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Life
Thy word is true
EAR Lord, as we reflect on “thy word is true from the beginning and everyone of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever,” (Psalms 119:160) we become so confident that our daily readings from the Bible, strengthen us in many ways: our belief becomes solid, our trust in You is encompassing and our inspiration grow and binding. Rebuild into each one the Faith that speaks of Your presence in our dealings with people around us. Amen. VIRGIE SALAZAR AND LOUIE M. LACSON Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com
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By Bianca Cuaresma
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NYC cabin crew with Philippine Airlines (PAL) Chairman and CEO Dr. Lucio Tan (fifth from left), Carmen Tan (fourth from left), and PAL President and COO Jaime J. Bautista (third from left)
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TURNOVER of aircraft model to US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg (third from left)
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MARTIN NIEVERA (center) and Tan
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Thursday, April 9, 2015
GOLDBERG in his welcome speech at the MNL departure to NYC
Journeying to the city that never sleeps
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B G R Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor
T was a bit startling to see a woman done up like the Roman goddess Libertas walking around nodding her head ever so slightly at passersby. For a moment there, I felt like I had been mysteriously transported to some mall where cosplayers seemingly have become a fixture. But of course, I wasn’t at a mall. It was a mid-March evening and I was at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, dragging my lone check-in luggage through the routine security stops en route to New York, USA, to which flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) had invited a group of media people for its inaugural flight to the Big Apple via the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Thus, the walking Libertas (best known to all as the Statue of Liberty) at the airport premises—and, at the departure gate, a send-off setup that had a cardboard yellow taxi cab parked against a backdrop of (presumably) Broadway, along with a hotdog and lemonade stand, and what else but the rousing Kanderand Ebb classic “New York, New York” playing in a loop in the background. Needless to say, the song choice couldn’t be helped obviously because, despite the best and rather impressive efforts of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, “I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps” isn’t going to be displaced anytime soon by “Concrete jungle where dreams are made of” as the tune that defines this city as much as, yes, yellow taxi cabs, hotdog-and-
lemonade stands and the Statue of Liberty do. At the PAL send-off ceremony that March evening, it was— not surprisingly—the Sinatra version that was played endlessly, although I must say that I’ve always preferred the original and thoroughly exuberant Liza Minnelli version from the 1977 Martin Scorsese film of the same name. By the way, the flight of PAL’s Boeing 777-300ER (PR 126) into New York may have been bandied about as an “inaugural” before and after the occasion, but that wouldn’t be quite right. It marked a “return” to New York by the flag carrier, which serviced the route for a year back in 1996 via what is now the Newark Liberty International Airport. It was, however, PAL’s “inaugural” journey into the Big Apple by way of JFK International Airport. Regardless, there was plenty of high spirits at the send-off ceremony, which drew not only the top officials of PAL, including Chairman and CEO Dr. Lucio Tan and President and COO Jaime J. Bautista, but also top officials from the government’s tourism and transport agencies, and of course, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg who spoke of how “PAL’s return to New York is a testament to our friendship, our common history and shared heritage.” For his part, the affable Jaime Bautista said: “Deep in our hearts, we knew that one day, PAL would be back in New York. After 18 years, that day has come. And that day is today, March 15, 2015, which is also Philippine Airlines’s founding anniversary. This milestone would not have been realized without the
support of many sectors...most especially, the FilipinoAmerican communities of New York, New Jersey and many other areas along the eastern seaboard who are our most passionate supporters and who have passionately pushed for the resumption of PAL New York operations. “Above all, PAL is today back in New York because of the vision and drive of one man—our chairman, Dr. Lucio Tan. It was also under Dr. Tan’s leadership 18 years ago that PAL first flew to this city. And he has made sure that we would return, no matter how long it took, under his watch.” On that note, Dr. Tan—the Filipino-Chinese tycoon whose business interests, including aviation, food and beverages, liquor and tobacco, banking and real estate, have helped shape and fuel the country’s economy— took over the rostrum and said: “I am very happy to be here today to welcome you to the inaugural flight to New York City (via JFK International Airport). This marks PAL’s return to New York after 18 years. Today is also special because the inaugural flight is happening on PAL’s 74th founding anniversary. “Our sincerest thanks to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States and friends in travel and trade. I also wish to thank my PAL family for their efforts in making this US East Coast service a reality. Please enjoy the flight. PAL is happy to serve you on board PR 126.” And indeed PAL was. Moments later, we were up in the air with the cabin crew of PR 126, led by flight
