Manila Standard - 2016 August 1 - Monday

WEATHER

PhilHealth rate hike approved

Typhoon relief THE government will be providing relief in the areas to be affected by Tropical Storm “Carina” and to help all its possible victims, Malacañang said Sunday.

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THE Supreme Court has dismissed a petition of the left-leaning Kilusang Mayo Uno questioning the validity of PhilHealth’s circulars increasing the premiums for the National Health Insurance Program.

In a decision written by Associate

‘Cha-Cha open to abuse under supermajority’

By Christine F. Herrera AN OPPOSITION lawmaker warned Sunday that the administration’s supermajority in the House and Senate would lead to wholesale amendments to the Constitution “simply because they have the numbers,” once Congress constitutes itself as a constituent assembly to amend the Charter.

At the same time, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman warned

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VOL. XXX • NO. 170 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 • WWW.THESTANDARD.COM.PH • EDITORIAL@THESTANDARD.COM.PH

that choosing a constituent assembly as opposed to an elected constitutional convention as the mode of amendment would take longer, because he intended to bring the question of separate voting for the two chambers of Congress to the Supreme Court.

“The issue of separate voting will reach the Supreme Court,” Lagman said on radio dzBB. “I will bring it to the Supreme Next page Court.”

‘Truce hinges on Oslo talks’ Reds amenable to Aug. 20 ceasefire

By Sandy Araneta and Christine F. Herrera

T

HE Communist Party of the Philippines on Sunday said it is willing to issue a ceasefire simultaneously with President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration on Aug. 20, when formal peace talks resume in Oslo, Norway.

PEP TALK. President Rodrigo Duterte talks to informal settlers residing in Davao City slums and hosts a dinner for them (inset) while assuring them of a relocation site by the time their dwellings are demolished. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

Salary increase for tutors proposed THE Department of Budget and Management is studying a proposal to increase the salaries of soldiers and teachers, Malacañang said Sunday.

“I have talked to DBM Secretary Ben Diokno and this is being studied by the DBM,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told dzRB radio.

President Rodrigo Duterte had promised to increase the salaries of soldiers and public school teachers during a briefing with military officials in Camp Nakar in Lucena City on Thursday.

Increasing the salaries of teachers, the police and members of the military had been one of his promises during the campaign for this year’s elections.

He said the salary increases would start in August and continue until the amount was doubled.

Diokno has said the increase in salaries in the Armed Forces will be difficult to implement because of other pressing financial matters―not least of which is the government’s huge debt to the military pension fund. Sandy Araneta

Du30 shuns ‘misleading’ info on Tacloban

By Christine F. Herrera PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to help Tacloban get back on its feet as former mayor Alfred Romualdez slammed the remnants of the Aquino administration for “misleading” the public into believing that the city

misspent close to P1 billion in ‘‘Yolanda’’ funds.

Duterte met with Romualdez and his wife, Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Romualdez, in Malacañang last Wednesday and was briefed on the status of the thousands of Yolanda survivors, who up to now remain in bunkhouses

or are living with their relatives.

Romualdez said thousands of victims of Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ remain homeless because the permanent homes built for them by the Aquino administration were substandard and did not have provisions for power and water.

“Shortly after the meeting with President Duterte, a misleading article came out online and the slant was obviously to discourage President Duterte from helping the Yolanda survivors and to make the people of Tacloban hate us,” Romualdez told the Manila Standard.

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Aurora zone execs rapped for land use

Customs in bad shape after Lina dropped ball FORMER commissioner Alberto Last month, President Duterte Lina has left the Bureau of Cus- ordered new Customs Commistoms in bad shape, failing to miss sioner Nicanor Faeldon to rid the any of its revenue agency of corrupt targets for the six officials and personmonths of the year, nel. records show.

“I already have All ports under the raw information the bureau’s superbut I still have to vision were also validate it... I hope unable to hit their Faeldon would do respective goals in his thing and stop April and May this corruption in Cusyear. toms,” the President For the first half said, adding that unof the year, the buscrupulous Customs reau collected only ALBERTO LINA officials and emP190.27 billion out ployees have “long of its P238.32-billion target, for a lived in luxury.”

P48.05-billion shortfall.

In April, the bureau posted a Weeks before Lina stepped out deficit of P8.47 billion, with imof office, then incoming President port duties and taxes collected Rodrigo Duterte identified the bu- reaching only P32.45 billion as reau as among the three most cor- against the monthly target of rupt agencies in the government, P40.92 billion. along with the Bureau of Internal The Port of Manila posted the Revenue and the Land Transpor- highest shortfall at P2.36 billion, tation Office.

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“To further support peace negotiations, the CPP is willing to issue a unilateral ceasefire declaration separately but simultaneously with the Duterte government on Aug. 20. The timeframe can be determined through negotiations,” the communists said in a statement.

Party leaders have drafted a ceasefire declaration in anticipation of peace talks with the Duterte administration since June, the CPP said.

The CPP has long expressed willingness to engage in a ceasefire as long as there are peace negotiations, the statement added.

On the other hand, Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire last week even before it could fulfill his promise to release National Democratic Front consultants who were detained, as well as other political prisoners.

Duterte on Saturday lifted the unilateral ceasefire after communist rebels ambushed a group of militiamen in Davao del Norte, killing one.

Earlier, the communists, led

by CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison, welcomed Duterte’s offer of a unilateral ceasefire, but did not reciprocate with their own offer of a truce.

The communists slammed Duterte for issuing an ultimatum, and for reacting in a “capricious” way to the Davao del Norte ambush.

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MAGSAYSAY AWARDEE. Indian activist and Ramon Magsaysay

Award winner, Bezwada Wilson (50) poses at his office in New Delhi on July 30, 2016. National convenor of the Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), which campaigns for the eradication of manual scavenging, Bezwada Wilson was declared one of the six recipients of the 2016 Ramon Magsaysay Award by the Philippines-based award foundation. AFP

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THE Department of Agrarian Reform has ordered the filing of a criminal suit against officials of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zones (Apeco) for the illegal conversion of a 2.5-hectare farm lot in Sitio Landing, Barangay Esteves, Casiguran, Aurora.

Secretary Rafael Mariano ordered the Region III officials and the department’s task force on illegal conversion to immediately identify those who may be held criminally liable for the unlawful land use conversion and to file cases against them.

In doing so, Mariano junked Apeco’s Dec. 14, 2015 plea and upheld the DAR regional office’s order not to change its land use without the department’s clearance.

The case arose from the March 9, 2013 complaint filed

by Casiguran parish priest Jose Next page

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News

Senate gives witnesses ample protection, perks A

BILL filed by Senator Panfilo Lacson would provide substantial rewards and better protection to witnesses testifying against corrupt government officials or employees.

By getting the cooperation of “credible witnesses with reliable information,” Senate Bill 258 would address the difficulty of fighting corruption―especially those involving acts behind closed doors.

“This proposed legislation seeks to encourage whistle-blowers to

come out in the open and put an end to the corrupt practices of some government officials or employees,” Lacson said.

He said whistle-blowers would be entitled to a monetary reward ranging from P50,000 to P5 million. A whistle-blower would get half of his

reward after being admitted to the Witness Protection Program by the Office of the Ombudsman, and the remaining half before the filing of a case in court.

In cases such as plunder, forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth, bribery, misuse of public funds and damage or injury to government, the whistle-blower would be entitled to an additional reward of up to 10 percent of the amount recovered by the final judgment on the case.

Should the case drag on, the whistle-blower may get an advance payment equivalent to 25

percent of the additional reward from the total award due.

Lacson said his bill aims to ensure the full protection of whistleblowers against any form of retaliation or ostracism. His bill also includes rigid procedures to prevent abuses or false witnesses.

His bill covers cases involving violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the code of ethics for government officials and employees, the Anti-Plunder Law, and other crimes committed by public officers.

The bill would reward whistle-

blowers or informants from the public or private sectors who will make disclosures that are voluntary, in writing and under oath, and relate to conduct constituting graft and corruption.

The disclosures should be corroborated and lead to a successful gathering of evidence and result in the filing of a criminal complaint before a court.

An initial P100 million is to be appropriated from the National Treasury to implement the bill if it becomes law. Macon RamosAraneta

PhilHealth...

From A1

Justice Arturo Brion, the high court dismissed for lack of merit KMU’S petition assailing the validity of PhilHealth’s Circulars 0027, 0025 and 0024 in 2013 that increased the health insurance premiums paid by its members starting in 2014.

PhilHealth’s Circular 0024 increased the minimum annual premium rate for the Individually Paying Program to P2,400 for members with a monthly income of P25,000 and below.

Circular 0025 adjusted the annual premium rate for the Overseas Workers Program to P2,400 for all land-based Filipino workers, while Circular 0027 retained the 2.5-percent premium rate and the P35,000 salary bracket ceiling for the Employed Sector. However, it consolidated the two lowest salary brackets, resulting in a minimum annual rate of P2,400.

PhilHealth adjusted the minimum rates for members to P2,400 to ensure the financial sustainability of its program.

The high court also dropped then President Benigno Aquino III as a respondent in the case, citing the settled principle that a sitting head of state enjoys immunity from suit during his tenure.

In ruling against the petition, the high court said the petitioners availed themselves of the wrong remedy, explaining that certiorari is a remedy of last resort and available only when there is no appeal or any plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law.

Rey E. Requejo

Typhoon...

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Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development were already on the ground with stockpiles of food packs ready for distribution.

Weathermen have raised storm signal number 2 over Isabela and signal number 1 in Cagayan, Babuyan Island, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Catanduanes, Aurora, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Northern Samar as a result of the storm’s approach.

“I talked to Undersecretary Ric Jalad of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and their report is that the government is on standby for any help needed,” Andanar told state-run dzRB radio.

“There are stockpiles of family food packs in Region 1,” Andanar said.

“We also have almost 30,000 food packs, and in Region 8 we have about 1,900 food packs.”

Andanar said “Carina” had maintained its strength and was threatening Cagayan.

He said moderate to heavy rain was expected from within the storm’s 400-kilometer diameter.

He urged fishermen to avoid fishing for the meantime as a result of the very rough seas expected over northern and eastern Luzon.

The storm packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and is expected to intensify further before it hits Cagayan Sunday night, weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said.

Sandy Araneta

AMBULANCE DONATION. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II (second from left) hands over the

symbolic key of a brand new ambulance from the PCSO Ambulance Donation Program to Philippine Army Col. Emmanuel Guina ( second from right) Brigade Commander, Civil Military Affairs, AFP reserve command during a simple ceremony held on July 28 at the PCSO head office in Mandaluyong City. With them are PCSO Assistant General Manager for Administrative Sector Lawyer Lauro Patiag (left) and Lt. Col. Nataniel Marquez.

'Truce...

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The communists also said the Duterte ceasefire had no effect.

“Over the course of five days that the Duterte ceasefire declaration was in effect, there was zero compliance on the part of the AFP. Its public expression of support for the ceasefire declaration was not reflected on the ground. Not a single AFP command ordered its troops withdrawn back to their barracks,” the CPP said.

It added that Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya showed “zero sincerity” in his avowed support for peace talks and for the ceasefire declaration.

“Not one AFP encampment in civilian communities was taken down.

Armed combat troops of the AFP stationed in and around the scores of lumad sitios did not move an inch.

Thousands of lumad people remain in evacuation centers unable to safely return home,” the communists said.

A political analyst said Sunday that Sison’s group was still the right group to talk peace with, despite the end of the unilateral ceasefire.

Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms executive director Ramon Casiple discouraged Duterte from considering localized peace talks which the Aquino administration pursued.

Militant and human rights group reminded Duterte that peace talks were “complicated” and need not be rushed, and urged him to pursue peace talks.

Casiple said the lifting of truce has left the Communist Party of the Phil-

Du30...

From A1

Romualdez said compared to other towns and cities whose officials were allies of former President Benigno Aquino III and were given financial assistance 45 to 60 days after Yolanda flattened Eastern Visayas, Tacloban was given assistance 14 months after the killer typhoon struck.

Romualdez said there was no way the city of Tacloban could have mis-

Customs...

From A1

followed by the Manila International Container Port at P1.77 billion; Port of Limay at P1.36 billion; Ninoy Aquino International Airport at P762.7 million; and Batangas at P500.6 million.

The same collection downtrend was registered in May after the BOC’s top ports again suffered huge

ippines-National Democratic Frontrecommended Cabinet secretaries in an awkward situation.

He said Cabinet secretaries Judy Taguiwalo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Rafael Mariano of the Department of Agrarian Reform will just have to sit tight until the crisis blew over.

The left are now blaming Duterte for being “insincere” in pursuing peace.

Casiple said any unilateral ceasefire would not stand unless reciprocated by the other side.

He said localized peace talks would have worked had the leadership crisis in the revolutionary movement dragged on at the height of the reaffirm and revisionist debates.

However, Casiple said the movement was able to arrest the problem and started consolidating its forces.

“Joma remains the leader and the face of the ideology being espoused by the CPP-NDF-NPA or New People’s Army. The leaders of the troops on the ground or in the localities nationwide were part of the collective, where Joma also belongs—the Central Committee,” Casiple said.

Sison, he said, has been part of the peace negotiations since the administration of President Corazon Aquino.

“It is still best that President Duterte pursue peace talks with Sison.

There were agreements and roadmaps forged in the past that can be revisited now,” Casiple said.

But Casiple said for the peace talks to succeed, both parties should start with “doables” and set aside first the heavier ones onsuch strategic issues as US imperialism.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said the peace talks are more complicated than some people think.

“It’s unrealistic to be giving ultimatums, whether in the matter of declaring ceasefires or in the duration and conclusion of the actual talks themselves. Had the other side imposed deadlines on the release of political prisoners for example, things would also be in a bind. Yet the other side showed flexibility and agreed to postpone the talks to allow government to effect the release of political prisoners,” Reyes said.

“A unilateral government ceasefire declaration, no matter how good the intention, will not amount to much if the mode of implementation is questionable or if the AFP brazenly defies it in the first place,” he said.

Human rights group Karapatan said any unilateral ceasefire declaration by the government was empty and defective unless the Oplan Bayanihan, the military’s anti-insurgency program, was junked.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto on Sunday called on the government and the NDF not to be too quick to pull the trigger of war and explore the possibility of declaring a reciprocated ceasefire.

As this developed, Senator Panfilo Lacson said if the CCP-NPA wants to show its goodwill and good faith, it can declare a ceasefire even if Duterte recalled his unilateral ceasefire after a 5 p.m. deadline he had set passed without a response from communist insurgents.

“Why should they blame the President? They can declare a ceasefire to

demonstrate their goodwill,” Lacson said in Filipino on dzBB. “Where’s the good faith there?

Instead of conducting an investigation to find out what happened [in Davao del Norte], they already have a statement that the AFP violated the ceasefire which resulted to the killing of the Cafgu,” said Lacson. “Who are they fooling?”

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, on the other hand, said the lifting of the ceasefire was “very unfortunate” and said he was concerned that the positive impact of initial talks between the two sides might go to waste.

“We hope that, despite this development, the scheduled formal resumption of talks on Aug. 20 will still push through. Part of the agenda set in their June 15 joint statement was the matter of ceasefire declaration by the two parties,” he said.

“We are calling on the administration of President Duterte and the leadership of the NDF, as well as their respective panels, to continue to find all and every possible ways and means for the talks to proceed, for the greater interest of a just and lasting peace that our country and people have long awaited for.”

The militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas also warned that the ceasefire issue could prove prejudicial to the peace talks, and urged Duterte not to use a truce as a condition for negotiations.

Militant students led by the League of Filipino Students on Sunday also expressed disappointment over the lifting of a ceasefire against the communists. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

spent the funds because it was the national government that pre-approved the list of recipients and allocated and released the P700 million for emergency shelter assistance (ESA) and the rest of the close to P300 million went to infrastructure projects.

“All we did was implement the national government’s directive based on the pre-approved list provided to us. And we finished the task in about two weeks. We worked as hard and fast because the ESA had already lost its meaning of being an emergency

because it came 14 months after the fact while the other presidential allies got it in 45 days. The delays or any misappropriation cannot be attributed to us,” Romualdez said.

He said the ESA funds were released by the Aquino government “close to elections.”

Contrary to reports, Romualdez said the city held an “exit conference” with the Commission on Audit, which cleared the city of any misappropriations or wrongdoing.

Romualdez said the President

deemed it urgent to find out what happened to the rehabilitation efforts on Yolanda as the chief executive made it a point to insert the schedule in between two important meetings—with US official John Kerry and the first National Security Meeting.

The President, whose roots are from Samar-Leyte province, assured the Romualdezes that help will come.

Romualdez said he informed the President that the Yolanda survivors were still living in “no build zones” because the permanent homes were without water.

collection deficits, contributing to the agency’s P8.83-billion shortfall for the month.

The Port of Manila again suffered the biggest deficit at P2.03 billion followed by MICP at P1.74 billion; Batangas at P1.37 billion; NAIA at P1.01 billion; and Limay at P825 million.

Collections from the five ports account for close to 85 percent of the monthly revenues of the BOC, the government’s second largest revenue-

generating agency.

Aside from the top five ports, collections were also down in other ports across the country—San Fernando

by P520.5 million; Legaspi by P73.1 million; Iloilo by P274 million; Cebu

by P621.2 million; Tacloban by P70.3 million; Surigao by P8.6 million; Cagayan de Oro by P808.6 million; Davao by P1.23 billion; Subic by P2.13 billion; Clark by P38.4 million; and Aparri by P252.3 million.

The Port of Zamboanga was the lone port to exceed its target of P84.6 million, with collections reaching P109.4 million for the first six months of the year.

With the agency’s whopping shortfall, Duterte said Faeldon has a lot of work to do to reverse the downtrend in the revenue collection for the rest of the year, in particular in undertaking a no-nonsense campaign against smuggling of commodities, including agricultural products. Rey E. Requejo

Harry Potter magic hits Asians SINGAPORE—Harry Potter magic hit Asia on Sunday morning, as aspiring witches and wizards crowded into bookstores to get their hands on the first copies of a new play that imagines the hero as an adult.

Launch parties for “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” were held hours after the play’s premiere in London, setting the stage for a return of the series that has captivated readers and movie audiences worldwide.

Nearly 300 fans rushed through the doors of Kinokuniya bookstore on Singapore’s Orchard Road at 7:01 a.m. to become one of the first people in the world to see the new script.

Student Samantha Chua, 24, who along with her boyfriend was first in line, said she had been waiting outside the fourth-floor bookstore since 5 a.m.

“We were here so early that the mall wasn’t even open yet so we had to come up through the cargo lifts,” she said, adding that it was “all worth it.”

“I grew up reading the books and I have a special place for them on my shelves but this will be my crowning glory,” added Chua, who was wearing a HarryPotterthemed sweater.

Widely seen as the eighth Harry Potter installment, the play is set 19 years after the end of the last book and features a grown-up Potter working at the Ministry of Magic.

Like many of his fans, Potter has now become an adult and has three children with his wife Ginny Weasley.

He still has his trademark roundrimmed glasses and the scar on his head, a permanent reminder of his nemesis Lord Voldemort, but must now help his youngest son Albus confront the family’s dark past.

The script’s global kickoff was timed to coincide with its launch at midnight in London, after the play’s world premiere at the Palace Theatre earlier in the evening.

July 31 is also author J. K. Rowling’s birthday.

Hundreds of fans snaked down London’s famous Picadilly street waiting to get their hands on a copy, while others queued anxiously outside Lello, a Gothic Revival-style bookstore in Portugal’s historic center. AFP

Cha-Cha...

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Lagman warned that in a constituent assembly with a supermajority, amendments might be approved too quickly without adequate debate.

“The supermajorities in the House and Senate will fast-track the wholesale and volume amendment or revisions simply because they have the numbers,” Lagman said.

This was why allies of President Rodrigo Duterte have opted for a constituent assembly, even though Duterte had initially preferred a constitutional convention.

Lagman’s warning prompted House officials belonging to the supermajority coalition led by House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas to debunk suggestions that they would railroad the shift to a federal system of government to replace the current unitary, presidential system.

Lagman said that under the Constitution, Congress could amend the Charter upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members, not voting separately.

Once Congress is convened as a constituent assembly, Lagman said, all congressmen and senators are members of the assembly. With Macon Ramos-Araneta, Sandy Araneta, and Rio N. Araja

Aurora...

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Francisco Talaban and Vicente Convicto, accusing Apeco of illegal conversion when they used agricultural lands for a housing project and relocation program.

The complainants said the property was irrigated, considered prime agricultural land, and was part of an existing agrarian reform community.

Talaban said many residents relied on farming and fishing, and that Apeco was a threat to the province’s food security.

Apeco is a P1-billion economic zone project conceived by the Angara political dynasty in Aurora.

Rio N. Araja

News

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MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BEAUTIES GALORE. Crowned winners of the Mutya ng Pilipinas 2016 are (from left ) 1st runner-up Lynette Bradford; Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific Ganie Akrisha Krishnan; Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International Justin Mae San Jose; Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities Michelle Thorlund, and 2nd runner-up Ashley Nicole Singh during the coronation night at the Newport Performing Art Theater in Resort World Manila, Pasay City on Saturday, July 30, 2016 DANNY PATA

FVR-Alunan teamup eyed

By Sandy Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is considering to include former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan in the team of former President Fidel V. Ramos as special envoy to China.

Malacañang has yet to decide on how the Philippines should go about discussions on its dispute with China over the South China Sea, said Communications Secretary Marin Andanar.

Andanar said that Duterte

and Ramos have yet to come up with the timeline of the talks with Beijing.

Ramos accepted Duterte’s offer to be the Philippines’ special envoy to China last week, coming on the heels of a UN-backed

tribunal’s ruling against China’s territorial claims over a vast expanse of the sea.

The Philippines’ territorial dispute with China was discussed during the National Security Council meeting presided over

by Duterte and joined by former Presidents Ramos, Benigno Aquino III, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, along with top security officials.

Malacañang declined to reveal details of the meeting.

Duterte had said in his first State of the Nation Address that the Philippines will utilize

the ruling of The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in efforts to resolve the dispute with China.

US Secretary of State John Kerry signaled that Beijing must recognize an international tribunal’s ruling against its sweeping claims in the South China Sea when negotiating with the Philippines over disputes in the strategic waters.

Speaking in the Philippines, Kerry backed Manila’s assertion that any talks over the sea must have that ruling as its basis.

“Our friend and ally, the

Amend wiretap law, says anti-narc THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Sunday threw its support to the proposal of Senator Panfilo Lacson to amend the antiwire tapping law to help enhance its capability to go after drug lords.

Director General Isidro Lapeña welcomed Lacson’s bill amending Republic Act 4200, or the Act to Prohibit and Penalize Wire Tapping and Other Related Violations of the Privacy of Communication and for Other Purposes.

Lacson authored Senate Bill 48 that will authorize wiretapping in cases involving violations of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“The proposed bill, if approved, would allow wiretapping on suspected big-time drug lords to intercept and record their criminal communications that can be used as evidence against them,” Lapeña said.

“Though there is a conflict in the invasion of citizen’s privacy of communication and abuse of authority—issues that stall the eventual passage of the bill into law, it will give PDEA and other drug law enforcement agencies additional investigative and judicial tools to reach the structure and hierarchy of drug-trafficking organizations and finally bring them to justice.” Rio Araja

Philippines, can only do so on terms that are acceptable to the government of the Philippines,” Kerry said.

China rejected this month’s ruling by an international arbitration panel, which rejected Beijing’s claims to historic and economic rights over much of the sea, and objects to any talks that rely on it. The Philippines refuses to negotiate on that basis, leaving any talks in limbo.

“What we have is essentially a holding pattern between China, the Philippines and the US,” said William Choong, a Singapore-

based Asian security specialist at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Beijing and Manila said this week they hoped to continue efforts to negotiate their differences over the South China Sea. But both also are constrained by their domestic politics in how far they can compromise.

In the aftermath of the tribunal’s July 12 ruling, some Chinese citizens called for boycotts of US and Philippine products, picketed American fast-food chains and spread angry rhetoric on social media.

Earth fast heating up, warns commish

HARBOR LINK. The 5.65-kilometer NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10—an elevated expressway designed to provide 24/7 direct access between the port area and the northern provinces of Luzon through NLEX—is now 37 percent complete and is expected to be operational by July 2017. The P10.5-billion project begins at MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela, passes through Governor Pascual Avenue in Malabon, and ends at C3 road in Caloocan.

Segment 10 will eventually extend to R10 via an exit ramp. Segment 10 employees (inset photo) inspect the elevated roadway which has a deck portion where barriers separating the northbound and southbound sides of the expressway are being constructed. “Once Segment 10 begins operating next year, travel time from Manila Port Area to NLEX and back will be just 10 minutes,” said MNTC president Rodrigo E. Franco. “The project will decongest Metro Manila since Segment 10 provides a very good alternative to C3 and A. Bonifacio Avenue.” More than bringing travel efficiency, the new expressway will spur greater development in Camanava and stimulate commerce between the Harbor area and Central and North Luzon.

Dismantle fish cages—fishermen MILITANT fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya-Pilipinas) on Sunday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to dismantle vast tracts of private fish pens in Laguna de Bay. The order was made during the President’s 1st State of the Nation Address on July 25.

“This is what the Laguna lake fishers have long been waiting for; a leader who will address the welfare of the small fishers over big-corporations’ greedy interests. Large portion of Laguna de Bay have been occupied by big fishing and

aquaculture companies for decades now,” said Roman Antazo, Pamalakaya secretary general and also a fisherman from Laguna Lake.

