Businessmirror 10 29 2014

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BusinessMirror

three-time rotary club of manila journalism awardee 2006, 2010, 2012

U.N. Media Award 2008

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BusinessMirror

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 B3-3

Abe’s agenda challenged as scandals mount

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B E K | The Associated Press

OKYO—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s honeymoon with Japan’s voters is fading as scandals and a slowing economic recovery take a toll on his popularity and hinder progress on his policy agenda. The resignations of two ministers in Abe’s newly reshuffled Cabinet and reports that political funds of the replacement trade minister were used in a visit to a sex show bar were just the start. Those reports got people digging into the riches to be found in publicly available political-funding disclosures. They show some lawmakers spending hundreds, and often thousands, of dollars a night on visits to restaurants and mahjong parlors, while ordinary households are struggling to keep up with rising costs for food, heating and other necessities. The most recent opinion polls show Abe’s approval ratings slipping to around 50 percent. They had mostly been in the 60s since 2013. The controversies are unwelcome distraction at a time of sharpening divisions within the ruling party over whether Abe should press ahead with a sales-tax hike next year that is needed to help fi x the tattered finances of the world’s third-largest economy. News of possible election law and political funding violations forced the resignations last week of Abe’s justice and trade ministers, both among the five women who had just taken office in the early September Cabinet reshuffle that showcased Abe’s commitment to stronger roles for women in leadership. “It’s a serious setback. So much of the Abe Cabinet’s shine was due to its aura of invincibility and inevitability,” said Michael Cucek, a Tokyobased analyst and fellow at Temple University Japan. Troubles over campaign funds and related issues have long contributed to Japan’s famous “revolving door” politics. Abe’s first term as prime minister, in 2006-2007, ended

when he was driven from office by scandals and health problems after just a year. Abe got a rare second chance when his Liberal Democrats regained power from the Democratic Party in December 2012. Since then, the LDP’s coalition with the Buddhist-affiliated Komeito, or Clean Government Party, has established majorities in both houses of the parliament. This time around, Abe has cultivated a confident, relaxed style of leadership, repeatedly declaring “Japan is back!” while his chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga endeavors to keep their gaffe-prone allies more or less in line. “Until this crisis it looked pretty certain he was just going to cruise,” Cucek said. “Now that politics as usual has returned, we could see the same sort of decay that we’ve seen in the past,” he said. Trade Minister Yuko Obuchi, a rising star and daughter of a former prime minister, resigned on October 20 after admitting to discrepancies in reporting of her political funding. Justice Minister Midori Matsushima also quit after the opposition filed a criminal complaint alleging that the distribution of uchiwa, or hand-held fans, to her supporters violated a ban on gift-giving. Obuchi’s successor as trade minister, Yoichi Miyazawa, then drew fire over an ¥18,230 ($170) tab listed in his political funds accounting for an evening’s entertainment at a sadism and masochism themed establishment in his home city of Hiroshima. Miyazawa and his staff say he did not visit the club himself, and the money was paid back. The next flap was over Miyazawa’s ownership, as the minister responsible for the power industry, of

IN this September 3 file photo, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (front row, center) and his new Cabinet members, Trade Minister Yuko Obuchi (front, left), Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi (front, right), Minister in charge of Promoting Women Haruko Arimura (center, behind Abe), Justice Minister Midori Matsushima (top, second from right) and Minister in charge of Japanese Abducted by North Korea Eriko Yamatani (top, right) walk for a group photo session following the first Cabinet meeting at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo. Obuchi was peppered with questions in parliament on October 16 over her political spending in the latest scandal involving female members in Abe’s Cabinet. Three other female ministers have been questioned over campaign giveaways, gaffes or alleged links to racist groups. AP/EUGENE HOSHIKO

shares in Tokyo Electric Power Co., whose Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant suffered meltdowns after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Miyazawa said on Friday he had put the shares, worth about $2,000, in a trust. Over the weekend, reports noted that political funds of Taro Aso, a former prime minister who is now finance minister, were used to pay monthly tabs of up to ¥1.5 million ($14,000) to a mahjong parlor in the Roppongi nightclub district. Opposition questioning over

such issues in the parliament is slowing work on the main priorities of the current Diet session: policies to revive languishing rural regions and increase female employment to help compensate for the aging and shrinking of the overall work force. “Abe is perceived to have made a mess of the early September reshuffle and is faced longer term with added popular doubt given a timetable of awkward policy decisions,” said Stephen Church, an analyst at Société Générale in Tokyo. But Abe’s strongest asset may be the weakness of the highly splin-

B B B The Associated Press

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BRAZIL’S reelected President Dilma Rousseff blows kisses to supporters as she celebrates her victory at a hotel in Brasilia, Brazil, on Sunday. AP/ERALDO PERES

required to jump-start a stalled economy. “We’ve never seen an election that’s been this divisive,” said Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington. “The things said during the campaign, by both sides, will make it very difficult for the nation to come together quickly.” Rousseff has steep challenges on both the economic and political fronts. Brazil’s economy fell into technical recession in August. It faces the internal pressure of lessening consumer demand and rising inflation, as well as the external

tered opposition. The Democratic Party’s rating, which had been hovering around 5 percent, has risen but remains in the single digits in most polls. Abe appears undecided over whether to press ahead with a 2-percentage-point increase to the national sales tax that is needed to offset a public debt that stands at about 250 percent of GDP. The economy contracted 7.1 percent in April to June after a three-point increase in the sales tax on April 1. Instead of delaying the tax hike for the sake of political expediency,

