Manila Standard - 2016 August 10 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXX • NO. 179 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016 • WWW.THESTANDARD.COM.PH • EDITORIAL@THESTANDARD.COM.PH

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday warned businessmen to pay the right taxes or face a travel ban.

“I will order the Commissioner of Internal Revenue [Cesar Dulay] to give me a list. If you’re rich, you cannot travel anymore,” Duterte said at the Hotel Elena in Davao City.

“I will ask the [Bureau of] Immigration to stop them because they have violations.

“I will order the BIR to file cases and once these are pending in court, the freedom of movement is restricted. Just like the criminals, you will join them. It’s always a crime if you do not pay your taxes correctly.”

Duterte made his statement even as an Immigration official said a holddeparture order can only be issued if a person has a criminal case pending before a court.

Legal officer Henry Tuban said the order must be issued by the court ordering Immigration to stop the departure of the person named.

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Martial law eyed

Du30 mulls over option if SC meddles with drug war

By John Paolo Bencito and Lance Baconguis

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AGAYAN DE ORO CITY— President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday threatened to declare Martial Law if Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno interferes in his war against drugs.

Duterte warned that a constitutional crisis will happen should Sereno continue assailing his antinarcotics efforts, including publicly naming more than 150 politicians, judges, soldiers and police allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

“Not just because you’re the Supreme Court, you can order me. I will not follow you,” Duterte said. “Do not create a constitutional issue [because] there will be,” Duterte said in a speech before troops at Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City.

“I will warn you: do not create a crisis because I will order everyone in executive department not to honor you,” he said.

On Monday, Sereno sent a fourpage letter admonishing the President Next page

Killings, detention worry US

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE United States expressed concerns Tuesday about the spate of extra-judicial killing related to the Philippine government’s anti-narcotics campaign.

In a press briefing in Washington DC., State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Kennedy-Trudeau said the US was concerned about the detentions and extrajudicial killing of suspected drug users and pushers.

“We...believe in rule of law.

We believe in due process. We believe in respect for universal human rights. We believe fundamentally that those aspects ensure and promote long-term security. We are concerned by these detentions, as well as the

MILITARY OPTION. President Rodrigo Duterte and 8th Infantry division commander Major Gen. Jet Velarmino salute the troops upon arrival at Camp Vicente Lukban in Catbalogan Samar on Aug.8, 2016. Malacañang Photo

High court probes 4 ‘narco-judges’ Grand welcome,

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered an investigation into four incumbent judges who were named by President Rodrigo Duterte as being protectors of the illegal drug trade.

The investigation was ordered after the 15-member tribunal agreed to treat Duterte’s speech, in which

he named seven judges that he said were involved in illegal drugs, as a complaint against the four judges who are still active in the judiciary.

These were identified as Judge Exequil Dagala of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Dapa-Socorro in Surigao; Judge Adriano Savillo, RTC Branch 30 of Iloilo City; Judge Domingo Casiple, RTC Branch 7, Kalibo, Aklan;

and Judge Antonio Reyes, RTC Branch 61, Baguio City, Benguet.

The court ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to submit formal complaints against the four judges within seven days, and submit the judges a copy of the complaint.

Once they receive the complaint, the four judges will have Next page

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Ceasefire with Reds ‘localized’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he was not inclined to issue another ceasefire declaration with the communists soon as Malacañang was eying localized negotiations with the rebels.

“I am not up to something like declaring another truce or ceasefire and I have to see the two panels talking about peace,” Duterte said in Davao City following his visit to Catbalogan City on Monday.

“If they are willing, if they want to address the ceasefire issue, they can go on. But I’ll take my time because I do not want a repeat of what happened.

“I really wanted just to show to them the good faith on the part of Next page

prizes await Diaz

By John Paolo Bencito A GRAND WELCOME awaits Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz when she returns to the country straight from her silver medal finish win at the 2016 Rio Summer Games, ending a 20year medal drought, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.

“As the President of this country, I’m overjoyed. Silver is silver, no matter what you saiy, so I’d like to congratulate Miss Diaz for the honor that she has given us, the country,” Duterte said during an early morning press conference in Davao City.

Duterte invited the 25-year-old weightlifter to Malacañang Palace so he can personally thank her.

“I’d like to wait for you and see you in the people’s Palace

in Malacañang. Salamat [thank you] for your effort. Saludo po ako sa iyo [I salute you],” said Duterte.

A native of Zamboanga City, Diaz is the first female athlete to win an Olympic medal for the Next page

HIDILYN DIAZ

Hero’s burial for FM justified, says Rody EYE IN THE SKY. Quezon City employees man the Emergency Command and Control Center where a high-

definition screen shows footage taken by 243 surveillance cameras. Installed at major roads in the city, the cameras are capable of face recognition, crowd count and flood monitoring, among other features. Manny Palmero

PH envoy told: Clarify ‘homo’ remarks

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE US State Department summoned Philippine Chargé d ‘Affairés to Washington Patrick Chuasoto to clarify President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks against US Ambassador to Manila Philip twitter.com/ MlaStandard

Goldberg.

A spokeswoman for the State Department, Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau, confirmed that they summoned Chuasoto to clarify the recent remarks of Duterte calling Goldberg an “annoying homosexual son of a bitch.”

Trudeau defended the US en-

facebook.com.ph/ manilastandard

S

voy to the Philippines, saying that Goldberg was one of the most senior diplomats.

“We’ve seen those inappropriate comments made about Ambassador Goldberg…We have asked the Philippines chargé to come into the State Department to

thestandard.com.ph

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday insisted that the drug problem is bigger than the issue of the burial of President Ferdinand Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery that many are opposing.

He defended his decision to allow the burial of the late strongman, whose preserved body is in a refrigerated crypt in Ilocos Norte, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“Because he was a President, period. Because he was a President and a soldier,” Duterte said.

He made his statement even as the National Union of Students of the Philippines slammed the

proposal to give Marcos a hero’s burial because he was not a hero.

“President Duterte said he would allow this to pass simply because Marcos was a soldier during the Second World War,” group spokesman Kevin Castro said.

However, even the National Historical Commission of the Philippines has expressed dissent on the matter. The NHCP has stated Marcos’ military record is chock-full of inconsistencies, lies and self-serving myths. A hero’s burial based solely on his service as a soldier would be unwise and insensitive.”

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

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News

Budget before Cha-cha—Alvarez

By Maricel V. Cruz

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HE House of Representatives will prioritize the passage of the 2017 national budget over efforts to rewrite the 1987 Constitution, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Tuesday.

gress leaders at EDSA ShangriLa Hotel Tuesday.

Still, he said, the issue whether lawmakers and senators will vote separately or jointly as a Constituent Assembly body for the revision of the Constitution was secondary to beginning Charter Change by January next year.

“The voting is the least of our worries. What is more important is the content of the new Constitution,” Alvarez added.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno is expected to submit to Congress on August 15 President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposed

P3.35-trillion national budget.

Next year’s national budget will be 11.6 percent higher than the P3.002 trillion national budget for this year.

“We’ll concentrate on the budget now but we can brush up on the Constitution and other urgent laws,” Alvarez said.

“So far we have not yet reached any agreement on ChaCha. But I am confident we will not have a problem for as along as the intentions are the same-[which is to amend the Constitution towards federalism],” he told reporters.

Alvarez said the House will

Alvarez said Congress needed to finish the deliberations on next year’s national budget before it could actually schedule discussions on the proposed Charter Change towards federalism.

“Between now and November, we will prioritize deliberations

for the national budget for 2017.

After that…maybe in January [next year], we can talk about the revision of the Constitution,” the Speaker told reporters at the sidelines of his meeting on ChaCha with Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and other Con-

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LPA leaves 268 stranded, schools closed

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clarify those remarks,” she said.

Trudeau declined to offer any details about the meeting with Chuasoto, however.

“I’m not going to read out that detailed conversation, but it was specifically on those remarks... specific remarks that were made about our ambassador to the Philippines,” she added.

Foreign Affairs Department spokesman Charles Jose also confirmed the meeting, but said it covered the “entire breadth of Philippines-US relations.”

He, too, would not discuss the specifics of the meeting.

On Monday, Duterte, in a speech during his visit to Camp Panacan in Davao City, criticized Goldberg by calling him “gay.”

Duterte told the soldiers he and Goldberg disagreed during the campaign after the President made a joke about the rape and murder of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill during the 1989 Davao City prison riot.

“I am okay with him,” Duterte said of US Secretary of State John Kerry, who visited the Philippines recently. But he added: “I quarreled with his gay ambassador. I am pissed with him.

He meddled during the election, giving statements here and there.

He was not supposed to do that.”

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But he said the President may directly order the Justice Department to stop the departure of a person when the adverse party is the government or any of its agencies or in the interest of national security, public safety or public health.

In his visit to troops in Catbalogan, Samar, on Monday, Duterte said his next move would be to announce the names of businessmen who were cheating the government by not paying the correct taxes.

But he said businessmen paying the correct taxes would be free from harassment from Internal Revenue.

“Pay the correct taxes and you are free from worries,” Duterte said.

He earlier said he would send the police to the homes of businessmen failing to pay the correct taxes.

“I ask media to accompany the police ... the police will go there to ask why are you not paying the proper tax,” Duterte said. John Paolo Bencito and Vito Barcelo

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The justices appointed retired Associate Justice Roberto Abad to conduct the investigation and submit his recommendations to the Supreme Court en banc within 30 days.

Earlier, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno chided the President for announcing the names prematurely, saying that Dagala and Savillo do not have jurisdiction over drug cases, while Casiple is the judge of a court of general jurisdiction without jurisdiction over drug cases until the Court’s recent decision to make all RTCs as drug courts through an administrative circular.

Reyes presides over the designated drugs court.

Sereno said the Court no longer has jurisdiction over the three other judges that Duterte named.

In the case of Judge Lorenda Mupas, Sereno said she was dismissed in 2007 as Municipal Trial Court Judge

THE low-pressure area off Cagayan will likely intensify into a tropical cyclone on Friday, further enhancing the rain-driving southwest monsoon affecting Luzon, the weather bureau said Tuesday.

“We expect such development to enhance the monsoon anew, so the rain in Luzon will likely reintensify this weekend until Monday,” weather forecaster Glaiza Escullar said.

She had previously said the rain in Luzon could vary from moderate to occasionally heavy

in the next two to three days due to the low-pressure area.

Rain and poor visibility prompted the cancellation of four domestic flights on Tuesday while seven Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines aircraft were diverted to Clark from Manila.

The number of passengers stranded in various ports nationwide due to bad weather had reached 268 as of 12 noon on Tuesday, the Coast Guard said.

The Education Department

suspended classes in Parañaque, Las Piñas, Pasay, Valenzuela, Antipolo, Taguig, Makati, Manila and Malabon due to continuing rain.

Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Taytay and Cavite also suspended classes for all levels.

Flooded streets caused the traffic to crawl in many parts of Metro Manila, but the Metro Manila Development Authority said the waters were receding fast because of the government pumping stations. PNA, with Joel E. Zurbano

Grand...

in Brazil, where the games are being held, Diaz called on those still in the running to continue the fight.

“Don’t give up. Continue the fight and give your best,” she said.

Diaz is expected to return this weekend with a P5-million reward for winning the silver medal in the Olympics, based on Republic Act 10699 signed by President Benigno Aquino III in November 2015.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said Tuesday that under the law, Diaz must get the P5-million cash reward tax-free aside from other benefits like free state college education and a generous retirement package.

Recto said coaches of national

athletes will also receive cash incentives if they have personally trained and rendered service to the athletes or teams who win in international competitions at least six months ahead of the international competition.

Diaz’s coach will also go home P2.5 million richer as the new law hiking the incentives for victorious Filipino sportsmen cover coaches as well, he also said.

Recto said athletes and coaches who win in international competitions are qualified to receive scholarship benefits in the form of full tuition from state colleges or universities for a college or university degree. With Macon RamosAraneta

extrajudicial killing of individuals suspected to be involved in drug activity in the Philippines,” Trudeau said.

“We strongly urge the Philippines to ensure its law enforcement efforts comply with its human rights obligations,” she said.

She said the the US will continue to talk to Philippine authorities on the importance of fundamental democratic principle.

She reminded the Philippines that the US government is funding Manila with some $32 million to fight against drug trafficking.

Trudeau emphasized that the fund should not be used in any activities involving actual extrajudicial killings.

“The $32 million is not new funding…. It’s rather cumulative funding previously appropriated that we’re currently implementing. Assistance provided to these funds, I’d like to emphasize, is subject to the same vetting that our other security assistance is. So all of our security assistance promotes human rights through training content and by promoting professionalism, due process, and rule of law,” she said.

In a separate interview, a senior foreign official warned Duterte that he may face a criminal case before the International Criminal Court over the spate of killings related to the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.

An Association of the Southeast

Asian Nation on Human Rights expert who requested anonymity reminded the President that the Philippines is a signatory of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that he may be held liable for the continuous extrajudicial killings which happened since he assumed office.

“Tell your President that he has to remember that the Philippines is one of the signatories of UN Human Rights Convention. He is a lawyer, he should know that,” the expert said.

Duterte swept to power after pledging to end crime using the same “shoot-to-kill” methods critics say he employed as mayor of Davao.

Since Duterte assumed office at the end of June, police have reported killing more than 400 drug suspects. ABS-CBN put the death toll at 852 to include reported summary executions.

On Sunday Duterte publicly named 157 judges, mayors, legislators, police and military individuals allegedly involved in narcotics and warned them to surrender.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday defended Duterte against criticism that there was a double standard in his campaign against illegal drugs, in which most of those killed were poor.

“That is a very unfair statement.

Many more have surendered than were killed,” he said in Filipino.

Alvarez reiterated his strong support to President Duterte’s “shoot-to-kill”

order in his campaign against illegal drugs, adding he was not shocked that a colleague was among the high-profile personalities included in the Chief Executive’s so-called “kill list.”

But Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat, a stalwart of the Liberal Party in the opposition bloc, lamented the distorted view of justice pervading the country today, noting the apparent double standard of the anti-drug campaign.

“The rich and powerful are given deadlines to negotiate their surrender, are accommodated in the PNP [Philippine National Police] White House, get invited to coffee and are subject to an investigation. But the poor, the lowly drug pusher or the addict simply gets the bullet. It seems like the rules are different with the rich and the poor,” Baguilat said.

A spokesman for the President, Ernesto Abella, sid Duterte was “not happy” with the hundreds being killed in the anti-drug war.

“The fact that the President is admitting that there could be mistakes in the drug suspects killed and were being investigated, I am sure that he is not happy about that,” Abella told reporters in a press briefing.

“The President is concerned and bothered [on the spate of extrajudicial killings.] I think he appreciates the fact that the people are more and more aware of the situation. If there is anything at all that people are aware of [it is] the depth and breadth of clear and present danger of the drug menace,” he added.

of Dasmariñas, Cavite, for gross ignorance of the law.

Judge Roberto Navidad, formerly of the Calbayog City, Samar Regional Trial Court was killed on Jan. 14, 2008 at age 69, while Judge Rene Gonzales, formerly of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 7, Iloilo City, retired on June 20, 2016.

Sereno cautioned the four judges against surrendering to the authorities without a valid warrant of arrest.

The chief magistrate also appealed to the President to allow the judges to continue carrying licensed firearms because they could be the targets of assassination.

In her letter to Duterte, Sereno said it is the Court that has administrative supervision and mechanisms to investigate erring members of the judiciary.

Duterte on Tuesday shrugged off Sereno’s concerns, saying he was just doing his job to inform the public on such matters.

In an interview with reporters early Tuesday morning, Duterte even warned that there will be a far longer list of names involved in the drug trade, including barangay captains,

policemen, prosecutors and town mayors.

“Ma’am it’s like this,” he said, addressing the Chief Justice. “May word.. is not accusatorial. It is not a criminal information. It is just my word against the others because I have the duty to tell the public for them to know the danger of drugs, including those who grew the industry,” he said.

He said the regular judicial process took too long—up to 10 years to prosecute an individual.

“With 600,000 [involved], we agree that there is a crisis,” he said.

Duterte said that there will be a purging and cleansing of the government under this administration to rid it of barangay captains, policemen, prosecutors and town mayors who are “destroying the country.”

He said the country would not have 600,000 people involved in the illegal drug trade if there were no government officials to protect them.

Duterte said that a “Part 2” of the list is already underway, and is currently undergoing validation by the intelligence community.

“There are many more [to be

named] just being validated. It’s being collated by the intelligence community,” he said, adding that the new list would undergo revalidation before being publicly announced.

On Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the President was not interfering with the judicial branch.

“Just to clarify exactly where President Duterte is coming from, he is taking the position of... parent of nation.

He is calling attention to the clear and present the danger of drugs ... to make sure public is properly warned of the drug menace,” Abella said.

“He is not interfering with the judicial branch. He is simply calling attention to the illegal drug trade. This is not the judicial process,” he added.

Abella also denied criticisms that Duterte’s name-and-shame campaign was presuming suspects guilty unless proved innocent.

“The President is just calling for a public outcry [on the drug menace] and naming is part of the process.

There is such and such a situation that needs a radical solution,” he said.

From A1 Philippines. She was also the first Filipino to get a medal in weightlifting, and the first non-boxer to win a medal for the Philippines since 1936.

Diaz, who hails from Zamboanga, is the first Filipina who won an Olympic medal since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco’s silver medal for boxing at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Diaz lifted 88 kilograms in the snatch, and 112 kilograms in the clean and jerk, for an overall lift of 200 kilograms.

In an interview at Rio de Jainero

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be willing to accommodate the Senate’s demands.

He maintained he would ask the President to create through an executive order a 20-member Constitutional Commission to help Congress, acting as a Constituent Assembly, draft the proposed charter changes.

Alvarez earlier said the creation of the commission would help allay reservations about amending the Charter through a Constituent Assembly instead of a Constitutional Convention.

He has said the commission should include constitutional law experts like former

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for naming seven judges who allegedly coddled drug lords, describing his exposé as “premature” and saying it could put the lives of the magistrates at risk.

Sereno also said she would caution the judges implicated

by Duterte not to surrender to the police in the absence of an arrest warrant.

With all due respect, Mr. President, we were caught unprepared by the announcement. It would matter greatly to our sense of constitutional order, if we were given the chance to administer the appropriate preventive measures without the complications of a premature public announcement,” she added.

Duterte, however, said attempts to undermine his campaign against illegal drugs could provoke him into placing the country under Martial Law. “Please do not provoke me, I am not a fool. If this continues, stop me. But would you rather I declare Martial Law?” Duterte said. “You are the kingpin in the judiciary. I am the President. I have work to do, unlike you. You do not see judges patrolling the streets or your sheriffs arresting [drug lords]. That’s the biggest prob-

Ceasefire...

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Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno, former senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., lawyer Reuben Canoy and San Beda Law School dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations, the academe, and other sectors of society.

Alvarez stressed that he saw no legal impediment against the creation of such a commission through an executive order of the President because it is still Congress, acting as Constituent Assembly that would discuss and approve the proposed Charter changes. lem that I inherited from the previous administration.”

“You know Chief Justice, there is a slaughter going on and mind you, you are appointed by the government there in your office as Chief Justice at a time that when the government is doing nothing,” he added.

Duterte also told the soldiers that if the situation comes to a crossroad, they will have to decide for themselves whether to follow the President or the Supreme Court.

If the time comes that we reach a crossroad, you decide because I will not follow [the Supreme Court]. So please, please, please, please do not create a confrontation. Do not create a constitutional war. We will all lose,” Duterte, a former lawyer and prosecutor, said the judiciary should stop “projecting theories” amid the reality that drug-related crimes happen.

“To the Supreme Court–tell me, what is the fastest decision you make on criminal cases?

It’s not strange to us to say that you can convict someone after 10 years. Now you’re asking for warrant of arrest for 600,000 Filipinos? What will you do? Let them stay there to resume their criminal activity?”

“Ma’am, let’s not fool each other and don’t force me the issue. I respect your comment, but it is rigmarole, isn’t it?” ria Sison, meanwhile, said the Duterte administration must first issue a general amnesty for all political prisoners before the CPP would adopt an interim ceasefire for its armed units.

Duterte also reiterated his “request” for the communists to stop using land mines and threatened to end the peace negotiations with them.

“Stop using land mines. I am really talking to you with sincerity,” Duterte said.

“Because if you continue to use land mines, I will withdraw from the talks and there will be no ceasefire and there will be war again.

“I am prepared [to fight] for another 45 years. We have been at it for 45 years already.

It’s time to give the Filipino a break.”

But the CPP on Monday ordered its armed wing―the New Peoples’ Army― to “expand use of command-detonated explosives in launching tactical offensives against the reactionary armed forces.”

government by going ahead with the ceasefire. By ourselves, we decided that it would be good if we had the ceasefire, but then something went astray.”

Duterte was referring to an encounter between the military and communist fighters last week in which four soldiers were killed and the rebels had used a land mine.

On Saturday, National Democratic Front chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni threatened to call off the resumption of the peace talks if 22 jailed NDF consultants were not released in time for the talks’ scheduled resumption on Aug. 20 in Oslo.

He also said there would be no declaration of an interim ceasefire between the negotiating parties unless the government released all political prisoners.

Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma- John Paolo Bencito

Hero’s..

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That’s the greatest crime,” Duterte said.

“You know, we make our own histories and reforms.

You’re equipped with the mental faculty to choose the straight path or the road to crime.”

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the people opposing Marcos’ burial “should move on” because Marcos would be buried as a President and a soldier.

“Marcos qualifies as both,” he said.

“The President is well aware of the protests and he allows for the protests to continue and for the people to make their own comments. [But]… it is now time to move on.”

On Monday, even the President’s staunch allies―Senate President Aquilino Pimentel, who leads his political party PDP Laban, and his erstwhile running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano―said they opposed a hero’s burial for Marcos.

But Duterte said the trafficking in illegal drugs was “the greatest crime,” and that it even surpassed the alleged rights abuses during the Marcos regime.

“People are angry with the huge drug problem because it has reached 600,000 people, it has angered even the soldiers and the police. The number is John Paolo Bencito and Sandy still going up and counting. Araneta

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Customs to auction several cars THE Bureau of Customs is expected to earn some P28.21 million in revenue from public auction of several seized highend cars, steels and other imported products which were abandoned by its importers.

The public auction will be done through sealed bidding at 10 a.m. on August 17 and 24 at the Ports of Manila and Davao, respectively.

At the Port of Manila, the bureau will auction off 10 containers vans, including a used 1997 Starex RV, a used 1997 Starex SVX; a used 2010 Chrysler Jeep Commander; assorted steel flanges; steel elbow; four TLD conveyor belt loaders; and a copper tube and polyurethane foam. Also for sale are plywood of assorted sizes, all pegged at a floor price of P 4.2 million.

At the Port of Davao, items up for bidding include a used Hyundai 10-wheeler dropside truck; a 2003 Mini Cooper; used 2003 Nissan 3502; a 2006 Land Rover; a 2003 Hummer H2; a 2014 Cadillac-CTS; steel pipes; used replacement truck parts; sacks of PET drinking water container; and pre-engineered building steel.

Public viewing of said items is available to all qualified bidders in Manila on August 16 at Asian Terminals Inc. in South Harbor, and in Davao on August 17 and 22 at the Tefasco, Sasa and DICT wharfs.

BOC is optimistic that revenue from this auction sale will help the Bureau reach—or even surpass—this year’s revenue collection target of P498 billion.

Mike Arroyo asks leave for travel FORMER First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo on Tuesday asked the Sandiganbayan that he may be allowed to travel to Europe and Hong Kong on specific dates on September up to November but did not cite any reason for the travel.

Arroyo, who was represented by his lawyer, filed a motion before the anti-graft court’s seventh division, Arroyo asking permissoon from the court for his travel from Sept. 11 to Oct. 2, and in Hong Kong from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4.

The court sets on August 12 Arroyo’s motion to travel abroad.

Arroyo’s motion stated that the former first gentleman will be going to two European countries where he will stay at the Holiday Inn Munich City Centre from Sept. 11 to 29 and the Holiday Inn Paris Montmarte 23 from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2.

First Pinay train driver. Twenty-six-year-old Kath dela Paz became the first female driver of the Light Rail Transit-1 as part of the Light Rail Manila Corp.’s ‘Project Arangkada’ program aimed at improving train service by hiring new train drivers, tellers and other rail line employees. Ey Acasio

MNLF faction okays 42 points

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

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AVAO CITY—Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza has persuaded one faction of the Moro National Liberation Front to agree on 42 points that can be merged with the government’s Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Dureza said he recently met with former Cotabato mayor Muslimin Sema, who leads one of the three MNLF factions, and Sema presented 42 consensus points that were gleaned from the tripartite review of the peace pact the MNLF signed with the government in 1996.

The tripartite review was conducted by the government, the MNLF and the Organization

of the Islamic Council.

But the government is still waiting for judicial clearance to talk with MNLF founder Nur Misuari, who signed the 1996 peace pact but is currently a fugitive from the law after he was charged of rebellion for the Zamboanga City siege in 2013.

Dureza said they will launch the implementation stage of what they envisioned to be a

new Bangsamoro enabling law in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 13.

Dureza said that they have chosen Malaysia as the venue of the launch because of the help Malaysia delivered as facilitator of the talks between the government and the MILF. He said that they are expecting the two Bangsamoro groups to create their own implementing panel that the government will later deal with.

“I hope that the MILF will make their own implementing panel and also the MNLF and the government will deal with them for the envisioned inclusive Bangsamoro government unit,” Dureza said.