purser Bernard Buenaventura, making sure that everyone was comfortably ensconced in their seats and all the in-flight creature comforts were provided—and for many in our group, the highlight of these could only be PAL’s legendary arroz caldo with a side of dilis that is always a taste of heaven. I was this close to requesting for a second serving but that would’ve been the third really, the first of which I greedily finished off in mere moments while waiting at PAL’s Mabuhay Lounge for the send-off ceremonies to start. PAL’s flights to New York take all of 17 hours, with a stop in Vancouver, and through it I alternated between getting some shut eye and getting as much work done (and e-mailed back to the office via the plane’s in-flight Wi-Fi service). On that “inaugural” flight, I woke up several times to the sight of Dr. Tan and Mr. Bautista going up and down the aisles ensuring that everyone was comfortable and having a marvelous time. Now, that’s Filipino hospitality for you. Coming up next, my vagabond shoes that have longed to stray right through the very heart of it—New York, New York. Well…exploring at least as much as 48 hours would allow. ■ Philippine Airlines flies from Manila to New York every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:50 pm, with a two-hour stop in Vancouver. Return flights depart JFK International Airport at 11 am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, also with a stop in Vancouver. For information, visit www. philippineairlines.com.
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brazilians protest against the outsourcing of jobs The World BusinessMirror
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Australia creates new task force to fight ice scourge
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ANBERRA, Australia—The Australian government on Wednesday announced a task force to create a new national response to the rapidly growing problem of addiction to ice, also known as crystal meth, across the country. Law-enforcement agencies report that the rate of use of the potent and highly addictive form of methamphetamine had almost doubled in Australia in the past year, with international drug rings attracted by the relatively high prices that Australians are willing to pay. Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that former Victoria state chief police commissioner Ken Lay would head the task force which will report to the government by midyear on a new coordinated approach to the drug scourge that will involve law enforcement, health and education agencies. The proportion of methamphetamine users in Australia who took ice, also known as crystal meth, had increased from 20 percent in 2010 to
50 percent now, Abbott said “The trouble with ice is it’s far more potent, far more dangerous, far more addictive than any previous illicit drug,” Abbott told reporters. “It’s worse than heroin, it’s worse than cocaine, it’s worse than LSD, it’s worse than ecstasy. It’s much more addictive, much more dangerous, much more damaging. The chances of being able to function while being a serious ice user are almost zero and that’s why it’s so important that we ramp up our response,” he added. Of Australia’s population of 24 million, 400,000 had used methamphetamine in the past year. Of these, 100,000 used the drug at least once a week. Ice-related arrests in Australia had increased by 25 percent in recent years. Unlike most previous drug scourges in Australia, ice abuse is not a problem largely confined to big cities. Ice is making rapid inroads into country towns where rehabilitation services are scarce. AP
t could be that inflation, or the rate of change in prices, has not yet bottomed out as a number of economists and analysts have claimed very early this year, the lead economist at ING Bank said on Wednesday.
Tim Condon, lead analyst at ING Bank in Asia, said inflation should slow down significantly in the second and third quarter of the year as prices ease up some more. In its most recent economic assessment on the region, Condon said inflation was “expected to grind to under 2 percent” in that period from April to September this year, a development that should see inflation below the central bank’s annual target of 2 percent to 4 percent this year.
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Brazilians protest against the outsourcing of jobs
Utility cut power to US home before 8 died of gas poisoning
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A militAry police officer sprays pepper spray in a demonstrator’s face during a clash in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 7. thousands of workers have staged rallies in 12 cities across Brazil to protest against a proposed law that would allow companies to outsource their labor force. AP
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OnlOOkers gather outside of a house, where police say seven children and one adult have been found dead on April 6 in Princess Anne, maryland. Police were sent to the home on monday after being contacted by a concerned coworker of the adult. AP
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R INCESS A NNE, Mar yland—A divorced kitchen worker and his seven children were accidentally poisoned to death by carbon monoxide from a generator they used to keep warm after their electricity was cut off, police said on Tuesday. The Delmarva Power company said it cut off power to the house on March 25 for safety reasons and not because the family was behind on their utility bills. Delmar va Spokesman Matt Likovich said the utility discovered a stolen electric meter had been illegally connected to the rental home in the small town of Princess Anne on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where the family was living since November. Maryland law bars utilities from terminating electric service for nonpayment of bills from November 1 through March 31 without an affidavit filed to the Public Service Commission. Rodney Todd, 36, and his two sons and five daughters were last seen alive on March 28. Police responding to a missing persons report found their bodies on Monday after friends, school workers and Todd’s supervisor at work had knocked on the door with no answer. “The children were all in beds and it appears as though they were sleeping,” Princess Anne Police Chief Scott Keller said. “They didn’t have electricity. Probably it was bedtime and they decided they needed some light and probably some heat, because toward the end of March even though it was spring we were having some pretty chilly nights.” Why Todd ran the gas-powered generator inside his kitchen wasn’t clear. The chief speculated that the noise would have bothered neighbors, had it been outside. “I’m just numb. I’m just numb. Like it’s a nightmare but it’s not,” the children’s mother, Tyisha Luneice Chambers, told the Associated Press on Tuesday.
