Manila Standard - 2016 August 13 - Saturday

Rewards pour in for Diaz

DAVAO CITY―Hidilyn Diaz will get an extra P2 million aside from the P5-million incentive that the law mandates for one who wins a silver medal in the Olympic Games.

Diaz won the silver medal during the clean-and-jerk weightlifting competition in the ongoing Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

President Rodrigo Duterte handed the P5-million check to Diaz Thursday night during her courtesy call on him in Panacan in this city.

Duterte said the P5-million incentive based on R.A. 90699 was not enough due to the high honor that Diaz had given the country.

He said the additional P2 million he would be giving Diaz was an incentive to motivate other athletes to strive hard.

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10 inmates perish in Parañaque jail blast A GRENADE blast killed 10 inmates and wounded the warden in what could have been a botched jail break inside the Parañaque City Jail Thursday night.

A spokesman for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said in a televised briefing that the warden, Gerald Bantag, needed to undergo surgery for multiple injuries.

He said the initial investigation showed that the incident was a possible jailbreak and hostage taking.

The inmates had sought to speak with Bantag in his office Next page

VOL. XXX • NO. 182 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 • WWW.THESTANDARD.COM.PH • EDITORIAL@THESTANDARD.COM.PH

PRIDE OF MINDANAO, PH. President Rodrigo Duterte poses with Hidilyn Diaz, the first Pinay and Mindanaoan Olympic silver medalist during her courtesy call at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City on August 11, 2016. Malacañang Photo

Court frees 4 Reds ahead of peace gab

By Sandy Araneta and John Paolo Bencito

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MANILA court has granted bail to communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Rafael Baylosis, and Adelberto Silva just ahead of peace talks in Oslo, Norway this month.

GOLDEN BOY. Combination picture made on August 11, 2016 shows US swimmer Michael Phelps with the 22 gold medals he won at the Olympic Games in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016. AFP

Rody rues issuing Martial Law threat to Sereno Phelps bags

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera and Rey E. Requejo DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte apologized to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for threatening to declare Martial Law if she kept interfering in his anti-drug campaign.

“I apologize to the chief justice. The harsh words were never intended,” Duterte said Friday.

Earlier, Sereno had chided the

President for the “premature” release of the names of seven judges who were allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade, and said she would urge the judges not to surrender to the police in the absence of an arrest warrant.

A Court spokesman said Friday that Sereno appreciated Duterte’s gesture, but would say no more on the government’s anti-drug campaign.

The Supreme Court has al-

Anti-gay quip ‘unacceptable’ IT WAS “inappropriate and unacceptable” for President Rodrigo Duterte to call United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg an “annoying homosexual son of a whore,” the American Embassy said in a statement on Friday.

The embassy released its statement days after Duterte insulted Goldberg, who is waiting to be posted to another country.

“We have seen reports of inappropriate and unacceptable comments made about Ambassador Goldberg, a multi-time ambassador and one of the US Department of State’s most senior diplomats,” the emNext page bassy said.

ready ordered an investigation into the alleged involvement of four incumbent judges who were named by President Duterte as protectors of the illegal drug trade.

Sereno said that of the seven so-called “narco judges,” four of them are still active in the judiciary, namely: Judge Exequil Dagala of the Metropolitan Trial Court, Dapa-Socorro, Surigao, Judge Adriano Savillo,

Regional Trial Court, Branch 30, Iloilo City, Judge Domingo Casiple, RTC, Branch 7, Kalibo, Aklan and Judge Antonio Reyes, RTC, Branch 61, Baguio City, Benguet.

In a resolution, the Court directed Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to submit formal complaint-affidavits against the four judges within seven days and to furnish the judges with a copy of the complaint.

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Du30 pushes war on illegal drugs PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday once again defended his administration’s war on drugs amid continuing criticism of the rising body count of suspected drug pushers and users.

Asked by reporters on

the administration’s concrete steps to resolve the growing number of extrajudicial killings, Duterte said the government does not encourage vigilante-style killings.

“If they die in the encounter with the police, then I am

the one who’s responsible.

But if there are encounters where some were being killed and left in the streets, it’s not the doing of the police. Why would they spend time wrapping them in plastic,” Duterte Next page said.

Isolate-China bid gains steam THE Philippines will urge all claimant countries to isolate China by declaring their own claims in the South China Sea as protected areas to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, an of-

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ficial said Friday.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and even Indonesia could declare portions of their islands as protected areas before the

S

thestandard.com.ph

Unclos to prevent China from exploiting the contested South China Sea. “We will declare our marine protected area, Vietnam will also declare, Malaysia Next page

22nd gold: ‘One hell of a career’

RIO DE JANEIRO—Michael Phelps swept to a jaw-dropping 22nd Olympic gold Thursday as China’s Chen Xinyi failed a doping test to cast a shadow over the Rio swimming competition.

While Phelps became one of only three athletes to have won titles in the same individual event at four straight Games, Chen tested positive for a diuretic, the Chinese Swimming Association told state media.

There was a stunning upset in the women’s competition as Australian world record-holder Cate Campbell inexplicably flopped in the 100m freestyle which ended in a dead heat for gold, but there was no escaping Phelps as he romped to his fourth gold of the Rio Olympics.

The record-breaking American stormed to victory in the 200m individual medley to match his London tally four years ago.

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Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina, of the Manila RTC Branch 32, granted the motion for the release of the communist leaders on bail, and allowed them to travel with Satur Ocampo and Randal Echaniz to Oslo for the talks, lawyer Edre Olalia said.

The Tiamzons, Ocampo and their co-accused face multiple murder charges for the killing of 15 civilians discovered in a mass grave in 2006 in Inopacan, Leyte. The military says the bodies belong to communist rebels who were killed in a purge because they were believed to be government spies.

The military arrested the Tiamzons, along with five others, in 2014 based on a warrant issued by the regional trial court in Leyte.

The Tiamzons, however, cannot be released yet because the courts handling their other cases have yet to approve their motion for bail.

The two also face charges of kidnapping with serious illegal detention before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 216, murder and frustrated murder in Laoang, Northern Samar and illegal possession of explosives in Toledo City, Cebu.

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WEATHER IT WILL be rainy in many parts of the country in the next 24 hours as a result of a low-pressure area that has entered the Philippine Area or Responsibility and the presence of the southwest monsoon, the weather bureau said Friday. PNA

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News

Japan to donate two ships, lease jets to PH

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APAN on Friday announced it would give the Philippines two new vessels to boost Manila’s capacity to patrol its waters, with the allies facing Chinese aggression in separate maritime disputes.

Japan, the Philippines’ top source of aid, said it was also discussing with Manila the lease of surveillance aircraft to help its under-equipped coast guard.

The new vessels and planes are on top of 10 coast guard ships that Tokyo pledged to the previous Philippine leader Benigno Aquino.

Japan and China are locked in a long-running dispute over uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, while Manila and Beijing have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. “We are talking about bigsized, 90-meter (295-foot) long vessels. We are also discussing

Duterte said Thursday night he told Kishida about his “soft landing” approach to dealing with China following the tribunal’s decision. “[I don’t want] to start hostilities at this time of our lives and he said Japan would do the the possibility of leasing aircraft same. They just want dialogue. designed for training. They are They do not want further incursurveillance aircraft,” Masato sions,” Duterte said.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Ohtaka, deputy press secretary for Japan’s foreign ministry, told Perfecto Yasay said Thursday Manila and Tokyo shared the reporters in Manila.

A UN-backed tribunal last same experience of dealing with month rejected Beijing’s claims Beijing’s “intimidation” at sea.

He and Kishida urged Beijing to most of the South China Sea which reach close to the coasts of to observe the rule of law after the Philippines and other South- China vowed to ignore the ruling.

Beijing has conducted maseast Asian nations.

Ohtaka said the new ships sive reclamation in the South were among topics discussed China Sea, with a US-based

by Japanese Foreign Minister think tank releasing images this Fumio Kishida and President week showing what appears to Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday in be China building military airthe southern Philippine city of craft hangars on disputed reefs.

Ohtaka said Duterte and KishDavao.

ida also discussed Japan’s $2.4billion loan for a new railway aimed at easing Manila’s notorious gridlock.

The 38-kilometer (24-mile) elevated commuter line would connect Manila to nearby Bulacan province to decongest the capital and help spur economic activity.

“This is one of the biggest projects Japan has ever embarked upon using the yen loan,” said Ohtaka.

Ohtaka added Japan was also open to building a railway in the southern region of Mindanao, a project Duterte previously said China had offered to fund.

Duterte has said reducing traffic congestion and fixing the deteriorating transport system are priorities for his administration.

Manila’s traffic problems cost the Philippines an estimated $64 million a day in 2015, a Japanese-funded study found. AFP

Rody...

From A1

Upon receipt of the complaintaffidavits, the four judges were required to submit their answer to the complaint within seven days.

The Court also appointed retired Associate Justice Roberto Abad to conduct the investigation and submit his recommendation to the SC en banc within 30 days.

Duterte, a former prosecutor and a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, blamed the media for insisting that he reveal the names of public officials who were protecting the drug lords.

“You’ve been demanding [this] from me. When I face you, one of you will stand there saying when are you going to reveal a list [with judges],” he said.

Duterte also denied that his list was outdated—an observation made by one of his own spokesmen.

He said he wanted to reveal the names of all the public officials who were protecting the illegal drug trade, but did not mean to disrespect those who were already dead.

He said he holds another list of names that he will release soon.

Phelps...

nante Gamara, Alan Jazmines, Ma. Loida Magpatoc, Adelberto Silva, and the Tiamzons.

The OSG also included in its pleading Baylosis, who already posted bail in a criminal case but forfeited it by failing to appear in hearings.

Government lawyers led by Solicitor General Jose Calida told the high court that the NDF leaders would have a crucial role in the peace talks where they are supposed to serve as consultants.

In seeking temporary release of the NDF leaders, the OSG proposed several conditions to the Supreme Court.

The OSG said the accused would be released Òonly for the purpose of their attendance and participationÓ in the formal peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway starting Aug. 20, 2016.

The period of their temporary release, it added, would not exceed six months.

The OSG also proposed that a cash bond of P100,000 each be posted, and that the NDF leaders must provide complete contact information both in the Philippines and Norway, and would return to the Philippines after the peace talks.

Presidential Peace Process Adviser Jesus Dureza earlier explained the talks were moved from July to August to ensure that the CPP-NPA-NDF would be well represented.

Also on Friday, a Quezon City court granted a motion for the release on bail of another NDF negotiator, Ernesto Lorenzo. tal, Bantag told investigators that he had exchanged fire with the inmates, using his service firearm. It was then that the grenade exploded.

Before the incident, Bantag had said he wanted to conduct an inspection of the jail after receiving information that contraband was coming into it.

The slain inmates were identified as Waren Manampen, Ronald Domdom, Rodel Domdom, Danilo Pineda, Joseph Villasor, Oliver Sarreal, Jeremy Flores and Jonathan Ilas, and Chinese nationals Jacky Huang and Yonghan Cai.

about their reported transfer but arrived with a pistol, a fan knife and a grenade.

A commotion broke out in Bantag’s office during which the grenade exploded.

Eight inmates were killed immediately, while two others were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

BJMP spokesman Senior Inspector Xavier Solda said eight of the dead inmates were linked to illegal drugs.

Before he was taken to hospi- Joel E. Zurbano

BLAST AFTERMATH. Members of the bomb squad emerge from the Parañaque City Jail on Friday, Aug. 12

following an explosion inside the jail which left 10 inmates dead and the warden Supt. Gerald Bantag wounded in what police described as an attempt at jail break. Ey Acasio

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella has also said the President does not condone extrajudicial killings, and said he has ordered an investigation.

On Thursday, Amnesty International slammed the President’s “shoot to kill” orders and his public naming and shaming of drug suspects, saying these not only violate fundamental rights but also increase the levels of violence, intimidation and corruption.

The group added that his orders to silence drug suspects will only worsen the state of lawlessness in the country.

Philippine National Police chief Rolando Dela Rosa will face a Senate hearing on the spate of killings in the war on illegal drugs, a campaign that has already claimed more than 700 lives.

Malacañang had earlier said that the warring drug groups themselves were behind the spate of vigilante-style killings committed against suspected drug dealers since Duterte took office.

“We view these killings as being perpetrated by the drug lords themselves,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo told the Manila Standard in an

Anti-gay...

for saying there is “no room” for the gay community in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

“We encourage Indonesia, which rightly prides itself on diversity and tolerance, to respect and uphold international rights and standards by ensuring equal rights and protections for all its citizens,” Trudeau told reporters.

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

Duterte told the soldiers he and Goldberg disagreed during the presidential campaign after Duterte 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, before adding: “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.”

The US Embassy also echoed the concern of Trudeau over the spate of summary killings in the Philippines.

The embassy reminded the Philippines that it had been a recipient of a $32-million fund from the US to promote human rights and security.

It called on the Philippines to observe the rule of law and due process.

“The assistance provided by these funds is subject to the same rigorous vetting as our other security assistance,” the embassy said.

“All of our security assistance

It said United States Department of State spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau summoned the Philippine chargé d’ Affairés to Washington DC Patrick Chuasoto to convey its views on Duterte’s remarks.

“As stated by Elizabeth Trudeau, director of the Office of Press Relations at the US Department of State, the Philippine Chargé was asked to come to the State Department so we could directly convey our view that the comments were inappropriate and unacceptable. We do not go into details of those diplomatic discussions,” the embassy said.

In Washington, meanwhile, the US criticized Indonesia on Thursday

“We’re still waiting for feedback from these courts,” Olalia said.

The National Democratic Front considers the Tiamzons and Silva consultants in the peace talks that will resume on Aug. 22.

The court set different bail amounts—P100,000 to P150,000—for each of the detainees.

The court granted the request for bail after prosecutors for the Justice Department did not oppose their motion.

Baylosis is among the 22 consultants identified by the NDF, the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, who have key roles in the peace talks.

“He [Baylosis] surfaced because he was encouraged by the coming resumption of the peace negotiations and he wanted to perform his role fully as a consultant. He failed to attend his arraignment on July 30, 2015 due to intense surveillance and reports of threats to him and his family,” Olalia said.

Earlier, the government asked the Supreme Court to order the temporary release of 10 NDF leaders to enable them to join the peace talks in Oslo.

In an urgent motion filed by the Office of the Solicitor General this week, the government sought the release of Tirso Alcantara, Alex Birondo, Winona Birondo, Maria Concepcion Bocala, Rey-

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Competing in his fifth and final Olympics, Phelps joined Al Oerter in the discus (1956-68) and Carl Lewis in the long jump (1984-96) as the only members of the exclusive four-in-a-row club.

Phelps utterly dominated a final which crackled with tension and brought the curtain down on his 12year rivalry with fellow American Ryan Lochte.

After a strong start from local favorite Thiago Pereira, Phelps took charge on the backstroke leg before powering away to win in one minute, 54.66 seconds—almost two seconds clear of Japan’s Kosuke Hagino in second.

Hagino, who won the 400m medley last weekend, produced a quick finish to pinch silver in 1:56.61, with China’s Wang Shun coming through for a surprise bronze in 1:57.05.

Lochte, a six-time Olympic champion, could only finish fifth, while Pereira faded badly and he trailed home seventh.

A little more than half-an-hour later, having collected his gold medal, Phelps returned to qualify fifth fastest for Friday’s 100m butterfly final—another event he won in Athens, Beijing and London.

“It’s been a hell of a career,” said Phelps, who could still equal his Athens tally of six gold medals, two shy of his epic Beijing haul. AFP

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10...

interview.

Human rights groups have expressed alarm over the spate of killings of suspected drug peddlers, with dozens of cadavers of suspected criminals abandoned in streets with cardboard signs urging the public not to emulate them because they are drug pushers.

Duterte said that while there is an ongoing investigation, he will not reveal too many details yet.

He promised to do so in the coming days, however.

On Friday, Panelo said the administration was already winning the war on drugs, noting that the cost of the illegal substances were now “sky-rocket high”--a sign that the substances were difficult to find.

“It’s succeeding. The moment [the President] mentioned these names, the drug operations stopped suddenly, and the cost of shabu skyrocketed,” Panelo said.

The President had earlier vowed during the campaign that he would eradicate the drug menace within three to six months.

Also on Friday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency released a list of seven new dangerous drugs in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Commission on Narcotics Drugs.

The seven new dangerous drugs are:

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Court...

Du30...

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• Acetylfentanyl, a powerful painkiller five times more potent that heroin and disguised as oxycodone • MT-45, a piperazine derivative with potent analgesic activity comparable to morphine *Para-Methoxymethylamphetamine (PMMA), a stimulant and a psychedelic recreational drug that can be used a substitute for ecstacy • Alpha-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone (a-PVP), a psychomotor stimulant that can cause cardiotoxicity resulting in violent behavior and display of psychotic behavior • Para-Methylaminorex, known as 4,4’-DAMAR as a synthetic stimulant, a designer drug related to 4-methylaminorex and pemoline, a new and potentially lethal designer drug.

• Methoxetamine (MXE) as a recreational drug On May 21, five party-goers died after ingesting lethal designer drugs during the Closeup Forever summer concert at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

On Thursday, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested three people but failed to arrest a fourth identified as a brother of Vice Mayor Macario Asistio, during a raid on a suspected drug den in Caloocan City. John Paolo Bencito, Sandy Araneta and Francisco Tuyay

promotes human rights through training content and by promoting professionalism, due process and the rule of law,” the embassy said.

“Our partnership with the Philippines is based on a shared respect for the rule of law, and we will continue to emphasize the importance of this fundamental democratic principle.”

The embassy said it was concerned at the reports it received regarding the summary killing of suspected drug users and pushers.

The Philippine National Police has said a total of 402 drug suspects have been killed while nearly 600,000 others have surrendered since the Duterte administration waged its war against the illegal drug trade on July 1. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Isolate-...

From A1 will declare, Indonesia will declare and then China becomes isolated,” Carpio said in a recent forum.

He made his statement even as former President Fidel V. Ramos said Friday the Chinese government had expressed willingness to talk with the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to settle the territorial dispute in Scarborough Shoal between Manila and Beijing.

Ramos made his statement upon his arrival in Manila following his four-day visit to Hong Kong.

The 88-year-old former President and former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan arrived at the airport on board Philippine Airlines PR 319 around 4:15 p.m. Friday.

“This will happen soon,” Ramos said when asked when the formal talks between Beijing and Manila would take place.

“For your information ladies and gentlemen, the friendly hospitable talk in Hong Kong happened in Victoria Peak.”

Carpio said earlier that the Philippines could file a new case to quantify the damage in its resources that are being exploited by China.

He said even the Permanent Court of Arbitration had strongly agreed that China had severely damaged the environment and that Beijing should pay for the damage it did on Spratly Islands.

“The Tribunal agreed and even expanded on that, and because of that we can file a new case before the Unclos tribunal to recover damages,” Carpio said.

He said Manila could file its case before the International Court of Justice.

In a separate interview, a Japa-

Rewards...

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Diaz is also scheduled to receive P500,000 from Zamboanga City, where she hails from.

“For me, the P5 million is really not enough. I have seen the efforts that they have given that can be reciprocated by an office,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, former boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, another silver medalist in the Olympics, is getting closer to receiving his P2.5million incentive after 20 years of fighting to get it.

nese source said the Japanese government had agreed to isolate China to prevent its continuing claim over the South and East China Seas.

The source, who requested anonymity, said although Japan wanted a peaceful means to resolve the territorial dispute, it would be wise if all claimant countries and other international communities supporting the case of the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei would isolate China by being firm on the rule of law.

“The least we can do is isolate them [China],” the source said.

“And let them knownot just the neighboring countries, not just Japan and the Philippines and Vietnambut the rest of the International Community that they are actually supportive of us.”

The source said it would be better if the Philippines and other claimant countries did not show any weaknesses or any sign of compromise to prevent China from taking advantage of the situation.

“I think it would be important for the Philippines and the relevant countries to not show their weaknesses,” the source said.

“As long as the countries involved stay firm, I think that would send a strong message to China. If you showed any sign of weakness, they will take advantage of that and this is something that they are watching.”

Former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario has expressed concern over the degradation and destruction of the ecosystem in and around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.

“The lack of meaningful attention to this issue is a little surprising. As Filipinos living on an archipelago, the well-being of our surrounding seas is of vital importance to the country,” he said. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Joel E. Zurbano Duterte said he needed to know the person who promised Velasco the P2.5 million.

“Was there money programmed to include in the budget intended for a reward at that time?” Duterte said.

“If none, you just have to include it in the budget.”

Velasco won the silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games, and for that he received P750,000 from the government and P1.2-million from R.A. 9064 during the regime of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Velasco was promised P2.5 million by Congress but he still has to receive it. F. Pearl A. Gajunera

News IN BRIEF Top Gear staff sued for libel THE man mistakenly identified as the road rage killer of a biker in Quiapo, Manila last July 25 filed on Friday a complaint for online libel against editors and publishers of Top Gear Philippines before the National Bureau of Investigation.

The NBI said Nestor Punzalan filed the complaint against Top Gear Philippines editor-in-chief Vernon Sarne, online associate editor Dinzo Tabamo, online managing editor Tracy Carpena, publisher Jeffrey Reyes and publisher Adelbert Christopher de Jesus.

Punzalan, who personally filed the complaint, also asked Sarne to resign even if the latter already apologized for erroneously tagging him as the owner of the red Hyundai Eon which figured in the road rage incident.

Sarne said on July 27 that he was taking “full responsibility” for posting the link to Punzalan’s Facebook profile and photo of the car.

The Manila Police District later found out that the suspect was identified as former Philippine Army reservist Vhon Tanto who shot and killed cyclist and gaming attendant Mark Vincent Garalde.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Experts: 1,299 reported HIV cases involve youth

By Cathrine Mae V. Gonzales

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ORE than a fourth of the 4,643 new cases of the human immunodeficiency virus infections from January to June this year involve youth aged 15 to 24 years old, physicians said Friday.

Speaking at the National Youth Forum on Public Health at the Bayanihan Center in Mandaluyong City, physicians noted that data from the HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines showed that

1,299 of the 4,643 new cases, or 27.9 percent involved youth.

In June 2016, there were 841 new HIV positive individuals— the highest number of cases ever reported since 1984.

Physician Kate Leyritana, medical director of Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines, blamed the record number of cases on the lack of information among the youth and the social stigma that prevents infected individuals from seeking medical treatment.

“I want the HIV to be routinely open in our conversation to end the stigma,” Leyritana said, adding that sexually active individuals should undergo testing.

According to Department of Health data, newly diagnosed HIV cases among young people increased by 230 percent from 2011 to 2015.

More than half of those cases (58 percent) involved male to male sex while 26 percent involved males who have sex with both males and females. There were also 9 percent who were infected from sex between males and females.

The data showed that high-risk behavior start in adolescence, but initiation into protective behaviors such as condom use, start two to three years later on the average.

“The problem is it is considered immoral, but it is [about] public health,” said Dr. Winlove Mojica, clinical associate professor from the Philippine General Hospital who also spoke in the forum.

“Let us not make it so dramatic.

Let us avoid associating it with something immoral,” he said. “It is a health concern, not a religious concern.”

Leyritana noted there are 22 treatment hubs, 16 satellite houses, and 10 other places available for those infected by the virus and medication from these hubs and status testing from social hygiene clinics are free.

“But there is a misconception.

It is important that you don’t have the virus. Prevention is better than cure,” Leyritana said, stressing that there is still no definite cure for the disease.

AGAINST MILITARY TRAINING. Young members of the women’s group Gabriela hold a protest in front of the Kartilya ng Katipunan Shrine in Manila on Friday to express their opposition to the proposed revival of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in all colleges and universities in the country. Danny Pata

Pinay admits being behind hubbie’s slay THE Filipino wife of a Japanese septuagenarian admitted involvement in the killing of her husband, who was found dead inside his room in Calamba, Laguna Thursday morning.

Police said Vanessa Landicho Tsutsui, 34, reported finding her husband, Japanese national Takashi Tsutsui, 73, dead on his bed on Thursday morning with no signs of forcible entry in the room.

Upon questioning, however, Vanessa admitted planning the crime with Roderick Tagura, a security guard and resident of Tayong, Bangued, Abra.

BoC seizes gun imports CUSTOMS Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon expressed apprehension over the discovery of several highpowered firearms from “balikbayan boxes” which were being used by a syndicate to smuggle fire arms into the country, using fictitious consignees.

The high-powered firearms were found in balikbayan boxes that also contained candies but were declared as used household wares.

The seized goods, worth more than P1.9 million, arrived at the Port of Manila only last Thursday, August 11. The imported candies came from China and was consigned to Jolt Aquamarine Foods Corporation. Vito Barcelo

Mariano vows to ‘destroy haciendas’

By Rio N. Araja AGRARIAN Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano vowed on Friday to go after untouchable owners of big landholdings, particularly on Negros island, and vowed “to free farmer-tenants from the grips of landlord-oligarchs.”

“DAR is out to destroy haciendas. Because of this, people might call me hacienda master,” he said at a news forum, adding that landlordoligarchs have blocked genuine land reform since the inception of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Re-

forms until it lapsed in June 2014.

