Manila Standard - 2016 October 30 - Sunday

LAWMEN ARREST ANOTHER MAYOR

VOL. XXX • NO. 260 • 5 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

By Francisco Tuyay ARMED with warrants from a Kabacan, North Cotabato court, lawmen swooped down on four areas owned by Libungan Mayor Christopher Cuan before dawn Saturday and seized several highpowered firearms and hundreds of live ammunition.

But Central Mindanao regional police chief Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr. said they found no drugs at the three houses owned by Cuan in Barangay Kabayuran in Libungan, North Cotabato.

Galgo said Judge Alandrex Betoya of Regional Trial Court Branch 16 in Kabacan, North Cotabato issued at least 20 search warrants for illegal firearms and illegal drugs but the police found only the weapons were served around 3 a.m. Saturday.

Recovered from Cuan’s home were an M-16 Armalite rifle, a 12-gauge shot gun, two caliber 45 pistols (Para 1911 and Colt), caliber 5.56 bushmaster and hundreds of ammunition and magazines for various calibers.

BACK TO THE SEA. Luzon celebrated over the weekend after they were able to catch a great deal of fish at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, a far cry from the almost empty nets they brought home as shown in this one-month-old photo. Sonny Espiritu

UN PANEL LAUDS PH

RODY STOPS SELF FROM NEW CURSE

By John Paolo Bencito A DAY after he claimed God admonished him for cursing, President Rodrigo Duterte almost slipped as he criticized the United States on Saturday but caught himself on time from blurting another expletive for which he has become world famous.

“You already know that a mayor has already been killed. We should really avoid drugs because it will really destroy our country,” Duterte said during Turn to A2

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

A

LTHOUGH the special rapporteurs of outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lament the state of human rights in the country, the 18-man United Nations’ Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights welcomed the country’s gains in advancing the human rights.

That is one of the concluding observations of the UNCESCR that conducted the combined 5th and 6th periodic country report on the human rights situation in the country, according to Ambassador Cecilia Rebong, the Philippines’ permanent representative to the UN. “This recognition of the UN Committee of the achievements of the Philippines does not only highlight the unwavering commitment of the country to human rights,” Rebong said.

“More importantly is that fact that the Filipino people is assured of its government’s political will for the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights as well as avenues to access effective remedies when these rights are violated,” she added.

The committee is tasked to monitor states

in implementing their obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, of which the Philippines is a signatory.

The conclusions did not agree with the views of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, who criticized the Philippines during the opening of the UNCESCR review last September.

Hussein said President Rodrigo Duterte’s “statements of scorn for international human rights law” display a “striking lack of understanding” of human rights institutions and “the principles which keep societies safe.”

“Empowering police forces to shoot to kill any individual whom they claim to be a suspect of drug crimes, with or without evidence, undermines justice,” he added.

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EXEC: BETTER MM POSSIBLE

By Joel E. Zurbano

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BUILDING a Metro Manila with safe, clean and accessible streets and waterways.

That is the goal of 32-yearold urban planner Julia Nebrija when asked what she want to achieve as assistant general manager for Operations of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Nebrija said she is optimistic that her dream to have a beautiful Manila is doable, saying Metro Manila has the ingredients to be something of a leading a mega-city in the world.

“We have talent. We have heart. We have family and that sustains us through a lot our hardships but it also helps us find solutions that really help us to see the potential.”

“That is what I want to get to

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in the next six years. That everyone can see beautiful streets and waterways because those are the common places. No matter where you live in Metro Manila or where you work, you have to go on the street every single day.”

“We have our LGUs responsible for their jurisdiction. MMDA is responsible for making sure that all the national policies are implemented in a way in a local level that works on metropolitan level. We’re no longer individuals cities we have to operate as a metropolitan region,” she said.

“What I want to do specifically is coming up with a longterm strategy to have safe, clean and accessible streets and waterways. Most people are coming here for opportunities and I think the develop-

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ment of Metro Manila is also the development of a nation,” she said.

But having a program like that is not an easy task, according to Julia. “We have so many divisions. So, we are linking them under a common vision in meeting our targets and measure our impact over the next six years.”

With a masters degree in urban planning and design with six years of professional consulting experience in metropolitan development with specialties in sustainable transportation and urban revitalization, Nebrija said, she really see herself in the service to Metro Manila.

On August 19, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Nebrija as AGM for Operations along with Thomas Orbos as general manTurn to A2 ager of the MMDA.

Mayor Christopher Cuan

4 MORE BOMBING SUSPECTS NABBED SECURITY forces arrested on Saturday four more suspected members of the Dawla Islamiya Fi CotabatoMaute Group who are believed to have been involved in the Sept. 2 Davao City bomb blast that killed 15 people and wounded 70 others.

Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said the arrests took place at the Southern Philippine Development Authority Compound in Barangay Tamontaka, and along IlangIlang St., Barangay Rosary Heights 7, both in Cotabato City.

Hao identified the suspects as Lalaog Chenikandiyil alias Datu Boi; Jackson Mangulamas Usi alias Abu Mansor/Jam; Zack Villanueva Lopez alias Haron; and Ansan Abdulla Mamasapano alias Abu Hamsa.

Hao said the arrests were made by virtue of a search warrant for illegal firearms issued by Executive Judge Banzawan Ibrahim of Branch 13 of the 12th Judicial Region Cotabato Regional Trial Court upon information provided by a tipster.

The information was verified by follow-up operations made after the arrest last Oct. 4 of the three suspects in the Davao City bombing incident, namely, TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Factural, and Musaili Mustapha. Florante Solmerin

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DUTERTE VOWS AID FOR ARMM

5 PINOY SEAMEN BACK AT HOMES

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he wants to further reduce poverty incidence and improve the situation of the povertystricken Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other areas affected by armed conflict in the country.

Speaking at a forum with officials of the ARMM, Duterte also expressed his appeal to lawmakers to fast-track the constitutional shift to federalism to give opportunities to the Moro people.

“I want the incidence of hunger stopped,” Duterte said as he reminded Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo to step up assistance to Mindanao.

The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier announced that the country’s poverty incidence dropped to 21.6 percent of the population in 2015 from 25.2 percent in 2012 and 26.3 percent in 2009.

The National Economic and Development Authority said this meant there were 1.8 million less poor Filipinos last year, compared to 2012. This also put the Duterte administration’s goal to reduce poverty rate to 17 percent by 2022 on track.

The agency adds that the decline in poverty became more pronounced in recent years. Data showed there were about 1.4 million less poor Filipinos in 2015 than in 2009.

Among families, poverty incidence also fell to a record-low of 16.5 percent in 2015 from 19.7 percent in 2012 and 21 percent in 2006.

In the same speech, Duterte also said federalism should be passed immediately to address the development needs in many areas and reiterated an earlier pronouncement that he would be resigning and give way to a new President.

Recently, members of the House of Representatives’ committee on constitutional amendments approved yesterday the plan to create a constituent assembly or Con-Ass as the mode of amending the 1987 Constitution and shifting to a federal system of government.During the hearing, it was also agreed that a technical working group would be created and tasked to incorporate into one all of the pending resolutions for Con-Ass, including those authored by Reps. Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental and Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte.

UN...

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But Rebong argued that Duterte never empowered police officers to “shoot to kill” any individual suspected of drug crimes and reiterated Duterte only affirmed the right of the police to defend themselves when their lives are endangered.

In its report, the Committee welcomed the adoption of a number of laws that protect and advance economic, social and cultural rights such as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (R.A. No. 10354) in 2012, the Anti-Enforced Disappearances Act (Republic Act No. 10353) in 2012, the Act amending the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 10022) in 2010, and the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act No. 9710) in 2009.

The committee also welcomed the Philippines’ ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 2012.

TEARY RECOLLECTIONS. Filipino sailors (from left) Antonio Libres, Arnel Balbero, Ferdinand Dalit, Elmer Balbero and Akes Edwas raise their fists upon their arrival in Manila on Friday. They later recalled experiences over five years of captivity under Somali pirates. AFP Photo

F

IVE Filipino sailors released after being held hostage by Somali pirates for nearly five years broke down as they were reunited with their families Friday, recounting beatings and abuse.

The seafarers, among 26 hostages freed from the crew of Naham 3 seized south of the Seychelles in March 2012, alternated between tears and laughter as they embraced their loved ones on arrival back in Manila.

“I am so happy. This is what I had been praying for every night: to be with my family this Christmas,” Arnel Balbero, 33, told AFP surrounded by his four siblings at the airport.

“Just to be with my family, even if we have nothing, even if we have only little to eat, I am already happy.”

His sister, Lilia, trembled at the sight of her brother. “It’s like a miracle. We never lost hope he would be freed,” she said.

The Naham 3’s crew, which also included seafarers from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Taiwan, endured the second lon-

gest hostage-taking ever by Somali pirates.

The Filipinos, most of them from poor farming families, arrived back on a flight from Kenya along with four Cambodian seafarers.

The captain of their Omaniflagged vessel died during the hijacking and two other crew members succumbed to illness in captivity.

Balbero’s cousin and fellow exhostage, Elmer, said the Somali pirates had cared little about the health of their captives.

“We asked the pirates for medicine but they did not give us any.

Instead they said, ‘Where is your money?’”

The captives also said they suf-

EXEC:...

RODY...

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Nebrija is a summa cum laude in international affairs from the George Washington University in 2006. She is also a master of arts in urban design from the City Colleges of New York in 2011.

She described herself as an idealistic and energetic woman.

“Just today, I was in the planning office in Marikina introducing myself to staff there and the planning chief told me that I was kind of hyper, and I think my staff here is always chasing me around. I have a lot of energy and I really look on others and I love to be personable.”

“I was a consultant and a freelance before and I am thinking that is very difficult to come to one office everyday, but actually I really enjoyed that so many different resources and expertise is housed in the same building. You can mobilize a lot of resources very quickly.”

Making a plan of a city changes is challenging, she said.

“Every single day, unexpected, unpredictable and being on call 24/7 to solve anything that may happen is definitely challenging.

Something is happening in Caloocan, Muntinlupa and Quezon City at the same time and you try to figure out how can you solve those things.”

“I think it is very good in MMDA that we have a good network to all of these cities. We have district offices, people who were knowledgeable to be able to dispatch and that’s a very big asset in an organization like ours.”

Prior to her appointment, Nebrija was a consultant of the agency from February to June and she helped in developing a roadmap for the 2016 Road Sharing Budget and creating a long-term transportation strategy connecting Metro Manila and making alternative transportation a viable option.

Before the MMDA, Nebrija was an urban specialist of the World Bank in the Philippines for more than six years, doing research on metropolitan and transportation governance.

“I worked with the MMDA before as consul-

fered beatings at the hands of the pirates.

“In our first week, they called it our introduction. They used bamboo to beat us,” said Arnel Balbero.

To survive, the Filipinos did chores for their captors, washing their clothes and even their weapons.

“We took it as a chance to also wash. We couldn’t take a bath often because they only gave us a liter of water each day,” Elmer Balbero, 37, said.

Hugging his two teenage daughters, Elmer said it was thoughts of seeing his family again that kept him going throughout the ordeal.

“I did not even recognize them,” he said of his children. “When I left they were still so small.” AFP

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tant both with the World Bank and so I’m pretty familiar with the agency and I think the agency has a bigger role in leading the development in Metro Manila,” she said.

“I think being collaborative and being creative is my strength. So, my strength I believe is more on being able to collaborate which is very important. But there are a lot of things I want to learn in the agency. There’s a lot that has to be done and I still learning those.”

From March to June this year, Nebrija was also a consultant of the Intramuros Administration tasked with crafting and revising policies related to urban revitalization in Walled City.

“My responsibilities include implementing art and cultural programming,” said Nebrija, a cofounder and executive director of Viva Manila, an organization with a mission to revitalize Manila through arts and culture.

“My management style, I guess, a little bit of micromanaging. I follow up a lot of things and I constantly texting, calling, emailing and making sure that things are moving forward. I like specific task being assigned to specific people and some people,” said Nebrija.

“One accomplishment I had last year was I was able to bike all the 17 [local government units] in Metro Manila. That was very interesting I spent almost two weeks just biking around to see Metro Manila, try to understand it better and I think that was very eye opening experience for me,” she said.

“I am also very proud being part of the Inclusive Mobility Advocacy, a lot of passionate and advocates working for decades to bring more attention to the needs of people who walk, bike, who commute, persons with disabilities who can’t use our public transport system. I am very happy to have been to still to be a part of that movement and make sure that what were doing considers the needs of all users not just cars.” “[But] I think one of my biggest accomplishments is being able to build my life here,” she said.

the launching of P59 billion worth of anti-poverty projects at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center in Cotabato City.

“Believe me. You will see in my hometown that the teeth of elderly people are worn out, just like drug addicts.

Whenever they have money, they spend it on shabu. I said, you sons...,” Duterte said stopping himself, then quickly told his audience. “You watch over me.”

But aside from that instance, Duterte kept his word that he will no longer utter an expletive during his 30-minute speech.

On Friday, Duterte said he was on his return flight from a three-day official visit to Japan when he heard a small voice while everyone was asleep saying he would cause the plane to crash if he did not stop swearing.

But if he was able to keep himself from cursing, Duterte resumed his tirade against offenses he attributed to the United States.

“You talk to us as if we are still your colony, that we’re your servants,” Duterte said, referring to American officials. “When you give aide, there are many conditions.”

“You have always been like that, your regard for us is too low. You think we are still your puppets,” he added.

Duterte reiterated that instead of sending him to prison or treating him like a dog on a leash who won’t be fed if he didn’t behave, the Americans should help in solving the problem.

During his state visit to China two weeks ago, Duterte pushed his foreign policy pivot from the US and declared he will no longer go to the US and will be realigning himself with China and Russia.

“I will not go to America anymore” for assistance because “we will just be insulted there,” Duterte said of the Philippines’ closest ally since independence in 1946.

“I realign myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin. There are three of us against the world. China, Philippines, Russia,” Duterte told Chinese government officials and business leaders who attended the Philippines-China Trade and Investment Forum.

With the “separation” from the US, Duterte said he would now be relying on the Chinese officials and businessmen.

“I announce my separation from the United States both in the military but economics also,” Duterte said. “I have separated from them so I will be dependent on you for a long time but don’t worry we will also help.”

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SMOKE FREE PH PUSHED

By Joel E. Zurbano

FIRST IN ASIA. A 117-year-old photograph from the United States Library of Congress shows a gathering of Filipinos for the inauguration of the first Philippine Republic—also the first in Asia—in Malolos, Bulacan on Jan. 23, 1899.

HOUSE WANTS FIRST REPUBLIC HOLIDAY T

HE House of Representatives, voting 256-1, approved on third and final reading House Bill 477 seeking to declare Jan. 23 of every year a special working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the declaration of the First Philippine Republic.

The committee on revision of laws, chaired

by Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn L. PrimiciasAgabas, endorsed for plenary approval House Bill 477 authored by Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio R. Sy-Alvarado, who said the holiday will commemorate the declaration of the First Philippine Republic on Jan. 23, 1899 at the Barasoain Church in the City of Malolos in Bulacan.

The bill is a refiled proposal that was approved on third and final reading during the

16th Congress.

The bill declares Jan. 23 of every year as “The First Philippine Republic Day” and shall be a special working holiday in the entire country.

“The significance of Jan. 23, 1899 is that the First Philippine Republic came into being as the sovereign choice of the people. It was a conscious choice to reject a dictatorial and revolutionary government and establish for all the future Filipino generations the groundwork for democracy,” said Sy-Alvarado.

As the First Republic in Asia, he said, Filipinos are proud of their strong democratic and republican ideals as a nation. He said it was on June 12, 1898 when General Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines free from the yoke of foreign subjugation.

“The upheaval of nationalistic fervor leading to our independence was followed with cool and calm, which was thought to make the gains for Philippine democracy and republicanism more lasting and permanent through the enactment of the first organic law for the Philippine Republic,” said Sy-Alvarado.

Hence, he said, it is of much importance that Filipinos need to commemorate Jan. 23 every year. “The beginning of Filipino democracy and self-government, indigenously concluded, magnifies the political maturity and readiness of our forefathers at the turn of that century,” said Sy-Alvarado.

The lawmaker said the beliefs and aspirations of Filipinos as a nation, united in pursuit for life, liberty and enjoyment of the benefits of their democracy, is encapsulated by the nation’s rich and noble history.

“I hope that we can give due recognition with this great feat and achievement of our forefathers in commemorating Jan. 23 as a national holiday,” he said.

The National Historical Commission, in coordination with the Department of Education, shall plan and implement activities for “The First Philippine Republic Day” and ensure that the significance of the historical event will continue to inspire and instill pride among Filipinos on the rich and noble history of the nation. PNA

A NON-GOVERNMENT organization appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to make the Philippines smoke-free by enforcing a nationwide smoking ban in public places and government offices.

“We are for a smoke-free Philippines, and we believe you are, too,” said Health Justice Philippines, which stated that aside from Republic Act 9211 (Tobacco Regulation Act of 2013), there are several measures prohibiting smoking in public places and conveyances in the country.

These include city ordinances, and other government policies ban smoking in centers of youth activity, restaurants, food and beverage preparation areas and other public spaces such as Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Memorandum Circular 2009-036 (in public vehicles and terminals), and Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular 17 (in government premises).

“But these are not well-enforced,” the HJP said. “Enforce our smoke-free laws now. Protect public health now. Make the Philippines smoke-free now.”

According to HJP, at least 240 Filipinos die every day from smoking-related diseases. It added exposure to second-hand smoke increases a nonsmoker’s chance of developing lung cancer by 20 percent to 30 percent.

“No amount of second-hand smoke will ever be safe, and no one should be permitted to irresponsibly place other people’s lives and health in peril by exposing them to secondhand smoke. We must lose no time in providing a smoke-free environment for our children and families,” the group said.

Health Justice Philippines is an NGO established in 2009 that aims to bridge the gap between public health and law in the country to enable Filipinos to make informed and empowered health choices.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health is also expecting President Duterte to sign an executive order on a nationwide smoking ban within the year.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said “We already submitted a draft EO urging the President and all government agencies to start implementing a smoking ban like the one in Davao City.”

MYANMAR REPORTS ZIKA CASE MYANMAR said a pregnant foreign woman has been diagnosed with the country’s first case of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus linked to birth defects.

The World Health Organization warned earlier this month that Zika was likely to spread throughout Asia after being detected in 70 countries, including at least 19 in the AsiaPacific region.

While the virus has been present in Southeast Asia for years, there has been an uptick in the number of recorded cases in recent months.

“Authorities confirmed the infection in the 32-year-old foreign woman yesterday following a laboratory test,” the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported Friday.

Soe Lwin Nyein, the director of Myanmar’s public health department, told reporters she was the country’s “first Zika victim”.

He did not disclose the woman’s nationality but said she had been living in Myanmar for several years and was currently in Yangon, the country’s largest city.

Zika causes only mild symptoms in most people, including fever, sore eyes and a rash.

But pregnant women with the virus risk giving birth to babies with microcephaly—a deformation that leads to abnormally small brains and heads.

A WHO report released this month warned that Asian countries should expect to see “new cases and possibly new outbreaks of Zika”.

It said the virus is “highly likely to further spread in the region” which includes China, Japan, Australia, most Southeast Asian nations and the Pacific islands. AFP

MESIONA

YOUNG BISHOP NAMED

By Vito Barcelo

CARDINAL JOINS FIGHT VS ZIKA MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has joined in spreading the word to children and families about the Zika virus as the number of cases continues to rise in the country.

