BusinessMirror December 1, 2014

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Life

All that Jaz

and the Greek isles.

I can’t decide which outfit is my favorite, so I asked the Dagupan native to make her own chic choices. “The white ovoid top and short shorts; the white mesh cropped top and pencil skirt over a black swimsuit; the black mesh bodysuit with stripes skirt, which gives a hint of bondage; the black Battenberg lace dress with flounces, which everyone mistakes for laser cutting; and, finally, the white asymmetric gown. It’s funny how people describe it, as a vacuum-pack dress, a wanton or a ravioli, a banana leaf. A good friend also said it reminded him of a BenCab painting,” Jaz says.

What about the Ria Bolivar dress, which seemed to appear on social media as the most photographed creation coming out of the MFF runway? “Actually, mas nababanggit ’yung white, probably because it has an ethereal feel to it. Pero kay Ria, wow, class talaga. Ria is Ria!” The Project Runway Philippines Season One alumna says Linea was inspired by random doodles and sketches, like black ink in thin and bold strokes on crisp white paper. “My collection for MFF is a complete turnaround design-wise, but the aesthetic remains. It’s the kind of sexy a woman wants to exude but a man can still appreciate,” the onetime Slim’s Fashion and Arts School student says.

Any ice-cool iconic actress would wear Jaz’s gorgeous gowns, perhaps Gwyneth Paltrow on her good red-carpet appearances, and Tilda Swinton on her fashion-muse moments. But had she been alive, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy would have bought all of the Jaz’s dresses—and Jackie O would have borrowed them. ■

TOTA PULCHRA MISS CHARLIZE

‘T

HE Jaz Cerezo woman is empowered and confident.

She does everything with class. For summer 2015, I imagined her to be on a Mediterranean cruise, that’s why there are a lot of looks that are stylized swimwear, and they’re separates, so she can mix and match her outfits,” says the dusky designer of her stunning Manila Fashion Festival (MFF) sartorial presentation.

“As a young designer, I need a platform where I can showcase my products. A wellproduced fashion show not only gives me the mileage I need, but it also inspires the next generation of fashion designers,” Jaz says of her inclusion in the MFF shows, all directed by Jackie Aquino and organized by Art Personas.

Jaz dazzled with her “Linea” collection, dominated by neoprene, jersey and Battenberg lace creations. The easy, breezy ensembles can be a wanderlust’s wardrobe, as she explores Positano to Saint Tropez and the French Riviera, the Italian throwback towns

REVITALIZING SKIN-CARE PRODUCTS... »D4

BusinessMirror

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

Monday, December 1, 2014

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YOUNG designer Jaz Cerezo’s “Linea” collection at the Manila Fashion Festival

life

Magic and Vastness for the holidays SPANISH brand UNO de 50 (www.facebook. com/unode50.es) calls the environment’s influence on human beings “Connection”, and this is evident in its Autumn/Winter collection now available in the Philippines at UNO de 50 stores in SM Aura Premier, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall and SM Makati.

The collection amazes with new daring designs with flashes of Swarovski crystals, as well as a mix of leather and especially shaped metals. The best part is that these are all handcrafted in Spain.

The Connection Collection has four subcollections, all of which draw inspiration from the elements of nature: Forest, Vastness, Intimacy and Magic. Each of these collections shows that we are part of the environment, and are defined by connecting to every single part of it.

The Vastness Collection consists of organic shapes of silver-plated metal that are cold to the touch and connect us with the landscape’s vastness.

The Magic Collection reflects the light, color and shimmer of the Northern Lights through blue, green, gray and pink Swarovski Elements crystals.

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filipino films shine overseas LOOKING GOOD

Multistrand brown leather bracelet with elongated green geometric-cut Swarovski Elements crystal set in silverplated metal. Visio`n nocturna (Night vision). Semistructured bracelet made of brown leather and silver-plated metal with a blue Swarovski Elements crystal. From the Magic Collection.

COPITO DE NIEVE (SNOWFLAKE)

A bracelet with silverplated chain and UNO de 50 characteristic lock from the Vastness Collection

QUE’ VISTAS...

(WHAT A VIEW!)

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Brown leather belt from the Vastness Collection, with round-textured silver-plated metal buckle.

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BusinessMirror

Monday, December 1, 2014

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filipino films shine overseas

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ThE Bwaya team receive the Grand Prize: Sarah Pagcaliwagan (from left), Francis Pasion, angeli Bayani, RS Francisco, Sam Versoza.

all access Ricky GaLLaRdo

BiLLy Boyd

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OOD news came one after another over the past weeks, courtesy of local independent films that bagged awards in film festivals abroad.

The latest triumph happened in Tokyo. Francis Xavier Pasion’s Bwaya bagged the grand prize at the Tokyo FilMEX International Film Festival. The film, shot entirely in the Agusan swamps of Mindanao, tells the story of a courageous couple searching helplessly for their missing daughter believed to have been devoured by a crocodile.

It was also adjudged Best Film at the 2014 Cinemalaya Film Festival, where the filmmaker got his initial seed money to fund the project.

Present to receive the festival’s highest honor were Pasion, together with lead actress Angeli Bayani, actor/ coproducer RS Francisco, and line producer Sarah Pagcaliwagan. The filmmaker told us that, although the film generated very good feedback and garnered positive reviews, he was keeping his expectations very realistic.

“The other competing entries were wonderful, and any of these could have won, so I consider the win as some kind of a miracle, a big blessing. I’m overjoyed, and I share this honor with everyone who worked very hard so we could complete the film.”

Pasion also shared that festival delegates adore the film’s lead actress, Bayani. “She is very highly regarded by the festival organizers and recognized by the delegations from the other participating countries.

After her wonderful performances in Anthony Chen’s Ilo-Ilo and Lav Diaz’s Norte: The End of History, Angeli has certainly risen above the ranks. It is about time that she is accorded the same importance and respect in the Philippines. Remember, Ang Lee referred to Angeli as a ‘national treasure’. She is more than a star at the Tokyo FilMEX.” For her part, Bayani is elated that the members of the jury favored the lone Philippine entry.

“It was nerve-racking prior to the announcement.

I’m happy that there is now so much respect for films coming from our country. I hope our government

‘Rings’ TRilogy’s Billy Boyd peRfoRms ‘THe lasT goodBye’ in ‘THe HoBBiT: BaTTle of five aRmies’

will also sincerely support the films that compete in international festivals.”

While in Japan, Bayani also received the good news that Diaz’s film has been nominated in the American Independent Spirit Awards under the Best Foreign Film category. Norte will slug it out with the other finalists from Sweden, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada and Russia.

Bayani added, “I hope our winning streak continues.”

A few days before the Tokyo victory, the Philippines also made a big splash at the Hanoi International Film Festival. Jason Paul Laxamana’s Ang Magkakabaung (The Coffin Maker) received the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award and its lead actor, Allen Dizon, was named Best Lead Actor.

The honor in Vietnam is the second acting plum ºfor Dizon for the same film, having won the best-actor prize at the Harlem Film Festival in New York a few months ago.

According to Peque Gallaga, a member of the jury, Hollywood actor Ralph Fiennes also had an entry, but failed to garner a nomination in the lead-actor category.

Dizon bested the two other nominees that represented films from host country Vietnam and Korea.

In recent weeks we also learned that Jun Lana won the Best Screenplay honors for Bwakaw in North Korea.

Congratulations to all, and thanks for representing the Philippines well.

After the launch of Sky Tower, Solaire’s five-star all-suites hotel, we are happy that there is a new, worldclass theater, simply called The Theater at Solaire. The topnotch venue with state-of-the-art technology and a massive 1,760-seating capacity was inaugurated recently with a special show that featured the best of Philippine concert performers.

Thomas Arasi, president and CEO of Bloomberry Resorts Corp., the developer of Solaire Resort and Casino, shared that the theater is equipped with the Constellation System exclusively provided by global acoustic specialist Meyer Sounds. “It is the only theater in the Philippines, and only the third in Asia to have this breakthrough technology.”

The Theater at Solaire will be the venue of the muchawaited production of the smash Broadway musical Chicago, a pre-Christmas treat that will surely be a hit among musical-theater aficionados.

James Cundall of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions is happy that the gala premiere of the award-winning musical will mark the grand opening of the theater. “I’m delighted to be bringing in the first production for The Theater at Solaire. And what better show to have than the sexy, slick and sophisticated Chicago.”

We are glad that the production will include 11 Filipino musicians who passed the auditions conducted by musical director Robert Billig a few months ago.

We also learned that the show has flown in Broadway veterans Bianca Marroquin and Terra MacLeod for this show.

Chicago will only have 23 shows, from December 3 to 21. n

DEFINITELY WORLD-CLASS SO many things are happening at Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City.

GEARING up for the December 2014 release of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies—the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien—filmmakers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens announced recently that Billy Boyd will perform the film’s end title song, “The Last Goodbye,” which he cowrote with the filmmakers.

In making the announcement, the filmmakers stated, “It is hard, after 16 years and six films, to know exactly how to say good-bye. We knew that we wanted to speak directly to all those who have taken this journey with us, especially to the fans whose love of these films has so often kept us going. This is why we asked Billy Boyd, who has been with us from the very beginning, and whose portrayal as Peregrin Took in The Lord of The Rings films is so beloved, to help write and perform the final song in this trilogy. Billy is not just a wonderful actor but also an extremely accomplished singer/songwriter—we are so glad he agreed once again to share his talent with us.”

Says Billy Boyd, “I wanted the song to be a good-bye to all the fans who have been part of this amazing journey and to the whole world of Tolkien, as it has been told in the cinema for our generation.

No one knows the world of Tolkien better than Peter, Fran and Philippa, and I feel incredibly touched and honored to be asked to write and perform this song, and to be at the start and end of these beautiful, historic stories. To once again work so closely with them has been one of the true honors of my working life.” The soundtrack to The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, featuring “The Last Goodbye” performed by Billy Boyd, is available now for preorder at Amazon.com Opening across the Philippines on December 12 in theaters and IMAX cinems, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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z ‘palawan is world’s most beautiful island’ Today’s Horoscope

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Recognize what you need to focus on and make a point of organizing your time to reach your professional year-end deadlines.

Self-improvement will pay off and lead to compliments and welcome reunions with someone you miss. HHH

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CANCER (June 21-July 22): Emotional discord can be expected if you don’t face a challenge optimistically.

Reach out and collaborate and you will find a worthwhile solution. Treat yourself to something that makes you feel good, like a new outfit or hairstyle. HH

Communicate with a friend, neighbor or relative who can give you a different view of your current personal situation.

Problems at home will escalate if you don’t make your voice heard. Play the role of mediator with your roommates. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll face opposition if you make sudden changes.

Learn from past experience and share your intentions before you get under way. A deal you are being offered will have hidden costs.

Don’t commit to anything without knowing the bottom line. HH

b

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Bargainhunting will pay off. Your outgoing approach will draw positive attention. A change is heading your way, and socializing or getting together with someone you love will lead to an interesting development.

Love is in the stars. HHHHH

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Visiting a friend or getting involved in your community will brighten your day.

Your unique approach to the way you live will set an example for someone looking for advice. A positive change in the way you earn your living is within reach. HHH

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your income will get a boost if you look into alternative ways to market what you have to offer. A partnership will turn out to be beneficial. Don’t limit what you can do because you fear failure. Give it your best shot. HHHH

f

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t believe everything you hear. You can learn from observing how others react to what you do. Concentrate on being disciplined when pursuing your goals or taking care of your responsibilities and you will avoid complaints. HHH

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t expect things to be easy. Do the work required to reach your goals, and refuse to let anyone interfere. You don’t have to spend a lot to make a good impression.

Do your best, and that should suffice. HHH

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON ThIS DAy: Sarah

Silverman, 44; Nestor Carbonell, 47; Bette Midler, 69; Woody Allen, 79.

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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t let the changes you are facing stifle your performance. You’ve got a better foothold than you realize, so you should leap into action to make your dreams come true.

Your ability to take charge and move forward will be envied. HHHH

hAPPy BIRThDAy: Pay closer attention to your home, family and domestic plans. It’s important to stabilize your situation and pin down any loose ends that may create a problem for you in the future. You can have an outstanding year as long as you take advantage of opportunities and are willing to make the changes required to get the highest returns. Your numbers are 9, 13, 22, 28, 32, 37, 45.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Proceed with caution. You may want to make domestic changes, but make sure you have the approval of everyone who will be affected by the choices you make. Do your best to stick to a budget and accommodate the ones you love. HHH

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

Spice up your life and look for adventure. Whether you learn something new or travel to a destination you’ve never been before, an open mind will lead to new friendships and shared information. Love is highlighted. HHHHH

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l

BIRThDAy BABy: You are playful, entertaining and inspiring. You are high-spirited and adventuresome

‘in on things’ By JERRy J. BILLINGS The Universal Crossword/Edited by Timothy E. Parker

ACROSS 1 Prices paid 6 Matures, as wine 10 Fjord explorer?

14 Sneak ___ (glimpse) 15 Romanian coins 16 “That’s clear to me,” hippie-style 17 Dog found in the pound 18 New York canal 19 Grandma, affectionately 20 Easy ___ 21 A lift, in Aspen 22 Alumnus, for short 23 “Say ___” (dentist’s request) 25 Pungent-smelling 27 Forrest Gump’s forte 31 Abstains from 35 By way of 36 Winter fall 38 Aid one’s alma mater 39 Eat an ice cream cone, e.g.

41 You can’t tell if she’s coming or going?

43 Strip in the Middle East

44 46 48 49 51 53 55 56 59 61 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 24 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 37 40 42 45 47

City of Light Mischievous type Coop resident Affording a view Monotonous in cadence Comprehension Geological time River border Weaver’s tool Mended temporarily San Juan, Puerto ___ Emit amplified light Subtle sarcasm “Back ___ hour” (shop sign) Quarter-miler’s path Launch a tennis ball Bachelor’s party Flogging memento Some playing cards

DOWN 1 Dwelling in Durango 2 ___ out (withdraws) 3 Word in a Doris Day tune

ourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Little sack of leaves Airport porters Aid in crime Pig, in the Flintstones’ kitchen Early 30-ton computer Lead-in for “Madre” or “Leone” Door opener?

Jewish month before Nisan One of Columbus’ three ships “Goodness gracious!”

Celeste or Ian “Direct” ending Insect feelers “Sacro” addition Mother-of-pearl A tide “Famous potatoes” state Thirteen, to some bakers What the hillbilly batter did?

Vehicle at a stand Empire State Building climber Outfielder’s call Title of respect Stuck-up sort

50 52 54 56 57 58 60 62 63 64

Tuesday, 40 Monday,November December18, 1, 2014 Vol. 10 No. 53

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P25.00 nationwide | 7 sections 36 pages | 7 days a week

‘Housing gap now at 6M units’

all that jaz The people of God

A broader look at today’s business

SOLON SAYS BACKLOG TO CONTINUE RISE SANS LONG-TERM NATIONAL SHELTER PROGRAM

INSIDE

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n a trip to Afghanistan during President Barack Obama’s first term, Defense Secretary Robert Gates was stunned to find a telephone line at the military’s special operations headquarters that linked directly back to a top White House national security official.

“I had them tear it out while I was standing there,” Gates said earlier this month as he recounted his discovery. “I told the commanders, ‘If you get a call from the White House, you tell them to go to hell and call me.’”