Pamalakaya said that almost 60 percent of the 94,000-hectare lake has been leased to big fish pen operators by the Laguna Lake Development Authority through the Fishpond Lease Agreement.

Pamalakaya said this is in violation to the law that only allows 10 percent of the inland waters to be occupied privately.

The lion’s share of the lake is being apportioned by a few private individuals and corpo-

rations which own fish pens covering a total of 700 hectares, according to the group.

“The corporate takeover of Laguna de Bay left nothing for the small fisherfolk who have been making livelihood out of its productive fishing water. The once communal fishing grounds for the small fishermen are now enclosed with cages resulting to overcrowding.

We have experienced several forms of harassments from the armed fish pens personnel and deprivation from our livelihood when we go near the private fish pens,” Antazo said. Sandy Araneta

THE Climate Change Commission on Sunday urged local government units to work double-time in crafting their climate action plans as global temperatures reached record high in 2016, threatening to cause more droughts, intense storms and frequent floods.

Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman, CCC vice-chair and executive director, said the need for local climate change action plans (LCCAP) has become even more urgent if LGUs are to be equipped against the impacts of global warming.

De Guzman stressed the importance of integrating climate adaptation into the disaster risk reduction and management policies and plans of every LGU. “Our climate is warming at a faster rate than ever recorded.

We cannot afford to ignore climate change and the most recent warming patterns because these may just be a taste of what’s to come,” De Guzman said.

De Guzman issued the statement after the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), an agency under the United Nations, announced that the earth is on track for its hottest year on record, with June marking the 14th straight month of record heat.

Citing two separate reports from the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the WMO said global temperatures

from January to June shattered yet more records.

The average temperature in the first six months of 2016 was 1.3°C warmer than the pre-industrial era in the late 19th century, according to NASA. NOAA said the global land and ocean average temperature for January–June was 1.05°C above the 20th century average, beating the record set in 2015 by 0.20°C. “These data provide a castiron case for policymakers, especially those in the local governments, to prepare for climate disasters before they strike,” De Guzman said.

He warned that small changes in global temperatures could lead to more extreme weather events, including droughts and floods.

De Guzman noted that the Philippines has just experienced its worst El Niño-induced dry spell in 18 years, which brought havoc on agriculture and severely affected the livelihood of millions of farmers and fishermen, who are already among the poorest in the country.

After the prolonged dry spell, the country now braces for La Niña, which brings heavy rains that trigger floods and landslides.

De Guzman said the Philippines has experienced more than its fair share of super typhoons in the past decade, with the worst—Super Typhoon “Yolanda”—killing almost 7,000 people and leaving millions homeless. Sandy Araneta

A4

Opinion

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

mstdaydesk@gmail.com

The six-day ceasefire

EDITORIAL

S

IX days is not a long time for a ceasefire to last; the cessation of hostilities that is declared every year between the military and the communist rebels over the Christmas and New Year holidays last longer. More importantly, they hold.

So, there was a keen sense of disappointment when the unilateral ceasefire declared

by President Rodrigo Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address on Monday was abruptly lifted Saturday over a single incident—an ambush staged by the communist rebels in Davao del Norte that left one militiaman dead on Wednesday.

In the days following the ambush, Duterte demanded an explanation from the communists—and gave them

Adelle Chua, Editor

a deadline for declaring that they, too, were interested in a truce. A deadline Friday was extended to Saturday, when top communist leaders led by Jose Ma. Sison in The Netherlands, asked for more time—but no reciprocal ceasefire was forthcoming.

Instead, the New People’s Army, the communist movement’s armed wing, issued a statement accusing the “two-faced” Armed Forces of violating its own ceasefire in Davao del Norte by launching a military

offensive by militiamen attached to the 72nd Infantry Battalion.

The ambush, the statement said, was in line with orders from top NPA officials to maintain their alert status in response to Duterte’s ceasefire.

On Saturday, Duterte withdrew the truce he had declared, prompting Sison to heap scorn on the President for issuing a “hollow and empty” ceasefire.

“Duterte is too quarrelsome and he immediately resorts to confrontation,” Sison said in Filipino from his place of self-exile in Utrecht, in The Netherlands.

“If he does not want peace, then so be it…. He thinks he has gotten himself a personal servant. That cannot be. Duterte can never order the revolutionary group to follow what he wants.”

Sison also blamed the military for not following Duterte’s instructions, which he claimed led to the ambush in Davao del Norte on Wednesday.

Sison said Duterte should have waited

for a few hours after the CPP failed to meet his 5 p.m. deadline on Saturday.

But after heaping a barrage of insults on Duterte, Sison said he remains confident that the formal resumption of peace negotiations in Oslo this month will push through as scheduled.

“This exchange of words, regardless of the temperature, these are just words.

What we are trying to resolve here is the very real fighting on the ground. If the Duterte administration really has political will, we can easily overcome this exchange of words,” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned, the resumption of the formal talks will continue,” Sison added.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya put the military establishment’s own spin on the developments, saying the communists had “missed a golden opportunity to manifest their commitment” to peace.

There are bases for arguing both sides.

Certainly, the failure of the communists to respond swiftly to the President’s unprecedented offer and to capitalize on the goodwill on both sides represents a wasted opportunity. That the communist leadership could not reciprocate several days after the President’s declaration suggested that they were either insincere or that they did not have a firm grip on their forces on the ground.

The Davao del Norte ambush and the antagonistic statement issued by the NPA in its aftermath did little to improve matters.

On the other hand, there is something to be said for Sison’s long view that formal talks next month in Oslo will move peace forward, regardless of the hot rhetoric of the last few days. A crucial element, however, seems to be an actual reduction in the fighting on the ground—and this, in the public’s eye, is where the communists can do so much more.

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Chinesemade islands came from PH soil

them with the practice of insider trading that is really illegal but is so frequently practiced in the corporate world? And with what credibility can we get our students to own the precepts of the code of corporate governance when the “industry people” and corporate executives whom we set on our academic pedestals are exemplars at circumventing the requirements of ethical governance and success stories at putting on the simulacra of righteousness?

Or take the transportation industry. Why should transport executives who have mastered every device at short-changing passengers or shippers while managing to keep a run-down enterprise going for no other reason than that the hapless patrons have no other choice teach the future generation how to do things better? And why should ambassadors and consuls, many of whom receive

IT’S like frying us in our own fat.

The soil used for the manmade islands China built in the Spratlys came from the Philippines. This shocking report of Chinese quarrying of top soil from the mountains in Sta. Cruz, Zambales is alarming.

Zambales residents have known about the illegal Chinese hauling of local soil but kept silent about it, fearing the wrath of former Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane who as the top provincial official presumably granted the permit to the illegal quarrying.

The residents can’t really be blamed for keeping quiet. The Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources did not go after Ebdane, a former police official, giving the perception he was untouchable. But with new Governor Amor Delosa, they found their voices to denounce the brazen theft of soil by the Chinese.

A few years back, black sand from Zambales shores were also siphoned by the Chinese to waiting barges anchored off the bay. Black sand is used for the making of armaments and other weapons of war that China could use against the Philippines in its aggressive moves in the West Philippine Sea. Allowing this is treason of the highest order.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez must hold accountable those responsible for this criminal negligence and violation of the country’s law.

Governor Delosa said more than 450 tons of soil monthly were hauled away by Chinese pretending to be miners. The soil were taken and dumped on Scarborough Shoal (Panatag) off Bajo Masinloc to fortify the artificial islands the Chinese created from the shoals, rocks and reefs protruding from the sea. This is the base from which Chinese patrol boats drive away Filipino fishermen in Bajo Masinloc to deprive them of livelihood.

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Overrating practice and industry FOR the longest time, there has been whining about the so-called “disconnect” between academe and industry. The graduates of colleges and universities, it has repeatedly been complained, are not exposed to industry and are ill-suited for it. So, the theory goes, academe must be more responsive to industry and to practice. Now, really, must it?

I believe, with many others, that schooling should prepare students for work—and that includes introducing them to the workplace—but far be it from me to lend approval to the obnoxious proposition that all that there is to schooling is preparing for a living. If schooling does not prepare for life—which should definitely be more than just making a living unless one’s soul is completely emaciated—then it is without doubt a waste of a good part of one’s earthly sojourn and of money. If it equips students with shrewdness and guile by which

to rake in profit, but leaves them short on virtue and adrift without a moral compass, then it would be rightly detested as the conspiracy of profiteers!

Lately, many academic departments have retrofit their courses not only to make onthe-job-training mandatory, but to have as preferred professors and lecturers practitioners and industry men and women. I appreciate the endeavor at establishing a connection, but I detest the assumption that practice is to be preferred over theory. Unless an engineering dean has gone completely bonkers, there is no justification for him to hire a very skilled auto mechanic who learned his craft by apprenticing with his father to teach subjects of auto mechanics in a mechanical engineering program, for instance. Many things work and just because someone is an expert at getting things working does not render him qualified to

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Practitioners too need to be taught by academics the theories that underlie their practice.

teach! It is one thing for things to work by happenstance— because one has chanced upon the correct maneuvers—and it is quite another to get things going because one knows the theory by which things move!

Corporations provide a good example. It is one thing to teach corporation law right from the code, aided by some mediocre commentary. From

Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Maan Ilustre Edgar M. Valmorida

the provisions of the code alone, however, one really has no idea how shares are bought and sold, what the role of a brokerage firm is and how mergers and acquisitions in fact take place— the gore and the clangor of it all.

But it is quite another matter to insist that corporate managers, directors, stock brokers and players of the stock market take over the classrooms, after all they have the “practice”! Let us not overrate practice—which many times is merely the repetition of the expedient, the perpetuation of habit, the sedimentation of the results of serendipity! Will the practice that is so undeservedly prized include the astuteness by which corporate managers mulct as much as they can from corporate employees while keeping workers’ benefits to the barest minimum, in defiance of the spirit of social justice?

Shall education of our business administration and management students include familiarizing

Chairman Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Advertising and Marketing Head Circulation Manager

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Francis Lagniton News Editor Emil P. Jurado

Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

Opinion

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

A5

mstdaydesk@gmail.com

What’s with ConAss? WHAT’S in a mode of amending the Constitution? The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives immediately reacted with vehemence when the President announced that the Constitution should instead be revised through a Constituent Assembly to save some P6 billion, the estimated cost of creating a Constitutional Convention. The members of DU30 CORE who are known as true-blue advocates of federalism to transform the country into a real democracy felt like being doused with cold water. Why such strong reactions against the mode loosely or derisively called ConAss? The Philippine Constitution provides for three modes of constitutional reform. The first is by Constituent Assembly where, upon a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all its members, Congress may propose revisions to the Constitution. Since the members of Congress are essentially lawmakers while the act of revising the Constitution is a constituent act—that is, as representatives of the sovereign people—they shall in effect, don a different hat. Then, after Congress crafts proposed revisions to the Constitution, it will then be presented to the Filipino people for their ratification in a plebiscite.

People who oppose ConAss as a mode of Charter Change have at least three major objections against it. First, there is an ambiguity in the wording of the Constitution which says that “any amendment or revision

may be proposed by Congress upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members.” Congress, as we know, consists of two chambers, the upper (the Senate) and the lower house (the House of Representatives.)

How will three fourths of all its members be ascertained? Will it be by adding up the members of the Senate who are only 24 and the members of the House numbering 238 and then getting three fourths of such total? Or, will three fourths be computed separately, that is, three fourths of the Senate and three fourths of the House? Although experts say that the reckoning of three fourths should be separate, this may still create a problem which could effectively delay the process of amending the Constitution. Another issue raised by those who object to ConAss is that the members of Congress may not have the needed competence or expertise in crafting a new Constitution. This, again, could result in a failed exercise to reform the Constitution as the electorate may simply vote down the proposals out of uncertainty as to whether or not to trust the members of Congress. The third reason is that it is a common apprehension that the politicians comprising Congress may be guided, not by the people’s common good. Rather, they are influenced by pressure groups or their own vested interests. People generally fear that traditional politicians will most likely not address issues like political dynasties, “turncoatism,” electoral reforms, and the party-

Anything that serves the best interest of the Filipino people is worth considering.

list system.

Now compare ConAss with the second mode of revising the Constitution—by Constitutional Convention. Under this mode, Congress, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may call a Constitutional Convention. If this number is not mustered, Congress may, by a vote of a majority of all its members, present to the people in a plebiscite the question of whether to call for Constitutional Convention or not. The members of the Constitutional Convention, generally, will be elected by the people although—as some experts opine—the chief executive may appoint some of them provided the law creating the Con-Con shall state so. Under this mode, constitutional experts, academicians and professionals who are not traditional politicians stand a good of becoming members of Con-Con. Once convened, the Con-Con can look into the entire Constitution, even overhaul it, and then propose a revised Constitution.

In either ConAss or Con-Con,

the proposed revisions must be ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite which shall be held not earlier than 60 days nor later than 90 days after approval of the proposed revisions either by the Con-Ass or Con-Con. The period between 60 days up to the plebiscite shall be used for information dissemination.

The third mode of amending the Constitution is by people’s initiative. This, however, cannot serve the purpose of reforming the system of government from the unitary to the federal system as the change entails large-scale revisions. People’s initiative has been declared by the Supreme Court as valid only for the amendment of one or two provisions in the Constitution.

The question that comes to mind now is—since so much is at stake in changing our 29 yearold-Constitution as it involves the future of the country and its citizens—is whether the cost of a Con-Con would be worth it. After all, the expected results can bring about inclusive growth, genuine devolution of powers to the regions and economic progress. Yet, if Con-Con is now out of the radar for reasons of cost constraints, perhaps the President can create a preparatory commission composed of constitutional experts to assist Congress when it performs the work of a Constituent Assembly.

Anything that serves the best interest of the Filipino people is worth considering.

Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

The death of the central bank

By Michael Schuman FOR the past 70 years, Japan has been a crucible of experimentation in economic policy.

During its go-go years, Tokyo’s unusual practices to spur rapid growth became a model for much of the rest of Asia, while its unconventional attempts to revive its post-bubble economy have helped economists understand what should and could be done to recover from financial crises.

Now Japan may be offering the world yet another lesson in economics—on the outer limits and ultimate effectiveness of monetary policy itself.

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda disappointed investors on Friday when he offered only a minor boost in his asset-buying program as his latest effort to beat deflation and raise growth. With talk of “helicopter money” and other exotic strategies, many had convinced themselves that the BOJ would try to surprise markets with a much more dramatic decision. Voices immediately called for greater action. “We still expect the Bank to do more,” wrote economist Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics in a Friday note.

In his press conference, Kuroda insisted that he wasn’t done yet—there were more bonds to buy, more rate cuts to try. But the truth is, at this stage, three years into his radical program to restart Japan, the BOJ might just be a spent force. As HSBC economist Frederic Neumann

put it in a Friday report: “Today’s decision suggests that the BOJ has reached the limits of its current policy framework.”

Kuroda has already thrown everything into his fight to save Japan. Through his extensive program of quantitative easing, his bank now holds a third of all outstanding government bonds, and some experts believe there are limits to his ability to buy more and more of them.

Yields on many of these bonds are already negative, which means the investors who are lending their money to the government are paying for the privilege. The total assets of the BOJ have more than doubled in the just the past three years.

Even if Kuroda could expand the easing program, there’s little reason to think it will make a big difference. At this point, further rate cuts or more bond-buying would only be on the margins of his actions thus far. And those haven’t gotten the BOJ very far. By one key measure, the economy sunk deeper into deflation in June. Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund reduced its growth forecast for 2016 to an anemic 0.3 percent.

The fact is that BOJ can pump out as much cash as it wants, but unless companies and consumers use it to invest and spend, Kuroda’s “bazooka” can only fire blanks. The government simply hasn’t advanced the critical reforms—from deregulation to labor market repair—that would unleash new opportunities and convince investors to borrow, build and

Overrating...

From A4 their positions and titles because of political connections despite their abysmal ignorance of international law and international politics and international economics be turned to for expert advise, counsel and instruction when all that they are experts at is ambivalence and double-talk?

Long before there were schools of business, there were merchants, and long before there were maritime academies, there were seafarers and ocean-going vessels and their crew. And long before law schools there were lawyers—rhetoricians really, and orators who wooed the crowds into voting for the conviction or the acquittal of accused persons, regardless of guilt or innocence, but swayed considerably by the sonority or turned off by the stammering of an advocate.

So why did these practices need to be reviewed, revisited, formalized, structured in classrooms and in schools? Because good practice needs good theory, and practice without theory is hardly anything more than guesswork and good old trial-and-error. And that is why it pays—and handsomely—to have corps of academics and theoreticians untainted, untamed and unsullied by the short-cuts, the cunning and calculation, the corruption and decadence of practice, no matter how successful! There is need to be reminded, as Alasdair MacIntyre has, that success is itself value-neutral. It is virtue that makes all the difference. There are successful thieves and drug lords and plunderers and plagiarists, but there can be no virtuous thief, drug lord or malefactor!

Yes, we need the connection between academe and industry—but practitioners too need to be taught by academics the theories that underlie their practice, and to be told why their practices sometimes, in fact often, go awry, and where the expedient and practical are downright unethical and indecent proposals! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

create.

Arguably, the case could be made that Japan would be much worse off without Kuroda’s experiments. But with so much largesse creating so little positive effect, we at least need to question if further easing could achieve that much more. In fact, greater action could have a damaging effect, by further straining banks and punishing savers. And those concerns are only going to grow over time. Kuroda may need to pretend he has unlimited room to maneuver in order not to spook markets. But he’s running a high risk of underwhelming them again, given the very real constraints on action.

There are uncomfortable lessons here for other central bankers. Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, is, like Kuroda, under constant pressure to take more drastic steps to stoke inflation and growth. But Kuroda’s experience should act as a warning that his bank may eventually hit a ceiling as well.

In China, where policymakers are easing money to spur growth, the BOJ’s traumas are clear proof that expanding cash without implementing true structural reforms only goes so far.

Kuroda’s only hope may be to tinker further with his unorthodox policies and take even more radical decisions—such as lending to banks at negative rates. Perhaps Japan will continue to be a laboratory of economic innovation. The results, though, are likely to be sobering.

Bloomberg

Chinese-made...

From A4 ConAss should not happen There is a move in Congress to constitute itself into a Constitutional Assembly to amend the Constitution. The congressmen are pushing ConAss, and President Rodrigo Duterte who is also in favor of it said that holding a Constitutional Convention would be expensive and that electing delegates to a Con-Con would take time and be divisive.

The President is constantly mouthing his policy of meaningful change.

But leaving Charter Change to the usual suspects is not going to achieve reforms. We hope the President realizes this soon enough.

“We already have elected representatives of the people in place, so why not let them do the work of amending the Constitution? Duterte reasoned out.

The problem , Mr. President, is that many of these “representatives” often do not represent the will of the people.

You must have good reason when you suggested to stop addressing congressmen as “Honorable” and yourself as “Excellency.”

That holding a Constitutional Convention is expensive and time consuming is not true. There is already a neutral venue in the Philippine International Convention Center for this historic event. This can have a time table of two years with the major agenda already threshed out by a duly constituted commission, composed of concerned citizens including retired justices and members of the academe who are concerned about the future of this country. They

would certainly do better than most of the con artists already entrenched in Congress.

It does not take too much imagination to know that the shortened name ConAss already says it all.

The people should be vigilant and not let the congressmen get away with this ploy. Letting them amend the Philippine Constitution would be like allowing the fox into the henhouse. Undoubtedly high in Congress’ priority if it’s ConAss would be to perpetuate their political dynasties.

The timeline for holding a Constitutional Convention with duly elected delegates should not be daunting as the congressmen are painting it to be.

This can be done during President Duterte’s six-year term, which has just started anyway. It would be to Duterte’s credit and legacy if a landmark undertaking such as a Constitutional Convention is accomplished in his watch.

With such issues as federalism and economic amendments in the agenda of Charter Change, these issues can be easily railroaded by the politicians to stay in power. With a complicit minority that can easily be co-opted by the supermajority, amendments to economic rules can be manipulated considering many of these political dynasties are rich and in business.

The administration is concerned about the expenses entailed in holding a Constitutional Convention. Yet, the country is going to host the next Miss Universe beauty pageant which means allocating funds for an event that does not have as much national significance as a Con-Con.

Face THE National Security Council convened in Malacañang last Wednesday. The Council was called by President Rodrigo Duterte after two major foreign policy events, all happening within the first month of the Duterte administration.

First, the “victory” of the arbitration case filed by the country against China at the instance of the previous administration.

This was followed by two international conferences where the Philippines, through Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., tried to advance our South China Sea claims in two international conferences—namely the Asia-Europe Meeting conference in Ulanbaatar, Mongolia, and right after that, the Asean foreign ministers conference in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

The first event: The Permanent Court of Arbitration in Den Haag in The Netherlands ruled that China’s nine-dash line, which to it defined its claim over virtually 90 percent of the South China Sea, was illegal. China in fact refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings. How then could they, or would they, honor its decision?

The conferences that followed were a testament to the reality of international politics: “right” is not defined by international adjudications, even if under the aegis of the United Nations.

And international conferences should be viewed as venues with which to advance national interests.

After all, foreign policy is but an extension of domestic policy.

Asem began the day after a “terrorist” ran his rented lorry over a crowd watching a fireworks spectacle at the famed Promenade des’ Anglais in Nice in France. Not an auspicious time to discuss something in the sea that divides “mighty” China and the less mighty Philippines, despite the efforts of our foreign secretary to at least mention the matter in his threeminute remarks.

And so it went from Mongolia to Laos, where a regional presummit meeting (also in Laos this coming September) was held last weekend. Our top diplomat had hoped that since Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam were themselves engaged in sovereignty claims over their slice of the China Sea, sympathetic voices would be in support of the Philippine “victory” over the West Philippine Sea. Host Laos was conspicuously cold. Neighboring Cambodia, as it did in 2012, played the China card. What did we expect?

In Phnom Penh, the highway linking it to its eastern provinces bordering Vietnam was built with Chinese money. Spanning its river that connects the huge Tonle Sap to the Mekong is the China-Cambodia “friendship” bridge, built and funded by you know which country.

Laos’ economic survival depends on its selling hydro-electric power to Thailand and Vietnam. Those “mighty” rivers that they dammed with foreign assistance, and again the neighboring country to its north helped tremendously, flow from headwaters located in Zizang Zizhou, in China. (This is what the Western powers refer to as Tibet, one of those Chinese provinces which host a large part of the snows of the Himalayas).

And so from Den Haag to Ulanbaatar to Vientiane, back to Manila with the nagging issue of how the country should advance from where it is on the West Philippine Sea issue. The President, right after his first State of the Nation Address, called for a meeting of the NSC, a consultative body where sit former presidents of the republic, as well as key legislators and national security-involved cabinet members. And he did it right after the Secretary of State of the United States paid him a quick visit after the Asean foreign minister’s hubbub in Laos.

What came out of all these?

Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Laos, and when he came to Manila, in brief talks with our president, he urged us to settle our differences over WPS/SCS in a peaceful manner. With Wang Yi he said virtually the same thing. In short, while re-stating our “historic bonds of friendship” and securing affirmation of Edca not only from the executive but as well with finality from the high court, the Kerry message was: “huwag kayong mag-away, kasi wala kaming kakampihan”. He he he.

Our former presidents also advised “caution” and “restraint”, as if the incumbent has not been acting with the same. In fact, it was he who publicly stated, in the heels of the Den Haag decision, that “we should not flaunt it.”

But President Duterte plays his cards well. He asked his friend FVR, a former president with good diplomatic instincts, to be his special envoy to China. That received good reviews, both here and abroad and even from China. And then he mentions FVR’s former interior secretary, Rafael Alunan, who has publicly weighed in against China and is considered a “hawk” on the issue, as a possible FVR assistant. Otro he he he.

Now come our outgoing ambassador to the US, Mr. Jose Cuisia, and our former Foreign Affairs secretary, Albert del Rosario, publicly chiding Yasay for “failure” in Laos, and eschewing once more the prospects of bilateral talks.

Why aren’t we bandying about this hard-earned “victory” and using it as a “trump” card against China, the hawks ask.

Simple. The reason is that President Duterte does not want it to be a “pyrrhic” victory. Which is simply put, an empty win, where the toll for pursuing victory at all costs can be so devastating. Why does Duterte keep saying, “I won’t spill precious Filipino blood over war with China?” Why did he say, over a question posed by Karen Davila in the Dagupan debate during the campaign, that he would rather jet-ski to one of the contested “rocks” and plant the Philippine flag, all by himself?

The shallow minds thought that was “uninformed;” they could not see through his hyperbole, and the deeper meaning in his mind. Simply because the shallows who try to sound deep do not read history as much as Rodrigo Duterte does.

So where does all this lead us?

Let me repeat an earlier stated fact in this article: “Foreign policy is an extension of domestic policy.” Put another way, what is best for the Filipino people is what our foreign policy should be about.

And the all-important issue which sometimes Westerners find difficult to understand, and which is why they stumble all over the world when they deal with other countries: Face.

In the world of diplomacy, you should always be considerate of the national pride of those on the other side of the negotiating table. Especially to Orientals, “face” is very important.

As our lolos and lolas would say, “huwag mong ipapa-mukha sa iba ang iyong katangian.” And the Bisaya Rodrigo says, “let us not flaunt it.”

The bottomline: China is Oriental. The Philippines should likewise be Oriental. Except that sometimes we (or at least our elite) think and act like Occidentals.

Thank God we have a true Oriental and a rock-bottom nationalist as leader.