The cardinal has a pastoral guidance which aims to help raise awareness about the mosquitoborne disease, and linked to serious birth defects.

Eradicating potential mosquito breeding sites and protecting pregnant women are among the key messages of the guideline released this month to parishes and Catholic schools in Manila.

The cardinal particularly asked the faithful to adopt the “4S” strategy of the Health department against the mosquito carrying Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases.

The 4S means Search and destroy mosquito-breeding places, use Self-protection measures, Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than 2 days and Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak.

The cardinal also said everyone should be attentive to the following symptoms: fever, rash, joint pains, malaise, headache and conjunctivitis.

He said if symptoms persist, one should seek medical care and advice.

“Let us pray that God may protect us. Let us take preventive methods by providing protection to our homes, parishes, and the whole community,” Tagle said.

On Friday, the Health department said two new cases of Zika virus were recorded in Cavite bringing the total number of Zika cases in the country to 19.

Zika virus is a disease caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which is the same vector carrying dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.

POPE Francis has appointed Fr. Socrates Mesiona as the new bishop of Puerto Princesa in Palawan province, replacing the 77-year-old Bishop Pedro Arigo, who resigned after serving the diocese for 20 years.

Mesiona, a known missiologist, will be the seventh bishop of the vicariate since its establishment in 1910.

The 53-year-old bishop-elect is currently the executive secretary of the CBCP’s Commission on Mission and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Philippines.

Mesiona was born in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Sept. 17, 1963.

After his secondary school studies, he studied Philosophy at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran and Theology at the Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay City.

He was ordained a priest on April 14, 1989 as a member of the Mission Society of the Philippines, where he also served as its former Superior General.

In 1996, the bishop-elect also obtained a Licentiate in Missiology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 Francis S. Lagniton, Issue Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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CATHOLICS URGED: PRAY & DON’T LITTER

By Vito Barcelo

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s the nation prepares to celebrate the traditional Undas, or memorial days for departed loved ones, the Catholic church appealed to the faithful to offer prayers for the dead instead of succumbing to commercialism and even appealed for the public not to litter on hallowed grounds.

YOU, ME AND FRANKENSTEIN. A couple appears to be indifferent to each other at a unique bus stop fashioned by food maker NutriAsia at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig as part of its promotion for All Souls’ Day next week. Sonny Espiritu

“Huwag magkalat [Don’t litter]!! Your deceased loved ones need prayers, not garbage,” the Archdiocese of Manila said in a statement.

Millions of the faithful are expected to flock to the cemeteries in commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2.

“Since 2005, we have called on people to practice an ‘eco-friendly undas’,” according to Lou Valencia Arsenio, program coordinator of the Archdiocese of Manila Ministry on Ecology.

“Undas” is widely observed in the Philippines.

Families and friends traditionally visit cemeteries to hold gatherings around the graves of their departed loved ones and to offer flowers and candles. But in most cases, they leave them garbage.

“Our appeal takes on a special significance this year in the context of the Jubilee of Mercy and in the light of Pope Francis’ teachings in the encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ wherein the Holy Father called on the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges,” Arsenio said.

“Mercy to God’s creation is mercy to the next generations… Our appeal ‘Magdasal at Huwag Magkalat’ (‘Pray and do not litter’) is our concrete way of reminding the faithful to embody the call of the Jubilee of Mercy and the teachings of ‘Laudato Si,” he said, referring to the last encyclical of Pope Francis.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called on the faithful to take the encyclical “seriously.”

The challenge now is to turn the document into action, especially the call to “integral ecological conversion,” the prelate said.

“Let us take the bold step of reviewing and changing our lifestyles, our patterns of consumption, of spending,” Tagle said.

Praying for the living and the dead is one of the seven spiritual works of mercy, he added.

NETIZENS WARNED VS POSTING SELFIES

By Joel E. Zurbano LAW enforcers on Saturday advised families on vacation to avoid taking “selfie” photos indicating their location because criminal elements, especially members of the so-called “AkyatBahay Gang,” might take advantage of their absence from home.

“Make sure that our homes’ doors are also properly locked before we go on a trip. Be cautious in posting location status update on social media,” the National Capital Region Police Office stated in its latest advisory in connection with the observance of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. The authorities said people taking a “selfie” while on vacation outside their home and posting travel (road trip) photos on the social media, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, may give the criminals that they can easily break into homes.

NCRPO chief Oscar Albayalde also reminded residents of Metro Manila who will travel to the provinces to secure their respective homes, unplug electrical appliances and make sure that all points of entry are locked.

Petty crimes such as burglary, car theft, robbery, and snatching are common during the holidays, according to the Philippine National Police.

Motorists traveling to the provinces are also reminded to check their vehicles’ battery, light, oil, water, brakes, air, gas, engine, tire and their selves before embarking on a trip.

Albayalde also encouraged the public to report immediately any untoward incident to the established Police Assistance Desks in 99 cemeteries and nearest police stations.

“Please do help our policemen to ensure

peace and order during this holiday Undas 2016,” he said.

The NCRPO deployed more than 9,000 police personnel to secure orderly situation in cemeteries, bus terminals, airports and seaports and other crowded places in Metro Manila.

In 2014, TIME Magazine has recognized the Phil-

ippines, especially the cities of Makati, Pasig and Cebu as “Selfie Capital of the World” for having the most number of people taking selfies per capita than any other city worldwide.

The cities of Makati and Pasig posted 258 selftakers per 100,000 people, making it number one in the list of 459 cities evaluated by the magazine.

TOKENS OF REMEMBRANCE. A vendor arranges flowers that are now in high demand as the country prepares to celebrate the national remembrance days for the dead on Nov. 1 and 2. Lino Santos

RODY GIVES ARMM P59B THE Duterte administration has earmarked almost P59 billion to projects under the Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other areas affected by armed conflict in Mindanao such as Regions 9, 10 and 12, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority said on Saturday.

The CRDA aims to uplift the lives of Filipinos and ease poverty in Mindanao. It includes projects and programs that will provide business opportunities to encourage more economic activities and pump prime growth in the region.

“Providing the basic needs, infrastructure improvement and economic development are among the priorities of our agency,” noted Tesda Director General Guiling Mamondiong.

The Tesda chief said that he was tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to coordinate with other agencies in solving poverty in the South.

The projects of the CRDA include the Salintubig Program, Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB), Water Supply and Community Infrastructure, and the Roads and Bridges of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

For the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the projects allotted for are the Reducing Vulnerability of Children from Hunger and Malnutrition in ARMM; Cash for Work for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program; Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens; Supplemental Feeding Program; and, Sustainable Livelihood Program.

John Paolo Bencito

AIRPORT SECURITY MAXED THE Manila International Airport Authority is implementing maximum security measures at four Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals in connection with the All Saints and All Souls holiday exodus.

MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal ordered the deployment of 400 Airport Police Department personnel, whom he said, will be coordinated closely with men from the Police-Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) in manning the entrances of the airport terminals and outer perimeters.

Monreal also imposed a no day-off and leave of absence policy, which covers all personnel of the APD, as a matter of procedure during full alert status.

The move, according to Monreal, is part of the agency’s program to ensure the orderly situation and the safety of arriving and departing passengers outside and inside the four terminals, especially Naia Terminal 3 where a huge volume of passengers are expected.

He also advised passengers to be at the airport early to give them lead time to go through the heightened security being enforced.

These measures include longer security checks at the entrance and exit points of airport terminals. Joel E. Zurbano

B1

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Opinion

EDITORIAL

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE

HORROR-FUL WORDS FOR HALLOWEEN IT’S that most spooky time of the year again, and reading classic and contemporary tales of terror is one of the surest ways to get that delightful frisson of fear crawling up your spine.

The genre is well-represented by talented writers who have managed to frighten countless readers over the centuries.

The most familiar to many is Edgar Allan Poe, whose disturbing works are required reading in some literature classes. A family favorite is “The Cask of Amontillado;” my daughters and I have memorized the first few lines.

A story about revenge served cold, it ends with the protagonist literally getting away with murder. Check out Youtube for readings of this story by Christopher Lee, Basil Rathbone, and Vincent Price (the latter’s maniacal laughter at the end is particularly creepy).

I am also partial to the Victorian and Edwardian writers, who were among the most masterful in their handling of the genre. Foremost among the writers of that era is M. R. James, a medievalist scholar of Cambridge who redefined the ghost story by using realistic, modern settings. Drawing on his personal experiences and knowledge as a scholar, James made many of his protagonists professors, students, or other academic folk, who have to deal with cursed items—books, drawings, a dollhouse, a whistle, a crown—and shake off visitors of a demonic nature.

James’ approach is deft and subtle, and thus all the more terrifying because he delivers a creeping, insidious fear without resorting to gore or violence. “Canon Alberic’s Scrapbook” summons a demon that haunts the book’s new buyer; “Lost Hearts” tells how ghostly orphans deliver an overdue comeuppance to an utterly despicable murderer; “The Treasure of Abbot Thomas” describes how the loathsome but faithful guardian of a hoard of gold torments would-be treasure hunters; and “A View From a Hill” reveals the nasty origin of a pair of binoculars that can see into the past.

Another master of disaster was Sheridan Le Fanu, whose works are frequently anthologized, among them “Green Tea.” The dialect he used in “Madam Crowl’s Ghost” will take some plodding through, but the description of elite lifestyles in the 18th century and the denouement that reveals Crowl’s guilty secret are worth the effort.

Those enamored of tales of the Raj should read Rudyard Kipling’s “The Phantom Rickshaw” (guilt and deception), “The Mark of the Beast” (retribution for disrespecting local religious customs), and “At the End of the Passage,” an ambiguous story that invites speculation on why one of the protagonists suffers a

CHARACTERS A

MERICANS have just over a week to make up their minds and elect their next president.

The candidates could not be more different from one another.

On one hand is a lawyer, former first lady, senator and state secretary, knowledgeable, formidable, logical.

On the other hand is a billionaire who has gained notoriety for his unsubstantiated p r o nouncements and sexist b e havior. He has called his opponent a “nasty woman” and often says she is all talk and no action.

The results will have implications for Filipinos whether or not they have family there: For example, what will Philippine-US relations be like should either candidate win, in the light of our own President Duterte’s articulated statements against the US? Will the US economy respond to political results and how will other economies, including ours, be affected? Will we be any less, or more, secure from terror?

More than these long-term implications, the campaign has been exciting even for us Filipinos because we are no strangers to personality politics. We fol-

low the debates or read up on the candidates, not so much for their positions on national and global issues but because of their colorful characteristics and checkered pasts.

It’s human nature, perhaps. We here, for instance, earned the President we now have because of his maverick appeal. Rodrigo Duterte won, though not by a majority, because he presented himself to be the stark opposite of the familiar faces in politics who had said too much and done too little.

We are now living with the consequence of the plurality’s choice—and we don’t know yet whether it would turn out to be good or bad. So far the signs have been unnerving: cursing indiscriminately, making enemies of old friends, trash talking just about anyone, hearing the voice of God, for crying out loud.

The choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton seems obvious, but it appears many are willing to take the chance. If only for the implications of electing a caricature, we wish the Americans well, and may their good sense prevail.

Turn to B2

MUSIC FOR CAUSE LONG STORY SHORT ADELLE CHUA

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Jodeline Michaela Penson started playing the violin when she was four years old. Today, she is the concertmaster of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra and she does not mind the long hours she and her co-

members spend together in rehearsals and performances.

“We’re like one big happy family now,” she says.

One such reason to spend time as family is preparing for Strings Like Teen

Spirit, the MSJO’s fundraising concert this Saturday, November 5, 7:30 in the evening at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino-CCP Little Theater.

The 30 or so members of the youth orchestra are looking for a home. Proceeds

from the concert will go to the renovation of interiors of their recital hall at the Circuit Lane in Circuit Makati—what used to be the Sta. Ana racetrack. This new venue should be an improvement over their practice venues along the Turn to B2

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Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.thestandard. com.ph; e-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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B2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HORROR-FUL...

From A1

relentless insomnia that drives him to hallucination and death.

Most, if not all of these classic works may be read for free on the Internet.

In the modern era, the name “Stephen King” is synonymous with horror the world over, thanks to his best-selling books in the genre that he regularly churns out.

Many of his works have been made into movies that were the stuff of our adolescent nightmares; because of them we fear clowns (It), vampires (Salem’s Lot), and large dogs (Cujo).

King’s use of language is genius, the tone and flow so attractive and hypnotic that his books have often been described as “unputdownable.”

A National Medal of Arts awardee in 2015, he was hailed for being “one of the most popular and prolific writers of our time,” combining “his remarkable storytelling with his sharp analysis of human nature.”

While some might find his novels, particularly the latter ones, slow and meandering (Duma Key, The Cell), his short stories are always gripping.

Among his short story collections, my favorites are Night Shift (containing “Children of the Corn,” which was later adapted into a feature film), Different Seasons, Skeleton Crew, Four Past Midnight, and Nightmares and Dreamscapes.

His latest collection, The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, is now out in paperback.

The tome leads with “Mile 81,” at once a story of courage, curiosity, altruism, and mind-shattering fright, starring brave children, clueless adults, and a haunted car. He has used these themes to good effect before (It, Christine), but in his hands they gain new life in this story.

For those who want to explore this genre further, short story anthologies are an efficient and affordable way to get a broad overview of the different styles and themes.

Happy Halloween! Let me leave you with a warning from M. R. James: “Be careful how you handle the packet you pick up in the carriage-drive, particularly if it contains nail-parings and hair. Do not, in any case bring it into the house. It may not be alone…”

Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer. Follow her on Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember.

MY STORY starts with me staring up at the night sky, laughing to myself, in the middle of a residential street in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Let me provide some context.

Because of the weather, it’s been months since I have last seen actual stars. Virtual, digital stars I am used to seeing. I teach the basics of stargazing and astronomy almost every Sunday at The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City.

The museum has a modest planetarium where I can project a virtual sky. I use this virtual sky to teach how to use the stars to navigate, tell the time, find planets, enjoy meteor showers, and more. When I feel like it, I also use the virtual sky to take my “passengers” (my audience) on a virtual voyage across space.

A virtual sky has many advantages over the real sky. In a virtual sky, I can get rid of clouds. I can even get rid of the light pollution and the atmosphere, if I want.

I can also control the time, making it go fast or go on reverse. This allows me to show the guests the patterns of the sky’s motions. Lastly, I can project the shapes of the constellations against the virtual night sky.

That said, nothing beats the magic of the real night sky, even if that night sky is

MUSIC...

From A1 halls of some Glorietta malls, where they are able to entertain and inspire shoppers despite the lack of technical (acoustic) reinforcements.

For Saturday’s concert, the children—ages ranging from nine to 18— will play the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart alongside contemporary, popular pieces of Queen, Michael Jackson, Coldplay, Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana.

Tickets for the show come at P1,000 each and are available at Ticketworld, MSO Music Academy branches (Taft Avenue and Glorietta 5) and at the CCP. Donations and sponsorships come in packages of P10,000, P30,000 and

SPECIAL REPORT

By Virgilio C. Galvez PART II FEDERALISM has long been imagined

as an alternative to the current system of government. Its proponents admit, however, that it is not the silver bullet that will slay the monsters of poverty, corruption, and inequality that continue to plague the nation.

The Abueva draft

“A federal-parliamentary democracy is not proposed as a panacea or cure all for our myriad ills as a nation. There is no such thing as a cure all,”says Jose V. Abueva, chairman of the Citizen’s Movement for a Federal Philippines (CMFP), in his paper on federalism.

He views it as the appropriate structure that will nurture and promote ‘good governance’ and facilitate the “redistribution of power, wealth and opportunities in our unjust society ruled by an oligarchy.”

Abueva headed the Consultative Commission created on Aug. 19, 2005 by then President Gloria Arroyo to draft a new charter. In December, Abueva submitted a draft proposing a federal system and liberalization of the economic provisions in the 1987 constitution.

Arroyo, however, dropped the federalism proposal and only pushed for the adoption of a unicameral, parliamentary government through a people’s initiative. The Supreme Court would eventually junk, by an 8-7 vote, a petition for the holding of a plebiscite on the draft amendment.

The proposed Federal Republic in the Abueva draft would have a federal government based in Clark Economic Zone, in Angeles, Pampanga and 11 regional Estados or governments: 1.

Bangsamoro (ARMM), 2. Davao region and Central Mindanao, 3. Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao, 4.

Central and Eastern Visayas, 5. Western Visayas-Palawan, 6. Southern Luzon, 8.

Metro Manila (NCR), 9. Central Luzon, 10.

Cordillera, and 11. Northern Luzon.

The Federal government would be responsible only for national security and defense, foreign relations, currency and monetary policy, citizenship, civil, political and other human rights, immigration, customs, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Tribunal, and the Court of Appeal, and such functions of federal governments.

The 11 Estados and the local governments, on the other hand, would take care of functions and services “that impact directly on the lives of the people including peace and justice; agriculture and fisheries; energy, environment and natural resources; trade, industry and tourism, labor and employment, public works, transportation and communication; health; basic education, science and technology; culture (language, culture and the arts); social welfare and development; and public safety and police.”

THE FEDERALIST PAPERS Parlamento

In Abueva’s draft, the executive and legislative powers would be lodged in the Parlamento which shall be divided into the House of the People (Sambayanan) and the House of the States (Balay Estados or Senado).

Sambayanan representatives will be elected in parliamentary districts while Senadores will be elected by members of the Batasang Estados or State Assemblies.

The Parlamento will elect the Prime Minister from among themselves, who will, in turn, form a Cabinet composed mostly of members of the Parlamento. A ceremonial President will be elected for a term of 5 years by the Parlamento and State Assemblies.

Judicial power will be vested in a Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.

A Constitutional Tribunal will also be created which will solely resolve disputes involving the constitutionality of the decisions and actions of the Federal government and the States.

A Federal Civil Service shall also be created which will be source of professional career executives and administrative staff of the Federal government.

Regional government

As envisioned in the Abueva draft, the State Assembly exercises executive and legislative powers. The members of the Assembly will be elected from each State Assembly district, except for Metro Manila whose assembly will be composed of the mayors of the local government units.

The State Assembly will elect a State Governor and Vice Governor. The Governor will form the State Council (Cabinet) who will be composed mostly of members of the State Assembly.

Local government units that exist at the time of the new constitution’s approval will be retained. Judicial power will be lodged in a State Superior Court, Regional Trial Courts, Municipal Courts and other inferior courts. A State Civil Service will also be created at the regional government level.

The Abueva Parlamento will be composed of 299 representatives in the Batasang Estado and 28 Senadores in the Balay Estados.

Transitions

Recognizing the uneven political, economic, fiscal, and administrative capacities of the proposed regional Estados and resources within their jurisdictions, the Abueva draft proposes a transition period of 10 years from the adoption of the new charter.

“The more developed and ready among the States shall become fully operative on the first five years…and the less developed in the next five years.” It provides however that the Bangsamoro and Cordillera federal regions “shall be enabled to become operative in the first five years.”

Araneta Bayanikasan

One of the first advocates of Federalism was Dr. Salvador Z. Araneta who presented his draft Bayanikasan Constitution to the 1972 Constitutional Convention.

Araneta, a nationalist and advocate of Filipino First policies, coined Bayanikasan from the phrase Lakas ng Bayan which he said reflects the “the strength each citizen must possess to build a ‘good society, a great nation.’

