I couldn’t.

She’s my half sister. So I said I’ll marry Miss White. He said, ‘She’s your half sister, too.’” My Mom said, “Look, you go and marry which one you like. He’s not your father anyway.” On winning hearts and minds, Roseanne Barr said, “The quickest way to a man’s heart is through his chest.” I would add, “And to a man’s mind is through his skull.” My sister was with two men in one night. She could hardly walk after that. Can you imagine? Two dinners! Two cannibals were eating a clown. One said to the other, “Does he taste funny to you?” Keep well.

Smart US companies are fixing the pay gap A

B J C | Chicago Tribune/ TNS FORUM

NEW idea is blooming among American employers: They win when they fix their own pay gaps. Suddenly, it’s cool for corporate chieftains to brag about how energetic they are about detecting and correcting gender-pay inequities. Some are spending time, energy and clout to find out if their organizations pay women the same as men for comparable work. And a few, such as Salesforce and Intel, are going further, by using their moment in the pay-equity spotlight to commit to deeper changes that open more ways for women to advance. Finally! The market is rising to the challenge of pay equity. It took heaps of statistics, endless evidence and scoldings from movie stars, but the dam has broken. Every day, more leading employers see that it is in their best interest to compete to be the best at pay equity. And now the federal Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is going to pour vinegar on this long-overdue enlightenment. In a classic case of too little, too late, the EEOC is poised to require organizations with 100 or more employees to collect and report certain pay data, including ethnic, racial and gender breakdowns, across 12 broad categories. The proposed rules would take effect in September 2017, and a 60-day public comment period ends on Friday. The requirement’s goal is to track down pay gaps and take corrective action. But the move—President Barack Obama has directed the EEOC to ratchet up pressure on employers—comes right when healthy competition is accomplishing the same goals. You’d think the EEOC has its hands full running down the pay discrepancy complaints it already gets. By its own admission, the agency has enforced legitimate

claims of unequal pay to the tune of $85 million in “monetary relief” since 2010, when the White House created the Equal Pay Task Force. The additional data the EEOC wants to collect is defined so broadly —grouped into 12 categories—that the resulting comparisons won’t yield much insight. Besides, reams of incisive data and analysis are already being produced by research and advocacy nonprofits, such as the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and Chicago’s own Women Employed. Obama’s and the EEOC’s heavyhanded tactics will push employers back on the defensive, just as employers are finally catching on to the strategic advantages of pay equity innovations to attract talent, build trust and boost reputation. Pay equity is not a quick fix. Topping off a few women’s salaries is a start. Genuine equity that holds up to annual audits requires deep

changes; employers must remove barriers so women can be promoted to higher-paying, higher-level positions. That means addressing how jobs are designed, how work is accomplished and how managers are rewarded for cultivating female talent. The payoff is bigger than keeping the EEOC at bay. Proven pay equity is fundamental to sound management. Arjuna Capital, a Boston-based, socially minded investment firm, is using its stock ownership to get major tech companies to examine their pay practices. After all, tech companies that ignore potential pay gaps not only invite legal risk, but also are not returning maximum shareholder return on talent. So far, Apple, Expedia and Amazon have responded to Arjuna’s challenge by examining and reporting their pay patterns. Outstanding pay equity practices retain women. Chicago-based CPA firm Baker

Tilly closely monitors compensation levels for female professionals in part-time positions to make sure they don’t fall behind market rates. That’s fair in the short run, and also means that the firm doesn’t have to play paycheck catch-up when those women merge back into full-time schedules. Let’s let this newfound appreciation for the power of pay equity play out. The EEOC should hold off on its reporting requirements for a year, maybe two, to let more employers pile onto this rapidly expanding bandwagon. More investors need to wield their power to require companies to show how they use truly fair pay as a mode of delivering return on investments in talent and people. And employers—you’re always asking government to let the market work. Here’s your chance to prove that the market can change the workplace for women better than any law ever could.

A decalogue to understand terrorism and its consequences R

OME—The recent Brussels massacre has created a shortterm reaction, which ignores a long-term projection. All the debate is now about security, police reinforcement, new military strategies, as if terrorism can be solved just as a matter of public order. It is of critical importance to take a more global and comprehensive approach, and accept that we are facing a problem that needs to be approached from various angles. Given the usual restrictions on length of articles in media outlets, a real analytical piece must wait for another occasion. I, therefore, request readers to refer to the links to some of my previous, in order to have detailed information on points that I am not able to address adequately in this article. 1. Lack of a political debate. We see the European political leadership mobilized after every incident, making rhetorical declaration of solidarity and expression of horror, but without any effort for a unified, specific response. It is astonishing to see that the French and Belgian authorities have not even tried to link the actions of the terrorists with their backgrounds and previous actions, when clearly a sociological and cultural analysis is fundamental beyond just police’s measures. While this is of critical importance, it is nowhere in the political debate. 2. No effort is made to explain that Muslim terrorism is, before anything, an internal battle in the Muslim world, and Europe is just conveniently used as the playground. Some 88 percent of Muslims are Sunnis, the main branch of Islam. But no terrorist has been found beside the so-called Wahabism or Salafite branch, born in Saudi Arabia.

