The Standard 29th Anniversary Sect H

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 2 9, 2 0 1 6

29th Anniversary editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MOVEMENT

cisive credible

CHANGE does happen overnight. Most importantly, it does not happen out of the blue.

There needs to be motion, activity, and most of all, momentum. We are seeing changes in different areas, improving lives, industries and the nation.

viewpoints

opinion urnalism vision

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Visionary ory

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alanced Philippines opinions credibility scoop

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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29th Anniversary editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Into overdrIve:

the rIse of the MotorIng Industry

In 2015 alone, there were 2,000,000 cars officially listed in the country. This means that 2,000,000 cars more or less are on the road on a daily basis, with the majority concentrated in major cities like Cebu, Quezon City, and Bulacan. Aside from this, the number of motorcycles are also on the rise.

Given a not so reliable public transportation system, most citizens opt to purchase their very own vehicles in order to avoid spending hours in line for the MRT system or running

after other forms of public transportation without much success.

Spending power is higher than ever, and now, more and more Filipinos are investing in their own vehicles to travail the streets of the country.

Motorization and the econoMy Increase in car sales is a trend in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines. Today, owning a vehicle is already accessible even to the most common man. What used to be a luxury is now a commodity in the country owing to the many affordable packages and units that one can choose from.

And the increase in the number of cars is a direct indication of how well the country is faring. In fact, an increase in the Gross Domestic Product of the country greatly affects the demand for motor vehicles. The term for this is called motorization. Which means that the higher the GDP, the greater the chances of citizens being able to afford and buy cars. A trend that started in 2013, the Philippines is expected to be a part of the third wave of motorization in ASEAn. In the first quarter of last year alone, sales have increased an impressive 19.3% with the industry selling a total of 18,662 units in the first month of last year, a huge jump from the pre-

vious year.

To better understand motorization, it is also best to understand the trend between GDP Per Capita and the level of car ownership and how it relies heavily on a country’s economic development. A country with low GDP per capita has proven to have a similarly lower level of car ownership because only a few people can afford cars. Countries with a large population ideally improve public transportation and infrastructure so the need for cars is lessened. In emerging markets like the Philippines, the development may not be as fast as expected

so the only way for people to be able to move around is to be purchase vehicles on their own.

The IMF recently projected the growth of GDP in emerging markets like ours will be higher than in developed countries within the next five years. This means that vehicle ownership will accelerate because we are about to reach the maximum GDP and this growth will greatly affect the motoring industry.

Bigger Purchasing Power It is clear that the economy is booming. The growth of the middle class family has bolstered the Philippines automobile industry showing a stellar performance in the past years. In fact, in 2014 alone, The Asean Automotive Federation cites the Philippines as the fastest growing automobile market in the region ahead of bigger giants like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, something that can be attributed to stronger consumer purchasing power, rising investments, and even easier financing.

Easy auto financing deals are contributing greatly to the surging sales of motor vehicles, specifically private

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cars. Gone were the days when it would take forever to be able to get a car loan.

Today, the increasing availability of loans, especially to the middle class, are proving to be the main source of enormous growth in the automobile industry.

Motorization has truly begun in the country. And a huge potential growth still remains with more and more people owning more than one vehicle to avoid the vehicle number coding scheme of the country.

More and more middle class citizens are also purchasing more vehicles in order to join car services like Grab and Uber in the hopes of a better income.

This has proven to positively affect the sales of cars in the country.

The effecT of MoTorizaTion Motorization in the country is exciting without a doubt. The good news is that there will be a boost in the automobile industry that will lead to more jobs in industry related to the automobile industry. It will greatly affect the assembly industry while at the same time encourage growth in basic industries such as petrochemicals, textiles, chemical, rubber, iron, steel. Component manufacturers will be affected as well and other supporting industries.

This is the good part about motorization. It will greatly affect all the other industries.

However, in a country such as ours, and in the current state of traffic, one can’t help but ask how the country’s roads will be able to sustain and accommodate all the cards on the road.

And while this is currently a chal-

lenge, it also places a sense of urgency because with the increasing number of cards on the road, it’s important for the government to move fast and quick in taking care of the public transportation system.

Movers in 2015 New models and new brands came into the country in 2015. Many events launching new vehicles and brands occurred last year, further boosting the

excitement for an already energetic automotive scene.

Pick-ups still took the centerstage on the scene with the launch of the Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux. The updates of the Mitsubishi Strada, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max 3.0 and Chevrolet Colorado Tracker Pro boosted car sales in the country.