He said that they envisioned for an all Moro assembly when all the Bangsamoro group will commit on the convergence and inclusivity that they are eyeing.

Dureza said President Rodrigo Duterte approved his proposed road map towards convergence and inclusivity with the Moro people and they are aiming to converge the 1996 peace agreement and the 2014 CAB to have a continuous peace.

“With the President firmly committing to implement all signed agreement, especially with the Bangsamoro, we have started to move already towards that convergence,” Dureza said.

“There must be a convergence of all sectors of the Bangsamoro and in the upcoming crafting of the enabling law that will establish the Bangsamoro governance unit, we’d like to see inclusivity on their work,” he added.

He said that the convergence of the Bangsamoro is for the early enactment of the enabling law that will immediately install the Bangsamoro governance unit.

De Lima’s ‘double standard’ hit BI uncovers slew

By Macon Ramos-Araneta of trafficked Viets SENATE Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III on Thursday assailed Senator Leila de Lima for her supposedly double standard of justice and said President Rodrigo Duterte’s revelation of narcopoliticians was no different from the former Justice secretary’s pork-barrel cases.

Sotto said there was no difference between Duterte’s drug list with the list of persons De Lima implicated in the Priority Development and Assistance Fund scam when she had not even filed the cases she was supposed to file as Justice secretary.

“I cannot understand the difference between what De Lima did before and what the President

did in line with his campaign against drugs,” stressed Sotto.

When De Lima made public the identities of the people named in the multi-billion pork barrel anomaly, Sotto noted that De Lima never considered tbe human rights of those being pinned down.

Sotto said the President was just doing the right thing because if he did launch a bloody war against illegal drugs, the drug problem would continue to thrive in the Philippines.

Sotto admitted that some of the names on Duterte’s drug list were familiar to him as he had encountered them during his stint as head of the Dangerous Drugs Board at the time of former President Gloria Arroyo.

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration has tightened the screening of arriving Vietnamese at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport following intelligence reports that many of them were victims of human trafficking syndicate who were forced to work as laborers, factory workers, vendors and masons.

Immigration commissioner Jaime Morente instructed the immigration officers at the Naia to thoroughly screen Vietnamese to make sure they have valid and legitimate purposes in traveling to the country.

“Those who could not sat-

isfactorily explain their travel purpose should be turned back as they could be victims of human trafficking recruited by the said syndicate,” Morente said.

“The Philippines should not only stop being a source of human trafficking victims. We must also not allow our country to be a destination for them,” the BI chief said.

Morente issued the order after the bureau stumbled upon the operations of a human trafficking syndicates that facilitates the travel to the Philippines of Vietnamese nationals hired to work as manual laborers in various places throughout the country.

77,000 Pinoys needed

Visiting mayor. Architect Mochamad Ridwan Kamil, incumbent mayor of Bandung, Indonesia, shares with participants of the 2016 Islam and Democracy Forum his experience in leading Indonesia’s third largest city with over 2.4-million people and promoting a smart and happy city. Manny Palmero

QATAR needs 77,000 Filipino workers, mostly in construction and highly-skilled and technical jobs, the Department of Labor and Employment said Tuesday.

The Qatar government reserved at least 77,000 work visas for Filipino workers for various job categories, such as engineers, architects, nurses, doctors, and in constructions and hotels.

Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Wilfredo Santos met with Qatari Minister for Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Issa Saad Al-Jafali

Al-Nuaimi, to discuss the deployment of Filipino workers in Qatar, the DoLE said in a statement.

The two officials also discussed various concerns confronted by OFWs in Qatar to address possible hitches that may occur between Filipino workers and its employers.

“I acknowledge with appreciation the ongoing labor reforms of Qatar that will surely benefit its migrant worker population, including OFWs,” Santos said.

Santos also thanked the minister for his promise to assist in facilitating the recruitment of qualified OFWs.

Court suspends 2 known lawyers

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court suspended two well-known lawyers after finding them guilty of violating the lawyers’ Code of Professional Responsibility.

In a decision, the SC ordered Rose-Beatrix “Trixie” CruzAngeles and Wylie Paler suspended for practice of law for three years.

The suspension came after the high court found merit in the administrative complaint filed by Leo Dongga—as in 2003 against Angeles and Paler.

“The suspension is effective upon finality of the decision . . . Respondents Cruz-Angeles and Paler are directed to return to complainant Dongga—as the legal fees they received from the latter in the aggregate amount of P350,000.00 within 90 days from the finality of this decision,” the SC ruled.

“Failure to so comply will warrant the imposition of a heavier penalty,” it warned.

Complainant engaged the services of Angeles and Paler to handle the annulment of his marriage. He paid a total of P350,000 to respondents.

But the court found that despite constant follow-ups, respondents were unable to produce a petition for annulment, with various reasons being given by respondents for their failure to do so, including that there was no record of marriage, which was a false statement as verified by complainant.

Upon demand for a refund of the aggregate amount of P350,000 from the respondents, Angeles and Paler declined to return the amount and even sent him two billing statements, one of which included a fee for “consultants prosecutors” amounting to P45,000.

This prompted the complainant to file the corresponding complaint with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Committee on Bar Discipline.

In her defense, Angeles admitted to having received the total amount of P350,000, but denied that she was remiss in her duties explaining that the delay in the filing of the petition was due to complainant’s failure to give the address of his estranged wife and provide sufficient evidence.

She also argued that it was Paler who was tasked to draft and finalize the petition. Paler moved to dismiss the case for failure to state a cause of action, arguing that the case was filed only to avoid payment of attorney’s fees.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Supporting our athletes

A

LONG with the rest of the nation, we cheer the silver-medal finish of Olympic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and congratulate the 25-year-old airwoman from Mindanao for ending the country’s 20-year medal drought and becoming the first Filipina to win a medal in the Summer Games.

With her 200-kg finish, Diaz not only raised the bar for the country’s other athletes, but lifted the spirits of a nation, long accustomed to mediocrity and failure in the Olympic field.

Diaz’s medal for her

performance in the women’s weightlifting 53-kg division was only the third silver for the country after boxers Anthony Villanueva in the 1964 Tokyo Games and Onyok Velasco in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Certainly, Diaz’s story— she had tried and failed to win medals at two previous Olympics—is a testament to her grit, patience and determination, qualities that are worth engendering.

A cash windfall of at least P5 million from the government and other incentives from private donors—including a house and lot—await her when

she comes home this week.

But she can also probably expect other offers dangled before her from companies that simply want to take advantage of her sudden fame and popularity. These offers will have nothing to do with her chosen sport, and may even cheapen her Olympic achievement by casting her in comedic roles—the path taken by one silver medalist who promptly quit boxing to become an actor.

In the afterglow of Diaz’s win, the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee credited President Rodrigo Duterte for

inspiring the Filipino athletes by giving them a send-off in Malacañang, the first time this was done in recent memory, he said.

The statement reeks of fawning self preservation that should occasion some skepticism—and questions about why every four years, athletes form the smaller part of the official Philippine Olympic delegation, which seems to attract its fair share of politically connected hangerson, and why we are so poor at training and preparing our athletes for major sporting events that we had to wait 20

years for Diaz to win a medal.

“We are not going home empty-handed,” the head of the Philippine Olympic team said, in cheering Diaz’s accomplishment. He reminded the public, however, that there are other Filipinos competing at the Rio Summer Games as well who deserve public support.

Nobody would gainsay this sentiment, but the cheers of the public at this point can do only so much. Olympic athletes such as Diaz who are serious about bringing glory to the country need support years before the actual competition.

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Pacquiao pushes death penalty

vantage legally but also that the vast majority of Filipinos may be on the President’s side on the matter of burying Marcos and the divisiveness that his being un-interred represents?

Excuse me while I get some popcorn. *** If you notice, the people opposed to the Marcos burial at the military cemetery keep talking about the “message” that Duterte’s decision will send and the “spirit” of various laws that supposedly prevent him from allowing it. They will gladly discuss the “historical context” of the burial because they cannot build an actual case to stop it.

But to me, all of this handwringing is nothing, if they do not file charges in court, craft a law in Congress to change the rules (as Leila de Lima has proposed) or hold rallies and physically prevent the soldiers assigned to put Marcos in the Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Fear and loathing

LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES IF YOU collected all the hundreds of bodies of suspected pushers and addicts who have died in the drug war initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte and placed them in one pile, they still would not have the power to outrage some Filipinos as one cadaver in an air-conditioned crypt in Ilocos Norte. What is the threat of encroaching “narco politics,” defined as the takeover of the state by drug lords, after all, to people still obsessed with old-fashioned “necro politics,” or the power of politically prominent corpses to determine this nation’s future?

Regarding the approval by Duterte of the immediate burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, one thing seems clear: the current President is violating no law and is exercising his legitimate authority to have the remains interred there.

As Duterte himself explained it last Sunday, the burial of Marcos’ still-controversial remains

CLAIMING most crimes committed are drug related, Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao advocated the return of the death penalty. On Monday, the eight -division Filipino boxing champion delivered his maiden speech on the Senate floor, sparking a lively debate on the issue between pro-life advocates and those who see capital punishment as the answer to the surging criminality.

Citing the Biblical basis for the death penalty, Manny Pacquiao wants drug pushers executed either by hanging or firing squad.

Pacquiao pointed out the illegal drug trade proliferated in the country because of the big money involved. From being a transshipment point, the Philippines has become a hub for Chinese crime syndicates to manufacture shabu here. This, plus the connivance of police and local officials, has made the drug menace widespread in the entire country. In a list released by President Duterte, police and local officials abetted the illegal trade by being the protector of the drug lords. “Narcops” is a new word coined for policemen protecting drug pushers.

Considering the number of suspects killed—more than 400—since Duterte launched his all-out war against drug trafficking, we might as well bring back the death penalty.

At least, due process might still be observed rather than having the police as judge and executioner.

The manner in which many suspects are shot dead by the police bears the usual theyresisted-and-fired-at-us narrative by law enforcers. Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno warned that these warrantless arrests and summary killings would render useless a judge trying a drug case. The United Nations has also expressed its concern that vigilante justice is being carried out by the Duterte administration.

Pacquiao, a neophyte Senator, was able to parry off the interpellations from Senators Gregorio Honasan and Riza Hontiveros. I, for one, support Pacquiao’s advocacy to return the death penalty if that is the only way to instill the fear of God against those committing

is allowed by the military’s own rules. And the military is directly under Duterte, who vowed to have Marcos buried at the cemetery even during the campaign earlier this year.

As a former president and an ex-soldier, Marcos had met the requirements for burial at the cemetery, according to Duterte.

And right now, only Duterte can reverse the decision he himself made on the final disposition of the former dictator’s unburied body.

Because Duterte is who he is, he actually challenged those opposed to his decision to take to the streets in protest. And immediately, the anti-Marcos forces—a mishmash of the remnants of the two Yellow regimes and the above-ground Left—realized that they have got a new (and, in their eyes, a bigger) bone to pick with Duterte.

This is no longer about the human rights of drug pushers and addicts or the powerful and wealthy people who make

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Only Duterte can reverse the decision he made on the final disposition of the former dictator’s unburied body.” them do the dirty work of the narcotics trade for them. This is a purely political decision by Duterte that strikes at the very heart of the long-running—but increasingly flagging—antiMarcos movement.

Duterte must be stopped, in their view. But how, when he appears to be standing on his usual firm legal ground?

If Duterte were some other president, I would speculate that he decided to allow the

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

Marcos interment to “bury” the drug war killings issue. Then I remember that Duterte promised to go after the drug syndicates and bury Marcos in the military cemetery—and many other things, besides—during the campaign.

If you consider Duterte’s anti-drug campaign a dare to the bleeding-heart rights advocates whom he detests, his decision on the Marcos burial is his version of a double dare to the people who want to keep the old dictator unburied in order to perpetuate their peculiar brand of politics. And I suspect that if you scratch many of the people protesting Duterte’s campaign against drugs, you will find underneath the jaundiced hide of an anti-Marcos campaigner.

Duterte has shown that he will back down to no one, once he’s decided to go on a course of action that he is convinced is correct. So, will the anti-Marcos crowd take Duterte on, knowing not only that he has the ad-

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Opinion

IT MAY be said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs has spawned equally important concerns like summary killings of alleged drug lords and drug dealers, as well as the proliferation of loose firearms.

Nobody can dispute the fact the President is fully responsible and accountable for how this war is progressing.

According to Mr. Duterte, some of these officials even supported him during his campaign.

This is the perfect example of how resolute and committed he is in ridding the country of the drug menace.

He says his next targets are the mayors in Metro Manila. This will demonstrate that the rich and powerful are not exempted from the campaign against illegal drugs. But I still have to see the police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation raid exclusive subdivisions and swoop down on the rich and the powerful.

Still, the President has shown leadership that we have never seen from any chief executive.

The fact that there is no public outcry—except isolated ones from some members of Congress, the Catholic Church, the Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations—tells us that the people have become desensitized to the killings. This may well be the result of the erosion of the people’s faith and confidence in the government and its leaders.

With Duterte now doing what other presidents before him have failed to do, people now believe that change is already here.

There is a visible effort to eliminate illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.

I do have reservations on whether or not illegal drugs can be eradicated. As long as there is demand there will always be supply. Drug lords or drug dealers can always go underground or operate outside the country.

The Philippines has even become a transshipment point for international drug cartels, like the Chinese triad, West Africa syndicates, and the dreaded Mexican Sinaloa.

Even in countries where drug lords and drug dealers are executed, the menace remains. Curbed, perhaps, but not eliminated.

My gulay, the illegal drug trade is a multi-billion dollar industry, and people are always greedy with money. *** It comes as no surprise that President Duterte has declared a war against oligarchy. Mr. Duterte not only has an affinity for the working class and the poor.

His general outlook and ideology have always leaned towards true social equality. He is a selfconfessed socialist.

This is also aligned to the President’s mission to bring about the change that Filipinos have long clamored for. After all, the very definition of the word “oligarchy” seems to encapsulate the socio-economic conditions of the former BS Aquino administration.

In true Duterte fashion, he spoke not of vague generalities and motherhood statements when he vowed to destroy the oligarchs. Unfortunately, he singled out international businessman Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin.

Ongpin is far from being the poster boy of patronage and business “embedded” in government.

After Edsa 1, Bobby was outside of the Philippines and came back only during the early years of the nine-year rule of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Bobby was never embedded during the six-year rule of BS Aquino, who tasked his lapdogs and minions to file cases against Ongpin if only to harass and persecute him.

Ongpin’s only fault: His friendship with former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

As I said in yesterday’s column, my gulay, there are more accurate examples of oligarchs than Bobby Ongpin.

During BS Aquino’s time, in fact, boardroom gossip and coffeeshop talks always alleged that former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima was the main orches-

trator of the so-called “Yellow Oligarch Club.” Supposedly, this extremely powerful group of businessmen, attended by equally entrenched former Customs commissioners and other rich and affluent businessmen and Chinese friends, closed billionpeso deals.

A couple of my friends relayed to me their amusement at the predicament of Purisima’s friends.

It seems that they are trying to back-channel to get into the good graces of Duterte, when almost everybody knows that they were big contributors to the Mar Roxas campaign. Santa Banana, Duterte is a known master strategist—expect him to have a keen eye for turncoats and phonies.

The oligarchs would do well to remember this.

This is a President who walks his talk.”

By the way, who do you think now owns “Burger King,” that chain of hamburgers? It was bought from the Ayalas by a syndicate led by you know who. *** I have said that I am beginning to admire Du30. For one thing, he walks his talk and is committed and resolute about his work.

During the campaign, he vowed to have the remains of former strongman and President Ferdinand Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Marcos was not only a president but a soldier. The law mandates that presidents, soldiers, commanders-in-chief, national defense secretaries and heroes would be buried at the Libingan.

And Santa Banana, Marcos was not only a soldier and president, but commander-in-chief and National Defense secretary. Let me add that he was also a true hero in Bataan against the Japanese.

He is a veteran guerilla.

The point I am leading to is that Du30 walks his talk, despite threats of protest. “They can rally all they want and I will give them permits,” he said. That’s leadership for you.

Sept. 18 is scheduled to be the burial of the remains of Marcos.

Hopefully, this controversy will also put to rest an issue that has long divided the country. Being finally able to move forward—now that’s change I can appreciate. *** A longtime resident of Mandaluyong City, who just wants to be called a “Concerned Businessman” sent me a copy of his open letter to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. He wants to know why a Senior Deputy State Prosecutor of the Department of Justice continues to act as Acting City Prosecutor for the city for the last four years.

The writer of the letter sees the need to fill a vacancy on a temporary basis where some situation may call for one. This case, however, stretches the logic.

What is being whispered about is the acting prosecutor is there to look after some big-time business interests.

The businessman says the acting prosecutor maintains a schedule of only Tuesdays and Thursdays in Mandaluyong City, and not even for a full day. And then he goes off to Quezon City.

The writer now believes that the quality and integrity of the prosecutor’s work must be suffering. Alas, the citizenry fears this office and will not speak out.

The letter urges the Justice secretary to appoint a permanent city prosecutor. The DoJ, the writer says, must implement a rotation of prosecutors to ensure good governance and prevent corruption.

I would like to ask Secretary Aguirre whether the acting prosecutor is getting additional compensation for spending two days a week in Mandaluyong and two days a week in Quezon City.

There is a prohibition against multiple compensation.

A5

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Duterte and the oligarchs

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Becoming a true leader

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ IN THE fog of war against drug lords and bad oligarchs launched with savage fury by President Duterte as soon as he took office last June 30, one of the biggest victims has been businessman Roberto Velayo Ongpin, 79.

Among the 100 super oligarchs that have ruled politics and business in this country in the last 100 years, only Bobby Ongpin has been singled out by Duterte with the contempt and criminal intent that should be reserved only for the worst and most vicious criminal offenders of the land.

The irony is that Bobby, a good friend of 40 years, is not at all an oligarch, not an oligarch imbedded in government, and certainly not a businessman who did or has done damage to the country and the Filipino people. Ongpin made whatever money he has and built whatever businesses he runs today the old-fashioned way—through hard and honest work. Balzac’s dictum, “Behind every great wealth there is a great crime” can hardly be applied to him.

Bobby is a genuine Filipino and a true patriot.

Bobby descended from Roman T. Ongpin (1847-1912) of the street that bears his name and statue in Binondo. Roman was a nationalist businessman and revolutionary who financed the Katipunan revolt against Spain and opposed American rule in the Philippines.

Bobby Ongpin and his late brother Jaime (Cory Aquino’s finance secretary) were born poor.

They succeeded through dint of scholarship (they were educated by the Jesuits before going to Harvard), and hard work.

Bobby was the youngest and longest-serving chair and CEO of SGV which he built into the largest professional services organization west of the Mississippi. He served for seven years as trade and industry minister of Ferdinand Marcos during which time he helped stabilize the peso against the dollar, manage foreign reserves, control galloping inflation (running at 44 percent per year), and resurrect the economy during the worst economic crisis in the country after the 1983 Ninoy Aquino assassination. After People Power 1986 (which he actually helped trigger, but that is another story), Ongpin moved to Hong Kong and funneled badly needed foreign investments into the Philippines. Venerable and true patriots are words that should be associated with the Ongpin name, not “bad oligarch.”

Bobby Ongpin is not the typical ultra rich local oligarch, Chinese, Spanish or half breed, who accumulated wealth through drugs, through smuggling, through denying the average Filipino worker his due wage, through monopolistic or oligopolistic business practices whereby a premium public good is priced prohibitively, or a valued service is so badly rendered and retailed at a very high price at the expense of the hapless Filipino consumer and public.

How come, for instance, despite the vaunted talent and techno-savvy of the Filipino, the country has among the world’s slowest internet, among the highest telco rates, and among the highest electricity prices? Answer: Bad

THE best “short” news of the past days was the silver medal victory of Zamboanguena Hidilyn Diaz in the Rio Olympics.

Finally, after 20 years—the last being in 1996 when Onyok Velasco bagged a silver in boxing! Hidilyn did it in weightlifting, which to most of us was an Olympic sport participated in only by males. Such a great honor.

The other silver medalist was the late Anthony Villanueva, also a boxer, but that was, if memory serves me right, even before martial law was declared.

Do we get silvers in the Olympics, not yet even a gold, every two decades?

Every Olympic Games and every SEA Games when we get continuously diminishing returns, we rue the state of sports development in the country.

And we keep asking why, and how much the budget for sports ought to be increased.

Hopefully, the Duterte administration under the leadership of newly installed Butch Ramirez, who has worked on sports development in the local, regional and

Fear...

From A4 ground from doing their job.

And the reason they will not do that is simple: they are scared.

The anti-Marcos campaigners fear, for instance, that the 14 million voters who chose Bongbong in the last elections have made them irrelevant—or

Pacquiao...

From A4 heinous crimes. I have friends who are staunch pro-life advocates; they will no doubt differ with my position on this issue.

But it’s time to return the death penalty in this country. China and Indonesia (which has a Filipino, Mary Jane Veloso, in death row for alleged drug trafficking) are no less state for their capital punishment policy. Some states in the US like Texas, Oklahoma and Florida, to name a few, have death penalty.

Passport price increase Passport applicants are in uproar over the increased price of the important document from P700 to P1,200. They are already

Did you know that P3 trillion of private bank deposits are checking accounts for which the banks do not pay any interest to their depositors? If the banks were to lend 10 percent of that P3 trillion to SMEs, P300 billion in loans could go to small businesses—sari-sari stores, barber or tailor shops, small food and garment shops and other entrepreneurs who currently are at the mercy of loan sharks.

Using his phenomenal persuasive powers on the true oligarchs of this country, Duterte can achieve financial inclusion and poverty reduction faster than lightning. The Philippines is unique in Asia, and in fact, in the world, for being the only major country that failed to halve its poverty in the past 20 years (from 26 percent to 27 percent).

Why? Rule by the oligarchs.

Comes now my idol Digong Duterte going hammer and tongs on Bobby Ongpin. Why? Because he has allegedly captured the online gambling business through the listed company Philweb, of which RVO owns 53 percent.

Duterte thinks online gambling is bad. But Philweb’s business is not online gambling. It is online gaming, which no one can access through one’s computer at home or in the office.

One has to visit Philweb’s gaming shops to play and bet. It is no different from one visiting a casino to play at the baccarat table or manipulate the slot machine.

So if online gaming is bad, why doesn’t Duterte padlock state-owned Pagcor (the country’s biggest gambling operator) and close down the casinos, which happily are also owned, by who else, the oligarchs? biznewsasia@gmail.com

Shorts

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

oligarchs and their capture of government regulators.

Why doesn’t Duterte talk to (I am not saying shame them) the owners of these telcos and energy companies and tell them point-blank—“lower your prices, improve your service or I will order you to report to Camp Crame!”?

How come, despite the financial wizardry of the Filipino, the fact that more than P2 trillion of private deposits are lying idle at the central bank, and the huge pool of savings in this country (the savings rate is P4.8 trillion or 30 percent of the P16 trillion GDP or economic output), the Philippines has among the highest lending rates in the region and among the worst anti-small business practices? Answer: Bad oligarchs and their capture of government regulators.

Did you know that only four banking oligarchs control 90 percent of the Philippine banking system? The local banking system used to be the largest in Southeast Asia. Now it is the smallest, thanks to oligarchic rule. Oligarchy also explains why more than 40 million Filipinos do not have a bank account.

Each of the top-tier banks makes an average profit of P1 billion a MONTH—money that can employ 10,000 jobless Filipinos full time for A YEAR. Assuming a 12 percent tax rate (six times the average tax rate of an oligarch), each of the big banks can improve employment easily by 10,000 jobs every year by foregoing a tenth of their profits.

Why doesn’t Duterte talk to the banking oligarchs and tell them “lower your interest rates, give loans to businesses at zero interest or I will order you to report to Camp Crame!”?

national levels in the past, would be able to establish new directions and come up with out-ofthe-box solutions to the perennial drought in international competitions. *** Last Sunday, having just recuperated from a respiratory ailment that got me stuck in bed for two days, news came in about the President’s “golpe” of an announcement in a military camp.

By afternoon, the long list of alleged drug “coddlers” among local officials came filtering out.

What came to mind was Charles de Gaulle’s expression of admiration for Napoleon Bonaparte, his country’s greatest military leader and emperor: “L’audace…l’audace, toujours l’audace.”

For indeed, the breathtaking pace at which the new government has been addressing the drug menace can only be described as audacity of the first order. And the naming of names, some of them long whispered about in fearful tones within their towns and even provinces, has never happened in this scale before.

Sure there may have been lapses in the list provided the President, such as that of the de-

ceased judge, or some police officials whose assignments didn’t match. Maybe even a mayor or two who seem to have been clean of illegal drugs involvement. Then again, who are we to know for certain?

But many of those mentioned have indeed been long rumored by their constituents and bandied about in loose talk. And the prevalence of drugs in their territorial jurisdiction over the many years of their tenure are undeniable. Now everybody waits in bated anticipation about forthcoming list, or lists. And many are asking, why not this governor, or this congressman?

Abangan… *** The sight of tons and tons of vegetables from Benguet rotting because they could not be properly transported to Metro Manila markets is so saddening.

Not only because upland farmers and small traders and viajeros lose their shirts, but because all these could have been anticipated and therefore avoided.

Empty boasts about “bagsakan” centers and cold storage facilities in the previous administration are now exposed precisely for what they always

were—talk. And to think that city dwellers, especially the children of the poor are so malnourished eating nothing but rice and MSG-laced instant noodle soup day-in and day-out!