BusinessMirror

three-time rotary club of manila journalism awardee

EAR God, thank You for knowing that the Church is “the people of God” because it pleased God to sanctify and save men not in isolation but by making them into one people gathered together by the unity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Obama, Pentagon: An uneasy relationship

Immature Hunter, at times Dry white Italian wine Jewish rite of circumcision The “non-existent” contraction “Sweet 16” org.

Soften, as chocolate Skin orifice Green feeling?

Pre-Easter purchases

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

tourism@businessmirror.com.ph • Monday, December 1, 2014 A7 THIS August 1 photo shows a boat heading for the Big Lagoon in El Nido town, Palawan province. This lagoon is regarded as one of the most popular snorkeling spots in the province. ALVIN I. DACANAY

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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

Indicators point to over 7% growth in 2015–DTI

he chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development said the country’s housing backlog is now estimated at 6 million units.

By Catherine N. Pillas

Liberal Party Rep. Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental, chairman of the committee, in an interview at the sidelines of the recent legislative review on the collection efficiency of shelter agencies, said the country’s housing needs will continue to increase unless a national housingplanning program is implemented.

“Instead of a production approach, we should move [to address this problem] to capacity-building approach by enhancing their capacity to build their own homes because now they [informal settlers] don’t have the capability to build houses. What more if the government supports them by providing land? I believe they can construct better homes by utilizing their skills,” he said.

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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sees a turnaround in national output growth in 2015 on the back of favorable economic conditions, even projecting an above-7-percent growth for next year.

Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo told reporters that a slew of factors may put the country’s economy back on the upswing in 2015, after several issues such as congestion in the country’s main gateways and the lingering effect of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) dragged down growth in 2014.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, on Thursday, announced that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) slowed in the July-to-September period to 5.3 percent, the slowest expansion for the country since the third quarter of 2011.

“We had negative factors affecting us this year, not just the port congestion and Yolanda. Inflation was also high this year, and there is also the effect of the Disbursement Acceleration Program.

The government became wary in spending. But the issue has died down. Bulk of the effect was felt in the late second

Continued on A2 Palawan is world’s most beautiful island–US website B A N. P Philippines News Agency

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FTER being named as the top island in the world by the readers of the renowned United States travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler in October, the province of Palawan once again received recognition from well-known American news website Huffington Post.

In an article titled “Palawan, the most beautiful island in the world, is sheer perfection,” which was published on the website last week, HuffPost Travel writer Carly Ledbetter described the Philippines as an “underappreciated” tropical travel destination, especially since it is home to “a hidden piece of paradise”, like Palawan.

She wrote that the province’s “beautiful blue water mixes with emerald green”, and noted its “jungle-filled mountains that appear to rise up from the ocean”.

Ledbetter listed island-hopping around the Bacuit archipelago (for the cliffs, sinkholes and lagoons); traveling to Puerto Princesa City (for its culinary delights); and staying in one of Coron town’s “otherworldly” luxury hotels as some of the province’s high points.

She also cited the province’s incredible and rare wildlife—from purple crabs and the Philippine mouse-deer to the Philippine pangolin, butterflies and the Palawan bearcat.

Ledbetter suggested to her readers to try scuba-diving in Palawan, since it is one of the “best spots to scuba-dive in the world;” tour Puerto Princesa’s underground river; or take a boat to travel between the islands.

“We’re pretty sure that after all the biking, swimming and exploring you’ll do—you’ll never want to leave,” the writer said.

“Many say the ideal time to head to Palawan is between about October and May, so we suggest booking tickets ASAP,” she added.

Palawan is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Philippines, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

In fact, the island is featured in the DOT’s official television commercials that are aired internationally and can also be viewed on the video-sharing website YouTube.

THIS August 1 photo shows part of the Entalula Beach Club in El Nido municipality, Palawan province. The club is operated

by El Nido Resorts. ALVIN I. DACANAY

Tourism department eyes greater share of Vietnamese outbound-travel market

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HE Department of Tourism (DOT) is aiming to capture a bigger share of the Vietnamese outbound-travel market, which is now one of the fast-emerging markets of the Philippines, it was learned late last week.

In the recent PhilippineVietnam Travel Exchange 2014, Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said the number of outbound Vietnamese tourists is

expected to rise by year-end.

His statement came after Manila and Hanoi signed an agreement to come up with a three-year tourism cooperation plan that will focus on the development of the cruise-tourism industry.

Familiarization trips that would enhance the growing interest in tourism between the two countries are also in the pipeline, the DOT said.

In a separate statement, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said his agency remained focused on the Philippines’ emerging source markets, such as Vietnam.

At present, only Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and Danang are strongly connected to Manila via daily direct fl ights being serviced by Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air. “The additional air-seat privi-

leges given to our local carriers to fly to key cities in Vietnam should help [bring] our two nations much closer and…fuel greater interest between and among our Vietnamese friends and Filipinos to travel more often,” Jimenez said.

“Next year is going to be… more exciting…for the Philippines, as we play host to a number of international events. It is going to be one fun 2015 you

should not miss,” he added.

Tourism Director Maria Corazon Jorda-Apo, head of the Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam Unit of the agency’s Market Development Group, said the country received 20,436 Vietnamese tourists in the third quarter of this year, reflecting a 16.68-percent increase from the figures recorded in the same period last year.

Bengzon said he looked for-

ward to see potential Vietnamese tourists coming to the country next year and discover “what Condé Nast Traveler magazine considers as the ‘No. 1 island in the world’, Palawan.”

He noted that, with the long list of international events, activities and new destinations that await tourists, the Philippines is defi nitely the place to be in 2015. PNA

tourism & entertainment

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rockets stop bucks

S

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Monday, deCeMber 1, 2014 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph sports@businessmirror.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

CrowD Drawers ana ivanovic of micromax

indian aces and manila mavericks’ Jo-wilfried tsonga deliver impressive performances in Day two of the international Premier tennis League on saturday at the »C3 mall of asia arena in Pasay City. NONI REYES

ROCKETS STOP BUCKS M

ILWAUKEE—Houston’s James Harden scored 19 points in the decisive third quarter en route to a game-leading 34, which helped the Rockets to a 117-103 victory at the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

The Rockets moved within 1-1/2 games of the Western Conference lead, while Milwaukee dropped a game behind Central Division leader Chicago.

Elsewhere, Washington fell behind late but recovered to edge New Orleans, and the Los Angeles Clippers finished off an impressive 6-1 road trip by beating Utah.

Harden was Houston’s key in the third-quarter surge, and by game’s end had got under the skin of the Bucks players.

He jostled with Bucks center Larry Sanders with 3:19 left in the game and Houston leading handily. Harden had been called for an offensive foul, and was holding the ball walking down the court when Giannis Antetokounmpo slapped him on the rear and knocked the ball away.

Harden gave a slight shove with his left hand to the 19-year-old Bucks player, and Sanders ran up to Harden to remonstrate, and both players grabbed the other’s arms.

Harden, Sanders and Antetokounmpo all were given technical fouls after the referees reviewed the video.

Rookie Jabari Parker scored 19 points for Milwaukee, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Washington’s Marcin Gortat had a season-high 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Wizards to an 83-80 victory over New Orleans.

Bradley Beal scored 12 points for the Wizards, who trailed only once, when Anthony Davis—New Orleans’ top scorer with 30 points—dunked to give the Pelicans a 78-77 lead with 3:48 remaining.

Washington got back in front, and Tyreke Evans missed a three-point attempt that would have tied the score with 1.7 seconds to play.

New Orleans has lost a season-high three straight. Davis had 13 rebounds, but the National Basketball Association blocked shot leader had none for the first time in 15 games this season. The Pelicans had a season-low 12 assists.

Los Angeles’s Blake Griffin scored 28 points as the Clippers won 112-96 at Utah.

Chris Paul added 17 points and 10 assists as the Clippers notched a fourth straight win.

Gordon Hayward scored 30 points for the Jazz, who have lost a season-high five games in a row.

Los Angeles has won its past 12 against Utah.

Cleveland’s Kevin Love scored a season-high 28 points and Kyrie Irving added 24 as the Cavaliers defeated Indiana, 109-97.

Dallas’s Tyson Chandler had 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Mavericks beat Philadelphia, 110-103, sending the 76ers to a franchise-worst 16th straight loss to start the season.

Atlanta beat Charlotte, 105-75, to inflict a ninth straight loss on the Hornets, with Paul Millsap leading the Hawks with 18 points. AP

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houston rockets’ James harden (13) shoots over oklahoma City thunder’s reggie Jackson (15). AP

‘worst team in the west’

By Mike Bresnahan Los Angeles Times

L

OS ANGELES—Byron Scott was seething after the Los Angeles Lakers lost at home last Friday to Minnesota.

He was more pragmatic a day later.

“It is what it is,” the Lakers’ coach said. “Right now we’re the worst team in the West.”

They’re alone at the bottom after losing to the other Western Conference cellar-dweller.

Scott watched the replay of the Timberwolves’ 120-119 victory when he got home last Friday night. Then he watched it again last Saturday morning.

It wasn’t pleasant, but it apparently could be worse. Scott was asked by a reporter if he was contemplating suicide. He said no.

“If you ever hear [I’ve] committed suicide, you know I got murdered because I’m not going to kill myself, believe me,” he said. “I might kill them, but I’m not going to kill myself.”

Watching the game two more times made Scott feel down, though.

“It didn’t look better. As a matter of fact, it looks worse,” he said. “I mean, seriously, you sit there in person and watch it and you know it’s pretty bad. But when you go home and you watch it again, I found myself shaking my head a lot of times while I was having my nice little drink of something.”

Another on-court symptom can be added to an increasingly ailing season: The Lakers (3-13) have had trouble closing out recent games, making them interesting until the fourth quarter before adding more losses to the pile.

Their last week was a study in how not to finish tight games, as if the Lakers weren’t already suffering enough.

Kobe Bryant went three-for-11 in the fourth quarter of a 101-94 overtime loss to Denver. Then the Lakers missed 10-of-11 shots in the last six minutes as the Lakers fell to Memphis, 99-93.

Bryant again misfired in the final minutes against Minnesota, missing two free throws and also the potential game-winner, a three-point shot, as time expired.

“It’s getting old,” Wesley Johnson said of the late-game collapses. “It’s always us, making mental mistakes. It’s never the opponent. It’s us not playing the right way. When it comes down to crunch time, we’ve got to start getting a stop or executing our offense.”

An optimist would say the Lakers are at least close in these games. They weren’t Kobe bryant blown out all week after losing by 21 and the Los to Golden State and 34 to Dallas the angeles Lakers previous week. are having trouble “I think we’re a better basketball team than what closing out games we’re playing and what our record indicates,” Scott said. recently. AP “But it doesn’t matter unless we show that on the floor.”

sports

DUBAI SHARES LEAD GULF SLUMP AS OPEC KEEPS OUTPUT QUOTA

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hares in Dubai headed for a third monthly decline, the longest losing streak since 2012, after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) kept production quotas unchanged, leading to a plunge in crude prices.

The DFM General Index slumped 6.3 percent, the most since October 12, to 4,211.76 at 11:43 a.m. local time on Sunday. The measure has decreased 7.3 percent this month.

Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index declined 3 percent, Oman’s MSM 30 Index lost 5.7 percent and Qatar’s QE Index fell 3.7 percent.

“The decline is a negative reaction to the Opec decision at the end of last week,”Wadah Al Taha, chief investment officer of Dubai-based Al Zarooni Group, said by phone.

Continued on A2

PESO exchange rates n US 44.9160

FIFA Goal Project International Federation of Football Associations (Fifa) President Joseph S. Blatter talks to the media following the groundbreaking ceremony for a football artificial turf under the Fifa Goal Project III in the Philippines on Sunday in Carmona, Cavite. The full-size pitch will serve as training facility and possible football stadium to boost football development in the Philippines. Blatter is here for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year Awards, as well as the AFC’s 60th anniversary. AP/Bullit Marquez

See “7% growth,” A2

Palace: ₧2.6-T 2015 budget has no political color

By Butch Fernandez

P

alace officials allayed fears that the P2.6-trillion 2015 budget bill submitted to Congress by Malacañang was tailored to favor Aquino administration allies eyeing coveted posts in the 2016 national elections.

Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. clarified there was no basis for similar apprehensions aired by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who also warned that the inclusion of a provision redefining “savings” and the insertion of multibillion-peso lump-sum funds in the budget bill violated the Constitution.

Coloma contends t hat t he 2015 budget proposal transmitted to Congress for approval was in line with the goals spelled out under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

“The national budget is aligned with PDP and its five pillars,” he said.

See “Budget,” A2

n japan 0.3815 n UK 70.7158 n HK 5.7937 n CHINA 7.3163 n singapore 34.6040 n australia 38.3865 n EU 56.0013 n SAUDI arabia 11.9706 Source: BSP (28 November 2014)

A2

News BusinessMirror

Monday, December 1, 2014

Dubai shares lead Gulf slump as Opec keeps output quota Continued from A1

‘Housing gap now at 6M units’ He added that collaboration among the public and private sectors in addressing the housing issue should help solve the shelter problem, saying the backlog can also be remedied by aiming for a given number of houses in a year at the minimum.

Currently, the government pursues direct housing assistance that began in 2011 up to 2016 and the construction of 1 million housing units.

Benitez also said it is bad policy

Continued from A1

Opec took no action to ease a global oil-supply glut, resisting calls from Venezuela that the group needs to stem the rout in prices.

Brent crude, the benchmark for more than half the world’s oil, lost 13 percent last week to $70.15 a barrel, the lowest since May 2010.

The United Arab Emirates, the Arab world’s second-biggest economy, holds about 6 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves.

Dubai’s 14-day relative strength index has slid to 32 from 70 in September. A level below 30 indicates to some analysts that securities have fallen too fast and may rebound.

Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC led Dubai’s plunge, retreating 9.3 percent. Emaar Properties PJSC, the developer of the world’s tallest tower, slumped 6.4 percent, and Arabtec Holding Co. dropped 9.3 percent.

Dubai start-up investment company Amanat Holdings PJSC declined 20 percent its trading debut, even after Chairman Faisal Bin Juma Belhoul said the company may make an announcement on acquisition plans in the first quarter, and is seeking double-digit rates of return on investments.

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council is home to almost a third of the world’s proven oil reserves. Governments in the region need a break-even oil price of about $84 a barrel for this year, according to International Monetary Fund estimates. Bloomberg News

news@businessmirror.com.ph

A few years ago, government estimates pegged the country’s housing backlog at close to 4 million units only. According to Benitez, 600,000 of the informal settlers are in Metro Manila.

He said the challenge is to put up a long-term national planning program and called on policy planners to solve the problem or arrest the increasing figure of housing problems once and for all.”

to remove informal settlers where they are. “These [informal settlers] people are actually part and parcel of city development or the cities’ urbanization. It is wrong policy to move them out of the city. A [correct] engineering solution [however] will solve the country’s housing backlog,” he said.

Benitez said most of the informal setters are living in dangerous areas because the government has no clear (housing) policy and does not provide land for them.

7% growth. . . continued from a1 quarter to early third quarter, so there was a drop in government spending,” Domingo said.

With macroeconomic factors now turning favorable, growth in 2015 “can exceed 7 percent,” Domingo said.

He said the lower global oil prices will help propel growth, as the Philippines is an oil-importing country and the declining fuel costs can translate to lower inflation. The slowing down of economic growth in Europe and China also means reduced demand for crude oil, Domingo added.