His draft charter was endorsed by the Philippine Constitutional Association but did not gain support from a convention that was embroiled in the political maneuvers of the day—with the delegates divided into anti and proMarcos camps.

A distinguishing feature of the proposed Federal Republic envisioned

by Araneta is that power is shared by a troika—the President, Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament. This will also be the case for the regional state governments.

Collective leadership

The Federal Troika will be elected

by Parliament and renounce all party affiliations upon their election to office.

The top three in the voting shall be elected as President, Prime Minister, and Speaker of Parliament.

Araneta dismissed concerns that his idea would be a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth because the Bayanikasan troika would each be working on different dishes.

The President shall supervise the Ministry of National Identity, Culture and Education, the Ministry of National Affairs, and the Ministry of National Defense, as well as the Authorities that may be created, and are related to those ministries.

The Prime Minister has jurisdiction over all other Ministries of the Federal Government related to the domestic and economic problems and such Authorities, as may be created to support those Ministries.

The Speaker of Parliament shall preside at all the meetings of Parliament and direct its affairs. He will also decide on all conflicts of jurisdiction between the President and the Prime Minister. In addition, he will participate in the preparation of the program of government to be submitted annually and from time to time to Parliament.”

Five regional states

Araneta’s draft proposes the creation of regional states: Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, Christian Mindanao, and Muslim Mindanao. Metro Manila will be the seat of the Federal government which shall have control over the capital.

The unicameral Parliament, whose representatives will come from each State, will be responsible for the delineation of the boundaries of the five States.

The State Troika will be made up of a Governor General, the Premier, and

WHY WE ARE STAR STUFF

the Speaker of the State assembly. The Governor General shall have jurisdiction over peace and order, justice, culture, education, media, and all matters related to the development of human resources “in the spirit of an effective and meaningful democracy for all,” as well as interstate and State and Federal relations.

The Premier shall have supervision over natural resources and economic development while the Speaker of the State assembly shall have the corresponding powers and duties of the Speaker of Parliament.

Araneta favored a unicameral body because it would do away with gridlock in the legislative mill and would “avoid wastage of materials and human resources.”

Members of parliament will be composed of elected representatives from the Regional States, whose numbers will depend on the population within its jurisdiction, and whose terms, at least for the first election, will be limited to six years (for those elected with the highest number of votes) and to three years (for those elected with lowest number of votes).

An act of Parliament can be vetoed by the President and Prime Minister but Parliament can override this with a vote of 60 percent of its members.

Judiciary

Another innovative feature of the Araneta’s draft is the proposal to create a Constitutional Tribunal which is co-equal to the Supreme Court. He also pushed for the creation of Special Courts of Original Jurisdiction under the Trihunal to handle all cases involving Public Law. Araneta defines public law as laws involving the State including impeachment proceedings, declaration of the unconstitutionality of an Act of the Legislative or the exercise of Executive powers, taxation cases, public utility cases, conflicts of jurisdiction between different government bodies, between the State government and Federal government and the supervision formerly exercised by the President over the three Constitutional Commissions—Electoral, Civil Service, and Audit.

The Tribunal also had jurisdiction over cases against public officials, and election disputes.

The Supreme Court, on the other hand, would “deal solely with those cases pertaining to private laws and would speed up the backlog of cases as well as those pending in courts.”

Appointees to the Supreme Court are made by the Chief Justice with the consent of the Constitutional Tribunal.

Appointments will have to be approved by the Commission on Appointments and will hold office until the age of 65.

Knowing full well that the adoption of federalism would take time, Araneta proposes a 10-20-year transition period and recommends that a Caretaker government manage the transformation into a Federal Republic.

Continued tomorrow

the light- and air-polluted sky of the big city.

And this brings us back to the start of my story.

I was walking to my house one night this week when I happened to look up.

Orion, Taurus, Gemini, and Canis Major were all high in the sky. Being so used to seeing their virtual versions, it struck me how marvelous the real ones were. I thought to myself, those are real stars I am looking at! I am looking at light from huge balls of gas burning so far, far away.

Then I remembered two facts about the sky I’ve always loved. First, when you are looking up to the night sky you are looking at so many layers of the past.

Second, staring at stars is staring at furnaces where the very stuff that makes us up was made. And I was there, basking in the time-travelling light of those stuffbaking furnaces. I couldn’t help but stand there for several moments, laughing to myself at how weird existence was.

Allow me to explain.

When I said that looking up into the night sky is looking into so many layers of the past, that’s because it’s literally true.

The stars are so far away that even light, which travels across space at the fastest speed the universe allows, takes years to reach us here on Earth.

So when I was looking at Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, I was looking at light that left Sirius almost nine years ago. I was 19 years old when that light left Sirius; now I am 28.

And Sirius is the near one. The stars of the Pleiades, or what many Filipinos call “the Rosary,” are on average 400 lightyears away. That means light from those stars had to travel 400 years to get to you and me.

When I said stars are the furnaces where the stuff making us up was made, I was not making stuff up. We literally are made of star stuff.

That’s quite a fantastic thing to say, so let me say it again some other way. Most of the stuff making us up— most of the atoms of our bodies—came from stars.

One principle in science goes as follows: extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. To say that we are made of star stuff is quite an extraordinary claim. In my opinion, it’s more extraordinary that many of the stories of ancient myths. What’s really amazing then is that we have the extraordinary evidence to back it up. So yes, it is true: you are made of star stuff.

A little bit more accurately, you are made of star dust. You really, truly are.

Isn’t that marvelous?

Here’s how we know it. When we burn elements in the lab, we see that each element releases a unique “fingerprint” in the light they release as they burn.

Hence, if we look at light from, say, the Sun, we just need to look at what fingerprints are there.

When we analyze light coming from the Sun, we see that it’s mostly hydrogen and helium. As a matter of fact, helium got its name from the Greek personification of the Sun, Helios. It’s the same for almost every other star.

There’s no surprise there. When the universe formed some 13.8 billion years ago, it started with mostly just hydrogen and helium.

But hydrogen and helium are not enough to make up planets like the Earth.

They’re not enough to make up people, or flowers, or butterflies. For those, you need other stuff, like calcium (that can be for the bones), oxygen (that’s to combine with hydrogen to form water), and carbon (to make up the backbone of the most complex molecules in our bodies), among others.

We know for a fact that these elements were mostly made inside stars. We know that because we understand how stars burn. They don’t burn the usual way, like things here on

Earth. Instead, they burn by smashing together different elements to form new ones.

And here’s the clincher. We know that because when we analyze the light coming from the stars, we find that they are made not only of hydrogen and helium, they are also made of the other things that make us up.

So given the extraordinary evidence, scientists can make the extraordinary claim that the stuff that makes up people was cooked inside stars.

How did it get to us? Well, the stars had to die first. In their death throws, they exploded with a burst of light and star dust.

This star dust scattered across the universe, some of it eventually falling on the newly forming Solar System, seeding that Solar System with the ingredients to make planets, trees, whales, birds, and people.

So you and I really are made of star dust.

Now try to think of that the next time you see stars in the night sky and not laugh to your self at how ridiculous and marvelous the universe is. I bet you can’t do it.

P100,000.

“The music guides me to be a better person for myself and my fellowmen,” says 17-year-old violist Angel Joyce Esteban, who started playing at age 13.

And she does not stop there. “To learn music is to discover life. One of my goals is to collect different instruments and learn how to play them all. So far, I have seven of them.”

The children are ably guided by their conductor, Professor Jeffrey Solares. He says he does not consider what they do as entertainment, per se. “Our mission is closer to education or human development. What we try to sell are goods for the spirit—things that nurture the soul.”

Visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or call the MSO Academy at 09164087549 for details. ***

Meanwhile, 36-year-old pianist and harpist Ryan Villamor believes that jazz in the Philippines needs awakening and hard work. The Ryan Villamor Trio performed last week at Jazz Sessions at the Ayala Museum, an event organized by

The trio performed 15 songs, a mix of jazzy renditions of pop tunes, standards, and sounds for introspection.

The central pieces during the show, however, were those that carried a deeply personal theme for Villamor— Ugoy ng Duyan, and two compositions, Laging Kasama and Bedside, both for Villamor’s mother. She is battling Stage 4 ovarian cancer which doctors say has metastasized to the stomach.

Most of us are familiar with Ugoy ng Duyan, a lullabye about a mother’s love. “Sana’y di magmaliw ang dati kong araw/ Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay.”

Laging Kasama evokes Villamor’s memories of the time when, as a young boy, his mother brought him everywhere she went because he did not have a nanny.

Bedside, on the other hand, was drawn from Villamor’s sentiments and reflections while caring for his mom.

One is awed by the skill of the performers, but even more so by the depth and intensity of Villamor’s love for his ailing mother, now undergoing a thrice-weekly hydrogen peroxide infusion treatment, and his desire to help her manage her pain. “The family is still hoping for a miracle,” he says.

The Ryan Villamor Trio will have benefit gigs for Ryan’s mother’s treatment.

The gigs will be on November 5 at Bar 1951 in Malate and November 19 at Tago Jazz Cafe on Main Avenue, near Cubao. Tickets sell for P300 each.

Text 09177189840 or search Ryan Villamor Music on Facebook for details.

Sometimes you play; sometimes you play for something. the Ayala Foundation in partnership with Tago Jazz Cafe. The trio—Ryan on piano, Given Bacani on drums and Josh Tulagan on bass—showcased its brand of “intuitive music” to an intimate audience.

(Pecier Decierdo is the resident physicist and astronomer of The Mind Museum.)

adellechua@gmail.com

B3

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 390, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Manila

Republic of the Philippines StandardENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

TODAY

World

HURRICANE DAMAGE IN HAITI HITS NEARLY $2B

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATTION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SN ABOITIZ POWERMAGAT, INC., WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

IN THE MATTER OF APPLICATION THE FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATTION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SN ABOITIZ POWER BENGUET, INC., WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ERC CASE NO. 2016-164 RC

ERC CASE NO. 2016-165 RC

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATTION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP) AND SN ABOITIZ POWERMAGAT, INC. (SNAP-MI),

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATTION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP) AND SN ABOITIZ POWERBENGUET INC. (SNAP-BI),

Applicants.

Applicants.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

Notice is hereby given that on 24 August 2016, Applicants National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. (SNAP-MI) jointly filed an Application (with Prayer for the Immediate Issuance of a Provisional Authority) dated 11 August 2016 for approval of the their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement which was executed on 08 August 2016. Relative thereto, the following were the allegations in the said Application:

Notice is hereby given that on 24 August 2016, Applicants National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet, Inc. (SNAP-BI) jointly filed an Applicalion (with Prayer for the Immediate Issuance of a Provisional Authority) dated 11 August 2016 for approval of the their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement which was executed on 08 August 2016. Relative thereto, the following were the allegations in the said Application:

1.

NATURE OF THE CASE This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASP A) between the NGCP and SNAP-MI, pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC, entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority. “

1.

NATURE OF THE CASE This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA) between the NGCP and SNAP-BI, pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC, entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority. “

THE PARTIES

PARTIES

2.

Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANS CO) pursuant to Republic Act No. 91361 (EPIRA). It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95112 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

3.

Applicant SNAP-MI is a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Philippine laws with principal office address at Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant, Brgy.

Aguinaldo, Ramon, Isabela. It may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its undersigned counsel. It is the owner and operator of Magat Hydro-Electric Power Plant (Magat HEPP), which was certified and accredited by NGCP as capable of providing Regulating Reserve (RR), Contingency Reserve (CR) Dispatchable Reserve (DR) and Black Start Capability.

2.

Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. 91361 (EPIRA). It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95112 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

3.

Applicant SNAP-BI is a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Philippine laws with principal office address at Binga Hydroelectric Power Plant, Brgy.

Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet. It may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its undersigned counsel. It is the owner and operator of Ambuklao HydroElectric Power Plant (Ambuklao HEPP) located at Bokod, Benguet which was certified and accredited by NGCP to be capable of providing Regulating Reserve (RR), Contingency Reserve (CR), Dispatchable Reserve (DR) and Black Start Capability.

4.

Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (PGC), adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system3.

5.

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid Ancillary Services and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and Ancillary Service tariffs to the ERC4.

6.

Ancillary services (AS) as defined in Section 4b of the EPlRA “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

7.

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (ASPP) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002- 253 and the Ancillary Services-Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC.

8.

Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP invited and negotiated with all prospective generation companies capable of providing ancillary services, one of which is SNAP-BI.

9.

On 8 March 2013, NGCP and the SNAP-BI entered into another ASPA (2013 ASPA) for a period of 3 years. On 27 March 2013, the parties filed an application docketed as ERC Case No. 2013-054RC before the Honorable Commission for the approval of the 2013 ASPA, which was provisionally approved through an Order dated 3 June 2013. The Honorable Commission in page 12 of the Order stated that: “The Commission believes that the contracted ancillary services capacity is needed to augment the deficiency of ancillary reserve capacity and maintain the reliability of the operation of the transmission system and electricity supply in the Luzon Grid”.

10.

Due to the necessity of extending the services of providing the same ancillary services, the Applicants again entered into another ASPA under the same rates, terms and conditions5. In the latest accreditation tests conducted in 2015 on the Ambuklao HEPP, the plant demonstrated capability of providing RR, CR and DR. The copy of the Accreditation Certificate is attached as Annex “A”.

11.

Similar to the existing ASPA, NGCP agreed to procure and SNAP-BI agreed to continuously provide, under the new ASPA, the following AS for a period of a period five (5) years:

ANTECEDENT FACTS 4.

P

ort-au-Prince, Haiti – Hurricane Matthew’s devastating passage over southern Haiti on October 4 caused nearly $2 billion in damages, Haitian authorities said.

Studies by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank put the estimated cost of damage and economic losses at $1.89 billion, officials with the Ministry of Economy and Finance told a news conference.

The storm, which killed 546 people according to official figures, battered an already fragile economy – one of the poorest in the world – with losses representing roughly one-fifth of the country’s gross domestic product, the officials said.

The southern region of Haiti, considered the country’s breadbasket, was particularly hard hit by winds of 150 miles per hour and torrential rains.

The agricultural sector alone suffered losses estimated at nearly $600 mil-

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

5.

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid Ancillary Services and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and Ancillary Service tariffs to the ERC4.

6.

Ancillary services (AS) as defined in Section 4b of the EPlRA “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to, be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

7.

lion. And more than 175,000 people lost their homes, with those losses also estimated at close to $600 million, economists say.

The devastation comes as the country is in the midst of an electoral crisis.

The first round of presidential elections in 2015 had been canceled because of massive fraud and rescheduled for October 9 of this year.

But the hurricane’s arrival forced a new postponement, with the successive rounds now set for November 20 and January 29, 2017.

The biggest challenge for election officials will be to find suitable voting sites: more than 500 schools—traditionally used on election day—were damaged or destroyed. AFP

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (ASPP) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002- 253 and the Ancillary Services-Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC.

8.

Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP invited and negotiated with all prospective generation companies capable of providing ancillary services, one of which is SNAP-MI.

9.

It may be recalled that TRANSCO and SNAP-MI entered into an ASPA in October 2008.

On 4 February 2009, TRANSCO and SNAP-MI filed an application docketed as ERC Case No. 2009-007RC, which was approved in the Decision dated 12 October 2009. The Honorable Commission on page 21 of the Decision stated that: “Based on the foregoing, it was determined that the contracted Ancillary Service capacity is needed to augment the deficiency of ancillary reserve capacity and maintain the reliability in the operation of the transmission system and electricity supply in the grid.”

10.

11.

12.

ANTECEDENT FACTS

Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (PGC), adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system3.

Also, on 8 March 2013, NGCP and the SNAP-MI entered into another ASPA (2013 ASPA) for a period of three years. On 27 March 2013, the parties filed an application docketed as ERC Case No. 2013-053RC before the Honorable Commission for the approval of the 2013 ASPA, which was provisionally approved through an Order dated 3 June 2013. The Honorable Commission in page 12 of the Order stated that: “The Commission believes that the contracted ancillary services capacity is needed to augment the deficiency of ancillary reserve capacity and maintain the reliability of the operation of the transmission system and electricity supply in the Luzon Grid.”

Due to the necessity of extending the services of providing the same ancillary services, the Applicants again entered into a new ASPA under the same rates, terms and conditions5.

In the latest accreditation tests held in 2015 on the Magat HEPP, the plant demonstrated capability of providing RR, CR, DR and Black Start Services. The copy of the Accreditation Certificate is attached as Annex “A.”

Capacity

Similar to the existing ASPA, NGCP agreed to procure and SNAP-MI agreed to continuously provide, under the new ASPA, the following AS for a period of a period five (5) years:

Capacity

Firm

Non-firm

Contingency Reserve Regulating Reserve Contingency Reserve Dispatchable reserve Black Start Capability

CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATES AND IMPACT SIMULATION

A copy of the ASPA is attached as Annex “B.”

A copy of the ASPA is attached as Annex “B.”

12.

Also, the Applicants used the following rates for the capacity fees as provided in the previous ASPA: Firm:

Also, the Applicants used the following rates for the capacity fees as provided in the previous ASPA:

Regulating Reserve Contingency Reserve

Applicable Rates (Maximum Hourly Rate) Php 2.50/kW/Hr Php 1.50/kW/Hr

Regulating Reserve Contingency Reserve

Non-Firm:

Regulating Reserve Contingency Reserve Dispatchable Reserve Black Start Capability

Applicable Rates (Maximum Hourly Rate) Php 3.00/kW/Hr Php 2.25/kW/Hr Php 1.25/kW/Hr Php 2.14/kW/Hr

Regulating Reserve Contingency Reserve Dispatchable Reserve Black Start Capability 14.

SNAP-MI respectfully submits that the proposed rates represent a reasonable recovery of the opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS.

15.

The rates under ASPA were subjected to a simulation with the following results:

Ancillary Services Regulating Reserve Contingency Reserve Dispatchable Reserve

LOS ANGELES, United States—Taiwanese -born filmmaker Ang Lee predicted that the Chinese film market was about to explode, not only overtaking but dwarfing the American box office in a matter of years.

The two-time Oscar winner said executives in the world’s second economy used to rely on him as a bridge to Hollywood, but the newly-confident Chinese film industry no longer finds it necessary.

“It’s huge, it’s going to be bigger in a few years,” the 62-year-old told reporters on the red carpet at the glitzy BAFTA Britannia Awards in Beverly Hills.

“In a few years it’s probably going to be bigger (than the US) and then in the years to come a lot bigger. They’ve got many people and, most importantly, film has been lacking in the

past in the culture so it’s still fresh.”

China’s movie market has exploded and PricewaterhouseCoopers projects its box office will rise from $4.3 billion in 2014 to $8.9 billion in 2019, outstripping the US. Hollywood studios have been looking to capitalize on the burgeoning market through partnerships with Chinese companies.

Meanwhile, Beijing has ambitions to increase China’s “soft power,” unleashing a wave of Chinese money into Hollywood.

Chinese internet billionaire Jack Ma announced earlier this month that he has purchased a stake in cinema legend Steven Spielberg’s company.

Meanwhile real estate developer turned media conglomerate Wanda bought “Jurassic World” creator Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion earlier this year. AFP

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 16.

It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2b, EPlRA). With this end in view, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. However, the Honorable Commission must first approve the contract before the same could be implemented.

It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2b, EPlRA). With this end in view, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. However, the Honorable Commission must first approve the contract before the same could be implemented.

17.

18.