A6

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

Sports

Bizarre PGA finish looms; Jason lurks S

PRINGFIELD (AFP)--Thunderstorms that prevented leaders from starting the third round of the PGA Championship on Saturday set the stage for a bizarre finish at rain-swamped Baltusrol.

Top-ranked defending champion Jason Day of Australia, only two shots back of US co-leaders Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb, and British Open champion Henrik Stenson, who sat three adrift, were among those unable to tee off due to dangerous weather.

“The course looks like it’s unplayable. Everything is underwater, regardless of whether the lightning stopped,” said Streb, who matched the low round in major history with a seven-under 63 on Friday.

But 37 of 86 golfers who made the cut did complete the third round before storms stopped play for the day, with resumption set for 7 a.m. (1100 GMT) Sunday over the waterlogged par-70 layout.

More thunderstorms are forecast Sunday and Monday, so Kerry Haigh, PGA of America’s chief championships officer, decided to keep thirdround pairings for the fourth round and start it early to try and finish on Sunday.

“Our hope is that those showers or storms hit elsewhere,” Haigh said.

But it means American Kevin Kisner, who fired a five-under par 65 to share sixth on five-under 205, will play his final round while Day and other 36-hole leaders are in their third.

“There’s going to be people

that play 18 holes like Kevin Kisner and he’s going to have a little bit more of an advantage,” said Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, level with Day for third.

Haigh called the situation “unfortunate” but added, “That will be an interesting dynamic, for sure. It will add to the excitement, actually.”

Haigh decided against using threesomes off two tees early Saturday to complete the third round before the storms because the same forecast produced only a minor stoppage Friday, and he wants everyone off the first tee on the weekend.

“We feel it’s important for all the players to play from the first tee and play the holes in order,” Haigh said.

Streb and Walker were on nine-under 131 after 36 holes, two shots ahead of Day and Grillo with Stenson fifth at six-under as the mental and physical challenge loomed.

“I’m happy to stay here until Tuesday just to get it done,” Day said. “You’ve got to be a little bit aggressive. It should yield a few more birdies, but also stay patient with regards to the weather, just keep yourself mentally intact. If you don’t, you can start playing some poor golf.”

- Mickelson predicts a 62 Baltusrol had already been soaked by three inches of rain

this week, creating soft conditions that had five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, the 2005 PGA winner at Baltusrol, predicting a major-record 62 or better for the weekend.

“Somebody is going to break that 63 record in these next two days,” Mickelson said after firing a third-round 68. “Greens are pristine. You can make a lot of putts. They are soft, so you can get the ball very close.

“I think there’s that 61 or 62 out there. I think it will be broken in the next two days. I would be surprised it wasn’t.”

In all, major 63s have been fired 30 times by 28 different golfers. Baltusrol has surrendered four major 63s, the Fans walk during a weather delay in the third round of the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in most of any course, and the Springfield, New Jersey. AFP PGA has allowed 14 63s, as many as the US and British Opens combined.

“You’ll see very low scoring because you can be very aggressive,” said two-time FIVE-TIME MILO Marathon major winner Martin Kaymer King Eduardo “Vertek” Bueof Germany, four off the pace. navista and veteran MILO Mara“You’ve got to shoot low scores thon winner Luisa Raterta rein order to have a chance on turned to the top as they claimed Sunday.” the prized spots in the centerpiece Kisner birdied three of the last 42K event at the 40th National four holes for a 65 to grab the MILO Marathon Manila qualifyclubhouse lead. He doubted 63 ing leg held on Sunday. would fall but admitted, “SomeParticipants and spectators enjoyed body gets hot, you never know.” the good weather at the SM Mall of “Keep it in the fairway, you Asia grounds, with almost 33,000 can attack. The course is rerunners crossing the finish line. ceptive enough. You can make Buenavista and Raterta each took a lot of birdies.” AFP home P50,000 in cash and a trophy, and booked their slots to the National Finals in Iloilo on Dec. 4 for a chance to be crowned the MILO Marathon King and Queen.

Both will go head-to-head with the country’s best runners in a Luisa Raterta and Eduardo “Vertek” Buenavista hoist their trophies as new, refreshing race experience the 42K Female and Male winners of the 40th National MILO Marathon away from the hustle and bustle Manila qualifying race. Both were awarded by (from bottom left) Sherilla Bayona, Business Executive Manager for Beverages, Nestle Philippines of Manila. The lucky winners and Ellen Isturis, MILO Team Lead. who will take the coveted titles will also have the chance to com“This is my first 42K race in tion,” added Vertek. pete in an international marathon 2016. I still feel pain in my foot, Raterta’s inspiration is also her in 2017 on all-expense paid trips and I joined today’s race because children. The 35-year-old Sta. Rosa, from MILO as part of their prizes. I wanted to see if I can handle the Laguna local shared that her eldest Leading the pack, Buenavista intensity of the 42K event now,” daughter wants to be just like her. clocked in at 02:45:34, followed shared Buenavista. “I’m glad that “I always tell my children to

by Cresenciano Sabal (02:54:20) I’m recovering well and hopefully trust in their selves, to work hard in second place and Roger Denolo I can prepare fully for the National and persevere because it’s not (02:54:53) in third.

Finals. It’s also my goal to beat my easy to achieve success,” she said.

In the distaff side, Raterta post- MILO Marathon record time.”

Raterta also shared that she did ed a time of 03:15:00, with Jho-an Buenavista’s 15-year-old son, not expect to win today because Banayag (03:17:47) and Cinderella Eduard Josh, is following his fa- of fierce competition from her riLorenzo (03:20:03) placing sec- ther’s footsteps. He also competed vals. “This is my fourth win in the ond and third place, respectively. in his first 5K race and placed Manila leg of the MILO MaraThe 37-year-old Buenavista did 7th with a time of 19:09. The fa- thon. My goal now is to train well not let pain faze him. He incurred ther and son pair trains together and improve my performance so a foot injury last December and for their races in uphill roads in I can achieve my target of being had to go through a tough recov- Antipolo. “I’m really happy to in the top overall female runners Lilet Mabbayad of Standard Insurance smashes one against Generika’s Marivic Meneses and Shaya Adorador. ery process. train my son. He is my inspira- in the National Finals,” she added.

Roman Prospero

Champs rule race opener

Generika whips Standard Insurance GENERIKA dismantled Standard Insurance-Navy, 25-16, 25-17, 20-25, 25-13, to sweep the second round of the 2016 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino women’s volleyball tournament with relative ease on Sunday at The Arena in San Juan.

Coming off a rousing 24-26, 25-13, 25-19, 25-14 win over winless Amy’s Kitchen on Saturday, the Life Savers accomplished their grueling weekend assignments for a three-game secondround sweep that made them the top seeds in Pool B in the club tourney bankrolled by KLab Cyscorpions, Asics, Mikasa and Mueller with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Spikers Ria Meneses, Gen Casugod, Shaya Adorador, and Chloe Cortez combined for 51 attack points as Generika bested Navy’s 33 team spikes.

Skipper Rubie De Leon led the Life Savers with 31 excellent sets.

Meneses topped all scorers with 16 points highlighted with 15 attacks.

Casugod also scattered seven

spikes, four service aces, and three blocks for 15 points, while Adorador and Cortez chipped in 13 and 12 markers, respectively.

Assistant Coach Jeffrey Drio subbed for Head Coach Francis Vicente, who is still in Thailand coaching the national team in the AVC U19 women’s championship. Vicente’s top deputy Mayie Prochina, meanwhile, is attending to a family affair.

“Ang target talaga namin masweep ‘yung second round para mapakita na nag-i-improve ‘yung team at the same time maganda naman ‘yung feedback sa amin ng management at sa mga fans,” Drio said. “Masaya kami kasi ‘yung mga previous games namin panalo at nakita namin ‘yung kaunti naming improvement pero hindi pa ito ‘yung 100 percent na inaasahan namin sa team kasi kailangan pang magblend ng team.”

After convincingly taking the first two sets, the Life Savers were dragged to a tught battle as the Corvettes bounced back in the third set to prevent them from escaping with a straight-

set win. However, Generika was never wavered as it started the fourth set with an early 8-3 lead before Standard Insurance-Navy trimmed it to within one, 9-8.

But the Life Savers caught fire anew, nailing 10 of the next 11 points to mount a commanding 19-9 lead and never looked back.

“Okay naman ‘yung first set at second set,” Drio added. “Ang naging problema lang dito ‘yung sakit ng team na kapag nanalo na ng first two sets nagkakaroon nang sobrang kumpiyansa so ‘yun ang dapat namin ma-overcome na ‘wag mabigyan ng momentum ang kalaban.”

As the Life Savers topped Pool B, they will face last placer and winless Amy’s Kitchen anew in the sudden-death classification for 5th to 8th places set on Thursday at the Malolos Convention Center in Bulacan.

Standard Insurance-Navy, on the other hand, slid to 1-2 win-loss card and will face Cignal (2-1) on August 6 in a knockout game.

Lilet Mabbayad had 11 points in a losing effort.

3-man IOC panel Cubs, Braves to decide Russian eye solo lead athletes’ Rio fates

By Ronnie Nathanielsz THE International Olympic Committee said a three-person panel will have the final say on which Russian athletes can compete at the Rio Games.

It was only last week that the IOC said individual federations of the various sports should decide if Russian competitors are clean amidst allegations of State-sponsored doping.

But BBC Sport reported that the IOC now says the newly convened panel “will decide on whether to accept or reject the final proposal” More than 250 Russian athletes have so far been cleared to compete.

The three-person panel is made up of Ugur Erdener, president of World Archery

and head of the IOC medical and scientific commission, Claudia Bokel of the IOC athletes commission, and Spanish IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., son of the ex-IOC president of the same name.

The World Anti-Doping Agency had recommended all Russian athletes be banned after its independently commissioned report found evidence of a four-year “doping programme” across the “vast majority” of Olympic sports.

The IOC stopped short of applying a blanket ban in a move criticized by Wada and others, while swimmers Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev have become the first Russian athletes to appeal against their ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Olympics Games starts in Rio on Friday.

Games today (The Arena, San Juan) 11 a.m.- Arellano U vs San Beda (jrs) 12:45 p.m.- Perpetual Help vs LPU (jrs) 2:30 p.m.- San Sebastian vs EAC (jrs)

SAN Beda College and Arellano University stake their unbeaten slates as the two collide for the solo lead in what could be a sneak peak to the finals of the 92nd NCAA juniors’ basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Cubs turned back the Mapua Red Robins, 86-84, Thursday while the Braves routed the Lyceum of the Philippines University, 91-77, last week to extend their streak to seven while keeping their grip on the lead.

But after their 11 a.m. duel, only one will stay unscathed.

San Beda, which is eyeing an unprecedented eighth straight championship, will be the slight favorite being the league’s best in both offense and defense compared to Arellano, last year’s losing finalist.

Sports

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

A7

Philracom sues Metroturf W

HY has the more than P41 million that is a certain racing club’s mandated share towards the jockeys’ compensation fund not yet been made available for the use of injured and disabled jockeys?

This is the question to which the jockeys and the Philippine Racing Commission seek an answer, hence the Philracom’s filing last month of an action for mandamus in behalf of the New Philippine Jockeys Association, Inc. against the Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc., for the unremitted amount.

Philracom is a government agency under the Office of the President that supervises and regulates professional horseracing. The jockeys’ and trainers compensation fund is, under Republic Act No. 309, a certain share of track take that is to be

collected from the horseracing clubs for the benefit of jockeys and trainers who have incurred injury, disability, or death during their professional activities.

The NPJAI entered into a memorandum with Philracom wherein the latter will administer the compensation fund for the jockeys.

Under Metroturf’s franchise law, RA No. 7978, the share for the jockeys and trainers injury, death, and disability fund is one-half-percent of total wager funds. Metroturf has not remitted nor disbursed any of this amount since it started opera-

tions in 2013.

According to Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, in February this year the Department of Budget and Management authorized Philracom to collect the accrued funds from MMTCI, estimated to be over P41 million as of this time.

On June 2, 2016, Philracom requested Metroturf to remit the funds, citing the DBM directive.

However, Metroturf responded that the Philippine Race Horse Trainers Association, Inc. was also demanding their share of the fund that they claimed were private, rather than government

funds, raising a question of who is the legal owner of the funds.

Metroturf refuses to turn over the disputed fund until that particular issue is resolved.

Philracom’s position, however, remains firm that RA No. 309; its own charter, Presidential Decree No. 420; and RA No. 7978, as well as the DBM directive, clearly provide that the compensation fund is to be remitted to the Commission and administered by them.

According to NPJAI president Redentor de Leon, the fund is badly needed by the jockeys to care for their injured and disabled patients. There are currently 11 riders on the disabled list. Five are totally disabled after racing accidents: Erwin J. Tijam in 1991, impaired vision; Jesus

C. “El Maestro” Guce in 2005, paralyzed, in a wheelchair; Constantino H. Bernabe Jr. in 1993, paralyzed after a severe spinal injury, in a wheelchair; Ramil V. Leona in 2013, partially paralyzed; and Leonardo T. Cuadra Jr. in 2014, severe head injury.

Six are partially disabled: Emerito F. Daquis suffered leg injuries in a workout accident in 2000; leg injuries as well in racing accidents for John Gregory G. Rodriguez (2009), Juan P. Manalo Jr. (2007), and Ludovico M. Salvador Jr. (2006); and slight spinal injuries during a race for Ernesto A. Ventura (2000) and Lennon V. Cannaoay (2012).

In the case of jockey Cuadra, he fell on the track at Metroturf head first. His injury is so severe that the top part of his skull had

to be removed and kept in his abdominal cavity. It cannot yet be replaced because of lack of funds for the operation. He was only 25 when the accident occurred.

“We raise funds for their care,” said de Leon, “by requesting charity races from Philracom, medical assistance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and donations from industry members and private individuals, but it is not sufficient. The compensation fund would help us obtain better medical treatment for our injured jockeys and a higher quality of life for our disabled ones.”

Said Sanchez, “We hope that this matter with Metroturf will soon be resolved, for the benefit and welfare of the jockeys.”

Valdez-less Ateneo kicks off volley bid Games today (Philsports Arena, Pasig) 11 a.m. – UST vs NCBA (S Turf) 1 p.m. – NU vs FEU (S Turf) 4 p.m. – St. Benilde vs FEU (V League) 6 p.m. – Ateneo vs TIP (V League) ATENEO sets out for the first time without Alyssa Valdez as it faces Technological Institute of the Philippines today even as reigning NCAA champion St. Benilde takes on Far Eastern University in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The Lady Eagles, the twotime champions here with Valdez as spearhead, have opted not to tap the former two-time MVP here and three-time UAAP MVP as guest player and will instead stick it out with the core that will do battle in the UAAP wars next year.

“The team has decided to just tap Alyssa (Valdez) as member of the coaching staff because we want the players seeing action in the UAAP to toughen up and gain experience,” said Ateneo team manager Tony Liao.

That leaves the cudgels to Bea de Leon, Kassandra Gequillana, Jhoanna Maraguinot, Julia Morado, Gizelle Tan, Ana Gopico and a comebacking Michelle Morente, who will test the mettle of the Lady Engineers in the featured 6 p.m. duel in the second playdate of the second conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

But while Ateneo chose not to tap guest players, TIP made use of it and tabbed fromer La Salle star and Laoag setter Chi Saet and Adamson standout Mylene Paat as reinforcements in their campaign in the league backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.

Meanwhile, St. Benilde tries to flex its muscle as it tangles with Far Eastern U in the other match at 4 p.m. Both matches will be aired live on ABS CBN Sports + Action Channel 17 and 23 and via live streaming on sports.abs-cbn. com, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

The Lady Blazers, who beat the San Sebastian Lady Stags for the NCAA crown last year, will be led

by NCAA Finals MVP Jeanette Panaga although their champion squad have been decimated by the graduation of a number of players.

“It will be tough,” said St. Benilde coach Michael Carino, whose wards will be facing a solid FEU squad bannered by battle-scarred Bernadeth Pons, Mary Joy Palma and Toni Rose Basas.

University of the Philippines swept San Beda while San Sebastian repulsed Perpetual Help in four in Saturday’s opener of the league where it all started.

Jujeath Nagaowa gets her hand raised by the referee after her 30-27 win over Japanese Yuko Kiryu.

Nagaowa last PH fighter standing in WSOF

By Maxine Lagman ONLY one out of five Filipino fighters who competed in the World Series of Fighting Global Championships at the Araneta Coliseum came out a winner, a female fighter at that in Jujeath Nagaowa.

It has been two years ever since the former boxing champion Nagaowa fought inside the cage.

Her comeback in the sport on

Saturday night, however, proved that her time away from the mixed martial arts was well spent, as she won over Japan’s Yuko Kiryu.

The former Women’s International Boxing Association light flyweight champion was able to use her powerful jabs to open a cut above Kiryu’s eyes in the first round.

Kiryu counterattacked by tackling Nagaowa to the ground, but the Igorot fighter was vigor-

Vargas eager to promote potential Pacman tiff

LOS ANGELES—There are no shortage of suitors for Manny Pacquiao, but Mexican-American boxer Jessie Vargas thinks he has the inside track when it comes to enticing the Filipino superstar back into the ring.

“I am the WBO welterweight champion and he wants to return to fight for this belt. So I am happy to give him a title shot,” Vargas told AFP during the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame function on Friday.

Vargas (27-1-0) said Friday he

is in talks with Pacquiao’s camp to hold a fight on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center arena in Las Vegas.

“The fight is still under negotiation and I can say that soon we will announce it, although I do not want to advance because in boxing everything can change every minute,” Vargas said.

Undefeated Terence Crawford has also been named as potential opponent for Pacquiao, who is likely to return to the ring later this year according to his pro-

moter Bob Arum.

Arum tweeted Friday night that he is also talking to a group that wants to stage Pacquiao’s next fight in the Middle East.

“Meeting on Sunday with people anxious to put on a @ MannyPacquiaoTR fight in the Middle East,” Arum wrote.

Vargas won the vacant WBO welterweight title with a ninth round TKO of Sadam Ali in March.

“Manny has never faced someone like me. I’m at my best, I have

several advantages. I’m taller and faster than him. I’m really smart fighter too,” Vargas said.

“I not only want to face him but I want to beat him. Juan Manuel Marquez did it and I want to beat him too, mainly because at his best he was someone who gave many headaches to Mexico fighters,” he said.

Record eight division champion Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing in April after his unanimous decision victory over Timothy Bradley. AFP

Sanchez bows to Japanese foe

By Ronnie Nathanielsz ORIENTAL Pacific Boxing Federation super featherweight challenger Ernie Sanchez suffered an 11th-round TKO at the hands of Japan’s defending champion Masayuki Ito in Tokyo.

Joe Koizumi reported that Sanchez was a game fighter, although the taller and faster Ito, who is ranked No. 10 by the World Boxing Organization, was in command from the start of the bout using his hand speed and shifty footwork.

However, the technically inferior Sanchez put on a game do-or-die attack behind a big overhand right or bolo punch, although he lost most of the rounds before the referee called a halt at 1:32 of the 11th round as Ito began to rip into the Filipino with fast combinations to the head and body.

A series of vicious combinations against the fading Sanchez forced the referee to call a hall to the contest, even as fight fans appreciated the gameness and durability of the Filipino.

With the win, Ito improved to 19-1-1 with 9 knockouts, while Sanchez dropped to 15-8-1 with 6 knockouts.

FUN RIDE. Bikers gather at the Shangri-La Mactan parking lot early Sundday for the Ford Bike Out, a fun ride ushering in the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship Presented by Ford week. The star-studded Ironman 70.3 will be held Aug. 7 with the Alaska IronKids spicing up the event on Aug. 6, both in Cebu.

ous and slowly positioned herself to stifle her opponent’s other movements.

Nagaowa’s strong right overhand strikes weakened Kiryu’s stability, which affected the Japanese’ game and placed her in a frail state.

“Medyo nahirapan din ako sa laban, lalo na at mas may experience siya sakin. Kapag pinipilt niya ko ilagay sa ground, sinusu-

nod ko lang talaga ‘yung game plan which is to strike. Saka ‘yung right overhand,” said Nagaowa.

The 28-year-old Nagaowa went on to win by a 30-27 unanimous decision, earning her third win in the sport of mixed martial arts.

Despite knowing that her fellow MMA Filipino fighters lost their respective matches, Nagaowa was still proud of what they have all achieved.

Elite field boosts Aboitiz golf roster ALL but one of the top 10 players in the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit ranking, including the top five, are seeing action in the Aboitiz Invitational firing off Wednesday, ready to slug it out with the local aces in what promises to be an explosive duel at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s East course in Mandaluyong.

ADT OOM frontrunner Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand, winner of the Yeangder ADT in Taiwan last March, No. 2 Johannes Veerman of the US, No. 3 Gavin Green of Australia, No. 4 Itthipat Buranatanyarat and No. 5 Poom Saksansin, both of Thailand, banner the elite foreign field in the $100,000 event that will also feature the country’s leading and rising stars out to keep the crown at home soil.

The Filipinos have ruled the first five editions of the annual event put up by Aboitiz Equity Ventures but with the depth of the foreign field and the unpredictability of the par-72 layout, the chase for the top $17,500 purse could be decided on the last putt or on an extra hole or two.

For one, Green and Swede Oscar Zetterwall, No. 7 in the OOM, are out to score a second win here after the former rallied in the final round to snare the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship last April, adding the victory to his triumph at Northport Glenmarie in Malaysia last February.

Zetterwall, on the other hand, nailed his maiden ADT win at the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic, also last April, making him and Green two of the foreign players to watch in the 72-hole championship co-organized by ADT and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Also in the fold are American Nick Sherwood, Thai Panuwat Muenlek, George Gandranata of Indonesia, John Michael O’Toole and Josh Salah of the US, Chanat Sakulpolphaisan, Rattanon Wanasrichan and Wisut Artjanawat of Thailand, American Blake Snyder and Scot James Byrne.

Still, the local shotmakers are ready to foil the ADT bets’ bid with two-time Aboitiz champion Elmer Salvador, inaugural winner Jay Bayron, 2014 titlist Tony Lascuña upbeat of their chances in the event supported

by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade, Sharp and Champion.

Frankie Miñoza, who bucked the odds to nip Rio-bound Miguel Tabuena in a record fivehole playoff to win the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic crown in Bacolod two weeks ago, has also been picked as a top contender, given his current form and familiarity with the challenging layout where he won the Philippine Open in 2007.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph

A8

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

New Phoenix import Eugene Phelps (left) challenges GlobalPort’s Yousif Taha and Stanley Pringle as he drives into the lane in a PBA game won by the Fuel Masters.

Phoenix rises, finally

By Jeric Lopez

I

T didn’t take long for new Phoenix import Eugene Phelps to make his presence felt in an electrifying way.

In his debut, Phelps made sure everyone took notice of his abilities by scoring a season-high 52 points to go with 16 rebounds as he powered Phoenix to a 120107 victory over struggling GlobalPort, finally putting the Fuel Masters in the win column of the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Replacing an ineffective import, Phelps knew coming in that he needed to carry a heavy load to be able to lift the erstwhileailing Fuel Masters.

He surely was up to the task.

“It felt good to score that many, but it felt better that we got the win,” said Phelps of his powerful debut and his team’s first victory.

Phoenix improved to 1-3, while the agony of the Batang Pier continued as it remained the only team without a victory, dropping to 0-4 at the cellar.

The win also gave rookie coach Ariel Vanguardia his first victory in the PBA. Vanguardia had nothing but adoration for Phelps and what he brought to Phoenix.

Games Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. - NLEX vs.

TNT Katropa 7 p.m. - Alaska vs.

Mahindra “Malaking bagay ‘yung import namin,” he said. “He (Phelps) was the destroyer out there.”

Scoring 24 points right away just in the first half alone, Phelps helped Phoenix take several 12-point leads in the second and a 58-53 cushion at the half as the Fuel Masters controlled most of the contest starting the opening period.

Phoenix was in tight grip of the contest until its prolific import was caught by an accident early in the second half. Phelps briefly went out of the game and into the locker room early in the third canto after accidentally getting elbowed by GlobalPort import Mike Glover in the jaw.

He bled and lost a tooth, but returned later in the third to resume his dominating ways.

When Phelps was away, GlobalPort flourished.

The Batang Pier, who trailed 55-66 before Phelps went out, suddenly produced a swift 17-4 blast to overtake the Fuel Masters, 72-70, halfway in the third.

Phoenix though was able to steal the lead back and take a slim 86-65 edge into the payoff period.

A decisive 15-7 run down the stretch gave Phoenix the breakthrough it needed as it went ahead significantly again, 113104, after Phelps completed a three-point play with 2:14 remaining.

The Fuel Masters never looked back.

Phoenix’s other import, Lee Gwan Hee, likewise had a nice game himself, adding 16 points to help Phelps.

Glover and Stanley Pringle each had 27 points to lead the winless Batang Pier.

The scores: PHOENIX 120 - Phelps 52, Lee 16, J. Wilson 15, W. Wilson 10, Baguio 9, Enciso 6, Pennisi 5, Lanete 4, Cruz 3, Buenafe 0, Caperal 0, Torres 0.

GLOBALPORT 107 Glover 27, Pringle 27, Romeo 20, Yeo 14, Washington 13, Dehesa 4, Mamaril 2, Isip 0, Kramer 0, Semerad 0, Taha 0.

Quarters: 33-26, 58-53, 8685, 120-107

PH boxers eye luck of the draw RIO DE JANEIRO—The Filipino boxers in this Rio Olympics will still have to rely on the luck of the draw if they are to achieve their goal of giving the country its first medal in 20 years.