Abe will likely go ahead with it as promised before the end of the year but also announce extra economic stimulus, said Masamichi Adachi, an analyst at JPMorgan in Tokyo. The bigger concern is whether Abe will take unpopular measures to help restore the country’s waning competitiveness and ensure sustained growth after two decades of malaise. Up to now, progress on those tasks has lagged, Adachi said. “The process is going ahead but still quite slow and not sufficient to overcome the challenges this country is facing,” he said.

dilemma of China’s growth slowing faster than expected. Brazil’s economic expansion in the past decade was built on the spending power of a newly minted middle class and the voracious Chinese appetite for commodities like iron ore and soy. Then there is the matter of Brazil’s “lottery ticket” and “passport” to the future, as former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva labeled massive offshore oil fields discovered in recent years. State-run oil company Petrobras so far hasn’t made good on its potential to tap the deep-water riches and create substantial

new revenue for the government. Many blame Rousseff ’s interventions in the oil company, such as forcing it to keep gasoline cheap to battle inflation, as hamstringing its ability to invest and grow. “The government is going to have less capacity to deliver what the people are asking for in terms of better public services,” Sotero said. “The political fighting and fiscal problems paint the picture of a government that will have less to spend.” Now, Petrobras is at the center of a kickback scandal, and an emboldened opposition is likely to push even more aggressively for investigations that could be politically damaging to Rousseff ’s government. A convicted money launderer who is cooperating with federal investigators in exchange for a lighter sentence said that the ruling party benefited from the scheme and that Rousseff had direct knowledge of it, though he’s so far offered no proof. The president strongly denied the accusations. In a Monday night interview with Globo TV, Rousseff said that an investigation must occur. “Brazilian society demands the position of ending the systematic impunity that’s occurred in this country for its entire history,” she said. “That means, hurt who it may, justice will be done. And justice, in this case, is to punish. If somebody did wrong, they have to be punished.” The Eurasia Group political risk firm said in a Monday research note that it expects Rousseff will see a short post-election honeymoon period. “The middle class—a majority of which voted for Rousseff with the expectation she would improve public services—will rapidly realize that their priorities do not align with the president’s,” Eurasia wrote.

“Discontent will grow as the administration shores up fiscal accounts by raising taxes and administered prices, rather than bowing to popular demands for more spending in areas like health, transportation and education.” However, Rafael de Paula Araujo, a political scientist at São Paulo’s Pontifical Catholic University, said that Brazil has been “divided along ideological and class lines for years,” and that he forecasts less political turbulence than most. “It’s a division that became exacerbated after the first round vote, when the election became polarized between two candidates,” Araujo said. He argued that the rift will likely quickly heal when voters think about the 12 years the Workers’ Party has been in power, a time during which “the rich got richer, the poor became less poor and social programs benefited millions who entered the middle class.” Because Brazil as a whole is unquestionably better off than it was a decade ago, the political fighting here isn’t remotely as virulent as in some neighboring countries like Venezuela or Argentina. With the opposition fragmented, Rousseff can use coalition building around specific projects to avoid the stalemates seen in the US, where the two-party system creates an us-versus-them political scenario. Maria Socorro, a 23-year-old nanny in Rio, said she voted for Rousseff, but would hold her accountable on promises to protect the poor and turn Brazil’s economy around. “They’ve got to show that they’ll push the country forward,” she said. “Success is the best way to heal the divide this election created.”

world

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‘I want to be left alone’ On a small mountain road

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EAR God, the beautiful surroundings on a small mountain road at a distant land (Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, USA) is a great manifestation of your creation. Feeding a number of deers and birds at close range is amazing. Visiting my best friend in college at UST, who now lives here with her husband, is doubly exciting. What really touched me is the memory of our college years where we always do novenas at Saint Jude near Malacañang and our regular Holy Hour at Santa Cruz Church in Manila. Our deep spirituality has remained intact and we wish that our devotion to Your Word will stand the test of time as long as we live, while we serve others in Your name. Amen. YETTA L. CRUZ AND LOUIE M. LACSON Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

‘I WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE’

Life

THIS HIS IS HOW A DIVA DOES IT »D3

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

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GM Bank of Luzon Chairman Abelardo Samson (right) with son and GM Bank Director Arnel Samson (left) are welcomed at the Singapore Marriott Hotel by Globe Chief Operations Advisor Peter Bithos (second from right). With them is fellow Globe customer and Singapore F1 spectator Marie-Monica Nueva.