As mentioned above, the Honorable Commission has already declared that there is a necessity for NGCP to procure the contracted ancillary services capacity of SNAP MI to maintain the reliability of the operation of the transmission system and electricity supply in the Luzon Grid.

As mentioned above, the Honorable Commission has already declared that there is a necessity for NGCP to procure the contracted ancillary services capacity of SNAP BI to maintain the reliability of the operation of the transmission system and electricity supply in the Luzon Grid.

18.

19.

SNAP-MI must continue to provide the current contracted ancillary services beyond the 2013 ASPA to maintain the reliability of the power grid. Based, on the current levels of available contracted AS in the Luzon Grid, the firm contracted AS have not yet met the required levels of the ASPP. The copies of the relevant actual data and its corresponding graphical presentations showing the required and available levels of AS in the Luzon Grid are attached as Annex “D.”

SNAP-BI must continue to provide the current contracted ancillary services beyond the 2013 ASPA to maintain the reliability of the power grid. Based on the current levels of available contracted AS in the Luzon Grid, the firm contracted AS have not yet met the required levels of the ASPP. The copies of the relevant actual data and its corresponding graphical presentations showing the required and available levels of AS in the Luzon Grid are attached as Annex “D. “

19.

20.

NGCP must be guaranteed that there are available AS on a daily basis to assure reliability of the grid. There is no assurance that the non-firm capacities would be available when needed.

NGCP cannot gamble on this chance. As the grid operator, the contracted capacity of SNAP, especially its firm capacities, are greatly needed.

NGCP must be guaranteed that there are available AS on a daily basis to assure reliability of the grid. There is no assurance that the non-firm capacities would be available when needed.

NGCP cannot gamble on this chance. As the grid operator, the contracted capacity of SNAP, especially its firm capacities, are greatly needed.

21.

Thus, NGCP and SNAP MI agreed to execute another ASPA for a period of another five years. With this ASPA, the Luzon Grid is assured of AS until 2021.

20.

Thus, NGCP and SNAP BI agreed to execute another ASPA for a period of another five years. With this ASPA, the Luzon Grid is assured of AS until 2021.

21.

Also, as the demand for power in the Luzon increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

22.

Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the present reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lizaflor Bacani-Kater, which is attached as Annex “E.”

22.

Also, as the demand for power in the Luzon increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

23.

Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the present reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lizaflor Bacani-Kater, which is attached as Annex “E.”

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission to: a) b)

Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA; APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the Application and or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the Applicants conclude the presentation of their evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application (with Prayer for the Immediate Issuance of a Provisional Authority) may request the Applicants, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished a copy thereof. The Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making said request with copies of their Application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs.

Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA,, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 17th day of October 2016 in Pasig City.

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO Republic Act No. 9136 entitled, “An Act Ordaining Reforms in the Electric Power Industry, Amending for the Purpose Certain Laws and for other Purposes”; An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes; Section 9 (c) and (d); Section 6.3.1.2; The proposed schedules are: 95MW RR firm capacity for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week; and its 60MW CR firm capacity during peak hours.

(MS-OCT. 30/NOV. 6, 2016)

ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA; After notice and hearing, APPROVE the subject ASPA.

Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief under the premises.

The Commission has set the said Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, Expository Presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 17 November 2016 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 a.m.), at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the Application and or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the Applicants conclude the presentation of their evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application (with Prayer for the Immediate Issuance of a Provisional Authority) may request the Applicants, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished a copy thereof. The Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making said request with copies of their Application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs.

Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 17th day of October 2016 in Pasig City.

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO 1

2

5

Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Luzon Grid.

17.

The Commission has set the said Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, Expository Presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 17 November 2016 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 a.m.), at the ERC Hearing Room, 17th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City.

4

Indicative Rate Impact P/kW-month P/kWh 6.1501 0.0331 3.9701 0.0214 2.3189 0.0125

A copy of the said rate impact simulation is attached as Annex “C”.

15.

Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief under the premises.

3

The rates under ASPA were subjected to a simulation with the following results:

Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Luzon Grid.

a) b)

2

14.

Regulating Reserve Contingency Reserve Dispatchable Reserve

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission to:

1

SNAP-BI respectfully submits that the proposed rates represent a reasonable recovery of the opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS.

Indicative Rate Impact P/kW-month P/kWh 24.9009 0.1340 12.2620 0.0660 2.7928 0.0150

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

ANG LEE PREDICTS CHINA BOX OFFICE TO DWARF HOLLYWOOD

13.

Ancillary Services

A copy of the said rate impact simulation is attached as Annex “C.”

A resident walks with a bucket of water in front of the beach of the village of Labeyi in the commune of Chardonnieres, southwest Haiti. Labeyi beach is almost completely filled with debris left by Hurricane Matthew. AFP

Applicable Rates (Maximum Hourly Rate) Php 3.00/kW/Hr Php 2.25/kW/Hr Php 1.25/kW/Hr Php 2.14/kW/Hr

Ancillary Service

Non-Firm:

Ancillary Service

Applicable Rates (Maximum Hourly Rate) Php 2.50/kW/Hr Php 1.50/kW/Hr

Ancillary Service

Firm:

Ancillary Service

Regulating Reserve Contingency Reserve Dispatchable reserve Black Start Capability

Non-firm

CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATES AND IMPACT SIMULATION

16.

Contingency Reserve

Type of Ancillary Services Regulating Reserve

Firm

13.

Type of Ancillary Services Regulating Reserve

3 4 5

6

Republic Act No. 9136 entitled, “An Act Ordaining Reforms in the Electric Power Industry, Amending for the Purpose Certain Laws and for other Purposes”; An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes; Section 9 (c) and (d); Section 6.3.1.2; The proposed schedules are: 22MW RR firm capacity for 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week for the months of July to November; and 22MW RR firm capacity during peak hours for the month of December; 30MW CR firm capacity during peak hours of January to June (Mondays to Saturdays except holidays); and 60MW firm capacity during off-peak hours for the months of July to November; and 30MW CR firm capacity for December during off-peak; The actual testing of the Ambuklao HEPP for Black Start Capability is scheduled in September 2016.

(MS-OCT. 30/NOV. 6, 2016)

B4

World

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 mstdaydesk @gmail.com.ph

Protestors wearing masks of South Korean President Park Geun-Hye (R) and her confidante Choi Soon-Sil (L) pose for a performance during a rally in Seoul. AFP

‘FEMALE RASPUTIN’ IN KOREA’S STATE SCANDAL

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. Residents with painted faces and holding candles participate in El Paseo de Las Almas (The Walk of Souls) during Mexico’s Day of the Dead festival. AFP

CLINTON FACES FBI PROBE AS RACE ENTERS FINAL 10 DAYS D

ES MOINES, United States—Hillary Clinton embarks this weekend on the frenetic final 10 days of her White House campaign, determined to shake off renewed controversy over the FBI probe into her private emails.

The 69-year-old Democratic candidate —vying to become America’s first female president— is still the frontrunner to win the November 8 election over her Republican rival Donald Trump.

Clinton has a clear lead in the polls, and voting has already begun in 34 of 50 states to choose a successor to President Barack Obama, who will hit the campaign trail again next week in defense of his onetime secretary of state.

But her momentum was threat-

ened Friday by a renewed eruption in a scandal that has long dogged her in the race: investigations into her use of a private email server while at the State Department.

Trump gleefully seized on news that FBI agents are investigating a newly discovered group of mails sent to Clinton’s private address, to see if they exposed any US secrets.

The probe had been thought finished in July, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation had recommended that no charges

be filed against Clinton, though it found her to have been “extremely careless” in her use of a private server.

But FBI Director James Comey’s letter to US lawmakers announcing that inquiries had been renewed shocked the campaign and rocked world markets.

Clinton cried foul, demanding that Comey reveal more information about the probe, and declared herself “confident” that voters, and the FBI, would conclude that she had done nothing wrong.

“The American people deserve to get the full and complete facts immediately,” she said. “We don’t know the facts, which is why we are calling on the FBI to release all the information that it has.”

Her defiant words came after Trump—himself dogged by scan-

dal over his alleged sexual misconduct—made hay, declaring Clinton unfit for office as a jubilant crowd of supporters in New Hampshire chanted: “Lock her up!”

Concern that the renewed probe would damage Clinton’s formerly impressive momentum spooked the markets, with US stocks, the dollar and oil prices tumbling lower on the prospect of a close vote.

Comey dropped his bombshell in a letter to lawmakers, revealing that “in connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation.”

The FBI will thus take “appropriate investigative steps” to decide whether the new batch contains classified information “as well as to assess their importance to the investigation,” he wrote. AFP

BRAZIL MUTANT MOSQUITOES TO BREED OUT DISEASES PIRACICABA, Brazil—Scientists in Brazil are preparing to release millions of factory-bred mosquitoes in an attempt to wipe out their distant cousins that carry tropical diseases. The insects’ method: have sex and then die.

British firm Oxitec says its genetically modified mosquitoes will swarm in among ordinary species such as Aedes aegypti, the insect that carries feared diseases such as Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya.

They will mate with the females of the ordinary mosquitoes, spawning babies with a genetically inbuilt flaw that causes them to die quickly.

With their work done, the modified father mosquitoes will then give up the ghost themselves – as they are genetically programmed to do.

Oxitec says its factory in the town of Pi-

racicaba, northwest of Sao Paulo, can produce 60 million mutant mosquitoes a week.

Piracicaba is the world’s “first and biggest factory” of genetically modified mosquitos, said Oxitec president Hadyn Parry.

“This is the only place where we have a factory like this. We can use this as a hub for Brazil,” said Parry, who traveled to Piracicaba for the plant opening.

Currently their only Brazilian customer is the city of Piracicaba, “but we are having conversations with several municipalities and states,” Parry said.

According to the firm, five field tests that they conducted between 2011 and 2014—in Panama and the Cayman Islands, as well as the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia—showed the population of wild Aedes aegypti insects dropped by 90 percent after the mutant mosquitoes were released. AFP

BATTLE-READY. Nepalese policemen pose with police dogs after applying vermillion to their foreheads and placing marigold garlands around their necks as blessings during the Tihar festival at the Central Police Dog Training School in Kathmandu. AFP

SEOUL, South Korea—South Korean President Park Geun-Hye is facing calls to resign over allegations she allowed a close personal friend to meddle in state affairs.

The woman at the heart of the scandal is an elusive figure with no government post or security clearance but a reportedly Rasputin-like grip on the president’s trust and affections.

Choi Soon-Sil, 60, is daughter of the late Choi Tae-Min, a shadowy religious figure who married six times, had multiple pseudonyms and set up a cultlike group known as the Church of Eternal Life.

Choi is officially being investigated for using her ties with Park to coerce companies like Samsung to make large donations to two non-profit foundations she set up—allegedly for her personal benefit.

But the more damaging side to the scandal is that Choi, who has never held any official position, seemingly exerted enormous influence over the president’s political policy-making.

Files obtained from Choi’s personal computer by broadcaster JTBC TV suggest Choi edited some of Park’s key speeches and received confidential documents, including files related to ties with Japan and North Korea.

Some reports have suggested Choi had her own coterie of aides who advised the president on appointments, policy issues and even on her wardrobe. AFP

ICELAND VOTES IN SNAP POLLS AFTER PANAMA PAPERS REYKJAVIK, Iceland—Determined to put the Panama Papers scandal and the 2008 bankruptcy behind them, Icelanders will vote on Saturday in a snap election that could see the anti-establishment Pirate Party form a new centre-left coalition.

Voters are expected to punish the incumbent government after the Panama Papers revealed a global tax evasion scandal that ensnared several senior politicians and forced former prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson to resign.

Although the current government of the conservative Independence Party and the centrist Progressive Party survived the scandal, it promised a snap election six months before the end of its term in spring 2017.

“We’re loosing support (because of the) big anti-establishment (feeling),” Birgir Armannsson, member of parliament for the Independence Party, told AFP. The Pirate Party—founded in 2012 by activists, anarchists and former hackers—campaigns for public transparency, institutional reform, individual freedoms, and the fight against corruption.

The results will be known shortly after polling stations close but because no party is expected to have a majority Iceland’s fate will only be known after coalition negotiations. AFP

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Business

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@thestandard.com.ph

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ENTERS LADY CEO WORLD OF VIDEO GAMES

PRINTER INSTALLS SOLAR ROOFTOP THE Rex Group of Companies tapped Greenheat Corp. to build a 178.5-kWp solar rooftop at its office in Quezon City, becoming the first publishing house in the Philippines to go solar.

Greenheat, a solar solutions provider, installed the 595-photovoltaic module solar power plant that can generate up to 216,036 kilowatt-hours in its first year of operation, displacing Rex’s power consumption by 20 percent.

LADY CEO Synergy 88 managing director and co-founder Jackeline Chua

A

Filipino company led by a lady executive has created three-dimensional art assets for bigbudget video game ‘Gears of War 4,’ which was launched globally on Oct. 11.

“We are proud of our artists who were part of that development,” says Jackeline Chua, the managing director and co-founder of Synergy 88, an IT conglomerate that employs 200 Filipino professionals.

Gears of War 4, which was reportedly produced at a cost of over $100 million, is the fourth main installment in the Gears of War series, developed by The Coalition and published by Microsoft Studios for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One. The Coalition, a Canadian video game developer and a subsidiary of Microsoft Studios, selected Synergy 88 Digital Inc., one of the companies under Synergy 88, as a development partner to create 3D art assets.

Synergy 88 Digital thus became the first Microsoft-certified studio in the Philippines for game art outsourcing.

By being part of an elite game development team, Synergy 88 Digital joins the ranks of premiere 3D game art providers in the world.

Initial reviews are positive about the new weapons, the active game play and smooth movement of the characters. Early beta testers describe Gears of War 4 to be a natural evolution of the popular series.

“The budget for this one is more than a Hollywood production,” Chua says of Gears of War 4.

Synergy 88 Digital is one of the companies under Synergy 88 Group

headed by Chua, who hones and taps Filipino talent to render 3D animation, cutting-edge visuals and virtual reality designs for foreign and local companies.

“We are a technology and creative company. We produce cutting-edge gaming visual effects and animation.

We try to come up with a lot of new ideas,” Chua says in a news briefing in Makati City.

Chua says a team of six Filipinos worked for about 20 months for the art assets of Gears of War 4. “It is a milestone [for the Philippine game development industry] because it [Gears of War] is one of the biggest titles in the world,” she says.

“We have heard about Pinoys being involved in Pixar and Disney. This is the equivalent of that. The game industry, as far as I know, is greater than the animation,” says Chua, a corporate manager, entrepreneur and visionary.

Synergy 88 Digital is the same company behind Filipino-made mobile game apps ‘Catch the Guava’ and ‘Barangay Basketball.’

Catch the Guava, a game developed for GMA Network, had more than a million installs and was featured seven times on Google Play.

Synergy 88 Digital also did outsourced services for ‘The Witcher Wild Hunt,’ which won the Best Video Game of the Year twice in a row. “All its arts assets were made here and were integrated in the game,” says

Chua, who obtained degrees in political science and marketing management from the De La Salle University.

Board of Investments director for international investments promotion service Angelica Cayas says game design and development is the next evolution of the country’s blooming BPO industry.

The impending success of the game is icing on the cake. Our partnership with The Coalition gives us the confidence that we can compete with the world’s best in our area of expertise.

“With the steady growth of the economy, and the continued public and private support, we are confident that the industry will remain on its positive growth path in the years ahead,” Cayas says.

The Coalition, the Vancouverbased game studio, says it is pleased with the quality of work produced by Synergy 88 Digital.

“I would like to thank Synergy88 Digital for their contribution in making the environments of Gears of War 4 come to life. Their quality was world class and they delivered when we needed them to. We look forward to collaborating with them on future projects,” says The Coalition director

of production Walter de Torres.

Alvin Juban, president of Game Developers Association of the Philippines, says: “There has been no greater honor and pleasure than serving with the Coalition.

The mentorship, work style and communication practice, the entire experience from qualification to execution was beyond all our expectations.”

Chua says Synergy 88 Digital invested in hardware and software, particularly in human resources to make this possible. “Two years ago, this partnership was just a gleam in the horizon. Since then we’ve consistently and continuously grew our capabilities, our facilities, and our people because we foresee bigger, more resource-driven engagements with our partners.”

“When The Coalition with the Gears of War 4 project came along, we knew for sure that we were on the right track all along. The impending success of the game is icing on the cake. Our partnership with The Coalition gives us the confidence that we can compete with the world’s best in our area of expertise,” she says.

Chua says being involved in Gears of War 4 is expected to draw the attention of global foreign studios to the rich talent available in the Philippines.

“If they can see in the credit that it is a Pinoy studio, then the other producers of video games will also tap our talents, so they will be able to create more jobs. People will discover that Filipinos are very good in creative products,” says Chua.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

Greenheat, which installed the solar rooftop in 155 days, said Rex’s solar energy initiative would reduces carbon emission by 108 metric tons a year. It is like having 1,080 adult trees planted within its vicinity, it said.

“We cannot reduce the impact of climate change without transforming global energy systems, but today, we have the unique opportunity to transform not only our company but society as well,” said Rex Printing chief operating officer Don Timothy Buhain.

The solar power plant is a part of Rex’s energy conservation and efficiency program that institutionalizes the practice of saving energy using available technologies.

“As a company whose core business is to produce books and with paper as its raw material, the solar power plant is definitely a worthwhile project,” said Rex Group chairman and president Dominador Buhain.

Manufacturing companies have the most to gain from going solar because of the nature of their business, according to Greenheat director Glenn Tong.

“Your operations never stop and you have a constant power usage, so by being the pioneer in using this system, Rex is showing that this is the way of the future for the country,” said Tong.

HANS SY ENDORSES NEW BUSINESS MODEL SM Prime Holdings Inc. president Hans Sy has renewed his commitment to incorporate disaster resiliency into business models in accordance with the call of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Sy made the commitment during the UNISDR Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilience Societies meeting in Washington DC held recently. Sy is the only Filipino international board member of the UNISDR Private Sector Alliance which is also called Arise. SM Prime is the secretariat of Arise Philippines.

“Our commitment to disaster resiliency has always been at the core of our business and we will further find ways to innovate in order to make business more responsive to the needs and demand of our times,” Sy said.

UNISDR has called on business leaders to make the risks posed by natural and man-made hazards

to be put front and center in investment choices in order to curb disaster-related economic damage around the globe.

Taking note of the frequency and intensity of weather hazards such as super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) and more recently, Hurricane Matthew, as a result of climate change, the UNISDR said disaster risk reduction should be the topmost consideration in all business decisions because of the costly consequences of disasters.

More than 100 private sector representatives from different industries such as construction, insurance, retail, tourism, consulting and technology attended the meeting which was aimed at reviewing ongoing projects to build resilience and identify gaps to reach the global goals set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Sendai Framework, a 15-year plan to curb

disaster deaths, the number of affected people and the scale of economic losses, was adopted by the international community in March 2015 which is also linked tightly to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

SM Prime has been spearheading disaster resiliency and management in the private sector through the annual Top Leaders Forum which brings together the UNISDR, government officials and business leaders to discuss best practices in DRRM and how to adopt them in their business operations and bring them to the communities where they operate.

Sy vowed to continue to do DRR to energize the private sector for a resilient Philippines. “Rest assured, we will continue to do this. Disaster resilience is not only the private nor public sector’s concern; it is everybody’s business,” Sy said.