In Asia, lower oil prices translate to a positive effect on trade balances and government finances as the region is a major oil importer and some nations subsidize the price of fuel.

Aside from the oil prices and the con-

sequent inflation slowdown, other factors that may boost the country’s GDP expansion is election-related spending in preparation for the 2016 polls and the robust construction activity slated to take place in 2015.

“Construction growth next year could be in double digits because our budget for infrastructure continues to grow, especially with the PPP [publicprivate partnership] projects. So we can exceed 7 percent. The more I think about it, infrastructure is big. We have a goal to increase infrastructure spending from 2.5 percent of GDP [gross domestic product] to 5 percent until 2016. Maybe next year it could hit 3.5 percent or 4 percent of GDP already,” said Domingo, adding that election spending will also add to the equation.

Budget. . . continued from a1 Coloma pointed out that the spending priorities are consistent with the attainment of objectives on “sustainable and inclusive growth, social protection and poverty reduction, climate-change mitigation and adaptation, security, peace, law and order, as well as good governance and anti-corruption.”

In a privilege speech last week, Santiago denounced the 2015 budget as one filled with lump-sump appropriations that, she said, are actually disguised forms of pork barrel and the outlawed Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), both of which were struck down by the Supreme Court (SC) for being unconstitutional. The SC’s July 1, 2014, decision against DAP is pending appeal by the solicitor general.

Santiago warned that Congress was allowing itself to be used by the Executive to go around the High Court rulings on the DAP and the Priority Development Assistance Fund; and reiterated a description of Congress’ constitutional mandate as having been reduced, with the Lower House’s acquiescence, to the “congressional power of the coin purse” because the Executive, through the Department of Budget

3-DAY EXTENDED FORECAST

TODAY’S WEATHER

DECEMBER 1, 2014 | MONDAY

DEC 3

DEC 4

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(AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 5:00 PM)

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PHILIPPINE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (PAR)

LEGAZPI

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY 23 – 29°C

TACLOBAN CITY 23 – 30°C

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23 – 30°C

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23 – 29°C

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25 – 34°C

23 – 31°C

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PUERTO PRINCESA

24 – 30°C

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ZAMBOANGA SUNRISE

SUNSET

MOONSET

6:05 AM

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NOV 29

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6:06 PM

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LEGAZPI CITY 23 – 29°C

ILOILO/ BACOLOD 23 – 29°C

and Management (DBM), will have absolute control of all state funds in 2015.

Santiago also observed—as did Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—that the 2015 budget was tailor-made for Liberal Party chairman-on-leave, Interior Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, who can use multibillion-peso funds lodged under the Department of the Interior and Local Government for his“campaign” ahead of the 2016 elections, a claim that both the DBM and Roxas have strongly denied.

Meanwhile, President Aquino will lead Monday’s kick-off rites signaling the Philippines’s readiness to host the series of events leading to the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in 2015.

Malacañang confirmed over the weekend that Mr. Aquino, himself, will press the button launching the Apec Logo at simple rites to be held at The Eye Ballroom of the Sun Hotel in Makati at 7 p.m. in the presence of his top Cabinet officials, including Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, Foreign Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez.

EASTERLIES AFFECTING THE EASTERN SECTION OF LUZON AND VISAYAS.

Easterlies are winds coming from the East passing over the Pacific Ocean.

These are warm and moist in nature; causing hot weather and generating thunderstorms.

LAOAG CITY 22 – 30°C

“Of course, nobody wants to live in slum areas. Let’s give them a chance to get out of their predicament. Right now we’re not doing anything to arrest the problem,” he added.

Earlier Benitez said the government should address the backlog through the passage of a bill creating the Department of Housing.

Several bills seek the creation of the Department of Housing, Planning and Urban Development that have yet to muster approval at the House of Representative and the Senate.

He also urged the national government to empower the informal settlers to help address the country’s increasing housing backlog.

“Empower these informal settlers. Give them assistance or, if possible, land for their permanent housing because if we consider what is happening right now the informal settlers are the biggest ‘construction company’ in the world. If we use their capabilities we have a chance to decrease or eradicate the problem,” according to Benitez.

8:27 PM

11:47 AM

-0.10 METER

4:14 AM

0.68 METER

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and/or thunderstorms Cloudy skies with rain showers and/or thunderstorms.

ILOILO/ BACOLOD CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY 24 – 31°C METRO DAVAO 24 – 30°C

24 – 30°C

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Police, soldiers smug on PHL security

By Rene Acosta

A

MID jitters accompanying foreign visits, the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) said they are confident of the security level of the country.

The PNP said despite the existence of usual threat groups, like the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and several Moro groups in Mindanao, the country’s security landscape is highly stable and manageable, especially in relation to the two big events.

The government will host in Legazpi City, Albay, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (Apec-Isom) on December 8 and 9, and the visit of Pope Francis in January next year.

The head of the Vatican will also saunter to Tacloban and interact with victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said the police are continuously monitoring developments relative to the activities and movements of the local threat groups, particularly in Mindanao, especially with relation to the two upcoming events.

“So far, no specific threats to the upcoming events coming from these groups have been detected,” he said.

Mayor’s statement was shared by Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command commander Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, who said a “solid” security has been put by an inter-agency body that included the PNP and the military for the Isom.

“The security is fully arranged, and for the military, the whole 9th Infantry Division is involved,” Visaya said, adding that the military’s land contingent is composed of the 901st Brigade, headed by Brig. Gen. Raul Parnacio.

“As of now, we are not seeing any threat, but we are continuing our monitoring, Visaya said, dismissing the NPA even as a threat to the Isom, which will be held in a hotel in Legazpi City.

Visaya said the only thing that may be staged against the meeting is a rally or a protest by groups, particularly those allied with the Left.

“But we have CDM [civil-disturbance management] forces from the AFP, in support of the PNP. However, I am advising them [groups] not to do it because the Isom is for the good of the whole country,” he said.

DOH exec’s leave sought on Nabcor fund anomaly

A

By Joel R. San Juan

CTING Health Secretary Janette L. Garin was urged to also take a leave of absence, until she is cleared of any wrongdoing involving the P5-billion National Agri-Business Corp. (Nabcor) fund anomaly.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima indicated that Garin is not yet off the hook in connection with the anomaly, and that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is just waiting for the submission of the required documents from the so-called Nabcor fund-anomaly whistle-blowers before it could proceed with the investigation.

Garin’s leave from the Department of Health (DOH) was sought

by the lawyer of former Nabcor officials Rhodora Mendoza and Victor Cacal, who blew the whistle in the P5billion Nabcor fund anomaly, which is now being probed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Lawyer Levi Baligod said Garin should take the example of Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, who took a leave of absence while facing a probe over a questionable procurement of

vaccine by his department in 2012.

“Taking a leave, just what Secretary Ona is doing, is a personal decision showing he still has the scruples.

Those who lack it, don’t,” he said in a text message.

Garin is facing a DOJ probe for allegedly receiving P1 million from the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program for her campaign kitty in 2007, when she was still Iloilo representative.

Baligod said a handwritten note from then-Nabcor President Alan Javellana was a key proof of this allegation against Garin.

“It was a handwritten instruction received by Mendoza from Javellana that Garin be given such amount from the GMA funds,” he revealed.

Citing the sworn affidavit of Mendoza, Baligod further bared that Garin had personally transacted with the Nabcor officials.

“She [Garin] herself talked with Rhoda [Mendoza] over the phone

for the delivery of the money. She sent one of her staff to pick it up,” the lawyer bared.

“It was Rhoda who personally handed the cash to the staff. They again talked on the phone, where Garin confirmed the identity of the staff before the money was handed,” he further alleged.

Baligod said the affidavits of Mendoza and Cacal, as well as the document from Javellana, were among those they submitted to the DOJ in March.

Garin had publicly denied the allegations against her, but Baligod said she should deny the allegations under oath.

In their affidavits, Mendoza and Cacal alleged that Garin and nine other politicians received P1 million each from Nabcor during the 2007 polls.

Garin was then the representative of Iloilo’s First District, allied with the previous administration, before she joined the ruling Liberal Party.

Canada extends P320-M grant for Philippine women

Ex-putschists seek probe on P250-M ransom payment to Abu Sayyaf

By Cai U. Ordinario

T

M

AGDALO party-list lawmakers have recently filed a resolution calling for an immediate congressional inquiry into the alleged recent payment of a P250-million ransom to the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group for the release of its German hostages.

House Resolution 1679, authored

by Party-list Reps. Reps. Gary C. Alejano and Ashley L. Acedillo of Magdalo, directs the appropriate House committee to investigate, in aid of legislation, the said alleged ransom payment for the release of Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and Henrike Diesen, 55.

“If the payment is indeed true, it has set a terribly troubling precedent that will only serve to encourage the Abu Sayyaf and other kidnap-forransom groups to engage in such activities, especially those targeting foreigners,” the lawmakers said.

According to the resolution, “the payment of hundreds of millions of pesos to the said terrorist group will not only motivate them to kidnap more foreigners.”

This would “also allow them to utilize such big funds to procure more firearms and weapons to the detriment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and law-enforcement agencies.”

According to government reports, the two Germans were traveling within Philippine waters using a private yacht in April when they were abducted by the terrorist group. They were held captive for six months and were then scheduled to be executed in October, if the ransom money was not paid.

“The Philippine government denied that payment of ransom money was involved to secure the release of the two German nationals,” Alejano and Acedillo’s resolution said.

According to the lawmakers, the terrorist group uploaded this month a video on the Internet showing it arranging and counting a very visible big stash of money.

It was also visible in the video the money was composed of bundles of P1,000 bills.

“Such payment, if true, means that more than P100 million in thousand-peso bills will leave a paper trail involving Philippine banks that facilitated the transfer of such huge amounts of money,” the lawmakers said. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

Editor: Dionisio L. Pelayo • Monday, December 1, 2014 A3

electric dream BemacElectricTransportationPhilippinesInc.PresidentMasatoOdaridesoneoftheelectricvehicles(EVs)thecompanywouldproduce

from its assembly lines in Carmona, Cavite. Oda announced last week the plant is on preproduction fine-tuning to make sure of its ability to deliver 500 units per month of three wheeled EVs as projected by the company. Oda added the only EV manufacturer in the country would perform a thorough testing of its product before actually rolling the EVs on the streets. Product safety testing includes vibration test that will guarantee at least 10 years for its chassis. The company also promised a 100,000-kilometer slalom test, uphill and downhill run, water proofing and breaking capability often employed only by car manufacturers.

Bonifacio Day protesters hit government’s ‘anti-poor’ socialized housing program

M

EMBERS of urban poor groups under Task Force R e loc ate es on Su n day stormed the National Housing Authority (NHA) offices along Eliptical Road, Quezon City, to protest of the government’s ‘poor’ socialized housing programs.

Using spoons, forks and empty cooking pans to symbolize the widespread hunger and poverty, the group held a noise barrage in front of the gate of the NHA as part of the nationwide protests in commemoration of the 151st birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio.

Bonifacio is considered one of the country’s national heroes after he launched a secret society that led a revolution against Spanish colonizers in the 17th century.

The protesters later went to join other protesters at the Liwasang Bonifacio. The group also put up tents in front of the gates to symbolize the failure of the government to come up with a decent near-city relocation sites for victims of natural and man-made calamities and a socialized housing program for the landless and homeless Filipinos.

Citing NHA data, the group said some 4,546 families have been

moved to off-city relocation sites from 2009 up to the present. Before that, tens of thousands of families from Metro Manila have relocated to rid the National Capital of squatters.

Carlito Badion, national secretary of group Task Force Relocatees, said, “This is contrary to what the Aquino administration promised since he assumed presidency.”

From the start, the Aquino administration has considered socialized housing the least of its priorities, according to Badion.

Badion told the BusinessMirror in an interview that many of the victims of typhoons and the Zamboanga siege remain in temporary relocation sites and are unable to move on with their lives because of lack of relocation site.

Also, he said many of those evicted in “danger zones” in Metro Manila were transferred to off-city relocation sites faced with the problem of living far away from work and school, with no livelihood opportunities in their new communities, and problem brought about by the lack or shortage in water and electricity supply.

He noted that the budget for socialized housing has rarely breached the 1 percent of the total national

budget. It was only in 2000 and 2013 when the budget for socialized housing breached the 1 percent “ceiling.” In 2000 the budget went up to 1.4 percent and in 2013, the budget went up to 15 percent of the total national budget.

This, Badion said, demonstrate lack of empathy of the Aquino administration for the poor.

According to Badion, in October 2011, the Aquino administration approved the release of P10 billion to fund in-city relocation to rescue those living danger zones, such as rivers and creeks. The said fund was part of a P50-billion fund for informal settler families.

According to the Department of Budget and Management, some P11.5 billion had been released for housing projects for the poor on top of the annual allocation for informal settlers and funding for socialized housing of the NHA and other keyshelter agencies of the government.

According to Badion, 49,640 housing units have been constructed by the NHA from 2011 to September 2014. Of these, 3,318 units are in incity relocation sites, while 46,322 units are in various off-city relocation sites. Jonathan L. Mayuga

HE Canadian government has extended a P320 million worth of grant to finance the “Great Women 2” project implemented by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder and National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Director General Arsenio M. Balisacan signed on Wednesday the memorandum of understanding for the six-year project.

The Great Women 2 project or the Supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment Project aims to benefit 11,500 woman-entrepreneurs nationwide.

“It is important to recognize the role of woman entrepreneurs in economies around the world, including the Philippines and Canada,” Reeder said on Wednesday.

The project will focus on helping woman entrepreneurs in the food and textile sectors. Once the project is completed in 2020, the beneficiaries are expected to see at least a 30 percent increase in their annual sales and reinvestment rate of at least 20 percent a year.

Reeder also mentioned that the project is just one of other projects they intend to assist, given that the Philippines was chosen as one of the 25 countries of focus of the Canadian government.

“It shows the recognition of the

merits of the Philippine government and non-governmental organizations, the private sectors as partners, and that we can build on what we’ve done in the past and intensify going forward,” Reeder said.

Reeder also mentioned that, apart from being a development focus for Canada, the Philippines has also been included in Canada’s Global Market Action Plan (GMAP).

By being included in the GMAP, the Philippines has also become a trade priority among emerging countries for the Canadian government, he added.

This bodes well for the Great Women 2 project, given that women nationwide will now have the opportunity to have increased chances of importing and/or exporting products to Canada, according to Reeder.

Currently, Reeder said the Philippines imports raw materials, such as cereals, and meat products, like pork, from Canada and exports electrical goods and components.

Balisacan, meanwhile, said a highlevel meeting between the two countries recently transpired to discuss a new partnership strategy.

The Neda Chief said the meeting aim to match the country’s development priorities with that of the Canadian government.

Currently, Balisacan said the Philippines’s priorities include poverty reduction, building resiliencies in relation to climate change, and gender empowerment, among others.

1 wounded in Mindanao blasts

O

NE person was wounded after two explosions rocked Central Mindanao over the weekend as authorities grappled with the continuing series of attacks that were allegedly being carried out by the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, public affairs officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said both the Philippine National Police and the military were still investigating the blasts, which came in eight hours of succession on Saturday.

The first explosion, which bomb experts said was made of a homemade bomb, occurred at Sitio Bagong, Barangay Timbangan, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, at around 8:10 in the morning.