I P S

By Roberto Savio

Riyadh has constructed more than 1,600 mosques, staffing them with Salafist Imams, and every year more than $80 million is spent to support Sunnis. For Salafis, the other groups in Islam are infidels, like Sufi or Yadhzites. And the Shias are the main enemy. So Iran, where the majority of Shias live, is the main enemy of Saudi Arabia, and they fight each other through proxy’s wars, from Syria to Yemen, with the number of victims much larger than all the Europeans victims of attentates. To make Islam as the promoter of all terrorism, is, therefore, a dramatic mistake. 3. The fight between Saudi Arabia and Iran, until and unless controlled by Russia and the United States, will continue, until the time when Saudi Arabia enters into a serious crisis, due to the fact that its present level of expenditure is not any longer supported by the price of petrol. The International Monetary Fund has

already indicated to Riyadh that bankruptcy is imminent within a decade, unless expenditure levels are brought down. Until now, Saudi Arabia has been supported by all the Western powers, especially the US, for its position of importance as the main oil exporter. The United Nations panel of experts on Yemen has documented “119 coalition sorties relating to violations of the laws of war,” reported Human Rights Watch, which along with the Amnesty International and other organizations are asking for an arm’s embargo. But Saudi Arabia is the world’s second-largest arms

importer of the world. Anyhow, it is very unlikely that Saudi Arabia and its allies from the Gulf countries will be able to take on the leadership of the Sunni world, because of its intolerance of a branch of Islam, and in the long run, compete with a much larger and developed Iran. But for the moment, everybody has been turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia’s role in spreading Salafism. 4. Salafism brings us to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which follows this branch of Islam as the official religion, even radicalizing it more. However, there is a growing

consensus that ISIS is using religion as a tool for enrolment, and pull together all those who are frustrated by secularism and modernization. ISIS, as a tangible entity, according to military experts, could be defeated in a couple of weeks, by two mechanized brigades. But it would affect the 600,000 people, which are in its territory, and escalate the theory propagated by them that Muslims have always been subjected to the Christian crusaders, who installed the monarchs and Emirs on their thrones, and have effectively run the Arab world in their own interest. The crusaders will never allow a real Arab

entity, and will continue to govern through their puppets. This vision and the call for a holy war against the invaders and the Arab governments will continue after the death of ISIS as a territorial entity, and get a responsive chord in the entire Arab world, because it is based on historical facts. So the ISIS call will survive the Caliphate. 5. Europe’s reaction has been not to intervene seriously against ISIS (and Russia even less), but continue supporting factions in the Syrian war. The continent’s responsibilities in the wave of refugees fleeing Syria and Libya are clear, but of no consequence. Besides, by taking a totally illegal decision on how to deal with refugees, Europe entered in a Faustian pact with Turkey, a country which has turned a blind eye to ISIS, and is clearly against the principles of democracy that Europe advances. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees and Doctors without Borders have withdrawn from Greece, declaring the plan illegal. Of course, in the Arab world, this does not go unnoticed, and the gap with the West is steadily increasing. In the rhetoric of the right-wing countries of Europe (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia), and of the right-wing parties, refugees have become the bearer of terrorism in Europe. Europe has not even been able to implement obvious measures of coordination on terrorism because of the growing jealousy of the governments, and there is no strategy on this issue, beside rhetoric which plays well into the hands of ISIS.

Roberto Savio is founder and president emeritus of the Inter Press Service (news agency and publisher of Other News).

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

A6 Sunday, April 3, 2016

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Unesco declares Albay ‘Aquino administration blamed biosphere reserve area for killing of Kidapawan protesters’ L

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B J L. M

AUSE-ORIENTED groups on Saturday condemned the attack against protesting farmers in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, by policemen, as they demanded for food aid and agricultural support from the government, in the face of the severe impact of El Niño in the Mindanao region.

At least three protesters were killed and more than a hundred protesters were injured, as shots were fired during the violent dispersal that sent 5,000 protesters scampering for their safety on Friday. The police claimed that the protesters were “infiltrated” by armed men who fired the shots first, prompting the policemen to return fire. T he K i lusa ng Magbubu k id ng Pilipinas (KMP) blamed the Aquino administration’s “incompetence and negligence” for what it calls as the “Kidapawan Massacre” and called for the immediate pull out of police and military troops out of the United Methodist Church (UMC) compound, where the protesting farmers have settled in. The policemen and soldiers entered the compound to search for weapons on strength of a search warrant issued by a local judge. The protesters were demanding for food subsidy from the government in the face of extreme hunger

and poverty that was aggravated by the prolonged drought, caused by El Niño dried-up lands, affecting the farming communities in Mindanao. In a statement, KMP Chairman Rafael Mariano said the government failed to provide relief to the affected farmers, who have been complaining against the adverse impact of El Niño for a long time. “The drought has been dragging on for more than a year now, and yet, no decisive action and immediate relief was extended by the government to farmers,” Mariano said. A KMP statement said, “The incompetence and gross negligence of the Aquino administration in addressing the prolonged drought is the main culprit in the carnage.” Mariano chided the Aquino administration for dilly-dallying in distributing food aid, particularly rice, to the affected farmers despite the widespread public clamor for government support. “The DA [Department of Agriculture] even downplayed the effects of the drought, and all it did