From left: Hans Sy of SM Prime Holdings Inc., US Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Craig Fugate and Sandra Wu of Kokusai Kogyo.

Business

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 business@thestandard.com.ph

FILIPINO COMPANY REAPS SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY AWARD Lenovo country manager for mobile business group Dino Romano

LENOVO REINVENTS MOTOROLA MOTOROLA, one of the iconic mobile phone brands that pioneered cellular communications in the Philippines, is back under the new ‘Moto’ brand.

A recent acquisition of the Lenovo group, Moto aims to recapture its glorious past by offering a new device line-up, attractive enough to pique the interest of the millennials and older generations.

“Moto has been absent from the Philippines for quite a long time. We reinvented the brand, called it Moto, to appeal to younger generation. Our focus is to drive a really good customer experience and make sure that in terms of brand recognition, we remain strong,” said Lenovo country manager for mobile business group Dino Romano.

Romano described the launch as a new era for mobile phones in the Philippines “because we are bringing back iconic brands.”

Lenovo acquired Moto in 2014 as another product line to help beef up sales of its mobile devices.

One of the previous mobile devices that made an impact, before the Motorola hiatus, was the Lazer, an ultrasleek phone that combines class with power.

Lenovo’s priority for Moto is to create brand communication that is consistent based on consumer touch points from marketing to products to digital engagements, according to Romano.

In Southeast Asia, Lenovo launched the Moto brand in the Philippines first because of its large consumer base, a proof that the Philippines is one of the most important and fastest growing mobile phone markets in the region.

For the new Moto brand, the company is introducing six new smart phones including the two flagship phones—the Moto Z and Moto Z play.

With the new products, Lenovo hopes to become the third biggest smartphone player. “We have a strong heritage from China but we are a global player. We have bigger ambitions. How we leverage the strengths of Lenovo and Moto will again make us the top third smartphone company in the world,” Romano said. Othel V. Campos

Human Nature marketing head Wowie Meloto-Gonzalez at the European Edition of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit at the Paris Marriott Champs-Elysées in Paris, France.

H

uman Nature has become the first Asian brand to win in the prestigious Sustainable Beauty Awards.

Organized by Organic Monitor, a globally-recognized specialist research and consulting company for organic products and related industries, the Sustainable Beauty Awards attracts hundreds of entries yearly. Winners were unveiled during the European Edition of the Sustainable Cosmetics Awards at the Paris Marriott Champs-Elysées in Paris, France on Oct. 24.

Sustainability Pioneer Award is given to a beauty industry operator who has blazed trails in manufacturing techniques and processes, use of novel materials, carbon management, energy management or has led in social aspects.

Human Nature took home the Sustainability Pioneer Award for its social entrepreneurship work in Asia.

Launched in 2013, the Sustainable Beauty Awards echoes how green issues have gained prominence in the personal care and cosmetics industry. Other categories include Sustainability Leadership, Sustainable Ingredient,

Green Formulations and Sustainable Packaging.

The eight-year-old Filipino brand bested industry leaders such as Éminence Organic Skin Care and Givaudan, a 250-year-old French company producing scents and flavors. Weleda, a German company that has been producing natural products since 1921, was a runner up for the category.

Past recipients of the Sustainability Pioneer Summit included Cruelty Free International and L’Oreal USA – Garnier.

“We didn’t realize that our small company, which is just eight years old, would come this far. We just wanted to do something good, something right, and this award is an affirmation of what we are doing,” said Human Nature marketing head Wowie Meloto-Gonzalez during the awards reception.

Anna Meloto-Wilk, president and co-founder of Human Nature said that “today we can truly say that made in the Philippines is equal to; or maybe even better than made in Germany and made

in France.”

In 2011, Human Nature became the first Filipino company to receive cruelty-free recognition from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The company was recognized by the World Economic Forum’s Schwab Foundation as a Champion for Social Entrepreneurship in 2012.

Meloto-Wilk said the Sustainable Beauty Award is a “testament to the creativity, ingenuity and hard work of the Filipino people.

Our little country in the Far East, despite the problems that we continue to grapple within our society today, is paving the way to the future for kinder, more sustainable businesses especially in our industry.”

The interests of the poor, from making safe and genuinely natural products more accessible to setting a more dignified standard for labor practices in the Philippines, is at the core of all everything Human Nature does.

The Philippines is one of Asia’s most populous markets. In the Philippines and in many other developing nations, genuinely natural and sustainably-made products are usually at a much higher price point than readily available

synthetic counterparts.

Human Nature is the only Filipino personal care brand that is a member of the Natural Products Association of America, which holds its members to the strictest standards of naturalness anywhere in the world. In addition, 44 Human Nature products bear the Natural Products Association Natural Seal, giving it the distinction of having the most number of certified genuinely natural products in the world.

Human Nature believes that a significant difference in social impact and environmental sustainability is only possible when everyone can enjoy safe, highquality natural products.

In reaching out to and partnering with both “traditional” businesses/retailers and social enterprises, Human Nature is working to scale sustainability by influencing systemic change in how they conduct business.

“The path we have carved has been fraught with difficulties like cutting through rock but just like the explorers who discovered the new world… but our sacrifices and contributions will ensure a more loving and caring society for our children,” said Meloto-Wilk.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS, INNOVATORS GATHER IN MANILA YOUNG entrepreneurs and business leaders gathered at Green Sun Hotel in Makati City on Oct. 22 for Bootstrap Manila 2016, a startup and innovation conference.

Organized by two of the country’s leading co-working spaces and incubator/accelerator hubs—Impact Hub Manila and Launchgarage—the oneday conference presented bright ideas from the ecosystems of Berlin, Bangalore, Jakarta and Manila.

Bootstrap Manila is a part of the StartHubs AsiaBerlin Roadshow that ran from Oct. 18 to 27, with Bangalore as the first stop, followed by Manila and Jakarta.

StartHubs AsiaBerlin is a project initiated by the Berlin Ministry of Economic Affairs in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. It seeks to shed light on the four important startup hubs and build an open platform for interconnectivity, networking, direct communication and cooperation and collaboration among the partner cities. It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Delegates kicked off the Manila leg

of the roadshow with a tour of the world-class Manila Fame, Design and Lifestyle Event, at the World Trade Center, and an al fresco dinner at Nayong Pilipino’s Orchidarium at Rizal Park, Manila on Oct. 21. Both activities were hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Slingshot Philippines, a program that aims to nurture and grow the local ecosystem through capacity building, funding and policy support for startups.

Senen Perlada, DTI’s Export Market-

ing Bureau director, recognized the importance of startups. “Creativity and innovation are the currency of today,” he said.

Impact Hub Manila’s co-founder LizAn Kuster and Launchgarage’s Jay Fajardo opened the whole day conference on Oct. 22. Kuster delivered an insightful introduction on what it means to bootstrap as an entrepreneur.

“Bootstrapping is more than just building your solutions without external fundings. It means growing your

enterprise with people and connections. Thus StartHubs AsiaBerlin is extremely valuable for our ecosystem,” Kuster said.

Rainer Seider, head of the International Unit for Cooperation of the Berlin Ministry for Economic Affairs, described Berlin’s diverse and vibrant ecosystem and outlined the goals and plans of StartHubs AsiaBerlin to create a “single intercontinental startup ecosystem through structured channels, such as a online platform which will

launch soon and everyone can join” despite each city’s different intricacies.

Seider was joined by other members of the keynote panel - Deepash Agarwal of MoveInSync from Bangalore; Fajar Anujerah from Bali Recycling; Ces Rondario, Impact Hub Manila cofounder; and Jay Fajardo.

Moderated by Kuster, the panelists shared the characteristics, strengths, challenges and opportunities of their respective ecosystems.

Following the keynote panel was Geraldine de Bastion, founder of Global Innovation Gathering, a network of grassroots innovators, social entrepreneurs, founders, makers and hackers. Speaking about Innovation in the Global South, she showed examples of innovative and creative ideas and solutions from GIG’s network.

Yathan Blumenthal, founder and accelerator chief of Hardware Co., talked about accelerating business, methodologies and co-working, based on first-hand credible experience and the successful Berlinbased co-working hub, Betahaus.

Luis Buenaventura of Bloom Solutions and a cryptocurrency and fintech expert spoke about blockchains and how the Philippines was starting to use it in remittances.

Sports

C3

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EXPECT...

From C4

Coach Mark Sangiao (center) gathers his fighters to take advantage of the high altitude as they prepare to do some roadwork for stamina. The fighters are, from right: Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario, Geje Eustaquio, April Osenio, Danny Kingad and Edward Kelly. Reuel Vidal

TEAM LAKAY FIGHTERS GIRD FOR COMBAT

By Reuel Vidal

L

A TRINIDAD, Benguet—The Team Lakay gym was humming with activity as fighters went through their paces under the watchful eye of head trainer and school founder coach Mark Sangiao.

A Mixed Martial Arts fighter himself, international Wushu practitioner and trainer, Southeast Asia Games gold medalist and now full-time trainer Sangiao is almost as excited as his fighters preparing for their coming ONE Championship bouts.

After a stellar career as a fighter Sangiao decided to teach and pass on to the next generation everything he has learned. He soon gathered under one roof some of the best, most courageous MMA fighters in the country.

Six Team Lakay fighters will soon to do battle at the ONE Championship stage and they are preparing to win honor and glory for themselves, their teammates and their country as well.

ONE Championship PR Director Loren Mack said their organization seeks out the best MMA fighters in Asia and are pleased to be working with the world class fighters of Team Lakay.

Arguably the best and most popular homegrown Filipino MMA fighter Eduard “Landslide” Folayang and Honorio “The Rock” Banario— wearing padded knee, shin and leg guards—trade powerful hits while holding full contact sparring.

Folayang battles for the ONE Lightweight World Championship against defending champion

Shinya Aoki in ONE: Defending Honor at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on November 11.

Banario, on the other hand, is one of five Team Lakay fighters who will participate in the ONE: Age of Domination set December 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The others include Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly, April Osenio and Danny Kingad.

The veteran Banario, a former ONE Featherweight World Champion, battles Rajinder Singh Meena in a lightweight clash. Banario—a Wushu expert, world-class striker and respectable grappler—will be favored over Meena who has tallied eight victories by submission.

Eustaquio is one of the most proficient Wushu practitioners in the country. Another world class striker, Eustaquio has tallied big wins over the course of his career in ONE Championship including a one-punch knockout over Saiful Merican at ONE: Clash of heroes last January 29.

Eustaquio is far from your typical MMA fighter. He holds a Bachelor of Education major in MAPEH (Music, Arts, Phyiscal Education and Health) degree and has also completed his master’s degree on secondary education at the University of Cordilleras.

Eustaquio battles 31-year-old flyweight Toni Tauru of Utti, Finland.

Eduard Folayang (left) and Honorio Banario - wearing padded knee, shin and foot guards - trade body blows in a full contact sparring session under the watchful eye of head trainer Mark Sangiao (right). Reuel Vidal

Tauru owns a record of 10-4-1 with seven wins coming by submission.

The 32-year-old Kelly is a ferocious striker who will be looking to follow up his electrifying victory over Dutch fighter Vincent Latoel when he battles 31-year-old Sunoto “The Terminator”of Jakarta, Indonesia.

Kelly beat Latoel on the undercard of ONE: Titles and Titans at the Jakarta Convention Center in Indonesia last August 27. The pair were trading haymakers when Kelly hit Latoel with a left-right combination which sent Latoel crashing to the canvas. Kelly dropped to his right knee beside the fallen Latoel and brought down a hammer fist prompting the referee to stop the fight late in round two.

Atomweight Osenio, 22, who was practicing her grappling skills against male Team Lakay teammates, battles 25-year-old Jenny Huang from Taiwan. Osenio will be looking to follow up her spectacular victory in her last bout. The fierce female fighter submitted Ann “Athena” Osman with a guillotine choke.

The fifth Team Lakay fighter is unbeaten flyweight contender Kingad, easily the team’s top young prospect. Kingad is a tremendous striker who needed just a round to pound Malaysia’s Muhammad Haidar. Kingad battles fellow Filipino in veteran Eugene Toquero next.

Tickets for ONE: Age of Domination are available at smtickets.com/ events/view/5040.

FANS GET BETTER NBA ACCESS

By Peter Atencio

Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (right) tries to dribble past Brooklyn Nets defender Jeremy Lin. NBA fans now get unlimited access to games through the Globe app. AFP

OVER the past two years, National Basketball Association fans and hoop junkies have been seeking better live and online access of National Basketball Association games.

They finally got their wish and got access to NBA games starting with the tipoff of the 71st season last Wednesday. Fans were able to watch the opening game of the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors live on their smart phones.

This was made possible through mobile devices after Globe Telecom finally made a wireless partnership with the NBA. “After four months, we’re excited that

opening day finally came. The league is incredibly popular,” said NBA Philippines managing director Carlo Singson during a presentation at the NBA Café in SM Aura, Taguig last Wednesday.

Singson said there are 5.4 million Filipinos who tried to access th eNBA games through their mobile fans last year.

This year, it will much more easier.

“Since 2014, over the past two years, you get a pin code. But it was not as easy as it seems. For the past month, Globe worked with the NBA to give fans easy access via apps,” said Globe Director for Sports Content Consumer Business Martin David.

Singson added tha the NBA’s popularity continues to rise in the country, with last year’s NBA Finals getting a 67 percent share of the TV audience.

David explained they found a way to get fans easier access to NBA games through their improved app.

In availing of the app, users will go through a simpler registration process that no longer requires the repetitive typing of PIN codes.

Once customers have completed promo registration, they will receive a link via text message that will direct them to the NBA app to verify their mobile number.

After authentication, they can now watch the games live on their phones or tablets.

They will also have access to other content such as archived NBA videos, shows such as Hardwood Classics, NBA Inside Stuff and Shaqtin’ A Fool.

Globe Broadband plans come with six months free access to NBA League Pass. On mobile, various NBA promos are NBA499 for a 30-day premium access; NBA299 for 7 days; and NBA50 for 24-hour access. To register to NBA League Pass, users need to send the NBA promo keyword to 8888.

“I can say that working in the Senate is not easy, especially, along with training. You need to manage your time and that’s what I did in training for this fight, while I am working in the office. I don’t have time really for any other activities—all of my time is with working and training,” said Pacquiao.

Questioned as to what was the most difficult part trying to do both jobs, Pacquiao responded:”The most difficult part is trying to control my time and to manage and discipline myself. The most difficult part of training in the past has always been when I do a bad job of managing my time.

This time, I managed my time and disciplined myself from going to my work to my training and that’s what I did in the Philippines. I don’t have any time to spend with my friends—just time for hard work.”

One journalist pointed out that in looking at Vargas’ opponents, he doesn’t see a “Murderers’ Row.” “Is it difficult to take this fight seriously?,” the reporter asked.

“Vargas is a world champion, so in no way can I underestimate him. You can never underestimate a boxer who is a champion. He is good. I just have to make sure that I am 100 percent ready for the fight,” said Pacquiao.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum clarified that there was “No murderers row of opponents, but when Pacquiao fought Tim Bradley, he had Bradley out on his feet and because the referee got mixed up, he stopped the fight 10 seconds too soon so who knows how that would have ended? And he (Vargas) fought Sadam Ali to win the title and Sadam Ali is a terrific fighter —he was a member of the US Olympic Team, he was undefeated and certainly not a tomato can and he entered the fight a big favorite over Vargas and Vargas dominated him and eventually knocked him out. I think that victory alone qualifies Vargas for top level of fighters and opponents for Manny,” said Vargas.

Asked about what his plans are for Pacquiao after the Vargas showdown, Arum replied: “Let’s take it one at a time. If Manny comes in and dominates this fight and looks like the old Manny, and wants to continue fighting, there will be certain opponents that will be considered.

If he decides that it’s too much juggling two careers then he shouldn’t continue. If he is determined to continue and his performance suffers because of his work in the Senate, I would have to look in the direction of somebody else for an opponent.

So to jump now about names and so forth, who knows? Manny may look so good in this fight and may have such senatorial presence in the fight that we may be looking for (middleweight champ Gennady) Golovkin next. And if he doesn’t vote right in the senate, I think some of his constituents may be urging him to fight Golovkin,” which drew a quick response from Manny.

“Bob, I hope you are joking about Golovkin!” Pacquiao reacted.

But a more likely opponent should he beat Vargas handily would be Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Justin Fortune told Manila Standard he is confident the Filipino can outbox and overcome Alvarez.

But before anything else, he has to beat Vargas on Nov. 6.

PH IS KING...

From C4

“This did not happen overnight for us, it was five years in the making as we went through a lot of heartbreaks and frustrations. But even before the tournament started, I had a feeling that the boys will own the doubles’ this time. Last year, we placed third here, but this time, the boys underwent a one-month training in Thailand prior to the competition and that made the difference,” said Karen Tanchanco-Caballero, President of the Philippine Association of Sepak Takraw and who also scored her own victory by getting elected as Vice president of the Asian Takraw Federation.

Caballero is hoping that there will be more recognition for the sport and more people will support the team.

“I am already talking with some possible sponsors, including PLDT. I want to bring the team to the Europe championship next year, then go for the gold in the SEA Games,” said Caballero.

C4

Sports

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

RUNNING NEVER SOUNDED THIS GOOD

EXPECT MORE PACMAN FIGHTS

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Young runners run to the beat of their favorite songs in The Music Run by Philam Vitallity.

Martin Capstick (below), co-founder and CEO of Exceed sports and Entertainment at the launch

By Peter Paul Duran

W

ITH the success of its inaugural run last year, The Music Run by Philam Vitality is back as Asia’s most exciting 5k event is about to get even louder this time around.

The ultimate running and music festival drew nearly 10 thousand runners last year at the Philippine Arena, but organizers expect a larger crowd to flock McKinley West in Taguig City on Dec. 3 as everyone’s favorite hits will be playing all throughout the event.

TMR by Philam Vitality partnered with music streaming service Spotify as participants will run to the beat of 120 concert-quality speakers across the venue and add to that the much-awaited after party.

“We are so pumped-up to be back here in the Philippines,” said Martin Capstick, cofounder and CEO of Exceed sports and Entertainment who is organizing the run.

“We had so much fun last year and the feedback we got from the Filipino runners were so wonderful so we are very excited to come back,” he added during the event’s media launch at Revel at the Palace in BGC. The five-kilometer run will include five music-themed zones playing rock. pop, old school, hip hop, and dance—and all of the songs, will be chosen by the runners themselves.

Using the live Spotify Music Voting App on www.themusicrun.com.ph. participants can vote up to five songs per playlist everyday to build the official soundtrack for each zone.

Runners can also enjoy every song they vote for in the build up to the event as every music zone is 1km each, and organizers assure that there will be music from pre-run to the after-party.

The event kicked off with a performance from up-and-coming local alternative band Sud, while the after-run music festival will feature Australian radio house DJ Sam Withers.

“This is the second time that Philam Life is partnering with The Music Run,” said Deputy head of Philam Vitality Kats Cajucom. “We want to send a strong message that being healthy can also be fun and engaging.”

Launched in 2014, TMR is “more likely a party than a run” and that it puts music at the heart of everything, that’s why the event continues to expand and attract a growing number of followers.

“The Music run has really taken off, so that’s why it was voted as the best event in its class in all of Asia. It just continues to rise and grow,” explained Capstick referring to the award TMR garnered in Singapore.

TMR and Philam Vitality realized the importance of living an active lifestyle and through these kind of events, Filipinos can enjoy being healthy.