While no casualty was reported from the blast, it created fear from residents of the area. Petinglay said the blast was initially tagged by bomb experts as the handiwork of the BIFF based on the way it was rigged and its components as shown by the debris that were recovered.

The public affairs officer said the bandit group, which broke away from the Moro Islamic

Liberation Front, is known for its expertise in rigging bombs that were made of mortars and howitzer rounds.

The blast in Maguindanao was followed eight hours later by another explosion in Cotabato City, wherein a hand grenade was used.

According to Petinglay, a suspect hurled the fragmentation grenade into a passing dump truck that was traveling along Sinsuat Avenue, wounding Raismia Angas Baraguir, 22.

She said the green truck, with plate number KCZ-378, was coming from Rosales Street, also in the city, when the perpetrator lobbed the grenade, triggering a loud explosion and sending pedestrians into panic.

While still working on the suspect’s identity, investigators recovered from the scene a safety lever and fragments of grenade.

Earlier, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. GregorioPioCatapangorderedmilitarycommandersin Central Mindanao to end the atrocities committed by lawless groups in the region, particularly the BIFF that he dubbed “spoilers of peace.” Rene Acosta

Economy

A4 Monday, December 1, 2014 • Editors: Vittorio V. Vitug and Max V. de Leon

BusinessMirror

news@businessmirror.com.ph

Villar wants to probe slow Internet service

A

Nacionalista Party lawmaker is asking the House of Representatives to investigate, in aid of legislation, the country’s poor Internet connection.

House Resolution (HR) 1658, authored by Rep. Mark Villar of Las Piñas City, directs the House Committee on Information and Communications and Technology and other appropriate committees to conduct an investigation on the reported poor and slow Internet connection in the country.

Villar said the investigation is for the purpose of providing new legislation in order to improve the Internet services in the country.

“The poor state of Internet service in the country is a cause for concern because it slows down business transactions and, therefore, negatively affects not only the end consumers but also the economy,” he said.

The resolution cites reports showing that in terms of Internet speed, the Philippines ranks 155th out of 190 countries.

“The national average Internet speed is around 3.55 Mbps. This is nothing compared to the international average of 18.04 Mbps,” the lawmaker said.

Villar’s resolution said despite the poor quality of Internet connection, the Philippines ranks as having the second most expensive Internet service, with South Africa having the

most expensive Internet service, saying that in Southeast Asia, the price of Internet in the Philippines is eight to nine times more expensive compared to the neighboring countries.

“Statistics show that more than 30 percent of Filipinos are Internet users. This is a clear indication of the importance of the Internet to the day-to-day activities of Filipinos,” Villar said.

He added that in the increasingly digital world, our country’s competitiveness in the global market is highly dependent on Internet connection.

Thus, he said, this problem should be addressed immediately.

HR 1658 also cites the factors hindering interactions and transactions, such as infrastructure-related friction (including obstacles, related to access, speed and price); industryrelated sources of friction (such as shortages of capital and skilled labor, hold back successful online business transactions and the development of digital business); individual friction (such as payment system and data security); and information-related friction (including the volume of content available in a local language, country’s commitment to Internet openness).

“These factors clearly show that the problem must be addressed immediately,” said Villar, the chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

Incentives bill seen to hurdle House panel this month

A

priority measure of the Aquino administration that provides monitoring strategy for tax incentives will be passed at the House Committee on Ways and Means this December, a lawmaker said.

Liberal Party (LP) Rep. Romero Quimbo of Marikina City, chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, said in an interview that members of the panel are expected to pass before the Congress’s Christmas break House Bill (HB) 2492, or an “An Act Enhancing the Current Tax System by Implementing Measures that Ensure Transparency in the Management and Accounting of Tax Incentives Granted to Government and Nongovernment Entities and for Other Purposes,” or the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act. “We will report it out in the committee by the end of the year, so it can be taken up in the plenary next year. This is really a major administration bill. This is, likewise, identified by both houses of Congress as a priority,” he said.

Congress will take a one-month break from December 20 to January 18.

“In the plenary, we are eyeing to pass it [HB492] by February next year,” Quimbo added.

Quimbo said the bill, authored by LP Rep. Leni Robredo of Camarines Sur, seeks to promote fiscal prudence and transparency in the proper management and grant of tax incentives by developing means to measure the government’s fiscal exposure from these expenditures and to enable the government to analyze and rationalize the fiscal cost and, at the same time, optimize the economic impact and benefit of such incentives.

“Let’s be very strong in saying that this is meant to enhance incentives; it is not anyway meant to dissuade. In fact, we believe that having transparency in incentives promotes uniformity, promotes better investment climate and attracts more investors,” he said.

The measure also seeks to create a Tax Expenditure Account (TEA) in the General Appropriations Act (GAA), from which tax incentives, as may be determined by the investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and other government agencies, are accounted.

Under the bill, the IPAs and other government agencies concerned

shall be responsible for the administration and implementation of tax incentives granted to registered enterprises. They shall submit to the Department of Finance (DOF) their respective annual tax expenditures based on computed cost in terms of revenue foregone on the tax incentives granted to their registered enterprises or to special groups, as the case may be, and other data related to the grant of such incentives as may be required by the DOF. Also, the DOF, along with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), shall create a single databaseofallincentivesgranted

by IPAs to businesses and submit annual Tax Expenditure Report to the President and to Congress.

The bill added that the failure of an IPA or other government agency to submit the report and other data required herein, by reason of the fault or failure of any registered enterprise, shall be a ground for the suspension of the incentives being enjoyed by such registered enterprise or special group for the particular taxable year. Repeated violation shall be penalized with the cancellation of the enterprise’s registration.

It also provides that the erring registered enterprise shall be penalized.

The DOF, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, the BIR and BOC, shall, within 60 days from the effectively of this Act, promulgate rules and regulation to implement the intent and provisions of this Act. Robredo said provision of tax incentives is one of the fiscal strategies to encourage desired economic activities or social behaviors, saying that in the Philippines, tax incentives are used to promote investments that are deemed to have significant impacts on economic growth and development.

Currently, she said the country’s system of accounting for tax expenditures in the annual budget, or the GAA, only includes tax incentives granted to national government agencies and the government-owned and -controlled corporations.

“This system fails to properly account for the tax incentives granted to private individuals and corporations. There arises the possibility that the real magnitude of the government’s expenditure for tax incentives may not be accorded and reported,” she said. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

BIGGEST OUTDOOR BAZAAR Circuit Makati opens the biggest outdoor bazaar in the Philippines called The Circuit Makati Bazaar, where the tallest Christmas tree in the country can also be

found. ROY DOMINGO

Sicat expects strong 2015 finish for PSE

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan

he capital market is expected to cheer up for the remainder of the year despite the lackluster performance of the Philippine economy at the onset of the second half of 2014.

Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) President and CEO Hans B. Sicat said the downward trend that the equities market saw earlier this week due to the lower-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) print in the third quarter is just an initial response of the market to the negative news.

“Initial reaction of the market is to go down especially if the expectation is a 6-plus-percent growth,” he said in a chance interview. “ The issue there is if it is a long-term effect or a mediumterm effect. We’re hoping that for now, it is a short-term effect.”

He said the country’s economic growth is relatively not that bad, thus the capital market could still see advances, rather than declines.

“While 5 percent is a disappointment, it is still a very good number compared to Asean and even developed-economy growth,” Sicat said.

Government underspending was the main culprit why the economy only grew by 5.3 percent in the third quarter of the year, the slowest since the third quarter of 2011, when GDP grew by only 3.2 percent.

The print in the July-to-September period is lower than the 6.4 percent recorded in the second quarter and the 7 percent posted a year ago.

This forced Moody’s Analytics to revise its forecast for the Philippines’s growth, which is currently at 5.8 percent.

Moody’s Analytics Senior Economist Glenn Levine told the BusinessMirror the GDP forecast for the year will be revised lower, despite a better expectation in December, which “is unlikely to be strong enough to push full-year growth to 5.9 percent.”

“Typically a lot more spending in the fourth quarter because of the Christmas season and the related type of activities,” Sicat said, hinting better growth figures in the fourth quarter.

He said he still believes the future is bright for the capital market, as the government plans to ramp up infrastructure spending in the next two years.

The benchmark PSE index gained 18.20 points to close last Friday at 7,294.38 points, while other sub-indices ended mixed.

CA affirms decision on Tokyo property

By Joel R. San Juan

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HE Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed its decision that declared valid the government’s cancellation of the notice of award that it issued to Nagayama Taisei Consortium (NTC) for the development of the 2,489-square-meter Nampeidai property of the Philippine government in Tokyo, Japan.

In an eight-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., the CA’s Former First Division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Masahiro Nagayama, lead partner and manager of NTC, seeking the reversal of the appellate court’s July 13, 2014, ruling.

The CA, in the said July 13 decision, reversed and set aside the June 21, 2011, order issued by the Regional Trial Court in Pasay City, which declared null and void the notice of cancellation issued on June 11, 2009, by the government withdrawing the award of the project to NTC. The government withdrew the award after leaning that NTC does not exist and that it failed to comply with the requirement for the submission of a sworn undertaking, in violation of the terms of reference for the development of the Philippine government properties in Japan and the provisions of Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Law. The CA also declared as void ab initio (from the beginning) the Service Development Agreement for the enforcement of the project that was executed by the government in favor of the NTC on August 14, 2006.

The CA also maintained its directive for the government to return to Masaichi Tsuchiya, attorney-in-fact of the NTC, the service development fee in the amount of ¥480 million with legal interest at six percent per annum.

It also ordered release to Tsuchiya, or any of his representatives, the performance bond in the amount of P50.23 million.

Deans seek ways to upgrade PHL education as Asean integration nears

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he Philippine Council of Deans and Educators in Business (PCDEB) is holding its 14th Annual Convention and the Eighth Business Education Industry Summit in February to further enhance the delivery of quality business education in the Philippines and to strengthen it in line with the upcoming Asean integration in 2015.

The forum, with the theme “Global Alignment of Business Education towards Asean Economic Integration,” will serve as an annual meeting of school officials, deans, business educators and industry partners.

It will be held on February 19 and 20, 2015, at Hotel Jen (formerly Traders Hotel Manila) on Roxas Boulevard.

Dr. Eduardo “E.G.” Ong, known as the “Father of Philippine Real Estate,” will be speaking during the convention. He will discuss several issues in academe and the

real-estate industry in the Philippines to shed light on the questions on the looming integration of the economies of Southeast Asian nations next year.

Ong once topped the real-estate consultancy examination and the real-estate brokers examination administered by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Currently, Ong serves as the head of the board of directors of the PCDEB. He was also appointed by President Aquino as the first chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Real Estate Service.

He also wore different hats in the leadership of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the largest business group in the Philippines.

Aside from him, other speakers will be discussing key issues in the business-education front during the forum. Topics include Preparing the Youth for Regional Leadership

Towards ​​​​​​Asean 2015, Increasing People Competitiveness for Asean Integration, and Ensuring Philippine Readiness for Asean 2015 through Greater Regional Integration, among others.

The convention will also serve as an avenue for the induction of new members of the PCDEB and the election of its new officers. The group urged stakeholders in the public and private sectors to visit www.pcdeb. org and share their inputs in furthering the development of Philippine education.

The PCDEB is a professional organization of deans, directors, chairpersons, administrators and professors teaching business courses such as Accountancy, Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Travel and Hotel Management, Entrepreneurship, Commerce, Management, and Office Administration in various colleges and universities nationwide.

ong

Since its inception 12 years ago, the group has been organizing regional associations and sponsoring fora, seminars, and conventions in Manila and in different regions for the professional growth of members and business students.

It also aims to bridge the gap between education and employment and attain inclusive growth for the country. Lorenz S. Marasigan

Economy BusinessMirror

news@businessmirror.com.ph

Majority of job vacancies in telco sector attributed to skills lack

By Cai U. Ordinario

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he lack of competency and skills of job applicants was cited by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as the main reason there are still hard-to-fill occupations in the telecommunications sector.

PSA data showed the top hardto-fill occupations in the telecommunications sector were business professionals; accountants and auditors; and computer equipment operators.

Other hard-to-fill jobs include communications engineers and system analysts and designers.

“The foremost reason cited on why vacancies were hard to fill was the lack of needed competency/skill among applicants [64.2 percent or 70],” the PSA said. The most number of positions that were difficult to fill were among business professionals, where there are a total of 122 vacancies, followed by accountants and auditors with 74 vacancies.

From January 2011 to June 2012, for instance, a total of 2,546 job vacancies in the telecommunications sector were recorded.

“Most of the total vacancies were easy-to-fill occupations [83 percent or 2,113] and the rest were hard-tofill occupations [17 percent or 433],” the PSA said.

Data showed that the top 5 easyto-fill occupations were receptionists and information clerks at 413 job vacancies; followed by customer service representatives/associates, 347; and other finance and sales associate professionals, 286.

The least easy-to-fill job posts were electronics and communications engineers at 223, followed by electronics and communications engineering technicians, 137.

Recently, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) disclosed that lack of analytical skills make some college graduates difficult to employ. Ecop Assistant Treasurer Lucy Tarriela said this stems from the “copy-paste” frame of mind of many young Filipinos.

Tarriela said because everything is available online or can easily be accessed elsewhere, graduates no longer use their analytical skills to process information and find solutions to problems.

The Ecop official said she has been looking for a suitable accountant for her company for the past five years but could not find one.

Tarriela added that apart from the lack of analytical skills, young professionals lack the skills to carry out their job. They also lack the devotion to their work as well as the commitment and loyalty to stay in a company.

Monday, December 1, 2014 A5

PHL to attract more investors as governance improves–IRO

A

By Bianca Cuaresma

N international financial institution noted the country’s recent gains in governance, allowing the country to gain more positive sentiment from global investors this year.

The Investor Relations Office (IRO), in a recent statement, said the Philippines’s rankings in four of the six worldwide governance indicators improved in 2013.

In particular, the improvements were seen in the country’s better percentile rankings in “voice and accountability,” “political stability and absence of violence,” “rule of law” and “control of corruption” as seen in the latest World Governance Indicators (WGI) released by the World Bank Group.

“Credit-rating agencies, among

other institutions, use WGI in evaluating creditworthiness of countries.

As such, the improved rankings of the Philippines are deemed helpful in securing even better sovereign credit scores,” the IRO said, “A percentile ranking indicates the percentage of countries that rank lower than the Philippines.

There were over 200 countries and territories covered by the global surveys for the 2013 WGI report,” it added.

The percentile rankings of countries in the six WGIs are based on

surveys, data from think tanks, nongovernmental organizations and private enterprises in economies across the globe.

The biggest improvement for the country in the pervious year was in the area of “control of corruption,” where the percentile ranking of the Philippines hit 43.5 from 33.5 percent in the previous year. This means that the country has better control versus corruption than 43.5 percent of the countries covered by the review.

Under “political stability and absence of violence,” the Philippines’s percentile ranking rose from 14.2 to 16.6.

Under “rule of law,” the country’s percentile ranking jumped from 36.5 to 41.7.

And under “voice and accountability,” the Philippines’s percentile ranking improved from 46.9 percent in 2012 to 47.9 last year.

Meanwhile, in the area of “regulatory quality,” Philippines’s percentile ranking was unchanged at 51.7.

In “government effectiveness,”

however, the percentile ranking of the country slipped from 57.9 to 56.9.