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B H S San Jose Mercury News

EFORE Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency and Prism made headlines, a group of technologists was dedicated to making the Internet more anonymous. They were viewed mostly as paranoid, weird and potentially criminal. Now, after all the revelations of the government’s mass electronic-surveillance program, they are leaders in a movement heating up in Silicon Valley and abroad to create more ways for people to use the Internet while keeping private who and where they are, and what they’re doing on the web. These include e-mail accounts that cannot be spied on, file-sharing services that the government cannot trace, and message services that cannot be recorded and stored. “That idea used to sound far-fetched. It doesn’t sound so crazy anymore, does it?” asked Andrew Lewman, executive director of the Tor Project, an international group of researchers and technologists who maintain an Internet network in which all users are anonymous and their locations are hidden. Joining the effort are tech giants such as Google, Apple and Yahoo, responding to a backlash from their users over data collection; niche tech companies such as San Francisco-based BitTorrent, which builds software so Internet users can keep their identities and data hidden; and ad hoc collections of technologists from Silicon Valley to Europe. While total anonymity on the highly commercialized Internet, powered by advertising revenue and big data sales, is probably impossible, security experts and tech leaders say that, one way or another, anonymity will be a bigger part of our digital future. “Users are more aware that what they are doing online may not be private, and they are taking steps to combat that, and they are looking to technology companies for solutions,” said Daniel Castro, a senior analyst with the Washington, D.C.-based Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. But some question people’s conviction that they have a right to online anonymity. “If you really want to be anonymous, stay off the Internet, pay cash and homestead in Montana,” said Paul Santinelli, a venture capitalist with Palo Alto firm North Bridge Venture Partners. “From the day that you buy a computer with a credit card and log onto the Internet, people know who you are.” The backbone of the Internet was created through the federally funded Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, so “Big Brother was watching from the get-go,” Santinelli said. “You sign up for tracking when you use [the Internet].” Yet, in the past year, companies such as BitTorrent and Guerrilla Mail—a Chicago-based service founded in 2006 that offers anonymous, disposable e-mail accounts—have won over mainstream customers after once mainly serving tech geeks and cyber rabblerousers. BitTorrent is on the cusp of tremendous growth, with a surge in users—and, after years of stunted revenue, the promise of more cash from two new products that target consumers worried about government spying. “A lot of these things like Prism, I wish they weren’t true, but they are, and that’s driving demand for BitTorrent’s products, no question about it,” said Eric Klinker, BitTorrent’s president and CEO. Tech giants—blamed by many for the loss of privacy because of their aggressive data collection, which then was handed over to the NSA—also have pitched

in. Google recently announced new encryption tools to protect e-mail, and Apple’s new operating system changes the way smartphone data is encrypted, making it tougher for law enforcement to collect. Yahoo also has added encryption to e-mail services. BitTorrent has more than 170 million monthly active users across every country and has added millions more users through two new services: Bleep, a messaging and phone-call app launched publicly this month, keeps all personal information private and safe from NSA’s mass data collections, according to the company. Sync, released last year, is a file-sharing program that looks much like Dropbox, but it doesn’t use servers or third parties to store or move the data, so it’s inaccessible to everyone but the sender and receiver. Guerrilla Mail, which gives users an e-mail address without any registration or login and deletes e-mails permanently after one hour, has done nearly half of its business in the past year. And Tor grew from 75 million users in 2012 to 150 million in 2013, after the NSA operation was revealed. In May, Micah Lee, a Berkeleybased technologist with media site The Intercept, who helped protect the Snowden documents from being hacked after they were released to the media, created OnionShare, an anonymous file-sharing service that uses fake domain names to protect data. “It’s the pendulum swinging back again,” Castro said. “People are saying that there was something of value in the anonymity that we lost.” Jon Jones said the only way he can do his job these days is through anonymous and secure Internet programs. He runs art teams whose members are all over the world—in Russia, Malaysia and China—and collaborate to build video games. BitTorrent’s secure file-sharing program, Sync, allows him to “poke through” China’s firewall and assure artists that their content is secure. “Even if someone steals my phone or my laptop gets dropped, I can still keep [their] data safe,” said New York-based Jones, who started his art production management company, SmArtist, in 2009. But since the NSA revelations in summer 2013, Jones also has turned to BitTorrent for his personal life. “It changed absolutely everything for me,” he said. “I suddenly realized I have no idea how anything works.” ■

■ BitTorrent. A service for peer-to-peer file sharing and distribution that does not use centralized servers, but, instead, distributes large amounts of data over the Internet in small chunks. Users download and upload files from each other simultaneously, offering a quick way to move very large files, such as video games, from one computer to another, and to distribute files to an unlimited number of people. It’s been a popular service to illegally download movies and music. In addition to file sharing, BitTorrent offers file-sync service, a messaging and voice-call app, which is safe from data leaks or mass data collection. ■ Tor. Run by a nonprofit, this hidden Internet network allows users to stay private online, without web sites or search companies tracking them, and access messaging services and news sites that may be blocked by their Internet provider or government. Users can chat online and publish web sites without revealing their location or identity. Programs built on the Tor network include Orbot, which lets users access Tor on an Android smartphone and is often used to access Twitter in countries where the social-media app is blocked. ■ OnionShare. An open-source tool that lets users anonymously share a file of any size by using untraceable domain names that end in .onion, making the data untraceable. OnionShare works through the Tor network. ■ Guerrilla Mail. An e-mail service that provides temporary, disposable e-mails without requiring user login and registration. The main purpose is to defend against spam, and it also makes the e-mail user untraceable. E-mails automatically delete an hour after they are received, whether or not they are viewed.