He singled out the island of Negros which accounts for 9,303 hectares of the 59,148.7 hectares that remains undistributed to 16,065 farmer-beneficiaries.

“This is where you will see a big balance of undistributed lands,” he said, adding that Negros remains the “bastion of landlordism, the sugar bowl and the social volcano of inequality... since the Spanish [colonial] period.”

Among the biggest landholdings in Negros that remain untouched are the haciendas of the Araneta family, the Locsin family and the Benedicto, Consing, Gustilo, Montinola, Lopez, Ja-

landoni, Lacson, Yulo and Montilla clans.

“It [Negros] is the bastion of haciendas where farm workers are still enslaved by hunger and poverty, and are being threatened, shot at and massacred by goons and soldiers,” Mariano said.

DAR is now reviewing two stock distribution options in Negros island and one agribusiness venture agreement in Mindanao, he said.

“We are in the process of investigating complaints against Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. on the alleged unjust eviction of farmers to develop the area into the Negros First Ranch livestock farm,” he said.

Arrest orders derail Rody-Nur dialogue

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s announced meeting with Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari did not push through on Friday, but he stressed that he will definitely be speaking with the rebel leader about the envisioned Bangsamoro.

“I will meet Misuari for sure because after the peace panels talk [the agreement] goes up to us. We will be the ones to talk. Hopefully, next year,” Duterte said after speaking with troops at Camp Bautista in Jolo, Sulu.

Duterte admitted that the postponement of the meeting was mainly due to the warrants of arrest against Misuari who was charged

with rebellion after the Zamboanga seige in 2014, but the President said Misuari is crucial to the peace process in Mindanao.

“When I shall have met Misuari, I think there’s a better chance [for peace],” Duterte said, admitting that he himself does not want to detain Misuari despite the arrest order against him.

2 more celebrities get govt positions

EDUCATION CONSULTATION. Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and her husband Philippine

Constitution Association president Martin Romualdez called on Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Friday to discuss the Duterte administration’s agenda in education. Ver Noveno

SHOWBIZ celebrity Aiza Seguerra and her partner Liza Diño were appointed to government posts, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Friday.

Seguerra, a former child actress who became a popular singer and composer, was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of the National Youth Commission for a three-year term, replacing Gio Tingson.

Diño, on the other hand, was appointed chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines for a period of three years, replacing the current FDCP chairman Briccio Santos.

Diño is related to Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Michael Diño and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman Martin

Diño, whom Duterte replaced to become PDP-Laban’s standard bearer in a last-minute attempt.

Meanwhile, singer Jimmy Bondoc, who like Seguerra and Diño were vocal supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte during the campaign, defended his appointment to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. as assistant vice president for entertainment.

“Soon, I will officially be the AVP for entertainment for Pagcor, a blessing that the Good Lord has assigned to me through the power of our beloved President … I have already begun working. It’s a 9-6 p.m. job, and I have begun to learn the ropes,” Bondoc said in a recent Twitter post.

John Paolo Bencito

154,000 retirees’ pensions adjusted THE Social Security System released a total of P7.21 billion in pension adjustments to over 154,000 qualified retirees in June this year, after the agency completed its special project on the manual verification and reposting of members’ contributions for the period 1985 to 1989.

The pension adjustments resulted from the management’s initiative in examining the lumped 1985-1989 contributions of members affected by a system upgrade in the late ‘80s.

In the past, pensioners submitted individual requests for manual verification for possible pension adjustment. But in 2011, the SSS management created a special team which focused on all records of pensioners without the need for submission of an individual request and pay whoever is qualified for a pension adjustment.

“We initiated this project to give pensioners what is due them without demanding for it. We already sent out letters to qualified pensioners who received their pension adjustment last June.

For others, they may call the SSS Hotline at (02) 920-6446 to 55 or email at member_relations@ sss.gov.ph to verify the details of their pension adjustment, if any,” said SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio S. de Quiros Jr. Not all pensioners are entitled to pension adjustments for there are members whose contributions for 1985 to 1989 were already manually verified during the processing of their benefit application. There were also cases where the reposting had no bearing on pension computation so there were no corresponding pension adjustments.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

L

Premature self-congratulation

ESS than 60 days into the new administration, lawyer Salvador Panelo, whom President Rodrigo Duterte once considered appointing his spokesman, says the government is winning the war against illegal drugs.

Panelo, who now occupies the less visible—arguably less damaging— post of presidential legal counsel, issued this statement as a reaction to the warning of international human rights group Amnesty International. AI had slammed the Presi-

dent’s shoot-to-kill orders as well as his name-andshame campaign against drug suspects. These would only violate fundamental rights, it said, and increase the levels of violence, intimidation and corruption.

Since Mr. Duterte won the presidency, hundreds of bodies of suspected drug dealers and users have turned up, often bearing tags identifying them as pushers. There has been no widespread outcry against the killings even if they all the

victims appear to be among the less affluent, when the drug menace is known to be pervasive across all economic segments.

The President has also named at least 157 government officials allegedly involved in the trade as drug lords, dealers and protectors. Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno wrote Mr. Duterte on Monday to remind him against the toll his anti-drugs campaign was taking on due process and the rule of law.

But Panelo now says the price of drugs are “sky-rocket high” indicating that they are now more difficult to obtain —a result of the government campaign.

“It’s succeeding,” Panelo said, referring to the anti-drugs drive. “The moment [the President] mentioned these names, the drug operations stopped suddenly.”

Panelo was also at the forefront of defending the constitutionality of Martial Law—the prospect of which the President

raised in reaction to Sereno’s letter—saying that the drug problem constituted a great public menace.

We would not be as quick to pass judgment.

Success in this war is not anecdotal; it is, rather, consistent downward movement of numbers observed across a period of time and over several locations.

Neither should the administration take pride in the great number of suspected pushers killed.

Lawlessness does not

translate into swift justice. A better measurement would be evidencebased arrests and speedier legal processes, as well as the rehabilitation of thousands of drug users into productive members of society.

There is no doubt that the drug menace is an extraordinary problem that demands drastic solutions and difficult tradeoffs. It would take so much more to say the campaign, which should foremost be lawful and sustainable, is making a dent.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

Online gambling must stop

peacefully defeated the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and formal democracy was restored. Many of us thought things would be a lot better after FM was gone. We went back to our private lives.

Our understanding of what we needed to do as a people to make democracy really work for the ordinary Filipino was shallow. We left almost everything to government, to politicians, thinking that they would magically turn the country around.

We thought that since we won in Edsa, a dictatorship, or Martial Law could not threaten us again.

And now, we are finding out that we missed a golden opportunity —the opportunity to instill in our people, especially the generations after the 1986 “people power revolt,” the beauty and importance of democracy, of human rights.

Collectively as a people, we failed, and failed miserably, to recognize that Edsa 1 was not the end, but the beginning. It should have started the long process, (just like my political edu-

IT HAS been said that life is one big gamble. Sooner or later, a person has to make a very important decision in his life, and he must weigh his options carefully. His success depends on making the right decision. That’s a gamble because much of the future is uncertain, something like what happens at a gambling casino.

History reveals that gambling has destroyed families, careers, and even lives. Hard-earned money meant for food, clothing, the rent, medication, tuition and the like end up wagered and wasted in gambling games. Losses are often followed by violence, crime, deprivation, depression, and destruction of the moral and social fabric.

Institutionalized gambling is worse. In gambling casinos, the odds are always in favor of the house. The real winners are the owners and operators of the gambling establishments. That was, and remains true in Las Vegas, in Reno, and in Monaco—the celebrated gambling destinations of the world. In fact, gambling is the sole industry in those cities. Tourists go there precisely to gamble.

Privately-owned casinos proliferated in the Philippines in the 1960s, particularly in Manila and in Pasay City. When President Ferdinand Marcos placed the country under martial law in 1972, all casinos were closed down. Gambling was limited to the government-run “floating casino” on Manila Bay, but it was exclusive for tourists and the really affluent. Middle-class individuals were not allowed inside and, therefore, were not tempted to wager their hard-earned money at the probability tables.

After a fire ended the maritime casino, its activities were moved to a restricted area in Pasay City.

The same prohibitions, however, remained in force.

At the height of the so-called “snap election” in early 1986, presidential candidate Corazon Aquino pledged to close down gambling casinos in the country.

The closure move was urged by Salvador “Doy” Laurel, her vice presidential running mate.

When candidate Aquino became President Aquino, she reneged on her pledge and expanded casino operations instead. Institutionalized gambling soon became a reality in Metropolitan Manila and in urban areas like Olongapo City, Tagaytay City, and Cebu City. Under Mrs. Aquino, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) became a lucrative revenue-raising agency of the government.

Asked why she reneged on her campaign pledge, Aquino answered that the 1986 Edsa Revolution erased all of her campaign promises. Good grief!

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Collective failure POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO SHOULD former President Ferdinand Marcos be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani?

President Digong Duterte seems to have made up his mind.

During the campaign, he said he would do this. Recently, he said he would die with the decision.

He wants to lay the former dictator’s body alongside the great men and women of this country.

After all, there is no denying that FM became a president and for Duterte, this is enough reason for his position.

Again, the country is divided.

A lot of people support Digong on this. To them, the President can do no wrong. Just check the comments on social media and one will realize that the President’s supporters do not need any explanation. Digong’s word is already good for them. This is how popular he is. The very high

trust level is perhaps matched only by that enjoyed by former President Corazon Aquino right after Marcos was removed from Malacañang.

Of course the pro-Marcos sides are also with the President on this issue. However, for them, this is not about Digong. They believe that FM was a good president, and thus, deserves to be called “bayani.” Included in this group are the young people who were convinced by the pro-Marcos propaganda unleashed during the last electoral campaign.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the fence are the victims of the Martial Law era and their families, those who lived through the horrors of the dictatorship with limited freedoms, activists and human rights advocates, those who went to Edsa 1 to topple the dictatorship, professionals, and much of the academe. They oppose Marcos’ burial in the LNMB because of the late dictator’s suppression and violation of human rights, the unparalleled level of corruption and abuse of power that bled the country dry,

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and, the abduction, imprisonment, torture and death of thousands of activists and political opponents who opposed Martial Law. Understandably, Marcos was not, and will never be a hero to them and, therefore, cannot, and should not be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Past administrations failed to make people feel that life after the dictatorship was better.”

I was in second year high school when Martial Law was declared. Perhaps I was too young to understand what ML was about. In my public high

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

school, our lives went on as usual. I constantly heard (and sang to the tune of) Bagong Lipunan, and the propaganda line “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan.” I knew that people were not allowed to be out on the streets after midnight or during curfew hours (the reason stay-in parties were invented), but generally life was as it has always been.

At times I would catch my older relatives talking about certain politicians getting arrested but I had no idea how serious things were. My “political awakening” started happening as a student in UP. Still, I came in a few years after the “First Quarter Storm.”

In UP, I heard about students disappearing—either abducted by the military, or they went underground. I started seeing rallies as I was not yet an activist then. Slowly, I learned about national issues. Still, I had things to do.

I became an activist late. My political education took many years. Then came Edsa 1. The Filipino people successfully and

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

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Opinion BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

No right to question Marcos’ burial ALL revolutionaries should Board. As we always say, “Ang know by heart that to overthrow Amerikano pa, maiisahan mo?”

Bonifacio Gallegos coordinated the government would logically deprive them of the right to his malicious slander of Marcos question all that represents that with a Greek expat Steve Psinakis government. This rule applies who was married to the daughter to those who enter into an alli- of the country’s foremost oligarch ance with them, like the unholy and political kingpin. It is not for alliance of the hypocritical yel- Congressman Edcel Lagman to low oligarchy with the National oppose the burial much that his Democratic Front on the issue own brother was murdered in of Marcos burial. This explains broad daylight by the same peowhy our own Armed Forces can- ple deliriously opposing the henot stop them from hanging their ro’s burial for President Marcos. own flag while negotiating with It is not for that losing candidate the government or prevent them for senator of Bayan Muna Neri from displaying the pictures of Colmenares to file a petition for their ideological mentors on how temporary restraining order beto carry on the war against what cause the truth is that he miserably they perceive as a corrupt and un- landed at the tail end, effectively debunking his claim of having the just system.

Anyone who understands this support of the people. Rather, his political postulate must logically petition only exposed his ignodeny himself the right to par- rance of the law. It is not for that ticipate, meddle or interfere on soldier Antonio Trillanes IV, a whatever policy the government putschist who was jailed for admay wish to implement, much venturism, and who lost in his amthat their objective is to destroy bition to become vice president, to the status quo. He should forfeit say that Marcos does not deserve a himself the right to question any hero’s burial.

It is not for the son of a notorious decision that might serve to reenforce what the Marxists would senator, who barreled his way to be term the “superstructure of the chosen as Duterte’s running mate, system.” The policy is intended to vigorously oppose the decision to apply only to those who adhere of the President which shows utto the system and not those sub- ter disrespect. It is not even for the scribing beyond the parameter of Senate President Koko Pimentel’s what we might say “ideological deference to the party’s ministerial demarcation.” Otherwise, it could head to oppose the decision of the earn him the nasty suspicion in President. Paradoxically, President what Jose Ma. Sison would say Duterte’s decision to get rid of parLavaism or opportunism; or of ty-list representation authored by waging a revolutionary war while then Aquilino Pimentel Jr. was a engaging in parliamentary strug- slap on his face. His father naively gle. This is exactly what the Left thought his version was far better and its accomplices from the hyp- than the Sectoral Representative under the 1973 Constitution which ocritical elite are doing. turned out to As self-probe the party claimed revoof fly-by-night lutionar ies, vested interthey failed to est groups all comprehend These leaders munching the that their leadgoodies of ers have com- have completely their pork barpletely lost rel. The same track of the lost track of the can be said of rudiments of Pimentel’s Lotheir ideology. rudiments of their cal GovernThose who faideology.” ment Code vor the burial which resulted of President in the financial Ferdinand E. ransacking of Marcos at the public funds Libingan ng mga Bayani need not argue that that even barangay kagawads now he was elected president by a enjoy their version of the anomademocratic and honest process, lous pork barrel. Finally, it is not served the country with excep- even for the demagogue Leni Rotional gallantry and heroism, but bredo, who now styles herself as must simply state that those who the country’s vice president when oppose just do not have the right everybody knows she is holding to question the decision of Presi- on to a bogus mandate.

This column is simply askdent Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte.

While this government has ing those who oppose the hero’s given the rebels the opportunity burial of the former president to to negotiate peace without any ask themselves if they truly have pre-condition, they do not have the legitimate right to oppose the the right to meddle into the af- decision of President Duterte. To fairs of the government they recall, it was no less than Corazon have sworn to destroy. The gov- Aquino, who grabbed political ernment has given them much power by coup d’ etat but decepleeway to honor their fallen tively called it “People Power,” comrades by giving them a place who allowed a presidential dog to erect their monument called to be buried at the Libingan ng “Bantayog ng mga Bayani,” mga Bayani complete with a which if one would consider, tombstone and military honors. stands as an insult to the memory Cory Aquino insulted the entire of our soldiers who died quelling Filipino people because nobody their bloody rebellion. and nobody would idolize a dog As they continue to exert all ef- as hero or place an animal to the forts to bootlick the patronage of pedestal of hero. This explains the yellow oligarchy in deceiv- why Joma, as if to concur, wryly ing our people about our history, said that not all who are buried they have descended to become there are heroes. “dreg revolutionaries” fighting an It was also Cory Aquino who ideology that is in fact engaged insulted our people by allowin a ghoulish act of barbarism. ing the face of her husband to be Desecrating the memory of a printed on our P500-bill despite dead man is unnatural, especially the fact that it is only reserved to from one professing to be a revo- persons who have officially been lutionary. The biblical term “laid declared a national hero or served to rest” means that all must stop as president. Ninoy Aquino had badmouthing a dead man. As in neither any of those qualificacourt litigation, there is no way he tions, except that he was slain at can defend himself. In this case, the airport. The two Aquino govthey are not only dictating who ernments uncannily did not inshould be our hero but are prevent- vestigate to specifically pinpoint ing the government from burying the mastermind for fear it could one who was elected President vindicate Marcos. and was a be-medalled soldier in If the coagulation between the World War II, which a grateful misguided progressive forces and Motherland is obligated to honor a the corrupt yellow oligarchy are brave son. permitted to have their say, that They should address their con- would mean giving them the green cern to the US government for light to distort our history without giving Marcos those medals and them having to win their revocitations for bravery, and for hav- lutionary war. The government ing been wounded in action, with would be committing the highest one given no less by General degree of stupidity as when it laid Douglas MacArthur, the com- down the foundation of honoring mander of the US forces in the a stooge of the US who commitPacific. It is not for an obscure ted the greatest political swindle soldier, who hounded the Left and now idolized as the restorer of by serving as an informer of the our democracy with her abstract notorious Congressional Com- promise of freedom and democmittee on Un-Filipino Activities racy more revered than what a (CUFA), to say that the medals leader has tangibly accomplished of Marcos are fake. Up to now, to bring about peace, order and Mrs. Imelda Marcos continues prosperity to our people. to receive her pension as surviving widow from the US Veterans rpkapunan@gmail.com

EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA AS EARLY as the 1973 Constitution, the right of the people to information has been recognized. The bill of rights of the Marcos-era Constitution afforded citizens access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions.

This constitutional acknowledgment was further expanded in the 1987 Constitution through several provisions.

In Article II, which declares the principles of state policies under the Constitution, the following sections can be found: Section 24. The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation building.

Section 28. Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.

In Article XII, which contains the provisions on the national economy, the right to information is explicitly set forth for foreign loans, thus Section 21 of that article provides: “Foreign loans may only be incurred in accordance with law and the regulation of the monetary authority. Information on foreign loans obtained or guaranteed by the Government shall be made available to the public.”

Finally, in Article III, the Bill of Rights, Section 28 recognizes the right to information of citizens: “Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A step forward on FOI public interest.

Despite the absence of an implementing law, the right to information has been recognized by the Supreme Court as early as in 1985 in the case of Tañada v.

Tuvera. This was followed by a few more cases including Legaspi v. Civil Service Commission, in 1987, where the Court upheld the people’s constitutional right to be informed of matters of public interest and ordered the government agencies concerned to give such access to citizens.

In the 1989 case of Valmonte v.

Belmonte, the Supreme Court explained the rationale behind the right to information, saying that “the postulate of public office as a public trust, institutionalized in the Constitution to protect the people from abuse of governmental power, would certainly be were empty words if access to such information of public concern is denied, except under limitations prescribed by implementing legislation adopted pursuant to the Constitution.”

While recognizing the right to information as an enforceable right, the Supreme Court made it clear in its decisions that an implementing law enacted by Congress is necessary to give it legal imprimatur and set the limitations for its exercise.

In 1989, a significant step towards the enforcement of the right to information was made with the passage of “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees”. The law directs all public officials and employees, except those who serve in an honorary capacity, laborers and casual or

temporary workers, to file under oath their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and a Disclosure of Business Interests and Financial Connections and those of their spouses and unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households. The law also orders that all statements be made available for inspection and for copying or reproduction. The Code of Conduct was used against highranking public officials including ex-president Joseph Estrada, Chief Justice Renato Corona and other generals of the AFP. In the 16th Congress, as in previous Congresses, bills enacting a Freedom of Information Act were introduced. Under the leadership of Senator Grace Poe, Senate Bill 1733 was passed by the Senate in its third and final reading in March of 2014. Unfortunately, its counterpart bill in the House passed only the committee level and never reached a plenary vote. It never reached that stage, the impression being then President Aquino did not consider the FOI Act a priority.

The 16th Congress adjourned without any of the bills being passed. In the meantime, presidential elections were held and a new administration under the helm of President Duterte was installed to power.

President Rodrigo Duterte, only 25 days in his presidency and without awaiting for Congress to act on the pending FOI bills, signed an executive order giving every Filipino access to information, official records, public records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official

acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for public document. Under Section 15 of the said order, any employee or public officer who will fail to comply with the provisions of the EO may face administrative and disciplinary sanctions. In my next column, I will provide more details on this executive order and illustrate why it is a positive step forward even as the necessity of a law is made more apparent with this latest development.

As an executive order, Duterte’s FOI covers only agencies in the executive branch, state universities and colleges and government-owned or controlled corporations. Congress, the Supreme Court, and local government must follow suit.

Nevertheless while limited in scope, this act of the President is without a doubt a big step in the right direction. Hopefully, Congress will take its cue from the President and finally pass a law that will institutionalize the people’s right to information.

With Senator Poe again chairing the Public Information committee and with the leadership of its president Senator Koko Pimentel, I am sure that the Senate will tackle this with urgency. Now that we have a chief executive fully committed to FOI, I look forward to the House of Representatives doing its part as well.

Finally, at last, our right to information will have teeth and freedom of information will be a reality.

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

Emperor Akihito plays defense on Japan’s constitution Bloomberg editorial ON MONDAY, Japan’s Emperor Akihito signaled again that he would like to step down from the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy. Yet his veiled speech held a larger message for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe: that he should proceed carefully before revising Japan’s postwar constitution.

In keeping with his apolitical role, the 82-year-old Akihito did not say straight out he wished to abdicate. Existing laws have no provision for a living emperor to give up his throne. Instead, he spoke of “a decline in my fitness level because of my advancing age.”

Yet in his nearly three decades as “the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people,” Akihito has always made his views on Japan’s proper course quietly clear.

His marriage to a commoner, now the Empress Michiko, was seen as an affirmation of equality among Japanese and of the idea that marriage involves mutual consent— both values enshrined in Japan’s

Online...

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In the years that followed, Pagcor expanded its operations to include online gambling stations, which are Internet cafés exclusively for casino games, in almost all urban areas in the country.

Pagcor even went to the extent of staking exclusive domain over bingo activities all over the country.

The old reliable college alumni and charity fund raising bingo socials were outlawed overnight.

Surprisingly, Pagcor does not use the word “gambling” when it refers to its operations. The euphemism “gaming” is used instead.

There is the crime of “illegal gambling,” which suggests the existence of “legal gambling.” If the gambling activity is done under the auspices of Pagcor, then it is legal gambling. When the same gambling activity is done by say, sidewalk low life, it’s illegal gambling.

This distinction makes the national government the biggest gambling

Collective...

From A4 cation) to make the youth—those who knew nothing about the evils of the Marcos dictatorship, appreciate and protect the human rights that they enjoy and seemingly take for granted.

Post-Edsa 1 administrations have failed to make ordinary people’s lives better. Up until the last administration, the much-taunted economic growth benefitted only the upper class.

Poor Filipinos remained poor, or became even poorer, and lives

1947 constitution. His early championing of the Paralympics brought Japan’s attention to the cause of the disabled. His expressions of remorse for the harm caused by Japan during World War II and his steadfast wishes for peace have earned global goodwill.

Ironically, those most disturbed

by Akihito’s messages have been Japan’s conservatives, some of whom long for the days when the emperor was venerated as a divine being. Unlike members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, for instance, Akihito has steadfastly refused to visit Yasukuni Shrine for Japan’s war dead, maintaining the royal boycott his father started after 14 Class A war criminals were interred there in 1978. Diehard nationalists also fumed when the emperor acknowledged the rich historical ties between Korea and Japan. They felt betrayed when he urged the Japanese people to “study and learn from the history of this war, starting with the Manchurian Incident of 1931.”

That was considered a rebuke to the argument that Japan’s initial

incursions into China were an act of self-defense.

Now Akihito has cast a shadow over the prime minister’s cherished plan to change Japan’s constitution, which is currently based largely on a blueprint created by U.S. occupation officials. The emperor’s speech, coming shortly after Abe’s LDP won the votes necessary to pass a revision, has been interpreted as a coded pushback, and not just to Abe’s quest to revise Article 9, under which Japan renounced war and the creation or use of military forces.

Akihito referred many times, for instance, to his symbolic role, which the LDP’s plan would change—to make the emperor again the “head of state” and exempt him from having to uphold the constitution. The LDP draft constitution deletes an article on the universality of human rights; specifies that the exercise of rights shall “not infringe the public interest and public order;” and invokes citizens’ responsibilities and duties, including respect for the flag and the national anthem.

(At a garden party in 2004, the emperor famously scolded a bureaucrat for arguing that teachers should stand facing the flag and sing the national anthem.)

The draft constitution also grants the government more powers in emergencies and dabbles in social engineering by extolling family values. More fundamentally, the LDP’s proposed changes would make it easier to revise the constitution in the future.

The country’s old constitution should hardly be frozen in amber. So much has changed since General Douglas MacArthur, in 1949, envisioned Japan as the “Switzerland of the Pacific.” And notwithstanding conservative fears, there’s no good reason why Japan couldn’t change its Imperial Household Law to enable the emperor to abdicate. But Akihito’s pronouncements, this week andover the years, are a reminder of the Japanese people’s understandable ambivalence toward revising the constitution, and of the need for a robust and unfettered debate before any change is made.

lord in the country.

If the gambling casinos are bad, the online gambling stations are worse. Online gambling stations are Internet cafes devoted to gambling games. Using software technology provided by PhilWeb Corp., a private company with a franchise from Pagcor, customers can choose from more than 300 casino games like blackjack, baccarat, poker, and slot machines. Naturally, the games are designed to favor the house.