Another area that gained traction is the PPV segment, which is the pick up based passenger vehicles battling over the SUV. Ford was the first one

to release the new Everest while Isuzu released the MuX. Mitsubishi also released Montero Sport. Toyota is expected to come in with a new model for the Fortuner this year as well.

The industry also welcomed new brands such as Mahindra which made waves when it bagged the PNP patrol vehicle contract with its Enforcer rugged SUV. Lotus soon arrived a few months

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R i t e M e d , t h e l ea ding b r and e d g en e r ic lin e of m e dicin e s in t h e c ount r y, r e c ent ly ho st e d an a p p r e ci at ion dinn e r fo r M s. Su sa n Ro c e s, to c el e b r at e t h e l at t e r ’s ren ewal of c ont r ac t a s i t s b r and a m b a s sad o r.

Th e Q u e en of Philip p in e M ovi e s e m e rg e d a s t h e most t r u st e d end o r se r of p ha r m ac eu t ic al p ro d uc t s in t h e sur vey c ond uc t e d by AG B Ni el sen in 2 015 . Fo r t h e l a st f ive yea r s, M s. Ro c e s ha s l aunch e d f ive c a mp ai gn s t hat have ef f e c t ively r ai se d t h e awa ren e s s of Filip inos a b ou t t h e avail a b ili t y of hi gh q u ali t y a nd mo re af fo rd a b l e lin e of m e dicin e s in t h e ma r ket . Leading t h e R i t e M e d t ea m in t h e event a r e (f ro m f ro m l ef t): V inc ent G u e r re ro, g en e r al manag e r of R i t e M e d , and Jose M a r i a A . O chave, senio r vic e p re si d ent of Uni t e d L a b o r a to r i e s, I nc .

An artist’s rendition of the Residences at Commonwealth, a community that revives the focus of communities on the all-around well-being of its residents.

Century Properties’ RFO units: Move right into a beachside community, a residential Eden, or a nurturing environment

J

ust immediately after Bicutan exit from the South Luzon expressway is a condominium community that continues to surprise guests.

It is the Azure Urban Resort Residences, which attracted a lot of attention when Paris Hilton inaugurated its central amenity called the Paris Beach Club.

Not common among urban developments, it has become a huge part of the community’s appeal. If in the past, themes often meant “design,” these days, a themed development offers an entirely experiential level. Century Properties, Azure’s developer is pushing the envelope by bringing more than just the sheen of exterior aesthetics into our lives—that is, through dynamic lifestyles that come with beautifully designed homes.

If you’re ready to move, consider the following choices: beachside living, a residential Eden, and a nurturing environment.

At the Azure Urban Resort Residences, home is beachside living. The first residents of the 9-building development now enjoy what may be the rarest amenity feature among condominium communities in the city. Sunbathing on the sand, beach volleyball, and of course, swimming, are as much a daily option as they wish. That’s like coming home to a resort every single day of the year for all of your life.

A The Lounge at the roofdeck of Osmeña West, the first tower to rise at The Residences at Commonwealth, offers a glimpse of the community’s priority of its residents’ comfort and convenience even in providing leisure spaces.

Complementing the beach set up is a beach bar that offers the pleasures of sundown cocktails. The community’s own clubhouse—the Paris Beach Club –is also by the water and offers an entire set of lifestyle options such as dining, exercising, spa treatments, film viewing, and gaming.

Going much deeper into the city, one finds the Acqua Private Residences, where two of its towers are now livable communities—the Niagara and Sutherland. Like all of Acqua’s towers, both overlook a simulation of a tropical rainforest, or trails of greens that open to a vibrant waterfront.

In the middle of this is the now-rising amenity called The Pebble, a country club by the water facing an ever dynamic urban center. Located right smack in the center of the development, it’s the perfect retreat for someone entrenched daily in the hustle of an ever mobile city. It is fronted by a Riverwalk Promenade which will house several commercial establishments.

In the near future, residents shall have more lifestyle choices courtesy of Acqua Livingstone which is being interior designed by MissoniHome and Acqua Iguazu, whose interiors are by yoo inspired by Starck. Both seamlessly fuse their nature-inspired de-

A great way to cap your busy day is a spa treatment at the Azure’s very own spa center.

signs with the hugely verdant themes pervading the entire development.