was to conduct cloud-seeding and raffle off farm equipment dubbed by the DA itself as El Niño sortie,” Mariano lamented. Mariano said the continuing harassment of the affected farmers, perpetrated by the local government, headed by North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, aggravated the situation. KMP said a letter from Mendoza addressed to Bishop Ciriaco Francisco accused the bishop of “protecting and providing assistance” to the “illegal protesters” and “harboring” them at the compound of the United Methodist Church. Mendoza, Mariano said, even warned the protestant bishop that “harboring these protesters is punishable by law” and that the local government “might be constrained to take legal action” against the bishop. Reports reaching the KMP office also said the police and military served a search warrant for firearms and arrested 44 farmers, including two women, at the UMC compound on Saturday morning. Environmental group KalikasanPNE echoed KMP’s sentiment, blaming the Aquino administration’s failure to prepare for the impact of El Niño. “The weather bureau has warned of the El Niño cycle’s impacts as early as 2014, and furthered in 2015 that it will be prolonged up to June to July this year. After two years of failing to deliver sufficient agricultural support to El Niño-affected peasant communities, it is utterly callous that the only government response that the farmers got is a hail of bullets,” Clemente Bautista, national coordinator, KalikasanPNE said.

The weather bureau announced the start of the El Niño cycle in 2014, but released a series of El Niño warnings only starting June 2015. It warned the public that the current cycle was the “strongest in modern history” and will be prolonged well into the middle of 2016. Eighty-one provinces, most of them in Mindanao, were warned to prepare for possible drought. On January 21, North Cotabato declared a state of calamity due to El Niño. “Two months after North Cotabato’s state-of-calamity declaration, farmers still did not get any immediate food- or agriculturalimplement aid. Criminal neglect from the national government down to the local level, hallmarks of the Aquino administration’s brand of confronting disasters and climate impacts, is what made the crisis faced by North Cotabato farmers inevitable,” Bautista said. The group Agham-Advocates of Science and Technology for the People said the farmers’ barricade was a peaceful protest action with a just cause. Salvador France, vice chairman of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas said the police, the military, together with the local officials who ordered the dispersal should be held accountable for the incident in Kidapawan City. “Those involved in this carnage must be prosecuted immediately and no one should get away with this. President Aquino left the farmers and the Filipino people with a gory legacy. We will assure that this will be included in the charges that he will face right after he steps out of Malacañang,” France added. With Marvyn N. Benaning

EGAZPI CITY—The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) recently declared Albay as a biosphere reserve, along with its 257,000 hectares of diverse terrestrial and marine area, which is protected by a pioneering and planned sustainable-development strategy. The declaration was announced during the conference of the international coordinating council of the agency’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program in Lima, Peru, on March 18. Albay is now among the world’s 669 biosphere reserves in 120 countries. It is one of the 20 new sites of protected World Network of biospheres declared. As such, it is now a place for learning about sustainable development to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with the sustainable use of natural resources. It is the third site declared by Unesco as a biosphere reserve in the Philippines. The other two are Palawan (1992) and Puerto Galera in Mindoro (2002). The latter, however, is reportedly at risk of deletion, for certain reasons. Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who worked hard to get his province’s designation as a biosphere reserve, said Albay now qualifies for future resources support for its protection from international funding agencies, among them the Green Climate Fund (GCF) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. As GCF cochairman in 20132014, he said they “helped introduce cultural heritage as fundable activity for adaptation and biosphere for antigreenhouse emission.” The GCF has raised $10.4 billion, which can be tapped and mobilized for vulnerable sites in developing countries determined by Unesco, he added. Aside from the Biosphere Reserve designation, Unesco has, likewise, already included the near-perfect cone Mayon Volcano, which is popular worldwide, on its tentative list of World Heritage Sites since last year. Mayon’s favorite postcard partner, the 201 Cagsawa Ruins, was declared recently by the National Historical Commission as a National Cultural Treasure. The Albay governor who personally attended the MAB conference

in Lima said Albay’s appointment as a biosphere reserve is “our country’s modest contribution to the intergenerational transfer of resources to the future of the Philippines and the future of everyone.” He explained that the Unesco recognition is a global “ecological marker of excellence and a challenge to our community in mobilizing efforts for biodiversity protection.” He added: “The recognition will inspire our local government and our community in our journey to the future based on shared values, shared goals and shared impacts for a transformation into a low emission, inclusive and empowering, resilient and sustainable development. We, in Albay, are deeply committed, nationally and internationally, to climate-change mitigation and adaptation. For these reasons, we believe we can contribute greatly to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and robust implementation of the recently adopted Lima Declaration and Action Plan.” Albay’s strong points include its firm commitment to its ecosystems, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, which are backed by scientific and institutionalized programs. The province has made sustainability as framework of its development programs, along with its firm commitment to protect its natural habitats, as evidenced by its increased forest cover to 298,298 hectares in 2010, an 88-percent expansion from its 44,891 hectares in 2003. Based on recent MAB Advisory Committee commentaries, Albay has now increased the terrestrial buffer zone from 35,000 hectares to over 62,000 hectares. Significantly, the revised zoning of Albay now includes over 68,000 hectares as marine buffer zone and over 65,000 hectares as a marine transition zone. In addition, measures have been strengthened to protect endangered turtle spawning sites across Albay, he added. Unesco, in its report, noted that Albay’s “high-conservation value is constituted notably by its 182 terrestrial plant species, 46 of which are endemic; its marine and coastal ecosystems include 12 species of mangrove, 40 species of seaweeds, or macro-algae, and 10 species of sea grass; and five of the world’s seven species of marine turtles are to be found in Albay.” PNA

Logistics company grants ₧.75 million to drone tech start-up

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BEST IN ITS CLASS Alphanetworld took the limelight in the first Asian Networking Convention and Expo 2016 after earning the nod of jurors and the bulk of online votes by participants from more

than 50 companies to emerge as “The Best New Company of the Year” among direct-consumer sales and multilevel-marketing companies. Alphanetworld-nominated independent distributor Christian Ian Ocampo (middle) has also earned the recognition “Best Leader of the Year.”