These stations are obviously very profitable. If it were otherwise, they would have closed shop a long time ago.

Online gambling stations are attractive, and they are accessible to schools and residential communities. Since admission restrictions are hardly enforced in these stations, young people, students mostly, are easily enticed to gamble away their allowances there. Because gambling can be habit-forming, many students get addicted to gambling.

Youngsters end up spending their waking hours at these stations, instead of at home or school.

Almost every urban area has an online gambling station. Collectively, these online gambling stations are called the e-games network.

President Duterte recently declared a crackdown on these online gambling stations because they undermine the welfare of the Filipino youth. He instructed Pagcor not to renew the PhilWeb license.

PhilWeb Corp. denies that it is directly involved in gambling activities, and claims that it only provides the software used by Pagcor in the online gambling stations.

The company also claims that its software cannot be played from homes or offices.

If PhilWeb has nothing to do with the online gambling stations, PhilWeb must explain why it undertook the physical task of closing those stations. PhilWeb should also explain why the value of its capital stock soared when the operations of the e-gambling network were in high gear.

The mere fact that PhilWeb’s software cannot be played in homes

and offices does not warrant the conclusion that the company is not involved in the operations of the online gambling stations.

PhilWeb alleges that the closure of the e-gambling network will displace some 5,000 employees, and deprive the government of P2.1 billion in annual taxes. Admittedly, that is an unpleasant scenario, but are those valid grounds to warrant the continued operations of the on-line gambling stations? Of course not.

A morally and socially objectionable activity does not cease to be objectionable simply because it generates employment and pays plenty of tax money to the government.

Why is the crackdown only against online gambling? Unlike the casinos, online gambling is an immediate, nationwide threat to the well-being of the Filipino youth, while the gambling casinos can be dealt with at a more opportune time in the future.

Perhaps, that is what President Duterte had in mind. At any rate, the crackdown against online gambling is a step in the right direction.

are more miserable because of problems of horrendous traffic, criminality, and the general feeling of insecurity.

Past administrations failed to make people feel that life after the dictatorship was better.

Really, we should not be surprised that many of our people now do not show interest, or even side with President Duterte on the issue of Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

We cannot blame our young people for being ignorant about the evils of the dictatorship. Ignorance is a function of miseducation.

We cannot just talk down to those who say that quality of life under Martial Law was better. Remember that government failed to help improve ordinary Filipinos’ lives.

The Marcos burial issue is not about being pro- or anti-Duterte.

This is about the defense of democracy and human rights. Marcos in the LNMB is a most serious affront to the Filipino people’s struggle against dictatorship. It will obliterate our history that celebrates democracy and human rights. It will destroy Edsa 1’s significance in our national life.

We should be able to learn from

our collective failure. We cannot allow Ferdinand Marcos, the dictator, to be treated as a hero. As a democratic and freedom loving people, we must stand up against this and use the issue to begin the arduous task of educating our people, especially our youth.

We need to strongly assert that we shall never again lose our freedoms and rights. Start by saying, “Marcos is not a hero. He should not be at the heroes’ pantheonl.” bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

Sports

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 A6 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

LeBron’s $100-m pact with Cavaliers is highest in NBA

L

OS ANGELES—LeBron James has agreed to a threeyear contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which will likely make him the highest paid player in the National Basketball Association.

“I just want to let you all know I’m re-signing back with the Cleveland Cavaliers, my hometown team,” James said on his multi-media website Uninterrupted.

“I can’t be more excited than this opportunity once again, man, to defend our crown, defend our title... just get the band back together.”

James, a three-time NBA champion, did not release details of the contract but US sports broadcaster ESPN reported that it was worth $100 million and would pay him $31 million in the first year and $33 million in the second, making him the league’s highest-paid player for the first

time in his career.

James has signed a pair of one-year deals with the Cavaliers over the past few years. He chose to go with a longer term deal in Cleveland, his hometown, because of the Cavs’ success.

“We all know last year (was) magical, inspiring, all the words you can come up with. It was an unbelievable season,” said the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer.

“I just can’t wait to get the group back together, the team, the franchise, more importantly, get everybody together.

The fans. Without you guys, without your passion and commitment, we wouldn’t have been able to do what we

did this past season. I’m ecstatic.”

Nothing is official as the three-time NBA finals MVP isn’t expected to sign the new deal until next week when he returns to Cleveland for a charity event, ESPN said.

James also said he hopes the team can convince free agent guard JR Smith to return next season.

Meanwhile, a rematch of the NBA finals will take place on Christmas day and star forward Kevin Durant makes his return to Oklahoma City in February, the NBA announced Thursday as it released its 2016-17 season schedule.

The rematch between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors is set to be the marquee contest in a slate of five Christmas games.

The champion Cavaliers will host the Warriors as the teams square off on Christmas for the second straight year.

In another key contest, the Chicago Bulls visit the San Antonio Spurs.

The day begins with the Boston Celtics travelling to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks. The Andrew Wiggins-led Minnesota Timberwolves will make their Christmas debut at Oklahoma City and the hapless Los Angeles Lakers will play the Los Angeles Clippers in the night game.

Durant makes his return to Oklahoma City with the Warriors on February 11.

Durant was not the only big name to change teams recently. Dwyane Wade will make his only return to Miami with the Bulls on November 10. The Knicks’ Derrick Rose makes his return to Chicago on November 4.

The season will open with two games on October 25. The Knicks will visit the Cavaliers on ring night, followed by the Warriors hosting the Spurs.

Mindanao hosts 2 legs of Shell chess elims MINDANAO braces for a twoweek battle of wits as it hosts the final two legs of the 24th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships in Davao and Cagayan de Oro this month.

The SM Ecoland Davao Event Center will stage the fourth leg of the five-stage regional circuit for the Southern Mindanao tournament on Aug. 13 and 14 before the nationwide elims winds up at SM City CDO Cyberzone (3rd floor) for the Northern Mindanao event on Aug. 20 and 21.

Both stops are expected to draw in full-packed fields with Mindanao boasting of a wide base of chess talents through the years.

Registration is ongoing with the innovative chess tournament open to all Filipinos, non-titled players who are bona fide students certified by their respective schools and registrars.

For details, contact tournament director Alex Dinoy at 0918-3705750 or 0922-8288510, or Southern Mindanao leg coordinator Ronnie Tabudiong at 0943-2490821 and Northern Mindanao stage coordinator Jun Cuizon at 0905-1166326.

Previous grand finals winners are also allowed to join in their respective divisions provided they are still within the age limit, according to the organizers of the annual circuit sponsored by Pilipinas Shell, a global leader in power, energy and gas technology.

Registration forms can also be downloaded at the Shell website www.shell.com.ph/ shell_chess.

Listup is on a first-come, firstserved basis with a maximum of 300 participants in both legs.

Play will be a nine-round Swiss system tournament with time control of 20 minutes with five time-delayed mode (Bronstein system).

LeBron James: I can’t be more excited than this opportunity once again, man, to defend our crown, defend our title... just get the band back together. AFP

Tigresses, Lady Maroons dispute lead UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippine collide Saturday in a duel of unbeaten Group B teams priming up for the quarterfinals in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The Tigresses came away with a pair of 3-1 victories over San Beda and St. Benilde while the Lady Maroons disposed of the Red Spikers and the Lady Blazers via sweep to join the Far Eastern U Lady Tams in the quarters of the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

FEU also routed St. Benilde in three and beat San Beda in four.

Though assured of the quarters berths, UST and UP are still ex-

Games today

(Philsports Arena) 10 a.m. – Ateneo vs NCBA (S Turf) 12 noon – PMMS vs FEU (S Turf) 4 p.m. – San Beda vs St. Benilde (V League) 6 p.m. – UST vs UP (V League)

pected to go at it not only for the momentum and confidence but also for the mark as their records will be carried over to the grueling quarters phase of the tournament backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.

Gametime is at 6 p.m. with the Laure sisters, Ennajie and Ejiya, along with Christine Francisco, Cherry Anne Rondina expected to carry the cudgels for the winningest team in the league where it all started with six championships.

But the young UP side, which

toughened up by competing in the recent Open Conference, is also out to prove its worth behind Isabel Molde, Diana Carlos, Nicole Tiamzon, Justine Dorog and Katherine Bersola, guaranteeing an action-packed duel between two of the league’s fancied teams.

San Beda and St. Benilde, out of the quarters race with 0-3 cards, clash at 4 p.m. Both matches will be aired live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 17 or 23 and via streaming on www.sports. abs-cbn.com, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

While the Group B quarters cast has been settled this early, the fight for the three berths in Group A remains wide open with defending champion National U pacing

the field with a 2-0 mark and San Sebastian and Technological Institute of the Philippines in joint second at 2-1.

Perpetual Help and Ateneo dropped their first two games but remained in the hunt provided they would sweep their last two games and hope either from NU, SSC or TIP won’t go over two wins.

Meanwhile, Ateneo guns for a third straight win and the solo lead in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference as it takes on National College of Business and Arts in a Group B duel at 10 a.m., also at the Philsports Arena.

FEU and newcomer Philippine Merchant Marine School tangle at 12 noon with the Group A match to be aired live via streaming.

Maroons lead Martin Cup winners

UP-B’s Rob Ricafort (2) and CEU-B’s Paul Galinato(13) and and Arman Demigaya battle for the looseball.

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines, Centro Escolar University-A and Manila Patriotic School posted contrasting victories in the 14th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament Saturday at the Arellano University gym in Legarda, Manila.

Pio Longa, a candidate for Team A, led the UP Maroons with 12 points as they started their campaign on a bright note with a 6151 quashing of the CEU-B Scorpions.

The Maroons bounced back from eight points down at halftime, and after overtaking the Scorpions in the third, Longa unloaded two triples in the last 7:58, to move away 51-44.

The CEU-A Scorpions drew double-digit outputs from Orlan Wamar and six others in stopping Colegio San Agustin-Binan, 107-44, for their second straight win in Group B. MPS marched to its third straight win in Group B of the junior division, turning back Far Eastern University, 70-52.

In other games, the San Beda Red Lions prevailed over FEU, 63-60, to also pick up their first triumph in Group B of the senior division, The FEU Tamaraws took their second setback after turning back CSA-Binan, 104-64, in another encounter, while Diliman Preparatory School debuted with

a 73-45 demolition of St. Michael-Laguna.

The Arellano University Chiefs, led by Ivan Pineda with 13 points, prevailed over SMCLaguna, 93- 45, the other week to ear n their second straight triumph.

Commissioner Robert de la Rosa said the top four teams in each of the two brackets in the senior division will advance to the quarterfinals of this cagefest supported by Vinas Optical.

In the junior side, Makati Gospel College won over CSA-Binan, 68-56, while Colegio San Benildo coasted to win no. 2 at the expense of St. Michael College-Laguna, 74-47.

Team F2 tries to move closer to PSL title

By Peter Atencio ADJUSTMENTS in the middle in the fourth and fifth sets allowed the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers to get past the Foton Toplanders, 25-20, 25-14, 9-25, 20-25, 15-10, in Game 1 of the All Filipino Conference finals at The Arena in San Juan on Thursday night.

Big lessons in protecting the middle were learned that night and this is what the Cargo Movers will remember when Game 2 gets going at 2:30 p.m. today.

“Na-distribute iyung bola nu’ng third and fourth. Nalimutan ang gitna, kaya big adjustment ito,” said Cargo Movers’ coach Ramil de Jesus.

This is the third time that a team coached by De Jesus has made the finals.

The first time was when he mentored Generika squad to the finals in the 2014 Grand Prix against Petron and the following year with the same team, renamed as Shopinas.com in the All Filipino conference.

In beating the Tornadoes, Abigail Marano stepped up with 17 points. In the fifth set, her drop shot which came on top of a rally from 2-4 down and into a 7-4 advantage spelled the difference.

The Cargo Movers then moved away, 11-6, off a crosscourt shot from Mika Reyes, followed by Kim Fajardo’s ace.

In Game 2, De Jesus will be going for a crown that has eluded him for two years, while coaching different teams.

This time, he will have players who know each other’s games, like Marano, Ara Galang, Reyes, Fajardo, Kim Dy and Dawn Macandili.

All were part of the Season 78 La Salle champion UAAP team, while Marano was a member of the three-peat success from 2011-2013.

In Game 1, their efforts in the third and fourth took a backseat when Foton turned to smashes of Jaja Santiago at the middle and Cherry Rondina and Patty Orendain at the wings.

Foton coach Villet Ponce-de Leon is not worried though despite falling behind in Game 1.

“The team was so eager and excited to win,” said De Leon, who guided the Tornadoes to a Grand Prix title last year.

Rondina showed the way for Foton with 22 points.

UFC early bird rates available UFC, together with SM Lifestyle Entertainment, announced that early bird tickets for UFC Fight Night Manila, are now available.

Fans can avail of a 10 percent early bird discount rate on selected seats for tickets purchased until Aug. 16.

Tickets can be purchased at all SM Tickets outlets or through www.smtickets.com.

Official ticket prices and fight card are yet to be announced, but fight fans are encouraged to register on www.ufc.com/ manila to gain special presale access and up-to-date information on UFC Fight Night Manila.

UFC Fight Night is sponsored by Monster Energy, Harley-Davidson Asia Pacific, Hudson Shipping Lines, Phoenix Petroleum, Reebok Philippines, Lazada Philippines, Police Watches, and Smart Bro. Please continue to check UFC.com for more information or current fight news. All bouts live and subject to change.

Sports

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Chinese swimmer tests positive in Rio for doping B

EIJING—Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi has failed a doping test at the Rio Olympics, the official Xinhua news agency reported Friday, citing the Chinese Swimming Association.

She tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic, on Sunday, it said. On that day the 18-year-old came fourth in the women’s 100m butterfly final —just 0.09 seconds away from a place on the podium.

Chen has applied to the International Olympic Committee for her B sample to be tested and for a hearing, it added.

Diuretics increase urination

rates and can be used as “masking agents” to hide the presence of performance-enhancing substances that are screened for in doping tests.

The CSA “resolutely opposes use of banned substances”, Xinhua cited it as saying in a statement.

“The CSA has taken this matter seriously and demanded full cooperation from Chen in the investigation,” it added. “We will

cooperate with the Court of Arbitration of Sport during its investigation and will respect the final ruling by the CAS.” Chen had been due to take part in the 50m freestyle heats later on Friday.

She first made the headlines when she won gold in the 100 metre butterfly and 50 metre freestyle events at the 2014 Asian Games, with times that set championship records.

China has already been embroiled in doping controversy in Rio after Australia’s Mack Horton called Sun Yang, China’s most successful swimmer, a “drugs cheat”—inciting a social media firestorm and prompting a formal

demand for an apology by Chinese officials.

Sun served a three-month doping ban in 2014, which was only announced retrospectively by Chinese authorities.

French swimmer Camille Lacourt waded into the row after Sun won gold in the 200m freestyle final, telling a French radio station: “Sun Yang, he pisses purple.”

In March, the CSA revealed that six Chinese swimmers had tested positive for drugs in the preceding months, including three for hydrochlorothiazide. Two of the six athletes were disciplined with only warnings.

Swimmers from other countries have also been caught up in

Fiji nails 1st gold, celebrates biggest day

disputes in Rio. After American Lilly King beat tainted Russian rival Yulia Efimova in the 100m breaststroke final, she said: “I think it just proved that you can compete clean and still come out on top.”

US superstar Michael Phelps has demanded life bans for swimmers with a drug record.

An explosive report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) last year alleged a “state-sponsored” doping conspiracy across Russian sport.

It set off the biggest doping scandal in Olympic history, with world athletics chief Sebastian Coe this week blasting Moscow’s “cataclysmic failure” to protect athletes. AFP

Nadal seeks doubles’ mint RIO DE JANEIRO—Rafael Nadal gave up his ambitious dream of an Olympic golden treble Thursday after spending an exhausting four hours on court to reach the singles quarter-finals and men’s doubles final.

The 30-year-old Spaniard was set to partner French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the mixed but withdrew just moments before they were to face Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek in a first round tie.

The effort of downing Gilles Simon in the singles followed just a couple of hours later by teaming with lifelong friend Marc Lopez to beat Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil to make the gold medal doubles match proved too much.

Nadal, playing for the first time in two and a half months after a wrist injury forced him out of the French Open, started Thursday staring at a gruelling 10-match schedule in just four days if he was to win three golds.

But having already spent eight hours on court this week, followed by four more on Thursday, the 14-time major winner ran out of gas, his plans not helped by all of Wednesday’s schedule being washed out.

Nadal had hinted that he was unlikely to fullfil his mixed doubles commitments just after seeing off Nestor and Pospisil 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/4) to set-up Friday’s gold medal clash against Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau of Romania.

When asked if it was possible to win three golds, he replied: “No, no, that’s impossible.” AFP

US gymnast Simone Biles competes in the beam event of the women’s individual all-around final of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. AFP

SUVA, FIJI—Fijians erupted in celebration Friday, setting off flares and dancing in the streets while a national holiday was declared after the tiny nation won its first ever Olympic medal— and gold at that.

The South Pacific island country came to a standstill at the start of the rugby sevens final against Great Britain, and by half-time the fireworks had started and there was a monumental chorus of car horns as it became evident Fiji would win and create history.

“This is the biggest day in Fiji’s history. Everyone is celebrating,” said photographer Feroz Khalil who watched the final on the big screen at the main stadium in Suva.

“It was crazy. There were people chanting, crying, tears were flowing. I’m feeling so happy.”

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who was in Rio de Janeiro to watch the final, announced there would be a public holiday on August 22, the day after the team arrive home.

In a message to the nation Bainimarama said “every Fijian is rejoicing” around the world.

“Never before has the Fijian spirit soared so high as it does today. Never have we stood so tall as a nation.”

Fiji Rugby Union chief executive John O’Connor told AFP nearly all of Fiji’s 900,000 residents would have gathered around television sets in the 110 populated islands to watch the historic event.

“Everyone is very excited. Wherever there was a TV in a village there were people gathered round.

There were about 2,000 people packed in the main stadium watching the game on the big screen.

“Some people may go to work now but I don’t think they will be very productive.”

Many who did go to work finished early to join the festivities as the blue Fijian flag flew proudly from homes, businesses and vehicles.

Fiji scored first after just 55 seconds, led 29-0 at half-time and finished up thrashing Great Britain by an emphatic 43-7. AFP

Gymnast Biles joins ranks of Olympic legends Spain cagers st RIO DE JANEIRO—Simone Biles joined the ranks of gymnastics legends on Thursday with stardom awaiting the Cinderella who has overcome a difficult past to claim the coveted Olympic women’s all-around title for a second gold in Rio. The 19-year-old Texan, whose life story is worthy of a Hollywood movie, etched her name alongside the greats of the sport such as Nadia Comaneci.

Comaneci, the 1976 Montreal gold medallist and first to earn a perfect 10.0 score, was like Biles coached by Romanian Martha Karolyi, who defected to the United States in 1981.

And Karolyi, who will retire after many years coaching the US’ top gymnasts after Rio, predicted great things for her young prodigy.

“I’m sure she will be a big star. She’ll be a millionaire,” said 73-year-old Karolyi.

“There are so many things she wants to do. She’s such a happy, smiley girl with a positive attitude.

“She told me she would take a year off and go to college.”

Biles was so dominant that she could have fallen twice and still romped to the all-around title.

Apart from a hop on the landing of her opening vault she gave a confident display of gravity-defying tumbles, twists and flips on her maiden Games to win by 2.100 points over US teammate Aly Raisman.

“Congratulations @Simone_Biles and @ Aly_Raisman What a beautiful success...,” tweeted Comaneci, who was among the spectators in the Rio Olympic Arena.

Biles scored highest on three of four rotations—beam, vault and floor—to keep on track for a record haul of five gold at one Games with finals on those apparatus to come.

Five golds would see her overtake Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina (1956), Czech Vera Caslavska (1968) and Romanian Ecaterina Szabo (1984), who have all won four at the same Games.

As well as being the first to win three consecutive all-around world titles last October, she has won more world gold medals—10 —than any other female gymnast in history.

Obscurity to stardom A second gold in Rio after Tuesday’s team title has completed the incredible rise in just three years from obscurity to stardom for the 1.45m (4ft 9ins) gymnast

who had to overcome early difficulties in her life.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Biles moved to Texas at the age of three to be brought up along with her younger sister by her maternal grandparents Ron and Nellie Biles.

The couple adopted the children after their mother was struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. Two other siblings were adopted by Ron’s sister.

“I saw Martha in the mixed zone,” said Biles after her success.

“A few years ago she said something like: ‘You are this bouncy kid, I am not sure about you.’ But here we are.”

Biles’ grandparents, who she calls ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’, and siblings were cheering in the stands in Rio as she collected her second gold. AFP

Tough task ahead for boxing

WE can understand the obvious disillusionment of ABAP president Ricky Vargas over the ouster of our two Rio de Janeiro Olympic boxing hopefuls lightweight Charly Suarez and light flyweight Rogen Ladon, who were both ousted in their very first encounter.

Suarez dropped a split decision to European champion and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Joe Cordina, who lost his very next bout and was also ousted, while Ladon reportedly looked sluggish and faded badly in his clash with Colombia’s Yuberjen Martinez who won a unanimous decision and advanced to the quarter finals last Monday night.

The disappointment of not qualifying an expected five boxers to Rio was compounded by

the failure of Suarez and Ladon to move beyond the first round of competition, even after Ladon, who was seeded No. 5 drew a bye.

An obviously distraught Vargas, an esteemed friend, sent us a text not long after the last man standing on whom we had pinned much of our collective hopes faltered badly.

In his text message, the ABAP president told us, “Maybe it’s time for new leadership partner.

Time to go for me.”

In a subsequent text message to ABAP executive director Ed Picson in Rio, which Vargas forwarded to us, he mentioned being “so downhearted,” which was to be expected and told Picson he would talk to him the following day and suggested “Let us offer the presidency (of ABAP) to Manny Pacquiao, the newly elected senator and eightdivision world boxing champion.”

Vargas requested Picson to arrange for him to meet with Pacquiao on Ed’s return from the Olympics.

I personally sensed that Var-

gas was peeved that we had publicized his tweets because he told us later that he had been besieged by calls from media asking him to comment on our story and sounded upset.

He subsequently issued an official statement, in which he said: “We need new leadership to refresh ABAP and inspire our pipeline of next generation boxers in our pool.”

He went on, “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 Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and World Championships, but of course the standard is the Olympics and we have been unsuccessful there.”

Vargas revealed that when Picson returns from Rio, he and secretary general Patrick Gregorio will call for the 2016 ABAP elections at the soonest possible time and concluded by thanking Chairman Manny Pangilinan and the entire Filipino nation for their support of boxing.

While we know Senator Man-

ny Pacquiao is loaded with his work in the Senate, where he is striving to erase the negative image of the past when he attended sessions in the House of Representatives only four times as congressman from the lone district of Sarangani Province. Should he agree to be elected ABAP president, it would be a major boost because Manny can inspire and with the new thrust of AIBA to pattern boxing along the parameters of the professional fight game with no headgear, the 10-point must scoring system, the ultimate tabulation of the scores of three judges from among five picked by a computer all closely correspond to the pro set-up.

We watched the Olympic fights and realized most importantly that our boxers were not in the physical condition of their opponents, particularly in the case of Ladon. It showed a lack of roadwork which Manny always does and the absence of a sound physical conditioning program similar to what American Nick Curson

has provided Donnie Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion.

ABAP needs modern-day trainers more adept at the fighting style of the pros and not old-school amateurs, who have passed their prime.

It is also important that if Pacquiao accepts the offer to take over as ABAP president, he should not be allowed to bring along some of the members of his entourage, whose love for what they can get out of the sport—and Manny—overrides what they are ready to give back to the sport.

It’s a tough task ahead of ABAP but we need to start the resurgence right now with the initial target being the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

No doubt we have the talent.

All we need to do is harness it and maximize its potential for, after all, if we can have four world professional boxing champions as of now, why should we fail in the Olympics?

grab 1 win

RIO DE JANEIRO—Spain tipped off in an eerily empty arena due to a security scare but the 2012 silver medallists finally showed up on the court for an all-important first Olympic basketball win on Thursday.

After last-second losses in their first two games, Spain claimed a 96-87 win over Nigeria in a match-up of winless teams desperate for a “W”, led by 16 points from veteran centre Pau Gasol.

In other Group B action, Argentina and Lithuania showed why they will both be tough to beat in the knockout phase, with Lithuania emerging 81-73 victors in one of the better-played contests so far.

Forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas led Lithuania with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting.

Spain and Nigeria tipped off with the 16,000-capacity venue in Rio’s Olympic Park virtually empty after security forces initially prevented fans entering while they staged an apparent controlled explosion just outside.

“We heard the explosion. We didn’t know exactly what it was. We just kind of looked around and said, ‘What’s going on?’” said Gasol.

“We thought maybe nobody came to watch the game.”