Each tower has its own roofdeck amenity. Where Acqua Livingstone has The Canopy, the Acqua Iguazu has The Cielo. The Canopy spans two levels where varied pursuits find their home: function rooms, business centers, gyms, library, and other amenities that promote health, wellbeing, and cultural curiosity on the lower level; an amphitheater, a DJ booth and dance floor, pool, and BBQ facilities, its social and entertainment space on the upper level Tying these two levels together is an organic wire-mesh tree that winds its way up and connects to the mezzanine floor which may be used as an open-air dining area or an observation deck.

The Cielo, meanwhile promotes interaction between residents. It has a common dining area, a library, a bar. And looming above this is a Cielo feature, an orb that assumes the sun’s character by day, and the moon, by night.

The Residences Commonwealth by Century in Quezon City, meanwhile, is a venue to pursue one’s passion. It takes a multifaceted approach to amenity development. This community bears a nurturing spirit, what with indoor and outdoor spaces that provide holistic, active, and healthy lifestyle experiences.

There will be areas that promote

The Niagara is the first of two towers now livable at the Acqua Private Residences.

activity and wellness such as multipurpose courts, athletic bootcamp, gym and fitness center, gardens, a yoga deck, and its own version of a children’s playground, The Orchard, a peeled apple-inspired treehouse with slides and ladder.

Forget having idle moments as venues for learning on your own or with groups will abound: a study and library, an arts & crafts studio, a dance studio, a cooking studio, and advanced learning center.

And like most of Century Properties recent developments, it also has a screening room that can be booked for private movie viewings.

Toddlers also get their own space via the crèche (a nursery) and kindergarten.

Surrounding the central amenity area is a nature park that’s highlighted by water features such as a reflecting pond, a rapid pool, and its very own water falls.

At a Century Properties home, living is an elevated experience, and arrivals are an anticipated daily routine—much more than the usual.

For information, call +639175555274; email ask@century-properties.com; or visit www.century-properties.com.

The beach is just a few steps away from your unit at the Azure, no matter where your tower is.

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29th Anniversary editorial@thestandard.com.ph

into overdrive...

From h3 after offering British engineering in the form of the Elise, Exige, and Evora sports cars. Aston Martin also arrived in the country, fueling the surge for expensive cars even further.

Looking AheAd The Philippines is expected to be a major automotive market in Southeast Asia by 2020 as domestic sales are expected to grow even more in the next four years. This will also work hand in hand with the government’s Comprehensive Resurgence Strategy program.

Local industry players expect to see the Philippine automotive market bringing in more sales, accounting for about ten percent of the total vehicle sales in the region by 2020. Sales of the automotive market are expected to reach at least 5-6 million units by the year 2020 following other leaders in the region such as Thailand and Indonesia.

AcceLerAtion The steady growth the industry has experienced in the past five years alone show just how strong the market is.

It may be recalled that in 2010, only 168,000 units were sold. In comparison sales in the first quarter of last year alone was pegged at 269,000. This year, they are expected to reach at least 350,000 units. Despite the big numbers, low car ownership ratio, favorable demographics, and rising incomes indicate high potential that has not been tapped and can still lead to further growth.

One area where the Philippines is still poised to soar is that of locally produced vehicles. In the last year, locally produced units were only at 83,874. This is small in comparison to Thailand’s 1.6 million units and Indonesia’s 1.1 million units. However, industry players believe that the improvement of the CARS program will encourage the local assembly of automotive vehicles.

The Board of Investments also issued the implementing rules and regulations for the CARS Program. This program will allow two prospective local car assemblers to apply for fiscal support not exceeding P27 billion by locally assembling three vehicle models or P9 billion per model with a commitment to produce 200,000 units for each model during its six-year model life.

The CARS program is expected to be the lifeline of the struggling local auto parts making industry.

It’s the surge the local industry has been waiting for awhile.

This will increase the local auto assembly and production of an average of 100,000 units per year which doubles last year’s production. This will also greatly affect the local auto parts makers. This surge will definitely update the industry and greatly affect the local industry. A surge in the local industry is expected to also surge the local economy bringing in even greater expectations for the industry.

Looking at the numbers, truly the best is yet to come for the industry.

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29th Anniversary H6 tHe neW MOVeMents: cHaritY, kinDness, HOPe anD LOVe editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Pag-iBig–Big Hearts Make a Big Difference

By Myra Butac Love The word evokes different responses from all sorts of people. however, on February the thirteenth, 9:00pm at the Music hall in Metrowalk, love was given the special treatment by the local band Climax and friends with their first concert. entitled Pag-iBIG, this was a benefit concert for children with cancer.