Economic managers in the country welcomed the noted developments of governance in the country, saying these are crucial achievements toward the journey of gaining more investments and reaching more-inclusive growth.

“The country’s achievement in the area of governance complements its gains in the economic front— including maintenance of withintarget inflation and stability in the financial system. These accomplishments will help attain the goal of a sustainable and a more inclusive growth,” Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

“This is a welcome development. International recognition of the Aquino administration’s goodgovernance agenda is vital in gaining confidence, which is necessary for our quest for even more investments,” Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said.

‘Climate change should prompt firms to be more responsible’

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he Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) has called on more companies to follow the lead of Smart Communication, Nestlé Philippines, Unilever Philippines and other groups in the campaign to protect the environment.

PBEST said the onslaught of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan), which left 6,300 fatalities, over a thousand missing and P571.1 billion in economic damage a year ago, should serve as a reminder to companies that climate change is affecting the country.

“It is clear that businesses in the Philippines are responsible for glaring cases of environmental degradation, due to reckless, if not greedy, operations, on the one hand; and for concrete examples of ingenious environmental measures on the other.

In both instances, the effect on the environment is undeniably massive,” said lawyer Ysan Castillo, secretarygeneral of PBEST. Castillo, however, said “big businesses are beginning to realize that integrating clean and safe environmental practices in their operations is a positive factor that will have long term benefits in lifting internal morale, public image and will definitely be good for business.”

“Philippine businesses must take an active role, if not the lead role, in promoting environmental stewardship,” PBEST said in a statement.

Marking its first anniversary, PBEST was organized by a network of policy experts from academe and business to actively participate in developmental policy reforms and advocacies that promote effective regulation of Philippine industries and ensure a more responsible stewardship of the environment that benefits all stakeholders.

Dr. CP David, PBEST convener, said, “Several mining companies have voluntarily opened up their operations by committing to the PBEST Environmental Performance Tracking Program.”

PBEST also cited as an example Smart Communication’s solid waste management initiative called PostMarketing Waste Management Program, which was one of the winners in the Zero Basura Olympics (ZBO) for business, a competition that recognizes local companies with the most innovative practices in minimizing and eliminating waste.

Under the program, Smart recycles tarpaulin materials used for advertising and publicity purposes nationwide and taps communities in its adopted Gawad Kalinga villages to craft the would-have-been nonbiodegradable waste into wellmade and designed usable tarp bags.

PBEST also cited Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s plan to invest in a pilot waste-to-power project.

While in the pilot stage, the plant will generate an estimated 2 megawatts of energy and 10,000 liters of biodiesel a day and can be expanded to 6 MW later on.

The energy-to-waste facility would utilize up to 80 tons of waste for conversion to biofuel, which would then be used to run diesel-fed power generators.

PBEST also mentioned the tripartite partnership between the Laguna Lake Development Authority, Unilever Philippines and Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands to save Laguna de Bay and make it a member of the Living Lakes Network, an international network that works for the conservation of lakes.

Meanwhile, Nestlé Philippines was cited for installing world-class wastewater treatment plants, which operate in all its factories. In Nestlé factories, treated wastewater is used to sustain life forms, from watering the gardens in the premises, to propagating Koi fish and tilapia, in order to showcase how water can be treated and reused, and demonstrates the importance the company gives to water.

PBEST also recognized Maynilad Water Services Inc. for launching its Greenhouse Gases and Air Emissions Inventory Development Project in partnership with civilsociety groups. Through the project, Maynilad is able to measure its carbon footprint using greenhouses gases (GHG) international protocol standards and calculation tools.

Using its GHG baseline data, Maynilad can now set accurate reduction targets, identify measures to reduce its GHG emissions, and come up with a project proposal for carbon credits and a Clean Development Mechanism.

PBEST also cited Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. for setting another milestone when it became the first oil company in the country to unveil a full lineup of Euro-4 fuels.

GUSI AWARDEE

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar receives a plaque of appreciation from Ambassador Barry S. Gusi as his wife, Dr. Evelyn Tantamco-Gusi, and members of the Gusi Board of Directors look on. The senator, a known advocate of entrepreneurship and livelihood programs, has been conferred the recognition by the international award-giving body due to her efforts to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of poor Filipinos. The awarding ceremony was held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on November 26, which coincided with the celebration of the Gusi Peace Prize International Friendship Day. ROY DOMINGO

Puerto Galera to host Most Beautiful Bays world congress

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he Philippines will host t he h igh ly prest ig iou s 11th World Congress of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World next year, which will showcase Puerto Galera as a prime tourist destination.

The congress, slated for late November 2015, will culminate the “Visit the Philippines” year and is expected to be participated in by more than 100 tourism officials from 20 countries who will be looking at Puerto Galera and its capacity to take on increased number of tourist arrivals.

Puerto Galera Most Beautiful Bay Inc. (PGMBBI) Head Hubert d’Aboville said Puerto Galera is a good microcosm of the Philippines as a tourism destination.

“In Puerto Galera we have the beaches, resorts, multiple diving spots, great food, entertainment for the whole family, and the warm hospitality of the Filipinos. During the

congress, we are not just showcasing Puerto Galera but we are pushing for Philippine tourism as a whole,” d’Aboville said.

Puerto Galera is about threeand-a-half hours away from Manila through bus and ferry rides.

It has multiple accommodations from one star to five star hotels and resorts.

Puerto Galera is also the gateway to the island of Mindoro and the ancestral territory of eight distinct ethno-linguistic indigenous groups, the Mangyans, who struggle to preserve their cultural identity.

The island of Mindoro offers a great potential for ecotourism development that could, in return, support the preservation of its natural and cultural heritage, including the preservation of the critically endangered Tamaraw, a species of dwarf buffalo strictly endemic to this island.

According to d’Aboville, the

World Congress of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World will be held in Manila with the general assembly in Puerto Galera.

The Department of Tourism with its Tourism Promotions Board will be the main sponsors with the local government of Oriental Mindoro and the town of Puerto Galera heavily involved.

For his part, Puerto Galera Mayor Hubbert Christopher Dolor said: “Our community is looking forward to hosting the congress. We take great pride in how we have preserved the natural beauty of Puerto Galera. The lush greenery and the beautiful beaches that we have will be in full display during the congress.”

T he five-day conference is ex pected to discuss env ironmenta l issues, inc lud ing t he challenges and importance of preser ving the ecosystem. New bays that are up for inclusion in

the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club will be presented during the congress.

Puerto Galera Bay, which in 2005 became a full member of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, is increasingly becoming a favorite destination of European travelers.

The Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-supported organization that has been advocating the protection, enhancement, promotion and commitment of prime bays globally. It also seeks to maintain the balance between the economic development and the conservation of natural heritage.

PGMBBI is a nonprofit organization composed of Puerto Galera residents that are responsible for the overall preservation of the Puerto Galera Bay and its coastal environment. Rodel Alzona

Tourism&En

Business

A6 Monday, December 1, 2014 • Editor: Alvin I. Dacanay

IN this November 16 photo, visitors crowd the Christmas market in front of the neo-Gothic City Hall in Vienna, Austria. AP

Christmas markets and other freebies in Vienna

V

B G J | The Associated Press

IENNA—The Blue Danube is grayish-brown, and no, the Viennese do not wear lederhosen. But beyond the clichés surrounding the Austrian capital, there are plenty of sights and experiences to enjoy in this city, which, if it didn’t coin the word gemuetlichkeit (coziness), certainly lives it.

on the grounds of the Old General Hospital in the ninth district is an annual favorite.

The New Year’s path

THE “Silvesterpfad” tour through the inner city on New Year’s Eve attracts hundreds of thousands of people. Revelers winding through a marked route through downtown Vienna can groove to rock, pop, Latino soul, funk and disco, jazz and classical music at 12 stages, or spend time at another dozen attractions set up along the way for the occasion. There’s food galore, along with alcohol, but while the evening gets loud, it is seldom rowdy—at least, until midnight. Visitors who end up at Saint Stephen’s Square, be forewarned: Thousands of firecrackers transform the square into a near-war zone as they explode under your feet and fire-works light up the night sky with booms of their own. Lots of broken glass, too. The Viennese don’t seem to mind, with many of them on the square waltzing to “The Blue Danube” at midnight. But definitely not the place for small children or dogs.

IN this November 11 photo, a vineyard is pictured in front of the city of Vienna, Austria. AP

Cemeteries

IN this November 16 photo, visitors look at a stand at the Christmas market in front of the neo-Gothic City Hall in Vienna, Austria. AP

Vienna traditionally tops surveys as the world’s most livable metropolis. In the summer, horsedrawn carriages ply chestnut treelined boulevards and parks gussied up with elaborate floral arrangements. And when the seasons turn, Christmas markets transform the city into a winter wonderland. Winter or summer, the air is clean— and, oh, that architecture! Attractions by the hundreds range from castle tours and watching the world go by from a sidewalk café to a night at one of the city’s three opera houses. And plenty of what makes Vienna wonderful are free.

Christmas markets

NOTHING will put you more in the mood for the festive season than the Christmas markets—both big and small—dotting the city. Choices range from the more than 150 wooden huts set up in front of the neoGothic City hall to markets that are

often no bigger than a few booths.

Among the hundreds of goods on sale are tree lights, candles, ornaments and musical Christmas toys. Much of them are mass-produced, but some are little treasures created by local artisans. The smell of bratwurst, thick goulash soup, hot mulled wine and other comfort food and drink mingles with the crisp winter air and provides a hard-to-resist olfactory backdrop.

For families, the City Hall venue, complete with a huge Christmas tree; the surrounding park, festooned with lights; and children’s workshops inside for cookie-baking and ornament-making, is a must. More intimate markets include the Christmas Village, found between the museums of fine arts and natural history, and the traditional market at Freyung Square, which dates back to the 18th century. For partyminded young adults, the market

A TIP for those looking for something different: the Viennese are said to have a morbid fascination with death. They coined the phrase a schoene Leich, or “a beautiful corpse”, reflecting their preference for an open coffin at wakes, with the departed dressed in his or her best. There’s no better time and place to get a taste of Vienna’s melancholy love affair with death than a winter visit to the sprawling Central Cemetery in the 11th district.

Getting there will cost you a tram ticket (streetcar lines 6 or 71 from downtown), but you can spend hours touring ornate headstones and mausoleums—some are hundreds of years old—for free. Particularly interesting for music lovers: Brahms and Beethoven are buried here, along with members of the Strauss dynasty, famous for the Vienna waltz.

The view

VIENNA’S best-known vantage points both offer fantastic views of the city and—on clear days—beyond, to the pastures, vineyards and forests surrounding it. For the strong of foot, an upward hike from the city’s 19th district takes you to Kahlenberg, with its viewing platform overlooking the panorama below. The Cobenzl, with its own vineyard, is situated on a hill neighboring

IN this undated photo provided by WienTourismus, people dance in front of the Viennese City Hall as part of the “Silvesterpfad” during New Year’s Eve celebrations. AP

the Kahlenberg and can also be reached on foot—or, for the less ambitious, with the 38A bus.

The water

THE Viennese take it for granted, but elsewhere it is rapidly becoming a rare commodity: crystal-clear water drunk straight from the tap.

Vienna gets its water supply from alpine springs, some fed by glaciers, transported for over 100 miles (160 kilometers) without the aid of pumps or other mechanical means. It's a taste treat better than any bottled water, and hundreds of fountains provide it for free in the summer.

In the cold season, a glass of free Vienna water comes without asking with your cup of Viennese coffee, at least, in most establishments.

IN this November 11 photo, a visitor walks past the grave of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (left) and a monument to Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the Central Cemetery in Vienna, Austria. AP

ntertainment

sMirror

tourism@businessmirror.com.ph • Monday, December 1, 2014 A7 THIS August 1 photo shows a boat heading for the Big Lagoon in El Nido town, Palawan province. This lagoon is regarded as one of the most popular snorkeling spots in the province. ALVIN I. DACANAY

Palawan is world’s most beautiful island–US website B A N. P Philippines News Agency

A

FTER being named as the top island in the world by the readers of the renowned United States travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler in October, the province of Palawan once again received recognition from well-known American news website Huffington Post.

In an article titled “Palawan, the most beautiful island in the world, is sheer perfection,” which was published on the website last week, HuffPost Travel writer Carly Ledbetter described the Philippines as an “underappreciated” tropical travel destination, especially since it is home to “a hidden piece of paradise”, like Palawan.

She wrote that the province’s “beautiful blue water mixes with emerald green”, and noted its “jungle-filled mountains that appear to rise up from the ocean”.

Ledbetter listed island-hopping around the Bacuit archipelago (for the cliffs, sinkholes and lagoons); traveling to Puerto Princesa City (for its culinary delights); and staying in one of Coron town’s “otherworldly” luxury hotels as some of the province’s high points.

She also cited the province’s incredible and rare wildlife—from purple crabs and the Philippine mouse-deer to the Philippine pangolin, butterflies and the Palawan bearcat.

Ledbetter suggested to her readers to try scuba-diving in Palawan, since it is one of the “best spots to scuba-dive in the world;” tour Puerto Princesa’s underground river; or take a boat to travel between the islands.

“We’re pretty sure that after all the biking, swimming and exploring you’ll do—you’ll never want to leave,” the writer said.

“Many say the ideal time to head to Palawan is between about October and May, so we suggest booking tickets ASAP,” she added.

Palawan is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Philippines, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

In fact, the island is featured in the DOT’s official television commercials that are aired internationally and can also be viewed on the video-sharing website YouTube.

THIS August 1 photo shows part of the Entalula Beach Club in El Nido municipality, Palawan province. The club is operated

by El Nido Resorts. ALVIN I. DACANAY

Tourism department eyes greater share of Vietnamese outbound-travel market

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HE Department of Tourism (DOT) is aiming to capture a bigger share of the Vietnamese outbound-travel market, which is now one of the fast-emerging markets of the Philippines, it was learned late last week.

In the recent PhilippineVietnam Travel Exchange 2014, Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said the number of outbound Vietnamese tourists is

expected to rise by year-end.

His statement came after Manila and Hanoi signed an agreement to come up with a three-year tourism cooperation plan that will focus on the development of the cruise-tourism industry.

Familiarization trips that would enhance the growing interest in tourism between the two countries are also in the pipeline, the DOT said.

In a separate statement, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said his agency remained focused on the Philippines’ emerging source markets, such as Vietnam.

At present, only Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and Danang are strongly connected to Manila via daily direct fl ights being serviced by Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air. “The additional air-seat privi-

leges given to our local carriers to fly to key cities in Vietnam should help [bring] our two nations much closer and…fuel greater interest between and among our Vietnamese friends and Filipinos to travel more often,” Jimenez said.

“Next year is going to be… more exciting…for the Philippines, as we play host to a number of international events. It is going to be one fun 2015 you

should not miss,” he added.

Tourism Director Maria Corazon Jorda-Apo, head of the Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam Unit of the agency’s Market Development Group, said the country received 20,436 Vietnamese tourists in the third quarter of this year, reflecting a 16.68-percent increase from the figures recorded in the same period last year.

Bengzon said he looked for-

ward to see potential Vietnamese tourists coming to the country next year and discover “what Condé Nast Traveler magazine considers as the ‘No. 1 island in the world’, Palawan.”