One could hardly fault the city administration of Manila for banning the entry and the “bagsakan” of vegetables from the North to the clogged streets of Divisoria, except perhaps for communication and coordination. But if promised cold storage facilities had been implemented, the damage could have been minimized.

Up in Bukidnon, in the mountains of Negros, and in other highland areas, vegetable farming could be optimized with proper government support and planning, instead of the Sisyphean fixation over rice self-sufficiency, another monumental failure of the past administration. Even lowland vegetable farming for such hardy crops as ampalaya, sitaw, okra, even malunggay, could produce better incomes for lowly farmers than rain-fed palay cultivation.

Mindsets must change in many aspects of life, especially under a new government borne out of a longing for real change.

at least no longer the dominant force that they thought they were still. They are also afraid that the 91 percent of Filipinos who trust and admire Duterte will not lift a finger to support them in what they believe to be their all-important crusades, whether it’s to stop the Marcos burial or to give a peso to pay for Leni Robredo’s legal defense.

They are terrified like Noynoy Aquino was, in the twilight of his barren and vengeful term, that the future generations will no longer see Marcos as evil incarnate—mainly because Marcos accomplished things that two Aquino presidencies never got close to doing. They fear, in the end, being exposed as political frauds who never did

anything of real and lasting benefit for the people who were not their relatives, mahjong cronies or firing-range friends.

The fear and loathing of Marcos is as intense in some people now as it was before, long after the dictator died. It’s just that a lot more people think that those who supplanted him are even more loathsome than he ever was.

complaining over the compulsory inclusion of the travel tax in the price of plane tickets plus the airport terminal fee which has not resulted in any significant improvement in the country’s major gateways.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. claimed that Aquino administration allowed the original fee of P650 per passport raised to P850 a booklet. Presumably, some people in the DFA or the Office of the President made money. A Senate investigation into this matter should be conducted and the officials concerned in the printing of passports summoned to the inquiry.

It would be all right if the funds from the price increase went into the DFA coffers.The

money earned could go into the repainting of the department’s main building on Roxas. Boulevard. The edifice with its grimy exterior could certainly use a new paint job. It has not been repainted since the Asian Development Bank moved to Ortigas and turned over the building to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Filipinos departing for overseas work are the most vocal against the passport fee increase. They gripe that they have yet to earn when departing for their first trip abroad but are already burdened by this onerous increase. They said an increase from P700 to P900 would have been acceptable. But the increase of P500 per booklet is just too much for a passport with a va-

lidity of only five years. There is a proposal to extend the Philippine passport’s validity to seven years. Doing this would shorten the line of applicants at the DFA consular office. The downside, however, would lessen the DFA revenue from the thousands of travelers going abroad either for work or pleasure.

The US passport has a validity of 10 years and can be secured at local post offices aside from the Department of State passport division.. All an applicant has to bring to show he or she is US- born is the original birth certificate.. But this procedure certainly cannot be entrusted to our local post office personnel.

Too often, mail and parcels from abroad are pilfered by post office workers.

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Azkals, Chieffy, Dooley see silver lining in tough group A MERICAN coach Thomas Dooley, exskipper Chieffy Caligdong and striker Matthew Hartmann all see a silver lining despite the country being drawn in a tough group in the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup kicking off in November.

“Having Thailand, as the favorite and best team in the group means we would play them in the semifinals against them,” said Dooley, whose wards fell to the defending champions mentored

by Thai legend Kiatisuk Senamuang in the Suzuki Cup semi two years ago.

The former US team captain and two-time World Cup veteran acknowledged the difficult bracket the Azkals were com-

peting in, but was philosophical about it. “Every game in a tournament is difficult, (especially) playing against the ones that kicked us in the last three semifinals. It is meant to be like that.”

Aside from the reigning Thai titlists, also in Group A with the Filipino booters are Singapore and Indonesia, which they both faced in the semis of the 2012 and 2010 editions of the region’s premier football championship.

The hosts open their campaign against Singapore on Nov. 19, followed by Indonesia on Nov. 22 before facing Thailand in the last group match on Nov. 25, all the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan Bracketed in Group B are host Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia and the topnotcher of the qualifying tournament to be held in Cambodia in October.

Caligdong echoed the sentiments of Dooley, citing the fact that the Philippines would be hosting the group stage for the first time.

“Magandang oportunidad ito kasi we are playing in front of our hometown crowd. Malaking bagay ‘yun,” said Caligdong, who now suits up for Green

Archers FC in the United Football League and whose inspirational wing play often made the Azkals dangerous foes.

Now also a coach of the national under-14 squad, the Barotac Nuevo pride added that the national team needs intense preparation if it wants to duplicate and even surpass its previous accomplishments.

With the Filipino fans’ all-out support, Hartmann, who now sees action for Geylang International in the S-League, believes the Azkals have what it takes to hurdle the group stage.

“It’s going to be a tough group.

I believe they’re calling it the group of death,” said Hartmann in a recent interview posted on official AFF Suzuki Cup web-

Cagayan de Oro dominates football CAGAYAN de Oro football teams dominated the recent age-group football competitions at the conclusion of the twoday Football For A Better Life, hosted by the local government, headed by Mayor Marie Guingona and backed by PRU Life UK and the Azkals Foundation.

CDO won seven categories with Corpus Christi teams winning the 18-under boys, 12-under boys, 14-under boys and the 16-under boys, while the Bulua Strikers ruled the 18-under girls and the 14-under girls.

The CDO-based Central Mindanao University won the men’s open group.

Host city Gingoog went home with the women’s open crown, courtesy of the Guingoog Association Football Club, while the Vikings Football Club annexed both the 8-under and 10-under mixed category.

Cabadbaran City contented itself with topping the 16-under girls’ category.

The event was the inaugural leg of the nationwide, 10-leg FFABL grassroots football developmental program organized

by Spears Activation and PR, together with different regional football associations, including the Misamis Oriental-Camiguin-El Salvador-Cagayan de Oro. Together with the free football clinic supervised by former Azkal skipper Chieffy Caligdong, current Azkal Misagh Bahadoran and Meralco UFL player Graham Caygill at the People’s Grandstand, the event attracted more than 400 kids from the adjoining provinces and cities.

Mayor Guingona lauded the program and invited the delegation to return to Gingoog for a longer engagement with the kids.

Bahadoran committed to send football shoes and gear to Christopher Yecyec and Mark Vincent de la Cruz, two wards at the mayor’s shelter for street kids Balai Pangarap.

Yecyec and Dela Cruz are the only two football players at the shelter.

Next leg will be in Dumaguete City on Aug. 20 and 21.

site. “Thailand is unbelievable, but we’re on home turf so hopefully we can go through and see what happens.”

He pointed out that “most of our players are now in the Philippines and they know each other inside out so the team can hopefully get the job done.”

Sidelined by an ACL injury last year, the former Global FC forward, who has scored six goals with the Geylang Eagles, was hopeful that he would be called up for national duty once more and add to his collection of seven goals with the Azkals.

“Being on home turf, we’d love to get to the finals. I think this year could be our year as we have a massive advantage with the home support,” Hartmann concluded.

IRONMAN QUEEN. Standard Insurance’s solo entry Monica Torres emerged as the best local triathlete in the Filipino Elite division during the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship held in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu last Sunday. A dominant Torres reigned supreme in the distaff side with her 4:45: 54 beating Bohol’s Maria Hodges and Ana de LeonBrown with plenty to spare. Torres, Standard Insurance’s woman elite triathlete for four years, also ruled this year’s the Ironman 70.3 and Tri-United2 both held in Subic Bay in Zambales. The Ironman 70.3 AsPac is the biggest triathlon event to be held in the Philippines and offers the largest purse at $75,000 plus 50 slots to next year’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Lady Tams eye share of lead Games today

10 a.m. – FEU vs St. Benilde (S Turf) 12 noon – San Beda vs UST (S Turf) 4 p.m. – FEU vs San Beda (V-League) 6 p.m. – Perpetual vs TIP (V-League)

FAR Eastern University tries to force a three-way tie in Group B as it battles winless San Beda even as Technological Institute of the Philippines seeks to recover lost grounds as it plays Perpetual Help in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig today.

The Lady Tams whipped the NCAA champions St. Benilde Lady Blazers, 25-16, 25-18, 2518, last week to kick off their campaign in the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s with the Morayta-based squad fancied to get past the Red Spikers, who could not seem to get going with backto-back setbacks.

Gametime is at 4 p.m. before the Lady Engineers and the Altas slug it out in a Group B match. Both games will be shown live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 17 and 23 and via streaming on www.sports.abs-com.

Bernadette Pons, Mary Joy Palma and Toni Rose Basas combined for 31 hits against San Beda with the troika tipped to lead the Lady Tams’ offense against the Red Spikers, who will leaning again on guest players Janine Marciano and Wenneth Eulalio and Nieza Viray.

FEU also boasts of two new setters following the graduation of Gyzelle Sy with Angelica Cayuna and Angela Negrito splitting times the first time out and combining for 36 excellent sets.

“I will continue to give them playing time and see what happens from there,” said FEU coach Shaq delos Santos.

Meanwhile, TIP tries to bounce back from a straight-set blowout to defending champion National U last Monday as it squares off with Perpetual Help, which also dropped a straightset loss to San Sebastian in the inaugurals of the league backed

by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.

Gaerlan stars in UP’s taekwondo win BANKING on rookie sensation Bea Gaerlan, University of the Philippines humbled reigning UAAP women’s champion University of the East, 18-14, to rock the MVPSF-Meralco Philippine Taekwondo League at the SM BF Paranaque Atrium last weekend.

With the Lady Maroons down 9-12 in the tag round, Gaerlan, 16, a national junior team member, took matters into her own hands in outclassing UE’s Daleen Arpon to boost them ahead, 15-14, for good on the way to posting the upset in the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation and Meralco.

Third-year veteran Angela Alarcon, actor Jestoni Alarcon’s daughter, took over from where Gaerlan left off in containing UE mainstay Ysabelle Mercado’s desperate challenge to preserve UP’s first win in Group A of the women’s senior division of the tourna-

ment also supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“Pinag-aralan po naming mabuti and UE since we were in the same group as them in the PTL last year when they beat us,” said coach Ralph Alombro, whose charges swept their matches after whipping the San Sebastian Lady Stags, 21-6, earlier.

“We were not at full strength because some of our players were injured and the rest were just inexperienced,” said bespectacled UE coach Jonel Rendora, who revealed that top player Karen Cells, a member of the national pool, competed with an injured left hand.

The Lady Warriors did not leave the mat empty-handed after topping SSC, 17-12, at the SM BF Paranaque Atrium that ushered in two successive days of taekwondo action of the series organized by the Philippine Taekwondo Asso-

ciation and aimed at discovering new talents for the national team.

Anchored by national pool member Arven Alcantara, National University sent a message that it would a force to reckon with by winning both its initial matches in Group B of the men’s senior division against Letran (56-18) and UP (27-15), respectively, in lopsided fashion.

The Maroons salvaged their day by routing the Knights, 45-26, for their first triumph in the same group.

Over at the SM Valenzuela last Sunday, Far Eastern UniversityRN flexed its muscles in dumping La Salle-Araneta, 64-18, and Mapua, 70-17, respectively, in Group C of the men’s senior division.

The Tamaraws’ junior counterparts were just as formidable in polishing off La Salle-Araneta, 86-10, and Emilio Aguinaldo College-ICA, 63-22,in Group C of the junior division.

UP’s Joshua Lazaro (left) and NU’s Dave Cea exchange kicks in the men’s senior division of the MVPSF-Meralco Philippine Taekwondo League last weekend SM BF Parañaque Atrium.

Salvador targets 3rd straight PH Golf Tour victory

CEREMONIAL MOVES. Former Senator and San Beda College alumnus Rene

Saguisag makes the ceremonial moves with Jose Rizal University athletic director Paul Supan during the opening ceremony of the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association chess competition at the JRU Gymnasium. Looking on are Management Committee members, led by their Chairman Jose Mari Lacson of San Beda (extreme right).

SILANG, Cavite—Elmer Salvador tries to do what he does best at Riviera, snapping a long title spell as he shoots for a third straight ICTSI Riviera Classic championship beginning today (Wednesday, Aug. 10) at the par-71 Langer course here.

Salvador ended a long drought by topping the 2014 edition then broke another year-long spell when he foiled Miguel Tabuena and Jay Bayron’s final round charge to win by two last year.

“This course has been good to me the last two years and I hope to do it again this week,” said the reticent Salvador, who, however, went on another slump after finishing tied for fourth at Calatagan last May. He ended up joint 12th at Eagle Ridge, tied for 10th at Forest Hills, wound up joint 20th in Bacolod, limped to 39th in Negros Occiden-

tal and finished tied for 15th in last week’s Aboitiz Invitational at Wack Wack East.

He earlier wound up 21st at Anvaya, struggled to finish joint 35th at Luisita, missed the cut at ICTSI Manila Southwoods and ended up joint 30th at ICTSI Sherwood, both legs of Asian Development Tour, and missed the cut again at Manila Masters.

That would take Salvador more than luck to win again here with the rest of the competing international field all primed up for the top P270,000 purse in the P2 million event put up by ICTSI and serving as the 12th leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour.

The Davaoeño shotmaker kicks off his bid against Mars Pucay and Mhark Fernando at 7:40 a.m. on No. 10 where he hopes to build some momentum given the condition of the course softened

up by rain the last few days.

Meanwhile, Jay Bayron, coming off a rousing victory at Wack Wack, reigning PGT Order of Merit winner Tony Lascuña and two-leg winner Clyde Mondilla slug it out in the featured threesome at 7:40 a.m. on No. 1 in what promises to be a duel of shotmaking, iron game and putting among three of the leading players in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Others tipped to contend for the crown are former club pro Marvin Dumandan, who drew Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Orlan Sumcad in the 7:30 a.m. flight, also on No. 1; Charles Hong, Cassius Casas and Anthony Fernando, who will start at 8 a.m. at the back; Jobim Carlos, Benjie Magada and Artemio Murakami, who will tee off at 7:20 a.m., also on No. 10.

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King beats tainted Russian for gold R IO DE JANEIRO—American teenager Lilly King celebrated stopping tainted Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova from getting an Olympic gold as doping hostilities worsened in Rio.

King was joined by US legend Michael Phelps and other swimmers in calling for tougher action on the use of banned substances.

Efimova, who won an appeal at the world sports tribunal to get her place in Rio, and China’s Sun Yang, who won the 200m freestyle on Monday, were the main targets of the attacks.

Efimova, 24, was booed as she entered the pool area and was left in tears after being narrowly beaten by King in the women’s 100m breaststroke final.

“I think it just proved that you can compete clean and still come out on top,” King said of her win.

She had criticized Efimova before the race.

Three bans The Russian broke down in tears as she came to face journalists.

“I once made a mistake and served my ban,” she said, referring to a 16-month suspension incurred after testing positive for a banned steroid in 2014.

She was given a provisional ban this year after testing positive

for meldonium but that was overturned in May by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“The second time was not my mistake. I don’t know how to make people understand. If yogurt gets banned and you’re positive, is that your fault?”

Following the Richard McLaren report for the World Anti-Doping Agency, Efimova was suspended again. The report implicated the Russian government in doping.

But another appeal to the CAS last week let Efimova and six other Russian swimmers into Rio. The United States and other western countries had wanted a complete ban on Russian athletes.

US competitors have been outspoken about their Russian rivals.

Phelps, who will go for a re-

cord 20th gold medal on Tuesday, backed King and said those punished for doping should not be allowed back in the sport.

“I think you’re going to see a lot of people speaking up more,” the all-time highest Olympic medal winner said. “I think she’s right, something needs to be done.”

Sun has already been at the center of a verbal battle with Australia’s Mack Horton who beat Sun in the 400m race.

After winning the men’s 200m freestyle title, the Chinese hero, who was banned for three months in 2014, came under attack from French swimmer Camille Lacourt.

“Sun Yang, he pisses purple,” Lacourt told French radio after his race. “When I see the 200m podium I want to be sick.”

“I am very sad when I see my sport getting like this. I have the impression I am watching athletics, with two or three doped in each final,” added Lacourt, a medal hope who came fifth in the 100m backstroke.

The Sun-Horton dispute has turned into a social media war.

China’s state-controlled Global Times newspaper called Australia a former British “offshore prison” because of Horton’s “drug cheat” remarks about Sun. The International Olympic Committee tried to ease tensions saying the Olympics was about “respecting the right of others to compete.”

Swimming’s war of words overshadowed a day of competition that saw a first gold medal for the Brazilian hosts. It was won by judoka

Rafaela Silva, who grew up in Rio’s notorious City of God slum.

Silva upset world number one Sumiya Dorjsuren in the 57kg final for a hugely welcome win for Brazil after apathy and protests in the run-up to South America’s first Olympics.

China got more medals in diving, where Chen Aisen and Lin Yue won the men’s 10m platform.

China finished the day with five gold medals in total.

Japan’s ‘King Kohei’ Uchimura led Japan to victory in the men’s team gymnastics, completing his collection of major titles in the sport.

Russia took gold and silver in the women’s sabre fencing as Yana Egorian beat Sofiya Velikaya, who again suffered heartbreak after also losing the 2012 Olympic final. AFP

NBA stars ready for Australians RIO DE JANEIRO—Two-time defending champion United States and Australia improved to 2-0 at the Rio Olympics with lopsided triumphs, setting up a Wednesday showdown between the confident Boomers and powerhouse Americans.

Paul George scored 20 points and Jimmy Butler added 17 to lead the US collection of NBA stars over Venezuela 113-69 Monday, while Patty Mills netted 26 points and Matthew Dellavedova contributed 23 and 13 assists in the Aussies’ 95-80 win over Serbia.

Australia will have the chance to snap an 0-14 all-time run against the US squad that ousted them in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic quarter-finals in a fight for the preliminary round Group A lead.

“We know Australia is going to be a tough one for us, just based on how physical they are, so we’ll be ready for that,” said US star Carmelo Anthony.

Mills showed no sign of awe at the all-NBA US squad, telling Brisbane’s Courier-Mail newspaper last month: “They can be beaten.”

“With the group we have, we believe that we can beat them,”

Mills said. “To be able to achieve greatness we need to be able to beat greatness, and that’s what we see with the USA team... We’re going to give it a red-hot crack that’s for sure.”

The US might be seeing red over that.

“If they are going to beat us, they are going to have to work for it,” George said.

“It’s going to be a grind-out game and I’m looking forward to it,” said former NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant.

“I know most of their main players that play in our league.

I know they play with a little bit more confidence and have different roles here, but we’ll prepare for them.”

The Aussies boast four players who has won NBA titles—Dellavedova with Cleveland this season, Andrew Bogut with Golden State last year and Mills and Aron Baynes on the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.

“We believe we can do some special things in this tournament,” said the Utah Jazz’s Joe Ingles.

US coach Mike Krzyzewski USA team members (from left) Demar Derozan, Kyle Lowry, guard Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Paul George and DeAndre Jordan believes it too. He just doesn’t acknowledge the crowd after defeating Venezuela in a Men’s round Group A basketball match between USA and Venezuela at the Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. AFP want it done to his team. AFP

Sulaiman accepts Rio thieves strike faster, higher Romero: Diaz an inspiration humanitarian award to all athletes

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WORLD Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman expressed his gratitude to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame for being bestowed with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award at their 4th Induction Ceremony in Las Vegas.

“I accepted (the award) with honor, but only on behalf of the so many persons in boxing and the WBC family which make the difference in this world with their passion and compassion and willingness to serve others;” Sulaiman said.

The WBC pointed out that “One action will not change the world, but the continuous actions of many does make our world better.”

Sulaiman praised Rich Marotta and Michelle Corrales for doing a formidable job in preparing the weekend´s activities and all of the inductions were highly emotional.

“The Muhammad Ali me-

morial was special, as Pernell Whitaker asked all to rise, close our eyes, and just think about Ali for 10 seconds. Lonnie Ali was recognized for her exemplary life and was represented by the Ali family’s long time friend John Ramsey, who shared great stories about the King of Boxing, The Greatest of All Time,” he said.

The Association of Boxing Commissions met at the Monte Carlo Hotel, and Sulaiman said he was personally “very impressed to see so many commissions attending the works under the leadership of ABC President Mike Mazzulli.

“There was extensive training for ring officials, doctors and inspectors, and many subjects were discussed throughout the week. If the ABC is successful in finding unity, uniformity and reciprocity, boxing will find a way to grow and make some of the much needed changes in our sport,” Sulaiman said.

RIO DE JANEIRO—In the chaotic world of Rio criminality, it is an old trick that is winning the gold medal.

A blonde woman distracts the victim while an accomplice grabs the bag of cameras, computers or valuables. A second partner in crime sends the victim the wrong way if he or she gives chase.

This textbook larceny is being played out each day on the beachside cafes along Ipanema. Pickpockets also ply Copacabana and there is also a more dangerous version.

Sometimes the attacker just takes out a knife and puts it to the throat of his victim.

Around the Olympics, thefts and muggings have become the talk of the town.

A government minister, athletes and coaches and press photographers have all fallen victim. The danger lurks from the Rio media village to stadiums, and the cafes on the upscale seafront Ipanema district.

The ‘Cariocas’, as the inhabitants of Rio are known,

have long got used to the threat of crime, whether theft or murderous muggings.

It has been a shock to the Olympic influx and the government estimates that 500,000 people will visit Brazil for the Games.

Even on the night of the opening ceremony, two people were fatally shot near the Maracana stadium where it was held.

Australian photographer Brett Costello is one of a growing press band to have suffered.

The News Corp. journalist lost tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment in an Ipanema coffee shop and then saw the thief two days later wearing his Olympic jacket with accreditation number.

‘A security problem’ “I knew my number, you know, the vests have the number. If a guy walks in with a jacket that’s stolen from me two days before, there’s got to be something going on, don’t you reckon?” he told The Australian newspaper.

Security video of the theft

showed he was caught in the blonde woman sting.

The Agence France-Presse news agency, which has 700 square metres (7,500 sq feet) for its 180 accredited Olympic staff in Rio, has suffered several thefts.

Security film has shown a man and a woman leaving the office pulling a case full of lenses and an official photographer’s jacket.

“There is a security problem,” said Eric Baradat, AFP’s photo chief at the Games.

“Some people get onto the sites and into official buses without accreditation.”

The troubles have also hit the athletes’ village.

Chinese 110m hurdler Shi Dongpeng lost his laptop computer to another well-planned thief. The man vomited on Shi and was chased by a Chinese journalist who was with Shi who went to the restroom.

When he returned his belongings had disappeared.

“Losing money now may avoid me bigger problems in the future,” Shi commented. AFP

Prep underway for Bagatsing racefest THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE IT’S August, and racing fans are looking forward to the 8th edition of the Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Racing Festival, to be held on August 21 at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

The racing festival, now an annual tradition, was organized by the Bagatsing family in honor of the late mayor, who was a staunch supporter of horseracing during his time.

This year is all the more special because it is the mayor’s 100th birth anniversary on Au-

gust 19. He overcame personal challenges to carve a stellar career as a lawmaker and politician. We look forward to the publication of his biography written by one of the Philippine’s most celebrated writers so that we can learn more about his life and achievements.

Among the races in Mayor Bagatsing’s honor this year are the 3YO Centennial Classic, the Resorts World 4YO and older Challenge of Champions (1,750 meters), a 3YO race (1,500 meters), and the Philippine Racing Commission Import/Local Challenge (2,000 meters).

Aside from Philracom and Resorts World Manila, among the others sponsors that have already announced their backing for this

annual racing tradition are the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, City of Dreams Manila, Pacific Online Sytems Corporation, Midas Hotel and Casino, DLTB Bus Company, Herma Farms and Stud, EEG Development Corporation, Mr. Eduardo Calixto, and the host club, MJC. *** This Sunday’s (Aug. 14) piece de resistance is the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office National Grand Derby at Metroturf. The mile race is open to 2YO PCSO maiden race runners of 2015. Those nominated are Dance Again, Yong Yong, Yes Kitty, Guatemala, He He He, and Total Defiance. *** Congratulations to Hidilyn

Diaz for ending the country’s decades-long Olympic medal drought by bagging silver in her weightlifting class!

She bested athletes around the world for the honor, and showed that despite adversity and the lack of resources, a Filipino athlete can make it to the very top ranks of sports.

Imagine how much more our athletes might be able to achieve if given the proper support— stipend, living quarters while training, world-class coaches, tournaments abroad, and so on.

We hope President Duterte will give the sports sector some attention during his term.

It is great to hear that Diaz will be receiving a commendation from Congress, as well as a P5

million cash prize from government and a house and lot from the private sector. But surely her achievement deserves more rewards? A car, a livelihood showcase, a Pambansang Atleta award that comes with a lifelong stipend and free medical care?

We talk about national pride and Filipino spirit, and share vicariously in the victories of successful Filipinos, even those with the tiniest drop of Filipino blood—but where is the commensurate recognition and care—alaga—of those who work so hard to bring glory to our country? *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember

REP. Mikee Romero (1Pacman Partylist) on Tuesday said Hidilyn Diaz should be the guiding light of Filipino athletes, who failed to qualify for the ongoing Rio Games, citing the journey and struggles the Mindanao weightlifter went through before ending the country’s 20-year medal drought in the quadrennial event.

After two failed tries for Olympic glory—Beijing in 2008 and London four years ago—Diaz made history Monday when she secured the silver medal in the 53-kilogram division, becoming the first Filipino female athlete to win a medal.