Spain got yet another scare from the African underdogs, who led by a point to start the final period, fueled by an eventual 13 threepointers including seven from red-hot shooting guard Chamberlain Oguchi. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

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

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

Sports

PH’s Tabuena: I won’t give up for you guys R

IO DE JANEIRO—Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines couldn’t sustain a hot start Thursday and wound up tied for 42nd place after the first day of golf action in the 2016 Rio Olympics here.

Tabuena showed up at the Olympic Golf Course seeking a good, steady round. He had pars in the first two holes then birdied two of the next three to go twounder very early in his round.

But he couldn’t get a birdie in the last four holes of the front nine then got into trouble with back-toback bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11, a par 5 and a par 4. He went even.

Tabuena checked the skid with a par on the 514-yard No. 12, but

bogeyed the 13. He tried to keep his grip on his game and birdied the next hole, a 229-yard par 3.

That was the last good thing he did on the course on opening day because he bogeyed two of his last three holes. From twounder early in the round, he closed out at two-over 73.

Australia’s Marcus Fraser torched the brand-new Brazilian course and led the opening round with an eight-under

63, birdying five of the first six holes. He had four more birdies on the back nine.

Fraser’s only bogey came on the second hole. Other than that, he looked perfect out on the links course and under sunny but windy conditions.

Canada’s Graham Delaet shared second place with Henrik Stenson, the reigning Open champion from Sweden, with identical rounds of five-under 66, three shots off the pace.

Five players were tied for fourth at 67, including South African and 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose, who scored a hole-in-one on the 189-yard No. 4 using a 7-iron.

A big group of players chased

Fraser all day, including Sergio Garcia of Spain, who hit some great shots, leading up to a group of eight at 73, including Tabuena.

Also at 73 was American Bubba Watson, the two-time Masters champion.

Tabuena, the only Filipino athlete who saw action Thursday, said he will not give up even if he’s 10 strokes off the leader.

There are three more rounds left.

“I won’t give up for you guys,” he said.

Tabuena said the winds played a factor and hoped that teeing off at 7:52 a.m. Friday can make a little difference because of lighter winds in the morning.

“The conditions were really tough today. It was very windy. Then I just

couldn’t close many putts as I wanted to,” said Tabuena.

Instead of the famous swoosh, the 21-year-old Philippine Open champion wore the Philippine flag on his shirt and his cap.

“I thought I played well. But f you start to miss your tee shorts here which is very crucial, it can cost you, and that cost me two worthy holes,” said Tabuena.

His father, Luigi, was on the course for 18 holes, joined by the Filipino swing coach, Joel Altea.

“This is certainly one of the biggest tournaments I played in besides the US Open. But this means a bit more. I don’t wear a sponsor’s logo on my shirt. I’m wearing the Philippine flag and that means so much more to me,” he said.

Hidilyn shooting for gold in Tokyo

Diaz

By Peter Atencio WEIGHTLIFTER Hidilyn Diaz has no plans of retiring just yet.

The words of President Rodrigo Duterte during the Philippine Team’s sendoff ceremony before the delegation left for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics stuck in her mind.

“Na-inspire po ako noong sendoff. Kasi, ipinakita niya ang suporta, at nagbigay siya ng suporta,” said Diaz when she met President Duterte in Panacana, Davao del Sur, five hours after she arrived in the country.

She said that she was ready to quit after she had a difficult year in 2014.

Her former coach was replaced at that time and she did not qualify for the Asian Games. Diaz was also not allowed to compete in the Asian Championships.

But after bagging the silver medal in the ongoing Olympiad, things are looking up for Hidilyn.

“Kasi po ngayon pa lang po nami-miss ko na ang pagbubuhat,” Diaz said moments after arriving from Rio as she was greeted by her parents at the airport.

The 25-year-old Diaz is now hoping to make her fourth Olympic appearance in Tokyo in 2020.

“Parang ayoko nang magretire. Nami-miss ko na ang pagbubuhat. Siguro hindi ako papayag na silver lang, sana gold na,” she added.

In recognition of the hardships that the Olympic silver medalist faced through the years, she received another check worth P2million from President Duterte on Thursday evening, on top of the P5-million incentive given her by the government for her silver-medal feat.

A total of P7.5 million in cash is now in the hands of Diaz for her feat the Rio Olympics.

This was after the City of Zamboanga gave her a victory parade upon her arrival at the airport with teammate Nestor Colonia and on her way to residence in Mampang, where she was given a P500,000 check through Mayor Beng Climaco.

The Philippines’ Miguel Luis Tabuena competes in the men’s individual stroke play at the Olympic Golf course during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. AFP

Phoenix hands Mahindra its 1st loss Games Today

(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 3 p.m. - Blackwater vs. TNT Katropa 5:15 p.m. - Rain or Shine vs. Alaska

By Jeric Lopez UNBEATEN no more.

Phoenix rose to the occasion down the stretch, handing erstwhile unbeaten Mahindra its first setback while scoring its second straight win, 100-94, in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Frida night.

Cyrus Baguio had his best game for Phoenix, scoring 22 points to help his squad to victory.

The Fuel Masters ended the tight game with a decisive 11-4 run in the final two and a half minutes to take the game away.

As a result, Phoenix improved to 2-3, while the Enforcers saw their winning streak snapped at four games as they slipped to 4-1, still good for second place.

Phoenix rallied all the way from 20 points down early the second period.

It persevered bit by bit before eventually having the last laugh when it mattered in the payoff period.

The Enforcers started creating distance after finishing the first quarter strong with a 15-5 run that gave them a double-digit lead right away, 24-13, entering the second frame.

That was just the beginning of the league-leader’s assault as Mahindra followed up with a 10-0 blast early in the second period to break the game wide open after it took a gigantic 20-point cushion, 34-14, on a completed three-point play from Paolo Taha at the 9:17 mark.

However, Phoenix wasn’t just about to roll over and die as it woke up in a snap, orchestrating a 30-11 surge to end the first half and dig itself out of trouble, trimming its lead to just a single point, 44-45, at the half, making it anyone’s game heading the final 24 minutes of play.

Meanwhile, action continues today as scorching TNT Katropa (4-0) aims for the solo leadership when it takes on skidding Blackwater (1-3) at 3 p.m. in the initial game also at the Big Dome.

In the main event, a colossal battle between surprisingly inconsistent teams Rain or Shine (2-2) and Alaska (1-3) takes place at 5:15 p.m. to cap the Saturday slugfest.

The scores: PHOENIX 100—Phelps 23, Baguio 22, Borboran 13, Lee 13, Cruz 6, Caperal 5, Lanete 5, Torres 4, Buenafe 3, Enciso 3, Wilson J. 2, Wilson W. 1, Pennisi 0.

MAHINDRA 94—White 24, Ramos 18, Taha 13, Canaleta 10, Digregorio 7, Agovida 6, Jaime 4, Yee 4, Aguilar 2, Guinto 2, Pinto 2, Webb 2, Zandi 0, Elorde 0.

Quarters: 13-24, 44-45, 6871, 100-94

Finishing kick gives Mondilla lead SILANG, Cavite—Clyde Mondilla unleashed a strong finishing kick to vault into the lead, battling back from four-down to one-up with a 70 in a day of changing fortunes in the third round of the ICTSI Riviera Classic that saw the erstwhile leaders tumble and a couple of top contenders make a surge here yesterday.

Halfway leader Rufino Bayron and first round pacesetter Micah Shin fell prey to the risky par-4 No. 11 of the Langer course with the pin placed on a slope with the former ending up with a triple bogey and the latter dropping two strokes on errant approach shots.

That enabled Mondilla to wrest control with a routine par and emerge the new leader for the third straight day in the P2 million event serving as the 12th leg o the circuit

sponsored by ICTSI and organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc..

“I took it easy in the early going and waited for them (Rufino and Micah) to make mistakes. And when they did (on No. 11), I grabbed the chance then went on an attack mode,” said Mondilla, who ran off three straight pars from No. 14 to take charge at six-under 207.

Rufino Bayron, who wrested the halfway lead with a 66, fumbled with two more bogeys after that triple-bogey mishap on No. 11 and limped with a 77 to fall to fifth at 210 while Shin, who showed up the elite field with an opening 65, hobbled with a 72 and dropped to joint third with Jay Bayron at 209.

Jay Bayron, who beat Malaysian Gavin Green by two to bag the Aboitiz Invitational crown at Wack Wack last weekend, rallied

from seven shots down to move within two off Mondilla with a 69 and revive his hopes for a second straight championship.

He drilled in three birdies in a fourhole stretch from No. 13 but missed joining American Nicolas Paez at 208 with a bogey on the last hole.

Paez, out to atone for a final round meltdown at Wack Wack, made the biggest move in the topsyturvy third round, birdying three of the last five holes to fire one of the day’s two best scores of 68.

The 27-year-old Californian, who led in the middle rounds at Aboitiz but wound up sixth with a closing 77, also made a 7 on No. 11, negating his three birdies in the first 10 holes. But he fought back with birdies on Nos. 13, 15 and 16 and gain a spot in the championship flight with Mondilla and Jay Bayron.

Clyde Mondilla chips onto the green on No. 10

Bulgarian athlete confirms positive test for blood booster EPO SOFIA, Bulgari—Bulgarian athlete Silvia Danekova confirmed Friday that she had failed a doping test at the Olympics in Rio, with Bulgarian television saying she tested positive for blood booster EPO. “I am not guilty, I have done nothing wrong. Four tests were done, three of them were negative. We found out that my fourth test was positive,” said the 33-year-old, who

has been provisionally suspended.

“The shock for me is unbelievable,” she told Bulgarian public television channel BNT. “The only explanation can be food additives that I have been taking.”

Bulgarian television reported that a B sample for Danekova, who came 14th in the steeplechase in the World Championships in Moscow in 2013, was also positive for EPO.

The news came ahead of the start of the athletics in Rio, with three gold medals up for grabs at the Olympic stadium including in the women’s 10,000m race.

After a year of drug scandals involving Russia, Kenya and other nations, track and field is looking for its stars to restore trust in the sport.

All but one of Russia’s track and field athletes were banned from Rio

after a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report last year alleged a “state-sponsored” doping conspiracy across Russian sport.

Kenya on Thursday withdrew a second athletics coach from the Rio Olympics in five days over a doping cheat bid.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it had launched disciplinary proceedings against the coach who me-

dia reports said had impersonated an athlete for a doping test.

The official has been named in media reports as sprint coach John Anzrah.

Ex-communist Bulgaria— which has produced 36 Olympic weightlifting medallists—had all its lifters excluded from Rio in August after 11 athletes tested positive for the banned drug stanozolol in March. AFP

CebuPac’s income hits P7.7b B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

RCBC pays half of P1-b penalty

BPI RAFFLE WINNERS. Bank of the Philippine Islands rewards two lucky remittance customers with their Twinpod units at the Amaia Scapes Trece Martires in Cavite during the grand draw of BPI’s Remit-Save-Win Raffle promo. Shown (from left) are Amaia project development associate manager Cherryl Anne Castro, Amaia marketing manager Loreene Natividad, draw winners Ruby Rance and Nelia Gapac, BPI remittance department head senior vice president Roy Emil Yu and BPI product management and marketing manager Bess Aguinaldo.

By Julito G. Rada

PSe comPoSite index Closing August 12, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,955.86 25.49

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing AUGUST 12, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.595

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.590 LOW P46.800 AVERAGE P46.699 VOLUME 551.200M

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 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, August 12, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

46.7330

Japan

Yen

0.009809

0.4584

UK

Pound

1.295600

60.5473

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128931

6.0253

Switzerland

Franc

1.025536

47.9264

Canada

Dollar

0.769882

35.9789

Singapore

Dollar

0.744713

34.8027

Australia

Dollar

0.769500

35.9610

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655408

124.0952

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266752

12.4661

Brunei

Dollar

0.741950

34.6735

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028777

1.3448

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.7248

Euro

Euro

1.113900

52.0559

Korea

Won

0.000912

0.0426

China

Yuan

0.150659

7.0407

India

Rupee

0.014983

0.7002

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.249875

11.6774

New Zealand

Dollar

0.720200

33.6571

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031964

1.4938 Source: PDS Bridge

Govt mulling over LRT-2 dismantling

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE Transportation Department said on Friday it is mulling over the conversion of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 into a bus rapid transit system similar to those of Hong Kong and Shanghai in China.

“I’m thinking of converting the LRT-2 into a BRT system wherein we will remove the rails. It’s not new, I copied it to Hong Kong and Shanghai. If you put the right buses, if you do the right technology, there can even be more and it’s cheaper,” Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters.

Tugade said the headway for BRT was shorter than the average 4.5 minutes for LRT. “It’s not yet final. We are seriously studying it,” Tugade said,

adding the LRT Line 2 was now 14 years old.

The existing LRT2 is a 13.8-kilometer mass transit line, which runs across five cities in Metro Manila, namely Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, San Juan and Manila. It passes the major thoroughfares of Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda Street and Recto Avenue.

The LRT2 was built at a cost of P31 billion in soft loans fund-

ed mainly by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

The previous government had awarded a P2.27-billon contract to construct the extension of the existing LRT 2 to Masinag in Antipolo.

The LRT 2 east extension project involves adding 4.2 kilometers to the railway from the existing Santolan station at Marcos Highway, Pasig City, all the way to the intersection of Marcos and Sumulong highways in Masinag, Antipolo.

The Aquino administration also planned to exit the LRT Line 2 to Pier 4 in Manila from Recto.

The project will have a total length of 3.02 kilometers and add three stations, including Tutuban (located next to the Cluster Mall); Divisoria (west of Recto Avenue and Asuncion Street intersection) and Pier

4 (located 50 meters north of Zaragoza Street).

Earlier, the government awarded the detailed engineering, design and construction supervision contract for the 23-kilometer Cebu BRT system to Kunhwa Engineering & Consulting Co. Ltd. The project will entail building segregated BRT bus-ways from Bulacao to Ayala, with a link to the South Road Property, a feeder service between Ayala and Talamban with signal priority, 33 stations to service 330,000 people per day in 2015, 176 buses, an area stop light control for the entire Cebu City and a central transport control room.

Once completed, the project can field 433,000 individual trips per day, resulting in savings of 25 minutes of travel time and P7.50 in fares.

JG Summit hiked profit to P17.5b in 6 months

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei reported a net income of P17.53 billion in the first six months of the year, up 31 percent from P13.43 billion year-on-year, boosted by a double-digit growth in the airline business and a significant expansion of the petrochemical business.

First-half consolidated revenues grew 4.9 percent to P119.38 billion.

JG Summit said revenues

from Cebu Air rose 12 percent to P33 billion due to an 8.7-percent increase in passenger volume, while sales from JG Petrochemicals climbed 6.8 percent to P12.97 billion on higher volume of sold polymers and exported olefins.

Revenues of real estate unit Robinsons Land Corp. rose 11 percent to P10.87 billion with the opening of three malls and three office buildings.

JG Summit’s food manufacturing unit Universal Robina Corp. registered a slight increase in revenues to P55.9 bil-

lion in the first half of the year due bigger net sales of sugar, feeds and renewable businesses.

Its banking unit registered a 14.5-percent increase in revenues to P1.62 billion because of higher interest income recognized from finance receivables.

Revenues from core investments, meanwhile,declined 32 percent in the first half of the year to P1.09 billion on lower dividends declared by PLDT Inc. Equity in net earnings of associates primarily from invest-

ments in UIC in Singapore and Manila Electric Co. also decreased to P4.03 billion in the first half of the year from P4.17 billion due to lower equity income of the power distribution firm.

First-half operating expenses increased 14.7 percent to P21.48 billion due to higher general and administrative expenses, especially in the food and airline businesses.

Operating income as a result climbed 13 percent to P28.13 billion in the first half of 2016.

Cusi sends team to assess Semirara coal operations

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Department of Energy will send its own team to look into the operations of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. in Antique following the recent pronouncement of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Environment threatened to cancel the environmental compliance certificate of Consunji-owned Semirara, the country’s biggest coal mining company.

“We wrote Semirara to explain the issues raised by DENR. We will send our technical team to assess,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Environment Secretary Regina Lopez earlier asked Semirara, Sagittarius Mines Inc. and Century Communities Corp. to explain why the government should not cancel their environmental compliance certificates.

“They will be given seven days to re-

B1

spond and if they don’t fulfill, then I will cancel the ECC,” Lopez said.

Century Communities, meanwhile, said it had not started any development despite the issuance of an ECC in 2015.

“As a responsible property development company, our business philosophy and practice has always been to include the welfare of the communities and its environment,” the company said in a statement.

“Hence, the company made a thorough and comprehensive study of the development project that focused primarily on the possible impact on the watershed and all the environs around the subject property,” it said.

Energy Undersecretary Leo Jasareno earlier cited complaints against Semirara, including massive clearing affecting the island ecosystem, degradation of water quality and siltation of the marine environment.

NISSHIN FOOD EXECUTIVE. Nisshin Food Material Co. Ltd chief operating officer Naoyuki Ishikura (middle) and Integrated Aquamarine & Agribusiness Enterprises Corp. chairman and president Renato Diaz (right) pay a courtesy call July 29, 2016 on Trade and Industry Secretary and Board of Investments cairman Ramon Lopez (left). A Japanese delegation expressed interest to do a joint venture with food processing companies in the country to produce processed food and fish products for export to Japan.

RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp. paid on Friday half of the P1-billion penalty imposed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for its involvement in the $81-million money laundering scam in February this year.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. confirmed in a text message to Manila Standard the payment of P500 million. “Yes, they paid [to the BSP] today,” he said.

Espenilla added the other half would be paid next year.

RCBC did not issue an official statement on the payment.

RCBC said earlier it would comply with Monetary Board by paying P1 billion to the Bangko Sentral. The bank said it would pay the amount in two equal tranches over a one-year period, P500 million upon approval by the Monetary Board and P500 million one year after.

Senate investigations earlier revealed that the $81-million was stolen by cyber thieves from the account of Bank of Bangladesh in Federal Reserve in New York. The illegal funds entered the Philippine financial system through a branch of RCBC on Jupiter Street in Makati City. The dirty money later ended up in local casinos and laundered by a number of individuals.

Then president and chief executive Lorenzo Tan resigned from his post at the height of the investigation. He was succeeded in June by Gil Buenaventura.

IN BRIEF LT Group raises net profit to P4.6b

LT Group Inc., the listed holding company of beer and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan, said net income in the first first six months of 2016 rose 28 percent to P4.56 billion from P3.57 billion year-on-year, due to the combined positive results of all the business segments.

LT Group said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues amounted to P29.9 billion for the period ending June 30, 2016, up 14 percent from P26.2 billion a year ago, on higher revenues in the banking, distilled spirits, beverages and property development segments.

The group’s banking segment’s net income rose 7.7 percent to P4.4 billion from P4.1 billion in the first half of 2015. LT Group’s share in the net income of the banking segment amounted to P2.5 billion from P2.3 billion in 2015.

Jenniffer B. Austria

SSS’ income down 25% in 1st 6 months

THE Social Security System said Friday net income declined 25 percent in the first semester of 2015 following pension adjustments on retirees.

SSS said in a statement it booked an income of P16.28 billion in the first six months of 2016 from P21.59 billion year-on-year.

“Our net income would have been higher if not for the P7.21 billion in pension adjustments paid to qualified retirees last June,” SSS president Conrado De Quiros Jr said.

Contributions, which are considered the lifeblood of SSS, comprised 82 percent of total SSS revenues in the first half of 2016. Nearly 90 percent of contribution collections were remitted by employed members amounting to P61.41 billion, up nine percent from P56.45 billion on year.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

B2

Business

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market falls; PhilWeb climbs

S

TOCKS declined Friday, pulled down by mining shares, after the Environment Department threatened to shut down more mining companies for alleged environmental violations.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 25 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 7,955.86. Despite Friday’s loss, the bellwether was still up 14.4 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also lost 19 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,722.82, on a value turnover of P10.1 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 116 to 78, while 40 issues were unchanged.

Nine of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by PhilWeb Corp. which rebounded 38.2 percent to P8.80, after chair-

man Roberto Ongpin announced his plan to resign and divest from the company.

Port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. jumped 10.2 percent to P74.90, while Megawide Construction Corp. added 6.8 percent to P13.76. Bloomberry Resorts Corp. climbed 3.9 percent to P6.19.

Semirara Mining and Power Corp. was the biggest loser among the most active stocks, as it tumbled 7.5 percent to P100.80, after Environment Secretary Regina Lopez warned the company might lose its permit to operate a coal mine.

Other mining companies such as Nickel Asia Corp. and Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. ended in the red.

Meanwhile, a strong lead from Wall Street gave Asian stock markets a lift Friday, after all three major US indices vaulted to new records as the oil price rebounded.

Markets were up even as economic data from China missed expectations—a disappointing sign for growth in the world’s sec-

ond largest economy.

The three-way record in the US, last seen among the leading indices in 1999, came amid strong gains in petroleum-linked shares and retailers, while European stocks also pushed higher thanks to accommodative central bank policies lending continued support to equities.

Among the performers was China’s New York-listed e-commerce behemoth Alibaba, which reported sales of 32.15 billion yuan ($4.83 billion), 59 percent higher than the level a year ago and above analyst expectations.

Oil prices were buoyed by a Saudi Arabian minister’s comments that crude producers may take action to rebalance the market, and extended their gains in Asian trade.

“Asia Pacific markets are set to finish the week on a high following strong leads from European and US investors,” Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney, said in an email commentary.

With AFP, Bloomberg

First Gen’s income rises 19% to $113m

By Alena Mae S. Flores FIRST Gen Corp. said Friday net income attributable to equity shareholders of the parent company reached $113 million in the first half, up 19 percent from $95 million in the same period last year.

“The company’s natural gas and hydro portfolios delivered higher earnings,” First Gen said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

First Gen said on a recurring basis, attributable net income in the first semester was flat at $88 million.

THE STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

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 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 124 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 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 59 2.65

AG Finance 3.39 Asia United Bank 47.7 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 118.30 Bank of PI 103.00 China Bank 38.4 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 3.85 Bright Kindle Resources 1.50 COL Financial 16.2 Eastwest Bank 19.78 I-Remit Inc. 1.94 MEDCO Holdings 0.630 Metrobank 93.2 Natl. Reinsurance Corp. 0.93 PB Bank 14.78 Phil. National Bank 61.85 Phil. Savings Bank 100 PSE Inc. 280 RCBC `A’ 32.3 Security Bank 220 Union Bank 74.00 Vantage Equities 1.5

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92

20.6 125 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 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

15.32 62.5 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 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

45.65 Agrinurture Inc. 3.3 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.83 Alsons Cons.

1.94 Asiabest Group 12.48 Cemex Holdings 11.98 Century Food 17.56 Chemphil 140.1 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 153.2 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 22.55 Concepcion 60 Crown Asia 2.26 Da Vinci Capital 5.77 Del Monte 12.78 DNL Industries Inc. 11.460 Emperador 7.29 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.89 EEI 9.44 First Gen Corp.

25 First Holdings ‘A’ 71.1 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.30 Holcim Philippines Inc. 16.00 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.68 Ionics Inc 2.350 Jollibee Foods Corp.

253.00 Mabuhay Vinyl 4.38 Macay Holdings 29.70 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.2 Maxs Group 33.2 Megawide 12.88 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 324.80 MG Holdings 0.270 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.90 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.5 Petron Corporation 11.10 Phil H2O 3.48 Phinma Corporation 11.66 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 5.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.67 Pryce Corp. `A’ 3.36 RFM Corporation 4.23 Roxas Holdings 3.77 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 224 Splash Corporation 3.04 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.156 TKC Steel Corp.

2.05 Trans-Asia Oil 2.36 Universal Robina 203.6 Victorias Milling 4.6 Vitarich Corp.

1.75 Vivant Corp.

31.00 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.29

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 911 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 6.66 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 9.66 0.0670 2.31 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 0.23 634.5 260 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3 3.52 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 3 0.030 1.23 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’ BHI Holdings Inc. Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

0.410 75.10 16.00 1.26 6.41 0.385 0.395 896.5 1002.00 8.95 12.80 6.6 6.90 0.233 1554 6.70 82.35 5.13 5.28 7.65 0.76 16.02 7.23 3.12 0.0370 1.220 1.900 84.00 693.50 1.39 200.000 0.3100 0.2150 0.290

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 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

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 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

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

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings 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.