“If I had known he was without electricity, I would have helped.” Lloyd Edwards said his stepson had bought the generator after the power was shut off because of unpaid bills at their one-story wood frame home. “It’s so hard. How can you understand something like this?” Edwards said. “He was an outstanding dad. To keep his seven children warm, he bought a generator, and the carbon monoxide consumed them.” Matt Likovich, a spokesman for Delmarva Power, said on Tuesday that the utility was not contacted to have power restored in the home after the illegal meter was removed. “We had no record of who was living there,” Likovich said. “There was no way to determine what their situation was.” Likovich said customers are encouraged to contact the utility if they are having difficulty paying their bill. He says there are options for such customers, including partnerships with social service agencies. But, he said, the customers “have to contact us.” Todd got help paying utility bills in the past, but did not apply this year, said Tom VanLandingham, who directs the Office of Home Energy Programs in Somerset County. Families can apply once a year, and assistance is based on household income and energy use, among other factors. “We’re all kind of baffled as to why he did not apply this year,” VanLandingham said. “That’s the million-dollar question.” Todd was a utility worker at the nearby University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He retained full custody of his children when his divorce from Chambers was finalized last September. Court records identified the boys as Cameron and ZhiHeem, and the girls as Tyjuziana, Tykeria, Tynijuzia, TyNiah and Tybreyia. Bonnie Edwards said her grandsons were 13 and 7, and granddaughters were 15, 12, 10, 9 and 6, respectively. AP
ãO PAULO—Thousands of workers staged rallies in 12 cities across Brazil on Tuesday to protest a proposed law that would allow companies to outsource their labor force. The biggest rally occurred in the federal capital of Brasilia, where some 3,000 demonstrators gathered in front of Congress hours
before lawmakers were expected to vote on the measure. Except for a brief clash between police and demonstrators
in Brasilia, the rallies across Brazil were peaceful. Most drew less than 500 people. In São Paulo, Brazil’s financial and industrial nerve center, less than 1,000 people took part. The rallies were organized by the Central Workers Union, Brazil’s largest labor union umbrella organization. It fears the legislation could lead to dismissals and the hiring of outsourced workers at lower wages. Besides voicing opposition to the proposed law, the rallies were also
called to show support for state-run oil company Petrobras, which is at the center of what federal prosecutors call the biggest corruption scheme ever uncovered in Brazil. Investigators say the nation’s biggest construction and engineering firms paid at least $800 million in bribes and other funds to Petrobras executives and politicians in exchange for inflated contracts with the oil firm. Some of the money was allegedly funneled into the campaign coffers of the Workers’ Party and its allies. AP
US woman, 115, listed as world’s oldest person
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NKSTER, Michigan—A 115-year-old Detroit-area woman now listed as the world’s oldest living person still makes plans for a fishing trip each year and credits God for her longevity. Jeralean Talley tops a list maintained by the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group, which tracks the world’s longest-living people. Gertrude Weaver, a 116-yearold woman in Arkansas who was the oldest documented person for a few days, died on Monday. Talley was born May 23, 1899. Asked for her key to longevity, the Detroit Free Press reports that she echoed previous answers on the topic. “It’s coming from above,” she told the newspaper. “That’s the best advice I can give you. It’s not in my
hands or your hands.” Michael Kinloch, 56, a longtime family friend of Talley’s through their church, said Talley’s mental state is “is very sharp.” “It’s unfortunate that other people passed away, but this has certainly elevated her. She’s feeling no pain. She just can’t get around like she used to,” Kinloch said. Talley’s husband died in 1988 and five generations of her family have lived in the Detroit area. In 2013 her 114th birthday drew the attention of President Barack Obama, who said in a personal note that she’s “part of an extraordinary generation.” Kinloch said he’s looking forward to taking Talley, despite her advanced age, on their annual fishing trip to a trout pond. AP
in this may 22, 2014, file photo, Jeralean talley poses for a photo in inkster, michigan. AP
Kansas governor inks USs 1st ban on abortion procedure