GRAND Prix racing is a spectator sport often associated with young and middle-aged males who relish the sight of precision-built automobiles treading the tracks at breakneck speeds. And then there is Abelardo Samson, a true-blue fan of Formula 1. At age 80, Samson—“APS” to his colleagues, or “Abeling” to his friends—the chairman of Nueva Ecija’s GM Bank of Luzon Inc. (GM Bank), is all-too familiar with the race circuits the world over, as well as the drivers of these speed machines, having followed competitions around the world on TV. The racing aficionado got what probably was the most wonderful surprise of his life when Globe myBusiness selected him to witness the Singapore F1 live and in person on September 21. Together with his son Arnel, who is the director of GM Bank, they were able to see the most-awaited motoring spectacle in Southeast Asia, alongside top Globe Telecom officials, led by President and CEO Ernest Cu and Chief Operating Advisor Peter Bithos. Before race day, the father-and-son team of GM Bank was feted with a welcome dinner at the Singapore Marriott Hotel hosted by Bithos, with other lucky Globe customers. In fact, the two were extended full courtesy when the elder Samson’s leg suddenly became sore. When he could no longer walk back to their hotel, the Globe executive personally arranged transfers for him and his son. After the thrill of the experience, Samson was beaming with stories and pictures to share, as well as souvenirs from the Singapore F1 to show off to family and friends. His children, in fact, commended the patience and generosity of the Globe myBusiness staff who patiently attended to their travel arrangements, covered accommodation for an extra night, as well as changes in their race passes during the event. Globe myBusiness Senior Vice President Martha Sazon said, “We go through great lengths to delight our Globe customers, such as the Samsons, with wonderful surprises like their Singapore F1 adventure. Beyond our services, which help run their businesses, it’s really about us giving back to them and touching their lives in a special way.”

TO bring a more interactive experience to its Filipino customers, multinational brand Gionee (www. gionee.com.ph) opens the doors of its first concept store in Manila at SM Megamall Cyberzone. The concept store is a premium touchpoint for the brand, where mobile-phone enthusiasts can experience Gionee’s products firsthand and be guided by a well-trained and dedicated geek squad in making the right smartphone choice. “Even with the advent of online shopping, we know that Filipinos still love to touch and see in person the products they want to purchase,” says Michael Bangayan, president of Belexis Concepts Inc. “At our concept store, you don’t

have to worry about buying a precious item like a smartphone without knowing how it works. You will be able to tinker with the unit you’re eyeing before purchasing.” Carrying the brand’s official colors and decorated with minimalist interiors, the concept store is designed with both the tech-savvy and the tech amateurs in mind. Gionee’s various lines of high-end smartphones and affordable mobile phones will be on display, as well as essential accessories that go with these. Gionee opened its first concept store in the Philippines at the Gaisano Mall in Davao City in March, with former Mayor Sara Duterte as its brand ambassador. The brand first made waves in

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life

GIONEE Philippines Country Head Beally Lee (second from left) and Belexis Concepts President Michael Bangayan officially open the Gionee concept store at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

the global market when it launched the Elife S5.5, the world’s slimmest smartphone, as declared by CBS Interactive ZOL. The Elife S5.5

remains to be a strong contender in the high-end smartphone arena, and more so now with its free upgrade to Android Kitkat 4.4.

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Wild finish BusinessMirror

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| Wednesday, OCtOber 29, 2014 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph sports@businessmirror.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

WILD

FINISH

RooKie yordano Ventura, only 23, is the hardestthrowing starting pitcher in the major leagues. AP

Baseball took its final break on Monday before the Giants and Royals settle things. Holding a 3-2 edge, San Francisco will try to claim its third championship in five years on Tuesday night when the wildcard matchup resumes at Kansas City.

By Antonio Gonzalez The Associated Press

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AN FRANCISCO—Buster Posey was annoyed. Playfully so. The Giants catcher wanted Madison Bumgarner to do more than barely break a smile after a brilliant pitching performance put San Francisco one win from another World Series title. No way, Buster. Because in this postseason full of stars and surprises, who knows? Bumgarner may still have more work to do. Baseball took its final break on Monday before the Giants and Royals settle things. Holding a 3-2 edge, San Francisco will try to claim its third championship in five years on Tuesday night when the wild-card matchup resumes at Kansas City. “We’re trying to grind this thing out, the way we have for what feels like forever now,” Jake Peavy, who starts Game Six for the Giants, said before Monday night’s workout at Kauffman Stadium. “Not even sure of the date, the day. Doesn’t matter.” The day off gave fans a chance to savor what they’d already seen in the past month, and there was plenty—the success of Bumgarner, Lorenzo Cain and Yusmeiro Petit, the struggles of Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout and Detroit’s aces, a rack of tight games and one that went 18 innings. Could be a lot more cooking in this October oven, too. Maybe Ned Yost even had it right. “Oh, man, somewhere inside of me, secretly I had hoped that it would go seven games for the excitement and the thrill of it,” the Kansas City manager said after a loss in Game Four. “Sure looks that way.” Perhaps it’s only fitting this Fall Classic ends at Kauffman Stadium, a place hosting playoff baseball for the first time in 29 years. The Royals started this pulsating postseason at home with a 9-8 comeback win in 12 innings over Oakland in the American League wildcard game, a thriller that began on the last day of September and nearly stretched into October. That captivating night in Kansas City set the stage for a month to remember: dramatic finishes, favorites falling and underdogs overachieving, stars slipping and new ones shining. What happens next is anybody’s guess. After all, the last time Game Six of the World Series came to Kansas City, one of the most surreal scenes in baseball history unfolded: first base umpire Don Denkinger’s botched call serving as the signature moment of the 1985 World Series won by the Royals over Saint Louis.