“She personifies the indomitable spirit of a great warrior because she never quits,” said Romero. “She should inspire all of us, not only athletes, because a quitter never wins.”

Romero, along with fellow representative Enrico Pineda, Ron Salo, Benhur Lopez, Sabiniano Canama, Teodoro Montoro, Salvador Belaro Jr., Vini Nola Ortega, Shernee Tan and Makmod Mending Jr, commended and congratulated Diaz’s silver medal win.

In a House Resolution No. 145, the representatives said Diaz’s win “affords great pride and honor to the country as it strives to produce better athletes out to conquer the world circuit.”

“Athletes should not stop learning because one defeat will not make you a failure.

We must learn from our past mistakes, and from there, strategize well your goal just like what Diaz did,” added Romero.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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Ginebra tries to extend win run

Sports

Games Today

(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. - Rain or Shine vs. Meralco 7 p.m. - Barangay Ginebra vs.

Blackwater

By Jeric Lopez FOLLOWING a weekend full of fun, the teams are now back in business.

Squads in the upper half of the standings plunge back to the hardwood as the action resumes in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Riding high on a two-game winning streak, Barangay Ginebra (3-1) eyes to extend its winning streak and earn solo third place as it squares off with Blackwater (1-2) at 7 p.m. in the main event of today’s twin-bill at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Before that, Rain or Shine (21), another team on a two-game winning run, hopes to sustain its momentum when it locks horns with Meralco (2-2) at 4:15 p.m. in the opening game.

After getting it going in their last two games, the Gin Kings suddenly found themselves tied with defending champion San Miguel (3-1) for third and fourth places behind unbeaten leagueleaders TNT Katropa and Mahindra, who share the top two spots with similar 4-0 slates.

They can overtake the Beermen with a third straight win and keep in step with the Tropang Texters and the Enforcers.

Ginebra last knocked off Meralco, 107-93, in an out-of-town game in Quezon less than two weeks ago.

Philippines’ Rogen Ladon (right) fights Colombia’s Yurberjen Herney Martinez during the Men’s Light Fly (46-49kg) match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Riocentro - Pavilion 6 in Rio de Janeiro. AFP

Olympic spotlight drowns PH’s Ladon RIO DE JANEIRO—Rogen Ladon said he was simply overwhelmed in his Olympic debut that he failed to deliver and lost to Colombia’s Yurberjen Martinez, 3-0, Monday at Pavilion 6 of the Riocentro here.

Ladon could not hide his disappointment when he talked about his fight with a relatively unknown amateur from Turbo, Colombia, whose claim to fame was a third-place finish in the 2013 Pan American Championships.

“Masyado ako na-excite,” said Ladon inside a three-bedroom condominium unit which the boxers, including Charly Suarez and head coach Nolito Velasco, are sharing with FilAmerican hurdles entry Eric Shauwn Cray.

Ladon, a light-flyweight, said he barely slept the night before his Olympic debut.

“Halos hindi ako nakatulog kagabi,” said the winner of the silver and bronze medals in the Asian and World Championships last year. He qualified to the Rio Olympics with another silver medal finish in the Asia-Oceania Qualifier in Qianjiadian, China.

Even Velasco, who’s in his fifth Olympics as coach of the Philippine team, noticed the change in Ladon the moment they stepped inside the venue and his name was called.

“Parang na-overwhelm na nasa Olympics na siya. Sinabuyan ko pa ng tubig sa mukha at sinabihan na mag-focus siya dahil lalaban na,” said Velasco, who thought that Ladon would have a relatively easy time against Martinez.

But Ladon struggled early on and even complained of tightness in his legs starting in the second round and until the final bell.

Vargas to offer boxing presidency to Pacquiao

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

T

HE Philippines’ light flyweight hopeful Rogen Ladon was eliminated in the Olympic boxing competition late Monday night (Manila time) by Colombia’s Yuberjen Martinez, who won a unanimous decision and advanced to the quarter finals at the Riocentro Pavilion 6 in Rio de Janeiro.

It was another disappointing performance by the last man standing after Charly Suarez dropped a split decision to Welsh European lightweight champion and Commonwealth Games’ bronze medalist Jose Cordina, prompting Association of Boxing Alliances President presi-

dent Ricky Vargas to tell Manila Standard via a text message, “Maybe time for a new leadership partner. Time to go for me.”

In a texted message to ABAP executive director Ed Picson, which Vargas also forwarded to the Manila Standard, he said he was “so downhearted” and would

talk to Picson tomorrow.

Vargas suggested: “Let us offer the presidency (of ABAP) to Manny Pacquiao,” the newly elected senator and eight-division world boxing champion.

Vargas told Picson to arrange a meeting with Pacquiao when the boxing team comes back from Rio. On Tuesday, Vargas formalized his sentiments with a statement.

“We need new leadership to refresh ABAP and inspire our pipeline of next generation boxers in our pool. We did our best and now it is time to turn the baton over after 8 years of leadership. We had our share of success in the SEA Alora Games, Asian Games and World Championships, but of course the standard is the Olympics and we have been unsuccessful there.

When Exec Dir Ed Picson returns from Rio, he and Secretary General Patrick Gregorio will call for the 2016 ABAP elections at the soonest possible time. We thank Chairman MVP (Manny Pangilinan) and the entire Filipino nation for their support to boxing.”

In the case of Ladon, there could be no complaints as he missed with wildly swinging shots and faded badly, unable to keep pace with his Colombian opponent, who had earlier beaten Brazil’s Patrick Lourenco in the Round of 32.

Martinez appeared to be in a much-better physical condition and kept up his aggressive stance in Rounds 2 and 3, after Ladon, who was ranked No. 5 by AIBA and drew a bye in the opening round of competition, started ag-

gressively but failed to connect with many of his punches in the initial round.

Cordina used his three-inch height advantage to score with jabs and 1-2 combinations in the third and final round after Suarez lost the first, but came back aggressively to win the second round on the scorecards of two of the three judges.

However, in an action-packed toe-to-toe battle in the third and final round, Cordina scored with jabs and 1-2 combinations from the outside.

The scoring of Uzbekistan judge Jasurbek Kurbanov came under scrutiny after he gave all three rounds for Cordina, while two of the other judges gave Round 2 to the aggressive Suarez.

Fellow Olympians told: Don’t quit RIO DE JANEIRO—Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who just ended a 20-year medal drought for the Philippines in the Olympics, rallied behind the Filipino athletes who are still in contention in the Summer Games here.

Diaz said the battle is not over yet with seven more athletes seeing action in the coming days, and hoped that any one among them could still deliver a medal and give the Philippines its best finish in the Olympics since 1932.

In that Olympics 84 years ago in Los Angeles, the Philippines won three bronze medals courtesy of Simeon Toribio in men’s high jump, Jose Villanueva in men’s boxing (bantamweight) and Teofilo Yldefonso in men’s 200, breaststroke.

No other time after that did the Philippines win more than one medal in an Olympics.

Diaz, who won the silver medal in the women’s 53 kg class, became the first fe-

male athlete from the Philippines to win an Olympic medal.

The three-time Olympian from Zamboanga City also gave the country its first Olympic medal in weightlifting, and its first since boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco won the silver medal in Atlanta in 1996.

She called on those still in the running to continue the fight.

“Don’t give up. Continue the fight and give your best,” said Diaz, now the newest toast of Philippine sports, which has long been searching for a new hero in the mold of Manny Pacquiao.

Diaz’s victory last Sunday should help boost the sport of weightlifting in the Philippines. It’s a sport that’s suited for Filipinos, especially in the lower or smaller weight classes.

“It’s not important if this is your first time in the Olympics or your second or third because once you are here, you must

Next Gilas won’t be all-pro THE next generation of Gilas Pilipinas will not be an all-professional team.

Newly elected Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio said this after he was elected the successor of businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan.

Panlilio added that talks are now ongoing with officials of the Philippine Basketball Association on the composition of the Gilas Pilipinas squad.

“We have four members of the PBA in the (SBP) board. We know that we need to have an agreement,” said Panlilio.

With respect to the calendar of the FIBA competitions, discussions are going on over having professional players play together

with amateurs and collegiate stars.

The SBP is also making efforts to strengthen its partnership with the government, with Sen. Sonny Angara being elected as SBP Chairman and former Antipolo representative Robbie Puno as vice chairman.

The two lawmakers were known for having worked with the SBP on some matters, with Angara coming with the bill sponsored by Puno on the naturalization Andray Blatche in 2013.

Talks are also centered on having a special rookie draft for incoming members of the latest batch of Gilas Pilipinas cadets. Peter Atencio

give your best,” said Diaz.

“I hope we can still win here,” said Diaz, who called on Filipino sports fans to continue supporting the others who are still in the medal hunt.

They are Fil-Japanese judoka Kodo Nakano who vies in the men’s 81 kg division Tuesday morning here, then swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi in the women’s 100m freestyle on Wednesday, golfer Miguel Tabuena from Aug. 11 to 14, marathoner Mary Joy Tabal on Aug. 14, Eric Cray in the men’s 400m hurdles on Aug. 15, long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang on Aug, 16 and Kirstie Elaine Alora in the women’s +67 kg of taekwondo on Aug. 20.

Diaz will be the first to fly out of Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 12 together with Colonia so she could attend the fiesta in her hometown in Zamboanga on Aug. 13 while Lariba, Lacuna and Alkhaldi will Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz celebrates during the leave on Aug. 15. The boxers will fly women’s 53kg weightlifting event at the Rio 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. AFP home the day after.

Heavy Bombers send Red Lions back to earth

By Peter Atencio PAOLO Pontejos drilled in 20 points, including eight in the last period as he, Tey Teodoro and Abdul Poutouochi led the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers to an upset of the San Beda Red Lions, 79-73, Tuesday at the Arena in San Juan.

Teodoro, who had 14 points with Poutouochi, spearheaded JRU in turning the tables around in the last 1:48 as the Bombers handed the Red Li-

ons their first defeat at the end of the first round of the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

Potouochi also had 12 rebounds.

JRU bounced back from 53-66 deficit at the end of the third period.

Donald Tankoua banged in 28 points, but he was held to just five points in the last 10 minutes for the Red Lions, who however, remained on top of the standings with

their 8-1 slate.

Teodoro’s triple with 1:48 to go allowed JRU to take charge, 74-73, following a 21-6 rally.

They went on to keep the lead after Pontejos hit a jumper and Teodoro followed it with two charities.

“The fourth quarter was the turning point. We made 26 points, while playing defense.

Paolo and Teytey (Teodoro) played together because they were playing defense,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses

following their first win over San Beda in two years.

Meanwhile, the defending champion San Beda Red Cubs and the Mapua Red Robins carved out contrasting victories and came up with impressive finishes at the end of the first round of the junior division.

Joshua Tagala shot only six points, including a triple in the last two minutes which helped the struggling Red Cubs repulse the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, 79-69.

DoE lifts Luzon ‘yellow alert’ B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

B1

Four more big Asian banks eye PH license

By Julito G. Rada FOUR more big Asian banks are interested to expand in the Philippines as the country continues to attract foreign investments despite the $81-million money laundering scam that rocked the domestic banking industry in February.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said Tuesday there could be five “possible” applications that might be approved by the policy-setting Monetary Board in the coming weeks or months.

“There is one pending. Then one application in process. Then one saying will submit soon. Two are expressing interest [to expand]. So five more possible,” Espenilla said in a text message.

Espenilla added the big Asian banks were listed companies. The board will reveal the identities of the applicants once these firms discloses the Bangko Sentral approval in their home countries.

Bangko Sentral officials assured earlier the domestic banking industry remained sound and strong despite the $81-million money laundering scam that broke out recently. The illegal funds entered the country’s financial system through a branch of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.—one of the biggest universal banks—on Jupiter Street in Makati City.

The dirty money later ended up in local casinos and laundered by a number of individuals. Bangko Sentral fined RCBC P1 billion— the biggest ever—in connection with its involvement in the scam.

Espenilla earlier said foreign banks favored partnerships with local lenders as the best mode of establishing their presence in the country. He said the banks wanted to reach and be familiar with the domestic market.

So far, Bangko Sentral approved the entry of eight Asian banks since the domestic banking industry was further liberalized in July 2014. Two were approved this year, the latest of which was the application of First Commercial Bank of Taiwan, one of Taiwan’s largest.

BDO CAPITAL’S AWARDS. BDO Capital and Investment Corp. and other companies receive the prestigious Triple A Awards from The Asset magazine during the Asia Infrastructure Awards 2016. Shown with their plaques are BDO Capital president Eduardo Francisco (right), BDO Capital head of debt practice Eleanor Lee Hilado (left) Aboitiz Power Corp. business development manager Nicolo Daniel Subido (second from left), Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. assistant vice president for treasury Clarice Marucut (center) and AEV senior vice president and treasurer Gabriel Mañalac (second from right).

PhilWeb to shut down—Pagcor

By Jenniffer B. Austria

E

MBATTLED PhilWeb Corp. will have to wind up its operations following the decision of the state-gaming firm not to renew its license.

“Philweb contract will expire Aug 10, 2016, Pagcor will not renew/extend the contract. PhilWeb informed Pagcor that they are doing their wind up operations,” Philippine Games and Amusement Corp. assistant vice president for corporate communications Maricar Bautista said in a text message.

PhilWeb officials were scheduled to meet with Pagcor officials late Tuesday after

Pagcor chief executive Andrea Domingo said the government would not renew PhilWeb’s license.

As a result share price of PhilWeb on Tuesday plunged 17.2 percent to P4.25 apiece from Monday’s close of P5.13.

Share price of PhilWeb since July 1 has dropped by 78 percent from P19 per share to P4.25, after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a stop to online gambling in his first cabi-

net meeting.

With the Pagcor’s decision, PhilWeb Corp., which operates and manages electronic casinos owned by the Philippine gaming regulator, will have to shut down operations, including 286 so-called egames outlets.

PhilWeb earlier said it had been managing the gaming regulator’s e-games network for the past 14 years, remitting P14 billion ($298 million) to the agency for its share of the revenue from the operations.

The company clarified it did not operate online gaming websites. PhilWeb’s electronic games cannot be accessed by office or home computers and its members-only players must be physically present at the ca-

fes to play.

PhilWeb said its meeting with Pagcor aimed to clarify the situation, adding President Duterte might have been misinformed about its operations.

“PhilWeb is merely a software provider to Pagcor for its network of e-Games outlets.

We are not online gaming. Our software cannot be played from homes or offices,” PhilWeb president Dennis Valdes said in a previous statement.

Valdes said each e-Games outlet was owned by an individual entrepreneur whose gaming license was issued by Pagcor directly to them. Each e-Games outlet, thus, pays all taxes, as does PhilWeb itself.

“The e-Games network contributed a total of P2.1 billion

to Pagcor in 2015, and over P14 billion in the past 14 years,” he said.

PhilWeb Corp. chairman Roberto Ongpin quit his post to save the company, after listed gaming technology company became the focus of President Duterte’s antioligarch and anti-online gambling pronouncements.

“The main reason why Mr. Ongpin resigned from PhilWeb is to save the company.

He recognized that if he stayed on, PhilWeb’s e-Games outlets could be shut down, which would lead to the loss of its business and eventual closure, affecting more than 5,000 employees,” said Valdes in a statement released through a public relations firm Sunday.

By Darwin G. Amojelar LIGHT Rail Manila Corp., a consortium led by Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said on Tuesday it expects to complete the construction of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite extension project by 2021.

“I think it [construction] was supposed to start last year and it was expected to finish in about five years. So, I guess we’re looking at once right of way is delivered, we’ll have around four to five years to finish the Cavite extension,” LRMC General Counsel Philip Ranada told reporters in a briefing.

LRMC’s original target to complete the project was by 2020.

Ranada said the company ex-

mercial leasing and services, increased eight percent to P51.45 billion, propelled by the expansion of its large mixeduse estates in key growth areas nationwide.

“Ayala Land continues to capitalize on the growth in the real estate sector. Our established estates drove our performance, alongside increasing contributions from similar mixed-use developments that we’ve launched over the last five years,” Ayala Land presi-

7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

8,055.06 61.48

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing AUGUST 9, 2016 48.00 46.00

P46.850

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.850 LOW P46.920 AVERAGE P46.889 VOLUME 301.400M

P400-P640.00 LPG/11-kg tank P34.15-P41.20 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P24.35-P27.75 Diesel P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene

TOURISM TRAILBLAZER. Henann Group of Resorts chairman Henry Chusuey (second from right) receives the Tourism Award for Resort Development from the Rotary Club of Manila for his remarkable work in promoting the Philippines as a premiere tourist destination, with the company’s top-notch properties in Boracay and Panglao, Bohol. With Chusuey during the awarding ceremony at New World Makati Hotel in Makati City are (from left) Rotary Club of Manila immediate past president Frank Evaristo, Robert Pagdanganan, director Robert Joseph, Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo and Rotary Club of Manila president Eusebio Tan.

Ayala Land increased income 16% to P9.7b in six months AYALA Land Inc. said net income in the first six months of 2016 rose 16 percent to P9.74 billion from P8.39 billion yearon-year after aggressively launching real estate projects to boost its residential and recurring income businesses.

Ayala Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-half consolidated revenues grew eight percent to P54.76 billion from P50.61 billion.

Core businesses, such as property development, com-

Closing August 9, 2016

8300

45.00

Extension of LRT 1 line finished by ’21 pects to start the construction of the LRT 1 Cavite Extension project by end of the year or early next year.

“We’re confident that the government has been working overtime to solve the right of way issue. … there are a couple of issues like the presence of informal settlers at some of our locations and Meralco posts that have to be relocated,” he said.

“I think the government has done a lot of work. We’ve been in constant communication with the government on the status and the hope is that they can either deliver this year or next,” Ranada added.

Ranada said the company was trying to set a meeting with the Transportation Department to discuss the planned fare hike for LRT 1 this month.

PSe comPoSite index

dent and chief executive officer Bernard Vincent Dy said.

“In the first half of 2016, we also introduced new residential products, opened new malls and offices, and broke ground on additional leasable assets in line with our objective of balancing our development and recurring income portfolio,” Dy added.

Ayala Land in the first half of the year launched two huge mixed-use developments—the 17.5-hectare Gatewalk Central in Mandaue City and the P19-

billion transport-oriented development within the Makati central business district.

The property company also launched residential projects, such as Ayala Land Premier’s Park Central Towers, Alveo’s Callisto and Avida’s One Antonio, all in Makati City.

It opened Ayala Malls Legazpi in Bicol and a new phase at UP Town Center to expand the leasing business.

The company also completed BPO offices at UP-Ayala Land

Technohub and UP Town Center. Within the newly launched Gatewalk Central, Ayala Land will build a mall with an estimated gross leasable area of 115,000 square meters and a BPO office with an estimated gross leasable area of 20,000 square meters.

The company’s hotels and resorts portfolio continues to grow with 11 Seda hotels currently being built in key locations across the country.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, August 9, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

46.8830

Japan

Yen

0.009763

0.4577

UK

Pound

1.304100

61.1401

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128924

6.0443

Switzerland

Franc

1.018434

47.7472

Canada

Dollar

0.760341

35.6471

Singapore

Dollar

0.742721

34.8210

Australia

Dollar

0.765000

35.8655

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651465

124.3086

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.5014

Brunei

Dollar

0.739973

34.6922

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028590

1.3404

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.7656

Euro

Euro

1.109500

52.0167

Korea

Won

0.000904

0.0424

China

Yuan

0.150130

7.0385

India

Rupee

0.014970

0.7018

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247831

11.6191

New Zealand

Dollar

0.713600

33.4557

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031828

1.4922 Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market advances; Cosco, Max’s top gainers S TOCKS advanced for a second day, sending the benchmark index above the 8,000-point mark, after a betterthan-expected US jobs report boosted the outlook for global economic growth.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 61 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 8,055.06 Tuesday. The bellwether was up 15.9 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also rose 20 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at

4,778.56, on a value turnover of P9.5 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 99 to 93, while 42 issues were unchanged.

Fourteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Cosco Capital Inc., the holding company of tycoon Lucio Co which climbed 3.4 percent to P9.10 and Max’s Group Inc. which rose 3.3 percent to P34.

SM Investments Corp., the holding company of tycoon Henry Sy, gained 2.5 percent to P697, while property developer Ayala Land Inc. added 2.1 percent to P41.05.

Meanwhile, a gauge of developing-nation equities headed for its highest close since August 2015 with Thailand and South Korea leading gains in Asia. Thailand’s stocks and currency advanced after voters approved a military-backed

T OP G AINERS STOCKS

constitution, a first step toward restoring democracy in the southeast Asian nation. Korean stocks rallied after S&P Global Ratings raised the country’s credit ranking.

“The payroll data signal recovery in spending power and the overall U.S. economy, and that’s driving positive sentiment,” said John Teja, a director at PT Ciptadana Securities in Jakarta.

“The market is still driven by data for now. As long as we have enough positive data to maintain the momentum, the upside trend could stay. But I think we are still prone for corrections.”

Thailand’s benchmark stock index gained 1.1 percent, set for the highest close since April 2015, after voters approved a new military-backed constitution in the first ballot since a coup two years ago. The baht strengthened 0.4 percent. Bloomberg, AFP

1.89

20.38

Ever Gotesco

0.159

9.66

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0120

9.09

Megawide

11.68

6.57

Roxas Holdings

3.98

5.85

Makati Fin. Corp.

3.86

5.46

Araneta Prop `A'

2.790

4.89

Petron Corporation

11.20

4.87

Global-Estate

1.13

4.63

Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

4.48

4.19

T OP L OSERS STOCKS

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7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 80 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 52 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

AG Finance 3.63 Asia United Bank 47.75 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 115.50 Bank of PI 102.00 China Bank 38.25 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 4.00 Bright Kindle Resources 1.56 COL Financial 16.3 Eastwest Bank 20.45 I-Remit Inc. 2.03 MEDCO Holdings 0.660 Metrobank 93.95 Natl. Reinsurance Corp. 0.89 PB Bank 14.7 Phil Bank of Comm 24.60 Phil. National Bank 62.95 Phil. Savings Bank 101.1 Philippine trust Co. 400 PSE Inc. 280 RCBC `A’ 32.2 Security Bank 220 Sun Life Financial 1410.00 Union Bank 73.80 Vantage Equities 1.51

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92

20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 1450 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 34.1 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

45.6 Agrinurture Inc. 3.44 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.86 Alsons Cons.

1.95 Asiabest Group 12.56 Cemex Holdings 12 Century Food 18.04 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 160 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 22.4 Concepcion 58 Crown Asia 2.22 Da Vinci Capital 6.05 Del Monte 12.7 DNL Industries Inc. 10.900 Emperador 7.69 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.90 EEI 9.46 First Gen Corp.

24.95 First Holdings ‘A’ 71.7 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.10 Holcim Philippines Inc. 16.30 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.7 Ionics Inc 2.370 Jollibee Foods Corp.

255.00 Liberty Flour 40.00 LMG Chemicals 2.07 Mabuhay Vinyl 4.2 Macay Holdings 29.80 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.05 Maxs Group 32.9 Megawide 10.96 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 324.40 MG Holdings 0.265 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.30 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.51 Petron Corporation 10.68 Phinma Corporation 11.66 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.08 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.65 Pryce Corp. `A’ 3.41 RFM Corporation 4.25 Roxas Holdings 3.76 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 215 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.168 TKC Steel Corp.