7.860 6.53 1.30 2.590 0.265 41.050 3.27 5.13 0.620 1.01 1.000 0.170 0.640 56.95 0.810 0.158 1.09 1.92 1.18 5.17 0.126

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.46 3.31 47.7 47.65 119.00 116.00 103.30 102.90 38.4 38.3 4.00 4.00 1.50 1.41 16.48 16.1 20.85 19.82 1.96 1.93 0.640 0.610 93.25 91.5 0.9 0.88 14.9 14.7 61.85 60.50 100.7 96.2 280 278.8 32.5 32.05 215.2 205 74.10 73.75 1.5 1.49 INDUSTRIAL 46.3 45.65 3.29 3.16 0.83 0.81 1.95 1.9 12.48 12.26 11.94 11.74 17.48 16.9 136 136 155 153.2 23 22.15 60 57.1 2.26 2.21 5.82 5.6 12.86 12.62 11.480 11.000 7.55 7.29 5.99 5.87 9.69 9.26 25.1 24.75 71.1 70.8 12.60 12.08 16.10 16.00 5.7 5.64 2.360 2.320 253.20 252.80 4.7 4.2 29.50 27.00 26.85 26 34.8 32.7 14.1 12.88 325.40 324.80 0.265 0.260 5.24 4.80 3.55 3.5 11.32 11.02 3.47 3.1 11.66 11.66 6.15 5.90 1.68 1.65 3.51 3.31 4.23 4.18 3.76 3.76 224 223 3.04 3.04 0.155 0.152 2.13 2.00 2.36 2.34 205.6 196.6 4.59 4.59 1.92 1.72 31.55 31.55 1.28 1.22 HOLDING FIRMS 0.400 0.385 76.00 74.75 16.22 15.78 1.26 1.20 6.42 6.30 0.400 0.380 0.385 0.380 900 893.5 1004.00 1004.00 8.98 8.55 12.80 12.00 6.6 6.15 6.90 6.78 0.221 0.221 1556 1535 6.60 6.60 83.45 81.30 5.14 5.13 5.3 5.28 7.72 7.54 0.77 0.76 16.06 15.96 7.18 7.09 3.14 3.14 0.0360 0.0350 1.220 1.210 1.900 1.880 84.30 82.65 697.00 680.00 1.42 1.37 204.800 204.000 0.3150 0.3050 0.2150 0.2010 0.290 0.280 PROPERTY 7.890 7.830 6.60 6.60 1.31 1.27 2.630 2.550 0.285 0.275 41.250 40.850 3.27 3.22 5.15 5.13 0.63 0.610 1.02 1.02 1.010 1.000 0.171 0.166 0.650 0.630 58.75 57.4 0.820 0.810 0.158 0.158 1.10 1.08 1.95 1.85 1.21 1.18 5.24 5.08 0.125 0.118

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.33 47.7 116.60 103.30 38.3 4.00 1.41 16.2 20.6 1.96 0.630 91.5 0.9 14.8 60.50 100.7 278.8 32.5 208 73.80 1.49

-1.77 0.00 -1.44 0.29 -0.26 3.90 -6.00 0.00 4.15 1.03 0.00 -1.82 -3.23 0.14 -2.18 0.70 -0.43 0.62 -5.45 -0.27 -0.67

68,000 16,900 1,344,070 850,920 87,100 3,000 425,000 48,300 1,100,300 47,000 288,000 2,938,980 24,000 32,400 131,100 240 21,870 95,600 1,886,960 71,080 32,000

45.85 3.22 0.83 1.9 12.26 11.82 16.9 136 153.2 22.85 57.2 2.23 5.6 12.7 11.160 7.40 5.89 9.58 24.85 71 12.08 16.10 5.67 2.330 253.00 4.6 29.00 26.6 34.5 13.76 325.00 0.260 5.10 3.517092 11.32 3.47 11.66 6.15 1.67 3.42 4.19 3.76 223 3.04 0.154 2.00 2.36 199.9 4.59 1.85 31.55 1.23

0.44 -2.42 0.00 -2.06 -1.76 -1.34 -3.76 -2.93 0.00 1.33 -4.67 -1.33 -2.95 -0.63 -2.62 1.51 0.00 1.48 -0.60 -0.14 -1.79 0.63 -0.18 -0.85 0.00 5.02 -2.36 1.53 3.92 6.83 0.06 -3.70 4.08 0.49 1.98 -0.29 0.00 3.36 0.00 1.79 -0.95 -0.27 -0.45 0.00 -1.28 -2.44 0.00 -1.82 -0.22 5.71 1.77 -4.65

1,090,300 1,336,000 567,000 2,096,000 2,400 10,091,500 7,094,400 20 1,900 8,218,700 120 268,000 914,300 28,900 5,818,900 437,800 15,627,300 428,000 1,440,000 209,840 16,300 83,800 252,700 1,118,000 619,340 514,000 14,000 1,293,400 4,558,500 17,232,400 120,680 520,000 256,000 25,132,990 2,779,000 3,000 3,100 866,500 399,000 135,000 831,000 71,000 2,940 113,000 8,390,000 2,584,000 199,000 2,267,130 5,000 52,107,000 100 1,115,000

0.400 75.00 16.00 1.25 6.30 0.400 0.385 898 1004.00 8.64 12.28 6.15 6.85 0.221 1535 6.60 81.85 5.14 5.28 7.54 0.76 16.02 7.1 3.14 0.0360 1.210 1.880 84.30 685.00 1.37 204.000 0.3150 0.2130 0.285

-2.44 -0.13 0.00 -0.79 -1.72 3.90 -2.53 0.17 0.20 -3.46 -4.06 -6.82 -0.72 -5.15 -1.22 -1.49 -0.61 0.19 0.00 -1.44 0.00 0.00 -1.80 0.64 -2.70 -0.82 -1.05 0.36 -1.23 -1.44 2.00 1.61 -0.93 -1.72

2,280,000 1,667,120 5,803,100 33,000 193,400 4,390,000 1,040,000 410,390 10 9,859,300 12,031,200 96,700 97,800 640,000 220,055 3,200 2,109,760 1,000 10,100 624,000 16,000 7,602,900 62,889,000 1,000 50,400,000 35,000 259,000 182,980 380,270 2,889,000 3,980 1,510,000 1,280,000 4,120,000

7.890 6.60 1.27 2.630 0.275 41.200 3.22 5.15 0.620 1.02 1.010 0.167 0.630 58.75 0.810 0.158 1.08 1.86 1.21 5.15 0.124

0.38 1.07 -2.31 1.54 3.77 0.37 -1.53 0.39 0.00 0.99 1.00 -1.76 -1.56 3.16 0.00 0.00 -0.92 -3.13 2.54 -0.39 -1.59

85,000 1,300 2,971,000 2,432,000 280,000 8,370,900 386,000 6,900 9,730,000 7,000 123,000 22,500,000 4,426,000 1,134,970 120,000 200,000 4,711,000 51,257,000 103,000 30,939,500 43,070,000

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 4 1700 2720 8.41

1.97 35.2 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 2.58 830 1600 5.95

70.5 1.97 119.5 7 12.5 0.017

17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 8.72 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 1 15.2

6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 0.650 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

0.0098 5.45 17.24 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 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 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 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

70 525

33 500

515 8.21 12.28 1060 1047

480 5.88 6.5 997 1011

84.8

75

-1,634,328.50 -39,287,125.00 -2,800.00

6.98

0.8900

3,150.00

15

3.5

5,700.00

12.88

5.95

29,754.00

130.7

105.6

500,850.00 -56,418,442 21,479,476.00 681,740.00 -212,170.00 -12,095,905.00 6,300.00 -139,820,382.50 9,000.00 -423,280.00 -927,195.50 506,525 72,108,082.00 25,066.50 10,498,965.00 -320,090.00 -41,000.00 1,001,400.00 -23,312.00 30,022,982.00 -77,258,308.00 -226,120.00 2,240.00 85,600.00 29,971,632.00 -1,448,514.00 26,647,491.00 460,429.00 14,435,890.00 -6,980,019.50 1,203,162.00 -282,902.00 104,860.00 -52,911,326.00 44,000.00 -5,446,150.00 57,756,660.00 31,437,322.00 2,210,884.00

-4,799,152.00 -355,750.00 66,500.00 -175,990.00 -89,600.00 137,500.00 -8,320.00 -58,123,800 1,627,330.00 43,050.00 12,930,238.00 -13,170,514.00

-77,000.00 1,117,200.00 40,453,212.00 -8,985,410.00 128,095.00 -125,928,355.00 -26,962,309.00 -3,154,457.00 11,175,852.00 -3,698,594.00 7,200.00

29,440.00 5,220.00 78,498,095.00 -14,220.00 1,877,610.00 7,140.00 -253,500.00 246,660.00 8,280,735.50 29,500.00 13,696,530.00 2,420.00 -47,296,779.00 69,040.00

Close

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

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

SHARES

9,689,972

INDUSTRIAL

171,913,734

HOLDING FIRMS

174,872,525

PROPERTY

209,753,604

SERVICES

397,005,649

MINING & OIL

797,895,998

GRAND TOTAL

1,780,334,750

0.455 38.50 15.92 32.00 1.78 3.34 30.05 0.97 1.030 5.900

Low

0.455 0.450 38.00 37.80 15.64 15.1 33.00 32.10 1.78 1.76 3.39 3.3 30.25 29.20 0.98 0.95 1.060 1.020 5.950 5.860 SERVICES 2GO Group’ 7.21 7.22 7.2 ABS-CBN 50.9 52.1 50.15 APC Group, Inc. 0.600 0.610 0.590 Asian Terminals Inc. 11.3 11 11 Berjaya Phils. Inc. 5.79 5.65 5.65 Bloomberry 5.96 6.32 5.96 Boulevard Holdings 0.0950 0.0950 0.0910 Calata Corp.

2.7 2.78 2.68 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 119.5 122 119 Centro Esc. Univ.

9.99 9.99 9.8 Discovery World 2.25 2.25 2 DFNN Inc. 5.19 5.43 5.17 Easy Call “Common” 3.03 3.35 3.34 FEUI 965 941 941 Globe Telecom 2120 2140 2110 GMA Network Inc. 6.29 6.41 6.26 Golden Haven 15.42 15.86 15.30 Grand Plaza Hotel 21.80 21.80 21.80 Harbor Star 1.27 1.32 1.26 I.C.T.S.I. 67.95 79 68.55 Imperial Res. `A’ 20.60 21.00 20.00 IPeople Inc. `A’ 11.44 11.04 11.02 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.0086 0.0086 0.0086 IPM Holdings 9.35 9.30 9.15 Island Info 0.315 0.320 0.310 ISM Communications 1.5100 1.5300 1.4200 Jackstones 3.04 3.19 3.02 LBC Express 13.16 13.1 12.9 Leisure & Resorts 6.00 6.09 5.90 Liberty Telecom 2.86 2.90 2.75 Lorenzo Shipping 1.03 1.03 1.03 Macroasia Corp.

2.35 2.40 2.00 Manila Bulletin 0.580 0.600 0.570 Melco Crown 3.6 3.82 3.53 Metro Retail 5.39 5.39 5.15 NOW Corp.

4.050 4.170 3.880 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 11.48 11.6 11.38 PAL Holdings Inc. 6.16 6.16 5.90 Paxys Inc. 2.65 2.65 2.65 Phil. Seven Corp.

132.00 135.00 132.00 Philweb.Com Inc. 6.37 9.49 7.10 PLDT Common 1830.00 1885.00 1858.00 PremiereHorizon 0.440 0.450 0.435 Premium Leisure 1.050 1.050 1.020 Puregold 45.20 46.00 44.10 Robinsons RTL 86.50 86.50 84.80 SBS Phil. Corp.

6.54 6.59 6.37 SSI Group 3.38 3.37 3.23 STI Holdings 0.610 0.610 0.600 Transpacific Broadcast 1.86 1.86 1.84 Travellers 3.45 3.49 3.4 Waterfront Phils.

0.325 0.350 0.325 Yehey 6.800 6.830 6.500 MINING & OIL Abra Mining 0.0040 0.0040 0.0040 Apex `A’ 3.21 3.29 3.01 Atlas Cons. `A’ 3.97 4.00 3.92 Benguet Corp `B’ 7.0000 6.9900 6.5000 Century Peak Metals Hldgs0.59 0.59 0.56 Coal Asia 0.450 0.450 0.415 Dizon 8.07 8.16 8.07 Ferronickel 0.850 0.860 0.820 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.280 0.280 0.275 Lepanto `A’ 0.204 0.208 0.188 Lepanto `B’ 0.230 0.220 0.210 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 Manila Mining `B’ 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 1.67 1.74 1.6 Nickelasia 5.5 5.5 5.15 Nihao Mineral Resources 2.79 2.8 2.64 Oriental Peninsula Res. 0.9200 0.9300 0.9000 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0110 0.0120 0.0120 Philex `A’ 8.44 8.50 8.06 PhilexPetroleum 3.63 3.74 3.64 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.0120 0.0130 0.0120 Semirara Corp.

109.00 106.00 98.00 TA Petroleum 3.75 3.76 3.7 United Paragon 0.0097 0.0099 0.0097 PREFERRED ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 51 51 50 Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ 550 545 545 DD Pref 104 104.6 104 GLOBE PREF P 507 510 510 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.09 6.09 6.08 Leisure and Resort 1.03 1.03 1.03 PCOR-Preferred A 1040 1040 1040 PF Pref 2 1022 1023 1022 PNX PREF 3A 108.3 110.8 110.8 SMC Preferred C 81.5 80.5 80.3 SMC Preferred E 79 79 79 SMC Preferred H 77.45 77.45 77.45 SMC Preferred I 77.5 77.5 77.5 WARRANTS & BONDS LR Warrant 2.250 2.300 2.180 SME Alterra Capital 5.19 5.94 5.12 Makati Fin. Corp.

3.8 3.89 3.78 Italpinas 5.07 5.18 5.07 Xurpas 16.68 17.3 16.68 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS First Metro ETF 131.1 131.8 130.8

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

High

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.450 37.80 15.18 32.30 1.78 3.35 29.45 0.95 1.030 5.910

-1.10 -1.82 -4.65 0.94 0.00 0.30 -2.00 -2.06 0.00 0.17

360,000 1,600 213,800 1,221,700 267,000 46,000 10,531,000 1,336,000 428,000 3,236,600

90,000.00

7.2 50.2 0.600 11 5.65 6.19 0.0930 2.72 120 9.8 2.1 5.28 3.34 941 2130 6.39 15.86 21.80 1.32 74.9 20.50 11.02 0.0086 9.30 0.310 1.4400 3.07 12.9 6.00 2.90 1.03 2.40 0.570 3.68 5.15 3.910 11.38 6.10 2.65 135.00 8.80 1876.00 0.450 1.020 44.10 86.00 6.40 3.25 0.610 1.84 3.45 0.330 6.520

-0.14 -1.38 0.00 -2.65 -2.42 3.86 -2.11 0.74 0.42 -1.90 -6.67 1.73 10.23 -2.49 0.47 1.59 2.85 0.00 3.94 10.23 -0.49 -3.67 0.00 -0.53 -1.59 -4.64 0.99 -1.98 0.00 1.40 0.00 2.13 -1.72 2.22 -4.45 -3.46 -0.87 -0.97 0.00 2.27 38.15 2.51 2.27 -2.86 -2.43 -0.58 -2.14 -3.85 0.00 -1.08 0.00 1.54 -4.12

36,100 103,810 111,000 772,600 11,600 32,087,200 146,770,000 2,173,000 704,330 500 27,000 420,600 11,000 100 191,315 226,300 161,100 300 872,000 14,487,060 60,600 8,100 42,000,000 672,900 22,030,000 3,495,000 281,000 4,600 232,900 118,000 22,000 268,000 88,000 20,913,000 7,358,500 16,015,000 74,100 85,700 2,000 130 20,577,700 89,340 3,240,000 26,497,000 4,259,200 198,710 1,328,000 11,776,000 9,338,000 16,000 1,765,000 610,000 86,500

0.0040 3.26 3.93 6.9900 0.57 0.420 8.07 0.840 0.275 0.192 0.210 0.0110 0.0120 1.7 5.28 2.65 0.9200 0.0120 8.50 3.90 0.0130 100.80 3.7 0.0099

0.00 1.56 -1.01 -0.14 -3.39 -6.67 0.00 -1.18 -1.79 -5.88 -8.70 0.00 0.00 1.80 -4.00 -5.02 0.00 9.09 0.71 7.44 8.33 -7.52 -1.33 2.06

378,000,000 813,000 186,000 1,900 1,923,000 4,350,000 10,500 11,385,000 530,000 63,650,000 88,600,000 176,900,000 89,100,000 847,000 7,877,600 397,000 823,000 2,700,000 4,814,400 3,346,000 24,800,000 3,902,800 111,000 12,000,000

50.1 545 104.5 510 6.09 1.03 1040 1022 110.8 80.3 79 77.45 77.5

-1.76 -0.91 0.48 0.59 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.31 -1.47 0.00 0.00 0.00

249,390 160 12,090 1,000 71,800 1,963,000 5 6,750 100 10,000 25,600 10,000 41,540

2.230

-0.89

798,000

5.94 3.89 5.18 16.8

14.45 2.37 2.17 0.72

17,492,100 269,938.00 4,000 488,500 86,700.00 1,215,900 -5,307,688.00

131

-0.08

2,620

90,000.00 15,096,195.00 -58,585,315.00 4,599,597.00

8,498,600.00 -71,554,074.00 59,410.00 -4,692,885.00 68,546.00 10,050.00 48,150,000.00 126.00 205,287,717.00

40,950.00 -4,110.00 47,430.00 749,925

-22,217,030.00 -14,018,864.00 4,457,270.00

-4,611,717.00 62,502,475.00 -13,965,040.00 19,031,955.00 -6,762,196.00 57,823.00 25,190,180.00 3,161,550.00 -558,980.00

560,000.00 -98,270.00 29,050.00 -8,887.00 3,611,240.00 -626,000.00

-6,715,347.00 -534,000.00 -276,400.00 -5,476,752.00 -1,075,620.00 -22,100.00 -45,708,666.00

5,709,379.00 -51,000.00 -426,300.00 -309,000.00

17,860.00

1,309.00

VALUE 1,835.56 (down) 28.45 979,443,421.00 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 12,253.10 (down) 40.41 2,061,559,272.78 HOLDING FIRMS 7,784.13 (down) 62.11 2,579,954,653.61 PROPERTY 3,645.74 (down) 17.23 1,590.89 (up) 36.92 1,152,265,712.04 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,949.77 (down) 433.75 2,680,097,782.88 PSEI 7,955.86 (down) 25.49 530,729,296.297 All Shares Index 4,722.82 (down) 19.59 10,104,429,588.71 Gainers: 78; Losers: 116; Unchanged: 40; Total: 234

First Gen said gas and hydro platforms benefited from higher dispatch, but this was offset by lower contributions from affiliate Energy Development Corp. mainly because of lower spot market prices.

The parent company also incurred higher interest expense as a result of a new $200-million term loan it obtained in September 2015.

First Gen owns and operates the 1,000-megawatt Sta. Rita and 500-MW San Lorenzo natural gas plants in Batangas which utilizes natural gas from Malampaya field in northwest Palawan.

The company said consolidated revenues from the sale of electricity declined to $804 million in January to June from $965 million a year ago.

First Gas plants accounted for $442 million or 55 percent of First Gen’s total consolidated revenues in the six-month period. First Gas plants’ revenues declined 25 percent from $588 million in the same period last year, on lower fuel prices.

Natural gas prices are indexed to world oil prices which have been falling since late 2014.

Low fuel prices were partially offset by the higher combined dispatch of the gas plants at 84 percent in the first semester compared to 80 percent in the same period in 2015.

PNB earned P4.3b in first half

By Julito G. Rada PHILIPPINE National Bank, the country’s fifth-largest lender in terms of assets, said net income in the first half climbed 20 percent to P4.3 billion from P3.6 billion a year ago, on higher loans and deposits.

PNB said in a statement the bank attributed the strong performance in the first six months to the 24-percent increase in operating income.

“Growth in core revenues continued to be driven by net interest income which rose by 14 percent as the bank expanded its loan portfolio by 15 percent year-on-year due to increases in corporate and commercial/SME lending. The bank continued to benefit from favorable market conditions as trading and foreign exchange gains grew by 66-percent during the period,” it said.

It said with the sustained efforts to reduce non-earning assets, net gains from sale of foreclosed assets also grew significantly.

Miscellaneous income was relatively unchanged compared to previous year but continued to augment the bank’s revenues primarily from the collection of non-performing assets and proceeds from the disposal of the bank’s 51-percent stake in its life insurance subsidiary.

Total consolidated resources increased 11 percent to P712.4 billion from a year-ago level. The bank continued to improve its asset quality as net non-performing loans ratio decreased to 0.19 percent from 0.30 percent in June 2015.

PNB concluded the sale of its 51-percent ownership in life insurance subsidiary PNB Life Insurance Inc. to Allianz SE, one of the leading global financial services companies, in June. The acquisition marked Allianz SE’s entry into a fast-growing insurance market with an established distribution network through PNB and enhanced the group’s position in Asia Pacific.

Business

Manila

B3

Standard

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

TODAY

CebuPac’s income hits P7.7b

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE operator of Cebu Pacific said Friday net profit climbed 48 percent in the first half from a year ago, on cheaper jet fuel prices and higher passenger traffic.

Cebu Air Inc. said it posted a net income of P7.68 billion in January to June, up from P5.2 billion in the same period last year.

Revenues rose 12.3 percent in the first six months to P33.09 billion from P29.51 billion in the same period last year.

Passenger revenues grew 10.8

percent to P25.28 billion from P22.81 billion.

The airline attributed the higher revenues to the 8.7-percent increase in passenger volume to 10.025 million from 9.222 million in 2015, driven by the increased number of flights in 2016.

Number of flights went up

by 0.9 percent year-on-year as the group added more aircraft to its fleet. The number of aircraft increased from 55 to 57 as of endJune.

Cargo revenues also grew 6.2 percent to P1.7 billion from P1.6 billion last year.

Flying operations expenses went down by 10.9 percent to P9.64 billion from P10.81 billion last year, pulled down by the 15.2-percent decline in aviation fuel expenses to P7.76 billion from P9.16 billion last year.

Jet fuel pries dropped to $48.22 per barrel in the first six months from $71.87 a barrel in the same period last year.

The drop in jet fuel prices was partially offset by the weakening of the peso against the US dollar.

Cebu Pacific recently ordered Rolls-Royce

Trent 700 engines to power its two new Airbus A330 aircraft. The airline already operates six of the aircraft, all powered by the Trent 700.

Trent 700 delivers the best fuel burn, emissions and noise performance, resulting in market leadership on the aircraft.

The engine has won more than 70 percent of new orders over the last four years and accounts for a similar percentage on future A330 deliveries. More than 1,600 Trent 700s are now in service or on firm order.

“We have great experience of the Trent 700 in service and we look forward to its continuous delivery of outstanding economics and performance for our operations,” said Cebu Pacific president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei.

“We are honored that Cebu Pacific has once again selected us to power this important element of the Cebu Pacific fleet,” said Ewen McDonald, Rolls-Royce senior vice president for customers – civil aerospace.

The airline has placed a firm order with Airbus for two A330-300s. The aircraft will join CEB’s existing fleet of six A330s flying on long haul and selected regional and domestic routes.

CEB currently operates 57-strong fleet comprised of seven Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, six Airbus A330, and eight ATR 72500 aircraft.

Between 2016 and 2021, CEB expects delivery of 32 Airbus A321neo, two Airbus A330, and 16 ATR 72-600 aircraft. Its extensive network spans Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the US.

LBC revisits plan to sell shares in fourth quarter

By Jenniffer B. Austria

NUVOLAND-RE/MAX PARTNERSHIP. Boutique developer Nuvoland Philippines Inc. forms a strategic alliance with Re/Max Premier to bolster the property developer’s niche in the Philippine real estate sector. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (front row, from left) Nuvoland president Joji Cullado, chairman Oscar Orbos, chairman emeritus Menardo Jimenez, Re/Max Premier executives Jun Camcam, Glenn Nitafan and Rose Espina. With them are (second row, from left) Nuvoland board directors Joel Jimenez, Laurie Jimenez-Westfall, Kevin Belmonte and VG Martinez, with Rob Nitafan of Re/Max.

DoF to maintain senior citizens’ tax privileges

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Finance Department said Friday it will not remove the tax exemptions enjoyed by senior citizens and persons with disability amid its goal to broaden the value added tax base.

Finance spokesman Paola Alvarez told reporters the agency would retain the 20-percent and 12-percent discount rates for senior citizens and PWDs, respectively.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said earlier the government would review the incentive program that cost the government at least P144 billion in tax perks and holidays to businesses.

“This administration is committed to rationalizing tax incentives,” Dominguez said.

“Government provides at least P144 billion in income tax perks and tax holidays.

A truly serious study needs to be done about the relevance of many of those tax perks,” he said.

Alvarez said tax incentives for senior citizens and PWDs would not be affected. “We will just broaden the tax base,” she said.

The Finance Department also said it planned to adjust the excise tax on fuel from the current P4.35 to P10 per liter. It also plans to slap excise tax on sweetened beverage to offset possible loses from the planned reduction of individual income and corporate tax rates.

Alvarez said Finance officials already met with Quirino Rep. Dakila Cua, chairman of House ways and means committee, to discuss possible tweaks in VAT exemptions and the broadening of the tax base.

The department said it would submit a tax reform package to the House of Representatives in September but the package would

not include an increase in the current 12-percent VAT rate.

Dominguez said he was “inclined against” the proposal to increase the VAT rate and proposed to expand the collection efficiency of the Bureau of Internal Revenue instead.

“There has been a proposal to increase the VAT rate to 14 percent [from the current 12 percent] to offset the income and corporate rate cut. I am inclined Republic of the Philippines against that proposal,” OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Dominguez said.

COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION “By some estimates, we could double VAT collecNOTICE TO THE PUBLIC tions simply by being more efficient Notice is hereby given to the public that the Commission on Higher in collecting it,” Education (CHED) will conduct Public Consultations on the proposed Dominguez said.