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OPEK A, Kansas—Kansas became the first state on Tuesday to ban a common second-trimester abortion procedure that critics describe as dismembering a fetus. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, a strong abortion opponent, signed a bill imposing the ban, and the new law takes effect on July 1. He and the National Right to Life Committee, which drafted the measure, said they hope Kansas’s example spurs other states to enact such laws. Already, the measure also has been introduced in Missouri, Oklahoma and South Carolina. “This law has the power to trans-
form the landscape of abortion policy in the United States,” committee president Carol Tobias said in a statement. Two abortion-rights groups that operate Kansas clinics with abortion services, Trust Women and Planned Parenthood of Kansas and MidMissouri, said they’re considering challenging the new law in court. “We will become a bellwether for future introductions of this bill in the states,” said Laura McQuade, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood chapter. Abortion-rights supporters say the law, which bans the dilation and evacuation procedure and redefines
it as “dismemberment,” could be vulnerable to a lawsuit because it bans some abortions before a fetus can survive outside the womb and contains no mental health exception for the mother. A Delaware-based law professor said US Supreme Court precedents over the past 15 years suggest the Kansas law wouldn’t survive a challenge but added that the justices may revise past stances. Under the law, the procedure is banned except when necessary to save a woman’s life or prevent irreversible damage to her physical health. Doctors cannot use forceps, clamps, scissors or similar
instruments on a fetus to remove it from the womb in pieces. Anti-abortion groups are confident the new law will withstand a legal challenge, based on a US Supreme Court ruling in 2007 in which it upheld a federal ban on a late-term procedure described by abortion opponents as “partialbirth abortion.” But in that ruling, the court’s 5-4 majority rejected an argument that the federal law would have banned the more common dilation and evacuation procedure described by the Kansas law, according to Widener University law professor John Culhane. AP
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| Thursday, april 9, 2015 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph sports@businessmirror.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao
‘IF I CAN DO IT, ANYBODY CAN’
Here is Bubba Watson, a champion two of the last three years, trying to become only the fourth golfer in Masters history to defend his title. It’s a very exclusive club, currently limited to three giants of the game: Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
By Paul Newberry
The Associated Press UGUSTA, Georgia—Bubba Watson was strolling up to the ninth green, toward the Augusta National clubhouse and that towering oak tree, when he was struck by a fact that still seems a bit unreal. He’s won the Masters not just once, but twice. “I can’t even believe it,” Watson told his caddie, Ted Scott, during a practice round. “I’m still trying to get over 2012, and I haven’t even got to 2014 yet.” Yet here he is, a champion two of the last three years, now trying to become only the fourth golfer in Masters history to defend his title. It’s a very exclusive club, currently limited to three giants of the game: Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. Somehow, it just doesn’t seem right—not even to Watson—that a good ol’ boy from the Florida Panhandle, who taught himself to swing a golf club and approaches the game with a decidedly unconventional attitude, could even have a shot at joining such a list.
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Bubba and the Golden Bear? Bubba and Sir Nick? Bubba and Tiger? C’mon, get real. “How does a guy from my background make it?” Watson marveled. “How does a guy from my background actually win it, and then win it again?” When he captured his first green jacket three years ago, it was with a daring hook off the pine straw on the second playoff hole. “Bubba Golf,” he called it, the sort of audacious shot most pros wouldn’t even consider, much less attempt. Watson’s victory a year ago was much less dramatic, though no less impressive. He overcame a three-shot deficit to Jordan Spieth with back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth holes, was steady as can be on the back side, and pulled away for a three-stroke victory. “To have the green jacket twice wrapped around me, I still can’t believe it,” he said. Not that it’s a fluke. Watson’s unorthodox game sets up well for Augusta National. There are only three holes—Nos. 1, 7 and 18—that give him some trouble off the tee. Most of the others are quite manageable for a lefthander who likes to cut it off the tee with that trademark pink driver and doesn’t mind taking some chances.