1.90 Trans-Asia Oil 2.37 Universal Robina 204 Victorias Milling 4.69 Vitarich Corp.

1.57 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.29

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 9.66 0.0670 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.225 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 837 5.3 49.55 3 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 3 0.030 0.550 59.3 751 1.13 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

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

GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.400 75.20 16.20 1.26 6.47 0.410 0.425 898 8.8 13.00 6.7 6.99 1610 6.60 84.50 5.82 7.7 0.78 15.98 7.44 3.1 0.0370 1.930 82.50 680.00 1.27 200.000 0.3200 0.2060 0.300

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 5.59 7.1 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 27 8.54

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 30.05 3.36 4.96 4.6 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 23 2.69

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings 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 MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

8.080 6.97 1.33 2.660 40.200 3.23 5.03 6.35 0.630 1.03 1.050 0.170 0.660 58.3 0.820 0.145 1.08 1.97 1.24 5.38 0.137 38.80 15.9

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Low

Close

FINANCIAL 3.59 3.4 3.59 47.75 47.25 47.75 117.50 115.80 116.70 104.00 96.00 103.90 38.45 38.25 38.3 3.87 3.87 3.87 1.59 1.49 1.49 16.7 16.4 16.4 21 20.35 20.65 2 1.9 2 0.650 0.630 0.650 95 93.8 93.8 0.91 0.89 0.89 14.8 14.7 14.7 24.60 24.60 24.60 63.00 62.70 62.95 100.8 100.8 100.8 400 400 400 283.2 281 283.2 32.5 32.2 32.25 224.6 218.8 222.8 1410.00 1390.00 1410.00 74.15 73.80 74.10 1.5 1.5 1.5 INDUSTRIAL 46.15 45.65 46 3.5 3.33 3.41 0.86 0.84 0.85 1.98 1.92 1.97 12.6 12.42 12.52 12.28 12 12.04 18.6 18.06 18.3 160 156 160 22.45 22 22.45 58 58 58 2.25 2.2 2.23 6.08 5.9 5.93 12.86 12.7 12.86 11.260 10.840 11.200 7.69 7.50 7.55 6.05 5.91 6.00 9.60 9.49 9.51 25.3 25 25.1 71.95 71.5 71.75 12.00 12.00 12.00 16.30 16.00 16.28 5.7 5.65 5.68 2.400 2.300 2.340 259.00 255.00 257.00 36.30 36.30 36.30 2.06 2.06 2.06 4.25 4 4.12 30.95 28.70 29.70 26.2 25.9 25.9 34.5 32.25 34 11.82 11.02 11.68 324.60 323.80 324.00 0.265 0.265 0.265 4.48 4.47 4.48 3.52 3.5 3.5 11.20 10.72 11.20 11.68 11.66 11.68 6.14 6.07 6.14 1.68 1.65 1.65 3.54 3.44 3.45 4.27 4.24 4.24 3.99 3.98 3.98 218.2 217 218 0.169 0.161 0.161 1.95 1.86 1.92 2.40 2.37 2.38 207.4 203.4 205.8 4.6 4.39 4.6 1.65 1.52 1.63 1.26 1.25 1.25 HOLDING FIRMS 0.410 0.390 0.395 76.00 75.00 75.15 16.42 16.20 16.40 1.29 1.20 1.20 6.40 6.14 6.20 0.420 0.395 0.405 0.425 0.395 0.395 905 890.5 897 9.12 8.8 9.1 13.00 12.94 13.00 6.75 6.05 6.75 7.07 6.95 7.00 1624 1610 1618 7.00 6.50 6.79 84.95 83.90 84.00 5.82 5.82 5.82 7.7 7.58 7.67 0.79 0.78 0.78 16 15.92 16 7.55 7.41 7.49 3.1 3.1 3.1 0.0390 0.0370 0.0380 1.910 1.890 1.890 84.35 82.05 84.30 698.00 684.50 697.00 1.29 1.25 1.27 200.000 199.000 200.000 0.3150 0.3100 0.3100 0.2100 0.2050 0.2100 0.300 0.295 0.300 PROPERTY 8.100 8.020 8.020 6.54 6.52 6.54 1.35 1.31 1.31 2.890 2.700 2.790 41.300 40.200 41.050 3.26 3.18 3.19 5.06 5.05 5.06 5.8 5.8 5.8 0.64 0.620 0.620 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.030 1.020 1.030 0.173 0.163 0.170 0.660 0.650 0.660 58.4 54.9 55.45 0.820 0.810 0.810 0.160 0.145 0.159 1.13 1.07 1.13 1.99 1.97 1.97 1.23 1.19 1.23 5.42 5.25 5.42 0.137 0.130 0.133 38.70 38.50 38.50 16.2 15.26 16.18

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

-1.10 0.00 1.04 1.86 0.13 -3.25 -4.49 0.61 0.98 -1.48 -1.52 -0.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.30 0.00 1.14 0.16 1.27 0.00 0.41 -0.66

34,000 25,000 1,616,180 2,283,230 280,200 1,000 480,000 32,000 758,100 37,000 1,604,000 1,996,130 100,000 247,100 300 43,310 15,110 20 4,640 140,400 731,220 335 276,090 1,000

0.88 -0.87 -1.16 1.03 -0.32 0.33 1.44 0.00 0.22 0.00 0.45 -1.98 1.26 2.75 -1.82 1.69 0.53 0.60 0.07 -0.83 -0.12 -0.35 -1.27 0.78 -9.25 -0.48 -1.90 -0.34 -0.58 3.34 6.57 -0.12 0.00 4.19 -0.28 4.87 0.17 0.99 0.00 1.17 -0.24 5.85 1.40 -4.17 1.05 0.42 0.88 -1.92 3.82 -3.10

1,321,100 608,000 760,000 816,000 1,500 10,247,800 4,105,700 590 8,086,500 2,430 465,000 117,500 16,200 10,616,200 441,400 26,975,400 416,200 1,533,400 154,710 5,900 81,500 142,800 5,730,000 475,420 100 2,000 103,000 5,900 2,724,500 4,696,800 7,283,600 165,030 80,000 5,000 951,000 8,694,500 16,600 287,900 95,000 287,000 301,000 16,000 12,370 11,150,000 519,000 2,825,000 2,186,800 9,000 36,611,000 106,000

-1.25 -0.07 1.23 -4.76 -4.17 -1.22 -7.06 -0.11 3.41 0.00 0.75 0.14 0.50 2.88 -0.59 0.00 -0.39 0.00 0.13 0.67 0.00 2.70 -2.07 2.18 2.50 0.00 0.00 -3.13 1.94 0.00

340,000 2,127,480 4,356,300 10,000 8,300 19,460,000 1,770,000 348,160 18,039,400 8,170,700 88,300 90,300 345,400 1,000 2,444,330 100 1,805,800 11,000 2,747,500 62,035,600 2,000 53,500,000 1,644,000 453,050 365,170 81,000 14,290 5,530,000 1,340,000 260,000

-0.74 -6.17 -1.50 4.89 2.11 -1.24 0.60 -8.66 -1.59 0.00 -1.90 0.00 0.00 -4.89 -1.22 9.66 4.63 0.00 -0.81 0.74 -2.92 -0.77 1.76

11,900 600 4,589,000 12,748,000 23,431,000 60,600 9,600 6,000 5,233,000 1,000 3,000 55,120,000 6,667,000 1,650,800 256,000 940,000 16,039,000 30,569,000 62,000 46,327,700 25,770,000 2,300 93,300

1,030,725.00 -15,102,852 98,575,549.00 153,450.00 -404,116.00 -7,778,170.00 6,500.00 3,079,419.50 -2,954,800.00 192,783.00 786,768.00 1,673,070 28,713,160.00 770,182.00 30,297,415.00 -168,430.00 17,000.00 475,080.00 -5,153,350.00 -27,145,808.00 876,665.00 140,940 22,100.00 60,068,304.00 873,708.00 91,712,814.00 1,094,205.00 4,112,410.00 3,676,279.50 -72,330.00 33,010.00 18,256,870.00

2,870.00 -22,392,860.00 86,710,270.00 3,957,764.00 -31,047,070.00 2,096,500.00 1,330,474.00

773,180.00 -547,208.00 21,570.00 -1,940.00 568,800.00 49,510,006 37,170.00

-24,061,345.50 -1,442,250.00

-60,000.00 22,462,485.00 30,955,112.00 -3,073,028.00 33,670,610.00 1,675,876.00 -3,168,260.00 21,181,488.00 -55,445,974.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

18,600.00

-22,680.00 -654.00 81,500.00 -1,958,330.00 66,790,705.00 -207,400.00 -62,880.00

13,684,897.00 -20,980.00 57,611,580.00 -5,890.00 32,024,735.00 156,200.00 -320,000.00

Close

High

31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

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

32.50 1.79 3.35 29.90 0.93 1.050 6.000

10.5 66 1.09 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 2720 8.41

1.97 35.2 0.63 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 1600 5.95

70.5 1.97 119.5 7 0.017

17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 95.5 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 3.1 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

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

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `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 Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.29 50 0.590 5.87 5.89 0.1030 2.82 118.9 10 2.3 5.02 2228 6.39 15.70 20.30 1.24 61.95 20.75 0.0090 9.35 0.325 1.4000 3.06 12.78 6.08 2.99 1.09 2.50 19.98 2 3.65 5.93 3.620 11.68 6.05 134.00 5.13 1903.00 0.455 1.060 48.75 86.55 6.37 3.52 0.610 3.57 0.330 6.450

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

Abra Mining 0.0042 Apex `A’ 3.02 Atlas Cons. `A’ 4.10 Atok-Big Wedge `A’ 9.65 Basic Energy Corp.

0.218 Benguet Corp `A’ 6.3000 Benguet Corp `B’ 6.5200 Century Peak Metals Hldgs0.61 Coal Asia 0.450 Dizon 8.08 Ferronickel 0.830 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.285 Lepanto `A’ 0.224 Lepanto `B’ 0.238 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0120 Manila Mining `B’ 0.0120 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 1.57 Nickelasia 5.61 Nihao Mineral Resources 2.81 Oriental Peninsula Res. 1.0200 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0110 Oriental Pet. `B’ 0.0130 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 4.13 Philex `A’ 8.60 PhilexPetroleum 3.73 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.0120 Semirara Corp.

116.80 TA Petroleum 3.66 United Paragon 0.0098

70 525

33 500

118 8.21 12.28 111 1047 78.95 84.8

101 5.88 6.5 101 1011 74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD Pref First Gen F GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

-11,900.00 -2,673,025.50 -42,298,490.00

STOCKS

1.34

1

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

2.300

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

TRADING SUMMARY

49.8 532.5 107.8 116 6 1.061 111.7 1023 78.5 81 76.2 79 79.9 77 77.2 2.42

SHARES

FINANCIAL

11,637,371

INDUSTRIAL

152,539,077

HOLDING FIRMS

215,616,301

PROPERTY

253,635,423

SERVICES

256,691,076

MINING & OIL

1,071,466,126

GRAND TOTAL

1,966,840,444

5.17 3.66 5.23 16.68 131.4

32.50 1.79 3.37 30.55 0.95 1.060 6.050

Low

Close

Change (%)

4.25

-17.15

Liberty Flour

36.30

-9.25

Cebu Prop. `B'

5.8

-8.66

Metro Retail

5.45

-8.09

Oriental Pet. `B'

0.0120

-7.69

ATN Holdings B

0.395

-7.06

LR Warrant

2.150

-6.52

Anchor Land Holdings Inc.

6.54

-6.17

Lorenzo Shipping

1.03

-5.50

SSI Group

3.34

-5.11

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

32.10 32.40 1.76 1.76 3.28 3.28 29.90 30.21 0.92 0.95 1.030 1.060 5.920 5.920 SERVICES 7.35 7.26 7.33 50.25 50 50.1 0.630 0.590 0.610 5.84 5.7 5.7 5.99 5.80 5.90 0.1040 0.1000 0.1010 2.82 2.8 2.82 123 119 121.1 10.18 10 10 2.28 2.27 2.28 5.25 5.03 5.06 2228 2186 2198 6.52 6.38 6.42 15.90 15.20 15.22 20.30 20.30 20.30 1.26 1.24 1.26 62.3 61.2 61.5 21.95 20.75 21.15 0.0089 0.0088 0.0089 9.36 9.30 9.35 0.325 0.320 0.325 1.4700 1.3300 1.4300 3.33 3.05 3.13 13.2 12.6 13 6.05 5.59 5.82 2.98 2.90 2.96 1.09 1.03 1.03 2.50 2.48 2.50 19.98 19.06 19.98 2 2 2 3.69 3.49 3.53 5.87 5.42 5.45 3.690 3.510 3.580 11.6 11.5 11.5 6.30 5.80 5.99 132.00 131.00 131.00 4.43 3.02 4.25 1913.00 1898.00 1901.00 0.455 0.450 0.455 1.070 1.050 1.070 48.70 48.05 48.30 87.00 86.55 87.00 6.51 6.36 6.46 3.58 3.31 3.34 0.630 0.610 0.630 3.6 3.54 3.55 0.340 0.340 0.340 6.760 6.400 6.400 MINING & OIL 0.0042 0.0041 0.0041 3.02 2.96 2.97 4.10 4.06 4.06 9.66 9.66 9.66 0.227 0.212 0.227 6.3 6.19 6.2800 6.9000 6.5000 6.6000 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.455 0.450 0.455 8.12 8.07 8.08 0.830 0.820 0.830 0.290 0.285 0.285 0.224 0.214 0.214 0.235 0.230 0.230 0.0120 0.0110 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 0.0120 1.9 1.57 1.89 5.73 5.61 5.67 2.83 2.75 2.76 1.0200 0.9500 0.9700 0.0120 0.0110 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 4.14 4.10 4.14 8.69 8.40 8.40 3.85 3.74 3.80 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 117.00 113.50 114.00 3.74 3.7 3.7 0.0099 0.0096 0.0099 PREFERRED 50.15 49.8 50 533.5 532.5 533.5 104.9 104.2 104.4 116 116 116 6.1 6.08 6.08 1.06 1.05 1.06 111.7 111.2 111.2 1023 1023 1023 78.5 78 78 81 80.1 81 76.5 76.5 76.5 79 78.5 78.5 79.9 79 79 77.3 77.1 77.3 77.3 77.3 77.3 2.42 2.42 2.42 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.300 1.990 2.150 SME 5.39 5.1 5.1 3.92 3.85 3.86 5.35 5 5.09 16.8 16.52 16.58 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 132.3 131.5 132.3

Close (P)

Philweb.Com Inc.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2016

High Low

Change (%)

Marcventures Hldgs., Inc.

THE STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW 52 Weeks

Close (P)

-0.31 -1.68 -2.09 1.05 2.15 0.95 -1.33

1,790,000 21,335,290.00 238,000 152,000 399,951,255 373,000 268,000 4,257,100 -9,555,656.00

0.55 0.20 3.39 -2.90 0.17 -1.94 0.00 1.85 0.00 -0.87 0.80 -1.35 0.47 -3.06 0.00 1.61 -0.73 1.93 -1.11 0.00 0.00 2.14 2.29 1.72 -4.28 -1.00 -5.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.29 -8.09 -1.10 -1.54 -0.99 -2.24 -17.15 -0.11 0.00 0.94 -0.92 0.52 1.41 -5.11 3.28 -0.56 3.03 -0.78

30,800 38,930 2,949,000 13,700 7,203,700 107,300,000 6,273,000 1,127,700 1,400 27,000 323,800 126,770 1,786,800 177,200 100 758,000 2,248,620 27,200 16,000,000 757,400 10,970,000 8,484,000 497,000 10,200 684,700 181,000 266,000 8,000 300 8,000 9,927,000 23,178,300 2,926,000 88,300 727,500 4,230 10,648,000 121,855 780,000 17,468,000 977,200 166,250 1,268,000 11,001,000 431,000 354,000 70,000 140,500

-2.38 -1.66 -0.98 0.10 4.13 -0.32 1.23 -1.64 1.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 -4.46 -3.36 0.00 0.00 20.38 1.07 -1.78 -4.90 9.09 -7.69 0.24 -2.33 1.88 0.00 -2.40 1.09 1.02

340,000,000 547,000 273,000 700 140,000 16,900 2,000 488,000 300,000 1,900 9,858,000 920,000 26,000,000 100,000 579,700,000 59,400,000 2,766,000 2,880,200 315,000 2,832,000 1,600,000 1,500,000 8,000 984,600 2,686,000 16,700,000 991,700 134,000 20,000,000

0.40 0.19 -3.15 0.00 1.33 -0.09 -0.45 0.00 -0.64 0.00 0.39 -0.63 -1.13 0.39 0.13 0.00

13,600 2,050 169,080 200 3,027,000 801,000 19,510 1,400 29,830 33,360 5,000 15,400 5,020 118,400 13,000 1,000

-6.52

1,918,000

-1.35 5.46 -2.68 -0.60

2,979,100 80,000 1,478,400 668,200

0.68

49,320

-41,601.00 120,030.00 160,463.00 42,100.00 17,179,220.00 -267,412.00 -188,700,940.00

-53,418,444.50 3,272,500.00 -12,800.00 -900.00 3,100.00 -205,021 -2,920.00

-3,768,330.00 -10,955,493.00 343,750.00 18,350.00 1,061,271.00 -26,193,665.00 -8,363,150.00 11,104,030.00 -53,002.50 5,335,050.00 175,560.00 -35,200.00

-8,130.00

2,804,160.00 -4,700.00 -37,650.00 7,732,285.00

398,192.00 -2,352,950.00 21,570,850.00 -98,000.00 -34,420.00 -1,067,000 -17,161,042.00 -2,112,800.00 -2,336,810.00 -2,597,780 576,975.00 3,084,000.00

-76,920.00 511.00 -8,707,026.00

VALUE 1,869.04 (up) 17.38 967,107,483.404 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 12,389.66 (up) 110.42 1,951,079,024.38 HOLDING FIRMS 7,942.03 (up) 57.89 2,830,451,149.67 PROPERTY 3,683.18 (up) 33.63 1,570.74 (down) 5.52 2,071,883,604.64 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,666.34 (down) 170.60 1,467,767,734.0832 PSEI 8,055.06 (up) 61.48 183,674,520.995 All Shares Index 4,778.56 (up) 20.86 9,512,971,332.174 Gainers: 93; Losers: 99; Unchanged: 42; Total: 234

ICTSI registers $92.6-m income

By Darwin G. Amojelar PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Tuesday net income softened 12 percent in the first half from a year earlier, on lower port revenues and higher expenses related to its new terminal in Argentina.

The company led by businessman Enrique Razon said net income amounted to $92.6 million in January to June, lower than $105.7 million in the same period last year.

ICTSI said the drop in net income was due to unfavorable volume mix, lower noncontainerized and storage revenues, lower capitalized borrowing costs and higher depreciation and amortization expenses related to Tecplata S.A., the company’s new terminal in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It said excluding the effect of Tecplata and new projects, consolidated net income would have increased 6 percent year-on-year.

Gross revenues from port operations reached $550.8 million in the first half, compared to $552.1 million reported in the same period last year.

Century’s net profit rises 46% to P1.36b CANNED food company Century Pacific Food Inc. said net income grew 46 percent in the first half to P1.36 billion from a year ago, buoyed by robust demand for branded food products.

Century Pacific said net income in the second quarter reached P725 million, up 46 percent from a year earlier and by 14 percent from the first quarter.

Revenues grew 15 percent to P13 billion in the first half.

“Top line growth across our 3ms—marine, meat and milk—continues to be driven almost completely by increases in volume. These can be attributed to our various sales and marketing campaigns, plus a strong local economy boosted by election spending,” said CNPF chief finance officer Oscar Pobre.

“However, we also faced some challenges due to the El Niño weather disturbance and slowness in certain export markets,” Pobre said.

Revenue growth through modern trade outperformed as retailers pursued aggressive expansion. Globally, a fast rising trend towards healthy and organic coconut products offsett sales weakness in private-label tuna.

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

DoE lifts Luzon ‘yellow alert’

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE government lifted the ‘yellow alert’ on power supply in Luzon, as more plants resume operation, Energy officials said Tuesday.

“[It is] normal alert so far,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said, after Quezon Power Philippines Ltd.’s 500-megawatt power plant came back online.

National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said in its advisory the normal grid status was raised this week, after additional power capacity started coming in.

National Grid said the reliability run conducted by the 414-MW San Gabriel natural gas plant and the energization of the Pagbilao unit 2 also helped ease the projected supply constraint.

Luzon grid’s power reserves reached 1,111 MW Tuesday, as capacity was placed at 9,514 MW, exceeding the peak demand of 8,081 MW. Luzon grid is also projected to have adequate reserves of 1,115 MW on Wednesday, with capacity reaching 9,869 MW versus demand of 8,754 MW. Meanwhile, National Grid said it was preparing the transmission network to accommodate nearly 4,000 megawatts of additional power capacity in the Mindanao grid by 2020.

National Grid head of Mindanao

system planning division Fernando Javier said in a presentation during the Energy Department’s Investment Forum in Davao that the region was expected to sustain economic growth, which would necessitate additional power capacity.

Javier said the existing transmission network needed a “230-kV backbone to accommodate entry of bulk generation capacity.”

He said of the power projects capacity additions between 2015 and 2025, 3,322 MW would come from conventional power plants, including 3,310 MW from coal and 12 MW from diesel.

The remaining 669 MW would be from renewable energy plants, of which the bulk would be hydro projects.

Javier said Mindanao’s substations

were already old and needed rehabilitation.

Javier said National Grid approved several projects to address Mindanao’s transmission requirements, including the Opol 138 kV substation, Agus 6 SY upgrading/rehabilitation, Sultan Kudarat capacitor project, Mindanao substation expansion 2, MalitaMatanao 230 kV transmission line and Matanao-General Santos 138 kV transmission line.

Other projects approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission were BaloiKauswagan-Aurora 230 kV transmission line phase 1 project, Aurora-Polanco 138 kV transmission line, Agus 2 SY upgrading project, Butuan-Placer 138 kV transmission project, Tacurong-

Fitch expects RCBC to remain profitable

TURKISH FOOD. Turkish

Flour Yeast & Ingredients Promotion Group treat bakers and food lovers who visit its booth at the 2016 World Food Expo at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. The group showcased demonstrations of Turkish breadmaking by Chef Emin Aydemir, co-founder and current president of the Association of Pastry and Suppliers inTurkey.

Aydemir is a member of the World Association of Chefs Societies.

He was invited to the Philippines to share his expertise with the Filipino market.

PLDT set to operate Mindanao cable hub

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said Tuesday it will start operating a $40-million cable landing station in Davao next month to improve international data traffic going in and out of Mindanao.

The cable landing station in Davao will directly link PLDT Group’s network in Mindanao to three existing international gateways in Nasugbu, Batangas; Bauang, La Union; and Daet, Camarines Norte.

“This will improve resiliency and latency of international data traffic going in and out of Mindanao,” PLDT said.

The cable landing station also connects Mindanao to PLDT’s international managed network that has points-of-presence in Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and the United Kingdom.

It also provides a fullymanaged, high-bandwidth global

connectivity with automatic rerouting and switching capability through different international cable routes in the event of cable faults, providing even greater resiliency in the network.

PLDT’s Innolab and data center facilities in Davao City will also be completed in September.

“We are putting in our collective efforts to provide Visayas and Mindanao a solid ICT foundation to help boost the regions’ businesses and growing industries. It is within our short and mediumterm mission to accelerate the necessary investments to help build and strengthen the regions’ enterprises, and enable them to become locally if not globally competitive via digital tools and solutions,” PLDT executive vice president and ePLDT president and chief executive Eric Alberto said.

IN BRIEF Jollibee’s profit up

JOLLIBEE Foods Corp., the largest Asian food service company, said Tuesday net income grew 17.2 percent in the second quarter to P1.65 billion from P1.41 billion in the same period last year, on store expansion and election spending.

Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange systemwide retail sales, a measure of all sales to consumers at company-owned and franchised stores, grew 15.1 percent in the second quarter to P37.1 billion.

Sales in the Philippines grew 17.9 percent in the second quarter while foreign sales rose 3.7 percent.

“Our Philippine business which accounts for at least 80 percent of our worldwide sales has been experiencing its strongest organic growth in many years,” Jollibee chief executive Ernesto Tanmantiong said.

Net income in the first half climbed 17.5 percent to P3.05 billion as systemwide sales improved 15 percent to P71.44 billion.

Jenniffer B. Austria

SSI’s earnings dip

SSI Group Inc., the country’s largest specialty store retailer owned by the Tantoco family, reported a 58.8-percent decline in net income to P241 million in the first half from P586 million a year ago, after it closed down 81 stores as a part of store rationalization.

SSI Group said in a financial re-

Bac-Man power line The Energy Regulatory Commission approved the application of Energy Development Corp. to develop a dedicated point-to-point facility to connect the 31-megawatt Bac-Man 3 geothermal project to the Luzon grid.

ERC said in a decision the facilities would be constructed in accordance with the system impact study and facility study requirements so as not to result in the degradation of National Grid Corp.’s transmission system.

ERC directed National Grid to operate and maintain the dedicated transmission facility costing P130 million subject to application charges.

ERC said it decided to allow the National Grid operate the facility “in the absence of a definite assurance that the subject facilities will be operated without any adverse effects to the reliability of the grid.” Alena Mae S. Flores

By Julito G. Rada GLOBAL debt watcher Fitch Ratings said it expects Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. to remain profitable despite the P1-billion penalty imposed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in connection with the bank’s involvement in the $81-million laundering scam in February this year.

Fitch said in a report the fine was unlikely to materially weaken the bank’s mediumterm financial profile, despite being significant relative to its net income.

“The penalty is equivalent to roughly 20 percent of RCBC’s 2015 net profit, and is the largest-ever imposed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

We believe this demonstrates the regulator’s firm view of the seriousness of the incident, in which $81 million siphoned

from the Bangladeshi central bank’s account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York were coursed through accounts at RCBC among other conduits,” Fitch said.

“However, the fine is a oneoff, and we expect RCBC to remain profitable in 2016. The charge on its own does not significantly weaken the bank’s medium-term profitability or its existing capital, funding and liquidity strengths,” Fitch said.

Fitch expressed hope RCBC would continue to strengthen its operational policies and controls to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Fitch said other potential repercussions could have affected the bank’s rating—such as a loss of key correspondent banking relationships— appeared to have been averted since the details of the case first became public in the first quarter of 2016.