“We know we can do it,” Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “We’re a confident group. But we can’t do anything without winning Game Six. We’re excited to get back home where we feed off the fans and that energy.” Royals rookie Yordano Ventura starts against the veteran Peavy—not exactly the matchup many would’ve predicted in April. But the majors’ most notable names during the regular season— Dodgers ace Kershaw and Angels slugger Trout—flamed out fast in the Division Series. A trio of Cy Young winners didn’t do enough for Detroit. Injuries slowed down former Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers and Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright. Even playoff-proven starter Jon Lester looked lost under October’s bright lights for the one-and-done Athletics. Plus upand-coming starter Stephen Strasburg showed he still has to polish his postseason poise for the Nationals. Instead, these playoffs bred a new batch of baseball darlings: Cain and the running Royals, starter-turned-reliever Petit and a pair of blazing bullpens no longer overlooked in the World Series. Of course, no star has burned brighter than a 25-year-old lefty from North Carolina, the one who peeved Posey with his tempered postgame reaction. Bumgarner’s dominant performances in Game One and Game Five—not to mention in every previous round of the playoffs — has put San Francisco one win away from another parade down Market Street, something Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and generations of Giants fans had dreamed of for so long. Now it’s becoming an every-other-year tradition. And if the Giants don’t win Game Six, there’s always a chance Bumgarner could emerge from the bullpen to help out in Game Seven. Royals rookie Brandon Finnegan might understand the topsy-turvy nature of these playoffs better than anyone. Only four months after he pitched in the College World Series, the 21-year-old reliever got two key outs in the seventh inning as Kansas City won Game Three. A night later, Finnegan failed to bridge the gap to the back end of the bullpen, allowing five runs in an 11-4 loss to San Francisco. “Baseball can pick you up quickly,” Finnegan said, “and hit you in the gut quickly.”

By Ronald Blum

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The Associated Press

ANSAS CITY, Montana—A large image of deer in multicolored neon with a bulls-eye on its tail is affixed to a wall in the Kansas City Royals locker room. It hangs between the stalls of Aaron Crow and Tim Collins, and has a “W’’ underneath a crown. Pitcher James Shields ordered it custom made. After the team wins, veterans select a “King of the Game” to flip the switch that lights up the so-called Texas Heart Shot while a smoke machine perched atop a refrigerator fills the room with a fog more befitting a night club than a clubhouse. Trailing 3-2 to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, the Royals hope to light up that sign two more times this week. But if they do come back to win their first title in 29 years, it’s unlikely there will be time for their usual clubhouse ceremony given the champagne-fueled chaos. “I doubt it. It’s going to be crazy around here if we win both games,” outfielder Lorenzo Cain said on Monday. Kansas City turns to a 23-year-old rookie to save its season, but not just any 23-year-old rookie: the hardest-throwing starting pitcher in the major leagues. Yordano Ventura gets the ball on Tuesday night with the Royals in the same position they were in 1985 when they sent Charlie Leibrandt to the mound against Saint Louis. Kansas City won, 2-1, that night on pinch-hitter Dane Iorg’s two-run single in the ninth after a blown call by first base umpire Don Denkinger, and the Royals went on to blow out the Cardinals, 11-0, a day later behind Bret

Saberhagen for their only title. In the 41 previous instances the World Series was 2-2 in the bestof-seven format, the Game Five winner has taken the title 27 times. But eight of the last 10 teams to come home trailing 3-2 swept Games Six and Seven. “We have a lot of confidence in Ventura. We have confidence that we will win every time he takes the mound,” Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “We know we can do it. We’re a confident group. But we can’t do anything without winning Game Six. We’re excited to get back home, where we feed off the fans and that energy.” Kansas City hopes to light up Jake Peavy along with the deer in a rematch of Game Two starters. Ventura, whose fastball averaged 98 mph this season, didn’t get a decision in the second game, allowing two runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings before Royals Manager Ned Yost went to his hard-throwing HDH relief trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland in the 7-2 victory. “His confidence is just staggering,” Yost said. “You walk in that clubhouse, and he looks you square in the eye with that glint that says: ‘I’m ready for this.’” The 33-year-old Peavy took the loss, giving up four runs and six hits in five innings-plus. He is seeking his first World Series win—he didn’t get a decision for Boston in Game Three last year—and is well aware he could get the victory in the clincher. “I can’t imagine anything being any sweeter than that,” he said. “This is the start that you play your whole career wanting.” This is the first World Series in which four of the first five games were decided by five runs or more. The second all-wild card World

Series has followed the pattern of the first in 2002. The Giants won the opener on the road, lost the next two games and won two in a row to take a 3-2 lead. San Francisco opened a 5-0 lead in Game Six at Anaheim but lost 6-5, and the Angels won Game Seven the following night. Yost hopes history repeats and Ventura is energized by the Kauffman Stadium crowd. “Trust me, if we’re in this position, I would much rather be here than there with our fans. I think home-field advantage is huge,” he said after the team arrived back home at about 4:30 a.m. “It’s going to be a lot funner going into Game Six here than it would be in San Francisco, that’s for sure.” The Giants spent the night at home, chartered with player families on the flight and reached Kansas City about 12-and-ahalf-hours later. With the shift to the AL ballpark, designated hitters return: Billy Butler for the Royals and Michael Morse for the Giants. San Francisco’s Tim Hudson and Kansas City’s Jeremy Guthrie would be the likely Game Seven starters if the Series is extended to Wednesday. And lurking is Madison Bumgarner, who pitched a four-hit shutout to win Game Five on Sunday. Bumgarner, 4-0 in Series play with a record-low 0.29 ERA, could come out of the bullpen on two days’ rest for what would be his first relief appearance since throwing two scoreless innings in Game Six of the 2010 National League Championship Series. He wouldn’t estimate how long he could go. “I’m not a big pitch-count guy,” he said. “So as long as you keep getting outs and you feel good, you should stay out there.”