He noted that, with the long list of international events, activities and new destinations that await tourists, the Philippines is defi nitely the place to be in 2015. PNA

BusinessMirror

A8

TheElderly

news@businessmirror.com.ph

Monday, December 1, 2014 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

PHL’s first magnesium-therapy center opens in Antipolo City

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By Oliver Samson | Correspondent

HE country’s leading magnesium-therapy practitioner, Mary Jean Netario-Cruz, introduced to the Philippines and, perhaps, the world to the first magnesium-therapy clinic when she opened The Magiteque Pain Therapy Centre, in Antipolo City on November 9.

Dr. Carolyn Dean, a medical and naturopath doctor based in the US who is regarded as the world’s foremost magnesium advocate, confirmed this innovating development in an e-mail to the BusinessMirror on November 21.

“I don’t know of any other magnesium clinics anywhere in the world,” she said. “She [Netario Cruz] is an amazing pioneer in this field.”

As early as 1964 magnesium was already being championed as a natural and safe treatment to various health conditions, particularly in the US,

by Dr. Mildred Seelig.

“Seelig spent the rest of her career studying and writing about magnesium,” Dean said. “When I met her, she was writing The Magnesium Factor,”her first book on magnesium at the same time I was writing mine, The Magnesium Miracle.

In 2011 the mineral, popularly known as “The Spark of Life” among international naturopaths, roused the curiosity of Netario Cruz, while she was studying at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition—New York.

“As I researched, I came across Magnesium in Central Nervous System published by Adelaide State University in Australia,” she said. “I also found a lecture by Dr. Dean and got a copy of her book The Magnesium Miracle.”

Dr. Mark Sircus’s “Transdermal Magnesium Therapy” also caught her interest.

In 2012 Netario Cruz conducted researches on cases involving relatives, friends, and neighbors, who complained of various body pains, leading to the formulation of her signature liquid magnesium.

She set out to campaign publicly for the mineral on Mother’s Day in the same year, giving away bottles of magnesium.

The first person to report relief was Danny Olondriz, a neighbor who complained of

MARY Jean Netario-Cruz, the country’s premier advocate of magnesium therapy, welcomes guests to the newly opened Magiteque Salon in Antipolo City. Cruz uses magnesium to ease muscle pain and discomfort among older people and those suffering from chronic pain.

arthritis, Netario Cruz said.

She personally witnessed for the first time magnesium’s curative power when it worked on Teresita Iglesias of Malaya, Rizal, who also had arthritis.

Iglesias is the mother of Marilyn I. Domingo, one of over a dozen Magiteque coaches NetarioCruz certified.

Two years before she established the magnesium clinic, Netario-Cruz’s first client, Fr. Ben Villote, approached her. Father Villote was a Mother Teresa awardee, who suffered from dementia.

On January 29, 2012, she got associated with Kanlungan ni Maria-Home for the Aged Inc. (Kanlungan) in Antipolo, after accepting the offer of Fr. Dari Dioquino to assume the post of Kanlungan’s well-being program director.

Father Dioquino, priest in charge of Kanlungan, and Victoria Baterina-Solis, its special project director, played a major role to help Netario-Cruz further introduce the mineral to the public before setting up the clinic.

Magnesium gained more ground after earning the respect of senior citizens in Rizal (a province east of Manila), religious people—clergy and nuns alike—who felt relief from various body pains after receiving therapy, Baterina-Solis said.

Prior to opening the clinic, Kanlungan pushed Netario Cruz’s “pain relief missions” for the lessfortunate elderly across Rizal, capitalizing on magnesium’s natural and safe power to relieve pain, Baterina-Solis said.

The opening of the Magiteque Pain Therapy Centre was preceded by the relief of several hundreds people, mostly older citizens, who complained of back pain, migraine, frozen shoulders, insomnia, arthritis, gout, muscle cramps, adrenal fatigue and other health conditions since 2011, Father Dioquino said.

About two weeks after its opening, Charmaine Molina, a client who complained of upper back pain, expressed interest in franchising the clinic.

“I am confident that I can learn the technique and apply the procedure to our clients,” Molina said.

The magnesium clinic addresses various body pains and non-pain cases, like insomnia, panic attack, anxiety and cholesterol, through transdermal repletion of the mineral, Netario Cruz said.

“My husband is also a health coach, who knows myotherapy, acupressure and fitness program,” Molina said. “We can partner to deliver excellent holistic services.”

Your brain needs nutrients, especially as you age

I

T is normal to become somewhat more forgetful as we grow older. Aging takes its toll on the brain, as well as the rest of our body organs. Our body’s capacity to produce the chemicals and nutrients that our brain cells need to maintain mental wellness and alertness declines over the years.

The close association of forgetfulness with aging gave birth to the term “senior moments,” or instances when our memory fails us.

According to the Harvard Medical School, there are several types of normal memory problems that fall within the scope of normal aging. These include Transience, which is the “tendency to forget facts or events over time.”

Absentmindedness is forgetting things like where you put your pen or forgetting to do something at a prescribed time like taking your medicine or going to an appointment.

Blocking is the “temporary inability to retrieve a memory.” This explains why older adults have trouble remembering names. Misattribution occurs when you “remember something accurately, in part, but misattribute some detail, like the time, place, or person involved.” When we age, our memories also grow older and become especially prone to misattribution.

All these make good reasons it is important to nourish our brain by providing it with vital natural nutrients that it needs to function normally and help prevent or minimize forgetfulness.

Such are the nutrients contained in BrainMaster, a 100-percent natural brain supplement. It is the only product in the market that combines proven and time-tested Ayurvedic and herbal science treatment with B-complex Vitamins B6 and B12, which are known as brain food. Bacopa Monnieri is an Ayurvedic herb used in India for centuries as a memory enhancer, while Ginkgo Biloba is one of the most popular memory-enhancing herbs known to improve blood circulation in the brain.

BrainMaster is Food and Drug Administrationapproved and available at Mercury Drug outlets in sachet foils of 10 capsules (P200) and pharmacist

Falls and their consequences

By Cheridine P. Oro-Josef, MD, FPAFP, FPCGM

right to health

S

HE was very hungry. She needed to get some food. It was midnight and the family was fast asleep. She wanted to wake her caregiver but decided not to because she seemed to be very asleep. At 93, even when I told her not to trust her muscles, she stood up and went to the kitchen by herself. When she slipped on the floor and broke her back bone. From that day, she became bedridden.

Why do we fall? Although more traumatic at an older age, falls can happen at any time in a person’s life. On first impressions, the definition of a fall seems obvious. Understanding exactly what a fall is, and what it means, is an important step in treating and preventing falls.

Distinguishing between different situations, such as falls, slips, trips, faints and stumbles is important as it leads to different treatment and prevention strategies.

The World Health Organization defines a fall as an “event which results in a person’s coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or floor or other lower level.” Prevention of Falls Network Europe defines it as “an unexpected event in which the participant comes to rest on the ground, floor or lower level.” Other definitions, which mean different things to different people, include slips, stumbles and trips.

Sometimes, people fall from a fainting spell, a seizure attack or loss of consciousness. Dizziness is a prelude to most fainting events. The older person is prone to experience dizziness due to most of the physiologic changes of aging. The narrowing of peripheral vision, difficulty discriminating sounds, slow reaction time all lead to an escalated fear of falling or loss of balance.

Falls exert a great impact on the quality of life of older persons. Falls can lead to traumatic fractures, or broken bones and soft-tissue injuries.

Many times, one’s experience of a fall may lead to depression or fear of getting up or walking again. At such an event, an older person should be compassionately taken cared of.

The good news is, we can prevent falling through proper exercise and knowing how to carry our bodies. Strengthening our muscles and doing resistance training can help build confidence in the way an older person moves and deals with their everyday life. Careful steps and awareness of one’s surroundings play a key role in preventing falls.

My 93-year-old patient is still fighting. Although unable to get up now, she would do passive exercises while in bed. It is really never too late at all.

Makati to distribute cash gifts to seniors from Nov. 29-Dec. 6

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HE city government of Makati, through the Elderly Welfare Section of the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD), will start the distribution of the year-end cash gift for BLU Card holders in the city from November 29 until December 6.

In a report to Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, MSWD officer in charge Ryan Barcelo said 65,596 qualified beneficiaries are set to receive their cash gift on scheduled dates starting on November 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at designated venues.

Barcelo said BLU Card holders from barangays Bangkal, Guadalupe Viejo and Pitogo can get their cash gifts at their respective barangay halls on November 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For those from barangays Palanan and Valenzuela, distribution will be done at their covered court on the same date and time.

On December 1 distribution for barangays Santa Cruz, Dasmariñas, Urdaneta and Carmona will take place at their respective barangay halls. For barangays East Rembo and South Cembo, it will be done at their covered court.

The covered courts of barangay San Antonio and La Paz will be the venue of the cash-gift distribution on December

2, while recipients from Northside, San Isidro, Cembo and Kasilawan can claim their cash gift at their respective barangay halls.

On December 3 also from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., distribution will be done at the barangay halls of San Lorenzo, Singkamas and Forbes Park, and at the open court of San Miguel, while for Tejeros beneficiaries, it will be at their elderly health-care center.

Beneficiaries from barangays Guadalupe Nuevo, Poblacion and Olympia are slated on December 4 at their respective covered courts, while those from Pinagkaisahan can get theirs at their barangay hall.

After a break on December 5, the distribution will resume on December 6 at Pembo covered court from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as in the barangay halls of Southside and Rizal.

The schedule for cash-gift distribution in barangays Bel-Air, Magallanes, West Rembo, Comembo and Pio del Pilar will be announced later.

In claiming the cash gift, beneficiaries, who are unable to come in person, can send their duly authorized representatives, whose name appears at the back of the BLU Card to the Cash Division at the third floor of Makati City Hall. PNA

Spain soccer team starts fund for evicted woman

M ‘leaves of gold’ wins

Mauricio “Mau” Victa (third from right), Baguio-based correspondent of the BusinessMirror, is recognized for winning the Tobacco Photo of the Year award on November 27 during the Eighth Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards in a Pasay City hotel. His winning entry “Leaves of Gold” appeared in this page on August 18. Assisting Victa receive his award is Efleda Campos (fourth from right), BusinessMirror senior editor. Presenting the award are (from left): Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC) Contributions Manager Amy Eisma, Philip Morris Inc. Vice President for Corporate Affairs Asia Johan von Zweigbergk, Deputy Executive Secretary of Malacañang Teofilo Pilando, Lucio Tan Group President Michael Tan and PMFTC President Paul Riley. ROY DOMINGO

packs containing 10 sachet foils (P2,000). It also comes in jars of 30 capsules. For more information, e-mail info@brainmaster.com.ph or visit www.brainmaster.com.ph and www.facebook. com/BrainMasterSupplement.

BrainMaster can be likened to brain vita-

mins. It jumpstarts the brain to enable it to work more efficiently. In layman’s terms, BrainMaster works on increasing blood flow to the brain by oxygenating it.

Bacopa Monnieri is an Ayurvedic herb that has antioxidant properties and acts as a brain

tonic to enhance the brain’s neurotransmitters for memory development, learning and concentration. Ginkgo Biloba also contains antioxidants that neutralize dangerous free radicals. Ginkgo Biloba is proven to improve memory and mental alertness.

ADRID—A Spanish soccer team opened a bank account last Thursday to collect donations for an 85-year-old woman whose eviction last week from her Madrid apartment sparked an outcry, team officials said.

Rayo Vallecano President Raul Martin Presa said his club will also donate money from ticket sales from its next home game to help Carmen Martinez pay for a place to live.

Martinez was evicted last Friday from the apartment she owned and lived in for decades in Madrid's working-class neighborhood of Vallecas, where Rayo plays in the Spanish league's first division.

Her son had used the apartment

as collateral for a €40,000 ($50,000) loan and couldn't make payments after losing his job.

The Associated Press photos of the eviction spurred intense Spanish media coverage of Martinez’s plight and prompted the club to help her.

Rayo is also based in the Vallecas neighborhood.

“Nobody likes these types of things—what happened to Carmen or to many other families, especially with evictions,” Rayo Coach Paco Jemez said.

Evictions have soared since Spain’s economic crisis began in 2008. Last year’s forced evictions totaled 2,060, while there were 1,547 during the first six months of 2014, statistics show. AP

The Regions BusinessMirror

news@businessmirror.com.ph

SBMA allots ₧11B to expand ports, roads

T

By Catherine N. Pillas

HE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will be expanding its port and road facilities, whose cost is at P11 billion, in anticipation of a substantial spike in cargo volume in Manila in the next three years that can be shifted to Subic.

“This is immediate because cargoes to Manila is expected to reach 6 million metric tons [MMT] in two to three years, doubling the 3 MMTs at present,” SBMA President and Administrator Roberto Garcia said at the sidelines of the recent Manila Ports Summit.

Garcia said the port expansion

can reach P7 billion, while the road will be around P4 billion.

Of the 3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), Garcia estimated 15 percent is from the northern and central Luzon area that can be easily diverted to Subic ports.

“We are in the process of updating an old study of the seaport so

we can submit this proposal to the National Economc and Development Authority. We can start this project immediately because it will take three years to build a new port and a road network,” Garcia said.

Subic International Container Terminal Services Inc., a unit of Manila International Container Terminal operator ICTSI, operates two ports in Subic: New Container Terminal 1 and 2.

The two ports are said to have a capacity of 600,000 TEUs combined. The current cargo volume being handled by Subic is at 75,000 TEUs, or 15 percent of port capacity.

However, with Sohar Industrial Port Co., APL Co. Ltd., Wan Hai Lines and NYK Lines calling at Subic and opening the free port to wider international coverage that includes China, Jàpan, Taiwan and Singapore, cargo volume is expected to balloon to 250,000 TEUs to 300,000 TEUs next year.

“If we don’t expand the port now,

it might be too late when cargoes in Manila reach 6 million TEUs in three years,” he said.

Garcia said SBMA is eyeing another 15-hectare lot for the new port and may bid out the new port.

Part and parcel of SBMA’s expansion plan is to build a 23-kilometer bypass road that will run through Bataan and into the Subic-ClarkTarlac Expressway.

SBMA, the ninth-largest government-owned and -controlled corporation in the Philippines, enjoyed a 21-percent spike in revenues as of October, and a 42-percent growth in operating revenues, Garcia said.

The free port is expected to post a 152-percent increase in net income this year, factoring in foreignexchange savings in 2013 and 2014.

Revenues for 2014 can breach the P2.5-billion target set by the free port for 2014. The target for 2015, Garcia said, is for revenues to reach P2.8 billion.

DOE to offer sites for hydro, geothermal exploration

T

By Lenie Lectura

HE Department of Energy (DOE) plans to solicit proposals to develop areas suitable for geothermal and hydropower projects. DOE Director for Renewable Energy Management Bureau Mario Marasigan said the government will formally offer next month promising sites for energy-resource exploration.

“We will offer four geothermal and 20 hydro sites through an open and competitive selection process,” said Marasigan, adding that each geothermal site could produce 20 megawatts (MW) to 30 MW and anywhere from 1 MW to 225 MW for hydro.

The launch will take place on December 15, while awarding is schedule in June next year.

Marasigan said there were studies conducted by the DOE and Japan International Cooperation Agency that determined the viability of the resources before these were offered to investors.

“By offering these sites, we give the opportunity for the private sector to generate additional capacity,” he said. The Philippines is considered the world’s second-largest geothermal producer after the United States.