No Filipino athlete has brought home a medal from the Olympics since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco took the silver in the light-flyweight class of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Many thought that Velasco did enough to win the gold against Bulgaria’s Daniel Petrov Bujilov.

The bout was scored 19-6 when it was closer inside the ring.

Boxing competitions here in Rio de Jaineiro will run from Aug. 6 to Aug. 21. Medals will be at stake in 10 weight divisions for men and three for women.

The Philippines only has two boxers competing here in Rio. Light-flyweight Rogen Ladon and lightweight Charly Squarez, first-time Olympians, will get the chance to end the medal drought

for the Philippines.

Ladon and Suarez will see action on Aug. 6 but are still awaiting the results of the draw days before the start of the competition.

Head coach Nolito Velasco presided over a light training session for the two Filipino boxers Saturday afternoon at Pavilion 5 of the Riocenter Convention Center.

It was a light session compared to the normal grind these boxers go through, kicking it off with a couple of rounds of shadow boxing and sparring and a few more on the bags.

The two boxers cooled down by running back to the Athletes’ Village which is less than a kilometer away from the training venue.

Velasco, elder brother of the 1996 silver medalist and 1992 Barcelona Olympics bronze medal winner Roel Velasco, is eagerly awaiting the results of the draw.

“We are hoping for a better draw,” he said in Filipino.

“Let’s hope that we don’t cross paths with the other favorites. We don’t want the championship bouts in our opening bouts,” he said.

Ladon is ranked third in his division, while Suarez is just in the lower rungs.

“If we get the breaks in the draw, then we get better chances of winning medals here,” added Velasco as he walked back to the Athletes Village.

“But our boxers are ready for whoever is put in front of them,” said Velasco.

Ladon and Suarez flew into town from Las Vegas last Thursday and had no problems settling down in Rio, with hardly any jetlag unlike the other Pinoy athletes.

Velasco said the boxers are well rested and ready to go.

“We’re just trying to maintain their form. There’s no problem with the weight,” he said.

Alkhaldi doing much better now

RIO DE JANEIRO—There’s a big room for improvement for Filipina swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi when she competes here in Rio, which is actually her second straight Olympics.

In 2012 in London, the tall and lovely swimmer finished 34th among 50 participants with a time of 57.13 seconds in the 100m freestyle. She is doing much better now.

Alkhaldi is coming here with a best time of 55.94 in the same event. Now, she can look forward to a better finish than her Olympic debut four years ago.

“Of course, the goal is to improve from the first time I competed in the Olympics,” said the 23-year-old Alkhaldi inside the Athletes Village here.

“I trained a hundred percent harder than before,” she said.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands won the 100m freestyle in London in 2012 with a time of 53 seconds flat. She also took the gold in the 50m free with a time of 24.05 seconds.

Since arriving from Hawaii three days ago with her coach Jennifer Bufin, Alkhaldi has frequented the training venue with her fellow competitor from the Philippines.

Jessie Khing Lacuna is also in his second straight Olympics. He will vie in the men’s 400-m freestyle on Aug. 6.

Alkhaldi, the Philippine record holder in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle and 50m and 100m butterfly, will not see action until Aug. 10.

All her hard work the past four years under Buffin will be put on test here in Rio. “I’ve been improving every year. And the target is to even get better here,” said Alkhaldi, still trying to catch up on her sleep in this city famous for its Ipanema Beach.

“I still feel a little sleepy (jetlagged),” she said.

While working out at the pool, Alkhald has been visiting the fitness center as well.

Mary Joy Tabal (center) is shown during her Boston Marathon stint.

Tabal seeks respectable finish

By Peter Atencio CEBUANO runner Mary Joy Tabal is making sure that she will end up with a respectable finish when she runs in the women’s marathon event of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Aug. 21.

She is still at the Nippon Sports Science University at the Setagaya campus in Tokyo, Japan and was set to leave for Brazil.

The 27-year-old Tabal celebrated her birthday two weeks ago doing road work at the different courses of the sprawling NSSU campus.

She is not working on finishing at a certain target time, but focusing on her endurance.

“Mahirap, pero enjoy naman.

Wala akong specific training on time. It’s more on improving my pace at a longer distance,” said Tabal in a recent long-distance interview with the Manila Standard.

The 42-km event is set to start and finish at the famous Sambódromo and the course will take the world’s best runners past some of Rio’s most scenic areas.

Organizers tested the course last April, and it took athletes through some of the city’s most historic districts, giving them the opportunity to test signages and new technology, while assessing any route changes that might be needed.

After beginning in the Sambódromo, which said to be the home to the world-famous Rio Carnival parades, the race will continue on

two of the city’s most imposing streets, Avenida Presidente Vargas and Avenida Rio Branco.

Trained in the Philippines by John Philip Duenas, Tabal is spending her time at the NSSU under the supervision of Japanese mentor Akio Usami, who told her that speed will not be her problem in Rio, but conditioning.

“I’m focusing on endurance.

Usami said I have no problem with speed. I have it. He said my problem is to maintain a certain pace. So, focus on getting a pace for a longer distance,” said Tabal.

On July 28, she went through the final phases of her preparation with Usami.

“Today’s my last meeting with Coach Usami. After our morning training, he took me to Harakensurf for my body treatment and conditioning because those last few days have been so tough.

Then we took time evaluating my performance, planning and strategizing for my coming competition,” wrote Tabal on Instagram.

Tabal achieved her best time of 2:43.31 when she qualified for the Olympics in the Ottawa Marathon last May 29.

When she finally runs in Rio, Tabal will be pitted against the world’s best, which includes topranked Ethiopian runners like world no. 1 Tirfi Tsegaye and no.

10 Aberu Kebede.

Tsegaye, 31, made it when she won the Dubai marathon crown in 2:19:41 and was 2nd in the 2016

Boston Marathon (2:30:03).

Ethiopia is also fielding in world no. 11 Tigist Tufa, a 29-year-old marathoner who made it to Rio after placing second in the London Marathon (2:23:03).

Tabal said she had mixed feelings when she qualified for Rio. “Excited na may halong kaba.

Pero nu’ng pagka-finish ko, I felt like I was the happiest runner na sumali sa Ottawa, priceless moment ko ‘yun, parang nabuo na ako bilang isang marathoner,” said Tabal.

She said she does not expect to have smooth-sailing time in Rio. “Lahat ng pinagdadaanan ko, there were a lot of challenges, it was never been that easy for me to be here. And now for Rio, I will be expecting that it’s going to be harder and tougher for me. I just need to be focused and positive lang,” said Tabal.

She said that being in the Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime chance that inspires her to be better.

“In representing our country in those and these big events, I’ve come to experience how it was to be competing with these seeded and high-caliber athletes. And when they ask me where I came from, I am always proud to say that I’m from Philippines. And then makikita mo sa reaction nila na ‘parang bago to ha,’ na they won’t expect someone from our country to be running with the best and I have to prove them that we too can compete with them,” said Tabal.

ERC starts investigation of power plant breakdowns B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

B1

OUTSTANDING BSP PARTNER.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas presents to SM Retail Inc. the Outstanding Private Enterprise Partner Award in the information dissemination campaign program category for raising public awareness on BSP’s demonetization program and for helping inform its customers on the security features of the new generation currency banknotes.

Shown receiving the award is SM Retail president Jorge Mendiola (center) from BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. (right) and Monetary Board member Valentin Araneta (left).

Piñol to explore new banana export marts

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

T

HE government is looking for other markets for the country’s banana exports, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said over the weekend.

“I told them that DA [Department of Agriculture] will take [the] lead role in opening up new markets for them. We will help them because big players already have multinational connections,” Piñol said.

He said the Philipines would target the large market of Vladivostok, Russia.

“We will bring banana exporters on a trade fair there. That will be on September 2 to 3,” Piñol said. He said the Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association Inc. expressed interest to join the fair.

“Russia is such a big market and South America is far from them. We have an advantage be-

cause we are nearer,” Piñol said.

Big banana exporters earlier said they failed to capitalize on other markets because of shipping issues.

“We’ll have to look into these issues. I’m sure we will find a way to avoid damages in shipping.

Our commitment to exporters is we will help them. This will also hold true for all other agricultural products of the Philippines which would be identified with export potentials,’ said Piñol.

Aside from banana, Piñol said the government would look into other markets for abaca.

“Abaca for example, we will really support the abaca industry and other products like coco

water. I think it will find a good market in Europe,” Piñol said.

Meanwhile, DA lawyer Israelito Torreon said MBFEA had proposed the establishment of a trust fund for the banana industry to be sourced from fees.

DA quarantine officers and staff are allowed to charge their overtime fees, meal expenses, transportation expenses, plane fare and lodging expenses to clients requesting for overtime services.

The overtime services include inspections and visitations to banana packing houses.

Torreon noted the varying prices in so far as collection of fees are concerned.

“The order allows employees to charge overtime fees of P50 per hour, P75 per hour for meal expenses, P12 per hour for transportation expenses but the actual collection will reach as high as P750 to P2,500 per van and these are not receipted,” Torreon said.

He said small banana export-

ers were aware that the government charged certain fees.

“They are okay with it but we have to consult other players. They are amenable to paying P500 per van provided that this will be used a trust fund,” Torreon said.

“They are also proposing something which we can legally study. They want that all payments for these deliveries should be treated like a trust fund for the development of the banana industry,” he added.

Torreon said the funds should be used for the banana industry only.

“For example, Secretary Piñol is planning to create a national research council for banana because our bananas are afflicted with Panama disease and until now we don’t have any cure for this because nobody is actually looking at this problem. A fund can be created for the purpose but we are yet to look into the legality of the proposal of the banana players,” Torreon said.

Bank describes PH investment ‘winner’

By Julito G. Rada GLOBAL financial services company Credit Suisse described the Philippines as a “winner” in terms of attracting foreign direct investments compared with its Southeast Asian peers amid the slowdown in China.

Credit Suisse said in a report the Philippines, along with Vietnam, emerged as winners in terms of attracting investments, while previous FDI favorites Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand saw some weakening trends.

“The Philippines and Vietnam saw rising FDI.... The Philippines’ FDI is now at a multi-decade high of $8 billion as of April 2016, up from $6 billion in 2015 and $1 billion just five years ago, with this also surpassing Thailand,” the Swiss bank said.

“Japan and the US are key drivers behind this increase and are concentrated in the manufacturing and more recently, the finance industry, post liberalization of this sector,” Credit Suisse said.

Observers predicted that Asean could see an increase in FDI inflows as China became a less

Megawide diversifies into energy, buys Citicore Power

By Jenniffer B. Austria MEGAWIDE Construction Corp., one of the country’s largest construction and infrastructure companies, is venturing into renewable energy with the acquisition of a 100-percent stake in Citicore Power Inc. Megawide said in a statement the acquisition was in line with the company’s five-year diversification plan aimed at transforming the company from a pure construction and engineering firm into a fully diversified infrastructure conglomerate.

Megawide said with the acquisi-

tion, it would now have four core businesses, including construction, airport operation, transport and power generation with a focus on renewable energy.

Citicore Power is a subsidiary of Citicore Holdings Inc., which is also a major shareholder of Megawide.

Citcore Power committed to produce 1,000 megawatts of clean energy such as solar, biomass, wind and hydropower. It currently operates three solar power projects in the provinces of Bataan, Negros Occidental and Cebu. The three facilities already account for more than 100 megawatts.

“We remain bullish and hopeful in this current track and look forward to contributing to a stronger economy for the country,” Megawide chief executive Michael Cosiquien said.

Megawide, which was listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange in 2011, started as a construction company.

It successfully acquired the concession to operate Mactan Cebu International Airport through a public bidding in 2014. The 25-year buildoperate-transfer contract includes the renovation of all landside facilities and the construction of a second passenger terminal.

Megawide added transport into its business in 2015, after it bagged the Southwest Integrated Transport Terminal project.

Megawide said its foray into the project would enable it to venture into property development, as the 35-year BOT contract was expected to generate a mix of transportation infrastructure supported by mixeduse retail and commercial recurring revenues.

Megawide on Friday bought back 410,842,702 shares from Sybase Equity Investment Corp., a privately held company owned by the Sy family.

Globe agrees to share subscribers data with credit bureaus

By Gabrielle H. Binaday GLOBE Telecom Inc. became the first company that agreed to submit subscribers’ basic credit data to Credit Information Corp. within the year.

CIC president and chief executive Jaime Garchitorena said Globe responded positively to the agency’s request for the collection of basic credit records from subscribers.

“We have good news. We got a formal letter from Globe, because we represented ourselves to them before and we also issued a circular to all the tel-

cos and all the resellers of bandwidth basically,” said CIC president Jaime Garchitorena.

CIC issued Memorandum Circular 2016-01 in June to ask telecommunications companies to submit subscribers’ basic data in line with the goal to establish a database on credit standing and track record of borrowers for the purpose of determining creditworthiness.

“They [Globe] are actually first through the door to respond to that circular and they responded in a very positive manner,” Garchitorena said.

CIC said the memorandum order was

“within the purview of the law” and “data is relevant for determination of creditworthiness and in making credit decisions.”

It also states that telcos should submit by year-end the current subject and contract data.

“We have no response yet from PLDT/Smart but I have been in touch with their community projects. So this will be considered as a community project and they seem very willing to talk to us and they need it as much as we do and we are very enthusiastic about their compliance,” Garchitorena said.

Garchitorena said telcos were allowed to share information under the law.

“We are allowed to ask for data, but when it comes to the type of information that they share, it really falls under the very strict guidance and standards of data protection of the CIC,” he said.

CIC serves as a central credit registry, collecting positive and negative credit data on borrowers and providing consolidated basic credit information to individuals, businesses, financial institutions, private credit bureaus and other entities which are afforded the right to access the same.

attractive FDI destination. Credit Suisse, however, said it did not see a significant pickup in FDIs in most Asean economies under its coverage, and in fact saw a decline.

“However, there is significant divergence among countries, with Vietnam and Philippines emerging as winners and Malaysia staying surprisingly resilient, while the previous FDI favorites including Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand saw some weakening trends,” it said.

“The observed trends are broadly in line with our expectations, and we expect them to largely continue with the exceptions of Malaysia and Indonesia,” the report said.

Credit Suisse said other “push factor” contributing to the less optimism in China were political tensions with Japan, rising wages and moderating domestic demand.

It said while it was true that foreign direct investments inflows into Asean economies seemed to have been more resilient than those into China and Hong Kong together, overall FDIs into Asean-6 still saw a decline in US dollar terms.

B2

Business

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks likely to move sideways

By Jenniffer B. Austria

L

OCAL equities are expected to move sideways this week, on renewed expectations of a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said concerns over impending US rate hike came after the US Fed stressed in its meeting last week that risks in the US economy subsided and the labor market was getting tighter.

“This suggest that conditions are getting more favorable for an increase in borrowing costs.

A rising US interest rates could

also push domestic interest rates higher, especially when inflation is also on the rise,” Ravelas said.

The onset of the so-called ‘ghost month’ could also result in thinner trading volumes in August, analysts said.

Analysts said they would also monitor the release of secondquarter reports of listed company and possible income guidance for the second half of the

year.

Telecom companies PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. are scheduled to report their second-quarter performance this week. SM Investments Corp. and property unit SM Prime Holdings will also release their second-quarter figures.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company bellwether, dropped 0.8 percent over last week’s five-day market trading to close at 7,963.11 on July 29, while the broader all-share index lost 0.9 percent to 4,750.81, amid profit taking. Despite the loss, the PSEi gained 14.5 percent since the start of the year.

The benchmark index actually closed a 15-month high of 8,100.48 on July 27 before trading lower in the next two days.

The market closed at a record 8,127.48 on April 10, 2015.

Analyst expect trading this week to be affected by the release of second-quarter data.

Among the six sectors, the financial, industry and services indices posted week-on-week gains while holding companies, property and mining and oil ended in the red.

Despite the market’s decline, foreign investors remained net buyers of P3.6 billion last week.

Since the start of the year, foreign investors were net buyers

of P51.2 billion.

Top gainers last week were Cebu Air Inc. which climbed 9.5 percent to P109, Holcim Philippines Inc. which rose 8.1 percent to P16.46 and Security Bank Corp. which advanced 3.8 percent to P219.

Heavy losers were Philex Petroleum Corp. which dropped 8.8 percent to P4, DoubleDragon Properties Corp. which fell 8.1 percent to P57.40 and Asian Terminals Inc. which declined 6.9 percent to P10.48.

Meanwhile, the peso stabilized last week within a range of 47.1 to 47.2 against the US dollar, supported by sustained balance of payments surplus.

THE STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

JULY 25-29, 2016 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.69 47.4 113.20 96.00 38.1 4.06 1.75 16.5 20.9 7.00 0.7 1.96 590.00 0.610 94.95 0.92 14.7 24.00 62.80 101.7 460 282 32.3 219 1450.00 71.60 1.5

336,000 52,900 10,448,520 6,392,200 398,600 14,827,000 7,053,000 4,907,100 3,410,200 22,800 1,000 529,000 1,030 9,995,000 8,917,330 463,000 614,800 21,300 1,557,770 15,310 220 30,160 298,900 8,270,860 675 1,161,260 788,000

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

45.25 3.5 0.89 1.9 12.9 51.25 200.00 11.9 16.78 152 163 22.2 58 2.33 5.77 12.88 9.930 7.44 5.87 9.70 1.83 25.9 70.8 12.00 16.46 5.74 2.400 255.00 40.40 2.1 4 32.00 25.95 28.5 11.18 324.00 0.270 4.48 3.42 10.68 3.4 11.60 5.98 1.73 3.55 4.28 2.3 3.78 216 3.04 0.151 1.96 2.33 200.4 4.51 1.39 32.95 1.28

10,216,000 12,702,000 19,352,000 28,104,000 80,300 1,000 120 156,030,700 8,599,500 250 8,570 64,479,900 1,340,380 27,129,000 3,660,600 625,800 42,395,000 8,216,100 70,838,300 7,410,200 94,000 14,997,600 1,463,120 153,600 3,896,600 1,378,800 6,963,000 3,734,430 2,700 604,000 532,000 42,100 6,456,200 1,223,300 53,570,800 1,942,340 928,000 30,000 4,227,000 19,361,000 30,000 40,100 3,252,600 20,646,810 4,172,000 3,624,000 8,000 116,000 175,600 4,643,000 32,920,000 19,695,000 25,641,000 7,320,210 3,181,000 612,673,000 800 429,000

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Transgrid Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

3.950 78.00 16.16 1.25 6.20 0.390 0.395 870 1250.00 8.04 13.02 6.15 6.3 6.91 0.230 1540 6.75 83.50 4.03 5.82 5.82 7.64 0.75 15.6 0.470 7.5 3.1 0.0340 1.250 1.970 2.65 82.00 2.7 689.00 1.26 0.86 192.00 193.000 0.3200 0.2040 0.305

13,160,000 16,431,580 29,874,400 961,000 46,100 91,840,000 4,600,000 1,564,180 265 15,768,600 50,400,000 345,200 17,300 1,140,100 910,000 1,854,795 510,900 10,094,010 4,000 200 3,200 5,404,900 4,692,000 26,139,100 700,000 295,613,400 12,000 71,600,000 316,000 1,425,000 50,000 1,206,610 70,000 1,795,685 1,015,000 939,000 140 88,590 42,850,000 430,000 5,330,000

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A’ Cebu Prop. `B’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld

7.850 6.90 1.27 2.360 0.280 39.500 3.22 5 5.8 5.76 0.630 1.09 1.040 0.162 0.650 57.4 0.830 0.149 1.11 1.95 1.20 5.03

3,881,700 23,600 23,607,000 14,844,000 3,388,000 59,006,100 5,796,000 204,500 2,500 15,900 402,288,000 173,000 144,000 365,660,000 308,224,000 9,299,590 8,811,000 1,620,000 40,567,000 104,243,000 1,193,000 221,288,600

Value FINANCIAL 1,216,990.00 2,501,140.00 1,194,538,318 623,462,543.50 15,188,290.00 60,059,610.00 11,992,680.00 82,208,752.00 71,128,475.00 156,094 700 1,029,240.00 614,700.00 6,213,840.00 850,026,760.00 424,780.00 9,057,056.00 516,350.00 99,398,492.50 1,515,639.00 101,600.00 8,412,130.00 9,711,160 1,762,784,768.00 972,375 82,900,114.00 1,231,670.00 INDUSTRIAL 460,896,485.00 44,747,470.00 17,697,980.00 41,127,940.00 1,050,298.00 51,211.50 24,320.00 1,922,634,394.00 146,242,072 38,062.00 1,412,317.00 1,385,671,373.00 80,562,250 64,055,000.00 21,734,635.00 7,988,872.00 424,918,805.00 61,653,643.00 418,316,365.00 73,043,102.00 165,610.00 387,400,270.00 105,625,656.00 1,843,478.00 62,442,876.00 7,926,907.00 16,408,460.00 957,426,066.00 109,560.00 1,236,560.00 2,175,720.00 1,330,745.00 170,408,240.00 35,235,235.00 573,590,461.00 624,532,960.00 268,850.00 133,120.00 14,541,240.00 211,828,362.00 99,000.00 467,232.00 19,470,069.00 7,673,070.00 14,933,960.00 15,802,080.00 18,470.00 442,180.00 38,344,214.00 14,114,720 5,181,590.00 40,284,590.00 62,103,480.00 1,470,558,005 14,373,530.00 802,384,000.00 26,360.00 557,120.00 HOLDING FIRMS 5,319,400.00 1,317,618,150.00 488,580,790.00 1,211,450.00 284,357.00 36,958,250.00 1,851,100.00 1,394,774,405.00 328,465.00 127,790,390.00 656,205,522.00 2,092,298.00 117,784.00 7,953,100.00 204,520.00 831,095,885.00 3,570,862.00 856,019,354.00 16,630.00 1,164.00 18,624.00 42,231,026.00 3,747,760.00 415,354,992.00 334,400.00 2,205,534,374.00 37,590.00 2,399,200.00 399,280.00 2,806,930.00 132,530.00 99,794,791.00 184,100.00 1,660,724,580.00 1,275,040.00 813,040.00 26,900.00 17,136,500.00 14,455,400.00 86,410.00 1,581,750.00 PROPERTY 31,992,172.00 160,104.00 30,400,540.00 36,933,320.00 960,650.00 2,366,806,395.00 18,808,240.00 1,027,713.00 14,465.00 97,272.00 268,194,980.00 178,810.00 151,130.00 55,134,130.00 229,854,030.00 443,973,564.00 7,371,560.00 257,420.00 46,154,320.00 206,102,250.00 1,390,090.00 1,129,910,269.00

Close

JULY 18-22, 2016 Volume Value

3.87 47.4 114.20 96.10 38.05 4.07 1.60 16.2 21.35 7.10

247,000 113,000 8,082,460 7,705,620 357,500 1,982,000 15,299,000 662,300 5,037,200 9,600

1,784,790.00 5,321,200.00 927,861,895 762,457,533.00 13,598,705.00 8,029,940.00 26,381,400.00 10,387,466.00 104,463,820.00 67,371

1.96 609.00 0.650 94 0.92 14.8 24.00 62.00 99.95 500 279 32.35 211 1435.00 67.40 1.53

589,000 140 52,720,000 11,621,910 733,000 1,347,200 11,900 1,978,640 10,020 30 12,880 361,600 4,221,640 745 189,850 3,502,000

1,166,620.00 85,260.00 34,588,510.00 1,103,982,610.00 684,990.00 19,923,246.00 281,340.00 119,940,657.00 1,003,530.50 15,200.00 3,607,062.00 11,599,270 867,086,856.00 1,071,825.00 12,721,887.00 5,587,460.00

45.55 3.5 0.83 1.98 14 53 220.00 11.94 17.54 152 169 20 58 2.21 5.99 12.4 9.750 7.42 5.90 9.59 1.9 26.05 72 12.00 15.22 5.73 2.380 255.00 41.00 1.86 3.8 34.60 26.85 28.9 9.5 313.00 0.260 4.23 3.46 11.30 3.35 11.60 6.23 1.63 3.5 4.35

10,048,700 7,332,000 1,595,000 7,692,000 333,200 43,910 570 437,551,100 14,842,200 240 60,000 40,406,200 999,300 20,490,000 10,311,200 517,000 23,455,600 12,291,200 73,291,100 6,505,500 243,000 21,815,400 1,320,300 70,900 1,033,400 1,890,000 6,250,000 3,737,150 1,100 26,000 275,000 37,600 7,670,700 691,500 33,876,300 1,165,290 3,210,000 109,000 3,625,000 36,454,912 34,000 78,200 2,940,300 2,623,000 6,287,000 6,840,000

456,314,220.00 25,621,010.00 1,320,140.00 15,388,310.00 4,551,460.00 2,245,360.00 118,150.00 4,896,101,310.00 248,509,370 37,176.00 11,104,300.00 833,138,565.00 55,517,106 45,563,270.00 62,911,583.00 6,356,164.00 225,359,754.00 90,315,423.00 424,587,697.00 60,388,600.00 445,270.00 556,307,740.00 93,701,249.50 856,472.00 15,731,318.00 10,887,982.00 14,870,990.00 936,431,732.00 45,040.00 48,520.00 1,010,420.00 1,270,075.00 207,262,765.00 15,880,575.00 314,363,450.00 360,991,294.00 855,200.00 478,640.00 12,506,660.00 88,127,428.00 113,650.00 907,736.00 18,750,147.00 4,274,610.00 21,106,830.00 29,019,860.00