RORY PUTS BLINDERS ON A UGUSTA, Georgia—He’s the No. 1 player in the world, winner of the last two majors and star of a poignant new Nike commercial he admits to having watched—but only once. If this was any other Masters, Rory McIlroy would be the talk of golf and the biggest story of the week. That he’s not—at least right now—is only because a guy named Tiger Woods decided to embark on his latest comeback on the undulating greens of Augusta National. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing as McIlroy prepares for the seventh Masters of his young career. For all his success, the biggest hole in his résumé is that he has yet to win a green jacket. “Does it give people something else to talk about? Yes,” McIlroy said. “But I’m not necessarily listening to anything that anyone is saying, so doesn’t really make a difference to me.” That McIlroy is coming into the Masters with blinders on is little surprise. He’s got a chance to become only the sixth player to win a career Grand Slam with a win here, and he’s prepared meticulously for his attempt to conquer a course
that seems made for his game but has consistently given him fits. He did it mostly out of the tournament spotlight, working on his game the last few weeks near his Florida home. “I just really felt like spending a couple of weeks away from this, I guess,” McIlroy said. “Just preparing at home and in private and not really having everything critiqued and analyzed and overanalyzed. So I just wanted to get away from it all, and I feel like it’s been a good thing.” McIlroy offered a few different theories on Tuesday on why the Masters is the one major he has yet to win, including trying too hard to make eagles on the reachable par-5s on Augusta National. Last year he had 9-iron in hand for his second shot on both Nos. 13 and 15 in the final round, only to come away with bogeys on his way to a tie for eighth. There were also times, though, that McIlroy thought not being aggressive enough cost him strokes because he didn’t
FOR all of Rory McIlroy’s success, the biggest hole in his résumé is that he has yet to win a green jacket. AP
“All of the other holes look good to my eye,” he said. “The trees outline the fairway pretty good, so it’s easy for me to envision the shot I want to hit.” While his game has never been better— Watson earned his seventh career victory at the World Golf Championship in November, was a runner-up this year at Phoenix, and comes into Augusta ranked third in the world—he remains a polarizing figure, a guy with an insular view of the world and not always a man of the people. That reputation tailed him all the way to the Masters, when ESPN released a survey that showed he’s easily the least popular player among his fellow Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour competitors. Watson didn’t dispute that he’s had some “mess-ups” along the way. He said he hopes to use the criticism to become a better person. “I take it as I need to improve as a man,” he said. “I need to get better. And I think over my career, since my rookie season to now, I’ve gotten better. But obviously there’s more room for me to improve as a man.” There’s no lack of respect for his game. He’s clearly one of the favorites this week, a popular choice along with Rory McIlroy—who’s trying to complete a career Grand Slam—and rising star Spieth, someone clearly on
the verge of winning his first major title. “You can imagine what Bubba must feel like,” said Adam Scott, whose 2013 victory is sandwiched between Watson’s two titles. Augusta National “is seemingly made for his kind of game, and he’s playing nicely, as well.” Watson shrugged off those who would anoint him a favorite. But he conceded that he’s feeling a lot more comfortable defending his title this around, compared to the way it went down two years ago, when he broke par only once and finished in a tie for 50th. “I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I mean, I’m scared to death of the Champions Dinner in 2013 because you’re talking about great champions across the board, old and young, and now I’m getting to sit and have dinner with them and I’m making sure they like the food I picked out. The media attention, the atmosphere—even a year later—you’re excited about your win. Sometimes you get away from your routine or you just use your energy in a different way. That’s what I did. “This time, I know what to expect. Doesn’t mean I’m going to play better, just I know what to expect.” Watson would love to win a few more green jackets. If he doesn’t, there won’t be any complaints. “If I never win again,” Watson said, “it’s a good place to win twice.”