THe FACeS oF Love The show did not just feature Climax’s cover songs and guest numbers, it had a story to tell about the different aspects and experiences of love. There were medleys featuring OPM hits, pop, Broadway, and original compositions that gave heartfelt insights on romantic love that were both tragic and uplifting. each scene, from unconditional love to heartbreak and past loves, was highlighted by a brief introduction from an ever-present narrator perched high above the stage. Theater and voice actor Lexter Victorio dished poetry and hugot lines after several video clips from famous romantic movies projected on the wall. The audience did not shy away, enjoying catharsis from someone speaking on their behalf and were quite receptive to all the emotions evoked by the narration.

THe GUeSTS

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DeSIGNS Vickie R. Ayeng • Linda F. Apalisok Luz E. Jimenez • Alice V. Estrella Romel Mendez JUDITH S. ALbANo head Special Projects RoLANDo eSTAbILLo Publisher

Guests Gio Levy, Snare Mata, Diana D, and Q expanded on the theme with sincerity and passionate performances. Snare’s performance brought back a little bit of the oldies, making Forever in My heart and Get here feel so good with a warm, confident voice.

Gio Levy, while introduced by Max Guerrero, the vocalist of Climax, as “his personal Jericho Rosales,” sounded more like a local John Mayer who could actually be understood, putting a lyrical spin on a medley of songs both foreign and local. Diana D came in with an original song and showed the crowd she was both passionate with her music as well as sweet to the crowd. Q York duo Flava Matikz and Knowa Lazarus made a good show of quick wit and a mastery of their craft by getting phrases from the audience (“I love you” and “ikaw na nga”) and incorporating it into their freestyle rap, with Stanley of Climax on drums. Their portion was capped off with a performance of their new single, The Philippine Dream, with Diana D.

MUSIKARAMAY The Pag-iBIG concert’s proceeds will go to Musikaramay’s support of the Cancer Ward kids of the National Children’s hospital. According to Stanley, their drummer and spokesperson, they have been directly supporting these children for the past two years under the organization Musikaramay. They would serenade the children, their families, and staff in tandem with donations of food, clothing and small gifts.

Musikaramay was founded by the three original members of the Climax band, Max Guerrero, Stanley Seludo and Oman Peradilla, along with DJ Laila Chikadora of TV5 fame, born Jessica R. Asis. It started when the band Climax decided on October 2013 to convince the blind singers/performers begging at the Boni MRT station to take their place. The band sang for roughly two hours then gave all the proceeds to the blind musicians. And Musikaramay: Street Music with A Cause, was born.

Other artists such as Paulo Santos, Luke Mijares, Top Suzara, Freestyle, Mike Chan, Rouge, Thyro and Yumi, Q-York, Diana D, Gio

NeXT PAGe

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The New FilipiNo KomiKs movemeNT

PAG-IBIG...FROM H6 Levy, Thor, Crib Band, Gail Blanco Viduya, Njel De Mesa and Zion Aquino have also been part of Musikaramay’s street performances and benefit concerts and they continue to join Climax in busking whenever they are available. The donations they’ve gathered were used to aid Bohol earthquake survivors, Tacloban victims of typhoon Haiyan and other sufferers of local natural disasters.

Eventually, the members of Musikaramay realized that they need not wait fo r calamities to serve and help others. Presently, they are putting 10 special children to school in Blessed Ville Special School, Carmona, Cavite. They also intend to have more scholars in the future and help out more groups such as the Aeta Community in Olongapo, the SAF 44 families and the kids with cancer of the National Children’s Hospital, who is also their first concert’s beneficiary.

IF you’ve been to a bookstore recently, you can observe that the diminishing shelf size of the Filipiniana section is getting smaller and smaller, while office supplies and furnitures are getting bigger and bigger. And within those shelves, in between the local literary greats and wattpad novelas, you can find a few local comic books like Kiko Machine, Zsazsa Zaturnnah,and Trese.

These are the most popular comic books created by Filipinos today. If you aren’t familiar with these yet, don’t worry, you’re just in time. Now is the right time to start reading. And here’s why.

Every year, hundreds of Filipino comic book creators work on their own komikbooks. From the whimsical, to the fantastic to the real. Matching these hundreds of stories is a visual artistry of every mood, shade and tone.As a country of many influences amidst globalization, the local comic book community is a mix of eastern and western influences, but the stories are indeed 100% Filipino. Readers just don’t know where to find them.

Other than the comic books published by mainstream and indie publishers, the rest of the komiks community can be found only in local and regional comics events.