Manila

Standard

TODAY HEAD OFFICE: PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, 1226 Makati City Trunk Line: 830-7000 * E-mail: customercare@pbcom.com.ph * Website: http://www.pbcom.com.ph

BALANCE SHEET (Bank and Financial Subsidiaries)

BALANCE SHEET (Head Office and Branches) As of June 30, 2016

As of June 30, 2016

As of March 31, 2016

Cash and Cash Items P 905,856,518.21 Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 13,094,149,836.56 Due from Other Banks 1,683,507,210.47 Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 3,301,860,504.34 Available-for-Sale Financial Assets - Net 44,452,432.50 Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets - Net 17,143,481,951.75 Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans - Net 3,761,931,990.88 Loans and Receivables - Net 35,089,668,474.29 Interbank Loans Receivable 47,060,000.00 Loans and Receivables - Others 34,610,872,074.61 Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB 773,969,453.00 General Loan Loss Provision 342,233,053.32 Other Financial Assets 583,689,613.38 Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures - Net 902,299,312.93 Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture & Equipment - Net 1,986,662,735.11 Real and Other Properties Acquired - Net 451,555,492.32 Other Assets - Net 5,815,560,113.89

P

TOTAL ASSETS

P 77,839,584,870.79

P 84,764,676,186.63

TOTAL LIABILITIES

870,444,314.56 10,925,155,885.27 698,596,562.67 1,990,881,329.88 42,974,932.50 15,639,607,444.47 3,761,332,481.26 33,977,889,903.47 300,000,000.00 34,012,522,956.79 334,633,053.32 444,174,634.24 894,830,695.30 2,058,618,900.49 450,868,317.54 6,084,209,469.14

P

TOTAL ASSETS

P 79,986,754,213.02

P 86,965,716,414.39

P 63,425,075,782.74 8,719,171,032.74

P 59,869,427,555.06 6,609,505,301.47

7,494,511,031.12 1,224,660,001.62 564,740,050.83 2,075,455,646.76

6,345,731,516.47 263,773,785.00 5,654,348.40 331,203,027.05 2,230,123,802.70

P 74,784,442,513.07

P 69,045,914,034.68

Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable: Interbank Loans Payable Other Deposit Substitutes Others Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities TOTAL LIABILITIES

11,489,733,418.36 1,488,230,253.68 -4,184,292,835.93

9,980,233,673.56

8,793,670,836.11

P 84,764,676,186.63

P 77,839,584,870.79

Financial Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts Agency Accounts Others

P 1,991,088,054.69 470,297,934.71 862,780,371.12 3,320,247,749.93 6,014,662,484.01 1,347,368,159.09 4,667,294,324.92 118,522,974.33

P

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

P 12,777,599,568.79

P

1,838,283,357.37 575,318,759.32 579,151,228.31 750,932,871.17 5,753,554,562.91 1,171,844,754.69 4,581,709,808.22 180,831,318.55 9,678,072,097.63

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1/

35,973,354,608.03 1,660,831,651.24 2,378,811,531.66 6.61% 717,979,880.42 2.00% 226,909,091.24 20,042,946.29 0.06% 82,861.31 0.00% 1.73% 9.48% -4.52% 13.48% 10.20% 10.20%

Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

We, Arlene M. Datu and Patricia May T. Siy,, of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

P 61,909,768,471.16 6,609,861,999.14 356,697.67 6,345,731,516.47 263,773,785.00 5,654,348.40 360,330,721.32 2,342,587,607.81

P 77,035,948,671.93

P 71,228,203,147.82

(SGD.) ATTY. GERVACIO B. ORTIZ JR. NOTARY PUBLIC City of Makati until December 31, 2016 IBP no. 656155 - Lifetime Member MCLE Compliance No. V-0006934 Appointment no. M-38 -(2015-2016) PTR no. 5323504 Jan. 4, 2016 Makati City Roll no. 40091 101 Urban Ave., Campos Rueda Bldg. Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City

PATRICIA MAY T. SIY CARMEN G. HUANG BUNSIT CARLOS G. CHUNG

SUSAN P. CO RALPH C. NUBLA, JR. GREGORIO T. YU DAVID L. BALANGUE JESUS S. JALANDONI, JR.

ROBERTO Z. LORAYES EMMANUEL Y. MENDOZA

9,929,767,742.46

8,758,551,065.20

PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

P 86,965,716,414.39

P 79,986,754,213.02

P 1,991,088,054.69 470,297,934.71 862,780,371.12 3,320,247,749.93 6,014,662,484.01 1,347,368,159.09 4,667,294,324.92 118,528,566.33

P

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

P 12,777,605,160.79

P

1,838,283,357.37 575,318,759.32 579,151,228.31 750,932,871.17 5,753,554,562.91 1,171,844,754.69 4,581,709,808.22 180,836,975.55 9,678,077,754.63

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 1. List of Financial Allied Subsidiaries (excluding Subsidiary Insurance Companies) 1. Rural Bank of Nagcarlan, Inc. 2. Banco Dipolog, Inc. a Rural Bank 2. List of Subsidiary Insurance Companies 1. PBCom Insurance Services Agency, Inc. 3. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Consolidated Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) 14.74% 13.45% b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) 11.64% 10.25% 1/ 11.64% 10.25% c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) City of Makati )S.S. We, Arlene M. Datu and Patricia May T. Siy,, of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

(SGD.) PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 1st day of August 2016 at City of Makati, affiants exhibiting their SSS nos. 0356633451 and 0373099955, respectively..

(SGD.) ATTY. GERVACIO B. ORTIZ JR. NOTARY PUBLIC City of Makati until December 31, 2016 IBP no. 656155 - Lifetime Member MCLE Compliance No. V-0006934 Appointment no. M-38 -(2015-2016) PTR no. 5323504 Jan. 4, 2016 Makati City Roll no. 40091 101 Urban Ave., Campos Rueda Bldg. Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City

Member: Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Maximum Deposit Insurance for each Deposit P500,000.00

Members

11,489,733,418.36 1,527,230,353.98 -4,249,335,530.17 -9,077,176.97

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

Doc. No. 376 Page No. 77 Book No. LVI Series of 2016.

LEONARDO B. DAYAO Vice Chairman

LEVI B. LABRA

Financial Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts Agency Accounts Others

(SGD.) PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 1st day of August 2016 at City of Makati, affiants exhibiting their SSS nos. 0356633451 and 0373099955, respectively.

Doc. No. 377 Page No. 77 Book No. LVI Series of 2016.

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(SGD.) ARLENE M. DATU Controller, SVP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) City of Makati )S.S.

(SGD.) ARLENE M. DATU Controller, SVP

P 65,535,877,386.75 8,719,203,662.73 32,629.99 7,494,511,031.12 1,224,660,001.62 591,912,764.79 2,188,954,857.66

12,884,054,099.96 1,319,551,024.32 -4,264,148,359.18 -9,689,022.64

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) 37,138,192,469.60 Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP 1,706,290,941.99 Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs 2,290,272,280.26 b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 6.17% c. Net NPLs 583,981,338.27 d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 1.57% Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses 172,523,615.64 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses 17,141,555.32 Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance f or credit losses, to gross TLP (%) 0.05% Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables 82,861.31 Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises 1.50% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises 10.32% Return on Equity (ROE) (%) -3.00% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) 14.86% b. Tier 1 CAR (%) 11.68% c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ 11.68%

Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

ERIC O. RECTO Chairman

LUCIO L. CO

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

12,884,054,099.96 1,280,537,416.32 -4,184,357,842.72

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

900,451,142.09 11,006,760,768.93 865,008,115.52 1,990,881,329.88 42,974,932.50 15,639,607,444.47 3,761,332,481.26 35,968,898,448.88 300,000,000.00 36,023,731,000.93 354,832,552.05 471,062,661.42 26,810,481.94 2,173,899,268.04 517,826,002.87 6,621,241,135.22

LIABILITIES

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cash and Cash Items P 937,089,421.39 Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 13,176,130,195.57 Due from Other Banks 1,953,830,326.78 Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 3,301,860,504.34 Available-for-Sale Financial Assets - Net 44,452,432.50 Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets - Net 17,143,481,951.75 Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans - Net 3,761,931,990.88 Loans and Receivables - Net 37,042,222,904.61 Interbank Loans Receivable 47,060,000.00 Loans and Receivables - Others 36,581,995,971.91 Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB 773,969,453.00 General Loan Loss Provision 360,802,520.30 Other Financial Assets 613,660,212.90 Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures - Net 26,777,101.67 Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture & Equipment - Net 2,099,274,217.75 Real and Other Properties Acquired - Net 515,388,578.33 Other Assets - Net 6,349,616,575.93

LIABILITIES Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable: Interbank Loans Payable Other Deposit Substitutes Others Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

As of March 31, 2016

ASSETS

ASSETS

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

port filed with the stock exchange net sales climbed 8.6 percent to P8.58 billion from P7.9 billion recorded in the first half of 2015.

Operating expenses grew 12.6 percent to P3.67 billion from P3.26 billion.

Gross profit margin in the first six months reached 50.1 percent, down from 55.3 percent a year earlier, on increased discounting and promotional activities as the group continued to operate within a more competitive environment.

The company was operating 737 stores as of end-June, down from 771 stores a year ago. It opened 26 new stores and shut down 81 stores covering 6,987 square meters.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Kalamansig 69 kV transmission line and Toril 138 kV substation stage 2.

The company also lined up the Mindanao 230 kV transmission backbone project.

Javier said National Grid’s future transmission projects in Mindanao would include Balo-i-Tagaloan-Opol 138 kV transmission line, BaloiKauswagan-Aurora transmission line, Tacurong-Sultan Kudarat 138 kV transmission line, Villanueva-JasaanButuan 138 kV transmission line and the Kabacan 138 kV substation.

National Grid also plans to pursue the Mindanao substation upgrading and rehabilitation projects and the Visayas-Mindanao interconnection project.

PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & Chief Executive Officer ERIBERTO LUIS S. ELIZAGA EVP-Commercial & Corporate Banking MANUEL ANDRES D. GOSECO EVP-Treasury VICTOR Q. LIM EVP-Consumer Finance ANGELO PATRICK F. ADVINCULA Corporate Secretary

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Business

NEW YORK, NY—Travelers wait in line at the Delta check-in counter at LaGuardia Airport, August 8, 2016 in the Queens borough of New York City. Delta flights around the globe were grounded and delayed on Monday morning due to a system outage. AFP

Delta Air cancels hundreds of flights WASHINGTON―Delta Airlines scrapped hundreds of flights and delayed many more as it digested the aftermath of a computer meltdown, making for a messy Monday at airports around the world.

Even after the US carrier lifted its initial flight grounding order about six hours after the computer snafu struck, it warned of continued cancellations and delays, as tens of thousands of passengers around the globe were left stranded.

Travelers crowded ticket counters, stretched out on the ground in airports and tried to grin and bear it. Ticket agents were reduced to checking people in manually, news reports said.

The carrier blamed the computer problem on a power outage in its hub in Atlanta, Georgia.

Flights resumed but on a limited basis, and Delta warned the ripple effect of the computer breakdown would drag on.

“While systems are improving and flights are resuming, delays and cancellations continue,” the carrier said in a statement around midday.

Teams were working “around the clock” to bring systems back online, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a video message from the airline’s operations center.

“As I’m sure you can appreciate, it’s an all hands on deck effort,” he said. AFP

Pound declines for a fifth day

T

HE British pound fell for a fifth day, weighed down by a loosening monetary policy, as New Zealand’s dollar retreated with commodities. Asian shares climbed to a one-year high as Chinese inflation data added to signs of stabilization in the world’s secondlargest economy.

Sterling slipped to a fourweek low after the Bank of England stepped up bond purchases this week. The currencies of commodity-exporting nations weakened as oil sank below $43 a barrel and copper slipped to a four-week low. Taiwan’s dollar gained as foreigners boosted

holdings of the island’s stocks.

European equities fluctuated as Asia’s advanced for a fourth day. India’s bonds rose following a monetary policy review, while China’s benchmark yield dropped to a seven-year low.

Currencies The pound sank 0.4 percent

versus the dollar as of 8:32 a.m.

London time, contributing to a five-day loss of 2.7 percent.

As well as cutting interest rates for the first time since 2009, the Bank of England on Aug. 4 exceeded economists’ expectations with an announcement that it would increase its gilt-purchase program by 60 billion pounds ($78 billion) to 435 billion pounds, starting this week.

“We could see some shortterm weakness in the pound,” said Janu Chan, a senior economist at St. George Bank Ltd. in Sydney. “It was an extensive stimulus program that the BOE announced. The economy has been hit in the short-term, and

could face a minor recession.”

Among the commodity currencies, South Africa’s rand and the kiwi weakened 0.3 percent.

Investors are certain New Zealand’s central bank will reduce its benchmark interest rate on Thursday by at least a quarter point to 2 percent, a record low, and most expect it will deliver another cut to 1.75 percent by November, swaps data show.

Taiwan’s dollar gained as much as 0.4 percent to its strongest level in a year after trade data released Monday showed exports increased in July for the first time in 18 months. Global funds boosted their holdings of the island’s shares by about $400

million in the first two trading sessions of this week, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

A series of better-than-expected US economic data in recent weeks has helped drive global equities to their highest level in almost a year and spurred expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates. The prospect of a hike in borrowing costs is bolstering demand for dollars at a time when monetary policy is being loosened across much of Asia and Europe.

“There has been a reasonable spike for commodities over the past couple of days and metals may be just due a correction given the dollar moves,” said David

Lennox, resources analyst at Fat Prophets in Sydney.

The Reserve Bank of India left interest rates unchanged on Tuesday and Governor Raghuram Rajan, whose term ends early next month, said the authority’s policy stance remains accommodative. China’s factory-gate deflation eased for the seventh straight month in July, signaling improving conditions for manufacturers in an economy that expanded last year at the slowest pace in more than two decades.

Germany reported a smaller increase in June exports than economists forecast, while the UK has figures due on trade and industrial output. Bloomberg

Indonesia’s main airport opens new $380-m terminal China’s JAKARTA―The main airport serving the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Tuesday opened a new terminal that will allow the overcrowded aviation hub to handle tens of millions more passengers a year.

Air passenger numbers are soaring in Indonesia, the world’s biggest archipelago nation and Southeast Asia’s top economy, as a growing middle class increasingly chooses to fly but ageing infrastructure is struggling to keep up.

The $380-million terminal at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, a vast, futuristic-looking structure, will be able to handle about 25 million passengers a year once fully operational by March next year.

The other three terminals at the country’s busiest airport are currently handling about 60 million passengers a year, way over their capacity.

The first flights, domestic services by flag carrier Garuda, took off early Tuesday.

The terminal will start off handling only domestic Garuda flights before later running international services.

Speaking at the terminal opening, Garuda chief executive Arif Wibowo hailed it as a “great milestone” that will help provide a better service for customers.

Eman Suherman, an Indonesian passenger at the terminal, said he was “proud”

auto sales surge 23%

This general view shows the check-in hall at the newly opened terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, early on August 9, 2016. AFP

of the terminal, adding: “It’s beyond our expectations.”

The terminal will eventually be connected to central Jakarta, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) away, by a rail link.

There is currently no rail line between the airport and city center, leaving passengers facing monster traffic jams to get into Jakarta at busy times.

The terminal’s opening was

delayed for more than a month after the government ordered alterations following the discovery that an important area was not visible from the air traffic control tower.

As well as ageing infrastructure, the Indonesian aviation sector faces problems with safety and has suffered a string of deadly crashes in recent years. AFP

CHINA’S passenger-vehicle sales accelerated the most in 17 months, as General Motors Co. and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. boosted deliveries and dealers offering discounts helped clear inventories in the world’s biggest auto market.

Retail sales of cars, sport utility and multipurpose vehicles climbed 23 percent to 1.6 million units in July, the biggest monthly percentage gain since February 2015, according to the China Passenger Car Association. Deliveries increased to 12.4 million units in the seven months through July.

Dealers offered discounts on models such as the Audi A4 of about 18 percent to help reduce stockpiles, according to Jochen Siebert, managing director of JSC Automotive Consulting. A gauge of inventory levels fell to an 11-month low and indicated contraction for the first time in that span, the China Automobile Dealer Association said. Keeping supplies in check is typically an indication carmakers can maintain pricing and production.

“It’s very positive,” Steve Man, an auto analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, said of the drop in inventory levels. “If we do see an improvement in retail sales at the end of this year before the tax cut ends, we might see automakers in a better position to increase production and we’ll see an improvement in their earnings.” Bloomberg

Quezon City gets lot for new jail

LGUs

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology entered on Monday into a deed of usufruct to allow the transfer of the Quezon City jail from Barangay Kamuning to Barangay Payatas.

The deal will jump-start the construction of a new jail facility that could accommodate over 6,600 inmates.

“The city government is offering the BJMP the use of 2.4 hectares of the 3.4-hectare property to house a new city jail,” Mayor Herbert Bautista said.

“I have been authorized by the city council through Resolution Sangguniang Panlungsod 6652 of 2015 to sign, execute and deliver the deed of usufruct in behalf of the city.”

The memorandum of agreement for the donation of the lot for the proposed relocation of Quezon City Jail was signed

by Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno; Chief Supt.

Serafin Barretto Jr, chief, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; Chief Supt. Michael Vidamo Sr, regional director, BJMP-National Capital Region; and Quezon City officials headed by Bautista.

A P130-million three-hectare land between Baranggay Payatas and Baranggay Bagong Silangan will be the site of the new Quezon City Jail.

Under the arrangement, the BJMP may use the city’s 2.4-hectare lot for 25 years, he said, adding they may renew the contract for another 25 years.

“The city government retains the ownership of the property,” Bautista stressed.

The city government, however, said in case of non-renewal or expiration of the contract, it shall cause the jail’s relocation to another site upon a written request of jail officials.

The BJMP is given six months to transfer the inmates upon the facility’s completion.

In 2012, the Department of Interior and Local Government allocated P200 million in the budget of BJMP for the construction of a five-story Quezon City jail in Barangay Payatas.

But the budget allocation was reverted due to the delay in the project implementation.

Chief Supt. Michael Vidamo, BJMP-National Capital Region director, said the project cost could go up to as high as P300 million “nowadays.”

Originally built 60 years ago, the Quezon City jail can house just 800 inmates.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

C1

INSPECTION. Mayor Oscar Malapitan leads the implementation of Oplan Sita that ensures that KTVs, beerhouses and clubs in the city follow the building specifications of the Office of the City Building Official and that club workers have work and health permits. The establishments inspected were on MacArthur Highway, Edsa, 8th Avenue, 4th Avenue and Sangandaan. Jun David

DBM’s BUB allots P1.2b for Region 9

By A. Perez Rimando

P

AGADIAN CITY—The Department of Budget and Management, under its recently introduced Bottom-Up-Budgeting (BUB) system, has allocated P1,160,988,062 for the implementation of different identified projects in Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) this year, an agency report from the DBM received here recently by Gov. Antonio Cerilles said.

Under BUB, the budget department appropriated P389,997,020 for Zamboanga del Sur; P462 million for Zamboanga del Norte; P243 million for Zamboanga Sibugay; P50 million for Zamboanga City, and P16 million for Basilan’s Isabela City.

The report explained that BUB “is a game changing mechanism that allows local government units and concerned civic and social groups to contribute directly in deciding how the national budget pie is divided every year.”

The mechanism, it said, “changes the old paradigm in the national budgeting process, mak-

ing it more decentralized and participatory… designed to bring genuine equity, development and empowerment to poor households and communities and makes rural areas’ growth more inclusive and transparent.”

The report stressed that the new system ultimately “seeks to get rid of corruption and to ensure that Filipinos in villages will benefit from government projects.”

Cerilles thanked the DBM and said the amount “will spur local growth and development and ultimately uplift the socioeconomic status of its inhabitants.”

Tanabata Fest celebrates PH-Japan ties Searca school, home gardens set

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY—The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) joins Japan-Philippine associations, local government and academe in Northern Luzon in marking the 60 years of JapanPhilippines diplomatic relations.

Sixty years since Japan and the Philippines formally established their diplomatic relations,

Japan has become a key Philippine development ally and strategic partner.

“Jica’s development cooperation initiatives in the Philippines continue to reinvigorate the long-standing friendship of Japanese and Filipinos. Even when times are tough, Japan and the Philippines have supported each other,” said Jica chief representative Susumu Ito at the opening of

the Tanabata Festival this week.

After the 1990 earthquake in Baguio, Jica supported the Philippine government’s reconstruction efforts by helping rehabilitate access roads including the Marcos Highway in 1991 and Cordillera Road in 1999. The rebuilding of Baguio and its road conditions eventually stimulated the local economy, making it the busy center

of trade, tourism, and education that it is today.

The Jica chief likewise reiterated Jica’s support to the growing economic activities and enhanced connectivity in Northern Luzon through its official development assistance for the construction of the SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

Valenzuela anti-drug drive intensified

THE local government of Valenzuela, its local police and the Valenzuela Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Vadac) have developed “Project Double Barrel,” a combination of Project Tokhang and Project HVT/ LVT (High value target/Low-value target).

Project Double Barrel on Sunday hosted an antidrug motorcade at 6:00 a.m. from Polo Brewery-Tullahan Bridge in Barangay Marulas; the signing of the VAD manifest of commitment by stakeholders to be headed by Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian and city police chief Senior Supt. Ronaldo Mendoza; and the VAD 90-day countdown to “Drug-Free City.”

VAD is a four-phase plan that aims to make Valenzuela a drug-free city within 90 days.It covers the phases of preparation, clearing, development, and monitoring and assessment.

The combined strategies aim to identify and neutralize drug personalities from street pushers to big-time drug lords, investigate and prosecute drug offenders, treat and rehabilitate illegal drug personalities, and revitalize barangays as self-policing entities and partners against the drug menace. Jun David

HONEST WORK. A poor shoe-shine and -repair man pushes his cart on the dirty streets of Port Area, Manila, which teems with informal settlers and scavengers. Sonny Espiritu

By Brenda Jocson THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) has started a garden-based education and nutrition project in five elementary schools and one high school in Laguna to help malnourished and impoverished children.

The nutrition project is a collaboration with the Department of Education-Division of Laguna (DepEd-Laguna) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) under a memorandum of agreement signed in July to institutionalize cooperation in the implementation of school and home gardens.

Searca’s project titled “A Participatory Action Research on School- and Community-based Food and Nutrition Program for Literacy, Poverty Reduction, and Sustainable Development” was initially launched in pilot schools in Cabuyao, Alaminos, Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Pila and Santa Cruz towns.

One of the pilot projects in Majayjay Elementary School organic garden which includes the Searca-supported school garden, is a 100-square meter area with a small greenhouse equipped with a rainwater collection system that serves as a seedling nursery.

The garden has been planted with different vegetable crops

based on the school garden design and plan prepared in April 2016 during the SeminarWorkshop on School Garden Planning. The garden produce will be used in the School-based Feeding Program of the DepEd. Dr. Gil Saguiguit Jr., Searca director, said the project, which started in January, aims to improve the nutritional condition and dietary habits of schoolaged children and contribute to the community’s food and nutrition security.

“These school and home gardens are being promoted as learning sites and source of nutritious food and savings or income for the school children, their families, and the participating schools,” Saguiguit said.

He also explained the importance of maintaining school and home gardens to heighten appreciation for agriculture among the youth, and to protect the environment.

“These gardens address the looming problems of rural poverty and hunger, which prevent access of many school children to quality education,” Saguiguit added.

For his part, Dr. Fernando Sanchez Jr., UPLB chancellor, acknowledged the significance of the school and home gardens project in translating UPLB’s commitment “to reach out to the Filipino people through knowledge and technology sharing.”

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TODAY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Cemeteries for Muslims pushed

By A. Perez Rimando

2 Zambo officials quit over drug use

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OTABATO CITY—Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Rep. Khadlyafe Mangudadatu has proposed the establishment of a Muslim cemetery in each of the more than 100 towns in the region’s five provinces.

In a draft bill, Mangudadatu lamented that most, if not all, municipalities in the ARMM provinces of Sulu, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan and TawiTawi as well as in its component cities of Cotabato, Marawi, Isabela and Lamitan—do not have a public cemetery for their dead.

He attributed the situation to the centuries-old tradition of Muslim sub-tribes (Maranaw, Maguindanao, Tausug, Iranon, Yakan and Samal) of burying their departed relatives in private lots or farms.

Mangudadatu, younger brother of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu,, stressed his proposal mandates every municipal or city government “to provide a three to five-hectare land for the communal graveyard of Muslims for Moro land’s inhabitants.”

He added: “The bill is primarily aimed at providing a decent hallowed resting place for Muslim Mindanao’s inhabitants, especially the indigent ones living in villages or sitios.”

Mangudadatu’s measure has earned strong support from local government officials and concerned residents throughout the ARMM, including National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) executive Esmael Ibrahim who emphasized that the “ proposal constitutes a big assistance to our impoverished Moro sectors in Muslim Mindanao,” which is long considered the most depressed, distressed and underserved region in the country.

Other prominent Muslim political leaders—including former Justice secretary Simeon Datumanog, former Basilan governor Jum Akbar and TawiTawi Rep. Asaali Jaafar—expressed strong support for Mangudadatu’s measure.

Mangudadatu said his family “is willing to donate a farm land in our Buluan hometown for conversion into a Muslim burial ground even before the Regional Legislative Assembly can enact his bill into a law.”

DA assesses Ilocos Norte soil fertility THE provincial government in Laoag, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 1, is conducting a massive soil fertility analysis to assess the quality and determine the growth potential of soils across Ilocos Norte.

More than 3,000 soil samples from all cities and municipalities in the province have been collected and are being studied, according to Special Projects Development Office head Edwin Cariño.

“We are currently conducting a large-scale fertility test in order for us to identify crop suitability in specific areas. It will also help our farmers in determining what kinds of fertilizers should be applied,” Cariño said.

Without the analysis, he added, the farmers can only guess what fertilizers are suitable in their areas, causing them to spend much.

“At present, most of the land areas here are acidic with only

1.9 to 2.1 percent organic matter. The normal organic matter is four to five percent. This implies that farmers should double the application of fertilizers here,” Cariño explained.

Stressing the provincial government’s support to the present administration’s efforts for agriculture sustainability, he expressed optimism that through the soil analysis, Ilocano farmers will be able to maximize crop production and minimize their expenses.

In his first State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the “conduct (of) a nationwide soil analysis to determine areas most suitable for rice farming to optimize production with the use of effective soil rehabilitation and fertilization.”

DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has ordered officials to update their soil analysis data in preparation for the effects of climate change in the country. PNA

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

INVITATION TO BID THE FOR PUBLIC BIDDING FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF HOTEL ROOM ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER ITB NO. PB16-010PAV The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Hotel Room Accommodations under ITB No.PB16-010PAV. Brief Description

Supply and Delivery of Hotel Room Accommodations

Delivery Schedule

Within Eight (8) months which shall commence from the effectivity period specified in the Notice to Proceed.

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Source of Funds:

Eight Million Pesos (PhP 8,000,000.00), VAT Exclusive ZeroRated Transaction for a period of eight (8) months.

Note: Payment shall be based on actual billing and shall not exceed the total contract price.

Demilitarize lumad territories—Lopez ENVIRONMENT Secretary Gina Lopez has called for the immediate demilitarization of lands owned by the lumad or indigenous peoples in Mindanao to ensure the safe return of those who left their communities because of heavy militarization and encroachment of mining activities on their ancestral lands.

Lopez made the call after she visited on Friday the Haran compound of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines which has been serving as refuge for around 300 lumad evacuees who f led their homes and farmlands last year following harassment by paramilitary groups and indiscriminate killings of their leaders.

“Why do you have to bring these people out of the forests and bring them to the city? This is senseless,” Lopez pointed out.

The Environment chief said the commander of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, Major Gen. Rafael Valencia, already assured her about the withdrawal of military troops from lumad areas next week.

Lumad leaders claimed military personnel and some of their fellow IPs belonging to paramilitary groups have struck fear among IP members and forced them to evacuate their lands to allow large-scale mining and logging companies to proceed with their operations.

They further alleged that some mining firms had turned IP members against each other by arming and forcibly offering them money in exchange for their lands.

Lopez vowed to immediately look into the permits of the mining companies mentioned by the lumad leaders and pri-

oritize them in the ongoing mining audit being conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

DENR Undersecretary Leo Jasareno, head of the agency’s mining audit team, assured the lumad that their ancestral lands encroached by mining operations will be returned to them within the month.

“The DENR would return their lands to the lumad within August, as long as it is proven that the areas were occupied without the consent of the entire tribal community since it is illegal for mining companies to operate in ancestral lands,” Jasareno said.

During her visit to the UCCP compound, Lopez could not hide her dismay when she found out that the tents occupied by the lumad were set on fire by still unidentified men last February, hurting at least

five evacuees.

Deeply touched by the plight of the lumad evacuees, Lopez promised she would do everything in her power to make sure their ancestral lands are returned to them.

The DENR secretary also invited members of the civil society, including the youth and mountaineering groups, to help and join the lumad in their journey back to their ancestral lands.

“Let us help give them their lands back. This would be good for character formation,” Lopez said.

At the same time, Lopez promised to help provide the needs of the lumad in order for them to start new lives.

She said she would coordinate with the Department of Agriculture in assisting the lumad, who rely heavily on agriculture to support their livelihoods. PNA

Internally Funded

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. 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 a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

HARD WORK. A farmer goes about his daily routine near Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. Roland Jumawan

ZAMBOANGA CITY— Two sanitary inspectors of the City Health Office have resigned after they were found to be using illegal drugs in the performance of their duties.

City Health officer Rodelyn Agbulos, who declined to identify the two erring sanitary inspectors, said that no confirmatory test was administered on the two after they resigned.

Agbulos said the conduct of random drug test was started early this year following reports that some of 4,000 CHO personnel were drug dependents, including those assigned in different rural health centers.

“I made it clear to them they have to leave their jobs once they tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu since their main task is to promote good health and sanitation among our people,” Agbulos stressed.

Meanwhile, Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar earlier issued Executive Order 158 mandating all local government officials and employees to undergo drug testing.

Initially, six of 2,000 personnel tested positive for shabu, Salazar said, adding that the conduct of unannounced drug tests will continue. A. Perez Rimando

Activities Issuance of the Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Schedule August 10, 2016 to August 30, 2016 August 17, 2016 August 30, 2016, 1:00 p.m August 30, 2016, 1:00 p.m, onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the BBAC Secretariat Section, upon payment of the non-refundable bidding fee in the amount of in the amount of TenThousand Pesos (PhP10,000.00).

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders. Prospective bidders should present to Casino Filipino-Pavilion ’s Cashier located at the 5th Floor of Casino Filipino-Pavilion, Waterfront Pavilion Hotel Casino Manila, U.N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from the Procurement Section or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the CF-Paviliom‘s Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC) shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1. In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

2. The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Procurement Section, 5th Floor of Casino Filipino-Pavilion, Waterfront Pavilion Hotel Casino Manila, U.N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila Tel No. Tel No. (DL) 400-4153, (Fax) 522-13-83 and (TL) 523-8691 to 97 local 170.

ARTURO JOEL T. GONZALEZ IV (SGD) Chairperson BRANCH BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BBAC)

(MS-AUG. 10, 2016)

Fil-Am who battled Ebola now in Silliman U A FILIPINO-American scientist, who played a key role in the battle against the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, is now with Silliman University in Dumaguete City as adjunct professor and Balik Scientist under the Department of Science and Technology program.

Dr. Jorge Emmanuel hit headlines when the United Nations engaged him to lead a team of experts in installing a waste treatment technology that could effectively destroy Ebola in seconds, a media release from Silliman University disclosed.

It was this technology that he designed and developed with the South African firm MediClave.

At the height of the Ebola outbreak that threatened the world, he communicated with the United Nations Development Program headquarters

in New York reporting that his tests showed that the technology exceeded international standards—it could destroy Ebola in a matter of seconds and help prevent further contamination in hospitals.

“Realizing that Ebola transmission was taking place in hospitals, UNDP asked me to lead a team of public health and engineering experts to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and raised several million dollars to install the technology at hospitals in the three countries,” he shared.

Emmanuel and his team also provided training in infection control and prevention and medical waste management to hospital staff and the personnel of the Ministry of Health.

The new technology was incorporated into plans by the three countries to devel-

op a more resilient healthcare system to face future Ebola outbreaks.

His work was featured in a UN video documentary that was shown in Geneva on May 7, 2016. He retired from UN work shortly afterwards.

Last week, Emmanuel gave a lecture on toxic contaminants in water, at the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences. He discussed the methods used in sampling and testing of soil, sediment and water in identifying, characterizing and cleaning up areas contaminated by hazardous waste.

The process estimates exposures to toxic pollutants and evaluates the extent to which procedures comply with certain regulations, the media release said.

Emmanuel’s lecture is part of his being a DOST Balik Scientist. Prior to teaching in

Silliman, he was chief technical advisor on global environmental projects of the UNDP (New York), president of the Environmental and Engineering Research Group (California), and consultant to the United Nations Environment Program, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, World Health Organization, US Environmental Protection Agency, US National Institutes of Health, and environment and health ministries in 40 countries.

He is no stranger to waste management and environmental science. Emmanuel was also part of a 20-year investigation on the environmental damage caused by the US military at Subic and Clark where he led a team of scientists inspecting garbage dumps, firing ranges, as well as rivers and streams. PNA

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Japan summons Sino envoy anew over ship incursions China’s TOKYO—Japan summoned China’s ambassador Tuesday after the country’s ships were spotted near disputed East China Sea islands for a fifth straight day.

Foreign minister Fumio Kishida called in Cheng Yonghua, Beijing’s envoy to Tokyo, the foreign ministry said—the second such summons since Friday.

“The situation surrounding the Japan-China relationship is markedly deteriorating,” he told Cheng, according to the ministry’s statement on its website.

“We cannot accept that (China) is taking actions that unilaterally raise tensions.”

The two countries are locked in a long-running dispute over the uninhabited islets known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.

The move comes after repeated protests by Japanese foreign ministry officials since Friday over what Tokyo calls “intrusions”

by Chinese ships in the territorial and contiguous waters of the rocky islands.

Cheng was also summoned on Friday by vice minister Shinsuke Sugiyama after two Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels entered Japan’s territorial waters.

On Tuesday morning, the Japan Coast Guard said it spotted Chinese ships in the country’s territorial waters surrounding the islands and about a dozen others nearby.

The Japanese coastguard a day before caught sight of 15 Chinese coast guard ships near the islands—the highest number ever

spotted.

Some 230 Chinese fishing vessels and seven coast guard ships, including four apparently carrying weapons, sailed into waters close to the disputed island on Sunday.

It is rare for so many Chinese fishing vessels to be seen in the disputed waters.

Tensions over the islands have been a frequent irritant and have strained bilateral relations, though tensions had markedly relaxed over the past two years as two

sides took steps to ease the pressure through dialogue.

But the fundamental divide over the islands remains unresolved.

Japan’s Kyodo News reported Monday that Japan wants “highlevel” talks with China over the incursions as they have not stopped despite Tokyo’s protests.

Citing a government source, it said that Japan wants to bring up the issue in talks between the country’s leaders and foreign ministers. AFP

HARMONY. Italian musicians perform the String Quartet in E minor by Giuseppe Verdi on Monday during the opening ceremony of the Summer Cultural Festival organized by the National Council for Culture, Art and Letters (NCCAL) at the Abdulhussain Abdulredha theatre in the Salmiya district, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of the capital Kuwait City. AFP

Blast drives Pakistani lawyers from courts Thai junta uneasy about Pokemon Go BANGKOK—Pokemon Go’s debut in Thailand has alarmed the country’s generals, prompting the kingdom’s junta chief to warn youngsters against playing too much and the army to ban the game from barracks.

The mobile app was made available in Thailand on Saturday, delighting many in a country where Japanese subcultures have a significant following.

But the game—which encourages users to hit the pavements in search of digital monsters—has sparked safety concerns partly because Bangkok’s streets are notoriously pedestrian-unfriendly.

“Thai walking culture is not like Japan and there are limited pavements,” government spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd told reporters on Tuesday.

He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who seized power in 2014, “does not want to ban the game.”

But the premier has urged players to know “their limits... and use their time wisely,” Sansern added.

“The game could harm players with things like loss of money, their job, their education as well as the relationships they have with the people around them,” he said.

He added that parents should advise their children to be “selfdisciplined” and use their time well.

His comments came as Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said the game was banned inside military barracks and government security agencies.

A barracks in the northern city of Khon Kaen hoisted a sign warning Pokemon Go players they faced up to three years in jail if they trespassed onto military property, Channel 3 television showed. AFP

Q

UETTA—Pakistan’s top lawyers said they will boycott court proceedings throughout much of the country Tuesday in protest after a suicide bomb killed 70 people in Balochistan, including many from the legal profession.

Monday’s attack on a hospital in the southwestern city of Quetta was one of the deadliest in the country’s long battle against militancy.

The explosion came as some 200 lawyers along with journalists had gathered at the Civil Hospital to mourn the fatal shooting of a top provincial lawyer, with witnesses describing horrific scenes as medics battled to save scores of wounded.

“Lawyers throughout the country will boycott court proceedings on Tuesday in protest against the killing of lawyers in Quetta yesterday,” said a statement from the Pakistan Bar Council, adding that provincial and district bar councils would follow suit.

Balochistan government spokesman Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar said schools in the province would also be closed Tuesday “to

mourn the loss.”

Funerals have already been held for many of the victims, he said.

“Those who were living in and close to Quetta city have already buried their loved ones, while those belonging to far flung areas will be buried today,” he told Agence France Presse.

On Monday officials had put the number of wounded at 112.

Twenty-seven of the critically injured were airlifted to Karachi, where a spokesman for the Aga Khan Hospital said they are “out of danger now”.

The attack has been claimed by both a faction of the Pakistani Taliban called Jammat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), and the Islamic State group (IS).

JuA, which formed in 2014, has also claimed responsibility for Pakistan’s deadliest blast so far this

year, a bombing in a crowded Lahore park on Easter that killed 75, among other attacks.

The US State Department designated JuA as a terrorist group last week in a statement that described it as “a splinter group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan based in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.”

Hours after the JuA claim the IS group also claimed the attack, saying it had killed 200 people, according to the SITE monitoring group.

Middle Eastern jihadist group IS has been scrabbling for purchase in Pakistan, largely due to competition from well established extremist groups such as the Taliban.

Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has major oil and gas resources, but is afflicted by Islamist militancy, sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims and a separatist insurgency.

In a tweet, Pakistan’s army said the attack was “specially targeting CPEC,” referring to China’s ambitious $46 billion project to build an economic corridor through Pakistan. AFP

president seeks term extension BEIJING—Already China’s most powerful leader in decades, President Xi Jinping will probably seek to extend his term to more than 10 years, analysts say, the first Communist Party chief to do so since Deng Xiaoping.

The ruling party’s leaders have reportedly gathered at their secretive annual Beidaihe retreat on the northern Chinese coast, where discussions are expected to focus on the composition of its next all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee (PSC).

The 19th Party Congress, slated for next year, will decide a new PSC line-up, traditionally seen as indicating Xi’s most likely successor after he steps down, due in 2022.

But Xi has thus far delayed anointing an heir. And while Chinese Communist leaders have often maintained influence after their official retirement, scholars and analysts increasingly believe Xi will try to stay in office beyond his standard term.

“A lot of analysts now see it as a given” that Xi will seek to stay party general secretary, the country’s most powerful post, said Christopher Johnson, a former CIA analyst and now China specialist at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Willy Lam, expert on politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said there was a 60 to 70 percent chance that Xi would refuse to give up the role.

Doing so would violate the unofficial rule set by Deng Xiaoping, who led China from 19781989, that general secretaries stay in office no longer than 10 years.

That principle has helped smooth transfers of power within the party since the 1990s.

As well as ensuring regular renewal at the top, and opportunities for different Communist Party factions to dominate at different times, the concept also seeks to prevent the emergence of a despot. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan

MUNICIPALITY OF LIMAY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD INVITATION TO BID The Bids and Awards Committee of the Municipality of Limay through the SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND Budget CY2016 invites registered companies/service providers to apply for eligibility and if found to be eligible to bid, hereunder the projects/contracts. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Name of Project/ Contract

1

2

Janitorial Services for all Public Schools Security Services for all Public Schools

Location

Sources of FUNDS

Duration

Approved Budget Cost(ABC)

Cost of Bid Doc’s.

Limay, Bataan

SEF FUND

12 Months

14,174,032.78

25,000.00

Limay, Bataan

SEF FUND

8 Months

23,233,007.84

25,000.00

Bidders should have completed, within two previous years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. 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 a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) Interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from BAC OFFICE, Limay Municipal Building, National Road, Brgy. Townsite, Limay, Bataan at the given address during office hours, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on August 10 to August 22, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Document.

The Bids and Awards Committee will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 12, 2016, 2:00P.M.. at Limay Municipal Building, which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 1:00 P.M., August 25, 2016. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Bid Documents. Bid opening shall be on 2:00P.M., August 25, 2016 at Limay Municipal Building. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Submission of Class “A” documents and Financial Statements at least seven (7) calendar days and the Technical Documents (completed/ongoing projects) at least fifteen (12) calendar days before the deadline for the submission or opening of bids.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Municipality of Limay reserves the right to accept or deny any bid, to annul bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, refer to:

ANTI- MICROBEADS. Members of the environmental group Greenpeace collect beach balls symbolizing microplastics from cosmetic products (represented by large balloons) during a campaign to support a microbeads ban, on the Han river in Seoul on Tuesday. Greenpeace urged South Korean government to introduce legislation to monitor and regulate the use and sale of products containing plastic microbeads. AFP

RAQUEL A. LEONGSON BAC OFFICE Tel. No. : 613-8011

(MS-AUG. 10, 2016)

(SGD) ROMARIO C. PANANGUI BAC – Chairman

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Erdogan makes amends with Putin

World

50 Republican security officials reject Trump W

ashington— Fifty senior Republican national security officials have issued a stinging rejection of their party’s White House nominee Donald Trump, warning he would be “the most reckless president in American history” if elected.

FACE-OFF. This combination of file pictures created on tUESDAY shows presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema (L) of the United Party for

National Development (UPND) opposition party and incumbent president Edgar Lungu. Zambia goes to the polls on August 11 following a fractious and sporadically violent campaign, with President Edgar Lungu fighting to stay in power after narrowly winning a snap election last year. AFP

Brazil Senate vote may open impeach trials BRASÍLIA—Brazil’s Senate will vote Tuesday on whether to send suspended president Dilma Rousseff to within a final step of losing office, bringing the Olympic host country’s political crisis to a climax.

Rousseff’s opponents only need a simple majority of the 81 senators’ votes to open an impeachment trial. They look set to clear the threshold easily, although the debate is expected to be a marathon session stretching into the early hours of Wednesday.

It is the final vote before the one that will decide Rousseff’s ultimate political fate, when a twothirds majority would be needed

to strip her of her power and end 13 years of leftist rule in Brazil.

That vote is expected to take place around the end of August, just days after the Rio Olympics end.

The Senate suspended Rousseff, Brazil’s first woman president, on May 12 over accusations of illegal accounting practices and fiddling the budget to mask the slump in the economy. She condemns the process as a coup.

The timing could hardly be more awkward for Brazil, which was meant to be showcasing its burgeoning economic clout and political stability with South America’s first Olympic Games in full swing.

Instead, unpopular interim

president Michel Temer—formerly the vice president—is struggling to drag the country out of its worst recession in decades as the Senate debates what to do with his former boss and bitter enemy.

Rousseff is accused of spending money without congressional approval and taking out unauthorized loans from state banks to make the national budget look better than it really was as she campaigned for re-election in 2014.

She says such maneuvers were common practice under previous administrations and do not amount to an impeachable offense.

Her allies from the Workers’ Party point out that many of the lawmakers accusing her are implicated in corruption cases arguably far more serious than accounting tricks.

But her enemies say her fate is already sealed.

“The president is ever more isolated, a very pronounced isolation that has only gotten worse in recent weeks and now even includes her own party,” said Senator Aloysio Nunes of the opposition party PSDB. “I have no doubt that the vote will be in favor of impeachment, as it will be at the final trial,” he told Agence France Presse. AFP

The group, some of whom already announced they would not vote for Trump, included former homeland security chiefs, intelligence directors, senior presidential advisors and a former US trade representative. They served under Republican presidents from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush.

“We are convinced that he would be a dangerous president and would put at risk our country’s national security and well-being,” they wrote in a statement published in The New York Times on Monday.

Their disavowal of the Republican presidential candidate was followed by another setback for Trump, when influential US Senator Susan Collins said Tuesday he was “unworthy” of America’s highest elective office, and will not receive her support.

“I will not be voting for Donald Trump for president. This is not a decision I make lightly, for I am a lifelong Republican. But Donald Trump does not reflect historical Republican values nor the inclusive approach to governing that is critical to healing the divisions in our country,” Collins wrote in an op-ed article appearing in Tuesday’s Washington Post.

While the US security experts did not say they would vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton—indeed they expressed “doubts” about her—they were clear in stating that “none of us will vote for Donald Trump.” AFP

Online games good, social media bad for kids—study SYDNEY—Playing online games may boost teenagers’ school results while spending time on social networks such as Facebook could do the opposite, according to an Australian study.

The research, based on the performance of 15-year-old Australians in the globally recognized Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests, looked at the relationship between internet usage and educational outcomes.

“The analysis reveals that children who regularly use online social networks, such as Facebook, tend to obtain lower scores in math, reading, and science than students who never or hardly ever use these sites,” it said.

“Conversely, the analysis shows that those students who play online video games obtain higher scores on PISA tests, all other things being equal,” the study published in the International Journal of Communication said.

The study said it was possible that children who were already gifted in math, science and reading were more likely to play online games.

But it added that while both gaming and socializing used time that teenagers could otherwise spend studying, video games “potentially allow students to apply and sharpen skills learned in school.”

“Students who play online games almost every day score 15 points above the average in math and 17 points above the average in science,” study author Alberto Posso said Tuesday.

“When you play online games you’re solving puzzles to move to the next level and that involves using some of the general knowledge and skills in math, reading and science that you’ve been taught during the day.”

Students who used online social networks on a daily basis scored 20 points lower in math than a student who never used this type of social media, according to the study, which used the PISA ranking for 12,000 pupils from 2012 and controlled for other influences.

“Students who are regularly on social media are, of course, losing time that could be spent on study—but it may also indicate that they are struggling with math, reading and science and are going online to socialize instead,” Posso said.

Internet usage among teenagers is considered particularly high in Australia where 97 percent of 15 to 17 year olds say they frequently go online. Some 78 percent of the children in the sample used online social networks almost every day or every day. AFP

SAINT PETERSBURG—Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan jets into Russia Tuesday for his first meeting with counterpart Vladimir Putin since the two strongmen leaders began healing a bitter feud over Ankara’s downing of a Russian warplane.

Erdogan’s visit to Putin’s hometown of Saint Petersburg is also his first foreign trip since the failed coup against him last month that sparked a purge of opponents and cast a shadow over Turkey’s relations with the West.

“This visit seems to me a new milestone in bilateral relations, beginning with a clean slate, and I personally, with all my heart and on behalf of the Turkish nation salute Mr Putin and all Russians,” Erdogan said in an interview with Russian state media.

The shooting down of a Russian fighter jet by a Turkish F-16 over the Syrian border last November saw a furious Putin slap economic sanctions on Turkey and launch a blistering war of words with Erdogan that seemed to irrevocably damage burgeoning ties.

But in a shock reversal in late June, Putin accepted a personal expression of regret over the incident from Erdogan as an apology and immediately rolled back a ban on the sale of package holidays to Turkey and signalled Moscow would end measures against food imports and construction firms from the country.

Now in the wake of the failed July 15 coup attempt in NATOmember Turkey, ties between the two sides could be bolstered even further—with Erdogan bluntly making it clear he feels let down by the United States and the European Union.

Putin was one of the first foreign leaders to phone Erdogan offering support and, unsurprisingly, sharing none of the scruples of EU leaders about the ensuing crackdown.

“While Turkish-Russian ties are subject to their own uncertainties, this deterioration of relations with Western powers could accelerate a Turkish-Russian rapprochement,” said analysts from the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Relations between Turkey and Russia—two powers vying for influence in the strategic Black Sea region and Middle East—have never been straightforward and their predecessor Ottoman and Russian empires fought three centuries of war.

Yet before the plane crisis, Moscow and Ankara managed to prevent disputes on Syria and Ukraine harming strategic cooperation on issues like the TurkStream gas pipeline to Europe and a Russian-built nuclear power station in Turkey. AFP

Shooting star outburst seen on Thursday

FANTASY. Actor Oakes Fegley arrives at the Premiere Of Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” at the El Capitan Theatre on Monday in Hollywood, California. AFP

PARIS—Northern hemisphere sky-gazers are in for a special treat on Thursday night with a rare shooting star “outburst,” which astronomers hope will not be marred by clouds and a bright Moon.

For about an hour around 2300 GMT, there will be more than double the usual fireball activity associated with the annual Perseid meteor shower.

“There will be 200 or maybe as many as 300 (shooting stars) per hour,” observed from a very dark site, astronomer Mark Bailey of the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland told AFP. “This outburst, as we call it... doesn’t last that long. It might last an hour or a couple of hours,” he said.

Normally, the Perseids regale Earthlings with a show of about 100-120 shooting stars per hour.

The event builds up over about two weeks, peaking in mid-August.

“Some years are better than others... and then there are exceptional years like this year,” Bailey said.

The Perseids happen when Earth hits a wide belt of debris left behind by the comet Tuttle-Swift on its elongated, 133year orbit around the Sun. Each meteor is a piece of broken-off comet, which explodes as it hits Earth’s atmosphere.

Within the broad belt of debris there are also denser dust ribbons created when the comet passes closest to the Sun in its orbit—a juncture called perihelion. AFP

Life FASHION & BEAUTY

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

D1

ROCKING SINCE 1970.

Levi’s presents an upgraded version of its well-known rock jeans 505™, the 505™C

THE GOOD LIFE IN

Levi’s

Fall/Winter ’16

launch F

ASHION-forward, stylish and timeless—Levi’s newest collection features designs tailored to enhance the quality of any lifestyle. For the iconic brand, the ‘good life’ means to “live in Levi’s.”

In celebration of the good life that Levi’s offers, the brand launched its Fall Winter 2016 Collection at Revel in the Palace on July 13.

“This season is all about comfort, quality and style. We want men and women to feel and look great in Levi’s, no matter what lifestyles they have,” said Charisse Chua, Levi Philippines’ country manager, as she welcomed guests at the event, Highlighted in the preview were the stars of this season’s collection: the 505™C; 511™ and 711™ Slim; 519™ and 719™ Skinny; and Levi’s Performance.

Quite aptly for the occasion, the launch turned out to be a night of rock ‘n’ roll, good food, good friends and good design.

Wolfgang vocalist and rock star Basti Atardi, who shook the venue with iconic rock hits, wore the 505™C, a reimagined and upgraded version of the famous punk-rock jeans, 505™, customized to go with the current trend for jeans: slim straight leg.

“Growing up, I witnessed how rock stars complemented the rock ‘n’ roll life with Levi’s clothing. Wearing 505™C is an expression of how I look up to my rock idols, and of my love for the rock lifestyle,” Artadi said.

International DJ Tom Taus fired up the runway with his sick beats. Clad in Down-toearth ladies would love a bag that gives off an aura of elegance and modesty

Levi’s 511™ jeans, Taus asserted that for him, the good life meant living out his passion—music—and that the style and comfort of Levi’s pieces help him be the best in his field.

Students from different universities modeled Levi’s slim jeans 511™ and 711™ on the runway. These slim-fit jeans for everyday wear are designed to be casual, accessible and comfortable, and come in different finishes—from worn-out to modern style.