“Exercise has become more and more important to people, but some people still think that it’s gonna hurt or it’s gonna be painful.

That’s where music run comes in, because it’s all about fu,” added Capstick.

And for Philam Life, Cajucom says they are “taking active steps to positively transform the lives of Filipinos by helping them live longer, healthier, and better lives.”

“We at The Music Run, we use music as a gateway to a healthy lifestyle,” stressed

Capstick. “Literally, running never sounded this good.”

Music Runners can select from two event packs--the Standard Pack for P850 and the Rock Star Pack for P1,400. The Standard Pack comes with a T-Shirt, bag, beat band, sticker, and temporary tattoo, while the Rock Star Pack, apart from the freebies indicated, will also have a towel, water bottle, and a cap.

Children less than five years old can join the run free of charge. Registrants can collect their event packs at Glorietta 5 in Makati from Nov. 26 to 28.

PH IS KING OF WORLD SEPAK TAKRAW

By Lito Cinco IT was sweet victory indeed for the Philippines’ top sepak takraw athletes at the recent King’s Cup Sepak Takraw World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, where they beat two powerhouse countries en route to a gold-medal finish in the men’s doubles event.

After defeating Singapore, Australia, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia in succession in the elimination round, the Filipinos went up against heavy favorites, local team Thailand which has not tasted defeat in this event ever, not on their home turf, in a game watched live on nationwide television in Thailand.

Losing the first set 15-21, the Filipinos were on the

verge of losing the game in the second set with a 1720 deficit when a “miracle” happened as they rattled off 5 straight points behind Mark Joseph Gonzales to win 22-20 to even the match.

Then, they duplicated it in the deciding set before an unbelieving and stunned crowd, winning 21-19 to advance to the finals against another powerhouse team in Myanmar, the reigning SEA Games champion team.

And history repeated itself as the Filipinos, down again after the first set, 12-21, came back strongly in the next two to take the gold and create their own place in history. This time, it was Rheyjey Ortouste, who led the charge supported by Gonzales and the The champs with their president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero third member of the team, Jason Huerte. Turn to C3

HALL of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who handled eightdivision champion and senator Manny Pacquiao’s training at the classy Flash Elorde Gym in the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City, said the Filipino ring icon is in great shape, looking good.

So good in fact, that Roach expects Pacquiao to have more fights after his showdown with WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Nov. 6.

“I’m looking forward to this fight and many more to come after that,” said Roach of his prized boxer.

Pacquiao, who has trained relentlessly under Roach and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune has, at times, looked tired and flat because of his long hours and diligent work in the Philippine Senate but still shows up at the gym in the evenings to train.

He has been sparring three times a week with unbeaten welterweight Jose Ramirez, who stands 5’10” and fights very much like Vargas, who is also 5’10.”

Longtime adviser and confidant Michael Koncz summed up Pacquiao’s preparation in Manila. “There were a lot of new challenges. However, I am very happy and pleased with Manny’s training.”

There were times that both Roach and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune conceded that Pacquiao, because of his long hours in the Senate, “looked tired and flat” during sparring but at other times he was “devastating.”

“It was a pretty tough schedule in this camp but he held up really well. The sparring days were really good and it’s the best I’ve seen Manny in a long time—he is a lot more aggressive than I have seen him in the past and there was a lot of the old Manny Pacquiao coming out and he really, really looked good. We trained right up until Saturday morning before our flight out to Los Angeles and he boxed 10 rounds and he looked great and he’s in great shape, I know it has been a very difficult camp with the Senate and so forth. Manny has always been a busy person, but because of the Senate, he seems to be a lot more serious than anything else he has done. He is in Senate sessions on some nights until 7:30 or 8:00 at night and when he is done, we go right to the gym,” said Roach.

Pacquiao conceded that the setup is hard.

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Manny Pacquiao running with the pack Photo by Wendell Alinea

D1

LGUs

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BONIFACIO MONUMENT: A HISTORICAL TREASURE

By Honor Blanco Cabie

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I

N THE 1950s to the early part of the 1960s, many northerners traveling to Manila, on a business trip or educational stopover, became all too familiar with the welcoming monument of Andres Bonifacio in Caloocan City, part of the province of Rizal until 1975.

The area had in fact been known to many as Monumento, a euphemism for the 45-foot pylon and figures cast in bronze at the intersections of Samson Road, MacArthur Highway, Rizal Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa), heretofore known as Highway 54.

The stone monument is slowly being given a facelift, in the run up to Bonifacio’s 153rd birthday anniversary on Nov. 30.

Road travelers then from the Ilocos, Baguio, Cagayan Valley, the Central Luzon provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Pangasinan—the last now a part of the Ilocos Region—always hit the MacArthur Highway which snakes through the country’s far northwest and were always welcomed by the Monumento.

In 21st century Metro Manila, the place has become also the start of the line for the Light Railway Transit (LRT) that begins at the Monumento Station on the north end of Edsa and leads all the way up to the Baclaran Station in Pasay City on the southside.

With the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) now a major highway for travelers from the north since the 1960s, not as many as decades back have been given the opportunity to wake up from their speeding buses to see the silhouette of the monument of Bonifacio, the Filipino nationalist and revolutionary.

Bonifacio (Nov. 30, 1863-May 10, 1897) is often called “the great plebeian,” “father of the Philippine Revolution,” and “father of the Katipunan.”

He was a founder and later “supreme leader” of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution.

Some historians consider him a de facto national hero of the Philippines, colonized by Spain for nearly 400 years while others describe him as the first President, although he is not officially recognized as such.

The expressway begins in Quezon City, formerly the country’s capital, at a cloverleaf interchange with EDSA: a continuation of the Andres Bonifacio Avenue.

It then passes through Quezon City, Caloocan, and Valenzuela in Metro Manila. Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos, Plaridel, and Pulilan in Bulacan, San Simon, San Fernando, Mexico and Angeles in Pampanga.

The expressway currently ends at Mabalacat and merges with the MacArthur Highway, which continues northward into the rest of rice-rich Central and Northern Luzon facing Luzon Bay. Some critics find it ironic the monument of Bonifacio in Caloocan is better known than the one in Tondo, his birthplace— in front of Tutuban Center mall on C.M. Recto Avenue or the old Azcarraga in the waterfront district of Manila.

Bonifacio is depicted in the usual—but false—bolo and trousers outfit, with historical critics suggesting Bonifacio was not stupid enough to wear red trousers and be an easy target of his Spanish enemies.

Students of history have learned for decades the Caloocan City “Monumento”—now a major landmark of the city—was designed and completed in 1933 by the country’s National Artist for the Visual Arts (Sculpture) in 1973, Guillermo Estrella Tolentino.

Turn to D2

PARAMOUNT LEADER.

Historical critics say the three steps leading to the monument of Katipunan’s supreme leader Andres Bonifacio represent the three centuries of Spanish rule (333 years). The monument is getting a facelift in preparation for his 153rd birth anniversary on Nov. 30.

Manny Palmero

FREE SKILLS TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR DRUG SURRENDERERS BAGUIO CITY—The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) announced its readiness to provide free skills training of their choice to fully rehabilitated drug surrenderers for them to be able to have a sustainable source of income and for them to be brought back to the mainstream society.

Tesda Director-General Guiling Mamondiong said coordination had been done with the health department and the social welfare offices on how to implement the system that would guarantee the provision of skills training to the interested surrenderers.

These surrenderers are expected to want to equip themselves to help uplift the living condition of their families.

He said: “We are ready to provide

the desired skills training to our drug surrenderers but they must be fully rehabilitated so that it will be easier for them to be brought back to mainstream society.

“We have the available slots for interested drug surrenderers because it is part of our functions to help bring back the vibrance of the surrenderers by being productive in their chosen fields of profession in the future.”

The TESDA official claimed the agency will also be providing the surenderers the appropriate career coaching.

This is intended to guide them in the election of the skills training they want to be enrolled in to allow them to pursue a certain field that will serve as their source of income for their respective families and for them to be able to em-

brace a sudden reversal in their lives.

According to him, barangay officials must strictly monitor the compliance of the surrenderers to their commitments to already abandon their involvement in the illegal drug trade and support them in their desire to acquire the needed skills.

The skills are expected to help them advance the source of their livelihood and guarantee sustainable income for their families.

He added one of the primary conditions imposed by the agency before providing the drug surrenderers with their desired skills training was for them to be able to present a certification from the accredited health official that they had been fully rehabilitated.

Another condition was that they were fit to undergo the training as

they wanted to have a paradigm shift in their lives.

After having completed their chosen skills training, the trained drug surrenderers will then be required to undergo the required assessment for them to be issued a national certification for their acquired competency.

He explained provincial and regional Tesda offices were authorized to facilitate the conduct of free skills trainings to interested and fully rehabilitated drug surrenderers.

He claimed the Duterte administration was aggressive in the implementation of its anti-drug campaign but it also wanted those involved in the illegal drug trade to reform and become productive citizens of their communities. Dexter A. See

Local Gov’t Units

CAPITOL’S ‘DESECRATION’ DENOUNCED MALOLOS CITY—Bulakenyo architects and artists here are up in arms against what they call as ‘desecration’ of the facade of the Bulacan Capitol building, a legacy and obra designed in 1930 by the renowned Filipino National Architect Juan M. Arellano (April 25, 1888–Dec. 5, 1960).

Members of the Bulacan Heritage Conservation Society and five local chapters of the United Architect of the Philippines chapters in Bulacan are also calling for an immediate inquiry on why Gov. Willy Sy-Alvarado allowed the construction of an additional pediment on top of the main facade.

Leaders of visual artists in the province are set to meet next month with concerned officers of the UAP-Bulacan chapter, Barasoain chapter, Bulacan-Del Pilar chapter, the Sta. Maria chapter and Malolos Republika chapter to plan their joint move on how to air their protest on the issue.

Arellano was best known for his neo-classical works such as the Metropolitan Theater in Manila (1935); the Legislative Building (1926 now the National Museum); Manila Central Post Office building (1926); the Central Student Church (now known as the Central United Methodist Church, 1932); the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol (1936); the Cebu Provincial Capitol (1937); the Bank of the Philippine Islands Cebu Main Branch (1940); Misamis Occidental Provincial Capitol Building (1935) and the Jones Bridge among others.

Arellano graduated from Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1908 and was into painting early in his life.

However, he pursued architecture and was sent to the US as one of the first pensionados in architecture, after Carlos Barreto, who was sent to the Drexel Institute in 1908; Antonio Toledo, who went to Ohio State University and Tomas Mapua, who went to Cornell.

He then studied at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1911 and later transferred to Drexel Institute to finish his degree in Architecture. He also trained in the Beaux Arts in New York City. Orlan Mauricio

SEAMAN HELD FOR DRUG PUSH

KAWIT, CAVITE—Police in this town, shifting to high gear in their operation against illegal drugs in their area, have arrested a seamen for alleged drug pushing.

PO1 Joneth Atienza Onrubia identified the suspect as Frederick Octavo, 44 years old, a married seaman and resident of Barangay Tabon 3 here.

Police said they received a phone call from an informant that rampant drug selling was going on the house of one merely identified as Japlin.

Police led by SPO1 Jaspher Paul Aspiras dashed to the area, resulting in the arrest of Octavo, from whose possession police said five unsealed transparent plastic sachets.

The sachets contained white crystalline residue suspected to be shabu and an improvised glass tube tooter containing suspected shabu residue.

Benjamin Chavez

LGUs

D2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FISHERS’ HUB UP IN CAVITE

NOVELETA, CAVITE—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 4-A, led by Regional Director Lilian Garcia, released funds for building of Fisherman’s Wharf or (Pandawan) in Barangay San Rafael IV. Mayor Dino Reyes Chua received the budget worth P5.16 million from BFAR-R4-A reserved for the construction of fisherman’s hub.

The building will be built for the fishermen or namamalakaya, particularly in Barangay San Rafael where most inhabitants were fishermen and dried fish makers.

“The fisherman’s hub is for our fellow fishermen, so that they don’t go to neighboring town to peddle their fish catch or seafood,” said Chua.

“The soon to rise Noveleta fishport is closer to the market, wherein placed nearby the national road. Sigurado ako maraming mamimili ng isda ang darayo dito upang mamili ng nasabing produkto.” Chua added.

Fisherman’s wharf is known as the ‘Bulungan’ center of fishermen, like Navotas fishport, Parañaque fishport and Rosario fishport.

COMMUNICATION PLAN. Public Information officers of Metro Manila LGUs take a breathing spell during their three-day communication planning seminar-workshop ending Friday at the Hotel Stotsenberg at the Clark Freeport Zone. In photo are (front row, from left) Engineer Kristina Tomagan (DPWH-NCR); Professor Daniel Santos (resource person); DENR-NCR Director Lourdes Wagan; PIA-NCR Director Riza Baldoria; Grace Cortes, Chief PIO of San Juan, also current AIMM president, and Emver Cortes (PIA-NCR). Second Row (l-r) Susan de Leon (PIA-NCR); Mary Rose Bernadette Mabato (DILG-NCR); Cresta Oliva (San Juan); Myrna Lansangan (LWUA); Melody Deray (Makati); Ares Gutierrez (Quezon City); Grace de Polonia (PCUP); Ma. Aloha Irish Cubillan (Navotas) and Rebecca de Vera (MWSS). (Third row, from left) Nolan Sison (Caloocan City); Angelito Laparan (Taguig City); Dominic Piao (Malabon City); and Cesar Martin Jr. (Mandaluyong City).

BONIFACIO...

From D1

Historical critics say the three steps leading to the monument represents the three centuries of Spanish rule (333 years).

The octagonal base with the eight rays of the sun from the Philippine flag symbolizes the eight key provinces (as written on the surrounding pavement) where Martial Law was first declared by the Spanish governor-general.

It was also the place when the Katipunan held major uprisings there against the Spanish authorities—the very location of the monument actually depicting the place of the first such encounter by Bonifacio and the Katipunan with the Spanish colonial army on Aug. 30, 1896.

Some historians theorize the Bonifacio Monument must have been placed in Caloocan—the third most populous city in the country with a population of nearly 1.5 million, according to the 2010 census—because the area was the center of activities for the Katipunan, the secret militant society that launched the Philippine Revolution during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines.

They say it was in a house in Caloocan where secret meetings were held by Bonifacio and his men, and it was within the city’s perimeters where the very first armed encounter took place between the Katipunan and the Spaniards.

Today, Caloocan, one of the cities and municipalities that comprise the Metro Manila region (National Capital Region) in the Philippines, has become a major residential area inside Metro Manila.

The word Caloocan comes from the Tagalog root word “lo-ok;” “kalooklookan” (or kaloob-looban) means “innermost area.”

The city borders many other cities such as Quezon City, Manila, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and San Jose del Monte Bulacan in the north.

On the wall of Pamitinan Cave in Rodriguez, Rizal, where a reburial of his bones was done years back, was the line Bonifacio wrote in May 1896: “Sumapit dito ang mga anak ng bayan.

Humahanap ng kalayaan.” [The sons of the Country came here, searching for freedom.”]

Historians say that when the Katipuneros launched the revolution on Aug. 24, 1896, Bonifacio said to his fellow Katipuneros: “Kalayaan o kamatayan? Mga kapatid! Ang Kalayaan ay kinukuha sa dulo ng patalim! [Freedom or Death? Brothers, freedom is secured by force!”]

But enemies of the revolution denied Bonifacio the opportunity to fulfill his vision for the country. They killed him in early 1897.

A few years after his death, his kin and friends began to honor Bonifacio and observed his death anniversary on April 23, 1901, at his birthplace in Meisic, Tondo, Manila.

On this occasion, the poet laureate Cecilio Apostol delivered his poem “Un Heroe del Pueblo,” extolling Bonifacio as one of the true heroes of the Filipino people. This annual celebration of Bonifacio’s death anniversary was capped by the launching of a fundraising campaign to erect a monument in his honor.

120 STUDES PARTICIPATE IN RECYCLED ART CONTEST

By Butch Aquino

S

UBIC FREEPORT—The Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy) and its partners, held Artcycle: an educational, environmental, and recycled-art competition.

The event was participated in by around 120 students from local elementary and high schools here held at Sitio Nagyantok in Barangay Cawag, Subic, Zambales recently.

The teams were required to bring a bag of recyclable materials,

which they used to create art pieces. Each team was given 60 minutes to assemble their Artcycle masterpieces after a brief lecture.

“We believe this activity is a great venue not only to teach our youth about caring for the environment but also to encourage their

creativity and resourcefulness in solving problems,” said Jason Gavina, RP Energy’s Corporate Social Responsibility officer.

Edmond de Jesus from Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Ecology Center emphasized the need for young people to become environmental stewards.

He urged the students to “use their natural creativity in coming up with artcycle masterpieces from local materials.”

RP Energy’s Multipartite Monitoring Team Members served as judges of the contest.

The artworks were judged based on functionality, creative use of

materials, replicability, and design.

The students from Cawag High School won first place with their yellow chair made from old tires.

Olongapo City Environment and Natural Resource officer Marife Castillo, one of the judges, commented on the winning artcycle: “This is ingenious. We are very happy to see this because old tires are something that are usually hard to recycle. I am happy to see young people solving this problem.”

The contest was supported by the DENR, SBMA Ecology Center, Barangay Cawag, Subic Municipal LGU, Rotaract Club of Kolehiyo ng Subic, and Umicore.

CEBU SEAPORT GROOMED PART OF NAUTICAL HIGHWAY

ENVIRONMENT ADVOCACY. Crina Stinca of Romania, accompanied by other Miss Earth candidates, plants mangrove seedlings in Barangay San Rafael IV in Cavite as part of the candidates’ advocacy on preserving the environment. The coronation will be at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City tonight.

THE Cebu seaport in San Fernando town is being groomed as part of a new nautical highway route directly connecting Batangas in Luzon and Misamis Oriental in Mindanao via Mindoro Oriental, Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol and Camiguin, House Deputy Majority Leader and Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. said.

“The San Fernando Port in Cebu is getting P358 million in fresh funding to complete the central backbone of roll-on and roll-off ferry services,” Gullas said.

The lawmaker said the new money had been included in the House-approved 2017 General Appropriations Act, and the port development project would be handled by the Cebu Port Authority, which is attached to the Department of Transportation.

“The San Fernando Port in Barangay South Poblacion will soon be able to efficiently receive and dispatch RORO ferry services,” Gullas said.

Located 30 kilometers south of Cebu City, San Fernando is part of the congressional district of Gullas.

The new nautical highway path will pass by ports in Batangas City in Batangas; Calapan City and the Municipality of Roxas in Oriental Mindoro; the Municipality of Malay in Aklan; the Municipality of Dumangas in Iloilo; Bacolod City and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental; and then through docks in Toledo City and San Fernando

in Cebu.

From San Fernando, the maritime highway will go through piers in the Municipalities of Tubigon and Jagna in Bohol; the Municipalities of Mambajao and Mahinog in Camiguin; and then finally stop at harbors in the Municipality of Balingoan and Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental.

“The new route is expected to cut in a big way travel time by land and sea from Southern Luzon to Northern Mindanao,” Gullas said.

In his district, Gullas said he is counting on the upgrade of the San Fernando Port as nautical highway hub to boost economic activity as well as livelihood opportunities, particularly for lowincome families.

The 919-km nautical highway is a network of roads and port terminals developed by the national government to speed up the countrywide inter-island transfer of motor vehicles, passengers and goods using RORO boats.

Passenger bus companies and logistics providers now efficiently move people and products via the nautical highway.