3.84 210 3.04 0.154 2.19 2.55 197 4.5 1.06

208,000 6,350 8,811,000 26,680,000 35,539,000 6,675,000 8,431,480 110,000 123,652,000

802,130.00 1,347,550.00 24,727,680 4,044,490.00 83,670,470.00 16,987,380.00 1,683,748,620 499,800.00 128,407,440.00

1.28

2,371,000

3,127,530.00

0.375 82.50 16.58 1.29 6.13 0.390 0.385 890 1000.00 8.04 12.70 6 6.1 6.95 0.239 1565 6.65 85.30 4.2 6.2 5.8 7.89 0.72 15.84 0.490 7.32 3.13 0.0340 1.350 1.960 2.70 83.00 2.75 1025.00 1.24 0.88 207.00 191.900 0.3300 0.2020 0.300

4,340,000 9,436,910 35,237,800 2,215,000 103,200 72,570,000 8,471,000 1,854,110 330 12,978,700 20,945,700 695,600 9,700 1,635,900 6,640,000 490,805 829,300 8,349,090 18,000 10,000 23,100 10,558,500 680,000 26,934,500 227,000 154,726,800 72,000 82,700,000 69,000 2,518,000 120,000 2,590,510 234,000 2,054,160 1,714,000 280,000 2,400 70,340 44,360,000 2,830,000 19,010,000

1,658,300.00 780,136,749.00 576,563,554.00 2,959,780.00 632,042.00 28,760,050.00 3,492,250.00 1,653,497,218.00 279,260.00 103,652,563.00 267,043,870.00 4,392,883.00 64,137.00 11,286,236.00 1,514,170.00 766,623,955.00 5,377,874.00 715,151,837.50 77,090.00 54,598.00 132,452.00 82,945,970.00 492,820.00 429,115,708.00 119,310.00 1,131,334,264.00 225,100.00 2,775,100.00 90,390.00 4,966,050.00 324,000.00 209,142,310.00 608,980.00 2,088,490,835.00 2,139,690.00 251,180.00 530,446.00 13,232,738.00 14,666,800.00 569,070.00 6,037,150.00

8.110 6.90 1.27 2.310 0.275 39.800 3.36 5.17 5.8 5.72 0.540 1.09 1.060 0.132 0.760 62.5 0.820 0.150 1.18 2.00 4.80 5.13

3,317,900 9,200 14,609,100 3,541,000 4,300,000 71,232,500 7,848,000 68,900 1,600 7,600 27,465,000 111,000 106,000 67,090,000 148,428,000 6,315,640 21,512,000 90,000 127,611,000 111,678,000 76,000 127,837,200

26,896,673.00 63,210.00 31,693,940.00 8,199,120.00 1,169,500.00 2,852,425,235.00 26,603,800.00 350,528.00 9,280.00 47,168.00 14,766,840.00 115,500.00 111,620.00 9,201,260.00 109,589,900.00 400,378,935.50 17,641,620.00 13,800.00 145,716,490.00 222,001,640.00 105,710.00 651,640,883.00

STOCKS

JULY 25-29, 2016 Close Volume

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

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

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.119 0.2900 0.475 39.00 16.32 32.00 1.78 3.26 29.20 0.94 6.98 1.050 6.000

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.35 49.4 1.23 0.610 10.48 5.8 5.60 0.1140 2.87 109 10.1 1.86 5.55 3.26 939.5 2268 6.33 16.18 22.00 1.19 64 21.30 175 11.02 0.0090 9.38 0.335 1.7500 2.66 12.8 6.54 3.02 1.06 2.55 19.98 0.580 2.02 3.21 5.59 3.400 12.04 5.32 2.61 8.35 137.50 15.66 2092.00 0.455 1.120 48.00 86.10 6.34 3.19 0.640 1.85 3.6 0.330 6.660

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0043 3.19 4.25 0.230 6.8500 7.1000 0.62 0.485 8.56 0.870 0.290 0.230 0.245 0.0130 0.0130 1.79 5.72 2.92 0.5600 1.0900 0.0110 0.0120 4.13 8.70 4.00 0.0130 119.40 3.65 0.0110

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

49.3 520 545.5 104.5 116 119 544.5 6.1 1.07 112 1125 1021 108.3 115 76.5 81.7 76.05 79 79 79.85 77 77.1 2.46

LR Warrant

2.680

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

4.89 3.56 5.55 17.98

First Metro ETF

131

Value

Close

207,090,000 350,000 1,330,000 22,700 1,441,100 10,348,700 3,010,000 1,271,000 62,838,000 16,158,000 7,200 33,519,000 83,971,000

25,504,520.00 99,700.00 633,450.00 915,205.00 24,069,744.00 341,387,410.00 5,312,940.00 4,339,480.00 1,868,422,145.00 15,623,830.00 47,757.00 37,330,930.00 524,306,480.00 SERVICES 3,268,100 23,958,495.00 405,460 20,466,301.00 53,000 64,670.00 15,476,000 9,234,790.00 800 8,422.00 268,200 1,559,633 42,685,300 246,965,582.00 2,053,470,000 228,876,530.00 19,918,000 56,974,740.00 7,317,840 765,948,938.00 4,000 40,270.00 72,000 138,420 3,628,700 21,528,090.00 45,000 154,610.00 960 899,165.00 354,835 802,699,070 982,100 6,196,772.00 2,056,800 34,280,468.00 228,900 4,951,690 5,106,000 6,208,590.00 7,581,040 441,825,517.00 1,032,500 23,663,565 3,190 577,039 19,100 211,936.00 134,000,000 1,203,400.00 1,720,200 16,100,078.00 74,870,000 25,828,150.00 10,771,000 19,174,870.00 439,000 1,187,230.00 58,700 747,586.00 1,970,600 13,128,651 1,429,000 4,401,900.00 1,174,000 1,228,380.00 61,000 155,550.00 2,700 51,758 3,396,000 2,179,220.00 19,000 37,870.00 47,946,000 171,956,230.00 79,033,000 434,180,852.00 28,223,000 99,981,140.00 80,400 968,484.00 334,600 1,757,136 87,000 232,140.00 6,300 53,965.00 10,470 1,472,467.00 722,900 11,515,500.00 540,260 1,133,510,650.00 11,090,000 4,929,550.00 17,882,000 20,319,790.00 12,873,600 624,107,330.00 5,212,780 449,018,421.50 5,408,500 34,935,344.00 19,025,000 61,469,290.00 27,566,000 17,788,390.00 88,000 165,490.00 20,075,000 72,242,620.00 930,000 310,250.00 934,900 6,167,023.00 MINING & OIL 5,574,000,000 23,503,700.00 10,937,000 33,531,450.00 1,045,000 4,437,840.00 1,500,000 344,870.00 70,700 480,473.00 14,000 94,880.00 11,770,000 7,764,850.00 4,180,000 2,013,250.00 110,900 948,895.00 42,370,000 37,528,540.00 3,940,000 1,135,150.00 99,980,000 23,289,200.00 16,330,000 4,009,850.00 165,700,000 1,998,800.00 186,100,000 2,370,500.00 2,376,000 4,288,500.00 24,216,300 135,214,349.00 3,275,000 9,311,800.00 2,028,000 1,167,580.00 7,093,000 8,009,980.00 135,700,000 1,620,400.00 12,600,000 151,300.00 57,000 235,200.00 11,683,200 100,555,270.00 32,695,000 136,360,620.00 148,600,000 1,788,100.00 2,237,300 267,968,037.00 1,989,000 7,500,850.00 158,700,000 1,748,200.00 PREFERRED 983,970 50,272,391.00 23,740 12,344,780.00 13,750 7,499,950 1,886,190 198,882,132.00 20 2,320.00 6,890 819,910.00 14,400 7,820,460.00 2,591,800 15,806,542.00 37,000 39,610 33,740 3,773,126.00 130 146,250.00 12,855 13,151,400.00 120 12,996.00 3,100 356,500.00 369,010 28,238,000.00 128,000 10,395,896 51,070 3,893,499.00 258,850 20,395,850.00 18,880 1,490,358.00 46,980 3,734,338.00 1,371,010 105,663,193.00 1,111,110 85,628,851.00 10,000 24,600.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 2,930,000 8,100,340.00 SME 56,648,000 298,056,673.00 76,000 272,370.00 27,044,700 162,123,291.00 15,907,900 286,646,970.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 66,850 8,812,295.00

JULY 18-22, 2016 Volume Value

0.109 0.2850 0.465 43.95 16.46 33.10 1.72 3.27 30.10 0.98 7 1.020 6.110

18,220,000 1,610,000 6,554,000 125,800 1,465,700 12,227,700 2,885,000 730,000 86,725,200 9,911,000 3,700 11,707,000 42,075,800

1,984,950.00 448,250.00 3,236,810.00 5,871,545.00 22,801,122.00 397,132,925.00 4,973,550.00 2,406,220.00 2,605,786,620.00 9,687,020.00 25,153.00 12,341,310.00 250,969,840.00

7.48 52.05 1.23 0.630 11.26 5.85 5.70 0.0990 2.85 99.5 9.83 1.97 5.80 3.84 950 2282 6.30 16.96 20.30 1.22 64.1 24.65 194 11.8 0.0092 9.37 0.345 1.8800 2.72 12.7 6.75 3.11 1.06 2.62 20.00 0.590 2.02 3.6 5.10 3.680 12.22 5.10 2.68

2,058,400 886,340 43,000 34,285,000 10,600 423,000 48,953,300 1,707,850,000 20,727,000 3,068,390 19,500 147,000 4,933,100 4,631,000 260 342,745 1,300,900 1,939,100 3,200 5,605,000 26,429,170 10,868,900 85,240 500 50,020,000 1,673,000 148,600,000 27,509,000 1,489,000 61,200 1,826,900 1,525,000 611,000 73,000 7,600 920,000 18,000 48,059,000 62,709,400 55,755,000 265,900 66,500 108,000

15,582,393.00 46,157,982.00 53,580.00 22,322,030.00 118,122.00 2,551,749 299,202,672.00 172,115,570.00 59,551,960.00 304,741,499.00 192,714.00 291,160 27,373,350.00 17,720,990.00 250,640.00 789,625,070 8,202,084.00 32,703,808.00 68,510 7,067,990.00 1,659,266,484.50 270,602,976 21,824,721 5,900.00 642,700.00 15,674,800.00 52,216,700.00 51,009,380.00 4,225,810.00 787,246.00 12,320,708 4,744,460.00 656,550.00 187,450.00 147,398 545,430.00 36,120.00 175,395,730.00 320,699,238.00 202,459,900.00 3,193,034.00 344,638 286,590.00

139.50 16.60 2068.00 0.440 1.150 48.55 86.90 6.50 3.28 0.650 1.96 3.54 0.335 6.780

14,120 1,340,000 547,235 5,820,000 49,845,000 20,257,200 5,962,230 1,385,500 41,311,000 45,553,000 75,000 15,500,000 150,000 804,500

1,973,103.00 22,823,788.00 1,150,202,970.00 2,556,100.00 57,579,830.00 958,916,285.00 521,002,287.00 8,907,319.00 136,204,200.00 30,107,320.00 144,310.00 55,421,260.00 49,900.00 5,299,115.00

0.0041 3.12 4.27 0.232 7.0800 7.7700 0.61 0.490 8.66 0.880 0.290 0.239 0.255 0.0120 0.0140 1.86 5.7 2.95 0.5700 1.1800 0.0120 0.0120 4.14 8.54 4.39 0.0130 121.00 3.88 0.0110

790,000,000 4,009,400 955,000 2,110,000 672,700 167,700 3,809,000 2,936,000 221,600 107,135,000 8,980,000 119,200,000 6,994,000 260,100,000 146,800,000 7,146,000 162,256,603 6,740,000 76,000 2,243,000 176,800,000 17,100,000 143,000 6,393,100 36,416,000 217,400,000 2,022,470 1,243,000 75,800,000

3,246,500.00 16,411,560.00 4,186,570.00 483,080.00 4,730,444.00 1,208,480.00 2,297,680.00 1,438,755.00 1,928,651.00 97,449,730.00 2,664,750.00 28,504,000.00 1,864,080.00 3,247,500.00 2,002,900.00 13,473,210.00 405,466,733.00 20,136,820.00 42,160.00 2,671,880.00 2,078,000.00 221,600.00 582,930.00 54,881,701.00 163,058,610.00 2,704,800.00 242,464,487.00 4,909,300.00 812,800.00

51.7 520 545

1,043,250 21,170 3,830

53,852,377.00 11,184,225.00 2,087,710

116 119 545 6.1 1.08 111.8 1020 1016 107

30 18,990 40 3,291,500 3,119,000 68,860 770 8,820 500

3,480.00 2,224,710.00 21,800.00 20,077,747.00 3,349,650 7,702,412.00 785,400.00 8,972,290.00 53,500.00

76.5 80 77.3 79 78.5 79.4 77.1 77 2.5

66,060 239,370 52,070 262,730 401,210 94,380 234,790 1,379,300 39,000

5,099,083.00 19,227,012 4,007,237.00 20,755,670.00 31,228,022.00 7,488,108.00 27,217,170.00 106,025,750.00 95,100.00

2.890

18,255,000

56,170,900.00

5.27 3.74 5.9 17

148,513,100 168,000 5,301,000 12,616,700

935,757,159.00 602,540.00 30,482,156.00 213,415,110.00

131.8

49,060

6,466,061.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Boulevard Holdings Vitarich Corp.

Century Property Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Manila Mining `B’

VOLUME 5,574,000,000 2,053,470,000 612,673,000 402,288,000 365,660,000 308,224,000 295,613,400 221,288,600 207,090,000 186,100,000

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Cemex Holdings SM Prime Holdings Security Bank SM Investments Inc. Universal Robina Ayala Corp `A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Aboitiz Equity

VALUE 2,366,806,395.00 2,205,534,374.00 1,922,634,394.00 1,868,422,145.00 1,762,784,768.00 1,660,724,580.00 1,470,558,005.00 1,394,774,405.00 1,385,671,373.00 1,317,618,150.00

PLDT set to boost internet capacity

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said it tapped Japan’s NTT Group to upgrade its network infrastructure into ultra-high capacity to improve internet speed for both individual and enterprise customers.

The country’s largest telecom company said it strengthened its global network infrastructure by leveraging the 100 gigabit-per-second connectivity powered by NTT Com’s Tier 1 Global IP backbone.

“We chose NTT Com because of our long-standing strategic partnership that goes back many years. NTT Com has been a leader in the global telecoms space, having made significant investments in network infrastructure and the delivery of highly reliable services,” PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan.

Pangilinan said strengthening PLDT connectivity with NTT Com’s industryleading Tier 1 IP backbone provided a solid foundation for the company and its customers to adopt new business models that would enable them to transform digitally and connect the Philippines with the global market seamlessly.

Statistics showed the Philippines along with the rest of Asia saw an upsurge in demand for international bandwidth, with a significant 300-percent growth over the last four years.

“We are thrilled to take our partnership with PLDT to the next level, by deploying the ultra-high-capacity 100 Gbps link for PLDT to carry large volumes of global IP traffic.

Govt selling Malaya plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Department said it will proceed with the privatization of the 650-megawatt Malaya thermal power plant complex in Pililia, Rizal by 2018.

“For Malaya thermal, it’s targeted to be bid out by 2018…We’re looking at a scheme that despite its privatization, it will still be a security asset,” Energy Department spokesman Felix William Fuentebella said.

The Malaya thermal power plant is presently being used by the government as a security asset and is tasked to run when power supply is tight.

The department earlier designated Malaya power plant as a ‘must-run unit’ in order to address any instability or supply deficiency that may occur as a result of sudden unavailability of any of the operating power plants in the grid.

Malaya power plant is expected to continue operating as an MRU until its privatization schedule is finalized by the department.

Situated in Pililia town, Malaya plant consists of a 300-MW unit with a oncethrough type boiler and a 350-MW unit fitted with a conventional boiler.

Business

B3

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

ERC starts investigation of power plant outages

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Energy Regulatory Commission said over the weekend it started investigating the series of ‘yellow’ and ‘red alerts’ in the Luzon grid which resulted in electricity price surges at the spot market.

The yellow and red alerts were raised amid lack of power reserves after several power plants went on scheduled and unscheduled shutdowns.

“We are also aware of the situation and we have in fact noted price surges during the past few days. We have identified the plants that have gone on unscheduled outages and if this condition sustains for some time, we will look into the bid-

ding patterns of these plants,” ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar said.

The Energy Department said Saturday nearly 3,000 megawatts of capacity were on forced outage, which resulted in ‘brownouts’ in several areas.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi asked ERC to look into whether industry players engaged in anticompetitive behavior during the period of tight supply.

“We may look further into this if we find reason to believe that the players have taken advantage of the current supply deficit to drive up prices,” Salazar said.

Salazar said that with the secondary price cap in place at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the country’s trading floor of electricity, “we may not see the prices reaching extraordinary levels.”

Cusi earlier sent a letter to ERC requesting the regulator to look into whether anti-competition existed during the said period. He also asked ERC to direct the power firms to explain why their respective power plants went offline.

National Grid Corp. implemented manual load dropping

Saturday due to lack of power generation capacity at 10:35 a.m. outside the Manila Electric Co. franchise, accounting for 38 MW. Meralco responded by activated its interruptible load program and asked participants to deload starting 10 a.m. Saturday.

The department said there was a “huge loss of power supply” totaling 2,946 MW, brought about by the outage of unit 2 of Sual coal-fired power plant, unit 2 of the Calaca coalfired power plant, unit 2 of the Malaya thermal power plant, unit 1 of the GN Power coalfired power plant, unit 2 of the Pagbilao Coal-Fired Power Plant, unit 3 and unit 4 of the Kalayaan hydro plants.

Power plants on maintenance shutdown included unit 1 and unit 2 of South Luzon Therma Energy Corp; unit 2 of Kalayaan hydro plant and unit 2 of the Sta. Rita natural gas power plant.

Malaya power plant’s unit 2 was also running on a limited capacity at 135 MW. Luzon grid remained on yellow alert Sunday, due to insufficiency of power receives.

The Energy Department formed technical audit teams to validate the figures submitted by the generating companies and the distribution utilities.

The technical audit teams aim to acquire accurate data on the delivery of quality, reliable, secure and affordable supply of energy.

IN BRIEF NTC heeds telco request

THE National Telecommunications Commission said it will comply with the request of the government’s anti-trust body to provide documents in the review of the P70-billion deal between PLDT Inc., Globe Telecom Inc. and San Miguel Corp.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the regulator received a letter Friday from the Philippine Competition Commission, requesting for documents that would be used for the review of the joint buyout of San Miguel’s telecommunications assets by PLDT and Globe.

Cabarios said the PCC asked for the list of base stations and frequencies of PLDT, Globe and the SMC Group as well as other documents.

“We will comply, there’s no problem,” Cabarios said.

Cabarios, however, said the agency could provide the couse agreement of frequency between PLDT, Globe and San Miguel because the regulator did not have a copy of the document. Darwin G Amojelar

‘MARKETING COMPANY OF THE YEAR.’

Century Pacific Food Inc. is named Asia’s ‘Marketing Company of the Year’ by the Asia Marketing Federation, one of Asia’s foremost governing bodies in marketing.

Philippine Marketing Association president Pinky Yee (left) presents a special citation to Century Pacific vice president and general manager Greg Banzon (center) commending the company’s efforts and success in bringing the title home. With them are past PMA president Gwen Albarracin.

Forty companies from across the region were nominated for the prestigious award, from which 16 finalists were chosen representing a total of nine nations.

Insurance claims eased

THE Insurance Commission will no longer require parties with claims of up to P200,000 to go to court and allow them instead to settle the amount through a position paper.

Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc told reporters the agency would ease the procedures on small insurance claims.

“One of our scholars has adopted a study which he calls the rule of procedure for small claims cases. This involves claims that does not exceed P200,000. In this proposal, a claimant, all he needs to do is to submit a position paper in writing. [No more heqrings from us,” Dooc said.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

ALYSSA NICOLE DEQUITO

GREEN LIGHT EVERY day, the Philippines loses about P2.4 billion due to traffic, according to a study conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency. With the continuous increase in population, the country’s traffic jams are not expected to get better in the coming years. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines is looking into alternatives such as minimizing the work week into four days, rotating work hours and telecommuting. Telecommuting—a flexible work arrangement implemented in the workplace today which allows employees to do their jobs from home.

Entailing least change effort Of the three, work from home would entail the least change effort. Studies have shown that telecommuting improved organization retention, employee performance and customer satisfaction.

‘Green’ design to save P38b, says IFC INTERNATIONAL Finance Corp., the investment arm of the World Bank, expects its green building program to generate savings of P38 billion and cut 1.9 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually by 2030.

IFC in a statement named the Philippine Green Building Initiative as its local partner in promoting green building through the use of EDGE, or Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies, IFC’s green building certification system for emerging markets.

“With PGBI as our partner in the Philippines, we hope to see more building designers and developers champion green building and transform the market into one that invites economic growth, minimizes resource consumption, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and generates savings for building owners and residents,” IFC country manager Yuan Xu said.

EDGE promotes resource efficiency through building designs that reduce energy, including the one used in making construction materials, and water.

PGBI, meanwhile, is a nonprofit group of professional associations that promotes energy-efficient and environment-friendly design and construction and will serve as the exclusive certification provider for EDGE projects in the Philippines.

PGBI president Amado de Jesus said the EDGE was a design and investment planning tool that the building industry could use to make sustainable designs in order to be more competitive in the market, “PGBI is founded on a concern over the impact of global warming. We see EDGE as an immediate action that offers developers a leadership opportunity while helping to mitigate climate change,” De Jesus said.

The Philippines’ National Statistics Office said the average annual growth rate of commercial and residential buildings was over 500 percent. Alena Mae S. Flores

DTI mulls over lower production in new vehicle program

By Othel V.Campos THE Trade Department may scale down the volume of vehicle production required to qualify for the biggest automotive incentives program of the government to accommodate a third car company.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said several car companies expressed interest to participate in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program but lacked the capacity to produce the required volume of

200,000 units within the six-year life of the program.

“Maybe down the road, we will scale down. If and when we decide to do this, this should have a corresponding reduction in incentives also,” he said over the weekend.

Lopez said the department was reviewing the program to determine what could de done to encourage another car company to deliver the mandatory volume.

“I’m not saying that we are amending or we will amend the program which is an executive

order. What we are trying to convey is that we are studying where we can innovate,” he said.

The program’s goal rests not solely on the participation of automotive manufacturers but also the involvement of parts suppliers and company unions.

Suppliers are expected to contribute in terms of employment and the benefits to micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

So far, only Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. and Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. have qualified to particpate in

the program.

Both companies have rolled out their expansions projects within the timeline of CARS. Combined investments of Toyota and Mitsubishi in the program are expected to initially reach P7.52 billion.

Toyota and Mitsubshi have started building a press shop— the single biggest component in the investment.

The CARS program aims to generate 200,000 new jobs, bring in fresh investments worth $1.2 billion, stimulate local demand

by increasing vehicle sales to $9.2 billion and revitalize the Philippine automotive industry.

The government is launching the program to bring about resurgence of the automotive manufacturing industry and prime the Philippines as another regional automotive manufacturing hub.

Meanwhile, the department is preparing for the next resurgence program that aims to reinvigorate the manufacturing sector that has the capability to generate hundreds of thousands jobs.

Are Filipinos ready to telecommute?

Working from home will save at least four hours of travel time an employee bears everyday going to their offices. Without fuel costs, long lines and being squashed in public transportation, the working class will be happier.

Time spent traveling can be dedicated to the family and for rest. Telecommuting promotes a safer environment as compared to braving the summer heat and torrential rains. All these benefits lead to better health condition for employees.

Promoting work-life balance Working from home really attract parents, especially those with kids requiring supervision.

It is the epitome of work-life balance. An employee who is able to do a job he loves without sacrificing his family would be at his happiest. And we know that happy employees are those

who deliver and perform well.

Telecommuting gives employee satisfaction and motivation in a non-monetary way.

BPOs are now offering flexible work arrangements which allows their agents to take the calls from home. Consulting can now be done in the comfort of one’s home. Shared services within global organizations have now adopted telecommuting at least three times a week.

Catering to more home workers However, the question is, are the Filipinos ready to telecommute? Working from home equates to fast and reliable internet connection. With the establishment of DICT, hopefully internet in the Philippines will have broader coverage. Congested areas must be capable of catering to more home workers and of course, we want it to be

faster and cheaper.

Telecommute also entails that employees need to be available at a certain shift or complete a required number of hours. Flexible work arrangement is a give and take relationship between employees and their employers.

Controls and monitoring have to be in place.

Keeping it professional Companies have to ensure that customer interaction would be kept at a professional level and priorities have to be accomplished according to their performance objectives. There should be no dogs barking, babies playing with the laptop or video calls showing the informal household.

More often than not, benefits like these are being taken advantage of and this is where work ethics have to be in place. An employee cannot talk to a cus-

tomer unprepared and sounding like he has woken up from a nap.

The work place set up at home must be able to deliver and continue the environment offered in the formal office.

Granting telecommuting privilege To gain competitive advantage over this flexible work arrangement, criteria must be in place in offering this benefit.

Those who require minimal supervision could be allowed to work from home for a certain number of days while experts and seniors can be given full time telecommuting privileges.

It is critical that employees be mature enough and well-trained to take ownership of their tasks.