“Whether I go to castings and shows, attend school, or head out with my friends, I feel most stylish and comfortable in Levi’s slim jeans,” a student-model from University of the Philippines said, when asked how she lives in Levi’s.

Student-models from University of Asia and the Pacific and University of Santo Tomas affirmed this statement, saying that the comfort of wearing Levi’s slim jeans provides for efficiency and productivity in daily tasks.

Aside from the 505™C, the 511™, and the 711™, the 510™ and 719™ Skinny and Levi’s Performance were also stars on the runway. Falling in with today’s trend, the 510™ and 719™ skinny jeans are designed to have a tighter fit with better stretch.

Levi’s Performance Jeans, on the other hand, are made with next-generation

Levi’s slim and skinny jeans are designed to be casual, accessible and comfortable

Levi’s Philippines Country Manager Charisse Chua

performance fabrics for better shape and motion.

Levi’s Performance Stretch Jeans are engineered to retain their shape longer than the average jeans, while providing maximum comfort; Levi’s Performance Strong Jeans are designed with increased durability; and Levi’s Performance Warm Jeans use technologies that keep wearers warm even when temperatures drop.

As if to demonstrate all these, wrapping up the show was an energetic dance number by students from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, who all moved with flexibility and grace in Levi’s Performance jeans.

“Classic, rock, rebel or modern—our style reveals our lifestyle. May we all live the good life as we live in Levi’s,” Kaths Laudit, Marketing head for Levi’s, said as the event came to a close.

Wolfgang vocalist Basti Artadi shares his love for Levi’s iconic jeans

DJ Tom Taus believes the ‘good life’ means doing what he’s passionate about

Bags for different kinds of personality A HANDBAG is not just a functional piece that carries one’s belongings as she goes about her day, it’s a fashion statement—an extension of her personality.

It is said that a woman’s choice of bag and the way she carries it easily conveys her mood for the day. Either she’s feeling fierce, elegant, haughty, dark demure or playful there is definitely a bag for that particular attitude.

Via Venetto, the local artisanal shoe brand known for its fatto a mano (handcrafted) footwear, also offers finely crafted bags in fabulous designs, materials and textures that perfectly capture a woman’s different personalities.

For the woman who’s feeling fierce, she may opt for a luxurious metallic gold handbag that’s guaranteed to turn heads and dominate the scene.

Down-to-earth and demure lady would love a cocktail bag with bamboo handle latch which gives off an aura of elegance and modesty.

For the lady boss who always gets the job done, a sturdy bag made with rich crocodile leather in gold, deep red, brown, beige and tan would be her perfect companion as she takes charge in the boardroom and beyond.

Many choices can be overwhelming, but the key is to go for the piece that complements one’s personality and spice it up with good attitude and confidence.

Via Venetto stores are located at Alabang Town Center, Glorietta 1, SM Megamall and TriNoma. For inquiries, contact (02) 892-6334 or Take charge in the boardroom and beyond carrying a sturdy bag made with crocodile leather visit viavenetto-phil.com.

Life

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

For the love of firm skin

T

HERE are many reasons why skin losses its firmness—it could be due to weight loss, exposure to sun’s harmful UV rays and other external aggressors, and slowdown of skin’s metabolic rate which happens as we age, among others

Unknown to many, skin actually starts to lose its firmness at the age of 20.

With this in mind, skin care brand Nivea gave women a fun and creative way to check the firmness of their skin. Dubbed as the “Nivea Skin Firmness Check,” the brand ampedup the entire SM Megamall Fashion Hall recently, to enable participants to live out their skin’s best in an event full of fun, music and a lot of jumping.

Throughout the day, guests were treated to a fun way of checking the firmness of their skin through a bungee Nivea Extra White Firming Body Serum with SPF 33

Doctors educate guests at the Nivea Skin Firmness Check event about the habits that affect their skin’s firmness

trampoline, outfitted with high-speed cameras to capture how the skin moves as they jump. Using a motiontracking technology, guests were shown a creative visualization of the skin’s movement to illustrate the firmness of the skin – the less movement, the firmer the skin is.

“Our skin starts losing firmness at age 20, and so Nivea thought of this creative way to engage younger women and help them realize the need

to start achieving and maintaining the skin’s best years,” said Nivea Body Senior Brand Manager Jamie Sanico.

She added, “By letting our consumers know about the possible factors and habits that may affect their skin, we are giving them the chance to start achieving their skin’s best years.”

To further educate women on skin firmness, guests were asked to assess their lifestyle through the Nivea Skin Firmness Habit Check that revealed the habits that influence the skin’s firmness, which included lack of sleep, not enough water intake, exposure to UV

Brand ambassador Gretchen Ho jumps to check her skin’s movement that indicates the firmness of skin

rays and pollution, smoking and many other factors.

The Nivea white and firm range, which includes the Nivea Extra White Firming Body Serum SPF33 provides not just fairer but firmer and smoother skin, too. Extra White Firming Body Serum SPF33, with its light and nonsticky formula, contains 95 percent

pure Vitamin C to provide radiant and fairer skin tone and firming ingredient Q10 that helps restore skin’s elasticity— the formula results in noticeably more radiant, whiter, smoother and firmer skin in just 14 days.

For more information, visit NIVEA.ph and NIVEA Philippines on Facebook.

Power up your beauty with Helix-D

One study revealed that the skin of women living in the city ages 10 percent faster than those residing in the countryside

Skin defense from The Body Shop FROM late nights to lazy brunches, urbanites work hard and play even harder.

But while you’re saying cheers to happy hour, you won’t want your skin to drink the ‘dirty cocktail’ of harmful UV rays and free radicals.

We all know how damaging the sun can be to our skin. In fact, 90 percent of visible changes attributed to skin aging are caused by it. But did you know urban living could also impact your complexion? One study has shown that skin ages 10 percent faster in women living in cities than those in the countryside.

The good news is that you can now defend your skin against premature aging with The Body Shop’s new Skin Defence MultiProtection Essence SPF 50. This daily essential is the brand’s strongest multi-protection to help protect your skin day after day.

S k i n Defence

The Body Shop’s Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence features a formula that helps protect skin against multiple aggressors

Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50 is a feather light, milk-to-water essence with broad spectrum UV filters, infused with brightening red algae, and antioxidant Vitamin C to help protect skin against multiple skin aggressors, while providing utmost comfort.

It has the best shields to protect the skin: it has UVA Protection PA++++ that helps protect skin from UVA rays, including long UVA rays, which reach deep within the skin and accelerate the process of skin aging; as well as protection from UVB rays that trigger redness and damage the skin’s surface. An antioxidant, it helps protect skin from external aggressors such as environmental polpol lution that weakens the skin’s ability to remain healthy. It also prevents dullness with red algae extract and vitamin C that brighten skin for a more luminous complexion.

The Body Shop’s Skin Defence Mult i-P rotect ion Essence SPF 50 is completely vegetarian and formulated without parabens, minmin eral oils and paraffins.

The Body Shop now acac cepts SM Advantage Card for points earning and redemption, SM and Sodexo premium pass in all The Body Shop stores nationwide.

BEAUTY is power and a radiant complexion is its weapon. Being beautiful inside and out is important, but when your skin is beautiful and glowing, people tend to have a good first impression of you, which may be helpful at work and also boost your self-esteem.

So don’t take your powerful asset for granted.

Reclaim and enhance your beauty with the effective, fast-acting and convenient skincare solution from Helix-D. Helix-D is a revolutionary skincare serum that delivers amazing benefits once thought impossible from an over-the-counter product.

Combining powerful ingredients with advanced technology, it provides a complete solution to various skin problems, including fine lines and wrinkles, skin darkening, sagging skin, dryness, roughness, uneven skin tone, crow’s feet, dark circles, and puffiness around the eyes.

Establishing a benchmark for 21st century skincare, Helix-D contains the most powerful peptides, antioxidants and super-hydrators that moisturize the skin and improve its elasticity and tone.

Its dual liposome technology keeps ingredients potent until they come in contact with the skin while its Low Polar Friction-Free Delivery System technology ensures that ingredients penetrate the

Body art UNLEASH the inner goddess in you with Ale, a collection of temporary jewelry tattoos from top supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio.

Bohemian-inspired tattoos in glittering shades of silver and gold are featured in the collection. Fit for the free-spirit in all of us, this hot new trend in body art has been featured in Vogue, InStyle, and People magazines, and is available as part of Fast Beauty’s All New Value Sets that can be yours exclusively with every purchase of breakthrough skincare products, Helix-D Face & Neck Serum and Helix-D Eye Serum, or Pure Marula Oil, which offers a soothing yet intense hydration and rejuvenation treatment for your skin.

Helix-D and Pure Marula Oil are available at the beauty section of the SM Stores in SM Aura, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa and SM Mall of Asia.

For updates, visit www. fastbeautyph.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @fastbeautyph.

deep layers of the skin to repair damaged areas. Its unique Double Helix-D Delivery System also protects the active ingredients from being neutralized by the skin’s natural defense.

Helix-D serum is very concentrated so a little goes a long way. Simply dab it on your face as part of your daily skincare routine. Effective and convenient, it can help you look and feel your most beautiful even as you juggle endless commitments and take advantage of exciting opportunities every day.

Tap into your beauty as your greatest asset.

Empower yourself with the breakthrough skincare technology from Helix-D. Helix-D Face & Neck Serum and Helix-D Eye Serum are available at the beauty section of SM Stores in SM Aura, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa and SM Mall of Asia.

For more information, visit www.fastbeautyph.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @fastbeautyph.

Helix-D is a revolutionary serum that delivers several benefits to the skin

Showbiz

D3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Romnick Sarmenta’s

Celebrity couple Romnick Sarmenta and Harlene Bautista venture into the food business by opening a restaurant that serves Filipino regional cuisines

new passion

W

HAT keeps Romnick Sarmenta from going back to showbiz?

Argentine cinema at Shang FOR the second year in a row, the leading lifestyle and entertainment destination hosts the Argentine Film Festival at the Shang Cineplex from Aug. 19 to 21. The upcoming showcase presents a string of contemporary films ranging from romantic comedy, poignant drama, to exciting crime thriller.

Noir novelist Betibú is called upon to investigate the death of a rich businessman who was suspected of killing his wife years ago, but was found with his throat slit in his luxurious apartment. As she digs deeper into the case, our heroine realizes the bigger story: more murders of powerful men with a dark past.

Goya Award Nominee The Man Next Door is a light-hearted look into privilege through the tale of two very different men – a successful designer and a used car salesman. Though displaying a huge gap in status, wealth and personality, these guys have one thing in common – a wall. And when one decides to hack a hole right on it, a feud hilariously ensues.

The Cannes multi-award winning film La Patota is a contemporary remake of a 1960s Argentinian classic. The contemplative drama revolves around socially conscious teacher Paulina, her unconventional response to being sexually assaulted, and the complexity of the aftershocks that extend well beyond just the victim.

Postmodern romantic comedy Sidewalls takes part mostly in the digital world. Martin and Mariana are two strangers, both a little bit deranged, lonely and neurotic, but adorable nonetheless. The film follows the seemingly perfect pair as they go through their days, musing on their inability to find love in the city, all while living right across each other.

The intriguing plot of Fermin: Glories of Tango makes it a must see. Fermin is an 85-year-old patient being treated for PTSD at a public facility, and he only speaks in lyrics of old tango songs. A young psychiatrist takes on the curious case, and in the process, begins to recount Fermin’s life in 1940s Buenos Aires and the joys, love, death, and betrayal that made him how he is.

A film that urges viewers to take a deeper look into relationships, The Mystery of Happiness depicts the disappearance of one man and its effect on his best friend and his wife.

As a detective goes searching for the missing Eugenio, his best friend who seems closer than a brother to him and his wife realize that there’s more to Eugenio than they knew.

For inquiries, call 370-2597 or 98 or visit www.facebook.com/ shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage.

Follow the Shang on Instagram: @ shangrilaplazaofficial.

The Argentine Film Festival is back at The Shang with six of the best contemporary films in Argentinian cinema

This was our question to Romeo Nicolas Sarmenta Tejedor, better known by his screen name Romnick Sarmenta, and best remembered for his role as Peping in the TV series Gulong ng Palad.

As one of the brightest stars of his generation, Sarmenta had appeared in more than 50 films and a dozen TV shows between 1978 and 1998.

“I’m very picky when it comes to accepting projects for TV or movies, nowadays. I always consider the kinds of roles being offered to me because I want a project that my children can watch and appreciate,” he said.

Sarmenta, who top-billed the very first Maalaala Mo Kaya episode entitled “Rubber Shoes” on May 15, 1991, explained that he’s been receiving a few TV and movie offers but he feels that the role he is asked to portray may not be appropriate for his children to see.

“You know, children ask too much questions these days. And there are times that they think what they see on TV is true. I don’t want to do something on TV and then later on explain to my children the reason why my character behaved like that,” he explained.

Does this mean he’s already closing his doors to showbiz?

“Maybe if the show offered to me is familyoriented, I would accept it. I can’t accept baddie roles anymore because, to be honest, it’s difficult to explain to a child the actions and the language used by the character that I would play,” he added.

Now happily settled with former actress and That’s Entertainment regular Harlene Bautista, the 44-year-old actor is busy raising their five children (with their eldest being 18 and the youngest, 3) and managing a restaurant called Salu located on Sct. Torillo St. in Quezon City.

Since leaving the limelight, the couple has ventured into a couple of businesses including a production company and now the family restaurant that they opened two months ago.

In this new interest, the couple oversees the entire business operation from finances, the “back of the house” to serving the

establishments clients’ who are mostly Filipino cuisine lovers.

The restaurant serves their specialties at home, such as adobo and kare-kare, which their kids also love. Hence, guests would also see their children hanging out in the area.

“While my showbiz career takes the backseat, I don’t have any regret doing this because as you can see, I get to work and spend quality time with my family,”Sarmenta concluded.

Star Magic talent joins DreamPlay’s anniversary celebration Teen actor Paul Salas was part of the panel of judges that chose the very first winner of “King Julien’s Dance Off,” the anniversary program of City of Dream’s interactive play space, DreamPlay.

The 18-year-old actor and commercial model joined notable choreographer Douglas Nierras, City of Dreams Manila’s VP for PR Charisse Chuidian and City of Dreams Manila’s SVP for Non-Gaming Jarlath Lynch at the judges’ table.

Salas also endeared himself with the audience when he performed a Justin Bieber number and went around the venue and let his fans take a few snaps with him.

After his performance, the teen star helped in announcing the winner to the dance off, which was participated by a total of seven finalists comprised of children’s dance groups competed for over P100K worth of prizes.

In a quick interview with Manila Standard after the event, Salas said that he’s very passionate about singing and dancing.

Inspired by his father, Jim Salas (a former member of Universal Motion Dancers), the young actor strives to hone his skills so that in the future, people will know him not just an actor but also as a concert performer.

“I want to be an all-around performer.

Dancing is my first love but I’m trying to be better at singing. So, I can realize my dream to become a recording artist. We’re actually planning to come up with an album,” Salas said in vernacular.

Cinemalaya Film Festival’s 12th year at Ayala Malls Cinemas THE country’s annual Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival celebrates its 12th year with a resonant theme “Break the Surface” featuring an impressive roster of films for full length and short feature categories that are currently showing at Ayala Malls Cinemas.

For the first time, Ayala Malls Cinemas brings the festival outside Metro Manila at Ayala Center Cebu that will run until Aug. 14.

Marking its first opening at Ayala Center Cebu, Cinemalaya held its opening night with Dagsin and Lando at Bugoy last night.

Now on its sixth year of partnership with Cinemalaya Foundation, Ayala Malls Cinemas has again championed the works of the country’s talented filmmakers showcasing the festival’s entries in seven of their branches – Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 1, Fairview Terraces, U.P. Town Center, Solenad and Ayala Center Cebu.

Currently playing exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas, this year’s Cinemalaya nine entries for the Full Feature category include Ang Bagong Pamilya ni Ponching, directed

by Inna Miren Salazar and Dos Ocampo starring Janus Del Prado

and Ketchup Eusebio; Dagsin, directed by Renato Ignacio Magadia, Jr., starring Janine Gutierrez, Lotlot De Leon and Tommy Abuel; Hiblang Abo, directed by Ralston Jover, starring Lou Veloso and Jun Urbano; I America by Ivan Andrew Payawal with Bela Padilla; Kusina by directors Cenon Obispo Palomares and David R. Corpuz swith Judy Ann SantosAgoncillo; Lando at Bugoy directed

by Victor Acedillo Jr. starring Allen Dizon and Gold Azeron; Mercury is Mine directed by Jason Paul Laxamana starring Pokwang and Bret Jackson; Pamilya Ordinaryo

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, August 10, 2016

ACROSS 1 Droned 7 Hood’s weapon 10 Bank no.

14 Gather 15 PFC mail drop 16 Folk wisdom 17 Obtained 18 Atlas page 19 Lodestones attract it 20 Sublime (2 wds.)

23 Fern foliage 26 Tolerate 27 Cove 28 Gossamer 29 Mail-motto word 30 Summer in Savoie 31 Lime cooler 32 Go over big 33 Bead on a blade 37 KGB counterpart 38 Hail, to Caesar 39 Jackie’s second 40 Ending for depart 41 Lit 43 Command to Fido 44 Refrain syllables 45 Feeling lousy 46 Ernesto Guevara 47 Leather-to-be

48 Black as night 51 Future fish 52 Fresco base 53 Rain dance alternative (2 wds.)

56 Tooth anchor 57 Road coating 58 Bowser’s ID (2 wds.)

62 Prince Charles’ sister 63 XXI times C 64 Come out of the shadows 65 Look intently 66 Mao — -tung 67 Street divider DOWN 1 Harpy 2 Bob Hope sponsor 3 Santa Fe hrs.

4 Rebel on the briny 5 Correct 6 Places to winter 7 Stronger-tasting 8 Not touching 9 Pith helmet 10 Adjusted the wheels 11 Pinkish shade 12 Russell — of

“Gladiator” 13 Doctrine 21 Cultivated 22 Fool 23 Press agent 24 Half diameters 25 Canoe anagram 29 Gothic romance 30 Hair-raising 32 Like frontier forts 33 Didn’t dawdle 34 Holds sway 35 Ph.D. exams 36 Sauce with basil 42 Thinned out

46 Strong-arm 47 Secured a tent 48 Leftover 49 Explorer Byrd’s book 50 Memorable trailblazer 51 Widens a hole 52 Elf cousin 54 Bill, briefly 55 Footnote word 59 Numerical prefix 60 Ottoman title 61 Ike’s rank

directed by Eduardo Roy, Jr. starring Ronwaldo Martin, Hasmine Killip and Maria Isabel Lopez; and Tuos

by Roderick Cabrido starring Nora Aunor and Barbie Forteza.

For the Short Feature category, entries include Ang Maangas, Ang Marikit at Ang Makata, Bugtaw, Mansyong Papel, Nakauwi Na, Pektus, Ang Hapon nin Nanding, Butas, Fish Out of Water, Get Certified, and Forever Natin.

For schedule and online ticket purchase of this year’s Cinemalaya entries at Ayala Malls Cinemas, check www.sureseats.com.

The 12th edition of Cinemalaya Film Festival sails to Queen City of the South running until Aug. 14 at Ayala Center Cebu

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Showbiz The CEO Magazine Editor-inChief Michelle Hespe (left) presents Atty. Felipe Gozon (right) their latest issue with GMA Network top gun on the cover

Charo Santos-Concio celebrates the drama anthology’s 25th anniversary through an album called ‘MMK Life Songs’

OPM icons in MMK’s

commemorative album

GMA Network’s

Felipe Gozon on the cover of a biz mag

G

MA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon is on the cover of the July-August issue of the Asia edition of The CEO Magazine, a wellknown international magazine that spotlights some of the world’s most accomplished business leaders.

The magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Michelle Hespe, flew to Manila to personally present the latest issue to Atty. Gozon at the GMA Network Center on July 28.

Hespe, who described Gozon as a visionary leader, revealed their excitement to feature him on their cover. “He has done so much for the media industry in the Philippines

and in Asia and really across the world that it’s very exciting to have him on board as one of our top CEOs,” she said.

In turn, Gozon thanked the publication for the trust and the opportunity to share GMA’s success story with their readers.

“We are elated that we have been chosen to participate in The CEO Magazine’s issue for this month.

It is a reputable magazine and we feel honored. We also want to share with our viewers our efforts that are being recognized by others like

The CEO Magazine,” said Gozon.

The cover story titled “Switched On” highlights the Network’s dominant position in the local media landscape, as well as its continuous efforts in the international front.

Gozon also talked about GMA’s readiness to shift to digitization and its strong financial standing, which he credits to sound fiscal management.

A copy of the full interview can be downloaded from The CEO Magazine’s website at www. theceomagazine.com/business/ felipe-l-gozon.

Ayala Malls Cinemas’

latest rocking reveal

Ayala Malls Cinemas at U.P. Town Center are equipped with recliner seats with bottom and back shakers and leg ticklers

BUCKLE up, sit tight and rediscover movies as Ayala Malls Cinemas’ U.P. Town Center (on Katipunan Avenue) opened the first 4DXTM screen in Quezon City with its recent launch of its multiplex of cinemas that also houses luxurious recliner seats and the latest in Dolby Atmos technology.

Responsive to the needs of the community, Ayala Malls Cinemas at U.P. Town Center intensifies the experience notches higher with its four state-of-the-art cinemas –with Recliner seats equipped in

Dolby AtmosTM , Dolby digital theatres and a 4DXTM cinema.

Be in the movie by using all of your senses with U.P. Town Center’s 4DXTM cinema, the first of its kind in northern Metro Manila. Stimulating not just the eyes but the rest of the senses too, 4DXTM has indeed transformed the experience of watching movies.

Its 4DXTM motion chairs are equipped with bottom and back shakers and leg ticklers tilts forward, backward, sideways, and nudges in the back.

Further immersing the audience, the

cinema’s environmental effects feature that emits wind, bubbles, different scents, water, fog and lightning are seamlessly synchronized with the action on screen.

For the keen listener, another first in the area is the Dolby AtmosTM technology that creates powerful, moving audio and introduces two important concepts to cinema sound – audio objects and overhead speakers. Sounds flow all around the cinema while comfortably watching in the motorized recliner seats while fully engaged with what’s happening on the big screen – 2D, 3D and 4DX. Hungry for more?

Complementing an unparalleled impressive cinematic experience,

AFTER chronicling real-life stories of Filipinos for 25 years, Maalaala Mo Kaya has released a collection of songs that the show hopes would inspire Filipinos worldwide. The commemorative album marks the silver anniversary of Asia’s longestrunning drama anthology.

The album, called MMK Life Songs, features songs that celebrate the most memorable moments in life and interpreted by OPM icons and the new generation of OPM singers.

The album is even made more special as MMK host Charo Santos personally picked each song and artist.

“The album contains beautiful songs, and I hope it brings inspiration to our Kapamilyas. It is a great companion wherever you are and whatever you do.

It makes one reflective. Some of the songs also give you ‘kilig’ and make you remember your loved ones,” shared Charo.

All tracks also showcase interludes or “reflections” narrated by Charo herself.

The album’s first single is the recently released “Desiderata,” a poem originally written by Max Ehrmann and translated to Filipino by Enrico Santos. It features TBUP choir and this year’s biggest collaboration of OPM icons Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Lani Misalucha, Ogie Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Sharon Cuneta.

Launched in July, “Desiderata’s” music video has already got positive feedback from audiences as well as people within the industry. It has been raking in thousands of views online.

MMK Life Songs also contains “Sana” sung by her granddaughter Julia Concio and Piolo Pascual, “Handog” performed by Aiza Seguerra and Noel Cabangon, and “Iingatan Ka” by daughter-mother duo Janella Salvador and Jenine Desiderio.

Also featured in the album are internationally acclaimed artists Charice and Jed Madela, and acclaimed singers Darren Espanto, Jona, Juris, Kyla, and KZ. Completing the track list are “Because You Loved Me,” “I’ll Be There For You,” “You,” She’s Always a Woman,” “Gaya ng Dati,” “Piece by Piece,” and “I’ll Be There.”

MMK Life Songs, produced by Jonathan Manalo, is now available at all record stores nationwide for P350.00. Digital tracks can also be downloaded via online music stores such as ABS-CBN Store, iTunes, Mymusicstore.com.ph, Amazon.com, OneMusic.ph, and Starmusic.ph.

For more information, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/starrecordsphil, Twitter.com/ starrecordsph and Instagram.com/Starmusicph.

U.P. Town Center Cinemas has a Movie Snack Bar too that also offers a wide range of snacks and refreshments for a fully satisfying movie treat.

The only University Town Center in the country, U.P. Town Center Cinemas’ schedule can also be accessed at Ayala Malls Cinemas’ www.sureseats.com – an online portal of movie schedules where one can reserve and buy tickets in advance.

Additionally, Ayala Malls Cinemas’ MPass card is a reloadable prepaid movie card that comes in handy for online and over the counter ticket purchases which also offers exclusive promos.

MUTYA NG SKYJET AIRLINES. Mutya

The ticket booth at Ayala Malls Cinemas at U.P. Town Center

ng Pilipinas candidate 26 Justin Mae San Jose representing CALABARZON won the Mutya ng Skyjet Airlines during the pre-pageant event held at Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa in Sabang, Puerto Prinsesa City, Palawan over the weekend.

The coronation night will be held on July 30 at the Newport Performance Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila, Pasay City.