PHL calls for intl cooperation, partnership in nuclear security

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CIENCE Secretary Mario G. Montejo called for stronger international cooperation and partnership in ensuring that terrorists do not get hold of weapons of mass destruction. Speaking during the final Nuclear Security Summit (NSS 2016) hosted by US President Barack Obama, Montejo said, “Domestic frameworks can be further augmented through international cooperation, both at

regional and international levels, such as in the UN, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We underscore the importance of the regular exchange of information among countries as a vital tool to thwart terrorist objectives.” The Summit adopted a joint communique that will advance tangible improvements in nuc lea r sec u r it y beh av ior a nd

strengthen the global nuclear security architecture. It also endorsed the Action Plans for five key international organizations and institutions, namely: International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations, International Policed Organization, Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, and Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.

The action plans reflect the intent of countries, in their roles as members of these organizations, to strengthen their contributions to nuclear security. The Summit was attended by 52 heads of state and ministers, including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chinese President Xi Jinping, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal. Recto Mercene

N a joint effort to discover and empower the next big innovation addressing mobility, the logistics company LBC and its corporate social-responsibility arm Impact Hub Manila awarded SkyEye Inc. P.75 million. SkyEye received a grand prize, amounting to P750,000, which includes seed funding of P320,000. SkyEye Inc. was started by a group of researchers and engineers gathering weather data and producing maps with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone technology. It has since grown into a technically-skilled enterprise, dedicated to maximizing UAV technology in various applications—from comprehensive and cost-efficient land surveying, to deed titling, infrastructure planning and construction, to humanitarian response. It is their mission to provide clients with the optimized technology, as well as the guidance to make better decisions about property, land and developments. The winning start-up was among three teams that pitched their businesses to a panel of industry experts and investors, led by LBC Chief Innovation Officer Dino Araneta. Aside from SkyEye, two other companies entered the three-month Cohort Phase of the Fellowship.

Food Planner Inc. is a postharvest food-processing initiative taking food directly from the farmers to the market. It is pioneering the production of dehydrated food products. Wave Inc. is a ride-sharing, booking and social platform, which acts as an affordable alternative for daily commuters and urban professionals. The teams were exposed to esteemed mentors and gained access to a global network of innovators, as well as the local start-up community. “Our team was able to grow really fast over the last three months,” said Matthew Cua, cofounder of SkyEye. “As engineers, thinking about business models and thinking about sales is not a natural thing for us. The whole program enabled us to better communicate our value proposition and make it more compelling. We were able to make our tool sets as entrepreneurs even stronger and gain valuable insights from industry experts and other start-ups. Overall, we are a stronger company now.” The judges chose SkyEye Inc. because of its innovative approach combining hardware, software and highly talented people—to find creative and practical uses for drones.

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| SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph sports@businessmirror.com.ph

HOME STREAK K BUSTED US USTED S TEPHEN CURRY missed a long three-pointer to tie it with 5.3 seconds left, as the Golden State Warriors suffered their first home defeat in more than 14 months on Friday night. The Warriors lost, 109-106, to the Boston Celtics to snap a National Basketball Association (NBA)-record 54game home-winning streak in the regular season at Oracle Arena that included 36 straight home wins to start this season. Golden State hadn’t lost at home since a 113-111 overtime defeat to the Bulls on January 27, 2015. Isaiah Thomas made a driving lay-up with 8.3 seconds left on the way to 22 points for Boston. Curry finished with 29 points for the Warriors (68-8), who must win five of their final six games to break the 1995-1996

Bulls’ record of 72 wins. Curry’s final look from long range fell short on a night he had been spectacular—eight-of-14—from beyond the arc. Harrison Barnes grabbed the offensive rebound and missed on a desperation heave with 0.2 seconds left. LeBron James had 29 points to pass another Hall of Famer on the NBA’s career scoring list, as the Cleveland Cavaliers recovered from blowing a big firsthalf lead to win at Atlanta, 110-108, in overtime. James had 16 rebounds and nine assists, just missing a triple-double. James moved past Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson into 11th place on the NBA’s scoring list when he scored on a lay-up late in the third quarter. The basket gave James 26,711 points. He began the night 21 points behind Robertson’s 26,710 points. The Cavaliers still lead Toronto by

2-½ games in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors won, 99-95, at Memphis, with DeMar DeRozan scoring 27 points and Kyle Lowry 22. Terrence Ross was key in holding off Memphis, scoring all 12 of his points in the final period through four three-pointers. Kemba Walker had 27 points and 11 rebounds to help the Charlotte Hornets beat the visiting Philadelphia 76ers, 10091, leaving them on the verge of clinching an Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Hornets (44-31) can wrap up a postseason berth for the second time in three seasons if Detroit beats Chicago on Saturday night. Walker had three threepointers late in the fourth quarter to seal the win. J.J. Barea scored 29 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 19, as the Dallas Mavericks won at Detroit, 98-89, to stay

tied with Utah tah for seventh place in the Western Conference. Even with the loss, Detroit leads eighthplace Indiana by a half-game and ninthplace Chicago by 1-½ games in the East. Gordon Hayward scored 22 points, as Utah tah beat the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, 98-85, to hold on to their place in the playoff race. The Jazz (38-38) are tied with Dallas and are a game ahead of Houston. In other games, Washington won, 106-99, at Phoenix to move within 2-1/2 games of idle Indiana for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, the New York Knicks beat the Brooklyn Nets, 105-91, to split the four-game season series with their city rival, Jabari Parker scored 26 points as Milwaukee won, 113-110, at home against Orlando, and Miami won, 112-106, at Sacramento. AP