Managers also play a critical role in telecommuting arrangements. Leaders should be able to keep up team dynamics, encourage innovation and improve-

ment and monitor performance even without the actual physical interaction with the subordinates. There is a lot to consider in the implementation of telecommuting but careful planning and attention to organizational strategies will be the key to reaping the benefits of this technological advancement we have today.

The author is an MBA student of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. This reflection was written as part of the course requirements for Strategic Human Resource Management.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty and its administrators.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

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Business

People walk and rest in “Paris Plages” (Paris Beach) on the bank of the Seine river, in central Paris, on July 22, 2016. AFP

Terror attacks taking toll on French tourism

By Anne-Sophie Morel and Katia Dolmadjian

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ARIS―France’s already-battered tourism industry took a further hit in late July during what should have been the height of the season as foreign visitors stayed away after 84 people were killed in Nice on Bastille Day. In the week following the July 14 attack on the Riviera city’s Promenade des Anglais boulevard, arrivals by air slumped 8.8 percent compared with the same period in 2015, according to data from ForwardKeys which daily sifts more than 14 million air travel transactions.

The sector has been struggling for months, not least since the November 13 attacks in and around Paris which claimed 130 lives.

Between January and July 10 arrivals to France by air were down 5.8 percent, and down 11 percent to Paris.

Flight reservations to France following the Nice attack were

down 20 percent.

France is the world’s top tourist destination and the tourism sector accounts for around nine percent of GDP. France had hoped the Euro 2016 football championships would give tourism a shot in the arm―but has been disappointed.

“Nice wiped out the Euro football effect, which went off well in security terms and polished France’s image,” said Frederic Valletoux, chairman of the Ile de France regional tourist authority, which covers the Paris region and its environs.

After Nice, President Francois Hollande extended the state of

emergency “which doesn’t help us―we continue to see customer numbers contract, especially Americans and Asians,” said Valletoux.

He says a consolation is that “French clients seem to be staying firm,” even if Herve Becam, chairman of the main hoteliers’ union Umih, noted that overall “the trend is not good.”

The Cote d’Azur area around Nice, usually a major summer draw, saw hotel occupancy rates fall between five and 10 percent through to latest figures running to last week.

And in Paris, Umih expects a fall of nearer 20 percent, hitting restaurants as well as hotels.

Other regions have also been hit, including Normandy, where a priest was killed by two jihadists last Tuesday.

Revenue per room for fivestar Parisian establishments had been up nine percent before the Nice attacks, but by July 28 was 45 percent below the norm, says Umih’s Prestige

offshoot―which adds that Chinese demand has been sorely affected.

“What is new is the disaffection of Chinese clients for Paris and France,” noted Umih Prestige, saying that some business congresses scheduled for the second half of the year had been cancelled.

Prior to Nice, July had been looking strong but “the July 14 attack brusquely pushed us down five percent,” says Alain de Mendonca, chairman of travel firm Karavel-Promovacances, adding that “people are afraid to go to the airport, to take a plane.”

Sector specialist Protourisme believes July hotel stay data will come in four percent down on last year.

“But it could have been worse,” said Protourisme chairman Didier Arino, not least given that much of France suffered weeks of unseasonable weather going into July while Air France was hit by a strike at the start of

Euro 2016―and is now in the midst of another one.

Neighboring Germany has also seen a spate of recent attacks but has not to date seen suffered a wave of cancellations, a spokeswoman for the German national tourist board told AFP on Friday.

Asked about potential impact, she said “we’re in close contact with our representations abroad and we’ve been watching the reactions―immediately after the latest attacks there hasn’t been any sign of a reaction.

There haven’t been any cancellations.”

May saw a three percent overall rise in hotel stays despite a two percent fall for foreign tourists, German statistical body Destatis reported.

The tourist board blamed that on “different factors” including economic and political instability.

“We were expecting growth to fall, independently of any attacks.” AFP

Morgan Stanley sees US dollar dropping 5% THE dollar is set to fall 5 percent in the next few months, the Federal Reserve isn’t raising interest rates anytime soon and US economic data is only going to get worse.

That’s what Morgan Stanley chief global currency strategist Hans Redeker told clients in a note published Thursday, citing in-house indicators showing US domestic demand is set to fade in the coming months. It didn’t take long for markets to prove him prescient. The greenback fell 1.3 percent Friday, capping its worst week since April, after the Commerce Department said US second-quarter gross domestic product advanced at about half the rate economists had forecast.

“We are quite pessimistic about, first, the outcome of the US economy,” Redeker said in an interview on Bloomberg Television Friday, before the

GDP report’s release. “When you look at our internal indicators, which capture domestic demand very well, they are suggesting that the demand strength is going to fade from here.”

The greenback had rallied in recent weeks on mounting speculation the Fed will hike rates in the coming months following better-than-expected data on jobs, retail sales and industrial production. Dollar bulls’ hopes were dampened Wednesday after a lukewarm policy statement from Fed officials that signaled only a gradual pace towards tighter monetary policy. They were dashed after Friday’s GDP print, which showed a 1.2 percent annualized increase in the April-June period, less than the 2.5 percent median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

Bloomberg

WEAK GROWTH. Chicago, IL—Consumers hold shopping bags as they walk along Michigan Avenue on July 29, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. The US economy grew by 1.2% in the second quarter weaker than economists expected. AFP

Chinese investors buy unit of Caesars INVESTORS led by Chinese online games developer Shanghai Giant Network Technology Co. agreed to buy Caesars Entertainment Corp.’s online casino-style games unit Playtika Ltd. for $4.4 billion in cash, even as gambling remains illegal in the Asian country.

The consortium includes Yunfeng Capital, the private equity company founded by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. chairman Jack Ma, China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co., China Minsheng Trust Co. and Hony Capital Fund, the purchasers said Sunday in a statement. Playtika will remain independently run from its headquarters in Herliya, Israel, they said.

The deal gives the Chinese buyers a foothold in a fastgrowing segment of the gaming industry, as users turn to mobile applications over the PC- and console-based systems. Organized gambling is illegal in China with the exception of licensed casinos in Macau, and while rules aren’t clear for online games, authorities have regularly raided operators.

“Despite the legal issues in China, these Chinese investors are more comfortable playing the long game,” Union Gaming Group LLC analyst Grant Govertsen said. “Online gaming, eventually, should be massive after the various regulatory hurdles are worked out even if it takes a significant number of years.” Bloomberg

SABMiller okays bid to acquire AB InBev SABMiller Plc’s board unanimously recommended Anheuser-Busch InBev SA’s improved $104 billion takeover offer, paving the way for the biggest acquisition in the history of the beer industry and capping a tumultuous week in which the Budweiser maker bowed to pressure to sweeten its offer.

The board of London-based SABMiller proposed that its two biggest shareholders, Altria Group Inc. and Bevco Ltd., be treated as a separate class of stockholders and allow other SABMiller investors to vote on the new offer separately, the company said in a statement.

AB InBev said it welcomed the recommendation, in a separate statement.

SABMiller’s board faced the choice of backing a bid that Chairman Jan du Plessis said was at the “lower end” of what he deemed acceptable, or risk letting the industrytransforming combination fall apart. AB InBev gave in to some investors when it raised its bid once more this week to factor in the pound’s plunge in the wake of the UK’s Brexit vote that put minority and institutional shareholders at a disadvantage.

“The board’s decision was difficult,” du Plessis said in the statement. “Various factors have affected the value of the offer, most importantly the impact of the Brexit vote on the value of sterling and the re-rating of comparable companies. This has made the Board’s decision more challenging.”

SABMiller shares rose 2.1 percent to 44.14 pounds Friday in London, while AB InBev rose 4.6 percent to 115.30 euros in Brussels.

“I think this is a further step towards successful completion, but by splitting the shareholders into two groups, it makes it somewhat more difficult to gain the necessary level of acceptances,” Andrew Holland, an analyst at Societe Generale, said by phone. “You need a higher percentage of SABMiller shareholders to get it done than if the shareholders hadn’t been split into two groups.” Bloomberg

LGUs

Military reservists promote disaster preparedness WITH enlisted men occupied in intensified operations against terrorism and illegal drugs, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will have to rely more on its reserve force for humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya said.

In a statement for the Joint Capability Demonstration on Saturday, Visaya warned of the continuing threat of disasters and the need for reservists and local governments to be prepared.

“Our reserve force will play a greater role in the years to come and it is good to know that the AFP Reserve Command recognizes this and has sought steps to prepare itself for joint HADR operations,” Visaya said.

In line with the observance of the National Disasters Preparedness Month, the AFP Reserve Command (Afrescom) and the City Government of Taguig led the demonstration to highlight the nationwide awareness campaign against disasters and measure the status of their preparations.

They simulated with partner agencies several scenarios caused by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake generated by the West Valley Fault, which is expected to devastate the greater Manila area in the near future.

“The conduct was meant to measure preparedness, readiness, and interoperability of Reserve units side by side with our partner agencies,” said BGen Leoncio Cirunay Jr., commander of Afrescom.

“This way, we can determine how far we’ve come in terms of capability and what others we need to improve on in saving lives and mitigating the effects of disasters in the shortest timeframe,” he added.

The scenarios included high casualty multiple vehicle collision, explosion, collapsed building rescue, high-angle rescue, and airlift evacuation that tested the capabilities of participating responders from crowd control to high altitude urban maneuvers.

Legazpi is 3rd most competitive city in PH LEGAZPI CITY—This premiere city in Bicol will soon rise as one of the country’s future investment hubs after ranking third in the National Competitiveness Council Philippines survey of how more than 1,300 local government units provided an attractive climate for business.

Legazpi Mayor Noel Rosal said Legazpi City got four awards, including the third place overall ranking, during the 4th Regional Competitiveness Summit and Awards ceremony held July 14 in Manila.

Rosal said he was “elated when the city was recognized as the third most competitive LGU in the country.”

This raised his hopes, he said, that Legazpi City would become the “next investment hub outside Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo and Davao.”

Rosal said the city’s rating jumped seven notches higher, “from number 10 in last year’s evaluation.”

The summit highlighted the results of the 2016 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), which measured the LGU’s ranking based on three criteria—economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure.

In its category as a component city, Legazpi received three awards—all in the third spot—in all the three criteria cited. The fourth award is the third place for “overall competitiveness.”

“Placing third among hundreds of component cities in the country is a great honor to us as we strived hard to gain the recognition,” Rosal said. The Philippine Statistical Authority said a component city is that which is located within the boundaries of two or more provinces. It said such a city shall be deemed a component of the province of which it used to be a municipality. PNA

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

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IDYLL. An aerial shot shows the US Embassy nestled in the calm waters of Manila Bay on a Roxas Boulevard free from traffic. Sonny Espiritu

Graft raps vs Aurora officials dismissed

By Ferdie G. Domingo

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ALER, Aurora—The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed for lack of merit the graft charges against this town’s mayor and 11 officials, including incumbent and former municipal councilors accused of allegedly misappropriating funds of the Sangguniang Bayan two years ago.

In a 12-page Joint Resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the graft complaints against Mayor Nelianto Bihasa and Councilors Noel Go, Gina Ritual, Reynaldo Mapindan, Felipe Friginal and Ramir Duaso and former councilors Pedro

Valenzuela, Danilo Ong, Gina Agapito and Meinrado Tropicales, municipal human resource officer Curie Bernardino and municipal budget officer Francisco Reopta.

The dismissal order was signed by graft investigator Esther Velasco-Legaspi and reviewed

by Adoracio Agrada. It was approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

The 15-page complaint was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman on April 29, 2015 by then-vice mayor Karen Angara-Ularan who accused the officials of diverting SB funds to pay the salaries of job order (JO) employees.

Angara-Ularan lost to Bihasa in the May elections.

At the time the charges were filed, Valenzuela, Ong, Agapito and Tropicales were incumbent councilors.

In her complaint, Angara-Ularan, then the SB presiding officer, said the 12 were criminally liable for malversation and fraud and administratively liable for

dishonesty, neglect of duty, gross misconduct, inefficiency, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and incompetence.

She said their offenses constituted violations of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 6713 or the Code of Ethical Conduct for Public Officials and Employees, RA 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act, the Civil Service Law and the Revised Penal Code.

The charges stemmed from Bihasa’s having allegedly taken money from the funds of the SB in collusion with the councilors and the two town officials, declared them as savings and used them to pay the wages of JOs. In her complaint, Angara-Ul-

aran said that prior to the taking of the funds, Bihasa sought approval of a supplemental budget to augment the funds of the municipal government and pay the JOs which she objected to since it would involve taking of the SB funds.

Due to her objections, Bihasa did not sign the ordinance and vetoed it which the SB members did not override, and agreed to stay the veto. However, the councilors voted to remove Angara-Ularan’s objections. The vice mayor said that the veto having been stayed, there was no approved ordinance.

The complainant said that when she later asked Bihasa for release of the reserve fund of her office, the mayor gave her a hard time.

Estrada mulls over bike lanes

DELUGE. The prevailing weather condition brought by tropical depression ‘Carina’ has caused flash floods in Poblacion Las Navas Town in Northern Samar. Carina has slightly accelerated as it continues to move in a northwest direction. Mel Caspe

DPWH Isabela completes 87% of 2016 projects

By Brenda Jocson SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela—The Department of Public Works and Highways of Isabela’s 4th Engineering District Office (DPWH4EDC) has completed and accomplished 87 percent of all the targeted infrastructure projects for fiscal year 2016.

The projects included road widening and those of the regular bottleneck in Diadi-Cordon areas, local infrastructure initiated by congressional allotment of P100 million to 15 major projects in the seven municipalities and Santiago City.

Moreno said the projects also include flood control, bridges, school buildings, farm to market road concreting and water impounding projects.

However, the DPWH-4EDC has accused the Santiago Water District (Sanwad) of delaying its P18-million bridge widening project on the national road here.

Engineer Bernard Moreno said Sanwad’s main pipe hinders the completion of the widening of Magabito Bridge in Mabini, now also causing heavy traffic along the Maharlika Road.

“We sent Sanwad a letter on October 18, 2015 asking them to

remove one of their main pipes which traverses the length of Magabito Bridge due to ongoing construction and renovations work by Mardeb Construction but our plea fell on deaf ears,” Moreno said.

He said the bridge is supposed to be opened on July 30 but Sanwad’s pipe is still there which has been causing the construction firm a negative slippage and delay in reaching its target of completion.

“This Magabito Bridge is one of our big problems. Sanwad won’t hasten in relocating their pipe which poses risk to motor-

ists. We would start concreting on the bridge runaway soon but Sanwad would have to clean up its own mess. They should observe timeliness so that we could finish our project on the deadline, but we are already delayed as it is,” Moreno said.

According to Mardeb Construction, as early as Oct. 12, 2015, they have already called the attention of 4EDC for Sanwad to dig out one of their main size eight pipes which lay atop the bridge runaway where nearly six meters of the pipe’s length straddle the bridge runaway and to relocate it.

IN THE aftermath of the Quiapo road rage incident where a cyclist was brutally killed by an irate motorist, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said he is considering putting up dedicated bike lanes in some Manila streets.

Estrada said he plans to discuss this with concerned government traffic agencies such as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and cycling organizations.

“Biking is a healthy exercise and it’s environment-friendly and less use of motor vehicles means less air pollution,” the mayor said.

The mayor acknowledged that many streets in Manila are narrow, owing to its Spanish-era design when horse-drawn calesas were the main transportation.

“This is why we have narrow roads, which is often the cause of traffic congestion, and in rare instances, road rage cases like the one that happened in Quiapo,” Estrada pointed out.

The victim of the Quiapo road rage, Mark Vincent Garalde, had a traffic spat with Army reservist Vhon Tanto on Arlegui Street.

They got into a fight in P. Casal Street which ended with Tanto shooting Garalde dead.

With dedicated bike lanes, Estrada said, bikers will have safe corridors and they will also encourage others to try cycling as an alternative urban transportation.

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IN BRIEF Drug tests clear entire Tacloban police force TACLOBAN CITY—Mandatory tests have cleared this city’s policemen of suspicion of drug dependence, the Tacloban City Police Office reported.

All the 315 members of the city police and 10 of its non-uniformed personnel tested negative for illegal substances. The mandatory and unannounced drug testing among city police and its office personnel was conducted after the visit of police regional director, Chief Supt. Elmer Baltejar.

“Drug tests are necessary and once we find out that a policeman is selling or using drugs I will immediately dismiss him or her for tarnishing the image of the city police,” Police director, Senior Supt. Rolando Bade stressed. However, Bade said they will not remain complacent. He said he will continue to monitor his men to ensure that they will not use or trade in illegal drugs.

The police are now implementing “Operation Tokhang” and encouraging drug users and pushers to surrender to the police or to other government officials. Mel Caspe

LGUs

Stop demolition of Davao slum, Duterte orders

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

D

AVAO CITY— President Rodrigo Duterte vows that there will be no demolition until he finds a relocation site for the informal settlers of Purok 45, Brgy. 76-A, this city, on Friday evening.

Baguio’s 3rd most wanted pusher dead in buy-bust BAGUIO City—The city’s No. 3 drug personality and a businessman was shot dead by police operatives during a buybust operation at Muller subdivision, Crystal Cave, Bakakeng Central Thursday night.

Senior Supt. George Daskeo, city director of the Baguio City Police Office, identified the slain drug personality as Ryan Dave Tuazon Almora, a resident of Muller subdivision in this city.

The confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the BCPO headquarters for proper turnover to the PNP crime laboratory for the conduct of appropriate tests. Dexter A. See

Ex-cop, 2 drug suspects shot dead CABANATUAN CITY—A 38-year-old former policeman who was dismissed from the service for allegedly being the leader of a dreaded syndicate engaged in gun smuggling, motornapping and illegal drugs and two suspected drug pushers were killed in three separate incidents in Nueva Ecija over the past three days.

Nueva Ecija police director Senior Supt. Manuel Cornel reported to Chief Supt. Aeron Aquino, Region 3 director, that the three fatalities were former Police Officer 3 Edmundo Plamenco, Michelle Agustin and Jim Sequig.

Plamenco is reportedly the leader of the Plamenco Group operating in this city and nearby municipalities.

In Muñoz, Agustin’s body was recovered by barangay officials in a rice field at Barangay Catalanacan Saturday. Police said he had surrendered under Oplan Tokhang. Ferdie G. Domingo

SUFFRAGE. A large crowd flocked to the Commission on Elections office at the Astrodome in Tacloban City on the last day of the registration for the Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay polls. Mel Caspe

CPS inaugural lecture analyzes federalism LINGAYEN, Pangasinan— University of the Philippines Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero de Vera III discusses ‘‘federalism’’ during the inaugural lecture of the Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS) at the Sison Auditorium recently.

De Vera, a political analyst who traces his roots to Tayug town, focused his lecture on “The Challenges and Opportunities for a Federal Philippines” and explained to the participants from the bureaucracy, the academe and private sectors the differences between the unitary and federal systems of government.

The burning issues concerning federalism—including spheres of government, division of powers, division of resources, and entrenched and enforced constitution—were

tackled in a panel discussion.

Governor Amado Espino III expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support of UP administration and five collaborating private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the province for the successful launching of CPS. The federalism lecture by the CPS, Espino said, was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposed federal system of government.

“This lecture enlightens and gives us a clearer picture on what federalism may bring to provincial, city and municipal government units, to the various civil society organizations, and to the Pangasinenses in particular,” Espino said.

The event kicked off the lecture series of CPS, which was declared by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on July

18 as the official think tank of the province legislated under Provincial Ordinance No. 1-2016.

The legislation calls for the establishment of the CPS and for the provincial government to support this group not only to validate the past, but to give a brighter future for all Pangasinenses, ordinance author Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. said.

The CPS was established on June 18, 2015 through the memorandum of understanding signing between UP represented by President Alfredo Pascual and De Vera and the Pangasinan provincial government led by former governor and now fifth district Representative Amado Espino Jr. Another agreement was inked on April 5, 2016 during the Agew na Pangasinan

Manila streets to have more CCTV cameras

By Sandy Araneta

Cordillera’s No. 20 drug personality nabbed BAGUIO CITY—The Cordillera region’s No. 20 drug personality and a member of a notorious local drug group was arrested by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents after having found in his possession suspected illegal drugs and assorted illegal drug paraphernalia during the implementation of a search warrant in his residence at Victoria Village, here, Thursday.

Senior Supt. George Daskeo, city director of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), identified the arrested drug personality as Proseso Arboleda Arevalo Jr., of legal age, a member of the Rey Rivera drug group operating in the city and a resident of Victoria Village, Baguio City.

Dexter A. See

celebration to signify the collaboration of UP, the provincial government and five local HEIs namely: University of Luzon, Lyceum Northwestern University, University of Pangasinan-Phinma and Colegio de Dagupan, all based in Dagupan City; and Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation based in San Carlos City.

The CPS logo-making contest and official CPS Facebook fan page were also launched after the lecture.

Present during the inaugural lecture were: CPS executive director Perla Legazpi, Provincial Historical and Cultural Commission Chairman Gonzalo Duque, UP Baguio Chancellor Raymundo Rovillos, Calimlim and some board members, and research directors and representatives from CPS partner local HEIs.

D ut e r t e , a former mayor of Davao City, infor med the 227 families of the said Purok that the government is planning to develop their area to decongest the worsening traffic of the city.

“Time will really come that we will need this place and convert this into a way to lessen the traffic,” the President said.

He said that thousands of Davaoeños are affected by the traffic problem.

Duterte said that business is booming and big investments have entered the city.

He said he has found a relocation site for the informal settlers but he will be needing at least a year to provide jobs and livelihood.

“Give me a year so that I can transfer the small businesses of the people, I will open the economy and let the businesses to enter for your own good,” he said.

Duterte said that he will ask his daughter, Sara, the mayor of Davao, to delay the demolition.

He said residents are asking him to develop the governmentowned area into a roadway.

Duterte also reminded the public to practice family planning for “your own good.”

He said he pities the children who suffer because their parents cannot afford to give them enough food, shelter, clothing and education.

The President said the government can only afford to send two or three children per family to school because the government’s money is limited.

“I am not a crazy president to lead you into a road that will ruin your life, everything that I do is for your own good,” Duterte said.

PLAYTIME. The Polomolok Municipal Health Center in South Cotabato, which serves 138,000 marginalized people in 28 barangays, was rehabilitated with the help of the BDO Foundation. The center’s facilities for children and the elderly, consultation rooms, minor surgery and treatment rooms, pharmacy, the dental clinic, the labor room, the birthing room and the breastfeeding area were renovated.

Leyte remembers ‘Yolanda’ victims PALO, Leyte—This town is planning a new tourism program in memory of those who perished during the onslaught of Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ in 2013.

A few years back, the local government here conceptualized 4Ps-Pamalandong (Holy Week) in every March or April, Patron (fiesta) in August, Pagbalik (Leyte Gulf Landing Commemoration) in October, and Pasko (Christmas) in December.

4Ps is a local tourism program launched by Mayor Remedios Petilla. In this initiative, all significant events in their town are being presented as a package for all tourists. These activities have drawn tourists to their town, she said.

Petilla said the program will soon be dubbed as 5Ps with the inclusion of Paghinumdum or remembering those who died when Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ rav-

aged their town on Nov. 8, 2013.

“There is a big possibility that the Paghinumdum event will be included in the program, especially that many people will come home for the commemoration of the event, to pay their respects to their dead loved ones,” she said.

Petilla is hopeful that with the inclusion of Paghinumdum, local tourism will be more vibrant and meaningful. PNA

MAYOR Joseph “Erap” Estrada said he will continue to release funds to buy more security cameras on Manila’s streets in the wake of last Monday’s road rage killing.

Estrada said he was briefed by police investigators that the shooting was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV).

While the video footage was a big help in recording the crime, the mayor said it would have been better if those onlookers immediately pacified the duo, perhaps saving Garalde’s life.

“President Duterte is right in encouraging people to do citizen’s arrest because all of us are responsible for each other as patriotic Filipino citizens.

We can spend billions in putting up security systems such as CCTVs for crime prevention but we, as citizens, should be more conscientious in preventing or reporting criminality,” Estrada pointed out.

“Let us do our part, who knows one day it will be our own loved ones who will be the victims of such crime,” Estrada pointed out.

Estrada said the “quest for

justice does not stop with the arrest of the suspect,” adding that “true justice” can only come if people cooperate.

Estrada said his government will definitely pursue the installation of more CCTVs throughout the city and continue equipping the barangays and the city police for anticrime operations.

Early this month, Estrada released about P20 million to help the city’s 896 barangays fight drugs and crime. The bulk of the funds will be used for the procurement of more CCTVs in the communities.

Meanwhile, Councilor Macky Lacson, whose father is a barangay chairman in Tondo, praised Estrada for empowering communities to fight crime.

During the time of former mayor Lito Atienza, he recounted, their annual budget was only P1.7 million but since 2013 when Estrada assumed office, their budget has increased to as high as P2.8 million.

“The CCTVs in the barangays have become a deterrent.

People have become more disciplined because they know they are being watched by CCTVs, so they are an effective an crime deterrent,” Lacson stressed.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW Manila

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Pope leads youth fest B

RZEGI, Poland—Pope Francis was set to celebrate mass Sunday with some 1.6 million pilgrims in a vast field, wrapping up a emotionally charged trip to Poland which took him to Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

Pope Francis arrives in a popemobile for a mass in the Campus Misericordiae in Brzegi, near Krakow on July 31 at the end of the World Youth Days (WYD). Pope Francis is in Poland for an international Catholic youth festival with a mission to encourage openness to migrants. AFP

Gunmen free hostages in lengthy stand-off YEREVAN, Armenia—Gunmen locked in a lengthy stand-off with police in Armenia have released their last two hostages, an official said Sunday, after a fresh night of protests shook the capital Yerevan.