sports

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property of the month Championship golf Championship now playing at golf Beverly now at Beverly Placeplaying Pampanga Place Pampanga

BusinessMirror

E1 Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Editor: Tet Andolong

RESIDENTIAL & BUSINESS ESTATES RESIDENTIAL & BUSINESS ESTATES

By Janica Monick Riego

Beverly Place Pampanga recently opened its 18-hole championship By Janica Monick Riego golf course, in the first golf-centered Beverly Place recently community in Pampanga the province . opened its 18-hole championship par 71, the golf course is a refreshing Golf-centered community break from the generally flat terrain of THEgolf-centered golf course is the centerpiece for golf course, in the first Pampanga, with water playing up the Beverly Place Golf and Business Estates, challenge in almost every hole. There’s the located along Jose community in the province . Abad Santos Avenue (forbig lake at holes 2 and 8, the island green at merly Olongapo-Gapan Road), 70 km north

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hole 15, a hidden creek at hole 1. All around par 71, the golf course is a refreshing the golf course, clear blue skies, birds on the break from the generally flat terrain of wing, and white fleecy clouds complement Pampanga, with water playing up the the green of grass and growing trees. challenge in almost every hole. There’s the Most fairways are built around a view of big lake at holes 2 and 8, the island green at Mount Arayat, the sleeping giant a presence hole 15, a hidden creek at hole 1. All around to contend with. Rising more than the golf course, clear blue skies, birds on the 1,000 meters above the surrounding wing, and white fleecy clouds complement land, this dormant volcano is the the green of grass and growing trees. legendary home of the beautiful Maria Most fairways are built around a view of Sinukuan, a nature spirit caring for Mount Arayat, the sleeping giant a presence Pampanga’s flora and fauna. to contend with. Rising more than The golf clubhouse itself reflects 1,000 meters above the surrounding nature’s abundance, surrounded as it land, this dormant volcano is the is by greenery in varied shapes and legendary home of the beautiful Maria sizes. Shade trees, bright colored Sinukuan, a nature spirit caring for flowers, and delicate ferns are found Pampanga’s flora and fauna. in the pathways from the golf course, The golf clubhouse itself reflects the plant boxes by the entrance, and nature’s abundance, surrounded as it the parking area. is by greenery in varied shapes and Now fully operational, the golf club sizes. Shade trees, bright colored has become an oasis for golfers and guests, flowers, and delicate ferns are found a gathering place for some good-natured in the pathways from the golf course, bantering after the game, to sample exquisite the plant boxes by the entrance, and Kapampangan cuisine, or to simply soak in the parking area. the ambience. On a good day, the view from Now fully operational, the golf club the veranda—of wide open fairways—is has become an oasis for golfers and guests, unmatched. a gathering place for some good-natured Just off the porte cochère, the grand foyer bantering after the game, to sample exquisite makes an impressive welcome. Beyond this Kapampangan cuisine, or to simply soak in are the men’s and ladies’ locker rooms, pro the ambience. On a good day, the view from shop and function rooms. The driving range the veranda—of wide open fairways—is is right across the golf club. unmatched. Just off the porte cochère, the grand foyer makes an impressive welcome. Beyond this are the men’s and ladies’ locker rooms, pro shop and function rooms. The driving range is right across the golf club.

of Metro Manila, at the gateway to PampanGolf-centered community ga. Two giant malls right beside and across THE golf course is the centerpiece for the Beverly Place main entrance are SM Beverly Place Golf and Business Estates, City Pampanga and Robinsons Starmills. located along Jose Abad Santos Avenue (forBeverly Place is only 30 minutes from the merly Olongapo-Gapan Road), 70 km north Clark Special Economic Zone, where the of Metro Manila, at the gateway to Pampanga. Two giant malls right beside and across the Beverly Place main entrance are SM City Pampanga and Robinsons Starmills. Beverly Place is only 30 minutes from the Clark Special Economic Zone, where the

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport now stands as the only international airport north of Luzon.

Beverly Place en route to the planned economic super region

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport THE Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway now standsknown as the as only airport (SCTEx), theinternational country’s longest north of Luzon. expressway, links the Subic Freeport Zone, the Clark Special Zone Beverly PlaceEconomic en route toand thethe Central Techno Park in Tarlac. It is enviplanned economic super region sioned to transform the area into a super THE Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway region that would attract investors world(SCTEx), known as the country’s longest expressway, links the Subic Freeport Zone, the Clark Special Economic Zone and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac. It is envisioned to transform the area into a super region that would attract investors world-

wide through the integration of all economic activities in the Central Luzon region. Beverly Place is located along the route between Metro Manila and business and trade spots farther north. Boutique hotels, business centers and food outlets which may be built on wide through the integration of all economic Beverly Place commercial lots will be ideal activities in the Central Luzon region. Bevplaces for a stopover. erly Place is located along the route between Beverly Place is easily accessible via Metro Manila and business and trade spots MacArthur Highway or through the North farther north. Boutique hotels, business cenLuzon Expressway (San Fernando Exit). ters and food outlets which may be built on With new road links from Manila to the Beverly Place commercial lots will be ideal north, travel to Pampanga is now greatly enplaces for a stopover. hanced. Among these is the Smart Connect Beverly Place is easily accessible via Interchange, which reduces travel time by MacArthur Highway or through the North 10 to 30 minutes. Another project, to begin Luzon Expressway (San Fernando Exit). in 2016, will link the NLEx main to C-5 With new road links from Manila to the through Mindanao Avenue and will further north, travel to Pampanga is now greatly encut down travel time to the north. hanced. Among these is the Smart Connect Interchange, which reduces travel time by 10 to 30 minutes. Another project, to begin in 2016, will link the NLEx main to C-5 through Mindanao Avenue and will further cut down travel time to the north.