ROBINSONS LAND’S AWARDS. Robinsons Malls, the commercial centers unit of Robinsons Land Corp., garners three

recognitions from the prestigious The Philippine Quill Awards 2015. Shown during the awarding ceremony at the Grand Ballroom of Marriott Hotel Manila in Pasay City are (from left) Robinsons Malls digital marketing manager Luzelle Artillero, operations technical planning head Ramil Cheng, national events manager Carla Tolentino, RLC commercial centers division senior vice president Arlene Magtibay, Robinsons Malls marketing communications director Eunice Gonzales, senior digital marketing officer Denie Ortega, national ads and promo manager Veronica Garrovillo, operations director for VisMin malls Joseph Sian, Robinsons Place Bacolod Group manager Christine Tomas and Robinsons Malls operations director for Luzon Irving Wu.

Apex’s profit increases 60% to P133m GOLD and copper producer Apex Mining Co. Inc. said Friday net income in the first half jumped 60 percent to P133 million from P82 million posted in the same period last year, as its Maco mine in Compostela Valley posted record production.

Apex Mining said in a statement consolidated net income in the second quarter reached P94 million, a turnaround from a net loss of P19 million a year earlier.

Apex Mining said it milled 203,476 tons of ore in the second quarter, or 34 percent more than 152,136 tons of ore milled in 2015. This translated into an average of 1,400 tons of ore a day in the second quarter.

“The improved milling throughput is a result of the company’s continu-

ing efforts to attain its objective of milling at the rate of 1,500 tons per day by the early part of the second half of 2016,” Apex Mining said.

“This objective was, however, achieved earlier at the end of June 2016 when the Maco mill actually run at the rate of 1,525 tonnes that day,” it said.

Apex Mining said as metal prices began to recover towards the second quarter, the gold price for the Maco mine’s first-half period averaged $1,247 per ounce, or 3 percent higher than the average of $1,215 per ounce last year.

The silver price remained at the same level as last year at $17 per ounce.

“The general weakening of the US dollar against gold and the Brit-

COURIER operator LBC Express Holdings Inc. said Friday it will revive a plan for a follow-on offering to raise more than P800 million.

LBC Holdings chief risk officer Enrique Rey said in a news briefing the company planned to push through with the share sale either by the fourth quarter this year or in the first half of 2017.

“The soonest we can do it would probably be in fourth quarter. But first half of next year would sound more reasonable,” Rey said.

LBC Holdings earlier planned to raise P829 million from the sale of 69.1 million shares priced at P12.40 apiece.

Rey said the amount to be raised through the follow-on offering could be higher this time, as the company managed to grow its business since the original application for a follow-on offering was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2015.

LBC Holdings said net income jumped 43 percent in the first half to P413.8 million from a year ago, on the back of the strong growth in the volume of its logistics business and higher

air cargo rates.

Higher revenues from its logistics business from both retail and corporate sales boosted service revenues by 10.5 percent to P4.13 billion from P3.74 billion.

Revenues from the logistics business grew 16.1 percent to P3.53 billion from P3.04 billion, due to higher volume and rate of air cargo services rendered.

The company expanded its footprint with 24 new branches in the Philippines and one branch in the Middle East, translating into higher volume of its cargo forwarding services.

The freight forwarder also managed to contain the growth of cost of services at 6.3 percent to P2.71 billion in the first half from P2.55 billion in the same period last year.

LBC Holdings said it benefitted from favorable freight rates of major carriers, increased utilization of flights and efficient use of sea carriers.

LBC Holdings said profit in the second quarter went up by 5.8 percent to P196.46 million from P185.64 million in the same quarter last year. Service revenues rose 8.9 percent to P2.07 billion in the second quarter from P1.9 billion a year ago.

ish vote to exit the European Union provided the impetus for the gold price to move favorably for the gold producers,” Apex Mining president and chief executive Walter Brown said.

“While we have seen the gold price rise to $1,375 per ounce as its highest level in the past months or so, it still has yet to break the $1,400 resistance level. We would be pleased if the metal price would move up, nevertheless at this level, we expect the company’s earnings for the year to be significantly higher than the income reported for the whole of last year,” he said.

Share price of Apex Mining rose 1.6 percent to P3.26 Friday.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Revised Policies, Standards and Guidelines for the Implementation of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation (ETEEAP) for Undergraduate Degree Programs on the following dates and venues: Zonal Consultations Dates Venues CHED Auditorium Luzon: nd Regions I, II, III, IV-A, September 1, 2016 2 Floor HEDC Building, IV-B, V, CAR, and NCR 9:00 a.m. –12:00 C. P. Garcia Avenue, noon Diliman, Quezon City Visayas: Regions VI, VII, VIII and NIR September 30, 2016 Davao City 9:00 a.m. –12:00 (Venue will be Mindanao: noon announced later) Regions IX, X, XI, XII, and CARAGA

Relative to this, presidents/heads/representatives of higher education institutions (HEIs) offering and those intending to offer courses through ETEEAP, representatives from concerned government agencies, industry, professional organization and other stakeholders and CHED Regional Office Directors and Supervisors-in-Charge of the program are enjoined to attend the said hearing/ consultation.

A copy of the proposed PSG for ETEEAP will no longer be provided during the public hearings/consultations but may be downloaded from the CHED website (www.ched.gov.ph click issuances).

Funds for travel and other incidental expenses of the CHEDRO representatives will be transferred to their respective offices while travel and other expenses of participants coming from state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local colleges and universities (LUCs) shall be charged against local funds subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Participants from private HEIs and other stakeholders shall have to make arrangements on their travel expenses with their respective institutions. Food during the public consultations shall be provided by CHED. To ascertain proper logistical preparation, only one (1) representative per institution is allowed to attend this activity.

The CHEDROs are requested to submit actual confirmation of participants from their respective regions to the CHED-Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD) not later than five (5) days before the date of public hearings/consultations. For confirmation or inquiries, you may contact the Non-Conventional Higher Education Division (NHD) at Telephone Nos. (02) 441-1231/ (02) 709-4255 or email nhd.ched2015@ gmail.com.

PATRICIA B. LICUANAN, Ph.D. Chairperson (MS-AUG. 13, 2016)

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

B4

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

Business

MACY’S STRUGGLES.

NEW YORK, NY— People walk past Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square, August 11, 2016 in New York City. On Thursday, Macy’s announced plans to close 100 stores nationwide. The move comes as conventional retailers struggle to remake themselves in response to the growth of Amazon and other online stores that have grabbed market share. AFP

China’s retail sales growth slows down B

EIJING―China’s retail sales growth slowed sharply in July, government statistics showed Friday, missing expectations in a disappointing sign for the world’s secondlargest economy as authorities look to consumer demand to push growth.

Retail sales rose 10.2 percent in the month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, a marked slowdown from June’s 10.6 percent increase and below the median forecast of 10.5 percent in a Bloomberg News poll of economists.

Beijing is looking to retool the economy from a reliance on investment spending and exports to one driven more by consumer demand, but the transition is proving bumpy and gross domestic product

growth is slowing.

China is a key driver of the world economy but grew at its slowest rate in a quarter of a century last year, and has decelerated further since then.

Industrial output in the Asian giant rose 6.0 percent in July over the year before, the NBS said, while fixed asset investment, a gauge of infrastructure spending, rose 8.1 percent in the first seven months of the year.

Those figures also missed expectations of 6.2 percent and

8.9 percent respectively.

Analysts were disappointed.

Zhao Yang of Nomura called the figures an “across-the-board slowdown” that showed more weakness than expected. The investment figures were consistent with a deep contraction in imports that “points to sluggish domestic investment demand”.

“Overall, we think growth momentum continued to lose steam, which was possibly exaggerated by the flooding,” he added.

Looking ahead, factory output will face further downward pressures due to efforts to cut overcapacity, analysts with ANZ Research said in a note.

Industrial production “may further dampen” this quarter, they added, as a result of flooding around the Yangtze River

and suspended factory production in Zhejiang province, one of China’s most developed areas, due to a forthcoming G20 summit in Hangzhou.

The NBS said in a statement China’s economy was “basically steady” in July but said that “serious disasters” from flooding and high temperatures in some parts of the country caused some indicators to slow.

“However, overall economic development kept performing in a proper range with steady pace, as a result of stable employment and prices, deepened supply-side structural reform and accumulated new impetus,” it said.

China should “unswervingly advance” supply-side structural reform and expand aggregate demand, it added. AFP

Oil rises on output cut hopes SINGAPORE―Crude prices rose in Asia Friday, extending overnight gains after Saudi Arabia’s oil minister hinted producers could agree to limit production.

Rumors have been circulating that global producers are mulling a deal to freeze output to help stabilize the market.

Prices entered a “bear” market last week, falling more than 20 percent and closing below $40 a barrel for the first time since April.

Khalid al-Falih was reported as saying Thursday that an informal meeting of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries countries next month would be the occasion for producers to discuss “any possible action.”

Prices soared more than four percent Thursday in reaction to the minister’s comments, which were seen as a positive development in a market grappling with a supply glut.

“Oil traders were spurred into action” by the comments, said Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Markets Singapore. AFP

Malaysia’s economy grows slower by 4% KUALA LUMPUR―Malaysia’s economic growth eased in the second quarter, the central bank said Friday, attributing the slowdown to a decline in exports amid subdued global demand.

The economy grew 4.0 percent year-on-year in the April to June period, compared with 4.2 percent in the first quarter and 4.9 percent in the second quarter of 2015.

It is Malaysia’s slowest rate of expansion since a 1.1 percent contraction in the third quarter of 2009 during the global financial crisis.

“Despite the stronger expansion in domestic demand, growth was weighed down by the continued decline in net exports,” Bank Negara said.

Energy-exporting Malaysia has the third-largest economy in Southeast Asia, but has been grappling with falling oil prices and weak overseas demand―denting revenues and putting severe pressure on the ringgit.

The country has also been rocked by a massive financial scandal amid allegations that billions of dollars were stolen from a state investment fund founded and overseen by the Prime Minister.

In July, Malaysia unexpectedly cut interest rates for the first time in seven years.

The decision to slash borrowing costs by 25 basis points to 3.00 percent follows similar moves by Singapore and Indonesia and comes as major central banks around the world look to ease monetary policy to kickstart growth.

Governor Muhammad Ibrahim told reporters that the ringgit would continue to face volatility given global uncertainties, but Malaysia’s “sound economic fundamentals” would provide medium-term support.

The central bank said growth of the economy was expected to be 4.0 to 4.5 percent for 2016―its slowest rate in seven years. AFP

Switzerland loses luster as haven as rich clients turn to other cities SWITZERLAND’S importance as a private banking hub will shrink after the country increased its tax transparency, according to Indian billionaire Gopichand Hinduja, one of four brothers who control the family’s Hinduja Group conglomerate.

The world’s richest people are instead turning to countries like Dubai, Qatar and Singapore to house their assets as Switzerland loses its allure as a haven, the 76-year-old London-based investor said.

“People are finding new havens,” Hinduja said in a July 22 interview at his office near Buckingham Palace. “I don’t think Switzerland can maintain its importance in banking.”

Tax probes by the US, France and Germany and a new system of bank-data exchange between governments have scuppered the traditional “no-questions-asked” approach by Swiss banks to serving rich clients living abroad. North American and European banks are quitting Geneva and Zurich as companies battle with the loss of financial secrecy, the strong Swiss franc and pressure on profitability from low interest rates and tougher regulatory demands.

Family structure Hinduja is one of four billionaire brothers who control Hinduja Group, a closely-held industrial conglomerate with interests in cars, finance, media and energy on five continents.

Hinduja Group’s assets are owned by family members under

a structure guided by the principal that “everything belongs to everyone and nothing belongs to anyone,” according to the company’s website. Together, the family has a net worth of $14.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Srichand Hinduja, one of the brothers, is the founder and chairman of Hinduja Bank Switzerland, which manages 2.3 billion Swiss francs ($2.3 billion) of assets, according to the company’s 2015 annual report. Their younger brother, Prakash, is also a member of the board of directors, according to the report, and lists the luxury Geneva suburb of Cologny as his place of origin on the Swiss companies register.

“GP Hinduja is neither a shareholder, nor has any direct involvement with Hinduja Bank (Switzerland) Limited, which in no way shares his view,” the bank’s attorneys at M Law LLP wrote in an Aug. 6 letter to Bloomberg. “Mr GP Hinduja was speaking in a personal capacity only, and his views do not represent those of Hinduja Bank (Switzerland) Limited.”

Banks in the country are investing in subsidiaries in European countries to service customers locally as Switzerland’s allure fades.

Mobile money “People now want to be more mobile with their money,” Boris Collardi, the chief executive officer of Julius Baer Group Ltd., the country’s third-largest wealth

manager, said in a telephone interview on July 25. “They want to be more free, they don’t mind paying taxes.”

Gopichand Hinduja, who has lived in London for more than 30 years, said he’s not worried about the long-term effect of Brexit on property values in prime areas of the city. The weak pound and cautious consumer sentiment has made it the right time to buy and the group will be looking to acquire distressed assets, he said.

London property The family’s London real estate assets are valued at more than $1.2 billion, according to the billionaires index. They include two residences on Carlton House Terrace totaling 100,000 square feet (9,290 square meters) that once served as the offices of the Crown Estate, the property company that generates income for Queen Elizabeth II. In March, Hinduja Group bought the Old War Office, the former administrative headquarters of the British army, for 350 million pounds ($459.2 million) with plans to turn it into a luxury hotel. The firm has chosen an operator for the hotel, Hinduja said in the interview, declining to comment further.

“People from the Middle East, the Gulf and other places will start coming in to invest because of weak sterling,” the billionaire said. “No one invests in real estate for the short term.”

Bloomberg

Germany’s GDP expanded in Q2 FRANKFURT,Germany―Expanding exports and domestic consumption pushed Germany’s economy―Europe’s biggest―to grow slightly faster than expected between April and June, preliminary data showed on Friday.

With a 0.4 percent increase in calendar- and seasonally-adjusted terms, gross domestic product grew slightly slower than the previous quarter’s 0.7 percent, a statement from federal statistics office Destatis said.

That was twice as fast as analysts surveyed by Factset had predicted.

“Compared with the previous quarter, positive impulses came from the trade surplus. Preliminary estimates showed exports increased compared with the first quarter of 2016,” the statisticians said.

“Private consumption spending and state consumption spending also bolstered growth,” the statement went on.

Compared with the same period in 2015, the economy showed growth of 3.1 percent―“stronger than at any time in the past five years,” Destatis said.

But there were some weaker spots in the overall picture.

“Growth was slowed by weak net investment, especially in facilities and construction, where less was invested after a strong first quarter,” the statisticians said.

ING Diba bank’s Carsten Brzeski said “the current recovery is clearly running on its very last leg,” pointing to weak investments which he argues are unlikely to return to healthy levels

given the shock of the UK’s vote to quite the European Union, as well as fears of a wider global slowdown.

Domestic consumption alone without investment will not be able to maintain growth indefinitely, Brzeski said.

But Holger Schmieding, an analyst at Berenberg bank, said: “Germany’s economic position continues to look strong.”

He pointed to “solid domestic fundamentals, a buoyant labor market, rising real incomes, a modest fiscal stimulus and excellent financing conditions,” which he believes would help Germany weather the fallout from Brexit.

Friday’s data are only preliminary, with a full GDP reading and detailed breakdown to be published on August 24. AFP

Fresnedi provides livelihood aid to Munti fishers THE local government of Muntinlupa is providing livelihood assistance to fishermen in the wake of the dismantling of illegal private fishpens in the Laguna Lake by the environment department.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi has ordered the Muntinlupa City Lake Management Office and Department of AgricultureExtension Services Office to determine the needed intervention for fishermen in coastal barangays who will be affected by the dismantling.

In coordination with the Laguna Lake Development Authority and Fisheries Aquatic Resources & Management Council, the local government will provide gillnet (pante) and tubo for fishing shrimps and other types of fish. The housewives of fisher folks are also set to undergo training in food processing as an additional livelihood for their family subsistence.

Muntinlupa City periodically distributes fingerlings to local associations of fishermen whose members come from Tunasan, Poblacion, Putatan, Bayanan, Alabang, Cupang, Buli and Sucat, all situated in Laguna Bay shoreline.

Fingerlings distributed are being extracted in government-owned fish hatchery in Bayanan.

The city government also organizes activities for welfare of fishermen. Last July 30, 150 fisher folks and fishing enthusiasts joined the MJRF Fishing Competition at Jamboree Lake, NBP Reservation, Poblacion.

Muntinlupa City also fully supports the national government’s plans to make Laguna Lake an eco-tourism zone.

The local government has been conducting lake seeding activities and other intervention programs to improve the quality of the water in the lake. It has consulted private companies regarding the rehabilitation and protection of the lake.

The Fresnedi administration vows to extend assistance to local fishermen and to support the national government’s rehabilitation of the Laguna Lake.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

P25-b reclamation project seeks Neda, PRA okay

By Othel V. Campos KEEPING COOL. An ambulant

vendor sells native hats especially to foreign tourists who visit the Manila Cathedral in intramuros, Manila. Ey Acasio

BON VOYAGE.

Batangasbased shipping firm Starlite Ferries Inc. recently launched its new roll on-roll off vessel M/V Starlite Saturn at the Batangas port.

Manny Palmero

A

FTER two years, the proposed Malaysianled P25-billion reclamation project in Davao City has still to get the approval of the Philippine Reclamation Authority and the National Economic Development Authority.

Davao City Investment Promotion Center head Ivan Cortez said project proponent Mercury Group of Malaysia is seeking a meeting with Mayor Sara Duterte to thresh out the feasibility of the project.

“This project was approved by then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in 2014. We feel that this is important since it will improve downtown Davao and will generate more investments as development sets in,” Cortez said in a forum with the Makati Business Council and the USAsean Business Council (US-ABC) held Thursday at Shang at The Fort.

The proposal has been pending for the last two years after failing to get the green light from the PRA and the Neda.

Cortez said the project cost of P25 billion covers only the reclamation and the Malaysian investors are still looking for a local partner “cognizant of our limitations when it comes to foreign ownership.”

The Investment Center has yet to estimate the development costs after reclamation.

The first phase of the project is estimated to reclaim part of the Davao Gulf and the Davao River where at least 3,000 households of illegal settlers are residing.

Part of the project is to relocate the informal settlers to an area “not far from their source of income.”

“The illegal settlers have already occupied the shoreline by building houses on stilts,” said Cortez.

He added that a group of Korean investors have expressed interest in doing reclamation work on the two rivers straddling both sides of the Davao Gulf.

The Mindanao Business Council has made a pitch to members of the US-ABC to consider Mindanao as an important investment destination in the Philippines.

Investment opportunities in Mindanao are mostly agriculture-based, agro-industrial, real estate and business process management.

Aklan ex-mayor gets 14 years for media killing A CEBU City regional trial court has meted a jail term of up to 14 years on a former mayor of Lezo town in Aklan Province for killing a broadcaster in 2004.

Cebu City RTC Branch 16 Presiding Judge Sylva Paderanga found Alfredo Arcenio guilty of homicide for shooting to death Bombo Radyo broadcaster Herson “Boy” Hinolan.

“Under the obtaining circumstances, this court finds that the prosecution was able to amply establish and prove the guilt of the accused of the crime of homicide beyond reasonable doubt,” read Paderanga’s 26-page decision promulgated on Wednesday.

Paderanga sentenced Arcenio from eight to 14 years in jail and ordered him to pay the victim’s family P187, 761 in damages.

Arcenio, who declined to be interviewed after the sentence was handed down, was escorted by jail guards back to his detention cell.

“Justice has been served. We wished it would be a murder conviction, but we’re happy with the court’s decision,” Aphrodite Hinolan, the broadcaster’s widow, said.

She said her husband, who was shot dead at 10:45 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2004 near a carnival on Mabini St. in Kalibo, Aklan, would have been happy about the decision.

The widow also expressed her gratitude to Assistant Cebu City Prosecutors Gandhi Truya and Hazel Valdez for successfully prosecuting the case.

Paderanga tried the murder case against Arcenio after the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the case from the Aklan trial court to Cebu in 2008. PNA

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Bulacan solon wants PhilHealth coverage of drug treatment A BULACAN lawmaker has filed a bill seeking Philippine Health Insurance Corp. coverage of drug rehabilitation.

“We have to have a more practical program to support the war against drug addiction,” Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, author of House Bill 1642, stressed.

HB 1642 is entitled “An Act providing for affordable drug rehabilitation treatment for. (PHIC) beneficiaries, further amending Republic Act No. 7875 as amended.”

The measure states that “the State must encourage more drug dependents to undergo treatment and rehabilitation at low-cost drug rehabilitation centers.”

Villarica cited a 2009 survey which showed that only 2,000 of the 1.7-mil-

lion drug dependents underwent treatment and rehabilitation because expensive rehabilitation costs discouraged families of drug dependents from having them treated.

“My proposal seeks to address this concern by mandating PhilHealth to cover its beneficiaries who are drug dependents who need treatment and rehabilitation at an accredited health care provider at an affordable cost,” Villarica said.

Her initiative is in accordance with Republic Act 7875, or An Act Instituting a National Health Insurance Program for all Filipinos and Establishing the Philippine Health Insurance corporation as amended by RA 9241, which included drug abuse and dependency

treatment among the personal services covered.

HB 1642 defines “drug dependent” as “a person exhibiting a cluster of physiological behavior and cognitive phenomena or variable intensity, in which the use of psychoactive drug takes on a high priority thereby involving, among others, a strong desire or a sense of compulsion to take the substance and the difficulties in controlling substance-taking behavior in terms of its onset, termination, or levels of use.”

Likewise, the bill proposes to insert in Section 10 (Benefit Package) of the present statute the following provisions: “(E) Rehabilitation treatment of drug dependents

(1) Room and Board (2) Services of health care professionals (3) Prescription drugs and biologicals, subject to the limitations stated in Section 17 of this Act. These services and packages shall be reviewed annually in keeping with its protection objectives and financial sustainability.”

The PhilHealth shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations in consultation with the Dangerous Drugs Board and relevant sectors for the effective implementation of the proposed law.

HB 1642 was referred by the plenary to the committee on dangerous drugs for appropriate action. PNA

QC development authority created THE Quezon City Council has repealed an ordinance creating the Quezon City Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (QC HURA) to give way to a similar entity created by Congress to address the resettlement and housing concerns of the city.

The QC HURA, a corporate entity, had acquired 300,000 subscribed shares of stock with a value of P300 million and constructed numerous low-cost, socialized and medium-rise residential

buildings sold to city residents, especially the underprivileged, at affordable prices under minimal payment schemes.

Perhaps inspired by the advocacy initiated by the Quezon City Council, the 16th Congress enacted Republic Act 10646 creating the Quezon City Development Authority (QCDA) duplicating and expanding further the purpose of QC HURA. The creation of the QCDA will enable the city gover nment to

identify more areas within the city for priority development, upgrade blighted areas to make them more livable and convert idle lots into productive venues for economic growth.

As a government-owned or controlled corporation, the QCDA is governed by the provisions of Republic Act 10149 or the “GOCC Governance Act of 2011” and subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the Governance Commission for GOCCs.

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LGUs

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

Vizcaya, Quirino DepEd get P53m

By Brenda Jocson

AID. Days before classes officially started this school year, the Department of Science and Technology Region XI went to Sitio Upian Elementary School in Davao City’s Marilog District to distribute school supplies and hygiene kits to the lumad students. The DOST XI staff organized games and fun activities and distributed lunch packs to the students.

SBMA chairman releases P141.4m to neighbor LGUs S

By Butch Gunio

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority recently released P141.4 million in revenue shares to eight local government units adjacent to the Subic Bay Freeport.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia handed over the respective cheques to mayors and other LGU representatives and announced that the latest of the semi-annual releases is 18.5 percent higher than the P115.23 million distributed for the second semester of 2015.

“We are proud to turn over to you the

Morales indicts Zambo ex-mayor, 8 officials

By A. Perez Rimando MOLAVE, Zamboanga del Sur—The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges against a former mayor of this first class municipality, together with eight other local officials, over alleged anomalous procurement of medicines.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, in a report received here recently, identified the charged executives as former Molave town mayor Flavio Saniel Jr. and former bids and awards committee members Marcos Balinting, Melita de los Santos, Gasmelba Felicitas, Nikki Omboy, Jerry de los Santos, Martin Blanco Jr., Lina Gitalan and Eleuterio Galleto.

Morales’ report said the charges stemmed from the findings of the Commission on Audit that the respondents “procured medicine worth P1.8 million in 2009 through sham public bidding.”

According to the Ombudsman, the CoA investigation disclosed that the invitation to bid “did not contain the approved budget for the contract, date of opening of bids, and list of eligibility requirements.”

Moreover, the report said, the supplier allegedly “delivered expired medicine that were overpriced by P997,193.60 even as state auditors noted that the bidding scheme “resulted in ghost deliveries amounting to P1,992,254.80.”

result of the hard work of our SBMA workers who made everything possible for the agency. They serve fastidiously as we continuously improved our performance for four straight years,” Garcia told the mayors.