The DOE earlier launched Philippine Energy Contracting Round 5 (PECR 5), a program which aims to showcase the exploration of potential coal and petroleum areas in the country.

“This is an opportunity for the country to present to the international community its potentials in energy development and exploration, hopefully through exhibitions we can find prospective developers that can be our partner in achieving energy security in the nation and essentially convert interests to bids,” DOE Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada said.

The PECR 5 offers 11 areas for petroleum exploration mostly in Luzon. These include Area 1 in Southeast Luzon; 2 and 3 in Masbate-Iloilo; 4 and 5 in Northeast Palawan; 6 in Southeast Palawan; 7 in West Palawan; 8 to 11 in West Luzon.

For coal exploration, there are 15 areas identified. For Area 1, Carmen, Lanuza and Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Tandag and Tago, Surigao del Sur for Area 2; Tandag, Tago and San Miguel, Surigao del Sur for Area 3; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte and Sibagat, Agusan del Sur for Area 4; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte & Sibagat, Agusan del Sur for Area 5; Bunawan, Agusan del Sur for Area 6; Bunawan and Trento, Agusan del Sur for Area 7; Bunawan and Trento, Agusan del Sur and Bislig City, Surigao del Sur for Area 8; Lingig and Bislig City, Surigao del Sur for Area 9; Godod, Zamboanga del Norte and Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay for Area 10; Godod, Zamboanga del Norte and Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay for Area 11; Baliguian and Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte for Area 12; Alicia, Imelda and Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay for Area 13; Imelda, Malangas, Alicia and Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay for Area 14; and Maitum, Sarangani for Area 15.

Monday, December 1, 2014

A9

Further delay in completion of Bicol Intl Airport seen

By Manly M. Ugalde Correspondent

A

RAGA, Albay—The muchawaited Bicol International Airport may not be completed by 2016 as Malacañang promised, the Ako Bicol party-list said.

Started in 2008 under the Arroyo administration, construction of the P4.7-billion international airport project at the hilltop of Barangay Alobo here was temporarily halted for more than a year in 2010 after President Aquino ordered for review of its feasibility.

Construction of the project remained delayed in 2012 due to the non-release of its funding.

Mr. Aquino said the Bicol International Airport project is viable and is urgently needed after the country encountered frequent suspension of local and international flights in 2012 and 2013 due to bad weather.

Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. said during his visit in Albay that President Aquino wants the Bicol International Airport completed early and to operate 24 hours seven days a week.

In 2012 Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda made it clear that the Bicol International Airport will be completed by 2015 in time for the holding of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Albay is among the hosts of the advanced meeting of Apec senior ministers to be held at the Misibis international resort in Bacacay town on December 8 and 9.

Salceda said the project may have its opening on April 26, 2016.

Last year Transportation Secretary Emilio Joseph Abaya announced works for the Daraga-based airport

was continuing. This was reinforced by the statement of Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad who confirmed that the Bicol International Airport would be completed by 2016 before Mr. Aquino steps down from office.

Abad said funding for the airport project would be sustained and ready.

But Party-list Rep. Christopher Co of Ako Bicol expressed doubts that the Bicol airport would be completed by 2016. The airport is still on its phase 2 status, according to the party-list lawmaker.

Rep. Al Francis Bichara of Second District of Albay concurred with Co’s opinion the Bicol region may not have the much-awaited international airport during the incumbency of President Aquino. He appealed to Malacañang to give priority funding to the project, which is already six years in the making.

So far, a total of P2.1 billion had been released for the Daraga-based airport project from 2007 to 2012.

An additional P450 million was released for this year continuing construction after almost a lull in the implementation last year due to funding releases.

With barely P2 billion more to complete the airport project, Bicolbased businessmen are hoping for the early realization of the project, a brainchild of Salceda, said banker Lito Tuanqui, former president of the Albay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said once completed, Daraga airport which overlooks Legazpi, its neighboring towns and the beautiful Mayon Volcano would put the new Bicol airport as one of the best international airports according to location.

DTI spearheads National Exporters’ Week celebration on Dec. 1-5 Rest for the weary Delivery workers nap while their delivery truck wends its way along Kennon Road from the highland farms of the Cordilleras to the lowland markets of Pangasinan. Full of carrots and other cool-weather vegetable crops, the truck and the hundreds of others like it represent a lifeline between highland farmers and their lowland counterparts. MAU VICTA

443rd Pampanga Day to focus on poor, war vs illegal drugs

By Joey Pavia Correspondent

C

ITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Gov. Lilia Pineda is expected to lead today, December 1, the various activities lined up for the 443rd Pampanga Day founding anniversary celebration.

At least four activities, including a Holy Mass at the Capitol grounds to be officiated by Pampanga Archbishop Florentino “Apung Dong” Lavarias on Monday morning, will be held to signal the start of the 443rd “Aldo Ning Kapampangan.”

The other activities are trade and jobs fairs, distribution of Department of Labor and Employment grants and parades participated in by the 19 towns and two cities in the province.

“Pampanga Day should focus on the poor, farmers, Aytas, day-care workers

and other sectors of society needing more attention from the provincial government,” said Pineda, who is expected to be joined by her son, Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda.

“We must also focus on the fight against illegal drugs. What is progress if our children and people are not safe?” she said.

Dubbed “Kulturang Kapampangan Ya Ing Dalan Ning Kaunlaran” [Kapampangan Culture is the Way to Progress],” the celebrations will be held from December 1 to 11.

The highlights of the annual activity are the Mutya Ning Kapampangan 2014 (December 10) and Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award (December 11).

On December 2 the 22 candidates for Miss Pampanga 2014 will visit the Macabebe Hidden Paradise, where Mayor Annette Flores-Balgan put up courses offered by the Technical Educa-

tion and Skills Development Authority and cooking classes with the assistance of Pineda.

Other activities are “Aldo Ding Ortelano” (Farmers’ Day) and “Aldo Ding Kapampangan OFWs and “Aldo Ding Katutubo” (Aytas’ Day).

“We’re going to give Aytas due care and attention as part of the highlights of the founding anniversary of the province,” Pineda said in statements released by the Provincial Information Office.

Barangay Health Workers Day and Persons with Disabilities’ Day will also be honored at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center on December 4. There will be a Teachers Day and Philippine National Police Day celebrations also.

Come December 8 “Aldo da ring Manasan” and Tilapia Fishpond Owners Day will be held in Lubao and Macabebe towns, respectively.

Lone Christian town in proposed Bangsamoro seeks respect for exclusion

T

HE mayor of the lone Christian town in Lanao del Sur in a phone interview on Sunday called for respect to the right of his people seeking exclusion from the Bangsamoro political autonomy.

Most of the local population of Wao municipality choose to be kept separate from the proposed Bangsamoro government and remain a local government unit under the national government, Mayor Elvino Balicao Jr said.

Eighty-three percent of his people are Christians who respect the prospect of Bangsamoro for peace and development in Mindanao, but also seek respect for wanting exclusion from the new political autonomy, he said.

The majority of Wao’s residents demon-

strated their call for exclusion in a peaceful rally during the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 27, 2014.

The people of Wao formally expressed their choice to be ruled out from the Bangsamoro autonomy in a letter to the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process.

The Christians, while respecting the Islamic law of their Muslim brothers in Mindanao, fear it will limit their religious freedom once Bangsamoro commences autonomous governance, Balicao said.

The plebiscite will confirm the choice of the townspeople and shall be respected, he said.

“The barangays in favor of inclusion in the

Bangsamoro autonomy can choose to embrace it, even if it will mean shrinking the size of Wao’s territory,” he said.

Covering a land area of 187.35 square miles, Wao has 26 barangays, Balicao said. Only eight are headed by a Muslim barangay captain.

“These barangays, though chaired by Muslims, are still about 45-percent Christian,” he said.

Balicao also complained his people were not consulted before including them in the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous area.

In response to the claims by Muslims that Wao’s land is predominantly owned by Muslims, he said it was titled to Christian settlers during the time of President Ramon Magsaysay and President Elpidio Quirino. Oliver Samson

E

VERY year, the Department of Trade and Industry observes National Exporters’ Week on the first week of December.

This year’s celebration is highlighted by the National Exporters’ Congress with the theme “Integrating SMEs to Global Value Chains [GVCs].” Expected to attend the congress are several hundred exporters and would-be exporters, government officials and private business groups. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center Reception Hall.

Mandated by law, the celebration is on its 19th year, with this year’s focus being on increasing public awareness about the opportunities and developments available to the country’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which comprise 99.6 percent of the country’s businesses. Operating in an increasingly globalized economy, especially with the integration of the 10-member Asean region into a single economy next year, SMEs are encouraged to look beyond the local economy, venture into foreign markets and become exporters of Philippine goods and services.

This year’s National Exporters’ Week is organized by the DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau, the Export Development Council and the Philippine Exporters’ Confederation Inc. (PhilExport). The celebration is observed nationwide, with various activities led by regional and provincial offices of the three organizing groups.

There will be an Exporters’ Bazaar in front of the DTI International Building from December 1 to 5 and again from December 8 to 12. Featured are shoes, bags, clothes for kids and adults, processed food including locally produced coffee and snacks, health and wellness products, cooked food for take-out, and other local products.

From December 1 to 4, a series of seminars—dubbed “Usapang Exports”—will be held at the fifth floor of the DTI International Building along Senator Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City. On December 1 a seminar on “Getting Your Product

Ready for the Export Market” will be conducted. The seminar includes information on costing and pricing your products for the export market, negotiating with foreign buyers, export opportunities in an integrated Asean market, and understanding nontariff measures.

On December 2 a seminar on “Doing Business with the United Nations [UN]” will be held, including topics on how to do business with the UN, vendor registration overview, one-on-one consultations with business support organizations, and how to do business with them. This will be replicated in Angeles City on December 4 for Central Luzon’s exporters.

On December 3 the DTI will host a seminar on “Maximizing Productivity Tools for SME Exporters.” The seminar will include productivity orientation, productivity Olympic award, consultancy for agriculture and manufacturing, productivity improvements and venture financing program.

On December 4 a seminar on “Product Facelift through Packaging and Labeling and Financing Options to SMEs” will feature discussions on food packaging and labelling regulations, updates on packaging and labelling, and financing assistance to SME exporters.

To be discussed during the congress on December 5, which also culminates the weeklong celebration, are ways on improving the capability of SMEs to participate in the GVCs, export trade facilitation and assistance to SMEs, SME growth through legislation, taking advantage of global market opportunities, learning from GVC models and best practices of SMEs, networking with clearance agencies and exporters/ suppliers in the domestic value chain.

Other activities such as briefings and lectures on competitiveness and seminar-workshops on livelihood will be conducted in other parts of the country including Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

For those interested to participate, you may e-mail exponet@dti.gov.ph or contact EMB-DTI at +632-897-7605 for more details.

Opinion BusinessMirror

A10 Monday, December 1, 2014

Editor: Alvin I. Dacanay

editorial

Rewarding the graduates

T

he singing into law by President Aquino of the Iskolar ng Bayan Program, now Republic Act 10648, is a positive development for the future of the Philippines.

The top 10 graduates of every public high school in the country will now receive scholarships to the 112 state colleges and universities (SUCs) to pursue their studies. The target is that 80,000 deserving students will be given the financial assistance they need to move to higher education. While there are many private scholarship programs to help these students, this move by the government is important and timely.

The specifics of the program are that top 10 graduates of every public high school will be entitled to admission to the SUC of his or her choice within his or her province, without having to pay for first-year tuition and miscellaneous fees..

Often, programs like this are inadequate and do not go far enough.

We would have liked to see an expanded program in terms of keeping these students in higher education for the duration of their courses.

However, if they do well in their studies and qualify, they will continue to receive financial help through the financial-aid programs of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

In the 2015 national budget, SUCs have a total of P3.5 billion available for scholarships, apart from the CHED’s P2.2-billion allotment for student financial aid.

In looking at the specifics of the law, some forethought and common sense was put into the details. Since the size of graduating classes around the country vary so much, public high schools with more than 1,000 graduates will be entitled to one additional college scholarship slot for every 500 graduates granted to graduates whose ranks immediately follow the top 10.

The Philippine education system always comes under much criticism, everything from the size of the classes to teacher qualifications. Contracts for books have been tainted with corruption from time to time and the quality of the materials are sometimes suspect. Further, our per-pupil expenditure is much less than acceptable by international standards.

While this may all be true, the key priority on a national level is to keep students learning for as long as possible and this new program of financial assistance for higher education is vitally important.

This law is obviously not going to solve the nation’s education deficiencies. However, sometimes a problem is best solved with successful individual steps made one at a time. In education, the single most step is making sure that one individual student is given every chance to succeed.

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder Publisher Editor in Chief

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PCSO and hospitals to explore ‘help desk’ concept Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

I

N line with their mandate of charity work, representatives from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will be meeting next week with the administrators of government and private hospitals to discuss programs and initiatives that will make it more convenient for the public to access the services of the PCSO and other government agencies.

The PCSO’s flagship charity program is the Individual Medical Assistance Program (Imap), which subsidizes the hospital and treatment bills of qualified patients. To avail himself or herself of this, a relative or friend of the patient must bring documentary requirements to the PCSO office, have these assessed and come back for an interview with a social worker before being given assistance, if found qualified. The process necessarily involves lining up, waiting to be served, and returning for the succeeding steps of the process.

In the case of charity patients, they undergo a somewhat similar procedure in the hospitals; in effect, this doubles the work.

To make it easier for everyone involved, the PCSO and various hospi-

tals are looking into the possibility of establishing, in the hospitals, “help desks” manned by social workers, who can do all the assessments and processing; compute and account for benefits, such as PhilHealth and senior citizens’ discounts; and pass their recommendations to the PCSO. The charity agency will then check on the assessment made by the hospital, and, if it’s in order, extends the appropriate assistance.

This means the patient’s connections will go through the assessment and social-worker interview only once, saving time, money and effort, as well as easing the anxiety of patients and their loved ones.

Not only hospitalized patients will be served, but also those undergoing dialysis, chemotherapy and

similar outpatient treatments.

We believe this help-desk concept has other strong and commendable merits: it will eliminate fixers; enable better screening of fake documents; and reduce the incidence of other factors that affect the efficiency of the entire assistance process.

We anticipate having productive meetings with hospitals and other health-care partners to further discuss program guidelines toward drawing up a memorandum of agreement that will govern the implementation of a help-desk program.

The cooperation of the concerned institutions is vital to the success of such a program as we all envision.

This is something we can look forward to, given our common goal of serving Filipinos’ health care- and medical-related needs. nnn

SOME artists may feel restricted when forced to work under certain constraints or within boundaries, but others will take those limitations as a challenge and, consequently, create distinctive works that expand their oeuvre.

Our upcoming group show, Petits Fours, features 10 artists: Carlo Magno, Karina Baluyut, Ross Capili, Salvador Ching, Robert Deniega, Roel Obemio, Herbert Pajarito, Eman Santos, Pinggot Zulueta and myself.

Each artist presents four works, with

What Sony can learn from Samsung William Pesek

BLOOMBERG VIEW

A

LTHOUGH they are fierce rivals, South Korea’s Samsung and Japan’s Sony have many problems in common: overstretched businesses, a dearth of game-changing products, hierarchical corporate structures and proud places in their national psyches.

But between the two, Samsung is proving how nimble even huge legacy names can be. Sony should pay attention.

Samsung headquarters has responded quickly to last quarter’s 49-percent plunge in net income.