“Two medics who were the remaining hostages left the seized building yesterday evening,” said health ministry spokeswoman Anahit Haytayan.

Armenia has been plunged into tur-

Tokyo votes to elect governor

moil since a group of armed men seized a police compound in Yerevan on July 17, demanding the release of opposition figure Zhirair Sefilyan.

The lengthy siege appeared far from over, with an AFP correspondent reporting explosions from the compound.

The gunmen, who seized a cache of weapons and killed a police officer, initially held four doctors hostage but have gradually freed them.

Authorities on Saturday warned they have the right to use force against the group, which calls itself Sasna Tsrer, but have not yet begun to storm the building.

The hostage crisis has sparked massive protests, with police brutally dispersing thousands demonstrating on Friday evening, injuring scores of people.

Thousands more turned up on Sat-

urday to another protest which ended without violence, although one man set himself on fire after dousing his clothes in gasoline. He was taken to hospital.

On Saturday a police officer was killed by a sniper who authorities said was firing from inside the seized police compound.

One of the gunmen, Varuzhan Avetisyan, on Sunday denied killing the officer. AFP

High-spirited teenagers, scouts, priests and families had camped under the stars in the vast “Campus Misericordiae” (Field of Mercy) near the Polish city of Krakow ahead of the final mass of a week-long Catholic festival.

Francis waved to the bleary-eyed crowds as he toured the site in his pope-mobile at the start of a ceremony attended by 1.6 million worshippers, according to Bishop Damian Muskus, the festival’s coordinator.

He had kicked off the day blessing new houses for the poor and elderly built by Catholic charity Caritas.

Hundreds of thousands of people had streamed to the grassy site Saturday with folding chairs, sleeping bags, umbrellas and sun-hats, amid warnings hours in the baking July sun could be broken with a rainstorm.

At the evening vigil on Saturday, Francis chastised “drowsy and dull kids who confuse happiness with a sofa,” urging them to get out and live life rather than spend it glued to smartphones.

Latin America’s first pontiff had faced stiff competition at the start of his five-day trip with the memory of immensely popular Polish pope and saint John Paul II, but quickly made the festivities his own.

As he visited the death camp in Auschwitz, he warned that the cruelty seen there “did not end” with World War II. The “world is at war,” Francis said, but the way to “overcome fear” was to welcome people fleeing conflicts and persecution – a message with particular resonance in Poland, which has taken a hard line against refugees.

On Saturday he prayed for God to rid the world of the “devastating wave of terrorism.”

“In these dangerous times, he is convincing people not to be afraid to open up,” Polish pilgrim Kasia Czajka, 40, said ahead of the mass.

“While John Paul II was especially focused on the young, Francis is for all people in need.”

The head of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics cracked joke after joke with youngsters gathered nightly beneath his window, cranking up the party spirit at an event dubbed “the Catholic Woodstock.” AFP OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Invitation to Bid

Invitation to Bid

The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2016 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment for the following contracts:

The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2016 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment for the following contracts:

Ref. No.

Projects

2016 C o n s t r u c t i o n -08- of One (1) Unit 181 Covered Court/ Multi-Purpose Villa TOKYO—Tokyo residentsCenter, Santa Rosa, Brgy.

City voted Sunday for a new gov-Caingin, Santa Rosa, ernor tasked with preparingof Laguna for the problem-plagued2016 2020Construction of Olympics, after financial -08scan-NHA Southville 182 1 Field Office, dals forced the last two leaders Southville 1 of the sprawling metropolis toHousing Project, Brgy.

Marinig, quit.

Cabuyao, Laguna The Japanese capital’s trou2016 A d m i n i s t r a t i o n bled preparations for the -08sum-B u i l d i n g for mer Olympics, especially183theExtension Planning and soaring costs, will be the majorDesign Office challenge facing the winner. at NHA Naga Office, Block 1, Euphoria in 2013 at secur-MRH Site, Villa ing the right to host sport’sGrande Homes, Concepcion marquee event has given wayBrgy.

Grande, Naga to frustration over gaffes andCity

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Ref. No.

Duration Required Work (c.d.)

PCAB License Description

5,933,935.55 NG Subsidy

150

Category “C” and “D” and Small “B for Building

Construction of Covered Court/MultiPurpose Center

4,999,871.00 Corporate Receipts

150

Category “C” and “D” and Small “B for Building

Construction of Office Building

909,953.65 Corporate Receipts

120

Category “C” and “D” and Small “B for Building

Construction of Office Building

Projects

2016 C o n s t r u c t i o n -08- of One (1) Unit 181 Covered Court/ Multi-Purpose Center, Villa Santa Rosa, Brgy.

Caingin, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna 2016 Construction of -08- NHA Southville 182 1 Field Office, Southville 1 Housing Project, Brgy.

Marinig, Cabuyao, Laguna 2016 A d m i n i s t r a t i o n -08- B u i l d i n g 183 Extension for Planning and Design Office at NHA Naga Office, Block 1, MRH Site, Villa Grande Homes, Brgy. Concepcion Grande, Naga City

scandals.

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

A record 21 candidates are The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited projects. Completion of the works is required vying to lead the metropolis within the duration herein cited upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should completed a single contract similar to the project costing at least fifty percent (50%) with a total population have of 13.6 of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, million and an economy the in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

COMBAT-READY. Malaysian army personnel demonstrate combat skills in a war situation during the Warriors’ size of Indonesia’s.

Bidding will beDay conducted throughinopen competitive bidding procedures using non- 31. AFP Celebration Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur on July Local media surveys,discretionary how- pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government ever, suggest it is a three-way Procurement Reform Act”. race between former defence Republic of the Philippines RESPONDENT gave birth to their second Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or son, RESPONDENT stayed with PETITIONER R EGIONAL TRIAL COURT minister Yuriko Koike, organizations former with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital National Capital Judicial Region at their residence in Manila for two months and returned to Quezon province; (5) That stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

BR ANCH 214 governor of the northeastern PETITIONER and RESPONDENT did not Mandaluyong Cit y actually lived together as husband and wife R AMON FORTUNADO BASL AO, because RESPONDENT refused to live with complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/authorized official prefecture of Iwate AHiroya PETITIONER and preferred to live with her Petitioner, representatives or employees of the Contractor who can show proof of Notarized parents because the latter’s parents were Masuda and veteran TV jour- to secure bid documents for the specific project, Official Company ID upon -versusAuthority against the PETITIONER; (6) That in order CIVIL CASE NO. MC15 9616 to support their two sons, PETITIONER nalist Shuntaro Torigoe.submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI), presentation of Original PCAB License, Contract For: DECL AR ATION OF worked as an overseas contract worker (7) Agreement and Certificate of Completion/Acceptance for completed similar project/s NULLIT Y OF MARRIAGE That since 2008, PETITIONER completely As of 3 p.m. (0600 and GMT) DE fee BRAVO, Mexico—Sitting in a lost contact with RESPONDENT and did upon CashTULANCINGO Payment of non-refundable of P6,000.00 for Ref. No. 2016-08-181, DULCENIA A . SAYNES, not know her whereabouts; (8) That the last for Ref. No. 2016-08-182 and P1,000.00 for Ref. No. 2016-08-183 at the Respondent . more than 27 percent hadP5,000.00 voted Mexican prison’s library, murder convict David Guzknown address of RESPONDENT is at No. nd x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x 1317 Legarda Street, Sampaloc, Manila, and Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2 Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City O R D E R (9) That RESPONDENT is psychologically compared to some 20 percent man skull on1, a2016. leather patch for a designer from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 tattooed p.m. startingaon August Deadline of submission of LOI is incapacitated to discharge the essential August 10, 2016.

The BAC Secretariat be contacted This is a petition for nullity of marriage filed marital obligations. at the same time in theonprevihandbag to 2be sold in may a luxury shop.at Tel/Fax No. 928-8272.

by Ramon Fortunado Baslao (PETITIONER) Consequently, Summons together with against Dulcenia A. Saynes (RESPONDENT) its annexes was sent to RESPONDENT in The NHA will holdGuzman, a Pre-bid Conference August 2016, at at a 9:00 a.m. atage, the ous election.

34, took on drugs and11,stole young on 26 August 2015. her last known address at No. 1317 Legarda Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be PETITIONER prays that the after due Street, Sampaloc, Manila. However, it was Vote-counting begins OPEN immeinto a purchased “nefarious” world that landed him in notice and hearing, judgment be rendered returned UNSERVED with the information ONLY tofalling bidders who have the Bidding Documents. declaring his marriage with RESPONDENT that RESPONDENT’s address is nondiately after polls close at 8 pm. prison, but five years into his murder sentence, he apnull and void ab initio on the ground of existent (Sheriff’s Report of Service dated 04 rd Bids must be delivered at the Operations Center, 3 Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, psychological incapacity of the RESPONDENT December 2015). under Article 36 of the Family Code of the The election was called afpeared at peace as he drew the skeletal figure.

Quezon City not later than 9:00 a.m. on the date specified below.

WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be Philippines. PETITIONER further prays for such other reliefs just and equitable under the sufficient in form and substance and pursuant ter governor Yoichi Masuzoe His work is part of a rehabilitation project called Prison to Supreme Court A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC in circumstances.

Schedule of Opening of Bid rel. to Sec. 15, Rule 14 of the Rules of Civil To support his claim, PETITIONER Procedures, let SUMMONS be served upon abruptly resigned, felledAugust by a 23, 2016 Art, which pays draw designs for purses that sell Ref. Nos.to 2016-08-181, 182 and 183 - inmates cites the following allegations: (1) That RESPONDENT DULCENIA A. SAYNES by the PETITIONER is of legal age, a Filipino scandal over his lavish All spendforaccompanied $400 at high-end ininMexico City and other towns.

PUBLICATION in a newspaper of general Bids must be by a bidstores security any of the acceptable forms and citizen, an overseas filipino worker and with circulation in the Philippines accredited address at 288-A Sen. N. Gonzales Street, by the Office of the Executive Judge of Bid Data Sheet (BDS). opening followto immediately after the ing of public money. Heamount servedas stated inGuzman lobbied toBid bring theshall project the Tulancingo Mandaluyong City while RESPONDENT Regional Trial Court, Mandaluyong City deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence is likewise of legal age, a Filipino citizen, once a week for THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE just over half his term. of the Bidders’ representatives prison, in central Hidalgo state, several other inwho choose to attend.

Latewhere bids shall not be accepted. with last known address at No. 1317, WEEKS and a copy of the summons and Legarda Street, Sampaloc, Manila; (2) That this Order be sent to RESPONDENT by His predecessor NaokiThe Inose mates use makeshift tattoo ink needles to paint birds, butPETITIONER and RESPONDENT entered registered mail to her last known address NHA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, into marriage ceremony on 25 July 1988 in all at the expense of the PETITIONER. Ermita, Manila and solemnized by minister – who had led the successful tigers and,toespecially, skulls onthereby leatherincurring patches. and to reject allterflies, bids at any time prior contract award, without any Rev. Antonio Nacianceno (Marriage Contract Finally, RESPONDENT is directed to file liability to the affected bidder/s. is attached to the Petitioner, as Annex “A”) her Answer to the Petition within SIXTY (60) bid to win the Games – bowed The prisoners, young and old, usually work on their (3) That out of their marriage, PETITIONER DAYS from the last issue of this Notice. and RESPONDENT spouses begot two out later in 2013 after becombunk beds in dormitories that hold up to 100 people, or SO ORDERED. children named Raymond S. Baslao and (SGD) VICTOR C. BALBA Ramon Baslao, Jr., both presently of legal ing embroiled in a personal sitting on plastic containers Mandaluyong City. age; (4) That after the birth of the spouses’ Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) in communal spaces in a 29 March 2016. first son, RESPONDENT went back to her NATIONAL financial scandal, serving just HOUSING prisonAUTHORITY ranked fifth worst for overcrowding and insaluparents in Quezon Province and when (Sgd.) IMELDA L . PORTES- SAULOG Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City Presiding Judge (TS - July 25, & Aug. 1 & 8, 2016) one year. AFP brity by the National Human Rights Commission. AFP

Inmates tattoo luxury purses

( T S - A U G . 1, 2 016)

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Duration Required Work (c.d.)

PCAB License Description

5,933,935.55 NG Subsidy

150

Category “C” and “D” and Small “B for Building

Construction of Covered Court/MultiPurpose Center

4,999,871.00 Corporate Receipts

150

Category “C” and “D” and Small “B for Building

Construction of Office Building

909,953.65 Corporate Receipts

120

Category “C” and “D” and Small “B for Building

Construction of Office Building

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited projects. Completion of the works is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed a single contract similar to the project costing at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

R R Natio

A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/authorized official representatives or employees of the Contractor who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific project, Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI), presentation of Original PCAB License, Contract Agreement and Certificate of Completion/Acceptance for completed similar project/s and upon Cash Payment of non-refundable fee of P6,000.00 for Ref. No. 2016-08-181, P5,000.00 for Ref. No. 2016-08-182 and P1,000.00 for Ref. No. 2016-08-183 at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting on August 1, 2016. Deadline of submission of LOI is on August 10, 2016. The BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel/Fax No. 928-8272.

R AMON

The NHA will hold a Pre-bid Conference on August 11, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN ONLY to bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City not later than 9:00 a.m. on the date specified below.

Schedule of Opening of Bid August 23, 2016

-

Ref. Nos. 2016-08-181, 182 and 183

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and amount as stated in Bid Data Sheet (BDS). Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The NHA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s.

(SGD) VICTOR C. BALBA Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City

( T S - A U G . 1, 2 016)

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MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

World

FESTIVE MOOD. Africa National Congress (ANC) supporters arrive at the Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg for the party’s closing rally on July 31 ahead of the August 3 municipal elections. AFP

Yemen signs peace pact K

UWAIT City—The Yemeni government said Sunday it has accepted a UNproposed peace agreement to end more than a year of armed conflict, but there has been no word from the rebels.

The announcement by the Saudi-backed government came after a high-level meeting in Riyadh chaired by Yemen’s President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

“The meeting approved the draft agreement presented by the United Nations calling for an end to the armed conflict and the withdrawal (of rebels) from

Sanaa... and the cities of Taez and Al-Hudaydah,” said a statement, cited by the Saba news agency.

Yemen’s Foreign Minister Abdulmalek al-Mikhlafi, who is leading negotiating team in Kuwait City, said he has sent a letter to the UN special envoy informing him the government backed the “Kuwait Agreement.”

One pre-condition, however, is that the Iran-backed Huthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh sign the deal by August 7, Mikhlafi wrote on Twitter.

He said the Yemeni leadership has authorized the delegation to sign the deal, which has received strong international and regional backing.

There has been no official reaction from the rebels.

Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam, however, said on Twitter before the government announcement that the rebels

insist on a comprehensive and complete solution, and rejected what he called “half solutions.”

Under the agreement, all decisions made by the rebels since they occupied the capital in September 2014 will be scrapped, Mikhlafi said.

The deal also abolishes the controversial supreme political council set up jointly by the Huthis and the General People’s Congress of former president Saleh on Thursday to run the country, he said.

A political dialogue between various Yemeni fac-

tions will start 45 days after the rebels withdraw and hand over heavy weapons to a military committee to be formed

by President Hadi.

Prisoners of war will also be freed, as specified by the UN Security Council resolution 2216, the agreement said.

The talks in Kuwait, which began on April 21, have so far made no major breakthrough.

UN special envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Saturday managed to extend discussions for a week after the government delegation said it was leaving,

and submitted the peace deal draft to both sides.

The government approval also came hours after seven Saudi troops were killed in border clashes with Yemeni rebels.

More than 6,400 people have been killed in the Arabian Peninsula state since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in March last year in support of Hadi’s government.

Another 2.8 million people have been displaced and more than 80 percent of the population urgently needs humanitarian aid, according to UN figures.

16 killed in Texas Cannabis chef takes cuisine to new high hot air balloon crash LOCKHART, United States— Sixteen people were killed when a hot air balloon crashed in a fiery blaze on a rural field in central Texas, authorities told local media Saturday, one of the deadliest such accidents in history.

The balloon burst into f lames and plummeted to earth soon after dawn outside the town of Lockhart, some 50 kilometers south of Austin, Lynn Lunsford of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a

statement.

“When the Emergency Responders and the Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene, it was apparent that the reported fire was the basket portion of a hot air balloon,” the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted to Twitter.

The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that the 16 people onboard had died, according to the Austin American-Statesman and other US media. AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States —Christopher Sayegh holds up two syringes filled with cannabis compound, primed to pump tiny amounts into a pomegranate sorbet, or a juicy cut of Wagyu Japanese beef as part of a bold new sensory experiment.

As more US states move to legalize the use of recreational marijuana, the California chef is aiming to elevate haute cuisine to a new level.

Armed with cooking skills acquired while working at Michelin-star restaurants in New York and California, Sayegh says his mission is to redefine haute cuisine with cannabis-

infused meals that are becoming increasingly popular as the stigma surrounding marijuana gradually evaporates.

“I am trying to give people a cerebral experience,” Sayegh, 24, told AFP during a recent interview at The Herbal Chef, his Los Angeles-based company.

“But I’m also really careful in how I take them along on this journey.”

Sayegh’s foray into edible cannabis comes as more and more entrepreneurs look to capitalize on a new gold rush in California which is set to vote in November on legalizing recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over.

TEEN QUEEN. Miss Texas Teen USA 2016 Karlie Hay reacts as Miss USA 2016 Deshauna Barber (L), Miss Teen USA 2015 Katherine Haik (3rd L) and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (R) crown her Miss Teen USA 2016 at The Venetian Las Vegas on July 30.

AFP

crease over the previous year.

By 2020, sales are expected to surpass $22 billion, the group said in a recent report, with California making up $6.4 billion of that market.

Such projections are enough to make entrepreneurs like Sayegh salivate and quickly move to stake out their place in the burgeoning market of cannabislaced cuisine.

The young chef, who was studying molecular biology at university before dropping out to pursue his culinary project, said he has seen a huge uptick since starting his business about two years ago. AFP

Mali extends state of emergency anew

China investigates alleged Japanese spy

BEIJING, China—Beijing has confirmed it is investigating a Japanese suspected of “endangering China’s national security” following Japanese reports that he had been detained, the latest irritant in relations between the two nations.

The foreign ministry gave the confirmation in a statement quot-

Five other states, including Alaska, Colorado and Washington, have already adopted similar legislation and more are expected to follow suit as cannabis moves out of the shadows and becomes more mainstream.

Medical cannabis use is allowed so far in 23 states -- including California -- and that number is expected to grow, despite the fact that at the federal level the product remains illegal.

According to the Arcview Group, a cannabis investment and research firm based in California, legal sales of marijuana in the United States reached $1.2 billion in 2015, a 232 percent in-

ed by China’s Global Times newspaper, but did not specifically state that he had been detained.

The claim of endangering security is often used in cases of suspected espionage. The ministry said the Japanese embassy had been informed of the case.

There have been multiple reports in the Japanese press

since mid-July about the man’s disappearance. The Nikkei Business Daily identified him as the head of an organization working to improve ties between the two nations.

He was due to spend four days in Beijing for work but did not return home and has not been answering his mobile phone, Ja-

pan’s Kyodo news agency said Saturday, quoting Japanese government and other sources.

The Japanese government’s top spokesman Yoshihide Suga denied his country was involved in spying “against any nation,” Kyodo added.

Chinese authorities earlier this year arrested four Japanese on suspicion of spying. AFP

BAMAKO, Mali—Lawmakers in Mali agreed over the weekend to extend a state of emergency across the country by another eight months, officials told AFP, as fresh violence flared in the restive northeast.

MPs unanimously backed the extension – which has been renewed several times since last year – during an extraordinary session of the National Assembly, a parliamentary source said.

“I want to reassure that the state of emergency contributes to the stability of the country” and preserves security, interior minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga told lawmakers.

Hundreds of government supporters marched through central Bamako on Saturday afternoon to support Mali’s security forces and the peace process.

Demonstrators waved Malian flags, placards and banners reading: “No development without peace,” and “I love my country, I’m taking part.”

The state of emergency, which gives security services greater powers and restricts public gatherings, will last until March 29, 2017, public broadcaster ORTM said.

The vote came as renewed violence broke out near Kidal in the northeast, where local sources said former Tuareg rebels were battling members of a progovernment armed group for control of the city.

Deadly clashes broke out between the two groups last week, the first time they have broken a ceasefire since last September.

Mali declared a state of emergency in November after jihadists stormed the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, killing 20 people, mostly foreigners, in an attack claimed by AlQaeda’s regional branch.

The government imposed another for 10 days on July 21, after attackers stormed an army base in central Nampala, leaving 17 soldiers dead and 35 wounded. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

SIP & SAVOR

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

D1

Pan-seared duck foie gras with raspberry sauce

HEAR THE BUTTER SING

Celebrating appetite with Chef

N

Têtedoie

OBODY does haute cuisine quite like the French.

And of the vanguards of the French cuisine, perhaps no one, too, comes quite close to Chef Christian Têtedoie.

“You may be born a rooster, but you can become a chef,” said Têtedoie, a native of Lyon, France where he has seven restaurants, including an eponymous flagship. “Even if you have an innate sense of cooking, you still need dedication and training. There are no shortcuts to this – you do not become a chef overnight.”

Têtedoie visited Manila recently to give an introductory class to the first batch of students under the French culinary program of the Center for Culinary Arts-Manila (CCA) and the Hong Kong-based Institut Culinaire Disciples Escoffier (ICDE), which has 25,000 members in 26 countries. Graduates of the six-month program are expected to learn 250 cooking techniques and will receive two diplomas – one from CCA-ICDE and a National Di-

Chef Têtedoie demonstrates mastery of French cuisine with his scallops and Porcini mushroom.

THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

ploma in French Cuisine from the French Ministry of Education.

Each class will be composed of 10 students only to ensure that instructors have plenty of time to connect with students for personal mentoring. Applicants are not required to have basic culinary skills, but passion for cooking and willingness to learn are demanded from them at all times.

“French cuisine is all about patience.

It is very labor intensive. Some chefs nowadays are becoming lazy – they want everything instant. But you can’t cut corners when it comes to French cuisine,” said Têtedoie, a highly acclaimed Michelin-starred chef who started cooking at the age of seven.

He was named Best Apprentice of France at age 17, having trained under legendary chefs Paul Bocuse and Georges Blanc, and was once in

Caramelized upside down mango tarte tatin with fresh vanilla pod custard

charge of the presidential kitchen at the Élysées Palace for former President François Mitterrand.

Food, indeed, runs in Têtedoie’s blood.

Coming from a large family of agricultural workers, this influenced him to patronize local produce.

“My childhood has been blessed with being able to eat products sourced from our farm. Aside from getting fresh produce, I realized that we have a social responsibility to support our local farmers. This must

be taught early on, as our students today are the purchasers of tomorrow,” he said.

Despite being very traditional as the current president of the Maîtres Cuisiners de France – an invitationonly association of French master chefs worldwide whose motto is to preserve and spread the French culinary arts – Têtedoie is not one to shirk from innovation.

“You have to keep your eyes and ears open – there are a lot of things going on

and you must keep your dishes fresh.

You have to keep on innovating. Food is defined by constant progress and evolution,” he said.

This was made evident when Têtedoie performed a cooking demonstration at the CCA kitchen theater where he prepared sea scallops with Porcini mushrooms and spices. The sauce that he used showcased Asian flavors – soy sauce, curry powder and saffron.

“Being a master chef is not only about promoting French cuisine but also being able to take the best of foreign elements and integrating them in my style of cooking. Seasoning is crucial,” he said.

Têtedoie, while playfully licking sauce off his finger during the demonstration, recalled a question that one of his former mentors asked him before: Do you hear the butter sing?

“It is slow music, not quite rock,” he said in jest. “I cannot remember a time when I wanted to be something else. I live and breathe my cuisine.”

“Cooking is about generosity. It is more than a job. It is almost an art of living,” he added.

For Têtedoie, the butter is still singing.

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

New Flavors

by Buddha Bar’s seasoned chef BUDDHA Bar Manila continues to satisfy your cravings with the New Flavors Set Dinner Specials.

At P1200.00 net per person, Buddha-Bar Manila’s New Flavors menu offers interesting and mouthwatering dishes expertly crafted by Chef Soc Santos, currently the executive chef of the metro’s most stylish restaurant-lounge-and-bar.

A genius in crafting sumptuous dishes, Chef Soc fuses passion with meticulousness in her cooking. In her masterful hands, the Parisian quality of food preparation is creatively infused with Philippine and Pan Asian flavors that are very much evident in the distinct menus of Buddha-Bar Manila.

Chef Soc’s love affair with food goes back to the time when she earned a Grand Diploma in Classic Culinary Arts in New York’s International Culinary Center, formerly The French Culinary Institute. The award of excellence she received in the course of her training affirmed Chef Soc’s cooking prowess. She has been whipping up excellent dishes across the globe for more than 15 years.

They say that great food defies territorial borders, transforming cooking and dining into a euphoric experience. At Buddha-Bar Manila, that is exactly what Chef Soc brings to the table, world-class meals savored by everyone, from businessmen to picky food critics and bloggers to casual customers and foodies.

Specifically concocted and prepared by Chef Soc, Buddha-Bar Manila’s New Flavors Menu is an epicurean feast that begins with a choice of any of these soups: go healthy with Vegetable Chowder, a chunky mixed vegetable soup or prefer light with Asian Chicken Soup with Mushrooms.