BOSTON Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas (4) celebrates after stunning the Golden State Warriors at home. AP

FIERY START NETS LASCUÑAA WI WIN N

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RACING for a shootout, Tony Lascuña turned the final round of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Luisita Championship into a blowout, firing a nearimpeccable seven-under 65 and winning by four over Korean Park Jun-hyeok on Saturday in Tarlac. It was vintage Lascuña right from tee-off in the last 18 holes of the P3.5-million championship— three birdies in the first four holes, an eagle on the fifth and another birdie on the seventh of the Luisita Golf and Country Club. From a tied match with rookie Justin Quiban after 54 holes, the veteran Davaoeño ace moved up by four at the turn, this time over an equally charging Park with a stirring six-under 30. He could’ve made their backside stint a victory walk of sort but the former three-time Order of Merit (OOM) champion still went for the course record, hitting back-to-back birdies from No. 12 for an eight-under card, although an inconsequential bogey on the par-5 16th foiled his bid to produce a new mark. Instead, he settled for that 65 set by Danny de los Santos in 1988 and matched by Quiban in the second round on Thursday for a 16-under 272 total worth P650,000. “Finally, I made it after four tries,” said Lascuña, after completing his domination of the stellar field marred by the pullout of reigning OOM

2012 to 2014, until Tabuena scored on a breakout season last year. In a flight ahead, Park actually matched Lascuña’s sizzler of a frontside 30 and moved within three with another birdie on the 10th to equal the course record. But that was the closest that the Korean could get, as he settled for pars in the next five holes, bogeyed the par-5 16th but birdied the tough par-3 17th for that 65 and a 276. He pocketed the runner-up purse of P430,000. “I wanted to win by my effort fell short,” Park said. Que atoned for a third round 73 ruined by a “7” on the 17th, as he closed out with a 31 for a bogey-free 65 and tied for third with Quiban at 10-under 278. The former three-time Asian Tour winner, priming up for the Japan Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour, spiked his fiery windup with an eagle on the par-5 12th and got back at No. 17 with a birdie. Quiban, impressive in his first crack at the pro ranks after three rounds, did hold his own in the early going, matching Lascuña’s eagle feat on the fifth and hitting one birdie.

TONY LASCUÑA displays his trophy after winning the Luisita Championship.

champion Miguel Tabuena in the second round. It was Lascuña’s first win at the former home of the President’s Cup, after finishing tied for second here last year, ending up 12th in the Azucarera de Tarlac Open last September and sharing for 18th in the Philippine Open last December. True to his vow, he banked on his putting all throughout the final round, drilling early birdies inside 7 feet in the first four holes and hitting a pitch-in eagle from 20 yards off a 5-iron second shot from 230 yards on No. 5. “My putting was pretty good, and it was the key to my victory,” said Lascuña, who has dominated the local circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. from

But he stumbled with two bogeys and fell by five at the turn despite a 35. He recovered with back-to-back birdies from No. 11, fell back with back-to-back bogeys from No. 14 but birdie the final hole for a second straight 71 in an impressive performance by the rookie pro. “He’s [Lascuña] really good. I really wanted to win, but the tournament wasn’t meant for me,” Quiban said. Japanese Toru Nakajima, who upstaged Lascuña and Quiban with a 69 in the third round to close within one, bowed out early with two bogeys and no birdie to show at the front. He struggled to finish with a 73 and dropped to solo fifth at 281. Brothers Jay and Rufino Bayron rallied with identical 67s and shared sixth place at 282, while Orlan Sumcad and Jerson Balasabas finished tied at eighth at 283 with similar 71s, and Albin Engino matched par 72 for a 284 for 10th. Last year’s champion Charles Hong turned in a 71 to share 11th place with Korean Seok Junmin, who had a 72, at 286 in the second leg of the 17-stage ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Summit Mineral Water, Pacsports, TaylorMade, Sharp and Champion.

PACMAN IN OLYMPICS? L AS VEGAS—Manny Pacquiao says he’s thinking about fighting for his country in the Olympics this summer if the boxing competition is open to professional fighters. His promoter, though, thinks the idea of any pro fighting in Rio—much less the eight-time world champion— is a terrible idea. “The idea you’ll allow professionals into the Olympics at this short notice is absolutely insane,” promoter Bob Arum said. “These people ought to have their heads examined.” The head of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has proposed allowing pros in the Olympics, though it’s doubtful the plan would be implemented by Rio, because qualification tournaments are either under way or have already been held for boxers in most countries. Pacquiao, who fights Timothy Bradley next week in his first bout since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May, said on Friday the idea of boxing for a gold medal intrigues him. “I’m not saying I’m going to fight or saying I’m not,” Pacquiao said “I’m not closing the door. I’m thinking about it.” Pacquiao is running for the Senate in his native Philippines, and a win in the elections next month could put an end to his boxing career as he concentrates on politics. But the possibility of fighting for his country in the Olympics could also be used to help him win votes in the campaign. No Filipino has ever won a gold medal in the Olympics, though boxers