Meanwhile, Gullas said the Philippine Ports Authority is spending another P50 million next year to build a shelter port in the Municipality of Inabanga in Bohol, plus P40 million to repair the causeway of a port in the Municipality of Buenavista, also in Bohol, damaged by the 2013 earthquake.

Gadgets & Games

D3

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NBA.COM GETS NEW HOME

Microsoft Corporate VP of Devices Panos Panay, talks about Microsoft Surface Book i7 at a Microsoft news conference in New York. AFP

MICROSOFT AIMS AT APPLE WITH HIGH-END PCs, 3D WARE

N

EW YORK —Microsoft launched a new consumer offensive Wednesday, unveiling a high-end computer that challenges the Apple iMac along with an updated Windows operating system that showcases three-dimensional content and “mixed reality.”

The US tech giant announced its first desktop computer, called Surface Studio, a $3,000 high-end “all-in-one” device that aims at creative professionals, a segment dominated by Apple.

“We’re creating a new category that transforms your desk into a creative studio,” Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said at the unveiling in New York.

With a large, 28-inch (71-centimeter) hinged touchscreen display touted as “the thinnest desktop monitor ever created,” Surface Studio adds to the Microsoft lineup of tablet and laptop devices for the premium segment.

“It is a new class of device that transforms from a desktop PC into a powerful digital canvas, unlocking a more natural and immersive way to create on the thinnest display ever built,” said Microsoft vice president Terry Myerson, The new PC has an ultra-HD 4.5K display, offering more pixels than most new high-definition televisions. It will be available in “limited quantities”for the upcoming holiday season, with more units available in 2017.

The new device drew a mixed response from analysts.

“Yes, this is very cool. But what’s the market for a $3,000 computer you can draw on? How many people have that job?” asked Benedict Evans of the venture firm Andreessen Horowitz in a tweet.

But Avi Greengart at the research firm Current Analysis said the new Microsoft products“are aimed at setting the high mark for the Windows ecosystem.”

Microsoft also announced an updated Surface Book—its high-end convertible tablet-computer—which will sell for $2,400, adding improved graphics and computing power and with an estimated 16 hours of battery life.

“It’s for the people really pushing performance,” Microsoft vice president Panos Panay said.

The Surface devices allow users to create content onscreen with a special pen-stylus, and Microsoft introduced a new disk device called Dial which attaches to the screen and offers additional controls such as viewing the timeline of a creation.

New ways to create

Microsoft meanwhile announced its Windows 10 Creators operating system would be offered as a free update in early 2017, enabling users to create 3D content and delve into virtual and augmented reality.

The update offers “new ways to create and play,” said Myerson.

The update will allow for a 3D capture application for mobile devices and a new version of the popular program Paint for 3D objects.

The system will allow users to add three-dimensional emojis and to create and manipulate content they create or scan.

Microsoft general manager Megan Saunders demonstrated how the capture application can scan a sand castle in three dimensions, and then mix that with other content.

With the new Windows system, users will be able to experience virtual reality with Microsoft’s HoloLens headgear and its Edge browser.

Edge “will act as the portal to display 3D content on HoloLens,” said Saunders.

Microsoft said its hardware partners would be selling Windowscompatible virtual reality gear starting at about $300. AFP

FLASH ROLLS OUT FLAGSHIP PHONE SMARTPHONES have evolved as one of the most indispensable innovations of digitalization. Over the years, it has revolutionized the way people live given its evolving capabilities in enabling how people live, play and work.

However, as the demand for these gadgets continues to grow, experts say that nowadays, smartphone users consider buying devices that are long-lasting. In a recent survey, global environmental organization, Greenpeace Philippines, noted that nine out of 10 Filipinos believe that the durability is an important aspect they look for in smartphones. Also, 98 percent of the 1,000 respondents also consider battery life of smartphones as another important feature.

In response to this demand, Flash Philippines— one of Asia’s rising developers of lifestyle and smart devices—rolls out its flagship phone, the Flash Plus 2, with superior and highly durable built-in features valued at the lowest price of P6,190.

“Flash Plus 2 received positive reviews from its users as we first introduced it in the country earlier this year. This model is developed to bring out superior functions while giving a more efficient and durable smartphone unit for the users,” said Sheree Gayas, Flash Philippines’ marketing manager.

Among the pioneering features of Flash Plus 2 include its sleek metal case, a fast-charging battery, fingerprint recognition, high definition phone camera, and Hi-Fi audio capacity. These attributes allow for more durability, efficiency, and convenience.

kinds of metal polishing processes. The case’s sides are treated with Bead Blasting textures, allowing for a stylish side view. Meanwhile, the back panel is treated with high density hairline metal drawing processes for excellent grip and added protection against scratching.

time for a 50 percent battery level. However, when fully charged, this phone guarantees a reliable capacity that lasts up to 10 hours of continuous calls.

The smartphone also highlights its Helio P10 processor, which ensures low energy consumption while providing high performance. This feature, hence, allows for maximizing entertainment needs without worrying about speedy battery drain.

Next-gen security feature

When it comes to security, Flash Plus 2 integrates a next-generation front-facing fingerprint module.

This feature allows the user optimum convenience in phone unlocking because of a 3600 accuracy level that responds in half a second. It can also safeguard all the apps and private folders by assigning specific fingerprint or mark to access them.

For instance, the user can assign his thumb to open Facebook, index finger to send an e-mail, among others.

High definition phone camera

In keeping with the superior photography DNA of all Flash products, Flash Plus 2 gives better images through its built-in high definition camera with a 13-megapixel rear lens. It also adopts PDAF and contrast focusing features, which allows the user to capture fleeting moments with its 0.1 second focal The Flash Plus 2 boasts of superior and highly alignment capability. durable built-in features.

The camera phone also has built-in rear dual color flash lamp, RealTone, and front LED flash High performance with Color Rendering Index that make shooting and fast-charging battery clear images even under dim light. These specs Flash Plus 2 is equipped with fast charging bat- can also produce as many as 64 different lighting Sleek and durable metal case Flash Plus 2 is made more durable with its alu- tery technologies—TI BQ25896 chip and 9V/1.67A combinations that produce much more vivid and minum case, which is crafted employing several battery—to achieve a mere 30-minute charging natural color images.

THE National Basketball Association and ABS-CBN Corporation, the Philippines’ leading media and entertainment organization and an official NBA broadcaster in the Philippines, today announced a partnership to operate the NBA.com/Philippines, the NBA’s official digital destination in the country.

The online destination, hosted on the ABS-CBN Sports portal (sports.abscbn.com/nba), will provide Filipino fans access to daily video highlights, game recaps, scores, stats and more.

The mobile optimized digital destination will also provide localized content including analysis by local celebrities and sports personalities aswell as special features focusing on the NBA’s influence on the Philippine’s lifestyle and culture.

“ABS-CBN Corporation is the ideal partner to help grow our digital presence in the Philippines,” said NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson. “NBA.com/Philippines reflects our commitment to engaging our passionate fanbase through digital and mobile with relevant stories and localized content, ensuring that basketball fans across the country will stay up-to-date on all things NBA.” “The partnership between ABS-CBN and the NBA to manage NBA.com/ Philippines deepens the relationship between our two organizations in the promotion of the NBA brand,” said ABSCBN Chief Digital Officer Donald Lim. “Filipinos are avid followers of the NBA, and we believe that the newly designed digital destination will bring the best of the league to our kapamilyas in the Philippines.”

“As a free to air broadcast partner of the NBA, ABS-CBN continues to deliver quality execution for NBA properties to strengthen the brand’s affinity with basketball-loving Filipinos,” said ABSCBN Integrated Sports Head Dino Laurena. “The digital platform plays a key role in engaging the new generation of NBA followers, and we look forward to this opportunity to synergize both the TV and digital executions.”

HOW...

From D4

Talk to your service provider If none of these remedies work, call your internet service provider to help fix the problem. They may also give you some options like upgrading your data plan either for free or for an added small amount. If it is not within your convenience anymore, then you probably need to start looking for a new provider.

However, before changing to another data plan, you should note that ISPs differ depending on the lines that they use.

Domestic subscriber lines, for instance, use conventional telephone lines to transmit their broadband signals. Some providers, on the other hand, utilize fiber optic cables.

Converge ICT uses the latest microtrenching technology to deploy the pure fiber cables beneath the ground to deliver faster broadband connectivity.

A provider of world-class ICT products and services in the country, ICT now offers an array of pure fiber-powered internet packages suited to your needs for more reliable and high-speed internet experience.

For more details, please visit the website at http://www.convergeict. com/about.php.

INTELLIGENT...

From D4

get rid of its outdated hardware and utilize the technology of the“smart age.”

Among various Filipino tech companies, Accent Micro Technologies, Inc. has formed a dedicated group, the Advanced Premises Protection System, or APPS, to deliver advanced and intelligent surveillance solution.

The APPS is composed of experienced professionals who worked with leading hardware surveillance and video software and analytics companies. Its holistic problem-solvinwwg approach integrates command and control, monitoring, and emergency response and dispatch. With capabilities like this, the seemingly insurmountable problems we face in the city could potentially be decreased radically, if not eradicated completely.

D4

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 Reira U Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Gadget & Games

LIGHTING UP YOUR SELFIES WITH VIVO

T

OP 5 global smartphone brand Vivo introduces another companion for young Filipinos who love to express themselves with the Vivo Y55 smartphone.

The Vivo Y55 promises to “light up your selfies” with its Smart Screen Flash and highquality front-facing camera that elevates your selfie game.

“Young Filipinos nowadays are not afraid of expressing their feelings and sharing it with their friends. We see how frequently they share stories online and offline, and they often use their smartphones to document their daily lives. With the Vivo Y55, we kept that behaviour in mind, and made sure that we deliver a device that not only keeps up with their multi-tasking demands, but also provides useful features that help them elevate their selfie experience,” said Hazel Bascon, Vivo Philippines Vice President.

The Vivo Y55 features a 5.2-inch, 1280x720pixel display on an ultra-slim unibody design.

It is the first entry-level Vivo smartphone to be powered by an octa-core processor—a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 running at 1.4GHz, coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable internal storage. Its main camera is rated at 8MP, and can take photos and scale it up to 32MP in Ultra HD mode, while its front-facing camera snaps photos at 5MP, assisted with its Smart Screen Flash technology. The Y55

is powered by a 2,650mAh battery, ensuring longer staying power for extended storytelling on social media.

The Y55 is also Vivo’s first smartphone to come with the new version of Funtouch OS 2.6, based on Android’s Marshmallow operating system. This brings a host of new and improved features, such as Smart Split 2.0, Eye Protection Mode, and improved memory management, among others.

“The Vivo Y55 is a testament to Vivo’s dedication in developing high-quality products that embody the brand’s values. It seamlessly integrates top-quality hardware with highly-optimized software, giving users a more premium experience that adds value to the product. The Vivo Y55, along with Vivo’s new Funtouch OS 2.6, is only the beginning, and Filipino consumers can look forward to more exciting products that can give them more value for their money,” concluded Bascon.

The Vivo Y55 is now available in major retailers and at the Vivo Concept Store and will retail for P7,990.

Vivo Philippines Product Manager Mark Cuevas presents the new features of the Vivo Y55 smartphone to technology media. At right, a model showcases the Vivo Y55 smartphone during its launch event.

INTELLIGENT VIDEO SURVEILLANCE: ANSWER TO PH’S TRAFFIC, CRIME WOES? WHAT do you get when you put the age-old problems of traffic and crime into the new age of technology? Three hours stuck in EDSA and a snatched mobile phone.

In the era of technology, age-old issues now have new-age repercussions. As our resources evolve, so do the problems that come with them. Crime and traffic in the 21st century beckon a much-needed update in our outmoded procedures. Ranked as having one of the worst traffics on Earth and one of the highest crime rates in Asia, Metro Manila has become a melting pot of problems.

However, one answer to Metro Manila’s woes is actually quite simple: Intelligent Video Surveillance.

A timely innovation in surveillance and security, IVS combines the adapt-

ability and scrutiny of smart systems and Artificial Intelligence while improving the classic components of CCTV. Through better video resolution and integrated software analytics, the IVS can scan all the elements of a live video stream, differentiate and recognize various objects, detect specific movement, and adapt to track suspicious or familiar instances.

and retain the data. This means that people no longer have to scour through hours of footage for video evidence, and security is tightened because surveillance is no longer reliant on

cidents or congestion) more quickly as the system works in real-time and detects the specific location and time of each occurrence.

On top of that, analysts can find what the com-

Confounding traffic vs intelligent video

In its core, IVS can detect the instances, compile them, and lay them all out for perusal. This lets operators use it for every process of evaluating problems and finding solutions.

For example, if an accident occurs in EDSA and it causes a pile-up, the video system will immediately recognize this information,

If an accident occurs in Edsa and it causes a pile-up, the video system will immediately recognize this information. mmda.gov.ph

a surveyor’s attention span or devotion to detail.

With live data analysis, traffic enforcers will be able to handle situations (like ac-

mon causes of traffic are because of the intelligent video solutions that IVS promises. Through layered data security, this informa-

tion is protected with strict access parameters.

If Metro Manila employs this system, the entire system of traffic enforcement could be sped up and a much-needed decrease in road rage would follow after.

Having an effective eye on the road can also instill road discipline because it effectively captures swerving, illegal parking, accidents, illegal turns and other road violations that aggravate the traffic situation. The same system could be utilized for the no-contact apprehension policy of the Land Transportation Office.

Catching crime intelligently

to more violent crimes).

IVS processes visual data and can eventually distinguish humans from other objects.

More accurate than the human eye, the intelligent video scans the entire scope of the camera and detects any minimal movement and change in scenery or objects.

On top of that, it updates information as it sees it. This paves the way for a safer and more effective surveillance tool that cannot be deceived by simple camouflage techniques or even unrelated instances like a stray cat running across the sidewalk.

HOW TO DEAL WITH SLOW INTERNET WITH the existence of many internet service providers in the country, you would think that sluggish internet speeds are a thing of the past. However, what many don’t realize is that there are several factors that affect internet speed. A number of which, are out of your internet provider’s control.

To understand what these variables are, you may need to brush up your knowledge on what these factors are and how you can address them.

Check your hardware Start by tweaking your modem.

Sometimes, resetting it to its factory setting may help to speed up your internet. Simply press the button located at its back. After releasing the button, you need to wait for the lights on the modem to flicker for about ten to 15 seconds. Then, wait for about three to five minutes until the red light turns into green.

Lastly, try connecting to the internet.

An icon usually appears, asking for account related information to complete the process. If you are still experiencing problems with its performance, your modem may need to be upgraded.

After fixing your modem, check the performance of your computer. If some of its parts are already outdated, it may not keep up with the speeds offered by your provider.

Upgrade your browser As you surf the net, loading speeds of web pages vary depending on the web browser that you are using. A browser is a software application that locates and displays web pages on the world wide web.

Keep in mind that outdated versions load slower than the updated ones because most of the web contents like photos, videos, and texts rapidly change formats and sizes as well. For example, Internet Explorer, the standard browser in windows PC, has already been upgraded seven times.

However, while IE is a good browser, there are also other options to choose from. Mozilla Firefox, for instance, is suited when you are using a desktop computer. On the other hand, simpler browsers like Google Chrome and Opera are best used if you are after the browsing speed.

Prevent unauthorized access If you are using wireless internet connection, it is practical to secure a password or passcode to prevent unauthorized users. You do not want your whole neighborhood to consume all the available bandwidth of your plan. Remember that if many users share your bandwidth, the capacity to send the data you need for your browsing is reduced.

Quit background applications Background applications like Windows Update, Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Adobe Reader, and other similar software consume your bandwidth without you knowing it. They automatically update and launch as soon as your computer starts up and connects to the internet. While it is ideal to update regularly, these apps also consume a great portion of your bandwidth.

You may be able to control these apps from running discreetly by configuring their settings using the task manager. For apple users, simply manage them through the dock or through the activity monitor, a task manager that reveals all the active and inactive applications.

Turn to D3

Metro Manila’s

Besides violent bouts surveillance overhaul due to traffic woes, the With the growing traffic biggest crime problems in problems of the city and Metro Manila include theft, its ever-present crimes, it’s kidnapping, and harboring time for Metro Manila to Turn to D3 illegal weaponry (leading

Sluggish internet speeds are not a thing of the past.

E1

Young Life

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 Isah V. Red, Editor / Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com.ph

Lord of Misrule Shower Gel

DEVILISHLY LUXURIOUS BATHING TREATS

SCARY SPOTS

IN THE PHILIPPINES

By Bernadette Lunas

W

HEN people want a bit of hair-raising experience, they usually watch horror films or go to horror houses. Those who are much more daring, on the other hand, venture in real-life terrifying haunts where stories of white-veiled lady or unexplainable wails and silhouettes are being spread by those who have seen or heard them.

The world is filled with mysterious, scary places indeed. And here at home, we have our fair share of haunted spots that are said to send chills down the spine of their visitors.

So are you tired of your old horror movie marathon every Halloween? Here are some of the many famous haunted places in the Philippines where you can spend the day or, if you’re really that brave, the night in.

Diplomat Hotel

Baguio City is home, not only to pine trees and secondhand merchandise, but also to many

Revel in herbs

Enjoy a pampering bath with Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb that features a spicy herbal blend of patchouli and black pepper oil.

Inspired by the ruler of the pagan Feast of Fools, Lord Of Misrule has a deep green exterior that slowly froths away to reveal a rich, wine-colored center.

Powered by screams

Monsters’ Ball Bath Bomb, which is a monster mash-up of lime and neroli oils, is a sure fire way to get the party started, and leave you feelin’ Frankenfine all night long.

Balete Drive

This two-lane street in Quezon City has spun one too many horror stories in both television and big screen. But the eerie feeling one gets passing by this tree-lined lane is said to be non-scripted.

Balete Drive has been avoided since 1950s when tales of a white lady haunting the area surfaced. The whiteveiled ghost appears on the street, scaring passing motorist which often results in road mishaps.

It was told that the lady is a ghost of a girl who died in a car accident in the area, while some said the white figure is a girl who was raped and killed by a taxi driver and that her body was dumped beside a balete tree.

HANDMADE cosmetics brand Lush joins in the celebration of All Hallows’ Eve by offering its lineup of bath goods that are as mischievous as they are luxurious.

Oh my goth!

The Goth Fairy shimmer Bar is composed of a multitude of iridescent lusters—gold, green, purple and silver—adorning skin in shimmer from the first stroke.

As illipe and cupuaçu butters gently melt over the body, they soften skin and leave the ecstatically fruity scent of almond, grapefruit and bergamot.

Scan this icon to view the PDF

haunted destinations. The most popular and scariest of which is the abandoned Diplomat Hotel on top of Dominican Hill.

According to its history, the hotel used to be a Japanese headquarters during World War II, where secret police tortured, raped and decapitated priests, nuns and refugees. In 1973, it then became a hotel of entrepreneur and faith healer Antonio Agapito Agpaoa, who performed psychic surgery using his bare hands to “operate” on conscious patients.

At the time when Diplomat was still operational, employees and guests claimed they were hearing strange sounds and seeing headless apparitions at night. These ghosts are said to be the nuns and priests beheaded during WWII.

Balay Negrense

Also known as Victor Gaston Ancestral Home, Balay Negrense is a museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental that houses artifacts showcasing the kind of lifestyle of a late-19th century sugar baron in the province.