Treat your taste buds to four options for the Main Course: Double Bento is a heavenly selection of Sushi and Japanese Dishes, Grilled Fish with Eastern Herb Rub, which is made of specially marinated Fish Fillet on top of Savory

Luscious white chocolate oozes from Hit Me! Chocolate Cake

Hit Me! Chocolate Cake at Andrew Cafe Buddha Bar Manila Executive Chef Soc Santos (left) with Buddha Bar Worldwide Corporate Chef Shigeki Iimura

Pasta, Chicken Three Ways or flavorful chicken thigh cooked in three different ways, and the inventive Deconstructed Beef En Croute, which is Teppan Grilled Angus Beef with a hint of bacon, sesame, and chili. Cap the food haven experience with either Chocolate Sesame Bar or Fresh Fruits.

Buddha-Bar Manila is located at Picar Place, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City.

For inquiries and reservations, please call (02) 8566719/856-6859/0998 983 3918. You may also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @buddhabarmnl

END your meal with the Hit Me! Chocolate Cake. It is the newest and most popular choice in the menu at Andrew Cafe.

The innovative fudge cake is crowned with a shell filled with oozing white chocolate. A hard tap on the topping releases the molten liquid all over the confection.

The restaurant, ran by culinary and hospitality students of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, also offers other desserts such as lava cake, green tea cake, and cream puffs.

Andrew Café is located at the corner of Arellano and Leon Guinto Streets, Malate, Manila, right beside the DLS-CSB Taft Campus.

Hit Me is an innovative fudge cake crowned with a shell

Life

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Rice meal on the go

ATING a complete and energy-filling meal of rice and viand is hard when you’re traveling or in transit.

But Century Pacific Food, Inc. makes it possible with their latest offering 555 Tuna Rice.

The innovative product, from the popular 555 Tuna range, was conceived for individuals who may not have the time to cook or prepare meals but would like to enjoy the goodness of lutong bahay dishes at home or on the go. As it already combines ulam and rice in one extra convenient foil pouch, the first of its kind in the market, consumers are sure to enjoy a true kumpleTUNA experience anytime and everywhere, living up to its promise of “Ka-Eat saan, Sarap!”

“The new 555 Tuna Rice remains true to what 555 Tuna is known for—delicious, home-cooked ulam at affordable prices. But this time, we are bringing more to the table—all your favorite dishes complete with rice in one convenient pack so you can have a delicious, filling rice meal anytime, anywhere!” says Greg Banzon, vice president and general manager of Century Pacific Food, Inc.

“With the new 555 Tuna Rice, everyone can now enjoy the healthfulness of tuna and rice, with the goodness of home cooking, all in an easy-to-open, easy-to-carry pack.”

555 Tuna comes in a unique, standup foil pouch designed in such a way to allow for space-saving storage in the pantry as well as for ease in bringing it with you wherever you go. While it is easy to open, it is also durable enough, allowing for better preservation of food and flavors.

The rice meal on the go comes in Tuna Rice Afritada, Tuna Rice Adobo and Tuna Rice Sisig varieties, each one capturing the essence and flavors of real home cooking.

Each 555 Tuna Rice pack is priced at P27.50 and is available in all leading supermarkets and grocery stores in Luzon.

YouTube star Bogart the Explorer brings a pack of 555 Tuna Rice to keep him filled and energized wherever his adventures may take him

Award-winning pizza chain presents new Hut Feast combinations AS the popular saying goes, variety is the spice of life and Pizza Hut, the country’s well-loved pizza chain, once again proves this adage true as it makes every day more exciting with the newest Hut Feast selections. Featuring the widest variety of food options and meal combinations, the new Hut Feast meals give customers real freedom to create their very own Hut Feasts everyday.

The new offerings feature a total of 12 meal combinations for groups of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 diners. For each meal combo, Pizza Hut has expanded the options for pizza flavors, main and side dishes and even drinks. With each combination, diners can enjoy a savory, satisfying meal that comes with huge savings of up to P1132.00 depending on the meal they choose.

Market Research Head Raymund Nobleza explained the new offering in detail.

“Our Hut Feasts have been very popular with our customers,” he said. “Our new offerings give them more reasons to enjoy Hut Feasts – they can have fun creating their own meal everyday and it can be a different combination each time. These are the best Hut Feasts yet from Pizza Hut.” For each Hut Feast meal combo, customers can choose from nine main dish options, and up to 15 side dish options. For groups of four or bigger, diners have a choice between Pan and Hand-Stretched Pizzas, with nine flavors available.

The choices for pizza flavors are simply overwhelming: Chicken BBQ, Sausage Deli, Supreme, Hawaiian Supreme, Bacon Cheeseburger, Cheese Lovers,

From left: Pizza Hut Philippines Marketing Head Lorent Adrias, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2016 Maxine Medina and Pizza Hut Philippines Research Manager Raymund Nobleza introduce Hut Feasts

Pizza Hut’s new Hut Feast meals allow customers to create their own food combinations

German Franks, Italian Delight, and 18-inch Blowout Pizza. Besides worldfamous pizzas, Pizza Hut also offers appetizing main dishes, including Baked Spaghetti Bolognese, Baked Spaghetti Carbonara, Baked Macaroni, Creamy Chicken Pesto, Cheesy Spaghetti Alfredo, Chargrilled Chicken, Seasoned Beef, 1-Piece Fried Chicken and BBQ Pulled Pork.

The side dishes are just as packed.

Adding more value to each Hut Feast meal are Coleslaw, Macaroni Salad,

Caesar’s Salad, Crab Roll Salad, Cucumber Tomato Roll, Buttered Corn, Mashed Potato, Garden Salad, Honey Glazed Sesame Salad, Mango Salad, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Caramelized Onion Soup, Fruits in Syrup, and Panna Cottas in mango, strawberry and chocolate flavors. Rounding the Hut Feasts off are thirst-quenching pitchers of Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Lemonade, Iced Tea or Apple Drink.

“Along with the new pizza flavors included in the Hut Feast promo, big-

ger portions are now available to fit our customers’ appetites,” shares Pizza Hut Philippines Digital Media and Public Relations Manager Jun Bernabe. “This makes each Hut Feast meal even more satisfying and delivers better value for money.”

For example, Pizza Hut’s Hut Feasts Meal 2 for two makes for the perfect lunch or dinner date. Pay only P299.00 to get two personal pizzas, two main dishes, two sides and two glasses of your preferred drinks and save P334.00.

Meanwhile, foursomes can select from three meal sets. A good choice is Meal 5, which has a family sized pizza, two main dishes, five sides and a pitcher of your preferred drink for only P619.00, which saves you P491.00.

Gather parties of six for Meal 9, which has two family pizzas, four main dishes,

six sides and a pitcher of your preferred drink for P1099.00, and save P816.00.

Groups of eight can save P1132.00 on Meal 11, which has two family pizzas, six main dishes, 12 sides and two pitchers of preferred drinks for only P1399.00. Finally, Meal 12 serves 10 persons, with two Blowout Pizzas, four main dishes, 12 sides and two pitchers of preferred drinks at only P1999.00, saving you P811.00.

Getting to choose your delicious and satisfying Pizza Hut favorites at a very affordable price is finally possible. Say “Yes to freedom!” in creating your own Hut Feast, and visit a Pizza Hut outlet near you. “Like” www.facebook.com/ pizzahutphilippines or log on to www. pizzahut.com.ph for more details. You can also follow @PizzaHutPhils on Twitter and Instagram, or simply call 911-1111 (Metro Manila) today.

BAR NOTES PINK POWER. The refreshing taste of raspberryflavored Hoegaarden Rosée has finally arrived to delight the Philippine bar scene

Embark on ‘French Wine Flight’ at Planet Grapes cover what you like and which wines suit your palate. Planet Grapes will serve up fun with its delightful range of crisp white wines, refreshing roses and juicy red blends. The cheese selection consists of kesong puti, goat cheese and the all-time favorite queso de bola. The wines to savor include: • Fashion Sauvignon Blanc 2014 • Paul Mas Estate Picpoul de Pinet 2014 • Fashion Rose 2014 • Paul Mas Estate GSM 2014 • Fashion Rouge 2014 • Paul Mas Vignes de Nicole Cabernet-Merlot 2014 Planet Grapes is a restaurant where street food meets wine. At the restaurant and wine bar, all wines and cheeses tastings will lead you to great stories on their origins.

For more information, please email info@planetgrapes.com. ph or visit planetgrapes.com.ph.

Planet Grapes is located at the ground floor of Bldg. 3 Tuscany at Mckinley Hill, Upper Mckinley Rd., Mckinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City (02) 551-3713; the New Wing of Ayala Center Cebu (032266-0526 or 032-262-0515); and North Wing, Shangri-La Mall, Mandaluyong City (531Planet Grapes offers a special pairing of French wines and Filipino cheeses 8207 or 532-2950).

GET ready to embark on a wine-and-food pairing adventure. Planet Grapes is offering the “French Wine Flight,” letting wine enthusiasts and foodies experience new tastes.

The wine restaurant-bar offers interesting combinations of wine with Filipino cheeses, grapes, nuts and honey. Tantalize your tastebuds, whether you are a complete beginner or have been drinking wine for some time.

For only P550 per set, enjoy a special pairing of six French wines and Filipino cheeses that go well together.

For the month of July, customers can sample six wines paired with three cheeses, pan de sal, grapes, honey and nuts. It is a great way to dis-

Hoegaarden Rosée in Manila MANILA’S bar scene gets a welcome lift with the arrival of Hoegaarden Rosée, an exquisite rose-tinged, raspberry flavored beer with an intriguing character and a surprisingly refreshing taste.

Naturally different, this extremely light beer is envisioned to be a surefire hit among the sophisticated set, especially women, who would be captivated by its pink hue and would love its innate freshness. It is similar in body to the original Hoegaarden wheat beer, but is infused with the sweet taste of raspberry, creating a rich, fruity aroma with subtle hints of spice and coriander.

Just like the original wheat version that Filipinos have come to love, the Rosée is fermented twice but is unfiltered, creating a cloudy appearance and smooth texture. The Rosée leaves no bitter aftertaste, making it the perfect choice for those ladies who want a quiet nightcap, something to pair with a meal, or simply want a drink that would help them to relax. With a low alcohol

content of just three percent, the Rosée may even be enjoyed during lunch breaks or during those lazy afternoons spent lounging around the beach.

“Filipinos love variety, and the Hoegardeen Rosée is an exciting addition that Filipino beer lovers, especially women, would definitely enjoy.

We have always felt that the female market needed more drink options, so we are delighted to bring the Rosée to the Philippines. Its sweet taste and lightness is perfect for the tropical climate of the Philippines,” said Chester Cabrera, marketing manager of Booze Online, Hoegaarden’s exclusive distributor in the Philippines.

Especially formulated by the Hoegaarden Brewery in Belgium, the Rosée is a concoction of barley malt, wheat, hops, coriander, Curaçao orange peel, Hoegaarden yeast, sugar, sweeteners, raspberry, strawberry, apple and elderberry.

Hoegaarden Rosée is available in draught, 330mL can, 250mL bottle and a very classy 750mL bottle.

Showbiz AMAZING RACERS. Real life couple Rona Samson and Eric Tai join beauty queens Parul Shah and Maggie Wilson (inset) in the new season of ‘The Amazing Race’

Filipinos

set to compete in $100K race

A

XN revealed the 11 fearless teams that will compete for $100,000.00 in The Amazing Race Asia Season 5. Pinoy power is strongly represented with two energetic teams: beauty queens, Parul Shah and Maggie Wilson, and married couple Rona Samson and Eric Tai. “We were overwhelmed by the response to our casting call for The Amazing Race Asia,” Ang Hui Keng, senior vice president and general manager, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, said at the official announcement.

“This season’s audition videos were creative, witty, clever and very surprising, so it was a tough selection process. We’re thrilled with the 11 teams – they embody AXN’s brand personality, which is passionate, determined, unexpected and high-octane. This is not just a show – it’s an adrenaline-fueled adventure for everyone involved, including our viewers.”

Slated to premiere in October, the fifth installment of the popular reality adventure series will be hosted by Asian-American actor Allan Wu, who was the ‘face of the race’ for AXN’s first four

seasons, and most recently the host of The Amazing Race China: Celebrity Edition.

“This season is going to be a huge adrenaline rush and a race like no other. The racers and AXN viewers can expect more thrills, more drama and more twists than ever before,” said Allan. “The teams will be transformed during the race, for better or worse – but one thing is for sure, it will be the ultimate adventure of a lifetime!”

Sharing the pit-stops and cohosting with Allan during selected legs of the race will be the stunning Indonesian movie star Tara Basro, who in 2015 won a Citra Award at the Indonesian Film Festival for Best Leading Actress for her role in A Copy of My Mind. Tara’s appearance in The Amazing Race Asia Season 5 marks the first time a co-host has

been cast in the series.

“I’m excited to join Allan and the racers in The Amazing Race Asia.

I have always loved the series, and now I get to be up close and right in the heart of the action. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to introduce the teams to some of my favorite destinations in Indonesia,” said Tara.

The 11 chosen teams hail from seven countries across Asia and represent a true cast of characters with diverse personalities, backgrounds, talents and relationships. They range from popular Singaporean DJs to Filipino beauty queens and promise viewers a highly entertaining and edge-of-your-seat journey. The

team lineup includes: Rach and Vicky: Travel Hosts, Indonesia; Louisa and Treasuri: Childhood Friends, Indonesia; Yvonne and Chloe: Beauty Queens, Malaysia; Alex and Will: Brothers, Malaysia; Brandon and Alphaeus: Old School Mates,Malaysia; Eric and Rona: Married couple, The Philippines; Parul and Maggie: Beauty Queens, the Philippines; JK and Mike: Radio DJs, Singapore; Rei and Kenji: Siblings, Singapore; Tom and Anita: Dating, Thailand; Lisa and Nicole: Life Partners, Vietnam.

Production of The Amazing Race Asia Season 5 kicks off next week.

Iya Villania and allergies

From left: Claritin Brand Manager Monch Cruz, Brand Ambassador Iya Villania-Arellano, Medical Adviser Dra. Lyra Yamat and Category Manager Ian Galvez

AWARENESS against allergies is the first way to defeat them and to stop them from limiting what you can do. In this effort, Claritin hosted the #ClaritinAllergy101 Session with Claritin Ambassador Iya Villania-Arellano at Cafe Naya at The Palace, BGC. Host Paolo Abrera introduced the star of the show. As a host, commercial model, wife, fitness buff, and soon-tobe mother, she’s filled with activities the whole day. On top of everything, she has to deal with a lot of allergies. She shared how allergies have always affected her growing up. “I was long hindered by dust, dander, and pollen. Even recently, I have been allergic with my husband’s cat,” she said. However, she added that because she’s always motivated to push herself to her limits, she doesn’t let

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, August 1, 2016

ACROSS 1 Leprechaun kin 4 Blows gently 9 Pro — (for the time being) 12 Even once 13 Newton of physics 14 Canned 16 Tarzan’s transport 17 Don Diego masked 18 Agile 19 His home is Nome 21 Luke, to Obi-Wan 23 Welsh dog 25 Hammered in 26 Honda model 29 Faux pas 31 Lower in status 32 Language with clicks 33 Angry disputes 37 Chick’s mom 38 Sweet-tempered 41 Prez after Jimmy 42 Baja Ms. 44 Motor lodges 45 Drab color 47 Chain dance 49 Rainbow color 50 Adventurous

trip 53 Pitch 55 Most rugged 57 Improved model 61 That’s — —!

62 It takes two 64 Classical face 65 Swarm with 66 Hearth residue 67 Grass droplets 68 Kind of humor 69 Bucks, as a horse 70 Common ID DOWN 1 Like Mr. Hyde 2 “Girls” star — Dunham 3 Pompeii art 4 Harry Potter, e.g.

5 For — — (cheap) 6 Way off 7 Field cover 8 Haughty 9 More toothsome 10 Oust 11 Enter traffic 12 “The LocoMotion” girl 15 Did Easter eggs 20 Yellow Sea land 22 Lummox

24 26 27 28 30

Edible lizards Pleased sighs 10-4 buddy Quitter’s word White vestments 32 Heartstring sound 34 Uttered 35 Smelled the coffee 36 Agitated state 39 Prime follower 40 Barely scraping by

43 Plato’s school 46 Souped-up cars (2 wds.)

48 Natural resource 49 Mist and smoke 50 Clobber 51 Ran a fever 52 Airlines patron 54 Fast sledder 56 Blah 58 City rtes.

59 Daybreak 60 Overhead railways 63 Cavaliers’ org.

anything stop her. Good thing she always has Claritin to rely on and to keep her functioning at her best. Now she’s no longer scared of her allergies. “Thank goodness for Claritin.” she said.

Iya went on to talk about how Claritin has been her most trusted anti-allergy brand ever since she was a kid growing up in Australia. Nowadays, she trusts Claritin to help her get through all her exercises and duties without worrying about allergies. “Nothing can stop me now and I don’t let anything do so,” she shared. Iya also shared how Claritin RediTabs, with its Peel-andPop packaging and instant effect, helped her husband during an allergy attack while driving. “He couldn’t believe that it was so easy to use. It was so effective.”

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Dennis is Bela’s choice DENNIS Trillo is Bela Padilla’s personal choice as leading man in Viva Films’ latest potboiler titled Camp Sawi in which the latter’s boyfriend Neil Arce is coproducer.

“Yes! All of the female leads in the movie were asked whom they want as love interest and for me, I picked Dennis without second thoughts,” she reveals.

According to the pretty lass, she’s already comfortable with the handsome Kapuso actor.

“We’ve starred in a number of projects in the past and we’re okay. Our working relationship is smoothsailing. It’s also a requirement that my partner in the story ought to be Chinese-looking.

Dennis fits the role to a T. That will be one of the main conflicts of our relationship in the story.”

Bela has only good words for Dennis.

“In our previous projects, we gained positive feedbacks. Viewers said we have good chemistry on screen. It’s a must that in your first scene together, the audience would instantly relate to the love you feel for each other and will get affected when the two of you would break-up in the story.

“Given this scenario, I opted for someone whom I have instant chemistry with and it happens to be Dennis. If for example I will go for a new leading man, definitely, there will be difficulty establishing the rapport on screen right away, right? It’s hard if you’re starting from scratch. You can’t just experiment especially if you have a timetable to follow. So, with Dennis, I feel confident and relaxed already.”

Dennis’ professionalism as an actor is what the statuesque beauty admires the most.

“He always comes on the set prepared: lines, wardrobe, etc. He arrives before the agreed time.

Actually, both of us do. That way, shooting delays are avoided and that’s good. Dennis knows how to respect the time of his co-stars.”

Even her steady Neil approves of Dennis as her partner in the movie.

“He says Dennis is the perfect choice because of our built-in chemistry,” ends Bela. ******** In the last two years, Jennylyn Mercado has scored huge wins at the annual Metro Manila Film Festival via English Only, Please and Walang Forever, which were not only certified hits but won for her Best Actress trophies. This time though, the Ultimate Star is far from replicating said feats for a third time as she has no potboiler intended for the film fest this year.

“If I can only squeeze in time for that, I will.

Who wouldn’t want, anyway? But seeing my present work schedule, I just deem it impossible.

Specially that according to MMFF rulings, all entries should be finished and submitted by October, it means I should have started filming already,” she says.

Because of her recent renewal as a Kapuso, many are curious to know if GMA prohibited her from doing another possible project with Star Cinema which produced her latest film Just The 3 Of Us opposite John Lloyd Cruz.

“Oh no! There’s nothing like that. It’s basically my schedule. I have a cooking show on GMA News TV called Everyday Sarap with CDO, then, I’m slated to do a movie for GMA Films. My next prime time soap opera is also in the works. It’s not just feasible to do an MMFF movie on my part.”

Speaking of her new soap, her fans are excited if this will be the remake of the hit Koreanovela My Love from Another Star. Especially that she recently trained with the renowned Jonas Gaffud on walking and posture, many of her supporters think it’s for the said re-boot since the character of the female lead there is that of a popular movie star.

“I can’t say or divulge anything as of now.

All I know is that I’m happy with the latest developments in my career. Let’s just wait and see, okay?” states Jen.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

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Showbiz THE SEXIEST OF THEM ALL. Jessy Mendiola tops this year’s FHM 100 Sexiest poll with more than half a million votes

Hail

By Nickie Wang

Images by Sonny Espiritu

S

to the

OME of the sexiest female personalities descended on Valkyrie Night Club on Tuesday night for the annual FHM 100 Sexiest Women Victory Party.

From the magazine’s July cover girl Rhian Ramos, who finally agreed to appear in the magazine’s spread after a seven-year courtship, to its first issue cover girl Sunshine Cruz, the popular men’s glossy had staged a night full of firsts including three-time Sexiest Woman Marian Rivera being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Noticeably, this year’s Victory Party was a lot more tamed compared to last year’s BroCon and to the previous years that FHM celebrated the so-called sexiest convention. But the extravaganza did not run out of models and performers wearing economically challenged dresses and costumes that left almost nothing to our imagination. Most of the personalities who graced the event to accept their 100 Sexiest Women trophy were dressed in a way that the male dominated crowd did not expect.

The big names were no longer bedecked in lingerie. The women who made it to this year’s sexiest list walked to the center of the stage wearing elegant dresses rather than revealing bikinis.

This made us remember what Rhian Ramos told us in an interview: “I just feel like the readers of FHM now are just the kind of guys that I would want to put myself in front of. I love their content, it’s intelligent and you could learn a lot. They’ve really shifted more for what the millennials will find sexy.”

According to FHM’s Allan Hernandez, the magazine has been around for 16 years and they feel that its imperative to tweak the magazine—it’s general content—to embody smarter and sharper philosophy.

Although most of the names that made it to the top 10, like last year’s no. 1 and this year’s no.

2, Jennylyn Mercado, top 3 and top 4 finishers Nadine Lustre and Angel Locsin, were all no show, the Victory Party was still a star-studded affair.

Some of the recognizable names and definitely crowd favorites were model and TV host Kim Domingo, volleyball star Rachel Anne Daquis, former beauty queen Queenrich Rehman, Brazilian model Daiana Menezes, former PBB housemate Dawn Chang, dancers Arny Ross and Rochelle Pangilinan, Kapuso darling Sam Pinto and Kapamilya star Bangs Garcia.

But time almost stopped when the program reached its culmination—the announcement of this year’s “Queen of Sexy.”

Clad in a fiery red one-piece ensemble, led the women who stunned the crowd with their appearances and performances of Rhiana’s “This Is What You Came For,” Jessy Mendiola amazed the crowd and literally made everyone fix their eyes on her the whole time she was on the stage.

The 23-year-old ABS-CBN star led this year’s poll with 589,792 votes, after placing 23rd last year.

Feeling dumbfounded, she addressed the crowd, “I can’t believe this has happened. Kung si Pia Wurtzbach eh confidently beautiful with a heart, tayo ay confidently sexy with a heart,” referring to the reigning Miss Universe’s, who also made it to

Queen of Sexy

Three-time Sexiest Woman Marian Rivera is inducted into FHM Hall of Fame

the top 20, iconic answer in the prestigious pageant.

The sexiest women title almost came as Jessy’s reward after all the body shaming she experienced on social media of late. Some netizens and trolls call her fat and undeserving of the title.

In an interview with Manila Standard, the actress just expressed her gratitude and called her victory a testament that sexiness is subjective and confidence and self-love are arguably the sexiest quality a woman can have, and that a woman should still feel beautiful and appealing no matter what her shape is.

Sunshine Cruz is the first Filipina to grace the cover of FHM Philippines

July cover girl Rhian Ramos ranks number 5 this year, after placing 86 the year before

GMA Network brings back online concert series ‘Playlist’

Gabbi Garcia tapes a ‘Playlist’ session

THE Playlist, an online concert series housed under GMA Network’s portal, GMANetwork.com, has undergone a complete revamp as netizens can now watch high-resolution song numbers from various celebrities.

New content will be uploaded every Wednesday.

Since it was launched in 2014, Playlist has featured performances from Julie Anne San Jose, Kylie Padilla, James Wright, Daniela, and Top One Project, among Rita Daniela others.

Kylie, who plays Amihan in the 2016 remake of Encantadia, recalled her Playlist experience and described it as one-of-akind.

“I love it! Sana nga mas marami [pang

ganitong opportunities for artists to serenade their fans]. I’m also a fan of [different] artists so seeing them go on [events] like that, parang mas nakakapag-connect ka [with them],” she said.

First on the all-new Playlist is her fellow Sang’gre Gabbi Garcia, whose performances were uploaded on July 27 and may now be viewed on the website by her fans, along with past videos of other Kapuso stars. One of the two songs she covered was Spongecola’s “Pag-ibig,” which she felt was apt for her telefantasya character and her own personality.

“Yung song is good vibes lang. [It’s nice to listen to] pagka-in love ka, good vibes ka, masaya ka… Kung ire -relate ko siya sa ‘kin… ako kasi, I’m a happy person.

Lahat ng makikita ko is ginagawa ko siyang positive. I see the brighter side,” she declared.

Don’t miss these musical treats from your favorite Kapuso stars as Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia and GMA’s homegrown band T.O.P. will soon be seen on the all-new Playlist. Keep logging on to GMANetwork. com/playlist every Wednesday for new and exclusive performances.

GMANetwork.com is one of the pioneers of online events in the country.

With impactful and heartfelt renditions from celebrities, backed with state-ofthe-art audio and video capture, the new and improved Playlist is set to tug at the heartstrings of viewers and give them an entertainment experience like no other.