have won a total of five silver and bronze. A gold medal for Pacquiao would, if anything, cement his status forever as the country’s greatest sports hero. Trainer Freddie Roach said he believes the 37-year-old Pacquiao has been reenergized in training for Bradley and still has fights left in him. Pacquiao said earlier he planned to retire after fighting Bradley, but has since wavered. “He asked me if I would train him if they let pros in the Olympics,” Roach said. “I said, of course, I will.” Pacquiao and Bradley meet for the third time at the MGM Grand in a fight that will pay him $20 million. Bradley won their first fight in a controversial decision, and Pacquiao dominated him the second time they met. Pacquiao is currently a congressman in the Philippines, and there is talk of him some day becoming a presidential candidate should he win a seat in the Senate. Arum said he can’t imagine Pacquiao fighting teenage amateurs in what would surely be mismatches in the Olympics. “Pros can play basketball in the Olympics, yes,” Arum said. “But in basketball you just dunk over somebody. It’s not a hurt game. If you put experienced pros in with rank amateurs, there will be serious health consequences.” Even if pros are not allowed in Rio, the boxing will resemble the pro game more, with a 10-point must system scoring and no headgear for the first time. AP

Navy-MVP Sports race duel looms as Ronda fires off

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LA Salle’s Mika Reyes (center) tries to score against Mary Anne Mendrez (left) and Maria Shaya Adorador of University of the East. ROY DOMINGO

LADY SPIKERS BAG F4 INCENTIVE

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E LA SALLE claimed the twice-to-beat advantage after dispatching University of the East (UE) in a one-sided affair, 25-16, 25-17, 25-11, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 78 women’s volleyball on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The Lady Archers moved to top spot with 10 wins against two losses and, more important, gained the twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four round. “Sinasabi ko lang sa mga bata mas maganda ‘yung daanan mo lahat ng opponent na talunin then para ma-build ‘yung confidence pagdating sa semis,” La Salle Head Coach Ramil de Jesus said. “Ngayon, magfo-focus na kami siguro kung sino ’yung posibleng makatapat.” The Lady Spikers hardly sweat in locking one of the top two spots, as they led from start to finish against the erratic Lady Red Warriors. The Taft-based volleybelles built a 20-3 lead in the third set that shattered the confidence of UE in the lopsided match.

Kim Kianna Dy topscored for the Lady Archers with14 hits on eight attacks, three service aces and three blocks, while Ara Galang chipped in 12 points on nine spikes, two aces and a block. La Salle’s remaining two games are against arch rivals Ateneo de Manila on April 10 and National University (NU) on April 13. De Jesus said they will use those matches as preparation for the semifinal round. “Sa ngayon naman no bearing na kasi ’yung mga games, ‘yung top two wala nang aabot, kumbaga placing na lang ’yung kukunin,” de Jesus added. “Mas maganda ‘yung less pressure kasi mas makakapaglaro ka ng hinding-hindi kailangan manalo. At least, sa side ng players malaki ‘yun, kasi hindi papasok sa court ng pressured dahil kailangan manalo.” Nobody scored double figures for the Lady Red Warriors with Shaya Adorador limited to seven points as they remained winless in 12 games this season and absorbed their 57th straight loss dating back Season 74. In men’s play, Adamson and NU joined

league-leader Ateneo (10-1) in the Final Four stage after beating their respective rivals. The Bulldogs booked their fourth straight Final Four ticket after shackling Far Eastern University (FEU) in straight sets, 28-26, 25-18, 25-20. Madzlan Gampong had an all-around game for NU with 17 hits on 15 kills and two blocks, including 10 excellent receptions and eight digs, while Francis Saura chipped in 11 points highlighted by 10 attacks. The Falcons, on the other hand, copped their fifth straight postseason appearance after beating UE in four sets, 25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, to strengthen their grip in the second seed as they improved to 9-3. Mike Sudaria led Adamson with 21 points on 16 spikes, three blocks, and two aces including four digs. Jerome Sarmiento added 13 markers, while playmaker Nico Ramirez paced the team with 43 excellent sets, including four points. FEU dropped to fifth spot with 6-7 slate, while UE stayed winless after 12 games. Lance Agcaoili

LOOMING battle between Navy-Standard Insurance and MVP Sports Foundation looms when the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016 holds its culminating Luzon Leg starting at the Paseo de Santa Rosa in Laguna on Sunday and ending on mountaintop Baguio City on April 9. Reigning Visayas Leg champion Ronald Oranza, Mindanao Leg winner Jan Paul Morales and Visayas Leg’s second placer Rudy Roque will spearhead Navy’s campaign, while LBCMVPSF will be headed by last year’s runner-up George Oconer and Rustom Lim, when the country’s biggest cycling race goes to Luzon. Displaying strong riding skills and superb teamwork, Navy riders dominated the first two stages and should go for a sweep come Luzon. “We will definitely try,” said Oranza, who hails from Villasis, Pangasinan, or the country’s cycling mecca. LBC-MVP Sports Foundation is also expected to pose a big threat to Navy’s sweep bid, after its riders vow to fight back strong following a disaappointing performance in the Visayas leg. “I’ll be looking at a better performance compared to last time,” said MVPSF skipper George Oconer, who finished only 11th, despite despite being one of the fancied riders following a runner-up effort to last year’s titleholder Santy Barnachea. Rustom Lim and Ronnilan Quita were the saving graces the last time. Lim ended up third overall after a podium finish in Stage One in Bagom, Negros Occidental, and a victory in Stage Five in Roxas City, while Quita took second behind eventual Stage Four winner Joel Calderon, also in Roxas City. “I’m working hard to really win a stage and make a name for myself,” said the 21-yearold Quita, who has made it known he’s using cycling to getting another chance at education after stopping attending class after Grade Six due to poverty.