The house, now a heritage site, was built in 1897 and served as the sugar baron and his 12 children’s house from 1901 until his death in 1927.

Some visitors to Balay Negrense report paranormal experience while inside the structure. Some say they see people from the past partying in the house’s ballroom. In fact, when I was there in July this year, three of my companions had to leave the tour early and wait outside for they suddenly felt ill.

Malacañang Palace

The seat of power in the Philippines is also said to be one of the country’s haunted places.

While not open for ghost haunting, scary story enthusiasts will be interested to know that it is said that some of the palace’s personnel report sightings of mysterious faceless residents and a kapre. The ghost of late president Manuel L. Quezon is also believed to be roaming around the halls of the palace.

SPINE TINGLING. Daring souls who prefer ghost hunting

over watching horror films have several choices where they can go to this Halloween. Photo of Balay Negrense is courtesy of Elmer Domingo/Creative Commons; Diplomat Hotel is from www.cityofpines.com.

Monsters’ Ball Bath Bomb

Magic wand

The wand chooses the washer, but the Magic Wand Soap will not be lackluster in providing enchanting treats to the skin. Absorbent charcoal and extra virgin coconut oil mingle, ensuring that one light lather will make your skin feel squeaky clean.

Feast for the senses

Get down and earthy with this mischievous Lord of Misrule Shower Gel that boasts of herbal blend of patchouli, peppercorn and black pepper with an intriguing vanilla absolute sweetness.

Organic wheatgerm oil provides a rich and creamy feel on the body to ensure the skin is on its fine (and fragrant) party form.

Goth Fairy Shimmer Bar

Young Life

E2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

PARTY WITH MONSTERS, HEROES AND PRINCESSES

MANILA will be filled with spooks and magic as the city celebrates Halloween.

And since the occasion falls on a long weekend, there is more reason to wear a costume and party the day or night away with family and friends.

Kiddie festivities

HOW TO BRING

Trick-or-treat at Century Bring the tots to Century City Mall and let them take part in Century City Mall’s “Monster Bawl.” On Oct. 30, register their names at the concierge, get their passes and begin the rounds. The three-hour trick-or-treat event starts at 1 p.m. Visit centurycitymall.com.ph for more information.

Eastwood Richmonde’s curse of fun The halls and corners of Eastwood Richmonde Hotel’s Grand Ballroom will be filled with eerie shapes and shadows on the 30th in celebration of “The Curse of Darkness Halloween Kiddie Party.” Various activities and attractions are available from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are priced at P700nett. Call (02) 570-7777 for inquiries.

Spooky family affair at Diamond A spook-tacular range of fantastic activities await families at Diamond Hotel’s Grand Ballroom on Oct. 30. The “Spooky Family Halloween” event happens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The P980 nettentrance ticket comes with a snack box. Call (02) 528-3000 ext. 8461 for ticket inquiries.

THE HORROR

N

INTO YOUR HOME

O, we’re not talking about making your house haunted for real. But if you’re planning to host a Halloween party or want to give trick-or-treating kids a frighteningly fun experience, here are some tips on decorating your home for the scary holiday.

Carve some pumpkins

Turn this orange vegetable into a spooky decor by giving it a scary face. Make your pumpkin look scarier by using moulding and drying wax onto it to create a lumpy texture or different surfaces for the light to fall through.

Make sure no pumpkin is wasted by using the edible parts in preparing some of the Halloween party fares. Pumpkin spiced latte, anyone?

Hang orange globe string lights

Put orange globe string lights behind white blinds to give your home a spooky, orange glow. This is also useful for creating a backdrop for your silhouettes.

Place spooky silhouettes

Speaking of silhouettes, make or purchase some black figures to place in front of your lit

windows. Choose from the usual: skeletons, witches, ghosts and ghouls. Or go to the nontraditional route and put a crazy scientist.

Fill up bottles with ‘poison’

Fill up large jars with green liquid and line the entrance of your home with these bottles of poisonous doom (make sure they’re not really poisonous, though). Better yet, place a cauldron in your kitchen and fill it with water and red food coloring to make it look like a witch’s cauldron of blood.

Decorate the garden with scary figures

Create some scarecrow-like figures for the garden and wrap them in white sheets. Stuff their heads so that they look like people. Or invest in plastic headstones to decorate the space outdoor.

Drape spider web and poison ivy

Use cotton wool or a specially made spider web gun to create spooky spider webs in your doorways. You can even spruce up your webs with some realistic-looking plastic creepy crawlies. If you want to try something new and more nature-inspired, put artificial ivy around the dinner table, doorways and mantle piece.

For adults only

Hang a creepy mirror

Where were you last Halloween?

TIME in Manila dance and night club knows what you did last Halloween and invites you to do them all again in their annual costume party on Oct. 31. The “I Know What You Did Last Halloween” party features Groove Nation DJs Toti Dalmacion and Cyril Yarisantos. Doors open at 11 p.m. Those in costume can enter for free; P500 door charge comes with one drink. For inquiries, contact 0977-8231197.

Dance ball with Kevin Saunderson Platinum-selling recording artist and house and techno innovator Kevin Saunderson is flying from Detroit to play at underground club XX XX for “Straight Outta Hell” party. Doors open at 9 p.m. Visit XX XX on Facebook for more information.

Travel through space at The Palace Get your space suits ready and head over to The Palace Pool Club in Taguig City for “Space Odyssey: The Palace Halloween Ball” on Oct. 31. DJs Ace Ramos and Mars Miranda are in charge of the beat. Viber 0917-6899999 for inquiries.

Buy an old mirror from a garage sale or take a look in your own basement for an old creepy looking mirror that nobody uses. Find an old photograph or a printout of a scary face that is about the same size as the mirror. Get steel wool, transparent tape, acetone and paper towels. You will also need gloves, a screwdriver and a cloth for this DIY project. With the steel wool, make the mirror look aged by scratching it. Take care not to strip off all the material. Fix the photo behind the glass, and you will have an eerie wall piece to scare your guests.

These tips are courtesy of real estate portal MyProperty.ph.

HORROR HOUSE. Turn your home into a haunted attraction with the help of these easy-to-do tips that will scare and delight guests and trick-or-treating kids.

SCREAM AND SHOUT AT ENCHANTED KINGDOM A SPOOKY time awaits all park guests at the Philippines’s premiere theme park throughout this long Halloween weekend. The EKscream Ghostbusters Halloween event is the perfect opportunity to bond with family and friends and try out the scary world-class attractions at Enchanted Kingdom.

Give in to your ghostbusting moves and test your nerves at Ghostbusters Adventure Live! A walkthrough attraction based on the blockbuster Hollywood series, designed to offer wholesome thrills and chills, then battle it out with the living dead at the Zombies 7D interactive ride or watch the suspense 4D

film Frankenstein at the Rialto.

Free entrance for kids (up to 12 years old) and 20 percent discount for adults visiting in their Ghostbusters costume. Registration starts at 10 a.m. at the courtyard.

Other EKciting activities are lined up for the Halloween where guests can win magical and spook-tacular prizes. The activities include a Stay Fit, Stay Puft Dance Fest on Oct. 30 and a Ghostbusters Halloween Party on Oct. 31 at the Boardwalk Party Place.

For park schedule and more information about EK’s Halloween treats, visit www.enchantedkingdom.ph.

Sta. Rosa theme park Enchanted Kingdom offers a lineup of activities for the whole gang this Halloween weekend.

Showbiz

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016

E3

EVERYBODY 6. Ben Alves (27) As one of the busiest actors in the Kapuso Network, he has all the chances to tease the viewers with his tight abs especially with his character in the sexy comedy A1 Ko Sa ‘Yo. Probably, having great abs runs in the family.

Benjamin’s uncle, Piolo Pascual, was once called the sexiest man in the country. It’s not surprising at all if this young actor will become one, too.

MALES STARS WITH SEXY ABS

From E4

4. JC Santos (27) We have mentioned a few weeks back that ABS-CBN’s move to cast a relatively unknown yet talented actor seems to be a wise decision. Just on the first week of Till I Met You, JC has already proven himself to be a star to watch out for. And he may be playing a gay role in the primetime series but that didn’t make JC any less of a hottie. Just so you know, the rising stars used to be a singer-dancer in Hong Kong. He had a short stint as a singer in Universal Studios in Singapore and studied musical theater in New York.

5. Enzo Pineda (26) In last year’s Cosmo Carnival, the actor just threw a nonchalant smile when he failed to complete his gimmick while on the runway. But everyone at the audience area was quick to forgive the actor. Actually, his half naked glory was more than enough to make all the girls and gays swoon over him. In fact, he never disappoints when he makes a public appearance sans his shirt. The only question we got is: When will he finally get a lead role?

Sunday, October 30, 2016

ACROSS 1 Ostrich relatives 5 Cote sound 11 Sweet roll 17 Test tube locales 21 Half of DJ 22 Write hurriedly 23 Oval-nest builder 24 Like crazy (2 wds.)

25 Bear in the sky 26 Shack (hyph.)

27 Cpl. or sgt.

28 Hombre’s abode 29 Hush puppy ingredients 31 Ambergris source 33 Frittering 35 Hamlets 36 Terrific!

37 Snowbird 38 Found a perch 41 Three-toed sloths 42 Sweet-talked 43 Thick head of hair 44 Port near Kyoto 48 Tearjerkers?

50 Round gem 51 Part of an ear 52 Tankards 53 Attention-getters 54 Fix Venus de Milo?

55 Oil sources 57 Set of tools 58 Many parents 59 Opposite of comers 60 Plunders 61 Seedy bar 62 Culbertson of bridge 63 Andy and Flo of the comics 64 Fate 65 Fluffy quilt 66 Reverberates again 68 Hard seat 69 Play a role 70 On the other side 71 Cargo area 72 Horror-flick street 73 Bad-mouth 74 — and cranny 75 Convent VIP 78 Yes, in Yokohama 79 Coop up 80 New Mexico cavern 84 Card before trey 85 Like a centipede?

87 Mesa’s cousin 88 Ait, on the Seine 89 Prioritize 90 Hotel employee 91 River-mouth deposit 92 Lose one’s coat 93 That’s — — quit!

94 Rock clingers 95 Big and strong 96 Fricke of country 97 Broccoli bud

99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 109 110 112 115 116 120

A mind of — own Tusked animals Blockbusters Doctrine Ques. response Wry humor X, for Caesar Wisconsin hrs.

Sampras rival Moccasin, maybe Has a say Amass Gloomier Significant event Mine, to Maurice (2 wds.)

121 Bright star 123 Moonshot mission 125 Fridge stick 126 — — the ground floor 127 Rap session?

128 Beauty parlor item 129 Deportment 130 Goddess sacred to joggers?

131 Formed a gully 132 Works clay 133 Husks DOWN 1 Cabinet dept.

2 “Blue II” painter 3 Gorby’s realm 4 Meager 5 Narnia’s creator (2 wds.)

6 They’re full of salt 7 Unwritten tests 8 Holm and Fleming 9 RCMP patrol zone 10 Firefly larva 11 Mystery author — Westlake 12 On — — (hot) 13 Largest digit 14 Gold Medal org.

15 Hit the brakes (2 wds.)

16 Macho type (hyph.)

17 Sort of sugar 18 Jai — 19 Petty officer, briefly 20 Just for guys 30 Ghostly noises 32 Achilles’ downfall 34 Kilt wearers 36 Rises rapidly 37 Seek a slot (hyph.)

38 Dump truck filler 39 Get some air 40 Wild T-shirt (hyph.)

42 Becomes frayed 43 Tile murals 45 Self-defense art 46 Kitchen utensils 47 Late bloomers 49 Mantra chants

50 51 52 54 55 56 59 60 61 63 64 65 67 68 70 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81

Chirps Window covering Almost grads Threw a steer Helium or hydrogen Ben & Jerry rival Liverpool lockups Cat call?

Scottish daggers Picked out FDR or JFK Pierre’s school Make sure Dilemmas Ventricle neighbor Aerie hatchlings “The,” to Wolfgang Dapper Free-floating Ringo, once Trouble afoot?

Portion Vim and vigor Sifts through Part human, part machine 82 Joins forces 83 Abhor 85 Moon buggy

9. Juancho Triviño (23) He became a guest on-field reporter in the Kapuso morning show Unang Hirit back in the summer. The audience of the morning show was surprised to see a good-looking guy half naked early in the morning in some of the most unusual places in the metro and nearby provinces for the show’s summer features, specifically resorts. Though his stint in the morning show was just short-lived, his perfect set of abs will be imprinted longer in the viewers’ mind. Juancho is now a regular mainstay of Bubble Gang, where he occasionally flashes his best asset.

10. Gerald Anderson (27) He’s been out of the limelight of late but good news ladies, the former golden boy of TV and movies will soon hit the small screen opposite his first loveteam, Kim Chiu. Just cross your finger that the new series would have a bit of mature content so you will have a glimpse of his gorgeous asset once again.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 86 87 90 91 92 94 95 96 98 100 101 103 104 105 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 122 124

Showy yellow moths Holly feature Speck Guitarist — Eddy Cav’s foe Greek underworld river Dorm item Davy or Casey — Lie back Hillside, to Angus Shooting stars Moose feature Toughened Rang — — in point Piece of cake Imposing residence Crush underfoot Abel’s brother All, in combos Gawk Rock group Additional Mishmash Must-have Ages upon ages “— Te Ching” Groaner, maybe

LIZA

The annual Star Magic Ball happened last Saturday night and a week after the glitzy event, people can’t still get enough of Liza Soberano who made everyone in the event look like a diminutive star. But did you know that there was actually a five -man team behind her phenomenal look?

Liza was st yled by Perr y Tabora. Her gown was designed

by Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco. Make-up artist Mickey See and hairstylist Brent Sales team up to achieve her natural look. Even her nails were done by a different person. Nail artist Mimi Qiu Reyes made sure that her nails would complement her entire look.

As a result, Liza was named Best Dressed Female Celebrity of the Night and the next thing that happened, she was all over the Web with fans even creating memes to celebrate her effortless and natural beauty.

7. Enchong Dee (27) He is no longer a stranger to wearing speedos and strutting the runway half naked. As a member of De La Salle’s swimming team before he dived into the pool of showbiz, Enchong has been wearing skimpy swimwear since time immemorial. Yes, swimming didn’t just trained and broaden his shoulders, it made him very comfortable wearing trunks in public, too.

Though he’s shifting now to a more conservative image, since he’s being groomed as a dramatic actor by his mother studio, his abs are still intact.

8. Matteo Guidicelli (26) The actor-host rose to fame as a young car racer. Matteo believes that no accomplishment comes in an instant and that everything he has now, including his razor cut midsection, was achieved through patience and hard work. It’s just a crying shame we don’t get to see it more often. And that makes Sarah G a one lucky girl.

IS GAGA OVER

Liza Soberano had a glam team of five men who worked closely together to achieve her sensational look at the recently concluded Star Magic Ball

E4

Showbiz

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 Isah V. Red, Editor / Nickie Wang, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com

5 FACTS

STANDARD’S CHOICE

YOUNG MALE STARS WITH SEXY CRAZY ABS

By Nickie Wang

H

aving a ripped midsection is not just about looking good when shirtless, any fitness instructor will tell you that having great abdominal muscles has numerous benefits. If your abs are strong, it follows that your lower back and obliques are strong, too, which means you are less likely to have lower back issues.

But let us cut the crap and go directly to the point, apart from it’s a reflection of the kind of lifestyle and level of discipline one person has, having a razor cut core is just sexy.

In this respect, we are listing down 10 of the hottest young celebrities whose set of abs is chiseled to perfection. And of course, this round-up that seeks to name the famous young men with the great abs will not just talking about their half-naked glory, we are also talking about their talent and star power, which makes these sons of Adam even much sexier.

1. James Reid (23) He wasn’t called “The Body of the Century” for no reason.

And all of his shirtless photos just serve as a constant reminder how lucky Nadine Lustre is.

James is your all-around star who has a long list of achievements to his name. The Till I Met You star is his generation’s box office heartthrob, he’s got a platinum record under his belt and he has starred in top rating television series.

This Filipino Australian mutt is also an ambassador of big brands making him one of the most trusted names in the field of product endorsements. With a beautiful face and a ripped physique to boot, it’s no longer surprising when his name comes first into mind when talking about the sexiest young male celebrities in the land. Would you know his secret to his drool-worthy physique? In a recent interview with Manila Standard, James revealed that he goes to the gym twice a week and he doesn’t plan to grow more muscles as his fitness goal is to just maintain his current form.

treat – he can sing, act and dance. With his striking good looks (thanks to his Filipino-American-Jamaican-Italian lineage), the future is nothing but bright for this young star who still possesses a boyish look but in a very manly form. Derrick is playing superhero in his next television assignment. Abs plus superhero? That is nothing but a killer combination.

3. Jak Roberto (22) On the Kapuso lot, he’s often regarded as the male counterpart of Kim Domingo. Like the“New Pantasya ng Bayan,” Jak’s half naked presence is a sight to behold. The Sunday Pinasaya and Bubble Gang regular (two of the shows where he’s mostly shirtless all the time) is basically a walking abs. In fact, it’s hard to find any pictures of him without a ripping six pack. Actually, when asked who’s got the best abs among Kapuso stars, he’s the first one to come into mind.

And people think of his amazing abs first before his acting skills, which we believe is not a bad thing at all.

Continued on E3

2. Derrick Monasterio (21) If not because of Alden Richards, this actor would have been the Kapuso Network’s hottest property, literally and figuratively. Up until recently, Derrick had always been known for his boy-next-door charm.

But as soon as he grew those muscles, that “just cute boy image” just had to go.

The young hunky actor is a triple

KILLER ABS. In this week’s Standard’s Choice, James Reid, Derrick Monasterio and newcomer Jak Roberto emerge as the hottest males celebrities with abs that will make your eyes pop out.

ABOUT MISS INTERNATIONAL

KYLIE VERSOZA

Twenty-four-year-old Kylie Verzosa, who hails from Baguio City, won the Miss International title at the beauty pageant held at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo on Thursday.

The statuesque model and Business Management graduate at Ateneo de Manila University bested 68 other candidates from around the globe making her the sixth Filipino beauty queen to clinch the coveted crown.

Here are some interesting facts that make Kylie worthy of the Miss International title: She’s a thank-you girl Like Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, losing at the Binibining Pilipinas during her first try didn’t hinder her dream to become a beauty queen and represent the country internationally. She first participated in the Binibining Pilipinas contest in 2015, when she placed in the Top 15. She again joined the pageant the following year and was crowned Miss Philippines International 2016, earning her the right to represent the country at the 56th edition of Miss International beauty contest.

Her mom is a former Binibini candidate Yes, it runs in the family. Her mother Gemma Raquel Fausto was contestant No. 12 in the 1985 Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant, where she finished in the Top 15. Now you know where she got her good looks.

She’s a teacher An embodiment of true beauty with a purpose, Kylie works as a pre-school teacher. At the same time, she is an advocate for depression and suicide awareness.

She volunteered for the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, which aims to educate people about depression and suicide.

Kylie is a globetrotter In her Instagram feed, the 5-foot-9 beauty is keen on sharing her travel adventures with her followers. She has visited Europe and Asia being an international model. Now that she’s the Miss International, Kylie will finally be able to travel to more territories and promote her advocacies on “culture, education and international understanding.”

She enjoys painting Kylie shows her love for art by painting. She’s a budding photographer, too, being an ambassador of a popular camera brand. So, expect more photos and artwork from our gorgeous queen.