A self-contained community spanning more than 400 hectares BEVERLY Place is built on over 400 hectares, spreading across bustling San Fernando City and the quiet town of Mexico. A

residential, business andcommunity leisure community, A self-contained you can live, work, play and shop within one spanning more than 400 hectares exclusive neighborhood. Eight residential BEVERLY Place is built on over 400 enclaves make up the community, each with hectares, spreading across bustling San Ferits own entry statement. nando City and the quiet town of Mexico. A Enjoy quiet weekends within the Bevresidential, business and leisure community, erly community. Spend time around the you can live, work, play and shop within one many landscaped parks and pocket gardens exclusive neighborhood. Eight residential scattered around the estates. Or create fun enclaves make up the community, each with celebrations in one of the two Community its own entry statement. Clubhouses—one at Phase 6 and another Enjoy quiet weekends within the Bevat Phase 10. Facilities include tennis and erly community. Spend time around the basketball courts, swimming pools and many landscaped parks and pocket gardens water parks, as well as function rooms. Wide scattered around the estates. Or create fun landscaped areas and the club patio provide celebrations in one of the two Community

spaces for outdoor celebrations. Additional open basketball courts are found in Phases 7 and 11. Within this expansive neighborhood, residents have a wide choice of lot sizes. Beverly Place also offers house and lot spaces for outdoor celebrations. Additional packages, with designs created by Sta. Lucia open basketball courts are found in Phases 7 Homes. Several homes have been completed and 11. and turned over to their owners, a reflection Within this expansive neighborhood, of the continuing development of Beverly residents have a wide choice of lot sizes. Place. Beverly Place also offers house and lot Fairway lots are available at the Sta. packages, with designs created by Sta. Lucia Lucia enclave, where you can enjoy excelHomes. Several homes have been completed lent views of manicured greens and fairways and turned over to their owners, a reflection from your own backyard. of the continuing development of Beverly Beverly Place Golf and Business Estates Place. celebrates the Kapampangan’s love for the Fairway lots are available at the Sta. good life, a legacy to hand down to generaLucia enclave, where you can enjoy exceltions of a proud race. lent views of manicured greens and fairways Visit www.staluciarealty.com from your own backyard. Beverly Place Golf and Business Estates celebrates the Kapampangan’s love for the good life, a legacy to hand down to generations of a proud race. Visit www.staluciarealty.com

PROPERTY

Clubhouses—one at Phase 6 and another at Phase 10. Facilities include tennis and basketball courts, swimming pools and water parks, as well as function rooms. Wide landscaped areas and the club patio provide

Fake invoice skewing trade data of China anew–reports

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JaKe peaVy starts game six for the giants. AP

Royals hope to light up giants, clubhouse deeR

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This came as Malacañang said the government has yet to fix a new date for the rebidding of the P35.2-billion toll-road project, even as both the winning and disqualified bidders indicated they would not go to court if plans for a new bidding

At 80, Globe myBusiness customer gets exclusive access to Singapore F1 action

TOOLS TO BE ANONYMOUS ONLINE

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Consumer loans rose 18% in H1 to ₧803B

ocal and foreign business groups are contesting the proposed rebidding of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) project, labeling it as an “ill-advised decision” that will damage investors’ confidence in the administration’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program.

Multinational brand Gionee opens first concept store

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan, Catherine N. Pillas & Butch Fernandez

Reelected Brazil president faces divided house IO DE JANEIRO—Brazil’s reelected leader Dilma Rousseff on Monday faced a house divided after a bitterly fought election that culminated in the narrowest presidential win since the nation’s return to democracy three decades ago. In a victory speech, Rousseff said her first task would be to seek reconciliation and to build bridges to those who didn’t vote for her. “This president is willing to dialogue and that’s the first promise of my second term, to have a dialogue,” she said before cheering supporters in Brasilia. But it’s not clear how far Rousseff is willing to reach out to rivals, nor how receptive a highly fragmented Congress, which after this month’s general election is split between 28 parties, will be to her overtures. Brazil’s most rancorous presidential campaign in decades ended on Sunday with the main opposition party’s candidate Aecio Neves faring far better than anyone forecast less than a month ago. The division could further stifle efforts at the political reforms millions of Brazilians demanded during street protests last year seeking increased government efficiency and less corruption. Rousseff has urged Congress to call a national referendum on such reforms, but lawmakers balked at that last year when the president had more legislative support, and there is little reason to believe they’ll agree to it now. The divide also will likely hamper delayed economic reforms that many believe are necessary for longer-term growth, and even frustrate agreement on shorter-term measures

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 Vol. 10 No. 21

Trade groups join Calax debate

abe’s agenda challenged The World

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LOCAL, FOREIGN BUSINESS CHAMBERS SAY REBIDDING OF P.P.P. DEAL ILL-ADVISED