commit totally on shots to safe parts of the green. What’s especially frustrating to McIlroy—aside from shooting 80 in the final round in 2011 to blow a four-shot lead—is that his game seems ideally suited for both the course and conditions here. “It’s the one that should set up the best for me just with my ball flight and being comfortable off the tee here, especially being able to turn the ball over from right to left and all that,” he said. “If I can play the way I know I can around here and just have a good week on the greens, then there’s no reason I shouldn’t have a good chance.” No reason, indeed, even if a win in Dubai is the only time he has hoisted a trophy this year. McIlroy has played only five times so far this year, clearly pointing his game toward the Masters instead of trying to collect more hardware along the way. “Just trying to keep my game where it is and do
some quality work, not overdo it,” he said. “Just do the right amount so that when I got here yesterday for the first time, again, I was ready to play and just needed to go see the golf course. Wasn’t working on anything in my game, my swing. Wasn’t thinking about technique at all. Just all about hitting the shots I need to and thinking about how to manage my game and get it around here for the next four days.” The preparation this year isn’t the only thing different for McIlroy. Last year he had tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, his former girlfriend, carrying his bag in the par-3 contest, while Niall Horan from the boy band One Direction will do the honors this year. And then there’s the commercial, which uses a young actor to trace McIlroy’s beginnings in golf. He is shown with a poster of Woods in his room and chipping balls into a clothes dryer after watching Woods win a major on TV. “I did have posters of him on my wall and I did idolize him, really,” McIlroy said. “I think if you ask a lot of golfers that are my generation, he was the benchmark. He was the inspiration for us to go out and try to be the best that we could be. AP
sports
WWII documentary cites Manila role in Jew exit from Nazi Germany By Recto Mercene
‘IF I CAN DO IT, ANYBODY CAN’ BUBBA WATSON hits on the 14th hole during a practice round on Tuesday. AP
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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com
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A broader look at today’s business
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or many Filipinos not aware of the heroic and controversy-filled role the Philippines played by sheltering European Jews escaping Hitler’s brutality in World War II, a documentary film would soon tell the whole story to local viewers. The Israeli Embassy on Wednesday announced that 3 Roads Communications and Frieder Films has acquired the film, Rescue in the Philippines: Refuge from the Holocaust, for broadcast by CNN in the country. The agreement provides for four broadcasts of the Academy Award-qualifying documentary within the year on CNN in the Philippines, the embassy said. The first broadcast will take place on Saturday evening, April 11. “Rescue in the Philippines details the heroic and prescient actions of an unlikely band of friends in saving more than 1,300 Jews from pre-World War II Nazi Germany.” The distinguished group of rescuers included Manuel Quezon, the first elected President of the Philippines; Continued on A8
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optimizing shareholder benefits Cezar “Bong” Consing, president/CEO of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI); Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman of BPI; and Fernando Zobel de Ayala, BPI director, are having a conversation during the financial institution’s annual stockholders’ meeting held in a Makati City hotel. NONIE REYES
B.I.R. insists on e-filing of tax returns beginning April 15
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he Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has rejected appeals to defer the implementation of the mandatory electronic filing of returns by certain kinds of taxpayers starting April 15. In its latest Tax Watch advertisement, the BIR encouraged taxpayers to use the e-filing facility and reminded those taxpayers earlier mandated to electronically file their returns that failure will mean penalties and surcharges for the violators. Earlier, the Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) appealed to Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares to defer the implementation of
Revenue Regulation 5-2015 mandating certain kinds of taxpayers to electronically file their returns starting April 15. These taxpayers are accredited importers and customs brokers and prospective importers and customs brokers; accredited printers of principal and supplementary receipts/ invoices; one-time transaction taxpayers; those who shall file a “No Payment”return; governmentowned and -controlled corporations; and cooperatives registered with the National Electrification Administration and the Local Water Utilities Administration. See “BIR,” A8
Ayala Land buys Cebu-based BPO property lessor
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roperty developer Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) on Wednesday said it has purchased a Cebu-based firm that owns a building for business-process outsourcing (BPO) firms. The country’s second-largest property developer, in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, said it purchased all of the 8.2 million common shares of Aegis People Support Realty Corp. for P435 million. “This acquisition is aligned with ALI’s thrust of expanding its office-leasing business,” the company said. Aegis is a Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered entity and the owner of Aegis building on Villa Street at the Cebu Information Technology Park in Lahug, Cebu City. The building is a certified Leadership in Energy Environmental Design-Gold Office with a gross leasable area of 18,092 square meters and is largely occupied by Teleperformance under a long-term lease, the company said.
n japan 0.3697 n UK 65.8986 n HK 5.7390 n CHINA 7.1768 n singapore 32.6992 n australia 33.9988 n EU 48.0828 n SAUDI arabia 11.8596 Source: BSP (8 April 2015)