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UNDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph sports@businessmirror.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

AS TIGER FADES AWAY, LET’S NOT FORGET HIS GREATNESS

MISSING THE MASTER T

HE azaleas are blooming, the pollen is swirling, and greensport coats are about to be in vogue for one whole week. Yet, something is missing at this dawning of spring. Tiger Woods. That Woods will be missing from Augusta National for the first major of the year is beside the point. It’s not like he’d have been a Masters contender, not with the broken-down body that has kept him off the course for more than seven months. It’s probably best that he’s staying away, unless he wanted to take a crack at the ceremonial opening tee shot. Now that Arnold Palmer has bowed out, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player need someone to complete their threesome. All kidding aside, what’s missing is something that’s never coming back. Tiger Woods in his prime. While there’s no question the future of the game is in good hands with Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Rickie Fowler, none of them is likely to match—or even come close—to what Woods did at the height of his dominance. Spieth gave it a run last year, winning the Masters and the US Open, just missing out on a playoff at the British Open, and taking the runner-up spot at the Professional Golfers’ Association

(PGA) championship. Now let’s see if the young Texan can keep it up for another decade or so. “It’s hard to explain to Jordan coming out now how [Woods] was just so much better than everyone,” Adam Scott says. “We’re all quick to forget that sometimes.” Indeed, w i t h more and m o r e time to ref lect on Woods’s legacy— after all, he hasn’t won a major since his one-legged conquest at the 2008 US Open—the enormity of his accomplishments feels like it was dropped on us from another world, transforming this lazy, countryclub game into something hip, exciting, must-see TV. Millions of people, who had never watched a golf tournament, tuned in every time Woods was on the course. As the ratings can attest, many of them didn’t stick around once he faded away. Even now, the breathless speculation about whether he’d play in the Masters shows how much cachet he still carries. Woods, like so many great athletes in the sunset of their careers, still seems to believe he can win major titles. He surely hasn’t given up on Nicklaus’s Holy Grail of records, those 18 major championships. Even Nicklaus, who’s made it clear he likes the view from the top

just fine, wishes Woods had a few more good years in him, to at least make it a fair fight. “I’ve told Tiger many times... nobody wants their records to be broken, but I don’t want you

not to have the ability to have that opportunity to do so by your health,” Nicklaus says. From his first major title at the Masters in 1997, when he shot a record 18-under score at age 21, to that US Open triumph at Torrey Pines eight years ago, Woods played the game better than anyone before him and, we’re willing to wager, anyone to come in ours or several other lifetimes. Over the course of 46 majors, he won 14 times and was runnerup on five other occasions. He had six more finishes inside the top 5, four more where he was in the top 10. Only nine times did he finish outside the top 20 during that stunning stretch. He missed one cut, in 2006 at the US Open shortly after the death of his father. Woods bounced back from that heartache to win four of the next eight majors. And, then, his body betrayed him. Knee surgery knocked him out for the rest of 2008. These days, he’s trying to come back from two surgeries on his wobbly back, not exactly where a golfer, who just turned 40, wants to be at this point in his career.

THE Masters won’t be the same without Tiger Woods. AP

But we can always fall back on those memories from the first 16 months of the last decade, when Woods not only romped to four straight major titles over two calendar years— the Tiger Slam— he thoroughly demolished anyone who got in his way. His 15-stroke win at the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach will forever be the standard for what golf can be at its closest point to perfection. “He inspired all of us to play golf like he did,” Scott says. “I feel so fortunate to have played practice rounds with Tiger at majors in the years 2000, 2001 and really see up close what is the best golf I’ve ever seen. Just head and shoulders above the rest.” That’s what we’ll miss next week at the Masters. Whether Woods shows up or not. AP

DJOKOVIC VERSUS NISHIKORI

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EY BISCAYNE, Florida—Basking in cheers following his latest victory, a weary but happy Novak Djokovic kissed his hand and patted the stadium court concrete, celebrating his return to the Miami Open final. In sweltering semifinal sunshine on Friday, Djokovic won a thrilling tiebreaker to beat David Goffin, 7-6 (5), 6-4. The margin was so slim a blown overhead by Goffin might have made all the difference. Djokovic needs one more victory to match Andre Agassi’s tournament record of six men’s titles, which is why he showed his affection for the court. “A little kiss for good-bye and see you in two days,” Djokovic said. “I wanted to make the court feel my love. It’s one of my favorite courts.” His opponent on Sunday will be steady Kei Nishikori, who committed only eight unforced errors in 119 points and beat big-swinging Nick Kyrgios, 6-3, 7-5. Seeded No. 6, Nishikori saved five-match points in a quarterfinal victory over Gael Monfils, and built a more comfortable margin against Kyrgios by breaking serve four times. Nishikori is bidding for his first Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Masters title, while Djokovic will try for his 28th, which would break the record he shares with Rafael Nadal. “It’s going to be tough, for sure,” Nishikori said. “He has been playing well. I hope I can play another good match.” Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka plays 2006 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the women’s final on Saturday. Djokovic reached set point in the tiebreaker and worked hard to win it with a frantic 16-shot exchange typical that typified the entertaining match. He dug out shots in both corners and chased down a pair of volleys, finally switching from defense to offense by flicking a lob too high for the 5-foot-11 Goffin to handle. That clinched the set, and, as fans roared, the world’s No. 1 player walked to his chair with his index finger aloft. The tiebreaker turned four points earlier, at four-all. Goffin had an easy putaway overhead near the net and inexplicably hit it directly to a surprised Djokovic, who invented a shot in