Admitting that the slump in its once-thriving smartphone business probably isn’t temporary, the company recently transferred about 500 employees from mobile phones to Internet-related initiatives that hold more promise. Last week Samsung moved to streamline operations by unwinding holdings involving at least eight businesses. It sold stakes in chemicals and defense interests and the all-important electronics division, while repurchasing $2 billion of its own stock. The company has been shifting resources toward batteries; biopharmaceuticals; the next generation of memory chips; organic light-emitting diode

displays; and medical equipment.

Earlier this month Samsung announced a tie-up with United States biotechnology company Thermo Fisher Scientific.

And Sony? Well, the company appears to be staring at its feet, hoping that a weaker yen will bolster profits. When CEO Kazuo Hirai admitted to investors on November 18 that his company has been slow in adapting to change, his very presentation reinforced the point: In the age of rampant piracy, movieand-video game download apps and changing consumer tastes, Hirai said the company would focus its efforts on its entertainment division. That’s the unit, mind you, that New York hedge-fund star Daniel Loeb called a dog before selling out

of Sony this year.

Samsung’s moves have hardly solved all of its problems, of course.

While the stunning success of Galaxy phones and tablets made life at Apple Inc. headquarters interesting for awhile, those products are now losing buzz. Samsung’s devices are being squeezed from below by cheap Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi and from above by a rejuvenated Apple (which is now worth nearly four times as much as Samsung). In such an environment, being great at high-end manufacturing isn’t enough; the company needs to innovate. In that way, Samsung epitomizes the dilemma facing South Korea Inc. itself: The grip of powerful chaebol groups needs to be loosened over time, and start-ups nurtured.

One can argue that, for the moment, Samsung’s family-owned structure is an asset. With longtime Chairman Lee Kun Hee sidelined by a heart attack in May, his 46-year-old son Lee Jae Yong has the freedom to dictate changes in strategy swiftly. Still, Sony’s public ownership doesn’t excuse the plodding leadership that Hirai has displayed by comparison. Most of Sony’s competitive instincts, unfortunately, seem to be directed inward—one business unit facing off against another. As CEO, Hirai needs to have the will to smash

each measuring only 12"x2".

Baluyut’s works show birds on a golden ground; Pajarito’s gleam with turquoise and other jewel tones. Ching juxtaposes the image of women clad in the traditional baro’t saya with colorful geometric shapes. Capili’s abstracts; Ofemio’s Botero-esque couples; Santos’s blue-and-green abstract canvases; and Magno’s earthy impressions, created with strokes of black, brown and white, invite the viewer to linger. Zulueta and Deniega’s works experiment with extending the bounds of their aesthetic.

My works are rooted in the context of Philippine horseracing, and are inspired by the contrast between the speed of the chase, and the stillness and permanence of the track.

The smaller-than-usual sizes of these works make them perfect for any space and for those starting their collections.

“Petits Fours” opened on November 27 and will run until December 7 at Galerie Francesca Megamall, on the fourth floor of SM Megamall Building A in Mandaluyong City.

For inquiries, call (632) 570-9495 or send an e-mail to galeriefrancesca. mega@gmail.com.

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II is the vice chairman and general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

through those fiefdoms.

These challenges will sound familiar to students of Japan’s economy. A key reason Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s restructuring drive has stalled is complacency among myriad levels of bureaucrats and other vested interests, who believe that the model that lifted Japan out of its postwar devastation can still work.

That, in a nutshell, is the Sony mind-set, too. Thirteen years after Apple’s iPod was released, the creator of the world-changing Walkman still doesn’t have a global answer. Seven years after the iPhone created whole new business ecosystems, Hirai’s team is still eyeing incremental enhancements to existing products and pinning its hopes on Hollywood and gamers buying the next pricey Playstation console.

The key to sustained growth, as Jefferies Group analyst Atul Goyal told Bloomberg News recently, is responding quickly and wisely to new challenges—something that Samsung, at least, appears willing to attempt.

“When they see something working, even if a little bit, they will speed up much faster, shift people and resources into it and push very aggressively,” Goyal said. That’s not to say every one of the company’s initiatives will succeed. But their chances look a lot better than Sony’s.

Opinion BusinessMirror

opinion@businessmirror.com.ph

The decline of social Europe Offshore balls is part of a world trend Teddy Locsin Jr.

Roberto Savio

Inter press service

R

OME—After the Italian Navy, through the sea search-andrescue operation Mare Nostrum—which costs €9 million a month to conduct—has rescued nearly 100,000 migrants (although, perhaps, up to 3,000 have died) from the Mediterranean Sea since last October, Europe is now presenting its new face in the Mediterranean.

The European Union (EU) is launching Joint Operation Triton, which has a monthly budget of €2.9 million and has secured funds until the end of the year. Its function is to enforce border controls—not to save “boat people”— and conduct patrols just 30 nautical miles from the coast, which pales in comparison with Mare Nostrum, which saw patrols being sent close to the Libyan coast.

Even with this very limited operation, British Prime Minister David Cameron has said the United Kingdom will not contribute to it, because operations that save migrants only encourage them to try to cross the Mediterranean. Of course, there is a perverted logic in this: the more migrants die, the greater will be the discouragement for others to try.

Following this logic through, the ideal situation, therefore, would be to reach a death rate that would stop illegal immigration, once and for all!

In this context, it is worth noting that the UK government is considering withdrawal from the European Convention of Human Rights (something that even Russian President Vladimir Putin has never considered). The argument is that nobody can be above UK courts.

London is also refusing to pay its share of increased of contributions to the EU and is considering how to put an annual cap on the number of Europeans who are entitled to work legally in the UK. And, finally, the UK government received with great uproar the sentence of the European Court of Justice, which placed a European cap on banker bonuses, rejecting Britain’s claims that it was illegal. The British argument was that pay levels (also of discredited bankers) were part of social policy and, thus, under the authority of memberstates, not of the EU.

Not obliged

MEANWHILE, the same court issued another sentence, under which EU member-states are not obliged to support European citizens who do not have economic activities in the EU countries to which they have migrated. And the German Parliament is now preparing a law to expel European immigrants who do not find a job within six months.

Of course, this will open the doors to all other countries to reduce the free movement of Europeans in Europe, a cornerstone of the original vision of a solidary Europe. Now Europeans will be obliged to take any job and, therefore, the law of the market will become the primary criterion for their movements in Europe.

Since 1986, the year the Single European Act was signed, Europeans have never been able to agree on a minimum social basis, which would have given them rights, as workers, to act collectively as Europeans in the face of a market that is economically unified, but has no common social legislation.

In fact, the point has now been reached where social criteria are the last to be used in judging whether a country is recovering or not, well after the economic and financial criteria.

A devastated Greece is now again being considered in financial markets, because its economic indicators are on the up. And, at the last Group of 20 meeting in Brisbane, Spain was touted as the example that implementing austerity policies—those indicated

by German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the example for laggards like Italy and France—are the correct way out of the crisis.

At the same time, a very different source—Caritas—has reported that only 34.3 percent of Spaniards live a normal life, while 40.6 percent are stuck in a state of precariousness, 24.2

percent are already suffering moderate exclusion and 10.9 percent are living in severe exclusion.

To understand the trend, 50.2 percent of Spaniards had a normal life six years ago. Now, one citizen in four is suffering from exclusion. Of those 11 million excluded citizens, 77.1 percent have no work, 61.7 percent lack a house and 46 percent have no healthcare support.

According to the recent United Nations Children’s Fund report on children under recession, 76.5 million children in rich countries live in poverty, and 36.3 percent of Spain’s children (2.7 million) are living in a state of precariousness.

What is now new is that some major financial institutions have started to draw attention to social issues.

United States Federal Reserve Chairman Janet L. Yellen has declared that she is concerned about the growing inequality of wealth and income in her country, and that the chances for people to advance economically appear to be diminishing. And European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is now constantly mentioning the issues of “unbearable unemployment” and “growing exclusion”.

Free fire

O

NCE again, the world takes up a brilliant suggestion of mine without giving me credit for it. Last week the United States Navy canceled nine ports of call in the Philippines.

Just last month I said, Why not just cancel shore leaves? Same banana, which is, oddly enough, the appropriate fruit, given the shape of what is most handled on shore leaves.

This was actually an improvement on an earlier suggestion of mine during the talks on the

Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) to forbid US Navy ports of call for rest and

Monday, December 1, 2014 A11

recreation, confining them to national defense. All hard-ons are to stay on board.

Surely, I said, the murder of Jennifer Laude—perhaps, by the concierge of a Subic motel named after a folded pizza, Calzone—the jury’s still out on that one—does not require a review of the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Edca. None of those agreements covers what happens between two genitals or, for that matter, between a pair of hands around the same or around a throat.

Those agreements only cover how two military allies shall conduct their mutual defense in the event of an attack by any foreign power

on the other. The jurisdiction of offenses committed by the military personnel of one ally in the country of the other, say, Filipino Marines in Sausalito—almost certainly they will never be allowed in the country, lest they vanish into thin air and reemerge in Serramonte—or US Marines in Subic—are just details that, in no way, have an impact on the basic agreements.

Last month I suggested that the Americans cancel short leaves in the Philippines. The Americans have done better; they have canceled ports of call. Now that those balls will be kept offshore, the ball is in our court.

How will the bar girls take the news in Subic?

Weaker growth

IN the background there is the fact that countries that took emergency measures to reduce public borrowing have mostly posted weaker growth, like most European countries (with the exception of Germany, which is helped by a boom in machinery exports to Russia and China), while those that introduced a policy of stimulus, like the US, Japan and the UK, have done much better, also in reducing unemployment.

But Merkel continues to ignore calls from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other monetary institutions. She is only interested in pleasing her constituency, which is increasingly looking to its immediate interests and losing sight of European perspectives.

In all this, the banks continue to be uninterested in any social perspective. A few days ago, European and US regulators imposed new fines—worth $4.5 billion—on a number of major banks (we are now approaching the $200 billion mark since the global financial crisis started in 2008) for illegal activities.

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of the largest of them, JP Morgan Chase and Co., declared in an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin of CNBC that it is important that the US creates a “safe harbor” where JPMorgan’s illegal practice of hiring the relatives of political leaders “is not punished.”

In Dimon’s country, between 2009 and 2010, 93 percent of incomes ended up in the pockets of 1 percent of the population, according to Nobel economics laureate Joseph Stiglitz, and the 16,000 families with at least $111 million have seen their share of national wealth double since 2012 to 11.2 percent.

The last US presidential election cost $3.4 billion, and most of that came from this small minority. Democracy, where all votes are equal, is increasingly becoming a plutocracy where money elects.

Meeting leaders of social movements on October 26, Pope Francis told them: “They call me a communist [for speaking of] land, work and housing… but love for the poor is at the center of the Gospel.” Certainly, governments are doing otherwise.

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

Hunt in cosmos could tell us whether Earthlings are special

By Caleb Scharf Los Angeles Times (TNS)

H

UMANS have had quite a ride in the 500 years since Copernicus. We’ve built and tested a rational vision of the universe in which our circumstances, and those of Earth, are unexceptional and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

We are fleeting specks on a crumb of cosmic dust, among countless other crumbs in the briefest sliver of a far bigger story.

This perspective has guided us to the innermost sanctums of matter, and to the origins and nature of space and time itself—an expanding fabric that has no spatial center, in which all places are shining examples of unimportance.

Except that our great hominid egos have always nagged at us, resisting the soothing embrace of cosmic mediocrity, looking for excuses to be special. Surprisingly, science has now come across reasons to think that life—and life on Earth, in particular—may not be quite so ordinary, after all. It might be a rare, accidental gem. Its presence could even offer clues to the deeper functioning of the universe.

There is now a burgeoning, supremely ambitious scientific endeavor to answer the gem-versuscommon speck question by seeking life elsewhere in the cosmos. The outcome of this quest will influence not only our perception of the nature of existence, but also the way in which our species chooses to make use of its time.

A piece of the puzzle emerged in the 1970s, when physicists pointed out the apparently coincidental alignment of fundamental properties of the universe and the requirements of living organisms. We live,

for example, in a cosmos that makes and disperses plenty of the element carbon, the central piece of known biochemistry. We also live in a galactic landscape of stars that’s neither too sparse nor too crowded, and we live in a time when the universe has cooled, but not yet succumbed to thermodynamic extinction. If nature’s forces were tuned just a little differently, all these things would change, and life might not have ever occurred.

If the universe is the one and only such reality, it’s disquieting that it would be tuned this way, because life—even if there is only a single instance—is also providing predictive information about physics. In other words, anthropic reasoning leads to a suspicion that there is, indeed, something special about us.

However, theoretical physics and cosmology have come up with a possible answer to that. If our reality is merely one of a vast number of universe-like phenomena—part of a multiverse—we naturally find ourselves in a type of universe that allows for life. The catch is that no multiverse theory can yet tell us how much life there should be in a given cosmos—how exceptional life on Earth is.

Clues may be emerging from more

parochial directions. The remarkable new science of exoplanets—worlds orbiting other stars—is at this frontline. On the face of it, the discovery of a wealth of exoplanets simply verifies the doctrine of mediocrity that Copernicus helped seed. We’re surrounded by billions of planetary systems that could, in principle, host life.

But exoplanets are incredibly diverse, ranging from giant balls of gas to small rocky worlds and large super-Earths, the likes of which don’t exist around the Sun. Their configurations also come in an unanticipated range: from tightly packed clusters of planets to systems with highly elliptical orbits and histories of playing gravitational dodgem. And the types of stars that harbor planets include those that are far more numerous than the family the Sun belongs to.

By these measures, in very crude terms, our solar system is somewhat unusual. Is there a connection to the presence of life here? Is this a clue to the fertility of the cosmos?

It could be.

The story of biological evolution on Earth may also hold important lessons about what we can expect elsewhere. A seemingly improbable merger of two single-celled organisms here gave rise to complex cells containing the marvelous little power generators, mitochondria. Otherwise, there would be no animals, insects, birds, fish, reptiles, fungi, sponges or celebrities. Some biologists argue that the low likelihood of this microbial tango implies that a similar step could happen only in very, very few life-bearing planets across the universe. Once again, life such as ours could be the exception

rather than the rule.

Yet, this might be just a cautionary tale of how we make inferences.

Events can take on new meanings after the fact. For example, when something lucky takes place— a winning lottery ticket, for instance—we can always trace the history of small choices leading to that point. Except that history becomes relevant only in retrospect— the snap decision to play, a number that sticks in your head—regardless of whether the end product is actually rare or common.

Speculation has almost had its day, though. The solution to understanding life’s cosmic status is at hand. Whether it’s through the eyes of a robot on Mars, the probing of a dark ocean on the moon Europa, or in the telltale chemical imbalances seen on a distant exoplanet, the hunt is afoot. The challenges are extreme, but scientists’ efforts to count the instances of biological origins across the galaxy will yield an empirical, not philosophical, answer. It will let us crack the puzzle open.

Discovering that cosmic context is an old ambition made new. It comes as we find ourselves living in our own planetary filth. It has the potential to teach us much about our future prospects. Being exceptional would have little value if we choose to remain carelessly and perilously locked to Earth. Whatever else we are, we are the first arrivals at this particular horizon. Whether or not we cross it is entirely up to us.

Caleb Scharf is director of astrobiology at Columbia University and author of The Copernicus Complex and Gravity’s Engines.