Among the town executives who arrived for the turnover held at SBMA Boardroom were Mayor Rolen Paulino

of Olongapo City; Bataan mayors Cynthia Estanislao (Morong) and Joseph Inton (Hermosa); and Zambales mayors Jefferson Khonghun (Subic) and Dr. Estela Antipolo (San Antonio).

Mayors Jose Dominguez (Castillejos) and Elvis Soria (San Marcelino) of Zambales, and Mayor Gila Garcia of Dinalupihan, Bataan were represented by their municipal treasurers.

The shares received by the LGUs were derived from the five-percent gross revenue taxes (GRT) paid to the SBMA by business locators and investors operating inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

From the five-percent GRT, three percent goes to the national treasury, while two percent is distributed by the SBMA among the eight LGUs.

The LGU shares are computed based on the following criteria: population, 50 percent; land area, 25 percent; and equal sharing, 25 percent.

The revenue shares are to be used for community development projects, including those for health, education, peace and order, and livelihood programs to enable communities near the Subic Bay Freeport to keep pace with developments in the special economic zone.

The LGU recipients thanked Garcia for the continuous support given by the Subic agency to their neighbor LGUs through the revenue shares, as well as for its effort to generate employment opportunities for residents, and for assistance in various community projects.

BCMA reduces fees for roving vendors

By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—The Baguio City Market Authority approved the reduction of the fees being collected by the local government from the hundreds of roving vendors in the city to allow them to have a bigger take-home income.

Of the total P1,052 regulatory fee collected per quarter, the BCMA approved the reduction of the special permit fee for roving vendors to only P350 per quarter.

Upon the request of Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr., chairman of the City Council committee on market, trade and commerce, the BCMA members decided to reduce the fees during their meeting Tuesday.

Yangot argued that while the taxes paid by the roving vendors boost the revenue collections of the city, it must also consider the vendors’ ability to pay.

“For a roving vendor who struggles everyday in the streets just to make ends

meet, the amount of P1,052 paid quarterly is evidently burdensome,” Yangot stated in his letter to the BCMA headed by Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

Yangot said the local government allowed the vendors to sell so that they can provide food for their families or as an added income, thus, the special permit fee of P350 should be collected from them and the P702 business permit fee should be removed.

Earlier, the roving vendors appealed to the local govern-

ment to reduce the regulatory fees because the daily income from the sale of their goods is not enough for the needs of their families.

The BCMA appealed to the roving vendors to identify the areas where they will sell their goods to avoid complaints of overlapping which might constrain the body to revoke the permits earlier granted to them.

The group governs the affairs of the city public market and satellite markets in the different barangays.

CA BA R RO GU I S —T h e Department of Education has received P53 million from Australian-Canadian miner OceanaGold to finance new school buildings, facilities, equipment and teacher training.

DepEd Region 2 director, Dr. Estela Cariño said the donation fell under OceanaGold’s “We Care Program” in support of the government’s K-12 program.

David Way, OceanaGold Philippines Inc. general manager, said this is one way wherein “we can help supply the educational needs of children in the Didipio Mine’s host communities.”

Of the total amount, P43 million went to the ongoing construction of a three-story school building of Eastern Nueva Vizcaya National High School in the village of Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya which hosts OceanaGold’s CopperGold Project.

Way said the ENVNHS will accommodate students not only from the host barangay but also those from the surrounding villages in the mining area.

He said at least 10 recipientcommunities benefit from the operation of OceanaGold’s project which include the villages of Didipio, Alimit, Camamasi, Capisaan, Wangal, Tukod, Binogawa in Kasibu town, Nueva Vizcaya and the Barangays of Tucod, Dingasan and Dibibi in Cabarroguis, Quirino.

Cariño said the remaining P10 million under a memorandum of agreement was given to the provincial DepEd of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, P7 million of which will go to ENVNHS for its laboratory equipment, books and teacher training.

She said the P1.5 million will be distributed to 15 more high schools in Nueva Vizcaya; and P1.5 million to 18 high schools in Quirino province.

At the signing of MOA, Way said their newly launched “We Care Program” was their social investment framework and platform that provides improved access and transparency for all legitimate beneficiaries of their business.

He said that with many viable causes in need of support, people have now become passionate about a lot of things, especially education.

“Indeed it is our fervent hope that with the financial assistance OceanaGold is extending to the [DepEd] in implementing the K-12 program, families in our communities will not have to be torn apart because children have to leave home for further education,” Way said.

He said that having the right education provides a lot of avenues for people to uplift their lives and that the company has been “very explicit in our aim of delivering real positive impacts on the lives of community residents.”

Villa Verde Road to bridge two cultures SAN NICOLAS—In about two years, the Villa Verde Road, a former mountain trail carved by the Red Arrow 32nd Division of the US Army and their Filipino counterparts at the end of World War II on the slopes of the Caraballo mountain range between Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya, will soon bridge the Ilocano and the Ibaloi cultures.

The new road—23 kilometers of which is on the Pangasinan side and the rest on Nueva Vizcaya side—will serve as the second roadlink between the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley, the first being the route from Laoag to Aparri, Cagayan via the treacherous Pattapat road.

Started in 2015, Villa Verde is expected to be connected to the completed Nueva Vizcaya side in Imugan, Sta. Fe by 2018 with a few more gaps along the way to

be closed and a few more bridges to be built, the National Economic and Development Authority said early this year.

Once completed, it will bring the Ibalois of Barangay Malico, an upland community with the same climatic condition as that of Baguio City, nearer to the town of San Nicolas and the mainstream society in Pangasinan, where they really belong.

Former Pangasinan board member Ranjit Ramos Shahani, the top exponent for the construction of the Villa Verde road, an initiative he started when he was still congressman of the Sixth district of the province, lamented that the Villa Verde Trail would have been constructed earlier had the government used the money given by the United States government as US bases rental.

MENTORS. The 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers (from left, top row) are Winona

Diola, Rujealyn Cancino, Josephine Chonie Obseñares, Arnol Rosales and Dr. Roy Basa; (from left, bottom row) Nelson Agoyaoy, Ma. Regaele Olarte, Dr. Katherine Faith Bustos, Dr. Ernelea Cao and Dr. Mark Anthony Torres.

World Manila

Standard

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

TODAY

C3

Tourist spots bombed, 4 dead H

ua Hin—A string of bomb attacks targeting Thailand’s crucial tourism industry have killed four people, authorities said Friday, sending authorities scrambling to identify a motive and find the perpetrators.

Prime Minister Prayut ChanO-Cha called for calm and said he did not know who was behind the attacks, while analysts tentatively pointed the finger at Muslim insurgent groups in the south

who have for years been fighting the Thai state.

Twin bombs exploded in the upscale resort of Hua Hin late Thursday, killing one woman and wounding more than 20 oth-

ers, including nine foreign tourists, and were followed by two more on Friday morning that killed another person.

Agence France Presse journalists saw injured and bleeding people lying on the pavements shortly after the latest explosions, as emergency workers rushed to the scene and took them away in ambulances.

A further two blasts struck Friday at Patong Beach on the

popular tourist island of Phuket, while two more bombs were reported in the southern towns of Trang and Surat Thani, in each of which one person was killed.

“The bombs are an attempt to create chaos and confusion,” Prayut told reporters. “We should not make people panic more.”

“Why have the bombs occurred as our country is heading towards stability, a better economy and

tourism—and who did it? You have to find out,” he added.

The two bombs that went off in Hua Hin on Thursday were hidden in potted plants and went off within 30 minutes of each other in the bar district of the popular beach town.

While small bombings are common in the kingdom during periods of heightened political tension, there have been few such incidents in the past year and it is

rare for tourists to be targeted.

Britain and Australia reacted by advising their nationals to avoid public places.

Hua Hin is home to the Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) summer palace of Thailand’s revered royal family, and the firsts blasts came on the eve of Queen Sirikit’s 84th birthday and just ahead of the first anniversary of a Bangkok shrine bombing that killed 20. AFP

US renews travel ban to N. Korea

REACTOR. This picture shows the No. 3 reactor (R) of the Ikata nuclear power plant of Shikoku Electric Power in Ehime prefecture, about 700 kilometers (430 miles) southwest of Tokyo. AFP

Japan restarts Ikata nuke reactor, despite protests TOKYO—Japan restarted a nuclear reactor on Friday despite a court challenge by local residents, in a boost for Tokyo’s faltering post-Fukushima push to bring back atomic power.

Operator Shikoku Electric Power said it switched on the No. 3 reactor at its Ikata nuclear power plant in Ehime prefecture, about 700 kilometers (430 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

The reactor—shuttered along with dozens of others across Japan in the wake of the March 2011 Fukushima accident—was expected to be fully operational by August 22.

The prefecture’s governor and the mayor of the plant’s host town agreed on the restart in October, in the face of opposition from some local residents who filed a lawsuit to halt the re-firing.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and utility companies have been pushing to get reactors back in operation after a huge earthquake and tsunami caused a disastrous meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan.

The accident forced all of Japan’s dozens of reactors offline in the face of public worries over the safety of nuclear power

and fears about radiation exposure, forcing a move to pricey fossil fuels.

Opposition to nuclear power has seen communities across the country file lawsuits to prevent restarts, marking a serious challenge for Abe’s pro-nuclear stance.

In April, a court ruled that Japan’s only two working nuclear reactors could remain online, rejecting an appeal by residents who said tougher post-Fukushima safety rules were still inadequate.

Two other reactors in central Japan had also been restarted before a court in March ordered them offline in response to a legal challenge.

Including the reactor restarting on Friday, Japan will have just three operating reactors—and furious local residents vowed to fight on.

“We protest this restart of the Ikata nuclear reactor and are extremely angry,” the residents’ group said in a statement Friday, adding that the reactor’s use of a plutonium-uranium MOX fuel made it especially dangerous.

“We can’t have another Fukushima.”

The utility said it would make “ceaseless efforts” to ensure the plant was safe and to keep residents informed about key details of the restart. AFP

Dubai opera house to open this August DUBAI—A boat-shaped hulk of steel and glass at the foot of the world’s tallest tower, Dubai’s new opera house is set to boost the cultural life of the Gulf’s business hub.

Workers are putting the final touches on the venue, a short walk from the 828-meter (2,700foot) Burj Khalifa, as it prepares to host Spanish tenor Placido Domingo at an opening gala on August 31.

While Dubai has a reputation for grand construction projects, it has not had a landmark venue for performing arts -- until now.

“Look at everything else Dubai already has... now we’re going make it even better,” said Dubai Opera’s CEO Jasper Hope, former chief operating officer at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

“One of the areas that has been missing for many people is a venue in which to veexperience brilliant live music,” he told Agence France Presse.

Dubai Opera organizers hope to change that, with performances including Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and the Broadway musical “West Side Story”.

The venue will also host local shows, with popular Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi performing there in October.

In a nod to Dubai’s long history as a port city, the opera house is shaped like a dhow, a traditional wooden boat used for centuries in Gulf waters.

But the ultra-modern 2,000-seat venue can transform into three modes, operating as a theatre, concert hall and a flat-floored hall suitable for banquets and weddings.

Its developer, Dubai-based Emaar Properties which also built the Burj Khalifa, has not revealed the cost of the opera project.

In the space of decades, Dubai has transformed itself into a centre for trade, travel and tourism.

Spending trillions of dollars earned from oil exports, it put itself on the map with luxury resorts, glitzy skyscrapers and artificial islands shaped as palm trees and a world map.

But its cultural scene remained low profile in the business-oriented emirate.

Now, Dubai “has a vision to be one of the top cities in the world,” said the Emirati director of the privately run Center for Musical Arts (CMA), Tala Badri. AFP

WASHINGTON—The US State Department updated its strong travel warning on North Korea on Thursday in light of Pyongyang’s recent warning that it would treat any detained US citizens according to “wartime law.”

Although Washington has long warned about the dangers of traveling to North Korea in any capacity, its formal advisories have strengthened in tone with the recent arrest and detention of a number of American citizens.

Among the cases drawing international attention was that of Otto Warmbier, a college student sentenced in March to 15 years hard labor for trying to steal a propaganda poster from a hotel.

The latest State Department travel advisory reiterated the “serious risk” of long-term detention in North Korea and “unduly harsh sentences” for actions that would not be considered criminal elsewhere.

It also drew attention to a North Korean announcement last month that all matters related to the United States, including the handling of detained US citizens, would henceforth be dealt with according to “wartime law.”

Experts interpreted the announcement— which followed a US decision to blacklist North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un over human rights abuses—as suggesting such detainees would not be released early on humanitarian grounds.

North Korea has previously used the detention of US citizens to obtain high-profile visits from the likes of former US presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton to secure their release.

Thursday’s advisory stressed that being a member of an organized tour group offered no protection against arrest, adding that anyone entering North Korea should have “no expectation of privacy.”

At least 14 US citizens have been arrested in North Korea over the past decade and two are currently detained there—Warmbier and Korean-American Kim Dong-Chul, who is serving a 10-year sentence for espionage and subversion.

The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea. The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there. AFP

NOTICE

Alfredo M. Ballesteros (George) Last address is No. 34 Women’s Club St. Galas, Quezon City SOUVENIR. In this picture, tourists use mobile phones to take selfies at a park overlooking the Forbidden City in Beijing. AFP

(MS-AUG. 13, 2016)

Indon cops, military linked to drugs JAKARTA—Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered an official investigation into allegations top police and military officers were involved in trafficking illegal drugs.

Claims that senior police and military brass took kickbacks from a drug kingpin have stoked huge controversy in Indonesia, where the government is waging a war on narcotics and last month executed four convicted traffickers.

Freddy Budiman—who was among the four shot by firing squad—allegedly told a prominent human rights activist in 2014 that he paid police, military and specialist narcotics agents to protect his lucrative business.

The allegations have infuriated Indonesia’s powerful police and military institutions. Haris Azhar, the activist at the Commission for Missing Persons who claims he spoke with Budiman, has been threatened with defamation charges since posting the alleged testi-

Any information please text/call 0917-9275597/09338529471

mony online.

Widodo criticised Azhar for revealing the allegations years after they were made, but has since instructed the national police chief to investigate.

“Trace, expose and process it (the allegations), if it’s really true as has been said,” he said in a statement Thursday.

Azhar urged the government to shift its focus away from him towards those senior officials accused of conspiring to peddle drugs.

“The president must take responsibility.

We want an independent team (to investigate the case),” Azhar told Agence France Presse.

Widodo declared a war on drugs when he took office in October 2014 and vowed no clemency for those sentenced to death for trafficking.

Eighteen convicted drug smugglers—including 15 foreigners—have been executed in Indonesia under his administration. AFP

RA Form No. 10.1 (LCRO)

Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province: Metro Manila City or Municipality: Pasay City NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that Manuel Fermin Gomez has filed with this Office a petition for change of first name from MANOLO to MANUEL in the birth certificate of Manuel Fermin Gomez who was born on August 30, 1952 at Pasay City and whose parents are Luis Gomez and Asuncion Fermin.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office.

(MS-AUG. 6, 2016)

ANELDA C. FLORENTINO City Civil Registrar Pasay City

Canada IS follower shot dead in taxi C4

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

World PAINTERLY. Artist So Youn Lee poses during the BACARDI and Swizz Beatz presentation of The Dean Collection’s “No Commission: Art Performs”-Day 1 on Thursday in New

York City. AFP

OTTAWA—A Canadian man who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in a video was shot dead in a taxi after setting off an explosive device, police acting to thwart an imminent attack said Thursday.

Aaron Driver, 24, was killed on Wednesday after Canadian authorities received a tip from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who had intercepted the video, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) told a press conference.

“This disturbing event serves to remind us that Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism,” Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said.

“Unwavering vigilance is always required,” he said.

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Mike Cabana said they received information from the FBI early Wednesday, including “a martyr video that had been prepared by an individual who at that time was unknown to us but who was clearly in the final stages of preparing an attack using homemade bombs.”

Based on the information received, police believed an attack was possible “within the following 72 hours” in an “urban center,” Cabana said.

Police and counterterrorism experts identified the man in the video, wearing black clothes and a balaclava, as Driver within three hours.

Meanwhile, an alert about a “credible terrorist threat” was issued nationwide.

Notably, security was beefed up along Toronto’s network of subways, bus lines and street cars used by 1.8 million people a day.

But officials said they never determined Driver’s intended target. AFP

Ukraine forces on high alert K

iev—Ukraine put its forces around Crimea on high alert Thursday, as tensions soared after Moscow accused Kiev of attempting to mount armed incursions into the disputed peninsula.

Russia’s FSB security service said on Wednesday it had thwarted “terrorist attacks” in Crimea this week by Ukrainian military intelligence and beaten

back armed assaults, but Kiev fiercely denied the claims.

The allegations ratcheted up the heat in a feud sparked

by Moscow’s 2014 seizure of

the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine and raised fears of a wider conflict.

In a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council, Kiev asked Moscow to provide evidence to back up its accusations of a terror plot, Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko told reporters.

“If it happened in reality, where are the proofs? Statements, pictures, photos, videos, whatever,” Yelchenko said.

“They are only words.”

Ukraine’s pro-Western President Petro Poroshenko earlier met his top brass and ordered forces along the frontier with Crimea and across the conflict-wracked east onto “high-alert level”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also met security chiefs to discuss “additional measures for ensuring security for citizens and essential infrastructure in Crimea,” the Kremlin said.

“Scenarios were carefully con-

sidered for anti-terrorist security measures at the land border, in the waters and in the airspace of Crimea,” it said.

Meanwhile a NATO official told AFP tha Meanwhile a NATO official told AFP that the US-led military alliance was monitoring the heightened Crimea tensions with concern.

The official, who asked not to be named, said that “Russia’s recent military activity in Crimea is not

Russians, Turks unite vs jihadists

Venezuela, Colombia okay border reopening PUERTO Ordaz—Venezuela and Colombia agreed Thursday to reopen pedestrian border crossings between their countries, a year after Venezuela closed the frontier in a dispute over security and smuggling.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he and his Venezuelan counterpart agreed to open five pedestrian crossings for 15 hours a day from Saturday.

“What we are going to do is open the border gradually,” Santos told reporters after talks with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

“It will be a temporary opening schedule while we learn and adapt to the decisions so

that each step we take will be accurate and positive.”

Maduro said he hoped the reopening would lead to a “new frontier of peace” and “a new beginning for economic and trade relations.”

Santos said they would continue discussions about opening up the border to cargo vehicles.

He added that they were discussing the possibility of setting up Venezuelan gas stations on the Colombian side where Venezuela could sell its petrol.

At the talks in the eastern Venezuelan town of Puerto Ordaz, the leaders said they reviewed reports by their advisers on cross-border smuggling and security. AFP

Advertisement blockers outflank Facebook

SAN FRANCISCO—Ad blockers on Thursday said they foiled a move by Facebook to sidestep software used to stop marketing messages at social network pages visited on desktop computers.

Adblock Plus announced that it is updating its free software with a new filter that will thwart Facebook’s effort—for now.

“We promised that the open source community would have a solution very soon, and, frankly, they’ve beaten even our own expectations,” Adblock Plus communications manager Ben Williams

said in an online post.

“It’s very possible that Facebook will write some code that will render the filter useless—at any time.”

He warned users not to be surprised if the maneuvering turns into an ongoing duel, with each side countering moves by the other.

“This sort of back-andforth battle between the open source ad-blocking community and circumventers has been going on since ad blocking was invented,” Williams said.

“But for this round of the catand-mouse contest, it looks like the mouse won.” AFP

helpful for easing tensions”, and called on Moscow “to work for calm and de-escalation.”

The United States also called on both sides to show restraint, with State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau saying Washington was “extremely concerned”.

“We call for the avoidance of any actions that would escalate the situation,” Trudeau said, urging a return to the negotiating table. AFP

BIOPIC. Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni poses as he attends the trailer launch of the forthcoming biographical Hindi film ‘M.S.Dhoni’ directed by Neeraj Pandey and starring Sushant Singh in Mumbai late Thursday. AFP

WASHINGTON—The United States on Thursday tentatively welcomed possible Turkish-Russian cooperation against jihadists in Syria, as Ankara has proposed to Moscow, even if those countries support opposing camps there.

“We remain in close contact with our Turkish allies and our partners in the fight against Daesh,” State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said, using another name for the Islamic State group.

Working against the jihadist group “is a priority for all of us,” she said. “If this is truly a step in that direction, we would welcome that.”

Pressed by reporters to confirm the US reaction, Trudeau said, “We’ve been very clear that if Russia is interested in fighting against (the IS group),” then “we would welcome that.”

How that cooperation would work is unclear. Moscow is allied with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, while Ankara has supported rebel groups seeking his overthrow in a bloody civil war.

But Russian-Turkish relations have warmed amid pique in Ankara that Washington and other Western capitals did not seem more supportive after the attempted military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month.

Erdogan traveled to Moscow on Tuesday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Thursday, Turkish officials representing the army, intelligence agencies and the foreign ministry were in Russia for talks on Syria, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

YOUTH

Is drone hunting

D1

The rapid pace of technological advancement has paved the way for drones to become part of a sport, such as drone racing.

a sport?

By Michelle Buencamino

T

HAT’S the question that we have been asking ourselves since we saw the ad on an electronic billboard on Edsa.

The ad shows a group of motocross bikers in hot pursuit of a small fast-moving camera-carrying RC (remote controlled) aeroplane more properly known as quadcopter or drone. The eye-catching ad is produced by a soda brand that has been known for supporting extreme and action sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, BMX and Freestyle Motocross, to name a few.

Today, the soda brand has stepped up its level of extreme and thrill by entering the virtual world and sponsoring a drone racing event called DR1 Invitational. With all the technological advancements happening around the world, even drones can now be part of a sport. In fact, it is gaining more attention recently.

In drone racing, skilled drone pilots fly their quadcopter drones through the courses at speeds up to 120mph. They wear special eye gear called First Person View goggles that allow them to see a live image where their drones are flying.

The soda brand partnered with DR1, a world-class drone racing series that

features the best drone pilots, to make the drone racing series possible. The first race of DR1 Invitational will be held this month at the Sepulveda Dam

Soda brand Mountain Dew released a digital commercial introducing the imagined sport called ‘drone hunting’

CATCH THAT DRONE. Drone hunting involves a group of motocross racers chasing a drone in a forest using nets and riding crops in Los Angeles and will showcase 12 top drone-racing pilots in the world.

As pilots fly their drones at speeds of more than 80 mph, they “will face down a gauntlet of environmental and

man-made obstacles” according to PRNewswire. Pilots will control their drones from the top of the dam, while spectators watch from above. The race will be divided into heats, qualifiers,

and finals over the course of two days.

The race will be aired in August in a one-hour broadcast special on Discovery Channel and Science Channel. DR1 will also stream the series globally on Twitch, a live streaming video platform.

As part of this partnership, the soda brand also sponsors drone pilot Tommy “Ummagawd” Tibajia, being the first brand to sign and sponsor a drone-racing pilot.

To promote the race globally and as part of the brand’s “Do The Dew” marketing campaign, the soda brand has produced a TV and digital commercial introducing a

sport called “drone hunting.”

In this imagined sport, there is no need for animals to get involved. No, it also does not involve guns or shooting drones in a field. Rather, a group of motocross racers chases a drone in a forest with their nets and riding crops in hand.

It is a mixture of motocross, drone racing and hunting.

So, is drone hunting a sport? No, but it could be with how fast our technology is developing and how people are being more creative. Also, it was inspired by the brand’s belief that “it doesn’t exist until you do it.”

Kids gear up to be champions at KidZania Manila

Children test their aiming skills at KidZania Manila’s Archery station

THE grandeur, excitement, and competitive spirit of the Olympic Games took center stage with KidZania Manila’s biggest sporting event, the KidZania Games 2016 on July 22.

The RightZKeepers, KidZania’s most celebrated residents, prepared an awesome lineup of events that capture the rush of the games. Chika is all set to train with the misters and misses as they take aim and hit the target in Archery. Kids also have the option to join Beebop as he practices with a Zupervisor to master his fighting posture and make sure he wins in Fencing.

Urbano is sure to study the moves of the RightZKeepers and strongest competitors in the race to get his team ahead in the Baton Relay. Vita, on the other hand, is ready to throw a javelin through the hoops of the Javelin Field. The participants can work alongside each other to reach that long distance and make the record for the game.

Athletes-in-the-making who complete all four rounds can proceed to the Main Square to earn a stamp on their PaZZport, getting them to ex-

Interactive play city KidZania Manila sets up establishments that offer the Olympic Games experience to kids

perience more exciting features of this kid-sized metropolis. They also get the chance to capture their moment of victory in a photo holding up a finisher’s placard.

The race to the championship will run until Aug. 20 at KidZania Manila in Bonifacio Global City. All

The beer pouring skills that shook Asia JORDAN Bernarte of Draft Gastropub and the Philippines’ representative conquered the 2016 Stella Artois Draught Masters Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was adjudged one of the four grand winners from 15 contenders from different Asian countries who competed in the Stella Artois’ Competition.

Aside from the chance to compete in the World Draught Masters Competition next year, Bernarte was named the only Stella Artois ambassador in the country.