response, raising the racket strings in front of his face to patty-cake a deep lob. Goffin chased the ball down and the rally continued until Djokovic tapped a drop volley for a winner. “I was a bit fortunate in the tiebreaker,” Djokovic said. “But I made him play always an extra shot.” Djokovic also earned points for sportsmanship. When Goffin challenged a call while returning serve, Djokovic waved off the replay, indicating it was unneeded because the linesman’s ruling was correct. “Really fair play,” Goffin said, before noting with a chuckle that Djokovic went on to win the point anyway. Eager to avoid a third set on an 87-degree afternoon, Djokovic earned the only break of the second set to take a 4-3 lead and lost only one point in his final two service games. “Physically, it was a great battle with a lot of exchanges from the baseline,” Djokovic said. “We were both trying to catch our breath at some points.” Djokovic showed no signs of lingering issues from the back spasms that bothered him in the quarterfinals. He improved to 27-1 this year, as he closed in on his fourth title of 2016. On Key Biscayne, where he has won 15 consecutive matches, he’s bidding for his third title in a row. He has reached the final of his past 11 Masters tournaments. AP

SEBRIAN Novak Djokovic celebrates his semifinal victory over David Goffin of Belgium in the Miami Open. AP

WrestleMania looks to upstage NCAA F4

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WE bills WrestleMania as its Super Bowl. WrestleMania is always the biggest, baddest fight night of the year—and on Sunday, maybe of all time. Forget the Final Four. The true extravaganza this weekend in Texas is WrestleMania. WWE is headed to a stadium worthy of a Super Bowl, and has lofty expectations of stuffing 100,000 fans inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The roughly five-hour card is highlighted by three matches worthy of the main event. “Triple H” Hunter Hearst Helmsley defends the WWE world heavyweight championship against Roman Reigns; former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Brock Lesnar fights Dean Ambrose in a no-holds barred street fight; and Shane McMahon takes on The Undertaker in a Hell in the Cell match. “I love being in the ring, I always have,” Lesnar said. “I believe somewhere deep down when God created me that I was to be a performer in some way, shape or form, whether it was in the octagon, the wrestling mat or the squared circle.” WWE has high hopes that not only will WrestleMania 32 top the 93,173 fans at WrestleMania III in 1987 and set the company’s attendance mark, but that it can showcase the grandest card of all time. Just like in sports, injuries fractured Chairman Vince McMahon’s fantasy story lines. Superstars John Cena, Seth Rollins and Randy Orton will all miss the show. Daniel Bryan, who won the WWE championship two years ago at WrestleMania, retired this year because of lingering effects of concussions. Sting, in one of the main bouts last year, is the headliner at the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday night. Even undercard wrestlers, like Luke Harper, Neville, Nikki Bella and Tyson Kidd are out with injuries. It’s akin to the Golden State Warriors losing Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson right before the playoffs. But the show goes on. Not unlike at the college basketball Final Four in Houston, there are benchwarmers (The Social Outcasts), bricks (a potential street-fight weapon), flops (paging Ric Flair), jumpers (Kalisto’s ring entrance), even big treys (The New Day). Every good game needs The Rock. Dwayne Johnson takes a break from filming his latest blockbuster to return to an unspecified role at WrestleMania. He had UFC star Ronda Rousey by his side last year in a verbal smackdown with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon that had fans clamoring for some sort of match at this year’s WrestleMania. Perhaps, on Sunday, Johnson will return to aid his real-life cousin Reigns and layeth the smacketh down on some bad guys. “Been working on a surprise or two for months now for the most important part of the show—the fans,” Johnson wrote on an Instagram post. But each saucy storyline needs a twist, and maybe Reigns ending the show with his finishing spear on Johnson and holding the title belt high over his head as 100,000 fans boo him could become his one shining moment. It’s fantasy booking for sure, so don’t bet on that finish. The actual matches, though, are fair game. An online gambling company based in Canada, Bovada, lists Reigns at minus-700 to top Triple H, and has Kevin Owens and The New Day among the other favorites on the card. Such odds aren’t offered in Las Vegas, which prohibits betting on contests where the outcome is known in advance. For fans watching on TV, WWE makes the show available on its own network for $9.99 a month—and for $59.95 on pay-per-view—and new subscribers will get WrestleMania for free as part of a monthlong trial at WWENetwork. com. The Hall of Fame ceremony and a WrestleMania kickoff show on Sunday includes the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal as part of the weekend’s programming. One of the company’s top box-office attractions, Lesnar only wrestles on WWE Network events. Working on a part-time basis, Lesnar upped his schedule over the past year and has wrestled on the occasional live show. “Vince got his checkbook out and he’s writing more checks,” Lesnar said. “But I have a limit and we’re at that limit right now.” AP