It’s not that local comic book creators want to be hidden, it’s because there are very few opportunities to share their works and earn enough to make more and sustain their art.

In Manila alone, several local comic events to visit: the Komikon (April 16 and November 19-20 at Bayanihan Center, Pasig); and INDIEKET in August. If you’re lucky, you might meet authors like Manix Abrera, Rob Cham, Tepai Pascual, JM Valenzuela, Fhate Comics and more.

If you don’t know what comic book to buy from the hundreds of komiks to choose from, the best way to gage the right comic book for you is the genre and the art style.

Comic book prices range from P20 to P500, depending on the size and number of pages.

But what you’re paying for isn’t just for the artwork and the storytelling. What every reader is buying is a part of the komiks creator’s life. It takes two to six months, some maybe even longer for the creators to think, write, draw, ink, edit and publish their work and finally to make it to the comics events.

The Filipino comic books are stories of this generation, a search for cultural identity, a gift of laughter and amusement, an escape to widen the imagination and to go beyond the limitations of the present day realities. Because despite the many struggles of an underappreciated art form, all the komiks cre-

ators truly desire are more readers to tell their stories to.

So it’s time. Time to pick up a Filipino comic book in a bookstore, or attend a comics event and meet the creators.

Support a Filipino comic book today.

MESSAGE OF SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR ‘JV’ EJERCITO For The Standard 29th Anniversary

THE VISIT Capping off the concert was the actual visit to the National Children’s Hospital, which was held on Valentine’s day, Feb.14, 2016.

The band Climax, the founders of Climaxians (Climax’s official fan club), members of PhilOzAm, and some Musikaramay friends spent their Sunday morning handing out food, toys, companionship, caricatures, and (of course) good music to the whole cancer ward of the National Children’s Hospital. The parents watched with both amazement and gratitude as their sick children received coloring books, crayons, food and drink, and a personal serenade by Max and his band.

It was a particularly emotional experience for many. Fans and friends of Climax realized that these children needed so much help, love, effort and time. Some of these kids had obvious physical deformities, some were bleeding and others were seemingly unmoving and permanently attached to their beds.

However, these small tokens of love and compassion left the patients and their guardians with smiles on their faces and a little more hope in their hearts. All in all, it was a wonderful hearts day for everyone, including the givers: the band of real-life superheroes who are willing to make a difference in their own special ways.

Congratulations to the hardworking men and women of The Standard on your 29th Anniversary!

I commend The Standard for making the public vigilant against crime and corruption, in helping the government achieve its quest for transparency and good governance, and for consistently relaying good news and truth to the people.

Mayyoucontinuetoupholdprofessionalism and excellence in exercising your craft. I wish you success in all your endeavors!

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AyAlA lAnd invests P70 B for vermosA estAte in CAvite MANILA, Philippines—Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) has recently announced that it is investing P70 billion for Vermosa, a 700-hectare mixed-use community located in Cavite.

The multi-billion peso project will be the company’s fourth largest estate after Makati central business district, Alviera in Porac, Pampanga and Nuvali in Laguna.

“Building large scale mixed-use developments that are strategically located in the country’s emerging growth centers will continue to be our focus. Our residential brands continue to introduce new offerings within our estates,” said Bernard Vincent O. Dy, ALI President and CEO. Of the 700 hectares, a central business district will take up 124 hectares of the development, which will hold various business and commercial establishments, residential developments and schools. Furthermore, 165 hectares of land will be devoted to open spaces and interconnected parks and gardens.

Artist’s perspective of Vermosa’s green strip

The pedestrian-focused environment will feature a 14- kilometer greenway, a landscaped promenade stretching north to south of the project that will allow residents to ride a bike to work or walk to nearby establishments, further reducing reliance on public vehicles.

Focusing on Filipinos’ increasingly active and healthy lifestyle, the estate will also have the Vermosa Sports & Lifestyle Complex (VSLC), which will feature an Olympic-size pool, 400-meter track and field and the most advanced and complete sports science laboratory in the country. VSLC will also have a motocross track and the first purposebuilt mountain bike skills track in the Philippines.

The property is accessible via the newly opened Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), the government’s first public-private partnership project bagged by the Ayala conglomerate.

The MCX tollway connects the Daang Hari Road to the South Luzon Expressway and shortens the travel time to Cavite by 30%, making Vermosa 55 minutes from Makati during peak hours.

The entire project is slated to be completed in the next 12 to 15 years.