The competition was divided into two parts— the nine-step ritual skills test

where contenders were judged based on the technicality and flair of their perfect pour and a question-and-answer segment.

The nine-step ritual includes The Purification, The Sacrifice, The Liquid Alchemy, The Head, The Removal, The Beheading, The Judgement, The Cleansing and The Bestowal.

Bernarte did not only do the ninestep ritual flawlessly but also innovated on some of the traditional movements.

During The Judgement ritual, for instance, Bernarte raised his Chalices in a slow and graceful motion and positioned them in opposite direction, like a

yin and yang, to signify balance rhythm and perfection. This caught the attention of the judges, composed mainly of Stella Artois representatives who flew all the way from Belgium where this well-loved Belgian beer is brewed.

“We are very proud to have a bartender from Draft compete and win at the Asian/ Regional competition. As the Stella Artois ambassador, Bernarte will be training all our bartenders in Draft ” Kate de Castro, marketing head, explained. “He will also be sent around the country and Asia for Stella Artois-related seminars, workshops, and other events.”

events aim to train kids in the ways of champions and develop in them the right form, the discipline, and the heart for victory.

The distinguished misters and misses who get to secure the top three spots of every event will figure prominently in Bache’s score board.

This distinction is updated daily to introduce the champions of the day to all visitors.

Each establishment has prepared activities to complete the Olympic experience inside the interactive play city. Aspiring athletes can draw inspiration from making their personalized badge in the Arts & Crafts establishment. They can get into that competitive spirit by painting country flags or sports-themed artwork on their faces, or coloring sketches of their favorite RightZKeepers in athletic gear at Art & Design Academy. Meanwhile, misters and misses who are hoping to cover an event of this size someday can practice their broadcasting skills at the ABS-CBN TV Studio or Radio Station.

Bring out the champion in your kids and let them join the KidZania Games 2016. KidZania Manila is open from 9a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. On Saturdays and Sundays, the play city operates in two shifts, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m..

For tickets and more information, visit manila.kidzania.com.

Jordan Bernarte (left) was named one of the four grand winners in the 2016 Stella Artois Draught Masters Asia competition. With him in photo are ABII Marketing Manager for Belgian Brands Matthias Priels, fellow contestant Raniel Dy, Feastbev Inc. Marketing Head Kate De Castro, fellow contestant Eduardo Mayani, and Booze Online Marketing Manager Chester Cabrera

Life

D2

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Amaya Gonzalez hoops it up

W

HILE her peers were in college, then went on to grad school, corporations and the academe, Amaya Gonzalez toiled away in the factory of Connie’s Kitchen, a local gourmet food line. After all Connie is her mother. The best-selling IRL Salsa Amaya was named after this only (IN REAL LIFE) daughter. From scaling daing (dried MENCHU AQUINO fish), peeling onions and chopping SARMIENTO garlic, Amaya has moved up to R&D (research and development) and whipped up new products.

Lately, she has left the kitchen and factory for the daily discipline of the dance studio. This is not traditional ballet, jazz or even hip-hop but Pole Arts and Sports, which includes lyrical aerial silks and acrobatic hoops.

It’s tough for pole dancing to shed the stigma of its steamy strip club origins. Local burles has rarely relied on specialized equipment like 10-foot high steel poles. Its own ingenious innovations though, might involve opening beer bottles or hurling ping pong balls as demonstrated in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert by the pneumatic Pinay mail-order bride. Amaya’s company, the Polecats is among the pioneers in Philippine Pole Arts and Sports and the first organized pole dance troupe. It is a testimony to the seriousness of their craft that these mostly petite women rarely perform in hootchie-cootchie stilettos. Many of their numbers are danced bare foot and would not be out of place at the CCP. Amaya recalls how, back in 2009, a friend invited her to try a pole dancing class. Immediately, she was hooked.

Six months later, she was so good at it, she was teaching. She had no formal

training in dance, and was indifferent to competitive sports.

“My being a newbie worked for me since I had no bad habits to unlearn or correct,” she reflects. “Also, since I was already in my 20s when I started, I benefited from recent findings in human kinetics which helped me avoid injury.”

Amaya attributes her considerable physical kinesthetic intelligence to her father Manolet Gonzalez, a competitive wind surfer. She and her two brothers are genetically endowed with an unusually strong core, uncanny balance and enviable flexibility.

The Pole cats and kittens come in all shapes and sizes. There is no age, weight or waistline limit. New students generally start out hiding their perceived imperfections.

“Our meme is that as you get better, the clothes get lesser,” Amaya remarks. “It’s more about building confidence, being body positive and movement happy.”

Some men like this too. There is a smattering of males into pole sports and fitness but it is still a predominantly female field. Having fun de-

spite the initial bruises and falls is a priority. One starts with walking around the pole then progresses to climbing it. With perseverance, housewives, bankers and account executives are soon doing fireman spins, dream girl dips, waves and pirouettes.

By 2012, Amaya was joining Pole Arts and Sports competitions in Singapore and Hong Kong.

In 2014, she was a grand finalist in GMA 7’s Talentadong Pinoy. She didn’t place during the 2015 Inter-national Aerial Hoops competition in Hong Kong but, nonetheless, one of the judges, Anna Leniucheva invited her to apply for an international competition in 2016. As usual, Amaya had to pre-qualify to compete. Such rigorous screening is a reason that pole enthusiasts have been lobbying to have pole sports included as an Olympic event.

What is a gymnast’s balance beam, after all, but a horizontal pole?

Amaya was notified that she had qualified for the Asia Pacific Pole and Aerial Acrobatic Championships only a month before it would begin in Vladivostok, Russia. Her parents went along as her POLE-ice, a pun to refer to their posses of family and friends who come along for support and protection during their public performances. It’s necessary in our very sexist society. Consider how two TV noontime show hosts (one a senator) shamed and blamed a

Amaya (second from left) with her parents Connie and Manolet Gonzalez and judge Anna Leniucheva

Polecats Manila studio owner Amaya Gonzalez believes that Pole Arts and Sports is more about building confidence, being body positive and movement happy

poor woman who confided that she had been sexually assaulted. She must have been wearing pek-pek shorts, and so she was asking for it, one of them condemned her.

Amaya had just a month to get her travel documents and her competition entry in order. Fellow Pole Cat Tippi Sy and the visiting British teacher Josh Taylor choreographed her number to “Heavy in Your Arms” by Florence and the Machine. Tippi also helped with her costume and make up. On the 11th of June, Amaya won the grand prize for Aerial Hoops in the Asia Pacific Pole and Aerial Acrobatic Championships. There was also a modest cash gift of 20,000 rubles (approximately

Amaya exhibits her winning form in one of the competitions she joined

Peppa Pig

Systems Integration Expo and world’s top innovations IF you are tech-savvy and eager to discover what’s new out there in the market, you should definitely visit Systems Integration Philippines (SIP) this weekend at the SMX Convention Center Manila, SM Mall of Asia Complex.

Dubbed as the trade show for new and emerging technologies, SIP is opening its fourteenth year. The show will run until 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today.

“We want businesses and industry professionals to see what innovative solutions, products and services are out there in the market,” shares Patrick-Lawrence Tan, CEO of Global-Link MP Events International, Inc. (GLMP), organizer of the event. “SIP is about giving them this experience without having to go abroad.

What we did is subdivided it into different sections focused on specific industries.

We have pro-AVL for events and film; entertainment technology; consumer electronics; advertising and media tech; IT; unified communications; and office solutions. There will be more than 250 companies at the show so people really have a lot to look forward to.”

As the country gains recognition for being Asia’s manufacturing and production center, SIP brings together foreign suppliers from Singapore, China, Taiwan, and South Korea to share their

top-of-the-line products and services to businesses here in the Philippines.

“We live in fast-paced, competitive environment where you are bombarded with new technologies practically every single day,” Tan adds. “Businesses can only do so much to keep up with these developments. That’s why we have SIP. We are positioning this expo to be the launching pad for these new tech solutions where people can not only see but really get an immersive experience all in one convenient venue.”

Aside from the expo, the organizers have conceptualized special opportunities for trade visitors, such as technical seminars; business matching sessions; zone sections for innovation, drones, virtual reality; and digital raffle draws – all to make business networking an exciting experience. Don’t miss on this opportunity to consult with systems integrators of the most trusted companies today.

SIP has a packed show in store for anyone who visits. So if you are looking to upgrade your business, this is a mustsee, must-experience event for you.

Entrance to the show is absolutely free. To learn more about the other things to look forward to, visit www. globallinkmp.com/SIP or download the app via Google Play and the App Store.

P14000.00).

Clearly the rewards of pole arts and sports are more intangible than financial. Surprisingly, it may not also be about having a perfectly hard toned body.

The camaraderie in pole dancing includes bringing and sharing food.

Just as they dance to have fun, they also have fun while eating, or as Amaya puts it: “We try to get in shape, so we can eat cake.”

at Toy Kingdom

A family poses with UK’s lovable and adorable Peppa Pig

KIDS of all ages had the rare chance to hug and greet the lovable and adorable Peppa Pig when she made fun and memorable stops at SM Megamall and SM City North Edsa.

Peppa Pig is a hit animated series that tells the story of a lovable little piggy that lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Peppa has different kinds of animal friends, each with a last name matching the type of animal each is.

And while they are humanlike in many ways, the characters still display characteristics of their species. Peppa and her family, for example, snort like pigs during conversations; while the Rabbit family enjoys the carrots. Her everyday adventures include playing games, going swimming, visiting their grandparents and cousins, jumping in muddy puddles and riding their bikes.

During the event, kids had a first glimpse of latest collection of Peppa Pig toys and accessories. These are available at all Toy Kingdom Express outlets and Toy Kingdom Stores in most SM Supermalls. Visit www.toykingdom.ph; ToyKingdomPH at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information.

Showbiz

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

E

XPECT nothing less than exciting activities and events this month at Shangri-La Plaza as it celebrates its 25th anniversary with a line-up of great performances, international films, and a beauty and wellness fair for its mall guests.

At 6:30 p.m. tonigth, the East Atrium plays host to Songs for the Soul with Up Dharma Down. Up Dharma Down, the local “it” band that has enjoyed global recognition, is performing a repertoire of hits as a tribute to the 10th anniversary of the Silent Film Festival. The band is also performing the musical score of the German film Der Letzte Mann, one of the many must-watch films at the famed film festival at the Shang Cineplex.

Shang invites you to pay more attention to overall wellness in A Heart for Health: A Beauty and Wellness Fair at the East Atrium, Aug. 18 to 21. Browse the latest offers and services of participating brands including Beauty Bar, Belo Medical Center, The Body Shop, Botanifique, Bowmanbear Barber

Movies, music, and more this month

Alternative and indie act Up Dharma Down will perform a repertoire of hits tonight at the East Atrium of Shangri-La Plaza

Shop, Certified Calm, Crabtree and Evelyn, Detoxify Bar, Headzone, Healthy Options, JNA Dance & Fitness Center, Lush, Nail Spa, Rustan’s Department Store, and Scents & Sensibilities. Soon to open stores such as Ride Revolution and Skin 101 are joining will be present

during the four-day fair as well.

Also, get the chance to learn fitness secrets, skin care and make-up tips, and more during the fair’s scheduled workshops.

From Aug.25 to 28, the anticipated Silent Film Festival holds its 10th anniversary run, preparing a grand

celebration with the screening of nine renowned films accompanied live by top local acts including Ely Buendia, Basti Artadi, and Up Dharma Down.

The participating countries are also enriching this year’s program with lectures and a round table discussion on Silent Cinema, as well as an exhibit

that showcases the festival’s rich and unique history, opening on Aug. 16 at the Grand Atrium.

Finally, catch A Rhythmic Weekend with the Brass Munkeys at the East Atrium on Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. as the band known for their animated

performances and lively jazz and blues music is sure to put on an amazing show for mall guests.

For inquiries, call 370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook.com/ shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage.

Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

UAAP courtside reporter tops

Mutya ng Pilipinas 2016 GANIEL Akrisha Krishnan, a 21-year-old, UAAP basketball courtside reporter, bested 29 contestants, including representatives from overseas Filipino communities, and bagged the Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International 2016 title at the coronation night at Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila in Newport City, Pasay, last Saturday night.

Krishnan, an Indian Filipino beauty and Communication Arts student at Far Eastern University, will represent the country at Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2016 in Malaysia.

Krishnan, a former finalist of Happy Yipee Yehey’s My Girl and discovered by Johnny Manahan for ABS-CBN’s Star Magic, has appaeard in Oh My G! and has become a member of ABS-CBN’s Sports&Action TV. She also won nine special awards including Darling of the Press, Best in Talent, Hannah’s best in swimsuit, Mutya ng Sheridan Beach Resort, Mutya ng Rain or Shine, Mutya ng Hotel 101, Mutya ng Inglot, Mutya ng Camera Club of the Philippines and Mag’s Mutya ng Pilipinas.

Reigning Bb. Laguna Justin Mae San Jose won Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International 2016 while Filipino American Michelle Thorlund, representing the Filipino overseas community in California, was named Mutya ng Pilpinas-Overseas Communities 2016.

San Jose, who won the best in long gown and best in swimsuit, hails from Pila, Laguna and is a

Encantadia now exclusively on iflix

MUTYA BEAUTIES. Ganiel Akrisha Krishnan (from left), Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International, and Justin Mae San Jose (right), Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International student in Communications at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Calamba.

Thorlund, a 19-year-old, part time model from Orange County, California, aspires to become a criminal defense attorney. She loves classical music and plays the piano.

A vegetarian, she advocates animal welfare and prevention of animal cruelty.

Lynette Bradford of Melbourne and Ashley Nicole Singh of Central Luzon won first and second and runners-up, respectively. Singh won Best in Philippine terno by designer Alex Nicdao as well as Miss Viva Discovery special awards.

Others who made the Top 10 are Mayu

Murukami from Japan, Dianne Irish Lacayanga from Tarlac, Joanna Rose Tolledo from Caloocan City, Jannie Loudette Alipo-on from Navotas City and Marielle Cartagena of Cebu.

The panel of judges included Mexico’s Ambassador to the Philippines Julio Camarena Villaseñor, former Miss Earth Diana Meneses-Estrada, Resorts World Manila’s Stephen James Riley,, among others.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas 2016 coronation was hosted by Bela Padilla, Richard Guttierez and Arci Munoz.

Text and photos: Eton B. Concepcion

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

ACROSS 1 Snert’s master 6 Crane arm 9 Feinted 14 Desktop command 15 Ms. Hagen 16 Kate’s TV housemate 17 In one’s dreams 19 Catty 20 Velvety surface 21 Diner on “Alice” 22 Currycomb targets 23 Playing marbles 25 Tightwad 26 Blot out 29 Twinge 31 More open 32 Offers 36 Utter aloud 37 It has long arms 38 Blondie’s shrieks 40 Blendings 43 Puck stopper 45 War movie river 46 Most seldom seen 47 Wild time 50 Back muscles 51 Imitation chocolate 52 Cold-shoulder 54 Washboard —

57 Jungian term 58 Romantic, maybe 61 Car model 62 Gleeful shout 63 Fridge maker 64 Sports complex 65 Taint 66 Cake-pan type DOWN 1 Rough-cut 2 Libretto feature 3 Breathe hard 4 Embers, finally 5 Lib. section 6 Verne of sci-fi 7 — never fly 8 Some chestnuts 9 Rice or tea 10 Radius companions 11 Kevin in “Dave” 12 Lightweight quilt 13 Ruby and Sandra 18 Earth tone 23 Hotel staffers 24 Frost 25 Cambridge univ.

26 Hearing aid?

27 Medieval holding 28 Madame from

Bonn 29 Coke competitor 30 Tree chopper 33 Advances 34 Edit out 35 Aspen planks 37 Literary miscellany 39 Become solid 41 Flowerarranging art 42 Feel grateful 43 Word before slam or piano 44 Fiber-rich grain 47 More feasible

48 Vanity 49 Chariot race bettor 50 The L in LEM 51 Hombre’s home 52 Cheat 53 Big laugh (hyph.)

54 Turing or Rickman 55 Predicament 56 ASAP 59 Scientist’s lair 60 Rhea relative

THE world’s leading Internet TV service for emerging markets that offer subscribers unlimited access to thousands of TV shows and movies for a low monthly price is pleased to announce Encantadia is now available exclusively to iflix members to stream and download.

In agreement with GMA Network, each episode of the much-awaited telefantasya will be available to iflix members in the Philippines within 24-hours of its initial television broadcast.

Encantadia, the beloved saga that won the hearts of Filipinos some 11 years ago, made its return this July. The requel – retelling sequel – is set to bring superior and worldclass entertainment with new episodes added from Tuesday to Saturday every week.

The series re-boot features many of the Philippines rising and established stars, including Marian Rivera, Glaiza De Castro, Kylie Padilla, Gabbie Garcia, Sanya Lopez, and Dingdong Dantes.

Iflix Philippines Country Manager, Sherwin Dela Cruz, says, “We are hugely proud to support the Philippines’ exceptionally talented local entertainment industry. Encantadia has an incredible

legacy, which we are honored to be a part of. Having each episode of Encantadia available exclusively on iflix to stream and download, just 24 hours after its initial broadcast means our members will never miss a single episode of the exciting requel.”

Now available in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, iflix will continue to roll out its world-class service to additional key emerging markets in the coming months. Offering consumers a vast library of top Hollywood, Asian regional, and local TV shows and movies including many first-run exclusives and award-winning programs, each subscription provides users access to the service on up to five devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, and television sets, for viewing wherever, whenever. iflix subscribers can also download TV shows and movies from iflix’s extensive library for offline viewing. The service is priced at only P129.00 per month in the Philippines for unlimited access with no ads.

For new subscribers, iflix offers a complimentary 30-day trial with full access to its world-class service, features and content, with no credit card or payment details required.

Go to www.iflix.com to register.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

Showbiz

Jed Madela sings Celine F

RESH from his successful US tour, multi-awarded recording artist and world ISAH V. RED grand champion Jed Madela is set to perform for the muchawaited second installment of his concert series billed The Iconic Concert Series: Jed Madela Sings Celine at Music Museum on Aug. 19.

Directed by Marvin Caldito, the concert is a spin-off from Jed’s album Iconic under Star Music.

The former WCOPA (World Championships of Performing Arts) champion proved himself up the task when he took on the music of Mariah Carey for the series’ first installment on May 28.

“I chose to start this series off with Mariah because I find her songs really interesting. She’s an amazing storyteller.

For me, Mariah is iconic not just because of her voice, but because she has influenced me so much in life through her music. Mariah’s stories are my stories,” shares Jed. Jed admits that the show has brought its own set of challenges for him.

According to him, “The hardest part of putting this show together was making sure it doesn’t come across as forced and staged. Also, on my part, I have to come up with newer ways to interpret these iconic songs because people already have expectations. My version should be at par or better than the original.”

The Iconic Concert Series: Jed Madela Sings Celine is produced by Dreamstarevents and Calvin Chua.

“I really hope the next show will be more successful and more exciting, not just for the audience to watch, but also, for me to perform,” smiles Jed. Tickets available at Music Museum, SM Tickets, Ticketnet and Ticketworld. *** The audience was treated to a night filled with fun and laughter last Monday as the most awaited showdown between Ella (Vice Ganda) and Paloma (Coco

Martin) finally happened in the no.1 primetime series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.

Cardo (Coco) once again transformed into the alluring lady, Paloma, to seize the group of online scammers led by Ella. And proving her undeniable appeal, Paloma once again did her signature walk and stare, which enticed audiences all over the country as the action-series garnered a national TV rating of 43.3 percent versus its rival program Encantadia, which only scored 19.4 percent.

The netizens also had a good laugh over Ella’s antics, making the official hashtag #FPJAPKabugan trend on Twitter.

The action-packed scenes in the no.1 teleserye, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano airs weeknights on ABS-CBN or on ABSCBN HD (SkyCable Ch 167). Viewers can also catch up the program’s past episodes via iWanTV.com and skyondemand.com. ph for Sky subscribers. *** Another fun and inspiring episode awaits Kapuso viewers as Pepito Manaloto gives a surprise treat tonight.

Pepito (Michael V.) imposes a new incentive for his employees and whoever meets the target quota will get a trip for two to Singapore. So, Maya (Maureen Larrazabal) works double time because she plans to give this as birthday present for Tommy (Ronnie Henares). However, she unintentionally forgets about Tommy’s birthday because of her busy schedule. Tommy is really disappointed and this leads to their break up. Can Elsa (Manilyn Reynes) and Pepito fix Mara and Tommy’s problem?

Meanwhile, Mimi (Nova Villa) and Deedee (Jessa Zaragosa) are upset

IN DRAG. Vice Ganda in a showdown with Coco Martin disguised as the alluring Paloma in a recent episode of ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’

WALL-TO-WALL giant curved screens…

State-of-the-art picture quality… and a worldclass sound system. SM Cinema’s IMAX experience has taken the magic of the movies to a whole new level.

And it’s not surprising that the country’s biggest and most immersive theater experience has drawn many viewers, including celebrities like Iza Calzado, Maxene Magalona and the Valenciano family recently spotted taking time out from their busy schedules to watch their favorite films.

The Valencianos – Gary, Angeli, Paolo, and Sam like the theater’s “comfortable seating, superb 3D quality with the brightest images, and amazing surround sound.” They also like the “really cute merch(andise) at the snack time bar.” Definitely, “IMAX is one of the best cinemas we’ve been to. Definitely watching out top movies here. We’ll be back.”

Also, host Rovilson Fernandez is grateful for the fun time and “overall wonderful cinematic experience” at IMAX. Award-winning actress Iza Calzado, on the other hand, observes that, “I have to say, these action packed films are best seen on IMAX.” After an exciting movie night with the family watching the latest of the X-Men film series, Maxene Magalona agrees with Iza that, “it’s the best way to experience such an action-packed movie! Now I know… All blockbusters should be experienced only in IMAX theatres.”

Where bigger is better and picture-to-sound quality is king, more and more celebrities choose to indulge in the realistic, and larger than life IMAX movie experience.

With another exciting line-up of blockbuster, adventure films like Suicide

1

Jed Madela has proven himself as a great singer as he adds his own distinctive touch to the big songs of divas like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion

because Berta (Jen Rosendahl) is uncooperative in their business and they learned that several items are missing in their shop. When they installed a CCTV camera, they saw that Berta has something to do with the lost items. What is her participation in this?

Watch all these and more to night in Pepito Manaloto, Ang Tunay na Kuwento after 24 Oras Weekend on GMA. Get the latest updates about Pepito Manaloto from the official website of GMA Network www.gmanetwork. com and official Facebook page www.facebook.com/GMANetwork. *** The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) continues its monthly film showings with two movies that focus on individuals who overcame challenges beyond all odds.

Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men is the featured film on Aug. 17 and 19 at the School of Design and Arts (SDA) Cinema. Henry Fonda stars in this classic from 1957 where one man tries to convince 11 other jurors

that their hasty conviction of a boy on trial for stabbing his father to death should be reconsidered.

To be screened at the SDA Cinema on Aug. 24 and 31, and at SDA A907 on Aug. 26 is Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner.. Based on the novel by science fiction legend Philip Dick,, a former cop is recruited to track down androids, dubbed as replicants, who have mutinied in space and returned to Earth. This 1982 film is known for its visionary production design that anticipated many of today’s technological innovations.

All shows are scheduled at 12 noon and 3 p.m., and are free and open to the public.

MCAD is at the ground floor, School of Design and Arts (SDA) Building, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), Dominga Street, Malate, Manila.

For inquiries and reservations, call 230-5100 local 3897 or email mcad@benilde. edu.ph.

Spotted at IMAX

The Valencianos take a time out from their busy schedule and join other celebrities in an immersive IMAX experience.

Squad and Ben Hur this month, SM Cinema invites you to the world’s most riveting and innovative movie-going experience at IMAX located at SM Aura Premier, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM City North EDSA, SM Southmall, SM City Clark, SM City Cebu and SM Lanang Premier.

Whether 2D or 3D, IMAX’s state-of-the-art dual projection system delivers crystal-clear, lifelike images that create a visual feast so real, as if the moviegoers are part of the movie.

Combining it with IMAX’s digital re-mastering enhancement process, which enhances hundreds of details in every frame of the movie, the images are 60 percent brighter and 40 percent greater in contrast than any other regular cinema IMAX delivers 10 times more dynamic range than standard sound systems, meaning moviegoers can enjoy so much more of the films’ edge-of-yourseat Goosebumps moments, sensations and sounds.

With IMAX personalizing each movie by working with the filmmakers on a unique and optimized soundtrack, you are guaranteed to hear it the way the filmmaker intended it to be.

The IMAX experience includes spacious private spaces -- from the grand lobby, the guests’ very own ticket booth to their own Snack Time bar, you know you are in for an unforgettable movie experience from start until end.

It’s no wonder why celebrities are enjoying the superior choice for movie watching. Expand your movie horizons, too at the IMAX Theatres, and enjoy the innovative and personalized theatre experience at SM Cinemas. Inquire or purchase your tickets now at www.smcinema.com or dial 470-2222 for more information. Follow and like SM Cinema on twitter @SM_Cinema or on facebook at facebook.com/SMCinema.