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news@businessmirror.com.ph

A broader look at today’s business

he gap between China’s reported exports to Hong Kong and the territory’s imports from the mainland widened in September to the most this year, suggesting fake export invoicing is again skewing China’s trade data. China recorded $1.56 of exports to Hong Kong last month for every $1 in imports Hong Kong registered, leading to a $13.5billion difference, according to government data compiled by Bloomberg. Hong Kong’s imports from China climbed 5.5 percent from a year earlier to $24.1 billion, figures showed on Monday; China’s exports to Hong Kong surged 34 percent to $37.6 billion, according to mainland data on October 13. While China’s government has strict rules on importing capital, those seeking to exploit yuan appreciation can evade the limit by disguising money inflows as payment for goods exported to foreign countries or territories, especially Hong Kong. The latest trade mismatch coincided with renewed appreciation of China’s currency, leading analysts at banks and brokerages, including Everbright Securities Co. and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group See “Fake invoice,” A2

PESO exchange rates n US 44.7620

By Bianca Cuaresma

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four-day technology show Gavin Dai, CEO of Huawei Technologies Philippines Inc., welcomes technophiles and the general public before giving a short presentation about Huawei products at the opening on Tuesday of the Huawei Philippines ICT Carnival 2014, which carries the theme “Pave the Future a Better Way,” held at a hotel in Makati City. ROY DOMINGO

INFLATION TO REMAIN WITHIN 3.7%-4.6%–BSP T

he monetary authorities on Tuesday forecast inflation to moderate further in October, likely ranging only from 3.7 percent to no more than 4.6 percent. The forecast strengthened the view that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will keep the current monetary-policy setting where it is for now. This also helped fortify the argument that inflation, or the rate of change in prices, already reached its peak in July and August, when it averaged 4.9 percent. In a statement, BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said inflation will likely continue to decelerate in October, and that the targets for this year and all the way to 2016 should fall within target. Tetangco also said the July and August inflation outcomes, averaging 4.9 percent, already represented the peak of price movements. “From the peak of 4.9 percent in July and August and 4.4 percent in September, our latest assessment of inflation pressures indicates sustained easing, averaging between 3.7 percent and 4.6 percent,” Tetangco said. The drop in oil and food prices, particularly on wellmilled as well as regularly milled rice, meat and vegetables, was considered a moderating influence on inflation in October, according to Tetangco. He also said improved supply of key food commodities on account of more favorable weather and higher imports will help sustain the easing of price pressures in the country.

“We also expect that the previous monetary actions by the BSP will continue to anchor inflation expectations and maintain favorable money-supply conditions. Both credit and domestic liquidity growth are anticipated to keep decelerating as a result of higher flow back of money supply to the monetary authorities, following the increase in the required bank reserves, the SDA [special deposit accounts] and policy rates,” Tetangco said. “On the whole, we remain confident that inflation will be within the target of 3 percent to 5 percent this year, and 2 percent to 4 percent in 2015 and 2016,” he added. Only recently, the central bank recalibrated its inflation forecast not just for this year, but for 2015 and 2016, as well. In particular, the central bank expects inflation this year to average 4.4 percent, from 4.5 percent projected in September. For next year, the BSP anticipates inflation falling back to 3.7 percent, down from 3.8 percent foreseen at the September rate-setting meeting of the Monetary Board. Likewise, for 2016, inflation was seen averaging 2.8 percent, down from forecast of only 3 percent. Out of the seven earlier monetary-policy stance meetings for 2014, the central bank only left all its policy levers untouched twice this year—in the first meeting in February and latest meeting on October 23. The Philippine Statistics Authority is set to release the October inflation numbers on November 5.

Bianca Cuaresma

onsumer loans aggregated P803 billion in the first six months, rising 18 percent, or P122.88 billion, from year-ago consumption loans—mostly houses of first-time buyers and cars—of only P680 billion. Compared to the previous quarter, consumer loans also grew by 9 percent, from P735.1 million as of end-March. This means that consumer loans grew by P68.15 billion over three months. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the increase in loans extended across all subcomponents of the consumption-loan business. Residential real-estate loans continued to account for the largest bulk of the banks’ consumer-lending portfolio, equal to 43 percent, amounting to P348.166 billion, in the first half of the year. The residential real-estate loan sector proved to be the fastest-rising sector for the period at 18.342 percent, up P53.96 billion in the first half last year. Meanwhile, auto loans were the second-largest bulk in the banks’ consumer-lending portfolio, comprising 25.74 percent of total loan portfolio for the period. At P206.78 billion, this was also the second-fastest-growing sector, having grown by 17.31 percent from last year. Credit-card purchases in the first half totaled P157.22 billion, rising by 4.53 percent from P150.4 billion in June last year. Credit-card receivables accounted for 19.57 percent of total consumer-loan volume in the first half of 2014. Salary loans, meanwhile, hit P44.605 billion in June 2014, comprising 5.55 percent of the total consumer-loan portfolio. This was the first time that salary loans were included as a subsector in the consumer-loan portfolio. It was previously lumped under unspecified loans. The central bank noted that, while consumer lending expanded during the period, the ratio of banks’ non-performing consumer loans fell slightly to 5 percent, from 5.2 percent a quarter earlier.

n japan 0.4154 n UK 72.1832 n HK 5.7704 n CHINA 7.3180 n singapore 35.1378 n australia 39.4032 n EU 56.8567 n SAUDI arabia 11.9321 Source: BSP (28 October 2014)


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